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It has been a long time since the mood around Arsenal has been so jubilant.

Amazingly, it was the complete opposite just a couple of days ago, with fans having to deal with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur closing in on Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz suffering another potentially significant injury.

Fortunately, everything changed on Wednesday evening when reports broke of the club going back in and hijacking the move for the Crystal Palace star.

With a ‘here we go’ from Fabrizio Romano and news of him completing his medical yesterday, the Gunners have finally got their hands on the potentially game-changing number ten they’ve needed for so long.

Yet, if Arsenal want to really get the most out of Eze and help him reach or surpass the numbers Liverpool’s new ten, Florian Wirtz, put up last season, they should be going in for another international they’ve been linked with this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Arsenal signed Eze

One of the primary reasons Arsenal decided to splash the cash on Eze this summer is undoubtedly his output of the last few years.

For example, across the 23/24 and 24/25 seasons, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, was able to score 25 goals and provide 17 assists in 79 appearances, totalling 5588 minutes.

In other words, the former QPR gem maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 133.04 minutes for a mid-table side.

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

The second significant reason the North Londoners went all out for the Greenwich-born superstar is the fact that he can play as a ten and out on the left.

These were two of the most significant problem areas for the team last season, as Martin Odegaard was miles off his creative best and neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard were able to offer enough threat out wide.

Finally, while it will take some time for the 5 foot 10 dynamo to familiarise himself with Arsenal’s style of player and Arteta’s tactical ideas, he’s Premier League-proven.

Therefore, it shouldn’t take anywhere near as long as some of the Gunners’ other signings to get up to speed.

However, while Eze looks like he could be a game-changing addition to the North Londoners’ squad, they could potentially get even more out of him and help him hit the numbers of Wirtz last season by signing another international star they’ve been linked with: Ademola Lookman.

Why Lookman can help Eze hit Wirtz numbers

Given their attacking problems last season, it’s hardly been a surprise to see the sheer number of offensive players Arsenal have been linked with this summer.

One of the most exciting and intriguing of those has been Lookman, who could be available for around £43m after his move to Inter Milan fell through, and he could help Eze hit the incredible numbers Wirtz did last season: 31 goal involvements in 45 games.

The first reason we think this is that the Nigerian international is a lean, mean output machine.

Appearances

33

45

40

Minutes

1858′

2809′

2871′

Goals

15

17

20

Assists

8

10

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

0.60

0.67

Minutes per Goal Involvement

80.78′

104.03′

106.33

Since moving to the Serie A side in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored a brilliant 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.

That means the 5 foot 9 monster has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes on the continent.

Just imagine the sort of numbers the former Everton man would put up in this Arsenal side, and then the goals and assists the Palace ace could chalk up playing alongside him.

Moreover, there would be plenty of opportunities for the two to play together, as even though the Wandsworth-born game-changer spent much of last season up top, he is just as comfortable playing on either wing, as a second striker, or even in midfield.

This ability to cover practically every area of the attack also means that he could cover for the FA Cup winner when needed, ensuring he isn’t overplayed and is always near his best.

Ultimately, Eze is an excellent signing in his own right, but were Arsenal to also bring in Lookman this summer, he could help the Englishman hit the sort of numbers Wirtz did for Bayer Leverkusen last year.

Palace's "unusual" Eze demand sparked Tottenham fear before Arsenal hijack

The England international has agreed to re-join his boyhood club.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 22, 2025

Newcastle United’s summer business has so far been defined more by frustration than fulfilment.

Despite a flurry of early talks and promising leads, the club has seen a number of potential deals fall through, including the pursuits of Bryan Mbeumo, João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike.

With pre-season now well underway, and Alexander Isak having withdrawn from the club’s tour of Singapore and South Korea, Newcastle’s recruitment team finds itself under increasing pressure to deliver.

The club’s reluctance to sell Isak remains firm.

While interest from Liverpool is expected, particularly in light of Luis Díaz’s £65.5m move to Bayern, Newcastle have no intention of entertaining offers unless a suitable replacement is found.

Internal sources continue to stress that there is a realistic scenario in which Isak stays, returns to training, and features in the opening weeks of the Premier League season.

Newcastle's Wissa and Sesko alternative

Contingency planning are now in full swing. Benjamin Šeško remains on the radar, and talks are active.

However, club insiders have suggested that another name has quietly moved to the top of the shortlist.

According to The i Paper, Newcastle have made initial contact over a move for the Chelsea and Senegal forward, Nicolas Jackson.

Jackson is seen as a stylistic alternative to Yoane Wissa, who had emerged as the club’s preferred replacement for Callum Wilson before complications arose.

Wissa, who has spent the last four seasons with Brentford, is currently refusing to train in an attempt to push through a move.

Brentford, though, are holding firm on their £50m valuation – justifiable, perhaps, given Wissa’s level of output last season.

Only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League, and Wissa finished the campaign with 20 goals and four assists across 3,072 minutes of football.

How Jackson compares to Wissa and Isak

However, Brentford’s stance has led Newcastle to explore different options. That search has led to Jackson, a player Chelsea value at £80m.

Newcastle would be prepared to pay closer to £65m, according to the i, roughly the same amount as Hugo Ekitike before Liverpool hijacked the deal.

Jackson’s season at Chelsea has drawn mixed reviews, but those close to the player, like former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel, see enormous potential.

“It’s amazing to see that Nicolas Jackson is taking what I say on board and improving. People were telling me I’ve created a monster of a striker and that’s exactly what I want.”

Well, using data via FBref, Jackson stands out as one of the closest statistical matches in Europe to both Isak and Wissa.

The trio share a remarkably similar output when it comes to progressive attacking actions, shooting efficiency and off-ball contributions.

Goal Contributions (2024/25)

Alexander Isak

29 (23 goals, 6 assists)

Yoane Wissa

23 (19 goals, 4 assists)

Nicolas Jackson

15 (10 goals, 5 assists)

Source: FBref

Last season, Jackson averaged more shots on target per 90 (1.38) than both Wissa (1.27) and Isak (1.34), and his shot-on-target rate (44.7%) placed him between the pair.

He also contributed 2.80 shot-creating actions per 90, slightly below Isak (3.01) but ahead of Wissa (2.13), while posting a solid pass completion rate of 75.9%.

In terms of ball progression, Jackson registered 1.90 progressive carries per 90, again narrowly beating Wissa (1.85) but trailing Isak (2.71).

The one area where he clearly lags is in build-up play: his progressive passing distance was just 35.8 yards per 90, compared to Wissa’s 49.9 and Isak’s 53.7.

Still only 23, he has the tools, and time, to grow into a more complete forward. In contrast to Wissa who turns 29 in September, well outside Newcastle’s preferred recruitment age profile of 24 and under.

Wissa will likely miss a significant stretch of the 2025–26 season due to AFCON. Discipline, however, remains a question mark.

Jackson picked up two high-profile red cards last season, once against Newcastle and once at the Club World Cup against Flamengo, both the result of needless petulance.

It’s a habit that would need to be ironed out under Howe’s structured and emotionally balanced setup.

What makes Jackson such a compelling fit though, is his physical profile. Like Isak, he’s quick across the turf, capable of stretching defensive lines and linking midfield with sharp, short touches. Like Wissa, he thrives on chaos, creating danger through movement and improvisation more than structured playmaking.

There are clear echoes of what Newcastle had hoped to gain from Wissa, and what they currently risk losing in Isak.

Jackson, in many ways, offers a synthesis of both: the explosiveness, unpredictability and penalty-box threat of Wissa, fused with Isak’s finesse and movement.

For a club that is beginning to gear up its squad for both the present and future, without the cushion of Champions League income, the Blues attacker could represent not just a stopgap, but a long-term pillar.

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Posts ByWill Miller Jul 28, 2025

Liverpool would “without a doubt” look to replace Luis Diaz with “world-class” trophy-laden player this summer, according to an exciting new update.

The latest on Diaz's Liverpool future

The future of Diaz continues to be a big talking point at Anfield this summer, with the Colombian pushing for a move away, amid strong interest from Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga champions have already seen a bid rejected, but it looks as though they will return with an improved offer for the 28-year-old, especially after Jamal Musiala suffered a broken ankle at the Club World Cup, and the fact that they were beaten by Liverpool to the signing of Florian Wirtz.

Reds supporters are split over the idea of Diaz departing this summer, with some feeling he is a vital player, having scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, helping Arne Slot’s side win the Premier League title.

Others believe the winger isn’t a truly elite attacker, however, and given his age, they would be happy to see Liverpool cash in on him, signing a superior option in the process.

