West Indies captain Kieron Pollard has said that Sunil Narine could return to the T20 side after he regains confidence in his bowling action. Narine, who was warned for a suspect action at last year’s IPL, has not been named in the squad to play South Africa in the five-match T20I series starting from Saturday. Earlier this year, following his absence from the T20I squad to play Sri Lanka, Narine had told the selectors that he was “not ready” to return to international cricket.”He (Narine) had indicated to the selectors that he might have been available after the IPL,” Pollard said. “Then, the IPL was cut short halfway through so he might not have got the necessary preparation or confidence in his action, so he indicated that he is still not ready. We’ll play it by ear as we go along.”Related

• Narine and the fading of offspin

• Narine indicates he's 'not ready' for WI return

• Russell returns to WI squad

Narine last played for West Indies in August 2019, in a series against India, but there have been complaints over his bowling action since 2014. He was part of the first half of this year’s IPL and has played for Trinidad and Tobago in the Super50 Cup before that, where he performed well with the ball. Given that spinners are likely to play a significant role in the next T20 World Cup, whether it is held in India or the UAE, Narine could be an important player for the West Indies; but for now, they have to plan without him.That’s no different to the way West Indies are usually forced to prepare for major tournaments – without big-name players – and Pollard explained it’s one of the reasons their bilateral record has suffered. West Indies have only won two of their last eight T20I series but are the current T20 World Cup holders and have won the title once before, in 2012.”Our results in ICC tournaments are good and I wouldn’t want to change that,” Pollard said. “It’s just that when it comes to these kinds of series, it’s about having the guys available or not. In World Cups, we tend to get the guys we want to have playing, playing.”But West Indies do have several superstars available for the South Africa series – with Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo in the squad. But that has come with criticisms of its own that Pollard is well aware of. “We hear the noise, sometimes loud and clear. When you look at it from a logical perspective if you go with only youngsters, there will still be noise. Whatever you do, there will be noise.”Gayle is 41, Fidel Edwards is 39, Bravo is 37, Lendl Simmons is 36 and Pollard is 34. The average age of the 13-man group is 31 years and nine months, and an obvious concern is whether West Indies are doing enough to ensure there is a smooth transition from one generation to the next or if they will be left with a vacuum when the senior players retire.For now, Pollard is not thinking about that but rather how to get the best of the players he has, while he has them.”If these guys are assets to us, why not use the little bit of cricket they have left in them?” he asked. “Some of these guys play around the world and then when we see them around the world, we ask why they are not playing for us, and now they are.”

Hasan Ali, left out of last year’s list, rejoins it in the highest-earning Category A

