Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to break their transfer record twice to sign midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in a massive summer rebuild.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi has prioritised the centre of the pitch after a difficult campaign where his side struggled to dictate matches.
The Italian tactician took charge during a turbulent period last season, successfully steering the London club to Premier League safety.
With top-flight status secured, the head coach now intends to implement his signature possession-based style.
Press resistance and defensive tenacity
Fernandes has emerged as a primary target due to his exceptional ability to retain the ball under heavy pressure.
Despite suffering back-to-back relegations with Southampton and West Ham, the 21-year-old’s individual performances have consistently drawn praise.
The combative youngster dominated defensively for the Hammers last term, winning 67 tackles to easily outpace his nearest competitors.
Should the highly-rated prospect arrive in north London, he would likely compete for minutes alongside Rodrigo Bentancur at the base of the midfield.
Dynamic drive and top-flight pedigree
Tonali is viewed as the perfect partner to operate alongside either Fernandes or Bentancur in De Zerbi’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system.
The Newcastle United star boasts a sweeping passing range from deep areas, combined with a relentless work rate.
His phenomenal box-to-box ability was perfectly illustrated during a dominant victory over Southampton in January 2025.
The Italy international started and finished a sweeping length-of-the-pitch move, demonstrating the exact physical profile Tottenham desperately lacked last year.
Securing both signatures will require an unprecedented financial outlay, but Spurs appear fully committed to backing their ambitious manager.
Lower-ranked nations including Cape Verde and Ghana are securing surprise results at the 48-team World Cup by deploying highly disciplined, compact defensive tactics against the tournament’s leading sides.
The expanded tournament format has produced several intriguing match-ups where traditional minnows have successfully thwarted global footballing powers.
Nations such as Curacao, South Africa, Ghana and Cape Verde have all taken unexpected points from heavyweights including Ecuador, South Korea, England and Spain.
These surprising outcomes are not merely a product of fortune, but rather the execution of meticulous defensive planning.
Refusing to take the tactical bait
The most striking example of this strategy occurred during a goalless draw between the third-smallest nation in tournament history and the Spanish national team.
The Blue Sharks stifled their illustrious European opponents by maintaining an exceptionally rigid defensive block.
Crucially, the spaces between their midfield and defensive lines remained virtually non-existent throughout the contest.
When high-possession sides recycle the ball backwards to entice defenders out of position, these underdogs are actively refusing to break rank.
The 2010 world champions repeatedly attempted to provoke a reaction by carrying the ball forward from deep areas.
However, the African islanders held their shape until the final possible moment, forcing their frustrated opponents to attempt speculative passes over the top.
Nullifying elite attacking threats
This exact template of passive resistance was prominently displayed during the Black Stars’ tactical masterclass against Thomas Tuchel’s England.
The Three Lions under their German head coach have increasingly relied on dropping deep to invite pressure before swiftly exploiting the resulting gaps.
Anticipating this approach, the West African side deployed a deeply entrenched formation situated just outside their own penalty area.
While veteran forward Jordan Ayew was tasked with man-marking Elliot Anderson higher up the pitch, his teammates rigidly maintained two tight defensive lines.
The statistics behind the strategy
The deliberate refusal to engage high up the pitch is clearly reflected in the pressing metric known as opposition passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA).
Higher PPDA numbers indicate a side that is entirely content to allow their opponents uninterrupted spells of possession.
Against the Spaniards, the island nation recorded a remarkably passive average PPDA of 51.2, compared to a fiercely aggressive 5.9 from their opponents.
Similarly, the Ghanaian setup yielded a staggering PPDA of 62 during the opening 15 minutes of their encounter with the English squad.
Interestingly, both underdog outfits gradually increased their pressing intensity as their respective matches progressed.
This tactical shift suggests a calculated plan to snatch late victories after successfully surviving the initial attacking onslaught.
Arsenal have approached Newcastle United with a £55m offer for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes as manager Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Initial talks have been held with the player’s representatives regarding a transfer to north London.
The Magpies publicly maintain that the Brazilian international is not for sale during this window.
However, reports in Brazil suggest a substantial bid has already been tabled by the Gunners.
Midfield depth a priority
Arteta places a significant premium on recruiting players with existing Premier League experience to minimise any adaptation period.
The north London club have suffered heavily with injuries across recent campaigns.
Management now actively seek robust individuals capable of enduring a gruelling 60-game season across four separate competitions.
