Tom Banton hit his third first-class century as Somerset posted 317 all out on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match with leaders Surrey at Taunton.The battle of the top two in the table began with the home side winning the toss and electing to bat first on a pitch expected to offer increasing turn as the match progresses. Banton hit a brilliant 132, one short of his career-best, with 16 fours and a six, while Tom Abell contributed 49 and James Rew 38.But Surrey launched a determined fightback with the second new ball to limit the damage from 305 for 5 at one stage. Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, signed solely for this game, claimed 4 for 97 and Dan Worrall 3 for 41.Needing to close a 24-point gap on their opponents at the start of play, Somerset made a poor start when Lewis Goldsworthy was bowled by the second ball of the match, a Kemar Roach inswinger that clipped off stump.Archie Vaughan was promoted to form a new opening partnership and the 18-year-old son of England Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan looked more than up to the task as his side set about recovering from the early shock.He and Tom Lammonby took the score to 33 before Lammonby, on 21, fell to Jordan Clark’s first delivery of the game, a ball that bounced more than he expected and forced an edge to Dom Sibley at second slip.Vaughan, who had taken 18 balls to get off the mark, appeared commendably unperturbed in batting through the morning session to be unbeaten on 44 from 105 deliveries at lunch. He was given a life on 41 when Sibley failed to hold a sharp slip chance, diving to his right, off Tom Curran, making his first Championship appearance for nearly two years.Abell, seeking to build on hundreds in the previous two Championship home games, again played with confidence and was 27 not out at the interval, with Somerset having recovered to 93 for 2. But hopes that the third-wicket partnership would flourish in the afternoon session were soon dashed as Worrall had Vaughan caught behind off the second ball, edging a defensive push.Heavily depleted by international call-ups, Surrey were relying heavily on the experienced Shakib. Emerging from a watchful start, Banton reverse swept him from two boundaries in an over.Abell became Shakib’s first victim when he played back to a delivery that skidded through and bowled him one short of a half-century. Banton went to fifty off 90 balls, with six fours, and found a reliable partner in Rew as the pair blossomed in the afternoon sunshine.By tea, they had taken the total to 197 for 4, with Banton 65 not out, having survived a difficult chance to slip on 59. Rew was unbeaten on 16 and the final session saw both players prosper.Banton reverse swept Cameron Steel for four and pulled his next ball for six to move into the nineties. He earned Somerset’s first batting point with a two off Curran and the following over from Clark saw him edge a single, raising both arms as he ran to celebrate a 132-ball century.Content to play a supporting role, Rew brought up the hundred partnership off 137 balls in moving to 35 with a single off Curran and at 255 for 4 Somerset were building a position of strength. With seven added, Rew played forward defensively to Curran and edged through to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.It was 264 for 5 when the second new ball was taken at the earliest opportunity. Worrall struck a key blow when Banton launched a big hit at a slower ball and was bowled, having faced 172 balls. The following over from Shakib saw Kasey Aldridge fall in similar fashion and Craig Overton stumped, to strangely attacking shots in the circumstances.When Lewis Gregory was bowled by Worrall for a duck, Somerset had lost four wickets in the space of 14 balls. Kiwi seamer Brett Randell was last man out on debut for 3, Shakib and Surrey ending the day on a high.

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?

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.

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.

Rangers considering "ambitious" Ibrox swoop for Dessers upgrade

Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a move for a star who would be an upgrade on Cyriel Dessers.

ByDan Emery Jul 19, 2025

Manchester United are now set to make an offer worth £34m for an “immense” defender, as Ruben Amorim believes he would be the ideal player to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Man Utd looking to strengthen in all areas

A lack of goals was the real problem for Man United last season, finding the back of the net just 44 times in the Premier League, so it is little wonder that they have now set out to sign a new striker, having identified a number of targets.

Target

Current club

Goals in 24/25

Luis Suarez

Almeria

31

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt

22

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Free agent

3

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

37

However, after finishing 15th in the Premier League, very few players are likely to be safe, with Atalanta star Ederson being targeted to strengthen the midfield, while the Red Devils are also racing Tottenham Hotspur for Genoa centre-back Koni De Winter.

