Brandon King, Kevlon Anderson and Johann Layne have earned maiden call-ups to the West Indies Test squad

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-2025There was no place for Kemar Roach in West Indies’ squad for the upcoming home Test series against Australia, although the hosts have strengthened their batting by bringing back Shai Hope and John Campbell. They have also given a maiden call-up to Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson, while the fast-bowling attack has a new face in Johann Layne. Anderson Phillip has been retained.The third and final Test of the series in Jamaica, which kicks off the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams, will also be a day-night Test. It will be the third day-night Test in the West Indies and the second at Sabina Park.Roach played West Indies’ last Test, in Pakistan, where he picked up two wickets in a 120-run win that squared the series. Only four wickets fell to quick bowlers in that game in Multan. Roach was in decent form in the Test series in Bangladesh prior to that, picking up nine wickets in two games. He has since played in the first-class West Indies Championship for Barbados and, more recently, for Surrey in the County Championship.WI vs Australia schedule

June 25-29 – 1st Test in Barbados
July 3-7 – 2nd Test in Grenada
July 12-16 – 3rd Test in Jamaica (day-night)

“Despite being under consideration, veteran pacer Kemar Roach has not been included and has been duly informed,” Cricket West Indies (CWI) said about the 36-year-old in a press statement.Layne, a 21-year-old fast-bowling allrounder from Barbados, came into the 16-man squad after picking up 63 first-class wickets in 17 matches. Trinidad & Tobago’s Phillip last played Test cricket in December 2022, the last of his two appearances, but was in the squad in Pakistan and has a five-wicket haul in the ongoing unofficial Test for West Indies A against South Africa A in Gros Islet.The lead spinners in the side are captain Roston Chase and vice-captain Jomel Warrican, while Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph are the main quicks.The batting suggests a fresh start for the team after they finished one off the bottom – Pakistan were last – in the nine-team WTC 2023-25 table with three wins in 13 games.

“Brandon King’s inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus to take our team to those closer to the top of the rankings”Daren Sammy

Campbell is back as an opening option after last playing a Test in June 2022, having served an anti-doping violation in the interim period. He was in good touch at the WI Championship to finish as Jamaica’s top-scorer – and seventh-highest overall – with 517 runs from 11 innings. Campbell and Anderson scored three centuries apiece in the competition.Anderson was one of the stars of the tournament, scoring 573 runs in 11 innings to finish as the third-highest run-getter overall, and Guyana’s best. King, a white-ball star who has turned out for West Indies in 52 ODIs and 63 T20Is so far, played four WI Championship games for Jamaica, scoring 242 runs in eight innings.Hope, an experienced Test-match player with 38 Test caps and a batting average of 41.85, last played a game in November-December 2021.Related

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“I’m excited about the inclusion of young prospect Kevlon Anderson, who comes in after solid seasons in our domestic competitions to help provide stability in the top order, while the return of Shai Hope is welcomed given his consistency in white ball cricket.” head coach Daren Sammy said in a statement. “Brandon King’s inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus to take our team to those closer to the top of the rankings.”We analysed what the top teams in the world are doing and what is needed for us to bridge the gap. We have identified a direction, along with the group of players and resources to give us the best advantage as we seek to take the team up ladder and challenge the best in the world.”Former captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach and Mikyle Louis make up the rest of the squad, adding heft and experience. Joshua Da Silva, Alick Athanaze, Amir Jangoo, Kavem Hodge, Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair are the players to have been dropped from the squad that played in Pakistan. Da Silva, the wicketkeeper-batter, has been ignored despite finishing the WI Championship as it’s second-highest scorer (583 runs in ten innings), while another senior cricketer, Jason Mohammed, was overlooked despite topping that table with 679 runs in ten innings, inclusive of four centuries. Mohammed, 38, has never played Test cricket.Kemar Roach, 36, has been left out of the Test squad in favour of younger fast bowlers•AFP/Getty Images”The start of the [WTC cycle] is critical to building positive momentum as we strive to work our way up the rankings. Beginning with a strong showing against a team like Australia would be ideal in our quest to bring West Indies back to the helm of Test Cricket”, CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe said. “It was imperative that we sought to put a squad together that was well equipped, in both and the batting and bowling departments, to manage the ebbs and flows of this format of the game, while possessing the ability to apply pressure in key phases, through disciplined, purposeful play.”Sammy, asking for patience from fans towards the players and the team, promised exciting cricket in the series.”I am truly looking forward to this series because we want to start off strongly and make our home turf a fortress during this cycle, while having our passionate and proud fans behind us,” he said. “The matches will be challenging but I believe in this core of players, and they are eager to wear the maroon and make our fans happy.”West Indies squad for Test series against AustraliaRoston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales

Happy Hump Day!  It’s a great day for an entire day of major league baseball. 

If you want to get in on the action, I’ve found a couple of appealing plus-money strikeout props for you to consider: one for the afternoon and one for the evening slate. 

Let’s have some fun!  

MLB Best Bets Today

Framber Valdez under 4.5 K (+120) at San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants' low strikeout rate has me looking at the under on Framber's K-prop today. The Giants have a 21.3% K-rate this season, resulting in an average of eight strikeouts per game. That K-rate drops even further to 20% when they face lefties. 

Framber Valdez pitched a complete game in his last outing, punching out eight Los Angeles Angels.  That's likely why we're getting good plus-money today for this under, even though Framber's 63.9% ground ball rate is the highest among starters with 40+ innings pitched and he is striking out batters at just seven per nine innings. 

Framber is averaging five strikeouts per game this season, so this isn't without risk, but the payout is appealing. He has gone under this prop in five of 10 starts this season. 

Nick Pivetta over 5.5 K (+105) vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Am I wrong, or is Nick Pivetta consistently under-appreciated? 

Pivetta is striking batters out at nearly 11 per nine, and his walk rate is among the best in the league.   That strikeout rate is even better when he is pitching at Fenway.  Pivetta has a K-rate of 12.23 at home this year.  

Philadelphia is not a high K-rate team, striking out just 20.4% of the time vs. righties this year (eighth-best in MLB), but historically, Pivetta has struck out this Phillies lineup at a rate of 26.8%, according to Statcast. 

Pivetta has exceeded this prop in five of eight starts this season, including four of his last five.  I'll take the value and bet he gets to six today. 

After three games without a win, Everton now reportedly want to address one of their concerns by signing a talented forward when the January transfer window arrives.

Everton's early Premier League concern

The Toffees initially got off to a positive start and even saw summer signing Jack Grealish pick up the Premier League Player of the Month award in August. Since then, however, David Moyes’ side have stuttered for the first time – failing to win in three games.

Defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup was a particularly disappointing game for the Merseyside club, but one that they must bounce back from when West Ham United come to town on Monday night.

Everton’s biggest concern in their recent run has come in attack. They’ve scored just once in their last three games, which was Idrissa Gueye’s Anfield strike, and have watched on as Beto has particularly struggled.

The forward was taken off at half-time for Thierno Barry in the Merseyside derby and the Toffees went on to enjoy a much-improved second period. Whether that will be that for Beto’s starting place will be interesting to see.

Moyes didn’t hold back when delivering his verdict on the forward earlier this season, telling reporters: “I’ve been a bit disappointed with Beto and I’ve told him.

“We’re needing a bit more and he can do more and he has done more. So we’re hoping we can get a bit more from him, but he’s a really honest working lad and I’m sure he’ll try and prove that tonight.”

Whilst Barry gets up to speed, there’s still a chance for Beto to prove his worth. But Moyes’ patience won’t last forever and speculation is already arriving over a potential move that the Toffees could make to replace their forward in January.

Everton eyeing move for Norwich striker Josh Sargent

As reported by Graeme Bailey and Everton News, Everton now want to sign Josh Sargent in the January transfer window and are keeping tabs on the Norwich City striker, who has been in fine form.

Everton launch first enquiry to sign £265,000-a-week Premier League star in 2026

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Tom Cunningham

Sep 25, 2025

The American has been linked with a move away from Carrow Road for some time and could finally earn a route back to the Premier League in January. After scoring six goals in seven Championship games too, it’s clear that he’s good enough to step up.

