All posts by n8rngtd.top

Questions were raised about his lean patch, and he answered them in his trademark style, with a career-best 115-ball 143

Deivarayan Muthu in Mohali10-Mar-20193:39

Dhawan on dealing with scrutiny: I cut down on my negative thoughts

Shikhar Dhawan is a West Delhi boy who lives in Melbourne with his wife and kids. But he’s a proper Punjabi at heart, who can’t resist dancing to the .Dhawan and Virat Kohli – another West Delhi and Punjabi boy – showed off their moves during a tour match against Essex in Chelmsford last year, with men playing the geeing them up further.Punjab’s favourite son Yuvraj Singh once poked fun at Dhawan for wearing flip-flops during a team photo shoot. However, Dhawan replied saying he can turn on the style with slippers too.Questions have been raised about Dhawan’s prolonged lean patch since the Asia Cup, and he answered them in similar style: a career-best 115-ball 143 against Australia in Mohali. His Test career had taken off at this very venue in 2013, when he broke Australia and records.The celebration was back again in Mohali, and so was the smile for Dhawan. Since the Asia Cup, he had managed 377 runs in 16 innings at an average of 25.13 and strike rate of 80.04 until Sunday. Time was running out for him: India had just two ODIs before the World Cup and KL Rahul was breathing down his neck.Dhawan, though, turned it around in signature style. Ninety off his 143 runs (63%) came via boundaries. When the show ended, Dhawan drew a standing ovation from a lively Sunday crowd and a pat on the chest from his incoming captain. The Bharat Army sent him off with chants of “Gabbar! Gabbar! Gabbar!”However, in the early exchanges, Dhawan had struggled against the left-arm angle and swing of Jason Benhrendorff. He scored just one run off the first 10 balls from the left-arm quick, but then laid into the other bowlers after riding out that spell.Whenever Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson overpitched it, Dhawan leant into punchy drives and pierced the packed off-side infield. Aaron Finch had deployed his men at backward point, cover-point, extra-cover, and mid-off, but Dhawan still found the gaps. That he shuffled from middle stump – as opposed to leg stump – allowed him to reach the pitch of the ball.Shikhar Dhawan acknowledges the applause of the crowd•Getty ImagesAfter seeing the full balls being dispatched to the boundary, Australia’s bowlers pulled their lengths back, but Dhawan was ready with the hook. That the short balls came fairly slow off the pitch and sat up to be hit also worked in his favour.And Australia were missing Nathan Coulter-Nile – the one bowler who could have pounded the deck and extracted something out of this pitch. Coulter-Nile had returned home on the eve of the Ranchi ODI for the birth of his second child.Dhawan motored to his fifty off 44 balls with a front-foot punch down the ground off Richardson. His partner Rohit Sharma started slowly – he was on 8 off 22 balls at one point – but soon settled into his shot-making stride with a majestic lofted straight drive for six off Behrendorff."Both of us couldn’t convert [the starts] in a few matches,” Dhawan told during the innings break. “Today we were communicating a lot, I told him [Rohit] ‘take your time, no worries, we can cover up for the scoring rate later.’ If you saw, both of us were in the 90s at the same time.”Rohit gradually shifted gears and even outscored Dhawan as the opening stand swelled beyond 150. Before the fourth ODI, India’s opening stand had averaged well below 40 in 2019; in the past five years they had averaged more than 40. Rohit and Dhawan remedied that stat and India’s recent top-order wobbles with a stand of 193.”He’s a class batsman,” Dhawan further said of Rohit. “It’s about saying the right things at the right moment. It’s good to see another 150 partnership at the top of the order. That’s been our strength for the past few years. [We] would like to keep it going.”While Rohit missed out on a hundred, holing out in the deep for 95 off 92 balls, Dhawan pressed on to bring up his 16th ODI century – and his first since the Asia Cup last year. After reaching the landmark, Dhawan went berserk, muscling six fours and two sixes within the space of 12 balls, including 14 runs off three consecutive balls off Behrendorff in the 37th over.In the previous ODI at this venue in 2017, Rohit had shellacked a double-century against Sri Lanka. Could Dhawan emulate his opening partner? Nope, he lost his shape while going for a heave and was bowled by Cummins.But a welcome return to form in the lead-up to a global tournament, where Dhawan elevates his game to a different plane, has put (some of) the doubts to rest.

