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Tottenham Hotspur have now entered the lead in the race for a Premier League forward, whose future is starting to look uncertain…

Spurs want new forward despite encouraging signs vs Sunderland

Although Tottenham were unable to take all three points against Sunderland last time out, drawing 1-1 after Ben Davies’ opener was cancelled out by Brian Brobbey’s late effort, Thomas Frank believes there were some encouraging signs on display.

Frank said: “There were a lot of positives in the performance. The first half was much more like we want to do.

“I liked our intensity with and without the ball, we created a lot of good situations, but we lacked the decisiveness to finish the game off.”

However, with the manager also bemoaning the fact his side weren’t clinical enough, it could be a savvy move to strengthen his attacking options this month, particularly considering Brennan Johnson has already left to join Crystal Palace.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche are among the potential targets, but there have now been reports Spurs could also look to raid one of their London rivals.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have now taken the lead in the race to sign West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen, with the Englishman’s future at the London Stadium starting to look uncertain, given that the Hammers are seven points from safety.

Should West Ham be relegated to the Championship, Bowen’s departure is almost inevitable, and the north Londoners are interested in securing his signature, as they value the forward’s versatility and goal-scoring ability.

If the Irons fail to stay up, the 29-year-old would be willing to listen to offers from elsewhere, and there are indications he could be a fantastic addition to Frank’s squad…

"Superstar" Bowen could be ideal signing for Tottenham

As previously mentioned, Tottenham have struggled in front of goal this season, finding the back of the net just three times in their last five Premier League matches.

Subscribe for Deeper Spurs Transfer Insights and Analysis Join the newsletter for focused transfer breakdowns, scouting notes and valuation context—clear perspectives on how targets like Jarrod Bowen could fit Tottenham and what a potential big-fee chase would mean for Spurs’ recruitment strategy.

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Consequently, it could be a smart move to bring in a player who has already proven he is capable of delivering in the top flight, and the 20-time England international fits the bill, having been a reliable source of goals and assists over the past six seasons.

Jarrod Bowen’s performance by season

Premier League appearances

Goal involvements

2020-21

38

13

2021-22

36

24

2022-23

38

12

2023-24

34

22

2024-25

34

23

2025-26

21

7

Having also been lauded as a “superstar” by writer Paddy Keogh, Bowen clearly has the ability to succeed at a top club, but a deal could be on the expensive side, with a potential fee of £100m being touted.

Related Tottenham ready double-your-money offer for player who's keen to join Frank

Spurs are preparing a bid.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini

That would be an astronomical sum to pay for a player yet to prove himself at the very highest level, and the highest transfer fee in Tottenham’s history, so they should look to get a deal done for a lower price.