United are already relatively well-stocked in the centre-back department, but with Lisandro Martinez still recovering from an ACL injury, it could be worth bringing in another option, and they now plan to make a bid for one of Amorim’s former players.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Man United are set to propose a loan deal for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, which would include an obligation to make the deal permanent for a fee of €40m (£34m).

Their own Zubimendi: Man Utd in talks to sign "strongest DM in the world"

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Amorim clearly holds Inacio in very high regard, with the manager viewing him as the ideal player to strengthen the Red Devils’ backline, and an official bid could be made soon.

Sporting have previously been hesitant to sell the centre-back, but they could now be willing to listen to offers, and United should be well-positioned to win the race, despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, given Amorim’s pre-existing relationship with him.

"Immense" Inacio could be solid signing for Man Utd

Analyst Raj Chohan has singled the Sporting star out for high praise in the past, lauding him as “immense”, and the defender put in some impressive performances en-route to his side securing the Liga Portugal title last season.

The 23-year-old, who shares the same agency as Bruno Fernandes, was one of the most consistent performers in the squad, averaging a 6.97 WhoScored match rating, while also showcasing his ability on the front foot by picking up three goals and two assists.

Journalist Zach Lowy claims that Amorim has “worked miracles” with the Almada-born defender in the past, and he has now gone on to gain more top-level experience, having established himself as a 16-time Portugal international.

As such, Inacio could be a solid signing for Man United, but their main priority should be to bring in a new striker, given that they struggled considerably in front of goal last season.

Leicestershire trail by 111, four wickets down in second innings as Yuzvendra Chahal strikes again

ECB Reporters Network18-Sep-2024James Sales hit an excellent career-best 135 as Northamptonshire piled on the runs on day two of this Vitality County Championship match against Leicestershire at Wantage Road.The Northamptonshire youngster made the most of his recent elevation up the order, stroking 16 boundaries in more than four hours at the crease, facing 197 deliveries in an innings of real maturity.While he was dropped on 86 and 121 off two rare false shots, his innings was notable for his fluency, placement and timing. It stood in contrast to his maiden first-class ton in April, scored against the kookaburra ball on a docile pitch which had offered little for the Middlesex attack.Sales and Rob Keogh (49) extended their overnight partnership to 117, before runs kept flowing during Sales’ stand of 131 off just 134 deliveries with a resourceful Saif Zaib. Stroking a run-a-ball 71, Zaib garnered most of his runs from the sweep and reverse sweep as he put the spinners to the sword, a wayward Rehan Ahmed taking the brunt of his offensive.Leicestershire seamer Ian Holland, who found some inswing with the second new ball to end Sales’ innings, helped wrap up the Northamptonshire tail to finish with figures of four for 53 as the hosts were bowled out for 383 to take a first innings lead of 180.When Leicestershire replied, Northamptonshire tied them down, runs coming at a pedestrian rate with legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal finding plenty of turn. The Indian international claimed two wickets as Leicestershire closed on 69 for four still trailing by 111.Earlier Sales, 21, quickly got into his work, driving Sam Wood through the covers for four and dispatching him down the ground as he reached his half-century off 82 balls. He smashed Rehan over long-on for four, but otherwise manoeuvred the ball into the gaps nicely, driving sweetly and playing a delicate late cut.Despite nursing a bad back, Keogh provided good support, twice pulling Rehan over long-on before he was trapped lbw, struck on the back leg as he went back to a full delivery from the England legspinner.Zaib got off the mark first ball, cutting Ahmed square for four and sweeping Liam Trevaskis effortlessly behind square. Proving an ideal partner for Sales, he ran sharp ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the pressure on the fielders.Sales survived his first false shot when Louis Kimber put him down at short cover off Trevaskis, the fielder injuring his hand in the process.Undeterred, Sales reached his century shortly after lunch by slapping Rehan through the covers for his 13th boundary as he and Zaib plundered 86 off the first 10 overs after the interval.Zaib meanwhile was tucking into some increasingly loose bowling from Rehan, sweeping with ease as he brought up his half-century off 55 deliveries before pulling a half-tracker square for six. At the other end, Sales benefited from another drop in the covers off Trevaskis, responding by smashing the bowler down the ground for four.But both batters departed in quick succession to spark a mini Northamptonshire collapse, four wickets falling for 21 in 6.1 overs. First Zaib was trapped lbw as he played another sweep, to give Sol Budinger his maiden first class wicket. Then, when Leicestershire took the new ball, Holland swung one back in to bowl Sales as he attempted to drive.Justin Broad was next to go when he pushed at one from Holland and was well caught by a diving Rishi Patel at first slip. Next Ben Sanderson was denied the three runs he needed for 1,000 career first-class runs when Holland trapped him lbw without scoring.A counterattacking Lewis McManus extended Northamptonshire’s lead as he took on the new ball clubbing five boundaries in a knock of 27 before becoming the sixth lbw casualty of the innings, Holland claiming his fourth wicket. Wood then wrapped up the innings by demolishing Jack White’s stumps.White struck immediately with the fifth ball of Leicestershire’s reply. Budinger, top scorer in the first innings, fell without scoring when he played inside the line of one which hit the top of off-stump.Patel (35) and Holland (11) found scoring tough going, accumulating at just 1.5 an over. Holland was eventually stumped off Chahal as he advanced down the wicket.With Keogh unable to bowl due to his back injury, Northamptonshire turned to Zaib to bowl his slow left-armers and he soon accounted for Patel when he flicked a half volley on leg stump straight to Sales at short midwicket. Leicestershire quickly lost another when Rehan danced down the wicket to Chahal, missed and was stumped by McManus.

