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Now that the dust is settled, we can look back at Newcastle United’s summer transfer window with optimism. It didn’t all go Eddie Howe’s way, but the manager has the tools to tackle the campaign ahead and build on last year’s success.

This has been the story of the English tactician’s tenure at St. James’ Park, having been handed the keys to new riches under PIF ownership, but, more importantly, often making the right pick, signing the right players.

And so while Newcastle were rocked this summer by their talisman Alexander Isak’s decision to force his way out and sign for Premier League champions Liverpool in a record-breaking deal, they have compensated with some exciting additions to strengthen the frontline.

In Yoane Wissa, the Magpies have signed a striker who knows the English game well and arrives having scored 19 goals for Brentford last season.

And in Nick Woltemade, who takes Isak’s place as United’s club-record signing after joining from Stuttgart for £69m, Howe could fashion his latest superstar.

After all, he’s done it time and time again across nearly four years at the helm.

Howe's transfer success with Newcastle

Newcastle might have one of the richest owners in football, but they have spent thriftily in comparison to some of their rivals, moreover, impeded by restrictions imposed by PSR.

Bruno Guimaraes, for example, has perhaps been the defining player of the Howe era at Newcastle, joining from Lyon in France in January 2022 for a £40m fee. Now 27, the skipper bleeds black and white, as was clear after his passionate performance against Liverpool last month.

Howe has grown him, organically, into a superstar, with recent interest from the Saudi Pro League revealing him to have been priced at a jaw-dropping £121m, only marginally off Isak’s record £125m move to Merseyside.

The list goes on. Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento have both risen in market value since landing on Tyneside, and the likes of Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier have been among the shrewdest signings made in recent Premier League history.

However, sometimes it takes a bit of time before one of Howe’s buys clicks into gear, and that is very much the truth when considering Sandro Tonali, who over the past year has bloomed into one of the Premier League’s finest maestros.

Newcastle struck gold on Sandro Tonali

When Newcastle completed the signing of AC Milan’s Tonali in July 2023, they felt they had won the race for one of Europe’s most talented players, a player who Gordon would describe as “one of the best midfielders in the world”.

However, while Howe has created something of a hothouse for tactical growth, not everyone will hit the ground running from the start.

And Tonali was evidence of that, having perhaps struggled to adapt in the first few months before being hit with a damaging betting breaches charge from the Italian Football Federation, banned for ten months.

Podcast host Andrew Musgrove has even gone as far as to describe the Italy international as being one of Newcastle’s “standout” players, with the decision to field him deeper last season giving rise to Guimaraes’ athleticism and multi-facetedness in the middle of the park.

This was one of the main reasons behind United finding form before Christmas last season, constructing a winning run that led to Champions League qualification and triumph in the Carabao Cup, beating Liverpool in the final.

Tonali – PL Stats

Stats (*per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

8 (5)

36 (28)

Goals

1

4

Assists

0

2

Touches*

39.8

53.4

Pass completion

88%

86%

Key passes*

1.0

0.8

Dribbles*

0.4

0.6

Ball recoveries*

2.5

4.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.2

2.3

Total duels (won)*

2.1 (47%)

3.7 (54%)

Stats via Sofascore

The 25-year-old’s deeper berth on the field and immense ground-covering role have seen him go from strength to strength, indeed earning recognition as one of the best in the business.

Though his market value hasn’t risen exponentially across his time on Tyneside, Tonali still boasts an expected price tag of £58m, as per Football Transfers, which places him among the best in Howe’s brood.

Tonali hasn’t quite reached the same financial ballpark as players such as Guimaraes and Isak, but there are many of a Toon persuasion who would argue that he is on that same level.

He’s undoubtedly one of the creams of this team, and while Newcastle have landed talents such as Wissa – who joined from Brentford for the same fee as Tonali: £55m – it’s perhaps true that the DR Congo international is limited in terms of scope, and 28 years old besides.

In fact, Tonali has drawn comparisons with his legendary compatriot Andrea Pirlo, with Howe amusingly commenting that it’s “not just the hair”, which further underscores the kind of player that he is, very much one of the best that Newcastle are likely to see any time soon.

There’s also little question that Tonali’s financial development was hindered by his betting ban, and that if he can reclaim the kind of form that led Newcastle to glory last season, he may well leave behind one of the biggest legacies of this Howe era, chock-full of knockout signings.

