سلوت يبرر استبعاد إيزاك.. ويكشف عن ظهيره الأيمن أمام آيندهوفن

تحدث آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول عن لقاء فريقه أمام آيندهوفن، في الجولة الخامسة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحتل ليفربول المركز العاشر برصيد 9 نقاط في مرحلة الدوري بفارق 3 نقاط عن صاحب المركز الأول بايرن ميونخ.

ويحتل آيندهوفن المركز 24 برصيد 5 نقاط في مرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا أيضاً.

وقد أعلن آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول تشكيل الفريق يتكون من: “مامارداشفيلي، سوبوسلاي، كوناتي، فان دايك، كيركيز، جرافنبيرخ، ماك أليستر، جونز، صلاح، إيكتيكي، جاكبو”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. سبب استبعاد أليسون بيكر من قائمة مباراة ليفربول وأيندهوفن

وقال سلوت في تصريحات نشرتها “Anfield Sector” عبر منصة “إكس” حول اللاعب الذي سيلعب في مركز الظهير الأيمن اليوم: “كورتيس جونز وليس سوبوسلاي”.

وأضاف سلوت حول ما فكر فيه هذا الأسبوع قبل لقاء أيندهوفن: “كان تركيزي يدور حول بعض اللحظات، استحوذنا على الكرة بنسبة 75%، وهذا يعني أنه لا داعي للدفاع كثيراً ولكن في بعض اللحظات التي اضطررنا للدفاع فيها، لم ندافع بنفس طريقة دفاع فورست الذي دافع 25 مرة في مناطقه”.

وواصل: “مهما كانت جودة أدائك ومهما طال وقت وصولك، إذا اندفع الفريق الآخر نحو الكرة وقام بالتصدي بكل تسديدة وعرضية فلن يكون الفوز مضموناً”.

وتابع: “قلت إنني لا أستطيع لومكم كثيراً من الناحية الكروية ولكن في المرات الأربع أو الخمس التي اضطررنا فيها للدفاع علينا بالتأكيد أن نتحسن”.

واختتم عن إيزاك الذي لا يشارك أساسياً اليوم: “لعب 30 دقيقة في الأسابيع الأربع الماضية، ثم لعب معنا 70 دقيقة، في مباراة لم تكن حماسية لأننا سيطرنا على الكرة كثيراً لكنني أعتقد أنني أدركت أنه لم يكن من السهل عليه إدارة نفسه خلال تلك الدقائق السبعين، لذا إذا كان لدينا تسعة لاعبين آخرين جيدين جداً فمن المنطقي إشراك اللاعب الآخر وهو هوجو إيكتيكي الليلة”.

The secret to Arsenal's success? Martin Zubimendi compared to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri as Gunners finally look strong enough to end 22-year title drought

Former Spain star Gaizka Mendieta believes that Martin Zubimendi is becoming just as important to Arsenal as Rodri has been for years at Manchester City. The Gunners completed a £52 million move for the Real Sociedad midfielder over the summer, despite stiff competition from Real Madrid. Now, only being at the club for a few months, he is already being hailed as a vital component to their success.

Zubimendi explains Arsenal switch

Zubimendi had the chance to join Liverpool last year but opted to stay at Real Sociedad just when it looked like he would be Arne Slot's first major signing. The 26-year-old bided his time, before sealing a switch to Emirates Stadium. So, why did he choose Mikel Arteta's team over other rival suitors? It appears that Arteta's conviction was the clincher. 

He said: "When Mikel Arteta called me – well, if you’ve ever spoken to him you'll know that he can be very convincing. He's mad about football, crazy about having everything under control, trying to get something from every little detail. He's very clear on everything and the proposal he had was the best for me.

"When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at la Real. And it wasn't the right moment. I stayed and it was a hard season, but I learned a lot. I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went. I've always tried to choose the right time and I'm happy with how it happened in the end."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportZubimendi compared to Rodri

Former Valencia skipper Mendieta believes there are similarities between 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and Spain team-mate Zubimendi. The former has helped City win a hatful of trophies over the years, including Premier League titles and the Champions League, and the latter could be on the path to doing that for Arsenal – as they seek to win the league for the first time since 2004.

Mendieta told : "When I think of Martin Zubimendi at Arsenal, I think of Rodri at Manchester City. City can have other players that can play in that role like Nico Gonzalez but it's not the same. That's why Rodri has been one of the best players in the Premier League since he arrived. He's the kind of player that you might not see much because they're not always on the ball or not allowed on the ball.