Leeds United have put plenty of work into improving their options across the backline since the summer transfer window officially opened for business last month.

The Championship champions confirmed their latest arrival of the window last week when they unveiled Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri as their number one for next season.

He has arrived from Ligue 1 side Lyon on a permanent deal to compete with Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow, and will play ahead of the likes of Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Jaka Bijol, who have also been signed to improve the defence.

In front of the backline, Leeds have also swooped to sign defensive midfielders Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach to provide some steel in front of the back four in the top-flight.

German centre-forward Lukas Nmecha, who arrived on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, is the only attacking player who has been added to the squad this summer, though, and the club could now turn to signings in the forward areas.

When the Whites were last promoted to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, the signing of forward Raphinha was vital to their survival.

Why Leeds need their next Raphinha

Leeds need to find Daniel Farke his own version of Raphinha before the end of the summer transfer window because the club’s current options in the attacking midfield and wide positions are uninspiring.

The West Yorkshire outfit do not have any players in those positions who have shown that they have the quality to make a big impact in the Premier League next season, as they all struggled in their most recent seasons in the division.

Last PL season

James (22/23)

Aaronson (22/23)

Harrison (24/25)

Gnonto (22/23)

Appearances

24

36

34

24

Goals

2

1

1

2

Big chances created

3

5

6

3

Key passes per game

0.4

1.3

1.0

1.0

Assists

1

3

0

4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison, and Wilfried Gnonto have only scored six goals combined in their most recent seasons in the Premier League.

Raphinha, however, scored 11 goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 35 top-flight games in his second and final season at Elland Road, after a return of six goals, 12 ‘big chances’ created, and nine assists in his first year in the league.

The Brazilian forward, who signed from Rennes for a fee of £17m in the summer of 2020, made a huge impact in front of goal with his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, and it does not seem like Farke has any similar players in his current squad.

That is why the Whites must dip back into the market to improve their attacking options, which appears to be what they are on the verge of doing.

Leeds set to agree deal for Brazilian forward

According to L’Equipe, Leeds United are on course to reach an agreement with Feyenoord over the signing of Brazilian winger Igor Paixao this summer.

The report claims that the Whites have submitted an offer of around £28m, with add-ons on top of that, and the Eredivisie side are said to be happy with the numbers involved, but it is now down to the clubs to finalise the finer details.

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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It adds that Ligue 1 side Marseille are also interested in signing the 25-year-old forward and have already agreed a five-year contract with the player.

However, the French outfit have failed to reach an agreement with Feyenoord on a transfer fee, which opened the door for Leeds to swoop in with this latest offer.

L’Equipe states that Marseille will need to raise their offer to match the Whites’ proposal if they want to remain in the race to sign the attacker, but it remains to be seen if they are willing or able to do so.

What Igor Paixao would bring to Leeds

Leeds must push to get this deal over the line before Marseille can re-enter the race because he would bring plenty of goals and assists to Elland Road next season.

Paixao has the quality on the ball to be the next electric Brazilian sensation to grace the wings in the Premier League for Leeds, following in Raphinha’s footsteps in West Yorkshire.

The Feyenoord star showcased his quality in the Champions League with two goals, including the one in the post above, and four assists in 11 games during the 2024/25 campaign.

On top of his impressive performances on the European stage, which showed that he can compete against the best of the best on the continent, Paixao also delivered exceptional numbers in the Eredivisie for his side.

24/25 Eredivisie

Igor Paixao

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

10.56

Top 2%

Goals

16

Top 2%

xG on target

16.25

Top 2%

Shots on target

43

Top 2%

xA

6.71

Top 4%

Assists

10

Top 3%

Chances created

70

Top 1%

Successful crosses

36

Top 2%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Leeds target was one of the best players, if not the best player, in the Dutch top-flight when it came to making an impact as a scorer and a creator of goals last term.

Analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Paixao has “insane” technique from long range, and he has scored six goals from outside the box in the last two Eredivisie seasons to back that up.

This suggests that the £28m-rated star could provide Leeds supporters with some special moments on the pitch by scoring some long-range screamers to win vital points for the team in the Premier League next season.

Paixao is a winger who can score great goals, score goals on a regular basis, and create and assist goals consistently, and has proven himself in the Champions League.

Related Leeds submit offer to sign ex-Barcelona star who earns £12m-a-year

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Posts 2 ByTom Cunningham Jul 27, 2025

This is why he could be Farke’s own version of Raphinha, who helped Leeds to stay in the Premier League for two seasons with his goals and assists, as he could be a match-winner for the club with his quality in the final third.

Newcastle United always knew this summer would involve a lot of higher-up teams battling it out for Alexander Isak’s services.

Isak’s 23-goal heroics in Premier League action just weren’t going to go unnoticed, with Liverpool targeting the lethal Swede intensely this off-season, subsequently, only to fail in their advances.

The Magpies aren’t out of the woods just yet, however, when it comes to rich teams sniffing around for their star-man, with a move now allegedly on the table for Isak to move out to the Saudi Pro League for an eye-watering £200m.

Newcastle have asserted back that the ex-Real Sociedad goal machine isn’t for sale under any circumstances, but they will surely have some strikers up their sleeves anyway this summer to try and improve their forward line even more, just in case the unthinkable occurs.

Newcastle line up swoop for £78m attacker

Already, the Magpies have forked out an extortionate £55m to land Anthony Elanga to enhance their personnel down the wings.

This spending could continue with a striker now being obtained, with reports suggesting that Newcastle are looking at Victor Osimhen as one viable option, alongside another lethal finisher from the Bundesliga – away from earlier interest in Hugo Ekitike – who would cost Eddie Howe’s Toon a mighty £78m.

This is, of course, RB Leipzig hero Benjamin Sesko.

That’s according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook who recently stated that Newcastle might well rekindle their interest in the Slovenian machine very soon, having been dealt blow after blow with other centre-forward targets.

It’s stated that Howe has admired Sesko for some time now, with a move finally getting over the line for the 22-year-old striker to move to Tyneside, representing a better deal than landing James Trafford in between the sticks, who looks to now be Manchester City-bound.

Why signing Sesko would be a better signing than Trafford

Trafford is yet another unfortunate transfer saga that has gone wrong for the Toon, with it being well-known since last summer that the Magpies were keen on the England U21 international as their future number one goalkeeper.

However, he looks set to return to boyhood employers Man City over making that expected next step to St James’ Park, but Newcastle won’t want to be up in arms about this for too long, considering they do have a dependable top-flight keeper already at the club in Nick Pope.

Whilst Trafford is the talk of the town back at Burnley for his unbelievable 29 clean sheets in Championship action last season, he has struggled in the top division previously, with a worrying 62 goals leaked across the 23/24 season with the Clarets.

On the contrary, Pope has always looked at ease with the same pressures on his back, as seen in his bumper 73 clean sheets at the elite level from 221 outings, with more pressing captures like Sesko’s now surely prioritised over seeking out improvements in net.

Alexander Isak

42

27

6

3319

Callum Wilson

22

1

0

474

William Osula

19

2

2

456

The table above really does hammer home why Newcastle are going all out to try and win some potent strikers this summer, with Isak leading the line on his own for most of the campaign, as Callum Wilson and William Osula only chipped in with a meagre three strikes in reserve.

With Wilson now off the Toon books, there is only the ex-Sheffield United youngster at Howe’s disposal away from the in-demand Swede, which is where Sesko might well come to the rescue.

Amazingly, Sesko – who has also been on Arsenal’s radar – would only find himself five short of Isak’s tally for Leipzig last campaign when registering a blistering 21 strikes, taking his overall count in Germany to a ridiculous 39 goals from 87 clashes.

One branded a “monster” by football journalist Eduardo Hagn for his ice-cold ability to fire home chance after chance, it does feel as if this is a splurge Newcastle can justify, especially if it goes down to the wire surrounding Isak’s future on Tyneside.

On the contrary, losing out on Trafford is unlikely to keep the Toon up at night for very long.

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استطاع إيرلينج هالاند، نجم نادي مانشستر سيتي، قيادة فريقه إلى الفوز اليوم الخميس على نظيره نابولي في مسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا في دور مرحلة الدوري.

هالاند سجل هدفًا ليقود مانشستر سيتي إلى انتصار مستحق على نابولي بهدفين مقابل لا شيء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى.

اقرأ أيضًا .. جوارديولا: اجتزنا أسبوعًا صعبًا.. ولاعب مانشستر سيتي لا يمكن إيقافه

هالاند استطاع بلوغ هدفه الخمسين في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا ، وهو بعمر الـ25 عامًا فقط.

واحتاج هالاند إلى 49 مباراة فقط في مختلف مسيرته مع ريد بول سالزبورج النمساوي، وبوروسيا دورتموند الألماني، وأخيرًا مانشستر سيتي من أجل بلوغ هدفه الـ50 في دوري الأبطال.

وحطم هالاند رقم أسطورة ريال مدريد ومانشستر يونايتد، رود فان نيستلروي الذي وصل إلى 50 هدفًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد 62 مشاركة.

كما أصبح هالاند الهداف العاشر في دوري أبطال أوروبا متجاوزًا أسطورة ريال مدريد الراحل، ألفريدو دي ستيفانو برصيد 49 هدفًا.

وتساوى الآن هالاند مع نجم برشلونة وآرسنال السابق، تييري هنري الذي يمتلك 50 هدفًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا من 112 مشاركة.

وجاءت أهداف هالاند الـ50 في دوري أبطال أوروبا بواقع 27 هدفًا مع مانشستر سيتي، و15 هدفًا مع دورتموند، وثمانية أهداف مع سالزبورج.

ولم يحتاج هالاند كذلك أكثر من 105 مباريات ليصل إلى 100 هدف مع مانشستر سيتي معادلًا بذلك رقم الأسطورة كريستيانو رونالدو.

A new season will soon dawn, and for Arsenal, it’s the same objective: challenge for and win the Premier League.

Having finished second for three successive campaigns, Mikel Arteta knows that this year is a big one, with the Gunners in desperate need of crowning this resurgent era with silverware.

But it’s coming together, no doubt. Bukayo Saka is fully fit once again after an injury-hit 2024/25 season; Viktor Gyokeres has signed for £63.5m to end the interminable search for a focal striker.

But a first-class left-sided forward could still be added to complete the set. Not since the days of Alexis Sanchez have Arsenal had a world-class weapon on that wing.

But it’s beginning to look like such a signing could be on the cards.

Arsenal lining up new winger

Many names have been bandied about this summer, but Arsenal are reaching a point in their transfer window in which the fog will start to clear and Arteta’s final market plans will crystallise.

Fabrizio Romano claimed at the weekend that, with Gyokeres now part of the crew, the Londoners are “working on outgoings as priority” before addressing the left flank, which could do with a new part.

But when they are ready to pounce, it looks like Arsenal have lined up Eberechi Eze as their new man.

According to Caught Offside, the Gunners should be wary of rising interest from Manchester’s biggest clubs for the Three Lions star, though it’s stressed that Arsenal remain firm favourites after their sustained efforts over the past weeks.

Previous reports have revealed that Arsenal have seen an opening bid partially accepted. To be more specific, a fixed £30m fee has been agreed between the clubs, though the structure of the remainder of Eze’s £68m release clause remains unsettled.

Why Arsenal should sign Eberechi Eze

There are many reasons why Eze would be a fantastic addition to Arteta’s Arsenal squad.

The 27-year-old, first and foremost, is an electric and versatile attacking midfielder, having gone from strength to strength across his five years at Selhurst Park, culminating his journey with the winning goal in last season’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Eze’s 25-goal contribution campaign underscores his ability to provide more than just a showreel style of play. He’s increasingly potent in the final third, capable of scoring goals himself and focusing on his creativity to aid the likes of Gyokeres.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for shots taken, the top 11% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

He’s quite the exciting player, all right, praised for his “special” talents by BBC Sports’ Phil McNulty.

In fact, Eze could prove to bring a bit of flair and gusto to this Arsenal side in a way that would bear a likeness to that man Sanchez, who scored 80 goals and supplied 44 assists across 166 games for the Gunners, way back when.

Obviously, Eze isn’t as good as the 36-year-old was when in his Premier League prime. It wouldn’t be a bad take to claim that he was the best player in England at the height of his success at the Emirates.

Matches (starts)

38 (36)

34 (31)

Goals

24

8

Assists

10

8

Shots (on target)*

3.4 (1.3)

3.0 (0.9)

Touches*

65.0

46.6

Pass completion

74%

82%

Big chances created

10

11

Key passes

2.2

1.7

Dribbles*

2.8

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

1.4

Duels won*

6.4

4.8

Sanchez really was on another level in his Arsenal heyday, wasn’t he? Eze, obviously, isn’t at that level, but he shares many attributes with the thrill-seeking Chilean, and it’s something Arteta could use to shape him into a world-beater at the present day.

Bear in mind, furthermore, that we’re contrasting Sanchez’s finest season in the Premier League against Eze’s latest with Crystal Palace. It wouldn’t be brazen to suggest that Eze’s most fruitful days lie in front of him, should he sign for Arsenal this summer.

Thus, it’s rather exciting to see how complete, tenacious, talented the England international is at this stage of his career, refined and built into the elite player he is, but still open to taking the next step and reaching the pinnacle.

Similarities can be traced from here to Sanchez, who established himself as a high-class forward at Barcelona but lingered in the shadow of one of football’s greatest-ever frontlines: MSN.

At Arsenal, he bloomed into an iconic frontman, hailed by Arsene Wenger as being a truly “exceptional footballer”.

He wasn’t a spring chicken when he first arrived in the English capital. The South American chose Arsenal despite the vested interest of Liverpool, penned a deal worth £35m in July 2014. He was 25 at the time.

