Tottenham are preparing for a crucial January window with the club hierarchy reportedly willing to back under-fire manager Thomas Frank with significant spending.

The Sun reports that Spurs could invest up to £150 million next month as they look to address clear weaknesses in both attacking and defensive areas following a disappointing first half of the campaign.

The north London club currently languish 14th in the Premier League after suffering five defeats in their last eight matches across all competitions.

Frank finds himself under mounting pressure after the club’s failure to build on the promising foundations laid during his first few months in charge, with supporters increasingly frustrated by the lack of consistency and identity in performances.

Wide attackers have emerged as the primary focus for recruitment chiefs ahead of January, with Spurs desperate to add pace, creativity and goal threat from the flanks to complement their existing options.

Related Tottenham officials sent to club as Spurs eye Hazard-like 'magician' after Semenyo snub

Spurs are craving a new left-winger.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

Antoine Semenyo was Tottenham’s top target for the upcoming window following his impressive performances for Bournemouth this season, with the Ghana international combining explosive pace with impressive output in the final third.

However, landing the 25-year-old has been far from straightforward given strong competition from Man City, who are understood to be in pole position to sign Semenyo and trigger his £65 million release clause.

Spurs now find themselves forced to ‘rethink’ their entire transfer strategy for January following Semenyo’s apparent preference for joining City rather than moving to north London, according to TEAMtalk.

Tottenham make 'fresh explorations' for Man City winger Savinho

The outlet and journalist Dean Jones have a fresh transfer update surrounding the Lilywhites’ plans today, detailing their Semenyo alternatives as Frank chases a quality left-winger.

The club recently touched base about Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, but early indications suggest they will not have much chance of signing the highly-rated Turkish winger either as he eyes a new contract in Turin.

Maghnes Akliouche and Yan Diomande have also been identified as ambitious transfer targets, though these moves are more realistically planned for the summer of 2026 rather than next month.

As per Jones, Tottenham have now made ‘fresh explorations’ around whether Savinho, who was chased during the summer, remains genuinely interested in departing Eastlands despite his recent contract extension.

The 21-year-old impressed during his time in France with Troyes and subsequently at Girona, attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs before ultimately choosing to join Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Savinho penned a new deal at City last summer despite indications that he ‘fancied’ a move to Spurs, but he has struggled significantly to tie down a regular starting role in Guardiola’s loaded attacking lineup.

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The Brazilian’s limited opportunities have raised questions about whether he made the correct decision to extend, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming next year.

This situation could potentially open a door for Tottenham to revive their interest if the player becomes frustrated with his peripheral role.

However, before Spurs attempt to formally test the water with any offers for the ‘incredible’ City forward, they want to understand precisely how keen he would be on making the switch to north London.

Intermediaries are now expected to uncover what the future holds in the player’s mind, with Tottenham looking to bring in a standout attacking talent to bolster Frank’s squad.

Related Tottenham player set for January exit talks after returning from injury

A Spurs departure is on the cards for him.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

