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Arsenal are now leading the race to sign an “unstoppable” forward, having moved ahead of Manchester United, and they have made contact over a deal.

Gunners step up pursuit of new attacker

The Gunners are setting the pace at the top of the Premier League table, moving six points clear of Manchester City after the weekend’s action, but signing a new forward is seemingly still on the agenda, with two offers being made for Real Madrid forwards.

The north Londoners have reportedly lodged bids for both Rodyrgo and Brahim Diaz, while they have also made contact over a deal for Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, having constantly monitored the Turkish winger.

Transfer target

League games in 25/26

Goal involvements

Rodrygo

17

5

Brahim Diaz

12

2

Kenan Yildiz

17

10

Mikel Arteta seemingly remains keen on strengthening his attacking options, with summer signing Eberechi Eze struggling to force his way into the manager’s plans, failing to get off the bench in the last four Premier League matches.

There has now been a new update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi, with a report from Caught Offside revealing they are now ahead of Man United in the race for the forward’s signature.

Such is the Gunners’ level of interest, they have lodged an enquiry over a deal for the Dortmund forward, and a deal could be possible, with the German club willing to cash-in this month, rather than waiting until the end of the season.

The Bundesliga outfit could demand up to €70m (£61m) for the versatile forward, who is capable of playing on both wings and at centre-forward, meaning the north Londoners may need to spend big if they are to beat the likes of United and Barcelona to his signature.

"Unstoppable" Adeyemi impressing in the Champions League

Desribed as “unstoppable” by scout Ben Mattinson, the 23-year-old has put in some eye-catching displays in the Champions League this season, amassing two goals and two assists in five appearances.

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Mattinson has also urged Arsenal to sign the German in the past, taking to X to praise his finishing ability, while suggesting the winger may have what it takes to reach the very highest level.

Throughout his time at Dortmund, the Munich-born attacker has been a reliable source of goals and assists, recording 54 goal involvements in 129 outings, and at 23-years-old, he still has time to develop even further.

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With Arteta clearly keen to bring in a new forward, having identified a number of potential targets, Adeyemi has proven he could be the perfect option.

Manchester United are pressing ahead in their hunt for new signings and could now be set to target a talented defender to help solidify Ruben Amorim’s backline.

Man Utd keen to keep pace in Premier League with January signings

Admittedly, the Red Devils’ stalemate with Wolves was hardly a clash to remember as they closed out the year with another frustrating Premier League result.

However, Manchester United have shown promising signs this campaign, and there is a feeling that the best is yet to come under Amorim, who is likely to be given funds to spend in January to bolster his depleted squad.

Whether statement arrivals or modest profile additions are on the agenda remains to be seen, the Red Devils’ reported interest in Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta does indicate that INEOS could show ambition if circumstances were to align.

With the World Cup on the horizon and places to be fought for in respective national squads, Amorim may try and capitalise on Conor Gallagher’s situation at Atletico Madrid. He is said to be leading the race to sign the Three Lions man.

Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee may be pushed closer to the exit door if that were to be the case, creating a potential cycle of incomings and outgoings that will likely provide some freshness to the squad as the Red Devils continue to fight on all fronts.

Ultimately, January is never a simple month for clubs to conduct business, especially given the amount of absences most Premier League clubs are having to deal with at this point in time.

Either way, Manchester United are expected to be active this window and could now make a move for a talented defender from one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Man Utd seeking move for Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are plotting a move for Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet as they seek defensive reinforcements alongside bodies in midfield to shore up Amorim’s pool of options.

Nevertheless, a deal will be difficult to conduct this month for any interested suitors, though his situation is fluid and could change rapidly depending on the level of admiration for his talents.

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Labelled a “Rolls-Royce” by scout Ben Mattinson, the central defender has made 15 appearances in Ligue 1 this campaign. Per Fotmob, he has also won 66 duels and made 23 tackles in the league, imposing himself in the French top flight at only 20 years of age.

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Ayden Heaven has stepped up in light of injuries. However, more depth is needed if Manchester United want to sustain their bid to push for Champions League football.

Jacquet has the profile and requisite qualities needed to make an impact at Old Trafford, albeit he is unlikely to be short of suitors this month and beyond, eye-catchingly valued at around the £35m mark.

