Tag Futebol

Rangers’ attacking options at Ibrox look very different now compared to just a few weeks ago.

All of last season’s top three scorers have departed this summer, with Václav Černý not returning following his loan spell, while Hamza Igamane departed for £10.4m, before Cyriel Dessers was sold for £3.5m on deadline day.

To replace them, wingers Djeidi Gassama and Oliver Antman have both arrived at Rangers while, in terms of centre-forwards, striker Bojan Miovski has come in from Girona for £2.6m, thrown in for his debut against Celtic last weekend.

Then, on deadline day, with Dessers Athens-bound, the new 49ers ownership group sanctioned one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history, but would they simply have been better off keeping a “rapid” forward?

Youssef Chermiti's move to Rangers

Last Monday, Rangers signed Youssef Chermiti from Everton in an £8m deal that could rise to £10m with performance-based add-ons.

This makes him Rangers’ most-expensive signing of the post-liquidation era, smashing Ryan Kent’s record, behind only Tore André Flo’s £12m move to Ibrox from Chelsea in 2000.

Well, the 21-year-old’s career on Merseyside does not leap off the page as someone who warrants a record-breaking transfer fee.

Chermiti began his career at Sporting CP, scoring three goals in 22 senior appearances for the Lisbon-based club, but this was enough to convince Everton to pay £11.5m to secure his signature in August 2023.

Well, fair to say this did not prove to be a shrewd investment, given that Chermiti did not score a single goal in 24 appearances for the Toffees, albeit these totalled just 295 minutes, with 22 of them as a substitute, of which 16 were cameos of ten minutes or fewer, in his defence.

Thus, it very much remains to be seen if Chermiti will be a success in Glasgow or not, making him a very expensive gamble.

So, would Rangers simply have been better off keeping hold of their “rapid” forward, rather than selling him for £4m?

Rangers' forgotten forward

Four years ago, Rangers signed forward Fashion Sakala on a free transfer, arriving from Oostende after his contract had expired at the Belgian club.

During two seasons in Glasgow, the Zambian international certainly made his mark, bagging 24 goals for Rangers, registering nine and then 12 during his two Premiership campaigns.

Speaking on Sportscene following Rangers’ 4-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road in March 2023, in which Sakala scored and bagged two assists, Steven Thomson praised his “immense” performance, while Leanne Crichton labelled him “rapid”.

Then, somewhat out of the blue, Sakala joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha for a reported fee of £4m and, well, he hasn’t stopped scoring since then.

During his first season with the Orange, he bagged 19 Saudi Pro League goals, a tally only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović, as the table below documents.

As the table documents, Sakala was outstanding during his debut season in Saudi Arabia, ranking third for goals, shots and shots on target, completing the joint-most dribbles alongside Allan Saint-Maximin.

Last season, his form did dip, bagging only eight times in the Saudi Pro League, but this still means he has accumulated 30 goals across all competitions during two seasons with Al-Fayha, registering an assist against Al-Fateh on the opening day of this season.

During the same time frame, new signing Chermiti has scored, well, zero goals, having bagged just three in his entire senior career.

Thus, all available evidence suggests that the Zambian would certainly be more of a sure-fire thing in attack, rather than the recently arrived, expensively recruited Portuguese U21 international.

Rangers have found the new Cerny in £2m star who Martin thinks is "exciting"

Václav Černý was always going to be a difficult player for Rangers to replace, but could their “exciting” £2.2m signing actually prove to be better?

By
Ben Gray

Sep 8, 2025

رد تيبو كورتوا حارس مرمى ريال مدريد الإسباني، على تصريحات خوان لابورتا رئيس برشلونة، التي ألمح فيها إلى تحيز التحكيم للنادي الملكي.

وتفاقم الوضع عقب طرد المدير الفني لبرشلونة، هانز فليك، خلال المباراة أمام جيرونا ببطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وصرح لابورتا حينها: “إذا لم تكن هناك يد بيضاء خفية، فالأمر مشابه جدًا، حدث هذا قبيل مباراة نتنافس فيها على صدارة الدوري الإسباني، هذا الرجل طرد جميع لاعبينا المميزين تقريبًا، الحكم جيل مانزانو يتمتع بسيرة ذاتية ممتازة معنا”.