Umar Farooq02-Jul-2021Senior players Mohammad Abbas, Asad Shafiq and Imad Wasim, and youngsters Haider Ali and Naseem Shah are among the players missing from the Pakistan men’s contracts list for 2021-22.Fast bowler Hasan Ali, who made a strong comeback to the national team recently, has undergone a swift change in status. After having been left out last year, he rejoins the contracts list in Category A alongside Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.ESPNcricinfo LtdFaheem Ashraf (Category B), Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali (both Category C), Usman Qadir, Imran Butt and Shahnawaz Dahani (all Emerging Category) have also earned new contracts this year, while Shan Masood, Usman Shinwari and Iftikhar Ahmed have lost theirs. Haris Sohail, who recently made a comeback to Pakistan’s white-ball teams, lost his conrtact as well.In February, Rizwan had earned a promotion from Category B to A, while Fawad Alam was inducted into Category C. Alam has now earned another promotion to Category B.Senior top-order batter Azhar Ali, meanwhile, has been demoted from Category A to Category B. He might consider himself unlucky given that he averages 50.76 in nine Tests since Pakistan’s tour of England last year.In all, 20 players have been contracted for 2021-22, down from 21 last year.Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has managed to retain his contract, though he has dropped down from Category B to C. He was originally dropped from the Pakistan side in 2019, across all formats, but he has been travelling with the squad of late, due to the requirement of larger touring parties in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, deputising for Rizwan who is the first-choice wicketkeeper. Sarfaraz has played just one ODI and two T20Is since the start of 2020.Naseem Shah has endured a downturn in fortunes since breaking spectacularly into the Test team•Getty ImagesNaseem, who is 18 years old, and Haider, who is 20, had been considered among Pakistan’s strongest future prospects before they were axed from the contracts list. Haider made two half-centuries in his first three T20I innings but has regressed since then, his current average in the format a modest 19.69 after 15 matches. More recently, he was suspended from the PSL final for breaching Covid-19 protocols.Naseem made a strong start to his international career too, becoming the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick and the youngest fast bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul in the format. He won an Emerging contract last year but his career has slumped of late, with fitness concerns and a subsequent loss of form. He was dropped for a large part of the year before being recalled to Pakistan’s squad for the Test series in the West Indies next month.”In the new list, we have seen eight new players emerge who have now gained central contracts,” Wasim Khan, the PCB CEO, said in a statement. “Due to the competitive nature of the central contract system nine players who had contracts in 2020-21 have sadly missed out on this occasion. The door remains firmly open for these players and they will continue to remain in the plans of the selectors.”Khan further added: “Emerging Category recognises and rewards the up and coming talent. We have seen the emergence of Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain move from an Emerging Category to Category C, and the likes of Imran Butt, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir breaking into the Emerging Category. The Emerging Category remains a platform for young players to break into the central contract system.”The annual contract cycle runs from July 1 to June 30. The PCB has also increased the monthly retainer fee for all three categories by 25%. Players in B and C categories have received an additional raise in their match fees across all three formats. Players in Category B will get a 15% increase in Test match fees, 20% increase in ODI fees, and a 25% increase in T20I fees, while Category C players are getting a 34% increase in Test match fees, 50% increase in ODI fees, 67 per cent increase in T20I fees.This effectively means all players will receive the same match fees regardless of their contract category.”The equalisation of match fees means that all players who walk out together to represent Pakistan will receive the same match fees irrespective of which category they are in, or whether they have a central contract or not,” Khan said. “Despite the challenging economic climate, we as the Pakistan Cricket Board believe that it is important to continue to show advancement in the value of central contracts. In the last two years, we have seen significant progress in central contract payments and we will remain committed to the principle of improving the value of contracts year-on-year.”

Leeds United are set to host recently relegated Burnley in the Championship at Elland Road in the early kick-off this afternoon in their first game after the international break.

The Whites went into the first break of the 2024/25 campaign unbeaten in the second tier, with two wins and two draws, and will be looking to maintain that record against the Clarets, who were relegated from the Premier League last term.

Daniel Farke’s side ran out 2-0 winners against Hull City in their last match in the Championship, thanks to goals from Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe.

The German tactician could make a change or two for this clash with Burnley, though, and one player who could be ruthlessly dropped is midfielder Ilia Gruev

Why Ilia Gruev could be dropped

Last season, The Athletic’s Phil Hay noted that Leeds had “little” goal threat from a central midfield position and Gruev’s lack of quality in the final third played a part in that.

The Bulgaria international ended the 2023/24 campaign with zero goals and one assist in 29 regular season appearances in the Championship for the Whites.

He has started the current season with a return of zero goals, zero assists, and one ‘big chance’ created in four starts in the second tier in the middle of the park.

The left-footed whiz has started every match for Leeds so far this term but the arrival of Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf has provided Farke with a different option alongside Ethan Ampadu in midfield.

Gruev could now be ruthlessly ditched from the starting XI by the former Norwich City head coach, due to his lack of threat at the top end of the pitch, in order for the Japan international to be unleashed for the first time.

Why Leeds should unleash Ao Tanaka

The 26-year-old star, who made his debut off the bench against Hull, is a central midfielder who has the potential to provide quality in the final third.

Tanaka, who was lauded as “one of the most underrated midfielders in world football” by journalist Bence Bocsak, joined the Whites from the 2. Bundesliga side last month, after an impressive campaign in Germany last season.

23/24 season

Ao Tanaka (2. Bundesliga)

Ilia Gruev (Championship)

Appearances

30

29

Goals

7

0

Assists

3

1

Big chances created

6

1

Pass accuracy

89%

92%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese dynamo produced far more quality as an attacking threat for his side than Gruev did for Leeds in the Championship last term.

Tanaka ranked within the top 8% of midfielders in the 2. Bundesliga for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.28), which shows that he was one of the best players in his position in the division at scoring goals from open play.

Leeds are up against a Burnley team that has only conceded three goals in four games and has not let in more than one goal in any game so far.

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This suggests that they will need to be ruthless and clinical when going forward to have the best chance of penetrating that Clarets defence, which is why Tanaka should be unleashed ahead of Gruev to provide quality in attack.

The U.S. international and the Cottagers scored two late goals to stun the Blues, moving their unbeaten run to six-straight matches

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• Fulham defeat Chelsea 2-1
• Antonee Robinson plays 90 minutes
• American left back one to watch in January transfer window

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Antonee Robinson and Fulham defeated Premier League powerhouse Chelsea 2-1 on Thursday, claiming victory over on Boxing Day.

  Chelsea opened up the scoring early through England international Cole Palmer, but two late goals from stunned the second place side in the Premier League. A Harry Wilson header in the 82nd minute brought them level, before a stoppage-time winner from Rodrigo Muniz handed them all three points to extend their unbeaten streak to six matches.

  On the winner, Robinson delivered the initial ball into the box that eventually found Muniz, as the American played a vital role in securing the victory.

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  Robinson had a fantastic performance, completing 33 of his 42 attempted passes while creating one attacking chance and registering one shot on target from his left back position. He totaled 68 touches on the ball, with five of them coming in the opposition's 18-yard-box.

  Defensively, he recorded three clearances; two of which were defensive headers. In addition, he had five recoveries and committed three fouls, one of which earned him a yellow card in the 91st minute after he wrestled Pedro Neto to the ground.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Robinson has three assists and three yellow cards in his last four appearances for the , including a Man of the Match performance in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool where he recorded two goal-contributions.

  He's since drawn transfer interest fromwith club legend Jamie Carragher even admitting the American would be "top of his list" for this Winter's transfer market.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FULHAM, ROBINSON?

  The 27-year-old defender and the are back in action on Sunday against USMNT teammate Tyler Adams and Bournemouth as they wrap the calendar year. Come Jan. 1, transfer interest in Robinson will, expectedly, start to heat up, too.

Arsenal are believed to already be in contact over a possible £63 million signing for next year, as Edu Gaspar and the club's recruitment team look to jump ahead of rival suitors.

Arsenal spend under £100 million on five summer signings

Mikel Arteta and Edu will be very happy with how the club conducted their business over the summer, with five major signings brought in for under £100 million, not to mention a few marquee sales made on top of this.

TalkSPORT pundit says £89m Chelsea star should follow Sterling to Arsenal

The ex-Man City star could make his debut against Tottenham this weekend.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 10, 2024

David Raya signed from Brentford in a £27 million deal, which was a formality of his loan-with-obligation-to-buy move last year. After the Spaniard, Riccardo Calafiori swapped Bologna for the Premier League, with midfielder Mikel Merino also joining Arsenal later in the summer.

Arsenal managed two last-gasp deals at the eleventh hour, with both Neto and Raheem Sterling joining the north Londoners on deadline day. Sterling's capture comes as particularly interesting, and arguably their highest-profile move of the year.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

The 29-year-old, who's scored 123 goals in the English top flight alone, provides both Premier League pedigree and trophy-winning experience – not to mention versatility.

