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Australia demolished New Zealand for the third match in a row to complete a 3-0 series sweep and a 5-0 home Test summer at an overcast SCG, also ensuring that every match – against New Zealand and also Pakistan earlier – finished inside four days.Set 416 for victory, New Zealand were in trouble quickly, losing Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Jeet Raval and Glenn Phillips in quick succession on a wearing pitch. Nathan Lyon, alternating sharp spin and straighter deliveries with plenty of bounce, completed the job after tea with the help of some ordinary New Zealand batting and one stunning catch from James Pattinson, to claim ten wickets for the match.There was a sense of inevitability about the day, as the Australians benefited from a wide array of confident performers against a visiting side that has been battered on the field but also off it by illness and injury. It also served as a kind of greatest-hits package for the hosts, from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne with the bat to Mitchell Starc, Lyon and Pat Cummins with the ball.Labuschagne finished the Test summer with no fewer than 896 runs from five matches, with Warner not too far behind him. Lyon, Starc and Cummins all enjoyed dominant displays with the ball, while other contributions from Pattinson, Joe Burns, Travis Head, Steven Smith and captain Tim Paine came whenever they were needed.Under overcast skies, the hosts piled up 132 runs before lunch, with Warner scooting from 23 overnight to a century shortly after lunch. His eight most recent Test innings at the SCG now read 101, 4, 122*, 113, 55, 56, 45 and 111*. Burns and Labuschagne provided ready support, although Warner and Labuschagne were somewhat contentiously penalised five runs for running on the pitch by umpire Aleem Dar late in Australia’s innings. Labuschagne’s dismissal brought Paine’s declaration.They were aided by a New Zealand side that seemed mainly to be waiting for the inevitable declaration and world record fourth-innings chase, although Todd Astle bowled nicely to deceive Burns, and should have dismissed Labuschagne caught and bowled for the second time in the match, only to drop a simpler chance than in the first innings.The Australians showed their intent to score very early on, as Warner worked the ball around and ran with intent in between regular boundaries, while Burns danced down the wicket to loft Will Somerville nonchalantly over the boundary in front of the SCG’s venerable Members Stand.Astle would have more success, beating Burns with a big legbreak from the last ball of his first over for the day and then pinning him lbw with a googly on the front foot with the first delivery of his second – albeit only after Latham’s review of Dar’s not-out verdict.David Warner celebrated his century with a trademark leap•Getty Images
Labuschagne was fortunate to survive the return catch he offered Astle soon after, but he was quickly into stride alongside Warner, as Australia pushed their lead close to 400 by the time of the interval. The rate lifted further on resumption, and Warner was soon toasting his 24th Test century.Labuschagne was warned and then penalised by Dar for running on what the umpire deemed to be the danger area of the pitch shortly afterwards, and the No. 3’s dismissal – with an eye-popping aggregate of 896 runs for the five-Test home season – signaled the end of the innings.Blundell, who has found the going harder after his Melbourne century, was out to a superb diving catch from Lyon at point after he had thrown everything at a wide ball from Starc. Latham was a victim of a somewhat aggressive lbw decision by umpire Marais Erasmus, the ball looking a fair chance of slipping past leg stump and only shown to be barely clipping it on ball-tracking. In this way, it was a near action replay of Kane Williamson’s end on the final day at the MCG.Raval was not convinced, either, that had edged a Lyon off-break through to Paine, though real-time snicko showed a spike to confirm Dar’s decision. Glenn Phillips reviewed when he also edged Lyon into Paine’s gloves, but was quickly on his way when HotSpot showed a clear mark on the bat.Cummins made only one mark on the day but it was, as ever, a major one, squaring up Ross Taylor for the second time in the match, shortly after the No. 4 had passed Stephen Fleming as New Zealand’s all-time highest Test run-maker. Where on day three Taylor had been lbw, here he lost off stump.Colin de Grandhomme and BJ Watling endured for a while, close enough to the scheduled close to suggest New Zealand might drag the contest to day five. However, de Grandhomme followed a sublime cover-driven six off Lyon to pass 50 with a ridiculous loft into a packed leg-side field for Burns to take the catch.From there, the end followed quickly, enough time for Pattinson’s stunner to dismiss Astle and then a trademark yorker from Starc to account for Somerville, leaving Lyon to claim the ninth and final wicket as an injured Matt Henry did not take the field. Australia had been dominant, and by margins that suggested they are almost certain to face India in the 2021 Test Championship final.
