Given that he is currently rated at £7.2m, and is an established England international, only missing out of Gareth Southgate’s latest Three Lions squad through injury, whichever club is able to sign him would be getting a real bargain on their hands.
The Latest: Tottenham looking
As per The Daily Telegraph, Spurs are among a number of teams that are now looking at signing Johnstone on a free transfer.
Pierluigi Gollini is not expected to stay in the North London after his loan spell from Atalanta ends, and so it is likely that the hierarchy will be looking to sign another goalkeeper this summer.
The Verdict: Sign
If the Lilywhites can get Johnstone on a free, then it is surely a deal worth doing.
Dubbed ‘world class’ by Wolves legend Steve Bull, and ‘unreal’ by former Premier League ‘keeper Paddy Kenny, he has certainly received rave reviews, and the fact that he gets picked by England from the second tier shows his credentials.
Assuming that Gollini does leave, Johnstone would be a very capable understudy to captain Hugo Lloris, should he choose to accept that position, and could even surpass the 35-year-old as the number one in the future.
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Interestingly, the six-foot-four colossus shares the same agent as Ryan Sessegnon, and so he could help him secure the move.
In other news, find out who THFC are now fighting Arsenal to sign here!
Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now dropped his verdict on the rumours linking Newcastle United with a shock move for PSG superstar Neymar.
The Lowdown: Neymar reports
As per reports from Spain, the St. James’ Park faithful are one of three clubs who want to sign Neymar in the summer, along with both Manchester City and FC Barcelona.
PSG are reportedly open to letting him go, following their exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, and there are very few clubs who could handle the financial burden of such a move.
The Latest: O’Rourke reveal
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist O’Rourke has revealed that Neymar would consider a move to the North East club, but only once the project ‘gets off the ground’:
“Neymar, it’s a bit of a pipe dream that one.
“I don’t think Newcastle will be looking to do that one, or that Neymar would be considering wanting to join Newcastle.
“He’d wait on the project to get off the ground really [before considering it].”
The Verdict: Exciting
The fact that the Tyneside outfit are even being linked with a player like Neymar is exciting in itself.
Yes, it may take a few years before the long-term project starts to really kick in, but the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still performing well into their 30s, and there is no reason why the Brazilian superstar cannot do the same.
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He has already had such a decorated career, and may now want to test himself in the Premier League, should the Champions League trophy ultimately desert him in France.
Nonetheless, even if not this summer, this is a deal that the ambitious new owners could one day have in the pipeline.
In other news, find out which ‘explosive’ 6 ft 4 ‘phenomenon’ NUFC now ‘would like’ to sign here!
For much of the summer, it was all about Alexander Isak at Liverpool. Then, as the deadline approached, the next saga ramped up regarding Marc Guehi.
The England centre-back, having agonisingly missed out on a last-gasp Anfield switch, might still get his wish in 2026, although attention has shifted to yet another high-profile Premier League target of late.
With Mohamed Salah’s much-debated outburst having thrown his Liverpool future into doubt, the suggestion is that Arne Slot and co could turn to Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in the New Year, with there an argument that the Ghanaian is needed even if the Egyptian genius doesn’t depart next month.
The word on the street is that Semenyo – who has a £65m release clause – has decided that he wants to make the move to Merseyside, be it in January or next summer.
Regardless of if or when the 25-year-old does arrive, such a deal appears a necessity, with every senior winger under threat right now back at Anfield.
Why Semenyo is now the 'best winger in the country'
It wasn’t too long ago that Liverpool’s wide men looked to be the envy of everyone, with Slot overseeing arguably Salah’s best season last time out, after the 33-year-old racked up 57 goals and assists across all competitions.
The nailed-on starter on the right flank, the Dutchman also conjured up consistency from both Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz off the left – albeit while operating centrally too – with the pair scoring 18 and 17 goals apiece in all, respectively.
