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Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is reported to be a real admirer of another England international, who’s made his way on to the Dane’s summer transfer shortlist amid all the drama surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White’s potential move to north London.

£43m star "clear" he wants to join Tottenham in talks with club chairman

He’s expressed his desire to seal a Spurs switch.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 15, 2025

Spurs are ready to back Frank with more new signings before deadline day on September 1, after already sealing deals for Mohammed Kudus, Kota Takai and Mathys Tel for a combined fee of around £90 million.

By all accounts, their total expenditure should be around £150 million right now, and it would be if not for the bizarre situation with Gibbs-White.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

After a round of quick-fire talks late last week, Tottenham were ready to trigger the 25-year-old’s £60 million release clause, and his transfer to N17 was so advanced that Spurs booked medical tests for Gibbs-White on Friday.

However, in a stunning twist, Forest then unexpectedly blocked his move, amid a complaint to the Premier League, with Evangelos Marinakis and co believing Tottenham tapped up Gibbs-White and obtained knowledge of his release clause illegally (Ben Jacobs).

Now, Forest are adamant that Gibbs-White isn’t going anywhere (Sky Sports), but Spurs still remain hopeful of eventually getting a deal done.

As Frank waits for further clarification on whether the Lilywhites can indeed get Gibbs-White over the line, with Forest digging their heels in, reports suggest that Tottenham also want to add a new traditional central midfielder to their ranks.

Thomas Frank wants to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton

According to GiveMeSport, a ‘leading target’ for Frank in that position is Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton.

The England international’s 2024 performances earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the Euros, and even though his latest campaign was hampered somewhat by injury, Wharton is still regarded as one of the country’s best rising stars.

GMS reports that Frank has personally identified Wharton as a potential Tottenham signing, and what’s more, they might not be deterred by the 21-year-old’s seismic £100 million price tag.

Palace are using Declan Rice’s £105 million move to Arsenal in 2023 as a yardstick for Wharton’s valuation, as they hold the player in similar regard, but this hasn’t completely turned Spurs away. They could yet still open talks for the ex-Blackburn Rovers starlet in an “ambitious” move, even if Daniel Levy would have to completely shatter Tottenham’s transfer record.

In their published set of financial accounts, Levy stated that Spurs ‘cannot spend what they do not have’, but the club’s summer spree thus far has sparked claims of both a cash injection from ENIC and a potential stadium naming rights deal on the horizon (The Telegraph).

Newcastle United find themselves in freefall for the first time under Eddie Howe, seemingly unable to rediscover the form that saw them reach the Premier League's top four last season. With two defeats in their last two games against sides fighting to keep hold of their top-flight status, it's fair to say that the Magpies haven't exactly enjoyed the festive period.

As they find themselves at a crossroads, some ruthless decisions from PIF could be made – some of which could come as a real shock. Reports suggest that Newcastle could even sanction the sale of one particular star in 2024 who Howe is a big fan of.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies didn't do enough during the summer transfer window, with those who did arrive also struggling to make an impact. At the halfway stage, Sandro Tonali is in the middle of a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules, Harvey Barnes is still injured, Lewis Hall is out-of-favour and Tino Livramento is the only one claiming a place under Howe, to sum up a disappointing last window. In 2024, change could be afoot, however, with some ruthless decisions.

Howe's 3/10 Newcastle star was as bad as Almiron in shock Forest defeat

The Magpies lost their sixth match from seven across all competitions, with multiple aces flattering to deceive.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 26, 2023

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle could sell Callum Wilson in 2024 in what would be a shock decision. The forward, now 31-years-old, is not getting any younger and has consistently struggled with injury problems.

As Alexander Isak continues his rise towards his prime too, those at St James' Park could make room for the Swede by bidding farewell to Wilson. The Magpies must be careful what they wish for though, given that former forward Chris Wood netted a hat-trick against them for Nottingham Forest in their most recent afternoon to forget in the Premier League.

Newcastle should keep "excellent" Wilson

Newcastle's squad depth problem is how their struggles began this season and the last thing the Magpies need is to suffer the consequences in attack yet again. Keeping hold of Wilson, even if his role becomes more that of a backup to Isak, could be vital to ensuring that Howe has some experience to turn to at St James' Park. Having worked with the forward at Bournemouth too, the Newcastle boss is a big fan.