But his position, how they give freedom to team-mates, how he allows other players around him to do things is not always visible, but it's very important. You can't put your finger on why it's not happening when Rodri isn’t there, but it makes a difference whether they are on the pitch or not. They allow other players to do things that they can't do when they're not there, it’s a very similar situation for both."

Rodri a fan of Zubimendi

Mendieta is not the only fan of Zubimendi. Indeed, City talisman Rodri himself sang the praises of the Spaniard back in September.

"He's a great player. He has the discipline and mentality that can lead him to become one of the best, if he isn't already. I spoke to him the other day and told him it was his time, that I was leaving him the keys to the [Spain] team," said the 29-year-old.

And this week, Arsenal star Declan Rice talked up how integral Zubimendi has become for the Gunners in a short space of time. The England international described him as an "unbelievable player" who is a pleasure to play alongside.

He told this week: "Yeah, it's been so easy to play with him. We only signed him in the summer and usually it takes a while to build a connection, but from the first moment we had together in pre-season, I could just tell that I was going to play some good football with him. I just really liked him as a person and as a player.

"As the games have gone on, our understanding of each other has been outstanding. He's such a nice guy. He is the Spain No. 6 and we know what Spanish No. 6s are like. They are the best at first phase build up, turning on the ball and playing forward, playing into pockets and that is exactly what we've got with him. We all trust him with the ball. If there is a player on you, it is just easy to give him the ball and we all feel so confident with him. He has been so good for us – an unbelievable player."

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Getty Images SportArsenal face huge test

The past seven days have been pretty seismic for Arsenal. Firstly, they thumped rivals Tottenham 4-1 last Sunday, and on Wednesday, they outclassed an in-form Bayern Munich team in the Champions League. On Sunday, another big test takes them to second-placed Chelsea in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash. Zubimendi may need to be at his best for Arteta's side to come out on top in this one.

Celtic chiefs learn Nancy arrival date as personal terms update emerges

With the international break coming to an end, Celtic have now reportedly discovered when Wilfried Nancy is likely to take charge for the first time after submitting a £2m compensation offer to Columbus Crew.

The Bhoys have been without a manager since the departure of Brendan Rodgers, but have watched on as Martin O’Neill has rolled back the years on an interim basis. The 73-year-old has taken his old club into a Scottish League Cup final, which will take place with or without him against against St. Mirren on December 14.

As things stand, O’Neill will still be in charge for Celtic’s return to action against St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership this weekend in a preview of that aforementioned final. The veteran manager recently addressed fans, admitting that it was a “bit of a whirlwind fortnight” before the international break.

After this weekend’s clash, however, the Hoops may move closer to their managerial appointment. After being linked with the likes of Kieran McKenna and Ange Postecoglou throughout the process, it looks as though Nancy could be arriving.

Celtic learn Nancy timeline with deal close

As reported by TeamTalk, Celtic have now submitted a £2m compensation package to sign Nancy from Columbus Cew along with multiple members of his backroom team. The board hope to have their new manager in the dugout by November 30, when they square off against Hibernian.

The Bhoys are also reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with the MSL manager, with comparisons to Postecoglou instantly making him a top target around Celtic Park.

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Often operating in a 3-4-2-1 system, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Nancy adjusts his ways right away in Scotland. It’s rare that Celtic are seen in such a formation, but it’s one that has brought their potential new manager plenty of success in America.

Having earned plenty of praise during his time in the MLS, Nancy now looks destined to become the next Celtic manager.

He's better than Kenny: Nancy could unearth Celtic's new Kyogo very quickly

Jalaj Saxena parts ways with Kerala after nine seasons, moves to Maharashtra

He moved to Kerala ahead of the 2016-17 season and represented them through the 2024-25 season for a total of 125 matches

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2025 • Updated on 13-Sep-2025Allrounder Jalaj Saxena has decided to part ways with Kerala after nine seasons. *He will now turn out for Maharashtra in the upcoming domestic season.”It is a matter of great pride for me to join the Maharashtra cricket team,” Saxena said in a statement. “Maharashtra cricket has a rich legacy and I am fully prepared to contribute my best for the team. It is an honour to play alongside players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Ankit Bawne as well as many talented newcomers…I sincerely thank the Maharashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity.”After making his domestic debut for his home state, Madhya Pradesh, in the 2005-06 season, he moved to Kerala ahead of the 2016-17 season and represented them through the 2024-25 season for a total of 125 matches.”It’s never easy to put my feelings into words, but today I want to share something close to my heart,” he wrote on his Instagram post. “I have played my last game in Kerala colours, and that thought still feels surreal. Saying this brings a strange mix of emotions – gratitude, pride and a little ache. Over the years, this team has given me more than just cricket. It gave me brothers, friends and a family that stood by me through every high and low.”I’ve given blood, sweat, and tears – everything I had – for this journey, and in return, it gave me memories and bonds that will last a lifetime.”Related

'My emotions, heart, everything is with first-class cricket'

Saxena amassed 3153 runs for Kerala and claimed 352 wickets across formats. Among these, in 58 first-class matches, he scored 2252 runs, including three centuries, and took 269 wickets at an average of 20.68, with 23 five-wicket hauls. During the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season – when Kerala fell short in the final against Vidarbha – he became the first player in the tournament’s history to achieve the double of 6000 runs and 400 wickets. His 269 wickets are also the second-most by any player representing Kerala in first-class cricket behind KN Ananthapadmanabhan’s 310.Across his entire first-class career, Saxena has accumulated 7060 runs and 484 wickets, with 34 five-wicket hauls.”To each and every teammate – thank you for making the dressing room a place of laughter, learning, and unforgettable memories. To the KCA, coaches, support staff, and the unsung heroes – the groundsmen who work tirelessly so we can have our game – my deepest respect and gratitude. None of this journey would have been possible without your support,” he said.”Cricket has taught me that every ending is just a new beginning. My heart will always beat for Kerala, and I’ll always carry these memories with me whenever I go.”Despite being one of the most consistent performers in the Indian domestic circuit in the last two decades, the national team cap has constantly eluded Saxena.

Drop him: Arteta must now brutally bin Arsenal's "future captain"

It’s been a long time since the mood around Arsenal has been this positive.

Mikel Arteta’s side are through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, flying high in the Champions League and currently top of the Premier League.

Moreover, even with the injustices they’ve had to contend with, the Gunners have looked far and away the most assured and confident team in the country.

However, the North Londoners cannot rest on their laurels and have the chance to put more pressure on their rivals with a game against Burnley this afternoon. To ensure his side gets all three points, Arteta must drop one of those who starred on Wednesday night.

The changes Arteta should make for Burnley

Starting at the sharp end of the pitch, and for as well as they did against the Seagulls, Arteta should obviously take Andre Harriman-Annous and Max Dowman out of the team for Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The latter is simply the side’s talisman, and the former, while he hasn’t scored enough in the league, does stretch opposition defences and create space for his teammates.

On the left, with Gabriel Martinelli confirmed to be out of contention, it would make sense to bring Leandro Trossard back into the team and move Eberechi Eze back into the midfield.

The former Crystal Palace star scored last time out in the league, and while Ethan Nwaneri looked good on Wednesday, Arteta will want more of a controller in the middle of the park in Martin Odegaard’s absence.

Coming into the midfield alongside the 27-year-old has to be Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, as the former’s deadball wizardry should come in handy against a Clarets side that will likely sit deep, and the latter could help kickstart attacks from deep.

Finally, while they performed well in the week, Arteta should consider replacing most of his defensive unit for this game.

While David Raya, Jurrien Timber, and Gabriel Magehele pick themselves, the manager will have a decision to make for his second centre-back, as William Saliba remains a doubt for the game.

Fortunately, Cristhian Mosquera has been incredible this year, and therefore should start a second game in succession, as risking the Frenchman at this point would be foolish.

Last but not least, Arteta has a decision to make at left-back.

Arteta must start Arsenal's player of the season

It might sound harsh considering his sensational performance against Brighton, in which he provided an assist, but Arteta should drop Myles Lewis-Skelly, who club insider Hand of Arsenal has dubbed a “future captain,” for Riccardo Calafiori.

There are a few reasons why he should make this decision, but the primary one is the simple fact that the Italian has, in the words of Ray Parlour, one of Arsenal’s “players of the season.”

After a disappointing campaign last year, in which he was blighted by injury, the Italian international has come back like a man possessed so far this year and become a key part of the team in defence and attack.

For example, he has played in every league game so far, helping the team concede just three goals.

Additionally, he scored the only goal in the match against Manchester United and provided two assists against Leeds United for good measure.

Moreover, even though Arteta has a reputation for being a somewhat conservative coach, he allows the former Bologna star to maraud all over the pitch, so much so that the Telegraph’s Sam Dean described him as a “wild horse” and journalist James Benge called him “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.”

Such appraisals of the 23-year-old are proven accurate by simply watching him play, but they are also more than backed up by his underlying numbers.

Shots Total

2.20

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.13

Top 1%

xG: Expected Goals

0.25

Top 4%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.25

Top 4%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.26

Top 4%

GCA (Shot)

0.13

Top 4%

Goals + Assists

0.39

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.31

Top 7%

SCA (Shot)

0.39

Top 7%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.65

Top 7%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.50

Top 7%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.13

Top 10%

Assists

0.26

Top 13%

npxG/Shot

0.11

Top 16%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.39

Top 16%

Goals

0.13

Top 19%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.13

Top 19%

Passes Completed (Medium)

18.78

Top 19%

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for total shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goals plus assists, the top 10% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while dropping Lewis-Skelly might seem harsh, Arteta simply has to start Calafiori in the league, as he has been nothing short of sensational this season.

Arteta's "foul magnet" is now looking like Arsenal's next Alexis Sanchez

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The Hundred to introduce player auction for 2026 season

Salary pots increased significantly across men’s and women’s competitions in wake of equity sale

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2025

The Hundred is to switch from the draft system that has been in place since inception•Getty Images

The Hundred will switch from a draft system to a player auction for the 2026 season, imitating the long-standing method for squad-building in the IPL, while the overall salary pot for the men’s and women’s competitions will be significantly hiked, by 45% and 100% respectively, according to changes agreed in the wake of this year’s equity sale, which raised more than £550 million for the ECB.The maiden auction is set to take place in March 2026, and is one of several significant changes that were ratified by the Hundred’s Board on Thursday, as part of the ‘reset’ process to launch the first season in which the eight teams will be either co- or fully owned by private investors.In a bid to attract the best available players for the tournament, the total amount that men’s teams can spend per season will rise from the present level of £1.2 million to £2.05 million, while the women’s figure will rise to £880,000 per team. The base salaries for the lowest-paid women’s players will increase by 50%, from £10,000 to £15,000.According to the ECB, there will be salary caps in place, but also salary collars – a minimum spend per team per season – and the option of multi-year contracts will also be introduced. As flagged by ESPNcricinfo last year, the number of overseas players per squad is set to rise, from three to four – subject to Home Office clearance – with a total of 16-18 players permitted per squad.There will be no right to match, but direct signings will be permitted: up to two overseas players and two centrally-contracted England players. The window for such signings will extend from mid-November to mid-January, while the Hundred Board has also approved the retention of the wildcard system which will allow two players per franchise to be selected from the T20 Blast, via a player draft in June 2026.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

As a consequence, a cumulative pre-auction deduction will be factored in for each franchise, which will reduce the spend permitted at the auction depending on the number of players picked up beforehand.For the men’s competition, this will equate to: £350k (1 signing), £650k (2 players), £850k (3 players), £950k (4 players). For the women’s competition, the figures are: £130k (1 signing), £240k (2 players), £310k (3 players), £360k (4 players).Vikram Banerjee, the Managing Director of the Hundred, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the Hundred. These changes will help us make the competition even better, ensuring we get the best players in the world and improving the standard of cricket and level of entertainment further again.Related

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“Working alongside our new partners we’ve been exploring how we can take The Hundred forward and we’ve decided that moving to an auction will allow us to improve the competition. For a competition that has always been proud to innovate, we’re delighted to be holding the first auction in major UK sport.”In making this decision, we have stuck to three key principles: i) ensuring The Hundred attracts the best players in the world, ii) maintaining a competitive balance between the squads, iii) guaranteeing whatever changes we make work across the men’s and women’s games. “The decision to increase the men’s salary pot by 45% has been taken because market forces in the men’s game necessitate a more significant uplift to ensure we’re able to attract the best players in the world.”The salary pot for the women’s competition in the first year of The Hundred was £120,000, with the top-earning players earning £15,000 – the pot has risen for the third year in a row. With the pot now £880,000, top-earning players are set to earn in the region of £130,000, as well as a significant increase in salaries for those at base price.”Salaries in The Hundred women’s competition are very competitive, and they compare favourably with other franchise cricket competitions and across the landscape of women’s sport.”It’s been fantastic to work alongside our new partners, they’re already bringing energy and expertise and I know that together we can make The Hundred even better, for fans and players alike.”

Zadran, Omarzai and Rashid give Afghanistan series win

Afghanistan completed their third successive ODI series win against Bangladesh, all in the last three years, as they defended a modest 190 in the second ODI in Abu Dhabi. It was the lowest first-innings total at the Zayed Cricket Stadium but in response, Bangladesh folded for a mere 109.Just like the first ODI, the Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan combination wrecked Bangladesh. Omarzai took three early wickets before Rashid’s 5 for 17 blew away the Bangladesh middle and lower order. It was his sixth five-wicket haul in ODIs.Afghanistan’s series win is a comeback after their early exit from the Asia Cup and the 3-0 loss in the T20I series against Bangladesh. Even though they dropped a few experienced players for the series, they had plenty of top performers in the side.Ibrahim Zadran’s 95 was an invaluable contribution, especially when the rest of their batters couldn’t muster up enough runs. Omarzai failed with the bat but showed his worth by contributing with the ball. He did the early damage by having Tanzid Hasan caught at fine leg when the left-hand opener top-edged in the first over. Najmul Hossain Shanto was next to go, run out trying to complete a second run.Saif Hassan once again threw away a good start. He made 22 off 23 balls but having hit Omarzai for a four and a six of the previous two balls, he went for the uppercut and was pouched by Bashir Ahmad at the deep third. Omarzai’s third wicket was Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was trapped lbw for 4.Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 95 off 140 balls•Afghanistan Cricket Board

Towhid Hridoy offered a semblance of hope before playing a needless slog sweep against Rashid to be bowled in the 17th over. He made 24 with four boundaries, but the dismissal betrayed his earlier approach. Nurul Hasan played the same shot in the 23rd over and missed the googly. He, too, was bowled.Next ball, Rashid had Tanzim Hasan Sakib lbw. Rishad Hossain used the review to deny Rashid the hat-trick after he too was ruled out lbw. Jaker Ali fell in the following over as Bangladesh lost three wickets without adding a run. Tanvir Islam fell for a duck, lbw to Rashid, before Rishad was stumped in the 28th over.Earlier, Zadran held Afghanistan’s innings together after they decided to bat. He made 95 off 140 balls with only four boundaries while wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He started with a straight six off Mehidy before hitting two more fours within the first 13 overs. His only other boundary came in the 30th over but his strike rotation kept Afghanistan going for most of the innings. He fell in the 44th over when Mehidy had him caught at deep midwicket.Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal paid for their aggression, falling inside the first nine overs. Rahmat Shah’s calf injury, too, disrupted Afghanistan. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Omarzai also fell cheaply, and in quick succession, to leave Afghanistan at 79 4.Mohammad Nabi and Nangeyalia Kharote offered a bit of support to Zadran before No. 10 AM Ghazanfar, whose 22 consisted of two fours and a six, helped the side get closer to 200.

The Virat race is run, but the Dhoni train trundles on

And the ECB’s HR has New Zealand on speed dial

Alan Gardner16-May-2025Stop all the clocks, put the Kohli-cam on pause: Virat has decided that he’s had enough of nicking off on sixth stump. Never again will we see that totemic cover drive unleashed in Test whites, or watch him race up from the slip cordon with his finger pointed in the air like an angry PE teacher. Never again will we wonder if he really would deliberately shoulder-barge a teenager just to gain his team a competitive edge (he would).Kohli confirmed he was out with an Insta post soundtracked by “My Way” – Frank Sinatra, rather than the Limp Bizkit version, somewhat disappointingly. There was always something nu-metal about the way Kohli played the game, with all the screaming and pouting and mic drops. Although even the younger version, who famously let his middle finger do the talking after being abused by a section of the SCG crowd, might have blanched at Fred Durst’s 47 f-bombs on “Hot Dog”.Anyway, we digress. You know Test cricket is in a tough spot when the most diehard Test fanatic EVER!!! (copyright all news outlets) decides he doesn’t have enough energy for the format anymore. Rohit Sharma had got in there with his red-ball retirement first and Kohli wasn’t going to be talked around by BCCI bigwigs intent on protecting commercial interest run-scoring potential for India’s tour of England, nor mollified by Gautam Gambhir suggesting he could “jolly well play till 45” if he wanted to, in the manner of the Famous Five discussing their future over toffee apples and ginger beer.Related

