Angel Di Maria showed that form is temporary and class is permanent with a remarkable Olimpico goal for Rosario Central against Boca Juniors. The 37-year-old stunned fans at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito after scoring directly from a corner kick at the weekend.
MatériaMais Notícias
O Botafogo retornou ao Nilton Santos depois da mudança para o gramado sintético e começou o Campeonato Brasileiro com o pé direito. Em um jogo bastante disputado, o Alvinegro bateu o São Paulo por 2 a 1 com gols de Tiquinho Soares e Eduardo, enquanto Calleri descontou para o Tricolor paulista. Na coletiva de imprensa, Luís Castro exaltou a relação direta com a torcida e concordou que a equipe oscilou após abrir o placar.
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
– O resultado de hoje é de equipe com coragem, organizada e determinada, que prova claramente que a arte de atacar e defender são duas formas expressas no jogo que temos que ser competentes. É isso que reflete, depois de tantas viagens e jogos. Regressar ao Nilton (Santos) foi fantástico, obrigado à torcida, nunca desacreditou, entregou-se ao jogo, assim como os jogadores, foi união perfeita para chegarmos à vitória. Quando há grande união entre torcedores e jogadores, as coisas acontecem – citou.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoTextor assume responsabilidade por fraco início de ano do Botafogo e destaca: ‘Temporada começou hoje’Botafogo15/04/2023BotafogoEduardo critica árbitro em vitória do Botafogo e fala sobre fase goleadora na temporada: ‘Quero só ajudar’Botafogo15/04/2023BotafogoATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho, Eduardo e Lucas Perri são destaques em vitória do BotafogoBotafogo15/04/2023
Ao ser questionado sobre a intensidade do time, Luís Castro disse que há aspectos positivos a se destacar na atuação do Glorioso. O comandante voltou a exaltar o caráter, entrega e dignidade de seus atletas, que superaram as adversidades e ficaram com os três pontos.
– Nos últimos 10 jogos, o Botafogo tem uma derrota. Isso é um fato. Eu escuto muita coisa. Um time que jogaria tão mal, como você está dizendo, não teria esses resultados. Todos os times enfrentam instabilidade no começo da temporada. Hoje foi a primeira vez que jogamos no nosso estádio nos últimos dois meses. Há coisas positivas, e uma delas é a coragem. Tivemos coragem, determinação e pegada para melhorar. Hoje foi assim. Superamos um momento ruim no jogo e vencemos. Os dados do GPS dos nossos jogadores… todos estão com manchas em vermelho. Tivemos uma grande intensidade. Todos ultrapassaram o que é normal em um jogo. Tivemos um compromisso de começar bem o Brasileirão e conseguimos ganhar o jogo. Vocês podem ter qualquer opinião, achar que não jogamos bem, mas eu tenho olhos. Mas os meus jogadores tem caráter e dignidade. Correram muito hoje. Tivemos quatro oportunidades, o São Paulo finalizou mais é verdade. Mas estamos de parabéns – disse o treinador.
+ATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho e Eduardo marcam e Lucas Perri fecha o gol em triunfo do Botafogo pelo Brasileirão
Por fim, o treinador respondeu sobre seu momento atual para mais uma temporada depois de balançar no cargo devido aos resultados do início da temporada. Com isso, relembrou seus feitos na carreira e enalteceu o prestígio de defender o Botafogo.
– Meu interior está em paz. Desde os 17 anos me dedico ao futebol, sempre com ambição e determinação. Felizmente as coisas têm sido de uma carreira em ascensão. A caminhada que fiz também estou orgulhoso dela. Tem que ser prova de competência quando sai da 4ª Divisão e disputa a Champions contra o City do Guardiola. Depois se chega a um clube de tanto prestígio como o Botafogo, é sinal que as coisas correram bem ao longo desses 26 anos de carreira. Outra coisa que me deixa em paz é nunca ter sido despedido em clube algum – finalizou.
O Botafogo volta a campo na próxima quinta-feira para medir forças com o Universidad César Vallejo, do Peru, às 21h (de Brasília), também no Nilton Santos, pela Copa Sul-Americana. No Brasileirão, os comandados de Luís Castro entrarão em campo na segunda-feira, dia 24, às 21h, para encarar o Bahia, na Arena Fonte Nova, pela 2ª rodada.
A new era is set to begin this season for Everton. Led by club legend David Moyes, now well into his second spell in charge at the club, they will move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, after giving Goodison Park its farewell at the end of last term.
Indeed, the Toffees will go into the 2025/26 campaign in excellent form under the Scot. Since taking over on the 11th January this year, he has managed 20 games, winning eight, losing just five and drawing the rest. The final three games of the season saw Everton pick up a maximum of nine points.
Moyes’ side will have to wait before they can take to the pitch at their new home. Their first game is away to Leeds United, with Brighton and Hove Albion the first opponent to play at their new ground in the Premier League.
