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Ainda com o seu futuro indefinido no Corinthians, o técnico Fernando Lázaro deve comandar o treinamento para os reservas e não relacionados do Timão na derrota para o Argentinos Juniors na última quarta-feira (19), pela Libertadores. Isso, no entanto, não significa que ele seguirá no cargo.

Uma reunião que durou mais de duas horas aconteceu no início da tarde desta quinta-feira (20), no CT Joaquim Grava. O encontro começou por volta do meio-dia e se encerrou próximo do horário do treinamento, marcado para às 15h, no mesmo local, sem uma definição sobre o posicionamento do clube alvinegro em relação ao trabalho do seu atual treinador.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoNeto aponta o seu favorito para ser o novo técnico do Corinthians e aconselha diretoriaFora de Campo20/04/2023CorinthiansDireção do Corinthians cogita manter Fernando Lázaro no clube, mas em nova funçãoCorinthians20/04/2023Fora de Campo‘Para ser treinador do Corinthians, o cara tem que ter p***’, dispara NetoFora de Campo20/04/2023

+Fernando Lázaro tem noite desastrosa e leva a pior nota em derrota do Corinthians

Durante o bate-papo, o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves e o gerente de futebol pontuaram a preocupação com os resultados negativos e a possibilidade de eliminação precoce na Copa do Brasil e Libertadores, assim como aconteceu no Campeonato Paulista. Lázaro, por sua vez, trouxe os seus pontos de defesa do trabalho.

Conforme antecipado pelo LANCE!, a direção corintiana sugeriu que Fernando Lázaro permanecesse no clube, mas retomando outra posição – ainda não se sabe como auxiliar-técnico ou no Cifut (Centro de Inteligência de Futebol), como analista de desempenho. Mas isso também ficou em aberto, assim como a decisão de manter ou não o profissional no comando da equipe.

+Assine o Star+ por apenas R$32,90 por mês e acompanhe o Timão na Libertadores quando e onde quiser!

A tendência é que, independentemente da possibilidade de comandar o treinamento desta quarta, Lázaro não siga como técnico do Corinthians e migre para um novo cargo. A decisão sobre a sequência dele no Timão, porém, dependerá dele.

Titulares e atletas que atuaram mais do que 45 minutos na derrota corintiana na última noite, não trabalharão com bola nesta tarde. Eles farão somente uma atividade interna na academia do Centro de Treinamentos da equipe alvinegra.

Good things come to those who wait. That’s an aphorism firmly printed in the minds of Newcastle United’s fanbase, for sure.

The Magpies have endured another frustrating start to a summer transfer window, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro all opting against moves to St. James’ Park.

But Eddie Howe has bounced back from last summer’s failed bid for Anthony Elanga by signing the Nottingham Forest winger for £55m, thus filling a gaping hole in his first-team squad.

Now, he’s planning something special. Something emblematic of the club’s ambitions, their desire to not just to upset the Premier League hegemony but to destroy it, establishing themselves as part of a new ‘big six’.

Having won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League for the second time in three years, the Toon are well on their way to achieving this, and the signing of Hugo Ekitike would only rubberstamp this new position of strength.

The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle

Make no mistake, Newcastle would send shockwaves rippling across the footballing world if beating Liverpool and Chelsea, among others, to Ekitike’s signature.

The Frenchman is a rare breed of centre-forward, truly dynamic and creative in his approach to his craft. Already, he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson as being “one of the best strikers out there”, and yet we’re looking at a player who still has a mountain to climb before completing his development.

And it’s hard to imagine that evolution will simply cease upon a move to Tyneside. Eintracht Frankfurt have overseen the 23-year-old’s progress since he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2024 as a loanee before becoming a fixed feature at the prow of the ship.

Newcastle’s interest runs deep, of course, for United had a £33m bid accepted back in 2022, but for the Reims prospect’s head to be turned by PSG’s late interruption.

And now, according to top sources such as The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are pushing ahead, looking to close a deal.

Such news represents a double-edged sword: Ekitike has the makings of a world-class forward, but his acquisition heightens fears surrounding Alexander Isak’s future, with Liverpool having already made an attempt to lure him to Anfield in a staggering £130m deal. That’s the word of Times journalist Martin Hardy, anyway.

Especially since Howe is looking to take Newcastle’s summer expenditure to the next level, with a move for a Premier League star in the pipeline.

Newcastle discussing move for Premier League star

According to The Athletic, Ekitike isn’t the only former transfer target back on Newcastle’s radar, with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi’s name being continually discussed in internal recruitment meetings.

Newcastle saw four bids for Guehi rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish last summer, but they could now return, with the Three Lions star in the final year of his contract and with no plans to renew.

Liverpool are also firm admirers, looking to sign the 25-year-old for £40m. However, as with Ekitike, Newcastle’s long-standing interest could hold sway in negotiations.

Why Marc Guehi would be a brilliant signing

Over the past several years, Guehi has established himself as one of the leading central defenders in English football, crowning his time at Crystal Palace, 155 senior appearances deep, with a reputation-raising victory over Manchester City to win the FA Cup in May.

His time at Selhurst Park looks to be reaching its end, though, with the Eagles likely to want to cash in on their “elite” talent, as he’s been called by writer Eddie Gibbs, rather than lose him on a free next year.

Hailed as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi is quite literally the perfect defensive profile for Howe’s system: he’s combative, collected, and quietly authoritative.

Moreover, the England international’s surpassing technical qualities could see him charge the transitional emphasis, enhancing the system to a degree that could see him prove to be a signing just as exciting as any move for Ekitike, which is certainly saying something.

Ekitike is one of the most talented young strikers around, but he’s also got work to be done. There are blemishes in his ball-striking, weaknesses in his intuitiveness, though these are small things, outweighed by the scale of his potential.

Guehi, conversely, has shaped into the complete package under Oliver Glasner’s wing in the capital and would be expected to hit the ground running at Newcastle.

When fit and fully functional, Sven Botman is patently Newcastle’s best centre-half. His 2022/23 campaign was a thing to behold, but his last two terms have been disrupted by setbacks.

Looking at how Guehi ranks up against that giddy height is quite a thing. This might be a player who moves over and instantly establishes themselves as the cream of Newcastle’s crop.

Matches (starts)

36 (35)

34 (34)

Goals

0

3

Assists

0

2

Clean sheets

11

11

Touches*

58.4

64.9

Pass completion

87%

84%

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Dribbles (success)*

0.1 (100%)

0.4 (86%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

2.6

Clearances*

3.3

4.6

Duels (won)*

3.5 (67%)

4.9 (59%)

We can extrapolate the data above to posit Guehi’s signature being of equal merit, equally as exciting, to any deal for Ekitike in the coming weeks.

Guehi, after all, has been named as “England’s best centre-back” by one analyst, the evidence of which lies in his fixed position in the Three Lions starting line-up over the past couple of years.

As is starting to become a frustrating theme, it looks like a deal for Guehi will indeed include fending off Liverpool. But, with Howe building an incredible project and Guehi sure to assume a leading role under the St. James’ Park lights, the Englishman might just feel that a move to Newcastle represents the best move for his career at this stage.

Considering the calibre of player the Palace man is and the need for a centre-back, there’s certainly an argument that Guehi could be the defining success of a tremendous transfer window on Tyneside.

A dream for Bruno: Newcastle likely to see £50m bid accepted to sign new CM

As Newcastle United look to bolster their midfield options, the Mapgies are reportedly set to see a £50 million bid accepted to sig a great “leader”.

ByBen Gray Jul 15, 2025

So far, this summer has been a rather frustrating one for Tottenham Hotspur.

As things stand, the only signings the club have made have been Kota Takai for around £5m and Mathys Tel, whose loan was made permanent for close to £30m.

Moreover, fans have seen several transfer targets slip through the cracks, with Antoine Semenyo agreeing a new deal with Bournemouth and Eberechi Eze now looking destined for Arsenal.

Worse yet, it is looking increasingly likely that Manchester United will be getting their hands on Bryan Mbeumo, who was heavily touted for a move to N17 following Thomas Frank’s appointment.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as Spurs are reportedly close to securing the services of someone who’d be their own version of the Brentford star.

Spurs target their own Mbeumo

With the club looking to massively improve on their dreadful 17th-placed finish in the Premier League next season, it’s hardly a surprise to see them linked with several impressive international stars, such as Xavi Simons and Ademola Lookman.

Transfer Focus

The former could cost around £60m this summer, and while that is undoubtedly a lot, he’d likely be worth it, as at just 22 years old, he amassed a haul of 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances for RB Leipzig.

Likewise, while Lookman would cost in excess of £50m, his tally of 20 goals and seven assists in 40 games for Atalanta last season suggests he’d be more than worth the outlay.

However, as talented as both players are, neither one has been compared to Mbeumo, unlike Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Spurs remain incredibly interested in the West Ham United star, despite their initial £50m offer being rejected.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have entered ‘fresh talks’ over the Irons star, and that they are now closing in on a deal, which will likely require a fee of around £65m.

It’s a transfer that would represent a significant financial investment from the club, but given Kudus’ immense ability, it’s one worth making, especially as he has been compared to Mbeumo.

How Kudus compares to Mbeumo

One of the most significant comparisons between Kudus and Mbeumo stems from FBref, which analysed players in the Premier League last season and concluded that the Brentford star was the sixth most similar forward to the Hammers ace in the competition.

The best way to understand how that conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

These include things like non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, successful take-on percentage and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty xG

0.24

0.20

Progressive Carries

3.40

3.43

Passes into the Final Third

1.60

1.66

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.52

0.50

Live Passes

29.1

30.7

Shot-Creating Actions

3.72

3.80

Successful Take-On %

44.2%

46.8%

These numbers help to show that, despite not scoring as many goals as he would have liked last season, the Ghanaian international could still have a similar attacking output to that of the Cameroonian ace.

Furthermore, away from the statistics, there are also some more straightforward similarities.

For example, both players are playing their trade for London-based teams, and they both seem destined to join another Premier League side this summer.

Finally, both players are positionally versatile, with the Bees’ star able to play off the right, up top, or as a second striker, and the former Ajax gem being capable of playing across the entire frontline, as well as in midfield.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Spurs should do all they can to complete the deal for Kudus, as he’d be an excellent addition to Frank’s squad and their own version of Mbeumo.

The dream squad Spurs could build: £283m stars sign alongside Kudus

Here’s what Spurs’ squad could look like after a dream summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025

Arsenal are reportedly working to recruit some high-profile targets behind-the-scenes, and a significant update has now dropped on one of them, courtesy of a Sky Sports reporter this morning.

Arsenal identify new winger and striker as priority targets

Two items at the very top of sporting director Andrea Berta’s to-do list over the coming months are signing a new winger and striker.

Arsenal confirm "very popular" 22-year-old has now joined another club

He’s officially left north London.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 11, 2025

Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus during the second half of 2024/2025 left Mikel Arteta desperately short of options up front, whilst adding further weight to the opinions of many critics that the addition of a prolific centre-forward is long overdue.

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

Mikel Merino did pretty well to cover the aforementioned duo as an emergency striker, but Berta and the recruitment team are eager to ensure that Arteta won’t be left in a similarly precarious position next season, when they’ll be looking to mount a far more successful Premier League title challenge.

Arsenal’s need for more goals is evident by their numbers from last term, with Arteta’s side scoring just 69 in total across their top flight campaign, a far cry beneath the 91 and 88 they’d managed in the two seasons prior.

Berta has laid the groundwork over deals for both Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, according to the BBC and reporter Sami Mokbel, but it appears the latter centre-forward is taking priority right now.

Arsenal are believed to be advancing in talks for Sesko, with Leipzig demanding around £70 million for their star striker as the Gunners look to find middle ground in negotiations.

Arteta and co also want to add further quality out-wide.

Leandro Trossard is about to enter the final year of his contract, while Bukayo Saka’s three-month injury lay-off midway through last season highlighted the need for Berta to bring in an alternative to the England international.

Leroy Sane pulls U-turn over joining Arsenal after Galatasaray agreement

One of their widely reported top targets is out-of-contract Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.

Man City once valued the 70-cap Germany international at around £137 million during his time at Eastlands, but he’s now set to leave Bavaria for zero transfer cost.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal held talks with Sane as far back as April, and more recent reports from this week, via CaughtOffside, claim that the 29-year-old has spoken to Arteta about a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Sane apparently had an offer to join Arsenal on the table, and was thought to be very keen to work with Arteta again and join the Gunners (CaughtOffside).

A contract extension at Bayern was still on the cards as well, until very recently, with the ex-Premier League star informing Vincent Kompany’s side that he won’t be signing a new deal after all.

Now set to leave on a free, while Sane was believed to favour a move to Arsenal, he’s now apparently pulled a U-turn.

Instead, Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray are closing in on a deal for Sane, according to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg in a “breaking” update this morning.

Sane’s top-level experience and proven record of goals and assists from the last few seasons arguably make him one of the bargains of the summer, but he’s still very pricey in terms of salary.

Reports suggest that the former Schalke sensation is demanding a big “mega-money” contract, with Galatasaray seemingly set to pay him big-money.

Sane is close to the twilight phase of his career at nearly 30, and they have other high-profile wide targets to turn to as alternatives – ones which could prove better value for salary in the long run.

The Premier League is widely regarded as the most physical, intense and demanding league across the continent, so it’s always very impressive to see players performing well into their 30s.

Here, we’ve taken a look at the 10 oldest players in the Premier League, with their age taken from their last appearance. Without further ado, here is the list…

The oldest players in the 2024/25 Premier League
Rank	Player	Club	Age
1	Lukasz Fabianski	West Ham	40
2	Ashley Young	Everton	39
3	James Milner	Brighton	39
4	Jamie Vardy	Leicester	38
5	Jonny Evans	Man Utd	37
6	Adam Lallana	Southampton	36
7	Fraser Forster	Tottenham	36
8	Willian	Fulham	36
9	Seamus Coleman	Everton	36
10	Martin Dubravka	Newcastle	36
Data correct as of 25th May 2025

10

Martin Dubravka (Newcastle)

36 years, 1 month

Martin Dubravka has been in and out of Newcastle United team of late, primarily standing in for Nick Pope whenever the Toon No 1 is out injured.

Indeed, he was called upon over the Christmas period with Pope unavailable, with Newcastle securing a sixth consecutive win with the Slovakian between the sticks on his 36th birthday.

Dubravka’s last appearance came against Man City in February 2025.

9

Seamus Coleman (Everton)

36 years, 7 months

Seamus Coleman has been at Everton for 16 years now, though his season was derailed by injuries throughout.

It meant the Irishman only turned out five times for the Toffees in the 2024/25 Premier League, coming on most recently in the final game at Goodison Park against Southampton on 18th May.

8

Willian (Fulham)

36 years, 9 months, 1 day

Willian made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in October 2013 and has remained in the division ever since, aside from brief stints out at Corinthians and Olympiacos. The tricky winger returned to Fulham in January 2025.

His longevity is admirable, having made 327 appearances in England’s top flight with three different clubs as of the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

All-time PL top Brazilian goalscorers
#	Player	Goals
1	Roberto Firmino	82
2	Gabriel Jesus	76
3	Richarlison	64
=4	Philippe Coutinho	47
=4	Willian	47
6	Gabriel Martinelli	40
=7	Matheus Cunha	29
=7	Juninho	29
=9	Joao Pedro	22
=9	Joelinton	22

7

Fraser Forster (Tottenham)

36 years, 9 months, 12 days

Fraser Forster was summoned to the Tottenham Hotspur first team when Guglielmo Vicario was struck by injury.

It handed the former Southampton and Celtic shot-stopper a brief run of games in December, though Spurs were only successful on one occasion – on a return to St Mary’s.

Now 37, it remains to be seen whether he will appear for Spurs in the new season, having lost his place in the matchday squad towards the end of the campaign.

6

Adam Lallana (Southampton)

36 years, 9 months, 26 days

Adam Lallana’s Premier League career may well be over following Southampton’s relegation in 2025, which isn’t a huge surprise given he may not be granted another move up the pyramid at 37 years of age.

Looking further ahead, Lallana joined up with the England Under-21s in September 2023 as a coach – perhaps indicating his future plans on the touchline.

Lallana’s major honours
Trophy	Year
FIFA Club World Cup	2020
Premier League	2020
UEFA Super Cup	2019
Champions League	2019
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy	2010

5

Jonny Evans (Man Utd)

37 years, 4 months

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester United re-signed free agent Jonny Evans in the summer of 2023, but the veteran certainly proved a few naysayers wrong.

The Northern Irishman called time on his second spell in 2025, ending the campaign as the fifth-oldest player in the league.

He would have to turn out for another top-flight club to climb the rankings, perhaps for a promoted club looking for an experienced head.

Evans’ major honours
Trophy	Year
Community Shield	2009, 2011, 2012, 2021
FA Cup	2021, 2024
Premier League	2009, 2011, 2013
FIFA Club World Cup	2009
League Cup	2009, 2010
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy	2010
Champions League	2008
Championship	2007

4

Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

37 years, 4 months

Jamie Vardy bid a fond farewell to Leicester City this season, but despite the Foxes’ relegation, the 37-year-old backed himself to still do a job in the Premier League.

At the conclusion of the season, it was not clear where the striker was headed, but he certainly flew the flag for the veterans of the division, with only three older players appearing.

3

James Milner (Brighton)

39 years, 4 months

James Milner has amassed a remarkable 638 Premier League appearances – only Gareth Barry (653) has collected more.

The former England international has adapted his game to continue operating at the highest level, particularly at Liverpool, where he became an established left-back.

Now at Brighton, Milner has played at left-back, right-back and central midfield for the Seagulls.

He won Liverpool’s gruelling lactate test every pre-season he was at the club, evincing his astounding fitness levels, which no doubt have played a huge role in his longevity.

Most Premier League appearances
#	Player	Goals
1	Gareth Barry	653
2	James Milner	638
3	Ryan Giggs	632
4	Frank Lampard	609
5	David James	572
6	Gary Speed	535
7	Emile Heskey	516
8	Mark Schwarzer	514
9	Jamie Carragher	508
10	Phil Neville	505

2

Ashley Young (Everton)

39 years, 10 months

Ashley Young turns 40 in summer 2025, and has been a superb servant to Everton since his switch in 2023.

The former Manchester United winger has experienced a similar career development to Milner in the sense that he converted to full-back in order to continue playing at the highest level.

Young has continued to rack up appearances despite his advancing age, playing primarily at right-back.

Young’s career in numbers
Team	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Manchester United	261	19	33
Aston Villa	247	38	53
Watford	110	22	9
Everton	70	2	4
Inter	59	5	9

1

Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham)

40 years, 1 month

It seems crazy to think that Lukasz Fabianski is now in his 40s, having joined English football as a youngster with Arsenal in 2007.

He will be leaving West Ham United after seven years of service in east London, but not before topping the Premier League charts as the competition’s oldest player in 2024/25.

It’s hardly a badge of honour, but it speaks to the Pole’s enduring qualities that he could still hack it at the top level.

Manchester United are believed to be in contact about the signing of another exciting player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Man Utd set to sign Kana-Biyik as INEOS plot youth overhaul

The Red Devils won 3-0 away to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, allowing them to start dreaming of a place in the Europa League final, and some intriguing transfer business was reported at the same time.

At the same time as the game was going on, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano took to X to report that United have agreed a deal to sign Le Havre attacking sensation Enzo Kana-Biyik on a five-year deal.

At 18, Kana-Biyik is still clearly a raw talent, but it is a further sign that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are targeting young players with huge potential this summer, as well as focusing on signing star men who can come in and be an immediate hit.

Winning the Europa League will only help United bring in the right players, ensuring qualification for the Champions League in the process, and now a new update has emerged alongside Kana-Biyik.

Man Utd make contact to sign La Liga 2 gem Christian Kofane

According to reports in Spain [via Sport Witness], Manchester United are among the clubs in contact to sign Christian Kofane from Albacete Balompie this summer. The striker has a £4.2m release clause in his contract that can be triggered this year.

The update claims that “half of Europe” have been in touch about signing the 18-year-old, with fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa mentioned, as well as Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, Real Betis, Lille and Monaco.

Kofane may not yet be a household name, but he is a teenage star who could grow into a special player over time, having already scored six goals in 15 appearances for Albacete at senior level.

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 2, 2025

Meanwhile, Under-23 scout Antonio Mango has hailed the “pace”, “technical skills” and “movement” that the Cameroonian has in his locker, showing that he is an attacker with many key attributes.

As is the case with Kana-Biyik, Kofane isn’t the immediate solution for United, and could be loaned out given he has only thrived in the second tier in Spain so far, but the level of interest in him shows what a mouthwatering prospect he is.

Already thinking about potential life without loanee Marcus Rashford, Aston Villa are now reportedly battling Paris Saint-Germain to sign an in-demand winger who’s ready for a new challenge this summer.

Aston Villa's transfer plan

Even though the race for Champions League qualification is yet to reach a conclusion, Aston Villa are seemingly already preparing for the summer transfer window, which could be busy on all fronts.

The Premier League already received a glimpse of the players that Unai Emery is capable of attracting in the January transfer window and, if reports are anything to go by, the Spaniard’s pull-power could be on full show yet again this summer. That said, any incomings are unlikely to come without the sacrifice of departures amid reported PSR concerns.

As a result of those issues, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast over just who could be heading for the exit door at Villa Park this summer. The vultures are seemingly beginning to circle around Emery’s best talent too, with Chelsea reportedly interested in Ollie Watkins and Liverpool eyeing a summer swoop to sign Morgan Rogers.

Given that both Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are on course to leave at the end of their respective loan spells from Manchester United and PSG, losing Watkins and Rogers at the same time could leave Villa’s attack almost entirely decimated.

NSWE would rather sell 4 Aston Villa stars on £6m a year to keep Martinez

The Villans could shift some valuable deadwood.

BySean Markus Clifford May 10, 2025

What those exits could allow Aston Villa to do, however, is sign an in-demand winger who would instantly ease their loanee woes and reinforce Emery’s frontline once and for all.

Aston Villa battling PSG to sign Fofana

According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa are now battling PSG to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon this summer. The winger has enjoyed an impressive season at the French club, who are enduring financial struggles of their own, and now has a queue which includes PSG, Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle United in pursuit of his signature.

Despite Lyon’s financial struggles, any deal to sign Fofana in the coming months will not come cheap. Reports indicate that the Ligue 1 side have set a hefty price tag of around €50m (£42m) to sell their 20-year-old star.

Dubbed “explosive” by analyst Ben Mattinson earlier this season, Fofana has scored 11 goals and created another six in all competitions throughout the current campaign and could be worth splashing out on this summer.

For £42m, Villa could sign a player who’s keen on a new challenge and one who could become both the present and future of Emery’s frontline.

Who has impressed and who has struggled during the first half of the tournament?

Andrew McGlashan20-Apr-20251:38

Bishop: We saw the best of Starc tonight

Mitchell Marsh (Lucknow Super Giants)

Matches: 7 | Runs: 299 | Average: 42.71 | S/R: 167.97It’s been a notable return to action for Marsh, who missed the latter part of the Australia season through injury following his Test omission. He hammered four half-centuries in his first six innings before missing a game due to an illness in the family. He has benefited from the Impact Sub rule and has rarely had to push his body through fielding. “I’ve never been more motivated to score runs,” he said wryly about the ability to put his feet up. Marsh remains Australia’s T20 captain and has a big year ahead of him with the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next February.

Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Matches: 7 | Wickets: 7 | Average: 36.00 | Economy 10.21It hasn’t been a stellar IPL yet for Australia’s Test and ODI captain while his team languishes near the foot of the table. Cummins hadn’t played since the end of the India Test series in January, having missed the Champions Trophy. His most recent outing brought his best return of 3 for 26 against Mumbai Indians but, overall, wickets have come at a price. From Australia’s perspective, if SRH don’t make the playoffs, it would give Cummins some extra time to prepare for the WTC final.Related

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Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Matches: 7 | Runs: 242 | Average: 34.57| S/R: 168.05There have been flashes of brilliance from Head, who started the tournament with 67 off 31 balls as SRH piled up a massive 286 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals. More recently, he flayed 66 off 37 deliveries in a rollicking stand of 171 with Abhishek Sharma, as the duo produced another iconic IPL moment with SRH chasing 247 with room to spare.

Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Matches: 7 | Wickets: 12 | Average: 15.91 | Economy: 8.17Hazlewood is going along very nicely, which has been good news for both RCB, who are challenging towards the top of the table, and him personally, having not played since mid-December before the IPL started. His 3 for 21 against Chennai Super Kings was out of the top drawer and he bettered that return with 3 for 14 against Punjab Kings, although that came in defeat. It is looking increasingly like another Hazlewood vs Scott Boland debate for the WTC final.Josh Hazlewood has made an encouraging return from injury•Associated Press

Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals)

Matches: 7 | Wickets: 10 | Average: 26.70 | Economy: 10.68Starc began the season with a bang, taking eight wickets in his first two outings including a career-best T20 return of 5 for 35 against SRH, which included again removing Head. Since then, he has only taken two wickets in five matches, but played a starring role in DC’s Super Over victory against Royals when he nailed his reverse-swinging yorkers to secure the tie across 20 overs before keeping the Super Over to 11.

Tim David (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Matches: 7 | Runs: 142 | Average: 142.00 | S/R: 194.52David’s numbers neatly sum up the role he plays. Only dismissed once, facing 73 balls across five innings with an eye-watering strike rate of 194.52. Yet, two of his innings have come from No. 8 – where he has only batted five times in 249 T20 innings – to keep the talk going of when he comes in. Against PBKS, he single-handedly lifted RCB to a total that gave them half a chance with 50 off 26 balls.

Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)

Matches: 6 | Runs: 41 | Average: 8.20| S/R: 100.00 | Wickets: 4 | Average: 27.50 | Economy: 8.46It is becoming another forgettable IPL with the bat for Maxwell, who was dropped for PBKS’ latest match against RCB after barely being able to make an impact in the first half of the tournament. That follows last season’s returns of 52 runs at 5.77. He has held his own with the ball, but that wasn’t enough to keep his place.Jake Fraser-McGurk is among those to have been dropped by his franchise•BCCI

Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)

Matches: 6 | Runs: 55 | Average: 9.16 | S/R: 105.76It’s also been a tough tournament for Fraser-McGurk, who has not come close to replicating his success from last season. He made 38 of his runs in one innings against SRH but otherwise it has been five single-figure scores. He lost his place in the starting XI for DC’s latest match. The IPL struggles follow a BBL where he only came good at the end with 95 off 46 balls against Brisbane Heat.

Marcus Stoinis (Punjab Kings)

Matches: 6 | Runs: 66 | Average: 22.00 | S/R: 157.14 | Wickets: 0 | | Economy: 11.37There is not too much to show for Stoinis’ tournament to date. Curiously, he was left out after producing his best innings – 34 off 11 balls with four sixes in the high-scoring game against SRH – before being recalled in place of Maxwell one game later. Has been used sparingly with the ball and has been expensive.

Adam Zampa (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Matches: 2 | Wickets: 2 | Average: 47.00 | Economy: 11.75Zampa’s tournament never really got going before being ended by injury, used twice as an Impact Sub and coming away with two wickets. One of his outings was the astonishing 528-run game against Royals.Xavier Bartlett had to wait his turn, but has played in back-to-back victories•BCCI

Josh Inglis (Punjab Kings)

Matches: 2 | Runs: 16 | Average: 8.00 | S/R: 69.56Having started on the bench, Inglis has been brought in for the last two matches which have seen PBKS register back-to-back victories to climb up the table. But he has yet to get going with the bat – the first game he played was very low-scoring, as PBKS somehow defended 111, and the second shorted by rain.

Xavier Bartlett (Punjab Kings)

Matches: 2 | Wickets: 2 | Average: 28.00 | Economy: 9.33Ricky Ponting has no shortage of Australians in his squad and Bartlett is another who has been called off the bench for the last two matches. He has been used extensively in the powerplay and his two wickets have been key ones, of Quinton de Kock and Liam Livingstone.

Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings)

Matches: 1 | Wickets: 1 | Economy: 9.50Only a single outing so far for Ellis, who came into the tournament off the back of an impressive run as captain of BBL champions Hobart Hurricanes and then consistent performances for Australia in the Champions Trophy.

Spencer Johnson (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Matches: 4 | Wickets: 1 | Average: 133.00 | Economy: 11.73It’s been slim pickings for left-arm quick Johnson with one wicket in four outings, and he has been left out of KKR’s last two matches.*Aaron Hardie, who is in the Punjab Kings squad, has yet to play.

Stats highlights from the Mumbai-Titans clash at Wankhede, where Suryakumar Yadav and Rashid Khan put on a show

Sampath Bandarupalli12-May-2023103* Suryakumar Yadav’s score against Gujarat Titans – his highest in the IPL. It is the fifth IPL century for Mumbai Indians and the first since Lendl Simmons in 2014. Suryakumar also became the first player to score a century against the Titans.ESPNcricinfo Ltd5 Number of 200-plus totals for Mumbai in this IPL, the most by a team in a single season. The previous highest was four 200-plus totals by Kings XI Punjab (in 2014), Royal Challengers Bangalore (in 2016), Chennai Super Kings (in 2018 and 2022) and Kolkata Knight Riders (in 2019). CSK, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and KKR also have four 200-plus totals each in the 2023 season.4 T20 hundreds for Suryakumar, including three in internationals, all in fewer than 50 deliveries. Only one player has scored four or more T20 hundreds in less than 50 balls – Chris Gayle.4 Consecutive 200-plus totals for Mumbai at the Wankhede . Only one team had four 200-plus totals at a venue in a single IPL season – RCB in 2016 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Mumbai had only three 200-plus IPL totals at the Wankhede before 2023.12.33 Economy rate of the Titans fast bowlers in this match. Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma and Alzarri Joseph were hit for 11 sixes, conceded 148 runs in 12 overs, and took only one wicket between them. The wristspin duo of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad were hit for only one six in their eight overs while conceding 68 runs.