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What once looked like it could be quite a miserable summer for Tottenham Hotspur is now one full of exciting transfer-related possibilities.

Being one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, the Lilywhites will always be able to attract top talent.

Still, following their Europa League triumph, they now have the added lure of Champions League football and the money that goes with it.

This already seems to be helping their case as well, as, based on recent reports, the North Londoners might soon have a player who’s won comparisons to Bukayo Saka.

Tottenham winger search

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking over some of the other talented wingers linked with Spurs in recent weeks and months, such as Eberechi Eze and Rayan Cherki.

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The former has spent plenty of time in the middle of the park this season but is more than capable of playing out wide, and with 25 goal involvements in 43 games this term, he’d be more than worth his £68m release clause.

Likewise, at a reported £19m, Cherki would be a steal, as in just 44 appearances for Lyon this season, he has scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists.

However, the North Londoners might be able to get an even better deal in the coming weeks.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol and Michael Bridge, Spurs have been offered the chance to sign Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

The report has revealed that in light of the club’s place in next season’s UCL, they have become a far more attractive destination for the German international, who’ll be available for free in a month’s time.

It might not be the most exciting transfer possible, but Sané is a proven winger at the highest level and has even won comparisons to a player who’s terrorised Tottenham in recent years: Saka.

How Sané compares to Saka

So before getting to some of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to bring Sané in on a free this summer, it’s important to address this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

In this case, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Arsenal star was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Bayern ace in the entire competition.

It’s much easier to see how this conclusion was reached by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Expected Assists

0.09

0.11

Progressive Passes

3.04

3.57

Passing Accuracy

83.8%

83.8%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.03

3.30

Goal-Creating Actions

0.43

0.47

Successful Take-Ons

2.17

2.00

Moreover, aside from the significant statistical overlap between the two, they are also both mainly left-footed right-wingers who have benefited tremendously from the coaching of Mikel Arteta at different points in their careers.

With that said, why else should the North Londoners go out of their way to bring the former Manchester City star to the club this summer?

Well, firstly, even as his minutes have been somewhat reduced at Bayern this season, the “world-class” winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has remained a genuine attacking threat, living up to Pep Guardiola’s billing that he is one of “the best in the world playing out wide.”

For example, in 45 appearances, totalling just 2377 minutes, the 29-year-old dynamo has scored 13 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.36 games, or more crucially, every 125.10 minutes.

Finally, the Essen-born monster is a natural winner; he lifted two Premier Leagues, two League Cups and one FA Cup at the Eithad, and then in Bavaria, he has won four Bundesliga, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Ultimately, even if he was going to cost a modest fee, signing Sané would be the smart move to make this summer, so the fact he’s free makes bringing him to Tottenham a no-brainer – especially as he could be the club’s own Saka.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Sunderland fans will be nervously counting down the days until Saturday’s Championship playoff final with only one huge match now standing in their way of Premier League glory.

There are some bad omens heading into the clash with Sheffield United, considering the Black Cats haven’t won on their last three visits to Wembley, but Regis Le Bris will pray his side can just get the job done by any means necessary in front of their raucous supporters.

It could also be another occasion where Daniel Ballard bails his team out in the most dramatic of fashions, with Sunderland entirely reliant on the ex-Arsenal man to guide them to the playoff final.

Ballard's astonishing heroics versus Coventry

If it wasn’t for Ballard popping up with a last-gasp header, the second leg tie against Coventry City would have headed to the nauseating lottery of penalties.

Thankfully, the Northern Irishman was in the perfect position to nod home Enzo Le Fee’s late corner kick, with the header undoubtedly leaving Coventry reeling, but it was a moment of unbelievable ecstasy for the Stadium of the Light to take in.

Ripping his shirt off in delight in the chaos that ensued, Ballard’s imposing presence from these scenarios could well be an effective weapon for Le Bris and Co to call upon for the final, particularly if it’s a tight and scrappy affair.

The Frenchman will also hope his attackers pack their shooting boots to try and upset the Blades on the biggest stage, with one promising forward player now actually worth the same as Ballard after he too played his part in Sunderland knocking out Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues.

