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Three controversial decisions go against hosts after CSA chooses not to pay for review technology

Firdose Moonda17-Dec-2024Heather Knight, England’s captain, says that the decision not to use the Decision Review System (DRS) during their historic women’s Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein was a “sign of the status of the game”, after England wrapped up a 286-run victory on the third afternoon to seal their first win in the format for a decade.The absence of DRS was not the deciding factor in England’s comprehensive victory, as South Africa collapsed to 64 all out in less than 20 overs in their fourth innings. However, the host board’s decision not to spend a minimum of US$48,500 (R880,000) on the technology arguably contributed to the final margin between the teams, with least three contentious umpiring calls all going against South Africa.The most interesting of those came in South Africa’s second innings, when Lauren Bell appealed for a catch off Annerie Dercksen that was taken by Tammy Beaumont at short leg.Dercksen was given not out on-field by umpire Kerrin Klaaste but, after consulting with her colleague, Klaaste called for an umpire review, a procedure that is typically used to determine whether a catch has carried. The ball, however, had carried to Beaumont at chest-height – and while it is possible Klaaste was unsighted and needed to double check – TV umpire Bongale Jele duly gave the decision as out, despite clear doubts that Dercksen had inside-edged the ball onto her pad.”We all thought she hit it and obviously the umpire delayed the decision,” Knight said. “I think the review was around whether it was a bump ball, but it was pretty clear it wasn’t, so I’m not really sure what happened there.”Mandla Mashimbyi, South Africa’s newly installed head coach, was similarly confused at the process that had led to the decision.”There was no communication and I didn’t understand why,” he said. “It was quite bizarre. But the umpires feel they made the right decision and we can’t go against that.”Related

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“We make do with what we have. Our job is to make sure we play good cricket. Those are things we can’t control. Obviously we will be disappointed with certain decisions but we can’t change what has happened. There are people that will be dealing with that, who are outside this room at the moment. If I leave it to myself, it might not be nice.”Klaaste was the umpire for two other contentious decisions, on days one and two. In the first instance, Marizanne Kapp appealed for an lbw against Beaumont , who was on 2 at the time, with the second ball of the match and it was given not out. It looked like a close call but Kapp could not review.Asked on day two if she felt hard done by, Kapp said: “We’re probably disappointed we were on the wrong side of it, but it goes both ways. That’s just the game. It’s never easy for the umpires out there. Even though you get upset when it doesn’t go your way, it’s still a hard job for them to be correct every single time.”The second incident took place on day two when Laura Wolvaardt, on 65, was given out lbw to Sophie Ecclestone. Her reaction, which included throwing her hands up in the air and walking off shaking her head, suggested she thought she’d hit the ball and earned her demerit point for dissent.According to Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s director of national teams and high performance, the absence of DRS for the Test had been agreed upon by the two boards at the planning stage of the tour. However, Knight claimed the first she had known of it was on the eve of the contest, after the system had been in use throughout the six white-ball matches at the start of the tour.”I was pretty shocked when I found out in the umpire’s meeting the day before, that we weren’t going to have it,” she said. “I think it’s a real shame. You come to expect it as a player now, and I guess the reason is always money. But, particularly in Test cricket, where wickets are such a premium, it’s a really important thing to have. It’s probably a sign of the status of this game, maybe, that we didn’t have it, which is a bit frustrating.”In his pre-match explanation, Nkwe added that the white-ball contests had been prioritised because the matches had a bearing on the team’s rankings in T20I cricket and the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC), as well as “the overall CSA strategy for the senior women’s national team”.”It is worth noting that resources are currently being directed at the white-ball formats due to the significance of ODI and T20I cricket in the current women’s international cricket landscape,” he said.Speaking on the second evening, Kapp agreed that she preferred DRS in the shorter formats. “It’s a new thing that we have DRS available,” she said. “I don’t believe we’ve had it available for T20s and ODI cricket. So it’s really helped in the ODI and T20 series. And if I have to be completely honest, I’d probably prefer having it in those two formats.”But whether CSA needed to be penny wise could be debated after they recorded a profit of R815 million (US$45.6 million) for the 2023-24 financial year. The cost of DRS for this Test match amounts to just over 0.1% of that money.

Alexander Isak’s time at St James’ Park appears to be drawing to a tense and acrimonious conclusion.