Howe previously said during those Bournemouth days: "Callum was excellent today, as was Josh King – they caused lots of problems today. It is testament to Callum's professionalism that he is able to play 90 minutes, he has worked hard on his comeback. It was great to see him score and the team were boosted by his return."

It's praise that is more than deserved, as Wilson's stats during his time at Newcastle prove. The forward has scored 46 goals in 102 appearances for the club and made a further 11 for those around him. And even as he grows older, he has continued to provide for the Magpies, scoring seven goals in 14 games in the Premier League this season.

Aston Villa have made an excellent start to the Premier League campaign and new information has now emerged about some potential transfer activity at Villa Park in January.

Aston Villa prepare for Manchester City…

Last weekend, Villa salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on the South Coast courtesy of a last-minute header from Ollie Watkins, leaving the Villans in the top four with 29 points from their 14 matches played so far.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Villans boss Emery complimented his side's resilience at the Vitality Stadium and urged them to go again against Manchester City on Wednesday, saying:

"In 90 minutes with the way we played and the demands they made of us, I think it’s a good point. We have to accept it and continue trying to build a team. We are in our process and now we have 29 points. We were losing 2-1 at the end and we drew.

"It’s important to feel it’s a good point. We’re thankful to our supporters for being here with us, and now we’re excited to play again on Wednesday at home with them (Manchester City), trying to continue being strong like we are."

Emery now eyeing "extraordinary" ace for Aston Villa after previous interest

Aston Villa look to have identified a key target heading into the January transfer window…

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 5, 2023

Heading into their midweek clash against the Citizens, Emery's men are in a positive vein of form, winning four of their last five matches in all competitions. In all likelihood, Manchester City will provide the toughest test that the Villans have faced on home soil this campaign; nevertheless, they will leapfrog their opponents by taking maximum points from the affair.

Aston Villa's next five Premier League fixtures

Opponent

Venue

Manchester City (H)

Villa Park

Arsenal (H)

Villa Park

Brentford (A)

Gtech Community Stadium

Sheffield United (H)

Villa Park

Manchester United (A)

Old Trafford

Looking ahead to January, fresh information has come to light involving the future of one of Aston Villa's key players, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa set enormous Douglas Luiz asking price

According to FootballTransfers reporter Steve Kay, Aston Villa have now set a whopping £110 million price tag for midfielder Douglas Luiz amid interest in his services from elsewhere, with NSWE seemingly pulling no punches when it comes to the future of their star midfielder.

Arsenal have been keen admirers of the Brazil international for a long time and will once again attempt to firm up their attraction towards Luiz come January; nevertheless, they will now need to shell out more than the £105 million they paid to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United in the summer window.

This term, the 25-year-old has been in brilliant form for the Villans, registering six goals and four assists from 22 appearances in all competitions (Luiz statistics – Transfermarkt).

Pundit Paul Merson has clearly been impressed by his exploits at the heart of Emery's midfield, labelling him an "underrated" player on social media platform X.

Averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.22/10 for his performances in the Premier League this campaign, Aston Villa are well within their rights to demand a colossal fee for Luiz due to his consistent form (Luiz statistics – WhoScored).

Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson has recently been linked with an exit, and a reliable journalist has dropped an update on the chances of him leaving in January.

Ferguson's incredible breakout at Brighton…

Back in 2021, Ferguson first joined the club’s academy and he’s since worked his way up through the ranks to become a regular feature of the first-team, where he’s so far made a total of 43 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Ferguson statistics).

The Republic of Ireland international only recently signed a new long-term contract that runs until 2028 – and it contains no release clause – so that will be music to the ears of supporters, but that won’t stop potential suitors from trying their luck.

The Seagulls centre-forward has emerged as Roberto De Zerbi’s best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Brighton statistics), and his high standard of displays have brought him onto the radar of five clubs in the Premier League.

According to reports, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in a deal for the 19-year-old, whilst Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are also believed to have joined the race for his services, but if the following update is to be believed, it will take a lot to prise him away from the south coast in January.

Fabrizio Romano shares update on Ferguson

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Ferguson is happy at Brighton and currently isn't looking to leave to join a rival in England.

"We keep seeing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. I can confirm that big clubs like these are following Ferguson, because he’s a top talent, but it’s just normal scouting and monitoring – it would be surprising if they weren’t keeping an eye on an exciting young player like him!

"There is, however, nothing more concrete to report for the moment. Ferguson only recently signed a new contract with Brighton, so he’s fully focused on them. I’m told he’s really happy at Brighton and sees it as the best place for him to develop now, as we’ve seen with so many other top young players there in recent times.”