Wissa also has a chance to provide goals for the Toon outfit over the next few years, but he perhaps doesn’t have the same scope as someone like Tonali, who now has the chance to lead his team to more glory and create an iron-firm midfield capable of unlocking the capacities of players such as Wissa.

Related Newcastle sold a homegrown Isak for just £500k, now he's a £50m "monster"

Newcastle have had to accept the sale of talisman Alexander Isak in a record-breaking D-day move.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2025

India’s captain also hinted that Rahul could edge Pant as wicketkeeper for the England ODIs

Karthik Krishnaswamy05-Feb-20250:52

What will India’s playing XI for the first ODI be?

Are India giving serious thought to adding Varun Chakravarthy to their Champions Trophy squad? For now, the answer to that question is… possibly.Varun’s inclusion in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against England is one of the most intriguing eleventh-hour selections in recent times. He is yet to make his ODI debut, but his recent T20I performances have made him hard to ignore: since his comeback to India’s squad last year, he’s taken 31 wickets at 11.25.”Yeah, look, he has certainly shown something different,” Rohit Sharma said of Varun on the eve of the first ODI against England in Nagpur. “I understand that it is the T20 format, but he’s clearly got something different about him, so we just wanted to have an option and see what we can do with him. Clearly during this series, it presents us an opportunity to play him at some stage and see what he’s capable of.Related

Rohit and Kohli's form in focus; Rahul or Pant as wicketkeeper?

The India of Rohit and Kohli vs the England of Buttler and Root

“Right now, we are not thinking about whether we’re going to take him [to the Champions Trophy] or not, but definitely he will be in contention. If things pan out really well for us and he does what is required, then definitely there is something that we need to think about.”Varun has always been known for being hard to hit through the middle overs of T20 matches, but the work he has put into becoming less of a pure mystery spinner and more of a conventional wristspinner with a high degree of overspin has turned him into a serial wicket-taker. He has two five-fors in 12 T20I innings since his comeback, and has only once failed to take at least two wickets.While Varun has only played 23 List A games, he has shown the same wicket-taking ability across the last two editions of the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing as the tournament’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 edition and as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in 2024-25.While all eight teams have already named their Champions Trophy squads, they still have until February 12 to make changes if needed. India have made such changes ahead of previous ICC tournaments, replacing Axar Patel with Shardul Thakur ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup and Axar once again with R Ashwin ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup.At present, India’s Champions Trophy squad includes four spinners in Ravindra Jadeja, Axar, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, with Kuldeep having just returned to action after undergoing a hernia operation.Rahul vs Pant – ‘A good headache’
Ahead of the England ODIs and the Champions Trophy, one of the biggest selection debates India face is over their wicketkeeper. KL Rahul has been their first-choice ODI keeper in recent times, and contributed significantly in that role and with runs at No. 5 during the 2023 World Cup. But Rishabh Pant, who missed that tournament while recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash, has since returned to action, and presents an explosive option whose left-handedness is an asset in an otherwise exclusively right-handed top order.Rohit didn’t reveal who India would go with to start the England series, but highlighted the importance of “continuity”, hinting that it could well be Rahul.1:20

India selection questions: Gill or Jaiswal? Rahul or Pant?

“Obviously, KL has been keeping wickets for us in the ODI format for a number of years now, and he’s done pretty well,” Rohit said. “If you look at the last 10-15 ODIs, he’s done exactly what the team required him to do. Rishabh as well, he’s there, we’ve got the option of playing either one of them.”Both are quite capable of winning games on their own, so it’s a good headache to have whether to play KL or Rishabh, but obviously, looking at what we’ve done in the past, having that continuity is also very important for us, so that is where we stand as a team, with KL and Rishabh.”No clarity yet on Bumrah’s availability
Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back issue, is part of India’s Champions Trophy squad, and was also included in the squad for the third ODI against England. The BCCI release that announced the addition of Varun to the ODI squad, however, made no mention of Bumrah, raising the question of whether or not he was still part of India’s plans for the third ODI.Rohit said the selectors and team management were waiting on results of a scan that Bumrah would undergo “in the next few days”.”Look, Jasprit, obviously we’re waiting on some update about his scan and stuff, which was due to happen in the next few days,” Rohit said. “Once we get that scan, we’ll be able to give you more clarity on where he stands right now.”

