Many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have expected a victory against Bodo Glimt last night, but it wasn’t to be, as they walked away with a 2-2 draw in Norway.

Such a result could have been a lot worse for Thomas Frank, with the Lilywhites trailing by two goals heading into the final 24 minutes of the European contest.

An own goal and a Micky van de Ven effort saved the side from a shock defeat, with numerous players failing to impress in their second Champions League outing of 2025/26.

Numerous players fell way below the levels expected of the Premier League side, with Richarlison, the club’s centre forward for the clash, only registering a total of 10 touches in 90 minutes.

There’s no denying that one former player would have been perfect for their clash last night, with the Lilywhites massively lacking his presence within the final third.

Why Harry Kane would’ve got Spurs out of trouble on Tuesday

Harry Kane is a player who remains close to the hearts of the Spurs fanbase, given his time in North London, where he netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell at the club.

Such a tally is the highest in the club’s history, but they’ve been without his services over the last couple of years after he joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

In 2025/26, with the Club World Cup included, the 32-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal, scoring 20 times and registering four assists – subsequently having the creative nous to produce the goods at key moments.

He’s registered 12 goal contributions in his last five matches across all competitions, further highlighting his ability to cause carnage within the attacking department.

To highlight his creative ability, he’s registered three more combined goals and assists than the Lilywhites first-team have managed in the same time period – with Frank certainly wishing he was able to call upon the Englishman.

However, a reunion could prove to be on the cards in the near future, with rumours linking the talisman with a sensational return to his boyhood club in the not-too-distant future.

Despite his impressive form away from the club, the Dane does have the ability to rely upon one player who showcased his talents massively against Bodo Glimt last night.

The Spurs player who’s emulating Kane under Frank

There’s no denying that the showing of Spurs in Norway yesterday was way below the expectations of the fanbase, with the front line coming under fire for their lack of impact.

As previously mentioned, Richarlison failed to produce any meaningful contributions, after only completing two passes all game and missing one big chance in the process.

Brennan Johnson was another player who struggled to make the desired impact, subsequently failing to complete a single dribble or cross during his hour-long display.

The Welshman has come under fire from the fanbase once again, not for the first time, after previously having to delete his social media accounts following abuse from supporters online.

However, it wasn’t all bad for Frank’s side in Norway, with right-back Pedro Porro managing to impress during the draw – undoubtedly being one of the shining lights in the disappointing showing.

The Spaniard managed to register an assist for Van de Ven’s effort, now holding an impressive record that highlights the creativity he possesses despite his defensive role.

He’s now registered 18 assists since the start of 2023/24, a number which is the highest of any Premier League defender across all competitions in the same time period.

It’s that ability to create goal-scoring opportunities at will that has seen him emulate Kane. Truth be told, the Lilywhites have missed not just the English striker’s goalscoring exploits but also his assist-making.

Indeed, the centre-forward registered 63 assists during his time in north London, with a whopping 17 of those coming in one campaign (2021/22). So good was Kane at playmaking that former teammate Matt Doherty once said: “That period under Antonio [Conte], he had a better passing range than [Kevin] De Bruyne at the time.”

Safe to say, Porro’s creativity is pretty damn good too, and he’s helping to void the creative void left behind by Kane.

However, despite the full-back’s tangible success, his underlying numbers were just as impressive on Tuesday evening, including his ability to register 78 touches during the contest.

Porro also completed 40 passes last night, 13 of which were into the opposition’s third – further showcasing the creative ability he possesses in his locker.

Numbers such as three chances created and 100% dribbles completed also add to his talents in possession, but he still managed to produce impressive figures without the ball, too.

The 26-year-old made two tackles during the draw, whilst also making two recoveries and one interception – arguably being the perfect all-round fullback for Frank’s system.

Questions may be asked about his display, but there’s no taking away from his ability to create chances and get the side out of trouble when they’re void of ideas in attacking areas.

Should he continue his impressive assist record, there’s no reason as to why he can’t be a crucial member of Frank’s squad in the Dane’s hunt for success during his tenure in North London.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 3/10 Spurs dud after Bodo Glimt

Tottenham Hotspur managed to rescue a 2-2 draw last night, but some players failed to catch the eye.

3

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 1, 2025

Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the season for Monaco as the U.S. men's national team star made his mark in a 5-3 win over Nantes on Wednesday. The goal continues Balogun's strong run of form for the striker, which was headlined by two goals in his last two starts for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT.

