تأهل الفريق الأول لكرة اليد سيدات بالنادي الأهلي إلى نصف نهائي بطولة إفريقيا للأندية أبطال الدوري، بعد فوزه المستحق على فريق فلاورز البنيني بنتيجة 40-30، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم الخميس ضمن منافسات الدور ربع النهائي.

وأقيمت المباراة على صالة النواصر في المغرب، حيث أنهى الأهلي الشوط الأول متقدمًا بنتيجة 17-16.

طالع.. خاص | مدرب حراس الأهلي الجديد.. ميزة هامة جعلت توروب يضمه إلى جهازه

واستمر الأهلي، في فرض سيطرته في الشوط الثاني ليوسع الفارق بفضل الأداء الجماعي المميز واللياقة العالية للاعباته، ليحسم اللقاء لصالحه ويتأهل بجدارة إلى المربع الذهبي.

ويشارك الأهلي في البطولة بقائمة تضم نوال خليل، نصرة عيد، رحمة محمد، رنا راضي، تقى كامل، ليلى حماد، ملك أحمد، فرح حازم، شهد الشواربي، آلاء صابر، روان سعيد، أمينة عاطف، سهيلة خالد، نوران خالد، كاتالا إيزابيل، ودولوريس روزاريو.

ويضم الجهاز الفني للفريق محمد عادل مديرًا فنيًا، هشام عبد الوهاب مدربًا عامًا، محمد حسن موسى مدربًا، صلاح الدين إبراهيم مدربًا لحراس المرمى، إلى جانب طارق رضوان مديرًا للفريق، وأميرة السيد إداريًا، وآلاء طلبة طبيبة، ومحمد كمال الدين محللًا فنيًا، ومحمود فرج إخصائي إعداد بدني، وتغريد طارق إخصائي تدليك، وندى راشد إخصائي تأهيل نفسي، وهدير أحمد وحبيبة هشام إخصائيتي علاج طبيعي.

ويواصل سيدات الأهلي مشوارهن بثقة في البطولة القارية، حيث يسعين لمواصلة الأداء القوي وبلوغ المباراة النهائية للمنافسة على اللقب الإفريقي.

Franco Mastantuono is in absolute awe of fellow Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, who made his second substitute appearance after returning from a two-month post-surgery layoff last week in Los Blancos' comfortable 4-1 win over Levante on Tuesday. Mastantuono claimed that he has never seen a player quite like the Englishman, showing eagerness to spend more time with him on the pitch.

Bellingham easing his way back for unstoppable Madrid

Madrid continued their flawless start to the 2025-26 season after conjuring their sixth La Liga win in as many games following a hassle-free 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Levante on Tuesday. Bellingham, who underwent shoulder surgery in July and only became available for selection last week, made his second appearance of the season after coming on as a substitute, replacing Mastantuono.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMastantuono hails 'unique' Bellingham's leadership

Speaking to reporters after the game, Mastantuono – who got his first Real Madrid goal since his arrival from River Plate – was lavish in his praise for Bellingham, having already expressed his "love" for the 22-year-old in the past.

“Incredible player! If we can play with 12, even better! Bellingham is incredible, incredible," said the Argentine. "A player who impressed me, a wonderful person, and a unique footballer. Honestly, I've never seen a player like him: such hierarchy, presence on the pitch. I hope he can play as soon as possible, because he'll help us a lot.”

Mastantuono continued to express his admiration for Bellingham when asked which player had caught his attention the most. “Bellingham, Bellingham. Because of what I just said: he has a presence and a level of authority I've never seen before. His calmness and determination make him a different kind of player," the teenage sensation added.

Can Mastantuono and Bellingham start together?

In his 23-minute cameo on Tuesday, Bellingham showed what Madrid had been missing. He provided calm in the middle third, showed incredible press resistance, and crashed the box in search of a goal, which he nearly did. While the likes of Arda Guler and Mastantuono have stepped up in the English international's absence, one of them will have to make way. 

