Surrey joined Somerset at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group after cruising to a 48-run win over Sussex Sharks at the Kia Oval.Sussex themselves could have gone top with victory but an understrength side missing three of the team that had only lost one of their first six games never threatened a target of 211 and were dismissed for 162 in the final over when top scorer Danny Lamb was bowled by Chris Jordan.Although this season’s leading run-scorer, Jason Roy, failed to add to his 265 runs after falling for a second-ball duck, Dom Sibley (45), Will Jacks (43) and Sam Curran (38) made good contributions before 20-year-old left-hander Ollie Sykes thrashed 44 off 18 balls – including three sixes in an over from left-arm spinner James Coles – as 66 from the last four overs took Surrey to an imposing 210 for 6.Without the injured Harrison Ward and Tom Alsop, scoring at 11 an over looked a tall order for Sussex, even more so when Reece Topley picked up two wickets to quickly reduce them to 14 for 3. Lamb made a career-best 49 and left-hander Tom Clark scored 45 but slow left-armer Mitch Santner spearheaded an impressive performance by Surrey’s attack with 3 for 26.Openers Jacks and Sibley added 52 in the first five overs after Surrey had been put in. Jacks was caught at deep midwicket trying to hit Tymal Mills for a third six in the over.In the next over Roy was held at deep extra cover off left-armer Brad Currie but Sibley and skipper Sam Curran had little difficulty adding 61 from 44 balls for the third wicket before Sussex took three wickets in 15 deliveries to check Surrey’s progress.Sam Curran was caught and bowled by Coles off a leading edge, Sibley clipped Henry Crocombe to deep backward square and in the next over Nathan McAndrew claimed his 14th wicket in this season’s Blast when Laurie Evans holed out to deep midwicket.But Sykes soon wrested back control for Surrey, hitting four sixes and two fours in an impressive display of ball-striking as his sixth-wicket partnership with Tom Curran yielded 50 runs from 21 balls.Sussex needed to make a good start but instead lost three wickets in the first three overs. Debutant George Thomas, signed from Somerset in the winter, lost his off stump to Topley’s sixth ball which Thomas played around, Dan Hughes dragged a widish delivery from Tom Curran onto his stumps and Topley struck again courtesy of a superb diving catch in the deep by Sykes to remove Coles.Clark and skipper John Simpson gave Sussex hope with a stand of 62 from 35 balls for the fourth wicket but the experienced New Zealander Santner had Clark and Simpson (21) caught on the leg-side boundary by Jacks in successive overs. Santner picked up Jack Carson in his final over and Topley finished with 3 for 34. Lamb’s 49 from 34 gave Sussex some solace on a night when they were well beaten.

Monday’s Major League Baseball action features a shorter slate with several teams traveling, but that’s not going to stop us from diving into the prop market – especially with some of the starting pitchers in action. 

There are two starters that have been red hot that I’m looking to target on Aug. 12, and one of them – New York Yankees rookie Luis Gil – has arguably the best matchup in baseball tonight. 

Let’s break down these prop plays and their odds for tonight’s action. 

Best MLB Prop Bets Today for Monday, Aug. 12Luis Gil UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-160)Blake Snell OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-190)

Luis Gil UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-160)

All season long, Luis Gil has been a tough pitcher to get to, giving up just 73 total hits in 117.2 innings of work. Even though he’s struggled with command at times, he still has an ultra-impressive 1.11 WHIP this season. 

Now, Gil gets a crack at the worst team in baseball – the Chicago White Sox – who rank dead last in OPS and batting average and 29th in the league in total hits. 

Gil has allowed four or fewer hits in 16 of his 22 outings this season, including just two hits across five innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. 

It’s possible that New York limits the innings of the young starter down the stretch to make sure he can pitch in the playoffs, and Gil’s elite strikeout stuff makes him a tougher pitcher to get to regardless. 

