Opener suffered injury while taking catch off final ball of Pakistsn’s first innings in Multan

Matt Roller08-Oct-2024England are sweating on Ben Duckett’s availability to bat in their first Test against Pakistan in Multan, after he was unable to open their innings due to a suspected dislocation of his left thumb.Duckett was fielding at slip when Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan’s No. 11, steered a short ball from Joe Root straight into the tip of his thumb. He held onto the catch at the second attempt but immediately winced in pain, and received treatment from England’s doctor Glen Rae as he walked off the field.Ollie Pope opened alongside Zak Crawley in Duckett’s place, and fell second-ball to a flying catch at midwicket from Aamer Jamal, but England did not lose another wicket in the remainder of the 20-over batting stint, reaching 96 for 1 at the close.An England spokesperson said that the team are hoping Duckett’s injury will settle down overnight and that he is not due to go for a scan, but it was not clear on Tuesday evening whether he will be available to bat on the third day.Related

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It would be a significant blow for England to lose Duckett, not least after opting to continue with their six-batter, five-bowler formation in the absence of Ben Stokes. He was England’s second-highest run-scorer in their 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan two years ago and, with an average of 44.05 in 23 Tests since his recall for that tour, has emerged as one of their most important players.Stokes is targeting the second Test for his comeback from a torn hamstring and stepped up his recovery on Tuesday. He took slip catches and did some high-intensity running before play started, batted in the nets behind the Waqar Younis Stand for around 45 minutes at lunch, and bowled three overs at tea with James Anderson – back with the squad after competing in a pro-am golf tournament last week – watching on.England’s resources for the second Test are already depleted, with Olly Stone unlikely to feature after flying home for his wedding in the UK on Saturday. If Duckett is unavailable, he could either be replaced in England’s XI by the spare batter Jordan Cox – who has opened for Kent early in his first-class career – or by Stokes, with a reshuffled batting line-up.

كشفت تقارير صحفية سعودية، عن موافقة الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، على طلب النادي الأهلي السعودي قبل مواجهة بيراميدز، في كأس إنتركونتيننتال.

ويلتقي بيراميدز مع الأهلي السعودي، مساء الثلاثاء 23 سبتمبر في تمام التاسعة مساءً، على ملعب الإنماء (الجوهرة المشعة) بمدينة جدة،

ويلعب نادي بيراميدز ضد الأهلي السعودي، في إطار مواجهات دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال، والمنافسة على لقب كأس القارات الثلاثة.

وكان بيراميدز قد استطاع أن يحقق الفوز على أوكلاند سيتي النيوزيلندي بنتجة 3-0، في المباراة التي أقيمت بالقاهرة ضمن مواجهات الدور التمهيدي الأول للبطولة العالمية.

طالع | صور | بعثة بيراميدز تصل جدة استعدادًا لمواجهة الأهلي السعودي في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال

وقالت صحيفة الرياضية السعودية، إن الأهلي تلقى موافقة فيفا، على “التيفو” الذي طلب النادي السماح به قبل صافرة انطلاق المباراة، وعلى إثر ذلك ستبدأ رابطة مشجعيه في تجهيز “التيفو” وتركيبه على المدرجات المخصصة لهم.

وتابعت الصحيفة: “أعدت الرابطة أهزوجة جديدة بعنوان فخر الوطن، سيرددها أعضاؤها خلال المباراة، التي سيرفع الفائز فيها كأس آسيا وإفريقيا والمحيط الهادي”.

ووجهت رابطة مشجعي الأهلي الدعوة إلى جمهور الفريق للتجمع، الأحد والإثنين، عند مدخل اللاعبين إلى الحصص التدريبية في مقر النادي، من أجل تحفيزهم قبل مواجهة الثلاثاء.

David Moyes has signed only three players for Everton this summer, but as the weeks progress, there will likely be several more making the move to Merseyside.

More importantly, however, is the news that Moyes managed to secure defender Jarrad Branthwaite down to a new four-year contract extension with the Toffees.

This could be crucial regarding Everton’s chances of breaking back into the top half of the Premier League table next season, especially with several clubs sniffing around the player.

It proves that the club are heading in the right direction, especially judging by the quality of their signings.

Carlos Alcaraz did spend time on loan at Everton last season, but his permanent move will improve Moyes’ midfield options.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaving the club upon the expiration of his contract, signing another striker or two was a key priority for the manager.

As such, a deal to secure the signature of Thierno Barry was completed a couple of weeks ago.

The centre-forward may have cost the Toffees around £27m from La Liga side Villarreal, but this may just turn out to be a wise piece of business.

Why Everton signed Thierno Barry

While Calvert-Lewin didn’t exactly bring goals to the side last season – scoring only three all season – losing a forward meant Moyes had to be active in the transfer market.

Barry was the player earmarked as a major target, and for good reason. Last season, the French starlet scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists for Villarreal across all competitions.

Furthermore, the striker also showcased his creative side by creating seven big chances for his teammates, proving that he offers much more than just a goal threat.

He played in the U21 European Championship for France this summer, scoring once for his country as they reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Germany.

Despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France, Barry also created two big chances, averaged two shots per game and missed four big chances.

If given more of a chance in the team, he may have had a bigger influence, no doubt about that.

This all sets him up nicely for the 2025/26 season, where he will be taking on some of the finest defenders in the world.

Should Barry live up to his potential, Moyes may have unearthed a stunning talent who will certainly secure them a stunning profit in the coming years.

While a promising signing, the Frenchman wont be able to lead the Toffees’ frontline on his own, especially with the pressure to score plenty during his maiden season.

Moyes must now be looking to bring in another centre-forward ahead of the new season, one who could offer similar sort of qualities to those of Barry.

With this in mind, it appears the Scot is targeting a move for someone who shone in what was their debut season in European football.

Everton enquire about move for new striker

Moyes was keen on signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, but that ship has now sailed with the Irishman bound for AS Roma. Additionally, Nick Woltemade was also a target, but Bayern Munich were also keen on the German.

One striker who has been on the club’s list for some time is Hamza Igamane, who shone for Glasgow Rangers last season.

Indeed, it was after his performance against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2024 that initially saw the Toffees linked with the Moroccan.

While a January move was never in the question, it looks as though Igamane could be on the move this summer.

It looked as though Lille were closing in on the youngster, but according to reports on the continent, Moyes might well be back in the frame for him.

The report read: “LOSC Lille struggling in their negotiations with Rangers for Hamza Igamane. Despite a personal agreement with the Moroccan, the deal’s still on hold. In the meantime, Feyenoord entered the race. Everton and Udinese have also made enquiries.”

Rangers have placed a £20m valuation on one of their prized assets, but this shouldn’t be an issue to the Merseyside outfit.

Should Everton win the race, Igamane could turn out to be Barry 2.0 given their similarities on the pitch.

Why Everton must sign Hamza Igamane

Igamane certainly made his mark for Rangers last season. Across 46 games in all competitions, he scored 16 goals, including strikes against Celtic, Spurs and Nice.

It is no wonder several clubs are chasing his signature after his performances for the Gers, especially in Europe.

Hamza Igamane’s Rangers stats last season

Metric

Premiership

Europa League

Goals

12

4

Assists

1

1

Goal conversion percentage

13%

29%

Big chances created

10

1

Shots per game

2.6

1.4

Via Sofascore

In the Europa League, Igamane recorded an impressive 29% goal conversion percentage, while also registering 1.4 shots on goal.

Ben Mattinson hailed his character last season, saying: “Hamza Igamane is such a Barclaysman type forward. Completely unpredictable, tonnes of flair and trickery. The type of player to try outrageous moves/shots just because.”

Interestingly, both he and Barry offered similar traits last season. According to FBref, both players performed well in front of goal, registering 18 and 20 goal contributions across both domestic and European competitions.

Elsewhere, the duo also registered similar figures when it came to shots per 90 (3.88 vs 3.02), shot on target percentage (39% vs 36%), goal-creating actions (4 vs 6 ) and successful take-ons (17 vs 18) last season.