The Sunderland star who's now worth as much as Ballard

Sunderland do have a whole host of sellable assets on their books, meaning promotion up to the Premier League will be key in attempting to keep the likes of Jobe Bellingham around for longer.

Ballard was even rumoured to be on the Blades’ shopping list once upon a time, but down the line, Sunderland number 12 Eliezer Mayenda could well be eyed up by some higher suitors himself with his performances for the Black Cats this season showing off a very promising striker that’s still got lots of room to improve.

He showed off his instinctive game when firing home the late winner in the first leg against Coventry, with Mayenda staying alert to any possible errors before rounding Ben Wilson confidently to finish off the gifted opportunity.

That would bump up his goal tally for the season to a nine strikes despite the 20-year-old only starting 22 Championship contests, with ex-Black Cats great Kevin Phillips even complimenting Mayenda as a “handful” after his winner at the CBS Arena.

The decision to snap up Mayenda for a measly £843k as a promising teenage talent has proven to be a steal, therefore, with the Zaragoza-born striker now worth around £3m according to Transfermarkt, which is the exact same value as Ballard.

Games played

48

Goals scored

9

Assists

5

Original value when joining

£843k

Value now

£3m

Much like Bellingham’s value has skyrocketed amongst other shrewd Black Cats buys, it’s not out of the question to assume Mayenda’s value will continue to rise and rise too, particularly if he becomes a Premier League player very soon.

Before anyone gets too carried away at the Stadium of Light and starts picturing top-flight utopia, however, the playoff final is obviously a nerve-wracking day out that will really test the resolve of Le Bris’ young squad.

But, it could also be the perfect time for his group to mature even more, with both Mayenda or Ballard no doubt ready to be heroes again if a chance falls their way.

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ByKelan Sarson May 19, 2025

With Liverpool looking as though they’re set to claim the Premier League title this season, Arne Slot has the chance to build on his first-season success next year.

The Reds have only lost two matches in the league to date, showcasing how impressive they have been during the Dutchman’s debut year at the helm after taking over from Jürgen Klopp.

Any chances of building on their success have been given a major boost after the news that Mohamed Salah signed a new two-year deal on Merseyside earlier today.

With the Egyptian set to continue at Anfield, the 46-year-old can turn his attention to the transfer market, targeting players who could allow for further success in the years ahead.

Slot’s wasted no time in identifying talents to add to his already impressive squad, making moves to land a player who could massively strengthen one department of the pitch.

Liverpool plotting summer move for talented attacker

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have completed their scouting and are leading the race for Feyenoord’s talented winger Igor Paixao this summer.

The 24-year-old has registered 14 goals and 13 assists within his 41 appearances throughout 2024/25, with six of his contributions coming within the Champions League.

Despite the interest, they face strong competition from fellow Premier League side Arsenal and Serie A duo Atalanta and Napoli, with Slot needing to pull out all the stops to win the race for his signature.

The report also states that the Brazilian could be tempted by a move to England’s top flight, with a real belief that he has all the tools to be a leading talent in the division.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for Paixao would set the Reds back this summer, he would be a superb addition – potentially being the club’s best left-winger since one star departed.

Why Paixao could be Liverpool’s best LW since Mane

Sadio Mané joined Liverpool in a £34m deal from Southampton back in the summer of 2016, with the Senegalese international thriving beyond all imagination during his time at Anfield.

The now-33-year-old registered a total of 269 appearances during his six-year stint at the club, notching 120 goals – helping them claim four major honours during his spell on Merseyside.

He was part of a phenomenal front three along with Salah and Roberto Firmino, with the trio undoubtedly being the key reason behind the success they endured under Klopp.

However, Mane would leave for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, with Luis Diaz subsequently having the responsibility of filling the void left by the fan-favourite.

Whilst the Colombian has impressed at times, he’s struggled to produce his best performance levels on a consistent basis, as seen by his tally of 10 goals in 30 league matches throughout 2024/25.

When comparing the 28-year-old’s stats with Paixao from the ongoing season, the Feyenoord star has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas – further showing why he’d be the Reds’ best left-winger since Mane.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “explosive” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has managed to register more combined goals and assists this season, whilst also registering more shots per 90 – showcasing his attacking qualities in the final third.

How Paixao compares to Diaz in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Paixao

Diaz

Games played

28

30

Goals & assists

21

15

Shots taken

2.2

2

Through balls completed

0.2

0.01

Tackles won

1.7

1.2

Crosses completed

3.1

0.7

Aerials won

50%

46%

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more crosses and won more of the aerials he’s entered this campaign, offering Slot a more all-around presence than Diaz – having the tools to thrive should he move to Anfield.

Given the stats produced compared to the Colombian, it’s evident that he would be an upgrade on him, subsequently being the best forward since Mane, given the fact Diaz has been the man to fill the void.

Should Paixao reach anywhere near the levels achieved by the former Southampton ace on Merseyside, he would be a phenomenal addition, handing Slot the chance to build on his early success at the club.

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Sam Konstas’ bid to retain his Test place this summer will begin in India as he was named in the 14-man Australia A squad that will play India A in two red-ball four-day matches in Lucknow in September, albeit the squad has been selected with an eye towards Australia’s 2027 Test tour rather than the upcoming Ashes.Konstas was named alongside fellow Test opening candidate Nathan McSweeney and fellow teenager Oliver Peake in the squad. Promising Victoria opener Campbell Kellaway was also included among the batting group. Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson, who all featured and performed well in the recent Australia A series against Sri Lanka A, were not included.Australian openers with previous Test experience, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, were also not included in the squad. Renshaw has been on two Test tours to India previously while Bancroft has previously toured India with Australia A including making 150 in an unofficial Test in Chennai in 2015 against an India A team that featured nine Indian Test players.Related

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It is highly unlikely that performances in India against India A in September will have any bearing on Ashes selection with the national selectors already on record saying that the first three Sheffield Shield rounds will be of most relevance. The squad has clearly been selected with a longer-term view of giving younger players experience in Indian conditions with Australia due to tour there for a five-match Test series in January-February of 2027, when the composition of Australia’s top six may look slightly different with Usman Khawaja very unlikely to still be playing by that point while Steven Smith turns 38 in June 2027.”The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.”We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future sub-continent tours.”Test offspinner Todd Murphy was included in the squad having taken 14 wickets in four Tests in India in 2023, including a seven on Test debut in Nagpur. Fellow offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli will also get a chance to impress having been to the MRF Academy last year and played for Australia A previously. Both men missed the recent series against Sri Lanka A due to short-term stints in county cricket in England.Left-arm-spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly, who made his Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year, will get the chance to gain some valuable subcontinent experience. Seam-bowling allrounders Aaron Hardie, Liam Scott and Jack Edwards were all included with the latter set to play for Australia A for the first time.Cooper Connolly will gain further red-ball exposure on the subcontinent•Getty Images

CA contracted fast bowlers Lance Morris and Xavier Bartlett were picked as was the Shield’s leading wicket-taker in Fergus O’Neill. Josh Philippe was included as the sole wicketkeeper in the four-day squad.Connolly, Murphy, Hardie, Edwards and Scott will stay on for the three 50-over matches but Bartlett, Kellaway, Konstas, McSweeney, Morris, O’Neill, Peake, Philippe and Rocchiccioli will play in the four-day matches in Lucknow only before returning to Australia for the first Shield round that starts on October 4.”For many of these players we remain interested in the development of their short-form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season,” Bailey said.”This provides opportunities for Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Tanveer Sangha, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland and Callum Vidler who will play the one-day matches in Kanpur.”Fraser-McGurk was included after losing his place in Australia’s ODI squad and he could well get the chance to keep wicket for the first time in his List A career with Shaw the only other wicketkeeper named in the white-ball squad. Fraser-McGurk is being developed as a back-up wicketkeeper for the T20I team having worked on his keeping with Australia’s fielding/keeping coach Andre Borovec on recent tours.Captains have yet to be named but there are a host of options given three state captains in McSweeney, Edwards and Sutherland will tour while Hardie has also previously led Australia A in a first-class game in New Zealand and captained Perth Scorchers.

Australia A four-day squad

Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott

Australia A one-day squad

Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Callum Vidler

Tottenham Hotspur could be back on the hunt for another head coach a lot sooner than they would’ve wanted, and one candidate to replace Thomas Frank may find the job too good to turn down.

Pressure piles on Thomas Frank amid Tottenham slide

Frank’s tenure has reached boiling point following three consecutive defeats that have exposed major frailties and escalating supporter unrest.

After humiliating losses against Arsenal (4-1), PSG (5-3) and most recently Fulham (2-1), with just one victory to show from their last seven in all competitions, Spurs currently languish 12th in the Premier League table, boasting just one win at home all season.

Tottenham have suffered ten league defeats on their own turf in 2025, equaling their worst-ever calendar year record. With challenging fixtures against Newcastle, Liverpool and Crystal Palace due this month, starting against the Magpies this evening, things don’t get any easier for Frank.

16. Burnley

2

1

3

7

-1

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

5

1

10

Media sources also suggest that players have grown increasingly bewildered by Frank’s constant tactical alterations, with strategies frequently changed moments before kickoff or abandoned entirely during matches.

Saturday’s Fulham capitulation — conceding twice within six minutes before Mohammed Kudus’ consolation ultimately proved futile — exposed defensive fragility that has seen Spurs ship eleven goals across their last three encounters.

Relationships between supporters and players have also deteriorated dramatically, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario subject to constant booing against Fulham following his catastrophic error which gifted Harry Wilson their second goal of the game.

Frank criticised fans in the aftermath, calling the behaviour ‘unacceptable’, and this has only heightened tension between Spurs and Lilywhites loyalists in the stand.

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The tactician elaborated on this in his pre-Newcastle press conference, attempting to reassure supporters that their feelings matter but the north Londoners need to create a ‘fortress’ at home.

Reports are now emerging that Tottenham are beginning to make contingency plans in the event they decide to sack Frank, so nothing but a victory will do against Newcastle as the Dane looks to relieve the humongous pressure on his shoulders.

Tottenham could prove 'irresistible' to Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner

If Frank is shown his P45, one manager who’s very much in contention to replace him is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

Former Palace chairman and talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan admitted back in September that he urged ex-Spurs chair Daniel Levy to consider appointing Glasner, and it isn’t hard to see why.

The Austrian, who guided Palace to their first ever major trophy after an historic FA Cup final win over Man City in May, also led the south Londoners to an unprecedented 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions this year — before it was ended by Everton at the Hill Dickinson.

This run was made all the more impressive given his very limited resources and the constant threat of losing star players, with Spurs believed to be real admirers of Glasner’s work.

That is according to TEAMtalk, who report that, while Frank is safe for now, Tottenham could make a move for Glasner and accelerate new manager plans if this slide continues.

They also state that Tottenham could prove ‘irresistible’ to Glasner as a managerial opportunity, with the 51-year-old’s future far from certain as his contract is due to expire at the end of June.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss, who won the Europa League with them in 2022, is a fine candidate to succeed Frank and his looming free agent status makes the prospect of a move all the more appealing.

Puja Pujara talks about how she came to write a book chronicling the career of her famous husband, the former India No. 3

S Sudarshanan26-May-2025A lot happens in a cricketer’s life. The binaries of wins and losses aside, there are various other ups and downs. For a cricketer’s family, they experience these vicariously when they hear from or watch and read about their loved one.Cheteshwar Pujara’s family might have been less aware of the ins and outs of his career than other cricketers’ families. Pujara, by his own admission, is a private person. Sharing his thoughts didn’t come naturally to him, and indeed, he did not want to put second-hand pressure on his family by telling them about the trials and stresses in his life. But he worked on opening up over the years and got better at it.His wife, Puja, did not follow cricket or know who Pujara was before marrying him. Coming to the sport afresh, she wanted to know more about it and took a deep interest in his career. Over time, she learnt more about the game and its various aspects. Inspired by Andre Agassi’s book, , she began journalling her experience as the wife of an India cricketer.An MBA graduate, Puja quit her corporate job, which she loved, after her wedding. When the couple’s first daughter was three, she wanted to get back to work, but decided that as Pujara’s manager, she didn’t have the time to give to a full-time job. On the other hand, accompanying him on long cricket tours would leave her with not a lot to do. Over the years, she had made notes about conversations with the Pujara family. Her father-in-law, Arvind, would describe their struggles from years gone by, talk about the challenges the family went through so Pujara could play cricket, and describe the bond Pujara shared with his mother. Puja would listen keenly, and thanks to her sharp memory, write it all down in her diary later.In 2021, Pujara suggested she collate her notes into a book. That had been Puja’s motive for keeping a journal, which she had not spoken of before – the hope that it might turn into a book someday. That book has now been published: is an unusual memoir, Puja’s account of the bumpy ride the family of a cricketer goes through. It belongs in a sparsely populated genre, of which the best known are perhaps the tour books of Frances Edmonds, wife of former England spinner Phil Edmonds, though those were more by way of humorous travelogues and therefore different in nature and tone from Puja’s book.”I had to be very prepared before suggesting [she] write the book,” Pujara says. “I was a little uncomfortable at times about what people would think about what I was doing or what my thought process was. But I told her I don’t mind [the book] because this is the truth and you have seen my journey.”On watching Pujara fend off body blows in Australia in 2021: “I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again”•AFPPuja agrees. “I told him I am not going to portray you as a saint. You are a good human being, but the book won’t be just glorifying everything. There will be the hard parts and vulnerabilities. You have an inspiring journey, and I want someone to take inspiration.”I think most [cricketers’] partners would relate to what I’m saying – that you are riding the same highs and the same lows. And while it is easy to say, it is a whole new thing when you are actually experiencing it.”Puja had to get used to being a public figure after their marriage, and become aware that she needed to be careful of her image too, for the effects it might have on her husband’s. Even if she didn’t end up enhancing Pujara’s image, she did not want to damage it.It is relatively easy for a sportsperson to be in the public eye when things are going well. Pujara was in good form around the time of their courtship and marriage. The challenge came when the going got tough. When he was dropped for the Sydney Test in 2015, it was heartbreak for Puja, she says. She felt it like a personal loss and like the world had turned upside down. She was in Australia for the tour and did not want to go to the SCG to watch the match.That experience taught her the value of detachment – that as a family member, she needed to offer her husband support rather than having her own emotional reaction to the incident add to his distress. “I had to gather courage, swallow that news and be there for him in whatever way he needed,” she says. “While it is very disheartening, you have to understand that only 11 players can play. That somebody else’s family is happy that the other person is getting to play. It took time for me to mature… We realised over time that [being dropped] is fine, but I wouldn’t take away any disappointment I had at that point in time.”Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was not Pujara who broke the news of his omission in Sydney to Puja. He found it tough to give his family updates of that sort. He dealt with failures in his own way; instead of opening up, he would withdraw, trying to “protect the family” from disappointment.”He wouldn’t realise that he’s going through something,” Puja says. “I had to tell him, ‘Boss, I think you need to take a step back and just pause for a second. I feel you are not on your A game mentally. Let’s talk about it.’ In a country like India, things like mental health weren’t addressed until recently. You’re so used to the hardships and the difficult times that you don’t realise sometimes [that] you may need to seek help.”Stand by me: from not being a cricket fan before marriage, Puja went on to become her husband’s manager•BCCIPujara credits his wife with helping him deal with failures better. She helped him stick to his cricket routine when he didn’t want to, during a low phase. His county stint with Yorkshire between 2015 and 2018 also enabled him to open up. The mental conditioning coach at the club helped him be less hard on himself, making Pujara realise that scoring a fifty was an achievement too, not just a hundred. “That was the first time I realised that I need to switch off from the game, divert my mind and talk about my failures also,” Pujara says. “When you succeed, you know what you have done has worked for you. But when you fail, it isn’t always about the technique; it could be a very small thing – like, you are not resting well or not sleeping well.”While Puja could help her husband out with his mental battles, the blows inflicted by bowlers on the field were his alone to deal with. During the Brisbane Test in 2021, Pujara stood like an immovable force in the middle, staving off a bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. He repeatedly took blows to his body – elbow, thigh, neck, finger – and on the helmet grille, while scoring a crucial second-innings fifty. As a fan or a viewer, those hits added to the narrative of the Test match. Not for the wife, though.”It was just a nightmare,” Puja says. “Watching it, I had a gush of many emotions all at once. I was worried and got in touch with the physio and team manager. I messaged so many people, because some of [the blows] were closer to the head and that was very scary. I don’t know if I have it in me to relive it again,” she laughs.When Pujara picked up his phone after the match, he saw a flood of text messages from her. “I am fine,” he wrote back. They spoke briefly and he rushed back to join the team celebrations for India’s second successive Test series win in Australia. “I was in pain, but it was a sweet pain because the Indian team had won the game and the series,” he says.A year and four series after his Gabba knock, Pujara was dropped again from the Indian Test side. He was recalled six months later and played eight more matches, the World Test Championship final in June 2023 being the last.Puja suggested a while ago that he look at life beyond playing cricket, and take up coaching or broadcasting, but he wasn’t on board then. Slowly his reluctance gave way and he took up some media work. He has been an expert on ESPNcricinfo’s match-analysis shows, which, he says, has enabled him to explore another side of the game and understand his own game better in retrospect.Pujara is 37. It has been close to two years since he last played for India, but he is not thinking about retirement just yet. The fire in him still burns. He enjoys the grind of preparing for a match, and the routines that help him stay hungry.Irrespective of what happens in his journey from here on, Pujara will know he has a pillar of support alongside him. The one who told his story to the world as she watched and lived it off the field.

Sergio Ramos has left fans bemused and delighted in equal measure after posting a light-hearted Instagram video of himself dancing to Taylor Swift’s global hit Shake It Off. The 39-year-old, now playing for Monterrey in Mexico, showed a surprisingly playful side – a huge contrast to the uncompromising persona that defined his peak years at Real Madrid.

• Ramos goes viral with unexpected dance cameo

  In the short clip, which racked up more than 270,000 likes, Ramos appears in a cream shirt, swaying his hips and tapping the backsides of his wife, Pilar Rubio, and a female friend before skipping towards the camera. The fun-filled moment was a far cry from the intimidating presence that once terrified strikers across Europe.

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• Watch the clip

• Who is Sergio Ramos married to?

  Ramos married Spanish TV presenter Pilar Rubio in 2019 after seven years together, and the couple share four sons. The Instagram clip offered a glimpse into the defender’s family-first lifestyle in Mexico, where he moved earlier this year. Now with Monterrey, Ramos continues to play at an astonishing level for his age. In the summer of 2025, he made his debut at the Club World Cup and promptly rewrote the record books. His goal in a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan made him the oldest scorer in the tournament’s history at 39 years and 80 days, breaking Javier Zanetti’s previous record set in 2010. Over 16 trophy-laden seasons at Real Madrid, he played 671 matches, scored 101 goals, outrageously high for a centre-back, and lifted the Champions League four times. 

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• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  Swift’s surprise nod to Real Madrid

  Ramos’ viral dance comes as Swift once again found herself indirectly linked with Real Madrid. The American superstar released her new album, , featuring the track Wi$h Li$t, a song in which she casually name-checks the Spanish giants alongside life goals such as winning an Oscar or claiming the Palme d’Or. "They want a contract with Real Madrid," Swift sings, weaving the football reference into a narrative about lofty, almost fantasy-like aspirations. 

  It is not the first time Swift and the Spanish champions have crossed paths. During her record-breaking Eras Tour, she performed two sold-out nights at the Santiago Bernabéu in May 2024, drawing 130,000 fans across the weekend. In 2018, Canadian rapper Drake referenced the club in his song : " live like Ronaldo but I never been in Madrid." Meanwhile, Latin stars Bad Bunny and Anuel AA have also cited the club in their lyrics.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh injury update on forward Kai Havertz, with a timeline emerging on his possible return.

The Gunners, even without Havertz, have made a brilliant start to the 2025/2026 season, with their last defeat coming all the way back at Anfield against Liverpool.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Since then, Arsenal have been a force to be reckoned with, sitting firmly atop the Premier League table and showing no signs of slipping.

One of the defining features of Arsenal’s campaign so far has been their dominance from set pieces. Arteta’s side have already scored an incredible 11 goals from dead-balls, making them the undisputed set-piece kings of the league.

From pinpoint corners to clever free-kicks and long-throws, Arsenal have turned these situations into a very reliable source of goals, much to the detest of some critics.

What’s particularly impressive is that they’ve done it while missing a plethora of key stars for long periods.

Club captain Martin Odegaard, who is back on the treatment table until mid-November following a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury against West Ham, had only just come back from a shoulder problem beforehand.

Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, ruptured his ACL at the very start of 2025 and hasn’t played since Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man United last season.

Noni Madueke, who was really impressing on-lookers with his early-season form, picked up a knee injury in their 1-1 draw at home to Man City, but the England international could apparently make a “faster-than-expected” return to the team (GiveMeSport).

With Havertz, the signs have also been pretty good.

Arteta’s versatile forward — the club’s highest earner on around £280,000-per-week — is believed to be impressing Arsenal staff with his recovery from knee damage behind-the-scenes.

As a result, Havertz is apparently ahead of schedule to return for Arsenal, but it still might not be too imminent.

Arsenal handed fresh Kai Havertz injury update

The 26-year-old, who scored 15 goals and bagged another five assists in all competitions last season, has played just half an hour so far this term and Arteta will be hoping to have him back as soon as possible.

However, according to journalist and founder of Premier Injuries, Ben Dinnery, Havertz may not be back in full match action until as far down the line as December.

Arteta will want to be careful managing the former Chelsea star’s load, especially considering how light Arsenal are going forward right now after Gabriel Martinelli was also sidelined recently.

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has done fairly well in Havertz’s place up front, albeit his goal return so far isn’t what most had hoped for.

The return of Havertz would give Arteta an extra option in that area, and Arsenal have already been tipped to bench Gyokeres for the attacker in big games once he makes his comeback.

Mikel Arteta's underrated Arsenal star adds something "people really don’t see"

Tahir tried to stage a fightback with a triple-wicket over but failed to get support from his Amazon Warriors team-mates

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2025

Akeal Hosein dented Guyana Amazon Warriors from the start•Getty Images

Trinbago Knight Riders 169 for 4 (Hales 74, Munro 52, Tahir 4-27) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 163 for 9 (Hope 39, Hosein 3-27, Hinds 2-35) by six wicketsA dominating, all-round show from Trinbago Knight Riders took down an abject Guyana Amazon Warriors to consolidate their position at the top of the points table with their fourth straight win in CPL 2025.Akeal Hosein started the damage with the new ball early on to help restrict the Amazon Warriors to 163 before openers Colin Munro and Alex Hales put on a century opening stand, and Andre Russell put in the finishing touches. Imran Tahir’s four-for caused a flutter or two but in the end the win was almost academic.Amazon Warriors would have given a stronger fight had they not put down three catches and if Tahir got a little support from his bowlers who all failed to contain TKR’s batting might. They are fourth on the points table with just four points, but with at least two games in hand compared to the teams above.TKR cashed in on their decision to bowl by landing three blows in the powerplay which reduced the opposition to 37 for 3. Shai Hope led Amazon Warriors through these troubled waters but saw Hosein strike twice more at the other end, to remove Hassan Khan and Shimron Hetmyer in the space of three balls. That left the score on 70 for 5 after nine overs. Soon Romario Shepherd lost his stumps to Sunil Narine and Hope was out, hit wicket, for 39 off 29, and Amazon Warriors were 109 for 7. They managed a late surge through 21 runs from Dwaine Pretorius and three sixes from Quentin Sampson which led them past 150 and to a competitive score.Hales and Munro, though, were hardly troubled by that. They took the bowlers downtown, swept away the spinners for boundaries and cut and pulled with freedom to bring up a century stand in just nine overs. Munro’s fifty came off 25 balls and Hales’ off 26 even though Hales was clearing the ropes more regularly.TKR’s brief wobble came after the halfway mark when Tahir struck three times in an over, accounting for Munro for 52, and Nicholas Pooran and Keacy Carty for ducks. Amazon Warriors had already put down catches of Munro and Hales by then, and they would have effected a run out immediately after Tahir’s triple-wicket over when there was a mix-up between Hales and Pollard and Hales slipped in the middle of the pitch, but Hassan Khan missed the stumps at the striker’s end and the back-up fielder at midwicket failed to collect the ball cleanly.Hales also went past 14,000 T20 runs and since TKR’s asking rate after those wickets was just over five an over, they got to the target with 16 balls to spare, thanks to three sixes from Russell.

Pete Alonso has opted out of his contract with the Mets and is back on the free agent market a year after doing that song and dance for the first time. It was a humbling experience last offseason, which he likely entered expecting to command a nine-figure contract before returning to Queens with a far more modest deal.

After months of negotiations, the 30-year-old first baseman agreed to a two-year, $54 million deal to remain with New York, but he had the option to opt out after the first season. He did that on Monday. Most expect him to return to the Mets, but that’s not guaranteed after a bruising contract negotiation last year left hurt feelings all around.

Alonso is in a much stronger negotiating position in 2025 than he was in 2024. He’s coming off an excellent season in which he slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. His wRC+ (141) and fWAR (3.6) were both his highest since 2022, as his numbers were up across the board.

New York Mets

It’s hard to see the Mets and Alonso quitting each other. He has been with the team since it selected him with the 64th pick in the 2016 MLB draft. In his seven-year big league career, he has become the franchise’s all-time home run leader (264). It would be weird seeing him in another jersey. If the Mets want him back, both sides will have to get over their pride after a painful, drawn-out contract negotiation from last offseason. The Mets were the National League’s biggest disappointment this season, but Alonso wasn’t the reason. They’ll have to offer a long-term deal to make this reunion happen, then they can continue to build around Alonso, Juan Soto, and Francisco Lindor.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle really struggled at the corners all season, and it got so bad that they completely flipped the script at the trade deadline, acquiring Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor. Both Suarez and Naylor are hitting free agency, and while the Mariners would likely love to bring the latter back, he may be headed elsewhere. Enter Alonso, who would be a great power partner for Cal Raleigh. The Big Dumper and the Polar Bear would be downright scary hitting next to each other in the lineup. The Dump and Thump Connection, perhaps? I’m sure we can do better than that, but it’s what I’ve got so far.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since winning the World Series in 2023. It’s time for a bit of a shake-up. The Jake Burger trade hasn’t worked as intended. Burger struggled in 2025, slashing .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, a .687 OPS, a wRC+ of 89 and a brutal fWAR of -0.1. Texas has a lot of payroll committed for 2026. There is currently about $150 million on the books so far, and it is projected to have the oldest roster in baseball. Alonso won’t make the Rangers younger, but if they’re truly going all-in on this group, he’d be a fantastic addition for a team that finished 18th in home runs (175).

Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas has steadily gotten worse over the past three seasons and will be healing from a ruptured patellar tendon heading into 2026. It might be time for a fresh start for both parties. If that happens, it would open the door to adding Alonso, who has hit well at Fenway Park. In 10 career games in Boston, he has three home runs, two doubles and a triple for an OPS of .893 and a wRC+ of 134. He’d be a solid veteran presence for a young clubhouse and would make a habit of hitting towering shots over the Green Monster.