The Mirror

Aston Villa have received a punishment for the new Premier League season after breaching the division's rules in the clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park last term

Aston Villa have been fined £125,000 after breaching Premier League rules over the multiball system for the fifth time, with the club now banned from using it for the first three games of the new season.

In total Villa have been fined £330,000 since the beginning of the 2024/25 season for consistently misusing the system, which is designed to keep matches flowing as balls are quickly thrown onto the pitch following stoppages in play.

In the club's final home match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, as they pushed for Champions League qualification for the second season in succession. Goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara earned victory over Spurs but the club have been judged to have used the multiball set-up incorrectly.

In addition to the fine, the Villans are now prohibited from operating the multiball system at its first three home matches of this season against Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Fulham. That follows the club being punished for indiscretions against Manchester United, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Brentford last season in addition to Spurs.

Against the Lilywhites, Villa went against guidance in a number of ways. Ball Assistants provided replacement balls from the cones directly to Villa's players for throw-ins and corners when not permitted to do so.

Additional ball assistants were positioned behind the goal that Aston Villa were attacking, and were in possession of additional balls to provide the Midlands side's players with ahead of corner kicks. In contrast, at the end the opposition were attacking, no additional assistants were in place and the correct number of balls were located in the area.

And on one occasion a ball assistant threw an additional ball onto the pitch at the same time as Tottenham's goalkeeper was collecting the match ball in order to restart the game via a goal kick. This happened despite the club twice seeing concerns over the multiball system raised around the game.

Ahead of the match, the match delegate and referee brought up the need to adhere to guidance and implement the correct application. Match officials then raised concerns over this to Villa's multiball supervisor at half-time.

The Premier League said in a statement: "The Premier League has entered into a sanction agreement with Aston Villa FC after the club accepted it had breached the Premier League ’s multiball rules. First introduced in the 2022/23 season, the multiball system is intended to maintain the flow of League matches, reduce delays and enhance the fan experience.

"Clubs are required to adopt a multiball system at every League match and adherence to the relevant rules and guidance is of vital importance to maintain consistency and, crucially, to ensure that home clubs do not gain a competitive advantage through their misuse of the system. "The accepted breach was the club’s fifth of the multiball rules during the 2024/25 season. The club will pay a £125,000 fine and will be prohibited from operating the multiball system in its first three home League matches of the 2025/26 season."

Tottenham have been busy this summer, but are expected to make a few more moves for some expensive transfer targets before the window shuts, having sustained some significant injury blows

Tottenham are looking to snap back from their UEFA Super Cup disappointment by strengthening their squad ahead of the new Premier League season. Spurs were left heartbroken on Wednesday after a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, despite leading 2-0 with just minutes remaining.

The Champions League winners managed to claw back two late goals before triumphing in the shootout. With no time to dwell on the loss, the north London club are now focusing on their league opener at home to Burnley this Saturday, and manager Thomas Frank knows there's still work to be done to bolster his squad.

Despite welcoming seven new faces this summer, Mohammed Kudus is arguably the only one who is likely to be a nailed-on started week in and week out.

The club's pursuit of Eberechi Eze and Savinho has been well-documented as they aim to build on last season's Europa League success and instil a winning mentality at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Here, we take an in-depth look at potential transfers that could be finalised in the coming week...

Spurs splash out on Savinho

Spurs have been locked in talks with Manchester City over Brazilian starlet Savinho, who had an inconsistent debut season with the Citizens. Despite scoring just one league goal, he ended the season with 16 contributions in 48 games, including 13 assists, following the Club World Cup.

The exit of Son Heung-min and an injury to Dejan Kulusevski, which could sideline him for the rest of the year, has left Frank's team a bit thin on the wings, reports Football London, while James Maddison will need replacing as well following his ACL injury.

Talks of a £43m deal for the 21-year-old were reported, but according to recent claims, it could take a record-breaking fee for Spurs to lure the Brazilian away from Pep Guardiola's squad. Dominic Solanke is Spurs' current record signing, having joined for £65m last summer.