Stephen Fleming: Injured, but good enough to play © Getty Images

South Africa will look to hit New Zealand with pace in the first Test, which begins in Johannesburg tomorrow, with Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, saying he wants a repeat of two years ago when Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn set up a 2-0 series win. There was no place for Shaun Pollock, as indicated on Tuesday, for the hosts fielded an unchanged side following their Test series victory over Pakistan last month.”We have a lot of respect for what Shaun can achieve and it doesn’t count him out for any other Test matches,” Graeme Smith, the captain, said on the eve of the Test. Pollock didn’t play a Test in South Africa’s recent series in Pakistan but was retained in the squad for the first home Test of the South African summer.The Wanderers pitch was watered Tuesday night and was still damp Wednesday. Smith felt that conditions could suit seam bowling with the pitch drying slowly under an overcast sky. Ntini and Steyn will be at the helm again for South Africa, with Andre Nel to fill the third pace bowler’s spot.Arthur said this was a preferable scenario for South Africa as it showcased their “exciting” depth. “I foresee, against the West Indies [in December and January], and going further into our tours, we’re going to be able to start each Test with a fresh bowler, a luxury we haven’t had for some time,” he said on Tuesday. “When I think of the likes of Morne Morkel coming back into our mix, we’re suddenly looking at five front-line bowlers, and that’s very exciting.”New Zealand’s top order hasn’t quite acclimatised itself to South African conditions in the warm-up games and Stephen Fleming, who injured his thumb while fielding before last weekend’s match against South Africa A, was still feeling some discomfort. He batted briefly in the nets on Tuesday and John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, was confident he would be able to play on Thursday.”Stephen has had a bit of discomfort when batting but it is easing. I have no concerns about him playing in the Test,” Bracewell said on the eve of the match. “The only thing that will make me not select him is if he doesn’t pitch up.”New Zealand have not played a Test since December 2006, when they lost at home to Sri Lanka by 217 runs, but Bracewell was not worried about his batsmen struggling to adjust to the five-day game. “That hasn’t affected us and isn’t really the concern. The top three are all specialist Test players and the top order have been with the A side in Australia recently,” he said, stressing the importance of the batsmen putting their failures behind them. “The emphasis is on playing ball-by-ball. They need to stay in the now rather than reflect on the past, which may have affected us in the past.”Fleming and Scott Styris apart, New Zealand’s main batsmen have little exposure at Test level. Openers Michael Papps and Craig Cumming have 13 Tests and not a single century between them and Ross Taylor is expected to make his Test debut at No. 5.In comparison, South Africa have Jacques Kallis, with 27 Test centuries, followed by Graeme Smith (12), Herschelle Gibbs (14), Ashwell Prince (6), AB de Villiers (3) and Hashim Amla (1).The two-Test series is followed by a Twenty20 match on November 23 and a three-match one-day series starting on November 25.TeamsSouth Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Ashwell Prince, 6 AB de Villiers, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Andre Nel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.New Zealand (from): Daniel Vettori (capt), Craig Cumming, Michael Papps, Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Shane Bond, Michael Mason, Iain O’Brien, Chris Martin, Lou Vincent, Mark Gillespie, Jeetan Patel.

An allround performance by Bradley Scott helped Otago beat Wellington by 18 runs at Invercargill. The win has secured them hosting rights for the State Shield final on February 10. Set a target of 231, the Wellington top order wobbled and a 107-run stand between Stu Mills (60) and Luke Woodcock (47) for the seventh wicket wasn’t enough to secure a victory. Otago seamers Scott and Mathew Harvie took three wickets each and seized the initiative as Wellington were struggling at 100 for 6, before Mills and Woodcock tried the resurrect the chase.The Otago innings too had followed a similar script after they were struggling at 103 for 6. Gareth Hopkins top-scored with 47 off 48 balls while Nathan McCullum chipped in with 31. Scott’s late cameo of 35, scored off 26 balls with three sixes lifted his side to 230, a knock which made a difference to the final result of the match.

Neither Greg Chappell or Bob Woolmer can afford any further hindrances to play © Getty Images

Karachi – and not Lahore – was originally scheduled to host the first Test against India, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board. The first Test at Gaddafi Stadium has been blighted by poor weather conditions, with bad light curtailing play to only 15 overs on the third day and disrupting two hours of the fourth day as well. Additionally, poor weather in the run-up has, according to the PCB’s head curator, contributed to the pitch’s blandness.In light of the weather here, Karachi – where conditions are generally clearer and warmer – would have been a better option for the series opener. This, said Saleem Altaf, Director PCB to Cricinfo, was the original intention. “The itinerary was finalised so late. India first wanted to come to Karachi and the first Test was scheduled there in the original itinerary. Then they had a change of heart and said we want a practice game and we will come to Lahore first. Between the practice game and the first Test we didn’t have time to get them to Karachi. So we thought if the practice match is in Lahore then the first Test should also be in Lahore. A logistical problem in Karachi meant the practice game couldn’t be held there.”The second Test is scheduled for Faisalabad where similar weather is expected to hamper the game. Players including Inzamam-ul-Haq, the captain, and Younis Khan, had raised concerns before the series about hosting Tests in the Punjab in January.The board, said Altaf, will raise this issue at the ICC meeting in February. “The Chairman has already spoken to Malcolm Speed on the subject of six-day tests. We can argue at the meeting that it is a situation peculiar to Pakistan at this time of the year. Somehow three days have to be added to all three-Test series and the FTP [Future Tours Programme] is so cramped that it may not be that easy.”Test matches in Pakistan have been played in all months apart from June and July and the case against playing in the period from late December to February is strong. But although the PCB has admitted it will rethink seriously about scheduling matches during this time, the FTP poses a problem. “Pakistan is tied to the FTP and it is very cramped – you extend it by a year to be six years and it is still cramped. After this India series the next at home is against the West Indies in November-December 2006. If you don’t play them at that time you don’t play them at all. Immediately after that series you go to South Africa then come back and then play the World Cup. The schedule is so tight that whatever window of opportunity there is you have to take it.”Pakistan also suffers from a lack of grounds in other parts of the country. Although Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium has hosted Test matches and there is a first-class ground in Quetta as well, problems with accommodation for the touring team precludes their consideration. “We will have to look into this and learn something from this experience with regards to our scheduling for future series. The accommodation just isn’t adequate enough in these places,” says Altaf.