AFPA wild Monaco win

Balogun's goal was one of eight scored in Wednesday's Ligue 1 clash, including one of three scored in the first half. With the game tied 1-1 heading into halftime, the American, who had missed a chance earlier, broke in all alone and slid a shot under the arm of goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, who was unable to stop the ball with his slide.

Nantes scored just before halftime, though, to ensure the two sides went into the half level. From there, Monaco scored twice, with via goals from Maghnes Akliouche and Alekander Golovin, only for Nantes to pull one back in the 80th minute. Golovin then put the game to bed in stoppage time, sealing the three points and the 5-3 win.

In addition to the goal, Balogun also hit the post once in his 73 minutes on the field.

AdvertisementImagnThe man in form

With the goal, Balogun has thre goals in his last six games for club and country, in addition to a September goal against Japan with the USMNT. During the October international window, Balogun scored in the USMNT's 1-1 draw with Ecuador, finishing off a Malik Tillman assist.

He then came off the bench to score the equalizer against Angers in his first game after the international break. His other Ligue 1 goal came back in August, when he netted in a 3-2 win over Strasbourg in Monaco's second match of the season.

Getty Images SportPursuing greatness

Now two and a half years into his USMNT career, Balogun continues to provide evidence as to why he could be the starter at the World Cup. After dealing with injury issues for the first half of 2025, Balogun returned to the U.S. this fall as he pushes towards the big moment next summer.

"If I keep doing my thing, I'll be fine," Balogun told GOAL during October camp. "The most important thing is getting to the World Cup the right way. It's not even necessarily about the World Cup, it's about entering the tournament with the right state of mind. You need to have confidence in your output over the months building up to the World Cup throughout your season. Because of that, I'm more focused on what I can do in the present. I control what I can control going into the World Cup. That's what will make me better.

"When you score, you'll get another chance. I'm at a stage and in an industry where I know what I need to do and keep doing. If I play this season and score 30 goals, no surprise, good things will follow."

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AFPWhat comes next?

Monaco have three more matches left before Balogun, theoretically, joins the USMNT for friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay in November. Up first is a Ligue 1 match against Paris FC on Saturday before a Champions League trip to face Bodo/Glimt.

Monaco will then host Lens in their final match before the international break.

Marcus Rashford could be thrust into the starting line-up for Barcelona for the highly-anticipated El Clasico clash on Sunday following another damaging injury to a key Barca star just hours before the match. The England international has made an excellent start to his loan spell at Barcelona, bagging five goals and six assists in 12 appearances across all competitions.

• Barca's patched-up side head to Bernabeu

  Barcelona head to the Santiago Bernabeu with a significantly depleted squad and assistant coach Marcus Sorg has now confirmed that forward Raphinha will also miss the game, as the Brazilian has not recovered from a leg muscle injury. Sorg will be in the dugout for the defending champions after Hansi Flick was sent off during the recent clash with Girona. 

  Raphinha joins a long list of high-profile absentees, which includes Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, and goalkeepers Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The Catalans are firmly up against it, but there was some good news as key players Ferran Torres, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Frenkie De Jong all participated in Saturday's training session. And now Rashford could line-up against his Three Lions team-mate Jude Bellingham.

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  Rashford feeling the love at Barca

  The England international has thrived under coach Hansi Flick where his performances have been a key factor in the Catalan giants’ positive start to the season, and he has expressed his strong desire to make the loan move permanent.

  When asked if he would like to stay at the Catalan giants, Rashford told Barcelona's YouTube channel: "I'm really enjoying my time in Spain. The weather is the best part. It’s a very big change. I’m learning every day, I’m really enjoying it. I hope to be here for a long time. I get along really well with Roony (Bardghji), as well as Jules (Kounde) and Frenkie (De Jong). It’s a team where we all blend together. We’re united. The team is fantastic. I just have to be in the right position. I’ll keep trying to do this. We have to keep going like this to be our best. We have a lot more to do this season." 

  He added: "I’m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game so to play here is an honour. I just believe that things happen when they’re supposed to happen. It’s not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn’t happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen. I feel like there’s no time like the present now."

• Raphinha rocked on eve of El Clasico

  Sorg said: "Any team would miss Raphinha, but the situation is what it is. He is injured. We'll see if Ferran (Torres) starts, we'll decide tomorrow. Jules Kounde also trained this morning and may play. I still have no idea about the starting eleven."

