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So far, this summer has been a rather frustrating one for Tottenham Hotspur.

As things stand, the only signings the club have made have been Kota Takai for around £5m and Mathys Tel, whose loan was made permanent for close to £30m.

Moreover, fans have seen several transfer targets slip through the cracks, with Antoine Semenyo agreeing a new deal with Bournemouth and Eberechi Eze now looking destined for Arsenal.

Worse yet, it is looking increasingly likely that Manchester United will be getting their hands on Bryan Mbeumo, who was heavily touted for a move to N17 following Thomas Frank’s appointment.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as Spurs are reportedly close to securing the services of someone who’d be their own version of the Brentford star.

Spurs target their own Mbeumo

With the club looking to massively improve on their dreadful 17th-placed finish in the Premier League next season, it’s hardly a surprise to see them linked with several impressive international stars, such as Xavi Simons and Ademola Lookman.

Transfer Focus

The former could cost around £60m this summer, and while that is undoubtedly a lot, he’d likely be worth it, as at just 22 years old, he amassed a haul of 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances for RB Leipzig.

Likewise, while Lookman would cost in excess of £50m, his tally of 20 goals and seven assists in 40 games for Atalanta last season suggests he’d be more than worth the outlay.

However, as talented as both players are, neither one has been compared to Mbeumo, unlike Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Spurs remain incredibly interested in the West Ham United star, despite their initial £50m offer being rejected.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have entered ‘fresh talks’ over the Irons star, and that they are now closing in on a deal, which will likely require a fee of around £65m.

It’s a transfer that would represent a significant financial investment from the club, but given Kudus’ immense ability, it’s one worth making, especially as he has been compared to Mbeumo.

How Kudus compares to Mbeumo

One of the most significant comparisons between Kudus and Mbeumo stems from FBref, which analysed players in the Premier League last season and concluded that the Brentford star was the sixth most similar forward to the Hammers ace in the competition.

The best way to understand how that conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

These include things like non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, successful take-on percentage and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty xG

0.24

0.20

Progressive Carries

3.40

3.43

Passes into the Final Third

1.60

1.66

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.52

0.50

Live Passes

29.1

30.7

Shot-Creating Actions

3.72

3.80

Successful Take-On %

44.2%

46.8%

These numbers help to show that, despite not scoring as many goals as he would have liked last season, the Ghanaian international could still have a similar attacking output to that of the Cameroonian ace.

Furthermore, away from the statistics, there are also some more straightforward similarities.

For example, both players are playing their trade for London-based teams, and they both seem destined to join another Premier League side this summer.

Finally, both players are positionally versatile, with the Bees’ star able to play off the right, up top, or as a second striker, and the former Ajax gem being capable of playing across the entire frontline, as well as in midfield.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Spurs should do all they can to complete the deal for Kudus, as he’d be an excellent addition to Frank’s squad and their own version of Mbeumo.

The dream squad Spurs could build: £283m stars sign alongside Kudus

Here’s what Spurs’ squad could look like after a dream summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025

An “unbelievable” Liverpool player is reportedly in talks over a move to a top Saudi Pro League club, amid rumours of Bernardo Silva’s transfer there collapsing.

Man City plan to recapture title from Liverpool

The Reds managed to wrestle the Premier League title away from Manchester City in 2024/25, ending their spell of dominance in the competition. It looks as though Pep Guardiola’s side will be back stronger next term, however, not only because of Rodri being fit again, but also due to some top-quality signings.

Guardiola himself has been coy about his team’s chances of challenging Liverpool again, but it could also be construed as mind games from the Spaniard.

“We are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don’t know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season. We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer.”

City look to be bringing in the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, from Wolves, AC Milan and Lyon respectively, with Liverpool’s rivals meaning serious business, snapping up talented young players and moving on some of their older stars.

Kevin De Bruyne has departed after a legendary spell at the Etihad, and there has also been talk of Silva sealing a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal, having been offered a £500,000-a-week deal in the Middle East before. The likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Jack Grealish may not have futures in the northwest, either.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)

24

Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan)

26

Rayan Cherki (Lyon)

21

Man City’s potential summer exits

Age

Ederson

31

Bernardo Silva

30

Jack Grealish

29

"Unbelievable" Liverpool ace in talks over exit

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez’s representatives are now in talks with Al-Hilal, with Bernardo’s move there about to fall through.

