Aston Villa are now exploring a move for an “extraordinary” goalkeeper as a replacement for Emiliano Martinez, with Unai Emery considered an admirer.
Villa looking to sign Martinez replacement
Martinez is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning the Yashin Trophy in 2023 and 2024, so it is no surprise that Emery has chosen to reintroduce the 33-year-old to the starting XI, despite him pushing for a move to Manchester United during the summer.
The Argentinian was keen to complete a move to Old Trafford on deadline day, but Man United ultimately ended up signing Senne Lammens, who kept a clean sheet on his debut against Sunderland.
However, having pushed for a move in the summer, the controversial goalkeeper’s future remains in doubt, with it recently being revealed that he has lost faith in Emery, amid the slow start to the season.
According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have now set their sights on a new goalkeeper, with Martinez’s future in doubt, having identified Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin as a target, and there are signs that a deal could be possible.
Lunin has made it clear he wants to leave the La Liga side, having been left frustrated with his role as a back-up to Thibaut Courtois, given that, at 26-years-old, he needs to be playing regular first-team football.
It is suggested that Madrid could hold out for around €30m (£26m) for the Ukrainian, making him a relatively affordable option for Villa, with it previously being revealed that Emery is personally keen on signing him.
"Extraordinary" Lunin could be fantastic Martinez replacement
Although the Madrid shot-stopper has fallen behind Courtois in the pecking order, he has previously proven himself at the highest level, making 12 Champions League appearances, including eight en-route to the Spanish side’s 2023-24 triumph.
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Courtesy of his performances that season, the former Zorya Luhansk man also received very high praise from CBS Sports’ Nico Cantor.
Whenever called upon over the past year, the Ukraine international has been solid, recording a clean sheet percentage of 42.9%, which places him in the 97th percentile, when compared to other goalkeepers.
Given his age, however, Lunin needs to be a first-choice goalkeeper, so a move to Villa Park would make perfect sense, and Aston Villa should no doubt make an approach if Martinez makes it clear he still wants to leave.
أسفر الاجتماع الفني الخاص بمباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز المقرر إقامتها غدًا الخميس على استاد آل نهيان في أبوظبي ضمن نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، عن اعتماد الأطقم الرسمية للفريقين وترتيبات اللقاء النهائية.
وسيرتدي الزمالك زيه الأساسي المكوَّن من القميص الأبيض والشورت الأبيض، بينما يظهر حارس مرمى الفريق بالزي البنفسجي الكامل، في المقابل، يخوض بيراميدز اللقاء بزيه الكامل باللون الأسود، فيما سيرتدي حارسه الزي البرتقالي.
وحضر الاجتماع الفني من جانب الزمالك كلٌّ من محمد حسن تيتو المدير الإداري، وحمزة عبد الوهاب مدير شؤون اللاعبين، وباسم زيادة مسؤول العلاقات العامة، ومحمد حسني مسؤول المهمات.
طالع أيضًا | حكم مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز في كأس السوبر المصري
وخلال الاجتماع، تم التأكيد على اللجوء مباشرة إلى ركلات الترجيح في حال انتهاء الوقت الأصلي للمباراة بالتعادل، دون اللجوء إلى أشواط إضافية، وفقًا للوائح البطولة.
كما أوضح مسؤولو لجنة الحكام أن قانون التبديل السادس المرتبط بحالات الارتجاج الدماغي (ضربات الرأس) لن يُطبق في البطولة، نظرًا لعدم اعتماد تطبيقه حتى الآن في البطولات المحلية المصرية، بسبب اشتراطات طبية محددة تتعلق بالبروتوكولات المعتمدة للارتجاج، وبذلك سيُسمح لكل فريق بإجراء خمسة تبديلات فقط على ثلاث فترات توقف خلال زمن المباراة.
ويواصل فريق الزمالك استعداداته الجادة لمواجهة بيراميدز، غدًا الخميس، في موقعة ينتظرها عشاق الكرة المصرية، حيث يسعى الفريقان لخطف بطاقة التأهل إلى نهائي السوبر المصري وسط أجواء جماهيرية مميزة في العاصمة الإماراتية أبوظبي.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed that record signing Alexander Isak faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford after sustaining a groin problem in midweek. The Dutchman also confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Alisson Becker remains unavailable and Ryan Gravenberch faces a late fitness check.
