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Sunderland had to take the long route back to the Premier League after they were relegated from the division at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The Black Cats endured seasons in League One, a Championship play-off loss, and a midtable finish in the second tier before they eventually earned promotion back to the big time earlier this year under Regis Le Bris.

One of the most impactful signings made on their journey back to the Premier League, despite it not being in their promotion season, was the loan arrival of Amad Diallo.

Where Amad ranks among Speakman's pre-Premier League signings

Kristjaan Speakman brought a strategy of buying and loaning in talented young players with potential to improve with him to the sporting director role at the Stadium of Light, and has had plenty of success with it over the years.

In the seasons leading up to this summer’s recruitment, it is hard to argue against Jack Clarke being his best piece of business. The winger initially joined on loan in the 2021/22 campaign, signing permanently in 2022, and scored 28 goals in 114 matches, per Transfermarkt.

1

Jack Clarke

2

Amad Diallo

3

Ross Stewart

4

Daniel Ballard

5

Trai Hume

Ross Stewart also deserves to be up there for his 24-goal haul in the 2021/22 League One season, per Transfermarkt, whilst defender Dan Ballard and Trai Hume also rank highly as they have both played in the Championship and the Premier League.

Amad, though, ranks in second place, with his return of 14 goals and three assists in the second tier on loan from Manchester United in the 2022/23 campaign, per WhoScored.

The Ivorian talent fired the Black Cats to the play-offs, scoring four more goals than any other player in the squad, as an incredibly exciting player to watch on the right wing, and his impact was evident by the fact that Sunderland finished 16th the season after he left.

Now, Sunderland have found their most impactful signing since Amad Diallo by bringing Granit Xhaka to the club from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Why Xhaka is Sunderland's most impactful signing since Amad

As Amad was signed more recently than Clarke was, the former United loanee is the player to beat to be the most impactful signing since his arrival on Wearside.

Xhaka, signed from Leverkusen for £13m in the summer, has had a colossal impact on the side with his exceptional performances in the middle of the park for Le Bris.

The left-footed star arrived at the club as a proven Premier League performer, with 297 appearances for Arsenal (Transfermarkt) under his belt, and his performances have reflected that experience.

FotMob rating

7.42

1st

Assists

4

1st

Goals + assists

5

1st

Chances created

18

1st

Big chances created

5

1st

Passes made per 90

42.9

1st

xA

1.3

1st

Long passes made per 90

4.4

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Switzerland international tops the charts for the Black Cats in a host of key statistics, which highlights just how influential he has been on the pitch in the top-flight this term.

Last month, Wayne Rooney described him as “the signing of the season” and suggested that Xhaka, 33, is like a “father figure” to the rest of the players in what is a young squad, setting an example for his teammates.

Rooney’s point about him being a father figure is an interesting one. He was the oldest signing of the summer, per Transfermarkt, and is the oldest player in the squad to have made an appearance in the Premier League this season.

Whilst this is unquantifiable, someone like Rooney, a Manchester United legend, will know what kind of an impact that can have in a dressing room, and he feels that Xhaka is an important presence for this young Sunderland squad.

Couple that with his clear and quantifiable impact on the pitch in the Premier League, and it is hard to argue against him being the most impactful signing of the summer.

Xhaka has been a phenomenal addition to the squad, their best since Amad’s sublime loan spell, and Le Bris will be hoping that he continues to be a shining light in midfield for the rest of the season and beyond.

Sunderland now eyeing move to sign midfield ace who Chelsea wanted to sign

Regis Le Bris could hold one key advantage.

ByTom Cunningham 5 days ago

The signing of the Swiss star has shown how important it is to have experienced players in key positions to be the backbone of the side, in order for the younger players to develop and thrive around them.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a fair few talents that have been underappreciated over the years, but none more so than central midfielder Mousa Dembélé.

The Belgian joined the Lilywhites in a £15m deal from Fulham back in the summer of 2012, with many supporters unaware of the quality he possessed prior to his switch to North London.

He racked up a total of 249 senior appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, arguably cementing himself as one of their best ever midfielders.

From dazzling runs with the ball at his feet to dominant physical displays out of possession, the talent cemented himself as a key player during his spell in the Premier League.

Since his move to Guangzhou City in 2019, the Lilywhites have massively lacked a player of his quality, with Thomas Frank unable to rely upon one player to be his own version of the Belgian.

Why Bentancur has struggled with Spurs in 2025/26

After Frank’s arrival in the summer, there was a huge question mark around what system the Dane would operate with at Spurs after utilising various formations at Brentford.

However, it appears as though the 52-year-old has settled on a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 system, which has seen Joao Palhinha operate at the base, with two box-to-box players ahead of him.

Rodrigo Bentancur has been one of the most utilised players in such an area, as seen by his tally of 10 appearances out of a possible 11 in the Premier League to date.

However, the Uruguayan has struggled to impress in those outings, even being benched against Manchester United in the final game before the ongoing international break.

The 28-year-old’s underlying stats from the 2025/26 season showcase his struggles of late, which could see him drop down the pecking order further in the months ahead.

He has only created 0.6 chances per 90 this season, which ranks him in the bottom 25% of all players in the division – often struggling to make a huge impact when in possession.

Such a skillset is vital when playing with Palhinha at the heart of the side, with the Portuguese international known to break up the play and allow those around him to provide the creative spark.

However, out of possession, Bentancur has also struggled under Frank, only making 0.5 interceptions per 90, which also places him in the lower quarter of all midfielders in England’s top-flight.

The aforementioned figures highlight his all-round struggles in North London, which could certainly put his long-term future at the club in jeopardy – that’s despite penning a new deal earlier this campaign.

The Spurs star who’s already showing 'shades of Dembele'

Top-level midfielders in the modern game cost a small fortune, with numerous clubs in the Premier League often forking out mammoth sums to land world-class talents.

Four teams in England’s top-flight have spent £100m or more on a midfielder in the last five years, with Chelsea doing so on more than one occasion, with deals for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.

However, Spurs are a club that unfortunately aren’t in a position to willingly fork out such funds in the market, with more of a focus being directed to younger prospects.

Dominic Solanke remains the club’s record addition at £65m back in the summer of 2024, with no midfielder in Frank’s current first-team squad being bought for over £55m.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr both cost a combined £22m, with both now managing to establish themselves as key first-team members in 2025/26.

However, the academy system is another avenue for clubs to go down, with the Lilywhites desperately needing to put faith in youngster Tyrese Hall in the years ahead.

The midfielder joined the club at the age of just eight, subsequently spending 12 years in the youth ranks, before making the move to join Notts County on loan in the summer.

Such a move came after the youngster registered six goals and seven assists in 28 U21 appearances in 2024/25, with such a move being his first taste of senior football.

However, whilst it may appear a daunting task to many, Hall has taken it all in his stride, as seen by his impressive numbers at Meadow Lane over the past few months.

Central midfield

30

6 (5)

Defensive midfield

19

3 (4)

Attacking midfield

18

5 (3)

Centre-forward

6

3 (2)

Left midfield

3

1 (1)

Right midfield

1

1 (0)

The 20-year-old has already found the net on six occasions, with his latest strike proving to be the winner in the affair with Cheltenham Town at the beginning of the month.

Whilst he’s operated in a more advanced role with the Magpies, Hall has previously featured slightly deeper – even playing as a number eight for the Lilywhites in a post-season friendly back in 2024.

The youngster was brought on as a substitute in such a fixture and even impressed, with one of the commentators that day claiming he was showing “shades of Mousa Dembele”.

Such praise is huge given the levels produced by the Belgian during his own time in North London, with real hope that Hall can match such levels if given the opportunity.

At 20, he still has bags of time to reach his full potential, with his loan spell at Notts County undoubtedly helping him in his quest in the professional game.

However, Frank will need to keep a close eye on his progress and potentially hand him the opportunity to impress him in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

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ByEthan Lamb Nov 18, 2025

It has taken more than 40 years but we finally have it: an India-Pakistan Asia Cup final. Pakistan scrapped their way into the title clash after defending 135 against Bangladesh in Dubai.After Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice in three powerplay overs, Pakistan’s spinners tightened the screws, finding sharp turn and grip. After bagging his fourth duck in six innings in the Asia Cup, Saim Ayub produced a double-strike and ensured Bangladesh’s batting spiralled out of control.It was one of those bizarre games where the team that hit more sixes ended up losing. Pakistan had managed just five sixes and Bangladesh had matched that tally by the tenth over of the chase. They eventually finished with seven sixes but as they searched for more on a pitch that perhaps wasn’t conducive to that style, they kept holing out.Pakistan’s batters had suffered a similar meltdown earlier in the day, but Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Nawaz did enough to drag them to 135 on a used surface, a total that at the end of the day was enough by 11 runs.

Pakistan’s go-slow

Taskin Ahmed, rested for Wednesday’s game against India, hit the ground running by dismissing the in-form Sahibzada Farhan for 4. He became the third Bangladesh player after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, to 100 T20I wickets.In the next over, offspinner Mahedi Hasan had Ayub flapping a catch to mid-on for a three-ball duck – his fourth duck in six innings in the Asia Cup and ninth in 45 T20I innings. Only Umar Akmal (ten in 79 T20I innings) has bagged more for Pakistan.Fakhar Zaman was also going nowhere, managing only 12 off 18 balls in a powerplay that saw Pakistan score only 27. Only Hong Kong had scored fewer runs in a powerplay in this Asia Cup.After taking the catches of Farhan and Ayub, wristspinner Rishad Hossain dismissed Fakhar (13 off 20 balls) and Hussain Talat (3 off 7) in successive overs. When Mustafizur had captain Salman Agha inside-edging behind with his trademark offcutter, Pakistan were 49 for 5 in the 11th over.2:24

Aaron: Pakistan found right ‘mixture of calm and emotion’

Haris, Nawaz bail Pakistan out

The first six of Pakistan’s innings came in the 13th over when Afridi launched Tanzim Hasan Sakib into the top tier over midwicket. In the next over, he hit Taskin for another six before miscuing a full-toss to the keeper. After being dropped on 1 and 3, Afridi got to 19 off 13 balls.Nawaz could have been dismissed on 0 had Parvez Hossain not dropped a regulation catch. He went on to make 25 off 15 balls. Haris also played his part, taking on both Rishad and Mustafizur during his 31 off 23 balls. Pakistan crashed 80 runs in their last eight overs.

Bangladesh fade away in chase

While Afridi was on the money with the new ball at one end – his powerplay figures read 3-0-11-2, including a customary first-over strike – Bangladesh went after the bowlers at the other end. When Faheem Ashraf erred too full, Saif Hassan pounded him over mid-on for six. In the next over, he picked Haris Rauf away for a six and a four. In his next over, however, Rauf bounced back to draw a leading edge from Saif, which was grasped by Ayub at point.Nurul Hasan then started with a first-ball six, though off a top edge, but Bangladesh couldn’t sustain their hitting and kept finding the boundary riders. Shamim Hossain, who top-scored for Bangladesh with 30 off 25 balls, was their only batter to pass 20.Bangladesh’s slim hopes faded away when Afridi returned with the old ball and had Shamim caught by Talat, who was not needed with the ball on the day. Bangladesh were missing their regular captain and key batter Litton Das who was on the sidelines for a second successive game with a side strain. Jaker Ali, the stand-in captain, was among a long list of batters who holed out while attempting to clear the boundary.Pakistan had an injury scare when Rauf collapsed in his follow-through in the 18th over, but he continued to bowl, finishing off his spell, and locked in an India-Pakistan final on Sunday.

Mike Dean has recently opened up on what it was like to referee Arsenal during his 22 years as a Premier League official, and suggested legendary manager Arsene Wenger wasn’t his biggest fan.

As with most referees, Dean is a divisive figure, but he is one of the Premier League’s most talked about referees, not least because of some of his bizarre antics on the field.

Although officials are much-maligned, it is an impossible job to keep every player and manager happy, with the 57-year-old recently revealing that Craig Bellamy was the toughest player to referee, despite being fine to deal with off the pitch.

Speaking to Jamie Carragher and Wayne Rooney on the latest edition of The Overlap Fan Debate, the former referee also named which manager he found it difficult to get along with, revealing the feeling was very much mutual…

Mike Dean names Arsene Wenger as "hardest" manager to deal with

The Tranmere Rovers supporter revealed he was told by people who used to work at Arsenal that Wenger would effectively write off games when Dean was in charge, believing the Gunners had “no chance”.

Clarifying why Arsene Wenger was tough to deal with, he said: “I never got on with Arsene Wenger, and that was just, I don’t know what it was, whether it was every time I reffed them they lost, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t get on with him.”

Every referee in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

In 2009, the Arsenal legend was also sent to the stands by Dean in the dying embers of a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United back in 2009, having been seen kicking a water bottle in frustration.

Dean has previously shared details of a particularly ferocious run-in they had after the Gunners drew 1-1 against West Bromwich Albion back in 2017, saying: “He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying: ‘You’re not honest’ on numerous occasions.

“I replied: ‘So you’re calling me a cheat.’ He replied: ‘I maintain what I say, you’re not honest.

“He then said: ‘You’ve done this to us many times before, you’re supposed to be professional, you’re a disgrace.’ He was then ushered out of the room by the West Brom safety officer.”

While they didn’t see eye-to-eye prior to the 76-year-old leaving Arsenal in 2018, it appears they have since managed to put their differences behind them, with Dean saying: “Since he has finished football I have seen him and he has been great. Cross the white line and everyone is different, like referees. We are normal people.”

Every referee in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

Who is the top official in England right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 8, 2025

Initially known largely as a finisher, twice this year Gardner has forged outstanding centuries with Australia in trouble

Vishal Dikshit02-Oct-20253:43

Australia’s batting depth comes to the fore

There’s always some sort of inevitability and invincibility about this Australia side, especially in ODIs. That they are the favourites to lift this World Cup, too. That they will be hard to match on most days. That they will come out all guns blazing with the bat. And such is the enviable depth in their batting line-up that someone or the other will step up for a rescue act, if their backs are against the wall.The last of those shone the brightest in their opening World Cup fixture against New Zealand in the form of a counter-attacking century from Ashleigh Gardner. While an Australian fighting back for her team was rather predictable, the way it was played was still a stunning vindication of Gardner’s, and the team’s, belief in the opening match of a major tournament.A Gardner ODI century at No. 6 to salvage Australia’s ship from troubled waters of 128 for 5 against one of their top rivals also rolled out with a sense of déjà vu. She had scored her maiden ODI century in a similar situation earlier this year, against England in the Ashes, when Australia were 59 for 4 in the third ODI in Hobart, where Australia had opted to bat – just like in Indore – before suffering an early stutter.Related

