Tottenham Hotspur love a deadline day signing under Daniel Levy and, well, they’ve made another one.

On Monday, Spurs completed the signing of striker Randal Kolo Muani, arriving on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, costing a €5m (around £4.3m) loan fee, with no option or obligation to buy included.

This certainly gives Thomas Frank plenty of choice when it comes to his centre-forward position, with Richarlison having started all four matches in that position so far, including the UEFA Super Cup, bagging a brace on the opening day of the Premier League season against Burnley.

That’s not to mention Dominic Solanke, who joined Spurs as recently as last summer for £65m, but has seen just 49 minutes of action so far this season, spread across three substitute appearances, although he remains a contender for serious minutes.

However, will Tottenham still rue selling one of the highest-scoring players in Europe since the start of last season, one that could have flourished in North London had he not moved on?

What Randal Kolo Muani will bring to Tottenham

Tottenham will become the fifth club Kolo Muani has represented in just six seasons, searching for a more permanent home.

His major breakthrough came at Nantes, scoring 12 Ligue goals in 2021/22 for the Canaries, earning a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, who snapped him up as a free agent.

Well, one season and 23 goals later, Kolo Muani joined Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth, potentially, as much as £78m on deadline day of 2023, but this has not proved to be a shrewd investment from les Rouge-et-Bleu.

Never truly in Luis Enrique’s plans, the Frenchman scored just 11 goals in 54 PSG appearances, spending the second half of last season out on loan at Juventus, for whom he bagged a more than respectable ten goals in 22 outings, eight of which came in Serie A. He most recently scored a brace against Al Ain during the Club World Cup.

Now though, having scored goals in Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and Serie A, he’ll be looking to add the Premier League to this list, hoping to make his Tottenham debut against West Ham after the international break.

Well, perhaps Spurs would never have needed to sign Kolo Muani, had they not sold one of their best academy products of recent times.

Ex-Tottenham striker free-scoring in Europe

Having scored 17 goals in 15 appearances for the U18s, as well as nine goals in nine UEFA Youth League outings, there was plenty of excitement from within the Tottenham fan base about Troy Parrott, even before his senior debut in September 2019.

Nevertheless, despite being free-scoring at youth level, the Irishman made just four senior Spurs appearances, loaned out to Millwall, Ipswich, Milton Keynes and Preston, before exploding in the Netherlands.

During the 2023/24 season, on loan at Excelsior, Parrott scored a total of 17 Eredivisie goals, averaging a goal every 127 minutes, made all the more impressive by the fact that his team finished third-bottom, subsequently netting seven times during the play-offs, including four in the final, but this was in vain as the Rotterdam-based side were relegated, defeated 7-6 on aggregate by NAC Breda.

This though, caught the attention of bigger Dutch clubs, including AZ Alkmaar, who agreed to pay €8m (around £6.7m) to sign him permanently from Tottenham last summer.

Well, the Cheeseheads are certainly glad they made this decision, given that the Republic of Ireland international scored 20 goals last season, four of which came in the Europa League, on target against Elfsborg, Ferencváros, Galatasaray and Roma.

Well, Parrott has started this season absolutely on fire, netting ten times already, including seven in five Conference League qualifying outings, as well as a brace on the opening day of the Eredivisie season against Groningen.

The table below documents how prolific he has been since joining AZ.

As the table documents, Parrott is keeping quite illustrious company when it comes to players who’ve scored 30 or more goals across all competitions since the start of last season, with the Irishman skyrocketing up that leaderboard following his exploits last month.

For comparison, Kolo Muani has scored 12 goals during the same timeframe.

Former Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has certainly been impressed by Parrott’s form in the Eredivisie, labelling him a “striker who actually has everything”, impressed by his “killer instinct” in front of goal.

Thus, the Republic of Ireland international could prove to be the one that got away for Spurs fans, even if they’ll be pleased to see him thriving over in the Netherlands.

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1

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 1, 2025

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Newcastle United were dealt a cruel blow when Manchester United defeated Manchester City to lift the FA Cup.

