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Sean Dyche has clearly been focusing on bolstering Everton's attack in the transfer market this summer after the club finished 17th in the Premier League last season as the division's second-lowest scorers.

Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma have both been signed on loan, whilst 19-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti has completed a £15m move to Merseyside; Che Adams and Udinese forward Beto have also been linked to accentuate the focus on the offensive third.

Despite this, defenders Conor Coady and Yerry Mina have both left the club this summer, while Mason Holgate is heading to Southampton on loan – as such, a new centre-half is surely required to bolster the club's seasonal hopes.

What's the latest on Japhet Tanganga to Everton?

According to Inter Live, the Toffees are in the mix for Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, and while they will face competition from Luton Town, Inter Milan have withdrawn their attention as they close on Benjamin Pavard.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Reporter Ben Jacobs has since stated that the reason movement has stagnated regarding Tanganga's possible transfer is that suitors are more inclined to offer a loan move than a permanent deal, which could work in Everton's favour.

How good is Japhet Tanganga?

The Spurs defensive titan has not enjoyed the most auspicious of years with his club since graduating from the youth academy; now 24-years-old and having never played for another outfit, Tanganga holds just 50 senior appearances to his name.

Last season, the £25k-per-week gem played just seven times across all competitions last term, starting just twice in the Premier League, and, unequivocally, the best path for Tanganga is to push for a move away.

Everton could offer the player, who has been labelled "outstanding" by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor in the past, a clean slate and the opportunity to cement a regular starting berth for himself for the first time in his career.

The fact that Premier League outfits and Inter Milan are all interested in the ace is a testament to his skill set; despite his perpetual bit-part role with Tottenham, Tanganga is considered a viable and competent option, having been described as "really special" by Gary Neville after nullifying Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish one time.

During the 2021/22 league term, he did start ten matches and exhibited his solid qualities through an average passing accuracy of 84%, making 1.3 tackles and 2.7 clearances per outing, as per Sofascore.

He could be the man to partner James Tarkowski at the heart of Dyche's defence, with the 6 foot 1 gem playing 42 games since joining the Goodison Park side on a free transfer last summer after his contract expired with Burnley.

The 30-year-old ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks, the top 8% for clearances and the top 13% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref, hailed as a “really strong leader” by former Toffees boss Frank Lampard.

Tanganga could absorb the fruits of the £100k-per-week man's labours and grow into his skin on Merseyside, and it could prove to be a "fantastic" – as he has been dubbed by Jose Mourinho – and astute investment to combat the loss of the recent departees.

Matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation, according to their Under-19 coach

Shashank Kishore in Mount Manganui19-Jan-2018Contrasting travel schedules, matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation at the Under-19 World Cup, according to their coach. In the only rest day they had between “two of our biggest games in the tournament”, the team had to fly out from Christchurch to Tauranga and then watch their only training session called off because of rain.India, meanwhile, have had the luxury of being based in Tauranga for the group stages. Having taken little more than three hours to beat Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, the side has enjoyed plenty of rest. They have had an opportunity to climb the Mount, indulge in shopping, watch the Indian hockey team beat Japan in a four-nation tournament, have light pool sessions and even enjoy a day out at the cricket: they were at Bay Oval to watch South Africa take on West Indies.Zimbabwe Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo felt this contrasting schedule of the two sides was hard on his team. Zimbabwe aside, only Namibia and Canada have had games scheduled on alternate days in different cities. “It is a very tough scenario,” he said. “We play a game, we recover, we travel, we have team meetings and before you know it, we are at a game next day.”Terming the situation “unfair”, Mangongo called for a level playing field in such a world tournament. “No team is bigger than the other, they’re all youth cricketers at the end of the day,” Mangongo said. “Definitely, we believe that in a tournament of this nature, there should be an even playing field. If it’s a two-day break, it should be a two-day break for everyone. If it’s a three-day break, it should be a three-day break for everyone. In our instance, we played yesterday, we traveled the next day, the same traveling day is the training day, and the next day is the match.”We believe it’s unfair, absolutely unfair. India have been resting, they’re ready. We would definitely raise that with our MD (managing director), our board, and when they go back to ICC, these anomalies have to be sorted out. There’s no team that is bigger than the other. We’re all Under-19 youth cricketers and we must be treated equally.”India aren’t the only team to enjoy the luxury of training and playing at one single venue in the group stages. England, Kenya, Ireland, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too have had all their group matches scheduled at a single venue.

