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Heading into the 2025 summer transfer window, Arsenal fans were expectant. They were promised an unprecedented summer and despite the slow pace with which a deal for Viktor Gyokeres was completed, the Gunners indeed had a crazy summer.

That striker deal was finally wrapped but Andrea Berta strengthened Mikel Arteta’s squad in every single position possible.

At the back, Kepa arrived from Chelsea in a £5m deal while Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, two of the most exciting young defensive talents in Europe, both signed.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was the marquee addition but he was joined by former Brentford skipper, Christian Norgaard.

It was the forward line that was bolstered most, however. Gyokeres, of course, was the big addition but beside him came Noni Madueke – a signing that sparked controversy – and one that had the whole fanbase unified; Eberechi Eze.

What those signings have done is take this squad to the next level. It’s another phase and level of progression for Arteta’s side and even with a whole host of injuries – namely to William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka – they swept aside Nottingham Forest with ease on Saturday.

It’s not the first time that Arteta has chosen to take the team in a new direction; Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are testament to that.

The Jesus and Zinchenko sagas at Arsenal

In the summer of 2022, Arteta knew he needed something to take his project to the next level.

In order to do that, he signed Jesus for £45m and Zinchenko for £30m from Manchester City within just a few weeks of each other.

Proven winners, players he knew from his days as assistant head coach to Pep Guardiola, this was a strong recipe tor success and indeed they changed the game when they first arrived.

Zinchenko allowed a huge level of tactical progression. The left-back is one of the finest inverted full-backs in European football which allowed Arsenal to gain more possession and control the tempo of a game more efficiently.

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How about Jesus? Well, he brought spice, he brought trickery and he brought goals. The Brazilian’s first few months at the Emirates Stadium were a sight to behold.

A proper Brazilian forward, Jesus was spellbinding. He beat players for fun and, importantly, he scored goals. In his first nine Premier League outings, he bagged five times and also registered four assists, proving to be a unique all-round threat.

Zincheko + Jesus for Arsenal

Stat

Zinchenko

Jesus

Signed for

£30m

£45m

Games

91

96

Goals

3

26

Assists

5

20

Mins played

5,282

5,461

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The trouble is, while Arsenal got better as a squad, the importance of Zinchenko and Jesus became less and less.

The Ukrainian, for all of the good he brought in possession, was a liability defensively and Jesus, well, he just can’t seem to stay off the treatment table.

We all got a reminder of just how good the 28-year-old is when he scored six goals in the space of five games over the 2024/25 festive period, including a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.

Yet, his season was turned upside down when he ruptured his ACL in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Even before that, however, he was beginning to be phased out by Arteta. Kai Havertz was now the golden striker.

At left-back, meanwhile, Arteta upgraded on Zinchenko by adding Riccardo Calafiori to the fray. The emergence of Hale Ender, Myles Lewis-Skelly, also bumped him further down the pecking order.

Arsenal’s game-changers were no longer game-changers; they were merely spare parts in this squad.

The same is now happening for two of Arteta’s most trusted forward players at the Emirates. It would be a surprise if they started games regularly again.

£66m Arsenal duo are going to suffer this season

What a transfer window Arsenal had. Yet, unfortunately for two players in the forward line, they may well find themselves reduced to bit-part figures, just like Jesus and Zinchenko in the last few years.

The players here are Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, key components of the Gunners’ forward line for a number of seasons now.

Unfortunately for Martinelli, he doesn’t look as though he’ll ever live up to his sky-high potential. Once described as a “talent of the century” by Jurgen Klopp, it feels like a long time now since the Brazilian netted 15 Premier League goals in a single campaign.

It also feels like a long time since Trossard’s 17-goal haul in 2023/24. That season, only Bukayo Saka scored more goals for Arsenal.

It’s safe to say that 2024/25 was not one full of too much success for either player. While Martinelli did score inside the Bernabeu, he and Trossard both ended the term with ten goals apiece from 51 and 56 games respectively.

It’s not an awful tally, but you need more, particularly when Arsenal were contending with injuries to the likes of Saka, Havertz and Jesus.

So, over the summer of 2025, Arsenal have undergone another level of progression, one that could spell the end for any thoughts both Martinelli and Trossard had of gaining regular starts.

Indeed, with Madueke and Eze having entered the fray, immediate upgrades have been sourced on the £270k-per-week duo. We saw that first-hand during Arsenal’s win over Forest at the weekend.

