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India impressively defended what had initially seemed a slightly light total on the Gold Coast

Andrew McGlashan06-Nov-2025

Axar Patel used angles to take his wickets and then to celebrate them•Getty Images

Led by their spinners and a vital pair of inroads from Shivam Dube, India impressively defended what had initially seemed a slightly light total to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the T20I series on a Gold Coast surface that both sides agreed had shades of the subcontinent about it.From 121 for 2 after 14 overs, India were only able to post 167 largely due to the key breakthroughs provided by Adam Zampa, back in the side after the birth of his second child, and late-overs brilliance of Nathan Ellis.But Australia shed wickets at regular intervals in the first stage of their chase before collapsing in a heap to lose 7 for 28. Axar Patel conceded just 20 off his four overs, including 12 dot balls, while Dube claimed the key wicket of Tim David. Varun Chakravarthy’s final delivery of the evening all but sealed the contest when Glenn Maxwell, returning from his broken wrist, completely failed to pick a googly.The result left a large proportion of the 20,470 crowd delighted and meant that the best Australia could hope for is a share of the series in the final game at the Gabba on Saturday.Shivam Dube took over with his seemingly magical wicket-taking ability•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Axar ties up AustraliaAxar only had a limited role with the ball in the first three matches of the series; India didn’t bowl in Canberra, he wasn’t used at the MCG, then he returned 0 for 35 in Hobart. Here, however, he came to the fore, as his darting left-arm spin proved very difficult to combat.Matthew Short, back in his favoured opening role but one he has conceded is probably not realistic to have at the T20 World Cup, had dominated the early stages of the chase before falling lbw sweeping at Axar when India successfully reviewed the not out decision. Axar then defeated Josh Inglis, a player who looked rusty after a period on the sidelines, when he charged down the pitch.Dube at the doubleAs in the previous match, Mitchell Marsh had not had a huge amount of strike early in the chase but was starting to move through the gears. Dube dropped a slower delivery in short, it was very much in Marsh’s wheelhouse, and the pull went flat towards deep square leg where Arshdeep Singh took an excellent running catch around the boundary. However, Dube’s big moment was to come.David launched him for a huge six over long-on – it wasn’t far from striking the overhanging roof – but Dube’s revenge only took one delivery. Banging the ball in short, David was hurried into a pull and top edged into the covers.When Josh Philippe spliced to short midwicket two overs later it was another game that needed Maxwell to salvage it but having not batted in the middle since mid-September, that was always a tall order. The dominance of the visiting spinners was perhaps a little warning to Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year where the types of surfaces on offer could vary.Josh Inglis claims a catch off Tilak Varma•Getty Images

Zampa back with a bangAbhishek Sharma had been dropped second ball of the match by Xavier Bartlett, a running chance at deep point where he may have been distracted by another fielder, and when Abhishek deposited Zampa’s second ball of the series straight down the ground for six India were a healthy 56 for 0 in the seventh over. However, two balls later Zampa evened the ledger when Abhishek tried to repeat the stroke against a googly and was safely held at long-on by David.Zampa was then held back until the second half of the innings and it threatened to be a rough night. In the 13th over Suryakumar took him for two sixes over deep midwicket as the India captain looked set to kick start a late surge for his team. However, Suryakumar picked out David in the deep – who held on his with fingertips – and when Zampa returned for his final over in the 17th of the innings he had an impact.Tilak Varma gloved a sweep which popped up for Inglis to gather, then three balls later Australia successfully reviewed for an lbw against Jitesh Sharma when he missed a sweep.Ellis shines againIt is nothing unusual for Ellis to impress in this format, but this was another outstanding display of his T20 skills. The final figures of 4-0-21-3 were made even more noteworthy by the fact his first four deliveries cost 10 as Shubman Gill took him on the powerplay. That meant his 21 deliveries cost just 11, and he bowled three of the last nine overs.His first wicket ended Dube’s experimental innings at No. 3 when he played across a slightly slower delivery. Then at the start of the 15th over he finished Gill’s rather laboured stay, although which grew in value as the night wore on, with a back-of-the-hand slower ball. He closed out with the 19th over, homing in outside off with wide yorkers and changes of pace. Occasionally he got a little too wide and was called, but none of the batters could get him away. In the end, however, as the pitch continued to slow up, India still had more than enough.

أثار فيليب ديالو، رئيس الاتحاد الفرنسي لكرة القدم، الجدل حول تدريب زين الدين زيدان لمنتخب فرنسا الأول لكرة القدم بعد اقتراب ديديه ديشامب من الرحيل عقب كأس العالم 2026 المقبل.

ولم يُدرب زين الدين زيدان أي فريق أو منتخب منذ رحيله عن تدريب فريق ريال مدريد في نهاية موسم 2020/2021.

وأصبح رحيل ديشامب مؤكدًا عن منتخب فرنسا بعد كأس العالم 2026 المقبل مهما كانت النتائج، بعد مسيرة استمرت 14 عامًا حقق فيها كأس العالم 2018 ودوري الأمم الأوروبية 2021 والوصول إلى نهائي نسخة قطر 2022.

كان زيدان قد أوضح أنه يرغب في العودة للتدريب مجددًا وقد كشف بأن هذا سوف يحدث قريبًا، ولذلك ربطت عدة تقارير أن وجهته المقبلة ستكون منتخب فرنسا،(للمزيد من التفاصيل اضغط هنا).

وفي مقابلة مع صحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية، أكد ديالو: “الأمر ليس إثارة جدل أو حالة من التشويق، الأمر ببساطة يتعلق بالاحترام للطاقم الحالي، ديدييه وطاقمه التدريبي يتولون القيادة منذ 14 عامًا ولا أريد صُنع أشياء تعيق تجهيزات كأس العالم”.

وعما سيكون زيدان هو المدرب المقبل لمنتخب فرنسا أجاب: “سنرى في يوليو، الكثير من الأمور غير المتوقعة يمكن أن تحدث ومع ذلك، وقد علقت على ذلك بالفعل أشعر بإعجاب واحترام كبير لزيدان سواء لمساهمته في كرة القدم الفرنسية أو لمسيرته كمدرب لكن كل شيء يحدث في الوقت المناسب، في الوقت الحالي، دعونا نستعد لكأس العالم”.

وفيما يتعلق بإمكانية لقاء زيدان للتفاوض على اتفاق بين الطرفين، أتم قائلًا: “في الوقت الحال أنا متمسك بما قُلت، نحن نركز على التحضير لكأس العالم وكل شيء سيحدث في الوقت المناسب”.

Chelsea have now launched their first enquiry to sign Como star Nico Paz in 2026, but it is reportedly Real Madrid who hold the key in pursuit of one of the world’s best young talents.

The Blues have built quite the reputation for signing young stars in recent years, with some of those stars beginning to thrive at Stamford Bridge whilst others wonder what’s next. One of those on the more positive side is Estevao Willian. The young Brazilian has hit the ground running in West London and once again came from the bench to contribute on Saturday night.

This time it was Wolverhampton Wanderers who suffered as Estevao found room to hand Joao Pedro the chance to get his name on the scoresheet. From one Brazilian to another, the former Brighton & Hove Albion forward duly obliged.

The 18-year-old’s performance once again resulted in significant praise from the Sky Sports studio, with former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil saying: “The thing holding him back is that he’s got the best winger I’ve ever worked with in Pedro Neto in his position.

“But he’s a top talent. Estevao, I’m sure, will manage to find his way into the team, but I think it’s difficult on that right-hand-side. At his age, you can keep him happy giving him sub appearances. But at some point, he needs to be let off the leash.”

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Whilst Estevao continues to enjoy an impressive rise, Chelsea will no doubt continue their search for the next generation of standout stars. And that, of course, includes Paz. The Como star has been excellent under former Stamford Bridge star Cesc Fabregas this season and the Blues have now made their first move for his signature.

Chelsea launch first Nico Paz enquiry

As reported by Caught Offside, Chelsea have now enquired about signing Paz from Como in 2026, but face competition from Inter Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Reports have even claimed that Inter are preparing to submit an offer to sign the attacking midfielder worth €58m (£51m).

Unfortunately for the Italian giants and the rest of the interested parties, however, it is Real Madrid who hold the key to Paz’s future. The Spanish giants reportedly have a buy-back clause worth €9m (£8m) in 2026 and €10m (£9m) in 2027. In one move, they could sign a player who could reach the value of €100m for what would be the bargain of the summer.

Chelsea and others must simply hope that Madrid either opt out of signing the 21-year-old in the next two years or the player, himself, rejects the chance to make a return to the Bernabeu. If either of those scenarios take place, then things will certainly become interesting.

Described as “incredible” by Lionel Messi in the highest praise that an Argentinian can receive, Paz has already been involved in eight goals in 12 games this season and doesn’t look likely to slow down anytime soon.

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Somerset pile on 312 for 6 in 49.2 overs before the match is washed out

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Jul-2025Somerset’s bid for victory against strugglers Essex was thwarted by the rain at Chelmsford.Niamh Holland led the visitors’ run-fest with 76, including eight fours in 76 balls after they were put in while Jess Hazell hit 60 in 56 balls as they raised 312 for 6 off the 49.2 overs possible.The total was the sixth-highest in the competition this season, the top five scores having been made at Beckenham.It was a sobering day for Essex’s bowlers, who, with the exception of Sophia Smale (2 for 56), strayed in both line and length. However, the rain which drove the players off four balls before the end of the Somerset innings refused to abate, meaning the hosts had no opportunity to take on the huge chase.Holland, making a belated debut in the competition because of a back injury sustained playing in Australia over the winter, would prove the mainstay of the visitors’ effort, one four crunched back over the bowler’s head and a sweep among six boundaries as she moved to 50 in 54 balls.The 20-year-old right-hander celebrated with a powerful cut backward of square and there was another boundary over mid-wicket before her first mistake proved costly, skewing one from Kate Coppack to Jodie Grewcock behind point.Holland’s solidity allowed others to play around her. Odgers produced two delightful pick-up shots over mid-wicket, before being dropped in that region by Lissy Macleod on 29, but it wasn’t a costly miss, the opener skying one soon after to Amara Carr behind the stumps.Somerset’s leading scorer Sophie Luff dispatched a head-high full toss from Maddie Penna to the fence at long leg before creaming the resulting free-hit through the covers in a breezy 27 ended by Smale, stumped by Carr.Fran Wilson belted a full toss from Jo Gardner back over the bowler’s head in her cameo performance, though Gardner had the last laugh when Wilson bunted back a caught and bowled.Hazell and Alex Griffiths (29) ran hard to keep the scoreboard moving in their fifth-wicket stand of 57, Hazell reaching 50 from 52 balls with only three fours and Amanda-Jade Wellington and Chloe Skelton cashed in late on before the rain came.

Tottenham Hotspur splashed a fee of £30m to sign winger Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window after his loan spell in North London came to an end.

The France U21 international spent the second half of last season on loan with Ange Postecoglou’s side, scoring three goals and providing one assist in all competitions.

Spurs and former chairman Daniel Levy opted to make that loan deal permanent for £30m, despite the change in head coach, to provide him with a chance to impress under Thomas Frank.

Unfortunately, the ex-Brentford manager opted to leave the 20-year-old winger out of his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, which does not bode well for the young talent.

Tel did score two goals for France’s U21s during the international break earlier this month, which shows that he does still have potential to be a success at Spurs, but he needs to show it in domestic matches this season.

The French forward will be hoping that he does not join the list of expensive wingers who have failed to make a success of themselves in North London.

Ranking Tottenham's most expensive winger signings

Tel, who can play as a left-winger or as a centre-forward, ranks among the top five most expensive winger signings in the club’s history if Transfermarkt fees are taken into account.

As you can see in the table above, summer signing Mohammed Kudus tops the list, whilst club legend Heung-min Son also features at the bottom.

If pressed to rank those five signings, Son would have to be at the top of the list. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 451 matches, per Transfermarkt, along with captaining the side to a Europa League trophy.

Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has to be ranked in second place in this moment of time, simply because he scored the winning goal in a European final for Spurs against Manchester United at the end of last season.

Irrespective of what the Wales international did before that or what he will go on to do, that moment alone makes his signing and the fee paid for him worthwhile.

It is too soon to judge Kudus, who only arrived this summer, whilst Lamela should be third on this list. The Argentine forward had longevity on his side, as he racked up 37 goals and 46 assists in 257 outings for Spurs, per Transfermarkt.

That leaves Steven Bergwijn, who joined from PSV in 2020, at the bottom of the pile. He only lasted two-and-a-half years at the club, and the forward only scored eight competitive goals in that time.

The Netherlands international scored eight goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he was not as effective or impactful as Johnson, Son, or Lamela.

Bergwijn was an expensive flop on the wing, one that Tel is looking to avoid being a repeat of, and there is a winger at the club who is in danger of being the next version of the Dutch forward.

Chalkboard

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Tottenham swooped to sign French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley for a fee of £25m in the summer of 2024, and he has yet to prove his worth on the pitch.

Why Wilson Odobert may be the next Steven Bergwijn

The young forward was signed for a similar fee to Bergwijn and his performances on the field for the club have done little to dismiss a comparison between the two.

It is worth noting that Odobert struggled with hamstring injuries last season, which disrupted his progress, but his displays when fit and available offered little encouragement.

The 20-year-old winger, who is the same age as Tel, has scored one goal and created one ‘big chance’ in 21 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs to date, via Sofascore, with his latest showing coming against Brighton at the weekend.

Thomas Frank handed the youngster an opportunity to shine on the left flank, but the Frenchman ended the game with zero out of three dribbles completed, zero out of five duels won, and no key passes or shots on target in 72 minutes, per Sofascore.

Odobert, who was described as “incredibly raw” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was an expensive signing for Spurs, at £25m, and just falls short of being one of the five most expensive wide signings in the club’s history, which is why it is not too harsh to expect more from the former Burnley man.

As you can see in the table above, Tel, who joined on loan in January, provided more quality at the top end of the pitch than his fellow France U21 international did in the Premier League last season.

These statistics suggest that Odobert offers even less than Tel does in the final third, as both a scorer and, certainly, as a creator from a wide or central berth.

The 20-year-old forward, of course, has plenty of time left to turn things around and prove to supporters and the club that the money spent to bring him in from Burnley was worthwhile, rather than becoming the next Bergwijn, who was an expensive flop on the wing.

However, the signs are not promising at this moment in time. We can only judge on what has happened so far, and Odobert has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that his fortunes are going to turn around any time soon.

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Therefore, the French winger is the one who is in danger of becoming the next Bergwijn, rather than Tel, who showed some glimpses of quality in the Premier League last term.

Of Alexander Isak, Arne Slot said, “We have to build him up gradually.” There will be an expectation from some that Liverpool should field their record-breaking recruit from the get-go after such an expensive and charged transfer saga, but this isn’t the case.

And anyway, Liverpool have already integrated Hugo Ekitike into Slot’s squad, with the 23-year-old Frenchman having scored three goals and supplied one assist from his opening four matches in a Red shirt.

There’s no doubt that the Reds have broken the bank this summer; Slot has acknowledged this himself. But with such remarkable and calculated investment, there are the means for healthy rotation that will allow Isak to ease into life on Merseyside after playing so little football over the past three months.

One constant, of course, is the persisting presence of Mohamed Salah on the right flank. Fitness permitting, it’s unlikely the Egyptian King will be hauled from his place on the right wing with any consistency this season.

Salah is 33, though, and Liverpool must begin to plan for their talisman’s departure, with Federico Chiesa and perhaps Jeremie Frimpong the only real alternatives.

Mohamed Salah's Liverpool future

Salah penned a new contract in April, ending fears of a departure on a free transfer at the end of the 2024/25 season. He will stay on the books until 2027, but the chances of another renewal are slim, it must be said.

Last season, he scored 34 goals and served 23 assists across all competitions, practically single-handedly dragging Slot’s Liverpool to the title. That’s not actually true, of course, but there’s no denying Salah’s matchless influence, a strong current at the heart of most of Liverpool’s attacking play.

With a goal and an assist from three Premier League matches so far this season, the veteran will continue to play a big role, although the weight of responsibility has been lifted by the signings of players like Isak and Ekitike.

Might this have a positive effect on Salah, who surely fancies his chances of adding 22 goals to his haul before his time comes at Liverpool, and he eclipses Wayne Rooney and maybe Harry Kane to stand as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer in history?

Alan Shearer

441

260

Harry Kane

320

213

Wayne Rooney

491

208

Mohamed Salah

304

187

Andy Cole

414

187

In any case, Liverpool will need to sign a successor before long, and it’s sure to be a costly bid at that. With that in mind, perhaps FSG might come to regret having sold a young star who has the potential to replace Salah down the line.

Liverpool sold their dream Salah heir

Ben Gannon Doak has been regarded as one of the finest young prospects in British football right from the start of his career in Scotland with Celtic, where he featured four times for the seniors before joining Liverpool in 2022 for €700k (about £600k).

The 19-year-old was billed as Liverpool material, all right, but he only ended up playing ten times for the Reds, injured when breaking through in 2023/24 before spending last season on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough, where he notched ten goal involvements from just 24 matches.

The power and precision that are natural parts of Gannon Doak’s arsenal have led to comparisons with the above-mentioned Rooney, who likewise played with unusual physicality and gusto when emerging at Everton and when finding his feet with Manchester United.

Actually remarked to play “like a Scottish Wayne Rooney” in 2024 by his agent Jackie McNamara, the teenager’s style and performances so far lend credence to the comparisons, for sure.

Thanks to data platform FBref, we can note that Doak ranked among the top 5% of positional peers in the Championship last year for assists, the top 5% for key passes, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries per 90.

Rooney, as we have seen earlier, retired as one of the most prolific and decorated players in Premier League history. As yet, Gannon Doak has but three appearances to his name in England’s top flight, and searches for his duck-breaking goal.

But the talent is there, it really is, and Liverpool might come to regret having sold the youngster to Bournemouth, even for a £25m fee, even with a buyback clause wedged into that contract on the south coast.

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein certainly recognised Gannon Doak’s potential from the off, saying, “This kid could be a world-class player.”

The evidence hardly suggests the contrary. Sure, the winger has one long road to travel before entering conversations even on the fringes of the park in which Salah sits, but his athletic style, powerful running and direct approach against defenders all suggest such a future is within the realm of possibility.

Furthermore, he demonstrated when on loan at Middlesbrough a capacity for show-stopping goals to complement his physical qualities and success as a playmaker.

Bournemouth have got themselves a gem. Because Gannon Doak has opted to follow the track taken by Dominic Solanke before him and many more sharing similarities of pathway, leaving an elite outfit to develop their skills in a setting more promotive of rising prospects looking to reach the top.

As with Rooney at Everton early on, Gannon Doak might now find himself in line to rise to the fore and stand out in the Premier League, playing under Andoni Iraola’s wing and blooming into a top talent.

Maybe the plan is for the player to enjoy several seasons with the Cherries before returning to Anfield with a more refined touch, but the details of the buyback clause are unknown, and there’s every chance that Gannon Doak has played his last for Liverpool and will instead go from strength to strength elsewhere.

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Tottenham Hotspur avoided an embarrassing Carabao Cup defeat last night, subsequently claiming a 3-0 victory over League One Doncaster Rovers.

The win keeps Thomas Frank’s hopes of claiming a trophy in his first year as Lilywhites boss alive, with a trip to face current holders Newcastle United awaiting them in round four.

It may have only been against a team two divisions below them, but the Dane will have been impressed with the relentless nature of the performance, which saw the Lilywhites have 55% possession.

Such an outing gave numerous fringe players a chance to stake their claim for a regular role in the starting eleven, with the Dane having some incredible strength in depth currently at his disposal.

However, the victory also allowed one other player to finally get the opportunity he’s craved to feature in his natural position after being forced to operate in an unnatural role as of late.

Xavi Simons’ performance against Doncaster

After joining in a £52m deal from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window, Xavi Simons became a player with huge expectations at Spurs, but he’s so far struggled to reach the levels many hoped for.

He’s mainly operated in a wide left role, but he was handed a start in a more familiar central role against Doncaster last night – taking advantage of the opportunity handed his way.

The Dutchman featured for a little over an hour, but had a huge impact on proceedings – as seen by the underlying stats that he produced in North London.

Simons created seven chances and won four fouls – with both tallies being the most of any player on the pitch – subsequently highlighting the threat he posed to Grant McCann’s side.

He also completed 97% of the passes he attempted, with four of his efforts being into the final third – allowing him to create one big chance in the process.

Whilst he was unable to register a goal or assist last night, the 22-year-old looked a constant nuisance in the number ten role, with Frank needing to stick with him in such a position.

However, one other first-team player managed to impress, now arguably being just as important as the Dutchman, given his own impressive display against Donny last night.

The Spurs star who is becoming as important as Simons

Given the sheer volume of competitions this season, Frank needs to have every Spurs player up to scratch to try and allow for success in various tournaments.

His side have already claimed wins in three separate competitions in 2025/26, with the side already impressing in the Premier League, Champions League and the Carabao Cup.

Simons has started all but one game since making his big-money move to join the Lilywhites, but the Dutchman has rapidly developed into a key player for the Dane as a result of his creativity.

However, he’s not the only summer addition who’s already impressed in North London, with Joao Palhinha immediately exceeding all expectations placed upon him after his loan move to the club.

The Portuguese international joined from Bayern Munich, but to the disappointment of many, with the 30-year-old not seen as the man to improve the first-team squad.

He’s already scored twice despite his deep-lying role, with his latest effort coming against Doncaster last night – producing an incredible acrobatic effort which opened the scoring.

Palhinha also featured out of position at centre-back, but still managed to thrive, producing numerous incredible figures that helped the Lilywhites claim a crucial victory.

The former Fulham star completed 63 passes, at a completion rate of 90%, with the former of the two stats the most of any player who featured during the contest on home soil.

Despite his defensive role, he also managed to complete four passes into the final third, able to provide those ahead of him with the chances to impress in front of goal.

Minutes played

90

Touches

82

Passes completed

63

Pass accuracy

90%

Tackles made

2

Clearances made

6

Interceptions

1

Passes into final third

4

However, Palhinha dominated without the ball, making two tackles, six clearances and one interception – helping the Lilywhites keep their fifth clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign.

As a result of his showing, the loanee was handed a superb 9/10 match rating by The Standard’s journalist Matt Verri, further showcasing how impressive he was during the victory.

After such a display, Frank simply can’t afford to drop the Portuguese international from his starting eleven, with the experienced talent on a phenomenal run of form in the first team of late.

Should he continue his current impressive form for the Lilywhites, there’s no reason as to why Palhinha can’t be as undroppable as Simons, with the pair able to catapult the side to new heights in the months ahead when operating together.

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Despite the massive influx of spending throughout the summer transfer window, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka still remains as one of the club’s key men in 2025/26.

The academy graduate has worked his way through the youth system, before cementing his place in the first team squad – racking up over 250 appearances for his boyhood side.

However, last season was one tarnished by injury for the 23-year-old, suffering a hamstring injury back in December that would see him miss nearly four months of Premier League action.

The Englishman still managed to end the year on 25 goal contributions in his 37 appearances across all competitions – helping the side reach the Champions League semi-finals.

If the Gunners are to win England’s top-flight under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, he will need to be joined by numerous players at the Emirates – as seen by their attempts in the market as of late.

Arsenal’s hunt for reinforcements to help Saka

Despite £200m being spent this summer, Arsenal have made a move to land Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie over recent days – with Spurs also interested in the defender’s signature.

It’s been claimed that the player himself has already held talks with Arteta over a switch to the Emirates, and potentially been keen on a switch to England – but could cost around £52m to prise him away from the German outfit.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Girona right-back Arnau Martinez another star they’re considering, according to one journalist.

He claims that the Gunners have made a €10m (£8.5m) offer to land the Spaniard, who made 40 appearances in 2024/25 – including five in the Champions League.

It’s currently unclear whether the player or his current employers are open to the move, but Arteta’s side appear to be making key moves for the youngster’s signature.

Why Arsenal’s latest target would be perfect for Saka

Whilst the new season is only two games old, winger Saka has already managed to impress for Arsenal – playing a role in the side being top of the table at present.

The England international has already opened his account for the 2025/26 season, scoring in the recent outing against Leeds United – helping Arteta’s men claim a 5-0 victory.

However, his progress may appear to be halted after he limped off in the same game with a hamstring issue – an injury that massively restricted him in the previous campaign.

It’s unclear how long the winger will be sat on the sidelines for, but the manager will be hoping that it will only be fatigue and not another serious issue, given his previous struggles.

Upon his return to action, he could be handed a boost in his attempts for individual and team success – especially if the hierarchy land a deal for current target Martinez.

Whilst the youngster is a full-back by trade, he’s managed to impress in possession over recent months, which could provide Saka with added opportunities in front of goal.

Martinez, who’s been labelled “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive passes (5.6) and the 92nd percentile for passes into the final third (5.3).

Such numbers showcase the talent he possesses with the ball at his feet, subsequently being comfortable in possession – something which is a need in Arteta’s possession-based system.

However, given his defensive role, he also needs to be able to thrive out of possession – but that’s no issue, with Martinez displaying such talent in abundance.

He made 1.8 tackles per 90 in LaLiga last season, along with 1.1 interceptions made per 90, having the tools to add another option to the Gunners’ impressive backline, which has been the best in the division for the last two years.

If a deal can be agreed at the rumoured £8.5m fee, it would be another superb piece of business – especially given his tender age of 22, which could see him improve further in the years ahead.

Such a deal would also benefit Saka massively, offering the youngster another opportunity to build on his impressive figures at the Emirates in the past few campaigns.

More potential than Hincapie: Berta looking at signing £43m CB for Arsenal

Arsenal could be getting their hands on another incredible talent with more potential than Hincapie.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 25, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A derrota por 3 a 0 diante do Independiente del Valle eliminou o Corinthians da Libertadores, mas para Vanderlei Luxemburgo, a temporada do clube não pode ser baseada apenas pelo desempenho na competição continental.

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+ Del Valle expõe bagunça coletiva do Corinthians, que dá adeus à Libertadores; veja notas

O treinador corintiano disse entender a insatisfação dos torcedores e explicou que a desvantagem do Timão em todas as competições deixou o elenco no limite emocional, afetando diretamente a performance da equipe.

– Se basear apenas na Libertadores é complicado. Estamos em uma crescente, fizemos bons jogos, tivemos condições de buscar um crescimento geral. Maio foi um mês que estivemos em desvantagem nas competições, e isso é um desgaste emocional e psicológico muito grande. Entendemos a razão do torcedor, que quer ver o time ganhar, faz parte do futebol. No Corinthians quando as coisas não caminham bem, eles vêm cobrar forte. Vamos continuar trabalhando forte – disse o treinador na coletiva de imprensa.

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+ Não perca nenhum lance do Timão na Liberta. Assine o Star+ por apenas R$40,90 por mês e torça onde quiser!

Luxa citou a partida contra o Fluminense para exemplicar a melhora do Corinthians nos últimos dias, mas reconheceu a superioridade do Del Valle e lamentou a eliminação precoce na Libertadores.

– Nos recuperamos contra o Fluminense e hoje não conseguimos jogar fora de casa, contra um adversário bem treinado, está junto há bastante tempo. Corinthians não fez uma campanha na Libertadores que objetivasse a classificação. Tivemos até expectativa de conquistar a classificação, mas infelizmente não deu – lamentou.

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Luxemburgo se mostrou satisfeito com o elenco alvinegro e voltou a citar o desgaste físico e mental como um dos motivos pela queda do Timão na competição.

– Futebol é analisado o momento, e não analisam o contexto. Estou satisfeito com o grupo, estão dando uma resposta e estão querendo. Tem diversas frentes, vai equilibrando algumas questões, mas tem desgaste físico, emocional, mental, uma série de coisas que faz você ter qualidade. – iniciou.

– Quando você está muito atrás, como o Corinthians, a cobrança é muito maior, o desgaste é maior. O próximo jogo sempre é mais difícil pelo desgaste. Não existe esmorecimento, jogador contra jogador. Tem um processo que estamos buscando crescimento, demos resposta na Copa do Brasil – analisou.

+ Veja tabela e os próximos jogos do Corinthians na Libertadores

O Corinthians ainda luta por uma vaga nos playoffs da Sul-Americana. Para isso, precisa empatar ou vencer o Liverpool-URU, na Neo Química Arena, na rodada final da fase de grupos da Libertadores. No momento, ambas equipes estão empatados com quatro pontos, mas o time de Luxemburgo leva vantagem no saldo de gols.

VEJA OUTRAS RESPOSTAS DE LUXEMBURGO

TIRAR TITULARES APÓS TERCEIRO GOL DO DEL VALLE – Dentro do jogo, quando fizeram 3 a 0, ficou difícil tirar o prejuízo hoje, ali era pensar no Cuiabá. Se a gente tivesse feito um gol, era diferente. Mas eles fizeram o terceiro e com domínio. Temos um jogo em casa e agora é pedir ao torcedor para que tenha paciência. Ele quer ver o time ganhar, mas vamos chegar em cima, um jogo que exige uma concentração maior, um desgaste de viagem. Vamos pensar na vitória, tentar respirar e sair da zona da confusão.

ANÁLISE DO DEL VALLE – A gente tem uma linha de não enaltecer o adversário. Eles jogaram com um atacante só, preencheram campo, e nós não encaixamos a marcação, deixamos espaço. Observei antes do jogo que fariam isso, mas teríamos encaixe, mas hoje o adversário foi suoperior. No segundo tempo, coloquei o Roni, preenchemos o meio e conseguimos um gol que foi anulado, depois sofremos o terceiro.

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansLibertadoresLuxemburgo

Newcastle United have held talks with a “brilliant” Premier League player over a move to the club this summer, according to a fresh claim from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Newcastle pushing to sign Wissa and Sesko

The Magpies are battling hard to keep hold of Alexander Isak, amid serious interest from Liverpool, with a £110m bid already rejected by them.

If the worst-case scenario does happen and Newcastle end up losing Isak, it is imperative that at least one fantastic striker comes in to replace him, if not two, and Yoanne Wissa and Benjamin Sesko appear to be the leading options to come in.

It has been reported that the Magpies are leading the race to sign Brentford ace Wissa, who enjoyed a superb season in the Premier League in 2024/25, scoring 19 goals in 35 appearances.

As for RB Leipzig star Sesko, it looks as though he is going to have to pick between Newcastle and Manchester United, with the pair both viewing him as a top option to lead the line. Eddie Howe will hope that the 22-year-old sees the lure of Champions League football at St James’ Park too great to turn down.

Newcastle in talks with "brilliant" Premier League defender

Writing on X, Tavolieri claimed that Newcastle have made contact with Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi over a summer move, seeing him as an option alongside Wissa.

There is so much focus on Newcastle’s attack currently, but it is also vital that a new centre-back comes in, in order to add youth to an ageing back-line.

Disasi could be ideal for Howe, having proven himself in the Premier League after making 44 appearances in the competition, as well as being lauded by Jamie Carragher in 2024.

“I can’t remember a better defensive performance this season, certainly from a central defender. Coming away to Manchester City, playing against the best striker in the world. He was brilliant. He was the man of the match, I don’t think I said it on air but he was the best player on the pitch. That was the type of performance you’d see from centre-backs from about 15-20 years ago.”

At 27 years of age, Disasi is six years younger than both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, and is at a great point in his career, so there is no reason why he couldn’t come straight in as a starter for Newcastle.

Star chooses Newcastle over Man Utd as PIF drop formal record breaking bid

The Magpies have reportedly received some good news on the transfer front.

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 2, 2025

Granted, his time at Chelsea hasn’t gone perfectly, having been loaned out to Aston Villa last season, but he should be viewed as a strong option for the Magpies, making this one to watch.