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As England kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with victory over Albania on Friday evening, it was a muted night for those of a Chelsea persuasion, even with former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel now at the helm for the Three Lions.

With Cole Palmer sidelined with injury, the only two Chelsea representatives in Tuchel’s matchday squad were Levi Colwill and Reece James, albeit with neither man earning a place in the starting lineup at Wembley.

As it proved, Colwill was an unused substitute for the 2-0 triumph, while James was introduced in stoppage time in place of goalscorer, Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the German coach favouring the veteran Kyle Walker at right-back.

It is still early days, however, with James no doubt hoping to cement a starting berth for himself moving forward, having begun to feature more regularly at club level following an injury-hit last few years at Stamford Bridge.

The 25-year-old – who has made just 14 appearances at club level this season – will be aiming to get back to the levels that he showcased under Tuchel’s watch, having enjoyed an initially meteoric rise from academy prospect to first-team sensation.

Reece James' Chelsea record under Tuchel

Captain of the side that claimed FA Youth Cup glory in 2017/18, having been named Academy Player of the Year that season to boot, the versatile full-back was made to wait until September 2019 to make his Blues debut, after spending the previous campaign on loan at Wigan Athletic.

Under the tutelage of Frank Lampard, the then-youngster would amass 37 first-team appearances in total in 2019/20, alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, as the west London side secured Champions League qualification.

That bright start was followed by a real rise amid Tuchel’s appointment in January 2021, with James playing a central role in the side that claimed European glory just a few months later.

Operating in a right wing-back berth, the Englishman flourished in an attacking sense under the former Borussia Dortmund boss, having chalked up seven goals and 12 assists in 74 games during Tuchel’s tenure.

It is no surprise then that even amid his recent injury woes, he has still been recognised as being “as good as any right-back in the world” when at his best, according to pundit Eni Aluko, with the Chelsea skipper still having ample time to return to such lofty heights.

Whatever the case, James still represents a real academy success story of the modern era at the Bridge, having seemingly overtaken one of his positional rivals to soar to the top.

The Chelsea star who was once ahead of Reece James

Mount, Abraham, Colwill, Conor Callagher, Dominic Solanke, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The list goes on.

While not all have made their mark at first-team level for the Blues, the west London side have certainly developed a reputation for producing some of the best young talent about – and deservedly so.

For every Reece James, however, there are those who don’t quite push on in a similar vain, with that perhaps true of another once-promising Cobham gem, in the form of Dujon Sterling.

Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup final XI – 2016/17
Chelsea 5-1 Man City, second leg
GK – Jamie Cumming
CB – Reece James
CB – Marc Guehi
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
RWB – Dujon Sterling
CM – Tariq Uwakwe
CM – Jacob Maddox
LWB – Juan Castillo
RW – Callum Hudson-Odoi
ST – Ike Ugbo
LW – Mason Mount

The current Rangers star – who, like James, is now 25 – was actually promoted into the first-team ranks a long time prior to his former colleague, having been handed a first-team debut by Antonio Conte as early as 2017.

The 6 foot 1 starlet was seemingly deemed a viable option as a wing-back in Conte’s 3-4-3 set-up, with reports also suggesting that he was ‘rated as highly as James’ in the academy system at one stage. Indeed, praise flooded in from academy coach Adi Viveash at the time:

Unfortunately for Sterling, while the current Chelsea captain has gone on to make 172 appearances for the club, the Islington-born defender was unable to build on the two chances he was handed in that 2017/18 campaign.

The former England youth international subsequently spent the next four seasons out on loan at a variety of EFL clubs, including Wigan, before the Todd Boehly regime allowed him to depart on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract in 2023.

Sterling has since made 67 appearances in Glasgow, while registering four goal involvements, albeit with few of a Chelsea persuasion – including Boehly and co – likely to regret letting him depart on the cheap.

Having at one stage been viewed as ‘one of the best talents’ to come from Cobham, as per journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the £3m-rated ace was ultimately usurped by James in that right-back pecking order.

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By
Connor Holden

Mar 22, 2025

Everton scored a late equaliser courtesy of Jake O’Brien to salvage a point against West Ham United this afternoon.

David Moyes was taking on his old team for the first time since departing the London Stadium at the end of last season and the 1-1 draw moves the Toffees 17 points clear of the drop zone.

The Merseyside club can look forward to Premier League football at their new Bramley Moore Stadium, but Moyes has some work to do regarding his first-team squad, that’s for sure.

