It’s clear from Manchester United’s chaotic summer transfer activity that improving their attacking output is a top priority.

Already, Matheus Cunha has entered the building for a fee of £62.5m and he represents a superb addition, having bagged an electric 15 Premier League strikes for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

Next in line looks set to be Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroon sensation was even better than Cunha in the English top-flight last season, adding 20 goals of his own after expertly leading the line for Brentford all across the 2024/25 campaign.

But, things are unlikely to stop their as Jason Wilcox and Co go about improving Ruben Amorim’s squad.

Man Utd offered chance to sign £44m forward

Staggeringly, United’s most potent striker last season was Rasmus Hojlund, who only powered home a weak four strikes in league action, with six big chances missed along the way.

Therefore, it’s no great shock to see millions and millions are being splashed to try and land the best of the best in the attacking department, as another new attacker is now lined up to make the switch to Old Trafford.

As per a report from the Stretty News, Amorim and Co have been offered the chance to land former Everton marksman Moise Kean during talks with the player’s representatives.

Sources close to Stretty News reveal that Kean could be available for around the £44m mark after finding his goalscoring groove in Italy, but it will rest on what Amorim desires in the forward positions, away from Cunha and Mbeumo entering his ever-growing camp.

It’s stated that the former Sporting boss will have the final say on whether United pursue Kean’s services or not, but whether or not Amorim green-lights a deal, the Italian certainly wants the move, according to the report.

Why Kean would be great alongside Mbeumo

If the manager wants another red-hot goal machine, he will surely come to the realisation sooner rather than later that the 25-year-old is a worthwhile signing to make, with the Fiorentina ace potentially linking up with Mbeumo to devastating effect if he does soon head back to England.

Kean is a different beast altogether now from his mundane Everton spell, which saw him net just four goals for the Toffees from a largely unmemorable 39-game stint.

Last season in the Serie A alone, Kean scored a hefty 19 league strikes, with his entire output overall in all competitions coming in at a venomous 25 goals, five more than Mbeumo managed when starting week in week out for the Bees.

Kean’s league numbers (24/25) vs Mbeumo’s (24/25)
Stat (* = per game)	Kean	Mbeumo
Games played	32	38
Goals scored	19	20
Assists	3	7
Shots*	3.3	2.2
Big chances missed	22	8
Big chances created	4	17
Stats by Sofascore

Whilst Mbeumo can line up as an out-and-out centre-forward, his attacking qualities aren’t just strictly grounded on firing home goal after goal, with the Cameroonian creating a mighty 17 big chances last season in the Premier League when patrolling down the right wing, alongside slotting in as a striker.

Therefore, with the 25-year-old potentially being pushed out to the right to accommodate more for his creative flair, Kean could become Amorim’s main marksman up top in the process, with the Italy international no doubt keen to ensure he doesn’t squander 22 big chances on the big occasion for the Red Devils.

He will certainly be gifted more opportunities in front of goal if he lines up next to the incessant Mbeumo, and with Thomas Tuchel once referring to Kean as “fearless” during their time together at Paris St. Germain, he should be able to take to the pressures of such a monumental move in his stride.

After all, the “top-class” forward – as he has also been glowingly referred to by scout Jacek Kulig – will be extremely hungry to right the wrongs of his barren stay on Merseyside in Manchester, as United’s attack becomes more and more of a frightening prospect by the day.

A dire 15th place finish under Amorim last season isn’t deterring some big names from wanting to make the leap to the Theatre of Dreams, with Kean desperate to be a success story to push United up the league standings, as both the Italian and Mbeumo prepare to potentially terrorise Premier League defences together.

He'd be a bigger coup than Mbuemo: Man Utd open talks to sign Pogba 2.0

Manchester United’s work in the transfer window has shown no signs of slowing down in recent days.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 29, 2025

Tourists have avoided defeat at Lord’s for 33 years and counting. Can they rise to the occasion again?

Andrew Miller28-Aug-2024Big picture: Sunny weather, sunny times?Is there a danger that a competitive Test series might break out in London over the coming fortnight? This is a city where Sri Lanka, remarkably, have not lost a single Test in six visits since August 1991. Admittedly, five of those have been draws at Lord’s, although next week’s return to The Oval for the first time since Murali’s match in 1998 will be a reminder that one of the more disparaged of touring teams have long had the ability to confound expectations on their infrequent England visits.Related

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Ollie Pope passes first captaincy test, though his own returns beg to differ

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Kamindu's mantra behind 92.16 average: 'Keep calm, make limited opportunities count'

Switch Hit: UnBazballian

Which is, to a greater or lesser extent, what Sri Lanka managed to do over the course of four improbably competitive days at Emirates Old Trafford. England eventually landed their fourth Test win out of four this summer, but not before they’d been made to struggle for the upper hand with ball and, latterly, bat, as Joe Root dropped anchor in a distinctly unBazballian 62 not out from 128 balls to oversee a taxing 205-run chase.The subplots along the way were many and varied. What might have happened on the first evening, for instance, if England hadn’t bowed to the umpires’ assertion that it was too dark to bowl their quicks, and simply gone off for bad light instead of offering Milan Rathnayake 12 overs of spin in which to move towards the highest score by a No.9 on Test debut?England assemble for their team photo at Lord’s•Getty ImagesConversely, what might have happened had England not managed to wrangle a ball-change after 41 overs of Sri Lanka’s second innings, by which stage Angelo Mathews was channelling his 2014 glory days while Kamindu Mendis was on course for his third Test hundred in the space of four calmly authoritative Test appearances?As had been the case in the Oval Ashes Test 12 months earlier, England had made their bed and deserved to have to sleep in it with their treatment of their original ball. They had sacrificed new-ball swing in the quest for a scuffed-up surface and some of the prodigious reverse that Asitha Fernando in particular had harvested. And even if their replacement ball was the same age as the original, it was like comparing a 41-year-old Hollywood actress with a vagrant who’s lived his adult life in a ditch. Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka’s captain, confirmed he had spoken to the match referee about the ball-change after the Test, and with such issues an increasingly frequent aspect of the English Test summer, this is clearly a loophole that deserves to be tightened up for future engagements.All things being equal, however, it was hard to argue that Sri Lanka were robbed in the course of the first Test. Few sides that struggle to 6 for 3 in the first innings, then 1 for 2 in the second, can expect to get away unpunished, although seeing as one of the reasons for those scorelines was a notably fallow display from the otherwise sturdy Dimuth Karunaratne, who averages a tick below 41 in his 92 Tests, and who made 87 runs for once out on his last trip to Lord’s in 2016, there is reason to believe that history won’t repeat itself this week.For starters, the team as a whole are now better acquainted with English conditions. Their preparation prior to the Old Trafford Test had been a low-key warm-up against England Lions in Worcester, which unsurprisingly proved insufficient to get them fully up to speed. And, after an intermittently damp experience in Manchester, the weather for London over the coming few days should be distinctly sunnier. There is no proven correlation between warm weather and heightened Sri Lankan performances, but anecdotal evidence from the past 40 years would tend to back up the suspicion that they tend to like it hot.Either way, Sri Lanka have been granted the window in the calendar that they have been crying out for since their first forays to England in the 1980s. Here we are, in the thick of a full Test series at the sharp end of the English summer, as opposed to a one-off afterthought, as was the case from 1984 to 1998, or an early-season trial by seam and swing, as per 2002 onwards. The onus is on the class of 2024 to live up to the billing they’ve been afforded. And in spite of most expectations, that’s more or less what they managed in the first match of three.Dan Lawrence, Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook arrive at practice•Getty ImagesForm guideEngland WWWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWWWLIn the spotlight: Ollie Pope and Asitha FernandoOllie Pope has made a winning start to his Test captaincy career, which is not to be sniffed at – many great leaders, including his England predecessor, didn’t manage that feat. But when it comes to his day job as England’s No.3, Pope’s main challenge is compartmentalisation, and two glaringly sub-par performances reinforced the sense that his game isn’t quite where he wants or needs it to be. In the first innings he was bowled neck-and-crop by an admittedly excellent ball from Asitha; but in the second, his tendency towards skittishness in the early stages of an innings resulted in an ill-conceived reverse-sweep to slip – the very same shot that underpinned his GOAT-contender innings at Hyderabad in the winter. On the face of it, he’s still in credit this summer, with 251 runs at 41.83 after four Tests. However, there’s been something intangibly unsettled about his batting post-Hyderabad. Whether it’s a mindset or technical issue, only he can truly say, but he won’t get a chance to focus fully on a remedy in his current stand-in role.Asitha Fernando was phenomenally good at Old Trafford. He led the line for Sri Lanka in each innings, easing past 50 Test wickets in the space of 15 Tests as he mixed conventional seam and swing with prodigious amounts of reverse – which in itself was quite the feat given how lush the outfield had been all match long. His challenge now is to back that performance up at Lord’s (and The Oval) in the coming days. England will no doubt be better prepared for his unassuming threat, having had a good sighting of his probing methods, but Aaqib Javed, Sri Lanka’s bowling coach, likened his effortless each-way movement to that of Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, and for Test cricket’s connoisseurs, there really is no higher praise. Just ask Kevin Pietersen. If he can keep England guessing with new ball and old, so much the better for Sri Lanka’s hopes of keeping the series alive.Team news: Stone in for Wood, SL consider KumaraAs ever, England were proactive in their team announcement, confirming on Tuesday that they would be making one enforced change to their XI from Old Trafford. Mark Wood is out of the series with a thigh strain, so Nottinghamshire’s Olly Stone slots back in as the like-for-like option, ahead of the uncapped 20-year-old left-armer, Josh Hull, who will be using this week to soak up the international atmosphere. Stone hasn’t played a Test since 2021, having since had two screws inserted in his back, but he’s been fit and firing across formats all summer long, and has tended to look the part in his limited England appearances to date. In three Tests since 2019, he’s picked up ten wickets at 19.40.England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Olly Stone, 11 Shoaib BashirSri Lanka have also confirmed their playing XI ahead of the game. They had put up a good fight in the end, of the first Test with Kamindu and Asitha their stand-out performers, but their main issue came right at right at the top of the order. Nishan Madushka has retained his role as opener but could muster only four runs across both innings in the first Test. Pathum Nissanka will slot in at No. 3 as Kusal Mendis lost his place despite deputising well in England’s second innings. Dinesh Chandimal has recovered from a gruesome blow to the thumb at Old Trafford to retain his spot. On the bowling front, Lahiru Kumara has been recalled to provide some extra muscle, at the expense of the left-armer, Vishwa Fernando.Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Pathum Nissanka, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Milan Rathnayake, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru KumaraSanath Jayasuriya talks to his Sri Lanka team before the second Test•Getty ImagesPitch and conditions: Sun set to shineThe weather is set fair, and Lord’s in the sunshine can be tough place for a bowler. There have been some formidable snore-draws in the County Championship this summer, with Middlesex passing 600 twice and 550 once and Glamorgan’s Sam Northeast surpassing Graham Gooch’s 333 as the highest individual scorer at the venue. That said, West Indies didn’t detain England’s bowlers for long in their visit in July, thanks to Gus Atkinson’s 12 wickets on debut. Pope noted that the pitch had a grassy tinge to it on the eve of the match, but expected to play pretty slow while the sun was out.Stats and trivia This will be Sri Lanka’s ninth Test at Lord’s since 1984, which will draw the ground level with Harare as their most frequent overseas venue. They have played at least that many Tests in six home venues, with the SSC in Colombo top of the pile on 45. Sri Lanka have never won a Test at Lord’s … but they very rarely lose at the venue either. They famously drew on their initial visit in 1984, while the most recent of their two defeats came in 1991, at the hands of Graham Gooch, Phil DeFreitas and Phil Tufnell. Since then, Sri Lanka have secured draws in all five of their visits to Lord’s, with their defiance in 2006 and 2014 proving critical in landing a series draw in the first instance, and a series win in the second. Despite his second-innings century at Old Trafford, Kamindu’s average has slipped from its previous heights … though not by much. His mark at the start of the series was 107.00 from three Tests; it is now 92.16 from four, with three hundreds and two further fifties in his seven innings to date. Dimuth Karunaratne needs 72 more runs to reach 7000 in Tests.Quotes”It’s good we’re getting pushed. Sri Lanka were impressive last week, especially the way they batted. When you come to England, you expect different conditions and the conditions weren’t your classic English-style pitches but at the same time, for the guys to go and put together some good scores and set us a chase from a hundred deficit is a credit to them.”
Ollie Pope expects England to come out on top but respects the challenge that Sri Lanka have posed “Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment. He has a good mindset and he has a good technique. If we can get him into the team, that’s great. I have been talking about it for a while now. I think he will adjust to any format.”
Dhananjaya de Silva is all confident about Pathum Nissanka’s skills

Everton have already had a busy summer transfer window, bringing in their new centre-forward, Thierno Barry, who is essentially a direct replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, the Toffees aren’t done there when it comes to attacking signings, and are seemingly looking to sign an attacking midfielder, too.

Well, one man who they seem to show keen interest in is Manchester City academy graduate James McAtee. They are said to be keen to finalise a deal for the England under-21 captain. However, they will face competition from West Ham United, so a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium is far from a guarantee.

Thus, Everton are seemingly in for another Premier League attacking midfielder, if a move for McAtee doesn’t materialise.

Everton’s McAtee alternative

It remains to be seen if the Toffees actually manage to sign McAtee this summer, with the race for the Citizens youngster certainly a close one. It seems that the Toffees are set to enter another transfer battle for their alternative signing to City’s attacking midfield.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to a recent report from The Telegraph, David Moyes’ side have an ‘interest’ in signing Aston Villa academy graduate Jacob Ramsey this season. He has ‘previously been looked at’ by Everton who ‘retain’ their interest in the boyhood Villa fan.

They are not the only club that want the 24-year-old. Ironically, they are also set to face competition from Moyes’ former side, West Ham, with Nottingham Forest another team who have made the attacker ‘a primary summer target’ ahead of a possible departure by Morgan Gibbs-White.

As for a price for Ramsey, Villa could demand as much as £30m.

Why Ramsey would be a good signing

At 24 years of age, Ramsey is now an experienced Premier League player. Despite struggling with injuries at times during his career, he has built up a fantastic reputation in the top flight that has led Statman Dave to describe him as a “magic” player.

The Birmingham-born Villa academy star impressed at times last season. He made 46 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and grabbing seven assists in that time. Six of those goal involvements came in the top flight.

If you think those numbers are impressive, then his stats from the 2022/23 campaign really stand out. In the top flight that season, Ramsey bagged six goals and assisted seven, playing 35 games in total. That included a winning goal against Southampton at Villa Park.

Interestingly, the attacking midfielder is noted as statistically and stylistically similar to former Toffees star Adoulaye Doucoure, among players in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref.

More on those stats later, but it is certainly intriguing to note that Moyes wants to sign a player of the same profile as Doucoure, who was so important to him at the start of his second stint in charge at the club.

The Mali international was vital for the Toffees during his time at the club, with 21 goals and 14 assists in 166 games in that famous Blue shirt.

His winning goal against Bournemouth back in 2023 on the final day of the season kept Everton in the Premier League.

His record under Moyes last season showed just what kind of an impact he had going forward. A box-crashing midfielder, the 32-year-old only played 16 Premier League games under the Scot, but managed three goals and two assists.

Looking at those aforementioned FBref stats from last term, the similarities are clear to see. Ramsey averaged 0.22 goals and assists, and 1.17 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to 0.18 goals and assists and 0.98 key passes each game for Doucoure.

Ramsey and Doucoure key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Ramsey

Doucoure

Goals and assists

0.22

0.18

Key passes

1.17

0.98

Progressive passes

3.78

2.88

Goal-creating actions

0.44

0.11

Progressive carries

3.39

1.47

Tackles and interceptions

2.11

2.04

Stats from FBref

The likeness is apparent, with Ramsey averaging far higher in some stats, such as ball-carrying, adding an extra element to his appeal. Keeping such a profile in the squad could be vital for Moyes and the way he wants his side to play next term. He could become the new Doucoure for the Toffees.

As far as McAtee alternatives go, Ramsey could be the guy Everton bring to play on Bramley Moore Dock next term. Signing a Premier League proven star for just £30m could be one of the bargains of the summer.

Related Ndiaye 2.0: Everton pushing to sign 'the 2nd best dribbler in the world'

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

Fulham have now opened talks to sign a “spectacular” U21 European Championships star, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Cottagers set sights on U21 Euros star

Several players put themselves in the shop window courtesy of their performances at the recent U21 Euros, with former Fulham man Harvey Elliott playing a vital role in England’s triumph, picking up five goals throughout the tournament.

The Cottagers have expressed an interest in signing Elliott in the past, and the midfielder’s recent performances are only likely to have driven up his value, with Liverpool now thought to be holding out for a fee of £40m.

However, the Liverpool ace was not the only midfielder who excelled at the tournament, with a report revealing Marco Silva’s side have now taken steps towards securing the signature of a different midfielder…

Leeds leading Fulham in race to sign £8.5m defender alongside Bornauw

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ByBrett Worthington Jul 1, 2025

According to Sky Sports (via Sport Witness), Fulham have now expressed a concrete interest in signing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz, submitting an enquiry over a potential summer deal.

Reitz has a £17m release clause which becomes active next summer, and he is attracting widespread interest from within the Premier League, with West Ham United thought to be leading the race for his signature.

Monchengladbach are worried by the interest in one of their key players, with the German club determined to retain his services, but the fact the midfielder is set to be available for £17m next year could lead them to auctioning him off this summer.

"Spectacular" Reitz impressing for Germany U21s

Germany ultimately came up short in the U21 Euros final, with England prevailing 3-2 after Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time winner, but Reitz impressed throughout the tournament, being singled out for high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Fellow scout Antonio Mango has lauded the maestro as “spectacular” in the past, and he has proven himself to be exceptional at winning back possession, ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

After losing Joao Palhinha last summer, Fulham brought in Sander Berge, but there are signs the Mönchengladbach midfielder could be more of a like-for-like replacement for the Portugal international, considering his defensive qualities.

As such, Reitz could be a shrewd acquisition for Silva this summer, and the manager will be hoping that Fulham finishing higher than West Ham last season will give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in negotiations.

كشف وليد صلاح عبد اللطيف لاعب الزمالك الأسبق، عن رأيه في سبب تراجع أداء ونتائج الأهلي منذ انطلاق الموسم الحالي، والتي كان آخرها التعادل أمام إنبي في الدوري المصري.

وقال وليد صلاح عبد اللطيف: “هناك مشاكل كثيرة منذ البداية، لأن الضغوط كانت كبيرة جدًا، وسأوضح نقطة تتعلق بالإدارة في مسألة التعاقد مع اللاعبين، حيث أراها مشكلة”.

وأكمل: “العدد الكبير من اللاعبين الذين جاءوا بمبالغ كبيرة أحدث بعض القلق وأوجد مشكلة داخل غرفة الملابس، إضافة إلى ذلك، هناك موضوع إمام عاشور، والكلام المتداول حول رغبته في تجديد عقده”.

طالع | لاعب الزمالك الأسبق: زيزو لم يكن أمينًا وتسبب في أزمة لـ الأهلي

وواصل: “كل هذا الكلام لم نكن نسمعه في النادي الأهلي، وحتى إن كان موجودًا من قبل، لم يكن يخرج للإعلام، لكن الآن الأخبار تتسرب، مثل أن إدارة النادي بدأت تقول (سنُجدد لإمام وسنزيد عقدك)، وهذا أيضًا لا يُشبه أسلوب النادي الأهلي”.

وزاد: “وبالتالي هناك خلل إداري داخل النادي الأهلي في جانب التعاقدات، في جانب التجديدات، وفي مسألة أن جميع اللاعبين الآن ينظرون لبعضهم البعض باعتبار أن كل واحد منهم نجم جاء برقم كبير”.

وأضاف: “هذا الأمر يضع ضغطًا هائلًا على اللاعبين، فكل لاعب جاء بعقد كبير يريد أن يكون هو النجم الأول، وهو من يقود الفريق للفوز”.

وأتم: “لكن هذا لم يكن موجودًا في النادي الأهلي، لأن مبدأ الأهلي أن النادي كله هو النجم، وليس أن يرى كل لاعب نفسه النجم الأوحد”.

Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are about to sign yet another player this summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining busy in the transfer market after an already-ambitious window.

Eze's dream CF: Arsenal in talks to sign £69m "monster" & it's not Gyokeres

Arsenal could still change their mind on Viktor Gyokeres.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

Mikel Arteta has already watched the Premier League title hopefuls confirm deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard most recently.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£75m

The Gunners announced Norgaard’s capture on Thursday for an initial fee of £10 million, which could rise to £15 million if add-ons are met, and he comes in to shore up Arteta’s midfield whilst replacing the departed Thomas Partey.

“We’re delighted to welcome Christian to Arsenal,” said Arteta about Norgaard’s arrival.

“He is an international player with a wealth of experience of the Premier League. He has proven leadership skills and a strong character which will be invaluable to our squad.

“He is a strong midfielder with excellent tactical awareness and versatility. He also has physical presence and intelligence which will give us added depth and balance. Christian will bring a lot to the group both on and off the pitch, and we’re excited to start working with him in this next chapter of his career. We welcome Christian and his family to Arsenal.”

Attention now swiftly turns to who will follow the Denmark international to N5.

Arsenal remain in ongoing talks to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as negotiations reach a very advanced stage, and it is believed the 27-year-old is now on strike as he attempts to force through his desired move to north London.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also held talks with Eberechi Eze’s representatives, according to reliable media sources, and a potential deal for the England international playmaker is separate to their pursuit of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Earlier this week, after agreeing personal terms with the 23-year-old, Arsenal opened formal talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, and it now appears those negotiations have reached a swift conclusion.

Arsenal given green light to sign Noni Madueke with agreement reached

That is according to Romano and widespread reports, which claim that Arsenal have now reached a total agreement for Madueke, in a deal worth north of £50 million including add-ons.

Arteta’s side have been given the “green light” to sign the ex-PSV Eindhoven sensation, with Chelsea set to make a £20 million profit – two years after he joined them from the Eredivisie for around £30 million.

The forward, called a “machine” by members of the media, was also dubbed one of Chelsea’s “best players” by Enzo Maresca last season.

However, Madueke is now poised to become the latest in a long line of transfers between the west Londoners and Arsenal, which surely casts major doubt over the long-term futures of both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard – especially if they also complete a deal for Eze.

Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey have also signed new deals with Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2024David Warner will be available for a full BBL season for the first time in his career after signing a new two-year deal with Sydney Thunder while Steven Smith could play the competition beyond his Test career as part of a new three-year contract to remain at Sydney Sixers.It comes as Test team-mates Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey re-signed with Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers respectively ahead of the tournament’s 14th edition.The Test stars are set to be available between the end of the Sydney Test against India and their departure for the Sri Lanka tour on January 21 next year, also the first day of the BBL’s knockout stage.Related

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But with Warner having ended his international career he has a clear run at the BBL. Over the last two seasons, he has played eight games for Thunder after a gap of ten years, including the match where he arrived at the SCG by helicopter last summer.”Davey is popular wherever he plays, right around the world, particularly in India and I know the South Asian communities in Sydney’s west will get right behind him at Thunder,” Trent Copeland, the Thunder general manager, said.”In Davey we get a world class talent with almost 20 years of T20 experience and now that he has retired from international cricket, we can count on his full focus and commitment for the entire tournament, including the finals.Smith is set to be available for as many as four Sixers games – including a potential derby with Warner’s Thunder – while Labuschagne’s Heat and Carey’s Strikers each have three games in that window.Smith would theoretically be free to play a full BBL season, rather than just a cameo, if he chose to retire from Test cricket over the next three years but he continues not to put a timeline on his Australia career.Steven Smith could get four games for Sydney Sixers•Getty Images

“I don’t have any plans,” Smith said. “I’m just enjoying playing at the moment, I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to this summer. India’s going to be a great challenge, they are a very good side, think we are probably the two best Test teams in the world going head-to-head over five Tests. I’m excited by that.”Smith is currently one of Australia’s incumbent Test openers after replacing Warner earlier this year although whether that remains the case will continue to be a debate.”The conversations I’ve had so far is that we’ll go to England…I’m there for the one-dayers then make a decision after that. There’s conversations happening in the background. Guys like Usman [Khawaja] has said he likes me down at No. 4, think Marnus is of a similar thought pattern. We’ll wait and see. I’m happy to bat anywhere.”Smith was a member of the Sixers side that won the first edition of the BBL in 2012 but had been only sporadically available in the years after making a blistering cameo two summers ago. He became the first male Sixers player to score a century, achieving the feat twice in a five-game run.Left out from the squad for Australia’s T20 World Cup squad over the winter, Smith played cricket for the Ricky Ponting-coached Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket this July where he captained them to the title.Meanwhile, Labuschagne will return to Heat, the reigning champions and his long-term BBL franchise, after India’s Australia tour concludes on January 7.”His game sense is exceptional and that is a huge asset to us on and off the field,” new Heat coach Johan Botha said.Carey has signed a four-year deal with the Strikers, with whom the Test wicketkeeper has played all 56 BBL games of his eight-year career in the league. Strikers will be coached by his predecessor as Test wicketkeeper, Tim Paine, from this season.None of the big three quicks – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins – have signed with BBL sides to date and are likely to take breaks from bowling before Sri Lanka.

It wouldn’t be over the top to suggest that next season is Mikel Arteta’s most important since taking charge of Arsenal in 2019.

The Spaniard has helped to utterly transform the club since he was appointed, but after three second-placed Premier League finishes in a row, the expectation from many is that he will finally lead the team to glory next year.

Fortunately, the board and sporting director Andrea Berta seem intent on giving him the tools to do so this summer, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard already through the door, and a deal for Viktor Gyokeres in the works.

Furthermore, the links to Eberechi Eze continue to heat up, and now it looks like the Gunners are looking at someone who’d be the midfielder’s dream forward.

Arsenal target Eze's perfect forward

Eze has long been a player on Arsenal’s radar, as stories linking him with a return to the club that released him as a child started to pop up as far back as last summer.

Transfer Focus

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

However, it’s really been in the last couple of weeks that the reports have become far more serious.

It now looks like the 27-year-old, who has a £68m release clause in his contract, has agreed personal terms with the Gunners and that talks between the two clubs are ongoing.

The Englishman would be an expensive but exciting addition to Arteta’s side, and now it looks like Berta and co are interested in adding another attacker who’d be his perfect forward: Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in the Atalanta star this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Napoli are all keen on the Nigerian international.

On top of having to deal with the competition, the Premier League runners-up will have to stump up a fee of around £50m for the former Everton ace.

It’s a lot of money to spend on another attacking player, but Lookman has been incredible for several years now, and would be a dream forward signing for Eze.

Why Lookman would be a dream forward for Eze

There are several reasons why Lookman could end up being a dream teammate for Eze at Arsenal, but the first and most crucial is unsurprisingly related to his output.

While the former Everton and Fulham ace struggled to show how good he really was during his time in England, he has had no such trouble since making his way to Italy.

Across his 118 games for the Bergamo outfit, totalling 7538 minutes, the “world-class” attacker has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists.

Appearances

33

45

40

Minutes

1858′

2809′

2871′

Goals

15

17

20

Assists

8

10

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.69

0.60

0.67

Minutes per Goal Involvement

80.78′

104.03′

106.33

In other words, the 29-capped international has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes since joining the Serie A side.

Just imagine the numbers the Palace ace could produce playing behind or alongside someone as dangerous as the Wandsworth-born star.

That brings us to the second reason the former RB Leipzig ace would be a great teammate: his positional versatility.

Due to the 27-year-old’s ability to play across the entire frontline, there will be plenty of minutes available to him at the Emirates next season, and as such, he’d have plenty of time to form a real connection with Eze and learn his game.

Moreover, he’s also able to play in attacking midfield and could therefore offer cover for the Englishman and make sure he is not overplayed.

Finally, Lookman has also proven to be a big game player, someone who can get his team over the line all by himself and is totally unfazed by the big occasion.

You only need to look at the 2024 Europa League final to see this, as he scored a hat-trick and won the final for Atlanta despite them being the clear underdogs.

With one of Eze’s motivations for joining the Gunners likely being the chance to win the biggest competitions, this is especially important.

Ultimately, Arteta and Co need to improve Arsenal’s attacking options ahead of next season, and signing both the Palace and Atalanta stars would be an excellent way to do that.

Saka's dream CAM: Arsenal submit bid for £45m superstar & it's not Madueke

The experienced international could be a game-changer for Arsenal and Bukayo Saka.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

David Moyes has signed only three players for Everton this summer, but as the weeks progress, there will likely be several more making the move to Merseyside.

More importantly, however, is the news that Moyes managed to secure defender Jarrad Branthwaite down to a new four-year contract extension with the Toffees.

This could be crucial regarding Everton’s chances of breaking back into the top half of the Premier League table next season, especially with several clubs sniffing around the player.

It proves that the club are heading in the right direction, especially judging by the quality of their signings.

Carlos Alcaraz did spend time on loan at Everton last season, but his permanent move will improve Moyes’ midfield options.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaving the club upon the expiration of his contract, signing another striker or two was a key priority for the manager.

As such, a deal to secure the signature of Thierno Barry was completed a couple of weeks ago.

The centre-forward may have cost the Toffees around £27m from La Liga side Villarreal, but this may just turn out to be a wise piece of business.

Why Everton signed Thierno Barry

While Calvert-Lewin didn’t exactly bring goals to the side last season – scoring only three all season – losing a forward meant Moyes had to be active in the transfer market.

Barry was the player earmarked as a major target, and for good reason. Last season, the French starlet scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists for Villarreal across all competitions.

Furthermore, the striker also showcased his creative side by creating seven big chances for his teammates, proving that he offers much more than just a goal threat.

He played in the U21 European Championship for France this summer, scoring once for his country as they reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Germany.

Despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France, Barry also created two big chances, averaged two shots per game and missed four big chances.

If given more of a chance in the team, he may have had a bigger influence, no doubt about that.

This all sets him up nicely for the 2025/26 season, where he will be taking on some of the finest defenders in the world.

Should Barry live up to his potential, Moyes may have unearthed a stunning talent who will certainly secure them a stunning profit in the coming years.

While a promising signing, the Frenchman wont be able to lead the Toffees’ frontline on his own, especially with the pressure to score plenty during his maiden season.

Moyes must now be looking to bring in another centre-forward ahead of the new season, one who could offer similar sort of qualities to those of Barry.

With this in mind, it appears the Scot is targeting a move for someone who shone in what was their debut season in European football.

Everton enquire about move for new striker

Moyes was keen on signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, but that ship has now sailed with the Irishman bound for AS Roma. Additionally, Nick Woltemade was also a target, but Bayern Munich were also keen on the German.

One striker who has been on the club’s list for some time is Hamza Igamane, who shone for Glasgow Rangers last season.

Indeed, it was after his performance against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2024 that initially saw the Toffees linked with the Moroccan.

While a January move was never in the question, it looks as though Igamane could be on the move this summer.

It looked as though Lille were closing in on the youngster, but according to reports on the continent, Moyes might well be back in the frame for him.

The report read: “LOSC Lille struggling in their negotiations with Rangers for Hamza Igamane. Despite a personal agreement with the Moroccan, the deal’s still on hold. In the meantime, Feyenoord entered the race. Everton and Udinese have also made enquiries.”

Rangers have placed a £20m valuation on one of their prized assets, but this shouldn’t be an issue to the Merseyside outfit.

Should Everton win the race, Igamane could turn out to be Barry 2.0 given their similarities on the pitch.

Why Everton must sign Hamza Igamane

Igamane certainly made his mark for Rangers last season. Across 46 games in all competitions, he scored 16 goals, including strikes against Celtic, Spurs and Nice.

It is no wonder several clubs are chasing his signature after his performances for the Gers, especially in Europe.

Metric

Premiership

Europa League

Goals

12

4

Assists

1

1

Goal conversion percentage

13%

29%

Big chances created

10

1

Shots per game

2.6

1.4

In the Europa League, Igamane recorded an impressive 29% goal conversion percentage, while also registering 1.4 shots on goal.

Ben Mattinson hailed his character last season, saying: “Hamza Igamane is such a Barclaysman type forward. Completely unpredictable, tonnes of flair and trickery. The type of player to try outrageous moves/shots just because.”

Interestingly, both he and Barry offered similar traits last season. According to FBref, both players performed well in front of goal, registering 18 and 20 goal contributions across both domestic and European competitions.

Elsewhere, the duo also registered similar figures when it came to shots per 90 (3.88 vs 3.02), shot on target percentage (39% vs 36%), goal-creating actions (4 vs 6 ) and successful take-ons (17 vs 18) last season.

This proves that the pair won’t just offer Everton a threat in front of goal, but that they can also create chances for others and are willing to take on opposition defenders on a regular basis.

With both Barry and Igamane in the same team, there is no reason why Everton can’t make the top half of the Premier League next season.

Indeed, if both players take to the top flight with ease, can a European place perhaps be secured also? It is a long shot, but Moyes has finally rejuvenated the club after years of stagnation.

Another striker is crucial. By bringing in Igamane, Moyes will be able to replicate his Barry masterclass.

Everton in contact to sign "fantastic" defender who pocketed Calvert-Lewin

The Toffees are in the hunt for defensive reinforcements…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 21, 2025

Following Alexander Isak’s bombshell that he wants to leave St James’ Park this summer, Newcastle United have now reportedly turned their attention towards a 6-foot-4 star who could replace the Swede, alongside Benjamin Sesko.

Newcastle preparing Benjamin Sesko move

Whilst they are still adamant that Isak is not for sale this summer, the Magpies are still on the look-out for heirs.

Alongside Yoane Wissa, who remains a target no matter where Isak is playing his football next season, those at St James’ Park have also set their sights on Sesko.

This was also the case with Hugo Ekitiké before Liverpool came swooping in. However, similarly to the Frenchman, Sesko will not come cheap this summer. Reports are suggesting that RB Leipzig are demanding as much as £60m to sell their talented forward ahead of next season.

Money would be no obstacle if Isak does leave this summer, but they’ll still want to ensure that they spend in the right way at such a key time for PIF’s project.

Eddie Howe, meanwhile, will be desperate to simply keep hold of Isak, recently telling reporters:

“We do share a good relationship. He has been magnificent for us since he joined.

PIF set sights on signing 13-goal star for Newcastle after Isak bombshell

The Magpies have instantly turned towards potential replacements.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 25, 2025

“He’s very popular in the dressing room. We would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. Although, whatever happens has to be right for Newcastle.”

Given the forward has not travelled with Newcastle for their pre-season tour of Asia and has made it clear that he wants to leave, the Isak saga is only just getting started. The Magpies must prepare for the worst, and that could see them turn towards a Premier League rival in search of a potential successor.

Newcastle seriously interested in Strand Larsen

As reported by the Express and Star’s Liam Keen, Newcastle are now seriously interested in signing Jorgen Strand Larsen this summer. The 6’4 striker enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League, and whilst he remains happy at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eddie Howe’s side are seemingly lurking.

As things stand, Wolves’ stance is that Strand Larsen is not for sale and his happiness at the club should help fend off any interest. But it should come as no surprise that a club in Newcastle’s position are keen.

Outperforming his expected total by four goals, Strand Larsen also outdid Sesko in terms of league goals scored and was more clinical than the Leipzig star overall, according to FBref.

Minutes

2,587

2,380

Goals

14

13

Assists

4

5

Expected Goals

10.3

10

Factor in that the Wolves man is now Premier League-proven, and he becomes an interesting option for Newcastle.

That said, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira will be keen to keep hold of his towering forward, having been full of praise for him last season – describing him as “fantastic” back in March.