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With the summer transfer window now closed, Liverpool have instantly turned their attention towards 2025 and signing an eventual successor for Virgil van Dijk, according to reports.

Liverpool transfer news

After three games, three clean sheets and seven goals, it's fair to say that the Arne Slot era is well underway at Anfield. The Dutchman even dealt his first blow to bitter rivals Manchester United in a routine 3-0 victory. If there were any concerns that the former Feyenoord manager would take too long to settle into life in Merseyside, those have so far been put to rest.

Such a start follows a fairly quiet summer window, in which only Federico Chiesa immediatly arrived, whilst Giorgi Mamardashvili will officially turn out in Liverpool colours next season after a loan spell back at Valencia in the current campaign.

Any money may well have been put to one side for when Slot has fully assessed his new side, however, making for a busy 2025 which looks likely to feature the addition of a central defender, with reports earlier in the week revealing Liverpool's interest in hijacking an in-demand young talent from under the noses of Real Madrid and Barcelona – Palmeiras' 18 year-old centre-back Vitor Reis.

Their interest in young defenders doesn't stop there however. According to Football Insider, Liverpool hold concrete interest in Jarrard Branthwaite and are eyeing up a 2025 move to sign the Everton centre-back in a controversial transfer. Reportedly valued at as much as £70m in the summer transfer window, the Reds are unlikely to see that valuation drop next year but may still spend big amid uncertainty over Van Dijk's future.

As things stand, the club captain is set to depart as a free agent next summer in what would be a major blow for Slot and his side. Van Dijk, himself, has reiterated his happiness at Anfield, but it remains to be seen whether those at Anfield hand him that opportunity.

Forget Doak: Slot could already have Liverpool's next Diaz in 17 y/o star

He’s doing great things for the Reds’ academy circle…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 4, 2024

Either way, given that he is now 33 years old, Liverpool must consider a long-term replacement and have been linked to both Branthwaite and Reis in recent days as a result.

How "monster" Branthwaite compares to Van Dijk

A Premier League great, not many defenders stand much of a chance when compared to Van Dijk, who will always have his place among the very best that English football has ever seen. But Branthwaite, at 22 years old, has shown more than enough potential to enter Liverpool's radar.

Off the ball, the England international looks ready for a Champions League club and even a controversial move across Merseyside. However, it must be said that his work on the ball still needs the improvement that would naturally come under the guidance of Slot's football, given that Van Dijk managed over double the number of progressive passes last time out.

Described as a "monster" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig last season, Branthwaite remains one to watch in the current campaign and when the transfer window swings open in January.

Glasgow Rangers are interested in signing an international free agent to replace James Tavernier, who could still leave Ibrox in the coming days.

Latest on Tavernier’s Rangers future

During the summer transfer window, the Gers and manager Philippe Clement were busy in regards to incomings and outgoings ahead of his first full season in charge.

In total, 10 players arrived at the club either on permanent transfers or loan deals, whereas eight players have found new permanent homes and three were loaned out.

There was plenty of speculation on star right-back Tavernier, but talking at the beginning of August on his future given transfer rumours, he said: "I just don't take any notice, basically. There has been speculation for a long time now if it's a year and a half.

"I addressed it towards the end of last season, I am fully committed to the job in hand. That's where my mindset will always be, fully committed, coming day by day and trying my extreme hardest to push myself and the team on. To do what I do every single day is to be a professional footballer, it's like I'm 18 again. Every single day there is joy for me to come in to train, I am living the dream."

As we know, Tavernier remained at Ibrox beyond the Scottish deadline, however, he is still being linked with a move away from the club.

According to HITC, there are a number of Turkish sides still interested in the defender before their window closes on September 13. Istanbul Basaksehir, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and, Besiktas, now under the management of ex-Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, are all keen on Tavernier’s services.

Therefore, with the possibility of a departure for Tavernier, Rangers have been looking at replacements, which has led them to an experienced free agent.

Rangers eyeing Cyrus Christie move

According to HITC, Rangers are eyeing a move to sign Cyrus Christie as a potential Tavernier replacement. The 31-year-old has been without a club since leaving Hull City in the summer but is attracting interest from a number of clubs.

