Mark Wood will miss four months of cricket following an operation on his left knee, effectively ruling the fast bowler out of England’s Test series against India this summer, while keeping him in the hunt for the Ashes this winter.The 35-year old underwent surgery on Wednesday morning in London after scans confirmed medial ligament damage, which came to the fore during England’s Champions Trophy group stage defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore at the end of last month.Wood was forced to leave the field after pulling up midway through his fourth over after experiencing “locking” in his knee. He returned 38 minutes later but could only bowl four of his remaining six before leaving the field for good. The Durham quick’s left knee was heavily strapped throughout the tournament, as it had been since the start of 2024.The timeframe for Wood’s recovery means it is highly unlikely he features in the five-match series against India, which begins at Headingley on June 20. A seamless rehabilitation could see him available for the final Test at the Kia Oval (starting July 31), with Durham’s County Championship fixture against Somerset (July 22) a potential return to competitive action. That round begins a day before the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford.At this juncture, the ECB believe Wood will be fully fit to tour Australia this winter. Speaking at Lord’s last week, men’s managing director Rob Key stated England will “work back from the Ashes” regarding decisions around the fast bowler’s fitness.”I’m gutted to be out for so long after representing England across all formats since the start of last year,” said Wood in a statement released on Thursday. “But I’ve got every confidence that I’ll be back firing on all cylinders now that I’ve been able to sort my knee out.”I want to thank the surgeon, the doctors, staff, my England teammates and coaches for their support – and, of course, our fans. I can’t wait to get back and contribute to what is going to be a huge 2025 for us as a team.”This latest setback joins a litany of previous injuries suffered by Wood since debuting for England in 2015. It is the eighth operation of his career, and his second in the last eight months alone, after an elbow stress fracture discovered last August kept him out of action for the rest of 2024.Though there is ample time ahead of this winter’s tour of Australia, England will be sweating on this latest hitch as far as their fast bowling stocks are concerned. Brydon Carse’s impressive winter was curtailed by a left toe injury, while there remains a degree of trepidation around Jofra Archer’s impending return to Test cricket despite strong showings off the back of his own series of injuries given he has not played a first-class match since May 2021. Josh Tongue’s appearance for England Lions against Australia A at the end of January was his first competitive outing since August 2023.Wood remains the standout of those quicks, and his recent record against Australia underlines how vital he is to Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes in their pace-focussed quest to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015.Wood was the sole bright spot during England last Ashes tour Down Under in 2021-22, with 17 wickets at 26.64 in a 4-0 loss, and took 14 at 20.21 in the drawn 2023 series having arrived with Australia 2-0 up. It was also against Australia in the recent Champions Trophy that Wood bowled England’s quickest ever ODI opening spell.McCullum leant on Wood after assuming control of the white-ball teams at the start of year, picking him for nine of his first 10 matches in charge before injury struck. Having blocked Wood from entering the IPL auction for the upcoming edition with a view to preserving him for the high-profile engagements of an India Test series and the Ashes, the ECB are likely to impose further restrictions on his workload moving forward.Though Wood’s central contract, which expires in October 2026, includes limited-overs cricket and has so far covered three tournaments (including the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup), it seems unlikely he will feature in white-ball cricket for the remainder of this year.

Manchester United have agreed an off-field deal which has left director of football Jason Wilcox “delighted”.

It has been a productive summer transfer window so far for the Red Devils, with INEOS spending more than £200m on the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

However, the club have also bolstered their ranks for the future with a deal for teenage defender Diego Leon. United paid Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno £7m for Leon, who Ruben Amorim used in pre-season.

Talking during the summer after appearing in friendlies, Leon said: “It’s incredible. I am really enjoying being here with team-mates and learning a lot of things. It’s the first time I have had friendlies like this. I thought it was going to be the stadium half-empty before entering the pitch but then, I hear a sound that surprised me! The stadium is full, the fans. It’s all crazy.”

New Pogba: INEOS offered bargain deal to sign "world-class" CM for Man Utd

Manchester United could finally end their midfielder pursuit with a player just like Paul Pogba.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 21, 2025

Leon could feature in the club’s academy ranks while also pushing for a spot in the first-team squad under Amorim, and a new update on the club’s academy has been confirmed.

Man Utd agree deal for Brentford academy director

On Thursday, it was revealed that the new academy director for Man Utd will be Stephen Torpey.

The Red Devils had been looking to fill the vacancy since Nick Cox departure to Everton as technical director was confirmed in June. Cox has stayed at Carrington to ensure a smooth transition and will take up the role on Merseyside when Brentford academy director Torpey joins in the coming months.

Wilcox admitted he was “delighted” and described Torpey’s previous work as “outstanding”.

Torpey said after a move to Man Utd was announced: “I am really proud to have this opportunity to lead Manchester United’s academy. It is obviously a great time to be joining as the club enters an exciting new era; I can’t wait to play my role in continuing the incredible tradition of youth development here.

“After spending time with the leadership team, it is clear that the academy will always remain key to the identity of Manchester United, with our primary aim being to produce players ready to support a first team capable of challenging for the biggest honours.”

Australia Under-19 run-machine made 66 off 73 on first-class debut for Victoria

AAP09-Feb-2025First-class debutant Harry Dixon has blasted three huge sixes on his way to a brisk half-century that helped Victoria to a narrow first-innings lead over Tasmania in their Sheffield Shield clash.Dixon was the star with the bat on day two in Hobart, belting 66 from 73 deliveries in an impressive knock that included seven fours.The 19-year-old arrived at the crease with Victoria in some trouble at 80 for 4, but put on 88 for the fifth wicket with Tom Rogers (33).Victoria seamer Sam Elliott (30 not out) stepped up to lift Victoria past the hosts’ first innings tally as they were bowled out for 258, with a lead of 22 runs.Right-arm quicks Kieran Elliott (4-55) and Gabe Bell (3-33) were Tasmania’s main wicket-takers, with Elliott taking career best figures .In reply, Tasmania erased the deficit for the loss of just one wicket as they reached 43 for 1 by stumps, with a lead of 21.Jake Weatherald (26 not out) and Tim Ward (13 not out) will resume at the crease on day three at Bellerive Oval.Peter Siddle struck an early blow for Victoria when he trapped Nivethan Radhakrishnan lbw for one. It completed a disappointing match with the bat for the inexperienced opener, who was brilliantly run out by Campbell Kellaway for 14 in Tasmania’s first innings.Dixon was the second debutant to post a half-century in the match after fellow teenager Aidan O’Connor top-scored with 53 in Tasmania’s first dig.The match is important to Victoria’s chances of reaching next month’s Shield final and crucial to Tasmania’s chances of keeping their season alive.Victoria sit second on the table with 28.06 points, behind leaders South Australia (36.93), while Tasmania (18.65) are last with just one win from six matches.

Matt Beard passed away earlier this month, with news of his death rocking the football world and prompting outpourings of emotional tributes. Beard was known to have taken his own life following a devastating social media post from his son urging that suicide is "never the answer". The cause of death has now been confirmed at a coroner's court hearing in north Wales.

Initial evidence heard at inquest

At the coroner's court, it was heard that paramedics were called to Beard's home in Flintshire when the two-time WSL-winning manager was found hanged. He was taken to hospital in Chester, where he later died at 9:15pm on September 20, after his family agreed for life support to be turned off. Proceedings have now been adjourned and a full coroner's inquest will be held at a future date to establish more detailed circumstances of Beard's tragic passing.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesA legend of women's football

After starting his coaching career in men's and women's football in and around London, Beard got his first managerial gig at Millwall Lionesses in 2008. From there, he moved to Chelsea, ultimately laying the foundations for the success that Emma Hayes would later have, before being appointed by Liverpool in 2012. The Reds won the WSL title in both 2013 and 2014, with Beard then trying his hand in the United States with Boston Breakers.

A return to English football saw him take West Ham to their first ever FA Cup final in 2019, with the team's overall journey captured in a BBC reality series. Beard went back to Liverpool in 2021, taking over a side that had by then been relegated from the top flight, restoring them to the WSL and overseeing a hugely impressive fourth place finish in 2023-24. That saw him named Manager of the Season. Beard left Liverpool a second time in February 2025, with his final job a short two-month spell at Burnley over the summer.

Beloved by many

The football community collectively stood together to mourn Beard. Liverpool's WSL fixture the day after his death was postponed out of respect, while his picture was shown on big screens at the league's other games that day and a moment's silence was observed prior to kick-offs.

Former Liverpool player Fara Williams became tearful during the BBC's live broadcast of Manchester United vs Arsenal, saying that "he meant so much to all of us". United boss Marc Skinner referred to Beard as an "incredible human" and "iconic". Hayes, his successor at Chelsea, referred to him as "absolutely one of the best humans" and "one of the good guys". Ex-West Ham forward Alisha Lehmann recalled that he believed in her when no one else did.

Liverpool captain Grace Fisk said in a tribute from the club: "It's rare for a football manager to be so loved by so many players. He coached hundreds of players but had interactions with many more and he just had this way of drawing people to him."

Liverpool returned to WSL action for the first time since Beard's passing on Sunday, with banners honouring Beard displayed in the stands for the visit of Manchester United, and fans putting on another tribute with applause in the 13th and 14th minutes to commemorate his WSL titles.

A fundraising page set up by football broadcaster Jacqui Oatley to support Beard's wife and children has received more than £54,000 from well over 1,000 donors.

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Getty Images SportCelebrating Beard's life

A service of commemoration for Beard will be held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on October 17, where fans and well wishers will be able to celebrate his life and the impact he had on so many.

Tottenham Hotspur kicked off life under Thomas Frank with a 3-0 win over Burnley this afternoon, hopefully being the first of many during the Dane’s tenure.

The Lilywhites produced a magnificent display, blowing away the opposition in the second half, restricting the visitors to just four shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.

In their 17th-placed Premier League finish last campaign, the backline held the side back massively, conceding 65 times in their 38 outings under Ange Postecoglou.

However, it was the perfect start to life under the new management team, keeping a clean sheet – something which they only managed on six occasions throughout 2024/25.

It was an afternoon to remember for numerous players in North London, undoubtedly staking their claim to the new boss over a regular starting role throughout the new season.

How things played out in Spurs’ win over Burnley

In his first league game in charge, Frank decided to operate with Richarlison in the number nine role – a decision that proved to be a masterstroke given his performance.

The Brazilian put the Lilywhites ahead just ten minutes into proceedings, with his superb first-time finish beating debutant Martin Dubravka in the Clarets’ goal.

However, his second effort was also a thing of beauty, acrobatically turning home new signing Mohammed Kudus’ cross – an effort that will certainly be one of the goals of the season.

Brennan Johnson added a third in the closing stages, breaking through one-on-one, before poking home and securing all three points in North London.

Richarlison certainly proved some of the doubters wrong with his showing against Scott Parker’s side, deserving of a consistent run in the side under the new boss, but he’s certainly not alone in that regard.

The Spurs player who should be a regular starter under Frank

The appointment of a new manager always brings about new ideas, changes to the system and the opportunity for players to stake their claim for a regular starting role.

As seen by his two-goal haul this afternoon, it’s safe to say Richarlison has demonstrated to Frank the talent he possesses when given the chance to operate in his natural position.

However, numerous other players appear to have done just that, potentially stopping the manager from making wholesale changes before the end of the transfer window.

After utilising a back five in the UEFA Super Cup against PSG on Wednesday, the Dane reverted to the Lilywhites’ more familiar 4-3-3 system – a decision which allowed Pape Sarr to impress once more.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed rapid development in North London over recent seasons, having the ability to be a key member of the 51-year-old’s squad if he can replicate such a display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, completing three dribbles and winning ten duels – with both figures the highest of any player on the pitch for either side.

Sarr also managed to complete 83% of the passes he attempted, with six of which being into the final third – helping him grab the assist for Johnson’s second-half strike.

Minutes played

90

Touches

66

Distance covered

10.7km

Passes completed

83%

Dribbles completed

3

Duels won

10

Passes into final third

6

Tackles made

2

Clearances made

4

Recoveries made

4

The youngster’s all-round excellence is further highlighted in his tallies of two tackles, four clearances and four recoveries made, arguably being one of the standout performers in the win.

As a result of his showing, Sarr was handed an 8/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold – with the journalist suggesting he could be a key member of Spurs’ squad this campaign.

Such a showing will certainly highlight to Frank the talent the Senegalese star possesses, having the chance to improve further under his guidance, given his tender age.

The midfielder and Richarlison were certainly the shining lights during the opening-day victory – hopefully creating many more moments of magic between them in the remaining 37 outings.

He's perfect for Eze: Spurs to make huge bid for "sensational" £42m star

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It’s been a bumpy ride for Aston Villa so far during the chaotic summer transfer window.

PSR-related issues have hindered the number of incoming signings the Premier League outfit has been able to make, with their worrying financial state resulting in the sale of homegrown prodigy Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £43m.

Morgan Rogers could soon be the next devastating exit as Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur wait in the wings for his £100m signature.

However, all the doom and gloom enveloping Villa Park would surely be lifted by some exciting additions to the building, before the dramatic window shuts.

Aston Villa very keen on last-minute signing

Losing a player of Rogers’ spellbinding quality would be a crushing blow to Villa’s already fragile confidence, considering the recent recipient of the PFA Young Player of the Year – who has also been looked at persistently by Chelsea – collected an astounding 30 goals and assists in all competitions last campaign.

Unai Emery and Co. won’t want to be bogged down too much by the anxiety of losing another of their star assets, though, as last-ditch incomings are also in the pipeline.

Adrien Rabiot is reportedly on their radar as he attempts to leave Marseille behind after a public falling out. On top of that development, Nicolas Jackson is also being regularly spoken about as another potential arrival, with the ex-Villarreal attacker being eyed up by Bayern Munich, alongside the Villans.

Jackson’s teammate at Stamford Bridge in Christopher Nkunku is another interesting name on the Villa shortlist, with journalist Fabrizio Romano now delivering an update as to whether a move could soon whir into motion.

Transfer Focus

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Indeed, Romano – while chatting on DAZN – stated that Emery’s men remain “very keen” about striking up a last-ditch deal for the hot-and-cold Frenchman, with a speculated £35m price tag already in the air.

While the ex-RB Leipzig attacker hasn’t always been full guns blazing in West London, he could well prove to be a smart buy, particularly as Villa attempt to finally land a Jhon Duran replacement.

How Nkunku can finally replace Duran

This might well be viewed as a wild initial shout, considering Nkunku has largely struggled to get going donning Chelsea blue.

From 38 mainly unmemorable Premier League outings, the £35m-rated forward has only collected six strikes, but there is a method behind the madness here.

Games

38

55

Starts

11

7

Goals

6

12

Assists

2

0

Indeed, as can be seen when glancing at the table above, Nkunku has managed to collect a majority of these strikes when being utilised as an impact substitute in West London, with precisely four of those six goals coming when he’s been launched into action mid-contest.

Of course, his lightning-quick numbers do pale in comparison somewhat to Duran’s blistering output – with Emery even going out of his way to label the Colombian as “very clinical” for his 12 goals from just seven top-flight starts – but there are positive signs that he could be the Spaniard’s next iteration of the South American.

After all, if Emery can get the very best out of Nkunku daily, landing the Frenchman will surely be seen as a similarly golden steal to Duran’s £18m entry fee, with the Chelsea number 18 once branded as “unstoppable” by journalist Zach Lowy when sensationally notching up 70 goals and 56 assists on the books of Leipzig.

It will be a tough ask to get this instantly back out of an attacker bruised by his injury-strewn Chelsea experience.

But, it could be a worthwhile gamble, if he goes on to excite and tantalise Villa fans in a similar electric manner to that of Duran.

Aston Villa send late bid to seal a better signing than Nkunku & Jackson

Aston Villa could win a better signing than both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson joining with this last-ditch move.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 26, 2025

After a controversial exit from Marseille, Adrien Rabiot is thriving at AC Milan, crediting coach Max Allegri for quickly building a "top-notch" team. The France international discusses his seamless integration after being frozen out at his former club and looks ahead to crucial clashes with Napoli and his old side Juventus.

• Rabiot enjoys Milan colours

  Rabiot has revealed he is "pleasantly surprised" by how quickly a quality AC Milan side is being built, crediting coach Massimiliano Allegri for his seamless integration into the team. After losing their first Serie A game of the season to Como, the Rossoneri have won four games in a row and sit three points behind league leaders Napoli in what has been a bright start to the campaign.

  The positive results come after a midfield rebuild following Allegri's summer arrival. They signed Real Madrid legend Luka Modric, promising star Ardon Jashari and 24-year-old Samuele Ricci from Torino before the arrival of Rabiot, and the Frenchman was quizzed on whether or not they have the strongest midfield in the league.

  He told reporters: "It's definitely a top-notch team. Then there are teams like Inter, Juventus, and Napoli who have quality, but we'll focus on ourselves without looking at the other teams. We'll see where we are later, but for now, I'm happy with what I'm seeing."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What Rabiot said about Milan's quality

  Rabiot's move to Milan came after he was frozen out at Marseille following a dressing room fight with Jonathan Rowe, who was also sold in the aftermath, but the Frenchman's start in Italy has been overwhelmingly positive. He highlighted his reunion with former Juventus boss Allegri as a key factor in the team's rapid progress. 

  "I am honestly surprised in a positive way at how quickly that has happened, as the team changed quite a lot, but is doing very well," Rabiot said. "He is a strong coach and there are quality players here… This is what the coach excels at, creating a unit and having everyone feel involved. I hope it is the start of something big."

• Instant impact after Marseille departure

  The 30-year-old has been thrust straight into the action, starting both of Milan's Serie A matches since his arrival, where he has registered one assist, as well as the 3-0 win against Lecce in the Coppa Italia. 

  "I am happy because everyone gave me such a good welcome, from my teammates to the staff and the fans," Rabiot stated. "I know the coach and his staff well, I know their mentality, and I think the players are starting to learn it, which we can see on the field."

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• AFP
  

  What next? Napoli test and Juventus reunion

  Milan's strong start to the season faces a major test on Sunday against reigning Serie A champions Napoli, a match Rabiot views as a key benchmark. "I wouldn’t say this is a Scudetto test, as there is such a long way to go this season, but we can test ourselves and see how far we’ve come," he commented. 

  Following that fixture, Rabiot will face his former club of five years, Juventus. "Obviously, the game with Juventus is not like the others, but I am a Milan player and want to win every match," he said. "I have fond memories of my five years there."

Tottenham Hotspur’s hunt for a new number ten this summer has certainly been a frustrating one – with the hierarchy unable to land a talent to back Thomas Frank during his first year at the helm.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze are just two players who have been on their radar this window, but neither player will be making the move to North London before Monday’s deadline.

The former has penned a new three-year deal at Nottingham Forest, whilst the latter completed a £67.5m move to join bitter rivals and boyhood club, Arsenal.

To make matters worse for the new boss, current number ten options James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski will be missing until at least 2026, with the duo suffering injury setbacks in recent weeks.

With just a number of days left in the transfer window, the hierarchy must work tirelessly to land a top-level option to help the Dane in his quest for Premier League success in 2025/26.

Spurs’ hunt for a new number ten this summer

Nico Paz emerged as a potential option for Spurs over the last couple of weeks, leading to the Lilywhites hierarchy making a €70m (£61m) offer to Como for the 20-year-old.

However, their bid for the Argentine was dismissed by the Serie A outfit, claiming he’s not for sale this summer, which has seen Frank’s men move on to different targets ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Numerous players have been considered, but it appears as though the club have made a beeline to land RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that Spurs have recently made an offer for the Dutchman, totalling £61m including add-ons, looking to hijack his potential move to fellow Premier League side, Chelsea.

Plettenberg also stated that it is ‘seen as a matter of time’ before an agreement is reached, leaving the decision down to the player as to where he wants to play in 2025/26 and beyond.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s own Eriksen

Back in the summer of 2013, Spurs forked out a fee in the region of £11m to land attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen from Ajax – arriving at the club as an unknown quantity to many fans.

However, a deal for the Dane will arguably go down as one of the best in their history, after he made over 300 appearances over a near seven-year spell in North London.

He racked up 69 goals and 82 assists, subsequently helping the Lilywhites reach the Champions League final back in the 2018/19 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.

Eriksen, whilst mainly being a number ten by trade, could also feature off the left-hand side of the attack, which allowed him to become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

Whilst he left the club just over five years ago, new boss Frank has the chance to land his own version of the fan-favourite, with a move for Simons in the next few days.

Both have experience playing in the Eredivisie, but it’s their respective playstyles that could see the Dutchman replicate the success of the Dane during his time in England.

The RB Leipzig star, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart, registered 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions last campaign – possessing that goalscoring and creative threat carried by Eriksen in the Premier League.

Xavi Simons’ stats for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

25

Goals & assists

17

Pass accuracy

83%

Chances created

2.2

Successful dribbles

1.4

Tackles won

75%

Duels won

5.7

Stats via FotMob

However, his underlying stats are just as impressive, further providing him with the opportunity of emulating Eriksen’s success with the Lilywhites.

He’s also managed to notch a total of 2.2 chances created per 90, along with 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball at his feet, able to provide the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison the opportunity to build on their impressive starts this season.

The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning 75% of the tackles he’s entered and winning 5.7 duels per 90, showcasing his work rate and ability to regain possession for his side – something which is vital in Frank’s relentless pressing system.

Despite making a bid for the Dutchman’s signature, it remains unclear as to where the attacking midfielder will end up come Monday’s transfer deadline.

If he does join, it would be a phenomenal piece of business by the Lilywhites hierarchy, finally landing the player they’ve been hunting for all summer – handing Frank the new attacking threat he’s been craving since taking the reins.

Related The new Dele: Spurs have "been offered" chance to sign £73m English talent

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Posts 2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 28, 2025

While they might not always be the biggest spenders, Arsenal have made some huge signings over the years.

For example, Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival earlier this summer felt like it could be a needle mover; Declan Rice, a couple of years ago, was, and then, while he didn’t cost as much, Alexis Sanchez was a real coup when he joined.

However, when it comes to headline-grabbing transfers, none can claim the top spot off of Mesut Özil, as his arrival in 2013 is still one of the most memorable moments in the club’s modern history.

So, fans should be delighted that it now looks like Mikel Arteta is about to sign his own Ozil.

Arsenal target their new Özil

So far, it would be fair to say that Arsenal are having a great summer regarding transfers, as so far, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has made six first-team additions.

Transfer Focus

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

Moreover, while the Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi are the most exciting signings thus far, the Italian has made sure to fill in the gaps in the rest of the squad, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera.

However, instead of calling it quits there, the club now look set to make potentially the most exciting signing yet, one that could be seen as Arteta’s Ozil moment.

At least that is according to a recent report from The Standard’s Dom Smith, who has reaffirmed the news that Arsenal are now in pole position to secure Eberechi Eze.

In fact, Smith has revealed that the club-to-club details are “all agreed” and that the Crystal Palace star, who is an Arsenal fan, is now set to have his medical and sign his contract at some point on Friday, despite looking set to join North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday afternoon.

Having previously been in the Gunners academy until he was 13, at which point he was released, this is quite the sequence of events for a player who loves Arsenal.

It looks like the Englishman will cost Arsenal around £60m, and while that is a lot, it’s probably fair value for someone as talented as Eze, especially as he could be Arteta’s Ozil.

Why Eze could be the next Ozil

While fans will be hoping Eze’s Arsenal career ends in a better way than Ozil’s did, there are some significant similarities between them.

The first one relates to their transfers, as, despite being a world-class player at the time, fans had little to no idea that the German was moving to the Emirates until it was announced outside the stadium on Sky Sports News, much to the delight of the delirious fans that had gathered around the reporter to hear the news.

Now, the Crystal Palace star hasn’t officially been announced yet, but there was a similar euphoric reaction from the fans to David Ornstein’s surprise report that the club were after him last night.

That delirium was only intensified by Fabrizio Romano’s ‘here we go’ and the simple fact that Berta and Co look to have successfully hijacked the international star from Spurs.

On top of the nature of the transfer being similar to the former Real Madrid star’s, there is also a similar sense that the 27-year-old has the talent to be just as much of a game-changer for the Gunners.

For example, despite playing for a mid-table side last season, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes.

In other words, the £100k-per-week superstar managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

That’s not all though, as the former QPR gem has also proven he can handle the biggest games and the biggest stages, as he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of Palace’s triumphant FA Cup run last season.

Ultimately, while he isn’t the exact same type of player, the incredible way in which Arsenal secured his signature and the impact he could have on this team mean Eze could be seen as Arteta’s Ozil.

The new Havertz: Arsenal weighing up late move to sign £80m star after Eze

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Jack Salveson Holmes

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Club América earned a hard-fought 1-0 road win over Atlético de San Luis thanks to an 89th-minute strike from Alejandro Zendejas, sending the three points back to Mexico City ahead of Saturday’s Clásico Capitalino against Pumas. The USMNT winger now has three goals in the Apertura 2025 and has produced a goal or assist in four straight games, underlining his impressive form.

Getty Images SportZendejas shines again

Zendejas continues to be Club América’s most decisive attacking force in the Apertura 2025. With head coach André Jardine still searching for a consistent starting striker – rotating between Rodrigo Aguirre and José Zúñiga while captain Henry Martín remains sidelined – it has been the creative players carrying the scoring load. Once again, Brian Rodríguez, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Zendejas led the charge, and it was the American who sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Atlético de San Luis with a late winner to bring home three crucial points.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'We’ve had a great team for several years'

Zendejas dedicated his goal to injured teammates Martín, Dagoberto Espinoza (out for the season with a torn ACL), and Jonathan Dos Santos, highlighting the unity within the squad. 

“We’ve had a great team for several years, and these games are for our teammates who are going through tough times,” he said.

Getty Images SportA special night for Jardine

The triumph also marked André Jardine’s 100th Liga MX match, fittingly against Atlético de San Luis, the club where he began his managerial career in Mexico. 

“He’s the coach who gave us the three-peat. We wanted to give him this joy – he’s a special manager, and it’s great that this victory came in such an important stadium for him,” Zendejas explained. 

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Getty Images SportLooking ahead to the Clásico Capitalino

América will host Pumas next Saturday in Matchday 11 of the Apertura 2025, aiming to stay near the top of the table. They currently sit fourth with 21 points.