The Toronto Blue Jays dropped a game to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, 11-4. Centerfielder Alan Roden played hard through the final whistle, though, and delighted his teammates with his effort and prop comedy. Already down 6-2 in the fifth inning, Roden tracked down a drive to deep left by Nick Castellanos right before colliding with the fence at a good rate of speed.
Roden crumpled to the warning track after securing the ball and Toronto's medical staff came out to check on him. Once it became clear that he was fine, teammate Ernie Celement, who had come all the way from the infield to check on his teammate, noticed something spectacular on the fence where Roden had made impact and tried to cheer him up by pointing out that there was a smudge of eye black left as evidence.
We've all been there. Your friend just sustained a slight injury and there you are with an unmistakable grin because something about it just hit you the right way. But that's fun. The way Clement hustled over to show his friend what had him smiling felt so pure.
Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for quality attacking reinforcements come January and have now been told how much it will take to land a winger who is thriving in one of Europe’s top-five leagues.
Thomas Frank has had mixed luck with signings since walking through the door in N17, and many would argue that Spurs’ capture of Mohammed Kudus has been their best bit of business so far.
On the flip side, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani may take a little longer to fully settle at the club after some mixed performances, which is part and parcel of football at the end of the day, and the latter’s been very stop-start due to multiple injury problems.
As January approaches, signings will be necessary for Tottenham to kick on under Frank’s stewardship, and he already appears to have identified some exciting names to help their push for a strong Premier League finish.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is a high-profile Spurs target and may be on his way to N17 amid the Lilywhites’ wish to recruit a new winger as a top priority, rather than a fixed number nine.
Looking towards in-form Premier League stars may be their preference. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is another name wanted by Tottenham, and they have made an approach for the Senegal international, even if he could cost close to £70 million.
Truthfully, Spurs have the financial muscle to acquire top talent, but half the battle may be convincing players that their project has more to offer in the long term than rival clubs.
Competition for new additions in mid-season is usually fierce, though Tottenham have been told in no uncertain circumstances how much it may cost to bring one of their known targets to North London if they decide to press ahead with a move.
Tottenham told how much it will cost to land Takefusa Kubo
According to Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider’s Inside Track, Tottenham target Takefusa Kubo has a £52 million release clause inserted in his Real Sociedad contract, and any bid submitted matching that figure would be enough to enter direct negotiations with the player.
He explained: “He’s been continually linked with the move to the Premier League with Tottenham, Liverpool over the years, Aston Villa as well. Top young player who’s done really well for Real Sociedad. So, it’s no surprise that the top European clubs are looking at the Japanese international as well.
Takefusa Kobe at Real Sociedad – is he worth £52 million?
Appearances
147
Goals
24
Assists
18
“He has got a release clause in his contract, so it would be straightforward if Tottenham wanted to go and sign him in January. £52million, it’s not a cheap deal by any stretch of the imagination. So, that will come into consideration if Tottenham are to firm up their interest in Kubo as well.”
Lauded by Zinedine Zidane for his “very interesting” tendencies as a player, Kubo has emerged as a target amid concerns over whether Everton would be willing to let go of Ndiaye, though it remains to be seen whether Spurs can land either of their targets.
Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as Barcelona's top target to replace ageing striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of the 2025-26 season. Lewandowski is expected to depart Hansi Flick's side as a free agent when his contract with the Catalan giants expires next summer, with Barca considering triggering the £57m release clause in Kane's contract at Bayern Munich.
Kane on Barca's wanted list
Barcelona are expected to invest in a new No. 9 next summer to replace Lewandowski and have put Kane at the top of their wanted list, according to . The England captain has enjoyed a prolific time at Bayern since moving from Tottenham in 2023 and won his first major trophy last season by firing the Bavarian giants to the Bundesliga title. Kane turned 32 back in July but has scored an incredible 108 goals in 113 appearances for Bayern, making him one of the deadliest strikers in Europe. The England captain does have an exit clause in his contract at Allianz Arena, and it's thought Barca could be preparing to trigger it to bring him to Camp Nou.
AdvertisementGettyBarcelona line up Lewandowski replacements
Kane is not the only player being linked with a move to Barcelona to replace Lewandowski. Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez is also thought to be a target, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta is said to be "obsessed" about trying to bring in Erling Haaland to the club. More recently, Etta Eyong has also been mentioned as a low-cost option, due to Barca's continued financial issues.
