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An update has emerged on Tottenham and their pursuit of Evan Ndicka in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Foot Mercato, Spurs are the team leading the race to land the French centre-back from Eintracht Frankfurt.

The report claims that Ligue 1 side Marseille are keen to rival the Premier League side to his signature and are waiting for cash to come in before making their move.

It was recently reported that Frankfurt are willing to cash in on the £20m gem but it remains to be seen how much Fabio Paratici is prepared to pay for him.

Jan Vertonghen 2.0

By securing a deal to sign Ndicka this summer, Tottenham can find their new Jan Vertonghen at left centre-back.

The Belgian defender played 314 times for the club during his time in north London as he dominated attackers over the course of a number of years. He was also excellent at building the play on his left foot with a career average pass completion rate of 86.6%.

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Vertonghen was a staple on the left of Tottenham’s back four and Ndicka can now come in to be Antonio Conte’s own version of the now-Benfica machine.

The 22-year-old ball player has proven his quality in the Bundesliga with an impressive 2021/22 campaign. He averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.12 in the division, winning 60% of his individual duels and making 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game.

Former Frankfurt player Alexander Schur claimed the Frenchman “shows no nerves”. He has also been praised by his former boss Adi Hutter, with the head coach saying: “I honestly have to say that I was surprised by his development. Evan has developed phenomenally. He’s very attentive in the analysis of his own game. He’s very modest and always takes a lot on board.”

Ndicka has also shown his quality in possession on his left foot. He ended the Bundesliga campaign with a pass completion rate of 84% and chipped in with four goals and four assists from centre-back, showing that he can be a force at both ends of the pitch.

The gem has shown that he can be a strong, consistent, defender in his own half whilst contributing offensively, whether by finding a teammate in the build-up or being directly involved in a goal.

Therefore, Tottenham can find their new Vertonghen by sealing a £20m deal for Ndicka in the coming weeks…

AND in other news, Paratici can land Conte his next Son as Spurs eye bid for “disgusting” £60m “magician”…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has delivered his verdict on the potential Leeds United pursuit of Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino. 

The lowdown: Whites’ interested

This comes following a report from The Times claiming Leeds are among the frontrunners to sign Minamino this summer after the Japan international was made available by Liverpool.

The Whites have been heavily linked with the versatile 27-year-old previously, including under former manager and fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa.

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With Jesse Marsch now at the helm in Yorkshire and having worked alongside the mercurial Minamino previously at Red Bull Salzburg, the interest looks set to be ramped up…

The latest: Jones on Minamino

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones suggested having already clinched deals to reunite Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson with Marsch, a similar move for the 40-cap Japan starlet would be smart from Victor Orta.

He said: “People like Minamino might be the guys that fit into that.

“They’re not going to sound like world beating signings, but they might just be exactly what Jesse March needs as he kind of transitions his side and adds steps to it.”

The verdict: No brainer

For the reported £17million asking price, signing Minamino would be a superb piece of business as Marsch looks to build a squad to steer way clear of the Premier League drop zone next season.

Despite being somewhat of an also-ran in the major tournaments since arriving in England, the man hailed as a ‘special’ player by former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia has managed 17 direct goal contributions in 54 outings for the Merseyside giants.

During 2021/22, Minamino notched up an impressive ten goals and one assist from just 24 outings, hitting the back of the net four times in five appearances in the Carabao Cup, earning an outstanding 7.38 Sofascore rating whilst taking 3.2 shots on average per game in the process.

Supremely versatile with the capability to play across the frontline and in deeper roles, adding the dynamic attacker to the Elland Road ranks could be considered an Orta masterstroke so long as the fee doesn’t get out of hand.

In other news: Leeds now eyeing move for ‘lethal and sublime’ gem, read more here

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has revealed that his future with the Premier League champions could be decided as early as next week as he considers the next stage of his career.

The Lowdown: Jesus linked with Arsenal

The Brazilian arrived at the Etihad Stadium in a £27m move from Palmeiras in 2016 and he has since gone on to make 236 appearances for the Sky Blues during his time in Manchester so far.

With just over 12 months remaining on his contract, a decision may need to be made this summer as to whether the 25-year-old will remain with City or move elsewhere.

It has recently been reported that top-flight rivals Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal with the forward as they look to replace the departing Alexandre Lacazette, but the Brazil international has now delivered a teasing update on his current situation.

The Latest: Jesus addresses his future

When speaking to reporters following Brazil’s recent 5-1 victory over South Korea (as quoted by Manchester Evening News), Jesus admitted that he is currently reviewing his options and is set to make a final decision on his future soon.

He said: “I’m looking to see what’s best for me and above all, for my career. From Tuesday, we’ll see what is the best.”

The Verdict: Time to move on?

When he initially joined City, the Sao Paulo native unsurprisingly found himself below Sergio Aguero in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order. However, following the Argentine’s departure last year, the 55-cap Brazil international has played a more integral role in leading the attacking line.

This season, the £91k-per-week starlet scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions for the English champions (as per Transfermarkt) and was handed 21 top-flight starts, showing that he isn’t just a bit-part player to be used as a substitute and can do an effective job when given the opportunity.

However, with the signing of Borussia Dortmund beast Erling Haaland now confirmed, Jesus is likely to be resigned to a place on the bench next season and could struggle to get as much game-time as he enjoyed in 2021/22. Therefore, he may feel that this summer is the right time for him to leave City and start afresh in a new chapter elsewhere – maybe with the Gunners.

In other news… the Sky Blues are reportedly readying a bid for one of their long-term transfer targets

A big Ibrox development has emerged regarding Rangers and their plans with Ianis Hagi for the upcoming summer transfer window. 

What’s the talk?

Twitter transfer account The 4th Official has confirmed that the Premiership giants will not be cashing in on the winger ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

They tweeted: “Rangers have zero intention of selling Ianis Hagi. There is a feeling that this is a lowball offer that is done primarily to unsettle the player.”

This comes after reports of a €7m (£6m) bid from Galatasaray in an attempt to snap up the Romanian from Ibrox, with Ross Wilson rejecting the Turkish club’s offer.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be delighted

The Gers head coach will be delighted with this news, as it suggests that Hagi will be at Ibrox come the end of the summer transfer window.

He will be buzzing with Wilson’s reluctance to do a deal for the Romania international, as it shows that the club are willing to stand firm and fight to keep hold of their best players. They will not roll over and allow European suitors to take away their most prized gems without paying a hefty price for them.

Van Bronckhorst can therefore have faith that those making the decisions above him will do what is in the best interests of what happens on the pitch, rather than taking the £6m offer and banking the money to the detriment to the team.

Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard previously lauded the 23-year-old’s mentality, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

These comments suggest that the midfielder is unlikely to be affected by any mind games at play with Galatasaray’s bid, as he is a hard worker and will not want to cause any issues which may affect his development by agitating for a move.

Hagi’s drive to be the best is also another reason why Van Bronckhorst will be delighted by Rangers’ stance on his situation. The Dutch head coach will surely be excited to work with the midfielder upon his return from injury, as he has shown that he has an appetite to develop and hone his skills.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Souttar: Rangers can seal dream deal by signing 23 y/o “real leader”…

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘watched’ Brennan Johnson ahead of a potential move this summer.

The Lowdown: Play-off final day

The Toon Army can catch a glimpse of what Johnson can offer at St. James’ Park as he features for Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town this afternoon.

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The Wales international has had an outstanding season, scoring 19 goals and making a further nine assists in total over all competitions, and has featured across the whole of the forward line for Steve Cooper’s team (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle watch

Taking to Twitter, The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that the North East club are one of a number of sides to have ‘watched’ Johnson, but a lot ‘hinges’ on whether Forest can beat Huddersfield:

“Everton eye move for Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, but a lot hinges on Forest fate in play-off final. Newcastle, Leicester, Brentford have also watched 21-yr-old.”

Expanding in his article, Hope added that he is likelier to leave if Forest lose the game, with a £20m fee being mooted.

The Verdict: Sign

Eddie Howe will be hoping for more options in attack come the start of the new campaign, and Johnson would certainly be a valuable addition to his squad.

Dubbed a ‘different animal‘ on the pitch by Paul Bodin, who worked with him when in charge of Wales’ U19s and later with the U21s, and a player who makes defenders ‘panic’ by former Premier League manager Alex McLeish, the 21-year-old could provide the same threat on the opposite wing as Allan Saint-Maximin does on the left.

Nonetheless, they could form a deadly duo capable of truly terrorising any top-flight side’s backline.

In other news, find out who PIF are now ‘ready’ to sign for NUFC here!

Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle it out with Arsenal to secure the signing of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, reports The Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Jesus’ talks with Arsenal

As per Fabrizio Romano, it is clear that the 25-year-old has asked to leave the Sky Blues this summer.

As a result, the Brazilian’s agent, Marcelo Pettinati, has confirmed that talks have already been held with Arsenal, and it is said that they are interested in the ‘project’ under Mikel Arteta.

However, Pettinati has also revealed that six more clubs are interested in securing his client’s signature.

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The Latest: Spurs keen to sign Jesus

According to a fresh report by The Telegraph’s reliable Mike McGrath, Tottenham are set to join Arsenal in the race to sign Man City striker Jesus.

Having pipped their north London rivals to a top four finish and a spot in the Champions League, Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte will be looking to strengthen his squad as they prepare to compete with Europe’s elite.

It is understood that Jesus’ agent is aware of Spurs’ interest in a deal.

The Verdict: Brilliant signing

Described as “a natural finisher” by former Tottenham forward Garth Crooks on BBC Sport, the 25-year-old’s underlying stats clearly justify this praise.

According to FB Ref, the Brazil international ranks in the 91st percentile for non-penalty goals and in the 95th percentile for non-penalty expected goals across positional peers in Europe.

With 58 goals under his belt in the Premier League and 134 in total for club and country,  Conte would be getting an experienced striker with many years left for him to perform at the top level.

Therefore, this would be a brilliant signing for Tottenham.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Paratici set to back Conte with major signings

One club in Merseyside has enjoyed enormous success this year, winning trophies like the FA Cup and the EFL Cup as well as being up there in contention for the Premier League and the Champions League.

Under manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has pulled itself out of the very deep rut it had fallen into and has returned to its former glory. Plenty of analysis has been conducted as to why The Reds have been so successful, covering everything from having the right players, to an aggressive approach to control play, and the allocation of training time to traditionally overlooked elements like throw-ins.

This success has made Liverpool one of the teams to beat, and most sportsbooks have had them as one of the two favourites to win most major football competitions for the last few years. As a result, sites like OddsChecker, which list free bet promotions and compare odds from multiple betting brands have seen an increase in the number of punters backing them.

But Liverpool’s neighbours, Everton, a team that has its stadium just the other side of Stanley Park, has endured the opposite fate.

While Anfield has been packed with cheering fans celebrating victory after victory, Goodison Park has been under a cloud of despair, concern, and dread. There has been a real danger in 2021/22 that Everton could be relegated, dropping the team out of the top flight of football for the first time since the 1950s.

But how did it get this bad, and what exactly went wrong for Everton?

The Wrong Managers

Over the park, at Anfield, Klopp has been at the tiller since October 2015. During that time, he has built the team around him and moulded it into the way he needed it in order to achieve success.

During that same period, Goodison Park has seen 10 different men take charge. Granted, three of them were caretaker managers, but that still leaves seven permanent recruits, a sign of serious problems.

Not only has the revolving door been working overtime at the entrance to the stadium, but the longest tenure of any manager recruited during that time was 17 months.

Just like in any business, one person choosing not to stick around for very long says more about them than the company. But when you have seven different people in the same role in as many years, then you need to look at the organisation itself and who is making the hiring decisions.

The club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, is clearly committed and wants results as he has reportedly spent more than £600 million since taking over at Everton. However, this money appears to have been spent without a clear strategy.

Injuries

Injuries can be a problem for any team; even Liverpool know this. After winning the Premier League in 2019/20, the club saw a temporary drop in form due to key players being out of action due to injury. But once the club had a squad of fit and healthy athletes once again, the wins came flooding in.

But this has been an even bigger problem for Everton. This season alone, they’ve had Dominic Calvert Lewin out with a fractured toe, Richarlison missing due to a knee injury, Yerry Mina suffering with thigh problems, and Andre Gomes on the bench after falling awkwardly.

It’s safe to say that would they have been on the verge of being dumped out of the Premier League if they’d not had so many good players out of action.

Weak Defence

Everton went into their final two Premier League games of the season with a goal difference of -20. This is by no means the worst in the league, in fact, it’s better than all but one team fighting against relegation this season.

However, it’s a drastic drop in form from previous seasons. Last year, The Blues ended the season on -1, the season before on 12, and 2018/19 on +8.

While this decline is partly due to a lack of conversions by the players upfront, it can be attributed much more to the weak defence the team fields each week. Even with Jordan Pickford in goal, Everton needs a stronger back line to protect its goal.

While these issues are not going to be resolved overnight, there are signs that the right changes are now being made at Goodison. But whether they’ll take effect in time or not, is yet to be seen.

Photo by Unsplash

The 17-year-old UAE international is set to make her England debut after a stellar summer

S Sudarshanan30-Aug-20232:08

Mahika Gaur talks about her idols, MS Dhoni and Mitchell Starc

Left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur was only 12 when she made her international debut for UAE. Four years on, she is set to become a double-international after being called up for England’s white-ball series at home against Sri Lanka.If you were to create a left-arm seamer in a lab, the ideal ingredients would be a tall frame, lean build, and an ability to move the ball, all of which Gaur, who is over six feet tall, has. In terms of pace, she is not yet Mitchell Starc, one of her idols, but in a short span, she has been able to use her height and discipline to trouble some of the top batters in the game.In Gaur’s first match at this year’s FairBreak Invitational Tournament in Hong Kong, she got a length delivery to lift off the surface and jag back into the hard-hitting Deandra Dottin, who swayed away but could only glove it to the keeper. In her second match in the Women’s Hundred, Gaur kept Oval Invincibles openers Suzie Bates and Lauren Winfield-Hill on a tight leash with her swing while mixing her lengths. She bowled 15 of her 20 balls inside the 25-ball powerplay for only seven runs and got the wicket of Winfield-Hill.Born in Reading in the south of England, Gaur was inspired to take up cricket after watching an IPL match in Jaipur in 2011: Shane Warne had starred in a Rajasthan Royals win over Delhi Daredevils and the atmosphere at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium captivated Gaur so much that she wanted to play as soon as she got back to England.”I was practising bowling in the garden. I think my dad was just surprised that I could roll my arm fully without chucking the ball,” Gaur said on the sidelines of the Fairbreak Invitational in April this year. “He was a left-arm bowler in college but never got to do his cricket thing. But when he saw that I have potential, he’s always been on board.”Three years later, when the family moved to Dubai, Gaur enrolled in the ICC Academy, where she met Chaya Mughal, who later became UAE Women’s captain. “The first time I went into ICC [Academy], she was training indoors and the coach over there, Adnan [Sabri] sir said that I can bowl to her.”I was bowling loopy full tosses and she was defending them. She was the first person I bowled to there and I was star-struck. My dad told me she’s from the UAE national team – that was pretty cool.”In 19 T20Is for UAE, Gaur took nine wickets and conceded 5.15 runs an over•Alex Davidson/ECB/Getty ImagesMughal also remembers her first sightings of a young Gaur, whom she went on to captain in 16 T20Is for UAE. “A young girl, taking a long run-up, high-arm action, left arm – I was surprised to see a full package,” she said. “The first thought that came to my mind was, ‘Wow, she is going to be a fantastic player for the UAE side!'”She was continuously hitting the hard length and wanted the ball to come into me. I was amazed to see such a talent and she was putting in a lot of effort in every ball. She wanted to do something new in every ball she bowled. The spark she had took me aback.”Twelve-year-old Gaur didn’t quite grasp the significance of her international debut, in 2019, and wondered why her parents and older sister were “making such a big deal of it”. She only realised how momentous her debut was when Theertha Satish and Khushi Sharma, two of her best friends in the UAE set-up, got their T20I caps in 2021 at ages 17 and 19 respectively.But the major turning point in her life came in 2020. After a training session with UAE was cancelled, Gaur found herself bowling in a masterclass session with Manchester Originals at the Dubai Expo. Lancashire men’s captain Keaton Jennings and former wicketkeeper Warren Hegg, the cricket operations executive at Lancashire and Originals, were impressed by what they saw.”[Hegg] was just talking to me and found out I have a British passport,” Gaur said. “So I could play in England as a domestic player. They got in touch with my parents and I moved to Manchester in December 2021.”The following June, Gaur took 11 wickets for UAE in the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers – the most among fast bowlers and second overall, and her economy rate of 1.36 was the best for any bowler with at least four overs in the tournament. Originals picked her in their squad as a reserve and she made her Hundred debut this August.By then there was already enough indication that England were also interested in the tall seamer. In June this year Gaur was selected to play T20s for England A against Australia A in a shadow tour alongside the Women’s Ashes. She also took 11 white-ball wickets for her domestic side, Thunder, in 13 innings during this period.Gaur says she learnt a lot from her more experienced team-mates, including Nicola Carey, Bismah Maroof and Ayabonga Khaka, during the FairBreak Invitational Tournament earlier this year•Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Getty ImagesWhat has stood out in most of these appearances is her calm and her ability to keep batters in check with the new ball. In May at Old Trafford in a 50-over domestic game for Thunder against Sparks, she prevented a set Davina Perrin and Grace Potts from scoring eight in the final over; the match was tied.Gaur’s calm perhaps comes from wanting to emulate the other “Mahi”, MS Dhoni.”One of the players I looked up to was Dhoni,” she said. “He is the CSK captain, so I am a big CSK fan. We would watch all his finishes. My first ever cricket jersey was a picture of Dhoni and on the back it said ‘Mahi 7’ because he’s Mahi and I am Mahi as well.”I think it’s why I started liking cricket, because he was making the team win from impossible situations. When I was younger, I would also dream of finishing matches like he did.”Her other idol, Starc, sent her a video message on her 16th birthday that “made my day”.”I was just in shock. That was really kind of him, and hopefully in the future, I’ll get to meet and talk to him about bowling.”For now, Gaur is enjoying learning from her more experienced team-mates across the world. At FairBreak, she shared a dressing room with Australia’s Nicola Carey, Pakistan’s Bismah Maroof and South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka.”I prefer to know about how [the experienced players] approach something,” she said. “We were in trouble chasing a tall total against Tornadoes when Nicola Carey went out to bat. From the dugout we just watched how she took responsibility and made us win comfortably when it looked like we were not going to win.”Similarly, in one of the games, Bismah played a great innings but we lost. I asked her about what she was thinking on that surface that was tough to bat on.”Ayabonga Khaka was telling me about when she goes to her yorkers and when is the right time to bowl a slower ball. When I got hit, she would tell me what I could have done [differently]. Just small stuff like that, not overcomplicating it. They just keep it super simple.”Gaur narrowly missed out being part of the inaugural Women’s Premier League in March in India. Gujarat Giants put in a late bid for her at the auction but they had already exhausted their overseas quota. Had she been picked, she might have played as the fifth overseas player in the XI, since she was from an Associate side. Still, she was happy a team had bid for her.Outside the game, Gaur is continuing with her education – she’s studying biology, maths and psychology – but says juggling school and cricket has been difficult. “As much as I want to study, I don’t want to just always be studying when we’re in a new country [for cricket]. It’s good to go out. I am not too upset that I haven’t been studying that much. It is good in a way because I’m always busy, [either] studying or playing cricket.”Bigger challenges await her as an England international. There will be more competition for a spot in the XI, but also more game time compared to her UAE days, which means more opportunity for the opposition to dissect her skills. However, FairBreak and the Hundred have shown she has the appetite to put up a fight.

Sri Lanka also pick uncapped quick Eshan Malinga, who bagged 13 wickets for SRH in IPL 2025

Madushka Balasuriya07-Jul-2025Former captain Dasun Shanaka and bowling allrounder Chamika Karunaratne have been recalled to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh. Also part of the 17-member side is the uncapped right-arm quick Eshan Malinga, who has played six ODIs for Sri Lanka. Dunith Wellalage, too, returns to the fold after being left out for the T20Is in New Zealand late last year.Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Asitha Fernando were among those who missed the cut.Shanaka had last turned out for Sri Lanka in July 2024, but has been a frequent presence on the franchise circuit – most recently with Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 this February, when he impressed in his role as a lower-order finisher during the side’s run to the title.Related

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Karunaratne, who last played for Sri Lanka in November 2023, has focused his efforts solely on domestic cricket since being dropped. In the last two years, only Wanindu Hasaranga, Karunaratne and Wellalage have scored at least 300 runs and taken at least 20 wickets across all domestic T20 tournaments conducted by SLC, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL).Malinga, meanwhile, is the latest seam-bowling property out of Sri Lanka, having put in an impressive performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025. His 13 wickets across seven games at an average of 18.30 was only below Pat Cummins (16) and Harshal Patel (16) for SRH, though they played twice as many games as Malinga. Since making his T20 debut in 2022, Malinga has gone wicketless only once in 27 innings.Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando made up the rest of what is a varied pace contingent for Sri Lanka. Apart from them, both Shanaka and Karunaratne provide seam-bowling options. On the spin-bowling front, meanwhile, there were no surprises, with Jeffrey Vandersay serving as back-up to Maheesh Theekshana and Hasaranga, while Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka were available as well.There are plenty of batting options with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu, Dinesh Chandimal and Asalanka making up the top- and middle-order options, while Shanaka, Karunaratne, Wellalage and Hasaranga are all capable with the bat down the order.The T20I series against Bangladesh starts on July 10, with the next two matches on July 13 and 16.Sri Lanka’s T20I squadCharith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Eshan Malinga

Every West Bromwich Albion manager who has taken on the reins since Carlos Corberan’s exit in late 2024 is undoubtedly trying to achieve success with the Spaniard’s legacy weighing heavily on them.

Corberan would turn the Baggies into regular promotion contenders in the Championship, which made his departure to Valencia last year very much sting.

To make matters worse, the wheels would come off West Brom’s 2024/25 season at a worryingly quick pace after he moved on to La Liga, with his successor in Tony Mowbray only managing to collect a paltry five victories from 17 matches before being dismissed.

Now, the pressure is on Ryan Mason’s shoulders to deliver, and the strain is already beginning to show, with two recent Championship defeats on the spin for the perpetual promotion nearly-men even seeing some Baggies natives begin to grow restless with their new 34-year-old boss.

It hasn’t been completely bleak since Corberan returned to Spain, however, with a lot of star quality still on display from some new signings.

West Brom's mixed recruitment since Corberan left

In the direct aftermath of Corberan leaving, though, there were some underwhelming flops to stomach.

Namely, Adam Armstrong would relocate to the Hawthorns on loan and fail to live up to this well-known image of him being a prolific performer in the EFL’s top league, with just a forgettable three goals falling into his lap from 16 outings in the West Midlands.

Tammer Bany, who was purchased this January for a whopping £3.3m, has also failed to get up and running in England as a post-Corberan purchase.

But, there have been some success stories to hold onto.

Isaac Price is very much the first name that springs to mind in this regard, having signed for the Championship outfit a matter of days after Mowbray was unveiled.

While he was a Mowbray capture, he has very much come into his own this season under the fresh methods of Mason, with a stunning five goals and two assists next to his name in all competitions.

Other members of Mason’s first team are also in with a shout to be the best buy since Corberan moved on, with Chris Mepham one worthy candidate, as the Welsh centre-back has become an everpresent member of his new manager’s defence to soften the blow of Torbjørn Heggem exiting for Bologna.

But, it’s a different defensive monster who could be well handed the honour…

West Brom's best signing post-Corberan

While Price has dominated a lot of West Brom conversations this campaign with his goal and assist output, he has also been prone to a quiet day at the office, frustratingly.

Indeed, the Northern Ireland international would go the entirety of September without collecting a single goal or assist.

During this same month, it could be argued that Nathaniel Phillips was very much settling into his new Hawthorns environment, on the contrary, with the decision to bring in the Premier League-experienced defender for just £3m already looking to be an ingenious move.

The 28-year-old is yet to miss a Championship game this season, and for good reason, with the 6-foot-3 colossus very much living up to his billing as a “lion”, as he was lauded by his former Anfield coach in Pepijn Lijnders.

Indeed, in West Brom blue and white so far, Phillips has won a commanding 5.5 duels on average across his 12 league clashes to date.

Games played

12

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

81.9

Accurate passes*

56.6 (86%)

Ball recoveries*

4.3

Clearances*

7.4

Total duels won*

5.5

Clean sheets

3

Looking at the table above in greater detail only further reinforces how much of a sterling purchase Phillips has already been, with his brute strength when rising up for duels also gifting him one goal at his new club, already, away from also cutting an assured presence on the ball with 56.6 accurate passes averaged per tense match.

EFL pundit Sam Parkin would likely agree with Phillips being one of West Brom’s best signings in recent memory, with him labelling the former Derby County loanee as “absolutely sensational” after he collected a clean sheet versus promotion rivals Stoke City.

Mason will need both Price and Phillips performing to their maximum to try and get his side out of their current sticky patch of form.

But, while the first of those named has shone in spurts and looks a top talent for the future, Phillips has been the real deal from minute one of his West Brom journey, with 19 Premier League appearances also under his belt, standing the Baggies in good stead if they can finally break their second-tier hoodoo.

West Brom have signed "explosive" star who is a bigger talent than Fellows

West Bromwich Albion have signed a new explosive star who is an even bigger talent than Tom Fellows.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 29, 2025