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The worlds of Hollywood and the Premier League collided in unexpected fashion when Holland, known globally for his role as Spider-Man, attempted to play the part of a football agent. Holland, a die-hard Tottenham fan, reached out to Haaland during the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, at a time when the striker was the most coveted talent in world football following a 41-goal season at Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland eventually addressed the snub on his YouTube channel, clarifying that he was not intentionally being cold to the movie star. The City forward admitted he was unaware of who Holland was at the time of the initial message.

"That's the Spider-Man guy, and I don't watch Spider-Man," Haaland explained, while detailing the contents of the message he received.

The 26-year-old striker said it read: "'Hiya mate, just saw you in Monaco. If you want to grab a drink or something, give me a shout. And please come join Spurs.'"

While Haaland's eventual destination was Man City, where he has since broken countless records, he did eventually reply to the actor once he realised who was behind the message.

Haaland wanted to clear the air after reports suggested he had rudely dismissed Holland as just "a random person."

"I said it in a funny way, but it got taken out of context," Haaland explained. "I sounded a bit rude, so I sent him a message because I felt bad."

He then shared the exact text he sent to the actor to smooth things over: "There's a story going around that I was ignoring you. I just wanted to make sure you know that wasn't my intention. And by the way, I'm not too sure about Spurs at the moment, but who knows in the future?"

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Holland joked about the lack of interest from the world’s best striker. "That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors," Holland said, laughing off the fact that his celebrity status carried no weight with the City star.

The timing of Holland’s comments also coincided with international heartbreak for Haaland, as England had recently defeated Norway 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final. This led Holland to wonder if the invitation for a meal was still on the table. "I don't think he would have dinner with me after the other day," the actor remarked, acknowledging that Haaland would likely be "hurting" from the defeat.

Despite the initial awkwardness and the rejection of a move to the Tottenham, it seems a friendship is finally blossoming. After seeing the clips of Holland’s interview circulating on Instagram, Haaland decided it was time to finally accept the offer that had been sitting in his inbox for years.

In a comment that quickly went viral among football and movie fans alike, Haaland tagged the actor and wrote: "Dinner invitation accepted. A little late. Just name the place!"

Woking director of football Jody Brown has revealed the reasons behind the club's decision to terminate Defoe's contract after just four months in charge. The former Tottenham and England striker was dismissed on Thursday after overseeing six league matches, with the National League club now searching for a new manager ahead of the new season.

Brown admitted appointing Defoe had been his decision but said "growing concerns" from across the club ultimately forced Woking to act. He claimed feedback from players, staff, and other departments raised questions over the manager's commitment in the weeks leading up to his departure.

Explaining the decision, Brown accepted responsibility for Defoe's appointment before outlining why the club chose to end his spell.

"The recommendation to appoint Jermain as manager was mine, and I take full responsibility for it," he told the club's official website. "After meeting with him on several occasions, I believed he was the right person to lead the club into an exciting new era... However, in recent weeks there had been feedback from across the club, including players, staff and other departments, regarding growing concerns."

Brown also alleged Defoe and his assistant failed to attend key commitments as preparations for the campaign continued, adding: "A meeting was subsequently scheduled involving the directors, manager, assistant manager and head of operations to review preparations for the season. Neither Jermain nor his assistant attended that meeting or that day's training session."

Defoe presented a different version of events after his departure, insisting circumstances behind the scenes made it impossible for him to continue despite his belief in the project.

He said: "Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position. I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special."

The 43-year-old leaves after 116 days in charge, having recorded two wins and one defeat in six league matches. His final game was a 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat to Braintree Town before relations between the manager and the club broke down.

Woking must move quickly to appoint a replacement before the National League season gets underway, with an opening fixture against Sutton United fast approaching. The club now faces the task of rebuilding after an appointment that ended in public disagreement.

For Defoe, the short-lived spell represents his first senior managerial role after previous coaching positions at Rangers and Tottenham, with the former striker expected to take the experience into his next opportunity.

Xavi Simons has broken his silence on leaving Barcelona in 2019 and joining the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Tottenham star grew up at La Masia and stood out as one of the brightest talents in the Catalan club's youth ranks. Yet after a full decade in a Barcelona shirt, he chose Paris.

Seven years on, and before the start of his second season with Tottenham, Simons has finally given his side of the story. His departure, he confirmed, came because Barcelona preferred to put their trust in other players.