The Friedkin Group proved that they’re not afraid to spend big in the summer transfer window and could do so once again when the winter window swings open.

Bayern Munich’s plan to welcome back Jerome Boateng as an intern under Vincent Kompany has collapsed amid fan outrage over the former defender’s past conviction. The ex-German international, who had hoped to begin his coaching journey at the club where he won everything, has now stepped back, urging focus on Bayern’s success while he turns toward his A-license studies.

Bayern’s plan with Boateng and the fallout

Bayern had intended to bring Boateng back home in a mentorship role under Kompany. The plan was simple but symbolic as the 2014 World Cup winner, who spent a decade in Munich winning nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues, would begin his post-playing career where it all began, learning the ropes of management.

The club had approved the short internship as part of Boateng’s A-license certification, giving him hands-on experience with one of Europe’s top technical setups. Kompany, who shared a dressing room with Boateng at Manchester City, was said to be enthusiastic about having him join the staff in a developmental capacity.

However, what began as a low-key initiative quickly turned into a storm. Bayern fans launched protests, both online and at the Allianz Arena, condemning the decision and citing Boateng’s 2024 conviction for intentional bodily harm. Supporters unfurled banners reading: “No place for violence at Bayern,” and a petition titled: “Set boundaries against misogynistic violence” gained thousands of signatures within days. The growing backlash led Boateng and Bayern to jointly decide to cancel the arrangement.

AdvertisementAFPBoateng speaks out after fan's protest

For Boateng, the internship cancellation was a painful but calculated decision. The former Bayern centre-back, who had initially expressed joy at returning to Sabener Strasse, admitted that the controversy took a toll on him. Yet, in his words, his focus remains on rebuilding and contributing to football from another angle. 

In a message on Instagram, the defender announced: “After the recent discussions surrounding me, I’ve decided to focus on my topics – the A license, RYZR, and Arena2. That’s where my focus is right now, and your full focus should be solely on the pitch and the goal of continuing this impressive streak of 13 consecutive victories.”

Bayern echoed his sentiment in a statement on social media. The statement from the club said: “In a constructive exchange that FC Bayern and Jérôme Boateng had this week, it was decided that Jérôme Boateng will not be an intern at FC Bayern. Jérôme feels very connected to FC Bayern and does not want FC Bayern to suffer any damage due to the current controversial discussion surrounding him.”

The withdrawal helped defuse rising tensions with supporters, ensuring that the club’s image and fan unity remained intact. Yet the episode also reignited debate about rehabilitation in football and how former players with legal histories can rebuild their careers.

Boateng's legal saga and it's impact

The uproar around Boateng’s return stems from a six-year legal saga that shadowed the twilight of his playing career. The case dated back to July 2018, when Boateng was accused of assaulting his former partner, Sherin Senler, during a vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Boateng consistently denied the allegations, but the case went through multiple appeals and retrials. In September 2021, a Munich court initially fined him €1.8 million, later reduced to €1.2 million after appeal. In July 2024, the final verdict imposed a suspended fine of €200,000 and ordered him to donate €100,000 to charity, though no criminal record was issued. The court emphasised protecting the couple’s daughters, calling them “the real victims” of the prolonged legal dispute.

While the case ended without jail time, its reputational impact was immense. The controversy affected Boateng’s final playing years, limiting his club prospects. After leaving Bayern in 2021, he had brief stints in France and Italy before retiring in 2025, closing a glittering chapter that included over 300 appearances, nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals and two Champions League crowns.

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Getty Images SportWhat’s next for Boateng and Bayern?

Although the internship has been shelved, the Bavarians made it clear that the door to the club remains symbolically open. The management and Kompany personally thanked Boateng for his understanding, emphasising that his contributions to the club’s legacy would always be remembered.

Sources close to Bayern indicated that the original plan was for Boateng to shadow the coaching staff through early 2026, but fan sentiment made the move untenable. Kompany, meanwhile, has publicly supported the decision while urging focus on the team’s ongoing campaign.

