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As Graham Potter looks towards the summer transfer window to turn the early days of his tenure around, West Ham United have reportedly joined the race to sign a £47m defender who kept Erling Haaland quiet this season.

Potter's West Ham struggles continue

From Julen Lopetegui’s disappointing few months to Potter’s current struggles, it has been a season to forget for the Hammers. When they decided to part ways with the Spaniard, there would have been plenty of hope that Potter, in his first return to management since leaving Chelsea, had the ability to get the true potential out of an impressive side on paper. That has so far proved anything but the case, however.

Graham Potter at West Ham

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Games

15

Wins

3

Draws

8

Defeats

4

Whilst West Ham have had their injury struggles and January arrivals such as Evan Ferguson haven’t quite worked out, three wins in 15 games is a fairly inexcusable record for Potter and one that he simply must turn around next season.

After summer signing Niclas Fullkrug failed to hold back his criticism of his own side recently, Potter issued a critical response of his own, telling reporters: “I think he [Fullkrug] wears his heart on his sleeve.

“I would disagree with him in some things and agree with him in others. But he’s entitled to his opinion. As a senior player, we’ve had lots of honest conversations. And I think for me it’s better to have the conversations in private, not in public.”

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall May 1, 2025

As problems continue to arise, the former Brighton & Hove Albion desperately needs to mark his own stamp on his side in his first summer in charge and desperately needs to instil his style on a struggling squad at long last.

West Ham battling to sign Yann Bisseck

Already turning their attention towards the summer transfer window, those at the London Stadium have reportedly set their sights on a Champions League semi-finalist. According to Caught Offside, West Ham are now battling Manchester United to sign Yann Bisseck from Inter Milan, who will allow their defender to leave for around €55m (£47m) this summer.

The 24-year-old recently started for the Italian giants against Barcelona in a thrilling affair which ended in a 3-3 draw to make next week’s clash at the San Siro all the more important. It was earlier on in Inter Milan’s European journey that Bisseck truly impressed, though, as he helped to keep Manchester City’s Erling Haaland quiet in a 0-0 draw.

By the end of the 90, Haaland had been limited to just 0.33 expected goals, two touches in the Inter Milan box and just 14 touches overall. Bisseck, meanwhile, came away with four recoveries, a ground duel success rate of 75% and was not dribbled past once, as per Fotmob. If there were any doubts that he could perform on the big stage, they were put to bed that night, as he simply outmuscled the Norwegian superstar.

Dubbed “commanding” by analyst Ben Mattinson for performances like that one, Bisseck is exactly the type of player who could spearhead Potter’s West Ham turnaround this summer.

Aston Villa had an ideal chance to reach their first FA Cup final in a decade at the weekend. With Crystal Palace standing in the way, Unai Emery’s men let the occasion overawe them as the club slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Wembley.

Having been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG just 11 days prior, the FA Cup represented the last chance for the club to end a near 30-year wait for a major trophy.

Despite the result, Emery must gather his men for the crunch tie against Fulham this afternoon. A win is a must if the Midlands side wants to play in Europe’s premier club competition next term.

The Spaniard will certainly be making a change or two, especially in his attacking department…

Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped for Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins started the semi-final against Palace, yet delivered one of his poorest performances in a Villa shirt.

In a game of such high magnitude, the striker completed only eight passes throughout the match and lost possession seven times.

He failed to even register a single shot against the Eagles, while also failing with both his dribble attempts and winning just one of his seven duels.

Ollie Watkins’ Premier League statistics this season

Goals

15

Assists

7

Goal conversion percentage

19%

Shots per game

2.3

Big chances created

6

Big chances missed

24

Via Sofascore

It was a performance that the Englishman will be keen to forget, that’s for sure. Marcus Rashford looks certain to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, otherwise, he may well have started against Palace.

This leaves the door ajar for another January signing to be unleashed against the Cottagers today – Donyell Malen.

The Aston Villa star who could replace Watkins

It’s safe to say that Malen hasn’t quite enjoyed the start to life many expected of him after his £20m move from Borussia Dortmund in the winter transfer window.

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Indeed, across 14 games for the club, he has started just three times, scoring three goals in the process.

He might not start often, but Malen has recorded a goal conversion percentage of 25%, showcasing his finishing abilities.

Furthermore, he averages 1.1 shots per game as well as scoring once every 96 minutes. Perhaps he offers more coming off the bench against tired legs, but with Watkins performing so poorly last week, it is now time for Malen to shine.

