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Are Tottenham Hotspur finding their feet under Thomas Frank’s stewardship?

Certainly, we have seen green shoots in recent matches. After that dismal home defeat to Fulham at the end of November, Spurs battled to a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park before beating Brentford in the Premier League and Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

Two clean sheets from two games, but Tottenham still could do with reinforcements in the rearguard. Namely, ENIC Group are planning to help Frank piece together a lasting project with a new left-back.

Destiny Udogie picked up a hamstring injury against Newcastle United and will be out until the New Year. But the Italian defender has been out of sorts this season anyway, and Tottenham are ready to take action.

Spurs' search for a left-back

Udogie quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous up-and-coming full-backs in Europe after joining Tottenham from Hellas Verona. Better known for his time on loan with Udinese across multiple years, the Italian was hailed as “the best left-back” in the country by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport a few months into his arrival under Ange Postecoglou’s wing.

However, Udogie’s persistent injury issues have stunted his growth, and the 23-year-old has been told he “needs to wake up” by one coach this term, lacking awareness and dynamism. With Ben Davies getting on – and rarely getting off the bench – competition is needed, especially with the Lilywhites making headway in the Champions League.

That’s why Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are circling in on Eintracht Frankfurt star Nathaniel Brown, with TEAMtalk revealing that the 22-year-old German international is on Tottenham’s wishlist ahead of the winter window.

A versatile wideman with no qualms about playing further upfield, Brown would add depth and new dimensions to Frank’s team, though this is a sentiment shared with rivals, Arsenal and Manchester United also among the suitors named.

He would cost upwards of £50m, but Brown has the potential to become one of the best in the business, and he would slot right into Frank’s set-up.

What Brown would bring to Spurs

Brown, a German-born player with American heritage, boasts blistering pace and a desire to progress play whenever he can. However, he is also defensively sound, mixing between duties seamlessly.

As per FBref, Brown ranks among the top 9% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 3% for tackles per 90, underlining his dynamism and ability to mix defence with attack.

In this, he has something of a likeness to Udogie, the finest iteration of the Italy star, and while Spurs’ talented wide defender has fallen by the wayside of late, his profile remains tailor-made for a starring role in one of Europe’s top outfits.

Brown, moreover, is on an upward trajectory, with analyst Spencer Mossman claiming earlier in 2025 that he is “one-two years away from being the most coveted left back” in the world. Already, several of the Premier League’s biggest sides want to bring him over, suggesting that he is indeed ahead of that prediction already.

Frankfurt has a rather porous defence this season, and that is a concern, but Brown is one of the standouts, showcasing an impressive mix of qualities. Furthermore, he rode the crest of a wave into the current campaign, having played so well in the Bundesliga last year.

As we can see from the respective left-backs’ Champions League campaigns, Brown is enjoying greater success, with his staggering duel success rate something to note.

Last season, talent scout Jacek Kulig said Brown is “moving to another level”, so perhaps it is the right time for him to take the leap of faith over the channel and down N17 to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What Tottenham decide to do remains to be seen, but Frank needs a few more instruments in his tactical toolbox, and Brown could mark his crowning signing as improvements start to reveal themselves.

Spurs have a "freak" teen talent who's a bigger star than Williams-Barnett

Tottenham Hotspur have already struck gold one player who is setting Europe alight in 2025/26.

By
Ethan Lamb

1 day ago

He had scored his last international century in August 2023, and when he ended that drought on Friday night, Babar Azam stood almost expressionless before sinking to his knees