Meanwhile, Lewandowski, now 37, has spoken about his future while on international duty with Poland and insists he has not yet decided his next move. He told reporters: "I still don’t know the answer. That’s why I’m not in a hurry, I’m at peace with myself. And that is the most important thing. Even if, for example, the club contacted me now, I still wouldn’t answer that question. Because I also have to feel what’s best for me. Now I’m calm, I’m not in a hurry and, at the moment, I don’t expect anything else."
Lewandowski has had to accept a reduced role at Barcelona in the 2025-26 season, due to injury and with Ferran Torres gaining prominence, but is still the team's top scorer currently. The veteran striker has seven goals from nine La Liga outings, which also means that only Kylian Mbappe has netted more times than Lewandowski in Spain's top flight in 2025-26.
What has Kane said about his future?
It remains to be seen if Kane could be tempted to Barcelona, but he will surely be well aware that England team-mate Marcus Rashford has been posting some impressive statistics since joining the club on loan from Manchester United. Rashford has received plenty of praise after contributing six assists and two goals in his debut La Liga campaign and making the most of his first-team opportunities while Raphinha is out injured.
Meanwhile, Kane has spoken about his future this season, saying he's happy at Bayern and is willing to discuss a new contract. He said: "We can certainly talk about that. I have almost two years left. It's not like I'm in the final year of my contract and anyone is panicking. I'm fine. The club is fine. I think they're happy with me, and I'm happy with them. Those discussions can take place."
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AFPWhat next for Kane and Barca?
Barcelona's continued financial issues will affect any transfer plans and it remains to be seen if the club can afford to trigger Kane's release clause and add him to the squad in time for next season. Lewandowski's priority is thought to be to stay at Barcelona, as he is not tempted by a lucrative transfer to Saudi Pro League, and he may well hope he can earn a new contract if he can continue to deliver goals and titles for the Catalan giants. Barcelona will also have to make a decision on Rashford's future. The forward's contract at Barcelona includes a purchase option, but the club have already ruled out triggering it in January and there's no guarantee yet that his loan spell will be made permanent.
Chelsea’s brilliant run of results, which saw them beat the likes of Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, came to a screeching halt on Saturday afternoon.
Instead of picking up another Premier League win against the recently promoted Sunderland, Enzo Maresca’s side managed to lose 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Chemsedine Talbi.
What is most frustrating about the game, though, is that while the West Londoners were not anywhere near their best, they still had chances to win, taking seven shots on target to the Black Cats’ four.
Unfortunately, they just didn’t have their shooting boots on, although with the striker situation at the club, that is hardly surprising.
So, there is an argument that Maresca should look to drop Marc Guiu and start one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects, a striker compared to the legendary Didier Drogba.
Chelsea vs Sunderland
Chelsea
Statistics
Sunderland
1
Goals
2
68%
Possession
32%
16
Total Shots
10
7
Shots on Target
4
629
Passes
293
10
Shots in the Box
7
8
Tackles
14
All Stats via Sofascore
Chelsea's striker situation
In the summer, Chelsea decided to sell Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan and João Félix to Al-Nassr, while also loaning out David Datro Fofana to Karagümrük and Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Now, while these weren’t necessarily bad moves for the club, they did only sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to replace the leaving players, and when the latter went down with a hamstring injury earlier this season, they were forced to recall Marc Guiu from his loan with Sunderland.
Moreover, while nobody can question Pedro’s ability, it has become increasingly clear that his best position is just behind another striker, either as an advanced ten or a classic second striker.
In other words, due to their business and the injury to the former Ipswich Town star, Maresca has been forced to either use Pedro out of his best position, start the young Tyrique George up top when he’s a natural winger, or, as he has done recently, play Guiu.
To give the former Barcelona gem his credit, he did score against Ajax in the Champions League, but against the Black Cats on Saturday, he was poor.
In fact, the Spaniard was so underwhelming that the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau gave him just a 4/10 match rating, writing that he showed ‘plenty of energy but not a lot of finesse.’
In short, Chelsea really need another option up top this season, and while it would be a risk, it looks like Cobham might have the player for them – a player compared to Drogba.
Chelsea's future Drogba
Now, it should really go without saying that comparing a youngster to Drogba is not something that should be done lightly.
After all, the Ivorian icon was one of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League and is most certainly a massive Chelsea legend.
