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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was unable to make it five wins out of five in the Scottish Premiership when his team faced Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss had won his first four league games in charge of the Light Blues, beating Livingston 2-1 in the last Premiership outing before the weekend’s 0-0 draw with Falkirk.

It was a drab performance that had a goalless draw written all over it and that is, unfortunately, what it turned out to be, as Rohl’s side were unable to find the breakthrough.

Huge question marks remain over many of the players brought in by former sporting director Kevin Thelwell, including Thelo Aasgaard after he struggled again on Sunday.

Why Rohl must drop Thelo Aasgaard

The summer signing from Luton Town is a talented player. His stunning goal against Dundee United and his return of five goals in five games for Norway proves that.

However, the English-born flop has failed to provide any kind of positive consistency to the pitch with his performances for the Scottish giants this season, which is why he has been so disappointing to watch.

Aasgaard did not register a single shot on target and only created one chance for his team in 68 minutes against Falkirk, per Sofascore, which really sums up his season, as the attacking midfielder has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances.

Chalkboard

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

That is why Rohl should drop the Norwegian talent from the starting line-up for a run of matches to provide someone else with an opportunity, whilst giving the ex-Luton star a chance to recharge and come back stronger.

At the age of 23, Aasgaard is a young player who may just need more time to adapt to the expectations at Ibrox. However, that same patience may not be afforded to Bojan Miovski, who looks like an even bigger problem for the manager.

Why Miovski is a bigger problem than Aasgaard for Rangers

The Macedonia international felt like a sensible signing for Rangers when they bought him for Girona, as he had proven himself in the Premiership, even scoring against the Gers, during his time with Aberdeen.

Unfortunately, though, he has not hit the ground running at Ibrox this season, with one goal in ten games in the Premiership so far this season for the Light Blues, per Sofascore.

His only goal came against Falkirk in Russell Martin’s last game in charge, but he was unable to repeat that feat in the reverse fixture on Sunday, as the left-footed flop struggled badly throughout the match.

Minutes

68

90

Shots

3

2

Key passes

1

0

Duels won

5/10

3/11

Dribbles completed

2/3

0/0

Fouls won

2

1

As you can see in the table above, Miovski was even worse than Aasgaard, who has scored as many goals as the striker in the league this term, at the weekend, as he offered less at the top end of the pitch and lost 73% of his duels.

The Norway international, meanwhile, carries a bit of a physical presence and can hold his own against Premiership defenders, as shown by his 50% duel success rate against Falkirk.

Miovski, who was described as “dreadful” by reporter Mark McDougall, has lost 63% of his duels overall in the Premiership this season, which shows that he has been a flop in and out of possession in the league so far for Rangers.

At 26, the Macedonia international should have come in to hit the ground running in what should be the prime years of his career, especially with his prior experience in Scotland, but the opposite has happened.

Rangers have a talent who could be sold for more than Igamane & Aribo

Rangers have an “unbelievable” talent who may go on to be sold for more than the likes of Hamza Igamane and Joe Aribo.

ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

That is why Miovksi is an even bigger problem for Rohl and Rangers than Aasgaard is because his performances are even more alarming, whilst he does not have the same mitigation or time ahead of himself to improve that the Norwegian talent does.

Australia have vowed to learn lessons from their semi-final defeat and come back even stronger, just like they did in 2017

S Sudarshanan31-Oct-20252:14

Healy: ‘Feels a little bit un-Australian’

Australia’s semi-final exit from Women’s World Cup 2025 ended a chapter of incredible success: they had lost just three of the 30 ODIs they had played since the previous edition in 2022. What will the next ODI cycle look like for the seven-times champions? And what next for the stalwart trio of Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt?Healy is 35, and confirmed at the presentation on Thursday that this was her last ODI World Cup. Schutt, 32, had indicated earlier that this would be her last 50-overs World Cup too, though she will take a final call after the T20 World Cup next year. Perry will turn 35 in three days, and hasn’t yet spoken about her international future.Related

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“This next four-year cycle leading into the next World Cup is going to be really exciting for our group and potentially see some really cool opportunities for some of the younger players to get greater opportunities in this side,” Healy, Australia’s captain, said after their semi-final defeat to India.”The opportunity for some of our players to play in a really high-pressure situation like that is going to do wonders for our group. This same thing happened in 2017. We reflected on that and thought we could have done things a little bit better under pressure and where we can be better at little certain aspects of our game moving forward. And I think we made that shift moving forward and we’ve seen it over the last cycle doing that one in 2022.”Thursday’s defeat was Australia’s first in an ODI World Cup match since 2017. That previous defeat had also been a semi-final loss to India; after that result, Australia tore up their template and started afresh, pushing Healy up the order to open, and adopting a batting strategy of relentless attack. That method brought them an ODI-record 26-match winning streak. Healy saw the latest setback as another chance for a reboot.4:58

Krishnamurthy: India have done something extremely special

“This is just another re-ignition for our group to say, you know what, we can be better at little moments of the game,” Healy said. “For our group to experience that, to be put under pressure and see how we respond, is going to do great things for us moving forward. So that’s really cool.”I hope we see more one-day cricket on the calendar. I think that’s going to be really important in this cycle. We see a lot of teams in this World Cup that, obviously, we’re forced to play against in the Women’s Championship. But more bilateral series are going to be amazing for the global game in that regard and make sure that these World Cups are highly competitive.”And obviously the opportunity to see the next generation come through and play one day cricket the way that they are, the way that they can and really take the game on, which I think we’ve seen towards the back end of this World Cup. I think it’s really exciting times for the women’s game.”Given the quadrennial nature of the ODI World Cup, the end of an edition often feels like the end of an era, with a greater scope for long-term planning than in T20Is, where World Cups take place every two years. It’s clear that Australia’s journey in the next ODI cycle will be led by youngsters such as Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Voll, with experienced hands in Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, all of whom are either in their late 20s or early 30s, still playing key roles.Young players such as Phoebe Litchfield will be key to Australia’s regeneration through the next ODI World Cup cycle•Getty Images”The state of the women’s game where it’s going is absolutely phenomenal,” Perry said in a press interaction after the semi-final. “This World Cup has been the toughest one yet, without a doubt and so competitive. The fact that in both the semi-finals, the team batting first posted over 300, and across this competition, it’s probably been more 300-plus scores than ever before.”We want to keep taking the game forward and that means that we’re not always going to be successful. At the same time, we play with a lot of enjoyment and application to what we’re trying to do. So it’s a pleasure to be a part of it. I feel very fortunate to see where things go.”Australia’s cricketing ecosystem is seasoned enough to keep producing players who look ready when they step up, with Litchfield, who scored a 93-ball 119 in the semi-final, a prime example. This ceaseless production line keeps head coach Shelley Nitschke calm about what the future holds.”We haven’t discussed about transition much, we had been just focussing on this World Cup obviously,” she said. “We’ve got some leaders in the last couple of years. We’re always moving and transitioning. I’m not sure if it’ll be a harder conversation or anything, but that’s forever a moving beast.”[Leadership] is something in due course we’ll sit down and have a discussion about. But I don’t think any decision will be made in the near future. We are always going to review and look to get better. We need to be better in the big moments.”Australia have already been the gold standard in women’s cricket. It is scary to imagine what their next chapter will look like.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has provided an update on the fitness of Bruno Fernandes after the Red Devils skipper suffered a late injury scare against Crystal Palace. The Portuguese midfielder went down following a heavy kick in added time and the United faithful will have been concerned that their key man might be out for a long period of time.

Getty Images SportUnited take three points in London

The Red Devils got back to winning ways at Selhurst Park with a 2-1 victory over the Eagles in south London. The hosts took the lead through a Jean-Phillipe Mateta penalty and, amid a feeble first half from Amorim’s team, looked as if they would cruise to victory over the Red Devils.

Fernandes had other ideas, however, and played a crucial role in turning the game around. The club captain swung in a deep cross from a free-kick to the near post, where Joshua Zirkzee collected and fired hard and low past Dean Henderson from a tight angle. From another free-kick, Fernandes then nudged the ball to Mason Mount, who fired low into the net to put United ahead.

Fernandes was named player of the match, reflective of the important contribution he made in overhauling the one-goal deficit suffered in the first half. So, when he was then hacked down, a few United hearts would have been in their mouths, concerned that he might have to miss a couple of games.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAmorim eases fears

Fortunately for United, it appears that Fernandes will be okay to make it back in time for their game against West Ham on Thursday. Amorim eased concerns after the game, telling TNT Sports: "It was a kick. I was shouting at him, we made a substitution in the end. He needed to talk to the bench but he said it was just a kick so everything is okay."

United better, but not brilliant

With the victory, United climb up the table to seventh, just five points off rivals Manchester City in second. The Red Devils have been in mixed form this season, but have definitely shown signs of improvement on their worst-ever campaign in 2024-25.

The Red Devils have accrued 21 points from 13 games so far, level with Premier League champions Liverpool – who saw off West Ham 2-0 on Sunday – and above the likes of Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.

Yet, there remain concerns at Old Trafford about how many points they are surrendering against so-called smaller clubs. After an unbeaten run of three games, the Red Devils lost 1-0 to Everton on Monday, despite the Toffees having ten men for the majority of the clash.

They have also dropped costly points at Brentford and Fulham. Had Amorim’s side earned victories in both west London fixtures, they could have been closer to league leaders Arsenal and securely in European qualification spots.

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Getty Images SportFernandes fit, but West Ham await

The next challenge for United comes in the form of West Ham on Thursday, who will be determined to bounce back against the Red Devils after a feeble display against Liverpool. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were flat in their 2-0 defeat by the Reds and did little to threaten Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal. The Hammers have improved under the former Nottingham Forest boss, but are still teetering above the relegation zone.

The games then come thick and fast for Amorim’s United side with a trip to Wolverhampton coming on the following Monday. Games against Bournemouth and Aston Villa follow in the run-up to Christmas, which the United manager will hope can help them make further strides up the division.

Above all, United will need Fernandes fit and firing if they are to register a series of positive results in the Premier League. The Red Devils skipper is once again proving to be their most important player and has been adapting well to a deeper role in the United midfield.

Umpire Bill Miller couldn't believe he missed this call at the plate during the Boston Red Sox's 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

With two outs in the bottom of the 8th, Jalen Duran tried to score from first on a Rafael Devers single to center. Duran slid headfirst into home right as the throw reached catcher Ryan Jeffers, who reached out to tag him just before he touched the plate.

Home plate umpire Bill Miller immediately signaled safe, but the play went to review where it was decided that Durant was actually out. After announcing this news to the fans at Fenway Park, Miller apparently forgot to turn off his microphe.

What followed was not safe for work.

"F—," Miller exclaimed as the crowd booed. "F—— saw that too. G– dammit."

The important thing is that the call was right in the end. And the team that had a run taken off the board still won so there was really nothing for anyone to be upset about.

Chelsea are now leading the race to sign a “superstar” Premier League player, who wants to leave his current club.

Blues back on track after Everton victory

The Blues brought a four-game winless run across all competitions to an end on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of a 2-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge, with goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto securing all three points.

Enzo Maresca will no doubt be buoyed by Palmer’s return to form, with the Englishman spending the majority of the campaign on the sidelines due to a groin injury, before breaking his toe, although he is yet to fully recover.

Maresca certainly isn’t lacking options top-quality options in midfield, with Palmer featuring in an advanced role against Everton, ahead of Enzo Fernandez and Reece James at the base of midfield, while Moises Caicedo is still yet to return from a suspension.

However, signing another new midfielder is on the agenda, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Chelsea are now leading the race to sign Kobbie Mainoo, who wants to leave Manchester United, amid a lack of game time.

A whole host of clubs are in the race for Mainoo, with the Blues now in pole position, alongside Bayern Munich, although Napoli’s interest could pose a problem.

The midfielder, who Frank Lampard is a “massive fan” of, is keen to receive consistent minutes wherever he ends up next, which means a move to the Italian club is attractive, especially given the way Scott McTominay’s career has panned out since moving to the Serie A.

"Superstar" Mainoo could be exciting signing for Chelsea

Nicky Butt has made it clear he doesn’t want United to offload the youngster, saying: “If Mainoo was playing for another Premier League club, United go and buy him for £70m or £80m,”

“Now we’re going to sell him and he’ll be a superstar elsewhere like McTominay, Elanga, Henderson – we can mention loads of them.”

However, it would be understandable if the 20-year-old were to push for a move next month, given just how sparsely he has featured this season, with the starlet still yet to start a game in the Premier League.

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When the Englishman, who is represented by the same agent as Liam Delap, has been given the opportunity, he has often impressed, particularly catching the eye with his dribbling and tackling over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Kobbie Mainoo’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Successful take-ons

1.13 (90th percentile)

Progressive carries

1.91 (82nd percentile)

Tackles

2.77 (87th percentile)

Non-penalty goals

0.14 (79th percentile)

That said, Mainoo may find game time hard to come by at Chelsea too, considering Maresca already has Fernandez and Caicedo at his disposal, so a move to Stamford Bridge may not be ideal.

The Sheffield Shield match ended late on day three with Queensland players saying the twilight period was key

AAP25-Nov-20252:51

Ehantharajah: This defeat will hurt for England

Gabba curator Dave Sandurski is set to prepare a pitch for the day-night second Ashes Test that will reward both batters and bowlers, just like in the recent Sheffield Shield clash.Queensland’s Matt Renshaw and Xavier Bartlett were standout performers in the day-night pink-ball Shield game at the Gabba which they won by seven wickets on day three.Related

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While the pitch for the Test will be a different strip, both players said the Gabba had presented a surface that rewarded bat and ball.Renshaw made 114 in the first innings while Bartlett scored 72 and took 4 for 35 in the second.The fact the Shield match finished at the end of the third day means Sandurski will get more preparation time with hot weather forecast ahead of the Test that starts Thursday week.”Gaining an extra day to get it close to that 10-day [preparation] period makes life just that little bit more comfortable,” Sandurski told AAP. “All indications are there is a bit of heat around. The wicket will dry out a lot quicker so you’ve got to make sure you keep enough moisture in it to last five days.”We try and make our wickets pretty much the same for four and five-day cricket. The aim is to provide a wicket where all players get a chance to perform their skills so hopefully all facets of the game come into the match.”Sandurski said the Shield match was indicative of how good batting and bowling would pay dividends at the Gabba.The Gabba during the day-night Sheffield Shield match•Getty ImagesThe two-day Test in Perth was a reflection of how England and Australia approached their task rather than the surface. “Years ago draws were acceptable but now they are not and people play more shots and can provide more chances,” added Sandurski.Bartlett identified the middle session, played in a twilight period under lights, as the key to success. Both he and Gurinder Sandhu extracted seam and pace from the surface in that period on day three.”Just on twilight the pink ball talks a little bit more and the game goes through massive ebbs and flows,” Bartlett told AAP. “You see wickets falling in clumps. You’ve got to stay in it and make the most of that middle session.”If the Test wicket is like the one we just played on it will be a really good cricket wicket. We got a result in three days but when you bat well you get rewarded and if you bowl well it’s the same.”Renshaw said that twilight period was a challenge and when the game could change quickly.”While batting it feels like you can get a ball with your name on it at some point, but I think it will be a pretty similar wicket to what we have normally had at the Gabba,” he said. “We saw the pink-ball Test a few years ago when West Indies were touring and it swung around at times and was also nice for batting.”

Neymar delivered once more for Santos as the Brazilian icon inspired a crucial 3-0 win over Cruzeiro to secure the club’s Serie A survival. However, he admitted afterwards that his future is uncertain as he plans to undergo knee surgery. With his contract expiring in a few weeks and transfer speculation growing, the 33-year-old’s emotional post-match comments have heightened doubts over whether he will remain with his boyhood club.

Neymar helps Santos avoid relegation with 3-0 win

Santos wrapped up their season with a decisive 3-0 win over Cruzeiro, a result that ensured the club avoided relegation to Serie B. Neymar once again played a key part in the attacking structure, influencing the game as a creator this time out rather than a finisher, having scored five goals across the two matches prior. The victory capped a late surge in form that carried Santos from danger into 12th place with 47 points.

The match itself followed a clear pattern from the outset, with Santos dictating the tempo in front of an energised Vila Belmiro crowd. Thaciano struck twice in the 26th and 28th minutes, taking advantage of the momentum that Neymar and the frontline generated with their fluid combinations. Joao Schmidt added a third shortly after half-time, sealing the win and all but confirming Santos’ mathematical safety. For Neymar, the match completed a final stretch played under physical duress, as he continued pushing through persistent knee pain.

AdvertisementNeymar casts doubt over his Santos future

After the 3-0 win, Neymar laid bare the physical and emotional weight he carried throughout the season’s final stretch: "I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me. I thank those who were with me to lift me up. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest and then we will have this knee surgery."

When addressing his future, Neymar added: “I do not know, really. I don’t know. I need some days now, I need to rest, disconnect then decide my future. For sure my priority always goes to Santos.”

Neymar's strong end to the season restores Santos' hopes

The resurgence Neymar delivered in the final weeks came after a turbulent season in which he managed only 19 appearances due to recurring injuries, as his hamstring issues repeatedly disrupted his rhythm throughout the year. Despite the fitness issues, his late-season form, with three goals and two assists in two crucial matches before the Cruzeiro clash, proved transformative in the tight relegation fight.

Neymar’s return to Santos in January had initially been framed as a dream homecoming, but pressure mounted as his fitness and form fluctuated. His outburst last month generated criticism, with claims that he was destabilising the squad rather than leading it. The narrative shifted only when results demanded a hero, and Neymar delivered exactly that.

His performances against Juventude and Sport restored hope around Vila Belmiro that Neymar can still be decisive, even as he prepares for knee surgery this winter.

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Brazil and the World Cup dream for Neymar alive?

Santos now face a pivotal decision period, as Neymar’s contract expires in just a few weeks and negotiations remain delicate due to his impending surgery. The club is expected to maintain dialogue with his representatives, but any new agreement will depend heavily on recovery estimates and clarity around his long-term physical condition. Regardless of affection on both sides, the timing complicates an immediate resolution.

A broader layer to the story is Neymar’s continued ambition to return to the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has left the door open, insisting he will call Neymar if he is fit enough to contribute, which places even greater importance on a successful procedure and full recovery. For now, the coming months will determine not only his club destination but the trajectory of the final stage of his career.

The Little League Classic is meant to be a wholesome event, but Sunday's clash between the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners got off to quite the opposite start.

The very first pitch of the game from Clay Holmes ran up and in, catching Mariners leadoff hitter Randy Arozarena right around the head.

Karl Ravech had barely even finished introducing the game by the time Holmes's pitch clipped Arozarena as the Little League Classic was off to a rather awkward start.

"… on , and he gets drilled by Holmes, right off the bat," said Ravech.

Some words were exchanged between the two teams but Arozarena eventually took first base without incident and play resumed. The outfielder was able to remain in the game.

That certainly wasn't the first pitch fans in Williamsport were anticipating on Sunday evening.

He didn’t get off to his usual quick start, yet ended up with an unbeaten 73 on a slow wicket to secure MI’s playoffs dream

Sidharth Monga22-May-20252:17

Aaron: Bowlers’ Plan B is Suryakumar’s Plan A

Suryakumar Yadav has a general cheery disposition towards life, but at the break between innings at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, he sounded extra pleased with himself. This had been one of his anomalous knocks: he was barely a run-a-ball in the first 20 balls, got to fifty in 36, and ended up with a strike rate of 169.76 despite playing for as long as 43 balls.Yet Suryakumar knew he had taken Mumbai Indians (MI) to an above-par score on a slow pitch where the ball gripped for the spinners and the fast bowlers who bowled cutters into the pitch. Now imagine the level of adjustment needed. You think a night match at Wankhede, you think you need to score 200 at the very least if you lose the toss. Here, Suryakumar batted thinking 160 was par, and 180 came about only because the last two overs went for 48.At the break, Suryakumar said this was an innings he had been hoping for a long time. “That it’s a difficult situation, I go into bat and try to bat till the end. And get a score that is above par,” Suryakumar told the broadcast.Related

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Now Suryakumar has had the most unbelievable run of 13 consecutive scores of 25 or more, which is now a world record, but that is not enough for him. He was waiting for an innings where he stood out. “It’s been 13 games now,” Suryakumar said later. “My wife told me a sweet story today. She said, ‘you have got all the awards except Man of the Match’. So this award is really special today. From the team’s point of view, this knock was important. Also this trophy [was important] for her.”Elite athletes want to win games, but they also want to do as much as they can on their own. So far Suryakumar hasn’t really had a shot at a solo showing. With their qualification for playoffs on the line, this game was as good a time as any. As he said, it didn’t come easy. He walked in at 48 for 2 in the last over of the powerplay. It became 58 for 3 soon, and the spinners handcuffed him and Tilak Varma soon after.It is rare to see Suryakumar get beaten four times in the first eight balls of spin he plays. He just couldn’t get the right length to attack. You wondered where the sweep shot was. It arrived against the ninth ball of spin, and even that a mis-cue. This was a slow pitch not conducive to dominating spin. Suryakumar would have to adjust his sights much lower and bide for his opportunity.Suryakumar Yadav unlocked deep pockets to write Mumbai Indians’ playoffs story•BCCINot a fan of taking it deep, Suryakumar was forced to do so here as Delhi Capitals (DC) kept bowling their best slower bowlers to try to get him out. He scored just 27 off 23 balls from Kuldeep Yadav, Vipraj Nigam and Mustafizur Rahman.Suryakumar said he knew the pitch was going to be slow so it wasn’t really a shock to his system, but even that par assessment of 160 looked in doubt when the last two overs began. They would need to score 30 off the last two to give themselves an even chance, that too provided there wasn’t any dew.When he finally got pace on ball, Suryakumar scored 28 off eight balls in those last two overs from Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera. With a little help from Naman Dhir, he had taken MI to 180. He scored only 26 of his 73 runs behind square, which is a rare event for Suryakumar. The conditions and smart bowling forced him to look deeper into his drawer. The most complete T20 batter of this age showed the drawer has deep pockets.

Are Tottenham Hotspur finding their feet under Thomas Frank’s stewardship?

Certainly, we have seen green shoots in recent matches. After that dismal home defeat to Fulham at the end of November, Spurs battled to a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park before beating Brentford in the Premier League and Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

Two clean sheets from two games, but Tottenham still could do with reinforcements in the rearguard. Namely, ENIC Group are planning to help Frank piece together a lasting project with a new left-back.

Destiny Udogie picked up a hamstring injury against Newcastle United and will be out until the New Year. But the Italian defender has been out of sorts this season anyway, and Tottenham are ready to take action.

Spurs' search for a left-back

Udogie quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous up-and-coming full-backs in Europe after joining Tottenham from Hellas Verona. Better known for his time on loan with Udinese across multiple years, the Italian was hailed as “the best left-back” in the country by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport a few months into his arrival under Ange Postecoglou’s wing.

However, Udogie’s persistent injury issues have stunted his growth, and the 23-year-old has been told he “needs to wake up” by one coach this term, lacking awareness and dynamism. With Ben Davies getting on – and rarely getting off the bench – competition is needed, especially with the Lilywhites making headway in the Champions League.

That’s why Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are circling in on Eintracht Frankfurt star Nathaniel Brown, with TEAMtalk revealing that the 22-year-old German international is on Tottenham’s wishlist ahead of the winter window.

A versatile wideman with no qualms about playing further upfield, Brown would add depth and new dimensions to Frank’s team, though this is a sentiment shared with rivals, Arsenal and Manchester United also among the suitors named.

He would cost upwards of £50m, but Brown has the potential to become one of the best in the business, and he would slot right into Frank’s set-up.

What Brown would bring to Spurs

Brown, a German-born player with American heritage, boasts blistering pace and a desire to progress play whenever he can. However, he is also defensively sound, mixing between duties seamlessly.

As per FBref, Brown ranks among the top 9% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 3% for tackles per 90, underlining his dynamism and ability to mix defence with attack.

In this, he has something of a likeness to Udogie, the finest iteration of the Italy star, and while Spurs’ talented wide defender has fallen by the wayside of late, his profile remains tailor-made for a starring role in one of Europe’s top outfits.

Brown, moreover, is on an upward trajectory, with analyst Spencer Mossman claiming earlier in 2025 that he is “one-two years away from being the most coveted left back” in the world. Already, several of the Premier League’s biggest sides want to bring him over, suggesting that he is indeed ahead of that prediction already.

Frankfurt has a rather porous defence this season, and that is a concern, but Brown is one of the standouts, showcasing an impressive mix of qualities. Furthermore, he rode the crest of a wave into the current campaign, having played so well in the Bundesliga last year.

Matches (starts)

10 (6_

6 (6)

Goals

0

1

Assists

1

2

Touches*

47.5

47.8

Accurate passes*

26.8 (85%)

25.7 (84%)

Chances created*

0.7

1.0

Succ. dribbles*

0.3 (27%)

0.5 (38%)

Recoveries*

3.8

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.1

Clearances*

1.1

1.2

Duels (won)*

2.9 (46%)

3.8 (51%)

As we can see from the respective left-backs’ Champions League campaigns, Brown is enjoying greater success, with his staggering duel success rate something to note.

Last season, talent scout Jacek Kulig said Brown is “moving to another level”, so perhaps it is the right time for him to take the leap of faith over the channel and down N17 to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What Tottenham decide to do remains to be seen, but Frank needs a few more instruments in his tactical toolbox, and Brown could mark his crowning signing as improvements start to reveal themselves.

Spurs have a "freak" teen talent who's a bigger star than Williams-Barnett

Tottenham Hotspur have already struck gold one player who is setting Europe alight in 2025/26.

ByEthan Lamb 5 days ago