Tottenham are planning to back manager Thomas Frank with a bold January transfer swoop which would smash their winter spending record, according to a new report.

Tottenham target attacking signings amid creativity struggles

Spurs’ inconsistency and lack of creativity has been there for all to see since the Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou, with north London rivals Arsenal compounding their struggles by putting them to the sword on Sunday.

Frank’s side failed to get anywhere near troubling David Raya often enough, bar Richarlison’s stunning goal of the season contender from half way, which can be put down to a moment of individual brilliance out of nowhere.

Xavi Simons, who was brought in as the Lilywhites’ statement new playmaker signing last window, has struggled to make a consistent-enough impact in the final third with James Maddison out for most of 2025/2026 due to an ACL injury sustained in pre-season.

Dominic Solanke remains out injured as well as he continues his very slow recovery from an ankle problem, which required minor surgery, with Dejan Kulusevski also still unavailable.

Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani returned to the matchday squad against Arsenal following their recent injuries, but co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are apparently keen to bolster Frank’s forward line.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has dominated headlines ahead of the January window, following news of his £65 million release clause which can be triggered right after the turn of the year.

Tottenham preparing January bid for £75m star who Frank thinks is the "perfect fit"

The Dane absolutely loves him.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 9, 2025

Spurs are contenders for Semenyo in light of this contract revelation, while other reports suggest that FC Porto striking sensation Samu Aghehowa is a ‘dream’ target for Tottenham as well.

Now, according to TEAMtalk, Lange and Paratici are plotting a very bold double-swoop for both men.

Tottenham plan record-shattering January swoop for Semenyo and Aghehowa

As per their information, Tottenham want to sign Semenyo and Aghehowa in January, and they’re prepared to spend a whopping £145 million to make that happen.

This ambitious swoop would ‘shatter’ their previous January spending records, but given the club’s lack of real menace going forward, a source claims that Frank has made his wish for more firepower “crystal clear”.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

Spurs’ manager also views both Aghehowa and Semenyo as ‘perfect’ additions to his frontline, believing they can provide both quality and a real injection of pace to help exploit opposition defences.

Semenyo, who has contributed six goals and three assists for Bournemouth this term, stands out as one of the Premier League’s most in-form attacking stars right now.

The Ghanaian’s direct style and ability to terrorise defenders on the left flank has attracted strong interest, with Liverpool also monitoring his situation closely.

Porto’s Aghehowa, meanwhile, represents the clinical finisher that’s been missed from Frank’s squad this term.

The 21-year-old Spain international has been sensational this season, scoring nine goals in 15 appearances thus far and 27 goals in 45 appearances last term.

Aghehowa was once on the verge of joining Chelsea before he pulled out of a move to Stamford Bridge, but Enzo Maresca’s loss could be Frank’s gain.

Porto value their prized asset at £80 million — the value of his release clause — and are reluctant to sell mid-season, though a bid matching his clause will force their hand.

“If you do not spare even a 23-year-old boy to run your YouTube channel, it’s unfair,” Gautam Gambhir says about Kris Srikkanth’s criticism of Harshit Rana

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2025Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still part of India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup? The ODI captaincy has passed from Rohit to Shubman Gill, and both Rohit and Kohli are now in their mid-30s and retired from Tests and T20Is. What does their selection for the ODI series in Australia later this month say about their future?India head coach Gautam Gambhir isn’t looking that far ahead.”Look, 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, and I think it is very important to stay in the present,” he said in a press conference after India beat West Indies 2-0 in their Test series. “That is very important. Obviously, they are quality players, they are coming back, their experience is going to be a handful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful series.”Related

• The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

• Kohli finds rhythm, Rohit shakes off the rust in India's first training session

• Tough but fair: Selectors have prioritised future over sentiment

• Gill inherits the wealth of India's Rohit-Kohli era

As Test and ODI captain and T20I vice-captain, Gill can expect a packed schedule with little scope for taking breaks between series. Gambhir felt he was in a good space to do this.”First and foremost, I need one,” Gambhir joked when asked if Gill could benefit from having a mental-conditioning coach. “I think he is scoring runs, so he does not need any bit of it. So probably I think he is in a good space. I think all of us are in a good space.”I think when you get the results, you are always in a good space. But if you don’t get the results, I think it is my responsibility to keep him and the entire group in a good space. That is my job. Sometimes it is not only about skills, but it is also about the mental aspect of the game as well. Especially guys who are playing all the three formats. It is not only about Shubman, it is about everyone in that dressing room. I have equal responsibility towards everyone.”Kris Srikkanth had alleged that Harshit Rana is in the national team because he is close to Gautam Gambhir•AFP/Getty Images

Gambhir calls Harshit Rana criticism’ shameful’