While Madueke didn’t leave the pitch with a goal or an assist, he was relentless down the right-hand side and showcased why he will be the most natural back-up and competition for Saka. He completed five key passes and also registered five successful dribbles.

As for Eze, he was a breath of fresh air on the left-hand side of the attack. Jinking past players for fun, he was the player who registered the assist for Gyokeres’ goal.

Running in behind, the Hale Ender was picked out by Calafiori. Eze did not need a touch to set himself, ultimately sliding the ball into the path of the big Swede who couldn’t miss from a matter of yards out.

It was a performance that evoked memories of the 2022/23 side, one that Jesus and Zinchenko were part of. The football was slick, it was sweeping and it got past the Forest defence with ease.

Unfortunately for the £66m-rated pair of Trossard and Martinelli, it’s not good news. Still, for fans of the club, it was incredibly refreshing to see a pair of wingers with the desire to beat their man.

Related Arsenal star looks like their best bargain since the days of Henry & Vieira

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Posts ByMatt Dawson Sep 15, 2025

Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana have become the new No. 1 men’s ODI batter and bowler respectively in the ICC rankings update released on the opening day of the Champions Trophy. Gill has gone past Babar Azam on his list, while Theekshana has gone past Rashid Khan on his.Gill had an excellent time of it in the home ODI series against England, which India won 3-0, with scores of 87, 60 and 112, which made him the top run-getter in the series, his 259 runs coming at an average of 86.33 and a strike rate of 103.60. The next highest scorer, Shreyas Iyer, was 78 behind Gill with 181 runs.This is the second time Gill has gone to the top of the pile in ODI cricket – the previous occasion was during the ODI World Cup in 2023.

Full rankings tables

• Click here for the full team rankings

• Click here for the full player rankings

Gill’s rise has pushed Babar to second place. Gill has 796 rating points, while Babar has 773.They are followed in the top five by Rohit Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen and Daryl Mitchell, who has moved up two places after the tri-series in Pakistan where he scored 81, 10 and 57.Following the two-ODI series against England, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka has moved up eight spots to No. 8, while Mohammad Rizwan, the Pakistan captain, has reached 15th place.Maheesh Theekshana became the seventh Sri Lanka bowler to bag an ODI hat-trick during the Australia series•Getty Images

Sri Lanka are not a part of the Champions Trophy, having missed out on qualification, but along with Asalanka, Theekshana made the most of the two-ODI series at home against Australia, returning 4 for 40 and none for 11.Rashid, who hasn’t played an ODI since last December, has slipped to the second spot, but isn’t too far behind Theekshana – he has 669 ratings points to the table-topper’s 680, and a good Champions Trophy campaign can take him back to the top.Behind Theekshana and Rashid on the bowlers’ table is Namibia’s Bernard Scholtz, followed by India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi in the top five. Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, has made big moves too, his five wickets in the three ODIs in the Pakistan tri-series giving him a five-spot boost and putting him at No. 7.

Manuel Neuer claims Bayern Munich's 3-1 win against Chelsea in the Champions League opener was more than just a win, but rather a "crowning achievement" for the team. The Bayern goalkeeper believes they have improved as a squad and the result is a testament to it. The 39-year-old also completed his 100th Champions League victory with a win over the Premier League side.

• Manuel Neuer's 'insane' performance against Chelsea

  Neuer was solid in Bayern's Champions League win over Chelsea, making key saves and commanding his area with experience and calm. He helped maintain a strong defensive shape, limiting the London club's chances and playing a crucial role in Bayern's confident start to the campaign. The 39-year-old's performance showcased why he remains one of the top goalkeepers, contributing significantly to the team's victory, with coach Vincent Kompany labelling his performance "insane."

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  The key points behind Bayern's dominance

  Neuer expressed his happiness after Bayern's win, praising the team's strong form and momentum. He acknowledged the challenge of facing the Club World Cup champions and emphasised the importance of building on this victory.

  "When you're a Bayern Munich player, you always want to win. For us, the greatest thing is to play in the Champions League and win it," he said. "That's why it's always a distant goal. You have to try to do your homework. The game against Chelsea isn't homework, but rather a crowning achievement, the way we played today. We crushed them here at home. But in the new league format, we're first playing to get into the top eight. Then you want to progress in the knockout rounds toward the final."

  Neuer added: "You're playing against a Premier League team, against a team that, in some ways, played similarly to Augsburg in the second half away from home. These are examples from the Bundesliga that you can then translate to the Champions League. We showed there that we also have to fight. That was an important factor today. Nevertheless, we were also the better team in terms of playing skills. We were simply cooler with the ball."