Spanish newspaper "Sport" published his comments to The Sports Agents podcast, where he said: "It was clear from the beginning that they did not believe in me. At that time, I decided not to speak because I was focused only on what I offered on the pitch."

He continued: "They told me that they had another group of players they trusted, and that they wanted to offer me a contract, but that I was not among the players who form a real part of the project."

"For me, the decision was clear," he added. "At that time, people did not know what actually happened behind the scenes; they only had opinions based on what they had heard, because there were stories that spread claiming I left for the money."

Did it hurt? "Of course," he said. "I spent my whole life there, and I went through different situations, and I lived through everything inside this club. My entire childhood was there."

Then came the sting of the rumours. "I love Barcelona, and so the spread of that account hurt me, and it also hurt my family, because it was not true," he noted.

The truth, Simons explained, was simpler than many imagined. "At that time they preferred other players. And for me, that was a good thing, because Paris already had a huge project."

At 16, he was rubbing shoulders with the elite. "I was training in Paris, at the age of 16, alongside the best players in the world. It did not need much thinking, the decision was easy. Barcelona did not trust me, and so my choice was clear."

One man made the move easier. On his experience at Paris, he said: "Neymar was the closest to me, and he told me: if you need anything, call me or send me a message or come to my house and we will sort it out. I will remain grateful to him forever. Besides being my role model, today I can consider him a friend."

Elsewhere in the lengthy interview, Simons opened up on the first months of recovery from the serious cruciate ligament rupture he suffered at the end of April, an injury that ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.

"The first two days were extremely harsh," he said. "The first thing I thought of was the World Cup, and I asked the referees to allow me to try to stand one last time. I felt my knee come out of place and then return to it, and at that moment I realised that something serious had happened."

The confirmation broke him. "When they confirmed to me that it was the worst possible scenario, I felt as if the entire world had collapsed on top of my head," he added.

He concluded: "I told myself that I should not put too much pressure on myself. I am improving day by day, and that is something that makes me very happy."

Xavi Simons has been through the toughest spell of his life, he says on Tottenham Hotspur's club channels. The Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season.

On 25 April, disaster struck for Simons. During Tottenham's league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he twisted awkwardly and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

That injury ruled Simons out of the World Cup with the Netherlands, as well as the crucial run-in at club level. Tottenham were locked in a nerve-shredding relegation battle at the time. Simons could barely stand the fact he could not help his team.

"It was a move I had probably made ten thousand times in my life," Simons recalls of the moment. "Just when I wanted to go past him, my opponent decided to step in front of me. I felt my legs pinned to the ground while my body went the other way."

"I said to myself, 'Let me see if something is wrong, let me get up.' I tried to get up, but then I felt my knee pop out of place and go straight back in. That was when I knew it was over. The doctors called me over and said: 'Xavi, we're sorry, but it's the anterior cruciate ligament.' When I heard that, it felt as if my whole body collapsed."

After that came the tears. "Of course I cried, just like my family," Simons said. "The next day my mother came to our house. I remember us sitting at the table in the morning and I just kept thinking that I was missing the most important thing: helping my club in the fight against relegation. She said to me: 'Xavi, stop it. It has happened. There is nothing you can do about it now. This is simply what has happened. You have to accept it and move on.'"

From then on, the midfielder's mindset changed, although the rehabilitation was mentally draining above all. "The first four days were the worst of my life. I couldn't sleep. I didn't eat anything for a week. I was in so much pain, I had to vomit, I was dizzy... it was terrible. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone," Simons says.

Now the Netherlands international is on the way back, although he is not expected to return to the pitch until the next calendar year. "I'm doing well. I'm with my family and we have worked very hard. They have been through a lot with me over the past ten weeks. I also have the support of my club, and when I see how my body is responding, I think: 'Okay, this is going in the right direction.' Every day I want to improve and that motivation is very valuable to me," he says hopefully.

Arsenal and Tottenham are preparing to battle for Nusa after the Norway international enhanced his reputation at the World Cup, as per The Sun. The 21-year-old emerged as one of Europe's most exciting young attackers following an impressive Bundesliga campaign and a strong tournament, making six appearances and scoring Norway's first goal in the last-32 victory over Ivory Coast. His performances have intensified interest across the continent, although Leipzig remain firm on their £51 million valuation.

