The CEO, Salman Khan, had been charged with theft and fraud earlier this month by Calgary Police in relation to an earlier stint in cricket administration
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2025
[File photo] Cricket Canada had appointed Salman Khan as CEO in January this year•Getty Images
Cricket Canada CEO Salman Khan, who was appointed in January this year, has dismissed as “completely false” the reports of his alleged arrest and subsequent release on bail on charges of theft and fraud.Khan, along with one other individual, had been charged earlier this month with theft and fraud by the Calgary Police in relation to his earlier role as president of the Calgary and District Cricket League between 2014 and 2016. It is understood that the case was initially a civil suit, but now criminal charges have been laid.Posting on the Facebook page of Alberta Cricket Association, Khan said: “I see many fake and self-created posts circulating around, and I want to set the record straight. First of all, these are all fake. I have never been arrested, detained, or on any bail. These claims are completely false, and those spreading these rumors will have to answer for it.”Here’s the truth: A police complaint was filed against me more than 7 years ago. A police investigator approached me and said he wanted to hear my side of the story and see the evidence I have to defend myself. He told me that if I didn’t provide my side, he would proceed with charges. I told him I would visit after Ramadan, but he didn’t want to wait and decided to post charges without even hearing my side or my evidence.”Khan said nothing had been proven against him in seven years, and he would keep fighting the case. “Let me make this clear: They have nothing to prove against me – in 7 years they were not able to prove anything in the civil case, and certainly not in any criminal case. I have over 21 transcripts, with the complainant even admitting that everything was false.”I am not worried at all. I’m ready to fight just like I’ve been doing for the past 8 years.”
A temporada 2023 tem sido especial para o Volta Redonda. A equipe ficou entre as quatro melhores do Cariocão, disputou a terceira fase da Copa do Brasil e, agora, disputa a Série C do Brasileirão.
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O meio-campista Henrique Silva tem sido um dos destaques do time em todas estas campanhas. O atleta já marcou dois gols na terceira divisão e é está entre os que mais atuaram pela equipe no ano. O jogador destacou a felicidade em atuar pelo clube.
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– É meu segundo ano aqui no Volta Redonda, um time que acreditou muito em mim desde o início. Eu estou muito feliz de poder contribuir com a equipe e espero conseguir fazer ainda mais agora no Brasileirão.
Nem mesmo as três derrotas em sequência no Brasileirão abalam o entusiasmo de Henrique, que confia em uma melhora do time na competição. O jogador enfatizou que a equipe tem que acreditar em uma virada de chave.
– Cada competição é uma história diferente, tem que adaptar o jeito de jogar. Mas fizemos um bom início de ano, estamos entrosados e isso me deu muita confiança pra agora jogar o meu melhor futebol. Consegui marcar dois gols e tenho a confiança de que os resultados positivos vão chegar – afirmou.
O próximo jogo do Volta Redonda na Série C do Brasileirão acontece no domingo (21) contra o América-RN, às 19 horas (de Brasília), no Raulino de Oliveira.
Head coach said that rushing Williamson to India for the Mumbai Test “wasn’t worth the risk”
Deivarayan Muthu30-Oct-2024New Zealand coach Gary Stead is “very confident” of Kane Williamson returning to action for the first Test of their home summer, against England, which will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch from November 28 to December 2.The New Zealand team management didn’t want to run the risk of rushing Williamson back into action for the Mumbai Test, which will begin on Friday, and will continue to adopt a cautious approach with his rehab. Williamson, 34, had suffered a groin injury on the tour of Sri Lanka last month, just before the start of the three-match Test series in India.”Yeah, very confident,” Stead said of Williamson’s availability for the first Test against England. “I mean at a push we could have got him over here [in India] immediately, but considering I guess the travel factor and making sure that you can actually recover properly when you get here, we didn’t feel though that was worth the risk. So we’re happy with having him ready and very, very confident he’ll be right for that first Test versus England.”Related
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Williamson to miss third India Test as well
Despite the absence of Williamson for the entire series in India, New Zealand found a way to win their first-ever Test series in the country. Will Young, slotted into Williamson’s No.3 spot, stood up to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin in contrasting conditions in Bengaluru and Pune.”Look, it’s always disappointing when he’s not over here with us,” Stead said of Williamson. “I mean, he’s New Zealand’s greatest Test run-scorer for a reason, and I think whenever you have Kane in your side, it looks a stronger side. But the guys have gone really well.”We’ve adapted well without him here. The best thing for Kane is just to get himself completely right for England and we’re certainly looking forward to him coming back and hopefully making a difference in that Test series over there for us.”Ben Sears likely to miss England Test series with injuryTearaway quick Ben Sears, however, is set to miss the three-match Test series against England though Stead is hopeful of having him fit for the latter part of the home summer. Sears had also been sidelined from the entire Test series in India, with a knee injury. The 26-year-old had experienced pain in his left knee, while training in the lead-up to the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, and underwent a minor surgery on it on Wednesday.”Unlikely to be available for the England Test series,” Stead said of Sears. “Ben is going in for a small surgery today and just on his knee. Hopefully then he’ll be able to recover in the near future. I’m very hopeful he’ll be part of the summer.Ben Sears had a good start to his Test career against Australia•Associated Press”It’s not a big operation – he just needs a little bit of tidy up on his knee – so like hopefully by Christmas or so he’ll be back up and running again.”On his Test debut in Christchurch in March earlier this year, Sears took a match haul of five wickets against Australia and pushed himself into contention for the following six-Test tour of the subcontinent. Sears tuned up for the challenge with a four-day preparatory camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai before the injury relegated him to the sidelines.Sears’ absence could open up a potential Test debut for his Wellington team-mate Nathan Smith, who was added to New Zealand’s central contracts list in September. Smith, a bowling allrounder, was the top wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Plunket Shield, with 33 strikes in seven matches at an average of 17.18. He also had a stint with Worcestershire during the recent county season.Stead hopes for a repeat of WTC 2021New Zealand’s stunning takedown of India in Bengaluru and Pune has them dreaming of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final. If they win each of their four remaining Tests, they will finish on 64.29%. It won’t ensure qualification, but it will certainly keep them in the mix. Stead took heart from the inaugural cycle of the WTC in 2019-21, when New Zealand won six in a row on their way to securing the title.”Yeah I mean a series win in itself is incredible but what we want to do is keep trying to get better every game and we’re going to different circumstances now – the red clay [in Mumbai] is very different,” Stead said. “The way that it performs is different, so we’re going to have to adapt quickly and our next two trainings are going to be important, but for the World Test Championship itself there’s no doubt that one more win here would certainly help us.”I remember the first time we were in the situation of qualifying for the first WTC, we had to win four Tests on the bounce and managed to. So, hopefully there’s some sort of similes to that that we can lean on and say, ‘Well, we’ve done it before, here’s an opportunity to perhaps do something very special again’.”
Rangers’ busy summer of spending is seemingly set to continue.
So far, following Russell Martin’s appointment as manager at Ibrox, the Gers have brought in seven new recruits, most recently acquiring Djeidi Gassama for a reported fee of £2.2m.
Now though, they are targeting another winger, who might be even better, available on a free, having once been signed for a humongous £18m.
Rangers' looking to bolster their winger options
We’re just days away from the start of Rangers’ season, welcoming Panathinaikos to Ibrox on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie, before visiting Athens for the return leg a week later.
Despite coming in July, this could be a season-defining tie for the Light Blues so, given its importance, Martin might be concerned by the array of wingers available to him in a squad that was submitted to UEFA on Thursday.
Djiedi Gassama
2025
0
0
Nedim Bajrami
2024
44
5
Óscar Cortés
2024
18
1
First and foremost, Rabbi Matondo misses out due to injury, while Ross McCausland has not been included in the squad either, and it is not the most frightening list of wide-attackers you’ve ever seen, is it, even with the arrival of the exciting Gassama?
Gassama
Ibrox News recently reported that Grady Diangana is likely to pass a medical, despite previous injury concerns, if the Gers decide to make a move for him, having made contact with the player’s representatives earlier this month.
