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Liverpool are in the market for elite talent this summer and could now be prepared to take a step closer to landing one of their priority targets, according to a report.

Liverpool's summer begins with Alexander-Arnold bombshell

Despite a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, you would be hard-pressed to find too much discontent among Liverpool supporters following their Premier League title triumph.

That discontent may have increased ever so slightly however with the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is joining Real Madrid. Albeit a poorly kept secret, the official confirmation on Monday to follow on from Sunday’s result certainly suggests that Arne Slot has some work to do in the summer window.

According to reports, Liverpool could replace Darwin Nunez with Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui. Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is also on the agenda, but the Italy international may be a more affordable alternative at £50 million.

Despite potentially costing £100 million, the Reds are also keen on a swoop for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, even if Manchester City and the Magpies also remain in pursuit of the Three Lions international.

From a Liverpool perspective, their remaining three Premier League matches are dead rubbers. Pride is at stake, though there is a wider acknowledgement that changes are set to engulf the squad this summer.

Not just Quansah: Slot must axe Liverpool dud who made just 4 passes

Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, with one player failing to impress.

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By
Ethan Lamb

May 4, 2025

Excitement is in the air as FSG prepare to spend a considerable chunk on fresh blood, while departures are likely to unfold in the other direction to streamline Slot’s talented group of players.

With anticipation building ahead of a big window for all involved, Liverpool could now take one step closer to signing a talented import from one of Europe’s top-five leagues.

Liverpool prepare offer for Xavi Simons

According to Empire of the Kop, Liverpool are preparing a £51.1 million offer to sign RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, though his current employers are more likely to sell the 26-cap Netherlands international for between £59.6 million and £68.1 million.

Labelled “amazing” by Dani Olmo, the former Barcelona star has registered ten goals and eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions this season – the exact same number of created goals as Alexander-Arnold this term.

Intriguingly, Liverpool’s case to land Simons could be helped if RB Leipzig fail to qualify for the Champions League between now and the end of the campaign.

Capable of playing on either flank, in central midfield or behind the striker, Slot is confident that his large Dutch contingent of players could convince the Amsterdam-born man to make a move to Merseyside.

Versatility and end product from midfield are Simons’ main attributes, and he could now be destined for a shot at Premier League stardom as part of a Liverpool side that aims to conquer all in years to come. Now, it remains to be seen whether they can negotiate a package that suits all parties once the window opens.

Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta are reportedly bursting into the race to sign a marquee Brazil star, with talks over a new contract at his club now hitting a key roadblock.

Arsenal now targeting left-winger, right-winger and striker this summer

Mikel Arteta and the Gunners are in need of fresh options in the final third.

David Ornstein: Arsenal believe they've now signed "world-class" player

The Gunners are convinced it is inevitable.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 25, 2025

Leandro Trossard’s deal expires in 2026, and there has been little sign of a renewal at the Emirates Stadium so far, making the Belgian’s long-term future uncertain. Meanwhile, The Athletic have reported recently that winger Gabriel Martinelli is no longer considered untouchable if the right offer comes in.

Arteta’s side also struggled to replace star forward Bukayo Saka when the England international was out for an extensive period through injury, potentially prompting Arsenal to hold talks with Nico Williams’ representatives ahead of the summer.

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reporting earlier this month that direct communication was held via the player’s representatives.

Bayern will allow Coman to leave for around £30 million (Ben Jacobs), so he could be a very realistic option for Berta and Arteta as the club look to sign a left-winger, right-winger and prolific striker (GiveMeSport).

Arsenal emerge as "strong contenders" to sign Barcelona star Raphinha

Now, according to CaughtOffside, Barcelona star Raphinha is emerging as a potential target.

The Brazilian has been a revelation under Hansi Flick this season, bagging 30 goals and 23 assists in all competitions and playing a key role with Barca on course to beat Real Madrid to the La Liga title.

Raphinha will face off against Real in the Copa del Rey finalon Saturday night, but while he prepares for one of Barca’s most important games of the campaign, Arsenal are lurking in the background.