The midfield target perfectly fits this profile, having missed just six league fixtures over the past four years due to a hamstring issue.
Protecting Rice and Zubimendi
Securing a high-calibre central operator is crucial to rotating an overworked core that currently includes Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice.
Rice has managed neural pain in his hamstring since December and will require careful management following his World Cup exertions with England.
A lack of trust in Christian Norgaard meant Arteta’s preferred options became increasingly exhausted as the campaign progressed.
The club are prepared to listen to offers for Norgaard this summer to clear space for a genuine competitor.
Tactical flexibility
The 26-year-old South American has demonstrated his supreme quality by starting all three of Brazil’s World Cup group games and registering three assists.
His potential arrival would provide immense tactical versatility to the Arsenal engine room.
He is highly capable of operating alongside Rice in a double pivot or advancing further forward in a dynamic midfield role.
While academy prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly earned Arteta’s trust late in the campaign, an established star remains the priority to sustain a challenge for major honours.
Uruguay players have reportedly revolted against manager Marcelo Bielsa over his tactical approach and intense training methods ahead of their decisive World Cup group match against Spain.
Following disappointing group-stage draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, the South American side must avoid defeat against the European champions to reach the last 32 of the tournament.
Senior squad members, including Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde and combative anchor Manuel Ugarte, reportedly confronted their head coach to demand immediate changes.
The group expressed frustration over an exhausting training schedule they believe has caused injuries and requested a more defensive, counter-attacking setup to combat the Spanish possession game.
Bielsa refuses tactical compromise
The 69-year-old Argentine immediately rejected the squad’s suggestions and insisted his team would strictly maintain his trademark expansive style.
The veteran manager countered by accusing the players of attempting to oust him in retaliation for omitting iconic striker Luis Suarez and midfielder Nahitan Nandez from the World Cup squad.
Tensions escalated further when the former Leeds United boss claimed responsibility for orchestrating the careers of several national team players, prompting some individuals to walk out of the meeting.
Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez attempted to mediate the escalating conflict but was entirely unsuccessful in restoring peace to the dressing room.
‘Approaching the match as a final’
Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the Uruguay boss appeared completely focused during his official pre-match media duties.
“We are approaching tomorrow’s match as a final,” the head coach stated.
“One of the best ways to defend is to make sure the opponent has the ball for less time.”
The tactician also offered glowing praise for his opposite number, Luis de la Fuente, acknowledging the unique brand of football the Spanish coach has cultivated.
“It’s a type of soccer a lot more beautiful than what I achieved with my team,” he added.
France forward Kylian Mbappe and Norway striker Erling Haaland are set to face off in a highly anticipated Group I finale at the World Cup on Friday.
Both European nations have already secured their places in the knockout stages of the tournament.
However, the fierce race for the Golden Boot means the two prolific forwards are unlikely to be rested.
The pair have both netted four goals in their opening two matches, confirming their status as the premier goalscorers of their generation.
A rivalry for the modern era
With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo making their final tournament appearances, a new battle for global supremacy has arrived.
Mbappe and Haaland are the only European players aged 30 or under to boast at least 250 career goals.
While the former Parisian holds a distinct advantage in league titles and possesses a World Cup winner’s medal, his Scandinavian counterpart has lifted the Champions League.
Their geographical separation in domestic football has so far prevented the weekly friction seen during the peak years of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Chasing historic milestones
The battle for individual supremacy extends far beyond Friday’s group-stage encounter.
The French captain recently scored a double against Iraq to reach 16 career World Cup goals in just 16 appearances.
That remarkable tally equalled Miroslav Klose’s previous all-time tournament record.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian talisman has made an explosive start to his first global finals.
He became only the second player this century, after England’s Harry Kane, to register multiple strikes in his first two World Cup outings.
Champions League dominance
The duo are also locked in a relentless pursuit of European football’s ultimate scoring records.
Mbappe currently leads their head-to-head tally in the Champions League, having debuted earlier during his time at Monaco.
However, Haaland holds the highest goals-per-game ratio in the history of the prestigious club competition.
Belgium are on the brink of a second consecutive World Cup group-stage exit after uninspiring draws against Egypt and Iran left their ageing golden generation needing a result against New Zealand.
The Red Devils must now avoid defeat against the All Whites to keep their tournament hopes alive and extend the international careers of their most celebrated veterans.