One of the selections for the Australia tour that has attracted comment from ex-players in the media is that of Harshit Rana, with the fast bowler part of both the ODI and T20I squads. Among those who have commented on the selection is former India captain and chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth, who alleged in his YouTube channel that Rana was only part of the squad because he was Gambhir’s yes-man.”Look, it’s a bit shameful. And I will be very honest with you. If you do not spare even a 23-year-old boy to run your YouTube channel, it’s unfair,” Gambhir said. “Because ultimately [Rana’s] father is not an ex-chairman [of selectors] or an ex-cricketer or an NRI. He plays cricket on his own merit. And he will continue to play on his own merit.”Targeting someone individually is not fair. You can target people’s performance. And there are coaches and selectors who target people’s performance. But if you say such things to a 23-year-old kid, then social media amplifies it more, and in social media, you are told things in such a way, imagine [what it does to] the mindset [of the player]. In the future, your child can also play cricket, anyone’s child can play cricket.”At least you can realise that he is a 23-year-old kid. He is not 33. Criticise me, I can still handle it. But a 23-year-old boy is a 23-year-old boy. I think that is why we need to be careful. What you say is only to run your YouTube channel. Every one of us has moral responsibility towards Indian cricket. Indian cricket doesn’t belong to me, it doesn’t belong to people sitting in the dressing room, it belongs to all of you as well. It belongs to every Indian who genuinely wants Indian cricket to do well. Criticise, but do it on performance. Don’t do it because you want to target an individual.”

Vitinha produced the performance of his life as Paris Saint-Germain beat Tottenham 5-3 in a wild Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes. The midfielder scored his first-ever career hat-trick, inspiring a comeback after PSG trailed twice on the night. With the French champions closing in on a top-eight league-phase finish, the win underlined Vitinha’s growing influence in Luis Enrique’s project.

• Vitinha leads PSG’s comeback with landmark hat-trick

  PSG were forced to dig deep after Tottenham twice took the lead in a chaotic Champions League night in Paris. Richarlison opened the scoring before Vitinha struck an equaliser just before half-time, the moment that set the tone for a career-defining display. Spurs went ahead again early in the second half, but Les Parisiens responded instantly, with the Portuguese midfielder producing a composed finish to drag his team level.

  His joy was evident when speaking to about scoring multiple goals for the first time in his professional career, he said: “It’s the first time. Even two, it’s the first time [laughs]. I had never scored two in the same game.”

  The European champions soon flipped the match on its head, with Fabian Ruiz and Willian Pacho striking before Vitinha completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to seal the victory and take the match ball home on a night that showcased his growing attacking instincts. The win reinforces PSG’s strong Champions League campaign, marking their fourth victory in five matches and pushing them closer to securing a top-eight finish.

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• AFP
  

  Vitinha reveals the mindset shift behind his hat-trick

  After the match, Vitinha opened up about the mental shift that helped unlock the best goalscoring night of his career. He explained the belief behind his sudden scoring touch: "It was incredible, I think it's partly in your head. If you don't think about scoring a lot of goals, you probably won't. You have to believe, you have to… push too. Of course, always for the good of the team and never against the team, but you have to believe, show up, feel that the ball will come to you… And the truth is that I had luck combined with the goals and I'm overjoyed. I never… never thought I'd score three goals in a game. Very happy to have scored, but mainly for the victory. It was important to be behind twice and have the personality to come back. It's extremely important and I'm very happy for myself and for the team." 

  Speaking to PSG media, he acknowledged that Joao Neves’ recent hat-trick against Armenia may have planted the seed: “Actually, I had never thought about scoring a hat trick. Maybe Joao [Neves] inspired me! But it's true that when it happens, you think: 'maybe I can too'. It's a bit psychological. I'm very happy with this hat trick, but above all with the team and its personality, because it managed to overcome difficulties once again, with the help of this environment and these incredible fans. I think we formed a great team here, all together, at the Parc. They never stopped believing in us, even when we were behind twice.”

• Frank hails Vitinha as 'the next Ballon d'Or winner'

  Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was left impressed despite the defeat, calling the midfielder one of the standout players in world football right now. 

  Speaking to reports, Frank said: "Of course, I think it was performance that was up there where we could get something out of the game, a draw or a win. So that's a little frustrating thing that we conceded some goals. Of course, one with a little bit of margin from Vitinha, not top corner but top, top corner. And then, of course, goal three and four. Those are the ones we definitely need to avoid if we want to get something out of here, but something to build on. Strikers scoring two goals. The whole team, I think, all performed well. Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, positive. When we played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d'Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield. Vitinha. Wow, what a player."

  He doubled down in his post-match interview with : “Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d'Or winner.”

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  PSG eye top-eight finish as momentum grows

  The victory puts the Ligue 1 giants in a commanding position in the league phase. They now have 12 points, level with Bayern Munich but ahead on goal difference, and stand as one of the most consistent performers against Premier League opposition this year. It also marked PSG’s sixth win in 10 matches against English clubs in 2025, including their Super Cup triumph over Spurs in August.

  Up next, PSG return to Ligue 1 action where they face Monaco this weekend, a match that offers another platform for Vitinha to showcase his soaring form. With confidence high and Champions League progression in sight, PSG appear well-placed to maintain their momentum heading into a decisive stretch of the season.