Boateng, for his part, has pivoted his energy toward the next chapter, completing his UEFA A coaching license, expanding his athlete recovery company RYZR, and developing Arena2, a project focused on community-based sports performance.

Aston Villa will look to conduct some smart business in January as they bid to rise up the Premier League table and could now turn to an exciting attacker who is making waves in South America.

Aston Villa embroiled in Maccabi Tel Aviv fan controversy

The Villans have been in the headlines over the last few days through no fault of their own, amid controversy surrounding West Midlands Police’s refusal to let Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attend Villa Park, alongside advice on the same lines from multi-agency forum The Safety Advisory Group.

High-profile figures such as Keir Starmer have called for the decision to be revoked before the Europa League clash, which has come as a surprise, given Prime Ministers don’t usually interfere with decisions made by senior authorities relating to football match attendance.

Whether the away fan ban gets overturned or not remains to be seen. Ultimately, Aston Villa are merely stuck in the middle of an unfortunate situation and won’t necessarily have the deciding say on this matter, albeit it has become global news.

Back to footballing matters, John McGinn is close to signing a new deal in the West Midlands, while they could also make an approach for Galatasaray star Wilfried Singo in January.

Unai Emery has managed to recover his side from an uninspiring start to the campaign, and there is a feeling they will kick on over the next few weeks, albeit he will be the first to admit his squad needs serious surgery in 2026.

With that in mind, the Villans have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s most exciting talents, who is garnering worldwide attention.

Aston Villa make Rayan enquiry

According to NTVASCAINOS, Aston Villa have made an enquiry to sign Vasco da Gama attacker Rayan, who has also shot onto the radar of Tottenham and Newcastle due to his goalscoring exploits in South America.

Villa are said to have contacted members of Vasco’s coaching staff about his prospects of a Brazil call-up from Carlo Ancelotti too, so it is clear just how highly they rate Rayan.

Predominantly used as a right-winger, the Brazil Under-20 international has registered 15 strikes and an assist in 45 appearances across all competitions this term, though he is also capable of featuring on the left flank or as a central striker.

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Likely to be a long-term investment, Rayan is set to be out of contract in his homeland at the end of December 2026, potentially offering the Villans a route to land him for an affordable fee over the next few months.

Reported to be keen on a Premier League move, the 19-year-old appears to have no shortage of interest in his services, and it will be intriguing to see if Emery can tempt him to pitch up at Villa Park.

Rayan is a highly-sought after talent, and recently became the youngest Vasco player to reach 10 Brazilian top flight goals since Dinamite in 1973, breaking a 52-year record in the process.

His manager, Fernando Diniz, said the teenager has “enormous game-changing ability” and players of his attacking prowess are “very rare”.

Tottenham Hotspur dropped points for just the second time this season on home soil last night, with their meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers ending 1-1.

Santiago Bueno looked as though he had secured Vitor Pereira’s side their first league win of the Premier League campaign, but Thomas Frank’s side managed to stage a late fightback.

Joao Palhinha’s effort deep into stoppage time saw the Lilywhites claim a late point, extending the side’s unbeaten run to five games across all competitions.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage showing in North London, but it’s certainly a sign of a good side if they can avoid defeat even when not producing one of their best displays.

However, if Frank’s side are to be a success in the near future, the Dane desperately needs to address one issue that arose in the meeting with the West Midlands outfit.

Spurs’ biggest issue against Wolves last night

In front of goal this season, Spurs have been largely impressive, scoring 11 times in their six league outings – averaging nearly two goals per game in 2025/26.

However, their showing against Pereira’s side last night was a somewhat toothless one, subsequently being unable to break down the opposition, who have failed to win a single top-flight outing.

Whilst the Lilywhites had 51% of the play, completing 111 passes into the final third, but could only muster a total of three shots on target during the 90 minutes.

Even when managing to get a shot off, Frank’s men struggled with their accuracy, only managing to get 30% of their shots on target – undoubtedly leading to their inability to secure all three points.

Their subsequent chances only accrued an xG of just 0.87, with the visitors achieving a higher total of 1.15 – subsequently doing so despite managing fewer efforts on goal.

