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Manchester City have now reached an agreement on personal terms with an “incredible” star, who has spoken to Pep Guardiola directly, according to a report.

Man City looking to hijack Premier League rivals

As we approach the final two weeks of the summer transfer window, Man City still remain keen to make multiple additions to their squad, and they are now looking to hijack a number of their Premier League rivals’ deals.

Despite bringing in Rayan Cherki as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne earlier this summer, the Blues are still looking to sign a new attacking midfielder, and they have made contact over a deal for major Chelsea target Xavi Simons.

Not only that, but they have also joined the race for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been identified as a major target for Manchester United, and it now appears as though the Italian is set to leave this summer.

With widespread reports suggesting the 26-year-old is set to be available for just £43m, City have now upped the ante in their pursuit of the shot-stopper, and a report from L’Equipe has revealed they have reached an agreement on personal terms.

Luis Enrique has also confirmed the Italy international is no longer his number one, saying: “These are always difficult decisions to make, I can only say good things about Donnarumma, he is one of the best players in his position and he is even better as a person. But we were looking for a different profiile. It’s my decision, it’s the club’s.”

Having been left out of PSG’s upcoming UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, the PSG goalkeeper is set to depart, and he has already held direct talks with Guardiola over a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Romano: Man City now open talks to sign £86m "dream target" who Pep loves

City have entered discussions over a deal for a forward, with Pep Guardiola regarded as a big fan.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 12, 2025

"Incredible" Donnarumma could be Ederson upgrade

There have been suggestions that Guardiola has been growing fed up with some of Ederson’s performances, with the goalkeeper looking particularly poor in the Club World Cup exit at the hands of Al-Hilal, and the Italy captain could be an upgrade on the Brazilian.

Statman Dave suggested the former AC Milan star is among the best goalkeepers on the planet, after playing a major role in his PSG side progressing past Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to reach the Champions League final.

The PSG star has also been lauded as “incredible” by members of the media, and he has shipped an average of just 1.02 goals per 90 over the past year, which ranks him in the top 12% of goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues.

That said, Man City have already signed James Trafford this summer, and the young Englishman may be frustrated if City sign Donnarumma, given that it could severely hinder his chances of becoming the new first-choice goalkeeper.

Warwickshire bowlers made to toil as home batters cash in on good mood following Hove win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Essex 350 for 4 (Westley 124*, Walter 86) vs Warwickshire Tom Westley’s rich vein of form in the Rothesay County Championship continued as he notched his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire at Chelmsford.In addition to hitting his 32nd first-class hundred in an innings of sublime stroke-play, the Essex captain also passed 14,000 career runs in red-ball cricket. With Paul Walter, who hit 86 from 160 balls, Westley put on 132 for the second wicket and 81 for the third with Jordan Cox. At stumps, Westley was unbeaten on 124 from 234 balls with Essex 350 for 4.Walter, posting his fifth score above fifty this season, two of them centuries, launched two sixes and nine fours. It enabled Essex to build on the euphoria of only their second Championship win of the season last week at Hove, a win that lifted them out of the relegation places.The only redeeming feature for Warwickshire on a gloomy day that matched their deteriorating mood, was arguably the first career wicket for part-time legspinner Zen Malik. Brought on to eat up an over before the arrival of the second new-ball, Malik had Cox attempting to hit his fifth delivery out of the park, but instead the batter ended up on his backside with his stumps akimbo.Before the start of the play, Essex’s own bowling plans had twice been thrown into disarray in the space of 24 hours. They had already lost one member of their attack when Indian international pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed pulled out of a contract due to run to the end of the season, citing “personal reasons”. Then, less than quarter-of-an-hour before the start of the match, offspinner Simon Harmer, who had taken part in all the warm-up routines, withdrew also offering “personal reasons” for his absence.Those problems were shelved for the time being as Essex were put into bat on a hybrid pitch with plenty of grass left on to help encourage greater carry for the bowlers. In fact, it encouraged the batters and a flurry of straight-driven fours enabled the Essex openers to compile 68 runs without undue alarm in 19 overs.Dean Elgar, overcoming a torrid first over from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, brought up the fifty partnership with an uncharacteristic slash at Beau Webster that cleared the slip cordon. However, he departed soon after to his second rash shot of the innings, pulling the Australian low to midwicket.On one occasion Walter, so strong off the back foot, came down the wicket to waft Corey Rocchiccioli for six over extra cover and post Essex’s first hundred. He reached his half-century from 79 balls with a well-placed push into the off-side for two. Walter took a liking to the Australian offspinner with another six, this time over long-on.At the other end, some of Westley’s strokes were exquisite. He produced a classically-executed cover drive for four off Ethan Bamber and later essayed a textbook straight-drive off Webster. Another off-drive for four by Westley off Webster took the stand with Walter to three-figures, of which both batsmen contributed 49. Three balls later Westley reached a 107-ball fifty.Westley had just taken Essex past 200 with only one wicket down when, next ball, Walter’s four-hour innings came to an end. He got an outside edge to a delivery from Rocchiccioli, the ball ricocheting off wicketkeeper Kai Smith’s thigh and ballooning up for a diving Alex Davies to claim at slip.Bamber switched ends straight after tea and immediately extracted some rare bounce and lift that had Westley groping at thin air. Normal service was quickly resumed, though, and soon Westley was angling Ed Barnard to third man for the boundary that took him to his century from 185 balls.Bamber finally gained some reward late on when he had Matt Critchley swinging and bottom-edging through to the wicketkeeper.