Arsenal are taking a patient approach before making a formal move, with the club waiting to assess interest in Gabriel Martinelli. While the Gunners are not actively looking to sell the Brazilian, an offer worth more than £51 million from Europe or Asia could change their stance. Leandro Trossard has already joined Besiktas, while Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge. Arsenal also missed out on top target Morgan Rogers after Chelsea completed a £117 million deal.

Spurs are equally interested but must first trim their squad. The futures of returning loanees Manor Solomon and Mikey Moore need resolving before Spurs can launch an official bid.

Nusa's admirers extend well beyond the Premier League. AC Milan and AS Roma have already opened direct talks with the winger's representatives as they attempt to steal a march on the English clubs. The same report claims that Milan view Nusa as a priority target and hope to finance a move by selling Rafael Leao, while Roma are prepared to test Leipzig with a £38 million offer.

Meanwhile, Spurs still have room for another winger after injuries ruled Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert out of the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Nusa is understood to be open to a new challenge following his successful World Cup, raising the prospect of negotiations accelerating in the coming weeks. However, every interested club faces the same obstacle. Convincing Leipzig to lower their £51 million asking price is expected to be the key factor before any deal can move closer to completion.

Defoe has officially stepped down as manager of National League side Woking after just four months and six league matches in charge. The 43-year-old former England striker was appointed in March as Neal Ardley's replacement, successfully guiding the club to a 10th-place finish last season. However, the club confirmed that both parties mutually agreed to part ways abruptly, just two weeks before the opening game of the new campaign.

Despite impressing club management with his coaching on the training field, Defoe revealed that off-the-pitch circumstances made it impossible for him to remain in his post.

Writing in a post on his personal Instagram account, the former Tottenham Hotspur star delivered his farewell message: "Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position.

"I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special.

"My time at Woking FC has been an eye-opening managerial experience and one that will undoubtedly make me stronger for the next challenge in my career."

As referenced, Ngumoha set a high bar when it came to a teenager making an impact on pre-season at Liverpool, but there is hope that Josh Abe will be able to at least match the performances of the newest England international if not this summer, then in 2027 or 2028.

Abe will get his first extended taste of first-team training during Liverpool's tour of the United States having joined in with some of Arne Slot's sessions last season while only 15 years old. Those promotions came as a reward for his fine form in the Under-18s, for whom he scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 league appearances.

Injury brought a premature end to Abe's campaign, and the Reds had to fight hard to keep him on Merseyside amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in the forward, who turned 16 earlier this month.

A left-footed winger who is most comfortable cutting inside from the right, Abe should get the opportunity to impress in the coming weeks given the departure of Mohamed Salah and late arrival of new signing Victor Munoz after Spain went all the way at the World Cup.

With Marc Cucurella having departed for Real Madrid, there is vacancy to be filled on the left-hand side for Chelsea, regardless of whether new boss Xabi Alonso opts to play three or four at the back. Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill are options among the established squad while new arrivals Valentin Barco and Geovany Quenda could also operate at wing-back, albeit the latter is better suited to the playing off the right in such a system.

Landon Emenalo, meanwhile, will hope he can push himself into the mix as one of a number of academy starlets whom Alonso is likely to include in his squad for their tour of Australia and Asia. The son of former Chelsea director of football, Michael Emenalo, Landon has impressed at age-group level for both the Blues and England.

A midfielder who can also operate at left-back, Emenalo's comfort in possession marks him out from his peers and is likely to catch the eye of Alonso this summer.

The 18-year-old is set to be joined in the touring squad by the likes of Reggie Walsh, Shim Mheuka and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, all of whom have been tipped for big futures in west London.

If there is one player on this list around whom there is a similar buzz to that which followed Ngumoha and, in particular, Dowman last summer, then it is Man Utd forward JJ Gabriel. Ever since it came to light that he had been nicknamed 'Little Messi' during his early teenage years within the United academy there has been a sense of anticipation regarding his eventual ascension to the senior ranks.

Well, that time is likely to come over the summer as United embark on a whistle-stop tour of Europe that will take them to cities such as Dublin, Gothenburg and Wroclaw. Though Gabriel did not feature in the Red Devils' opening friendly of the summer against Wrexham, he is expected to be given chances to impress by Michael Carrick before the new Premier League season arrives.

Despite only turning 15 in October, Gabriel was the star of United's U18s last season, as he netted 23 goals in as many league games to be named the U18s Premier League's Player of the Season, while he also led the way for the Red Devils en route to them reaching the FA Youth Cup final.

Already an England U17 international, Gabriel - who can play either as a striker or a wide forward - is regarded as having one of the highest ceilings of any United academy graduate of the past couple of decades, and there is real hope that he will make an instant impact when he takes to the pitch this summer.

While Beto and Thierno Barry both showed signs of improvement as the season wore on, there is no doubt that Everton could do with more goal-scoring options as the Toffees aim to secure a return to European football for the first time since 2017-18. That's where Braiden Graham could come in.

The 18-year-old scored 25 goals in 34 games for Everton's youth sides last season, which helped earn Graham a first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for their June friendlies. Now the former Linfield attacker is closing in on his first taste of senior football as he joins David Moyes' squad for pre-season.

Graham spent the majority of his youth career as a central striker, but his slight stature has led to him being forced out wide over the past 12 months, and it is off the left where he has found a home as he aims to continue catching Moyes' eye.

It went a little under the radar in the UK, but during the opening weeks of last season, there was a 16-year-old English striker starting games in the French top-flight. That teenager was Brian Madjo, who made five appearances for Metz in Ligue 1 before being snapped up by Aston Villa for £10 million in January.

Madjo, however, has been forced to watch from the sidelines ever since after FIFA blocked his registration. The striker, who turned 17 shortly before his move to Villa Park, earned three senior caps for Luxembourg before switching allegiance to England, the land of his birth. However, those international appearances, in FIFA's eyes, mark Madjo out as a foreign player who cannot be transferred outside of his 'home nation' until his 18th birthday.

Villa have taken FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have that decision overturned, but in the meantime, Madjo is able to play in friendlies, and showed no signs of rustiness as he scored twice against Walsall in the Europa League winners' first pre-season outing.

Physically imposing at 6'4", Madjo has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku in the past, and is regarded as one of the top striker prospects within the English ranks. It remains to be seen whether he will be available for the first half of Villa's season, but he can still use this summer to show Unai Emery exactly what he can offer, regardless of when he is able to finally make his competitive debut.

With many of their players having gone deep into the World Cup, Enzo Maresca will be forced into giving opportunities to a number of young players when Man City kick-off their tour of Asia. The most attention-grabbing teenager is likely to be Jeremy Monga, whom City beat Arsenal to sign from Leicester City this summer. However, we are most keen to see centre-back Stephen Mfuni in action.

The 18-year-old made his City debut in January before heading out on loan to Watford, where he impressed mightily while earning his first real taste of senior football at Championship level. An injury brought a premature end to Mfuni's time at Vicarage Road, but he is back fit again and set to show why Premier League clubs are keen to take him on loan this season if given the chance by Maresca.

A left-footed centre-half with excellent reading of the game and comfort in possession, Mfuni has all the attributes to become a future England international and star at the highest level. City fans should hope to see exactly why he is so highly-rated over the coming weeks.

While Dowman understandably attracts a lot of attention at Arsenal, he isn't the only promising 16-year-old to have emerged from Hale End in the past 12 months, with there high hopes that Marli Salmon will follow Dowman into becoming a regular member of Mikel Arteta's matchday squads.

Salmon made four first-team appearances for the Gunners last term, and with Wiliam Saliba unavailable while both Ben White and Jurrien Timber continue their recovery from injuries, there is a chance that the versatile defender sees plenty of minutes once the Premier League champions kick off their pre-season friendlies in early August.

Capable of playing at right-back or in his preferred position of centre-back, Salmon is extremely highly-regarded in north London thanks to his maturity and ability on the ball.

Newcastle have endured another tumultuous transfer window, but amid the sales of some of the Magpies' most important players, they have added a number of exciting youngsters to Eddie Howe's squad, of which Sean Steur is certainly one of them.

Steur arrived on Tyneside from Ajax for £23m ($31m) after breaking into the Dutch giants' first team last season and catching the eye in Eredivisie with his supreme passing ability. Only 18, Steur was linked with a host of top Premier League clubs before joining Newcastle, where he will help fill the gap left by Sandro Tonali and perhaps Bruno Guimaraes.

With other midfielders still on their post-World Cup holidays, expect Steur to see plenty of action as Newcastle spend the bulk of their pre-season in the UK.

For all their problems over the past couple of seasons, the future does look bright for Tottenham, both in terms of the team Roberto De Zerbi is building for the present, but also because of the number of talented individuals who are starting to emerge from the club's academy. One of the standout players among that homegrown contingent is undoubtedly Luca Williams-Barnett.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut for Spurs last September but has had to be patient for further opportunities ever since. That might be about to change, however, after Williams-Barnett caught the eye in Wednesday's win over MK Dons, and he will be part of De Zerbi's squad that is travelling to Australia and New Zealand for the next phase of their pre-season programme.

An attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide, Williams-Barnett is expected to compete for minutes this season, especially if fellow academy gem Mikey Moore again leaves on loan to gain experience elsewhere.

As tends to be their way, Brighton have once again added some talented teenagers to their squad this summer, albeit they have spent far more on them than in previous years. As well as adding Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic to their ranks in a deal worth £46m ($61m), they also paid Swedish side AIK a cool £21.5m ($29m) to sign winger Zadok Yohanna.

The 19-year-old arrives on the south coast having scored five goals and provided four assists in his 11 club appearances since the turn of the year, and was also on Chelsea's radar before the Seagulls swept in. Possessing a bag of tricks and pace to burn, Yohanna has everything he needs to give defenders nightmares, and he will be keen to show off his talents as Brighton head to France for the first part of their pre-season.

As referenced, Ngumoha set a high bar when it came to a teenager making an impact on pre-season at Liverpool, but there is hope that Josh Abe will be able to at least match the performances of the newest England international if not this summer, then in 2027 or 2028.

Abe will get his first extended taste of first-team training during Liverpool's tour of the United States having joined in with some of Arne Slot's sessions last season while only 15 years old. Those promotions came as a reward for his fine form in the Under-18s, for whom he scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 league appearances.

Injury brought a premature end to Abe's campaign, and the Reds had to fight hard to keep him on Merseyside amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in the forward, who turned 16 earlier this month.

A left-footed winger who is most comfortable cutting inside from the right, Abe should get the opportunity to impress in the coming weeks given the departure of Mohamed Salah and late arrival of new signing Victor Munoz after Spain went all the way at the World Cup.

With Marc Cucurella having departed for Real Madrid, there is vacancy to be filled on the left-hand side for Chelsea, regardless of whether new boss Xabi Alonso opts to play three or four at the back. Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill are options among the established squad while new arrivals Valentin Barco and Geovany Quenda could also operate at wing-back, albeit the latter is better suited to the playing off the right in such a system.

Landon Emenalo, meanwhile, will hope he can push himself into the mix as one of a number of academy starlets whom Alonso is likely to include in his squad for their tour of Australia and Asia. The son of former Chelsea director of football, Michael Emenalo, Landon has impressed at age-group level for both the Blues and England.

A midfielder who can also operate at left-back, Emenalo's comfort in possession marks him out from his peers and is likely to catch the eye of Alonso this summer.

The 18-year-old is set to be joined in the touring squad by the likes of Reggie Walsh, Shim Mheuka and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, all of whom have been tipped for big futures in west London.

If there is one player on this list around whom there is a similar buzz to that which followed Ngumoha and, in particular, Dowman last summer, then it is Man Utd forward JJ Gabriel. Ever since it came to light that he had been nicknamed 'Little Messi' during his early teenage years within the United academy there has been a sense of anticipation regarding his eventual ascension to the senior ranks.

Well, that time is likely to come over the summer as United embark on a whistle-stop tour of Europe that will take them to cities such as Dublin, Gothenburg and Wroclaw. Though Gabriel did not feature in the Red Devils' opening friendly of the summer against Wrexham, he is expected to be given chances to impress by Michael Carrick before the new Premier League season arrives.

Despite only turning 15 in October, Gabriel was the star of United's U18s last season, as he netted 23 goals in as many league games to be named the U18s Premier League's Player of the Season, while he also led the way for the Red Devils en route to them reaching the FA Youth Cup final.

Already an England U17 international, Gabriel - who can play either as a striker or a wide forward - is regarded as having one of the highest ceilings of any United academy graduate of the past couple of decades, and there is real hope that he will make an instant impact when he takes to the pitch this summer.

While Beto and Thierno Barry both showed signs of improvement as the season wore on, there is no doubt that Everton could do with more goal-scoring options as the Toffees aim to secure a return to European football for the first time since 2017-18. That's where Braiden Graham could come in.

The 18-year-old scored 25 goals in 34 games for Everton's youth sides last season, which helped earn Graham a first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad for their June friendlies. Now the former Linfield attacker is closing in on his first taste of senior football as he joins David Moyes' squad for pre-season.

Graham spent the majority of his youth career as a central striker, but his slight stature has led to him being forced out wide over the past 12 months, and it is off the left where he has found a home as he aims to continue catching Moyes' eye.

It went a little under the radar in the UK, but during the opening weeks of last season, there was a 16-year-old English striker starting games in the French top-flight. That teenager was Brian Madjo, who made five appearances for Metz in Ligue 1 before being snapped up by Aston Villa for £10 million in January.

Madjo, however, has been forced to watch from the sidelines ever since after FIFA blocked his registration. The striker, who turned 17 shortly before his move to Villa Park, earned three senior caps for Luxembourg before switching allegiance to England, the land of his birth. However, those international appearances, in FIFA's eyes, mark Madjo out as a foreign player who cannot be transferred outside of his 'home nation' until his 18th birthday.

Villa have taken FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to have that decision overturned, but in the meantime, Madjo is able to play in friendlies, and showed no signs of rustiness as he scored twice against Walsall in the Europa League winners' first pre-season outing.

Physically imposing at 6'4", Madjo has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku in the past, and is regarded as one of the top striker prospects within the English ranks. It remains to be seen whether he will be available for the first half of Villa's season, but he can still use this summer to show Unai Emery exactly what he can offer, regardless of when he is able to finally make his competitive debut.

With many of their players having gone deep into the World Cup, Enzo Maresca will be forced into giving opportunities to a number of young players when Man City kick-off their tour of Asia. The most attention-grabbing teenager is likely to be Jeremy Monga, whom City beat Arsenal to sign from Leicester City this summer. However, we are most keen to see centre-back Stephen Mfuni in action.

The 18-year-old made his City debut in January before heading out on loan to Watford, where he impressed mightily while earning his first real taste of senior football at Championship level. An injury brought a premature end to Mfuni's time at Vicarage Road, but he is back fit again and set to show why Premier League clubs are keen to take him on loan this season if given the chance by Maresca.

A left-footed centre-half with excellent reading of the game and comfort in possession, Mfuni has all the attributes to become a future England international and star at the highest level. City fans should hope to see exactly why he is so highly-rated over the coming weeks.

While Dowman understandably attracts a lot of attention at Arsenal, he isn't the only promising 16-year-old to have emerged from Hale End in the past 12 months, with there high hopes that Marli Salmon will follow Dowman into becoming a regular member of Mikel Arteta's matchday squads.

Salmon made four first-team appearances for the Gunners last term, and with Wiliam Saliba unavailable while both Ben White and Jurrien Timber continue their recovery from injuries, there is a chance that the versatile defender sees plenty of minutes once the Premier League champions kick off their pre-season friendlies in early August.

Capable of playing at right-back or in his preferred position of centre-back, Salmon is extremely highly-regarded in north London thanks to his maturity and ability on the ball.

Newcastle have endured another tumultuous transfer window, but amid the sales of some of the Magpies' most important players, they have added a number of exciting youngsters to Eddie Howe's squad, of which Sean Steur is certainly one of them.

Steur arrived on Tyneside from Ajax for £23m ($31m) after breaking into the Dutch giants' first team last season and catching the eye in Eredivisie with his supreme passing ability. Only 18, Steur was linked with a host of top Premier League clubs before joining Newcastle, where he will help fill the gap left by Sandro Tonali and perhaps Bruno Guimaraes.

With other midfielders still on their post-World Cup holidays, expect Steur to see plenty of action as Newcastle spend the bulk of their pre-season in the UK.

For all their problems over the past couple of seasons, the future does look bright for Tottenham, both in terms of the team Roberto De Zerbi is building for the present, but also because of the number of talented individuals who are starting to emerge from the club's academy. One of the standout players among that homegrown contingent is undoubtedly Luca Williams-Barnett.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut for Spurs last September but has had to be patient for further opportunities ever since. That might be about to change, however, after Williams-Barnett caught the eye in Wednesday's win over MK Dons, and he will be part of De Zerbi's squad that is travelling to Australia and New Zealand for the next phase of their pre-season programme.

An attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide, Williams-Barnett is expected to compete for minutes this season, especially if fellow academy gem Mikey Moore again leaves on loan to gain experience elsewhere.

As tends to be their way, Brighton have once again added some talented teenagers to their squad this summer, albeit they have spent far more on them than in previous years. As well as adding Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic to their ranks in a deal worth £46m ($61m), they also paid Swedish side AIK a cool £21.5m ($29m) to sign winger Zadok Yohanna.

The 19-year-old arrives on the south coast having scored five goals and provided four assists in his 11 club appearances since the turn of the year, and was also on Chelsea's radar before the Seagulls swept in. Possessing a bag of tricks and pace to burn, Yohanna has everything he needs to give defenders nightmares, and he will be keen to show off his talents as Brighton head to France for the first part of their pre-season.

Spain's Pedro Porro spoke about his future during an emotional tribute event held in his honour in his hometown of Don Benito, and the Tottenham star also played down the controversy surrounding the World Cup final.

The Tottenham full-back was among the key players in the Spain squad that lifted the World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

Speaking to "Sport", Porro admitted that winning the World Cup had not satisfied his competitive ambition.

"There is still a lot for me to achieve," he said. "I am a player with great ambition, and I always seek to learn more. Everyone who knows me knows that I aspire to more."

The reception moved him deeply. Porro wanted to dedicate the success to everyone who has walked alongside him since his early days.

He never imagined he would receive such a tribute. Reaching the elite, he stressed, required "a lot of sacrifices", especially since he was forced to leave home to continue his football career.

On his future, Porro confirmed he will stay at Tottenham, the club he is contracted to, and said he feels "very happy" there.

He did not close the door on a return to Spain one day, but his full focus is currently on his journey in England.

There was a lighter moment too. Porro joked with those present about the great popularity of his grandfather Antonio Sauceda, saying the reception was really "for him".

Closing his remarks, Porro brushed off the criticism from Argentina and the demands to replay the World Cup final. He insisted he had not read anything about the matter, dismissing it as "just things said from the outside" that do not concern him personally.

Tottenham fans have been met with disappointing news as the club prepares for its southern hemisphere tour, with Kulusevski and Kudus both left out of the travelling party. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are set to play three fixtures across Auckland and Sydney, building on their recent 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

The situation regarding Kudus is particularly frustrating given that there had been hope that he was closing in on a comeback, having not featured for Tottenham since significantly injuring his quad against Sunderland in January. While the former West Ham man had been pictured back at the gym at the Spurs training base recently, the decision has been made to keep him in London to focus on his recovery rather than risk the intensity of a transcontinental tour.

The picture looks less positive for Kulusevski, who remains absent from Tottenham's Enfield facility altogether, fuelling growing worry over the state of his knee. The Swedish winger has now gone 14 months without playing a competitive match, following patella surgery that followed an injury sustained just before Spurs lifted the Europa League in May 2025.

The 14-month layoff is a major concern for the technical staff, as the winger was once considered a foundational piece of the Tottenham attack. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are also remaining in London to continue their rehabilitation from respective injuries.

While injuries dominate the headlines, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the new faces who have made the cut for De Zerbi’s 35-man squad. Chief among them are the high-profile arrivals from the summer window, including the £185 million duo Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka will also experience their first trip with Spurs, though Marcos Senesi has been granted an extended break after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, while Guglielmo Vicario, who has been linked with a move to Napoli, also misses out after picking up a minor knock in training recently.

Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation last season, surviving a nail-biting fight against the drop before finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive campaign, a run of results that ultimately paved the way for the ambitious rebuild now taking shape under De Zerbi. Since then, the club have been among the busiest in the Premier League transfer market, moving quickly to strengthen across the pitch as they look to close the gap on the division's top sides, having already committed £237 million to incoming signings this summer.

Despite that outlay, De Zerbi has made clear his rebuilding project is far from complete. "I feel very good because we are working well. I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we are starting the project in another part of the history of the club," the Italian said, speaking to SpursPlay. "Now we have to finish, as it is not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I am very happy, very proud and very positive."