With the transfer window still very much open, Moyes will no doubt be looking to recruit players across the pitch and strengthen his squad. Carlos Alcaraz is the only addition so far this summer, with his loan move from Flamengo turning permanent for an undisclosed fee.
So, who will be joining Alcaraz in signing for the Toffees ahead of a historic season? Here is a look at what Everton’s dream squad could look like in 2025/26.
The goalkeepers A new number 2 alongside Pickford
It will come as absolutely no surprise that Everton and England’s number one, Jordan Pickford, will be going nowhere this season. The 31-year-old is very much at the top of his game and was a standout player for his side last term.
He had an impressive record, conceding just 44 goals and keeping 12 clean sheets in all 38 games in the top flight. He is a trusted lieutenant of Moyes, who managed him at Sunderland in his younger days.
However, the goalkeeper stocks at Everton are thin on the ground. Backup options Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia have already left the club. Thus, they are reportedly targeting Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers, as per Sky Sports. The South Coast side wanted £10m off Stoke City for Travers back in 2024, so it is safe to assume his price tag will be similar this summer.
The Irish goalkeeper played five times for the Cherries last season, pulling off this impressive save away to Aston Villa, before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough.
There, he kept four clean sheets in 17 games. He would certainly add Premier League experience and be an astute number two to Pickford.
Full list of goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford, Mark Travers
The defenders Depth at full-back after key contract extensions
One of the best pieces of news so far this summer for Everton is that Jarrad Branthwaite signed a new contract. He penned a five-year extension and is a key part of the project under Moyes. His commitment to the club must delight Toffees fans, given all the speculation of a move away.
He will likely be joined at centre-back by James Tarkowski. The pair formed a key partnership at the heart of the defence last term, playing 32 and 34 games respectively, according to Transfermarkt.
As for depth at centre-back, Michael Keane also signed a new contract this summer, and Jake O’Brien, who played lots at right-back too, last season. Club legend Seamus Coleman also put pen to paper on a new deal to remain at Everton for another season, and Nathan Patterson is also an option for Moyes at right-back.
They are still looking for a new full-back, with £8.5m left-back Anthony Caci of Mainz ‘a serious target’ according to TEAMTalk. He can play either side, but has most regularly played as a left-back as per Transfermarkt, making 102 career appearances as a left wing-back or full-back.
Indeed, it certainly makes sense that Everton are looking for a new addition on that side, with Ashley Young’s departure leaving Vitalii Mykolenko the only left-back at the club. Caci, for a bargain price, could strengthen in that area.
Full list of right-backs – Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson
Full list of centre-backs – RCB (James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien); LCB (Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane)
Full list of left-backs – Anthony Caci, Vitalii Mykolenko
The midfielders Plenty of new faces in midfield
The middle of the park is where Everton will seemingly look to add great depth to their squad. Idrissa Gueye is another player to extend his contract on the Blue half of Merseyside, and he was a standout player for his side last season.
As per FBref, he made more tackles and interceptions with 181 and more ball recoveries with 194 than any of his teammates.
Tackles and interceptions
181
5.32
1st
Blocks
48
1.41
2nd
Ball recoveries
194
5.71
1st
Progressive passes
145
4.26
1st
Passes into final third
154
4.53
1st
Moyes would surely like to add another ball-winner in the midfield, which is why Wilfried Ndidi is a key target. GiveMeSport suggest a £5m fee would be enough to get the deal done, for a midfielder with 220 Premier League appearances to his name. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he is a “beast” in the centre of the park.
James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are also options for Moyes in midfield. The pair made 23 and 21 appearances respectively in 2024/25, but there is certainly a lack of experience in that area.
That is why an ambitious move for Aston Villa captain John McGinn could be on the cards. BBC Sport say they are ‘interested’ in the Scot, valued at £14m by Football Transfers.
It will be a tough deal to do, with Villans boss Unai Emery said to be ‘in no mood to part with’ McGinn, but he would certainly add to all areas of the pitch. Last season, he scored four times, including a stunner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and grabbed six assists.
As we now know, the Toffees have signed Alcaraz permanently, and he surely becomes the first-choice number 10 under Moyes. He contributed to five goals last season.
However, keep an eye on young Harrison Armstrong, who ‘appears in a position to press his first-team claims’, according to The Guardian.
Full list of central midfielders – Idrissa Gueye, Wilfred Ndidi, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, John McGinn
Full list of number tens – Carlos Alcaraz, Harrison Armstrong
The attackers Moyes' DCL replacement and two new RWs
One part of the forward line that seems sorted for the Toffees is the left wing. Their standout attacking player from last season, Iliman Ndiaye, will be vital again in 2025/26.
He scored 11 goals last term. The other player at Moyes’ disposal on the left is Dwight McNeil, who bagged five goals and assisted an impressive eight during the 2024/25 season.
On the other flank, the Toffees might look to make two new additions. The i Paper has linked two players who can slot in on the right, namely James McAtee of Manchester City for £25m, and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, who would cost upwards of £30m.
England under-21 international McAtee bagged seven goals in 27 games last term for the Citizens, as well as putting on a show in the Under-21 European Championship, which England won. He even grabbed an assist in the final. He can also play as a number 10.
As for Kubo, the 24-year-old played 52 times for Sociedad last term. He managed to score seven goals and grab four assists, playing mainly as a right-winger but also slotting in on the left at times, too.
Leading the line for Everton next season will be another new face, Thierno Barry of Villarreal. The Toffees have completed a £27m move for the 22-year-old French striker. Described as “menacing in the box” by football scout Antonio Mango, he bagged 19 goals in 41 games for the Yellow Submarine last term.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin now departed, that leaves Moyes with Beto, a man who bagged ten times across all competitions last season, and youngster Chermiti, who only played four games, as his options to compete with Barry.
Full list of right-wingers – Takefusa Kubo, James McAtee
Full list of strikers – Thierno Barry, Beto, Chermiti
Full list of left-wingers – Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil
Moyes' best CM since Fellaini: Everton submit enquiry to sign £43m star
David Moyes has enjoyed plenty of quality midfielders at Everton, Marouane Fellaini chief amongst them, so could the Toffees sign another?
Jul 9, 2025
It’s already been a very busy summer for Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox, but that trend is showing no sign of slowing down.
So far, Russell Martin has been unveiled as the new manager, while seven new signings have been made, with Djeidi Gassama the latest player to arrive, joining for a reported fee of £2.2m earlier this week.
However, they are far from satisfied just yet, with a more experienced player now being targeted once again.
Rangers' pursuit of a new centre-back
It may still only be mid-July, but Rangers’ season begins in just four nights’ time.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
On Tuesday, the Light Blues will welcome Panathinaikos to Ibrox for the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie, before the duo meet again at the Spyros Louis Olympic Stadium in Athens eight nights later.
As outlined by Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, Rangers must have submitted their squad for the tie to UEFA by 11 o’clock on Thursday night, albeit two players can be added up to 24 hours before kick off.
With that last part in particular in mind, the Daily Record is reporting that Rangers are pushing to sign Conor Coady, desperate to have him available for the Panathinaikos tie.
They note that the England international has been denied permission to secure a move to Rangers for now, although ‘cash-strapped’ Leicester are still determined to move on one of their highest earners, having now ‘earmarked’ a replacement.
Thus, the Gers have not given up hope of securing Coady’s signature before the deadline, but face a serious race against time.
Why signing Conor Coady is so important for Rangers
Of course, Rangers want to beat Panathinaikos to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive, but victory would also guarantee, at worst, a spot in the Europa League.
Meanwhile, defeat to the Greek side could see them end up in the Conference League, or possibly without any league phase football at all, which would be catastrophic.
Should they end up celebrating victory come full time in Athens on 30 July, the Light Blues could then face RB Salzburg, Fenerbahçe, Nice, Club Brugge, Benfica or others in later rounds, so Coady’s top-level experience would prove invaluable.
Martin, a former centre-back himself of course, may not be feeling ultra-confident about his current options in that position.
John Souttar
28
2022
94
Ben Davies
29
2022
58
Clinton Nsiala*
21
2024
13
Robin Pröpper*
31
2024
43
Leon King
21
2020
42
Nasser Djiga
22
2025
Zero
Emmanuel Fernandez
23
2025
Zero
*expected to leave the club.
**King made his senior debut in 2020.
Of the players in the table above, it is expected that both Clinton Nsiala and Robin Pröpper will depart, while Ben Davies has been tipped to be on the move too.
With youngster Leon King unlikely to be trusted, that leaves John Souttar and new duo Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez as Martin’s centre-back options for a season-defining Champions League tie.
Playing Fernandez in particular would surely be a risk, considering he is just 23 years old, having made only 71 senior appearances to date, the vast majority of which have come at EFL League One level.
Coady, on the other hand, has 485 senior club appearances to his name, of which 198 have come in the Premier League and 18 in the Europa League, on top of his ten England caps.
Tim Spiers of the Athletic praised Coady’s outstanding leadership qualities, while Sean Dyche, who was his manager at Everton, heralded his “immaculate” professionalism and lauded him as a “high-quality footballer”.
So, we all know that Coady would bring some vital experience to Rangers’ back line, but let’s assess how his statistics compare to Fernandez?
Appearances
43
42
Minutes
3,103
3,407
Accurate long passes %
49.6%
28.6%
Interceptions
0.6
0.8
Tackles
0.6
1.1
Clearances
3.2
6
% of ground duels won
57.2%
55.1%
% of aerial duels won
51.9%
64.2%
As the table outlines, Coady and Fernandez’s statistics are very similar across the given timeframes, albeit it’s worth considering that the former was plying his trade in the Championship and then the Premier League, with the latter in EFL League One.