With that said, there is plenty of excitement building around 18-year-old Shim Mheuka, so much so that one analyst has made the bold comparison, calling him “the new Didier Drogba.”
So then, what makes him such an exceptional talent, and one worthy of a proper run in the first team?
Well, simply put, he is starting to look like a real goal machine and potentially one of “Cobham’s finest” prospects, per talent scout Jacek Kulig.
For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists to his name, 30 appearances across the U18S and U21S.
Moreover, he also got a few run-outs in the first team, making five appearances totalling 118 minutes across the Conference League and Premier League.
Mheuka’s Chelsea youth record
Appearances
59
Goals
31
Assists
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.66
All Stats via Transfermarkt
This season, he has taken another leap forward, and as things stand, he has already scored ten goals and provided two assists in just ten appearances, totalling 883 minutes for the U21S and Youth League sides.
That works out to an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 73.58 minutes, and if that’s still not enough, he has also racked up a tally of ten goals and three assists in 18 appearances for England’s U19S.
Ultimately, while it is still so early in his career, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is a lethal goalscorer, and while he might not reach the level of a Drogba, he might be able to have a significant impact on the team this season.
Chelsea now looking to sign "outstanding" £168k-a-week CB who's won 11 trophies
The Blues want to bring in a new defender, having struggled defensively at times this season.
It seems that the Everton bubble has now well and truly burst under David Moyes.
Only one meagre win has been picked up in the Premier League by the Toffees across their last five contests in the demanding division, with Tottenham Hotspur applying a lot more salt to the Merseyside outfit’s wound when humbling them 3-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening.
Micky van de Ven’s quickfire double would kill the contest in the first half, before Pape Matar Sarr made sure of the three points when his late effort beat Jordan Pickford.
Unfortunately for Everton, Beto forgot to pack his shooting boots again, leading the line for his out-of-form side, with the number nine cutting an isolated figure once more.
Why Beto may be dropped
To his credit, he did try to acrobatically beat Guglielmo Vicario in the second half after a quick run forward by Iliman Ndiaye found him in space. Unfortunately, as is his luck at the moment, the Italian pulled off a jaw-dropping save to preserve his clean sheet.
That means the ex-Udinese attacker’s goalless run of form in the Premier League now stretches to six straight matches, with this audacious effort on goal his only real memorable contribution during the 3-0 defeat.
Indeed, Beto would only amass 14 touches of the ball during his 66-minute stint on the pitch, with the aforementioned Pickford even coming in with more, having tallied up a far greater 36 come the full-time whistle.
Even when the ball was at his feet, he did very little with it, with just four accurate passes accumulated, away from the imposing 6-foot-4 attacker, also only winning two of the six duels he went in for, as he let his side down aerially.
Van De Ven would have no trouble in the air; on the other hand, as his two headers sealed all three points for Thomas Frank’s very effective visitors.
While the commanding Dutchman stood out as a major positive both in attack and in defence for Spurs, Everton looked regularly ropey themselves when push came to shove defensively, with this underperformer at the back now fearing for his first-team spot, alongside a goal-shy Beto.
The 4/10 Everton flop who must now be dropped
It will certainly worry Moyes in the Toffees dug-out that his side haven’t kept a clean sheet in league action since facing off against Aston Villa in the middle of September.
To try and remedy his team’s ongoing defensive issues, the Glaswegian could be prepared to drop Vitaliy Mykolenko, who endured another torrid evening in the Premier League against Frank’s rampant away side.
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
58
Accurate passes
27/38 (71%)
Accurate crosses
0/3
Successful dribbles
0/1
Possession lost
19x
Tackles won
0/1
Clearances
3
Ball recoveries
3
Total duels won
3/10
Dribbled past
2x
The more you read into the table above, the more damning Mykolenko’s poor day at the office becomes, with the Ukrainian full-back failing to register a single accurate cross, a single successful dribble, or a single successful tackle won across his disastrous 90 minutes.
To pile on the misery even more, the out-of-sorts number 16 also managed to lose possession a costly 19 times down the left flank across the entire duration of the 3-0 loss, while only 30% of his duels were also won. Safe to say, he won’t be looking back on his sixth Premier League start of the season with much glee.
Moyes could well have seen enough to be convinced to drop his 4/10 defender – as was the low post-match rating handed to him by Liverpool World’s Will Rooney – for Everton’s next league contest versus the top-flight’s biggest surprise package of the season so far in Sunderland, with the adaptable James Garner a potential candidate who could replace him, alongside summer recruit Adam Aznou.
It’s clear from Everton’s overall showing that things have become alarmingly stagnant and quick, as Moyes looked dejected when speaking to the media after the game.
He will surely be hoping for a much-improved performance from his downtrodden team at the Stadium of Light at the start of next month, as Beto and Mykolenko are both potentially moved out of his starting XI plans.
Everton scouts spotted watching "incredible" striker with 42 goals in 49 games
تحدث آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، عن مباراة كريستال بالاس المرتقبة غدًا الأربعاء، في بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية، كاراباو، موسم 2025/26.
ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وكريستال بالاس، في إطار منافسات دور الـ16 من كأس كاراباو، مساء الغد.
وسبق أن تواجه الفريقان في كأس الدرع الخيرية، في شهر أغسطس الماضي، حيث خسر ليفربول بركلات الترجيح، قبل أن يسقط أمام الخصم نفسه بهدفين لهدف في الدوري الإنجليزي ذلك الموسم.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول يحسم موقفه من إقالة آرني سلوت لسوء النتائج
وقال سلوت، في تصريحات نشرها موقع ليفربول: “بكل تأكيد سبق لنا مواجهة كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي ذلك الموسم، لم تكن النتيجة في تلك المباراة كما كنا نأمل، يُحسب لهم ذلك”.
وأضاف :”جاء هدف فوزهم متأخرًا جدًا في تلك المباراة بعد أن أدركنا التعادل وذلك بعد شوط أول صعب علينا، لذلك يجب أن نكون على دراية ليس فقط بالمشاكل التي قد يسببونها، بل أيضًا بقدرتهم على الاستمرار حتى صافرة النهاية”.
وواصل: “لم أتخذ قرارًا نهائيًا بشأن التشكيل الذي سنستخدمه لهذه المباراة، هناك حاجة للتدريب والتحقق من جاهزية اللاعبين، ولكن يجب أن يكون أي لاعب نختاره جاهزًا لمواجهة فريق مثل كريستال بالاس”.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is ready to seriously push the boat out in an attempt to tie down star defender William Saliba, amid threatening interest from Real Madrid.
Arsenal facing William Saliba threat from Real Madrid
Saliba started his first game back from an ankle injury in their 1-1 draw with fellow Premier League title contenders Man City last Sunday, relegating in-form summer signing Cristhian Mosquera back to the bench.
While the Frenchman failed to pick up Erling Haaland’s run on the counter-attack, resulting in City’s superstar striker opening the scoring, Mikel Arteta was happy to welcome his star defender back, and Saliba’s presence was still imperative on the whole.
Jurrien Timber
7
William Saliba
4
Jeremy Doku
4
Riccardo Calafiori
3
Declan Rice
2
via WhoScored
Saliba and Gabriel’s exceptional partnership, often touted as the best central defensive pairing in Europe, has been vital to the Gunners’ trophy challenges since 2022.
Largely thanks to their presence, Arsenal have conceded fewer league goals than any other side in the top flight in each of the last two seasons, with only Man City’s treble-winners and a resilient Newcastle team managing a lower number of strikes against them by the end of 2022/2023.
Saliba has established himself as one of Europe’s most commanding and assured centre-backs in that time, which has attracted serious admiration from the Bernabeu.
According to El Desmarque recently, Arsenal are only in a position to demand around £70 million from Real for Saliba next summer, as the 24-year-old has just over two years remaining on his current contract.
With Saliba’s deal expiring in 2027, Berta is currently attempting to negotiate an extension, but it is believed that talks to tie down the France international are taking some time amid a reported delay (Football Insider).
That being said, Arsenal are determined to ward off Xabi Alonso whilst ensuring Saliba is with them for many years to come.
Andrea Berta to push Arsenal limits with huge William Saliba offer
As per reporter Dean Jones, speaking to TEAMtalk, Berta is ready to push Arsenal’s limits with a huge contract offer for Saliba.
The potential deal would see Arteta’s pivotal defender become their highest earner on around £300,000-per-week — earning even more than Kai Havertz (£280k), Gabriel Jesus (£265k), Martin Odegaard (£240k), Declan Rice (£240k) and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres (£200k).
Arsenal see Saliba as one of the best defenders in world football, with Jones reporting they want him to commit at all costs.
