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While many would blame Russell Martin, the primary reason behind Rangers’ catastrophic start to this season is poor recruitment.

In attacking areas, Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane and Václav Černý, who scored 63 goals between them last season, have all departed, replaced by Djeidi Gassama, Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti, who are simply not of the same quality.

Elsewhere, Joe Rothwell has been cast aside since the appointment of Danny Röhl, while defence remains a major issue too, with Max Aarons and Jayden Meghoma appearing out of their depth, while a solid and reliable central partnership is yet to be unearthed.

So, when the Gers return to action against Livingston after the international break, should Röhl ditch an error-prone defender and begin to entrust his “colossus”?

Nasser Djiga's Rangers career so far

Nasser Djiga arrived at Rangers with a pretty decent reputation; a Burkina Faso international joined on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had signed him for around £10m from Crvena zvezda as recently as January.

Well, he certainly did not make the ideal start to life in Glasgow, sent off on his home Premiership debut during a dismal 1-1 draw with Dundee at Ibrox.

Just ten days later, Djiga was then at the scene of a catastrophic error.

The centre-back seemingly denounced any responsibility as the ball bobbled through the heart of the Rangers defence, allowing Romeo Vermant to open the scoring, the first of nine goals Club Brugge would bag across the two legs of the harrowing and ignominious Champions League play-off tie.

Djiga thereby found himself out of the team for a few weeks thereafter, albeit he has been reintegrated for recent matches by Röhl, after he switched to a back three, requiring a third member of this back-line alongside Derek Cornelius and John Souttar.

Nevertheless, he has not impressed, with the Scotsman labelling him ‘unconvincing’ following Rangers’ recent Europa League defeat to Roma, having previously outlined that the defender endured a ‘really difficult’ afternoon against Celtic at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals a few days earlier.

That has sparked suggestions that his season-long loan could be terminated as early as January, a scenario that could well be sped up if Röhl gives one of Rangers’ forgotten summer signings an opportunity to stake a claim.

Rangers' forgotten colossus deserves a chance

Considering Rangers signed 12 players in the summer, a few of these new recruits have been overlooked and forgotten about.

Well, this is certainly the case when it comes to centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez.

The 24-year-old had already bounced around numerous lower league English clubs, Sheppey United and Spalding United to name just two, before making the move north of the border from Peterborough United, following an outstanding campaign in EFL League One.

He cost a reported £3.5m, a not insignificant fee for Rangers, but has barely featured for the Glasgow giants.

Fernandez made his debut against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, marking the occasion with this towering header in front of the Broomloan Road Stand, starting at St Mirren the following weekend, but seeing a mere one-minute cameo at Easter Road since 24 August, an unused substitute on 12 occasions in total.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Martin labelled Fernandez a “commanding defender” who boasts a “strong physical presence”, while Darragh MacAnthony, Chairman of his former club Peterborough, described him as a “colossus”, adding that the “gentle giant” is a “great organiser and talker”.

So, let’s assess his statistics from EFL League One last season.

Goals

5

2nd

Tackles (per 90)

1.24

63rd

Interceptions (per 90)

0.91

46th

Clearances (per 90)

6.83

19th

Passing accuracy %

85.35%

20th

Passes (per 90)

65.93

5th

Aerial duels won (per 90)

4

27th

Aerial duels won %

62.24%

25th

Ground duels won (per 90)

2.87

35th

Note: rankings are defenders only.

As the table documents, despite only seeing 2,380 minutes of action out of a possible 4,140, Fernandez boasted pretty impressive statistics at Posh last season.

He scored five goals, including this rocket at Exeter City, while also ranking highly when it came to clearances, passing and aerial duels, helped by the fact that he is 194 cms (6 ft 4 in) tall when it comes to the latter.

So, given a chance, Fernandez could really flourish at Ibrox, hoping to replicate the career Calvin Bassey enjoyed in Glasgow.

When Bassey arrived at Rangers from English football in 2020, costing a mere £230k in compensation, he had never previously played senior first-team football, having merely plied his trade in Leicester City’s youth teams.

Initially signed as Borna Barišić’s left-back deputy, Bassey would ultimately become the club’s best central defender, a key figure in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team that won the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League Final in 2021/22.

That summer, the Nigerian international was sold to Ajax for around £20m, which remains the club’s biggest sale of all-time.

Fernandez is certainly more experienced now than Bassey was when his Rangers career began five years ago, given that he has a full season in EFL League One under his belt, a division that Global Football Rankings believes is comparable in level to the Scottish Premiership, just eight spots below.

