Luis Diaz admitted to having talks with Barcelona over a possible move from Liverpool in the summer transfer window before the 28-year-old winger joined Bayern Munich. The Colombian had been on Barca's list of targets as they pursued a new attacker but ultimately lost out as he pushed for Liverpool to accept the German club's bid instead.
Luis Diaz confirms Barcelona talks in the summer
Buzzing from Bayern's latest win against Chelsea in the opening fixture of the Champions League, the Bayern attacker confirmed that Barcelona were chasing his signature this summer. However, he chose to join Bayern instead as he believed it was an best decision for his career, signing a four-year contract upon a €70 million (£60m/$82m) transfer.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesDiaz is extremely happy having joined Bayern Munich
Diaz told : "I am very happy to be at this great club. There have been talks [with Barca], as is usual in the market, with several teams. I made an objective decision about my future, and the most important thing is that I'm coming to a great club. So I'll try to do my best."
Diaz, on his win against Chelsea, said: "I'm very happy with the win; it lives up to our expectations. A start like this is important for the team to stay calm. Now it's time to rest."
Barcelona's pursuit of a winger this summer
Barca's pursuit of a winger during the summer 2025 transfer window began with strong interest in Liverpool's Diaz, considered a top target, but talks stalled due to Liverpool's unwillingness to negotiate. The focus then shifted to Athletic Club's Nico Williams, leading to a month-long saga that collapsed over his insistence on an exit clause and registration guarantees, after which he extended his stay at Bilbao. In the end, the Blaugrana turned to Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, securing him on a season-long loan with an option to buy-a pragmatic move shaped by financial and registration constraints.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPWhat lies ahead for Diaz and Barcelona
While Diaz has won his opening Champions League clash against Chelsea, Barca are heading to St. James' Park to face Newcastle on Thursday without teenage star Lamine Yamal. However, coach Hansi Flick is optimistic, with Rashford starting in his place for this crucial match.
“Probably his best Test innings because he left the ball well,” Bumrah said of Jaiswal
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-20246:04
Bumrah: ‘Whenever tough scenarios come, I look at how I can contribute’
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 161 in the second innings of the first Test against Australia in Perth was “probably his best Test innings”, captain Jasprit Bumrah said after India’s 295-run win. Bumrah was also all praise for Virat Kohli for his unbeaten 100, saying he had never looked “out of form” despite having endured a run of low scores heading into the series.”Out of all these innings, he [Jaiswal] had a great start to his career,” Bumrah told the host broadcaster. “But the way he played in the last innings was probably his best Test innings so far because he left the ball. He has an attacking nature, but he left the ball well and played long. That really helped us.”Jaiswal broke several records on his way to 161, one of which was becoming the second player to convert his first four centuries into 150-plus scores. He bounced back after a duck in the first innings, playing a patient innings in tricky conditions, putting up a 201-run opening stand with KL Rahul. Jaiswal is just 15 Tests into his career and averages 58.07.Related
Age no bar: young India show skill and the stomach for a scrap in Perth
'Be nice, be disciplined, have no fear' – How Bumrah masterminded India's Perth rout
Race to the WTC final: India back on top after Perth win
Stats – Jaiswal converts yet another ton into a 150-plus score
Jaiswal raises a ceiling that was already sky high
Kohli, coming into this series on the back of averaging 15.50 over three home Tests against New Zealand, brought up his century in 143 balls to lift India’s total to 487 for 6 declared, setting Australia a massive 534 target.”I have said this before, Virat Kohli doesn’t need us, we need him,” Bumrah said at the press conference. “He is an experienced player. This is his fourth or fifth tour. So he knows his cricket better than anyone else. He looked in good shape, he was mentally switched on. Sometimes when you have such a long career, you bat in tough conditions and he has batted in tough scenarios for a long time, but it’s difficult to do that all the time in every match.”But he looked to be in a good space and obviously, he got a good delivery in the first innings, but he was still in a great space and he capitalised in the second innings. We needed an experienced batter then. He also played well, and helped his partners play well as well. So obviously, when he gets confidence at the start of the series, you can’t ask for more than that.”After being bowled out for 150 on day one, India came back strongly with the ball thanks in particular to an excellent bowling display from their captain. Bumrah revealed what he said to his team at the end of their first innings.”We were put under pressure in the first innings, but the way we responded after that, I’m really very proud of the team,” Bumrah said.”I played here in 2018, so I remember that when you start here, the wicket is a little soft and then becomes quicker and quicker. So I was relying on that experience. Obviously this wicket was a little less spicy than the last one that I played here, but we were really well prepared.”So I was just telling everyone to have faith in their process and ability because over here at this moment you have an opportunity to do something special. So on a given day, experience does matter, but if you have faith in your ability, you can do something special.”
