أعلنت وزارة الرياضة تأجيل البت في الاستقالة التي تقدم بها محمد مصيلحي، رئيس نادي الاتحاد السكندري، لحين عودته من الخارج والانتهاء من دراسة الموقف من كافة الجوانب القانونية والإدارية.
وأعلن محمد مصيلحي، تقديم استقالته من رئاسة نادي الاتحاد السكندري بشكل رسمي، بعد نهاية الموسم الحالي من الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وأكد المتحدث الرسمي للوزارة، محمد الشاذلي، أن الجهة الإدارية المختصة بمديرية الشباب والرياضة في الإسكندرية هي المسؤولة عن تلقي ومراجعة الاستقالة، تنفيذًا لتوجيهات الدكتور أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة.
طالع أيضًا | رسميًا.. مجلس الاتحاد السكندري يرد على استقالة محمد مصيلحي
وفي هذا السياق، شدد الدكتور أشرف صبحي على أن محمد مصيلحي يُعد من الكوادر الرياضية المرموقة التي لعبت دورًا محوريًا في استقرار نادي الاتحاد، مشيدًا بإسهاماته الكبيرة في تطوير المنظومة الرياضية، وبخبراته الإدارية المتميزة التي اتسمت بالحكمة والإخلاص.
وأشار الوزير إلى أن الوزارة تتعامل مع ملف الاستقالة وفقًا للقواعد القانونية المعمول بها، مع مراعاة المصلحة العليا للنادي وحرص الدولة على دعم الكيانات الرياضية التاريخية.
One team topped the group, the other barely made it, just like it was three decades ago
Karthik Krishnaswamy08-Nov-20225:01
Uthappa: Split Babar and Rizwan, make Haris open
Big picture There are parallels. They may not mean anything, but they’re there, if you’re the kind of cricket fan who looks for them. And if you’re a Pakistan fan, you’re always looking for parallels to 1992.Well, here are a couple. New Zealand began their tournament with a big win over Australia. New Zealand topped their group table (yes, there were no groups in 1992, but let’s not nitpick), losing only once before the knockouts. New Zealand’s No. 4 was, and is, the tournament’s leading batter (according to no less an authority than Smart Stats.)And then we come to Pakistan. A Pakistan who were all but out of the tournament, only for forces beyond human comprehension – , you might say – to carry them into the semi-finals. They come there fuelled by pace, left-arm swing, and wristspin, among other things (things that don’t quite match the just-like-92 theme), tigers who are cornered no more.There are other ways to look at this contest, but we have a detailed Tactics Board for that. It’ll tell you that batting first could be a significant advantage, that New Zealand will want to bowl short and into the pitch at Pakistan’s batters, that Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Finn Allen could be a key battle.All of that will play a role in Wednesday’s clash at the SCG. But there will also be other forces at play, at least in our imaginations. New Zealand’s history in World Cup knockout games. The history of New Zealand-Pakistan knockout games at World Cups. . The law of nature.Whatever will be, will be as nature wills it.* After Pakistan’s loss to England in the third T20I in Karachi in September, their head coach Saqlain Mushtaq reacted in inimitably philosophical manner at his post-match press conference. ” [It’s the law of nature, it’s not in our control]” Widely mocked in social media in the immediate aftermath of their utterance, the words gained an entirely new connotation after South Africa’s shock upset at the hands of Netherlands paved the way for Pakistan to reach the World Cup semi-finals.Form guide New Zealand WLWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first) Pakistan WWWLLRelated
Tactics board: Rauf vs Conway, Pakistan's weakness against offspin, and more
Smart stats – Phillips and Suryakumar soar, Babar struggles
In the spotlight Tim Southee and Trent Boult have been in four World Cup finals across the three formats, but they’re yet to get their hands on a white-ball trophy. This could be their last chance, and they could do something about it if they get the new ball moving around against Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are under immense pressure individually and as an opening combination at this tournament.Mitchell Santner has only bowled seven balls to left-hand batters at this World Cup so far. Pakistan have the tools with which they can put him under pressure, if they deploy Shan Masood and Mohammad Nawaz at the right time. Much as they did to counter the threat of Shakib Al Hasan, they could promote Nawaz up the order and hold Mohammad Haris back.Kane Williamson (31 off 36 balls, one dismissal) and Daryl Mitchell (13 off 15 balls, one dismissal) have struggled against legspinners at this World Cup. How they handle Shadab Khan through the middle overs could be a key battle.Tricky for left-hand batters, handy with the bat too – should Bracewell make the XI?•Associated PressTeam news New Zealand resisted the urge to pick the offspin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell against left-hander-heavy teams during the Super 12s stage, so it seems unlikely they’ll pick him with Masood and Nawaz in mind. Expect an unchanged XI, barring any last-minute injuries.New Zealand (possible): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 James Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Lockie Ferguson.After their narrow defeat to India in their opening game, Pakistan decided to sacrifice the extra batter in order to play the fourth quick. As tempting as it may be to strengthen their batting depth in a knockout game – by bringing in, say, Asif Ali for Mohammad Wasim – it seems unlikely they’ll change a combination that’s worked for them.Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Mohammad Haris, 4 Shan Masood, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Mohammad Nawaz, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Wasim, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf.Pitch and conditions Teams batting first have won five out of six games played at the SCG so far at this World Cup. But there’s one factor that could reduce the impact of the toss: the pitch that will be used for the semi-final is the same one that hosted the Super 12s opener between Australia and New Zealand. It was the flattest and most batting-friendly of the three pitches that have been used so far in Sydney.There is a small chance of rain on Wednesday morning, but the weather should clear up by the time the match is scheduled to start.Stats and trivia Wednesday’s match will be the SCG’s third Men’s World Cup (50-overs and T20) semi-final. The Daren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia and the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo have hosted three semi-finals each, while The Oval and Old Trafford have hosted four each. In the powerplay phase of this World Cup, Pakistan have scored at a run rate of 5.93. Only Zimbabwe and Netherlands have done worse since the start of the Super 12s stage. Four members of the Pakistan XI that lost to Australia in the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup have played no part in this edition of the tournament – Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali. New Zealand were losing finalists in that tournament; from the XI that featured in the final, only Tim Seifert has failed to make their squad for this edition. Martin Guptill is part of their squad but hasn’t featured in their XI yet.Quotes”They’ve got an outstanding pace attack. They’ve been playing some good cricket, they have experienced players and match winners.” Kane Williamson summaries his opponents ahead of the knockout.”As we know about the weather, when there’s a lull there is also a storm that follows. So look out rest of the world. Matthew Hayden, Pakistan team mentor, says that a big Babar innings is not far away
David Warner has indicated he could retire from Test cricket after next year’s Ashes, with the opening batter confirming he will walk away from the red-ball format first.The futures of Warner and several senior teammates have been plunged into the headlines in recent days after Australia’s shock exit from the T20 World Cup.Matthew Hayden in particular called for a regeneration of the team, claiming it was time for some to step aside before the next World Cup.The 50-over World Cup will be held in India at the start of next summer, before T20’s next showpiece tournament in the Caribbean and USA in 2024.Warner, however, made clear he intends on playing in both as he laid out his likely plan for walking away from the game.Australia’s busy 2023 schedule involves a Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India and Ashes in England, before the ODI World Cup in India later in the year.”Test cricket will probably be the first one to fall off,” Warner said on Triple M’s Deadset Legends.”Because that’s how it will pan out. The T20 World Cup is in 2024, (one-day) World Cup next year.”Potentially it could be my last 12 months in Test cricket.”But I love the white-ball game; it’s amazing.”Australia’s first real changing of the guard since the 2015 Ashes is looming, with several players considered likely to retire in the next 18 months.Warner and Usman Khawaja will be 36 at the end of next year’s Ashes, Nathan Lyon 35, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood 32.Steve Smith will also be 33, but would be tipped to continue far longer.Despite averaging 11 in Australia’s recent failed T20 World Cup, Warner rejected claims he should exit before the 2024 tournament.”T20 cricket – I love the game. I will be looking to get to 2024,” Warner said. “For all those people saying I am past it and a lot of those old people are past it, look out. Be careful what you wish for.”Warner’s comments come as CA finalise the reworking of their code of conduct, which would allow the opener to appeal his leadership ban stemming from the ball-tampering saga.AAP has been told the reworded code is awaiting board approval, with Warner expecting a hearing with cricket’s integrity unit later this month.”It’s about my knowledge of the game and passing it down to younger kids [as a captain],” Warner said.”When I am playing in the Big Bash [for Sydney Thunder] … That can help someone like Jason Sangha. And other guys around me.”If they’re willing to learn and I get the opportunity to actually captain again, I think it would be great for them.”
Arsene Wenger has dismissed Wayne Rooney's criticism of Arsenal and says his former side can prove doubters wrong by beating PSG.
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Rooney questioned Arsenal's mentality after first-leg defeatGunners lost 1-0 after early Ousmane Dembele strikeWenger 'confident' Gunners can reach finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Arsenal lost the first leg of their Champions League semi-final to Paris Saint-Germain last week, with a single goal from Ousmane Dembele proving enough for the Ligue 1 giants. Manchester United and England great Rooney criticised the Gunners after the defeat, claiming they have a "psychological fear" of winning trophies.
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Arsenal must now overturn the aggregate deficit with a win if they are to reach the Champions League final, where they would face Inter Milan after their dramatic victory over Barcelona on Tuesday night. Wenger, who won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups in north London, has rejected Rooney's criticism, insisting Mikel Arteta's side have what it takes to overcome the French giants.
WHAT WENGER SAID
Wenger said: "You need to be inside the group to know that. I don't have that feeling, but we are a few years now where they have been very close, so maybe it has a weight.
"But at some stage you have to get it out, and the best way to get it out is to go out on the pitch and turn up and win a big game, a massive game. Tomorrow they have the opportunity and the players know they have nothing to lose.
"I think the judgement is severe and not deserved.
"But at some stage you have to be there. At some stage you have win it…and this team is strong enough to win the Champions League or to win the Premier League.
"Unfortunately for them, Liverpool this year was a tough opponent. Nobody would have predicted that Liverpool would make up 15 points difference on the rest of the pack, and so let's see [how Arsenal get on against PSG].
"I'm confident that they can overturn the first leg, and they have the needed quality. But of course, you need to have a great offensive performance, but you need as well to be capable to stop this PSG team, to stop them expressing their talent, which is not easy.
"They are playing at home, they can smell the final and will be difficult to stop."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice also rubbished Rooney's comments in the build-up to his side's trip to France, pointing to their previous victory over PSG in the league phase as evidence.
Leeds United’s lead at the top of the Championship table was cut down to three points on Saturday as they failed to secure a win against West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road.
The West Yorkshire outfit did, however, take the lead in the game when Junior Firpo rose to score his second header in as many league games for the club to make it 1-0.
West Brom found their equaliser before the break, though, as Darnell Furlong got the jump on Jayden Bogle and Illan Meslier appeared flatfooted as the ball looped over him and into the back of the net.
Unfortunately, Daniel Farke’s side were unable to break down a stubborn Baggies defence and they did not create another ‘big chance’ in the game after Firpo’s goal.
One of the reasons why Leeds struggled to create many high-quality opportunities against Tony Mowbray’s team was that the attacking players failed to step up and show their quality in the final third.
Brenden Aaronson was one of those players and the American attacking midfielder must, now, be dropped to the bench by Farke for the next league clash with Portsmouth next Sunday.
Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped
The former RB Salzburg star has been a firm favourite of Farke’s throughout the Championship season, starting 33 of his 35 appearances in the division, but now could be the time for him to be taken out of the side.
Chalkboard
Aaronson, as the attacking midfielder, should be in the team to make things happen at the top of the end of the pitch, contributing with goals and assists, as well as his excellent pressing and off-the-ball work.
However, Leeds have not been getting as much of the former as they have the latter. In fact, the 24-year-old dud has now failed to score or assist in any of his ten matches against the current top six in the Championship.
West Brom (A)
0
0
Burnley (H)
0
0
Sunderland (A)
0
0
Sheffield United (H)
0
0
Coventry (H)
0
0
Coventry (A)
0
0
Burnley (A)
0
0
Sunderland (H)
0
0
Sheffield United (A)
0
0
West Brom (H)
0
0
As you can see in the table above, the American midfielder has offered very little in front of goal against the best teams in the division, which was the case yet again against West Brom on Saturday.
Aaronson ended the match against the Baggies with zero shots on target and zero ‘big chances’ created for his teammates, which is why he should be dropped from the team to see if another player can outperform him in the number ten role.
He is not the only poor performer from the draw with West Brom who should be dropped down to the bench, though, as Farke should also ruthlessly bin Manor Solomon from the line-up after his struggles.
Manor Solomon's performance against West Brom
The Israel international started on the left flank, with Aaronson in the middle and Dan James on the right, and failed to make much of an impact in the final third.
James was the only one of the front four to be directly involved in the team’s only goal, with his cross for Junior Firpo’s header, whilst Aaronson, Solomon, and Joel Piroe all blanked at the top end of the pitch.
Solomon, like the American lightweight, has also struggled against the top teams in the league. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee has as many errors leading to goals (one) as goal contributions (one) in his seven appearances against the current top six.
In the draw with West Brom, the Leeds flop was handed a dismal rating of 4/10 by Football Insider, who wrote that the Premier League loanee did not trouble the opposition’s goal.
Minutes
79
Shots (on target)
3 (0)
Dribbles completed
0/2
Duels won
1/6
Big chances created
0
Possession lost
13x
As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old attacker lost 83% of his duels, as the West Brom defenders found it too easy to get the better of him, and he failed to offer much in front of goal with zero shots on target and no ‘big chances’ created.
Therefore, Farke must also ruthlessly ditch Solomon from the XI, with Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani waiting in the wings, after his dismal showing against the Baggies.
Leeds United's Manor Solomon dilemma
The winger is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road and TEAMtalk recently reported that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign the forward on a permanent basis.
Leeds United'sManorSolomoncelebrates scoring their first goal
It was claimed that the Whites are preparing to approach Spurs to negotiate a permanent deal to sign the attacker when the summer transfer window opens for business, if they secure promotion to the Premier League this season.
The outlet added that Tottenham are expected to value Solomon at a fee of up to £20m, amid interest from top-flight side Everton as well, and Leeds must decide whether or not that is good value.
He has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 28 appearances in the second tier, which is a very respectable return, but his aforementioned form against the top six is a concern.
Crysencio Summerville scored 19 goals and assisted a further nine in the Championship last season and has only managed one goal and one assist in 19 games in the Premier League for West Ham United.
The Hammers reportedly paid a fee of more than £25m for the Dutch winger and he has been unable to translate his second tier form over to the Premier League as of yet, which illustrates how big of a gap it is between the two divisions.
Summerville and Solomon are also both similar players, as they are small and nimble wingers – standing at 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 7 respectively – who have thrived in the Championship thanks to their quick feet and lethal finishing.
However, the Dutch attacker has found it difficult to make an impact in the Premier League against quicker and stronger defenders, which could be the same issue that Solomon will face – particularly when you take into account his existing struggles against the best Championship teams.
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Therefore, Leeds have a difficult decision to make as they could end up wasting £20m on a player who cannot make the step up to the top-flight, which is why they have to be absolutely sure that he will be a success at a higher level next season.
It would be fair to say that this season has not gone even remotely to plan for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Lilywhites have endured a mountain of injuries, an abysmal Premier League campaign, and following their thrashing on Thursday night, they’ve only got the Europa League and FA Cup to save their season.
However, with all that said, there have been reasons to be positive in recent weeks, such as their late but nonetheless impressive business in the transfer market.
TottenhamHotspur manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the match
Ange Postecoglou now has three more players to choose from than he did before the window opened, with Mathys Tel undoubtedly the most exciting, although the Frenchman is still worth millions less than one of his new teammates.
Tottenham's January business
In somewhat unusual fashion, Tottenham kicked off their winter transfer business early this year, signing Czech goalkeeper Antonín Kinský from Slavia Prague for £12.5m on January 5th.
Antonin Kinsky for Spurs.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper was excellent on his debut, keeping a clean sheet against Liverpool, and while he has been a little shaky of late, there is every chance he could develop into the club’s future number one.
The next transfer wasn’t completed until early this month when Daniel Levy and Co finally addressed the team’s dire need for a centre-back by agreeing to a short-term loan with an obligation to buy at £20.9m for RC Lens star Kevin Danso.
The 24-capped Austrian international has been a key figure for the French side who made it into the Champions League last season by finishing runners-up in Ligue 1 the campaign prior.
Moreover, while the scoreline would perhaps suggest otherwise, his individual performance against Liverpool wasn’t too bad.
Mathys Tel
Last but certainly not least, Spurs finally secured a loan deal with an option to buy at £45m for the exceptionally gifted Tel, despite him initially turning them down last Friday.
The French teenager wasn’t getting much game time for Bayern Munich this season, but last year, under Thomas Tuchel, he was spectacular, racking up a tally of ten goals and six assists in just 1406 minutes of first-team football, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 87.87 minutes.
There can be no doubt that, in the Sarcelles-born dynamo, Spurs have one of the most exciting talents in world football, but even so, there is already a player in the squad, signed by Antonio Conte, who is currently worth millions more.
The Spurs star worth millions more than Tel
Conte’s tenure in North London might not have been particularly successful or positive, but he was responsible for bringing several talented first-teamers to the club, such as Desiny Udogie, Djed Spence and Pedro Porro.
antonio-conte-tottenham-hotspur
However, the player we are talking about is none other than Dejan Kulusevski, who joined the Lilywhites on a loan deal under the Italian manager, which was then made permanent under Postecoglou for around £25m.
Just a year and a half later, and according to Football Transfers, the Swedish superstar is now worth up to a whopping €65.5m, which is about £55m, or £10m more than the fee Spurs could pay for Tel come the end of the season.
While that is undoubtedly a lofty valuation, we’d argue that, at least this season, the Stockholm-born dynamo has more than justified it.
For example, in 38 appearances for the Australian manager this season, which has seen him play in central midfield, attacking midfield and off the right of a front three, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored nine goals and provided nine assists.
Kulusevski’s 24/25
Appearances
38
Minutes
2760′
Goals
9
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.47
Minutes per Goal Involvement
153.33
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means the 24-year-old is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.11 games, which is seriously impressive for a team languishing where they are in the league table.
Ultimately, Spurs have got themselves a truly sensational prospect in Tel, but if he is to join the club on a permanent deal in the summer, he’ll have to seriously impress to see his valuation reach Kulusevski’s.
Alongside Kinsky: Spurs ace who lost 10/12 duels ruined their trophy hopes
Spurs were thumped at Anfield as their dreams of Wembley faded away.
Chelsea have reportedly received multiple enquiries about striker Nicolas Jackson as the Blues consider his future.
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Chelsea consider Jackson's future
Receive enquiries for striker
Blues in market for new number nine
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to journalist, Matteo Moretto, multiple teams have contacted Chelsea about Jackson's availability. He adds that the Blues could consider selling the 23-year-old if they receive a good enough offer.
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This comes at a time when Chelsea have shortlisted five strikers ahead of the summer transfer window. Jackson has scored 29 goals in 77 games for the Blues since signing from Villarreal but many feel if they want to become an elite team again, they need to sign a better number nine.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Senegal international still has eight years left on his contract and after signing for £32 million ($42.5m) in 2023, and Chelsea will likely try and get a bigger fee for his services if sold.
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WHAT NEXT?
Jackson's Premier League season is over after his red card at Newcastle United but he could feature for Chelsea in their Conference League final against Real Betis later this month.
Chelsea returned to fourth in the Premier League for the time being, after beating Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, with goals coming from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.
They also kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League since December 22nd, when they drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park. The Blues have conceded 36 goals in 27 games so far this season.
Despite only facing seven shots against the Saints, they did create two “big chances” with their two shots on target, generating 0.72 xG and forcing Chelsea’s new shot-stopper into action.
Chelsea's rising star
Filip Jorgensen was signed in the summer by Chelsea, joining from Villarreal for a fee of around £20.7m.
First Impressions
Since arriving, the 22-year-old has been the number two keeper, making 17 appearances so far for the Blues, most of which have come in cup competitions, conceding 18 goals in total and keeping six clean sheets.
However, in recent weeks, thanks to the poor form of Robert Sanchez, Jorgensen has been made Chelsea number one according to Enzo Maresca, which has seen him start the previous four Premier League fixtures against West Ham, Brighton, Aston Villa and Southampton.
Whilst Jorgensen did make a big mistake of his own against Villa, he has clearly done enough to earn the trust of Maresca for the time being, both on the ball and making important saves, which will allow the Italian to fully axe one of their worst performers this campaign.
Chelsea can now finally sell £60k-p/w flop
Since Sanchez joined Chelsea back in 2023 for a fee of around £25m, the 27-year-old has made 43 appearances for the Blues, conceding 59 goals in total and only keeping nine clean sheets, totalling 3,864 minutes played.
When the £60k-per-week flop was first signed, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart were “excited” by his arrival:
That said, things haven’t turned out quite as planned….
Robert Sanchez vs Filip Jorgensen comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Sanchez
Jorgensen
Goals Against
1.38
1.07
Shots on Target Against
4.58
4.40
Saves
3.20
3.33
Save %
74.8%
77.3%
Clean Sheets
0.18
0.33
Passes Attempted
40.8
31.5
Pass Completion %
73.3%
83.6%
Crosses Stopped
1.38
0.33
Stats taken from FBref
When comparing both Sanchez and Jorgensen’s underlying numbers so far this season, the 22-year-old shot-stopper comes out on top, making more saves despite having fewer shots taken against him, conceding fewer goals and even having a higher pass completion.
Having the ability to play short-circuit passes around the back to attract the opposition press is very important to Maresca’s system, and the fact Jorgensen is doing it without making the same mistakes as Sanchez – or at least to a much lesser degree – is another positive sign for the Blues.
With Jorgensen now Chelsea’s number one, it is in his hands to make that position his own, keeping Sanchez out of the fray and finally allowing Maresca to settle on one goalkeeper, with Sanchez’s future potentially now lying elsewhere.
With the former Brighton man having made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League in 2024/25 alone, Winstanley and Co’s initial excitement has undoubtedly disappeared.
100% duels won: 9/10 Chelsea ace is rapidly becoming more vital than Palmer
Chelsea ended their dismal recent run with a 4-0 win over Southampton last night.
Shifting their focus towards the summer transfer window, Arsenal are now reportedly in pole position ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign a 20-goal striker worth £62m.
Arsenal transfer news
Whether it’s been with or without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s biggest obstacle has been their struggling frontline this season. It has stood in the way of that crucial next step for Mikel Arteta, who has watched his side go from free-flowing to set piece specialists at times even when everyone was fit.
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The Spaniard will be desperate to rediscover that attractive, attacking spark, which should see the Gunners step into the transfer market in pursuit of finally finding a forward capable of dragging them to major silverware.
Already, several names have been mentioned as possible candidates on that front with Alexander Isak the biggest of the lot. The Newcastle United man has once again enjoyed a standout season for the Magpies to reportedly bump his price up to a staggering £150m ahead of the summer transfer window. As much as Arsenal admire the Swede, it remains to be seen whether they can afford to meet such a figure.
Instead, they could turn towards an alternative option who has been just as impressive this season. According to Sport Digitale’s Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Arsenal are now leading the race ahead of Manchester United to sign Victor Osimhen, who has a release clause of just £62m this summer.
The Napoli man, who’s been on loan at Galatasaray this season, has looked destined for the top of European football for some time now, but has often been priced out of a move by his parent club.
Now worth £62m, however, the Nigerian could finally get the move that he has been craving since Napoli left him with no choice but to head out on loan to Galatasaray last summer.
"Dominant" Osimhen would end Arsenal's attacking woes
Whilst Havertz could be accused of drifting out of games without making his mark, Osimhen is a player more than capable of taking responsibility and dragging his side to success. He did exactly that at Napoli when they won the Scudetto in the 2022/23 campaign and he’s now doing exactly that at Galatasaray, who sit six points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig.
The Nigerian has more than played his part in that rise, scoring 20 goals despite playing just 27 games in all competitions. Described as “dominant aerially” and a “powerful ball striker” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Osimhen is everything that Arsenal’s blunt frontline lacks.
For close to £100m less than Isak, Arsenal could land a goalscorer with experience at the very top who is primed to step back into one of Europe’s top five leagues this summer.