Former Australia batsman Michael Hussey has been named batting coach of Chennai Super Kings for the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.Hussey, 42, enjoyed a successful association as a player with the Super Kings across two stints. He was first part of the franchise from 2008 to 2013 before returning in 2015 following a season with the Mumbai Indians. With an aggregate of 2213 from 64 games at an average of 40.98, he remains the third highest run-getter for Super Kings, behind Suresh Raina (4541) and MS Dhoni (3436). He also won the Orange Cap in IPL 2013 for finishing as the leading run-getter.”I am really excited about returning to the Chennai Super Kings in a coaching capacity and working with the players to help them get the best out of themselves and also help to bring success to this great franchise,” Hussey was quoted as saying by the Chennai Super Kings website.”I have so many great memories as a player and have made many wonderful friends in Chennai and now I am excited about giving back to the franchise in trying to help the next generation of CSK players. It is exciting to have CSK back in the competition and I am sure the fans are very happy to have their team back on the field.”Super Kings director George John said Hussey was a welcome addition not only because he was a valued player with the franchise but also because he was good with youngsters. While he confirmed Super Kings had not named the rest of their coaching staff, he said the franchise wasn’t looking beyond Stephen Fleming for the job of the head coach. Fleming has coached Super Kings to IPL championships in 2010 and 2011, and a Champions League title in 2010.”We are in talks with him,” John told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s busy with the Big Bash, so nothing has been signed yet. Most likely it will be him, but we haven’t finished the deal yet. We are not in talks with anybody else. We are looking at the same coaching staff – Gregory [King] and Tommy [Simsek] as trainer and physio. We are also seriously looking at a bowling coach.”

As part of Tottenham Hotspur's summer spending thus far, new boss Ange Postecoglou notably sanctioned the permanent capture of Sweden international, Dejan Kulusveski, with the 23-year-old signing on a £25m deal after spending the last 18 months in north London.

The wing wizard was originally snapped up by former boss Antonio Conte on loan from Juventus back in January 2022, with the Lilywhites having opted to bring the forward to England alongside teammate, Rodrigo Bentancur.

While Conte – and ex-sporting director Fabio Paratici – are no longer at the helm at N17, it looks as if the Premier League side are still scouring the Serie A market in order to find possible recruits, having already sealed a deal for Empoli goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario earlier in the window.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Postecoglou and co could again look to Italy to try and secure a repeat of their Kulusevski masterclass, amid reports that the club are interested in Juve full-back, Andrea Cambiaso.

Who is Andrea Cambiaso?

According to a report from Italian outlet, Tuttosport last week, Tottenham have been named alongside Nottingham Forest as the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old this summer, with the former Italy U21 international having spent last season on loan at Bologna.

As per the piece, the Old Lady are looking for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m) if they are to part ways with the former Genoa ace over the coming weeks, with the emerging talent having yet to make a first-team appearance for his parent club since making the move to Turin last year.

While Cambiaso is yet to try his hand outside of Serie A – much like Kulusveski prior to joining Spurs – the promising defender could prove to be another wise investment as far as Daniel Levy is concerned.

How good is Andrea Cambiaso?

Having splashed the cash on Kulusevski of late, the Lilywhites seemingly liked what they saw from the wide man over the last year-and-a-half, with the one-time Parma ace having warranted that strong show of faith.

Despite enduring a difficult 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot 1 dynamo was still able to contribute a respectable haul of two goals and seven assists in 30 Premier League games, having previously registered 13 goal involvements in just 18 appearances in the competition in the tail-end of the previous season.

