Continuing to steal the headlines, one of Liverpool’s top targets has now reportedly said “yes” to completing a summer move to Anfield, with the Reds now launching their opening offer.

How Liverpool are spending so big this summer

Even the most optimistic of Liverpool fans would not have expected the Reds to splash the cash to this extent this summer. After all, it was only one year ago that the only immediate arrival proved to be Federico Chiesa at a bargain price. It is simply not how Liverpool have ever truly operated.

Even when Jurgen Klopp’s side were at the peak of their powers, the tactic remained welcoming players who have the potential to become great, rather than already established stars. So, what’s changed?

Related Liverpool now contacted with fresh opportunity to sign "superb" UCL winner

They could steal in ahead of Premier League rivals.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jul 17, 2025

The return of Michael Edwards last summer on top of the arrival of Richard Hughes has seemingly seen Liverpool head in a more ruthless direction and a direction that has seen them spend like the Premier League champions that they are.

The question many will be asking is why now, and how do Liverpool now have the money to spend so big?

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire provided an answer to those questions, as rumours emerged that Liverpool had set their sights on the likes of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. He told BBC Sport: “Liverpool are a super smart football club.

“They’re in an incredibly strong PSR position. Out of the traditional big six clubs, they’ve spent the least in this three-year cycle – only £325m – and that includes their signing of Florian Wirtz.

“They’ve still got plenty of wiggle room with their transfer budget. Plus, a move for a striker is likely to be paid in instalments, meaning the cost can be spread over multiple seasons.”

It is that “strong PSR” position which has helped them to steal in ahead of Newcastle United in the race to seal yet another impressive deal, too.

Ekitike agrees six-year Liverpool deal

Arne Slot’s search for a striker looks set to be coming to an end in blockbuster fashion this summer. According to Ben Jacobs, Liverpool have now agreed a six-year contract with Hugo Ekitike and are now working on an agreement worth £70m with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Spending big once again, the Reds have forced Newcastle out of the race to sign the Frenchman and are advancing towards yet another statement arrival.

Whilst there may be some relief around the Premier League that it’s not Alexander Isak making his way to Anfield, Ekitike could prove to be just as impressive.

Described as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig last season, the Frankfurt star scored 22 goals and assisted another 12 in all competitions last season in a record that may only improve when surrounded by the likes of Mohamed Salah and Wirtz.

Once again, Liverpool have stolen the headlines and are pushing to spend big for the fourth time this summer ahead of their Premier League title defence.

Arsenal have all but sealed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres, and Mikel Arteta finally has the centre-forward he has craved.

This is a club on the up, has been for several years with Arteta at the helm. But things have perhaps gotten a little monotonous. The football has lost a sense of flair. A sense of X-factor. A sense of electricity.

But context is important, and must indeed be applied here. The Gunners were wracked by injuries across the 2024/25 campaign, and the highest level of fluency was always going to prove difficult to reach.

But even so, the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer was evident; had Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus achieved injury-free seasons, something still would have lacked in the Premier League. Enter, Gyokeres.

The Sweden striker is the subject of a £64m agreement between Arsenal and two-in-a-row Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon. Across his two terms with the club, he has scored 97 goals and laid on 28 assists across 102 matches.

It’s a game-changing signing, and Arteta may be about to welcome more quality to his team.

What comes next for Arsenal

Gyokeres fixes what is ostensibly Arsenal’s biggest problem, but with the futures of left-sided forwards Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli unclear, technical director Andrea Berta may be set to oversee a few more exciting deals.

Arsenal are also looking for another creative midfielder, and are locked in talks with the camp of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. Xavi Simons has been of interest, but the RB Leipzig man looks likely to join Chelsea.

Simons’ versatility would have been a welcome asset for an Arsenal side in search of more dynamism and multi-faceted quality, but, in Eze, Arteta would land a sensation proven in the Premier League and having assumed a talismanic role for the Eagles last term, leading them to the FA Cup title.

Whether Eze or Simons joins the Emirates side remains to be seen, but a deal for either shouldn’t deter from the signing of an out-and-out winger.

Arsenal lining up new winger

As per Caught Offside’s Charles Watts, Arsenal are “looking at” a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, though Liverpool are also expected to raise their interest if they sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

Though Los Blancos are open to selling Rodrygo, who has been informed of a reduced role in Xabi Alonso’s system, they will only part ways for a significant fee, with figures as high as £87m entering market discourse.

Watts stresses that the new deal for Ethan Nwaneri shouldn’t disrupt the pursuit of the Brazilian player.

What Rodrygo would bring to Arsenal

While Arsenal could do with some more creativity in the form of an up-and-coming talent like Simons, Martin Odegaard is set to lead the club once again.

The skipper might not have been at his best last term, but he’s still “one of the world’s best footballers”, as has been claimed by Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup.

And with a “world-class” player such as Rodrygo out on the left, as has been said by his former teammate Luka Modric, there’s no telling how high the Real Madrid man could fly in an Arsenal shirt.

Rodrygo left plenty to be desired last season, but he’s surpassed 25 goal contributions across three campaigns now, surely underscoring his elite ability.

Furthermore, he only missed one big chance in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore, scoring six goals. What does this tell us? Well, it says that while he was under-par, the 24-year-old retained an impressive clinical edge to his performances, which could be enhanced in an Arsenal side desperate for a high-level winger to rival Bukayo Saka.

But with Saka, of course, one of the finest right wingers in world football, Rodrygo would need to move away from his regular role on that flank, and instead play off the left wing.

Luckily, this is exactly what he wishes to do, the right-footer having found the left side an elusive area, typically out of his reach due to Vinicius Junior taking precedence at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

31

8

5

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

10

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Rodrygo’s prowess on the left is clear. He is far more prolific when placed in his natural role. Should Arsenal use him in the fitting way, there’s every chance that he would prove himself as a bigger talent than someone like Simons, who is on Arteta’s radar but perhaps isn’t needed when Odegaard is desperate to return to his finest form.

Moreover, the Dutchman scored 11 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, so even as he forged a highlight season in his career, Simons still wasn’t on par with Rodrygo, who had failed to spark his best football.

And though the 22-year-old is more of a playmaker than the fearsome Rodrygo, he routinely played out on the left wing, so it feels like the Gunners are instead prioritising the latter.

This is further reflected through the Bundesliga club’s asking price for their star man. Arsenal and Chelsea have both been quoted at £56m, suggesting that his signature doesn’t carry the same weight as Rodrygo’s.

But then we know this. We know how much of a statement signing this would be. With both Trossard and Martinelli flattering to deceive at stages last year, there’s little question that the Brazilian would spark frissons of excitement that Simons would perhaps not quite match.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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It won’t be an easy one to pull off, but if Arsenal have the means, they must throw the kitchen sink at Rodrygo, reeling him over to take this exciting project to the next level.

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Arsenal are not finished yet in the summer transfer market.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 24, 2025

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been a busy man over the previous few weeks. Not only has he led the Blues to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, but the Italian has significantly bolstered his first-team squad.

In came striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, before defender Mamadou Sarr joined the club from Strasbourg.

This was only the beginning. Since the start of last week, Maresca has secured a deal to sign forward Joao Pedro for £60m, giving Delap some competition.

Furthermore, Jamie Gittens has made the move to Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund, costing Chelsea £51.5m in the process.

The revolving door at Stamford Bridge means plenty of players will be departing over the coming weeks, but it is evident that Maresca wants to overhaul his attacking options ahead of next season.

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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Remarkably, he doesn’t appear to be finished with those three signings.

Despite the arrival of Estevao from Palmeiras, another of the globe’s top talents, Ethan Nwaneri, could make their way to Bridge over the next year.

Why Chelsea are looking at Ethan Nwaneri

The Arsenal sensation might be on the market next summer due to a stall in contract negotiations with the club.

Nwaneri has just one year left on his current deal with the Gunners and a new contract is yet to be agreed. Fabrizio Romano broke the news recently on X regarding Chelsea’s interest, saying:

“Chelsea have been showing interest in Ethan Nwaneri situation, only in case new deal won’t be sealed with Arsenal. Nwaneri & Arsenal, in talks over new deal while player wants game time guaranteed.”

There is no doubt that convincing Nwaneri to swap the Emirates for Stamford Bridge would be a real statement of intent by the Italian, especially considering his superstar potential.

Goals

4

2

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

1

1

Key passes per game

0.6

0.3

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

1

Last season saw the right-winger enjoy a stunning breakthrough. Across 37 matches in all competitions for the Gunners, the teenager scored nine goals and grabbed two assists.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the 18-year-old not only ranked in the top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.48) per 90, but also ranked in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.54) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

This certainly proves how effective the youngster is when taking on opposition defenders. Combine it with the fact he is excellent in front of goal and Nwaneri would make for a stunning signing.

Why signing defenders makes more sense for Chelsea

Maresca does have a plethora of options in the final third, however. The likes of Estevao, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George and Cole Palmer could play out wide, while Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Pedro will be used in a central role next season.

In an ideal world, adding Nwaneri to this lineup would make Chelsea contenders for both the Premier League and Champions League, no doubt about that.

Other areas need to be bolstered, however, which indicates that a move for a Serie A defender would turn into a much better signing than the Arsenal teen.

Sarr is the only defensive signing that Maresca has made so far this summer, but the supporters will be hoping he won’t be the last.

Benfica duo Antonio Silva and Tomás Araújo have both been linked with a move to the Blues since the transfer window opened, but both potential moves have gone cold recently.

Now, it looks as though Chelsea are keen on making a move for Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini.

That’s according to Caught Offside who further report that Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the youngster, so the Blues won’t have it easy trying to lure him to the Premier League.

The report states that Scalvini could cost up to €60m (£51m), but still only 21, this could be a wonderful long-term signing by Maresca.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Given the need for high-quality defenders, Scalvini might just turn out to be a better recruit than Nwaneri.

What Giorgio Scalvini could bring to Chelsea

The Atalanta starlet missed the majority of last season due to suffering a cruciate ligament injury, derailing the fine progress he had made during the 2023/24 campaign.

Hailed as a “top talent” by none other than Fabrizio Romano back in 2022, Scalvini enjoyed what was a breakthrough season in Serie A that term.

Defensively, he ranked in the top 4% for interceptions, in the top 16% for aerials won and in the top 22% for tackles per 90 when compared to his peers.

It was going forward that the young centre-back really stood out among his positional peers, however.

Indeed, not only did he rank in the top 16% for shot-creating actions, but the Atalanta defender also ranked in the top 5% for successful take-ons and in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 in Serie A.

This proves that Maresca wouldn’t just be getting a solid centre-back who is able to command his backline, but one who can shine while going forward, playing in a way that is “so similar to [Declan] Rice” at Arsenal in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

The Italian could certainly add something different to his Chelsea defence by making a move for the 21-year-old this summer, no doubt about that.

He might still be raw, but as the statistics suggest, Scalvini has demonstrated his credentials in one of the toughest leagues on the continent.

Signing Nwaneri might inject yet more dynamism into the final third and give the supporters a major jolt, but the more important signing would be that of Scalvini.

“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” said Sir Alex Ferguson during his spell at Man United, so prioritising a move for up-and-coming defenders, rather than young attackers, might just turn Maresca’s team into serious challengers for major honours.

After Gittens: Chelsea now want to hijack Newcastle move to sign £52m star

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ByTom Cunningham Jul 6, 2025

Sanath Jayasuriya’s contract as men’s head coach is likely to be extended for a year, following his success with the Sri Lanka team over the past few months. The team has beaten India in an ODI series, won a Test at The Oval, and another in Galle against New Zealand since he took over as interim coach in early July.Sri Lanka Cricket had advertised the permanent head coach position following Chris Silverwood’s exit in late June. But with at least two of Sri Lanka’s three sides showing signs of improvement under Jayasuriya, SLC has initiated the process to bring Jayasuriya in on a longer term.”We are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with him,” board CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “Probably in the next two or three days you will get to hear more.”Related

• Jayasuriya appointed Sri Lanka's interim head coach

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Jayasuriya had originally been appointed cricket consultant for one year in December last year, a role that would have mostly had him working with the High Performance Centre. But he traveled with the team to this year’s T20 World Cup, and subsequently took the head coach role.Under him, there have also been a T20I series loss against India, plus two Test defeats in England. But the successes have outweighed these. Sri Lanka are now in the hunt for a World Test Championship final place, and Jayasuriya’s next contract will take the team past the end of the ongoing cycle.Feedback from players has also been positive, with Angelo Mathews – the most experienced player in the Test side – having described Jayasuriya taking over the team as a “turning point”.”Sanath Jayasuriya was superb as cricket director and now as coach,” he said. “He communicates well and has given us a lot of freedom. We are all working towards one goal, and now everyone is on the same page. He’s also done a superb job grooming the players. He has been amazing. I wish him all the very best.”Jayasuriya had previously been chief selector in two different stints in the last decade, but these had largely been defined by modest performances from the men’s team. There has been more stability during his ongoing assignment, however.

Aston Villa are now keen on signing a “quality” £40 million striker who former Arsenal striker Ian Wright is a big fan of, according to a new report.

Alejandro Garnacho now open to Aston Villa transfer

The Villans have been very quiet in this transfer window so far, adding just two new players to their squad having been forced to work around PSR requirements before they could pursue any deals.

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1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 21, 2025

Now that issue has passed, and the Premier League edges closer to getting underway, Villa could be about to start making an impact in this transfer window. The Villans are keen to add more power to their forward line, and one player who has emerged as a target is Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, as the Red Devils don’t consider him a part of their plans, and he’s been left behind in Manchester as the club have jetted off to Chicago for their pre-season preparations.

It was reported last week that Villa made an approach to Garnacho about a move to Villa Park, as United look to get around £70 million for the winger. Now, in a boost to their pursuit, Garnacho is said to be open to the idea of playing for Aston Villa and working under manager Unai Emery. It just remains to be seen if the club can agree a transfer fee with United.

Aston Villa and Wolves in race for Mika Biereth

As the club works on a potential deal for Garnacho, according to Caught Offside, Aston Villa are also interested in signing striker Mika Biereth from AS Monaco.

The report states that Biereth’s fine form since joining the French side has now caught the attention of not just Villa but Newcastle United, Wolves and Everton from the Premier League. Indeed, the forward joined Monaco in January and scored an impressive 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games.

Despite the fact that he is under contract until 2030, Caught Offside reports that Biereth can leave Monaco for a fee of £40 million, which would mean Monaco would make a huge profit after paying Sturm Graz just €13 million (roughly £11 million) six months ago.

The 22-year-old is already known in England, as he started his career at Fulham, and while he didn’t play for the first team, he earned a move to Arsenal. Biereth didn’t play again in the first team, but he scored 11 goals in 21 Premier League 2 games in the 2021/22 season.

Apps

16

Starts

16

Goals

13

xG

11.32

Left-footed goals

1

Right-footed goals

12

Shots per game

2.6

Chance conversion

31%

Assists

2

Big chances created

8

During his time in the UK, Biereth had a spell at Motherwell, during which he was dubbed “quality” by manager Stuart Kettlewell. Meanwhile, after his spell at Arsenal, Ian Wright was left very impressed by his performances and stated he was “incredibly proud of him”.

Rookie becomes first graduate of SACA to make an England senior squad

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Oct-2024

Jafer Chohan claimed 17 wickets in this year’s Vitality Blast•Getty Images

Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan has earned his first England call-up for the men’s limited-overs tour of West Indies, which begins at the end of October, becoming the first graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to earn international recognition.Launched in 2021 by Dr Tom Brown, the scheme aimed to remedy the under-representation of British South Asian players in the professional game. Dr Brown co-founded SACA with former England bowler Kabir Ali, after researching the subject during a four-year PhD at Birmingham City University, in which he found that British Asians represent just 5% of the cricketers at the top level of the men’s game, a sharp drop-off from the 30% that play recreational cricket in England and Wales.Chohan, who was released by Middlesex five years ago, aged 17, is one of 10 players and two coaches to have moved into the professional game from SACA, who showcase their talent in fixtures against county second XIs and sessions open to county scouts. Having joined Yorkshire in 2022, Chohan has established himself in their T20 side, and his England call-up comes off the back of a solid 2024 Vitality Blast campaign, taking 17 wickets at 15.52, with a standout performance of 5 for 14 against Durham – the third-best figures in Yorkshire’s T20 historyDespite that form, and the value of wrist-spin in the shorter formats, Chohan has yet to feature in the men’s Hundred. However, on Tuesday, Yorkshire announced he had signed a three-year contract to remain at Headingley until the end of the 2027 summer. He has also been drafted by Sydney Sixers for the upcoming Big Bash League season.England are keen to explore their spin options following the international retirement of Moeen Ali, who also happens to be president of SACA, while they also need to line up an eventual successor to Adil Rashid, whose international career has entered its 16th year. Although Rashid last month insisted that he has no immediate plans to retire after claiming his 200th ODI wicket during the Australia series, he namechecked Chohan as one of the young players he has been mentoring, both at Yorkshire and at his own cricket centre in Bradford, as part of the SACA programme.Jafer Chohan claimed five wickets for Yorkshire against Durham in this season’s Vitality Blast•Getty Images

“It feels like an absolute dream to be selected,” Chohan said. “It’s what I’ve worked for my whole life.”I’ve had a great week – having it announced about another three years at Yorkshire as well as having a call up now with England.”For me this is a really good opportunity to be around some of the best players in the world, learn as much as I can and just really sharpen up my game as much as possible. Having big England names in the Yorkshire dressing room, it doesn’t get too much better than that in terms of helping me improve.”Warwickshire’s off-spinning allrounder Dan Mousley and Hampshire quick John Turner are the other uncapped members of the 14-man group. Both were part of the limited-overs squads against Australia at the end of the summer but did not feature.Chohan’s selection, despite a professional career of just 23 T20 appearances, is in keeping with an unconventional approach adopted by England’s selectors. Since taking over as managing director at the start of the 2022 summer, Rob Key has put the onus on picking players on attributes rather than solely on domestic averages. That has come to the fore in 2024.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The year began with Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir playing prominent roles in India based on their release points and action on the ball, with little focus on their modest first-class records for Lancashire and Somerset respectively. Hartley had 40 dismissals at 36.57 and Bashir 10 at 67 heading into that five-Test series, with the latter going on to feature across home series against West Indies and Sri Lanka, at the expense of county team-mate Jack Leach, who had been Ben Stokes’ primary spinner for the first two years of his tenure as Test captain.Leicestershire’s Josh Hull was the beneficiary of this radical approach at the end of the summer, debuting in the final Test against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval. With the 2025-26 Ashes in mind, Hull’s 6ft7in height and left-arm action set him apart as a point of difference and trumped the fact he had taken just two wickets at 182.50 in three Division Two appearances this season. All this after England legend James Anderson was forced into retirement at the start of the summer.With Test head coach Brendon McCullum set to assume the limited-overs job at the start of 2025, it is perhaps no surprise to see this left-field thinking filter into England’s plans as they look to rebuild after disappointing showings at the 2023 ODI and 2024 T20 World Cups. The West Indies tour will be Marcus Trescothick’s last as interim white-ball head coach, ahead of McCullum combining the roles in the new year.Related

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There remains no place for Hartley, who has not added to his international caps since the Test tour of India, which he finished as England’s leading wicket-taker with 22 dismissals. He was a non-playing member of the T20 World Cup squad in the Caribbean, but was subsequently overlooked for the T20I and ODI series against Australia.Chohan’s selection also presents a challenge to Rehan Ahmed, who was presumed to be the heir apparent to Rashid. The Leicestershire legspinner has 17 international caps to his name but hopes to add to that this month, having travelled with the Test squad on Tuesday to Pakistan, where he made his debut two years ago.Rehan, 20, could yet challenge Chohan in the Caribbean with that squad due to be supplemented with two players from the Test tour. A decision on who will travel across will be made after selection for the third and final Test in Rawalpindi, which begins on October 24 – a week before the first ODI in Antigua. Hull, who picked up a season-ending quad injury on Test debut, could also be considered if fully recovered.As expected, Jos Buttler will slot back in as captain following a calf injury, and is set to make his first competitive appearance since the T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India at the end of June. However, a decision on whether he keeps wicket will be made nearer the time. Phil Salt is the only viable stand-in in the original 14-man squad, although both Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith are potential inclusions from the Pakistan Test party.England limited-overs squad: Jos Buttler (capt), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid , Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John TurnerItinerary
1st ODI: Antigua, October 31
2nd ODI: Antigua, November 2
3rd ODI: Barbados, November 6
1st T20I: Barbados, November 9
2nd T20I: Barbados, November 10
3rd T20I: St Lucia, November 14
4th T20I: St Lucia, November 16
5th T20I: St Lucia, November 17

يستعد فريق الكرة للزمالك لخوض مباراة صعبة أمام الإسماعيلي، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن لقاءات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتقام المباراة بين الزمالك ومنافسه الإسماعيلي غدا الخميسعلى أرضية استاد هيئة قناة السويس، وذلك ضمن لقاءات الجولة السابعة من الدوري المصري.

يدخل الزمالك المباراة بمعنويات مرتفعة بعدما حقق فوزًا ثمينًا في الجولة الماضية على المصري البورسعيدي بثلاثية مقابل هدف، ليرفع رصيده إلى 13 نقطة في صدارة جدول الترتيب.

الفريق الأبيض خاض 6 مباريات حتى الآن، فاز في 4 منها، وتعادل في واحدة، بينما تلقى هزيمة وحيدة.

ويأمل يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني للزمالك، في استمرار الصحوة وتحقيق الانتصار، من أجل تثبيت أقدام الفريق في صدارة المسابقة.

على الجانب الآخر، يعيش الإسماعيلي وضعًا صعبًا هذا الموسم، إذ يحتل المركز الثامن عشر برصيد 4 نقاط فقط، من فوز وتعادل وأربع هزائم.

ويحاول الإسماعيلي تصحيح المسار أمام الزمالك، خاصة وأن المباراة تقام على ملعبه وبين جماهيره، ما يمنحه دافعًا إضافيًا لتقديم مباراة قوية أمام المتصدر.

صلاح سليمان: متشائم من حكم مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي.. واستمرار تعثر الأهلي “مستحيل”

وأعلنت لجنة الحكام باتحاد الكرة المصري عن طاقم إدارة اللقاء، حيث يقود المباراة الحكم الدولي أمين عمر، ويعاونه شريف عبدالله وعمر فتحي، فيما سيكون إبراهيم محجوب حكمًا رابعًا، بينما يتولى علاء صبري مهمة حكم الفيديو “VAR”، ويعاونه سمير جمال.

Ben Duckett struck his second ODI hundred but England collapsed in Bristol and couldn’t contain the visitors’ top order

Andrew McGlashan29-Sep-2024A power-packed powerplay by Travis Head and Matthew Short, followed by astute batting by stand-in captain Steven Smith, ensured Australia beat the rain and England in the nick of time to take the one-day series in Bristol on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern. For the second time in the five matches, their spinners engineering a collapse, including a career-best for Head, after Ben Duckett’s second ODI hundred alongside a Harry Brook onslaught had put the home side on track for a huge total.Australia’s chase was never going to be about 310 in 50 overs – the 20-over DLS, which moved with wickets lost, was the vital figure. The visitors clearly knew the sums and after a watchful first three overs, Head and Short cut loose as 62 came off the next four. Being 100 for 1 after 10 overs put them so far ahead they had breathing space for the loss of a couple of wickets.Brydon Carse struck first ball to remove Head and Short edged behind after a 23-ball maiden ODI fifty. But Smith, who successfully reviewed being given lbw to Matthew Potts on 10, and Josh Inglis ensured against further setbacks although England missed reviewing for an edge off Inglis at 122 for 2 in the 15th. However, England needed more than one further breakthrough given Australia’s flying start and the tactics became clear when Brook returned to all pace instead of Adil Rashid on a pitch assisting spin (and Potts suddenly realised he needed a new boot).The rain, which had initially arrived during the interval, then returned four balls after a result had been assured with a DLS of 116 for 2. Australia didn’t entirely defend their way there as the weather closed in a little more slowly than first looked likely: Inglis pulled consecutive sixes off Carse in the 20th over. In normal circumstances, Rashid and England’s other spinners might have turned the game around but Australia were good value for victory given the way they fought back in the field.Ben Duckett capped a strong series with a fine century•AFPLike at Trent Bridge, it was a game that fell away for England from a very strong batting foundation. A ferocious stand of 132 off 98 balls between Duckett and Brook brought up their 200 in the 25th over but from the moment Brook fell to Zampa the innings fell away with the final collapse being 107 for 8. Smith used 23 consecutive overs of spin and 28 off the last 29 in total.After 2.2 overs Zampa’s figures read 0 for 42 but he became a significant threat on a dry surface that offered increasing help to the spinners. Head winkled out a List A best of 4 for 28, including the key scalp of Duckett for a 91-ball 107, the highlight of which had been how quickly he picked up length against the quicks early on, a trademark of his batting during a productive home summer. Yet such was the change of momentum that England only hit one boundary between the 27th and 43rd overs. The 194 balls of spin was a record for Australia in a men’s ODI.At the end of a tour marked by illness and injury they had again been forced to shuffle their pack after Marsh pulled up sore after Lord’s where he bowled for the first time since early April. Aaron Hardie also replaced Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly was handed an ODI debut. Speaking on TV before the game, Ricky Ponting said Australia would rate a series win very highly given the challenges within the squad.Phil Salt set the tone in the opening over which included three boundaries off Mitchell Starc and two plays and misses. It meant, at that moment, Starc’s last two overs of the series had cost 40 following his pasting at the hands of Liam Livingstone at Lord’s. Salt continued to alternate between missing and connecting, outside edging a swish over deep third for six against Starc before a brace of far more convincing sixes against Hardie’s first two deliveries which brought up England’s fifty in the seventh over.But Hardie struck back. Firstly, he had Salt well taken at deep point by Marnus Labuschagne, the ball after adjusting the field, then produced a gem of a delivery to clean up Will Jacks for a duck. There were a few overs of consolidation from England before Brook scooped his first boundary off Josh Hazlewood from his ninth delivery then he continued the team’s approach of being aggressive to Zampa by ending his first over with a four and six; a delightful late cut which drew comparisons to Mahela Jayawardene by Eoin Morgan on commentary then a blow to the short, straight boundary.Adam Zampa started poorly but went on to induce a collapse•Getty ImagesMuch more was to come from Brook when he took three further sixes from Zampa’s second over leaving Smith searching for options. Duckett went to his fifty from 45 balls and Brook raced to the mark from 39 with another six over the leg side against Hardie. Brook took his sixes tally to seven with another back-to-back brace off Zampa when he returned for the start of his second spell and had the attack at his mercy.But then came a break for Australia when Brook miscued Zampa down the ground and found Glenn Maxwell at long-off. Maxwell continued to do an excellent job with the ball, finding significant grip from the surface, and pushed one through Jamie Smith. Zampa then found Livingstone’s top edge with one that turned and bounced and all of a sudden, the lower middle-order was exposed.The onus was on Duckett to try and guide the remainder of the innings as he brought up an outstanding century. Both he and Jacob Bethell held themselves back for a period, but after sending Head’s third ball over long-on Duckett tried a repeat and skewed a catch to long-off which meant Carse was walking in during the 34th over.Head then turned deliveries sharply to have Bethell stumped and Carse lbw, leaving Rashid to nurse the total towards 300, but eyes were already turning to the sky and Australia flicked successfully into T20 mode to earn the spoils.

The signing of Bryan Mbeumo was finally announced earlier this week, handing Manchester United the added attacking threat they’ve been craving.

Whilst a deal may have cost £71m, a pretty expensive figure for the Brentford star, it could prove to be a bargain should he replicate his form from last season.

The 25-year-old managed to register 27 combined goals and assists in the Premier League, a tally that was nine more than the Red Devils’ highest contributor, Bruno Fernandes.

He will be joined in the final third by Matheus Cunha, but it’s unlikely that the pair will be the only attacking additions during the current summer transfer window.

Numerous other players have been linked with a move to Old Trafford during the off-season, strengthening the options currently at Ruben Amorim’s disposal.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attacking options

In recent days, Benjamin Sesko has reappeared on United’s shortlist, unsurprisingly so given Viktor Gyokeres’ pending move to join Arsenal after rejecting a reunion with former boss Amorim.

The Red Devils could even be about to prepare an opening offer for the 22-year-old’s signature after he netted 21 goals across all competitions throughout 2024/25.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently on their radar, with Bologna forward Riccardo Orsolini also in their sights this summer, according to Il Resto del Carlino.

They claim that the Red Devils have already made a direct call to the Serie A outfit over the availability of the 28-year-old star during the current window.

It also states that his current employers are preparing a new contract for the Italian, after he notched 17 goals and four assists across all competitions last time around.

Reports from earlier in the window suggested that he could be worth around £22m if he moves on this summer.

Why United’s latest target would be another Mbeumo

As previously mentioned, a deal to sign Mbeumo this window has generated excitement amongst the fanbase, understandably so given his form in England’s top-flight.

The Cameroonian will be entering the prime years of his career at Old Trafford after his big-money move, and also able to play a key role in any revival during the Amorim era.

The 40-year-old will be hoping that he can integrate the forward into the side and mould him into the perfect number ten in his current 3-4-2-1 system.

Given the mammoth transfer fee, it’s a surprise to no one that Mbeumo will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders to succeed, even more so given the club’s lowly league finish last campaign.

However, he could be aided in any attempts with a potential move for Orsolini, with the Bologna attacker possessing a very similar skillset to that of Mbeumo.

The Italian is also left-footed and likes to cut inside onto his stronger foot off the right, having huge success with such a technique, as seen by his goal tally from last season.

However, Orsolini, who’s been labelled “sensational” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has also produced numerous incredible underlying stats which have helped him in the final third as of late.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

19

Shots on target

1.2

Chances created

1.4

Successful dribbles

1.6

Tackles won

81%

Duels success rate

52%

Aerials won

55%

In Serie A throughout 2024/25, he notched 1.4 chances created, along with 1.6 successful dribbles per 90, subsequently having the tools to provide Mbeumo with chances within attacking areas.

Despite his excellent attacking figures, he also won 81% of the tackles he entered, whilst coming out on top in 52% of duels, potentially being the perfect wing-back for Amorim if needed.

The attacker’s dominance also didn’t stop there, notching 1.2 shots on target per 90 and 55% of aerials won, with both tallies ranking him within the top 10% of all players in the division.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the 28-year-old would cost this summer, it’s evident that he has the tools needed to thrive within the Premier League.

He would offer needed depth in multiple key areas of the pitch, whilst also having the ability to aid Mbeumo and potentially work with him to catapult the club to glory in the years ahead.

He's perfect for Bruno: Man Utd "very close" to agreement to sign £25m star

Manchester United appear to be edging ever closer to their next addition of the summer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 24, 2025

Liverpool haven’t made any midfield signings this summer after Jurgen Klopp’s successful rebuild of 2023, welcoming Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo to the squad.

One of the hallmarks of FSG’s ownership has been expertly planned transfer activity, with the Reds rarely missing the mark as they make shrewd signings or offload a player who has struggled to perform as they once did.

Last summer, Liverpool were expected to invest heavily after Klopp decided to call time on his historic career as the club’s manager, but Federico Chiesa was the only addition, joining for a cut-price £12.5m fee as he approached the final year of his contract with Juventus.

Liverpool went against the grain of public opinion, content with their fold, but they did try to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, only to fail to convince the Spain international to leave Basque Country.

Why Liverpool wanted Martin Zubimendi

When Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left Liverpool to go to Saudi Arabia in deals which combined for a total of £52m, it was crucial that Liverpool bolstered their ranks with new quality.

They might have missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both joining Chelsea in high-profile moves, but Liverpool won’t regret such misses in hindsight.

Mac Allister and Endo held down the fort remarkably well, but one year on, a recognised starting number six was needed to fit Slot’s system, and Zubimendi fit the bill.

However, the 26-year-old rejected Liverpool’s advances, with his imminent transfer to Arsenal frustrating to witness. However, the failed attempt has been tempered considerably by Ryan Gravenberch’s meteoric rise.

Ryan Gravenberch in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	26 (12)	37 (37)
Goals	1	0
Assists	0	4
Touches*	28.8	66.5
Pass completion	83%	89%
Key passes*	0.6	0.7
Dribbles*	0.9	1.0
Ball recoveries*	2.8	5.2
Tackles + interceptions*	1.5	3.5
Duels (won)*	2.8 (47%)	5.0 (57%)
Stats via Sofascore

Gravenberch was incredible in a new role across the 2024/25 campaign, refashioned by Slot.

However, there’s no question that he looked tired toward the end of the term, and thus it’s understandable that Liverpool sign a new midfielder to contest for that starting spot in the deep-lying midfield berth.

Liverpool submit bid for new midfielder

According to reports from Spain, Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen in submitting official offers for Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado.

The 21-year-old, who graduated from the famed La Masia academy, has become a household name over the past year at Camp Nou, with his silky performances in the centre in turn drawing suitors who might be looking to take advantage of Hansi Flick’s packed midfield.

Indeed, valued at €40m (£35m), Barcelona are expected to consider the bids as they look to ease their ongoing financial problems.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Liverpool want Marc Casado

Casado is at the start of a promising career, with his intelligence, technical quality on the ball and passion in defensive phases suggesting he could be a fantastic addition to a Liverpool squad already well stocked in midfield.

Praised for his “incredible season” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Casado battled his way into prominent standing within Flick’s first-team squad, clinching the La Liga title in his first term as a regular.

He started 27 matches across La Liga and the Champions League last season, instrumental in establishing this new era at La Blaugrana. Injury cut his season short, however, with the setback playing into the current rumours, for Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Marc Bernal have all played important parts since.

He impressed with his calculated passing and confidence in winning possession back, completing 90% of his passes and winning 58% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

With such a skill set, Liverpool might finally be able to sign their own version of Zubimendi, one whose younger and less developed skills could be wrought into the shape that Slot desires.

His long ball-playing style certainly differs from Gravenberch’s, ranked as he was among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last term for passes attempted, the top 8% for pass completion, the top 10% for assists and the top 9% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

In this manner, his similarities with Arsenal-bound Zubimendi are underscored.

Liverpool have already run checks on a more refined version of the two-cap Spain international, who is his compatriot besides, and thus will be confident that they would get their mitts on the right type of player in Casado, one who could jockey for a starting berth with Gravenberch over the coming years.

He’s scarcely into his professional career, but already Casado has demonstrated that his talents are best utilised from that deep midfield role, though his passing and athleticism lend themselves to a makeshift right-back service, if and when called upon.

Marc Casado – Career Stats by Postion (Barca & Barca B)
Position	Apps	Goals	Assists
Deep-lying midfield	100	1	6
Right-back	11	–	2
Central midfield	5	–	–
Data via Transfermarkt

Zubimendi would have been a brilliant addition, but it wasn’t to be. Former Spain manager, Luis de la Fuente, described the La Real star as one of the “best central midfielders in the world” after his part in winning his nation the EURO 2024.

However, Casado would be a cheaper addition with immense potential to reach and then eclipse his countryman’s level. Liverpool have plenty of midfield options and thus won’t bear much frustration over missing out on Zubimendi, who will cost the Gunners something in the region of £51m.

Though FSG won’t be focusing on strengthening Liverpool’s midfield in the transfer market this summer, there’s no question that if the right opportunity arises, Hughes will push ahead to secure a shrewd signing.

And Casado could prove an astute addition indeed, with the Reds already placing an official offer as they look to tempt the Spanish champions to cash in.

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