ESPNcricinfo understands that the RCB quick is expected to return to India after a period of rehab on a shoulder niggle back in Australia
Andrew McGlashan23-May-2025Josh Hazlewood is firming to make a return to the IPL 2025 for the playoffs with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after coming through a period of rehab on a shoulder niggle back in Australia.Hazlewood, who missed RCB’s last match before the IPL was suspended, returned home during the hiatus and has since been training in Brisbane as part of Australia’s preparations ahead of the World Test Championship final.ESPNcricinfo understands that he has emerged from those sessions well and is expected to return to India although it has yet to be confirmed. Hazlewood has had an outstanding tournament with 18 wickets at 17.27 from ten matches.Related
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RCB are assured of progressing and have two matches remaining in the league phase – against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27 – which will determine their route through the playoffs.The IPL was Hazlewood’s return to action after an injury-hit home summer where he did not feature again after suffering a calf strain in the third Test against India, which followed a side problem that kept him out of the second Test in Adelaide. He subsequently missed the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy.He is expected to return to the side for the WTC final against South Africa, edging Scott Boland out of the XI, having narrowly missed out on the 2023 decider against India amid recovery from Achilles and side injuries.The Australia players and staff who have remained at home will leave for the UK on May 29 with those at the rescheduled IPL joining as their tournaments conclude. Only Hazlewood and Josh Inglis (Punjab Kings) will be involved in the playoffs from those in the Test squad. The IPL final takes place on June 3, leaving just under a week to prepare for South Africa should either remain at the tournament until the end.Captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head will finish their season with Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 25. Mitchell Starc opted not to return to the tournament with Delhi Capitals.Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Beau Webster and travelling reserve Brendan Doggett are currently playing county cricket.
Looking to end the transfer window with a flourish of arrivals, Aston Villa have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign a midfield talent with a medical already scheduled to take place.
Who Aston Villa could sign before the deadline
Deadline day is just around the corner and, as such, the frantic search for late reinforcements has officially commenced. Aston Villa, part of that search, still have plenty of work to do and have reportedly launched an opening offer worth as much as £47m to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United.
The Hammers have so far been adamant that the Brazilian is not for sale, however, and their reluctance to negotiate a loan with an obligation to buy may stand in the way of Paqueta’s late move to Villa Park.
Whilst PSR is still limiting their transfer activity, late sales could yet take place to free up some funds for the likes of Paqueta. Emiliano Martinez, for example, is still being linked with a move away from the club, as has been the case all summer long, and Manchester United could yet make a late attempt to secure his signature.
The Red Devils are primarily focused on signing Senne Lammens, but Villa themselves have also asked about the Royal Antwerp goalkeeper and could set off a Martinez domino effect by hijacking United’s move at the death.
Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.
Meanwhile, as that saga threatens to unfold, Villa have at least reportedly agreed a late deal to sign a midfield talent for Unai Emery.
Aston Villa set to sign Fletcher Boyd
According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Aston Villa have now agreed a deal to sign Fletcher Boyd from Aberdeen. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder is reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at the club on Sunday before officially completing his move from the Scottish club.
One for the future, Boyd’s opportunities are likely to come with Villa’s youth sides rather than straight into Emery’s thinking. The pathway to the first-team is certainly one that he’ll have his eye on, however, having already experienced senior football at Aberdeen.
Better than Asensio: Aston Villa ready to move for "explosive" £50m star
While Marco Asensio may return to Villa Park, Aston Villa are also planning a move to sign an “explosive” Premier League star…
By
Ben Gray
Aug 30, 2025
After scoring on his debut for Aberdeen at just 16 years old last year, Boyd received impressive praise from former interim boss Peter Levin, who told reporters: “Just to get his debut is amazing but to score… wow, he will never forget that.
“The fans were unbelievable and for them to sing ‘Fletcher Boyd, he’s one of our own’ is a fairytale for him. Fletcher has been brilliant this season for the under-18s and they won the league the other day. He has contributed to more than 30 goals in the 18s and has just turned 16.”
It’s been a frankly unbelievable summer for Arsenal so far this year.
On top of winning their opening games of the Premier League season, the Gunners have gone big in the market in a way fans have not seen them do before.
Mikel Arteta has been given seven first-team quality players so far, and it now looks likely that he’ll get an eighth in Piero Hincapie.
Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Yet, the club could make it the greatest transfer window in the club’s history if they go back in for someone they’ve already been linked with, someone who could end up being their best deadline day deal since Mesut Özil.
Why the signing of Piero Hincapie is so exciting
It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window for Arsenal if Arteta didn’t get his customary left-back signing, and based on stories from the last few days, it does seem like Hincapie will eventually make it to the Emirates this week.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
However, the big difference between the Bayer Leverkusen star and some of the other defensive signings made by the manager in recent years is that he’s far more of an overlapping full-back.
Instead of moving into the middle of the park or into a back three when in possession, the Ecuadorian is likely going to be tasked with bombing up and down the byline and swinging crosses into the penalty area, or just ahead of it for his teammates to get onto.
On top of adding more explosiveness and dynamism to a left-hand side that has become rather stale, the 23-year-old phenom, whom analyst Ben Mattinson has described as “a left-sided Ben White”, will also help get more out of some of the other summer signings.
For example, with him in the starting lineup, Eberechi Eze will be able to start on the left and then drift into the centre of the pitch in games without making attacks too narrow.
Moreover, his ability to pull opposition defenders wide and then deliver a dangerous cross into the penalty area should work incredibly well with the poacher tendencies of Viktor Gyokeres.
In short, Hincapie appears to be an excellent signing for Arsenal, although the club could really end the window with a bang and go back in for a prior target who’d be their best deadline-day deal since Ozil.
The star who'd be Arsenal's best deadline deal since Ozil
Arsenal have been linked with an unbelievable number of supremely talented players over the last few months who could probably fit this description.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
However, in this instance, Rodrygo is the £78m star in question who, were he to join the club in the dying embers of the window, would be the Gunners’ best deadline deal since Ozil.
Now, it should be said that the club has made several quality last-minute additions since the German made his incredible £42m switch in 2013.
Still, even though David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, Danny Welbeck, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all made positive contributions in some manner, the impact of Rodrygo would be magnitudes more significant.
After all, even though the former Santos gem isn’t getting the game time his talent warrants at the moment, he’s been a brilliant player for Real Madrid over the last few years.
For example, across the 23/24 and 24/25 campaigns, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, was able to rack up a sensational tally of 31 goals and 20 assists in just 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
In other words, the 24-year-old game-changer was averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes in that period, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing everywhere but his preferred position of left-wing.
Appearances
51
54
Minutes
3707′
3452′
Goals
17
14
Assists
9
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
0.46
Minutes per Goal Involvement
142.57′
138.08′
Moreover, after three years of getting close but winning nothing, the North Londoners are in need of more big-game players, and the Osasco-born ace certainly fits into the category.
For example, in his 64 Champions League appearances, totalling 3883 minutes, he has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out as a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.64 games, or every 99.56 minutes.
Furthermore, of those 25 goals, eight have been match-winning strikes, and another eight have come in the knockout rounds.
Finally, while his preferred position is off the left, the Brazilian dynamo is more than capable of playing off the right or even down the middle, so he’d be able to interchange with his attacking teammates with ease and make things even harder for opposition defenders.
Ultimately, while it seems unlikely at this point in time, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Rodrygo before the window slams shut, and if they do get him at the last minute, he’d be their best deadline day deal since Ozil.
Arsenal targeting "extraordinary" Ajax attacker amid Piero Hincapie talks
Mikel Arteta’s side are looking at more signings before the deadline.
O Grêmio superou, na manhã desta sexta-feira, a marca de 100 mil sócios-torcedores ativos. Este é o maior número de associados atingida em toda a história gremista e representa o sucesso da campanha “O Grêmio Te Convoca”, criada em janeiro deste ano. O retorno à Série A do Brasileirão e a contratação de Luis Suárez são outros fatores que explicam o crescimento.
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Além do feito histórico, a marca tem uma importância financeira para o Grêmio. Afinal, a adesão da torcida ao programa de sócios gera impacto direto nos cofres azuis. Abaixo, o LANCE! apresenta mais detalhes sobre planos, valores e faturamento.
+ Com meta de R$ 13 bilhões em patrocínios, Fifa anuncia novos acordos para ciclo da Copa 2026
Os planos de sócio-torcedor do Grêmio
Atualmente, o Grêmio oferece seis planos aos torcedores – sendo um infantil, limitado a crianças de até 12 anos, e outro juvenil, para jovens de até 17 anos. Para os gremistas adultos, os preços variam entre R$ 29,90 e R$ 165 por mês.
