India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has given a ringing endorsement of the country’s domestic system, more specifically the 20-overs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, saying it is “almost on par” with the IPL and international cricket.”The level of cricket in the domestic [circuit] is extremely high,” Varun said on the eve of the second T20I against England in Chennai. “I would say [it is] almost on par with IPL and the other international matches we play. I would really suggest everyone to go and play the Syed Mushtaq Ali because we play on small grounds. It is very challenging [for bowlers].”Related

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Varun himself has benefitted from regular game-time in domestic white-ball cricket over the past two seasons. In the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2023-24, his first List A tournament in five years, Varun came away as the joint-highest wicket-taker, with 19 strikes at an average of 13.05. In the most recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker, with 18 strikes in six innings at 12.16. In this season’s 20-overs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was put under pressure on the easy-paced, bash-through-the-line pitches on a small ground in Indore. For instance, in Tamil Nadu’s opening game of the tournament, he was taken for 49 runs by Tripura in four overs.”I find it very tough playing SMAT,” Varun said. “It has definitely helped me to get better, be more instinctive, be on my toes, and think correctly at the right moment.”Over the past two years, Varun has also been active in other T20 tournaments like the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and the DY Patil tournament in Mumbai.Varun Chakravarthy took a match-winning three-wicket haul in the first T20I in Kolkata•BCCI

On Friday, he returned to Chepauk, the scene of his emergence as an international player. His family and friends will turn up at the venue on Saturday to watch him in action in his first international at home. Even before he had featured in TNPL 2018, which first put him on the T20 map, Varun bowled at the Chepauk nets to the Chennai Super Kings batters. It was his first professional stint in top-flight cricket after he had transformed himself from a medium-pacer in tennis-ball cricket to a mystery spinner. Having worked as an architect and made a cameo appearance in a Tamil movie back in 2014, Varun is eager to reintroduce himself as an international cricketer at his home ground.”Definitely [special],” Varun said of his homecoming. “Back to Chennai and in the blues is very important for me. I see it as a very important day for me. I’m coming back to Chennai after a long time. Playing for the country in front of my parents and the home crowd. Yeah, it is very special for me.”At his press conference, Varun was also asked about stepping into the shoes of the recently retired R Ashwin, his former India team-mate and current captain at Dindigul Dragons, under whom he won TNPL 2024.”It’s a big deal for me that you’re making this comparison,” Varun said. “Ashwin has played all three formats. I’m only just coming back into the team, and I’ve not yet done enough to merit this comparison. But still, everyone wants to get into the Indian team, and I’ve been doing my processes, and I’ll go wherever that takes me. I can’t think about filling the shoes of someone like Ashwin – he’s played so many matches, taken 500 [Test] wickets, big shoes to fill, I’m not even close yet.”R Ashwin, Varun’s captain at Dindigul Dragons, has encouraged him to bat up the order•TNPL/TNCA

During TNPL 2024, Ashwin had encouraged Varun to bat up the order and, in one of the games, he even batted above at Ashwin at No.7. Varun said he has also been working on his batting with Abhishek Nayar, the former assistant coach at Kolkata Knight Riders who is now with the India team in a similar capacity.”I have been working on batting for the last six-seven months,” Varun said. “I started my preparation in KKR only with Abhishek Nayar. That kind of helped me. There is still a lot of work to do.”In the first T20I against England, Varun took 3 for 23, including the big wickets of Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone in the same over. With England’s Bazballers gearing up for a backlash, Varun might have to do more work with the ball on a fresh Chepauk pitch, where the ball is expected to slide onto the bat, and he’s prepared for it.”Even when you see Eden [Gardens], it’s a small ground,” Varun said. “Bowlers have the challenge of bowling [with smaller boundaries]. We do plan for that also. If they [England] are looking to have an aggressive approach, that is how T20 is. I cannot complain or be shocked by their approach. I am expecting that. I also have certain plans for that.”

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly “interested” in signing a Manchester City youngster who has now made his next major career decision.

Rangers announce Meghoma arrival

It’s already been an incredibly busy summer at Ibrox. With just under two weeks remaining until the transfer window slams shut, Russell Martin has welcomed as many as 11 fresh faces as he looks to transform a Rangers side in desperate need of a turnaround.

