As the Premier League campaign draws near, Manchester City have now reportedly been told that a half-price offer will be enough to sign a midfield target this month.
As expected, it’s been a busy summer for Manchester City on all fronts. They began with a flourish of incomings in preparation for the Club World Cup and have since taken their total to six fresh faces. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, James Trafford, Sverre Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli have all arrived as Pep Guardiola aims to rebuild following last season’s disappointment.
After missing out on the Premier League title for the first time in four seasons last time out, however, it’s not just incomings that Man City have been working on this summer. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Yan Couto have already sealed permanent departures, whilst Jack Grealish looks likely to follow suit.
The England international was left out of Guardiola’s Club World Cup squad earlier this summer and has seemed destined for a departure ever since. There remain question marks over just where his next destination could be, though.
Whilst Everton have opened talks to sign Grealish, Tottenham Hotspur have also reportedly made contact and could certainly do with a creative spark following the news that James Maddison will miss the majority of the campaign through injury.
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The Blues have set their sights on a Manchester United target…
1
By
Dominic Lund
Aug 6, 2025
Meanwhile, as one talented midfielder potentially heads for the exit door, the Citizens have reportedly been handed the chance to land a transfer target of their own at a bargain price this month.
Man City told they can sign Paqueta in half-price deal
Following the news that he’s been cleared of any spot-fixing charges, the transfer rumours regarding Lucas Paqueta’s future have once again been sparked into life. According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Man City have now been told they can sign Paqueta for £45m this summer in what is around half the £85m fee that they’ve previously been quoted by West Ham United.
In a bargain deal, those at the Etihad have quite the decision to make. Whilst the addition of Reijnders has helped solve their midfield problem, the chance to sign a long-term target at a bargain price may well be too good to turn down.
Now that he doesn’t have potential charges hanging over him too, Paqueta may finally get back to his best following a disappointing campaign last time out. And it’s at his best that the midfield star has earned impressive praise from former West Ham boss David Moyes, who described him as “incredible”.
Now, amid reports that Graham Potter has opened the door for his exit, the Brazilian could finally get the big move that he was previously denied.
أفادت تقارير صحفية إسبانية بتطورات جديدة بشأن موقف برشلونة من لعب مباراة ودية الأسبوع المقبل في ليبيا تمهيداً للاستعداد بشكل قوي لمنافسات الموسم الحالي.
ووفقاً لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية فقد تراجع برشلونة عن خيار خوض مباراة ودية الأسبوع المقبل في ليبيا لأسباب أمنية.
ويأتي قرار برشلونة بعدم لعب مباراة ودية في ليبيا نظراً لاستمرار أعمال العنف والمخاوف التي تحيط بالحرب الأهلية.
وكان أتلتيكو مدريد قد وافق على أن يكون بديلاً عن برشلونة لخوض مباراة ضد إنتر ميلان يوم الجمعة 10 يناير على الملعب الدولي في بنغازي، الذي يتسع لـ40 ألف متفرج.
وستسمى المباراة بـ”كأس إعادة الإعمار” تقديراً لدعم الناديين لإعادة تموضع ليبيا على خريطة الأحداث الرياضية، وكان كأس السوبر الإيطالي قد أقيم عام 2022.
وقد كان مقرراً أن يحصل برشلونة على تعويضاً يقارب 5 ملايين يورو عن مشاركته في المباراة الودية في ليبيا، وهو مبلغ يعادل المبلغ الذي حصل عليه في الجولة السابقة التي أقيمت في اليابان وكوريا الجنوبية على الرغم من غياب العديد من لاعبيه الدوليين.
ويؤكد نادي برشلونة أن رفض اللعب في ليبيا لم يكن قراراً من هانز فليك مدرب الفريق لتجنب المزيد من الإصابات بل كان لأسباب أمنية ونقص في الضمانات.
وبالإضافة إلى المباريات الودية في نهاية الموسم في سيدني الأسترالية في عام 2022 وكوبي اليابانية عام 2023 والتي منحت برشلونة خمسة وثلاثة ملايين يورو على التوالي فقد لعب النادي بالفعل مباراة منتصف الموسم في ديسمبر 2021 ضد بوكا جونيورز في المملكة العربية السعودية حيث حصل النادي على مليوني يورو إضافية لتعويض تأثير نقص الدخل بسبب كوفيد.