Football legend Michel Platini believes Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is being played out of position. The former Juventus midfielder says the young Turkish talent, who now wears the club’s iconic No. 10 shirt, should be operating through the middle rather than on the wing. Platini says it is a common issue in modern football that doesn't just apply to Yildiz.

• Yildiz emerging as one of Serie A’s brightest young stars

  The 20-year-old Turkish international joined Juventus as a free agent from Bayern Munich’s youth academy in 2022. Since then, he has developed into one of Serie A’s brightest young stars, scoring goals, creating chances, and handling the pressure of wearing the No.10 jersey once worn by club icons like Platini, Alessandro Del Piero and Paul Pogba.

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  Platini questions Yildiz’s role

  Platini, one of Juventus’ greatest-ever playmakers, admitted he doesn’t understand why both former coach Thiago Motta and current boss Igor Tudor have deployed Yildiz on the wings. Speaking at the Trento Sports Festival, the 70-year-old said: "He's a number 10 and for me he should play in the center. I don't know why Motta and Tudor have him operating on the wings. Unfortunately, in today's football there's this tendency to move quality players to the flank, when they should play in more central positions. I've been saying it for years, but nobody listens to me."

• Contract talks dragging on

  Juventus are still working to finalise a new deal with Yildiz, whose current contract runs until 2027, but talks have hit a slowdown. Both sides want an extension until 2030, yet negotiations have been slower than expected. The delay has opened the door for European giants, including Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United, who are closely monitoring the situation. Reports claim Chelsea are ready to bid again after having a €70 million (£61m/$81m) bid rejected in July, while Arsenal are reportedly preparing an offer worth €60m (£52m/$70m) plus Gabriel Jesus to tempt the Serie A giants into a sale.

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  What's next for Kenan Yildiz?

  Despite being pushed out wide, Yildiz has been one of Juventus’ bright spots this season. He has two goals and four assists in eight appearances across Serie A and the Champions League. While he has gone four games without a direct contribution, the Turkish youngster still stands out. Juventus, meanwhile, have made a mixed start to the campaign, winning just three of their first six matches and sitting fifth in the table. They will look to get back on track when they face Como after the international break on October 19.