For context, according to Global Football Rankings, England’s top three tiers are the first, 11th and 53rd strongest leagues in the world, representing a huge drop-off between tiers two and three.
Thus, it is clear that signing Coady would represent a major coup for Rangers, and doing so before Monday would exponentially increase their chances of progressing past Panathinaikos.
Better move than Gassama: Ibrox target wants to sign for Rangers this week
Rangers could land a better signing than Djeidi Gassama as a star wants to join them this week.
ByDan Emery Jul 16, 2025
Leeds United are ramping up their transfer activity as the new Premier League season edges ever closer.
Former Manchester City youth starlet Lucas Nmecha has now joined the ranks from Wolfsburg to enhance the Whites’ attacking options. It’s surely only a matter of time before Jaka Bijol is announced too, after he has allegedly undergone a medical at Elland Road.
The next logical step would be to add some reinforcements in the middle of the park, therefore, and Leeds’ wish could be granted if they were to land a former Premier League ace.
Leeds interested in deal for £25m star
Strengthening the midfield ranks is evidently a key priority for Leeds this summer with moves for the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki reportedly lined up.
Diarra seems to be a more concrete target at the moment with fresh claims suggesting that they made a bid worth £21m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Slow progress is being made on that deal, so the Whites are seeking alternatives. Well, according to a new report from Italian outlet Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Leeds are in the picture to land former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer.
The report states that Luiz will be allowed to leave Juventus this off-season after a mediocre stint in Turin, but Leeds could well be put off by the Serie A giants and their asking price, with Igor Tudor’s men having purchased the Brazilian for a bumper £42m fee.
The move could still have legs on a loan-to-buy basis, however, with the report clarifying that such a deal would only cost Daniel Farke’s men £25m down the line. That marks a sharp decrease from Luiz’s staggering £100m valuation back in 2023.
Thus, that £25m fee feels like a reasonable fee to pay for the South American, with his reputation needing to be repaired, and that could occur back in England, where he once starred for Unai Emery’s men regularly.
Why Luiz could become Leeds' new Raphinha-like star
Luiz could come in and seriously improve Farke’s midfield options, with this deal having a similar feel to when Leeds purchased another Brazilian from Europe in the form of Raphinha for a bargain £16m, with the rest now history on the end of the Barcelona superstar.
Obviously, Raphinha didn’t have the backdrop of flopping at Rennes before he relocated to West Yorkshire, but it would have been seen as a savvy deal at the time, with Leeds only having to fork out a modest fee to win the slick winger.
The 34-time Brazil international would go on to cement himself in Leeds hearts everywhere with his skilful performances throughout his short stay, leading to the now Barca number 11 collecting 17 goals and 12 assists from 67 appearances, with his efforts as the Whites’ top goalscorer during his swansong season at Elland Road helping Leeds to just about beat the drop.
Luiz might well follow in Raphinha’s footsteps and be the energetic presence Leeds need to secure their Premier League status this coming season, with the Rio De Janeiro-born midfielder a proven top-flight performer.
Farke would love to call upon Luiz as an additional central body, therefore, with the vibrant Brazilian capable of getting stuck in when needed. Like Raphinha, who’s now a firm Ballon d’Or contender, he’s got fine pedigree, notably hailed as “one of the best 6s in the Premier League” and “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” by Sky Italia.
That’s showcased perfectly by his numbers for the Villans, where he ranked within the top 7% of midfielders in the Premier League in 2023/24 for goals, demonstrating his attacking flair to go alongside his defensive qualities.
Games played
36
33
34
37
35
Goals scored
3
0
2
6
9
Assists
2
2
3
6
5
Touches*
46.1
55.6
56.9
60.6
70.1
Accurate passes*
27.7 (83%)
36.8 (86%)
37.1 (87%)
39.6 (86%)
50.4 (89%)
Big chances created
3
4
2
7
10
Tackles*
1.3
1.5
1.7
2.0
1.7
Clearances*
1.3
1.2
0.6
0.6
0.5
Total duels won*
4.1
4.9
4.4
4.4
4.2
Luiz only got better and better the more his Premier League journey at Villa Park went on, culminating in him firing home a ridiculous nine Premier League strikes during his final season in the West Midlands.
He would even be labelled as “world-class” during his celebrated stay with the Villans by teammate John McGinn, with Raphinha once also talked about in the same glowing manner in West Yorkshire when heralded as “special” by Marcelo Bielsa.
Everything is pointing in the direction of this being a superb deal, with Luiz potentially going on to be their new Premier League saviour, just as Raphinha was once upon a time.
He's better than Diarra: Leeds now looking at deal to sign £26m "threat"
Leeds United are eyeing up a midfield star who could be even better than Habib Diarra.
1 ByDan Emery Jun 19, 2025
Crystal Palace have now made an enquiry to sign a 28-year-old on a free transfer ahead of rival interest from fellow Londoners Fulham, according to a recent report.
Palace shop for Glasner replacements just in case
Given how the season started for the Eagles and how it could end, it has been quite a turnaround for Oliver Glasner and Palace, as they remain in the hunt for a top-half Premier League finish and could win England’s oldest competition this month.
Sky Sports: Crystal Palace now want 4-2-3-1 manager should Glasner leave
Steve Parish has his eye on a new managerial target if Glasner departs Selhurst Park.
ByBrett Worthington May 6, 2025
Reaching the FA Cup final and guiding the club away from relegation trouble likely means that Palace chiefs are going to want to extend Glasner’s stay at Selhurst Park. However, the links of a potential move away at the end of the season are not going away. In the last couple of months, Glasner was linked with a move to RB Leipzig and it’s now being claimed that he is the number one choice for the Bundesliga side.
As well as RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in appointing Glasner as their new manager should Ange Postecoglou be sacked at the end of the campaign.
These links have made Palace put their own ducks in a row, and according to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Palace are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as their new manager should Glasner depart. However, they are not the only teams chasing the German, as Leicester City and Southampton are also keen on the Sheffield Wednesday boss.
Crystal Palace make enquiry to sign 28 y/o on free transfer
But while the future of Glasner remains up in the air, Palace chiefs are looking ahead to the summer and already have their eye on one player they would like to bring to Selhurst Park. According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now considering signing midfielder Yvan Neyou on a free transfer.
The report states that Palace are among the clubs who have joined the race to sign Neyou, who is set to leave Spanish side Leganes when his contract expires. It is claimed that La Liga side Valencia are leading the race to sign the 28-year-old, but his performances for a struggling side have alerted the attention of Palace as well as Fulham.
The Eagles have now made an enquiry to understand if Neyou would be interested in a move to Selhurst Park, but have yet to make an offer. Neyou’s consistent form, defensively and offensively, in a side that is struggling at the foot of the table has plenty of appeal to clubs operating on a smaller budget.
Apps
28
Starts
25
Goals
1
Assists
1
Touches per game
49.0
Key passes per game
0.4
Passes per game (accuracy)
31.3 (87%)
Interceptions per game
0.9
Tackles per game
1.9
Balls recovered per game
4.0
Palace are of course wary of the interest in Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton – winning the FA Cup and gaining access to European football could be required to ensure Neyou joins the duo at Selhurst Park instead of replacing them.
Arsenal may not have won the Premier League this season, but Mikel Arteta’s squad still have it all to play for in the Champions League.
Though Paris Saint-Germain left the Emirates Stadium with a slender one-goal advantage in midweek, the Gunners have the quality and confidence to create something special at the Parc des Princes.
Some questionable officiating aside, Arsenal know the crux of their issues this season lies with the failure to provide Arteta with an elite-level striker.
Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in the new year sapped the Londoners’ strength at number nine, calling for an unconventional but curiously effective stopgap in Mikel Merino.
However, Arsenal need a permanent solution, one which could ease the talismanic burden Bukayo Saka wears around his neck.
Bukayo Saka's season in numbers
To be fair, Saka wears the weight of responsibility rather well, having maintained a confident stream of goals and assists through the campaign while producing influential and energetic performances.
But this only draws to attention the yawning hole at number nine, with a prolific centre-forward certain to take the England international’s game to the next level.
Saka, 23, has scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists for Arsenal this season. The three-month hamstring injury picked up in December has proved the biggest blow to his side’s campaign; Saka’s back now, but he’s still not at his sharpest.
Nonetheless, the winger’s return has restored a deeper degree of balance and fluency that must be allowed to bloom into something truly world-class next season, and a more clinical attacking partner than one of Havertz or Jesus will ensure that happens.
As per FBref, Arsenal’s starboy ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for goal-creating actions and the top 5% for crosses made per 90.
This man is a striker’s dream, and new sporting director Andrea Berta is ready to reward him with one of the finest centre-forwards out there.
Arsenal in talks to sign top striker
We all know Alexander Isak’s the dream. But Isak is going to cost more than £150m to convince Newcastle United to sell, and this would likely prove beyond any interested party’s means.
Instead, Berta is pushing to seal the signing of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, several talks have already taken place, with the Liga Portugal champions looking for no more than €70m (about £60m) to get a deal done.
Arsenal are confident they can get a deal done, but with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United also keen, they will need to act swiftly.
What Viktor Gyokeres would bring to Arsenal
Isak has been described as “the best striker in the Premier League” this season by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, but he’s not the only deadly goalscorer on the market.
In fact, Gyokeres has the complete take on the centre-forward role and could make it his own at the front of Arteta’s system.