An "unbelievable" £25,000-a-week player has admitted he wants to join Rangers in the future, with his current deal expiring in the summer.
Rangers transfer news
The Scottish Premiership giants continue to be linked with a host of players ahead of the summer, as they look to get some important business over the line.
One area of focus appears to be on making Fabio Silva's loan move to Rangers a permanent one, with the young Portuguese likely to be allowed to leave Wolves at the end of the season.
Rangers gifted boost as £40,000-a-week signing Clement loves now possible
A huge boost for the Gers.
ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2024
Left-back is a position that the Gers may have to add to, assuming Borna Barisic leaves when his contract runs out in the summer, and FV Twente ace Gijs Smal has emerged as an option. He has enjoyed an impressive season for his current club, starting 19 Eredivisie matches and chipping in with two assists.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has also been a long-time target for Rangers and could jump at the chance to join them in the coming months, especially considering he supported them growing up.
"Unbelievable" player wants Rangers move
Speaking on the Stomping Ground podcast [via The Daily Record], Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie admitted that he would like to join Rangers before retiring, talking them up hugely and admitting he has always admired them:
"Listen, it's a special club. Have you ever been to the Old Firm? I've been to plenty of Old Firms and I've never experienced a game like it, either playing or watching. Most people who have ever been to them will say the same.
"Growing up, I was always a big Rangers fan and it's something I've always wanted to do. It's just about timing. I hope one day, by the end of my career, I play for Rangers. I hope I get to experience that side of it. If I don't, I don't. But I hope by the end of my career I can say I've played in an Old Firm at one point."
The £25,000-a-week-earning McBurnie could be a great option for Rangers this summer, possibly coming in as a player who has proven himself in English football, making 125 appearances in the Championship and also 93 in the Premier League. He has scored 12 times in the latter, showing that he can be effective in arguably the best and toughest league in the world. Meanwhile, Blades teammate John Egan has heaped praise on him in the recent past, saying:
"We went long to him early on and he was winning every header so why go away from what’s working. You know, he’s a big man, he’s game and he was unbelievable up top. I don’t know if they’ve given him the goal but he celebrated like it was his anyway."
Premier League
93
12
Championship
125
44
League One
15
0
League Two
8
3
The fact that McBurnie is on course to be available on a free transfer may make it even more of a no-brainer for Rangers, should they take the forward up on his offer. He is also still only 27, so it wouldn't be a case of the Gers bringing him in past his peak, making this one to watch.
It hasn't been the best of seasons for Newcastle United this year.
Eddie Howe's side have been decimated by a slew of injuries and have struggled to compete domestically and in Europe.
That said, there have been some bright spots for the Toon, notably Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who continues to wow fans and pundits alike.
However, the fan favourite was actually outscored by a former Newcastle flop last year.
Newcastle signed Isak from La Liga side Real Sociedad in August 2022 for a club-record fee of £63m, and while that's certainly a lot of money, it's been well spent.
Described as a "different level" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the former Borussia Dortmund star took no time at all to get up to speed with life in the Premier League, scoring his first goal for the club on his debut, which just happened to be at Anfield.
While injuries certainly disrupted his first season with the Magpies, a final haul of ten goals and three assists in just 27 games is rather impressive for a striker's first year in the league.
The 24-year-old has had to deal with yet more injury problems this year. However, despite that and the team's overall poor form, the Sweden international has still scored 16 goals in 29 appearances for the club, giving him a seriously impressive average of 0.55 goals per game and fully justifying his hefty £120k-per-week wage.
|
Alexander Isak's Newcastle United career |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
Appearances |
27 |
29 |
|
Goals |
10 |
16 |
|
Assists |
3 |
0 |
|
Goal Involvements per Match |
0.48 |
0.55 |
|
All Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
However, as impressive as Isak has been since moving to Tyneside, a former Toon flop actually outscored him last season.
The player in question is Japan international Yoshinori Muto, who joined the Magpies in a £9.5m transfer from Bundesliga side Mainz in the summer of 2018.