When compared to peers across Europe’s big five leagues, the Dutchman ranks in the top 11% for touches inside the opposition penalty area (6.44) and in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.71) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

This suggests Emery must not have any reservations about unleashing him in the starting XI, that’s for sure.

Dubbed “very dangerous” and “extremely fast” by his former teammate, Mario Götze, the former Dortmund man has plenty to offer Villa over the next few weeks.

Having scored three Premier League goals since the start of April, another one or two this afternoon would help Villa get over the FA Cup disappointment and spearhead their charge towards a top-five finish.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington May 1, 2025

Chelsea have now become favourites to sign a “sensational” player after presenting an enticing contract offer, according to a report this week.

Chelsea target centre-back, winger and striker this summer

As per Sky Sports and other credible media sources, the three main items on BlueCo’s transfer agenda this summer are the signings of a centre-back, winger and striker for manager Enzo Maresca.

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Posts 4 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

As per journalist Simon Phillips, it may not end there either, with a second centre-back, left-back, new goalkeeper and even an attacking midfielder discussed at Stamford Bridge. However, bolstering these positions will depend on their qualification for the Champions League and how many players BlueCo can sell this summer.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Chairman Todd Boehly has also been privately pushing the urgency of bringing in versatile players, who can play in multiple areas and help to combat injury issues (Simon Phillips), so it appears the west Londoners could be set for another busy summer of spending ahead of Maresca’s second full season in charge.

The central defensive area is a particular concern for Maresca, with Axel Disasi out of favour, Wesley Fofana consistently on the treatment table and Trevoh Chalobah still likely to leave this summer after his initial loan to Crystal Palace was cut short.

As per widespread information, Chelsea are one of the many contenders to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen this summer.

The Blues are thinking about triggering his £50 million release clause, as per Sky, following the ex-Juventus starlet’s excellent debut campaign in England, where he has stood out as one of European football’s most exciting defensive prospects.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham are all looking at Huijsen, alongside European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid (Sky), so there will be plenty of competition as the race for his signature heats up.

Chelsea held very positive talks with Huijsen’s representatives last week, and it was reported at the time that Maresca’s side were feeling much more optimistic about striking a deal for the 20-year-old after these discussions (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea present enticing contract offer to Dean Huijsen

This may hand the club an upper hand in the chase for Bournemouth’s star centre-back, and a report from Spain has now claimed that they’ve moved further.

Indeed, it is believed Chelsea have presented an enticing contract offer to Huijsen, which appeals both on paper and on a sporting level. As a result, they’ve emerged as the favourites to sign him this summer.

The alleged contract would run until 2032, with Chelsea reaching out to propose a seven-year contract. Bournemouth are apparently growing resigned to losing Huijsen this summer, and his next destination could well be London.

Called a “sensational” defensive talent by Ben Mattinson, Bournemouth’s number two earned his first international call-ups for Spain this season, and has started every single league game under Andoni Iraola since mid-December.

Aston Villa are now looking to a seal a deal for a “devastating” midfielder ahead of their Premier League rivals, and he is keen on the move, according to a report.

Aston Villa pursuing new midfielder

Villa are on course to have another successful season under the helm of Unai Emery, having reached the Champions League quarter-final and the FA Cup sem-final, and their midfield has been particularly impressive.

Youri Tielemans was dubbed “one of the best midfielders in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan earlier in the campaign, while Morgan Rogers has caught the eye in a more advanced role, with the Englishman ranked among the Villans’ most consistent performers.

However, it appears as though Emery is keen to bolster his midfield options even further this summer, with FC Barcelona’s Marc Casado becoming one of the latest players to be shortlisted, and talks over a deal have now been opened.

Emery has green-lighted a move for Casado, but the Spaniard is not the only target in central midfield, with a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing Aston Villa are working to close a deal for Rosenborg star Sverre Nypan.

Arsenal and Girona have also been named as potential suitors for Nypan, but the Villans are now looking to move ahead in the race for his signature, and the 18-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to Villa Park.

Personal terms and a transfer fee are still yet to be agreed, so there is still work to be done before a deal is finalised, but there is now optimism that the move will be possible.

Previous reports have detailed a deal could amount to £12.5m, potentially making the youngster a low-cost addition to Emery’s squad.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025 "Devastating" Nypan is one for the future

Given the talent Emery has at his disposal, it may be difficult for the young Norwegian to make an instant impact at Villa Park, but there are clear signs he could be capable of going on to be an important player.

The teenager has a very impressive goal and assist record in Norway, amassing 25 goal contributions in 62 appearances for Rosenborg, which is an eye-catching tally at such a young age.

The attacking midfielder has also caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, with the starlet standing out due to his ability to pick out his teammates in dangerous areas.

Nypan could be a fantastic signing for Villa, and it would be a real statement of intent if they are able to beat the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to his signature.

Liverpool fell to just their second Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon, losing 3-2 to Marco Silva’s European-chasing Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Alexis Mac Allister put Arne Slot’s side ahead after just a quarter of an hour but would trail 3-1 at the break after goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz.

Luis Diaz pulled a goal back in the second half, but it was too little too late, as the Reds squandered an opportunity to move one step closer to title glory in 2024/25.

They still sit 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just seven games to go this campaign, still sitting in pole position to end their four-season drought for a league triumph.

It certainly was an afternoon to forget on the banks of the River Thames, with numerous players failing to deliver like they have done on so many occasions – undoubtedly contributing to the loss.

Liverpool’s poor performers against Fulham

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been a superb replacement for Alisson in his absence this season, but his showing today was one of his worst of the season.

The Irish international had a goals prevented xG of -1.22 whilst also conceding three times – the most he has in any game throughout the current campaign.

As for star man Mohamed Salah, he blanked for the second game in a row after failing to make an impact in the Merseyside derby against Everton in midweek.

The winger registered just 49 touches, missing one big chance and failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – once again unable to have an impact in the final third.

However, despite the Egyptian’s lack of positive impact in the capital, one other Reds player failed to deliver, with Slot needing to drop him from his starting eleven next weekend.

The Liverpool player who was worse than Salah against Fulham

Ahead of the game, Slot decided to make just one change from the team that beat their local rivals on Wednesday night, with Cody Gakpo coming in to replace Diaz.

Such a decision proved that the Dutchman had faith in the side to claim another victory, but were unable to do so, falling way behind the high levels they have set for themselves.

Diogo Jota scored the winner against the Toffees, but failed to have any form of positive impact this afternoon, with the manager desperately needing to drop the Portuguese international from his side.

The 28-year-old featured for 67 minutes against the Cottagers, missing a big chance and only completing two passes, showcasing how poor he was when the ball fell his way.

He also notched just 22 touches, an average of one every three minutes, and lost the ball 100% of the time he tried to take on an opponent, unable to repeat his heroics from midweek.

Out of his 22 touches, he lost possession 13 times, meaning he gifted the ball away with 60% of his touches – with Slot needing to hand increased minutes to the likes of Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa.

Diogo Jota’s stats for Liverpool against Fulham

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

67

Touches

22

Passes completed

2

Dribbles completed

0/1

Possession lost

13x

Big chances missed

1

Shots taken

1

Stats via SofaScore

As a result of his dismal showing, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Express’ Jack Mceachen, further highlighting how poor he was during the defeat.

Given his inability to take advantage of his starting position, Slot has to drop him from the side, with Jota simply not at the level required for a side at the top of the Premier League.

The summer could pose an interesting challenge for the manager, deciding whether to stick or twist, potentially ending his stint at Anfield after his inability to impress.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 5, 2025

Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders are the only surviving teams from the 2024-25 season

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2025

Five teams, down from seven last year, will take part in the 2025-26 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders are the only surviving teams from the 2024-25 season, with three other franchises – Chattogram, Rajshahi and Sylhet – having gone through ownership changes.This means Chittagong Kings, Durbar Rajshahi and Sylhet Strikers are out of the competition, with Chattogram Royals, Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans taking their place.Fortune Barishal, who won the last two editions of the BPL, and Khulna Tigers are out of the tournament entirely.The BCB’s media department announced the list of participating teams on Thursday, but did not reveal any details of the new ownership.The BPL player draft is set to take place on November 17. The tournament is likely to be held from mid-December 2025 to mid-January 2026.

Saturday afternoon saw Leeds United suffer yet another defeat in the Premier League, condemning them to a spot in the relegation zone this week.

The Whites lost 3-2 away to Manchester City, after a late Phil Foden goal managed to secure the three points for Pep Guardiola’s side late on.

Despite the result, there were some positives to take from the game. Daniel Farke’s side defended with plenty of heart, with two of City’s goals coming inside the first minute and stoppage time. It was also good to see both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha on the scoresheet.

Yet, not all of their attackers shone. Daniel James did not put in his best performance, continuing his tough start to the season.

Dan James' season in numbers at Leeds

It was certainly a disappointing showing from James against Guardiola’s men. Normally such a direct presence in attack with his electric pace, the Welshman perhaps did not have the impact he or Farke may have hoped.

The former Manchester United star really struggled to get into the game, having just 12 touches of the ball, failing to create a chance and not having a shot. Journalist Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post gave him a 5/10 for his performance and said he did not “get to do too much” going forward.

Indeed, that has been the theme of this season for the former Manchester United winger who has not really managed to get a good run of games together. He’s featured ten times in the Premier League, but has only played 352 minutes, the equivalent of 3.9 full 90-minute games.

He is off the back of good form for Wales, too. In the November international break, he helped his country reach the World Cup playoffs, assisting against Liechtenstein and scoring against North Macedonia.

James’ future at Leeds is arguably up in the air, given his lack of game time this season and poor performance against City. Leeds have an attacker out on loan who could leapfrog him, too.

Leeds are brewing a Dan James replacement

This summer, the West Yorkshire side loaned out some good players, perhaps coinciding with their attacking additions of Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor. Largie Ramazani is one example of an attacker out on loan.

Another is currently plying his trade for Yorkshire rivals Hull City. It has been a superb season for a certain Joe Gelhardt, who has shone for the Tigers in the Championship. The versatile forward has played as a number 10 and on the right so far this term.

He’s done that to great success in the 2025/26 campaign. The Liverpool-born attacker has nine goals and two assists to his name in 18 second-tier appearances this term. The most recent one of those strikes was a winner away to Stoke City in the 90th minute this weekend.

Indeed, Gelhardt’s attacking numbers this season are impressive. He’s averaging 0.72 goals and assists and 0.53 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, which rank him in the top 6% and 19% of Championship forwards, respectively. He is extremely efficient in the final third.

Gelhardt key stats in 25/26 Championship

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals and assists

0.72

94th

Shots on target

1.58

99th

Goal-creating actions

0.53

81st

Take-ons completed

1.9

81st

Ball recoveries

4.99

82nd

Stats from FBref

This sort of form is surely pleasing to see for Farke and Leeds. A player like James has struggled to have an impact in the first team this term, and with Gelhardt’s form and output, it is easy to see how he could leapfrog the Welshman.

The former Wigan Athletic star has played senior football at Elland Road. Whilst he only has 10 goals and assists in 57 games, the signs of his talent are there. Jamie Carragher has even described the 23-year-old as a “special” player in the past while long-time Merseyside Boys’ manager Tim Wyatt even said that Gelhardt caught the eye just as much as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney did when they were all 14 years of age.

Looking ahead to the future, it is easy to think that the forward could break into Leeds’ squad and have a real impact. James has underwhelmed this term, and it is quite conceivable that he could be overtaken by Gelhardt.

He’s not played a first-team game for the Whites since last October when he appeared as an eight minute substitute against Norwich in the Championship. It would be some turnaround if he could work his way back into Leeds’ plans.

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Nov 28, 2025

Tickets for the Guwahati semi-final are priced at INR 100 while those for the Navi Mumbai game are priced at INR 150

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2025

The sale of tickets for the semi-finals of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 will start from 6pm IST on October 11, the ICC has announced. Google Pay users have an exclusive two-day pre-sale window before the general sale goes live at 7pm IST on October 13.The release stated that tickets are available for the first semi-final on September 29 in Guwahati. The first semi-final will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo if Pakistan qualify. In that case, there will be a 100% refund for fans who had booked tickets in Guwahati. The chances of Pakistan’s qualification are slim with them losing each of their first three games, including one against Bangladesh.The tickets for the first semi-final are priced at INR 100 while those for the second semi-final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai are priced at INR 150. The Navi Mumbai stadium has attracted big crowds for women’s games in the recent past.Tickets for the India vs Australia match in Visakhapatnam on October 12 and for the India vs England game on October 19 in Indore have already been sold out. Tickets for India vs New Zealand on October 23 and India vs Bangladesh on October 26 are close to being sold out as well.The tournament opener had seen 22,843 spectators, the highest for a league stage game for any ICC women’s competition. The previous record was an attendance of 15,935 in Dubai for the India vs Pakistan match at the Women’s T20 World Cup last year.

MatériaMais Notícias

De volta ao futebol profissional do Rio de Janeiro, o Niteroiense FC recebeu proposta de R$ 1 milhão para se tornar SAF. A oferta foi feita por uma empresa esportiva privada que tem interesse em investir no clube da Região Metropolitana do Rio.

continua após a publicidade

– Recebemos essa oferta e ficamos lisonjeados, já que ela ocorreu logo depois do nosso retorno ao futebol. Após conversa com o nosso presidente em exercício, André Luiz, chegamos a uma conclusão que o momento não é o ideal. Temos metas ousadas com vendas de jogadores e patrocínios que podem superar esse valor ainda esse ano – garantiu o gestor do clube, Maicon Vilela.

Fundado em 1913, o Niteroiense conta com o meio-campista Bruno Gallo, ex-Vasco, no elenco que vai disputar a Série C, equivalente à quinta divisão do Campeonato Carioca.

continua após a publicidade

Teams play respects to Dickie Bird before play, as Stokes, Carse work on fitness ahead of Ashes

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Sep-2025

Durham 322 for 7 (Bedingham 93, Raine 87*, Rhodes 50) vs Yorkshire South Africa Test batter David Bedingham hit a season’s best 93 off 195 balls to steer an impressive Durham recovery from early strife against fellow relegation candidates Yorkshire on day one of the final-round Rothesay County Championship clash at Headingley.Durham, having elected to bat, slipped to seven for two inside five overs, bringing Bedingham in. He determinedly batted through until late evening and shared in a series of crucial partnerships, chiefly 101 for the fourth wicket either side of lunch with Will Rhodes, 50.The second-bottom visitors closed on 322 for seven from 96 overs. They will be delighted with the outcome, especially considering Ben Raine’s counter-attacking 87 not out off 85 late in the day. His was also a season’s best score.Yorkshire came into this fixture seventh in the table on 146 points, Durham ninth on 140. Sandwiched in between, Hampshire on 142.The White Rose need 10 points to assure survival – they have gained two today – while it is looking likely that Durham will have to win to stay up after Hampshire started strongly at home to Surrey.Just before play, a minute’s applause in memory of the late Dickie Bird was observed.England Test captain Ben Stokes, here working on his fitness following a shoulder injury, paid his respects from the Dickie Bird Players’ Balcony alongside fellow international Brydon Carse. Both then bowled at lunch.Yorkshire made a start their former president Bird would have been proud of, reducing Durham, who elected to bat, to that aforementioned seven for two as new-ball seamers Matt Milnes and Jack White struck on a lovely late summer’s morning.Alex Lees and opening partner Emilio Gay were caught at third slip by Fin Bean, the former defending at one he could have left alone and the latter driving at one he also needn’t have gone after.Ben McKinney and Bedingham tried to steady through a 44-run stand. But George Hill broke their alliance when McKinney was caught behind pushing forwards – 51 for three in the 20th over.A couple of catches went down at first slip, including Rhodes on 17 shortly after lunch.But, by and large – against an attack who kept things tight – Bedingham and Rhodes turned the tide very impressively.During the heart of the afternoon, both reached their fifties. Bedingham’s came first off 105 balls before Rhodes got there off 96. By that stage, the visitors were in a much healthier state at 152 for three after 50 overs.However, trouble was just around the corner as Rhodes miscued the off-spin of Dom Bess to midwicket in the next over and Ollie Robinson offered no stroke to Hill in the 54th and was bowled – 155 for five.Bedingham’s contribution was clearly key to keeping Durham afloat and was a far cry from his regular aggression, surviving as Yorkshire chipped away at the wickets on what looks to be a placid, hybrid pitch.The 31-year-old is playing only his sixth Championship match of the summer, owing much to Test commitments.This, his sixth season at Durham, could yet be his last given no deal has been finalised for next season and beyond.Bedingham, particularly strong on the back foot, also added 48 for the sixth wicket with Graham Clark, who was trapped lbw for 27 playing to leg in the early stages the evening, leaving the score at 203 for six in the 72nd over.Raine hoisted Bess for a couple of sixes, the first drilled over long-off and the second slog-swept over midwicket.He shared 42 with Bedingham, who fell to a beauty of a catch from Hill running back from first slip towards third-man following a top-edged pull against White.That left Durham at 245 for seven in the 83rd over.Raine reached his fifty off 58 balls inside the day’s final 10 overs and cleared the ropes twice more amidst an unbroken 77-run stand with Matthew Potts, 23.