Thus, considering the scarcity of other options, especially with Röhl electing to deploy a back three, Fernandez certainly deserves an opportunity to stake a claim, likely to prove more reliable than Djiga in the long run.

Bassey emerged from obscurity and the periphery to flourish at Ibrox – why can’t Fernandez now do the same?

Not Chermiti: Rangers flop is Ibrox's biggest waste of money since Lammers

This Glasgow Rangers flop is the club’s biggest waste of money since the signing of Sam Lammers.

ByDan Emery Nov 11, 2025

England Lions will play two more matches on their tour – against CA XI and Australia A, which will run concurrently with the first and second Tests in Perth and Brisbane

Alex Malcolm24-Jul-2025

England will play one practice match against England Lions in Perth ahead of the Ashes•Getty Images

England will play only one official practice match, against England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth, in preparation for the first Ashes Test in late November.Cricket Australia announced on Thursday that the fixture would be part of a three-match England Lions tour that will run concurrently with the Ashes series in Australia.England will play a three-day red-ball game at Lilac Hill, the home of Midland Guildford Cricket Club in Perth’s eastern suburbs, from November 13-15 ahead of the first Ashes Test starting at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21. Lilac Hill was once the traditional first tour stop for all international teams when visiting Australia throughout the 1990s as the visiting Test team would play a 50-over festival game to kick off the tour.That tradition has long been shelved with touring teams not even playing matches against Australian state sides any more. England have opted to follow a similar pre-tour preparation that India had in Australia last year, except India’s only intra-squad match was played behind closed doors at the WACA ground with no media or outsiders allowed in.There is no ability to close off Lilac Hill to the public as it is open parkland alongside the Swan River. The WACA ground is unavailable on November 13-14 owing to a Sheffield Shield game being scheduled between Western Australia and Queensland on November 11-14, but both Australia and England will likely have access to the WACA ground for centre-wicket training and net sessions in the days leading up to the first Test.While England will play just one practice game before the first Test in Perth, it’s understood they may play another a two-day fixture in Canberra against the Prime Minister’s XI in between the first and second Test at the Gabba, which will be a pink-ball day-night Test. The Prime Minister’s XI match is yet to be confirmed but it could double as England’s pink-ball warm-up for the Gabba.Meanwhile, England Lions will play three fixtures in total on their concurrent tour of Australia. Following the England game, they will play a second four-day match at the same Lilac Hill venue against a Cricket Australia XI that will likely comprise of developing fringe Australian domestic and Under-19 players who will not be playing in the Shield round that starts on November 22.Shoaib Bashir played for England Lions on an Australia tour in January and February•Getty Images

The Lions will then travel to Brisbane with the England Test squad and play a four-day game against an Australia A team at Allan Border Field on December 5-8, while the second Ashes Test at the Gabba runs from December 4-8. The two Lions games running alongside the Test matches could allow England’s management to play some of their Test squad members if they are not selected in the XIs for the first two Tests.Australia’s selectors may field a stronger team for the Australia A fixture in Brisbane but again it will run up against the sixth round of the Shield.”The reciprocal A series against the England Lions is important for Australian cricket giving our players the chance to perform against high calibre opposition,” CA head of cricket operations and scheduling Peter Roach said. “We’re confident this series will complement what should be a fiercely contested Ashes series and have strong benefits for both countries.”It is a big year of Australia A cricket opportunities with the recently completed series against Sri Lanka A and tour of India in September before the Lions series.”It will be the second Lions tour to Australia this year after they played three red-ball matches against CA XI and Australia A in January and February in Brisbane and Sydney.Injured England Test offspinner Shoaib Bashir played all three matches on that tour while seamers Josh Tongue and Sam Cook, who have both played Tests for England recently, also played on that tour.England Lions tour scheduleNov 13-15: England v England Lions | Lilac Hill (Perth)
Nov 21-24: CA XI v England Lions | Lilac Hill (Perth)
Dec 5-8: Australia A v England Lions | Allan Border Field (Brisbane)

Manchester United are now deadly serious about hijacking Chelsea’s move for an “incredible” £70m star, having identified him as a prime target for the January transfer window.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder amid Casemiro criticism

To say Man United are short on top-quality midfield options would perhaps be an understatement, with Ruben Amorim clearly not a fan of Kobbie Mainoo, given that the 20-year-old is still yet to start a Premier League match so far this season.

