Tottenham are dominating the summer transfer window, snapping up signings at every turn in a bid to transform their relegation-battling squad. The Spurs board finally look to have seen enough after back-to-back bottom-half finishes, and Roberto De Zerbi is likely to have demanded summer spending before accepting the job.

But even De Zerbi will be pleasantly surprised by how much Spurs have been willing to spend this summer, with a record spend already committed between the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

But the spending will not end there, and it’s expected Tottenham want to sign both a winger and potentially a striker before the summer is out.

Tottenham distance themselves from Trafford links

via Reuters

With starting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave Tottenham to return to Italy this summer, there have been a couple of goalkeepers linked with a North London switch this summer. One of them is Manchester City’s James Trafford, who could be on the move just one year on from his £27million move from Burnley. Trafford looked to have signed as City’s new number one, but the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma changed all that, and the Englishman has barely had a look in, despite being described as ‘reliable’ by Pep Guardiola,

But according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, Tottenham have no intention of going after Trafford this summer. He posted on X: “Very busy few days for Spurs & more to come. However, understand James Trafford is not a Tottenham target.”

Spurs are throwing their weight behind Kinsky

Part of the reason Spurs are likely not interested in a deal for Trafford is because they appear to be making Antonin Kinsky their number one, The youngster impressed at the back end of last season, when filling in for Vicario, and he has now been rewarded with a new contract this summer.

De Zerbi said upon the signing of the new deal: “Toni was outstanding over the final seven games of the season and a key part of what we achieved in that period. I am delighted he has committed his future to the Club. He has earned this new contract, not only with his performances but also his professionalism and desire to improve.

“We have huge belief in what Toni can become. He is still young, has enormous potential and I know that Spurs is the perfect place for him to continue to develop into one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.”

Those comments, and indeed the deal itself, are telling about Tottenham seeing Kisnky as their number one, and they have also signed Dubravka to compete from the number two spot.

Jamie Carragher has ruled Harry Kane out of the race for the Ballon d’Or and explained why the England skipper won’t win the prestigious award.

Kane is among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or later this year after enjoying a phenomenal season at Bayern Munich. He found the back of the net an astonishing 61 times in 51 games across competitions while also providing seven assists.

The 32-year-old has carried that form into the World Cup with England, firing the Three Lions to the Round of 16. A brace in a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo means the former Tottenham Hotspur striker sits on five goals in four games.

Carragher: Kane won’t win Ballon d’Or

Kane has been one of the World Cup’s best performers thus far and is rivalling Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi (both six) and Erling Haaland (five) in the Golden Boot race. His red-hot form has kept Thomas Tuchel’s side in the tournament but Carragher doesn’t expect them to go on and win it.

Carragher feels England will fall short, which will ultimately cost Kane a Ballon d’Or win. The Liverpool legend wrote in The Telegraph:

“If the vote for the Ballon d’Or was being held right now, Kane would be the worthy winner, his heroics for England against DR Congo absorbing his 72nd goal of this season. Only Lionel Messi has recently hit those kinds of numbers. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo was so prolific in one campaign.”

Carragher added: “Based on the past 12 months, Kane should win the Ballon d’Or. Unfortunately, he probably won’t because in a World Cup year, it is bound to go to the star player of the winning nation.”

France have been the team to beat thus far and Carragher named Mbappe and Michael Olise as contenders. He also reckons Messi might end up winning his ninth award:

“Much as I want to believe England can still win it, there is nothing to support that opinion, especially after recent performances. If Argentina retain the cup, Messi will win the Ballon d’Or. If France win the competition, one of their key men will get it. Kane’s Bayern team-mate Michael Olise is a strong contender.”

John Sibley via Action Images via Reuters

Carragher doesn’t think Mbappe‘s struggles with Real Madrid will prevent him from winning the award if he goes on to win the World Cup. He also tipped Ousmane Dembele to be in the running after enjoying “another fantastic season.”

Kane’s best Ballon d’Or finish came in 2024 when he finished fourth, missing out on a place on the podium. If he were to win the award, he’d become the first Englishman to do so since Michael Owen back in 2001.

Kane can win Ballon d’Or without World Cup glory

Hannah Mckay via Reuters

A Ballon d’Or win isn’t reliant on World Cup glory, and Messi became the first player to win the award as a world champion since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. There are other factors taken into account, including club success, of which Kane fired Bayern to the Bundesliga title.

If Kane were to win the tournament’s Golden Boot, that could also work in his favour against Mbappe and Messi. Should he lift the trophy itself, he’d almost certainly seal a place among the top three or even claim the award.

England face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Monday (July 6th) at the Azteca, hoping to make the quarter-finals. Kane has saved his nation several times, including with a brilliant double in a comeback win against Congo.

When it comes to polarising figures in the world of MMA, few men are as divisive as outspoken UFC Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland.

However, for as much as the American may stir up controversy with his comments and actions, his resume inside the Octagon is seriously impressive.

Currently in his second reign as the UFC’s 185-pound titleholder, Strickland has gone toe-to-toe with some of the greatest fighters of his generation and has a number of notable victories on his resume.

Sean Strickland’s UFC Career Explored

The 35-year-old boasts wins over the likes of Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov, although his greatest career performance came when he defeated Khamzat Chimaev as a huge underdog to win the middleweight belt again at UFC 328 in May.

Strickland is renowned for his toughness. The California native has seven losses in 38 career fights, but has only ever been knocked out twice.

One opponent, though, hit Strickland so hard that he has never forgotten the experience.

Strickland Names Hardest Puncher He’s Faced in UFC

Heading into UFC 276 in July 2022, Strickland was undefeated at middleweight and ranked as the number four fighter in the division. When he stepped into the Octagon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas that night, he was matched up with surging Brazilian contender Alex Pereira.

‘Poatan’ would go on to become a two-division UFC champion. However, at the time he faced Sean, he was competing in just his third career fight in the promotion.

Pereira won the pair’s bout via stoppage after just two minutes and 36 seconds. He caught Strickland with a vicious left hook that separated him from his senses, before closing the show with a stiff right hand.

During an interview with TNT Sports, Strickland confirmed that Pereira was the hardest puncher he has ever faced in his career, explaining just what it felt like to be caught on the chin by the fearsome striker.

“Here’s the thing, guys. I can go point-for-point with Alex. I can hit him. I can kick him.

Pereira would win the UFC Middleweight Championship from Israel Adesanya in his very next fight, although he would lose it back to him in their immediate rematch.

Following that defeat, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight, where he also won championship gold. In an unlikely twist, Strickland and Pereira have since become good friends and regularly spar together in preparation for fights.

Thankfully for Strickland, those sparring sessions don’t involve the sort of blows that Pereira landed on him when they fought for real.