The current WTC finalists have been part of some fierce battles since 2000. Here’s a list

Omkar Mankame09-Jun-2025

2nd Test, Cape Town, 2002

This was Shane Warne’s 100th Test, and he made sure to make it his own. His 63 in the first innings helped Australia gain a sizeable lead in a thrilling partnership with Adam Gilchrist. He then picked up a six-wicket haul in South Africa’s second innings, but Australia were still left chasing a massive 331 after the hosts racked up 473.Justin Langer (58) and Matthew Hayden (96) laid the platform, but it was Ricky Ponting, who closed out a memorable win with a sublime hundred. With Warne at at the other end, Ponting brought up his century and the win with a six off Paul Adams.Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz saw Australia home in Johannesburg in 2006•Getty Images

3rd Test, Johannesburg, 2006

After dominant wins in Cape Town and Durban, Australia were pushed hard in the third Test. Brett Lee’s counterattacking 64 off 68 balls at No. 9, following Michael Hussey’s 72, lifted the visitors to 270 after South Africa had posted 303 in their first innings.Chasing 292, Hussey’s 89 and Damien Martyn’s 101 set up the chase, but Australia wobbled after Hussey’s dismissal, collapsing from 198 for 2 to 275 for 8. Michael Kasprowicz joined Lee with 17 still needed. The pair exorcised the ghosts of 2005, as Lee stayed unbeaten on 24 and Kasprowicz finished seven not out.AB de Villiers scored an unbeaten 106 to seal South Africa’s chase of 414•PA Photos

1st Test, Perth, 2008

Australia were in transition ahead of the 2008-09 home summer. It took a lower-order rescue act to lift them to 375, before Mitchell Johnson’s career-best 8 for 61 restricted South Africa to 281. With a lead of nearly 100, Australia extended it to 413 – seemingly more than enough.Enter Graeme Smith, who lost opening partner Neil McKenzie early, but then took the total to 172 in collaboration with Hashim Amla before both fell in quick succession. Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers took them to 303 before Kallis fell with the target still over 100 away. But de Villiers, who remained not out on 106, finished the job with JP Duminy.The champagne flows after South Africa’s series win•PA Photos

2nd Test, Melbourne, 2008

Smith hailed this result as a shift in the power balance of world cricket, becoming the first South African captain to win a Test series in Australia. In reply to Australia’s 394 at the MCG, South Africa stumbled to 184 for 7 before Duminy’s career-best 166, aided by a gritty 76 from Dale Steyn, earned them a 65-run lead. Steyn, who had taken 5 for 87 and then contributed with the bat, followed up with 5 for 67 to crush Australia’s hopes of squaring the series. South Africa chased down 183 to end two decades of Australian dominance at home.Michael Clarke raises his bat after reaching his first hundred on his home ground•PA Photos

3rd Test, Sydney, 2009

Australia pulled off a last-gasp win in Sydney, despite a valiant effort from the injured Smith. Batting at No. 11 with a broken left hand and sore right elbow, Smith survived 29 minutes with Makhaya Ntini in a bid to save the match, before Johnson ended the fight with five minutes left. Facing a whitewash, Australia had posted 445, driven by Michael Clarke’s 138, and gained a 118-run lead thanks to Peter Siddle’s 5 for 59. A strong second-innings show allowed Ponting to declare generously, setting South Africa 376 in nearly four sessions.The scoreboard tells the tale of Australia’s misery at Newlands in 2011•Getty Images

1st Test, Cape Town, 2011

Clarke’s unbeaten century took Australia to 214 for 8 by stumps on day one, and the Test was done by day three, with South Africa chasing down 155 to seal a commanding eight-wicket win. But the match was defined by a chaotic second day, where 23 wickets fell across four innings. Clarke guided the tail on the second morning to post 284, before Shane Watson and Ryan Harris ripped through South Africa, who lost nine for 47, to be bowled out for 96. But Philander, Steyn and Morkel hit back, skittling Australia for 47 – their lowest total in over a century. Smith and Amla calmly saw the day out at 81 for 1, setting up the 236-chase.Pat Cummins took 6 for 79 on debut•AFP

2nd Test, Johannesburg, 2011

Australia came into this Test on the back of their lowest total in 109 years. On a seaming Johannesburg pitch, they secured a 30-run lead after South Africa’s 266. Debutant Pat Cummins then gave Australia hope with a six-wicket haul, setting up a target of 310. At 19 for 2, Ponting and Usman Khawaja steadied the chase, but Morne Morkel and Steyn struck back, reducing Australia to six down with 95 still needed. The equation narrowed down to 12 with two wickets in hand. Cummins held his nerve, hitting two boundaries to seal a tense win.Faf du Plessis (left) batted over a day to save the 2012-13 Adelaide Test•Getty Images

2nd Test, Adelaide, 2012

For nearly four days, only one result seemed likely. Australia piled up 550 at a brisk 5.12 runs per over, powered by Clarke’s 230 off 257 balls and Hussey’s 103 off 137. They took a 162-run lead and set South Africa a daunting target of 430. On the final day, South Africa were 77 for 4 with debutant Faf du Plessis sharing the crease with de Villiers. The childhood friends battled through 408 balls in a tense blockathon. After de Villiers fell, Kallis and du Plessis added 99 runs in 235 balls, and South Africa held on for a draw with two wickets to spare.Ryan Harris wheels away in celebration after sealing the series for Australia•Getty Images