The Sweden international has refused to reintegrate with Eddie Howe’s squad after Liverpool’s summer approach, making it clear he will not play for the Magpies again.

Newcastle United’s hierarchy, unwilling to be left light in attack, have made it clear no deal will be sanctioned until a replacement is secured.

The club’s search for a new centre-forward is urgent, with the new Premier League season just days away.

Howe’s focus turns to Wolves' Jørgen Strand Larsen

Missing out on Benjamin Šeško to Manchester United was a significant blow, while Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson has been monitored following his own push for an exit from Stamford Bridge.

However, the emphasis is now firmly on another target – one who ticks the stylistic and physical boxes required to replace a forward of Isak’s calibre.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Newcastle have explored the possibility of signing Wolves forward Jørgen Strand Larsen this summer.

Larsen only joined Wolves permanently this summer following a season-long loan from Celta Vigo, in which the club triggered a £23m buy option.

He quickly became a fan favourite, finishing the season with 14 league goals – the highest ever by a Premier League debutant for Wolves, surpassing Raúl Jiménez’s 2018/19 record.

His impact was particularly telling during April, when he scored in three consecutive matches, earning a nomination for Player of the Month.

Standing at 1.93 metres, Larsen is a classic penalty-box presence but with enough technical skill to link play and occupy defenders intelligently.

His market value now sits at £65m according to reports, and Wolves have no appetite to lose him, especially in light of Matheus Cunha’s big-money move to Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Newcastle’s situation with Isak has forced them to probe possibilities that might otherwise have been shut down early.

Wolves’ resolve remains firm, but the Magpies believe Larsen’s profile is worth pursuing, especially before Saturday’s opener against Aston Villa.

How Isak compares to Strand Larsen

Both strikers began their careers in their Scandinavian homelands before taking the next step in the Netherlands — Isak with Willem II and the new target with Groningen — and both have enjoyed spells in Spain prior to their current Premier League stints.

However, it’s not just the biographical similarities that make the tag stick.

Isak

29

23

6

JLarsen

18

14

4

Both finished clinically, but Larsen actually outperformed Isak in shot accuracy, hitting the target with 61.1% of his efforts compared to the Swede’s 43.2%.

Physically, both are imposing forwards, yet stylistically, there is a clear divergence.

Isak is a more complete ball-playing forward, registering 2.71 progressive carries and 2.88 progressive passes per 90, compared to Larsen’s 0.59 and 1.01, respectively.

This reflects Isak’s tendency to drop deep or drift wide, using pace and dribbling to open up defences, whereas Larsen thrives on intelligent positioning and quick, decisive finishing inside the penalty area.

Larsen’s aerial ability and hold-up play resemble that of Chris Wood – another former Newcastle forward – hence why analyst Ben Mattinson has suggested he’s a “proper number 9”.

Crucially, he ranks in the 84th percentile for non-penalty expected goals per shot (0.19), suggesting an ability to get on the end of high-quality chances, and in the 99th percentile for shot-on-target percentage.

From Newcastle’s perspective, this profile offers a different kind of focal point — one who could complement Anthony Elanga’s pace, Yoane Wissa’s potential arrival from Brentford, and the creativity of Jacob Ramsey, who is close to joining in a £40m deal from Aston Villa.

This approach to replacing Isak suggests Howe may be seeking to evolve his side’s attacking blueprint rather than simply slot in a like-for-like clone.

Isak’s combination of dribbling, progressive passing and positional flexibility made him a unique weapon but also left Newcastle vulnerable when he became unavailable.

Larsen’s more orthodox No.9 skill set could allow Newcastle to build a more direct, penalty-box-oriented attack, especially if supply lines from wide areas are strengthened.

Time, however, is against them.

With the Isak situation unresolved and Wolves digging in over Larsen’s availability, Newcastle must decide whether to push aggressively for their chosen man or pivot once again to alternatives like Jackson.

Given the urgency before the Villa clash, the coming days could define not only their start to the season, but also the tone of Howe’s third full campaign in charge.

More important than Ramsey: Newcastle move close to signing £30m forward

Newcastle United prioritise £30m star striker signing as Alexander Isak saga continues

ByWill Miller Aug 14, 2025

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has revealed his first impressions of new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, stating that the youngster "looks really sharp" in the few days he has spent in training since arriving from Royal Antwerp in a move worth £18 million. The left-back also revealed the role he is playing in helping Lammens' adaptation at Old Trafford.

