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Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini has now made a promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving central defensive target Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Bastoni alternative?

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni was a top target for Spurs manager Antonio Conte but both the Italian and club chief Fabio Paratici were dealt a major blow on Wednesday afternoon.

The player’s agent confirmed that he seems set to stay at the San Siro with it now seeming like the Lilywhites must turn to alternatives if they wish to back Conte ahead of his first full Premier League season.

One of these possible targets is thought to be Lille star Botman who has been attracting serious interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The Latest: Baiocchini shares promising update…

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Sky Italy reporter Baiocchini, sharing news on Twitter, has made a promising claim involving Spurs – going on to state that the north Londoners have emerged as ‘stronger and stronger’ contenders for Botman.

This comes as Milan fall behind in the race to sign Ligue 1’s sensation but Tottenham will still face competition from Newcastle and The Red Devils.

The Verdict: Battle on?

Still just 22-years-old, Botman has been a colossal defensive presence for Lille in the French top flight – making more clearances per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He also finished 2021/2022 as their third-best performer by average match rating, just behind star men Renato Sanches and Benjamin Andre (WhoScored).

The in-form Dutchman could also leave his current club for the very reasonable price of €40 million (£34m), potentially marking Botman out as a real standout alternative to Bastoni.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Insider says Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’…find out more here.

Celtic will be ‘trying to do everything’ they can to seal the permanent signing of Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, according to Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers excels at Celtic

The 24-year-old was loaned out to the Hoops last summer, with Tottenham never granting him regular football

Carter-Vickers’ move to Parkhead proved to be a match made in heaven, as the American flourished at the heart of Ange Postecoglou’s defence, achieving the fourth-highest WhoScored rating of anyone in the squad after last summer’s transfer window.

Celtic are now trying to seal a permanent move for the centre-back, although there has been interest in him from other clubs in recent months.

The Latest: Whelan talks up permanent move for Carter-Vickers

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the Hoops will be doing all they can to acquire Carter-Vickers’ signature, with the player likely to reciprocate that, given how well the 24-year-old has done at Parkhead.

The former BBC radio pundit said:

“I think happiness to a player is very important, feeling wanted and belonging in a place. I think he’s definitely got that from Celtic as a football club and the fans.

“He plays regularly, we’ve seen the progression and how good he’s looked in the Celtic shirt. It’s an exciting team to be involved with as well with the style of play and the players they have been brought in.

“They won’t be looking to sit on that either, they’ll be looking to strengthen. With Carter-Vickers, he’s been an integral part of that defence. That’s why they’ve been so solid over the past season as well.

“I think Celtic and Carter-Vickers will be trying to do everything to make it happen, for him to stay there.

“They’re a European club, they’re massive, they’ve just won the Premiership. Why would you not want to be at a successful side who are playing in the Champions League as well?”

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Given Carter-Vickers’ influence at Celtic this season – he has been lauded as ‘immense’ by Chris Sutton – it is imperative that they get a permanent deal over the line.

He has already looked at home at Parkhead, slotting in seamlessly next to Carl Starfelt, and he could be a fixture in green and white for many years to come. An average of 4.2 successful aerial duels per game and a pass completion rate of 89.5% in the Premiership is a testament to his quality.

With Champions League football returning to Celtic in 2022/23, that should surely be enough to persuade him to sign permanently, rather than head elsewhere and risk undoing all the progress he has made in Glasgow.

In other news, Celtic have reportedly set their sights on another signing. Find out who it is here.

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Tottenham Hotspur are now ‘going after’ Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni after being highlighted as the ‘one they would want’ in defence heading into the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Top of Conte’s wish list

It has been claimed that bringing in a new left-sided central defender is a priority for the Lilywhites this summer, and the 23-year-old was one of just several names who had been linked with a move to the Premier League giants last month.

However, as reported by the Evening Standard earlier this week, Spurs appear to have suffered a huge blow in the race for the Italian, who is seemingly be keen to remain at the San Siro. This hasn’t shut down any interest from N17, though, with the defender believed to be at the very top of Antonio Conte’s wish list.

The north London club aren’t the only ones wanting to secure Bastoni’s signature, with top-flight rivals Manchester United also considering a move for the centre-back, despite him still having two years remaining on his current contract with Inter.

The Latest: Jones confirms Spurs’ Bastoni interest

Jones has now claimed that Tottenham are completely focused on completing a deal for Bastoni in the coming weeks.

He told GiveMeSport: “Bastoni is clearly the one they’re going after at Tottenham at the moment.

“It’s hard to look beyond that and it’s clearly a prime position that they’re looking to fix quickly. Bastoni is the one they would want.”

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The Verdict: Reunion on the cards?

It comes as no surprise to see that Conte is targeting a move for the 13-cap Italy international given that they worked alongside each other in Serie A, where Bastoni made 74 appearances under the 52-year-old during his Inter reign.

This season, Ben Davies has typically been the man to regularly feature as Spurs’ left-sided centre-back following Conte’s arrival in N17 last November, but you could argue that the £122k-per-week Inter starlet is viewed as an upgrade on the starting XI.

In their respective 2021/22 league campaigns, the Italian won more tackles, made more pressures and put in more crosses than the Wales defender (via FBRef).

Bastoni, who was once dubbed a “tenacious” tackler by talent scout Jacek Kulig, might well be tempted into reuniting with his former boss. Also, considering that Spurs will be playing Champions League football next season, this could be a huge factor when it comes down to the 23-year-old deciding where his next destination will be.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has reacted to this transfer update on one Spurs player

If there is one person on this earth who has lived and breathed the very mantra of never giving up, it’s former Arsenal star Ian Wright.

The ex-striker was a marvel in the red and white at Highbury, scoring as many as 185 times in 288 outings for the Gunners.

That record puts him second only to Thierry Henry on Arsenal’s list of all-time goal scorers.

However, the move to north London came relatively late in his career. Wrighty as he’s become affectionately known was a late bloomer, as he laid down the foundations for the Jamie Vardy’s of this world to show that no matter how old you are, there is always more potential to be extracted.

When it comes to players who found their touch late into their career, Wright and Vardy are two of the most famous examples of the Premier League era.

Back in March, the Leicester forward overtook the former with 94 goals after turning 30 – the most out of any player who has played Premier League football.

They both have Arsenal in common too, although Vardy’s association is that of rejection, with the jovial attacker once turning them down.

But what, I hear you ask, is the relevance to this in the modern-day?

Well, Wright joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace and this summer, the Gunners could raid their fellow Londoners again.

They have previously been interested in a deal for Wilfried Zaha but it’s not the Ivorian on their radar this time. Instead, it’s Michael Olise who has captured the interest of Arsenal according to reports.

The young France youth international joined Palace last summer in a bargain £8m deal and it’s thought as though his valuation has now risen to around £35m.

It’s a considerable sum of money but one Arsenal won’t be afraid to pay. After all, France and the Islington club go hand in hand after Arsene Wenger’s time in the English capital.

Although Olise is a winger by trade, a different position to Wright, there would be shades of the deal that Arsenal successfully completed to bring the latter to Highbury back in 1991.

Over 30 years later and Olise could become the club’s new Wright.

Scoring as many as the now television pundit would be quite the accomplishment but the Palace youngster has the same sort of swagger and confidence to his play.

He is a joy to watch and is learning the game from a certain Patrick Vieira. Wherever you look, the former Reading man is beginning to smell Arsenal and he’ll have certainly picked up a few of the club’s philosophies given his current manager.

Throughout the current campaign, the 20-year-old found the net on four occasions and registered nine assists in 32 games. It’s a fine record for someone who was playing at the highest level for the first time in his career.

So good have been his performances that he’s even earned the praise of Wright himself.

“When you watch what Zaha brings to the team, Wilf is what 29 now? Here you are talking about a youngster that has a massive future,” the former Gunner began.

“When you look at what he does in the final third. Go and do what you want. He is going to be somebody that is going to do unbelievable things,” Wright concluded.

Olise has earned further praise from Reading defender Tom McIntyre who hailed his “special ability” while Squawka writer Muhammad Butt called him a “wizard”. On that evidence, he’d be quite the capture for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Crucially, he’d also fit the club’s philosophy of buying young players who are yet to reach their ceiling.

Should the chance present itself, it would surely be a no brainer for Edu and co to bring the dazzling French star to north London.

As Wright eludes to, this is someone who is going places within the world of football.

AND in other news, Signed at £6m, now worth £34m: Arsenal struck gold on gem with “a bit of Pires” to him…

Everton are reportedly now ‘at the front of the queue’ to sign James Tarkowski this summer.

The Lowdown: Wanted man

The 29-year-old is a wanted man this summer, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham United among a number of clubs recently being linked with his signature.

This is not surprising given that Burnley have just been relegated from the Premier League and that his contract at Turf Moor is expiring soon.

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The Latest: Everton lead Tarkowski race

Taking to Twitter in sharing his article for The Telegraph, reliable journalist Matt Law has revealed that Everton are now ‘front of the queue’ to sign Tarkowski once his contract expires.

He tweeted: “Tarkowski would be a fantastic signing for Everton or Aston Villa. Everton are at the front of the queue at the moment.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

To get a player of Tarkowski’s experience and quality on a free is surely a no-brainer for the Merseyside club.

Once dubbed “outstanding” by former Clarets boss Sean Dyche, and a “real leader” at the back by former Premier League striker Noel Whelan, the 29-year-old could be the organiser that’s needed to sort out the Toffees’ defensive problems. Everton conceded no fewer than 66 goals in the top flight this season, the fifth-most of any team.

He should be able to settle in quickly at Goodison Park having played almost 200 times in the Premier League, and given that he is out of contract, it should be a relatively straight-forward deal to execute.

In other news, fresh Everton exit talks are now being planned

Newcastle United journalist George Caulkin thinks Matt Ritchie will depart the club this summer. 

The lowdown

Newcastle paid £10.8million to sign Ritchie from Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth ahead of the 2016/17 season while Rafael Benitez was manager, and he helped them win promotion back to the Premier League in his first season.

In all, Ritchie has made 187 appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals and providing 33 assists.

He was an unused substitute for Monday night’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal, and that’s become a regular occurrence for the 32-year-old.

Ritchie has watched the full 90 minutes from the bench in ten of the last 11 league fixtures.

It looks as if his last outing at St James’ Park, as a Newcastle player at least, will prove to be the 4-0 defeat against Manchester City back in December.

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The latest

Caulkin addressed Ritchie’s future on The Athletic’s matchday discussion board on Monday night.

While the Scot still ‘has another year left on his contract’, the journalist would ‘expect him to go’ when the transfer window opens.

The verdict

There will no doubt be some Newcastle supporters who are sad to see Ritchie go.

He’s been a useful player to have in the squad because of his immense versatility, operating as both a full-back and a winger on each side.

And he also seems to be an important figure in the dressing room, with Chronicle Live journalist Sean McCormick noting his ‘drive, leadership and vocal presence’ and Alex McLeish branding him a ‘real warrior’.

The £45,000-per-week man possesses ‘quality… in abundance’ too, with Jamie Carragher claiming ‘he was the best player in the Championship when Newcastle came up’.

He deserves credit for his key contributions on Tyneside.

In other news, Eddie Howe wants this goalkeeper.

Manchester City supporters have now been given a significant update in the club’s hunt to sign Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong this summer, according to a Spanish source.

The Lowdown: City eye move for De Jong…

After securing a blockbuster agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland in the summer, the Sky Blues seemingly won’t stop there, with a new midfielder reportedly on the agenda.

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Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen his options in the middle of the park, as club legend Fernandinho is set to draw the curtain on a nine-year stay in the Premier League.

The Brazil veteran, who is a major presence behind the scenes as well as on the pitch, will be a sore miss for Sky Blues, who are set to say goodbye to a faithful servant.

Barcelona midfielder De Jong is said to be a target for City, with Sport now sharing the latest.

The Latest: City hold talks over De Jong…

According to the Spanish outlet, Guardiola’s side have held talks and made contact with the Catalan giants over signing their marquee midfielder, mainly to find out his asking price and whether Barcelona could be open to a swap deal.

The answer to the latter question is a resounding no, with club president Joan Laporta ‘only interested in money’ as he ‘marks the figure’ at a seismic €100m (£85m).

The Verdict: Worth the money?

The Netherlands international has no shortage of pedigree, as evident by the fact that only Marc-André ter Stegen, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have played more minutes for Barcelona than De Jong this season (WhoScored).

Xavi’s faith in his midfield maestro is testament to the 25-year-old’s obvious quality, with the Dutchman also racking up one of the highest passing accuracies in the Barca squad in the current La Liga campaign (WhoScored).

Lauded as a ‘phenomenal’ player by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, these numbers and plaudits point to a star who could seriously strengthen Guardiola’s options for 2022/23.

However, for £85m, it is a move that Etihad Stadium officials must seriously consider, with other capable targets perhaps available for far less.

In other news: Man City ready to move for ‘unbelievable’ star who’s turned Pep’s head, he played his last game yesterday… find out more here

At just 20, he bowls with intensity, bats with heart, and catches like a dream. What’s not to love?

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Sep-20231:59

Kumble breaks down Wellalage’s bowling

You can see the appeal, right? I mean, everyone can.It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan so casual you’ve never heard his name. Or if you’re so studious a coach you have run a microscope over technique and pored over reams of datasets. You’re both as likely to be drawn in.Dunith Wellalage bowls with intensity, bats with heart, races around the field, and catches like a dream. He is 20. This is all that is required for now.It’s almost impossible not to love a 20-year-old. On the blank white walls of his life, you can project your own dreams for him. He is too fresh to have done anything to offend you, too new to have to churn out runs or wickets, and just too unsullied by experience to be saddled with concepts such as consistency, and responsibility, which so stultify adult life.Related

Supporting actor Hardik delivers a hit with his fire and intensity

Rohit, bowlers break SL's winning streak to put India in final

Stats – Rohit becomes the second-fastest batter to 10,000 ODI runs

Your boss calls you and tells you to do something you don’t agree with, but you do it however grudgingly because this apparently is just what life has become. Then you switch on a TV, or sneak out to a stadium mid-week, and kid who was born well into this century is dismissing Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Hardik Pandya.Maybe it’s not that you want to be him, exactly. This is more joy, than envy. Joy that such lives are still possible in which dreams can be chased. Joy that someone has the talent to achieve so abundantly.Dunith Wellalage picked up his maiden five-wicket haul•AFP/Getty ImagesThis was a big-turning track at Khettarama, which challenged every batter that came to the crease, and suited Wellalage’s uncomplicated left-arm spin perfectly. He bowled at the stumps, and had his natural variation have some balls go on with the arm, and others turn.It was the kind of surface on which experienced bowlers might say: “You just have to put the put the ball on the right spot and let the pitch do the work”. This is true. But it’s always more fun when it’s a young bowler putting the ball on the right spot. Senior players are decorated by their years. Young cricketers are underdogs.Undaunted by the occasion, Wellalage began ripping the ball at one stage, changing his angles, and his speeds, but rarely straying from the good length that brought him the majority of his wickets. He appealed in earnest, and because he is who he is, the fullest Sri Lankan stadium of the tournament so far appealed alongside him.Later, when he was batting, also in partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who was creating pressure at the other end when Wellalage got most of his wickets, the Khettarama stands bellowed, “Wella, Wella, Wella”. This was first time perhaps all tournament in Sri Lanka that such a fierce cry has gone up in support of a single player.

Maybe it’s not that you want to be him, exactly. This is more joy, than envy. Joy that such lives are still possible in which dreams can be chased. Joy that someone has the talent to achieve so abundantly

He remained unbeaten on 42 off 46, having hit the only six of Sri Lanka’s innings, and having appeared capable of facing down the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, on the same pitch he had earlier caused such destruction. His figures had been 5 for 40 from 10 overs. Kuldeep bowled nicely for his 4 for 43, but two of those wickets were Nos. 10 and 11. Only Rohit, who hit most of his runs before spin arrived, score more than Wellalage.In his post-match self-examination, Wellalage occupied that space between bracing honesty, and endearing naivety. He wasn’t really thinking about getting wickets, he said, just trying to bowl wicket-to-wicket. The dismissals came all on their own. And that innings that threatened to take the match away from India? Shucks. He was just trying to support the senior batter at the other end.But there was also this, which hinted that there was a hunger that, while he was Under-19 Sri Lanka captain a mere 21 months ago, getting so quickly to this level did not satisfy him: “After I came to the senior team my plan was to somehow play with these national players for at least a year at a stretch. Because then I could learn what they were doing, how they were handling match situations, and getting the advice of the best coaches so I could improve. If I’ve improved at all, it’s because I’ve been around the national team for more than a year, and have learned from them.”It is Wellalage, ultimately, who will fill in the details of his own life and career. Soon, the space for our own projections will disappear. But while the rest of us have the space to say it – this seems like a player with serious promise, thanks mostly to unusual determination, though also to no little talent. It is not inconceivable his name will ring around this stadium long after he too has had the burdens of consistency or responsibility begun to weigh on him.

Paul Skenes was a guest on Late NIght with Seth Meyers on Tuesday night. Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, was there to promote MLB The Show 25 on the day it was announced he was one of the three cover athletes along with Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson.

Meyers made sure to cover a number of topics during the interview, including, but not limited to the 11-year old who recently found Skenes's one-of-one rookie card (which Meyers really wants to see), his stoic meme from when he won rookie of the year, the though process behind his mustache and even his relationship with Livvy Dunne.

Meyers showed the clip of Skenes messing around on gymnastics equipment and he ended up finding out that was actually a rather frustrating experience for the professional athlete. Not because it was embarrassing, but because he couldn't get out of that foam pit.

“The ball pit was genuine frustration," said Skenes. "I was genuinely pissed off. Those things are like ten feet deep. I’m tall, I’m not that tall. I’m just trying to throw the balls out, trying to get out. There’s nothing to grab onto."

Meyers joked that he must have been in there for hours, but Skenes reiterated his exasperation. "I was working up a sweat in the middle of November. It was pretty frustrating.”

So there you have it. Before you consider dating a gymnast keep in mind that they might encourage you to jump in a foam pit and it will be very difficult to get out. No matter how nice your mustache might be.

Arsenal went on a record-setting winning run of form in the month of October, not conceding a single goal while winning six games in all competitions.

The Gunners’ dominance has been founded on one of the best defences in Premier League history, as David Raya has had to pick the ball out of his net just three times so far this season, a rate that if it continues will see them break Chelsea’s record for goals conceded in a single Premier League season.

Gabriel Magalhães has drawn PFA Player of the Year shouts in recent weeks, while Raya is chasing yet another golden glove and Jurrien Timber is emerging as one of the best right-backs in world football.

What is Chelsea's record and can Arsenal beat it?

Chelsea’s 2004-05 team led by Jose Mourinho conceded just 15 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Arsenal have so far conceded three times in nine games, which at 0.33 per game would total between 12-13 goals, but it’s not that simple…

The AI supercomputer gave three scenarios for Arsenal’s final total, taking into account fatigue, injuries, game states and the possibility of other teams adapting to their style of play.

It also concluded that fine margins – such as individual errors or controversial decisions – will add up over the course of a season.

Another factor harming their efforts may just be their own brilliance. Arsenal are predicted to win the Premier League by a whopping 13 points, which would mean they have games at the end of the season with little to play for other than this record. For context, Liverpool failed to win all four of their remaining matches after wrapping up the title last season, conceding nine goals in that time.

Best case

13–14 goals

Arsenal sustain current defensive dominance and stay injury-free

Most likely

17–19 goals

Small regression due to fixture congestion and natural variance

Worst case

25–27 goals

Defensive injuries, fatigue, or tactical shifts increase vulnerability slightly

Predicted total: Arsenal will concede 18 goals in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Given the likelihood that Arsenal progress far in several competitions – they are currently fourth in the Champions League table and still alive in both domestic cup competitions – it is likely that fatigue and injuries will affect their ability to keep clean sheets later in the season.

Arsenal’s squad depth has been an issue in recent seasons, falling behind Manchester City in the 2022-23 campaign after they lost William Saliba to injury, but Bukayo Saka has hailed the level of the current group after more than £250million was spent in the summer.

“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” said the England international.

“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”

Supercomputer predicts every 2025/26 Premier League game and final table

Look away now, Liverpool fans…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025