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a high-profile player this summer, and one who’s been seriously endorsed by the club’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane.
Tottenham advancing move for £24m defender after 'emerging' as favourites
Spurs have been told what it would take to get a deal done.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025
Spurs have already announced the signings of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich, Kota Takai in a J-League record £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale and, of course, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.
Kudus’ transfer marked the end of a 14-year-long unofficial transfer embargo between Spurs and their London rivals, with the Ghanaian seriously impressing on his debut against Reading last weekend.
Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was set to immediately follow Kudus to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a medical was even scheduled for July 11 (BBC), but Nuno Espírito Santo’s side blocked the transfer and threatened legal action for what they deem to be an unlawful approach.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Once the matter is resolved, Tottenham are hopeful that Gibbs-White will eventually seal his switch to N17, but the move has been significantly delayed.
In the meantime, it is reliably reported that Spurs are competing with Newcastle United and Forest to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Thomas Frank last season.
Despite the current abundance of holding midfielders in their squad, there are also suggestions that Tottenham are looking for another one, with £167,000-per-week Bayern Munich ace Joao Palhinha among their chief targets.
Palhinha endured a lacklustre debut campaign at Bayern last season after sealing his long-awaited move there in 2024.
Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhalooks dejected as he walks off after receiving a red card
The Portugal international – thanks to a combination of injuries, illness and suspension – eventually fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order, and reports claim he could make a return to the Premier League already.
Tottenham are reported to have contacted Palhinha’s agents, and while reliable journalist Alasdair Gold doesn’t mention this, he does back up Spurs’ interest in a piece for football.london.
Tottenham eyeing Joao Palhinha after Harry Kane praise
Gold states that Tottenham are targeting Palhinha and have the 30-year-old on their shortlist of potential midfield signings, but at least one of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray would need to depart first.
Amid Bissouma’s links with a move to Turkey and inconsistent form, the Mali international appears their most likely candidate to make way for Palhinha.
Interestingly, Lilywhites legend Kane has already endorsed a possible Spurs swoop for the robust, tough-tackling number six, who was also called a “leader” by Marco Silva during his Fulham days.
Kane is on record calling the ex-Sporting CP star an “animal”, citing his many tough battles against him.
“I think they suit our system really well,” said Kane after Bayern signed Palhinha and Michael Olise last summer, via Florian Plettenberg.
“Palhinha is an animal in that defensive midfield role. I’ve had many battles against him.
“Michael’s ability on the ball is fantastic. The way he moves, the way he goes around players – and his final product is at a high, high level. And he’s still very young, so there’s even more improvement to come.”
According to some reports, Bayern want around £30m to let Palhinha leave, while Spurs want a deal done closer to the £20m mark.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is leading the charge to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s ranks this summer, with the Gunners determined to end their two-decade-long-plus wait for a Premier League title.
Arsenal have "submitted an offer" to sign "strong" £30m Premier League star
The north Londoners are opening talks.
By
Emilio Galantini
Jul 2, 2025
Berta officially unveiled his first signing as Edu Gaspar’s replacement earlier this week.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
Kepa Arrizabalaga is a now-confirmed Arsenal player after completing his medical at the club last week (Sky Sports), and the 30-year-old David Raya back-up joins from Chelsea for just £5 million.
“We are really happy to have Kepa joining us,” said Arteta about Kepa’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium.
“He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience, which his teammates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.
“Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his teammates, and we are really excited about his future with us.”
Arsenal are likely to announce Martin Zubimendi’s signing at some point this week too, with Brentford captain Christian Norgaard also expected to undergo his medical in the next few days (The Athletic).
Arsenal also want to sign a new attacking-midfielder/winger, amid talks for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but supporters are especially keen to see Berta end the club’s long wait for a prolific star striker.
Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino
While there have been tentative links to the likes of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, two big names stand out as Arsenal’s top centre-forward targets – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Sesko, fresh off the back of his best Bundesliga campaign to date, was a top target for Arsenal last summer and in January (Ben Jacobs), with Berta holding talks over the £94,000-per-week Slovenia international again this summer.
Gyokeres, meanwhile, is at the centre of a public fallout with Sporting and president Frederico Varandas, and the 27-year-old is believed to be very keen on a move to Arsenal, whilst being worried that his price tag could jeopardise a move (Record).
Sesko and Gyokeres eyeing Arsenal moves as Berta leads talks
As per GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal’s intentions are clear when it comes to a deal for either man.
Berta has “advanced talks” for Sesko and Gyokeres, as widely reported elsewhere too, and Jacobs says that they would both welcome a move to north London. However, the key for a deal to be done is, of course, down to their final price tags.
Arsenal’s aim is to sign Sesko or Gyokeres for around £60 million, but personal terms shouldn’t be a problem for either really, especially considering the latter is only on around £40,000-per-week in Portugal right now.
Given the likes of Man United are also hunting for a top striker, amid links to Gyokeres in particular, Arsenal cannot afford to dilly-dally for too long here.
Manchester United’s rebuild this summer has already begun just days into the transfer market, with Ruben Amorim desperately needing to make his own stamp on the squad.
The Red Devils will be hoping for a huge reaction next campaign, after the side registered their lowest ever Premier League points tally and league finish in 2024/25.
Matheus Cunha has already completed his switch to Old Trafford, with the Brazilian moving to the North West in a £62.5m deal from fellow top-flight outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Matheus Cunha
However, despite the massive fee spent on the 25-year-old, it does not appear to scupper any other plans in the market, with numerous names continuously linked with a summer move to the club.
All areas of the pitch are set for investment from INEOS, with Amorim finally getting the opportunity to sign and sell players who may or may not be part of his plans ahead in the coming years.
The latest on United’s hunt for new players this summer
Bryan Mbeumo appears to be the latest addition to be made by the United hierarchy this summer, after he confirmed his desire to leave Brentford for a switch to Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils will reportedly approach Thomas Frank’s side this week over a deal for the 25-year-old, but the Bees are set to demand a fee in the region of £60m for his signature this window.
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates for Brentford
The Cameroonian could be joined by another new addition at the Theatre of Dreams by Aleksandar Mitrovic, that’s if talkSPORT’s latest update on the transfer front is to be believed.
They reported that United are seriously considering a potential bid for the Serbian international, who currently plies his trade for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
The article also states that West Ham and Everton are monitoring the 30-year-old’s progress, with the Middle Eastern outfit demanding a fee in the region of £40m to part ways with their talisman.
Why Mitrovic would be a huge upgrade on Delap
Liam Delap was once seen as United’s number one target for the centre-forward role, but circumstances elsewhere have seen the club move on this summer.
The 22-year-old has completed his medical ahead of his proposed move to Chelsea this summer, after Enzo Maresca’s side triggered the £30m release clause in his contract.
It may be a blessing in disguise after allowing the English youngster to move to Stamford Bridge, with many supporters unsure whether he would be the answer to their goalscoring issues.
He did manage to score 12 times for the Tractor Boys this season – an impressive tally for a player in a relegated outfit – but it’s unclear whether he will be able to sustain a record in 2025/26.
Such a situation has seen the hierarchy targeting a move for former Fulham star Mitrovic, with the Serbian talisman massively outperforming Delap when comparing their respective figures from this season.
He’s registered 28 goals in his 36 appearances throughout this campaign, a tally more than double than that of the soon-to-be Chelsea man and eight more than Mbeumo – highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.
The striker has also placed more of his efforts on target and achieved a better goal per 90 rate, handing Amorim the sensational talisman he’s desired since taking the reins.
Games played
23
37
38
Goals scored
21
12
20
Goals per 90
0.9
0.4
0.5
Shot-on-target accuracy
48%
43%
43%
Shots on target per game
2.2
1
0.9
Shots taken
4.4
2.3
2.1
Aerials won
2.7
1.9
0.9
Mitrovic’s dominance doesn’t end there, winning more aerials than the aforementioned duo, handing the latter an opportunity to increase his own goal tally, given his ability to play as a focal point.
Missing out on Delap may be a concern, especially to a direct rival in the ‘big six’, but ultimately, if they were to pursue a move for the former Fulham star, it would be a sensational deal that could transform the club’s fortunes.
It may not be the glamorous name many were anticipating, but his tally of 38 goals in England’s top-flight, he has what it takes to be a success and play a key role in their revival next time around.
After Cunha: Man Utd set to make £29m move to sign their new Berbatov
Manchester United could sign their new Dimitar Berbatov this summer.
Manchester United are now considering a move to sign an “incredible” Bayern Munich midfielder for just £25 million, according to a recent report.
Bruno Fernandes set to stay at Man Utd after Nations League triumph
International duty has taken centre stage in the last week or so, and like nearly every Premier League team, United have players all over the globe representing their countries.
Their best CF since Ronaldo: Man Utd eager to sign "fearless" £44m striker
Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker who would be their best forward since Cristiano Ronaldo.
ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2025
But not many will have had a better time with their country than Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, who were part of the Portugal squad that won the Nations League. Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties on Sunday following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
Fernandes played the entire 120 minutes and even netted in the penalty shootout win, while Dalot was an unused substitute, as he was in the semi-final win over Germany.
This is Fernandes’ second trophy with his country, and after the game, the Red Devils skipper revealed “winning with Portugal is different”.
“I’m going to celebrate with my teammates and my family. It’s a special moment for everyone. Winning for Portugal is different. It’s for our family, for our people, for the country, for our people.
Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action with Denmark's Christian Norgaard and Portugal's RafaelLeao
“Once again, the wave of red that I saw so much on social media was there and made us feel like we were playing at home. Thank you very much for all the support; it was excellent. We felt it, from start to finish, from the moment we got to the end.
“Everything we did during the game helped us win. We knew we were going up against a great team, and at the same time, we knew we were a team of the same level. We knew Spain’s qualities; we were very aggressive when losing the ball, which was very important.”
Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" £25m Bayern Munich ace
As Fernandes continues celebrating, the Red Devils now have their eye on one of his international teammates. According to Mirror Football, relayed by Simply Utd on X, Man United are weighing up a move to sign Joao Palhinha.
Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhalooks dejected as he walks off after receiving a red card
The 29-year-old only joined Bayern Munich from Fulham last summer, but it was a very underwhelming first campaign for the Portuguese enforcer – he only played 17 games in the Bundesliga, as his season was hampered by injuries and competition in the midfield area.
It’s been reported that Palhinha, who has been dubbed “incredible” in the past, may leave Munich this summer, given his struggles, but it is unlikely they are going to get near the £44 million they paid Fulham in 2024. In fact, this report states that United could sign the midfielder for just £25 million.
Palhinha
Casemiro
Apps
17
24
Starts
6
18
Progressive passes
32
84
Progressive carries
3
4
Passes attempted
552
990
Passes completed
510
780
Tackles (won)
20 (14)
83 (50)
Interceptions
4
14
Blocks
13
39
Clearances
9
51
His arrival at Old Trafford could see him be the man to replace Casemiro, who, while he performed very well towards the end of the season, could be a player who is allowed to leave, given his hefty wages. Talk of an exit has gone quiet in recent months, but Amorim will want to trim his squad down given no European football, and given Casemiro’s age, he could be one that is on the chopping block.
This is going to be a big summer for Liverpool. Bigger, perhaps, than any stretch of off-season at Anfield since Phil Coutinho was sold to Barcelona for an exorbitant fee and Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were brought in as replacements.
FSG have a bit of a reputation for being frugal in the transfer market, but Liverpool are hardly averse to strengthening and know that they have chinks to cover if they are to successfully defend their Premier League title next season, challenge for the Champions League too.
But with Trent Alexander-Arnold off to Real Madrid, Andy Robertson declining, Darwin Nunez set to be sold after a disappointing three terms, Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation uncertain, and Ryan Gravenberch lacking competition at number six, it’s understandable that Arne Slot should demand investment.
That exhausting list isn’t actually exhaustive, though. Liverpool are always attentive to opportunities, and what’s bigger than Florian Wirtz’s desire to leave Bayer Leverkusen in search of a new challenge?
Liverpool's pursuit of Florian Wirtz
Former Leverkusen star Patrick Helmes remarked at the start of the season that Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world.” He may well be right.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
Wirtz, certainly, is one of the most exciting and entertaining playmakers in the business, having played an instrumental role in Xabi Alonso’s invincible domestic double last year and now finishing the current campaign with 31 goal involvements to his name.
Though he typically operates from a number ten berth, the Germany international is proven across a whole range of attacking positions, with his seasonal Bundesliga heatmap, sourced via Sofascore, denoting a left-leaning preference.
Attacking midfield
169
48
57
Left winger
21
4
5
Right winger
17
8
5
Centre-forward
15
7
7
Central midfield
5
0
3
While Bayern Munich have the lead in the race for the attacking midfielder, Liverpool and Manchester City are both hot on his trail, as per The Athletic.
Who knows where he’ll end up, but given Die Werkself are looking to claim some £101m for his sale, Liverpool have lined up alternatives.
Liverpool eyeing marquee deal
Liverpool will lose Alexander-Arnold this summer, and, yes, it would be a shock if he didn’t sign for Real Madrid. However, Rodrygo may travel in the opposite direction, having been left disgruntled by his role at Los Blancos this year.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are plotting to make their move for the Brazilian forward, who would cost FSG something in the region of £85m.
Arsenal are also named as suitors, but it’s said that Mikel Arteta’s side are deterred by Real Madrid’s financial demands, thus leaving the door open for Liverpool to make their move as the Gunners not wanting to pay the fee could give them an advantage in the race to sign him.
Scout Mick Brown is quoted as saying that the Reds are not happy with their current forward options and that they could make a move for the Brazilian if he becomes available this summer.
Why Rodrygo would be perfect for Liverpool
Only a few months ago, in March, Jude Bellingham claimed Rodrygo is “the most gifted player in the squad.”
There’s been something selfless about the versatile winger’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu, for he has never quite reached the reputation of his frontal peers yet has been one of the most important players under Carlo Ancelotti’s wing.
Across 267 appearances for Real, Rodrygo has notched 118 goal contributions, a very good return when considering he arrived at the club an 18-year-old in 2019, leaving his Brazilian homeland, leaving Santos.
It might not have been the best of seasons for the South American, but he’s still showcased his skills wonderfully. As per Sofascore, the £202k-per-week talent has still hit six goals and five assists from just 22 La Liga starts, averaging 1.6 dribbles and key passes per game while winning 56% of his ground duels.
Real Madrid rarely sell players they don’t want to, but Rodrygo’s situation is a little more complex: with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both nailed down in their left and central berths, Liverpool’s target has been ferried off to the right, where he’s at his most ineffective.
Despite Rodrygo’s frustrations this season, deployed in his favoured left-sided position only 12 times (though scoring six goals and supplying six assists), he has played 50 games and still stands firm against Wirtz. He’s even been described as a “magician” by Statman Dave.
In balmier conditions, angled toward breeding positivity for the wideman, there’s no telling how far he could climb. Slot has something of a knack for getting the best out of bothered stars, and Rodrygo could be next, having been praised for being a “more mature player” than compatriot Vini by former Brazil boss Tite.
A man for the big moments, you’d be surprised if Rodrygo didn’t have a say in Liverpool’s efforts on the continental front going forward, should Slot win the race for his services.
It’s not just his clutch moments, though, with an underlying surety in his actions illustrating his world-class quality. As per FBref, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and for carries into the final third and the top 12% for passes attempted.
Rodrygo is fleet-footed, but he’s also inventive and crisp on the ball. Eager to get on it, his vicious blend of deadliness and dynamism suggests he would be a tailor-made addition to Slot’s project, especially if the Dutch coach is willing to unleash him from the left flank, as the player wishes but rarely receives in the Spanish capital.
Ultimately, either Rodrygo or Wirtz would have a significant impact on a flourishing Liverpool side. Wirtz might feel like the most favourable pick, but the £85m-rated star’s stunning career has merely lulled this year, and if Slot were to pick him back up from the Madrid wayside, he might just take his team to the next level.
A better signing than Wirtz: Liverpool ramp up move for "the next Mbappe"
Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.
Arsenal are now leading the race to sign an “incredible” £30m forward this summer, having overtaken rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature, according to a report.
Gunners set sights on new forwards
While the dream of winning the Premier League title may be over, it is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan, with Mikel Arteta’s side potentially just two games away from reaching the Champions League final.
The Gunners blitzed past Real Madrid in the quarter-final, despite being without an out-and-out striker, but in order to push for the title next season, Arteta may need to bolster his attacking options this summer, and multiple forwards could be brought in.
A striker is of particular interest to the north Londoners, having recently held talks over Lille’s Jonathan David, with the Canadian joining the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak on the shortlist.
"I can tell you" – Fabrizio Romano says striker "will arrive" at Arsenal
The reliable journalist has shared an update on Andrea Berta’s plans this summer.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025
With Bukayo Saka’s absence this season exposing the lack of depth out wide, Arteta could also look to sign a new winger this summer, and it was recently revealed that Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman could be available for a fee of just £30m.
There has now been a new update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Coman, with a report from Football Insider revealing they are now leading the race to sign the forward, despite interest from rivals Tottenham.
The Frenchman could be allowed to leave Bayern this summer, given that he has fallen down the pecking order, and the Emirates Stadium is said to be his most likely destination, with Spurs unable to offer consistent Champions League football.
The Gunners may face competition for the winger’s signature from Saudi Pro League clubs, but they should stand a good chance of winning the race, given that Arteta will have a lot of money to spend this summer.
Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures
Date
Crystal Palace (h)
April 23rd
Paris Saint-Germain (h)
April 29th
AFC Bournemouth (h)
May 3rd
Paris Saint-Germain (a)
May 7th
Liverpool (a)
May 11th
Coman could be "incredible" signing for Arsenal
The Paris-born winger may not currently be receiving as much game time as he has previously, but he continues to impress when given the opportunity, most recently scoring in his side’s 4-0 victory against Heidenheim last time out.
Not only that, but the “incredible athlete”, as lauded by BBC journalist Raj Chohan, has proven himself at the highest level in the past, most famously scoring the winning goal for Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
It is clear the Gunners could do with more depth in attack, having been left light on numbers for large parts of this season, and Coman’s top-level experience indicates he could be a fantastic signing, especially at just £30m.
Bosch, promoted to No. 3, struggled with her strike-rate in challenging batting conditions while the spinners couldn’t exert control
Firdose Moonda07-Oct-20243:01
Takeaways: Kapp too low, Wyatt-Hodge in full glow
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 still needs a proper fire-starter but it got a slow-burner in the first almost-nail-biter, which asked more questions of the last edition’s losing finalists South Africa, than it did of the team they beat then, England.That says as much about the development of South Africa as it does about the expectation on them. They have lost 20 of the 25 T20Is they’ve played against England. But as a team that have progressed steadily since professionalisation in 2014, South Africa are now supposed to push the big three – England, Australia and India. Their falling short will be a cause for careful critique, especially as their search for a semi-final spot continues.The first question will come over the batting because despite setting the best first innings score in five games in Sharjah, South Africa still did not do enough. Their 124 looked around “10 to 20 runs short,” Laura Wolvaardt said at the post-match presser, especially after they started strongly with 31 runs from the first five overs. Tazmin Brits was dismissed on the first ball of the sixth over, trying to create a boundary opportunity by advancing against Linsey Smith. South Africa then stalled. Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch played out seven boundary-less overs after the powerplay, which raises concerns about South Africa’s approach.Related
October 9 at T20 World Cup: SA look to get back to winning ways; Harmanpreet fit to play for India vs SL
Senior pros put on a Sharjah show to extend England's unbeaten start
Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone lead England to classy victory
The obvious one is why they chose to send in Bosch ahead of Marizanne Kapp, the player they have used at No. 3 for most of the build-up to the tournament. Wolvaardt suggested it was a management decision.”She’s traditionally batted three for us in the past but Annneke was striking it really well leading up to this and Marizanne obviously has quite a hectic workload as a seam-bowling all-rounder,” Wolvaardt said. “I think that’s something that our batting coach Baakier Abrahams here has been thinking about it for many hours in his room and I’m sure he has a reason behind the line-up as it is.” But Wolvaardt said she would, “definitely open to any changes.”If the coaching staff feel the same way, it is simply a change back to what seemed to be their pre-tournament plans, when Kapp herself embraced the prospect of batting higher up the order. If they don’t, that might be in keeping with some unusual tournament trends, which has seen other batters also coming in out of position, seemingly for workload reasons.Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, who had been promoted to No.5 in the pre-tournament series against South Africa, has returned to No.7. Asked on two occasions for the reasons behind that, she maintained it was a team decision but Sana’s ability for Pakistan (her 30 against Sri Lanka won them their opening game) is as clear as Kapp’s for South Africa and both should be batting higher up.Marizanne Kapp looked comfortable on a tough batting surface•ICC/Getty ImagesIn South Africa’s case that would also offer some cushioning to Bosch, who struggled with her strike-rate in challenging batting conditions. She had 14 scoring shots for her 18 runs and faced 12 dot balls which built pressure on the middle order when she was dismissed. Everyone from Bosch down had not batted in the opening game, and on surfaces like these, time in the middle is the best way to craft an approach. Chloe Tryon, Sune Luus and Nadine de Klerk will all want to be able to offer more in future fixtures.The other reason South Africa struggled to score was the efficacy of England’s spinners, who had the advantage of experience in Sharjah, on a slow pitch. Sophie Ecclestone was particularly difficult to get away and her stump-to-stump line produced 10 dot balls and had the best economy rate of the match: 3.75. Contrastingly, South Africa’s two left-arm spinners Nonkululeko Mlaba and Tryon conceded 47 runs in seven overs between them, the latter conceding 25 in three overs.”Our spinners just lacked a little bit of control in the middle,” Wolvaardt said. “I felt like their spinners didn’t leave the stumps at all and it was really difficult to get away. But in saying that, it is quite hard to bowl to batters where it seems like all of them have a lap and a reverse sweep and it’s hard to set fields for that.”That leaves South Africa with something of a conundrum because they went from a raft of resources against West Indies three days ago to looking as though they lacked a little something in Sharjah. Their options were to include an extra seamer in Tumi Sekhukhune, although an extra pacer did not seem like an immediately sensible option in Sharjah, or to take a punt on the 18-year old legspinner Seshnie Naidu, which may have felt like throwing her to the wolves. Either way, that would have come at the expense of a batter, likely Annerie Dercksen, whose 20 not out off 11 balls showed why South Africa could not afford to do that.Getting the team combination right in Sharjah is tricky, especially as South Africa had not even seen the venue before the game. Training sessions are held at the ICC Academy in Dubai so they came into this game blind on actual experience, even though they kept an eye on proceedings on the television. They may look back and think they did not get it quite right and can use this match to consider how to approach things if they find themselves back here.South Africa do not play any more group games in Sharjah and next face Scotland in a day game and Bangladesh in a night game in Dubai. They could, however, find themselves playing a semi-final in Sharjah and if they get there, will want to show they have learnt their lesson.
NZ captain says domestic standards aren’t high enough after back-to-back drubbings
Valkerie Baynes13-Feb-20232:25
Devine: ‘It’s really hard to lose games like that’
A tearful Sophie Devine has admitted she’s at a loss to explain New Zealand’s double capitulation, which has left their T20 World Cup hopes in shreds after two games.Bowled out by South Africa for 67, their second-lowest T20I total just two days after slumping to 76 all out against Australia, Devine described both performances in Paarl as “embarrassing”.”I’m not sure too many words can describe the disappointment and… the embarrassment,” Devine said after losing to the hosts by 65 runs, scarcely better than their 97-run defeat to the Australians on Saturday. “That’s not good enough for an international cricket side and I take a lot of that as captain and how I lead this team, and it’s not good enough.”You’ve got to be brave in positions like that. We spoke about it after the Australia game, that we’d rather go down swinging and then go back into our shells and we probably did that again tonight, which is disappointing. And we’ve got to find out why that’s happening because you can’t do that, particularly at World Cups. So they’re some of the discussions that we’re going to have to have because I know we’ve got the skill. We’ve worked very hard as a team. It’s not the effort. It’s how we’re putting it out here on the park. It’s tough.”With a run-rate “absolutely out the window” at -4.050, Devine acknowledged that reaching the knockout stages was unrealistic but she said New Zealand’s remaining games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka remained valuable as her side tries to unearth why things are going so wrong and how they can improve after their batting order failed for a second straight match. And she called for an examination of her country’s domestic structure to find a solution longer-term”I’m sure we’re going to absolutely dissect every part of this tournament and this campaign when we get back to New Zealand and I think a big part of that’s going to be our domestic game,” she said. “If I’m being brutally honest, I’m not sure if it’s preparing us for international cricket and you’re seeing now, obviously, the WBBL, the Hundred and now the WPL, they’re highly competitive tournaments and they’re preparing players.”We’ve seen Australia, we’re seeing England and I’m scared to think what India’s going to be like with the opportunities that they give themselves. I think we’ve done great things in New Zealand with our domestic cricket but I’m not sure it’s at the same standard as those other competitions so, look, I think everything’s going to be picked apart and rightly so when we get back to New Zealand.”Devine was also critical of the timing of the WPL auction, which began three hours before England faced Ireland and continued throughout that match, ending shortly before the South Africa and New Zealand players took the field.Devine and Amelia Kerr were the only two New Zealand players picked up at the auction, going to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians respectively. Five other players in their team, including opener Suzie Bates, were called but failed to secure deals.Related
Devine: 'There's not much depth coming through'
South Africa secure atonement as Paarl warms to the World Cup party
Australia favourites but can anyone rattle them in Group A?
South Africa storm back into contention as hapless NZ face meek elimination
Capsey and Ecclestone give England net-run-rate boosting win
“I think you’re living under a rock if you think it wasn’t a distraction,” Devine said. “It was bizarre to be honest. I think the timing of it, obviously not ideal but it is what it is. And it was. There was lots of discussions amongst our players about it. But again, we were really open with it, how we felt. I don’t know what the right or the wrong way was to handle it, but I certainly thought that as a group, we spoke about it openly and how it affected us and it’s tough.”It really put you in the spotlight a little bit so it’s not ideal timing but, bigger-picture stuff, it’s pretty incredible for women’s sport and women’s cricket to see some of the money that was thrown around in the tournament that’s going to be kicking off shortly.”Devine was also keen to protect the youngsters in her team, like Eden Carson, who took the early wicket of Tazmin Brits among her 2 for 23, and teenager Fran Jonas. And, while visibly angry at the nature of New Zealand’s latest defeat, she said there would be no shouting as she and team management dissect the performance.”It’s probably going to come out in tears if I’m honest,” she said. “It’s really hard to lose games of cricket like that. I’d much rather we went down swinging and got bowled out for 12 than not show our true ability and be pumped like that. Full credit to South Africa, they were the much better team. Me getting angry is not going to solve anything. I don’t know the answer. I honestly don’t and that’s what’s really hard. That’s what we’re going to have to figure out as a team.”It’s been upsetting and it’s been embarrassing and disappointing, but I’d give anything to play for this group and for the girls that are in that shed upstairs right now. Me getting angry isn’t going to do anything about it. If anything, I need to get around them, wrap my arm around them, particularly those youngsters… we spoke about it after the Australia game, we never want to put them two in that position, and we did it again today. So we’ve got to find the positives amongst it, but it’s going to be a pretty messy 24 hours.”