Aurelien Tchouameni has been labelled by head coach Xabi Alonso as a "pillar", while Fede Valverde is the Steven Gerrard of his Madrid team, in the coach's words. Ahead of the game against Levante, the former Liverpool, Madrid, and Bayern midfielder revealed that Guler – his personal project in central midfield – and Bellingham can co-exist. “They play in a very similar role, but the good thing is they can also play together," Alonso told reporters on Monday. "Arda can link-up from the back, while Jude operates more upfront.”

That leaves Mastantuono as the most likely player to make way for Bellingham's eventual return to the lineup. In all fairness, the Argentine international has been highly impressive, even notching up his first goal for Madrid on Tuesday. It would be unfortunate if he were to be dropped to the bench, having made five starts in Madrid's seven games of the season so far.

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Getty Images SportWho are Real Madrid's next opponents?

The upcoming fixture is perhaps Alonso's toughest challenge yet, as Los Blancos take on the underperforming cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on Saturday. This game will prove to be a litmus test for Alonso and his players, as the outcome will determine just how much progress this project has made.

Ian Westwood promoted as part of coaching restructure at Edgbaston

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2025

Mark Robinson has left Warwickshire after four years as head coach•PA Photos/Getty Images

Mark Robinson has left his role as Warwickshire’s first-team coach after the club conducted a restructure of coaching and support staff. He will be replaced in the role by former Warwickshire batter Ian Westwood.Robinson was appointed in early 2021 and went on to lead Warwickshire to the County Championship title in his first season. They finished eighth in 2022, avoiding relegation on the final day, and then seventh last year, winning just once in the Championship. They also lost at the quarter-final stage of the Blast four seasons running.Warwickshire’s chief executive, Stuart Cain, said there had been disappointment at the recent performance of the men’s teams but the club wanted to avoid “a kneejerk response” to last season. Following a high-performance review, a number of changes have been made to the coaching structure, in part to reflect the advent of a professional women’s team and the continued integration of Birmingham Phoenix.Related

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In addition to Westwood overseeing the first team, Tony Frost has been appointed head of cricket operations after the retirement of Keith Cook, while Simon Kerrigan will become 2nd XI coach as well as offering spin bowling support. Stuart Barnes remains as bowling coach, with the club seeking a new batting coach.Laura Macleod will continue as head of high performance for Bears Women, working alongside Ali Maiden, recently appointed head coach of both Bears Women and Birmingham Phoenix.With Warwickshire retaining 51% majority ownership of Phoenix following the ECB’s Hundred equity sale, those teams will also be integrated into the new structure from 2026. Warwickshire are also in the process of appointing a new performance director after the departure of Gavin Larsen before Christmas.”It’s no secret we’ve been disappointed in our men’s performance in recent years,” Cain said. “We also wanted to proactively address the biggest changes the game has seen in a decade with the long-overdue formation of a professional Bears Women’s team and the integration of Birmingham Phoenix into our elite set-up.”It was important not to make a kneejerk response to last season. We allowed time for a thorough analysis of our high performance structure and worked with the club’s cricket audit committee and board to create a new approach that recognises the need for improvement and also addresses the challenges created by moving from managing one professional team to four, playing four different formats of cricket.”Robbo has worked hard for the Bears since joining in 2021 and we shouldn’t underestimate his achievement in winning the County Championship in his first season. He is a quality coach and will be an asset to any club.”However, considering recent performances and feedback from the review, we felt it was time for change. Ian Westwood is a Bear through-and-through. He understands our history, culture, and DNA. He is competitive, structured and a quality leader having previously been club captain and 2nd XI coach. He understands how to win red-ball matches as well as the demands of white ball, having most recently coached at Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20.”The new head of cricket operations role means we have somebody focused on running the machine, making sure everything from hotels and kit through to wickets and the indoor centre are set up to support the players and ensure there are no distractions or frustrations. Frosty will take over from the retiring Keith Cook who has given such incredible service to the club for more than 50 years.”We’re confident this new structure gives us the skills, resources and focus needed for the men’s and women’s teams to put themselves in a position to win domestic tournaments, as well as develop local talent from the many diverse communities that surround Edgbaston.”Robinson, who previously coached England Women and Sussex, pointed to the 2021 Championship success as well as the recent elevation of Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley to full England duty as highlights during his time in charge.He said: “There are many things we’ve celebrated during my time as a Bear, and things we know could have gone better. Winning the Championship was a huge highlight, as was overseeing our T20 team from one that was struggling to qualify to one that topped the group three years running.”Losing the quarter-final last year hurt badly but I’m sure it won’t be long before the boys take that next step to silverware.”Seeing two Academy boys, Bethell and Mousley, go from regular Bears players to making their England debuts made everyone, myself included, very proud.”Lastly, thank you to the supporters who are the most important part of the club for your support. I know it will only be a matter of time before you get the success you deserve.”Edgbaston hotel plan approvedWarwickshire also confirmed on Thursday that they have received planning permission from Birmingham City Council for a £42 million redevelopment at Edgbaston that will include a new on-site hotel. Work is expected to begin in September and be completed ahead of the 2027 men’s Ashes Test.The proposals will see the existing Raglan and Priory Stands on the northwest side of the ground redesigned to include a 146-bed Radisson Red hotel with rooftop terrace, pitch-view rooms with balconies, and other rooms that can be converted into hospitality boxes during games. The new stand, which will see a slight increase in capacity, will also feature a concourse with enhanced food and drink options, and improved facilities for disabled spectators.Craig Flindall, Edgbaston’s strategy director, said: “We’re grateful to Birmingham City Council for approving the plans and for sharing our vision to bring increased economic and social benefits to the region through international sport.”Cricket will always stay at the heart of our thinking. But it’s important we develop a stadium that operates all year round, supporting new jobs in this part of the city and creates wider community opportunities.”We are creating a mixed-use destination that will combine elite sport, conferencing and events and residential and hotel accommodation with community facilities that will improve education, employment and social cohesion in the area.”