It is believed the former Leeds star and his club have failed to reach an agreement on a new contract so far, and Raphinha will need to lower his wage demands if they’re to reach a compromise on fresh terms.

This has alerted Berta and co, with Arsenal now “strong contenders” to sign Raphinha if the Catalans are forced to sell. However, Flick’s side will still demand a premium to sell their superstar player – which could be up to £77 million.

The 28-year-old would be the ideal signing for Arteta, as he’s able to play on either flank and through the middle, but Barça are very unlikely to let him leave without a serious fight.

Raphinha also earns around £206,000-per-week, and if he demands more, the attacker would comfortably be among Arteta’s highest earners and put further pressure on the club’s wage bill.

2025 is likely to be the year Manchester City’s squad goes through a major rebuild, work that has already begun.

In January, as outlined by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, the Sky Blues spent more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, splashing £180m to recruit Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Nico González and Juma Bah.

Meantime, Kevin De Bruyne announced last week that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer, having spent a decade at the Etihad, during which time he has, so far, made 414 appearances, scored 106 goals, provided 176 assists and hoisted aloft 16 trophies.

However, could the big-money signing of one of the best players in the Premier League push another Man City legend out the exit door?

Manchester City's interest in Morgan Gibbs-White

As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Manchester City have both Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White ‘among the options [they] will consider’ as potential De Bruyne replacements.

Nottingham Forest signed Gibbs-White from Wolves for a reported fee of £42.5m three years ago, and Transfermarkt believe his market value has doubled since then, hence why Lee Clarke of Nottingham Forest News claims he will cost at least £70m.

Meantime, talkSPORT host Max Scott notes that the England international has been “one of the best players in the Premier League” this season, scoring five goals and racking up nine assists – only two midfielders can boast more goal involvements – firing the Garibaldi Reds to the cusp of the Champions League.

So, Gibbs-White would unquestionably be an excellent signing for Man City, but could his potential arrival be bad news for a sky blue stalwart?

After De Bruyne: Why another Man City legend could leave

As well as De Bruyne, six other key members of Manchester City’s first-team squad are now in their 30s, one of whom is Bernardo Silva.

Zak Garner-Purkis of Forbes writes that Silva ‘has been one of the main malfunctioning components’ at Man City this season, adding that his ‘aging legs’ have been a key factor behind the team’s ‘sudden decline’.

Since arriving from Monaco for £43.6m in 2017, the Portuguese international has made 396 appearances for the Citizens, only nine men have made more in club history, hence why Pep Guardiola labelled him “one of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life”.

Nevertheless, Silva’s powers are on the wane, as the table below outlines.

As the table showcases, this has been, by some distance, Silva’s least productive season at Man City, coming off the back of the 2023/24 campaign, which was actually his best for five years, getting into double figures for both goals and assists.

So now, let’s analyse how he compares to Gibbs-White this season.

Across the same number of appearances and a near-identical number of minutes, there are just 88 minutes between the pair, it is Gibbs-White who comes out on top for the vast majority of metrics this season.

For the most part, the duo’s statistics are remarkably similar, underlining their stylistic similarities, but it’s the Englishman who boasts better statistics when it comes to goals, assists, chances created, shooting and ball recoveries.

Despite having racked up over 200 more touches, Silva can only claim to have better passing accuracy and take-on success percentage.

All of this emphasises the point that Gibbs-White would be an excellent signing for Man City, representing a clear Silva upgrade.

Instead of signing Wirtz & Gibbs-White: Man City must unleash teenage star

Manchester City have been linked with moves for Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Apr 9, 2025

The Cubs franchise and fanbase was shaken on Monday when legendary player Ryne Sandberg died at the age of 65 from cancer.

The Cubs and MLB world alike have honored Sandberg in various ways this week. The Cubs are even introducing a No. 23 patch to their jerseys for the remainder of the 2025 season to memorialize "Ryno."

This isn't the only way the Cubs are honoring the late legend. On Saturday in their home game vs. the Orioles at Wrigley Field, all Cubs players will wear a Sandberg No. 23 jersey without their names on the back. The team will wear the iconic pullover blue jerseys that Sandberg used to wear during his time with the team in the 1980s.

Cubs executive Crane Kenney shared the news on 670 The Score on Thursday, also noting that the jerseys will be auctioned after the game and all the proceeds will be donated to cancer research. The organization plans to celebrate Sandberg's legacy and life all day on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

It will be an emotional day in Chicago on Saturday.

Chelsea have decided not to fast-track Emmanuel Emegha’s arrival from Strasbourg despite Liam Delap suffering another significant injury setback, with the club maintaining their long-planned timeline for the striker’s summer 2026 arrival. Delap’s shoulder issue leaves Enzo Maresca short of natural No.9 options, but the Blues remain committed to their original transfer plans.

• Delap's injury won't change Emegha transfer plans

  Chelsea entered the week preparing for their Champions League trip to Atalanta with an unexpected disruption in attack after Delap suffered a nasty shoulder injury in the 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. Delap left the pitch with his right arm supported in a sling, leaving Maresca without one of his two recognised strikers and creating immediate questions about the club’s reinforcement plans heading into January. Although early assessments indicate the issue is “quite bad,” there is not yet a definitive recovery timeline.

  Because of Delap’s absence, speculation quickly grew suggesting Chelsea might accelerate the arrival of Emegha, the Strasbourg forward already pre-signed for next summer. However, the has insisted that Emegha will remain in France until the end of the season as originally agreed, with no intention of altering the transfer schedule. Chelsea believe they have enough cover internally and prefer not to disrupt the development plan set for the 22-year-old Dutch striker.

  Chelsea opted to bring back Marc Guiu from his Sunderland loan back in August after Delap's earlier injury, and the plan is to stick with the former Barcelona star yet again to provide cover for Delap. Guiu replaced the injured Englishman against Bournemouth, with Maresca explaining that the physical nature of the match suited the teenager more than using Joao Pedro as a makeshift centre-forward. As a result, the club does not see the need to adjust their recruitment plans mid-season, even amid another injury blow in attack.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Chelsea left short of No.9s after Delap's injury

  The timing of Delap’s injury is particularly disruptive given Chelsea’s need to balance Champions League commitments with Premier League progress. The club has scored in 20 consecutive matches across competitions before the Bournemouth draw, but the stalemate highlighted the fragility of their attacking output when key personnel are absent. Maresca’s forward line now depends heavily on the rotation of Guiu, Pedro, and Pedro Neto, the latter two of whom are not long-term natural fits as a conventional No.9.

  While the decision to keep Emegha at Strasbourg appears firm, Chelsea know they must extract maximum versatility from their existing forwards in the coming months. Neto has operated as a false nine before, however, using him in that role regularly may hinder the team’s balance in wide areas. Pedro remains more effective between the lines, meaning Guiu becomes the most natural option, though the club acknowledges he is still raw and in the early stages of his development.

• AFP
  

  Emegha's move pre-agreed for the summer of 2026

  Emegha’s move to Chelsea was agreed months ago as part of the recruitment network shared between the club and their sister side Strasbourg. The plan is for him to complete the season in France to maximise minutes, given that he is still refining his physical and technical profile, and Chelsea consider a mid-season move potentially damaging to his progress. The Blues believe that arriving during pre-season offers him a much stronger platform to integrate and adapt.

  These developmental considerations remain central to Chelsea’s reluctance to bring him in ahead of time despite the disruption caused by Delap’s injury. The 22-year-old forward has been closely monitored throughout the first half of the Ligue 1 season, and the west Londoners view his steady progression as evidence that sticking to the original timeline is beneficial. At the same time, Chelsea’s hierarchy trusts Maresca’s ability to extract attacking solutions from the current squad.

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  Chelsea to utilise multiple players to cover for Delap

  Chelsea are expected to continue with Guiu, Pedro, and Neto sharing responsibilities in central areas while Delap undergoes further medical assessment in the coming days. Maresca will rotate based on tactical needs, while the availability of Moises Caicedo and other key returnees may help stabilise the team’s overall structure. The manager is likely to offer further updates on squad depth following Tuesday’s Champions League match.

  Attention will soon shift to Everton at Stamford Bridge, where a more traditional attacking setup may be preferred if Guiu continues to meet training expectations. Chelsea will be cautious not to overwork their young forwards amid a packed schedule, especially with Delap facing another potentially lengthy spell out. January discussions will continue internally, but the stance on Emegha appears settled barring an unforeseen change in circumstances.

  Looking ahead, Emegha’s arrival in the summer remains a central part of Chelsea’s evolving forward blueprint, with the club expecting him to compete immediately for significant minutes. Delap’s long-term role will depend on his recovery and ability to stay fit.

Ireland are in Group A, along with Australia, Japan and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2025Fast bowler Oliver Riley will lead Ireland at the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe next January. Reuben Wilson, another quick, is the vice-captain of the 15-member squad.Ireland will have an eight-day camp in Potchefstroom in South Africa before leaving for Namibia. They play two warm-up matches against West Indies (January 10) and Tanzania (January 13) in Windhoek.Ireland are in Group A at the Under-19 World Cup along with Australia, Japan and Sri Lanka. They play Australia on January 16, Sri Lanka on January 19, and Japan on January 22. Ireland will be coached by Peter Johnston at the World Cup, with Nigel Jones as assistant coach.The tournament comprises 16 teams divided into four groups of four each in the first round. Twelve teams – three from each group – will progress to the next round, where the teams will be divided into two groups of six. The top two from each group of six will contest the semi-finals. The tournament begins on January 15 and concludes with the final on February 6 in Harare.Ireland Under-19 squad: Alex Armstrong, Callum Armstrong, Marko Bates, Sebastian Dijkstra, Thomas Ford, Samuel Haslett, Adam Leckey, Febin Manoj, Luke Murray, Robert O’Brien, Freddie Ogilby, Oliver Riley (capt.), James West, Bruce Whaley, Reuben Wilson (vc)Non-travelling reserves: Peter le Roux, William Shields

Everton need to win against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a strange thing to say, almost. Clubs seek victory each time they enter the field, but after just one win across seven recent top-flight outings, David Moyes’ side need to return to form at the Hill Dickinson and pause for the November international break on a high.

Crucial in achieving this will be the availability of talisman Iliman Ndiaye, who was withdrawn after an hour against Sunderland on Monday evening with a suspected knock, limping off the field.

The latest on Iliman Ndiaye's fitness

In short, Ndiaye has been cleared to play. The Senegalese winger has been nothing short of brilliant this season, with his return of four goals and an assist across ten matches.

But that hardly paints the full picture. It was the goal that counted at the Stadium of Light, but the manner in which the 25-year-old skipped his way into the box, wrongfooted one man, two, and then struck so sweetly past Robin Roefs, who was not wrongfooted but frozen in place.

He’s fast, furious and clever in his decision-making. So guileful. There has been concern that he will sit this one out, but Moyes revealed on Friday morning that the winger had trained as usual and is ready to play.

Given that Moyes has been so reluctant to start the 19-year-old Tyler Dibling this season, Ndiaye’s availability is crucial, not least because Fulham are a resilient and well-structured outfit, and his maverick nature could unlock that backline.

However, he’s not the only one who has the skillset to shine. Pitted against Everton at the Hill Dickinson will be their former star Alex Iwobi, and Moyes has found the Toffees’ new version this season.

Moyes must unleash Everton's new Iwobi

Iwobi was a trusty servant across his four years on Merseyside, and it was under Frank Lampard’s wing that he was resfashioned from an electric winger into a robust central midfielder.

Here the Nigerian’s creativity has been allowed to flourish, hitting 15 goal involvements in the league last year. Everton have missed this kind of player, but in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes might have signed the solution.