	Shoaib Akhtar’s match-fixing claims have brought a team from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit to Pakistan © AFP

The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU) has begun an investigationinto the claims of Shoaib Akhtar, who said last week he was offered moneyto under-perform in matches in South Africa and India.Sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed to Cricinfothat the team had arrived and investigations had begun, though thereconfusion remains over whether they have completed their task or are stillhere. One source close to the investigation said that the team had alreadyleft, having interviewed several players.Details of the visit are currently sketchy and the ICC has refused toconfirm or deny the development, maintaining that it does not comment onthe movement of the ACSU. A report in claimed that theinvestigators had spoken to Younis Khan, who was vice-captain and stand-incaptain on Pakistan’s last tour to India, and Umar Gul.The investigation comes after Shoaib told Geo TV last week, “A briefcasefull of money was placed before me and I was asked to under-bowl in amatch at Johannesburg but I refused. Then on tour to India I was offeredmoney but I again turned it down.” Dates were not specified on eitheroccasion but the ICC said subsequently the claims would be investigated.The claims came after Shoaib was handed a five-year ban over a series ofbreaches of the players’ code of conduct, including public criticism ofthe PCB. Under its own code of conduct the ICC can ban a player who failsto disclose any approaches for fixing to his captain or to his teammanager or to a senior board official or to the ICC’s officials from oneto five years.

Ochilo Ayacko, the sports minister, has told a news conference in Nairobi that the Kenyan cabinet met on Thursday morning and unanimously agreed to withdraw all recognition for the Kenyan Cricket Association in favour of Cricket Kenya.Ayacko’s announcement came less than four days after he first mooted the idea of establishing Cricket Kenya to bypass the KCA, and two days after Kenya’s stakeholder clubs voted overwhelmingly to support the venture.On another day of high drama, the KCA executive returned to court to obtain a further injunction against Cricket Kenya. In a bizarre twist, the injunction was granted by the same judge who last month ruled that he would hear no more ex parte applications, and who last week deferred a hearing challenging Ayacko’s decision to suspend the KCA for a month.Ayacko has been discussing matters with the ICC, and it is understood that the ICC is assessing the situation and has asked for copies of the cabinet minutes. However, an ICC spokesman said that it did not recognise Cricket Kenya as the official body representing cricket in Kenya.Although the KCA still exists, it is now increasingly marginalised and, as far as cricket in Kenya is concerned, virtually irrelevant. “I have studied the issue as it is and the way forward is not to allow the affairs of KCA to steal the limelight,” Ayacko said. “The only body we recognise is Cricket Kenya.”He continued by saying that the KCA’s “mismanagement” had led to “disillusionment among the players and other stakeholders, who have boycotted playing for the country and supporting cricket activities”.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Muttiah Muralitharan hung on at the end to snuff out any thoughts of an England run chase © Getty Images

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning escape on the final day as the tail defied everything England could throw at them. The light closed in during the final session however it wasn’t the weather that saved Sri Lanka, but two courageous innings from Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara plus England’s continued failure to take their chances.The final act was played out between two former team-mates as Andrew Flintoff tried to fire out Muttiah Muralitharan and leave England with a tantalising target. After Matthew Hoggard had ended Kulasekara’s outstanding 64, Flintoff sent a fierce delivery down to Muralitharan which rapped him on the gloves. The umpires offered the light and six vital overs were lost. When play resumed Muralitharan blocked 15 more deliveries with all he could muster and England’s last chance went when, quite aptly, Paul Collingwood spilled Vaas – their ninth miss of the match – in the gully. That would have left them with 24 overs to chase 170.England took two wickets during a shortened morning session and were expected to finally end Sri Lanka’s resistance, which had started on Saturday afternoon after being asked to follow-on. However, Vaas and Kulasekara withstood everything that Flintoff threw at them for the next 45.3 overs and the impossible became possible. Kulasekara also benefited from being missed, on 14, when Alastair Cook fluffed the chance at gully early in the afternoon session. England would have had ample time to claim the final wicket and knock off the target but with each over Kulasekara batted Sri Lanka nudged closer.When England enforced the follow-on nobody expected them to need a third new ball; even this was repelled by the lower-order. Panesar was introduced with a relatively hard ball and Kulasekara twice lofted him over midwicket, the second of which brought up a maiden Test fifty off 92 balls and also carried Sri Lanka past 500. In the first innings Kulasekara’s 29 was nothing more than an annoyance, his second effort turned into one of the more memorable rearguards and the highest score by a Sri Lankan No. 10Vaas used all his experience and was as comfortable in the middle as any of the top order, with a solid defence proving unbreakable by the England attack. He didn’t entirely block for his life, launching into a couple of handsome pulls as he realised the importance of extending the lead. With the penultimate ball of the match he flicked Hoggard to fine leg to bring up the most valuable of his 10 half-centuries.

England were denied by outstanding efforts from the Sri Lankan batsmen © Getty Images

By this point the England attack was on its knees. They performed manfully for more than 250 overs, but even Hoggard lost his zip, while Flintoff became the first England pace bowler to send down more than 50 overs in an innings since Mark Ilott and Martin Bicknell did it against Australia, at Headingley, in 1993. He felt the need to take the strain with inexperienced bowlers around him but even his super-human stamina wavered.Flintoff, England’s safest catcher, also caught the dropping disease during the morning when he shelled Chamara Kapugedera. He ensured it wasn’t the costliest of mistakes by removing the same batsman shortly afterwards – a dismissal that gave Geriant Jones his 100th dismissal in Tests. Tillakaratne Dilshan proved tough to break before Liam Plunkett finally got some reward, for a bowling performance that has improved throughout the match, when he nibbled at a good length ball and a slip catch was finally taken. With the last frontline batsman out of the way England were expected to complete the job but it was a long while until they managed another wicket.Hoggard finally removed Kulasekara but crucially the batsmen crossed meaning he couldn’t bowl to Muralitharan. Flintoff had one ball at him, but opted to go into the body rather than aim at the stumps. A wide-eyed Muralitharan took a painful blow on the finger and the Sri Lankan dressing room was waving the batsmen off. By then England were realising that the win, which had appeared so certain a little over two days ago, was going to elude them.

How they were out

Chamara Kapugedera c Jones b Flintoff 10 (405 for 7)
Tillakaratne Dilshan c Trescothick b Plunkett 69 (421 for 8)
Nuwan Kulasekara c Pietersen b Hoggard 64 (526 for 9)

Shabbir Ahmed: will play in the Jamaica Test © Getty Images

Shabbir Ahmed is set to play the second Test against West Indies despite being reported for a suspected illegal bowling action. Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan team manager, confirmed that Shabbir will feature in the XI. “I think he will be in because he can continue to play during the period his action again undergoes remedial measures,” Reuters reported him as saying. “We might also ask for the assistance of the ICC in our endeavour to correct his bowling action.”Shabbir had a reasonably good match in Barbados, taking 5 for 136 even as Pakistan were thrashed by 276 runs, but the problems for him came later when David Shepherd and Darrell Hair, the on-field umpires, and Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, reported him for his suspect action. Shabbir’s international career has been dogged by this problem – he had earlier been reported in September 1999, and then again in January 2004. Under the revised bowling-review process, Shabbir’s action will now be analysed by a member of the ICC’s panel of human-movement specialists, who will then submit a report to the ICC confirming whether Shabbir’s action falls within the 15 degrees of elbow-straightening.Meanwhile, Altaf also said that Pakistan were trying to ensure Yousuf Youhana’s return for the second Test in Jamaica, which starts on June 3. Youhana returned home before the first Test as his father was unwell. “We are trying but I can’t confirm if he would be able to make it back in time for the match.” Youhana has previously indicated that he wouldn’t be able to make it back to the West Indies in time for the match.

Traditional rivals the Victorian Spirit and NSW Breakers clash at the MCG this weekend in the 2003/04 WNCL Finals Series. The best of three series begins on Saturday, with the Spirit attempting to make it back to back titles after their thrilling victory over the Breakers in the 2002/03 Finals.Vic Spirit Coach Ken Davis said he expected a high standard finals series between the two best sides. “Both sides have deserved their place in the finals and I’m expecting some very intense, high quality cricket. Eleven of the players participating in the finals are involved with the national squad so I think that speaks volumes about the strength of women’s cricket in both Victoria and NSW”.In a public boost to the Spirit’s chances, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Justin Madden urged Victorians to get behind the team in the quest for success at the MCG. “We are urging people to come down to the MCG and rally behind Victoria’s outstanding female cricketers in their bid for national glory. A big hometown crowd cheering them onto success would be fantastic”.The Spirit and Breakers played two matches in the 2003/04 home and away series, the first ending in the WNCL’s first ever tie and the second seeing a Spirit victory with just six balls to spare. Overall in the WNCL the Breakers hold a 15-9 advantage over the Spirit.FINALS SERIES DETAILSSaturday, January 31: First Final – Play commences at 10.00am (Free Entry)Sunday, February 1: Second Final – Play commences at 10.00am (Free Entry)Monday, February 2: Third Final if required

A match that began (or rather, did not begin) in uncertainty, progressed slowly and ended controversially as Central Districts beat Northern Districts by three wickets.The game was originally intended to be a day/night contest, but plans were changed at the last minute because of problems fielders had in seeing the red ball under the lights.The eight-and-a-half overs that CD needed to reach their target of 65 were spread over three periods of play and almost five-and-a-half hours.Heavy rain for an hour at lunchtime left the ground sopping, with several centimetres of water on the flat covers. Under the supervision of groundsman Doug Strachan, an impromptu workforce consisting of the CD squad and umpires Peter Wright and Mike George carried out mopping-up operations that allowed play to resume at 4.30pm after an interruption of almost four hours.Fifteen minutes was possible before rain intervened once more. In the interim, CD reached 29 for the loss of David Kelly, bowled by Graeme Aldridge. At one point all the ND outfielders were on, or near, the boundary as ND slowed things down to the point where 15 balls were bowled in the quarter of an hour session.ND were reluctant to resume again on what had become a very wet outfield. Play would have almost certainly not begun had it not been clear that only a few overs would be needed, though many would consider that the umpires were right to play if it was at all possible. As ever, opinions were determined by which camp people were in rather than objective considerations.Once the players finally emerged at 6.15pm, at the same time as the sun, a CD victory was inevitable, as ND acknowledged by giving James Marshall his first bowl in first-class cricket. He claimed the wicket of Peter Ingram, caught at first slip by Grant Bradburn.ND began the day 19 runs ahead with five wickets standing. For 40 minutes the sixth-wicket pair of Bradburn and Hamish Marshall survived some hostile bowling from Lance Hamilton and Michael Mason, both of whom swung the ball.Runs were scored at the funereal rate typical of most of the match. Eight runs came from the first six overs.The breakthrough came with the dismissal of Bradburn, who fended a short delivery from Hamilton into the hands of Ingram at short leg. Bradburn scored 17 from 61 balls. He was sixth out, with the ND total on 61.Another half-hour passed, with Marshall and Robbie Hart increasingly secure, Mason seen out of the attack and CD casting concerned looks in the direction of the bank of dark clouds approaching the ground.As so often before, a run out turned things around.Marshall clipped Andrew Schwass to fine leg. With Hamilton having to run around the ball to throw with his left hand, the batsmen went for two. Hamilton moved to the ball quicker than expected and his throw arrowed into the wicket-keeper’s gloves leaving Marshall out 31.Bruce Martin went three balls later without scoring. Schwass squared him up nicely, Campbell Furlong taking the catch at second slip.Furlong put down a similar chance offered by Hart in Hamilton’s next over.Schwass claimed the ninth wicket, bringing the ball back into Aldridge to get him lbw for three.Simon Andrews got his first runs in first-class cricket off the edge later in the same over before Schwass got him with a short one. The ball went from via the edge of the bat and the batsman’s chest into the hands of Ingram at short leg.Schwass took three for nine from three overs and two balls. He has taken 34 wickets in the State Championship this season, one behind leading wicket-taker Andrew Penn. Mason finished with a career-best five for 22.The total of 90 was ND’s lowest of the season, 10 less than their second innings score in the match between the same sides at Blenheim before Christmas. The lowest-ever ND score against CD – 86 at New Plymouth in 1955/56 – was narrowly avoided.The CD openers Kelly and Ingram knocked off seven of the 65 needed before the rain came ten minutes before lunch.The win leaves CD three points behind Auckland and Wellington in the State Championship table.These teams take on the leaders next week. CD host Auckland in Palmerston North, while ND travel to the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Somerset Sabres took 14 runs off Matthew Fleming’s final over of the day to snatch a tie in a low-scoring game with Kent Spitfires played out on a difficult Tunbridge Wells pitch.Batsmen from both sides struggled to score freely on a dry, two-paced pitch that helped seam and spin bowlers alike and helped limit both sides to near identical scores as Sabres posted 181 for eight in reply to Kent’s 181 for nine.The hosts were given a flying start to their innings by James Hockley’s 41 from 31 balls that included eight well-struck boundaries, but wickets fell steadily once he played on to make it 49 for one after just seven overs.Daryll Cullinan (30), Matthew Walker (23), Mark Ealham (19) and Matthew Fleming (23) all looked well set, but went for cameos rather than substantial, match-winning knocks.Sabres too struggled for fluency as the occasional ball reared, while others kept low, and only a highly intelligent and unbeaten 56 from Rob Turner saw them through to level the scores and to a share of the points.With 15 required from Fleming’s final over, Turner swept one four to go to a 66-ball half-century and, with five needed for victory off the last ball, uppercut another Fleming slower-ball over the head of wicket-keeper Paul Nixon for four.It was one-day improvisation at its best and completed a thrilling finish but a result that a near 4,000 Kentish crowd hardly wanted to see as it prevented the hosts from moving into second spot and from completing a one-day double over the Sabres.