Jayden Meghoma became the latest to arrive earlier this week when he put pen to paper on a season-long loan move from Premier League side Brentford. His arrival follows a trend of talent from English football deciding to join up with Martin in Scotland this summer.

After putting pen to paper, the 19-year-old left-back told Rangers’ official website: “I am very excited to be here, it is a fantastic club, and I know a lot about the rich history of Rangers.

“When the deal was presented to me, I thought straight away that it would be a fantastic opportunity for myself and my family. The main thing for me is getting results. Rangers is a big club, and I am ready, I am hungry and excited to get going.”

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Rangers are reportedly set to hold talks with a European club over a potential deal for one of their players.

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Likely to replace Jefte if he decides to depart amid reports that the Brazilian has reached an agreement to join Palmeiras, Meghoma should have no concerns about game time at Ibrox.

At a time when Martin is still trying to get the best out of his side too, the teenager has the ultimate opportunity to work his way into the Gers’ strongest team.

He’s not the only Premier League youngster who found himself on Rangers’ radar this summer, though. Reports are now suggesting that Rangers are “interested” in signing a Manchester City gem.

Rangers "interested" in Callum Doyle

According to The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell, Rangers are “interested” in signing Callum Doyle, but the Manchester City youngster has already decided to join Wrexham over the Scottish giants. The decision to join the Championship side in a deal worth as much as £8m has come down to location rather than current form or stage of either project.

At 21 years old, Doyle would have represented an impressive coup for Rangers. The young centre-back is full of potential and earned plenty of praise during his last loan spell away from the Etihad at Norwich City.

The youngster’s then-defensive partner Shane Duffy told reporters last season: “He’s got the world at his feet. He’s such a good player,” Duffy said. “Firstly, I think he’s just a great guy, he’s a great guy and he just wants to learn.

“It’s not like I haven’t enjoyed playing with Jose [Cordoba] or Grant [Hanley], but me and Callum have got this understanding. Callum probably understands English football a little bit more than Jose – he’s still adapting and has a massive future. I’m sure he will be playing soon.”

As things stand, however, Rangers are set to miss out on the young defender and must turn their attention to other options before the window slams shut.

MatériaMais Notícias

Se até a última semana o São Paulo tratava Marinho como um ‘plano A’, nesta segunda-feira (12) a situação já é diferente. Agora, o objetivo do atleta é permanecer no Flamengo – pelo menos até o final do ano.

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Segundo o LANCE! adiantou, a advogada de Marinho, Mariju Maciel, assegurou que Marinho permanece no Rubro-Negro até o final deste ano. Entretanto, o próprio presidente Julio Casares havia tratado o atleta como uma das principais opções para reforçar seu plantel.

– Não vou fixar um dia, segunda ou terça, mas é claro que esperamos o mais rápido possível uma posição do Marinho, que nos interessa, mas sem afetar a relação ética entre os clubes, e também deixando que ele preserve sua questão interna, de direitos, acredito que essa medida judicial foi nessa linha. O São Paulo aguarda uma definição, ele é um plano A nosso, mas podemos caminhar para outro plano em caso de não concretização. É um bom jogador, esperamos que ele tenha essa tranquilidade (para resolver a situação) – disse Casares em entrevista à ESPN.

ATUAÇÕES: “vilão”, Arboleda entrega dois gols e recebe pior nota do São Paulo em derrota para o Palmeiras

A diretoria tricolor esperava uma resposta ‘o mais rápido possível’. E qual o motivo? O São Paulo carece de um atacante de velocidade. Antes, quem exercia tal função na equipe era Pedrinho, que chegou no início desta temporada, mas teve seu contrato rescindido após receber denúncias de violência doméstica da ex-namorada.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

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+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Inclusive, na época que o São Paulo começou a demonstrar interesse pelo atleta, Marinho era tratado como um reforço que chegaria como ‘titular absoluto’. Marinho seria um interesse do clube do Morumbi desde o comando de Rogério Ceni e teria esquentado ainda mais com a chegada de Dorival Júnior, que já trabalhou com o atacante.

Mas com a declaração da advogada do atleta, o ‘plano A’ ficou prejudicado. Ainda sem esta informação, a cúpula tricolor já estava com ‘um pé atrás’ desde a decisão do jogador de 33 anos de entrar na Justiça pedindo a reintegração aos treinos do Rubro-Negro.

Marinho foi afastado do elenco flamenguista por ter se recusado a viajar com a equipe carioca para o Chile, no duelo contra o Ñublense, pela Copa Libertadores. O atacante justificou que tinha dores musculares e por isso não seguiu a norma. Mas até a última sexta-feira (10), estava de malas prontas para se transferir. Agora, a situação teve mais uma reviravolta.

E quanto a outros reforços?

Embora Dorival Júnior não tenha falado abertamente sobre a suposta vinda de outros jogadores, na última coletiva de imprensa – após a derrota no clássico contra o Palmeiras -, afirmou que ‘não fazia questão que alguém chegasse’, mas que só queria que um pedido fosse atendido pela diretoria: que nenhum jogador do elenco atual fosse vendido na próxima janela. O treinador pretende ter um ‘elenco definido’ e destacou ainda que não almeja perder jogadores no meio das competições.

– Eu torço que uma coisa aconteça: que o São Paulo não venda jogadores. Não faço questão que chegue, mas faço questão que não saiam jogadores. Isso é um ponto que eu gostaria que fosse respeitado. Pelo menos isso gostaria de ter, para poder dar um padrão para equipe e para isso preciso de um elenco definido. Não posso ficar perdendo jogadores no meio de competições. Seria terrível para uma equipe que está buscando uma estruturação – afirmou.

Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in great form in Test cricket. But in ODIs, a format India haven’t played a lot of over the past year, he remains one of the best in the business. A seven-ball 2 in the first ODI against England might have raised fears ahead of the Champions Trophy, but the 90-ball 119 in the second on Sunday in Cuttack should soothe some nerves. He might not say it in so many words, but Rohit did admit after the game that he “really enjoyed being out there, scoring some runs for the team.” Not something he has done a lot of late.”I really broke it down into pieces about how I wanted to bat,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation after collecting his Player-of-the-Match award. “It’s a 50-over format, a little longer than T20 format and a little shorter than Test cricket obviously – a lot shorter than Test cricket – but obviously you still need to break it down and assess what you need to do at regular intervals and that is what I kept doing. It was important for a batter who gets set, needs to bat as deep as possible and that was my focus.”Rohit’s lack of runs in international cricket has been talked about a lot. In the last 12 months, he averages 23.70 in Test cricket, and that comes down to 10.93 since September 2024. On Sunday, though, he was in his element, playing the sort of innings that has made him a giant in the format.Related

• India seal series as Rohit roars back into form with 32nd ODI ton

“Looking at the pitch, when you play on black soil, [the ball] tends to skid on a bit, so it’s important that you show the full face of the bat when you’re batting initially,” he said about his approach. “Once I got into my innings, I understood what they were trying to do: bowling into our body and trying to not give any room, keeping it on the stumps.”And that’s where I prepared my plan as well, what I wanted to do with those kind of deliveries, trying to access the gaps which were there. It’s about understanding what you want to do as a batter and… obviously got very good support from [Shubman] Gill to start with and then Shreyas [Iyer] as well.”With Gill, his opening partner, Rohit added 136 in just under 17 overs, eating into a large chunk of India’s 305-run target, which they eventually got to in the 45th over to win the three-game series with a match in hand.Gill, who Rohit called “a very, very classy player” who “doesn’t seem to get overawed” by the situation, was effusive in his praise for his captain.”He makes things much easier than what it is,” Gill, who scored 60 in 52 balls – his second half-century in the series – said. “The way that he took on the bowlers… we have seen that over the past couple of years, how he’s been batting in the ODIs, and the way he dominated the fast bowlers today was just a treat to watch from the non-striker’s end.”It’s good portents for India ahead of the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19. Their captain, who has been struggling for runs in Tests – he has retired from T20Is – is as good as he always was in ODIs. That’s one piece of the jigsaw that’s firmly in place.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was confirmed as the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner earlier this week and final voting figures revealed he finished more than 300 points clear of Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. The Frenchman's stellar campaign, which included a historic quadruple, made him only PSG's second ever recipient of the prestigious prize.