The former Saint-Étienne star is arguably an irreplaceable force at the heart of Arteta’s backline, even if Mosquera did a pretty good job when Saliba was out.
Why Arsenal must tie down William Saliba
Crucially, Saliba is more than just a defender — he’s a leader.
His partnership with Gabriel has become the strongest in England, and his presence has allowed Arsenal to play the high defensive line that underpins their entire tactical approach. Without him, the system arguably doesn’t work the same way.
Arsenal'sGabrielMagalhaes and WilliamSaliba
Securing his future is about more than money or contract clauses — it’s about signalling to the rest of Europe just how serious Arteta’s side are about becoming the continent’s most elite club.
If Arsenal want to continue challenging Liverpool and Man City whilst competing in the Champions League, they cannot risk losing their defensive lynchpin.
Saliba is the type of player you build dynasties around, and the Gunners have worked too hard to reach this point only to let one of their crown jewels leave for a meagre cost.
O Atlético-MG venceu o Bahia por 1 a 0, na manhã deste domingo (13), com gol de Paulinho, no Mineirão, pela última rodada do primeiro turno do Brasileirão. Resultado dá fôlego ao trabalho de Felipão e pode fazer o Tricolor de Aço terminar rodada na zona de rebaixamento.
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Todos os 90 minutos foram muito equilibrados, os dois times conseguiram criar muitas chances, mas só Paulinho, no início do segundo tempo, conseguiu balançar as redes.
+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão
LÁ E CÁ 11 chutes para o Galo e 14 para o Bahia; 39% de posse para o Galo, 61% para o Bahia. Os números podem até mostrar uma mínima vantagem para os tricolores, mas, no campo, o equilíbrio marcou a partida.
Quem chegou primeiro com perigo foi o Bahia. Ademir finalizou de fora da área uma bola cheia de veneno. Éverson, que completou 200 jogos pelo clube, foi seguro e encaixou. Depois disso, o goleiro quase desviou para dentro uma boa finalização de Cauly, mas antes disso, Paulinho também obrigou o goleiro Marcos Felipe a trabalhar. No fim do primeiro tempo, Hulk caiu na área e ficou pedindo pênalti de Kanu. O jogo ficou parado por um bom tempo, mas não houve nada.
PRESENTE PARA O PAULINHO PAI Mais uma vez quem começou com perigo foi o Bahia, na cabeçada de Vitor Hugo. Mas, quem marcou mesmo foi Paulinho, após receber bola enfiada de Hulk. No fim do jogo, o atacante dedicou o gol ao pai, seu ídolo. Logo na sequência, o Bahia chegou ao ataque e, no rebote, Thaciano chutou beirando a trave. No final, o Tricolor acabou se afobando para buscar o resultado e não conseguiu ameaçar tanto a defesa do Galo.
+Galo: Éverson completa 200 jogos hoje contra o Bahia
O próximo compromisso do Atlético-MG é contra o Vasco, no domingo (20), às 11h (de Brasília) em São Januário. O clube carioca ainda tenta levar a partida para o Maracanã. Já o Bahia enfrenta o Red Bull Bragantino no mesmo dia, às 16h, na Fonte Nova.
While it’s always tricky to determine who has ‘won’ the transfer window, Arsenal certainly have a strong shout this year.
New Sporting Director Andrea Berta has been transformational since his arrival, overseeing eight additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad over the last few months.
Moreover, while a number of those players have been signed to bolster the squad, others could be real game-changers for the starting lineup, like Eberechi Eze.
The Englishman is an unbelievably exciting signing for the Premier League hopefuls, although they did sell their own version of him not too long ago.
Eze's return to Arsenal
Signing a player of Eze’s quality is hugely exciting and would have been enough to delight the Arsenal fanbase regardless of the nature of the deal.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
However, the fact that it looked like the club had cooled their interest in him weeks prior, only to suddenly reenter the conversation in the 11th hour and steal (rescue) him from Tottenham Hotspur, was enough of a story to send the fans into delirium.
It’s easy to see why Arteta was reportedly so keen to bring the 27-year-old to the Emirates this summer as well, as not only is he a creative force, but he also knows exactly where the goal is.
Despite playing for a mid-table side last season, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, was an output machine, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes.
In other words, the versatile game-changer, who can play in the middle of the park or out wide, averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes – just imagine what he’ll do with better players around him.