Tottenham Hotspur may have hoped that they had finally found their next Mauricio Pochettino when they appointed Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

Pochettino spent five years in the dugout in North London, reaching a Champions League final in that time, and none of the club’s managers since he left have made it past two years in charge.

The likes of Ange Postecoglou, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Nuno Espirito Santo all tried and failed to follow in his footsteps, and Frank looks set to be the latest to try and fail.

Why Spurs should sack Thomas Frank

Despite only being four months into the season, ESPN recently reported that there is growing concern among the fanbase about the Dane’s future at the club, despite also reporting that Spurs are not set to cut ties with the head coach.

The former Brentford manager’s performance this season has left a lot to be desired, as the team’s displays in the Premier League, in particular, have been poor.

Frank’s style of play has been awkward to watch at times. Spurs struggle to consistently create chances, whilst playing attractive football, with the tactics and systems that he deploys.

Tottenham under Thomas Frank

25/26 Premier League

Spurs

PL rank

Points

22

11th

xPTS

18

15th

xG

15.2

17th

xGA

22.2

13th

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, only three teams in the Premier League have a lower xG tally than Spurs, whilst their actual position compared to their Expected Position suggests that they have been fortunate to pick up 22 points.

With this in mind, it currently looks unlikely that Frank is set to go on and be the new Pochettino who will enjoy a long spell in North London playing attacking, exciting, football.

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Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has been linked with Spurs in the past, per TEAMtalk, and they should revive their interest in him by sacking Frank.

Why Spurs should swoop for Iraola

The Europa League champions should fire their current boss to make a move for the Cherries tactician because he has the potential to be their next Pochettino.

Tottenham, as evidenced in the earlier graphic, scored 559 goals in 293 matches for the Argentine manager, which shows that they were a prolific and exciting team to watch.

Given how poor Frank’s side have been at creating chances and playing good football this season, appointing a manager who plays attractive and effective football should be a priority for the Lilywhites.

Iraola’s Bournemouth side are certainly fun to watch, as evidenced by their 4-4 draw with Manchester United on Monday night, and their statistics in the Premier League back that up.

Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the Cherries have generated roughly 13 more xG than Tottenham have under Postecoglou and Frank combined, despite the fact that Spurs spent £65m to sign Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024.

Andoni Iraola’s attacking coaching

Stat

24/25

25/26

Bournemouth xG

64.0

22.7

Spurs xG

58.8

15.1

Bournemouth goals

58

25

Spurs goals

64

25

Stats via FBRef

Tottenham signed the England international in the hope that he would be able to bring the goalscoring prowess he showed for Bournemouth to North London, but he only scored nine Premier League goals last season, per Sofascore.

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Instead of looking at the output, as they did with Solanke and may do with their reported interest in Antoine Semenyo, they should look at the manager whose structure created an environment for Solanke and Semenyo to thrive at the top end of the pitch.

Frank, whose side sit in the bottom four for xG, has not created a structure that has allowed a player like Xavi Simons, for example, to thrive, because his team is not set up to consistently create high-quality chances.

Iraola, who was described as “one of the best in the (Premier) league” by Como scout Ben Mattinson and “one of the best in Europe” by one journalist, has proven that he can coach an exciting attacking set-up at Premier League level and that he can develop high-value talents, like Solanke and Semenyo.

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Therefore, the Spaniard could be the next Pochettino at Spurs as another manager who plays attacking, fearless, football that could get fans excited, making him a coach who has the potential to be a long-term appointment, rather than a pragmatic short-term hire.