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Every so often in the IPL, talented young players seize the stage and bring notice of their incredible ability to a worldwide audience. Sunrisers Hyderabad had two such players bursting through in a seven-run win against Chennai Super Kings. Priyam Garg hit a sparkling half-century in just his second innings for the Sunrisers, while Abhishek Sharma also made his highest score for the franchise to drive them to a competitive 164 for 5.That nearly wasn’t enough in a dramatic finish as Super Kings mounted a furious late assault. The drama heightened with Bhuvnehswar Kumar going off clutching his thigh after one ball of his final over – the 19th of the innings – to have David Warner throwing the ball to the third youngster in the Sunrisers line-up. Abdul Samad had bowled only seven overs in his entire T20 career before this game and was in the XI primarily due to his batting, but ended up finishing his full quota. His final over went for 20 runs, but the Sunrisers bowlers, including Samad himself, had done enough before that to squeeze out a win. Super Kings finished on 157 for 5, for a third defeat in a row, which hasn’t happened to them since 2014.That they couldn’t get over the line despite coming so close was down largely to Garg and Sharma. Garg had walked in when Warner was caught by Faf du Plessis completing an in-and-out boundary catch at long-on. Next ball, Kane Williamson was run out in a mix-up which left the normally unflappable New Zealand captain fuming. But Garg, calmly shrugged that off to unleash some death-overs carnage in smashing 51* off 26. Sharma (31 off 24) had been the one to inject initial momentum when both players – barely out of their teens – had the task of dragging the Sunrisers to a good total with their top four of Jonny Bairstow, Warner, Manish Pandey and Williamson all dismissed in the first 11 overs. The two added 77 in just seven overs even as Super Kings’ fielding wilted, conceding dropped catches and overthrows aplenty. It was also the first half-century stand by players aged 20 or less in the history of the IPL.Sunrisers’ bowlers kept things tight – Rashid Khan bowling four overs for just 12 runs – and their initial good work went a long way in clinching victory even though the last four overs went for 70 runs.Sunrisers’ slow startBairstow was bowled by a banana inswinger from Deepak Chahar in the first over, while Warner never got out of second gear. Pandey, a sedate starter normally, came out swinging to keep the Sunrisers’ heads above water. But he fell when looking good, and the Warner-Williamson double-strike meant the team was 69 for 4 in 11 overs.Super Kings had made several changes to their XI. Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo were both fit and included, as was Shardul Thakur, while M Vijay, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Josh Hazlewood sat out. That combination gave them greater depth in batting as well as bowling. MS Dhoni used his seamers up front in rotation, with only two overs of spin in the first 11 overs.Garg, Sharma, take offGarg started his innings with nudges and flicks, easing himself in. Sharma, whose T20 strike rate of 150.25 is suggestive, was more adventurous early on. He took on Ravindra Jadeja, who had been held back while Warner was the crease, reverse swatting him to the point boundary and then slugging him over midwicket. He also was confident enough to drive Bravo over mid-off, having read his variations.Garg then took off, beginning in the 16th over, bowled by Thakur. First there was a steer to third man that resulted in three runs, the young guns pushing hard for two and drawing an overthrow, and he ended the over with a dismissive pull. The next over, by Sam Curran, saw Garg unleash three fours and a six, as Sunrisers put on a burst of speed to break the hold the Super Kings bowlers had till then.Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma put together a 77-run partnership•BCCI

Sunrisers clattered 64 runs in the last five overs, and 53 in the final four.Super Kings top-order batting woes persistThe changes in their XI had given the Super Kings greater batting depth on paper, but some excellent seam bowling up front meant the top order was tied down for large periods. Kumar bent one back in with banana swing to rattle Shane Watson’s stumps, having continuously tested the batsman with the incoming delivery. Rayudu was undone by a peach from T Natarajan, du Plessis was run out when he responded to a risky call, and Kedar Jadhav chipped Samad to cover.Jadeja, Dhoni and the late fightbackJadeja joined Dhoni in the ninth over, and for the first half of their partnership, the two couldn’t keep pace with the required rate. Till the end of the 16th over, both were scoring at less than a run a ball. Jadeja then started connecting sweetly, even as the Sunrisers fielding, which had been livewire till then, slipped up.Although Jadeja was out soon after his first IPL fifty, Super Kings had a man who could hit big in Sam Curran next. They needed 44 from the last two overs that Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed were slated to bowl. Kumar pulled up with what looked like a hamstring strain after just one ball, and Warner was forced to go to Ahmed for the rest of the over. He gave up 15 runs, which still left the Sunrisers with enough to defend in the final over. Warner chose Samad’s legspin ahead of Sharma’s left-arm variety for it, and though Samad began with five wides, he denied a winded Dhoni the opportunity to hit sixes, which sealed the contest.

