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Newcastle United have less than a week left to dip into the market to bolster their squad before the January transfer window officially slams shut next Monday.

The Magpies have not made a single first-team addition to the group so far this month, but have allowed Miguel Almiron to complete a permanent return to the MLS.

Eddie Howe’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League table, after beating Southampton 3-1 at St. Mary’s at the weekend, and are fighting to secure a place in the Champions League for the 2025/26 campaign.

The English boss could bolster his team’s chances of qualifying for Europe’s major cup competition by adding more quality to the group before the end of the January window.

Newcastle have had plenty of success in the winter market during PIF’s ownership so far, with Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn two of the headline signings from their first January in charge.

The Magpies do not appear to have anything in the works that is going to immediately happen but things can happen quickly towards the end of a window and it has been reported that they have considered a number of targets.

Newcastle United considering late swoop for forward

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are one of the teams interested in a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers sensation Matheus Cunha.

The report claims that both Arsenal and the Magpies have internally discussed the merits of a potential late swoop for the Brazil international, as they look at possible additions to their forward line ahead of the second half of the season.

It does not reveal, though, whether or not the Toon are willing to make a firm offer for his services or if they would prefer to wait until the summer to get a deal over the line for the former Atletico Madrid ace.

Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with an interest in the striker, who reportedly has a price tag of £60m over his head this month.

This suggests, along with Arsenal’s internal discussions about a move for him, that Newcastle could face plenty of competition to land the right-footed star, which means that they may have to move quickly if they want to bring him to St. James’ Park.

Transfer Focus

Swooping to sign Cunha from Wolves before the end of the January transfer window, instead of waiting until the summer, could increase their chances of securing his services, because it would give their rivals less time to make their own moves for him.

Newcastle do, of course, already have their own star centre-forward in Alexander Isak but the Brazilian magician could be brought in to play with him as part of a new-look front three for the Magpies.

Alexander Isak's form this season

The Sweden international has been in incredible form in the Premier League so far this season and has been one of the best-performing number nines in the division.

Only Erling Haaland (18) and Mo Salah (19) have scored more top-flight goals than Isak (17), which illustrates just how lethal the former Real Sociedad man has been in the final third for Howe, as he was last term – as shown in the clips below.

The 25-year-old talent has scored 54 goals in 92 matches for the club in all competitions to date, as he has consistently offered a huge threat at the top end of the pitch throughout his time at St. James’ Park.

Isak found the back of the net 21 times in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign and is on course to beat that tally this season, with 17 goals and 15 games left to play.

Appearances

21

xG

14.11

Goals

17

Big chances created

9

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, the ex-Borussia Dortmund starlet has been incredibly clinical with the chances that have come his way, scoring 17 times from 14.11 xG.

This shows that he is a ruthless finisher and that is one of a number of reasons why he would be exciting to watch alongside Cunha in a Newcastle shirt in the second half of the season and beyond.

Why Cunha and Isak would be exciting to watch

If the Magpies can win the race to bring the Wolves star to St. James’ Park before the end of the January transfer window, Howe could have two dynamic, technically brilliant, forwards who could combine to great effect.

The Brazilian star was directly involved in 22 goals in all competitions for the Old Gold in the 2023/24 campaign, with 14 goals and eight assists, and has impressed, once again, this term.

Cunha is a versatile forward who can play on the left or right flank, through the middle as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, which means that there is a multitude of ways in which Howe could play the attacker alongside Isak in the line-up.

The Wolves star, who was described as a “monster” by teammate Joao Gomes, who could operate on the left flank, with the Swedish marksman in the middle and Anthony Gordon on the right.

His form in the Premier League for the Old Gold so far this season suggests that he has the quality to form a terrific link-up with Isak if he can carry his performances over to Tyneside.

Starts

20

xG

4.76

Goals

10

Big chances created

11

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, Cunha has not been fairly rewarded for the ‘big chances’ that he has created for his teammates this season, with just four assists.