Off-pitch distractions have compounded their on-pitch struggles, following Jeremy Doku’s decision to temporarily leave the camp for the birth of his child.
Fading stars face final curtain
Elimination at this early hurdle would represent a terminal blow for a highly decorated but ultimately unfulfilled crop of players.
Stalwarts such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Meunier and Axel Witsel are almost certainly playing in their final global tournament.
The Manchester City playmaker had already candidly warned before the 2022 edition that his squad was simply too old to claim football’s biggest prize.
Despite enjoying a prolonged spell at the summit of the world rankings between 2018 and 2022, the European nation has secured just one tournament victory since 1994, aside from their historic run to third place in Russia.
Defensive crisis deepens
The current campaign has been severely marred by a lack of defensive depth, standing in stark contrast to the tactical solidity of their peak years.
Managerial options at the back are now further depleted following Nathan Ngoy’s red card during the recent stalemate with Iran.
This glaring imbalance highlights the perennial struggle of smaller nations attempting to produce elite talent across every position simultaneously.
While emerging goalkeepers Senne Lammens and Mike Penders offer a brief glimpse of future promise, the immediate reality remains bleak for a nation desperately clinging to its fading world-class talents.
Noni Madueke will maintain his positive attitude for England at the World Cup even if manager Thomas Tuchel drops him for a returning Bukayo Saka.
The 24-year-old forward has started the opening two group games of the tournament to help the Three Lions secure four points.
However, the attacker struggled to make a significant impact during Tuesday’s match against Ghana and was eventually replaced by his international team-mate.
Saka nears full fitness after injury
Saka has been carefully managing an Achilles injury that troubled the latter stages of his domestic campaign.
The returning winger is now nearing full match sharpness and could soon reclaim his starting position on the right flank.
Despite competing for the same role for both club and country, the pair remain close friends away from the pitch.
Mental resilience crucial for tournament football
Backroom staff have reportedly highlighted the young forward’s impressive psychological resilience during the camp.
He is said to possess a ‘goldfish memory’, allowing him to immediately shrug off on-pitch mistakes and continue threatening defenders.
Former national youth coach Ian Foster insists that any changes to the starting line-up will not negatively affect the squad dynamic.
“His attitude and behaviours will not change if he starts or finishes or isn’t involved.”
Ian Foster
Foster praised the player’s bravery in tactical meetings and his positive influence on colleagues during long tournament stays.
Tuchel monitors squad rotation
England manager Tuchel confirmed after the Ghana match that his returning star is building vital match fitness.
“He seems to be more and more ready, and will hopefully push, and then we will see what is coming.”
Thomas Tuchel
The head coach acknowledged the need for further training sessions to ensure readiness for the upcoming fixture against Panama.
“Today he got some minutes under his belt. Hopefully there is no reaction and he is good to go.”
Thomas Tuchel
The German tactician also praised the current occupant of the right wing for his tireless efforts during a difficult group stage.
Christian Pulisic has been named among the substitutes for the United States’ group-stage finale against Turkiye in Inglewood as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has made nine changes to the side that secured top spot in Group D with a victory over Australia last Friday.
Brenden Aaronson occupies the left-wing position usually held by the AC Milan forward, while Matt Turner replaces Matthew Freese in goal.
Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi are the only two players to retain their starting roles following the recent 2-0 triumph.
Injury struggles and recovery
The former Chelsea attacker has been managing a left calf issue since sustaining a knock in early June.
He attempted to play through the discomfort against Paraguay but was withdrawn at half-time after suffering another impact in the same area.
That setback forced the 25-year-old to miss the subsequent win over the Australians, though he returned to full training earlier this week.
“I’m feeling good. I joined the team the last couple days and yeah, I’m hoping to play a part for sure.”
Christian Pulisic
However, the American captain conceded to reporters that he is currently unlikely to be ready to complete a full 90 minutes.
Suspension risks force tactical shuffle
Pochettino opted to protect several key figures who were sitting on yellow cards and risked suspension for the knockout stages.
Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson were all deliberately omitted from the starting XI to avoid potential bans.
Meanwhile, midfielder Cristian Roldan has been left out of the matchday squad entirely as he recovers from a muscle strain.
Despite the sweeping alterations, the US talisman remains highly confident in the depth of the national squad.
“Everyone’s going to be ready and it just shows how much more depth and what a strong team that we have.”
Christian Pulisic