The crowd support, increasing with every day and every match, makes Mashrafe Mortaza’s men extremely useful tourists for the organisers

Mohammad Isam in Southampton22-Jun-2019Each time Bangladesh lost a big match till some years ago, the reaction of the die-hard fans was to go the win-hearts-not-trophies route. At this World Cup, though, Bangladesh are winning hearts and games. And they are gathering new fans with their performances on the field.Bangladesh have attracted full houses in London, Cardiff, Taunton and Nottingham. In rain-soaked Bristol, the house was packed despite the inclement weather. The main reason is obviously the increased expectations in the last four years, as well as the rise in the celebrity culture in Bangladesh cricket. That aside, there is also the small matter of wins over South Africa and West Indies, and good shows against New Zealand and Australia in losses. It is perhaps the underdog factor too; led by a captain who dusts himself off and returns to fight another day after yet another career-threatening injury, the team has an opener who has rejuvenated himself in the last four years, a freakish left-arm pace bowler, a plucky wicketkeeper-batsman, a quiet big-hitter and arguably the world’s best short-format allrounder.ALSO READ: How a surprise call from ‘hero’ Andy Roberts lifted struggling MashrafeNeutrals at most of Bangladesh’s matches have tended to support the overwhelming majority of supporters at the ground, the Bangladeshis. The Taunton crowd came up with a local song to cheer on Bangladesh’s chase against West Indies, while in Nottingham, there was much sympathy for them as they fell short of Australia’s mammoth total.Shahidul Alam, chief executive of Capital Kids Cricket, an independent body that supports grassroots and schools cricket in London, has been in the UK since 2008. He thought he had seen it all when fans of the tigers filled up the stands during the 2017 Champions Trophy. But the World Cup has come as a pleasant surprise.”There are thousands of cars in the highway but when you see another car with the Bangladeshi flag, and then another, all heading towards the ground, it just makes one proud,” Alam said. “I have been watching Bangladesh tour this country since the 2009 World T20s, but never have I seen so much support. I am sure most are passionate about cricket but it is more because of the Bangladesh team. It is now creating a fan base outside Bangladesh, where many expatriates and immigrants are turning towards cricket.”Normally it is all football when you live here, and British-Bangladeshis are also fond of it, but right now, I think cricket has taken over football, at least for us.”Bangladesh fans have come to the games from all around the UK•Getty ImagesAlam is hopeful that the surge in popularity for the Bangladesh team during the World Cup is going to translate to more participation among expat Bangladeshis in local grounds.”Usually the World Cups have an impact, but for those with Bangladeshi background, it will certainly have an influence on how kids get drawn towards cricket. This is the peak time. I don’t think I need to do anything,” Alam, who played representative cricket in Bangladesh in the 1990s before switching to coaching, said.He feels that the day might not be far when a cricketer of Bangladeshi origin turns up in the county circuit, as there are young cricketers impressing at the age-group levels. Robin Das, who plays for Essex Second XI, has caught the eye of scouts, while 15-year-old legspinner Tahmid Ahmed impressed Steve Rhodes, the Bangladesh coach, during a training session recently.Khaled Ebad Ullah, whose 17-year-old son Ahnaf Ullah bowls left-arm pace in the Staffordshire league, says that kids of Ahnaf’s age struggle to train for more than one day every week, apart from playing games over the weekend. There are studies, of course, plus it’s expensive. Only a county side can provide quality training for a longer period. But Khaled has figured out another way.”I hope to send him to Bangladesh to play competitive cricket,” he said. “I think he can compete with kids his age at the Under-18 level, and perhaps try out in those competitions too.”Ahnaf, for his part, is inspired by his Bangladeshi heroes, and he idolises Mustafizur Rahman. He has seen most of the World Cup matches and is wondering when he will see them again once the tournament is over.Mashrafe Mortaza, in the pre-match conference ahead of their Australia game in Nottingham, said that it was “disappointing” that Bangladesh don’t tour Australia at all. It is the same with England. Bangladesh’s previous bilateral series was in 2010, and there isn’t another one till 2023. With the growing fan base in England – extending to Europe, from where many fans have traveled for the World Cup – it is something for the boards to think about. Sold-out venues should be a message strong enough.