وظهر كورتوا في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الثلاثاء للحديث قبل مباراة ريال مدريد ويوفنتوس في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا والمقرر خوضها غدًا الأربعاء، ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تصريحاته.

وسُئل كورتوا عن تصريح رئيس برشلونة خوان لابورتا بشأن اليد البيضاء أو اليد الخفية إشارة لتحيز التحكيم ضدهم، ورد: “لابورتا يقول ما لديه، في قضية نيجريرا لم أشعر قط أنهم تحيزوا ضدنا، بل على العكس تمامًا، الحكام بشر، والأخطاء واردة، لا أشعر أنهم تحيزوا ضدنا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | لابورتا يبرر انفعال فليك: تصرف إنساني نابع من الشغف والحكم أخطأ في حقه

وبشأن قرار رابطة الليجا بإقامة مباراة برشلونة وفياريال في ميامي بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، قال: “إنها تُشوّه المنافسة، ثم من السهل الحديث عن دوري كرة السلة الأمريكي للمحترفين ودوري كرة القدم الأمريكية”.

وأكمل: “في دوري كرة السلة الأمريكي للمحترفين، تُقام 82 مباراة، ثم تُلعب التصفيات، وهذا لا يُغيّر شيئًا، في دوري كرة القدم الأمريكية، يُصوّت ملاك الأندية جميعًا على القرارات، لكن هنا في الدوري الإسباني، يتم فرض الأمور لأنهم يريدون ذلك فقط”.

وأضاف: “هذا يُفسد المنافسة ولا يتوافق مع اتفاقية اللاعبين، يجب أن نلعب مبارياتنا على أرضنا وخارجها، فليس الأمر نفسه اللعب في ملعبك أو خارجه، اللعب خارج الديار في الدوري صعب جدًا، كما حدث معنا أمام ريال سوسيداد وخيتافي، وحتى فياريال خارج ملعبه فريق صعب”.

وبشأن رأيه في الرقابة التي فُرضت على احتجاج اللاعبين، أجاب كورتوا: “لا أدري ما الذي يفاجئكم، هناك ردود علنية على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، لم أرَ من قبل رئيس دوري يتحدث بهذه الطريقة، إخفاء الأمر وتغيير سبب احتجاجنا هو نوع من الرقابة والتلاعب، وهذا أمر خطير”.

ويشير كورتوا إلى حجب البث التليفزيوني للحظة وقوف اللاعبين 15 ثانية قبل مباريات الدوري الإسباني احتجاجًا على قرار خوض مباريات الليجا خارج إسبانيا.

وعن كيفية استعداده للكلاسيكو أمام برشلونة، حيث يلتقي الفريقان يوم الأحد المقبل، أتم: “الاستعدادات متشابهة، يجب أن نكون مستعدين تكتيكيًا، وهم يضغطون علينا بشدة، رأينا كيف يكون البرنابيو بركانًا، وهذا أمر مثير للإعجاب، في اللحظات الصعبة، نريدهم أن يستمروا في دعمنا، إنهم يمنحوننا تلك الطاقة الإضافية لمواصلة القتال”.

Celtic find themselves in a race against time to land a new striker, though they have now made an approach to bring in a forward on the books at a Premier League club.

Celtic fail in bid to land Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg

Despite making him their top target, Celtic look to have missed out on a deal for Anderlecht striker Kasper Dolberg, who is primed to complete a move to Anderlecht before the close of play.

Taking to social media platform X, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reported that the Denmark international now has his set on a move to his former club after the Dutch giants sought assurances over his willingness to snub alternative interest.

He stated: “UPDATE: Ajax are now pressing ahead with their hijack of Kasper Dolberg’s move to Celtic after seeking assurances from the player that he would prefer a return to his old club. #AFCAjax now back in talks with Anderlecht over a permanet deal. This could leave Celtic scrambling.”

