Tilak will link up with the squad in Gwalior on Sunday morning

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2024Allrounder Shivam Dube has been ruled out of India’s T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. Tilak Varma has replaced him in the squad for the three-match series which begins in Gwalior on Sunday.Dube had also suffered a side strain this February which had ruled him out of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semi-final game. He has been a regular in India’s T20I side since he returned to the national set-up last August.Since his comeback, Dube has scored 377 runs in 23 games at an average of 31.41 and a strike rate of 126.93. That run included back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries against Afghanistan in January and also crucial cameos in India’s title-winning run at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. He has also picked seven wickets in this period.Related

Gwalior takes centre stage as youthful India prepare for experienced Bangladesh

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Dube’s last competitive game came for India A against India B in the first round of the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru. He bowled only 12 overs in the match – all in the first innings – and scored 20 and 14 with the bat.Tilak, meanwhile, has played 16 T20Is so far, the last of which was the first T20I against Afghanistan in Mohali in January. Although primarily a middle-order batter, Tilak also bowls part-time offspin. A BCCI release said Tilak will link up with the squad in Gwalior on Sunday morning.India’s T20I squad vs Bangladesh: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Tilak Varma

After watching on as the last six promoted sides suffered instant relegation, Sunderland have entered this transfer window ready to put an end to that trend and are now reportedly set to welcome yet another impressive signing.

Sunderland continuing summer overhaul

To say the Black Cats are ensuring that they’re Premier League-ready would be an understatement. Those in Wearside have shown no hesitation when it comes to spending this summer, breaking their club record to sign Habib Diarra and following that up by welcoming Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Enzo Le Fee on a permanent deal and Chemsdine Talbi.

After becoming the latest to arrive, Talbi told Sunderland’s official website: “I’m really excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity to play for this Club. I made the decision because it’s a great project with a talented, exciting team full of young players – and that really motivated me.

“The Premier League is the biggest and best league in the world, so I’m looking forward to getting started. I know the fans will get behind me from the start, and I can’t wait to see them at the stadium.”

Those at the Stadium of Light have every reason to be excited by the winger’s arrival after he scored seven goals and created another five in all competitions at Club Brugge last season. At just 20 years old, the new arrival is a player full of potential and one who could realise that potential in full under Regis Le Bris.

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Even after Talbi, however, Sunderland are still not done in the transfer window. Reports have now emerged that the Black Cats have agreed a deal to sign yet another reinforcement and arguably one of their most impressive yet.

Sunderland agree £18m deal to sign Simon Adingra

According to Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland have agreed a deal to sign Simon Adingra from Brighton & Hove Albion with a Thursday medical set to be completed for the winger to finalise a move worth an initial €21m (£18m).

Whilst Adingra struggled to keep hold of a starting place under Fabian Hurzeler last season – starting just 12 Premier League games – he remains a player full of potential at just 23 years old. For just £19m, Sunderland have arguably landed an absolute bargain.

After drawing with Liverpool in 2023, former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi sung the praises of Adingra alongside his Brighton teammate Carlos Baleba, saying: “We played with a lot of very young players. I have to congratulate my club because they found another two great players – Adingra and [Carlos] Baleba.”

So, although his momentum was halted by Hurzeler last season, Adingra now has the perfect opportunity to get back on track and hand Sunderland a quick, tricky new winger.

As exit rumours continue to surround Mohammed Kudus, West Ham United could welcome a reinforcement of their own amid reports that they’re now leading the race to sign a £20m+ defender.

Tottenham not giving up Kudus chase

Following a frustrating season last time out, which the arrival of Graham Potter did not save, matters could be about to become worse for West Ham amid reports that Kudus may be heading for the exit door. According to David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, the winger has been the subject of interest from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, forcing the Hammers to reject a £50m offer in a saga which is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Given that Kudus is reportedly keen to join Spurs, West Ham face an uphill battle to keep hold of their winger, especially if the North London club returns with an improved bid as expected.

It’s a blow that Potter could do without after failing to get off to an impressive start at the London Stadium last season, but one that he must deal with this summer.

Although Kudus’ best work came in his debut campaign rather than last season, the 24-year-old is still a player capable of reaching his most clinical form once again. The only problem for West Ham is that he may go on to do so at London rivals Tottenham.