The score was 93 for 4, then 130 for 6. You’d call most centuries from that situation gritty, or tenacious, but not a century from this dude

Andrew Fidel Fernando at the P Sara Oval24-Aug-2019So you think you have style. People compliment you on your outfits. You’re at a high-end hairdresser a couple of times a month. In between the visits, there is never a strand out of place. When you go out, you order the classiest drinks – spirits, neat. Your vehicle is the envy of your peer group, washed, waxed, vacuumed, scratch-free: immaculate. At weddings, you’re cutting up the dance floor, admirers staring from all corners of the room, the bride and groom feeling thoroughly outshone. It’s understandable. You are convinced you are smooth in civilian life. You think you’re the shit. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you’re no Dhananjaya de Silva. Next to him on a cricket field, you’re trash.The P Sara Oval is among the most testing venues on the planet, for batsmen. There’s a bit of pace, a bit of bounce, a bit of seam and swing, a bit of spin, and a lot of wickets. It’s been 16 years since the last drawn Test at this venue. De Silva arrived into a 93 for 4 situation, which quickly deteriorated into a 130 for 6 situation. A century from a No. 6, from here, would generally have to be gritty, and if you’re batting with the tail, farming the strike, and pushing the score out to much further than it should have got, your innings has got to be tenacious, right?But you’d never use these adjectives for this de Silva innings. You’d never use them for any de Silva innings. He slinks down the pitch, long-sleeved, limbs relaxed, a stream meandering in paddies. He strokes a lofted four over cover, raps gloves, goes back, slouches into his stance. Against the quicks, in this innings, he was majestically languid. They kept trying to bounce him. He kept hooking them casually for six.There is no more casually graceful player right now, because every act, even the mistakes, are imbued with an air of indifference. So he nailed that shot but it went straight to the fielder. No big deal. There’s another ball coming. So he dropped an offbreak short and the batsman bashed it for four. Relax. It’s just cricket. Nobody died. This is merely superficial, of course, because deep down, he genuinely cares. He was yanked up and down the order like a marionette for years – a process that sent his batting average into a nosedive. In the meantime, he improved his bowling to such an extent that he began being picked primarily for his offspin in limited-overs cricket.Dhananjaya de Silva runs one through point•Getty ImagesIn the field, Sri Lanka have no one else of his quality – a player who can be reliably deployed almost anywhere. He rides the boundary like an Old West outlaw passing on a mustang through the middle of a dusty town. When he is in the slips, it is less a cordon, more a Sunday afternoon hangout sesh in a coconut grove. He leaps, catlike, to make another a spectacular save at point, and when teammates rush up, he holds out his palm out for only lowest of low-fives. It’s cool, fellas. Just a saved four. Don’t lose your minds.Then he’s called up by the captain to send a few overs down. There are spinners who wear sunglasses when in action. Sometimes they even look suave. De Silva doesn’t need the shades. His action isn’t classical, but like with everything he does, it seems entirely effortless. You know in your mind that he’s participating in an elite sport, and in some spells, like the one in Port Elizabeth in February, making vital contributions to an eventual victory.You understand that to get to this level, there must have been sweat and sacrifice. But aesthetically, de Silva has his feet up, in a hammock. Later in the day, Tom Latham produced a hundred that was objectively more impressive, because unlike de Silva he had not been dropped in single figures, and there were far fewer edges for four behind the wicket, but Latham is basically the anti-de Silva – he always looks like he’s hard at work.Occasionally de Silva held the pose after a cover drive, but where this, for other batsmen, is their most visually pleasing state, de Silva is just as nonchalantly glorious when in actual motion. Like he is made of liquid rather than flesh and bone.Maybe you are an important person. Maybe you fight for human rights, help protect the environment, drive your nation’s economy, make decisions in parliament, pass judgement in court. De Silva is only a cricketer, but he would look way cooler than you doing any of that.

