Chelsea are now “crazy” about signing RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, but they will have to do battle for his signature with one of their Premier League rivals.
Courtesy of a 2-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, the Blues have now moved up to second in the Premier League table, but Gary Neville believes they are still some way off being genuine contenders for the title.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “They’ve got a lot of young players, spent a fortune, it’s probably not happening as quickly as they want,(and) I don’t think they’re anywhere near a team that can win the league to be honest. When I look at them, they look well short in a number of areas.”
As pointed out by Neville, the Blues have relied on youngsters a lot in the BlueCo era, breaking the record for the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League last season.
However, the west Londoners are yet to alter their recruitment policy, and they have now joined the race for another young midfielder.
Chelsea "crazy" about signing Assan Ouedraogo
In a new update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, it has been revealed that Chelsea are one of the Premier League clubs “crazy” about signing RB Leipzig midfielder Ouedraogo, alongside Man United.
Both English sides are now scouting the 19-year-old, who remains under contract at the Bundesliga club until 2029, and his main ambition is to secure a place in Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The central midfielder remains under contract until 2029, and there is no release clause, meaning it is unclear how much the Blues will have to pay for the youngster, who is being targeted for next summer.
The German starlet may stand a chance of going to the World Cup next year, considering he impressed on his debut for his country, scoring in a 6-0 victory against Slovakia in the recent international break.
Not only that, but the Leipzig star would be a versatile option for Julian Nagelsmann, given that he is capable of playing in five positions, namely on both wings, central midfield, attacking midfield and even centre-forward.
The former Schalke man is off to an impressive start to the season in the Bundesliga, chipping in with three goals and three assists in 11 outings, and he has performed very well on some key attacking metrics over the past year.
Assan Ouedraogo’s key statistics (past year)
Average per 90
Non-penalty goals
0.48 (99th percentile)
Assists
0.48 (99th percentile)
Progressive carries
2.58 (94th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.77 (99th percentile)
As such, Ouedraogo could be an excellent addition for Chelsea next summer, and they should continue to monitor his development between now and the end of the season.
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Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph at the end of the 2024/25 campaign has brought added expectations, after finally ending their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.
Ange Postecoglou’s triumph in Bilbao ended a generational wait for a trophy, but he was sacked after such victory, handing the responsibility to Thomas Frank in the process.
The Dane was handed a huge sum of money to try and build on the triumph, with the hierarchy backing the new manager after taking the reins ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Over £100m was spent on new additions, which has led to the Lilywhites already making an impact in the Premier League – as seen by their fifth-placed standing after the third international break.
Mohammed Kudus has already hit the ground running, registering one goal and one assist in the league, but the same can’t be said for one of their big-money summer additions.
How Simons compares to other PL midfielders in 2025/26
During the summer transfer window, Spurs forked out a total of £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, with the youngster joining the club from RB Leipzig.
The move ended their summer-long pursuit of a new attacking midfielder, with numerous options being targeted before completing a deal for the Dutch international.
Premier League options such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were both considered, but various factors saw the Lilywhites miss out on both of the player’s signatures.
As a result, Simons was the man chosen to fill the void, with such a move generating huge excitement within the fanbase – undoubtedly aided by the sizable transfer fee.
However, a couple of months on from his big-money transfer to North London, the 22-year-old has ultimately failed to deliver, as seen by his tally of just two assists in his first 14 outings.
His underlying stats further showcase his lack of quality, with the youngster being massively outperformed by numerous players also in a single position in England’s top-flight.
He’s only created an average of 1.01 chances per 90, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 25% of all other midfielders in the league, with right-back Pedro Porro creating more chances in the same time period.
Simons has also been dispossessed an average of 2.1 times per 90, subsequently placing him in the bottom 18% of all players in the division for the same category.
He will certainly need time to settle into life in England after his big-money transfer, but there’s little denying that he’s been a huge disappointment in recent months.
As a result, he could find himself struggling to nail down a starting role in the near future, especially if one player continues his phenomenal development at the club.
The Spurs star who could end Simons’ Spurs career
Over the years, the Spurs faithful have been blessed with countless talents who have operated in the attacking midfield role – subsequently handing the fanbase moments to last a lifetime.
James Maddison was the latest player in the role before his ACL injury, with the Englishman achieving some phenomenal levels during his spell in the first team in North London.
He’s racked up 16 goals and 19 assists in his 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, with his tally of 12 goals in 2024/25 the highest he’s managed after his £40m switch.
Dele was another Englishman who filled such a role in the years prior, with the former first-team star managing to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award on two separate occasions.
However, whilst he failed to match the expectations over a sustained period, Frank could be about to rely on Luca Williams-Barnett during his spell in North London.
The 17-year-old has generated huge excitement over the last couple of months, with the youngster making huge waves within various age categories in the academy.
He’s been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s side for the vast majority of the previous campaign.
He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again – now becoming a key member of the U21 side.
At just 17, he’s arguably made himself one of the age group’s biggest stars, with his numbers from the ongoing season further reflecting his star quality despite his tender age.
Most Goals and Assists – Spurs U21s (25/26)
Player
Tally
Luca Williams-Barnett
10
Rio Kyerematen
5
Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny
4
Tynan Thompson
4
Yusuf Akhamrich
4
Oliver Irow
3
Dane Scarlett
2
Dante Cassanova
2
Stats via FotMob
Williams-Barnett has made just eight appearances, but it hasn’t stopped him from catching the eye, as seen by his remarkable tally of seven goals and five assists.
Back in September, he registered three goals and an assist in the 6-3 victory over Leicester City – with such a display undoubtedly his best in the 2025/26 campaign to date.
As a result of his performances, the youngster was named in the England U17 World Cup squad, with the midfielder already scoring twice during the ongoing competition.
Williams-Barnett has also made his senior debut during Frank’s tenure, as he was brought on in the 87th minute of the Carabao Cup victory over League One Doncaster Rovers back in September.
His performances across various teams in 2025/26 has led to huge praise being directed his way, with analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as “one of England’s best talents”.
At just 17, the club will certainly have to manage the expectations placed upon him, but it’s undeniable that the Lilywhites have a phenomenal young prospect on their hands.
It’s unclear what his route to first-team success would be, but the hierarchy need to prepare a plan to allow him to match the potential he currently possesses at present.
As for Simons, he will need to rapidly buck his ideas up after his big-money transfer, with his spell in North London certainly being one to forget in recent months.
His future at the club could be in huge jeopardy in the years ahead, especially if Williams-Barnett is able to continue on his current development path in the youth ranks.
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A bowler of Sinhalese origin playing for a Tamil Nadu franchise to raucous applause at the Chepauk: things are changing, for the better
Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Apr-2024At the cricketing heart of it, Matheesha Pathirana is Chennai Super Kings’ sweet revenge.No bowler had wrecked CSK batting orders on the scale Lasith Malinga managed. With 37 wickets against CSK in 23 games, he is by a distance their biggest destroyer.But, oh, what’s that? There’s a young slinger that CSK have had eyes on first? Someone who has an even lower arm action than Malinga and more explosive pace? Okay, less control, less swing, not nearly as much general mastery… but still, CSK’s own ? It sounds almost too good to be true, right?Snap him up. Get him in as a net bowler. Have your legendary captain slap eyes on him. Promote him to the main team. Follow him as he becomes one of the best death bowlers in the league. Then on 14 April 2024, watch him rip Mumbai Indians to shreds, taking 4 for 28, while Malinga, in Mumbai Indians colours, watches on.Related
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Pathirana the point of difference against Malinga's Mumbai
In a more perfect world, Pathirana’s cricketing rise, and the CSK vs Mumbai Indians vengeance arc, would be the only stories. But this is a world in which a 27-year-long civil war was fought in Sri Lanka, where for most of Sri Lanka’s and India’s post-Independence decades, the governments of Tamil Nadu and the Sinhalese-led government of Sri Lanka have been vehemently opposed. A world in which, only 11 years ago, the IPL’s governing council ruled no Sri Lankan players could play in Chennai for any IPL team over security concerns, such was the ferocity of political opposition.Against that history, Pathirana’s rise at CSK, and to a lesser extent that of Maheesh Theekshana, has been almost startlingly smooth. Pathirana showed promise at the end of the 2022 season, when Theekshana was more useful to the franchise. But then, with the onset of the Impact Player rule in 2023, Pathirana has become a go-to death bowler on account of his ultra-specialised skill set, MS Dhoni prodding him forward like a bird its fledgling chick. Pathirana has not merely been accepted, he has been embraced by CSK’s yellow army, and wildly cheered for at Chepauk.It is not certain exactly what political shifts have enabled this, but deductions may be made. Sri Lanka’s colossal protests of 2022, which culminated in the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, are significant in the timeline. The Rajapaksas were understood regionally to be champions of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism, and had also overseen the vicious conclusion to the war, which substantially deepened an already profound divide with Tamil Nadu. But that family having been so chastened by a movement produced largely by the southern (mostly Sinhalese) population likely cast Sri Lankan southerners in a mellower light in Tamil Nadu.Around this time, Sinhalese animosity towards Tamil Nadu began to abate too. Through the worst of those crisis months of 2022, when the island was cripplingly short of fuel, power, medicines and food, the government of Tamil Nadu came through with humanitarian aid worth around 3.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees.
It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing
Where previous decades had been characterised by a vortex of escalating tensions, here was a mutual softening, and in Sri Lanka at least, long-overdue introspection. It was in that year that Theekshana, then Pathirana, made their debuts for CSK, though there were no home games for the side in 2022.Additionally, there is the passage of time. Theekshana was ten when the war ended. Pathirana was seven. While injustices persist in Sri Lanka, and the kind of accountability Tamil Nadu has called for remains barely even a promise, there is also the simmering sense that these many years on, people need to move on.It is no surprise that the Chepauk fans who first bellowed for Pathirana are people roughly his age – Gen Z and young millennials, who tend to pack out the C, D and E stands. If you can make it there, Chepauk veterans say, you’re the rubber-stamped next big thing. Enmity, it turns out, does not have to be passed down through the generations.It’s worth clocking too that part of Pathirana’s rise among the CSK faithful is down to Dhoni’s vocal support of the bowler. When Dhoni struck that 91 not out and sealed one of Sri Lanka’s most painful cricketing memories with a six at the Wankhede, who could have guessed what he’d be capable of in the future? Since then, he has graduated from to in the Tamil imagination. And now he is – however unwittingily – playing a role in a Tamil-Sinhalese connect.Hurtbringer: for years, as Mumbai Indians’ bowling spearhead, Lasith Malinga was a thorn in Chennai Super Kings’ side•BCCIThere is also beautiful history here. Pathirana is far from the first Sri Lankan to feel the love at Chepauk, and in fact, Muthiah Muralidaran, in CSK’s early years, wasn’t either. In the pre-civil war decades, the Tamil Nadu state side was Ceylon’s (as Sri Lanka was then known) biggest regular opponent. In 1947, M Sathasivam – a Ceylonese Tamil, if you’re keeping track – hit a 215 against them that glittered by all accounts with delectable late cuts, fine glances, and spectacular drives. Right into the 21st century, old-timers who watched that innings would swear it was the greatest ever witnessed at Chepauk.There is no more legendary Sri Lankan cricketer of the pre-Test era than Sathasivam, and Chepauk was likely the scene of his crowning triumph. Whether or not Pathirana and Theekshana are aware, this too is a story to which they belong. Where their boots now tread, Sathasivam’s went first.These are victories worth celebrating, because despite what nationalists of any stripe would have you believe, hatred is not intractable. Neither, then, is cohesion. If there are many in the world intent on fanning flames, it is vital that when green shoots emerge from the earth, they are seen as worth protecting too.Right now, one of the brightest fast-bowling prospects Sri Lanka has produced, quite possibly the island’s fastest ever bowler, a man of Sinhalese origin, is being invested in and developed by a franchise side in Tamil Nadu. Across Sri Lanka, families turn their televisions on in the evenings and hear entire stands in a Chennai stadium scream “PA-THI-RA-NA”.You’d be foolish to think a few stump-splaying yorkers and stadium chants can heal grievances collected over decades. But you’d be naïve to think they mean nothing.
Could you name a signing from the Mike Ashley era who would grace the top-five list of Newcastle United’s finest additions of the past 18 years?
Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, the late Cheick Tiote, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse would all stake compelling claims. Spilling into the Eddie Howe era at St. James’ Park are Jacob Murphy and Fabian Schar, and their cases are strong too.
1
Bruno Guimaraes
164
2
Fabian Schar
160
3
Dan Burn
159
4
Jacob Murphy
145
5
Joelinton
139
Fine players all, but Newcastle have ascended to higher ground over the past four years. Murphy and Schar are industrious and efficient parts of the Toon system, but neither is the cream of the crop.
Let’s have a look at those glittering arrivals of recent years. The difference-makers. The trophy winners. The go-getters.
There are a few who have bloomed into players of the highest class.
Howe's best Newcastle signings
Newcastle were weak, but now they are strong. Once rudderless under Ashley’s tyrannical reign, the Toon charted a new course upon that PIF takeover, and they haven’t looked back.
Time and time again, Howe and his team have got it right. Take Anthony Gordon. The England international suffered his share of flak upon joining from Everton, but he’s gone from strength to strength and has seen interest rebuffed from the likes of Liverpool, who were not put off by the 24-year-old’s £100m valuation in 2024.
Gordon is not alone, and potentially even overshadowed by the skipper, Bruno Guimaraes. In amongst the action from the get-go, the Brazilian has been a pillar of strength in the middle of the park, effortlessly good.
One of Guimaraes’ finest qualities is that he bleeds black and white. Forget the peerless technical quality, cast out the steely tenacity, here is a man who loves the club and has channelled his passion toward illustrious success.
There are many more besides still plying their trade in a Newcastle shirt, but these are likely the superstars.
We must mention Alexander Isak, who was arguably the best striker in the Premier League last season, scoring 27 goals. He left in inflamed circumstances and will never again be the flavour of the month on Tyneside.
But Newcastle banked a British-record fee of £125m for the Sweden striker, and given his success at the outfit and the way in which Howe and co have turned those moneybags back to the transfer market is an interesting thing, with one new recruit in particular shaping up to be one of the best signings of the PIF era.
Newcastle star may be the best of the PIF era
Sometimes, you can just tell. And in the case of Nick Woltemade, you can just tell that Newcastle have landed themselves one of the most talented forwards in Europe.
Hailed by reporter Andy Sixsmith for his “mesmerising” link-up play, the German striker may not have chalked his name onto the scoresheet when Newcastle defeated Benfica this week, but his overall play was a thing to behold and evidence that he doesn’t need goals to put in show-stopping performances.
Of course, the goals are nice, and with five from eight matches for his new club this season. He’s only missed three big chances for the club, clinical and precise, and there’s a willingness to drop deep and weave play together, threading the fabric of Howe’s side like a seamster.
This might seem like big praise, but the big man is a big talent, and Newcastle must feel they have got bang for their buck.
It is… telling that Howe’s attacking composition looks like it’s going to stabilise and provide the fans with plenty more joy in the final third in spite of the loss of Isak, such a devastating frontman.
Isak left for a staggering sum, and Newcastle have replaced him with Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, currently sidelined with a knee injury but sure to be a confident goalscorer when he makes his bow. Now United are making headway once again; now they are demonstrating signs of attacking qualities which could evolve into something new and in line with the lofty ambitions.
While Woltemade arrived from Stuttgart this summer for a £69m fee, breaking that previous record price, he is demonstrating that Newcastle are receiving bang for their buck. It is unlikely the goals will dry up and Newcastle will become parched at number nine, should they continue to make creative gains, piecing back together the full fluency of Howe’s team.
The underlying data tells much of his potential. Thanks to FBref’s data, we can show that Woltemade ranks among the top 5% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90.
He is, plainly, rather good, and will only get better as he matures and develops within the English game.
It is too early to claim with any conviction that Woltemade has been the definitive best signing of the PIF era at St. James’ Park.
The likes of Gordon and Guimaraes, after all, have played instrumental roles in the ascension of Howe’s project, leading the club twice into the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup last season.
We cannot definitively call Woltemade the best signing of this new Newcastle chapter, but we can extrapolate from the early readings in black and white and say, confidently, that this is a special striker, and he’s gearing up for more and more success.
Newcastle superstar is starting to emulate Shearer & it's not Woltemade
Newcastle thrashed Benfica at St. James’ Park in the Champions League.
Maaz Sadaqat, 20, has probably never been searched or spoken about as much as he was on Sunday night.Under the glare of a primetime audience in a high-stakes clash against India A, the youngster from Peshawar delivered two decisive punches. His tidy left-arm spin removed Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera in quick succession, sparking a collapse that saw India A lose 8 for 45 and crumble for 136 all out with an over left.And as if that wasn’t enough, Sadaqat then opened the chase with a sparkling statement of intent, hitting a robust 31-ball half-century in an exhilarating display of batsmanship, guiding Pakistan A to a commanding eight-wicket win with plenty to spare in their second game at the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup.This was Pakistan A’s second straight win in the competition, which assured them of a semi-final berth.
Suryavanshi fires early salvo
India A were once again propelled by the precocious brilliance of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the wunderkind who had lit up the tournament with a breathtaking 144 against UAE just two nights ago.On a crumbly surface offering grip and turn, he wasted no time in taking on fast bowler Ubaid Shah, younger brother of Naseem, to give India A the early momentum. His intent helped the team wade through the early loss of Priyansh Arya, who top-edged a pull to mid-on. What stood out was Suryavanshi’s game awareness: he quickly sensed that this pitch wouldn’t suit premeditation, and adjusted accordingly.Vaibhav Suryavanshi did not take much time to tee off•Asian Cricket Council
By holding his shape and trusting his hands, he produced an array of eye-catching strokes: like the crisp inside-out punch over cover, a clean swing over deep midwicket, and a series of razor-sharp pick-ups against spin.His 49-run stand with Naman Dhir ensured India A found a boundary almost every over until the tenth, setting a brisk, early tempo despite the tricky conditions. Suryavanshi even took on left-arm spinner Sufyan Muqeem, before an attempt to launch him over the ropes had him fall for a 28-ball 45.
Sadaqat’s Act-I
After Suryavanshi’s dismissal, India A went 29 balls without finding the boundary. That lull coincided with the introduction of Sadaqat, whose thrifty left-arm spin tightened the screws almost immediately. Using his angles cleverly, he coaxed the ball to drift, grip and occasionally rear up, while subtle changes of pace denied the batters any rhythm.Jitesh, coming off a blistering 32-ball 83 not out against UAE, miscued a lofted attempt to long-off, and Wadhera was stumped after being lured out by one that drifted away late. Between those two blows, Ashutosh Sharma was unfortunate to be given lbw to a delivery that skidded on but appeared to strike him outside the line.Sadaqat finished with figures of 3-1-12-2, setting the stage for right-arm seamer Shahid Aziz to return and wipe out the lower order. From looking set to score 180, India A collapsed to 136 all out.The Irfan Khan-led Pakistan A struck regularly in the second half•Asian Cricket Council
Sadaqat’s Act-II
On a surface where run-making seemed progressively difficult as India A found out, Sadaqat had clean plans: of taking the attack to the bowlers with the new ball inside the powerplay. And on Sunday, nothing was going to stop him.Reprieved second ball when Wadhera put down a tough chance at backward point, Sadaqat took the attack to left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh in his first over. Then with spin introduced in the fourth, he laid into leg spinner Suyash Sharma, hitting him for back-to-back boundaries.Jitesh persisted with Gurjapneet for a third straight over inside the powerplay, but Sadaqat snuffed out any fight from India A by clobbering him for 18 – including a flat-bat six over long-on as Pakistan A brought up their 50 inside five overs. This turbocharge meant Pakistan A didn’t lose momentum even with the loss of Mohammad Naeem.As good as Sadaqat was in front of square, there was so much more to his batting. He welcomed the offspin of Dhir by reverse-sweeping him for a six, racing to a half-century off just 31 balls.On 54, he top-edged Suyash, only to be dropped by Suryavanshi at point. Then on 56, he swung one over long-on, only for Wadhera to sensationally intercept the ball and throw it back into the field of play for Dhir to take the relay. However, the third umpire ruled it in favour of Pakistan. Strangely though, he did not rule it a six and it was given as a dot ball instead.Those two chances aside, there were hardly moments on the field where India A had any semblance of control. Sadaqat remained unbeaten on 79 off 47 as Pakistan A cruised home in style.
Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase hit 50 runs apiece after WI’s brief stutter to guide them home
Mohammad Isam31-Oct-2025Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase struck fifties to help West Indies to a five-wicket win in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Chattogram.Romario Shepherd’s hat-trick had earlier helped their cause for the 3-0 triumph, after Bangladesh were bowled out for 151 runs. The series sweep comes at the right time for West Indies, who had lost seven bilateral T20I series in a row, coming into this series.Auguste and Chase put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket, after they lost three early wickets. Auguste peppered the leg-side with five sixes against the Bangladesh spinners, while the stand-in captain Chase got his boundaries all around the wicket.Bangladesh had earlier collapsed from 107 for 2 in the 15th over, to be bowled out for 151 in 20 overs. They lost eight wickets for 44 runs in the last 5.3 overs, including Shepherd’s hat-trick spread over two overs. He was unaware of his achievement, until Jason Holder happily informed him from mid-off.Jangoo surprises for WIBangladesh restricted West Indies’ openers in the first three overs of the chase. The returning Mahedi Hasan got Alick Athanaze stumped for 1 and Amir Jangoo was also struggling to get going. But he had luck on his side. A mix-up between Litton Das and Saif Hassan gave him a let-off in the second over, before substitute Towhid Hridoy dropped a skier at mid-off.Jangoo then took on Taskin Ahmed in his first over. He started with a crisp flicked six off the first ball, before driving and pulling for three more fours in the 18-run over.Bangladesh hit back with Nasum Ahmed removing Brandon King in the sixth over. Jangoo struck two more fours before Rishad Hossain had him lbw in the eighth over. Jangoo’s 23-ball 34 provided West Indies the boost their 152-run chase needed after a slow start.Auguste packs a punchAuguste built on Jangoo’s innings. Like Jangoo, his first six was also a beautifully flicked six off Taskin. Chase, who was dropped on 10, struck three boundaries to get going, before Auguste took on Rishad. He used the flick off the first ball of the 13th over, before hitting him for two more on the leg-side. Rishad though was unlucky, as substitute Tanzim Hasan dropped Auguste at the covers, on 27.Auguste hammered Nasum’s first ball next over, before Chase took over in the boundary-hitting. He struck three more in the next two overs, on the way to completing his fourth T20I fifty.Bangladesh had some respite when Rishad removed both Chase and Auguste in the 16th over, but West Indies were already comfortably placed to complete the win.Tanzid shines againBangladesh had earlier got off to a decent start after deciding to bat first. Tanzid Hasan hit three fours in the first three overs, before Holder dropped him at mid-off on 12. Tanzid kept Bangladesh forceful in the powerplay, lofting Akeal Hosein for a six over square-leg.Parvez Hossain and Litton though fell cheaply, before Tanzid and Saif added 63 runs for the third wicket. Saif started with a six over square-leg against Chase, followed by Tanzid hitting his second off Khary Pierre. Tanzid cracked two fours off Shepherd in the 11th over, before he lofted Gudakesh Motie for his third six in the next over.Rovman Powell dropped Tanzid on 57, although it was a tough chance at long-on. This one made it West Indies’ sixth dropped catch in the last two matches.Shepherd’s special hat-trickWest Indies’ luck though would change from the 15th over. Holder had Saif caught in the backward square-leg boundary, a ball after he struck a six over the same region.Bangladesh would then lose wickets off the last ball of the over for five successive overs. Pierre removed Rishad in the next over, lbw for three, before Nurul Hasan was caught in the deep off Shepherd.Powell Nasum in the deep at the end of the 18th over before Holder got out-of-form Jaker Ali lbw for five.Shepherd started the 20th over with Tanzid caught at mid-off, before he yorked Shoriful Islam. He wasn’t aware of the hat-trick until Holder – the only other West Indian to get a T20I hat-trick – told him. Shepherd celebrated with a smile. It was the eighth hat-trick Bangladesh’s batters had suffered.
