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Tottenham have had a worryingly quiet summer transfer window so far, and Thomas Frank quite simply must strengthen before the start of his debut campaign in the north London dugout.

While the likes of Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea spend hundreds of millions on reinforcing their squads, ahead of what is expected to be a very competitive Premier League season, Spurs boast just three major first-team signings.

Burnley (home)

August 16

Man City (away)

August 23

Bournemouth (home)

August 30

West Ham (away)

September 13

Brighton (away)

September 20

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55 million deal from West Ham, and chairman Daniel Levy managed to negotiate a cut-price £30 million deal for Mathys Tel with Joao Palhinha also arriving on loan – but that is the sum of their activity.

Technically, Tottenham have spent £116 million this summer, if you count Kevin Danso’s obligation to buy deal, which was agreed in January, but Levy’s spending still doesn’t even come close to their arch rivals.

We’re less than a week away from the start of the new Premier League season and a meagre few days from Spurs’ UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG, but Frank’s new-look squad is somehow weaker than Ange Postecoglou’s.

Son Heung-min’s emotional goodbye to LAFC and James Maddison’s crippling ACL rupture, adding to Dejan Kulusevski’s long-term absence with a knee injury, leaves Frank desperately short of options.

Reinforcing the squad with quality is an absolute non-negotiable if Levy is serious about transforming Spurs into genuine trophy contenders.

They’re set to be among the big boys in next season’s Champions League draw too – making new signings all the more important before the transfer deadline in under a month.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that striker Richarlison could leave Tottenham as well, and if that were to be the case, Spurs could become genuine contenders for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson with contact made.

There was another striker on their radar earlier this summer, Brentford star Yoane Wissa – a player Frank knows well from his many years at the Gtech.

Likelihood of Tottenham signing Brentford striker Yoane Wissa

Spurs were in talks for Wissa around the time of their failed move to sign playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest, but precious little has been reported about their interest since then. Now, journalist Graeme Bailey has provided an update to TBR Football.

Bailey reports that Frank “specifically identified” Wissa as a target for Tottenham, and the club held talks with him, but the likelihood of Spurs doing a deal for the 29-year-old is now very unlikely as Newcastle United close in on the £40 million forward.

“Spurs did open talks with Yoane Wissa when Frank first came in,” said Bailey. “That was a player Frank specifically identified. But it looks like Wissa’s nailed on for Newcastle now. Frank made it clear from day one that he told Wissa exactly how he wanted to use him, centrally.

“I think Frank also understands the reality. Do you really pay £40 million for a 29-year-old with one year left on his deal? Tottenham are never going to do that. Newcastle look like they will, but there are other reasons behind that move.”

The Congolese bagged 20 goals in all competitions last season, with 19 of them coming in the Premier League, but that £40m could be reinvested into the signing of a proven playmaker – which Frank desperately needs.

You can see why they’ve backed out, and amid reports Jackson could leave Chelsea on loan, they do have other, cheaper options to target up front.

Leeds United are currently building a squad that has the quality to avoid being relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking next season.

The Whites have already done plenty of business throughout the summer transfer window, signing Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lucas Perri, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Lukas Nmecha, Sean Longstaff, and Anton Stach.

You can see from the profiles of the players listed there that the Championship champions have placed a clear focus on bolstering the defensive side of the squad in the first part of the window, as Nmecha is the only attacking player among them.

Daniel Farke and his recruitment staff must shift their focus towards the attacking areas of the pitch in the coming days, though, as they need to add enough quality to score goals consistently in the top-flight.

The German head coach has to be ruthless with his squad by deciding which players in his attack are not suited to make the step up to the Premier League.

One player who the West Yorkshire outfit should be looking to replace as a starter before the end of the summer transfer window is Brenden Aaronson.

Why Leeds should replace Brenden Aaronson

Leeds should be replacing the USA international ahead of next season because he did not show enough quality in the Championship to suggest that he is ready to be a key player in the Premier League.