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Dado os preços atuais dos planos, estima-se que o clube tenha um incremento de R$ 750 mil mensais a cada 10 mil novos sócios. Isso significa que, desde o início do ano, o Grêmio teve um acréscimo de cerca de R$ 3 milhões por mês nas receitas patrimoniais, ao saltar de 60 mil para 100 mil sócios.
Seguindo a lógica, o quadro social com 100 mil sócios garante uma arrecadação mensal na faixa de R$ 7,5 milhões. Caso o número se mantenha constante, o faturamento anual poderia chegar próximo a R$ 90 milhões.
Cabe destacar que, em 2022, o Grêmio faturou R$ 53 milhões com sócios-torcedores. O número foi confirmado no balanço financeiro publicado pelo clube no último mês.
Diretoria estabelece nova meta
Após comemorar a marca de 100 mil sócios, o Conselho de Administração do Grêmio já estabeleceu uma nova meta. Em 2023, o Tricolor comemora 120 anos e a ideia é aumentar este número nos próximos meses.
Liverpool’s season starts now. Though the Reds were defeated at Wembley last Sunday, Crystal Palace lifting the Community Shield after winning the penalty shootout, few fans would have been left reeling by the blow.
But the curtain-raiser did give the club a taste of Arne Slot’s new squad, with expensive summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike combining to score a well-worked opening goal. Also making his debut, Jeremie Frimpong’s cross after 20 minutes arced fortuitously beyond the impressive Dean Henderson.
Hugo Ekitike celebrates for Liverpool
But now, the reigning Premier League champions host Bournemouth in the opening match of the top-flight campaign, with sights set on retaining the crown that was so spectacularly won last year, Slot’s first after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout.
Despite the remarkable nature of Liverpool’s summer spending, options are rather thin at the moment. Particularly, the Merseysiders offer little in the way of defensive depth. That does, however, appear set to change.
Up top, greater strength. Though that said, Liverpool haven’t yet been able to pull off a record-breaking deal for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who, as one of the finest strikers in the world, would complete the frontline.
Liverpool still chasing Alexander Isak
Since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022, Isak has only gone from strength to strength, blooming into a world-class finisher but also a forward of impressive flair and finesse.
Isak’s relationship at Newcastle has disintegrated as he pushes to sign for Liverpool, who have already seen a formal offer worth an initial £110m rejected this summer.
Some would say the protracted pursuit of the Sweden star has become unsavoury, with Isak ostracising himself from Eddie Howe’s plans, but it’s a complex matter and Liverpool are patiently making headway.
The hopes of integrating him ahead of the now-arrived campaign have proved fruitless, though, and the Anfield side must prepare for Bournemouth without the 25-year-old and all the depth and quality he would provide.
Liverpool team news
Joe Gomez has returned to first-team training after picking up a minor Achilles injury during Liverpool’s pre-season camp in Japan, though it’s highly unlikely Slot would hand him a starting berth.
The most prominent absence will be Ryan Gravenberch, who, after missing out last week due to the birth of his first child, is suspended after being shown a red card against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024/25 season.
In his place, Alexis Mac Allister could hop back into the starting mix, having been benched at Wembley due to a lack of fitness. However, with Curtis Jones operating so smoothly in a deep-lying role last week, completing all 53 of his attempted passes, he may well reprise his position.
And should that take place, Slot has an interesting opportunity to field a line-up which could get the squad ready for a potential future with Isak at the spearhead.
How Slot can accommodate Isak at Liverpool
The easy assumption for Liverpool, were they to succeed in signing Isak this month, would be to drop Gakpo and shuffle Ekitike out onto the left flank.
Cody Gakpo celebrates for Liverpool
In Slot’s world, Liverpool have become more structured and patient in the build-up, with the rise of Gravenberch allowing for the transitional flow to be carried through the centre. With Trent Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid, expect that impetus to remain intact.
However, were Isak and Ekitike to play together in a sort of 4-2-2-2, the Reds could see a renewed focus on wide play, with Mohamed Salah stretching out to the right and Wirtz drifting left to accommodate the two mobile strikers.
With the newfound energy and pace of Milos Kerkez and Frimpong on the flanks, overlaps could become commonplace down Anfield Road, with the creative flair of both further supplementing Ekitike and Isak in the final third.
And though the respective forwards are considered to be similar – both athletically dynamic and hard workers off the ball; each endowed with a technical aptitude that is beyond most number nines – Isak is clearly the more refined and streamlined goalscorer.
The forwards are competent enough that this could work a treat in theory, but it would require the sacrifice of another starting member. Gravenberch, who indeed misses out against Bournemouth, is the transitional linchpin of Slot’s midfield, but it could see Dominik Szoboszlai’s starting berth taken from him.
Liverpool's DominikSzoboszlai
The £120k-per-week Szoboszlai is one of Liverpool’s most tenacious and industrious players, having enjoyed steady progress across his two terms at Anfield after joining from RB Leipzig for £60m in 2023.
But with Jones playing so confidently in Gravenberch’s stead last week, and Mac Allister presumably fit enough to make his first start of the season, there might not be room for the Hungarian from the outset.
Against the Eagles, Szoboszlai won three tackles and won four of his eight contested duels, emphasising the reasoning behind Slot dropping him deeper to shift Wirtz into the line-up.
Minutes played
90′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
75
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
55/63 (87%)
Key passes
3
Dribbles
0/0
Tackles
3
Interceptions
1
Duels won
4/8
It was, make no mistake, a fine performance from the 24-year-old, and one which might see him play an important role across the term ahead.
His drive is something special, with content creator Asim Mahmood previously hailing the all-action midfielder for being a “machine” in the centre.
But to ensure the fluency of a potential structural shift with Isak at the front, Slot might be inclined to indeed drop Szoboszlai against the Cherries and field Gakpo in his typical left-sided forward role – though with a marked focus on cutting inside and promoting his goalscoring ability, thus mimicking Isak and allowing Wirtz to move out onto the flank.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Given that Salah has enjoyed such success from a playmaking standpoint as he has entered the later stages of his prime years – no Premier League player created more big chances than the Egyptian (27) last year – and Wirtz is considered to be “a genius” by Xabi Alonso for his flair, passing and vision, Liverpool would surely have the tools to create and work effectively, even if Szoboszlai drops out and awaits an impact from the bench.
It’s a shame that Liverpool have reached a position where elite-level players are forced to sit on the bench to make room for another. There are worse problems to have for a football fan, though, it must be said.
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On his poor run with the bat, Rohit says, “Sometimes it doesn’t come off, and this series it hasn’t come off, which I am very disappointed with”
ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-20245:00
Rohit: This will be a low point in my career
India captain Rohit Sharma has admitted after a forgettable and India’s first ever 3-0 whitewash at home that he was “not at my best” as both captain and batter, and that his team “failed as a unit” because they made “lots of mistakes.”Chasing 147 to get any possible WTC points from a series already conceded, India crashed and burned to 121 all out against the spin of Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips.”Definitely, you know, something like this will be a very low point in my career, you know, having lost three games at home,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference. “And, yes, we, I fully take the responsibility for that as a captain and as a leader as well. I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series. And yeah, with the bat as well, I’ve not been good enough.”Related
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For a while, when Rishabh Pant was counterattacking with a 57-ball 64, there was hope for the hosts. But before that it was 29 for 5, and after Pant fell, to a contentious third-umpire’s decision, it all unravelled quite quickly. Rohit looked back on the series as a whole and felt let down by his own decision making.”Right from the start, I said it. You know, I made a decision about batting first on that Bangalore pitch, which was not right,” he said. “And certain tactical errors also, which didn’t go my way. You obviously take chances with those decisions. Sometimes it comes off. Sometimes it doesn’t. And this time around, it didn’t come off, the certain decisions that I took. So, yeah, I was not at my best of my leadership. And probably cost us the series as well.”Rohit’s poor series coincided with an excellent one for Tom Latham – who assumed full-time captaincy of the team just last month – and his men.”New Zealand played better than us throughout the series,” he said at the presentation. “There were lots of mistakes that we made throughout the series, and we have to accept it.Virat Kohli has also been going through a lull•AFP/Getty Images”The first and the second Test, we didn’t put enough runs on the board in the first innings. And we were very much behind the game. This game, we got that 30 [28]-runs lead and we felt that we were a little bit ahead of the game. That target was chaseable. All we had to do was a little bit of application, which we failed to do as a unit.”Questions about Rohit’s own batting form have been cropping up this series. Apart from a 52 in the second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru, he has managed scores of 2, 0, 8, 18 and 11. On ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar also spoke about Rohit’s captaincy, and what he called T20 tactics in a Test match.In this chase in Mumbai, Rohit hit two fours in a run-a-ball 11, but fell when he couldn’t get his favourite shot – the pull – right against Matt Henry.”Look, when you’re chasing a target like that, you want runs on the board as well. And that is something that was there in my mind,” Rohit said. “It just didn’t come off. When it doesn’t come off, it doesn’t look that great. There are certain ideas, certain methods that I go into bat with. Sometimes it doesn’t come off, and this series it hasn’t come off, which I am very disappointed with.”