In the ultimate analysis of Australia’s total domination of Pakistan at home, Monday’s opening ODI will be a mere footnote, an extension of a seemingly unchangeable trend. Australia have now won 27 of the last 28 completed games across formats against Pakistan at home, the latest a victory at the MCG with 99 balls to spare.That would, however, do a major disservice to a Pakistan fightback that was as sudden as it was unexpected. With Australia on top throughout the game, and having raced to 139 for 3 in the 20th over in pursuit of a below-par 204, this looked about as routine an ODI win as it could get. But Shaheen Shah Afridi had Josh Inglis hole out in the deep to bring a new man in, and Haris Rauf bowled the next over – the fifth of his spell.Rauf still had the pace to draw extra bounce on a surface that stayed true throughout, with Marnus Labuschagne’s leading edge carrying all the way to third man. The following delivery drew Glenn Maxwell into a tentative prod first up, the ball kissing the edge on its speedy journey through to Mohammad Rizwan. Australia had lost three wickets for no runs, in five balls, and Pakistan were back and looking favourites in a country where they’ve had minimum success.Related
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“We were all trying our best, whether in the field or with the ball,” Rauf said after the game. “We had a plan to bowl short from my end. We had success; we took a few wickets this way.”In the end, Australia’s stranglehold over Pakistan proved hard to shake off. The visitors did take another couple of wickets and expose the tail, but Pat Cummins – as he has done so often in the past – held his nerve and ensured he was there to hit the winning runs and seal a two-wicket win.Rauf rued some of Pakistan’s sloppiness. They gave away 21 extras; Australia had conceded just four. Rauf himself sent a wide so far down leg and at such high pace it raced away four an extra four, while Naseem Shah bowled another five. Mohammad Hasnain, meanwhile, sent two wides well over the batter’s head in the same over he took Australia’s seventh wicket, and the pressure immediately shifted back onto the visitors.Pat Cummins celebrates after hitting the winning run•Getty Images
“We did give away extras but when you attack, you have to accept that these things happen,” Rauf said. “We did make mistakes, and we were a bit untidy. We know these little things make an impact. If you’re a good bowling unit, then you can cover the batters falling 20-30 runs short if you tighten up in the field as well. We could have defended this and we all tried really hard. The game didn’t go our way, but we gave no quarter in terms of our energy and our effort.”Falling agonisingly short at the MCG has been a Pakistan theme of late. It was Rauf’s penultimate over to Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2022 that turned the tide of a contest Pakistan had dominated up to then, with India sneaking a last-ball win. Three weeks later, an injury to Shaheen saw Pakistan’s momentum slip away in a nail-biting T20 World Cup final.”We have memories on this ground which we remember. We lost a couple of very close matches here against India and the World Cup final,” Rauf said. “We’ve made mistakes in the past, but we try to stay in the present moment. The future isn’t in our control either, and we are enjoying the present. Sometimes the result doesn’t go your way, and you have to accept that. And you then try and learn from those failures.”
He made an unbeaten 112 off 81 balls and Lizaad Williams picked up three wickets as South Africa won by 174 runs
Abhimanyu Bose04-Oct-2024
Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 112 off 81 balls, his maiden ODI century•Cricket Ireland
Tristan Stubbs’ maiden ODI century set South Africa up for a 174-run win that gave them an unassailable 2-0 series lead against Ireland. Stubbs followed up his maiden ODI fifty in the last game with an unbeaten 81-ball 112 that powered South Africa to 343 for 4 after they won the toss in Abu Dhabi. Lizaad Williams then picked up three wickets, all with the new ball, effectively shutting Ireland out of the contest within the first 10 overs of their chase.Ireland slid to 117 for 9 and it took the third-highest 10th-wicket stand in Ireland’s history, between Graham Hume and Craig Young, to take them to 169.Stubbs came in to bat in the 24th over with South Africa 136 for 2, although he was effectively batting at No. 5 with Temba Bavuma having retired hurt after injuring his left elbow.Stubbs started briskly and his partner Kyle Verreynne picked up the pace after he had been part of a 58-run stand with Rassie van der Dussen.Verreynne, drafted into the XI for the injured Tony de Zorzi, took on anything short, as he pulled Gavin Hoey for four before playing a short-arm jab through midwicket off Mark Adair.Two balls later, Stubbs also pulled Adair for his first boundary.Then, in the 32nd over, Verreynne again pulled Adair for four to bring up his half-century as well as the fifty-run stand.As Ireland looked at different options for a breakthrough, Stubbs punched Hume through cover before playing a back-foot punch over cover for six off a Hoey half-tracker.The duo put away a couple more short balls before Verreynne danced down the track to McBrine only to miss the ball and be stumped.There was a period of 28 balls without a boundary that followed, before Stubbs scooped Hume in the 43rd over to get to 70.Wiaan Mulder put a couple of short balls away in the next two overs Hume conceded 18 in the 46th, with Stubbs accounting for 17 of them. He hit him over midwicket for two sixes, with a flicked four sandwiched in between.Stubbs got an outside edge for four in the 48th to take him to 99 before a single brought up the century. He hit two more boundaries either side of Mulder clearing long-on and then picking out the fielder there to fall for 43.Adair gave away just five runs in the 50th over, but South Africa already seemed to have more than enough runs in the tank.This was only the third time in men’s ODIs that the top six of a team had each made 35 or more.Lizaad Williams was among the wickets again•Cricket Ireland
Williams, fresh off a four-for in the first ODI, gave South Africa their first breakthrough in the second over, as Andy Balbirnie got an inside edge that deflected onto the stumps off his pads.Paul Stirling started the next over by creaming Lungi Ngidi through cover before the fast bowler got a length ball to jag in sharply from outside off to crash into leg stump.Harry Tector and Curtis Campher rebuilt with a run-a-ball stand of 37, before Williams struck twice in two balls, getting Campher to edge behind before trapping Stephen Doheny in front. Doheny reviewed only for ball-tracking to show the ball clipping leg stump for umpire’s call.Ottneil Baartman then invited Tector to drive away from his body and induced an edge that Rickelton gobbled up. Ireland had lost half their side inside the 10th over, with only 50 runs on the board.George Dockrell then chipped Andile Phehlukwayo to mid-on in the 13th over as Ireland slipped towards another thrashing. Adair hit two fours and a six before he holed out trying to clear the ropes again to give Mulder his first wicket. Andy McBrine and Gavin Hoey stuck around, with the young legspinner hitting Mulder over cover for six to take Ireland past 100 in the 22nd over.They picked up a boundary each off Bjorn Fortuin before McBrine missed a reverse-sweep off the spinner to be trapped lbw.Hoey got a top edge for another four before holing out to deep midwicket off Ngidi next ball.Hume and Young then put on 52 to delay the inevitable, with Hume hitting two sixes and Young grabbing three fours and a six before Fortuin wrapped up the win for South Africa.Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma added 68 runs for the first wicket•Cricket Ireland
South Africa started steady after winning the toss, with Ryan Rickelton carrying on from where he left off in the first ODI and Bavuma looking sharp after getting out cheaply in that game.Bavuma shuffled down the crease to flick Hume through midwicket in the fourth over for South Africa’s first boundary, and Rickelton then flicked Adair over midwicket for two boundaries in the next over.Bavuma then slapped Craig Young in front of point before coming down the track to Adair to lift him over mid-off.The two cashed in on the final over of the powerplay, with Rickelton hitting Young over long-off for six before Bavuma flicked him over midwicket for another.Bavuma then got injured in the 12th over as he dived to complete a single. He received treatment on his left elbow and resumed at the non-striker’s end, but retired hurt two balls later, ending the opening stand at 68.Rickelton slapped Campher through the off side for another boundary before offering Campher a return catch to fall ten runs short of what would have been back-to-back half-centuries.Van der Dussen and Verreynne then took over, as they both picked up boundaries off Campher. Verreynne survived a stumping chance on 11, with Doheny slow to take the bails off as McBrine sent one down the leg side.The two brought up their half-century stand before Hoey got van der Dussen to inside-edge a wrong’un onto the stumps off his foot for his maiden ODI wicket.
Arsenal are now in club-to-club talks with a Premier League side over another transfer, as Mikel Arteta receives new sporting director Andrea Berta’s full support in his attempts to end the Gunners’ long wait for title glory.
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Having already sealed confirmed deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, with the latter set to be announced shortly after completing a medical (David Ornstein), Arteta’s side certainly aren’t slowing down.
Arsenal appear determined to bridge the gap between themselves and English champions Liverpool, who won the league by a seismic 10 points last season, and Berta will be mindful of the excellent business their rivals have already conducted themselves this summer.
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
£65m
With Man City and Chelsea also making splashes in the market, competition at the top of the table will be rife, and Arsenal are attempting not to be left behind.
Reports suggest that Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, and the Sweden international could well join them in time for their pre-season tour of Asia later this month.
Alongside the prolific 27-year-old, who netted an outstanding 54 goals in all competitions last season, Arsenal have held positive negotiations for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who would join in a deal independent of the club’s chase for a new left-winger.
While Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been mooted as Arsenal’s “dream” target in that area, Berta appears to be moving for Chelsea forward Noni Madueke as an alternative.
The England international has already agreed personal terms to join Arsenal, as widely reported, but there’s been a slight wait for them to make formal contact with Chelsea.
However, it now appears that the wait is now over.
Arsenal open talks with Chelsea over "surprise" Noni Madueke deal
As per talkSPORT and other reliable media sources, Arsenal have opened club-to-club talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, with the broadcast giant saying he’s “emerged as a surprise candidate” to become their fourth signing of the window.
It is believed that Chelsea value their man at north of £50 million, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano also sharing a key piece of information from his own sources, via X.
An initial bid has apparently gone in for Madueke, which is worth £50m including add-ons, but as things stand, that still won’t be enough.
Chelsea want more than £50m as a fixed fee, not including add-ons, with the west Londoners referencing Anthony Elanga’s £55 million move to Newcastle, among other similar deals, as a yardstick for Madueke’s valuation.
Talks remain ongoing, and it appears there is still some ground to cover in negotiations before we can call this one a ‘done deal’.
In terms of the 23-year-old’s quality, he would be an excellent option, with Enzo Maresca even calling Madueke one of his “best players” from last season. It does plunge the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard into serious doubt, though, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one of the duo depart before deadline day if Madueke is signed.
For so many years, winning the Premier League was the great white whale for Liverpool, elusive and unattainable, always falling short in the race for England’s biggest prize.
Then Jurgen Klopp came along, and everything changed. The German restored Anfield to its former standing as a global superpower. Now he’s gone, and Liverpool are champions once again.
Jurgen Klopp lifts the Champions League
Arne Slot has proved the perfect successor, and he did it all without any proper first-team investment. That owes largely to Klopp’s midfield rebuild, and indeed his work with Michael Edwards and co over so many years, piecing together lasting stars who will continue to shine through the 2025/26 campaign.
But now, the signings are flowing through in cascades, with a deal wrapped up for Bayer Leverkusen right-sider Jeremie Frimpong and an agreement finally reached for his teammate, Florian Wirtz, who will become the most expensive player in British history.
It’s a lot of money for a 22-year-old playmaker, so how exactly is Wirtz going to improve Liverpool?
Why Liverpool have signed Wirtz
Liverpool have broken the bank to sign Wirtz, but sometimes, securing such a marquee deal is worth it. Having won the Premier League last season, the Reds are now consolidating their position at the top.
And Wirtz, having conquered his homeland, is ready to make the move to English football, where he could take Kevin De Bruyne’s vacated spot as the country’s foremost number ten.
Florian Wirtz
As per FBref, the playmaker ranked among the top 2% of positional peers in the Bundesliga last year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and the top 5% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.
Where Dominik Szoboszlai is industrious, Wirtz is incisive and influential to a different degree. Former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes has even gone as far as to say he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world.”
With Trent Alexander-Arnold gone, Liverpool will need to find new ways to maintain their peerless creativity; sparking chance after chance has been the foundation of their success in the Premier League across these recent successful years.
Premier League – Most Big Chances Created
Season
Team
BCC
24/25
Liverpool
112
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool & Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
Data via Premier League
Curious that Trent created fewer big chances (15) than across any of Liverpool’s past four top-flight campaigns. Wirtz will fix all that, and if FSG secure a talented new striker, Liverpool may just reach a whole ‘nother level.
Liverpool interested in signing LaLiga striker
As per Diego Simeone, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The renowned manager was responding to a journalist’s comments on Atletico’s striker being one of the hottest commodities on the market, and Simeone said he was flattered, name-checking Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain too.
Simeone stated: “Every club wants to sign Julián Álvarez. It’s logical. I can’t imagine it any other way. Of course every top club wants him—Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool… all of them. And for us, for Atlético fans, it should be a point of pride that everyone wants him. Why? Because he’s ours. And since he’s ours, we need to protect him. We have to make sure he feels happy. And how will he feel happy? By winning. And to get there, we all need to give 110%.”
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
The 25-year-old Alvarez has only been in the Spanish capital for a year, but he’s enjoyed a world-class campaign and boasts dynamic attacking properties that suggest he’d be tailor-made for Slot’s system.
However, Los Colchoneros would reportedly be seeking a figure as high as €170m (£142m) to part with their star man.
What Julian Alvarez would bring to Liverpool
Alvarez enjoyed his time at Manchester City, posting 55 goal contributions across 103 matches before earning Simeone’s attention. Atletico would then sign the silky forward for £81.5m.
This sparked derision from some, but Alvarez has since proved the doubters wrong, scoring 29 goals and supplying seven assists across 54 matches in all competitions.
He’s settled into his throne as the free-scoring frontman, but he’s far more than just a goalscorer, ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe last season for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90, according to FBref.