The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, and would not have played in European competition had victory over their rivals at Wembley not rolled out the red carpet toward the Europa League.

This came at the expense of Eddie Howe’s Magpies, who had battled hard despite a startling number of injuries across the season to finish seventh. Their European place was lost.

And now it is back, and what better way for Newcastle to begin their Champions League campaign than against Barcelona, one of the most historic teams on the continent?

At St. James’ Park, a cauldron of ear-splitting noise, anything can happen. And Howe will have drilled into his players a belief that they can indeed win.

All will need to be at the races, and there will be confidence in Nick Woltemade’s ability to build on last weekend’s goalscoring debut appearance in black and white.

Nick Woltemade's fast start at Newcastle

Newcastle failed to escape their group in 2023/24, but it was a tough group, and United’s campaign was strewn with misfortune and contentious decisions.

This time, Howe and Newcastle are more experienced, with the manager remarking that his side are “arguably stronger” than they were two years ago, even having sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a £125m fee on transfer deadline day.

Woltemade fills big boots, but his game-winning goal against Wolves on Saturday shows he’s up to the task, all right, not just scoring but producing a dynamic display which proves he, too, can serve Howe as a multi-faceted forward.

Minutes played

68′

Goals

1

Touches

20

Shots (on target)

3 (1)

Accurate passes

8/9 (89%)

Key passes

1

Tackles

3

Ground duels

5/7

Aerial duels

3/4

The 6 foot 6 star belies his lofty frame with a deftness of touch and technical command of a nimble, shifty striker. Isak was also big and boisterous, but silky and agile too, and while they differ as forwards, it’s clear that Woltemade has the tools to emulate his predecessor on Tyneside.

A standout showing against La Blaugrana would help him toward that reputation, to be sure.

However, Woltemade is only 23 and still settling into a new environment. The German will start in the absence of the injured Yoane Wissa, but he will need his teammates to step up and help him perform – and who better to inspire the troops than Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park?

Bruno Guimaraes could be Newcastle's talisman

At Newcastle, Isak wasn’t just an elite goalscorer, but a striker whose skillset was disproportionately greater than his positional role demanded.

That is why he was sold for a British-record fee, having been a title-winning talisman for the Toon last season. Now, Guimaraes appears to be stepping up, becoming an even brighter leading light than before, and in a different way to the Sweden striker.

Against Liverpool, Newcastle were defeated, but the Brazilian midfielder was hailed for his effort, winning seven duels, making three tackles and nodding home United’s first of two strikes.

It hasn’t been a characteristically imperious start to the season for Guimaraes, but he’s a perennially athletic number eight whose completeness has been freed up by the form of Sandro Tonali in a deeper-lying berth.

The 27-year-old loves Newcastle, and his energy and passion permeate across the pitch. It is for this reason he wears the armband, and he matches his intensity with a technical level that has led to interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, and a ward-away price tag of £100m.

According to data-driven platform FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes, the top 2% for through balls and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Guimaraes’ passing and vision provide the root of Woltemade’s potential against the La Liga champions. The South American has been described as an athletic “machine” by Newcastle blogger Thomas Hammond, with his impressive 7.5 ball recoveries per Premier League match this term a testament to that.

If Woltemade fails to show up, or indeed is nullified by a strong Barcelona backline, it will damage Newcastle’s chances, but it won’t negate them.

However, Guimaraes’ ability to stand up and perform in the midfield battle will be vital for Howe’s side, and if he manages to replicate the passion and desire that was on show against Liverpool last month, there’s every chance that Newcastle will pull off one of their great European nights on Tyneside.

Guimaraes is the complete package, and, in the prime of his career, will be determined to make this a season to remember for United, having tasted success in the Carabao Cup last year.

Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three seasons, bookending a year that frustrated the club and left them adrift from continental football after Man United shocked a few at Wembley.

Still. Howe and his outfit have shown a remarkable ability to overcome adversity and work their way toward a nailed-down position among the biggest hitters that the Champions League has to offer.

A big performance against Barcelona would rubber-stamp their position, and if Guimaraes is on his A-game, Newcastle might just do it.

