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Emilio Gay and James Sales both set new landmarks as Northamptonshire continued to dominate on day two of their Vitality County Championship clash with Middlesex at Wantage Road.First-day centurion Gay forged on to post 261 – the highest-ever individual Championship score for the county against Middlesex – while Sales, brought back into the side for this game, made his maiden first-class hundred with his father David and mum Abigail in attendance to mark the moment. The pair set a new fifth-wicket record against the Seaxes of 181 before the hosts declared on 552 for 6.For Middlesex, who conceded 620 in the first innings against Glamorgan last week, it was another case of much leather chasing, Toby-Roland-Jones their only bowler to take more than one wicket (2 for 81).There was still time in the evening session for two young debutants to make an impression, Raphael Weatherall capturing his maiden first-class wicket, while Middlesex teenager Nathan Fernandes reached an impressive half-century before stumps were drawn with the visitors 128 for 1, still 424 in arrears.As they did on the opening day, Middlesex made an early breakthrough, Roland-Jones trapping Rob Keogh, the batter risking censure by taking his time to drag himself away from the crease, shaking his head as he went, a point noted by the two umpires. However, as on day one, the wicket proved a false dawn for Middlesex as Gay and Sales embarked on their record stand.Gay timed the ball exquisitely, straight driving first Ethan Bamber, then Roland-Jones to the fence as he eclipsed Stephen Peters’ record score against Middlesex at Wantage Road, 183 set in 2010.It wasn’t long before he flicked a loose one from Tom Helm to the fine leg fence to reach his first double-hundred and take Peters’ record of the highest-ever score against Middlesex of 199 made in that same summer 14 years ago.Josh De Caires would give him a reprieve almost immediately afterwards, failing to hold onto a tough caught and bowled opportunity. In De Caires’ defence he probably saved four not to mention himself being decapitated by the blow.Sales meanwhile got underway with a four through midwicket and later took heavy toll of a De Caires over, clubbing one just beyond the grasp of mid-on before driving a better shot straight in the same over on his way to 50 from 109 balls. The hundred stand was raised by lunch as Middlesex rattled through 22 overs in the second hour’s play to rectify a previously negative over rate.Gay was granted a second life soon after the resumption when Bamber failed to hold an even tougher caught-and-bowled close to the ground and celebrated the reprieve by hoisting De Caires back over his head for the day’s first six on route to 250.The record fifth wicket stand against Middlesex of 131 between David Capel and Nigel Felton set at Lord’s in 1989 was soon eclipsed and it was a surprise when Gay’s innings was ended via a run-out.Saif Zaib sparkled briefly, striking one six out of the ground, before all eyes fell on Sales. Already having surpassed his career-best, the 21-year-old right-hander banished any thoughts of the nervous 90s with a huge six of his own before a scampered single took him to the century to a great reception from an albeit sparse crowd.The declaration came soon afterwards and while Middlesex openers Mark Stoneman and Fernandes survived a testing 35 minutes before tea, Weatherall’s golden moment came soon afterwards. The youngster, who played in the England U19 Test on this ground last September took just eight balls to find the edge of Stoneman’s bat, the tickle carrying comfortably through to McManus.That one stuck for McManus but he grassed another when Fernandes was on 24, so denying Weatherall a second victim from his opening burst.The left-hander made the most of the reprieve, to reach a 50 including seven fours, while Max Holden survived a drop at short leg on 35 to be 40 not out at the close.

Since taking the job as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has made his fair share of dire signings.

The likes of Pablo Mari, Willian, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira are some examples of players who either failed to live up to expectations or were just poor when they played.

However, for all the bad, Arteta has also overseen plenty of sensational signings, with Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and David Raya and perhaps the best of the lot, Declan Rice, joining the club under his stewardship.

The former West Ham United captain has been sensational for the Gunners since his club-record move in the summer of 2023, and now it would probably be fair to say one of the manager’s signings from last summer has proven to be his best since the Englishman.

How Arsenal's summer signings are getting on

So, it would be fair to say that overall, the campaign has been a mixed one for the signings made last summer, so before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over how the others have fared, starting with the worst of the lot: Raheem Sterling.

The Kingston-born star joined the club on a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day, and while he told the fans they would “see the best” of him, the complete opposite has been true so far.

