Category Uncategorized

Rahkeem Cornwall and Shannon Gabriel included, but Kieran Powell, Alzarri Joseph miss out

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2021West Indies have named uncapped opener Jeremy Solozano in a 15-man squad for their Test tour of Sri Lanka later this month. Allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall was also back in contention while veteran quick Shannon Gabriel was fit to return after a hamstring injury kept him out of the Pakistan series in August, but there was no place for opener Kieran Powell or fast bowler Alzarri Joseph.Solozano, a left-hander who played at the 2014 U19 World Cup and has represented West Indies A, made 74 off 216 balls in the second of two intra-squad “Best vs Best” matches in Antigua, with lead selector Roger Harper praising his “application, patience and composure”.Opener has been a problem position for West Indies in recent times. John Campbell was dropped after an extended spell as Kraigg Brathwaite’s partner at the top of the order, followed by a brief experiment with Shai Hope opening and then the latest international recall for Powell, who initially came in as a concussion replacement for Nkrumah Bonner against South Africa in June.”The Best v Best matches provided the opportunity for the players to spend some time in the middle honing their skills for this tour,” Harper said. “The aim was to simulate as much as possible, the conditions that the team will likely face in Sri Lanka, so it was good to see the batsmen spending time at the crease while putting some scores together and the bowlers looking to build pressure and create wicket-taking opportunities.West Indies tour of Sri Lanka

Nov 14-17 – warm-up match, Colombo

Nov 21-25 – 1st Test, Galle

Nov 29-Dec 3 – 2nd Test Galle

“Jeremy played for the West Indies A team in 2019 (against India A) with success and in the Best v Best matches he displayed a sense of application, patience, and composure, while looking very comfortable against both pace and spin which encouraged the panel to invest in him at this point.”The squad is well balanced, with good depth in all departments. The composition is very similar to the squad that brought us success in our last away tour to Bangladesh, with a few changes in personnel. There are a number of players who are familiar with Sri Lankan conditions and most of the others have good experience in the Indian sub-continent, so they know what to expect and are gearing themselves for it.”Veerasammy Permaul, who last played a Test in 2015, joins Cornwall and Jomel Warrican as the main spin options in the squad, with West Indies looking to repeat their success in Bangladesh earlier this year, where they won 2-0.The tourists will play a four-day warm-up match in Colombo before two World Test Championship fixtures against Sri Lanka at Galle.West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-capt), Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jeremy Solozano, Jomel Warrican

Arsenal chiefs are believed to be insisting on a move to sign a £60 million centre-forward for manager Mikel Arteta, with the north Londoners looking to potentially end their long search for a classic number nine.

Edu and Arteta scouring market for new Arsenal striker

A prolific frontman has long been viewed by some as the final missing piece of Arsenal's jigsaw, and Arteta's interest in signing a new striker dates all the way back to the summer of 2023.

Arsenal ready to pay £25m to sign "creative" player over Barcelona

The Gunners are going toe-to-toe with Hansi Flick’s side.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 25, 2024

This time last year, Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, and continued to be in the build-up to January. However, a lack of reports since then suggests that the England star is no longer a top target for Edu Gaspar and the wider recruitment team.

The search still goes on to find the perfect forward for Arteta, though, and a few high-profile names are rumoured to be on Edu's radar after a deal for defender Riccardo Calafiori was secured, making him the first new arrival of the summer.

Arsenal's top scorers in all competitions last season	Goals
Bukayo Saka	20
Leandro Trossard	17
Kai Havertz	14
Martin Odegaard	11
Gabriel Jesus	8

Sky Sports transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio claimed earlier this week that Arsenal could table a bid for Napoli star Victor Osimhen, but it remains to be seen if their president Aurelio De Laurentiis will entertain bids lower than the Nigerian's £110 million release clause.

Arteta managed to cope extremely well without the presence of a star 25-plus goals per season striker over 2023/2024, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz bagging 51 goals between them in all competitions.

However, it remains the belief that Arteta is keen on a striking partner for Havertz, with Ajax star Brian Brobbey also attracting interest from Arsenal as a potentially cheaper Osimhen alternative.

There have also been constant links to Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres this window, coming after the Sweden international's incredible 43-goal haul across all competitions during his debut season in Portugal.

Gyokeres' deal includes an £84 million release clause, but some reports claim that Ruben Amorim's Sporting could be willing to sell for a lower fee. The Boot Room, via TEAMtalk, believe that the former Coventry City forward could depart for around £60 million.