With Chicago’s offensive struggles in 2024, Gil is a must bet at this number on Monday. 

Blake Snell OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-190)

San Francisco Giants lefty Blake Snell threw a no-hitter back on Aug. 2, and he’s been on fire since returning from the injured list in early July. 

Snell has made six starts over that stretch, allowing just 12 total hits and posting a 1.15 ERA across 39.0 innings of work. 

After being limited to just 73 pitches in his first start back (he still got through five innings), Snell has thrown six or more innings in the other five outings, including two games with seven or more innings pitched. 

Even though the Atlanta Braves aren’t an easy opponent, Snell is too hot to fade right now when it comes to an outs recorded prop. If he continues to limit baserunners, it would be very surprising to see him pulled before clearing six innings on Monday.

The mood around Chelsea at the moment is far more optimistic than it was even a week ago.

Enzo Maresca’s side have managed to pull themselves out of the dip that saw them lose two Premier League games on the bounce with that dramatic win over Liverpool on Saturday.

Moreover, the fact that the 18-year-old Estevao scored the winner only helps to fuel the sense that the future is bright for the Blues.

In fact, while it will take them some time to reach their peak, Maresca has several genuinely exciting youngsters in his current squad, and a number coming up from Cobham, including one who could be as special as Estevao.

Chelsea's promising youngsters

Chelsea has a squad bursting with young talent, so in this instance, ‘youngsters’ will refer to teenagers, of whom the Blues also have several in the first-team squad, including Tyrique George.

The Cobham graduate has endured an interesting season so far this year, as while he is a winger, Maresca has played him up top in a few games, and he’s had mixed results there.

For example, he struggled to make much of an impact at all against Benfica, but scored and assisted in the game against Lincoln City, which saved his side from real embarrassment.

Interestingly, the Englishman has been starting ahead of an actual centre-forward, Marc Guiu.

It’s hard to judge the Spaniard on this season alone, as his 119 minutes of action have been split between the Blues and Sunderland, where he was on loan before Liam Delap’s injury, with just 16 minutes coming under Maresca.

With that said, the 19-year-old scored a goal for the Black Cats and found the back of the net six times in seven Conference League games last season, so there is undoubtedly a lot of potential there.

Moving into the backline now, and while he is still inexperienced and therefore hard to judge, Josh Acheampong did a fine job against Liverpool on Saturday. His combination of on-the-ball ability and defensive nous could see him become a star for the West Londoners.

However, the other young defender, Jorrel Hato, feels like even more of a sure thing, as despite being 19 years old, he has an incredible amount of experience.

Before joining Maresca’s side, the young Dutchman had made 111 appearances for Ajax and even wore the captain’s armband on occasion.

Hato’s senior record
Appearances	111
Starts	102
Minutes	9121′
Goals	4
Assists	9
Goal Involvements per Match	0.11
Minutes per Goal Involvement	701.61′
Points per Game	1.86
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Last but not least, Estevao is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown when it comes to the Blues’ crop of young talents.

For example, before he even arrived on these shores in the summer, he had racked up a brilliant tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances for Palmeiras.

Moreover, while the goal against the Reds has grabbed the headlines, and understandably so, the 18-year-old has also looked incredible in other games, like against West Ham United, when his sensational close control allowed him to provide an assist for Joao Pedro.

In all, Chelsea have an abundance of absurdly talented youngsters in their current squad, and there is now someone in the academy who could join them and become a homegrown Estevao.

Chelsea's homegrown Estevao

As seems to be the case every year now, Chelsea have several exciting talents making waves at Cobham, such as Jesse Derry and Harrison Murray-Campbell.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when it comes to a Cobham gem who could become something of a homegrown Estevao for the Blues, only one youngster sticks out: Shumaria Mheuka.

The 17-year-old centre-forward has been an exciting prospect for some time now, but has really stepped it up a level this season, and doesn’t look too far off getting another chance in the first team, like he did at points in the Conference League last year.

For example, in just nine appearances for youth teams this year, totalling 793 minutes, he has scored ten goals and provided one assist.

In other words, the Birmingham-born output machine has been averaging 1.22 goal involvements per game, or one every 72.09 minutes in youth football this season.

Mheuka’s youth record in 25/26
Appearances	9
Minutes	793′
Goals	10
Assists	1
Goal Involvements per Match	1.22
Minutes per Goal Involvement	72.09′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

On top of that, he’s also been thriving on the international stage. In 16 appearances for England’s U19s, totalling 970 minutes, the teenage sensation has scored eight goals and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 88.18 minutes.

With numbers like these at such a young age, it’s easy to see why talent scout Jacek Kulig has already boldly proclaimed the Cobham gem as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, while it might be a little while longer until he’s given a real run in the first team, it looks like Chelsea could have their own homegrown Estevao-level talent in Mheuka.

Chelsea have a "future Ballon d'Or winner" who could eclipse Eden Hazard

The sensational Chelsea talent has the world at his feet.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 6, 2025

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso says it is just a "matter of time" before Florian Wirtz delivers for Liverpool after a tough start to life at Anfield. The Germany international swapped Bayer Leverkusen for the Reds in a £116 million deal in the summer but so far he has flattered to deceive for Arne Slot's team. Ahead of a reunion with ex-Leverkusen boss Alonso, the Spaniard has backed the 22-year-old to come good.

Wirtz struggling at Liverpool

There was a great deal of hype when Liverpool finally got their man for a then-Premier League record deal in June. Wirtz came with a big reputation after starring at Leverkusen, with Alonso getting the best out of him as they won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. The German playmaker managed to chalk up 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games for the German side but at Liverpool, he is struggling to make an impact. In 14 appearances, the attacking midfielder is yet to score a goal and has three assists, one of which came in the Community Shield. But ahead of the Reds taking on Alonso's Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, the ex-midfielder has sung the praises of the "special" youngster. 

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWirtz has Alonso's backing

"I have no doubts, it's just a matter of time," Alonso said in a pre-match news conference on Monday, when asked about Wirtz. "It's a big chance for him, coming to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, and being there his whole life."

Alonso added that Wirtz inadvertently played a role in Madrid appointing him to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Santiago Bernabeu.

"He needs to adapt, but he's a really special player," Alonso added. "He's competitive. One of the reasons I am here is because of Flo. Hopefully not tomorrow (Tuesday), but I hope soon he'll show his quality and his class."

Slot defends Wirtz's start at Liverpool

Despite being their second most expensive Premier League purchase of all time, behind the £125m ($169m) signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United this summer, Wirtz is not a regular in the Liverpool starting XI at present. Indeed, he has started six of their 10 Premier League games as his teething period continues. However, manager Slot is also content with what Wirtz has produced so far.

"You can say he’s started one of the last four [two of the last four] but you can also say he’s started 10 already this season," said the Dutchman. "I’ve said this quite a lot, not as an excuse but just how it is; many times we have to play three games in seven days with only two days’ rest in between. For a player who comes from a different league, which is a very good league by the way, nine out of 10 people would agree the Premier League is a bit more intense in all the games. If you look at that then he already played a lot. He has had his impact in a lot of games but has been unlucky with the end product either by himself or his teammates. For me, he brought exactly what we expected, a player who created a lot for the team. He will have his goals but I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that if you’re 22 or 23 and come to a different league that you might need some time to adjust to that intensity if you play every three days. Ryan Gravenberch was sitting here before and it took him a while to adjust to the intensity, maybe even longer than it is going to take Florian."

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IMAGO / DeFodi ImagesWirtz under pressure to deliver

Ahead of Madrid's trip to Liverpool on Tuesday, which will also see the return of former Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold following his switch to the Spanish giants this summer, many will wonder whether or not Wirtz starts against his former manager. Los Blancos are flying high in Europe and La Liga, so Slot will want to be at full strength for this one, although they are without Isak, Alisson, and Jeremie Frimpong. If there is a time to deliver, it will be now for Wirtz. If not, he could become a benchwarmer.

أكد محمد الشناوي، حارس مرمى النادي الأهلي، أن الفوز ببطولة السوبر المصري، على حساب الزمالك، يمثل دفعة قوية للفريق خلال البطولات القادمة.

وفاز الأهلي على الزمالك، بنتيجة 2-0، في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، ليحصد اللقب للمرة الـ16 في تاريخ القلعة الحمراء والخامسة على التوالي.

وقال الشناوي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أبو ظبي” الرياضية: “هذه البطولة كانت بالنسبة لنا مهمة جدًا، لكي نكمل الدوري وأمامنا إفريقيا، هذه البطولة تعطي لنا ثقة، اللاعبون كان عليهم ضغوطات كثيرة جدًا وهذا اللقب سيرفع الضغوط من على اللاعبين”.

طالع | أول تعليق من زيزو بعد التتويج مع الأهلي بـ كأس السوبر المصري أمام الزمالك

وأضاف: “الجهاز الفني الجديد هذا اللقب سيعطي له ثقة في الفترة المقبلة، هذا أهم شيء بالنسبة لنا، والسوبر المصري (وشه حلو) دائمًا علينا”.

وأتم: “بعد التتويج بالسوبر، علينا التركيز في بطولة إفريقيا والدوري خلال الفترة القادمة”.

Celtic are reportedly preparing to make their first contact with Wales manager Craig Bellamy, who has become the latest of a number of coaches to be linked with the vacant managerial role.

There’s been a major shake-up in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. It’s not champions Celtic who lead. It’s not their Old Firm rivals Rangers. Instead, it’s surprise champions-elect Hearts who have taken an eight-point lead at the top whilst those in Glasgow have descended into chaos.

Revealed: Scott Brown's chances of replacing Brendan Rodgers at Celtic

The Bhoys are looking for their next manager.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025

The Russell Martin experiment proved disastrous at Ibrox and a chaotic managerial hunt then followed before they landed on Danny Rohl. Now, Celtic are set to follow suit following Brendan Rodgers’ decision to leave the club – bringing an end to his second spell in charge of the club.

Those at Celtic Park will be hoping that their managerial search ends far quicker than Rangers’ did, given that their rivals were rejected by their top two choices.

As a result, work is instantly underway in search of a replacement for Rodgers. Names such as Ange Postecoglou, Edin Terzic and even Kevin Muscat, who rejected Rangers, have all threatened to steal the headlines so far, but it remains to be seen if any of the three emerge as priority choices.

Muscat would of course be an interesting choice after he rejected Rangers. Whether he’s the right choice should be the question asked by Celtic, however. The 52-year-old is yet to have any managerial success in European football and has enjoyed much of his career in Australia, China and Japan.

If Muscat is ruled out then the Bhoys could turn towards Bellamy, who has also emerged as a key option.

Celtic preparing first Craig Bellamy contact

According to Sky Sports, Celtic are now preparing to sound out Craig Bellamy among others about their vacant managerial role in the coming week.

The Wales manager has impressed on the international stage and has admirers at Celtic Park, despite losing both games in the last break, a friendly against England and World Cup qualifier defeat to Belgium. Alas, it remains to be seen whether he’d leave his post at Wales in the middle of that qualifying campaign.

Games

14

Wins

6

Draws

4

Defeats

4

As things stand, Wales sit third in their qualifying group and still have hope of reaching the 2026 World Cup. Luring Bellamy away from that may prove all too difficult for Celtic.

There’s no denying that he would be an excellent choice, though. Speaking to Sky Sports when Bellamy was appointed in his current role, former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw said: “It’s an excellent appointment.

“When I was thinking, ‘who could take Wales forward?’ He was one of the first names I thought about. He’s got a very sharp mind, a great passion for the game and they’ve made the right choice.”

The latest on Celtic's manager search

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has told one of his key players to “step up” ahead of the Premier League encounter against West Ham United at Elland Road this Friday.

Leeds gearing up for potential early six-pointer against West Ham

Although we are still in the very early stages of the season, Leeds’ home match against West Ham this Friday could have big ramifications at the end of the campaign, given that both sides are looking like they could be involved in a relegation battle.

The Hammers have already dismissed Graham Potter, who was replaced by Nuno at the end of September, but the former Nottingham Forest boss has been unable to make an immediate impact, with Jamie Carragher not impressed by recent performances.

Farke’s side, on the other hand, were always going to find it tough to avoid the drop as a newly-promoted team, but still remain three points clear of the relegation zone, having picked up wins against Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The manager made a number of new additions to his squad in the summer, in order to boost their survival chances, and Anton Stach has started all eight of the Whites’ Premier League fixtures up to this point.

However, the Leeds boss has now warned Stach he needs to improve, despite playing through injury, given that his performances have gone downhill in recent weeks.

Farke said: “They weren’t poor performances but not on the top level as before. It’ll be good for him to get rid of these problems with his finger and ribs.

“Hopefully then he’ll keep going with delivering top performances. This week having a bit of time to recover was good for him, hopefully he can step up.”

Related Leeds linked with "one of the best coaches ever" to replace Daniel Farke

The German could soon be under huge pressure.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Oct 22, 2025 Stach must improve against West Ham on Friday night

The German has shown his class at times this season, most notably putting in a fantastic performance in the 3-1 victory against a struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers side last month, chipping in with a stunning free-kick goal and an assist.

However, as pointed out by the Leeds manager, recent performances have not been at the same level, with the 26-year-old struggling to make an impact against Burnley last time out, losing three of the five duels he contested before being replaced by Joel Piroe.

It has recently become clear that Farke is looking to sign a new midfielder in the January transfer window, with talks being opened over a deal for Maccabi Tel Aviv star Issouf Sissokho, while there have been widespread links to Inter Milan’s Piotr Zielinski.

As such, in order to keep his place in the side, Stach will need to rediscover his best form soon, hopefully starting Friday against West Ham at Elland Road.

It is an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side still have a long way to go, but after another practically perfect weekend, they remain atop the Premier League table, now six points clear of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.

Moreover, while the North Londoners could still improve in some areas, such as scoring from open play, they currently look the best they have been in a very long time.

EPL

C. Palace

1-0 (W)

UCL

Atlético

4-0 (W)

EPL

Fulham

1-0 (W)

EPL

West Ham

2-0 (W)

UCL

Olympicacos

2-0 (W)

As if that isn’t enough, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny that more than a handful of Arteta’s players now rank among the very best in the league, including one who is becoming even more influential than Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Arteta's Arsenal leaders

During the final years of Arsène Wenger’s reign, and even under Unai Emery and early in Arteta’s time at the club, it wasn’t uncommon to hear fans and pundits alike lambast Arsenal for a lack of leaders in the team.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, over the last few years, such accusations have become far less prevalent, so much so, in fact, that to say such a thing today would be considered by many to be patently incorrect.

Arteta has helped turn the Gunners from a soft side that opposition teams loved playing against into a monstrous side that few, if any, teams look forward to playing.

From front to back, there are now leaders and mentality monsters all over.

For example, while he had a poor season last year, Martin Odegaard has been the club captain since the summer of 2022 and has been Norway’s captain for even longer.

Often alongside him, Declan Rice was the captain of West Ham United before his move, has now captained England on occasion and is often seen as the most vocal and ‘old-school’ leader in the squad.

Even Saka, who is still just 24 years old, has become a real leader in recent years, wearing the armband in Odegaard’s absence and keeping the side’s attack competitive when his fellow forwards have underwhelmed.

