Tottenham Hotspur now reportedly have a ‘high’ chance of completing the signing of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, after formally expressing their interest in the player earlier this week.

Gakpo endured a difficult 2025/26 season for the Reds as they slumped to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, netting just seven goals and providing five assists. Despite this underwhelming form, Spurs have courted the Dutchman throughout the summer as Roberto De Zerbi looks to bolster his squad’s attacking department ahead of the new season.

The Italian is said to be pushing hard to secure Gakpo, and the chances of the deal materialising are now understood to be ‘very realistic’.

That said, Liverpool still need to decide to sanction the 27-year-old’s departure, and this may be dependent on their ability to land a replacement.

Spurs Could Sign Gakpo Before Season Opener

Tottenham focused on strengthening their midfield and defence early in the summer, signing Sandro Tonali for £100 million alongside several other players.

While their squad looks significantly improved as a whole, they have neglected their attack up until now. Their season commences next Saturday when they visit Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, and De Zerbi is currently on course to name a front three consisting of the likes of Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Mikey Moore.

However, Dutch reporter Blaauwhof gave Spurs supporters hope that Gakpo could be added to the Italian’s ranks before the visit to West London, claiming that the Lilywhites have formally expressed their interest in the Netherlands international earlier this week.

The journalist then provided another update suggesting that the chances of the deal going through are now ‘quite high’.

It remains to be seen what sort of fee Liverpool will be looking for, although given Gakpo’s hefty wages, they may be forced to settle for a modest sum. The wide forward is currently on £250,000-a-week at Anfield, and if he were to earn this in North London, it would make him Spurs’ highest-paid player.

Tottenham Could Have a Completely New Wing Pairing Next Season

via Reuters

Alongside Gakpo, Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Manchester City’s Savinho. The Brazilian is expected to predominantly be deployed on the right in N17, with Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert still recovering from serious injuries.

Gakpo will take the mantle off the left in Xavi Simons’ absence, meaning Spurs could line up with an entirely new pairing on the flanks next term.

As shown by the data above, De Zerbi may look to run his attack through Savinho as the team’s creative outlet, and this could suit Gakpo’s ability to arrive on the end of moves on the other side.

All Statistics via FotMob – correct as of 15/08/2026

One of US President Donald Trump’s key advisors has made an eye-opening new claim about why Gianni Infantino has so many critics following his failed plot to sell stakes in the World Cup.

The FIFA chief had already raised suspicions because of his close relationship with Trump, with the latter allegedly able to lobby for a decision that saw Folarin Balogun’s red card during the World Cup Round of 16 rescinded – initially raising alarm bells over potential corruption and favouritism.

His announcement following the conclusion of the tournament, which saw Spain crowned champions for just the second time after a 1-0 win over Argentina, has only turned the backlash nuclear. UEFA has led the charge, with multiple European nations, including England, withdrawing their support for the Swiss millionaire ahead of March’s election.

Infantino still retains the backing of several countries, among them Argentina, while the USA has pledged to do everything in its power to keep him in office after he refused to resign following a crisis meeting with FIFA in Morocco. Now, Andrew Giuliani has hit back at Infantino’s critics with a strong new claim.

Andrew Giulani Makes Strong Claim About Why Infantino is Disliked

Brian Snyder via Reuters

Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and executive director of the White House Task Force for the recently completed World Cup, has voiced his support for embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling his critics jealous.

The 40-year-old has claimed that politics and pettiness are the true reasons behind the outcry, rather than a conflict of interest like much of the footballing world has emphasised. “It’s politics. I’ve seen this before,” Giuliani told The Athletic.

REUTERS/Lee Smith

He continued: “Look, we are all human beings, and I think it’s one of those things where sport has become ‌monetised and commercialised. I would just say that you have got to look at Gianni’s full body of work and to also realise that he’s always ‌trying ‌to improve his organisation, and I think that’s the thing … I would look at the body of work and say this is the guy I would want leading.”

Trump Has Made His Feelings on the FIFA Chief Very Clear

Credit: Aaron Schwartz / Pool/Sipa USA

With the walls seemingly closing in on Infantino, Trump posted a message on Truth Social Monday night in support of the beleaguered leader. “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said.

It’s also notable that the FFE proposal initially sparked a lot of criticism due to the involvement of private investors, in particular the main proposed investor group, Thrive Eternal, which is headed up by Joshua Kushner – brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump.

It’s yet to be seen whether the intervention from the US president is enough to stem the tide that the FIFA president is fighting against, but the White House’s authority cannot be understated after tipping Infantino to also take up a position in European parliament in the future.

Every now and then, a footballer comes along who clearly sees the world a little differently from most. Sometimes this helps produce a true great, as seen with iconic stars of the past like Diego Maradona or Paul Gascoigne.

Those two mavericks were brilliant on the pitch but also made plenty of headlines away from the sport with their idiosyncratic personalities. Although he has had a respectable career, picking up 13 England caps, Andros Townsend can’t quite claim to be on that level.

However, when it comes to standing out with a unique take on life, he’s beginning to carve out quite the reputation for himself. From staring into the sun to making his own toothpaste, he’s why he has many bizarre habits.

Why Andros Townsend Stares at the Sun

Townsend has gone viral for a number of different social media posts of late, and one of his most eye-catching clips saw him share footage of his two children staring into the sun. In a post called ‘our daily non-negotiables,’ the former Tottenham and Crystal Palace star explained why:

Following the August solar Eclipse, he then posted a follow-up calling out those who had labelled him ‘weird’ for his sun obsession. He said: “We’ll stop what we’re doing, plan our day around it and put special glasses on to watch the sun disappear for a few minutes because it’s rare.

“Yet that same sun rises every single morning and sets every single evening, painting the sky differently every time and, with sensible exposure, can offer real health benefits… and most people barely look up. Why does something have to be rare before we truly appreciate it?”

Andros Townsend’s Homemade Toothpaste Explained

Now 35, Townsend is still playing football but has been on an interesting career path since leaving England in 2024 after Luton Town were relegated from the Premier League. He signed for Turkish club Antalyaspor shortly afterwards but ended up in Thailand one year later, joining newly-promoted club Kanchanaburi Power. Just 12 months on, he moved to Thai League 1 rivals PT Prachuap.

Amid all that, his unique rituals have only flourished further. One recent development has been his refusal to buy store-brand toothpaste, instead opting to make his own. Once again, the former England star came equipped with an explanation on social media:

“Around 18 months ago, I was in constant pain with my wisdom teeth and was told they needed to come out. But wisdom teeth contain dental pulp, which can be a source of stem cells that are being studied for their potential in regenerative medicine, so I wanted to explore every option before having mine removed. That sent me down a rabbit hole of researching oral health and what we’re unknowingly putting in our mouths every single day.”

Townsend Also Has Unique Eating Habits

Townsend has long made headlines over his eating habits as well. Back in 2023, he claimed that eating ‘steamed chicken feet for dinner every night’ has helped him stay in shape. He explained:

He’s also a staunch believer in eating as many eggs as possible, as they ‘provide high-quality protein, all 9 essential amino acids, choline, vitamin B12, selenium, and vitamins A, D and E.’ An example of one past meal included six hard-boiled eggs, six cans of sardines and a steak with a bone broth.

Former Newcastle United winger Townsend has even shared videos of his family eating boiled eggs on public transport, sparking outrage due to the pungent smell the food is known to emit. In response to that criticism, he claimed there are double standards of food etiquette, asking why other foods, like cheese and onion crisps, and heavy perfumes are accepted in public spaces like airports, so why not eggs?

He also turned heads when he shared footage of himself at the 2026 World Cup eating raw beef while covering the tournament for ITV as a commentator. He once again defended his food choice, noting: “Take that same piece of beef, slice it paper-thin, add olive oil, Parmesan and rocket, serve it in an expensive restaurant, and suddenly it’s sophisticated. At least I know exactly where my steak came from. Grass-fed. Grass-finished. No antibiotics. Can you say the same about the steak being served in every restaurant?”

Townsend certainly has strong beliefs when it comes to looking after his body. It’s fair to say, though, his tastes won’t be everybody’s cup of tea (or bone broth).