Nunez has been a popular figure among Liverpool fans during his time at the club, with Ally McCoist quick to praise his assist to Harvey Elliott away to Paris Saint-Germain last season.

“Unbelievable football from Darwin Nunez, because nine times out of ten he hits this. He doesn’t, he takes the right option. Watch Nunez, usually he pulls the trigger there, it looks a simple pass and it is but it’s there to hit first time, that’s the secret of it.”

Despite this, an upgrade on Nunez has to be found by Liverpool this summer, with a stunning move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak even mooted. The Uruguayan’s finishing leaves a lot to be desired, as does his general football intelligence.

With Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz looking likely to join Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield, signing an elite No.9 would make it the perfect summer window for the Reds.

Liverpool could sign £70m PL star who's England's answer to Wirtz

Liverpool could unearth England’s answer to Florian Wirtz by signing this £70m-rated star.

ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

Ultimately, Nunez’s time at Liverpool has been disappointing, and if they can receive a hefty fee from Al-Hilal, they should take the money and run.

We assess the chances of the teams in Group Three in our County Championship preview

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2021GlamorganTimm van der Gugten gets a congratulatory elbow•Getty ImagesLast season: 6th in Central Group
Director of cricket: Mark Wallace
Coach: Matt Maynard
Captain: Chris Cooke
Overseas players: Andy Balbirnie, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser
Ins: James Weighell (Durham)
Outs: Marchant de Lange (Somerset), Craig Meschede (retired), Connor Brown, Kieran Bull, Charlie Hemphrey, Owen Morgan, Graham Wagg (all released)
After narrowly missing out on promotion in 2019, Glamorgan struggled in the Bob Willis Trophy, finishing bottom of the pile without a win. Their chances of success this season will rely heavily on their two Queensland imports, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser, who will arrive three or four games into the season following the conclusion of the Sheffield Shield: Labuschagne’s 1114-run season in 2019 was the start of his rise to stardom, while the bustling Neser should be a perfect fit for early season conditions.
Andy Balbirnie will fill in for Labuschagne in the early rounds and looked in good touch against Somerset in pre-season, but Billy Root, captain Chris Cooke and the fit-again David Lloyd will have to do heavy lifting with the bat if they are to compete. Marchant de Lange’s departure to Somerset is a significant blow, while Graham Wagg has also left the club: Timm van der Gugten and Michael Hogan remain potent forces, but Lukas Carey and Dan Douthwaite will have important roles with the ball. The promising left-arm spinner Prem Sisodiya should have a chance to impress at some stage.
One to watch: Callum Taylor, 22, is the son of a former Pontypool rugby union player – who gave him the middle name “Zinzan” – and made quite an impression in the BWT. In his first-ever first-class innings, he was on 27 off 46 balls when Glamorgan slipped to 135 for 9 against Northants, and proceeded to hammer 79 from his next 48 in a rollicking stand. He bowls serviceable offspin on top of his punchy middle-order batting, and should play a major role. Matt Roller
Bet365: 66-1KentJack Leaning and Jordan Cox pose in front of the scoreboard after their record stand in 2020•Getty ImagesLast season: 2nd in South Group
Director of cricket: Paul Downton
Coach: Matt Walker
Captain: Sam Billings
Overseas players: Miguel Cummins (April-June), Heino Kuhn
Ins: Nathan Gilchrist (Somerset), Tawanda Muyeye
Outs: Sean Dickson (Durham), Calum Hagget, Ivan Thomas (both released), Adam Rouse (retired)
There’s a feeling among the Kent hierarchy that they have built good depth in their squad and now is the time to start seeing the knock-on effects of competition from within for places. “It’s exciting,” says Matt Walker. “Of course it’s what happens over the next six months that will really tell the whole story. It’s very important that we have that challenge amongst the group. In my experienced that always produces the best cricket.”
The additions of Harry Podmore and Matt Milnes in 2018 and 2019 respectively have bolstered the club’s seam stocks alongside an evergreen and ever-reliable Darren Stevens, who is about to turn 45. But it is the recruitment of West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins that could prove a masterstroke and Kent will be keen to make best use of the man who took a five-for against them for Middlesex in the Bob Willis Trophy last year for the first eight Championship games they have him for.
Zak Crawley and Sam Billings will surely miss chunks of the season on England and IPL duty. Their absence should, in theory, be covered by the likes of new vice-captain Daniel Bell Drummond, who enjoyed a strong pre-season and will be captain when Billings is at the IPL, and Joe Denly, whose time with England last summer proved fruitless. Jack Leaning, who joined from Yorkshire last year, and youngster Jordan Cox have also proven themselves more than handy with the bat.
One to watch: Jordan Cox’s 238 not out in an unbroken stand worth 423 with Leaning handed Kent an innings victory over Sussex last August and announced the then 19-year-old Cox as an exciting prospect. If he can kick on this season, it can only mean good things for Kent’s quest for silverware. Valkerie Baynes
Bet365: 10-1LancashireGeorge Balderson was one of a number of young players to come through at Lancashire in 2020•Getty ImagesRelated