The 27-year-old is a free agent, having left West Bromwich Albion following the expiration of his contract last month, after making over 200 appearances for the Baggies across six seasons.
Despite last Thursday’s deadline, Rangers can still add two players to their squad for the Panathinaikos tie up until 24 hours before kick off, so 7:45pm (BST) on Monday, so can they get this deal over the line in time?
How Grady Diangana will improve Rangers
Diangana, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by pundit Michael Brown, began his career at West Ham United, joining the Irons as a 12-year-old before debuting in September 2018, marking the occasion by scoring twice during an 8-0 EFL Cup demolition of Macclesfield Town.
He then spent the 2019/20 season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, before the deal was made permanent for £18m in September 2020, which remains the Baggies’ record fee.
This sparked outrage and furore in East London, with club captain Mark Noble stating that he was “gutted, angry and sad” to see Diangana sold, while then teammate Jack Wilshere labelled him a “big player with a big future”.
Well, he hasn’t quite lived up to that hype, scoring 26 goals and registering 22 assists in 202 appearances for West Brom, but writer Kai Watson still believes he is “talented” and a “good ball carrier”, while concluding he will represent an upgrade on Rangers’ current right-wing options.
Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic asserts that he possesses ‘real ability’ and the ‘confidence to take defenders’, while Ricky Lee Griffiths of Breaking the Lines outlines how, given that he’s left-footed, Diangana likes to dribble inside from the right, making him a dangerous chance creator and a goal threat.
Now, though, how do his statistics compare to those of Gassama?
Let’s find out.
Appearances
34
43
Minutes
1,488
2,993
Goals
0.24
0.21
Assists
0.18
0.03
Shots
1.1
1.5
Chances created
1.1
1.2
Shot-creating actions
2.83
3.03
Goal-creating actions
0.42
0.21
Take-on success %
47.7%
41%
Touches
57.2
44
Worth noting that Diangana’s season was, somewhat, blighted by a calf injury, hence why he played around 1,500 fewer EFL Championship minutes than Gassama.
Grady Diangana for West Brom
Nevertheless, on a per 90 basis, their statistics are largely very similar, with the DR Congo international coming out on top in terms of goals and assists, as well as take-on success percentage, goal-creating actions, and touches.
Thus, while Gassama is clearly a superbly talented player, Rangers require players who can come in and make an immediate impact, and, if he can rediscover his best form, Diangana certainly fits that bill.
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While Arsenal have made their fair share of big signings in summers past, it would be fair to say the way the club has acted in recent weeks is somewhat unprecedented.
Andrea Berta and Co have already secured the services of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arizabalaga for a combined £65m, and on top of that, David Ornstein has confirmed that Christian Norgaard’s £15m transfer has been completed.
Furthermore, the links to Noni Madueke don’t seem to be going anywhere, and most exciting of all, it looks more like a matter of when, rather than if, the club will announce the signing of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international could be a total game-changer for the Gunners, and interestingly, if reports are to be believed, the club could be looking to sign another dynamic attacker who’s a lot like him.
Arsenal target Gyokeres-esque star
After another season in which Arsenal produced the best defence in the Premier League but still fell short, signing a new striker this summer became a necessity.
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For much of the summer, the forward who looked most likely to join Arteta’s side was Benjamin Sesko. However, since it was revealed that RB Leipzig were asking for up to €100m, which is approximately £86m, the club’s focus shifted to Gyokeres.
The pivot to the Sporting CP star has been rapid, as an agreement on personal terms has already been reached, and talks between the two clubs are progressing, with some reports claiming that the final fee will be up to £70m including add-ons.
Interestingly, the North Londoners do not seem content with just the one forward signing, though, as they are also keen on Ademola Lookman.
At least that’s according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has revealed that Arsenal have held discussions concerning the Atalanta star.
The report claims that while the Gunners are fans of the talented international, they do not want to pay the Italian side’s valuation, which some reports have claimed is as high as £55m.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lookman’s incredible ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Gyokeres.
How Lookman compares to Gyokeres
When it comes to Lookman’s similarities with Gyokeres, the first place to start is with the statistical side of things.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
According to FBref, the Swedish international was the fifth most similar forward to the Nigerian ace in last season’s Champions League.
The best way to understand how they reached this conclusion is to examine some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely, which include things like goals per shot and shot on target, passing accuracy, key passes and more, all per 90.
Goals per Shot
0.18
0.18
Goals per Shot on Target
0.45
0.44
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
80.0%
Key Passes
2.64
2.50
Aerial Duels Won %
33.3%
30.8%
However, the similarities go beyond these statistics, as just like the Sporting star, albeit to a slightly lesser extent, the Atalanta star has been “one of the best forwards in Europe” in the words of journalist Oma Akatugba recently.
For example, in the 22/23 season, he racked up a brilliant haul of 23 goal involvements in 33 games, which he then followed up with an even better tally of 27 in 45 games the following year.
Then, last season, for the third consecutive campaign, the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by journalist John Bennett, continued to blow opposition teams away by producing another 27 goal involvements, this time in just 40 games.
Ultimately, whether it’s down to their underlying numbers or the sheer weight of goals and assists they produce, it’s easy to make comparisons between Lookman and Gyokeres.
Appearances
33
45
40
Minutes
1858′
2809′
2871′
Goals
15
17
20
Assists
8
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.60
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
104.03′
106.33
Therefore, if Arsenal really want to supercharge their attack this summer, they should do what they can to bring in both of them.
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Newcastle exceeded expectations when winning the Carabao Cup and rolling out the carpet for the forthcoming Champions League campaign, qualifying as they did via the Premier League.
Given that Eddie Howe was forced to contend with less than fluent form in the early stages of the season as a by-product of a disappointing summer transfer window that was itself preceded by a crushing end to their 2023/24 season, missing out on Europe after Manchester United won the FA Cup, this is a truly remarkable feat.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
And now, during this current window, more adversity has been met. Newcastle need new forwards, but they’ve struggled to reel them in thus far.
That is, up until a breakthrough in regard to Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.
Why Newcastle are signing Anthony Elanga
When Newcastle parted ways with Miguel Almiron midway through the 2024/25 campaign, it was expected they would sign a replacement.
They have needed a right-sided forward for a while, but Jacob Murphy’s incredible form has tempered the urgency over the past 12 months, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in the league alone last season.
Now, though, Elanga could provide the perfect competition, bringing a high-speed, high-energy and high-creativity style of football to Howe’s team, already so impressive in transitional sequences.
Having already seen a £45m offer knocked back, the Magpies have demonstrated their intent by returning with an improved £55m bid, with anticipation growing that their efforts will prove fruitful.
Having already missed out on a slew of top targets such as Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United are in need of some uplifting news.
They will strike gold with Elanga, who has posted 31 goal contributions across his two top-flight terms with Forest, after initially signing from Man United for £15m in 2023.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
However, Elanga’s high stock doesn’t mean he automatically qualifies as the cream of Newcastle’s wide attacking crop.
Murphy and Harvey Barnes have both been exceptional for the Toon; however, Anthony Gordon would wager himself the best of the bunch.
Newcastle have hit gold with Anthony Gordon
Gordon didn’t start his Newcastle career on the firmest footing. Indeed, after forcing his way out of Everton and joining the Toon in a £45m deal back in January 2023, he played a peripheral role that lacked a potent finish over the business months of that campaign.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
However, he’s since come alive; now a fully-fledged Three Lions star and one of Howe’s most talented forwards, fearsome alongside the world-class Alexander Isak, Gordon is regarded as “one of the best wingers around” by retired manager Harry Redknapp.
It bears testament to his quality that even after an up-and-down year, only scoring nine goals (and providing seven assists) across 42 games, the 24-year-old has still retained the admiration of the fans and indeed potential suitors, who have circled over recent weeks.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
34 (28)
Goals
11
6
Assists
10
5
Shots (on target)*
2.3 (0.9)
1.7 (0.6)
Pass completion
82%
81%
Key passes*
1.6
1.5
Big chances created
16
6
Dribbles*
1.5
1.1
Ball recoveries*
3.6
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.1
Duels (won)*
5.3 (49%)
4.4 (52%)
Gordon might not have had the finest season in the world, but he showcased his high-level quality across the previous year, racking up 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and dazzling with underlying creative and physical metrics that were certainly still on show last term.
His efforts across his first full term on Tyneside saw the England international crowned the club’s Player of the Year, a talisman through an injury-hit spell that hampered Howe’s project considerably.
The goal involvements act as a neat barometer for assessment of Gordon’s talent, but his performances on the field almost defy such statistical analysis. His driven, tough and intelligent performances have made him an instrumental part of Howe’s success, especially as he’s so versatile, playing dutifully as a right-winger or even as a makeshift centre-forward.
But Gordon’s high ceiling was rubber-stamped when Liverpool came calling, the Anfield side being offered their one-time academy member as St. James’ Park sweated over compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Ultimately, United managed to weave around any costly breaches by offloading more peripheral members of the squad – like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – but the fact remains that fans got a glimpse of the financial reckoning their winger is held in, with the Reds looking to strike a deal for £75m.
That figure in itself underscores Gordon’s superior value to Elanga, who could leave the City Ground for £55m, but Gordon has actually seen his stock rise higher still this year, with the £150k-per-week talent now valued at an eye-watering £100m.
His might seem over-expensive, but this is the modern market we’re talking about, and it illustrates Gordon’s reputation as being one of the most talented wingers on the continent.
Anthony Gordon
Confident in his skills, Gordon has declared himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, owing to his combative and electric running style, his willingness to take on his man and get stuck in during defensive phases.
Having extended his contract with Newcastle in October 2024, Howe must well and truly feel that he has hit the jackpot with this wonderful player, whose left-sided predilection will perhaps see him partner Elanga for years to come, servicing the focal Isak in the middle.
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Newcastle have come a long way over the past few years, but with Howe engineering such exciting and precise signings with a regularity that eludes many of their divisional rivals, there’s every chance that the best is yet to come.
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Newcastle may need to sign a midfielder this summer.
According to widespread reports, the Villans could be forced to sell a key player before 30 June, which is only ten days away now, to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmeryduring a lap of honour
This issue was only exacerbated by the fact Unai Emery’s team missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day, forced to settle for a significantly less lucrative spot in the Europa League.
So, with a claret and blue stalwart or two potentially on their way out of Villa Park, has Emery already identified a dream replacement?
Aston Villa targeting a new striker
With Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio heading back to their parent clubs at the end of their loan spells in the Midlands, Villa clearly need to strengthen their forward line.
Well, according to a report by GIVEMESPORT, Aston Villa are ‘eyeing’ a move to sign £32m Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, should the Senegalese international become available this summer.
It’s revealed that Villa ‘are ready to enter discussions’ over what it would take to tempt the forward away from Stamford Bridge if they decide to transfer-list him.
The Blues have already signed Liam Delap for £30m earlier this summer, also purportedly interested in many other centre-forwards, including, most-notably, Hugo Ekitike, suggesting Jackson could get squeezed out.
Manager Enzo Maresca has always been full of praise for his striker, labelling him “fantastic” and “very important”, but the sheer churn at Chelsea in recent years means no one’s future at Stamford Bridge is ever certain.
So, could he soon be swapping West London for the West Midlands?
How Nicolas Jackson would improve Aston Villa
Aston Villa sold Jhon Durán to Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £71m in January, with Rashford and Asensio ostensibly coming in as the Colombian’s replacements, albeit both only on loan, and it remains to be seen if either will return to Villa Park.
Durán arrived from Chicago Fire for around £16m in January 2023, and was absolutely on fire during the first half of this season, scoring 12 goals in 29 appearances, thereby averaging a goal every 87 minutes, before being flipped for a massive profit, a business model Villa would surely like to replicate going forward.
Neither Rashford nor Asensio favour playing as a central striker, leaving Ollie Watkins as the only player for that position at the club right now, and even he is itching for a move away this summer, according to Football Insider.
Reports suggest Arsenal are still very much interested in Watkins and Villa could be looking to cash in on the 29-year-old to help comply with PSR.
So, would Jackson be a shrewd replacement? Well, let’s assess how the duo compared this season.
Appearances
35
54
Minutes
2,501
3,578
Goals
13
17
Goals per 90
0.49
0.44
Assists
6
14
Shots on target %
47.5%
42.6%
Shot-creating actions per 90
2.75
2.19
Goal-creating actions per 90
0.41
0.44
Big chances missed
22
31
Touches per 90
28
22
Average Sofascore rating
7.07
6.88
As the table shows, Watkins and Jackson’s statistics were broadly very similar throughout last season, with the Chelsea striker scoring just four fewer goals in around 1,000 fewer minutes, largely due to the fact he spent around two months on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury between February and April.
The Senegalese star though, did come out on top when it comes to goals-per-90, as well as a higher shots on target percentage and shot-creating actions-per-90, while registering more touches-per-90 and squandering fewer Opta-defined big chances.
Nicolas Jackson
Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines believes that Jackson has become a ‘proper centre-forward’ at Chelsea, adding that he ‘offers a lot more than his goals’, praising his work-rate, link-up play and ability to hold up the ball while journalist Rahman Osman has praised his “special” ability.
Thus, given that Watkins is 29 and Jackson is 23, if Villa could secure a big fee for the former and then snap up the latter, that would surely be shrewd business for a club operating under tight financial constraints.
Aston Villa now in the conversation for shock deal to sign £85m striker
Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.
The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.
One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”
Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.
The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.
Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell
The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.
Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.
Appearances
36
Starts
24
Big chances created
4
Assists
4
Key passes per game
1.7
Pass accuracy
91%
As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.
However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.
In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.
This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.
Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star
According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.
The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.
Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek
The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.
Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade
The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.
This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.
Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.
Appearances
35
xG
6.85
Goals
9
Duels won per game
5.0
Duel success rate
53%
Aerial duels won per game
2.9
Aerial duel success rate
57%
As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.
As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.
Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.
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Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.
Everton are interested in signing another Liverpool player alongside Ben Doak in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.
Doak heads list of Everton winger targets
The Blues are reportedly interested in making a shock move for Reds winger Doak before next season gets underway, in a transfer that would cause plenty of controversy.
An update from Sky Sports suggested that Everton are one of the clubs who are interested in acquiring the services of the 19-year-old this summer, with the Scot seen as an attacking player with a big future in the game, spending the 2024/25 season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough.
Liverpool have a big decision to make with Doak, with the young Scotland international someone who could potentially be an eventual successor to Mohamed Salah on the right wing, but also not quite mature enough to fully make the grade at Anfield just yet.
From an Everton perspective, the idea of the teenager heading to Bramley Moore Dock is certainly exciting, not only because they would be signing a great young talent, but also due to them snapping up a player from their nearest and biggest rivals. Now, another Reds player is also reportedly wanted by the Blues.
Everton keeping tabs on Gomez's situation
According to a new claim from Empire of the Kop, Everton are “keeping close tabs” on Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, as they eye a summer move for him alongside Doak. The Blues are one of eight Premier League teams who are believed to be in the mix to snap him up, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Leeds United.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
The £85,000-a-week Gomez could be a really shrewd addition by Everton in the summer, although as is the case with Doak, it remains to be seen if Liverpool will be hesitant to sell to them.
The 28-year-old is now the Reds’ longest-serving current player, winning two Premier League titles and always proving to be an excellent squad player, with Jurgen Klopp a huge admirer.
“He is a lifesaver, to be honest, that he was here, that he could play. People forget how important Joey was in the best years we had. I don’t know how many games he played in the year when we became champions and how many games he played when we won the Champions League – a lot and rightly so because he’s a top-class player.”
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Gomez may like the idea of being a regular for Everton, having had to accept being behind Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the centre-back pecking order, and he also wouldn’t have to up sticks and move away.
Joe Gomez’s trophy wins at Liverpool
Season
Premier League
2024/25
Premier League
2019/20
Champions League
2018/19
FA Cup
2021/22
EFL Cup
2023/24
EFL Cup
2021/22
Club World Cup
2019/20
UEFA Super Cup
2019/20
Community Shield
2022/23
That said, the England international may not want to risk tarnishing his Liverpool legacy by making a controversial switch, so a move elsewhere, or staying put at Anfield, feels more likely.
Following Saturday’s gut-wrenching penalty shootout defeat in the Scottish Cup Final, all Celtic supporters have turned their attention to the club’s plans for the summer.
Before they are next in action, Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to have a few new signings he can showcase, with some key areas clearly to address at Parkhead.
Kieran Tierney is set to arrive at left-back, while a replacement may also be needed for the injury-stricken Jota on the flanks. Kyogo Furuhashi arguably hasn’t been properly replaced since he left in January either.
But, where does their latest target feature?
Celtic's latest transfer target
According to a report by Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex, Celtic are ‘interested’ in Djurgardens’ defender Keita Kosugi, claiming that Paris Saint-Germain have also made a move to secure his services.
The 19-year-old spent his youth career with Shonan Bellmare, before travelling to Sweden for a trial with Djurgarden in March 2024, impressing to such an extent that the Blue Stripes rewarded him with a four-year contract less than a week after his 18th birthday.
How Kosugi could be Celtic's latest Asian success story
Something of an attacking threat from left-back in a similar mould to Tierney, the defender has made 43 appearances for the Stockholm-based giants, scoring five goals.
He was notably on target against both Víkingur Reykjavík and Rapid Wien during their historic run to the Conference League semi-finals, bagging a stunning equaliser during the quarter-final comeback in Vienna.
It’s that star quality that could see him be an enormous success story in Scotland, just as his fellow countrymen have been since the Ange Postecoglou era.
Indeed, to date, eight Japanese players have made a senior appearance for Celtic, many of whom have made a massive impression.
Shunsuke Nakamura was the first, with Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst noting that he is ‘one of the best free-kick takers of all-time’, and many of his compatriots have followed since.
Shunsuke Nakamura
2005-09
155
31
Kōki Mizuno
2008-10
12
1
Kyogo Furuhashi
2021-25
165
85
Yosuke Ideguchi
2022
6
Zero
Reo Hatate
2022-present
142
27
Daizen Maeda
2022-present
158
62
Yūki Kobayashi
2023
7
Zero
Tomoki Iwata
2023-24
42
1
Four of the eight Japanese players have had a huge impact at Celtic, two of whom remain key figures in Rodgers’ team right now.
Daizen Maeda picked up all of this season’s individual accolades, Celtic’s player of the year, PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year and rightly so, considering he scored 33 goals in all competitions.
The forward arrived in 2022 from Yokohama F. Marinos for just £1.5m, which has proved to be an absolute bargain, so could Kosugi represent similarly excellent value for money?
Well, Han June of Football Asian believes the left-back to be “one of Asia’s hottest young prospects”, praising his “fearless defending”.
Meanwhile, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout is impressed by his ‘pace…work rate…versatility and technique’, among other attributes, labelling him ‘a modern defender’.
Minutes
987
14th
Goals
2
51st
Progressive carries
23
30th
Carries into final third
23
10th
Attempted passes
506
36th
Tackles
23
18th
% of dribblers tackled
85.7%
8th
Blocks
22
3rd
Interceptions
12
24th
Clearances
46
15th
Ball recoveries
42
40th
Touches
653
26th
As the table outlines, Kosugi is a very well-rounded player, impressing both in and out of possession, supporting Kulig’s assertion that he is an “exciting talent”.
Writer Kai Watson believes he is an “excellent prospect”, noting that Kosugi is a “promising attacking threat” as well as being “defensively… superb”, regularly “winning the ball back to drive forward”.
Thus, with Greg Taylor and Jeffrey Schlupp set to depart, even with Tierney poised to return, Kosugi has all the attributes to be Celtic’s latest Japanese sensation.
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