All posts by h716a5.icu

Rising operational costs, extra events, and the addition of two new Full Members have eaten into the projected revenues

Osman Samiuddin and Nagraj Gollapudi26-Oct-2019Discontent is imminent in cricket’s global boardroom as all member boards face the prospect of a reduction in their share from the ICC’s central revenues.The reduction is likely on account of – among other factors – ICC’s rising operational costs, hosting extra events, and the addition of two new Full Members. In quantum, the BCCI stands to lose the most, with its projected revenue for the ICC having dipped to US$372 million from the US$405 million that had been originally forecast – the former figure was what new BCCI president Sourav Ganguly referred to on the day he took over. But smaller boards, more dependent on the ICC pay-out, might feel the squeeze more; six boards were forecast revenues of US$128 million over eight years, which has now dipped to approximately US$115 million.Ganguly has made it clear he will fight for India’s share of ICC revenues, and together with the BCCI’s objection to the ICC plan of an extra event in the calender’s post-2023 cycle, a showdown between the ICC and BCCI is gaining momentum.The ICC and its members agreed upon a new financial model in 2017, which rolled back changes in revenue distribution worked out by the cricket boards from India, England and Australia, referred to as the Big Three, who had granted themselves a larger share of the global revenues.The way the ICC’s rights deals work means that these are not final but only projected figures. The original targets could still be hit, and it’s important to note that the revenue distribution model is based on percentage, and not actual figures. And those percentages remain the same. The calculations for the 2017 model were based on the projection that the ICC earns US$2.7 billion from the 2016-2023 rights cycle. Those earnings include money from broadcast rights and also commercial rights – it is these commercial rights deals that are variable and could change, resulting in a change in actual (not percentage) distribution.The other variable is the costs the ICC incurs, in hosting its events and in running itself – and this is something the BCCI flagged as a concern back in 2017. “The ICC operation and production costs are ballooning and that has taken a hit on the ICC distribution to members,” one official told ESPNcricinfo.A view of the ICC Board Meeting in session•Getty ImagesPartly, this is a problem of accountancy. The costs projected in the 2017 model are thought by some officials to be too low – not as unrealistic as those projected in the Big Three model in 2014, but still low. So as real costs have turned out to be higher, the distribution of funds has been hit.But costs are also projected to be higher because of the introduction of an extra ICC event in this cycle – the first U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, to be played in Bangladesh in 2021. And switching the Champions Trophy to a T20 World Cup in 2021 also has an impact: with twice the number of teams, a T20 World Cup is considered to have twice the cost of a smaller event like the Champions Trophy. There could, additionally, be another qualifying event for the 2021 T20 World Cup to factor in.Further, since the 2017 financial model was confirmed, two new Full Members have arrived, in Ireland and Afghanistan, and though their shares are lower at US$40 million each, it is still a share from the Full Member pie – which was projected to be US$1.536 billion (out of the US$2.7 billion total rights earning) – that wasn’t accounted for.The thing to bear in mind is the fluidity. After a successful men’s World Cup in England earlier this summer, the ICC is optimistic about further commercial growth in the remaining three men’s world tournaments in the current cycle (the T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2021 and the World Cup in 2023). Commercial deals around those tournaments are yet to be closed, especially the latter two, both of which are in India.It is those two tournaments that Ganguly referred to when he spoke about the revenues being “heavy at the back-end” of the cycle. The ICC pays out members their revenues twice every year in the rights cycle (in January and July) but because the value of each tournament is different (both from a broadcast and commercial perspective) the pay-outs vary. So any tournament in India will always be worth more in a rights deal and as a result the pay-outs are greater once those tournaments are over. One estimate has the BCCI receiving as much as 75% of their total due only across these two tournaments.

One estimate has the BCCI receiving as much as 75% of their total due from the ICC only across the T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2021. This is what Sourav Ganguly referred to when he said revenues were “heavy at the back-end” of the cycle.