Lauded as "a real player" by pundit Paul Robinson, the hope will be that Kulusevski can kick on again next term now that his future is secure, with the Stockholm native having clearly shown more than just glimpses of his quality in a Tottenham shirt to date.

While making the transition to life in the Premier League from Serie A may not be easy, Kulusevski has shown the benefits of looking to the Italian market, hence why snapping up Cambiaso – who has been "on fire" of late according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – could prove a wise move.

The Juve ace notably registered three assists in the league last season during his spell at Bologna as a marker of his creative threat, having also chipped in defensively after averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game – a greater record than Ben Davies achieved, for instance, for Spurs (1.5 tackles and interceptions per game).

A player who is comfortable on the ball and can easily beat a man down the flanks, the £31k-per-week machine notably ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for pass completion, as well as in the top 14% for successful take-ons.

Such traits could well help the Genoa native slot in nicely into Postecoglou's attack-minded, 4-3-3 formation, with the hope being that he can replicate Kulusevski's impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Having earned a recall to the Indian Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka in November following after recovering from a wrist injury, opener M Vijay says he is “prepared mentally and physically” for the sterner tours to South Africa, England and Australia over the next year and beyond. Vijay notched up hundreds in England and Australia and 97 in second Test of the 2013 tour to South Africa in Durban.”I am prepared for them [overseas tours] rather than thinking about it,” Vijay told ESPNcricinfo in Mumbai on Monday. “I am looking forward for the tours coming ahead. I am a person who takes one match at a time. I have a domestic tournament now, so I have to contribute here and take the form and momentum to the Sri Lankan series.”Definitely opening becomes very crucial when you play abroad. A good start will make a whole lot of difference in a side’s mindset. We are aware of it. We have been giving good starts. It is just a matter of time when we collectively go about it, first innings or second innings. We create our own situation rather than succumbing to the situation. I feel you have got to be ahead of what’s happening and be a little smarter overseas. We are working on that and hopefully we can win this time.”Vijay was originally included in the Indian squad for the series in Sri Lanka in July-August before deciding to pull out after experiencing pain during a preparatory match. After an underwhelming series against Australia earlier in the year – he made 113 runs in three Tests at 22.60 – he opted out of the IPL and underwent surgery in England.Recovery took longer than expected. Since returning, Vijay has featured in a Duleep Trophy game, few matches in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the state side’s Ranji Trophy opener. Though he hasn’t produced a substantial score yet since his return, the national selectors have decided to stay invested in him as one of their three choices for the opening position, besides KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.”Actually, I could not get much cricket before calling myself fit,” Vijay said. “I was pushing myself to play against Sri Lanka. That was my first choice to get ready when we went to England to get the operation done. Unfortunately, I did not get a lot of games before that. I wasn’t 100% mentally because I didn’t find myself in a comfortable position to pick my bat. So, I thought I should be honest there and put it across to the management so that a fit player goes for the tour. I was pretty sure that if I wasn’t going to be giving the team 100% then I shouldn’t be playing.”I feel every sportsperson would have faced an injury problem at some point in their careers. I have been facing injuries for a couple of years, but I have been managing it. It is more of a mental thing than physical. I am pretty sure everybody can push themselves to any limit, but once it’s in your thought process that’s when as a sportsperson you have to think, ‘what am I going to do about my cricket.’ Being a batsman, it is very important to have my game plans right, so if something is hampering on that it is going to be a tough call. So, I was battling with that, rather than physical pain.”Nobody can trust their body fully if you are a sportsperson but yes, I am charged up. I have thought about my game. It is a good opportunity for me to start from where I stopped and be more consistent. So, there are a lot of things to look forward to.”Associated Press