Elsewhere, the Bhoys have put forward a loan for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sayki, albeit he could end up at either Rangers, Lyon, and Leicester City, who are also keen on landing the England Under-21 international.

The timing of whether Celtic manage to land a striker or not is critical, given Irishman Adam Idah is set for a move to Swansea after completing his medical, though they have held fire on relinquishing his services until a replacement is found.

Related Birmingham hold talks to sign "valuable" £3m ace; waiting on "green-light"

This is exactly what Chris Davies could be after.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Sep 1, 2025

Truthfully, the late part of the window for supporters has failed to deliver in terms of excitement, but that could be about to change as they hone in on a new centre-forward.

Celtic make loan approach to sign Chelsea's David Datro Fofana

According to Sky Sports reporter Joseph on X, who was mentioned earlier, Celtic have made a loan approach to try and sign Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana before tonight’s deadline.

Intriguingly, his colleague Ron Walker eluded to the fact that is ‘looks like’ the Bhoys may land his services despite suggesting that Bristol City were in the mix, potentially suggesting that a deal is further down the line than initially thought.

Despite joining Chelsea for £10.3 million in 2022, Fofana has made only four appearances for the Premier League giants and spent time out on loan at Goztepe last term, scoring twice in nine appearances before sustaining a knee injury.

Adding Union Berlin and Burnley to his other loans, the Ivory Coast international, dubbed “aggressive” by Vincent Kompany, has never really settled since joining the Blues from Molde, where he burst on to the scene after netting 24 times in 65 outings.

Celtic appear willing to offer him an olive branch at a late stage, creating a scenario where both parties benefit while Chelsea move another player off their books.

It’s been a rollercoaster couple of weeks to be a Crystal Palace supporter.

Eagles fans did manage to see their beloved team win at Wembley again in the Community Shield final, having witnessed their never-say-die side fight back from 2-0 down to surprise Arne Slot’s Liverpool to lift the early-season honours.

However, all this ecstasy so early into the campaign hasn’t been enough to tempt Eberechi Eze to stay put at Selhurst Park, with his disallowed free-kick effort against Chelsea on the opening day in the Premier League all she wrote on a stunning Palace career, as he now edges ever closer to a £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Marc Guehi could be the next high-profile name to ditch Oliver Glasner’s men, too, leaving the South London side with plenty to do in the transfer window before September’s abrupt cut-off.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign £14m star

It had been an extremely low-key window so far from a Palace perspective up until this boiling point.

The only notable addition to the building for the Eagles this summer has been ex-Ajax full-back Borna Sosa joining for £3m, but with Guehi and Eze both looking to be heading out the exit door, expect their activity to ramp up.

Jakub Kiwior looks to be on their list of centre-back targets if the forceful Englishman does seal a move away to Liverpool, while Bilal El Khannouss is also on the Palace radar to try and soften the blow of the former Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder leaving.

There are also striker targets on Palace’s mind, too, if reports are to be believed, with a loan move allegedly in the works for hit-and-miss Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-Chan to move to Selhurst Park, away from Molineux.

The Athletic has revealed that talks have taken place over a move that will help Glasner and Co. fill the void left by Eddie Nketiah’s notable injury absence, with no deal in place just yet.

While he will be viewed as a temporary sprinkle of quality, the £14m man does possess shades of Palace fan favourite Jean Phillippe-Mateta’s game at the peak of his powers, which will hopefully be on full view in South London shortly.

Why Hwang possesses shades of Mateta

After all, even if those named do desert Selhurst Park this summer, Glasner will know he can rely on Mateta to deliver more moments of magic like this chipped effort against Arsenal for the Eagles across the 2025/26 season.

In total, the towering, but skilful, Frenchman has a lethal 47 strikes next to his name from 154 appearances for Palace, which included him bagging his side’s opener at Wembley to kickstart the Community Shield comeback.

However, he hasn’t always found his time at Selhurst Park to be a smooth sailing experience, with only 13 goals coming his way across his first three seasons at the Premier League outfit, before everything impressively clicked into gear.

Hwang has faced a similar reality at Wolves, but while Mateta has come into his own donning Palace’s distinct claret and blue over the past few seasons, his Asian counterpart has found that his own goalscoring prowess has somewhat fizzled out.

24/25

26

2 + 1

23/24

31

13 + 3

22/23

32

4 + 1

21/22

31

5 + 1

Indeed, last season saw Hwang only fire home a meagre two goals across 26 competitions, while Mateta reached 17 across all his games, on the contrary.

Yet, just the season before Mateta’s explosion, the former RB Leipzig attacker had managed to collect an impressive 13 strikes for the Old Gold, leading to former Arsenal goal machine Ian Wright declaring that the 29-year-old has “got everything” you want in a desirable striker.

His standout efforts during the 2023/24 campaign did see him fall short of the FA Cup-winning attacker again – with Mateta trumping his tally by six goals – but the pair were deemed as statistically similar across this season, as per FBref, as Hwang attempts to be another unsung hero-style figure for the Eagles up top.

After all, both strikers in question joined the English game from Germany with points to prove, as they now prepare to potentially link up with each other in attack at Selhurst Park, while Glasner’s men also look for a positive future on the horizon, likely without Guehi and Eze.

Crystal Palace receive reply to £27.6m bid for 21-goal star

He would be a big-money signing at Selhurst Park.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 19, 2025

After lifting the Club World Cup trophy proudly aloft over the summer, Chelsea will be hungry for more success this upcoming campaign as the Premier League finally gets back underway.

A home clash with Crystal Palace starts the season for Enzo Maresca’s men, before the contests with London-based foes continue to come thick and fast, as a short trip to West Ham United then pops up on the calendar, followed by Fulham coming to Stamford Bridge.

It will be intriguing to see what position Chelsea hold after this bumper list of August fixtures, as the Blues also prepare to splash the cash, ahead of September’s looming transfer deadline.

Chelsea still interested in "exceptional" star

The Blues have been busy this summer, and for the most part, so far, these new signings have shone.

João Pedro instantly mde his presence known out at the Club World Cup with three goals from three games, having completed a £60m move from Brighton and Hove Albion just in time for him to strut his stuff in America.

He could soon be joined by ex-Seagulls teammate Carlos Baleba, with reports suggesting that Chelsea – alongside a litany of other Premier League sides – are chasing after the services of the standout South Coast performer.

Away from Baleba, the Blues are also persisting with the signature of another midfielder in the form Xavi Simons.

Football journalist Ben Jacobs, when speaking to The Football Terrace Xtra, has come out to say that Simons wants a move to West London, with Pedro no doubt licking his lips, too, at the prospect of linking up with the exciting Dutchman in attack.

Jacobs stated: “I’m still expecting Chelsea to bid. Maybe they want to get Christopher Nkunku out and resolve Nicolas Jackson’s future as well but there remains a realistic chance that Xavi Simons is a Chelsea player between now and the end of the window. Negotiations are a little more complicated compared to the talks between Manchester United and Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho.”

Why Simons could be bad news for Fernandez

A move for the “exceptional” Simons – as he’s been previously dubbed by Christoph Freund – could be bad news for Enzo Fernandez.

Why? Well, it could lead to the 24-year-old moving back to a holding position centrally.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Fernandez in West London.

His mega £107m price tag was always going to feel like a burden on his shoulders, leading to an opening run of 18 games during his first season in the Premier League that saw just two paltry assists being registered.

However, since Maresca’s entry on the scene, the once shackled Fernandez has been a key performer from the middle of the park as more of an attacking-minded presence, something seen in his stunning assist count of 14 last season.

Yet, this electric side to his game, which saw 13 big chances created by the ex-Benfica midfielder in the Premier League across the 2024/25 campaign, could be shackled by the emergence of Xavi Simons, notably when you consider his own blistering displays in the Bundesliga when lining up as a number ten.

LW

39

10

11

RW

17

5

5

AM

17

6

7

LM

2

0

0

SS

1

0

0

Staggeringly, from just 17 career games in the number ten spot for Leipzig, Simons has managed to collect an explosive 13 goal contributions, with an equally red-hot spell at PSV Eindhoven – before this move to Germany – also seeing him amass a ridiculous 15 goal contributions in this position from the same number of limited contests. On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one data analyst.

It’s a no-brainer, therefore, for Maresca to place more of his trust in Simons to do a job from an attacking position, over hoping Fernandez can deliver, with the 22-year-old even being lauded as “one of the best youngsters in Europe” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker when regularly ripping up the German top division.

In an ideal reality, Maresca will be able to get the optimum out of both midfielders in the same XI.

If he can, Chelsea will feel they’re in a great position to be a force to be reckoned with, heading into what the 2025/26 season could throw up.

Imagine him & Estevao: Chelsea to accelerate deal for "electric" £40m star

Even after Estêvão Willian marked his first appearance at Stamford Bridge with a goal, Chelsea are aiming to accelerate a move for a £40m winger.

ByBen Gray Aug 9, 2025

Paul Pogba will always remain a what-if player for Manchester United, given his failure to sustain his success during his spell as a first-team member at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman left the club on a free transfer, before joining in a then world-record £89m transfer just a couple of years after originally being allowed to depart the Red Devils.

The midfielder was known for his moments of magic, but questions were always asked about his commitment and effort, which held him back from being one of the elite players in world football.

He racked up over 200 appearances during his second spell in Manchester, but ultimately struggled to match the huge fee he returned to the club with.

However, his individual brilliance will always outshine the tough times he spent at the club, with current boss Ruben Amorim able to land his own version of the 32-year-old this window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

Benjamin Sesko undoubtedly remains as United’s main target this summer, as the club look to provide the boss with the talisman he craves during his spell in charge.

Talks have already been held between the players’ representatives and the Red Devils hierarchy, but any deal will be an expensive one, given the current £78m asking price.

However, the Slovenian international isn’t the only player currently on their radar, with work also being conducted to secure a deal for Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra.

Marca’s latest update claims that Amorim’s side have already reached out to the LaLiga giants over a move for the 22-year-old, who’s currently valued at £25m.

The report also states that AC Milan are also currently exploring a move for the Spaniard, which could see the Red Devils spring into action for his signature in the near future.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Along with his effortless ability to change a game, Pogba was known for his ball-carrying talent, which often saw him run the game when he was performing in full flow.

During the 2017/18 campaign he spent at Old Trafford, the former Juventus star registered 4.1 progressive carries per 90, a figure that ranked him within the top 5% of all players within England’s top-flight.

His dominance on the ball is further backed up by current professional Declan Rice, who placed the Frenchman within his top three players he’s ever come up against.

United’s current midfield is currently lacking the dynamism that Pogba possessed, which should come as no surprise given 33-year-old Casemiro is still one of the options at Amorim’s disposal.

However, the manager could be about to land his own version of the former fan-favourite this summer, with Guerra possessing a lot of the qualities that made the World Cup winner a hit with the supporters.

Guerra, who’s been labelled “special” by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to register 4.8 progressive passes and 1.8 progressive carries per 90 – able to glide past opponents when in control of the ball.

Such a skillset may come as a surprise given his 6”2 frame, sitting just one inch smaller than Pogba, with the pair freakishly talented with the ball at his feet given their height.

Javi Guerra’s stats for Valencia in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

36

Goals & assists

6

Progressive passes

4.8

Passes into final third

4.2

Take-ons attempted

2.7

Carries into final third

1.5

Tackles won

1.7

Stats via FBref

However, the youngster’s talents are also further reflected in his tallies of 1.7 tackles won and 1.7 clearances made per 90, able to do the dirty work at the heart of the side before making the desired impact higher up the field.

At just 22, he’s already made a name for himself for his ability to find the net from distance, with his effort against Espanyol arguably the best of his career.

Pogba also managed to possess such a quality, as seen by his own catalogue of strikes, which always managed to excite the fanbase – something which Guerra could do himself should he join the club.