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ByAngus Sinclair Sep 17, 2025

Wales and Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow hopes to end his Wembley heartache against England – the country he once wanted to represent.

The Leeds stopper has twice been denied playing under the Wembley arch by red tape, at Newport in 2012 and in the 2023 Carabao Cup final for Newcastle.

Darlow was on loan from Nottingham Forest when he missed out on Newport’s FA Trophy final against York. The Exiles had failed to sign the then 21-year-old before the international clearance deadline and subsequently lost an appeal, claiming a paperwork delay was not their fault.

Over a decade later, Newcastle were unable to recall Darlow from a loan spell at Hull after Nick Pope had been ruled out of a Wembley date against Manchester United.

“I’ve been slightly unfortunate and it would be nice to finally tick it (Wembley) off the list.” Darlow said ahead of Wales’ friendly with England on Thursday.

“The Newport one was on the morning of the final. They were still waiting on confirmation and the manager Justin Edinburgh was optimistic it was going to be done.

“In the end I wasn’t even allowed to be part of the matchday squad and I watched the game in the stands. I’m 35 on Wednesday, so it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s one of the biggest and the best stadiums in the world. As a footballer you want to be playing in the biggest stadiums and testing yourself on that level.”

Darlow’s grandfather Ken Leek was a member of the 1958 Wales World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

Darlow once wanted to represent England over Wales

But Darlow was born in Northampton and grew up with aspirations to represent England, saying in a previous interview there “would be no bigger achievement”.

Having rejected previous attempts from Wales managers to get him on board, Craig Bellamy persuaded him to join up last year and he has since established himself as the number one goalkeeper and won eight caps.

Darlow enters the international break – Wales also play a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday – having started Leeds’ last four Premier League games.

He has taken over the gloves from the injured Lucas Perri and been in fine form, with one of his stops at Fulham nominated for September’s Premier League Save of the Month award.

“If you’re drip-fed a game here and a game there, it’s tough,” said Darlow.

“You like to get into a rhythm of playing week in, week out and knowing you can prepare properly for each and every single game

“It’s a massive plus that I’ve had a run of games now.”

Liam Dawson is set to play his first T20I for almost three years, while Tom Hartley has been picked as the frontline left-arm spinner in the 50-over format, as England name their squads for the forthcoming white-ball series against West Indies, which will be Harry Brook’s first as captain since taking over full-time from Jos Buttler.Brook’s tenure will begin with the first of three ODIs, at Edgbaston on May 29, with England looking to regroup after their calamitous Champions Trophy performance in Pakistan earlier this year, in which they were eliminated with three defeats out of three in the group stage.He will have Buttler alongside him in both formats, with the former captain back to form with the bat during a productive IPL campaign for Gujarat Titans. However, Liam Livingstone – who also stood in as England captain last year while Buttler was recovering from a calf injury – has been dropped from both squads after managing just 33 runs in three innings in the Champions Trophy.On the fast-bowling front, England have recalled Brydon Carse to both squads, after he was forced to undergo surgery on an injured toe, sustained during his hard-toiling efforts for the Test team in Pakistan and New Zealand last winter. Matthew Potts, who is in the Test squad for next week’s one-off match against Zimbabwe, is also named in both parties.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jofra Archer has also been named in the ODI squad, alongside fellow quicks Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton. However, Archer has been omitted for the three-match T20I series, which begins on June 6 – the same day as the second of two England Lions’ four-day fixtures against India at Northampton, in which he could feature as part of a potential return to Test action later this summer.Luke Wood, the Lancashire left-arm seamer, is instead named for the T20Is, his first return to the set-up since September 2023.Will Jacks, a notable omission from the Champions Trophy plans, is the beneficiary of Livingstone’s absence, as he returns to both squads, while Tom Banton, who was a surprise replacement for the injured Jacob Bethell for that tournament, is also named in both.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Phil Salt has been cut from the ODI squad, after struggling to convert his explosive 20-over batting into the longer format, but on the whole England have opted for 50-over continuity rather than a complete overhaul. Joe Root is retained as the senior batter, while Adil Rashid keeps his place as England’s premier legspinner, even at the age of 37. Rehan Ahmed, his heir apparent, is included alongside Rashid for the T20Is only.Although he is only set to feature in the T20Is, Dawson’s return at the age of 35 is significant. His allround form across formats has been outstanding in recent seasons, including at South Africa’s SA20 where he has been a title-winner with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in each of the first two editions, and he was last month named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for his county exploits with Hampshire in 2024.However, Dawson had not featured in England’s plans since November 2022, when he played the most recent of his six ODIs at Melbourne, in the immediate aftermath of the T20 World Cup win at the same venue a week earlier. He had been overlooked for that campaign, having also been a non-playing squad member for the 2019 win, and subsequently opted out of selection for England’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in early 2023 to honour his PSL commitments with Lahore Qalandars.The timing of the series could create further club versus country dilemmas for three members of the squad, however. Following last week’s suspension of the IPL, due to escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, the tournament final has now been pushed back to June 3 from its original May 25 date, meaning that Buttler (Gujarat Lions), Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Jacks (Mumbai Indians) – all of whom are involved in squads with realistic play-off ambitions – could conceivably miss the first two ODIs at least.England Men’s ODI squad: Harry Brook (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie SmithEngland Men’s T20I squad: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood

Aston Villa are now racing Chelsea for the signature of an “outstanding” ace, having conducted checks during the international break.

Villa keen on new defender after disappointing start

Just three games into the new Premier League season, Unai Emery clearly has real problems to deal with at both ends of the pitch, with his side failing to score and picking up just one point, which came on the opening day against Newcastle United.

Villa’s defensive deficiencies were also on display in the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out, with Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash both struggling, losing the majority of the duels they contested throughout the match.

It is still a little early to go into full panic mode, but after mainly strengthening in attacking areas during the summer, signing the likes of Evann Guessand, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho, the Villans have now set their sights on a new defender.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 11, 2025

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Aston Villa have been conducting checks on Joel Ordonez during the international break, sending a scout to watch the Ecuador international in action against Argentina.

The Villa delegation may well be happy with what they saw too, given that Ecuador picked up a surprise 1-0 victory in their World Cup qualifier against the reigning champions, but there is set to be competition for the Club Brugge defender’s signature.

Chelsea also had a scout in attendance to run the rule over Ordonez, who transfer expert Graeme Bailey described as an “outstanding young defender”, before going on to add:

“It is safe to assume that he will be leaving Club Brugge in 2026. He is going to the World Cup finals next summer, and I am told that he is almost certain to have gone before that point.”

The Ecuador star also confirmed late last year he is interested in joining a Premier League club, boosting Villa’s chance of getting a deal done.

Ordonez could be expensive signing for Aston Villa

The move may be a little on the pricey side, with previous reports suggesting the Club Brugge defender is valued at around £39m by the Belgian club, but there are signs that a deal could still be worth pursuing, with the starlet particularly impressive in possession.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year

Passes attempted

66.30 (87th percentile)

Pass completion %

91.6% (94th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.31 (92nd percentile)

Just 21-years-old, the youngster already has a great deal of first-team experience at Club Brugge, with 84 appearances to his name, including 12 in the Champions League last season.

The Ecuadorian put in an assured performance in his side’s 1-0 win against Argentina, making four clearances and two tackles, which resulted in a 7.2 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest of any player on the pitch.

Ordonez is showing maturity beyond his years, so it is promising news that Aston Villa retain an interest, and a January move should be considered if Emery is not able to solve the current defensive issues.

A well-known Hollywood actor has described his love for Liverpool as he prepares to wear a Reds shirt in his new movie alongside Bradley Cooper.

Famous Liverpool fans include James Bond and LeBron James

As one of the biggest clubs in the world, it is no great surprise that the Reds have famous supporters in all walks of life, whether it be sport, music or film, to name just a few.

