Liverpool have been the team to beat throughout 2024/25, as seen by the progress made under Arne Slot since he took the reins during the summer last year.

The Dutchman has led the Reds to their second Premier League title, but has already wasted little time in targeting reinforcements ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

After such a dominant year that saw the club win the title by 10 points, you wouldn’t expect a whole host of changes, but it appears as though Slot desperately wants new additions to inject further quality into the side.

Countless players have been touted with a summer switch to Anfield, but as of yet, no deals have reached their conclusion with the window not yet open.

However, work is being done behind the scenes over the last couple of days, with rapid progress being made on numerous deals in the full-back areas, as well as Florian Wirtz.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new full-backs

With Trent Alexander-Arnold departing Liverpool this summer, Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been the main target to fill the void, agreeing a £29.5m deal for his services.

The Dutchman has travelled to Merseyside over the last couple of days to complete the formalities of his switch to England, potentially being the club’s first signing of the summer.

He’s not the only player who’s edging closer to a move to Anfield, with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez still on their radar ahead of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

He claims that the hierarchy are still “working on” a deal to land the Hungarian international, who’s registered two goals and five assists in the Premier League this campaign.

It’s been reported that the Cherries are demanding £45m for his signature during the off-season, with the defender open to a switch to join Slot’s men – following in the footsteps of one player currently on the books.

Why Kerkez could repeat Liverpool's Mac Allister success

Alexis Mac Allister has played a key role in the success endured by Liverpool over the last few months, cementing his place at the heart of the side alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

The Argentine, who joined in a £35m deal from Brighton back in the summer of 2023, has registered 95 appearances in the last two years since his move to Merseyside.

49 of which have come during 2024/25, featuring in all but three Premier League matches, notching 10 combined goals and assists, having a huge impact in their ability to claim the title.

The 26-year-old now appears to be a bargain given his success at Anfield, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Kerkez over the coming months.

A deal for the Bournemouth defender could see another young star move to the club from a mid-table English outfit, looking to be a key player in any future success under the Dutchman.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a leading full-back despite his tender age, having the tools to thrive at both ends, which has undoubtedly led to the keen interest from Slot’s men.

Kerkez, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist Charles Watts, has created 1.1 chances per 90 along with 1.1 successful crosses per 90 – subsequently able to hand other players in front of him the chance to star in the final third.

Games played

38

Goals & assists

7

Pass accuracy

81%

Successful crosses

1.1

Chances created

1.1

Dribbles completed

56%

Tackles won

50%

He’s also completed 56% of the dribbles he’s attempted, with 1.9 touches in the opposition box – further highlighting the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet.

However, Kerkez has also starred defensively, winning 50% of the tackles he’s entered and has come out on top of 4.1 duels per 90, having the capability without the ball to impress despite his attacking nature.

The £45m fee could well prove to be a good price for a young talent who is only going to improve further should he receive more minutes in England’s top-flight over the next few seasons.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Mac Allister on Merseyside, it would be a sensational deal, offering Slot a new dimension to his already star-studded first team squad.

Slot's answer to Huijsen: Liverpool enquire about signing £74m "freak"

Liverpool would consider signing a centre-back this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 28, 2025

Half-century anchors run-chase as Kent are outgunned

ECB Reporters Network25-Aug-2024

Worcestershire secured their second successive win in the Vitality County Championship to bolster their hopes of retaining Division One status as they overcame bottom-placed Kent by eight wickets at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Tom Taylor and Joe Leach picked up the final two Kent wickets this morning to leave Worcestershire, who were promoted last summer, with a modest victory target of 101.Although Worcestershire openers Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby fell cheaply, Kashif Ali (52 not out) and Rob Jones (23 not out) saw their side over the finishing line with an unbroken stand of 69.Worcestershire’s 23-point haul followed on from victory in their previous game against Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside, albeit nearly seven weeks ago.They were in the ascendancy for the bulk of the game once Kent had lost 10 wickets for 98 runs in their first innings after being 73 for 0 at one stage.It was two of their players returning from lengthy spells out through injury who made significant contributions.Joe Leach, who is retiring at the end of the season, rolled back the years with a six-wicket haul in Kent’s first innings his first appearance for three months after a recurrence of a knee problem.Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira has been troubled by a shoulder injury for a year but he returned after having extensive rehab during the past month to score 97 from 90 balls and change the momentum of the game in Worcestershire’s favour.Gareth Roderick, with a half century and seven catches behind the stumps, Rob Jones and Ethan Brookes also produced key roles with the bat while Tom Taylor bowled well throughout and deserved a more tangible reward than his five wickets in the game.Kent are now facing an uphill battle to maintain their top flight status after suffering their sixth defeat in 10 games.The big plus point for them was the stunning form with the bat of Tawanda Muyeye who hit a half century and a career best 211.Kent resumed on 353 for 8 – an overall lead of 76 after the last over dismissal of Muyeye yesterday evening.Akeem Jordan, who had picked up five first-innings wickets on his Championship debut, cover drove Taylor for four.Taylor continued his impressive form with the ball demonstrated throughout the game and went past the outside edge on several occasions.He claimed his fourth wicket when Jordan’s off stump was sent cartwheeling out of the ground after he attempted a drive.Leach wrapped up the winnings when George Garrett (6) pushed forward and Gareth Roderick held onto a low chance away to his left.It was Roderick’s fourth catch of the innings and seventh of a game where he has gone past 100 dismissals for Worcestershire.Jordan struck an early blow for Kent when Worcestershire set off in pursuit of their modest target in holding onto a return catch from Roderick.Jake Libby then shouldered arms and was bowled by Garrett at 33 for 2 and rain caused a 40 minute delay after lunch and the loss of 10 overs.But Kashif was soon into his stride with a succession of boundaries to banish any fears of a late twist in the outcome of the match.He twice cut on loan Alfie Ogborne for four and turned the same bowler off his legs to the ropes.A slash to third man off Ogborne brought Kashif his 50 from 67 balls with 10 fours and clinched the victory.

MatériaMais Notícias

da premier bet： A caminho do Athletico-PR, a saída do volante Arturo Vidal do Flamengo já era esperada. Ainda no começo de junho, o jogador anunciou que deixaria o clube carioca em dezembro deste ano, quando seu contrato chegaria ao fim. Os altos salários, aliados ao baixo rendimento dentro de campo, já faziam com que os dirigentes não buscassem uma possível renovação do chileno.

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da dobrowin： Agora, o volante tem tudo certo para seguir sua carreira no Athletico-PR. O jogador busca uma rescisão amigável com o Flamengo e deve defender o Furacão até dezembro deste ano, mesmo período em que defenderia o Flamengo. Dessa forma, o Lance! separou alguns momentos marcantes, positivos ou não, da passagem do jogador pelo Flamengo.

+ Renove o seu estoque de Mantos Sagrados com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

TÍTULOS E LIDERANÇA

Depois de um flerte antigo, o Flamengo finalmente contratou Vidal junto a Inter de Milão, em julho do ano passado. O volante chileno chegou com status de craque após passagens por Bayern de Munique, Juventus e Barcelona, mas a diretoria rubro-negra estava ciente de que ele já não estava no seu melhor nível. Mesmo assim, no início da passagem, o chileno entregou bastante.

Ao longo dos primeiros seis meses, Vidal participou de 26 partidas, sendo 12 como titular e balançou as redes em duas oportunidades, contra Juventude e Botafogo. O chileno foi liderança importante no time que jogava as partidas do Campeonato Brasileiro e foi reserva utilizado nas duas decisões disputadas pela equipe, na Copa do Brasil e Libertadores.

+ Marcos Braz minimiza lesão de Allan e revela panorama de negociações do Flamengo

POLÊMICAS

Até a virada do ano, a relação entre Flamengo e Vidal era excelente. O volante era querido nos bastidores e exercia uma liderança importante no elenco. Contudo, 2023 trouxe uma face do volante que desagradou a diretoria e torcida rubro-negra, desgastando de vez a parceria. É possível dividir os problemas em dois atos, ambos às vésperas do Mundial de Clubes.

Primeiro, Vidal se ofereceu para o Colo-Colo em live no Instagram e causou desconforto no grupo antes da ida para o Marrocos: “Venham me buscar”, disse na época o jogador. O volante chegou a se retratar com a torcida, mas o estrago já estava feito. Ainda no mesmo dia, o chileno jogou chuteiras de maneira agressiva após saber que não seria titular em jogo contra o Boavista, pelo Carioca. Pelo episódio, ele foi multado.

Não foram muitas oportunidades entre os titulares com Vítor Pereira, mas a chegada de Sampaoli trouxe esperança para Vidal. O jogador já havia trabalhado com o argentino na seleção chilena, e a dupla se sagrou campeã da Copa América em duas oportunidades. Quando recebeu chances, no entanto, ele não correspondeu e, no momento, está atrás de Pulgar e Victor Hugo na rotação.

Como mencionado, o contrato de Vidal com o Flamengo teria duração até dezembro e o jogador já poderia assinar um pré-contrato com qualquer equipe. Ao todo, Vidal disputou disputou 51 jogos pelo Rubro-Negro desde sua chegada, em meados do ano passado, marcou dois gols e concedeu três assistências.

Sunderland are in the mix to complete the signing of one of Europe’s most sought-after young players, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Sunderland to use Bellingham money for new signings

The Black Cats have been dealt the rather predictable blow of losing Jobe Bellingham this summer, with the teenager off to Borussia Dortmund, copying the career path of his brother, Jude Bellingham.

While not having the midfielder in their ranks in the Premier League next season is a big blow, Sunderland will at least receive around £30m+ for him, which can be spent on new signings who can aid Regis Le Bris’ side’s battling to avoid a speedy return to the Championship.

Manchester City youngster Charlie Gray has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Bellingham ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 19-year-old struggling with opportunities at the Etihad. He is predominantly a defensive midfielder, but he can take up more attacking roles, too.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham has been linked with a return to the Stadium of Light this summer, with the 27-year-old now an experienced head who should still remain at his peak for the foreseeable future.

Sunderland battling Newcastle for young star

According to On The Minute, Sunderland have joined the race to sign Djurgarden defender Keita Kosugi in the summer window, with rivals Newcastle also among those in the mix to snap him up for around £8m.

The report says that the 19-year-old is considered “one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe”, highlighting his potential, and the Black Cats are trying to snap him up, along with Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta.

Kosugi may not yet be known to British football fans, but his long-term potential makes him such an exciting option for Sunderland, who need to find the right blend of youth and experience when the new Premier League campaign gets underway in August.

The teenage left-back won 10 caps for Japan’s Under-17s during his younger days, and he has already made 45 appearances for Djurgarden, scoring five goals and registering two assists in that time. Meanwhile, video scout Elijah Michiels has described him as “excellent”.

Kosugi can come in and provide competition for Dennis Cirkin at left-back straight away, starting off as a squad player who hopefully matures into a key man as time passes.

He is already more experienced than his age arguably suggests, coming up against Chelsea in the semi-finals of UEFA Europa Conference League, and if he reaches his possible ceiling, Sunderland could have an absolute gem of a signing on their hands.

Sunderland plot swoop to sign Man City gem who may replace Bellingham

The Black Cats are planning for the worst.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 9, 2025

Le Bris has shown faith in youth already, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg, and if he believes Kosugi is good enough to feature regularly from the off, he should be trusted.

From finding a finisher to take over from MS Dhoni to investing in young, local talent, here’s what the Super Kings must look at to rebuild their empire

Deivarayan Muthu02-Nov-2020The Chennai Super Kings empire that was built for repeated success over ten years by MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming crumbled spectacularly in IPL 2020. They were the first team to be ousted this season, when they imploded to 30 for 6 on a flat Sharjah track against the Mumbai Indians. It was always going to end this way for Dhoni’s Dad’s Army, wasn’t it?They had defied the odds and proved critics wrong, marking their return after a ban with a third title in 2018. They defied the odds again and defended their title against Mumbai in 2019, courtesy Dhoni’s leadership and a spin barrage at their fortress Chepauk. However, the cracks kept widening, the slow-moving legs got slower and, inevitably, the team crashed in the UAE.In a way, Dhoni and Fleming brought this upon themselves. They made no bones about their plan to back experience and win titles, even if it came at the expense of preparing for the future. In 2019, when the Super Kings had already qualified for the playoffs, an ill Dhoni sat out of the home game against Mumbai. It might have been a good opportunity to ease reserve wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan or opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad in, but the Super Kings opted against it, with Fleming coming out to the press and saying they weren’t there to hand out caps.Ruturaj Gaikwad reached his third successive half-century•BCCITime for a full revamp
On Sunday, both Dhoni and Fleming admitted a revamp – starting with the core group before moving on to the strategy – is overdue. Whether there’s a mini auction or a mega auction, whether IPL 2021 gets underway in India or the UAE, the Super Kings will aim to rebuild with a focus on the young players like 22-year-old Sam Curran and the 23-year-old Gaikwad, who could end up with a long stay at the Super Kings.Dhoni and Fleming will continue to be at the helm while the experience will probably be provided by Faf du Plessis, Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar, along with Dwayne Bravo and Ambati Rayudu, if they remain fit. It is difficult to see the franchise retain Shane Watson, M Vijay, Kedar Jadhav and Piyush Chawla until and unless there is only a mini auction for 2021.Also, the Super Kings’ fans might have to accept the fact that Suresh Raina, who opted out of this season’s IPL, may now be talked of as a former player – it should perhaps not be looked at as a purely emotional move, considering the left-hander has had fitness issues and not played any competitive cricket since IPL 2019.The Super Kings do have a handful of young players who have shown they can grow and steadily become part of the core. Both Curran and Gaikwad have received praise from the team management. Fleming said Curran has “exceeded” expectations. Dhoni trusted Curran to bowl the tough overs in the powerplay and at the death, though he said the left-arm seamer still “needs to be convinced” that he can execute the wide yorker. Curran’s all-round skills are also underlined by the fact that he fields in catching hotspots along with du Plessis and Jadeja.Gaikwad, too, finished the 2020 season guarding the hotspots and pulling off a blinder to dismiss the King XI Punjab’s Jimmy Neesham on Sunday. He made a bigger impact with the bat, becoming the first batsman from the franchise to hit three back-to-back fifties.Although the team management is yet to be fully convinced by the 24-year-old Jagadeesan’s abilities, he did show intent and innovation during his first game this season, when he got 33 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.ESPNcricinfo LtdLet Dhoni the batsman take the backseat
The biggest challenge for the franchise would be to identify a player who can go on to take over the captaincy from Dhoni in the next two years. Both N Srinivasan, the Super Kings’ owner, and Kasi Viswanathan, the franchise’s chief executive officer, have reiterated more than once that Dhoni will be retained at the next mega auction.On Sunday, for the first time, Dhoni himself said he is not in a rush to retire from the IPL.While Dhoni the captain remains fresh, Dhoni the batsman has become a problem for the Super Kings. Dhoni will turn 40 next year and, personally too, has just endured his worst IPL season, managing only 200 runs in 12 innings at an average of 25 and strike rate of 116.27. For the first time across 13 seasons of IPL, Dhoni ended one without a single half-century.Against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai, Dhoni was sapped by heat and fatigue, coming up short in a middling chase he would have likely aced in the past. Against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi, Dhoni arrived with his team needing 69 off 47 balls, and they lost by 10 runs.Dhoni seemingly retains the belief that he can work hard to return stronger for IPL 2021, but he knows the Super Kings need a dependable finisher, which he is no more. But there’s one man who has the experience, the courage and the strokes to become a long-term finisher: Jadeja.Jadeja struck at over 200 in the slog overs this IPL, but he faced all of 135 balls in 11 innings. Fleming believes Jadeja is better suited to arriving late and making an instant statement, but Jadeja might disagree. Perhaps he can man the middle order and Dhoni can instead arrive later and free his arms along with Dwayne Bravo.MS Dhoni has been bowled by Varun Chakravarthy in both clashes this season•BCCIInvest in local talent
Releasing players like Jadhav and Chawla will help the Super Kings go into the next auction with a fatter purse, allowing them to invest in younger players and possibly local talent.Mohan Abhinav, who was among the Super Kings’ net-bowling contingent in the UAE, is a legspinner with an unorthodox action, while V Gowtham, the left-arm seamer who bowled at the Chepauk nets, is said to have a good yorker and has just made it to the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Gowtham is even being mentored and coached by the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s T Natarajan at his academy in Salem. Is it worth punting on them?In the past, the Super Kings have missed out on recruiting the likes of Varun Chakravarthy, who has now broken into India’s T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, after his match-winning performances for the Knight Riders this IPL. Varun had caught the eyes of the Super Kings’ batting coach Michael Hussey in the nets before he made a splash in the TNPL. Varun has duly bowled Dhoni both times the sides met this season.All that said, the manner in which the Super Kings bounced back to finish this IPL with three consecutive wins will lend them confidence. They will be particularly optimistic because those victories were constructed by the young brigade led by Gaikwad. In a way, the Super Kings have already launched their new template.

Arsenal’s preparations for the 2025-26 season are underway, and one of the most eye-catching developments at London Colney this week has been the presence of 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman in first-team training. The highly rated youngster was involved in the senior squad’s pre-season fitness and technical sessions on Wednesday, joining a host of established stars on the pitch including Bukayo Saka.

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• Dowman stars in Arsenal training
• Will take part in pre-season friendlies
• Cannot sign a professional contract until 2026

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dowman, born in 2009, has been making waves at Arsenal’s Hale End academy. Though still a year away from being eligible to sign a professional contract, he cannot do so until 2026, his rapid development has brought him close to first-team recognition. It is suggested that Arteta sees Dowman as a genuine prospect capable of breaking through in the near future, and the pre-season training is a step in that direction.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dowman ended the 2024-25 campaign with the Under-18s in spectacular fashion. The attacking midfielder notched 14 goals and added three assists in just his final seven matches of the season, a remarkable tally for a player his age. Whereas, representing England at the Under-17 European Championship, he contributed a goal and an assist during a 4-2 group-stage win over the Czech Republic.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wednesday’s session at London Colney featured a mix of Arsenal regulars and returning players. Among those training alongside Dowman were Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and William Saliba. Albert Sambi Lokonga was also present, as he looks to earn a place in Arteta’s plans following a loan spell.

  Eight senior squad members were notably absent. Goalkeepers David Raya and Karl Hein, along with Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, and Reiss Nelson, were missing, the latter three due to ongoing injury issues. Meanwhile, Fabio Vieira and Ethan Nwaneri have been granted extended leave following their involvement in the Club World Cup and UEFA Under-21 European Championship, respectively.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  With Arsenal’s flight to Asia not scheduled for another 10 days, the current window provides ample opportunity for Arteta to develop match fitness. Sources indicate that the club is considering organising a behind-closed-doors friendly in the coming days to ramp up preparations.

  Once in Asia, the Gunners are set for a trio of high-profile friendlies. They will first face AC Milan at Singapore’s National Stadium on July 23, followed by a clash with Newcastle United at the same venue on July 27. The tour will conclude with a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, set to take place at the new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on July 31.

This was Ireland’s first T20I win against South Africa and second overall against them in internationals

Firdose Moonda29-Sep-2024
Ireland beat South Africa for the first time in a T20I after posting their highest total against them and successfully defending it in Abu Dhabi. In the process, they became the first team to win a match batting first at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the last eight T20Is at the venue.In what was a family affair, Ross Adair grabbed the early headlines when he scored a 57-ball hundred, his first in T20Is – and Ireland’s third century in the format – before his younger brother, Mark Adair, took 4 for 31 to seal the win.Ross set the tone when he shared Ireland’s second-highest opening stand in the format – 137 – with his captain Paul Stirling, who scored his first fifty in 21 T20Is. Their start meant Ireland were on track for a score above 200 but lost 6 for 43 in 32 balls to leave some runs unscored. Still, they asked South Africa to complete the highest successful chase in T20Is at this venue and they made a fist of it.Reeza Hendricks scored his second successive half-century Matthew Breetzke his first but Ireland struck often enough to ensure the required run rate got too big on South Africa’s middle order. They needed 108 off the last 10 overs, with nine wickets in hand, and 53 off the last five overs, with seven wickets in the bank, and that is when Mark Adair struck. He went around the wicket to Tristan Stubbs, who pushed at a wide ball and was caught behind. That sparked a collapse that saw South Africa lose 5 wickets for 25 to fall 11 runs short.

Ross Adair rides his luck

Take nothing away from Ross’ innings, which was an exhibition of all-round hitting, but he will know he should have been out not once, not twice, not three, not four but five times. He offered South Africa a first chance on 19, in the powerplay, when he was cramped by a Lizaad Williams short ball and miscued a pull to deep square leg. The catch was taken but Williams had overstepped and Adair batted on.Then, in the 14th over, immediately after Stirling was dismissed, Adair, on 78, hit Wiaan Mulder to Williams at deep backward point. Williams got both hands to it but palmed the ball over the boundary rope to send Adair into the 80s. Adair swung wildly at the next ball and hit it straight up but Ryan Rickleton couldn’t make enough ground to take the catch. And the ball after that, Adair was at the non-striker’s end when Harry Tector called him through for a single and then changed his mind. Patrick Kruger could have run Adair out but he missed his throw from extra cover. Adair had not quite had enough of danger and in the next over, on 90, he offered Kruger a return chance but it just went over him and Adair kept going. He brought up 100 off 57 balls and finished with nine sixes, the most by an Irish batter in the format.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

SA strangle Ireland in end overs

In the first match, South Africa gave away only six runs in the last two overs of the Ireland innings to leave them short of a par score; this time they gave away only 19 in the last three overs to keep Ireland under 200. Lungi Ngidi, who has been excellent on the tour, started the squeeze with an over of slower balls. That included a ball that completely foxed Neil Rock, who was far too early on his shot, and took out his middle stump. Ngidi finished with an analysis of 1 for 23 in four overs. Kruger bowled the 19th, which started with a run-out as Mark Adair was scrambling for a second run and was also peppered with pace-off. And Williams was given the last over by which time South Africa incurred an over-rate penalty and had to have an extra fielder in the ring. Still, he did not concede any boundaries as he stuck to yorker lengths.

Humphreys belated birthday gift

Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys turned 22 on Saturday and celebrated with a trip to the Abu Dhabi Louvre but the real gift came 24 hours later when he took his first wicket of the series, and it was a big one. After conceding 26 runs in his first three overs, Humphreys was given the 14th over to finish and he made a big incision. With 66 needed off 39 balls balls, Aiden Markram premeditated a reverse-sweep but did not account for the change of pace from Humphreys. He sent the ball down quicker, it beat Markram and bowled him. Humphreys finished with 1 for 30 and left South Africa’s middle order with too much to do.

Mark Adair magic

After dismissing Stubbs, Mark Adair opened up South Africa’s middle order and then dismantled it in the 19th over. South Africa needed 23 runs off the last 12, and Mark Adair sent down a slower ball to Mulder, who hit straight up and Adair took it on himself to complete the catch. Two balls later, Breetzke tried to swat Mark Adair through the leg side but sent the ball straight to Harry Tector at long-on. Mark Adair closed out his over when Nqaba Peter hit him to extra cover, where Stirling took a diving catch to put Ireland in the pound seats. Graham Hume had 17 runs to defend off the last over and picked up two wickets in the process of doing that.

عقد رئيس نادي الزمالك، حسين لبيب، جلسة مع المدير الرياضي جون إدوارد، مساء الأحد، لمناقشة أسباب تراجع نتائج الفريق خلال الفترة الأخيرة ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

نادي الزمالك فقد 7 نقاط خلال آخر ثلاث مباريات له ببطولة الدوري المصري، حيت تعادل أمام الجونة وغزل المحلة وخسر أمام الأهلي في مباراة القمة.

وتراجع نادي الزمالك إلى المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 18 نقطة، بعد مرور 10 جولات، بعدما كان يتصدر ترتيب المسابقة.

طالع | الزمالك على صفيح ساخن.. مفاجأة بشأن مصير فيريرا وبديله

وجاء اجتماع حسين لبيب مع جون إدوارد، لمناقشة كافة أمور الفريق الأول لكرة القدم وأسباب النتائج الأخيرة ببطولة الدوري، وكافة المعوقات التي تسببت في فقدان العديد من النقاط، وكيفية تعديل المسار في المرحلة المقبلة من أجل العودة إلى طريق الانتصارات.

وتم الاتفاق على استمرار الاجتماعات بين رئيس الزمالك والمدير الرياضي، لحين عقد اجتماع مع البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني للفريق فور عودته إلى القاهرة، للوقوف معه على ما حدث في المباريات الأخيرة، واتخاذ القرارات التي تصب في صالح الفريق بما يلبي طموحات الجماهير.

ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة فريق ديكاداها الصومالي، في مستهل مشواره ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية للموسم الحالي 2025-2026، ذلك يوم الجمعة 17 أكتوبر، في ذهاب دور الـ 32 من البطولة القارية.

There might be another 90 minutes to play, but for most Arsenal fans, the season is now done.

Instead of looking forward to what is now a pretty meaningless Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, supporters are beginning to dream about what the club might do in the summer transfer window.

After all, after last year, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has a big job on his hands convincing them that the board are prepared to go all in to finally get the club over the line next season.

Fortunately, recent reports have now touted an international superstar for a move to the Gunners, someone who is just the sort of signing fans have been crying out for and someone who’d be a dream addition for Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked to a plethora of incredibly talented footballers, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could end up costing the club as little as £55m if reports are to be believed, which may well be one of the deals of the summer, as in just 51 games this term, he has scored 53 goals and provided 13 assists.

Eze, on the other hand, will cost around £68m due to a release clause in his current deal, although again, thanks to his ability to play in multiple positions and the fact he’s racked up 25 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes that fee seem more than reasonable.

However, to really help take the team to another level and across the finishing line next season, Arteta and Co may want to sign a bonafide superstar, someone like Rodrygo.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are “now seriously considering” moving for the Real Madrid star.

The journalist has revealed that talks have already “begun behind the scenes” and that the deal is “on.”

The report does not mention a price, but according to other stories from earlier this month, the Brazilian winger could be available for around £85m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Rodrygo’s stature and ability, it’s one worth pushing the boat out for, especially as it would seriously help Saka as well.

Why Rodrygo would be a dream signing for Saka

So, if Arsenal are able to get the deal done and bring Rodryo to the Emirates this summer, just why would his signing be such a good thing for Saka?

Well, the first thing is that he’d finally be able to take some of the burden off his shoulders, as not only is he a natural left-winger, but he’s one who knows just where the goal is.

Said to be among the “best players in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, in 52 appearances last season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 52 games, which worked out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games.

Then this season, even though Los Blancos have struggled more, he’s still managed to put up impressive numbers of 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games.

For context, Gabriel Martinelli has scored ten goals and provided six assists in as many games, and Leandro Trossard has scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 55 games.

Appearances

50

50

55

Minutes

3290′

3493′

3428′

Goals

13

10

10

Assists

10

6

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.32

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

143.04′

218.31′

180.42′

So, with someone as effective as the Brazilian off the left, the Gunners mercurial number seven wouldn’t have to do quite as much himself, which could help him perform better.

The next significant benefit to signing the Real ace is that he’s more than comfortable playing off the right as well, so Arteta could more easily rest the Hale End superstar and help prevent him from suffering any more serious injuries.

Finally, during his time in Madrid, the Osasco-born dynamo has won everything there is to win in the club game, from league titles to the Champions League, so his know-how in those tense must-win games could finally help the North Londoners get over the line next season, and in turn, help Saka achieve his dreams of leading the team to glory.

Ultimately, while he’ll cost them a pretty penny, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, as not only would he help elevate the whole team, but he could also be the perfect teammate for Saka.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2025

Celtic made a bold decision in the January transfer window at the start of this year when they opted to sell Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes for a reported fee of £10m.

The Japan international scored 85 goals in 165 matches in all competitions for the Scottish giants during his time at Parkhead, including 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.

Despite losing the prolific goalscorer midway through the campaign, the Hoops opted against dipping into the market to sign a replacement for him, although they were linked with an interest in Danish forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.

What Mathias Kvistgaarden could bring to Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly made an approach to sign the Brondby striker in January, but failed to get a deal over the line for him, and are reportedly looking at him once again ahead of the summer.

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If the Hoops do decide to go through with a swoop for him ahead of next season, Kvistgaarden could be an exciting addition to the squad, considering his impressive record in Denmark.

The 23-year-old striker has scored 16 goals, and missed 14 ‘big chances’, in 24 starts in the Danish Superliga, and scored 22 goals in all competitions for Brondby, which suggests that he could arrive as a big goalscoring threat at an age where he still has time left to develop and improve.

His form has led to Transfermarkt valuing the forward at £6.7m at the time of writing (20/05/2025), which is even lower than the player Celtic essentially replaced Kyogo with, Daizen Maeda.

Rodgers has hit the jackpot with Daizen Maeda

The Japan international has played on the wing for the majority of his Celtic career, but Kyogo’s move to Rennes in January provided him with an opportunity to play more games as a striker.

He had only played two matches as a centre-forward in all competitions before the turn of the year, and has since played eight times in that role, splitting number nine duties with Adam Idah.

As you can see in the table above, that change in position has been a masterstroke by Brendan Rodgers, who has hit the jackpot with the forward, because he has been directly involved in 18 goals in just ten games as a striker.

His market value has also soared as a result of that change. Maeda was valued at £6.7m, as much as Kvistgaarden, in December 2024, and is now valued at £9.3m by Transfermarkt at the time of writing, which shows that the versatile star is now worth even more than the Celtic transfer target.

The Japanese whiz, who was described as “unbelievable” by Rodgers, has thrived due to the positional change that the manager opted to make after Kyogo left, and has proven himself to be more than capable of being a starting centre-forward for Celtic.

Therefore, the Hoops have hit the jackpot with the 27-year-old star, who may have just alleviated the need to splash the cash on Kvistgaarden this summer, as the club now have him and Idah available to lead the line heading into next season.

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