Casemiro, who is now set to exit Old Trafford, has also been slammed for some of his performances in recent weeks, with Wayne Rooney branding the Brazilian “silly” and “naive” after he got sent off at the end of the first half against Chelsea.

Near the end of the summer transfer window, ESPN commentator Ian Darke suggested Amorim needed to bolster his options in the engine room, but simply didn’t have the money available.

Darke named Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton as a suitable target for Man United, and according to a report from TEAMtalk, the midfielder has now been identified as a prime target for the January transfer window.

Indeed, it has been revealed that United are frontrunners in the race for Wharton’s signature, with INEOS deadly serious about hijacking Chelsea’s move for the Palace maestro, but a deal will be expensive.

Palace have slapped an asking price of at least £70m on the midfielder, who is likely to have no shortage of potential suitors, with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also named as interested parties, although the Red Devils are currently ahead of their two Premier League rivals.

"Incredible" Wharton would be statement signing for Man Utd

Man United proved they still have plenty of pulling power by beating Champions League Newcastle United to Benjamin Sesko’s signature in the summer, but their start to the campaign is unlikely to have done them any favours when it comes to luring the Palace star.

That said, if Amorim’s side were able to get a deal done, there is every indication the 21-year-old would be a fantastic addition, having received high praise from members of the media for his performances this season.

Man United focused on bringing in proven Premier League players in the previous window, and the Englishman fits the bill in that regard, having now made 42 top-flight appearances for the Eagles.

At around £70m, Wharton would be one of Man United’s most expensive ever signings, but there are clear signs he has what it takes to be a success at Old Trafford.

In a move that could see them skip out the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign an impressive South American wonderkid.

Van Dijk: It's "clear" Liverpool must improve

Returning from the international break looking to return to winning ways for the first time in three games, against rivals Manchester United no less, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted that the Reds must improve.

The Dutchman also praised the Red Devils, sending a warning to the rest of his teammates about the threat that they pose even after getting off to a difficult start to the campaign, themselves.

For Arne Slot, it’s an unfamiliar position.

The Dutchman only knows winning ways in Merseyside after securing the Premier League title in his debut campaign last time out. Now, for the first time, the pressure is on him to turn Liverpool’s £400m summer spending spree into a side capable of defending that title.

Slot can fix Konate & Leoni blow by unleashing Liverpool's 19-year-old star

Liverpool have something of a sore spot in defence this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 18, 2025

Anfield chiefs rarely panic on that front, however, and will instead have their sights set on further improvements.

After smashing their transfer record twice in the summer to welcome Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have reportedly shifted their focus towards a wonderkid.

Liverpool join Ian Subiabre race

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Ian Subiabre alongside Arsenal, Manchester City and a number of other Premier League rivals.

The youngster is one of the most promising stars that South American football has to offer, and is reportedly ready to move on from River Plate in 2026.

Described as a “direct dribbler” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Subiabre would be an excellent coup for Liverpool, especially in January if a winter move does indeed become possible.

Whether it’s been those at Anfield in the case of Alexis Mac Allister or Chelsea with Moises Caicedo, a number of top Premier League sides have missed out on bargain deals for South American stars before paying a premium price to the likes of Brighton to secure those same players.

The Reds could now skip that step by landing a repeat of Man City’s Claudio Echeverri deal for Subiabre next year.

While Subiabre’s deal is due to expire at the end of 2026, reports from his homeland suggest the 18-year-old is actually ready to renew his deal until 2028 — giving River Plate the chance to recuperate a larger fee for him.

This proposed fresh contract, if officially announced, would include a whopping £74 million release clause.

Liverpool will be praying this isn’t the case, and Subiabre pulls a ‘Trent’ by running his current deal down.

If not, Slot’s side would have to fork out much more money for the Argentine, albeit maybe not as high as the clause.

West Ham United boss Graham Potter is facing consistent reports that his job is under threat following a poor start to the season, with a report now claiming that ex-Hammers midfielder Gary O’Neil is among the favourites for a quartet of key reasons.

The contenders to succeed Graham Potter at West Ham

Potter has overseen one of the worst starts to a season by any West Ham manager in Premier League history.

The Irons have conceded more goals than any other side in the top flight so far, conceding at least three goals in all of their defeats thus far, with a surprise 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest prior to the September internationals coming as their only saving grace.

This, combined with uninspired overall performances and the fact Potter has recorded West Ham’s second-worst managerial percentage since the Premier League’s inception, has put the 50-year-old in a very precarious position.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

Some reports have claimed that Potter could even be sacked if West Ham suffer a defeat to Crystal Palace, but this remains to be seen.

It is, however, certain that David Sullivan and co are doing their due-diligence on potential replacements for the ex-Chelsea boss, and many interesting names have been mentioned by the press already.

Reliable sources indicate that West Ham have internally discussed Slaven Bilic, Nuno Espírito Santo and Sean Dyche as options (Ben Jacobs), with Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna allegedly visiting the London Stadium last weekend too (Wayne Veysey).

Right now, it is believed that Bilic could be in pole position for the potential West Ham job, as Sullivan favours re-hiring the Croatian who was in charge of the club from 2015 to 2017 (Ben Jacobs).

Bilic guided them to the Europa League play-offs with a seventh-placed finish in his first season, but couldn’t replicate those heroics before being sacked by Sullivan in favour of David Moyes.

That being said, West Ham could also turn to O’Neil, even if that may not be too popular with supporters.

According to reliable journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent, the ex-Wolves boss is actually one of the major contenders, and because of four key aspects of his potential hire.

The four reasons why West Ham could appoint Gary O'Neil

The 42-year-old, who is very much still in his infancy when it comes to managerial careers, lost the infamous ‘El Sackico’ clash to former West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui last term, but didn’t actually lose his job until a defeat to Ipswich.

Now, West Ham could turn to their former midfielder to replace Potter, and Delaney has revealed exactly why.

Firstly, O’Neil is “highly respected” within Premier League circles for his work at Wolves and Bournemouth, due to his brilliant job managing serious difficulties at both sides.

Secondly, the tactician has impressed through his ability to develop younger players whilst also getting the best out of senior squad members. Thirdly, O’Neil is a free agent (perhaps the most obvious draw where Sullivan is concerned).

And lastly, his time at West Ham during O’Neil’s playing days serves as another draw, as a connection is already there.

The coach has been called an “interesting” option and potential upgrade on Potter by certain members of the media (Graeme Bailey), but his hire would still come as a major gamble.

O’Neil has never managed a club with the expectations of West Ham, nor has he come close to European qualification — a place the east Londoners are desperate to get back to following Moyes’ heroics in charge.

However, nobody expected Moyes to perform the wonders he did before things turned sour, so it also wouldn’t be wise to completely write him off either.

Juventus’ goalless draw against AC Milan has reignited scrutiny of the Bianconeri’s faltering attack. Once famed for its ruthless efficiency, Juve have struggled to find a reliable frontman, a reality club legend Alessandro Del Piero did not shy away from addressing. The former Juventus striker tore into Igor Tudor’s side, insisting they have "no suitable" striker.

• Juventus' goalless frustration at the Allianz Stadium

  Juventus and Milan played out a tense 0-0 draw at the Allianz Stadium. Despite flashes of energy from Adrien Rabiot and Santiago Gimenez, Juventus once again failed to convert pressure into goals. Igor Tudor’s men remained compact defensively, with Michele Di Gregorio producing vital saves to deny Milan. But as minutes passed, Juve’s attack ran out of ideas, exposing a recurring problem – lack of sharpness in the final third. The draw extended their unbeaten run but underlined a deeper issue: a team defensively stable yet offensively stagnant. Reflecting on the game, former Italy international Del Piero also pointed out the lack of firepower in Juve's squad, insisting that the Serie A team has no one to lead them from the front. 

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• AFP
  

  Del Piero’s shares his verdict on Juve's lack of firepower

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Juventus icon Del Piero didn’t mince words giving a scotching review of the game.

  “Who is best suited to play in attack for Juventus? There isn’t a suitable player right now,” Del Piero said bluntly. “Juve has shown they’re strong in other areas, certainly not up front. Those who have started have almost always performed poorly. Vlahovic has done well as a substitute.”

  The criticism went beyond personnel. Del Piero pointed to a deeper identity crisis. “If we analyse the five draws, you can say anything. Three of them came in dramatic fashion, as did the win against Inter. It’s complicated, the blanket is short. If you rotate a lot, you keep everyone on edge and give everyone confidence. But on the other hand, you lose your identity,” he said.

• Tudor has no clear ideas up front

  The former Juve forward further questioned Tudor’s tactical setup, suggesting that Juventus lack coherence in attack.

  “The team recognises itself in a starting eleven, which is missing today, especially up front. Elsewhere, in defense and midfield for example, the ideas are clear. Up front, Tudor still doesn’t have clear ideas,” Del Piero said.