This was the quickest ever that the Indian team bowled an opposition out in the first innings

Bharath Seervi22-Nov-201930.3 – The number of overs India needed to bowl Bangladesh out. It’s the least number of overs India have bowled to dismiss their opposition in the first innings of a Test. The earlier record was 44.2 overs, against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2005.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 – Instances of India fast bowlers picking all ten wickets in a Test innings at home. The last was also at Eden Gardens, in the last Test played there against Sri Lanka in 2017. The first two instances were in the 1980s. This was also, in fact, the first time India bowled out their opposition without R Ashwin coming on to bowl.2 – Number of cheaper five-wicket hauls by India fast bowlers than Ishant Sharma’s 5 for 22 in this Test. Jasprit Bumrah’s 5 for 7 against West Indies a few months back is the record, followed by Javagal Srinath’s 6 for 21 in Ahmedabad in 1996.1 – Number of lower totals for Bangladesh against India than the 106 in this Test. The only time they got fewer runs was when they were bowled out for 91 in their first ever Test, in Dhaka in 2000.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2007 – The last time Ishant Sharma took a five-wicket haul in a home Test, which was in his first Test at home, and second of his career, against Pakistan in Bengaluru. This is Ishant’s 37th home Test and the 96th match of his career.

Leeds United could look to replace two of their players they don’t believe are good enough to be playing in the Premier League this summer, according to a new report.

Leeds take huge step towards Championship promotion

Leeds took a huge step towards automatic promotion from the Championship over the weekend as they beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road. All three goals on the day were scored within a frenetic first 13 minutes, with Manor Solomon opening the scoring within just four minutes.

Preston then leveled just two minutes later through Kaine Kesler-Hayden, before Jayden Bogle completed the scoring when he bundled Solomon’s cross into the net.

The win ensured Leeds stay top of the Championship, ahead of second-placed Burnley on goal difference, and with just four games to go, within nine points of a guaranteed return to the Premier League.

Speaking after the win over Preston, Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “Pretty good after an exhausting week. A priceless three points for us. Could have made our life easier. Must have been our highest xG this season – should have scored six or seven.”

“We were on it today, the fire was burning. We kept going and started really well and scored a really good second goal. It’s crucial we returned to good defensive behaviour. We were spirited but cool in the head.”

Leeds could soon replace Bamford and Piroe

According to a new report from Football Insider, Leeds are already looking ahead to next season, and more specifically the summer transfer market.

The publication reports that the Whites are “prioritising signing a striker this summer” because they don’t believe their current options, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford, are of Premier League-quality.

Piroe has 15 goals in 42 Championship games this season, while Bamford has failed to find the net at all in 13 games.

Football Insider claims that – despite him being the Championship’s second-top scorer this season – Leeds doubt whether Piroe can make the step-up to Premier League, while Bamford can’t be relied upon by Farke due to his injury history, with the pair on a combined £85,000-a-week at Elland Road.

Youngster Mateo Joseph, meanwhile, has bagged just three goals all term. As a result, Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises’ top priority this summer will be to sign a top-class striker.

As a potential replacement for Piroe and Bamford, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to Football Insider, recently urged Leeds to go out and buy former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham from AS Roma.

“Somebody like him who can lead the line, play as an out-and-out striker and gets you the goals,” Robinson said. “He’s proven in Serie A and proven in the Premier League, he’s a player that understands the league and has done well previously there.”

West Ham have found themselves limping through this Premier League campaign, now sitting 17th in the table having only scored 37 goals and conceded 55 times.

Graham Potter, coming in halfway through the season, has struggled to get all of his ideas across, focusing more on defensive stability to gain some results and ensure the club’s safety, which could be confirmed this weekend.

Last season, with David Moyes in charge, the Hammers scored 60 goals, conceding 74 times. Therefore, despite West Ham’s poor start under Julen Lopetegui, Potter is likely to guide his side to a better defensive year.

So the focus next season will be back on the attack, looking to bridge the gap and get back towards that 60-goal mark, especially with talent such as Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus in attack.

Sadly, Kudus might not be at the London Stadium for too much longer.

The latest on Kudus' future at West Ham

According to reports from The Guardian, Kudus could be set to leave the club in the summer, with West Ham accepting a sale of their Ghanaian forward could be the best way to ‘boost their transfer budget’.

One interested club is Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr, where the 24-year-old could team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Saudi club are reportedly preparing to “up the ante” in their attempts to lure Kudus away from London, with an offer of around £85m expected. West Ham signed Kudus for around £38m back in 2023 from Ajax, and a big sale just two years on could be good for their books.

Kudus has made 75 appearances for the Hammers so far, scoring 17 goals, providing 12 assists and totaling 5,883 minutes played.

Whilst the 24-year-old has struggled to find the same form this season as his debut campaign, it won’t be easy for the club to replace him, already forming a strong connection with Bowen at the top of the pitch.

How West Ham could replace Kudus internally

Luckily for West Ham, they already signed a young superstar winger back in the summer, with Luis Guilherme joining the Hammers from Palmeiras for a fee of around £25.5m.

Since his arrival, the 19-year-old has only made 12 appearances for the club, struggling for first-team opportunities in his first season in England.

When Guilherme was signed in the summer, Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall from Analytics United provided analysis on the Brazilian winger, labeling him “an impressively potent offensive asset”. This talent is something that has not dissipated, but is perhaps being protected whilst he acclimatises to the Premier League and the conditions of English football.

When comparing Guilherme’s underlying numbers with Kudus’ underlying numbers, it is important to include the context of the Brazilian’s minutes, only managing 133 minutes this season, which contributes largely to his per 90 metrics.

Chalkboard

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

However, you can begin to analyse the styles of each player, both being direct with the ball at their feet, looking to make things happen in the attacking third and create for themselves and their teammates.

Guilherme, in his minimal chances, has shown his creativity, producing shot-creating actions and key passes at a good rate.

Kudus may have a higher athletic ceiling than the Brazilian, being a nightmare to stop once he hits top speed and hurting teams in transition, but Guilherme is no slouch, described as an “electric” player with an “explosive first step” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Giving the young Brazilian a proper chance next season to fill Kudus’ shoes could be a much cheaper alternative, allowing them to spend those funds acquired wisely in other positions such as midfield.

Biggest wonderkid since Rice: West Ham struck gold on "electric" starlet

West Ham have struck gold on their biggest wonderkid since Declan Rice with this “top player”

By
Connor Holden

Apr 17, 2025

Liverpool are champions of the Premier League once again, and you can tell that a weight has been lifted from the shoulders of all involved.

The celebrations raged on for days, Anfield having played host to the title-clinching occasion last weekend as Tottenham Hotspur were put to the sword.

It’s been a long and gruelling season, but the squad have worked tooth and nail toward getting back on their perch, with Arne Slot the mastermind. Curiously, the Dutch coach has allowed a fuzz of facial hair to carpet his face, emphasising the loosening of the focus now that gold medals have been secured.

While Slot is finally prepared to enforce some rotation in the top flight, having been stringent in his team selection across the campaign, there’s no question that he and sporting director Richard Hughes are very much headset on preparing for the summer ahead.

That, for sure, is one area of attention that will have only intensified since the jubilation of last weekend, and while a wave of signings are anticipated, Liverpool are also gearing up to present Luis Diaz with a new contract.

Liverpool looking to extend Luis Diaz's contract

Diaz’s future has been a topic of debate throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and while he lulled for a sizeable patch through the middle of the year, the Colombian has been one of Liverpool’s most influential players.

Having plundered 16 goals and eight assists across 47 matches in all competitions, Diaz is behind only Mohamed Salah in Anfield’s goal contribution charts.

However, the 28-year-old is approaching the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal and has been consistently linked with a move away in recent months. Barcelona are among the recognised admirers.

Unless a mammoth bid comes FSG’s way, they’d be shrewd to march ahead with plans to tie the left-sided forward down. He’s been brilliant this year, and he perhaps doesn’t get the respect he deserves for his numbers, which are not all that shoddy.

Is he perfect? No, but Diaz is criminally underrated within certain pockets of Liverpool support, having performed dutifully and dynamically under Slot’s wing.

The fact that Raphinha and Bradley Barcola are the only recognised left wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season to have outperformed him from a prolific standpoint says it all.

However, this argument carries substance on both sides, and if Liverpool were to receive an irresistible offer this summer, there’s one man above all others who has been identified as the perfect replacement.

Liverpool target is open to leaving

According to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are ready to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo this summer, should Diaz end up leaving, with the wing wizard having ‘doubts’ over his future at the Bernabeu.

Transfer Focus

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

The Brazil international, 24, has become disillusioned with his role at Los Blancos, often shunted onto the right flank to accommodate Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.

The report suggests that he is, for the first time, ‘questioning’ his future at the club, while remaining ‘open-minded’ over which club he could potentially join next.

Spanish sources suggest it could take a bid worth €120m (£102m) to convince Florentino Perez to part with his club’s forward, but if Rodrygo truly wishes to leave for a new chapter, this towering figure could be reduced.

Why Rodrygo would be perfect for Liverpool

Hailed as a “world-class” part of Real Madrid by Jurgen Klopp, Rodrygo has lived in the Spanish capital since leaving Santos in his Brazilian homeland back in June 2018. He was only 17, with the figure totalling €45m (£38m).

The problem, of course, is that Madrid have packed their squad full of attacking superstars over the past few years, with the likes of Endrick, Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz also assuming space in the first-team squad.

Rodrygo, though, no doubt feels he is on par with Mbappe and the like, surely doubling his frustrations over being routinely played as a right wing.

The right-footed forward has demonstrated a raised level of prolificness when rarely handed the chance to feature on his preferred flank. This season, he’s only posted 13 goals and ten assists across 50 matches in all competitions, but 12 of those involvements have come from just 12 fixtures as a left winger.

It wouldn’t make much sense to sign Rodrygo if Diaz was kept on Liverpool’s books, for then he would be jockeying with the Colombia international and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth, or indeed placed out on the opposite flank, though Salah’s contractual renewal makes it rather hard to imagine this would convince him to make the move.

Even though Rodrygo hasn’t enjoyed the finest of seasons, his underlying qualities have still shone through. As per FBref, ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

This is interesting, with Diaz also renowned for his technical ability and crispness when on the ball. He’s also an electric player, with fast pace and a skilful kind of flair in possession.

Rodrygo has reached an important juncture in his career: turn one way, and he may continue to sit in the shadow of some of his Los Blancos peers; dart down the other lane, and the Brazilian could finally forge the career that his ‘world-class’ quality demands.

He’s already done it all for Real Madrid, and if he were to make the move to Merseyside, Rodrygo could not only prove to be an upgrade on Diaz but also become Liverpool’s undisputed talisman once Salah bows out too.

Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah in £87m "superstar"

This talented player is open to leaving his club this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 2, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has one player at the very top of his list of targets, and it is now believed the man in question is just as determined to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta makes new Arsenal transfer admission

With the first summer window just weeks away from opening, Arsenal supporters are eager to hear what their club has planned after reportedly striking an agreement for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal hold initial talks over signing £202k-a-week Real Madrid star

The Gunners have reached out and made contact.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 14, 2025

Zubimendi will be Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano and fellow reliable media sources, but one position they need to reinforce is further up front.

Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have forced Mikel Arteta to deploy midfielder Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role over the final stretch of this season, and supporters are desperate for Berta to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific number nine.

“I understand the narrative [about signing a No 9],” said Arteta about Arsenal’s rumoured pursuit of a striker.

“When you create five expected goals but only score one, it’s going to happen. It’s normal. We look at the things with much more data and resources than many people, but a lot of people have very good intuition on what is needed – and it’s good to listen to those opinions.

“We have a very clear vision from the ownership, the owner and the board, the new sporting director, we are all aligned on what we want to do. We are very close to achieving it – and that’s it.”

While Arteta remains coy, a host of strikers have already been linked with moves to N5, but one who stands out among them is Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sweden international’s exceptional tally of 52 goals across 50 appearances in all competitions is understandably turning heads, and reports suggest Gyokeres could leave for much less than his £84 million release clause this year.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported earlier this week that Arsenal are offering the 26-year-old a £7 million-per-year salary to join them, roughly equating to around £135,000-per-week.

Now, that same source has provided another update, revealing the ex-Coventry star’s stance on returning to England with Arsenal.

Viktor Gyokeres decides he wants to join Arsenal

As per A Bola, Gyokeres has his heart set on joining Arsenal after being “emotionally” and “financially” convinced Arteta’s side are the right option for him ahead of Chelsea.

He is said to be at the top of Berta’s personal shopping list as well, with Sporting’s hopes of an auction between Arsenal and Chelsea quashed by Gyokeres’ burning desire to make a move to the former.

Gyokeres’ potential Arsenal deal would be a four-to-five-year contract, and the player apparently has an agreement already in place with Sporting that he can leave for around £63 million.

All signs are pointing towards an imminent Arsenal move for Gyokeres, but Emirates chiefs will be wary of potential hijacks, akin to Real Madrid’s swoop for Dean Huijsen.

A “world-class” player has now announced he’s set to leave his club this summer, which follows reports that he’s held talks over a move to Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou makes trophy claim ahead of Europa League final

Next week, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has a golden chance to make good on his early-season suggestion that he “always” wins silverware during his second season in charge.

Levy personally wants '40 goals a season' striker at Tottenham next season

The Spurs chairman is a particular fan.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 15, 2025

This quote, while arguably taken out of context, was quickly picked up by the media and used to take aim at Postecoglou on more than one occasion. Following a season of record-breaking lows in the Premier League, where they’ve tasted defeat on 20 separate occasions, the Australian could now make that statement a reality.

The Lilywhites play Man United in a crunch Europa League final which could rescue their season. Spurs have an opportunity to both end their trophy drought and qualify for the Champions League in just 90 minutes of football, so the pressure is well and truly on Postecoglou’s squad.

Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are all set to miss their clash in Bilbao through injury, with Tottenham facing an uphill battle akin to the majority of their 2024/2025 campaign.

Postecoglou, though, appears determined to end Spurs’ long wait for a winners’ medal and isn’t lost on the significance of May 21.

“For me personally, well you know great, it’s another trophy I can reminisce in my old age about, but more importantly what it means for the club,” said Postecoglou on the Europa League final.

“I’ve always said it’s the significance of what it does to people that really impacts you. A lot of the success I’ve had has been stuff that’s pretty significant. It’s been at clubs where Yokohama hadn’t won a Championship for 14 years, Australia had never won a continental championship, Brisbane had never won one, South Melbourne – my first job – hadn’t won in seven years, Celtic had been one year but trust me that’s a long time in Scotland.

“When you look at the historical backdrop of this club and what it’s been through in the last 20-odd years, I feel like it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived, but also more how it perceives itself, which I think is the biggest thing.”

Jonathan David confirms Lille exit after rumoured talks with Tottenham

Off the field, chairman Daniel Levy appears set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer as things stand, meaning the free agent market could be very useful to him as Spurs look to reinforce the squad for next term.

One of 2025’s most coveted Bosman deals comes in the form of free-scoring Lille star Jonathan David.

The Canada international has bagged over a century of goals for Lille since joining them five years ago, with Tottenham among the clubs to have spoken to David’s representatives about a potential free transfer.

David, branded a “world-class” player by ex-Canada boss Iain Hume, is set to be a man in demand, and he’s now confirmed an imminent Ligue 1 departure.

Making a statement on social media, David announced that he’ll be leaving Lille when his contract expires on June 30.

“I wanted to tell you myself that after so many years at the club, it’s time to say goodbye,” said the striker, via LW.

“I’ve had five wonderful seasons here. I know that it hasn’t always been easy but I hope that with my goals and celebrations, that I’ve managed to bring you some joy. Notably the Ligue 1 title and the Trophee des Champions and I think that with these two trophies together, we have brought a lot of pleasure and joy.”

The 25-year-old is a big-game player as well as a prolific marksman in France. This season, David boasts Champions League strikes against the likes of Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus, showcasing how he can cut it against Europe’s most elite opposition.

In truth, it is curious why he hasn’t sealed a move until now, and there’s no doubt he’d be a stellar capture for Spurs on a free.

Liverpool mean business this summer. The finishing touches are being put on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, while Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed firm contacts have been made with Bournemouth for left-back Milos Kerkez.

And that’s only the beginning.

Arne Slot did a wonderful thing in sealing the Premier League title this season, not yet 12 months into his appointment as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Some would coin it an unenviable, insurmountable task, but it’s one the Dutchman has passed with flying colours, his side so dominant and controlled throughout the campaign.

The Premier League is Liverpool’s; no one saw it coming. But while the Reds embraced their underdog tag at the start of the term, there’s little question they will step into the new season with heightened expectations, even though Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving.

Especially because Trent is off. Liverpool need to find a new world-class playmaker, and though both defensive wings are being strengthened, it’s Florian Wirtz who could be the vice-captain’s creative replacement.

Liverpool's interest in Florian Wirtz

Liverpool are one of the most fearsome attacking teams in the game, and have been for a good few years. However, Alexander-Arnold’s departure will be to the detriment of Anfield’s forward fluency.

That’s why it’s so important that FSG put their all into winning the race for Wirtz’s hotly-contested services. The Leverkusen man, 22, has hit 68 goal involvements across the past two seasons, winning an invincible domestic double last year.

Bayern Munich are confident they are the favourites, while Manchester City are also fixed in the battle as they prepare to lose Kevin De Bruyne. Liverpool, however, will pounce the moment they see a chance, though £126m would be quite the outlay.

His prolific quality makes him a priority for Liverpool, but he’s not the only one. Indeed, with Darwin Nunez reportedly ready for a new challenge, it’s imperative that sporting director Richard Hughes makes the right decision in signing a replacement at number nine.

Liverpool in talks for new striker

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are tussling with Chelsea for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, although early negotiations between the two parties have been difficult given his outfit’s lofty price tag worth £84m.

Leipzig’s failure to qualify for Europe has set them back considerably, with Sesko and Xavi Simons both expected to be sold.

This is music to FSG’s ears, having been locked in talks for Sesko’s signature and now taking more of the cards as the Bundesliga club are surely forced to lower their brow-raising financial demands.

Imagine Benjamin Sesko at Liverpool

Sesko is only 21 but already, across two campaigns in Germany, he’s established himself as an offensive profile capable of thriving for one of the biggest hitters on the continent.

Across 87 total appearances for Leipzig, the Slovenia international has scored 39 goals, also laying on eight assists.

Liverpool have found joy in raiding the German scene for exciting up-and-comers in recent years, and Sesko could be the perfect man to continue this trend, especially if he arrives in conjunction with Wirtz.

The Germany international’s flair and output would certainly go a long way toward helping Sesko find his feet. As per FBref, Wirtz ranks among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

So active and influential across different areas, Wirtz is exactly what Liverpool need to reorient their creative centre and allow a player like Sesko to hit the ground running.

The Leipzig star has already been described as “one of the best young strikers in the world” by Redmen TV contributor Joe Baker, with his thunderous shot power, steely physicality and deceptive pace making him the prototypical modern striker.

Is it any wonder Liverpool are so desperate to get him on the books? Much of Sesko’s potential may be yet untapped, but as per Sofascore, he’s only missed 18 big chances across his two Bundesliga campaigns, scoring 23 goals, which highlights a natural clinical edge that Slot’s current focal frontman lacks.

Of course, you’d think he’d go from strength to strength on Merseyside too. Liverpool are an immense team with weapons from every angle. Sesko would enter a veritable hothouse for player development, fronted by a coach whose prowess can be found in the Premier League’s Player of the Year nomination for Ryan Gravenberch, the huge upswing in performance from Cody Gakpo.

In previous years, fans would be forgiven for assuming such signings lay beyond Anfield’s reach, but there’s something different about the Reds this summer, with plans being made to bolster heartily, signing any number of exciting new stars.

Sesko would be the frontman, and he’d be charged by a Leverkusen machine whose skills are unmatched. This season alone in the league, he’s created 17 big chances and has averaged 5.2 successful duels per game, bespeaking the creativity and completeness needed to form a framework from which Sesko can prosper.

Wirtz and Sesko are already two of the most exciting stars in their position, and they have yet to even reach their peaks. Slot would surely help them grow to the heights touted, and bring Liverpool plenty more silverware in the process.

Liverpool big admirers of £90m Wirtz alternative who's a Bellingham clone

Liverpool are interested in signing Florian Wirtz this summer.

2

By
Matt Dawson

May 18, 2025