The former FC Tokyo ace had a relatively successful spell in Germany, racking up 23 goals and 11 assists for the team in just 72 appearances. Unfortunately for the Toon, he didn't get anywhere near this rate of return in England.
In total, the Setagaya-born attacker, who was earning £54k-per-week at the time, scored just two goals in his 28 appearances for the club, which amounted to a grand total of 943 minutes of football.
After two years of poor performances, he was sent on a season-long loan to Spanish outfit SD Eibar, where he continued to underwhelm, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 28 appearances.
He was finally moved on in 2021 after returning from his loan spell, meaning that he cost the club around £5.6m in wages, or around £15.1m, when his transfer fee is considered.
Therefore, he cost the Magpies a whopping £7.5m-per-goal, £541k-per-appearance, or £16k-per-minute.
|
The finances of Yoshinori Muto's Newcastle career |
|
|---|---|
|
Transfer Fee |
£9.5m |
|
Total Wages |
£5.6m |
|
Total Cost |
£15.1m |
|
Appearances |
28 |
|
Cost per Appearance |
£541k |
|
Minutes |
943' |
|
Cost per Minute |
£16k |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Cost per Goal |
£7.5m |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt & Wages via Capology |
|
With how badly his spell in the northeast went, fans might have expected the 5 foot 10 attacker to continue to disappoint at his next club, but that couldn't have been further from the truth.
In all, Muto has scored 23 goals and provided 23 assists in 86 appearances for Vissel Kobe, and his return of 11 goals and 12 assists last season is better than what Isak could muster in black and white, albeit in a much tougher league.
Newcastle could sell a player who's earning 9x more than Lewis Miley
The experienced Toon star needs to be moved on this year.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Mar 13, 2024
In the current day, the striker has played two matches in the J-League which has just kicked off, failing to score yet from 129 minutes of action.
Although now performing rather away from St James', signing Muto from Mainz in 2018 proved to be one of Newcastle's worst transfers in recent memory, and one the new ownership probably wouldn't have made.
Neymar has revealed that he wanted to "give up" during his recovery from a devastating ACL injury as the Al-Hilal star remains sidelined.
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Picked up an injury in October 2023In the final stage of recoveryOpened up on his struggles during rehabWHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazil international has been out of action since October after suffering a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during international duty. It has been a cumbersome journey to recover from as the forward is still not match fit.
AdvertisementGetty Image/ GOAL ARTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite the numerous challenges, Neymar has demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude in these testing times. However, recovering from such a significant injury can be emotionally taxing and the former Barcelona man opened up about his recovery process in a heartfelt Instagram post.
WHAT NEYMAR SAID
Neymar wrote: "After I suffered this injury, there are days that are difficult, there are days that I want to give up. It's hard to go through all of this. But here's a warrior who won't stop until I get what I want! God is my strength and my fortress. We will continue fighting every day."
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DID YOU KNOW?
As Neymar approaches the end of his lengthy recovery journey, Al-Hilal fans are waiting for his return to the pitch. They have been given a ray of hope as Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim revealed that Neymar is expected to be match-ready by mid-September.