With Diaz allowed to depart for Bayern Munich, and Salah having fallen from favour, however, the flanks have become a real problem in 2025/26, with Semenyo now taking on the mantle as arguably the “best winger in the country”, in the view of ex-England international, Chris Waddle.
That status is certainly justified considering that the ex-Bristol City man is currently the joint third-highest scorer in the top-flight right now, beaten by only two players, both out-and-out strikers, in the form of Igor Thiago (11) and Erling Haaland (17).
When throwing assists into the mix too, the Cherries star also ranks fourth for total goal involvements, again only edged out by Thiago, Haaland and Manchester United midfielder, Bruno Fernandes.
Lethal from either flank and on either foot, having scored four with his right and three with his left this season, as per Sofascore, the £65m man looks like the complete package, thus representing a real upgrade on Slot’s current options.
Liverpool star could be the casualty of Semenyo's signing
Following an almost £450m spend in the summer, albeit after a muted 2024, it remains to be seen whether the Reds will be able to invest significantly heading into 2026, not least with other areas of the pitch also in need of reinforcement.
Of course, funds could be made available if Salah were to depart, although those days of a potential £200m bid arriving appear to be long gone, amid suggestions the ageing star could even wish to see his contract terminated by mutual agreement.
With £13m signing Federico Chiesa also unlikely to fetch a significant sum, having started just one league game for the club to date, it might be Gakpo whom FSG opt to cash in on, should it come to that.
Now, as already stated, the Netherlands international was central to last season’s title charge, although his tally of 15 goals and assists in the league was actually still bettered by Semenyo, who chalked up 16.
Equally, while the latter man has kicked on with seven goals and four assists in 2025/26, Gakpo – now hampered by injury – appears to have regressed somewhat, registering just four goals and three assists.
With just one goal and one assist in his last seven league games, the 26-year-old is yet to prove he can truly hit those real heights at Premier League level, with last season the only time he has reached double figures for league goals since joining back in January 2023.
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Even from the start, there has been concern over his lack of blistering pace and physicality, with club legend Jamie Carragher left “baffled” by what he viewed as “not a typical Klopp signing”.
Gakpo’s Premier League record
Season
Games
Goals (Assists)
25/26
15
4 (3)
24/25
35
10 (5)
23/24
35
8 (5)
22/23
21
7 (3)
Total
106
29 (16)
Stats via Transfermarkt
Such fears have been somewhat eased since then, although there is the sense that Semenyo would fit the Liverpool mould more suitably, considering his blistering pace both in and out of possession.
Despite Gakpo having recently signed a new deal at Anfield, there were claims made over the summer that FSG would consider a sale if a suitable offer were to arrive, amid interest from Bayern.
Perhaps, should such interest be revived again in the new year, the Reds might this time decide to cash in on the £61m-rated dud, thus helping Slot to transition toward an even more exciting style, spearheaded by the electric Semenyo.
Dream Guehi alternative: Liverpool "in the market" to sign £50m "beast"
Liverpool are desperate to strengthen their flagging backline in the January transfer market.
QPR lifted themselves off the bottom of the Premier League after pick up their first win of the season against Fulham at Loftus Road.
Two goals from Adel Taarabt scored twice for the R’s to hand Harry Redknapp his maiden victory since taking over from Mark Hughes, ending their record winless run and giving supporters hope that the club will now mount a serious bid to beat the drop.
Early dreams of Europe have subsided for the Cottagers after a run of one win in their last nine games, which came on Monday against Newcastle, left them marooned in mid-table heading into Christmas.
Performances have visibly improved since Redknapp’s arrival and it was the hosts that started on the front foot and Mark Schwarzer had to be on his toes to gather a scuffed Djibril Cisse effort following a glorious pass from Taarabt.
John Arne Riise then saw a blind back pass go unpunished when Jamie Mackie shot wide from six-yards as the away side struggled to break out of their first half slumber.
A free kick was then wasted Cisse and Taarabt just before the break before the latter handed QPR a deserved lead seven minutes after the restart with his shot trickling past a despairing Schwarzer after flicking off Brede Hangeland.
