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Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring James Tarkowski to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claimed that, with the 29-year-old’s contract at Burnley coming to an end later this month, Victor Orta is keen on the idea of bringing him to LS11 on a free transfer.

However, the report added that Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester City are also keeping a very close eye on the England international’s situation ahead of a potential swoop of their own this summer.

Imagine him & Kristensen

Considering just how impressive Tarkowski has been for Burnley since joining them in February 2016, and with Leeds conceding 79 goals in the Premier League this season – the second-worst record in the top flight, with only bottom club Norwich City shipping more – it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be interested in a deal for the 29-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his four full Premier League campaigns prior to 2021/22, the £19.8m-rated defender averaged extraordinary seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 7.13 in 2017/18, 7.04 in 2018/19, 7.14 in 2019/20 and 7.09 in 2020/21 – a remarkable feat considering that the Clarets finished seventh, 15th, 10th and 17th in these respective seasons.

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Furthermore, despite Burnley’s relegation from the top flight in 2021/22, the £70k-per-week talent still impressed over his 35 Premier League appearances. He helped his side to keep seven clean sheets, scoring one goal and providing two assists, along with making 1.4 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 5.2 clearances and winning 6.9 duels (at a success rate of 68%) per game.

These returns saw the player who Andy Jones dubbed “unbelievable” average a SofaScore match rating of 7.15, ranking him not only as the Clarets’ best performer in the league but also as the seventh-best defender in the entire top flight.

As such, it is clear to see that Tarkowski would greatly improve Jesse Marsch’s options at the back, particularly following the Whites’ all-but-confirmed signing of Red Bull Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen.

Indeed, with the 29-year-old having typically operated on the right of Burnley’s centre-back pairing, the prospect of the twice-capped England international lining up alongside the Kristensen in the Whites’ backline will certainly be an incredibly exciting one for both Marsch and the Elland Road faithful. Therefore, we believe that Orta must do all he can to try and seal Tarkowski’s signing this summer.

AND in other news: Orta could unearth the new £103m-rated talent as Leeds now plot bid for “dream” target

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Nathan Collins to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claimed that a recruitment source has revealed that Victor Orta is looking to add a new centre-back to Jesse Marsch’s first-team squad this summer, with the Whites’ sporting director believed to identified the 21-year-old Burnley defender as a target.

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The report added that Newcastle United are also keeping an eye on the situation of the Republic of Ireland international, while further reports suggest that Collins is likely to have a relegation release clause written into his contract at Turf Moor, which will theoretically make a deal easier for Orta to get over the line.

Ian Harte 2.0

Considering the sheer amount of potential that Collins – who joined Burnley in a £12m deal only last year – quite clearly possesses, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be interested in a move for the 21-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his 19 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £7.2m-rated talent was imperious in the heart of the Clarets’ backline, helping his side to keep five clean sheets, in addition to making 1.3 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 4.3 clearances and winning 5.8 duels (at a success rate of 63%) per game.

The £10k-per-week defender also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals and creating three big chances for his team-mates, as well as taking 0.8 shots and making 0.3 key passes per match.

These returns saw the player who James Tarkowski dubbed “exceptional” average a very impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.08, ranking him as Burnley’s second-best player in the top flight.

Furthermore, according to FBRef data, Collins also ranks in the top 12% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 8% for npxG, the top 12% for shots, the top 6% for xA, the top 3% for npxG+xA, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the last 365 days.

As such, should Orta indeed manage to get a deal over the line for the Irish defender with a clear eye for goal this summer, the Spaniard could well have unearthed Leeds’ next Ian Harte, the Irish left-back who scored 37 goals and registered 15 assists over his 280 appearances for the Whites. That is sure to be an incredibly exciting prospect for the Elland Road faithful.

AND in other news: Orta can unearth his next £60m talent as Leeds now plot bid for “unbelievable” target

A major Rangers development has emerged as Ibrox defender Borna Barisic has made a key decision heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Scotland, the left-back has decided that he wants to remain at Rangers and continue to fight for his place in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team next season.

