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Sunderland fans have waited an awfully long time to see their beloved team face off against Newcastle United again in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light.

Indeed, it’s been ten long years since the Black Cats last did battle with the Magpies in the Tyne-Wear Derby on their own patch in the league, with the Wearside hosts running out as slim 1-0 victors.

Regis Le Bris would gladly take another nervy win like that right now, with Jermain Defoe the hero on the day that guided Sunderland away from their ongoing relegation troubles, with that vital strike.

Remembering Defoe's Derby Day heroics

Of course, Sunderland will feel disheartened if they come up short against their sworn enemy from Tyneside, but it’s not as make-or-break as other ties have been in recent memory between the two fierce rivals.

With six league wins already notched up this season, Le Bris and Co. are nowhere near the bottom three positions in the challenging division. But, back in April 2015, the Black Cats just about had their heads above water when facing off against John Carver’s Toon.

Thankfully, Defoe had packed his shooting boots for the tense game, with this stunning volley ending up being the difference-maker, which handed Sunderland their first win in nine league clashes, and placed the ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker firmly in the Stadium of Light good books.

Amazingly, the diminutive centre-forward would never come unstuck against Newcastle when donning Sunderland red and white, with a memorable 3-0 win also collected in 2016, while another goal in the eventful Derby would fall his way in a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

With Defoe further noted as loving the burden of scoring the goals to keep his team afloat, it will be intriguing to see in the here and now whether any stars will come to the surface for Le Bris who are willing to take the pressurised clash by the scruff of its neck.

One attacker could well be itching for a start to prove himself in this regard, having once been labelled as a “goal machine” by scout Jacek Kulig.

The "goal machine" who can Le Bris' answer to Defoe

Amazingly, Dick Advocaat had only occupied the Stadium of Light dug-out for two games when Defoe produced that moment of magic.

Le Bris also enters into the unknown later on today, having never overseen such a fierce and intense showdown, with a Defoe-style figure perhaps what he needs, too, to get one over on Eddie Howe’s tricky visitors, in the form of Brian Brobbey.

After all, the Dutchman has already chipped in with a memorable goal on Wearside, himself, when he powerfully got the better of David Raya late on in November to hand his new side a deserved share of the points against table-topping Arsenal.

With a further goal and assist also coming his way this season, despite just one limited Premier League start, he could be just what the doctor ordered for Sunderland in attempting to unnerve Howe and Co later on, with main striker option Wilson Isidor also deep in a six-game barren patch in front of goal in league action.

Dropping Isidor for Brobbey to lead the line might well prove to be an inspired switch, therefore, with the 23-year-old’s exposure to more game time perhaps catapulting him to reach Defoe’s insane Premier League numbers.

To date, Brobbey already has a stunning 144 goals next to his name playing for Ajax at senior level and youth level, alongside his glimpses of brilliance in England, with Defoe bowing out from his long-established Premier League career with a venomous 163 top-flight efforts.

Ajax (senior team)

163

56 + 24

Ajax U19s

41

37 + 7

Ajax U21s

34

17 + 5

Ajax U17s

25

26 + 6

RB Leipzig

14

0 + 3

Sunderland

10

2 + 1

Ajax Youth League

8

5 + 0

Sunderland U21s

1

1 + 0

Further noted as being a “natural born killer” in front of goal by Kulig, Brobbey will be chomping at the bit to be thrown in for just his second Premier League start of the season.

A bolt from the blue strike from the Amsterdam-born menace could see him be instantly held in the same high esteem as Defoe before him.

Sunderland could now make £12m approach to sign "unreal" defender in January

The Black Cats are assessing their options ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

ByDominic Lund 6 days ago

MatériaMais Notícias

A delegação do São Paulo ficou revoltada com a arbitragem no clássico com o Palmeiras, e tanto membros da diretoria quanto jogadores do elenco foram contidos pela Polícia Militar nos corredores do MorumBIS.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSão PauloCarpini elogia atuação do São Paulo, e evita falar da arbitragem e de Abel FerreiraSão Paulo03/03/2024São PauloJulio Casares, presidente do São Paulo, critica arbitragem: ‘chega do Abel apitar jogo de o Paulistão’São Paulo03/03/2024PalmeirasTorcedores do Palmeiras detonam Weverton em gol do São PauloPalmeiras03/03/2024

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Segundo a súmula do árbitro Matheus Candançan, o presidente do São Paulo, Júlio Casares, e o diretor de futebol, Carlos Belmonte, xingaram a equipe de arbitragem. Após o clássico, o mandatário são-paulino detonou a Federação Paulista de Futebol pela escolha do árbitro e também criticou o comportamento do técnico Abel Ferreira à beira do gramado.

