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Cristiano Ronaldo was the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2024, with the Portuguese topping the likes of Steph Curry, Tyson Fury and Lionel Messi.

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Portuguese icon well clear in first placeEight sports represented in top 100Five football players inside the top 10Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Evergreen frontman Ronaldo, who is still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr at 40 years of age, earned $260 million (£208m) across the last calendar year – with $215m (£172m) of that coming from his record-breaking contract in the Middle East.

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NBA superstar Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, fills second spot on the top-earners list on $153.8m (£123m). Former world heavyweight boxing champion Fury is third ($147m/£118m), while Ronaldo’s eternal rival Messi – who is now in MLS with Inter Miami – sitting fourth ($135m/£108m) and LA Lakers icon LeBron James ($133.2m/£107m) completing the top five.

DID YOU KNOW?

Overall, the top 100 highest-paid athletes on the planet pulled in an estimated $6.2 billion (£5bn) between them. Prominent figures from eight different sports – football, basketball, boxing, golf, American football, Formula 1, baseball and tennis – make the list, with 27 countries represented.

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There are no female athletes inside the top 100, with tennis superstar Coco Gauff – who won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2024 – the top earner in her field at $30.4m (£24m). Her on and off-court appeal is expected to help her climb the charts in years to come.

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South Africa allrounder set to play Championship and Royal London Cup games for Running Foxes

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-2021South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder will join Leicestershire for the 2022 county season.Mulder, 23, who travelled to the T20 World Cup with the South Africa squad but didn’t play a game, was initially due to sign for Leicestershire ahead of the 2021 campaign, but he ended up being selected to play a further 11 international fixtures across all three formats. He has played six Tests – having taken 14 wickets at an average of 21.07 – as well as 12 ODIs and five T20Is.”I am very excited to join the Foxes family this upcoming season and grateful for the opportunity,” Mulder said. “We have an exciting squad and I hope to contribute a lot on and off the field during my time at the club”.Johannesburg-born Mulder is set to appear as an overseas player in the LV= County Championship and Royal London Cup one-day competition with a combined total of 2,453 runs at domestic level, including five centuries. He has 108 first-class wickets to his name at an average of 24.95 and economy of 3.29. In List A matches, he has 37 wickets at 31.16, with an economy of 5.37.Claude Henderson, Leicetershire’s director of cricket, said: “We are looking forward for our players to have the chance to benefit from working alongside an international cricketer, as well as seeing Wiaan in the colours of Leicestershire.”

Despite a gruelling start to the Premier League season that has seen them play Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in their first nine games, Arsenal are still within five points of the top spot.

Mikel Arteta’s side haven’t necessarily played the most attractive free-flowing football, but given the level of opposition, their numerous red cards and constant injuries, they have played pragmatic football that has kept them in the title race.

Moreover, there have still been several standout performers so far, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya all more than justifying their place in the team.

At the same time, last summer’s surprise signing, Kai Havertz, has kept up his impressive form in the number nine position, and based on recent reports, the club could be set to sign another attacker he’ll love playing with.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal are very interested in signing Leroy Sané next year.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are working on a deal to sign the German upon the expiration of his mammoth £320k-per-week Bayern Munich contract, meaning it would be a free transfer.

The good news for the North Londoners is that, due to him playing in Germany, they will be able to open negotiations with him in January, but the bad news is that they are not the only club keen on the 28-year-old, with Newcastle United also being mentioned in the story.

It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line should other clubs start to vie for his services, but due to Sane’s incredible ability, Arsenal must fight to bring him to North London – he’d be fantastic alongside Havertz.

Why Sane would be an excellent signing for Arsenal and Havertz

Okay, so there are three key reasons why Sane would be such an excellent signing to make for Arsenal, and in particular Havertz, with the first being his style of play.

We know that Havertz is at his best for the North Londoners when he can interchange with his wingers, holding the ball up, playing them in, and either occupying a defender for them to score or getting on the end of a move himself.

In this regard, the Bayern ace would be perfect.