The report claims that the Gers are not pushing to sell him in the coming months but would be willing to consider a sale if the right offer came in for his services.

It is stated that the club rejected two offers for Barisic during the January transfer window, including one worth around £2m from Premier League side Watford as they attempted to snap him up.

Van Bronckhorst will be buzzing

The Ibrox head coach will be buzzing with this news as Barisic has been a big member of the squad throughout the campaign for the Dutchman.

Van Bronckhorst placed his faith in the Croatian throughout the impressive Europa League run. The defender played 14 times in the competition and started 12 matches – including the final – as the Gers lost on penalties to Frankfurt in Seville.

He made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 63% of his duels at left-back as he seemingly earned the manager’s trust. Instead of moving Calvin Bassey out to full-back, the head coach selected the 29-year-old on a regular basis in Europe and this highlights how much he values the gem.

Meanwhile, he played 23 matches in the Premiership as he found minutes harder to come by in competition with Bassey at times. When he did play, though, he caught the eye with some impressive displays as he averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.29.

In the Scottish top-flight, Barisic created an eye-catching 1.9 chances per game as he provided an attacking threat from left-back. He also won 67% of his duels as he stood up to the physical tests thrown his way throughout the campaign.

Therefore, van Bronckhorst will be delighted to learn that the player is committed to Rangers and wants to stay and fight for his place in the XI. The defender played a key role domestically and in Europe and, unless a big offer that allows the club to bring a replacement comes in, keeping hold of him will be a boost to the head coach this summer.

AND in other news, Rangers can land dream Kent heir in deal for £1.5m “asset” who can “affect the game”…

Luke Edwards has dropped a huge update on the San Fransico 49ers’ proposed takeover of Leeds United.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for The Telegraph, the journalist revealed that, following the Whites dramatically securing Premier League survival on Sunday, the American franchise are now likely to take full control of the club ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Edwards went on to state that, while Andrea Radrizzani has always claimed it is his decision as to whether he would be willing to sell his controlling stake at Elland Road, the 49ers appear as if they will purchase a controlling share of Leeds sooner rather than later, with further news regarding the takeover expected to emerge in the coming days.

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In his piece, the journalist wrote: “Is this the end of the Andrea Radrizzani era? The San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise is likely to take a controlling stake in the club sooner rather than later.

“They have been edging towards a full takeover ever since they took a 10 per cent stake four years ago. They could well be in full control before the start of next season. We can expect some sort of news on this to filter out in the coming days.”

Supporters will love Edwards’ update

While the Elland Road faithful will undoubtedly still be riding the high of seeing their side secure their Premier League status on the final day of the season, once the dust settles, questions must be asked as to how Leeds found themselves battling relegation after such an impressive return to the top flight last time out.

Two answers to this question point towards the current Leeds hierarchy, with Victor Orta’s poor record of recent recruitment coupled with Radrizzani’s lack of spending in the January transfer window playing a huge part in the Whites’ fall from being a top-half team in 2020/21 to one that narrowly escaped relegation just 12 months later.

Indeed, since Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League back in 2020, the vast majority of the Spaniard’s big-money signings have proven to be disappointments, with none of Junior Firpo (£13m), Diego Llorente (£17m), Robin Koch (£11.7m), Rodrigo (£27m) and Dan James (£25m) having particularly lived up to their price tags.

Meanwhile, despite sitting just five points above the relegation zone and being in the midst of a catastrophic injury crisis at the turn of the year, the only movement in or out of Elland Road in the winter window was the departure of highly-rated right-back Cody Drameh – who joined Cardiff City on a short-term loan deal.

As such, it is perhaps not surprising to learn that Leeds supporters made it clear on a recent poll ran on Football FanCast that they would like to see Radrizzani sell up this summer, and, following Edwards’ latest update, it looks as if they could well get their wish in the not too distant future.

