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Zimbabwe nosed ahead of Bangladesh after the second day’s play of the first Test in Sylhet with half-centuries from Brian Bennett and Sean Williams. Their lower order and tail also resisted to add 80 runs for the last four wickets that got them a lead of 82. They finished the day by breaking Bangladesh’s opening stand, and the hosts are still 25 runs behind.Bangladesh’s solace came in the form of Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s first five-wicket haul at home in nearly two-and-a-half years. He finished with 5 for 52 after speedster Nahid Rana picked up three wickets, including those of the openers. Zimbabwe strung together small partnerships after the opening stand of 69, often dominating periods of play.Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam in the evening for 4 in the fourth over, when a superb Blessing Muzarabani delivery had him edging to second slip. His opening partner Mahmudul Hasan Joy got a reprieve on 6 in the following over when wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo dropped a regulation chance to his right.Mahmudul finished the day unbeaten on 28, while Mominul Haque was on 15 when play was called off at 5.33pm.Rana earlier gave Bangladesh their first breakthrough when he banged in a bouncer towards Ben Curran’s chest. The left-hand opener only managed to tap it to short leg where Mominul completed the catch diving forward. It ended Zimbabwe’s impressive opening stand that lasted 16.5 overs.Rana then bowled a fuller delivery to get rid of Bennett, the other opener. Bennett was piercing the off-side field regularly, hitting eight of his ten boundaries in the range between backward point and cover. But when he looked to cut another ball square, it led to his downfall as he edged one behind on 57.Mehidy Hasan Miraz returned 5 for 52 but Zimbabwe still managed an 82-run lead•AFP/Getty Images

Hasan Mahmud joined in the act with a peach of an inswinger against No. 3 Nick Welch, who was bowled through the gate for 2. Captain Craig Ervine and Williams, Zimbabwe’s most experienced pair, steadied things for the next hour. They added 41 runs in 15 overs, before Rana had Ervine caught behind for 8.It was another short ball that reared up high on Ervine, who couldn’t get his bat out of the way. The ball brushed the face of his bat and he was caught behind by Jaker Ali. Williams forged another promising stand, this time with Wessly Madhevere, in the course of which Williams reached his fourth Test fifty. He did that in style too, sweeping Taijul Islam for a six and a four to reach the landmark.The 48-run partnership however ended when Madhevere played on to a Khaled Ahmed delivery, on 24. Williams too couldn’t kick on, mistiming a straight hit against Mehidy, caught by a tumbling Mahmudul running back from mid-off. Williams bent down in disbelief as he looked very well set, having scored 59 off 108 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.Despite all their frontline batters back in the pavilion, Zimbabwe continued to fight. Mayavo made an enterprising 35 off 54 balls, including five fours, but he fell shortly after tea when Mehidy trapped him lbw. Wellington Masakadza played out 42 balls for his 6, and became Mehidy’s third victim, caught at cover.The tall pair of Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava then took on the Bangladesh bowlers in a 36-run ninth-wicket stand. Muzarabani struck two fours and a massive six, over long-on, during his 17 off 16. Ngarava was unbeaten on 28 off 44 balls, including a lovely straight hit for a six off Mehidy. The offspinner finished things off when he had Muzarabani stumped and Victor Nyauchi caught in the covers, to complete his five-for.

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O técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo fez mistério e optou por não divulgar os jogadores relacionados pelo Corinthians para o Majestoso desta terça-feira (25), contra o São Paulo, pela partida de ida da semifinal da Copa do Brasil. A estratégia vem sendo adotada por Luxa em clássicos e decisões.

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+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

A principal dúvida envolve a presença de Matías Rojas, que sofreu uma entorse no pé esquerdo no empate do Timão com o Bahia, pelo Brasileirão. O paraguaio não teve lesão constatada, mas sim um trauma, e as chances dele atuar contra o São Paulo são remotas.

Após o empate em Salvador, Luxa despistou se seguirá com o esquema de três zagueiros ou retornará com uma linha de quatro na defesa. Independente do esquema, Róger Guedes, suspenso no final de semana, retornará ao time.

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Uma possível escalação do Corinthians para o Majestoso conta com: Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Murillo e Fábio Santos; Giuliano, Fausto Vera, Ruan Oliveira (Adson) e Renato Augusto; Róger Guedes e Yuri Alberto.

+ Timão avança? Veja datas e horários das semifinais da Copa do Brasil

No último treino antes da partida, Luxemburgo promoveu um trabalho tático e fez ajustes finais na equipe. O elenco alvinegro ficará concentrado no hotel Gildásio Miranda, dentro do CT Joaquim Grava, até momentos antes da partida.

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Roberto De Zerbi was delighted to banish Marseille's struggles on the road after they beat Strasbourg 2-1 away from home on Friday evening. The game seemed destined for a draw until Michael Murillo struck deep in stoppage time, giving Les Phocéens their first points on the road this season and ending a losing streak against Strasbourg that had lasted since 2022.

• From Paris scalp to Strasbourg triumph

  Marseille’s resurgence has been remarkable. Earlier this week, they stunned Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique with a 1-0 victory, thanks to Nayef Aguerd’s fifth-minute strike, ending nearly 14 years of home league frustration against the Parisian giants. That win seemed like a flash in the pan, but the Strasbourg triumph lifted Marseille to the top of the Ligue 1 table, temporarily at least.

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  De Zerbi demands away day grit

  De Zerbi was candid about his frustration with past away performances, saying at a press conference: "[The poor away form] was starting to annoy me. I was thinking about it in the stands. I don't want to be a team that's only good at the Velodrome. I want us to be good in Lyon, at the Parc des Princes, or in Strasbourg. Since the end of the transfer window and the arrival of [Benjamin] Pavard, Aguerd, and [Matt] O'Riley, there has been a surge in new signings. Since then, we've won three games in three, with only one goal conceded."

• De Zerbi warns against complacency

  Marseille were forced to come from behind to get the three points on Friday, with Strasbourg opening the scoring early in the second half, but a 78th minute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike followed by a stoppage time winner from Amir Murillo wrapped up the points. The Italian tactician was glad to see them fight back, but stressed they must maintain their intensity.

  "Marseille of August isn't far off," he warned his troops. "We can never relax. There's always something that can happen every day. We must always be attentive, humble, and down to earth. We can obviously be happy and celebrate the victory. We must never forget the match against Rennes, against Lyon, even the home match against Paris FC. We felt we were having trouble expressing ourselves. It was different against PSG."

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  Eyes on Europe and the next league test

  Marseille now have a tough schedule ahead. Next up, they host Ajax in the Champions League, a game that will test their mettle against Europe’s elite. After that, they travel to Metz for another Ligue 1 encounter on October 4.

Liverpool have work to do if they are to rediscover the balance that saw them lay waste to the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season at the Anfield helm.

Despite the many changes to the Reds first team over the past few months, it’s perhaps difficult to suggest that Liverpool have made dramatic improvements on last year’s title-winning team, with Mohamed Salah even suggesting that this is so when quizzed on FSG’s summer spending.

That’s not to say sporting director Richard Hughes has overseen a poor transfer window; far from it. It’s simply that Liverpool were coherent and instinctive last season, a fully-gelled team, but have now parted with several important first-teamers and have replaced them with up-and-coming talents.

It’s only natural that a bedding-in period would take place, with the absence of balance and defensive solidity across the first two fixtures of Liverpool’s campaign evidence of that.

But for all the upheaval, Liverpool remain attentive to the market as it draws toward the stretch, with Hughes and Slot in concert over the Reds’ need for depth across the frontline and at the rear.

The latest Liverpool transfer news

Will Liverpool pull it off? Alexander Isak’s inflammatory statement on his future made it clear he wishes to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions this summer, but the Magpies have struggled to sign strikers this summer and are publicly stressing he’s going nowhere.