• 2025 Ballon d'Or voting points confirmed

  Final voting numbers released on Friday, four days after the ceremony itslef, confirmed that Dembele finished top with 1,380 points, ahead of Yamal on 1,059 – the only two playes to break through the 1,000-point barrier. Vitinha (703), Mohamed Salah (657) and Raphinha (620) rounded out the top five.

Advertisement

• Paris Saint-Germain dominate the rankings

  The top 10 also included Achraf Hakimi (484), Kylian Mbappe (378), Cole Palmer (211), Gianluigi Donnarumma (172) and Nuno Mendes (171). Liverpool star Salah was recognised again after another prolific year, while Palmer earned a surprise eighth place after shining for Chelsea. The top 10 included five Paris Saint-Germain stars overall, highlighting Les Parisiens' massive season.

• Getty Images
  

  Dembele's fantastic 2024/25 season

  Dembele's triumph caps off a campaign in which PSG finally lifted their first Champions League trophy. The reinvented Frenchman scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions as Luis Enrique's side swept to four titles. For Yamal, finishing second at just 18-years-old underlined his growing status as the future of Barcelona and Spain, while he remarkably still has three more chances to break Ronaldo Nazario's record as the youngest ever winner. It's already impossible to imagine him winning at least one Ballon d'Or during his career.

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• Dembele and Yamal could face off next week

  Dembele will now look to build on his Ballon d'Or triumph by sustaining PSG's momentum into 2025-26. Yamal, meanwhile, will be determined to go one better after already proving he belongs among the world’s elite. The two former colleagues could go head-to-head next week when PSG take on Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium, with Yamal declaring himself fit after injury.

Crystal Palace are in the market for late signings and are now in surprise talks over a deal to bring a rival star to Selhurst Park, according to reports.

Crystal Palace set to welcome Christantus Uche

The Eagles have been involved in some high-stakes negotiations today and they could be set to welcome a number of arrivals before the close of play.

Eberechi Eze is gone and Crystal Palace may now have found his replacement in the form of Christantus Uche, who will arrive from Getafe after Wolverhampton Wanderers saw their move break down for the Nigeria international.

Bobby Manzi confirmed the latest on his situation this morning via X, stating: “Christantus Uche closing in on a move to Crystal Palace. Versatile forward capable of playing as a striker, left-sided attacker and advanced midfielder. Boosts forward ranks with Odsonne Edouard set to leave. Uche has started all three games for Getafe this season, picking up a goal and an assist.”

Putting that aside, Crystal Palace are set to complete a shock loan move for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Igor Julio in the form of a straight loan, in a surprise development given both sides are fierce rivals.

That may be a pivotal step in Marc Guehi’s situation, which is subject to change at any moment, but it appears that Oliver Glasner wants backline cover regardless of circumstance.

Time is running out and supporters are waiting on baited breath for announcements, which could help to shape the campaign Crystal Palace can have moving forward after their FA Community Shield victory.

Managers are always hungry for more options to fit their tactical mode of operation, and Glasner appears to have made a late play to bring a winger to Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace in talks over loan move for Manor Solomon

According to Mailsport, Crystal Palace are in discussions over a loan swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon that could include a buy option.

Speaking about the deal, reporter Matt Barlow stated: “Crystal Palace are among those interested in Manor Solomon. They had an approach flatly rejected over the weekend.

Related Crystal Palace make late approach to sign 19-cap defender alongside Canvot

The Eagles are ready to try and land his signature.

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“Maybe Daniel Levy was not keen to deal with Palace after the embarrassment he suffered when the Eberechi Eze deal was hijacked by rivals Arsenal. And Thomas Frank does not want to lose firepower unless it can be replaced. But Palace have returned today and there are discussions about a possible loan with an option.”

Labelled “brilliant” by Adam Pope, the former Fulham man was a smash-hit on loan at Leeds United last term, registering ten goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions as they claimed promotion.

Nevertheless, there may be a late opening for him to leave North London, and a move across the city could be on the cards if all parties can come to an agreement before this evening’s cut-off point.

