Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham linked up with Hollywood legend Will Smith while partying during the off-season with brother Jobe.
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Bellingham brothers enjoy post-season breakMingled with A-list stars in IbizaNow preparing for international duty with EnglandFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Bellingham family experienced mixed emotions at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Jude saw La Liga and Champions League titles slip through Real’s grasp, but Jobe helped Sunderland secure promotion into the Premier League when featuring in an epic Championship play-off final at Wembley.
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An opportunity has been taken to relax and unwind prior to international duty with England’s senior and U21 sides. The Bellinghams headed to Ibiza in order to soak up some sun, allowing them to mingle with A-list stars such as movie icon Smith.
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With attention now turning to England matters, Jude has linked up with Thomas Tuchel’s squad in Barcelona. While in Catalunya, Bellingham was among those to enjoy VIP treatment at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM?
After watching the stars of Formula 1 in action, the 21-year-old midfielder will be looking to earn international cap number 43 on Saturday when England face Andorra in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Arsenal have now made contact with a “world class” striker who has a £62m release clause, but there could be competition for his signature from a number of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.
Gunners suffer major setback against West Ham
The Gunners’ hopes of winning the Premier League title were dealt a major blow on Saturday, suffering a shock 1-0 defeat at home against West Ham United to ensure Liverpool stayed eight points clear at the top of the table.
Mikel Arteta was without an out-and-out striker for the Hammers’ visit, with Mikel Merino instead being given the nod in attack, but the Spaniard was unable to make his mark on the game, despite scoring twice against Leicester City a week prior.
Arteta’s title hopes were dented once again when Liverpool picked up a 2-0 win at Manchester City yesterday evening, extending their lead to 11 points, which may have left the manager ruing the decision not to sign a striker in the January transfer window.
PSG make stunning £112m offer to sign "world-class" Arsenal star
The Ligue 1 side have made a huge bid for one of the Gunners’ key players, according to a report.
ByDominic Lund Feb 23, 2025
There were calls for Arsenal to sign a striker earlier this season, with doubt lingering over Havertz, and the recent setback in the Premier League title race will have further underlined the need to bring in a top forward this summer.
According to a report from Spain, the Gunners have now made contact with Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts after the match
The north Londoners are seriously considering activating the £62m release clause in Cunha’s contract, having been impressed by his performances for Wolves this season, but there could be some serious competition for his signature.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also named as potential suitors for the Brazilian, with the relatively affordable release clause opening the door for a possible departure.
"World class" Cunha could be exactly what Arsenal need
Arsenal need to bring in a striker who guarantees goals, in order to ensure they don’t find themselves in a similar position next season, with what was a winnable title now slipping out of their grasp.
The Wolves star would certainly fit the bill in that regard, having scored 13 Premier League goals this season, finding the back of the net in each of his last three matches, while he also bagged 22 goal contributions last term.
Hailed as “world class” by members of the media, the Brazil international has proven he deserves a big move this summer, and a fee of £62m seems fair for a striker with a proven ability to regularly score goals in the Premier League.
The Gunners are at serious risk of finishing second for the third season on the spin, and while Arteta may be regretting the decision not to bring in a new striker in January, his main aim should now be to make sure he gets one through the doors this summer.