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Taarabt continued to exert his influence over proceedings and would make certain of all three points in the 68th minute with a stunning goal. The Moroccan international brushed off the attentions of Hangeland before driving the ball home with the outside of his boot from just outside the penalty area.
Fulham had failed to pose an attacking threat all afternoon but bagged a consolation through Mladen Petric’s strike that looped off the boot of Alejandro Faurlin and over Robert Green.
Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo, according to Naples-based radio station Radio CRC, as reported in Gonfialarete.
What’s the story?
The 22-year-old was a member of Barcelona’s famous youth academy before he was signed by Benfica in 2016.
The young Spaniard has quickly established himself as a key player for the Portuguese club, making 28 starts in the Primeira Liga last season, scoring one goal and assisting four.
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His form has attracted interest abroad, and according to the report, Spurs are in the driving seat to sign the hot prospect after making a bid, with Napoli and Borussia Dortmund waiting in the wings for the youngster who is valued at £18million on Transfermarkt.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255896″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Tottenham’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]
An exciting prospect
It’s unclear yet whether Tottenham are considering Grimaldo as a potential replacement for Danny Rose or as another option at left-back.
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What is for sure is that he plays exactly in the Tottenham way under Pochettino, as a very pacy and attacking full-back who is great on the ball.
If Rose does indeed leave Spurs this summer, Grimaldo would be a great option, but if not, perhaps there are other areas of the team that need more immediate attention than full-backs where they are particularly strong.
Mathew Dowman and Dominic Cork at last gave Derbyshire supporters a dayto savour when they transformed the match at the County Ground with arecord breaking partnership.The unbroken seventh wicket stand of 225 was the highest for Derbyshireagainst Durham and at the close, Dowman and Cork had taken their sideinto a lead of 369.It was a totally different story shortly after lunch when Durham had thehome side on the ropes at 121-6, only 143 runs in front, and there wasevery chance the game would finish inside two days.But the pitch had by now flattened out, the ball did not swing andDowman and Cork plundered bowling which became increasingly ragged on ahot afternoon.This was Dowman’s best innings for Derbyshire and, after spending 18balls on 99, he reached his eighth first-class century which wasapplauded by all the Durham team.Cork scored his fourth hundred and his unbeaten 105 was his highestscore while Dowman’s 129 not out was his best for Derbyshire.The stand was the highest against Durham this season and has seriouslydamaged their chances of avoiding relegation to the Second Divisionwhile Derbyshire now have an excellent chance of winning their firstgame since late June although they already look doomed to lose theirDivision One status.
Rain severely curtailed the first day’s play in the Supersport Series match between Easterns and Eastern Province at Willowmoore Park on Friday, but in the 40.2 overs which were possible, Easterns continued this season’s impressive form, reducing the visitors to 106 for four.Torrential rain early on Friday morning left the outfield sodden and play only started at 1.44pm, with EP getting off to a good start through a 55-run opening stand between Mark Benfield and skipper Carl Bradfield, who had won the toss and chosen to bat.Bradfield was a trifle lucky, being caught in the gully off an Andre Nel no-ball when he had 12, but he rode his luck until, after pulling Albie Morkel to the mid-wicket boundary to move up to 46, he tried to repeat the dose off the next ball, but this time failed to keep it down and was caught by Ernest Mokoenanyane at backward square leg.The diminutive left-hander was the fourth EP batsman to perish and his demise meant the visitors had lost four wickets for 47 runs after the responsible opening partnership he had fashioned with Benfield.The latter got out minutes before tea for 26, edging Kenny Benjamin to wicketkeeper Dylan Jennings. After the break James Bryant, who could manage just a single off 21 deliveries as offspinner Derek Crookes bogged him down from the Chalet End before bowling him, and Dave Callaghan, who steered a lifter from Nel to Deon Jordaan at first slip, fell in quick succession.However, just as Easterns looked as though they might run through the EP line-up, the rain returned with a vengeance and play was suspended until Saturday.