AND in other news: “Leeds are closing…”: Romano drops huge transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

They have been ultra aggressive with the bat all through this season and trusted that approach to succeed on a slow surface in the Eliminator

Sidharth Monga25-May-20233:48

Did Mumbai get lucky after injuries or were they prepared?

“T20 purist” might sound like an oxymoron but they exist, and they will be happy Mumbai Indians won the banana peel of an Eliminator, and are now headed to the quicker pitches of Ahmedabad where they need to win two matches for a sixth IPL title.The Eliminator was always going to be their big test after a season in which they overcame grave setbacks and still made the playoffs. They lost almost all of their bowling to injuries, then a middle-order batting star for a while, lost the first two matches, and are still here through some pure T20 cricket. It has required the quicker, truer surfaces to support their T20 purity, but they carried it to the slow surface, against a team built for slow surfaces, and triumphed.T20 purists don’t believe in expending too much energy on spectacular fielding, running between the wickets, and beyond a point, bowling. Twenty20 is a game for hitting boundaries and enjoying some luck, which has only been reinforced by the addition of an extra batter through the Impact Player rule.Related

• Boss batters vs Boss bowlers as Mumbai take on Titans in Qualifier 2

• No Bumrah or Archer? The spirit of Mumbai shines through

• Rohit: 'There is no role for an anchor in T20 cricket now'

• Rohit proud of Mumbai for 'scrappy' show this year

• Mumbai in Qualifier 2 after Madhwal knocks LSG out

An interview of Rohit Sharma did the rounds in the lead-up to the Eliminator. Rohit Sharma, their captain, told how there is no room for an anchor in T20s anymore. If at all anchoring is required, it should be the last resort according to him, and not the default.Rohit has led the way himself both for India and Mumbai Indians by taking early risks even if it has meant a lean run for him. It hasn’t yet started showing in the strike-rate because he hasn’t lasted long enough but Rohit has attempted a boundary every 2.67 balls this IPL, his best rate since we started logging intent at ESPNcricinfo. In 2019, Rohit’s best aggregate season since 2018, he attempted a boundary every 4.5 balls.”I just want to play that way and see what I can do,” Rohit said. “I have played this format for a long time and in a certain manner, but I want to do different things now. While doing that, (if) I get out, (it) does not really bother me.”Rohit can’t demand that others attempt a boundary every three balls when he himself is taking a risk every five balls. This year they have anyway been forced to go extreme with the bat because of injuries to their bowlers. Mumbai have scored 65.9% of their runs in boundaries, the highest rate in the league. In 2019, they scored just 60.6% of their runs in boundaries, and were well behind the thought leaders, Kolkata Knight Riders.Of course, Mumbai tried their best with the available bowlers, but they also realised their limited agency and went harder with the bat. As a team they have tried to hit a boundary every 2.31 balls. KKR are next with an attempt every 2.39 balls. Their efficiency when attempting boundaries has been second only to Sunrisers Hyderabad – 2.64 runs for every attempt against SRH’s 2.67 – but SRH have attempted to go past the ropes much less often: once every three balls.Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav teed off to set Mumbai Indians up•BCCIOur statistician Sampath Bandaruppalli dug deeper. He calculated the length and the worth of each innings of a top-three run-getters of each team. The innings of Mumbai’s top-three run-getters have lasted 19.47 balls each – the third-lowest – but have yielded the best strike-rate at 162.1. So an average innings by a Mumbai top-three run-getter is roughly 32 off 20. The numbers for corresponding numbers for RCB, CSK and Titans are 42 off 28, 39 off 27 and 33 off 23.Mumbai have been happier to share the load to facilitate carrying it quicker. Titans are making up with their bowling, and RCB saw a big drop from the top-three run-getters. Mumbai have hitters all around, have given the license, and are happy to live with failure because, hey, how many of them can fail in one night?If there was ever a night for more of them to fail than succeed, it was at Chepauk against LSG. Only the previous night, CSK had defended 172 successfully there. Now Mumbai were against LSG, who had three spinners in their line-up.Mumbai were brave enough to give up chasing, which has worked spectacularly for them, but the way they went about setting the total was pure T20. Ishan Kishan went hard at the first ball of the match and hit a four, Rohit’s first scoring shot was a six followed by a four a ball later, Cameron Green hit a four first ball, and Suryakumar Yadav was, well, Suryakumar Yadav.Anchoring was undertaken only as a last resort when Naveen-ul-Haq removed both Suryakumar and Green in the same over, the 11th. And they didn’t import someone to be a specialist anchor; they trusted Tim David to do it. Had they not lost David in the 17th over, Mumbai would perhaps have brought in an extra bowler as Impact Player, but now they loaded their batting even more with Nehal Wadhera coming in as the impact Player.As it turned out, Mumbai went well past what was par for the conditions. This is, of course, not the only way to play. At least not for now. As Gujarat Titans, Mumbai’s next opponents in Qualifier 2, have shown. They have scored only 58.65% of their runs in boundaries, but have made up for it with their bowling. In the middle of the season, Titans did push their intent up after they lost the un-loseable match to Rinku Singh, but they still play a much safer style of T20 because of their bowling.That same attack was taken for 217 by Mumbai on a true Wankhede Stadium, a total their batters couldn’t chase down. All of a sudden, the defending champions, who finished on the top of the league table, will have to fight these T20 purists with their batters save Shubman Gill not in great hitting form. It can happen when you have a complete bowling attack, you tend not to maximise your batting because you don’t need to and you don’t want to unnecessarily risk a collapse. Ironically, that is the MS Dhoni way, which he has himself dropped for a more daring approach this year. It will be fascinating to see if the Titans bowlers can prove the T20 purists wrong on Friday.

