خاض مانشستر سيتي آخر جلساته التدريبية استعداداً لمباراة الفريق الافتتاحية في دوري أبطال أوروبا ضد نابولي هذا الأسبوع.
ويأمل مانشستر سيتي في مواصلة أدائه المميز الذي قدمه عندما اكتسح مانشستر يونايتد بفوزه بثلاثية نظيفة ليحصد النقاط الثلاثة على ملعب الاتحاد.
وأفادت “سيتي إكسترا” بأن مدرب مانشستر سيتي بيب جوارديولا تلقى دفعة قوية بعودة جون ستونز للتدريبات، وقد شارك 25 لاعباً في التدريبات الأخيرة استعداداً لمواجهة نابولي في دوري ابطال اوروبا وهم:
أقرأ أيضاً.. جوارديولا: مانشستر سيتي ليس مرشحًا للفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا.. وأتعلم من كونتي
ويعد النجم الكرواتي ماتيو كوفاسيتش الأقرب للعودة لتدريبات مانشستر سيتي بجانب زملائه، حيث يواصل تعافيه من جراحة وتر أخيل في وقت مبكر من الصيف.
ويواصل ريان آيت نوري بإصابة في الكاحل وريان شرقي بإصابة في الفخد وعمر مرموش بإصابة في الركبة عمليات تعافيهم، ومن غير المتوقع عودتهم قريباً ومن المتوقع عودتهم مع بداية فترة التوقف الدولي القادمة.
وقد عاد جون ستونز مرة أخرى بعد تعرضه لإصابة عضلية طفيفة أجبرته على الانسحاب من المنتخب الإنجليزي كإجراء احترازي في وقت سابق من هذا الشهر، ويواصل كالفين فيليبس العمل على لياقته البدنية استعداداً للعودة تحت قيادة بيب جواريولا.
Arsenal’s busy summer transfer activity continues.
So far, the Gunners have made three signings, with Kepa Arrizabalaga arriving to be the new back-up goalkeeper, while two midfielders have also joined, namely Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Christian Nørgaard from Brentford.
Meantime, as has been widely reported, Noni Madueke is poised to arrive from Chelsea for £52m, while they continue to pursue Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze.
On top of all that, could Mikel Arteta now set his sights on a highly-rated youngster?
Arsenal chasing another Spanish midfielder
With Mikel Merino and now Zubimendi in the squad, Arsenal are continuing their tradition of Spanish midfielders, as the table below documents.
Selected Spanish midfielders at Arsenal throughout history
Players
Club joined from
Arsenal career
Arsenal appearances
Martín Zubimendi
Real Sociedad
2025-present
Zero
Mikel Merino
Real Sociedad
2024-present
44
Dani Ceballos
Real Madrid
2019-21
77
Santi Cazorla
Málaga
2012-16
180
Mikel Arteta
Everton
2011-16
150
Cesc Fàbregas
Barcelona
2003-11
303
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
With apologies to Denis Suárez and Fran Mérida, who didn’t make the cut, there are some very popular players on that list, and Dani Ceballos as well, including the current manager of course, so could Arteta be aiming to add another Spaniard to his ranks?
Arsenal manager MikelArtetareacts
Well, according to Caught Offside, both Arsenal and Chelsea have made contact with Barcelona about the possibility of signing Marc Casadó, having lodged an enquiry amid that interest.
They add that Casadó has a €100m release clause, that’s around £86m, and that Barça’s ‘preference is to keep the player’, although they are open to selling for the right price – said to be around €50m (£43m).
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Other reports in Spain state that Arteta believes he fits into his style of play perfectly, so could the 21-year-old soon swap Catalonia for North London?
How Marc Casadó would improve Arsenal
A graduate of la Masia, Casadó made his senior Barcelona debut during a Champions League dead-rubber against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022, making 41 senior appearances for the Catalan giants, 36 of which came last season, very much his breakout campaign.
FC Barcelona's MarcCasadocelebrates scoring their second goal with teammates
Despite not being one of the first names on the team sheet, Casadó impressed, with arguably Barça’s best-ever defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets commenting that the potential heir to his throne was playing at a “spectacular level”.
So, let’s assess his statistics at Barcelona last season.
Marc Casadó’s Barcelona statistics 2024/25
Statistics
Casadó
Barça rank
Appearances
36
16th
Starts
29
10th
Minutes
2,447
11th
Completed passes
1,682
7th
Progressive passes
154
8th
Passes into the final third
182
6th
Shot-creating actions
64
9th
Tackles
77
2nd
Interceptions
25
8th
Touches
2,122
8th
Ball recoveries
120
8th
Average SofaScore rating
7.03
10th
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table reaffirms, Casadó was a key figure for Barcelona as they won the domestic treble this season, ranking especially highly when it comes to tackles, but also completed passes and passes into the final third, underlining that he is an all-rounder.
To add to this, Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis praised his ‘crisp close control and great decision-making in possession’, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout highlights ‘control and work rate’ as his primary attributes.
Thus, it is clear that Casadó is a high-quality talent that would certainly improve Arsenal’s squad.
Based on their transfer activity, a clear midfield hierarchy has been established, with Zubimendi as the starter and Nørgaard his deputy.
As outlined by Phil Costa of Arseblog news, Arsenal know what they’re getting from Nørgaard, who is going to add ‘experience, leadership and know-how’ while being an excellent ‘ball-winning midfielder’ who will cover a lot of ground.
Where does that leave Casadó then? Well, the midfield maestro could represent an instant upgrade on the ex-Bees skipper, with the table below emphasising the stylistic difference between the pair.
Marc Casadó vs Christian Nørgaard 2024/25 comparison (league only)
Statistics (per 90)
Casadó
Nørgaard
Passes attempted
75.5
44.4
Passing accuracy %
89.89%
82.71%
Duels contested
9.7
9.4
Ground duel success %
58.45%
52.61%
Aerial duel success %
28.12%
61.9%
Tackles
2.5
2.6
Interceptions
1.3
1.6
Ball recoveries
5.1
6.2
Touches
88.8
60
All statistics courtesy of Squawka
As the table outlines, while Nørgaard’s out-of-possession statistics are impressive, Casadó’s are pretty comparable across the board, aerial duels aside, while the Spaniard’s passing numbers are exponentially more impressive.
The Dane will be a solid and reliable option but, if Arsenal want to add potential and in-possession quality to their ranks, an ambitious move for Casadó could be on the cards.
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The incredible internatinal could be a game-changer for Arsenal.
While the last few seasons haven’t exactly gone to plan for West Ham United, there is still plenty of talent in their squad.
However, it would be fair to say that we all know just who the Hammers’ most important player is: Jarrod Bowen.
The England international is undoubtedly one of the most underrated players in the entire Premier League, and has a sensational tally of 125 goal involvements in 238 games to prove it.
So, even though this window hasn’t been the most exciting, fans should be excited about reports linking the Irons to an up-and-coming talent who could be Graham Potter’s new Bowen.
West Ham target their new Bowen
It’s been an interesting summer window for West Ham so far, as while the signing of Callum Wilson is more than a little underwhelming, and the links to Raheem Sterling concerning, the club have made a few smart additions.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
For example, Kyle Walker-Peters on a free will undoubtedly strengthen Potter’s defensive unit, while there is plenty of upside for the combative El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Moreover, the East Londoners don’t appear done just yet, as they’re now honing in on a young attacker who could be the next Bowen.
West Ham United manager GrahamPotter
At least that is according to a recent report from journalist David Lynch, who claims West Ham are one of several sides interested in Ben Doak.
Lynch has revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen to sign the Liverpool youngster, and that offers of £20m were rejected from Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town in the winter window.
It appears as if the Reds will also reject such offers this summer, as according to Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph, they value the 19-year-old at around £30m.
It could be a complicated and somewhat costly transfer to get over the line, but Doak could well be worth it, especially as he could become Potter’s new Bowen.
Why Doak could be the new Bowen
So, the first thing to say is that we are not claiming that Doak is as good as Bowen at the moment, or that he is even likely to get close in the next season or two.
That would be absurd and far too much pressure to place on a teenager, as the Irons star is currently one of the best attackers in the league and will likely remain so for some time.
However, some undeniable aspects of this potential deal suggest the Liverpool gem could potentially develop into someone who could take over from the Englishman at some point in the future.
The first is the fact that the Irons would be signing the Dalry-born gem after an impressive spell in the Championship.
For example, the Reds sent the Scottish gem on loan to Middlesbrough last season, and when he wasn’t out with a hamstring injury, he looked every part the future star.
In 24 appearances, totalling 1789 minutes, the “explosive” ace, as dubbed by Danny Murphy, scored three goals and provided seven assists.
In other words, he was able to average a goal involvement every 2.4 games, or every 178.9 minutes, which is made more impressive considering it was his first full season of senior football.
Doak’s 24/25
Appearances
24
Minutes
1789′
Goals
3
Assists
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.41
Minutes per Goal Involvement
178.9′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
On top of his ability in the second tier, the 5 foot 9 dynamo is also primarily a right-winger, but has shown an ability to occasionally play off the left or up top.
Finally, as well as his output, the promising youngster put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers in the Championship last season.
According to FBref, he was in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next best 14 competitions for carries into the penalty area, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 5% for non-penalty expected goals per shot.
Those numbers paint the picture of a player capable of getting the ball into dangerous areas and then making the most of the moment – sound like anyone familiar?
Ben Doak in action for Middlesbrough
Ultimately, fans shouldn’t expect Doak to be a regular starter next season, but just as Bowen developed into a superstar over time, we see no reason why the young Scotsman couldn’t do the same at West Ham.
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Australia’s incumbent opener does not buy into the theory that there has to be someone scoring quickly at the top of the order
AAP13-Nov-2024
Nathan McSweeney could face the first ball of the Test series•Getty Images
Usman Khawaja has brushed aside the perceived need for quick top-order Test runs as a “myth” in endorsing new Australian opening partner Nathan McSweeney.The 25-year-old will debut against India in Perth’s first Test from next Friday. McSweeney, the South Australian skipper and former Queensland team-mate of Khawaja’s, will be in unfamiliar territory, given he bats at No. 3 for his state. Steven Smith will shift back to his preferred No. 4 after a short-lived audition to replace the retired David Warner last summer.Related
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The tough runs that propelled McSweeney to new world of opening
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Mature McSweeney making his mark in South Australia
Warner struck at 70.76 in 143 first-class games, while the more measured McSweeney’s strike rate is 41.92 in 34 first-class matches. Khawaja scores slightly quicker than McSweeney but laughed off the suggestion Australia’s Test fortunes would be scuppered by a lower scoring rate against the new ball.”I don’t know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well,” Khawaja said on Wednesday. “You’ve got five days to do it…I don’t know why you need to score fast.”Opening’s as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb. Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn’t do it [score fast] every time. He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well.”Usman Khawaja has been in solid form this season•Getty Images
McSweeney, once an offspinning No.6, was yet to cement his place at Queensland when he left for Adelaide seeking what he figured would be greater opportunities in 2021. He’s flourished since and relished the responsibility of captaincy, Khawaja joking a haircut to remove the “boofy curls” had also helped his cause.Commentary has centred around McSweeney’s task of adapting to the new role at the top of the order. But Khawaja, himself a former No. 3, said he shouldn’t overthink it.”There’s no guarantees in cricket…but he doesn’t have to do anything different,” Khawaja said. “Just repeat the process. He’s been able to handle the pressure at Shield level. When you look at his demeanour, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer period of time he’ll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket.”Khawaja on Wednesday detailed plans to link his Usman Khawaja Foundation annually with the Gabba Test, which will this year be the third in the series from December 14. It’s purpose is to assist youth from refugee, immigrant, Indigenous, rural, remote and low-socio economic backgrounds through cricket and educational programs.The fundraiser will include a pre-Test lunch, with proceeds from the gate and an auction including Pakistan star Babar Azam’s Test shirt going to the charity.”We’ve got the pink Test in Sydney,” Khawaja said of the high-profile McGrath Foundation fundraiser. “We’re trying to make the Usman Khawaja Foundation a part of the Gabba Test. I didn’t speak English [when arriving in Australia from Pakistan as a child]…cricket broke down the barriers for me.I never felt isolated when I played sport.”
عبر فينيسيوس جونيور، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، عن سعادته الكبيرة بفوز فريقه الثلاثاء على ليفانتي، ضمن بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.
فينيسيوس قدم مباراة رائعة وسجل هدفًا مميزًا وساهم في انتصار ريال مدريد الكبير على ليفانتي بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.
وجعل هذا الانتصار ريال مدريد يبتعد بصدارة الدوري الإسباني برصيد 18 نقطة وبالعلامة الكاملة من ست انتصارت متتالية.
ريال مدريد يتصدر ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بفارق خمس نقاط بشكل مؤقت عن برشلونة صاحب المركز الثاني، والذي سيواجه ريال أوفييدو يوم الخميس المقبل.
أقرأ أيضًا .. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد المقبلة بعد الفوز على ليفانتي في الدوري الإسباني
وفي حديثه إلى قناة ريال مدريد، فسر فينيسيوس هدفه في مرمى ليفانتي، حيث أشار أن لوكا مودريتش زميله السابق بالفريق هو من علمه التسديد بوجه قدمه الخارجي.
وقال فينيسيوس: “لقد علمني لوكا مودريتش التسديد بتلك الطريقة ونحن نفتقده، لقد قدمنا أداءً رائعًا منذ البداية، الضغط والاستحواذ وهكذا سنفوز دائمًا”.
وعن تحسن مستواه اليوم أضاف فينيسيوس في حديثه: “آمل أن أواصل تسجيل الأهداف بهذه الطريقة، لا أعتقد أنني سجلت من تسديدة بوجه قدمي الخارجية من قبل”.
وعن ليفانتي، أوضح الدولي البرازيلي: “هم فريق دائمًا يكون اللعب على ملعبهم صعبا للغاية، في كل مرة آتي إلى هنا أسجل أهدافًا، إنه أمر جيد لنا قبل الديربي ونريد الاستمرار حتى نهاية الموسم”.
وعن سر قوة ريال مدريد هذا الموسم واصل: “أعتقد أن الدفاع والوحدة والعمل الجماعي هي مفاتيح قوة الفريق، إذا بقينا هكذا يمكننا الفوز بالألقاب هذا الموسم”.
واختتم بالحديث عن لقاء الديربي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد الأسبوع المقبل: “علينا أن نرتاح ونستمتع بهذا الفوز لأن القادم مهم”.
With Alexander Isak pushing for a move to Liverpool and Benjamin Šeško firmly on the radar of Manchester United, Newcastle United’s hunt for a new striker has taken on renewed urgency.
A replacement who can offer a consistent goal threat, hold-up play, and experience at the highest level is now a top priority for Eddie Howe and his recruitment team.
Newcastle United managerEddieHoweshakes hands with assistant manager Jason Tindall after the match
Though Šeško has long been considered Newcastle’s ideal replacement for Isak, the difficulty of securing the Slovenian this summer has forced the Magpies to explore alternatives.
RB Leipzig are open to a sale, but with growing interest from Manchester United, Newcastle are unlikely to match the wages on offer at Old Trafford.
What they need is a reliable, Premier League-proven scorer who can slot straight into Howe’s system without a lengthy adaptation period.
And crucially, someone who wants to join.
Newcastle looking at Sesko alternative
Enter Yoane Wissa.
The 28-year-old Brentford forward has emerged as a frontrunner in Newcastle’s striker search, and with good reason.
Yoane Wissa scores late on for Brentford vs Crystal Palace.
While not their first-choice profile due to age, Wissa has made it clear he wants to move to Tyneside, refusing to train with Brentford in a bid to push the transfer through.
Well, there seems to be an expectancy that the move goes through. Speaking to Football Insider, former Manchester United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown revealed this week:
“He’s made it clear he wants to leave, he’s told Brentford that and he’s refusing to train, so Brentford have to decide whether they want an unhappy player at the club. I expect they’ll reach an agreement at some stage.”
Despite competition from Tottenham, Wissa’s priority is reportedly to join Newcastle.
Brentford, who have already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal, may be forced to lower their original £50m valuation.
Mbeumo and Wissa
So why are Newcastle willing to consider a player much older than their usual recruitment age of 24 and under?
Comparing Wissa to Šeško
The answer lies in Wissa’s output.
In the 2024/25 Premier League season, only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals.
Wissa notched 20 goals and four assists in 3,072 minutes, a remarkable return in a Brentford side that struggled for form at times last season.
His efficiency in front of goal is particularly eye-catching.
Though he only averaged 1.26 shots on target per 90 minutes, his movement and composure inside the box meant he made those moments count.
Thomas Frank was keen to point this out: “Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a No. 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”
However, he’s also far more than a poacher. According to FBref, he ranked higher than Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland for completed passes (76.5%) and recorded more shot-creating actions per 90 than Dominic Solanke.
Wissa’s mobility and involvement in buildup play give him an edge over other traditional No. 9s.
Joao Pedro
43.5
Alexander Isak
33.5
Yoane Wissa
28.5
Liam Delap
23.7
Erling Haaland
21.0
Still, comparisons with Šeško are inevitable.
The 22-year-old is a more natural fit for Newcastle’s long-term vision, standing at 194cm with a powerful frame that mirrors Erling Haaland.
His age, athleticism, and contract until 2029 at Leipzig make him a major investment, but potentially a transformative one.
Šeško scored 21 goals in 45 appearances last season, including 13 in the Bundesliga.
Data from FBref also revealed that he offered 1.78 progressive carries and 1.74 progressive passes per 90, alongside a solid 43.9% shot-on-target rate and 2.50 shots per 90.
While Šeško remains an exciting long-term project, Wissa is ready-made.
He has performed under Premier League pressure and is pushing to join a club where his profile suits the manager’s tactical outlook.
One point of concern, however, is availability. Wissa is likely to miss part of the 2025/26 season due to AFCON commitments with DR Congo, something Newcastle will need to weigh carefully.
At nearly 29, he also lacks the resale value that players like Šeško might offer.
Still, in terms of what he offers now, Wissa could be the stopgap solution that Newcastle need.
Newcastle may yet revisit their interest in Šeško if Isak is sold for a huge fee, but in Wissa, they’ve found a player who ticks more boxes than he’s given credit for, and who is desperate to prove he belongs at a higher level.
Elanga's new Wood: Big-money CF has agreement in principle to join Newcastle
A striker has reportedly agreed to join Newcastle United.
Real Madrid star Arda Guler opened up on being compared to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal as the young midfielder is preparing to take on Spain with Turkey in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game on Sunday. Twenty-year-old Guler, who joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2023, has finally established himself as a first-team starter under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Guler spoke about comparisons with Yamal
Praised Barcelona sensation
Turkey face Spain on Sunday
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Guler has opened up on being constantly compared to Barcelona sensation Yamal as he heaped praise on the Spaniard, while admitting that he makes life difficult for Real Madrid players. The young midfielder is currently preparing to face Yamal and Spain with Turkey in a World Cup qualifying game at home.
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WHAT GULER SAID
Speaking to reporters, the Madrid youngster said: "Me and Lamine Yamal don’t play in the same position, our styles are different, it wouldn’t be right to compare. He plays for Barcelona and I for Real Madrid, I wish him all the best for tomorrow."
Guler added, "I am not surprised by what Lamine Yamal has been doing. He has a lot of talent and will do his utmost to make it difficult for us."
Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Yamal enjoyed a stellar campaign with Barcelona in 2024-25, in which he scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions and is now off to a fine start in the new season, as he has already racked up five goal contributions in the Blaugrana's first three La Liga matches. Guler, too, has become a regular starter under Alonso and in the first three La Liga matches, he has a goal and an assist to his name.
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WHAT NEXT?
After starring with an assist in Spain's 3-0 win over Bulgaria earlier this week, Yamal will feature for the reigning European champions against Turkey in Konya on Sunday.
Gaikwad and Abhimanyu failed with the bat again, but the Indians ended the second day 120 in front with eight wickets in hand
Tristan Lavalette01-Nov-2024Stumps After the first day’s spotlight shone firmly on Australia’s Test hopefuls, India Test squad member Abhimanyu Easwaran and reserve Mukesh Kumar had contrasting fortunes before B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal led an India A fightback on day two in Mackay.Trailing by 88 runs on the first innings, India stared down the barrel at 30 for 2 after the wickets of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu. But Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal steadied the ship with an unbroken 178-run partnership as batting became easier on a surface that flattened out as the day wore on.They learned the lessons from India A’s disastrous first innings of 107 when a number of batters nicked off. Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal demonstrated patience and judged the full lengths well as they closed in on centuries. They waited to pick off the bowling, which was more wayward than on the opening day.Both batters used their feet well to offspinner Todd Murphy, who did not threaten and had figures of none for 54 from 17 overs. His struggles reared just before stumps when a delivery slipped from his fingers and landed near the square leg umpire.Devdutt Padikkal scored 80 in an unbroken 178-run stand with B Sai Sudharsan•Getty ImagesIt was a terrific recovery from India A after the wickets of Gaikwad and Abhimanyu, who each had double failures for the match. Gaikwad could only tentatively poke at a length delivery from quick Fergus O’Neill and edged to second slip where Cameron Bancroft demonstrated why he is one of the country’s best fielders, with a sharp catch low to the ground.Abhimanyu is seen as a contender to play in the early part of the Test series given the uncertainty over Rohit Sharma. But he was all at sea against the new ball with O’Neill producing rampant movement.Abhimanyu was fortunate to have survived on 2 after edging quick Jordan Buckingham to third slip only for the delivery to be deemed a no-ball. The pressure was building on Abhimanyu, who attempted to play more positively and also scampered for tight singles on a couple of occasions. But he pushed his luck after dashing off for a quick run only for the athletic Buckingham at midwicket to throw down the stumps leaving the diving batter just short of his ground.India’s recovery appeared to have had a setback when Padikkal on 31 drove O’Neill straight to Nathan McSweeney at short extra-cover only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.Cooper Connolly played positively, hitting five fours in his 37•Getty ImagesPadikkal had medical treatment on his legs late in the day, but fought through as India A eyed setting a tough target with the focus soon to shift once again to those Australia A batters hoping to partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test.India A’s revival was started by Mukesh. He bowled unwavering spells and nipped the ball both ways to finish with 6 for 46, while quick Prasidh Krishna unfurled canny changes of pace, which has served him well in white-ball cricket, to claim a three-wicket haul.Australia A resumed their first innings at 99 for 4, trailing by just eight runs, with skipper McSweeney having a golden opportunity to boost his bid for first Test selection. McSweeney had survived through to stumps on a madcap day one after the early dismissals of Test candidates Bancroft, Sam Konstas and Marcus Harris.He once again showcased dogged defence and good judgment to leave deliveries outside his off stump. After a slow start to the day’s play, it took 17 deliveries until the first runs were scored when Cooper Connolly flayed a boundary through the off side.Connolly, 21, decided to counter-attack and quickly passed McSweeney after smashing 22 runs in an eight-ball whirlwind. His ability to shift gears is a reason why Connolly has risen in the ranks quickly and is seen as a contender for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.Mukesh Kumar finished with innings figures of 6 for 46•Getty ImagesIn a contrast to many batters so far in this match, Connolly drove with ease and underlined why in Western Australian cricket circles he has been compared favourably to former Test batter Shaun Marsh. He appeared set for his fourth half-century from six innings in his first-class career before a tame dismissal on 37 when he mistimed a delivery from Mukesh to square-leg.It led to the quick wickets of Josh Philippe and McSweeney, whose dedication to defence was finally broken when he was caught at gully after being lured into driving a full delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy.Reddy was able to find late movement that deceived McSweeney to highlight an impressive performance of 1 for 14 from seven overs.Australia A led by just 29 runs at the fall of McSweeney’s wicket before Murphy hit a breezy 33 to frustrate India A. It was left to Mukesh to finally wrap up the innings as he clean bowled Brendan Doggett for his fifth wicket and then picked up Murphy – who was the fourth batter in the innings to fall in the 30s.
Everton are now reportedly leading the race to sign a Champions League-level winger who will be allowed to leave his current club this summer.
What Everton could do next after signing Travers
After confirming the arrival of Mark Travers from Bournemouth, Everton still have unfinished business in the summer transfer window. Ahead of their first season at The Hill Dickinson Stadium, the current transfer window reflects an opportunity for The Friedkin Group to make an impressive statement and set David Moyes up with a squad capable of more than just survival.
After Travers, Thierno Barry and the permanent arrival of Carlos Alcaraz, the Toffees still have plenty of work to do and that work could be done to reinforce their midfield.
Having lost Abdoulaye Doucoure following the end of his contract at the end of last season, Moyes is arguably lacking a physical presence at the heart of his midfield. But that’s where a familiar face in Tomas Soucek could arrive. The Czech Republic ace thrived under Moyes at West Ham and is now reportedly set to be the subject of an imminent £12m bid from Everton.
Appearances
207
Goals
32
Assists
11
It should come as no surprise that Soucek is now keen to reunite with Moyes after such a successful spell together the first time around. And for just £12m, Everton wouldn’t exactly be breaking the bank.
That said, Soucek isn’t their only reported target in midfield. The likes of Jacob Ramsey have also been mentioned in recent headlines, as Aston Villa continue to struggle on the PSR front. Like Soucek, the England midfielder would be an excellent addition.
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David Moyes wants to add some more attacking quality at Everton this summer.
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The same can be said for a La Liga winger, as the Toffees aim to send a transfer statement.
Everton now in pole position to Samuel Lino
According to reports in Spain, Everton are now leading the race to sign Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid this summer. The winger is reportedly free to leave the Champions League side and several sides have enquired about his availability as a result. Whether Everton are among those sides remains to be seen, however.
Starts
21
24
Goals
3
1
Assists
4
0
Successful Take-ons
27
24
Previously described as “interesting” by scout Jacek Kulig, Lino would be an instant upgrade on Jack Harrison, who has been linked with a permanent move to Everton this summer.
The Atletico Madrid man was involved in more goals in fewer games last season, whilst also enjoying more take-on success. In every key department, Lino should be preferred over the Leeds United man.
Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino
At 25 years old, Lino should be at the peak of his powers if he discovers his most clinical form. Reportedly in pole position, Everton should kick on and sign a player who has Champions League experience and outperformed other targets last season.
There’s only one more friendly clash left for Leeds United before the bread and butter of Premier League action kicks into gear.
It’s been a whirlwind summer for the Whites so far with seven new signings in through the door, but Daniel Farke will still be holding out for another striker addition before September’s early deadline, away from solely relying on free agent signing Lukas Nmecha to deliver the goods.
Indeed, opening up after his side’s recent 1-1 draw against Villarreal, the German lamented his options in attack, with the hole left behind by Manor Solomon returning to Tottenham Hotspur also yet to be filled in his eyes.
Expect the West Yorkshire outfit to be busy, therefore, with reports now suggesting they’ve been offered an experienced centre-forward ahead of their opening day showdown with Everton.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
Leeds offered chance to sign £93k p/w star
Leeds have been chasing several centre-forward targets this summer.
It’s been well documented at this point that the top-flight newcomers have Rodrigo Muniz down on their ever-growing shortlist, although Fulham’s Brazilian hotshot is also attracting interest from Serie A clubs, including Atalanta.
Fulham's RodrigoMunizcelebrates scoring their third goal
This might well prompt Farke and Co. to explore different avenues in trying to secure a potent and experienced marksman, with this new target potentially ticking all the boxes.
As per a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Leeds have now been offered the chance to sign Inter Milan attacker Mehdi Taremi, with Inter keen to move on the clinical Iranian so they can get their hands on hit-and-miss Manchester United figure Rasmus Hojlund.
Whilst the £93k-per-week striker might not be instantly as Premier League-ready as Muniz, his explosive finishing ability across his career to date will surely pique the German’s curiosity as he attempts to enhance his forward personnel.
Amazingly, the lethal 33-year-old has even been likened to RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who is also being tipped to move to the Premier League very soon.
Why Taremi can be Leeds' own Sesko
Those direct comparisons come from FBref during the striking duo’s respective 2023/24 Champions League campaigns, which saw Sesko and Taremi score four goals between them, with the ex-Porto attacker sticking out even more when assisting a further two strikes in Europe’s elite competition.
However, the comparisons aren’t just reserved for glorious nights in that esteemed tournament, with both the Slovenian and the well-travelled veteran consistently proving their class over their last couple of seasons, in possessing a second nature for firing home chances.
Games played
445
224
Goals scored
202
100
Assists
101
26
Top goalscorer accolades
5x
1x
Of course, Taremi also has the added boost of being around for far longer than the Manchester United-linked forward.
But it’s undeniable, when looking at the table above, to suggest that the 33-year-old isn’t on the same pedestal as his £74m counterpart, with his 202 goals and 101 assists from 445 career clashes even putting him on a level above the growing Slovenian, who has a century of strikes himself already, just from a lesser 224 career games.
21 of those goal contributions have come in the illustrious Champions League from Taremi, with his further electric 82 efforts in Liga Portugal for beloved former employers Porto, leading to Iran great Ali Daei dubbing the Bushehr-born attacker as an “incredible” asset to have in front of goal.
Further heralded as a “true leader” by the Iran international team assistant coach Rahman Rezaei, the hope will be that Taremi can transform Leeds up top ahead of the daunting task of staying up in the Premier League, much like the Red Devils are putting their faith in the equally potent Sesko to bring former glories back to Old Trafford.
Porto's Mehdi Taremi
Farke would surely be more pleased with his options if Taremi were to shortly enter through the door, as both the 33-year-old and Sesko potentially prepare to go head-to-head in the goalscoring stakes for their respective Premier League outfits.
Leeds approached £18,000-a-week forward who has scored in Europa League