Jose Mourinho reportedly wanted 'to attend Chelsea games' before his Benfica appointment last week, but the Blues have no plans to offer a homecoming welcome to 'Judas' for their Champions League tie next week. Fresh from his abrupt sacking at Fenerbahce after failing to secure Europe’s top table through qualification, the 61-year-old is once again prowling touchlines where he believes he belongs.

A Chelsea return no one planned for

According to if Mourinho wasn't walking out to the away dugout at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday, he might have been sat in the stands. Despite years of animosity since leaving Chelsea, his Belgravia home in west London remains his family’s base, and insiders reveal he had plans to attend games this season as a spectator.

AdvertisementAFPNo special plans for the 'Special One'

But Chelsea have no intention of rolling out any red carpet when his new Benfica side come to town. There will be no grand gestures, no official tributes, and certainly no welcome party for a man who split opinion as fiercely as he won trophies.

No love lost with Stamford Bridge faithful

Mourinho has returned to the Bridge before, with Manchester United and Tottenham, and those visits left scars. The infamous 2017 clash as Red Devils boss saw a section of younger Chelsea fans chanting 'Judas' at the man who delivered them three Premier League titles. Never one to back down, Mourinho reminded them with three raised fingers how many league crowns he alone had secured for the club.

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AFPAnother fiery night under the lights?

Mourinho and his new Benfica side will head to Chelsea for their Champions League encounter next Tuesday, marking the 'Special One's first return to Stamford Bridge since 2020 when he was manager of Spurs.

India batter suffered a knee injury on the eve of the match

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2025

Virat Kohli was at the venue but not fit to play the first game•BCCI

Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the first ODI against England in Nagpur due to a knee injury he suffered on the eve of the game. He was replaced in India’s XI by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was making his ODI debut along with bowling-allrounder Harshit Rana.India captain Rohit Sharma said at the toss that Kohli had injured his right knee on Wednesday night.Jaiswal was slotted to open with Rohit on the BCCI’s team sheet with vice-captain Shubman Gill, who would have opened if Kohli was fit, listed at No. 4, though it remains to be seen if that order remains. India lost the toss and were bowling first in Nagpur.The three matches against England are India’s last ODIs before the Champions Trophy begins on February 19. They haven’t played ODI cricket since August last year, when they lost a three-match bilateral series 2-0 in Sri Lanka, with one match tied.Kohli’s form has been under scrutiny in recent months, and after a poor tour of Australia where all of his dismissals were edges to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon, he spent a week working with former India and RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar. He then played one Ranji Trophy match for Delhi – his first appearance in the competition since 2012 – where he was bowled for 6 against Railways.ODI cricket, however, is Kohli’s strongest format, and he is 94 runs away from becoming only the third batter to reach 14,000 runs in the format. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have got there before, but Kohli is certain to become the fastest to the milestone.

The left-arm spinner has been ruled out of Tasmania’s clash against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield

AAP17-Feb-2025Matthew Kuhnemann will proceed with imminent tests on his bowling action, despite a thumb injury ruling him out of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.One week after being cited by ICC officials for having a suspect action, Kuhnemann was expected to return to cricket for Tasmania in Adelaide on Tuesday. But those plans have since been scuppered, with the spinner not medically cleared to play for Tasmania after the dislocated thumb he suffered in the BBL.AAP understands Kuhnemann has not suffered a fresh injury, and the decision is a precautionary one after he played through the issue in Galle.Despite sitting out the Adelaide match, Kuhnemann will be required to complete ICC testing in the next fortnight because the injury is not on his bowling (left) hand. Officials have remained tight-lipped on the details surrounding Kuhnemann’s test for the sake of his privacy, but it is expected to go ahead in the next fortnight.Related