The Lilywhites’ attack was made up of over £150m worth of talent last night, but numerous of such players failed to make the desired impact in forward areas.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Wolves

Xavi Simons joined Spurs in a £52m transfer from RB Leipzig late in the summer window, but as of yet, the Dutchman has struggled to hit the ground running in North London.

The 22-year-old has made five appearances in all competitions, but has only registered one goal contribution, with his assist for Pape Sarr against West Ham United his only tangible reward.

In his showing against Wolves yesterday, Simons only managed a 25% dribble success rate, whilst only completing 27% of the crosses he attempted – highlighting his lack of impact in North London.

In the majority of his matches to date, the youngster has operated in an unnatural role off the left-hand side, which has no doubt contributed to his lack of success since his big-money move.

However, the same can’t be said for Richarlison, with the Brazilian striker being Frank’s first choice number nine in the absence of Dominic Solanke since the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Whilst the 28-year-old started the season in superb fashion, netting two goals in the opening day triumph over Burnley, he’s ultimately struggled to hit such heights in recent weeks.

He’s now only managed to find the back of the net once in his last seven outings across all competitions, hitting a blank against Wolves once again last night.

Minutes played

90

Touches

20

Passes completed

5

Possession lost

8x

Duels won

33%

Dribbles completed

0

Shots on target

0

Chances created

0

Despite not scoring, Richarlison may have been able to save himself with his all-round showing, but it was an evening to forget for the talisman in North London as he looked way off the pace throughout the draw.

His lack of impact was highlighted by his tally of just 20 touches, a figure lower than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 29 throughout the contest.

Richarlison’s dismal showing was further reflected in his tally of just five passes completed, at a success rate of just 56%, whilst also losing possession eight times – losing the ball 40% of the time he touched it.

His further tallies of 0% dribbles completed and 33% duel success rate also indicate how alien he was during the meeting with Pereira’s men, often being dominated by the opposition backline.

As a result of his showing, the £50m forward was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Football London journalist Alasdair Gold – topping off what was a disappointing performance from the Brazilian.

After such a showing, boss Frank has no choice but to make a change at the top end of the pitch, with such a position becoming an issue given the lack of tangible rewards produced in recent games.

The Champions League clash at Bodo Glimt could present an excellent opportunity to try something slightly left field in an attempt to try and rectify the problem currently apparent at the top end of the pitch.

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West Ham United have splashed the cash on some big signings over the years following their move to the London Stadium.

However, the Hammers have also sold a plethora of Irons stars for mega money, even dealing with Premier League rivals on numerous occasions.

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Here is a look at West Ham’s 20 largest sales in their history, with a detailed view at the top 10.

West Ham’s most expensive sales of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Declan Rice

£105m

Arsenal

2023

2

Mohammed Kudus

£55m

Tottenham

2025

3

Dimitri Payet

£25m

Marseille

2017

4

Carlos Tevez

£25m

Man City

2009

5

Gianluca Scamacca

£22.5m

Atalanta

2023

6

Marko Arnautovic

£22.4m

Shanghai SIPG

2019

7

Nayef Aguerd

£20m

Marseille

2025

8

Sebastien Haller

£20m

Ajax

2021

9

Javier Mascherano

£18.7m

Liverpool

2007

=10

Andre Ayew

£18m

Swansea

2018

=10

Rio Ferdinand

£18m

Leeds

2000

=12

Flynn Downes

£15m

Southampton

2024

=12

Issa Diop

£15m

Fulham

2022

14

Craig Bellamy

£14m

Man City

2009

15

Grady Diangana

£12m

West Brom

2020

=16

Said Benrahma

£11.9m

Lyon

2024

=16

Frank Lampard

£11m

West Ham

2001

=16

James Tomkins

£10m

Crystal Palace

2001

=16

Thilo Kehrer

£9.5m

Monaco

2024

20

Cheikhou Kouyate

£9.5m

Crystal Palace

2018

10 Andre Ayew £18m to Swansea, 2018

Swansea City made Andre Ayew their record signing in 2018, and he remains the biggest addition for the Jacks.