In Vijay’s absence, Dhawan, his replacement in Sri Lanka, and Rahul have made strong cases to retain their spots at the top. Dhawan made two hundreds in Sri Lanka and Rahul has constructed a sequence of seven consecutive half-centuries in Tests. Vijay, however, is undaunted at the prospect of having to convince the team management to restore him to his spot. He insists watching his replacements make the most of their opportunity while he had to sit out with injury wasn’t frustrating in the least.”When I was 23, I really gave this issue a lot of thought, because I wasn’t enjoying my cricket so much,” he said. “Once I got to play for India I thought, whoever plays for India it is going to be difficult. When I got the call for the Indian team, from that day I started believing that everybody who puts in the effort should perform. One day their turn will come. I know whoever is performing out there, I know what difficulties they would have gone through and I know what it takes to perform at that level.”I started enjoying it and take some good things about what they are doing right rather than feel bad that it’s my turn and somebody has picked up my spot. It happens in any sport, so I channelise myself in such a way that to ensure I see the right things.”I was just wishing them (the other openers) luck. I am sure that’s how I will go for the rest of my phase in cricket. It was a great learning for me. I have to search what is happening inside me rather than think about what is happening to others and their performance. I can only wish them luck. I don’t have time to sort my issues, I am more in that mode rather than thinking about who is performing or not.”I want everybody to perform because it is a good thing for Indian cricket. I am like that. I like to have fun if it comes to me. I should be in the best place possible to go and perform. I am competitive about improving my game, about going about my cricket in a stronger manner than where I left. These are the things that are more of a kick for me rather than thinking about fighting for spots.”With the first Test against Sri Lanka still nearly three weeks away, Vijay intends to use his time on the domestic circuit to notch up consistent scores. The troublesome wrist wasn’t permitting him to manoeuver the ball into gaps on the field like he wanted to. That will be one of his focus areas before he fronts up against Sri Lanka.With his confidence fully restored, Vijay is now eager to make up for lost time and is also convinced he can shut up doubters who have bracketed him as a one-format player by earning a recall to India’s limited overs teams.”I have a lot of dreams, few have come true, and few are there for me to go and achieve, so I am looking forward to those,” he said. “I am pretty confident about how I am going to go about it. I am a person who relishes challenges and likes to tell in advance and go and achieve it but with my injuries at the moment, I have to be a little silent and conservative. But once I start getting into the groove, it will be much more fun for me.”I am in the mode to play all three formats and I am working on every aspect possible that I possess. So, these are the things that give me a good kick rather than my competition. It is about how ready I am going to be when the call comes up. These are the things I am waiting for and I think I will make it happen.”

Chris Gayle’s laboured fifty turned out to be invaluable on a tricky surface, helping the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots make their first ever CPL final

The report by Peter Della Penna06-Sep-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Chris Gayle carried his bat for Patriots to score 54•Randy Brooks – CPL T20 / Getty