3rd Test, Cape Town, 2014

With the series level at 1-1, Australia arrived in Cape Town and posted 494 for 7, powered by Clarke’s unbeaten 161 and David Warner’s 135. Johnson, at his fiery best, took four wickets to restrict South Africa to 287. Warner’s second Test century set a daunting target of 511 – more realistically, survival for nearly five sessions. South Africa battled through 134 overs with two wickets in hand, but Ryan Harris struck in the final hour to remove Steyn and Morkel, preserving Australia’s unbeaten Test series record in South Africa since readmission. It was South Africa’s first defeat since becoming No. 1 in Test cricket.Travis Head’s innings proved to be the difference•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

1st Test, Brisbane, 2022

The Test lasted just two days and six sessions, but was packed with action, wickets, and a few runs. Brisbane served up a pitch so green it almost blended with the outfield. Australia’s bowlers were sharp and accurate, especially late in the first and throughout the second innings. South Africa’s totals of 152 and 99, with Kyle Verreynne’s 64 and Khaya Zondo’s unbeaten 36 as the top scores, fell well short. For Australia, Travis Head’s counter-attacking 92 off 96 balls proved decisive, helping build a 66-run lead. In a match where only two players passed 40 and 34 wickets tumbled in two days, his innings was the difference.

The last few months have been a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, especially considering the topsy-turvy nature of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Lilywhites won the Europa League under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, with the Aussie delivering on his promise of always winning a trophy in his second season.

However, it was somewhat overshadowed by the 17th-place finish in the Premier League, which ultimately cost the 60-year-old his job in North London.

The responsibility of building on the triumph was handed the way of Thomas Frank, with the Dane joining the club from fellow top-flight club Brentford during the off-season.

Despite his arrival, some players have struggled to match the levels they produced last campaign, which will have no doubt been frustrating to the new manager.

The Spurs players who have struggled in 2025/26

After arguably his best-ever campaign in 2024/25, Brennan Johnson has endured a dismal current campaign and has often failed to deliver when called upon by Frank.

The Welsh international has only netted two league goals in 2025/26 to date, subsequently dropping down the pecking order and only making five starts since the Dane’s arrival.

He was even sent off in the latest Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen, which pretty much sums up the decline he’s endured over the last few months.

Johnson hasn’t been alone in struggling to match the levels he produced last season, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur another who’s been unable to produce on a consistent basis.

The Uruguayan international has only made eight starts to date, but his numbers from the current campaign showcase his dismal form in North London.

He’s ranked in the 43rd percentile for passes completed and has only been able to make 0.5 interceptions per 90 – often struggling to make an effect in and out of possession.

The Spurs star who needs to be offloaded

The decline of some players has led to the recent additions during the summer, with the hierarchy landing Mohammed Kudus in a £55m deal from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international has since replaced Johnson on the right-hand side of the attack and has already made an immediate impact for the Lilywhites.

He’s scored once and registered four assists in the Premier League to date, with the latter of the two tallies the joint-highest of any player in England’s top-flight.

Kudus would have been joined in the final third by Dominic Solanke, but the Englishman has massively struggled with injuries and has been out of action since the end of August.

He’s been struggling with an ankle issue over the last couple of months, subsequently restricting him to a total of just 31 Premier League minutes in 2025/26.

As a result, the hierarchy decided to delve back into the transfer market to complete a loan deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani from French side PSG.

The 26-year-old’s move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but after a couple of months, it’s safe to say that the deal so far has been a disaster for everyone involved.

He’s struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with the loanee subsequently failing to score in any of his eight outings across all competitions.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of form since his transfer on Deadline Day, with the former Juventus star undoubtedly struggling to meet expectations in England.

Randal Kolo Muani – PL stats (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	4
Goals & assists	0
Shots taken	0.47
Touches in opposition box	1.4
Aerials won	0.4
Aerial success rate	37%
Fouls committed	1.6
Passes completed per 90	8.2
Stats via FotMob

He’s only registered a total of 0.47 shots per 90 in England’s top-flight – with such a tally ranking him in the lowest 1% of all other attackers in the division this season.

Kolo Muani, who earns a reported £150k-per-week, has also registered just 1.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.4 aerials won per 90, which place him in the first percentile – further highlighting his lack of positive impact to date.

Such form backs up one content creator’s previous claim about the forward, with the Frenchman previously being dubbed “one of the most overrated players in the world”.

It’s evident that the move to date has been a huge failure, with the club desperately needing to cut ties and allow other players to stake their claim for a starting role.

His loan deal shouldn’t be made permanent in either of the two windows before it expires, but it’s crucial the club do invest big and land a new talisman for Frank.

Spurs star was one of the "best in the world", now he's on borrowed time

One Tottenham Hotspur star could be on borrowed time under Thomas Frank in the coming months.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 21, 2025

The incredible story of Leicester City's 2015-16 Premier League title triumph is perhaps the most well-known of the past decade. Claudio Ranieri guided a team of 5000-1 outsiders, which had been assembled on a shoestring budget, to glory in his first season at the King Power Stadium. No one could argue that Leicester were not the best side in the country either; they finished 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, losing only three of their 38 games.