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to meet in the World Series for the 12th time in history beginning on Friday, Oct. 25. It's the most reccurring World Series matchup in MLB history.

The Yankees will make their first World Series appearance in 15 years. They've won 27 times, which is the MLB record. The Dodgers last competed in the 2020 World Series when they won their seventh title.

As MLB awaits to crown this year's winner, here's everything you need to know about the 2024 World Series.

Full World Series Schedule

Below is the full schedule for the 2024 World Series. It's a best-of-7 series, so games that may not be needed are denoted as such.

Which Teams Are Playing in the 2024 World Series?

The Yankees and the Dodgers will compete in the 2024 World Series. The Dodges had an MLB best 98–64 regular season record. The Yankees posted a 84–68 regular season record.

Both teams were the No. 1 seeds in the American and National Leagues in the postseason, meaning they had wild-card byes.

The Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS, winning the best-of-five series 3–1 to advance to the ALCS. From there, the Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians 4–1 to reach the World Series.

The Dodgers played the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, winning a close 3–2 series victory. The Dodgers then faced the red hot New York Mets in the NLCS, capturing a 4–2 series win.

Series Format

The World Series is a best-of-seven series, meaning the victorious team needs to win four games to capture the title.

Even though both the Yankees and the Dodgers were both the No. 1 seeds, the Dodgers had the better regular season record, meaning they get the first home field advantage. The series will be played in Los Angeles for Games 1 and 2, followed by going to New York for Games 3, 4 and 5, if needed. Then, the series would head back to Los Angeles if Games 6 or 7 are needed.

Game-by-Game Scores and Results

Manchester United legend David Beckham has spoken of his pride after being officially knighted by King Charles. The former England captain's long-awaited knighthood was confirmed in the King's Birthday Honours list in June for his services to sport and charity. He received the award at a ceremony on Tuesday in Berkshire, which was attended by his family, including wife Victoria, who will now be known as Lady Beckham.

