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Burnley’s intimidating defence last season in the Championship was one major factor behind why Scott Parker’s men sealed automatic promotion on 100 points.

Whilst the Clarets did score a reasonable 69 strikes across the 46-game marathon, they amazingly only gave up 16 goals across that same period, culminating in the Lancashire outfit losing just two second-tier contests all season long.

Burnley have been known to be a well-drilled machine in this regard for many a year, with Sean Dyche the first notable manager to make the Clarets a hard-to-beat unit when he was situated in the Turf Moor dug-out.

Throughout his well-known stint at the Clarets, Dyche regularly called upon the likes of James Tarkowski to ensure opposition attackers knew they were in for a tough fight when attempting to break down Burnley’s rock-solid defence.

Tarkowski's defensive heroics at Burnley

Now lining up for Everton at 32 years of age, Tarkowski has Burnley to thank for initially kickstarting his career at the very top.

In total, the imposing veteran would go on to make 219 appearances for the Clarets, with his reputation throughout his stay at the club centring on his no-nonsense approach aerially.

His breakout season in the Premier League for Burnley would come about during the 2018/19 campaign, with the centre-back scoring three goals when putting his towering 6-foot-1 frame to good use, alongside winning a ridiculous 7.8 duels per league clash.

No longer at Turf Moor, he is certainly ageing like a fine wine. He secured ten clean sheets in league action across 2024/25 and most famously scored that thunderbolt of a goal in the dying embers of Goodison Park’s last Merseyside derby.

He’s a man for the big occasion and as Parker and Co go about strengthening their ranks, they’ll certainly be hoping to find their next Tarkowski.

Burnley's "outstanding" new Tarkowski

Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that Burnley will be able to keep all the components of their robust defence together past this transfer window, with CJ Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve both reportedly heading for the exit door.

Therefore, a new, strong defender will surely be high up the Clarets’ shopping list, with rumours coming to the surface now from journalist Graeme Bailey suggesting 6-foot-4 brute Chris Mepham be on Parker’s radar as they aim to add numbers at the back.

Burnley are already well aware of how tricky a defender Mepham can be to get the better of, having clashed with him last season when he was out on loan with eventual playoff winners Sunderland.

The Welshman stood out as a powerful centre-back throughout that loan spell, and with plenty of Premier League experience in the tank at 61 top-flight games and counting, he could be just what Burnley desire in trying to land an up-to-date Tarkowski.

Games played

38

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

65.7

Accurate passes*

45.2 (87%)

Ball recoveries*

3.6

Clearances*

6.1

Total duels won*

4.9

His similarities to Tarkowski are even more striking when glancing at the table above, with Mepham both a defensive option that is comfortable with the ball at his feet and joining in with attacks, but also a figure who will valiantly throw himself into duels for the cause, like the ex-Burnley captain.

Black Cats skipper Dan Neil would even herald Mepham as “outstanding” for his brave efforts during Sunderland’s promotion story, with Parker hopeful he could make a similarly quick impact at the heart of the Clarets’ defence if signed.

Burnley won’t want to just roll back the years in winning themselves a gritty defender like Tarkowski, however.

Even more so, the Lancashire underdogs will pray they can become a Premier League regular again, with Mepham joining potentially strengthening their chances of immediately staving off the drop.

Burnley can land dream Esteve replacement by signing £12m "warrior"

Burnley would immediately bounce back from Maxime Esteve’s potential departure by snapping up this Premier League-calibre warrior.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 8, 2025

With Ruud van Nisterooy likely heading for the sack at Leicester City, the Foxes have reportedly set their sights on a new name from the Championship to replace their manager.

Van Nistelrooy's Leicester nightmare coming to an end

Leicester always looked likely to have an uphill climb after losing Enzo Maresca to Chelsea last summer, but their decision to replace Steve Cooper with Van Nistelrooy turned their mission impossible. The former Nottingham Forest boss was given just 12 Premier League games in which he won 10 points with two wins, four draws and six defeats – leaving the Foxes two points above the dropzone.