The loyalty, leadership, and pure quality that Heung-min Son has displayed throughout his Tottenham Hotspur career have been remarkable.

Between signing in 2015 for £22m and wearing the armband today, the South Korean has cemented himself as not just a Spurs legend, but one of the Premier League greats.

The number seven has played 408 matches for the Lilywhites, boasting an insane record of 162 goals and 84 assists in the process.

However, not every player can amount to the brilliance of Son, including a certain record signing…

What Spurs paid for Tanguy Ndombele

In the summer of 2019, Spurs’ answer to losing in the 2018/19 Champions League final was to reinforce the midfield.

Tanguy Ndombele was the main target, and he joined the club following an impressive Ligue 1 campaign for Lyon, where he registered eight contributions in 31 starts.

The French midfielder joined for a whopping £55m, signing a six-year deal as he became Spurs’ club record signing, a status he still holds to this day.

The 20 most expensive Tottenham signings of all time

Tottenham Hotspur have never been the biggest spenders in English football, but that doesn’t mean they’re without their expensive arrivals, as we found out.

Initially, Ndombele looked to be a great purchase, as he scored on his debut against Aston Villa and assisted versus Manchester City on his second appearance, but since then, it hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.

Ndombele’s transfer value in 2024

The 27-year-old’s best season in a Spurs shirt occurred during the 2020/21 term, when he featured 33 times in the Premier League, starting 28 of those.

However, three years on, and he’s only made six more league starts since for Tottenham, first joining Napoli on loan and Galatasaray last season.

Unfortunately, Ndombele has been unable to revive his career away from Spurs, starting just eight times in Serie A and only on four occasions in the Turkish Superlig.

In fact, his last start occurred on 15th January, and with his lack of game time over the last few years, a change of environment looks to be the best option.

Tanguy Ndombele

91

Ivan Persisic

50

Ryan Sessegnon

57

Japhet Tanganga

50

Eric Dier

365

Now, according to a report from The Standard, Ndombele may not have a say in the matter, as Spurs are set to release him this summer for free.

It’s mentioned that he looks likely to join Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, and Japhet Tanganga on the departure list as Daniel Levy aim to complete a squad overhaul.

Over his 91 appearances for Tottenham, Ndombele was often “frustrating,” as journalist Christian Radnedge described him, mainly due to his lack of appropriate attitude.

To think that he cost over two times more than Son, for example, just puts into context how poor of a deal it was from Spurs back in 2019.

There’s no doubt that Ndombele has immense quality, and it’s a shame to see a player with so much potential fail to reach anywhere near his expectations.

The Frenchman's transfer to Spurs will go down as an absolute disaster, especially considering they won't be able to recoup even a single penny of the £55m they once spent on him.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 9, 2024

Pep Guardiola has backed Rodri in his comments suggesting Manchester City's stars would consider a 'strike' due to an increasingly intense schedule.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Rodri hinted players could strike
• City could play more than 70 games this season
• 'Players have the power to make change' insists Guardiola

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Guardiola echoed Rodri's sentiments that the players are the most important factor in football, with the City boss claiming that any change would only come from the actions of his own stars. Rodri had criticised the decision to add more fixtures to the football calendar, believing many players would be willing to go on strike as 'we are the guys who suffer'.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  UEFA has introduced a new-style Champions League format, leading to more fixtures being added to an already-intensive football calendar. City are also set to play in the revamped Club World Cup at the end of the season, which will feature additional teams and matches, leading to Rodri's claim that the wellbeing of players was being overlooked, although some have claimed any notion of a strike as 'nonsense'.