Harry Kane has been warned off a future career in NFL, with the England international told that “monsters” will be waiting to “hit” him in a different form of football. The Bayern Munich striker has been advised to focus on playing soccer until his 40, allowing him to score “a million goals” and retire in peace without having to put his body on the line again.

• Swap one form of football for another

  Kane, who is a big American football fan, has hinted at exploring a move that would see him become a kicker in the NFL. He would welcome the opportunity to swap goal-getting for points scoring.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Emulate longevity of Ronaldso & Messi

  The 32-year-old striker has, however, admitted that he wants to spend as long as possible playing at the highest level in soccer circles before any thought is given to a change in scenery. He could emulate the longevity of all-time greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

• Rough treatment: Kane sent warning

  If that proves to be the case, then former Manchester United and Italy frontman Giuseppe Rossi – who was born in America and spent time in MLS – believes that Kane should steer well clear of giant physical specimens that would like nothing more than to rough him up.

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  Kane advice from American-born ex-MLS star

  Rossi – speaking to , who offer the latest Champions League betting – said: “Listen, there's one piece of advice I'm going to give Harry Kane (about the NFL): Don't do it. You just need to get hit once, and you're done.

  “I actually had this debate with two ex-NFL players. I was telling them I could easily play in the NFL. He said, ‘You don't want to get hit by these guys; these guys are monsters.’ I took a quick look at them and thought, ‘You know what?’ You're probably right. Who the hell wants to get hit?’

  “Hopefully, he retires at 40 years old because I love watching him play. He retires at 40 years old, and he can kick, but sometimes a kicker does get hit, and you don't want that to happen. So, I hope he stays to play his football and scores a million goals and enjoys himself.”

Everton are interested in signing a player who David Moyes loves on loan this summer, according to a new update from reliable journalist Miguel Delaney.

Moyes not ruling out Championship signings for Everton

Blues supporters will be hoping to see as much business done as possible at the club in the coming weeks, giving Moyes’ side the best possible chance of impressing in the Premier League next season.

The Everton manager has spoken about the possibility of signing Championship players who could become Premier League stars this summer, seeing them as potentially shrewd additions, using past examples to back up his point.

“There are hundreds who are playing who are trying to get to the top level and a lot them can. Look at Morgan Rogers (who signed for Aston Villa from Middlesbrough), or Adam Wharton, who went from Blackburn to Crystal Palace. For them to be plucked out, both of them going on to be England internationals, it would be unbelievably naive to think it is not possible, because part of our job is to try to look to see what’s on your doorstep if we can.”

With that in mind, Everton have now been linked with a move for a player who once made a name for himself in the Championship, prior to becoming a world-renowned name.

Everton plot shock move for Premier League star

According to The Independent‘s Delaney on X, Everton are “looking to” firm up their interest in Manchester City star Jack Grealish this summer, with a loan move in the offing this summer.

That said, Delaney’s report does state that “any negotiation depends on whether Manchester City will accept a ‘deluxe’ temporary agreement or push for a permanent sale.”

The £15.6m-a-year Grealish could be an inspired signing for Everton this summer, not least because Moyes is a big admirer, once even saying of him: “He is a really good player and probably the best player in the Premier League at this time. He has done such a big job at that club (Villa) and is probably the best player in the league right now.”

It feels likely that Pep Guardiola doesn’t see a future for the 29-year-old at City, having fallen out of favour there last season, but dropping down a level and being let off the leash more could be ideal for him.

Grealish is a maverick footballer who is at his best when he is able to fully express him and not be held back tactically, which has been aimed at Guardiola, and he has the natural talent and flair to be a hugely popular signing for Everton.

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1 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 29, 2025

He does admittedly turn 30 later this year, and there is the risk that he has peaked, but there is also a chance that the Blues could see the best of him again after some disappointing form over the past year or so.

Liverpool have sold Jarell Quansah. Liverpool’s defensive graduate has played his part over the past few years, replacing Joel Matip after the Cameroonian’s knee injury and then going on to win titles and cement himself as a first-team star.

Praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his “complete package”, Quansah is the perfect profile for a modern centre-back; however, he struggled to replicate his form under Arne Slot’s last wing, on the backfoot from the offing after his half-time substitution last August, the new coach bemoaning his side’s success in the duel during his opening match in the dugout against Ipswich Town.

It’s the events of Liverpool’s triumphant 2024/25 season that have led to Quansah’s sale, but the 22-year-old can certainly hold his head high after winning the Carabao Cup and Premier League, notching 58 Reds appearances in total.

Beginners luck? Not likely. This is a wonderful talent who has now been signed by German club Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m. Liverpool have inserted a buyback clause.

Liverpool are having a fantastic transfer window, but they may yet have to contend with further exits to ruffle things up in Slot’s squad. Indeed, Luis Diaz is also being chased by one of the German Bundesliga’s heaviest hitters.

Why Luis Diaz could leave Liverpool

There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re of a Liverpool persuasion, but there’s no question that selling Diaz would be met with a measure of concern.

Bayern Munich have seen a formal approach rejected for the Colombian winger after Barcelona’s rebuffed bid at the start of June.

While Diaz’s contract expires in two years, there have been no concrete negotiations pertaining to a renewal. This has left the 28-year-old frustrated, for he earns a comparatively modest wage of £55k per week.

For FSG’s part, they are happy to run down Diaz’s contract, waiving any chance of banking a healthy fee and instead profiting from his performances on the pitch.

After all, Diaz is coming off his best campaign in a Liverpool shirt, notching 25 goal contributions and providing invaluable support as a makeshift centre-forward.

But there remains an interest in a long-term successor all the same.

Liverpool in talks to sign new winger

According to The Independent, Liverpool are one of the clubs in contact with Lyon winger Malick Fofana, although FSG know work is to be done if they are to win the race, for Nottingham Forest have had an official bid accepted already.

Lyon have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 for financial troubles, thus widening the opportunity for suitors to sign Fofana, 20, this summer.

He won’t go cheap though. The French giants have slapped a €60m (£51m) price tag on their rising star, and that figure may yet soar as Lyon seek to hold out and drum up as much interest as possible.

Why Liverpool should sign Malick Fofana

Sporting director Richard Hughes has been tracking Fofana for a while, and his style of football suggests he would be an ideal addition to emulate the success Diaz has enjoyed on Merseyside.

Fofana, who has already made his international debut with Belgium, has been praised for his “explosive” style of play by analyst Ben Mattinson, bearing pace and physicality that isn’t too far away from Diaz’s robust skill set.

Joining from Belgian team Gent for a fee rising to €22m (£19m) in January 2024, he’s certainly shown himself to possess a clinical eye, scoring 15 goals and supplying seven assists across 62 appearances, of which only 29 have been starts.

The majority of those contributions came last term, with Fofana’s 11-goal and six-assist haul marking the beginning of a prolific journey that could see him emulate Diaz at Liverpool.

Malick Fofana vs Luis Diaz (2024/25)
Stats (per 90)	Fofana	Diaz
Goals	0.47	0.48
Assists	0.21	0.15
Touches (att pen)	6.08	6.18
Shots taken	1.84	2.52
Shot-creating actions	3.38	4.34
Progressive passes	2.44	3.95
Progressive carries	6.72	3.98
Successful take-ons	1.41	2.17
Ball recoveries	3.38	3.92
Tackles + interceptions	1.84	1.69
Data via FBref

When looking at how the two wingers ranked up across all competitions in 2024/25 for their respective clubs, there’s perhaps a curious point to be made regarding Fofana’s (and in sequence Diaz’s) output, more creative and marginally more prolific than his counterpart.

Add his unrelenting ball-carrying into the bargain and you’ve got a wide forward capable of playing the role which Diaz plies so effectively for the Anfield outfit. In March, Fofana freed himself from his teenage years; the best is yet to come.

But that’s not to say he hasn’t shown his quality against heavy hitters. Only a few months ago, he racked up an assist against Manchester United in that extraordinary Europa League knockout tie. The Red Devils went through but the Belgian winger added to his earlier success in the competition with an impactful off-the-bench performance.

Did we mention that across his 16 Ligue 1 starts last season, the left-sided, right-footed forward scored five goals, missing only four big chances, created six big chances and won 54% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore. Combative and creative, he’s the full package.