Dewsbury-Hall, 27, joined the club from Chelsea for a £28m fee this summer and he has impressed across his nine Premier League starts, scoring one goal, assisting one more, and creating four big chances. Sofascore record that he won 55% of his ground duels and completed 71% of his dribbles, too.

This is a complete midfielder, and while he doesn’t shirk from defensive responsibilities, Dewsbury-Hall’s bread and butter is his passing, and this makes him the perfect solvent of Iwobi’s talent, for he could overpower him in his number ten role.

The pair are considered statistically similar players in the Premier League this season by data-led platform FBref, and the £90k-per-week Dewsbury-Hall could now prove his worth by stepping up and leading the Toffees toward three points.

Playing balls in behind is Dewsbury-Hall’s speciality. He has the athleticism to dribble the ball forward, but is designated as the Blues’ conduit between midfield and attack, passing through the spaces and creating for his teammates.

Iwobi has probably enjoyed the better season so far, as the statistics will tell you above, but this is a chance for Everton’s summer recruit to properly announce himself and become the “revelation” that former boss Brendan Rodgers said he was at Leicester City.

Fulham are a tough team, and they thrashed lowly Wolves last weekend after skidding to four successive defeats. One point and one place behind Moyes’ side, they will be hungry to cause an upset.

If Dewsbury-Hall turns up, he could not only stand out and overshadow his opposite number in Iwobi but also take Everton back into the win column.

Everton flop "failed a succession of managers", now he's saving Moyes

This Everton veteran is proving to be the unlikely signing of the summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 7, 2025

It’s understood his vision did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20256:17

‘Zaheer’s vision wasn’t bought by LSG leadership group’

Lucknow Super Giants’ team mentor Zaheer Khan has parted ways with the franchise after just one season. ESPNcricinfo has learned Zaheer informed LSG of his decision on Thursday.It is understood that the primary reason for Zaheer quitting is that his vision for the franchise did not align with that of head coach Justin Langer and team owner Sanjeev Goenka. While Zaheer’s relationship with captain Rishabh Pant remained strong, he was affected by the thought process that played a role in LSG sliding down the points table in the second half of IPL 2025.Zaheer had joined LSG in August 2024, filling the vacancy left by Gautam Gambhir’s exit after IPL 2023. Zaheer had been with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 and agreed to a two-year contract with LSG, taking charge of scouting, planning and strategy.Related

• Zaheer: Looked like it was Punjab curator at our home game

• Bharat Arun named LSG bowling coach

After making the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons in 2022 and 2023, LSG did not reach the knockouts in the last two seasons. In 2025, they finished seventh with six wins from 14 games. It was a season of contrasting halves: LSG had five wins in their first eight matches but only one in the last six. Of the eight games they played at their home ground, the Ekana Stadium, they won only two.LSG had made headlines at last year’s mega auction when they bought Pant for INR 27 crore (USD 3.2 million approx.), making him the most expensive player ever in the IPL. The team was built around him, but Zaheer put in place building blocks he felt were needed to grow stronger every season. Despite there being a lot of chatter about Pant opening the batting, Zaheer spoke to the wicketkeeper-batter early on and told him that the better strategy would be for Mitchell Marsh to open with Aiden Markram. That strategy, Zaheer impressed on both Pant and the leadership group, would reduce the burden on their best batter, Nicholas Pooran, who was the No. 3.The role clarity allowed the batters to play with freedom and perform consistently. Markram had never opened in the IPL before, while Marsh, despite having been in the IPL for more than a decade, had never made a major impact. The move worked: Marsh was the fifth highest run-getter in IPL 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of 163.70, Pooran made 524 runs at 196.25, and Markram 445 at 148.82.

India’s batting not living up to its potential in the first innings has been a recurring theme in 2024-25

Sampath Bandarupalli03-Jan-2025185 India’s total on Friday is the second lowest by any team in the first innings of a Test match in Sydney since 2001. The lowest was 127 all-out by Australia against Pakistan in 2010.8 All-out totals of 185 or less by India in Tests in 2024-25, the joint-most such totals for any team in a Test season. Five other teams also had eight totals of 185 or less in a season.