It was a sporting miracle that arguably even topped Nottingham Forest's back-to-back European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980, Wimbledon's FA Cup success in 1988, and Greece's run to the 2004 European Championship. Leicester got the better of all of English football's super clubs in an era in which money had always delivered the biggest rewards over the course of an season.

Former Chelsea boss Ranieri took most of the plaudits, and rightly so. The lovable Italian shredded his 'Tinkerman' tag by setting the Foxes up in a simple 4-4-2 formation focused on defensive discipline and quick counter-attacks, and did a masterful job of keeping his players' feet on the ground as the ultimate goal came closer into view. He also made N'Golo Kante his first signing at the club, snapping the French midfielder up from Caen for just £6 million, which turned out to be a transfer masterstroke.

However, it was Nigel Pearson, Ranieri's predecessor, who was responsible for assembling the majority of the key players in the title-winning squad. Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and Wes Morgan all joined the Foxes in 2012, and Pearson brought in Riyad Mahrez, Danny Simpson and Marc Albrighton two years later. Pearson also completed the permanent signings of Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki shortly before his sacking on June 30, 2015.

Pearson's exit was, in his own words, a "big shock". It is safe to say, though, that the Englishman would not have been able to unlock the full potential of the squad in the same way Ranieri did. If he'd stayed in charge, Leicester might have pushed for a top-half finish, but the magic needed to upset the established order would have been absent. 

In the end, an ugly saga involving a sex tape that brought a summer of humiliation to the club and Pearson inadvertently preceded to the most memorable chapter in Leicester's entire 132-year history.

Getty Images SportGreat escape

When the 2014-15 season ended, Pearson thought he'd done enough to extend his stay at the King Power for at least one more year. Much of Leicester's first season back in the Premier League was a struggle, and they were seven points from safety heading into their final nine games, only for the Foxes to win seven of them and beat the drop, ultimately finishing 14th in the table.

Leicester became only the third team to ever avoid relegation after being bottom on Christmas Day, and even secured their Premier League status with one game to spare, getting over the line via a 0-0 draw at Sunderland.

Relief poured out of Pearson after the final whistle, as he told reporters: "When you consider our plight a couple of months ago, to go into the final game with our safety assured is quite an unbelievable achievement. I think the key thing for us even in our darkest moments, there have been a few, the players have continued to support each other and believe in their own ability. That's difficult when people are questioning your integrity. We've developed as the season has gone on. This run has been extraordinary, but we've needed to do it, because a number of sides have picked up form. We've stuck at our job."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPR disaster

Shortly after the final day of the season, Pearson and the Leicester squad jetted off to Thailand for a 'goodwill tour', with the aim of building a stronger relationship with the club's ownership regime, led by late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and the local community. But it ended up being a public relations disaster.

On May 31, 2015, Leicester launched an investigation after the obtained footage of three academy players taking part in sex acts in a Bangkok hotel room, which they had sent to friends back in the UK. The trio involved were identified as striker Tom Hopper, goalkeeper Adam Smith, and Pearson's son James, who was the captain of the development squad.

In a statement, a Leicester spokesman confirmed that the three players had returned to England after attending a "preliminary meeting". They also revealed that Hopper, James Pearson and Smith had apologised for their behaviour, but as more details started coming to light, it became clear that would not suffice.

Getty Images Sport'Racist orgy'

described the video as a "racist orgy", and it quickly did the rounds on social media. James Pearson, Hopper and Smith allegedly filmed three Thai women committing "depraved" sex acts with them, cheering and laughing throughout.

At one stage, the camera was turned on the women as they indulged in sex acts, with one of the men heard using a racial slur towards them. In another clip, Hopper appeared to tell one of the women she was "f*cking minging… an absolute one out of 10". The video eventually ended with Hopper and Pearson high-fiving each other.

The shocking images and racist language prompted widespread condemnation in the British press. Grace Dent of was particularly scathing, as she wrote: "That isn’t about sex, it’s about power. It is about a lovely end-of-season gift to themselves of a few hours spent treating women like a grubby sub-species. It’s about men degrading women, commenting on their supposed ugliness and using racist words against them… And when the camera pulls towards the footballers, they aren’t embarrassed. No, they’re ecstatic to be filmed."

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Getty Images SportTriple-sacking

In the face of a deeply embarrassing debacle, Leicester, who count the Thai tourism board among their commercial partners, had no choice but to respond strongly. On June 17, the club announced they had ripped up the contracts of Pearson Jr, Hooper and Smith.

"The decision follows the conclusion of an internal investigation and disciplinary proceedings, as a consequence of events that took place during the club's end-of-season goodwill tour of Thailand," an official statement read. "Leicester City Football Club is acutely aware of its position, and that of its players, as a representative of the city of Leicester, the Premier League, the Football Association and the club's supporters. It is committed to promoting a positive message of community and family values and equality, and to upholding the standards expected of a club with its history, tradition and aspirations."

Lord Ouseley, chair of anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out, said in response: "Leicester have set the right tone to allow football to assert itself in setting and maintaining the correct standards of conduct to enhance the game's image here and abroad as a source for good. For too long, decision-makers at the top of the game have been reluctant to make responsible and authoritative decisions, as employers, to deal effectively and decisively with incidents of serious misconduct and unprofessional behaviour, as well as applying appropriate sanctions. It is therefore refreshing to see such positive action being taken in 2015 which we hope will set the decision-making pattern for the future."

A left-arm quick, a six hitter who can bat in the top order, and a couple of mystery spinners are all part of our list

Deivarayan Muthu12-Aug-2025The 13th season of the CPL, which will kick off on August 14, will feature a number of T20 stars from the Caribbean as well as from other parts of the world. Here are five CPL rookies who could make a mark in the upcoming season.Jediah Blades (Guyana Amazon Warriors)Jediah Blades made his T20I debut recently•Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty ImagesHaving moved on from the likes of Sheldon Cottrell and Obed McCoy, West Indies are trialling Jediah Blades in the left-arm seamer’s role ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Even before he had played in the CPL, Blades, now 23, was fast-tracked into the West Indies side after impressing with the new ball for Guyana Rainforest Rangers in the inaugural West Indies breakout league, a tournament that was held earlier this year to identify emerging talent in the region.After conceding 40 runs in three overs on T20I debut against Australia, Blades bounced back in his second match, trapping Mitchell Marsh lbw with a sharp inswinger with the new ball before dismissing Mitchell Owen and Cooper Connolly with the older one. A good CPL season could potentially put Blades in T20 World Cup contention.Kofi James (Barbados Royals)Kofi James isn’t really a rookie – he is 27 and has played 12 CPL games so far – but hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet. Could this be James’ season?He showed attacking enterprise at the top for Leeward Islands Thunder in the breakout league, finishing on top of the runs charts (240 at a strike rate of nearly 158) and on top of the sixes chart with 16. With both Rahkeem Cornwall and Alick Athanaze moving out of Barbados Royals, James could be combined with Quinton de Kock and Brandon King in a new-look top order. James also bowls offspin and can be matched up against left-hand batters.Usman Tariq (Trinbago Knight Riders)Usman Tariq has played two seasons of PSL•PCBThe Knight Riders franchise has always been big on mystery spinners across leagues and for this CPL season, they have recruited Usman Tariq, who has had success with Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.Tariq, who is predominantly an offspinner, comes to a near-complete halt as he approaches his delivery stride before firing darts with a slinging, side-arm action. He often slings it in from wide of the crease, making it even more difficult for batters to pick him.The 27-year-old has played ten games in the PSL, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.64, and the upcoming CPL will be his first stint in a franchise T20 league outside Pakistan.AM Ghazanfar (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons)Afghanistan teenager AM Ghazanfar is another mystery spinner who is set for his maiden CPL stint. He impressed Mumbai Indians with his variations during a trial in the UAE and had them forking out INR 4.80 crore (US$ 570,000 approx.) for him during the IPL 2025 auction.Though Ghazanfar missed the IPL with injury, he reminded the world of his mystery in the T20 Blast for Derbyshire, where he took 16 wickets in 14 games at an economy rate of 7.05. It included a mesmerising spell of 4-2-5-2 against Yorkshire at Headingley. Ghazanfar could be just as deadly and unhittable on the spin-friendly surfaces in the Caribbean.However, he might miss the second half of the CPL if he gets picked in Afghanistan’s squad for the Asia Cup starting September 9 in the UAE.Bevon Jacobs (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons)Bevon Jacobs has a T20 strike rate of 147.31•BCCIBevon Jacobs is another emerging T20 star who is part of Mumbai Indians in the IPL and MI Emirates in the ILT20 in the UAE. He is now poised to make his CPL debut for Antigua & Barbuda Falcons along with Ghazanfar.At over six feet tall, the New Zealand power-hitter has the height and reach to mess with the lengths of bowlers. He has always been good against pace, and this CPL will be a test of his skills against spin on potentially slow surfaces.New Zealand currently have a settled middle order in T20Is, but success against spin in the Caribbean could prompt the team management to include him as a wildcard for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Everyone seems to have a different opinion on international breaks. Any Scotland-supporting Glasgow Rangers fans may be loving them at this moment in time, after Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

However, some supporters may not like the break from club football or may not be happy with watching their country play, for whatever reason that may be.

Another reason as to why someone, and possibly Danny Rohl, may not enjoy international breaks is that it means that Rangers stars can pick up injuries without playing for their club.

For example, the German head coach will currently be sweating over the availability of central defender John Souttar, after he was forced out of the starting line-up against Denmark during the warm-up.

The Scotland international picked up an unknown injury before kick-off, after initially being named in the starting line-up, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be available this weekend.

On the same night, Derek Cornelius was forced off after just 30 minutes for Canada in their clash with Venezuela, with what is suspected to be a thigh injury, which makes him a doubt for the clash with Livingston at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership.

Ranking Rangers centre-backs this season

Losing both Souttar and Cornelius would be a blow for Rohl ahead of Saturday’s match because they were the starting centre-back pairing in the 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park last time out.

The Canadian centre-back, who is on loan from Marseille, missing the match would be a significant blow because he has been in impressive form for the Gers this season, particularly since Rohl came through the door.

Cornelius has started all three of the new manager’s league matches and won 21 of his 32 duels, per Sofascore, in those matches, helping Rangers to keep two clean sheets and concede just one goal.

The Marseille loanee, with those dominant displays, has been the top-performing centre-back at the club this season, whilst Souttar has started all 11 of the club’s league matches, under Russell Martin, Stevie Smith, and Rohl, per Sofascore.

Ranking Rangers’ best centre-backs this season

Rank

Player

1

Derek Cornelius

2

John Souttar

3

James Tavernier

4

Emmanuel Fernandez

5

Nasser Djiga

6

Clinton Nsiala

As you can see in the table above, we have placed James Tavernier in third place because he has filled in at centre-back, most recently against Kilmarnock and Roma, and done a reliable job.

Emmanuel Fernandez has started two matches for Rangers since his move from Peterborough. He scored in his start against Alloa Athletic and won 12 of his 15 duels, per Sofascore, in his only Premiership start against St Mirren, which makes it hard to put him too high or too low, as he has impressed in limited game time.

Nasser Djiga, meanwhile, ranks below him in fifth because the Wolves loanee has played 17 times for Rangers this season and was recently described as “rotten” by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar.

The Burkina Faso international has made several costly errors, including a red card against Dundee in August and an inexplicable mistake, letting his man race clear through on goal, against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off tie.

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Finally, Clinton Nsiala has to rank sixth out of the six first-team centre-back options, including Tavernier, simply because he has not played a single minute of football for the Gers this season.

However, if Souttar and Cornelius are both unavailable for selection against Livingston on Saturday because of the injuries that they picked up on international duty, it could finally be time to unleash the left-footed star.

Why Rangers should finally unleash Clinton Nsiala

The former AC Milan centre-back was seemingly not in Russell Martin’s plans at Ibrox, as he did not feature in a single matchday squad, but Rohl has the chance to change that this weekend.

As aforementioned, Djiga has not had the best of starts to life at Ibrox, hence why Edgar dubbed him “rotten”, and his mistakes for the Gers suggest that another player should be given an opportunity to shine.

If Souttar and Cornelius are both unavailable, Fernandez could come in to replace the former as the right-sided centre-back, after his dominant display last time out in the Premiership against St Mirren earlier this season.

That would leave Rohl in need of replacing Cornelius against Livingston and Nsiala could be the ideal player to step in for the Canada international, as he is the only other left-footed senior centre-back option in the squad.

The 21-year-old centre-back played 11 times in the Premiership under Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson in the 2024/25 campaign, and rarely let the Light Blues down with his performances.

Clinton Nsiala’s Premiership appearances for Rangers

Opposition

Result

Dundee

1-1 draw

St Johnstone

3-1 win

Aberdeen

3-0 win

Dundee United

3-1 win

Ross County

4-0 win

Hearts

3-1 win

St Mirren

2-0 loss

Kilmarnock

4-2 win

Celtic

3-2 win

Aberdeen

2-2 draw

St Mirren

2-2 draw

Per Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish giants only lost one of those 11 matches in the division, which shows that he was far from a disaster in the senior team.

In fact, former teammate Ross McCausland admitted that he and some of the other players in the squad had described him as “a left-footed Van Dijk” when watching his performances on the pitch for the first-team.

Nsiala, though, has not been given a chance to build on that respectable start to his senior career with the Light Blues, as he has not played a single minute this season.

That is why Rohl should finally unleash the left-footed defender against Livingston if Cornelius is unavailable for selection, as he is a left-footed defender who has proven that he can perform in the Premiership.

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The 21-year-old, given these new injury blows and Djiga’s disappointing form, deserves an opportunity to show that he can play a role for Rohl moving forward, starting with the game on Saturday.

New Zealand 38 for 1 (Seifert 23*) vs England – match abandoned England claimed the spoils in their T20I series against New Zealand, after the third and final match at Auckland went the same way as the series opener in Christchurch – lost to the weather as steady early-season rain swept in to curtail the contest after just 3.4 overs.In the limited time available, Tim Seifert made the running for New Zealand with an enterprising knock of 23 not out from 11 balls. He launched his innings with two fours off Luke Wood in the three balls that were possible prior to the evening’s first hour-and-a-half-long delay. Then – after the match resumed as 14 overs a side – he struck two sixes off the extra pace of Brydon Carse, including an outrageous reverse-scoop over fine leg that was well caught in the crowd.Carse did hit back at the other end, removing Tim Robinson for 2 as Jacob Bethell clung on well to a top-edged pull at deep midwicket. Wood then bowled an effective over to the left-handed Rachin Ravindra, finding sharp late movement in the seam-friendly conditions. Ravindra got going with a pulled six off Carse, but moments after Seifert had landed the second of his sixes off the same bowler, the rain returned once more.Despite a planned resumption at 10pm local time – with the match further reduced to eight overs a side – the grim weather returned just as the players were preparing to take the field, and the match was abandoned soon afterwards.It completed an unsatisfactory early-season foray for New Zealand, whose curtain-raising series against Australia at the start of the month had similarly been affected by the weather. They had made the running in the series opener, limiting England’s hard-hitting line-up to 153 for 6 on a seaming wicket at Hagley Oval, but were blown away in the return fixture two days later, losing by 65 runs after England had smashed the ground record with their total of 236 for 4.England chose to bowl first having named an unchanged XI for this decider. Despite the grey weather and unusually short boundaries at Eden Park, they decided to trust the balance that had impressed in Christchurch, with Liam Dawson retained as a second spinner ahead of an extra seam option.New Zealand, meanwhile, made one change – Zak Foulkes coming in for Kyle Jamieson. But in the end, it was all academic, as attention now turns to the ODIs which get underway in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.”It’s very frustrating,” Brook said at the post-match presentation. “The weather hasn’t been ideal. But great for the boys to get some time out there.”It’s a great place to tour, we’ve had an amazing time so far. We’ve got the ODIs coming up and we’re looking forward to it. We’ve got a few big names coming back and hopefully we can keep that momentum in the next few weeks.”Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s captain, rued his team’s missed opportunities, both with the weather and their own performances: “I guess this time of the year it (rain) is always a potential. It’s always nice to play England, no matter what time of the year you play.”The way we bowled in that first game [was good], especially on a Hagley wicket that did give us a little bit. The second game, we were put under a lot of pressure on a good wicket, so when we come across that again, we’ll have learnings from that.”

Allrounder admits he could miss depending on the make-up of Australia’s top six but is hopeful he can play a part in the Ashes if selected

Alex Malcolm28-Oct-2025

Beau Webster took a wicket on return•Getty Images

Allrounder Beau Webster agreed that he could be squeezed out of Australia’s XI for the first Ashes Test depending on the make-up of the batting line-up, but he feels that he can contribute in the series if given the opportunity.Webster’s role in the Australia side has been a topic of discussion despite being one of the most reliable performers over the past seven Test matches. Webster had played as the sole allrounder in the XI across all of those matches since replacing Mitchell Marsh in January.But Cameron Green’s return to bowling, after playing as a batter only at No. 3 in the last four Tests, as well as Marnus Labuschagne’s return to form and questions around the need to pick another specialist opener, have created uncertainty about the make-up of the top six for Perth.Related

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George Bailey, the chair of selectors, guaranteed Webster would be in the squad for the first Test, saying “everyone can relax.” But there is a way Webster could be squeezed out of the XI if the selectors opted to reinstate Labuschagne at No. 3, either retain Sam Konstas or pick another opener in his place to partner Usman Khawaja, and move Green back to No.6, given he is expected to be fit to bowl again despite a slight setback in his workload progression.Webster had missed the first two Sheffield Shield games of the summer due to an ankle injury, which only added to the speculation. Speaking after day one of his return for Tasmania against Victoria at Junction Oval, where he took 1 for 26 with the ball from 12 overs, Webster hoped that “I’ll be thereabouts”.”We’ve obviously got a potential hole around the top of the order there, and see who fills that,” Webster said. “If they see me as a pure middle-order [batter], then I’m probably going to get squeezed out. That is what it is. I hope I’m still in the conversation, certainly as a batter only, and if not, if it’s just the makeup of the team I’ll plug the way back in first-class cricket. There’s a there’s a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next two years. I hope I’ll be thereabouts.”Webster, 31, has done very little wrong in his first seven Tests. He has four half-centuries from 12 innings, averaging 34.63, which does not do him justice given the difficulty of the surfaces he has played on. He also has eight wickets at 23.25 with the ball, striking at 45.1, and has taken 12 catches in the field, where he has been a huge asset, especially in the slips cordon.Beau Webster has done little wrong since his Test debut•AFP/Getty Images

He said it was nice to hear Bailey guarantee his spot in the Perth squad, but he had not been given the same guarantee about being in the XI.”That depends who you ask,” Webster said. “I’d obviously love to be in the XI. I think I’ve got a lot to contribute there, and especially this Ashes series, I feel like I’m playing the best cricket of my life at the moment. So I certainly want to be there. Sometimes it’s the make-up of the team and the balance and the overs and who bats where. It feels like this series has probably got more questions over that than any before.”Webster admitted he felt some rust on return for Tasmania. He took the new ball to front end his overs having come into the game on a 16-over limit from Cricket Australia’s [CA] medical staff. He used 12 of those on day one in four spells. He picked up the wicket of former Test opener Marcus Harris with a delivery that pitched back of a length outside leg and nipped sharply across the left-hander to scratch the outside edge. Webster later took a sharp catch at slip but dropped one he would normally take.”If I could sum my day up today, a few no-balls and a drop catch at first slip, it probably felt like I was five or 10% off what I usually am,” Webster said. “I mean, that comes when you have probably three weeks of not playing. I felt like I was probably just slightly off it. But to get out there today and bowling 12 overs and get some more time in the slips is always beneficial.”Webster said the time off was helpful to freshen up mentally and also to do some strength work in the gym, having played nearly a full winter with Australia and Warwickshire in the county championship.”I think there’s some benefits, no doubt,” Webster said. “I think looking back, I did play a lot of cricket in England, and that’s by choice. I play my best cricket when I’m constantly playing. To have a three-week gap there, it was nice to get back in the gym and do some running and probably freshen the body up physically, ready to go for a big summer.”