It is believed Arteta is planning to use Sterling as a false-nine against Tottenham in the north London derby this weekend, with Arsenal looking short in midfield and Kai Havertz potentially dropping further back.

While the Gunners are suffering from a few injury worries and absentee concerns ahead of their trip to Spurs, they've arguably been unlucky in that regard so soon after the start of this new season.

Merino fractured his shoulder in his first ever Arsenal training session at London Colney, and there's been concerns surrounding Calafiori after he suffered a freak injury on international duty with Italy.

All-in-all, despite Arsenal's misfortune when it comes to their new arrivals, Edu and Arteta will still be ecstatic about the business conducted.

Arsenal already in contact over 2025 move for Benjamin Sesko

According to CaughtOffside, the Gunners are already planning for 2025, almost immediately after the closure of the last window. RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko was a widely reported transfer target for Arsenal over the summer, but the Slovenia striker decided to remain at his current club by signing a contract extension.

It is believed Arsenal have already been in contact over a 2025 move for Sesko, as Edu and co look to get ahead of rival suitors like Chelsea and Man United for his signature next summer – indicating they haven't given up hope of landing the 21-year-old.

Some reports claim that the forward's new deal includes a £63 million release clause, so a transfer is entirely possible, and CaughtOffside claim Arsenal are optimistic they can land Sesko this time round.

Since their takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, Manchester City have emerged as arguably the most dominant side in English football, and for a period of time, the best side in Europe, too, having now claimed four successive Premier League titles.

Of course, one of the most notable signings came in the summer of 2021. They smashed the British transfer record by signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m, although that record has since been broken, following Chelsea’s acquisition of Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.

Some of the other notably expensive signings from the Cityzens have included Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £51m, which given his record for the club so far, seems like a bargain. The signing of Kevin de Bruyne, who cost a then-club record £55m, also seems like a bargain given the fact he has been integral in their success, including a treble in 2022/23.

City are clearly not shy of spending lots of money on the best players in the world to help them win the biggest trophies. They have recently been linked with another world star, whose signing would once again break their record transfer.

Man City target La Liga winger

The player in question here is Real Madrid and Brazil international attacker Rodrygo. The 23-year-old is one of the most highly-rated forwards in world football, but since Los Blancos signed Kylian Mbappe, he has been linked with a move away from the club.

According to reports in Spain, via TEAMtalk, the Cityzens are believed to have made a ‘surprise offer’ for the Brazil international this summer, amidst the reported unrest at the Santiago Bernabeu following the signing of the French captain. Pep Guardiola and his team are believed to be ‘closely monitoring’ his situation at Madrid.

According to the report, ‘not everyone is happy’ with the addition of the former PSG man, who inherited the number nine shirt at Madrid from his countryman Karim Benzema, who left just over one year ago. The report suggests that Rodrygo in particular is ‘going through a difficult time’ at the moment.

In terms of a price, one report from beIN Sports suggests the winger could cost as much as £148m this summer, smashing their club record transfer and the Premier League’s record, too. City are thought to be ready to make the former Santos man ‘one of the highest-paid’ players in world football.

Why Rodrygo would be a good signing

Last season for Real Madrid, Rodrygo was superb. The 23-year-old attacker scored ten goals and grabbed five assists in 34 La Liga games last term, as well as five goals and three assists in 13 games in the Champions League.

He has also started this season like a flash, scoring the only goal in the 1-1 draw between Carlo Ancelotti’s side and Mallorca. That was a frustrating affair for a dominant Los Blancos side, who dictated the game but dropped points in the first La Liga game of the season, despite a superb goal from Rodrygo.

In terms of his profile, the Real Madrid number 11 is a direct, two-way winger who loves to drive at defenders and get himself into one-vs-one situations. He is superb in tight spaces, thanks to excellent close control and quick feet, and he excels at combination play. His ball striking is also superb, and he is impressive when shooting from outside of the box.

Rodrygo was described as “terrifyingly good” by football journalist Sam Tighe, and it certainly rings true when considering his profile, which could help him to thrive in a dominant Cityzens side.

Why Rodrygo could be Sane 2.0

In fact, the former Santos attacker could become Guardiola’s next Leroy Sane, who was superb during his time at City. The German played 135 games for City, scoring 39 goals and grabbing 43 assists, but was particularly impressive in 2017/18.

During that season, the winger, now at Bayern Munich, played 32 games in the Premier League, getting himself on the scoresheet ten times and registering 15 assists. He was crucial for the Cityzens, helping them win the title and also winning Young Player of the Year for his exceptional campaign.

Indeed, the similarities between the pair can also be reflected in their FBref stats, with the site deeming the duo to be similar players, among those in their position in Europe's top five leagues.

It is worth noting that, for the purpose of this comparison, Rodrygo’s stats from the 2023/24 season will be used, and Sane’s from his incredible 2017/18 campaign are taken into consideration.

Their creative passing numbers are fairly similar, with the Brazilian averaging 1.74 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to the former Man City winger’s 2.12. However, the Real Madrid man averages more passes into the penalty area, with 1.67 compared to just 1.52 for Sane.

Where Rodrygo’s stats are far better than the German's are in his dribbling numbers. He averaged 6.02 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to 3.79 for Sane in 2017/18.

Stat (per 90)

Rodrygo (2023/24 season)

Sane (2017/18 season)

Progressive carries

6.02

3.79

Carries into the final third

4.02

1.78

Carries into the penalty box

3.18

2.38

However, Sane’s numbers for take-ons far exceed that of Rodrygo’s stats. It is perhaps surprising given the Brazilian’s impressive one-vs-one ability, but the six-foot Bayern winger was a cut above in 2017/18. He completed an average of 3.16 take-ons per game, at a success rate of 64.4%, whereas Madrid’s number 11 last term completed just 2.27 take-ons at a 40.8% success rate.

There is no doubt that a deal for Rodrygo would be a costly transfer for City to do. However, the 23-year-old could have a transformative impact on Guardiola’s side, and become the new Sane for the legendary Spanish manager. He could be the catalyst to help the Cityzens get over the line and win their fifth consecutive Premier League title.

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He has thrived in the last 12 months in the Premier League

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 21, 2024

An Everton attacker is now close to leaving the club in a deadline day exit, according to a fresh update regarding a move to another English club.

Everton transfer news

After a bleak start to the Premier League season for the Blues, supporters will be hoping to have something to shout about at the end of the summer transfer window.

It has been a solid summer in the market for Everton with the likes of Jake O'Brien, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom among those who have come in, but given the nature of their respective 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to Brighton and Tottenham, further reinforcements are required.

Time is clearly running out for Sean Dyche in that respect, but one report has claimed that the Blues have been given the opportunity to complete the signing of Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill for a cut-price amount. Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are also seen as potential suitors, however, and the Englishman could be snapped up for just £5m.

Everton are also reportedly in negotiations to sign Rennes ace Lorenz Assignon, with the 24-year-old right-back someone who could add much-needed youth to a key area of the pitch where Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are ageing figures. Now, a Goodison exit update has dropped regarding one figure, but it isn't Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton attacker closing in on exit

According to Football Insider, Everton striker Francis Okoronkwo has agreed to join Salford City on loan for the entirety of the 2024/25 season, being given the green light to move on. The 19-year-old originally moved to Goodison Park from Sunderland in a £1m move back in 2021, but it looks as though a temporary move away this summer has been decided to be best for his development.

This makes complete sense for Okoronkwo more than anything, considering the teenager is unlikely to be deemed an important part of Dyche's plans this season, given his lack of experience. The Englishman is yet to make an appearance for Everton at senior level, despite joining the club three years ago, instead being limited to playing time for the Under-23s and Under-18s, making a combined 65 outings.

Okoronkwo has done well in that time, though, scoring 20 goals and registering eight assists, and he could grow further as a player at League Two side Salford, testing himself up against older players before returning to Goodison a better footballer than before.

Whether he has a long-term future at Everton remains to be seen, but now is the time for him to excel away from Merseyside and show that he can handle a different challenge.

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Assuming the move goes through, how Okoronkwo fares between now and the end of the season could determine whether the Blues feel he is worth persevering with or not. For that reason, the pressure on him to show that he is now capable of making the jump from youth to senior football for an extended period.

Leeds United bounced back to winning ways in the Championship with a 2-0 win over Cardiff City in Wales on Saturday, having lost to Burnley the previous weekend.

The Whites secured all three points, thanks to goals from Largie Ramazani and Joel Piroe, and have now lost just once in their opening six matches in the division.

One of the stars of the season so far has been a surprising one as Brenden Aaronson has returned to Elland Road and emerged as a regular starter in the number ten role, following on from Georginio Rutter’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The USA international provided the assist for Piroe’s goal on Saturday, threading a pass through to the Dutchman, and has produced two goals and two ‘big chances’ created in four league starts so far this term.

Aaronson, who spent last season on loan with Union Berlin in Germany, is looking to reignite his career in England after a dismal debut season at Elland Road following on from his move to the club in the summer of 2022.

Brenden Aaronson's Leeds nightmare

Former Whites head coach Jesse Marsch swooped to sign the young talent from his former club, RB Salzburg, for a reported fee of £24.7m ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The step up to the Premier League, having played in the Austrian Bundesliga the previous season, ended up being too much of a jump for the American prospect.

Aaronson did make an impressive start to life at Elland Road, with a goal against Chelsea in his third Premier League outing, but it did not last.

His strike against the Blues ended up being his only goal of the season, in 36 attempts, from an xG tally of 3.86, which suggests that he was incredibly wasteful with the chances that did come his way.

The right-footed lightweight also found the physicality of the Premier League too much to handle. He lost 57% of his ground duels and a whopping 83% of his aerial contests, as opposition defenders found it far too easy to get the better of him.

At the end of the season, Sofascore revealed the ‘worst Team of the Season’, based on their player ratings, and Aaronson had the lowest rating in the entire side – 6.51 – and this meant that he was the lowest rated player in the division that term.

This shows that former Leeds sporting director Victor Orta and Marsch had a nightmare with the signing of the USA international, as he arrived for a significant fee – of £24.7m – and failed to make a positive impact in the Premier League.

The Whites were relegated from the top-flight that term and they could have had a better chance of avoiding the drop if they had spent that money elsewhere.

With this in mind, it is interesting to look back at the player they were reportedly interested in signing for that attacking midfield berth before they landed the Salzburg star.

Leeds' interest in Charles De Ketelaere

It was reported that Leeds and AC Milan battled throughout the summer in an attempt to secure a deal for Charles De Ketelaere from Club Brugge in the summer of 2022, after the impressive starlet had scored 14 goals in 33 Pro League games in the 2021/22 campaign.

The Whites reportedly offered more money than the Italian giants as an overall package but the structure of the deal was not in line with what the Belgian side wanted, which allowed Milan to eventually swoop in and secure his services for a fee of £29m.

After the move had gone through, his agent – Tom De Mul – confirmed that Leeds put the best offer on the table, financially, but that his client had decided that he wanted to move to Milan.

De Mul also revealed, interestingly, that West Ham United, Arsenal, and Newcastle United had also been tracking the 21-year-old starlet but had not made any concrete moves for him.

This shows that there was plenty of interest in the Belgian wizard and that it was always going to be difficult for Leeds to secure his services, as they eventually lost the race to Milan.

There may, however, be conflicting feelings over the club’s failure to sign him from Club Brugge based on his journey over the last two-and-a-bit-years.

Charles De Ketelaere's current market value

At the time of writing (23/09/2024), Transfermarkt has his market value at €34m (£29m) and this means that his value has not dropped from the £29m that Milan paid for him in 2022.

Whereas, Aaronson is currently valued at just €12m (£10m) and that is a significant fall from the £24.7m that Leeds splashed out on his services.

This suggests, on paper at least, that de Ketelaere would have been a much better signing than Aaronson from a financial perspective, as he has held his value rather than seeing it plummet, whilst both players are still 23 and have time to develop further.

However, it is worth noting that the Belgium international endured a difficult first season with Milan – producing zero goals and one assist in 32 Serie A outings – before thriving elsewhere.

He spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Atalanta before signing with the Serie A side permanently this summer, and has been in impressive form over the past 13 months with his new club.

De Ketelaere has racked up 15 goals and 12 assists in 56 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta, which shows that he can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Starts

25

Goals

10

Big chances created

11

Assists

8

Dribbles completed per game

1.1

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian wizard was impressive in the Serie A during the 2023/24 campaign, with 22 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 25 starts.

The eye-catching “jewel” – as he was described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has found his feet in Italy, after a difficult first year with Milan, and has thrived with Atalanta, which has helped his market value to remain at £29m.

His form over the last year or so and his current market value may make Leeds rue missing out on him, as Aaronson’s career has yet to fully reignite since his early struggles at Elland Road.

Leeds wanted to sign a star who's now worth £152m, they landed Grot instead

The Whites had attempted to land the centre-forward during his teenage years.

ByDan Emery Sep 19, 2024

Nico Williams and Alexander Isak are both under consideration as Arsenal aim to sign a wide forward in January, per a new report.

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Arsenal want to reinforce frontlineMikel Arteta keen on Isak and WilliamsMoney not an issue for GunnersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per the Daily Mail, Arsenal want to strengthen their frontline in January. A deal to sign a striker and a midfielder are seen as viable but not until the summer, while in January, the club want to secure a wide forward, especially after Bukayo Saka's hamstring surgery.

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Per the report, there is interest in Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane, Real Madrid's Arda Guler, and Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, although all four present their own difficulties, with rival interest and the potential difficulty of extricating them from their clubs in January chief amongst them. They also hold interest in Isak, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Wolves' Matheus Cunha and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo as potential new No.9s.

DID YOU KNOW?

Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League table but sit nine points behind leaders Liverpool, sharpening the focus on their need to invest in January.

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Arsenal face Brentford on New Year's Day as they attempt to close the gap on the Reds. A win would see them leapfrog surprise package Nottingham Forest into second.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left perplexed by the decision to award Brighton a penalty in Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Gunners.

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• Arsenal drop points against Brighton
• Seagulls equalise from penalty spot
• Arteta baffled by spot-kick decision

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal's title hopes suffered another blow as the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton. Ethan Nwaneri had put Arsenal in front but a penalty from Joao Pedro rescued a point for the Seagulls. The spot-kick was awarded after William Saliba was penalised for a foul when he tried to nod the ball away but connected with Pedro instead. The incident was checked by VAR and a penalty awarded, leaving Arteta baffled by the decision.

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  WHAT ARTETA SAID

  Arteta told : "Bizarre. That means we have probably never seen it before. I haven't in my career. So it is a new one."

  He went on to add in a second interview with : "We are really disappointed with the decision that leads to the goal because I have never seen something like this in my life. He touches the ball as well."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal fans were left furious by the decision to award the penalty and there's no doubt it was a costly goal to concede. The Gunners now sit five points behind Liverpool but have played two games more than the Reds. Arne Slot's side are due to take on struggling Manchester United next on Sunday, although the game may be postponed as heavy snow is forecast in the area ahead of the match at Anfield.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL

  Arsenal now switch their focus away from the Premier League and to the domestic cups. The Gunners take on Newcastle on Tuesday in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final and then host Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.