When Aaronson played in the top-flight for the Whites in the 2022/23 campaign, the attacking midfielder managed just one goal and three assists, underperforming his xG of 3.86.

The drop down to play in the Championship last season, after a year on loan at Union Berlin, did help him to contribute more at the top end of the pitch, and there were some impressive moments from him.

Aaronson ended the season with a return of nine goals and two assists in 46 appearances in the second tier, starting 43 of those games, which was a solid, but unspectacular haul.

However, the 24-year-old flop underperformed his xG once again in a Leeds shirt, with nine goals from 11.43 xG, and struggled badly against the top teams.

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Bristol City (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the American midfielder did not produce a single goal or assist in any of his ten appearances against the other five teams that made up the top six in the Championship.

Supporters should, therefore, be happy to read that the club are reportedly interested in a deal to sign an attacking midfielder who would arrive as a big upgrade on Aaronson.

Leeds make approach to sign new attacking midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United have made an approach to Leicester City over a potential deal to sign 21-year-old talent Bilal El Khannouss this summer.

The report claims that the Whites are pursuing a move for the Morocco international to bolster their options in midfield, and that they have made enquiries to the Championship side.

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It adds that West Ham United and a number of unnamed clubs are also interested in signing the attacking midfielder, which means that Leeds will face plenty of competition to land his signature.

GIVEMESPORT also reveals that El Khannouss has a release clause in his contract with Leicester. He is available for a fee of around £22m (£22.5m), as the release clause was activated when the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League.

Leeds have now made contact to find out what the terms are to pay the release clause, and it now remains to be seen what their next move will be.

Why this is bad news for Brenden Aaronson

This latest report should come as bad news to Aaronson, because El Khannouss could arrive at Elland Road to be a big upgrade on the USA international.

As aforementioned, the current Leeds dud failed to produce enough quality on the pitch in the Premier League when he last played in the division, and his underwhelming performances in the Championship do not suggest that he is likely to make the step up.

El Khannouss’ performances for the Foxes, meanwhile, suggest that he could offer more to Farke’s side in the number ten position if they sign him to come in and replace Aaronson in that role.

U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed that the 21-year-old’s talent is “unquestionable”, and it is not hard to see why he is held in such high esteem when you consider that he created eight ‘big chances’ in 27 Premier League starts in a team that got relegated, in his first year in England.

Non-penalty goals*

0.08

0.04

xAG*

0.19

0.16

Progressive passes*

5.28

3.26

Progressive carries*

3.01

1.63

Passes into the final third*

3.67

1.78

Through balls*

0.45

0.30

Take-on success rate

57%

34%

Miscontrols*

1.57

2.69

As you can see in the table above, the Leicester star’s output last season in the top-flight was significantly more impressive than what Aaronson produced two years ago.

These statistics suggest that the £22.5m-rated dynamo has the potential to offer more to Leeds in the final third and in build-up play, as he has the ability to progress attacks with passes and carries, whilst also being able to score and create chances more often.

El Khannouss is still a young player who is learning and developing, which also means that he could be a signing with the future in mind, as well as the here and now.

The Leeds target did only score two goals in 27 starts in the division, but those two goals came from an xG of 1.31. This suggests that Farke would need to find a way for the team to get him into more goalscoring positions throughout the season.

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Overall, though, the Moroccan magician’s creativity and dynamism could add a different dimension to the team’s attack that they lacked with Aaronson in the side in their last Premier League adventure, which is why this is bad news to the American, who may find himself on the bench more often than not.

West Ham United are now in direct negotiations over a deal to sign an “excellent” defender, with his price tag not considered an issue, according to a report.

West Ham summer transfer rumours after Kudus sale

One of West Ham’s main tasks this summer will be to bring in a replacement for Mohammed Kudus, with the forward recently sealing a controversial move across the capital to Tottenham Hotspur, but they are also keen to strengthen other areas of the squad.

With long-serving left-back Aaron Cresswell departing upon the expiration of his contract, the Hammers are now stepping up their pursuit of a left-back, with a report revealing they are on course to sign Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf for €22m plus add-ons.

However, there is also an eagerness to strengthen on the opposite side of the defence, with talks being opened over a deal for Celta Vigo right-back Oscar Mingueza, but the 26-year-old is not the only Spanish defender on the Irons’ shortlist.

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According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), West Ham are now in direct negotiations with the agents of Girona’s Arnau Martinez, with work underway to try and convince the right-back to make the move to the London Stadium this summer.

Martinez is viewed as one of Girona’s biggest assets, which indicates the Spanish side could be reluctant to sanction a departure on the cheap, but his price tag isn’t considered a problem for the Hammers, given the money that comes from playing in the Premier League.

The Irons remain in touch with the 22-year-old’s representatives ahead of potentially making an offer, and reports from elsewhere have detailed that it could take a bid in the region of €14m (£12m) to get a deal over the line.

Martinez could be "excellent" addition to Potter's squad

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has been left impressed by the Spanish defender in the past, taking to X to suggest that he is a versatile player, also capable of playing at right centre-back in a three-at-the-back system.

At 22-years-old, the full-back is at a good age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, and he already has a great deal of first-team experience, making a combined 86 La Liga appearances over the course of the last three campaigns.

An asking price of just £12m is very reasonable, and there are plenty of signs that Martinez could be capable of pushing for Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s starting spot in the near future, while his versatility would be an added bonus for Graham Potter.

The board has compared it to the kind of review England undertook in 2015 after their group stage exit at the ODI World Cup that year

Danyal Rasool09-Sep-2024The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to undertake a wholesale review of all aspects of international and domestic cricket in a bid to “restore the pride and excellence” of Pakistan cricket.For the review, the opening form of which will be a meeting called a “connection camp”, the board will invite both head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie to Lahore, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi also in attendance. Several centrally contracted cricketers, including both international captains Shan Masood and Babar Azam, will attend the camp, which will be held on September 23. The goals of the camp involve a rebrand of the kind of cricket Pakistan play across formats right down to grassroots levels, with a view to reverse the steady decline in international performances from the Pakistan national side across formats of late.The formation of the camp is the idea of the PCB chairman himself. It is not understood to be designed around specific, short-term concerns such as any proposed changes to the men’s national captaincy in either format, or the squad selection for any upcoming series. Its scale, instead, is a rather more ambitious review. Privately, PCB officials have compared it to the kind of review England undertook in 2015 following their group stage exit at the ODI World Cup that year. Held as the gold standard for the speed at which the cultural reset was achieved, England went on to become the number one ranked white-ball side, and won the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.Related

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The specifics around how they achieve that are somewhat less clear, but Naqvi believes the connection camp is the first step towards reversing the course of the national side. The PCB feels it needs the camp to set out a unified vision and shared purpose, and to understand how it is perceived by fellow cricketing nations, as well as its own fans.It is not surprising to see why the comparison with the England review appeals to the PCB. Its success was achieved at great speed, with a series against New Zealand immediately following that disastrous World Cup demonstrating how quickly a tide could be turned.One significant challenge is the quality of talent Pakistan can draw from. After their cultural reset, England were able to draw from a pool that has come to be seen as their white-ball golden generation, while just last month, Naqvi acknowledged Pakistan’s reserves of talent in domestic cricket were worryingly low, dampening the prospect of a quick reversal.The PCB has also gone all in on the domestic one-day competition, rebranded as the Champions One-Day Cup. It is set to be held in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29, a week before the start of Pakistan’s Test series against England, with the connection camp taking place on a rest day during the tournament. Naqvi expressed confidence this tournament would be able to begin restocking the domestic player pool, and with the connection camp, he believes he has the opportunity to reshape the board’s vision.There is, however, recognition that any such discussion, camp or meeting will be met with huge scepticism from the fans. The PCB is understood to accept there is a massive gulf of trust between the board and the game’s followers, who do not believe Pakistan cricket is heading in the right direction, or indeed that the right people are running it. While the camp looks to begin bridging that trust, the only tangible way to do that will involve better results on the field in international cricket.

Farhan Ahmed, the England Under-19 offspinner and younger brother of Rehan Ahmed, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Nottinghamshire, his first senior contract with the county.Farhan, 16, is the second Academy product to sign permanent terms with the club in recent months, after Freddie McCann joined the playing staff in November, and comes after a run of appearances for the club’s Second XI, in between his academic studies, over the past two seasons.”There is no doubt that this is an exciting time for Farhan and the club,” Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, said. “He is a player with bags of talent and a high ceiling in the game. He’s a grounded individual, though, and he knows the work starts now for him to fulfil that potential in the years ahead.”He’s focused on forging his own path in the game, and he’ll have our full support as he begins to do that.”Like his elder brother Rehan – who was England’s youngest Test debutant, aged 18 years and 126 days, when he played at Karachi in December 2022 – Farhan was just 15 when he featured in England’s Under-19 World Cup campaign in South Africa in January.”I’m obviously very happy and excited to have signed this contract – it is something I’ve been working towards since I started playing cricket,” Farhan said. “For it to be for my home county is a dream come true, too. The history of the club is clear, and to be part of it myself is something I am looking forward to.”I’ve seen other players make that step from the Academy onto the pro staff then play first-team cricket, which gives me confidence that I can do the same in the years ahead.”Equally, I don’t want to look too far ahead. I’ll do my best to take every chance I’m given and keep improving as a player in all aspects, while I hope I can help put Nottinghamshire in winning positions when I get the opportunities.”Farhan joined Nottinghamshore’s academy in 2022, having taken 86 wickets in 57 games for the county’s Under-18s.”Farhan has been with us for seven years now, and his talent has been obvious across that time,” Matt Wood, the Elite Pathway Manager, said. “He is a clever bowler – he’s very mature in that sense – and his trajectory over the last couple of years has been exceptional.”It’ll be another step up for him to play regularly with the senior squad, but his focus and attitude is second to none, and that’ll help him in that transition.”

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers require a major summer rebuild?

Wolves were in the relegation zone when Vítor Pereira was appointed in December, but he managed to win ten of his 22 Premier League fixtures in charge, including leading the club to their first six-match winning streak in the top division since October 1970.

This saw the Old Gold finish 16th, 17 points clear of the drop zone, but, with many of their key assets coveted by other clubs, it is set to be a busy summer at Molineux.

That has all started with Matheus Cunha’s departure.

Why Matheus Cunha was a wanted man

On Sunday afternoon, it was officially announced that Cunha had joined Manchester United, the Red Devils paying his reported £62.5m release clause.

This is obviously a blow for Wolves because, as Matt Furniss of Opta’s the Analyst outlines, he has been Wolves’ ‘most influential player’ across the last two seasons, describing Cunha as a ‘revelation’ and praising his consistent ability to over-perform his xG statistics.

Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic notes that the Brazilian has undoubtedly been ‘Wolves’ player of the season’, adding that very rarely is an entire campaign linked ‘so intrinsically to one player’, with Cunha always the main character, ‘for better and worse’.

Since making him move from Atlético Madrid permanent for £44m two summers ago, Cunha has scored 31 goals in 72 appearances for the club, numbers that are going to be difficult for anyone to replicate.

However, is a current member of the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad primed and ready to become the main man?

Wolves' unsung hero ready to step-up after Cunha

When Wolves signed Jørgen Strand Larsen last summer from Celta Vigo, initially on loan but with a £23m obligation to buy, there was very little fanfare, it is fair to say.

Thus, the Norwegian striker certainly surpassed all expectations, scoring 14 Premier League goals, meaning only nine players across the entire division managed more.

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer praised Strand Larsen’s performance during a vital 2-1 victory at Ipswich in April, saying “his hold-up play was excellent… his touch and his control were superb”, adding “I actually think they’ve looked a better team” without Cunha during his four-match suspension.

Meantime, manager Pereira described his form as “fantastic”, adding “he helped the team” a lot.

Nevertheless, the key question remains: does Strand Larsen have the quality to be Wolves’ main man for goals now that Cunha has departed?

Well, let’s compare the duo in an attempt to answer this question.

Appearances

35

33

Minutes

2,603

2,603

Goals

14

15

Assists

4

6

Shots

54

110

Shots on target %

61.1%

40%

Goals – xG

+3.7

+6.4

Big chances missed

13

2

Big chances created

6

13

Shot-creating actions

42

132

Goal-creating actions

6

16

Aerial duels won

67

13

Touches per 90

26

54

% of touches in opposition box

15%

8%

As the table outlines, Cunha’s statistics are largely more impressive, which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he’s the one who has just earned a big-money move to Manchester United.

However, what the table also crystallises is the fact that they are very different types of centre-forward.

Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labelled Strand Larsen a ‘fox in the box’, documenting how he is a classic target man whose ‘presence alone keeps centre-backs occupied’, an assertion that is supported by the data, with 15% of his touches coming in the opposition penalty area, nearly double the ratio of Cunha.

While the Brazilian ranked second in the Premier League this season for non-penalty goals – xG, his teammate was not too far behind, sat seventh for the same metric.

Strand Larsen also ranked sixth for aerial duels won amongst strikers, albeit his big chances missed tally of 13 leaves room for improvement.

Nevertheless, still only 25 years old, the Norwegian has all the attributes to be a successful centre-forward in this league, so is well-equipped to fill the massive void vacated by the outgoing Cunha.

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Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises’ “dream” manager target is now the “favourite” for the Ibrox job, according to a new update.

Rangers manager rumours as Ferguson vows to make club “better”

Barry Ferguson has been the man tasked with leading the Gers on an interim basis until the end of the season after Philippe Clement was dismissed back in February.

He has had some impressive wins away at Fenerbahce and Celtic, however, there have also been some disappointing Ibrox defeats in the Scottish Premiership to Motherwell and Hibernian.

Asked in recent weeks about taking the Rangers job on a permanent basis, Ferguson said he would “make my club a better club” if given the opportunity by the 49ers Enterprises.

“I enjoyed my role at Rangers before, and if that’s not going to be managing, then hopefully I’ll just go back to that and enjoy what I was doing. If I get the job, I will make my club a better club. If I don’t get the job I will still support the club.

“I know what this club needs. I want what’s best for Rangers Football Club. I got an opportunity I never thought I would get, and I’ve enjoyed every single second of it. Some of the results I’ve not enjoyed, they have hurt me. I enjoy the challenge of it, because it is a big challenge.

“I always will back myself. I might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I know I can do the job alongside the staff that I’ve brought in, but we just need to wait and see.”

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However, the 49ers have a number of manager targets in mind, with Steven Gerrard, Marco Rose and Sean Dyche all heavily linked with moves to Glasgow.

Now, an update has emerged on one of the aforementioned trio regarding the Rangers job.

Steven Gerrard “favourite” to be next Rangers manger

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, Gerrard is now in pole position and the leading contender to take over at Rangers. The former Gers boss is “favourite” ahead of the likes of Rose to arrive in Glasgow this summer, with the 49ers making Gerrard their top target.

In fact, it was reported back in February that Gerrard was Rangers and the 49ers’ “dream appointment”, and the 44-year-old has been out of work since January after leaving Al-Ettifaq.

Should Gerrard return to Rangers, it will be a decision which former right-back Alan Hutton can get on board with. When recently asked if Gerrard coming back to Rangers would excite him, Hutton said: “Yeah, yeah, I think it does. “I mean, does a manager coming back for the second time, does it always work?

“Possibly not, but I think he knows the club, what it’s all about, what the fans are like, the expectation, he knows everything. He’s won the league there, and that’s the be-all and end-all, so he knows how to get it done.”

Games

192

Wins

124

Draws

41

Losses

27

Players used

65

Titles

1

A video of Gerrard declaring his love for Rangers has also gone viral recently, and by the looks of things, a return to Ibrox ahead of the 2025/26 season is well and truly on the cards.

Ipswich Town have their eyes on a “fast” new forward to replace Liam Delap, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Ipswich Town could lose Delap for £30m if relegated

The Tractor Boys suffered a damaging Premier League defeat last time out to relegation rivals Wolves at Portman Road, a result that leaves them 12 points from safety.

Delap was once again on the scoresheet, netting his 12th top-flight goal of the campaign, and he has been a real shining light under Kieran McKenna after signing from Manchester City last summer.

Chelsea vs Ipswich

April 13

Ipswich vs Arsenal

April 20

Newcastle vs Ipswich

April 26

Everton vs Ipswich

May 3

Ipswich vs Brentford

May 10

Leicester vs Ipswich

May 18

Ipswich vs West Ham

May 25

However, with Ipswich on course for an immediate return to the Championship, Delap could remain in the Premier League with a number of clubs keen on his services.

He has a release clause of £40m in his current Ipswich contract, however, that will drop to just £30m should the Tractor Boys go down.

Therefore, Ipswich may soon be on the search for an attacking addition to replace Delap, and there have been claims that Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland could be that man. Now, Romano has named a new potential target ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Ipswich Town eyeing move for Sheffield United forward Ryan One

According to Romano, Ipswich Town have been keeping an eye on Sheffield United forward Ryan One this season, with the teenager on the club’s shortlist to replace Delap.

“Understand Ipswich Town have been monitoring Ryan One’s performances at Sheffield United. He’s one of the names on the shortlist if Liam Delap leaves the club in the summer.”

One, who stands at 6ft 2, made the move to the Blades from Scottish side Hamilton back in 2023. The 18-year-old can play as a striker or as a winger and has represented Scotland at youth level. He’s made 11 appearances in the Championship and scored his first senior goal against Bristol City last year.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder praised the club for bringing One to Bramall Lane, saying earlier in the campaign: “It’s a great spot by (then-head of recruitment) Paul Mitchell and the board needs appreciating for spending a couple of quid on a real unknown player.

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“It’s important we nurture players through our academy. That’s something I’ve been delighted with, the young players coming in, the way we’ve changed our style as well.”

One has also previously been dubbed as “fast” and a “craftsman” by scout and academy coach Ioannis Kyrapoglou, and by the looks of things, a move to Portman Road could be one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool were unable to return to winning ways once again in the Premier League last night, that’s despite a late equaliser at Anfield against high-flying Sunderland.

Arne Slot’s men looked to be staring down the barrel of yet another home defeat, but Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort late on secured a needed point to help stop the rot.

It could have been a lot worse for the Reds last night had they not found a leveller, with Chemsdine Talbi putting Regis Le Bris’ side ahead with just under 20 minutes remaining.

However, the picture still looks incredibly bleak for the Dutchman and his side, as the Dutchman’s side currently occupy eighth place and sit 11 points off leaders Arsenal.

During the draw, it was yet another evening to forget for one player, with his selection by the manager once again coming under huge criticism after failing to deliver.

The stats behind Ibrahima Konate’s display against Sunderland

After a mistake against PSV in the Champions League last week, Slot has continued to operate with Ibrahima Konate at the heart of the backline for Liverpool.

The Frenchman has previously been one of the club’s leading talents in their recent success, but the 2025/26 campaign has been one to forget to date.

His showing against the Black Cats was yet another to forget for the 26-year-old, with his underlying figures showcasing his struggles on Merseyside once again.

Konate nearly misjudged a header, which led to the visitors going ahead before their eventual game, no doubt contributing to his measly tally of 57% aerials won.

He also won just 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst making just one interception – resulting in the club once again being unable to keep a clean sheet in England’s top-flight.

The defender desperately needs replacing over the coming months, with the same potentially being said about another player who failed to deliver on Wednesday night.

The Liverpool star who needs to be dropped after Sunderland

The draw against Sunderland last night now extends Liverpool’s run to just one win in their last five outings, highlighting the issues Slot currently has to deal with.

He definitely needs to find a solution to the recent issues, with the club facing a real possibility of missing out on all forms of European football if such a trend continues.

Whether that be a formation change or a personnel change in certain areas of the pitch, the Dutchman has a real task on his hands – potentially finding himself out of a job should he fail to do so.

Alongside Konate, numerous players have failed to deliver in the Premier League, with Cody Gakpo also massively underperforming against the newly-promoted outfit.

The winger has been a consistent starter for the Reds so far this season, as seen by his tally of 12 starts in the first 14 league outings of the ongoing campaign.

However, last night was one of his worst to date, so much so Slot decided to substitute the 26-year-old at the break and replace him with fan-favourite Mohamed Salah.

He was very predictable in the first half of the clash at Anfield, often cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, something which full-back Trai Hume read on the vast majority of occasions.

Gakpo’s underlying stats against the Black Cats further demonstrate his lack of quality, which led to hefty criticism being directed his way at the final whistle.

During his 45-minute showing, the attacker only managed to complete a total of seven passes, with none of which being into the final third – showcasing his lack of creativity at Anfield.

Minutes played

45

Touches

26

Passes completed

7

Passes into final third

0

Dribbles completed

0

Crosses completed

1

Shots taken

1

Duels won

1/5

He also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst managing to register just one successful cross – reaffirming his struggles on Merseyside.

Gakpo’s lack of impact was topped off by his tally of just one shot, which was blocked, resulting in John O’Sullivan saying he was sick of the winger’s “1/10 performances”.

With players on the bench such as Federico Chiesa and Hugo Ekitiké, it’s vital that Slot drops the winger ahead of their next outing at the weekend in an attempt to end the recent barren run.

There’s no understating the struggles at Anfield at present, but the manager desperately needs to get a grip of the situation if any credibility is to come out of the ongoing campaign.

Fabinho 2.0: Liverpool in pole position to sign £35m midfield "machine"

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ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

With this being a dead rubber, Suryakumar did not bat at all despite India losing eight wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2025Innings Abhishek Sharma’s speedy 38 in the powerplay, in which India scored 60, and Sanju Samson’s stop-start fifty took India to 188 for 8 against Oman in the last league fixture of the Asia Cup after they had decided to bat in Abu Dhabi.With this being a dead rubber, India experimented with their combination ahead of the Super Four, resting their bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and newly minted No.1 T20I bowler Varun Chakravarthy. India also fiddled with their batting line-up, with their captain Suryakumar Yadav not batting at all despite India losing eight wickets. The returning Harshit Rana managed an unbeaten 13 off eight balls from No. 8. He closed out the innings with a scythed six over point.It was Abhishek who made the early running for India, clattering five fours and two sixes during his 38 off 15 balls. He got a reprieve on 21 when he tickled Mohammad Nadeem down the leg side, but Vinayak Shukla, the Oman keeper, shelled the catch and umpire Raveendra Wilalasiri eventually deemed it as a wide ball.Abhishek added 17 to his tally before nicking another one behind, Shukla making no mistake this time. Samson had a slow start – he was on 13 off 14 balls at one point – but a six and a four off Madhya-Pradesh-born wristspinner Samay Shrivatsava got him out of first gear. Samson proceeded to crash Zikria Islam for a straight six in the tenth over, but slowed down once again thereafter.Then, after bringing up his half-century off 41 balls, Samson holed out in the 18th over. India cobbled together 21 off the last three overs and managed to find the boundary just once during this period.Faisal Shah, Jiten Ramanandi and Aamir Kaleem shared six wickets among them for Oman.