Manchester City star John Stones has revealed that he considered announcing his retirement from professional football last season amid his persistent injury problems. Stones appeared in just 11 Premier League matches for the Cityzens in 2024-25, having to remain sidelined for a long period with foot and hamstring problems. He played his last game of the 2024-25 season in February.

• Stones had an injury-plagued 2024-25 season

  Last season proved to be a nightmare for Stones, who is now back to fitness and ready to make an impact for club and country. However, he's admitted injury problems led him to some dark places mentally.

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  Retirement became an option

  Speaking to the , Stones said: "Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping. I didn't want to do it. I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right in my power, to then keep breaking down and not having the answers. It was a very difficult place to be in.

  "There comes a point where you don't know why it happens and it is even harder when you put in so much effort, or you are ultra professional, to be able to play and be available. When that time comes and something happens, it would be easier to say 'well I didn't do X, Y and Z that's why' – but when you do it, it's then mentally challenging. Hopefully I don't go back to that place.

  "My emotions were high. I wasn't thinking straight. I don't think deep down I would have ever done it [retired].

  "I said years ago when City wanted me to have a new challenge, I said 'I am going to fight'. That's all I have known since I was a kid – why should I stop that now? So yes, there is that fight in me and that winning mentality that doesn't want to stop."

• Stones ready to sign new City contract

  The reported last month that City want to keep Stones at the club and are ready to open talks over a new contract. The England star's current deal expires at the end of the season but he remains a key member of Guardiola's squad, and he is now minded to remain at the Etihad.

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  Stones set to make England comeback

  Stones was forced to pull out of the England squad in September after suffering a minor muscle injury, but he is now up and running and has earned a Three Lions call-up for the October international games. Thomas Tuchel's side face Wales in a friendly on Thursday, before travelling to Riga to face Latvia in a World Cup qualifier five days later.

His first Test century in 14 innings helped the visitors recover from 45 for 3 on the first day in Galle

Mohammad Isam17-Jun-2025What could Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim have wished for after enduring a fairly long time without Test centuries? Couple of helpful pitches in Sylhet and Chattogram, perhaps. But those had come and gone. Under pressure, Shanto and Mushfiqur broke free from their barren run on Tuesday on a Galle pitch that allowed them to play freely yet kept them honest to the fact that they couldn’t just play their shots freely.On the eve of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Shanto had pointed out how Galle is at its best for a batter on the first couple of days before the spinners take charge. However, Bangladesh were reduced to 45 for 3 on the first day itself as ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake and seamer Asitha Fernando struck early. But Shanto and Mushfiqur added 247 for the fourth wicket, and went back undefeated on 136 and 105, respectively.It was Mushfiqur’s 12th Test hundred, and his first in 14 innings since August last year. His highest score in this period was 40 against Zimbabwe. After play on the first day against Sri Lanka, Mushfiqur recalled his first innings in Galle from 12 years ago, when he got Bangladesh’s first double-hundred in Tests.Related

• Tharindu Rathnayake: I switch bowling arm according to weakness of batters

• Shanto, Mushfiqur hundreds headline Bangladesh's dominance

“I think I get a pretty good wicket every time I have played in Galle,” he said. “I have seen how some other Tests here had a lot of purchase for spinners. We knew that one of us out of the seven batters had to capitalise on the first two days in Galle. If I am not wrong, myself and [Mohammad] Ashraful batted the whole day here in 2013. It was my plan this time too; I was telling Shanto that we need to bat the whole day.”It was Mushfiqur’s fourth century against Sri Lanka, and his second in the island nation. He said that he had told his younger team-mates about what to expect from Sri Lankan pitches.”After Bangladesh, I [most] love playing in Sri Lanka,” Mushfiqur said. “There is always a sporting wicket, whether it is the red or white ball. If you apply your strength here, you can do well – whether you are a batter, quick bowler or spinner. I was telling this to a few of our young players who are playing their first Test in Galle.”I like to play with wind around. I have to adjust when the newer ball turns a bit, or against the older ball. It is really special to play in Galle. I love batting here.”Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim added an undefeated 247 for the fourth wicket•Associated Press