To put into context just how poorly Leicester’s season has gone since then, they’ve picked up just 11 more points in the six months that have followed Cooper’s departure and have officially been relegated back down to the Championship. Van Nistelrooy has endured a nightmare spell in charge.

Recording more defeats than goals scored, it seems unlikely that the Dutchman will remain at the helm despite his own recent admission that he would like to stay put at the club.

Van Nistelrooy told reporters after his side’s recent 2-0 win against Southampton: “I know what I want my future to look like. I’m very clear. I have learnt a lot in the past four months, in terms of every aspect of the club and team. I know what’s necessary. Then, of course, it’s a matter of being aligned with the club. I’m waiting for that conversation to take place.

"Unbelievable" manager with two promotions may replace Ruud at Leicester

The Foxes are looking at replacements for Ruud van Nistelrooy, as there is now “no doubt” the Dutchman will be sacked.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 29, 2025

“It’s important to make a good evaluation. Because of the experience I’ve had, I know what’s necessary. You have to be on the same page to move forward. That’s what’s important. And that’s what we have to find out. It’s important to have those conversations internally. But I won’t share this before they take place.”

Instead of keeping hold of the former Manchester United forward, reports suggest that the Foxes are turning their attention towards a summer swoop to sign a Championship manager.

Leicester eyeing Liam Manning swoop

According to talkSPORT, Leicester are now eyeing a summer swoop to hire Liam Manning from Bristol City. The Robins’ manager has enjoyed an excellent campaign and saw his side’s shock place in the Championship play-offs confirmed last weekend. Now preparing to square off against Sheffield United on Thursday, Manning could have plenty of fans from Leicester keeping a keen eye on his side.

Bristol City will, of course, do everything to keep hold of the 39 year-old, having only just welcomed him into the job in November. Instantly praising Manning following his arrival, club Chairman Jon Lansdown said: “Liam is a great fit for the club and the style of play we want.

“He has a very detailed approach to coaching, improving players and getting the best out of them as his record at MK Dons and Oxford United shows, while he has valuable experience within the (Manchester) City Group and in Belgium.”

It’s been challenging to find the positives for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Across all competitions, the North Londoners have lost 22 games, only one fewer than they’ve won, and if they don’t get to the Europa League final next month, it could go down as their worst campaign in a generation – or two.

However, there are, in fact, reasons to be optimistic for the Lilywhites faithful, as they have a collection of seriously exciting youngsters already in the senior side and the academy.

In fact, one youngster in particular looks like he could be a real world-beater, even in Tottenham’s answer to Lamine Yamal, if you will.

Spurs' most exciting youngsters

Before we get to the prospect in question, let’s take a look at some of the other sensational talents Spurs have on the books, including one teenager who is already playing senior football, just not in England: Luka Vušković.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Croatian wonderkid is one of the most exciting centre-backs around at the moment, as, on top of being labelled a “monster” for his defensive efforts by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s also a serious goal threat.

For example, in just 32 appearances, he has already scored seven goals and provided two assists, which comes out to a frankly staggering average – for a centre-back – of a goal involvement every 3.55 games.

A talent far closer to home but no less exciting is Tyrese Hall.

The 19-year-old prospect is enjoying a stellar season in the academy this year and has amassed a tally of six goals and five assists in only 28 appearances.

That means the teenage phenomenon, who Jermain Defoe claims has a “Luka Modric vibe” is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.54 games, which is certainly encouraging.

However, there is another youngster who is even more exciting, someone who could be the club’s answer to Yamal.

Spurs' answer to Yamal

So, while some of you may be thinking of the incredibly promising Mikey Moore, you’d be mistaken, as the academy gem in question is actually a year younger.

Despite being just 16 years old, Luca Williams Barnett has been causing quite a stir this season, as every week, regardless of the opposition, he seems to deliver.

For example, in just 18 appearances, totalling 1465 minutes, the Luton-born prodigy has scored a whopping 19 goals and provided nine assists.

That means he is currently maintaining an otherworldly average of 1.55 goal involvements every single game, or in other words, he produces one every 52.32 minutes.

It is this simply sensational rate of return, combined with the kind of hype that has seen Mattinson describe him as “one of England’s best talents,” that makes comparisons to Yamal seem so easy.

After all, the young Spaniard earned his first start for Barcelona when he was 16 years old, and if the Lilywhites’ new superstar in the making continues to put up the numbers he is now, then we see no reason why he couldn’t get his first start next season, also at just 16 years old.

Finally, on top of being a pure output machine, the teenager has also played in several positions on top of his natural attacking midfield role before, including left-midfield, left and right-wing and even up top, which lends credence to Spurs’ expert John Wenham’s description of him as a “cheat-code.”

Ultimately, while it’s still very early in his hopefully long career, Williams-Barnett looks like he has everything needed to be a genuine superstar in the future. Who knows, maybe he’ll be talked about in the same way Yamal is now in a few years.

He'd be perfect under Iraola: Spurs line up move for "unplayable" £40m star

Spurs could combine Andoni Iraola with an “unplayable” £40m signing.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 23, 2025

Belligerent Travis Head allows Smith to “take second fiddle and do my thing”

Andrew McGlashan15-Dec-20243:30

Smith on why batting has become harder ‘since 2021’

Not out of form, just out of runs. That was the distinction made by Steven Smith when he was interviewed before the resumption of the second day’s play at the Gabba.A first-ball duck against a fired-up Jasprit Bumrah, a superb delivery by Mohammed Siraj and a tickle down the leg side had been his three dismissals to date. It was a small sample size in itself, but overall for 2024 he was averaging 23.20 from a more substantial 13 innings. He was on his longest stretch of innings without a Test century.To no one’s surprise, Smith had been tinkering ahead of the Brisbane Test as he returned to an exaggerated trigger movement across the stumps. There was also a sense from some that he just needed a little luck. He certainly had a dose of that as he battled against a ball nipping around on a surface that had only had 13.2 overs on it during the first day.Related

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India targeted him straight, which has brought success for the bowlers over the last two years that have included eight of Smith’s 32 lbw dismissals. His first ball was a strangled shout as the trigger took him across the crease against Bumrah. Later, Rohit Sharma was persuaded to review an lbw when Smith shouldered arms at Mohammed Siraj which proved to be umpire’s call. When Akash Deep completed the over that Siraj aborted to leave the field, only a nick saved Smith against a full ball.Shortly after lunch, he got an inside edge against a terrific delivery from Bumrah which Rishabh Pant had no chance of reaching to as it flew to fine leg. The raise of his bat for fifty, which came from 128 balls, felt almost a little apologetic. At the other end, Travis Head sat on 73 from 95 balls.

****

As Smith and Head had done during the World Test Championship final at The Oval last year, this was a perfect example of partnership batting. The similarities of the stands were almost unnerving, at least from India’s point of view.On that day, the pair came together on 76 for 3 while in Brisbane it was 75 for 3. On both occasions Head (whose previous three innings at the Gabba were first-ball ducks) was out of the blocks quickly and Smith played in his slipstream. At The Oval, the split of the first 100 runs of their stand was Head 65, Smith 29; at the Gabba it was Head 65, Smith 30. Last year the stand ended at 285; this one was finally halted at 241 but the damage was done.Steven Smith found his hands…and more•Chris Hyde / Getty ImagesSignificantly, and as in Adelaide last week, Head had walked to the crease after the 30-over mark. While runs had not come at a gallop, the work to varying degrees of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne and Smith had taken off the early shine, albeit there remained assistance for the quick bowlers.”If we can get to 30-odd overs when Travis comes in it makes a big difference to the team,” Smith said after play. “The seam probably starts to settle down around 30-40 overs and the ball stays quite hard. You see guys batting at five, six, seven that are able to hit the ball hard and get good value for their shots. That’s the kind of way we’ve been shaping up.”When Head brought up his second century in consecutive innings, this one from 115 balls, Smith was on 64 from 143.”The way he came out and just smacked it, I could take second fiddle and do my thing,” Smith said. “It’s nice to get in a partnership with him because the scoreboard moves extremely fast. We don’t say too much to each other, he just says ‘do your thing’, I just say ‘do your thing’ and we move on. It was cool to witness that again, he’s a special player at the moment.”

****

There were signs before tea that the benefits of Smith’s early graft were starting to pay dividends and in the final session freedom returned to his stroke play. The trigger looked much more fluid the longer the innings went on.”I’ve changed my set up pretty much every game I’ve played for 15 years so it’s nothing new to me,” he said. “If I want to change a few things it really doesn’t take me long to do it. Sometimes I do it in the middle of an innings.”I try to adapt and figure the best way to play for each surface I’m facing. I was batting out of my crease a little bit, trying to get to the bowler a bit, walking across my stumps but leaving my left leg a little bit open. Thought my movements were pretty good today, maybe a bit bigger than I would have liked early on but felt like I was moving into the ball nicely.”Steven Smith and Travis Head added 241 for the fourth wicket•Associated PressThere was a cracking back-foot drive when Reddy dropped short at medium pace; he advanced down the pitch to the ineffective Ravindra Jadeja who Australia had clearly targeted; he drove Reddy wide of mid-off; he went into the 90s when he bisected the covers against Jadeja with precision; he drove Siraj on the up down the ground with a hint of distain.But one of his best took him to 99, a pristine on drive against Akash Deep which made a wonderful sound off the bat. There are a few trademarks of Smith at his best – the on drive might top the list.The next delivery was on his pads and he turned it down to fine leg for century No. 33. It moved him ahead of Steve Waugh into second position alone on Australia’s all-time list. His second fifty had taken just 57 balls. Smith started to pump his fists as he completed the single, removed his helmet, mopped his brow, and held his bat aloft, then gave it an exaggerated swing although played down suggestions the celebration had any extra edge.”You’ve got to keep the faith and know things will turn around if you keep doing the hard work and I’ve been putting the hard work in,” he said. “Rode my luck today, had some early on for sure, got beaten a few times which is going to happen on that wicket. On another day I might nick one of those. I had to earn every run out there.”He could not last much longer, driving at Bumrah and sending an edge to Rohit at slip who flung the ball away with more than at hint of anger, or at least frustration.Smith, too, was frustrated with himself as he walked off. But while he was out, he was no longer out of runs.

While the rule has given local players more chances to shine, high-impact batting innings from subs have been few. Could some suffer from coming into the game cold?

Matt Roller18-Apr-20231:36

The Impact Player rule – will part-time bowlers lose out?

Halfway through Royal Challengers Bangalore’s game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday afternoon, history told Faf du Plessis that they had enough runs. “In normal circumstances in a day game, 175 [174] feels like a really good score,” he said after the game.”[But] with the new rule – the extra batter – you just feel like you need more runs…” he added. “You feel like it’s maybe 10 or 15 runs you need to get more.” After taking four early wickets, Royal Challengers eventually closed out a 23-run victory, but the batting depth enabled by the new rule saw Lalit Yadav walk out as low as No. 9 in Capitals’ chase.Du Plessis’ analysis was near-perfect. The average first-innings score in IPL 2023 so far is 183.4. It was 12.3 runs lower in IPL 2022 at 171.1; at the equivalent stage in the tournament, it was 8.8 runs lower at 174.6. There have been as many 200-plus totals chased down this year as there have sub-190 totals defended (two of each).!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();