This proves that the pair won’t just offer Everton a threat in front of goal, but that they can also create chances for others and are willing to take on opposition defenders on a regular basis.

With both Barry and Igamane in the same team, there is no reason why Everton can’t make the top half of the Premier League next season.

Indeed, if both players take to the top flight with ease, can a European place perhaps be secured also? It is a long shot, but Moyes has finally rejuvenated the club after years of stagnation.

Another striker is crucial. By bringing in Igamane, Moyes will be able to replicate his Barry masterclass.

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jul 21, 2025

Glasgow Rangers have less than two weeks to prepare for their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season.

Russell Martin’s side fought back to draw 2-2 against Club Brugge last week, with the second-half performance more in line with what the manager wants to see from his squad this term.

The clash against Panathinaikos will be a much tougher affair, however, but the former Southampton boss has wasted no time in signing the players that will fit his tactical system.

Indeed, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have all made the move to Ibrox in recent weeks.

It is a solid start, but there are still other areas which require improvement. Martin has been linked with making a move for Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth recently in a bid to challenge Jack Butland between the sticks.

Martin also appears keen to bring in a couple of wingers to the squad during the transfer window. At the time of writing, only Ross McCausland, Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are available to the manager on either flank.

As such, several names have been linked with a move. Djeidi Gassama looks close to sealing a switch to the Light Blues, but just what can he offer the club?

Rangers closing in on signing Djeidi Gassama

Adding two or three high-quality wingers this summer could make all the difference for Rangers throughout the season.

Transfer Focus

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

If you take away the 18 goals and nine assists notched up by Vaclav Cerny, the remaining widemen in the squad registered just nine goal contributions between them.

Another campaign without greater contributions from the wingers will see the Gers finish second behind Celtic once again.

Metric

Cerny

McCausland

Matondo

Goals

12

0

2

Assists

4

1

2

Key passes per game

2.5

0.6

0.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

0.8

1.3

Big chances created

6

0

2

Shots per game

2.9

1.2

1.7

As such, a move for Gassama sounds promising indeed, especially judging by his performances for Sheffield Wednesday.

The left-winger came through the PSG youth system, before making the move to Belgium in 2022. A year later, the Owls came calling and the 21-year-old has scored 12 goals and grabbed four assists across 84 matches for the club.

Amid the links to the exciting youngster, content creator and scout, Kai Watson, profiled Gassama, saying:

“He’s capable of producing moments of brilliance although hasn’t quite hit a consistency level with his end product yet. He loves carrying the ball, running at defenders and has great close control in tight areas.

“Sheffield Wednesday fans have suggested that he’s unstoppable on his day but can be frustrating at times.”

Depending on the fee, this move could either turn out to be a masterstroke, or it will end in disappointment.

Given the need for wingers to arrive and settle straight into the first-team squad, if Gassama does wrap up a move soon, he will need to lay down a marker swiftly.

He isn’t the only winger being linked with a move to Ibrox, as Martin has clearly targeted several in the hopes of signing two or more this summer.

Latest on Rangers' search for a winger

As well as Gassama, the Light Blues have been touted as making moves for David Brooks, Thierno Ballo and even Josh Windass in recent weeks.

It is clear the Ibrox side aren’t going to be able to sign every winger they are linked with. That’s for sure.

According to Sky Sports reporter Sahil Jaidka, the Light Blues are seemingly “weighing up” a move for Hull City star Abu Kamara in the coming days.

Kamara has been with the Tigers since last summer, but it looks as though he wants out of the club. They are suffering financial issues, which could open the door for Martin to perhaps seal him for a knockdown price.

He has plenty of experience down south. The question is, would he be a better signing than Gassama for the manager?

Why Rangers must sign Abu Kamara

Throughout his embryonic career thus far, Kamara has already racked up 95 senior appearances for Hull, Portsmouth and Norwich, scoring 16 goals and grabbing 15 assists for these clubs.

He shone for Portsmouth during the 2023/24 campaign, recording 18 goal involvements in League One as the club secured a place back in the second tier.

Kamara returned to the Championship last season and performed fairly well for Hull, chipping in with eight goal contributions.

The 21-year-old also managed to create seven big chances for the Tigers in the Championship, while also grabbing three assists and finishing the season with a 14% goal conversion percentage.

In comparison, Gassama could only create three big chances, recorded a single assist and finished the campaign with a 10% goal conversion percentage.

Furthermore, Kamara also delivered more crosses into the attacking penalty area last season compared to Gassama (55 vs 44), while he also registered more goals and assists per game (0.32 vs 0.24) than the Sheffield Wednesday starlet.

These statistics show that there is not much between the pair of wingers. Ideally, Martin would look to sign both in the coming weeks, really giving his Rangers squad a boost heading into the Champions League qualifiers.

The £5k-per-week winger has been lauded for his ability in the past, with former teammate Conor Shaughnessy lavishing the most praise on his talents, describing him as a “dangerous” talent on the right wing.

Kamara has the potential to truly shine in Scotland should he secure a move to Ibrox this summer. The chance to challenge for trophies and play European football should be enough of an enticement for the youngster.

If so, Martin would be bolstering his options on the right flank. That much is certain.

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Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi among South Africa players up for grabs

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2024Fast bowlers Shamar Joseph, Naseem Shah, Josh Little and Josh Hull are among the overseas players who will be up for grabs in the upcoming SA20 auction. Nearly 200 players, including 115 South Africans, have made the shortlist, but only 13 spots are to be filled up by the six franchises.Paarl Royals have the biggest purse of R11.95m to spend at the auction. MI Cape Town are next with R8.275m, followed by Pretoria Capitals’ with a purse of R4.575m.Joburg Super Kings have R3.925m while back-to-back champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape have R2.845m in their bag. As for Durban’s Super Giants, they have R2.35m remaining in their purse.Related

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New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, Sri Lanka allrounder Kamindu Mendis and Afghanistan wristspinner Qais Ahmad are among other overseas attractions in the shortlist.”Some of the biggest names on the international T20 circuit have already signed up for season 3 and I am looking forward to see how the teams finalise their squads from this competitive auction list of players,” Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain and current SA20 commissioner, said.Reeza Hendricks, who was released by Super Kings, is perhaps the most high-profile South African in the shortlist along with fellow opener Tony de Zorzi.All squads are required to have 19 players, with a minimum of ten South African players, a maximum of seven international players, a rookie, and a wildcard player.Barring Super Kings, all franchises have announced their wildcard picks. Notably, Paarl Royals picked former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik as their wildcard. Having retired from Indian and international cricket in June earlier this year, Karthik will become the first Indian to feature in the SA20.Super Kings have until December 30 to lock in their wildcard player.The SA20 2025 auction will take place on October 1 and the tournament will begin on January 9, clashing with Australia’s Big Bash League, UAE’s ILT20 and New Zealand’s Super Smash.ESPNcricinfo LtdSquads ahead of SA20 auctionDurban’s Super Giants: Brandon King (West Indies), Quinton De Kock, Naveen Ul Haq (Afghanistan), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Chris Woakes (England), Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Noor Ahmed (Afghanistan), Heinrich Klaasen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis (Australia)Joburg Super Kings: Faf Du Plessis, Moeen Ali (England), Jonny Bairstow (England), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Devon Conway (New Zealand), Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese (Namibia), Leus Du Plooy (England), Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Imran Tahir, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz ShamsiMI Cape Town: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Ben Stokes (England), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult (New Zealand), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka), Connor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Rassie Van der Dussen, Thomas Kaber, Chris Benjamin (England), Corbin BoschPretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand), Will Jacks (England), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Liam Livingstone (England), Will Smeed (England), Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Eathan Bosch, Wayne Parnell, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Steve Stolk, Tiaan van VuurenPaarl Royals: David Miller, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Sam Hain (England), Joe Root (England), Dinesh Karthik (India), Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Van Buuren, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, John Turner (England), Dayyaan Galiem, Jacob Bethell (England)Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram, Zak Crawley (England), Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands), Liam Dawson (England), Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Caleb Seleka, Tristan Stubbs, Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Craig Overton (England), Tom Abell (England), Simon Harmer, Andile Simelane, David Bedingham

Olly Stone will fly home from England’s tour of Pakistan on Wednesday ahead of his wedding this weekend, and appears unlikely to return in time to be considered for the second Test.Stone took seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka at the end of the English summer, which were his first caps for three years in the format. Brydon Carse was preferred as England’s high-pace option for the first Test in Multan, which started on Monday, which has freed Stone up to fly home earlier than initially planned ahead of his wedding on Saturday.The date of Stone’s return is unconfirmed and may depend on the status of England’s other fast bowlers after the first Test. But with a very tight turnaround between his wedding and Tuesday’s second Test, he is unlikely to feature. Carse, Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes are the three seamers picked to play in the first Test, with Matthew Potts the other fast bowler in the squad.England’s management are understood to be happy for Stone to leave Pakistan, given he was not included in their last batch of central contracts and his wedding was arranged long before his recall. He spoke to Rob Key and Brendon McCullum – England’s managing director and coach respectively – before the tour, who agreed that he should head home to get married.”We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time,” Stone recently told the BBC. “Jess said she was happy to move the wedding and I was adamant on keeping it where it was if possible. For what she has given up and sacrificed for me, I thought the least I could do was to try and make it work.”In a previous era, the seamer Tony Pigott postponed his own wedding at short notice in order to play what proved to be his only Test on England’s 1984 tour to New Zealand. More recently, contracted players have rescheduled weddings due to clashes: Joe Root said on Saturday that he and his wife Carrie had rearranged their own “three times because of different tours”.Root said that Stone would leave the tour with his teammates’ best wishes. “It’s a special time in anyone’s life,” he said. “I’m really excited for him. I’m sure he is all over the place with everything that’s going on, but it’ll be very special for him – and his wife – starting a different chapter in his life. We’ll all be raising a cold water to him at some point, celebrating.”

Delhi Capitals co-owner says former England batter was “common link” with Rod Bransgrove

Matt Roller30-Sep-2024

Kevin Pietersen played for Hampshire and for GMR’s Delhi Daredevils•Philip Brown/Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen helped to broker the landmark deal between the co-owners of Delhi Capitals and Hampshire, ESPNcricinfo can reveal. After lengthy talks, Hampshire announced a new “strategic partnership” with the GMR Group on Monday, which Pietersen hailed as a “historic day in English cricket”.Pietersen, who played for Hampshire from 2005-10, spent three years under contract with the Delhi franchise in the IPL, then called the Daredevils, and captained them in 2014. He has since maintained a personal relationship with Kiran Kumar Grandhi, GMR’s chairman, and the pair attended England’s T20I against Australia at the Utilita Bowl together earlier this month.While Pietersen does not have any active business interest in GMR or Hampshire, he is understood to have introduced the two parties to one another in an informal role. “HISTORIC DAY in English Cricket! Congrats to everyone on this journey,” he wrote on X, in response to the deal’s formal announcement. “It’s only the start…. LFG! [Let’s f***ing go].”Pietersen (left) and Grandhi (right) in conversation at IPL 2014•BCCI

Rod Bransgrove, who chairs Hampshire’s parent company, said that he had spent 18 months speaking to potential investors from “all over the world” and that “four or five” parties had placed formal bids. Bransgrove said that GMR were ultimately chosen because of their “ethos”, “family orientation” and commitment to “social responsibility.”Bransgrove confirmed that Pietersen played a part in the deal: “Kevin takes an ambassadorial role for GMR and we’ve certainly spoken to him once or twice. He’s been very interested in the potential for this because, obviously, he knows the GMR culture, he knows our culture, and he knows that they’re very well suited to each other. In that respect, yes, he has been involved.”Grandhi, whose son Ruchir is also involved at Delhi, told ESPNcricinfo that Pietersen was “the common link” between him and Bransgrove. “He is a good friend,” Grandhi said. “He knows Rod. He knows me. He is the common link: he is a mutual friend.”Will GMR buy Southern Brave?GMR are front-runners to buy a 49% stake in Southern Brave as part of the ECB’s privatisation of the Hundred and have expressed their interest to Raine, the US investment bank who are running the sales process. Bransgrove said the agreement pre-dated any speculation about changes to the Hundred’s ownership model and should not be seen as a back-door attempt to invest in a franchise.Related

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“When we struck this deal with GMR, we said that a part of our asset base is a one-nineteenth interest in the financial benefit of the Hundred competition, less a 10% consideration which goes to the grassroots game,” Bransgrove said. “They made a valuation of that in terms of calculating the overall value of the package.”Subsequent to that, there’s been all sorts of talk about providing 51% ownership to host venues and then selling the other 49% and ‘will this prejudice that?’ and all those kind of things. What we’ve inserted is that there will be an uplift in the value that’s been ascribed… in the event that we are awarded a franchise – which, of course, we’ve only been awarded in principle so far.”This is still under debate because it is contingent on us finding a market value based bidder for the other 49%. The deal is not contingent on getting a Hundred franchise… it’s something we’ve agreed between us and there will be a further-stage payment in the event that a Hundred franchise is allocated to the Utilita Bowl or Hampshire Cricket during the period before final closing.”If the franchise stays with Hampshire as anticipated, it could either be run entirely by GMR or as a joint venture with another business. “I’ve spoken to at least two other potential interest parties,” Bransgrove said. “That’s out of my gift, what happens to the 49%, but it can only sell to a related party if it’s at a true market value – which I’m certain that Raine will be monitoring.”Southern Brave play their home games at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Bransgrove: I want Hampshire at ‘top table’The Utilita Bowl will host its first men’s Ashes Test in 2027 and Bransgrove said that the deal was informed by his desire to retain the “leadership position” at English cricket’s “top table” assumed by the award of that fixture.”It’s going to be business as usual for Hampshire, except with the confidence of having GMR behind this,” Bransgrove said. “What will change over a period of time is that we will start to benefit from the proliferation of cricket around the globe in the franchise format: although I can’t disclose where, it’s likely that we will participate in an overseas franchise competition in November.”It is just a great opportunity all round. There’s no doubt in my mind that this country in particular is quite resistant to change. It’s quite a traditional country; in fact, worse than that, we resent change. And some people will tend to blame the Hundred for every single thing that goes wrong in their lives.”Clever businesses recognise the trends and position themselves to be able to exploit the trends to the benefit of their business, and that’s what I’m seeking to do here. I don’t think I’ll be the last person to do it, and I think it’s going to be very good for Hampshire cricket ultimately, as private ownership has been to the game at large.”

Liverpool are having quite the transfer window. Hugo Ekitike has scarcely been welcomed aboard the Reds’ pre-season tour in Asia and already sights have been set on Alexander Isak.

The Newcastle United striker has long been FSG’s dream target at number nine, and having informed the Magpies of his desire to explore a move away from St. James’ Park, Liverpool are ready to make their move.

What happens next is unclear, but there’s no question that FSG’s ambitions are to stay atop this mountain Arne Slot’s squad have scaled.

And, would you believe it, there’s more to come before September is upon us.

Liverpool lining up Isak partner

While it might seem fanciful that Liverpool could welcome a few more attacking additions having now announced the £79m signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike, there remain a few more cards the club can play.

Namely, with Bayern Munich set to lodge their second bid for Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez still anticipated to leave Merseyside in the coming weeks, there’s little question that FSG could authorise a big-money move for another versatile forward.

So then, as per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are still tracking Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon as FSG continue their large-scale rebuild, though the Magpies would want as much as £100m if they were to sell.

Still, Gordon is of a long-standing interest to the Anfield side, having left their academy as an 11-year-old and come close to a transfer last summer.

Why Liverpool should sign Anthony Gordon

Gordon, 24, is an out-and-out winger, though he can also play in a more central berth when required. In this way, he could be the perfect replacement for Diaz, who is looking more and more likely to leave for Germany in the coming weeks.

Left winger

124

26

29

Right winger

53

8

8

Attacking midfield

21

13

2

Centre-forward

16

5

1

But more importantly, he could be Isak’s dream teammate at Liverpool, linking right back up with his Magpies dance partner on the left flank, supplying him with assists and seeing the favour returned.

A tenacious, hard-working winger, the Three Lions star is known for his versatile attacking approach and his high-speed running, capable of stretching lines and drawing defenders away for number nines like Isak and inside forwards like Mohamed Salah to find space and strike on goal.

And while he’s not renowned for his prolificness, the one-time Everton starlet has still notched 21 goals and 22 assists across all competitions over the past couple of seasons, making good on the praise that he is an “exceptional” forward, as has been said by football scout Antonio Mango.

This brand of football might also play into Wirtz’s hands (or, more precisely, his feet), for the German midfielder’s first-class playmaking could be directed down multiple avenues with two athletic talents in Isak and Gordon ahead of him.

Wirtz’s silky ball-carrying skills combine with an inborn creative flair which would elevate any talented forward, central or wide, across the globe.

Indeed, the 22-year-old ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for passes attempted, the top 7% for goal involvements, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

However, with a pairing such as Gordon and Isak, who have already crafted such seamless synergy, this could be a truly remarkable frontline, eclipsing the talented attacks of rivals across the continent.

Gordon, to whom Isak is “the best in Europe”, loves playing with such a dynamic and intelligent striker who is also a devastating marksman. Isak, after all, scored 27 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates last season, with movement and off-the-ball work making him so much more than just a goalscorer.

They couldn’t, could they? If Liverpool do manage to pull off this extraordinary double deal, the Reds would not only have one of the most talented and in-sync offensive duos in world football, but they would Wirtz lingering behind to feed them sharp balls with frightening consistency and style.

Scary hours for the rest of the Premier League.

Could be a bigger talent than Ekitike: Liverpool ready to bid for £51m ace

Liverpool aren’t done yet in the summer transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 23, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are apparently wasting no time on another transfer pursuit, right after they finally sealed a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

He'd be better than Rodrygo: Arsenal "are looking" at signing £100m winger

Arsenal are ready to complete their summer transfer window with a big-money signing.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 25, 2025

The last month of their summer window has been dominated by their chase for Gyökeres.

Two weeks ago, Arsenal agreed a deal in principle to sign the Swedish striker for £64 million, paying a £55m guaranteed fee plus around £9m in add-ons (The Athletic), but talks were held up over the structure of the aforementioned bonuses (GOAL).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£153m

However, earlier this week, Arteta’s side finally reached a breakthrough for the ex-Coventry City star, and Gyokeres is now set to become a new Arsenal player (Sky Sports).

The 27-year-old, who scored 54 goals in all competitions last season, became Berta’s primary target after the Gunners abandonded initial talks for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

After signing Gyokeres, attention is turning to their pursuit of a central attacking midfielder, as Arteta looks to add more creativity to his squad following their struggles against the low-block last campaign.

Arsenal confirmed Noni Madueke’s arrival last weekend, but aside from Gyokeres, the England international is their only attacking signing of the window. Their deal for Madueke, which attracted mixed reviews from supporters, was apparently pushed by Berta.

Madueke and Gyokeres, according to recent reports, could soon be joined by Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.

Eberechi Eze convinced he's going to join Arsenal

Arsenal are expected to accelerate their plans to sign Eze, and journalist Graeme Bailey has shared a very intriguing update in a piece for TBR Football.

According to the journalist, Eze has told friends that he’s going to join Arsenal this summer, following talks with the Gunners, and it is reported that Arteta’s side have held discussions with Palace too.

It is by no means a certainty that Arsenal will formally make a bid just yet, according to the journalist, as Berta is known for spinning many plates at once when it comes to transfer targets, and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo remains on their shortlist.

However, Bailey is convinced that there is a strong possibility Eze will sign for Arsenal by the end of next month.

“I am told that Eze remains firmly on Arsenal’s radar, and they have done plenty of work on him,” said Bailey.

“There is a very good chance that Eze will be an Arsenal player before the end of August.”

Eze bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Palace last season, including their FA Cup final-winning goal against Man City, and his release clause is believed to be around £60 million (plus a potential £8m if bonuses are reached).

Sunderland fans must be overwhelmed by the amount of quickfire business their club is involved in ahead of the Premier League getting underway next month.

Indeed, around £67m has been forked out already to land Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki, with this excessive spending necessary if the Black Cats want to mount a serious challenge at staving off the dreaded top-flight drop zone.

The ecstasy of promotion to the elite league has quickly been followed by excitement over what the next major signing Sunderland could make, with a few more expensive buys reportedly on their radar.

Sunderland's next summer signings

The whirlwind transfer activity coming out of the Stadium of Light shows no signs of slowing down.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports filtering out of Wearside indicate that their next intriguing purchase will come courtesy of Club Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi, with the 20-year-old once being tipped to join the likes of RB Leipzig in Germany, but could now be Le Bris’ next promising capture at around the £19.5m mark.

Yet, although the youngster coming in from Belgium possesses bags of potential, an even more exciting pick-up looks to be in the works involving the Black Cats landing Real Madrid sensation Gonzalo Garcia this summer.

As per reports from Spain, Sunderland have placed a bid worth £26m for the LaLiga attacker, with a £40m buy-back clause inserted into the deal to allow the Los Blancos to bring Garcia back to his boyhood employers if he explodes into life even more in England.

Off the back of his clinical, poacher-like abilities being on full display at the Club World Cup, Garcia could go down as an even more exciting signing than Talbi as Le Bris attempts to get the very best out of another up-and-coming talent, having already worked his magic on the likes of Jobe Bellingham.

Why Garcia is a more exciting signing than Talbi

The 20-year-old winger will be an enthralling signing in his own right, with Talbi’s strengths centring on the fact he can line up down both the right and left wing for Le Bris’ men this coming campaign. He’a also a goalscorer, boasting seven strikers in all competitions last season, two of which came about on Europe’s grandest stage in the Champions League.

Yet, Garcia out at the Club World Cup – from only five overall clashes – is just three strikes off matching Talbi’s entire season total for Brugge, with those instinctive finishes coming against the likes of Italian superpower Juventus and Bellingham’s new Black and Yellow employers.

Garcia’s G/A record at Real Madrid
Age bracket	Games	Goals	Assists
Castilla	73	30	7
Youth League	16	6	3
Senior team	11	5	2
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Amazingly, despite faces such as World Cup-winning Kylian Mbappe also leading the line for Xabi Alonso’s men, Garcia continues to steal the limelight, with his potency not just reserved for the pitches of the Club World Cup, as seen in his blistering 36 strikes playing in the Blancos youth picture.

On the contrary, his potential new £19.5m teammate can only boast a weaker 15 strikes across his playing days to date, with Talbi perhaps not ready to be an immediate starter down the right or left wing either, when you consider Le Bris has figures such as Patrick Roberts and Enzo Le Fee he can call into action on these flanks.

Whereas, in the case of the breakout Madrid number 30, he looks ready to challenge Wilson Isidor’s starting spot in England’s elite league, having been hailed as “incredible” off the back of his rich vein of goalscoring form in the pre-season tournament by scout Jacek Kulig.

He also has a goal and assist next to his name in both La Liga and Copa Del Rey action – but instead of sticking it out at the Santiago Bernabeu where options might still be limited even as he terrorises the likes of Juventus – Garcia could soon fancy a switch to Le Bris’ men to try and be a main starter week in week out.

After all, football analyst Ben Mattinson has even labelled the £26m man as a striker who “scores goals for fun.”

The proof will soon be in the pudding if he does relocate to Sunderland and his goals keep the Black Cats up in the Premier League.

Dream squad Sunderland could build: £112m spent on 7 signings after Talbi

Sunderland looks ready to take the Premier League by storm, with this being potentially what their dream squad could look like very soon.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 6, 2025