Isak yet to shine at Liverpool since £125m move
Isak’s first few months at Liverpool have been turbulent, and his latest setback adds to the club’s growing injury concerns. The £125 million ($166m) signing was substituted at half-time in the Reds’ 5-1 Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt after complaining of groin discomfort. Slot later confirmed the issue was minor but admitted the Swedish forward will need to undergo a fitness test before the trip to Brentford.
Isak’s injury comes at a crucial time as he continues to search for his first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool on deadline day. His start to life at Anfield has been hindered by a lack of pre-season conditioning after a chaotic summer exit from Newcastle United. The 26-year-old has featured in eight matches across all competitions, scoring once in the Carabao Cup and providing a single Premier League assist.
The striker’s physical struggles are seen as a product of his disrupted build-up to the season. Having missed team training for large parts of the summer, Isak arrived short on fitness and rhythm. The groin complaint, a recurrence of a historical issue, has therefore forced Slot to balance the striker’s match involvement carefully to avoid further setbacks.
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Slot delivers injury updates with Frimpong of deep concern
Speaking ahead of the Brentford fixture, Slot gave an honest assessment of his squad’s fitness situation. "Alexander is not too bad. He is a question mark for the weekend so we will see where he is," the Liverpool manager said during his pre-match press conference.
Slot then delivered less encouraging news on Frimpong, who was also withdrawn during the midweek win. "Jeremie Frimpong is not in a good place, he won’t play today, tomorrow or next week," he admitted. "Hamstring injuries so that is going to take a while."
When pressed about potential returns elsewhere in the squad, Slot maintained a cautious tone. "He [Gravenberch] didn’t travel with us so today we are again but yesterday we had a day of travel so let’s see where he is," he said of his compatriot. "Alisson is going to take a bit longer, so we will be patient there."
How will Liverpool cope with injuries?
Isak’s transfer remains one of the defining moments of the 2025 summer window, with Liverpool smashing their own transfer record to lure him from Newcastle United. The deal was finalised after weeks of tense negotiations and player unrest, ending one of the most controversial sagas in recent Premier League memory. However, his early Liverpool career has yet to reflect the fee’s magnitude, largely due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Frimpong’s situation compounds Liverpool’s challenges, particularly given his subdued start since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. The Dutch right-back’s hamstring problem has ruled him out for multiple weeks, leaving a void in Slot’s attacking setup on the flanks. Meanwhile, Gravenberch, is battling to shake off an ankle issue that kept him out of the Frankfurt match.
Adding to the list, Alisson continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since late September. The Brazilian’s absence has tested Liverpool’s defensive consistency, with Giorgi Mamardashvili stepping in between the posts. The Reds’ injury concerns come amid a congested fixture schedule, which will see them play five games in 15 days.
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Reds travel to Brentford this weekend
Liverpool’s focus now shifts to maintaining momentum in domestic competition following their Champions League victory. A trip to Brentford presents an opportunity to end their three-match losing streak in the Premier League, but Slot will once again have to rely on squad depth to navigate the fitness issues. Isak’s condition will be closely monitored up to matchday, with the Swede expected to undergo a late fitness test before any final decision is made.
Frimpong’s extended absence could open the door for Conor Bradley or Joe Gomez to feature at right-back, while Gravenberch’s potential return offers midfield reinforcement.
O Botafogo apresentou na tarde desta segunda-feira (11) o seu uniforme II para a temporada 2023/2024. Confeccionada pela Reebok, a camisa preta dá sequência à campanha #ÉOGloriosoMané e tem como objetivo manter a identidade e os símbolos do clube.
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O Glorioso ainda anunciou que a estreia deste segundo uniforme acontecerá no dia 22 de setembro, diante do Corinthians, em São Paulo, em partida válida pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. Esta linha de uniformes está à venda no site Botafogo Store (clique aqui!). Os preços variam entre R$349,99 (masculina), R$299,99 (feminina), R$299,99 (infantil).
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O Botafogo também destacou que há descontos para sócios Camisa 7 conforme os planos :
Além disso, o clube frisou que os planos Glorioso, Alvinegro e Preto têm o benefício do desconto especial em uma camisa oficial por temporada. Esse cupom de desconto é fornecido a partir do 6º mês de contrato ativo, via e-mail e pode ser usado exclusivamente na loja online.