Moreover, it’s not just the hijacking of his move to Spurs or the quality he’ll add to the side that makes this transfer so special; there is the human side, which is the fact that the club released him as a 13-year-old and has finally made his way back.
In short, Eze’s move to Arsenal is one of the best of the summer, even though the club sold someone who could’ve been described as their version of the Englishman not too long ago.
Arsenal's former Eze
It would be fair to say that fans were left quite disappointed by Edu Gaspar’s final summer transfer window at Arsenal, as he only oversaw five signings, two of which were the loan deals for Raheem Sterling and Neto.
However, while he failed on the incoming front, he did do reasonably well regarding outgoings, as he saw Eddie Nketiah move to Crystal Palace for £30m, Aaron Ramsdale join Southampton for up to £25m, and Emile Smith Rowe move to Fulham for up to £34m.
The latter was undoubtedly the one most fans were sad to see go, as even though the money was good for someone who had fallen out of Arteta’s plans, there was a belief he could be something special.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former fan favourite is the player who could have been described as the Gunners’ own Eze.
The first reason stems from the positions he’d play under Arteta.
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Attacking Midfield
102
19
15
Left Midfield
45
15
3
Central Midfield
41
8
5
Right Midfield
12
4
1
Left Winger
3
0
0
Centre-Forward
2
0
0
Right Winger
1
0
0
While he now almost exclusively plays as an attacking midfielder for the Cottagers, he would spend plenty of time in other areas of the pitch at the Emirates.
For example, across his time with the Gunners, the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by one analyst, made 54 appearances in attacking midfield, 25 in left-midfield, ten in central midfield, three at left-wing, three in right-midfield, and he even played up top on two occasions.
It wasn’t just where he played that made him similar to the former Palace man, though, but how he played, and still does to an extent.
Even though he wore the number ten in North London – another similarity to the club’s new star – the Croydon-born gem was far more of a ball-carrier than someone who’d play pinpoint passes like traditional tens. In the words of his manager while on loan at Huddersfield, Danny Cowley, he was “like Dennis Bergkamp but with pace.”
For example, in the 20/21 season, his best at Arsenal, the 25-year-old ranked in the top 9% of Premier League midfielders for progressive carries and the top 14% for carries into the penalty area per 90, per FBref.
Finally, in addition to the similarities in their game, both players have featured for the national team and progressed through the Gunners’ legendary Hale End academy.
Ultimately, while they have finally signed the real thing, for some time, Smith Rowe was Arsenal’s own Eze.
Arsenal sold homegrown Gyokeres for £4m, now he's one of the best in Europe
Arsenal had a promising talent in their ranks who could have been their own homegrown Gyokeres.
Jose Mourinho has already been warned of the sack threat he faces at Benfica, with the Portuguese a matter of hours into the two-year contract that he has signed at Estadio da Luz. The enigmatic former Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss is aware that he needs to deliver positive results in order to see out a deal through to the summer of 2027.
Full circle: Mourinho back where it all began
Having been relieved of his duties at Turkish side Fenerbahce on the back of suffering a Champions League qualification defeat to Benfica, Mourinho finds himself back his homeland and where it all began for him in a managerial capacity in 2000.
The ‘Special One’ is now 62 years of age, but he remains as competitive as ever. He is eager to deliver tangible success at Benfica – having made a habit of collecting major silverware over the course of his glittering coaching career – but knows that events on and off the field could impact his short and long-term future in Lisbon.
Presidential elections lined up by Benfica
With presidential elections set to take place at Benfica in October, Rui Costa – who currently fills that role – told reporters when asked if Mourinho is an "electoral asset" for him: "I'm here as president of Benfica, I'm choosing a coach for Benfica. It confuses me that these terms are used. Our obligation is the future of the club, and not thinking about elections would mean leaving the club without a coach until the elections.
"Mourinho is Benfica's coach because we believe he has all the credentials to lead a club like ours. We felt we had to change the coaching staff, and he needed a coach capable of managing a club of this size."
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Getty/GOALMourinho's contract: Terms of Benfica deal
On the terms of Mourinho’s contract, Costa added: "There's a clause at the end of the season that leaves the club the option of continuing with the coach or not. We're hiring a coach for Benfica who's not indifferent at the global level; he's one of the most highly regarded names in the world. We're securing Benfica's future with an excellent coach."