Stepping into the Premier League while still finding his feet as a professional would make Fofana a risk for Liverpool to make, but an educated one at that. He wouldn’t be expected to perform with the slick intensity that Diaz brings, not from the offing, but there’s no question he has the tools to replace and maybe even improve upon Slot’s South American sensation.

Liverpool’s boss has already demonstrated an incredible coaching aptitude on English soil, lifting the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo (who adds perfect competition on the left flank).

This is a talent of immense potential, and with so many clubs queuing up, Liverpool might want to take their shot before it’s too late.

Dream Diaz upgrade: Liverpool "discussing" move for "world-class" £85m star

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By
Robbie Walls

Jul 2, 2025

Since Mikel Arteta was appointed manager in December 2019, a lot has changed at Arsenal.

The club have gone from a mid-table laughing stock into serious contenders for the Premier League, Champions League, and every other competition they participate in.

The Spaniard’s tactical approach has facilitated that transformation, as well as the complete overhaul of the squad, with a host of star players coming in and many going the other way.

Perhaps one of the most popular players to have left the club in recent years was Granit Xhaka, who enjoyed a sensational turnaround from being public enemy number one to a crucial cog in the club’s first title charge under Arteta and someone serenaded by the Emirates in his final appearance.

It would be fair to say that the team sometimes lack a certain tenacity since the Swiss international left, so fans should be excited about reports linking them to a player who could be their new Xhaka.

Arsenal's summer of business

As things stand, this summer is shaping up to be really quite special for Arsenal.

Transfer Focus

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

Andrea Berta and Co seem to be working overtime to get deals done in time ahead of pre-season, with Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Norgaard already announced, while Nonie Madueke and Christian Mosquera have already undergone their medicals.

Add to that the free-scoring monster that is Viktor Gyokeres, who could well be having his medical tomorrow or on the weekend, plus the rumours concerning Eberechi Eze, and the Gunners look like they could be seriously dangerous next season.

Yet, the North Londoners don’t appear to be done there, as they’ve also been linked with an international who could be looked at as Arteta’s new Xhaka.

At least, that is according to a recent report from the German publication BILD, which has confirmed that Arsenal are interested in João Palhinha.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Gunners have already held serious discussions over the midfield star.

A price is not mentioned in the report, but stories from last month claim he could be available for just £30m as he’s no longer in Vincent Kompany’s plans.

It might not be the most exciting of signings, but Palhinha is a known quantity, and someone who might be able to add some more bite to Arsenal’s squad, just like Xhaka once did.

Why Palhinha could be Arsenal's new Xhaka

If Arsenal do go ahead with this transfer and are able to bring Palhinha to the Emirates, then there is a good chance he will join as a squad player, with Declan Rice, Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard remaining the first-choice midfield.

However, that does not mean that he couldn’t still have a significant impact, either as the first name off the bench or as a rotation option, as there are going to be plenty of games to be played.

With that said, why could he be Arteta’s new Xhaka?

The first similarity is that, like the Swiss international, he’d be moving to the club from the Bundesliga. Additionally, last season saw him win the league, just as the former Gunners ace did in his first campaign back in Germany in 2023/2024.

Second, while he might not be as technical as an Odegaard-type, the Portuguese international is a warrior of a midfielder who gets stuck into challenges, even if it can sometimes be to his own detriment, just like the former Borussia Mönchengladbach star.

For example, in his 68 Premier League games for Fulham, he picked up 27 yellow cards, while the Basel-born ace picked up 55 in 225 games, working out at one in every 2.51 and 4.09 games, respectively.

However, you shouldn’t read into that as the former Cottagers ace being a liability; it’s more a matter of him constantly breaking up opposition play and putting out fires.

In fact, in the 23/24 season, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by journalist Dom Smith, made the most tackles in the entire league, coming in with 152, while second-place Joao Gomes only made 128.

Moreover, while he didn’t get as much game time as he would have wanted last season, the midfield “monster,” as dubbed by data analyst Marcus Bring, still has some seriously impressive underlying numbers to show for his efforts.

Pass Completion % (Short)

96.6%

Top 1%

GCA (Shot)

0.11

Top 1%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.74

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.81

Top 1%

Pass Completion %

92.4%

Top 3%

Tackles Won

2.13

Top 3%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

56.49

Top 3%

% of Dribblers Tackled

65.4%

Top 4%

Aerials Won

2.34

Top 4%

Passes Completed

68.72

Top 5%

Total Passing Distance

1082.55

Top 6%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.60

Top 6%

Passes Blocked

1.38

Top 6%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions from shots, tackles in the attacking third, and dribblers tackled, as well as the top 3% for pass completion and more, all per 90.

Finally, even though he is most effective in defensive and central midfield, the Lisboa-born star is still capable of chipping in with goals here and there, as, like the Bayer Leverkusen ace, he’s been known to score some long-range screamers.

Ultimately, while he might not be a regular starter, Palhinha would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad, and thanks to his tenacity, experience and ability to strike the ball, he could even be Arteta’s new Xhaka.

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It might be time for the talented ace to leave Arsenal for good.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 16, 2025

Openers overturn the deficit as Nottinghamshire set themselves for final-day push

ECB Reporters Network25-Jun-2024

Haseeb Hameed hits down the ground•Getty Images

Nottinghamshire 360 and 177 for 1 (Hameed 91, Slater 70*) lead Somerset 470 (Abell 111, Pretorius 95*, Pennington 5-96) by 67 runsSouth African all-rounder Migael Pretorius added an unbeaten 95 to his four first-innings wickets to help Somerset carve out a 110-run first innings lead on day three at Trent Bridge – yet with Nottinghamshire 177 for one in their second innings at the close, Craig Overton’s team have a lot to do if they are to take home a third Vitality County Championship win of the season.Pretorius, who spent part of last season with Durham, hammered six sixes and eight fours in a 71-ball assault to ensure that the efforts of Tom Abell and Tom Lammonby on day two were not wasted.Somerset had suffered a mid-innings stumble from 315 for four to 356 for eight and were still in arrears until Pretorius and Jack Leach (37) put on 79 in rapid time, the 29-year-old Pretorius missing out on a second career hundred only because he ran out of partners.Nottinghamshire fast bowler Dillon Pennington took five for 96, raising his tally for the season to 29 with his first five-wicket haul since moving from Worcester to Trent Bridge in the winter. Leg spinner Calvin Harrison’s reward for bowling 39 overs in the heat was figures of three for 173.Yet the wicket of Haseeb Hameed, bowled by captain Overton for 91, is Somerset’s only second-innings success so far from 58 overs of toil after the Nottinghamshire skipper had shared a 172-run opening partnership with Ben Slater, who finished on 70 not out in the company of nightwatchman Olly Stone.Earlier in the day, Abell could add only six to his unbeaten 105 on Monday before he misread a ball from Harrison that trapped him leg before. A glancing blow on the helmet facing fast bowler Stone had hardly helped his cause.His dismissal sparked a flurry of wickets. New batter Kasey Aldridge lasted only seven deliveries before being brilliantly caught at second slip by Harrison off Pennington, who found some extra bounce in his next over to frustrate James Rew, caught behind for 49.At 325 for seven in the 99th over, the sides were level on points, yet the next 11 overs saw Somerset surge ahead thanks largely to Pretorious, whose aggressive hitting brought him a 32-ball half-century.Pretorius hammered six over midwicket off Pennington and cleared the rope three times off Harrison, who was hit down the ground for another maximum by Leach. Back-to-back fours off Pennington from the England man raised the 400-mark in the 107th over.Pennington had Overton (20 from 13 balls) leg before and Harrison dismissed Leach via an edge behind soon after lunch, but Nottinghamshire missed out on a third bowling point. Not only that, they were powerless to stem the flow of runs from Pretorious.He launched one enormous slog-sweep off Harrison that achieved the not inconsiderable feat of clearing the Smith-Cooper Stand before driving Pennington for his sixth six – and could count himself mightily unfortunate to be left stranded when last man Jake Ball, who faced just five balls and contributed not a single run to a 35-run partnership, was leg before to give Pennington his five-for.Somerset were in a commanding position, in theory at least. Yet they would almost certainly have to bowl Nottinghamshire out for a second time if that position were to become a platform for a win, which looked potentially to be a tall order on an increasingly docile pitch.Thereafter, little happened to challenge that assessment. Dusty footmarks offered something for Leach to work with bowling from the Radcliffe Road End. The left-arm spinner was in action as early as the eighth over as openers Hameed and Slater set about negotiating the 26 overs up to tea but fashioned only one real chance in that period, the left-hander Slater put down by Overton at slip on 27.It allowed the pair to reach the interval with 72 runs knocked off the deficit, a platform from which their partnership became the biggest opening stand of the season for Nottinghamshire when it passed 81. Both completed half-centuries soon afterwards, the captain from 101 balls, Slater from 107.The final session similarly brought no rewards until the last 20 minutes of the day when Overton, bringing himself back for one last burst of pace, with Rew standing up to the stumps, bowled Hameed nine short of a century to break the partnership on 172.