Também há desconto especial de cada plano:
Glorioso: 100% Alvinegro: 50% Preto: 30%
O cupom possui validade de 6 meses e não é acumulativo com outros descontos. Para sócios que realizaram upgrade, os meses do contrato anterior não fazem parte da conta. O benefício será concedido a partir do 6º mês de contrato ativo do plano em questão.
Em casos de renovação, o sócio Camisa 7 deve se atentar para o fato do cupom ser um benefício fornecido anualmente. Ou seja, você receberá um novo cupom seis meses após a renovação.
Para usufruir de todas as vantagens, é essencial fazer o login na Botafogo Store com o mesmo e-mail cadastrado no Camisa 7.
India play Pakistan on June 14 and Australia on June 28. The final is at Lord’s on July 5
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2025
New Zealand are the defending champions•ICC/Getty Images
The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 5, will have Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifiers in Group 1, while Group 2 includes hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and two more qualifiers. The semi-finals will be played at The Oval, while the final is scheduled at Lord’s.The 33-match tournament will take place across seven venues in England over 24 days. The tournament will have 12 teams, up from 10 in the previous edition in 2024. Apart from The Oval and Lord’s, matches will also be held at Old Trafford, Headingley, Southampton, Bristol and Edgbaston and will have three different start times: 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm local.The opening match will be played between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. In a rematch of last edition’s semi-final, New Zealand begin their title defence against West Indies in Southampton on June 13 while Australia start their campaign against 2024 finalists South Africa on the same day in Manchester. India face Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14.Other key Group 1 fixtures for India are against South Africa (June 21) in Manchester and Australia (June 28) at Lord’s. Pakistan take on South Africa (June 17) at Edgbaston and Australia (June 23) at Headingley. The Australia vs India fixture will be the final group-stage match of the competition.In Group 2, England will play matches across five venues, the most of any team. They take on West Indies (June 24) at Lord’s and New Zealand (June 27) at The Oval. Sri Lanka face New Zealand (June 16) in Southampton and West Indies (June 21) in Bristol.The top two teams from each group will make the semi-finals to be held on June 30 and July 2. The winners will meet for the title clash at Lord’s on July 5.Hosts England and the top five teams from the 2024 edition (Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies) qualified automatically for the edition. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were the two next highest-ranked teams on the ICC Women’s T20I rankings table on October 21 that year, made the cut too.The remaining four teams will come from the global qualifiers scheduled for early 2026. Bangladesh, Scotland, USA, Nepal and Thailand have already qualified for that ten-team competition. The Europe, Africa and East Asia-Pacific qualifiers are yet to be completed.
England Men’s managing director unconcerned about throwing fast bowler straight back into Test cricket
Andrew Miller27-Jun-2025Jofra Archer will be ready to hit the ground running, as and when his return to Test cricket comes, despite having bowled just 18 overs for Sussex against Durham in his long-awaited comeback to first-class cricket at Chester-le-Street last week.That is the view of Rob Key, England Men’s managing director, who is confident that Archer’s slow but steady return from a series of career-threatening injuries means he’ll be ready to slot straight back into England’s starting XI, either in next week’s second Test against India at Edgbaston, or – perhaps more likely – in the subsequent third Test at Lord’s, beginning July 10.Archer was this week named in England’s 15-man squad for the second Test, meaning he is in line to play the format for the first time since the tour of India in February 2021. England have played 52 Tests in the intervening years, during which time Archer’s career was left in limbo due to multiple operations on his right elbow, and a stress fracture of the back.However, he made a successful return to white-ball cricket for England in May last year, with appearances at each of the last two ICC global events: the T20 World Cup in June 2024, and the Champions Trophy in February this year.Related
Archer strikes on first-class return as Sussex edge the second day
Jofra Archer: 'I know my body can hold up to red-ball cricket'
Jofra Archer added to England squad for second Test
Though a broken thumb sustained at the IPL delayed his return to red-ball cricket, Archer himself confirmed this week that his body was ready to hold up to the demands of the longer format, having returned figures of 18-8-32-1 on a flat deck against Durham in the County Championship.”To see him back will be brilliant,” Key said at a Rothesay media event in London. “He’s an unbelievable talent, and it’s been such a long road. For two years now, [we’ve] mapped it out: from T20s and four-over spells, into 50-over cricket to build up his robustness, to now. He has been doing so much work in the lead-up – even when he’s not playing – to building up that resilience to being able to play, because he’s a serious talent.”England’s impressive victory in the series opener at Headingley, allied to the nine-day turnaround between games, might persuade the selectors to stick with an unchanged frontline seam attack of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. That could also enable Archer to be released for at least two days of Sussex’s next County Championship fixture against Warwickshire, after his county coach Paul Farbrace suggested he might benefit from more red-ball overs under his belt.However, Key liked what he saw of Archer’s rhythm at Chester-le-Street, having tracked his performance on the county live stream, and insisted he was ready for selection, come what may.Rob Key, England Men’s managing director, speaking at a Rothesay media event in London•Getty Images”Jofra is such a talent,” Key said. “He was straight on the money. Bowling on a slow pitch, with good pace. He ain’t gonna forget how to bowl, so when we have that call, we’re not concerned. He will be fit and available for both [Tests]. Whether he could play both, we’ll find that out afterwards, if he did play at Edgbaston.”Despite his long absence from red-ball cricket, Key likened Archer to Mark Wood – currently injured, but on course to be available for next month’s final Test of the series – for his ability to pick up from where he left off, without the need to build up his workloads.”The spectrum for that is Mark Wood to other guys who you feel need a longer [lead up],” Key said. “You saw those guys playing in the last Test; they got better the more they bowled. Mark Wood is someone that could just turn up after bowling a bit in the nets, like he did at Headingley in the Ashes, and bowl 96mph, swinging in and hitting a length.”On that sort of scale, Jofra is close to the Mark Wood end. He’s a pretty pure talent. There’s not a lot of moving parts to his action in terms of complications, and he’s 30 years old now, so he knows exactly what he’s doing and what he’s about. So it’s more of a question of him just getting back into red-ball cricket.”We’ve picked him in the squad, and we’ll see how the conditions are. We’ve got decisions to make because these next two Tests are very close together, and you want to be able to sustain that pressure throughout these back-to-back Test matches. So we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. At the moment, he’s in the squad [but] any of those players can go back to county cricket as well.”
“We don’t know who’s the next great England opening partnership – the next Broad-Anderson – because there’s a number of those options that could be the mainstay of England bowlers for years. I can’t wait to see who that will be.”Rob Key on England’s bowling stocks
With Jamie Overton and Sam Cook also in England’s Test squad, plus last season’s break-out star Gus Atkinson likely to come into contention later in the series, Key was upbeat about the state of England’s bowling stocks – both for the remainder of this summer, and the Ashes tour to follow.”There was a time where you thought it was all about Wood and Archer, and we needed that X-factor pace – but now we’ve got a few of them,” Key said. “It’s so encouraging. You need bowlers for all conditions, [and] not just the Ashes. You need a pack of bowlers that all complement each other.”Jofra is another piece in that puzzle as Woody will be if he comes back at the end of the series. We don’t know who’s the next great England opening partnership – the next Broad-Anderson – because there’s a number of those options that could be the mainstay of England bowlers for years. I can’t wait to see who that will be.”
The IPL will have a new champion after Punjab Kings beat Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday night to set up a summit clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Neither team has won the IPL before.The IPL final is on Tuesday, June 3, also in Ahmedabad.RCB will be playing an IPL final for the fourth time, having finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.PBKS have been in an IPL final only once before, in 2014, when they were known as Kings XI Punjab and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. The 2014 season was also the only time that PBKS had made the playoffs since the concept was introduced in 2011. Their captain Shreyas Iyer is the first IPL player to lead three different teams to the finals: he was captain of Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final and led KKR to the title in 2024.PBKS and RCB had finished Nos. 1 and 2 in the league stage, with nine wins, four defeats and one no-result each in 14 games. There was very little difference between their net run rates too. While PBKS had beaten RCB in Bengaluru, RCB won the reverse fixture in Mullanpur.They met in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in Mullanpur, where RCB dismissed PBKS for 101 and won with ten overs to spare to book their place in the final first. PBKS had to travel to Ahmedabad to play MI in Qualifier 2, and they beat them for the second time in the span of a week to qualify for the final.
Coming into the 2025/26 campaign, expectations were all over the place for Tottenham Hotspur supporters after the hot and cold season prior under Ange Postecoglou.
The Lilywhites finished 17th in the Premier League but won the Europa League, but it wasn’t enough for the Aussie to keep his job – with such responsibility falling into the hands of Thomas Frank.
He’s been tasked with the responsibility of leading the club back up England’s top-flight, whilst also being competitive in the Champions League after their recent European triumph.
The Dane has already made an immediate impact in North London, losing only three of his first 14 games at the helm and subsequently achieving a 50% win rate to date.
Numerous players have already managed to impress during the current campaign, with one first-team member in particular catching the eye after his summer transfer.
How Kudus compares to other PL wingers in 25/26
In an attempt to hit the ground running as Spurs manager, Frank spent big to land the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus – forking out £55m for his signature from West Ham United.
The Ghanaian international arrived with huge excitement, understandably so given the nature of the fee, but it’s safe to say he’s already delivered the goods in North London.
The 25-year-old has already netted his first goal for the Lilywhites, whilst laying on four assists for his teammates – the joint most of any player in the division.
However, Kudus’ underlying stats are just as impressive, with his figures further highlighting how big of an impact he’s already had during the early days of his time at the club.
He’s completed the most take-ons of any player in Europe’s top-five leagues across 2025/26, with his tally of 30 successful take-ons over three times higher than Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
The Ghanaian also ranks in the 98th percentile for take-ons completed per 90 in the Premier League (3.7) – further showcasing his incredible ability at beating the opposition.
Getting past a defender is one thing, but the former West Ham star has also highlighted his ability to produce the end product at the end of his mazy runs.
Kudus has achieved an average of 7.6 crosses per 90, a tally that ranks him in the top 2% of all attackers in the Premier League, with 1.9 of his efforts finding a teammate in the 18-yard box.
Such a feat has allowed him to register 0.5 assists per 90, which also ranks him in the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight – with his £55m fee now looking like a real bargain.
The Spurs player who’s now becoming world-class
Despite Kudus’ success in the Premier League, numerous other Spurs players have managed to impress under Frank – helping the side currently sit in 3rd place.
Micky Van de Ven has been a huge presence at the back for the Lilywhites, helping the first-team keep a total of four clean sheets in the first nine league outings of 2025/26.
However, he’s also demonstrated his talents at the other end of the pitch, scoring three times in England’s top-flight and sitting as the club’s joint-top scorer.
Such a feat has also been replicated by midfielder Joao Palhinha, with the Portuguese international making an immediate impact in North London after his summer transfer.
The Lilywhites board secured the 30-year-old’s services on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, but it was a deal that didn’t satisfy a portion of the fanbase.
However, a couple of months on, the deal is now looking like a phenomenal piece of business, with the former Fulham star undoubtedly one of the best additions in the Premier League this campaign.
Palhinha, who earns £135k-per-week, has featured in every league game to date, subsequently producing numerous incredible figures – the most impressive of which is his tally of 39 tackles won.
Such a figure is the highest of any player in the division at present, with only one other player managing to register 30 or more successful regains of possession in the Premier League.
As a result, he’s currently averaging 5.1 tackles made per 90, whilst also coming out on top in 8.6 duels per 90 – with both tallies ranking him within the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight.
Joao Palhinha – PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
9
Goals & assists
3
Pass accuracy
83%
Touches per 90
60.5
Tackles made
5.1
Duels won
8.6
Aerials won
58%
Dribbled past
0.6
Stats via FotMob
However, like Van de Ven, he’s also managed to thrive within forward areas, already scoring twice and registering an assist – with his latest strike securing a late point against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
As previously mentioned, it’s his ball-winning ability that has caught the eye most in North London, leading to one analyst labelling him as the “best in the world” for regaining possession for his side.
His current deal has a £30m option to buy next summer, with Frank and the hierarchy desperately needing to trigger such a clause amid his recent form with Spurs.
A dominant number six has been firmly on the club’s agenda over the last few years, with Palhinha finally providing such a quality – but it’s crucial the club don’t let the loanee slip through their grasp.
Bigger talent than VDV: Spurs have "one of the most exciting teenage CBs"
Tottenham Hotspur already have a top-level player on their hands despite Micky Van de Ven’s recent form.
Tottenham’s brief unbeaten streak under Thomas Frank came to an abrupt end at home to Aston Villa last Sunday, with pundit Gary Lineker expressing concern over one star in a key role.
Tottenham's lack of creativity a concern for Thomas Frank
Spurs made an excellent start to proceedings against Villa when midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who recently signed a brand-new contract, opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock, feeding off midfield partner Joao Palhinha’s knock back to hand Spurs the lead.