• Manuel Neuer bags his 100th Champions League Victory

  Neuer joined Bayern in 2011 after making his mark at Schalke, where he debuted in the Champions League in 2007. Known for standout moments like saving penalties against Real Madrid in 2011-12, he went on to anchor Bayern’s 2013 Champions League triumph. Now celebrating his 100th win in the competition, Neuer’s consistency and clean-sheet record cement his place among the greatest goalkeepers in Champions League history.

  Asked about his 100th Champions League victory, the German goalkeeper said: "It's a nice number. But it's much more important to have won these victories with the team. We celebrate together."

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  Bayern's focus now shifts to the next challenge

  Kompany's side have little time to savour this victory as they must quickly reset and sharpen their focus to face another crucial league challenge against Hoffenheim on September 20, before they face Cypriot side Pafos in their next Champions League outing.

The 2024/25 campaign was a turbulent one for West Ham United. A change of manager halfway through, moving from Julen Lopetegui to Graham Potter, made things tough, and the Hammers never really gained any momentum, struggling to move out of the bottom few teams in the Premier League.

Yet, relegation was never really a concern, with the Irons finishing almost 20 points clear of 18th.

Looking ahead to the new season, Potter must surely want his side to become more consistent in front of goal. They only managed 46 last season, as per Understat, better than just five other teams in the top flight.

That might be why the East Londoners are targeting a new number nine in the transfer window.

West Ham search for a new striker

After a loan move for Evan Ferguson last season did not work out, the Hammers are still looking for a new centre forward to supplement the likes of Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen in attack. Well, perhaps they have found someone who can add to the goals next season.

According to a report from Tasnim News Agency, the Hammers have ‘expressed interest’ in signing Inter and Iran striker Mehdi Taremi. The 33-year-old’s ‘departure from Inter is now certain’ in the aftermath of Simone Inzaghi leaving the club and the arrival of new summer signings.

This could give West Ham an opportunity to pounce. They are set to go head to head with Fulham, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest for his signature, however, with Turkish side Besiktas also interested.

As for the price, it was reported earlier in the window that Inter would accept up to €10m (£9m) for the 33-year-old this summer.

Why Taremi would be a good signing

The 2024/25 season was tough for Taremi, who struggled for opportunity in the Inter side. Of course, last season’s Champions League runners-up have Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in their squad, so getting a starting berth ahead of those two is far from easy.

The Iranian international played 43 games last season across all competitions. Although he only managed to find the back of the net three times, he did grab nine assists, four of which came in the Champions League. One of those was in the semi-final second-leg win over Barcelona.

The veteran striker arguably played the best football of his career at Portuguese giants FC Porto. He played 182 games for the club, amassing a sensational 91 goals and chipping in with 51 assists, too. He bagged this acrobatic volley against Chelsea back in 2021, a real standout effort in his large goal catalogue.

Comparisons can be drawn between Taremi and his potential new teammate, Fullkrug. The Germany international joined for £27m last summer from Borussia Dortmund, as an experienced striker, aged 31, when he moved to the London Stadium.

It certainly wasn’t the easiest first season in Claret and Blue for the striker, born in Hannover. He played 20 games for the club, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists. Two separate injuries certainly disrupted his progress during his debut campaign for West Ham.

The similarities between each striker do not stop at the fact that they are both experienced players in their early 30s. In fact, they are both stastically similar on FBref, after their respective Champions League campaigns in the 2022/23 season.

The numbers behind their goal-scoring form in that campaign are alike. The Inter star, then playing for Porto, averaged 0.33 goals and 0.22 goals per shot on target each game. In contrast, West Ham’s number 11, then a Dortmund player, averaged 0.26 goals and 0.27 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes.

Goals

0.33

0.26

Shots on target

1.49

0.96

Goals per shot on target

0.22

0.27

Expected goals

0.43xG

0.47xG

Goal-creating actions

0.87

0.69

At upwards of £9m, this move could be a bargain for West Ham this summer. There are certainly shades of the deal to sign Fullkrug last summer, given their age and similar threat in front of goal.

Taremi is a “complete striker” according to Statman Dave and capable of scoring 20 goals a season, as he showed at Porto. This could be one of the bargains of the summer.

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ByKelan Sarson Jul 31, 2025

Sunderland’s transfer window has been the biggest in the club’s history. After an unexpectedly long stint out of the Premier League, manager Régis Le Bris has been backed to ensure that they stay there.

The club have made roughly £36.8 million from the sales of Jobe Bellingham and Tom Watson to Borussia Dortmund and Brighton respectively, which has added a boost to their transfer budget.

Most of the new arrivals at the Stadium of Light have been attacking or midfield players, and the squad is yet to reinforce their defence, which was the fourth-best in the Championship last season. However, the Black Cats are now looking to change that in a big way and go all out on an up-and-coming talent.

Sunderland scouting Italian star Comuzzo

Reports from Italy, via Sports Witness, have revealed that Sunderland are among a number of English teams who have been scouting Italian centre-back Pietro Comuzzo. Comuzzo’s club, Fiorentina, have spent part of their pre-season in the UK, where Black Cats scouts checked on him in person.

Sports Witness shared a recent interview where Comuzzo stated he was happy at his current club and wasn’t currently looking to move. However, during the transfer window, things can change quickly. If Le Bris could convince Comuzzo of the project, then it’s reported that Fiorentina would be willing to part ways with the player for £34.5 million, which would see the Black Cats once again smash their previous transfer record by £7.5 million.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Habib Diarra

£27m

Strasbourg

2025

2

Simon Adingra

£21m

Brighton

2025

3

Enzo Le Fee

£19.3m

AS Roma

2025

4

Chemsdine Talbi

£18m

Club Brugge

2025

5

Noah Sadiki

£15m

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

2025

6

Didier Ndong

£13.6m

Lorient

2016

=7

Granit Xhaka

£13m

Bayer Leverkusen

2025

=7

Asamoah Gyan

£13m

Rennes

2010

9

Steven Fletcher

£12m

Wolves

2012

10

Jack Rodwell

£10m

Man City

2014

Comuzzo will be in the UK this weekend as Fiorentina face Manchester United at Old Trafford in a pre-season friendly. Early reports had indicated that United were another one of the teams to have taken an interest in the centre-back, but after several big-money signings and other positions yet to fill, they seem unlikely candidates.

Sports Witness’s Kaustubh Pandey concluded that the stories currently circulating about Comuzzo could be an attempt to increase his value and sell him at a later date. In which case, this could end up being a long-term Sunderland target that they use to solidify their place in the Premier League if they stay up this season.

Why Comuzzo is so highly rated

Comuzzo is a name that fans will hear a lot of in the coming years, and there are a few reasons why he is seen as such a prodigy. When compared to centre-backs of a similar age who featured in the Premier League last season, fans can see his uniqueness.

Tackles in Defensive 3rd Per 90

1.19

0.79

0.7

Long Pass Completion

69%

56.3%

59.5%

Attempted Tackles on Dribblers Per 90

1.19

0.85

1.07

Success Rate of Tackles on Dribblers

79.3%

64.3%

62.1%

Stats from: FBREF

Abdukodir Khusanov and Dean Huijsen have both recently received big transfers, with the former joining Manchester City in January and the latter joining Real Madrid this summer, but in many regards, Comuzzo is better than both.

An issue that many defenders find when joining the Premier League is that the pace of the wingers is too much for them. However, this is where Comuzzo specialises, as not only does he attempt more tackles on dribbling players than average, he also has a higher success rate with them.

Comuzzo’s ability to accurately play a long ball is also unique. Not only does it get the team out of danger defensively, but it can also help the team up the pitch offensively. Many of the newly promoted teams find themselves camped in their own third as the bigger Premier League sides attack them. Comuzzo would help avoid this with the combination of his ability to win back the ball and then progressively play it out once he has done so.

All of these attributes make Comuzzo an ideal player for the Premier League and particularly one further down the table. If Sunderland don’t push for him this summer, their chance of signing him may disappear, because it’s only a matter of time before someone snaps him up.

علق حسام غالي عضو مجلس إدارة الأهلي، على إمكانية توليه منصب رئيس النادي الأهلي في المستقبل، موضحًا رأيه في الصراع من أجل الوصول لهذا الهدف.

وقال حسام غالي في تصريحات عبر منصة اليوتيوب: “الناس بالطبع تضع آمالاً كبيرة أو تراني كـ رئيس للنادي الأهلي، ويمكنني أن أرى نفسي رئيساً لنادي الأهلي، ويمكنني أن أحقق طموح الناس الذين يرونني رئيساً للنادي، ويمكنني أن أحقق لهم ما يحلمون به طول حياتهم بشأن النادي ومبادئه وشخصيته واسمه وكيانه، لأنني أحفظه وأعرفه جيداً جداً وتربيت فيه”.