You can only imagine how he would perform in Slot’s Liverpool system, with Wirtz pulling the strings behind him. Journalist Roy Nemer actually hailed Alvarez as “the best striker in the world” for his performances across the past year, not just striking true but working hard to outfox defenders and create space for teammates.
Moreover, he’s demonstrated a propensity to do it on the biggest stage, scoring a stunning goal against Real Madrid in Atletico’s controversial Champions League quarter-final defeat in March.
Considering Alvarez has a wealth of trophy-laden Premier League experience in Pep Guardiola’s system, Liverpool might just find themselves hitting even loftier targets next year,
As per Sofascore, the Argentina superstar only missed seven big chances across the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, converting 17 strikes. Given that he created 11 big chances and averaged 34.9 touches per game too (which is high for a centre-forward), Alvarez’s dynamic approach has been underscored.
Truly, he’s one of the deadliest and most multi-faceted forwards on the market, with exceptional off-the-ball movement that Slot could use to an emphatic effect, with Wirtz and Mohamed Salah making things happen around him.
Liverpool’s new playmaker created 17 big chances in the Bundesliga last season after winning the division’s Player of the Season award one year prior. Clearly, he’s got the world at his feet, and Alvarez would be the grateful recipient of his production if signed by Liverpool this summer.
Whether Liverpool have the financial means to bring Alvarez back to England remains to be seen. Certainly, FSG won’t green-light a deal in the ballpark of £142m.
However, if something more agreeable can be found, Liverpool have got to pounce on this one, for he would be the perfect fit for Slot’s set-up.
A right-footed Salah: £80m winger is now Liverpool's top target after Wirtz
Liverpool will need to sign a new left-sided forward should Luis Diaz be sold.
West Indies’ net run rate is now miles ahead of South Africa’s and England’s in their Super Eight group
Danyal Rasool22-Jun-20242:02
Ganga: Chase is a utility player for West Indies
West Indies 130 for 1 (82*) beat United States of America 128 (Gous 29, Chase 3-19, Russell 3-31) by nine wicketsFor much of T20 World Cup 2024, USA haven’t looked out of place against any side, but West Indies were a class apart against them. A brilliant bowling performance from the spinners spearheaded by Roston Chase was followed up by a chase that was sledgehammer-like in its brutality. Shai Hope crunched an unbeaten 82 off 39 balls, smashing eight sixes along the way as Nicholas Pooran helped him finish the game off with 55 balls and nine wickets to spare.By the end, the contest looked like the first real mismatch USA have been on the wrong side of as they ran out of ideas bowling to Hope, who until now had only played one match all tournament. He would reach his half-century in just 26 balls – the fastest in T20 World Cup history for West Indies – before only speeding up after Jonathan Charles holed out. Pooran and Hope unleashed fire and fury towards the end as the game hurtled to an early finish, plundering the last 53 runs in just 14 deliveries.The game was set up, though, by a disciplined bowling performance led by the wily old hand of Chase. Not by any means West Indies’ most glamorous spinner, Chase didn’t even get to bat against England in the previous game. He showed his all-round value with a statement performance, though, ripping through the USA’s middle order and breaking the back of the innings.Akeal Hosein had played his customary role upfront, squeezing USA in the powerplay, while Andre Russell’s three wickets helped the hosts continue to shackle USA whenever they tried to get a partnership going. The extra bounce Alzarri Joseph generated to dismiss Andries Gous just as he was beginning to whir into full gear ended up being the sliding doors moment for USA, who, in truth, were never close to competitive from that moment on. West Indies, meanwhile, are back with a bang.Gous’ brief resistanceIt seems a long time ago, but for a short while in the second half of the powerplay in the first innings, it looked as if Gous – now the second-highest scorer of this tournament – had turned the tide on West Indies. Halfway through, it was West Indies’ powerplay, having conceded just 13 in the first three overs. But Gous, who nearly took USA home against South Africa with an unbeaten 80 off 47, stormed to a flier once more, punishing the length deliveries of Joseph to help plunder 35 off the final three of the powerplay.It helped USA put on 48 in the first six – their second-highest powerplay score at this World Cup. But with large parts of the middle order misfiring since their early couple of wins, USA needed Gous to press on as he did in the previous game. So when he holed out off Joseph after a bright 16-ball 29, trouble brewed for the co-hosts.Chase leads the West Indies rallyRoston Chase picked consecutive wickets in the 14th over•ICC/Getty Images
West Indies did not allow USA to post a big score and take the game deep; they were chasing net run rate as well as points in Barbados. Once Joseph had cleared Gous from the path, Chase and Gudakesh Motie had free rein to run rings round the rest. A bit of extra turn did for Nitish Kumar, but it was the Chase show from there.Aaron Jones had just walloped a 101m six, but it didn’t stop Chase bravely flighting the first ball of the spell up to him on the stumps. Jones missed and Chase cleaned him up, but it was the double-strike in his third over that truly crippled USA. Corey Anderson’s desperate run with the bat continued when he was trapped on the back pad plumb in front, before slowing the next one right up, duping Harmeet Singh into lobbing it up straight to point. Chase was wisely bowled out in one four-over spell, with figures of 3 for 19 not flattering him in the slightest.It’s Hope that kills USA offThere were calls for Hope to be included in West Indies’ starting line-up right from the start. Instead, it’s Brandon King’s injury that paved the way for him to come in, and leaving him out suddenly feels even more perplexing. He lit up his home ground with a sizzling display, ensuring West Indies got ahead of the rate early, and from thereon the contest turned into a run-rate salvage operation.No bowler was spared the brutality of his raw power, and when a heave over mid-off cleared the rope, he brought up a scintillating half-century. But Hope wasn’t fading away; if anything he kicked it up a notch, smashing the hapless Milind Kumar for three consecutive sixes in the ninth over, priming West Indies to the sort of run-rate boosting win they so badly needed.