  Del Piero further asserted that the current Juventus system limits the natural strengths of dynamic players like Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao. He called for the team to adopt a much higher tempo and sharper transitions, explaining that if the team plays with very high intensity and is more vertical, players like Yildiz and Conceicao can be "terrible" for opposing defences when given space.

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• AFP
  

  Tudor's lesson from Milan draw

  The stalemate with Milan was more than dropped points, it was a reflection of an attack in transition and a club searching for direction. In their six games this season, Milan have scored just nine goals. 

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney admits he would be "dead" without the love and support of wife Coleen. The ex-England international made the candid admission while talking to former team-mate Rio Ferdinand as he lifted the lid on some dark moments in his life. Although the 39-year-old has allegedly cheated on his spouse in the past, he recognises how vital she has been for him.

The ups and downs of Rooney's marriage

The childhood sweethearts have been married since 2008 but they have endured some bumpy times since then. But the former Everton forward is under no illusions about how important the 39-year-old is to him and their family. 

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentRooney sings praises of wife Coleen

He said on Rio Ferdinand Presents: "Coleen is massive. It's bad because we're two kids from Croxteth. We grew up together, obviously we started dating and got married, had kids. From when I was 17, she knew I was a bit out there. Loved my football, was obsessed with football but also loved a night out. She'd seen it very early on, and she controlled that, helped me control that massively. At times, she'd say, 'What are you doing?' How she's managed me, it was like I needed a manager. I honestly believe if she weren't there, I'd be dead. I believe that. What she's done… it's annoying at times. I'm like, 'What are you doing?' But everything she's doing is to keep me on this world and the best person. I've made mistakes in the past, which are well documented. I'm a little bit different at times, and she keeps me on that path. She's done that for 20-odd years."

Rooney admits to alcohol problems

Although Rooney had a tremendous career for both club and country, he believes that his fondness for liquor held him back a bit.

He added: "I wanted to live my life as well. I wanted to go out and enjoy my time with my friends. It got to a point where I went too far. That was a moment in my life where I was struggling (with alcohol), massively. I didn't think I could turn to anyone. I didn't really want to because I didn't want to put that burden on anyone. I remember going into training and putting eye drops in, chewing gum. I just drank for two days straight, then came to training. On the weekend, I'd score a few goals, then I'd go back and drink for two days straight again."

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Getty Images EntertainmentRooney steps back from management

After being sacked by Plymouth Argyle late last year, Rooney has started his own podcast and has fully immersed himself in punditry duties. But the ex-Derby County boss has not ruled out returning to management one day.

MatériaMais Notícias

O lateral-direito Rafinha, do São Paulo, aproveitou a folga que recebeu na última quinta-feira (18) do técnico Dorival Júnior e visitou a favela do Coque, em Recife (PE), com o influenciador digital pernambucano Ney Silva, conhecido pela amizade com vários jogadores de futebol famosos. No almoço, o veterano tricolor de 37 anos contou sobre a saudade que viveu do País após 16 anos no exterior, deu dicas de como prosperar na carreira, falou com Acosta, uruguaio que teve uma passagem apagada pelo Corinthians em 2008 e, no momento mais surpreendente, fez uma chamada de vídeo com o goleiro alemão Neuer, com quem jogou no Bayern de Munique e é amigo pessoal.

– Diretamente do Coque. Eu te acompanho faz tempo, mas ver a rapaziada aqui, como vocês levam a vida aqui é legal demais. Ver a alegria de vocês é muito bacana. Fiquei 16 anos fora do Brasil e sentia falta dessa brincadeira e contato. Mesmo sabendo das dificuldades, tem que correr atrás para triunfar na vida, acho legal.

– Eu vim de comunidade, sei como é. Tem que batalhar muito. Sabemos que nada é fácil. Gosto de acompanhar isso de perto, já estou no final da minha carreira. Os moleques do um pra um aqui podem ir para um clube. Vão para um fut7, para um profissional. Se puder ir para o futebol é melhor ainda. Torcemos para que saiam muitos Rafinhas daqui.

O veterano ainda comentou sobre qual o caminho para um garoto alcançar o sucesso no futebol.

– A primeira coisa, Ney, é a disciplina. Tem que ter disciplina. Se não tiver, não chega. O que é a disciplina? Treinamento, dedicação, profissionalismo. Descanso. Descanso também é treinamento. Juntamente com isso, a técnica. A possibilidade de se tornar um atleta profissional é muito grande. É bom de bola, habilidoso, faz gol no bairro, joga muito. E aí? Tem outro que treina demais, corre, é dedica, mas não tem a técnica. O cara que conseguir unir tudo isso, que não é fácil, porque se fosse, todo mundo ia conseguir. Nosso país? Cada 1 milhão, todo mundo quer ser jogador. Primeiro brinquedo qual que é? A bola. É o pior vestibular que a gente tem.