• (C)Getty Images
  

  WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  Guardiola said: "I agree that many voices are talking about the players. If something is going to change, it must come from the players. They are the only ones who can change something.

  "The business can be without managers, sporting directors, media and owners – but without players you cannot play. They alone have the power to do it."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA AND MAN CITY?

  The intensity does not stop for City, with Guardiola's men facing off against Arsenal on Sunday in a match which could have significant implications on the title come the end of the season.

  City will then play in three competitions over the course of a week, hosting Watford in the Carabao Cup before visiting Newcastle in the Premier League followed by a Champions League trip to Slovan Bratislava prior to the international break.

The West Indies coach also bemoaned his side’s failure to convert fifties into hundreds

Matt Roller21-Jul-2020West Indies coach Phil Simmons has admitted that he is “concerned” by the form of John Campbell and Shai Hope, and will consider making top-order changes ahead of the third Test.Campbell and Hope both fell cheaply on the final day of the second Test, and have made 52 and 57 runs respectively in four innings each in this series. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Simmons also bemoaned West Indies’ failure to convert fifties into hundreds throughout the series, and said that changes would have to be discussed.”[Campbell and Hope’s form] is something that we have to discuss over the next couple of days, and make a decision as to which direction we go there,” Simmons said. “You’re right, they haven’t fired, so we’ve got to take that into consideration.”We’ve had five or six half-centuries [in this Test] and no conversion. It’s something that we’ve been talking about a lot, and no one has taken up that opportunity in this game, yet again. It is disappointing.”It’s critical that our batsmen carry on and make big hundreds. [Ben] Stokes made 176, what’s-his-name [Dom Sibley] 120-odd. Our batsmen need to make hundreds, because our bowlers have been doing their job. Now the batsmen need to stand up and do what they have to for West Indies cricket.”ALSO READ: Why Hope’s Headingley opus might not sustain him much longerIn particular, Simmons said that he was disappointed with Hope’s form. Captain Jason Holder had backed Hope coming into the second Test, saying that he had “all the confidence that Shai Hope will deliver”, but scores of 25 and 7 only extended a miserable run of form that has seen him make 111 runs at 12.33 in his last ten Test innings.”Yes, I’m concerned,” Simmons admitted. “He’s gone four innings without a score, in contrast to how he played over the last five, six months in the other formats. I am concerned about his form, and we’ll be sitting down and chatting about that over the next couple of days.”Simmons added that the moment he thought anyone was playing for their place in the side rather than for the team, they would be dropped.”If I think you’re more concerned about your current form than what you can do for the team, then you can think about your current form on the sideline,” he said. “So far, everyone has been looking to work hard for the team, and if someone changes that train of thought, then he’s not there for the team and we’ll have to think about that very, very seriously.”Phil Simmons admitted he is “concerned” by Hope’s form•Getty ImagesWhile Campbell’s batting is the main concern, Simmons also criticised his fielding, after he dropped Stokes in the second over of the final day. Stokes was on 29 at the time, and went on to add 48 more runs off his next 34 balls to put England into a commanding position.”If you go out and drop him [Stokes] within six balls [11] of the start, well then you’ve got problems,” Simmons said. “It’s our doing that he had the opportunity to go on and show what he’s made of.”The West Indies management had previously suggested that they would consider adding players from the reserves to the 15-man squad ahead of the third Test of the series, depending on how the series panned out.The back-up batsman in the main squad is the uncapped Nkrumah Bonner, but the management will discuss alternatives in the coming days. Left-handed Shayne Moseley is the most experienced opener in the reserves, and there may also be a temptation to include the 22-year-old Joshua Da Silva. He made 189 unbeaten runs at the top of the order in the second intra-squad warm-up match.There may be some workload management for West Indies’ seamers too, after the visitors decided to pick an unchanged XI for the second Test. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach have bowled 69.5 and 80 overs respectively in the series so far, and with only three days’ recovery time after back-to-back Tests, there may be little choice but to rotate.”I have no regrets,” Simmons said, when asked about the decision to pick an unchanged team. “We did well, we won the Test match before, and looking at the squad and the team we played in that Test match, we were happy with the team we went in with.”Simmons also reacted sharply when a journalist described Gabriel – who struggled for rhythm on the first morning and was off the field for some time on the second day – as looking “stiff”.”I don’t know about Shannon being anything,” he said. “Shannon bowled at good pace in every spell he bowled, even last night.” He did, however, concede that the team would keep an eye on the quick in the lead-up to the third Test. “We’ll have to take things into consideration over the next couple of days, and then make a decision.”Uncapped Chemar Holder and bowling allrounder Raymon Reifer are the back-up seamers in the main squad, but West Indies may well include offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall for the third Test.