• Beckham knighted by King Charles

  Beckham's knighthood has been years in the making since becoming arguably the best-known footballer in the world in the 1990s with Manchester United. He increased his international fame by joining Real Madrid in 2003 and later LA Galaxy before becoming a co-owner at Inter Miami. Beckham, who grew up in east London but moved to United's academy as a teenager, made his Red Devils' debut in 1992 and consolidated his place in Sir Alex Ferguson's side in 1996, later becoming one of the most important players in the team's historic treble win in 1999. 

  He became England captain in 2000, two years after becoming a figure of hate for being sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. Beckham quickly redeemed himself in supporters' eyes by qualifying England for the 2002 World Cup with his last-gasp free-kick against Greece. 

  Beckham ended his trophy-laden time with United to join Real Madrid in a £25m ($32m) deal in 2003, winning the La Liga title in his final season in the Spanish capital. He saw out his career with LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer and also played for AC Milan on loan before finally hanging up his boots while with Paris Saint-Germain in 2013. 

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  Beckham: Royal family most important institution in world

  "It's a very proud day for us as a family today," Beckham said after being knighted. "I grew up in the east end of London in a very humble family and my dream was always to become a professional footballer to play for Manchester United to play for my country. Everything else that has come with that has been incredible. But today to be honoured by one of the most important institutions in the world and one of the most respected institutions in the world, being an East End boy, it's a very proud day."

• Beckham: People around world want to discuss royal family

  "The monarchy has always been very important in our family, my grandparents, my parents, myself, my kids," Beckham added. "The royal family have always played a huge role. I've always had huge respect for our royal family. Especially when I get to travel around the world, people want to talk to me about our royal family and that shows how much respect people have, and to be here to receive a knighthood by his majesty the King is pretty surreal."

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  Beckham waited 12 hours to see Queen lying in state

  Off the pitch, Beckham played a key role in London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and has worked with humanitarian aid charity Unicef since 2005. A fiercely proud royalist, Beckham queued for 12 hours to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state following her death in 2022. He was named ambassador for the King's Foundation in 2024, supporting the monarch's education programme.

Who are the scariest footballers ever to play in America, at the club or international level? For Halloween, GOAL takes a look

It's spooky season. From pumpkins and scarecrows, to werewolves and Frankenstein, to candy corn and caramel apples, Halloween is a special holiday for many in United States.

It's a time for frights, scares, nerves and excitement, and that got the team at GOAL US thinking: Who are the scariest footballers to ever to play in American soccer, at either the club or international level?

Ex-U.S. international Pablo Mastroeni? What about FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, someone who likely still haunts Diego Lainez's dreams? Not scary enough? How about Zlatan Ibrahimovic? During his time in MLS, he was utterly terrifying. Oh, and let's not forget the USMNT's own Clint Dempsey.

Whether enforcers by nature, or simply intimidating from the first step on the pitch, GOAL – in celebration of All Hallow's eve on Thursday – looks at five of the most frightening players American soccer has ever seen.

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  Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  One of the most famous players to ever step foot in MLS, Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived and was immediately considered the most imposing figure in the league. Nicknamed , the Swede was a leader, but one who spread fear into opponents. Strong, tall, and skillful, he boasted a mentality unlike any other.

  You could try speaking to him on the field, but he would brush you aside like a tumbleweed in the wind. You could play well against him, and he would purposely act as if he didn't know who you were. The sheer amount of confidence he exuded made him unapproachable, and it struck fear into those around him.

  Speaking to ESPN in 2022 after departing the league, that confidence was put on full display: "I was too good for the whole competition. That is what I showed," the Swede said. "And I'm the best ever to play in MLS and that is not me having ego or trying to show off now."

  That is true. Standing 6-5 with a menacing stare, he was a towering figure in the attack, and if you saw him charging at you or leaping over you for a header, you were immediately on your back foot.

  He was Zlatan, after all. The world's villain, Europe's biggest footballing personality for more than a decade, then one of the most daunting players in the MLS. He knew what he was, and he played like it.