A wicket from the last ball of the day for Matthew Nicholson has given Western Australia the edge at stumps on day two of their Pura Cup clash against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.The Warrior paceman ripped out Jeff Vaughan’s off stump with a delivery that stayed down after the batsman had let it go. That wicket, the third that South Australia surrendered in the space of just over three overs at the end of the day, left the hosts reeling at 5/133.After captain Darren Lehmann’s unfortunate run out, the Redbacks lost a further two wickets for the addition of just five runs. Nicholson was the main destroyer, snaring the last two wickets in the final over of the day.The lanky right arm bowler was close to the best of the Western Australian attack today, with 2/42 off his 14.5 overs. Conceding 40 runs off his 17 overs for one wicket, chinaman bowler Brad Hogg was also in top form. And Jo Angel, who conceded just 14 runs from his seven overs, was typically economical.The Warriors will be looking for early wickets tomorrow to finish off the South Australian lower order and possibly enforce the follow on. South Australia’s hopes, meanwhile, will rest principally with 27-year-old batsman Ben Johnson, who is averaging 34 in domestic first class cricket. The hosts trail by 347 runs with only five wickets in hand.Earlier in the day, the Redbacks had been provided with a solid start by opener Shane Deitz. The 25-year-old played a typically patient and watchful innings today, bringing up his third half century in what is only his fifth first class match. Deitz’s fifty, which came from 128 balls, included four boundaries.Darren Lehmann, at the other end, scored at a quicker rate, posting 38 off 52 deliveries. Together with Deitz, he recorded a 50-run partnership, the highest of the Redback innings, from 101 balls.But just when those two looked settled, Deitz set off for a suicidal single off Warrior captain Tom Moody’s first ball. The throw from Ryan Campbell at mid wicket was an accurate one and, by the time that Lehmann reached his crease, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist had already dislodged the bails. The Redback captain’s innings contained four boundaires.Next in, Jason Gillespie quickly signalled his intentions with a boundary to get off the mark. But the Redbacks ran into even more trouble soon after, when Deitz was trapped lbw by Nicholson for 60.Earlier in the final session, Australian Test hopeful Greg Blewett had failed to catch the selectors’ eyes, scoring just two runs off 21 deliveries. Blewett, who lingered before walking to the pavilion, was clearly unhappy about the caught and bowled decision that brought about his demise. Left armer Hogg, however, was delighted at having held the low catch off the Redback’s bat.Blewett’s counterpart and occasional Australian teammate Damien Martyn (122) enjoyed a better day. A philosophical Martyn, who averaged 60 in Australia’s last Test series against New Zealand, says he knows Ricky Ponting’s recovery from injury will leave him out of the national team for the start of this summer’s Test series against the West Indies.”I haven’t been really worrying about that. I’ve just started my season and am going about my job,” he said. “I’d like to play Test cricket again. I got to play Test cricket in New Zealand and it was a lucky break and if I just keep making runs, you never know, anything could happen. If I’m not there in the first Test, I won’t be too unhappy about it.”Martyn’s ton was good, but Gilchrist’s early in the day was just superb. The Australian vice-captain, who had come to the crease when Martyn was at 58, even found his way to his century before his partner. Along the way, he belted 12 fours and two sixes to finish with 102 off 99 deliveries.He punished all the Redback bowlers, striking boundaries off even the accurate and economical Gillespie. He eventually fell to Peter McIntyre, missing a drive and watching the ball dislodge his off-stump instead. Martyn later described Gilchrist’s sparkling innings as a real bonus for his team.

Northerns secured the Logan Cup title with a thumping innings-and-98-run win over Centrals at Kwekwe Sports Club. The result meant they ended the tournament with a 100% record and given that they beat Easterns, the defending champions, in the opening round, their success was well deserved.Brendan Taylor’s 150 and Ishmael Senzere’s 131, his maiden hundred, provided the foundations for Northerns’ 493 for 7. Senzere and Alois Tichana got the innings off to a flier with a stand of 193, and then Taylor flayed a tired and dispirited attack while the in-form Ray Price chipped in with a late fifty.Centrals were as good as buried by the close of the second day as they slid to 114 for 6. They followed on 335 in arrears, and although they did slightly better second time round, none of their batsmen were able to play the dominant innings needed and no one passed 40.At Bulawayo, Southerns thumped a very disappointing Westerns by nine wickets in a low-scoring game. Westerns, who last season beat Northerns by an innings and have Robin Brown, the national coach, among their technical team, have lost all three games and face a tough task in the last match when they meet Easterns. Only when Southerns raced to victory with 137 for 1 did the bat dominate the ball.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Aban	Pts
Northerns	4	4	0	0	0	0	73
Easterns	3	2	1	0	0	0	42
Southerns	3	1	2	0	0	0	27
Centrals	3	1	2	0	0	0	24
Westerns	3	0	3	0	0	0	10