Whatever happens, it’s been an unsavoury saga, but the door remains ajar, with Newcastle desperately scrambling for a new number nine.

But Liverpool need a defender too. While Giovanni Leoni was welcomed to Slot’s squad this month, the 18-year-old centre-half should be eased into the swing of things.

It is Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace who would provide the jewel for Liverpool’s defensive crown. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside, with less than a year remaining on his contract.

The outcome of that saga remains unknown, and the same goes for Isak. However, Liverpool do need such a player, and if Newcastle maintain their obstinacy over their talisman’s future, it’s crucial that there’s an alternative option.

Liverpool holding talks for Isak alternative

According to Football Insider, Real Madrid star Rodrygo remains on Liverpool’s radar as they mull over a late-window bid.

The 24-year-old is anticipated to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this month, and his representatives have jetted over to England to hold talks with Liverpool officials over a potential transfer. And the same goes for Manchester City.

Xabi Alonso has made it clear that the Brazil international is not at the fulcrum of his vision in the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid won’t cash in for a cut-price figure, having listed him at a lofty €90m (£76m).

The sale of Diaz to Bayern Munich has left Liverpool light up top, and Rodrygo would be the perfect versatile forward to complete Slot’s frontline.

Why Liverpool want Rodrygo

While there is no question that Liverpool’s priority heading into the closing stages of the summer transfer window is to get Isak garbed in red attire, Rodrygo wouldn’t be a half-bad fallback.

Rodrygo has long starred as a first-team star with Los Blancos, having left his Brazilian homeland for the peerless superpower after he turned 18.

And though the 2024/25 campaign left plenty to be desired for him, Rodrygo has been hailed by his teammate Jude Bellingham as “probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad.”

His sharpness with both feet and his propensity for equal shares of goals and assists lend themselves to different positional roles, but Slot would typically deploy him on the attacking left flank.

However, for all its control, Slot’s system is anything but rigid. Interchangeability and tenacity are key tenets, and it’s for this reason that Dominik Szoboszlai has played such a central role in the manager’s plans. Szoboszlai, indeed, could prove the perfect partner for Rodrygo at Liverpool, playing from his industrious central role and pushing forward to combine with the South American.

1.

Mohamed Salah

54

2.

Virgil van Dijk

51

2=

Dominik Szoboszlai

51

2=

Alexis Mac Allister

51

2=

Cody Gakpo

51

You could say that new recruit Florian Wirtz would be a devastating and dynamic dance player for a prolific wide forward like Rodrygo, and perhaps that is so, but Szoboszlai has proven himself to be an energetic and effective midfield force for Liverpool.

The Hungarian might not be a clinical player, per se, but he’s been hailed by content creator Asim Mahmood as a “machine” with a “seriously elite mentality” since Slot dropped him from ten to more of a box-to-box deployment in the middle of the park.

Data from Sofascore shows that the 24-year-old created three key passes against Crystal Palace and two against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s Premier League opener, winning ten duels across the two fixtures and making a total of ten tackles too.

How does this relate to Rodrygo? Well, the Real Madrid man is known for his commitment and perseverance, winning 56% of his ground duels in La Liga last year (Sofascore).

Form and fluency in the Spanish capital have dwindled for his world-class talent, but he could pick himself up and then some by signing for Liverpool and emulating Szoboszlai in putting 110% effort into his performances.

The £120k-per-week Liverpool star, after all, ranks among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for ball recoveries made per 90 and the top 5% for pass completion, via FBref, thus underscoring his crisp and energetic style of play, ensuring Liverpool purr.

Rodrygo would dovetail right into the Anfield running with Szoboszlai pulling strings behind him. His ‘poor’ 2024/25 campaign still yielded 25 goal involvements across all competitions – the same as Diaz – and he was routinely played out of position to accommodate Vinicius Junior.

His clinical touch would be strengthened in a role of greater importance at Liverpool, especially when forming partnerships with selfless, hard-working stars like Szoboszlai.

New Van Dijk: Liverpool in strong position to sign £23m Guehi alternative

Liverpool are looking for a new centre-back and it might not be Guehi

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 21, 2025

Sunderland’s long wait to bring Granit Xhaka to the Stadium of Light this summer now looks to be over.

Indeed, the whole saga to bring the Swiss international back to English shores has seemingly concluded, as the ex-Arsenal enforcer looks set to complete a medical imminently after landing in Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen.

For £17m, it could well be Sunderland’s most important signing of the summer in offering Regis Le Bris’ troops some much-needed Premier League experience.

However, although experience has been sought after in clinching the 32-year-old’s signature, the Black Cats will also look to the future when making other standout summer purchases, knowing the success they’ve had with starlets such as Chris Rigg.

Sunderland show strong interest in £38m talent

Of course, the Wearside outfit will also be prioritising more Premier League-ready captures, away from going all in on their young and hungry model.

Stefan Ortega is the next top-flight star on their radar, having impressed in spurts as Manchester City’s back-up goalkeeper, with a surprise move for Jamie Vardy also allegedly on the cards after he waved goodbye to Leicester City recently.

But, there has also been apt time for Sunderland to scout out some promising talents who could go on to the club’s next big thing, with Fiorentina’s 20-year-old centre-back Pietro Comuzzo catching the eye in this regard.

As per reports from Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Sunderland, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest are all showing a strong interest in the up-and-coming Italian, with no offers coming Fiorentina’s way, just yet.

It could cost Sunderland a substantial £38m to get the deal over the line, however. But, this might be a worthwhile investment to make, if he suddenly explodes into life in the Premier League, much like Rigg managed under Le Bris’ wing in the second tier.

Why Comuzzo could be Sunderland's next Rigg

Rigg had already amassed 25 first team appearances at the Stadium of Light before the Frenchman’s inspired appointment.

But, he would really come into his own under the watchful eye of the ex-Lorient manager, who has even been hailed as a “father figure” in his approach with youngsters, according to journalist Luke Entwistle.

In total, the exciting 18-year-old midfielder would make 47 appearances last season as Sunderland triumphantly secured promotion, with four goals and one assist also coming his way to play a pivotal part in his side’s whirlwind ascent back to the Premier League.

Knowing what their team has managed to achieve with Rigg in such a short space of time will make the Wearside masses even more eager to see what Comuzzo could achieve in his fresh environment, with the 20-year-old already in and around the senior Italy circles as an international, after looking way beyond his years in his native country last season, much like the teenage sensation.

Comuzzo’s league numbers for Fiorentina (24/25)
Stat – per 90 mins*	Comuzzo
Games played	33
Goals scored	1
Assists	0
Touches*	47.4
Accurate passes*	32.5 (86%)
Ball recoveries*	2.6
Total duels won*	3.6
Clean sheets	6
Stats by Sofascore

Comuzzo’s breakout campaign, which saw him collect a promising six clean sheets from 33 Serie A appearances, has led to him gaining many plaudits, with his former Fiorentina manager, Raffaele Palladino, hailing him as “extraordinary” for the maturity he displays when throwing himself into 3.6 duels on average in the testing terrain of the Italian top-flight.

That has further led to Palladino donning him a “soldier” for this resilience and energy, away from also being labelled as an “old-fashioned defender” by Italian scout Michele Fratini for his willingness to get stuck in, even as a 20-year-old still learning the ropes.

He will look to continue his upward trajectory on Wearside, with Comuzzo already one season down in a taxing top-flight environment.

This breakout offering in Florence has even seen him be shortlisted for the 2025 Golden Boy award, as he aims to become the next top starlet at the Stadium of Light in a similar vein to Rigg and other notable names before the 18-year-old.

Their new Defoe: Sunderland submit offer to sign "world-class" striker

Sunderland could soon win the services of this potent striker as their next major purchase.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 29, 2025

Martin Odegaard says he "doesn't care" about Arsenal legend Tony Adams' calls for him not to have the captain's armband.

• Adams calls for Rice to be captain
• Arteta sticks by skipper Odegaard 
• Norwegian "doesn't care" about criticism

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Last month, former Arsenal captain Adams opined that Declan Rice should be Mikel Arteta's skipper and not Odegaard. The Gunners manager defended the Norwegian to the hilt and decided to stick with the attacking midfielder for the season ahead. Now, the 26-year-old has had his say on the matter.

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  WHAT ODEGAARD SAID

  He told reporters, "I don’t care that much, to be honest. Everyone can have their opinion and say what they want, and I’m all right with that. I can’t care about what everyone says. There’s a lot of negative and positive things to say, but I can’t let it affect me. That’s what I’ve thought throughout my career."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal will need Odegaard to be at his best this season if they are to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League trophy. If the former Real Madrid man doesn't, the calls for Rice to be captain may grow louder and louder. 

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Odegaard will hope to return to Arsenal's first team with a bang when they face Nottingham Forest on Saturday following the conclusion of the international break. Before then, Norway lock horns with Moldova on Tuesday in their next World Cup qualifier.

Arsenal’s centre-forward problems can be traced back a number of years. Not since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was in his free-scoring pomp have the Gunners had a top-class central marksman.

Sure, Kai Havertz is a technically sharp and dynamic player, but he’s not an out-and-out striker, and Gabriel Jesus has never quite reached the pinnacle, for one reason or another.

This issue, Mikel Arteta’s most pressing concern, was illustrated across the 2024/25 campaign, with the lack of a prolific focal point proving fatal in the Premier League title race for a third successive season.

24/25

Kai Havertz

9

23/24

Bukayo Saka

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22/23

Martin Odegaard

15

21/22

Bukayo Saka

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20/21

Alexandre Lacazette

13

19/20

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

22

Viktor Gyokeres is expected to solve that problem and pose an insoluble question back to the club’s title rivals.

Arsenal's centre-forward plans

An official announcement is not yet upon us, but Arsenal have all but sealed the signing of Sporting Lisbon’s Gyokeres, who is expected to join the Emirates clan in a package worth £64m.

However, fans and indeed the powers that be in north London will no doubt have been rocked by the revelations over on Tyneside, with Alexander Isak informing Newcastle United that he would like to explore his options in the transfer market this summer.

Liverpool are the frontrunners, but BBC Sport have confirmed that Arsenal’s long-standing interest remains intact, and that the Gunners are one of the few outfits who are reported to have the budget to pull off a statement signing such as the Swede.

Newcastle aren’t going to roll over and allow their all-important number nine to leave without earning their due, and have priced him at £130m, which would eclipse the British-record fee Liverpool paid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

Isak vs Gyokeres

Whether Arsenal manage to pull off deals for both Isak and Gyokeres remains to be seen, but there’s little question that it’s the man over at St. James’ Park who 99% of a Gunners persuasion would prefer.

Isak, indeed, joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in a £63m deal three years ago (the same ballpark as Arsenal have just paid for Gyokeres), and he has gone on to post 62 goals and 11 assists across just 109 outings for Eddie Howe’s burgeoning team.

Gyokeres, 27, has the statistical analysis on his side, from a goalscoring standpoint, at least. Indeed, the Sweden star scored 97 goals and supplied 28 assists across just 102 Sporting appearances over two years.

It’s certainly nothing to be sniffed at, but Isak is a “world-class” goalscorer himself, as has been said by pundit Alan Shearer, and he’s doing it week in, week out in the Premier League, surely a higher level of competition than the Liga Portugal.

Analyst Raj Chohan has even claimed that the Newcastle talisman is “the best striker in the world”, with his completeness and athleticism capable of rivalling even that of Gyokeres, who is his countryman and a physical machine.

The difference is that Isak is tried and tested, having led Newcastle to an extraordinary Carabao Cup triumph last year, beating off Arsenal in a double-legged semi-final before dispatching Liverpool at Wembley. He took centre stage at both events.