وتابع: “لكن عندما دخلت مجال الإدارة، رأيت الدنيا على حقيقتها قليلاً، لا من بعيد كما كنت أراها وأنا ألعب كرة القدم، وأرى الموضوع بوضوح أكبر الآن، أشعر الآن أنني غير قادر على حمل السيف والدرع والدخول في هذه المعركة حالياً وأنا أتحدث الآن، فهي تحتاج إلى طاقة وجهد هائل”.

وأردف: “طوال حياتي حملت السيف والدرع منذ كنت طفلاً صغيراً حتى توقفت عن كرة القدم، داخل الملعب حرفياً أحمل السيف والدرع، وأنا أحارب الجميع الإعلام والجمهور والمدير الفني الذي لا يثق بي أو المدير الفني الذي لا يريد أن يدفع بي، وألعب رغماً عنه”.

وأوضح حسام غالي: “كنت دائماً أحمل السيف والدرع وأحارب، ولم أخذ استراحة المحارب هذه بعد أن توقفت عن كرة القدم، بل دخلت في العمل الإداري، وعملت قليلاً ثم ذهبت مديراً رياضياً في الجونة، فدخلت تحت الضغوط وما زال اللاعب موجوداً أيضاً، فوجدت نفسي ما زلت أحمل السيف”.

وواصل: “لديّ الرغبة في أن أصبح رئيساً، لكن حالياً أنا غير قادر على حمل السيف والدرع والدخول في هذه المعركة بعد أن رأيت وعيشت الموضوع وتكالب الناس الكثيرين والصراعات الكبيرة جداً، وإذا كانت هي في هذه المكانة أو لديها تطلعات أو لديها غرض في إعطاء الشخص الذي يراه الجمهور أنه يمكن أن يصبح رئيسا للنادي ويحقق طموح النادي، لكن بالمقابل يُطعن بالخنجر في الظهر أو شيء لا أعرفه، الأهم أن الشخص الذي هو حسام غالي هذا الانطباع الذي يأخذه الجمهور أنه “رجل الأهلي”، لا أن نشوه هذه الصورة أو نجعل الانطباع الذي يأخذه خطأ”.

وزاد: “أنتم تفكرون خطأ هذا لا يجوز لذا دائماً هناك خناجر بالطبع تُوضع في الظهر، هل أستطيع القتال؟ نعم أستطيع القتال، لكن إذا فعلت ذلك سأخرج أموراً سيئة جداً، وأنا لا أفعل ذلك، ولم أوضع يوماً في موقف أدخل وأحارب حروباً غير شريفة أو غير نزيهة”.

طالع | وليد صلاح الدين يكشف خطة الأهلي للتجديد مع ديانج وعبد القادر.. وموقف المدرب الجديد

وأوضح: “أنا دائماً أحارب حربي بشرف ونزاهة، وجهًا لوجه أو بجهدي وأحصل على ما أريده، لكن هذه الأمور في الظهر والتكتيكات ليست من شأني ولا أعرف كيف أفعلها ولم أفعلها يوماً، لم أفعل يوماً أن أقول لك الآن أجلس وأضحك في وجهك وأحضنك وأقبلك وفي الخلف أطعنك في ظهرك، لن تستطيع حتى لو لعبتها لن تستطيع لعبها مثلهم، هم أشطر منك”.

وأشار: “لن أستطيع لعبها، أنا إذا كنت صادقاً فهذا ليس داخلي، ستنظر إلى وجهي وتعرف، ونعم بالطبع لديّ الرغبة ولديّ الحلم وأريد أن أحقق طموح الجمهور الذي يراني في هذه المكانة، لكن صدقني حالياً لا، غير قادر على حمل السيف”.

وبسؤاله لو أصبحت رئيساً لنادي الأهلي، ما هو أول قرار ستتخذه؟، أجاب: “سأختار الناس حولي بشخصية نادي الأهلي، ناس لديها إنكار للذات، ناس لديها طموح، ناس تحب العمل في فريق عمل لا فردية، وناس غير متسلقة، وشخصياتها قوية”.

وأتم: “أحب العمل مع شخصيات قوية لكن غير متسلقة، وبالطبع، لا يكون الذي يقول (أنا الذي أفعل)، وأنا الشخص الموجود، لا أنت شخصيتك قوية وقائد وكل شيء لكن في النهاية الجماعة، أتمنى أن تكون هذه الأمور موجودة وكانت موجودة من قبل”.