Shabnim Ismail bowled Welsh Fire to a sensational victory with a hat-trick in the last three balls of the match to secure a three-run Women’s Hundred win over Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston.Ismail’s ice-cool display prevented the home side scoring any of the four runs they needed to win from the last three balls, the South Africa international finishing with 3 for 31 as Phoenix, chasing 138, ended on 134 for 4 to suffer a heartbreaking defeat.Tammy Beaumont’s stylish 59 from 40 balls lifted Fire to 137 for 7 but Phoenix looked in command of the chase as Tess Flintoff, with 55 off 45, and Amy Jones, who was unbeaten on 48 off 34, adding 93 in 67 balls.But Ismail’s brilliant hat-trick leaves the Birmingham side with a lot of work to do to climb into the qualification race after a staccato first half of the campaign has brought two defeats and two washouts.Phoenix chose to bowl but took 48 balls to break through as openers Beaumont and Hayley Matthews added 72 before the latter cut Hannah Baker to point.Beaumont batted imperiously, dancing down the track to lift a gorgeous straight six off Katie Levick on the way to a 36-ball half-century. As well as the six, the captain struck nine fours but perished in pursuit of a tenth which she lifted Flintoff to deep mid-wicket, where Erin Burns took a fine catch stooping low to her right.As Phoenix began to reel in the scoring rate, Laura Harris fell lbw, reverse-sweeping Emily Arlott. Sophia Dunkley (25 off 19 balls) stoked the Fire again with six over mid-wicket off Arlott but Phoenix built pressure and caught well in the closing sets.Needing to pull off the sixth-biggest chase in Women’s Hundred history, Phoenix were positively launched by Sophie Devine’s 29 from 19 balls. Her charge was ended by Alex Griffiths’ first ball, a perfect, inswinging yorker, but Jones was fluent from the moment she reached the crease.Flintoff and Jones took their side into the last 20 balls with 27 needed but boundaries were few and Griffiths bowled beautifully to start tilting the pressure back on the home side. It came down to nine needed from the last five balls, delivered by Ismail.A glorious cover-driven four for Flintoff brought it down to four from three, but Ismail bowled the opener next ball, had Burns caught at short third and then bowled Issy Wong to seal the most memorable of wins.”I was aiming to go yorker length and just try to bowl dot balls,” Ismail said. “The yorkers didn’t really come out today but it always does damage to take wickets so it worked out well.”I had been in that position before so it was just a case of staying calm. There were no nerves from me, as I was previously in a situation like that. I didn’t want my nerves to get the better of me. I had to stay calm and I even told the captain to just stay calm. I said to her, ‘we’re going to win this game, don’t worry – I’ve got this’.”
da premier bet： Thrashed 7-1 away to Borussia Dortmund not too long ago, Scottish champions Celtic showcased their notable improvement on the Champions League stage after putting in a battling display at home to another Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich, on Wednesday night.
da dobrowin： While the 2-1 scoreline at Parkhead in favour of the visitors has ensured the Hoops face an uphill task trying to progress heading into next week’s second leg, there remains room for optimism. This Bayern side is not one to fear.
Daizen Maeda
Yes, Vincent Kompany’s men are stacked with talent across the board, but the Old Firm outfit proved they can go toe to toe all over the pitch, with it taking a Michael Olise stunner and a clinical Harry Kane volley from a set-piece for the away side to power ahead.
Quite why Olise was allowed to cut inside onto his favoured left foot is a valid question. As too is why the “irrepressible” Kane – as hailed by journalist Alex Crook – was free at the back post.
Those may be the obvious negatives, yet with Daizen Maeda capping a strong finale by nodding Celtic back into the game – and the tie – Brendan Rodgers can certainly focus on the overwhelming positives ahead of next week’s trip to Bavaria.
Celtic's best performers vs Bayern
The obvious place to start would of course be with that man Maeda, with the Japanese sensation racking up his 22nd goal of the season – and his fourth in Europe – after turning home Yang Hyun-jun’s flick on to spark a frantic end to proceedings on the night.
While it had been a relatively quiet first hour or so on the left flank for the 27-year-old, he seemingly came alive after shifting into a more central role, having applied the pressure on both Eric Dier and Dayot Upamecano in his usual relentless manner.
Chalkboard
Elsewhere, despite conceding twice, the centre-back duo of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty can reflect on an encouraging outing on the big stage, with the pair – who both chalked up a 97% pass accuracy rate – looking relatively calm and composed, while shackling the aforementioned Kane for the large part of proceedings.
A word must also be said for another member of the backline, Alistair Johnston, with the Canadian hardly troubled down that right-hand side all night, having won ten of his 12 total duels, as well as providing an outlet in an attacking sense, after completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.
Key stats – Bayern vs Celtic
Stat
Player
Most touches
Trusty (110)
Most accurate passes
Upamecano (89)
Most key passes
Yang (3)
Most attempted crosses
Engels (10)
Most successful dribbles
Olise & Musiala (2)
Most shots on target
Olise (2)
Most duels won
Johnston (10)
Most possession lost
Engels (23x)
Stats via Sofascore
Ahead of the former Montreal man, it was also another quietly standout night for young Arne Engels, with the club-record signing proving that he’s at home against such a historic European outfit.
The Celtic star whose value is soaring
There’s a reason that Rodgers and Co forked out £11m to sign him over the summer. There’s a reason that at the age of just 21, he’s already chalked up four senior appearances for his country.
The Belgian is no doubt far from the “finished article” – as his manager stated earlier in the campaign – but he’s starting to flourish in the centre of the park, having looked remarkably comfortable up against Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.
While he did lose possession on 23 occasions from his 60 touches, Engels was otherwise excellent on the night, racking up two key passes and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles, providing that real link between defence and attack. Indeed, it was the midfield man who teed up Nicolas Kuhn in the opening minute, while also picking out Reo Hatate with a driven pullback on the 50-minute mark.
Not only did the former FC Augsburg man regularly look to link up with Kuhn by bombing forward down the right channel, but he also put a shift in defensively, winning five out of six duels from his midfield berth.
It may still be early days – and no one will wish to see him depart – but young Engels looks like the type of talent who could one day be lining up in Europe’s top five leagues for a team like Bayern, with writer Ryan McGinlay even suggesting that the playmaker “belongs on this stage”.
Arne Engels
That bright future in the game can also be seen by the fact that his value continues to soar, with CIES Football Observatory noting that he could now be worth as much as €28m (£23m), ensuring he is worth at least double what the Hoops raked in with the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi.
Celtic’s 85-goal marksman moved on to Rennes for a £10m fee during the January window, with both parties taking the bold move to separate midway through the season.
At the age of 30, such a price tag appeared fair value for the Japanese ace. For Engels, however, the signs already point to Celtic raking in a far heftier sum, in a similar vain to the sales of Jota, Matt O’Riley and Kieran Tierney.
At some stage, it would be no surprise to see the one-time Club Brugge starlet pulling on a Bayern shirt. In the meantime, however, he could be crucial in trying to topple Kompany and Co next week.
Rodgers must unleash Celtic star who could become their new Tony Watt
Celtic will need their new Tony Watt to overcome Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
He started in fifth gear and largely stayed there even as the rest of his team-mates struggled
Matt Roller16-Apr-20232:43
Moody: Other than Venkatesh, no KKR batter had any rhythm
Venkatesh Iyer writhed around in agony on the Wankhede pitch. He had raced to 19 not out after eight balls, lofting the debutant Arjun Tendulkar for four and six before upper-cutting Cameron Green for six. And he figured that, with fine leg inside the ring, he could shift across to the off side and look to scoop Green over that fielder’s head to pick up his second successive boundary.But, as Venkatesh later put it with a smile: “Unfortunately, I didn’t connect; and the ball connected to my knee.” Kolkata Knight Riders’ medical staff rushed on to give him treatment, causing a lengthy delay as he weighed up the merits of retiring hurt. “Honestly, the first emotion was to go out, because it was unbearable,” he said at the press conference after Knight Riders’ five-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.He opted to continue, and inside-edged his next ball past short fine leg for four. In the following over, he twice shuffled down the track to hit Duan Jansen for sixes down the ground; when he miscued, the ball landed just out of the back-pedalling Tim David’s reach.Related
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According to ESPNcricinfo’s metrics, no batter in the last decade of IPL cricket has scored more runs while ‘out of control’ than the 38 Venkatesh managed on Sunday afternoon. But if this was a streaky, chaotic innings, it was one which highlighted the value of attacking intent in this format – particularly on a small ground, and against an inexperienced bowling attack.Venkatesh was measured against Piyush Chawla, who he seemed to mark out as Mumbai Indians’ main attacking threat, but scored at a 200-plus strike rate against their other five bowlers, hitting each of them for at least one six. As his team-mates struggled to find their tempo on a slowish pitch which got better under lights, Venkatesh started in fifth gear and stayed there.He was dropped in the 80s, while attempting to loft Hrithik Shokeen over cover, but scored increasingly heavily square of the wicket, twice pulling Riley Meredith’s slower balls over the leg side for six. “This was a red-soil pitch, so you have to play much squarer and not straighter,” he explained.Venkatesh Iyer copped a blow on his knee•BCCIWhen Venkatesh brought up his hundred off 49 balls, bowing towards his team-mates in the dugout as he celebrated, it seemed to mark his return to the big stage after what has been a difficult year for him; a year which saw him suffer second-season syndrome in IPL 2022, lose his India place and suffer a broken ankle that threatened to rule him out of this tournament altogether.It also brought to an end one of the IPL’s more bizarre statistical quirks. Venkatesh became KKR’s second centurion, 15 years – almost to the day – after Brendon McCullum blitzed 158 on the tournament’s opening night. There was a circularity to it: McCullum, after all, was the man who brought Venkatesh into his side in the second half of IPL 2021, and who retained him ahead of the following year’s mega-auction.There have been moments in which that decision has looked unwise: Venkatesh lost his place in the KKR side last season, struggling to make an impact as he moved up and down the order. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill – who signed for Gujarat Titans for INR 8 crore, the same wage that Venkatesh is on – has made a breakthrough in international cricket, blossoming into a more dynamic T20 batter than the one who once opened alongside Venkatesh.This century – and his brilliant 83 off 40 in Ahmedabad last weekend, an innings which slipped under the radar due to Rinku Singh’s heroics – was a reminder of his ability. With his long, gold chain hanging out of his untucked, long-sleeved shirt, Venkatesh can appear almost insouciant when he bats, but it is clear that he cares deeply.2:28
Iyer: The credit for my century goes to Abhishek Nayar
“I just have gratitude for whatever I have,” he said. “I just want to go out there and explore what I can do on a cricket field. As far as this season goes, it’s Venkatesh Iyer doing what’s correct for the team, not individually. The clarity of role given to me is absolutely amazing, and I’m just looking to go out there and execute that plan.””Shreyas [Iyer] is injured, so someone had to take up the No. 3 role which is a very important role, and I’ve maintained that I want to be flexible as a cricketer. When they told me I’m going to bat at No. 3, obviously the intent didn’t change: you have to go after the bowling in the powerplay, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”He has been used as a specialist batter in every game this season, via the Impact Player rule, as he continues to recover from his broken left ankle, so is yet to take the field with his team-mates. “Injury doesn’t take a toll on your body just physically, but mentally as well. It makes you go through a lot,” he said. “I’m really happy that I’m back on the field, doing what I love the most.”But given Venkatesh’s focus on intent, there was one lingering question: why did it take him seven balls to move from 94 to 100? “The scoreboard was not working so I couldn’t see how many runs I was batting [on],” he said with a smile. “But if that happened, that’s something that I have to correct and keep moving from there.”And in truth, Venkatesh’s slight slowdown was the least of KKR’s problems in their defeat. Following back-to-back wins, they have now lost two games in the space of 48 hours and it is clear that they have major issues which could prove difficult for them to address.With Venkatesh watching from the dugout, their fast bowlers leaked 80 runs in 6.4 overs as Mumbai cruised to their target. And their openers again failed to fire: they have used three different combinations already this season, but their opening partnerships have been worth 70 across five matches.Their other seven batters managed 67 runs off 69 balls between them, with Andre Russell’s unbeaten 21 off 11 only begging the question as to why he was not given the opportunity to face more. Instead, Shardul Thakur was promoted and made 13 off 11, while Rinku struggled when Mumbai took the pace off, eking out 18 off 18.Perhaps moving Venkatesh up to open could solve their opening woes, though he has clearly benefited from the clarity of a settled role this year and such a move would amount to compromising a strength to address a weakness. “In hindsight, we can talk about us scoring 15-20 runs less [than we should have] or the wicket getting better,” he said, “but we have to accept that they batted really well; they outbatted us.”Yet even if KKR fell to a heavy defeat, Venkatesh will look back on this Sunday afternoon with fondness. For several long months, he wondered if he would be fit enough to feature in IPL 2023; now, he is the tournament’s leading run-scorer, back centre-stage after a year in the wings.
They’ll meet Hurricanes in title match after restricting Sixers to 151, and chasing the target down in scrappy Challenger
Andrew McGlashan24-Jan-2025
Sam Billings and Nathan McAndrew celebrate victory•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
David Warner will have the chance to lead Sydney Thunder to their first BBL title in nine years, a season after they finished with the wooden spoon, after his side held their nerve in a scrappy Challenger final derby against Sydney Sixers to win by four wickets, with seven balls to spare.The experience of Sam Billings proved vital in the outcome as he nursed Thunder to their target amid a regular loss of wickets. With another 18 runs needed off the remaining 13 balls, Billings broke the tension with a huge leg-side six off Hayden Kerr.Thunder had been excellent in the field, with only a sixth-wicket stand of 56 from 34 balls between Jordan Silk and Ben Dwarshuis hauling Sixers as far as 151. Although Tom Andrews was their only spinner in the wickets – his brace came in the space of three balls – Thunder’s spinners were otherwise again very effective. The ten overs between Andrews, Tanveer Sangha and Chris Green cost just 66 runs on a surface that offered assistance.In reply, young English legspinner Jafer Chohan was very impressive, but Sixers did not have the volume of spin overs they were able to turn to as Thunder set up a final showdown with Hobart Hurricanes on Monday.Jason Sangha opens upThunder have tried a variety of opening combinations this season, although some of it has been out of their hands due to injury to Cameron Bancroft, and a Test call-up for Sam Konstas. For the Challenger, they opted for Jason Sangha, alongside Warner. Jason Sangha was playing in just his second game of the season, and started with a bang by taking 14 runs off the first over.Warner then scooped his first ball from Kerr for six, and Thunder were off to a flyer. But he bunted a catch to mid-on in the third over. Jason Sangha, meanwhile, had reached 30 off 19 balls at the other end, when he slog-swept Chohan to deep midwicket, as the game really started to tighten up.Matthew Gilkes was run-out, although Jack Edwards thought he had broken the stumps with his hands•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
A zing-bail run-outWhen on 3, Thunder’s Matthew Gilkes was given a life as he lofted Ben Manenti’s first ball to long-off, where Lachlan Shaw, who has produced some spectacular fielding in the competition, spilled a regulation catch in front of the Thunder dugout. From there, Gilkes built steadily, including landing a huge six into the Members Stand off Mitch Perry. But Gilkes was then at the centre of a borderline third-umpire decision.Coming back for a second run after playing towards deep third, Gilkes was beaten by a superb throw from Kerr. But Jack Edwards thought he had broken the stumps with his hands. However, after multiple replays, the third umpire Phillip Gillespie ruled that it was the ball that had fully dislodged the bail so Gilkes was ruled out for 26. The stump could be seen moving before the ball made contact, but, crucially, the zing bails had not lit up, so they had not been fully dislodged. Without zing bails, it was unlikely to have been given out.That is when Sixers put the squeeze on. Hugh Weibgen under-edged on to the stumps against Kerr, and Thunder couldn’t find the big over that would likely have killed the game off sooner. Chohan was superb, as he had been in the Qualifier final, and did not concede a boundary until the final delivery of his spell.Thunder held the power surge back until the 18th over, and though George Garton fell swinging across the line, Billings and Nathan McAndrew finished the job with some breathing space.Jordan Silk’s 43 took Sixers to 151•Getty Images
Tanveer’s fortune; Andrews’ doubleAmid the loss of Edwards and Kurtis Patterson inside the powerplay, which ended with Sixers just 23 for 2, it was a struggle for the hosts. Josh Philippe, who had been moved down to No. 3 after having not reached double figures in his last five innings, and Moises Henriques, were starting to engineer a platform when Henriques nailed a return catch to Tanveer, who dropped it, but deflected the ball on to the stumps with Philippe out of his ground.Then Andrews, who has had a huge impact on Thunder’s run to the finals, further dented Sixers’ middle order with two wickets in the 13th over. Firstly, Henriques was brilliant caught at cover by Garton, diving full length to his left. Then Shaw picked out Warner on the off side, with the Thunder captain rewarded for aggressive fielding placement. Somewhat surprisingly, that was Andrews’ last over of the innings.Silk’s forlorn finalsSilk was superb in Hobart on Monday, when he had nearly hauled Sixers over the line with 57. Against Sixers in the Challenger, he had to do another rebuilding job from 76 for 5. He broke the shackles with a sweep for six off Tanveer Sangha, and cleared the rope again in the power surge against Wes Agar.The surge brought 20 runs from the two overs, before Dwarshuis was able to find his range against McAndrew in the 18th over, which cost 19 runs. It gave Sixers something to defend, although it wasn’t quite enough in the end.