Leeds United will be doing plenty of deals in the next couple of months in an attempt to build a squad that can avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites have already made one new signing to bolster Daniel Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch, as Lukas Nmecha has agreed a deal to join the club on a free transfer from Wolfsburg at the start of next month.
He only scored three goals in 19 appearances in the Bundesliga during the 2024/25 campaign, and has only scored eight league goals in the last three seasons combined.
This does not suggest that Nmecha is likely to be the go-to centre-forward option from the start for the West Yorkshire outfit, but the former Germany international could provide experienced back-up to the other number nines in the squad.
The 26-year-old star will not be the last striker to arrive at Elland Road this summer, though, as reporter Graham Smyth claimed that the club are still looking for another addition in that position.
This could spell bad news for 21-year-old marksman Mateo Joseph’s future in West Yorkshire, amid speculation that he could move on ahead of next season.
Why Mateo Joseph could leave Leeds
The Spain U21 international is reportedly being eyed up by several clubs, as GIVEMESPORT recently claimed that Birmingham, Strasbourg, and Real Betis are all keen on securing his signature.
This suggests that there will be no shortage of suitors for the Whites academy graduate if Farke decides that he will not be a part of his plans for the Premier League season, which will kick off with a clash against Everton on the first Monday Night Football of the campaign.
Joseph has now had a taste of first-team football, with 61 Championship outings and four goals in the last two seasons, and should be wanting to play regular minutes next term to continue his development.
The Spanish youngster only scored three goals in 39 matches for Leeds in the second tier during the 2024/25 campaign, but did put up some promising underlying numbers.
Non-penalty xG
0.36
Top 29%
Shots total
2.73
Top 11%
Shots on target
1.05
Top 17%
Non-penalty goals
0.21
Bottom 34%
xAG
0.13
Top 20%
Assists
0.21
Top 6%
Shot-creating actions
2.31
Top 20%
Touches in the opposition’s box
5.25
Top 10%
As you can see in the table above, Joseph ranked highly among his positional peers when it came to getting into high-quality shooting positions and creating chances for others, but his finishing let him down.
A loan move away from Leeds to play regularly and hone his skills next term could be the ideal next step for him, whilst Leeds are eyeing up a striker who could be an upgrade on him in the short term.
Leeds plotting move for new striker
According to TEAMtalk, the Championship champions are eyeing up further forward additions after the signing of Nmecha, and Besiktas striker Semih Kilicsoy is one of the players they are plotting a move for.
The Turkish attacker and Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz are both said to be targets for the West Yorkshire outfit, as they look to improve Farke’s options in the final third.
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TEAMtalk adds that Leeds are moving forward in deals to sign Muniz, Kilicsoy, and USG’s Noah Sadiki, with the Besiktas whiz said to be available for a fee of £18m.
The outlet claims that the Whites have extensively scouted the Turkey U21 international and view him as a versatile star with potential who would come in as a long-term signing for Farke.
If Leeds can get an £18m deal over the line to sign the 19-year-old forward during the summer transfer window then they could have an immediate upgrade on both Nmecha and Joseph for next season.
Why Leeds should sign Semih Kilicsoy
There are many reasons why signing the teenage marksman from Besiktas makes a lot of sense for Leeds, including his age profile. At 19, he has many years left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which means that the striker could grow in value over time.
Semih Kilicsoy for Besiktas.