Andrew Flintoff is expected to be fit for the Centurion Test© Getty Images

Although it was dismissed as pure speculation on Monday, reports carried on Cricinfo that Andrew Flintoff had foot problems in addition to his side strain proved accurate with the admission that he faces surgery on a chronic ankle condition.While Flintoff will almost certainly play in the final Test of the series at Centurion on Friday – he will have pain-killing injections and will not risk any further damage by doing so – he is likely to return home straight away, missing the one-day series.The condition – posterior impingement – is caused by uneven bone growth in the heel which means that the impact when the foot bangs down in the delivery stride can be extremely painful. It is not uncommon in fast bowlers and can be treated by an operation to remove the bone spur. But that would mean a three-month recovery period, and with the Ashes next summer, England will want to get that sorted and Flintoff up and running as soon as possible. If that means him missing the one-dayers, then it will be a small price to pay.It is the same condition that prevented him from bowling for a period last summer. That time injections and rest sorted it out, but that it has reoccurred is probably a sign that more drastic treatment is necessary.Of England’s other walking wounded, Steve Harmison’s calf injury has not deteriorated and while the prescribed solution is a fortnight’s rest, he will almost certainly be available at Centurion. But, like Flintoff, there have to be serious doubts over his participation in the one-dayers.Ashley Giles, who sustained a thumb injury in the fourth Test, has been receiving treatment and should be fit, while Geraint and Simon Jones both have minor injuries that shouldn’t affect their availability.

Ehsan Mani, the president of the ICC, has lauded New Zealand for undertaking their tour of Pakistan. The team will leave on Wednesday for a revised 12-day tour with five one-day internationals.”They would not be sending a team if they were not reasonably comfortable, but if someone is uncomfortable about going, it would be wrong to make them,” said Mani. “There was a threat made, and New Zealand did the right thing by stepping back and assessing it.”New Zealand were due to play their first match late last week but delayed the tour’s start to assess security measures.Visiting New Zealand with Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, Mani spoke of the new protocol for teams contesting tour programmes. “There was great co-operation between the boards, and the ICC was kept informed. New Zealand has laid the issues out openly and transparently and explained the situation,” he said.New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry had advised tourists to avoid visiting Pakistan, but Speed said that this did not apply to international teams. He said: “Teams have a significantly higher level of security and it’s quite a different issue. It’s very hard to look at straightforward advice given to tourists where you can apply that to cricket teams and generally we don’t do that.”

