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Last season, little was expected of Arne Slot’s Liverpool. In the overtures to the campaign, anyway.

But then Liverpool started playing, started to strut their stuff in a new system. Slot’s side ceded ground in just two of their opening 13 Premier League matches, creating a gulf that proved too wide for the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to bridge.

In fairness, the overarching scepticism was understandable. Jurgen Klopp had stood down from his revered post, and historic cases of similarity in the Premier League suggested the Reds were in for a rough ride.

But FSG chose wisely when swiping Feyenoord’s shrewd head coach, who indeed won the English top flight in his maiden year and did so with relative ease.

Now, Liverpool are showing ruthless ambition in the summer transfer market as they look to consolidate their position of power over the coming years.

So many bumper deals have been pulled off already, the latest of which is set to be the £79m signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, but Luis Diaz’s uncertain future could see another one cross the line.

Liverpool looking to replace Luis Diaz

Liverpool have completed a plethora of exciting signings this summer, and there may well be more still to come. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid, and now Diaz could be on the move too.

The Colombian winger, 28, has just shy of two years remaining on his contract, and Liverpool have not engaged in any concrete talks to extend his stay on Merseyside.

While the outward stance has been that Diaz is not for sale, FSG may have a tacit acceptance that he could be sold, with Bayern Munich pressing ahead and trying to sign him after seeing an opening £58.5m offer knocked back earlier in July.

It goes without saying that Liverpool would need to replace such a crucial part of Slot’s set-up, and while the likes of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have been touted, the Reds seem willing to head down a shrewder track.

Liverpool open talks for Diaz replacement

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool chiefs are holding talks with the agents of Malick Fofana, who has been linked with a move away from Lyon this summer.

Bayern are also keen on signing the Belgium international, but only if Liverpool bar Diaz’s potential departure this summer. Thus, Liverpool shouldn’t face stiff competition if the various cogs fall into place.

Transfer Focus

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

Lyon would hope to secure as much as €60m (£51m) for Fofana’s sale, but FSG would no doubt hope to sign the 20-year-old for a more modest figure.

Why Liverpool want Malick Fofana

Liverpool want Fofana because, if Diaz leaves, they will need to sign a left-sided forward. But why, specifically, has Fofana been earmarked as an option alongside a superstar such as Rodrygo, who Los Blancos have priced at £87m?

Well, Fofana would come at a cheaper price, and with Cody Gakpo already occupying Liverpool’s attacking left flank, this might be a more prudent move.

Fofana’s term-and-a-half in Ligue 1 has garnered praise. Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed his “explosive” qualities down the wing, and having now completed 62 senior appearances for Lyon after joining from Genk in Belgium, he has scored 15 goals and supplied seven assists.

Moreover, he’s positionally versatile, with this a skill which Slot would put to good use, for he did the same with Diaz last season.

Left winger

55

7

7

Right winger

9

2

1

Centre-forward

7

0

2

Attacking midfield

2

2

0

Though he’s not yet reached full bloom, Fofana has the makings of a prolific winger, and in this way, he could be the perfect partner for Ekitike, who is on the brink of completing his move to Merseyside.

As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for non-penalty goals, the top 16% for touches in the attacking box and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, underscoring his burgeoning potency and pace.

In order to maximise Fofana’s potential as a goalscoring winger, playing alongside a “complete forward” like Ekitike, as he has been named by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would only enhance such a quality.

Ekitike might be a striker first and foremost, but he’s also an exceptionally dynamic and intelligent player. Last season, in the German Bundesliga, he created 12 big chances and averaged 1.3 key passes and 4.2 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

Slot will expect the France talent to add goalscoring threat, but he’ll also expect him to widen the creative parameters of his frontline, utilising that off-the-ball movement and playmaking prowess to enhance Mohamed Salah’s chances, and indeed Fofana’s too.

Further evidence of Fofana’s clinical potential can be found in his conversion rate. Sofascore also record that the young winger has only missed six big chances since arriving in France for the first time in January 2024, and given that he’s scored eight goals, he’s got that natural-born coolness in the final third to make things happen.

Moreover, his efforts in the Europa League last year had something interesting to say about his potential. Fofana scored six goals across Lyon’s continental campaign without missing a single big chance.

There’s so much to like, and given the richness of Liverpool’s squad, which will be richer still once Ekitike’s deal has been wrapped up, Fofana would make a wise decision in entrusting Slot with his development over the next few years.

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1 ByMatt Dawson Jul 21, 2025

West Ham United really struggled to get going last season in the Premier League, even after Graham Potter took on the reins.

The Hammers did manage to bow out of their unmemorable 2024/25 campaign in the top flight with back-to-back away victories at Manchester United and Ipswich Town. Still, the ex-Chelsea manager will have his work cut out for him to turn his fortunes around, with those two away-day wins making up a large chunk of his meagre five wins as Irons boss.

He will hope he’s given adequate time to leave his mark on the Hammers set-up, having only lasted a rash 31 games in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, with the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters already entering the building this summer, marking the start of West Ham’s makeover.

Up next, the Hammers could welcome in some attacking additions, with one target already in mind who might well be the top-flight club’s second coming of Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham prepare offer for £6m sensation

Of course, the Hammers are likely to be on the hunt now for an immediate Mohammed Kudus replacement, after the one-time fan favourite in East London defected over to enemy lines to join Tottenham Hotspur for £55m.

James McAtee might well be the replacement for Kudus that West Ham have up their sleeve, alongside Potter and Co. also reportedly showing interest in the services of Shakhtar Donetsk ace Georgiy Sudakov as their net widens out to Ukraine.

A new, up-and-coming centre-forward might also be on their agenda – even after Potter’s recent comments played down the importance of bringing in fresh talent up top – with West Ham-oriented website Claret and Hugh relaying information that the Hammers are reportedly considering an offer for breakout Wycombe Wanderers star Richard Kone.

Already this summer, Kone has been subject to a £6m bid from Luton Town, on top of interest coming from Brentford, Celtic, and Crystal Palace, but it’s West Ham who now allegedly lead the charge for the former non-league attacker.

Bowen’s G/A record before West Ham

Club

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

Hull City

131

54

14

Hereford Town

8

1

1

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Bowen also once found himself in the non-league scene with Hereford Town, before going on to solidify himself as a Premier League-worthy talent in the EFL with Hull City, as Kone now braces himself for that next gigantic step in his own career after a whirlwind campaign with the Chairboys.

Why Kone can be West Ham's next Bowen

Nobody at the London Stadium would have anticipated how vital Bowen would eventually become to the West Ham cause when he first joined the camp for £22m back in 2020.

There was a lot of excitement in the air that he would be a success story, though, having fired home a clinical 54 strikes for the Tigers in the demanding Championship, but even Bowen wouldn’t have anticipated that after 238 clashes in East London, he would be captaining the side after amassing an astounding 125 goals and assists in total for his Premier League employers.

Bowen has even become a regular on the international stage for England, with Kone surely harbouring his own dreams of representing the Ivory Coast if a move to West Ham comes to fruition, off the back of a potent season leading the line for Wycombe.

Having still been on the books of non-league outfit Athletic Newham last year, it’s a remarkable rise Kone has undergone in such a short space of time, with Bowen acclimatising to the EFL equally well when jumping ship from Hereford to Hull.

Kone’s league numbers for Wycombe (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Kone

Games played

41

Goals scored

18

Assists

3

Goal conversion %

18%

Touches*

34.0

Accurate passes*

11.1 (65%)

Total duels won*

5.9

Stats by Sofascore

As can be seen looking at the table above, the Ivorian excels when being utilised as a poacher, with his venomous 18 league strikes coming about from just 34 touches of the ball on average per League One affair.

Bowen might well be whipping in many a cross in for Kone to latch onto, therefore, with the 22-year-old’s prowess in the air – which saw him win an impressive 5.9 duels on average in League One – also making him a suitable fit for the Premier League’s intense nature.

Labelled as a striker who “has got everything” by Wycombe great Joe Jacobson, it wouldn’t be the wildest shout to expect Kone to grow even more confident if East London came calling, mirroring Bowen’s sharp ascent in the process.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jul 21, 2025

Birmingham City are reportedly in talks to complete the long-term signing of a top target in their third deal of matching kind this summer.

Birmingham have to be "picky", says Davies

The Blues are preparing for life back in the Championship, following such a dominant and memorable title-winning season in League One, with the club in an exciting place currently.

Manager Chris Davies has outlined Birmingham’s approach this summer, admitting that they now need to be “picky” with signings, which hasn’t always been the case under him.

“Last season we found that we were convincing players and selling them a project. I was saying to them, ‘Look, come here and in 10 months’ time we won’t be in League One, we’ll be a Championship team’. Now they’re coming to us. A lot more are coming to us, ‘We want to be part of this’.

“You’ve got to be a bit more picky now about who you engage with. Birmingham is a club that is going somewhere and everybody wants to be at a club that’s going somewhere. A lot of people are talking about the club around the country, and internationally as well, so people want to come here. It’s important now that we make sure we pick the right ones.”

Birmingham are being linked with some exciting players, from Tommy Doyle to Demarai Gray, and now it looks as though they are looking to get another important piece of business over the line.

Birmingham in talks to sign Davies permanently

According to a new update from Birmingham World, Birmingham are in talks with Ben Davies over completing a permanent move to the club, following a successful loan stint from Rangers last season.

The Englishman only has one more year remaining on his current deal in Scotland, so they may be happy to cash in on him now, with his current market value said to be £2m.

The club have already completed two deals of this kind this summer, turning the loan moves of Alfons Sampsted and Taylor Gardner-Hickman into permanent signings.

In Davies’ case, the former Liverpool defender made 35 appearances in League One overall, 32 of which were starts, and he averaged 6.2 clearances and 4.1 aerial duel wins per game en route to the Blues comfortably securing promotion to the Championship.

Ben Davies’ 2024/25 stats in League One

Total

Appearances

35

Starts

32

Minutes played

2959

Clearances per game

6.2

Aerial duel wins per game

4.1

Tackles per game

1.1

Goals

1

Assists

1

Now 29, Davies is a hugely experienced head who could be a great squad option for Birmingham, with Klopp speaking fondly of him after he arrived at Liverpool in a shock deal in January 2021.

“He’s a really good footballer, looks like a proper leader in this Preston team, good in challenges, looks football smart, can play different positions because he played in a back three and a back four and all these things. That makes him really interesting so I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

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Posts 1 ByDan Emery Jun 26, 2025

There are few negatives to Birmingham snapping up Davies this summer, and if he performs like he did last season, the Blues’ hopes of a good campaign will be improved instantly.

Will Kieran Tierney’s return be just the start of another busy summer at Celtic?

On Tuesday, the Parkhead side officially confirmed the left-back’s return to Glasgow, six years after he departed for £25m, which remains a joint-club record sale.

Despite this, the Scottish Premiership champions are looking to bolster their full-back options further, possibly anticipating a departure, so could Brendan Rodgers’ side be close to another arrival?

Celtic chasing another defender after Tierney

Announced to supporters earlier this week, Tierney arrived back at Celtic with a point to prove. He was sporting a beaming smile and we’re sure Rodgers was too. Speaking about the deal, the Northern Irishman said:

“We are delighted to welcome Kieran back to Celtic. He is such a talented, high-quality player and he will be a massive addition to our squad. Kieran has always had Celtic in his blood and he is excited to be coming back to the place he loves.”

That said, he’s not the only left-back who could arrive this summer.

According to a report by journalist Ben Jacobs, Celtic are ‘interested’ in a move to sign defender Josh Doig.

Transfer Focus

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

Still only 23 years old, the full-back made his senior debut at Hibernian in 2020, accumulating 78 appearances for Hibs, before moving to Italy in 2022.

He spent two seasons at Hellas Verona, featuring 16 times in Serie A and then 29 times in Serie B following I Gialloblù’s relegation, before joining Sassuolo for a reported £5m in January 2024, a key figure as I Neroverdi won the second-tier title in Italy this season; only four of his teammate racked up more league minutes.

So now, could the youngster, who also made his senior Scotland debut against Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion on Monday, be heading and joining the Premiership champions?

How Josh Doig compares to Greg Taylor

According to reports in Greece, PAOK have submitted an official offer to Greg Taylor, while Dinamo Zagreb have previously been noted as interested in securing the left-back’s signature.

Taylor joined Celtic from Kilmarnock in 2019, signed as Tierney’s direct replacement, and has made 216 appearances for the club, but is out of contract at the end of this month, and it seems extremely unlikely that he’ll sign an extension.

Callum McFadden of Breaking the Lines praises Taylor’s ‘consistency’, labelling him a ‘mainstay’ in the Celtic back-line during his six seasons at the club and, while Samuel Hutchinson of Total Football Analysis is impressed by his ‘reliability’, both in terms of performance and availability, they understand why the arrival of Tierney is viewed as an upgrade.

Nevertheless, Tierney has struggled for fitness throughout the entirety of his career, so a competent back-up in the form of Doig is required.

Jack Ross, who handed Doig his senior debut at Hibs, praised his “excellent” performances back in 2020. Since then, his game has reached a whole new level since making the move to Italy, scoring three goals and posting seven assists. That isn’t bad going for a defender, particularly as he only ever scored once for Hibs.

Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman believes that his ‘pace, physique and athleticism’ are his primary attributes, making him very much like Tierney in that regard, but also like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes, that was the view of former Hibs teammate Lewis Stevenson, who said in 2022: “He hasthe potential to go to the top level. He is 6 foot 3, fast, strong. Even just looking at him with his top off – without meaning to sound creepy – he looks like Ronaldo, with that kind of physique. He just is an athlete.”

So, let’s analyse how he compares to Taylor this season.

Appearances

31

43

Minutes

2,338

3,141

Pass completion %

77.4%

83.5%

Interceptions per 90

0.6

0.6

Tackles per 90

0.6

1.3

Clearances per 90

2

1.9

Ball recoveries

87

21

% of dribblers tackled

41.4%

77.8%

% of ground duels won

52%

58.3%

% of aerial duels won

55.6%

43.3%

As the table shows, Taylor does come out on top for a few metrics, but Doig’s statistics are comparable across the board, notably racking up more clearances and ball recoveries, as well as winning a higher percentage of aerial duels, suggesting he’d shore up the defence.

Also, according to Global Football Rankings, the youngster was doing his work at a higher level, with Serie B rated the 19th strongest league in the world, while the Scottish Premiership is down at 43rd.

Still only 23 years old, there is plenty of time for Doig to get better and, given Tierney’s injury record, should he arrive at Parkhead, there would be plenty of minutes available to him, if he chooses to swap green and black stripes for green and white hoops.

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ByBen Gray Jun 11, 2025

If Arsenal needed any more motivation to get over the finishing line next season, Tottenham Hotspur have just provided them with it.

With second place in the Premier League now practically secured, the board and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta can turn their attention to the summer transfer window and the hunt for a new striker.

Two of the strikers most heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the last few months have been Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, although, with the former lacking experience in a top-five league and the latter potentially costing upwards of £150m, other options have also been floated.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co are now interested in an ideal Gyokeres alternative who has won comparisons to the Toon star.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other strikers who have been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former has enjoyed another impressive season with RB Leipzig, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists in 45 games, although such a rate of return has reportedly seen his release clause increase to around £75m.

Delap, on the other hand, has a release clause worth just £30m in his current contract, although, with 12 goals and two assists to his name in 36 Premier League games this season, he’d represent more of a gamble.

Moreover, if Arteta and Co really want someone who’d be a genuine alternative to Gyokeres, they’d have to be a proven goalscorer, such as Julián Alvarez.

According to a recent report from journalist Matías Palacios via the Spanish football program El Chiringuito, Arsenal are one of several teams very interested in the Atletico Madrid star.

In fact, the journalist claims that the Gunners, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all “want” the Argentine this summer and that “meetings with the interested clubs will begin” next week.

A potential price tag for the striker is not mentioned, but as he cost the La Liga giants around £82m only last summer, we wouldn’t be surprised to see his valuation hit nine figures, especially as the CIES Football Observatory price him at €125m, which is about £105m.

With that said, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Alvarez, as not only could he be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres, but he’s also won comparisons to Isak.

How Alvarez compares Isak

So, before we look at some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Alvarez this summer, we should examine this comparison to Isak and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and concluded that the Swede is the tenth most similar forward to the Argentine across the last 365 days.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assisted goals, progressive carries, shots on target and goals per shot, key passes, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Alvarez & Isak

Statistics per 90

Alvarez

Isak

Expected Assisted Goals

0.17

0.15

Progressive Carries

2.79

2.77

Shots on Target

1.23

1.32

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.21

Passing Accuracy

74.6%

74.7%

Key Passes

1.45

1.39

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.47

All Stats via FBref for 24/25

On top of the clear statistical similarities, the former Manchester City star has also scored a similar number of goals as the Newcastle ace this season.

For example, in 53 appearances, the “world-class” forward, as dubbed by City content creator It’s LB, has scored 29 goals and provided six assists.

In comparison, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 games for the Magpies this term.

Finally, on top of the goals and similarities to one of the best strikers in the world, the Gunners should seriously consider signing Alveraz because he’s a proven winner, having won the treble with City in the 22/23 season.

Therefore, whatever it costs, Arsenal should look to bring the World Cup winner to N5 this summer, even if that means not signing Gyokeres.

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Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini May 22, 2025

Liverpool are now “seriously pursuing” a £34m defender, and advanced talks have already taken place, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool searching for Trent replacement

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Anfield isn’t ending the way he would’ve liked, having confirmed his decision to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with the right-back entering the field to a chorus of boos after being brought on as a substitute against Arsenal on Sunday.

Jamie Carragher has since criticised the reaction to Trent entering the field, encouraging supporters to sing other players’ names, rather than booing one of their own.

Conor Bradley, on the other hand, received a good reception on Sunday, but having made an error in the build-up to the Gunners’ first goal, Arne Slot could have some reservations about the Northern Irishman becoming the first-choice right-back immediately.

As such, Slot may choose to enter the transfer market to find a replacement for Trent, and Plettenberg has now taken to X to provide an update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong.

The Sky Sports reporter states the Reds are now “seriously pursuing” Frimpong, with the right-back “planning to move this summer”, and he should be available for a relatively affordable fee, given that he has a release clause of around €35m – €40m (£29m – £34m) in his contract.

The 24-year-old is also described as “one of the top options” to replace Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season, underlining the Merseysiders’ level of interest, with advanced talks taking place.

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1 BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025 "Monster" Frimpong could be ideal Trent replacement

Trent has received criticism for his defending during his time at Anfield, but the England international has more than made up for it with his quality going forward, picking up three goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season.

Much like his potential predecessor, the Leverkusen star also excels on the front foot, ranking in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, and the 89th percentile for assists, when compared to other full-backs.

Amid previous links to Manchester United, the Dutchman was also described as a “monster” in the attacking third by the United Stand’s Beth Tucker, which is underlined by his contributions going forward over the past three Bundesliga seasons.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

34

8

7

2023-24

31

9

9

2024-25

33

5

6

A fee of just £29m – £34m could be a bargain for Frimpong, who could be the ideal replacement for Trent, given his attacking quality, although it would also be good to see academy graduate Bradley receive more game time next season.

Ipswich Town blissfully shrugged off the grim fact that a Premier League relegation looks a nailed-on possibility before their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Amazingly, the travelling Tractor Boys raced into a two-goal lead in the first half to stun the Stamford Bridge masses, but a share of the points was the final outcome for a relieved Enzo Maresca.

Kieran McKenna would have taken a lot of positives out of the entertaining 2-2 draw, knowing that some of the personnel who battled well with the Blues will be around next season when promotion is on the agenda.

What Ipswich's rebuild could look like

Away from the likes of Liam Delap and Leif Davis potentially leaving, McKenna will be hopeful that his tight-knit group stays together for the challenge of instantly returning to the Premier League.

He will certainly be calling upon goalkeeper Alex Palmer as his no.1 in the Championship, with the January signing already well accustomed to the second tier with ex-side West Bromwich Albion, on top of tallying up eight crucial saves in West London.

Moreover, faces such as defender Dara O’Shea should continue to start week in week out under McKenna, with the Irishman tallying up a whopping 11 clearances whenever Chelsea bombed forward.

But, with Delap potentially on his way out, how might the attack look?

Well, both George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead could benefit from more game-time by dropping down a division, with the lively pair in and out of the Ipswich starting lineup this season despite amassing 30 goal contributions between them when automatic promotion glory became reality.

Both players did start the contest at Chelsea and shone, but there’s one new standout talent in the Tractor Boys ranks who’s worth even more than the aforementioned duo and he caused the Blues a lot more bother on Sunday.

The "terrific" talent worth more than Hirst & Broadhead

One problem area for Ipswich next season could be down the right wing, with Omari Hutchinson another first-team figure who might fancy a Premier League stay at a different outfit rather than sticking it out at Portman Road.

With the likes of Wes Burns also injury-prone on the right flank, McKenna might well be calling upon ex-West Ham United man Ben Johnson as a first-team regular in this spot more often in the second tier, having been blown away by his quality up against Maresca’s hosts.

Johnson got up and running for Ipswich in terms of goals when powering home a header past Robert Sanchez, with the versatile 25-year-old also picking up his third assist of the Premier League season when helping Julio Enciso to fire home the opener.

These four goal contributions have come about despite Johnson only making 12 starts for the Tractor Boys in league action, but his impactful cameos here and there have made him a definite worthwhile signing, with the Ipswich number 18 entering the building last summer on a shrewd free transfer.

Games played

19

Games started

12

Minutes per game

61 mins

Goals scored

1

Assists

3

Transfer value now

£6.8m

Now, off the back of his heroics in Suffolk, the 25-year-old’s transfer value – as per Transfermarkt – stands at a sturdy £7m, which is way above Hirst and Broadhead’s valuations in the process who are both worth a lesser £4m in contrast.

Heralded as “terrific” by football scout Antonio Mango when initially cutting his teeth at West Ham, Johnson could become even more important to the Ipswich cause when relegation is confirmed, with his ability to play all over the pitch a useful asset to have across a bumper 46-game campaign.

Both Hirst and Broadhead will also have key roles to play in the second tier, with the near future at Portman Road not all doom and gloom if their wounds are sutured quickly after their one-season Premier League adventure.

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ByKelan Sarson Apr 13, 2025

When it comes to superstars, few clubs in England have had more than Arsenal.

With the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Mesut Özil and most recently, Bukayo Saka, the Gunners have long been a club that can boast a tradition of fielding icons of the game.

However, the North Londoners have also had more than their fair share of cult heroes over the years, from Santi Cazorla to Emmanuel Eboue and Lukas Podolski.

The former German international didn’t spend much time with the club, but he certainly ingratiated himself with the fans, and based on recent reports, the club could be about to sign a player who could be a repeat of the powerful ace.

Arsenal's summer plans

It’s no secret that the one position Arsenal need to strengthen above all others this summer is striker, and based on reports from the last few weeks or so, that’s where most of their attention seems to be at the moment.

For example, just a couple of days ago, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the club were developing a ‘strong interest’ in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Just a day later, reports claimed that the North Londoners were also incredibly keen on RB Leipzig’s up-and-coming Benjamin Sesko, who has scored 23 goals in 37 appearances this season.

That said, while a new striker is of paramount importance, it’s not the only area of the frontline that needs to be addressed, nor is it the only position the club are looking to bolster.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are interested in signing Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

Plettenberg claims that while the winger wants to stay in Bavaria and is negotiating a new deal, he has also held “concrete talks” with the Gunners regarding a free transfer in the summer.

However, according to other reports, North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also held talks with the player’s camp, so moving fast could be imperative to seal a deal.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Sané’s ability and experience, it is worth fighting for, especially as he could be Arsenal’s next Podolski.

Why Sane would be Arsenal's new Podolski

So, to kick things off, the pair would have joined the Gunners from the Bundesliga, with Podolski moving to the Emirates in a £10.9m deal from FC Koln in the summer of 2012.

Moreover, the Gliwice-born star also spent a few years playing for FC Hollywood, scoring 26 goals and providing 20 assists in 106 appearances between July 2006 and July 2009.

In addition to their similar careers at club level, the pair are also left-footed attackers who have amassed an impressive number of senior caps for Germany.

The former Manchester City star is now on 69, and the Górnik Zabrze ace retired from international duty with 130.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the pair are both positionally versatile players who can thrive out on the left and have an impressive track record of scoring and providing assists in their careers.

Appearances

403

678

Goals

111

227

Assists

101

136

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.53

For example, in 403 senior appearances, the Bayern star has scored 111 goals and provided 101 assists, which comes out to a stellar average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games. Is it really any surprise that Julian Nagelsmann once proclaimed he was “one of the best players in Europe.”

The former Gunners star, on the other hand, has scored 227 goals and provided 136 assists in 678 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.86 games, which is remarkably similar to his younger compatriot.

Ultimately, Arsenal need more than just a striker this summer, and Sane looks like he could provide them with more threat off the left, just like Podolski did during his time with the club.

Arteta can finally axe Merino by unleashing Arsenal's £27m "wizard" up top

The dangerous international could be the answer for Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 1, 2025

Get to know the 2024 World Cup teams: Canada, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman and Scotland

26-May-2024Canadaby Hemant Brar
Canada booked their ticket to the 2024 T20 World Cup by topping the Americas Region Qualifier, a tournament that had Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Panama as the other teams.In a winner-takes-all game, they beat hosts Bermuda by 39 runs and qualified for the World Cup on the basis of a superior net run rate. That was in October 2023, though, and their recent form has not been great. Last month, they visited the USA for a five-match T20I series and were beaten 4-0.This will be Canada’s first appearance at a T20 World Cup. Spin-bowling allrounder Saad Bin Zafar will lead the 15-member squad, which has only three players under the age of 30.Canada are in Group A and will face USA in the tournament opener in Dallas on June 1. India, Pakistan and Ireland are the other teams in their group.Key players
Saad Bin Zafar a left-arm spinner and a left-hand batter, has been playing for Canada since 2008. One of the big games of his career was the final of the 2018 Global T20 Canada, where he took 2 for 26 and scored an unbeaten 79 off 48 balls to be the Player of the Match. Following that, he was called up by St Kitts & Nevis Patriots as a replacement player for the CPL 2018 playoffs. In 2021, he registered figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama in a T20I.Aaron Johnson, originally from Jamaica, is a powerful opening batter who loves playing no-look shots. The 33-year-old made his T20I debut for Canada in 2022. In 16 games so far, he has two hundreds, five half-centuries, an average of 50.92 and a strike rate of 166.58.Kaleem Sana, a left-arm seamer, can swing the new ball and bowl yorkers at the death. He started his cricket in Pakistan, and even dismissed Babar Azam in his last first-class match, in 2014. In that do-or-die game against Bermuda, he was the Player of the Match for his figures of 3 for 4.Canada in major tournaments
While this is the first time Canada are playing in a T20 World Cup, they have participated in the ODI version four times, in 1979, 2003, 2007 and 2011. Across 18 games there, they registered two wins: against Bangladesh in 2003 and against Kenya in 2011.Form guide*
LLLLWSquad
Saad Bin Zafar (capt), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Nikhil Dutta, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyan Pathan, Rishiv Joshi, Shreyas Movva (wk).Namibia won three of their eight matches at the 2021 T20 World Cup, even progressing to the Super 12s•ICC via GettyNamibia by Firdose Moonda
A former German colony and South African protectorate, Namibia has a small but storied history in the game. There is evidence of cricket being played in the desert nation Namibia from the early 1900s, and with greater regularity from the First World War. Organised fixtures have taken place since the 1930s and Namibia’s involvement with the South African County Cricket Association from the 1960s ensured there was a fairly strong level of competition and development. Namibia became a member of the ICC in 1992, achieved ODI status in 2018 and have been rising on the T20 circuit in the last four years. After appearing at both the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, Namibia secured their spots for 2024 by winning the Africa regional Qualifier in November last year, where they were unbeaten over six matches. They were the dominant team of that tournament and registered a seven-wicket win over the only Full Member participant – Zimbabwe – and a six-wicket victory over fellow qualifiers Uganda.Key players
Captain Gerhard Erasmus is Namibia’s highest T20I run-scorer, the only batter from the country with more than 1000 runs to his name, and showed his commitment to the national cause when he played the 2021 tournament with a broken finger that necessitated an adjustment to his grip. He finished as Namibia’s second-highest run-scorer and his unbeaten 53 helped them beat Ireland and advance to the Super 12s.While left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz is Namibia’s most successful T20I bowler, they boast a quartet of left-arm seamers for this event – the most among participating teams. Ruben Trumpelmann will lead their attack, supported by Tangeni Lungameni and allrounders Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit provide two other options which gives Namibia one of the most varied and balanced attacks at the tournament.Namibia in major tournaments
Namibia made their World Cup bow at the 2003 tournament – the last 50-over event to be hosted in Africa – and lost all their six matches. They have an opportunity to improve on that record at the next ODI World Cup, which they are co-hosting, but have to qualify for it first. They have a more recent and positive history at the T20 World Cup and made history when they advanced out of the first round to the Super 12s in the 2021 tournament, where they also beat a Full Member – Ireland – for the first time. They were unable to repeat the feat at the 2022 tournament, despite victory over Sri Lanka, and exited after the first round.Form guide*
WWLLWSquad
Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Nikolaas Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, Peter-Daniel BlignautHaving now beaten South Africa in two consecutive World Cups, Netherlands will hope to do it again this year•ICC via Getty ImagesNetherlandsby Firdose Moonda
The standout Associates of the last two years, Netherlands were the only non Full-Members (other than the co-host USA) to automatically qualify for this event after they finished in the top eight at the 2022 tournament. Since then, they were also the only Associate to play at the 2023 ODI World Cup, ahead of West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland, and proved themselves worthy of the biggest stage.They have been South Africa’s banana skins twice, after beating them at the T20 World Cup in 2022 to send them out of the tournament, and then again at the ODI World Cup in 2023, albeit with less dramatic consequences. That they are grouped with them again will only whet the appetites of supporters of the underdog, not least because the Dutch are coached by a South African – Ryan Cook – and have three South African players in their squad. Veteran allrounder Roelof van der Merwe and batter Colin Ackermann are not among them though, as the pair opted out of the tournament to fulfil county commitments. In a nutshell, that’s the story of Dutch cricket as it battles to find the sweet spot between competing with as full-strength a side as they can put together and ensuring their players can make a long-term living from the game.Key players
With shoulder-length locks and a side hustle as a DJ, Max O’Dowd is the rockstar of the Dutch team in stereotype and reality. He is their leading T20I run-scorer and closing in on 2000 runs in the format but will want to improve on a strike rate that sits just above 120 to compete with global greats.The mantra of 22 twos in a 50-over game was introduced by captain Scott Edwards, who is one of the quickest runners between the wickets and heavily reliant on his sweep shot. He is a busy cricketer and ambitious leader, who will be key to their hopes of competing in the Caribbean.Netherlands in major tournaments
Netherlands have played in five T20 World Cups since 2009 when they upset England at Lord’s. Only once, in the 2021 tournament, have they failed to win a match. They’ve also participated in five ODI World Cups – 1996, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2023 – but have only won four out of 29 ODI World Cup matches.Form guide*
LLLWWSquad
Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Kyle Klein, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Scott Edwards (capt/wk), Saqib Zulfiqar, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Tim Pringle, Vikramjit Singh, Vivian Kingma, Wesley BarresiAqib Ilyas, who has captained Oman in seven T20Is, will lead the side in the 2024 T20 World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesOmanby Himanshu Agrawal
The 2024 T20 World Cup will be Oman’s third appearance in the tournament, and they qualified for it by winning all five games in the 2023 Asia Qualifer, including beating hosts Nepal in a Super Over in the final. In April this year, they reached the final of the ACC Premier Cup under the leadership of 36-year-old Zeeshan Maqsood, but the selectors preferred top-order batter Aqib Ilyas as captain for the World Cup.Oman played their first official T20I in 2015 and won their second game in the format when they beat Hong Kong later that year, going on to win the series 2-1.Key players
Zeeshan Maqsood is Oman’s highest run-getter and the only one with a T20I century. He also bowls left-arm spin. Maqsood has played in two T20 World Cups.Batter Aqib Ilyas also bowls offspin and legspin, and was the leading wicket-taker in the ACC Premier Cup.Seamer Bilal Khan, 37, is Oman’s top wicket-taker in T20Is, with 106 wickets at an economy of 6.68. Known for his yorkers, he took five wickets in three matches in the 2021 World Cup and conceded only 4.45 runs an over.Oman in major tournaments
Oman played in the first round of the 2016 and the 2021 T20 World Cups, and co-hosted the latter with the UAE. In 2016 they beat Ireland and in 2021 they hammered Papua New Guinea by ten wickets, but both times they couldn’t make it to the Super 12s.Form guide*
LLWWLSquad
Aqib Ilyas (capt), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale, Ayaan Khan, Khalid Kail, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi, Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel AhmadSome of the Caribbean pitches are likely to suit Brad Wheal’s style of bowling•ICC/Getty ImagesScotlandby Vithushan Ehantharajah
Scotland were flawless in the Europe Region Qualifier for the 2024 T20 World Cup winning six from six to finish top of the table. A squad with a number of familiar faces who have plenty of experience in Caribbean conditions carries a fresh, ambitious feel. The presence of fast bowler Brad Wheal (Hampshire) and keeper-batter Michael Jones (Durham) adds some extra heft to the squad. But that is offset by the loss of experienced seamer Josh Davey, who was unavailable for selection.Key players
Brad Wheal has the kind of skiddiness off the surface that should suit surfaces in the Caribbean.George Munsey has contributed to some of Scotland’s most high-profile wins in the current era, including an unbeaten 66 in the victory over West Indies in the 2022 World Cup. No Scot has more T20I runs since Munsey’s debut in June 2015.Batting allrounder Brandon McMullen has played six of his nine T20I innings at No. 3 and strikes at 147.82 from the position. He also bowls right-arm nibblers, taking 5 for 34 against Ireland in 2023’s ODI World Cup Qualifier.Scotland in major tournaments
This will be Scotland’s ninth appearance at a major ICC event and their fourth in a row on the global T20 stage. Their first win at a tournament outright came in their defeat of Hong Kong in 2016. In 2021 they progressed to the main round but they failed to repeat it in 2022.Form guide*
LWLWLSquad
Richie Berrington (capt), Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Chris Greaves, Oli Carter, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal*In their last five games against teams featuring in the 2024 World CupAlso read the team previews of Nepal, PNG, Uganda and USA

A look at some of the standout numbers from the Galle Test which lasted just over two days

Sampath Bandarupalli01-Jul-20221 The 10-wicket win in Galle was Australia’s first Test win in Sri Lanka while batting second. Their previous seven Test wins in Sri Lanka came when they batted first. Since 2003, Australia have won only four out of the 19 Tests when they batted second in Asia. The previous three wins in this period came in Bangladesh.22.5 Overs batted by Sri Lanka in their second innings, their shortest all-out innings in Test cricket. The 24.2 overs they batted against Australia in the Melbourne Test in 2012 was their previous shortest innings. The 491 balls batted by Sri Lanka in this match is their lowest in a home Test and the third lowest in a Test match (where they were bowled out twice).ESPNcricinfo Ltd920 Number of balls bowled in the Galle Test. These are the fewest balls bowled in a completed Test match hosted by Sri Lanka. The previous shortest completed Test in Sri Lanka was 1056 balls in the 1986 Kandy Test between the hosts and Pakistan.3 Number of Test matches with an average runs per wicket less than 25 and a run rate of four or more before the Galle Test. In fact, the run rate of 4.27 in this Test match is the ninth highest in a Test match and the highest in Sri Lanka.