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Arsenal’s biggest strength this season, and arguably last season as well, was their defence.

Mikel Arteta’s side may have scored 17 goals fewer than Liverpool in the Premier League, but then, even though they finished ten points off top spot, they managed to concede seven goals fewer than the Reds.

While this genuinely impressive solidity is partly thanks to the entire team, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to describe William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as the chief architects of the Gunners’ almost impenetrable backline.

So, fans should be delighted about recent reports linking the club with an international defender compared to both of them.

Arsenal searching for another defender

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other defensive titans linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, such as Jorrel Hato and Marc Guehi.

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The former seems to be on the radar for a lot of big teams this summer, at a price of around £42m, and it’s not hard to see why, as at just 19 years old, he’s already established himself as a crucial member of Ajax’s defensive setup.

Likewise, Guehi is just as, if not more important, for Crystal Palace, making 44 appearances across all competitions and winning the FA Cup with them this season, which makes his supposed £50m valuation seem more than reasonable.

However, while both of these players are brilliantly talented, another defender who could be an even more exciting acquisition has now entered the frame: Ousmane Diomande.

According to a recent report from Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, as relayed by Caught Offside, Arsenal are now in the race for the Sporting CP star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that London rivals Chelsea are also keen to bring the Ivorian to the Premier League this summer.

While the report makes no mention of how much the centre-back might cost, reports from last month reaffirm claims that he has a €80m release clause in his current deal, which amounts to about £68m.

It would, therefore, be a costly and likely complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability and the comparisons to Saliba and Gabriel, it’s one Arsenal should fight for.

How Diomande compares to Saliba and Gabriel

So then, given just how sensationally well Arsenal’s defensive duo have played in recent campaigns, it is undoubtedly a bold claim to suggest that Diomande is not just similar to one of them but both.

However, that is just the claim respected analyst Ben Mattinson made when he described the Ivorian international as “a hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba” just last season.

Now, when it comes to his similarity to the former, you can look at things from the fact that the Brazilian is just an inch taller at 6 foot 3 to their goalscoring ability, with the Sporting star finding the back of the net twice in 32 league games to the Gunners’ titan getting one more in 28 games.

How about the Frenchman, then?

Well, interestingly, the most convincing argument for how similar the Abidjan-born star is to the former Saint-Etienne ace comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Champions League this season.

It then created a list of the ten most comparable players for everyone who participated in the competition and concluded that the Bondy-born titan was the number one most similar centre-back to the Sporting ace.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, passing accuracy, expected assists, live passes, interceptions and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.01

0.03

Progressive Carries

0.36

0.36

Passing Accuracy

93.2%

92.2%

Expected Assists

0.01

0.01

Live Passes

58.8

56.5

Interceptions

0.96

0.91

Finally, while Saliba is now three years older, he was also being spoken about as one of the most exciting emerging defensive talents at 21, so there will be some shared experiences between him and the Sporting gem should he move to the Emirates this summer.

Ultimately, it’s a lot of money, but with how highly rated he is and the fact he’s been compared to two of their very best players, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Diomande this summer.

He's a dream for Rice: Arsenal are about to submit bid for £84m "magician"

The outrageously talented international would be game-changing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 12, 2025

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly made contact with a £20m target who used to play for Paris Saint-Germain.

AS Roma eye Espirito Santo move

After a season full of success, Nottingham Forest could be set to become the victims of that success when the summer transfer window arrives. The Midlands club, as is often the case when clubs enjoy an unexpected rise, have already seen the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White linked with moves away and could yet lose manager Nuno Espirito Santo on top.

With reports suggesting that Italian outfit AS Roma are interested in Nuno, the Nottingham Forest boss could leave the City Ground and cause a major shock this summer. It’s a departure that Evangelos Marinakis should hope to avoid at all costs above any potential star players.

Since the boss’ arrival, Forest have simply been a side transformed from a side battling relegation into a side who will be disappointed that Champions League qualification is out of their hands.

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He could replace Gibbs-White.

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The Portuguese manager may just be getting started, too. With Europa League football, at the very least, now confirmed for next season, Forest should be in their strongest position for quite some time to welcome some of Europe’s impressive talents.

It goes without saying that adding depth in preparation for European football will be crucial to any success next season, and the rumours have already been coming thick and fast over just who could complete a move to the City Ground to add exactly that to Nuno’s squad.

Nottingham Forest make contact with Bulka

According to Polish outlet Meczyki, Nottingham Forest have now made contact with Marcin Bulka over a summer move to the City Ground, with Marinakis now eyeing a £20m move to sign the shot-stopper.

Fresh from a solid campaign in Ligue 1 for OGC Nice, Bulka has earned the interest of Forest and may well find himself on his way back towards Europe’s elite for the first time since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2022.

Starts

34

37

Clean Sheets

8

13

Saves per 90

4.74

4.41

Save Percentage

75.8%

74.2%

When compared to Forest No.1 Sels, who has enjoyed an excellent season in his own right, Bulka’s numbers certainly make for interesting reading. The Nice shot-stopper has just about outperformed Sels for save percentage as well as saves per 90, albeit whilst keeping fewer clean sheets.

If Forest are to strengthen, then they could do far worse than welcoming the former PSG man this summer. With plenty of football to share around next season too, having two options so similar in quality would be no bad thing.

With Forest reportedly in contact with his representatives, Bulka could certainly be one to watch in the coming months.

Fulham are now set to open talks over a deal for a “beautiful footballer” this summer, who is set to be available on a free transfer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Cottagers stepping up summer transfer plans

The Cottagers have been showing signs of year-on-year development under the helm of Marco Silva, and they are in a good position to record a top-half finish in the Premier League, which should put them in a good position to attract some quality players this summer.

Silva’s side have managed to progress despite losing some key figures in recent windows, with Joao Palhinha among them, but the midfielder’s move to Bayern Munich hasn’t gone exactly to plan, which means a return to Craven Cottage could now be on the cards.

The west Londoners are keen on strengthening in the middle of the park, and they are also looking to upgrade their defence, with contact being made to discuss a deal for versatile Juventus defender Nicolo Savona, who has impressed in the Serie A this season.

Fulham star's agent meets with rival club who desperately want new forward

He could be about to cross the divide.

ByBarney Lane Apr 21, 2025

Savona’s main position is right-back, but the Italian is not the only target in that area of the pitch, with Sky Sports reporter Sheth recently taking to X to reveal Fulham are now interested in signing Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters.

Walker-Peters’ contract is set to expire at the end of the season, which means he will be available on a free transfer this summer, and the Cottagers are expected to open talks with his representatives when the campaign comes to a close.

Sheth states there will be “competition” for the defender, with London rivals West Ham United being named as potential suitors last month.

"Beautiful footballer" Walker-Peters could thrive in better side

It has been a season to forget for Southampton, who have recorded just two victories in the Premier League all season, which indicates it could be a gamble for Fulham to sign a player who has been a key part of such a poor side.

However, the 28-year-old has impressed in the Premier League in the past, chalking up 147 appearances in the competition, while also earning two caps for his national side.

Not only that, but the London-born defender has also received very high praise from former manager Russell Martin in the past, with the ex-Saints boss lauding him as a “beautiful footballer” after scoring in a 1-0 victory against Bristol City, before adding: “He can score more and assist more. It’s a brilliant, brilliant goal.”

As such, there are signs that Walker-Peters could thrive in a better side, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Fulham, making him a low-risk addition to Silva’s squad.

Former players and coaches weigh in on the changes ahead of India’s new domestic season

Daya Sagar26-Aug-2024Is this the best format for the Duleep Trophy?Wasim Jaffer, former India opener: Having many international players participating in the Duleep Trophy is a positive step. You want these players to be part of domestic cricket when international cricket is not happening. Moreover, the national selectors picking these teams is a better move. The cream of promising talent get a chance to strengthen their case under the selectors’ watch.Related

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Faiz Fazal, former Vidarbha captain: Previously, there used to be dominance of a particular team from a zone. Take my example: I’ve been among the top scorers from my zone in the Ranji Trophy, but across the last eight-nine seasons, I was only picked in three zonal Duleep Trophy games. Central Zone was dominated by UP (Uttar Pradesh). The managers, coaches, and captain were all from that state. With the national selectors’ involvement, it’s a fairer process, greatly reducing the dominance and bias of a single state. I believe the selectors would have told the coaches and captains about the new players they want to see and those who should be given opportunities. Additionally, this will be good practice for Indian Test cricketers to start the new Test season with red-ball practice.Piyush Chawla, India legspinner: The current format with a number of top India players participating will make the tournament more competitive and attractive. Several new domestic players will be able to learn a lot from experienced Indian players.Will the splitting of the Ranji Trophy foster better competition?Jaffer: I had tweeted a long time ago that the season should start with red-ball cricket. When I played, the Ranji Trophy matches were held first, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s (SMAT). Before the season, there used to be KSCA and Buchi Babu tournaments, which helped in our pre-season preparation. Additionally, the Irani Trophy and Duleep Trophy matches used to be held at the beginning of the season. This gave players ample practice with the red ball before starting the Ranji Trophy. I think this is a better step and will also protect players against the harsh weather conditions in North India because if a match is cancelled or gets disrupted due to bad weather, it affects the team’s qualification.Punjab beat Baroda to clinch their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title last season•Mandeep Singh.Jaffer: There is only a six-day gap between the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy and the start of SMAT. During this time, players have to travel, rest, and then prepare for T20 cricket, which is completely different from first-class cricket. Since performance in SMAT also affects players’ IPL auction values and opportunities, I think this gap should have been eight to ten days to allow players to transition smoothly from one format to another. However, this will also test the professional attitude of players and coaches in adapting to this change in a short time.Returning to red-ball cricket for the final two matches and knockout stages after playing SMAT and VHT will be a new challenge. It may also happen that some teams or players do not maintain their form from the first phase. But that’s cricket, and you have to adapt professionally to every situation. Adaptability is the biggest challenge and demand in modern cricket.Chawla: No team should be deprived by weather, so this is an excellent step. Also, at the senior level, players need to be professional enough to handle such challenges of quick turnaround. This is an exciting and challenging move.Fazal: When I was playing the Ranji Trophy last year, I also felt that a three-day gap was very difficult not only for fast bowlers but also for batters. Suppose I am a batter scoring a hundred or double hundred on the final day to save or win the match, and then travel the next day, your entire recovery is hampered. It’s good that players like Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav raised this issue and Rahul Dravid too supported it.Having the Ranji Trophy in two phases is also a good decision. However, some teams might complain at the end of the season that their momentum was broken, and after winning the last two matches of the first phase, the break affected their consistency, and they could not win the next two rounds. This is likely to happen. But it is better to take a break and play other formats less affected by the weather than to have matches cancelled or abandoned due to bad weather. It happens in county cricket too, where different rounds of the one-day cup and County Championship matches run together. Therefore, this experiment should be welcomed and let’s see how it works in the Indian context.

“Having many international players participating in the Duleep Trophy is a positive step. You want these players to be part of domestic cricket when international cricket is not happening.”Wasim Jaffer

Is the doing away of the toss in the Under-23 competition a positive move?Chawla: Additionally, teams will receive batting and bowling points, unlike earlier where only the team taking a lead, winning outright or drawing a game would be awarded points. If these experiments prove successful, there is a possibility of it being implemented in senior cricket. The no-toss rule isn’t a novelty, though. It was introduced county cricket was in effect from 2016 to 2019, but was discontinued from the 2020 season.Shukla: This is an attempt to remove the advantage given to the home team, and such efforts should be appreciated. Only after one season of the experiment can players, coaches, and others involved in Under-23 cricket comment on how appropriate this rule is and what benefits or drawbacks it has. Previously, when the impact player rule was introduced, I had said it should be tried out rather than discarded outright.Now, the impact rule’s effects, benefits, and drawbacks are clear. Similarly, the super sub rule was tried, and it was found not suitable for cricket. This rule should also be viewed as an experiment before pointing out its shortcomings. But I also feel that the less interference with cricket, the better it remains. Cricket should be left as it is.Jaffer: This rule was in place for a few years in county cricket, and I played there at that time. But what happened was that home teams started preparing flat wickets, and there were fewer pitches favouring seam and spin, leading to more drawn matches. This rule eliminates the uncertainty of the toss. If we want to reduce the impact of the pitch, BCCI already sends neutral curators. So, this rule was not necessary here.

The defending champions need some crucial replacements after trading out a couple of players

Abhimanyu Bose21-Dec-20225:12

Who should replace Lockie Ferguson at Gujarat Titans?

Who they’ve got
Gujarat Titans, the defending IPL champions, released only six players ahead of this mini-auction and, rather unsurprisingly, have kept the majority of their title-winning squad intact.

Follow the 2023 IPL auction LIVE

You can watch the auction live in India on Star Sports, and follow live analysis with Tom Moody, Ian Bishop, Wasim Jaffer and Stuart Binny right here on ESPNcricinfo.

Current squad: Hardik Pandya (capt), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, B Sai Sudharshan, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, Pradeep Sangwan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Yash DayalWhat they have to play with
The Titans have a total purse of INR 19.25 crore (USD 2.3 million approx.), and seven slots to fill, including three overseas slots.What they need

• A fast bowler. They traded Lockie Ferguson to Kolkata Knight Riders and will need a replacement, as head coach Ashish Nehra said earlier this month.
• Another Indian quick will also help, because they would want a back-up for Yash Dayal. Not to forget Hardik Pandya’s workload management.
• Having released Jason Roy and traded Rahmanullah Gurbaz to Knight Riders, Gujarat would also want to bring in a top-order batter, who can either open or come in at No. 3.
• And a fast-bowling allrounder, but with only Rajasthan Royals (INR 13.2 crore), Royal Challengers Bangalore (INR 8.75 crore) and Knight Riders (INR 7.05 crore) left with smaller purses than them, they may end up being out-bidded for the big names (think Sam Curran, Cameron Green, Ben Stokes) in that category.

The likely targets
Sam Curran would be a perfect fit, adding batting depth while also replacing Ferguson as a frontline quick. However, he will be in high demand and teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings have plenty left in their purse and could break the bank for him.Reece Topley, a tall left-arm quick with a deadly yorker, will add to the team’s arsenal and might be easier to get than some others. Titans could target him as a like-for-like replacement for Ferguson.Jaydev Unadkat has a history of being expensive, but he brings with him a wealth of experience as well as form and confidence. He led his domestic side Saurashtra to the domestic 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy title this month, and also got a Test recall for India’s ongoing tour of Bangladesh.Mayank Agarwal is likely to be the most sought-after Indian batter in the auction. He would fit into the Titans top order, but they will face stiff competition from several teams.And why not Kane Williamson? He was released by Sunrisers and could become Titans’ glue at the top of the order. He can open the innings or play at No. 3.