da bet7k： Fear not, Arsenal fans, the international break is finally coming to an end this weekend.
da betsson： However, while the return of the Premier League can’t come soon enough, the Emirates faithful have been able to watch a number of their stars excel for their nations over the last week and a half.
One of those who has been particularly impressive has been Bukayo Saka, who scored a wonder goal against Wales and then picked up an assist against Latvia.
So long as he remains fit, the Hale Ender will surely be one of the first names on the team sheet at the World Cup, as his importance to the Three Lions is only eclipsed by his importance to the Gunners.
With that said, while Saka will likely remain the North Londoners’ talismanic number seven for as long as he’s playing, Mikel Arteta and Co may already have the perfect long-term heir in one of the most exciting talents in the country.
Arsenal's recent number sevens
Despite the amount of change the squad has been through, Arsenal have only had three first-team players wear the number seven shirt since 2016.
The first of those was Alexis Sanchez, who took the number ahead of the 16/17 season following the departure of Czech international Tomas Rosický.
The former Barcelona ace was already an undeniable superstar for the Gunners at this point, having produced 37 goal involvements in 41 games the season prior.
However, with his new number on his back, the Chilean international reached another level, scoring 30 goals and providing 18 assists in 51 appearances, totalling 4230 minutes, in the 16/17 season.
That comes out to a staggering average of a goal involvement every 1.06 games, or every 88.12 minutes. If that wasn’t enough, he also scored the opening goal in the club’s 2-1 FA Cup Final triumph over Chelsea that summer.
Alexis Sanchez’s Arsenal record
Season
14/15
Appearances
52
Goals
25
Assists
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
Season
15/16
Appearances
41
Goals
17
Assists
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.68
Season
16/17
Appearances
51
Goals
30
Assists
18
Goal Involvements per Match
0.94
Season
17/18
Appearances
22
Goals
8
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.54
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, all good things must come to an end, and midway through the following season, he moved to Manchester United in a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan come the other way.
The Armenian international took the seven shirt off the departing winger, but, interestingly, had to wear 77 in Europa League matches because two players are not allowed to wear the same number in the same campaign.
Unfortunately, while the Yerevan-born player is undeniably talented and has been brilliant in Italy, he failed to deliver in North London and, within a year and a half, was sent on loan to AS Roma, with just nine goals and 13 assists in 59 games for the club.
The loan was made in the summer of 2020, and in July, the seven was handed to one of the club’s own: Saka.
While he hasn’t had a season as explosive as Sanchez’s 16/17, the Hale Ender has become a reliable source of goal involvements as well as someone who can step up in the big moments.
Moreover, and arguably just as crucial, he has also become the face of Arteta’s project and rejuvenation of the club, with him netting his 100th Premier League goal involvement in just his 200th league appearance before the international break.
In all, the Gunners’ “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 73 goals and provided 72 assists in 270 games for the club, totalling 20448 minutes.
In other words, since his first-team debut, the dazzling winger has averaged a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 141.02 minutes, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he spent much of his early career at left-back, or being played all over the place.
So, it’s clear that, so long as he can remain fit, Saka will almost certainly remain Arsenal’s number seven for potentially the next decade or so, and in even more good news, the academy looks like it’s producing someone who could be his long-term heir.
Arsenal's future number seven
There is certainly an argument to be made that Ethan Nwaneri could end up being Arsenal’s future number seven, as most of his games last season came off the right, in place of Saka.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, it has become increasingly clear this season that the club view him as a central player, and anyway, there is now another, younger Hale End gem who looks like he could thrive out wide and eventually make the number his own: Max Dowman.