During his time at Brighton, Ferguson has posted 19 direct contributions (15 goals and four assists) in 43 appearances at senior level, which shows how prolific he can be in the opposition’s box, but it’s not just his finishing that he has to offer when leading the line.

Standing at 6 foot 2, De Zerbi’s talisman currently ranks in the 97th percentile for pass completion so he has extremely strong link-up play with his fellow teammates in the attacking areas of the pitch (FBRef – Ferguson statistics).

Furthermore, Ferguson’s ability to operate in five different positions over the field, including everywhere across the frontline and even as an attacking midfielder, makes him easily able to adapt to the manager’s demands, so it’s important that the club do everything they can to retain his services beyond January.

The England pair will face their hearing on December 5 and 7 and could be handed bans

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2018Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have been charged by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) with bringing the game into disrepute for their parts in the brawl that took place outside a Bristol nightclub last September.They will attend a private hearing in front of a three-man CDC panel, chaired by former Derbyshire batsman Tim O’Gorman, on December 5 and 7. The other members of the panel are Chris Tickle, a former employment tribunal judge, and Mike Smith.Each player has been charged with two counts of breaching ECB directive 3.3 which states: “No Participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute.”The CDC has the remit to impose penalties ranging from an unlimited fine or suspension and termination of registration.The hearing has been scheduled between England’s two overseas tours – Sri Lanka and West Indies – which means that Stokes and Hales remain available for the Sri Lanka tour. However, the panel could hand down bans to either or both players so it remains to be seen what their availability will be beyond that.Stokes was found not guilty of affray at Bristol Crown Court last month following a week-long trial. Having missed the Lord’s Test against India he was then immediately made available for England again and played in the remaining three matches. Following the brawl he missed the end of last year’s ODI series against West Indies and the full tour of Australia before returning against New Zealand.Hales, who only missed two ODIs against West Indies, was not arrested at the time of the incident outside Mbargo nightclub and was not on trial, although his name came up regularly during the trial. His role in the events was brought into question by Stokes’ lawyer who raised the possibility that the injuries sustained by Ryan Ali could have been caused by Hales.There was also police bodycam footage shown to the jury in which Hales claimed he had only arrived on the scene after the fight.Stokes and Hales were referred to the CDC shortly after the incident last September but the hearing was put on hold while criminal proceedings were active. The hearing will come four months after Stokes’ trial finished but the complexity of the case has meant all sides have needed time to prepare evidence.

West Ham United could be set for a major boost off the field after recent developments emerged regarding one of their star men's contract situation.

What's the latest news involving West Ham United?

According to EXWHUEmployee, reported via The West Ham Way, Hammers academy star Daniel Rigg is set to sign a long-term extension to his current deal at the London Stadium, which will be his first professional contract.

EXWHUEmployee explained the latest news surrounding Rigg, stating to the outlet: "I can report that Daniel Rigge is now on the brink of signing a deal with the club. He’s a highly sought after young midfielder, with us outdoing Manchester City to secure him on a scholarship, which is now close to be announced as a permanent contract."

Following their narrow 1-0 victory over Lincoln City on Wednesday night in the third round of the Carabao Cup, West Ham will now face Arsenal at home in either late October or early November as David Moyes looks to bring more silverware to east London after his side's heroics in the Europa Conference League last term.

Next up for the Irons is a home clash against out-of-form Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday, where Paul Heckingbottom's men travel south with hopes of avenging an embarrassing 8-0 defeat inflicted upon them by Newcastle United last Sunday.

Aaron Cresswell could be missing for their latest encounter as the Hammers don't want to risk the veteran defender suffering a reoccurrence of his persistent hamstring troubles, according to Dr Rajpal Brar writing in his column for West Ham Zone.

Dr Brar, who is an expert in Physical Therapy and Sports Science, stated: "I doubt the club will have him play a full 90 on his return if fit for the weekend as hamstring injuries require methodical adaptation due to reinjury risks."

Is Jarrod Bowen signing a new contract at West Ham United?

According to West Ham reporter Sean Whetstone on social media platform X, otherwise known as West Ham Football, Jarrod Bowen's agency are holding out for a new contract for the England international that may see him become the highest earner at the club.