But that members, and especially the BCCI, are talking about potential reductions will assume greater importance in coming months. Ganguly has already said earlier this month that he will push for a greater share in ICC revenues for the BCCI. And in its briefings with member boards, the ICC is understood to have repeatedly pointed out it remains among the leanest organisations in global sport and that its operations costs do not eat into overall profits and affect member distributions. Rising ICC costs, or the BCCI’s irritation with them, was one of the key drivers behind the Big Three takeover.The BCCI is now freed of its post-Lodha compulsions and is back in proper administrative form. The objection to the extra tournament is a sign that muscles are getting ready to be flexed. Later in November when the BCCI holds its first annual general meeting since 2016, it is believed that a firmer and clearer stance vis-à-vis the ICC will also emerge.

Stats highlights from a run-fest in Mumbai, where India clinched the series

Bharath Seervi11-Dec-20192- Number of bigger T20I totals for India, than their 240 for 3 at Wankhede. It is also the highest total in T20Is at Wankhede Stadium, going past England’s 230 against South Africa in the 2016 World T20.1- The trio of Rohit Sharma (71), KL Rahul (91) and Virat Kohli (70*) produced the first instance of three batsmen making 70-plus scores in a T20I Innings. In fact, this is the first such instance in all T20 matches.21- Balls taken by Kohli to complete his fifty, which is his fastest in T20Is and the fifth-fastest by an India batsman. The four quicker fifties by India batsmen have been by Yuvraj Singh (three of them) and Gautam Gambhir.404- Sixes for Rohit in his international career. He became just the third batsman after Chris Gayle (534) and Shahid Afridi (476) to complete 400 sixes across the three international formats. Interestingly, 361 of those 404 sixes have come since the start of 2013. He has hit 130 more sixes than the second on the list of most sixes since 2013.ESPNcricinfo Ltd285- Runs by KL Rahul in his last three T20 innings at Wankhede. Before falling for 91 in this match, he had made 94 and 100 not out in IPL 2018 and 2019. This was the second time he got out in the nineties in his T20 career.85.28- Kohli’s average at Wankhede in T20s. He has made 597 runs in 13 innings with five fifties and six not outs. In the last T20I there, he had scored unbeaten 89 against West Indies in 2016 World T20 semi-final.

“One of the best coaches ever” is now a front-runner to replace Ivan Juric at Southampton, who have already identified a number of managers as potential targets, according to a report.

Southampton part ways with Juric after relegation

The Saints’ relegation from the Premier League was finally confirmed on Sunday, following a 3-1 loss at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, although in truth the writing has been on the wall for quite some time, after a disastrous campaign.

Juric inherited a difficult situation at St. Mary’s, with Russell Martin being sacked in December, at which point his side were already nine points from safety, but there were very few signs of improvement after the 49-year-old’s arrival.

With just seven games left to go, the soon-to-be Championship side need to collect two more points to avoid breaking an unwanted record, with Derby County’s 11 points in the 2007-08 campaign currently the lowest total in Premier League history.

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Their scouts are impressed.

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Next season, the aim will undoubtedly be to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and the board have now started to identify managers who could give them a very good chance of doing exactly that.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Southampton have a number of options in mind, including Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, but Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior is believed to be one of the front-runners.

BlueCo may not make it easy for the Saints to snap Rosenior up, however, as they are determined to keep hold of the up-and-coming manager, with Strasbourg faring very well in their pursuit of qualification for the Champions League.

As such, Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl could be a more attainable target, given that the German coach has a relatively affordable £5m release clause included in his contract with the Owls.

Rosenior impressing in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg

It is little wonder Southampton are keen on appointing the Englishman, given the job he has done at Strasbourg this season, with his side currently in fourth place, just three points behind second-placed Marseille.

The 40-year-old has orchestrated a phenomenal turnaround, with Strasbourg finishing 13th under the helm of Patrick Vieira last season, and he has previously been hailed for his ability on the training ground.

Clinton Morrison praised the work the Strasbourg boss did during his time as Derby County’s caretaker manager, saying: “I actually think he’s a top manager,”

“I spoke to a few people at Derby. He was unlucky to lose his job, the players respected him. He’s one of the best coaches ever.”