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The biomechanical testing will also be able to be completed at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, despite the ICC preferring players head overseas for assessment.Kuhnemann will complete the tests under the watchful eye of ICC body experts, with markers on his arm and several cameras filming. He will need to bowl at a similar speed and with similar ball revolutions to what he did in Sri Lanka, where he took 16 wickets at an average of 17.18.The ICC will then take a matter of weeks to determine if Kuhnemann’s action is legal, or if his arm straightens by more than the allowable 15 degrees. The 28-year-old is believed to be in reasonably good spirits, with questions still circling about the timing of him being reported after eight years in professional cricket.”All we can do as a group is throw our support behind him,” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said. “He has obviously had a fantastic couple of weeks away with the Aussie side, and was a big factor in them wining that series over there.”It’s come as a shock to a lot of people, but all we can do as an organisation is wrap our arms around him and look forward to having him back around the group.”Silk echoed the words of stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith, believing Kuhnemann would be cleared by the tests.ICC rules allow bowlers to play domestic cricket while under the microscope, but ban them from international matches. If Kuhnemann is cleared he will be able to continue bowling, but if he fails the test he will be banned until he can prove he has changed his action to meet guidelines.”He’s still a quality bowler for us and someone we expect to have an impact later in the year,” Silk said. “We’re really confident that process will go smoothly and we can welcome him back to our change-rooms and have him be a big part of our season.”A win for Tasmania against table-topping South Australia would keep them in the race for a spot in the Shield final, with one win separating second and sixth on the ladder.Beyond this summer, Kuhnemann would be a strong chance to be in Australia’s squad for the tour of West Indies in June, if his action is cleared.

Tottenham’s transfer business for 2025 has officially concluded following one of the most dramatic and memorable summer windows on-lookers have ever seen, with Spurs enjoying a solid one themselves.

Despite their failure to bring in a natural left-winger and centre-back for manager Thomas Frank, which were two key items on their to-do list (Sky Sports), a recruitment team stocked with Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and unofficial advisor Fabio Paratici did work some magic.

Mohammed Kudus

£55 million

Kota Takai

£5 million

Mathys Tel

£30 million

Joao Palhinha

Loan

Kevin Danso

£21 million

Xavi Simons

£52 million

Randal Kolo Muani

Loan

Following their infamously botched deals for Morgan Gibbs-White -who reportedly phoned Frank to apologise for his U-turn over joining Spurs – and Eberechi Eze, Spurs finally managed to get a replacement for the injured James Maddison by signing Xavi Simons in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig.

It was all happening in N17 during the final days, with an ankle injury to striker Dominic Solanke also partly forcing Frank’s side into a late temporary deal for long-time target Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham were actively pursuing the PSG-owned forward in January, only to back out and see Juventus win the race for his signature instead.

The France international really impressed for Juve, bagging 10 goals and three assists in all competitions, and while Igor Tudor wanted him back in Serie A, they couldn’t agree to re-sign him despite lengthy summer talks.

Instead, Spurs tempted Kolo Muani with a move to the Premier League, and Frank is set to benefit from the introduction of a centre-forward who can play in multiple areas with a proven scoring record. Interestingly, the 26-year-old was also a player who ex-manager Ange Postecoglou pushed for in the winter (Paul O’Keefe), and it’s not hard to see why.

His best-ever season to date in 2022/2023 saw the attacker rack up a brilliant 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Kolo Muani also making his mark for France on the international stage.

Semi-final goals against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in Euro 2024 showcase partly why Didier Deschamps has kept faith in Kolo Muani, even amidst a lack of game time at PSG, and Tottenham are in dire need of him now that reports suggest Solanke could be out for even longer than anticipated.

Kolo Muani’s arrival could end up being crucial with the influx of matches awaiting Spurs after this international break, leaving little wonder Levy and co were clamoring to get him through the door.

Tottenham agreed "un-Spurs like" Randal Kolo Muani deal condition

Giving his take on the deal, reliable correspondent Alasdair Gold says that Tottenham agreed an ‘un-Spurs like’ condition to sign Kolo Muani from PSG.

Namely, Gold states that the lack of any buy option in this move is something quite out of the ordinary for them, and some might suggest that it highlights their “desperation” to bring in another new attacker (football.london).

Without the inclusion of an obligation or option to buy, if Kolo Muani’s move proves a success, then Levy will need to return to the negotiating table with PSG – by which point they’d be able to command a loftier price tag.

They’ll also face competition from other elite sides on the look-out for a proven striker, so Tottenham face the prospect of this being Kolo Muani’s only season in north London, regardless of how well he performs.

It’s certainly out of Tottenham’s character not to take the future into account, but Frank’s need for attacking reinforcements was pressing, and it perhaps indicates Levy’s increasing willingness to compete after the Lilywhites tasted Europa League glory in May.