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Against New Zealand on Wednesday, Gardner was still fresh to the middle when Australia lost their fifth wicket in the 22nd over on a flat pitch, looking far from in a position to put up a big total. Three of those five Australia had lost when they tried to fetch boundaries or counterattack and all ended up handing out catches in the 30-yard circle. One of the biggest comforts of the one-day format is there is opportunity to rebuild after an early wobble before it’s time to take off again in the end overs.But that’s where Australia’s approach shone through from Gardner, who wasn’t interested in consolidating. She knew she had the comfort of the depth in Australia’s line-up – with allrounder Kim Garth slotted at No. 9 – she was aware that anything under 300 wouldn’t be enough on a flat deck, and she never took her foot off the pedal.Gardner reeled off a boundary against each of Lea Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr within the first eight balls she faced, initially without taking much risk. Her idea, she said after the game, was to keep the scoreboard going and even if the field was spread out, all she had to do was find the gaps to reach the short boundaries with the help of the quick outfield.When Bree Illing returned for her second spell, Gardner danced down the pitch against the left-arm quick to muscle the ball over mid-on for four. The fall of previous wickets while trying to take the aerial route was not going to bog her down, she knew her task was to score runs, and quickly. When it turned out to be a no-ball, Gardner smacked the free hit again on the leg side for four more. And she was off.Ashleigh Gardner did not take a backward step despite Australia’s tricky position•Associated Press”I was just trying to hit the boundary riders hard, run really hard with my partner and just be really clear in my thinking,” Gardner said at the press conference. “I guess that’s what I was able to do today which is why I was just so clear in where I wanted to score. And I was just really proactive with taking positive options because if I go into my shell, that’s probably when I won’t bat the best. So for me it’s sticking to my strengths. Yes, the scoreboard was saying something, but I was trying to take that out of it.”Soon Gardner was in the 40s and even though a sixth wicket fell at the other end – Tahlia McGrath chipping to midwicket – Gardner had ensured Australia were going at run a ball after 32 overs. With 18 overs to go and just four wickets left, would she now be more watchful?Two balls later, she shimmied down the track for her first six that took her to fifty off 43 balls. Gardner was looking incredibly hard to get out now, and she pushed the run rate to 6.30 by the 40th over even though a seventh wicket had gone down. A bit of unnecessary risk and Australia ran the danger of being bowled out for an under-par score.But what was a par score on a ground where no women’s internationals had been played before and on a fresh pitch for the first match of this season? When both teams had trained at the day before, they knew it was going to be a belter, so Gardner thought they had to keep going.’When I’m clear and I’m not thinking too much, I think that’s when I play my best innings’•Getty Images”I always knew that we probably needed around the 320,” Gardner said. “I think it was maybe eight overs to go when I was batting with Kim Garth, and I said we ideally need about 310-320 here minimum. I guess as you saw there today, once you kind of got set, you can really flourish from there, and once you had the pace of the wicket, that really helped as well.”I think when people got in trouble, it was a little bit two-paced at times and they probably were just second-guessing themselves rather than just having that clarity and I guess the shot decisions that they wanted to make. For me, it was obviously being able to do that and just being really clear in my mind because when I’m clear and I’m not thinking too much, I think that’s when I play my best innings.”And the best part of her innings came towards the end when she took just 34 balls to race from 50 to 100 by finding the boundaries more regularly and brought up a magnificent 77-ball century with the first of back-to-back fours off the now-tired New Zealand bowlers.For New Zealand, Gardner’s blitz might have brought back memories of the 2022 World Cup game in Wellington when she had walked out at 214 for 5 with five overs to go, and smashed an unbeaten 48 off just 18 balls, striking at 266.67 to set up a match-winning total of 269.But the difference in the Gardner of early 2022 and late 2025 is that then she was primarily a finisher, having faced more than 50 deliveries in an ODI just once. Having had to bat for longer durations and in more demanding situations in the last 18 months, especially in Hobart earlier this year with her 102 off 117 balls, Gardner has shown she is not just a finisher, but a more mature batter who can build an innings and then give it a finisher’s garnish.

Over the last couple of weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have massively struggled to deliver within the final third, which has resulted in numerous disappointing results.

Thomas Frank will no doubt have huge questions to answer in the near future, with the Derby Day defeat against Arsenal the latest failure in his tenure after taking the reins in the summer.

The Dane made a bold decision to switch to a 5-4-1 system at the Emirates to try and nullify the threat posed by Mikel Arteta’s side, but ultimately, it was ineffective as seen by the 4-1 scoreline.

Such a decision also restricted the Lilywhites massively within attacking areas, as Richarlison’s long-range effort was the only moment of note in the final third.

Numerous figures from the club’s recent Premier League outings highlight the struggles in attacking areas, with an immediate solution desperately needing to be found by the manager.

The stats behind Spurs’ recent struggles in attacking areas

As previously mentioned, Sunday was an afternoon to forget for all Spurs supporters, with the defeat arguably the worst of Frank’s tenure after his appointment in June.

The defensive setup massively nullified their own attacking threat, resulting in an embarrassing 0.07 xG produced, with only one shot on target registered, excluding the goal.

In total, the Lilywhites only managed to notch a total of three shots, whilst also registering just four touches in the Gunners’ 18-yard box during the 90-minute contest.

However, the club’s struggles have also been evident in other outings, with the defeat to Chelsea on home soil at the start of the month also showcasing their struggles in front of goal.

Frank’s men failed to find the back of the net in the London derby, again only notching one shot on target and amassing a total xG of just 0.10 in the loss.

No player in the squad was able to complete a cross against Enzo Maresca’s men, which no doubt would have contributed to the lack of quality within the final third.

The Spurs star who can solve Frank’s attacking woes

Spurs’ lack of quality in front of goal has undoubtedly produced a cause for concern, especially given the numbers produced under Ange Postecoglou last season.

The Lilywhites managed to score 64 goals in the Premier League during 2024/25, an average of 1.7 per 90, despite recording a measly 17th-placed finish in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally was the sixth best in the division, but Frank’s men have been unable to replicate such levels over the last couple of months of the new season.

His men have netted 20 goals in the 12 league outings to date, an average of 1.6, with Richarlison sitting as their top scorer on five goals – a quarter of the whole team’s tally.

However, the manager could find an immediate solution to the Lilywhites’ issues in attacking areas by unleashing Brennan Johnson over the next few weeks.

The Welsh international netted 18 goals across all competitions last campaign, but has often struggled for starts under the Dane after the investment from the hierarchy.

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55m transfer from West Ham United, which has seen the Ghanaian international often fill the void on the right-hand side of the attack.

However, Johnson is deserving of a recall to the starting eleven, with his numbers from last campaign showcasing the threat he carries within the final third.

His goalscoring tally from 2024/25 was by far and away the highest of any player in the first-team squad, with his underlying figures reflecting his all-round quality.

The 24-year-old achieved a total xG and xA per 90 of 0.51, the third highest in the squad, which further highlights his ability to star alone or find a teammate in dangerous areas.

Brennan Johnson – stats in 2024/25

Statistics

Tally

Rank

Games played

51

2nd

Goals scored

18

1st

xG & xA per 90

0.51

3rd

Chances created

22

4th

Crosses per 90

1.4

2nd

Dribble success

56%

2nd

Shots per 90

2.2

3rd

Penalties won

2

1st

Stats via FotMob

Johnson, who’s been labelled “impossible to defend” by one analyst, also ranked fourth in the first team for chances created – which could provide Richarlison with the ammunition to improve his own tallies.

Other tallies, such as 1.4 crosses completed per 90 and how dribble success of 56% both placed him in second position, with the winger having the all-round quality Frank’s men have hugely lacked.

There’s little denying that Johnson is a player who has divided opinion in North London, but his figures from last season highlight the quality he does possess with the ball at his feet.

If Frank is to find an immediate short-term solution to his side’s struggles, he may need to recall the Welshman back to his starting eleven against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

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Posts 2 ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have struggled with two major issues in the Premier League this season, with the centre-forward area just one department that has been called into question.

Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani have often shared the responsibility at the top end of the pitch, but neither of whom have been able to nail down the position as their own.

The Brazilian international may have scored in the previous clash with Manchester United, but he’s often failed to deliver when called upon, as seen by his tally of just four goals to date.

However, the midfield area has also been one of concern for Thomas Frank, with the Dane yet to establish his best partnership in the middle of the park.

Joao Palhinha has arguably made himself one of the first names on the teamsheet, with his tally of 49 tackles won in the Premier League this season the highest of any player in the division.

Despite the performances of the Portuguese international, he’s not been able to find a regular partner at the base of the side – but one player shouldn’t operate in the role alongside him.

How Bentancur compares to other midfielders in the PL in 2025/26

Over the last few years, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been a key member of the first team squad, racking up 130 appearances for Spurs in the last three seasons.

The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £21.5m for the Uruguayan’s signature in January 2022, a bargain fee given his extended stint in North London.

However, despite starting eight matches in the Premier League this season, the 28-year-old has fallen way below the standards many expect from him, given his previous performances.

Such displays have led to calls from the supporters for Bentancur to be dropped, with his underlying stats from the ongoing campaign further showcasing his lack of impact in 2025/26.

He’s only completed 86% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst only achieving a total of 1.1 long balls per 90 – with the latter ranking him in the bottom 15% of all players in the division.

The Uruguayan has only created 0.6 chances per 90, ranking him in the bottom 25% of all players in the division – something which is vital alongside a ball-winner like Palhinha.

Given the Portuguese international’s ability to break up the play, it’s handed Bentancur the responsibility to help transition the play, but he’s been unable to do so – as seen by the aforementioned figures.

Out of possession, the former Juventus star has also massively struggled to make a positive impact, which has no doubt led to the supporters’ recent frustrations.

He’s made just 0.5 interceptions per 90 – ranking him in the 25th percentile – whilst also being dribbled past 0.6 times per 90 – the highest of any midfielder in the Spurs squad.

Palhinha has massively dominated Bentancur in the ball-winning department, with the former of the duo winning nearly three more tackles per 90 in 2025/26 at present.

The Spurs star who can end Bentancur’s Spurs career

Bentancur’s decline at Spurs has been a difficult one for the supporters to watch, especially given the heights he’s previously achieved during his time in North London.

However, his recent performances in the current season highlight his drop-off in form, with Frank needing to consider alternative options in the middle of the park.

Youth has emerged in such an area, with the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr both staking their claims for regular starting roles in the years ahead for the Lilywhites.

The latter of the pair started in the draw with United on Saturday afternoon, whilst the Swede has missed the last two outings after suffering a concussion against Chelsea.

Sarr even completed the most passes of any player in the contest last weekend, showcasing that he already has one up on Bentancur with his talents with the ball at his feet.

However, Frank already has another talented teenager on his hands in the form of Archie Gray, with the midfielder deserving of more time in the first team setup.

The Lilywhites faithful likely raised eyebrows when the hierarchy forked out £40m for his signature last summer, after just one previous season as a professional at Leeds United.

No doubt the deal was one for the future, after joining Spurs at 18, but he was catapulted into the limelight under Ange Postecoglou last season due to the injury crisis in North London.

Gray ended up making 46 appearances across all competitions last season, with many of which coming at centre-back and full-back – roles which are somewhat unfamiliar to the teenager.

Games played

46

Minutes played

3243

Pass accuracy

89%

Dribbles completed

58%

Tackles won

50%

Aerials won

50%

Interceptions made

1.8

Recoveries made

3.6

He still managed to thrive in 2024/25, even registering numerous impressive figures such as 89% passes completed and 1.8 interceptions made – both of which were higher than Bentancur.

However, since Frank’s arrival in the off-season, the 19-year-old has struggled for consistent first-team action – only making six appearances across all competitions, with two of which coming in the Premier League.

He’s only been rewarded with a single start to date, with Frank often overlooking his ability to thrive under his guidance – something which has been a mistake to date.

Gray is a player who possesses huge potential, even being labelled a “future £100m CM” by Ben Mattinson, with many analysts believing in him more than his current manager.

As previously mentioned, his figures from the last campaign highlight the talent he possesses, but ultimately, he’s been unable to replicate such levels given his lack of first-team action.

Between now and the end of the season, Frank desperately needs to hand Gray more consistent minutes to allow the youngster to reach his full potential in North London.

Any consistent spell for Spurs could certainly spell the end for Bentancur at the club, with the manager needing to offload the Uruguayan to allow Gray to match the expectations placed upon him after his mammoth transfer.

Kudus upgrade: Spurs to make club-record offer for "world-class" £70m star

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a huge move in January for yet another big-money attacker.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 11, 2025

Former West Ham boss David Moyes has set his sights on strengthening his Everton ranks in January, with reliable insider ExWHUemployee saying he could now spark a reunion.

West Ham are bracing for a significant clear-out during the January window as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to reshape his struggling squad.

With the Hammers languishing in the relegation zone, several high-profile players could be heading for the exit door.

Niclas Füllkrug tops the list of potential departures, after the German striker reportedly told West Ham he wants to leave in January. The £27 million signing from Borussia Dortmund has endured a nightmare spell plagued by persistent fitness issues, missing 28 games for club and country combined last season, and has failed to make any meaningful impact since his arrival.

His agent has even admitted that a move away would be best for both parties, though West Ham insist they won’t sanction his exit until a suitable replacement is found.

Niclas Füllkrug’s missed games for West Ham and Germany — 2024/2025
Injury	Missing from	Missing until	Games missed
Achilles tendon	08/09/2024	02/12/2024	16
Hamstring injury	11/01/2025	01/04/2025	12

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta is another player reportedly keen on securing a January departure. The Times reported recently that the 28-year-old outright wants to leave, with Fabrizio Romano also confirming in his GiveMeSport newsletter that a Paqueta exit is indeed possible.

Aston Villa came fairly close to signing Paqueta last summer after holding talks, but the move fell through, with West Ham’s star kissing the badge as a show of loyalty after scoring away to Nuno’s Nottingham Forest in August.

Nevertheless, an exit is apparently on the cards for him, as it is for out-of-favour midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is actively seeking a January exit after a disappointing spell since joining on a free transfer from Real Betis in 2024, with River Plate, Espanyol, Club América and ex-club Betis all vying to sign him for a cheap fee mid-season (El Intransigente).

Young winger Luis Guilherme could also be moved on after failing to establish himself in the first team since his arrival from Palmeiras last year.

ExWHUemployee says David Moyes wants to sign James Ward-Prowse from West Ham

Finally, James Ward-Prowse appears destined to leave after being immediately axed from the squad following Nuno’s appointment.

Despite being a first-team regular and one of the captains under Graham Potter, the set-piece specialist is not in Nuno’s long-term plans and is resigned to departing in the winter.

Sharing an update on the 30-year-old’s future, ExWHUemployee has claimed that Moyes could look to sign Ward-Prowse for Everton after he initially brought him to the Hammers from Southampton during his spell in charge at the London Stadium.

Ward-Prowse actually did well under Moyes, making an impressive start and providing two assists in a 3-1 home win over Chelsea — becoming the first player to register two assists on his Premier League debut for West Ham.

His first season was rather productive. The midfielder, who Moyes called a “team player”, scored seven goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League alone, totaling 18 goal contributions across all competitions in over 50 appearances.

However, it was all downhill after Moyes left.

Ward-Prowse lost his importance under new manager Julen Lopetegui and was sent on loan to Nottingham Forest. The loan was then terminated mid-season by none other than Nuno, who was in charge of Forest at the time.

He returned to West Ham and played regularly under Graham Potter, but when Potter was dismissed and Nuno ironically became West Ham’s new manager, Ward-Prowse was immediately excluded from the squad again.

Now, Moyes is offering him yet another chance to shine at Everton, and he may well be eager to listen.

South Africa wicketkeeper talks rehab, social media and why her team can go one better with a change of format at the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2025South Africa wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta talks to Firdose Moonda and Valkerie Baynes about rehab, social media and why the Proteas can go one better with a change of format at the 50-over Women’s World Cup after finishing as runners-up at the past two T20 tournaments.