  Sorg also spoke about Flick’s absence, he said: "Flick will always be missed because he's one of the most important parts of the team. I think to have Flick on the sidelines, because the players trust him, he gives them confidence. His absence does have an influence. But Flick is in a good mood, positive, motivated."

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• AFP
  

  Yamal stirs up the tension

  The war of words ahead of El Clasico shows no sign of abating with Madrid captain Dani Carvajal planning to confront Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal at the end of the match over what he sees as "disrespectful" remarks in the build-up to the hotly-anticipated clash between the Spanish giants. Speaking on a Twitch stream ahead of the game, Yamal stoked the ill-feeling between the two sides, saying: "They (Real) steal, they complain, and they do things". 

  Andres Iniesta has shared his thoughts on the situation and isn't too concerned by Yamal's words. He said: "It’s a comment to add a little spice to the Clasico. Beyond the comments or not, it will be a spectacular match. We'll see what happens. A lot of importance is always given to what is said, especially if it's before a match like this. I'm not very up to date with the news either. Some people will say it's to warm up the match and others won't like it, but what really matters is what happens in those 90 minutes."

Travis Head says Australia are ‘prepared for anything’ in Barbados in their first Test in seven years without either Smith or Labuschagne in the XI

Andrew McGlashan23-Jun-20251:10

Head not fazed by big-name absences

There are only four members of the Australia squad in the West Indies who were part of their previous Test series here in 2015, and one of those, Steven Smith, is currently recuperating from a finger injury in New York. So it’s perhaps not surprising that there is an element of uncertainty over what conditions they will be confronted with for the opening match in Barbados.Their first training session of the tour at Kensington Oval, an optional one where all the batters attended but all the bowlers sat out bar Matt Kuhnemann, was interrupted by showers on a blustery day with the Test pitch uncovered only briefly. The batters made use of what time was available on the adjacent surfaces but the players have kept an open mind, with the Dukes ball used in the Caribbean – a variant on the English version – adding another layer of intrigue.”I think we’re prepared for anything, really, and prepared for maybe both [seam and spin] in the same game,” Travis Head said. “We could be starting the game and then it could shift into different modes and plans of attack. So, as a batter, you’re just sort of planning for anything at the moment. And then once you get a look at the lay of the land, come up with a plan, and try to cover all bases.”Related

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'Good enough to play that role' – Voges backs Inglis as top-four Test batter

Marnus Labuschagne dropped, Steven Smith ruled out of first West Indies Test

Australia's batting issues: questions surround Khawaja, Labuschagne, Konstas and Green

Since the 2015-16 tour, Australia’s only visits to the West Indies have been for the Covid-time white-ball tour in 2021 – where Barbados staged the three ODIs – and then last year’s T20 World Cup of which Head was a part. “They [the pitches] spun a little bit here,” he recalled. “They were pretty slow, but I’ve heard different things, especially with the Dukes and what that brings.”Australia will have a deficit of 14,570 Test runs in their top order compared to the previous outing at Lord’s against South Africa owing to Smith’s injury and Marnus Labuschagne’s axing, with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis replacing them. While Smith may return for the second Test in Grenada (and Labuschagne is only one injury away from getting back as the lone spare batter currently in the squad) it is certainly a chance to have an early look at the “reset” that Pat Cummins spoke about after the World Test Championship final.It will be the first time since 2018, when they played India at the MCG, that an Australia Test XI will not feature Smith and/or Labuschagne. The latter was recalled for the final match of that series and Smith returned from his ban for the start of the 2019 Ashes with the pair becoming fixtures together by the Old Trafford Test.”When we get into the game, it’ll be a little bit new look,” Head said. “But guys have already played, so [they have] experience already in a short amount of Test cricket. There’s some guys there that have been a part of the group for a long time now, so it shouldn’t feel too much different.”The batting order has yet to be confirmed, but while coach Andrew McDonald had previously left the door ajar for Head to open should conditions resemble those of the subcontinent, Head considered that an unlikely option with Konstas expected to get three games at the top to settle in alongside Usman Khawaja with an eye on some stability for the Ashes.Sam Konstas is set to open in Barbados•ICC via Getty ImagesThere is a school of thought that as a senior player, Head could move up to No. 4 in Smith’s absence, but it may be that Inglis, who scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka, gets that role in what could be a one-off outing if Smith recovers for the second Test. However, should Inglis take his opportunity as he did in Sri Lanka, then it would certainly put pressure on the selectors to find him a regular home in the batting order.”He can cover so many bases,” Head said of Inglis. “[He’s had] limited opportunity in a long time being in the squad. It feels like he’s played a lot more than he has for Australia. Once he gets his extended stay in the team, I think he’ll excel. He’s already showed great application in Sri Lanka. He’s [been] in some tough roles as well… I think he’s well-adapted and ready to go. He’s been waiting for a long time.”Whereas two years ago Australia went straight into an Ashes series on the back of beating India in the World Test Championship final, this time they have had to reflect on the loss to South Africa, which came after they had the game for the taking on the second day.”It’s unfortunate we put two years of hard work into one week and [it] didn’t quite go to plan,” Head said. “Fair play, the opposition played really, really well.”We’ve got two more years to build, and this is a first look at it. I think if you dwell on it for too long, or if you look back, you forget about what’s moving forward. Of course, we care and, of course, it’s not ideal. But at the end of the day you can’t change it. You have to move on. You have to get back on the horse.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A CBF admitiu que a equipe de arbitragem da partida entre Corinthians e Grêmio, realizada na segunda-feira (18), errou ao não marcar um pênalti a favor do time gaúcho já nos acréscimos do jogo. Isso, no entanto, não dá legalidade para que o jogo seja anulado pela CBF.

