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Tottenham Hotspur need to improve across the second half of the 2025/26 campaign, 13th in the Premier League after the midpoint and yet to kindle a sense of culture and identity under Thomas Frank.

It’s important to remember that the Danish tactician, who worked wonders in west London with Brentford, has had a mountain to climb down N17, with Spurs slumping to a 17th-place league finish with Ange Postecoglou last year, albeit winning the Europa League too.

But Frank hasn’t helped himself, unable to get an attacking tune out of his players. That needs to change this month, and the £35m sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace has been a first step toward that.

Spurs lining up Brennan Johnson replacement

It was Johnson who bundled in the winning goal against Manchester United in Bilbao to end so many years of silverware-searching. That was the Welshman’s 18th of the season, but he’s fallen flat since the summer.

Johnson has a natural goal sense, but his overall play simply hasn’t been good enough, and that’s why Frank has allowed him to go.

But a replacement is now needed.

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are growing increasingly confident that they might be able to act on their long-standing interest in Manchester City winger Savinho, whose future at the Etihad is in jeopardy amid Pep Guardiola’s bid to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

Tottenham enquired last summer, but to no avail. Now, a deal could be struck, but for a rather hefty £63m fee.

Why Savinho could be a star at Spurs

In 2024, Manchester City signed Savinho from sister club Troyes for about £31m, and he made quite a positive impression throughout his debut campaign in England, providing energy and pace and creative impetus.

He’s tapered away from that exciting level this season, but Savinho has been used sporadically, only starting six times in the Premier League.

Even so, the 21-year-old still ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his potential as one of the most athletic wide forwards in the business.

Hailed for his “electric turn of pace” by City-focused content creator Steve McInerney, Savinho has all he needs to become a standout winger for Tottenham, with his specific skillset perhaps even comparable to Gareth Bale back in the retired Welshman’s heyday.

Bale needs no introduction. One of the finest players of his generation, the Wales legend left Spurs for Real Madrid in a world record deal back in 2013, returning for a nostalgic stint in 2020/21.

Savinho has a long way to go before he can be considered in the same breath, but he’s immensely talented and unquestionably one of the fleetest wingers in the game, sharing qualities with the Tottenham icon in that regard.

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See, for example, how he ranks up against Johnson over the past year – it’s clear to see that he offers far more.

Savinho vs Johnson (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

Savinho

Johnson

Goals

0.09

0.39

Assists

0.20

0.04

Shots taken

2.20

1.08

Touches (att pen)

6.82

2.75

Pass completion (%)

80.5

67.4

Shot-creating actions

3.95

1.59

Progressive passes

2.56

2.19

Progressive carries

6.69

1.98

Successful take-ons

2.02

0.73

Recoveries

4.62

2.62

Tackles won

0.54

0.95

Data via FBref

Analyst Ben Mattinson has even singled the Brazilian winger out for being able to zip past opponents and complete the “type of Gareth Bale” finishes that drew such acclaim throughout his career.

Savinho isn’t there yet, but he notched eight assists from just 21 Premier League starts in his first year, and it’s worth remembering that Bale took some time to get going after his move from Southampton way back when.

If Tottenham succeed in landing and then harnessing such a player, they might just restore the kind of attacking intent craved and not seen for so many years.

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Subscription TV channel Setanta Sports have paid an undisclosed sum to secure the UK rights to the Indian Premier League. The tournament will mark their first foray into live cricket coverage.Setanta have recently expanded into Premier League football and launched their own dedicated sports news channel. They will broadcast all 59 IPL games from April 18 to June 1 with matches due to start at 9.30am, 1.30pm or 2.30pm UK time. They will also repeat the games in peak time.”The Indian Premier League is going to be massive. We’re absolutely thrilled to acquire these rights and add another major sport to Setanta’s programme line-up,” Trevor East, Setanta’s director of sport, told . “Twenty20 cricket has been a phenomenal success and this tournament, with all its world-class players, is sure to capture the imagination of sports fans young and old.”I firmly believe the IPL will become a highlight of the international sporting calendar for years to come. That’s why we’ve shown our commitment to it by signing a five-year deal.”Currently there aren’t any England players involved in the IPL due to the clash with tours and the start of the domestic season.