There will be plenty of change at Ibrox this summer after Glasgow Rangers confirmed that several players will be moving on from the club ahead of next season.

A new head coach will also be in the dugout when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway, as the Light Blues have confirmed that Barry Ferguson will not be getting the job on a full-time basis after his interim spell.

As well as the Scottish interim boss, Rangers have revealed that three first-team players will be leaving Glasgow as free agents at the end of this month.

The Rangers players being released this summer

Rangers have announced that Tom Lawrence, Leon Balogun, and Ianis Hagi will not have their contracts renewed, making them free agents ahead of the summer transfer window.

They are three experienced operators who will be moving on from Ibrox, and two of them – Balogun and Hagi – were part of the 2020/21 title-winning campaign under Steven Gerrard.

Hagi, in particular, played a big role on the pitch this season with four goals and five assists in 24 appearances in the Scottish Premiership after coming in from the cold.

These three stars are not the only experienced players who should be ruthlessly ditched by the 49ers, once the takeover is completed, and Kevin Thelwell this summer, however, as Robin Propper should also be on the chopping block.

Why Robin Propper should be sold this summer

The Gers swooped to sign the Dutch defender from FC Twente to bolster their backline in the summer transfer window last year after Connor Goldson moved on from Ibrox.

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old centre-back does not seem particularly suited to the physical nature of the Scottish Premiership, as opposition forwards have found it too easy against him at times.

Rangers only conceded nine goals in the 11 matches that he did not feature in and 32 in the 27 that he did play, which suggests that they were better defensively without him.

Appearances

30

27

Goals conceded

22

32

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.4x

Ground duel success rate

73%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

64%

Fouls per game

0.7

0.9

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues made their team worse by replacing Goldson with Propper, who has failed to offer more quality in the centre-back position, as shown by the stark contrast in goals conceded.

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Back in December, pundit Neil McCann outlined how concerning Propper’s performances were in the Premiership. He said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”

This is why the 49ers must ruthlessly axe the central defender from the squad in the summer transfer window, if there are any clubs interested in snapping him up, because he has not adjusted well to Scottish football.

Whilst he is not the only player in the defence, it is worrying that there has been a huge drop off in defensive form since he was signed to replace Goldson, and that the team has a better defensive record without Propper in the side.

Therefore, Rangers must move on from Propper in the summer transfer window after they have already made the ruthless decisions to release Balogun, Hagi, and Lawrence.

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Newcastle United are on course to claim Champions League qualification and could now make a statement in the window by completing a deal for a prolific forward, according to a report.

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Eddie Howe is within touching distance of hearing the Champions League anthem blare out at St James’ Park once again after leading his side to a vital 2-0 victory over Chelsea on home soil.

Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes put the seal on a heated contest in the North East, setting up two mouthwatering clashes against Arsenal and Everton as Newcastle bid to complete a return to Europe’s top table.

Regardless of Premier League placement, Howe’s men hold a strong hand when it comes to the summer transfer window. Nevertheless, booking their place in the Champions League could prove to be a major selling point to prospective recruits.

Establishing some early direction on that front, Newcastle have set their sights on Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera and there are reports that a £21 million bid has now been submitted to land his services.

Looking closer to home, the Magpies also have Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott on their radar, though he would be a more expensive arrival as his price tag sits around the £50 million mark.

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Either way, there is plenty of work to be done on Tyneside. Newcastle have shown a healthy level of ambition since PIF became involved with the club, but sustaining themselves among the elite now has to be the priority.

Taking note, Howe and company are now advancing to seal a deal for one of Europe’s most revered strikers ahead of the summer window.