Netherlands tripped up South Africa in the previous two men’s World Cups. They will be targeting a hat-trick, in conditions that might suit their style of batting better

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-20243:21

Morkel: South Africa cannot expect to roll Netherlands over

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Once is coincidence, twice is a clue, and three times is proof.To paraphrase Agatha Christie, that is the narrative around South Africa’s meeting with Netherlands at this T20 World Cup.The Dutch beat South Africa at the 2022 tournament and ended their semi-final hopes in a match where South Africa appeared to be sleep walking, and then beat them again at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they exposed South Africa’s vulnerability in the chase. If they to do the treble, not only will Netherlands take the lead in Group D, but they will offer conclusive evidence of the threat they pose to Full Members, especially South Africa.Of course, it will take doing after South Africa’s opening performance against Sri Lanka, where they reduced their opposition to their lowest T20I total and chased it down in fairly straightforward fashion thanks to the most stable middle-order of their white-ball era. In Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, South Africa have bankers and big-hitters and, for this match, they also have the advantage of experience. They’ve already played at Eisenhower Park, and have first-hand knowledge that run-scoring doesn’t come easily; Klaasen said they are prepared to use their “cricket brains” and play “smarter cricket”.But the conditions could be good news for Netherlands, who are not naturally a line-up of big hitters and build their innings on a foundation of turning ones into twos. In other words, they tend to take a slightly more conservative approach to batting, which may work well here, but they’ll be wary of the uneven bounce of the surface and will have to come up with plans to counterattack especially against South Africa’s seamers. Their own bowlers were exemplary in Dallas and will look to build on that performance against a line-up that will likely be more proactive than Nepal’s, but who they have managed to keep quiet not once, but twice in the past. Third time’s the charm, they say.Paul van Meekeren with Sybrand Engelbrecht after Netherlands’ win over South Africa in the 2023 ODI World Cup•ICC/Getty Images

Form guideSouth Africa: WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Netherlands: WLLLWIn the spotlight: Reeza Hendricks and Vivian KingmaAfter not getting a game at the 2022 T20 World Cup, Reeza Hendricks is the first-choice opener at this event and, as the batter with the lowest strike-rate in T20Is in South Africa’s top six, will be desperate to show what he is capable of. He had limited opportunity in the Sri Lanka match – he only faced two balls before being dismissed Test-match style by Nuwan Thushara, whom he edged to slip. Now he has had time to come to terms with how to play in New York and must combine his shots with the patience he must have, after waiting so long for an opportunity this high-profile.Vivian Kingma went wicketless against Nepal but that is no reflection of the threat he posed. He got movement upfront, swung the ball away from the right-hand batters, beat the bat on several occasions and found the edge in a spell that set the tone for the Dutch. On a surface that could have considerably more assistance for him, South Africa’s top order will want to be at their most watchful while also finding a way to target the bowlers around him.Team news: Do Netherlands play an extra seamer?Anrich Nortje’s stunning return to form against Sri Lanka means South Africa may not have to tinker with the bowling combination, and Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi may have to wait their turns to get a game. The batting line-up should be unchanged, with no space for Ryan Rickelton yet.South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markam, 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Ottneil Baartman, 11 Anrich NortjeConditions in New York may tempt Netherlands to include an extra seamer and they have Kyle Klein in their squad. But it could come at the expense of a shortened batting line-up and they may not want to risk that.Netherlands: 1 Michael Levitt, 2 Max O’Dowd, 3 Vikramjit Singh, 4 Sybrand Engelbrecht, 5 Scott Edwards (capt, wk), 6 Bas de Leede, 7 Teja Nidamanuru, 8 Logan van Beek, 9 Tim Pringle, 10 Paul van Meekeren, 11 Vivian Kingma2:42

Which Netherlands bowlers will South Africa look to take down?