Basketball icon LeBron James is a big Liverpool supporter, for example, and even owns a small stake in the club, while former James Bond star Daniel Craig has also discussed his love for the club in the past, even sending his best wishes to Jurgen Klopp after he left.

“In the few precious moments that I spent with you. Hand on heart, I said to myself, ‘I would follow that man anywhere’. Thank you for what you’ve done and achieved at Liverpool Football Club. It’s been quite a ride. Your ability to cut through the b******t and get to the heart of what really matters has inspired me and millions of people around the world. So wherever you go and whatever you do, I wish you and your family only joy.”

The likes of Damian Lewis, Millie Bobby Brown and Samuel L. Jackson are just some of the other world-renowned Liverpool fans, and now another has emerged.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Sep 29, 2025 Hollywood star to wear Liverpool shirt in new film

Now, Hollywood star Will Arnett has also been revealed as a Liverpool fan, with the Canadian a Reds “fanatic” after growing obsessed with them during the Klopp era.

In his new film starring and directed by Cooper, titled ‘Is This Thing On?’, Arnett will play a stand-up comedian, in a story inspired by the life of fellow Reds supporter and comedian John Bishop. In the trailer, he is seen wearing a Liverpool top, making sure those watching know where his allegiance lies.

Arnett is hoping to be among the contenders to win the Oscar for best actor at next year’s ceremony – wouldn’t it be nice if him winning the prize coincided with the Reds clinching back-to-back Premier League titles?

The 55-year-old is known for his various roles down the years, from Arrested Development to BoJack Horseman to Lego Batman, as well as co-hosting Smartless alongside friends Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, in one of the biggest podcasts in the world currently.

It’s always nice to know that Liverpool are being represented across the globe, and Arnett donning a Reds shirt when people flock to the cinema to see him will go down well with the fans.

KL Rahul finished his IPL 2025 season at seventh place on the Orange Cap table with 539 runs from 13 innings

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-20251:14

Kumble: ‘Mukesh has become one-dimensional now’

Orange Cap tableOf course, things might – and will, likely – change, but KL Rahul has now finished his IPL with 539 runs from 13 innings, giving him the seventh spot on the table. Of the PBKS batters in action on Saturday, Shreyas Iyer’s 53 took him to 488 runs and the tenth position, with Prabhsimran Singh just after him with 486 runs following his 28.On Sunday, the first match pits Gujarat Titans (GT) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, now Test team-mates, have a chance of adding to their tallies and even, perhaps, becoming the first to cross the 700-run mark this season. Sai Sudharsan is the Orange Cap holder with 638 runs, and Gill is just behind him with 636.Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI), Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals (RR) round off the top five. Marsh and Jaiswal, of course, are done for the season, giving Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), currently No. 6 with 548 runs, a chance to move up the table.Purple Cap tableNot much changed here either, though with GT vs CSK the afternoon game on Sunday, the two men who are tied at the top of the table with 21 wickets apiece – Prasidh Krishna and Noor Ahmad – will get a chance to get away from the other. For Prasidh, though, there are more games left in the competition, while for Noor, this is going to be his last appearance this season.MI’s Trent Boult is at No. 3 with 19 wickets, followed by RCB’s Josh Hazlewood with 18, and Varun Chakravarthy of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is at No. 5 with 17. Varun, too, will be in action on Sunday, in the night game, when KKR go up against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game. Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Most sixes Best bowling figures in a match

Despite having to settle for a 0-0 draw last time out in the Premier League, the vibes are still at an all-time high at Everton.

After all, on another day, the Toffees would have picked up another victory in that unfortunate stalemate versus Aston Villa, with David Moyes and Co. somehow squandering 20 efforts in total across the course of the frustrating clash.

With Everton sitting in a pretty sixth position at the moment, Moyes will be hopeful that the glory days of his previous long reign as boss are back to stay, with the much-loved Scotsman once consistently steering the Merseyside outfit to top-half finishes.

No relegation worries seem to be seeping in, with the former West Ham United boss-turned-returning Toffees manager even possessing his next Wayne Rooney now, arguably, to ramp up the nostalgia even more.