With all that said, there is another star of this Arsenal team who is not just becoming one of the most influential players at the Emirates, but within the entire league.

Arsenal's most influential player

When it comes to other leaders in this Arsenal team, it is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the utterly superb Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian international first joined the team in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £27m, and for the first couple of years, was seen as something of a liability at times.

However, over the last few years, the former LOSC Lille gem has managed to rid his game of the silly mistakes that were holding him back and transformed into one of the very best centre-backs in the Premier League, if not the world.

That might sound somewhat hyperbolic, but the facts suggest otherwise: since the 23/24 season, the Gunners have had the best defence in the Premier League, and over those campaigns, the 27-year-old has made 36, 28, and nine appearances, respectively.

Moreover, as things stand, the North Londoners have conceded just three goals across all competitions this year, one of which was Dominik Szoboszlai’s outrageous free-kick at Anfield.

So, there is a very real chance that the Sao Paulo-born titan could play a crucial role in breaking Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 goals in a Premier League season this year.

Finally, while the 6 foot 3 wall’s most important job is keeping other teams from scoring, he has also become a serious threat in the opposition’s box over the years, and has been a massive reason why the Gunners are now the best set-piece team in the world.

For example, since moving to the Emirates, the towering “colossus,” as dubbed by Arsenal writer Adam Keys, has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists in 223 games, and as things stand, is now the 100th top scorer in the club’s history.

Ultimately, when you take into account his incredible defending, outrageous goalscoring threat and sensational leadership qualities, it’s impossible to disagree with Jamie Carragher’s claim that he’s “the most influential player in the Premier League right now.”

Forget Eze: Arsenal's 8/10 star is becoming Arteta's most important player

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 27, 2025

Marseille’s Champions League hopes have been hit hard by injuries, and Roberto De Zerbi made no effort to hide his frustration ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Atalanta. The Italian manager admitted that his squad is stretched to its limits, with several key players sidelined and little time to recover between games.

• Injury crisis deepens for struggling Marseille

  Marseille had hoped to welcome back a few players for Wednesday’s game, but De Zerbi confirmed in Tuesday’s press conference that there would be no returns. Timothy Weah, Bilal Nadir, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Amine Gouiri, Hamed Junior Traore and Geoffrey Kondogbia are all ruled out of the European clash against Atalanta. To make matters worse, Nayef Aguerd’s availability remains doubtful after his late withdrawal before last weekend’s win over Auxerre. Emerson Palmieri is suspended, while Pol Lirola and Neal Maupay are not included in Marseille’s UEFA list, leaving De Zerbi with very few options.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  De Zerbi frustrated by mounting injuries

  In the pre-match press conference, De Zerbi opened up about the club's mounting injuries and didn’t hide his disappointment with the current situation.

  "Do you think I'm happy to play a Champions League match with eight or nine injured players, plus a suspended one? No, not at all," the Italian manager said. 

  "In analysing the situation, you have to consider everything. Great things often happen in adversity. The victory in Auxerre, where we didn't play well, came at a time when we were in serious trouble. The sun will shine again when Traore, Gouiri, Balerdi, Weah, Kondogbia, and all the injured players return. It will be a little easier. It's in the midst of problems that you have to give your best."

• Marseille boss fumes over tight schedule

  The Italian manager also voiced his frustration with Marseille’s packed run of fixtures, saying the constant turnaround between games has left his squad exhausted. The 46-year-old revealed that before the Auxerre match, the team could only hold a walking session because they had played just two days earlier. 

  "We did it walking because we had only played two days earlier. It was a way of saying that we had prepared for the match without the intensity of a normal training session. You can't prepare for a match 24 hours in advance," he added.

  "I like controversy, that's part of why I came here [to Marseille]. When you ask questions, it pleases me because you're always looking for a sharp retort. It's not about controversy, it's about truth. I have many flaws, but lying isn't one of them; I'm telling you the truth. We played poorly against Angers, but we lost two points in the 95th minute. We played poorly against Auxerre, but I see that some teams are doing less than us to win. From the match against Lorient – where we brought in six key players – until now, Marseille would be top of the table. I'd like to play better, but some of the criticism is a bit disastrous and harsher than reality."

  With only a few days to recover before facing the Serie A club, De Zerbi admitted the situation remains far from ideal. "It's a difficult time, so we need to be a bit tougher and more determined. If we can get through tough times like these, things will get better."

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• AFP
  

  Marseille hit a rough patch after a bright start

  The injury pile-up has clearly taken its toll on Marseille’s rhythm. After that explosive 6-2 win where Mason Greenwood stole the show with four goals, things have gone downhill fast. They have since lost to Sporting CP and Lens, drawn 2-2 with Angers, and managed a sluggish 1-0 win over bottom-placed Auxerre.

  Still, Marseille haven’t let PSG run away with a big lead. They sit second in Ligue 1, just two points behind Luis Enrique’s side, who are also battling their own injury crisis. But with the schedule piling up and key players missing, it’s no surprise De Zerbi’s men look a little worn down juggling both league and European nights.

  While De Zerbi has urged his players to dig deep, the coming weeks will be a real test for the squad. After facing Atalanta, Marseille host Brest before a tricky away trip to Nice, followed by another demanding Champions League clash against Newcastle at home. De Zerbi will hope his patched-up squad can rediscover their form despite a deep injury crisis.

Already thinking ahead to next summer, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly readying their biggest ever move to sign not one, but two Real Madrid stars for Thomas Frank.

Frank praises Tottenham for "massive" win at Leeds

It was far from routine, but Tottenham got over the line at Elland Road to defeat Leeds United courtesy of Mohammed Kudus’ first Premier League goal for the club. The summer signing cut inside before firing home beyond Karl Darlow just before the hour mark, as his side picked up what Frank described as a “massive” win.

Speaking to reporters, the Tottenham boss said in his post-match reaction: “It’s a massive win, honestly, a massive win. I just felt it before the game. Every game we want to win.

“Every game is a big three points, but before today, I just felt, three draws (Bodo/Glimt, Wolves, Brighton), plus the game before the international break, where we haven’t been able to win for a couple of years, for whatever reason.

“Then it’s Leeds away – they hadn’t lost here for over a year. It’s a difficult, difficult away ground, fantastic fans – and our fans, by the way, how good were they? Wow. Thanks so much for that.”

Agbonlahor says Frank should be worried about Tottenham star who gives "zero"

The pundit claims he can’t be relied upon.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 4, 2025

The Dane isn’t wrong in his verdict, either. After winning just one of their last four heading into the Leeds game, Spurs needed to pick themselves back up and get back to winning ways.

Now sitting as high as third in the Premier League and just two points behind leading North London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham have so far given themselves every chance of pulling off an incredible transfer deal next summer.

Tottenham readying £250m+ Valverde and Vinicius moves

It would be the biggest move in their history, but one that they eyed when relieving Daniel Levy of his duties. According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now readying a €300m (£261m) move to sign Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior next summer in a double deal for two Real Madrid stars.

They would both be transformative signings. The type that could finally bridge the gap from top four hopefuls into conversations for the top honours. Although there remain serious question marks over their ability to attract such stars.

Vinicius, alone, is one of Europe’s top stars. By the time that next summer arrives, he’ll have one year remaining on his Real Madrid deal and a form will be queuing for his signature. Spurs, despite all their efforts, are likely to be closer to the back of the line than the front.

That said, the Brazilian’s long-term future is certainly in question as his contract ticks down. Madrid, however, should do everything to keep hold of a player that former manager Carlos Ancelotti described as “decisive”.

The same, meanwhile, can be said for midfield star Valverde, who earns a staggering £280,000-a-week at the Bernabeu.