Arsenal pushing to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, via Standard Sport [Thursday, 08:00], serious interest from the Gunners remains.

It is believed Arsenal are insisting on a move to sign Gyokeres from Sporting, with Edu and co seemingly pushing for the 26-year-old in their search for a new goalscorer. They may even face competition from north London rivals Tottenham, who also reportedly have Gyokeres on their list of striker targets for Ange Postecoglou.

“Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon is a very interesting link,” said pundit John Wenham to Tottenham News.

“He had the experience in England with Coventry City, where he was very impressive. His overall game is good. He is big and strong, he can play on the ball and his finishing is ridiculously good.

“That would be an exciting signing."

Leeds United are a matter of days away from kicking off their 2024/25 Championship season as they prepare to face off against Portsmouth at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites will be looking for a fast start to the new campaign after they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League back in May, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

Daniel Farke is now hoping that it is second time lucky for his side as the German goes in search of his third promotion out of the second tier, having won the title twice during his time with Norwich City.

The West Yorkshire outfit's hopes of promotion have been dealt a blow by the exit of winger Crysencio Summerville, though, as the forward has joined West Ham United on a permanent deal this month.

Starts

41

Goals

19

Conversion rate

15%

Assists

9

Dribbles completed per game

2.3

The former Feyenoord youngster, as shown in the table above, was a constant menace to opposition defences in the league last term and Leeds are looking to dip into the market to secure his services.

Leeds eyeing up Premier League winger

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the Whites could pursue a deal to sign Crystal Palace wide man Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the window.

The reporter claims that fellow Championship sides Sheffield United and Hull City are both trying to secure his services on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, whilst Queens Park Rangers have also been linked.

Nixon adds that Leeds could come in with a move for the 21-year-old whiz if they do not sign Jonathan Rowe from divisional rivals Norwich City.

Football Insider recently reported that the Whites have already had an offer of £7m quickly rejected by the Canaries for the England U21 international.

The outlet added that the Yellows are set to demand a fee of at least £15m for their academy graduate, who has one year left on his current contract at Carrow Road – with an option to extend that by a further year.

This means that Leeds offered less than half what Norwich want for the impressive winger and it could, therefore, be a difficult deal for Farke and his recruitment team to get over the line.

However, the German boss could forget all about raiding his former club for Rowe by securing a deal to sign Rak-Sakyi from Palace instead.

Jonathan Rowe's form for Norwich

Firstly, it is easy to see why Leeds are interested in signing the Canaries youngster to bolster their options on the flanks in the wake of Summerville's move to the London Stadium.

He's a young and proven Championship performer who could come in and hit the ground running at Elland Road, whilst also having the potential to improve and develop over the years to come – at the age of 21.

Rowe is someone Farke could work with on the training pitch to help him fulfill his potential but he is also an excellent player who could make an instant impact on the pitch.

Appearances

32

xG

5.36

Goals

12

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

Key passes per game

0.8

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old dynamo was a goal threat for the Canaries in the second tier last term, in his first full season at senior level.

12 goals from an xG tally of just 5.36 also shows that Rowe's finishing was exemplary. He rarely wasted a high-quality chance to find the back of the net, scoring almost seven more goals than expected based on the quality of opportunities that were created for him.

However, the English gem did not provide much in the way of creativity. The Norwich youngster made less than one key pass per game and only created one 'big chance' in 32 outings during the regular season.

This suggests that Rowe would be unlikely to replace the creativity Summerville displayed on the flank, with his nine assists in the Championship.

Whereas, Rak-Sakyi is a player who could come through the doors at Elland Road with the potential to make an impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Why Leeds should forget about Rowe

Instead of splashing out a staggering £15m to sign a player from one of their Championship rivals, the West Yorkshire side could save their money and land a loan deal for the Palace youngster as a potentially better alternative.

Rak-Sakyi is coming off the back of a frustrating season where he was used as a squad player for the Eagles – making just eight first-team appearances.

He did, though, fire in four goals and provide one assist in three U21 matches for the Premier League 2 side, which offered a glimpse at the quality he can offer.

His form at academy level for Palace has always been strong. Rak-Sayki has scored 24 goals and assisted eight in 40 U21 games for the club, along with eight goals and eight assists in 17 U18 matches.

The left-footed ace, who was described as "remarkable" by Roy Hodgson, has also showcased his attacking quality in senior football with Charlton on loan in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

43

32

Goals

15

12

Assists

8

2

Big chances created

5

1

Key passes per game

1.3

0.8

Completed dribbles per game

1.8

1.1

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sayki was a star for the Addicks with his ability to score and create goals, with 23 direct goal contributions in 43 matches.

Albeit at a lower level, the Palace youngster outscored Rowe and provided far more creativity for Charlton than the Norwich whiz did in the Championship last season.

Rak-Sakyi's statistics at academy level and in League One suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more than the £15m-rated Leeds target at the top end of the pitch, due to his goalscoring prowess and creative quality.

Imagine him & Gnonto: Leeds in the race to sign "exciting" star

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League defender.

ByDan Emery Aug 6, 2024

Therefore, Farek could forget all about a move for Rowe this summer by winning the race to sign the former Charlton loanee to bolster the squad.

كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات تخص ثنائي فريق برشلونة، رونالد أراوخو ورافينها، وموقفهما من المشاركة ضد أوساسونا يوم الخميس المقبل في بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويلتقي الفريقان على ملعب “مونتجويك” في مباراة مؤجلة من الجولة السابعة والعشرين من الليجا.

وكان من المفترض إقامة المباراة قبل أسبوعين، ولكن تقرر تأجيلها بسبب وفاة طبيب الفريق الأول لنادي برشلونة.

وقرر الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم إعادة جدولة مباراة برشلونة وأوساسونا حيث ستُقام يوم الخميس المقبل، رغم احتجاج الناديين خاصة البرسا لتواجد أكثر من لاعب في المعسكر الدولي.

وتتركز مشكلة برشلونة أكثر في الثنائي رونالد أراوخو ورافينها، حيث سيخوضان مباراة في إطار تصفيات قارة أمريكا الجنوبية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026.

ويلتقي منتخب أوروجواي مع بوليفيا قبل ساعات من مباراة الأرجنتين والبرازيل، فجر الأربعاء المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا.. موندو تكشف موقف برشلونة من المشاركة في كأس العالم للأندية بعد استبعاد ليون المكسيكي

وذكرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أنه على الرغم من أن مشاركة أراوخو ورافينها في مباراة برشلونة وأوساسونا تبدو مستبعدة إلى حد كبير، فإن المدرب هانز فليك قد يعتمد في نهاية الأمر عليهما، على الأقل للدخول في القائمة.

وأفادت أن الخطة تتمثل في عودة رافينها وأراوخو إلى إسبانيا على متن طائرة خاصة رفقة بقية اللاعبين الدوليين من أمريكا الجنوبية من ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد، وهم راؤول خيمينيز، فيدي فالفيردي، مولينا، دي بول، أنخيل كوريا، جوليان ألفاريز، إندريك وفينيسيوس جونيور.

وكون مباراة بوليفيا وأوروجواي ستُقام قبل ساعات قليلة من لقاء الأرجنتين والبرازيل في بوينس آريس، فإن ذلك سيمنح فرصة لـ أراوخو للسفر إلى العاصمة الأرجنتينية لانتظار الرحلة الجماعية المرتقبة.

وسيتوجه أراوخو ورافينها إلى برشلونة حيث يصلان إلى العاصمة الكتالونية مساء الأربعاء، رغم أنهما لن يشاركان مع بقية زملائهما في الحصة التدريبية الأخيرة، ولكن ربما يحصلان على فرصة التواجد على مقاعد البدلاء ضد أوساسونا للمشاركة حال الضرورة.

Is subbing for Confectionery Stall and answering some questions that needed answers

Andy Zaltzman25-Feb-2013Dear Dr Stumps
I am a long-standing cricket fan, and, although the Test game is my first cricketing love, I do not mind Twenty20 as a format. However, I have found it impossible to find any excitement at all in the Champions League T20. I have watched some of the games, and seen at times what ostensibly looks like “good cricket”, but it has left me unmoved. Am I normal, or just a hollow shell of a human being?
Yours sincerely, Vice-Cardinal Ethel Herzchelowitz, Vatican City, aged 92Ethel,Do not worry, your feelings are perfectly normal. Cricket has chosen to force its followers to pick and choose which shards of the game they follow, so choices must be made. If you do not have an umbilical tie to one of the various teams who have qualified for the tournament through the various random procedures available, or are not a blood relative of one of the players, owners, mascots or scantily-clad interpretative dancers, it is biologically natural to find franchise-based T20 as emotionally engaging as reading a telephone directory in a darkened shed.Furthermore, even if you are a parent, spouse or child of one of the star competitors, you may struggle to remember which of his various teams your loved one happens to be representing this tournament. The footballing model from which cricket’s Champions League takes its name and inspiration is itself a flawed, if highly lucrative, competition, geared largely towards the ongoing dominance of a cabal of hyper-wealthy megaclubs. Teams seem able to depart from or ascend to this elite only through spectacular financial mismanagement, or the acquisition of a publicity-hungry billionaire owner. However, at least the players are attached to only one club at a time. And the matches are not, due to logistical necessity, played out largely on neutral grounds thousands of miles from the supporters of both teams.Twenty20 has proved to be predictably popular, but also more strategically interesting than might have been expected. But it is psychologically and spiritually advisable for 21st-century cricket spectators to be selective in which tournaments they allow themselves to care about.Dear Dr Stumps
My friend and I cannot agree on whom we think Azhar Mahmood is playing for at the moment. Can you help us?
Regards, Miley Cyrus, Skegness, aged 19.Miley,I will set my research team onto this complex task and report back next week. Some have suggested Azhar is representing the Auckland Aces, but the evidence is inconclusive and requires considerable scientific interpretation.The rumour is that when Azhar’s T20 captains run over to him at the end of his run-up, they are not encouraging him, boosting his confidence, or advising him on field placings, but reminding him for which team he is playing.Azhar’s all-round skills, which have flowered late in his career in the T20 arena after failing to find consistency and fulfilment in the international game, have sparked rumours that he is currently in talks with, amongst others, Real Madrid, the New York Yankees, the Swedish national handball team, Harlequins rugby club, the Bolshoi Ballet, the International Monetary Fund, and the Rolling Stones over short-term contracts for 2013. Cristiano Ronaldo is also said to be mulling over “a very tempting offer” from the Barisal Burners.Dear Dr Stumps
I was chatting with my wife the other day when she pointed out that there have now been four different winners in the four World T20 tournaments, and that six different nations have appeared in the four finals. She added that, in the last two tournaments, neither finalist from the previous tournament has reached the final, whereas in the 50-over World Cup, this has only happened twice in nine tournaments (in 1987, when neither West Indies nor India progressed to the final, and 1996, when England and Pakistan both packed their bags after the quarter-final stage). Perhaps, she suggested, this is because the birth of the T20 World Cup coincided with an era in which no team has dominated any format, whereas the 60-/50-over World Cup has spanned the eras of the great West Indies team (winners in 1975 and 1979, finalists in 1983), and the all-conquering Australians who won four of six tournaments from 1987, including three in a row from 1999, and were losing finalists in another. Or perhaps, she self-counter-argued, the shorter format will always be unpredictable and slightly random, with form counting for little in one-off matches, with any team vulnerable to a one-off Marlonsamuelsian explosion of strokeplay from a single opposition player that can be more ultimately decisive in T20 than in the longer formats, and with little time for chasing teams to consolidate and rebuild after losing wickets. She concluded by suggesting that, in T20, Panic is always padded up and ready to stride to the crease, adding further to its unpredictability. What do you think?
Lots of love, Barack H. Obama, Washington, aged 51.Barack,It sounds like you have found yourself a top-quality wife.Dear Dr Stumps
I am Felix Baumgartner. I have just jumped out of a hot air balloon from 24 miles above the earth’s surface. Being so high above this famous planet of ours made me feel almost supernaturally humble, and gave me a perspective on human life that few have been privileged to experience. Do you think the ECB should consider sending Kevin Pietersen and the rest of the England squad to the edge of space? Writing as someone who knows what it is like to plummet earthwards at the speed of sound ‒ much as England’s Test form has this year ‒ I believe a jaunt to the stratosphere will help them ensure there is no repeat of their recent self-inflicted Twitter-aggravated hyperspat. They will realise that we are all but specks in the universe, so we might as well put our petty differences aside and work for the common good.
Regards,
Felix Baumgartner, on the ground again, somewhere in the middle of New Mexico.Felix,Congratulations on (a) deciding to jump out of a balloon from a ridiculous height, (b) jumping out of a balloon from a ridiculous height, and (c) returning safely to a sensible height. The only things preventing the ECB, and other cricket boards, from sending their players into space are the hectic global cricketing schedule, which makes fitting a meteorologically propitious launch date into the unending stampede of cricket a logistical impossibility, and, currently, financial cost.Recent years have seen more and more cricket teams go on team-bonding expeditions, and a space trip would in all likelihood render a side all but unbeatable. (Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, for example, never once lost a top-level doubles match on the professional tennis or badminton circuits after their 1969 moon jaunt.)Mercifully, the Kevin Pietersen Reintegration ProjectTM has borne fruit, and various members of the England squad have pledged to welcome the much-discussed batsman back into the dressing room with open arms. (It should be borne in mind, however, that Roman senators once welcomed Julius Caesar with open arms, and he ended up with some career-ending injuries.) (And it should also be borne in mind that not all fruit is sweet and juicy. Even fruit that looks sweet and juicy.)New captain Alastair Cook has long been marked out as a potential skipper, and, as a little boy dreaming of one day captaining England, must surely have imagined spending his first six weeks in the job answering questions about a playground-level squabble whilst playing no cricket at all. He, more than anyone, must be relieved that he has helped to hold a pillow over this tiresome issue until the twitching stops.Dear Dr Stumps,
Whom am I playing for today?
Kindest regards, Azhar Mahmood, 37.Dear Azhar,
I have no idea.

What is the objective for Liverpool next season? Arne Slot has already suggested that he expects to compete for the Premier League title but is principally seeking to enhance and tinker away at some blemishes in a highly talented Anfield squad.

Liverpool are in an exciting position but they are not without their weaknesses. Slot is facing some pressing concerns that will need redressing, such as the profligacy of Darwin Nunez, the incessant injuries that have picked at fortunes for several years, the ongoing need for a long-term No. 6, the thinness in defence.

Sorting out the central defence is something that FSG must turn to sooner rather than later but recent reports are actually linking Liverpool to a wide defender – but in fairness, it could be a corker of a signing.

Liverpool eyeing new defender

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have set their sights on signing Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri as Slot looks to bolster his backline.

The Algerian ace – who has the same agent as Nunez and Diogo Jota – would be signed to provide competition to Andy Robertson, so sealing a deal would only materialise with the sale of Kostas Tsimikas, who has been linked with a move away recently.

Journalist Abdel Hamed has claimed that the 23-year-old is set to depart Molineux this summer, and now Liverpool must ensure they are at the front of the pack – though will FSG sanction the likely £60m outlay to snap him up?

Why Rayan Ait-Nouri would be perfect for Liverpool

Robertson has been a stalwart for Liverpool, completing 297 appearances since signing from Hull City for £10m in 2017, winning silverware in barrels and passing his way into the lead as the top assist-maker (for defenders) in Premier League history, with 59.

But the 30-year-old Scot has faced criticism over the past few years – perhaps unjustly, but still. With Slot now assuming Jurgen Klopp's place in the dugout, the shift in system could be an opportune time for a player like Ait-Nouri to arrive and ruffle some feathers.

Especially considering he was hailed as "one of the Premier League’s best players in 2024" by Sky Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, having played an instrumental role in Gary O'Neil's side's surprising season away from relegation trouble.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 20% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 14% for tackles per 90.

Such a dynamically spread skill set only comments effusively on Ait-Nouri's quality and how he would fare in Slot's high-energy, high-output system.

He might even prove to be the perfect partner down the left flank for Anthony Gordon, should the England international wind up at Anfield at some point over the next two months.

Imagine Ait-Nouri & Anthony Gordon

Newcastle canvassed a proposal Liverpool's way at the end of June, offering Gordon's signature in a cash-plus-player offer that would have seen Jarell Quansah head toward St. James' Park.

It was unacceptable. FSG likely turned their nose away, vexed by the audacity of trying to pluck one of Kirkby's finest away at the maiden stage of his career. Nonetheless, the interest remains.

Indeed, it's also been reported recently that Liverpool are prepared to move back in for Gordon and could launch a bid toward the later stage of the window.

Newcastle's 2023/24 Player of the Season was in fine fettle last year, scoring 12 goals and supplying 11 assists from left wing as he wreaked havoc through his ball-carrying style of play, driving forwards with frightening constancy.

Robertson is an excellent left-back but given the heavy energy that's needed for the success of Slot's brand, Ait-Nouri may well be a better pick, particularly alongside a talent like Gordon, averaging 1.9 dribbles per game (with a 61% success rate) to Robertson's 0.2 per game (29% success) in the top flight last year.

Matches played

35

Matches started

34

Goals

11

Assists

10

Big chances created

16

Pass completion

82%

Shots taken per game

2.3

Key passes per game

1.6

Tackles per game

1.6

Ball recoveries per game

3.6

Dribbles per game

1.5

Duels won per game

5.3

Gordon, moreover, created 16 big chances in the Premier League last season – Luis Diaz, for reference, created only five – and given Ait-Nouri is frequently overlapping and seeking to strike on goal, this truly could be a partnership for the ages.

Whether Liverpool manage to sign both talents this summer (or indeed either) remains to be seen, but one thing's for certain, Liverpool must pull no punches in strengthening their side at the dawn of a new era, one which could yet carry all the silver of the chapter recently finished.

Liverpool hit gold with Klopp signing who's now worth more than Trent

This “special” star could explode under Arne Slot’s management.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 8, 2024

Juventus outcast Paul Pogba met up with Patrice Evra one month after receiving transfer advice from his former France and Manchester United team-mate.

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Pogba met former colleague EvraEvra wants Pogba to join MarseilleFrenchman can resume playing from March 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Last month, Evra suggested that a proven performer like Pogba should consider returning to France to link up with Mason Greenwood at Marseille once his doping ban ends next year. The World Cup winner has seen his four-year suspension from football-related activity reduced to 18 months following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). As a result, the French midfielder will be cleared to resume his professional career in March 2025.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Pogba will be ready to take the field next year, it is unlikely that he will appear for Juventus again as the Serie A giants are contemplating terminating his contract. There has been talk of the Frenchman potentially joining Lionel Messi and Co in MLS, however, Evra firmly believes that Marseille should be the midfielder's next destination where he can revive his career.

WHAT PAUL POGBA SAID

Amid speculation over his next move, the 31-year-old caught up with his ex-colleague in person, a month after Evra's Marseille suggestion, as they posed for a photograph together. Pogba got Evra in a headlock and joked in the caption: "What did you say..?!"

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

It remains to be seen what response Pogba transfer talk will get from Medhi Benatia – who is now the sporting director at Stade Velodrome. Pogba has been linked with a sensational return to Manchester United, too, while Saudi Arabia has also been mooted as a possible next destination for the World Cup winner.

Leicester City would have known, even upon re-entry to the Premier League, that it would still be hard to keep a hold on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after his electric Championship campaign.

The slick midfielder looks to be edging closer to a move to Chelsea, to reunite with former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge no less, as Steve Cooper now aims to pick up his troops from off the floor after such a demoralising loss to the squad.

Dewsbury-Hall's impact last season

The 25-year-old midfielder has been a bright spark for many a campaign now at the King Power, lighting up the Premier League even during Leicester's dismal relegation campaign, with two goals and two assists registered from 31 contests.

Yet, making the drop-down to the second tier, it was clear that Dewsbury-Hall's ceiling was far above playing EFL football on a regular basis.

The homegrown Leicester product would amass a staggering 12 goals and 14 assists from 44 league games, as Maresca relied upon the magic of his number 22 at times to steer the Foxes to the top of the Championship tree, particularly when moments were tense and nervy towards the business end of the gruelling 46-game schedule.

Keeping a firm grip on him, even when dropping a league, must have made those with Leicester connections confident that Dewsbury-Hall would stay put with the club ahead of returning to the top flight, especially after the ecstasy of lifting the Premier League title aloft must have also made the 5 foot 10 gem hungry to succeed at the level again with his boyhood employers.

1. Harry Maguire

£80m

2. Wesley Fofana

£68.1m

3. Riyad Mahrez

£57.5m

4. Ben Chilwell

£42.5m

5. James Maddison

£39.2m

Yet, money always ends up talking, but Leicester will be somewhat deflated that they couldn't drive a larger fee out of the Blues, with a glance at the table above showing that Dewsbury-Hall's exit won't make a dent in the top-five record departures that have left Leicester in recent memory.

Steve Cooper and Co could have well have had their hands tied when it came to his deal, however, when looking at the financial difficulties Leicester are still facing, with the 25-year-old just wanting to move on and shine at Stamford Bridge under a familiar Maresca.