He isn’t the fastest winger in Europe, but there is no doubt that one of his strengths is getting on his bike and running in behind opposition defences – as he did at times against the Gunners last season – which in turn would allow the former Chelsea marksman to play more into his strengths of holding up play before getting the ball to the German’s feet, akin to the move that saw Saka score against Spurs last season.

The second reason signing the Essen-born star would be a great idea is his Premier League experience. Thanks to his impressive years with City, in which he scored 25 goals and provided 28 assists in 90 league appearances, he shouldn’t need much of an adaptation period, so he could hopefully make an instant impact for Arteta’s side.

The final reason he would be an excellent signing is similar: his incredible output across his entire career.

In his 374 senior appearances to date, he’s scored 102 goals and provided 101 assists, meaning that even when we include his breakthrough seasons at Schalke, the unreal “machine”, as dubbed by Thomas Tuchel, has averaged a goal involvement once every 1.84 games.

Appearances

57

135

182

Goals

13

39

50

Assists

8

43

50

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

0.60

0.54

Moreover, the fact he’s just as effective at scoring goals as he is setting them up should make him the ideal winger to pair up with Havertz.

Ultimately, even if Arsenal had to pay a small fee to sign Sane next year, it would be a brilliant idea, so the fact they could get him for free makes this potential transfer a total no-brainer.

Good news for Saka: Arsenal target "criminally underrated" £50m PL star

The incredibly talented attacker could help extend Saka’s Arsenal career.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 30, 2024

Michael Neser, who will be in the frame for the Test squad, limped out of the Queensland attack

Andrew McGlashan10-Nov-2021Usman Khawaja made his strongest case yet for a Test recall as he dominated a paltry Queensland batting effort with a masterly 70 in demanding conditions at the Gabba.Western Australia ended the opening day firmly in control with Cameron Green playing equally as well as Khawaja, but Queensland would have been in an even deeper hole without their captain who helped haul them from the depths of 7 for 56 having been inserted on a green pitch.Other Test match strands played out with Jhye Richardson impressing as he claimed 3 for 38 but Michael Neser sent a scare into Australia’s plans when he limped off midway through his ninth over having injured his hamstring.Neser was one of three injuries during the day with Joel Paris also suffering a hamstring strain having done the early damage to Queensland with two wickets in two balls including Marnus Labuschage first ball.Shaun Marsh was later forced to retire hurt with a calf injury early in Western Australia’s reply but having slipped for 2 for 18, Green and Josh Philippe produced the most confident partnership of the day to stitch together an unbroken 90 through to stumps.Seven of Queensland’s top eight had fallen in single figures as they were undone by an accurate pace attack that exploited conditions well. Paris had Bryce Street playing on trying to leave then Labuschagne pushed forward the first ball to edge behind.Joe Burns played a poor stroke, miscuing a pull to mid-on, while both Matt Renshaw and Jimmy Peirson edged to the keeper off Lance Morris – the latter falling to a terrific catch in front of first slip.Cameron Bancroft also did very well to hold an edge off Jack Wildermuth as the third slip came across in front of him and when Neser’s wild slash gave Richardson his third three figures looked unlikely for Queensland.But Khawaja, who has scored two centuries this season, took charge in what was a strong riposte to Ian Chappell questioning his credentials. In all, he struck 11 boundaries before picking out a long leg searching for another. The last three wickets helped him add 73.That looked significant when Neser struck the first ball to remove Bancroft and when Gurinder Sandhu produced a good delivery to claim debutant Jayden Goodwin, the son of Murray, the game felt wide open with Marsh also back in the dressing room.However, Green and Philippe were excellent for the rest of the day. Green’s footwork was compact and confident while Philippe was composed against some testing bowling although Queensland lost a little control late in the day which ended with Labuschagne bowling medium pace in Neser’s absence.

The ex-Brighton striker was the match-winner on Sunday as Marc Skinner's side kept the pressure up on leaders Chelsea

Manchester United remain in the hunt for a first Women's Super League title after Elisabeth Terland inspired them to a 3-1 win over bottom side Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Red Devils enjoyed a perfect start as Terland fired the hosts ahead after just nine minutes. Palace goalkeeper Milla-Maj Majasaari was guilty of a poor clearance that was pounced on by Grace Clinton and fed to Terland by Hinata Miyazawa. Terland then produced a neat turn and finish to roll the ball into the far corner.