Shaw takes Lammens under his wing

Manchester United left-back Shaw believes it's up to senior players like him to take care of new arrivals in the squad, as the Englishman provided his first impressions on new goalkeeper Lammens. Shaw said that the Belgian "looks really sharp" in training as the young goalkeeper awaits the chance to make his debut for the Red Devils.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALLammens won't be undisputed No.1 at Man Utd

Head coach Ruben Amorim was not at all convinced with the goalkeeping options at his disposal. Andre Onana made mistakes too often to be overlooked, while Altay Bayindir didn't exactly evoke a sense of security in goal. As such, United pushed to sign a new goalkeeper, with Lammens and Aston Villa star Emi Martinez topping their shortlist. Eventually, it was the former the Red Devils captured, paying Royal Antwerp a fee of £18 million (€21m/$24.5m). Onana left for Turkish side Trabzonspor, further strengthening the notion that Lammens would become the new No.1 at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old is yet to make his debut for United, with Amorim confirming that Bayindir will start in goal for Sunday's Manchester derby, as Lammens continues to adapt to a "different ball."

Shaw heaps praise on Lammens

"Really good. I think us, as players, it's really important to help any new players settle in," Shaw told of his first impressions of Lammens."He's been really good, he's trained for a couple of days. Looks really sharp. I've been really impressed with him. So, you know, that's good. It's always good, like I said, to have new additions, and I'm really looking forward to playing with him."

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AFPWhen could Lammens make his debut?

With Amorim confirming that Bayindir will start against City, Lammens will have to wait until next Saturday to find out whether he will be making his debut for his new employers. United will welcome Chelsea at Old Trafford in their next game.

The first day was washed out in Canberra

Alagappan Muthu30-Nov-2024The first day of the two-day pink ball game between India and the Prime Minister’s XI was washed out due to persistent rain.Chances of play were remote with a steady drizzle bedding in from almost 10am right through to about 5.30pm during which time the covers stayed firmly on. The Indian team did come over to the ground but there wasn’t much reason for them to stick around.The rain did stop, briefly, late in the day, and there was a flurry of activity, with the covers being peeled off and members of both teams’ support staff being briefed by the two umpires. But when the groundstaff restored the covers, packed up and left at 6.30pm, it was clear that there would be no cricket. Much heavier rain came through at 7pm.The game is expected to resume as a 50-over affair starting from 2.40pm on Sunday. Tickets for Saturday’s play will be refunded.The day-night match was going to be India’s only chance of getting any game time with the pink ball under lights, especially or India captain Rohit Sharma who joined the squad after missing the first Test in Perth, which India won by 295 runs. Sunday could also be the return for Shubman Gill, who missed the first game because of a thumb injury and had returned to the nets in Canberra on Friday.The second Test is a day-night game from December 6 in Adelaide, where India were bowled out for 36 in their last outing there.

Lucas Bergvall announced himself in dazzling fashion as Tottenham Hotspur crushed West Ham 3-0 in a fiery London derby. The Swedish prodigy, just 19 years and 223 days old, became the second-youngest Spurs player ever to both score and assist in a single Premier League match. Only Nick Barmby (18 years, 321 days), who achieved the feat back in 1992, stands ahead of him in the record books.

Spurs pile misery on shambolic Hammers

From the very first whistle, West Ham looked rattled. Tottenham’s press suffocated the hosts and, when Mohammed Kudus’ corner was nodded home by Cristian Romero in the 19th minute, it looked like the breakthrough had come. But referee Jarred Gillett pulled it back for a foul by Micky van de Ven on Kyle Walker-Peters. Spurs didn’t sulk; they turned the screw.

AdvertisementBergvall’s magic moment stuns London Stadium

Just minutes before the hour mark, Romero lofted a searching pass into the box, and Bergvall rose majestically, guiding a looping header into the far corner. The finish oozed composure, and Spurs players mobbed him while the away fans roared; a new star had truly arrived.

Assist adds shine to historic night

If the goal showcased Bergvall’s instinct, his assist underlined his intelligence. Driving into the box with fearless intent, the youngster laid it on a plate for Van de Ven, who swept the ball home in the 64th minute. That strike killed off any faint hopes of a West Ham revival. For Bergvall, it was a moment of history; the stats confirming his place among Spurs’ youngest-ever difference-makers.