Rooney's heroics at Everton

Much like Moyes, Rooney would also return to Merseyside in 2017.

The celebrated attacker had gone on to Manchester United in 2004 and won trophies galore, with a sublime tally of 253 goals and 142 assists coming his way. Safe to say, Rooney was correct to originally leave his hometown club behind, even if it was so early into his fledgling career.

He still showed he could turn on the style on his return, too, with this memorable effort against West Ham United, sending the Goodison Park masses into raptures.

Across the full 40 games on his return, there were no signs that his legs had gone, which might well have been a worry so deep into his esteemed playing days, with 13 goal contributions notched up in total, making it a special reunion for the magical forward.

Amazingly, despite Rooney being such an enigmatic, one-off presence on the pitch, Moyes might well feel he has his next coming of the entertaining great at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, even so early into life in their brand-new home.

Everton's new "game changer"

Everton fans will be far happier going to watch their team now than the gloom and doom tenure of Sean Dyche, with the attractive football being served up.

Indeed, away from firing blanks against the Villans last time out and Leeds United on the opening day, the Toffees have managed to bag an electric five goals from their other clashes this season, with Jack Grealish often at the heart of a vibrant attacking move working out.

Many would have surely anticipated that this move for Grealish to leave Manchester City for pastures new on Merseyside would pay off, with the former Villa midfielder a star on the same level as Rooney’s excellence when on top form.

But, nobody would have quite expected how easy the 30-year-old would find it to instantly hit the ground running in the manner he has.

From just five games under Moyes’ wing, Grealish already has a blistering four assists next to his name, with his split-second ability to carve out an opening or excite the Toffees contingent with an effort of his own making him a Rooney-like presence already.

To further validate the comparison point, it’s clear that Grealish – much like his revered counterpart – needed a switch like the one he sealed to Everton to get his waning career back on track, with the three-time Premier League winner losing his way somewhat in Manchester.

Similarly, it was clear from Rooney’s final few seasons at Old Trafford that he wasn’t the spritely star he once was, with rampant injuries often getting the better of him.

But, as is clear now with the two mavericks in question, form might be temporary, but class is permanent.

Grealish’s class has been so prominent so far at Everton that he has even been hailed as a “game changer” for his standout efforts by analyst Matt Smith.

Amazingly, this resurrection of the skilful Englishman might well stand him in good stead to be remembered as an all-time great in the Premier League, alongside Rooney, with the Toffees faithful already heralding him as an icon in the here and now, that’s for sure.

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By
Angus Sinclair

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RB Leipzig have placed a mammoth €100 million valuation on teenage winger Yan Diomande, just months after signing him for €20m. The Bundesliga club have no release clause in his deal and are sending a clear message to Europe's elite teams in the market, who are already circling the Ivorian sensation following his explosive start to the season in the Bundesliga.

Leipzig set Diomande asking price

Leipzig have placed a staggering €100 million (£86m/$117m) internal price tag on Diomande, sending a clear hands-off warning to Europe’s elite clubs just months after acquiring him for €20m (£17m/$23m). According to a report from , the Bundesliga club have quintupled their valuation of the 18-year-old Ivorian winger following his explosive start to life in Germany and are determined to make him their record transfer if he is to eventually depart.

AdvertisementgettyA €100m valuation to ward off suitors

The decision to internally value Diomande at a nine-figure sum is a strategic move by the Leipzig hierarchy to control the narrative surrounding their prized asset. With the winger already attracting significant attention, the club has set a benchmark designed to deter all but a select few potential buyers, with the report suggesting only the top five clubs in England and Paris Saint-Germain would have the financial capacity to enter a conversation at that price.

Crucially for Leipzig, they hold all the negotiating power. Sky confirms that Diomande’s long-term contract, which runs until June 2030, does not contain a release clause for the summer of 2026. This puts the Red Bulls in a commanding position, able to dictate the terms of any future sale without the risk of a rival activating a pre-agreed fee. The club’s intention is clear: Diomande will not be sold on the cheap, and any departure will be on their terms and for a club-record fee.