– Informo que ao final da partida a equipe de arbitragem foi interceptada no túnel que dá acesso ao vestiário dos árbitros, por diversos dirigentes e atletas do São Paulo FC. Foi proferido as seguintes palavras pelos dirigentes Fernando Bracalle Ambrogi, Carlos Belmonte Sobrinho, Julio César Casares, ‘safados, que pênalti foi esse, sem vergonhas, filhos da p…, vai tomar no c., você não vai ficar em paz, desgraçados, o Abel apitou o jogo hoje – relatou o árbitro.

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O lateral Rafinha e o atacante Wellington Rato, não relacionados para o clássico, também xingaram e tentaram partir para cima da arbitragem, que precisou recorrer à proteção da PM.

– Foi identificado também os Atletas não relacionados para a partida Sr. Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza (nota da redação: Rafinha), proferindo as seguintes palavras contra a esquipe de arbitragem ‘Vai tomar no c., como dá um penalti desse, safado, você nunca mais vai apitar aqui’, e o Sr. Wellington Soares da Silva (nota da redação: Wellington Rato), proferindo as seguintes palavras contra arbitragem ” safado, vai tomar no c., filho da p…’. Informo ainda que foi necessária a intervenção do policiamento local com escudos, para retirada das pessoas acima mencionadas – escreveu o árbitro na súmula do Choque-Rei.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

O São Paulo reclama de dois lances: a não expulsão de Richard Ríos em lance com Pablo Maia, e um pênalti não marcado de Piquerez sobre Luciano.

O Tricolor volta a campo no domingo (10), contra o Ituano, pela rodada final da fase de grupos do Paulistão

Tudo sobre

São Paulo

AZ Alkmaar striker and former Tottenham golden boy Troy Parrott has been linked with a return to the Premier League, but could Spurs take the plunge and re-sign the young star once tipped to emulate Harry Kane?

Parrott has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers this season, with his prolific displays for AZ and heroic performances for the Republic of Ireland catapulting him back into the Premier League spotlight after rebuilding his career in the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old Dubliner has enjoyed a sensational campaign in the Eredivisie, demonstrating the clinical finishing and all-round game that once made him Tottenham’s most exciting academy prospect.

Parrott started the season in blistering fashion, netting ten goals in his opening seven appearances across all competitions before a knee ligament injury disrupted his momentum at the end of August. Since returning to action, he’s added three more, taking his tally to 13 strikes in just 14 matches this term — one of the best records in Dutch football.

However, it is his recent international exploits which have truly captured attention across Europe.

In November’s World Cup qualifying double-header, Parrott delivered two performances that will live long in Irish football folklore. He scored both goals in a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal, before producing an even more dramatic display against Hungary.

His hat-trick, including a 96th-minute winner, secured a miraculous 3-2 victory in Budapest and booked Ireland’s place in the World Cup play-offs.

This is a far cry from his spell at Spurs, where he ultimately failed to break into the first-team after successive loan spells in England’s lower tiers. Disappointing stints at Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End yielded just 13 goals in 102 appearances, with Parrott making the bold decision to move permanently to the Netherlands.

Initially joining Excelsior on loan, where he rediscovered his confidence with 17 goals in 32 games, he secured a permanent transfer to AZ in the summer 2024 for nearly £7 million.

The move has proven transformative. Last season, Parrott scored 14 goals in 28 Eredivisie matches, including a stunning four-goal haul in a 9-1 demolition of Heerenveen. His performances helped propel AZ to fifth whilst establishing himself as the league’s joint third-highest scorer.

AZ 4-1 FC Groningen

8.83

AZ 4-1 FC Utrecht

8.40

Ajax 0-2 AZ

7.76

FC Volendam 2-2 AZ

7.19

AZ 1-5 PSV Eindhoven

6.66

via WhoScored

Now, with Parrott in the form of his life, Premier League sides are considering a move.

Tottenham stance on re-signing Troy Parrott amid buy-back clause update

West Ham are among Parrott’s suitors ahead of the January transfer window, and AZ are poised to demand nearly quadruple what they paid for the forward — having slapped a £26 million price tag on his head.

This is now backed up by GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, who also share the odds of Parrott re-joining Tottenham.

Unfortunately, for those who’d be keen to see the number nine back at N17, it is bad news.

GMS report that a Tottenham return for Parrott is ‘off the cards’, and it is believed that the north Londoners did not insert a buy-back clause in the deal which saw him join AZ last year. That being said, they do have a 20 per cent sell-on clause, so Thomas Frank’s side could get a decent seven-figure windfall via the likes of West Ham or Fulham if either side manages to strike an agreement.

Spurs’ disinterest in bringing Parrott back comes despite their hunt for a striker.

Dominic Solanke has suffered with injury issues this season, playing just 49 minutes all season, and the England international is apparently set to miss their upcoming clashes against Arsenal and PSG (The Athletic).

Meanwhile, Richarlison has struggled for form, and reports in Italy suggest Roma are eyeing a move for Mathys Tel amid his desire to leave Spurs in January.

Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange — Tottenham’s co-sporting directors — are prioritising the signing of a centre-forward, with Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney believed to be a top target, among others.

However, going by this latest update, Spurs’ potential new striker won’t be Parrott despite his transformation abroad.

MatériaMais Notícias

O atacante Deyverson, do Cuiabá, foi um dos destaques do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2023. Em entrevista à apresentadora Ana Goebel, o jogador fez revelações curiosas.

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O artilheiro do Dourado contou um pouco sobre o elogio que recebeu do árbitro Anderson Daronco, em jogo contra o Flamengo, pelo Brasileirão deste ano. Além disso, também falou sobre o vácuo que recebeu de Andreas Pereira, ex-jogador do Rubro-Negro. CONFIRA:

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Whether you're planning to build a dynasty on a foundation of the best young players in the world or you're looking for top untapped talent to profit from by selling on, we've got you covered.

Football Manager 26 is out now and, if you're anything like us, you'll have the game fired up, ready to embark on a new challenge.

One of the most rewarding and exciting aspects of Football Manager (like Championship Manager before it, for those of us of a certain vintage!), is unearthing hidden gems and nurturing wonderkids appropriately so that they reach their full potential and become masters of the ever-expanding football universe.   

Keeping your eye out for young talent is a key consideration, whether you're managing the biggest club in the world or scraping at the lower end of the football pyramid, where one or two bright sparks can ignite a blaze of glory through the divisions.

Here, GOAL brings you the best young players under the age of 20* to sign on FM26, based on their potential ability.

• AFP
  

  Football Manager 26 wonderkid strikers & forwards

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Endrick	Real Madrid	18	AMR, ST	Brazil
  Eli Junior Kroupi	Bournemouth	19	ST	France
  Dastan Satpayev	FC Kairat	16	AMRL, ST	Kazakhstan
  Daulet Orynbasar	FC Kairat	16	ST	Kazakhstan
  Sami Bouhoudane	PSV	17	ST	Netherlands
  Emre Unuvar	Ajaz	17	ST	Netherlands
  Francesco Camarda	AC Milan	17	ST	Italy
  Harry Gray	Leeds United	16	AMRC, ST	England
  Jayden Danns	Liverpool	19	AMLC, ST	England
  Jaime Barroso	Real Madrid	17	ST	Spain
  Djylian N'Guessan	Saint-Etienne	16	ST	France
  Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez	Lyon	17	AML, ST	England
  Semih Kilicsoy	Besiktas	19	AMRL, ST	Turkey
  Marc Guiu	Chelsea	19	ST	Spain
  Stefanos Tzimas	Brighton	19	ST	Greece

  Scoring goals, they say, is the most difficult thing to do in football, but there is no shortage of talent lining up to become the next great goalscorer. 

  While things may not have taken off as he would have liked in the real world, Real Madrid forward Endrick is the top of the list in FM26 when it comes to the high-potential strikers in the game. Of course, given his worldwide reputation and the fact that he is a Madrid player, he will cost a pretty penny if you want to sign him, especially early in the game.

  Kazakh duo Daulet Orynbasar and Dastan Satpayev are much cheaper alternatives, if you are working to a budget, or you might have some joy seeking a loan move for Endrick's Real team-mate Jaime Barroso. 

  Harry Gray looks like he could be the next big thing for England, with high hopes for the striker at Leeds United, alongside the likes of Lyon's Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez and Liverpool teen Jayden Danns.

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Eli Junior Kroupi

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Football Manager 26 wonderkid midfielders

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	18	M/AMR	Spain
  Estevao	Chelsea	18	AMRC	Brazil
  Ethan Nwaneri	Arsenal	18	MC, AMRLC	England
  Franco Mastantuono	Real Madrid	17	AMRC	Argentina
  Luca Williams-Barnett	Tottenham	16	AMRLC, ST	England
  Rodrigo Mora	Porto	18	AMLC	Portugal
  Ayyoub Bouaddi	Lille	17	DM, MC	France
  Gilberto Mora	Tijuana	16	AMLC	Mexico
  Abdellah Ouzane	Ajax	16	M/AMC	Morocco
  Can Uzun	Frankfurt	19	MC, AMLC	Turkey
  Guille Fernandez	Barcelona	17	M/AMC	Spain
  Lucas Bergvall	Tottenham	19	DM, M/AMC	Sweden
  Kerim Alajbegovic	Salzburg	17	ML, AMRLC	Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Gabriel Mec	Gremio	17	AMRL	Brazil
  Rio Ngumoha	Liverpool	16	AMRL	England
  Nathan De Cat	Anderlecht	16	DM, MC	Belgium
  Marc Bernal	Barcelona	18	DM, MC	Spain
  Kennet Eichhorn	Hertha BSC	15	DM, MC	Germany

  When it comes to midfield, whether you're looking for a rock-solid defensive midfielder or a dazzling attacking midfield playmaker, there are loads of young players to get excited about in FM26. 

  The likes of Lamine Yamal, Estevao and Franco Mastantuono have long been heralded as the next world-class stars in football. Their abilities mean they have been on the radar for an age already, with Yamal and Estevao in particular already lighting things up at Barcelona and Chelsea, respectively. You'll need a huge transfer budget if you want to have a chance of luring these talents to your team.  

  However, there are always cheaper alternatives that are not far behind the top-tier talents. Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal and Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha are on the fringes at their clubs at the moment, so they might be open to loan moves, for example, while you might have joy convincing players from Belgium, such as Nathan De Cat, to move to a bigger league.

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Luca Williams-Barnett

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Gilberto Mora

  READ MORE: NXGN profile on Marc Bernal

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Football Manager 26 wonderkid defenders

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Saba Kharebashvili	Dinamo Tbilisi	16	DLC, WBL	Georgia
  Myles Lewis-Skelly	Arsenal	18	DL, DM, MC	England
  Pau Cubarsi	Barcelona	18	DC	Spain
  Leny Yoro	Manchester United	19	DC	France
  Joffre Torrents	Barcelona	18	D/WBL	Spain
  Finn Jeltsch	Stuttgart	18	DM, DRC	Germany
  Davinchi	Getafe	17	D/WBL	Spain
  Luka Vuskovic	Tottenham	18	DC	Croatia
  Jorrel Hato	Chelsea	19	D/WBL, DC	Netherlands
  Matteo Palma	Udinese	17	DRC	Germany
  Jesus Fortea	Real Madrid	18	D/WBR	Spain
  Daniel Banjaqui	Benfica	17	D/WBR	Portugal
  Benjamin	Real Madrid	17	D/WBR	Italy
  Karim Coulibaly	Werder Bremen	18	DC, DM	Germany
  Axel Tape	Bayer Leverkusen	17	DC, D/WBR, DM	France

  Georgian defender Saba Kharebashvili is one of the best young defenders in the game, and at just 16 years old, playing for Dinamo Tbilisi, he is very much an attainable commodity for bigger clubs. Capable of playing in the centre or at full-back, Kharebashvili represents a dynamic prospect. 

  If you are able to open the chequebook and splurge, it is worth scouting Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal and Pau Cubarsi at Barcelona, or else Luka Vuskovic at Tottenham, all of whom are capable of fitting in at the highest level already.

  In the event you are tight on money, but building a long-term vision, have a look at Benfica's Daniel Banjaqui, Axel Tape at Bayer Leverkusen and Matteo Palma at Udinese. These three have less of a reputation than the aforementioned, but are quite capable of becoming elite-level defenders. 

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• Football Manager 26 wonderkid goalkeepers

  Player	Club	Age	Pos.	Nationality
  Kerem Matisli	Bursaspor	18	GK	Turkey
  Quenten Attigah	AZ	16	GK	Netherlands
  Alessandro Nunziante	Udinese	18	GK	Italy
  Tommaso Martinelli	Fiorentina	19	GK	Italy
  Dennis Seimen	Stuttgart	19	GK	Germany
  Julian Eyestone	Brentford	19	GK	United States
  Sherkhan Kalmurza	FC Kairat	18	GK	Kazakhstan
  Theodore Pizarro	Freiburg	17	GK	Switzerland
  Ben Vickery	Manchester City	16	GK	England
  Mike Penders	Chelsea	19	GK	Belgium
  Lucca Brughmans	Genk	17	GK	Belgium

  Goalkeeper is a difficult position for young talents to break through into, with many of the world's best shot-stoppers only truly maturing later in their careers. Nevertheless, now and then, a pretender comes along and proves their worth early on, especially if they get given a chance at a smaller club. 

  Not many managers are likely to thrust a 16-year-old into the limelight as a first-choice goalkeeper, but, if you're one of them, Ben Vickery at Manchester City is worth scouting, while Genk's 17-year-old Lucca Brughmans is also worth a look. 

  The likes of Kerem Matisli (18), Julian Eyestone (19) and Dennis Seimen (19) might be safer bets if you are looking for a young player, but one who is on the cusp of graduating to prolonged first-team action.

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan has held talks with a top candidate to replace Graham Potter, with the tactician seemingly making his demands crystal clear.

The managerial candidates to replace Graham Potter at West Ham

Potter has recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with pressure mounting on the Englishman as he faces a stay of execution.

David Moyes, who guided West Ham to successive European campaigns and ended their 43-year wait for a major trophy during his time at the London Stadium, could even be the man to put one of the final nails in Potter’s coffin this weekend.

In a real piece of irony, Moyes’ Everton side, who are faring much better than West Ham right now, may have a big say in whether Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board elect to hand Potter a P45.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

It is hard to see Potter remaining in the West Ham hot seat if they suffer a humbling defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with club insider ExWHUemployee previously reporting that, if he does survive past that point, the ex-Chelsea boss is likely to be sacked after their trip to Arsenal.

West Ham are deep into their contingency plans to replace Potter, and there are a number of very interesting names under consideration.

Sullivan, as ever, is dipping into the free agent market.

Former West Ham midfielder Gary O’Neil is a favourite for the potential job, according to Miguel Delaney, with another ex-Hammer in Slaven Bilic — who was in charge between 2015 and 2017 — also in the frame.

Bilic is even said to be making plans for his West Ham backroom, in the event he is chosen as a short-term option until the end of the season, and Sullivan is believed to be personally in favour of bringing the Croatian back to East London (Pete O’Rourke).

Managers who are already in work haven’t been definitively ruled out, either. West Ham have internally discussed the possibility of appointing Scott Parker, following his rise to the Premier League with Burnley, but one man stands out above all the aforementioned names.

Nuno Espírito Santo's demand after holding West Ham talks with Sullivan

Former Tottenham, Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss, Nuno Espírito Santo, is believed to be the favourite to succeed Potter as things stand.

As per the reliable ExWHUemployee, Nuno has already held talks with Sullivan over a potential move to West Ham if Potter leaves, and the Portuguese’s stock is at an all-time high after making history at Forest last season.

However, according to Sports Boom, West Ham face another roadblock in pursuit of Nuno, following some reports that ‘legal issues’ are delaying his arrival too (Pete O’Rourke).

The outlet reports that Nuno’s big wage demands are a hindrance to West Ham and could prove to be a real obstacle, with Bilic ready to join the Irons as an alternative.

Why West Ham must not give up on Nuno

Nuno guided Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995, and if it wasn’t for a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, he’d still be at the City Ground now.

The appeal for West Ham is obvious. Nuno steered Forest away from the drop zone in his first season, transforming them into a robust, hard-to-break-down outfit with a clear counter-attacking identity.

He also helped to fix Forest’s glaring set-piece weakness, something which has really plagued West Ham this season, having conceded 7 of their 13 Premier League goals so far directly from corners.

Managing to get the best out of his players, Forest ended up being last season’s major surprise package thanks to Nuno’s work, and the 51-year-old’s availability as a free agent makes this potential appointment an arguable no-brainer.

Tottenham supporters have continued to vent their frustration as work on a massive hotel springs up next to their ground, which they claim will block the view of their home for those visiting the stadium. The building will also block the skyline view of London’s famous landmarks for fans inside the ground looking south into the capital.

Big plans for hotel development

The Northumberland Development Project (NDP) includes a Hotel and Residential Tower located just south of the stadium. It was originally approved as a 22-storey building, but plans for the tower were resubmitted and received approval from Haringey Council in December 2023 and the Greater London Authority in March 2024 for a 30-story structure. Construction began in August last year, with a target completion date of June 2028, aligning with the Euro 2028 games, which the stadium will host. The building, designed by F3 Architects, features a distinctive slender, blade-like appearance and will house a 180-room hotel, 49 residential apartments, and 64 car park spaces. It is envisioned as a 4-star lifestyle concept hotel and is expected to become the third-largest conference venue in London. The project also aims to benefit the local community through employment and training initiatives in the hospitality sector.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTottenham fans dismayed at building progress

Tottenham fan Chris Cowlin, who regularly posts videos about the club, said: “HOTEL UPDATE: Next to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: 29-storey hotel, designed by F3 Architects. It is currently under construction with a planned completion date of June 2028.

All the responses to the video are negative, including from @footfishbike, who said: "Ruining the view of the stadium. Terrible idea."

Elsewhere, @ThingsTottenham added: "Will ruin the stunning view coming down the high road, not a fan of the positioning of it at all."

Continuing the theme of the impact the building will have on the view of the impressive ground, @__LaFlamee said: “So it’s going to obstruct the view of the stadium nice."

And @clyne_mar said: “A high rise hotel, just yards from the spot where our great club was founded. 🙁” 

Finally, @Saucysausage666 added: “There used to be a football club there once 😡”

Here's how the works, which are still in their infancy, look: 

What other plans are there for around the stadium?

The NDP aims to regenerate the surrounding area. This includes not only the stadium itself, which boasts innovative features like a retractable pitch for both football and NFL games, but also significant residential and infrastructure developments. Plans feature four high-rise residential towers near the stadium, ranging from 19 to 35 storeys, offering up to 585 apartments. A series of three-storey townhouses are also included in the designs. These developments are part of a broader High Road West regeneration scheme which includes a major redevelopment of the White Hart Lane site masterplanned by Allies & Morrison. The stadium and surrounding projects are intended to be a catalyst for a 20-year regeneration plan for Tottenham. Improvements to public spaces, transport links like step-free access at White Hart Lane station, and a focus on generating jobs and supporting local businesses are also key components of this long-term vision.

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Getty Images SportFans can make their own mind up this weekend

Spurs host Aston Villa this weekend where a win will maintain their position in the top four, but their recent home record is diabolical. Tottenham have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home games, following the dreadful spell under previous boss Ange Postecoglou. And there’s more bad news as boss Thomas Frank has never beaten Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in the Premier League in five attempts, having drawn two and lost three, all with Brentford.

Ivan Toney could make a sensational return to the Premier League in a last-gasp bid to be included in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans. Toney left Brentford last year to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but has dropped down the Three Lions’ pecking order and could make a dramatic move to force his way back in.