Whetstone said: "Jarrod Bowen's representatives PLG are holding out for a new West Ham deal to make the 26-year-old one of the highest or not the highest paid Hammers in the squad. Negotiations are expected to be concluded in the next few months to tie Bowen down to a long-term West Ham contract. His current contract expires in June 2025."

Bowen, who has previously been labelled "brilliant" by West Ham boss Moyes, has started the Premier League campaign in 2023/24 in strong fashion, registering four goals and one assist in his opening six fixtures in the English top flight, as per Transfermarkt.

Proving to be a very difficult customer for defenders to contend with, Bowen has averaged around 2.7 shots and 1.5 dribbles per match this season, according to WhoScored.

Being able to tie Bowen down would be a huge statement of intent from West Ham moving forward and it will be intriguing to see whether the Hammers can nail the 26-year-old down on a longer contract.

The second annual All-MLB Weekend presented by MGM Rewards is taking place in Las Vegas, highlighted by the All-MLB Awards Show on Thursday night . Comedian Roy Wood Jr. is back to host for a second straight year as the program brings current baseball stars and former legends together to celebrate the season and those who exceled. And with an incredible year in the rearview, capped by a spectacular World Series, there's plenty of good vibes.

Wood, a lifelong baseball fan himself, spoke to about hosting the unique event, how the sport helped him find his comedic voice and what he hopes the annual event can become.

Sports Illustrated: What's your personal history with baseball? What's it meant to your life?

Roy Wood Jr.: I started playing Little League like most kids about first grade or so and just never left it. I got cut my freshman year of high school and still stayed on to be an equipment manager for varsity just so I could watch. Just so I could see if Let me watch them and then maybe that will get me better. It did not get me better but it is where I developed my sense of humor.

SI: Why do you say that? Just being in the dugout with the guys or what?

RW: Yeah, you know man, growing up in the 90s heckling was a form of art. I would literally sit and think of angles all day in class. We would then walk to the field that night or that evening and just yell them. So the objective became to make the opposing parents laugh or to get the umpire to break. If you got the umpire to break then that's the same as a standing ovation at Radio City. It had to be really insane. We would talk about your car, your clothes. We would talk about parents. It didn't matter. We were trying to win, so I need you angry at me so you swing at this slider outside.

But also my father did a radio show with Ernie Banks for some years in Chicago in the 70s. Coming home from school and all of that, it was nothing for the Cubs to just be on. And in those days in the South‚ in Birmingham, Cubs and Braves was all you're getting. You can root for whomever else you want but you ain't going to see them until they play the Cubs or the Braves. That became, to a degree, the thing that was always on in the background of my childhood. I just fell in love with the sport. As I got older and started doing standup, I've always just been pretty open with my baseball fandom.

SI: When you're getting to hang out with the players who are the top of the sport, do you go back and think about what it would mean to the kid who was cut in high school or had the game on in the background? How do you go about putting a show on together with guys?

RW: Baseball was the one thing that I could always come back to. Calm. Peace. I use it as a tool to help teach my son how to deal with failure. It's something that we use to grow closer. To be trusted by Major League Baseball to host the night where the best players from that year are honored while the best players from yesteryear are in attendance, I have to pinch myself. Like, I met and had drinks with Fred McGriff. Then turned around and walked on stage and did a joke about him only having 493 home runs and then turned and saw Fred McGriff laughing.

Because these are the people who have brought me so much joy, there's an air of reciprocity in it. I remember owning a Sports Illustrated For Kids in 1989 that had Ken Griffey Jr. on the cover. I'm performing for the men whose batting stances I imitated. Gary Sheffield is going to be there. Everyone was doing that bat flip. Him and Julio Franco, those were my two over-the-head batting stance guys. Baseball, I think separate and apart from a lot of other sports, baseball is a very specific fraternity of people who only deal with folks who get it. I honestly do not feel like this is the type of award show that anyone could do. You have to have a legitimate appreciation for what has been accomplished. And have a little know-how about it. In terms of meaningful gigs that I have hosted, it's top of the list, even more so than the White House Correspondents Dinner. I think the big difference was that this is a night of love, appreciation and revelry. I'm not going to roast everybody and do a bunch of mean jokes. We're going to celebrate.

SI: Athletes aren't together in a big group like this very frequently. This being in the offseason, with the competition in the past, I would imagine you could feel that fraternity you mentioned.