Match referee Javagal Srinath was forced to suspend play for half an hour in the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan after a rock was thrown onto the field at the Premadasa Stadium. The incident came after fights had broken out in the terraced section of the south-eastern stand during Sri Lanka’s innings.”There was an issue between two factions in the stands,” SLC secretary Prakash Schaffter said. “The police sorted that out. There was a stone that found its way to the ground – outside of the boundary line though. Nevertheless it was on the ground. They temporarily stopped play and then the police brought the situation under control. When we confirmed that to the match referee, the match commenced. Play was stopped partly because of an abundance of caution, because player security is paramount.”The lower tier of the stand was temporarily evacuated after the fights began, but objects continued to be thrown – in many instances by people who were being evicted from the ground. Several rocks were thrown through the back of the open south-eastern stand, and these were seen cascading down the terrace steps.Policemen had swarmed the area early on during the incident, but while they were able to control the violence within the stadium, they were less effective outside it. People throwing rocks were seen fleeing the stadium through the small alleyways that surround the venue.The interruption came at around 9:35pm – Sri Lanka were at 158 for 7 in the 34th over of their chase – and the players were asked to leave the field soon after. The entire eastern stand was evacuated and once match officials were satisfied that police and riot police had quelled the violence, play resumed at 10:05pm with no reduction in overs.Mahela Jayawardene, the former Sri Lanka captain, was among those to react to the incident. He tweeted: “Tough game for @OfficialSLC . Heard what happen with the spectators. We as a nation don’t believe in this kind of behaviour.”Pakistan went on to complete a 135-run win, and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Malcolm Waller’s bowling action has been found to be legal upon reassessment, and the Zimbabwe allrounder can now resume bowling in international cricket, the ICC has announced.Following remedial work at the University of Pretoria earlier this month, Waller underwent reassessment, which concluded that the amount of elbow extension in his offspin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under ICC regulations.Umpires can report Waller in the future if they believe his action is suspect or that he is not reproducing the action that has been declared legal during this assessment.Waller was reported after the second Test against Bangladesh in Khulna in November 2014. Following an assessment carried out in December, his action for his offspin deliveries was found to be illegal, and he was suspended from bowling in internationals.

ScorecardKumar Sangakkara recorded another Championship hundred (file photo)•Getty Images

