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Leeds United have their eyes on a tricky January transfer to sign a new forward who has been compared to Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds’ lack of goals in Premier League as 49ers eye forward

The Whites have struggled in front of goal so far following their return to the Premier League, with centre-back Joe Rodon the club’s joint top scorer in the top flight.

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okafor

2

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

Anton Stach

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Sean Longstaff

1

Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 10 goals in 11 games, with bottom of the table Wolves the only team to score fewer (7).

Only three attacking additions were made over the summer, two of which were free transfers in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It is looking like a decision the 49ers Enterprises could live to regret, but they do have their eyes on attacking reinforcements in the New Year.

Brazilian forward Jhon Jhon is one name that has emerged in recent weeks, and he already has Red Bull links at RB Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A. Journalist Graeme Bailey said:

“He’s a fascinating player. Very interesting. A bit of an attacking midfielder, can play as a forward. His name has come up in conversations with Red Bull, and he’s within the Red Bull name. He’s a good age, good player. Ticks a lot of boxes.

“Leeds aren’t the only ones looking. He’s come up in conversations, and one I’d not heard before until recently.”

Leeds set to make imminent bid for Real Madrid ace after Farke convinces 49ers

The Whites are looking to bring in a new forward, having not scored enough goals so far this season.

ByDominic Lund Nov 21, 2025

Domestically, Coventry City’s Haji Wright is another attacker who has been linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months, and there has been a fresh claim regaring the Whites taking the USA international in the New Year.

Update on Leeds’ move for Haji Wright

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have four attacking targets who they could move for in January, one of which is Wright.

It is stated that the Whites ‘have a genuine interest in signing Wright’ and ‘the club are considering a concrete move for a player they have tracked since the summer’.

A deal is viewed as tricky with Coventry top of the Championship, however, Wright’s contract is set to expire in 2027.

Despite the difference in size, Wright has been compared to former Leeds attacker Summerville due to his ability to play off the left.

Roony Bardghji

Barcelona

Marcus Edwards

Burnley

Crysencio Summerville

West Ham

Sadio Mane

Al-Nassr

Borja Sainz

Porto

Primarily a centre-forward, though, the 27-year-old has scored eight Championship goals in 14 appearances so far this season.

Labelled as a “constant problem” for defenders to keep tabs on by his manager Frank Lampard, it has previously been suggested that an offer of £20m could be required to sign Wright.

How Leeds believe they'll convince Raheem Sterling to join with move in the works

The details of the proposal Chelsea are willing to offer for FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen have now been revealed.

Robert Sanchez has received his fair share of criticism this season, with the goalkeeper being brandished an early red card in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, but he has since returned to form, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Speaking after the match, Sanchez said: “I feel confident, I am fit and at my best. I have always felt settled because the club always told me I am No. 1.

“But on a personal level and my performance I have to say yes (this is the most settled he has been at Chelsea).”

However, the Blues continue to be linked with new goalkeepers, with it being revealed they were offered the opportunity to sign Barcelona’s Ter Stegen at the end of October, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the German.

Chelsea willing to submit proposal for Ter Stegen

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now willing to offer to pay 75% of the Barca shot-stopper’s salary to secure his signature in the coming days, although the loan move would have to wait until the January transfer window opens.

The La Liga club are willing to sanction a departure this winter, with the 33-year-old potentially set to join the Blues on an initial loan deal, before making a permanent move to Stamford Bridge for a fee of €10m (£9m) in the summer.

The veteran goalkeeper would welcome a move to a new club, given that he is keen to receive more game time ahead of the World Cup next summer, with the lack of opportunities at Barcelona jeopardising his chances of being Germany’s starting goalkeeper.

The 44-time Germany international has fallen down the pecking order at the Camp Nou and is yet to make an appearance this season, so it would be understandable if he decides to move on in January, ahead of what could be his final World Cup.

Having established himself at the top level, the £281k-a-week Barcelona man could also be an upgrade on Sanchez, with journalist Graeme Bailey saying: “Ter Stegen is world-class, and if there is a chance to bolster your ranks with a player of this calibre for the second half of the season, I think he is a fascinating option for a number of sides in January.”

The former Borussia Monchengladbach star is vastly experienced in Europe, having made 85 Champions League appearances, while he also knows what it takes to win major trophies, lifting 19 major honours with Barcelona.

As such, Ter Stegen could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, who arguably need to bring in older players with experience of winning trophies if they are going to become title contenders.

Chelsea ready to bid for Vinicius Jr alongside Ter Stegen Bid ready: What BlueCo think about bringing Vinícius Júnior to Chelsea

The Blues have identified the man they want to become the face of their Stamford Bridge project.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 1, 2025

Are Rangers heading in the right direction?

On Sunday, Danny Röhl’s perfect start to life in the Premiership continued, making it three league wins out of three, with goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore and then Djeidi Gassama downing Dundee at Dens.

Despite this, the Gers remain fourth in the table, level on points with Hibs, five points below fierce rivals Celtic and a whopping 12 adrift surprise leaders Hearts.

Goals though remain a problem for this team, having bagged only 15 in 11 Premiership outings to date, netting just 31 times in 24 fixtures across all competitions, with Sunday only the fourth time they’ve scored three or more in a match, despite doing so on 21 occasions last season.

Strikers Danilo, Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti continue to be, at best, inconsistent, but could Rangers’ youngster with “huge potential” solve this attacking issue?

Rangers' recent loan stars

While Rangers’ recent recruit has rightly come under scrutiny, with serious questions being asked of sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the club remain excellent in one particular area; identifying attackers on loan.

In the last four seasons, Rangers have signed a high-quality attacker on loan each time, as the table below documents.

As the table highlights, in each of the last four seasons, Rangers have brought in a high-class attacker on a season-long loan.

Amad is probably the outlier on this list, making little impact during his six months in Glasgow, albeit he’s since become a key figure for Rúben Amorim at Manchester United.

Since, Malik Tillman, Abdallah Sima and Václav Černý have all registered at least 17 combined goals and assists during one season at Ibrox, with the latter the most productive of the lot, starring during a season on loan from Wolfsburg, a major loss having joined Beşiktaş instead of returning this summer.

Now, could a current member of the Rangers squad keep the streak of outstanding attackers on loan going?

Rangers' latest loan star

Of course, the entire Rangers team has improved since Röhl replaced Russell Martin last month, an admittedly low bar, but the player who has thrived the most is Mikey Moore.

The teenager scored his first goal for the club at Dens on Sunday, doubling the Gers lead with this strike which flew into Jon McCracken’s bottom corner.

Even before opening his account, the Englishman had looked sharper since Röhl’s arrival in Glasgow.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ Coverage, Chris Sutton asserted that he is “flourishing” into his full potential under Röhl, while James McFadden notes that he is enjoying a lot more freedom with the German coach at the helm, forecasting that he will only continue to get better in the coming weeks.

When the 18-year-old arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in August, he did so with a massive reputation for someone who had only played 815 minutes at senior level.

Upon joining, then manager Martin praised his “huge potential”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him “the English Neymar”.

Despite his slow start to life at Ibrox, only two Rangers players, namely Gassama and Thelo Aasgard, have registered more successful dribbles on a per 90 basis in the Premiership, early signs that he is ready to make a significant impact.

As already alluded to, scoring goals is one of this team’s primary issues.

Across all competitions, only captain James Tavernier, Gassama, Danilo and youngster Findlay Curtis have bagged more than two goals thus far, with that strike against Dundee the first of Moore’s campaign.

Thus, there is a spot up for grabs for the 18-year-old to take responsibility and become a truly integral figure in this team’s attack, following in the footsteps of Sima, Tillman and Černý, the other high-class loan attackers who have come before.

Move over Moore: Rangers star proved why he's their "best player" vs Dundee

Rangers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens on Sunday and Danny Röhl’s “sensational” star was as key as Mikey Moore in this Scottish Premiership victory.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 9, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Everton will always live long in the memory of Toffees fans. The legendary Italian boss was only at Goodison Park for one and a half seasons, but he got his side purring, playing some exceptional football.

In total, Ancelotti took charge of 67 games as Everton boss. He had a positive win rate, too, and was victorious in 31 of those matches, losing 22. His record in Merseyside derbies was excellent, losing once in four clashes, and securing three points at Anfield in his final derby in charge of the club.

Ancelotti also made some important signings during his time as Everton boss.

Ancelotti’s most important Everton signings

There was one signing in particular that Ancelotti made, which turned out to be a very important addition for the Toffees, that of Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Mali international played 34 games under the Italian coach, chipping in with six goals and assists.

It was his contribution after Ancelotti had left the club that was particularly vital for the Toffees. In total, he played 166 games and bagged 21 goals, but the most important strike came on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

His goal against Bournemouth ensured Everton avoided relegation. A crucial signing made by Ancelotti.

No doubt the biggest name Everton’s former boss signed during his stint at Goodison Park was James Rodriguez. The iconic Colombian attacking midfielder only spent a single season on Merseyside, but certainly left a huge impact.

He played 26 games under Ancelotti for the club, and started the Premier League season on fire. Rodriguez scored and assisted six goals in his first five games, ending the campaign with six goals and nine assists across all competitions. It was certainly a good deal, given he was signed on a free transfer.

Rodriguez was not the only bargain signing that Ancelotti made at Everton. Another player whom the Toffees signed for an excellent price is a key player at the club today.

The Ancelotti bargain in Everton’s first team

Years on from Ancelotti’s spell at Everton, almost all of the players he signed have now left the Toffees.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Rodriguez now plies his trade in Mexico for Leon, and Doucoure left in the summer to join Saudi side NEOM SC.

The only player that Ancelotti signed who still plies his trade at Everton is actually one of the most exciting young talents in England. Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite joined the club in January 2020, signing from Carlisle United for just £1m.

The centre-back, who was born in Carlisle and represented them at first-team level, only played five times under Ancelotti, initially playing in the Toffees academy. Yet, they have the Italian to thank for bringing the defender to the club, given how good he’s become.

In total, the left-footed defender has played 86 games for the club now, impressing enough to make his England debut at the end of last season. He’s even chipped in with four goals, including a strike against Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is yet to make an appearance this season due to injuries.

Yet, his numbers from last term show just how much of a talent he is. For example, he won an average of 4.3 duels and made 6.8 clearances per 90 minutes.

Long balls completed

3.1

85

Forward passes

18.6

518

Duels won

4.3

118

Clearances

6.8

188

Ball recoveries

3.4

93

With all that in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that the “colossal” defender, as Statman Dave called him, has shot up in value. According to Transfermarkt, he is now worth £43.5m, a testament to his quality and future potential.

He has seen an enormous rise in his value of 4200%, which represents excellent business from Everton under Ancelotti, all those years ago. It also means that, if the Toffees are ever to sell Branthwaite, they are surely in line for a huge windfall.

It certainly seems like, for a fee of just £1m, Branthwaite’s signing has been one of the best pieces of business done by Everton in recent years.

Moyes can ditch Barry & Beto to unleash "special" Everton star in new role

Everton may be able to solve their issues in front of goal with this player

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2025

Bayern Munich legend Mario Basler has told GOAL why he would still pick Robert Lewandowski ahead of Harry Kane, despite seeing the England international star in German football. Kane has become a trophy winner and maintained remarkable individual standards with Bayern as he follows in the illustrious footsteps of prolific Polish sensation Lewandowski – who hit 344 goals for the Bundesliga giants.

Kane vs Lewandowski: Goal returns for Bayern

Lewandowski spent eight memorable years with Bayern between 2014 and 2022. He achieved his stunning goal contribution through 375 appearances – finding the target on at least 40 occasions across seven successive campaigns. He left a sizeable void when leaving for La Liga heavyweights Barcelona.

Bayern spent 12 months mulling over their options on the striker front before eventually prising Kane away from Tottenham. He stepped out of his comfort zone in north London after growing tired of waiting on elusive major honours. Kane has been a revelation at the Allianz Arena, netting 107 goals through 111 games.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhy Bayern great Basler would pick Lewandowski over Kane

Kane, who is into his third season as a Bayern player, is matching Lewandowski in the strike rate stakes. He is, however, yet to eclipse the Poland international’s legacy. With that in mind, the iconic No.9 of the recent past is considered to be held in higher regard than the free-scoring performer in the present.

Speaking in association with , Bayern legend Basler told GOAL when asked to pick between Kane and Lewandowski: “Oh, that's a very difficult question. The comparisons have been made a lot in recent days and weeks. Robert Lewandowski was also an exceptional striker at FC Bayern. So, ideally, I'd like to avoid the question altogether or take both of them. But if I really had to choose, I would go with Robert Lewandowski.”

Pressed further on whether Lewandowski’s longevity in Bavaria gives him the edge, Basler added: “Yes, he played for FCB for many years and scored his goals; he was an exceptional striker. You don't really want to hurt either of them, but if I had to choose, I would go with Robert Lewandowski.”

Similarities & differences between Kane & Lewandowski

Basler, who won two Bundesliga titles with Bayern and scored in the 1999 Champions League final against Manchester United, has previously said of the differences between two superstar strikers that have passed through Munich: “Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski are similar in some ways. They are rarely injured and they always score goals, but I believe Kane is more of a team player – Lewandowski is sometimes a very selfish striker.

“I watch Kane play and notice that he also tracks back in midfield and distributes the ball quite well. I think he is more important for Bayern than Lewandowski was. He adds more to the team than Lewandowski ever did because he also works defensively and is more involved in the team’s build-up.

“I hope he doesn’t leave Bayern and I also believe that he knows exactly what he has at the club. Above all he is also of a certain age now, I’m not sure he’d be keen to make another change at this stage. I believe he feels very comfortable in Bayern, and I hope he stays there until he ends his career.”

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GettyPremier League return & Barcelona: Kane transfer speculated on

Questions have been asked of how long Kane will be sticking around at the Allianz Arena. He is tied to a contract through to 2027, but said deal includes exit clauses that can be triggered next summer. It has been suggested that an offer of £57 million ($75m) would be enough to enter into transfer talks.

Fresh terms for the 32-year-old frontman have also been mooted, given his importance to the collective cause, but rumours of a return to England being made refuse to go away. It has also been claimed that Kane could follow in Lewandowski’s footsteps again by heading to Spain, potentially to Barcelona where he could be a direct replacement for his counterpart as they allow their Polish striker’s contract to run down towards free agency. Kane has been giving little away when it comes to his future plans.

All football fans will be familiar with the chant “can we play you every week?”, but it would be more apt if Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters started signing “can we play in the Carabao Cup every week?”, even if it hasn’t quite got the same ring to it.

This is because, having already ousted West Ham in round two, Wolves beat Everton 2-0 in the EFL Cup at Molineux on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Marshall Munetsi and then Tolu Arokodare.

So, despite having beaten two top division teams in the League Cup, the Old Gold have lost all five Premier League matches they’ve played so far, the club’s worst-ever start to a season, following last weekend’s 3-1 reverse at the hands of Leeds.

On Saturday night, Wolves will face Spurs in North London, and an appointment with Doctor Tottenham might just be what they need to cure their relegation woes, but Vítor Pereira will need to unleash his “huge talent” if his side are going to get off the mark in the capital.

Jørgen Strand Larsen's importance to Wolves

This is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ eighth successive season in the top division, their longest stay since the 70s, but many fear that the streak could come to an end, given that they continuously sell their best players.

In 2023, it was Matheus Nunes and Rúben Neves who were sold for big money, with Pedro Neto and Max Kilman following suit 12 months later, while Rayan Aït-Nouri and Matheus Cunha were sold for a combined £93.5m during the most-recent transfer window.

Cunha scored 17 goals last season, directly involved in 39% of Wolves’ Premier League goals, despite sitting out five matches due to various suspensions.

Thus, he was always going to leave a rather large void in the Black Country, one that Jørgen Strand Larsen is attempting to fill, having himself scored 14 times during his debut campaign at Molineux, netting twice so far this season, both in the Carabao Cup.

As already outlined, Wolves have become accustomed to selling their stars in recent times, but recognised the potentially disastrous consequences of allowing Strand Larsen to leave, thereby rejecting multiple bids from Newcastle for the Norwegian’s signature, the highest of which was £55m.

The 25-year-old has been nursing an achilles issue, thereby sitting out the defeats to Everton and Newcastle, before being introduced off the bench against Leeds on Saturday, so he simply must start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, but which new teammate will help get the best out of him?

Wolves' new Matheus Cunha

On deadline day, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed striker Tolu Arokodare from Genk for a reported fee of £24m.

The Nigerian international started against both Newcastle and Leeds, in the aforementioned absence of Strand Larsen, before opening his account in old gold by scoring off the bench in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

From his time in Belgium, Arokodare is certainly highly rated, with Graeme Bailey labelling him a “huge talent” and at 6 ft 6 in (197 cms), he is imposing and a major attacking threat.

Earlier this year, the striker bagged his first two international goals, netting for Nigeria against Russia at the Luzhniki and then during a victory over Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier in Uyo earlier this month.

At club level meantime, Arokodare scored 22 goals in 34 appearances for his first European club, namely Valmiera in Latvia, spending time at Köln and then Amiens, before truly bursting onto the scene with Genk.

Last season, he scored 23 goals in all competitions for the Smurfs, thereby sharing the Jupiler Pro League golden boot.

The table below indicates how prolific he was in Belgium.

As the table documents, Arokodare led the way for all attacking metrics in Belgium’s top-flight last season.

Worth highlighting that all 21 of his goals were scored inside the penalty area, including three headers, underlining his style of play, albeit the fact he missed a whopping 34 Opta-defined big chances has to be a concern.

Nevertheless, the fact he won the third-most aerial duels is commendable, emphasising how he could be useful to Wolves.

Pereira has favoured a back five as Wolves boss, a shape which would allow him to deploy two centre-forwards together, having notably seen Cunha and Strand Larsen work in tandem last term.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Thus, if he selects Arokodare and Strand Larsen together against Tottenham, it would prevent one or the other from becoming massively isolated while, together, they’re capable of causing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero problems, potentially helping Wolves cause a massive shock in North London.

100% passing, 100% dribbles: Wolves star is as undroppable as Strand Larsen

Wolves secured their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Everton.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 24, 2025

Even though they have received plenty of criticism for it over the years, Chelsea’s transfer policy has seen them build a squad full of exceptionally talented youngsters.

The club might not be ready to challenge for a Premier League title this season, but over the next few years, as their youngsters become increasingly comfortable, they could be a real force in all competitions.

One of the players who looks like he could be a genuine superstar for the West Londoners is Estevao, who was sensational against Liverpool on Saturday.

However, Chelsea have already got their hands on another incredible prospect who could end up being an even bigger talent than the 18-year-old.

Estevao's brilliant performance against Liverpool

It should be said that Estevao’s brilliant display against Liverpool on the weekend didn’t come as much of a surprise to Chelsea fans and those who have been watching them this season.

After all, while he hadn’t scored before the game, he had made a couple of impressive cameos off the bench against the likes of Crystal Palace and Benfica.

Moreover, in his first start for the club, against West Ham United, he was near-enough unplayable and, thanks to some silky movement and technical brilliance, provided his first assist for Joao Pedro.

However, even then, it can’t be denied that his efforts against Arne Slot’s side felt far more significant and like a real statement to the rest of the league.

He only came on in the 75th minute, but once he was on the pitch, it was impossible to ignore him.

Granted, a lot of what he tried didn’t actually come off for him, but the fact that he attempted three dribbles, played two key passes, and was accurate in two of his three crosses in just a little over 20 minutes of action is hugely impressive.

He made Andy Robertson’s life miserable in the closing moments of the game and then, thanks to his awareness and positioning, was in the right place at the right time to poke home the winner.

Daniel Sturridge summed it up well after the game when he said the teenage gem “came on and was absolutely top draw.”

In all, Estevao looks destined to reach the very top of the game, but Chelsea have already signed another sensational prospect who might just be an even bigger talent.

Chelsea's bigger talent than Estevao

In good news for Chelsea fans, there are a few genuinely exciting youngsters set to join the squad next summer, including Denner, Geovany Quenda, and Kenry Paez.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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However, when it comes to someone who might be a bigger talent than Estevao, only one name comes to mind: Dastan Satpayev.

The Blues secured a deal for the Kazakhstani forward in February, but as he was 16 at the time and is now 17, he has to wait another season before he can move to West London.

However, that might not actually be such a bad thing, as he’s been getting plenty of game time with Kairat Almaty in recent campaigns and making quite the impression.

For example, in 27 appearances last season, totalling 1908 minutes, the young phenom scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 95.4 minutes.

Satpayev’s 24/25

Appearances

27

Minutes

1908′

Goals

13

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

Minutes per Goal Involvement

95.4′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So far this season, the Almaty-born ace has scored three goals and provided one assist in nine games, seven of which have been qualifiers for the Champions League, with the other two being in the competition proper.

The hype surrounding the forward is no joke, with one analyst going as far as calling him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and, as if that wasn’t enough pressure, “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”

Finally, the 17-year-old is not just impressing at club level, but also on the international stage.

After producing five goal involvements in ten games for Kazakhstan’s U17 side, and then making one appearance for the U21s, he has already won five senior caps, two of which have come against Wales.

Ultimately, Estevao is the man of the moment and appears destined for greatness, but it seems that Satpayev will follow a very similar path in a year’s time and could even surpass him.

Related Moises Caicedo tells Chelsea fans where he ranks himself compared to Kante

The Blues midfielder scored a stunning goal as his side went on to defeat Liverpool.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Oct 6, 2025

Mohit Sharma jokingly said, “If a bat or two are caught oversized then ban them also”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-20255:00

Rayudu: Bat checks done on the field can affect batters’ focus

The two matches in IPL 2025 on Sunday, saw the on-field umpires checking the dimensions of the bats of batters who came in to bat. It is a practice usually done in the dressing room, but in both the matches, it played out on the field before the batters took guard. Umpires Nitin Menon and Saidharshan Kumar measured bats of Shimron Hetmyer, Phil Salt, Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana among others in Jaipur, while Chris Gaffaney and Vinod Seshan did the same to Hardik Pandya’s bat in Delhi.All the bats went through the gauge through which they must pass, and were deemed acceptable. Rana said that the batters did not have an issue with it if the umpires want to “check it for their satisfaction.”Related

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“There is shortage of time in T20s, and if the umpires have the time to check the bat, I guess it is their right to do so – even my bat was checked,” he said on the eve of RR’s game against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. “In that game, bats of 60-70% batsmen was checked. It is fair enough, we don’t have a say in that, it is not a controllable. The bats are made in the company that sponsors us, we don’t have an issue with that. But if umpires want to check it for their satisfaction, we don’t have a problem.”DC’s fast bowler Mohit Sharma had a bit of laugh when asked about it and said: “That’s really good, please check those bats. As it is we have been seeing such big sixes. If a bat or two are caught oversized then ban them also.”

Arsenal’s performance against Liverpool was a strange one.

As Arne Slot mused at full time, if you played the same match another ten times, eight results would see a draw, the Reds would win once and the Gunners would win the other.

It was a tight game. Arguably neither side really deserved to take all three points home.

Yet, in title races, you need moments of magic. Dominik Szoboszlai was the man who provided it for Slot and Co in the Premier League on Sunday, striking home a sweet free kick.

Arsenal were craving a moment of similar spice but despite spending nearly £300m, they lacked that moment. It’s safe to say it’ll take time for everything to come together with so many new faces vying for a place in the team.

So, fresh off that 1-0 defeat at Anfield, is there anything for Arsenal to wrap up on deadline day?

Arsenal's transfer deadline day plans

As far as incomings are concerned, it’s unlikely Arsenal will be too busy during Monday’s deadline day.

That said, we are still awaiting official communication that Piero Hincapie will sign from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Gunners have been in talks to sign the defender over the last few week and it was widely reported that he was undergoing a medical on Sunday.

That move will pave the way for Jakub Kiwior to depart the Emirates Stadium and he could be followed out the door by Oleksandr Zinchenko – linked with Marseille – and Reiss Nelson who, is wanted by Fulham.

Transfer Focus

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

Eberechi Eze may well have signed but there is still a craving for a left winger and that was rubber-stamped on Sunday.

Gabriel Martinelli began the game on the left flank but was hauled off on the 70th-minute mark having had one of his poorest games for the club.

The Brazilian was dominated by makeshift right back Szoboszlai, notably failing to register a shot, a key pass or complete a dribble.

So, how can Arsenal solve that issue?

How Arsenal can solve their Martinelli problem

Cast your minds back to the 2022/23 campaign. The Gunners are at their free-flowing best. Grant Xhaka is patrolling things from the middle of the park, Gabriel Jesus is dazzling up top and Oleksandr Zinchenko is inverting from left-back.

Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Martinelli were also combining to create one of the best attacks in the division. All three of them scored 15 goals throughout the campaign.

Since then, it’s been a tale of woe for him with the Gunners. He’s really struggled to replicate that form and the start to 2025/26 has been no better.

FFC handed the Brazilian a 3/10 rating for his efforts in Merseyside and it was justified for a complete lack of involvement. The forward is full of energy and pace but lacks end product, largely due to his indecisiveness when he gets the ball in and around the penalty area.

Minutes played

70

Touches

15

Accurate passes

6/7 (86%)

Key passes

0

Shots

0

Dribble attempts

0

Crosses

0

Duels won

2

What Arsenal need is something different on that side of the pitch. Eze came on for the last 20 minutes and immediately looked a better asset, very nearly scoring.

But, if Arteta wanted to axe Martinelli for good, then signing a new winger would certainly go down a treat on deadline day.

Much of the summer’s chatter has been about Real Madrid’s Rodrygo but another player who could be on the market late on is Rafael Leao, valued at £86m.

Reports on Sunday suggested that Tottenham Hotspur were actually looking at doing a deal for the Portuguese, albeit it would be a very challenging deal to do this late in the window. Arsenal have previously been linked but it’s not known whether they still retain an interest.

So, why would he be a good signing? Well, the 26-year-old has notably been described as “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

The Milan winger has cultivated a reputation as one of the most exciting forwards in the game, scoring 12 times and also providing 13 assists in all competitions throughout last season. One year prior, the electric speedster scored 15 and managed 14 assists, showcasing why he’s so highly rated.

His style of play would also captivate the masses at the Emirates. Back in 2022, Milan coach Stefano Pioli said that “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry.”

Like the Arsenal legend, Leao boasts a quick and long stride pattern. He favours the left channel and he’s a monster if you allow him to cut inside.

Over the last year, the Milan attacker ranks among the best 4% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons, via FBref. To put that into context, Martinelli ranks among the best 25%, lagging behind Leao by some distance.

To put it simply, the Portugal international is better than Martinelli.

He has a level of incisiveness, a level of directness that simply isn’t there with the Brazilian. Signing him late in the window, particularly if they beat Spurs to his signature, would be one quick way to move on from their troubled number 11.

Shades of Xhaka: Big-money target to sign for Arsenal in the next 24 hours

Arsenal could conclude their summer business with the signing of a player who’s like Granit Xhaka.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025

Alyssa Healy leaves some big shoes to fill, but Chinelle Henry is ready to step in for UP Warriorz and make an unexpected WPL debut she hopes will be the start of something huge.Henry, the powerful West Indies middle-order batter and handy fast bowler, received a late call-up to the tournament as a replacement for Australia captain Healy, who is recovering from a stress injury in her foot, and while she is yet to play a game, she wants to make her inclusion count.”This is a really huge, huge opportunity for me,” Henry told ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “My only other franchise league would’ve been the CPL, so to be a part of one of the biggest franchises around in female cricket in the WPL is a really big thing for my career going forward. Next year maybe I could secure a place to be actually a part of a team permanently coming in the next edition of the WPL, so this year is definitely kind of like a test run, a trial run, for me.Related

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“Coming in has a replacement, that’s a huge set of responsibilities on me, huge shoes to fill. The atmosphere playing along with some of the best in the world from their respective regions is going to be huge. This will be a lot of learning this year and I’m hoping that I can actually go there and deliver on the field when called upon, because that’s the reason why I’m here. Obviously they saw something. Healy, unfortunately the team lost to injury, and to be that replacement is a huge honour.”It only takes a glance back to December to see why UP Warriorz reached for Henry’s number when Healy succumbed to the injury she has been battling on and off since last year’s T20 World Cup.A 16-ball 43 plus one wicket in a losing cause during West Indies’ third T20I against India at Navi Mumbai and 61 off 72 balls in the third ODI, which India won in Vadodara, indicated some serious good form on Henry’s maiden tour of India.Now she is hoping to follow in the footsteps of team-mates Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin in making her first foray to the WPL and, along with Stafanie Taylor, branching out into more global franchise competitions.”A lot of people have been talking about it, that I have been in form lately, and that’s something that I actually want to continue to do because obviously the pressure of the WPL is different from everything else,” Henry said. “Being here in the WPL, I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous at first, but after coming back here, adjusting to the atmosphere, it’s just about getting to know the girls a little bit better and just picking up where I left off the last time I was in India. It’s just about continuing that confidence, continuing to play with that freedom and to know that I have the backing of the coaches and team.”At the age of 29 and with 111 international caps across both white-ball formats, any lessons Henry can take back to the younger members of the West Indies squad will be a bonus as they look to build on the success of reaching last year’s T20 World Cup semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions New Zealand.West Indies will need all of those components to come together again in April when they face five other teams vying for just two qualifying places at the 50-over World Cup, to be played in India later this year.”When you talk about West Indies, we always want to be at the big stage, big competitions, we always want to be competing,” Henry said. “The same amount of confidence, the same amount of enthusiasm that we play the T20s with, that’s something we are trying to go out there and play the longer version with. The longer version of the game is something that we are going to have to take more responsibility for as a person, as a team, and know that to avoid these situations [going through the qualifier] this is what we have to do.”We won the T20 World Cup once and definitely the ODI World Cup is something that we talked about. We just don’t want to keep dwelling on the past that, ‘hey, we won the 2016 T20 World Cup’. Teams are evolving, teams are getting better, players are getting better. We know that we have to get better and these are things that we have to do in order to be better at the longer version of the game.”