Category Uncategorized

The BCB has kept the door open for Shakib Al Hasan’s return to the Bangladesh team, according to board director Iftekhar Rahman.Iftekhar was asked about Shakib’s return to national colours mainly in the wake of Bangladesh’s current downturn in form. They recently lost 2-1 to UAE in the T20I series in Sharjah, before heading to Pakistan to play another three-match T20I series.”Shakib will always be in the consideration of the selectors and the team management,” Iftekhar said on Monday. “He is an asset for any team. He is a world-class cricketer. He has just returned after correcting his bowling action so our team management will keep track of him. It is definitely not [the end of our association with Shakib]. He has only played a few matches after his suspension. Let him play a few more matches, I think then we can answer the question [of his return].”Shakib, 38, returned to competitive cricket after nearly six months when he turned out for Lahore Qalandars for three games in PSL 2025 last week. Two months before that, Shakib had been cleared to bowl in top-level cricket after the ECB cleared his action, having reported him in December last year after he had appeared for Surrey.Related

• 'I am officially not retired from all formats' – Shakib reverses Test and T20I retirement

• Shakib cleared to bowl in County Championship and the Hundred by ECB

• Litton and Shakib left out of Bangladesh's Champions Trophy squad

• Shakib says he's done with T20Is, and will play his final Test next month

The BCB has also kept its distance from Shakib since October last year. That’s when Shakib had last played for Bangladesh, the second Test against India in Kanpur. Shakib had announced before that match that he wanted to finish his Test career at home, against South Africa in October, and that he was also done with T20Is.Political unrest in Bangladesh, however, stopped Shakib from making that final appearance since he was a member of parliament for the Awami League, the political party that was ousted from power on August 5, after their rule of 15 years. Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since then and the BCB continued to ignore him in the subsequent series, also leaving him out of the Champions Trophy squad. By then, the ECB had found Shakib’s bowling action questionable.Nearly two months after his bowling action was cleared, Shakib played turned out in three matches for Qalandars in their victorious campaign, although he bagged two ducks in as many innings and picked just one wicket.There are growing concerns around Bangladesh’s returns, especially as experienced players like Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah have retired from all formats, while Mushfiqur Rahim is only available for Tests. Shakib’s situation is in limbo, as he has technically still not retired from ODIs, a format in which Bangladesh recently slipped to No. 10 in the ICC team rankings.”It is a relatively new team without the four senior players [Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah],” Iftekhar said. “There’s a void in the team. I think we have the talent among the current crop of players but they lack application. I have said it before, but the more they play, the better they will get. I think the position that we are in right now, the only way to go is up.”

Arsenal’s summer transfer window once again blended big-money investment with their long-standing faith in youth.

After finishing second in the Premier League last season, and reaching the Champions League semi-finals, the club doubled down on its squad rebuild.

Major arrivals included Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Nørgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Departures such as Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Reiss Nelson cleared space in the squad, while Arsenal also leaned heavily on their Hale End academy graduates.

Ethan Nwaneri, now 18, continues to develop after becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant in 2022.

Myles Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakout season, and Max Dowman, still only 15, made his senior bow against Leeds.

That commitment to the academy has become a central pillar of Arsenal’s squad-building philosophy under Mikel Arteta.

Yet while several young prospects have been integrated, others have slipped away.

The balance between spending heavily and nurturing talent is once again at the heart of Arsenal’s defensive planning.

Who is Piero Hincapié, and Why Did Arsenal Sign Him?

When Arsenal announced the arrival of Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen on loan with a £45m option to buy, it was framed as a major upgrade on the left side of their defence.

At 23, the Ecuadorian international already brings European pedigree, with 32 Bundesliga appearances last season, contributing two goals and two assists.

Hincapié has been on Arsenal’s radar for years, valued for his ability to operate at both left centre-back and left-back.

With Gabriel undergoing hamstring surgery at the end of last season and Riccardo Calafiori struggling with fitness, versatility is essential.

Sporting Director Andrea Berta emphasised Hincapié’s tactical flexibility, and Arteta believes he is not simply cover but a genuine competitor for a starting role. His statistical profile backs up the excitement.

Piero Hincapié – 2024/25
Matches Played	32
Progressive Carries	52
Progressive Passes	152
Tackles	52
Blocks	40
Aerials Won	65
Source: FBref

Compared to positional peers, Hincapié ranked in the 96th percentile for progressive carries (1.69 per 90), underlining his comfort driving forward with the ball.

He also sat in the 86th percentile for progressive passes (4.94 per 90) and an eye-catching 94th percentile for key passes (0.54 per 90) – numbers that show how he can help Arsenal’s build-up from deep.

Defensively, he impressed in the 89th percentile for tackles won (1.29 per 90) and the 86th percentile for passes blocked (0.72 per 90).

This blend of defensive solidity and forward-thinking distribution makes him a natural fit for Arteta’s system, where centre-backs are expected to initiate attacks as much as they are to shut them down.

His arrival represents a continuation of Arsenal’s recent strategy: recruit players with multi-positional value while retaining the ability to progress possession.

Ayden Heaven could have been Hincapie 2.0

As Arsenal commit to potentially spending £45m next summer to make Hincapié’s move permanent, questions linger over whether they let a homegrown option slip through their fingers.

Ayden Heaven, once considered one of the Hale End academy’s brightest defensive prospects, departed for Manchester United in February for a fee of just £1m.

His departure came after limited opportunities at the Emirates despite being highly rated within the club. Analyst Ben Mattinson once described Heaven as “highly unique,” and he has quickly shown why.

Drafted into United’s first-team picture earlier than expected after Lisandro Martínez’s season-ending injury, the 18-year-old has already made eight appearances for the Red Devils.

He has looked composed in possession, comfortable carrying the ball out from defence, and tactically assured despite his age.

United moved quickly to secure him on a long-term deal running until 2029, amid reported interest from Barcelona, Frankfurt and Marseille.

Heaven’s profile, a left-footed defender who is confident on the ball, is precisely the type of player Arsenal are now looking to integrate through Hincapié.

The irony is hard to miss.

Where Hincapié ranks among Europe’s best for progressive actions, Heaven has showcased similar traits in his early United outings.

His poise on the ball and ability to step into midfield mirrors the qualities Arteta demands from his defenders.

For a club that has prided itself on giving opportunities to youth, losing Heaven for such a modest fee may come to be seen as a misstep.

The comparison is not to suggest Hincapié is the wrong signing – his experience and proven metrics make him a high-level addition.

But for a side that has successfully nurtured Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, the case of Heaven highlights the fine margins of squad planning.

Arsenal could soon pay £45m for a defender to fill the very role that a Hale End graduate, now at a Premier League rival, may have slotted into seamlessly.

Sold by Wenger: Arsenal had their own Rodrygo in £312k-p/w "future legend"

The incredibly successful international would have been a superstar at Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 5, 2025

The washout means Wednesday’s match between England and Afghanistan is a knockout, with the loser certain of exiting the competition

Firdose Moonda25-Feb-2025

It was all rather wet and gloomy in Rawalpindi•ICC/Getty Images

– Match abandoned due to rainThe much-anticipated Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi was washed out without even a toss, forget a ball being bowled, after persistent drizzle. The match was called off at 5.10pm local time, three hours and ten minutes after the scheduled start of play at 2pm and two hours and 22 minutes before the cut-off time for a 20-overs-a-side game, 7.32pm local time. This was due to be the teams’ first meeting at a Champions Trophy.The result means that if Australia and South Africa win their final group matches, against Afghanistan and England respectively, they will progress to the semi-finals. Wednesday’s match between Afghanistan and England is a knockout, with the loser certain of exiting the competition. The winner will have to beat their next opposition to make it through to the final four. As a result, one of the matches between Australia and Afghanistan on Friday and South Africa and England on Saturday could be a virtual quarter-final. Both Afghanistan and England have to win both their matches to qualify for the semi-finals.With no XIs named for this encounter, South Africa kept their cards close to their chest on Heinrich Klaasen’s availability. He missed their opening match against Afghanistan with an elbow injury and now has three more days to recover before the game against England on Saturday.This was due to be the first meeting between Australia and South Africa since the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, which Australia won, and means that they continue to have the advantage over South Africa in ICC events. In nine matches, Australia have won four, South Africa three, there was a tie at the 1999 World Cup and now, their first washout.

Who’s playing

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST

What to expect

A lot of things are working for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). So they would not want to dwell on the loss to Mumbai Indians, and instead get back to winning ways in their second home game of the season. The major talking point from that loss was RCB’s middle order collapsing around Ellyse Perry. Despite posting just 167, the likes of Kim Garth, Georgia Wareham and Ekta Bisht still took the defence to last over. Hence there’s no need to panic yet. With just one defeat from three matches, RCB top the points table.Unlike RCB, UP Warriorz have just got their first points in three games with a thumping win over Delhi Capitals. They would want their openers to start strong and will hope Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris pick up pace with the bat as they head into crucial phase of the tournament. They haven’t done particularly well in the middle overs, either slowing down or losing wickets in a cluster in this phase. They had Chinelle Henry’s explosive innings down the order in the last game, and then their bowlers got the job done. They would be keen to carry this momentum forward to move up the table.

Team news and likely XIs

RCB are unlikely to tinker.RCB (likely): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Ekta Bisht, 9 Kim Garth, 10 VJ Joshitha, 11 Renuka SinghLeft-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was replaced by seamer Saima Thakor in Warriorz’s first match in Bengaluru. With the conditions offering assistance to pace bowlers, they might continue to have Thakor in the XI.UP Warriorz (likely): 1 Kiran Navgire, 2 Vrinda Dinesh, 3 Deepti Sharma, 4 Tahlia McGrath, 5 Shweta Sehrawat, 6 Grace Harris, 7 Uma Chetry (wk), 8 Chinelle Henry, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Saima Thakor, 11 Kranti Goud

Players to watch: Smriti Mandhana and Kranti Goud

Smriti Mandhana likes the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The last time India played three ODIs in Bengaluru, she scored two hundreds and a 90 against South Africa. When RCB played five games at this venue last year, she smashed 219 runs at a strike rate of 154.22. Her last season’s highest score of 80 also came against Warriorz here. In her previous two games, she’s got 26 off 13, and 81 off off 47. Don’t bet against more fireworks from Mandhana.Kranti Goud bowled a dream spell against Capitals on Saturday, claiming a four-wicket haul. She used the movement off the pitch to account for Capitals’ top order and Jess Jonassen. After going wicketless in the first two matches, this performance would have given the youngster a lot of confidence in her debut WPL season.

Key stats

• Warriorz have hit 17 sixes so far, the second most in this WPL
• The Warriorz pace bowlers have conceded 9.02 runs an over in three matches so far – the highest economy rate for fast bowlers of any team in this WPL.
• Mandhana has scored 245 runs in Bengaluru in the WPL, the most for a player at this venue.

Rangers’ busy transfer window activity continues.

Over the weekend, the Light Blues confirmed the signing of teenage left-back Jayden Meghoma, arriving on a season-long loan from Brentford.

He is the tenth new player recruited by Russell Martin, with more expected to follow, as he seeks to completely overhaul the Rangers squad he inherited.

Now though, the Gers are seeking to bolster their backline even further, targeting another exciting talent…

Rangers' search for a new left-back

Ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League play-off first leg against Club Brugge, Rangers submitted a squad to UEFA that featured no out-and-out left-backs.

Rıdvan Yılmaz has not featured at all under Martin, with Beşiktaş attempting to re-sign him, while Jefté, who did start both legs against Viktoria Plzeň in the previous round, has now also been excluded, reportedly close to a £6m move to Palmeiras.

Thus, Max Aarons is expected to once again fill-in at left-back, as he did for both legs against Panathinaikos, and on the opening day of the Premiership campaign at Motherwell, but this is a far from ideal solution.

Thus, according to Il Messaggero, via the Daily Record, Rangers have revived their interest in signing Anass Salah-Eddine from Roma, with the Light Blues said to be ready to make contact regarding a potential move.

They add that newly-promoted La Liga outfit Elche are among the 23-year-old’s other suitors, with the Giallorossi willing to sell.

Transfer Focus

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

Salah-Eddine only joined Roma from FC Twente in January for a reported fee of €8.5m plus €2m in add-ons, around £9m, but the full-back is not in new manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans, so could he soon swap the Eternal City for Ibrox?

What Anass Salah-Eddine would bring to Rangers

Born in Amsterdam, Salah-Eddine came through Ajax’s academy, representing the Dutch giants at multiple youth levels, before making just ten appearances for their first team.

He was loaned out to FC Twente for the 2022/23 season, before making the move to Enschede permanent, featuring 53 times for them overall.

His big breakthrough came this time last year, finally establishing himself as Twente’s first-choice left-back, notably starting all eight of their Europa League league phase fixtures, doing so against such high-calibre opponents as Manchester United, Lazio and others.

As already referenced, this earned him a move to Roma in January, the Giallorossi splashing up to £9m to secure his signature, but this certainly has not gone to plan.

Salah-Eddine featured in three of the first five Serie A fixtures following his arrival, starting against Parma and Empoli, but has not been seen since, an unused substitute for the final ten league matches, while a summer change of management at the Olimpico hasn’t improved his standing either.

While he was still in the Eredivisie, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelled him a “technically gifted” full-back, adding that he was one of “the most talented” young Dutch talents at the time.

So, let’s assess his statistics from last season’s Europa League.

Minutes

709

6th

Assists per 90

0.25

2nd

Expected assists

2

1st

Completed passes

310

3rd

Key passes

8

4th

Shot-creating actions

23

4rd

Goal-creating actions

2

2nd

Tackles

23

2nd

Interceptions

14

1st

Ball recoveries

47

2nd

Attempted take-ons

23

2nd

Progressive carries

21

2nd

Touches

493

3rd

Average Sofascore rating

7.01

2nd

As the table outlines, when compared to his former Twente teammates in last season’s Europa League, Salah-Eddine ranks very highly for a wide variety of metrics.

The left-back was a key chance creator, as well as completing a lot of passes and accumulating a high number of touches, while also being solid defensively, ranked in the top two for tackles, interceptions, ball recoveries and more, despite having been sold by the time they faced Bodø/Glimt in the knockout stages, thereby featuring in two fewer fixtures.

So, why would he be a better signing than Meghoma?

Well, the Brentford loanee is very inexperienced, making just four appearances for the Bees, totalling 174 minutes, spending the second half of last season on loan at Preston North End, but only featuring 14 times for them, an unused substitute eight times.

Salah-Eddine, on the other hand, has vastly more experience, especially at European level, so would be better equipped to come in and make an instant impact, which is what Martin surely needs, while Meghoma is more of a developmental project.

Even worse than Jefte: Euro club set for talks with Rangers to sign £4m dud

Rangers are reportedly set to hold talks with a European club over a potential deal for one of their players.

ByDan Emery Aug 19, 2025

نجح محمد الشيبي، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بيراميدز، في رفع رصيده التهديفي بجدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري الممتاز، بعد تسجيله هدفين في مباراة فريقه مع طلائع الجيش، والتي انتهت بفوز السماوي 4-0.

والتقى فريق نادي بيراميدز أمام طلائع الجيش، على أرضية استاد الدفاع الجوي، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

طالع|فيديو | محمد الشيبي يسجل هدفين لـ بيراميدز أمام طلائع الجيش

وجاء هدف بيراميدز الأول في الدقيقة 42 عن طريق محمد الشيبي، من تسديدة قوية خارج منطقة الجزاء سكنت الشباك.

وفي الدقيقة 45+1 أضاف محمد الشيبي الهدف الثاني، بعد هجمة مرتدة وعدة تمريرات انتهت عند الشيبي داخل منطقة الجزاء ثم سدد كرة قوية سكنت المرمى.

واستطاع محمد الشيبي رفع رصيده إلى هدفين في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري، وذلك بعد 9 جولات.

وفي مباراة أقيمت أيضا اليوم، سجل صلاح محسن هدف التعادل لفريقه المصري في شباك بتروجيت في الدقيقة 62 من تسديدة صاروخية، وأحرز عمر الساعي زميله الهدف الثاني للمصري في الدقيقة 66، ليرفع الأول رصيده إلى خمسة أهداف في الصدارة، بينما الساعي يصل رصيده إلى 4 أهداف، في لقاء انتهى بفوز بتروجيت 3-2.

ويتصدر ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري، حتي الآن، نجم النادي المصري، صلاح محسن برصيد 5 أهداف، ويليه عبد الرحيم دغموم وعمر الساعي زميليه في الفريق برصيد 4 أهداف. ترتيب هدافي الدوري المصري

– صلاح محسن – المصري – 5 أهداف.

– عبد الرحيم دغموم – المصري – 4 أهداف.

– عمر الساعي – المصري – 4 أهداف.

– عدي الدباغ – الزمالك – 3 أهداف.

– محمد السيد شيكا – كهرباء الاسماعيلية – 3 أهداف.

– محمود حسن تريزيجيه – الأهلي – 3 أهداف.

– أحمد فاروق – وادي دجلة – 3 أهداف.

– محمد الشيبي – بيراميدز – هدفين.

– عمرو السولية – سيراميكا كليوباترا – هدفين.

– عبدالله السعيد- الزمالك- هدفين.

– أحمد سيد زيزو – الأهلي – هدفين.

– شيكو بانزا – الزمالك – هدفين.

– ناصر ماهر- الزمالك- هدفين.

– نيجك جراديشار – الأهلي – هدفين.

– وليد الكرتي – بيراميدز – هدفين.

 

أعلن ميلود حمدي المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الإسماعيلي، قائمة اللاعبين لمواجهة الزمالك، في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتقام المباراة بين الزمالك ومنافسه الإسماعيلي غدا الخميس على أرضية استاد هيئة قناة السويس، وذلك ضمن لقاءات الجولة السابعة من الدوري المصري.

طالع.. الزمالك يوضح حقيقة استثمارات كريستيانو رونالدو في شركة كرة القدم

ويدخل الدروايش المباراة بحثًا عن نتيجة إيجابية أمام الأبيض بعد الخسارة المباراة الماضية أمام زد في الدوري، ويحتل الإسماعيلي المركز الثامن عشر برصيد 4 نقاط فقط، من فوز وتعادل وأربع هزائم. قائمة الإسماعيلي أمام الزمالك

حارس المرمى: عبد الله جمال – عبد الله محروس.

الدفاع: محمد عمار – عبد الله محمد – محمد إيهاب – حماده صلاح – إبراهيم النجعاوي.

الوسط: محمد عبد السميع -عبد الرحمن الدح -إبراهيم عبد العال – محمد وجدي – محمد سمير كونتا – عمر القط – محمد خطاري – عمرو سعيد – محمد بحيرى – إريك تراوري.

الهجوم: خالد النبريصي – أنور عبد السلام – نادر فرج.

It is fair to say that it has been a frustrating summer for Tottenham Hotspur and new head coach Thomas Frank since the transfer window opened for business.

In terms of first-team additions, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United is the only new player to arrive in the building, along with permanent deals for last season’s players Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel.

The Lilywhites did think that they were on course to seal a deal to sign Nottingham Forest star and England international Morgan Gibbs-White to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

However, the Tricky Trees prepared legal action after what they deemed to be an unlawful approach from Spurs, and they have now agreed a new contract with the player.

Along with missing out on Gibbs-White, Tottenham may also lose captain Heung-min Son this summer amid interest from MLS outfit LAFC, who are willing to pay £15m for the attacker.

A decision will reportedly be made on his future after the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, but the Europa League champions are open to cashing in on him.

Why it could be the right time for Spurs to sell Heung-min Son

Son turns 34 next month and is reportedly the highest-paid player at the club on a wage of £190k-per-week, which means that the club would save a lot of money if they were able to move on from him this summer.

Due to his age, there has been a natural regression in his performances on the pitch for the Lilywhites. His return of 11 goals in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign was his lowest goal tally since his first year in England in the 2015/16 season.

24/25

46

11

23/24

36

17

22/23

47

14

21/22

44

24

20/21

49

21

19/20

41

18

18/19

48

20

17/18

53

18

16/17

47

21

15/16

36

7

As you can see in the table above, Son has consistently delivered in front of goal for the majority of his career in England, but his powers are waning and now may be the right time to move on from him.

The South Korea international may not be able to get back to scoring 20 or more goals a season at the age of 34, given his decline last season, which is why the club should consider accepting the £15m offer from LAFC this summer.

Whilst it would be sad to see Son move on from Tottenham after ten years of service, his exit would create room for new heroes to emerge, and one of those new heroes could be a controversial figure.

Spurs eyeing swoop for Arsenal forward

According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential move to sign £45m Arsenal centre-forward Gabriel Jesus.

The report claims that Inter, Milan, Newcastle United, Barcelona, and Spurs are all keeping tabs on his situation at The Emirates, with a view to a possible swoop for his signature.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds, though, that a move in the January transfer window may be more realistic for the Brazil international, because he is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and is not expected back until around October.

This would be a controversial move because Spurs have only ever signed two players from Arsenal at first-team level in their history, William Gallas on a free transfer in 2010, and Laurie Brown all the way back in 1964.

However, Jesus has the potential to be an exciting addition to the squad if Frank can get him fit and firing, as he could be a dream replacement for Heung-min Son.

Why Spurs should sign Gabriel Jesus

If it gets to January and the Brazilian forward is fit and available to step in and play immediately, it is a deal that could be worth exploring for the Lilywhites because of the quality that he can provide on the pitch.

Like Son, Jesus is a versatile right-footed attacking player who is comfortable playing through the middle as a centre-forward or as a winger on the left flank, which means that he could slot in and play in the two main roles that the South Korean star currently plays.

There will, of course, be concerns over the fact that he currently plays for the club’s biggest rivals, Arsenal, but if the player is willing to make the move then it should be welcomed, as he is a Premier League-proven attacker who can make a big impact when fit.

Jesus has scored 76 goals and provided 45 assists in 229 matches for Manchester City and Arsenal combined in his Premier League career to date, which shows that the forward can offer quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

24/25

6

3

0

23/24

17

4

5

22/23

24

11

6

21/22

21

8

8

20/21

22

9

4

19/20

21

14

7

18/19

8

7

3

17/18

19

13

3

16/17

8

7

4

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old attacker has delivered 76 goals in 146 starts in his Premier League career, just shy of one every other start on average.

This shows that Jesus, who was once hailed as “exceptional” by Pep Guardiola, is a consistent and clinical goalscorer when fit and available, which is why signing him could be a worthwhile gamble for Spurs this summer or in January.

The Brazilian attacker could be Frank’s new Heung-min Son as another versatile attacking option who has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis when at his best.

At the age of 28, he is also almost six years younger than the South Korea international, which means that Spurs could get more out of him in the long-term if they decide to cash in on their captain in order to fund a controversial move for the Arsenal man.

Worth more than Gibbs-White: Spurs have struck gold on "unbelievable" star

Tottenham Hotspur have already shown their excellent business with the signing of one star.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 27, 2025

There may be a fair bit of opposition to this, due to the Arsenal part of it, but purely based on Jesus and his quality as a player, it could be a good move for Spurs as Frank’s next version of Son.

Amid rumours that they’ve already had to reject a bid worth £45m to sell Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly opened talks to sign a possible replacement.

Nottingham Forest reject Newcastle's Elanga bid

After securing a shock place in the Europa Conference League in an excellent season last time out, Nottingham Forest are in no position to sell key players. But that hasn’t stopped certain clubs from testing the waters. Among them, Newcastle United reportedly formalised their interest in Elanga with an offer worth £45m earlier this week, only to see that bid rejected by those at the City Ground.

There’s still plenty of time remaining in the summer transfer window, however, and Forest will be well aware that Newcastle could yet come calling a second time.

If that does happen, then preparing for Elanga’s exit in a worst-case scenario would not be a bad idea for all involved at the City Ground. Already, on that front, Forest have attempted and failed to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus and have also been linked with versatile AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah.

Whether either of those options possess the quality to replace Elanga is the big question. One man who is unlikely to face problems in that regard is Igor Jesus. The Botafogo forward is reportedly on his way to the Midlands alongside teammate Jair Cunha following their Club World Cup campaign.

The former has already stolen plenty of headlines with his winning goal against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain and is seemingly about to take the Premier League by storm.

Related Nottingham Forest open talks to sign "elite" new star after Weah rejection

They’ve instantly turned towards another option.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

Jesus and Cuiabano may not be the only Club World Cup stars to arrive, either, amid reports that Forest have opened talks to sign another attacking target.

Nottingham Forest open talks to sign Pepe

According to ESPN Brazil, Nottingham Forest have now opened talks to sign Pepe from FC Porto, who are demanding over €15m (£12m) to sell their 28-year-old winger this summer.

An experienced winger who scored at the Club World Cup for Porto in a 4-4 draw against Al-Ahly this summer, Pepe would offer Forest instant depth and may even be asked to replace Elanga if the Swede joins Newcastle.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Pepe

Elanga

Minutes

1,991

2,501

Goals

3

6

Assists

2

11

Key Passes

31

50

The pressure would instantly be on Pepe if he did step in for Elanga and although his experience could prove to be invaluable, questions will be asked about his ability to match the 22-year-old’s output.

As a versatile backup who can play all across the frontline, however, the Porto man represents an ideal choice as Forest step into European football. At just over £12m too, it’s not a deal that Evangelos Marinakis will need to splash out on for Nuno Espirito Santo in the coming months.

Questions have been asked about Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca during his spell in charge after being appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last summer.

The Italian led Leicester City back to the Premier League, but jumped ship to take over at Stamford Bridge, with many wondering whether he would be the right man for the job.

However, nearly 12 months on from his appointment, he’s exceeded all expectations, showcasing he’s the right man for the job based on his success to date.

The 45-year-old has secured the Blues a place in the Champions League for next season, whilst also claiming Europa Conference League glory against Real Betis on Wednesday night.

It’s been a campaign to remember for Maresca, but if he wants to continue his progress in the role, he will need added funds provided by the hierarchy to help him in his quest.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last couple of hours, Chelsea have made huge strides in a deal to sign Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old agreeing to a move to join the Blues this summer.

It was confirmed that he has rejected offers from multiple other Premier League sides, leaving Maresca’s side to trigger his release clause and complete the formalities before announcing his move to West London.

However, despite the progress made on a deal for the Ipswich Town star, another name in the form of Viktor Gyokeres has once again entered the mix, according to Record Portugal.

The report claims that the Blues have made an enquiry to sign the 26-year-old this summer, after his stupendous record of 54 goals in just 52 matches across all competitions.

It also states that they face stern competition from Juventus for the Swedish international’s signature, with Sporting CP demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with the talisman this window.

Why Chelsea’s £60m target would be a better signing than Delap

With Delap’s move appearing to be moving closer to completion, Maresca could finally be about to land the new striker that he’s been craving in recent months.

Nicolas Jackson has been his main talisman since his arrival, with the Senegalese international scoring 10 times in the Premier League during the Italian’s first year in charge.

Such a record is respectable, but if the side are to reach the next level under his guidance, they will need that proven goalscorer to fire them towards the top end of the table.

Delap has shown he’s capable of doing just that, scoring 12 times in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys, with such a record being an impressive one given their relegation this season.

However, when comparing his stats to those of Gyokeres, the Swede has showcased that his performance levels are night and day – proving that he would be a far better addition than the Englishman.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has massively outscored him in 2024/25, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing the clinical nature he possesses.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also registering more progressive carries per 90 – having the skillset to hand other players around him the best chance of improving their own tallies.

Games played

33

37

Goals & assists

46

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

43%

Pass accuracy

72%

61%

Progressive carries

4.3

2.1

Take-ons completed

1.9

1.3

Aerials won

51%

42%

Fouls won

2.5

1.7

Gyokeres has also won more of the aerials he’s entered and draws more fouls, offering Maresca that focal point he’s craved, something which Delap may struggle to provide.

Given the progress on the deal for the Ipswich talisman, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to complete a deal for Gyokeres, or they could potentially miss out on his signature.

Nothing suggests that the club may not target both talents in the coming months, handing the Blues an added dimension in forward areas that could bolster their title charge in 2025/26.

As bad as Gusto: Chelsea's 4/10 flop must never play for the club again

Chelsea secured the Europa Conference League last night, but multiple players failed to deliver.

ByEthan Lamb May 29, 2025