The newly promoted side have still added significant money to their bank when you consider that Dewsbury-Hall was one off the Academy production line. Yet, the recent champions of the second tier have been here before and bounced back when it comes to a major sale leaving a gaping hole in an important area.

The deal to sell Harry Maguire for an eye-watering £80m reigns supreme as a staggeringly excellent bit of business when comparing the two.

Indeed, Maguire's bumper move to Manchester United really hurt those at the King Power Stadium back in 2019, but at least they managed to drain the Red Devils dry of every million they had to make this deal happen, with Dewsbury-Hall departing for far less at a reported £30m.

Selling him on for an arguable low amount will also be a bitter pill to swallow from the perspective of the East Midlands club, with their star number 22 crucial in the Foxes lifting the Championship title last season.

Harry Maguire's time at Leicester

Nobody would have anticipated that Maguire would go on to leave the King Power for such an excessive amount when he joined for what now looks like an understated £17m from Hull City back in 2017.

Joining the club to give Leicester a new rock-solid figure at the back, away from the ageing duo of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan, Maguire provided just that, with the 31-year-old everpresent in the main team during his debut 17/18 campaign in the league, winning a remarkable 6.9 duels on average per game.

The 6 foot 4 colossus was also a reliable source of goals for the East Midlands outfit across his two seasons at the club, as can be seen with his late winner against Southampton above, with five goals registered from 76 clashes.

Yet, his time playing for the Foxes felt like it went by in a blink of an eye, before he was catapulted to new levels of stardom when moving onto Manchester United, with the Red Devils wanting a slice no matter how much it ended up costing them.

It would end up costing the mega-riches of Man United a staggering £80m to land the now much-maligned defender, who has seen his reputation take a battering at the Theatre of Dreams, like so many other high-profile signings that relocate to the red side of Manchester.

Leicester simply just moved on and took the wads of cash whilst they could, with the Foxes very much coming out as winners in this deal.

Why Leicester were the winners of the Maguire deal

Maguire is now only worth £9m when looking at his transfer valuation today as per Football Transfers, with Leicester laughing at the fact they managed to sell on their former defender for £80m when they did.

The towering 31-year-old was even being touted for a move away from the Theatre of Dreams last summer, with West Ham United the most talked about next destination at the time, as his topsy-turvy couple of years playing for the Red Devils looked to be nearing its finale.

2024

£9m

2023

£11.1m

2022

£29m

2021

£50m

2019

£80m

2018

£11.5m

2017

£17m

Maguire's sad decline can be charted looking at this transfer value continually dropping, when looking at the table above, with talk surrounding the 31-year-old being "world class", as he was labelled by football creator Liam Canning once upon time, somewhat of a distant memory now.

It remains to be seen whether Leicester, down the line, will look at the sale of Dewsbury-Hall in a similar light, knowing that they cashed in at the best possible time before the wheels started to fall off.

The 25-year-old could get even better in his new West London location, however, as Leicester aim to keep their heads above water as a minimum back amongst the Premier League elite next season away from talk centring in on Dewsbury-Hall, with Steve Cooper now at the helm.

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ByKelan Sarson Jun 26, 2024

Aston Villa can surely call their 2023/24 season a success. After Unai Emery became the manager in October 2022, he has overseen a huge transformation of a side that was destined for relegation under Steven Gerrard, to a team that has qualified for the Champions League ahead of next season.

Their fourth-place finish in the Premier League this season was Villa’s joint second-highest ever since the top flight was rebranded from the First Division to the competition we all know today in 1992.

They only bettered that in the inaugural season, 1992/93, with their fourth-place finish in 1995/96 the equal second-best.

This was largely thanks to the superb performances of Ollie Watkins, who scored 19 goals and registered 13 assists in 37 Premier League games, a tally which saw him win the playmaker award. As per Sofascore, his 32 combined goal involvements were only bettered by Cole Palmer, who scored and assisted 33 times for Chelsea last season.

With Villa set for an exciting campaign in 2024/25, it will be a big summer transfer window. There are already links of several incomings for the Villans, but also some outgoings, with one man potentially on his way out of Villa Park to join a giant of Italian football.

Aston Villa regular could depart

The player in question here is Villa’s Poland international right-back, Matty Cash. The former Nottingham Forest man was an important player under Unai Emery last term, but an exit from the Villans could be on the cards over the summer transfer window.

Indeed, that is according to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, the esteemed Italian journalist. He reports contact between Italian giants AC Milan and Aston Villa for a potential transfer of Cash “have continued”, as the two clubs look to strike an agreement.