Tom Moody: ‘It is not an easy one [pitch] to adapt to, but we have done that with both bat and ball, gotten over some tricky hurdles’ © Getty Images

Tom Moody, the former Australian batsman who’s currently coaching Sri Lanka, has said the toss could turn out to be a vital factor in Friday’s crucial clash against India at Port-of-Spain. He added that his side wouldn’t take the game lightly, especially since the result would have a bearing on carrying forward points to the Super Eight stage.”The toss will be important, particularly given that the teams are evenly matched,” Moody said, taking into account a bout of showers that had washed the Queen’s Park Oval on match eve. “You can get away with losing the toss against a team not as good as you are, but in a game like this, the toss may be pretty important. We want to see the overhead conditions and the wicket before we decide on the final combination. There has been a bit of rain today and that may have a bit of a bearing, but I really can’t see massive changes to the side.”Moody was glad that his batsmen had adapted well to the sluggish Trinidad pitch, something which couldn’t be said of India’s batsmen in their opening match against Bangladesh. “We have had two good games, and are looking forward to finishing off positively. There is a lot of confidence within the team, and the one big advantage we have is that we have played good cricket on this wicket. It is not an easy one to adapt to, but we have done that with both bat and ball, gotten over some tricky hurdles.”.”It is not about India, as far as we are concerned. It’s about Sri Lanka, and what we can take out of this game. It is the biggest game of the competition so far for Sri Lanka. We need to carry forward points to the next stage, and whether it is at the expense of India is not important.”As India’s team management pondered over their spin-bowling options for the game, Moody felt that Anil Kumble, a bowler who’s gone wicketless in his last four matches against them, might be a bigger threat than Harbhajan Singh, the offspinner. “We have all played Harbhajan over the last two years in both Test and one-day cricket ona pretty regular basis. India might even play both their spinners. It is going to be a challenge. Kumble is a wonderful, experienced bowler and he had a verygood game against Bermuda. He will perhaps provide a greater challenge.”India’s captain Rahul Dravid’s didn’t buy the argument about Sri Lanka being the favourites. “I don’t think we are weaker than Sri Lanka in any department. We are evenlymatched sides and it will depend on who plays well on the given day. It will be a littledifferent playing them at a neutral venue, but we have played them 10-12 times in the last one and a half years and both sides know the strengths and weaknessesof each other. We have done well in the past against them in neutral venues, like in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, and we can take confidence from thosegames.”

ScorecardNamibia’s bowlers gave their team a real chance to beat Nepal with a strong allround performance on the third day. But with the first day already lost to rain, when play begins on the fourth day, they will have to work quickly if they are to force a result. After bowling out Nepal for 143 in their first innings, Namibia now have a lead of 139 to take into the final day.Things didn’t begin so well for the home side at Windhoek after Deon Kotze failed to capitalise on his dominance of the day before. Starting the day on 90 not out, he stumbled six short of his century, edging through off Binod Das.From there, Das ripped right through the Namibia tail to flatten them from a healthy 245 for 6 to an anaemic 272 all out. He did not stop till he had taken 6 for 80 from his 30.2 overs.But Nepal’s batsmen could not build on that good work. Namibia’s bowlers could – they rattled through the line-up to knock them over for 143. All six bowlers who were used bagged at least a wicket each. Paresh Lohani and Kanishka Chaugai gave Nepal a decent platform, putting on 46 for the opening wicket but when they both fell in quick succession, the batting subsided.JB Burger and Dawid Botha had time for a quick knock before the end and they emerged unscathed to take their team to 10 without loss, 139 runs ahead.

Shouldn’t that be 600?: Kevin Pietersen watches Hampshire from the stands © Getty Images

Shane Warne has teased Kevin Pietersen with the nickname “600” in honour of his approaching Test milestone. Warne needs 17 wickets to reach the mark and his needling of Pietersen is both playful and a sign he intends to chalk it up during the Ashes.Pietersen said Warne, his Hampshire team-mate, hoped he would get picked for the five-match series and has helped him deal with the pressures of being England’s “wonder boy” after his explosive one-day tour to South Africa. “It’s been such a relief having someone to talk to who’s experienced it all,” he told The Independent. “Warney has done everything. He’s earned his millions, had a ban, been caught doing this or that, and got 583 Test wickets. He’s nicknamed me 600 because he wants me as his 600th.”Warne has also been assisting Pietersen – and indirectly England – by telling him the side’s weaknesses. “He thinks the best way for England to beat them is by blooding some young players who aren’t brainwashed,” he told the paper. “He says he knows he’ll knock Graham Thorpe over, for instance, and that maybe England should choose some batters who aren’t used to being dominated by Australia.” Warne has dismissed Thorpe nine times in Tests, five behind Alec Stewart, his favourite English batsman.The reaction to Pietersen’s emergence has provoked full inboxes, and he is prepared to take advice from throughout the world. Greg Matthews, the former Australia offspinner, is another confidant from Pietersen’s two seasons in Sydney grade cricket.”He was talking to me about how I batted in South Africa,” he said. “He told me that my triggers are a bit too big, meaning my foot movement. So it’s a case of knuckling down to sort myself out.” But he was quick to say Mark Waugh based his career on playing through the legside. Supporters should not expect too many major changes whenever he makes his Test debut.