Liverpool backed to sign "world-class" superstar

According to a new update from L’Equipe [via Get French Football News], Liverpool will “without a doubt” look to sign Rodrygo if Diaz goes this summer.

The 24-year-old has been mentioned as an option for the Reds plenty of times in recent weeks, with the Brazilian potentially looking to leave Real Madrid, having not been a key part of new manager Xabi Alonso’s plans during the Club World Cup.

The idea of Rodrygo in a Liverpool shirt is a mouthwatering prospect, given his reputation as one of the best wide forwards in European football.

Related Their own Zubimendi: Liverpool favourites to sign "generational" £100m CM

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Posts 1 ByMatt Dawson Jul 21, 2025

He has excelled for Madrid, even if he hasn’t always made as many headlines as the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, being hailed as “world-class” by Luka Modric and earning praise from Carlo Ancelotti.

Rodrygo is four years younger than Diaz, and simply a better player, as a tally of 119 goal contributions in 270 appearances highlights, so signing the former to replace the latter could be inspired business by Liverpool, with the Brazil star having the potential to become an icon on Merseyside.

امتدح بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي، لاعبي فريقه وعلى وجه التحديد إيرلينج هالاند وفيل فودين والحارس جيانلويجي دوناروما، بعد الفوز أمام مانشستر يونايتد.

وتغلب مانشستر سيتي على مانشستر يونايتد بثلاثية دون رد، وسجل له إيرلينج هالاند (هدفين)، وفيل فودين، ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وفي تصريحاته لـ “سكاي سبورتس”، قال جوارديولا عن استعادة الثقة: “لقد غيّرنا الكثير في سوق الانتقالات هذا، حيث أضفنا تسعة لاعبين، هم جوهر الفريق، من المستحيل أن نتوقع منهم تحقيق كل ما حققناه سابقًا (باعتبارهم لاعبين جدد)”.

وأضاف: “الروح المعنوية ولغة الجسد والقتال معًا ورؤية الوجوه في الملعب، إنه لشرف لي أن أساهم في إدخال الفرحة ولحظات السعادة إلى قلوب اللاعبين، لأنني أدرك أهمية مباراة الديربي”.

واستطرد: “إنها مجرد مباراة واحدة، قدمنا ​​الكثير من الأشياء الجيدة ضد توتنهام، اليوم، كان الأمر مهمًا للغاية، كان اللاعبون في غاية العدوانية، كان الجميع أشبه بآلة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | فودين: من المستحيل ألا تسمتع للانتقادات.. وهالاند متكامل

وواصل: “سنواجه نابولي يوم الخميس، وعلينا أن نتفاعل وأن نكون أقل سذاجة، في الموسم الماضي وهذا الموسم، كنا سيئين للغاية في هذا الجانب، لكن الروح المعنوية موجودة والقادة رائعون”.

وعن مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، إيرلينج هالاند، أكد جوارديولا: “كان هالاند مذهلاً منذ البداية، لكن هذا الموسم هو أفضل من أي وقت مضى، بل أقول إنه أفضل من موسم الثلاثية، إنه لاعب ديناميكي، ولا أحكم عليه بناءً على تشتيته للكرة، بل نريده أن يسجل الأهداف ويساعدنا”.

وعن فيل فودين، أفاد: “افتقدناه كثيرًا، وفي الموسم الذي سبقه كان أفضل لاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لذا نحن بحاجة إليه، فهو يتمتع بأخلاقيات عمل عالية، فودين هو جوهر النادي، قلبه النابض، من أكاديمية النادي، وهو يعشق مانشستر سيتي، عودته خبر سار”.

وأردف: “هل تعلمون لماذا أنا مدرب جيد؟ لأن لديّ لاعبين رائعين يقدمون أفضل ما لديهم، نحن بحاجة إلى أفضل ما لدينا، اليوم رأينا، وأبدعنا، ويجب أن يستمر ذلك”.

وأتم جوارديولا تصريحاته بالحديث عن حارس مرماه جيانلويجي دوناروما: “بالطبع، لقد تصدى بشكل رائع، ونحن سعداء جدًا بالطريقة التي لعب بها”.

Everton fans still have around two months to wait until they’re able to watch their beloved Toffees play at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium in the Premier League.

Brighton and Hove Albion will be the first tricky visitors standing in the way of David Moyes and Co. on that memorable afternoon, with August also seeing the Merseyside outfit travel to Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in search of some early-season results.

Moyes will hope he’s backed in the transfer window ahead of his side moving into their new home for good, with one transfer target now on the agenda that could boost the Scotsman’s numbers in the midfield department.

Everton in contact to sign £13m star

The Toffees are yet to bring in any new faces this summer but with the window now in full swing, TFG must press on and strengthen ahead of their first game at their new home.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, as per a report by Turkish outlet Sabah, Everton has now initiated contact with ex-Manchester United midfielder Fred’s agent over a potential summer deal.

The report does state that the Brazilian is well-liked by his current Fenerbahce boss in Jose Mourinho, but Everton remain keen.

However, the high reported price tag of £13m might well put off TFG, with the Turkish giants actually purchasing Fred for a far more modest £7.7m after his bumpy Old Trafford stay had finished.

How Fred can be Everton's next Doucoure

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the South American when situated in the red half of Manchester, but if Everton were successful in their advances, they could be about to win an ideal replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, with the long-standing Toffees servant no longer on the books of Moyes’ men after his contract expired.

It was a sad severing of the ties when Doucoure was officially announced to be departing Merseyside, considering the Malian had scored many a vital strike from the midfield areas across his 166 games, with that goal against Bournemouth definitely the most important one of his 21-goal collection in pushing Everton away from the perilous drop.

But, with his wage coming in at a hefty £130k-per-week as per Capology, it might well have been deemed a necessary alteration to make, with slightly cheaper alternatives on the table in Fred, who earns a lesser £113k-per-week pay packet himself.

Moreover, whilst Doucoure had enamoured Everton fans with his entertaining displays from the center of the park, Fred can offer that same goalscoring ability in abundance, with 14 goals and 19 assists collected for the Red Devils, away from his promising output of five goals and six assists in 2024/25 for Mourinho’s titans.

Erik ten Hag would even go out of his way to label the 32-time Brazil international as “magnificent” when the pair were together at the Theatre of Dreams, with Fred no doubt also hungry to return to the English game to prove a point, having become a scapegoat during tough recent times at United.

CM

296

29

34

DM

99

5

13

AM

31

4

4

RM

22

4

5

LM

4

1

2

LB

1

0

0

To sum up his woes in Manchester, journalist John Deehan labelled Fred as a “headless chicken” , but his career and time in Turkey paint an opposing picture – especially as Everton hunt down a capable Doucoure replacement.

Indeed, the former Toffees midfielder would line up all over the midfield department during his lengthy Everton journey, whether that be as a number ten, as a traditional central face, or as a defensive anchor, with Fred able to offer that in spades too to ease Moyes’ worries about his midfield depth in the wake of the ex-Watford battler’s exit.

With 83 appearances and counting in both the Europa League and the Champions League, Fred’s arrival on the scene might also help Everton push up the league standings in their fresh, state-of-the-art stadium, away from any future relegation scraps.

It would be a risk, considering the Brazilian had a reputation at the Red Devils for fading in and out of contests. But, as an option to bolster after Doucoure’s departure, it could well prove to be an inspired signing.

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ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

While Arsenal crashed out in the semi-final stages of the Champions League, they can at least take solace from the fact that they were beaten by the eventual winners.

Mikel Arteta may have proclaimed that his side were the better of the two teams when they faced PSG over two legs, but it’s hard to argue in favour of that.

Indeed, once all was said and done, Luis Enrique’s men reigned supreme.

It was the exciting, energetic trio of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who came to the fore again in the final, pummelling five past Inter Milan.

As it happens, Arsenal could well sign their answer to Doue this summer.

Arsenal in talks to sign new winger

The Gunners are in the market to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but their success in the market over the forthcoming months will very much come down to how they strengthen in attack.

Benjamin Sesko appears to be the primary option in attack with talks reportedly underway behind the scenes over a move.

Andrea Berta is a very busy man, as he’s not the only offensive option discussions are being had over.

Earlier this week, reports revealed that Arsenal were considering a move for former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane. Well, over the weekend, a deal may well be progressing.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Caught Offside, the player’s agent Pini Zahavi, has been in talks with Tottenham Hotspur and the Gunners over signing his client this summer.

Sane is going to be leaving Bayern Munich behind at the end of his contract and as a result, he can be snapped up on a free transfer.

Why Sane could be Arsenal’s answer to Doue

It’s safe to say that Doue is one of the most generational players on the planet right now.

Moving from Rennes to PSG last summer, it took a few months for things to really click but he’s now proven why he’s going to be at the top of the game for the next 15 years.

The Frenchman has been outstanding this term, scoring 15 and registering 16 assists in all competitions.

His biggest and most important goals came in the Champions League final where he was one of their finest players on a remarkable night in Munich, scoring two of their five goals.

This may well sting for those of an Arsenal persuasion as, according to reports, the Londoners were going to meet with Doue’s entourage last summer.

Well, Sane and Doue may be at opposite ends of their career but the former would be a great piece of business on a free transfer, providing he’s not the only arrival in the forward areas.

Once described by Pep Guardiola as “the best in the world playing out wide,” the German has a similar skill set to Doue. They are two players who love beating their man and creating moments of magic out of nowhere.

Doue is right-footed but when he plays on the left, his ability to cut inside and beat players in Neymar-esque fashion is truly captivating.

Well, in many ways, Sane is the right wing version of Doue. He’s got great place, has ridiculous technical ability and his slightly taller, wiry frame also stands out.

So, how do they compare statistically?

Goals

0.45

0.27

Assists

0.38

0.27

Shot on target %

40%

37%

Key passes

2.58

2.31

Progressive passes

4.22

6.97

Shot-creating actions

5.23

5.28

Successful take-ons

3.15

3.24

Progressive carries

4.68

4.69

Well, the numbers suggest, as expected, showcase that they are very very similar players.

Over the last two campaigns, it’s Sane who has registered the higher output as far as goals and assists are concerned, but when it comes to play style, they are near identical.

Doue is streets ahead for progressive passes but when analysing shot-creating actions and their ability to progress play via dribbling and carrying, there is very little to separate the duo.

The French superstar is, of course, a future Ballon d’Or contender but on a free transfer, Arsenal could sign a more experienced and more refined version in Sane. What’s not to like about that?

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 28, 2025

Liverpool are now showing serious interest in signing a “wonderful” midfielder, who’s been likened to Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos, according to a report.

Carragher urges Slot to sign new central midfielder

FSG took a gamble by not providing Arne Slot with a new central midfielder last summer, but it was a decision that ultimately ended up paying dividends, with Ryan Gravenberch stepping up to the plate and playing a key role in the Premier League title triumph.

However, Jamie Carragher believes the Reds have been too dependent on Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister this season, with the Sky Sports pundit urging his former club to bring in a new central midfielder last month.

Carragher said: “They need a centre-back to ensure there is no crisis if Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are unavailable.

“Also a deep central midfielder so that Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are not as overburdened next season as they have been in this one.”

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford May 6, 2025

Back in the January transfer window, it was revealed that Stuttgart maestro Angelo Stiller is among the potential targets in midfield, and there has now been a new update on the Merseysiders’ pursuit of the midfielder.

According to a report from Germany, Liverpool are now showing serious interest in signing Stiller after clinching their 20th league title, with the 24-year-old potentially in line to leave Stuttgart behind for Anfield, just like Wataru Endo.

Endo arrived on Merseyside for a fee of €20m (£17m) back in 2023, but a move for the German could be a little more on the pricey side, with an offer of at least €60m (£51m) likely to be needed to tempt Stuttgart into a summer sale.

"Wonderful" Stiller likened to Kroos

Ahead of the current season, the Stuttgart maestro received very high praise from football scout Ben Mattinson, given his ability to win possession and pick out his teammates due to his fantastic passing range.

Since then, the Germany international has continued to impress in a Stuttgart shirt, particularly catching the eye with his passing and ability to create chances over the past year, and a French journalist has even suggested he is similar to legendary midfielder Kroos.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

85.97 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

9.68 (98th percentile)

Assists

0.20 (88th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.88 (91st percentile)

With Carragher of the belief that Liverpool need a deep-lying midfielder this summer, Stiller’s passing range and playmaking abilities could make him a perfect fit for Slot’s side, so it is exciting news they have now expressed a serious interest in signing him.

Crystal Palace are now eyeing a move for a “sensational” midfielder, but there could be competition for his signature from a number of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Palace keen on a midfielder amid Wharton uncertainty

Had Palace made a better start to the campaign, they could be major contenders for the Europa League this season, although they still have an outside chance of pushing for the European places, given their fantastic form over the past few weeks.

The Eagles are undefeated since February in the Premier League, picking up some impressive victories over the likes of Aston Villa and rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, so it is little wonder some of their key figures are starting to attract attention.

One such player is midfielder Adam Wharton, who has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, and should the 21-year-old leave this summer, Oliver Glasner will be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

Crystal Palace battling to sign "amazing" 26-goal ace who may replace Eze

He’s enjoyed an excellent season…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

SC Freiburg’s Martin Rohl is one option for the south Londoners, having emerged as shock contenders for the 22-year-old, alongside Liverpool and Newcastle United, with the German potentially set to be available for £21m.

There is a clear focus on bringing in talented young players at Selhurst Park, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed Crystal Palace are eyeing a summer move for Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham.

However, a whole host of top Premier League clubs are also in the race for the 19-year-old, with Chelsea currently showing the strongest interest, so it may be a tough ask for the Eagles to win the race for his signature.

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund headline the interest from abroad, and a move to the latter club could appeal, given his older brother’s impressive stint at Signal Iduna Park, which earned him a move to Real Madrid.

"Sensational" Bellingham would be exciting addition for Palace

It remains to be seen whether the 19-year-old can go on to achieve what his brother Jude has in the game, but he has certainly been showing promising signs at Sunderland in the Championship.

The Black Cats are vying for promotion this season, and the teenager, who is thought to be valued at £20m, has been one of their key players, picking up four goals and three assists in 36 league games.

Not only that, but the young midfielder has caught the eye of journalist Josh Bunting, who previously lauded him as “sensational”, and his performances this season indicate he is now ready to make the step up to the Premier League.

It could be very difficult for Palace to win the race for Bellingham, particularly if European football is not on offer next season, but it would certainly appease Glasner if they secure a deal, given that the manager wanted the youngster last summer, indicating he is a fan.

Offbreaks pitching on the straight, and whizzing past a batter’s ears, on occasion – that’s not just tricky, these are serious warning signs. It’s about to get mad

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Feb-2025It comes out of the southwest, rustles the canopies of the big banyan trees in the fort, and flutters the flags beneath the clocktower.The weather has been scorching for days. There has been barely a cloud above. And now the hottest ocean on the planet is blowing its breath across the cricket ground at Galle, so it’s happening. This is how you know drama is about to go down. Signs are, this Test gets spicy.Daniel Vettori, veteran of 113 Tests, including two in Galle (it would have been more, but this ground lost a few years to the 2004 tsunami), had this to say at the end of the day: “First innings runs are going to play a huge role in whoever wins this game.” We could extrapolate and figure that what he means is that batting conditions are going to get substantially worse over the next couple of days. But he clarifies anyway, in the sanitised language of a post-day press conference: “I just think it’s going to be a tricky wicket the whole way along.”Related

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“Tricky”, for most of us, is a key that doesn’t quite fit into the keyhole at first attempt but if you yank the door towards you, and lift it up off the ground a little bit, you can shove the thing open. Offbreaks pitching on the straight, and whizzing past a batter’s ears, on occasion – that’s not just tricky, these are serious warning signs. It’s about to get mad, and Sri Lanka have 229 for 9 on the board.Sri Lanka’s own batting coach Thilina Kandamby thinks his batters should have aimed for a total of around 350, and put his team in a position to dominate the Test. These are very batting coach requests, always wanting a pile of first-innings runs from which the team can dictate. But Sri Lanka’s batters were still the same people they were last week. Having been modest in six innings on the trot, it’s not as if, realistically, an earth-shattering batting display is on the cards here.There are, instead, some scrappy fifties, and some useful 30-odds. Dinesh Chandimal flays bowlers through the offside when they have strayed out there. Though generally an outstanding sweeper, this is a shot he almost never plays on this surface. In fact, for a bottom-hand dominant player, only 18 of his 74 runs have even come on the legside.Dimuth Karunaratne was defeated by Nathan Lyon’s variations•Getty ImagesWhen the top scorer on day one of a Test puts some of his most productive shots against spin away, on a ground on which he has played several match-winning innings, we are straying into the realms of seriously menacing Test-match conditions. Kusal Mendis, who is even more reliant on the sweep, did score runs with the shot, but even he hit almost exclusively with the spin. Australia have two left-arm finger spinners in Matthew Kuhnemannan and Cooper Connolly. Almost every run Mendis scored into the legside was off a ball that they played the spin.While the first Test at this same ground Australia made 654 for 7 etc we are now about to see a very different Test match unfold. Where in the morning session, the hardness of a rolled pitch did not allow for huge amounts of spin, by the evening, it had begun to take the kind of turn that scrambles the minds of batters.Is a sweep now too big of a risk, given the bounce spinners can get from a surface such as this, with a little overspin? Is this why Sri Lanka have played three finger spinners in this Test, to exploit the natural variation a track like this offers? Wristspinners are weapons on most surfaces, but Sri Lanka have left out Jeffrey Vandersay here. Does control and persistence take over when surfaces are this dry? And if cross-bat shots like the sweep and the reverse are too risky, then how else do you score runs on tracks such as this?As batters navigate what is obviously the kind of surface that Australia would label “extreme”, there will be doubts, as to whether what worked for the men who scored runs in the first Test, will work again here. The track they are playing on now is only about ten metres from the one Australia’s top order had prospered on only several days ago, and yet it feels like it could be from another galaxy.And when the wind blows, and the footmarks from the quicks are heavy and dark, and every delivery raises an explosion of dust, there may be drama around the corner. Signs are, this Test gets spicy.

But the trend might be changing, as bowlers come into their own on the tiring pitches at Brabourne and DY Patil stadiums

Vishal Dikshit and S Sudarshanan14-Mar-20235:08

Haynes: It’d be nice to see boundaries pushed out a bit in coming seasons

We are just past the halfway mark in the inaugural WPL and there have already been four 200-plus totals, plenty of fours and sixes, two batters coming close to scoring centuries and more feats, mainly with the bat.There have been three five-wicket hauls, but bowlers have not had a great time. In batting-friendly conditions, they have been carted around the two grounds being used in the tournament, the short boundaries – as close by as 42-44 metres from the batting end in some cases – compounding problems for them.Such scores – Delhi Capitals’ 223 for 2 against Royal Challengers Bangalore has been the highest so far, with both grounds witnessing two 200-plus scores apiece – are rare in women’s T20 cricket.Bowlers, both uncapped and international, have been hit around, and fours and sixes have accounted for 65% of the total runs scored so far. The four 200-plus totals, all in the first innings, have come in just 22 innings (just under one in five innings). For context, the WBBL in Australia has had only four 200-plus scores in eight seasons and 922 innings (once every 230 innings, approximately). A total of 200 in a T20 would roughly equate to a score of 160 in the Hundred, and its two seasons have had just five 160-plus totals in 117 innings (one in 23 innings, approximately).ESPNcricinfo LtdMassive totals aside, the scoring rate in the WPL after ten games was 8.69, well ahead of 7.18 in the last season of the WBBL and 7.73 in the 2022 Hundred. One of the main reasons, again, for that is how often the batters have been hitting fours and sixes in the WPL compared to the WBBL and the Hundred.ESPNcricinfo LtdShort boundaries, though, are just one reason. There’s more.Flat pitches and quick outfieldsEven though both Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium have been rotating the pitches, conditions have predominantly been friendly for batters. Apart from the odd sign of swing and turn, batters have not had to worry about much. And even if they miscue a shot, they get the advantages of quick outfields and, yes, the remarkably short boundaries.Shabnim Ismail, UP Warriorz’s South African pace spearhead, pointed out that the high scores were also a result of how the women’s game has progressed, and some batters have been hitting big sixes.”The boundaries are short but women’s cricket in general is moving forward, so you can see some batters have been hitting huge sixes, like 70-plus metres,” Ismail told ESPNcricinfo. “So it’s not only about the small boundaries, also how you can capitalise in the middle, which is great to see in women’s cricket in general.”The boundary ropes have been pulled in to measure as short as 42 or 44 metres on one part of the ground, and the BCCI has reportedly set a cap of 60 metres for the longest boundary, compared to 65 at the Women’s T20 World Cup last month.Related

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The going’s good at the moment, but as the pitches suffer more wear and tear, scores may start to come down and we may see more assistance for the slower bowlers.”I’ve probably got a few grey hairs being a captain [to stop the run flow], but as a batter definitely your eyes tend to light up a little bit,” Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy told ESPNcricinfo about the scores. “That’s the nature of the competition. As it continues to go on and the wickets get tired a little bit, the scores might come down just a fraction. It’s been exciting, the 200-run scores have looked great, but there also have been tight contests. So, I have enjoyed that side of the game than the big scores.”On that last point, there has been one chase achieved with one ball to spare, one with two balls to spare, and one victory by 11 runs in a match in which 391 runs were scored.While the intention behind preparing batting-friendly conditions is perhaps to pull in more crowds at the grounds and attract more eyeballs on TV, for a tournament that has just started, Lisa Sthalekar, who played 187 internationals for Australia, does commentary around the world, and is currently the Warriorz mentor, said it was not the best way to promote the game.”I understand the reason why BCCI did that… same thing happened in the WBBL – bring everything in, we want the scores high,” she said. “For cricket tragics, they look at the scorecard and think, ‘120 vs 130, why am I watching this? But 160 vs 170, I am definitely watching that’.”The WPL has to keep educating people along the way. If you have to manipulate things to get the outcome you want, I think players understand that. But at some point, you have to even the ledger out. One thing I have seen over time is if you have good pace, good bounce, good carry in a pitch, you can put the boundaries out. The players are strong enough to hit sixes. So you don’t need to manipulate it much. But if it’s a low, slow turning pitch, then it’s hard.”Overseas batters bring in the powerplayThe first boundary in the WPL was a six, when Hayley Matthews sent Mansi Joshi’s length ball over deep square-leg. That was perhaps an early sign that the overseas players were going to dominate the Indian domestic and not-too-experienced international players.While Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and S Meghana haven’t sparkled so far, Shafali Verma is the only Indian among the top-eight run-scorers in the competition so far. She is at the top of the six-hitters’ chart, which is again dominated by the overseas players. Shafali, Harmanpreet Kaur, Kiran Navgire and Harleen Deol are the only Indians to have struck half-centuries (six, overall), compared to the 13 from overseas players.”Everyone recruited pretty well at the auction and so, you’ve got some outstanding batting line-ups in all the teams,” Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty, who has coached Oval Invincibles to titles in the women’s Hundred and Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, said. “You’ve got more overseas players in these teams than you would do in others [leagues]. You’ve got four [in the XI], you’d normally have only three in the others. So the teams are actually probably stronger and batting-heavy in a lot of them.”Inexperienced bowlers struggle to keep paceThe other aspect is the less-experienced bowlers bowling to these top-flight batters.Case in point, left-arm spinner Preeti Bose, who played five internationals for India in 2016, bowling to the explosive England batter Sophia Dunkley in the powerplay. Gujarat Giants’ Dunkley tore into Bose for a 23-run over on her way to an 18-ball half-century against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Those are the most runs leaked by an Indian bowler in an over in the WPL so far.Among the 11 overs that have gone for 20 or more in the WPL, eight have been by bowlers who have not played, or played very little, international cricket. Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, who played most of her 33 internationals in 2022-23, has twice conceded 22 or more in an over, both times at the death.1:38

Dunkley on her 18-ball fifty: ‘At my best, I just go with the flow’

Save for Warriorz, whose most expensive over has come from Australia’s Tahlia McGrath (19 runs, twice), most of the other teams has had inexperienced bowlers bleeding runs: Bose for RCB, Sutherland for Giants, and USA’s left-arm seamer Tara Norris for Capitals. And none of the domestic Indian players, with the notable exception of Mumbai Indians’ Saika Ishaque, have managed to pick up wickets regularly. Only Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma have taken five or more wickets among Indian bowlers, apart from Ishaque’s chart-topping 12.There’s another interesting factor here. The inexperience of some of the captains, which has led to bowlers not always been used in the best possible way. Meg Lanning and Harmanpreet aside, none of the captains have much experience leading international sides. Point to note: Lanning’s Capitals and Harmanpreet’s Mumbai are top of the table currently.Not only are three of the five captains inexperienced at the job, they hardly had any time to get to know their squads and plan strategies. Now that each team has played at least four games, the captains can strategise better to probably not bowl two uncapped bowlers in tandem or not expose them too much in the powerplay and the death overs.The WPL provides a platform for such bowlers to excel and enhance their skills by being exposed to such scenarios. As the competition has gone on, bowlers have also adapted and pitches have started to tire out, which could be why the WPL hasn’t had a 200-plus score after the first six games. Maybe that will be the trend from here on, and bowlers will have more of a say.