Queensland has outlasted South Australia to win a thrilling season-opening Mercantile Mutual Cup clash between the teams by three runs here at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane this afternoon. In fading light, the Bulls clinched their victory when fast bowler Ashley Noffke (3/32 from ten overs) held his nerve to concede just three runs from the match’s concluding over.One which begins what promises to be an exciting new season of domestic cricket, it was a match of the highest quality. On a hard, straw-coloured pitch, and under predominantly blue skies, the conditions were decisively in favour of the batsmen and the two teams responded in kind – the home side amassing an imposing 7/273 after being invited to bat before the Redbacks responded with a brave 9/270. But it was not devoid of some superb bowling and wondrous fielding either. In truth in fact, it was two critical run-outs – together with Noffke’s display of composure under intense pressure – which tilted the scales in the Bulls’ favour as much as any other aspects of the day’s play.Until the fateful fiftieth over, there had been little to separate the two sides throughout the afternoon. The visitors’ chase began poorly when David Fitzgerald (1) was trapped shuffling across his crease by Andy Bichel (1/63 off nine overs), but rose to a consistently high standard thereafter. Around two mini-collapses, Jeff Vaughan (55), Darren Lehmann (53), Chris Davies (39) and Greg Blewett (36) all played hands which threatened to guide the Redbacks to a rare win on Brisbane soil. In the end, the run-outs of Lehmann (out to an extremely close call following a direct hit from Matthew Hayden at backward point) and Blewett (who was well beaten by a sensational pick up and stump-shattering throw from Dale Turner at square leg) proved massive blows.These two moments of brilliance in the field also helped set the dramatic stage from which the youthful Noffke was able to generate one of the most controlled closing overs of a domestic one-dayer in recent memory. With seven needed by the Redbacks off the final six balls, the tall right armer produced a succession of well aimed deliveries of full length that cramped middle order player Ben Johnson (41*) for room and prevented him from finding a way of striking the boundary that the visitors – needing to manipulate the strike carefully with just a solitary wicket to spare by this stage – probably required in order to triumph.Earlier, a succession of handy performances most of the way down the order was responsible for hoisting the Bulls to their imposing tally. Jimmy Maher (64) and Martin Love (63) provided the most telling hands, but Bichel (34), Clinton Perren (30) and Leigh Carseldine (22) also offered useful, quickfire contributions. In an innings peppered with aggressive strokes through the leg side, Maher seized an early initiative with his capacity to make use of an outfield significantly faster than the one in evidence at this venue last season. For his part, Love played a more controlled hand, building his score meticulously with stylish driving through the arc between mid off and mid on at first before cutting loose late in his stay. Of the South Australians, newcomer Ryan Harris (2/35 from seven overs) stood out – adding a sensational catch with an outstretched left hand at long off to the vital wickets of Hayden (16) and Stuart Law (0) with successive deliveries at the bowling crease.But this was all long before matters reached their gripping conclusion. Captivated, a previously raucous crowd of 2374 was reduced to watching the finish in a state of almost deathly silence. The tension was broken partially by the dismissals of Harris (out for a breezy 24 as a result of his first real mistake of the day – a mistimed cover drive which ballooned to backward point), Paul Wilson (9) and Peter McIntyre (0). As long as Johnson was demonstrating a consistent ability to find gaps in the field, though, the visitors always retained a hope of spoiling the locals’ party and seizing the four points on offer for a victory under the brace of new rules in vogue in the Mercantile Mutual Cup this season. Just to add to the sense of theatre too, stopwatches needed to be produced in the pavilion to check on precisely how close the Bulls had come – perilously close, in fact – to surrendering a six-run penalty for bowling their overs too slowly. It was all quite some way to christen the new summer.

ScorecardDawid Malan continued his rich vein of form•Getty Images

Dawid Malan hit some of the biggest sixes seen at Lord’s this season as his exhilarating 156 not out rushed Middlesex to a crushing eight-wicket victory against Glamorgan in the Royal London One-Day Cup.One of Malan’s sixes struck the balcony on the top tier of the pavilion, one flew into the top tier of the New Mound Stand and another, over a long boundary on one side of the ground, made it all the way into the Warner Stand.It meant that Colin Ingram’s third hundred in five Royal London One-Day Cup innings this season was all in vain as Glamorgan’s 50-over total of 251 for 9 was chased down by Middlesex with 10.2 overs to spare.Malan, like Ingram a left-hander in superb current form, was joined by Paul Stirling in an opening stand of 139 in 21.2 overs and, in all, the 27-year-old hit four sixes and 18 fours from 128 balls in a one-day career-best knock.Ingram’s 102 from 93 balls included five sixes and four fours was a fine effort, but even it paled by comparison to Malan’s languid hitting. Indeed, Malan – who currently averages more than 100 in championship cricket – is probably the most in-form batsman in the county game at present.Middlesex’s third win in Group B mathematically keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for a quarter-final place, but it is a very slim chance as they have now finished their group matches.Glamorgan, although they have only lost two of their seven games, are already out of contention for a knockout place as they have been docked four penalty points – two for preparing a poor pitch last season and another two for the surface at Cardiff which caused their match against Hampshire on August 2 to be abandoned.After winning the toss, Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph and his opening partner James Kettleborough were initially kept in check by an accurate and typically probing new ball spell by Tim Murtagh.Surprisingly playing his first 50-over game of the summer, Murtagh had Will Bragg caught at the wicket for nought while also conceding only 34 runs while bowling his 10-over stint straight through.Kettleborough, the first to go, was leg before to the equally steady James Harris for 25, in the 14th over, and although Ingram warmed up by hitting Ollie Rayner’s off spin for the first of his five sixes the Glamorgan total had reached only 99 for 2 by the halfway mark in their innings.Rudolph was soon out lbw to Rayner for 58, from 82 balls and with just six fours, leaving Glamorgan on a wobbly 105 for 3, but Chris Cooke hit 25 to help add 50 in 11 overs for the fourth wicket with Ingram.A brilliant diving catch at the second attempt at short mid wicket by Rayner, off Neil Dexter’s medium pace, sent back Cooke while David Lloyd also fell to Dexter for 10.Ingram, however, going to his fifty from 64 balls, then took a six and a four off the disappointing Junaid Khan, Middlesex’s overseas player, in a 43rd over which cost 14 and which brought up Glamorgan’s 200.Though he had bowled well earlier in two spells, also bowling Craig Meschede, asking Rayner to stay on to deliver the 49th over seemed a strange decision by James Franklin, the Middlesex captain, and Ingram duly hit the spinner for two sixes and a four in the space of four balls – the second six taking him to a 91-ball century.Ingram finally fell in the last over, which ended with Harris also bowling Ruaidhri Smith to earn himself figures of 4 for 38, and the former South African one-day international has now scored 405 runs in five Royal London Cup innings at an average of 81.It was nowhere near enough, though, as Malan produced some even more spectacular fireworks of his own and, with the assistance of Stirling and Sam Robson – who scored 22 in a second wicket stand of 76 in 16 overs – it all made Glamorgan’s creditable total look wholly inadequate.Malan’s first six, straight-driven off the suffering Dewi Penrhyn Jones in only his second one-day appearance, scattered spectators in the pavilion and the last blow of the match, a free hit following a no ball from the same bowler, was also a six from Dexter.

Kevin Phillips has shared a ‘concern’ that he now has for Sunderland involving Ross Stewart.

The Lowdown: Defoe retires

Jermain Defoe announced his retirement from professional football back in March, meaning that the Stadium of Light faithful only have two recognised strikers at the club in Stewart and Nathan Broadhead.

The latter has been struggling with injury, and so may not feature at home to Gillingham on Saturday afternoon, meaning that Stewart will likely lead the line once more in the League One clash.

The Latest: Stewart worry

Speaking to Football Insider, former Black Cats striker Phillips has claimed that it would now be a ‘major concern’ if Stewart were to get injured, amid fears of potential burnout for the 25-year-old:

“They are down to the bare bones now.

“There is no two ways around it. It is there for everyone to see.

“Ross Stewart has been an incredible player for Sunderland this season. Just like Charlie Wyke was last season, they have relied heavily on him. The goalscoring charts show that.

“It would be a major concern if he was to get injured. The good thing is, he is a very durable player who does not miss many minutes of football.

“The sensible route from Alex Neil would be to manage his game time. Wrap him up in cotton wool. Sit him out of sessions if need be. Keep him ready for the matches. Ross has done exceptionally well this season.”

The Verdict: Hard to rest him

Given the predicament now with Broadhead, and the fact that the Wearside club need to stay in promotion contention, it is hard to rest Stewart from now until the end of the season.

He is their top scorer by far with no fewer than 22 goals scored in total over all competitions, with Broadhead the next best (seven).

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SAFC are currently outside of the play-off places, and while Gillingham are further down the table, three points are absolutely vital in keeping up with the leading pack.

Thus, they will need to play Stewart at full pelt in order to give them the best possible chance of winning, even at the risk of the Scotsman potentially picking up an injury.

In other news, find out who is now set to leave Sunderland with Benji Kimpioka here!