It’s a climactic point of the window for a number of Premier League teams, it feels like. Should Arsenal truly have the financial means to strike a deal for the £120k-per-week Isak, should they not pounce on it?

Bad news for Max Dowman: Arsenal in talks to sign £60m "superstar"

Arsenal are planning to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest talents this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 24, 2025

The last few seasons have seen Chelsea completely overhaul their squad.

While there have been a few mistakes along the way, it would be fair to say the club look like they now have a team full of incredibly talented players.

Arguably, the most exhilarating of the lot has been Cole Palmer, who, since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, has been nothing short of world-class for the Blues.

So, fans should be tremendously excited about recent reports linking the West Londoners to another talent who has won comparisons to the game-changing Englishman.

Chelsea target Premier League signings

Chelsea have already made a few signings from outside England this summer, but, if reports are to be believed, the club are also looking at several stars from the Premier League, such as Joao Pedro and Murillo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly cost up to £60m, and while that is a significant amount of money, he was fairly effective in limited minutes this season, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2,136 minutes.

Murillo, on the other hand, could cost the Blues up to £80m, but given his incredible performances at the back for Nottingham Forest this year, that once again may well be a fee worth paying.

However, as transformational as these two players could be for Maresca’s side, neither one can really be compared to Palmer, unlike Harvey Elliott.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the Liverpool gem this summer.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims that Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the 22-year-old talent.

However, alongside the intense competition for his services, the West Londoners will have to pay a substantial sum of money to secure their man, with the report claiming that the Reds want at least £50m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Elliott’s ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Palmer.

How Elliott compares to Palmer

In this instance, the primary comparison to Palmer originates from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and came to the conclusion that the Chelsea gem has been the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Elliott over the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.69

0.68

Goals per Shot

0.06

0.09

Goals per Shot on Target

0.25

0.25

Key Passes

2.44

2.45

Interceptions

0.24

0.31

Successful Take-On %

44.4%

45.1%

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.22

1.15

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked incredibly closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot and shot on target, interceptions, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

However, the similarities extend beyond the statistics, as the young Liverpool gem, like the Blues star, has demonstrated an ability to play in multiple positions, with attacking midfield and right-wing his most played.

Moreover, should this transfer go through, then it would be another example of the West Londoners bringing in a younger talent from one of their rivals who’s just not getting the game time he deserves at the moment.

On top of that, even though he’s had to play a bit-part role at Anfield this season, the 22-year-old “machine,” as dubbed by journalist Sam McGuire, has still got some seriously impressive underlying numbers, which suggests that were he given more regular game time, he could seriously explode.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive passes and passes attempted, the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, there would undoubtedly be some risk in signing Elliott this summer, but there was also plenty of risk in signing an unproven Palmer in 2023, and thanks to their similarities, this feels like a risk Chelsea should take.

Chelsea ready to offer six-year deal to £45m player, talks "now advancing"

The west Londoners could make their next signing soon.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025

Everyone at Football FanCast is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to their friends, families, teammates and loved ones.

As Richard Hughes turns his attention towards bolstering Arne Slot’s midfield, Liverpool have reportedly made contact to sign a La Liga star worth just £35m this summer.

Liverpool working on Ekitike deal

Despite already spending big to sign Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez whilst also welcoming Freddie Woodman this summer, Liverpool are not done on the transfer front. The Reds still have their sights set on signing a striker and after reports earlier this week claimed that Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are all concrete options, it looks as though the latter has emerged as the most likely to arrive.

The Eintracht Frankfurt star enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out and it should come as no surprise that he’s so high up on Liverpool’s list of targets. As Napoli continue to work on a deal to sign Darwin Nunez too, the Reds could land an instant upgrade whilst putting an end to the South American’s nightmare Anfield spell.

Minutes

2,563

1,133

Goals

15

5

Assists

8

2

Expected Goals

21.6

5.8

Although there will be concerns about Ekitike’s expected goals underperformance last season, his creative output should ensure that Liverpool are not put off a move to sign the Frenchman this summer.

With the likes of Mohamed Salah and Wirtz around him, that impressive output would only reach new levels at Liverpool. There’s still plenty of work left to be done for any deal to take place, however, and those at Anfield must ensure that they fend off interest from elsewhere in the Premier League.

The next Van Dijk: Liverpool plot talks for "immense" £40m Guehi upgrade

Liverpool are stepping up their search for a new centre-back…

ByRobbie Walls Jul 2, 2025

After Ekitike, meanwhile, Liverpool could turn their attention towards midfield reinforcements and a Barcelona talent.

Liverpool submit Marc Casado offer

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now made contact to sign Marc Casado from Barcelona, even submitting their first offer. The midfielder is considering an exit away from the Nou Camp in the hope of more game time next season and has attracted the interest of Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and the Reds as a result.

The deal wouldn’t break the bank for Liverpool or Chelsea either, given that Barcelona are reportedly demanding just €40m (£35m) to sell the 21-year-old in the coming months.

Included in a group of progressive passers described as “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, Casado could provide Slot with the perfect alternative to transfer target Adam Wharton if the Crystal Palace man remains out of reach.

At just £35m too, the Barcelona man would likely go down as Liverpool’s biggest bargain in a summer which has seen them break the British transfer record to sign Wirtz.

As Newcastle United continue to chase a move to sign Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace could reportedly accept a player-plus-cash deal which would see them welcome an experienced defender.

Newcastle pushing to sign Guehi

Newcastle’s interest in Guehi is far from new. The Magpies were in pursuit of his signature last summer before Crystal Palace ultimately priced them out of a move. At the time, those at St James’ Park had PSR issues to consider, whilst Palace were in no position to budge from their strong negotiation position. One year on, however, the script has seemingly flipped.

As things stand, the England international has just one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park, which means that unless anything changes, this summer will be the first of just two more chances for Crystal Palace to cash in.

Glasner wants Crystal Palace to sign £40m ace as possible Guehi replacement

Oliver Glasner has identified a defender he would like to bring to Selhurst Park if his captain departs.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025

Unlike last summer, their position in negotiations with Newcastle is far weaker. They can no longer price the Magpies out of a move. Instead, reports have suggested that Newcastle could end up paying just £50m to sign Guehi this summer in a deal that is more or less done if recent rumours are to be believed.

The defender’s departure would be a major blow for all involved in South London, who already had to replace Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen last summer. As doubts creep in over their Europa League spot too, the last thing that Crystal Palace need is to lose one of Oliver Glasner’s most important players.

If Guehi is to depart, though, the Eagles would be wise to get something in return. Whilst they can no longer price Newcastle out of a move, Palace could yet form an interesting swap deal which would solve an immediate problem within Glasner’s side. It would far from make up for Guehi’s exit, of course, but it would see the South London club at least come away with something.

Crystal Palace could sign Targett in Guehi swap deal

As reported by Andrew Musgrove on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Crystal Palace could now sign Matt Targett in a surprise swap deal for Guehi this summer which would of course also include a transfer fee. A player-plus cash deal, Palace would get the chance to solve their left-back problem following the end of Ben Chilwell’s loan spell and cash in on their star defender.

Musgrove revealed: “I’ve been told that Matt Targett could potentially hold the key. Now we know Targett is probably going to leave this summer, but interestingly, it has been said that he could move this deal along slightly because Ben Chilwell has gone back to Chelsea after he was on loan at Palace as back up to Tyrick Mitchell.

“Now they want another left back to provide that competition, but really back up to Mitchell, and maybe that could be ideal for both Newcastle and Matt Targett. It has been suggested that Palace would not be against the idea of taking Targett as part of a cash per player deal.”

A player who Newcastle boss Eddie Howe described as “reliable” in September, Crystal Palace could yet have a decision to make as to whether they deem Targett a suitable arrival in return for Guehi this summer.