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Tom Cunningham

Jul 3, 2025

As one of their star men potentially heads for the exit door, however, the Hammers could be about to finally get their own summer business underway.

West Ham leading race to sign Diouf

According to The Sunday Mirror, as relayed by West Ham Zone, West Ham are now leading the race to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf after submitting an opening offer and watching on as Crystal Palace ended their pursuit of the Slavia Prague defender.

Whilst their opening offer worth around £17m was turned down, the Hammers remain in pole position and could yet match Slavia Prague’s reported £22m asking price to sign Diouf this summer.

Described as a “powerful dribbler” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diouf’s attacking work is particularly impressive from left-back and his ability to play left-midfield as well as centre-back would hand Potter much-needed versatility.

Following the departure of Aaron Cresswell, the Hammers should go all out to sign Diouf this summer and finally get their summer business underway.

علق صلاح سليمان نجم الزمالك السابق، على تعيين أمين عمر حكمًا لمباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي، غدًا، في الدوري المصري الممتاز، متحدثًا في الوقت ذاته عن موقف الأهلي من المنافسة على الدوري في ظل تراجع النتائج.

وقال صلاح سليمان، في تصريحات مع كريم رمزي، لبرنامج “لعبة والتانية”، على “راديو ميجا إف إم”: “مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي صعبة ومهمة للفريقين، رغم أن الدراويش يمتلك لاعبين شباب بدون خبرات”.

طالع| عاجل | مدة غياب إمام عاشور عن الأهلي وموقفه من مباراة الزمالك

وأضاف، أن التحكيم هذا الموسم يمر بفترة جيدة، مبديًا تحفظه على أداء الحكم أمين عمر في بعض المباريات: “أنا متشائم من تعيينه لمباراة الغد”.

وتابع: “الزمالك مغلق عليه بشكل جيد منذ بداية الدوري الممتاز هذا الموسم، ويمتلك كواليتي لاعبين مميز، وما زال الحديث عن بطل الدوري المصري الممتاز مبكرًا، ولكن الزمالك سينافس على اللقب”.

وعن الأهلي، واصل: “الأهلي سيعود للمنافسة على بطولة الدوري الممتاز رغم التعثرات الأخيرة في المسابقة، ومن المستحيل أن يستمر على هذه الحالة، والزمالك هو المنافس الأول للأحمر على اللقب الدوري هذا الموسم”.

Big picture: Can Bangladesh achieve another first?

It is time for India to dust the cobwebs off their whites as a long Test season beckons. Having not played a Test match in more than six months, they will now play ten in the next three-and-a-half, starting with Bangladesh’s visit for a two-match series.It is no secret that India is one of the toughest destinations for any team, and Bangladesh have no reluctance to admit the same. They have played three Tests in India and faced heavy defeats each time. In fact, India are one of only two teams Bangladesh are yet to win a Test against in 13 attempts. In the last ten years, India have lost only four Tests at home and haven’t lost a series here in close to 12.On paper, India can feel bullish about their chances of toppling Bangladesh when the first of the two Tests begins in Chennai on September 19. But this is a Bangladesh team that prides itself in achieving firsts.Related

• Tearaway Rana, captain Shanto among Bangladesh players to watch

• Hathurusinghe: This is the most well-rounded Bangladesh team in my time

• Can Rahul's middle-order move take him to the top in Test cricket?

• Gambhir: Having Bumrah in the team 'really an honour'

In early 2022, they beat New Zealand for the first time in a Test match. Then only last month, they beat Pakistan for the first time in a Test, and beat them again to seal their first away series win in more than three years. Bangladesh have traditionally not been great travellers. They have only achieved eight overseas Test wins in 67 attempts, but it is worth noting that four of them have come since 2021.That’s not to say India don’t start as overwhelming favourites. They sit pretty at the top of the World Test Championship [WTC] points table with a percentage of 68.52, and in the form they are in should make it to their third final next year. But they are coming off a bit of a break from the format, and have players in their top order who have been out of Test action for even longer. Virat Kohli last played a red-ball game in the first week of January. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are also making Test comebacks.India’s batters have in recent times shown vulnerability against quality spinners, and in Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, Bangladesh have three who can run through a batting line-up on their day.Bangladesh are coming into this series on an absolute high and, with India potentially rusty, will hope to catch them off guard.