Ayew actually joined West Ham from Swansea in 2016, and the Ghanian made 50 appearances for the Hammers.

9 Javier Mascherano £18.7m to Liverpool, 2007

After signing for West Ham from Corinthians in 2006, Javier Mascherano only made seven Irons appearances before he was on the move again.

Rivals Liverpool liked what they saw and signed the Argentine in 2007 following lengthy FIFA and Premier League approval, with West Ham pocketing a reported £18.7m in total.

8 Sebastien Haller £20m to Ajax, 2021

A £45m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, Sebastien Haller scored 14 goals in 54 games and struggled at the London Stadium.

He was sold to Ajax for £20m 18 months later, where Haller would enjoy his best goalscoring form of his career.

7 Nayef Aguerd £20m to Marseille, 2025

Defender Nayef Aguerd came in with big expectations after a £30m move from Rennes, however, after two seasons where he was never a regular, the Moroccan was loaned out to Real Sociedad.

Then, in 2025, Aguerd was sold permanently for £20m to Marseille, so at least the Hammers recouped over half of what they paid.

6 Marko Arnautovic £22.4m to Shanghai SIPG, 2019

After impressing for Stoke City across four separate Premier League seasons, Marko Arnautovic was signed by West Ham for a then club-record £20m fee.

The Austrian contributed to 34 goals in 65 games in a Hammers shirt, with the club then making a small profit when selling Arnautovic to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG two years later.

5 Gianluca Scamacca £22.5m to Atalanta, 2023

Gianluca Scamacca can go down as one of many West Ham strikers who arrived for big money but failed to live up to the hype.

The Italian scored eight goals in 27 games for the Hammers after arriving for £35.5m from Sassuolo and returned to his native country 12 months later.

4 Carlos Tevez £25m to Man City, 2009

Carlos Tevez’s permanent exit from West Ham was complicated. After a two-year loan spell at Man Utd, it was Man City who came in and paid the Hammers £25m for the Argentine forward.

Tevez only played for West Ham in the 2006/07 season, contributing to 11 goals in 29 games helping the Irons avoid relegation.

3 Dimitri Payet £25m to Marseille, 2017

Dimitri Payet was a firm fan favourite for the majority of his West Ham career, starring with his creativity and set piece ability.

However, after handing in a transfer request in 2017, the mood towards Payet changed, but he got his wish with a £25m move back to Marseille.

2 Mohammed Kudus £55m to Tottenham, 2025

Mohammed Kudus cost West Ham £38m from Ajax in 2023, so when Tottenham offered them a £17m profit two years later, the Hammers were happy to cash in.

The Ghanian lit up the London Stadium and averaged a goal every four games in his short time with the Irons.

1 Declan Rice £105m to Arsenal, 2023

No surprise to see Declan Rice as West Ham’s biggest departure of all time, and his £105m move to Arsenal may never be beaten.

The midfielder came through the Hammers’ academy and starred at the London Stadium, even captaining the club in their Europa Conference League triumph in 2023.

In total, Rice made 245 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 goals.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are enamored with another young “potential superstar” at the club who could be set to rival teenage duo Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray making real progress at Tottenham

When called upon, Thomas Frank could hardly ask for more from both men.

The youngsters have played key roles at times under Frank, and not just the Dane, with Gray forced to play out of position with extreme professionalism and stuck to his duties as best he could during Spurs’ injury crisis last season.

Gray’s versatility was invaluable for Ange Postecoglou, who struggled for options throughout 2024/2025, and he can certainly feel hard done by when it comes to match action this term.

The former Leeds United starlet has played just one Premier League minute since starting against Burnley on the opening day, but he showed flashes of true quality when coming off the bench away to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League recently.

Frank, despite barely picking him so far, has tipped the Englishman for a “big future”.

Gray is looking to battle his way into a stacked Tottenham midfield where Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha have formed an indomitable partnership in his position, with the 19-year-old also having to contend against Bergvall.

Every time the latter plays, Bergvall makes his £8.5 million transfer fee from Djurgardens look like daylight robbery.