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  Jermaine Jones

  Jermaine Jones scored what is arguably the most stunning goal in U.S. men's national team history. However, when his name is brought up, it's not the strike or individual moments you remember. Rather, it's what he brought to the pitch.

  He was a proper workhorse. Nonstop, always fighting, always arguing, always defending the badge. During his time with the USMNT, he was the one midfielder on the pitch that truly never stopped, and if you were in trouble on the field, he would have your back.

  Unafraid of contact – or any opponent – Jones played with an intensity that few could match.

  Often carefully reckless, Jones was cocky, and played with an arrogance that he backed up with performances on the pitch. For opposing players, he was a impossible to solve. He would rile up foes, get in their heads and play mind games. For teammates, though, he was the ultimate force in the middle of the park.

  A nightmare for referees and teams at both the club and country level, Jones was a terrifying competitor.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ozzie Alonso

  Nicknamed , Alonso is one of MLS' greatest-ever midfielders, and is arguably the best villain to ever take the pitch in the league.

  Scrappy, yet composed, Alonso ran the midfield during his time in the league with the Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United and Minnesota United. Playing the No. 6 position as a CDM, Alonso was one of the first real in the middle of the park. Someone who went into every tackle with the confidence he would win it, and if a fight came as a result of the tackle, he would win that, too.

  He never backed down from a challenge, never stepped away from an argument, and more often than not, was the instigator in both situations.

  What made him scary, though, was his mobility on the pitch. For as much as he attacked, he created just as much to draw the balance level. From goals to assists to outlandish cross-field passes, the Cuban midfielder was a creative menace in the middle of the park.

  Sounders fans will never forget his stoppage-time winner in the 2011 US Open Cup, in which he ran around an entire defense, and the opposition goalkeeper, to calmly slot home.

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  Oguchi Onyewu

  Ask anybody in U.S. Soccer about Oguchi Onyewu, and you will only hear good things. Considered one of the nicest and most kind individuals to ever come through the program, to friends and colleagues, he was a giant teddybear.

  However, he was also a 6-4 defender and, on the pitch, not someone you ever wanted to cross.

  There's only one story you need to know about Onyewu: The day he almost put Zlatan in a hospital, and without teammate intervention, it could have been worse. While playing for AC Milan in 2010, during a 5v5 training session, Onyewu and Ibrahimovic clashed, as told by former teammate Alexandre Pato on the Fala, Brasólho podcast.

  "Let me tell you in detail," Pato relayed. "So we went to play a little game, like 5v5. Onyewu is a big defender. Ibra had the ball so he went to mark him, then Onyewu unintentionally hit him, 'BAM.' The thing is Ibra’s foot is huge, so it was hard to tackle without hitting it. We knew it had no malice. Onyewu was just coming from an injury and starting to train again. He controlled the ball with his back to Ibra, then Ibra went in with both feet on Onyewu, really trying to hurt him.

  “They both fell to the ground. Onyewu got up calmly. He was really nice, with a heart of gold. Ibra is more impulsive, he got up immediately and started insulting him. Ibra was cursing in Swedish, we didn’t understand what he was saying. He tried to grab Onyewu like this (by the collar), and tried to throw him to the ground.

  “What did Onyewu do? He grabbed Ibra and ‘BAM.' He threw him down instead. It was easy for Onyewu, like drinking a glass of water. Imagine Ibra, that guy is huge. But Onyewu grabbed him and threw him to the ground easily. He then jumped on top of him, pinned him down, and raised his arm.

  “When he did that, I said to him: ‘Stop, my God, stop. You’re going to kill him!' If we didn’t break it up, I don’t know what would’ve happened to Ibra.”

Tottenham Hotspur splashed a fee of £30m to sign winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window after his loan spell in North London came to an end.

The France U21 international spent the second half of last season on loan with Ange Postecoglou’s side, scoring three goals and providing one assist in all competitions.