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De acordo com o Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva (CBJD), no seu artigo 259, a anulação de um duelo só é permitida quando as regras não são aplicadas, o que está fora do contexto da situação na Neo Química Arena, onde o equívoco foi na ausência de interpretação das diretrizes. 

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O ocorrido no estádio corintiano abre a discussão sobre erro de fato e de direito. No episódio em questão, a falha da arbitragem foi de fato

– É possível entender que esse posicionamento deixa ainda mais claro que a questão envolve mero erro de fato, decorrente de interpretação equivocada, pelo corpo de arbitragem, da conduta praticada pelo atleta no campo de jogo, e não de desconhecimento da regra pelo árbitro principal da partida e/ou pelo árbitro do VAR – explica Felipe Crisafulli, advogado especializado em direito desportivo no escritório Ambiel Advogados.

Mesmo com a CBF não considerando o erro em Corinthians e Grêmio de direito, a equipe do VAR da partida foi afastada. Além do mineiro Emerson de Almeida Ferreira, que comandava de arbitragem de vídeo, também foram encaminhados para o programa de reciclagem os assistentes Johnny Barros de Oliveira (SC) e Michel Patrick Costa Guimarães (MG). Árbitro de campo, Wilton Pereira Sampaio tem a situação analisada e também pode receber uma punição. 

Para Péricles Bassols, a arbitragem de vídeo deveria recomendar que Wilton checasse o lance através do monitor, instalado na beirada do gramado. No áudio da conversa entre o árbitro de campo e a equipe do VAR consta que Emerson considera que o atacante Yuri Alberto está recolhendo o braço e, portanto, não realiza uma ação de bloqueio. 

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– O jogador mesmo estando nessa posição, acho que ele está natural para essa disputa de bola, para defesa, não está com a intenção de bloquear. Para mim ele não está com a intenção de bloquear, ele está com a intenção de disputar a bola. É diferente de bloqueio. Ele está recolhendo o braço. Ele não está indo com o braço na direção da bola. Ele está recolhendo. Wilton, lance checado, ok. Pode jogar, o jogador está recolhendo o braço, está em posição de disputa e a bola vai na direção do seu braço – disse o árbitro de vídeo durante a revisão do lance.

A fala de Emerson de Almeida Ferreira reforça que o erro da equipe de arbitragem foi de interpretação e não de desconhecimento da regra, o que não abre margem para a anulação da partida.

Caso o Grêmio queira tentar a anulação do jogo, o que é improvável, precisará recolher evidências que comprovem que a não marcação da penalidade se deu por desconhecimento da regra ou até mesmo intenção, o que se enquadraria no artigo 243-A do CBJD, que dispõe sobre ‘Atuar, de forma contrária à ética desportiva, com o fim de influenciar o resultado de partida, prova ou equivalente’. 

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

– No mais, uma possível alegação de que o árbitro de vídeo não chamou o árbitro de campo para analisar as imagens no monitor tampouco deverá mudar a situação, pois o STJD tem entendimento de que eventuais erros no procedimento relativo ao VAR não configuram erros de direito, nem têm o condão de anular uma partida, dado que o protocolo do VAR é norma procedimental, cuja natureza é de “cartilha de instruções – aponta Felipe Crisafulli.