The 6 foot two star’s technical quality, physicality and hunger for success have been hallmarks of his journey in Portugal, scoring 95 goals from 98 matches and winning last season’s Liga Portugal title before being crowned the division’s Player of the Year.
This level of surety in the final third is something that Arsenal have lacked across the campaign, and by instating Gyokeres in the focal role, Saka would finally have the reliable outlet from which he could direct his peerless playmaking ability.
24/25 – Sporting
48 (40)
52
12
23/24 – Sporting
50 (47)
43
15
22/23 – Coventry
50 (47)
22
12
21/22 – Coventry
47 (42)
18
5
20/21 – Coventry
19 (7)
3
0
20/21 – Swansea
12 (2)
1
0
Talk about year-on-year growth. Gyokeres, 26, has yet to make his mark in one of Europe’s recognised top-five leagues but his numbers leave little to the imagination in the best way, especially since he’s only missed 43 big chances across his past three league terms, as per Sofascore, scoring 88 times.
Havertz has his strengths, but he’s not clinical. In the Premier League this season, the German has missed 15 big chances, converting nine strikes. The 28-year-old Jesus, meanwhile, has not been available often enough to warrant Arteta’s trust as his first-choice option.
There’s no doubt Saka is among the finest players in world football, but his game is being impeded by the absence of a partner like Gyokeres. With 20 big chances created in the Premier League this season, only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has more – and having played plenty more minutes at that.
Injury pulled from Saka the chance to immortalise his name in the Premier League’s playmaking record books, but the Three Lions sensation’s electric start to the 2024/25 season remains a welcome reminder of the level of player Arsenal have on their hands.
Moreover, it’s an arresting lever Arteta wields in convincing a player of Gyokeres’ ilk that the Emirates project is the best place for him to go from strength to strength and hit the next level in his incredible journey.
Of course, any natural goalscorer would find their game enhanced alongside Arsenal’s main man, but the Sweden star is “the hottest striker in Europe,” according to ESPN’s Mark Ogden, and the partnership might just be something that fixes the issues that have plagued the north London side’s season.
Having come agonisingly close in recent years, this would be a signing to complete the craft and finally establish Arsenal as the continent’s team to beat.
It’s not over yet; Arsenal may yet find themselves fighting for the Champions League trophy after turning it around against PSG, but in any case, Gyokeres would turn a great team into an unstoppable force.
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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025
Liverpool’s victory over bitter rivals Everton last night saw Arne Slot’s side claim their 22nd Premier League win of the season, pushing them one step closer to the title.
The Reds may have struggled to produce their best display, but Diogo Jota’s strike in the 57th minute secured all three points – making amends for their draw against the Toffees in February.
Slot’s side now have a 12-point buffer over Arsenal with just eight league outings remaining – looking to be in pole position to claim their second title in the last six seasons.
Serious credit should be given in the direction of the Dutchman for his work in 2024/25, allowing for a seamless transition after taking the reins from Jürgen Klopp in the summer.
Numerous players managed to thrive in the Derby Day environment, many of which will have given the manager a selection headache ahead of the last couple of outings.
Liverpool’s star performers against Everton
Curtis Jones was forced to operate in a natural right-back role given the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley over the last few weeks.
However, the academy graduate produced a superb display, completing 93% of the passes he attempted, whilst also completing 100% of dribbles – thriving with the ball at his feet.
Luis Diaz has been an inconsistent figure in recent months, only netting one goal in 2025, but managed to tee up Jota for the only goal of the encounter.
The Colombian created six chances during his spell on the pitch – the most of any player – whilst also completing five dribbles, highlighting the threat he posed in the final third.
One other first-team member impressed throughout, undoubtedly cementing himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet as a result of his showing.
The Liverpool player who’s now as important as Salah
Mohamed Salah has been a crucial reason for Liverpool’s success in 2024/25, registering a staggering 54 combined goal contributions in his 44 outings to date.
However, the Egyptian’s future remains up in the air with just a couple of months remaining on his contract, with no news yet to be released on whether he will sign a new deal.
Undoubtedly, losing a player of his quality would be a huge loss for the Reds, with the hierarchy desperately needing to prevent losing the star man on a free transfer.
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has enjoyed a superb rise during his compatriot’s reign, becoming a key player in their success and cementing his place at the heart of the side.
He’s started every single Premier League outing this campaign, notching two assists and forming an excellent partnership with Alexis Mac Allister in recent months.
Last night was no different for the 22-year-old, completing 72 passes at a completion rate of 89%, with ten of his passes going into the final third and finding a teammate.
Minutes played
90
Touches
102
Passes completed
72/81 (89%)
Passes into final third
10
Dribbles completed
1/1 (100%)
Clearances made
2
Interceptions made
2
He also notched a tally of 102 touches, whilst also managing to complete a dribble and looking positive every time he had the ball at his feet.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Defensively, he also managed to impress, making two clearances and two interceptions whilst also managing to make seven recoveries – highlighting his impressive performance at the base of midfield.