Several players failed to deliver against the Irons on Saturday, most notably Beto…

Beto’s struggles for Everton continue

A few weeks ago, having scored for the fourth game in a row against Manchester United, Beto looked like he could become Moyes’ new talisman.

Since then, he has failed to find the back of the net and struggled against West Ham today.

Indeed, the striker won just six of his 23 contested duels, lost possession 14 times and completed only ten passes before he was subbed off in the 79th minute.

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite (51)

Tackles

Idrissa Gueye (4)

Key passes

Jake O’Brien, Carlos Alcaraz and James Ward-Prowse (3)

Ground duels won

Mohammad Kudus and Tomas Soucek (6)

Shots on target

Jake O’Brien, Tomas Soucek and Jarrad Bowen (2)

It was another disappointing display from the centre-forward. Thankfully, he was rescued by O’Brien, who scored in the final minutes to save Everton.

If Beto was bad, then Jack Harrison was even worse, however. Will Moyes make his deal permanent in the summer? Or will he move on from the current Leeds United loanee?

Jack Harrison’s game in numbers vs West Ham United

Harrison has failed to offer much going forward for Everton this season. Across 29 games in all competitions, the winger has scored a solitary goal, failing to grab a single assist.

Hardly the sort of contribution that will turn Moyes’ head with regard to a permanent deal, and he should be axed when the season finishes.

Against Graham Potter’s side, Harrison was deployed on the right wing. He delivered ten crosses into the box, yet only two were accurate, while he succeeded with just 50% of his dribble attempts.

The Englishman was even dribbled past on two occasions during the game along with losing possession 15 times, winning just three of his seven total duels and failing to even register a shot on target.

Will Rooney of Liverpool World gave Harrison a match rating of 6/10 for his display against the Irons.

If Moyes wishes to take this Everton team to new heights during the 2025/26 campaign, he won’t get very far by using players such as Harrison. That’s a certainty.

Plenty of change is required at the club, especially with the move to the new stadium requiring the Merseyside club to finish much higher up the table, avoiding relegation battles.

Harrison must be axed this summer and someone much better signed in his place. Moyes faces a massive challenge, especially now the honeymoon period is over.

Making a few key signings will help massively this summer. But Harrison should be one player who departs the club.

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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 14, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Na noite da última terça-feira, o Bahia foi até a Arena da Baixada e acabou derrotado pelo Athletico por 2 a 1, placar que eliminou o time da Copa do Brasil.

– VEJA A TABELA DA COPA DO BRASIL

Além da queda no torneio nacional, o Esquadrão de Aço chegou a marca de três partidas sem vencer na temporada.

Após bater o Brusque, o Bahia ficou no empate com Grêmio, Vila Nova e agora Athletico.

Calendário

A chance para quebrar a sequência negativa será no sábado, quando encara o Guarani, fora de casa.

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Liverpool have tabled a shock contract offer for Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne, according to a report.

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De Bruyne set to be a free agent in the summerLiverpool want the Belgian midfielderWill face competition from NapoliFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Belgian midfielder, who has spent nearly a decade at the Etihad Stadium, has confirmed he will part ways with City at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and according to the Reds are now vying for his signature. This audacious move could see De Bruyne line up against his former side next season – a scenario few would have imagined just months ago.

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Liverpool’s pursuit of De Bruyne comes at a time when they are preparing to lose a key figure of their own in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is likely to join Real Madrid. The departure of such a versatile outlet has left a sizeable gap in the team’s playmaking structure – one that the Reds might be hoping De Bruyne can fill. Although their styles differ, the Belgian’s vision, passing range, and leadership could offer Liverpool an immediate and world-class solution to the void.

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool are not alone in chasing the former Chelsea man. Serie A giants Napoli have also made a serious play for De Bruyne’s services, according to the report. One of Napoli’s strongest assets in this race is their ability to leverage De Bruyne’s relationship with his compatriot, Romelu Lukaku. The two Belgians have enjoyed a close bond at international level, and Napoli will hope this connection could be a key factor in convincing De Bruyne to choose Naples over Merseyside.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Should Liverpool succeed in landing De Bruyne, it would be a statement of intent under Arne Slot. With a blend of experienced stars and young talent, the Reds are looking to build a squad capable of challenging both domestically and in Europe, and De Bruyne’s arrival would undoubtedly elevate their chances. Moreover, signing one of Man City’s all-time greats would add extra spice to an already fierce rivalry, injecting further drama into the next Premier League campaign.

West Ham United are considering a bargain move for one striker who they’ve previously failed to sign on “several” occasions, with the east Londoners sensing a potential opportunity to back manager Graham Potter this summer.

West Ham seal Evan Ferguson loan deal with no buy option

The Hammers ended their striker search for this campaign by sealing a dry loan deal for Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson, who joins Potter’s side on a temporary basis until the end of 2024/2025.

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Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 12, 2025

Ferguson’s best campaign to date came during the 2022/2023 season, where he impressed supporters and pundits alike after bursting on to the scene, but the Irishman has since struggled with injuries and subsequently fell down the Amex pecking order.

West Ham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (home)

February 15th

Arsenal (away)

February 22nd

Leicester City (home)

February 27th

Newcastle United (home)

March 10th

Everton (away)

March 15th

The 20-year-old has a chance to reignite his career in east London, under the same manager who gave him his Premier League debut at Brighton, with Potter potentially set to hand Ferguson his first West Ham appearance against Brentford on Saturday.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Evan in on loan until the end of the season,” said Potter on signing Ferguson for West Ham.

“He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the Board for bringing him in. He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.

“We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come.”

If the player impressed in Claret and Blue, the Irons do not possess an option to buy the player outright, meaning they’d have to head back to the negotiating table. If Ferguson does enough, Brighton could well price West Ham out of a move, with the club already looking at alternative options for this summer.

Man United striker Rasmus Hojlund is believed to be a summer target for West Ham, in the event they cannot pursue a permanent deal for Ferguson, or if they decide not to.

West Ham considering bargain summer move for Callum Wilson

Now, according to talkSPORT, another option under consideration at the London Stadium is Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson.

The 32-year-old is a player of real quality on his day, with his best season at Newcastle yielding a return of 18 goals and five assists in 31 Premier League appearances during the 22/23 campaign.

However, Wilson’s last two seasons have been blighted by injury, meaning he could depart St. James’ Park for free with his contract expiring this summer.

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook says West Ham are considering signing Wilson on a zero-cost deal, after previously failing with “several” past attempts to sign the Will Salthouse client.

This is a move that Potter’s side will need to carefully ponder, as The Mail report that Wilson is on around £120,000-per-week, and West Ham will not want to fork out those high salary demands if the Englishman is mostly unavailable through injury.

Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table back to 13 points on Wednesday night with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Dundee.

The Hoops made light work of their opponents at Parkhead and are one step closer to winning the top-flight for the fourth successive season.

Jota, who rejoined the club in a move from Rennes last month, started his first match under Brendan Rodgers and ended the game with an assist to his name.

The star of the show for the Scottish giants, however, was not the Portuguese sensation. Instead, it was the team’s Belgian wizard in the middle of the park.

Arne Engels' performance against Dundee

The summer signing from Augsburg was selected alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate in midfield and caught the eye with a masterful showing.

Engels kicked off the scoring for the Hoops in the 18th minute by coolly converting from the penalty spot after Auston Trusty was fouled inside the box.

The Belgian midfielder then turned provider for the fourth goal with an assist for Daizen Maeda, before he added his second of the match with a fine, albeit slightly deflected, effort from the edge of the box that sailed into the back of the net.

Engels, who completed 88% of his attempted passes and created two chances, was a crucial part of the impressive victory for Celtic with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Performance in Numbers

However, there was a player at the other end of the pitch who was just as important as the Belgium international on Wednesday night – Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Cameron Carter-Vickers' performance against Dundee

The USA international did not provide a goal or an assist in the 6-0 thumping and that is why his impressive performance at the heart of the defence may have gone unnoticed, or underappreciated.

Having a rock solid defence provides the attacking players with a platform to build from and the former Tottenham Hotspur titan’s defensive work provided the perfect platform.

Carter-Vickers was just as important as Engels to the performance because he was almost faultless defensively, which allowed the Belgian, alongside the likes of Maeda, Adam Idah, and Jota, to thrive in the final third.

Minutes

90

Touches

126

Pass success

96%

Tackles

2

Interceptions

4

Dribbled past

0x

Duels won

8/11

As you can see in the table above, the American man mountain was almost unbeatable at the back, winning the vast majority of his duels, and was not dribbled past a single time.

This allowed Celtic to assert dominance in the game, as he consistently won the ball back and prevented Dundee from building attacks, to then go on and score the goals that they did.

Carter-Vickers also provided reliability in possession, taking 126 touches and completing 96% (108/112) of his attempted passes, which allowed the Hoops to build out from the back without giving away any chances through sloppy passes.

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1 ByDan Emery Feb 5, 2025

Therefore, Carter-Vickers, despite not being directly involved in any of the six goals, was just as important as Engels and Rodgers should be delighted with his showing.

Sunderland will travel to Burnley tomorrow night in the Championship hopeful that they can pick up another positive result against one of the promotion pack, having temporarily dented Sheffield United’s confidence on New Year’s Day with a 2-1 win.

Picking up said victory would allow the Black Cats to move into the top two positions in the league before the rest of the teams then play catch up at the weekend, as Regis Le Bris continues to pray that his side are made of stern stuff for the tense promotion battle that awaits.

He wouldn’t say no to a number of new recruits entering the building this January to help take his team to the next level in the taxing division, with Tom Cannon continuing to stick out as a number one target.

Sunderland's pursuit of Tom Cannon

It’s no secret at this point in time that Sunderland are locked into a battle to try and snap up Cannon this January, with a whopping £13m bid reportedly put forward to Leicester City.

Sheffield United are also involved in this much-talked-about tussle, with the Republic of Ireland international helping himself to a healthy nine goals in the Championship this season on loan with Stoke City, before the Foxes recalled their player in an effort to move on him permanently.

Instead of fighting it out intensely for the services of the expensive attacker all window long, the Black Cats could be preparing to move their focus towards another gem who has been lighting up his own division much like Cannon.

If the player in question was to settle in well after a January switch to the Stadium of Light, it could well be a repeat of Wilson Isidor’s successful move, who has managed to get up to speed with the English game at a rapid pace.

Sunderland's potential Tom Cannon alternative

The new Black Cats target comes in the form of KVC Westerlo star Matija Frigan, with Sunderland’s interest in the Croat coming from journalist Michael Graham earlier this month via his X account.

Whilst this might not be as jaw-dropping as snapping up Cannon, Sunderland could reportedly win the standout 21-year-old’s signature for a fee around the £4.6m mark according to Dutch publication Voetbal Nieuws, which is what Westerlo paid for the youngster’s services when he left his native Croatia behind in 2023.

This season for Westerlo, the 21-year-old has helped himself to six strikes from 20 league encounters, which included a coolly taken strike back in November when Frigan emphatically fired home on a counterattack.

Whilst these aren’t overly mind-blowing numbers, when you consider Cannon had tallied up three more goals in the hustle and bustle of the Championship, Isidor also entered the English game off the back of some mediocre performances at Zenit St. Petersburg only to now be Sunderland’s leading goalscorer in the division.

Frigan’s career goalscoring numbers
Club played for	Games played	Goals scored
Westerlo	53	12
HNK Rijeka	32	15
NK Orijent 1919	15	4
HRV Dragovoljac	15	3
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Indeed, the Frenchman had only mustered up an unsatisfactory four goals when on the books of Zenit, with Frigan at least able to boast more impressive numbers when glancing at the table above.

Whilst a move not getting done for Cannon would annoy the Sunderland masses, especially if promotion rivals Sheffield United were to swoop in and win the clinical Irishman, this signing also feels more in-keeping with the Black Cats’ philosophy of buying young, raw gems in an effort to mould them into unbelievable stars.

It remains to be seen whether the ex-Preston North End man will call Wearside home before the chaotic window shuts, but if this move is proving too difficult to finalise, Sunderland might well set their sights on Belgium to land this exciting buy.

Sunderland could land a more exciting deal than Le Fee in "outstanding" ace

Sunderland could really lay down a marker in the Championship by snapping up this exciting star.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 15, 2025

Wondering if the biggest names correspond to the best picks at this draft? That and more in ESPNcricinfo’s explainer

Andrew McGlashan26-Aug-2022First thing’s first. When does it take place?
August 28, starting at 6.30pm AEST, shortly after the conclusion of Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe. In Australia it will be broadcast on Fox Cricket and Kayo. On ESPNcricinfo there will be a live blog bringing you all the updates.How are players categorised?
There are four bands overall: platinum (AU$340,000; US$236,000 approx.), gold (AU$260,000; US$181,000 approx.), silver (AU$175,000; US$121,000 approx.) and bronze (AU$100,000; US$69,000 approx.). Players themselves could pick any of the latter three, and nominate their availability, and CA have selected 12 of the leading names for the top bracket with the additional amount above the gold fee coming from a marketing pool. Overall, 332 players have put their names in. A reminder, too, that BBL clubs have a salary cap of AU$1.9 million (US$1.3m approx.).Related

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These are the platinum players: Faf du Plessis, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Sam Billings, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, David Willey, Shadab Khan, Dwayne Bravo, Rashid Khan, Chris Jordan, and Trent Boult.The platinums are also available at gold with the exception of Rashid, Boult, Pollard and Russell. Most players have nominated themselves across gold and silver with some available across all three bands, although Joe Clarke, Sandeep Lamichhane, Obed McCoy and Rilee Rossouw are understood to be gold-only. Likewise, a few who have put themselves as silver who won’t be available in bronze. (More on some potentially value picks below).So who gets first pick?
This was decided by a weighted lottery, based on where teams finished last season, with Melbourne Renegades coming out with the first pick and Hobart Hurricanes No. 8 (so Ricky Ponting could have his work cut out as head of strategy). Teams don’t have to select a platinum player, but they must select a minimum of two and maximum of three names overall on the night – and can only select once from each category. So there will be up to 24 players signed at the draft. Here is the full order:BBL Overseas Draft Order•ESPNcricinfo LtdI’ve heard about a retention option, what’s that?
This allows a club to keep a player who was part of their squad last season. It’s been dubbed the “Rashid Khan rule” because Adelaide Strikers are expected to use it to keep hold of Rashid should another club try to get him before Strikes get pick five in the platinum round. In the first group, Rashid aside, Andre Russell (Stars), Chris Jordan (Sixers), Shadab Khan (Sixers) and Sam Billings (Thunder) are eligible for retention. Overall, there are 28 eligible players, including James Vince (Sixers), Alex Hales (Thunder), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Heat), Tom Curran (Sixers), Colin Munro (Scorchers) and Joe Clarke (Stars).Those new leagues in January are a problem, right?
Well, a challenge for sure. The BBL will run from December 13 to February 4, so there is a major overlap with the two new tournaments that are being launched in South Africa and the UAE. Players who have signed for those competitions are likely to be available for the BBL until late December or early January, with exact details still being worked through. Australia’s Test players will fill some of the holes – it’s why David Warner’s deal was so important – but not all of them will disappear.So where could the smart picks be?
Most of the platinum players have restricted availability but would be worth selecting for the impact they could have. However the really interesting part of the draft will be in the lower categories. For example, Mohammad Amir has full availability and, it’s understood, could be snaffled at bronze. The same goes for England legspinner Matt Parkinson. Laurie Evans, who was key to Scorchers’ title last season, is also available at silver/bronze. Other leading players with limited availability but available at silver include England trio Hales, Vince and Curran. Jimmy Neesham, Reece Topley, Ollie Pope and Imran Tahir are among others available at silver but not for the whole tournament. There could be some real value to have in the bronze category.Can teams sign replacements?
Yes, and this could start the day after the draft. Replacement players do not have to be from the same category as the player they are coming in for. Anyone in the draft not picked up on Sunday is eligible as a replacement. This could open up the possibility of players who only have availability towards the end of the tournament getting a gig.

Arsenal’s form in December has been recovering after a mixed run of results. Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped points in just two of their games this month, a 1-1 draw away to Fulham and a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Everton.

However, five wins in their other five games have certainly helped things to recover form-wise. Some of the best of those wins include a 5-1 thrashing away to Crystal Palace and a 3-0 win against high-flying AS Monaco in the Champions League.

With the season on a knife edge, Arsenal could look to strengthen their squad this winter as they look to push Liverpool in the title race, and have been linked with one La Liga star.

Arsenal target La Liga midfielder

The player in question here is Barcelona and Spain midfielder Dani Olmo. Despite having just joined the club in the summer, the former RB Leipzig star might well depart due to issues with registration.

According to a report from The Times, the Gunners could turn their attention to signing the Spaniard as they look to bolster their midfield. They have been put on high alert, in case a deal becomes possible over the winter.

However, they would not be the only club from the Premier League targeting the attacking midfielder. Manchester United and Manchester City are also linked, with Olmo available on a free transfer if he does have to leave Barca already.

Why Olmo would be a good signing

Arsenal have had success in the past in signing Barcelona academy midfielders. Cesc Fabregas joined the club in September 2003 from the La Liga giants. Although the path is not exactly the same, with Olmo leaving the club for a few seasons, they have still had success signing La Masia midfielders.

The former Arsenal captain went on to play 303 games for the North Londoners, scoring 57 goals and grabbing an impressive 94 assists. A deal to sign Olmo certainly has a similar feel to it, with him being a Spanish La Maisa midfield graduate joining from Barcelona.

Switching the focus back to Olmo, he has performed well for Barca this season, despite injuries affecting his game time. In total, the midfielder has played 15 games across competitions, scoring five times which includes four goals in La Liga.

He was one of the standout players for Spain in their successful Euro 2024 campaign. The midfielder, who is capped 41 times by his country, scored three times and grabbed two assists as his side lifted the trophy.

That included a vital goal and assist in a 2-1 win over Germany in the quarter-final. In that game, he set up Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino for the winner. Olmo’s contributions for Spain meant he was named in the team of the tournament.

Interestingly, there is a comparison to be made between Olmo and another Arsenal target, Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha. According to a report from the Telegraph, the Gunners are interested in doing a deal for the Old Gold attacker.

Transfer Focus

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Indeed, there can be a likeness drawn between the two reported Arsenal targets, with Cunha noted as Olmo’s most comparable player in Europe’s top five leagues, according to FBref.

It is worth noting that Cunha has played the equivalent of 10 full 90 minute games more than the Spaniard, who earns £149k-per-week, as per Capology.

From a creative point of view, they are very similar. The Barcelona man – who Pep Guardiola dubbed a “top player” – averages 1.16 key passes and 6.09 progressive passes per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Wolves attacker averages 1.9 key passes and 4.05 progressive passes each game.

Stat (per 90)

Olmo

Cunha

Expected assists

0.3

0.2

Key passes

1.16

1.9

Progressive passes

6.09

4.05

Shot-creating actions

3.32

3.98

Goal-creating actions

0.43

0.48

Arsenal are clearly targeting a creative player to bolster attacking options. Although Cunha is having a strong season, signing a “playmaker” like Olmo, as football writer Zach Lowy described him, on a free could be the dream addition as they look to push Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 27, 2024

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has raged at La Liga for rescheduling their Osasuna clash just two days after the end of the international break.

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Barca play two days after international break Flick rages at La Liga for rescheduling messRaphinha and Araujo to miss Osasuna clash Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona were set to take on Osasuna in La Liga action earlier this month, however, the clash was cancelled just minutes before kick-off after the Blaugrana side's first-team doctor, Carles Minarro, died in the hours before the match. The RFEF then rescheduled the match to March 27, just days after the end of the international break.

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Barcelona have expressed their unhappiness with the rescheduling as they are unlikely to have two key players back in the side in the form of Raphinha and Ronald Araujo, both of whom played on Tuesday night. Osasuna, on the other hand, expressed dissatisfaction over the date as they were scheduled to play again after just 24 hours, however, their clash against Athletic Club has now been postponed to Sunday. Barcelona boss Flick has now raged at La Liga for the rescheduling.

Getty Images SportWHAT FLICK SAID

Speaking to the media, Flick said: "I don't want to speak about my reaction, I think it's not good. Players have played for their national teams, but we have to play this match. We can speak about if it's the right time to play this tomorrow…

"We can also speak about playing Leganes away at 9 p.m. [on April 12 before the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund]. When we play away, it's always at 9 p.m., so we arrive back late in the night.

"It's to do with recovery for the players. I am not happy with this. When you see other leagues with Champions League teams, it's different to here. When you play Champions League, it's not about Real Madrid against Barça, it's about protecting your Spanish teams. But we play, no excuses.

"We accept this. It's a task for UEFA, for FIFA that they say after international breaks it's necessary that players have three days rest. LaLiga say we have to play and we say 'Yes, we do it.'"

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Flick also confirmed that Raphinha, Araujo and Pau Cubarsi would not be playing against Osasuna on Thursday, March 27. He said: "Rapha and Ronald will not play. They are out. They have a long flight. It's not the best way. They have to recover, train.

"And at centre-back, Eric [Garcia] and Inigo [Martinez] will start for us. Pau will be on the bench. I hope we won't need him because also it's better he has two or three days more. He needs it."