A partida entre Corinthians e Grêmio foi referente à 15ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro e estava atrasada. O Timão briga para fugir da zona do rebaixamento, estando a três pontos do Santos, que é o 17º colocado, enquanto os gremistas estão na parte alta da tabela, na terceira colocação, a 11 pontos do líder Botafogo.

أعلن توماس توخيل قائمة منتخب إنجلترا التي تستعد لمواجهتي التوقف الدولي الحالي في شهر نوفمبر، حيث سيخوض الأسود الثلاثة مباراتين.

وسيلتقي منتخب إنجلترا ضد منتخب صربيا يوم الخميس 13 نوفمبر، ثم يواجه منتخب ألبانيا يوم الأحد 16 نوفمبر، في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وشهدت القائمة عودة جود بيلينجهام لاعب خط وسط ريال مدريد وفيل فودين صانع ألعاب مانشستر سيتي بعد غيابهما خلال الفترة الماضية.

اقرأ أيضاً.. سكالوني يعلن قائمة الأرجنتين لمواجهة أنجولا وديًا.. موقف ميسي

كان منتخب إنجلترا قد حصل بالفعل على بطاقة التأهل لبطولة كأس العالم، الشهر الماضي، ليصبح أول المتأهلين من قارة أوروبا. قائمة منتخب إنجلترا لمباراتي صربيا وألبانيا

حراسة المرمى: دين هندرسون “كريستال بالاس”- جوردان بيكفورد “إيفرتون”- نيك بوب “نيوكاسل يونايتد”.

خط الدفاع: دان بيرن “نيوكاسل”- مارك جويهي “كريستال بالاس”- ريس جيمس “تشيلسي”- إزري كوانساه “أستون فيلا”- نيكو أوريلي “مانشستر سيتي”- جاريل كوانساه “بايرليفركوزن”- دجيد سبينس “توتنهام”- جون ستونز “مانشستر سيتي”

خط الوسط: إليوت أندرسون “نوتينجهام فورست”- جود بيلينجهام “ريال مدريد” – جوردان هندرسون “برينتفورد” -ديكلان رايس “آرسنال” – مورجان روجرز “أستون فيلا” -أليكس سكوت “بورنموث”- آدم وارتون “كريستال بالاس”

خط الهجوم: جارود بوين “وست هام” – إيبيريتشي إيزي “آرسنال”- فيل فودين “مانشستر سيتي” -أنتوني جوردون “نيوكاسل” -هاري كين “بايرن ميونخ”- ماركوس راشفورد “برشلونة”- بوكايو ساكا “آرسنال”.

One Aston Villa gem has signed a Villa Park contract which the club seemingly decided against posting on social media.

Unai Emery linked with surprise Aston Villa exit

It has been an unusual start to the Premier League season for Villa and Unai Emery, who finally picked up their first three points of the season at the sixth time of asking on the weekend.

After falling behind to Fulham, Villa scored their first home league goals of the campaign to win 3-1 and move out of the relegation zone.

Former transfer chief Monchi has also left the Midlands, and now, Emery is being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, who are on the search for a new manager after parting ways with Laurent Blanc.

Following Monchi’s exit, Emery was asked last week if he is more committed than ever to Villa, to which he said: “More speculation? I know it’s a different speculation. The reality is we drew and in the league we are not performing well.

“We have to work and work hard. With the players I have meetings after the game and talk about how we want to be, tactically and with the demands we have.”

Emery added: “We are starting the season with the problems we had, the problems before, with the transfer window. Some players joined us late. We are trying to recover our performance.

“Now we are a different team, our emotions and our emotional moments are becoming better. I will want to show how we’ve improved in everything.”

Aston Villa now racing Tottenham and Man Utd to sign £70m Premier League star

The Villans have joined the race for a new forward, who has made a very impressive start to the season.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 30, 2025

Away from the speculation, though, Aston Villa have moved quietly to secure the services of a potential future star.

Aston Villa teenager pens first professional contract

It was announced on Aston Villa’s website on Tuesday that young defender Finlay Barnard has signed his first professional contract.

The club said they are pleased the U18 ace has committed his future at Villa Park after agreeing scholarship terms having signed over the summer Tottenham.

The update wasn’t posted on Villa’s X social media, so it is news that may have gone under the radar.

A versatile defender, Barnard will be looking to breakthrough into the first-team setup over the coming years, and continuing to impress Harrison will only help his case.

Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic forced the world into lockdown in December 2019, Tottenham recorded and released a video of their first-team players driving academy kids to training. Lucas Moura, still basking in the heroism of his Amsterdam miracle half a year earlier, surprised an 11-year-old boy with his presence as they took the car for a spin. Along the way, the Brazil international had some words of wisdom for the child.

"The best advice I can give for you," Lucas said, "is never give up, always give your best, every day, every time. And, for your life, never get tired to do good things for people. To be a gentleman."

Just over five years later, that kid, Luca Williams-Barnett, made his debut for the Spurs senior team. "He was very welcoming," Williams-Barnett, now 17, said of Lucas and the experience. "He wanted to get to know me when [the video] was about him, he was a very good person."

When Luca met Lucas was but the first chapter on the former's rise through the ranks, and the hope inside Hotspur Way is this fairy tale has several, fruitful passages still to be written. The attacking midfielder has made mincemeat of his age-mates and already turned the head of first-team boss Thomas Frank. "I'm well aware of Luca's talent, I like what I see," the Dane recently admitted.

So, who is Williams-Barnett, and why are Tottenham so convinced he could be their best homegrown product since Harry Kane? GOAL has the lowdown on Spurs' latest teenage prospect…

Where it all began

Williams-Barnett has the distinction of being a Spurs supporter who wasn't even alive the last time they won a domestic trophy, as he was born on October 1, 2008, some eight months after their League Cup triumph against Chelsea and only a matter of days before Juande Ramos was replaced as manager by Harry Redknapp.

He was raised in Luton and naturally caught the attention of the Hatters' scouts as a boy, though by the age of 10, he had already been whisked away to Tottenham and their base on the borders of Hertfordshire, Essex and Greater London. It didn't take Spurs too long to realise they had a gem on their hands, which was perhaps part of the reasoning why Williams-Barnett was selected to appear with Lucas on video.

Continually playing above his age group never seemed to daunt Williams-Barnett, who found a way to stand out even among more physically developed players. His flair and trickery made him an incredibly difficult talent for even the staunchest of defenders to pin down.

By the ages of 15 and 16, Williams-Barnett had been promoted into Tottenham's Under-18s setup, making seven appearances at that level during 2023-24 and first catching the eye of former head coach Ange Postecoglou. The Australian was already earmarking the midfielder for the future.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

During the first third of Tottenham's successful 2024-25 Europa League campaign, Williams-Barnett received an important message from Postecoglou. Rather than heading to school on November 6 and 7, the Year 11 student would be part of the travelling Spurs party for their trip to Turkish giants Galatasaray. It required a series of phone calls from youth team staff and a quick trip back to his family home to pick up his passport, but Williams-Barnett managed to get on the plane with the multi-millionaires of the seniors all the same. Though the midfielder didn't get onto the pitch, he was still part of the matchday squad for the 3-2 defeat, his hopes of an unlikely debut all but dashed after scorer and fellow teenager Will Lankshear received a red card.

That was the first step into the world of men's football for Williams-Barnett, and he was clearly in Postecoglou's plans one way or another. Subsequent bench call-ups followed against Roma and Rangers in Europe, as well as Fulham in the Premier League. There was much buzz about elders Lankshear and Mikey Moore, but Williams-Barnett was the youngest of this new crop, waiting for an opportunity to show their mettle at the highest level.

Alas, Williams-Barnett didn't play a competitive minute during Postecoglou's tenure, though did still light up the U18 Premier League with a whopping 19 goals and nine assists in 20 games, primarily as a No.10 while copying idol Dele Alli's famous finger celebration. He scored a hat-trick in their 5-2 Premier League Cup triumph over Charlton Athletic, and his post-match message was one which delighted supporters: "I can't wait to be in the Premier League, scoring goals for Tottenham and making fans happy."

Of course, England's talent-spotters were hot on the tail of Williams-Barnett, who to date has made 14 appearances across all age groups for the Young Lions and scored on his U18s debut in September. That goal came shortly before the most important moment of his career to date…

Getty ImagesHow it's going

The emergence of Williams-Barnett is important to contextualise, not only for his own talent but for the club Tottenham are trying to be. Beyond the likes of Kane and Ledley King, their most prestigious academy graduates in recent years have been Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga. They lag way behind their 'Big Six' rivals when it comes to promoting players from within, even if they have made themselves closer to the senior team, as best demonstrated with the acquisitions of teenagers Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Luka Vuskovic and Mason Melia.

Heading into 2025-26 under Frank, who has spent much of his adult life as a youth coach, Spurs wanted to see more of a clear pathway from the academy into the first team. Indeed, the Dane has been frequently quizzed on his plans to integrate Hotspur Way's best and brightest into his setup.

"I think it's the fine balance that he needs to play and develop somewhere where he gets pushed enough but it's not too tough," Frank said one day before handing Williams-Barnett his debut. "And other times where he needs to be pushed very hard and it's tricky for him to cope with the intensity or the physicality. So it's just to try to strike that balance."

On the 87-minute mark of their 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup in September, Williams-Barnett replaced Mathys Tel to become the 900th different player to feature for the men's team, with only six players younger than he was when putting on that lilywhite shirt for the first time.

"I'm over the moon. Coming out for my boyhood club… It's crazy." a breathless Williams-Barnett said post-match. Frank, for his part, was pleased to have had a say in the teenager's development, telling a press conference: "I think it's always a pleasure to be part of a young player's debut. So, yeah, happy with that. I think that definitely over the last many years the focus on the talent development and academies across the world is so big. So the talent pool is bigger. There are these talents coming through that are younger and younger. But one thing is the debut when you're 16. The next step, and much more important, is how Luca or other players take those steps forward. It's very tough to keep going and then get into the first team as a really regular player. But the first step is very important."

Williams-Barnett has since travelled with the senior team and appeared on the bench, though has otherwise played exclusively for Spurs' U21s domestically and U19s in the UEFA Youth League, registering eight goals and seven assists in 11 games at those levels combined. Of note, he grabbed a hat-trick inside 39 minutes during a 6-3 victory against Leicester City.

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Biggest strengths

One look at Williams-Barnett's stats tells you he is a player who knows where the goal is. Through 41 official matches from U16s to U21s, he's found the net 30 times and laid on 20 assists, mainly starting in the hole, though he has also been deployed on either flank.

Beyond the raw numbers, Williams-Barnett plays with such an elegance and enthusiasm that may one day make him worth the price of admission alone. He can burst from stationary to full tilt incredibly swiftly, while his two-footedness makes him an even more unpredictable threat for defenders to nullify, as he is known for switching the ball between his left and right mid-run.

These attributes alone make Williams-Barnett one of the most devastating young players in transition anywhere in the world, but that's not where his skillset ends. That ambidexterity of his lends itself nicely to the rocket of a shot he possesses, capable of picking out the top corner on either foot from pretty much anywhere a la former Spurs favourites Son Heung-min and Christian Eriksen.

And when we say 'anywhere', we mean it. Williams-Barnett has already scored from the halfway line three times in matches for Spurs' youth teams. . That's just on record, too. Imagine how often he's made a fool of his own goalkeeper in training sessions. Maybe Guglielmo Vicario has even fallen foul to such a fate.

Speaking after Williams-Barnett's cameo against Doncaster, midfielder Gray was adamant that Spurs have a gem on their hands. "I think if he had 10 more minutes, he could have scored. I was saying to him at the end, if he had a few more chances to get at the full-back. We've seen him in training, he's so sharp and it's so exciting to see young players like that come through and do well in games and get given chances. I was once in his position, so I know what it's like, so I'll be helping him all the way."

Even without the £74m transfer fee lingering over his head, Benjamin Sesko has huge expectations placed on his shoulders after his move to join Manchester United this summer.

The 22-year-old was signed by boss Ruben Amorim to try and inject a new lease of life into the frontline at Old Trafford after a dismal 2024/25 campaign.

His side only managed 44 goals in the Premier League last time around – a tally that was the fifth-lowest of any side in the division – with the three relegated sides included in such a group.

However, Sesko was chosen as the man to transform the situation, with the hierarchy forking out a pretty penny for his signature after netting 21 times for RB Leipzig in all competitions last term.

The Slovenian international will be hoping to make a better attempt at producing the goods than one player who struggled with the responsibility of leading the line.

Rasmus Hojlund’s lack of impact in 2024/25 for United

At this point, every fan up and down England will know how disappointing striker Rasmus Hojlund was for United last season – with the Dane only scoring on four occasions in the Premier League.

He also went 21 games without a goal across all competitions at one stage, further highlighting how little positive impact he had when called upon by Amorim.

However, his underlying stats showcase another level of disappointment that may not have been seen by many supporters at Old Trafford – the majority of which further reflect his lack of success.

Hojlund only averaged a total of 1.4 shots per 90 in the Premier League last season, a figure which ranks him in the bottom 1% of all attackers in the division, according to FBref’s metrics.

He also only produced an xG of 0.24 and an average of 0.5 shots on target per 90, with such numbers putting him in the 9th percentile for both the aforementioned areas.

Such figures highlight that the 22-year-old simply didn’t get enough efforts off on goal, but when they were, many were half chances that rarely troubled the opposition.

His lack of involvement is further evident by his average of just 23 touches of the ball per 90 – often being dominated by the opposition or even being bypassed in attacks by his teammates.

As a result, the hierarchy decided to offload him during the summer transfer window, with the forward joining Napoli on loan with a conditional obligation to buy – a decision that may come back to bite them…

The United player who could become the next Hojlund

Despite making the right call in allowing Hojlund to depart, the Danish international has moved back to Italy with a vengeance – something which is already evident in his tallies in 2025/26.

The 22-year-old has featured just six times for Antonio Conte’s side across all competitions, but has already made an immediate impact, netting four goals to date.

Two of his efforts came in the Champions League against Sporting CP, whilst his remaining strikes came in Serie A – both of which proved to be match winners.

Such a tally is more than double that of any current Red Devils first-team member at present, highlighting why Amorim’s side could live to regret his departure in the long term.

However, the club need to be careful they don’t suffer the same fate with academy grade Kobbie Mainoo, given his recent decline in minutes under the 40-year-old.

The England international was seen as one of the country’s hottest prospects a matter of months ago, especially after he scored in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City back in May 2024.

He was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 as a result, even featuring in all but one contest as the Three Lions fell at the final hurdle against Spain.

Mainoo’s rapid rise to stardom led to Alex Turk labelling him a future “£100m+ footballer”, but he’s struggled to have the same impact since Amorim’s arrival at the club.

He only started a total of 18 games in England’s top-flight last season, resulting in the player himself requesting a loan move away from the club to gain valuable game time elsewhere.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

However, such a request was dismissed first hand, but the situation is yet to change for the 20-year-old, with his only start in 2025/26 coming in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.

He’s made five substitute appearances in the league at present, totalling just 113 minutes, with the player once again likely to be fuming with his lack of first-team action.

Should the situation continue to deteriorate in the coming months, the club could be forced to part ways with the player and cash in on him while his value is at its highest.

Such a situation is unthinkable given his previous success at Old Trafford, but it appears as though the manager simply favours players such as Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte ahead of the youngster.

However, Hojlund’s situation should be at the forefront of the board’s thinking, with United running the risk of once again allowing a top prospect to depart way too prematurely.

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Crystal Palace are now rivalling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a former Real Madrid player, who “never puts a foot wrong.”

Palace keen on new centre-back with Guehi set for exit

Marc Guehi was hardly short of suitors before the international break, with the centre-back’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but the Englishman has once again put himself in the shop window courtesy of his performance against Wales.

The Three Lions haven’t conceded a single goal in World Cup qualifying, with Guehi helping his side continue their fantastic defensive record against Wales last week, while also assisting England’s opening two goals.

The 25-year-old has remained a consummate professional, having not downed tools in order to force through a move, but it appears as though an exit is inevitable, given that the Palace captain was left very unhappy with his move to Anfield breaking down.

Consequently, Crystal Palace have now started looking at potential replacements for the defender, and they have now joined the race for Lazio defender Mario Gila, who is also being targeted by Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states all the aforementioned Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Gila, who could command a huge transfer fee.

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The Italian club are only willing to listen to offers in the region of €45m – €50m (£39m – £43m), which is regarded as an affordable fee for Spurs, but would be a club-record signing for Palace, eclipsing the £32m spent on Christian Benteke back in 2016.

Gila could be exciting replacement for Guehi

Of course, no Crystal Palace fan will want their FA Cup-winning captain to leave, but given that he has shown no interest in signing a new contract, it is wise to start thinking about potential replacements.

Moreover, the Lazio defender could be an exciting option, given that he is experienced in Europe, having featured in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League with Lazio.

The ex-Real Madrid man has also received plaudits from Lazio sporting director Igli Tare, who seemed to suggest he is destined for the top level, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”

As such, it would be a real coup if Palace were able to sign Gila, but the capture of Yeremy Pino in the summer showed that Selhurst Park is now becoming an attractive destination for top players.