Given that the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in Eze right now, it seems Arsenal may be primed to pull off another statement signing, reeling in a player who has his heart set on north London red.

Eze is in his prime, and he’s got a taste for trophies that could be used to spearhead this project further, up and up past these years of fighting for honours and onto the biggest, grandest stage there is: winning the Premier League, sealing the Champions League, and then defending these prizes which the talented squad so desperately desire.

Given the quality of the current Arsenal attacking crop, it feels crucial that Arteta and Berta come together to get this one wrapped up.

Better than Trossard & Martinelli: Arsenal chasing £56m Eze alternative

Arsenal are looking to sign a creative player before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 28, 2025

Celtic have been busy throughout the summer transfer window as they set about trying to improve the squad that Brendan Rodgers has to work with next season.

There has been plenty of business done already, with the likes of Benjamin Nygren, Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Callum Osmand, and Hayato Inamura all arriving at Parkhead.

However, the £1.7m that they have reportedly paid to sign Nygren is the biggest fee that has been spent, which means that they have yet to reinvest much of the reported £16.5m that Como have spent on Nicolas Kuhn.

Scottish broadcaster Hugh Keevins recently offered his thoughts on the window, writing: ‘Why don’t we just buy somebody terrific? Corporate negligence would be not re-investing the money for the betterment of the team. Celtic can’t afford to mis-manage this transfer window. They’re so good at it that if they fell out of the transfer window they’d go up.’

Last summer, Celtic made sure that they reinvested the money that they got for Matt O’Riley with a club-record deal for Arne Engels, who has turned out to be an excellent signing for the club.

Why Arne Engels has been worth the money for Celtic

The Scottish Premiership champions reportedly splashed out a club-record fee of £11m to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga side Augsburg ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It was a statement signing for Celtic because they were willing to spend big money to bring in a top-quality player to bolster their squad, and he proved his worth on the pitch.

The 21-year-old central midfielder ended his first season in Scottish football with a haul of 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

His £11m price tag naturally created plenty of hype around him ahead of last season, given the money involved and the prospect of his potential to deliver on the pitch, and he lived up to it.

The midfield maestro’s performances in the Champions League, as Celtic reached the play-off round, also showed that they signed a player who can perform at the very top level.

xAG

0.25

Top 7%

Assists

0.37

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

3.11

Top 29%

Key passes

2.24

Top 6%

Percentage of dribblers tackled

71.4%

Top 9%

Tackles made

2.49

Top 28%

Passes blocked

1.12

Top 27%

As you can see in the table above, Engels stacked up well against his positional peers in several key offensive and defensive metrics, which shows that he provided an impressive box-to-box presence in the middle of the park for the Hoops.

His overall output in front of goal and his performances in the Champions League show that he lived up to the hype as a top-class performer for Celtic, which is why there may not be too many complaints about the fee paid for him at this point.

Celtic, however, may not have to spend a record transfer fee, or any transfer fee, to secure this summer’s version of their deal to bring Engels to the club.

Instead, Brendan Rodgers could land a high-profile free agent who could arrive at Parkhead with the same level of fanfare that the move to sign the Belgian whiz was met with.

Transfer Focus

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

Earlier this month, CaughtOffside named the Hoops as one of a number of clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United, interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.

The former England international left Everton at the end of last month and the report claimed that he is set to demand £100k-per-week in wages, which is why it could still be an expensive deal for Celtic despite the lack of a transfer fee.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be this summer's Engels for Celtic

Snapping up the 28-year-old striker would be this summer’s Engels signing for Rodgers because it would involve committing a huge amount of money to a marquee addition, albeit in wages rather than a transfer fee.

The likes of Newcastle, who are in the Champions League, and Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, being interested in Calvert-Lewin illustrates the quality he possesses and shows why the forward would likely join Celtic to much fanfare if they were to win the race for his signature.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the experienced striker only scored three goals in 26 appearances in the Premier League for the Toffees, as he found himself on the bench behind Beto.

However, Calvert-Lewin has scored 57 goals in 279 games in the English top-flight, including a 16-goal haul in the 2020/21 season, which shows that he is a proven Premier League goalscorer who could provide huge quality in front of goal in Scottish football.

Take Adam Idah as a relevant example. The Ireland international scored one goal in 29 games for Norwich in the Premier League, yet he has plundered 21 goals in 50 outings in the Scottish Premiership.

Now imagine the kind of numbers that a proven Premier League goalscorer could put up as Celtic’s main number nine next season. It is an exciting prospect and one that could generate a lot of fanfare, should the club win the race for Calvert-Lewin.

Richarlison comparing the forward to the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo does not help to temper excitement. The Brazilian attacker once said: “He must be a nightmare to play against and he has an incredible leap on him like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Calvert-Lewin may leap like Ronaldo but he does not appear to have the durability of the Portuguese legend, as he has suffered from too many injuries in recent seasons.

24/25

2

15

23/24

3

6

22/23

4

29

21/22

2

33

20/21

2

5

As you can see in the table above, the former England international struggled in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns in particular, but also missed 15 games last season.

This means that Celtic will have to way up the risk versus the reward in this transfer race because there is the potential for him to be a prolific, marquee, striker signing and this summer’s Engels, but there is also the risk that may not be available enough to make a significant impact.

Celtic could sign better ST than Yamada in swoop for "tireless" £9m star

Celtic could sign an even better striker than Shin Yamada by moving to bring this star to Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Jul 12, 2025

Given the potential upside, this is one that Rodgers should be pushing the club to get over the line if there is a realistic chance of getting it done.

Ipswich Town have made an offer worth a total of more than £8m to sign a player who Kieran McKenna has publicly praised.

Ipswich Town summer signings so far with bid accepted for Hackney

The Tractor Boys and McKenna are preparing for life back in the Championship ahead of the 2025/26 season and have been active in the transfer market as they eye an immediate return to the Premier League.

So far, Ipswich have brought in four new players, with Azor Matusiwa being the most expensive from Ligue 1 side Rennes.

Azor Matusiwa

Rennes

£7.8m

Ashley Young

Everton

Free

David Button

Reading

Free

Cedric Kipre

Reims

Loan

However, the Championship transfer record could soon be smashed with Ipswich having a £20m offer accepted for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney.

The midfielder is now considering his future, with Boro boss Rob Edwards recently speaking on Hackney’s proposed move to Ipswich.

“I can’t say too much more right now than what’s already been said [that an offer has been accepted]. The ball, so to speak, is in H’s [Hackney] court now, and that’s where we stand.

“I think it’s a win-win, and I’m happy to reassure fans of that and to be calm about the situation. If H stays here, he’s a brilliant player and he’s ours which is great. If he’s not, there will be funds available.”

Ipswich Town make contact to sign in-demand Sadio Mane-esque £17m forward

The Tractor Boys have made an approach for a centre-forward, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 27, 2025

However, he isn’t the only midfielder wanted at Portman Road, with an offer now made for another target who Tractor Boys fans know well.

Ipswich Town make bid worth total £8.2m to re-sign Cajuste

According to reports on Friday, relayed by The East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Town have made an offer to bring Jens Cajuste back to the club from Napoli.

The proposal on the table from Ipswich consists of a €2m (£1.7m) loan fee, with an option to buy that becomes mandatory in case of a return to the Premier League for €7.5m (£6.5m).

Worth £8.2m in total, Cajuste has also been linked with Premier League sides Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as Turkish side Besiktas.

Ipswich’s midfield has seen an overhaul this summer, with McKenna without Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo, while Kalvin Phillips and Cajuste returning to their parent clubs following their loan spells.

Therefore, Matusiwa, Hackney and Cajuste for 25/26 could be a strong engine room. Speaking back in May, McKenna called Cajuste one of Ipswich’s “top performers” in 24/25 when asked about the chances of re-signing the midfielder.

Now, it looks as if that is on the cards, making this one to watch.