As a result of his showing, he was handed a 7/10 match rating by Football Insider journalist Toby Wilding, showcasing how impressive his showing was for Slot’s men.
Given his performance, it’s evident that the former Bayern Munich man has enjoyed a revival at Anfield, looking to be a shrewd addition under his compatriot.
His showing last night was evidence of the talent possesses, undoubtedly being one of the first names on the teamsheet, arguably being as important as Salah to Slot given his emergence this season.
He's better than Frimpong: Liverpool working on deal to sign "complete" RB
Liverpool are already working on a deal to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 2, 2025
Pakistan unravelled after Babar fell on the fourth morning, all down to a plan Harmer had in memory from a county game back in 2019
Danyal Rasool23-Oct-2025While Pakistan preferred to keep their lead left-arm spinner away from the left-handers during South Africa’s last-wicket stand, the visitors had no such qualms about spinning the ball into the batter. With Pakistan having put up late resistance on the third evening after a bruising day, they began the fourth with Babar Azam, one shy of a half-century, along with Mohammad Rizwan in the middle. Faced with two right-handers , Aiden Markram gave the ball to offspinner Simon Harmer.Harmer began the fourth morning with 996 first-class wickets. He’d bowled to just about everyone in every situation over his 16-year first-class career. That included Babar when he had a stint with Somerset in 2019, and remembered what had discomfited the Pakistan batter.”I just felt it was probably more dangerous for him and made him less comfortable when I was bowling from around the wicket,” Harmer said after South Africa’s eight-wicket win in Rawalpindi.There were more game-specific considerations, too. Pakistan had erased South Africa’s lead by now, and were mindful of the value of runs. South Africa knew they could not pack the close field with more men. “In the subcontinent, as an offspinner to a right-hander, you’ve got a lot of turn from outside the line of the stumps,” Harmer said. “So batters can easily take modes of dismissal away. We were obviously very mindful of the lead. We didn’t want it to get away from us. We were trying to attack and not leak runs. So you can’t carry extra catchers around the bat.Related
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“I felt that the ball from that end specifically was spinning from straight. So if I came around the wicket and if they didn’t want to score square, it kept the stumps in play, whereas from over the wicket they could get outside the line.”It also made it trickier for Babar to get himself onto the front foot off any length. Babar clipped the second ball of the day off the back foot into the onside to get to 50. But when Harmer pitched it slightly further up, he still went back. The ball kept low, hitting him beneath the knee roll.With Harmer starting around off, there was enough room to land the ball on middle and spin away from Babar’s bat without deviating too far out of the line of the stumps. Babar reviewed, but the DRS returned three reds. It was the 29th ball Harmer had bowled to Babar around the wicket this Test, conceding nearly a run fewer per over from that angle than from over the wicket.Pakistan’s offspinner Sajid Khan, meanwhile, does not enjoy the same comfort coming around the wicket to the right-hander. He had by far his most subdued series since Pakistan’s turn to spin tracks, taking six wickets across the two Tests and just 1 for 134 in Rawalpindi. Against right-handers, he went around the wicket for just seven balls all Test, and 11 all series. Pitted against Harmer’s experience, Sajid’s ideas for creating opportunities looked rather pedestrian.Babar’s dismissal, though, was only the beginning of a near-perfect day for Harmer. He went on to take six in the innings, getting to 1000 first-class wickets along the way. But it was all unlocked thanks to a little memory holed away from a game in Chelmsford in the late English summer, deployed to clinical effect in the early Pakistani winter.
And have any of their first victims averaged more than Steve Smith?