India 193 for 5 (Jaya Sharma 60) beat New Zealand 191 (Tiffen 57) by 5 wickets
Scorecard
A fine 60 from Jaya Sharma enabled India to chase down a modest target at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier, India’s spinners had kept the New Zealand batters on a tight leash, and only Haidee Tiffen provided much resistance in a disappointing innings.India might have lost the toss, but they took the ascendancy from the very first ball, when Maria Fahey was trapped leg-before by Amita Sharma. The batsmen prodded on thereafter, and the innings was in dire need of some impetus when Maia Lewis, the captain, fell in the 35th over (96 for 4)But a swift 34 – off just 35 balls – from Aimee Mason added respectability to the total and some sheen to the day’s proceedings. Mamta Maben, Neetu David and Nooshin Al Khadeer finished with four wickets between them, and conceded only 104 runs in their 30 overs.India’s reply was built largely around Sharma, who hit ten fours in her well-crafted innings. Mithali Raj injected some urgency into the chase with a brisk 32, and India coasted home with 11 balls to spare.

New Zealand’s bid to finish the summer as the third-ranked team in Test cricket could be foiled if bad weather continues to disrupt the Bangladesh tour and prevent any results in the two Test matches.Today’s heavy rain in Hamilton for all of the morning and well into the afternoon left the covers saturated in water, and the outfield pooled with puddles.There was a brief period when the skies lightened and a break in the weather looked possible. However, no sooner had the ground staff started their preparations than the weather closed in.Lunch was taken at the regular time of 2pm but almost straight afterwards the umpires, Dave Orchard of South Africa and Tony Hill of New Zealand called play off for the day and scheduled the start for 11.30am tomorrow with play continuing until 7.30pm.New lighting towers are in place at the ground and if there is a problem with the light they will be brought into use.There was a long period without rain later in the day, but the ground staff had commented it would take them at least three to four hours to prepare the ground and there would not have been sufficient time left to make a start.There are genuine prospects for play tomorrow with heavy rain warnings to the east of Hamilton having been withdrawn.New Zealand needs to win this National Bank series, and then beat England later in the summer to achieve that goal.But without a success against Bangladesh, New Zealand would not be able to pass Sri Lanka on the table. If Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe it would retain its points and remain on 1.14.If New Zealand beat England, but had been unable to take a win from a drawn Bangladesh series, whether by rain or Bangladesh defiance, then it would end the summer on 1.13.The only way to avoid that would be the unlikely event of Zimbabwe taking pre-existing points off Sri Lanka by drawing or winning the series.The more bad weather reduces the time available in matches, the tougher it gets for New Zealand to claim the required victory.There is also the possibility that the International Cricket Council could decide that if one match was abandoned without a ball being bowled, the series had become a one-Test series and that the series was then discounted as a Test series for the purposes of the ICC Test Championship.The forecast for tomorrow is not especially bright and every hour of without play minimises New Zealand’s chances to take a result from the match.So it is in New Zealand’s interests to get play in whenever they can in the series to try to force a result, a different form of pressure, but pressure nonetheless. And certainly a handy vehicle in the fight against complacency if, in fact, that had ever been a problem.

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, hosts Karnataka would havehoped to restrict the touring Delhi side on the first day. Delhi onthe other hand would have been looking to go through the day with somesteady batting after they lost the toss and were put in to bat. As itwere, neither team could fully accomplish their goal.Ashish Chopra at the top of the order showed the way with some solidbatting. Defying the Karnataka spinners and mediumpacers alike, Chopracompiled a good hundred. His knock was not one of flambouyant strokemaking, but rather one of patience and stability. At the other end, helost his opening partner Ashu Dani (19) pretty early on, but wasundeterred. In the company of Gautam Gambhir, Chopra rotated thestrike well and pushed the visitors’ score on to 172 before Gambhirwas run out by Vijay. Gambhir’s entertaining knock of 73 off just 116balls included 9 boundaries.Gambhir’s role as support for Chopra was then ably filled by VirendraSehwag who has been on the fringe of national reckoning in the recentpast. Unlucky to be dismissed just one run short of a fifty, Sehwagwasted no time while he was at the crease. His almost run a ballinnings included 7 fours before he became Vadiaraj’s second scalp. Bythis time, Chopra was motoring confidently on and Delhi were in aposition of reasonable safety.Akash Malhotra (1) was the only Delhi man who did not get going. WhenChopra (101) fell soon after he reached his century, Mithun Minhas (39not out) and wicket keeper captain Vijay Dahiya (10 not out) were atthe crease. Delhi were 308/5. With only 8 points so far, Delhi willbe keen to get a positive result from this game and pip Karnataka (11points) to the post.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been told ‘we will get you to Liverpool’ by an agency, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Agency switch?

Phillips revealed towards the end of 2021 that he wanted a new Elland Road deal, but as we know, that is yet to materialise, with his current contract running to 2024.

The England international is currently represented by Kevin Sharp, however, former Leeds man Danny Mills has recently claimed Phillips is set to switch agents, potentially leading to a blockbuster summer move.

He has been linked with a move for Liverpool for some time, with reports at the beginning of the year suggesting Jurgen Klopp’s side were weighing up a £33.2m bid.

The Latest: Liverpool links

Football Insider shared an update regarding Phillips on Wednesday morning after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that some of the biggest agents in the game are offering him the connections to seal a huge move, with one privately telling the Leeds star ‘we will get you to Liverpool’.

The Verdict: A worry…

Sources have told Football Insider that Leeds value the 26-year-old at £70m, however, if the Whites drop down to the Championship, you would expect that would drop slightly.

It is a worry to know that agents already appear to be in Phillips’ ear ahead of the summer window, and with a new Elland Road deal yet to be signed, it seems as if an exit could be on the cards even if Jesse Marsch keeps Leeds up.

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Phillips may still have a part to play in helping Leeds guarantee their Premier League status, with the holding midfielder possibly returning from injury after the international break, so it seems as if he has a big few months ahead both on and off the pitch.

In other news: ‘In the background’ – Journalist reacts to possible 49ers blow coming from inside Leeds sources. 

	Shaun Pollock enters his final international series, keen for one final hurrah © AFP

After losing the Test series 2-1 – a margin which doesn’t explain just how weakly they capitulated in the last two Tests – West Indies approach the one-day series against South Africa determined to make amends, beginning with Friday’s second Twenty20 in Johannesburg. Heavy and persistent rain on the highveld, however, could cause the match to be cancelled or reduced to a five-over thrash.Assuming play is able to get underway, West Indies’ fortunes largely depend on Chris Gayle, the captain, whose availability is still uncertain following the broken thumb which ruled him out of the third Test. Without Gayle’s bravado as opener, nor his growing nous and “follow me” style of leadership, West Indies lack a killer punch against a South African side overflowing with confidence and mostly injury-free.West Indies won the first Twenty20, another rain-affected bash back in December, when Jerome Taylor took 3 for 6 to cut South Africa’s total to a meagre 58 for 8. Playing in that game (and conceding 19 from his two overs) was Shaun Pollock who announced his retirement from international cricket during the final Test in Durban, and he looks certain to play in all six matches for one final hurrah.”Shaun himself manages it [emotion attached to last international appearance] very well – he’s been very professional and clear about the way things need to be in the dressing room,” Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, told supercricket.co.za. “His maturity shines through once again. We obviously want to send him off in the right way.”We have huge respect for what Shaun has given us over time, as a player and as a person, and we want to see him celebrated in the right way. But it’s also important for us to keep our heads straight and keep the emotion out of the games.”Joining Pollock is Justin Ontong, whose strong performances for his state side, the Lions, have earned him 518 runs at 37.00. The most intriguing call-up, however, is that of Morne Morkel who has recovered from the foot injury which curtailed his tour of Pakistan in October. With Morkel back and firing on all cylinders, it offers the tantalising prospect of South Africa fielding a genuinely fast new-ball pair – assuming, that is, Dale Steyn is picked.In just five Tests this summer Steyn has taken 40 wickets but, so far, he has been rather shielded from the conveyor belt of one-dayers, appearing in only eight. But with Pollock retiring, it seems only right that Steyn is unleashed and the baton is passed on. West Indies, as ever, have it all to do.TeamsSouth Africa (possible): Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Morne Morkel, Dale SteynWest Indies (possible): Brenton Parchment, Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Dwayne Bravo (capt), Darren Sammy, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards