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Borussia Monchengladbach star Jens Carstop has apologised for his dangerous tackle on Luis Diaz that saw him sent off in the first half of his side's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday. Carstop admitted his foul looked "really stupid" as he paved the way for another defeat for the Bundesliga bottom-dwellers.

• Bayern Munich continue their Bundesliga domination

  Bayern started a second-string backline for their game against Borussia Monchengladbach, with the likes of Sacha Boey, Tom Bischof and Kim Min-jae getting the nod ahead of regulars such as Jonathan Tah and Konrad Laimer. The visitors headed into this fixture as the table-toppers after seven wins in as many league games, while the hosts were hoping for their first win this season to get themselves up and running. 

  It was a pretty drab first half, despite Bayern dominating possession and creating chances at will. Borussia Monchengladbach kept the visitors' in check with valiant defending and had their goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas to thank for helping the team keep a clean sheet in the first half. 

  The second half, though, was a completely different story. Rejuvenated by the introductions of Raphael Guerreiro and young sensation Lennart Karl – who is set to extend his contract on his 18th birthday – the Bavarian giants scored thrice in the space of 17 second half minutes to put the game beyond any doubt. Substitute Guerreiro opened the scoring in the 64th minute before Michael Olise doubled the lead five minutes later. Karl, who became Bayern's youngest goal scorer in the Champions League last week, scored his first-ever goal in the top-flight to put the game to bed with less than 10 minutes in the 90 remaining. 

  Bayern registered 23 shot attempts, of which 13 were on target. On the other hand, their opponents managed just one shot, which came through a Kevin Stoger penalty in the second half. Stoger's effort hit the post. 

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  Castrop red ruins Monchengladbach plan

  Bayern, who have scored as many as 47 goals this season, struggled to break the deadlock for over an hour. Although they were at their clinical best in the second half, they were not at their usual best overall. It can be said that Bayern enjoying a numerical advantage for over 71 minutes of the game played a big role in helping them continue their winning run. 

  In the 18th minute, Castrop made a rash challenge on Luis Diaz, which prompted the referee to show him a yellow card. However, after the intervention of VAR, the decision was overturned and Castrop was shown a direct red card instead, leaving Monchengladbach handicapped with a man down. 

  Speaking to after the game, Castrop said: "The penalty is fine. If you look at the freeze-frame, the scene looks really stupid. Luckily, I didn't hit him that hard. I'm sorry. We had planned to make sure no one would retreat in a one-on-one, but it was unfortunate, of course."

• Kane tamed but Bayern Munich break records

  It was a rare sight to see Harry Kane kept off the scoresheet. The prolific Englishman has been in blistering form this season, scoring 20 goals in just 13 appearances for Bayern Munich. The last time he failed to find the net was on August 30 against Augsburg – though he still registered two assists that day. Since then, Kane had scored in nine consecutive matches, a streak that spanned 56 days.

  Meanwhile, Bayern maintained their spotless streak, making it 13 wins out of 13 since the start of the 2025-26 season. They became only the second team in the history of Europe's big five leagues to start a season with 13 consecutive victories across all competitions, AC Milan doing it first in the 1992-93 season. Three more wins in their next three Bundesliga games, and it will have broken the Bundesliga record for the most successive wins at the start of the season – set by Bayern themselves in the 2015-16 season under Pep Guardiola. 

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  Tough fixtures await Bayern before the next international break

  The Bavarians will be the favourites to book their place in the next round of the DFB-Pokal when they meet Koln in the second round of the domestic cup competition on Wednesday. Then, they will host an in-form Bayer Leverkusen team on Saturday, before visiting Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes three days later. 

Liverpool are “closely monitoring” a Premier League player hailed as “one of the top” players in his position, and he is even quicker than Jeremie Frimpong.

Slot discusses Liverpool's Guehi disappointment

The Reds’ failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on deadline day was a big disappointment, with the Eagles not allowing him to leave at the eleventh hour, despite a deal being agreed.

Now, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has opened up about the Premier League champions missing out on the England international, admitting it was frustrating for many parties.