Bell-Drummond has much left to achieve after decade at Kent

Parnell to miss Northants opener after quarantine extended

Head, Handscomb turn thoughts to England

Last season (BWT): 3rd in South Group
Director of cricket: Paul Allott
Coach: Glen Chapple
Captain: Dane Vilas
Overseas: Dane Vilas, Jackson Bird
Ins: Luke Wells (Sussex), Jack Blatherwick (Nottinghamshire)
Outs: Brooke Guest (Derbyshire), Toby Lester, Stephen Parry (both released), Graham Onions (retired)
A decade has passed since Lancashire enjoyed Championship catharsis under the captain-coach combination of Glen Chapple and Peter Moores. Since that much-feted title, the club has arguably been better run off the field than on it: three times they have had to bounce back from Division One relegation – most recently, in 2019, when Dane Vilas led the team through an unbeaten promotion campaign in his first season in charge.
Chapple is now head coach, and in 2020 the BWT was all about blooding local talent. Teenage allrounder George Balderson played all five games, while five other players between 19 and 22 made promising debuts; Josh Bohannon and Danny Lamb, in the side for a few years, continued to make strides. And although Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone will miss the first chunk of the season at the IPL, there is core group of established pedigree at Old Trafford – including Vilas, sometime England opener Keaton Jennings, wicketkeeper Alex Davies, former captain Steven Croft, workhorse seamer Tom Bailey and Australia international Jackson Bird (from round three) – to propel a strong Championship challenge. Not to mention Matt Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood, young men champing at the bit after winters spent mulling non-selection by England.
James Anderson is set to miss the opening two rounds as England manage his workload and his availability could make the difference when it comes to pushing for top two – Anderson took 30 wickets at 9.36 in 2019, setting the club up for runaway success. Group Three contains four teams who competed in Division Two two years ago, and Lancashire play six of their first eight games against such opposition.
One to watch: After the departure of the long-serving Stephen Parry, Lancashire have not one but two greenhorn slow left-arm spinners coming through to replace him in Tom Hartley and Jack Morley. Hartley, 22, is the senior man, tall and slender and a feature of both the BWT and Blast sides last year; the pair memorably bowled Lancashire to victory on the final day against Derbyshire at Aigburth.Alan Gardner
Bet365: 9-1NorthamptonshireCharlie Thurston was the find of the season for Northants last summer•Getty ImagesLast season (BWT): 4th in Central Group
Coach: David Ripley
Captain: Adam Rossington
Overseas: Wayne Parnell
Ins: Tom Taylor (Leicestershire)
Outs: Brett Hutton (Nottinghamshire), Rob Newton, Blessing Muzarabani, Tom Sole (all released)
Whether Northants, likes Gloucestershire, will ever get to enjoy the fruits of their promotion to Division One in 2019, after long years stuck in the second tier, remains up for debate. But in what looks a relatively open group, they will once again be aiming to perform above expectations. The departure of Brett Hutton, who re-joined Nottinghamshire after three impressive seasons at Wantage Road, could weaken the attack at Adam Rossington’s disposal, but Ben Sanderson remains a formidable force with the red ball in hand and Wayne Parnell may prove a shrewd overseas recruit – albeit he will miss the start of the season while in quarantine.
The Bob Willis Trophy allowed the introduction of some younger faces, with Charlie Thurston taking his chance to finish as Northants’ leading run-scorer – 357 at 44.62 – and 20-year-old Emilio Gay emerging as a promising top-order option. Ben Curran and Ricardo Vasconcelos look set to start as the opening pair, with Alex Wakely, in his first full campaign since stepping down as captain during 2019, the senior man in a young batting line-up. Tom Taylor, an allrounder with England Lions potential, looks a good signing from Leicestershire, and Gareth Berg is still going strong at 40. The BWT also saw Simon Kerrigan make his comeback after a three-year career hiatus, and the one-cap England spinner could be another feel-good Northants story in the offing.
One to watch: Jack White, a 29-year-old seamer from Cumbria, made his first-class debut last summer and claimed an impressive 13 wickets at 20.00 from four games. Plucked from the club scene in the North West, he is looking to follow in the footsteps of Sanderson and Richard Gleeson as late-blooming talents who proved their worth at first-class level with Northamptonshire. AG
Bet365: 33-1SussexJames Kirtley and Ian Salisbury will split head-coaching responsibilities at Sussex•Sussex County Cricket ClubLast season: 6th in South Group
Director of cricket: Keith Greenfield
Coach: Ian Salisbury
Captain: Ben Brown
Overseas players: Travis Head (Australia – end of April onwards), Stiaan van Zyl (South Africa – full season)
Ins:
Outs: Laurie Evans (Surrey), Danny Briggs (Warwickshire), Luke Wells (Lancashire), Harry Finch, Will Sheffield (both released)
Under new management with Ian Salisbury taking over from Jason Gillespie in the first-class and one-day formats (James Kirtley will be T20 coach), Sussex will be looking to overcome a disappointing couple of years, having narrowly missed out on promotion in 2018 then dropping to sixth in Division two in 2019.
There is a sense that the club is still building towards bigger things, highlighted by the hook for their membership drive: “A New Beginning”. A maiden first-class five-for to left-arm seamer George Garton against Essex last year showed off his promise and he has enjoyed a good pre-season with 3 for 35 and an unbeaten 33 in a friendly against Surrey. Jack Carson, the 20-year-old Irish offspinner and teenage paceman Henry Crocombe were also among the wickets in that drawn match.
Both pre-season friendlies – Sussex also drew at Hampshire – had to be moved after a bug infestation damaged the outfield at Hove. As a result, their opening fixture against Lancashire has also been switched, to Old Trafford. Experienced captain Ben Brown scored heavily in pre-season, as did 22-year-old Tom Haines, who notched a century at Surrey and 72 against Hampshire.
One to watch: With a Test squad place beckoning, Ollie Robinson is focused on taking that next step. With proven wicket-taking ability, amassing 137 wickets across 2018 and 2019 plus another 14 at 12.50 in the Bob Willis Trophy, he’ll also benefit from having spent months training with England’s squads over the past year. VB
Bet365: 12-1YorkshireYorkshire’s Jordan Thompson in his delivery stride•Getty ImagesLast season: 1st, North Group
Director of Cricket: Martyn Moxon
Coach:Andrew Gale
Captain:Steve Patterson
Overseas players:Duanne Olivier, Mathew Pillans
Ins:Dom Bess (Somerset)
Outs: Ed Barnes (Leicestershire), Jared Warner (Gloucestershire), James Logan (released)
Yorkshire topped their group last season, only to be the group winner that missed out to Essex and Somerset for a place in the final. Their chief executive Mark Arthur consoled members at the Zoom annual general meeting by pronouncing that Yorkshire’s squad was the strongest he had known in nearly a decade in the job.
That is tantamount to predicting a Championship win and to get that they initially have to finish in the top two of the opening group without Dawid Malan, who will miss eight matches because of an IPL deal. Joe Root’s presence in the early games will be cheering, but of longer-term significance will be whether Gary Ballance can score heavily after missing 2020 with a stress-related illness. If not, expectations will fall to a large degree on Harry Brook.
The two overseas players are post-Brexit oddities: Duanne Olivier, a one-time Kolpak, carries hostility, but Mathew Pillans’ presence as an overseas player now his ancestral visa is disqualified is a mere convenience. Dom Bess brings spin-bowling quality assuming he puts his India ups and downs behind him and he will aim to get the weight of runs once provided by Tim Bresnan. If three bowling allrounders – Jordan Thompson, Matthew Waite and Matthew Fisher – kick on then spearheads Ben Coad and David Willey should not be short of support.
One to watch: Jordan Thompson, a seam bowling allrounder, made a strong impression in the BWT, averaging 47 with the bat and 16 with the ball, and now has to try to carry such impressive figures forward as the Championship heads back towards normality. David Hopps
Bet365: 7-1

Chennai Super Kings – poor with the bat in the Powerplay, at their best with the ball in the middle overs

Dustin Silgardo26-Apr-20193:28

Agarkar: Real worries for CSK if Raina, Rayudu don’t fire

Super Kings may be top of the points table, but they have been the poorest performers with the bat in the Powerplay through the ongoing IPL season.Counting the four lost against Mumbai, they have lost 24 wickets in 12 games within the first six overs, giving them an average of 19.20, more than seven runs worse than the next poorest team, Kolkata Knight Riders.Every other team apart from those two average 40 or more in the Powerplay – Sunrisers Hyderabad, the best in that phase of the game, average 108.8, and even Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, languishing at the bottom of the table, have averaged 41 and 46.75 respectively.That’s a function of the wickets lost, but Super Kings have also scored slowly early on, going at just 6.40 in the first six. The next slowest Powerplay run rate is Knight Riders’ 7.71, while Sunrisers, again, are on top with 9.06.ESPNcricinfo LtdFive times now, Super Kings have lost three or more wickets in the Powerplay. On two occasions earlier in the tournament, they were able to recover thanks to half-centuries by MS Dhoni in the middle order. Against Royal Challengers, Dhoni almost pulled off a heist – Super Kings were 32 for 4 after the Powerplay – but fell one run short.They have 16 points and are on top of the table, which means they have gotten out of jail despite poor starts more often than not. On Friday, they didn’t. Did it have to do with a certain MS Dhoni being absent?Mitchell Santner turns up trumpsMitchell Santner had played only three out of 11 games for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019 before taking the field against Mumbai Indians at home on Friday, but that was entirely due to team dynamics, and not a reflection on Santner’s abilities.With Ravindra Jadeja in the XI and a restriction on overseas players, Santner was forced to sit on the bench. When he did play, he ended up making a big impact. With Jadeja indisposed, he was drafted into the XI, and showed just how good he could be on a helpful Chepauk pitch, where the ball gripped and turned beautifully.ESPNcricinfo LtdStephen Fleming sure rates the left-arm spinner highly, and it’s chiefly because of his restricting lines and lengths that Santner has been so successful – he had the best economy rate (6.88) among bowlers who had bowled at least 15 overs in the 2018-19 Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic 20-over competition. Much of that was played on pitches not ideal for spinners. Chepauk, well, is usually ideal for spinners, and on Friday night it certainly was. Santner joked after the Mumbai innings: “Wickets in NZ are more like the outfield here…”Lines, and more importantly, lengths. Of his 24 deliveries – he finished with 4-0-13-2 – he pitched 14 on a length, six closer to the batsmen, three short of good-length and bowled just one full toss. Most of them were on or around off-stump and turned away beating the right-handers’ edge beautifully. It made for stunning viewing and might have helped Santner, who won Super Kings a game with a last-ball six earlier in the tournament, bargain for a more regular spot going forward.Mitchell Santner pumps his fist after getting a wicket•BCCISuper Kings underscore their middle-overs supremacy with the ballPart of it has to do with playing a large chunk of their games this IPL on low-scoring pitches in Chennai, but Super Kings – back on their patch against Mumbai – showed, again, how well they apply the choke in the middle overs.They have been the most miserly in the middle overs this season, giving up runs at only 6.73 per over. Sunrisers Hyderabad, with 7.37, have the second-best numbers, showing just how good Super Kings have been.Santner was the best on view, of course, and Tahir and Harbhajan went for a few soon after the Powerplay ended, but Dwayne Bravo was excellent in overs 10 and 12, conceding just 12 runs, meaning Mumbai went from 45 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay to 121 for 3 when the 17th over started.

Arsenal have many items on the agenda this summer as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to back Mikel Arteta with new signings, and one of their key aims is to bring in multiple attacking players.

Arsenal targeting new winger and striker this summer

The transfer window is officially open for business, at least until June 10, with a short break then following before it reopens on June 16 right the way through till September 1.

Arsenal U-turn over signing "powerful" player who "was on the verge" of joining

They’ve now pulled out of the deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 3, 2025

This current mini-window was introduced to allow sides competing in the Club World Cup to register new players before the tournament kicks off, but it applies to all Premier League sides, including Arsenal.

Arsenal are expected to complete a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a medical scheduled for the Spain international (BBC), so there is every chance that they could officially sign him before June 10, considering how advanced that deal is.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

After Zubimendi, much has been made of the Gunners’ pursuit of a top striker, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko both top of Arsenal’s list of striker targets.

Supporters are especially keen for Berta to acquire a prolific goalscorer – which has long been viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw – following a campaign where they struggled to score many compared to their previous standards.

However, a number nine isn’t the sole focus going forward.

Bukayo Saka’s injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 brought attention to Arsenal’s need for an alternative on the right-hand side, while there are some questions about the long-term future of Leandro Trossard, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

Interestingly, Berta could turn to one of Arteta’s former stars at Man City – £242,000-per-week Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane.

Arsenal are reliably believed to hold a genuine interest in Sane with his Bayern contract just weeks away from expiring as things stand. The German also recently employed super-agent Pini Zahavi to assist in new contract talks, or find him a new club if needs be.

Arsenal open talks with Leroy Sane's camp over joining

Now, as per Bayern Munich insider Christian Falk, it is believed Arsenal have “started talks” with Zahavi over signing Sane.

The 29-year-old, who bagged 13 goals and six assists in total for Vincent Kompany last season, playing more of a key role towards the back end of 2024/2025, is tempted by the prospect of a move to London.

His family reside in the English capital, so a permanent switch there is appealing to him, with Falk adding that Tottenham are likely to battle with Arsenal for Sane’s services as well.

Sane’s top-level experience, and the fact he could be obtained for no transfer fee, make him a very enticing potential signing for Arsenal.

However, Sane wants a £192,000-per-week base salary, on top of £2.5 million in bonuses and a signing-on fee (Sky and Sport Bild). These were his most recently rumoured demands to stay in Bavaria, so he’ll likely request similar numbers to join Arsenal.

Switzerland training has been cancelled ahead of their Euro 2025 quarter-final against Spain after ilness spread through the squad.

Switzerland cancel training Alisha Lehmann and Co told 30 minutes priorFace Spain on FridayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per Blick, Swiss training was cancelled just 30 minutes before the players were due to begin, as a cold spreads through the camp. Multiple players are reported to have suffered symptoms, and the host nation of Euro 2025 thus decided to cancel their session on Tuesday.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Alisha Lehmann and Co face Spain on Friday in their quarter-final, but their preparations have now been disrupted. Julia Stierli and Coumba Sow are both reported to be under the weather and the squad have been given the day off for recovery and recuperation.

DID YOU KNOW?

Switzerland came through the group stages in dramatic fashion, as Riola Xhemaili's injury-time equaliser sealed qualification against Finland. They have only played at two European Championships previously, in 2017 and 2022, being eliminated at the group stages on both occasions.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Switzerland play Spain on Friday as they attempt to reach the semi-finals. Spain, of course, are ranked as the second-best international team in the world by FIFA.

West Ham United have now made contact over a deal to sign a “world-class” midfielder, and his club could be willing to sanction a departure in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

West Ham's summer transfer plans taking shape

The summer is edging ever closer, which presents Graham Potter with his first real opportunity to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from Julen Lopetegui, having arrived at the London Stadium in the middle of the January transfer window.

It has been a poor season by the Hammers’ recent standards, with Potter’s side languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table, which means the manager could oversee a mass exodus of first-team players.

As many as ten players could be moved on this summer, including Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, and Michail Antonio, with the manager clearly planning a serious rebuild.

Offer made: West Ham leading race to sign 27 y/o star compared to Emerson

The Irons are in pole position.

By
Charlie Smith

Apr 10, 2025

It seems likely the Irons will need to bring in a new striker, given that Antonio and Fullkrug could be moved on, with both forwards now in their twilight years, while Rodriguez’s departure could pave the way for the arrival of a new defensive midfielder.

According to a report from The Boot Room, West Ham have now made contact over a deal for Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, who could be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena this summer, having endured a difficult debut campaign in Germany due to injuries and illness.

Fulham have also made an approach for their former midfielder, who joined Bayern in a £42m deal last summer, so there could be competition for his signature this summer.

Palhinha intends to stay and fight for his place at Bayern, so it remains to be seen whether a transfer is possible this summer, but should he become available, it appears as though the Hammers could look at taking him to the London Stadium.

"World-class" Palhinha could be fantastic Hammers signing

The central midfielder’s move to Bayern hasn’t panned out how he would’ve liked up to this point, but he is clearly a very talented player, having already proven himself in the Premier League with Fulham.

During his time with the Cottagers, the Portugal international was lauded as “world-class” by reporter Dom Smith, and he has continued to impress from a defensive point of view since completing a move to the Bundesliga.

The 29-year-old ranks highly across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably impressing with his tackling ability.

Statistic	Average per 90
Tackles	4.08 (99th percentile)
Blocks	1.70 (89th percentile)
Aerials won	1.84 (89th percentile)
Pass completion %	89.4% (90th percentile)

Palhinha could be a fantastic signing for West Ham, given that he has already proven himself in the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, given the midfielder’s commitment to making things work at Bayern Munich.

MatériaMais Notícias

da imperador bet： Autor do ‘pênalti’ que gerou o gol de empate em 1 a 1 do Corinthians e motivou as reclamações do São Paulo sobre a arbitragem do carioca Bruno Arleu de Araújo no clássico deste domingo (14), em Itaquera, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o lateral-direito Rafinha foi mais a endossar o coro tricolor contra o homem do apito nos vestiários. O jogador relembrou também a expulsão de Nestor no empate sem gols com o Fortaleza, durante o meio de semana. Confira:

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After what has felt like a lifetime, the international break is finally over and Arsenal are back to winning ways.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to the high-flying Fulham in a Premier League game that’s unlikely to impact the title race but offered the home side a chance to make right their draw at Craven Cottage earlier in the campaign. Fortunately, they did just that, winning the game 2-1.

With a season-defining game against Real Madrid in the Champions League next week, Tuesday evening’s game offered the squad the chance to build positive momentum.

However, to ensure his side are in the best shape possible for that, Arteta might need to make a few changes, such as dropping Mikel Merino.

Arteta's unorthodox options

Before we get to the change up top that we think Arteta should be making, it’s worth examining some of the other potential, if a little unlikely, changes he could make, like throwing the returning Bukayo Saka in from the start.

The Hale Ender has been out of action since late December, but he announced his return to first-team training with a social media post last week. Then, on Monday morning, the manager revealed he was back in contention for Fulham, saying, “Bukayo is ready to go.”

Having the 23-year-old available again is a massive game-changer for the Gunners, as despite not playing for almost four months now, he remains the club’s most productive player this season, with 23 goal involvements in just 24 games.

However, his importance is also why he didn’t start against Fulham and may not even start against Everton at the weekend as losing him again, even for a short spell, would make the club’s chances of progressing in the Champions League far smaller.

Likewise, while there have been some calls to start fellow Hale Ender, Ethan Nwaneri, down the middle in recent weeks, it would probably be best to avoid doing so.

The 18-year-old has played there at youth level and was even touted to eventually move there by the manager, but seven of his eight goals and his only assist have come from him playing off the right or in the middle of the park, and as the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Moreover, there is another player Arteta should look to start down the middle in place of Merino.

The Arsenal star who should start over Merino

So, the first thing to say is that while Merino hasn’t been Arsenal’s answer over the last few weeks, he hasn’t been too bad, considering he’s a central midfielder being asked to play up top.

However, while his overall haul of five goals and one assist in seven appearances as a striker is quite impressive, the reality is that those goal involvements all came in four vgames.

Then, against West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, he failed to score or assist, making it clear that Arteta needs to replace him with a recognised attacker tonight.

The best candidate for this, from the players available, is undoubtedly Leandro Trossard.

Now, while the £27m Belgian has been a little inconsistent at times this season, he’s proven himself to be deadly in the penalty area over the last couple of years, and if Ian Wright thinks he’s “clinical” and the “best finisher” in the squad, then he must be doing something right.

For example, since joining the club in January 2023, the “sensational” attacker, as dubbed by Arsenal podcaster Adam Keys, has scored 24 goals and provided 20 assists in 112 appearances, totalling 5999 minutes.

That means the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has averaged a goal involvement every 2.55 games, or every 136.34 minutes at the club.

Furthermore, the 30-year-old “wizard,” as dubbed by journalist Charlie Haffenden, has already played up top for the Gunners, racking up a haul of four goals and eight assists in 15 games, totalling 866 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.25 appearances, or every 72.16 minutes.

Finally, starting the Waterschei-born dynamo down the middle means that Gabriel Martinelli can start in his strongest position off the left, and Nwaneri can start off the right, before Saka comes on late to get some minutes under his belt, therefore making the whole frontline far more intimidating for their opponents.

Trossard’s Arsenal record at CF
Appearances	15
Starts	11
Minutes	866′
Goals	4
Assists	8
Goal Involvements per Match	0.80
Minutes per Goal Involvement	72.16′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, with a big couple of weeks coming up, Arteta needs to make sure his side are in the best shape possible to ensure they can end the season with a bang, and one of the ways to ensure that happens, is starting Trossard in place of Merino.

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da premier bet： One of Aston Villa’s standout players could still be on the move this summer, despite both the club and the player reportedly being “happy” with the current situation, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Villa thump Magpies to boost Champions League hopes

da marjack bet： Aston Villa kept their Champions League hopes alive in emphatic fashion over the weekend with a dominant 4-1 win over high-flying Newcastle United at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen, and Amadou Onana all found the net for Unai Emery’s side, while Magpies defender Dan Burn added to their tally with an own goal.

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The result moved Villa within just two points of Newcastle. They’re also now just one point behind Manchester City and level with Chelsea, making the race for a top-four finish incredibly tight with only a handful of games remaining.

Next up is a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to face City on Tuesday, a fixture that could prove decisive in the push for Champions League qualification. Speaking after the weekend’s win, Emery stressed the importance of maintaining momentum.

“We can’t stop. We are involved in the key moment of the season. Through the Premier League, we are trying to reach our first objective,” he said.

On Watkins – whose goal drew him level with Gabriel Agbonlahor as Villa’s all-time top Premier League scorer – Emery added: “I’m so happy with how he’s performing and progressing under our management. His individual goal is important—for him, for us, for the club, and for our overall development. Hopefully, we can keep helping him to achieve more and more.”

Watkins could leave Villa Park this summer

While Unai Emery is clearly thrilled with Watkins—who has scored 15 Premier League goals this season—his future at Villa Park isn’t entirely secure. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Watkins could still leave the club this summer if the right offer arrives. Writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano noted that both Villa and the player are happy with the current situation, but didn’t rule out a move.

“They’re happy with Watkins and he’s happy at the club,” Romano wrote. “Then if a proposal comes, never say never – as it was the case in January.”

Watkins was reportedly the subject of a £40 million bid from Arsenal during the winter transfer window, though Villa ultimately chose to reject the offer.

Having already seen Jhon Durán depart for the Saudi Pro League in January, losing Watkins this summer would represent a major blow for Aston Villa – particularly if they’re unable to secure the permanent signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.

That said, Villa have shown a knack in recent seasons for replacing outgoing talent with even stronger additions, so it wouldn’t be wise to bet against them pulling off something similar again if Watkins does move on.