Form guide

India: WWWWL
Bangladesh: WWLLLRishabh Pant will make a return to Test cricket after 629 days•PTI

In the spotlight: Rishabh Pant and Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Since his car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant has made a comeback in the IPL, T20Is, and ODIs. Now nearly two years later, a Test comeback beckons. It is a format Pant has excelled in; he has an average close to 44, a strike of 70-plus, with 11 fifties and five centuries. In his absence, Ishan Kishan, KS Bharat, Rahul and Dhruv Jurel have all donned the wicketkeeping gloves, but now that Pant is back, he’s set to take back his place behind the stumps. He proved his fitness in the opening Duleep Trophy encounter in Bengaluru, where he kept for 125.4 overs across the two innings. Ahead of a busy season, Pant might want to get his Test motor running nice and early.In a press conference on Tuesday, Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe reckoned Mehidy Hasan Miraz was “ready to take over whenever Shakib moves out”. Recent numbers suggest he is well on course. In the current WTC cycle, no Bangladesh player has scored more runs than Mehidy (380 in ten innings) or taken more wickets (23 in six Tests). He was a key contributor with both bat and ball in Bangladesh’s series win in Pakistan and on a Chennai track which is likely to aid spin, particularly later in the game, Mehidy has a chance to further enhance his Test credentials.Kuldeep Yadav is likely to get the nod ahead of Axar Patel if India play three spinners•Associated Press

Team news: Will India go with three spinners?

India have largely tended to play three spinners and two quicks in their home Tests, but they could be tempted to play three quicks against Bangladesh – as they did in both Tests in the 2019-20 series – on a red-soil Chepauk pitch that promises bounce and carry. Spin, though, is expected to play a major role as the pitch bakes under the Chennai sun, so three spinners seems the likelier option. In this case, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will lead the fast bowling unit, with R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as the three spinners.Additionally, KL Rahul is in line to come back into the Test fold for the first time since a quadriceps injury cut short his series against England earlier this year. He will likely replace Sarfaraz Khan in the middle order. Meanwhile, Pant is also likely to slot back into the wicketkeeper role in place of Dhruv Jurel, who played the last three Tests against England.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 KL Rahul, 6 Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.Bangladesh are unlikely to make too many tweaks to their winning playing XI from the second Test in Pakistan last month. They may also look to play three spinners. Bangladesh fielded Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana as their three quicks in the second Test in Rawalpindi, and the pace trio picked up 14 of the 20 wickets they took, including all ten in the second innings. But in Chennai, they could think about bringing Taijul into the mix alongside Shakib and Mehidy.Shakib arrived in Chennai late on Tuesday night after playing a game for Surrey in the County Championship.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Nahid Rana/Taijul Islam.

Pitch and conditions: Expect the Chennai heat to play a part

The Chennai pitch for the opening Test will be a red-soil one and while there could be considerable bounce and carry for both the quicks and spinners, the surface is likely to break under the searing Chennai heat. This will mean the spinners should come into play as the Test goes on. There is an excessive heat warning in Chennai at the moment, with temperatures likely to be in the mid to high 30s (Celsius) range.

Stats and trivia

• India are on a streak of 17 unbeaten home Test series, which dates back to November 2012
• Jasprit Bumrah is the highest wicket-taker for India in Tests in 2024: 27 in five games at 15.07
• With 1028 runs in just nine Tests, Yashasvi Jaiswal is second on the list of top run-getters in the current WTC cycle. His average of 68.53 puts him second behind Kamindu Mendis among the top ten names on this list.
• Pant averages 77.16 against spinners in Tests in India and strikes at 100.87.
• Mushfiqur Rahim averages 55.16 in Tests in India.

Quotes

“Bangladesh has got some really quality cricketers. Shakib has got the experience. Mushfiqur has got the experience. You’ve got a very good bowling attack as well. Mehidy is there as well. So we know that there is talent in Bangladesh. But the important thing is that we need to be switched on from ball one. And that is what the expectations from all of us are in that dressing room.”
“We played very good cricket against Pakistan, [but] that is past. It gives us a lot of confidence, but we are here to play a new series and the dressing room believes we can play very good cricket. We are not thinking about the outcome, just want to follow the processes.”

Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon for around £64m last weekend, and Mikel Arteta’s biggest issue has been solved.

97 goals and 28 assists across just 102 appearances for Os Leões is no small feat, and while the inevitable detractors will point toward the lower quality in the Liga Portugal than the Premier League will present him with, you need only look at his exploits in last year’s Champions League, with Manchester City falling to the Swedish striker’s sublime hat-trick.

Now that the 27-year-old is ready to link up with his new squad for pre-season training, Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta are ready to complete a summer of healthy spending with a creative player.

Bukayo Saka is one of the best wingers in the world and won’t be relinquishing his right-sided berth any time soon, but with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both expendable, so say The Athletic, a left-sided addition could be on the cards.

Arsenal's plans for a new winger

Someone like Rodrygo would be a welcome addition to the Emirates, and that’s selling it short. He’s been reported to be on the Emirates’ radar. But he’ll cost a pretty penny, the Brazilian.

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has also been linked, but £100m is laughable. Both players, it should be noted, are coming off six-goal league campaigns.

But there’s another who’s creeping closer to Arteta’s circle.

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Crystal Palace for the transfer of the 27-year-old Eberechi Eze, with the base layer of the financial package agreed.

Vidal claims the Gunners would pay £30m up front before meeting the remainder of the 27-year-old’s £68m release clause through instalments and clauses.

It’s starting to feel like Arsenal will get this one over the line, and it would be a stunning acquisition. Here’s why.

Why Arsenal want Eberechi Eze

Admittedly, Eze isn’t an out-and-out winger, for he has played plenty of football in the centre of the park, thrusting forward with those electric strides, those tricky feet which outfox the steeliest of opponents.

It was Eze who scored the winning goal as Oliver Glasner’s Eagles beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, and it was Eze who scored in dominant victories over Fulham and Aston Villa in the quarters and the semi-finals, respectively, to put Palace in a position to win their first major honour ever.

Glasner has preferred to use Eze centrally, and maybe Arteta will too, but the option for wide play is there. After all, he’s as fleet-footed as they come, ranked among the top 10% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers last term for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

High-speed running and slick skills could make him the perfect counterpoint to Saka on the right. And that, in turn, would allow Gyokeres to find his free-scoring form at the front of the ship.

Matches (starts)

25 (20)

34 (31)

Goals

6

8

Assists

10

8

Shots (on target)*

2.7 (0.9)

3.0 (0.9)

Touches*

43.8

46.6

Pass completion

84%

82%

Big chances created

21

11

Key passes

2.4

1.7

Dribbles*

1. 6

2.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

4.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.3

1.4

Duels won*

4.8

4.8

Would it be fair to say that Saka and the £100k-per-week Eze are tactically akin? Further, they are both physical machines, not brawny for the sake of muscle but athletic and strong and powerful on the ball.

But, most importantly, they are both creative as they come, and that could play right into Gyokeres’ hands (or, rather, his feet).

Gyokeres might be 27 and yet to test his skill in one of Europe’s top divisions, but as we have already discussed, he’s hardly untested against high-level opposition, hardly lacking the clinical shooting that surely would translate to the Premier League when flanked by the likes of Eze and Saka.

Both of these wide players are able to direct their playmaking prowess to a high volume with it risking the fluidity of their overall game. They are both complete in their performances, with Eze actually being described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards for his technical quality.

Let’s make it clearer still: as per Sofascore, Gyokeres scored 45 goals across his Liga Portugal (winning the division for the second successive season) and Champions League campaigns, and it has been recorded that he missed only 27 big chances.

Regarded as a “physical machine” by his former Coventry City coach Adi Viveash, you’d wager that this combination of pace, power and potency would be enough to prevent him from falling by the wayside in an Arsenal shirt, at the very least.

And that’s without considering the support that Eze and Saka would provide – though, luckily, we already have.

Eze, then, is a proven star across a number of years with Palace in the Premier League. Last season, he immortalised himself in south London by leading his team to the FA Cup trophy.

Is he not ready to make the leap into the upper echelon of English and European football? Would the Three Lions star not be refined at 27 and able to bring instant effects to Arteta’s project?

Clearly, the club’s Spanish tactician believes it is so. With Gyokeres at the focal point and Saka, while younger, at a level now where he plays with the silky grace and style of a seasoned veteran, there’s surely every chance that the Gunners will take that final leap forward over the coming year and get their mitts on one of the biggest prizes.

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Martin Odegaard has spoken out about a freak injury to Erling Haaland that left the striker needing stitches and a trip to the dentist.

Haaland picks up bizarre injury with NorwayCaught in the face by a bus doorNeeded stitches and a trip to the dentistFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Haaland has taken to to social media to show off some new battle scars, revealing he required three stitches in a facial injury sustained while on international duty. The Manchester City striker also revealed that he had come out second best in a tangle with a bus door that had left him covered in blood and requiring medical attention.

AdvertisementGetty Images / Snapchat @erling.haalandTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Norway team-mate Odegaard has now been asked about the bizarre incident and said that Haaland was fortunate not to have suffered a more serious injury, while Norway boss Stale Solbakken also confirmed the freak incident will not prevent Haaland from taking to the field for the national team on Tuesday in World Cup qualifying.

WHAT ODEGAARD SAID

Odegaard told a press conference:  “I didn't see it, but I heard he had a door in his face. It didn't sound good, but it looks like he's doing okay.”

The Arsenal star was then asked if it was the most bizarre incident he's seen and added: “It's high up. I've never seen anything like it. It was good that it didn't get worse. It could have been a little ugly, but it seems to be going well.”

Solbakken added: "I was in the dining room and didn't get to see it. We just have to be happy. It could have actually gone badly, but it went well. He got some stitches and stopped some bleeding. He also went to the dentist, I think. There is nothing to fear about the match.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

Haaland and Norway take on Moldova on Tuesday in Oslo. The striker will then return to Manchester City to prepare for a Premier League clash with local rivals United at the Etihad Stadium.

Vice-captain underlines change of approach with hosts hoping to engineer Pindi turner

Danyal Rasool22-Oct-2024

There is little secret about Pakistan’s ambitions for the pitch by now. Before the second Test reached its inevitable conclusion, Aleem Dar and Aqib Javed were already on their way to Rawalpindi to oversee work on the pitch for the final Test. At the post-match press conference in Multan, Shan Masood said he’d like the surface to take turn. Two days later, giant heaters, the sort usually seen in Pakistan for open air winter wedding events, were positioned on the edges of the strip, with windbreakers encircling it for maximum efficiency. Industrial-sized fans accompanied them.None of this has gone unnoticed by an England side who appeared largely out-of-ideas for how to combat Pakistan’s spinners on a turning track in Multan. Harry Brook told a press conference he believed the Pindi surface had been “raked” by groundstaff to speed up the deterioration process that brings spinners into games early. Shortly after, England announced a playing XI featuring just one specialist seamer in Gus Atkinson, with legspinner Rehan Ahmed coming in.Pakistan have needed to adopt extreme measures to increase the odds of a turning track, because, unlike in Multan, they are attempting to make the surface behave against its nature. Unlike in Multan, there isn’t a used surface available, as was the case when Pakistan decided to recycle the same strip as the first Test for the next game. Masood said he had “never seen it take turn” in Pindi, and his vice-captain, Saud Shakeel, echoed that, while saying he was hopeful this time would be different.Related

Harry Brook seeks emphatic response after rare fallow outing in Pakistan

Jason Gillespie 'sits on the fence' as Pakistan go all-in on the short term

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Stokes and England braced for Pindi spin-quisition

“If you look at the difference between Multan and Pindi, there’s a difference of climate,” Shakeel said. “Multan is warmer than Pindi, Multan is warmer and more humid compared to Pindi. Pindi favours fast bowlers slightly and has more bounce, compared to Multan. The groundsman prepares according to that, and I think that’s what causes the changes in the pitch.”But the way the pitch looks and the success we got in the second Test, we’ll try for a similar kind of pitch that favours us and helps us win this game.”Since returning from the UAE, Pakistan have agonised over how best to use home advantage. In the first couple of years, the wisdom was to shift sharply from their tactics in the UAE, reverting to seam-friendly pitches they believed would be easier to prepare. It coincided with a young crop of fast bowlers, primarily Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, coming up. Early encouragement, such as a Naseem five-for against Sri Lanka and a hat-trick against Bangladesh, followed up by a two-Test series win over South Africa where Afridi took five wickets on a decisive final day in Pindi, appeared to vindicate that tactic.However, since Pakistan deliberately neutered a surface in Pindi ahead of a Test against Australia, seam-friendly pitches vanished overnight. Pakistan went on an 11-match winless run at home, their joint longest, losing seven of those games. That streak was only broken on a crumbling track in Multan last week.It appears, for now, to have led to a sharp volte-face in the PCB’s thinking. “We should look at pitches for series to series and match to match. And we’ve come to realise this quite late,” Shakeel said. “If you want to prepare for SENA [series in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia], you can do it during practice and first-class cricket. If there’s first-class cricket before South Africa, we could prepare those kinds of pitches there. But we should prepare pitches and conditions series-by-series, and according to the opposition.”Our comeback in the second game gave us a really good morale boost. A win is always very helpful in creating a positive atmosphere. We’ll try to give spinners an advantage once more because they struggled with that in the second Test.”Pakistan opted not to name their XI on Tuesday, as England have done, preferring a longer look at the surface. Legspinner Zahid Mahmood was ineffective despite helpful conditions in Multan, bowling only six overs all match, potentially raising the chances slightly of playing a specialist seamer.Ultimately, with England having named three spinners, that appears unlikely. “I can’t say at the moment, because we haven’t discussed this,” Shakeel said. “If there’s a spinning pitch, we may go with three spinners again.”

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has just watched Spurs legend Son Heung-min confirm that he will be leaving the club in an emotional press conference, with the north Londoners poised to continue making headlines this transfer window.

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It has been a fairly eventful summer at N17 thus far, having spent over £110 million in total on the signings of Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus.

Their recruitment expenditure would’ve been £170 million if Morgan Gibbs-White had sealed his £60 million move to Spurs – as was widely expected around three weeks ago. However, after a very unexpected chain of events, including legal threats from Nottingham Forest, his transfer was blocked, and he’s since signed a new contract at the City Ground.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham are still in the market for a new playmaker and alternative to Gibbs-White, with chairman Daniel Levy also reportedly considering an audacious move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

Their need to sign a new left-winger is also emphasised by Son’s now-imminent departure.

The South Korean burst into tears after he announced that this year would be his last in a Tottenham shirt, and the Lilywhites must now begin the search for his potential replacement after Son’s stellar decade in north London.

“Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer,” said Son.

“Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.

“I have been here for 10 years. It’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans. I have such amazing memories. I just felt like I need a new environment to push myself to get more out of me. I think I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a long time.”

As one big name looks set to depart, another comes through the door.

Joao Palhinha completes Tottenham medical with "formal steps" to follow

According to Fabrizio Romano, midfielder Joao Palhinha is on the verge of completing his move to Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich.

The Portugal international agreed a temporary deal with an option to buy for around £26 million next summer, and Romano claims that Palhinha has now completed his Tottenham medical with “formal steps” to follow between the clubs.

Palhinha’s debut campaign at Bayern, after he sealed a long-awaited move there from Fulham last year, wasn’t exactly ideal.

The 30-year-old fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order following a season blighted by injury and suspension, with Palhinha now returning to London just 12 months after waving goodbye to Craven Cottage.

Spurs will cover his full £166,000-per-week salary, but Frank is apparently “really excited” about signing Palhinha as he’s exactly the type of player Tottenham’s new head coach has been looking for (Fabrizio Romano).

كشف الجهاز الطبي للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك عن تفاصيل إصابة نبيل عماد دونجا لاعب وسط الأبيض، التي تعرض لها في مباراة الجونة التي أقيمت اليوم في مسابقة الدوري.

وتعادل الزمالك مع الجونة بهدف لكل فريق في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما على ستاد القاهرة الدولي في الجولة الثامنة لمسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

طالع| موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة أمام الأهلي في الدوري بعد التعادل مع الجونة

وأكد الجهاز الطبي للزمالك، أن “دونجا” تعرض لإصابة بكدمة في الضلوع، وسيخضع لمزيد من الفحوصات الطبية خلال الساعات المُقبلة لتحديد حجم الإصابة.

ورفع الزمالك رصيده إلى 17 نقطة في صدارة ترتيب الدوري المصري، ليوسع الفارق مع المصري صاحب المركز الثاني إلى نقطتين، ومع الأهلي إلى 5 نقاط كاملة، قبل لقاء القمة المرتقب بين القطبين.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب الزمالك مباراته القادمة أمام الأهلي يوم الاثنين المقبل، ضمن مواجهات الجولة التاسعة لبطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.