اعترف نجم نادي برشلونة، بأنه قد فكر بشكل جدي في الرحيل عن صفوف الفريق الكتالوني خلال صيف العام الماضي، وذلك بسبب عرض من أحد الأندية في الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.
ووضعت أندية الدوري السعودي عينها على العديد من النجوم في الأندية الأوروبية خلال السنوات الأخيرة، ومن بين هذه الأسماء كان نجم نادي برشلونة، رافينها.
رافينها قدم مستويات استثنائية رفقة نادي برشلونة خلال العام الحالي وفي أواخر العام الماضي كذلك، ويعتبر من بين أهم اللاعبين في تشكيلة المدير الفني هانز فليك.
اقرأ أيضًا .. رافينها يعترف: العديد من الأشخاص تمنوا رحيلي عن برشلونة
لكن رافينها اعترف في مقابلة مع شبكة إي إس بي إن، أن عرض الدوري السعودي كان مغريًا للغاية، قبل أن يستمر الدولي البرازيلي مع برشلونة في نهاية المطاف.
وقال رافينها: “تأثرت كثيرًا عندما تلقيت العرض السعودي، لأنه كان سيحل العديد من جوانب حياتي الشخصية ويضمن مستقبل والدي وابني والعديد من المقربين مني”.
وأضاف رافينها في حديثه: “لذا، كان من الطبيعي أن نفكر في الرحيل وشعرت حقًا أن هذا قد يكون الوقت المناسب للمضي قدمًا”.
وأكد رافينها، أن مدرب نادي برشلونة، هانز فليك، كان له دور كبير في استمرار اللاعب مع البلوجرانا ورفض الدوري السعودي، حيث اختتم: “لكن مع وصول المدرب الجديد، تحدثنا أولًا عبر الهاتف ثم وجهًا لوجه وتمكن من إقناعي بالبقاء، ولحسن الحظ نجح في ذلك”.
Everton’s search for a match-winning centre-forward is heating up.
The club’s recruitment team are pushing hard to secure a signing who can both lead the line with authority and bring a clinical edge in front of goal.
The profile they are targeting is clear: a striker in the mould of Romelu Lukaku – a player who can bully defenders with physicality and convert chances at a prolific rate.
The Toffees have been crying out for a reliable forward since the Belgian’s departure in 2017.
Now, with David Moyes at the helm and a summer recruitment strategy shaped by ambition, Everton appear ready to act decisively.
Everton's looking at signing their new Lukaku
The club have already turned heads with the loan signing of Jack Grealish from Manchester City, adding star quality to their forward line.
But there is a growing acceptance that, without a proven striker to convert those chances, Everton’s attacking rebuild will be incomplete.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The latest target fits the brief, and reports suggest the Merseyside outfit are prepared to make a significant financial commitment to get their man.
According to Football Insider, Everton have submitted a £37m bid for AS Roma’s powerful Ukrainian striker, Artem Dovbyk.
Dovbyk, 28, has been the subject of widespread Premier League interest this summer, with clubs such as Leeds United, West Ham United and Sunderland all linked to him.
However, Everton appear to be leading the race, aided by the fact that Roma are also owned by the Friedkin Group.
The striker is reportedly keen on a move to England, just 18 months after joining Roma from La Liga side Girona.
His final audition came in a 1-0 pre-season win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Dovbyk featured for 80 minutes.
The Lukaku Comparison
Everton’s interest in this “elite target man”, as he’s been referred to by European football expert Zach Lowy, comes alongside other forward-thinking moves in the market.
They are keeping tabs on right-wing options such as Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, both of whom could operate alongside the Ukrainian in a new-look attack.
Southampton's TylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their third goal with Mateus Fernandes
Dovbyk’s arrival would also provide valuable mentorship to 22-year-old French striker Thierno Barry, recently signed from Villarreal for £27.6m and boasting a similar physical style of play.
The comparison to Lukaku is an obvious one – and for good reason.
Both players stand at over 1.88 and combine their physical power with an instinctive eye for goal.
Career Goals
Romelu Lukaku
286
Artem Dovbyk
131
Source: FBref
Dovbyk’s stats from his 2023/24 season with Girona underscore just how effective he can be.
The Ukrainian scored 24 goals and provided 8 assists in 36 league appearances, helping the Catalan club secure Champions League qualification for the first time in their history.
According to FBref, he ranked in the 97th percentile for goals per 90 (0.83) and the 97th percentile for expected goals per 90 (0.84), demonstrating the kind of consistency that Everton have been missing for years.
Crucially, Dovbyk isn’t one-dimensional. His link-up play is strong, as shown by his 82nd percentile ranking for expected assists per 90 (0.13), and he is deceptively adept with the ball at his feet, completing 68% of his take-ons.
He also wins nearly half of his aerial duels, adding to his utility as both a hold-up player and a set-piece threat.
When comparing him to Lukaku’s time at Everton, the parallels are striking.
Lukaku scored 87 goals in 166 appearances for the club, registering double figures in the league for four consecutive seasons.
His best campaign, the 2016/17 season, saw him score 25 league goals and claim six assists – earning him Everton’s Player of the Season award.
Like Dovbyk, Lukaku thrived on using his physicality to dominate defenders.
Dovbyk offers a similar promise – a striker who can be the focal point of the attack, hold off multiple defenders, and still find the back of the net with regularity.
The timing of this potential transfer could be transformative for the club.
Moyes’ side start their Premier League campaign on Monday against Leeds United and adding a striker of Dovbyk’s calibre before the window closes would give the squad a major psychological lift.
AS Roma's ArtemDovbyklooks dejected after Lazio's Alessio Romagnoli scores their first goal
The prospect of linking him with Grealish, as well as emerging talents like Barry, hints at an Everton attack that could be both physically overwhelming and tactically versatile.
Furthermore, Everton’s recent struggles in front of goal have been as much about chance creation as finishing.
With Grealish capable of threading passes through tight defences and potential additions on the flanks to stretch play, Dovbyk could find himself in the kind of service-rich environment that allows him to replicate his Girona numbers.
For Everton, this feels like more than just another signing.
It’s a chance to reconnect with an identity that once made them a feared opponent – a team built around a powerful, relentless striker who can decide games almost single-handedly.
In Dovbyk, they may have found their next Lukaku.
Better move than Grealish: Everton looking to sign "unstoppable" £17m CF
As Everton look to bolster their forward options, with Jack Grealish potentially on his way, the Toffees could also sign an “unstoppable” £17m striker
The summer transfer window officially slammed shut for another year on Monday night, without Celtic adding any number nines to their first-team squad.
Adam Idah was allowed to complete a £6m transfer to EFL Championship side Swansea City on deadline day, but that exit was not followed up by a replacement.
This means that Celtic have sold Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored 85 goals in 165 games for the club, and Idah, who scored 29 goals in 76 matches for the club, in 2025.
Meanwhile, Shin Yamada, who has scored four goals in his last 39 matches in all competitions, is the only first-team striker who has been signed by Celtic this year, in January or the summer.
However, Celtic do still have a chance to bolster their squad because they can dip into the free agent market to find a striker to lead the line for them this season, after they failed to sign one before the end of the window.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reports that the club will hold talks with former Manchester City star Kelechi Iheanacho after his contract at Sevilla was ripped up on Monday night, before the deadline.
Why Kelechi Iheanacho could be a good signing
Signing a free agent does not always have to be a bad thing, because plenty of players end up in unfortunate situations and may not have been able to show the best of themselves, leading to them being available at this time of the year.
Kelechi only played 11 matches in all competitions during his time with Sevilla in Spain, scoring three goals, which shows that he did not get too many opportunities to showcase his quality in front of goal.
Kelechi Iheanacho warming up for Leicester City.
He is a player Brendan Rodgers already knows incredibly well from their time together at Leicester City in England, which means that the Hoops boss knows that the striker has the quality to make an impact in front of goal at Parkhead.
Kelechi scored 43 goals in 143 matches with the Northern Irish boss as his manager at the King Power, per Transfermarkt, and has a lot of experience in the Premier League with Leicester and Manchester City.
22/23 (28)
5
5
21/22 (26)
4
5
20/21 (25)
12
2
19/20 (20)
5
5
18/19 (30)
1
3
17/18 (21)
3
3
16/17 (20)
4
3
15/16 (26)
8
1
As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old striker has a decent history of goals and assists in the English top-flight, including a 12-goal haul with Rodgers as his manager in the 2020/21 campaign.
These statistics and his relationship with the Celtic boss suggest that signing him could be a worthwhile gamble to bolster their options up front before they have a chance to reassess the situation in the January window.
Even if Kelechi comes through the door in the coming days on a free transfer, though, it does not mean that the Scottish Premiership champions have achieved what they set out to do.
Sky Sports reported that the Hoops wanted to sign two new strikers on deadline day, as Idah left to join Swansea, which means that they may have to make two free agent signings if they still want another number nine in the building.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
A quick look at the free agent market will tell you that there is another centre-forward available who will be well known to Rodgers, even if he has not managed him before.
Patrick Bamford was released by Leeds United last month after they were promoted to the Premier League, as they went with Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their frontline forward, and he could be an even better signing than Kelechi.
Why Celtic should sign Patrick Bamford
Rodgers will have managed against Bamford in the Premier League and will know what he is about, which could make him another sensible short-term addition on a free transfer to ensure that the club get two strikers in the building before the clash with Kilmarnock.
Like Kelechi, the 31-year-old marksman has excelled in the English top-flight in the past. In the 2020/21 campaign, when Kelechi scored 12 goals, the former Leeds man plundered an eye-catching haul of 17 goals and was hailed as “exceptional” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for his performances that term.
This shows that the former England international’s peak may be higher than the Nigeria international’s, because he scored five more goals at Premier League level that season than Kelechi did in any season in his career.
In recent history, both players failed to showcase their qualities with limited game time in the 2024/25 campaign, but they both featured for their sides in the 2023/24 Championship season, for Leeds and Leicester respectively, and Bamford came out on top.
Appearances
33
23
xG
9.52
6.30
Goals
8
5
Shots on target per game
0.7
0.5
Assists
1
1
Ground duel success rate
40%
38%
Aerial duel success rate
39%
17%
As you can see in the table above, Bamford scored more goals, offering a greater threat in front of goal, and was more impressive in his physical duels, particularly in the air.
These statistics suggest that Celtic may not get much in the way of hold-up or physical play from Kelechi, given his horrendous aerial duel success rate, and that could cause problems in European matches when the Hoops need their number nine to relieve pressure in big matches.
This means that Bamford, who won two Championship titles during his time at Elland Road, could be more effective as an outlet for Celtic in big games, domestically and in Europe, whilst also having the potential to offer a greater goal threat.
Therefore, bringing the English striker in as well as Kelechi could make a lot of sense for the Scottish giants, as it would give Rodgers the two number nine signings he wanted and offer the team different options in the centre-forward position.
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Bamford’s statistics also suggest that he would simply be a better signing striker for the team than Kelechi as the main man up front, which is another reason why the club should swoop for him.
Both U.S. Open Cup finalists are relatively recent MLS additions, and both have a chance to claim their first trophy
If you'd watched 118 minutes of Austin FC's U.S. Open Cup semifinal clash with Minnesota United, you wouldn't have thought that the latter team would be playing in the final. Austin weren't battered, but they were never quite in it. The home side, despite taking the lead in the first half were pegged back, minute by minute.
Every logical indicator of the way soccer works suggested that there wouldn't be an Austin winner here. So much for that.
Sometimes this sport churns up surprises. And that's what Austin provided – in emphatic style. CJ Fodrey made it happen: a loose ball, a sliced volley, Dayne St. Clair, among the favorites for MLS goalie of the year, watching from the turf as it rolled in. It wasn't a smash and grab. But it did turn what seemed to be a penalty shootout here, not a late Austin winner.
But Fodrey scored all the same. And Austin will play for the cup at home on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Q2 Stadium. Nashville, meanwhile, were a little more comfortable. They leaned on their main man, Sam Surridge, and defended at the right moments. Philadelphia had more of the ball in their semifinal, but Nashville always seemed set to win this thing.
And so we have a finely poised U.S. Open Cup final. And whichever club wins will claim the first title in franchise history. These are two cities that love their sports, recently added to MLS, with a chance to claim a trophy and kick off a sense of league legitimacy in full.
ImagnThe Austin FC perspective
Nico Estevez admitted it "meant a lot." He praised his team for "playing through the ups and downs."
And he is right. Austin FC are comfortable in MLS. This is Estevez's first season in the job, and he has moved the franchise from playoff outsiders into a bonafide postseason team. They're in sixth in the Western Conference despite losing Brandon Vazquez – one of the best No. 9s in MLS – to an ACL injury.
It's admittedly hard to ask more of the coach.
More broadly, this is a good year for Austin, the soccer city. Austin hosted MLS's All Star Game in wonderful fashion. This is a city that loves its University of Texas teams, but there is a burgeoning soccer culture – and the ASG helped bring it to the fore (iShowSpeed decided to show up for the skills challenge, which tells you a lot).
The Open Cup, then, would be a tidy accumulation of everything. Here is a good side who have overcome adversity in the right way, a team building towards something. A win would be the first professional sports championship in city history. There's a lot on the line here.
"It means a lot to the not only to the club, not the fan base, the players, the staff, everyone around the team, everyone in the community, everyone that follows the team," Estevez said. "And I know in this particular case, the city of Austin is behind the team. It will mean a lot. It will be something great that we can achieve and something that we are going to work really hard to give to everyone."
AdvertisementGettyThe Nashville perspective
For Nashville, the point of view is a little different. This is a side that has quality throughout, but leans on their stars. Surridge is scoring goals for fun in MLS – and would be top of the Golden Boot race if not for a certain Argentine that plays in Miami.
Here is a ruthlessly efficient No. 9 who goes about it all in a wonderfully carefree way. His stats in the semifinal win over Philadelphia sum it all up: 16 touches, four passes completed, three goals. He told GOAL in July that he had no real clue where Nashville was before he signed for the club in 2023.
He is joined by Hany Mukhtar, that rare breed of creative attacking player that thrive in MLS. Nashville's pitch to Mukhtar was simple: they were starting a franchise, and they wanted him to be their star. Mukhtar said yes. He is now comfortably one of the best talents in the league. On those two alone, you'd probably pick Nashville as favorites.
But they do lack a bit of depth, and are a little cautious in their play. The defense has been leaky of late. They will likely have to take the game to Austin – who have no problem sitting back.
"We've been preparing all season for it. We've had a lot of different situations that have occurred throughout the year, up a goal, down a goal. Being able to draw on all of those experiences will help us," Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan said
Getty Images SportA win for the USOC?
More broadly, this would seem to be a win for the Open Cup, which has been under pressure in recent years. This competition is nearly 125 years old. It remains open to amateur sides – a few of which have gone on to knock off USL clubs in recent iterations of the competition, known as "Cupsets." The club with the most titles is Bethlehem Steel F.C., which folded in 1930.
That history hasn't quite been held up of late.
MLS and U.S. soccer clashed over the involvement of teams, when America's top flight league announced that reserve teams could be sent to the competition. A number of MLS Next Pro clubs joined. LAFC, which won the competition in 2024, didn't elect to defend their crown after qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Fans, especially of long-time MLS clubs and USL sides, have urged their senior sides to continue to participate.
It seems something of a win, then, that both of these clubs are playing in the final. Austin FC played their inaugural season in 2021. Nashville stepped on the field for the first time in 2020. Both have MLS Next Pro teams.
It would be easy, in abstract, for both to send their reserves. Instead, here are their senior sides, playing for a trophy for the first time. There's a certain romanticism to that.
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Getty Images SportThe staying power
And perhaps that's the point. If you subscribe to the notion that soccer is, in many ways, about the people who pay to watch it – and those who take it in from home – then this is a real win. Expansion franchises are expensive and don't always have instant authenticity.
But all clubs have to start from somewhere. History cannot be built on good vibes, big signings, and chipper news conferences alone.
Indeed, pedigree is what matters. And what better way to fully legitimize a side that has never won anything than by bringing in a trophy with tangible value? This competition has been slashed, changed and manipulated. MLS has scheduled the Campeones Cup – a clash between the winners of Liga MX and MLS – on the same night. The Open Cup has retained authenticity, with plenty of history to back it up.
Whichever team wins can point to that fact.
"From the beginning, we said we're gonna take the Open Cup seriously," Callaghan said. "It's something that we believe in here at the club. It's the oldest trophy that you can compete for in the United States. It's a great trophy, meaning that anybody can put together a team and enter this tournament. It's a true national tournament that's open for everybody, and to win it and to be that representative for a year, I think we take tremendous pride in that."
Chelsea wanted to sign a new centre-back in the summer transfer window and were actively exploring options, following Levi Colwill’s disastrous ACL injury which is expected to keep him out for a large portion of 2025/2026.
Enzo Maresca even publicly asked the club to bring in a new central defender, and they were actively pursuing a deal for Dean Huijsen before the Spaniard ultimately opted for Real Madrid.
While the Italian later backtracked on this message, claiming an internal solution was the only option, it is crystal clear from Maresca’s statement there that he’s not happy with Chelsea’s current defensive options.
Colwill’s injury has left them light in that area, with Wesley Fofana also having struggled for consistent fitness since his £70 million move from Leicester City three years ago.
Chelsea’s summer transfers (permanent only)
Incoming
Outgoing
Joao Pedro
Noni Madueke
Jamie Gittens
João Félix
Jorrel Hato
Djordje Petrovic
Liam Delap
Lesley Ugochukwu
Dario Essugo
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Mamadou Sarr
Renato Veiga
Estevao
Armando Broja
Kendry Paez
Carney Chukwuemeka
Alejandro Garnacho
Mathis Amougou
Basir Humphreys
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Marcus Bettinelli
Christopher Nkunku
Nicolas Jackson (obligation to buy in 2026)
Alfie Gilchrist
Lucas Bergstrom
Ben Chilwell
Axel Disasi is part of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ with Raheem Sterling, and while Benoit Badiashile has returned to first-team training this week, it is unclear how ready he is to feature for Maresca.
Summer signing Jorrel Hato can play centre-back but is primarily viewed as a left-back and alternative to Marc Cucurella, leaving little wonder why Maresca was so keen on another option to bolster the heart of his defence.
With the UK window closing on September 1, this could still be on the agenda for 2026, with journalist Graeme Bailey reporting that they’re big fans of Club Brugge starlet Joel Ordonez.
Chelsea send officials on midweek mission with Joel Ordonez set to leave Brugge
Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey states that Chelsea scouts were sent to run the rule over Ordonez during Ecuador’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Wednesday.
Enner Valencia scored the only game of the game as both Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Otamendi were sent off during a tense affair, but Ordonez managed to help Ecuador keep a clean sheet against the world champions.
The 21-year-old, according to reports, is valued at around £40 million by Brugge, and Bailey says that Ordonez is “almost certain” to leave in 2026 amid interest from Chelsea.
Tottenham have also been credited with an interest in the “huge talent”, with his mooted summer move to Marseille falling through. It could only be a matter of time before he’s plying his trade in the Premier League, and Ordonez ticks nearly every box.
Newcastle United’s search for a striker has dominated the final weeks of the transfer window, as Eddie Howe looks to reshape his attack following a turbulent summer.
At the heart of the saga is Alexander Isak, who has made clear he has no intention of playing for the club again.
The Swede has not trained with the squad, did not feature in Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixture away at Aston Villa, and issued a statement on Instagram this week citing a belief that change was in everyone’s best interests.
Eddie Howe admitted in a press conference that he had been aware of Isak’s desire to leave since the end of last season, and while Liverpool remains the forward’s preferred destination, the deal will not happen until Newcastle have found a replacement.
That need has grown increasingly pressing.
Over the course of the summer, Newcastle have already missed out on a succession of striker targets. Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko all moved elsewhere, leaving the Magpies short of options.
The club have also registered interest in Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen, though any move there would prove expensive.
While Howe has strengthened in other areas – signing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa, Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, and Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton – the striker issue continues to define Newcastle’s summer.
Newcastle hold talks over Chelsea forward
According to Fabrizio Romano, in the “last 48 hours”, Newcastle have opened conversations regarding a move for Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
However, the reporter claims that both Bayern Munich and Aston Villa are also in the mix, which means that there is plenty of competition to sign the Senegal international.
Villa are pushing hard for Jackson’s signature, with Unai Emery keen to reunite with the striker he coached during their time together at Villarreal.
The news of Jackson’s exit comes after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea, with new arrivals Joao Pedro and Liam Delap deemed more credible options by manager Enzo Marseca.
Chelsea have placed a price tag of £80m on the 24-year-old, but any potential suitor will hope that figure comes closer to £70m as the window draws to a close.
Why Newcastle should sign Nicolas Jackson
Jackson has enjoyed strong levels of returns since his arrival from Villarreal, scoring 24 goals and providing 10 assists in 65 Premier League appearances, per Transfermarkt. He also netted in the Conference League final against Real Betis in May, but discipline has occasionally been an issue.
The Blues forward was sent off against Newcastle in a 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park last season and again at the Club World Cup against Flamengo.
At 1.87m tall and just 24 years of age, Jackson fits the recruitment model Newcastle have tried to maintain under Howe, targeting young players with room to develop into long-term assets.
Yoane Wissa of Brentford is another forward who has been the subject of interest from Newcastle this summer. The Congolese striker has just enjoyed the most productive season of his career, scoring 19 goals and supplying five assists in 35 appearances.
Only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League last term, underlining Wissa’s consistency in front of goal.
Since joining Brentford, he has registered 45 goals in 137 league appearances overall and has openly expressed a desire to join Newcastle in order to play Champions League football. The Bees, however, have rejected Newcastle’s bids, including an offer worth £40m, and are said to value Wissa closer to £60m.
The forward, who turns 29 in September, is older than the preferred age profile for recruits at St James’ Park, which is said to focus on players aged 24 and under.
He may also be absent in early 2026 due to AFCON commitments. With Brentford enduring a difficult summer that has already seen the departures of manager Thomas Frank, goalkeeper Mark Flekken, captain Christian Norgaard, and winger Bryan Mbeumo, they are reluctant to sanction another key exit.
The debate for Newcastle is whether to prioritise an immediate end product or invest in potential. Wissa’s case is built on proven returns.
Seasonal Returns – Yoane Wissa
2024/25 – Premier League
19 goals, 5 assists
2023/24 – Premier League
12 goals, 4 assists
2022/23 – Premier League
7 goals, 3 assists
2021/22 – Premier League
7 goals, 1 assist
2020/21 – Ligue 1
10 goals, 5 assists
Source: Transfermarkt
According to FBref, his 19 goals last season came with impressive underlying numbers: 2.77 shots per 90 minutes, 1.27 of those on target, and a progressive passing distance of 49.9 metres per 90, reflecting his ability to create and stretch play.
At 28, he is entering the peak years of his career and would represent a striker capable of delivering right away.
Jackson, by contrast, offers a younger, more malleable profile.
His 3.08 shots per 90 minutes, with 1.38 on target, show a player more inclined to get into scoring positions, even if his shot-on-target percentage of 44.7 is fractionally below Wissa’s 45.6.
Where Jackson stands out is in creative involvement: he averages 2.80 shot-creating actions per 90, compared to Wissa’s 2.13.
Though he lags behind Wissa in progressive passing numbers, Jackson’s ability to carry the ball – 1.90 progressive carries per 90 compared to Wissa’s 1.85 – highlights a player able to move defences through dribbling rather than distribution.
Market value also plays a role. Wissa is currently valued at £27m, while Jackson sits at £43m, but Chelsea’s asking price is substantially higher than that.
Brentford’s hardline stance means Wissa could cost close to £60m despite being older and closer to the end of his peak.
Jackson, at 24, is four years younger and represents the sort of asset Newcastle can build around and potentially resell at value in the future.
Wissa, while immediately reliable, may represent a shorter-term option with less scope for growth. For Howe, the decision will hinge on balancing short-term needs with long-term strategy.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
Isak’s refusal to return has left Newcastle desperately short, and with Champions League football on the horizon, the temptation to secure an experienced, proven finisher like Wissa is clear.
Yet the club’s transfer policy under its current ownership has been consistent in pursuing players who can grow with the project. In that regard, Jackson offers a player who, if developed properly, could become a central figure for Newcastle for years to come.
Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be even better than Wissa and Strand Larsen.
1
By
Will Miller
Aug 22, 2025
The urgency of the situation means Newcastle may have little time to deliberate. Every week without a replacement is a week where Howe is forced to field a side without a natural striker.
Wissa has shown he can deliver goals immediately, but Jackson represents the future. For a club determined to compete not only this season but in the seasons ahead, that future may prove more valuable than the present.
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Ricky Ponting wants to make this one of the “greatest Punjab Kings team of all time.” Ahead of their IPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, assistant coach Brad Haddin echoed similar sentiments.”That’s exciting to the players,” Haddin said, when asked if Ponting’s statement put pressure on them. “In this day and age, you want to challenge the player group to touch greatness. That’s what we want to see everyday. We want to see them get better than they were yesterday, better than what they were the previous week.”You have to set high expectations and high goals. The reason is we’re happy with the group we’ve put together. We’ve been ultra impressed with what they’ve done at training camps. Now all they want to do is play cricket. They’ve had enough cricket in camps, they want to get out there and express themselves.”Related
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Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crores to captain a new-look side that features the experience of Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh along with young talents like Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge. They also multiple allrounders in Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Asked if the Australian flavour to the Kings support staff group was a “good thing” in driving culture towards team success, Haddin heaped praise on Shreyas, who he termed as a “driven captain” who would lead the way in establishing “standards” and “habits.””We’ve got a driven captain who has had a lot of success, not just for India but in the competition and in this form of the game,” Haddin said. “From the captain down, he has brought everyone together, the staff are on the same page as the players. From that point of view, what we’re seeing is a high[-quality] group being led by the standards and habits of the captain.”Haddin was also clear of the Kings’ brand of cricket, without divulging much about their choice of personnel.”If you have a look at the way IPL has developed, especially with impact player, it allows players up top to play with a lot more freedom,” he said. “Last year, we saw an increase in powerplay numbers. This year, it’ll increase again. From our point of view, it’s giving guys an opportunity to express themselves, make sure they play brave and play what’s in front of them, and not worry too much about what’s happening.”This is a new group, we’ve had a brand new auction, we’ve got every player that we want to play different roles. One of those is a couple of guys to play in those six overs, you’ll be quite excited to see when it comes. Whoever we put up there will be exciting, they’ll play a brave brand of cricket, dynamic at the top. That’s what we want them to do.”
حرص النجم ليونيل ميسي على تقديم رسالة دعم لمنتخب الأرجنتين تحت 20 عامًا بعد خسارته أمام نظيره منتخب المغرب منذ قليل في نهائي كأس العالم للشباب.
وواجه منتخب المغرب نظيره الأرجنتين في نهائي كأس العالم للشباب في تشيلي، في الساعات الأولى من صباح اليوم.
وتمكن أسود الأطلس من تحقيق إنجاز تاريخي بعدما فازوا على الأرجنتين بهدفين دون رد (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
وبمجرد انتهاء المباراة، سارع النجم ليونيل ميسي إلى حسابه الشخصي بموقع إنستجرام من أجل دعم الشباب.
وكتب ميسي: “ارفعوا رؤوسكم يا شباب! لقد قدمتم بطولة رائعة، ورغم أننا كنا نتمنى جميعًا أن نراكم ترفعون الكأس، إلا أننا شعرنا بفرحة غامرة تجاه كل ما قدمتموه لنا، وفخر كبير برؤيتكم تدافعون عن ألواننا السماوية والبيضاء بقلوبكم”.
Tottenham Hotspur fans will undoubtedly be disappointed with their activity in the transfer window over recent days, after missing out on numerous key targets.
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Savinho was one player who was firmly in their sights, even making an offer to land the Manchester City star, but it was rejected, with Pep Guardiola’s side refusing to offload the winger.
Eberechi Eze has arguably been the biggest target, previously agreeing personal terms with the player and Crystal Palace, but a move hasn’t been all plain sailing.
North London rivals Arsenal pounced at the 11th hour to hijack the move, which has seen Thomas Frank miss out on a star who would’ve played a key role in the Premier League for the Lilywhites.
The Dane must be wishing he was able to rely on one talent during his maiden year at the helm, with the former player highlighting the excellent work previously done by the hierarchy in the transfer market.
Gareth Bale’s time at Tottenham Hotspur
Back in the summer of 2007, Spurs completed a deal for baby-faced 17-year-old Gareth Bale from Southampton – originally joining the side as an option at left-back.
He struggled to establish himself in his early years in North London, leading to rumours around his future at the club, subsequently being within touching distance of a £2m switch to Nottingham Forest.
However, he would remain at the Lilywhites, with the 2010/11 season a turning point in his time in the capital – shifting further up the field into a forward position, even scoring a hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
The Welshman would operate in such a role for the remaining three years at the club, racking up 71 goals in his 237 appearances, including 26 in his final campaign.
He would complete a then world-record £85m transfer to Real Madrid, ending his six-year stint in the Premier League, with the side lacking that quality off the flank since his departure.
Current boss Frank would hugely benefit from a player of his calibre in the present day, potentially landing his own version of the winger in the closing stages of the transfer window.
Spurs targeting their next Bale this summer
The failure to land Savinho and Eze in recent weeks has certainly highlighted the need for work to be conducted rapidly, leading to West Ham star Lucas Paqueta emerging on their radar.
It’s been reported that the Lilywhites are considering a move for the Brazilian before the deadline, after the Hammers dropped his asking price to just £40m.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta
However, he’s not the only attacker currently on their radar, with Southampton star Tyler Dibling another talent they’re preparing a move for, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He claims that the Spurs hierarchy have reached out to Will Still’s side to ask about the conditions over a potential move for the 19-year-old star.
The journalist also states that he’s one of a number of talents in their sights, but key work has already been conducted over a move for the Englishman, who could cost as much as £50m this summer.
Why Spurs’ £70m target would be Frank’s answer to Bale
After taking the reins during the off-season, new boss Frank would’ve been hoping that owner Daniel Levy backed him in the transfer market to build on the club’s Europa League success.
To date, Joao Palhinha has joined the Lilywhites on loan from Bayern Munich, whilst Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel are the only permanent additions – seeing around £85m forked out for the pair’s signatures.
Whilst moves have been made, they’ve so far been to no avail, leading to questions being asked about the owner’s lack of spending during the summer transfer window.
With just 11 days remaining until the market closes, key work will have to be rapidly made on potential deals in the final third, with forward-minded signings desperately needed to satisfy Frank’s demands upon his arrival.
Whilst it would be an expensive addition to land Dibling, it would be one that could end their pursuit for his summer, also landing a player who can develop into a world-beater, given his tender age.
It would see the youngster follow in the footsteps of Bale, joining the Lilywhites as a teenager, having the chance to emulate the Welshman should he make the big-money move to North London.
Dibling, who has been labelled “world-class” by Southampton academy manager Andy Goldie, ranked in the 87th percentile for successful take-ons last season (2.2) – highlighting the threat he carries with the ball at his feet.
Games played
33
Goals & assists
2
Pass accuracy
81%
Progressive carries
3.3
Progressive passes
3.1
Successful take-ons
2.2
Take-ons completed
41%
Carries into the final third
2.4
Fouls drawn
2.4
Such an asset is what made Bale such a hit with the fans in North London, with Dibling needing to add an end product to his mazy runs, but that’s something which will come with experience in his career.
The teenager’s talents were further reflected in his tally of 2.4 carries into the final third per 90, with the winger evidently wanting to get the ball into dangerous territory as often as possible.
The aforementioned numbers have caused havoc for opposition defenders, often having to result to fouling Dibling to prevent him from creating carnage within attacking areas – as seen by his tally of 2.4 fouls won per 90.
Whilst driving forward with the ball is undoubtedly one of the Saints star’s biggest assets, he’s also able to pick out a teammate – allowing the likes of Kudus to further impress should he be on the receiving end of his 3.1 progressive passes per 90.
Southampton's TylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their third goal with Mateus Fernandes
Undoubtedly, the price tag will concern a lot of supporters, but ultimately, it’s the price that has to be forked out for young English talents in the modern market.
There’s no taking away the quality he possesses, having the tools to develop further under Frank’s guidance – potentially emulating the success of Bale in any move to join the Lilywhites.
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Forget about Eze: Spurs in the mix for "one of the best 10s in the world"
Tottenham Hotspur have already identified a new target after missing out on Eberechi Eze.
Liverpool just always has something up their sleeve in the dying moments of games to get over the line.
Newcastle United fell victim to the Reds’ never-say-die attitude last month when Arne Slot’s side snatched a 3-2 victory at the death. Now, Burnley have succumbed to the reigning Premier League champions’ unwavering spirit at Turf Moor as well, as a late Mohamed Salah penalty handed Liverpool another dramatic three points.
Salah’s last-gasp spot-kick definitely papered over some noticeable cracks during a 1-0 win, but Slot and Co wouldn’t care one bit right after the match, with Liverpool still sitting pretty at the top of the division as the only side with a 100% record intact.
Still, the manner of the win being so nervy against a newly promoted side will have concerned Slot, with Florian Wirtz’s first-team spot now potentially up for grabs, after the flashy midfielder struggled to get going once more in his new surroundings.
Wirtz's struggles at Liverpool
Indeed, off the back of failing to pick up a goal and an assist again, Wirtz still remains without a goal involvement donning his new Liverpool colours.
The once effortless demeanour of Wirtz lining up for Leverkusen is now gone, with the £116m price-tag above his head doing him no favours, either, when it comes to widespread scrutiny.
He isn’t helping himself, though, with his lacklustre display against Burnley making many question why he cost so much money to bring in.
Staggeringly, from his 87 minutes on the pitch, the below-par German would fail to register a single on-target effort at the Clarets’ net, fail to produce a single successful dribble, and also give the ball away in a lackadaisical manner 21 times.
On another day, his Dutch manager might well have hooked him off sooner, with Slot having no qualms about bringing off another underperformer so early into the tense contest, who was arguably just as poor as Wirtz when looking back at the 1-0 win.
Liverpool's 4/10 star is facing the bench
Thankfully, while the likes of Wirtz did fade in and out of the clash, Slot always knows he can rely on Salah to get his high-flying team out of a spot of bother.
The former Feyenoord boss must have known his team were going to be up against it when assessing Milos Kerkez’s disastrous first-half offering, which led to the 46-year-old amazingly bringing off the former AFC Bournemouth defender with just 38 minutes on the clock.
Away from facing some defensive difficulties in Lancashire, Kerkez was mainly pulled so early on due to his controversial dive, with the new Reds number six rightly booked for trying to deceive the referee.
Slot said afterwards that he was worried that Kerkez could then get sent off, leading to the dependable Andrew Robertson coming on in his place, with a solid shift put in by the Scotsman further troubling the Hungarian’s starting position.
Minutes played
38
52
Goals scored
0
0
Assists
0
0
Touches
34
65
Accurate passes
22/23 (96%)
45/52 (87%)
Key passes
1
5
Total duels won
0/2
2/3
Looking at the table above, minus Kerkez bettering Robertson’s pass accuracy, his more experienced counterpart might well get the nod to start Liverpool’s first Champions League clash of the campaign against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, with Slot well aware he can’t have any rash performers jeopardising the Reds at Anfield on such a big occasion.
Worryingly, Kerkez would fail to win a single duel across his 38 minutes on the pitch, with Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle handing him a low 4/10 rating, having stated that the ex-Cherries full-back looked both “uncomfortable” at the back, but also lacking a threat in the forward areas.
Most importantly, despite these notable off-performances, Liverpool still managed to collect another early-season victory.
But, Atletico Madrid up next will be a far tougher challenge than Parker and Co, as Slot now deliberates whether to axe both Kerkez and Wirtz for European football’s return to Merseyside.
The new Rooney: Liverpool already sold Salah's heir in "world-class" talent
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