Conor Coady - England assistant coach Steve Holland called the Wolves defender his player of the tournament, despite Coady not playing a single minute at Euro 2020. Holland cited Coady's leadership qualities in the dressing room, even though he wasn't in the team. New Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo knows the 28-year-old well from their Wolves day. He could be the totemic figure Spurs' defence so badly lacks.
Conor Coady - England assistant coach Steve Holland called the Wolves defender his player of the tournament, despite Coady not playing a single minute at Euro 2020. Holland cited Coady's leadership qualities in the dressing room, even though he wasn't in the team. New Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo knows the 28-year-old well from their Wolves day. He could be the totemic figure Spurs' defence so badly lacks.
Kasper Schmeichel - with the greatest respect to Leicester, it baffles that the Denmark goalkeeper has not been targeted by any of Europe's elite clubs. The Dane was a tower of strength on and off the pitch at the Euros, particularly so during the horrific scenes that saw Christian Eriksen collapse on the pitch against Finland. Some of the saves he made during Denmark's run to the semi-finals were simply breathtaking. At 34, Schmeichel is only getting better with age.
Kasper Schmeichel - with the greatest respect to Leicester, it baffles that the Denmark goalkeeper has not been targeted by any of Europe's elite clubs. The Dane was a tower of strength on and off the pitch at the Euros, particularly so during the horrific scenes that saw Christian Eriksen collapse on the pitch against Finland. Some of the saves he made during Denmark's run to the semi-finals were simply breathtaking. At 34, Schmeichel is only getting better with age.
Clement Lenglet - Barcelona's need to trim the wage bill to pay Lionel Messi hasn't yet triggered a fire sale of players, but it appears only a matter of time. One of those likely to be jettisoned is French defender Lenglet, particularly with Erica Garcia rejoining from Manchester City. Lenglet, 26, is less injury-prone than his club and international teammate Samuel Umtiti, and at €25 million represents good value.
Clement Lenglet - Barcelona's need to trim the wage bill to pay Lionel Messi hasn't yet triggered a fire sale of players, but it appears only a matter of time. One of those likely to be jettisoned is French defender Lenglet, particularly with Erica Garcia rejoining from Manchester City. Lenglet, 26, is less injury-prone than his club and international teammate Samuel Umtiti, and at €25 million represents good value.
Danny Ings - will be disappointed to have missed out on the England squad that did so well at the Euros. Ings cut a frustrated figure in an inconsistent Southampton side last season as was reflected in his goals return of 13 across competition. Has less than 12 months left on his contract and Saints may decide to cash in on their striker for a fee of around €22 million.
Danny Ings - will be disappointed to have missed out on the England squad that did so well at the Euros. Ings cut a frustrated figure in an inconsistent Southampton side last season as was reflected in his goals return of 13 across competition. Has less than 12 months left on his contract and Saints may decide to cash in on their striker for a fee of around €22 million.
Lewis Dunk - Brighton have already lost Ben White to Arsenal this summer, and seem poised for another North London club raid on their defence. Dunk is the beating heart of a club that is now looking forward to a fifth successive season in the Premier League, largely off the back of his performances. A threat in both boxes, Dunk will see a move to Tottenham as a step up.
Lewis Dunk - Brighton have already lost Ben White to Arsenal this summer, and seem poised for another North London club raid on their defence. Dunk is the beating heart of a club that is now looking forward to a fifth successive season in the Premier League, largely off the back of his performances. A threat in both boxes, Dunk will see a move to Tottenham as a step up.

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Football

Coady, Schmeichel, Ings - 5 players Tottenham should sign

Five players who could help enhance Nuno Espirito Santo's squad

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

July 21, 2021

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The biggest transfer headache new Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo faces at present is trying to ward off overtures for star striker Harry Kane.

Kane has made clear his intention to be at a team capable of challenging for major trophies, which is basically code for 'not Tottenham'.

But while the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea battle it out for Kane's signature, Nuno must also focus on reinforcing a squad that has been dismal since reaching the Champions League final in 2019.

Read more

Lukaku, Rice, Chiesa - 5 players Chelsea should target

A priority is the defence, with one but preferably two centre-backs to bolster a rearguard that was too often a pushover last season.

Eric Dier's preference to be part of the defence backfired spectacularly as he was left out of England's Euro 2020 squad after being a vital part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup three years earlier. Toby Alderweireld looks a shadow of the player he once was. Only Joe Rodon, signed from Championship side Swansea City last year, emerged with credit from a disappointing 2020/21.

Nuno has been linked with several players from his former club Wolves, with Conor Coady and Willy Boly chief among them.

The Portuguese may also decide to take a decision that successive Spurs managers have ignored and upgrade his first-choice goalkeeper with club captain Hugo Lloris' displays no longer at elite-level.

Above is a photo gallery of five potential Spurs targets.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time

Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.

Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.

The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.

The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.

Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.

The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.

• Bloomberg

Updated: July 22, 2021, 2:44 AM`
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