@alhilal Instagram
The Melbourne Stars have been uncatchable at the top of the points table for a while, but they have now lost three matches in a row
The Report by Daniel Brettig25-Jan-2020AB de Villiers arrived with a masterful display for the Brisbane Heat to lead them to a yawning victory over the suddenly listless Melbourne Stars at the MCG. The Stars have been uncatchable at the top of the points table for a while, but they have now lost three matches in a row.On a slow surface, the Heat were kept quiet early after shuffling their batting line-up dramatically, but de Villiers bided his time to find the best way to go on the attack, before unleashing a succession of sixes, most of them off the back foot, to rush the Heat to 186 with 88 runs from the final six overs. He had significant assistance from Marnus Labuschagne in the closing overs, as both took a heavy toll on the Stars’ replacement paceman Dilbar Hussain.There was a decided lack of intensity about the Stars in their pursuit of the total, in contrast to the Heat’s high level of focus. This was personified by the excellent spells from James Pattinson and Mitchell Swepson, who ensured the Heat have destiny very much in their hands ahead of their final qualifying game against the Melbourne Renegades.Heat go higgledy piggledyNeeding a victory to stay in touch with the BBL top five, the Heat’s decision-makers Darren Lehmann and Chris Lynn unveiled a line-up that might easily have involved names in a hat or at the very least a dartboard. Ben Cutting was promoted to open with Sam Heazlett, de Villiers was handed the wicketkeeping gloves and Labuschagne shunted down to No. 6 in their latest attempt to wring a winning performance from a talented but imbalanced squad.Heazlett got a few early boundaries away, but neither Cutting nor Lynn could find their timing as the Stars again relied heavily on spin. There was a sense of aimlessness as the Heat drifted to 3 for 98 after 14 overs, having leapt to 38 from the opening three, as de Villiers struggled once more to find the sweetness of hitting that has marked many of his best T20 innings.De Villiers catches fireOn a sluggish MCG pitch, it took time for de Villiers to figure out that it was not particularly easy to tee-off on the front foot, and to conjure an alternative route to the boundary. He laboured to 13 from 16 balls with six overs remaining and then showed the crowd he could use his trademark wrists and fast hands to swing freely at short-of-a-length spin bowling while sitting back in the crease.What followed was the acceleration that won the Heat the match, as de Villiers ransacked six sixes and two fours to add another 58 from his final 21 balls. Two other figures had contrasting fates as a result: the beneficiary was Labuschagne, who was able to build into his innings before detonating in the final over with two sixes of his own. The fall guy was Hussain, a left-field choice as the replacement for Haris Rauf, who found his skiddy 140kph seamers landing obligingly in the slot for both de Villiers and Labuschagne.Heat prosper through classical skillsNo lesser judges than Bradman and Benaud always reckoned that the best combinations in cricket involved the use of high pace bowling opposite tantalising wristspin, and there was something of that ilk about the way the Heat were able to ensnare a decidedly sleepy-looking Stars’ batting line-up. Though Matt Renshaw’s opening over was expensive as he dropped short to Marcus Stoinis, Pattinson bowled with genuine speed and no little fire to coax a mistake from the opener, and then followed up by bursting through Seb Gotch.The Stars’ hopes then rested on Glenn Maxwell, but his stay was swiftly ended by the other half of the classical combo, as Swepson skidded a flatter delivery through his defence, and went on to claim two more. There was very little sense of purpose about the way the Stars undertook the remainder of their chase, with Peter Handscomb running himself out and Nick Larkin’s rearguard effort having far too little in the way of support to be meaningful. The Stars are still top of the table but with plenty of thinking to do about the finals.
MatériaMais Notícias
Um dos responsáveis pelo momento que vive o Marcílio Dias, o superintendente de futebol, Marco Gama, se desligou do clube durante o início da semana. Após quase quatro anos na equipe marcilista, o profissional optou por seguir para novos desafios.
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Gama chegou ao Marinheiro em fevereiro de 2018 e foi uma peça importante para a melhoria do setor de futebol, participando diretamente da retomada que o Marcílio vive dentro e fora dos gramados nos últimos anos. Montando times competitivos, Marco Gama foi um dos responsáveis pelas recentes campanhas de destaque da equipe catarinense.
Entre suas conquistas com o rubro-anil, estão o acesso à Série A do Campeonato Catarinense em 2018, vice-campeonato da Copa Santa Catarina em 2019 e a volta do Marinheiro ao Campeonato Brasileiro após sete anos longe da competição, chegando até o jogo do acesso na disputa de 2020. A equipe também garantiu participação nas edições de 2021 e 2022 da quarta divisão nacional pelas boas colocações no estadual.
No tempo que esteve no Gigantão das Avenidas, foram 121 jogos disputados com 56 vitórias, 39 empates e 26 derrotas. São também 162 gols marcados e 105 sofridos, resultando em um saldo positivo de 57. Através das redes sociais, o Marcílio Dias agradeceu ao profissional pelos serviços prestados.
VEJA A NOTA OFICIAL DO MARCÍLIO DIAS
“O profissional Marco Gama não é mais Superintendente de Futebol do Marcílio Dias. Ele se despede do Clube após cerca de três anos e meio à frente da função e segue para novos desafios.