Alongside Rangers, Championship clubs Coventry City, Millwall, Plymouth and Preston North End are also keen on Christie, whereas he has interest from sides in Greece and Turkey.

Christie, once called “excellent” by Martin O’Neill, is primarily a right-back who can also play as a centre-back or central midfield if needed, as per Transfermarkt. He started his career on the books of Coventry City and went on to play for Derby, Middlesbrough, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Swansea City before joining Hull.

In total, Christie has made 320 appearances in the Championship and 28 in the Premier League, while also winning 30 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Rangers ready to sell "exceptional" £30k-p/w ace they just rejected bids for

Offers are believed to be imminent.

1 ByHenry Jackson Sep 7, 2024

By the looks of things, a move out of England for the first time in his career could be on the cards with Rangers, making this one to watch.

Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s Test captain, says he has resorted to waving to his team-mates from the balcony of his hotel-room at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, after going into quarantine in the UK following his post-IPL stop-over in the Maldives.Williamson, who had been captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad in India prior to the tournament’s postponement earlier this month, arrived at the team’s training camp some 24 hours after the bulk of the squad flew in from New Zealand on Sunday, alongside his fellow IPL travellers Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, team physio Tommy Simsek and trainer Chris Donaldson. The group will spend the next three days in isolation before they can enter “mini training groups” of six, pending negative tests for Covid-19.And while the circumstances of the squad’s reunion haven’t been ideal, Williamson admitted that the challenge awaiting his team – three Tests in five weeks, two against England, followed by the World Test Championship final, at the Ageas Bowl against India – was more than enough to make the current strictures worthwhile.”Most of the team is here now,” Williamson said. “We are all pretty much on the same side [of the hotel] so we’re able to catch up a little bit with one another on our different balconies. For a number of guys, it’s their first time in the bubble, while others have done it a few times, so that can be quite helpful.Related

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“But there’s a lot of excitement. Just being over here to play Test cricket is always a fantastic opportunity, but to play that third one, which is the World Test Championship final, is pretty special.”The first step is getting out of the bubble, and after that we’re looking forward to starting our preparation, in terms of adjustment to conditions and catching up with the guys. It’s always exciting when there has been a period of time away from the team, and I look forward to that.”Williamson described the events of the preceding fortnight as “a bit of a whirlwind”, adding that the situation developing in India was “heartbreaking”. But from a New Zealand perspective, one of the few countries where Covid-19 is under near total control, he admitted that the image posted on Instagram by his Sunrisers team-mate David Warner, showing the players in full personal protection gear while boarding an internal flight, had revealed to his fellow countrymen quite how serious the situation had got.”I had some messages from friends and family,” he said. “It’s been pretty well documented that Covid, certainly at the moment but even beforehand, was in a far different place compared to back home. That’s the reality of it, when you are in countries where it’s so much more serious. You just try to go about what you’re doing as safely as possible.”Williamson sustained a small tear to the tendon of his left elbow earlier this year, an injury that caused him to miss Sunrisers’ first three IPL fixtures, but with Simsek as one of his travelling partners, he has been getting regular treatment on the injury and is confident of full fitness ahead of the Lord’s Test in just over a fortnight’s time.”It’s improving, which is the main thing,” he said. “The people that know more about it than I do say that it is a slow process, and certainly slow to go away entirely, but just managing it will be the focus.”My last hit was maybe about 12 days ago, a wee while before our last match,” he added. “And then everything changed really quickly, and hitting balls became secondary, obviously. In an ideal world you’re wanting to train a little bit more, but we’ve got about 12 days of preparation before our first Test so there’ll be a lot of excitement when we start adjusting to the conditions and the ball, etc.”England named their squad for the two Tests on Tuesday, and while it will be missing some big names, including all of those who had been due to be playing in the IPL this season, Williamson said he had no qualms about England’s selectors choosing to rotate their options.”They’ve got a lot of Test cricket coming up, starting with us, then India and Australia for a five-Test series,” he said. “We try to do the same when we know there’s a huge volume of cricket, you need to manage as best you can.”They have a huge amount of depth, there are a lot of world-class players in that squad,” he added. “That’s a credit to the cricket that is being played here in the UK, and the amount of talented players that are getting opportunities and putting their hands up. We know we’re going to be up against a really tough challenge come the first Test.”And in English conditions, few challenges are tougher than withstanding England’s veteran pairing of Stuart Broad and James Anderson, who first played a Test together at Wellington in 2007-08, and are still going strong with more than 1100 wickets between them.”They are legends of the game, still playing and doing as well as they ever have done,” Williamson said. “They know these conditions better than anyone. They’ve had incredible careers that are still going and they are still at the heights of their games.”

Dominant feels like an understatement when trying to describe Manchester City's performances in the Premier League over the last four seasons.

The Cityzens became the first team in the history of the division to win a fourth successive title when they lifted the trophy at The Etihad earlier this year.

Pep Guardiola has instilled an incredible winning mentality in his group but the Spanish head coach will want more from his side in the 2024/25 campaign, after they only won one piece of silverware last term.

They had won the treble in the 2022/23 campaign and followed that up with the Premier League title but no cups the following season, which may have been frustrating.

Guardiola has already moved to sign Brazil international Savinho to bolster his options on the wings, and is also reportedly keen to add another attacking midfielder to his group before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Premier League champions are said to be in pole position to sign a star who was in fantastic form at the 2024 European Championship for his country.

Man City closing in on Spanish star

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are closing in on a swoop to snap up attacking midfielder Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig this summer.

The report claims that the Cityzens are currently in pole position to sign the Spain international ahead of the competition, amid interest from other teams in Europe.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are said to be providing 'stiff' competition for his services, which means that City need to move quickly to prevent them from stealing a march on them in the race for Olmo.

Football Insider adds that the midfield maestro had a release clause of £51m in his contract with Leipzig but it expired on Monday, with no teams opting to activate it.

City have now held fresh talks with Leipzig over a deal to sign the Euros winner and are 'increasingly likely' to land him once they agree on a payment structure with the Bundesliga outfit.

The nature of a release clause means that the English side would have had to have paid the £51m up front as one fee, whereas they are now negotiating to agree a transfer on their terms so that they can spread out the payments in installments and add-ons.

If Guardiola and his team can get a deal over the line for Olmo in the coming weeks then the club could have yet another creative whiz who could thrive alongside Erling Haaland.

Erling Haaland's goalscoring genius

It is fair to say that the Norway international has been a resounding success since his permanent move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022.

He has produced 90 goals and 15 assists in 98 appearances for the club in all competitions over the last two years, which is more than one goal contribution per game on average.

In November of last year, Haaland became the fastest player to hit 50 goals in the Premier League as he did so in 48 matches – 17 fewer than the next fastest in Andy Cole.

These statistics speak to just how impressive the Leeds-born marksman has been as a goalscorer for City under Guardiola, and it has been backed up by two Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and an FA Cup.

His form in his first two top-flight seasons with the Cityzens also illustrates how lethal the former Dortmund sensation has been at finding the back of the net.

As you can see in the table above, Haaland has plundered a staggering 63 goals in 66 appearances in the division, with a conversion rate of at least 22% in both seasons.

This shows that the Norwegian whiz is a consistent striker who has little trouble in finding the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premier League for City.

Therefore, the 23-year-old attacker is the dream striker for an attacking midfielder to play with as they know that there is a good chance that he will score if they create high-quality opportunities for him.

Why Dani Olmo could thrive with Erling Haaland

The aforementioned quality of Haaland's finishing and goalscoring is why Olmo could thrive alongside him at The Etihad in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

Over the last 365 days in the Men's Big 5 Leagues and European competitions, the Leipzig star ranks within the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.31), and the top 15% for non-penalty xG and xAG combined per 90 (0.55).

This shows that the £152k-per-week ace has been one of the most creative players in his position in the major leagues in Europe over the past year, as he has been able to consistently create high-quality opportunities for his teammates for Leipzig.

Olmo, who was described as a "technical genius" by journalist Josh Bunting, also caught the eye with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals at the Euros with Spain, as shown in the graphic above.

The 26-year-old talent also showcased his quality at the top end of the pitch at league level for Leipzig during the recent 2023/24 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Olmo provided plenty of creativity for his club in the Bundesliga last term with eight 'big chances' created in just 17 league starts.

Taking all of these statistics, from club and international level, into account, the Spain international could be a fantastic partner for Haaland on the pitch next term.

He could consistently create high-quality opportunities for the England-born star to find the back of the net whilst also chipping in with goals of his own to help City win more trophies under Guardiola.

Man City could sign England's answer to Rodri in exciting PL star

The Cityzens could help to develop England’s next star by signing the midfield sensation.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 15, 2024

It was clear for all to see from Leeds United's drab 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion that a lack of creativity was killing their chances of getting anything from the contest, with Georginio Rutter's explosiveness on the ball no longer there.

The expected Brighton and Hove Albion signing regularly dazzled Championship defences last season on the way to Leeds picking up big wins, with a staggering 18 assists managed during the regular campaign, leaving a major hole to now fill by Daniel Farke and Co.

There will be various different attackers on the desired Leeds shopping list that the German will want, however, with one attacking target especially catching the eye, as an equally tricky and fun-to-watch gem as the departed Frenchman.

Leeds interested in versatile attacker

As has been reported by various outlets, including football journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Leeds have tried to acquire the signature of Almeria star Largie Ramazani this summer, but could now lose out on his services.

It is now being reported that Ramazani could be set to stay with his current La Liga employers, with a new extended contract on the table, as the Whites potentially fall short on yet another attacking target.

Everton are also said to be interested in the livewire forward, with this contract development also throwing a spanner in the works for the Toffees and their transfer activity, after a disastrous 3-0 opening-day defeat to Rutter's potential new side Brighton.

What Ramazani can offer Leeds

Leeds very much have their own issues in the division below, with only one point from a possible six on the board in the Championship, with the disgruntled fanbase just wanting any incomings they can get to soften the blow of Rutter walking away.

The West Yorkshire outfit could well persist with Ramazani, therefore, who is a versatile presence that can play in a similar position to Rutter if needed, whilst also offering enough unpredictability down the channels to be the club's next Raphinha, if everything clicks.

The "outrageous" 23-year-old, as he has been described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has had an unbelievable couple of seasons for Almeria now, with his performances last campaign seeing him compete against the Whites' former enigmatic Brazilian no less.

In total, the former Manchester United youth product has mustered up 21 goals and nine assists from 127 contests for his Spanish employers, with eight of those goal contributions coming during the 23/24 season in league action.

Games played

29

Goals scored

3

Assists

5

Shots per game

1.4

Big chances missed

8

Big chances created

10

Dribbles per game

1.1

He could well develop into Leeds' next sublime attacker purchased from aboard in a similar vain to Raphinha therefore, who joined off the back of a breakout spell with Rennes in France, with the exact same amount of goal contributions managed in Ligue 1 during his final full campaign, to that of Ramazani last season.

The rest is history from the South American's perspective, who would go on to be an adored figure in West Yorkshire, before moving out to Spain to play for the might of Barcelona.

Lining up for Almeria as a centre-forward or second striker on occasion, with four goals registered from 17 games playing in that makeshift centre-forward role, the 23-year-old could well line up in Rutter's number ten spot to help the bare bones Leeds squad out, alongside offering more depth down the left with Summerville also now at West Ham United.

There will be a lot of anxious Leeds fans worried about the lack of business through the door, and the amount of activity out of it, as the powers that be in West Yorkshire go about recruiting a new batch of top stars to appease an understandably frustrated faction of supporters.

Better than Gnonto: Leeds could use Rutter money to sign exciting EFL star

Leeds United will be crying out for more recruits in attack after a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 18, 2024

The entourage of a Real Madrid player are urging to make a move away from the Bernabeu this summer, and he apparently has an offer to join Arsenal.

Edu seeking multiple signings for Arsenal with exits expected

Sporting director Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta are seeking upgrades in a variety of different areas over the coming weeks, with Arsenal also expected to facilitate exits for a few more key squad members after Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares.

Arsenal plot bid for £20m Barcelona target who used to play with Odegaard

The Gunners could reunite their captain with a former teammate.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 16, 2024

Tavares joined Lazio on a season-long loan which will become permanent for around £7.5 million, while Lokonga linked up with Sevilla on a temporary deal after spending last season at Luton Town.

The likes of Thomas Partey, Aaron Ramsdale and other fringe members of Arteta's squad are expected to follow the duo out. Partey, who made just 14 Premier League appearances under Arteta last season, has seen his role in the starting eleven greatly diminish in these last 12 months.

The 31-year-old's deal expires in under 11 months as well, with Partey attracting attention from Saudi Arabian and Turkish clubs as his future appears further and further away from Arsenal.

There is also the matter of goalkeeper Ramsdale, who was forced to watch as David Raya took his number one spot last season. Raya, who is now a permanent Arsenal player after sealing a £27 million switch to the Emirates, looks set to be Arteta's first choice for the foreseeable future.

Ramsdale may well be in danger of losing his England place if he carries on from the substitute's bench, prompting reports that the 25-year-old could be set to make a move away from north London in the coming weeks.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Arsenal will "100%" sign a new back-up goalkeeper with Ramsdale's future in doubt, while another respected Arsenal source in Charles Watts believes that the former Bournemouth keeper is destined to depart.

"It’s a matter of when Ramsdale leaves, not if," said Watts to CaughtOffside in May.

“The key thing for Arsenal is getting value for money. I saw an initial fee of £15 million mentioned in reports last week and that is quite frankly ridiculous. Arsenal signed Ramsdale for nearly £30m two years ago and he has developed into a far better 'keeper since then."

Real Madrid shot-stopper Andriy Lunin has been tipped to potentially succeed Ramsdale between the sticks, as the Ukranian may well leave Carlo Ancelotti's side with his contract running out next year.

Lunin urged to leave Real Madrid as Arsenal make offer

Spanish news outlet AS have an update on the shot-stopper's future, and they claim Lunin has an offer to join Arsenal from Real Madrid this summer.

They add that those around Lunin are urging him to consider his future and leave the Bernabeu in pursuit of a fresh challenge, with the 25-year-old's entourage holding a strong belief that an exit is what's best for the player.

Real want to extend his stay beyond 2025, and Lunin has the offer of a new contract. However, the keeper is said to be hesitating and undecided over his future as things stand – which could well benefit Arsenal.

Road to the semi-final

Dambulla Viiking have had the look of a dark horse from early in the LPL. Although Jon Lewis was dropped as coach long before the tournament began, he had done Viiking a favour by making some smart local picks in the draft. And despite an early judder or two, when the batting was a little flimsy, they’ve found a formula that works for them, striding to an impressive five wins from seven completed matches.They’ve been buoyed the finishing of Dasun Shanaka, the third-highest run scorer of the LPL, with 273 runs at a strike rate of 164. But they’ve also benefited from some smart captaincy from him, as he has learned to wrangle a trio of finger spinners – Samit Patel, Malinda Pushpakumara, and Ramesh Mendis – to excellent effect (they have 18 wickets between them). They lost their only completed match to Jaffna Stallions, but come into the knockouts with more momentum.Jaffna Stallions were the strongest team in the first 10 days of the competition, winning each of their first four matches with ease, as Thisara Perera lit up the late overs, and a varied attack consistently kept oppositions to below-par totals. In the second half of the league stage, though, Thisara wasn’t quite as effective with the bat, and the remaining batsmen failed to compensate. Since becoming the first team to qualify for the semis, Stallions haven’t won a match. Partly, this is due to to their experimenting with less-experienced players. But the fact remains they have been a little light on match-winning performances from the top five.But let’s talk about their attack. Wanindu Hasaranga is the league’s top wicket-taker. Usman Shinwari has brought bustling pace, and Suranga Lakmal has delivered control in his five matches. Dhananjaya de Silva, who has been one of Sri Lanka’s most useful spinners in the past two years, has perhaps been underused with the ball, however.

Watch out for

Wanindu Hasaranga, who has not only taken 13 wickets, he’s also gone at a stunning 5.48 an over, in addition to making 112 death-overs runs at a strike rate of 184. He’s also been a mentor for 19-year-old legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth through the course of the tournament. His googly has been devastating. In general, he has seemed like a bowler Sri Lanka can build a white-ball attack around over the next few years.Samit Patel has maybe been the most impactful senior pro at the LPL. He’s hit 179 runs at a strike rate of 140, which isn’t spectacular, but certainly useful. He’s been more consistent with the ball, having taken seven wickets, and maintained an economy rate of just under eight. According to Shanaka, he’s also been a fount of information and advice to the younger players in the team.

Team news

For Stallions, Dhananjaya de Silva is likely to return to the XI after being rested for the last two matches. Jaffna-bred legspinner Viyaskanth probably won’t play, partly because they have a superior leggie in the XI with Hasaranga. Stallions have a decision to make on the foreign player front as well. Does Tom Moores keep wicket, or does Johnson Charles remain behind the stumps (neither have been great with the bat so far)?Viiking, meanwhile, have a slew of local players to consider. Does Sachindu Colombage play? What about Pulina Tharanga? And does fast bowler Lahiru Kumara deserve a place after being expensive in two of his three matches so far? Either way, seam bowler Kasun Rajitha is almost certain to return to the XI after being rested in the last game. As is allrounder Ramesh Mendis.

Stats

• Not a single bowler with an LPL wicket has a better economy rate than the tournament’s most penetrative bowler, Wanindu Hasaranga.
• Viiking’s Ramesh Mendis has taken five wickets and gone at only 6.87 with his offspin in five bowling innings.
• Among the top six LPL runscorers, Shanaka is the only one that bats lower than No. 3.

  Quotes

  Viiking captain Dasun Shanaka:“We have variety in our attack, and that’s really important in T20, because batsmen have certain types of bowlers whom they find difficult. It’s an advantage that we were able to give so many players opportunities through the tournament, because when it comes to the semi-final I can pick the players that we need for that game.”Stallions captainThisara Perera:“We have five or six match-winning players in the team, and if they click we will have a good game. In the first four matches, one of those players put their hands up and won the match for us. I think one of them will win it for us in the semi-final also.”

Captain Mitchell MarshCoach Adam VogesSquad Ashton Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Joe Clarke (Eng), Cameron Gannon, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Liam Livingstone (Eng), Mitchell Marsh, Colin Munro (NZ), Joel Paris, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson, Jason Roy (Eng), Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam WhitemanIn Joe Clarke, Colin Munro, Jason Roy
Out Chris Jordan, Morne Morkel (Heat)Overseas player availability Joe Clarke (replacement player until Dec 25), Liam Livingstone (quarantine until Dec 25), Colin Munro (all season) , Jason Roy (quarantine until Dec 25)Last season: 6thThe Scorchers really only had themselves to blame for the missing the playoffs with coach Adam Voges lamenting that they just lost a couple of key moments late in the season. After starting the season well with a revamped squad they lost four of their last five matches to let a finals berth slip away producing some dismal batting efforts in back-to-back losses to the Stars and their final game against the Thunder.Bubble impactThe Scorchers will be without two of their key overseas signings in Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy until Christmas as both need to quarantine for 14 days after arriving late from South Africa (although their involvement could now be in doubt given the Covid outbreak at the team hotel in Cape Town) but they have signed Colin Munro and Joe Clarke as cover for the first part of the tournament. The Scorchers local players will be barely impacted by international hubs with only Cameron Green set to be unavailable for large portions of the tournament due to his selection in Australia’s Test squad.Player to watchJosh Inglis isn’t a household name yet but the 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had an excellent season last year and is certainly a player to keep an eye on. He made 405 runs last season with four half-centuries, but his strike-rate of 153.99 was clearly the best of the top 10 run-scorers in the BBL. He formed a formidable opening partnership with Livingstone and he is also the Scorchers best player of spin. His glovework is also highly regarded.Key statThe Scorchers were at one point the most successful team in the BBL. But in the last three years, they have been at the bottom. The Scorchers have won just 18 of the 39 matches played and have lost a lot of players due to injuries. Last season they had the best strike-rate at the death scoring at 10.32 runs per over. The return of Jason Behrendorff and the addition of Roy and Munro could help them improve their win-loss record this year.

It might seem as if the footballing world's eyes are firmly transfixed on international competitions at present, be that the Euros or Copa América, but behind the scenes, clubs are still hard at work on transfers.

Arsenal are no different in this regard, and with Mikel Arteta's side just falling short in the Premier League last season, they look set for a big summer of business.

The latest player touted for a move to the Emirates has been scoring for fun in recent years and could be Bukayo Saka's dream teammate.

Arsenal's striker search

According to a recent report from Daily Star via football.london, Arsenal are keen on LOSC Lille ace Jonathan David and are set to enter the race for his signature.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United are also tracking the Canadian.

This additional competition is far from ideal, but the good news is that the former Gent gem is supposedly available for as little as £20m due to his contract expiring next summer.

Given the level of interest, it could be a tough deal to complete, but considering his form last season and the potential price tag, it's one Edu Gaspar and Co cannot afford to miss out on, especially as his partnership with Saka could be unreal.

Why David would be a great teammate for Saka

Now, while David seems to be a very talented footballer, there is one key reason he'd be such a brilliant teammate for Saka: his output.

For example, last season, the New York-born marksman scored 26 goals and provided nine assists in just 47 appearances for Les Dogues, which equates to an average of one goal involvement every 1.34 games.

However, the 24-year-old star isn't just a one-season wonder either. Over the last four campaigns, he's scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 appearances.

Appearances

48

48

40

47

Goals

13

19

26

26

Assists

5

0

4

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.37

0.39

0.75

0.74

This means that over a four-year period, the "mind-blowing" poacher, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, has averaged a goal involvement every 1.79 games – talk about consistency.

With form like that, it's easy to see why Canadian journalist Tony Marinaro described the 50-capped international as "one of the best strikers in the world" and why he'd be an ideal striker to play alongside the Hale End star.

At the moment, the striker Englishman is playing with at club level is Kai Havertz, and while he's looked good here and there, his tally of 14 goals and seven assists in 51 games for the North Londoners last season is hardly prolific.

Yet, even with the German and Gabriel Jesus interchanging as the starting number nine, the Ealing-born superstar was able to rack up 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 matches last season, making it even more exciting to imagine the sort of numbers he could put up when starting alongside a forward as consistent as the Canadian.

For example, he could see his creative numbers explode as the Lille ace gets onto the end of his passes, or he could see his own scoring numbers supercharged, as the 24-year-old has proven himself more than capable of playing creator himself – as evidenced by his assist figures and time playing as ten for Gent.

Ultimately, while David may not be the most recognisable name among English fans, his attacking output over the last four years is undeniable.Therefore, if Edu and Co can secure his services for just £20m, they'd be foolish not to, especially as he could help Saka reach another level entirely.

Arsenal struck gold on "outstanding" talent worth millions more than Simons

The incredible player is a “legend in the making.”

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 30, 2024

Erik ten Hag's Manchester United have been told which player they need to sign after failing to secure his signature this summer.

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Article continues below

Ten Hag fond of signing Dutch playersXavi Simons turned down Man Utd approachRed Devils told to sign RB Leipzig loaneeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

United recruited Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Manuel Ugarte over the summer, but one man who got away was Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international is in his second straight season-long loan spell at RB Leipzig, after not being in Paris Saint-Germain's plans. Now, former Red Devils forward Louis Saha believes his old team must do all they can to recruit the attacking midfielder.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID

He told Casino Hawks: "I think Manchester United should target Xavi Simons, I really like him and he’s the sort of player that could have a huge impact at the club. He showed up during Euro 2024 and I think he provides a great option in transition in midfield as well as creating chances for his team-mates. There aren’t many players in that bracket, Dani Olmo at Barcelona is another one. I definitely think Simons has the capacity to be a success if he did end up at United. He’s very hard to defend against because he’s always on the move, United still need legs in midfield and more creativity and unpredictability. Jadon Sancho is a player that didn’t fit it tactically, but I don’t think that will be the case with Simons, he is confident in his quality and it looks like he has the character to succeed."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The problem for United is that they tried and failed to sign the 21-year-old from PSG this summer, with the former PSV Eindhoven star reportedly snubbing the chance to head to Old Trafford. Ten Hag is said to be keen on bolstering his side's attack but Simons, whose contract runs until 2027, will not be an easy target to secure.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

While United will continue to work behind the scenes on securing new signings, the first-team are in Premier League action on Saturday when they host Tottenham in a battle between 11th and 10th in the division.