It’s difficult enough having to decide if you will risk fielding your team’s premier allrounder in a World Cup semi-final after they the player has taken ill, but that decision was made even tougher for South Africa captain Dané van Niekerk because that player is also her wife. Marizanne Kapp, the fast-bowling allrounder who married van Niekerk in 2018, suffered a viral infection during the recent T20 World Cup in Australia, which ultimately kept her out of the rain-reduced, crunch knockout game.ALSO READ: Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk tie the knot (2018)”I was very conflicted. It was a very difficult decision,” van Niekerk said during a joint press conference with Kapp during South Africa’s nationwide lockdown. “I was sitting with [coach] Hilton Moreeng, and we had a lot of time [to decide] because of the weather. He is a family guy and I said to him it was difficult for me to know [what to do].”But the way she looked, it would have been wrong for us to push her to play a game. Yes, it was a semi-final and it was very important but with a team like ours, I am sure we will get into more semi-finals and she will get her shot to play in another semi-final. Having said that Nadine de Klerk did very well. I couldn’t have asked for more.”De Klerk took 3 for 19 as South Africa kept Australia to 134 for 5 in their 20 overs and DLS calculations left them with a target of 98 in 13 overs. They fell short by five runs and missed out on a first major tournament final but for van Niekerk and Kapp, there was more at stake.Kapp first felt fatigued before South Africa’s group-stage match against Pakistan but decided to ignore the symptoms. “I made the choice to play the game against Pakistan where I wasn’t 100%,” she said. “But that day it happened to be 30 degrees or higher, so I think that just put my body into shock and I didn’t recover after that.”She scored 31 off 32 balls in that match, batting at No.3, to help South Africa recover from 17 for 2 to 136 for 6, but was unable to bowl. South Africa, however, defended the total to guarantee a place in the semi-finals, which allowed Kapp to skip the final league-stage match against West Indies to give herself time to recover for the semi-final. But she didn’t, and she still isn’t quite sure why. “We did a lot of tests in Australia and when we got home and I am sick and tired of giving blood but we couldn’t find anything,” Kapp said. “I was still quite sick when I got home and was off for another two or three weeks.”Kapp has since recovered but recognised this as part of an ongoing problem (she also sat out matches on South Africa’s tour to New Zealand) which may have something to do with her nutrition. “I am a vegetarian, so I don’t always eat as well as I should,” she said, touching on a topic that will be further highlighted in a feature for next month. “Sometimes if I have a really tough game or training session, I seem to get sick the next day.”Nadine de Klerk finished with 3 for 19•Getty Images

That cycle of optimal fitness and severe slumps is tricky for Kapp to manage, especially because she can’t get enough of being on the field. She described herself as being “quite annoyed” with the current stay-at-home exercise enforced by the global coronavirus pandemic, which saw South Africa’s home series against Australia postponed and threatens to do the same to their away tours to West Indies and England. But on the positive side, it’s allowing Kapp some time to discover there is more to life beyond the game.”Even though I didn’t want this break, it’s a good break for me,” Kapp said. “I love watching cricket and talking about cricket but Dané is the one that has tried to teach me that cricket isn’t everything. Because to me, cricket is everything.”Kapp and van Niekerk have occupied themselves with keeping fit and projects around the house, though Kapp has yet to explore the kitchen. “I wish I could say that Marizanne has started cooking but that hasn’t happened,” van Niekerk said. “I’ve become a bit of a DIY person and I’ve been plastering walls and things like that. And we’ve got some gym equipment downstairs.”Both of them are still eyeing being able to play for the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred and the WBBL, where they represent the Sydney Sixers, but understand that those tournaments may not take place. If that is the case, their focus will shift to preparing for next year’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand where van Niekerk will captain South Africa to a fourth world tournament. Naturally, she will hope for a fully-fit Kapp to be available but has promised no special favours.”She says I am tougher on her than anyone else in the team. I think we are just trying to set the precedent that when we are around the team and we are training and playing, it’s strictly a professional relationship and anything personal stays off the field,” van Niekerk said. “Obviously, we’ve had our fights on the field but I am a bit more tough on her because I just want to show the team that there is no favouritism. We are there to do a job and we need to be professional.”But there’s also the human element and both van Niekerk and Kapp acknowledged that having the same profession has an obvious advantage. “When you see how your team-mates miss their partners on a tour, you realise that we are always lucky enough to have each other there, especially when it’s not going well,” Kapp said.