United's No.19 ought to have had a second five minutes later, as Leah Galton’s cross in from the left was prodded goalwards by the striker and beat Majasaar, only for it to hit the far post and rebound to safety.

It looked like being a costly miss too, as Palace stunned the hosts seven minutes before half-time by equalising with a well-worked move that ended with Lily Woodham dinking a ball over the top for Mille Gejl to run onto and fire past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

United pressed after half-time but lacked quality going forwards and needed another piece of good fortune to go ahead. Clinton’s pass was deflected into the path of Terland, who managed to round the goalkeeper and roll the ball home with a rather scuffed finish.

More chances followed for both sides, with Ella Toone seeing a goal-bound shot blocked, substitute Celin Bezit heading past the far post from close range and Maya Le Tissier denying Palace an equaliser in an entertaining second half.

Yet Marc Skinner's side finally wrapped up the win late on when Toone swung in an inviting free-kick for Clinton to head home and secure all three points.

GOAL rates United's players from Leigh Sports Village…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (5/10):

A shaky display from the United shot-stopper. Seemed to dive out of the way of Palace's equaliser and flapped at a Riley cross that almost led to an equaliser.

Jayde Riviere (5/10):

Hit the woodwork with one delivery from the right, but caught out for Palace's goal.

Millie Turner (5/10):

Guilty of a few aimless balls forward and a mix-up with Tullis-Joyce almost gifted Palace a goal for 2-2.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

Solid showing and came up with a vital goal-saving block to prevent Palace equalising late on.

Gabby George (6/10):

Offered very little, and it wasn't a huge surprise to see her hooked on the hour.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Dominique Janssen (6/10):

Back in the starting XI and did a solid job alongside Miyazawa.

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

Easily United's best midfielder. Set up the first goal and always wanted the ball. A little surprising to see her taken off.

Ella Toone (7/10):

Went close with an effort that was blocked on the line and set up the third goal that killed off Palace with a brilliant free-kick.

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Grace Clinton (6/10):

Not a convincing showing by any means as United lacked quality and inspiration in attack, but did come up with a good header for the third goal.

Elisabeth Terland (8/10):

United's match-winner and could have had a hat-trick, but was denied by the woodwork.

Leah Galton (5/10):

Some moments of danger down the flank but could not provide the quality delivery needed.

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Anna Sandberg (7/10):

Made an impact after replacing George and teed up a fine chance for Bezit.

Celin Bezit (6/10):

Also looked lively after coming on and should have made it 3-1 to seal the win, but put a header wide.

Aoife Mannion (N/A):

Only on for the last few minutes.

Marc Skinner (6/10):

Made changes to his team but United looked unbalanced and lacked quality and pace in attack for long stretches of the game. His substitutions helped, but his side certainly made hard work of it.

Benni McCarthy has slammed Manchester United for failing to go all out to sign Harry Kane, who was Erik ten Hag's "No.1 target".

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Ten Hag wanted Kane at Old TraffordMan Utd denied the Dutch manager extra fundsSigned Hojlund from Atalanta insteadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In the summer of 2023, Ten Hag urged United officials to sign Kane from Tottenham Hotspur. However, the Red Devils' financial constraints and Daniel Levy's lofty £100 million asking price led the club to explore alternative options. In the end, United secured the services of Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for a reported £72m.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT MCCARTHY SAID

McCarthy was part of Ten Hag's coaching team at the time, and has now come out to slam the club's decision to pass up the chance to land "complete package" Kane.

"Harry Kane was our No.1 target," McCarthy said exclusively to at the Gaffer of all Accas launch. "Kane was the prime target, but obviously the price tag was an issue. Because he would have been leaving Spurs for United, a few extra million pounds were added on to the price tag, which, you know, for a 30-year-old wasn't seen to be wise. But for £100million, if you look at it now, you'd say that it would have been well worth it because he's gone to Bayern and he's still producing, he's still scoring. So you think we should have just bitten the bullet and got Harry Kane and then also tried to invest in Rasmus Hojlund. That would have been the best thing for Rasmus if he had had someone like Harry Kane involved.

"So, yeah, Harry Kane was Erik's No.1 target. Erik really wanted him. Kolo Muani was also very high on that list. Victor Osimhen was also on that list. But I felt that if you're going to want to spend that kind of money – £100million-plus – then you want the complete package. And Harry Kane, for me, was the complete package. But unfortunately, the club didn't see it that way. They looked at it as Rasmus Hojlund in the long run would be a more prized asset than investing in both Rasmus and Harry Kane. So we stopped pursuing Kane and we ended up getting just Rasmus."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bayern Munich seized the opportunity to sign Kane after United's hesitation. Since moving to Bayern, Kane has netted 73 goals in 75 appearances across all competitions, including 29 in the current campaign. Despite his success in Germany, speculation about Kane's future persists. Reports indicate that his contract includes a release clause, which, as of January 2025, stood at £67 million and is set to decrease to £54 million in the 2026 winter transfer window. This clause has fuelled talk of a possible return to the Premier League in the near future, with a sensational return to Tottenham not being ruled out.

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Hojlund has struggled to fulfill expectations at Old Trafford and has found the net just 23 times in 75 United appearances. He once again drew a blank during United's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, which has put the striker under further scrutiny. Meanwhile, Kane is flourishing with Bayern and is on course to win the Bundesliga Golden Boot, having already scored 21 times in 20 matches. He will return to domestic league action against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday but before that, he has a Champions League playoff clash against Celtic to contend with on Tuesday evening.

Arsenal are now on the hunt for a new sporting director after the resignation of Edu. The Brazilian stepped down earlier this week after two years in the role, citing his wish for a new challenge – that being with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis as the recruitment lead for his portfolio of clubs, including Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave.

“This was an incredibly hard decision to make,” Edu, who made 127 appearances for Arsenal and won two Premier League titles between 2000 and 2005, said upon resigning.

"Big step" – Arteta shares "positive news" out of Arsenal after Edu blow

It’s been a torrid few days for the Gunners.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 6, 2024

“Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best,” he added.

Edu’s role will not be an easy one to fill. During his time as Arsenal’s sporting director, the 46-year-old helped transform the club back into genuine title challengers. He was heavily involved in bringing manager Mikel Arteta to the Emirates, as well as recruiting stars such as William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice.

Arsenal open talks with former star

Following Edu’s shock departure, Jason Ayto has been appointed as Arsenal’s interim sporting director as the club search for a full-time replacement. Ayto may not be in the role for long, however, according to a recent report from Foot Mercato, which claims the Gunners have already opened talks with another of their former players to replace Edu.

The French publication report that “discussions have already been initiated” with ex-Gunners midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who spent a decade with Arsenal between 2006 and 2016 and is the current sporting director of Champions League side Sparta Prague, who sit three points behind the Gunners at this stage of the competition.

Foot Mercato didn’t shed any insight on how those talks with Rosicky have progressed, but said that Arsenal chiefs are fans of his, while they also admire the profile of Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker made 221 appearances for the Gunners between 2011 and 2018 and is the current manager of Arsenal’s academy.

Arteta not worried about Edu departure

Given the positive impact he had at Arsenal while serving as sporting director, Edu’s departure has made more than just a few Arsenal fans uneasy. One man who isn’t worried, however, is Arteta.

Though Arteta enjoyed a close relationship with the Brazilian during their time together, the Spanish manager believes Edu’s departure will not impact Arsenal’s vision as a club moving forward.

“The plan and vision, that starts with the ownership, that is very clear and very ambitious is going to continue,” Arteta said earlier this week.

“We have a very strong leadership team with an unbelievable know-how, a real passion and great feelings for the club, we’re not going to stop where we are at the moment. Across the club, the excitement, the passion, the understanding of where we want to take this journey remain intact.”

Kohli and Pujara started a repair job as India’s lead swelled to 70 by stumps on day two

Andrew Miller12-Jan-20221:21

Manjrekar: ‘The way Agarwal is getting out is worrisome’

Two days done and dusted in a compelling Cape Town contest, and the destiny of a thrillingly fought series remains firmly up for grabs. In battling through to the close with an unbeaten third-wicket stand, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara overcame the cheap loss of India’s openers to stretch their side into a promising lead of 70. But on another day dominated by high-class fast bowling, it was Jasprit Bumrah’s triumphant return to the scene of his 2018 Test debut that has so far made the crucial difference between the teams.As India target an extraordinary triple-crown of overseas series wins in Australia, England* and now South Africa, Bumrah’s Test career speaks directly to their dramatic transformation away from home (not that their standards on home soil have exactly suffered in recent times). He’s playing his 24th Test out of 27 away from home, and now boasts a stunning haul of 112 wickets at 22.58, including each of his seven five-fors, a tally that no bowler has surpassed since that 2018 debut.After prising out the critical wicket of Dean Elgar in the closing moments of day one, Bumrah was right back on the mark from the moment that play resumed under gleaming blue skies at Newlands – his second ball was a sharp inducker that surged past Aiden Markram’s fatally upraised bat, into the off stump. At 17 for 2, India’s 223 already looked significantly more substantial than at first glance.And so it transpired for the remainder of an engrossing innings, as South Africa pinned their hopes of parity on another coming-of-age knock from the steadfast Keegan Petersen while riding out the contrasting, but unrelenting, threats of a superbly balanced India attack.At varying moments in the course of the day – most notably when they reached lunch on 100 for 3 with only the additional loss of the nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj, and again half an hour before tea, when two wickets in three balls from Mohammed Shami again derailed a well-established innings – South Africa looked set for a significant lead. Instead, their final six wickets were picked off for 51 – not without a fight, but with a certain inevitability, such was the calibre of the attack bearing down on them.The key scalp of the innings was that of Petersen for 72, and sure enough, it was Bumrah who delivered with his second wicket of a pre-tea double whammy that, moments earlier, had served up the dangerous Marco Jansen, bowled for seven by that relentless inducker as he played down the wrong line.Keegan Petersen acknowledges the applause on getting to a fifty•AFP/Getty ImagesFor the first hour of his innings on a baking-hot morning at Newlands, Petersen had set his sights purely on survival. With Maharaj providing a measure of impetus in a doughty stay as nightwatchman, Petersen had just six runs from 42 balls by drinks, all the while buoyed by the memories of his breakthrough fifty at the Wanderers last week, in a similarly low-scoring tussle.He needed some luck to make it that far, however, including when KL Rahul failed to wrap his fingers round a low edge to third slip on four. But when Umesh Yadav’s scrambled seam burst through Maharaj’s loose drive to bowl him for 25 just before the hour mark, Petersen took his cue for a controlled counterattack.With Rassie van der Dussen now taking his turn to drop anchor, Petersen cashed in on a fractional slackening of India’s extreme discipline, with six fours flowing from the next nine overs, including four exceptionally placed carves through the off side when offered a fraction of width, and a flick off the toes through midwicket off Shardul Thakur. Even R Ashwin, typically economical in an understated nine overs of deployment, couldn’t escape Petersen’s flood of confidence as he reverse-swept the third ball he faced past backward point.In consecutive overs before lunch, the pair brought up both their fifty stand and South Africa’s 100, but van der Dussen’s poise vanished during the 40-minute interval. He could have run himself out twice straight after the break, but instead fell for 21 to a scuffed drive off Yadav, with Kohli at second slip clinging onto a fast-flying edge.Petersen, however, found another important ally in Temba Bavuma – himself enjoying a period of serenity as a Test asset, for all that that another hundred (to follow up the famous maiden effort he made on this same ground in 2016) remains elusive. Few current players can put away a cover-drive with more aplomb right now, and in a hint at South Africa’s waxing fortunes, he even managed to turn a dropped catch at first slip into five bonus runs, as Pujara’s spill rolled into the stack of helmets behind the wicketkeeper.But on 28, and moments after the fourth and final bullet boundary of his innings, Bavuma was undone as Shami dragged his length back for Kohli to cling onto his 100th Test catch at second slip, and when Kyle Verreynne dangled his bat loosely two balls later to depart for a duck, South Africa were 159 for 6, and back in a heap of trouble.That was the cue for Bumrah to rev back into action. For three consecutive overs he tormented Jansen in the channel outside off, then did for Petersen with some extra lift into the heel of the bat. And despite some long-handled resistance from the tail, most particularly Rabada, he would not be denied his first five-for since the Trent Bridge Test in August last year, as Lungi Ngidi looped a leading edge into the covers.The day’s jeopardy wasn’t done just yet. With a slender lead of 13, Mayank Agarwal overturned an early lbw verdict in a hornet-like new-ball onslaught from Rabada, but departed soon afterwards for 7 as Rabada fizzed a full-length delivery off the edge to first slip. And though Duanne Olivier’s first two-over spell was wayward, Jansen’s opening gambit was anything but, as KL Rahul was enticed by the full length, and fenced a fourth-ball drive to Markram in the slips.Kohli, however, fresh from his supreme 79 in the first innings, refused to allow his side’s ascendancy to slide any further, as he and Pujara closed up for the evening in a 33-run stand.

It’s been an utterly bonkers campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s great entertainers can look like one of the best teams in Europe one weekend, and then the very next game look completely lost at sea.

Just before the international break, the Australian’s side handed Ipswich Town their first Premier League win of the season at home and looked, for all intents and purposes, like they were stuck in a worrying rut.

Yet, in their first game back on Saturday evening, the North Londoners totally dismantled reigning champions Manchester City in one of the most impressive and comprehensive wins we’ve seen this season, and one of their standout players from the day is now leading the Premier League in one vital metric.

Spurs' top performers

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s examine a few of the Lilywhites’ other top performers this season, starting with Brennan Johnson.

The Welsh international endured a tough start to the campaign, which saw him delete his Instagram account due to fan harassment following the club’s North London defeat in September, but since then, he’s been electric.

For example, across all competitions, the former Nottingham Forest gem has scored eight goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every other game, making him the club’s top scorer and the joint-most productive overall.

The Lilywhites star who sits alongside the winger at the moment is summer signing Dominic Solanke, who had a lot of pressure on his shoulders coming into the campaign due to that £65m price tag, but has dealt with it quite well.

For example, in just 16 appearances this season, the former Liverpool gem has scored six goals and provided three assists, so while he’d likely want more of the former, he’s still averaging a goal involvement every 1.77 games.

However, there is another Spurs star who is not just beating out the likes of Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer in one key metric but the entire Premier League.

Spurs' league leading star

Now, there are a few other Spurs stars who have enjoyed some success so far this season, be that Son Heung-min, with his tally of three goals and four assists in 12 matches, or James Maddison, who bagged a brace against City on the weekend.

However, the Lilywhites ace in question is Swedish international Dejan Kulusevski, who has been enjoying arguably his best season with the club to date this year.

Postecoglou has opted to start the “special” talent, as dubbed by Sky Sports reporter James Weir, in midfield for most of his appearances this season, and so far, he’s racked up an impressive haul of two goals and six assists in 18 games.

Appearances

18

Minutes

1188′

Goals

2

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

Minutes per Goal Involvement

144.5′

However, the clash with City proved that the former Juventus ace is still more than capable of performing on the wing, as he picked up an assist and was awarded a 9/10 match rating by Alasdair Gold, who described the 24-year-old’s display as ‘sublime.’

Impressively, his efforts against the Champions on Saturday also helped him overtake Saka, Palmer and Andreas Pereira to become the Premier League leader for chances created in open play this season.

The Stockholm-born maestro has now created 33 chances from open play this campaign, while the three aforementioned players have created 32 each.

This impressive statistic just helps to prove yet again, that in Kulusevski, Spurs have a genuinely unbelievable talent on their hands and that when talent scout Jacek Kulig labelled the Swede “world-class” in the past, he wasn’t even remotely hyperbolic.

Watch out Maddison: Ange could unleash "stunning" Spurs academy gem

The sensational talent has a bright future at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2024

The offspinner takes the place of George Linde, who is unavailable due to his impending wedding

Firdose Moonda26-Jan-2022Simon Harmer has been recalled to South Africa’s Test squad for their two-Test tour of New Zealand next month. Harmer last played for the country on a tour of India in 2015 and signed a Kolpak deal with Essex in 2017. The offspinner has been included in the traveling group as back-up to Keshav Maharaj and in place of George Linde, who was unavailable for selection due to his impending wedding. Prenalen Subrayen, the other spinner who has recently been around the squad, was not considered because of a groin injury.There is also a recall for seam bowler Lutho Sipamla, who missed out on tours to West Indies and the series against India at home. Sipamla joins a seven-strong seam contingent that will be headlined by Kagiso Rabada, who was rested from the ODI squad against India and also include Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, another Kolpak-returnee Duanne Olivier and allrounder Wiaan Mulder. Sisanda Magala, who was in the Test squad for the India series, has been left out.Anrich Nortje, who missed the India Test with a hip injury, remains out of action. Selection convener Victor Mpitsang told ESPNcricinfo that Nortje is aiming to be ready to play in the ODIs against Bangladesh at home in March.The batters who did duty during the 2-1 series win against India all keep their places. Opener Aiden Markram remains part of the squad despite averaging under 25 in his last 19 Tests, with Sarel Erwee and Ryan Rickleton the other contenders for that berth. “We know Aiden has made some errors but the team has been doing well and we are opting to stick with him,” Mpitsang said. With Quinton de Kock retired from Test cricket, Kyle Verreynne is the designated wicketkeeper.But all eyes will be on Harmer, who returned to South Africa’s domestic set-up on the back of stellar county form. Since his last Test, across the County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy, Harmer has taken 303 wickets in 61 matches, more than any other bowler in that six-year period. He was also the leading wicket-taker in the the County Championship in 2019 and in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. This season, Harmer is the second-leading bowler in the domestic four-day competition, after Olivier, and has taken 27 wickets at 21.40.Lutho Sipamla is part of a seven-member pace contingent•Cricket South AfricaHe is the third former Kolpak player to be recalled since the system ended post-Brexit on January 31, 2020. Wayne Parnell has been selected for ODIs and played against Netherlands in a washout in November last year while Olivier made his comeback during the Test series against India, suggesting CSA will now fully re-integrate Kolpak players into the fold. It’s a complete turnaround from the mood in April 2020, when Harmer said: “There’s a lot of bad blood towards the Kolpaks, and it would take, I think, South Africans and perhaps Cricket South Africa to swallow their pride and seek for those players to return to the South African set-up. There’s been a lot said in the press about the return of Kolpak players, but obviously the public perception still is not great.”Now, Harmer faces fresh public scrutiny as he returns to the country where transformation targets, which he has been critical of in the past, are a reality and have a direct impact on selection. In 2019, Harmer said the quota system worked against players of colour, whom he believed were not always ready to make the step up, and white players, who were denied an income-earning opportunity. “It’s affecting players of colour because they’re forced into a role and they’re not allowed to develop their skill. They get thrust in and then thrust out, and then they find the next person to come in,” he said at the time. “If I were to lose my place for a player of colour then I don’t have an issue with that. But as a sportsman, I need to maximise my earning potential, and to commit in South Africa where the transformation targets are constantly evolving … your opportunities do get less and less. It’s the nature of South African sport. It’s always going to be there, it’s never going to go away. It’s such a sore topic and taboo to speak about, but it is what it is.”Harmer sought to make a career in England and hoped to qualify for their international side, but with the Kolpak system ending his qualification hopes and with other visa options unavailable to him, he closed the door on that last August. He remains contracted as an overseas player to Essex until the end of the 2026 season, though his availability for the county could become dependent on his international career.Whether Harmer will make an immediate comeback into the playing XI is likely to depend on conditions. Both Tests will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which over recent years has boasted the quickest pitch in New Zealand that is usually green and bouncy. This is a change from the original schedule that had the first Test in Christchurch and the second in Wellington but, with New Zealand under strict Covid-19 restrictions, travel has been minimised by staying in one venue.South Africa depart for New Zealand on February 2 and will undergo 10 days of mandatory quarantine before being allowed to train.South Africa squad for New Zealand tour: Dean Elgar (capt), Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne