Tag Futebol

Chinelle Henry will miss West Indies Women’s tour of England with a leg injury and Rashada Williams has been left out of their limited-overs squad for three T20Is and three ODIs later this month.Jahzara Claxton and Realeanna Grimmond have been called up in the only changes from the group that narrowly missed out on 50-over World Cup qualification in April.Henry was West Indies’ second-leading run-scorer at the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan, with 171 from five innings at a strike rate of 150.00. Williams did not have any involvement beyond the warm-up matches.Henry also finished top of the run charts in the recently completed T20 Blaze competition in the Caribbean, although she was seen limping during her Jamaica side’s defeat in the final, which Guyana won in a Super Over on Sunday. Grimmond, the 20-year-old allrounder who made 46 off 53 in Guyana’s run chase, was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the Blaze.Claxton, 19, was part of West Indies’ squad at the Women’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. She and Grimmond could both make their international debuts in England.Deandra Dottin, who was sidelined for the World Cup Qualifier after a knee injury flared up during the WPL in March, will also miss the England tour.Related

• West Indies' historic chase ends in heartbreak as Bangladesh seal World Cup spot

• Chinelle Henry: WPL 'a really huge opportunity for me'

• Chinelle Henry lights up Chinnaswamy with Andre Russell-inspired 'range hitting'

West Indies head coach, Shane Dietz, has called on his players to use the tour to “reestablish ourselves as a world-class team” after they were edged out for a spot at the World Cup in India later this year on net run rate. Despite chasing 167 in 10.5 overs to beat Thailand, they finished behind Bangladesh by a margin of 0.013 on NRR.”Going to England is a fantastic opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world for a long time and to really test our skills and put in practice what we’ve talked about off the pitch,” Dietz said.”The talk is cheap off the pitch; we’re going to put that talk into action and go out against England and play some good cricket. We’ve got the T20Is first, and that’s where we’ve played our better cricket in the past 12 to 18 months, so we’re looking forward to getting the tour off to a good start and playing some good attacking cricket the West Indian way.”We brought a good team to England and we’re looking forward to putting on a good performance for the crowd over there and all our supporters watching back in the Caribbean. It’s going to be an excellent tour for us to reestablish ourselves as a world-class team with world-class players.”The girls have been working hard since the Pakistan qualification and playing some cricket at the T20 Blaze in the Caribbean. It’s now time to switch up to international cricket, put on a good display and give our supporters something to cheer about back in the Caribbean.”Getty Images

Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, said: “This upcoming tour of England offers our women an important opportunity to reassert themselves on the international stage. It’s a chance to demonstrate the talent, grit, and character that are synonymous with West Indies cricket.”The ongoing T20 Blaze competition has come at an opportune time, giving many of our senior and emerging players the chance to stay match-ready and sharpen their skills in a competitive environment. We remain committed to strengthening our women’s programme and believe this tour is a vital step forward in our collective journey.”West Indies will start their tour by playing an England Development XI on Sunday, before the first T20I at Canterbury on May 21.West Indies Women’s limited-overs squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Jahzara Claxton, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Realeanna Grimmond, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor

MI coach Paras Mhambrey on how Puthur, the left-arm wristpinner who bagged 3 for 32 against CSK, impressed the scouting team

Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-20251:26

‘A breath of fresh air’ – Varun Aaron on Vignesh Puthur

Left-arm wristspinners had all the fun in Chennai’s first game of IPL 2025. The younger but rather more well-known Noor Ahmad picked up 4 for 18 from four overs but he was almost matched by a complete unknown. Vignesh Puthur is a 24-year-old from Kerala who had never played a T20 game at senior level but he was able to knock off Ruturaj Gaikwad when he was well past fifty, Shivam Dube who smashes spin for fun and Deepak Hooda. For a short time, Mumbai Indians looked like they might be able to defend 155. But it wasn’t to be.Paras Mhambrey, MI’s bowling coach, explained what went behind the scenes that resulted in Puthur making his IPL debut and doing so well. “I think the idea at MI is always seeing the potential more than anything else,” he said. “And when we saw him for one of our trials, we saw the potential in him rather than looking into how much cricket he has played in the past.”He spins the ball pretty consistently. Lands the ball on pretty much what [where] we wanted. Is pretty accurate with it. I think those are the tick marks that we look into but not only that. But it’s just the fact that he is different. Spins the ball, has a googly. That kind of stuff. So you know he will be able to trouble quality batters with the skills that he has.”Related

Auto-rickshaw driver's son Vignesh latest entrant to MI's talent club

Noor, Ravindra, Gaikwad get CSK off to winning start

Ravindra: An honour to open for CSK

Noor Ahmad's wristspin is art in fast forward

Puthur came in as Impact Player in the second innings and began his spell outside the powerplay. By then, Chennai Super Kings had got more than one-third of the runs they needed on the night and Ruturaj was the source of almost all their acceleration. Puthur tossed one up. Ruturaj took up the challenge. He tried to clear the straight boundary but couldn’t. Dube and Hooda also tried to hit Puthur out of the park in his next two overs but they weren’t able to pull it off either. All of those balls were there to be hit but perhaps a lack of pace prevented the batters from getting the timing they were looking for. Puthar has been doing the same thing against Mumbai’s own batters as well.”I think when Rohit [Sharma] and Surya[kumar Yadav] and Tilak [Varma], all these guys batted against him, they felt it wasn’t that easy,” Mhambrey said. “So [that was] one of the reasons we felt we had the confidence of pushing him in this game.Vignesh Puthur is mobbed by his team-mates•AFP/Getty Images”Never easy, first game against CSK, it’s a big game. But purely the way he responded, hats off to him. I think he was able to hold his nerves and handle pressure superbly. I think really got us in the game. Very happy about his performance.”Puthur attended trials for MI ahead of the IPL auction in November. They bought him for INR 30 lakh. He was then taken to South Africa where he worked as a net bowler for MI Cape Town and that helped fast-track his development because he was around quality players and he did everything he could to learn off them.”The need of the hour [for Puthur’s growth as a player], it’s more about the conversations,” Mhambrey said. “Not purely on the skill work so much really. I think that he is pretty much sorted out there I felt. But more about the conversations that he had. An opportunity with MJ [Mahela Jayawardene] or [Kieron] Pollard. Or the batters especially. Surya or Rohit.”You never get an opportunity to have that conversation. So I think it’s more about him having a chat with everyone. And as I said, he’s a sweet kid. Great team man, good person to have in the team. He’s like a sponge, he’s just listening. He has got [nervous] sometimes because you have heroes, you see them playing on the TV, and all of a sudden, you’re sharing that dressing room with them, sitting next to someone like Rohit, it’s a dream come true for a lot of these guys, right?”But purely for the fact that the way he responded [in the game against CSK] never looked like he was under pressure from the very first ball. And that was good to see, I think. It’s just the way he handled pressure.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Atleta do Toledo Esporte Clube, o meia Robert, de 25 anos, vem tendo bom desempenho com a camisa do clube paranaense na divisão de acesso do Campeonato Paranaense em 2023. Revelado pelo Independente de Limeira, o jovem jogador tem se destacado na atual temporada.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalTime tradicional e campeão da Copa do Brasil é rebaixado para quinta divisão do PaulistãoFutebol Nacional24/06/2023CorinthiansPor que a torcida do Corinthians paralisou o jogo mesmo com o time perdendo?Corinthians24/06/2023CorinthiansLuxemburgo aponta crescimento do Corinthians após datas Fifa e indica time reserva contra o Liverpool (URU) pela LibertadoresCorinthians24/06/2023

– Fico muito feliz com tudo que vem acontecendo na minha carreira, estou me dedicando bastante para conseguir ajudar o Toledo dentro de campo e cumprir nosso principal objetivo – afirmou.

Robert acumula passagens pelo Desportivo Brasil, Vasco, nas categorias de base, em 2019, se profissionalizou pelo Costa Rica, do Mato Grosso, depois rodou por alguns clubes até chegar ao Toledo nesta temporada.

Chelsea have now held talks to sign a “1v1 specialist” forward, and they are tempted to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in his contract.

Maresca keen on new attacker after Simons blow

After missing out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues have now been forced to move on to alternative options in attacking midfield, and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez is rapidly emerging as a major target.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that contact has now been made with the La Liga club over a deal, with an opening offer already being submitted.

However, reports from elsewhere have detailed that Lopez is unlikely to be sold unless the Spaniard makes it clear he wants to leave Barcelona this summer, so it could be difficult for the west Londoners to get a deal over the line.

That said, Enzo Marezca clearly remains keen on adding another forward to his ranks before the transfer deadline, with talks now being held over a deal for SC Braga star Roger Fernandes.

That is according to a report from A Bola, which states Chelsea have now initiated contact over a deal, with the Premier League club now weighing up whether to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in Fernandes’ Braga contract.

Better than Buonanotte: Chelsea hold talks to sign £86m gem after Garnacho

Chelsea look set to delve back into the transfer market after deals for Facundo Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnacho.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 31, 2025

Braga would not be willing to settle for anything less, with the Blues planning to sign the 19-year-old now, before immediately loaning him out to sister club Strasbourg, where game time would perhaps be more of a guarantee.

"1v1 specialist" Fernandes is one for the future

Scout Ben Mattinson lauded the youngster when he first burst onto the scene, saying: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”

Despite still being a teenager, the Braga starlet has amassed an impressive number of goals and assists in his opening two full Liga Portugal campaigns.

Season

Liga Portugal appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

14

9

2024-25

28

7

That said, the right-winger is still very young, and Chelsea are already well-stocked out wide, most recently confirming the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.

As such, while Fernandes could be a fantastic long-term addition to Maresca’s squad, the main focus should be to bring in a new attacking midfielder to provide competition for Cole Palmer, while a new striker may also be needed to replace Nicolas Jackson and the injured Liam Delap.

Paris Saint-Germain have now submitted a staggering £130m offer for an “unbelievable” Chelsea star, who Luis Enrique has personally requested, according to a report.

Maresca's star players attracting interest

It should come as no surprise that Cole Palmer has been attracting interest from rival clubs this summer, given the attacking midfielder’s exploits at the Club World Cup, and there have even been suggestions that Manchester City launched a £170m offer.

Palmer has also caught PSG’s attention, with the French club being touted to smash the existing world-record transfer fee with a £217m move for the Englishman, but the deal did not come to fruition.

In what has proven to be a savvy move, BlueCo tied the former Manchester City man down on a deal spanning until 2033, meaning they remain in a very strong negotiating position, and there is little reason to cash-in this summer.

However, Palmer is not the only Chelsea star attracting interest from elsewhere, with a report from Spain revealing that PSG have now submitted an offer amounting to €150m (£130m) for midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Related Same agent as Caicedo: Chelsea now eyeing "warrior" who's better than Araujo

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is set to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season.

Posts ByBen Goodwin Aug 11, 2025

Enrique has personally requested the signing of Fernandez, with the PSG manager of the belief that the Argentine would be the ideal replacement for Fabian Ruiz, and the French club are now hoping to close the deal within the next few weeks.

While the central midfielder is regarded as one of their main targets, it could be difficult for PSG to get a deal done, given that he is under contract until 2032, which means there is little reason for Enzo Maresca’s side to cash-in anytime soon.

"Unbelievable" Fernandez must remain at Stamford Bridge

After a shaky start under BlueCo ownership, Chelsea look like they are now building something under Maresca, having won the Club World Cup, and they shouldn’t risk that by cashing-in on one of their most important players.

Moreover, the Blues should be on a solid footing financially after defeating PSG in the Club World Cup final in New York, so there is little reason to sanction the Argentina international’s departure this summer.

The 24-year-old played a key role in the Blues securing a top-five finish last season, picking up six goals and seven assists in 36 Premier League outings, while he has also been lauded as “unbelievable” by journalist Lloyd Canfield and “world-class” by members of the media.

Rather than making any sales of key players, BlueCo should continue to strengthen Maresca’s squad prior to the window closing on September 1st, and it is now particularly important to bring in a new centre-back, with Levi Colwill suffering an ACL injury.

Liverpool were told to trust in Arne Slot by Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and the Reds rode the crest of that wave of faith right through to the league title.

They won it confidently. They won it emphatically. Manchester City and Arsenal and the rest were dispatched by an outfit who, quite simply, were better than everyone else.

Now Liverpool have taken things to the next level, pulling in fresh faces from every which way in the summer transfer window to reinforce Slot’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Reds will have their sights set on a successful Premier League title defence, but they will also be hungry to win the Champions League, and the FA Cup and Carabao Cup too.

Pre-season performances should be taken with a pinch of salt, but Florian Wirtz’s start to life as a Liverpool player has certainly fuelled hopes that these lofty goals are within reach.

Florian Wirtz's pre-season show-stopper

Wirtz signed for Liverpool in June for a £100m fixed fee. Potential add-ons could take that to £116m, which would make the 22-year-old the most expensive footballer in British history.

His illustrious career beginnings with Bayer Leverkusen have led him this far, though many rivals will wait to see how he fares amid new surroundings. But then Wirtz’s talent is off the scales, and he’s undoubtedly got the physical profile to match within the English game.

Across pre-season so far, the Germany international has shone, bagging a brace of assists against Stoke City back in England before jetting over to Asia, featuring against AC Milan and then picking up the Man of the Match award against Japanese side Yokohama FM.

He’s the real deal, all right, and Liverpool must know they have hit the jackpot. Wirtz is the cream of the crop of arrivals, but he may yet be trumped by another.

Liverpool lining up new striker

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now putting a British-record package together for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, just waiting for the perfect moment to show their hand.

Isak, 25, has informed the Magpies that he wishes to pursue a move to Merseyside, having refused to go on their pre-season tour and instead using his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities.

One of the best strikers in the world, Isak would cost a staggering sum, with Newcastle expected to demand £150m for their talisman.

Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak

If Liverpool were to sign Isak, they would partner Wirtz with a truly special star. The German playmaker has already been called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, and Isak is regarded by many – including pundit Alan Shearer – to be a “world-class” forward.

Building this new-look team is a staggering display of FSG’s intent, but the profiles of Wirtz and Isak could evoke a sense of nostalgia, potentially handing Slot his own version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Torres’s game was built on pace and power, and this aligned perfectly with the robust creativity of Gerrard, who marshalled his midfield while playmaking for his Spanish frontman. The results were incredible.

Arguably at his career-finest when playing for the Anfield side, El Nino notched 101 goal contributions from 142 appearances as a Liverpool striker.

The legend who is Gerrard helped him reach that pinnacle, instrumental as he widened the scope of the Spaniard’s potential.

And Torres knew it. When the Scouser hung up his boots way back when, the forward said this: “I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard. I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.”

Fabrizio Romano has praised Isak for being a “machine” in front of goal, but he’s also elegant, athletic and creative in his attacking play. In this manner, he’s a bit like Torres.

As per FBref, the Sweden international ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Truly, he’s the all-encompassing number nine. Torres was too. And with Wirtz pinging balls through to him, using his seamless movement to shift from left to right, left to right, there’s no telling how dangerous Slot’s Liverpool could be over the coming years.

Moreover, there’s a certain semblance between Isak at Newcastle and Torres in his Liverpool heyday, the strikers comparable in their rate of scoring and supplying for teammates.

Alexander Isak (NUFC) vs Fernando Torres (LFC)

#

Isak

Torres

Games

109

142

Goals

62

81

Goal rate

0.57

0.57

Assists

11

19

Assist rate

0.10

0.13

G/A rate

0.67

0.70

Data via Transfermarkt

If the duo manage to bag themselves a partnership at Slot’s Liverpool next season, fans may well be treated to some incredible new football, but also a sense of the past, keeping the spirit of the club alive as they chase down more honours.

Whether Liverpool succeed in prising Isak away from Newcastle this summer is still open to the court, but the Merseysiders know that the £120k-per-week talent wants to join them, and they know that they have a world-class playmaker in Wirtz who could create a sensational new duo.

Related It’s bad news for Rio: Liverpool discuss move for "electric" £43m Diaz heir

Liverpool will now get ready to sign a winger after Luis Diaz signed for Bayern Munich.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

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

England add Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed to Caribbean tour

Adil Rashid: 'When kids see me play, they know that it's possible'

Hazlewood, Zampa close out victory after Head's onslaught

No end in sight for Adil Rashid after passing the 200 wickets summit

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

This summer is shaping up to be a truly seismic one for Arsenal.

The pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side to finally get over the line in the Premier League next season will be immense, but it looks like the board are doing their bit to back them in the market.

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi are now officially through the door, while Andrea Berta and Co appear to be in talks with England internationals Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

That’s not all, though, as reports suggest the club is making rapid progress to sign an international game-changer who could help make Madueke entirely unplayable.

Arsenal target free-scoring game-changer

Arsenal ended last season’s Premier League campaign with 17 fewer goals to their name than champions Liverpool, so bringing in a new striker this summer was always going to be a priority.

Transfer Focus

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

Over the last few weeks, the club have been linked with a plethora of talented number nines, such as Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko.

For some time, it looked like the latter was going to be the one to make the move to North London, but that changed late last week as it became evident that RB Leipzig were asking for too much money.

Interestingly, instead of caving to their demands, Berta and Co quickly pivoted to another target, someone who could help make Madueke unplayable: Viktor Gyokeres.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal are in constant talks with Sporting CP, and that the Swede himself is pushing for the move, asking his camp for updates “every hour.”

Moreover, the Italian journalist has reaffirmed reports that personal terms have been agreed, while a recent report from GIVEMESPORT has claimed that the Gunners are set to agree a deal in excess of £65m for the goalscorer.

It is undoubtedly a lot of money to spend on one player, but over the last two years, Gyokeres has shown he could be a difference-maker for a top side, and he’d help make Madueke unplayable as well.

Why Gyokeres would make Madueke unplayable

It might sound simplistic, but one of the reasons Gyokeres would be such a good teammate for Madueke is the fact that he’s a striker who spends as much time as possible in and around the penalty area.

This is important because the Chelsea ace’s biggest strength, at least at the moment, is his ball-carrying and ability to get the ball into dangerous areas.

Therefore, he needs his striker to constantly be in goal-scoring areas, rather than dropping back into midfield or out wide, as Kai Havertz does.

However, it should come as no surprise that the most significant reason the Swede could help Madueke reach another level entirely is his raw output.

For example, in 52 appearances last season, totalling 4248 minutes, the free-scoring “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net on 54 occasions and provided 13 assists for good measure.

In other words, the former Coventry City star averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Just think about how many goals and assists the Blues ace would rack up playing next to a striker capable of such world-class output.

Moreover, the Englishman already showed last year that, in relatively restricted minutes, he could be a useful outlet out wide.

In the 2449 minutes of action he played prior to the World Cup, the former PSV Eindhoven ace scored 11 goals and provided five assists.

Appearances

41

Minutes

2449′

Goals

11

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvements

153.06′

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 153.06 minutes despite not having a prolific number nine to play alongside.

Ultimately, Madueke looks like he’d be a valuable addition to Arsenal’s squad this summer, but by adding Gyokeres as well, Arteta could help take the Englishman to another level entirely.

Arsenal set to bid for £52m winger with "full agreement" on personal terms

The Gunners are set to make an offer for a forward, who has a reached a full agreement over a move to north London.

ByDominic Lund Jul 7, 2025

It was obvious that Celtic were going to need to sign a new left-back to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window as the 2024/25 campaign came to an end.

Greg Taylor’s contract at Parkhead expires this summer and there is still no update on whether he will be renewing or if the defender has found a new club to join.

Jeffrey Schlupp spent the second half of the season on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace and has since returned to his parent club, where his contract is due to expire at the end of this month.

This is why it was important for the Hoops to add to their squad in that position, and that is exactly what they have done with the signing of Kieran Tierney on a free transfer from Arsenal.

Brendan Rodgers will be looking at the squad and how it could look in the years to come, hence signing Tierney on a five-year deal, and he will also be looking at other positions in the squad.

One current star who does not have a clear successor in place is club captain Callum McGregor, who remains the first-choice holding midfielder for the Hoops.

Why Callum McGregor is so important for Celtic

The former Scotland international is not a classic holding midfielder, in the sense that he is not a midfield destroyer who is dominant defensively, but the Celtic maestro is exceptional when it comes to setting the tempo and controlling a game.

McGregor sits at the base of the midfield for the Scottish giants and uses his ability on the ball to dominate matches in possession, by passing teams into the ground.

Passes made

79.78

Top 1%

Pass accuracy

94.3%

Top 1%

Long pass accuracy

64.1%

Top 5%

Cross accuracy

44.4%

Top 4%

Touches

96.30

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of possession and passing statistics, which shows that he was one of the best passers, if not the best, in the division.

McGregor also added a big goal threat to his game in the 2024/25 campaign, with a return of eight goals in 35 matches in the Scottish Premiership, after he had only scored two goals in the league in the previous season.

The Scottish star is important to Celtic and Rodgers, though, because of his metronomic passing qualities, and the Hoops are interested in a midfielder who could be their next version of McGregor.

Celtic have long-standing interest in Premier League midfielder

According to The Celtic Star, the Premiership champions have a long-standing interest in West Ham United’s central midfielder Andy Irving.

The report claims that the Hoops were interested in a deal to sign the left-footed star last summer but a change in management at the London Stadium, with Julen Lopetegui replacing David Moyes, put an end to any chance they had of signing him.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that a managerial change once again put a stop to Celtic’s interest in the recent January transfer window, as their attempt to sign the midfielder was turned down because Graham Potter wanted to run the rule over him during the second half of the season.

The Celtic Star does not reveal whether or not the Hoops are expected to go back in with a third attempt to sign the 25-year-old star, but it is clear that the club have an interest in him.

Rodgers must now push for the Hoops to go back in with another offer for the Premier League midfielder, because he could be McGregor 2.0 for the Bhoys.

Why Andy Irving could be the next Callum McGregor

The 25-year-old star could be the perfect signing to be a back-up option and potential successor to the captain due to his age and style of play.

Irving, who described his Scotland debut against Liechtenstein as “perfect”, is six years younger than McGregor and could be the long-term option for Rodgers at the base of the midfield.

The Hammers midfielder came on for the last 31 minutes against Liechtenstein and completed 23 of his 25 attempted passes (92%), whilst also creating two chances for his teammates, in what was an impressive cameo off the bench.

Irving, however, did not get too many opportunities to showcase his ability in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign, as he played just 178 minutes across ten appearances in the division for West Ham.

In that limited game time, though, the Celtic target showed why he could be a really good fit for Rodgers at Parkhead next season if the club were to snap him up.

Passes made

60.00

Top 8%

Pass accuracy

90.0%

Top 16%

Long passes made

3.89

Top 5%

Long pass accuracy

87.5%

Top 4%

Cross accuracy

50%

Top 11%

Touches

87.78

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, Irving excelled in possession when coming off the bench for West Ham, ranking highly among Premier League midfielders in a host of passing and possession-based metrics.

The Scottish whiz also showcased his ability to score goals, as McGregor did in the 2024/25 campaign, with nine goals in 28 matches in the Austrian Bundesliga during the 2023/24 season, whilst playing for Klagenfurt.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for Irving to be a midfielder who can control and dictate games for Celtic from a number six position, due to his promising cameos in the Premier League as a dominant and reliable passer.

In a Hoops team that dominates possession week-in-week-out and competes for the title every year, the 25-year-old star could thrive as a tempo-setter who can enjoy plenty of touches of the ball.

More exciting than Osmand: Celtic in the running to sign "terrific" winger

Celtic are interested in a deal to sign a winger who would be an even more exciting signing than Callum Osmand.

ByDan Emery Jun 12, 2025

Therefore, Celtic should make it third time lucky with another move for Irving before the end of the summer transfer window to add brilliant depth to their midfield, whilst also securing their long-term successor to McGregor.

While it’s impossible to deny that for large parts of this season, Arsenal haven’t performed to the standards they’ve set in previous years, they have also been quite unlucky regarding injuries.

Specifically, in late December, Mikel Arteta lost his best player and talisman to a severe hamstring injury that kept him out of the side for almost four months: Bukayo Saka.

The best way to demonstrate what a difference having the Hale Ender in the side could have made in that period is to look at his outrageous output, as despite missing so much football this season, he’s still managed to score 11 goals and provided 14 assists in 33 games, at an average of a goal involvement every 1.32 games.

So, with the Englishman unquestionably being the Gunners’ most important player, it would make sense to sign players who would make great teammates for him, which, based on recent reports, seems to be the opinion of Andrea Berta and Co.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it is worth looking at some of the other stars Arsenal are looking at who could help Saka reach that next level by improving the left-hand side, such as Jamie Gittens and Raphinha.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has recently popped up as a target for the Gunners and could be available for around £51m, which for a youngster who’s scored at the Bernabeu and has racked up a haul of 17 goal involvements this season and could prove a worthwhile investment.

Likewise, while the reported price tag of £77m for the Barcelona star is indeed steep, he would undoubtedly be worth it, as in just 52 games this season, he has managed to rack up an unreal haul of 57 goal involvements.

Yet, what would likely help Saka more than anything else is signing a new striker, which is where Liam Delap enters the fray.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are now incredibly interested in the Ipswich Town striker, with Andrea Berta particularly keen.

Furthermore, it’s moved beyond just an interest, with the report revealing that the club have now made an offer for the Englishman, who has a £30m release clause in his deal following the confirmation of the Tractor Boys’ relegation.

He might not be the biggest of names, but given how well he’s performed this season and his potential, Delap is someone worth signing, especially as he’d be a dream for Saka.

Why Delap would be a dream for Saka

Now, there are a few reasons why Delap would be a dream signing for Saka this summer, but they ultimately boil down to his ability in front of goal, as the Arsenal winger would surely thrive with a more clinical striker to his left.

We feel comfortable calling the Englishman more clinical than the Gunners’ current options up top, as it’s a statement more than backed up by the numbers.

For example, Understat has worked out that his 12 league goals this season have come from an expected goals figure of just 11.85, which, in other words, means he’s actually outperforming his underlying numbers.

Delap

11.85

12

Havertz

11.76

9

Jesus

3.38

3

In contrast, prior to his injury, Kai Havertz scored his nine league goals from an expected goals figure of 11.76, and Gabriel Jesus scored his three goals from an expected figure of 3.38.

On top of being better at putting away his chances, of which he’d be provided plenty from the Hale Ender, the 22-year-old marksman is more than capable of creating his own chances.

For example, FBref places the “complete” forward, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, in the top 8% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, the top 9% for shot-creating actions from successful take-ons, the top 10 % for carries into the final third and more, all per 90.

So not only would he help boost the Arsenal ace’s assist tally, but the attacking “monster” – in the words of Ipswich podcast Mark Heath – would almost certainly boost his goal output as well.

Ultimately, from price to goals and his ability to get the ball into dangerous areas, Delap seems like an ideal signing for Arsenal and, just as importantly, someone who’d be a sensational teammate for Saka.

Mega upgrade on Odegaard: Berta lining up Arsenal move for £100m "machine"

The £100m-rated star would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025