For example, in 24 appearances, the former Manchester City monster has scored just a single goal, which came against League One Bolton Wanderers, and provided five assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement every four games.

Appearances

13

6

1

4

Minutes

352′

297′

80′

270′

Goals

0

0

0

1

Assists

2

2

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.15

0.33

0.00

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

176′

148.5′

N/A

135′

It’s been a more positive year for fellow summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, who joined the club from Bologna for around £42m, as when he’s played, he’s looked good and has an impressive tally – for a defender – of three goals and two assists in 26 appearances so far.

However, there has been one significant problem, which is his fitness.

So far, the Roma-born international has missed a whopping 24 games for club and country thanks to three knee injuries, one muscle injury and one calf injury, allowing Myles Lewis-Skelly to come in and make the left-back position his own.

Aside from David Raya, who initially joined the club on loan in 2023, and Neto, who barely played, there was one more senior signing made in the summer, a signing that might be Arteta’s best since Rice.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's best signing since Rice

So, with all the other signings from last summer covered above, it should be no surprise that Mikel Merino is the addition in question.

The Spanish international joined Arsenal for around £31.6m in late August after what felt like a particularly protracted transfer saga, but things did not start out well.

In cosmically poor luck, the European champion fractured his shoulder in his first training session with the club and remained out of action until the Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on the first of October.

Unfortunately, his luck didn’t improve much over the coming months as he struggled to assert himself in the team and, as a result, found himself constantly in and out of the starting lineup, which understandably made it hard for him to establish any sort of rhythm or consistency.

However, things took a turn for the unexpected in February, as injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the Gunners without a recognized number nine, so after a rather paltry first 70 minutes of goalless action away to Leicester City, the Spaniard was thrown on to lead the line.

Somehow, even though he had admitted to never playing there before, the former Real Sociedad ace looked right at home, scoring a brilliant header and then slotting home another to secure the North Londoners all three points.

Since then, the 28-year-old “mentality monster,” as dubbed by podcaster Matt Kendala, has scored another four goals to add to his two assists, and following his exceptional strike against Real Madrid, it’s hard to imagine that the club are still officially without a fit centre-forward in the team.

The Pamplona-born game-changer has been hearing his song sung by the fans more and more in recent weeks, and if he keeps on producing in the way he is, Kendala’s claim that he’s “approaching cult status” will undoubtedly be proven correct.

Ultimately, while he’s not on the same level as the Englishman, it would be hard to deny that, thanks to his performances of late, Merino is unquestionably Arteta’s best signing since Rice in 2023.

He's like Saka & Yamal: Arsenal in talks to sign "world-class" £39m star

The incredible winger would bring so much experience and quality to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2025

Indian coach lauds “exceptional leader” Rohit Sharma for “giving so much of his time and energy in the dressing room to the boys”

Yash Jha19-Nov-20235:24

Dravid: ‘We gave it everything we had’

India fell “30-40 runs short” of a good total in the final, but it wasn’t because of a safety-first approach in the middle overs – that’s the line Rahul Dravid took in the wake of his team’s defeat to Australia in the 2023 World Cup title bout in Ahmedabad.”I won’t agree that we played with fear. We had 80 runs in ten overs. We had lost wickets, and when you lose wickets you have to change your strategy,” Dravid said at the post-match press conference.Rohit Sharma’s 31-ball 47 had set India on their way, with the team reaching 80 at the end of the first powerplay. But they only managed four boundaries in the rest of their innings to eventually finish on 240. Dravid attributed the slowdown to the loss of wickets at regular intervals, and not a lack of intent.Related

Rohit: 'It was not so easy to just move on' from World Cup final defeat

India's heartbreak is most poignant in the dashed hopes of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid

India lost to the conditions, but could they have been braver with the bat?