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AFPChampions League test next for Bergvall

For Spurs boss Thomas Frank, it was the kind of dominant performance he has been demanding after a shock loss to Bournemouth before the international break. His midfield was disciplined, his forwards ruthless, and his teenage sensation, Bergvall, delivered a game to remember. With Champions League duties looming against Villarreal on Tuesday night, the timing couldn’t be better.

Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze has both Arsenal and Tottenham hot on his heels during the final three weeks of this summer window, with the England international holding a preferred destination between the pair.

Eze was, by some distance, Oliver Glasner’s standout attacking force last campaign, racking up 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, and Palace still face the very real threat of losing their talismanic number 10 before the transfer deadline on September 1.

The 27-year-old’s £68 million release clause (including bonuses) was thought to expire on August 1, but new information from the last few days has now revealed that the clause actually remains active until this Friday.

Arsenal were also once the main contenders to sign Eze, with some reports even suggesting they’ve reached an agreement on financial terms, but it appears sporting director Andrea Berta won’t have a free run after all.

The Gunners have been in constant dialogue with Eze’s representatives since early July, but they’ve stalled on making a formal bid for him thus far – allowing north London rivals Tottenham a chance to swoop in and open talks with Palace (Fabrizio Romano).

Spurs were after Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White as their top attacking target, but despite booking a medical for the 25-year-old and being ready to trigger his £60m release clause this time last month, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side blocked the move, threatened legal action and convinced him to sign a new deal.

This has prompted them to turn to Eze, with Arsenal and Spurs now poised to battle for the former QPR star’s services.

Eze averaged more shots at goal, key passes and successful take-ons per 90 than any other Palace player last season, and given Liverpool are now closing in on a deal for Marc Guehi, the Eagles would be severely weakened if they lose their star creator too.

The presence of his active release clause theoretically means one of Arsenal or Tottenham could swoop in to trigger it at any moment, and this remains a possibility over the next three days until it expires.

Eberechi Eze's "first preference" between Arsenal and Tottenham

If both clubs are prepared to pay £68 million, the result of this transfer race could come down to who Eze would rather join.

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Eze does have a “first preference” between Arsenal and Tottenham.

The reliable journalist has revealed that the club he’d rather join is Arsenal, but that isn’t to completely discount Thomas Frank’s side, as Eze remains open to potentially signing for them as well.

Given Mikel Arteta currently has captain Martin Odegaard and newly tied-down youngster Ethan Nwaneri at his disposal for the number 10 role, Spurs are arguably in more desperate need of Eze.

Frank missed out on Gibbs-White and James Maddison has just succumbed to an ACL rupture which will rule him out for most of the season, so Arsenal could compound real misery on their rivals by beating them to Eze’s signature.

Heung-Min Son is loving life in the United States after bidding farewell to Tottenham, with the South Korean superstar netting his first MLS hat-trick for LAFC. After 10 years in north London, the 33-year-old forward now finds himself in California. He has made an immediate impact there, with another match ball being added to his collection against Real Salt Lake.

Severed ties with Spurs after trophy triumph

Son walked away from Spurs after a decade of loyal service. He signed off on a high, having captained the Premier League outfit to Europa League glory in 2024-25. Said success brought a 17-year wait for major silverware to a close.

AdvertisementSon net his first hat-trick for LAFCChasing American dream alongside Messi

A new challenge is now being embraced, with Son deciding – like Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi before him – to go chasing the American dream. He finds himself in Los Angeles, with his arrival there causing quite a stir.

While Son remains a marketing dream, he does have to deliver on the field. He has been doing just that, with a first hat-trick of his stint in the States being recorded in a 4-1 win over RSL. Two clinical finishes were produced, before sliding in his third after being teed up by Denis Bouanga.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyMLS warned: Son says he can get better

Son believes that he can get even better, telling reporters: “I think I'm still adapting [to] this league, but I think I still can play better than where I am at for sure. I think it's a lot of communication with the players, and I think I have a very, very close relationship with everyone.

“It's been five weeks, six weeks, I would say, but everybody just welcomed me so well and been communicating a lot of things. Also off the pitch, I think it's very important culture-wise. There's still other things in this league and then still understanding players each other more, but I think it quite works really well at the moment.”

After agreeing a deal to sign Douglas Luiz, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly joined the race with Borussia Dortmund to sign a young Chelsea talent.

Nottingham Forest agree deal to sign Douglas Luiz

It’s been a hectic week or so at the City Ground. James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Omari Hutchinson have all arrived, whilst Luiz is now reportedly on his way from Juventus. According to Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest have now agreed a deal worth €30m (£26m) to sign the Brazilian midfielder, who is planning to travel to the Midlands as soon as possible to complete his move.

Evangelos Mariniakis has acted swiftly and ruthlessly in the transfer market ever since Nuno Espirito Santo aired complaints that his squad were not ready for the Premier League campaign.

The Nottingham Forest boss told reporters before the Greek owner returned to the market: “Dealing with doubts is the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts.

“Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.”

With three signings sealed and another on his way since those complaints, Espirito Santo’s concerns have well and truly been put to rest. But Marinakus is not done. Reports are now emerging that he’s set his sights on signing a Chelsea gem this month.

Nottingham Forest join Chukwuemeka race

According to The Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea this summer. The midfielder has already been the subject of an offer from Borussia Dortmund, only for Chelsea to reject the German club’s proposal to leave the door ajar for Forest to make their move.

More exciting than McAtee: Nottingham Forest in talks to sign £30m star

Nottingham Forest could secure a signing that’s even more exciting than James McAtee.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 18, 2025

After spending last year on loan at Dortmund, the Bundesliga giants are keen to welcome Chukwuemeka back for another year. Chelsea, however, are only willing to entertain permanent offers.

Earning praise from scout Jacek Kulig for a “fantastic” Dortmund debut, Chukwuemeka is certainly capable of playing at the top level when given the opportunity. Whether Forest hand him that opportunity and meet Chelsea’s demands remains to be seen, however.

The arrival of Luiz should solve any immediate midfield problems, but the 21-year-old may well represent a young talent that Forest chiefs believe can eventually step into Espirito Santo’s side as a long-term option.

Galle plays host to the first Test of the series which brings spin bowling to the fore again

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jan-20251:34

Smith on captaincy: I understand what’s needed at certain times in subcontinent

Big Picture: The Warne-Muralidaran trophy is backAustralia’s Test series in Sri Lanka often seem to have a touch of the dramatic about them. Last time Australia were in Galle, Sri Lanka saw the greatest mass protests in the country’s history, while the teams battled out a 1-1 series. In 2016, Australia had nosedived spectacularly against spin, Rangana Herath gobbling up their top order en masse.Over the years there have been series-ending fielding collisions, such as in 1999 in Kandy when Jason Gillespie broke a leg and Steve Waugh broke a nose, Shane Warne triggering one of Sri Lanka’s most painful 90s collapses to clinch victory in a game Australia were losing, and Sri Lanka producing one of their most infamously dry surfaces in Galle in 2011. Where Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, these teams tend to be more evenly matched in Sri Lanka.Related

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Head to replace Konstas as opener against Sri Lanka

And so it shapes up again. Australia are coming off their big Border-Gavaskar Trophy win, of course. Through their 3-1 win in that series, they also booked their World Test Championship final spot. They are missing regular captain Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave, but have a seasoned leader in Steven Smith.Sri Lanka had had a decent Test year in 2024, until the disappointing series in South Africa to finish it off. But they will feel as if their Test team is building to something – maybe mounting a more serious campaign in the next WTC cycle, in which they appear to have a relatively easy schedule.It will likely come down to spin in Galle. This surface doesn’t appear to be the dryest one the ground has turned out, and may stay together a little longer than usual, owing to January’s cooler weather. But it is likely to take substantial turn from day three onwards. Expect plenty of sweeping and reverse-sweeping, and catchers around the bat as the match wears on.Form guideSri Lanka: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWDLCaptain Steven Smith, senior spinner Nathan Lyon and selector Tony Dodemaide take a look at the pitch•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Nathan Lyon and Prabath JayasuriyaA track that tends to start off dry, a sea breeze that helps sap what little moisture there is in the pitch, footmarks to bowl into from as early as day two sometimes – Galle is basically spin-bowling paradise. As such, how well your lead spinner goes in a Galle Test goes a long way to deciding the outcome.It is a track Nathan Lyon will know well. Not only did he get a five-wicket haul on debut here in 2011, he also took a match-winning 9 for 121 from the first game in 2022, when Australia last visited. He has 21 wickets from seven innings at this venue, with an average of 27.61. Expect this group of Sri Lanka’s batters to attempt to attack Lyon, particularly in the first innings. Sri Lanka’s easiest path to upsetting Australia’s bowling plan is to unsettle Lyon.Prabath Jayasuriya had also made his debut in Galle, and he has dominated as few spinners ever have at this venue. He’s got 71 wickets at an average of 21.78 at this venue, and the key to much of that success has been his devastating straight ball, as well as his control. With Sri Lanka’s remaining frontline spin options lacking in experience, the hosts will look to Jayasuriya to define the back half of these Tests.Pitch and conditions: Some rain aroundThere’s a little unseasonal rain around in Galle, but rare is the Galle Test that even goes into the last couple of sessions, even if there are interruptions along the way. Dhananjaya de Silva said he expected the surface to be decent for batting to begin with. Temperatures are forecast to hover around 30 degrees celsius.Prabath Jayasuriya has an incredible record at Galle•APTeam news: Who will be SL’s opener?Australia have confirmed that Travis Head will open the innings, displacing Sam Konstas from that position. They are pondering their attack though, and could go in with as many as three spinners – Todd Murphy potentially joining Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann. They will likely have Josh Inglis and Beau Webster – who bowls spin as well as seam – in the lower middle order.Australia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt.), 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mathew Kuhnemann, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland/ Todd MurphySri Lanka have a decision to make around their attack as well – whether their second seamer will be Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara. They also have to replace the injured Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. Oshada Fernando is his likeliest replacement.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Oshada Fernando, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Nishan Peiris, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara/Vishwa FernandoStats and trivia: Smith 10,000 watch Steve Smith is one run away from completing 10,000 in Test cricket. He’d be the fourth Australia batter to the milestone, after Alan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting. Prabath Jayasuriya took 12 wickets for 177 in the one Test he’d played against Australia – on debut in Galle. All up, Australia have won three of the six Tests they’ve played in Galle, losing two and drawing one.

Tottenham Hotspur are very much active as the summer transfer window winds down. Clubs all over Europe are scrambling to wrap up a variety of deals, and Thomas Frank’s side are eager to add some creative quality to their side.

For James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are sidelined, the former for most of the campaign and Kulusevski for an indeterminate period, sidelined for several months already.

Xavi Simons has been signed from RB Leipzig to temper such blows, but more might be needed, hence why they’ve agreed a deal to bring Randal Kolo-Muani to north London.

However, Frank isn’t only limited to the number ten position or forward areas, actually keen on signing a ball-playing defender before the end of the day too.

Spurs open talks for new signing

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are interested in signing Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard before the looming closure of the transfer window, having opened talks with the Serie A giants.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The 29-year-old also has attracted attention from Manchester United and Marseille, but Spurs have the most advanced interest at this stage, having made initial contact already.

The France international is understood to be open to moving to the Premier League by the end of the day, and Inter would consider cashing in, should their €20m (£17m) price tag be met.

Why Spurs want Pavard

Pavard is an accomplished defender with a wide range of qualities that allow him to play both in central defence and out wide, at right-back.

He would add depth and dynamism to Frank’s outfit, and given that he ranks among the top 18% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 16% for through balls per 90, would add much fluency to Tottenham’s build-up play.

Once hailed by then Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel for his “underrated” qualities within teams challenging at the top, Pavard could certainly prove to be Tottenham’s best deadline-day deal since landing Kulusevski from Juventus in January 2022, especially when considering Levy would be keeping the Serie A connection alive with this one too.

Kulusevski has been a wonderful player for Tottenham, immense in Ange Postecoglou’s system last year despite the issues the club were beset with.

Pavard might be at a different stage of his career, but there’s no question that he would solidify Tottenham’s backline while adding some creative impetus to the ranks too.

Matches (starts)

32 (27)

Goals

7

Assists

4

Touches*

44.5

Accurate passes*

20.0 (81%)

Big chances created

9

Key passes*

2.1

Dribbles*

1.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

Duels won*

4.1

It would be a fallacy to believe that Tottenham’s playmaking potential would be unlocked solely through the signing of attacking midfielders.

It’s a team sport, after all, and players such as Pavard would feed through the lines while protecting the goalmouth too.

Kulusevski has proved a bona fide success in London, and the same could be true for an experienced star like Pavard.

More exciting than Simons: Spurs chasing "one of the best LWs in the world"

Spurs could seal a more exciting signing than Simons on transfer deadline day.

5 ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025