However, that was as good as it got for Frank’s side.
Tottenham failed to convince going forward throughout the match, ultimately paying the price against a well-organized Villa side, with summer signing Xavi Simons criticised as Spurs lacked creative spark.
From the offset, the Lilywhites found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. Tottenham’s forwards, particularly on the counter-attack when one of Palhinha or Bentancur won the ball back off Villa, lacked that cutting edge to craft anything of note.
Joao Palhinha
7.8
Boubacar Kamara
7.5
Emiliano Buendia
7.5
Rodrigo Bentancur
7.4
Morgan Rogers
7.1
via WhoScored
Ultimately, Frank’s midfield failed to provide the necessary service to Spurs’ front line, leaving them starved of quality opportunities.
While the north Londoners battled to a 2-1 win away to Leeds before the international break, there were major signs beforehand that Tottenham quite simply need to improve in the attacking areas.
They were very fortunate to nick last-gasp draws against Wolves and Bodo/Glimt before they travelled to Elland Road, but Spurs’ luck ran out against Villa, who stole all three points in N17 thanks to a wonder goal from Emiliano Buendia.
Particularly after Tottenham’s loss to Villa, their lack of impetus in the final third is beginning to become a real worry, if it wasn’t already.
Concerns surround Richarlison’s ability to lead the line, while Dominic Solanke’s bad luck with an ankle injury, which required minor surgery, has limited the England international to just 49 minutes of action this season.
With Simons still getting up to speed, Frank is dearly missing the attacking quality of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. He’ll be hoping to have the former back as soon as possible, with Kulusevski unable to take part since picking up a knee injury against Crystal Palace last season.
Tottenham face a tough trip to AS Monaco in the Champions League next, and Frank will have a key decision to make about who starts up front, if Solanke isn’t fit enough to make his long-awaited return.
Gary Lineker says Mathys Tel can't do basic thing right in Tottenham striker role
If Solanke proves unable to start against Monaco, Spurs could turn to Mathys Tel as his number nine once again.
Tel was handed the nod by Frank against both Leeds and Villa, opening the scoring at Elland Road, but was largely isolated and ineffective against Unai Emery’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Once tipped to eventually bag 40 goals a season by Julian Nagelsmann, the Frenchman may have some way to go before realising that prediction, and Lineker has revealed one key flaw in his game.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast this week (via GiveMeSport), Lineker says that Tel can’t do a basic thing right in the Tottenham striker role — namely that he lacks the natural runs in behind to beat the offside trap.
Ange Postecoglou played a key role in convincing the 20-year-old to join Spurs from Bayern Munich last January, on an initial loan which ex-chair Daniel Levy re-negotiated and secured permanently for £30 million.
While the Lilywhites worked hard to sign Tel, he’s racked up just six goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in 28 appearances thus far.
However, it is vital to remember that the ex-Rennes sensation is still very young, and Tottenham will be banking on Tel eventually reaching his full potential after flashes of true brilliance at Bayern.
Kusal Mendis has begun to find some form. In the second Test against Bangladesh, he hit 84 off 87 balls. In the first ODI, he struck 45 in 43 deliveries, and in the second, produced perhaps the innings of the evening by smoking a fifty off 20 balls – the fastest ever at Khettarama.Now that it seems obvious that Kusal has got his game humming, Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilina Kandamby wants him to hit the big, match-winning notes. Those good double-figure scores need to become triple-figure ones, Kandamby said on the eve of the third ODI against Bangladesh in Pallekele.”He gave us a cracking start in the first game and is an experienced player, and he has played lot of cricket,” Kandamby said. “He has to understand that now, and he needs to convert those starts into hundreds. If he scores a hundred, we win 90 to 95% of our games. He knows that too.Related
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“When you are in such good form, it’s a crime to throw away your wicket. He could have easily gone on to score 150 to 200 runs in the first match. We chatted about how to rotate the strike and other crucial aspects of batting.”Sri Lanka do seem to be expecting a flatter track in Pallekele that may suit Kandamby’s ambitions for Kusal for the series decider. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka had also expected the tracks in Khettarama to be flatter than they ended up being, however.”Pallekele looks good for batting,” Kandamby said. “I think there will be good bounce as well. If you analyse the last few games at Pallekele, we had batting friendly tracks, and there’s been a lot of runs scored here in the past year. I hope that continues.”