Club

Matches

Points per match

Strasbourg

31

1.77

Hull City

78

1.40

Derby County

12

1.92

However, with Strasbourg on course to qualify for the Champions League, it seems unlikely that Rosenior would be willing to manage a Championship side next season, particularly with BlueCo so eager to keep hold of him, so Rohl could be a more realistic appointment for the Saints.

Stepping up their summer plans, Manchester United are now reportedly expected to submit an opening offer to sign a Serie A midfielder who dominated former Old Trafford star Scott McTominay this season.

INEOS preparing for big summer

Ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge, in which he will be forced to operate underneath an even greater spotlight, it’s fair to say that INEOS must get things right on the transfer front.

The Red Devils desperately need to show the door to several stars and are even more desperate for fresh faces to arrive and make their mark at Old Trafford.

Amorim is keen to ensure that his side waste no time before finally turning things around at the club, despite questions around a long-term task.

The former Sporting CP boss told reporters earlier this month: “I understand, but I’m not naïve. I don’t want to think we need a lot of years to be competitive. I can’t think like that, I cannot manage that, it’s not in me. That’s why I’m putting pressure on myself.

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“I know we won’t be the biggest challengers in the next year or two years. We are changing a lot of things inside the club and we know it will take a lot of time, but I will not say I need a lot of years. Next year is our goal. I’m not saying we’re going to win the title in the next year, I’m not crazy.”

What would certainly help accelerate Manchester United’s turnaround is an impressive transfer window – something that INEOS are seemingly planning for.

Already, names such as Liam Delap and James Trafford have been mentioned among those who could yet be on their way to Amorim’s side, but it’s a Serie A midfielder who may well be most likely.

Man Utd expected to submit offer for Ederson

According to TuttomercatoWeb, Manchester United are now expected to submit an official offer to sign Ederson from Atalanta in the coming weeks. The Serie A side reportedly value their midfielder at around €60m (£52m), but it remains to be seen whether United’s pending offer will reach that mark and satisfy the Italians’ requirements.

It should come as no surprise that Atalanta are demanding such a high price, however. If Manchester United kept an eye on academy graduate, turned Napoli star, Scott McTominay, they would have seen Ederson’s quality for themselves earlier this season. The Brazilian dominated the Napoli midfielder in a resounding 3-0 victory.

By the end of the 3-0 thrashing, the Atalanta star had made eight passes into the final third, won 100% of his tackles and completed as many as 10 recoveries. McTominay, meanwhile, was limited to the least amount of touches of any outfield player on the day and won just 50% of his tackles, according to FotMob.

Described as “strong” by South American football expert Tim Vickery, Ederson is exactly the type of combative midfielder that Amorim needs alongside Manuel Ugarte if he is to turn Manchester United around once and for all.

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The Brazilian could soon be on the way out of Old Trafford.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 7, 2025

Everton have finally got their head above the water, and David Moyes is planning on strengthening his squad this summer to ensure Bramley Moore has a good chance of tasting more lucrative successes than Goodison Park has been treated to in recent years.

While fans will hope for a flashy new forward, a rock-sold defender with a modern twist, it’s important to remember that a couple of under-the-radar, pragmatic signings will be essential in establishing a balanced and dynamic team.

Central midfield probably needs the least amount of work, but Moyes is planning on signing a former favourite to complete his set.

Everton chasing PL midfielder

According to Wednesday’s edition of MF Dnes – via Sport Witness – Tomas Soucek has major reservations about continuing at West Ham United, given Graham Potter views him as a utility option.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The experienced star is seemingly keen to remain loyal to his current employers, with two years left on his current deal, although he seemingly won’t accept an ‘inferior’ role under the new Potter regime.

This opens the door for Everton, with Moyes taking the Czech midfielder under his wing for the lion’s share of his Premier League career.

However, newly-promoted Leeds United are also keen, so The Friedkin Group will need to act quickly to avoid any embarrassment in securing a shrewd summer signing.