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are one step away from completing a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround after defeating Trinbago Knight Riders by 38 runs on Tuesday night at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Coming off the back of a last-place finish in 2016, and having never made the playoffs prior to this season, the win over Knight Riders put Patriots into Saturday night’s final.As was the case on the opening weekend in Florida, Chris Gayle turned in a slow, but steady, half-century that proved especially valuable by the end of play. The captain’s fifty was backed up by three wickets from seamer Sheldon Cottrell as the Knight Riders batting order was left exposed by the absence of the injured Brendon McCullum.One ball that shaped the course of the matchRonsford Beaton opened the match with a superb maiden to Gayle, but it arguably should have been a wicket maiden. Bowling over the stumps to the left-hander, Beaton swung a yorker into Gayle’s left toe in front of middle stump. Perhaps surprised at his good fortune, Beaton gave a mild appeal and umpire Johan Cloete responded in kind with a mild shake of the head to give it not out. Replays confirmed the ball would have cannoned into middle and off stump.Instead, Gayle went on to craft a patient 54 not out off 51 balls in a total of 149 for 7, earning himself a repeat trip to the final after leading the Tallawahs to the CPL title in 2016. The knock was reminiscent of his 66 not out off 55 balls against Guyana Amazon Warriors in a total of 132 for 3 earlier this season at Lauderhill. He dedicated the win to the people of Leeward Islands, who are bracing for Hurricane Irma.It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super DanDan Christian was drafted in as a replacement for McCullum. Fresh off the plane from England, where he helped Nottinghamshire to the Natwest T20 Blast title, Christian gave Fabian Allen a stiff challenge for catch of the tournament.Evin Lewis skied a drive over extra cover off Beaton in the third over, that appeared as if it would fall safely with no protection on the off side boundary. But Christian would not be denied. The ball hung in the air for six seconds, enough time for Christian to sprint 40 yards to his right from mid-off. He called off Colin Munro, who had also been running back from cover, and lunged to pull off a dramatic catch before giving Munro a piggyback ride into the circle for raucous celebrations as Knight Riders had struck a key blow early on.Bravo’s mixed bagDespite Christian’s heroics, Knight Riders paid the price for being unable to dislodge Gayle. Dwayne Bravo ended with four wickets on the night, but he also conceded at least one boundary ball in each of his four overs. In almost every instance, the sequence started with a boundary, before a wicket to bounce back. It began in the 14th with a six over square leg by Brandon King, followed next ball by a top-edge that was taken by Denesh Ramdin.Carlos Brathwaite drove Bravo twice down the ground in the 16th and again to start the 18th, before Bravo nabbed him on the second ball of the 18th, splicing a catch to cover. Mohammad Nabi was beaten by a Bravo yorker to end the over to leave the score on 122 for 5 with 12 balls to go. But Patriots clipped 17 runs in a crucial final over, in which Gayle finally brought up his fifty with another straight four. Devon Thomas cracked a six over midwicket before he was caught at long-on off the last ball of the innings.Not so super subWilliam Perkins, who had yet to play this season, opened the batting with Sunil Narine but the results couldn’t have been worse.Perkins was already twitching after three scratchy dots in the first over; and his nerves were even more evident when he set off for a run off the fourth ball from Cottrell. He connected well and Lewis only needed to take four strides to his left at cover, before gathering and firing a direct hit at the striker’s end. Narine had given up and was well short of his ground. Perkins’ forgettable night ended soon after, when he feathered a pull shot to Thomas down the leg side off Ben Hilfenhaus. Knight Riders were 2 for 2, seven balls into the chase.Operation Knight FallMilitary man Cottrell accomplished his mission of tying down Knight Riders even further to help secure the victory. Munro’s attempted flick ended as a leading edge that floated tamely back to Cottrell, putting the hosts in a deep hole at 6 for 3. By the halfway point of the chase, the required rate had climbed to more than 10.By the end of the 14th over, the Knight Riders were seven down when Dwayne Bravo attempted to resuscitate the chase, smashing Nabi’s first two balls of the 15th over deep midwicket for six. But Cottrell dismantled the final threat posed by the Knight Riders, claiming Javon Searles at long-off and Bravo at third man in the space of three balls.

England's Lionesses are set to face the Netherlands in a Nations League clash which will see Beth Mead come up against partner Vivianne Miedema.

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• Lionesses face the Netherlands on Friday
• Mead set to face Miedema
• Loser could face forfeit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mead and Miedema may be partners and team-mates at Arsenal but they will be on opposing sides on Friday at Wembley when the Lionesses face the Netherlands in the Nations League. The two players have been asked about the upcoming fixture and have joked that there is more at stake than just the three points.

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• WHAT MIEDEMA SAID:

  Miedema was asked if the loser of the match between the two nations would end up sleeping on the couch and revealed a far more brutal punishment was likely to be implemented. "No, they have to clean up the puppy's poop!" she told NOS. The couple have recently shown off the latest addition to to their household, a puppy named Myle Meadema.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Both players are back in action this season after recovering from serious knee injuries. Mead scored her maiden WSL goals in 428 days in Arsenal's 3-0 win over West Ham on Sunday and was named in the Lionesses squad for the first time in over a year after recovering from an ACL injury. Miedema is also back in action, making her Arsenal return in October but has admitted she's still got some way to go. "I'm feeling better and better on the field, but I can't play 90 minutes yet," she explained.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MEAD AND MIEDEMA?