It is hard to think of another academy gem who has received as much media attention as the 15-year-old, but it’s not just fans and pundits waxing lyrical about him.
For example, at the start of last season, Kulig claimed the teenager was the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal”, and then last November, Hale End expert Will Balsam called him “the biggest talent in England.”
It might all sound somewhat hyperbolic, but his numbers from last season suggest it might not be.
Dowman in 24/25
Appearances
23
Minutes
1945′
Goals
19
Assists
5
Goal Involvements per Match
1.04
Minutes per Goal Involvement
81.04′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In just 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 times and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.
Moreover, he played brilliantly in pre-season, winning a penalty against Newcastle United, and then did the same at home to Leeds United in the league, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson pointing out that he “hasn’t even done his GCSE’s but he’s humiliating Premier League players.”
Finally, while there is a case for his future being in the middle of the park, his best attributes seem to be his agility, ability to beat opposition defenders, and his ability to burst into the penalty area, all of which feel like key skills for a top-class winger.
On top of that, his first team experience has come off the right, and he is currently playing out wide and thriving for England’s U19 side.
Finally, if the Gunners want to have him and Nwaneri in the team in the future, leading the way for Hale End, then it makes sense to play the latter in the middle and keep the former on the wing, where he can make the most of his incredible gifts.
Ultimately, Dowman is not going to take the number seven shirt from Saka in the foreseeable future, but given how young he is, there is every chance he becomes the 24-year-old’s long-term heir at the Emirates.
Arteta can drop Gyokeres by unleashing Arsenal star who's emulating Haaland
Viktor Gyokeres should be under pressure to perform at Arsenal.
На площадке IndieGala стартовала бесплатная раздача приключенческой инди-игры с элементами хоррора Whispering Willows, действие которой происходит в таинственном особняке.
В центре сюжета находится Елена Элкхорн, которая отправляется в поместье на поиски пропавшего отца. На пути девушка встретит множество головоломок, а также заблудившиеся души, которым можно помочь благодаря особому амулету, позволяющему душе героини выходить в астрал.
Whispering Willows получила очень положительные отзывы в Steam, а также собрала несколько наград на инди-фестивалях. Игроки хвалят проект за увлекательный сюжет и визуальный стиль.
Напомним, что сейчас в Epic Games Store можно забрать праздничное издание Star Wars: Battlefront 2.
😳 Это тебе не «Ведьмак»: в Crimson Desert дадут залезть в боевого меха с пулемётом и ракетницами
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Liverpool had only dropped points in two Premier League fixtures in an incredible start to life under Arne Slot, but St. James’ Park is a temperamental beast and propelled Newcastle United back into the ascendency.
Perhaps not. Newcastle haven’t been good enough recently, with chequered results inhibiting Eddie Howe’s side. But this was a performance befitting such a talented squad, blessed with high-class parts that have showcased their talents on the biggest stage.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Though Mohamed Salah continued his indomitable start to the campaign, United overwhelmed the visitors for large portions of the fiercely contested clash. The Toon were immense; Tyneside responded, thunderous and crackling with life and noise and energy.
Newcastle are tenth in the Premier League standings and could fall lower still before the weekend – with teams still to play on Thursday evening. But Howe’s side proved that they can throw down the with the best of them.
Newcastle players celebrate
Alexander Isak certainly proved himself the best centre-forward on the field, outclassing and outpunching Darwin Nunez and the some.
Alexander Isak's performance vs Liverpool
Some strike. There’s no denying that some segments of the Newcastle fanbase were growing concerned after Isak’s slow start to the season, for he had been on Arsenal’s radar in the summer and might have harboured distractions.
How the doubts have been released through this brilliant purple patch, with Liverpool now added to the collection of high-stakes matches that the Swede has succeeded in etching his name onto the board.
His name lit up as it does so often at this stadium, but he’s bagged few more striking, more emphatic, than the rifled shot that beat Caoimhin Kelleher with ease, pressing into the net from afar.
Minutes played
90′
90′
Goals
0
1
Assists
0
1
Touches
25
48
Shots (on target)
3 (0)
2 (1)
Big chances missed
2
0
Accurate passes
8/12 (67%)
19/25 (76%)
Key passes
0
5
Dribbles (completed)
2 (0)
9 (5)
Total duels (won)
13 (5)
16 (6)
It’s, erm, difficult to see how anyone could stake a claim for Nunez, the more expensive man, being the triumphant performer on Wednesday evening. Isak is leaps and bounds above his divisional rival, whose energy and tenacity make for box-office viewing, but bring infrequent results.
Isak, conversely, is an elite marksman, sniping at the opponent’s net and breaching it. That’s five goals in six matches for the 25-year-old, who proved to everyone that he was the star striker on the St. James’ Park pitch.