Why Moyes wants Soucek at Everton

Hailed as a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, Soucek has been a regular feature for West Ham across the 20s, signed by Moyes from Slavia Prague on loan in January 2020 before his signing was wrapped up on a permanent basis for about £19m at the end of that season.

The 30-year-old played a vital role in winning the Conference League and challenging in European competition across three seasons in Moyes’ system, scoring 39 goals across 240 Irons appearances, including seven in the Premier League this term.

In spite of his prolificness and strong presence in the middle of the park, Potter’s not convinced, and it seems like Everton are ready to pounce on this opportunity and sign a replacement for Doucoure, 32, who is indeed out of a deal this summer.

This is probably the right decision, given he’s the club’s top earner at £130k per week. Moreover, the well of goals, Doucoure’s trademark, has dried up, with just three Premier League goals to his name this season.

1.

Martin Peters

355

98

2.

Sir Trevor Booking

514

81

3.

Mark Noble

550

62

4.

Billy Bonds

645

49

5.

Tomas Soucek

240

39

He knows how to find the back of the net, but Soucek, once remarked to be a “revelation” at West Ham by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, certainly isn’t a one-trick pony, with his physicality and industriousness forging a complete midfielder, perfect for Moyes’ system.

It’s no surprise the Scottish manager wants his towering 6 foot 3 general back in his fold, and with the likes of Idrissa Gueye getting on a bit, making a summer move makes sense irrespective of the Moyes factor.

West Ham might not be the most exciting team in the Premier League this season but Soucek has retained his threatening presence in the final third nonetheless, with FBref ranking him among the top 5% of centre-midfielders in the division this term for goals scored and the top 1% for touches in the box per 90.

Given that the data-driven site list Doucoure as one of Soucek’s most statistically comparable players, it feels like something of a no-brainer, not least because Moyes knows Soucek well, trusts him.

Moreover, Soucek’s scoring knack from midfield offers shades of Tim Cahill.

Cahill is one of Everton’s most memorable stars of the Premier League era, having scored 56 goals from 226 matches for the Toffees, predominantly from an attacking midfield standpoint.

Despite his smallish stature, Cahill was something of an aerial monster, a further similarity to Soucek, who, albeit, is much taller.

It feels important that Everton address their goalscoring issues with a wider scope this summer, not just bagging a new centre-forward but indeed signing a player such as Soucek who could add a much-needed dimension from deeper, making those effortless runs into dangerous positions to emulate Cahill and add a string to the manager’s tactical bow.

Hailed as one of Europe’s “prolific central midfielders” by esteemed analyst Michael Cox, Soucek has the qualities to step into Cahill’s boots, so to speak, fuelled further by the past connection with Moyes.

The Malian’s offensive sharpness has waned in recent years, and Soucek could be the perfect addition to uphold Moyes’ values at Bramley Moore.

The Czech international has averaged 5.1 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, and would freshen up the Toffees ranks for sure.

With Potter not all that enamoured, West Ham’s loss will prove to be Everton’s gain.

Moyes' biggest star since Rooney: Everton leading race to sign £38m star

Everton appear to be making moves to land a talented youngster ahead of this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 24, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are enjoying a strong finish to the season and could make an early summer move that would signal their intent under Vitor Pereira, according to reports.

Wolves in new dawn under Vitor Pereira

Not so long ago, Wolves looked destined to appear in a relegation dogfight and found their Premier League status under threat. Vitor Pereira wasn’t a universally popular appointment when he arrived at Molineux, but ten top-flight victories and two draws out of 19 matches have more than secured his side’s survival for another season.

Last weekend, a narrow loss to Manchester City brought a run of six straight Premier League wins to an end, though they really should’ve taken something from a tight encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Looking forward, the landscape is a positive one for Wolves as they look to make improvements on the market. Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin could be one of their first additions at Molineux should the Black Cats fail to win promotion.

Nicolas Pepe has emerged as a surprise target for Wolves following his career revival at Ligue 1 outfit Nice, though he also has interest in his services from Saudi Arabia.

Wolves want "incredible" 25 y/o Atletico Madrid star who may replace Cunha

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Despite rescuing their season after a poor start, the Old Gold will be conscious that they cannot afford to be slow off the mark next term once divisional rivals have a chance to bolster their squads in the market. Strength in depth is needed to solidify their Premier League credentials, but Pereira has already shown that he can maximise the output of key assets, which is likely to breed confidence.

Now, Wolves have began to accelerate in a move to sign a talented midfielder that is also wanted by one of Europe’s giants, per reports.

Wolves want to sign Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup

According to Football Transfers, Wolves have positioned themselves to sign Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup, who is also attracting interest from the likes of Fiorentina and AC Milan.

West Ham United are also in pursuit of the Denmark international after a season that has seen him win more tackles and make more ball recoveries than anyone else in Serie A this season, setting a trend.

Morten Frendrup’s impressive season for Genoa – Serie A

Tackles won

60

Duels won

170

Recoveries

175

Pass accuracy

85.6%

Successful dribbles

10

Possession won in final third

20

Labelled “very impressive” by scout/writer Jacek Kulig, Frendrup has scored twice in 35 appearances across all competitions this campaign.

The outlet state that he could be available for a bargain price of £16.9 million, representing value for money in a modern-day market that rarely throws up inexpensive opportunities to pounce.

With rival suitors beginning to circle for his signature, Wolves need to put forward a convincing proposal in the hope that he will opt to move to Molineux once the window finally opens.

There is a high possibility that Arsenal will finish second in the Premier League for a third successive season, this time to Arne Slot’s Liverpool rather than Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta has constantly led the Gunners to a title battle in recent years, but has been unable to get them over the line and end their two-decade wait for a league triumph.

If they are to go one better in 2025/26, the hierarchy will have to back the manager in the transfer market to make the additions he desires to his first team squad.

There’s no denying that the Spaniard has serious qualities in various areas, but that’s not enough, with depth needed in key departments to sustain their ambitions in various competitions.

With the window just around the corner, new sporting director Andrea Berta has already wasted no time in drawing up his shortlist of potential targets for the off-season.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new signings this summer

Additions are expected across the pitch for Arsenal this summer, mainly to avoid the injury crisis the side has often endured for large parts of the current campaign.

Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen is the latest defender on their shortlist ahead of the window, with the Spaniard scoring against Arteta’s men on Saturday afternoon.

However, the 20-year-old isn’t the only defensive target on the agenda for the coming months, with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia also on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report states that the Gunners are preparing a £25m bid for the 24-year-old who has remerged as a target after previously being of interest just under 12 months ago.

It also claims that he’s seen as a quality competitor to David Raya for the number one position, but more importantly handing Arteta the depth needed in such an area.

Why Arsenal’s £25m target would make Saliba & Gabriel unplayable

Gabriel and William Saliba have been Arsenal’s go-to centre-back pairing when they’ve been fully fit in 2024/25, leading to their ambitions of securing the Premier League title.

Arteta’s side have conceded just 31 goals in their 35 league outings, currently boasting the best record in the division – an average of just 0.8 goals conceded per 90.

The pair have contributed to the club’s tally of 14 clean sheets this season, with only Nottingham Forest keeping more to date – showcasing their impressive work in the defensive department.

However, such a record could be bolstered in 2025/26 by the potential addition of Garcia, with the shot-stopper having the ability to take such feats to new levels.

When delving into his stats in LaLiga this campaign, his talents are there for all to see, improving the situation within the backline for Arteta.

He’s even managed to outperform current number one Raya in multiple key areas, outlining the pressure he could put on his compatriot should he move to the Emirates.

The 24-year-old, who’s been labelled “colossus” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has achieved a higher save percentage this season, along with more saves per 90 – showcasing his ability between the sticks.

Games played

33

35

Clean sheets

7

12

Save percentage

77%

74%

Saves per 90

3.7

2.2

Short passes completed

98%

98%

Crosses stopped

1.7

1.3

Shots-on-target faced

5.1

3.1

He’s also completed the same percentage of passes to date, along with more crosses stopped per 90 – offering Arteta a more all-round presence at the back.

£25m in today’s market is a bargain, especially for a player who possesses the quality like Garcia, as demonstrated by the figures he has produced in 2024/25.

If he were to make the switch to North London, he would be able to add yet more defensive quality to the already impressive backline, subsequently aiding Gabriel and Saliba’s chances of becoming unplayable.

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Southampton have now held talks with a 35-year-old coach as a possible alternative to the heavily linked Will Still, as their search for a new manager continues.

Latest on Southampton’s manager search

Saints are once again looking for a new manager after Ivan Juric left the club even before the Premier League season came to an end. It is a rather difficult job for any interested manager, as Southampton are heading back to the Championship after a disastrous campaign and will no doubt have some of their best players poached by Premier League clubs.

Approach made: Southampton now in advanced talks to hire new 4-3-3 manager

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ByTom Cunningham May 19, 2025

The league comes to an end next week, and the club will hope they can have a new man in place as soon as possible to give them the best chance of aligning with their new boss in the transfer market.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is one manager under consideration, and according to David Ornstein, Rohl is considering his options, but Southampton may not be a priority given he has interest from the Premier League and the Bundesliga. Steven Gerrard has also been linked with a move to St Mary’s, but those links have gone rather quiet in recent weeks.

Along with Rohl, Will Still is heavily linked with a move to Southampton, and it’s been reported that Still is in advanced talks over a move to St Mary’s after leaving RC Lens.

Still told reporters that his decision to leave Lens was so he could be closer to his family: “I will not be the coach of Lens next season. Today was my last match of the season at Bollaert. For multiple reasons, the main reason behind my decision is that I need to go back home. It is a logical choice for me to be closer to my wife for her well-being.”

It’s claimed that Southampton are confident of agreeing a deal with Still for him to become their new manager, but he is not the only person they have recently spoken to.

Southampton now hold talks with 35 y/o who's just been sacked

As well as holding talks with Still, according to The Guardian, Southampton have also held talks with recently sacked Tom Cleverley.

The Guardian reports that the Saints are looking to rebuild after their relegation and have identified a handful of young, up and coming managers who could be in charge next season, with Cleverley one of those.

The 35-year-old is currently out of work following his sacking from Watford after the Hornets fell short of the Championship play-offs, making him their 12th such casualty in the space of just six years.

This update goes on to state that Cleverley, who likes to operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, has made a good impression on Southampton during those discussions, and he now has a strong chance of becoming the club’s new manager – Cleverley is seen as one of the most promising young English coaches in the game.

Games

61

Won

20

Drawn

14

Lost

27

Points

74

Points per game

1.21

Cleverley’s time at Vicarage Road was his first time as a senior manager, as the former Manchester United midfielder had been working in Watford’s academy before he was given the caretaker role at the end of last season. Cleverley is still very early into his coaching career, but the same could be said for Rohl, who has only managed Sheffield Wednesday, and while Still has managed a couple of sides in France, it is very clear the club are planning for a new dawn with a long-term vision.

When it comes to brilliant players, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with more than their fair share over the last ten years.

The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were genuinely world-class for the Lilywhites and, as a result, formed one of the best attacking partnerships the Premier League has ever seen.

Likewise, Mousa Dembélé and Cristian Eriksen were sensational in midfield, but someone who arguably doesn’t get the credit he deserves anymore is Dele Alli.

While the Englishman is still struggling to find form in Italy at the moment, he was near enough unstoppable for several years at Tottenham, and based on reports from the last few weeks, Daniel Levy and Co could sign the club their next Dele.

Dele's Spurs career

In February 2015, Tottenham agreed to pay then-League One side MK Dons £5m for an incredibly exciting 18-year-old prospect by the name of Dele.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

While it usually takes youngsters a number of years to get up to speed in a top-flight team, the Milton Keynes-born gem took no time at all and, by the end of his first campaign in the capital, had racked up an astonishing tally of ten goals and ten assists in just 46 appearances.

Such an explosive start to life at the highest level saw him win the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and he did not stop there, as his sophomore season with the Lilywhites was even better and saw him score 22 goals and provide 12 assists in 50 appearances – enough to win a second successive Young Player of the Year award.

For a while, it looked like the youngster was going to become one of the very best players in the world, someone capable of playing in multiple positions at the highest standard.

However, as we know, that didn’t happen, and after a few seasons of increasingly disappointing performances, Dele moved to Everton in February 2020 – almost five years after signing for the North Londoners.

Appearances

269

Minutes

19162′

Goals

67

Assists

58

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.29′

The club haven’t had a player like the 37-capped international, but there is a chance they could do so soon.

Spurs' potential new Dele

The last few weeks have seen many talented players linked with moving to Spurs, but perhaps one of the most exciting names, and someone who could be the club’s new Dele, is Xavi Simons.

According to reports from late last week, the North Londoners are ‘favourites’ to land the incredibly talented international from RB Leipzig, although doing so would cost up to £67m.

Described as “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media, what is it about the Dutchman that means he could be the Lilywhites’ new Dele?

Firstly, he is incredibly versatile and can play on either wing, up top, as a second striker and in attacking and central midfield areas, so just like the Englishman, he could thrive just off the centre-forward or deeper if required.

Moreover, just like the former MK Dons gem in his early seasons in North London, the Amsterdam-born “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is an output machine.

Appearances

43

Goals

10

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Appearances

33

Goals

11

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

For example, in 43 appearances last season, he scored ten goals and provided 15 assists, and in 33 appearances this season, he scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, coming out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 and 1.83 games, respectively.

Finally, and this is rather difficult to prove with statistics, but just like the Englishman was, the former PSG gem is capable of some utterly sublime bits of skill and has scored more than his fair share of brilliant goals for Leipzig and PSV.

Ultimately, Spurs have been crying out for another young talent to come in and have the sort of effect Dele did when he first joined almost a decade ago, and while he’s a little older, Simons could be just that player.

Massive Tel upgrade: Spurs ready £38m offer to sign "unstoppable" star

Spurs could sign an upgrade on Tel for £38m this summer.

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Aston Villa are now ready to hijack AFC Bournemouth’s transfer to sign an “outrageous” up and coming defender, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa identify replacement for key star

Since making the move to Villa Park, goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s career has gone from strength to strength, as he’s established himself as one of the best keepers in England and the world, given his heroics for Argentina, where he won the Golden Glove award in the 2022 World Cup.

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Now at the age of 32, Martinez may feel it is the right time for him to leave Villa and move to the next stage of his career. The Argentine is still under contract until 2029, but transfer speculation is continuing to mount, as Manchester United have reportedly made an approach over a possible move this summer. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have also been in the mix, and the Villans’ need to balance sales with incomings could create the perfect storm for his departure.

So as Martinez weighs up his future, Unai Emery and co. are looking at options to replace the 32-year-old, and OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka is someone club chiefs have identified. He is believed to be Villa’s first choice to replace Martinez, but they do face competition for his signature, as Marseille are also interested in signing the shot-stopper.

Aston Villa ready to hijack Bournemouth transfer to sign £20m defender

As the Villans look to strengthen their goalkeeper department, Emery also wants a new defender, and according to The Sun, Aston Villa are ready to join the battle to sign Adrien Truffert from Rennes.

The report states that Emery is in the market for a new left-back despite having Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen at his disposal, with the former now in his thirties and out of contract in 2026. However, Bournemouth are already chasing a deal for the defender, and it is claimed they are close to agreeing a £20 million deal with Rennes.

Villa will have to match the Cherries’ offer to stand a chance of signing the 23-year-old, but before they can do that, they will have to move a player on to abide with PSR.

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In fact, the defender has yet to earn a senior international call-up, and his thinking may be that a move to the Premier League could open that door. Bournemouth do appear to be ahead in the race, but Villa may have a way of beating the Cherries to a deal, with Truffert represented by the same agency as current Villa defender Enzi Konsa, perhaps allowing the Villans a smoother path in negotiations.