  The Nations League group stages reaches its climax in the final two fixtures. Miedema's Netherlands side top the group heading into the fixtures with nine points from four games, while England are three points behind in third place. Mead's return will be will be a boost to the Lionesses who must beat the Netherlands and Scotland, and hope second-placed Belgium drop points, if they are to top the group and qualify for the finals of the tournament.

Liverpool could soon wrap up a deal for Benjamin Pavard according to a report from CalcioMercatoWeb, via Paisley Gates, with the club already having a winning offer for the player.

How many games has Benjamin Pavard played for Bayern Munich?

The 27-year-old has been with Bayern Munich for four seasons now and has helped the German side to win the Bundesliga title in every campaign that he has featured in. In 2022/23, he was still a regular in their first team, playing on 30 occasions in the league and managing his best goal contribution total since he first arrived at the club (four goals and one assist).

He is now a member of the Bayern 100-club, having played in 111 top flight outings in total during his time there.

With the player still impressing at the very top of the Bundesliga, it has led to interest in his services from elsewhere. Most notably, Premier League side Liverpool have been keeping tabs on the situation. A recent report though suggested that Pavard himself is open to a switch to England, with the Reds, Chelsea and Man City all listed as potential landing spots for the defender.

Are Liverpool signing Benjamin Pavard?

However, it looks like the Anfield outfit are leading the way for the player – and may even get a deal done "imminently". According to a report from CalcioMercatoWeb, via Paisley Gates, Liverpool have already got a "winning proposal" ready to go to bring Pavard to the club.

FSG apparently have the ability to match the demands of Bayern Munich and the player himself – meaning a deal could happen very quickly. It doesn't mention any talks over personal terms yet but it seems as though the Reds owners have got a bid ready to go – and that Bayern are happy to accept it.

Pavard is clearly still well capable of producing the goods at the highest level too, so a deal could certainly benefit Liverpool. During a recent international game for France, football journalist Josh Bunting labelled a goal from the defender as "stunning" and "top class," adding that it is what the Bayern Munich man is "capable of".

He has the ability to play at both right-back and centre-back, so one would assume he could be the perfect fit to slot into that hybrid RCB role, which is required if Trent Alexander-Arnold continues pushing forward in the new system we saw towards the end of last season.

Half-centuries from Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad and Muhammad Usman underpinned UAE’s 82-run victory over Papua New Guinea in Abu Dhabi

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Muhammad Usman struck six fours and a six•Peter Della Penna

Half-centuries from Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad and Muhammad Usman underpinned UAE’s 82-run victory over Papua New Guinea in Abu Dhabi. Mohammad Naveed and captain Rohan Mustafa, meanwhile, made cameos as UAE ran up 292 for 5. Spinners Ahmed Raza and Imran Haider then claimed combined figures of 7 for 79 to dismiss PNG for 210.PNG, though, had started positively in their chase with Tony Ura and Vani Morea adding 82 for the first wicket. Legspinner Haider then claimed three wickets in three overs to jolt PNG. Raza, the left-arm spinner, smothered the middle order further with the lone source of resistance coming from Sese Bau who contributed with 42 off 51 balls. The last five wickets tumbled for six runs as PNG were bowled out in 47.3 overs.Having been inserted, UAE lost Mohammed Qasim early to Chad Soper, but a string of fifty stands from the middle order shaped the innings. Shabber was circumspect, making 50 off 96 balls while Shahzad, Usman and Naveed went at better than a run a ball as UAE threatened the 300 mark. Seamer Alei Nao picked up 2 for 47 on ODI debut.