Newcastle advancing in move to sign Victor Boniface

According to Africa Foot, Newcastle are in negotiations over a deal to sign Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen and it is said that the talks in question are advancing, with discussions even taking place with the player’s representatives.

The report claims the Magpies are set to pay a fee of £42.2 million to land the Nigeria international, which could occur sooner rather than later as Howe looks for another forward to accompany Alexander Isak.

Alexander Isak vs Victor Boniface – domestic league statistics

Victor Boniface

Goals

8

Assists

1

Shots on target

18

Chances created

10

Completed dribbles

15

Alexander Isak

Goals

23

Assists

6

Shots on target

44

Chances created

42

Completed dribbles

42

Labelled a “complete player” by Xabi Alonso, Boniface has notched 11 goals in all competitions this term, though has suffered hamstring problems in a campaign where Bayern Munich were able to reclaim the Bundesliga title. Speculation over a five-year deal on Tyneside is beginning to do the rounds. However, it remains to be seen if Newcastle can ratify the details required to pull off a statement signing.

With the summer window now creeping closer, bringing Boniface to the North East would be a marker of their ambition heading into 2025/26.

The final few months of the season are vital for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim’s side are chasing a spot in the Champions League, although not from their finish in the Premier League. The Red Devils’ only hope of returning to Europe’s elite club competition is by winning the Europa League.

They will no doubt be looking to end the campaign on a high, starting with a win over Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. They then face Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final, first leg, away from home next Thursday. They are just two ties away from the final.

Getting Champions League football will be key for United, to attract the best players in the world. In fact, they have been linked with someone who certainly fits into that category.

Man Utd's search for a striker

One of the most intriguing transfer sagas in the 2025 window might well be clubs battling it out to sign Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Italian giants Napoli but seems set to leave the club in the summer.

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According to a report from journalist Buchi Laba, United have ‘made it clear’ to the 26-year-old that he is ‘their first option’ this summer when it comes to signing a new centre-forward. Laba reports that an unnamed club from Spain has also informed Osimhen of the same thing.

In terms of a price for Osimhen, United could be looking at a fairly costly deal. The on-loan Galatasaray star reportedly has a release clause of £62.1m.

Last summer, when United signed Joshua Zirkzee, they agreed to pay slightly more than his Bologna release clause but will pay it off in installments, so perhaps there will be scope to structure the deal for Osimhen in a similar way.

Why Osimhen would be a good signing

Make no mistake about it, Osimhen would immediately upgrade the Red Devils’ side. Football statistician Statman Dave described him as “the best number nine on the market” after he scored his 14th goal in ten games for club and country over the weekend.

His form for Turkish giants Galatasaray this term has been extraordinary. In 32 games across the campaign, he has found the back of the net 28 times, as well as chipping in with five assists.

Two of those goals came away from home against United’s Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the Europa League.

The 26-year-old has shown consistent goal-scoring form over the past few seasons. His record for Napoli is excellent, with 76 goals in 133 games for the Italian giants. In each of his four seasons at the club, he scored at least ten Serie A goals, including 26 in 32 games in 2022/23.

As for Osimhen’s underlying numbers on FBref, they are nothing short of elite. For example, he averages 0.78 goals each game, ranking him in the top 10% of strikers across Europe, and averages 3.44 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 8%.

Osimhen key shooting stats

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals

0.78

90th

Shots

5.94

99th

Shots on target

2.73

99th

Expected goals

1.04

99th

Shot-creating actions

3.44

92nd

Stats from FBref

Just imagine how deadly he would be playing with Bruno Fernandes. The United captain has been sensational this term, with an extraordinary 16 goals and 16 assists in 45 games. He has been the key source of creativity for the Red Devils.

In fact, just like Osimhen, his underlying numbers on FBref are some of the best in the world and showcase just how elite he is. Two standout numbers are the 3.05 key passes and 9.49 progressive passes per game, which rank him in the top 1% and 2% of midfielders across Europe, respectively.

That seems like a match made in heaven. An elite goalscorer like Osimhen, combined with one of Europe’s best creators in Fernandes, would surely be a dream combination for the Red Devils.

Although a deal to sign Osimhen could be costly, they surely cannot afford to pass up on the chance to sign one of the deadliest finishers in Europe, especially when they have a star like Fernandes playing behind him. In that sense, this seems like a transfer United have to get over the line.

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