Isak could make the most of the attacker’s creativity, as evidenced by his incredible finishing quality in the Premier League this season, and that is why they could be an exciting pairing to watch at the top end of the pitch, as the £60m-rated star could consistenly create high-quality opportunities for the striker.

Meanwhile, Cunha has also outperformed his xG and could benefit from Isak’s own creative quality in the final third, as the Swedish dynamo has created nine ‘big chances’ for his teammates this term.

Newcastle now looking to seal £16m signing of "fantastic" ace within days

The transfer could even happen within days.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 26, 2025

It is now down to the board to ensure that they push ahead with a deal to bring the Wolves star to Tyneside before the end of the January window.

Chelsea are now among the favourites to win the race for an “elite talent” with a £68m release clause, according to a report.

Maresca keen to strengthen in January

Enzo Maresca is looking to bring in reinforcements in multiple positions this month, with the manager trying to get his side’s season back on track after a recent downturn in form.

One area in which the Blues are keen to strengthen is left-wing, and they have now made an approach to sign Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who could cost around £60m.

Garnacho is not the only Man United player Chelsea are interested in signing, with central midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also being targeted, while the Blues are now in pole position to sign Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez.

Given that Brighton & Hove Albion have made contact over a deal to sign Tosin Adarabioyo, Maresca may also be tasked with bringing in a new defender this month, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande.

Chelsea make enquiry to sign star who can be Maresca's own Kvaratskhelia

Chelsea are showing interest in the Borussia Dortmund youngster.

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 18, 2025

Having first made an approach for the defender back in November, the Blues are now leading the race for Diomande’s signature, according to a report from CaughtOffside.

Arsenal and Manchester United are also in the race for the centre-back’s signature, but Chelsea are believed to be among the favourites.

The Sporting star is keen to move to the Premier League and also favours a move to London, which could give Maresca’s side the edge over Man Utd in negotiations.

In order to get a deal done, the Blues may have to be willing to spend big, as the 21-year-old has an €80m (£68m) release clause included in his contract with Sporting.

Diomande showing great potential

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lavished praise on the youngster, tipping him to be capable of playing at the very highest level.

The 6 foot 3 defender has established himself as a key player for Sporting over the past two seasons, and he is showing signs he could be capable of making the step up to a club the size of Chelsea.

With Maresca favouring a possession-based style of play, it is important to sign players capable of building up from the back, and the Ivorian ranks in the 99th percentile for his pass completion rate per 90 over the past year.

As such, it is exciting news that Chelsea are now one of the favourites to sign Diomande, but they should look to get a deal done for lower than the release clause given that he is still unproven in a major European league.

Former captain is scoring runs for fun and revelling in the moment

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Jul-2022″It’s like being a kid again. It’s great. It’s like how it felt when I first started playing.” With the first answer of his press conference, Joe Root summed up exactly what he and the rest of this England side are experiencing at the moment.An hour before sitting down in front of the microphones and cameras, Root had walked off on 142 not out, Jonny Bairstow by his side with 114 of his own having chased down 378 like it was nothing. Certainly not the record chase by an England Test team that it is now.The final 119 runs required were polished off with ease inside 19.5 overs, as Root and Bairstow registered career centuries No. 28 and 12, with five and six already in 2022, respectively. There was no jeopardy, no anxiety beyond the very start where perhaps standard English doom-mongering could not be helped. But for those in the dressing room, there was nothing but calm. As they have been for the three previous chases before this one.Related

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“I think once you’ve done it once, you know you can do it and you prove to yourself you can,” Root said on the fact England have chased down four 250-plus targets in the last month. “It does make it that little bit easier. It makes it a little bit more believable.”I imagine there will be sides around the world looking at the way that we’ve been playing and feeling a little bit intimidated by what we’re capable of doing. You don’t want to be too into what other teams are doing and how they’re approaching things. But again, that can only breed more confidence within you and you think sides could be very wary of what you’re capable of.”The difference here was that the scale of the chase meant a little more forethought. Even after Zak Crawley and Alex Lees blitzed the fastest opening stand by a pair of Englishmen, a collapse from 107 for no loss to 109 for 3 just after tea threatened to derail the charge. But Root and Bairstow steadied the ship and ticked over without taking unnecessary risks. It was only when Root had passed his century and victory was more or less assured that he began to have some fun, charging Shardul Thakur for four down the ground then reverse-ramping him for six.Of the outrageous cricket English fans are starting to get used to, perhaps the Root ramps are the one thing many are still struggling to get theirs heads around. The idea that a player deemed not imaginative enough to play a role in England’s hell-for-leather T20 side – his last appearance came in May 2019 – and perhaps even unnecessary for the 50-over format could add such an expansive string to his bow.He admits to be still battling with two sides. One of how he has done things before Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes decided to shake things up, which got him 1708 runs and six centuries in 2021, and two more before the start of the summer. And the other of batting without a care in the world.”The Yorkshireman inside me is still saying ‘dig in, play straight and get behind it’,” he said with a smile. “Then there’s the captain on the other shoulder saying ‘be a rockstar’. So you’re fighting between the two of them, sometimes.”It is clear, though, he welcomes this new approach, not least because it is skewering old whims and unwritten rules. Players are being encouraged to play for enjoyment without losing sight of the bigger goal of victory. And the key has been to rid themselves of the emotional baggage of form and the weight of tradition that have, ultimately, felt like a burden.”It’s scripted out how you need to play in Test cricket. Sometimes being unpredictable is very difficult to bowl at. Sometimes the gaps look bigger, and you know where the ball is going to be because of generally how sides bowl for long periods of time.”For me it’s about making good decisions for long periods of time. There have been occasions this summer I might have played some unusual shots, if you look at the history of Test cricket. But they’ve felt like pretty low-risk options in the moment. I guess it’s just trying to manage the game more.”As incredible as Bairstow has been, Root may be the best example of the nourishing qualities of the current environment. Since a boy he was ordained to be an England cricketer, and through his talent bestowed the FEC (Future England Captain) tag. As well as he has carried both, it meant his career has largely been dictated by those who came before him.Now, you can say with some certainty that for the first time in his England career, certainly for the first time in five years having given up the captaincy in March, he is playing the most expressive, enjoyable cricket. It just happens to be at the very highest level.”It’s how it should be,” he reiterated. “And hopefully the way that we’re playing at the minute can inspire a lot of youngsters to take up the game and enjoy it and get excited about test cricket and love it as we do.”As for how to describe the current ethos, he wasn’t bothered about the buzz phrases that have emerged over the past few weeks. “You can call it whatever you like but it’s great fun to play and great fun to be a part of.”

حسم التعادل السلبي، نتيجة مباراة زامبيا وسيراليون، التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب تحت 20 عامًا المقامة في مصر.

وتستضيف مصر، بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا، خلال الفترة من 27 أبريل الجاري وحتى 18 مايو المقبل 2025.

والتقى منتخب زامبيا مع سيراليون، في إطار الجولة الأولى من عمر مباريات المجموعة الأولى، من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا.

طالع | مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا

ويتواجد منتخبا زامبيا وسيراليون، في المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا مع منتخبات مصر وجنوب إفريقيا وتنزانيا.

وبذلك يحصد منتخبا زامبيا وسيراليون، نقطة في مستهل مشوارهما ببطولة أمم إفريقيا للشباب.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر مع جنوب إفريقيا، في تمام التاسعة مساء اليوم الأحد، في افتتاح مباريات الفراعنة بالبطولة.

Vitor Pereira failed to make it three wins from three since taking charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite a fairly evenly matched game against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side.

Wolves took the lead after just seven minutes, with Hwang Hee-chan finding the back of the net, before goals from Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson put Spurs 2-1 up going into half-time. But a late equaliser from Jorgen Strand Larsen rescued a point for his side, making it seven from a possible nine in their last three games.

Wolves held more possession than Tottenham, with 52%, took 11 shots (just two fewer than Spurs) and generated 0.51 xG, whilst Tottenham only generated 0.99 xG themselves. There were plenty of good performances for Wolves, but one man in particular saved them in the dying embers of the game.

Jorgen Strand Larsen's performance in numbers

Wolves made the signing of Strand Larsen this summer, joining from Celta Vigo on an initial loan deal (costing £2.5m). However, if certain clauses are triggered, this deal will automatically become a permanent deal, costing a further £23m.

Since joining the club, the 24-year-old has made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals, providing three assists and totalling 1,551 minutes played.

Larsen came on at half-time against Tottenham, scoring his goal in the 87th minute with his only shot of the game. He only needed nine touches, making four of his six passes, and, of course, most importantly, scoring the goal to earn his side a point.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

In fact, one player in particular will be thanking Larsen for his impact off the bench, as a poor performance from a certain individual nearly cost Wolves points on the board.

Andre's performance in numbers vs Spurs

Another one of Wolves’ summer signings, Andre, who was signed from Fluminense for a fee of around £21m, was the one who let down his side against Tottenham, giving away a penalty, and being hooked off at around the 69th minute mark.

The 23-year-old has made 15 appearances so far this season since joining the club, contributing to two clean sheets and totalling 982 minutes played.

Stat

Andre

Minutes

69

Touches

32

Accurate Passes

26/27

Key Passes

1

Ground Duels Won

2/6

Aerial Duels Won

0/1

Tackles

1

Dribbled Past

1

Penalties Committed

1

Andre was given a 4/10 match rating by Birmingham World’s Charlie Haffenden, which was the lowest score given to any Wolves player.

Not only did the Brazilian give away a penalty, but he also only won two of his six ground duels, and lost his only aerial duel in the game, losing 71% of his total duels against Tottenham.

His passing stats do, however, show he was neat and tidy on the ball, but due to the absence of Mario Lemina in midfield, Andre was needed for duel-winning purposes, alongside his on-ball quality, which is why those lost duels and poor defensive decisions stood out.

Wolves continue their three-game unbeaten streak since Gary O’Neil was sacked and replaced by Pereira, and the Portuguese coach could make some changes for their next game, if he believes one of his other midfield options deserves a chance after Andre’s performance, with Tommy Doyle one of those waiting in the wings.

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Over a week after the ouster of Imran Khan and his government, the fate of PCB chairmanship remains uncertain. Ramiz Raja, the current board chairman, was hand-picked by Imran when he was prime minister last year, having played nearly half of his 255 international matches under Imran’s captaincy.But with Imran gone, speculation has grown around Ramiz’s future; traditionally, any changes of government have led to a change of PCB chairman. And the new premier Shahbaz Sharif, who automatically assumes the position of patron of the PCB, is thought to be weighing up options to replace Ramiz.Imran was removed from power on April 10, in divisive circumstances, after a vote of no-confidence in parliament that he had initially tried to dismiss. Parliamentarians from his PTI party (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) have since resigned en masse from parliament and party appointments in various state institutions are being gradually removed or replaced.The new government, a coalition of parties that came together to remove Imran, are jostling over the formulation of a new cabinet and though cricket is not the highest priority, it is thought they will eventually get to changes in the board.As is often the case, a number of different names as replacements are doing the rounds. Najam Sethi, the former board chairman and a Sharif family ally is among the more prominent ones (though Sethi is thought to be closer to the former PM and elder Sharif brother, Nawaz, rather than Shahbaz).The change at the top might not be the only one. With Imran’s exit, a group led by former board members has begun urging the government to go back to the previous domestic structure in which departmental teams such as SNGPL and PIA were part of the first-class circuit.This group is also talking about restructuring domestic cricket back along regional lines, as they were before the 2019-20 revamp. That season, domestic cricket was changed to a provincial model, with six teams made up of Pakistan’s provinces playing in all tournaments. That change was insisted upon by Imran himself, who has long wanted Pakistan’s domestic scene to replicate that of Australia’s.Najam Sethi is known to be close to current premier Shahbaz Sharif’s brother Nawaz Sharif•AFP

The change of chairmanship is thought to be all but inevitable, a matter of when not if. While the new government works its way through the most pressing priorities and formulates a new cabinet, Ramiz has continued in the position as normal. He was in Dubai for ICC meetings – where he saw his plans for a quadrangular tournament turned down – as Imran was being removed from government.He has since announced plans for a junior T20 league. And in an informal talk with journalists recently, Imran is believed to have confirmed that he had spoken to Ramiz and asked him to continue and fight till the very end.Constitutionally, the Prime Minister of the country, as the PCB’s Patron-in-chief, nominates two members to the PCB’s governing board. The two then come through an election to become chairman, but in practice, this is a mere formality: the PM essentially appoints the chairman.The position isn’t based on any set criteria though the PCB constitution requires the PM to name someone who is at least a graduate and isn’t convicted for any offences including fraud or corrupt practices.No provision in the constitution allows the patron to withdraw the sitting chairman. The only way a chairman can be removed is through a vote of no confidence in the governing board, requiring a 3/4th majority. But generally, if the Patron wants the chairman changed, it is unusual for the incumbent to stay on. When Imran was elected PM in 2018, Sethi himself resigned and allowed Imran to bring in Ehsan Mani.But in 2014, Zaka Ashraf refused to resign after a change in government, resulting in then-PM Nawaz Sharif revoking the board, forming a management committee that later elected Sethi as its chairman. That led to a period marred by a power struggle between Sethi and Ashraf; the pair fought legal battles in courts, swapped positions several times before Sethi finally consolidated his power with the backing of Sharif.In the last three terms, every new chairman has amended the constitution after taking power; the present constitution was implemented in 2019 and was the fifth since 1995 and the fourth in the last 15 years.

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake took over Chelsea, the Blues have signed a pile of wingers in an attempt to freshen up their wide options in attack. Chelsea fans have been blessed in the past with Eden Hazard, Willian, Pedro, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, all players that could swing the game in their favour with a moment of magic.

Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho have all been signed in the past two seasons, for a combined €221.20m (£184.4m), according to Transfermarkt, which will rise to over £200m when Sancho’s loan becomes a permanent next summer, for around £20m.

Chelsea winger signings since takeover
Name	Fee (£)
Raheem Sterling	£46.8m
Mykhailo Mudryk	£58.3m
Noni Madueke	£29.1m
Pedro Neto	£50m
Jadon Sancho	Loan
Angelo	£12.5m
Diego Moreira	£0
Stats taken from Transfermarkt

But perhaps the best of the bunch is Pedro Neto, who signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer and has started brightly at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro Neto's record at Chelsea

Neto has already made 15 appearances since joining the Blues this summer, scoring three goals, providing three assists, and totalling 817 minutes played for the club so far.

The 24-year-old Portugal international has played on both the left and right wing for Enzo Maresca already this season and suits the Italian’s system extremely well, who likes to get his wingers 1v1 in high and wide areas, as a key focus for chance creation.

Neto’s ability as a two-way winger, to cut inside and let fly (as we saw against Arsenal last weekend), dink a clever inswinging cross into the box, but also that ability to beat his man for pace and go to the byline, makes the former Wolves man a nightmare for defenders.

But Chelsea seem to be in the market for a new striker and could be entering the race for a “monster” as dubbed by Ben Mattinson, who could really take Neto to the next level, and allow him to unlock his best skillsets.

Chelsea's search for a striker

According to reports from Spain, Chelsea look like the latest name to enter the race for Sporting CP striker, Viktor Gyokeres. Reports from the Daily Star state Gyokeres has a release clause of around €100m (£83m), but offers could be accepted for close to €80m (£67m).

Other big clubs reportedly interested include Manchester United and Arsenal. The Red Devils could prove to be an appealing project for the Sweden international, with his Sporting boss, Ruben Amorim, making the move to United recently.

Gyokeres has made 68 appearances since joining Sporting from Coventry in 2023, scoring 66 goals, providing 19 assists, and totalling 5,695 minutes played. If Chelsea are able to snatch the 26-year-old talisman, it could make for a great pairing with Neto, allowing both players to thrive.

Neto & Gyokeres combination

The prolific Sporting striker stands at 6 foot 1, has a stocky build, and uses his body well to win duels and protect the ball in the box. This level of box dominance is something the Chelsea squad lack, meaning the likes of Neto are unable to use their crossing qualities as often as they may like.

Chelsea’s current striking options are Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, both of whom offer some excellent traits, but not the box occupancy and aerial dominance that Chelsea need in the squad, in order to get the best from Neto.

Jackson has made 12 appearances this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 901 minutes played. Nkunku has made 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring ten goals already, providing one assist, and totalling 688 minutes played.

Neto vs Gyokeres vs Jackson comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)	Neto	Gyokeres	Jackson
Goals	0.29	1.34	0.63
Assists	0.19	0.27	0.31
Progressive Carries	5.64	4.39	1.98
Progressive Passes	1.28	1.69	1.56
Shots Total	2.04	4.22	2.60
Key Passes	2.56	2.03	1.25
Crosses into Pen Area	1.28	0.00	0.00
Passes into Pen Area	1.54	1.01	0.21
Pen Area Touches	4.10	9.46	4.79
Aerial Duels Won	0.51	0.74	0.52
Aerial Duels Won %	28.6%	44.0%	23.8%
Stats taken from FBref

You can instantly see the creative numbers Neto brings to the table, making 1.28 crosses into the penalty area per 90, 1.54 passes into the penalty area, and 2.56 key passes per 90. This mixed with the box occupancy of Gyokeres (shown by his whopping 9.46 penalty area touches per 90) would get the best of both players.

Jackson, in comparison, has only managed 4.79 penalty area touches per 90 this season, and has only won 23.8% of his aerial duels per 90 so far this season, showing the need for a more powerful striker alongside him in the squad. Whilst the 23-year-old Senegal international offers a lot for the Blues, Gyokeres would bring a more powerful body type needed upfront.

One man who could suffer from a knock-on effect of this deal would be Madueke, who has started the season in relatively good form under his new boss.

How Madueke could be affected by Gyokeres signing

Madueke could find himself sidelined if Chelsea acquire a box-dominant striker, as Neto could be moved over to the right wing in order to unleash the full utility of his creative toolkit.

The 22-year-old English winger has made 13 appearances so far this season for Maresca’s side, scoring five goals in his 890 minutes played. He has been an important part of the Italians’ system, being a direct 1v1 winger, who looks to beat his man, but also works hard defensively and uses that athleticism to get up and down the pitch.

As good as Madueke has been, one thing he is often criticised for, is his final ball, and the quality of his crosses when he creates opportunities to put the ball in the box, having averaged just 0.21 crosses into the penalty area per 90, across the last 365 days.

Transfer Focus

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

By putting Neto on the right instead, it would allow the Portuguese winger the ability to go both ways, cutting inside on his stronger left foot to put inswingers and clever passes into the box, and keep defenders guessing by beating them for speed down the outside.

That would certainly be a recipe for success with Gyokeres involved, even if it means handing Madueke a reduced role.

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Nov 15, 2024

The allrounder could play his first game for the club on Friday

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Andre Russell pulls on his way to an unbeaten 90•Abu Dhabi T10

Melbourne Stars have continued to shore up their injury-plagued roster with West Indies allrounder Andre Russell the latest big-name signing.On the back of the Stars adding Pakistani quick Haris Rauf, 33-year-old Russell returns to the BBL for the first time since 2017 when he played the last of three seasons with Sydney Thunder.During that period, he scored 296 runs from 17 innings marked by a massive strike rate of 166.29, while he took 23 wickets at an economy of 7.97.Coincidentally, Russell’s five-match stint with Stars is set to begin against Thunder at the MCG on Friday. He is currently completing his mandatory 72 hours quarantine after flying into Sydney having played in the Abu Dhabi T10 competition.”To have someone of Andre’s quality play for the Melbourne Stars is a huge signing for our club,” Stars coach David Hussey said. “I can’t wait to work with him in the time that he’s here and look forward to his debut on Friday night.”Russell’s match-winning ability, which has made him a coveted T20 player worldwide for years, was evident when he smashed an unbeaten 90 from just 32 balls to power Deccan Gladiators to the title in Abu Dhabi.However, he had little impact with bat and ball at the T20 World Cup as defending champions West Indies exited with just one win. Russell scored just 25 runs from five innings and claimed three wickets in his return from a hamstring injury sustained in the second leg of the IPL.If Russell can recapture his best, it might help resuscitate Stars who are already under pressure after a record 152-run opening loss against two-time defending champion Sydney Sixers at the SCG.Stars were without Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Joe Burns while towering quick Billy Stanlake is set to miss the entire season due to a back injury.The high-profile Stars surprisingly missed the playoffs last season and have yet to win a BBL title.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta personally thinks a Real Madrid player would be the perfect signing for his side, with the Galactico now considering a Bernabeu exit in what could be a boost for sporting director Edu Gaspar if the Gunners do decide to pursue a move.

Arsenal's rumoured transfer plans amid injury crisis

The Premier League title hopefuls are reportedly planning to bolster their options all over the pitch, including at the back and in the final third.

Arsenal may explore quick January deal for £40m star after Saka injury

The Englishman caused a scare after withdrawing from international duty.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 22, 2024

Star winger Bukayo Saka missed Arsenal’s narrow win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Arteta revealing that the 23-year-old isn’t expected to be fit for Liverpool this weekend either.

“He wasn’t able to do the session in the way that we wanted,” said Arteta on Saka’s leg injury, going on to suggest he’s a doubt for the Liverpool game.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games	Date
Liverpool (home)	October 27
Newcastle United (away)	November 2
Chelsea (away)	November 10
Nottingham Forest (home)	November 23
West Ham United (away)	November 30

“He wasn’t still feeling good so it wasn’t good news. At the moment I’m not very helpful, but let’s see. We still have a few days to do that.”

To compound Arsenal’s misery, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori went off against Shakhtar with an injury of his own. Arteta described Calafiori’s problem as a “worry” post-match after the Italian was already sidelined earlier this season.

Arteta has had to deal with an injury crisis which is threatening to derail their Premier League title charge. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard remains out with an ankle injury, with the Norwegian, Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Takhehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kai Havertz and Kieran Tierney all sidelined at various points so far this season.

This has prompted Arsenal chiefs to look at the transfer market for answers, as they seek strength in depth. Saka’s injury has accelerated Arsenal plans to sign a new winger, while it is believed Edu is prepared to make a £42 million bid for Atalanta’s Isak Hien.

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is also believed to be a target for Arsenal, with the north Londoners in serious need of options as January seems more and more imperative by the week.

Arteta thinks Arda Guler would be perfect for Arsenal

According to a Spanish media report, Real Madrid forward Arda Guler is also attracting attention from N5.

The Turkey international, who helped his country reach the last eight of Euro 2024 earlier this year, is considering an exit from Madrid amid his struggle for consistent opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti.

Arteta personally thinks Guler would fit perfectly into Arsenal’s system, leading to their interest in signing the 19-year-old. German champions Bayer Leverkusen and Man City are also interested in striking a deal for the teenager, who former Chelsea and Man United boss Jose Mourinho called “exceptional”.

“Arda is showing great personality and exceptional quality,” said Mourinho.

“To play at that club, personality is crucial. Players must internalize that they are good enough to play there. They can’t be afraid.”

Manchester United have parted company with Erik ten Hag. It has been a poor season for the Red Devils so far, and they currently find themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, with just 11 points to their name.

As a result of the Dutchman’s sacking, he has been replaced by club legend, and assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy on an interim basis. The former United striker will take charge of the 13-time Premier League champions as a temporary measure, ‘whilst a permanent head coach is recruited’, as the club explained in a statement.

Ten Hag’s United record

Ten Hag’s reign at Old Trafford comes to an end after just over two seasons in charge at the club. He won two trophies in each of his two full seasons, winning the Carabao Cup in 2022/23, beating Newcastle United, and the FA Cup last term, winning a historic final against Manchester City.

Overall, his record at the Red Devils is not quite what he no doubt would have hoped, despite the trophies he managed to win during his tenure. The former Ajax boss oversaw 128 games at the English giants, winning 72 of those matches.

Stat

Number

Games

128

Wins

72

Draws

20

Losses

36

Goals for

234

Goals against

180

PL points won per game

1.72

Trophies

2

Another concerning stat is the loss rate Ten Hag had during his Old Trafford spell. As per Opta Sport, the Dutchman lost a disappointing 31.8% of games. In the Premier League era, David Moyes is the only manager who has a worse win rate than the Dutchman, with 32.4%. Impressively, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the third-best on the list, with 22%.

Ultimately, things did not work out for the Dutchman in the Old Trafford dugout. That does leave Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his newly-appointed INEOS board with a big decision to make, as they search for a new manager. One of the people who has been linked with the job is Gareth Southgate.

Man United's interest in Southgate

According to a report from Samuel Luckhurst of The Manchester Evening News, former England boss Southgate is one of the options favoured by Ratcliffe as the hunt for a new manager begins. The journalist cites his ‘working relationship’ with Dan Ashworth and ‘friendship’ with Sir Dave Brailsford as the reason he can be considered a contender for the role.

The former Middlesbrough boss is a manager who is known to create a good ethos and working environment for his team. He once explained in an interview that having “empathy with people” is a key part of his coaching. It could be exactly what the Red Devils need at the moment, as they look to salvage the season and turn around their poor form so far.

However, England’s style of football under the 54-year-old was often not the most exciting thing to watch, despite the fact he reached two finals and a semi-final in tournament football. His record with the Three Lions was 64 wins, 20 draws and 18 losses in 102 matches. The historic Euro 2020 tournament will live long in the memory of England fans, despite a heartbreaking loss in the final to Italy.

Emmanuel Petit, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup winning squad, was critical of the Three Lions’ play style in the most recent major tournament, Euro 2024 in Germany. He called it “boring” and blamed the manager for the tactics employed on the pitch.

Indeed, he could end up being another version of Solskjaer at Old Trafford; that is to say, a nearly man, who could not quite get his side over the line in major finals. The Norwegian striker lost four semi-finals and one final, the Europa League in 2021.

Simon Jordan even compared the two on talkSPORT, branding Southgate as a “bland” manager, while calling him “Solskjaer in an international guise”.

This needs to be an appointment INEOS get right. Not only must they appoint a manager who brings success back to Old Trafford, but they need to pick someone who will capture the imagination of the United fans once again, someone who plays exciting and expansive football.

Only time will tell if that person is Southgate, but it is certainly a critical time for the club.

Former Man Utd player who publicly wants job under consideration by INEOS

Man Utd may look to another former player as a replacement for Erik ten Hag.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 28, 2024