Savinho's agent is said to have indicated that it could take an offer of £67m to tempt City into selling. The players is understood to be open to the idea of joining Spurs and a bid is expected to be lodged in the coming days.

With Spurs fighting on four fronts this season, signing a winger with as much potential as Savinho could help them in their chase for further silverware and consistent participation in Europe. Given his age, and the fact Cristiano Ronaldo voted for him as his first choice to win the 2024 Kopa Award over Lamine Yamal, Savinho looks a wise investment for the future.

Break transfer record for Eze

There's a chance that Spurs could sign Savinho without breaking their transfer record, but they might have no choice with Eze. Spurs' interest in Eze this summer is well-known, and the latest update in the transfer saga suggests the club are preparing to make an official offer for the Crystal Palace star.

Fresh from winning the Community Shield following the Eagles' triumph over Liverpool on Sunday, the England midfielder could be on his way across London if a deal can be agreed between the two Premier League clubs.

While Eze has attracted interest from Arsenal, it appears that Spurs have taken the lead in the race for the 27-year-old's signature. If Spurs manage to secure the talented player, they will reportedly need to pay what would be a record-breaking £68m fee, which is said to be Eze's release clause. There are reports that claim that the clause expires before the start of the Premier League season.

The former QPR star is reportedly tempted by the chance to feature in the Champions League whilst staying in the capital, though reports indicate Tottenham value him at approximately £55m – matching what they splashed out to West Ham for Kudus. Adding a player of Eze's quality who can guarantee goals and assists in midfield and looks to be at the peak of his powers could prove to be a game-changing signing for Spurs.

Pocketing £20m for fringe player

Manor Solomon signed for Spurs in 2023, but the Israeli has featured in merely six matches for the club. A meniscus problem just three months after arriving in north London brought his 2023/24 season to a premature close. The subsequent campaign saw the winger loaned out to Leeds United as he revived his career by becoming instrumental in the Whites' ascent to the Premier League.

Whilst he netted 10 goals and contributed 12 assists for Daniel Farke's squad, his summer comeback to Spurs has proved less successful as he missed the club's Asian tour through injury.

With players like Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson all positioned above Solomon in the pecking order, Frank might consider selling the 26-year-old. Spurs are reportedly seeking £15m to £20m for his signature, with a Leeds return being discussed, given Farke's frustration with his limited attacking choices.

The German was scathing about the club's stuttering efforts to strengthen their forward department as he recently declared: "In comparison to our Championship side, we have not improved in the offence. "We are not prepared yet for a long Premier League season.

"We are capable of playing at a good level but in order to be ready and to win games at this level... you need players who can score goals and give assists." Earning £20m on a player signed for free is certainly an opportunity many clubs won't turn their nose up at, and the extra funds could help facilitate the big-money moves for Eze and Savinho.

Tottenham suffered penalty heartbreak in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday night in Udine following a late collapse against PSG in Thomas Frank's first competitive match in charge

Joao Palhinha insists Tottenham's courageous Super Cup display proves they can achieve "something special" under Thomas Frank. The Portuguese lynchpin, recently signed from Bayern Munich on an initial loan deal, has added new steel to Spurs' midfield - even if they did blow a late two-goal lead.

Palhinha remains optimistic about the challenge ahead, however, despite the agonising late collapse in Udine, stating: "We are really sad. Not just the players but all the staff and all the crowd that came to support us during the game.

"It will be tough for us all to digest that loss but I think we also need to feel proud for what we did until 80 minutes because we fought all game against the top team.

"I think we showed that we'll get there in the future, we have all the conditions to achieve this season and I think the future will bring us something special. We played a top game against a top opponent but in the Premier League every single game is tough and we cannot relax."

Tottenham kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday against Burnley, who Spurs relegated in May 2024 following a 2-1 victory in N17. Fellow new boy Mohammed Kudus is already relishing the chance to put things right after penalty heartbreak.