ScorecardKumar Sangakkara saw Surrey home in a small chase•PA Photos
Many very real battles took place at the Kia Oval on Friday night. Spectators battled end-of-week queues on tubes and roads to make it into the ground, then further queues to make it to the equally congested bars. Stewards battled those spectators as they grew restless and unruly, sculpting their beer snakes and shouting their chants.The crowd – barely a spare seat was visible – can claim emphatic victories in both. That they then stuck around in their thousands at play’s end to watch and cheer some of their number sprint across the outfield – battling, as ever, those unfortunate, officious stewards – suggested that they felt somewhat shortchanged by the action in the middle.Out in the middle, either side of the “mascot derby” – adults dressed as furry animals from sports club across London and perhaps the closest the crowd came to seeing actual sport – came the cricket. Chases do not come easier than the 106 Middlesex asked Surrey to knock off and the hosts were not about to break sweat in ensuring success. Middlesex were abject, for the second time in as many days, and have a seventh consecutive defeat in the format to show for it.
Insights
Zafar Ansari produced the sort of intelligent containing bowling performance that explains quite why he is so highly regarded in South London and beyond. Brought into the attack with Gubbins and Malan set and just after Batty’s first over had cost 12, Ansari dried things up and picked up three crucial wickets too. He varied his flight and pace and bowled just short of a hittable length that meant his 24 deliveries yielded 17 singles and seven dots, including those three scalps.
The similarities with their defeat to Sussex across town on Thursday were striking. Once again they batted first, lost wickets frequently, failed to clear the rope enough – seven times to Thursday’s nine – and posted a target wildly under par. They did not score a boundary in the final 80 deliveries of their 120, and no batsman outside of their top three managed it. Sussex beat them with 28 balls to spare, Surrey 32.Surrey must take some credit. They fielded like hawks and bowled parsimoniously, giving Middlesex no rope. The sight of Kumar Sangakkara, 38 this year and a wicketkeeper by trade, haring round from long-off, diving full stretch and flicking the ball up to James Burke in order to save two runs off the bowling of Sam Curran just about epitomised Surrey’s effort.Middlesex’s start did not tell of the inadequacy to come. The runs didn’t flow, but wickets didn’t tumble. Paul Stirling skied Sam Curran to Zafar Ansari at cover before Dawid Malan, who pulled with disdain, shared 40 with the organised Nick Gubbins, who pulled then cut Burke for boundaries. The pair ran sharply as Malan looked to dominate but never quite could, carting Gareth Batty for a cow-bound six in his first over nevertheless.But when Ansari joined Batty in the attack the runs dried up and the rot set in. Gubbins skied the first ball of Batty’s second when trying to follow Malan to the short cow fence, taking on a strong breeze that held it up and saw him caught. Even then, a handy enough platform had been laid at 55 for 2.Eoin Morgan scratched and couldn’t settle before being bowled by Ansari as Middlesex contrived to lose six wickets for 13 runs and end all hopes of a contest. Simpson was bowled by Batty, Malan – who had acted as the innings’ glue – sent Ansari straight to long-on and Neil Dexter attempted to turn a sharp turner to leg next ball and was bowled. Ansari was outstanding, varying his lengths trickily to make each delivery tough to hit.Young bowlers – men who should not be required to bat in a game this short – Harry Podmore and Ravi Patel saw the line and were determined to limp over it, taking Middlesex to the last over with a series of singles and the occasional two before the latter was castled by Tom Curran. It had been a sorry showing indeed.In reply, Jason Roy did as Jason Roy does, but Surrey were in no hurry. He flashed through off and attempted a switch hit, while his pinch-hitting partner Tom Curran – perhaps a permanent fixture up top in this format now – sent Gurjit Sandhu over long-off for six. He then moved to 16 with a French cut off Podmore, who gained his revenge by bowling him four balls later. Roy would follow, also bowled, attempting an audacious ramp.Wise old heads Sangakkara and Gary Wilson new they needn’t rush. Sangakkara strolled to 12 off 17 before hunting Patel. There was a sweep for four, a bunt over long-on for six and a pulled four. Stirling and Malan were given a bowl as the action wound down and the crowd ramped up, both were dispatched by Sangakkara and the game was up. Middlesex can forget this competition once more but Surrey – up to sixth now – might just be on the charge.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMatthew Wade hit nine fours and seven sixes for his 130•K Sivaraman