As per the report from Di Marzio, Villa are hoping to sell the Poland international for a fee of around £25m, which would represent almost £10m of profit for the right-back. They paid East Midlands club Forest £16m to acquire his services back in the summer window of 2020.

He could be the second player Villa sell to Italy this week, with Douglas Luiz set to join Juventus. That deal will also see midfielder Weston McKennie and former Chelsea academy player Samuel Iling-Junior go the other way, with Juve also paying £16.8m.

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Aston Villa will be looking to build on their momentous 23/24 campaign, having qualified for the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2024 Why this is an important deal for Villa

On the face of things, this might seem like a strange move for Villa to do given Cash’s importance under Emery last season. The Polish full-back played 29 times in the Premier League, generally only missing games through injury and suspension.

However, it is a necessary deal to do, given they need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. As an article by Sky Sports explains, this means that when clubs add up their accounts “they can have made a loss no greater than £105m across the previous three seasons”.

Over the past season, this was breached by both Everton and Cash’s former club Forest, who both suffered points deductions as punishment. Thus, it is vital that clubs stay on the right side of the threshold.

In selling Cash, Villa will not only receive money in the immediate future that can help balance their books, but also save money on Cash’s wages.

As per Capology, he earns £80k per week at the moment, which is even more than the aforementioned McKennie, a likely incoming for Villa. The American currently earns £53k-per-week as per Capololgy, meaning that a similar total will also save Villa money in the long term and help them stay in the green for PSR.

£150k

Clement Lenglet, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans

£130k

Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins

£120k

John McGinn, Lucas Digne, Emi Martinez, Leon Bailey

£100k

Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres

£80k

Matty Cash

Whilst losing Cash is frustrating, it was always necessary for the Villans to sell this summer. By moving the full-back on, as well as Luiz and Jhon Duran, who is Chelsea-bound, it helps them balance their books correctly to avoid facing the same punishment as the Toffees and Forest did last season, which could have easily cost them both relegation from the Premier League.

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Emery could complete a shrewd signing for a player he knows well.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2024

Manchester United have now joined the race to sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, who recently put in an impressive performance at Old Trafford.

Man Utd stepping up pursuit of new midfielder

Man United have set out to sign a new central midfielder in the January transfer window, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes is the object of their desires, with it recently being revealed the 24-year-old has said ‘yes’ to a move to Old Trafford.

INEOS are now working on a deal for the Wolves star, with David Ornstein revealing the Old Gold may choose to cash-in during the January transfer window, as his value may decrease if they are a Championship club by the time summer comes around.

The need to bring in a new central midfielder may also be exacerbated if Kobbie Mainoo moves on, with it now emerging that talks over the 20-year-old signing a contract extension have been put on hold, amid interest from reigning Serie A champions Napoli.

However, it would be understandable if Wolves were unwilling to sell Gomes, given that he has been one of their key players this season and remains contracted until 2030, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a potential alternative.

That is according to a report from talkSPORT, which names Man United as potential suitors for Everton midfielder James Garner, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

The Toffees have little interest in sanctioning a departure, however, and have recently stepped up talks over a new contract, with Garner’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

David Moyes is personally keen to keep hold of the central midfielder, and it is no surprise, given that he recently played an instrumental role in his side’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Garner impresses in shock Everton win at Old Trafford

After Idrissa Gueye was shown a red card for an altercation with teammate Michael Keane on Monday night, United would’ve been expecting to take all three points, but they were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the only goal of the game just before the half-an-hour mark, with Garner grabbing the assist, while also making three interceptions and one clearance to keep Ruben Amorim’s side at bay.

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He has a massive future in the game.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 25, 2025

Hailed as “phenomenal” by pundit Trevor Sinclair, a deal for the Englishman wouldn’t break the bank at £20m+, and he has outperformed Gomes across some key defensive statistics over the past year.

Key defensive statistics per 90 (past year)

James Garner

Joao Gomes

Interceptions

1.41 (85th percentile)

0.81 (34th percentile)

Blocks

1.41 (77th percentile)

1.31 (68th percentile)

Clearances

2.19 (80th percentile)

1.37 (40th percentile)

That said, both Garner and Gomes aren’t experienced at the highest level, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni would perhaps be a more exciting addition to the squad, with the Spanish side’s asking price recently being revealed.