England’s Champions Trophy prospects have received a boost after Ben Duckett was given the all-clear, following a left groin injury sustained during last week’s ODI series against India.Duckett’s form at the top of the order had been one of the positives for England in an otherwise disappointing campaign. He made two half-centuries across the T20I and ODI series, in which England won just one of the eight matches, but contributed regular strong starts in the powerplay, alongside Phil Salt, which whom he made three consecutive fifty stands.However, Duckett appeared to tweak his groin while fielding in the latter stages of India’s innings in the final ODI at Ahmedabad on Wednesday, and was visibly hampered while making a boundary-laden 34 in England’s subsequent innings.However, with England having decamped to the UAE ahead of their Champions Trophy campaign, scans on Duckett’s groin have revealed no significant issue, and an ECB press release declared him “fit and available” for England’s tournament opener against Australia in Lahore on February 22.England are due to arrive in Pakistan on February 18, and the news is a welcome boost given the squad’s other injury concerns. They have already lost Jacob Bethell to a hamstring injury, with Somerset’s Tom Banton drafted into the squad as a replacement, while Jamie Smith has not featured since the third ODI on January 28 due to a calf injury.Ben Duckett was in form during the India tour without converting his starts•Getty Images

There are concerns among the fast-bowling contingent too, with Brydon Carse managing a toe injury and Jamie Overton affected by a hamstring issue. Jofra Archer is also nursing a cut hand.The squad has had to ride out criticism of their training methods, too, with Kevin Pietersen particularly outspoken about their lack of net practice during the ODI series.Renewing his attack on X on Thursday, Pietersen said that injuries are part and parcel of sport, adding that that was not what was stopping “batters from batting against net bowlers and learning the art of playing spin”.However, Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, rejected the “factually incorrect” take on England’s preparations, and insisted that his team was on track to compete strongly at the Champions Trophy.”Guys have come from a lot of cricket and keeping guys fresh is just as important, especially when you have injuries,” he said. “We’ve done lots of training. We have had injuries in the camp so we’ve backed guys off a little bit to make sure we had a fit team.”

Crystal Palace are leading the race for a “skilful” attacker, and they are now working to make a breakthrough in talks with his club, according to a report.

Palace want new attacker with Eze 100% committed to Spurs move

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are making progress in their pursuit of Eberechi Eze, who is now fully expected to make a move across the capital before the September 1st deadline.

Losing Eze will, of course, be a major blow for Oliver Glasner, given that the England international chipped in with 16 goal contributions in the league alone last season, but the manager has already started working on bringing in a replacement.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan and Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss have been named as potential options, with positive talks being held over a deal for the latter, and there has now been a new update on the Eagles’ pursuit of the Moroccan.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are now leading their Premier League rivals in the race for El Khannouss, and they are looking to make a breakthrough in club-to-club talks with Leicester.

The 21-year-old has been left impressed by the strides Palace have made under the helm of Glasner, meaning he is now keen on a move to Selhurst Park, and the Eagles are in a strong position to win the race.

Crystal Palace receive reply to £27.6m bid for 21-goal star

He would be a big-money signing at Selhurst Park.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Aug 19, 2025

However, a deal for the youngster, who is regarded as one of the top targets to replace Eze, could be on the expensive side, with the Foxes now looking to hold out for £30m.

"Skilful" El Khannouss could be exciting Eze heir

At just 21-years-old, the Leicester starlet is at the right age to be a long-term replacement for Eze, and there are indications he has the talent to replace the England international, having received high praise after performing well against Manchester City last season.

Former manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said: “I think Bilal deserves a big compliment today, for his work rate off the ball and on the ball for how skillful and technical he is.”

The Belgium-born maestro has also gotten off to a fantastic start to the new Championship campaign, picking up two assists in his opening two games for Leicester.

It would be a gamble for Palace to sign El Khannouss, given that he is yet to truly establish himself at Premier League level, but the Leicester ace is clearly very talented, and can play in both attacking midfield and left-wing, making him a like-for-like replacement for Eze.

MatériaMais Notícias

Se ainda existe torcedor do São Paulo que deposite todas as esperanças de sucesso do clube na temporada em Alexandre Pato, que voltou para sua terceira passagem com a camisa tricolor, o próprio coordenador técnico Muricy Ramalho tratou de maneira mais adequada a chegada do já veterano de 33 anos: uma aposta.

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– O Pato, todos sabem, teve uma contusão séria, não é fácil. Está na fase final de recuperação, indo para o campo. Ficou muito tempo afastado. Para entrar em forma, não é a parte técnica, é o físico. Não pode esperar nada dele agora, é iludir o torcedor e prejudicar o jogador, com a chance de machucar de novo. Estamos com muita calma, o treinador observando, o preparador físico olhando. Quem vai mostrar que está bem é o próprio Pato, se vai competir. Precisamos dar tempo. A questão é física, tecnicamente é diferenciado – disse Muricy, ao canal ‘Arnaldo e Tironi’.

+ Lance! estreia nova marca e se reposiciona no mercado de mídia esportiva

Pato teve passagens anteriores no clube do Morumbi entre 2013 e 2015, e retornou em 2019, deixando a equipe em agosto de 2020. Somando suas duas passagens pelo time, disputou 136 jogos, com 47 gols marcados e 18 assistências. Além dele, somente outros cinco jogadores acumularam três passagens distintas pelo Tricolor na história: Agostinho, Muller, Leonardo, Luís Fabiano e Hernanes.

O jogador não joga desde novembro do ano passado, quando rescindiu contrato com o Orlando City, dos EUA. Na ocasião, o atacante passou por uma cirurgia no joelho direito. Como parte do processo de recuperação, ele foi ao Reffis do Tricolor em fevereiro.

Desde que foi anunciado oficialmente como contratação, Pato vem aparecendo nos vídeos de treinos divulgados pelo São Paulo trabalhando sem limitações ao lado dos colegas. Liberado no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF, a expectativa é que passe a aparecer entre os relacionados para os jogos após a atual parada do calendário para a Data Fifa.

Mas em um cenário onde Pato dificilmente surge como um grande destaque, por qual motivo o São Paulo resolveu apostar suas fichas nele?

Dois pontos se acentuam. Primeiro, o fato de que o atacante aceitou um contrato de produtividade. Ganhará cerca de R$ 30 mil mensais, valor muito abaixo do padrão de toda a sua carreira. Gatilhos como número de partidas disputadas e gols podem fazer os rendimentos aumentarem consideravelmente. Mas dentro do teto atual do Tricolor, em crise financeira.

Por fim, a disposição do jogador em dar a volta por cima no Morumbi, que chamou de ‘sua casa’ na apresentação oficial. Ficou na cabeça dos dirigentes a imagem de um Pato cooperativo durante os episódios, que conversou com os atletas protagonistas das polêmicas, passou confiança aos mais jovens, mais participativo, enfim, mesmo sem nenhum vínculo formal com o clube. O atacante, por exemplo, teve papel fundamental em episódios como o caso Pedrinho e a briga entre o antigo técnico Rogério Ceni e o meia-atacante Marcos Paulo, quando conversou com os dois e procurou tranquilizar o restante do plantel.

Questão essa enaltecida pelo próprio Muricy em sua entrevista.

– Ele mudou muito mesmo. Ele vai para uma cultura diferente, vai para os EUA, o cara cresce como pessoa. O tempo vai passando, ele vai amadurecendo. Está diferente. Fala mais, tem mais facilidade para se comunicar. Era um cara quieto, um pouco na dele. Hoje, está sempre explicando para os jovens. Se percebe, está mais concentrado, sabe mais das coisas, de tudo, não só no futebol. Para mim, é natural para quem vive outras culturas.

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Wrexham's record signing Nathan Broadhead has revealed the ambition shown by the club's Hollywood superstar owners was the determining factor behind his mega-money move from Ipswich this summer. Broadhead scored both goals in the 2-0 EFL victory over Reading and then hailed the influence of owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in his decision to join the ambitious Welsh outfit.

• Big money. Big pressure

  The transfer from Ipswich set a new club record for Wrexham, with an initial fee of £7.5 million ($10.1m) that could potentially rise to £10m ($13.4m) with add-ons. Broadhead's move was influenced by a desire to join his hometown club, where he had been part of the academy as a boy, before joining Everton. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Broadhead makes a flying start

  Broadhead opened his account with two goals against Reading which saw Wrexham progress to the fourth round for the first time in 48 years. He missed the opening weeks of the season due to a calf injury.

• Broadhead's Hollywood hopes

  Broadhead told BBC Sport: "That's the main reason I came and hopefully we can do that to get this club to the Premier League. That's the aim of the owners. So I see the vision and hopefully we can get there. You see the players coming in. You're bringing in quality players from the Championship and it just shows you where the owners want to be. That's the project, what we're going on."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  High hopes for Championship season

  Broadhead added: "I'm just delighted to score and progress to the next round. I just can't wait to get proper match fit and get my sharpness back up and play in the Championship. I'm getting used to playing with new players, different systems. It's given me time to settle down a little bit, moving all my stuff and my family and everything like that. But I'm just happy to be settled now and playing football."

Birmingham City were agonisingly close to an opening-day win in the Championship.

If it wasn’t for George Hirst’s last-gasp penalty breaking Blues hearts, Chris Davies’ men would have secured a dream 1-0 victory. The second-tier newcomers won’t beat themselves up too much about this late collapse, though, as they try to clinch their first three points of the season away at Blackburn Rovers this coming Saturday instead.

The reigning League One champions will be backed by a sell-out away following at Ewood Park, with the expectant Birmingham masses also hopeful that Demarai Gray can put in some stellar performances moving forward to guide Davies and Co. up the league standings.

Gray's standout return to Birmingham

The 29-year-old winger has returned to home soil far wiser than his initial Blues spell and more well-versed in what it takes to be a success at the highest level.

Indeed, Gray has managed to forge a memorable career for himself at the pinnacle of English football, with the Jamaica international picking up a hefty 19 goals and 14 assists from 200 Premier League appearances, which even saw him lift the top-flight title aloft with Leicester City.

The concerns start to mount, however, when weighing up whether Gray can get back to these impressive levels once more, having struggled to get going on the books of his last employers in Al-Ettifaq.

An unremarkable tally of four goals and five assists would come his way plying his trade in the Middle East, with his final season in the Saudi Pro League seeing him pick him just one meagre assist for his troubles from 25 outings.

If he fails to roll back the years, the worry will be that it was just a rash waste of money, as the 29-year-old also failed to spark into life at St. Andrew’s against Ipswich Town when completing zero successful dribbles.

Davies and Co. could be about to land a far better signing than hoping Gray comes good, which is doused heavily in nostalgia.

Why £1.3m star would be a better signing than Gray

After all, the last thing Birmingham fans will want to see is Gray tarnish his legacy by failing to live up to his hype.