Gama chegou ao Marinheiro em fevereiro de 2018 e foi fundamental para a melhoria do setor de futebol, participando diretamente da retomada que o Marcílio vive dentro e fora dos gramados nos últimos anos. Montando times competitivos, Marco Gama foi um dos responsáveis pelas boas campanhas recentes.
Entre suas conquistas com o rubro-anil, estão o acesso à Série A do Campeonato Catarinense em 2018, vice-campeonato da Copa Santa Catarina em 2019 e a volta do Marinheiro ao Campeonato Brasileiro após sete anos longe da competição, chegando até o jogo do acesso na disputa de 2020. A equipe também garantiu participação nas edições de 2021 e 2022 da quarta divisão nacional pelas boas colocações no estadual.
No tempo que esteve no Gigantão das Avenidas, foram 121 jogos disputados com 56 vitórias, 39 empates e 26 derrotas. São também 162 gols marcados e 105 sofridos, resultando em um saldo positivo de 57.
O Marcílio Dias agradece ao Marco Gama pelos serviços prestados com dedicação e competência e deseja muito sucesso na continuidade de sua carreira.
A partir de agora, quem assume a Superintendência de Futebol é Gelson Silva, que estava como Coordenador Técnico.”
La Liga, the premier football league in Spain, is well-known for its players' lightning-fast reflexes, creative tactics, and technical prowess. Even in a league that has produced some of the best football players in history, speed is still a vital component that can decide a game in a matter of seconds.
Of course, we've seen the likes of Jude Bellingham get recognition for the fantastic goalscoring ability he has been displaying in his first season in Spain, but now it's time to give recognition to the players who possess high speeds, who perhaps don't get as much of the limelight.
With that being said, we have taken a look at the top 10 fastest players in La Liga this season, as of November 2023, courtesy of Samba Foot…
Disclaimer – top speed data isn't as available in La Liga compared to the Premier League, so the information below may not be 100% fact.
Rank
Player
Club
Top Speed (km/h)
1
Vinícius Júnior
Real Madrid
36
2
Andrei Ratiu
Rayo Vallecano
35.6
3
Inaki Williams
Athletic Bilbao
35.4
4
Assane Diao
Real Betis
35.4
5
Samu Omorodion
Alaves
35.4
6
Marvin Park
Las Palmas
35.2
7
Savio
Girona
35
8
Thierry Correia
Valencia
35
9
Dodi Lukebakio
Seville
34.9
10
Alberto Moreno
Villarreal
34.9
Top 15 Fastest Football Players in the World in 2024 (Ranked)
Who has recorded the fastest speeds this year?
ByStephan Georgiou Oct 18, 2024 10 Alberto Moreno Top speed – 34.9 km/h
Alberto Moreno is a name that many Premier League supporters will recognise, as he spent a part of his football career at Liverpool.
However, unlike his inconsistent performances at Anfield, he's actually been rather impressive at his current club, Villarreal. He's managed to start 45% of the club's games in La Liga this season, in which he's amassed one goal and one assist.
Regardless, there's no doubting that he's a livewire at left-back, having clocked in at 34.9 km/h.
9 Dodi Lukebakio Top speed – 34.9
Dodi Lukebakio secured a move to Spanish club Seville back in the summer transfer window after impressing in the Bundesliga. He hasn't exactly set the La Liga alight in what is his first season, with just three goals and one assist to his name, but he has excited fans and terrified defenders with his pace both on and off the ball.
His pace is evident having clocked in at an impressive 34.9 km/h already.
8 Thierry Correia Top speed – 35 km/h
Another full-back on the list now, is Valencia's Thierry Correia.
The Portuguese defender has made the right-back position his own this season when he's been fit and ready, as he has had his fair share of injury issues and time out of the squad.
He has two assists to show for his performances, as well as eighth on this list as he clocked in at a rapid 35 km/h.
7 Savio Top speed – 35 km/h
Savio is a name that Premier League fans will soon know, as he's already signed on the dotted line to join Manchester City.
The Brazilian teenager has really caught the eye at Spanish side Girona, and it doesn't take a genius to see why, as he's scored 10 goals and assisted seven in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Operating as a winger, the talented youngster looks to make use of his pace to beat defenders, which has seen him clock in at 35 km/h.
6 Marvin Park Top speed – 35.2 km/h
Marvin Park is currently on loan at Las Palmas from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
At 23 years of age, you would have thought he'd have broken into the Real Madrid side by now if he's to have any kind of future at the club. And, his performances so far this season certainly won't have caught the eye of his parent club as he's only assisted twice and is yet to open his goalscoring tally from the right wing.
Despite his struggles, he does feature in this list, having clocked in at an impressive 35.2 km/h
5 Samu Omorodion Top speed – 35.4 km/h
Samu Omorodion is a Nigerian-born striker who currently plays his football for Alaves.
Despite being just 19 years of age, Samu has already secured himself the main role leading the Spanish club's line, and he's rewarded the manager for his faith, having scored nine goals in La Liga.
With time still to grow and develop even more, it's scary to think that the teen is already reaching speeds of 35.4 km/h.
4 Assane Diao Top speed – 35.4 km/h
Assane Diao is a player who has attracted the attention of Real Madrid, with rumours circling earlier on in the season.
It's not hard to see why, as at just 18 years of age, he's already a regular in the Real Betis first-team, and has even scored four senior goals, which have come in the Europa League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
However, he has a lot more to his game than just trickery and a knack for scoring goals, as he's already reached speeds of 35.4 km/h.
3 Inaki Williams Top speed – 35.4 km/h
Now, Inaki Williams is a name that FIFA and EA FC fans will be familiar with, as a constant nuisance to defend against in games over the years.
He's been a nightmare for La Liga defenders to defend against too in the current campaign, with his tally now sitting at 11 goals and five assists in 30 games in all competitions.
There aren't many players in world football who can keep up with the 29-year-old on his day, which is why he comes in at third position in the list after clocking in at a speed of 35.4 km/h.
2 Andrei Ratiu Top speed – 35.6 km/h
Coming in at number two is Andrei Ratiu. The Romanian full-back has been on the fringes at current club Rayo Vallecano so far this season, which probably suggests that his pace is his biggest asset. He's started just 15% of the Spanish club's domestic league matches and has no goal contributions to show for it.
Despite his inconsistencies and struggles for regular minutes, he did clock in at 35.6 km/h when given the opportunity.
1 Vinícius Júnior Top speed – 36 km/h
At number one, you could have guessed it. It's Vinícius Júnior.
The Real Madrid attacker has established himself as one of the best forwards in world football with his performances over the past few seasons, and the current campaign further backs it up. At the time of writing, he has 18 goals and eight assists to his name in just 28 appearances for Los Blancos, with plenty of time still to improve on that record.
As a constant nightmare for even some of the best defenders in world football, not just in La Liga, it comes as no surprise to see him sitting pretty at the top of the list, having clocked in at a scary pace of 36 km/h.
Tottenham have been handed a timely boost in their pursuit of a transfer target, as reliable journalist Alasdair Gold shares news this week.
Spurs targeting new centre-back despite Dragusin signing
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has set his sights on strengthening a key position this summer at centre-half, regardless of their Radu Dragusin capture for £25 million in the January transfer window.
Tottenham "ready to seal" a potential "bargain" deal for Ange this summer
The Lilywhites are keen to shore up multiple areas.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024
The Romania international was signed from Genoa as an alternative to star defender Micky van de Ven, who has been absolutely pivotal for Postecoglou and Tottenham's aggressive high line.
Van de Ven's hamstring injury earlier this season resulted in a real slump in form for Spurs, so Dragusin's arrival will make the possibility of that happening again a little less likely at least.
Son Heung-min
7.39
James Maddison
7.31
Pedro Porro
7.15
Cristian Romero
7.07
Manor Solomon
7.05
However, while the 22-year-old's signing significantly bolsters Tottenham's options at the back, Postecoglou has candidly admitted to the media that Spurs will look to bring in another centre-half this summer.
“If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at”, said Postecoglou on Spurs' summer transfer plans. “With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit in to what we’re trying to build here.
“I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.”
In terms of named targets, reports indicate the free agent market will be a fruitful source of talent. Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly remains on Spurs' radar, with his contract ticking down to expiry.
Elsewhere, Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is another soon-to-be free agent who's been in fine form. The 26-year-old has been a star man for Marco Silva since returning to the side, but the Whites appear resigned to losing him for nothing.