Matthew Wade had the weight of four centuries in a year when he was first called up to the Australian team in 2011. The year 2015 has been similarly kind: he scored his third ton in seven months and has made it back to international cricket. His stroke-filled 130 off 106 balls set up a 108-run victory over South Africa A and ensured Australia A maintained a perfect record going into the final of the A-team tri-series in Chennai. The defeat meant that South Africa A were still not on the board after three matches, and they now need to secure a bonus-point win against India A tomorrow to stand any chance of qualifying for the final.Wade had been named captain in place of the rested Usman Khawaja. He called correctly at the toss, chose to bat and had to come out at No. 3 in the very first over. His first scoring shot was a six, helped of course by the fact that it was a free hit. His second and third hits were fours, and he was on his way. Wade’s bottom-handed strength was on show, the sweep shot being utilised frequently and effectively.Wade hit seven sixes and nine fours – 78 of his 130 runs – and that meant South Africa A muting the rest of the top five amounted to very little. He had 50 off 45 balls; his team had 78 on the board. His hundred came off 90 balls; his team had 158 on the board. The numbers give a clear indication of how the rest of the top-five fared: Chris Lynn’s 29 was the next best contribution.So long as Wade was at the crease, South Africa A were never allowed the upper hand. He was gracious enough to pop a catch to square leg on 26, but Beuran Hendricks had overstepped and the cost of that mistake kept growing.The game held little consequence for Australia A. Seven of their numbers will take the field in Chennai on Friday morning for the tri-series final, and then leave for London later at night no matter what had happened today. So giving Wade some batting practice considering he is the only specialist wicketkeeper chosen in the Australian ODI team was sensible: His scores on this tour before today had been 5, 34*, 11 and 2.”We had a chat with selectors, Trevor Hohns is here, and the coaches had a chat before,” Wade said. “They let me know I was going to captain and they wanted me to just go up and have a hit. We’d already qualified for the final so that’ll go back to normal, I’m guessing. Usman will come out and bat at the top and I’ll probably slip down to No. 6.”The impact of having a set batsman at the crease became clear in South Africa A’s chase. Only Dean Elgar with 64 off 85 balls and Khaya Zondo with 47 not out off 49 offered any resistance. The rest of the batsmen struggled for timing, and were outclassed by the Australian bowlers, as five single-digit scores would suggest.Nathan Coulter-Nile, who is among those headed to England, produced a brilliant spell of 7-1-8-2. The only runs scored off him were singles and the wickets he took were off back-to-back deliveries: He bounced Cameron Delport out on a slow pitch and sent Theunis de Bryun’s stumps crashing with an indipper. The hat-trick ball took Elgar’s edge, but it fell short of the slips. Technically, it can be said that he’d created four chances in four balls: the one prior to Delport’s wicket took Reeza Hendricks’ outside edge but was shelled at second slip by a diving Lynn.The new ball left South Africa A at 37 for 3 and as it got older, spinners Ashton Agar and Cameron Boyce took control. They shared six wickets between them as the score slumped from 142 for 4 to 148 for 8. Defeat came not long after.There is an argument that South Africa A have not been able to put their best XI on the park. Quinton de Kock and Wayne Parnell were still recuperating from the stomach bug that had “ravaged” the team a few days ago. Lonwabo Tsotsobe, at the post-match press conference, would not confirm the source of the illness but did mention that de Kock and Parnell had been advised rest by the doctors.”We had food at the Hard Rock and then we had food at the hotel. So you can’t really say which one it was,” Tsotsobe said. “Those were the orders from the doctor and you can’t do anything if the doctor tells you to rest. But like I said earlier, it’s [picking the XI] up to the coaches and we’ll see tomorrow.”