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Presumably someone involved in the discussions might have mentioned the fact that a certain James Anderson is no longer around for England, bending the Dukes to his will (although that decision was made very much against his will). But then again, knowing what we know of Kohli’s competitive fires, perhaps the lack of such a challenge would have counted against carrying on?Certainly the series will be lacking something without either’s involvement – and we don’t just mean contributions to the swear jar. But the Light Roller isn’t so worried about the future of Tests, eulogised by Kohli for “the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.” Old Blue Eyes might have struggled to be so poetic, never mind Durst. Yes, Virat clearly knew what made our game special, and not just because he hasn’t (yet) won an IPL.

****

One cricketer not going anywhere in a hurry (not with those knees, hoho) is ageing yellove guru MS Dhoni. Which is great news for those of us who like to recycle old material. “I only play two months in a year and now after this IPL gets over, I have to work hard for another six to eight months just to see if my body will be able to take this kind of pressure and everything,” he said after CSK had trundled to a stop outside the playoffs for a second year running. “So nothing for me to decide as of now, but I feel the love and affection wherever I’ve been.” Including, no doubt, from the cottage industry of people writing clickbaity headlines about whether MS will or won’t be involved in IPL 2026.

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England’s cricketing debt to New Zealand is long-standing, from Andy Caddick to Ben Stokes to the 2019 World Cup final – and that’s before Brendon McCullum arrived to beguile the stuffed suits at Lord’s with his laid-back credo. Now we can add Tim Southee to the list, after the recently retired Black Cap was appointed as England’s “specialist skills consultant”, aka the team’s bowling coach, replacing the semi-retired-though-still-not-entirely-happy-about-it Anderson. Is it a coincidence that Southee is one of McCullum’s mates from their decade of sharing a dressing room? Probably not. But then this is the ECB, where Andrew Flintoff was handed a succession of plum appointments seemingly on the basis that he is a long-time pal of Rob Key. Only if England replace Jeetan Patel (another Kiwi) with Nathan McCullum should we start to get worried.

Tottenham receive response after contact to sign West Ham's Jarrod Bowen

Tottenham Hotspur have now received a response from West Ham United after approaching their London rivals over a January deal to sign Jarrod Bowen.

Tottenham have already raided West Ham for one forward in recent memory, signing Mohammed Kudus during the summer, with the 25-year-old joking he was always Spurs at heart during his medical.

The Ghanaian has gone on to make an impressive start to the Premier League season, amassing six goal contributions in ten outings, finding the back of the net for the first time in the 2-1 victory against Leeds United last month.

However, some of Thomas Frank’s other forwards haven’t been quite as potent in front of goal, with his side failing to score in three out of their last four matches in all competitions, most recently looking devoid of ideas in the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea.

Frank said: “I’ve never been in charge of a team that created that little in one game, never. So that, of course, I will look into what we can do to make it better.”

One way in which the Dane could help turn things around is by signing a new forward in the January transfer window, and the Lilywhites have now made contact to sign a Premier League star…

Tottenham receive response after making approach to sign Jarrod Bowen

According to a report from The Boot Room, Tottenham are looking to sign a new wide forward in the January transfer window, and they have informed intermediaries they want to sign Bowen from West Ham.

Spurs have asked about signing the England international a number of times, but their London rivals have made it clear they will not consider sanctioning a departure this winter.

Journalist Graeme Bailey adds: “Tottenham love Bowen, but they are not alone and whilst I don’t see him going in the New Year, come the summer – it’s going to be hard to see West Ham keeping hold of him.”

West Ham have found it very difficult to get going this season, currently sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, but the English forward has continued to be a shining light, chipping in with three goals and an assist.

Josh Bunting was also left enamoured by the 28-year-old’s performance in a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

Having proven himself over a number of years in the Premier League, picking up 59 goals and 44 assists in 210 games, it is no surprise that Tottenham want to sign Bowen, and it is disappointing he won’t be available this winter, given their current options’ struggles in front of goal.

Jamie O'Hara slams Xavi Simons and another Tottenham star Jamie O'Hara slams "worst £60m ever spent" Xavi Simons and another Tottenham star

The former Tottenham man wasn’t impressed by Simons, who once again struggled at the weekend.

ByDominic Lund Nov 3, 2025

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