“There were lots of mistakes that we made throughout the series, and we have to accept it.”Rohit Sharma
The other senior batter in the side – Virat Kohli (93 runs in six innings) – has also been going through a lull, which has forced a need for serious introspection. India will be facing the reigning Test match champions Australia in just over two weeks’ time.”Obviously, it’s [his and Kohli’s lack of runs] a cause of concern without a doubt,” Rohit said. “If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what’s done is done now. I think as a player, as a captain, as a team, we all have to look forward and see how we can correct what we didn’t manage to achieve here. There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia.”But right now, it’s just trying to understand what we didn’t do right [against New Zealand], what are the things that we need to do better as a team. We made a lot of mistakes, so I think those mistakes need to be addressed and something that we will talk about. And then moving forward, when you land in Australia, I think it’s important to just focus on that particular series, the first Test match. You know, it’s a five Test match series, so it’s important to break down those Test series, those Test matches and focus on one Test and then just take it from there.”As always, there were positives. In the batting department as well, where the younger players – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and Washington Sundar showed, at various points, that runs could be scored on tough pitches.”Those guys showed how to bat on these surfaces,” Rohit said about the younger lot. “You have to be slightly ahead, and be proactive when you’re playing on a pitch like that. Which we all know. Which we have discussed many a time in the last three or four years. We are aware of what we need to do. It’s just that, this was an unfortunate series where it didn’t come off. We tried to do certain things, it didn’t come off. Which is why we lagged behind in the series.”
The Club World Cup might be a mixed bag for Chelsea at the moment, but next season looks rather exciting.
Enzo Maresca will lead his side into the Champions League for the first time, and be hoping for an even better finish in the Premier League.
The best way for the club to help him with that quest is by delivering him the right players over the coming weeks and months, and while they’ve made a good start, there is still plenty of work to do.
Fortunately, the Blues continue to be linked to dangerous forward Hugo Ekitiké, and if recent reports are to be believed, they are now closing in on another attacker who’d be a dream teammate for him.
Chelsea move for attacking reinforcements
The links between Chelsea and Ekitike first started to pop up around late March of this year while he was scoring for fun for German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The links then quieted down for a couple of months before resurfacing again this summer, and based on stories from earlier this month, the club have been in talks to sign the Frenchman for around £84m.
There are, of course, other teams vying with the West Londoners for the forward’s signature, with Liverpool one of the more notable competitors, but if the last twenty years have taught us anything, it’s that the Pensioners are good at getting who they want.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
However, while the prospect of signing the Frankfurt poacher is certainly exciting, it looks like the Blues are now closing in on another talented attacker from the Bundesliga.
At least, that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that Chelsea have reached an agreement on personal terms with Jamie Gittens.
However, that does not mean the transfer is sorted, as the Italian journalist reaffirms that an agreement with Borussia Dortmund is yet to be reached.
While Romano does not mention how much the German side want for the dynamic winger, reports from earlier this week revealed that a fee of around £55m could do the trick.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
It’s a lot of money, but given Gittens’ ability and potential, this is a transfer Chelsea should be fighting for, especially as he’d be incredible alongside Ekitike.
Why Gittens would be a dream teammate for Ekitike
This was well and truly Ekitike’s breakout year for Frankfurt, as while he’s been good in campaigns prior, he was near enough unstoppable at points for the German outfit this season.
For example, in 48 appearances, totalling 3644 minutes, the young Frenchman was able to score 22 goals and provide 12 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes.
So, with that said, why would Gittens help get even more out of him? There are two primary reasons, and the first is the Englishman’s output.
Across all competitions this season, the most productive, primarily left-sided winger at Chelsea was Jadon Sancho, who managed to produce 15 goal involvements in 41 games but has returned to Manchester United.
After that, it was Mykhaylo Mudryk, who looks unlikely to feature for some time, and then in third is youth product Tyrique George.
Appearances
49
42
15
25
Minutes
2803′
2426′
849′
1131′
Goals
12
5
3
2
Assists
5
10
5
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.34
0.35
0.53
0.28
Minutes per Goal Involvements
164.88′
161.73′
106.12′
161.57′
So, in short, somehow, the West Londoners have found themselves looking short on numbers and quality when it comes to out-and-out left-wingers, which are two issues solved by the Dortmund star, as he racked up 17 goal involvements in just 2803 minutes across 49 games this season.
So, it’s not unrealistic to think that he could both help provide the Frankfurt ace with more goalscoring opportunities and get on the end of the chances he creates as well.
Finally, on top of the output, the 20-year-old “difference-maker,” as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has some genuinely impressive underlying numbers that could be useful for his potential new teammate.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons and shot and goal-creating actions from take-ons and then the top 2% for take-ons attempted, all per 90.
Borussia Dortmund'sJamieBynoe-Gittensin action with GNK Dinamo Zagreb's Kevin Theophile-Catherine
This shows that not only is the youngster someone who likes to try and make things happen by himself, but someone who is capable of doing that, and if he’s constantly creating opportunities from out wide, then there will be more space for Ekitike to operate down the middle.
Ultimately, Chelsea should be looking to sign the Frankfurt goal machine, but if they want to get more out of him and dramatically improve their left-hand side, they should sign Gittens alongside him.
Chelsea ready to offer £80k-p/w ace in exchange for "amazing" 17 G/A star
The Blues could have a transfer trick up their sleeve.
Arsenal have emerged as the leading contenders to sign a “rising star” for Mikel Arteta this summer, amid their plethora of other potential deals, with sporting director Andrea Berta showing no sign of slowing down.
Arsenal complete signing with medical "done", announcement due "this week"
Mikel Arteta is set to welcome another player.
4 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025
The north Londoners have already signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, with the latter completing his medical earlier this week (David Ornstein).
Arsenal are now attempting to bolster a host of different areas in attack after this trio of transfers, and supporters are anticipating the end of their long search for a prolific number nine, as their club close in on a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke could join the Sweden international, having agreed personal terms, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also holding “positive” talks to join Arsenal in a separate deal (ESPN).
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£65m
Sky Sports back that Arsenal could sign both a left-winger and Eze this summer, in what is a very exciting prospect for fans, but it plunges the futures of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli into serious doubt.
Eze would come in to complement Gunners captain Martin Odegaard, as per Sky this week, and his versatility means Arteta could also utilise the 27-year-old as an alternative to Bukayo Saka when required.
Saka spent months out injured midway through 2024/2025, which undoubtedly hampered Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge, so it would be useful for Arteta to have different quality options on that side.
With Berta working on multiple attacking signings already, and a move for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo also still on the cards, it does beg the question: where does FC Porto sensation Rodrigo Mora fit in?
Arsenal in pole position to sign FC Porto starlet Rodrigo Mora
The 18-year-old was a member of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League-winning squad and displayed real flashes of brilliance during FC Porto’s Club World Cup campaign – scoring a brilliant solo goal in their 4-4 draw with Al-Ahly.
Rodrigo Mora for FC Porto.
Arsenal sent scouts to run the rule over Mora during his CWC outings, with the teenager emerging as “one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football”.
That is according to Football Transfers, who state that Arsenal are now the current favourites to sign Mora, ahead of both Man City and Man United, having expressed the most significant interest so far.
The Portuguese’s contract includes a £60 million release clause, but given Berta’s pursuit of other illustrious forwards, it would be quite a move if he managed to get a transfer done this window.
Perhaps the versatile attacking midfielder could come as an alternative to Eze, following his impressive 2024/2025 haul of 12 goals and four assists in all competitions.
He’s also already a record-breaker, having become the youngest debutant in Portuguese football history two years ago.
“We now have Rodrigo Mora, who just turned 18. He’s a brilliant footballer, another rising star,” said Porto president André Villas-Boas.
“We love the game, and I believe that passion fuels the talent we see right now. Technically gifted, for sure.”
The former India opener met the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee on Tuesday
Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jun-20241:52
Is Gambhir the right fit to be India head coach?
Gautam Gambhir, the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as India men’s head coach, has formally applied for the position and attended an interview on Tuesday, ESPNcricinfo has learned. Gambhir interacted with the BCCI’s cricket advisory committee (CAC), which is the panel entrusted by the BCCI to shortlist applicants.The CAC comprises former India cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik.It could not be confirmed how many applications the BCCI has received, but it has been learnt that WV Raman, the former India batter who was India women’s head coach from December 2018 to May 2021, has also been interviewed*.The BCCI, which had set May 27 as the deadline for applications for the post, had held informal discussions with Gambhir during IPL 2024, when he helped Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title after returning to the franchise as mentor in November 2023.The KKR job was Gambhir’s second such stint; he had been a mentor at Lucknow Super Giants during the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, helping the team qualify for the playoffs both times.Gambhir had sought time to take a final call during the IPL, but speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi on June 1, he expressed his desire to coach India. “Look, I would love to coach the Indian team,” Gambhir said. “There is no bigger honour. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?”Gautam Gambhir mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title•CAB
He had been answering a question on whether he saw himself helping India win a World Cup.”How can I help India win the World Cup – I think it’s not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup,” Gambhir said. “If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India.”Gambhir became the frontrunner for the job once his former India team-mate VVS Laxman told the BCCI last year that he was not interested in the head coach job. Laxman is currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Dravid had taken over from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signing on for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He then accepted the BCCI’s request to extend his tenure until the ongoing T20 World Cup.The BCCI had said the new head coach would be appointed for for three-and-a-half years, from July 2024 to December 2027, and would helm the team in all three formats.
Derby County are now keen on signing a 100+ career goal forward this summer, with John Eustace personally driving the move, according to a report.
Derby's summer transfer plans taking shape
It was always going to be tough to avoid relegation from the Championship in Derby’s first season back in the second tier, but having just about got the job done, Eustace will be looking to bring in signings capable of helping his side push up the table next season.
The Rams have set out to raid some of their Championship rivals next summer, having submitted a bid for Hull City right-back Cody Drameh, although they did not receive the response they would’ve been hoping for, with the proposal being knocked back.
Drameh is not the only defender in Eustace’s sights, however, with enquiries also being made over centre-back Ricardo Santos, who is available on a free transfer upon leaving Bolton Wanderers.
Derby now fighting Blackburn for midfielder who won 139 duels this season
John Eustace could have a say in the transfer saga…
By
Sean Markus Clifford
May 11, 2025
The Championship outfit are clearly keen to bolster their options at the back, despite maintaining a decent defensive record throughout the 2024-25 campaign, given their league position, shipping just 56 goals across the campaign.
However, there is also an eagerness to strengthen their attacking options, with a report from Derbyshire Live revealing Derby are now keen on a move for Andi Weimann, who previously spent three years at Pride Park from 2015 to 2018.
Blackburn Rovers' AndreasWeimann
Eustace is personally pushing for the Rams to bring back Weimann, who will be available on a free transfer, should the forward fail to agree a new contract to extend his stay with current employers Blackburn Rovers.
"Incredible" Weimann could be tempted by Derby move
The 33-year-old clearly has a strong relationship with Eustace, with the 45-year-old also signing him for Blackburn last summer, and he received high praise from his manager last season, who said: “It doesn’t matter how old he is (or) how young he is when you have a player of that quality.
“Everyone can see the impact he has had on and off the pitch. We are very fortunate that he decided to sign here.”
Former Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson is also an admirer of the Austrian, describing his desire and work ethic as “incredible”, and he has a plethora of experience at Championship level, which could be very useful for Derby.
The Blackburn forward has spent the majority of his career in the second tier, scoring 74 times in the competition, and after picking up seven goals last term, he now has over 100 career goals to his name.
As such, Weimann could be a fantastic signing for Derby, who will be hoping his existing relationship with Eustace will be helpful in convincing the attacker to move to Pride Park.