Pitch and conditionsWe’re going to see a “new” surface at the venue tomorrow with one of the middle pitches set to make their first tournament appearance, and there will be many eyes on it. The same surface will be used for the India-Pakistan match, so this fixture is something of a test run. From what we’ve seen so far, both pitches 1 and 4 have been tricky for batters because of inconsistent bounce. The ICC has acknowledged the quality has not been up to the standard expected and that it is working on a “remedy.” So far, it has been observed that grass has been shaved off one of the surfaces, which could reduce some of the bounce.At least, everyone can fully focus on the strip and not overhead because the weather is set fine, with highs in the mid-20s.Stats and trivia Netherlands have beaten South Africa in their previous two World Cup meetings, but have not won any matches against them outside of those two. Ottneil Baartman is the leading South African wicket-taker in T20s this year and the sixth-highest overall. His 34 wickets have come at an average of 15.17, the best among the top ten wicket-takers. At 121.13, Max O’Dowd has the highest career strike rate in the Dutch squad. Five South Africans – Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Aiden Markram – have higher numbers than that. Quotes”We definitely want to get back a couple of games against Netherlands. They just do the basics extremely well. The moment they get on top of you, they become a difficult beast. When they do the basics right, they do it so well that they keep squeezing you. They have unbelievable outfielding, so it’s not easy just to shift that momentum against them. For us, it’s a big game.”
“We’re lucky in the sense that we play on a lot of different wickets. Back in the Netherlands, we play on artificials, we play on spicy wickets, we play on spinning wickets. So, for us it’s about adapting to whatever the wicket brings to us.”

Newcastle United rode into the summer transfer window on the crest of a wave, having finished the 2024/25 campaign as Carabao Cup champions, also sealing their place back in the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League.

All told, Eddie Howe will be a happy man after his side’s success, but the onus is now on improving across the next few months ahead of the fresh term, when expectations will be heightened.

Efforts have certainly been made at this early stage to go from strength to strength. As per The Telegraph, the Magpies have singled out England centre-back Marc Guehi and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, although the latter has reportedly chosen he wants to join Manchester United.

A right-sided forward is still at the top of the agenda, and Newcastle might just have identified the perfect man for the job.

Newcastle open talks for new right winger

No, it’s not Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, although the 23-year-old is admired by senior Newcastle officials.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Instead, the man of the moment could be West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, with The Athletic revealing talks have been held among senior Magpies officials to ascertain the potential of a summer signing.

Kudus has an £84m release clause in his Hammers contract and is expected to leave east London this summer.

After a difficult campaign, however, it’s thought Graham Potter’s side would be open to a more agreeable £65m fee.

Why Newcastle should sign Kudus

Kudus only scored five times in the Premier League last season, also assisting three goals, but he hit four goal contributions across his final eight appearances, and presents one of the most menacing profiles out there.

Though Elanga, Newcastle’s other top wide target, chalked up six goals and 11 assists across the league campaign, Kudus may yet hit a new level of prolific progress, which would see him soar away from the Tricky Trees star’s capacity.

Despite his struggles, the Ghana international has still maintained his ball-carrying quality across the past year, with Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku the only man to produce a greater regularity of successful dribbles.

This metric is further underscored by data-driven site FBref, who recorded that Kudus ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

And you’d think that Howe could restore Kudus’ finest level. When comparing his 2023/24 campaign, under David Moyes’ wing, against Elanga’s at Forest over the past year, it becomes a little clearer that Kudus’ ceiling stretches higher.

Matches (starts)

33 (27)

38 (31)

Goals

8

6

Assists

6

11

Shots (on target)*

2.0 (0.5)

1.2 (0.6)

Pass completion

84%

78%

Big chances created

5

9

Key passes*

0.8

1.3

Dribbles*

3.8

0.7

Ball recoveries*

6.4

2.3

Tackles*

2.0

0.5

Duels won*

8.5

3.0

Given that Forest would be looking to bank in excess of £50m for the sale of Elanga, it might be more worthwhile to invest in a star such as Kudus, who, when at his rip-roaring best, has been regarded as a “generational talent” by those such as journalist Gary Al-Smith.

The dream XI Newcastle can build: No Gordon; Joao Pedro & £120m trio sign

Newcastle are looking to make sweeping changes as they step back into the Champions League.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 10, 2025

Manchester City are already lining up a few transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 1.

Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been earmarked as potential replacements for the departing Kevin De Bruyne.

That being said, City will have to splash the cash if they wish to land either, as the German is valued at £129m while Nottingham Forest are demanding £100m for their star player.

However, the Citizens are also looking to strengthen at the back.

Man City's search for a defender

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is also reportedly emerging as a player Pep Guardiola wants to have at his disposal.

He isn’t the only full-back on City’s radar, however, as a current Serie A star could be on the move to England.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In January, the Etihad side were keeping a close watch on Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, yet no move materialised back then.

Fast-forward a few months and Guardiola is keen to follow through on this initial interest when the transfer window opens, according to the Sun, who state that City still want to acquire him this summer.

Juventus appears to be closing in on a replacement for the Italian full-back, which could boost City’s pursuit of the player this summer.

A fee of around €60m (£50m) will be demanded by the Old Lady, one that is certainly affordable for the Manchester side.

While Kerkez would be an ideal long-term option at left-back, Cambiaso has much more experienced and has even enjoyed a better season from a statistical point of view than the Hungarian…

Why Andrea Cambiaso would be a better signing than Milos Kerkez

Kerkez has enjoyed a wonderful campaign for the Cherries throughout 2024/25, and it is perhaps no surprise the likes of City and Liverpool are looking to test their resolve with an offer.

Since joining from Genoa in 2022, Cambiaso has gone about his business steadily, but offers qualities at both ends of the pitch.

Andrea Cambiaso vs Milos Kerkez this season
Stats (per 90)	Cambiaso	Kerkez
Games	30	29 (29)
Goals	2	2
Assists	1	5
Touches	61.2	59.1
Pass completion	92%	80%
Key passes	1.0	1.0
Dribbles	0.8	0.6
Ball recoveries	3.6	4.5
Tackles + interceptions	1.9	2.6
Clearances	0.6	2.8
Duels (won)	3.1 (52%)	4.1 (53%)
Via Sofascore

There isn’t much between the two City targets, especially regarding attacking metrics, but the Italian does come out on top in a fair few.

Indeed, when assessing data supplied via FBRef, he has registered more shots per 90 (0.63 vs 0.51), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.41 vs 2.26), successful take-ons (25 vs 20) and more goal-creating actions (0.31 vs 0.27) than the Hungarian left-back this season domestically.

Furthermore, the Juventus star has registered a higher pass completion percentage (89.5% vs 75.2%) while winning a higher percentage of aerial duels (37.5% vs 35.2%) per 90 than the Bournemouth youngster.

He was even dubbed “world-class” by European football expert Zach Lowy last season and he could be the ideal fit for Guardiola at City.

Another bonus is his ability to play either on the right or left side of the defence, giving the manager plenty of flexibility when choosing his side. That’s something that the Cherries defender cannot offer. He is solely a left-back.

Kerkez will no doubt go on to have an excellent future in the game, that there is no doubt, but at the current time, Cambiaso could very well be the best signing for the club as they head into a new era next season.

Man City have struck gold on "exceptional" gem worth more than Kerkez

City have hit the jackpot on a current academy graduate who is starring under Guardiola.

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 26, 2025

Chelsea are now going all out to sign a “stunning” winger, and they may be willing to trigger the £42m release clause in his contract, according to a report.

Blues keen to strengthen in attack

Nicolas Jackson made a flying start to the campaign, but the 23-year-old is still without a Premier League goal in 2025, having now failed to score in his last 11 matches, most recently drawing a blank in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.

The Blues’ disappointing draw against Ipswich may have significantly dented their Champions League aspirations, while also underlining the need for Enzo Maresca to strengthen his squad this summer, and new forwards are of particular interest.

Ipswich star Liam Delap is one of the main targets at striker, with the west Londoners recently opening talks over a deal for the Englishman, while they could also consider a move for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

Sky Sports: Tottenham looking to sign £38m star who wants to leave Bayern

Tottenham are in the race for a winger, who has now made it clear he wants to leave his club.

ByDominic Lund Apr 13, 2025

Not only is signing a new striker on the agenda, but there may also be a need to bring in a new winger, given that Noni Madueke has widely been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

According to a report from Spain, a new target has now entered the frame, with Chelsea going all out to sign Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez, who has a £42m release clause included in his contract with the Spanish side.

The Blues are yet to make an official bid, but they are considering stumping up the release clause to ensure they win the race for Rodriguez’s signature, amid interest from other unnamed clubs.

Betis hope to keep hold of the winger for at least one more season, but they are powerless to prevent his departure, should any of the interested parties be willing to fork out the release clause.

"Stunning" Rodriguez enjoying breakthrough season

The ongoing campaign has been a real breakthrough season for the 19-year-old, having made 24 appearances in all competitions, picking up two goals and two assists in the process.

The teenager has certainly managed to impress the Spanish media with his performances, having been lauded as “stunning” by journalist Alvaro Borrego, who adds the youngster will soon be part of the Spain national team set-up.

The Spaniard’s performances over the past year indicate he is a well-rounded winger, who is effective on the front foot, but also willing to pitch in defensively.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

0.64 (83rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

2.78 (90th percentile)

Progressive carries

4.59 (77th percentile)

Blocks

1.39 (94th percentile)

That said, while Rodriguez is showing very promising signs at such a young age, his attacking numbers are yet to justify a £42m outlay, and Chelsea should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.