He wasn’t the only one to have shown Liverpool what’s up. Anthony Gordon was visibly elated when he made it 2-1 after the break, and for good reason too.
Anthony Gordon reminds Liverpool of his quality
It could have been very different. This summer, Newcastle were throttled by Premier League profit and sustainability rules and the ramifications of a non ‘big six’ side showing ambition. It wasn’t the dream window, but the Magpies chiefs deserve some credit for keeping hold of their prized assets, Gordon among them.
Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Season hasn’t been at his best across the past several months, but he rose to the occasion against Liverpool, scoring against the Reds at St. James’ Park for the second season running and doing so with a performance to match that of Isak.
His dribbling is something to be admired, but so too is the combativeness that makes Gordon much more than simply a ball-carrying winger.
As per Sofascore, he completed three key passes and three dribbles apiece, but the 23-year-old also won nine duels in an excellent showing that advertised his multi-faceted style.
The Chronicle Live awarded him with an 8/10 match rating, even acknowledging that his lively showing could have bred more goals. But alas.
Anthony Gordon vs Mohamed Salah
The England international’s initiative and roundedness make for a distinctive weapon, and he’s now being statistically likened to one of Europe’s superlative wingers.
Newcastle's £100m star in the making
That’s three goals and an assist across 13 Premier League matches for Gordon this season. Not the heftiest return, to be sure, but the dynamo is also averaging 2.2 key passes, 1.2 dribbles and 5.4 successful duels per game, the latter of which he is winning a respectable 54% of total battles.
Potency might have taken a step down, but Gordon is still leaving a trail of underlying data in his wake that bespeaks his elite-level faculties, and when looking at his FBref statistical breakdown, this becomes even clearer.
According to the stats-led site, he and Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia share some striking similarities, with both creative, crisp and technically proficient.
Hailed as a “phenomenon” by Italian football pundit Mina Rzouki, Kvaratskhelia, one of Europe’s most exciting wingers, is also 23 years old, and though he’s posted five goals and three assists across 13 Serie A matches for his Scudetto-chasing side this year, he’s also averaged only 1.1 dribbles, 1.7 key passes and 3.8 duels per game.
A wanted man, the Georgian has been on Arsenal and Liverpool’s radar this year and is valued at a whopping £100m. Given that Gordon is technically outperforming the Napoli man this season, it’s feasible that he might too reach such a high-priced figure, having already garnered plenty of intrigue this summer.
To be honest, though, most Magpies fans likely wouldn’t make a switch between the two. Gordon’s blood flows black and white, and he proved once more against Liverpool that he’s one of the finest up-and-coming wingers out there.
Newcastle now considering £66m move to sign Lloyd Kelly upgrade in January
It would be a massive signing that could help Howe’s side get back on track.
يستعد برشلونة لدخول سوق الانتقالات الصيفية للتعاقد مع مهاجم جديد في 2026، ويرتبط جوليان ألفاريز مهاجم أتلتيكو مدريد بالانضمام لصفوف النادي بقوة.
ويحظى ألفاريز بطل كأس العالم 2022 مع منتخب الأرجنتين بإعجاب كبير من جانب إدارة برشلونة، ويرى فيه النادي هدفاً رئيسياً لخلافة روبرت ليفاندوفسكي والذي ينتهي عقده بنهاية الموسم.
ويعد ألفاريز هو المرشح المفضل لرئيس برشلونة خوان لابورتا ليصبح مهاجم المستقبل في البلوجرانا بدلاً من المهاجم البولندي.
اقرأ أيضاً.. الاتحاد الاسباني يوجه تحذيرًا لـ برشلونة وفليك.. ويهدد بمعاقبتهما
وأغلق إنريكي سيريزو رئيس أتلتيكو مدريد الباب أمام أي احتمال لرحيل جوليان ألفاريز العام المقبل في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”: “كنا نتوقع ذلك قبل وصولك أبولو سبورتس (المستثمرين الجدد في النادي)”.
وأضاف: “فكرة تحصين ألفاريز من خيالكم، جوليان لديه عقد وعليه الوفاء به، مثل أي شخص آخر، جوليان لاعب نرغب به ويريد البقاء هنا، فما الذي يحتاجه أكثر من ذلك”.
واختتم عن تجديد عقد ألفاريز وعدم عرضه للبيع: “لقد قضى معنا عاماً ولديه خمسة أو ستة عقود أخرى، لسنا منفتحين على التفاوض بشأن جوليان أو أي لاعب آخر، إذا تقدم فريق لضم لاعب وأراد الرحيل، سيرحل، لكن في الوقت الحالي لا يوجد لاعب واحد يرغب في الرحيل”.