RW: Yeah, and it felt like that last year. Bartolo Colon is hanging out with Ronald Acuna. Where else would you see that unless Colon was at a Mets-Braves game where he's being honored for something. And even then, Ronald's mind is on preparing for the game. It's interesting because this isn't something that's been done often by Major League Baseball. To even attempt something like this and have players agreeing to come out and kick it is cool. If you're going to get Mookie Betts in the room, then make it worthwhile. The fact that Mookie is there and I get to have a quick conversation with him about almost having his left arm ripped off at Yankee Stadiu. There's nowhere else we can sit as a baseball family and reflect and laugh about the season while paying tribute to a lot of players who busted their ass this year.

SI: How does prepping for something like this and the writing process compare to the White House Correspondents Dinner?

RW: It's very simple. The Correspondents Dinner is a critique of the people in the room. All-MLB is a celebration of the people in the room. Once you start from that magnetic north, everything that you do after that is all in a celebratory place. It really is about wanting the players to loosen up a bit and also trust me. The job title of comedian carries a lot of preconceived assumptions. To just hold the job title of comedian and host doesn't mean you're going to be trusted out there. To be able to come back Year 2 means I did something right. What I really hope for awards to come is that the players themselves all want to come out and hang out. Let that be their bar after the season. Let it be a proper week of hanging out and playing golf with your buddies. Even if you don't come to the show, just come be in Vegas. See a lot of your friends and treat it like that pizza party at the end of the school year.

SI: Or like that travel ball coach who has his crew under a gazebo in the park, breaking it all down.

RW: Right. That last week at the end of the season when you're at a Golden Corral getting trophies. As it grows I really believe this event is going to be the place for current players and veterans to all sit and just feel the love that they have for each other. Let it be the thing other players see and think they missed out on.

Stats preview of the fifth and final Test between England and Australia at The Oval

Siddhartha Talya19-Aug-2009The venue for the first Test to be staged in England, in 1880, between the same two teams, will host the Ashes decider. There have been six previous occasions of these two teams coming in to a final Test at The Oval with the series tied, but this is the first such instance since 1953. On each of these occasions there’s been a decisive result, with England winning four of them and losing two.

Final-Test Ashes deciders at The Oval

YearWinnerSeries Result1896England2-11912England1-01926England1-01930Australia2-11934Australia2-11953England1-0England’s heavy defeat at Headingley means Australia only need a draw to retain the Ashes, and with almost 40% of Tests played at The Oval being drawn, England face a stiff task on what is likely to be a good batting pitch. Another discouraging fact for the hosts is that Surrey’s four home Division Two County Championship games this year at The Oval were all drawn.The teams, though, have contrasting records at the venue. England have largely been dominant; Australia have won six and lost 15. But three of the four Ashes Tests here since 1990 have been dead rubbers while the fourth, in 2005, was a draw which helped England regain the urn after 16 years.

England and Australia at The Oval

TeamTestsWonLostDrawnWin-loss RatioEngland (overall)913718362.05Australia (overall)34615130.40England (since 1990)199541.80Australia (since 1990)41210.50The Australian seamers made the most of favourable conditions at Headingley but are likely to face a more serious challenge at The Oval. The pitches at the venue, generally, have been the best for batting among the Test venues in England and teams, since 2000, have averaged more per wicket here – barring Cardiff which has hosted just one Test – than anywhere else in the country. Unlike Headingley, where many of England’s batsmen have below-par records, The Oval’s been highly productive.The highest batting average here among England’s current squad, though, belongs to Steve Harmison, who averages 119. Andrew Strauss would want to better his average of 37.55 but both Alastair Cook and Andrew Flintoff, who plays his last Test, average more than 50. Paul Collingwood’s done considerably better at The Oval, at 39.33, than he has at Headingley, though Ian Bell’s average is a disappointing 30.75. Mark Ramprakash’s name had been doing the rounds for a possible No.3 spot; he’s enjoyed a prolific county season where he’s averaged 100.75 in nine Championship games so far, but in Tests his returns at The Oval have been more modest – an average of 33 in seven matches. (Click here for England’s individual records at The Oval.)The relative ease with which batsmen have flourished at this ground is mirrored by the partnership stats for England: each of the first six wickets have averaged over 40 since 2000, with the opening stand topping the list with 59.12. There have also been 12 century-stands for the first five wickets for England in the same duration.

England batsmen at The Oval

BatsmanTestsRunsAverage100s/50sSteve Harmison5119119.000/0Alastair Cook333355.500/3Andrew Flintoff426753.400/3Paul Collingwood423639.330/2Andrew Strauss533837.551/2Ian Bell524630.750/3Only four Australians in the current squad have played a Test at The Oval. Ricky Ponting has scored just one half-century in four innings at the ground, averaging 39.25, while his deputy, Michael Clarke, made 25 in his only attempt here. Simon Katich made just 1 in the 2005 Test and Brett Lee, in the two games he’s played here, has bagged only two wickets at 127.50. (Click here for Australia’s individual records at The Oval.)Harmison leads the bowling honours at the ground too – he is the highest wicket-taker, with 22 in five Tests at an average of 26. In terms of averages, he is trumped by Stuart Broad, who took five wickets in his only Test at the venue at 20.80. Flintoff bagged 5 for 78 against Australia in 2005 while James Anderson has two four-fors. The track at The Oval takes more spin than other English grounds but Monty Panesar’s figures have been disappointing: he’s taken seven wickets here at 51.57.

England bowlers at The Oval

BowlerTestsWicketsAverageStrike-rateBest figuresStuart Broad1520.8036.45-104Steve Harmison52226.0047.46-46Paul Collingwood4327.0054.02-24James Anderson41831.7749.74-52Andrew Flintoff41133.1863.85-78Monty Panesar3751.5796.72-4Ryan Sidebottom1193.00192.01-93Like Panesar, spinners, for the most part, have had a tough time at The Oval despite the venue’s reputation. At grounds that have hosted more than five Tests in England since 2000, spinners have conceded more runs on average here, and at Headingley, than anywhere else. Shane Warne has taken three five-fors and two ten-wicket hauls in two Tests here, and his wickets make for more than a third of those taken by spinners since 2000. While Headingley redresses the balance by aiding seamers considerably, The Oval’s been the harshest – again, excluding Cardiff – on fast bowlers since 2000.

Pace and Spin at The Oval since 2000

Bowling typeOversWicketsAverage5w/10wPace2083.118736.834/0Spin836.16144.194/2In the last nine Tests at The Oval, the side winning the toss has batted on seven occasions, winning four of those games and drawing three. Teams are most productive in the first innings, where they average 45.17 per wicket, explaining the toss trends. The pitch has displayed a tendency to remain true throughout the match, and sides chasing have generally taken advantage, averaging 42.85 in the fourth innings. (Click here for the second and third innings stats.)

Former domestic and international colleagues recall their favourite Sourav Ganguly moments

10-Nov-2008
Time spent in the domestic circuit reflected in Sourav Ganguly’s Test debut at Lord’s © Getty Images
Billy Bowden, umpireTo be a good winner you have be a gracious loser. From my experience with Sourav he was gracious on both occasions and always had a prince’s smile. To captain your country you must have natural talent and respect from your colleagues. As an umpire, he had my respect. I told him after the game today ‘I can show you a good time in New Zealand’. With a smile he said, ‘Really? Are you sure?’ I said, ‘Yes no third umpire needed’.Kapil Dev, former India coachThat evening in 2002, standing on the Lord’s balcony, when Sourav took off his shirt and waved to start wild celebrations was a remarkable moment. I can never forget it. For the people of older generation like me it was a tremendous occasion. It marked the beginning of a new India. What was really surprising was here was a team’s captain, and not just any player, who had decided to bare his emotions in such a public fashion and that, too, at such an historic venue. It was just unbelievable and fantastic.Javagal Srinath, fomer India team-mateThe Sourav Ganguly people saw in 1991 and the one who came back in 1996 were completely different and people’s perception about him changed in his second coming. Nothing surprised more than that. He had transformed in his game, but, importantly he was on top of his game during those four to five years on the domestic circuit. It’s always good to spend time in domestic cricket to gain experience in those early years, but he performed consistently and that showed in his century at Lord’s on his Test debut.Saba Karim, former Bengal and India team-mateI was Sourav’s captain during the beginning of his domestic career and also played under him. Before his Test debut in 1996 he was a player, who, at times, could be nervous, someone who was not sure of his own ability. But once he started to play for India regularly he found that belief easily. After a good performance in an ODI series in Pakistan [Wills Trophy] he turned up to lead Bengal in a Ranji game against Orissa on a what was a sub-standard pitch. Though he failed in the ODI and and later in the first innings of the four-day game, he came out stronger when it was the most crucial. We were set small target in a low-scoring game and Ganguly decided to push himself up to the No. 3 from his usual No. 5. He made only 30, the second highest in the innings, but the way he took the responsibility on himself calmed the nerves of his team-mates. That day I felt his transformation from a domestic to international cricketer was complete. It showed me how he had held his own to stay put and had learned quickly from playing for the country.Andy Flower, former Zimbabwe captainWhen he used to play a left-arm spinner, not one particular, I was always amazed at his power of hitting over the boundary especially since the ball was coming into him. That to me was my favourite Sourav Ganguly moment.Deep Dasgupta, fomer Bengal team-mateWhen he was dropped from the Irani Cup he was obviously upset as he had been looking forward to play the Australian series. Even before his omission he had been working really hard. Despite the disappointment and his stature he didn’t give up. Next day, he was back to his usual training. That spoke a lot about his dedication, his passion. He just set an example for everyone. That spoke a lot about his personality and his character.