West Bromwich Albion needed a slice of luck to get over the line in the end against Rotherham United, a fortuitous penalty gifting John Swift the opportunity to make it 2-0 just before the half-time whistle which was tucked away confidently.

That killed the Championship contest really, with the already relegated Millers attempting to find a way back into the game but the Baggies ended up securing the 2-0 win without much bother.

Swift was a star performer for Carlos Corberan's men away from his spot-kick finding the back of Viktor Johansson's net, the ex-Reading attacking midfielder allowing West Brom to tick going forward in the absence of Alex Mowatt creating from deep.

John Swift's performance vs Rotherham in numbers

Making a number of changes from the side that stumbled to a 2-2 draw away at Stoke City last time out in Championship action, Corberan's decision to bring Swift back into the first-team fold looked an inspired one based on his display against Leam Richardson's men.

Alongside his strike clinching the three points, the former Chelsea youth player turned seasoned Baggies man notched up two key passes in the contest in a bid to make the win even more convincing in his promotion-chasing side's favour.

Moreover, Swift would register three accurate crosses and five accurate long balls when constantly trying to create openings for West Brom to further exploit the frail nature of the lowly visitors.

The 28-year-old would last the full 90 minutes on his return to the XI, a satisfactory reintroduction into the lineup for Swift who should now start West Brom's next second-tier match versus Sunderland this Saturday.

It wasn't just Swift who was brought back into the side for this clash with the Millers and passed their assessment, with Adam Reach coming in surprisingly for Conor Townsend at left-back and succeeding with flying colours.

Adam Reach's performance vs Rotherham in numbers

The former Sheffield Wednesday man's versatility could prove to be very useful for the playoff hopefuls between now and the end of the regular season, with Reach capable of playing in midfield alongside in defence.

Chosen to replace Townsend in this one, Reach – who has had a stop-start Baggies career since joining in 2021 – put in an admirable shift to help his side keep a clean sheet on top of clinching the 2-0 victory.

Minutes played

90

Clearances

3

Tackles

4

Duels won

10/11

Accurate passes

51/60

Assists

1

Reach demonstrated his varied game by battling bravely at the back with four tackles registered alongside winning ten duels, but also showed his knack of foraying forward with confidence by assisting Brandon Thomas-Asante's opening goal on the night.

Amassing 86 touches playing out from the back four too, Reach was crucial to how West Brom played moving forward in the contest away from just teeing up Thomas-Asante to bag and filled in for Townsend excellently with the usually preferred left-back given a breather against the division's basement club.

Corberan wouldn't think twice about starting Reach or Swift for the test of the Black Cats this coming Saturday now, the Spanish boss thrilled with his rotated side's performance against Rotherham.

West Brom were rinsed by record flop who earned double Wallace’s wages

West Bromwich Albion were made to regret signing this terrible flop.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 4, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

Os dois clubes de maior popularidade na Região Sul do país, Grêmio e Internacional, tem um patrocínio novo segundo informação divulgadas pelo portal ‘Uol’. Trata-se do Grupo Americanas, rede varejista que fechou acordo para ter as suas marcas exibidas na camisa tanto do Tricolor como do Colorado em acordo propositalmente fechado com ambos para aumento de alcance da iniciativa.

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>Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Questões relacionadas a valores e tempo de contrato não foram divulgadas, mas a ideia é de que produtos como as Lojas Americanas, americanas.com ou a plataforma de pagamentos Ame sejam inseridas em um espaço do uniforme das duas equipes.

A ideia é de que a exposição esteja em caráter bem mais discreto do que ocorre, por exemplo, com o acordo de longa data que Grêmio e Internacional possuem com o Banco do Rio Grande do Sul (Banrisul), entidade que estampa o patrocínio master.

Além do Banrisul e agora do Grupo Americanas, os times possuem acordos conjuntos de patrocínio em vigência com a casa de apostas Betsul, o operador de planos de saúde Unimed além da provedora de internet Vero.

Ross Taylor was overcome by emotion after becoming New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer as he recalled a conversation at the start of his career with mentor Martin Crowe.Taylor moved to the top of the New Zealand list, overtaking Stephen Fleming’s tally of 7172, when he lofted Nathan Lyon down the ground on the fourth day of the SCG Test.He fell in the next over, bowled by Pat Cummins for 22, but when reflecting on the achievement after the match he couldn’t hold back the tears as his mind turned to what Crowe, who died in 2016, had told him before his first Test in 2007. “My goal was to play one Test match. I guess it’s an emotional time because my mentor Martin Crowe – that was one of the goals he put down for me was to be New Zealand’s highest Test run-scorer,” Taylor said after taking time to compose himself. “To be honest I didn’t believe him, but I’d have loved for him to be here and help celebrate.”Taylor has often referenced Crowe during his career, notably when he when he scored his 18th Test hundred – passing Crowe’s tally – against Bangladesh last March. He admitted he did not believe he had it in him to become a successful Test player early in his career, having made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2006 before a first Test appearance, against South Africa at Johannesburg, in 2007.”When I first played for New Zealand I’d had a pretty decent one-day career and only scored three or four first-class hundreds. And T20 was just coming through,” he said. “I always thought I was good enough to play one-day cricket but Test cricket was something I was never quite sure if I was good enough. That’s why I’d seek Martin’s help to become a better player than the raw, gay-abandon player that I was as a youngster.”Taylor was pleased to complete the run-scoring milestone before his 100th Test, which is set to be the first match against India at Wellington in February.Ross Taylor looks skywards after going past Martin Crowe’s tally of Test hundreds•Getty Images

“I go back to my 200th [ODI] game. I didn’t really enjoy it that much…needing one or two runs that might have been a twitchy game in the 100th. I just want to go out there and enjoy it and India are a fantastic country to play against. And the Basin Reserve, if the body holds up, will be a special moment for my family and friends.”As he did when becoming New Zealand’s highest ODI run-scorer last year, Taylor said he had no thoughts of retirement but did not expect his record to last with Kane Williamson set to hunt down whatever figure Taylor is above to leave.”Records are meant to be broken and Flem [Fleming] set a very high standard, and for me, I’m trying to get as many runs before I do retire to give Kane something to chase. He’s got a fantastic record and will go down as one of our greatest cricketers but we need him to have something to strive for. Hopefully, in however many years, there’s a youngster who can chase whatever, nine, ten, eleven thousand runs that Kane gets to.”I don’t want to hang on to just play cricket, I still want to feel I earn the right in this side and am still good enough to play. I didn’t score as many runs as I’d like [against Australia], but it wasn’t that long ago that I did score some runs. I’ve still got a lot of cricket to come in the home summer and hopefully, I can contribute to a lot more wins.”In terms of marking the milestone, Taylor was given a special bottle of wine which he will open in due course. “I’ve got a lovely bottle of Penfolds in the changing room before I’m sure in time I will open up.”And he’ll no doubt be raising a glass to his mentor.

After showing signs of what they're truly capable of under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur will turn back towards the summer transfer window to ensure that they turn those signs into consistent Premier League performances next season. But they may have to pay a higher price than expected to kick things off in search of that consistency.

Tottenham transfer news

The rumours have already begun to circle regarding summer incomings in north London, with Morgan Gibbs-White among the names mentioned so far. The Nottingham Forest midfielder looks set to be among those sacrificed as the Midlands club attempt to balance the books and avoid a second PSR charge.

"Incredible" £200,000-a-week Tottenham player "will leave" this summer

The Lilywhites will finally cash in on him.

ByBen Browning Mar 30, 2024

With that said, Spurs will hope to land a cut-price deal for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man, especially if Forest are relegated come May. They already weakened them last summer, of course, when they welcomed Brennan Johnson in a deal that is quietly proving to be a solid piece of business by the north London club.

Whilst negotiations for Gibbs-White have the potential to become simple, Spurs don't look set to have the same luck when it comes to midfielder Ismail Yuksek. Previous reports suggested that Daniel Levy could land the Fenerbahce man for just £17m this summer, but Turkish coach Omer Faruk Uzuner, who worked with Yuksek at former club Golcukspor and is thought to know the player well, has since shut down that price tag.

Uzuner believes that any club will have to pay no less than €25m (£21m) to sign Yuksek this summer. He told Turkish newspaper Takvim (via Sporx): "I think that Ismail can leave if he receives offers from clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City. Fenerbahce will not sell him for less than €25m."

So not only is the new price a blow for Spurs, but the fact that Uzuner did not name them as a club that Fenerbahce would allow Yuksek to join this summer is a concern in itself, despite it previously being claimed that the Lilywhites are interested in a summer move.

Yuksek can replace Hojbjerg

Even though the midfielder looks set to cost more than initially thought, Spurs should continue their pursuit of Yuksek, who can replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer. The Dane's future in north London is still in doubt, and if he does leave, Postecoglou and co must find someone to fill his role in the summer transfer window.

Hojbjerg has been the subject of a potential Spurs exit for some time now, with links to the likes of Newcastle United, but a player in his role should not be overlooked. If Spurs get back into Europe this season, whether that be the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League, squad depth will be the key. And that's where the likes of Hojberg come in.

This means that if he does leave, Spurs must turn their attention towards someone like Yuksek. At 25 years old, the defensive midfielder should be heading towards his prime, making his reported £21m price tag a bargain, even if it is more than initially reported. As Postecoglou looks to improve his side, Spurs look set to be in for a busy summer window either way.

There are few international football sides who can boast as illustrious a history as Les Bleus. One of the main powerhouses at any World Cup or European Championship, France have had a plethora of star names turn out in their national colours, with some having the silverware to go with it.

But who has scored the most goals for France? Here is a list of the top French goalscorers of all time, with a detailed look at the very best the country has produced over the years…

All information correct as of 15th May 2025.

Rank

Player

Caps

Goals

1

Olivier Giroud

137

57

2

Thierry Henry

123

51

3

Kylian Mbappe

87

48

4

Antoine Griezmann

137

44

5

Michel Platini

72

41

6

Karim Benzema

97

37

7

David Trezeguet

71

34

8

Zinedine Zidane

106

31

9=

Just Fontaine

21

30

9=

Jean-Pierre Papin

54

30

11

Youri Djorkaeff

82

28

12

Sylvain Wiltord

92

26

13

Jean Vincent

46

22

14

Jean Nicolas

25

21

15=

Paul Nicolas

35

20

15=

Eric Cantona

45

20

17

Jean Baratte

32

19

18=

Roger Piantoni

37

18

18=

Raymond Kopa

45

18

20=

Franck Ribery

81

16

20=

Laurent Blanc

97

16

Here is a detailed look at France’s top 10 goalscorers:

10 Jean-Pierre Papin 30 goals (54 caps)

Perhaps a forgotten man (outside of his home nation, at least) of a less-than-impressive era for France on the international stage, Jean-Pierre Papin was nevertheless a prolific goalscorer for club and country.

A Champions League, UEFA Cup and Ballon d’Or winner during his career, a lack of success on the international stage for Papin was perhaps the only stain on an otherwise exemplary career.

France’s failures to qualify for successive World Cups and a woeful showing at Euro 1992 certainly hampered Papin’s chances of glory, but he managed to deliver a fine goals record nonetheless.

9 Just Fontaine 30 goals (21 caps)

The only player with more goals than games on this list, Just Fontaine’s place in French football folklore is assured. Not only was his goals record astonishing, but his 13-goal haul at the 1958 World Cup remains a record to this day, and accounts for nearly half of all his goals for Les Bleus.

Fontaine netted over double what Pele recorded during the tournament in Sweden, where he scored in every match he played. This included a hat-trick and two braces before grabbing four more goals in the third-place play-off against West Germany.