It also means that he may not demand to be the first-choice number nine week-in-week-out in the Premier League straight away, and be happy to be a versatile bench option at first, which would allow the Whites to also sign a more experienced striker, such as Muniz.
Kilicsoy’s performances for Besiktas in the last two seasons also suggest that he would offer more quality in front of goal than both Nmecha and Joseph in the top-flight.
The Turkish attacker, who was once hailed as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons combined for his club side.
Joseph managed seven goals and four assists for Leeds in all competitions, and Nmecha racked up five goals and zero assists in that same time, which immediately suggests that the teenage star has more to offer the team at the top end of the pitch.
Goals
0.21
0.21
xG on target
0.35
0.35
xA
0.13
0.10
Assists
0.14
0.21
Dribbles completed
2.49
0.78
Dribble success rate
57%
42%
Fouls won
2.00
1.29
As you can see in the table above, Kilicsoy offered more quality at the top end of the pitch than Joseph this season, with more goals and xA combined per 90, along with far more success in dribbling past opposition players.
Impressively, the teenage attacker managed 0.59 goals and 0.21 assists per 90 in the Super Lig in the previous campaign, when he managed 11 goals and four assists in the division, whilst Joseph scored one goal in 22 league games for Leeds that term.
Therefore, Kilicsoy could be a very exciting signing for Leeds as a young forward who has shown that he has the potential to make a big impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals, even more so than Joseph and Nmecha have in recent years.
Better than Aaronson: Leeds submit bid to sign £21m Sadiki alternative
Leeds are looking at signing a new midfielder this summer
ByJoe Nuttall Jun 17, 2025
This is why Leeds must press ahead with a deal to sign the £18m-rated centre-forward before the start of the Premier League season to bolster their attacking options.
Rangers chiefs are set for talks over a fee for a “talented” incoming summer signing at Ibrox, with the player seemingly having his heart set on signing for the Gers.
Rangers already have first summer signing sealed
The Gers look set to be in for a busy summer ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 49ers Enterprises agreeing a deal in principle to take over in Glasgow.
One of their first tasks will be to appoint a new permanent manager at Ibrox, with Barry Ferguson currently in temporary charge until the end of the campaign.
The 49ers could give a new Rangers boss up to £25m to spend on new signings, but the club already have their first summer addition wrapped up.
Back in February, it was confirmed that Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron has penned a pre-contract agreement to move to Rangers this summer.
Talking about a deal for Cameron, technical director, Nils Koppen labelled the soon-to-be Rangers player as “talented”. “I am delighted that we have agreed a deal for Lyall to join the club and to continue his career at Rangers come the summer.
“He is a talented young player, who has already gained great experience in the Scottish Premiership, and adding young, Scottish talent to our first-team squad is hugely important to all of us at the club. Lyall has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow at Rangers in the coming years.”
Lyall Cameron’s club career stats
Games
Goals
Assists
Dundee
114
29
13
Peterhead
33
5
0
Montrose
11
1
0
Cameron, who can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder, has been a regular for Dundee this season, contributing to 18 goals in 36 games.
Rangers still need to pay a compensation package to Dundee, and a new update has now emerged from a Dens Park official.
Rangers set for talks over Lyall Cameron fee
As reported by Rangers Review’s Stephen McGowan, Dundee are planning on talking to Rangers over a compensation fee for Cameron, looking to avoid a tribunal in the process.
Dundee’s managing director John Nelms said: “I mean there has been a small conversation about that. A very, very preliminary conversation about that. At the time it was with their new Chief Executive, who’d come in, like two weeks prior. Patrick’s seat wasn’t even warm yet and I’m sure that as time goes on I think we will have more conversations about that.
“I don’t think they want to go to a tribunal. The last tribunal was very well publicised and our lawyers know all the details. So we both have different views probably and neither one of us want to get there, so hopefully we will come to a resolution on that.”
Ruthless from 49ers: £30k-p/w star could leave Rangers after internal talks
He’s under contract until 2026.
By
Charlie Smith
Apr 9, 2025
Nelms was referring to a £640,000 compensation package awarded to Aberdeen for now Rangers midfielder Connor Barron.
Hopefully, Dundee and those at Ibrox can shake hands on a deal for Cameron, and it’ll be interesting to see the final outcome.
Second season syndrome. It’s sure to be a phrase bandied about online when rival fans discuss Liverpool’s chances under Arne Slot’s management for the 2025/26 campaign.