Given his £25m asking price, a deal should be a no-brainer, potentially landing themselves a bargain this summer with a player who could emulate the levels produced by the former world record signing.

Related He's just like Zirkzee: Man Utd preparing move for £40m Sesko alternative

Manchester United have turned their attention to another striker alongside Benjamin Sesko.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Aug 1, 2025

England Lions 324 and 122 for 3 (Yates 57*) beat Sri Lanka 139 and 306 (Madushka 77, Dhananjaya 66, Mathews 51) by seven wicketsRob Yates anchored England Lions with a 68-ball half-century, as Sri Lanka’s tourists slipped to a seven-wicket defeat in their first-class warm-up at Worcester.Chasing a modest 122 for victory after bowling Sri Lanka out for 309 on the third afternoon, the Lions had resumed with victory in sight on 47 for 2 overnight, and needed just 19.5 overs to seal the deal on the final morning.Yates, who had reached the close on 17 not out, added 40 more runs at the top of the order, with Sri Lanka’s only success in the curtailed day’s play coming when Hamza Shaikh, England’s Under-19 captain, was pinned lbw for 16 by Milan Rathnayake.However, James Rew, another recent mainstay of the Under-19 set-up, joined Yates in an unbroken 53-run stand for the fourth wicket, finishing on 23 not out from 41 balls as he picked off the winning single off Dhananjaya de Silva.Sri Lanka now head to Emirates Old Trafford, where the first Test against England gets underway on Wednesday.

Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed made unbeaten centuries as Nottinghamshire Outlaws bounced back from defeat at Leicester in their opening match with a eight-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup match at the picturesque home of Welbeck Cricket Club in the north of the county.Opener Slater, who averages more than 53 in the List A format, again demonstrated his penchant for 50-over cricket by scoring 107 with Outlaws skipper Hameed making 101 not out as they shared a county List A third-wicket record partnership of 209 to inflict a heavy opening-match defeat on their Group B opponents, who managed only one win in the competition last season.Sussex were bowled out in the 48th over for 216 despite Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 90 from 109 balls. The all-rounder hit nine fours and a six but found himself ploughing almost a lone furrow in an under-par performance by his side, who have up to now enjoyed a successful season, booking a home quarter-final in the Vitality Blast and building a healthy lead in Division Two of the Vitality County Championship.Luke Fletcher (three for 35) and Toby Pettman (three for 44) were the most successful Outlaws seamers, although Brett Hutton, who took one for 41 bowling his 10 overs in a single spell, made a strong comeback after three months out with an Achilles injury. Left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (two for 35) also impressed.The Outlaws stuttered at the start of their chase, finding themselves eight for two after losing Freddie McCann for two and Jack Haynes without scoring, but Sussex were unable to make any further inroads as their opponents cruised home with 50 balls to spare.The 19-year-old McCann, in his second List A appearance following his debut at Leicester on Wednesday, spooned a catch to mid-on off Ari Karvelas, while Haynes registered his second consecutive duck with a loose shot that had him caught behind, after which Slater was fortunate with a top-edge off Karvelas that flashed just out of the wicketkeeper’s reach.But with a required rate of only 4.34 runs per over and a quick outfield, Slater and Hameed did not need to take risks and were able to comfortably pace their innings once the newness of the balls had worn off, moving the total to 48 for two from 10 overs, 93 for two from 20, and 140 for two from 30.Slater found the gaps regularly enough to pass fifty for the 18th time in this format from 54 balls with eight boundaries, Hameed reaching his from 69 balls with his third four, a return to form he will have enjoyed after enduring a lean time in 2023, if not the shot that took him there, a streaky edge off the leg-spin of Archie Lenham.The left-handed Slater was seldom troubled, reaching his seventh List A hundred when he pulled Karvelas for his 13th boundary as the Outlaws closed in on their target, Hameed hitting the same bowler for six, four, four and one to complete his.Sussex found the going tough from the outset after opting to bat first. The pitch seemed to lack pace and, in the face of excellent, tight bowling at both ends from Hutton and Fletcher, they lost both openers for 33 by the second ball of the 11th over.Tom Clark nibbled at one outside off stump off Hutton before Tom Haines edged his drive against Fletcher, Tom Moores doing the rest behind the stumps.Joined by Hudson-Prentice, Oli Carter sought to rebuild but the arrival of Pettman in the attack made scoring no easier.The 26-year-old seamer, who has had limited opportunities in his four years with Nottinghamshire, was making his first senior appearance since last August but made it count with two wickets in two balls as a frustrated Carter found the fielder at mid-on and Sussex captain John Simpson was leg before.Simpson’s dismissal exposed Sussex’s inexperienced middle-order and Hudson-Prentice soon lost two more partners as 19-year-old Daniel Ibraham was caught at slip and 18-year-old Henry Rogers, on debut, skied to long-on as Patterson-White found immediate turn.Hudson-Prentice and 20-year old off-spinner Bertie Foreman added 64 before some smart relay fielding involving extra cover Ben Slater, bowler Lyndon James and ‘keeper Tom Moores ran out the younger player.Fletcher returned to dismiss Lenham caught behind and Karvelas via a miscued pull, in between which Hudson-Prentice cracked consecutive boundaries off Pettman before he was caught at mid-off, as Sussex were all out with almost three overs wasted.