Supporters in north London have every right to start dreaming of silverware after a near-flawless start to the 2023-24 season

Six months ago, the future looked bleak for Tottenham. A disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League reflected a chaotic campaign that saw Antonio Conte and his interim replacement Cristian Stellini both sacked as a number of key players failed to live up to expectations.

Harry Kane was one of the few that could hold his head up high after another 30-goal season, but Bayern Munich quickly made it clear that the England captain was their top summer transfer target and his eventual departure felt inevitable.

It was reported that a number of high-profile managers turned down the chance to replace Conte, including the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, which led Tottenham to instead turn to Ange Postecoglou. The former Celtic boss was a huge success in Scotland, but his initial appointment did little to lift the mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Postecoglou was not the big name Spurs fans would have expected, and his lack of experience at the very highest level raised alarm bells. But the Australian has since proven to be exactly the right man to lead the club into a bold new era.

An encouraging pre-season campaign showed that Postecoglou was ready to implement a new forward-thinking style designed to get the best out of Spurs' most dangerous players, and he was also able to bring in a host of new signings to fit his philosophy. By the time Kane's move to Bayern was confirmed on the eve of the season, a new wave of optimism had started sweeping across north London.

And now here we are, with Spurs sitting top of the Premier League heading into the second international break of the 2023-24 season. Postecoglou's men are ahead of arch-rivals Arsenal on goals scored, with reigning champions Manchester City two points further back in third, and they have yet to taste defeat.

The general consensus is that Tottenham won't be able to stay the course, but that is more based on their recent history than anything else. Their current position is no accident – Postecoglou has transformed a confidence-stricken outfit into arguably the most well-rounded side in the division, and they deserve to be taken seriously as potential title contenders.

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  'Ange-ball'

  Spurs moved to the Premier League summit after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Luton Town, with Micky Van de Ven grabbing the winning goal early in the second half – after Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second yellow card just before the break.

  It's fair to say that last season, Tottenham would have dropped points in a game like that. But the players are giving their all for Postecoglou, and he can feel that everyone is pulling in the same direction.

  "It is all credit to the players, the way they have bought into what we are trying to do," the Spurs boss told after the game. "We are really tight as a group, which you see because not only are we winning games, but apart from the football, which has been good, the resilience we have shown has been great. The players want to change the destiny of this club and that is what they are trying to do on the pitch."

  Under Conte, and his predecessors Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho, Spurs were a cautious, counter-attacking side. They were quite content to sit back in numbers and win matches by the odd goal, with entertainment in short supply for supporters as a result.

  That's all changed since Postecoglou's arrival, as he encourages his players to express themselves and take risks under pressure. Spurs are now inviting the opposition press, and have shown the quality to play through it time and time again, which is why they are creating so many chances.

  During their thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the first North London derby of the season, 'Ange-ball' was in full effect, and Tottenham really should have left the Emirates Stadium with all three points. Heading into the latter stages of the game, it was Spurs that went all out for a winner, not Arsenal. There was one sequence that saw the visitors carve open the Gunners with a nine-pass move, starting from goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario, only for a potential goal-of-the-season candidate to be snuffed out when Pedro Porro's cross was deflected out for corner.

  Spurs were quite simply a joy to watch, as they have been throughout Postecoglou's tenure so far. “If we lose playing his way, that’s on him, his responsibility, and it gives you freedom to go and play as well," summer signing James Maddison said of the belief the manager has injected into the squad after Arsenal game. That mentality could take Tottenham a long way.

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  Magical Maddison

  Maddison has been the standout player for Spurs in the new Postecoglou era, slotting into the No.10 role perfectly after his £40 million ($49m) switch from Leicester City. The England international has recorded two goals and five assists in his first eight Premier League outings, with his latest moment of magic coming at Luton.

  Spurs won a corner to relieve some pressure as Luton started to make their numerical advantage count, and Dejan Kulusevski took it quickly when Maddison made himself available for a simple pass. Despite being tightly marked, the 26-year-old then managed to dance his way through to the edge of the six-yard box with a brilliant drop of the shoulder, and had the awareness to poke the ball back to Van de Ven for a simple finish.

  Only the very best players can conjure up something out of nothing, and Maddison's ingenuity has added a new dimension to Tottenham's attack. He's created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this term, and also appears to have taken on a leadership role.

  Maddison's performances are inspiring those around him to raise their level, with the collective spirit in the squad seemingly at an all-time high. The former Leicester man has grasped his chance to shine at a bigger club with both hands, and looks like he is loving every minute.

  “When you start playing football as a kid, you don’t play for anything,” Maddison said after being unveiled at Spurs in June. “There’s no politics, nothing like that. You play because you love playing football and you do the things you love, and you become the player you become because of what you do and what you’re good at.

  “And that will never change for me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s how I play. I’m never going to change and that’s why my journey has gone like this and I’m happy to have ended up at Tottenham.”

  That passion is what sets Maddison apart from the majority of his peers. And there is no limit to what Spurs can achieve if he continues on his current trajectory.

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  Van de Ven's colossal presence

  Spurs spent another £43m ($52m) on Dutch centre-back Van de Ven in the summer, and he has made an instant impact in English football. The 22-year-old has shown a maturity belying his age, striking up a formidable partnership with Cristian Romero in the process.

  Romero, recently described as the best defender in the world by Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, was left exposed time and time again by the likes of Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez and Clement Lenglet last season as Tottenham leaked goals for fun.

  Van de Ven complements Romero perfectly, though, as former Spurs and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told after the Luton game: "Tottenham have been looking for a central defensive partnership for a long time now, that gives them composure with the ball and stability without. They just haven't had that. Now they've got it. Van de Ven and Romero are looking like a real partnership. You need your centre-halves to be brave on the ball. Tottenham start everything with these two at the moment."

  It's much harder for opposition teams to get in behind Spurs' backline now thanks to Van de Ven, who is deceptively quick for such a big man. Very few players will be able to beat the Netherlands Under-21 international in a footrace, and his imposing frame also helps him to win most of his physical duels.

  Van de Ven is like a Rolls Royce when he carries the ball out of defence – which he backs up with his excellent passing range and decision-making skills. He's capable of chipping in with a goal every now and then, too, as evidenced by his impressive improvised finish against Luton.

  The scary thing is, Van de Ven is only just starting to realise his full potential. It will be fascinating to see how he develops under Postecoglou as the season progresses.

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  Son taking centre-stage

  Son Heung-min and Kane were a match made in heaven, as they combined for 47 Premier League goals in the space of eight years – the best partnership in the history of the competition. Kane wouldn't have become Spurs' all-time record goalscorer without Son backing him up, as the South Korean seemed to have a telepathic instinct for finding his strike partner in great positions.

  Son saw the favour returned regularly, but it was always Kane who was considered to be Tottenham's main man. And so although his departure broke up an all-time great double act, it also gave Son the opportunity to take centre-stage.

  Postecoglou named Son as Spurs' new captain after his appointment as manager, but initially kept him in his usual role wide on the left. The 31-year-old failed to score in his first three Premier League outings of the new season, before being asked to lead the line in an away clash at Burnley on September 2.

  Spurs romped to a 5-2 victory at Turf Moor, with Son helping himself to a brilliant hat-trick. He exploited the Clarets' high line on numerous occasions and more often than not, had the finish to match his intelligent movement.

  Son had the Midas touch again during the North London derby as he netted a brace, and grabbed his sixth goal of the season in Spurs' smash-and-grab victory over Liverpool earlier this month. "I think the way we're playing suits him," Postecoglou said after the latter contest.

  It wouldn't be much of a surprise if Son was secretly eying the second Golden Boot of his career, given how many chances Spurs are creating right now. He is a natural when it comes to getting into goalscoring positions and can find the net from any angle, such is his superb technical ability with both feet.

  Tottenham are not missing Kane, and that's largely due to Son. He's tailor-made for Postecoglou's system and has taken on the responsibility of being the focal point in the team admirably.