Liverpool must ensure they put paid to such notions by bolstering effectively in the summer transfer market and adding the depth that has been somewhat lacking this term.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Slot has worked wonders since replacing Jurgen Klopp last summer and it’s difficult to find faults to pick at, but a resistence to rotation is definitely one area the Dutch tactician has drawn criticism, with some intimating that Liverpool’s recent drop in fluency and sparkle is a by-product of certain players being overplayed.
But this is a minor blemish on a man whose arrival at Anfield has left the city aglitter, with the Premier League title a stone’s throw away and promises already being made of significant summer investment.
However, out with the old and all that. Some players have failed to win their boss over this season and simply have to be sold to make room for fresh faces.
Who Liverpool need to sell this summer
First and foremost, Darwin Nunez needs to be sold this summer. The misfiring striker didn’t even make the bench on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool beat West Ham United at Anfield. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool expect to sell him this summer.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota have also endured differing problems this year and either could be deemed expendable if the right bid were to come in, especially now that Mohamed Salah has extended his contract and the likes of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak are being eyed.
It might be a tad harsh to suggest Liverpool need to sell Andy Robertson after his struggles at left-back this term, but with concrete interest confirmed in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, either the Scotsman or his deputy, Kostas Tsimikas, will need to leave.
Several others – Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott – may be sold if the right circumstances present themselves. However, there’s another Liverpool star riding the crest of a wave right now who may also need to go.
Luis Diaz is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League, and FSG should cash in for maximum value while they can.
The latest on Luis Diaz's future
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are now willing to accept offers for Diaz this summer in spite of his recent form, should bids reach the ballpark of €80m (about £68m).
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
The Colombian is one of the best forwards in the Premier League and has rediscovered his touch in the final third over the past few weeks, but aged 28 and approaching the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week contract, it might be the right time for Liverpool to cash in.
Barcelona hold a long-standing interest in the player, while Spanish reports suggest Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League are preparing a bid ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure at the end of his contract this summer.
Diaz has been one of the driving forces behind Liverpool’s anticipated Premier League triumph, but he’s not irreplaceable and some difficult decisions will need to be made soon.
Across all competitions this season, the 28-year-old has scored 15 goals and supplied eight assists for his teammates, having registered goal involvements in each of his past five Premier League appearances.
Luis Diaz in action for Liverpool vs Wolves
An electric-paced forward with an energy that’s charged not by pace but tenacity, Diaz is the real deal, coveted by the likes of Manchester City last year and heading toward the championship having been outscored only by Salah in Liverpool’s squad, which is nothing to be ashamed about.
Ranking among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as per FBref, he’s got the technical capacity to thrive too. Klopp even hailed him once for his “world-class” passing.
Diaz has been indispensable this season for his tactical flexibility, able to skip around the frontline and fill in as a make-do centre-forward, owing to his gifted ability but highlighting the need for a recognised, hard-to-handle number nine.
Left winger
29
6
6
Centre-forward
11
6
0
Right winger
2
1
0
While he’s at his most clinical when placed as the focal frontman, he might find his opportunities limited in that area next term, given Liverpool are headset on signing an out-and-out striker, one who will likely cost quite the figure to bring over to Anfield.
They’ll need to get it right, but the same thing happened when Nunez was brought in from Benfica in the summer of 2022 as Sadio Mane took his leave.
Mane joined Bayern Munich in a deal worth £35m that summer, draping the curtain on an illustrious career at Liverpool. Given that he had turned 30 years old and was a year away from his contract’s conclusion, FSG’s decision was understandable.
Sadio Mane Liverpool graphic
Mane still had mileage in the tank but renewing his deal at that point of his career could have knocked the club’s wage hierarchy askew, with Salah being an exception to the rule.
And so history is shaping up to repeat itself. Diaz has been a more than able replacement for his Senegalese counterpart and now faces a similar fate, but given that he is set to consider a departure from the English Champions Elect, it could be a move that benefits all parties.
Back to the present, Cody Gakpo has nailed down the starting berth on the attacking left flank this year, scoring 16 times from 35 matches in the position.
The Netherlands international might have stepped away from the limelight over recent weeks due to injury, but he ranks among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz
There may well be a conflict of positional interest if these players remain at Liverpool and fight for a place alongside Isak or Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, for example.
The same, curiously, occurred when Mane, Salah and Diaz all played together for five short but sweet months in 2021/22, with Klopp’s new recruit making waves, notching seven goal involvements across 11 Premier League fixtures while winning 5.3 duels per game.
Liverpool wouldn’t grumble if Diaz was still in their mix next season, for sure, but if clubs present bids north of £60m for a player who is entering the later stage of their contract and is not that far away from their 30th birthday, it feels like it could be a no-brainer for sporting director Richard Hughes.
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