The Ghanaian attacker said: "I'm very disappointed to lose the game but this is a big lesson that we must stay focused for the whole 90 minutes.

"I am really, really proud of the team for their work ethic and energy because we had them for most of the game, it was just the end part we need to fix. We have a game at the weekend so now the full focus is on that.

"That's the good thing about football, there is always an opportunity every week to show a different character and prove what you have got. I would have loved for us to win a trophy but it hasn't happened, so full focus on Saturday."

Kudus - a £55million summer acquisition from West Ham - starred on his first official outing for Spurs, troubling PSG left-back Nuno Mendes The 25-year-old is determined to hit the ground running in north London despite the unfortunate midweek blip.

He continued: “I am very excited to have joined this beautiful club. I am still settling in, trying to adapt and get used to my new coaches but with the help of the club, so far it has been going so smoothly. I still have a lot more to show and there are a lot more games to play this season."

Kudus featured as a shadow striker behind Richarlison in Italy but naturally, he tended to drift across to the right flank. Interestingly, there were no minutes for Europa League final hero Brennan Johnson amid increased competition for places.

Spurs are looking to add even more firepower to their armoury in the market and discussions for Manchester City's Savinho and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze are continuing.

Tottenham have come out and said they are "disgusted" after Mathys Tel was subjected to racist abuse on social media following Wednesday night's Super Cup loss to PSG.

The Frenchman stepped up in the penalty shootout but missed the target before facing abuse online. Thomas Frank's side had led 2-0 against the Champions League winners before two late goals saw the French outfit level the contest.

Tottenham then came out second best in a penalty shootout with Tel among the two players to miss. The forward has just made his move to north London permanent and came off the bench in Frank's first competitive game in charge.

The ex-Bayern Munich man failed to hit the target with his effort from 12 yards as the Parisians edged the match to claim the trophy, but Tottenham have been angered by the level of abuse Tel has faced subsequently.

A club statement read: "We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night’s UEFA Super Cup defeat. Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards - hiding behind anonymous usernames and profiles to spout their abhorrent views.

"We will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify. We stand with you, Mathys."

Tel made a loan move to Tottenham back in February and the club have now made his move permanent. Frank hailed all of those who stepped up in the penalty shootout despite Tottenham being left on the wrong side of the result.

He said: "I agree, it’s down to the smallest of margins in the penalty shootout. It’s like the flip of a coin. First I’d like to thank all the players that stood up and were brave and took responsibility to take a penalty."

Tottenham will begin their campaign on Saturday when they welcome Burnley to north London. Frank is bidding to oversee marked improvements on last season, when the team finished in a lowly 17th despite their Europa League success.

Thomas Frank makes feelings clear after Tottenham throw away two-goal lead to lose to PSG

Spurs failed to fight off a late PSG fight back in Italy on Wednesday evening in the UEFA Super Cup with Thomas Frank slipping to defeat in his first competitive game as Tottenham boss

Thomas Frank claimed he was "happy" with his Tottenham stars - despite Super Cup agony against PSG. The Dane insists the performance should now provide belief Spurs can match any side.

He said after his team lost on penalties in the sweltering Italian heat: "We played a very good game against one of the best teams in the world, maybe the best at this moment in time.

"The goal on 85 minutes shifted momentum but there's so much to be positive about, so I'm happy with the team. There's a lot to be happy with, it's a flip of a coin when you go into a penalty shootout."

Frank claims his stars "gave everything" and added his side were "perfect" for 80 minutes. Goncalo Ramos struck the equaliser after Lee Kang-in pulled one back for PSG.

Frank feels Spurs' display can now be a blueprint moving forward to make them extra competitive. He continued: "We showed we can be tactical and pragmatic because we needed to be against a team like PSG.

"In one game we showed we can play against almost any team. I'm not in doubt we can do that. That's a positive we can take away."

When quizzed on transfers, Frank admitted he'd like to add some more quality. He said: "I'd like to strengthen the squad, no doubt about that. We will work very hard to do that. In general I'm happy with the squad but we'd like to strengthen before the window closes."

How will Spurs do this season? Share your predictions in the comments below

The North London side have so far added six new faces to Frank's squad ahead of the new season - Mohammed Kudus' switch from West Ham the headline arrival. Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso have had their loans turned permanent, while Joao Palhinha has penned his own temporary deal from Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, young defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai have both been signed. Manchester City star Savinho has been identified as a further recruit, with reports suggesting that Spurs have already held talks with their Premier League rivals.

Following their Super Cup defeat, Frank's side now have just a couple of days remaining until their Premier League opener. They take on newly-promoted Burnley in North London on Saturday ahead of a blockbuster meeting with Man City next weekend.

PSG 2-2 TOTTENHAM (PSG win 4-3 on penalties) - PSG were dead and buried in the game before late goals from Kang-in lee and Goncalo Ramos turned the tables against a Spurs side who had been 2-0 up

Welcome to Tottenham, Thomas Frank. Just when you began to warm to the prospect of the Europa League winners being a different animal under the Dane, you were reminded that nothing is ever straightforward when Spurs are concerned.

They led 2-0 with just five minutes to play and had made the Champions League winners look ordinary for the best part of an hour.

Yet somehow, they came away scratching their heads after losing on penalties and fumbling the chance to win a second European trophy in just four months.

Goals from Micky van de Ven and newly-appointed captain Cristian Romero had put Tottenham ahead before Lee Kang-in pulled one back and fellow sub Goncalo Ramos then wrestled back the game in the dying embers to send the tie to spot-kicks.

When Vitinha missed from 12-yards, you thought Spurs' luck was in but Van de Ven and Mathys Tel both fluffed their lines as PSG's continental dominance continued.

There was no fairytale story for Udine-born Guglielmo Vicario either, who did not get close to any other Parisian penalty as Nuno Mendes slammed in the winner.

At one point, it looked like Daniel Levy was set to miss the kind of triumph he has long craved as he was in the United States helping move his daughter into university.

He best head back to north London very soon if he wants to win the Premier League and Champions League as recently stated because it's clear to see Frank still needs several more new signings.

It was a brutally harsh lesson for Spurs but will also still provide Frank's dressing room with encouragement that they can trade blows with just about any team on their day ahead of their return to Europe's elite club competition.

Ange Postecoglou was frequently scrutinised for not having a Plan B but new boss Frank was bold and sprung a surprise to nullify PSG's attacking threat.

Six days after shipping four goals to Bayern Munich in Germany, the Dane pivoted to a 5-3-2 formation - the same system that brought him great joy at Brentford during their debut Premier League season.

PSG, who obliterated Inter Milan 5-0 in May's one-sided Champions League final, suddenly did not look so fluid or dangerous.

Instead, it was organised and energetic Spurs that posed the biggest threat as Pedro Porro, Pape Matar Sarr and Mohammed Kudus led the charge on the counter-attack.

Lucas Chevalier - the £34.5million goalkeeper tasked with replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma following his shock axe engineered by Enrique - was called into action to tip Richarlison's deflected strike over the crossbar.

The Frenchman then displayed stunning reflexes to push Joao Palhinha's effort onto the crossbar before Van de Ven fired in on 39 minutes.

Frank's new dead-ball coach Andreas Georgson has had an instant impact in N17 and he added another goal to his tally when Romero snuck in at the back post from a free-kick and headed past the unconvincing Chevalier.

At that point, Enrique's decision to exile Donnarumma had looked all the more baffling, though there was a brief moment of salvation when Chevalier later kept out Van de Ven's penalty.

It's a bitter pill for Tottenham to swallow ahead of Saturday's Premier League opener against Burnley but they cannot let it impact their season given they're yet to even kick a ball domestically.

Another slice of history was well and truly within their grasp but somehow, they let it slip away from them as PSG displayed once again why they're the game's mentality monsters as they added yet another impressive English scalp to their resume after beating Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal in last season's Champions League.

Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening, former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has been spotted in public

Ange Postecoglou has hardly been seen in public since his sacking by Tottenham Hotspur after last season came to an end. Just weeks after winning Spurs their first major trophy in 17 years as the north Londoners beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, the manager was dismissed.

Prior to the European glory in May, Postecoglou's men endured a miserable Premier League campaign which was fraught with issues throughout as Spurs finished way down in 17th place, just one spot above the relegation zone.

A positive start to his reign in 2023 saw the 59-year-old collect multiple Manager of the Month awards, while Tottenham went on an unbeaten run in the Premier League all the way through to November.

However, injury issues began to plague Spurs and they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Champions League under Postecoglou, finishing fifth in the 2023/24 campaign. Things went from bad to worse in the manager's second year, where the club won just 11 games across the entire season.

A great run to the Europa League final was the only shining light for the fans. Despite winning the trophy – which was the first European triumph since 1984 and Spurs' first taste of siverware since 2008 – Postecoglou was handed his marching orders in June.

Things aren't all bad, it seems, for Postecoglou; he banked over £7million after chairman Daniel Levy decided his time at Spurs was up, and in recent days he was pictured out in public, eating a fancy steak with a celebrity chef.

As his former team take on Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup final, Mirror Football has tracked down what Postecoglou has been up to since his spell with Spurs ended, along with where he could be heading next.

Tottenham payout & Europa League bonus

Postecoglou signed a four-year deal to become Spurs manager in 2023, leaving behind Scottish champions Celtic after winning a domestic treble with the club. But, after just two seasons in charge of the Premier League outfit, Levy was forced to spend big to sack him.

Altogether, the Spurs chairman paid out almost £4m to Postecoglou, as per ESPN, as part of a severance package to relieve him of his duties at the club. This wasn't all though; the ex-manager also received £3.1m as a bonus for winning the Europa League, taking his payout from Tottenham to over £7m.

So, after 101 games in charge, with a win rate of 46.5% and a European trophy under his arm, Postecoglou departed Spurs with millions in the bank. Many believed that the Europa League win would just about save his job, but the club allowed the squad to celebrate before breaking the news to both fans and the team.

In a statement released to fans 16 days after the Europa League final, Tottenham said: "Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.

"We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

"However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place."

Life away from football since sacking

Now, it looks like this hefty payout to Postecoglou has paid dividends, as he was finally spotted dining at Sta Kala Kathoumena on the Greek island of Paros. A video uploaded by celebrity chef Stefanos Saratsis has emerged on TikTok, in which Ange can be seen enjoying a fancy steak meal served up by the online personality.

The chef is seen slicing up a huge slab of meat before feeding Postecoglou a piece of the steak and awaiting his approval.

Comments flooded in expressing excitement at the former Spurs manager's first public appearance since his sacking in June, with one writing: "Geez, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Ange smile like that!"

Another said: "And thats the taste of a decent payout from Spurs. Maybe he’ll come and get them out of the championship next season," while a third joked: "See he's enjoying that £4mill he got from getting sacked."

MLS interest as next club rumours ramp up

Many will be wondering where big Ange will end up next, after successful spells in Scotland, Australia, Japan and – for a time – England. But it looks like a potential reunion with Son could be on the horizon, as Major League Soccer look to be sniffing around the Greek-Australian gaffer.

Earlier in June, BBC Sport reported that MLS side Los Angeles FC are considering a move for Postecoglou as current boss Steve Cherundolo is set to depart for Germany. The regular season ends in October for the American league, so LAFC may be planning to make a move for the ex-Spurs man by this point.

They will also have an extra trick up their sleeve, after former Tottenham icon Son joined the MLS side on a two-year deal this summer, with an option of a further two years. A potential link-up between the duo could be on the cards in the near future; but LAFC aren't the only team interested in Postecoglou.

Reports suggest that the 59-year-old has been linked with a job in the Saudi Pro League at Al Ahli, who recently won the Asian Champions League under current boss Matthias Jaissle.

How to watch Tottenham vs PSG UEFA Super Cup: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time

Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur take on the winners of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Italian city of Udine on Wednesday, with the UEFA Super Cup up for grabs

Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain are set to do battle for the UEFA Super Cup nearly three months after their European trophy successes. Spurs ended a 17-year trophy drought with Europa League victory over Manchester United in May.

Now under the guidance of Thomas Frank, Tottenham will be looking to add another accolade to their cabinet on Wednesday after their triumph in Bilbao, but the Champions League winners stand in their way.

Luis Enrique's PSG demolished Inter Milan in their final and carried plenty of momentum into the Club World Cup this summer, where Chelsea bested them in the showpiece. The French champions will face another English opponent in Udine, and Mirror Football brings you all you need to know ahead of the Super Cup, including timings and how to watch live.

When is the UEFA Super Cup?

The Super Cup will be held on Wednesday, August 13, in the northwestern Italian city of Udine. It will be hosted at the Bluenergy Stadium, home of Serie A side Udinese.

The match will get underway at 8:00pm UK time, with over 25,000 fans in attendance. TV and streaming coverage will begin one hour prior at 7:00pm.

The competition's winners will receive approximately £4.3million in prize money, while the losing party will take home a sum of £3.4m.

How to watch the UEFA Super Cup

TNT Sports and Discovery+ will be broadcasting the clash live on Wednesday, and fans must subscribe to tune in to the action. Subscriptions begin at £30.99 per month.

If watching on TV, the match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1, , with those streaming online or via other platforms able to watch via Discovery+.

What have the managers said ahead of the UEFA Super Cup?

Thomas Frank, speaking to UEFA: "We're playing in a final; it's fantastic. Hopefully we can use some of the experience we have from the last final that the team played against Manchester United.

"[Paris] are the best team in Europe. They won the treble and it looks like they are extremely strong in all 11 starting positions. It's a fantastic challenge to have in the first game but, of course, we believe in ourselves.

"We're going to a final and there will be one objective – try to win it. We don't see it as a test; we see it as two good teams against each other, and we want to win."

Luis Enrique, speaking to UEFA: "The aim for this upcoming season is to improve. In terms of titles, it's going to be harder because there are more to play for.

"But in footballing terms, I think we'll improve as a team, both in attack and defence. I believe we can still identify phases of the game to get better in.

"In terms of titles, we want to be ready to go for all of them. Of course, we all believe that we can win all of them and repeat this feat again this year, which would mean going down in history in true style, and that gives us special motivation."

What is the UEFA Super Cup?

The competition was established in 1972, after Dutch journalist Anton Witkamp proposed a match to decide who was the best club side in Europe.

Ajax and Rangers contested the inaugural match over 50 years ago, but UEFA didn't recognise the competition until the following year.

It was initially played between the European Cup winners and the victors of the Cup Winners' Cup. When the latter was discontinued, it became a clash between the Champions League and Europa League winners.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has confirmed he will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after a heated contract dispute, and the Italian is good enough to change the upcoming Premier League season

Instead of facing Tottenham in the Super Cup in his homeland tonight, the best shot-stopping goalkeeper in Europe is up for sale.

And the signing of the giant Gianluigi Donnarumma by Chelsea or Manchester City would boost their Premier League title hopes or make Manchester United genuine Champions League candidates. The 6ft 5in stopper, with the wingspan of a 747, will have that size of impact at his next club.

The Italian captain - who announced he will be leaving PSG on Tuesday - first tormented English fans by saving spot kicks from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka in the Euro 2020 final penalty shootout.

And the former Milan keeper, still only 26, caused heartbreak for Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal fans as he inspired Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League trophy.

But only 73 days after the French club’s triumph over Inter Milan - and only five days after he was the only goalkeeper named in the Ballon D’Or shortlist - Donnarumma’s career at PSG is over in ruthless fashion.

While the Champions League winners flew to Udine to face the Europa Cup winners yesterday, the Italy goalkeeper trained alone at the back at the Campus PSG while the club awaits offers for his signature.

Last season’s all-action hero, popular with his fellow players and fans, will not play for the Qatari-owned club again. At least Marie Antoinette had a trial before she was guillotined in Paris.

Donnarumma is out of contract next summer and year-long negotiations to agree a new deal have now stopped. He signed on a free transfer from Milan in 2021 on a gross salary of €10m (£8.64m). After tax breaks and bonuses, his current net annual salary has been £6.5m.

PSG are now offering players lower basic wages with more performance-related bonuses and Donarumma refused the effective pay cut despite his desire to remain in the City of Light.

There was a similar standoff with Kylian Mbappe two summers ago when he refused to sign a new deal and he was excluded from a summer tour to Asia. He was reintegrated back into the group after giving up millions of Euros in bonuses and then used less after Christmas when it was clear he was still leaving for Real Madrid.

This time PSG have already signed Donnarumma’s replacement. Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year Lucas Chevalier joined this weekend in a €55m deal from Lille, the former club of PSG director of football Luis Campos. And the 23-year-old was bought with the backing of Luis Enrique and guaranteed he will be No.1.

The PSG announcement welcoming the signing of Chevalier claimed he is: “Comfortable on his line, in one-on-one situations, and in the air, he also has excellent distribution skills”.

It was interpreted by the Italian media and Donnarumma’s camp as a dig at the Azzurri keeper’s ability with his feet. Former Milan keeper Christian Abbiati told Gazzetta dello Sport: "There's something crazy about all this. I would say he won more than half the Champions League for them. And yet, from what I hear, it seems he's bad with his feet.

"We can say that there are many players better with their feet than him, but from there to replacing a goalkeeper who has put a Champions League title in your trophy cabinet! In Europe he's made unbelievable saves, saves that few would have been capable of making.

“Someone of his calibre will certainly land on his feet and go to another big club, although it's a shame he has to end like this. I wish him the best because he deserves it."

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has put his foot down and made a big call ahead of his side's match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup on Wednesday night

Thomas Frank has drawn a line in the sand at Tottenham by leaving Yves Bissouma at home for their Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs take on PSG in Udine on Wednesday night when they will have the opportunity to add another piece of silverware to their collection after winning the Europa League. It will be the first competitive game in charge for Frank, who arrived from Brentford to replace Ange Postecoglou.

And the Dane has made his expectations clear by punishing Bissouma for poor time keeping. At a press conference in Udine, Frank was asked for an update on Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin, who have been carrying injuries but have joined the squad in Italy.

“The players that have that little bit longer, the longer terms are here for backing the team and being part of the group,” he replied.

“Dom is the positive one, he's available for selection tomorrow, so that's very good. Destiny is closer and getting closer to training with the group. So those are two big ones, and then Bissouma has not travelled with the team because of disciplinary reasons.”

Asked to explain further, Frank added: “He has been late several times and now this latest time was one too many. With everything, you need to give your players a lot of love but also have demands and there also need to be consequences and this time there was a consequence for that.

“For me, there has been a consequence and that is for this trip. I will follow up on that when I come home. I will park it for now because there is a relatively important game tomorrow.”

It is not the first time that Bissouma has been disciplined during his time at Tottenham – and this instance could prove costly, with just a year left on his contract and with Joao Palhinha having arrived on loan from Bayern Munich.

The 28-year-old Mali international was suspended by the club for the first game of the last season after a video appeared on social media that appeared to show him inhaling nitrous oxide.

"I want to apologise for these videos," he said at the time. "This was a severe lack of judgment. I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

The midfielder was criticised by Postecoglou in March after being substituted in a 2-0 defeat by Fulham. Asked to explain his decision to withdraw Bissouma, Postecoglou said he allowed “games to drift him by.”

He joined Spurs from Brighton for £30million in June 2022 and has made 100 appearances for the club, scoring twice. Bissouma was an important player under Postecoglou’s management, making 44 appearances last season as Spurs finished a lowly 17th in the Premier League.