Major snub from boss Tuchel

Tuchel was criticised by some for his handling of Toney, following the striker’s move to Al Ahli. He was recalled to the England squad but received limited playing time, in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra, he was an unused substitute. And he was then brought on as a substitute in the 88th minute of a friendly against Senegal, a match England lost 3-1. Some claimed Toney had been "humiliated" by Tuchel, but the Three Lions boss defended his decisions, stating that he viewed Toney as a "specialist for these situations" and is most effective when the team is "putting a lot of balls into the box". 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportA short spell back home?

Speaking on talkSPORT, reporter Ben Jacobs said: "I think Ivan Toney is speaking very positively about his time in Saudi Arabia. But what's going to be really interesting in the next few months is, will Thomas Tuchel tell him definitively, 'By being in Saudi, you're further down the pecking order'? And Toney's aspiration is to play in the World Cup. Plus the fact the way the calendar falls, there's a Ramadan break and that is in the months, at the moment, of February through to mid-March. There's also a break for the festive period as well, so it wouldn't actually be a bad idea for players that want to stay sharp, to do a half-season loan, and then maybe even go back to Saudi Arabia.”

Toney’s record for England

Toney made his England debut in 2023, as a substitute in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine, and his first international goal came from the penalty spot against Belgium on March 26, 2024, in a friendly, which was his first international start. He was also part of England's Euro 2024 squad, coming on as a substitute in the Round of 16 against Slovakia and assisting Harry Kane's winning goal. Toney also scored in the penalty shootout victory against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

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Getty Images SportWho are Toney’s potential suitors?

On the next steps Toney could potentially take, Jacobs added: “I think there'll be interest in Ivan Toney. Al Ahli sources say they don't want to sell, there's a brand new sporting director there and he doesn't want to let Ivan Toney go. And then as far as Premier League interest, I think we've heard links with Tottenham due to the Thomas Frank connection. I'm not aware of any Spurs approach at this stage, some have even said Manchester United, and again, I think Manchester United are banking on Benjamin Sesko and they've also got Matheus Cunha, who can play at No 9. But if Joshua Zirkzee left, you never know, another striker could come in at Old Trafford but at the moment, it's all quiet as far as a Premier League return is concerned. And again, even if there is interest, Toney would have to agitate for the move with his World Cup chances in mind, because Al Ahli don't want to let him go."

Leeds United’s squad of 2019/20 will go down in history, with the Whites sealing a return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence under Marcelo Bielsa in what was the club’s 100th anniversary.

Patrick Bamford played a key role in that side, but after seven years at Elland Road, has now left the club. The striker was not in Daniel Farke’s Premier League plans after Bamford became a two-time Championship winner with Leeds and mutually had his contract terminated.

Back in 2020, Bielsa had 18 players in his Leeds squad who made 10 or more Championship appearances as the Whites eventually won the league by 10 points ahead of West Brom.

Leeds’ 2019/20 Championship stats
Wins	28
Draws	9
Losses	9
Points	93
Goal difference	+42
Biggest win	Leeds 5-0 Stoke City

Now, following Bamford’s Leeds exit, we’ve had a look at where the rest of the 2019/20 squad are in 2025.

18

Kiko Casilla

36 appearances

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla officially left Leeds in 2022, having his contract terminated a year early.

The Spaniard made 36 Championship appearances in 2019/20, and after leaving the Whites, signed for Getafe before retiring in 2023.

17

Luke Ayling

37 appearances

A regular at right-back and the scorer of that wonderful volley against Huddersfield Town, Luke Ayling is currently at Championship side Middlesbrough.

He initially moved to the Riverside on loan in 2024 before making a move permanent and is under contract until 2026.

16

Ben White

46 appearances

Starting every Championship game that season, Ben White would seal a big-money move to Arsenal in 2021, where he has gone on to be a regular.

Costing around £50m, White has featured as a centre-back or right-back and is under contract at the Emirates until 2028.

15

Liam Cooper

38 appearances

Captain of the side, Liam Cooper, left Leeds in 2024 after making 284 appearances for the Whites.

He swapped Yorkshire for Bulgaria and CSKA Sofia, but after just over 12 months, became a free agent in 2025.

14

Ezgjan Alioski

39 appearances

Initially a left-winger, Ezgjan Alioski turned into an attacking full-back under Bielsa and scored five Championship goals in 2019/20.