Tosin eyeing move to Tottenham with Ange keen on signing him
According to Gold, writing in a football.london piece this week, Tosin is open to joining Tottenham and Postecoglou is actually big fan of the former Man City starlet.
He is one of a few options Spurs are looking at, but they're expected to firm up their interest in the Englishman as we approach this summer window.
Called a "magnificent" defender by members of the press, Man City boss Pep Guardiola has also been record praising the player's speed and physicality.
The Strikers are looking to bounce back from a poor season and all eyes will be on AB de Villiers when he joins the Heat
Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan13-Dec-2019
Rashid Khan celebrates another wicket in the Big Bash•Getty Images
Adelaide StrikersCaptain: Travis HeadCoach: Jason GillespieOverseas players: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Phil Salt (England)Full squad: Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Rashid Khan, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Phil Salt, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Jonathan Wells, Cameron White, Nick Winter, Harry ConwayLast season: 7thThe Strikers went from champions to second from bottom in a campaign that never really got off the ground with a four-game losing streak mid-season ending their hopes of a successful title defence.What’s changed for the season?Gillespie has used his Sussex knowledge to bring in top-order batsman Salt, who briefly featured in the England T20I squad earlier this year. Ben Laughlin, a long-time part of the Strikers attack, has moved to the Brisbane Heat for family reasons, with Harry Conway coming into the squad. Cameron White, in what is likely to be the final fling of his career, brings winning experience from the Melbourne Renegades.Australia impactHead and possibly Michael Neser will be featuring in the Test side until early January, and Alex Carey will be lost to the ODI tour India mid-tournament. There is a chance that if Neser remains in the Test squad he could be released for BBL duty if not needed against New Zealand.Player to watchWes Agar has been bowling very well in Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield cricket this season and, after just two matches for the Strikers last summer, could get greater opportunity in this campaign particularly with the departure of Laughlin and if Neser is on Australia duty.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)Rashid Khan’s form might have dipped in other T20s and ODIs in 2019 but his performance in the Big Bash is extraordinary. In the last two seasons, Rashid has taken 37 wickets at an economy rate of 5.93 and 45% of his deliveries are dots.AB de Villiers unleashes while down on one knee•Getty Images
Brisbane HeatCaptain: Chris LynnCoach: Darren LehmannOverseas players: Tom Banton (England – first eight games), AB de Villiers (South Africa – expected from January 9), Zahir Khan (Afghanistan), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)Full squad: Tom Banton, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, AB De Villiers (overseas replacement), Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Zahir Khan, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Laughlin, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, James Pattinson, James Peirson, Jack Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (overseas replacement)Last season: 5thThey had a lot of hype about them but failed to fire, missing the finals by a game. Their much-vaunted top order made a lot of bright starts but fizzled out quickly and the order was chopped and changed throughout the tournament. They saved their best work for the last two games with two magnificent chases but it was too little too late.What’s changed for the season?A new coach and a few new bash brothers. Darren Lehmann, who led the Heat to the title in BBL02, takes charge again after Daniel Vettori stepped down. The signing of AB de Villiers and Tom Banton made a huge stir. They will play half the tournament each with de Villiers available for the finals. The Heat have the best batting line-up in the BBL but historically the best bowling teams have won the tournament and they will need to bowl well. Laughlin’s return to Queensland from the Strikers having won a title in Adelaide is a nice addition.Australia impactJames Pattinson’s availability early in the tournament is subject to his Test duties but he could play more games than the Heat had planned for, given the form of Australia’s incumbent Test quicks. Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne will be unavailable in the early part of the tournament but both may even struggle to get a game for the Heat given the batting depth. It is unlikely many Heat players will head to India with the ODI team, although Labuschagne was named joint player of the Marsh Cup and Australia may want to look at him in a second format if they experiment with the side.Player to watchMax Bryant is the obvious choice. He has so much potential but capitalising on starts and finding consistency as a young player is his biggest challenge. He has had a lean season in 50-over cricket for Queensland but a couple of early scores in the BBL and he could go have a huge tournament.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)Tom Banton comes into this competition with very high expectations. Out of the 41 players to have faced 200 balls in powerplays in 2019, Banton has the best strike rate of 160. He scores big and at a brisk pace. The Gabba pitch could be perfect for Banton to showcase his skills.