“For us it was of course a disappointment, for the player I assume, as well, because he was expecting to come to us. I try to put myself in the player’s shoes, but that can happen with a player from us as well, maybe a player wanted to leave but in the end couldn’t because we couldn’t get a player we wanted, that happens in football many times and the good thing in football is, especially after the international break, everybody comes back, accepts the situation and knows he has to perform well.

“But if a player wants a transfer that he doesn’t get, then you always feel for him. If it’s a player of my team, you talk to him, make sure he gets his energy back and keeps going again, and that is probably what has happened at Palace with Marc Guehi.”

Liverpool eyeing Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven

According to The Boy Hotspur, Liverpool are among the clubs who are “closely monitoring Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven, as they eye a move for him in 2026.

The Reds presumably consider him an alternative option to Guehi, with Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also keen on snapping up the Spurs ace.

Van de Ven is arguably one of the leading centre-backs in the Premier League currently, so the idea of Liverpool signing him is a mouthwatering prospect.

The Dutchman is famed for his lightning speed, hitting a top Premier League top speed of 37.12 km/h in 2024/25, quicker than any Reds player, including new signing Frimpong, who hit 36.34 km/h.

Rio Ferdinand also heaped praise on Van de Ven last year, highlighting his pace.

Their own Bellingham: Liverpool have "one of the best youngsters in Europe"

Liverpool may have found their own Jude Bellingham in 17-year-old star

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By
Will Miller

Sep 19, 2025

Liverpool fans may be split over whether Van de Ven or Guehi is the best option next year, but signing either of them has to be considered priority business. In fact, if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t sign a new deal, bringing in both would be a great idea.

Cristiano Ronaldo has linked up with another sporting GOAT in the form of Novak Djokovic. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner CR7 is still going strong at 40 years of age with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Djokovic, the most decorated player of all-time in men’s tennis, has spent time in Portugal of late. That allowed him to meet Ronaldo, as gifts were exchanged between the pair.

• Sporting GOATS: Ronaldo & Djokovic dominate their professions

  Ronaldo has boldly billed himself as the greatest of all-time in football circles, with the Portuguese icon of the opinion that he sits above eternal rival Lionel Messi on that list. Many share that opinion, with the evergreen frontman already assured of a spot among the immortals.

  Djokovic enjoys a similar standing in his chosen profession, with the Serbian superstar claiming a historic haul of 24 Grand Slam titles over the course of his remarkable career. Djokovic is still going strong himself at the age of 38, with there no plans to call it a day any time soon.

  He continues to seek those marginal gains that keep elite performers at the top of their game, with Ronaldo having been doing that for several years on the football field. They are both born winners, with relentless drive ensuring that they are forever in pursuit of perfection.

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• Swapping gifts: Jerseys and a racket change hands

  They are likely to have discussed what keeps them coming back for more after rubbing shoulders in Lisbon. Ronaldo and Djokovic made a point of swapping signed jerseys, with the former passing over an Al-Nassr top sporting his famous No.7 while taking ownership of a red Lacoste shirt. Djokovic also passed over a signed racket, onto which he scrawled the iconic ‘Siuuu’ line that Ronaldo screams when celebrating his many goals.

  Djokovic has spoken on a regular basis down the years of how he looks to the likes of Ronaldo for inspiration. He recently said at the Joy Forum in Riyadh of trying to emulate the longevity of other sporting greats: “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go. If you see across all the global sports, LeBron James, he's still going strong, he's 40, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady played till he was 40-something years old. I mean, it's unbelievable. They're inspiring me as well. So I want to keep going and that's one of the motivations I have.”

• How Djokovic uses Ronaldo as inspiration

  He had previously said on the podcast hosted by Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios: “I identify with Tom Brady as well. And Serena [Williams] is first of all, the incredible mind of a champion, just incredible hunger for success, for improvement. Cristiano Ronaldo is also like that. But just willing on a daily basis. To take your body, your mind, your character, your emotions, to a different level. To be a better version every single day. And to crush the borders and limits that everyone imposes on you.”

  Djokovic has broken out Ronaldo’s celebration in the past, and said in 2018 of playing in front of the man himself at the ATP Finals: “It’s great to have big football star, a sports star like him, court-side watching tennis. He used to come and watch a lot in Madrid. He used to come watch Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer] and myself. He’s a fan of tennis. It’s really, really nice as he’s one of the biggest sports stars in the last decade. It’s great for our sport to have him there.”

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  Djokovic is also a big fan of Argentine great Messi

  It is not just Ronaldo that Djokovic is a fan of, though, having also spoken of his respect for Messi in the past. He said at the 2025 Miami Open, with the Argentine icon now plying his trade in South Florida for MLS side Inter Miami: “It’s a great honour to have King Leo in the stands. I think it’s the first time I’ve played in front of Messi, and honestly, I was a little nervous. I am very grateful for his attendance with his family. I have always been a fan of him, as most of the world has, throughout his career.”

  Djokovic has also billed Messi as a “phenomenon” and a “huge champion”. The same can be said about Ronaldo, with there a budding friendship there which will seemingly continue for many years to come as both delay any thought of retirement.

After an unprecedented summer of spending, the pressure is really on for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

On deadline day, the Gunners completed the signing of Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen, the Ecuadorian arriving in North London on a season-long loan but with a £45m obligation to buy.

He becomes the Gunners’ eighth new recruit of the summer, following Viktor Gyökeres, Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Kepa Arrizabalaga and, most excitingly of all, Eberechi Eze.

Around £300m has been spent on these new recruits, while very little was recouped by the departures of Nuno Tavares, Marquinhos, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Fábio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Despite the big money spent, this is a squad built around a foundation of Hale End graduates, namely Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, 15 year old wonderkid Max Dowman and, of course, the returning Eze.

However, did they let the best Hale End kid leave when he was just nine years old, one that surely would’ve fired the Gunners to that illusive Premier League title had he stayed?

What Eberechi Eze will bring to Arsenal

Eze made his Arsenal debut during Sunday’s disappointing defeat at Anfield, introduced in the 70th minute to replace Gabriel Martinelli.

If the Gunners are going to wrestle the Premier League title away from the Reds, they’re going to need to become more creative in the final third, as the table below documents.

Two caveats first and foremost; we’re only three games into this Premier League season, so that offers a very small sample size, but, on the flip side, Arsenal did demolish Leeds 5-0 last weekend, potentially actually skewing their data in a positive sense.

Those aside, it has to be a concern that the Gunners rank 16th for both big chances created and passes into the final third so far this season, rarely threatening at Old Trafford or Anfield in open play.

Thus, Arteta will hope the arrival of Eze will solve their creativity issues, and it was genuinely spine-tingling to be present when he was presented to the crowd last weekend, a completely surreal moment for the player, while the reaction of the supporters was like nothing else the Emirates has ever witnessed; Thierry Henry’s return, also against Leeds, coming closest.

Eze himself has spoken about the fact that, when he was released by Arsenal at the age of 13, he thought his dream was over, but, after spending time at Fulham, Reading, Millwall, Wycombe, QPR and Palace, he’s finally home.

However, there is another former Hale End kid currently plying his trade at the highest level of world football, someone you may have heard of.

Arsenal's biggest academy regret

Famously, Tottenham supporters sing “Harry Kane, he’s one of our own”, which is very much true, there’s no denying that, but that wasn’t always the case.

During the 2001/02 season, when Kane was just eight years old, he spent a year in Arsenal’s academy but was released, with then academy director Liam Brady later admitting that he was deemed “a bit chubby” and not “very athletic”.

Well, he would certainly prove them wrong, joining Tottenham in 2004, starting a 19-year association with Spurs, scoring 280 goals in 435 appearances for their first team, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ all-time goals record by netting against Manchester City a couple of months before his departure.

Then-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou labelled him an irreplaceable “generational” talent, while another former Tottenham manager Antonio Conte simply described him as a “world-class striker”.

Now with Bayern Munich of course, a move to Bavaria has not stopped Kane from continuing his scoring spree against Arsenal, converting a penalty in North London as they dumped Arsenal out of the Champions League back in April 2024.

That was his 15th career goal against Arsenal, only on target against Leicester (20) and Everton (16) with greater frequency.

As one might expect, Kane has started the new season on fire, scoring six goals in four appearances, most notably bagging a hat-trick as die Rekordmeister demolished RB Leipzig 6-0 on the opening Friday night of the season.

This takes his tally to 91 goals in 100 appearances for Bayern, averaging a goal every 91 minutes, which isn’t bad.

As a result, despite the fact he’s now 32 years old, Kane’s estimated transfer value remains £65m, compared to Eze’s which stands at £48m, also higher than the £60m the Gunners paid to secure his signature.

Tottenham supporters were not happy a fortnight ago when Eze did a last-minute U-turn, snubbing them to join their hated North London rivals.

So, could you imagine if, once he’s finished hoovering up multiple Meisterschale in Munich, Kane returned to the club with whom he began his academy career?

That would be the event that would finally break the internet.

Fewer touches than Raya: Arsenal must axe 3/10 star who's so "clunky"

Arsenal dropped their first points of the season against Liverpool.

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By
Matt Dawson

Aug 31, 2025

If you are planning to visit BMO Field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we've got you covered!

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada, with a total of 48 teams participating in the month-long tournament.

Toronto’s BMO Field is one of the 12 selected venues and will host six matches, including both group stage and knockout games, as well as the opening match for the home side, Canada.

BMO Field has long served as the home of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer and the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. The year 2026 marks a new chapter in the stadium’s history. Although the venue currently seats close to 30,000 spectators, MLSE is committed to upgrades and temporary seating to accommodate World Cup matches.

If you are planning to attend the tournament, this guide brings you all the essential information you need before making your trip to BMO Field.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  BMO Field overview

  Capacity	28,180
  Year opened	2010
  Tenant(s)	Toronto Argonauts (CFL), Toronto FC (MLS)
  Address	170 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada

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  History of BMO Field

  BMO Field opened in 2007, built on the site of the Old Exhibition Stadium as an improvement for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and to serve as the home ground of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. In 2016, the Toronto Argonauts moved to the stadium after it was configured to host both soccer and Canadian football matches.

  The venue initially had a capacity of just over 20,000 but has undergone several renovations throughout its short history. It now seats around 30,000, with ongoing upgrades aimed at expanding capacity to 45,000 for the 2026 World Cup.

  In addition to hosting Toronto FC home games, BMO Field has staged MLS Cup finals in 2010, 2016 and 2017.

  In 2026, the stadium will host five group stage matches, including Canada’s opening game, as well as a Round of 16 clash.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Which teams play at BMO Field

  BMO Field has been the home of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer since its opening in 2007 and became the home of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League in 2016.

  Team	Leage
  Toronto Argonauts	CFL
  Toronto FC	MLS

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  How to get to BMO Field

  How to get to BMO Field  by public transport

  The most recommended public transit option to reach BMO Field is GO Transit.Exhibition GO Station, located next to Exhibition Place, is only a short 2–5 minute walk from the stadium and connects directly to Union Station on the Lakeshore GO line.

  Apart from GO Transit, TTC streetcars and buses also serve stations close to the stadium. The 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst streetcar routes both stop within walking distance of BMO Field.

  How to get to BMO Field by car

  Fans traveling to the stadium by car often use the Gardiner Expressway or Lake Shore Boulevard and then follow signs to BMO Field. Parking is available around the stadium, but expect heavy congestion and higher-than-usual traffic on event days.

Tottenham remain in the market for key additions before deadline day on September 1, with the clock against Daniel Levy who has just five days to make three major signings for Spurs.

Thomas Frank has made an excellent start to life in his first ever job managing one of the Premier League big six, overseeing impressive wins against Burnley and Man City with a hamstrung squad.

However, the new manager bounce is unlikely to continue indefinitely, and it is inevitable that Spurs will suffer new injuries amid their task of competing on four different fronts.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are two big attacking absentees for Frank, and it was made worse by club legend Son Heung-min’s departure to the MLS. Radu Dragusin also won’t be back for a while, meaning Tottenham would ideally like to sign a new centre-back, number 10 and winger in the next few days (Sky Sports).

Of course, with time against the Lilywhites, this could change, and their main priority right now is bringing in a playmaker.

This has resulted in Tottenham now making a last-gasp attempt to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, and they could hijack Chelsea in the process after their lengthy talks for the Dutchman.

Credible reports suggest that Simons is open to joining Tottenham, despite reportedly agreeing personal terms with Chelsea, so a north London leapfrog in the race for his signature is very much alive.

The former PSR sensation is in London right now amid Spurs and Chelsea’s race to sign him, with talks ongoing behind-the-scenes as a late battle ensues.

In terms of their wide targets, a player they’ve been struggling to land thus far is Man City winger Savinho.

The Brazil international was subject to a £42 million bid from Spurs, which was rejected out of hand, and Frank’s side were reportedly prepared to make another bid closer to the £60 million mark.

However, City are clear – Savinho is not for sale.

This has resulted in Tottenham being forced to go back to square one in pursuit of a Son replacement, but Savinho himself hasn’t exactly thrown the towel in.

Savinho "really" wants to join Tottenham and hopes for Man City deal

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, the 21-year-old “really” wants to join Tottenham and is still hoping that a deal can be struck before September 1’s deadline – even if it is unlikely.

The former La Liga forward, who City value at £69m, was a key member of the Girona side that surprisingly challenged for a 23/24 title, with Savinho also registering 13 assists in all competitions for City last season.

He hasn’t been able to feature so far this term due to injury, but Pep Guardiola believes he is an extraordinary player.

Leeds United have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them following their 100-point Championship season that earned them promotion to the Premier League.

The last six teams that have been promoted to the top-flight have been instantly relegated back down to the second tier, including Southampton, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Luton Town, Sheffield United, and Burnley.

Daniel Farke has first-hand experience of how hard it is to keep a team in the Premier League after promotion. He suffered relegation with Norwich City after his first title at Carrow Road, before being sacked during the Canaries’ second relegation straight after promotion.

The German head coach has to be backed by the 49ers in the summer transfer window to ensure that he has a squad that is capable of competing week-in-week-out in the top-flight.

There are some players in the current squad who may not be able to make the step up in quality, which is evidenced by the last six teams failing to stay up, and Dan James is one of those whose suitability for next season is up for debate.

Why Leeds have a Dan James dilemma this summer

The Wales international played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League with his attacking contributions from the right wing, and was nominated for the Championship Player of the Season award.

James also caught the eye with his performances in the second tier during the 2023/24 campaign, only for Leeds to fall short in the play-off final against Southampton.

The former Manchester United forward scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in the Championship this term, after a return of 13 goals and seven assists last term, which shows that he provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

There is, therefore, no doubt that James is a star at that level because he has proven himself in a Leeds shirt over the past two seasons, but that does not mean that he is guaranteed to be a key figure in the Premier League for the Whites.

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old attacker has already played four seasons of Premier League football in his career, for Manchester United, Leeds, and Fulham, and is yet to score more than four goals in one campaign.

He also failed to create at least one chance per game for his teammates in any of those four seasons, which shows that he did not provide regular quality as a scorer or a creator.

This is why Leeds have a dilemma with James this summer because it remains to be seen if he can finally be a success in the top-flight, but the 49ers could improve his chances of being a success by landing the club’s latest reported target.

Leeds eyeing bargain swoop for Premier League ace

According to talkSPORT, Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign West Ham United right-back Vladimir Coufal in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 49ers are looking for more top-flight experience in their squad and have identified the Czechia international as a target ahead of their Premier League campaign.

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It also reveals that Coufal, who wants to stay in the Premier League, was told by the Hammers that they would not be extending his current contract at the London Stadium, which means that he will become a free agent, and a bargain signing for his next club, at the end of June.

TalkSPORT adds that David Moyes, who managed the right-back during his tenure at West Ham, is also interested in signing the experienced defender for Everton.

The 49ers must push to win the race to sign the 32-year-old full-back because he could be the perfect addition to help Dan James thrive in the top-flight.

Why Vladimir Coufal could be perfect for Dan James

Whilst current Leeds right-back Jayden Bogle enjoyed a fine season in the Championship, scoring six goals and providing four assists, there are still question marks over his defensive abilities in the Premier League.

He started 32 matches for a Sheffield United team that conceded a record 104 goals in 38 games last term, and started 12 times in the Blades team that finished bottom on 23 points with 63 goals conceded in the 2020/21 campaign.

Whereas West Ham have conceded fewer than 60 goals in four of Coufal’s five Premier League seasons with the Hammers, since his move from Sparta Prague in the summer of 2020.

The 32-year-old star has played a key role in many of those seasons, thanks to the defensive stability that he provides at right-back as a solid operator in a back four.

As you can see in the table above, Coufal has not made a single error that has directly led to a goal in his Premier League career, and he has only been dribbled past more than once per match on average in one of those five seasons.

Bogle was dribbled past 53 times in 46 top-flight games for Sheffield United, which suggests that attacking players find it easier to get past the English defender, and that is why Leeds signing Coufal could be perfect for Dan James.

Having a right-back who has proven that he can be defensive solid at Premier League level could allow Farke to keep the Welsh forward high and wide on the right flank, giving the team an outlet to hit on the counter attack by using his pace to push teams back and get in behind in counter-attacking situations.

Coufal, once dubbed “outstanding” by Declan Rice, may not need as much support as the defensively susceptible Bogle, on the right, which would free up James to stay further up the pitch when Leeds are defending.

As shown by his famous goal for Swansea in the clip above, the Wales international has electric pace on the counter attack and the Whites could utilise that effectively by ensuring that they have a defensively solid right-back who does not need constant support out of possession.

This is why Coufal, particularly on a free transfer, could be a perfect signing to come in and compete with Bogle for a spot in the team next season.

Their answer to Hamer: 49ers lining up Leeds swoop for "special" £25m star

Leeds could land their own version of Gustavo Hamer in a move for this £25m star.

By
Dan Emery

May 12, 2025

Everton are ready for a summer of change as they move to a new home and are now looking to fend off competition for a direct forward, according to reports.

Everton prepare for summer upheaval

David Moyes led Everton out for their penultimate fixture at Goodison Park over the weekend in a match where they showed their strengths and weaknesses in a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town. With only one match left at the famous old ground before the Toffees move to Bramley Moore Dock, there is plenty of anticipation over who could line up at the new stadium in a few months time.

Internally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads a plethora of influential players who could leave at the end of the season, either on free transfers or when their loan deals expire. Intriguingly, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is now a public Everton target and may be the ideal replacement for the Three Lions international.

Moyes has signalled his desire to bring the ex-Manchester City forward to Merseyside, stating: “He would be one who we would certainly have an interest in. We would certainly be interested if he was interested in us. That’s for sure.”

Beto has been the main man in attack this campaign after being drafted in from the wilderness. Six goals in 13 Premier League matches have probably made his place safe, but there is room for added depth through the middle.

Having said that, Everton are now targeting a powerful forward to strengthen their frontline ahead of next season, per recent developments.

Everton in the mix to sign Tim Kleindienst

According to CaughtOffside, Everton are willing to pay a maximum of £30 million to sign Tim Kleindienst following his excellent campaign at Borussia Monchengladbach. Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United are also keeping an eye on the German striker, while the same applies for AC Milan, Roma and Bayern Munich from the continent.

A massive Beto upgrade: Everton enter talks to sign "phenomenal" star

Everton are making moves to land a new striker for David Moyes ahead of the summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 1, 2025

Lauded for his “direct” nature by Gerardo Seoane, the 29-year-old has registered 16 goals and ten assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this season. The Germany international has been a constant for Monchengladbach, directing 38 of his 73 shots taken on target in the Bundesliga in a disappointing term for his current employers.

Potentially set for a new challenge, he could feasibly be a replacement should Calvert-Lewin opt to move elsewhere once his contract comes to an end. Financially, The Friedkin Group should be able to shoulder the burden, so now it remains to be seen if Everton can force a deal over the line.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur and their chances of appointing a former Bayern Munich manager who they’ve reportedly contacted.

Tottenham players back Ange Postecoglou amid mounting pressure

Ange Postecoglou faces a very uncertain future in N17, following a disastrous Premier League campaign, where they’ve tasted defeat on 19 occasions in the top flight alone.

Manager open to immediate Tottenham talks after missing out on Man United

He appears pretty keen on Spurs.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 30, 2025

According to The Telegraph, this woeful domestic form means Postecoglou and Spurs could part ways at the end of the season, regardless of their campaign in the Europa League.

However, midfielder James Maddison has now publicly backed the 59-year-old, stating that the squad are “100 per cent” behind their head coach despite their “unacceptable” 2024/2025.

“We’re behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he’s a great man,” said Maddison in a press conference.

“He’s the first person to tell you, I’ve heard it myself, that we’ve had a poor season, especially in the league. We’ve been very good in Europe, but the league season’s probably been unacceptable, and we can all take collective responsibility for that.

“But he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, I respect him an awful amount.

“The narrative is something that we players try and keep away from because it’s not healthy to read into what you lot are talking about – the manager’s position. I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages, how he wants to play and trying to do what’s best for this club.”

Intense pressure has surrounded the Australian for months, and a succession of managers have been linked as candidates to replace him.

According to reports in Germany last week, one of the names under consideration is Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac.

The 53-year-old has helped to steady the ship at Dortmund after Nuri Şahin’s dismissal midway through the campaign, and enjoyed previous success at Bayern, where he won a Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.

According to Bild, Tottenham made recent contact with Kovac via an intermediary, and are believed to be big fans of his intense style of play.

Fabrizio Romano shares update on Niko Kovac's links to Tottenham

Following these reports, the reliable Romano has shared an update on Kovac and his links to Spurs.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist says that nothing is advanced between Kovac and Tottenham just yet, based off the lack of information he’s heard, but he doesn’t entirely rule out the tactician as an option.

“I’m not aware of anything advanced on this one yet,” said Romano.

“Spurs will not make any decision now with the Europa League semi-finals due to start soon.”

The former Croatia captain could be a solid outside candidate, with Kovac attracting praise for his leadership qualities.

“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said German footballing legend Lothar Matthäus.

“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”

Crystal Palace have now made contact over a move for a versatile defender, who is set to be available on a free transfer in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Palace may need summer rebuild

Palace’s winless run in the Premier League was extended to four games on Wednesday evening, although a draw against Arsenal is likely to be viewed as a positive point, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stunning late equaliser ensuring the spoils were shared at the Emirates Stadium.

By and large, it has been another successful campaign for the Eagles, and there is still an opportunity to make it a particularly memorable one, should they progress to the FA Cup final with a victory over Aston Villa at Wembley this weekend.

However, Oliver Glanser may be tasked with rebuilding his squad somewhat this summer, given that there is interest in Adam Wharton and Mateta, while it will also be the last opportunity to cash-in on Marc Guehi, whose contract expires in 2026.

As such, bringing in a new defender could be of particular importance to Glasner this summer, and a report from Germany has now revealed that Crystal Palace have opened talks over a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Tamiou Kpebane (via The Boot Room).

Palace have made contact over a deal for Kpebane, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, with his contract set to expire, and he is deemed unlikely to commit to fresh terms with the Bundesliga club.

Crystal Palace eyeing £30m "phenomenon" who's part of "incredible" defence

The Eagles have set their sights on a centre-back, who has been a key part of a fantastic defence this season.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 20, 2025

Interestingly, the 18-year-old is able to play in five positions, having been utilised as a left-back, right-back, centre-back, attacking midfielder and right-sided forward at youth level for Frankfurt this season.

As such, the 6 foot 4 colossus could be a versatile option for Glasner, although it is unclear how long it would take for him to push for a first-team spot at Selhurst Park, given that he is yet to make a senior appearance for Frankfurt.

Kpebane impressing at youth level

The teenager has most commonly been deployed as a full-back this season, but he has been extremely impressive on the front foot for Frankfurt, picking up seven goals and five assists in 21 matches in all competitions.

Those numbers suggest the German youngster could be capable of playing further forward later in his career, particularly considering he picked up two goals and two assists at right-wing in a remarkable performance against FC Nuremberg U19s last month.

Kpebane is showing very promising signs at youth level, so it is definitely worth Palace making a move this summer, with the move very low-risk due to his availability on a free transfer.