The Melbourne Stars allrounder caused a scare in the opening game of the BBL season
AAP27-Dec-2024Hilton Cartwright has revealed he had fears of being left paralysed while laying prone on the Optus Stadium turf in the BBL season opener.Cartwright sent a scare through Australian cricket last week, after falling awkwardly in the field in Melbourne Stars’ season-opening loss to Perth Scorchers.He was taken from the field in a neck brace and medicab, before being quickly cleared of any serious damage in hospital and being released back to Melbourne. Incredibly, the former Test representative returned to play for the Stars just three days later against Brisbane Heat, and has not missed a game yet this season.Related
Cartwright cleared of serious injury after fielding mishap
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Speaking for the first time since the injury, Cartwright admitted his mind had spiralled quickly while laying on the turf with what was ultimately a case of whiplash.”It was an extraordinary series of events. It looked worse because there was no information surrounding it,” Cartwright said. “My neck pain had subsided quite a lot by the time I was on the sidelines, it was all on one side. Needless to say the doctors did a great job with how they handled it.”But my mind spun to the worst-case scenario about being paralysed, or strokes. My mind was completely spinning. But thankfully I was home that night and I haven’t had any serious repercussions from it.”After diving for a ball in the outfield, Cartwright’s neck snapped back quickly and he was left to lay on the ground for close to five minutes while receiving medical attention. Adding to the concern was that the 32-year-old became a father for the second time in October, with another toddler also at home.”As soon as all that pain subsided I started thinking around all the short-term side effects,” he said. “Am I going to be in a neck brace for a couple of months whilst we have a newborn? It would not only be tough on me, but tough on my partner. Thankfully everything got cleared and there were no issues. So far so good.”Cartwright said he had been able to class the incident as a “freak” accident, helping it not play on his mind while in the field since.His comments came as Stars slumped to a fourth straight loss to start the season, with Sydney Sixers chasing down 195 against them with 11 balls and two wickets to spare at the SCG.Stars will now likely need to win at least five of their last six to have any hope of making the finals, beginning with Saturday night against the Sydney Thunder. Otherwise, they risk missing for a fifth straight season.”If we’re being true to ourselves we want to win all six games to give ourselves a chance,” Cartwright said.
With just over two weeks to go until the Premier League season kicks off, it would be fair to say that this summer has been a success for Arsenal thus far.
On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side have won all three of their games – if you include the behind-closed-doors clash with Watford – and off it, Andrea Berta and Co have been extraordinarily busy.
The Italian has sealed the signings of potential game-changers like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, while massively improving the overall squad with players like Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera.
However, the Gunners do not seem finished just yet, as they continue to be linked with Real Madrid dynamo Rodrygo, who could cost up to £86m.
Before they can sign the Brazilian international, the Gunners may need to make a sale or two, so it’s good news that one of Arteta’s own signings has already received several offers.
Why Arsenal want to splash the cash on Rodrygo
While almost every club in world football would love to have a player of Rodrygo’s quality in their squad, there are likely three main reasons Arsenal want to sign him this summer, and the first is down to his output.
Over the last two campaigns, the Brazilian “superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
In other words, the former Santos gem has been averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes across the last two years, which is a rate of return that could seriously help the North Londoners catch up to Liverpool next season.
The second reason Arteta and Co would want the 24-year-old is that he can play in multiple positions.
For example, even though his best role is off the left, the last two seasons have seen him play off the right and up top, so while he would likely spend much of his time in England playing on the left, he would be able to cover for other players and offer the manager plenty of tactical options.
Right Winger
146
34
31
Centre-Forward
84
22
8
Left Winger
78
23
16
Attacking Midfield
3
0
1
Second Striker
1
0
0
Finally, despite still being relatively young, and two years off his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the Los Blancos ace has a vast amount of experience playing in the biggest games in world football, and that winning mentality which the North Londoners have lacked in recent years.
For example, since moving to Madrid, the Osasco-born monster has won two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, and even more impressively, has a record of 25 goals and provided 14 assists in 64 games in the competition.
In all, Rodrygo would bring goals, versatility and real know-how to Arsenal this summer, but to be able to afford him, the club would likely have to make at least one or two sales, which is something that appears to be on the table.
The Arsenal star with offers to leave
While much of the transfer talk around Arsenal this summer has focused on incomings, and understandably so, there have still been several reports about players potentially leaving the Emirates.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
One of the most prominent earlier on in the window was talk of Gabriel Martinelli being a target for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, but transfers expert Fabrizio Romano quickly shot that down.
Then, more recently, there have been rumours over a potential loan move to Brazilian outfit Flamengo for Gabriel Jesus, one that would see the Gunners pay 50% of his wages.
However, the most realistic sale, at this point anyway, appears to be Leandro Trossard.
According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the Belgian international, who joined the Gunners for around £27m in January 2023, is being monitored by German giants Borussia Dortmund, and more interestingly, has already been the subject of “two concrete offers from Premier League clubs” this window.
While the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace could still be an effective player for the North Londoners, selling him this summer to make way for Rodrygo would make sense, as even though Martinelli suffered a hamstring injury last season, the Brazilian still played more minutes than he did.
Moreover, the 30-year-old has been progressively getting less productive for Arteta’s side.
Appearances
22
46
56
Minutes
1071′
2263′
3455′
Goals
1
17
10
Assists
10
3
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
0.43
0.35
Minutes per Goal Involvement
97.36′
113.15′
172.75′
For example, in his first half-season with the team, he produced 11 goal involvements in 1071 minutes, then in the following campaign, he produced 20 in 2263 minutes, and last season, he was only able to manage 20 in 3455 minutes.
Ultimately, Arsenal need to rejuvenate their frontline further this summer, and if by selling Trossard they can afford to sign Rodrygo, they should thank the Belgian and send him on his way.
Pennant: Arsenal target would be a "great signing" alongside Gyokeres
Arsenal appear to be lining up their next marquee signing after Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival
Celtic are now reportedly “set to up the ante” and try to complete the statement signing of a long-term target in the summer transfer window.
Celtic in contact over signing various players
It looks as though the Hoops are pushing hard to complete some important business this summer, with a number of players being strongly linked with moves to Parkhead.
Celtic are believed to have made contact with FC Cukaricki teenager Andrej Bacanin over a switch to the club, but rivals Rangers are also providing stern competition for his services. A new update has also claimed that the Scottish Premiership champions are in pole position to snap up the 18-year-old midfielder ahead of clubs across Europe.
Meanwhile, the Hoops have been in talks with Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha over a move to the club, with the 24-year-old seen as a target for Brendan Rodgers’ side for a long time now.
In fact, one report earlier this year stated that the Celtic manager is a big admirer of the Belgian, having had his eye on him for some time now. Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding their pursuit of him.
Celtic increasing efforts to sign Balikwisha
According to The Daily Record, Celtic are now “set to up the ante” to sign Balikwisha this summer, as they look to “finally seal a move” for him. The report adds that signing Balikwisha would be a ‘statement of intent’, with the Hoops ‘primed to strike’.
Antwerp boss Stef Wils has also hinted in recent days that a move away for one of his best players is potentially on the cards, saying: “That’s possible, yes. I’m just working with the guys who are here at the moment. They all have the qualities to play here, so it would be foolish not to use them.”
Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
It really does feel as though Celtic are now hellbent on getting a deal for Balikwisha over the line, in what could be such an impressive piece of business by the Scottish giants.
At 24, the left winger is at a perfect point in his career to come straight in and make an immediate impact, having been lauded as an “unpredictable” player by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Balikwisha seemingly likes the idea of moving to one of the biggest clubs in Britain after entertaining talks, and there is no reason why he couldn’t be the next great attacker at Parkhead, giving Rodgers the extra firepower he craves as his side look to both defend the title and perform better in the Champions League.
Celtic make contact to sign promising star who could be Ajer 2.0
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The Antwerp star has 46 goal contributions in 141 appearances for his current club, and the fact that he can also do a job on the right wing and in a central attacking role is an added bonus.
Scotland’s improved fielding display can’t save them from second loss in a row
Valkerie Baynes06-Oct-2024A quick rethink after their disappointing tournament opener put West Indies’ T20 World Cup campaign back on track with a comprehensive victory over Scotland.Having lost by 10 wickets to South Africa, West Indies won by six wickets with 50 balls to spare at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday night. That was after Chinelle Henry’s opening four-over burst yielded 1 for 10 and restricted Scotland to 27 for 2 after seven overs. Afy Fletcher, their 37-year-old legspinner, then took 3 for 22 to restrict them to 99 for 8 and it could have been worse for Scotland had West Indies held their catches.Qiana Joseph marshalled the run-chase with 31 off 18 balls while Henry chipped in with 18 off 10 and Deandra Dottin finished it style with 6-4-6 off Abtaha Maqsood, over long-off, reverse-swept through backward point and pummelled over deep midwicket.”The first game didn’t go to plan,” Fletcher said. “No one wants to lose but, at the end of the day, you have to have a winner. It didn’t go the way we wanted so we go back to the drawing board as all teams do, and we look at areas that we really need to work on and execute. We’ve come out with strong plans and I think the team gave a strong performance throughout the game, and the result was really good.Olivia Bell took a fine return catch to dismiss Shemaine Campbelle•Getty Images”After the first loss, we were a bit down. But from the night itself, we picked ourselves up and we got together and motivated each other and said, ‘look, we’re here, not just to come on a joyride or anything but we’re here for business, we’re here to play hard and tough cricket’. So we just got our thoughts together to see how we could bring our best game for the other games.”It was Scotland’s second defeat in as many matches after they lost the opening match of the tournament to Bangladesh by 16 runs in Sharjah. There, they struggled with the searing heat and a rash of dropped catches.”We were all quite disappointed in our own way with the Bangladesh game,” said batter Lorna Jack-Brown. “It was a great experience for us to be at a World Cup and a lot of nerves were there in the team but I think tonight we didn’t really have that, we believed that we could come in and really cause an upset. It never went our way tonight but that’s T20 cricket.Related
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“We’ve got a couple more games and we always look to improve, and we’re up against world-class players here. We are here to compete, we are here to play cricket, competitive cricket, but we’re also here to learn. Not a lot of our girls have come up against world-class players and it’s an exciting prospect to be here, and even more exciting if we can take some learnings away from it and put those into our games.”Scotland were very good in the field, holding a number of difficult catches to show that their joint mission to learn and show their skills at this tournament was also on track.Priyanaz Chatterji held onto an excellent diving catch at short fine leg to end Joseph’s innings and Olivia Bell took a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Shemaine Campbelle cheaply while Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain, managed just 8 before she was taken by opposite number Kathryn Bryce, running in from mid-on to complete a strong, low catch.”After the last match, where we had a bit of trouble with our catching, a lot of the girls went to training last night and did some catching under the lights because it’s a different ball-game under the lights,” Jack-Brown said. “So they’ve done quite well and taken their learnings from the Bangladesh game.”It’s just about volume. You know how to catch, it’s just different in the lights. Probably in the Bangladesh game, the nerves were there and the conditions and everything, you’ve got to think about quite a lot of things. We just went back to basics, just get under the ball and hopefully your hands will take it.”
Liverpool don’t want to sell Luis Diaz this summer, but they might have to. Keeping a player on the books whose heart is set elsewhere is an ill-fated move, and the Colombian wants to leave Anfield.
You can see his case. Aged 28, Diaz is one of the finest wingers in the game, but he earns a comparatively modest salary at Liverpool and has entered the second-to-last year of his contract.
Diaz wants a pay rise, but Liverpool aren’t inclined to give him one, instead willing to see out his contract.
Rank
Player
Gross pay per week
Gross pay per year
1
Mohamed Salah
£400,000
£20,800,000
2
Virgil Van Dijk
£350,000
£18,200,000
3
Florian Wirtz
£195,000
£10,140,000
4
Andrew Robertson
£160,000
£8,320,000
=5
Alexis Mac Allister
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Alisson
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Ryan Gravenberch
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Federico Chiesa
£150,000
£7,800,000
16*
Luis Diaz
£55,000
£2,860,000
Data via Capology
He was a crucial part of last season’s success. Diaz scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions for Liverpool, his best return for the club.
His electric pace, tenacious fight and versatility proved perfect for Arne Slot as the Dutch coach led the Reds to the Premier League title.
Luis Diaz
But Bayern Munich are persistent in their bid to sign the Colombian winger, having already seen a £58.5m bid knocked back this summer.
However, Sky Germany confirm that the Bundesliga champions continue to push, and with Liverpool set to sign a new striker, perhaps his sale for a mammoth fee wouldn’t be such a bad thing in the long run.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been one of the more coveted names on the market this summer. Manchester United and Newcastle United have both shown an interest, but it’s the Reds who will likely prevail, the Frenchman submitting a transfer request on Thursday to seal a deal with the Anfield side.
Valued at €100m (£85m) Ekitike will cost a pretty penny, all right, but he’s worth it, already regarded “one of the best strikers out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
While Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been sporting director Richard Hughes’ first choice, the Magpies have rejected Liverpool’s advances, so the Reds have stolen their top target instead.
He’s not as good as Isak, but the 23-year-old does have sky-high potential, the genuine chance to make headway over a number of years at Liverpool and reach that pedestal.
While Diaz spent a fair share of time as a makeshift striker in 2024/25, he is at his core a left-sided forward. With Darwin Nunez supposedly off as well, Liverpool might need to sign a winger to go alongside Ekitike.
Liverpool line up Luis Diaz heir
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Liverpool have retained an interest in signing Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, having come close to signing him one year ago.
The England international, 24, is valued at £75m and any concrete move is dependent on Diaz’s future. However, the long-standing interest and Gordon’s Merseyside affiliation could see him push for a return to Anfield, having left Liverpool’s academy as an 11-year-old.
While Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is also on Liverpool’s radar, with preliminary talks having taken place, Gordon might be the man to go for.
Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon
In Cody Gakpo, Liverpool have a prolific and proven left winger. However, Diaz’s departure would call for a direct replacement, and while Rodrygo would be a stunning signing, Arsenal also have a vested interest, and Real Madrid are seeking upwards of £87m.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
Gordon would be a more than acceptable fallback. A high-speed runner with a dogged approach to his football, the Newcastle star has bloomed into one of the Premier League’s finest over the past couple of years, with teammate Bruno Guimaraes describing him as “special”.
Technically sharp and physically robust, he certainly fits the mould that Diaz would leave behind, and this dynamic skill set could be the perfect thing for a young striker in Ekitike, who will need support as he steps into the cauldron of fire that is the English top flight.
Ekitike will, of course, have the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz to lead the supply line, but in Gordon, Liverpool could retain the sense of energy and completeness that Diaz brings to the table.
And anyway, the Toon talent has already demonstrated in the Premier League that he’s capable of throwing down with the likes of Diaz, and indeed Rodrygo, whose skill has led Luka Modric to describe him as a “world-class superstar” in La Liga.
Anthony Gordon
Let’s dig a little deeper. Now, we’re going to skew the data a tad. Gordon’s 2024/25 campaign left plenty to be desired, but he was a force to be reckoned with the season prior.
Looking at that 2023/24 term, comparing it to Rodrygo and Diaz’s league efforts last term, we can see that he’s got the potential to make quite the impression at Liverpool.
League Comparison – Gordon vs Rodrygo vs Diaz
Stats (* per game)
Gordon (23/24)
Rodrygo (24/25)
Diaz (24/25)
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
30 (22)
36 (28)
Goals
11
6
13
Assists
10
5
5
Shots (on target)*
2.3 (0.9)
1.8 (0.7)
2.0 (0.8)
Big chances missed
9
1
11
Pass completion
82%
91%
86%
Big chances created
16
5
8
Key passes*
1.6
1.6
1.6
Dribbles*
1.5
1.6
1.5
Ball recoveries*
3.6
2.4
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.1
1.3
Duels won*
5.3
3.8
3.8
Stats via Sofascore
Quite the effort. Gordon’s performances, notching 21 goal contributions across Newcastle’s injury-hit year, led to the honour of the club’s Player of the Year. It was his first full season on Tyneside, and an illustration of his capacity for high-level performances.
And while his high duel rate, creativity and potency in the final third would elevate Ekitike as he makes his maiden way in England, the centre-forward could certainly return the favour, with a style of play that is truly layered and vast.
Indeed, as per FBref, Ekitike ranked among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Whichever way you look at it, it’s hard to imagine Liverpool’s transfer window being anything other than a success. Slot proved his worth last season, and now he’s being rewarded with the parts to create a lasting squad of champions.
Better than Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool make £142m "monster" a dream target
Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.
It was the most expensive over Starc has ever bowled in T20Is
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2024
Rohit Sharma took 29 runs off Mitchell Starc in a single over•ICC/Getty Images
2.1 Starc to Rohit Sharma, SIX runsBosh, launched up and over! Full outside off and Rohit goes for broke over cover, gets a good chunk of it. First six of the innings2.2 Starc to Rohit Sharma, SIX runsFull, wide and clattered again! Rohit has become a free spirit at the top of the batting, and he has arrived wearing long hair, beads and baggy sweats again. Scuds into the boundary cushion at cover point, just about on the full2.3 Starc to Rohit Sharma, FOUR runsSlammed down the ground now, third boundary from successive balls! Hammered off a length over mid-on2.4 Starc to Rohit Sharma, SIX runsZOMG, tonked into the crowd at deep midwicket! Pitched up, 144kph outside off but it’s basically a slot ball without much swing and Rohit ready and waiting. He was set in front of the stumps and clobbers Starc for six more over the leg side2.5 Starc to Rohit Sharma, no runWide blockhole, good response. Rohit can’t chop down in time2.6 Starc to Rohit Sharma, 1 wideGoes for the wide yorker again, 142kph. But this one slides outside the tramlines2.6 Starc to Rohit Sharma, SIX runsAnother full toss, top-edged for six more! Starc going around the park. This was angling across and Rohit just threw the plumbing, not too bothered about where it went (which was over deep third on the full)
Thomas Frank is poised to become the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, and he’s thought to have his eyes on some transfer targets already.
Tottenham closing in on Thomas Frank appointment after talks
Respected journalist Fabrizio Romano says Frank to Tottenham is already a done deal, with the Lilywhites set to trigger his £10 million release clause and secure Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in quick fashion.
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Following chairman Daniel Levy’s tough decision to axe a manager who ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy, whilst securing qualification for next season’s Champions League, Spurs have wasted no time in getting his successor through the door.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Postecoglou was a popular figurehead among the squad, with James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pedro Porro all speaking publicly in defence of the Australian before his dismissal, so Frank has big shoes to fill.
The Dane’s experience of overperforming on a very limited transfer budget, not to mention his work under a data-driven recruitment model similar to Tottenham’s, makes him a solid candidate to replace Postecoglou.
The downsides of this prospective appointment lie with Frank’s inexperience managing an elite-level side or competing in the Champions League, and the 51-year-old has no major honours to boast of heading into the biggest job of his career.
Frank will need plenty of backing this summer from Levy and technical director Johan Lange, who he already knows very well from their time together working in Denmark, and they’ve been familiar with one another for many years.
Tottenham are set for a significant financial boost due to their confirmed place in the Champions League next season, and they’ll no longer have to adopt a sell-to-buy policy this summer as a result (Michael Bridge).
Reports suggest Frank has already identified transfer targets ahead of his arrival at Spurs, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly in his thinking (GiveMeSport).
Tottenham consider "bold" move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
As per TEAMtalk, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is another player admired by Frank.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
The 22-year-old has been a star mainstay of the Toffees backline since returning to Merseyside from a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/2023 season, and England fans were left shocked when Gareth Southgate omitted Branthwaite from his Three Lions squad for Euro 2024.
Branthwaite is attracting interest from across the Premier League, and Tottenham are certainly in the mix for his services, despite Everton slapping a £70 million price tag on his head.
That is according to TT, who also claim that Frank sees Branthwaite as the ideal Spurs signing to prepare for Champions League football, with Tottenham considering a “bold” move to bring him down south.
A move to N17 is also described as “appealing” to Branthwaite, considering their state-of-the-art set-up and place in Europe’s most prestigious competition, but remaining at Everton is also tempting for him given their new stadium and promise shown under David Moyes.
The Toffees will apparently fight tooth and nail to keep hold of him for next season, so a lot will hinder on how high Tottenham are ready to bid.
Tottenham Hotspur saved their season when they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League, ending 17 years of searching for silverware.
Despite all the misery, the luckless injury bother and the Premier League disaster, finishing 17th, Ange Postecoglou made good on his word and bagged himself a trophy at the end of his second season in the Spurs dugout, thus paving a road into next year’s Champions League.
It’s been a long time coming, but Tottenham must now ensure they build on their success and sustain a position at the forefront of English football.
Arrivals are expected, but outgoings are also a must if chairman Daniel Levy to to enact real change. Richarlison, despite his part in winning European gold, surely needs to leave in the coming months.
The latest on Richarlison's Spurs exit
Everton have been credited by Sky Sports News with an interest in Richarlison, and it’s felt Tottenham would be willing to consider offers in the region of £30m.
There’s clearly a talented player in there, with the Brazil forward’s rich purple patch in the Premier League last season evidence behind Tottenham’s big payment to bring him over from Merseyside.
But with interest in the 28-year-old’s services mounting, it might be foolish not to take the money and turn it toward a new player.
Richarlison, then, can bow out as a winner, having played an important part in ending Spurs’ trophy hoodoo. However, this feels like the right time for him to move on, for his career down N17 has been marred by persistent injuries and struggles for form.
He’s not the only wide forward who needs to move on, though, with Mathys Tel struggling to showcase his burgeoning qualities under Postecoglou’s wing.
Why Spurs must get rid of Mathys Tel
Tottenham welcomed Bayern Munich’s Tel to the fold in February, bagging the France U21 forward on loan until the end of the season.
Sadly, it’s been something of a turbulent ride for the 20-year-old, who was criticised by The Athletic’s Jay Harris for his “underwhelming” start to life in London, finishing the campaign with just three goals and an assist from 20 appearances, albeit a Europa League medal too.
Crystal Palace’s FA Cup hero Eberechi Eze has been linked by TEAMtalk with a cross-London switch; Tottenham are even believed to be prepared to meet his £68m release clause.
You’d think such a move could spell the end for one of Richarlison or Tel, and that another left-leaning forward would allow Levy and co to part with both.
Tel’s six-month loan spell has the option inserted to become permanent at the end of the season, for a fee in the ballpark of £46m.
He’s a wonderful talent, for sure, but the question must be raised as to whether this would be a prudent use of resources when the need for instant change is so great.
Tottenham are hoping to bring the Frenchman’s price down to £30m, but if they are unable to do so, plans must be focused on using the Richarlison money and the funds clearly available for such an outlay on Tel to sign another top target, such as Palace’s Eze.
Premier League 24/25 – Youngest Average Age of Starting XIs
#
Club
Final standing
Average age
16)
Southampton
29th
25.2
17)
Bournemouth
9th
24.9
18)
Tottenham
17th
24.7
19)
Brighton
8th
24.3
20)
Chelsea
4th
23.6
Stats via Transfermarkt
Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, who is out of contract this summer, is also being chased by the Lilywhites, and it’s clear such players would make a big difference to a youthful squad in need of a blend of experience to finally hit a consistent vein of form and wipe the slate clean.
With that in mind, it could be that Tel’s final outing for Spurs has already come and gone, with the club needing to oversee a swift exit for the £80k-per-week starlet.
Left for £0: Spurs' "waste of money" is now outscoring Delap & Nkunku
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All eyes might be on next week’s Champions League semi-final for the fans, but behind the scenes, Arsenal are preparing for a massive summer transfer window.
The Gunners are set to finish with fewer points in the Premier League than their previous campaign under Mikel Arteta for the first time, and as they’ve scored 12 goals fewer than Liverpool, it’s clear they need attacking reinforcements.
One of the standout players most heavily touted for a move to the Emirates in recent months has been Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, who would be available for around £50m thanks to the release clause in his current deal.
However, while the Spaniard is a supremely exciting winger, recent reports have now linked the club with another sensational wideman, someone having a way better season than the Basque star.
Arsenal looking to sign one of the best players in Europe
As we get closer and closer to the opening of the summer transfer window, the links to incredible stars have been steadily increasing, so before looking at the potential Williams upgrade, it’s worth going over some of the other names touted for a move to N5, such as Rafael Leao.
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According to reports from earlier this month, the Portuguese international could be available for around £86m this summer, and while that’s a lot of money, it could prove to be a fee worth paying, as in just 46 appearances for AC Milan this term, he’s scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists.
However, a far cheaper option would be Kingsley Coman, who has been touted for a £39m move to the North Londoners.
The Bayern Munich star, who scored the winning goal in the 2020 UCL Final, has somewhat fallen out of favour in Bavaria this year but has still managed to rack up a haul of seven goals and four assists in 1666 minutes of action.
With that said, perhaps the most exciting winger linked with Arsenal at the moment, and the one who would be a better signing than Williams, is Raphinha.
FC Barcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
According to a recent report from Spain, the Gunners are one of several sides interested in the Brazilian game-changer, including Liverpool, Chelsea and teams from the Saudi Pro League.
However, the key information is that, per the story, Barcelona have not ruled out selling the former Leeds United star, and that should an offer of around €100m – £86m – be made, they’d be willing to cash in.
It would be an incredibly costly and potentially complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Raphinha’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Williams.
How Raphinha compares to Williams
So, with the fees being reported, it seems likely that Arsenal would sign Raphinha or Williams and not both, so how do they compare?
FC Barcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates scoring their third goal
Well, when it comes down to the most important metric for an attacking player, their raw output, it’s the Barcelona star who comes out way ahead.
For example, in 49 appearances this season, totalling 3952 minutes, the “amazing” Porto Alegre-born star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has racked up an outrageous tally of 30 goals and 23 assists. He is truly living up to his billing as “the best player in the world” this season, as hailed by Statman Dave.
That means he is currently averaging 1.08 goal involvements a game or one every 74.56 minutes, which is a simply world-class rate of return and makes Thierry Henry’s tip for him to win the Ballon d’Or earlier this year look like a shrewd one.
In contrast, the Pamplona-born dynamo has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists for the Basque side in 43 appearances, totalling 2971 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 165.05 minutes.
Raphinha vs Williams
Player
Raphinha
Williams
Appearances
49
43
Minutes
3952′
2971′
Goals
30
11
Assists
23
7
Goal Involvements per Match
1.08
0.41
Minutes per Goal Involvement
74.56′
165.05 ‘
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Now, it should be said that, in and of itself, that is an excellent rate of return for a winger, but it’s simply incomparable to the Brazilian’s mind-blowing efforts this year.
Ultimately, Arsenal need to sign an attacker who can propel them forward this summer, and while he won’t be cheap, that attacker is Raphinha, not Willimas.
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Arsenal transfer chiefs have been told exactly what they need to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Gunners given a “clear” message behind-the-scenes.
Arsenal's shortlist of summer striker targets for Mikel Arteta
Alongside Gyokeres, new sporting director Andrea Berta is believed to be looking at a number of centre-forwards to potentially move for in the summer transfer window.
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By
Emilio Galantini
Apr 16, 2025
Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is taking the Premier League by storm yet again this season, racking up 24 goals and six assists in all competitions, and reliable media sources indicate Gyokeres’ international teammate is actually a “dream” target for Arsenal (Ben Jacobs).
However, while Isak is reportedly top of Mikel Arteta’s wishlist, a move for the Swede is less viable considering his rumoured price tag stands at a minimum of £150 million.
Arsenal want to bolster the goalkeeping position, full-back area, in midfield and sign further upgrades out wide in the summer (GiveMeSport), so Berta simply cannot afford to splash such a figure on just one signing, no matter the quality.
RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko is another striker target for Arsenal, and one who could leave for just £62 million, due to the value of his current release clause (Sky Sports). The Slovenian boasts 19 goals in all competitions, and Arsenal did attempt to sign Sesko as a top target last summer, so this could still be one to watch.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
The competition for his signature will be fierce, as a host of elite Premier League sides, including Chelsea and Man United, are also reportedly looking to bring in a prolific number nine this summer.
The same can be said of Gyokeres, who has been repeatedly linked with a move to N5 recently as interest in the former Coventry City star grows stronger from Arsenal’s side.
There are even reports that Arsenal are ready to offer Gyokeres a £192,000-per-week contract to join Arteta’s side, and now Romano has shared a fresh update on their pursuit of the 26-year-old.
Arsenal told price to sign Viktor Gyokeres "in recent days"
Writing in a column for GiveMeSport, Romano claims Arsenal have been given a “clear” communication over Gyokeres’ price “in recent days/weeks”.
The Primeira Liga sensation can leave for much less than his £86 million release clause, namely a fee of up to £60 million, with add-ons, deal structure and payment terms still to be discussed.
Berta is also said to be a huge fan of his, so the Italian’s stance on a deal is also crystal clear. While Gyokeres has been a pivotal player for the Portuguese heavyweights, racking up a sensational 44 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, the club are impressed with his conduct since last summer as well.
He’s made no trouble behind-closed-doors over a transfer and has behaved professionally, meaning Sporting are more inclined to help facilitate his dream move, with the Premier League looking more and more like a credible destination.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokeres
Gyokeres’ quality is evident for all to see, and often doesn’t get discussed enough, and some around the game are convinced he’s actually a “massively underrated” player for all he’s achieved in terms of a very impressive goalscoring record.
It’s arguably a mystery why no club has invested in the forward’s capture just yet, but it probably won’t be long now.