– Um menino que está começando hoje, primeiramente, se dedicar aos estudos, porque o futebol não é garantia para ninguém. Tem que estudar, se preparar, se dedicar. Quando a oportunidade aparecer, tem que estar preparado. Treina, treina. Tem que se dedicar. Hoje em dia, o futebol está globalizado. Todo mundo corre. Vai se destacar quem consegue unir o profissionalismo e o trabalho com a técnica. O menino que puser isso na cabeça vai chegar longe. As vezes não vai chegar num clube tão grande, aí vai em um pequeno, mas a oportunidade vai ter. O home lá de cima olha para todo mundo. São vários. Está cheio de armadilhas. Tem que tomar cuidado com o sereno. O sereno machuca. Hoje em dia, jogador que não dorme fica para trás. Pode um dia, dois, no terceiro… – concluiu Rafinha.

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Tottenham have set their sights on another quality attacking midfielder after seeing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White commit his future to the City Ground.

£190k-per-week Tottenham star now close to agreeing exit as talks advance

He would be a sore miss.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 29, 2025

Thomas Frank’s side are arguably in dire need of more creativity. The Lilywhites struggled to break down League One outfit Luton Town in the second of their two Saturday pre-season friendlies last weekend, despite fielding a strong side loaded with key first-team players.

While it’s important not to overanalyse summer preparations for the new Premier League season, with Frank’s players regaining match fitness and sharpness right now, the signs were not overly encouraging.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

In an ideal world, Tottenham would have welcomed new playmaker Gibbs-White to N17 by now, having scheduled a medical on July 11 whilst attempting to trigger his past £60 million release clause.

However, in what was an unprecedented turn of events, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis put a halt to the transfer, threatened legal action against Spurs and somehow convinced Gibbs-White to pen a contract extension instead.

Signing the 25-year-old was Tottenham’s priority for the previous fortnight, but those precious two weeks of the transfer window were seemingly wasted. Technical director Johan Lange and his recruitment team must now turn to different attacking targets, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Tottenham are working on signing alternatives to Gibbs-White.

Despite serious links to north London rivals Arsenal, Spurs have been targeting Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze this window, and whilst Mikel Arteta’s side prioritise outgoings right now (Fabrizio Romano), perhaps Lange can use this time to beat the Gunners to his signature.

Eze would be a phenomenal alternative to Gibbs-White, following his campaign of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions at Palace, including their FA Cup-final winning strike against Man City.

However, in the event Arsenal beat Spurs to Eze, there are other viable candidates for the number 10 role at Tottenham.

Tottenham eyeing Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, one of them is Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss.

The 21-year-old was a shining light in an otherwise dismal Foxes side who were relegated right back down to the Championship last term, averaging more key passes per 90 in the final third than any of his teammates in the top flight (WhoScored).

Bailey reports that Spurs are now targeting El Khannouss, coming after they unceremoniously missed out on a deal for Gibbs-White and reports that the Morocco international’s contract includes a £22.5 million release clause (talkSPORT).

The clause was tied in with Leicester’s drop to the second tier, and means the young El Khannouss is available for a very astute fee.

Members of the media, like journalist Antonio Mango, have heralded the African as a “genius” attacking player, with El Khannouss now emerging as a very intriguing option for Lange as we enter the final few weeks of the summer.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic continues to delay signing a new contract at AC Milan, but a potential date for the completion of those talks is set.

New deal mooted for some timeAmerican feels settled in ItalyExtension to 2029 can be signedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

United States international Pulisic is working on terms at San Siro through to 2027. There is no rush to put an extension in place, but Milan are eager to recognise the 26-year-old's importance to their cause and reward him with an improved deal.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It has been reported for some time that Pulisic is ready to put pen to paper, with the Champions League-winning former Chelsea star feeling happy and settled in Italy – with golf pro girlfriend Alexa Melton paying regular visits to Europe.

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The lack of positive progress in discussions has concerned some, but report that “there’s been no break, no tension” just “no concrete steps towards a final conclusion”. For now, everybody is expecting a deal to be done.

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An agreement through to 2029 is ready to be signed, with Pulisic in line for a wage increase. He requested time over the summer to evaluate his options and monitor the direction in which Milan are heading under Massimiliano Allegri’s new coaching team.