Creative flatness threatens to stymie start to season Van de Ven: ‘He can create a lot of special things’ Micky van de Ven believes Xavi Simons could be the solution to the creative flatness threatening to undermine Tottenham’s start to the season. With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison sustaining long-term injuries and Dominic Solanke undergoing a procedure on his troublesome ankle, Tottenham have started to look a little predictable in forward areas and form has stuttered over the past month. Thomas Frank acknowledged before Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with the Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt that the almost complete change to the front four – with Son Heung-min also departed – has created issues. Simons arrived from RB Leipzig just before the end of the transfer window for more than £50m. He is still adapting, but he set up a goal against West Ham and played a key role coming off the bench in Spurs’ late comeback in Norway. Continue reading...

An unusual streaming deal sees the German league going where its fans are, instead of asking the fans to come to them In a change to his regularly scheduled programming, Mark Goldbridge took a break from blowing steam out his ears at another Andre Onana howler and venting his shouty exasperation at Manchester United’s latest calamity to talk – and watch – all things Gegenpressing and Ballbesitzfußball with his audience of over one million YouTube subscribers. This was after the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL) struck an agreement with Goldbridge to broadcast 20 live Bundesliga matches on his That’s Football YouTube channel this season. Bayern Munich’s opening weekend win over RB Leipzig raised the curtain on the new deal, with nearly 500,000 viewers watching along with Goldbridge. Continue reading...

France forward ‘really happy and proud’ to join Spurs Frank left with a Champions League squad dilemma Thomas Frank has completed a loan move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani to boost his attacking options – and deepen his Champions League squad selection headache. Kolo Muani had been a prime target for Juventus, for whom he played on loan from PSG over the second half of last season, scoring 10 goals. But the Serie A club were unable to agree a deal for him, admitting defeat over the weekend and moving instead for Loïs Openda from RB Leipzig. Continue reading...

After missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, Dutchman’s arrival gives the club vital depth After the confusion over Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause and bitter blow of being blindsided by Arsenal when it came to Eberechi Eze, Tottenham can finally celebrate an unlikely swoop of their own. They have moved quickly to land Xavi Simons, who has been touted as a certainty to join Chelsea for much of the past month, and must be relieved not to have fallen victim to yet another late hijack. There were understandable nerves at Spurs as they raced to complete a £51.8m deal to sign Simons from RB Leipzig. Previous attempts to bolster Thomas Frank’s options in attacking midfield had not gone well. Where next after Eze and Gibbs-White? Spurs have made a hugely encouraging start under Frank, who has won his first two league games by an aggregate score of 5-0, but they needed something extra in the final third. Son Heung-min has gone; James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are out. Mohammed Kudus has impressed since joining from West Ham for £54.5m but he is at his best on the right. The arrival of extra creativity is highly welcome. The element of surprise around Simons has given Spurs fans rare joy. Continue reading...

Attacking midfielder has agreed terms and had medical Chelsea could move for López as well as Garnarcho Tottenham are poised to complete the £51.8m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. Personal terms have been agreed with the attacking midfielder and a medical has taken place. Barring any last-minute hitches the deal will be a major boost for Thomas Frank, who has been looking to add an attacking midfielder. Spurs have lost James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski to injury and have missed out on Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. Continue reading...

England captain Harry Kane scores a hat-trick and ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz scores his first Bundesliga goal, as defending champions Bayern Munich begin their league campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig.

Arsenal weigh up offer for Morgan Rogers, RB Leipzig agree personal terms with Harvey Elliott and Marseille interested in signing Kostas Tsimikas, plus more.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is on Aston Villa's transfer wish list, Chelsea are bidding to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons and Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho, plus Tottenham eye Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche.

Recent news surrounding Manchester United's finances has not been positive - which will have left fans wondering how they are able to finance a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Today’s rumours are counting the clouds It has been one of the great conundrums of this window, leaving people pontificating over what Harvey Elliott should do next. The midfielder was, arguably, the leading light in England’s European Under-21 Championship triumph but it still feels like minutes will be hard to come by at Liverpool. Many have suggested he would suit the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig seem to think the same and have got in touch with Liverpool to see if something can be worked out. Supposedly Newcastle have a plan B if they do not land Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig, although considering they have missed out on so many players this summer, it is more like a plan T. The latest contingency walks, talks and gets booked just like Nicolas Jackson, mainly because it is the Chelsea striker. There is a parallel universe where Sesko hot foots it to St James’ Park, leaving Manchester United light of a No 9, which would then see them bid for Jackson to fill the void. But it does not end there, because Ollie Watkins could once again be back on the Ruben Amorim dartboard and Aston Villa are fortifying themselves for a bid. Continue reading...

Manchester United make a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko with the overall package potentially rising to 85m euros (£73.8m).

Tottenham are looking to bring Joao Palhinha back to the Premier League from Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig show interest in Rasmus Hojlund, while Jadon Sancho is ready to take a pay cut in order to leave Manchester United, plus more.

Villa won’t listen to lower offers for England striker United may switch focus to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko Manchester United are interested in signing Ollie Watkins but are unwilling to meet Aston Villa’s valuation of the striker. Arsenal made numerous bids for the England international in January but were knocked back as Villa held out for £60m, a fee they would demand for any sale this summer. Ruben Amorim has been seeking a new striker given the struggles of both Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirzkee last season. Another option is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is no longer part of the thinking at Old Trafford. Continue reading...

Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in case Alexander Isak departs this summer.