Aston Villa have now submitted a bid in the region of £40m for a “top” goalkeeper, with Emi Martinez looking likely to be heading for the exit door, according to a report.

Martinez's days could be numbered at Villa Park

Martinez has taken his game to the next level at Villa Park, scooping up the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award for the second time in three years last December, while also recently winning Premier League Save of the Season for a fantastic stop against Nottingham Forest.

As such, Unai Emery will no doubt be hoping to keep hold of his goalkeeper beyond the summer, but it appears as though the Argentina international could be heading for pastures new, with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid expressing an interest.

According to a report from Spain, Martinez has now ‘confirmed’ that he will leave Villa this summer, which means a replacement will be necessary, and recruitment chiefs haven’t wasted any time identifying a suitable heir.

Aston Villa book medical to sign forward who Emery feels can be next Duran

He’s agreed a four-year deal at Villa Park.

By
Charlie Smith

Jun 1, 2025

It is added that Aston Villa have made a bid of around £40m for Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who could be the ideal replacement for their current shot-stopper, given his impressive performances in Ligue 1 throughout the 2024-25 season.

There is a belief that Chevalier could be a good fit in Emery’s squad, and negotiations over a deal are now underway, with news of whether the Villans’ move is successful expected to come in the next few weeks.

"Top" goalkeeper Chevalier is "similar" to David Raya

Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Lille shot-stopper during the 2024-25 campaign, singling him out for high praise and comparing him to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

It is little wonder the Frenchman is held in very high regard by Mattinson, given that he ranks in the 81st percentile for his save percentage per 90 over the past year, while also putting in some top performances for Lille in the Champions League last season.

The 23-year-old made a number of “world-class” saves to keep Borussia Dortmund at bay in March, which will no doubt go into the compilation alongside several fantastic stops in Ligue 1.

Aston Villa will no doubt be looking to bring in a goalkeeper who is proven at the top level to replace Martinez, and Chevalier certainly fits the bill in that regard, so it is exciting news they have now submitted a bid to bring the Lille star to Villa Park.

Manchester United are in a rut and no doubt just wish to see the back of the torrid 2024/25 campaign.

Make no mistake, the Red Devils have arrived at a critical juncture. In fact, this could be the most important transfer window in many years, for Ruben Amorim’s side are languishing in the Premier League’s 16th spot with one game to go, no European football after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.

United are at a low ebb, but they will bounce back. However, INEOS need to prove they are capable of overcoming adversity, and on the transfer front, it looks like Old Trafford are going to struggle to wield the same kind of transfer power given their current malaise.

Well, that’s actually debatable. Financially, Amorim’s side have taken a big blow, but their ability to draw the most talented players is very much still there.

Matheus Cunha would attest to that.

The latest on Matheus Cunha to Man Utd

Though Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expecting his club to make sales this summer, he’s also gearing up to reinforce several areas of the field, and scoring more goals is one of the most pressing demands.

Cunha will spearhead the hopeful resurgence.

Despite interest from other clubs, including Arsenal, Aston Villa and more besides from the Saudi Pro League, the Wolverhampton Wanderers star has his heart set on a move to the Theatre of Dreams, as per Sky Sports, with United’s failure to win the Europa League not expected to prevent them from triggering his £62.5m release clause.

Wolves’ Brazilian forward is versatile and deadly, through his goalscoring ability, steely athleticism, and creative flair.

Wolves have made steady gains through the campaign, but Cunha has provided an invariably reliable service (suspensions aside). The 25-year-old has even been described as an “absolutely sensational” player when it comes to his intelligence and decision-making by pundit Micah Richards.

Matches (starts)

32 (18)

Goals

15

Assists

2

Shots (on target)*

3.2 (1.3)

Big chances missed

2

Pass completion

79%

Big chances created

13

Key passes*

1.8

Dribbles*

1.9

Ball recoveries*

3.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

Duels won*

5.6

Cunha is a brilliant player, but he alone cannot solve Amorim’s crisis. Indeed, Rasmus Hojlund has fallen by the wayside, and a replacement is needed.

Man Utd leading race for new striker

Hojlund is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer and is already attracting interest from Italy. This leaves Man United in a good position to sign Liam Delap, whose £30m release clause with Ipswich Town became active upon their relegation from the Premier League last month.

And according to Football Insider, United actually lead Chelsea in the race for the 22-year-old, with reports from elsewhere suggesting the Blues are focusing on Brighton’s Joao Pedro.

Everton are also in talks to sign the Englishman, but Football Insider believe United have the lead over the Toffees too to sign the England U21 international in the upcoming summer transfer window.

With Tractor Boys boss Kieran McKenna confirming his talisman is set to leave this summer, United are perfectly poised to complete a deal for a talented new striker, and for an affordable fee at that.

Why Liam Delap would succeed at Man United

Delap has passed his first test at top-flight level with flying colours, on an individual basis, at least. Having played 36 times in the Premier League, the striker has scored 12 goals, providing two assists to boot.

This is a bit of a double-edged boost for United fans, but Delap has already proven himself capable as a prolific goalscorer in a Premier League relegation battle.

That’s not to say Amorim has ever been dragged into an actual scrap for a place in next year’s edition, but Man United are set for their worst-ever Premier League finish and have suffered through many devastating losses across the campaign.

Delap is a clinical shooter, but he’s also athletic and powerful, eager to split through defences and make a menace of himself. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 13% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues in 2024/25 for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Cunha must be licking his lips. Let’s peer back at the Brazilian’s performance in the Premier League this season. If we recall, he might have scored loads of goals, only missing a smattering of chances, but creativity has also been part of his core quality.

Joint-sixth among Premier League forwards for big chances created this season and having also averaged 1.8 key passes per game, Cunha would be an almighty addition to a United side lacking in characters who can make things happen.

Hailed for his “incredible talent” by BBC Sport’s Alex Howell, Delap would be more than happy to finish sequences off clinically, but he’d need support and Bruno Fernandes can’t do it all on his own, if the skipper is even plying his trade at the club next season, with Al Hilal and more interested in securing his signature.

After missing just ten big chances in the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, he’s underlined his clinical credentials and, moreover, his superiority over Man United’s Hojlund, whose four-goal return has also seen him miss six big chances.

Signing Premier League-proven forwards to enhance Amorim’s system is exactly what United need to be doing if they are to get themselves back on the right track.

There’s a long road ahead, but the Red Devils have the chance to showcase a new strategy that could breed sustainable long-term success. It’s been a terrible term, all right, but it’s time for this great club to turn a corner.

Not just Garnacho: Amorim must sell Man Utd dud who's a "serious problem"

Manchester United are in need of a serious overhaul this summer, with numerous players needing to be sold.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 24, 2025