Spurs and former chairman Daniel Levy opted to make that loan deal permanent for £30m, despite the change in head coach, to provide him with a chance to impress under Thomas Frank.

Unfortunately, the ex-Brentford manager opted to leave the 20-year-old winger out of his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, which does not bode well for the young talent.

Tel did score two goals for France’s U21s during the international break earlier this month, which shows that he does still have potential to be a success at Spurs, but he needs to show it in domestic matches this season.

The French forward will be hoping that he does not join the list of expensive wingers who have failed to make a success of themselves in North London.

Ranking Tottenham's most expensive winger signings

Tel, who can play as a left-winger or as a centre-forward, ranks among the top five most expensive winger signings in the club’s history if Transfermarkt fees are taken into account.

As you can see in the table above, summer signing Mohammed Kudus tops the list, whilst club legend Heung-min Son also features at the bottom.

If pressed to rank those five signings, Son would have to be at the top of the list. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 451 matches, per Transfermarkt, along with captaining the side to a Europa League trophy.

Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has to be ranked in second place in this moment of time, simply because he scored the winning goal in a European final for Spurs against Manchester United at the end of last season.

Irrespective of what the Wales international did before that or what he will go on to do, that moment alone makes his signing and the fee paid for him worthwhile.

It is too soon to judge Kudus, who only arrived this summer, whilst Lamela should be third on this list. The Argentine forward had longevity on his side, as he racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 257 outings for Spurs, per Transfermarkt.

That leaves Steven Bergwijn, who joined from PSV in 2020, at the bottom of the pile. He only lasted two-and-a-half years at the club, and the forward only scored eight competitive goals in that time.

The Netherlands international scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he was not as effective or impactful as Johnson, Son, or Lamela.

Bergwijn was an expensive flop on the wing, one that Tel is looking to avoid being a repeat of, and there is a winger at the club who is in danger of being the next version of the Dutch forward.

Chalkboard

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

Tottenham swooped to sign French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer of 2024, and he has yet to prove his worth on the pitch.

Why Wilson Odobert may be the next Steven Bergwijn

The young forward was signed for a similar fee to Bergwijn and his performances on the field for the club have done little to dismiss a comparison between the two.

It is worth noting that Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries last season, which disrupted his progress, but his displays when fit and available offered little encouragement.

The 20-year-old winger, who is the same age as Tel, has scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ in 21 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs to date, via Sofascore, with his latest showing coming against Brighton at the weekend.

Thomas Frank handed the youngster an opportunity to shine on the left flank, but the Frenchman ended the game with zero out of three dribbles completed, zero out of five duels won, and no key passes or shots on target in 72 minutes, per Sofascore.

Odobert, who was described as “incredibly raw” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was an expensive signing for Spurs, at £25m, and just falls short of being one of the five most expensive wide signings in the club’s history, which is why it is not too harsh to expect more from the former Burnley man.

As you can see in the table above, Tel, who joined on loan in January, provided more quality at the top end of the pitch than his fellow France U21 international did in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that Odobert offers even less than Tel does in the final third, as both a scorer and, certainly, as a creator from a wide or central berth.

The 20-year-old forward, of course, has plenty of time left to turn things around and prove to supporters and the club that the money spent to bring him in from Burnley was worthwhile, rather than becoming the next Bergwijn, who was an expensive flop on the wing.

However, the signs are not promising at this moment in time. We can only judge on what has happened so far, and Odobert has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that his fortunes are going to turn around any time soon.

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Therefore, the French winger is the one who is in danger of becoming the next Bergwijn, rather than Tel, who showed some glimpses of quality in the Premier League last term.

Everton have come on leaps and bounds since David Moyes returned to the helm in January after so many years away.

However, there are plenty of wrinkles that still need ironing out, with Tuesday evening’s Carabao Cup defeat at Molineux illustrating that fact. The Toffees have gone 30 years without silverware, and Wolverhampton Wanderers handed them their fourth third-round defeat in the competition in five years.

One point from six available in recent Premier League outings, a point against Aston Villa at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and then defeat at Anfield, emphasise the task on Moyes’ hands if he wishes to restore the Merseysiders to their one-time standing and consistency during his first term at the club, but he has the tools to achieve this.

After all, Everton signed Jack Grealish from Manchester City on loan for the duration of the 2025/26 season, didn’t they?

The Jack Grealish effect

Grealish was at a crossroads this summer, having fallen by the wayside at Man City, sinking further and further into the fringes across the second half of his time at the illustrious outfit.

Everton and Moyes offered him a lifeline, and he has taken it with both hands, already registering four assists in the Premier League and being crowned the division’s Player of the Month for August.

Everton lacked fluency and drive in attack last season, and they needed a more passionate approach this year.

But Grealish wears his passion on his sleeves, and he’s built upon a skillset of flair and guile and sparkle. Pep Guardiola once hailed the Three Lions star for his “aggressive” nature on the pitch, but this wasn’t always on show at City.

Now, though, the 30-year-old has restored his bite down the left flank, not just creating but getting stuck in too, with Sofascore recording that he has averaged 7.2 duels per game so far.

Grealish is a sensation, but whether he is the finest forward in Everton’s ranks is a debatable thing when Iliman Ndiaye also plies his craft under Moyes’ wing.

Moyes has hit the jackpot on Iliman Ndiaye

Ndiaye has been a revelation at Everton, signed for just £15m in July 2024. Only spending one term in France with Marseille, the Senegalese winger struggled to get going after previously starring in the Championship with Sheffield United, where his performances earned many plaudits.

And he picked up where he left off in England, hailed for his “dynamite” quality when on the ball by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp.

Across all competitions last term, Ndiaye scored 11 goals for the Toffees, more than any of his teammates.

He hasn’t quite settled into his finest form this season, but Ndiaye has still been fantastic under Moyes’ wing, scoring twice and assisting once.

When collating his match data with Grealish’s over these opening weeks of the campaign, it becomes all the more clear that Grealish has some fierce internal competition as he plays his way toward contention for the Player of the Year and indeed steers Everton to heights unscaled in many recent years.

As you can see, most of the effusive noise might be directed toward Grealish so far this term, but Ndiaye is on a level with the England international, and he’s five years younger besides.

Both are electric and pacy players, and there’s a neat balance in Grealish’s playmaking emphasis and Ndiaye’s more direct approach.

It’s also worth noting that the former Marseille man is earning just £45k per week at Everton, and while a bumper pay rise is sure to be on technical director Angus Kinnear’s radar, it’s an illustration of the shrewd business completed in reeling him over. Farhad Moshiri’s dysfunctional reign was characterised by many bungled deals, but credit must be paid for the addition of Ndiaye.

Grealish, meanwhile, is one of the best-paid players in the Premier League, and though he’s playing like it across the opening weeks of his Everton career, Ndiaye is quite the wide forward himself – and he’s permanently on the Toffees books besides.

In any case, both superstars are more than happy to be playing their football on Merseyside, beaming grins clear for all to see.

While Everton have hit the jackpot with the addition of Grealish, it’s important to remember that he is only a loanee. A permanent stay down the line isn’t out of the question, but it will present a new financial obstacle for Kinnear and co.

Ndiaye is already on the books, of course, and he just keeps on going from strength to strength, potent in the final third but also a willing defender, a crisp passer and a breakneck runner.

Data-driven platform FBref underscore all this. Across the past year, the African talent ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 9% for tackles per 90.

Watch him continue to improve. Here is a talisman. Here is a player who can match Moyes’ ambitions over the coming years.

Everton must only resist any inevitable efforts from interested parties, and while a price tag is unknown, it’s clear that the Toffees would demand a stratospheric sum for their star.

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