No one grumbles quite like a county cricket fan. Each individual has a slightly different tone shaped by their gender, experience and own personal angst. Some just sigh, a handful swear (loudly, too). Most reserve the chuntering for wickets but the ones that really pay attention can spend 10 minutes chewing your ear off about a couple of plays and misses from a different game entirely.Some do it among themselves, some to one another: at a ground like the Kia Oval, where the attendance is consistently good, you are never more than a row away from another fan. All it takes is a knowing look or a nod to begin conversation on a spinner introduced too late, a Curran bowling from the wrong end or another Gary Wilson 40. Here, on 49, Wilson edged Rory Kleinveldt to Rob Keogh at second slip. There were grumbles, but most of them were from Wilson.Two overs later, when Tom Curran was squared up by the same bowler and lost his off bail – Northamptonshire’s sub fielder Saif Zaib found it about 20 yards in from the fine leg boundary – the groans in the OCS stand were audible. At that point, Surrey were 47 runs shy of full batting points – a must, really, as they search for the points-heavy result that would see them promoted as Division Two champions. There were plenty of overs to go before the 110-over cut-off but just two wickets left.But as Surrey walked off for bad light, with 22 needed and 20 overs left – and those two wickets still in hand – spectators rose, shook hands with one another and promised to do it all again on Thursday. Because this season, Surrey fans have not had much reason to grumble. And it’s on days like these that you understand how lucky they have been.Just as they were about to forget that, when both Arun Harinath and Rory Burns fell to Maurice Chambers – both misreading the bounce to top-edge to the keeper and flick to fine leg, respectively – Kumar Sangakkara began his latest piece. For a good few hours, all you could hear were purrs.As he got going, Northants wilted. But there’s a small nugget in your brain that convinces yourself that maybe they were happy to be there, too, as Sangakkara took the scenic route to his fifth Championship hundred of the season. For those present, it was an incarnation of the dream scenario in which your favourite musician is in your front room, taking your requests and happy to oblige as you ask for the fifth rendition of “Tiny Dancer”. And out it comes, with just as much soul as was dished out at Central Park in 1980.He showcased all the classics – the driving against the seamers, that skip and whip to midwicket against the spinners, the straight-bat cut to both. At the lunch intermission, brought about by the wicket of Ben Foakes, he was 22 off 44 balls. Back out for the afternoon session, having been presented his county cap, he began once more, this time at a higher tempo, picking off boundaries at will.A luscious six over straight back over the head of Keogh – whose offspin had caused Sangakkara the most discomfort early on – took the Sri Lankan to fifty off 82 balls. A four in the same direction came a couple of balls later.He was backed up intermittently at the other end. Steven Davies hit as dreamy a 21 as you can imagine. Jason Roy was nearly out twice in three balls when on nought, edging Keogh just short of second slip and then ran past one, only for Murphy to fluff the stumping.It was left to Wilson to offer the congratulatory hug in the middle, as Sangakkara completed his jaunt to three figures by hitting his 139th ball through extra cover for four. By this time, he had opted to bat in a cap, which he doffed to the crowd and his dressing room. He was out on his 140th, dabbing Keogh to short leg. He walked off to his second standing ovation in as many minutes, looking over his shoulder and wondering if he could have given more.As he returned to the dressing room, he joined the huddle of Surrey players that had congregated around the analyst’s laptop. Perhaps they were looking to see if the dismissal was legitimate. They were probably just watching his highlights.So it was left to Sam Curran to keep the crowd sweet. A maiden first-class fifty came off 87 balls, featuring eight fours and a strong six. He moved to 48 playing a late cut off his toes, like it was the most normal thing for a 17-year-old to be doing on a Wednesday afternoon.Of course, it is important not to bestow the world upon this teen before he has even registered a full summer. But it is that train of thought that has you saying no to extra cheese or chocolate dusting on your tiramisu. This wasn’t a day for worrying about repercussions. This was another when the grumblers left the Oval contented.

ScorecardFile photo: Shahbaz Nadeem collected 7 for 64•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jharkhand’s left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem finished with career-best figures of 7 for 64, helping his team open their Ranji account with a 133-run victory against Kerala in Malappuram. Kerala, who came into the final day still needing 246 runs for a win, were dealt an early blow when Rohan Prem was trapped lbw off the fourth ball of the day. Akshay Kodoth (72) and Sachin Baby led a min-recovery, stringing together a 52-run partnership, but Baby’s wicket sparked a collapse that led to Kerala losing their last eight wickets for just 56 runs. Nadeem ran through the lower middle order on his way to collecting 7 for 64, as Kerala were bowled out for 183 inside 64 overs. 707 for 8 declared (Bist 220*, Bains 161, Dhawan 114) drew with Hyderabad 434 (Agarwal 118, Vihari 101, More 4-84) and 2 for 0
ScorecardRobin Bist’s unbeaten 220 and Rishi Dhawan’s 114 helped Himachal Pradesh amass a huge first-innings total of 707 for 8, as they took away three points from their drawn game against Hyderabad.HP resumed from an overnight score of 402 for 5 and added 305 runs in the 72 overs that they batted on the day, as Bist and Dhawan shared a 175-run partnership. Hyderabad’s captain Hanuma Vihari used as many as 10 bowlers in search of breakthroughs, three of whom conceded well over 100 runs. With HP batting out most of the day and only a few overs left, the two captains shook hands after the visitors batted for 13 overs, making just two runs in that period. For his unbeaten double-ton that featured 23 fours and one six, HP’s Bist was adjudged the Man of the Match.

The Indian government’s delay in granting permission has put a cloud over the resumption of the Pakistan-India bilateral series.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that a senior minister in the Indian government believes the chance of the series taking place is “very difficult”, and that a final decision will be taken by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Neither Thakur nor the BCCI president Shashank Manohar were available for a comment. However, a senior board official said he personally felt the series would not happen: “It looks unlikely considering the government has not said anything.”Both the BCCI and the PCB had met recently in Dubai and agreed to play a series in Sri Lanka subject to clearances from their national governments. On Friday, the PCB revealed that the Pakistan government had given the nod for the series, allowing Pakistan to play India in Sri Lanka. However, the Indian government has remained quiet since BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur submitted a written request to the Indian foreign ministry on Tuesday.”Sports should not be dragged into political and diplomatic controversies,” Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of the IPL governing council, told . “We cannot decide on the series with Pakistan without the consent of the government. That is why we have written to the government and are awaiting its response. The moment we get the response, we will let everyone know.”The PCB, on its part, has been fretting over the sudden silence from the BCCI over the last few days. If indeed the series does not take place, it would be a major setback for cricketing ties between the two countries.After expressing its reluctance in public frequently, the BCCI checked with the PCB earlier this month whether Pakistan were open to traveling to India to play a series between December and the first week of January.The PCB rejected that offer on two counts, saying it was Pakistan’s turn to host India in the UAE according to the MoU signed by both boards in 2014. The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan also expressed surprise at the offer to play in India when there had been open protests against Pakistanis in India by the Shiv Sena, a regional political party.Despite the setback, Manohar and Shaharyar finally met in Dubai on November 21, where it was decided Pakistan would host India in Sri Lanka. Although neither of the two boards had revealed how many matches would be played, it was understood there would be three ODIs and two T20Is tentatively starting December 15.

Mark Bevan – second century of the season Photo © CricInfo

Michael Bevan scored the 44th first-class hundred of his career in givingSussex a good grip on their Division Two championship match with Essex. Hissecond hundred of the season put Sussex 231 runs ahead at 243-5. He wasunbeaten on 105 at close having received good support from Chris Adams (53)and Robert Martin-Jenkins (37) in a day that belonged to Sussex.The Australian struck two sixes and nine fours in his almost 270 minutes at thecrease. Adams,who hit two sixes and five fours in just 83 balls at the crease, shared with Bevan in a stand of 103 runs in 29 overs. His innings ended to a magnificent one-handed catch at first slip by Stuart Law. After which Ronnie Irani was l.b.w to Tony Cottey first ball.Then Martin-Jenkins and Bevan put on 89 runs for the fifth wicket but three latter was caught at the wicket in the final over. Earlier James Kirtley had his best summer return of 6-85 as Essex collapsed from 234-6 overnight to 277 all out in 80 minutes. He took three wickets for four runs in 14 deliveries. First he had Stephen Peters (46) taken in the slips,and had Ashley Cowan l.b.w without further score, and finished by knocking back Mark Ilott’s off-stump.

Michael Vaughan classy innings will encourage England selectors Photo © CricInfo

Michael Vaughan and Darren Lehmann carried Yorkshire through to a draw intheir championship match against Durham at Leeds with a century each. In so doing they made amends for the team’s batting breakdown on the second day which had led to Yorkshire following on.Vaughan held the side together in scoring 118 with ten fours from 306deliveries in little short of seven hours. The game was already safe whenNeil Killeen bowled him after the England batsman had added 102 with Lehmann.Starting the day on 149-1 Yorkshire lost the obdurate Richard Blakey – 15runs from 117 deliveries – to a catch at the wicket off Mel Betts. On reaching his hundred Vaughan played quietly while Lehmann laid about with pulls and drives to attain his half-century from 58 deliveries.Vaughan quickly notched up his century but then had to play second fiddle asLehmann launched into a series of powerful drives and pulls to reach 50 from58 balls. Blakey had to run for him after lunch because of a back injury.Lehmann reached his first championship hundred at Leeds from 120 balls and, then, continued to score freely with five more fours until he was caught for 136 runs. With little competitive points to the game David Byas declined to declare which gave Matthew Wood much needed batting practice before the close at 386-4.Yorkshire travel on Wednesday to play leaders Surrey in a clash which willhave a major impact on the championship.