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Nottingham Forest’s summer rebuild shows no signs of slowing down.

After manager Nuno Espírito Santo voiced concerns about the lack of movement, the club has roared into action with a series of ambitious signings and bids that underline their intent to become a consistent European competitor.

Dan Ndoye, Igor Jesus, and Jair Cunha have all already arrived at the City Ground, while bids have been accepted for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson.

Meanwhile, a £25m approach for Manchester City’s Rico Lewis has been rejected, and negotiations continue for forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

The flurry of activity comes at a crucial time. Forest are preparing for a season that includes European football, a reward earned after finishing seventh in the Premier League last term.

Their place in the Europa League was secured after Crystal Palace were demoted to the Conference League following an unsuccessful appeal to CAS.

Forest kick off their domestic campaign against Brentford on Sunday, and while the opening fixture might come too soon for several of their potential recruits, the scale of their ambition is clear.

Nottingham Forest agree terms with midfielde

At the heart of Forest’s latest negotiations is Douglas Luiz, the Juventus midfielder who could form a partnership with Elliott Anderson in the centre of the park.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Forest have agreed personal terms with the Brazil, with only club-to-club negotiations left to finalise, as they look to bolster their midfield with a new addition.

It is now down to the Tricky Trees to agree a deal with Juventus to bring the former Aston Villa maestro to the City Ground for the 2025/26 campaign.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “box-crashing 8, who’s press resistant with a good technical base, passing range and ball-striking ability.”

The Brazilian joined Juventus from Aston Villa in a £45m deal but endured a difficult spell in Turin.

He failed to score or assist in 27 appearances and missed 20 games due to injury setbacks.

Used sparingly under both Igor Tudor and Thiago Motta, Luiz managed only six starts last season, while his solitary contribution at the Club World Cup amounted to just 45 minutes of football, per Sofascore.

Juventus are now open to recouping around £30m, with the player himself reportedly eager for a Premier League return.

Why Douglas Luiz is perfect for Elliot Anderson

Despite a subdued stint in Italy, Luiz’s pedigree remains strong, particularly when judged on his final season at Aston Villa.

His statistics then underlined his all-round game.

Pass Completion Rate

85.7%

Shot Creating Actions per 90

3.92

Tackles per 90

1.74

Blocks per 90

0.96

Progressive Passes per 90

5.49

Progressive Carries per 90

2.15

Successful Take-ons per 90

1.40

When compared against Juventus teammates last season, Luiz still showed flashes of quality despite limited minutes.

His 89.5% passing accuracy ranked fifth in the squad, while his 72.2% dribble success rate also placed him among the top five. In 841 minutes of action, he created three big chances and averaged 0.69 key passes per game, per FBref.

These numbers suggest that, given consistent playing time and a role tailored to his strengths, he could rediscover the form that made him such a prized asset in England.

For Forest fans, the prospect of pairing Luiz with Elliott Anderson is particularly enticing. Anderson joined from Newcastle United amid the Magpies’ well-documented struggles with PSR compliance in a deal worth £35m.

The transfer also saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way, while Yankuba Minteh left for Brighton to help balance the books at St James’ Park.

Anderson wasted no time making himself indispensable in Nottingham. He featured in 37 league games last season, contributing two goals and six assists,

His energy, versatility and ability to progress play made him a key part of the side that finished seventh on 65 points. Still only 22, he has caught the eye of England selectors and sits on the periphery of Thomas Tuchel’s squad in a World Cup year.

Statistically, Anderson has placed himself among the most effective midfielders in the Premier League across a range of important metrics.

His dribbling stands out, with the 22-year-old ranking in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons, averaging 1.19 per 90 minutes.

That ability to beat a man allows Forest to break opposition lines and progress play higher up the pitch.

He is equally influential in advanced areas, registering 2.38 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, placing him in the 86th percentile league-wide. This shows how frequently he arrives in dangerous positions, complementing Forest’s forwards by adding an extra threat from midfield.

Defensively, Anderson is just as impressive. He averages 3.04 tackles per 90 minutes – enough to place him in the 88th percentile.

Alongside that, his reading of the game allows him to contribute 2.51 clearances per 90 (89th percentile), a figure that highlights his commitment to the defensive side of the game.

Perhaps most strikingly, Anderson has proven adept in the air. Despite standing at just 1.79m, he wins 1.85 aerial duels per 90, again ranking in the 89th percentile.

Pairing Luiz and Anderson could provide Forest with one of the most balanced midfields outside the Premier League’s traditional elite.

Luiz’s ability to dictate tempo, switch play and resist pressure would allow Anderson to thrive in more advanced areas, where his dribbling, pressing and box arrivals make him a constant threat.

In European fixtures, where possession and control become even more valuable, the partnership could give Forest an edge. Luiz’s Champions League and international experience adds another layer of quality and leadership.

For Anderson, lining up alongside such a seasoned professional would accelerate his development and give Forest a stable core around which to build. If Forest can finalise the deal with Juventus, it would represent a major coup.

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Everton are also credited with an interest in Luiz, but Forest’s project – European football, an ambitious recruitment drive, and a manager eager to impose his identity – may prove more persuasive.

For Nuno Espírito Santo, adding Luiz to a midfield already anchored by Anderson could be the key to competing on two fronts this season.

For Forest supporters, it would be further proof that their club is no longer content with merely surviving in the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to play in Europe again, says ex-Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen, with the Portuguese committed to a new two-year contract at Al-Nassr. He is already 40 years of age, with the “spectacular” money on offer in the Middle East expected to ensure that CR7 sees out his record-shattering playing career in the Saudi Pro League.

Trendsetter: Ronaldo first superstar to head for Saudi

Ronaldo linked up with Al-Nassr in 2023 having seen his contract terminated by Premier League giants at Old Trafford. He started a new trend when heading to a division that was lacking in household names.

AdvertisementGettyRonaldo contract: Two-year extension signed

There are now many on show in Saudi Arabia, with Ronaldo sticking around after agreeing an extension to lucrative terms that will take him beyond his 42nd birthday. Goals continue to flow for the former United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar.

Return to Sporting? CR7 generated speculation

It is expected that Ronaldo, despite generating talk of returning to his roots at Sporting, will hang up his boots as an Al-Nassr player. No club in Europe would want to fund the terms required to bring an ageing icon onto their books.

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GettyMeulensteen predicts future for Ronaldo

Meulensteen, who worked with CR7 in Manchester, told football betting site BetVictor: “I can't see Cristiano Ronaldo in Europe again. Not now. I think he's made that conscious decision. There was a void when he left Manchester United, and he still was keen to stay in Europe and play in the Champions League.

“There was a brief interest from Bayern Munich, but nobody really took a chance on him. That's why he went to Saudi Arabia. This is his fourth season in Saudi.

“The money is obviously spectacular and important to him, which is good. But he must still find the level interesting enough to play at, as well as the Asian Champions League. It keeps him ticking over for Portugal, and I think that's one of the most important things for him.”

Tottenham Hotspur fans had the first opportunity to see new signing Mohammed Kudus in competitive action during the UEFA Super Cup final against PSG on Wednesday night.

The Ghanaian, who joined the Lilywhites in a £55m deal from West Ham United, featured for 79 minutes, arguably being one of the shining lights despite the penalty defeat.

At just 24, he has the ability to make an immediate and long-term impact in North London, looking to be a key player in any success endured under new boss Thomas Frank.

However, despite the big-money addition made for the former Hammers star’s signature, other key attackers are still being targeted by the Dane ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

Numerous names have been mentioned in recent days, which has seen huge progress being made in an attempt to further bolster the club’s attacking department.

Spurs preparing bid for Mohammed Kudus upgrade

Eberechi Eze has been one of the names hugely mentionedwith Spurs in recent days, even preparing a bid for the Crystal Palace star after their demotion to the Europa Conference League.

The Englishman is said to have a £60m release clause in his current deal at Selhurst Park which could make a deal a formality – potentially avoiding a repeat of the Morgan Gibbs-White saga.

However, he’s not the only Premier League star currently in their sights, with Manchester City forward Savinho a player they’re targeting, according to the Daily Mail.

Their report claims that the Lilywhites are preparing an offer to sign the 21-year-old, who only moved to the Etihad from Girona less than 12 months ago.

It’s also been reported that the Brazilian would be open to a move to join Frank’s side before the current deadline, with Pep Guardiola’s side demanding £60m to offload him this window.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a better signing than Kudus

A deal for Kudus was always going to be excellent business, but his showing against the Champions League winners has handed the fanbase another reason to be positive.

His tally of 100% crosses completed, and three chances created – the most of any player on the pitch – highlights the threat he possesses when in attacking areas.

He also holds a versatile skillset that could allow him to operate in the number ten role, off either flank or even as a centre-forward – as seen in his first competitive outing.

If he can add further goal contributions to his game, it would be a great addition, adding the quality the side have craved in forward areas in recent months.

However, despite his impressive start to life in North London, he could be trumped by Savinho, that’s if the Brazilian completes his own move to North London this summer.

He managed to notch more combined goals and assists last campaign, but his underlying stats were also just as impressive, managing to outperform Kudus in various key areas.

Savinho, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by journalist Adam Keys, achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate, subsequently being able to finish more of the chances he’s presented with in front of goal.

Games played

29

32

Goals & assists

9

8

Shot on target accuracy

38%

28%

Progressive carries

7.1

3.4

Progressive passes

3.4

2.7

Key passes made

2.4

1.1

Take-ons completed

46%

44%

Carries into the 18-yard box

3.8

1.4

Crosses completed

4.3

2.8

Passes into the 18-yard box

2.4

1.1

However, when driving with the ball, the City ace also dominated, completing more of the take-ons he attempted, with more being made into the opposition box – which would hand the side the added presence they’ve crave in the final third.

Besides scoring, the youngster has also been able to provide for others in the opposition’s defensive area, picking out a teammate from more crosses per 90 than Kudus – able to offer a more all-rounded talent for Frank in 2025/26.

After already spending £55m on the Ghanaian, there’s no denying that a £60m move for Savinho would be another mammoth investment from the board in the hunt for Premier League glory.

However, if they are to stand any chance of rising up the table and ending their years of disappointment in England’s top-flight, it’s a move that needs to be made before the September 1st deadline.

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And breathe. It’s finally happened. Manchester United have reached a breakthrough with Brentford for the transfer of Bryan Mbeumo, who will join Old Trafford in a deal worth up to £71m.

Of course, the Cameroon winger hasn’t signed yet, with his medical slated for this weekend. But this is a significant step forward, ending the interminable negotiating with Premier League rivals Brentford for their star man.

United have bagged Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5m; Ruben Amorim is redefining his frontline, but more is needed to spark a much-needed resurgence after finishing 15th in the top flight and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

In any case, the Red Devils have stepped in the right direction, but more is certainly needed.

The latest Man Utd transfer news

United have secured their offensive flanks, but they still need to sign a striker, with Rasmus Hojlund flattering to deceive last season, scoring just four times in the Premier League.

However, with Christian Eriksen having left at the end of his contract, United also need to improve their midfield, and while a wealth of names, such as Atalanta’s Ederson, have been bandied about, Amorim appears to have centred on a talent who could make a lasting impact.

As per Calcio Mercato Javier Guerra has reached a verbal agreement with Man United as he leans toward an exit from Valencia.

The clubs are still negotiating the details, but this is a promising update indeed.

Further outfits from Spain and England have made enquiries, while AC Milan failed with a move in June. The 22-year-old is valued at £26m, but could be a shrewd long-term investment.

What Javier Guerra would bring to Man Utd

Guerra is, thus far, a one-club man, having graduated from Valencia’s Mestalla reserve side to complete 89 senior appearances for the first team, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.

Regarded by talent scout Jacek Kulig to be a deep-lying playmaker with a tactical style akin to Xabi Alonso, Guerra would instil composure, ball-playing intelligence and clear vision to Amorim’s set-up, making it easier to put emphasis on transitional play and ferry the ball forward to the likes of Bruno Fernandes.

He would, in this way, prove a seamless replacement for Eriksen, all the while packaging the United system with his own brand, having actually been hailed as a “phenomenal young talent” by journalist Zach Lowy.

Indeed, Guerra ranked among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last term for shots taken, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 18% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The Spaniard’s blooming roundedness even suggests that he could be the next version of his legendary countryman Rodri, only this time playing on Manchester’s red side.

To claim that Guerra would emulate his fellow Spaniard Rodri from the off in the Premier League would be a fool’s game, to be sure. Pep Guardiola’s Ballon d’Or winner joined Man City from Atletico Madrid in a club-record deal worth £63m back in July 2019, when he was 23 years old.

Rodri was further in his development than Guerra at that stage, but the similarities are there, even if the Valencia star is more of a pass-focused player than he is, with the City sensation encapsulating every facet of the midfield game to a preternatural level.

Rodri Pep Guardiola Manchester City

The 29-year-old has won the whole gamut with Pep Guardiola at Man City, and he won the 2024 European Championship with his nation too.

If United can forge their own version of the modern great in Guerra, Amorim’s vision truly could have lift-off in the coming months and years.

It would be redundant to contrast and compare Guerra with the current iteration of Rodri, who is both vastly superior and missed the majority of the 2024/25 campaign through injury.

So, instead, let’s have a look at Guerra’s La Liga statistics from the recent term against Rodri’s from his final year in his homeland. Though the latter maintained a higher level, there’s plenty of promise to be taken from the collation.

La Liga – Javi Guerra vs Rodri
Stats (* per game)	Guerra (24/25)	Rodri (18/19)
Matches (starts)	36 (31)	34 (32)
Goals	3	3
Assists	3	1
Touches*	49.8	69.8
Pass completion	80%	91%
Big chances created	6	2
Key passes*	0.6	0.5
Dribbles*	0.8	0.6
Ball recoveries*	5.9	9.2
Tackles + interceptions*	2.0	4.2
Duels won*	3.5	7.1
Data via Sofascore

As you can see, Rodri was by far the more combative and commanding midfield general, with his energy and tenacity seen through his rate of defensive contributions and ball recoveries.

But Guerra has put in a terrific campaign on his own merits.

It’s also worth noting that Guerra has been competing in an imperilled Valencia side, who looked doomed and headed for the second tier across the opening half of the season before a resurgence after a wintry 7-1 defeat to Barcelona in January sparked new fluency and focus.

The victory that followed that hammering, by the by, was crafted by Guerra, who scored and assisted in a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Certainly, Guerra is showing himself at a younger age to have a bit more creative flair about him than Rodri, who marshalled so confidently an organised Atletico Madrid side.

To set the expectation that he would reach Rodri’s lofty level would be the instant undoing of this talented young midfielder. But can Amorim not fashion his own version, one not expected to reach his compatriots’ level, but instead offer his technical qualities to Man United and improve them?

Signing a rising star with a point to prove is exactly the kind of move Amorim needs to make, and it’s one which might establish foundations for a much-needed revival.

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Their statement is in response to criticism that called on CSA to boycott Afghanistan for the Taliban government’s treatment of women

Firdose Moonda19-Sep-2024Cricket South Africa has confirmed it will continue to engage Afghanistan in bilateral fixtures because it does not believe in punishing the men’s team for the Taliban’s actions in their home country.CSA’s statement comes in response to severe criticism including from activist organisation Lawyers for Human Rights, which said that by playing Afghanistan, South Africa were tacitly endorsing a repressive regime and called for CSA to boycott Afghanistan. The Taliban government has not only banned women from playing sport but from most areas of public life which the South African government has expressed grave concern over while not calling for outright sanction. CSA has taken a similar approach.In a statement issued on Thursday, CSA confirmed that although it believes “women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success,” it would not unilaterally isolate the Afghanistan men’s team for its country’s government policy.Related

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“CSA remains mindful that gender equity should never come at the expense of one gender over another,” the statement said. “We recognise that advocating for the advancement of one gender should not undermine the rights of the other. CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban. We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this matter.”CSA’s stance is also in line with the position of the ICC, which is wary of banning Afghanistan despite their being the only Full Member without a women’s side. ESPNcricinfo understands that among the complexities of forcing the ACB field a women’s team is the risk it could take of retribution from the Taliban, which could include putting those women’s lives at risk.Cricket Australia, on the other hand, has taken the opposite position and on advice from its government has refused to play Afghanistan bilaterally in protest against human rights abuses. CSA does not believe this tactic will be effective and prefers to apply a wide lens on the issue. “Gender advocacy in cricket should never be advanced by meting out punishment on innocent cricket administrators and players for the misdemeanours of a regime that stands to lose nothing from that punishment,” its statement said.

“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021”CSA official

South Africa are in a unique position to comment such as this because they were banned from international sport themselves from 1970, as a global response to the Apartheid regime. One of the continued discussion points of their isolation was what it would do to sporting careers. At the time, only white South Africans were allowed to represent South Africa, while people of colour had no hope of a professional sports career. South Africa were readmitted after two decades and questions over racial representation remain part of their reality. When asked whether the banning of their organisation also punished administrators and players, an insider pointed out that while it did, it was not effective in advocating for change. “The apartheid government continued with its atrocious policies despite their athletes being banned from international sport. What truly broke the camel’s back were economic sanctions.”CSA also argues that the situation at the ACB is slightly different as there were steps being taken to have a women’s team prior to the Taliban takeover. “Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021.”In 2020, the ACB pledged contracts to 25 female players, which showed steps towards creating a women’s team were being made. Those players attended a training camp and were due to play against Oman but the games did not take place. Many of them are now in exile in Australia and have called on the ICC to support the creation of a refugee team for them based at the East Asian Cricket office. It is not known if any of the refugee sportswomen are in South Africa.CSA’s statement is also a nod to the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) who, last week, issued an advisory supporting the promotion of women in cricket and called on CSA to use its leverage to highlight rights for Afghan women. Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s ODI captain, echoed SACA’s sentiments and called women’s rights “something that is quite strong within my own values.”South Africa and Afghanistan are currently playing a three-match ODI series in the UAE. Bavuma missed the first match, which South Africa lost by six wickets, with illness. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to be played on Friday and Sunday. This three-match contest was not on the original Future Tours Programme (FTP) and was sought by CSA and the ACB with a view to preparing for next year’s Champions Trophy.

Big picture

After a rust-ridden defeat in a low-scoring first T20I, India reasserted themselves the next day, showing just how high their ceiling can be with both bat and ball.Zimbabwe remain dangerous opponents, nonetheless, but one with clear limitations, and if they already had an arduous task ahead of them to convert 1-1 into a series win, it has only become harder. India will be strengthened with the arrival of three players who were part of their victorious T20 World Cup campaign: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube.Zimbabwe will need to be smart about how they approach the remainder of this series. They’ll need to keep drilling the basics – dropped catches may have exaggerated their margin of defeat in the second T20I – but they’ll also need to be realistic with their ambitions and understand that young players – they left out experienced seniors such as Sean Williams and Craig Ervine for this series – will take time to come into their own.”A lot of mistakes our youngsters have made have been due to lack of [experience] and not so much to do with their skills, so that’s a positive as well,” Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said after the second T20I. “As they play, as they continue to find their feet in international cricket, they’ll learn. We all have been there.”Related

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Form guide

Zimbabwe LWWLL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India WLWWW

In the spotlight

In two innings so far in this series, Brian Bennett has made a 15-ball 22 and a nine-ball 26. He has shown he is one of the potential game-changers in this Zimbabwe side with his clean striking at No. 3 and his offspin, and he could yet win them a game or two in this series, particularly if he gets to spend a good amount of time at the crease.He didn’t get to play a match during India’s World Cup campaign, and missed the first two games of this series because he was part of their celebrations back home. Now it’s finally time for Sanju Samson. He’s only played 25 T20Is in the nearly nine years since his debut, but now he’s potentially locked in for three back-to-back games and will hope he can make the best of the opportunity.India’s bowlers made it very hard work for Zimbabwe in the second T20I•Associated Press

Team news

Zimbabwe captain Raza is averse to chopping and changing as a reaction to Sunday’s defeat, but he said after the game that the left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava would come in if he cleared a fitness test. “If he’s fit to go, he’s straight back in.”Zimbabwe XI (probable): 1 Innocent Kaia, 2 Wessly Madhevere, 3 Brian Bennett, 4 Dion Myers, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt), 6 Johnathan Campbell, 7 Clive Madande (wk), 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Luke Jongwe/Richard Ngarava, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Tendai Chatara.The returns of Jaiswal, Samson and Dube complicate India’s selection. Jaiswal is set to come in for B Sai Sudharsan, who made his debut in the second T20I but didn’t get to face a ball, but will he open or bat in the middle order? And who will Dube displace? Samson’s case is simpler; he will likely replace his Rajasthan Royals team-mate Dhruv Jurel. Whatever combination India go with, they could find themselves with at least two top-order players batting lower than their preferred slots.India XI (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Sanju Samson (wk), 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh Kumar.

Pitch and conditions

On the eve of the match, India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad summed up the conditions at Harare Sports Club succinctly in his pre-match press conference.”Yes, definitely the conditions are challenging,” he said. “It is a bit unique. When there is some seam movement, you can still negotiate it if it is coming at one pace. But I feel it is a little double-paced here, there is a little variable bounce. So, there is a bit of difference because of that. [As long as] the ball is new, it is slightly tougher to score runs, but once the ball is old, fast boundaries, relatively small boundaries straight, you can still convert your runs after that.”The forecast for Wednesday promises a clear, sunny day with maximum temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius.Sunday was better than Saturday for India’s stand-in Shubman Gill and his boys•AFP/Getty Images

Stats and trivia

Raza needs 32 runs to become the first Zimbabwe batter to reach the milestone of 2000 in T20Is.

Jaiswal (161.93) is one of only five Full Member batters to have scored more than 500 T20I runs at a 160-plus strike rate. Suryakumar Yadav (167.74), Phil Salt (165.11), Andre Russell (163.70) and Tim David (162.75) are the others.

Any of five bowlers could finish this series on top of Zimbabwe’s list of highest T20I wicket-takers. Luke Jongwe leads the pack with 66, but Tendai Chatara (65), Raza (63), Blessing Muzarabani (62) and Richard Ngarava (62) are all hot on his heels.

Harare has hosted nine of the 10 T20Is Zimbabwe have played against India so far, and it’s set to become 12 out of 13 by the time this series is done. The only other ground they have met at in this format is the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Quotes

“We’re a nation that are very quick to ask for changes suddenly when there is a bad game. Let’s not forget that 24 hours ago these boys were the same ones who won us a game against India […] I’m not a big believer of ringing too many changes just because these boys have had a bad game […] I want to show that faith, selectors want us to show that faith, the board wants us to show that faith as well, so I think we’re all on the same page in that.”
“This is a massive topic. Thinking about this topic also is not the right point. To even compare with him and fill in his shoes is relatively very tough and very hard. As I had said in the IPL as well, it is difficult to fill Mahi [MS Dhoni]’s shoes. Definitely, you want to start your own career, you want to play your own games. That is the priority right now, focus on one game, focus on how you can contribute towards the team in whichever position you play and make sure you are on the winning side more often than not.”

Liverpool are in an enviable position right now: they’ve won the Premier League, and dominantly at that, having avoided heavy transfer expenditure over the past three windows.

Now, the Reds are looking to make sweeping changes to Arne Slot’s team, fattening it up with new recruits who could play an instrumental role in retaining the title and challenging for more over the coming years.

However, some outgoings are to be expected too. Trent Alexander-Arnold has already packed up and left, while Darwin Nunez is expected to leave on a permanent deal.

GIVEMESPORT have revealed that Luis Diaz, 28, is also open to leaving Liverpool this summer, with the £72m-rated Colombian being chased by Saudi suitors and Barcelona, who have a long-standing interest but are uncertain on the figures attached.

Diaz has been an incredible servant for Liverpool over these past several years, but he’s not inexpendable, especially if that £72m price tag is met by Saudi suitors.

Luis Diaz – Liverpool Career by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	50	17	8
23/24	51	13	7
22/23	21	5	3
21/22	26	6	5
Stats via Transfermarkt

For sure, if Liverpool manage to get a deal for Florian Wirtz over the line, any ruefulness from the sale will be smoothly offset.

The latest on Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz is trudging forward, and while those in the know have reiterated that all parties expect a deal to be completed, fans’ fears will not be placated until the official announcement is made.

Where Wirtz could feature for Liverpool

The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed on Tuesday morning that Liverpool’s second offer, worth about €130m (£109m), has failed to bridge the gap at the negotiating table, with Leverkusen still holding out for a British-record €150m (£126m) fee.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the world, would be an incredible addition to a Liverpool side in transition, yes, but also buoyed by the incredible feat of winning the Premier League off Manchester City this year.

With Trent swapping red for white this summer, securing a new playmaker-in-chief was always going to be crucial, and falling at this stage of the one-horse race would provide the most bitter of pills.

If Slot is to take this squad and fashion something even greater from it, FSG will need to continue to back him, and in fairness, they appear to be doing exactly that, with talks being held for one of Italian football’s most talented wingers.

Liverpool line up new winger

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Liverpool have entered the race for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, and fans will be interested to note that Bayern Munich are the Reds’ main competitors.

Transfer Focus

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

The report continues to claim Liverpool chiefs have this week made official contact with Milan for the transfer of the 25-year-old.

That said, they face competition not only from European giants Bayern Munich, but also from Saudi Arabia’s big three, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Nassr.

Milan endured a torrid season, finishing eighth in Serie A and thus missing out on European competition, so their bargaining power in retaining an elite winger like Leao has been diminished.

Though Leao’s employers have made feeble demands that their player will cost suitors €130m (£110m), this is clearly an exorbitant sum, and Liverpool will be confident they can negotiate something more agreeable.

Why Liverpool want Rafael Leao

Leao joined his Milano teammates in despairing over their middling Serie A finish, but he can hold his head high after notching 25 goal contributions from 50 matches in all competitions.

Actually praised as “one of the best in the world” by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Leao is typically found on the left wing, using his blistering pace to overwhelm opponents, stretch defensive lines.

He’s also a tenacious sort, averaging 1.7 dribbles per league game and winning 50% of his duels, as per Sofascore, which is impressive given he’s a forward.

Moreover, Leao hit eight goals and assists apiece across the divisional campaign and only missed eight big chances, so while his numbers could be raised up a level, given his almighty technical quality, he’s not exactly profligate.

Indeed, Leao could do more from the clinical department, but his underlying data suggests he could yet bloom into a deadly marksman for a team like Liverpool.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Italian first division this season for goal contributions, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

Efforts might be focused on getting Wirtz over to Anfield, but Leao’s potential is crazy, and there’s every chance the fleet-footed talent could bring the X-factor to make him just as exciting as his German counterpart, should he sign.

You can see why Liverpool are intrigued: With Diaz potentially on the way out this summer, bringing in a successor of similarly electric qualities would be a sure-fire way to maintain the fluency down Liverpool’s wide flank.

Furthermore, his consistency might be an attribute that could do with some improving, but if he’s already notching decent numbers for a team that struggled for form, Slot may fancy his chance in elevating this thrilling player to the next level.

Leao also created ten big chances in Serie A, more than any of his Rossoneri teammates.

Leao’s output might leave something to be desired, but his overarching skill set is truly something to behold. Regarded as a “superstar” by football writer Theo Mwangi, the nifty winger could be just as exciting as Wirtz in the Liverpool starting line-up next year.

Just imagine them playing side-by-side.

The dream XI Liverpool could build: Wirtz signs & "the next Mbappe" arrives

Liverpool are making sweeping changes in the transfer market as Slot prepares to defend his PL title.

3

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 3, 2025

Sunday’s clash against Liverpool was always going to be a tough one for Arsenal from a mental perspective.

After crashing out of the Champions League at the semi-final stages, the last place they probably wanted to be was Anfield, the home of the Premier League title winners.

A guard of honour was given and Arsenal actually starting vibrantly, Bukayo Saka missing a chance from a matter of yards out. Here we go again, it’s going to be another one of those days.

Indeed, that certainly looked the case when the Gunners found themselves 2-0 down after 21 minutes. This was the perfect encapsulation of this season. Arsenal could have been two up themselves but squandered their chances and as they found in Paris on Wednesday, they were up against it.

This time, Mikel Arteta’s men rallied and put in a brilliant second-half performance to walk away from Merseyside with a point in their battle to finish inside the top four.

Arsenal's finest performers against Liverpool

While Arteta was left to bemoan some uncharacteristically lapse defending from William Saliba in the first half, shutting off for the second goal, in forward areas, there were some more encouraging signs.

Saka was his usual effervescent self, while Gabriel Martinelli was perhaps the standout player on the away side.

The Brazilian initially started the game on the left flank but a few tactical tweaks at half-time saw a renewed display, not just from Martinelli but the whole side.

Leandro Trossard moved out to the left and Martinelli moved into the centre of the pitch. A matter of minutes into the second half the two attackers combined brilliantly to get Arsenal back into the game.

The Belgian winger crossed into the box, where Arsenal’s number 11 was ready and waiting to head the ball home. In truth, that tactical tweak changed the game. Martinelli made a number of threatening runs in behind that also brought out the best from Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian has had a troubled campaign, only scoring five times, but he looked closer to his best in the second period at Anfield, playing a number of balls towards Martinelli.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Odegaard also had a vital role to play in the equaliser. Plenty of supporters have bemoaned his unwillingness to shoot from range this season but it was his fierce effort from outside the box that the second goal came from.

The captain unleashed a fizzing drive that Alisson tipped onto the post but Mikel Merino followed up well and headed the rebound into an empty net.

It was yet another crucial moment for the Spaniard who has enjoyed a fabulous back end of the season. Well, that was until he was given a red card for a late challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai, a tackle that saw him branded with a second yellow card.

Still, Merino was far from the worst player on the pitch.

Arsenal's poorest performers against Liverpool

Arsenal’s defending since Gabriel got injured certainly hasn’t been the best but one has to commend the displays of Jakub Kiwior who notably stood out in the two-legged win over Real Madrid.

That being said, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Saliba who, without Gabriel, doesn’t look quite as assured at the back.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The French titan is no doubt a fabulous player, but there have been some nervy moments for the centre-back when playing out from the back. He also switched off completely for Liverpool’s opening goal.

Despite grabbing an assist, it was largely an afternoon to forget for Trossard too, whose woes were compounded in the 78th minute when he was substituted with an apparent hamstring injury.

For Arsenal, that is not good news, particularly after Merino’s late red card. Who Arsenal will play up top against Newcastle next week is anyone’s guess.

Either way, Arteta should consider axing him from the team. Even if it’s not fully from the team, he should be axed as the main centre forward.

In the words of Arsenal writer Connor Humm, the £27m signing is a “waste of time” as a striker, not boasting the physicality to hold the ball up and perhaps also lacking the sort of runs we ultimately saw from Martinelli down the centre when they swapped positions.

Minutes played

78

Touches

61

Accurate passes

31/36 (86%)

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

1

Successful dribbles

3/5

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

1/3

Duels won

7/13

Possession lost

16x

Trossard only won seven of his 13 contested duels during the clash and failed to have a single shot on target. To make matters worse, he also lost the ball on 16 occasions. That isn’t what you need from a role that requires bringing others into play.

There was a wasteful moment that rather summed up his topsy-turvy season in the first 45 minutes. Arsenal pressed well in Liverpool’s penalty area and won the ball back. However, neither Partey nor Trossard took control of the situation and waited for each other to pick up the possession. Had either done so, it probably would have been a goal. Instead, the chance went begging.

Moments like that are why the Belgium international has frustrated supporters so often this season. There is talk of a new contract and perhaps he might deserve one. There aren’t many better squad players in Arteta’s ranks.

However, if Arsenal are going to sign one or two attackers, Trossard should be given the boot to accommodate them.

He's just like an "early Henry": Arsenal begin work to sign £85m winger

Arsenal are in the market for more firepower this summer,

ByMatt Dawson May 11, 2025

Real Madrid have reached out to the representatives of an Arsenal star who’s now willing to join them, with Mikel Arteta’s side seemingly facing a serious threat from the La Liga heavyweights.

Arsenal players who are set to leave this summer

Arteta already faces the prospect of many different players leaving the Emirates this summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta will be tasked with reshaping the squad in their absence.

Arsenal stepping up pursuit of £58m striker who's now keen on Emirates move

The Gunners have conducted extensive background work on a forward, who may now be leaning towards a move to north London.

1 ByDominic Lund May 5, 2025

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that up to 10 players could be leaving Arsenal when the window reopens, and we can already have a pretty good idea of who some might be.

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Kieran Tierney has agreed a pre-contract to join Celtic, with Fabrizio Romano also sharing news this week that Jorginho is set to join Flamengo when his Arsenal contract expires in late June.

Arsenal also appear set to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko, in the event a suitable offer arrives (Graeme Bailey), while both Nuno Tavares and Albert Sami Lokonga will likely be on the chopping block as well, after spending 2024/2025 out on loan.

As things stand, Thomas Partey will depart the Emirates this summer, with Arsenal still yet to reach an agreement with the Ghanaian on fresh terms after opening talks recently.

He’s arguably enjoyed his finest season in north London since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2020, but ESPN reported in late April that Partey needs to take a pay-cut to remain at Arsenal, so it remains to be seen whether the 31-year-old will agree to those conditions.

There is also the matter of Real Madrid and their serious interest in star £190,000-per-week Arsenal defender William Saliba.

Real Madrid hold talks with Arsenal defender William Saliba

Los Blancos have been repeatedly linked with a move for Saliba, as Real are believed to be keen on reinforcing their central defensive options this summer.

According to L’Equipe, as relayed by Get Football News Spain, Real have opened talks with the 24-year-old’s camp and want him to be the “leader” of their new-look backline – either this summer or in 2026.

Saliba is also prepared to quit Arsenal for Real, and has named the Spanish giants as the only side he’d be willing to depart for.

The Gunners will be desperate not to lose one of their most crucial players, though, with Arsenal apparently set to demand as much as £85 million to let him go.

Saliba has formed an exceptional central defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes since the beginning of 2022/2023, and it is a pillar of the club’s recent on-field success.

For their part, Arsenal want to agree a new contract with Saliba to ward off Real, but with his contract expiring in 2027, they’re slowly running out of time. Keeping the France international is quite simply an imperative task for Berta, but Real are posing a very real threat.

Also, some numbers on India’s left-hand batting dominance and KL Rahul’s role

Sampath Bandarupalli27-Jul-20252:09

Manjrekar: ‘Warriors’ keep sprouting for India when needed

2 – Number of Tests involving England ending in draws since Brendon McCullum became their head coach. This was the 40th Test under McCullum. The other draw was against Australia in 2023, also at Old Trafford.ESPNcricinfo Ltd7 – Number of 350-plus totals for India in the four Test so far, the most for a team in a Test series. The previous best was six, by Australia, who have done it three times in the Ashes, in 1920-21, 1948, and 1989.This series is also the first instance of India crossing 300 on seven occasions in a series. Eight is the record.0 – Instances of a team winning a Test match at Old Trafford after choosing to bowl first. Teams electing to bowl first here have lost three of the 12, while nine ended in draws.The latest result continued India’s winless run at Old Trafford, where they have played ten matches, the most by them at a venue without a win.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 – Number of hundreds for Shubman Gill in the series, the joint-highest by an India batter in a series. Sunil Gavaskar had four hundreds against West Indies in 1971 and 1978-79, while Virat Kohli also scored four on the 2014-15 tour of Australia.Gill is also only the third captain with four hundreds in a Test series, following Don Bradman against India in 1947-48 and Gavaskar against West Indies in 1978-79.Gill’s four hundreds are also the joint-highest in a series in England. Bradman (in 1930) is the only other visiting batter with four hundreds in a series in England.ESPNcricinfo Ltd722 – Runs scored by Gill in this series. Only Gavaskar has scored more runs in a Test series for India – 774 in 1970 and 732 in 1978-79; both against West Indies.188 – The partnership between Gill and KL Rahul is by far the highest third-wicket stand in Test cricket history after being two-down for zero. The previous highest was 105 by Mohinder Amarnath and GR Viswanath against Australia in Melbourne in 1977.Gill and Rahul batted 417 balls together during their partnership. It is the longest Test partnership for India in England since 1998.9 – 50-plus scores for Ravindra Jadeja in Tests in England, all while batting at No. 6 or lower, the joint-highest by a visiting player alongside Garry Sobers. Jadeja and Sobers are also the only visiting players with 1000-plus runs from No. 6 or lower in England.Jadeja also has 34 wickets in England. Only two visiting players have taken more wickets while scoring 1000-plus runs in a country: Wilfred Rhodes (1032 runs and 42 wickets in Australia) and Sobers (1820 runs and 62 wickets in England).511 – Runs aggregated by Rahul in this series so far. He is the first visiting opener to score 500-plus runs in a Test series since Graeme Smith’s 714 in 2003. Only Gavaskar among India openers (542 in 1979) has scored more than Rahul in a series in England.Four India batters have aggregated 400-plus runs in this series – Gill, Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jadeja, the first such instance for them. The previous series in which four (or more) batters scored 400-plus runs for a team was in 1993 – six Australia batters did it in the Ashes that year.4 – Instances of India knocking off a 300-plus first-innings deficit to draw a Test match. The highest is 368 against England – also at Old Trafford in 1936 – while they overhauled 334 against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad and 314 against New Zealand in Napier, both in 2009.3 – Century-makers in the second innings for India at Old Trafford – Gill, Jadeja and Washington. It is the first instance of three batters scoring hundreds for India in the second innings of a Test match.Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his well-deserved century•Getty Images1 – Five left-hand India batters – Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan and Pant in the first innings, while Washington Sundar and Jadeja in the second innings – had 50-plus scores in the Old Trafford Test. Only once before have five left-hand batters scored at least 50 for a team in a Test.Seven left-hand batters got at least 50 runs at Old Trafford, including Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes, the most for a Test match.A total of 12 batters got past 50 across both teams. This is the joint-second-highest, behind the 13 by South Africa and England in Durban in 1939.Seven of them at Old Trafford were by India batters, the joint-most for them in a Test match. Only Pakistan (eight vs India in 2006 in Karachi) had more players with 50-plus scores.5 – Number of sessions where India batted 20-plus overs without losing a wicket at Old Trafford. Since the start of 2014, only one team has had as many wicketless sessions in a Test match – six by Pakistan against Australia in 2022 in Rawalpindi. No other team have been as strong in more than three sessions in a Test match in this period.ESPNcricinfo Ltd12 – Batters who have scored a century in this series. Australia’s tour of the West Indies in 1955 is the only other series to feature 12 century-makers.A total of 18 centuries have been scored in this series so far, the third-highest in a Test series. Eleven have come from India, the joint-highest for them in a Test series, alongside the 1978-79 home series against West Indies.