Mushfiqur, though, acknowledged that he wasn’t as comfortable this time. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva changed the field several times, often putting catchers in different positions and asking the bowlers to switch from conventional lines. Mushfiqur spent 23 balls in the nineties, before reaching the three-figure mark in the 86th over.”These are not easy runs. I took a lot of time in the nineties, as they were not giving me a freebie,” Mushfiqur said. “It shows that they are a tough side to score against. They made smart bowling changes and field placements. I trust my process when I am batting with control. Usually, we see that our opponents send a fielder to the deep after two or three boundaries. Sri Lanka change their fielding according to the conditions. You have to bat patiently against them.”Mushfiqur insisted that taking plenty of singles allowed him and Shanto to put the pressure back on Sri Lanka. He also praised Shanto, who got to his first Test century since November 2023, for dominating proceedings at the other end without giving a sniff to the opposition.”I think rotating the strike is important – maybe as much as hitting fours or sixes,” Mushfiqur said. “Rotation of strike causes problems for the bowlers, especially when there’s a left-hander and a right-hander [combination] in the middle. It is very important to pick singles as the fielding side have to constantly change their placements. This is why we are always in training so that we remain fit.”Shanto has been in good form for a pretty long time. He has a good Test record. He is a good batter. It was nothing special. I was really impressed by his control factor today. He scored a hundred in Kandy some years ago, but I thought this was the right approach. It is important to play a chanceless innings, when you are mostly in control. It is going to give confidence to the next batters.”Mushfiqur said that Bangladesh must look to take advantage of such a start by batting long on the second day.”It is obviously a satisfying effort. Nobody wants to get any less runs after playing for so many years for your country,” he said. “You can’t get runs in every game, but when you do the right things over and over, hopefully the big score will come soon enough. When it does come around, you have to make sure to make it count. I am not finished yet. I will try to maximize tomorrow.”

When Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, Arne Slot welcomed a superstar in the making to his ranks.

Aged 23, the Frenchman was described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being “one of the best strikers out there” after his 22-goal and 12-assist campaign, compelling FSG to fork out £79m in July.

However, the name on everyone’s lips still belongs to Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak.

The Premier League’s most complete number nine informed his club that he wishes to explore a move to Merseyside this summer, having opted against going on the Toon’s pre-season tour.

But will he sign for the Premier League champions?

Liverpool chasing new striker

Liverpool submitted their first official bid for Isak on Friday morning, but Newcastle swiftly knocked it back. Since then, there have been conflicting reports about what comes next, but reporter Ben Jacobs believes the Reds may not return at all over the coming month.

This is in keeping with the narrative. Don’t stress. Isak will only leave St. James’ Park this summer if the Magpies find themselves a suitable replacement, and that’s hardly a certainty.

Should Liverpool fail to secure their quarry, FSG might instead be tempted to target Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who has been a top target at Anfield over the past few months.

Manchester United have also shown an interest in the former Manchester City star, who, like Isak, would cost a record sum to bring back to the Premier League; Atletico are looking for something in the region of £125m.

How Julian Alvarez would fit in at Liverpool

Liverpool might have thought that Darwin Nunez would be the heir to his countryman Luis Suarez’s long-vacated throne at Anfield, but it wasn’t to be.

Instead, Alvarez could be the man. The South American has a wealth of experience in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola’s wing, where he became rich with titles.

But having transferred to Atletico Madrid in La Liga one year ago in an £81.5m package, Alvarez has discovered a new level of prolific quality, scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists across 57 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe last term for goals scored, and the top 6% for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries per 90. This blend of creativity, control and strength underscores his potential as a Suarez-esque forward at Liverpool.

Alvarez’s positional fluidity, moreover, aligns with what Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are looking for: a dynamic forward with the capacity to work with or cover for Ekitike, who is versatile in his own right.

His quiet power and physicality suggest he could become a striker for Liverpool who is every bit as good and unforgettable as Suarez, who is one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation, once even hailed by Steven Gerrard as “the best I’ve played with” for his utter dominance in the final third.

Alvarez might have a few floors to scale before reaching peak Suarez levels, but he was called “the best forward in the world” by journalist Roy Nemer last year, who was discussing the Argentine’s meteoric rise.

​​​​​​Isak might be Liverpool’s dream target for the remainder of the transfer window, but if he’s truly unavailable in spite of FSG’s best efforts, Alvarez wouldn’t be a half-bad fallback.

Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.

2

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 31, 2025

Eight years after his last Test, Nair stands on the brink of a comeback backed by dominant domestic and county performances

Shashank Kishore12-Jun-2025Karun Nair feels “very grateful and fortunate” to have another shot at Test cricket, eight years after he last played in the format.Nair, 33, strengthened his case for a return to the playing XI by scoring a double-century for India A against the England Lions in the first unofficial Test last week in Canterbury.”Feels really special,” Nair told BCCI.tv. “[I’m] Very grateful and fortunate to be able to get this opportunity again. Looking forward to grabbing this opportunity with both hands.”Related

• Kuldeep on Test captain Gill: 'He's fully ready to lead us'

• 'There's some quality energy' as India take on India A behind closed doors

• Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep and Karun Nair in India's Test squad for England tour

• Gill embraces clarity, security and comfort as he gets ready for Test captaincy

• Why India picked Nair and Arshdeep and left out Sarfaraz and Shami

Nair’s return comes on the back of a mountain of runs for Vidarbha in the 2024-25 season. He made 863 runs at 53.93 in a title-winning Ranji Trophy campaign. Before that, Nair had an impressive 50-over season, hitting five hundreds in eight innings at an average of 389.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.At a press conference to announce the Test squad, chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited Nair’s strong domestic performances and familiarity with English conditions as key reasons for his selection. Nair played ten County Championship matches across two seasons (2023-2024) for Northamptonshire, scoring 736 runs at 56.61.”Comebacks are never easy,” head coach Gautam Gambhir told the Test squad prior to their first training session. “The amount of runs you’ve got, the never-give-up attitude – it’s inspiring for the entire team. Welcome back, Karun Nair.”Wednesday marked Nair’s return to the Indian dressing room for the first time since the summer of 2018, when he spent the entire five-match series in England on the bench. His only glimmer of hope on that tour, just before the final Test at The Oval, was dashed when the selectors flew in Hanuma Vihari, who was not part of the original squad, from India and handed him a debut.2:39

Agarkar: Karun’s experience was factor in selection

At the time, Nair had played six Tests for India and had turned his maiden century into a triple-hundred. But this snub took a toll – his domestic form plummeted, runs dried up and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic left him at crossroads. Having been dropped from the Karnataka squad across formats, Nair spent an entire season on the sidelines.His comeback, in many ways, began in England in June 2023. Having made a plea to the game for a second chance, he took up a short stint with Burbage & ER Cricket Club in East Wiltshire in the minor counties, where he scored two hundreds and a half-century in eight innings.A week after he returned home, he received a phone call from a former manager asking if he was available to play in the county circuit. Nair jumped at the opportunity; a valid visa courtesy his club cricket stint allowed him to arrive almost immediately.KL Rahul, Nair’s good friend and Karnataka team-mate, spoke of how his time in England at the time had been lonely and tough.”I’ve known him for a very long time,” Rahul said. “The months he has spent here in the UK playing cricket and how hard and how lonely it was. For him to be able to do all of that and come back into the Indian team is special for him and his family, and friends like us who’ve seen his journey.”It’s very inspiring as well. Hopefully his experience and learnings from country cricket here will hold him in good stead when he plays the Test matches.”Eight years on, as Nair stands on the brink of a comeback, the reality of it still hasn’t completely sunk in.”Not sure actually,” he said of the prospect of returning to India’s starting XI. “I’ll have to experience that feeling myself, just go out there and feel it for myself. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of feelings, ones that I can’t express right now. It’ll be a surreal feeling.”

Harry Kane was spotted enjoying the traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest celebrations with wife Kate. Fresh off scoring yet again in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt, the England captain let loose with a stein of beer. The 32-year-old, now in his third season in Germany, fully embraced the tradition, trading his football boots for lederhosen and raising a frothy beer as he joined thousands of revellers in Munich.

• Family, teammates, and a perfect week

  Joining the couple were Bayern team-mates Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer with their partners Lina and Ines-Sarah, forming one of the most star-studded tables in Munich. Even Bayern boss Vincent Kompany showed up to enjoy the festivities, accompanied by his wife Carla Higgs. Summer arrival Luis Diaz, fresh from his two-goal heroics against Frankfurt, also joined the fun, posing in traditional Bavarian attire with wife Gera Ponce and his mother, Cilenis Marulanda. Former Premier League faces Michael Olise and Nicolas Jackson were also spotted mingling in the crowd.

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  Kane sends a message to fans

  Never one to miss a moment, Kane shared his own snapshots from the iconic event and wrote: "Loved Oktoberfest 2025 with @katekanex and the team! Perfect finish to the week."

• Kane on fire in front of goal

  Kane has been nothing short of unstoppable this season. His goal against Frankfurt, Bayern’s third of the night, took his tally to a mind-blowing 18 goals in just 10 matches so far. That strike also made him the first player in Bundesliga history to score 11 goals in the first six league games, another milestone in a record-breaking run. Just last week, he became the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a single club across Europe’s top five leagues, smashing a record previously shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.

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  Next stop: International duty

  While Oktoberfest provided the perfect weekend breather, Kane’s focus now shifts to international matters. The England skipper is expected to join up with the national squad ahead of a friendly clash against Wales on October 9, before the Three Lions travel to Latvia for their next World Cup qualifier under Thomas Tuchel. Given his unstoppable club form, Kane will once again lead the line for his country, and England fans will be hoping his golden touch carries over from Bavaria to the international stage.

Pre-season games often feel like a non-event, but for those packed inside the Singapore national stadium on Sunday evening, they were treated to the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal.

The Swede wasn’t in the matchday squad after being confirmed as a Gunners player on Saturday but received a warm welcome nonetheless, unveiled in the Arsenal home strip before kick off.

Once the football got underway, it was a classic Arsenal vs Newcastle match, really. The Toon were missing Alexander Isak but Eddie Howe’s men still had that steely never-say-die nature to their play. They were aggressive and dogged but Mikel Arteta’s men prevailed, winning 3-2.

Anthony Elanga opened the scoring for the Magpies early on but Mikel Merino soon scored against his former employers, picking up where he left off last term.

Arsenal were ahead minutes later courtesy of an own goal but in the second half, Newcastle fought back again as Jacob Murphy squirmed an effort past David Raya.

The win was sealed from the penalty spot late in the day when skipper and second half substitute Martin Odegaard converted his spot-kick.

The main takeaways from Arsenal's win over Newcastle

With Gyokeres unveiled to spectators prior to the game kicking off, it felt like this was a match where Kai Havertz needed to make a statement.

While the German didn’t find he net, going closest when heading over from a Merino cross, his link-up play was exceptional as it always is.

It was Havertz who was the provider of Merino’s equaliser. Leandro Trossard played a neat ball into the forward who set it off for the Spaniard to fire past Nick Pope.

Moments later, Havertz was the provider again as his cross from the left-hand side diverted into his own net by youngster Alex Murphy.

The £65m man is yet to find the net in pre-season but a display like this demonstrated why Arteta is such a big fan.

As they did against Milan a few days ago, the Gunners didn’t have any problems creating chances, registering 15 shots but notable moments went begging, only illuminating the need for Gyokeres.

Elsewhere, we saw a first start in Arsenal colours for new signing Martin Zubimendi who looked tidy in midfield again, completing 91% of his passes.

The biggest concerns, however, will lie in Riccardo Calafiori, who limped off injured in the second half and Trossard.

In both pre-season games now, Trossard and Martinelli have struggled to make an impact from the left wing, showcasing why Arsenal have been linked with several wide forwards during the summer.

One player who could replace them is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze. The Gunners may well have found their own version of the England international.

Arsenal already have their own version of Eze

After signing Gyokeres, the word on the street is that the next leading target for the Gunners is Eze.

Talks have reportedly been held to bring him to the Emirates Stadium but it’s widely expected that the north Londoners will need to pay his £68m release clause in order to prise him away from Selhurst Park.

A “Premier League-proven magician” in the words of the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, Eze would give Arteta something his current side lacks; ingenuity. Of course, Arsenal have the likes of Bukayo Saka and Odegaard in their ranks, but Eze is someone who possesses the ability to produce something out of nothing. He’d be a fabulous capture.

Yet, Arteta must be cautious. With Eze most at home as an attacking midfielder, what would his arrival mean for someone like Ethan Nwaneri? The Hale Ender is set to sign a new contract with the club this summer but his game time would be damaged if the Palace superstar does arrive.

It may also dampen the game time of a certain Max Dowman, a player who possesses very similar skills to Eze. He’s showcased that in his first two senior games.

Dowman made his senior debut for the club last Wednesday in the 1-0 win over Milan, completing 92% of his passes and only losing a single duel.

Just 15 years of age, the teenager’s ability to create something with a burst of acceleration and dazzling piece of skill is truly a sight to behold.

In that regard, he’s cut from a similar cloth as Eze and his performance from the bench against Newcastle showcased once again why he’s so highly rated.

Within moments of coming on, Dowman burst forward with the ball through the centre of the pitch before arriving on the edge of the area and forcing a smart save from Pope.

The way he glides forward with the ball and manipulates possession is incredible, even winning the penalty from which Arsenal won the game.

Dowman had Joelinton on toast, skipping beyond the Brazilian before the tough midfielder brought him down by the byline.

It was a near-impeccable cameo from the teen who left the field having completed all of his passes and won six of his eight duels.

Handed a stunning 9/10 match rating by Football.London’s Rob Guest at full-time, the reporter wrote: ‘Almost had his first Arsenal goal but for a Pope save after troubling the Magpies with a brilliant solo run from midway inside their half. Went close with another effort that tested John Ruddy late on and won a penalty following another driving run. Excellent cameo as he displayed his incredible talent.’

While caution must be urged when hyping up someone as young as Dowman, he really does look like the real deal. Not many can remember seeing someone this good come through the academy at his age. He is a special talent. Dare we even say a generational one, too?

Blessed with electric dribbling, creativity and an eye for goal, scoring 19 times in 23 appearances at youth level last season, it looks like Arsenal have produced their own Eze out of Hale End.

Bad news for Max Dowman: Arsenal in talks to sign £60m "superstar"

Arsenal are planning to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest talents this summer.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 24, 2025

Shahrukh Khan and Sherfane Rutherford kept GT in the game but they eventually fell well short

Hemant Brar22-May-20252:23

Moody: Marsh has ‘golden ticket’ to intimidate bowlers

Mitchell Marsh scored his maiden IPL hundred, and his second in all T20 cricket, to set the platform for Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) 33-run consolation win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad.Sent into bat, LSG rode on Marsh’s 117 off 64 balls and Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 56 off 27 to post a mammoth 235 for 2 on a high-scoring black-soil surface.In reply, GT lost Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler in 9.3 overs – the earliest that has happened in IPL 2025 – but their largely untested middle order gave LSG a tough fight. Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan added 86 in just 40 balls for the fourth wicket.Related

• Batter-only deal allows Marsh to take 'the game on and intimidate the opposition'

• Gill and Sai Sudharsan 'have learnt how to move through the gears'

• As it happened: Marsh ton gives LSG consolation win against Gujarat Titans

GT needed 54 in the last four overs with six wickets in hand. But after Will O’Rourke dismissed Rutherford with the first ball of the 17th, the chase petered out. The last four overs produced only 20 and not a single boundary.The defeat also hurt GT’s chances of a top-two finish.

GT’s slippery start

GT had a slippery start after they won the toss and put LSG in. Arshad Khan slipped twice in his delivery stride in the second over of the innings. Apparently, there was too much grass around the landing area. Two overs later, the ball slipped out of Kagiso Rabada’s hands. Aiden Markram took evasive action but Hawk-Eye deemed it to be a legal delivery. It showed the ball would have been 1.11 metres high at the batting crease, 2cm below Markram’s waist when standing upright. In between, Marsh and Markram had a few mis-hits and also found some boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, LSG had reached 53 for no loss.1:47

What’s ailing Rashid Khan?

Marsh, Pooran annihilate GT

With two right-handers in the middle, Gill introduced R Sai Kishore into the attack before Rashid Khan. Marsh hit two sixes off his first eight balls but the spinner broke the 91-run opening stand soon after with Markram’s wicket.That brought to the crease Pooran and more carnage. He and Marsh added 121 runs in just 52 balls. Rashid came to bowl the 12th over. Before this game, Marsh had scored only 31 off 33 balls against him. Tonight, he went 6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 1 in his first over.With Pooran in the middle, Gill took the gamble of giving Sai Kishore another over. It did not come off as Pooran farmed the strike and hit the spinner for one six and one four in four balls.Marsh had taken 33 balls for his first fifty. For his second, he needed only 23. Pooran’s fifty also came in 23 balls. In the final over, Rishabh Pant gave a glimpse of what-if as he hit Rabada for two sixes to finish unbeaten on 16 off six balls.Digvesh Rathi wasn’t around but Akash Singh’s notebook was out•AFP/Getty Images

A rare “failure” for Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler

Coming into this game, Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Buttler had scored 76.87% of GT’s bat runs in the season. In their previous game, Gill and Sai Sudharsan had chased down 200 against Delhi Capitals (DC) on their own. The two once again looked sublime and added 46 in 4.3 overs before Sai Sudharsan chipped O’Rourke to mid-off where Markram dived forward to take a low catch.Buttler hit two fours and two sixes off Avesh Khan in the sixth over to keep the momentum going. But in his next over, Avesh had Gill slicing one to Abdul Samad at wide long-off for another excellent catch.Two overs later, Buttler was also back in the pavilion. Akash Singh, who had split his webbing earlier, returned with a heavily strapped right hand and breached Buttler’s defence with a slower one. Akash dedicated the wicket to Digvesh Rathi by bringing out the notebook celebration. After ten overs, GT were 97 for 3 and needed 139 more in the remaining ten.Will O’Rourke’s two-wicket 17th over turned the game in LSG’s favour•BCCI

GT’s middle order stands up

Before this game, GT’s middle order (Nos. 4-7) had the lowest average (21.39) in the league but also the highest strike rate (165.65). In a way, it was a corollary of their prosperous top order. On Thursday, however, GT did not want their middle order to just flash. They wanted them to keep the fire burning.Rutherford and Shahrukh did exactly that. They smashed three fours and three sixes to ransack 36 runs from overs 14th and 15th, bowled by Avesh and Shahbaz Ahmed, respectively. LSG were still the favourites but GT were also in with a fair chance. O’Rourke then dealt the decisive blow. He conceded only four in the 17th over and bookended it with the wickets of Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia. Shahrukh, who had brought up his fifty off 22 balls, swung hard but kept losing his shape as LSG seized control.