The captains event is tentatively scheduled around February 16 or 17 in Karachi
Nagraj Gollapudi22-Jan-2025
Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam at the captains’ photoshoot ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India•AFP/Getty Images
There is no clear answer to whether India captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the ICC’s official captains call to ring in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The captains event, which as per practice happens in the host country, is tentatively scheduled around February 16 or 17 in Karachi, but the BCCI is yet to get any official communication on it from the ICC.”It [Rohit travelling to Pakistan] has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda yet,” Devjit Saikia, the BCCI’s newly-appointed secretary, told ESPNcricinfo.It could not be confirmed whether the BCCI would need the Indian government’s permission for Rohit to travel to Pakistan.Related
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Due to the climate of political tension between the two countries, India and Pakistan have played no bilateral series since 2012, but continue to meet at ICC tournaments. While Pakistan have travelled to India for ICC tournaments in this period, India have not played any international cricket in Pakistan since 2008.With the BCCI insisting that India would not travel to Pakistan for their matches, the ICC in co-ordination with the PCB, the tournament hosts, decided upon a hybrid model for ICC events until 2027, with Dubai named as the host of India’s Champions Trophy games.While there is no recent precedent for an India player visiting Pakistan in an official capacity, there is one involving BCCI officials. In 2023, Roger Binny and Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI’s president and vice-president, travelled to Lahore for an official PCB dinner during the Asia Cup, after being invited by the then PCB chair Zaka Ashraf.It is understood that the PCB has requested the ICC to ensure that, as per standard practice, all teams and captains are available for the Champions Trophy photoshoot, opening ceremony and other pre-tournament engagements. The ICC, it is understood, is still finalising logistics and travel dates for teams.Incidentally, the ICC did not organise a captains event ahead of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup which was co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. With teams playing warm-up matches in several countries, the ICC instead opted to do the official launch via a lighting projection show that featured all 20 captains beamed onto the Rockefeller Centre building in New York City. It is understood that like in the 2024 T20 World Cup, teams will have the option of playing up to two warm-up matches each depending on their arrival time for the Champions Trophy.Saikia: ‘BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule’Saikia, meanwhile, has clarified that India will adhere to the dress code set by the ICC for the Champions Trophy, responding to media speculation that the BCCI had objected to the host nation’s name on their jersey. Player jerseys during ICC events usually include the tournament logo with the name of the tournament, host country and year below it.”BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy,” Saikia told . “Whatever the other teams will do regarding the logo and dress code, we are going to follow in true letter and spirit.”
While it wasn’t a disaster, it’s hard to deny that last season was a disappointment for Arsenal.
Instead of finally getting over the line and winning the Premier League at the third time of asking, Mikel Arteta’s side had to make do with another second-place finish.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the North Londoners made it to the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in their history, and when fit, Bukayo Saka was once again one of the best players in the country.
Appearances
37
Starts
30
Minutes
2619′
Goals
12
Assists
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
Minutes per Goal Involvement
100.73
Even though he missed almost four months of action, the Hale Ender managed to amass a sensational tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.
Yet, to reach yet another level next year, the 23-year-old may need some more assistance, which is why fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to a world-class winger who’d be a dream teammate for Saka.
Arsenal's winger search
With the need for attacking reinforcements undeniable, it’s not been much of a surprise to see that, alongside the strikers, Arsenal have been linked with a host of dangerous wingers this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
One of the names that has been heavily linked with the Gunners has been Chelsea ace Noni Madueke.
The Englishman was good enough for the Blues last season, racking up a tally of 16 goal involvements in 41 games, but with a price tag of up to £50m, it’s easy to understand why some fans would be hesitant.
Moreover, it’s hard to see the former PSV Eindhoven ace being a dream winger addition for Saka, which isn’t the case when it comes to Rodrygo.
According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal remain very interested in the Real Madrid star.
The report has revealed that even though fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen on the Brazilian international, the Gunners are in ‘a favourable position’ to secure his services, and have expressed a willingness to meet the financial demands of Los Blancos to make it happen.
According to stories from earlier this summer, the fee needed to bring the winger to North London is likely to be around £78m.
That’s certainly a lot of money to spend on one player, but Rodrygo would be worth it, and Saka’s dream winger signing.
Why Rodrygo would be a dream signing for Saka
As things stand, Saka is the only world-class attacker at Arsenal, and the fact that he was the club’s most productive player despite missing over three months of action last season only reinforces this point.
So, the first reason Rodrygo would be the Hale Ender’s dream winger signing is that the Brazilian’s output would help alleviate some of the immense pressure on him.
For example, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 32 goals and provided 20 assists in 106 appearances, totalling 7229 minutes.
Rodrygo stats
That works out to a goal involvement every 2.03 games, or every 139.01 minutes, which is impressive enough in isolation, but is made all the more so when you take into account the fact he was played out of his preferred left-wing position for most of that period.
Moreover, the former Santos gem has shown himself to be capable of scoring massive goals in season-defining games – think back to the game against Manchester City – and so he’d be able to help the Gunners’ number seven realise his ambitions of winning major honours.
However, it’s not all down to what he can do on the pitch alongside the Ealing-born monster.
The second reason he’d be a dream addition for the 23-year-old is that, thanks to his versatility, he’d be able to fill in on the right when needed and, in turn, allow the Englishman to rest when needed.
This could help the talismanic international avoid fatigue-related injuries and prolong his career at the highest level.
Ultimately, from his output and big game experience to the ability to play off the right when needed, Rodrygo would be the dream winger signing for Saka.
Therefore, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do everything possible to bring him to the Emirates this summer.
Eze & Gyokeres will love him: Arsenal explore signing £65m "mini Salah"
Just imagine this player alongside Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze at Arsenal.
da 888casino： Manchester United’s need for a new striker this summer is there for all to see, with their dismal record in front of goal massively contributing to their lowly Premier League finish this season.
da jogodeouro： Rasmus Hojlund was Ruben Amorim’s number one option in such a department throughout 2024/25, scoring just four times in the league throughout his 32 appearances.
Such a tally saw him find the net every eight games, proving that he’s not at the level required if the Red Devils are to rise back up the table in 2025/26.
Rasmus Hojlund
He’s since been massively touted with a return to Italy, with Inter Milan and Napoli the two sides vying for his signature, but it’s likely the club would lose a whole heap on their £72m investment.
Any funds raised from a potential sale will hand Amorim the needed money to reinvest into the first team squad, to further bolster his ranks if he’s to be successful at Old Trafford.
The latest on United’s pursuit for a new striker this summer
Hugo Ekitiké has been the main option on United’s shortlist over the last couple of weeks, even holding talks with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a move for the Frenchman, who netted 22 goals this season.
Dušan Vlahović has also emerged as a surprise target, with the Serbian international wanting a Premier League move this summer, but his hefty wage demands could prove to be a stumbling block.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
As a result, the Red Devils have turned their attention elsewhere, plotting a big-money move to sign Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, according to Corriere Fiorentina via Sport Witness.
The report claims that the club are closely monitoring the Italian’s progress and could make a move during the off-season if they fail to land other key targets.
It also states that the 25-year-old currently has a £44m release clause in his deal with the Serie A outfit, a potential bargain given his record of 25 goals in 44 outings this campaign.
Why United’s £44m target could be Amorim’s own Haaland
Most teams around the world must wish they had a talent as big as Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian forward a constant threat to countless backlines.
Manchester City's ErlingHaalandcelebrates scoring their first goal
The 24-year-old has demonstrated his clinical edge during his time at Manchester City, netting a staggering 121 goals in his 142 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Such a record previously catapulted the Citizens to a famous treble back in 2022/23, emulating the success set by United during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
He’s even set the record for the most goals scored in a single 38-game Premier League season, netting a hat-trick in the 6-3 battering at the Etihad that campaign.
However, talents like Haaland are extremely hard to come by, with many costing extortionate transfer fees and making them virtually impossible to sign.
Fiorentina'sMoiseKean
That could be about to change with the Red Devils’ potential deal for Kean, with the Italian talisman being ranked as a similar player to the City star by FBref.
He’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, including a better goal per shot on target record, evidently making the most of the chances that fall his way within the final third.
How Kean compares to Haaland in the 2024/25 campaign
Statistics (per 90)
Kean
Haaland
Games played
31
31
Goals & assists
20
25
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Pass accuracy
70%
66%
Progressive carries
1.4
0.7
Take-on success
44%
36%
Carries into final third
1
0.4
Aerials won
54%
53%
Stats via FBref
Kean, who’s been labelled “remarkable” by journalist Marco Messina, has also completed more passes and won more aerial battles – showcasing his all-round nature that could play a vital role in United’s build-up.
His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more take-ons and progressive carries per 90, subsequently able to create his own opportunities without relying on players around him.
Given the prices quoted for other forwards in and around Europe this summer, a deal for Kean could prove to be an excellent one, handing Amorim the ammunition he desperately needs.
If he can replicate Haaland’s success in England’s top flight, it would be one of the signings of the window, offering the side a clinical option that could transform their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.
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Fifties from Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh powered India to 201, and UAE barely got going in the chase
Shashank Kishore21-Jul-2024 India all but guaranteed themselves a semi-final spot with a convincing win over UAE in which their middle order got a much-needed hit out and their bowlers plenty of miles.Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 66, but it was Richa Ghosh’s sensational late acceleration – she hit an unbeaten 29-ball 64 – that helped India post their first-ever score of 200-plus in T20Is.UAE hardly posed a challenge, even though Esha Oza, the captain, and Kavisha Egodage gave good account of themselves in hitting 36 and 40 not out respectively. That UAE hit more than the 115 for 8 they managed against a lower-ranked Nepal should be confidence-boosting.Despite the loss, UAE aren’t mathematically out of the semi-finals race. A win for Pakistan against Nepal in the evening game should keep them alive.Related
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India vs Pakistan goes cold yet again
India wobble earlyIndia were put in, and they weren’t particularly disappointed. There was the looming threat of their marauding openers – Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana – running away with it once again. But at 52 for 3 inside the powerplay, the opportunity was UAE’s to seize.Among those who fell early, D Hemalatha would’ve been particularly disappointed at having missed out yet another opportunity to make the No. 3 spot her own. In nine innings at that position since the tour of Bangladesh, an unbeaten 41 she made in her first opportunity there remains the highest.Richa on the rampage•ESPNcricinfo LtdTwo nights ago against Pakistan, she was out slicing a lofted hit to point for 14 in a low-pressure chase after the openers had shellacked 85 in 9.3 overs. Here, the openers were up and away quickly with the platform set – India brought up fifty inside five overs. But Hemalatha’s dismissal for 2 after she was bowled attempting a pull off Heena Hotchandani had India wobbling briefly.One of the consequences from Hemalatha batting at No. 3 is that India have had to rejig a batting position for Jemimah Rodrigues, who has built a reputation of being a touch player. Hemalatha’s continued lean run could at some point have the team management into reinstating Rodrigues at No.3, considering the lower-order firepower at their disposal.On Sunday, Rodrigues made all of 14 in a 54-run stand with Harmanpreet before picking out mid-off in her first attempt to hit over the top.Renuka Singh Thakur struck early for India•Getty ImagesHarmanpreet, Richa up the tempoHarmanpreet was happy to knock singles and twos early, but upped the tempo soon after the halfway mark, when she welcomed legspinner Vaishnavee Mahesh for back-to-back fours. On 31, she had a steak of luck when a leading edge while attempting to work one into the leg side landed short of backward point.That aside, Harmanpreet seemed intent on taking the innings right till the end. Along the way, she brought out her plethora of sweeps that found different arcs on the leg-side boundary, ranging from deep backward square to wide long-on.The beauty of Harmanpeet’s sweeps is that when on song, she has the ability to take the bowlers and pitch out of the equation; she can hit just as effectively against the turn as she can with it, primarily because of a giant forward stride and how she gets on top of the bounce most times.At the other end, Ghosh made heads turn with some aesthetically pleasing cover drives and lofted hits with the spin. It’s a bit of a misconception that her game is only centered around power. On Sunday, she showed she can hit authentic strokes and find boundaries with regularity without looking to bash the ball.She hit a crisp cover drive off her fourth delivery, and a six two balls later to quickly get into her stride. She was particularly severe on Oza’s gentle long hops, hitting her for four boundaries, including three back-to-back, in the 15th. Ghosh was comfortably the aggressor in the half-century stand off just 32 balls. Yet at 156 for 2 in 17 overs, 200 seemed a long way off.It needed Harmanpreet to tee off in the penultimate over that brought India 17, and Ghosh’s five back-to-back boundaries off Heena Hotchandani’s left-arm spin in a 20-run final over to give India their highest total in women’s T20Is. Ghosh hit 54 of her 64 runs in boundaries (12 fours and a six). UAE’s chase fizzles in powerplay UAE barely made a push for the target. Theertha Satish took nine balls to get off the mark and was the first to fall in the fifth over as she chipped Renuka Singh to mid-off. Pooja Vastrakar had her first wicket six balls later when she beat Rinitha Rajith to hit top of off.Oza held firm without looking spectacular, but showed signs of shifting gears when she muscled Deepti Sharma out of the ground. In Kavisha Edodage, she found some support as their pair added 40, before Oza became debutant Tanuja Kanwar’s first international wicket.Kanwar, who has forced herself into contention on the back of an excellent WPL for Gujarat Giants, lulled her in flight and beat her in turn to have her stumped. She would finish with figures of 4-0-14-1 to cap off a dream debut that didn’t seem likely even 48 hours ago. From there on, the only academic interest left was to see if UAE could narrow the margin of defeat.