He featured regularly in the Premier League in 2020/21 but left that summer for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Alioski also played for Fenerbahce before returning to Swiss side FC Lugano, where he is under contract until 2027.

13

Kalvin Phillips

37 appearances

A vital member at the base of Bielsa’s midfield was Kalvin Phillips, who sealed a £50m move from Leeds to Manchester City in 2022 after starring under the Argentine.

Things didn’t go to plan for the holding midfielder at the Etihad, though, with Phillips having loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town. In the summer of 2025, he was looking for another new club but is still under contract with City.

12

Stuart Dallas

45 appearances

A versatile star under Bielsa, Stuart Dallas transformed into a Leeds legend but suffered a serious injury against Manchester City at Elland Road in 2022.

He would officially retire from football two years later after failing to recover, ending in 267 Leeds appearances in all competitions. Dallas now works as a pundit for Sky Sports’ EFL coverage.

11

Helder Costa

43 appearances

A loanee for the 2019/20 season, Helder Costa’s Leeds move became permanent in 2020, however, he had spells with Valencia and Al-Ittihad before being released at Elland Road in 2023.

The winger then played in Portugal with Estoril and China with YN Yukun, but as of the summer of 2025 and at the age of 31, Costa was without a club.

10

Mateusz Klich

44 appearances

Box-to-box midfielder Mateusz Klich became a cult hero at Elland Road and, after starring for Leeds, was allowed to join DC United in 2023.

The Poland international joined Atlanta at the end of 2024, and then in August 2025, returned to his native country with Cracovia, where he is under contract until 2027.

9

Jack Harrison

46 appearances

Still at Leeds is winger Jack Harrison, who had two loan spells with Everton following Leeds’ Premier League relegation back in 2023.

Having work to do to get the Leeds fans back on side, Harrison is still under contract at Elland Road until 2028 and appears to be in Farke’s plans.

Sri Lanka Cricket will conduct an inquiry over allegations that Dasun Shanaka left a first-class match in Colombo hours early, in order to play for the Dubai Capitals in the UAE that same evening, on February 2.The board’s chargesheet to Shanaka includes the allegation that first-class match referee Wendell Labrooy had been led to believe Shanaka had a concussion, in order to approve a substitute. This is according to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, who told ESPNcricinfo “SSC [Shanaka’s first-class club] would probably be conducting their own inquiry as well”.Shanaka, however, told ESPNcricinfo that de Silva and others had been aware that he would have to leave the first-class match early. According to Shanaka, he had left the ground soon after being dismissed on the third morning of the the three-day match. He said he visited a doctor at a nearby hospital first, to inspect a blow to the neck he had sustained while playing a sweep shot that morning, and then headed off to Dubai to play that evening’s T20, after a separate physiotherapist had cleared him to play.”SLC and the club knew I had to leave,” Shanaka said. “I only came back because there was a request from the SSC to play this first-class match. But my other team wanted me back, as I’d helped win two games for them earlier in the tournament.”For SLC, however, exiting a league game early, particularly with suspect reasons, is problematic, not that it has yet been established if there actually was any pretense involved. The board CEO de Silva explained that while Lasith Malinga had also famously played a Mumbai Indians match and then broken records in a domestic match in Pallekele match the next day, Malinga had played until both those matches reached their conclusion.On the surface, though, Shanaka’s looks like a spectacular cricketing feat. He had been among the three players called back from the ILT20 by the SSC for their fixture against Moors Sports Club in the Major League Tournament, as SSC strove to avoid relegation. Shanaka had played the first two days of this three-dayer, bowling 21 overs and taking a wicket in Moors’ innings, before finishing on 39 not out at the end of day two.Day three is when the absconding is alleged to have occurred, but before he left, Shanaka crashed a further 84, hitting 123 off 87 balls in total, 88 of those runs coming in boundaries. Though SSC’s innings ended not long after he got out, Shanaka did not bowl an over in the next Moors innings (the third of the match), and played no further part in the game.What is clear is that several hours later, he appeared for the Capitals in Dubai, and struck 34 off 12 at No. 5, helping his team to 217 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. He didn’t bowl in the Knight Riders’ innings either, however.Capitals would go on to win the ILT20, Shanaka playing three further games for them. He has not appeared for SSC since February 2.