Steven Lynch23-Jan-2024Shamar Joseph’s first two Test wickets were Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who both average over 50. How rare is this sort of start? asked Brian Williams from Australia
The exciting young West Indian Shamar Joseph turns out to be the 11th bowler whose first two Test wickets were a batter with an average of 50 or above (given a qualification of at least 4000 runs at the time). His victims in Adelaide last week were Steve Smith, who ended the match averaging 57.80, and Marnus Labuschagne (52.03). The last bowler to achieve this was another West Indian, Shermon Lewis, against India in Rajkot in 2018-19. He dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli – but India still ran up 649, and Lewis won only one more cap.Pride of place has to go to the old England captain Norman Yardley, whose first two Test wickets were both none other than Don Bradman, who was averaging over 100 at the time. This was during the second and third matches of the 1946-47 Ashes series in Australia, which were Yardley’s fourth and fifth Tests (he didn’t take a wicket in the first three). Again, it didn’t lead to much joy: Bradman had made 234 and 79, and Australia went on to win the series 3-0.Three others dismissed a high-averaging opponent twice to start their careers. Neil Johnson began by removing Sachin Tendulkar in both innings as Zimbabwe pulled off a surprise win over India in Harare in 1998-99. Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews dismissed Younis Khan twice in Galle in 2009 . And Moeen Ali marked his debut for England, against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014, by having Kumar Sangakkara caught behind, and got him again in the next Test at Headingley.Three men started their Test bowling careers by dismissing the prolific Indians Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid: the Sri Lankan pair of Dhammika Prasad (in Colombo in 2008, when his third wicket was Tendulkar) and Suraj Randiv (also in Colombo, but in 2010), and Australia’s Jason Krejza during his debut 8 for 215 in Nagpur in 2008-09.Jonathan Agnew, now a distinguished broadcaster, made a fine start to what was a brief Test career by dismissing the West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards at The Oval in 1984. And in India’s series in Australia in 2003-04, Irfan Pathan started with the wickets of Matthew Hayden in Adelaide and Steve Waugh in Sydney.Shamar Joseph took a wicket with his first ball in Tests. How many people have done this, and has anyone started with a batter with better numbers than Steve Smith? asked Joey Dimattina from Australia
Following a breezy 36 from No. 11 in his maiden innings in Adelaide last week, the new West Indian find Shamar Joseph then became the 23rd bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in a Test match.His first victim was Steve Smith, who had scored 9526 runs at an average of 58.08 at the time. That’s the highest average of any of the victims – Kumar Sangakkara had 8438 runs at 56.25 when he fell to Nathan Lyon’s first ball in Test cricket, in Galle in 2011. But one man had more runs than Smith: Alastair Cook had amassed 9840 (at an average of 46.85) when he fell to Hardus Viljoen’s opening delivery in his only Test for South Africa, in Johannesburg in 2015-16.I noticed that Mayank Agarwal has scored four Test centuries, all of them in India. Is there anyone whose career included more hundreds, all of them at home? asked V Mohan from India
India’s Mayank Agarwal is one of five men who have scored four Test centuries, all of them coming in home games: the others are Joe Hardstaff junior (England), Guy Whittall (Zimbabwe), and the Sri Lankans Roshan Mahanama and Arjuna Ranatunga. Agarwal’s haul includes two double-centuries; Hardstaff, Mahanama and Whittall all made one.But there are two men who made five Test hundreds, all of them on home soil. The first was the old England player Stanley Jackson. His five included two in the 1905 Ashes series, in which he captained England, won all five tosses, was the leading scorer on either side, and also took 13 wickets. All of Jackson’s 20 Tests came in England, as his Wisden obituary noted: “Unfortunately he could not go on any tour to Australia owing to business reasons, and the presence of Lord Hawke in command of Yorkshire until 1910 prevented him from ever being the county captain, though he was occasionally in charge of the side.”The second batter with five Test centuries all on home soil is Chandu Borde, whose five all came in India between 1958-59 and 1966-67. He did play several Tests abroad, and reached 93 against West Indies in Kingston in 1961-62.Neil Harvey (centre), who turned 95 last year, is still the youngest Australian to score a Test century, at 19 years of age in 1948•Getty ImagesNeil Harvey is the oldest living Australian Test player. Is he still the youngest Australian to score a Test hundred? asked Ian Hugo from France
You’re correct that Neil Harvey is the second-oldest surviving Test player as I write – he turned 95 last October. He’s currently one of 21 Test players who are still alive in their nineties. The only one older than Harvey is the South African Ron Draper, who turned 97 just before Christmas: he played two Tests – against an Australian side including Harvey – in 1949-50.And Harvey is still the youngest Australian to score a Test century – he was 19 years 122 days old when he made 153 against India in Melbourne in 1947-48. That broke the previous national record by a month: Archie Jackson was aged 19 years 152 days when he made 164 on debut against England in Adelaide in 1928-29. The only other teenager to score a Test century for Australia is Doug Walters, who was aged 19 years 357 days when he hit 155 against England in Brisbane in 1965-66.Who has scored the most runs without ever making a fifty in Test matches and one-day internationals? asked Sean Fanning from Australia
The leader on the Test list at the moment is Australia’s Nathan Lyon, who has scored 1427 runs in 126 Tests so far with a highest of 47, against South Africa in Cape Town in 2017-18. In second place is another current player, the West Indian Kemar Roach, with 1165 runs and a highest of 41.It’s not impossible that both Lyon and Roach might yet post a half-century, in which case the record would revert to Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (1010 runs, highest score 45), the only other man into four figures in Tests without a fifty.The record in ODIs is held by India’s Harbhajan Singh, whose 1237 runs included a highest score of 49. Zimbabwe’s Paul Strang made 1090 runs in ODIs with a highest of 47. And Waqar Younis is lurking in third place on this list too, with 969 runs and a highest of just 37.Just to complete the set, the the T20I record is currently held by the New Zealander Jimmy Neesham, whose 900 runs include a highest of 48 not out.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions