Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank has made it clear that the club is only interested in signing players fully committed to joining them, following the collapse of a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Eze had been close to a switch to Spurs earlier this week, but is now set to join Arsenal in a £67.5 million deal after the Gunners reached an agreement with the 27-year-old and Crystal Palace.

According to BBC Sports on Friday, the playmaker was omitted from Palace’s Europa Conference League win against Fredrikstad on Thursday, signalling his imminent departure.

It is the second blow Spurs have suffered this summer, with Morgan Gibbs-White opting to sign a new contract at Nottingham Forest after Tottenham had activated a release clause in his previous deal.

“In general, I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to this club and wear this fantastic badge.

“We don’t want them here, and I’m sure the fans feel the same,” Frank said.

Spurs, who beat Burnley 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season, travel to Manchester City on Saturday (12:30PM BST).

With the transfer window set to close on 1 September, Frank remained confident of adding to his squad.

“We are in the market, and we will look to strengthen the team.

“We have a good squad and good players [but] we need to do everything we can to be as competitive as possible. I am confident we will sign a player before the end of the window. Every club wants to sign players as early as possible, but it’s not that easy,” he stressed.

Frank said striker Richarlison, who netted twice in the win against Burnley, is set to stay at the club.

The Brazilian, 28, had been linked with a move to Palace in part-exchange for Eze.

Arsenal host Leeds United on Saturday (17:30 BST), with Eze expected to complete a medical with the Gunners over the weekend.

But head coach Mikel Arteta said on Friday: ‘I have nothing to comment.

A former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, on Friday, berated the Nigeria Football Federation and Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.

Speaking at Rufai’s burial in a video posted by News Central on Friday, the ex-Inter Milan star expressed disappointment over what he described as the neglect of Nigerian football heroes after their death.

“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.

“My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he said

The former international recalled similar situations with late football icons such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, stressing that the treatment of ex-players discouraged him from encouraging his children to serve the country through football.

“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit in within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he stated.

Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the country’s debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year.

He passed away in July 2025.

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Super Falcons defender Tosin Demehin has extended her stay with Turkish club Galatasaray Women after an impressive debut season that showcased her as one of Nigeria’s emerging defensive stars.

The 23-year-old centre-back joined Galatasaray in the summer of 2024 from French side Stade de Reims and quickly established herself as a key figure in the team. She featured in 26 matches across all competitions, scoring once, and helped anchor the club’s defense, contributing to a fourth-place finish in the Turkish Women’s Super League and Galatasaray’s first-ever appearance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Demehin’s breakthrough season coincided with her international rise. She played every match for the Super Falcons at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, helping Nigeria secure a record-extending 10th title. She also scored her first international goal during Nigeria’s 5-0 quarter-final victory over Zambia. “It was a dream tournament for me; playing every game, scoring for my country, and lifting the trophy with my teammates,” Demehin said following the triumph.

Her contract extension also highlights a growing Nigerian presence at Galatasaray, joining Victor Osimhen, who leads the men’s team, as the only Nigerians representing the Istanbul club.

As Galatasaray prepare for the 2025/26 season, Demehin’s composure, aerial ability, and tactical awareness will be vital as the club aims for stronger domestic and European campaigns.

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