Appearances

55

Goals

2

Assists

7

Bookings

9

Minutes played

2,881

via Transfermarkt

In the space of a few days against West Ham and Villarreal earlier this season, the Swede picked up two Player of the Match awards, scoring his first ever Premier League goal against Spurs’ London rivals and impressing when given the nod ever since.

The Lilywhites also signed 22-year-old Dutch sensation Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in the summer, in a deal which could be worth £125 million when factoring in wages over a possible seven-year contract (Paul O’Keefe).

The attacking midfielder notched his first Premier League assist for the club against West Ham, swinging in a corner for Pape Sarr to head home, but hasn’t managed to register a goal contribution since then.

Tottenham convinced Xavi Simons is a "potential superstar"

Some minor concerns have surrounded the Netherlands international’s form as a result, but according to journalist Graeme Bailey, there are zero worries inside Tottenham.

It is quite the opposite, as Spurs insiders are “so impressed” by Simons and believe the North Londoners have a “potential superstar” on their hands.

Interestingly, Ruud van Nistelrooy has already said that Simons has an “unprecedented” mentality, and this appears to be coming to fruition at Hotspur Way as the versatile forward turns heads behind-the-scenes.

Simons could’ve joined Chelsea, but according to super agent Ali Barat, Frank was key in convincing the former PSG sensation to choose the other side of London instead.

Eddie Howe stopped short of getting embroiled in a war of words with Arne Slot after the Liverpool boss labelled Newcastle a “smaller club” when questioning their handling of Alexander Isak. The striker was in the process of regaining his match fitness following his British record transfer in the summer, before sustaining a groin injury in the Reds' victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Isak arrived short of fitness after missing Newcastle's pre-season

  After refusing to play for Newcastle in order to force through his £125 million (€144.5m/$169.3m) move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day, Isak arrived at Anfield short of match sharpness. The Sweden international made it clear he did not want to play for the Magpies again, missing the club’s pre-season tour of Asia as well as their opening three Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Leeds.

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• Sweden striker sustained groin injury in Liverpool's win over Frankfurt

  Following the completion of his switch to Liverpool, Isak has been slowly introduced into the fold, with Slot mindful of the forward’s lack of a pre-season. However, after starting alongside fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike in the thumping 5-1 win over German side Frankfurt in the Champions League, Isak sustained a groin problem at Deutsche Bank Park, meaning he is a doubt for his side’s trip to Brentford on Saturday evening.

  "Alexander is not too bad,” said Slot ahead of the Brentford game. “He is a question mark for the weekend so we will see where he is.”

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  Slot questions Newcastle's handling of Isak following injury setback

  Slot’s update follows his previous comments which saw him question Isak’s treatment at Newcastle as the summer saga surrounding his future played out.

  The Dutchman said: “I don't think there's a rule that every single player has the same (pre-season preparation). But it also depends on what he did when he didn't train with the team, what the impact is if you go to a new club as a big signing.

  “So you cannot compare, maybe a player who hasn't trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool.”

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• Howe refused to get involved in exchange with counterpart Slot

  However, when asked about Slot’s accusations following the injury to Isak, Newcastle boss Howe refused to get involved in an exchange with his counterpart, though he did defend the club’s care of their “elite players”.

  Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Fulham on Saturday, Howe said: “The set-up here is very good. It is not perfect, we've got things to improve and to grow. But the owners here have developed the facilities since I've been here very, very well.

  “You can see there is building work going on currently to hopefully deliver even better in the future. But I have no complaints. We've got elite athletes here, many of them, and touch wood, we're managing them pretty well at the moment.”

  And when asked if he would “go into bat” and defend Newcastle following Slot’s comments, Howe added: “I like the way you’ve worded that… encouraging me to go into bat!

  “I don’t have to do that, I don’t feel. You’ve done it for me, reeling off all those things! But you obviously know what my answer would be.

  “I don't think that's wise for me to get involved in those discussions. Alex is no longer at this football club, so I won't comment on it.”

شارك النجم المصري عمر مرموش في فوز مانشستر سيتي على حساب بوروسيا دورتموند، برباعية لهدف واحد، في الجولة الرابعة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

وارتفع رصيد مانشستر سيتي للنقطة 10 في دوري أبطال أوروبا وصعد للمركز الرابع، ليواصل فريق بيب جوارديولا تحقيق الانتصارات في الدوري الإنجليزي والشامبيونزليج.

وجاء دخول عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند في الدقيقة 86 من أحداث الشوط الثاني بدلاً من إيرلينج هالاند.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا بعد الفوز على دورتموند: متحمس لما سأجهزه لـ ليفربول.. وفودين عاد مجددًا

وكانت أهداف مانشستر سيتي قد جاءت عن طريق فيل فودين الذي أحرز ثنائية في الدقيقتين 22 و57 وسجل هالاند في الدقيقة 29 وريان شرقي في الدقيقة 91.

وتفاعلت جماهير مانشستر سيتي عبر منصة “إكس” مع دخول عمر مرموش في الدقيقة 86 بدلاً من النرويجي المتألق إيرلينج هالاند، على النحو التالي: ردود أفعال جماهير مانشستر سيتي على مشاركة عمر مرموش أمام بوروسيا دروتموند

“يجب على مرموش مغادرة النادي في يناير، لن يحصل على أي دقائق ويجب السماح له بالمغادرة في 7 ديسمبر لمنتخب بلاده، فهو ليس مهماً لجوارديولا ولا يهتم به”.

Marmoush has to leave the club in January he won‘t see any minutes and he should be allowed to leave on 7. December to his national team, he is not important for Guardiola he gives a shit about him — kimo (@K1mmooo) November 5, 2025

“نحتاجه للمباراة القادمة”

Need him for the weekend. — Joshua Layfield (@jdontplayfield) November 5, 2025

 

“لماذا نعطي عمر مرموش فقط عشر دقائق مرة أخرى للمشاركة؟”.

why are we only giving marmoush ten minutes again — Conor Campbell (@ConorCa39459550) November 5, 2025

“لقد فهمت الآن لماذا غادر جوليان ألفاريز مانشستر سيتي”

I got it now, why Alvarez left from the city — West Tech | (@WestTechWeb3) November 5, 2025

“نعم، مرموش يحتاج لدقائق لعب على مستوى عالي بدلاً من اللعب لـ10 دقائق أسبوعاً بعد أسبوع وإلا فلن يكون لائقاً للمباريات”.

yes he also needs minuets at a high level instead of playing 10 mins week in week out or he isn’t going to get match fit — Conor Campbell (@ConorCa39459550) November 5, 2025

“مرموش يجب عليه إيجاد ناد آخر”

Marmoush should find his way to another club asap ….:😂😂😂 — omar Marmoush 💙 (@OmarMarmoush_7) November 5, 2025

“سافينيو لعب على حساب مرموش ماذا؟”

Savio ahead of Marmoush wtf — Alex (@alexquintani11a) November 5, 2025

“الصفقات الجديدة ومستقبلنا جلسوا على دكة البدلاء اليوم، مرموش وشرقي وخوسانوف، هذا غير معقول”.

New signings, and our future, Marmoush, Cherki, Khusanov benched. Unbelievable — sanesou (@sanesou) November 5, 2025

“بيب فقد عقله، ما زال عمر مرموش يغيب وأين ريان شرقي؟”.

Pep done lost his fkin mind. Still no Marmoush and where is Cherki? — calicoe___X (@ovmcfc) November 5, 2025

“مرموش سيغادر في يناير إذا استمر في الجلوس على دكة البدلاء”

marmoush is gonna leave in jan lol if he keeps holding bench — Kaimon (@mcfcspades) November 5, 2025

“مرموش اترك نادينا من فضلك، نحن لا نحترمك هنا وأطردوا سافينيو من النادي”.

Marmoush leave my club please we don’t respect you here and get Savinho out of this club — 🥤¹⁷ Tsubi (@Em2Mcfc) November 5, 2025

“مرموش عاد من الإصابة، لا داعي للتسرع فقد يتعرض لانتكاسة”.

Marmoush is from injury guys no need for rushing him he might get a set back — iam_henry j (@WHenry27917) November 5, 2025