When Todd Boehly completed his takeover of Chelsea in 2022, his arrival was filled with excitement and apprehension but fast-forward 17 months, and the Blues have gone through turmoil on the back of their disastrous spending in the transfer window.

From finishing 12th in the Premier League last season after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard all had spells as head coach, they now lie in the bottom half under Mauricio Pochettino.

What's more alarming is the fact that the Blues have gone backwards as a club despite spending an eye-watering £1bn on 33 new signings since May 2022 and according to Jamie Carragher, still need at least four top players if they are to stand any chance of catching Manchester City.

Astronomical spending without significant returns on their outlay isn't a concept that is alien to Chelsea. In the near two decades that Roman Abramovich owned the club, the Russian shelled out large sums of money on several stars who flopped at Stamford Bridge, including Fernando Torres (£50m), Tiemoue Bakayoko (£40m) and Timo Werner (£45m) – to name a few – but by far the worst of the lost was the deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the club in 2021.

How much did Romelu Lukaku cost Chelsea?

Romelu Lukaku declared he had "unfinished business" when he returned to Chelsea from Inter Milan in 2021 for a club-record fee of £97.5m.

The Belgian "monster" – as dubbed by Jose Mourinho during his time at Manchester United – arrived in west London when his stock was at its highest having chalked up a sensational 40 goal contributions in one season for Inter prior to joining the Blues.

Expected to fire Thomas Tuchel's side to a Premier League title on the back of their Champions League triumph over Manchester City, Chelsea paid Lukaku a staggering £325k-per-week, making him the club's highest earner, as per Capology.

Amounting to an eye-watering salary of £16.9m across the 2021/22 campaign, the weight of expectation on the shoulders of the 6 foot 3 powerhouse was enormous and a return to Stamford Bridge would either make or break him.

Unfortunately, the latter transpired as Lukaku would go down as one of the worst signings, not just in the club's history, but of all-time.

What went wrong for Lukaku at Chelsea?

Although Lukaku's disastrous spell on the books of Chelsea is still ongoing, initially it looked as though Tuchel would be a match made in heaven for the striker as he opened his account for the club with three goals in as many matches, including a brace against Aston Villa.

Speaking after his excellent display against the Villans, Tuchel expressed his delight, saying: “He was the difference.

“He wants to score and he wants to help the team with his goals. He has composure and confidence. He was super important. He adds something to the group that we did not have in this capacity before now.”

While Lukaku was playing with a point to prove in those initial matches, his second spell at Stamford Bridge would soon unravel into a nightmare, beginning with an injury in late October and continuing when he publicly admitted – months after he signed – that he wasn't happy with his situation at Chelsea, suggesting Tuchel has opted to play a system that doesn't suit his style of play.

"Physically I am fine. But I'm not happy with the situation at Chelsea," Lukaku told Sky in Italy [Via talkSPORT] in an interview that took place in December 2021.

"Tuchel has chosen to play with another system – I won't give up, I'll be professional. I am not happy with the situation but I am professional – and I can't give up now."

If the knife wasn't already stabbed into Tuchel's back enough, he went deeper by saying he regrets the way he left former club Inter Milan and vowed to go back to the San Siro – and would be granted his wish in the following season as he returned on loan, with the Italian side paying £6.9m (€8m) for his services.

Now on loan at Roma, linking up with former manager Mourinho, Lukaku has scored four goals in his first six appearances for the club as Chelsea hope to finally offload their "biggest flop" – as dubbed by the journalist Jonny Bentley – once and for all. That won't be before he's cost them the best part of £114m, though, when considering salary and transfer fee.