Instead of solely relying on the ageing forward to deliver moments of magic down either flank, therefore, Birmingham could look to sign Montpellier attacker Tanguy Coulibaly to enhance their options on both channels.

Unlike Gray, the 24-year-old – who is being tipped to potentially make the switch to St Andrew’s – has continued to show off his class in some top divisions over the past couple of seasons, having fired home three goals last campaign for Montpellier even as the sorrow of relegation struck Stade de la Mosson.

On top of that, the “very gifted” forward – as he was dubbed by Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat during his stay in the Bundesliga – has six goals and three assists next to his name in the German top-flight for his former side.

24/25

25

3

23/24

16

2

22/23

14

4

21/22

21

2

20/21

31

3

He should be able to take to the harsh waters of the Championship well, therefore, having already shown some fortitude to bounce back from being discarded by Paris St. Germain as a youngster, to now be seen as an exciting, first-team option in both Germany and his native France.

On the contrary, Gray might well have had his moment in the spotlight, with the decline there for all to see based on his poor form in Saudi Arabia.

Coulibaly joining for just £1m, as per his Football Transfers valuation, could go down as a fantastic steal, on the other hand, particularly if the former Stuttgart attacker can spur Birmingham on to shine in the tougher division.

Ducksch 2.0: Birmingham showing strong interest in "gifted" £1.3m star

Birmingham could strike gold again by signing this £1.3m star.

1 ByKelan Sarson Aug 11, 2025

Much focus is on Liverpool’s potential incoming signings on deadline day, but two players could also seal permanent moves away from Anfield.

Liverpool want Isak and Guehi on deadline day

It is threatening to be a memorable end to the summer transfer window for the Premier League champions, with Alexander Isak set to join in a British transfer record move from Newcastle United.

The Swede has been a key target for Liverpool all summer long, and it finally looks as though they will get their man, reportedly agreeing a £130m switch, beating the transfer record paid for Florian Wirtz earlier in the window.

Meanwhile, the Reds are also targeting a move for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, but the Eagles aren’t making it easy for them to sign their captain.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner has made it clear that they will only sell the England international if a replacement is brought in on time, but owner Steve Parish may not want to lose him for free next summer.

Away from Isak and Guehi, there is also outgoing business to ponder before the window slams shut, with a key update emerging in that respect.

Liverpool duo could depart before window closes

According to the reliable Paul Joyce of The Times on X, Joe Gomez and Harvey Elliott could leave Liverpool on deadline day, with the former potentially off to AC Milan and the latter being monitored by Aston Villa.

Gomez and Elliott are great squad options for the Reds, so them staying would be no bad thing, but there is also sense in allowing them to leave.

On £125,000-a-week-combined, the pair are far from regular starters for Liverpool, and if Guehi does arrive from Palace, Gomez’s minutes will likely become even more limited, despite an impressive late cameo in Sunday’s vital 1-0 win at home to Premier League title rivals Arsenal.

Liverpool close to deadline-day agreement to sign 25 y/o star with Isak

What a day this could prove to be for Reds supporters.

ByHenry Jackson Sep 1, 2025

Should the duo depart, it would take Liverpool and FSG’s sales to over £200m this summer, with the likes of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah among the most expensive departures.

Luis Diaz

Bayern Munich

£60.6m

Darwin Nunez

Al-Hilal

£45.9m

Jarell Quansah

Bayer Leverkusen

£30.3m

Ben Doak

Bournemouth

£19.9m

Caoimnhin Kelleher

Brentford

£12.8m

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid

£8.6m

Tyler Morton

Lyon

£8.6m

Nat Phillips

West Brom

£3m

Opinion on Elliott is likely to be more split than Gomez, given his age, but Wirtz’s signing has pushed him further down the pecking order, and he is at a point in his career where he needs to be a star player at a club.

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).

Arnau Martinez’s stats for Girona in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	32
Goals & assists	4
Pass accuracy	86%
Progressive passes	5.6
Passes into final third	5.3
Take-on success	54%
Tackles made	1.8
Interceptions made	1.1
Recoveries made	4.3
Stats via FBref

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.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 25, 2025