ScorecardTom Curran’s impressive Championship season continued•EMPICS/Surrey CCC
On the day that Chris Tremlett announced his retirement his county, Surrey, were taking on Gloucestershire as they push for a long awaited promotion from Division Two. As a man with 459 first-class wickets at an average of 28 his struggles with injury and form in recent seasons have hampered Surrey’s ambitions to make it back to the top flight in this competition.Tremlett has played three first-class matches this season getting through just 68 overs, with that in mind it is perhaps not surprising that his latest injury setback has led to him calling it a day. Despite his absence Surrey are well placed in the promotion spots in the table and are completely in charge of this match in Bristol. The reason that Tremlett has not been missed has been the emergence of the Curran brothers.Tom Curran, the 20-year-old, made his first-class debut last season collecting a very respectable 19 wickets at 27 during the seven matches that he played. This year he has been ever present in the Surrey team in the Championship and has now gone past 50 wickets for the season. His 6 for 61 means he now has 18 first-class wickets against Gloucestershire at 10. Excellent returns against his father’s former county.In the opening exchanges of this match it was younger brother Sam that was the most impressive. He is just a matter of weeks past his 17th birthday and he already has 11 first-class wickets at an average of 21. He is shorter than his brother, although there is every chance he has some growing to do, and his action is a lot less upright. Bowling left-arm over, Sam gets the ball to skid on and seam.This is exactly how he claimed the wicket of Will Tavare with his first ball – the seventh of the match. The delivery was full and ducked into the left hander trapping him in for a straightforward lbw decision.When the younger Curran bowled Chris Dent as the batsman left a ball alone he had claimed both openers in a six-over spell. From that point onwards it was the Tom Curran show. He found excellent bounce and carry while swinging the ball consistently, in fact for a period in the middle of the Gloucestershire innings his problem was he was swinging the ball too much and therefore not troubling the outside edge.Of the Gloucestershire top order only Gareth Roderick made a contribution of note. His 100-ball 71 was an excellent counter-attacking effort, but when he fell in the middle of a cluster of three wickets just after the lunch break it looked as if Gloucestershire would be shot out for something pretty paltry.James Fuller had other ideas as his team recovered from 111 for 7. His hugely entertaining 48 was full of vim and vigour as he struck seven fours and the only six of the innings. He had an interesting technique to the quick men, charging forward as the ball is delivered. There were a number of occasions where Jade Dernbach saw him coming and a bouncer flew past his nose.While the Currans shone the other bowlers lacked real penetration. James Burke struggled to keep it tight and while Dernbach kept the scoring down but never really troubled the batsmen. Surrey captain Gareth Batty gave himself a few overs but on a green-tinged pitch there was not a lot in the surface for him to exploit, although he did claim the last wicket to bring the Gloucestershire innings to a close. The space inside the salary cap that is freed up by Tremlett’s departure should be reinvested in another seamer with Derbyshire’s Mark Footitt a likely target.The eighth Gloucestershire wicket cost 57 runs and the ninth 56 and on both occasions it was Tom Curran that broke the stand. His six wickets take his tally this season to 54 wickets at 25. If Surrey can make it to Division One for next season it will be fascinating to see how well he does against stronger opposition.What those late-order runs showed is that there is little to cause alarm in this pitch once the new ball has been seen off, and that is just what the Surrey managed to do as they made it to 74 for 2 in the 22 overs they batted before the close. That both openers fell in the closing stages of the day makes the game seem closer than it should have been, but Surrey have a lot of batting to come.If Gloucestershire want to get back into this game they need to find a performance similar to Tom Curran’s. With Craig Miles not risked for this game with the hope that he will recover from his back injury in time for the Royal London Cup quarter-final against Hampshire on Wednesday it is difficult to see where that inspired showing will come from although the regularity with which Fuller beat the edge will allow Gloucestershire to at least hope.