8 Zinedine Zidane 31 goals (106 caps)

Having been eligible for Algeria through his parents, France will be undeniably glad they got to Zinedine Zidane first.

Coming to the fore during their home World Cup in 1998, Zidane scored twice in the final to establish himself as a national hero. He then dazzled at Euro 2000 as Les Bleus secured an international double, scoring crucial goals in the knockout stages.

France then suffered disappointments at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004, prompting Zidane to announce his international retirement.

He was brought out of retirement to skipper France at the following World Cup finals in Germany, where he defied his age by guiding his side to the final with a number of stellar performances – though we all know how that ended…

7 David Trezeguet 34 goals (71 caps)

David Trezeguet’s finest hour in a France shirt came in the final of Euro 2000, when his golden goal strike handed France the Henri Delaunay trophy as they defeated Italy 2-1.

33 other strikes in blue and white accompanied that one, meaning few can boast a record as impressive as the former Juventus ace.

That includes goals at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2004, making Trezeguet one of the more decorated French strikers of his generation.

6 Karim Benzema 37 goals (97 caps)

While Karim Benzema’s record for France is impressive, it could have been so much more had he not been exiled while in the prime of his career after becoming embroiled in scandal.

This caused him to miss Euro 2016 (hosted in France), as well as the 2018 World Cup (won by France). He made a comeback to the national fold for Euro 2020, before missing the 2022 World Cup through injury.

He did, however, manage to earn silverware himself, scoring in the Nations League final as France saw off Spain.

5 Michel Platini 41 goals (72 caps)

Perhaps the greatest French footballer of his – or even any – generation, Michel Platini almost single-handedly took France to new heights on the international stage.

His crowning glory for Les Bleus was undoubtedly his exploits at Euro 1984, where his nine tournament goals (a Euros record) guided the nation to a first major international honour.

Platini’s time as France’s all-time record goalscorer stood from 1984 until 2007, when Thierry Kenry surpassed his total.

4 Antoine Griezmann 44 goals (137 caps)

Still active and hoping to be a key part of France’s Euro 2024 campaign in the summer, Antoine Griezmann’s longevity in the national setup has helped earn him a lofty place among his country’s best goalscorers.

His first came in a warm-up friendly ahead of the 2014 World Cup, when he netted against Paraguay. He didn’t score at the tournament, but was Les Bleus’ star man when France hosted the European Championship in 2016.

He netted six goals and was named as the Player of the Tournament, though was unable to deliver the trophy on home soil. He made amends by lifting the World Cup two years later, notching four more strikes, including one in the final against Croatia.

Griezmann has the opportunity to close in on Thierry Henry’s tally this summer.

3 Kylian Mbappe 48 goals (87 caps)

Kylian Mbappe is poised to break France’s all-time goalscoring record over the next few years.

Scoring his first at the age of 18 in a World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands, he has already had as illustrious an international career as many greats have, with a World Cup (and a Nations League) to his name already. But for Lionel Messi, he could well have had two – though he was able to settle for the Golden Boot.

With Olivier Giroud’s lead now cut to single figures, it is surely just a matter of time before Mbappe becomes the true king of French football.

2 Thierry Henry 51 goals (123 caps)

While his international record may seem underwhelming at first glance given his supreme exploits at club level, Thierry Henry stood above the rest for over a decade after breaking Michel Platini’s total in 2007.

His finest moments in a French shirt came towards the beginning of his career, where he was part of the World Cup and European Championship-winning sides either side of the millennium.

And although the latter part of his international career was shrouded in controversy as France qualified for the 2010 World Cup in contentious circumstances, there is no denying Henry’s status as one of the greatest French footballers of all time.

1 Olivier Giroud 57 goals (137 caps)

One of the more underappreciated players on this list, Olivier Giroud has the ultimate comeback for anyone who doubts the Frenchman’s status as a footballing great.

Becoming France’s record goalscorer during the 2022 World Cup (in fewer caps than predecessor Henry), Giroud’s place in his nation’s history is set in stone. His status as France’s main forward in the era of Griezmann and Mbappe came into question when he started every game during Les Bleus’ victorious World Cup campaign without scoring a goal, though this arguably serves to make his international goal haul even more impressive. Chapeau, Olivier.