Diomande's explosive start in Germany

Diomande's rapid ascent has justified Leipzig's significant initial investment and their subsequent bold valuation. Described as a "street footballer" who excels in one-on-one situations, the right-footed inverted winger has electrified audiences with his direct running, dribbling ability, and powerful shot. After impressing throughout pre-season, he has seamlessly transitioned into the Bundesliga, making six appearances, including three starts, and accumulating 284 minutes of league action.

While he is yet to register a goal or assist in the league, he opened his account for the club with a goal in his only DFB-Pokal appearance, a clear sign of his attacking threat. His performances have been a mixture of raw talent and fearless attacking intent, regularly taking on multiple defenders and demonstrating the qualities that made him such a sought-after prospect.

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Sensational international debut for Ivory Coast

The winger's phenomenal club form did not go unnoticed on the international stage, earning him a rapid call-up to the Ivory Coast senior squad. During his presentation at Leipzig, Diomande had expressed a clear ambition, stating, "I dream of wearing the orange jersey of the Ivory Coast one day." He fulfilled that dream in spectacular fashion during the recent international break.

Handed his debut for the African side, Diomande made an immediate and sensational impact. He scored in both of his first two appearances for his country, finding the net against the Seychelles and Kenya in World Cup qualifiers. This instant success at senior international level has only served to further enhance his burgeoning reputation and validate Leipzig's belief that they have a future global superstar on their hands.

Morris claims 5 for 48 as Lancashire win by 101 runs

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-May-2025Lancashire recorded a third successive win by hammering Warwickshire by 101 runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition at Edgbaston.The visitors’ total of 276 for 8 was built by a strong start and finish. Emma Lamb, with 88 from 84 balls, and Katie Mack with 57 off 86, set the platform and, after a wobble induced by spinner Georgia Davis’s 3 for 45, Sophie Ecclestone’s half-century led a second wave which took the total from solid to imposing.Warwickshire then succumbed for 175 all out as Fi Morris took out numbers two, three and four in 12 balls on her way to 5 for 48 to sentence the home side to a third successive defeat.Related

The names in the frame as England women's new era begins

Ecclestone out, Wong in as England Women name squads to face West Indies

Capsey ton drags Surrey back from the brink for tie with The Blaze

After choosing to bat, Lancashire took an early hit when Eve Jones fell to the eighth ball, lbw to an inswinger yorker from George.Lamb and Mack responded assertively with a stand of 116 in 23 overs. They reached their half-centuries from 50 and 80 balls respectively before the innings faltered in the face of spin.Warwickshire captain Davis struck in her first over when Mack, deceived by flight, was stumped by wicketkeeper Abi Freeborn. Seren Smale was brilliantly caught at slip by George off Hannah Baker. Davis held a stinging return catch from Morris and drew a fatal outside edge from Ailsa Lister.When Lamb edged a pull at Issy Wong to Freeborn, five wickets had fallen for 49 runs in ten overs and, at 168 for 6, Lancashire needed shoring up.Experienced pair Ecclestone and Eleanor Threlkeld provided the necessary ballast and then impetus with a stand of 91 from 82 balls and, after Ecclestone heaved Em Arlott to long on, Katie Cross socked Wong into the Hollies Stand to carry on the revival.With Freeborn, injured while wicketkeeping, unable to open, Warwickshire sent in Charis Pavely with Sterre Kalis but the makeshift opener was first to go when she played on to Cross.Morris then torpedoed the top order with three wickets in 12 balls. Kalis and Davina Perrin sent up catches to mid off and mid on respectively and Natasha Wraith was stumped through a reckless slog.Bethan Ellis got a reverse sweep at Ecclestone all wrong and gave wicketkeeper Threlkeld the simplest of catches. Arlott embarked on a crazy second run and was only just past halfway when former team mate Grace Potts’ throw arrived.Morris returned to bowl George with a lovely ball and complete her five-for when Freeborn holed out to deep mid-wicket. It was an all-round performance from Lancashire which oozed conviction and emphatically staked their claim as contenders for the inaugural County Championship title this season.