How Australia silenced 90,000 voices

Rohit Sharma: 'We were not good enough today'

“We haven’t played any fearful cricket in this final. In the middle overs, they bowled really well and we had lost three wickets. So a period of consolidation was needed, and every time we thought we could get on the attack, we would lose a wicket,” he said. “If you lose wickets, you have to rebuild. We didn’t set out to play defensively.”While Australia eventually coasted to the target with seven overs to spare and six wickets in hand, Dravid reckoned the game would have played out differently had India got 30-40 more runs on a surface he believed was tougher to bat on in the afternoon.”Just felt like the ball was stopping in the afternoon a little bit more than it did in the evening,” he said. “It felt like the ball came on to the bat a lot better in the evening. There was that period where the ball was stopping and we weren’t able to get boundaries. We were able to rotate the strike but we weren’t able to get those boundaries.”If we had got to 280-290 and they were 60 for 3 then it might have been a very different game. But 240, I think they were always one partnership away from getting there.”

“There was a lot of emotions in that dressing room. It was tough to see as a coach, because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they’ve put in, the sacrifices they’ve made. But that’s sport. It can happen”Rahul Dravid

Sunday’s loss extended India’s run of near-misses at global events; in the last 13 months alone, they have faced a semi-final exit at the T20 World Cup, lost the World Test Championship final, and now the ODI World Cup final.”I’ve been involved in three… and I think we haven’t played really well on the day,” Dravid said. “I thought we were a bit short in Adelaide, in the semi-final [of the T20 World Cup, against England]. We lost the first day in the World Test Championship [final]. We didn’t bowl particularly well after Australia were three down. And here we didn’t bat well enough.”There’s not one particular reason you can pin it down to. I didn’t feel at any stage going into this game that there were any nerves or the guys were intimidated by the game. I thought the energy and the mental space the boys were in leading into this particular game was spot on.”Dravid, whose two-year contract as head coach runs out this month, heaped praise on Rohit for his leadership and his batting throughout the World Cup.”I think he has been an exceptional leader, always felt he’s led this team fantastically well,” Dravid said. “He’s given so much of his time and energy in the dressing room to the boys. There’s been a lot of planning, a lot of strategy, he’s always committed to those things.2:06

Should one of Kohli or Rahul have taken charge?

“His batting as well, I thought it was fantastic the way he set the tone for us. We knew that we wanted to play a certain way, we wanted to play a positive, attacking brand of cricket, and he was very committed to doing that. He wanted to lead by example, and I thought right throughout the tournament he was superb. Can’t speak more highly of him, as a person and a leader.”Dravid, who had made the walk towards the press-conference room even as Australia were being handed their winners’ medals, admitted that emotions were running high in the Indian dressing room.”There was a lot of emotions in that dressing room. It was tough to see as a coach, because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they’ve put in, the sacrifices they’ve made,” he said. “But that’s sport. That happens. It can happen. And the better team won on the day. I’m sure the sun will come up tomorrow morning.”We’ll learn from it, we’ll reflect, and we’ll move on. That’s what you do as sportsmen. You have some great highs in sport, and you have some lows in sport. And you keep moving on. You don’t stop.”

AC Milan have now submitted a £33m offer for a “fantastic” Chelsea player, having identified him as a major target, and they are confident that a deal will be done, according to a new report.

Chelsea's summer transfer plans

The Blues have developed a reputation for stockpiling talented young players, and they are showing no signs of slowing down, having completed an out-of-window double swoop for Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda.

It seems like the west Londoners have no plans to stop there, either, having already made an enquiry over a move for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, while they are also looking at AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen.

As such, in order to fund their own transfer business, Enzo Maresca’s side may be forced to cash-in on some players during the summer window, and the manager is willing to sanction the permanent departure of Aston Villa loanee Axel Disasi.

Maresca's fed up: Blues boss now set to axe "amazing" £52m Chelsea star

Enzo Maresca isn’t messing about at Stamford Bridge…

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 23, 2025

Maresca is also ready to let Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling leave on a permanent basis, with Juventus eyeing the 30-year-old, and he is not the only winger being targeted by one of Italy’s biggest clubs.

According to a report from Spain, AC Milan have now made a €40m (£33m) bid for Noni Madueke, having identified the 23-year-old as one of their main targets for the summer transfer window.

Milan are eyeing replacements for Rafael Leao, who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and they believe Madueke could be the perfect candidate.

The Italian giants are confident that a deal will be done for a fee of around £33m, and the huge competition for places at Stamford Bridge could make the move more likely.

"Fantastic" Madueke enjoying impressive campaign

It would be a shame to see the former PSV Eindhoven man leave this summer, given that the current campaign has been his best to date in a Chelsea shirt, picking up seven goals and three assists in the Premier League.

Maresca has also been impressed by the attacker’s contributions going forward, despite admitting there are still plenty of things he could improve.

The Blues are blessed with a lot of attacking options, but the forward was among their most consistent players prior to his recent hamstring injury, and he has admitted striking up a good relationship with Cole Palmer.

“He is cold and I am fire, so it mixes well. He has always got the ability to play the right pass at the right time, so it’s brilliant.”

As such, Chelsea should knock back the alleged bid from AC Milan, given that it doesn’t reflect Madueke’s value to the team.

Rashid is also part of the side but is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a back surgery

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2024

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been picked in Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in India. The 22-year-old mystery spinner wasn’t part of the national side for the T20I series in the UAE and was instead in action for Melbourne Renegades in the BBL. Mujeeb’s BBL stint, though, was cut short after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revoked his No-Objection Certificate (NoC) for the remainder of the BBL.The ACB had announced on December 25 that Mujeeb, along with seamers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq, would be sanctioned after telling the board they did not intend to sign central contracts for 2024. The three players were told they would be considered “non-eligible” for NOCs for the next two years, and that any current NOCs would be revoked.Farooqi and Naveen have since featured for Afghanistan in their most recent T20I series against the UAE after talks with the board in which they “demonstrated a strong desire to represent their country again”, according to the ACB.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20Is in India will be Mujeeb’s first since July 2023. Mujeeb is part of a strong spin attack that includes Rashid Khan, Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad. Rashid, Afghanistan’s designated T20I captain, has been included in the 19-member squad, but is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a back surgery that had also put him out of the BBL and the UAE T20I series. It is understood that he will only start bowling again in 10 days. Batter Ibrahim Zadran, who had led Afghanistan to a 2-1 series win over UAE, will captain the side in India as well. Ikram Alikhil is the back-up wicketkeeper to Rahmanullah Gurbaz.Mohammad Ishaq, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli who were all part of the squad for the T20Is in the UAE have been left out for the series in India. Rahmat Shah retains his place in the squad; he is uncapped in T20I cricket and has not played a T20 since July 2022. Gulbadin Naib and Alikhil, who were among the reserves for the UAE series, have now been promoted to the main squad.Related

Rashid Khan ruled out of T20I series against India

Farooqi, Mujeeb and Naveen to get limited NOCs as ACB modifies sanctions

Suryakumar, Hardik ruled out of Afghanistan T20Is

Mujeeb's BBL season cut short by Afghanistan Cricket Board

Farooqi, Naveen in Afghanistan squad after 'demonstrating strong desire to represent country'

“We are delighted to be embarking on our maiden tour to India for a three-match series,” Mirwais Ashraf, the ACB chairman, said in a statement. “India is the top-ranked side in the world and it’s very pleasing to witness AfghanAtalan competing in a three-match T20I against them. We believe that AfghanAtalan are no longer underdogs & have excelled well in the recent past and we look forward to a highly competitive series against India.”This will be Afghanistan’s first bilateral T20I series against India. The three-match series will begin in Mohali on January 11 before the teams head to Indore and Bangalore for the last two games on January 14 and January 17 respectively.This will also be the last T20I series for both India and Afghanistan before the T20 World Cup gets underway in the West Indies and the USA in June later this year.Afghanistan squadIbrahim Zadran (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmaullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan.

Everything you need to know about Luuk de Jong's salary details playing for PSV

Dutch striker Luuk de Jong enjoyed a stellar first spell at PSV, playing five seasons with the club between 2014 and 2019, before moving to Sevilla in Spain.

Although his goal-scoring numbers declined, De Jong played a key role in Sevilla's Europa League triumph, proving instrumental during the campaign.

He was later loaned to Barcelona, where, despite a slow start he became a cult hero. De Jong delivered crucial, clutch goals for the Catalan side during a difficult transitional period marked by Lionel Messi's departure and the club’s participation in the Europa League.

After his loan spell ended, De Jong returned to PSV, where he has since regained his scoring form and remains a constant threat in attack.

His current contract with PSV runs until June 2025, with renewal talks currently underway, though no agreement has been finalized yet.

Under his present deal, De Jong earns a substantial salary, ranking among the top earners in the squad.

So, exactly how much does he earn?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

• Luuk de Jong's wages at PSV in numbers

  Under de Jong's current contract with PSV, the Dutch player receives a weekly salary of €38,077 and an annual salary of nearly €2 million, ranking him as the fifth-highest paid at the club.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Luuk de Jong	Dutch	€38,077	€1,980,000

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• AFP
  

  Top earners at PSV

  Sergino Dest is the highest-paid player at PSV, followed by Rick Karsdorp, Ricardo Pepi, Tyrell Malacia, and Luuk de Jong in second, third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Sergino Dest	American	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Rick Karsdorp	Dutch	€56,731	€2,950,000
  Ricardo Pepi	American	€45,192	€2,350,000
  Tyrell Malacia	Dutch	€45,192	€2,350,000
  Luuk de Jong	Dutch	€38,077	€1,980,000

• Top earners in Eredivisie

  Jordan Henderson, formerly of Liverpool, has the highest salary in the Eredivisie. Sergino Dest from PSV is next. Daniele Rugani, an Italian player, is third, with Ajax's Brian Brobbey and Steven Berghuis in fourth and fifth.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in Euros	Annual wages in Euros
  Jordan Henderson	Ajax	€90,000	€4,680,000
  Sergino Dest	PSV	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Daniele Rugani	Ajax	€75,385	€3,920,000
  Brian Brobbey	Ajax	€57,692	€3,000,000
  Steven Berghuis	Ajax	€56,731	€2,950,000

• AFP
  

  Highest paid players in the world

  Eredivisie player salaries are significant but lower than those of top global footballers, with none in the highest ranks.

  The top five earners are in the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr having the highest salary.

  Karim Benzema, formerly of Real Madrid, is second, followed by Riyad Mahrez, previously with Manchester City and now at Al-Ahli, in third.

  Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly, both from Senegal, are in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages Euros	Annual wages Euros
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	€3,846,154	€200,000,000
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	€1,923,077	€100,000,000
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	€1,003,846	€52,200,000
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	€769,231	€40,000,000
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	€667,308	€34,700,000

Sean Dyche has revealed he was stunned when he discovered that Everton had been deducted 10 points in the 2021-22 season.

Article continues below

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• Dyche was shocked to discover deduction
• Had no idea it was coming
• Reveals backroom machinations

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dyche has revealed his astonishment at discovering the extent of Everton's points deduction during his time at the club. With no idea a 10-point hit was coming for breaches of financial rules, Dyche recalled receiving a phone call from director of football Kevin Thelwell, whilst out of the country, and initially thinking it was a joke.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Everton eventually had their points deduction reduced from 10 to six on appeal, and they stayed up by a total of four points. They would later be hit with another deduction of two points the following season, and the former Toffees boss has lifted the lid on his tumultuous spell at Goodison Park.

• WHAT SEAN DYCHE SAID

  Dyche told Stick to Football: "It’s no one’s exact fault, there’s a number of people, it’s not just one person’s fault. Mr. (Farhad) Moshiri took a lot of stick, but he wasn’t making every decision – there are 30 people in the offices who have jobs and he’s not running that every day.

  “Some of the people in the offices were still running the business. Me and Kevin Thelwell were trying to pull together things, using common sense, like contracts and who we’d have to sell. The brief is, I’ve got to bring money in, so whether I like him or not [a player], some of them are playing because we’ve got to try and sell them. You’re not going to get the same money for a player if they’re not playing, so you have to try and play them enough to win a game, then you have to win a game to get some money in.

  “The next season, I’m sitting in Dubai, and I get a phone call from Kevin, who asks if I’m sitting down. He goes, ‘We’ve just been deducted 10 points’. I went, ‘Ey?’ I’d never even been told anything about it. I thought, ‘What on earth is going on – where has that snowballed from the day I walked into this. How has that happened without any form of me knowing anything?’”

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Everton currently sit 13th in the Premier League table under the guidance of David Moyes. They face Southampton and Newcastle in their final two games of the season.

da fazobetai： Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.

da fezbet： The Ivorian striker was the beating heart of the Blues’ golden era, a colossus who combined power, skill and an unparalleled ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most, most notably in the 2012 Champions League final, where his unforgettable performance helped the Blues lift the trophy for the first time.

A decade after his departure, Chelsea are still yearning for a successor capable of replicating his impact on and off the pitch.

The club has seen a revolving door of strikers in the post-Drogba era, and while some such as Diego Costa enjoyed solid careers at Stamford Bridge, no one has been able to fully step into the legendary striker’s shoes.

From young prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we look at five players we think have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.

Related 5 players Chelsea should sign in the summer

Chelsea have fallen off the pace in recent weeks, but a promising season could lead to greater things if they get their summer business right.

Posts ByBarney Lane Feb 4, 2025 1 Nicolas Jackson Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, has plenty in common with Drogba. His physical presence and work rate mirror that of Drogba’s, while his ability to link up the play is perhaps even better than the Ivorian’s. He also has great pace and clever movement.

However, where he comes up short when compared to Drogba is his finishing. Though he’s far improved this term under Enzo Maresca, he still wastes too many big chances, often needing two or three clear opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

Since moving to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League goals, but also missed a whopping 39 big chances in his short Blues career so far – exactly triple the amount Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.

That being said, Jackson is still just 23 years old, and minus his hit-and-miss finishing, his impressive performances at his peak suggest he’s capable of leading the line at Stamford Bridge for years to come. However, consistency and improved displays in front of goal will determine if he reaches Drogba’s heights.

2 Shim Mheuka Chelsea

Shim Mheuka has rapidly ascended through Chelsea’s academy ranks since joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

During the 2023/24 season, he regularly featured for the Under-18s despite still being a schoolboy, netting an impressive 12 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, including a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge in the Under-18 Premier League national final against Manchester United.

Mheuka also played a pivotal role for England in the European Under-17 Championship last summer, scoring in their opening match against Spain. More recently, he marked his first call-up to the Under-19s in style, scoring against France and the Netherlands.

Now 17, Mheuka’s powerful frame, intelligent movement, and superb finishing abilities – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the attention of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana in the Conference League back in December.

There is no doubting that he has a bright future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there is plenty of time for Mheuka to prove he has what it takes to grow into a Drogba-esque talent.

3 Liam Delap Ipswich Town

Liam Delap has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers this season. Big, strong and with a lethal eye for goal, the forward has scored 10 goals in the top flight for newly promoted Ipswich Town and has proven to be a real handful for some of the top flight’s best defenders.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 27, 2024

Already linked with a move to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a youngster during his time in Manchester City’s youth ranks, is a big admirer.

“Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age,” said Maresca back in December before Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Ipswich, a game in which Delap scored the opening goal. “I think we spent one year together, and he scored 22 to 24 goals. He is a very good striker.

“England have many good players, many good strikers,” he added. “He’s working hard off the ball and on the ball, understands the game and can score goals. I think he can be an important player for England.” For Chelsea too, maybe?

4 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray/Napoli

Victor Osimhen is perhaps the closest current player to Drogba in terms of style and impact.

The Nigerian forward’s scoring record at Napoli is certainly reminiscent of Drogba, not to mention continuing his streak in front of goal in a Galatasaray shirt, which is something the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.

Osimhen came close to joining Chelsea in the summer, but the deal fell through prior to his loan switch to Istanbul.

Whilst there, he has again shown why he’s one of the deadliest strikers in world football, scoring 20 goals in 27 games, including two against Tottenham in the Europa League, which would already make him something of a Chelsea hero to some.

5 Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers and has often been compared to Erling Haaland due to his physical attributes and playing style. Rather crucially, he has also been mentioned in the same breath as Chelsea star Drogba.

The Slovenian forward stands at 6 foot 4, making him a real handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the box. Not only is he big, but he’s also a terrific header of the ball. Since moving to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed goals.

Drogba, meanwhile, found the net with his noggin 17 times for Chelsea in the Premier League.

Like Drogba, Sesko has the ability to score from long range, best showcased by his stunning strike against Werder Bremen in January, where he unleashed a powerful drive that nearly shattered the net from 25 yards out.

Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a move to Stamford Bridge could give him the chance to develop into Chelsea’s next dominant striker, potentially following in Drogba’s footsteps.

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Posts 1 ByBarney Lane Jan 27, 2025

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da marjack bet： O setor defensivo é uma das principais prioridades do Botafogo para 2023. Com Kanu de saída e Joel Carli com contrato perto do fim, os dirigentes alvinegros vêm buscando soluções para não deixar o sistema desguarnecido.

No momento, Luís Castro conta com somente três nomes na defesa: Adryelson, Víctor Cuesta e Philipe Sampaio. Os dois primeiros são titulares absolutos da posição. O objetivo do clube é adquirir um reforço que possa brigar por posição e qualificar este setor que ficou tão marcado positivamente na reta final desta temporada.

+Messi iguala marca de Pelé: saiba quais são os 22 maiores artilheiros da história das Copas do Mundo

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da bet esporte： +Botafogo encaminha contratação de atacante Luis Phelipe

Com poucos gols sofridos e atuações sólidas, Botafogo foi uma das melhores defesas do segundo turno do Brasileirão. Luís Castro quer montar novamente uma equipe aguerrida defensivamente e busca um reforço canhoto para brigar por posição com Cuesta.

+Botafogo acerta contratação de ex-goleiro do Flamengo

O nome que está no radar dos alvinegros é Luis Segovia, que está de saída do Independente del Valle e se destacou nas últimos dois anos. O jogador possui 25 anos e se notabilizou pela segurança e qualidade com a bola nos pés.

Outra alternativa é dar espaço para jogadores das categorias de base. Vale lembrar que os jovens alvinegros disputam Copinha e Carioca nas próximas semanas e Luís Castro avaliará possíveis talentos em ambas as competições.

Originals struggle to 107 for 5 before being swept aside with 36 deliveries to spare

ECB Reporters Network17-Aug-2023After winning only one of their first five matches, Trent Rockets kept their hopes of a top-three finish in the Women’s Hundred just about alive with a thumping nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals, chasing down a modest target of 108 with a massive 36 balls to spare.Lizelle Lee combined power and placement, hitting 44 not out from 27 balls with six fours and two sixes, sharing an opening stand of 60 in 36 balls with Bryony Smith (28 off 19) before skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt showed her class with an unbeaten 33 off 18.Deandra Dottin made 30 from 26 for the Originals, adding 40 for the third wicket with Laura Wolvaardt (23 from 31) before Amanda Jade-Wellington added 22 from 19 at the end of the innings but 107 for 5 always looked under par.Originals are not mathematically out of contention but, in truth, neither side is likely to be involved in the two games that will decide the tournament.Originals made an unconvincing start after opting to bat first and never recovered, losing Emma Lamb and Fi Morris for 15 in the first 22 balls.Lamb caught at short fine leg on the scoop as Katherine Sciver-Brunt, plainly still troubled by the hip injury that sidelined her for the last two games and coming in off a short run, claimed the first wicket of what is set to be her last tournament. Morris hit Alexa Stonehouse straight to the fielder at mid-off.With spinners Kirstie Gordon and Alana King stalling the Originals in their attempts to accelerate the visitors had much to do to post a defendable total at 47 for 2 from 50.With pressure mounting, Wolvaardt – missed by keeper Lee off King on 16 – was stumped as Gordon darted one in flatter and the dangerous Dottin, put down on 28 by the normally reliable Jo Gardner, holed out to deep midwicket with only two added to her score.Originals skipper Sophie Ecclestone, running on Wellington’s reverse sweep, was beaten by Gordon’s throw from point, leaving her side floundering at 72 for 5 from 77. Katie George joined Wellington in an enterprising finale that realised another 35 from 23 balls.Yet Rockets always fancied their chances chasing 108 to win, a target that quickly looked a formality as Smith and Lee piled on 49 in the powerplay, Smith hugely impressive with six boundaries, swept, pulled or hammered through cover, Lee chipping in with four. One sequence of 11 deliveries saw nine balls go to the rope, with no bowler spared.A top edge off Ecclestone, whom she had hit for three boundaries in the England left-armer’s opening set, saw Smith caught at short fine leg but her departure simply ushered in Nat Sciver-Brunt to show off her skills with five boundaries and finish the job in rapid time.