Danyal Rasool15-Nov-2025It was a grateful Babar Azam that appeared at the press conference as Friday night yielded to Saturday morning. Much of that gratitude was reserved for his supporters – and there is a legion in Pakistan. A large chunk had braved the bitter cold of the Rawalpindi night waiting to watch him tick off the final few runs to get to his 20th ODI hundred, one that they have waited over 800 days and 83 innings for, and one that ties him with Saeed Anwar at the top of the ODI hundreds list for Pakistan.”The amount of support I got from my fans, not just in Islamabad but everywhere, was great,” Babar said after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to clinch the series. “I got support everywhere in Pakistan and it gave me a huge boost. The fans, they never deserted me in my hard times. It’s in those hard times that you work out who your true allies are.”It helped that Babar came to the crease with Pakistan in a position of relative comfort after the openers got them off to a strong start. But that cushion has existed recently, too, and though Babar’s scores have begun to tick upwards – he scored a couple of half-centuries against South Africa and got other starts – he had got himself into a habit of squandering them.Related

• Stats – Babar ends 83-innings wait, equals Saeed Anwar's mark

• Babar breaks century drought to help Pakistan win series

“I got starts in the previous series but I couldn’t convert them into big runs,” he said. “When our innings began, we wanted to build a partnership. When Fakhar [Zaman] and I were playing, I was giving Fakhar the strike as much as possible, because he’s a player who can change a game. The longer he’s out there, the other team’s in pressure.”Then Rizi [Mohammad Rizwan] and I were planning on playing according to the situation and doing what was required. We played according to that and built our partnership. I was backing my strengths and had confidence in myself.”As Babar began to inch closer to the milestone, the tautness in the stadium was palpable. He appeared, for a fleeting while, to be competing not just against his own demons, but also the target. The runs Pakistan required were diminishing rapidly, thanks largely to a confident innings from his long-time accomplice Rizwan. However, with five to go, he steered a short delivery towards the on side to send his fans into raptures.Babar himself was more subdued, appearing to let the moment wash over him. He stood almost expressionless for a while, before sinking to his knees and lowering his head.”It was a tough time,” he said. “But I backed myself, worked on what I needed to improve, as well as my fitness. In the end, it’s about belief. These things will go on in your life and you can get stuck in a negative thought process, asking why it’s all happening to me. But you need to stick to your plan and believe that you’ll get your reward.”Pakistan will hope this innings signals resurgence rather than one final cathartic raging against the dying light. Babar, still only 31, can reasonably expect to have a large chunk of his useful career ahead of him. And that’s what his focus has immediately turned to with a newer, fresher optimism.Babar Azam, still only 31, can reasonably expect to have a large chunk of his useful career ahead of him•AFP/Getty Images

“Whenever you score runs, your confidence goes to a different level. It’s been a long period, but I backed myself and never compromised on my hard work. I believed in myself, and that’s the most important thing,” he said. “Lots of thoughts come into your mind about what’s happening to you. Lots of coaches talk to you and give you various kinds of advice. Then you have to assess what is working for you.”While he made a particular point of thanking two of his coaches in Shahid Aslam and Mansoor Rana, he also acknowledged the limitations of what others can do when a player finds himself in a rut: “These are people who have been with me since I was a child, and they know everything about what I require. The time hasn’t been easy, and so I’m grateful to them. But ultimately you have to back yourself. People, coaches, and everyone else can just tell you. You have to do it yourself so self-belief is paramount.”It is exactly the advice he had for any younger players who find themselves in a similar situation, insofar as anyone’s situation in Pakistan can truly be similar to Babar’s. “The advice I’d give to any youngster who’s stuck in bad form is belief,” he said. “You can motivate yourself for a few days but hard work and dedication needs to be there every day.”Though Babar claimed that his faith in his process had never wavered, he admitted the value of seeing it play out in a competitive match that actually mattered. “When you win matches, that’s a different kind of confidence.”

Navi Mumbai showcased not just Radha’s precision and control, but also her ever-expanding mindset and skillset

Sruthi Ravindranath27-Oct-2025

Harmanpreet Kaur is delighted by fan favourite, and captain favourite, Radha Yadav•AFP/Getty Images

Radha Yadav has long been considered one of India’s best fielders, so much so that whenever a player in the XI steps off the field, she’s almost always the first one to be substituted in. At the 2025 ODI World Cup, she didn’t feature in India’s first six matches, yet appeared in nearly all of them as a substitute.When her opportunity finally arrived in India’s last league game against Bangladesh, she reminded everyone not just of her fielding prowess, but also of her craft as a left-arm spinner. Radha showcased the precision and control that have long defined her T20 reputation, the result of hard work and technical refinement during her time away from the side.Radha’s T20 credentials have never been in question. After being dropped in 2023, she forced her way back last year and has collected 35 wickets in 22 T20Is since her return. In ODIs, however, her journey has been far less straightforward.Related

• Pratika Rawal injures ankle in rain-hit game against Bangladesh

• Radha shines in washout between India and Bangladesh

Radha played just one game in 2021, and it wasn’t until 2024 that she earned another run, featuring in home series against South Africa and New Zealand, taking seven wickets against the latter. Yet, she was overlooked again for the tri-series earlier this year in Sri Lanka and South Africa, as India handed a debut to young left-arm spinner Shuchi Upadhyay.Offspinner Sneh Rana’s strong WPL showing and her comeback to the ODI squad in the tri-series meant competition for spin places intensified. On that tour, left-arm spinner N Shree Charani emerged as one of the standouts and complemented Rana with six wickets at an economy of 5.39.But when Upadhyay was injured, Radha found herself recalled for the England ODIs ahead of the World Cup. Her three games yielded just one wicket, and with India leaning towards a combination of two frontline spinners alongside Deepti Sharma, the team balance once again worked against Radha.During her time away from the international circuit in 2023, Radha worked extensively on her lines and release points. She moved away from bowling just stump-to-stump to operating a touch wider of off-stump. As a bowler capable of getting the ball to drift both ways, she uses her pace range – in the mid-70s kph – to vary flight, forcing indecision and mis-hits.Radha Yadav has worked extensively on her lines and release points•ICC/Getty ImagesOn the eve of the Bangladesh game, India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi was asked about the conversations he’d had with Radha and other fringe bowlers.”The conversation between the coaching group and the players is generally the kind of mindset what they are having, the kind of areas they need to work upon, the kind of strengths that we want them to operate onto the games,” he said. “Everybody is inspiring and everybody is motivated for the World Cup.”So that doesn’t rule out that even if they are not getting a chance, they still turn up for the practice sessions and they are very keen on working on their different aspects. So, the quality of their bowling they try to work upon. So, during the practice sessions they come with a mindset that we will work, we will iron out our skills and, and probably use it into the game whenever we get an opportunity.”When India decided to experiment in the dead rubber against Bangladesh, Radha replaced Rana, joining Charani as the second left-arm spinner in the XI. It turned out to be a showcase of the progress Radha had made, this time in ODIs.Brought on after a rain break following left-hander Rubya Haider’s dismissal, Radha immediately found rhythm. Her loop and control denied Bangladesh any scoring momentum. In the 22nd over, she dismissed Sobhana Mostary – who looked the most assured of Bangladesh’s batters – with a 76 kph delivery that dipped late and invited the drive, only for Mostary to spoon it to mid-off.Radha Yadav’s direct hit removed Nigar Sultana•ICC/Getty ImagesHer next two wickets came in classic fashion: a fuller ball that went straight through Nahida Akter, followed by one that drifted in from around the wicket, drawing Rabeya Khan down the track and through the gate. She nearly had a fourth when Nishita Akter Nishi survived a close DRS call the very next ball.In between, Radha produced another of her signature moments in the field – a sharp direct hit from point that caught Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana short at the non-striker’s end.”The way Radha played today gives us another option for the next game,” Harmanpreet Kaur said at the post-match presentation.Radha’s spell reaffirmed India’s depth in spin, even if she’s unlikely to feature in the semi-final, with Rana expected to return, but her performance underscored India’s bench strength.India also rested young seamer Kranti Gaud for the Bangladesh game, bringing Amanjot Kaur back into the XI. With Radha impressing in Navi Mumbai – the venue of the semi-final – and Charani continuing to build her credentials, India have a healthy mix of combinations to consider. Whether the team management opts to field both left-arm spinners against Australia – who have just two left-handers in the top four – remains to be seen.

Real Madrid were humbled by bottom-of-the-table Celta Vigo, finished the match with nine men and failed to close the four point gap on league leaders Barcelona following a shock 2-0 defeat at the Bernabeu. Xabi Alonso’s side went behind midway through the second half courtesy of a stunning finish from Williot Swedberg, Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras were both shown red cards before Swedberg scored another in time added on to a chorus of boos as the match ended in chaotic scenes.

Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all delivered diabolical performances on a night when they were needed at their best in a defeat which could have huge ramifications in the title race. The Bernabeu was stunned into silence after Real went behind to a stunning finish from 21-year-old Sweden international Swedberg. Real’s defence was caught napping as Swedberg dropped off inside the box and found a yard of space to fire home with an audacious flick of his right boot which found the bottom corner of the net. 

And there was worse to come for Los Blancos as Fran Garcia was sent off following two yellow cards in the space of a couple of second-half minutes for two impetuous fouls. Real were rocked and the crowd responded, reminding their players what was at stake and the need for three points to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona. 

But the embarrassment was completed in the closing stages when Alvaro Carreras was handed his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards and in a final act, Swedberg walked the ball around the shocked Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to seal the victory and end an awful night for Alonso's side. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Bernabeu…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Thibaut Courtois (6/10):

  Started off as a relatively quiet evening for him, and could do nothing about the two goals. Will be sorely disappointed about his defence. 

  Raul Asencio (4/10):

  Was left red-faced after a slip early in the first-half opened the door for Celta to attack, would have been relieved the visitors failed to capitalise. 

  Eder Militao (6/10):

  Lasted just 20 minutes after pulling up with what looked like a nasty hamstring injury, replaced by Rudiger. Really bad news for Alonso as Militao has been in excellent form for Los Blancos. 

  Alvaro Carreras (2/10):

  Shambles of an evening. Two quick-fire yellow cards for playground-level incidents and was shown a straight red card. 

  Fran Garcia (3/10):

  Ridiculous behaviour in two mad minutes in the second-half, picking up two yellow cards for wholly unnecessary challenges to leave his team down to ten men. Referee had no option on either and was right to show the red card. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Aurelien Tchouameni (4/10):

  Endured a poor evening, which was summed up by his effort from 20 yards out which sailed miles over the bar to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. 

  Arda Guler (5/10):

  Squandered a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring in the 40th minute, but fired wide from just a few yards out.

  Federico Valverde (5/10):

  Was a busy running all evening, but like his team-mates, failed to create a moment of quality worth mentioning. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Jude Bellingham (3/10):

  Took a hefty whack to his right eye in the second-half, which left blood pouring from a small cut. In truth it was a terrible night for Bellingham who failed to create anything in front of goal after an early headed chance was saved. 

  Kylian Mbappe (3/10):

  Thought his moment had come in the 74th minute but his delightful control and chip over the on-rushing goalkeeper landed just over the cross bar on the roof of the net. Below par in every department on a woeful night for the France superstar. 

  Vinicius Junior (3/10):

  Made all the recent talk of big money moves seem a little premature after putting in a performance that was high in effort, but low in quality. Now hasn't scored in 11 games for Real. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Antonio Rudiger (5/10):

  Brought on in the 24th minute, replacing the injured Militao. Had plenty of covering to do as Real Madrid pushed up searching for an equaliser and did well to out-muscle Swedberg in the final moments. 

  Gonzalo Garcia (4/10):

  Replaced Guler in the 75th minute, plenty of running but not enough time on the pitch to influence the match

  Xabi Alonso (3/10):

  Thoroughly frustrating evening for the boss who deployed his star players and watched them all flop against the league's bottom side. His evening summed up by being shown a yellow card after complaining too vociferously to the referee. Has plenty to ponder after a terrible night for his team's title hopes.