Hesson replaces Aqib Javed, who was interim head coach for five months
Danyal Rasool13-May-2025Mike Hesson has been announced as head coach of the Pakistan white-ball team. The former New Zealand head coach, who is currently with PSL defending champions Islamabad United, will join the PCB from May 26, the day after the conclusion of the PSL 2025. The PCB have not officially revealed the length of Hesson’s contract, but ESPNcricinfo understands he has been appointed on a two-year deal.Hesson replaces Aqib Javed, who was interim head coach for five months, taking over after Gary Kirsten abruptly resigned six months into a two-year contract as head coach. Javed, meanwhile, has been appointed director of High Performance. ESPNcricinfo understands he will continue to remain in position as one of five voting members on the PCB selection committee, a position he continued to hold while serving as head coach.”I am pleased to announce the appointment of former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s team,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said. “Mike brings with him a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides. We look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket. Welcome to the team, Mike!”Related
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The PCB pursued Hesson as their first priority as soon as the position became vacant in April. His first assignment is likely to be a five-match T20I series against Bangladesh at home, should it go ahead according to schedule.Hesson, 50, was appointed head coach of New Zealand in 2012, enjoying a highly successful six years in the position with the national side. Under Hesson, New Zealand became a dominant force at home and reached their first World Cup final in 2015, when they lost to Australia.He was appointed director of cricket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL in 2019, before they parted ways in 2023.Pakistan do not currently have a red-ball coach, with no details on when one is expected to be appointed. Javed served as interim Test coach for Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and home series against West Indies at the turn of the year after Jason Gillespie quit the role six months into his stint. Pakistan’s next Test series comes at home against South Africa in October.
انتقد الألماني توني كروس، قرار مواطنه هانز فليك، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة في مباراة ريال مدريد بكلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني.
وتمكن ريال مدريد من الفوز على برشلونة بثنائية مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الجولة العاشرة من “لا ليجا”، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.
وخلال البودكاست الذي يقدمه كروس رفقة أخيه، انتقد الألماني مشاركة إريك جارسيا في المباراة بجانب باو كوبارسي في مباراة تنافسية وقوية مثيل ريال مدريد.
وقال كروس، ونقلت تصريحاته صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “في قلب الدفاع، لا أفهم سبب لعب جارسيا برغم من أنه من الناحية الكروية أفضل قليلًا من أراوخو لكن الأخير يتمتع بالقوة البدنية الكافية لملاحقة الخصوم بشكل أكبر، خاصةً عندما تدافع من منطقة متقدمة في الملعب، كان ليكون اللاعب المثالي لهذا الأسلوب وهذا الخصم”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ثنائي برشلونة يغيب عن تدريبات الفريق.. و”سبورت” توضح السبب
وأضاف: “عندما يكون مبابي وفينيسيوس في مواجهتك فأنت بحاجة إلى لاعب يتمتع بهذه السرعة، أراوخو قادر على ذلك ولقد فوجئت جدًا بغيابه”.
وانتقد كروس عدم وجود بديل لراحل إينيجو مارتينيز: “لقد ذكرت ذلك بالفعل حينها، كان إينيجو مارتينيز مهمًا للغاية، في العام الماضي كان قلب دفاع برشلونة بأفضل مستوى له وكان الأكثر تأثيرًا في توزيع الكرة في كافة أرجاء الملعب، لم يكن الأسرع لكنه كان مدافعًا ممتازًا ولديه طريقة لعب رائعة”.
وأردف: “ضد ريال مدريد كان غيابه ملحوظًا عندما عانى الفريق تحت الضغط العالي المتواصل الذي نفذه اللاعبون، لم يخرجه فليك من الملعب وهذا كان له أثر على النتيجة”.
وأتم: “من الإنصاف القول إن برشلونة وصل ضعيفًا للغاية، من حارس المرمى إلى المدرب، كما كانوا يفتقدون لاعبين أساسيين مهمين مثل رافينها وداني أولمو وليفاندوفسكي”.
Celtic are in action in the quarter-finals of the League Cup this weekend as they prepare to take on Partick Thistle to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Hoops thrashed Falkirk 4-1 in the last 16 of the League Cup earlier this season, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston, and Dane Murray, along with a Liam Henderson own goal.
This clash with Partick Thistle will provide Brendan Rodgers with a chance to rotate his side, which could see Arne Engels handed a rare chance to impress.
Why Celtic should be worried about Arne Engels
After selling Adam Idah to Swansea City for a deal worth up to £7m, £1.5m less than they paid Norwich City for him last year, the Hoops should be worried that Engels is the next big-money signing to ultimately flop at Parkhead.
The Belgium international, who signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg last year, has only started two of the club’s five matches in the Scottish Premiership this season, and was an unused substitute against Kilmarnock last time out.
Engels has failed to score a goal and provided one assist in seven appearances in all competitions this season, after a return of ten goals and 13 assists in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.
The 22-year-old midfielder has found himself out of the side and potentially clinging onto his career at Parkhead, and it is because of the summer signing of Benjamin Nygren.
Why Benjamin Nygren could end Arne Engels' career at Celtic
The Sweden international, who sometimes played as a striker before his move to Celtic, was compared to legendary centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was 16.
First Impressions
What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.
Nygren is Swedish and also has a lanky build, which is why it is not a surprising comparison, but he has established himself as a central midfielder at Parkhead, rather than as a centre-forward like Ibrahimovic.
Despite mainly playing as a right winger for Nordsjaelland in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, the £1m (£1.3m) signing has locked in a spot alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate in central midfield, which was the slot that Engels filled last term.
Appearances
5
Starts
5
Goals
3
Key passes per game
3.2
Big chances created
2
Assists
1
As you can see in the table above, Nygren has scored three goals and created 3.2 chances per game across five outings in the Premiership so far this season for the Hoops.
Engels, however, only scored two non-penalty goals and created 1.7 chances per game across 34 appearances in the top-flight for the Hoops last term, per Sofascore.
These statistics suggest that Celtic have improved their midfield by signing Nygren for £1.3m to replace Engels in the XI because of the quality that he has already provided as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
This is bad news for the Belgium international because it will now be difficult for him to break back into the starting line-up unless he is able to improve on his performances from last season and on Nygren’s this term.
If he cannot oust the Sweden international from the midfield before the January transfer window or next summer, there could be a decision to be made on his future, as there was with Idah when it was clear that Rodgers did not fancy him as the first-choice number nine moving forward.
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Therefore, Nygren, once compared to a legendary striker, may be the player who ends Engels’ career at Parkhead if he continues to impress in midfield for the Scottish giants.
Whilst Newcastle United have completed some major deals with summer, the biggest transfer story surrounding the club has been the potential exit of Alexander Isak to Premier League holders Liverpool.
Until this week, the player had been quiet on the situation, but ahead of the PFA awards, the Swedish striker put out a statement to explain why he would not be in attendance.
Isak first acknowledged the award ceremony and then his silence on the transfer controversy before sharing his perspective on the matter: “The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.”
After Isak’s post, the Magpies responded with a statement that denied the existence of any agreements and explained that they would be willing to sell Isak if their conditions are met, but at this stage, that has not happened, and they don’t foresee it happening this window. The statement concluded by saying that Isak would be welcomed to return to training once he accepts the situation.
Whilst the Isak transfer drama has captured the media’s attention, a different club has attempted to recruit another one of Newcastle’s players.
Ipswich approach Newcastle for Miley loan
Ipswich Town have approached Newcastle and inquired about signing 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley on a season-long loan.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has reported that this approach has been turned down as “Eddie Howe sees the teenager playing a key role” this season. Newcastle will once again be featuring in the Champions League, and it will be their first season playing it under the new format, meaning there’ll be guaranteed a higher level of European games than ever before.
These European fixtures, alongside the three domestic competitions, will require sufficient squad depth, and Miley is seen as a part of this. Downie shared that there has been interest in Miley from other clubs, but at this stage, Ipswich are the only ones to have made a formal approach.
Big season for "key player" Miley
This season is set to be an important one in Miley’s development. Over the last two seasons, he’s shown promise in brief cameos, but this season, with the heavy fixture schedule and Howe’s view of him as a “key player”, he will have more opportunities to prove himself and try and break his way into the team.
Becoming a starter for Newcastle is no easy task, especially in the midfield, as they currently have one of the most cemented midfield threes in the league with Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães. The club have also been linked to Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, which would make the competition for places even tougher.
If, when Miley is given a chance this season, he produces performances of a similar quality to last season, he will be in with a chance of breaking into the first team. Last season, he ranked in the 99th percentile of similar players for tackles made per 90, and he was in the top 5% for tackle success rate.
It’s not just defensively where Miley shines, as he also scored in the league despite only playing in the competition for 300 minutes. With more game time, he will be able to demonstrate more of his attacking ability and prove himself as an all-round midfielder who can step in for any of the three starters when necessary.
Manchester United’s summer rebuild continues at pace as they search for the final pieces to complement Ruben Amorim’s evolving side.
Having already spent in excess of £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, United have shown clear intent to strengthen in attack.
Yet despite the influx of firepower, questions remain over midfield balance – particularly in terms of athleticism, ball progression and controlling matches against top opposition.
Amorim has made no secret of his desire for an additional central midfielder capable of dictating tempo while also providing physicality.
Amorim's midfielder of choice
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was initially earmarked as the prime candidate, but with the Seagulls demanding £100m, United have turned to other options.
Sevilla’s Lucien Agoumé is also on the radar, but the most intriguing development concerns a young English midfielder whose calmness and intelligence on the ball has already drawn comparisons with Michael Carrick.
Manchester United Michael Carrick
That comparison is telling. Carrick was never the most dynamic in terms of pace or power, but his ability to anticipate danger, dictate tempo and distribute with precision underpinned Manchester United’s dominance during his time at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s side currently lack that kind of conductor, and the search to fill the role has led them towards one of the Premier League’s most exciting emerging talents.
According to reports, via the Daily Mirror, Manchester United are among a host of clubs interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
The 21-year-old has made a rapid rise since leaving Blackburn Rovers and has quickly established himself as a key figure at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton
Wharton’s composure in possession and ability to dictate rhythm have earned him plaudits from across the game.
Palace content creator HLTCO recently described him as a “truly special talent,” while his mature displays have already secured him three England caps and a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
After losing Eberechi Eze in a £60m deal to Arsenal, any move for Wharton is expected to cost £100m.
Manchester United are not alone in their pursuit. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool are also tracking his progress, a reflection of the scale of his potential.
The competition means this would be a complex transfer to complete – particularly for a club still finding its feet under Amorim.
Wharton's profile and the Carrick comparison
What makes Wharton so appealing to Manchester United is not only his technical quality but also the style of player he represents.
Unlike the archetypal modern holding midfielder defined by athleticism and pressing intensity, Wharton operates with intelligence, positional awareness and an assured passing range.
That profile naturally recalls Carrick, who joined United in 2006 and went on to form a formidable midfield partnership with Paul Scholes.
Carlos Tevez with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.
Carrick’s value lay in his vision, distribution and ability to anticipate play rather than raw physicality.
He dictated matches through composure and passing variety, and Wharton is beginning to show signs of a similar profile.
Statistically, the Palace man already ranks impressively among his positional peers.
According to FBref, last season he was in the 91st percentile compared to positionally similar players for both key passes (1.78 per 90) and progressive passes (7.31 per 90), while also hitting the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions (4.03 per 90).
His defensive contribution is equally notable, with 96th-percentile numbers for ball recoveries (6.97 per 90) and 93rd percentile for completed challenges against dribblers (3.00 per 90).
These figures highlight his ability to influence matches at both ends of the pitch.
Matches Played
20
Starts
16
Assists
2
Progressive Carries
14
Progressive Passes
107
Pass Completion Rate
75.6%
Recycling possession, breaking up attacks, and advancing the ball into dangerous areas.
It is this blend of composure and progression that makes him stand out in a Premier League environment where many holding midfielders are primarily destructive.
The challenge for United would be extracting Wharton from Palace at a fee that reflects both his current impact and potential ceiling.
With Eze already gone and Wharton tied to a long contract, Palace will feel under no pressure to sell unless an extraordinary offer is made.
That said, the parallels with Carrick are significant. When Sir Alex Ferguson sanctioned the £18m deal to bring Carrick from West Ham nearly two decades ago, many questioned the outlay. In hindsight, it proved one of his most important transfers.
United’s recent midfield struggles underline why a player of Wharton’s profile could be transformative.
Amorim’s side ended last season in 15th place and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham, a campaign that exposed both a lack of control in possession and an over-reliance on moments of individual brilliance.
While Cunha, Mbeumo and Šeško should add cutting edge, without balance in midfield their contributions may be undermined.
Wharton is not a guarantee of success, nor would he single-handedly fix United’s issues. But his intelligence, progressive passing and reading of the game make him a rare commodity, and one who could grow into the type of midfield fulcrum United have lacked since Carrick’s retirement.
Whether they can persuade Palace to part with him remains to be seen.
For now, though, Wharton has already done enough to make Old Trafford dream of a midfield once again built on control and composure.
Better signing than Baleba: "Phenomenal" star now wants to join Man Utd
Manchester United could make an even better signing than Carlos Baleba by landing this star.
شن جاري نيفيل، أسطورة نادي مانشستر يونايتد، نقدًا لاذعًا ضد لاعب نادي ليفربول، وذلك عقب الهزيمة التي تعرض لها الريدز اليوم السبت ضد تشيلسي بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ليفربول مني بهزيمة قاسية أمام تشيلسي بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد، اليوم السبت، وذلك في قمة منافسات الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب ستامفورد بريدج.
وتعتبر هذه هي الهزيمة الثالثة على التوالي لـ ليفربول في كافة المسابقات، والثانية تواليًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
اقرأ أيضًا .. سلوت يبرر هزائم ليفربول المتتالية ويثير الشكوك حول إصابة لاعبه أمام تشيلسي
وسلط نيفيل في تصريحات إلى شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، الضوء على مستوى إبراهيما كوناتي، مدافع ليفربول، والذي لعب بشكل سيء ضد تشيلسي.
ويرى نيفيل أن كوناتي قد أغضب مدرب ليفربول، آرني سلوت، في لقاء اليوم، مما جعل المدرب الهولندي يستبدله في شوط المباراة الثاني.
وقال نيفيل: “إذا شاهدت كوناتي وهو يستحوذ على الكرة في بداية الشوط الثاني، ستجد أنه كان يتمشى فقط ولا يتحرك بشكل جيد، كان الأمر محبطًا ومزعجًا بالنسبة لي لأكون صادقًا”.
وأضاف نيفيل في حديثه: ”أعتقد أنه أزعج أرني سلوت أيضًا لأنه قرر إشراك لاعب أفضل في الدفاع بشكل أساسي، لكنه لم يجيد الدفاع اليوم. إنه يقدم كل ما لديه، لكن ذلك لم يحدث اليوم”.
Aston Villa are on the verge of signing their first major signing of the transfer window with OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand. The deal is expected to be worth around £26m, plus more than £4m in add-ons.
Guessand has been with Ligue 1 side Nice since 2014 and rose through their academy to become a first-team player and earn himself a place in the Ivorian national team. Manager Unai Emery will be hoping that the goals and assists Guessand brings to the team will ensure they don’t have an end-of-season drop-off this time around, after the sale of Jhon Duran depleted their depth in the number nine position last term.
It won’t take long from Guessand’s debut for his versatility to be on full display for Villa fans. Last season, under Franck Haise, Guessand was utilised both as a centre forward and a winger. This fluidity in attack is similar to what Emery implemented in the latter half of last season with loan players Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
However, with the previously mentioned loanees returning to their respective parent clubs, Villa are still somewhat shorthanded up front. Due to this, Emery has identified a new striker target to help rectify the situation.
Emery "eager" to reunite with Jackson
Caught Offside have reported that Aston Villa have identified Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson as an ideal target. Jackson previously worked with the Villa boss while the pair were at Villarreal.
With the departure of Duran and an exit for Ollie Watkins still on the cards this window, Villa need to strengthen their attack, and Jackson is seen as a possible solution. Caught Offside’s source stated that “Villa are among the clubs most keen on Jackson. Unai Emery is eager to work with him again after their time together at Villarreal”.
Aston Villa don’t have a clear run at Jackson presently, with Newcastle United having held “informal talks” with Jackson’s representatives and Juventus monitoring the situation in the event they sell Dusan Vlahovic.
An even bigger hurdle for Villa will be finances, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens potentially needing to sell to buy, according to the same report. If Villa can navigate the PSR hurdles and retain Watkins however, they could have a very dangerous attack on their hands.
2024/25 Stats
Watkins
Jackson
Guessand
Games Played
38
30
33
Goals
16
10
12
Assists
8
5
8
Xg per 90
0.53
0.5
0.32
Goals Per 90
0.55
0.41
0.42
Stats via: FBREF
All three players are averaging close to a goal every other game. Watkins is the best in this regard, but he is the oldest and most developed player; there is still plenty of time for Jackson and Guessand to match him.
While it may look like Jackson is massively underperforming against his Xg compared to the others, there is an explanation for this. When evaluating Jackson as a Manchester United target, The Athletic’s JJ Bull explained how Jackson’s Xg underperformance has been misinterpreted as him missing a lot of goals he should score, when in reality it’s distorted by him taking a lot of shots he shouldn’t take and often shooting too early.
These three players, alongside the other attacking options they have in the squad, could see Villa push for Champions League football once again and help the club away from its financial issues.
Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell both have a lot on their plate in the summer transfer window as they look to build a Glasgow Rangers team that can compete for the Scottish Premiership title.
The Gers have failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons and the new Light Blues duo are tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox in the years to come.
They recently made their first signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth to bolster their defensive options. Lyall Cameron has also joined the Scottish giants, but he had agreed to sign from Dundee on a pre-contract deal in January.
As well as potential incoming signings, Martin and Thelwell will also have to deal with the potential of some of the club’s key players moving on from Ibrox.
Nicolas Raskin, for example, is a reported target for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as they aim to snap him up from Ibrox in the coming weeks.
Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers
If the Belgium international completes a move to England before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, Martin’s squad could be weaker.
The 24-year-old star walked away from last season with the Men’s Player of the Season and the Men’s Players’ Player of the Season awards to show for his efforts on the pitch for the Gers.
This demonstrates the high regard in which he is held at the club, among players, and by supporters, and it is well-deserved following his impressive displays in the Premiership and the Europa League.
Raskin did produce four goals and ten assists in the Premiership for Rangers, flexing his attacking quality, but it was his defensive work that really caught the eye domestically and in Europe.
Appearances
33
12
Tackles per game
2.8
3.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
1.3
Ball recoveries per game
5.6
7.4
Ground duel success rate
57%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
56%
55%
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfielder offered defensive protection in front of the back four with plenty of tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries.
These statistics illustrate why losing the former Standard Liege star would be a big blow for Martin, as he is a combative and quality midfield operator, but the Gers are reportedly interested in a gem who could be a dream replacement for him.
Rangers eyeing deal for Brazilian midfielder
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are lining up a move to sign Troyes central midfielder Metinho on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that the Light Blues are long-term admirers of the 22-year-old talent, and have been eyeing him up as a target throughout this summer.
It states that the Scottish Premiership giants are now ready to ramp up their efforts to bring the former Basel loanee to Ibrox, who joined Troyes for a fee of £4m from Fluminense in 2021, ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Russell Martin watches on whilst in charge of Southampton.
The Scottish Sun adds that Troyes are willing to cash in on the Brazilian star and that Basel are ‘desperate’ to win the race for his signature, which may be why Rangers are now looking to speed up their pursuit of the midfielder.
It now remains to be seen whether or not Thelwell will be able to do enough to beat the Swiss giants to his services before the end of the summer window.
Why Rangers should sign Metinho
The Ibrox side should push to beat Basel to this signing because the 22-year-old midfielder has the potential to be a dream replacement for Raskin this summer.
Nico Raskin
Metinho spent the first half of last season on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and only started two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, in what was a frustrating few months for the midfield talent.
However, a move to Basel in January helped him to kick on and flourish in the second half of the campaign, as he caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Swiss top-flight as a combative midfielder.
The right-footed star played 12 league matches for the club and completed 86% of his passes, whilst delivering two assists, but his most impressive contributions on the pitch came out of possession in the middle of the park.
Tackles made
2.77
Top 10%
Tackle success rate
71%
Top 20%
Duels won
6.66
Top 24%
Duel success rate
65%
Top 3%
Interceptions
1.51
Top 15%
Ball recoveries
6.66
Top 20%
Dribbled past
0.50x
Top 14%
As you can see in the table above, the Troyes loanee ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which show that he excelled off the ball as a screener in front of the back four.
His tackle and duel success rates are particularly impressive because they show that he is efficient with his defensive work, rather than competing in and losing a lot of duels. The Brazilian gem is tough to get past, which is why he is a formidable defender.
These statistics also suggest that he would be a dream replacement for Raskin to take up the defensive responsibilities that the Belgian has in midfield at Ibrox. The current Gers star averaged 2.84 tackles and interceptions and was dribbled past 0.86 times per 90 in the Premiership, whilst he won 66% of his tackles.
Metinho, who was once described as an “exciting” prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted more impressive defensive numbers than that in the Super League, as shown by his aforementioned statistics, which suggests that he has the potential to offer even more than Raskin out of possession.
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Of course, the £4m-rated star needs to add a goal threat to his game, as Raskin managed four league goals to go along with his ten assists, but he is only 22 and has time left ahead of him to develop into the dream replacement for the Belgian.
Leeds United had a problem between the posts last season. First-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier had an inconsistent campaign, despite keeping 21 clean sheets and conceding just 27 goals in 39 Championship games. As per Sofascore, he had a save percentage of 70.1%.
However, he made constant errors throughout the season. One of those came against Sunderland, where he failed to catch a ball slowly bouncing towards him in the penalty box, allowing the ball to shoot through his hands and into the back of the net. Former Leeds player Aidy White told BBC Radio Leeds that his old club have “got to drop” the Frenchman.
Leeds United's IllanMeslier
So, it might not come as a surprise that Daniel Farke’s side are after a new goalkeeper this summer, with a couple of names seemingly on their shortlist.
Leeds target new goalkeeper
So, it seems the Whites are definitely in the market for a new shot stopper this summer. After some poor mistakes from Meslier last term, Farke appears to want a new number one. According to a recent report from TEAMTalk, Yahia Fofana of Ligue 1 side Angers is an option.
However, he is not the only goalkeeper from the French top flight that Leeds are targeting. The same report suggests that the Yorkshire side’s number one target is Lyon’s Brazilian shot-stopper Lucas Perri. He has been described as a ‘prime target’ for the Whites.
TEAMTalk clarify that ‘contact has been made’ with the Brazilian’s camp already, having ‘caught the attention of Leeds’ recruitment team’ after impressing for Lyon. A fee of around £20m could be enough to secure his services this summer.
Why Perri would be a good signing
27-year-old Perri got a big move to Europe back in 2024, after impressing in the Brazilian top flight, most recently with Botafogo. He has since gone on to perform well in a Lyon shirt, which seems to have certainly piqued Leeds’ interest.
Last term for Les Gones, Perri, who was born in Valinhos, just outside of Sao Paulo, made 45 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25. In that time, he conceded 60 goals and kept 13 clean sheets.
Looking at Ligue 1 specifically, his numbers are impressive. He played 33 top-flight games, conceding 44 times and keeping ten clean sheets. Football analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best” in his position when he was at Botafogo, and it is not hard to see why, looking at those numbers.
Of course, Leeds have a good history when it comes to buying Brazilian talents from Ligue 1. Former winger Raphinha, who is now tearing things up in La Liga with Barcelona, is “ahead” in the race for the Ballon d’Or, according to the legendary Thierry Henry.
Leeds fans will never forget the contributions he put in at Elland Road before his move to Barca. In two seasons at the club, he scored 17 goals and grabbed 12 assists.
That included one last vital goal, a penalty away to Brentford in his final game for the club, which helped Leeds stay in the Premier League.
The Elland Road faithful would surely love to find the second coming of Raphinha in Perri. The track record of newly-promoted clubs staying in the top flight is not good recently, with all six sides going straight back down in the last two years.
However, the stats from Squawka suggest he is a goalkeeper who can help keep them in the Premier League. Perri had a 72.5% save percentage, higher than Meslier’s last season, and averaged 3.6 saves per 90 minutes in 2024/25.
Save percentage
72.5%
72.5%
Clean sheets
10
0.4
Long passes completed
122
3.7
Goals conceded
44
1.4
Saves made
116
3.6
Raphinha was the hero for Leeds at one end of the pitch during his spell at the club. If Farke’s side can secure the services of another Brazilian star from Ligue 1 in Perri, perhaps he could have the same impact as his countryman at the other end.
For just £20m, this could be a fantastic addition for Leeds. The “undervalued” talent – as described by Mattinson – would represent an upgrade on Meslier and could be a key part in their survival.
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Glamorgan kept their hopes of victory alive in their Vitality County Championship match against Northamptonshire in Cardiff thanks to two wickets from Mason Crane in the final session.Glamorgan had extended their first-innings lead to 211 thanks to late order runs from Crane, James Harris and Andy Gorvin allowing them to add to their overnight total.A score of 99 from Ricardo Vasconcelos and 55 not out from Luke Procter saw Northamptonshire claw themselves back into this match but the wickets from Crane pushed Glamorgan back into the stronger position.Northamptonshire will begin the final day of this match on 236 for four, just 25 runs in front with six second-innings wickets in hand. They will be hoping for another partnership to help them save this game but Glamorgan will be looking for early wickets so they can push for the win.Glamorgan resumed 111 runs in front of Northamptonshire and Crane and James Harris set about extending that in the opening hour. Crane is having his best season as a batter in first-class cricket. He made the second half-century of his career, the first coming in the away fixture against these opponents earlier in the season.Crane and Harris shared a stand of 63 that took Glamorgan into a sizeable lead, but the concern for the home side would have been the ease with which their lower order were scoring runs. The prodigious seam movement that was a feature of the first two days had all but disappeared and the final wicket stand between Crane and Andy Gorvin put on another 53 runs to take Glamorgan to 490 all out.Northamptonshire’s innings had a solid start thanks to a stand of 59 between Emilio Gay and Vasconcelos. Gay was dismissed by Gorvin when he edged through to Chris Cooke for 24. Prithvi Shaw had made it to 23 before he edged a low catch to Cooke to leave Northamptonshire 95 for two.Vasconcelos was steady throughout but as the day progressed the odd ball did misbehave. There were one of two balls from the Glamorgan seamers that bounced more than he expected but it wasn’t until the final session of the day that there seemed to be a real threat with the ball thanks to Crane’s leg spin. He bowled a long spell in the evening session where the ball began to turn.The stand between Procter and Vasconcelos took Northamptonshire exactly level with Glamorgan when Crane made the long-awaited breakthrough when he trapped Vasconcelos LBW for 99. When Crane had Rob Keogh caught at short leg first ball Northamptonshire were four wickets down in their second innings and exactly level with Glamorgan’s first innings score.Procter and Lewis McManus took Northamptonshire to the close without any further damage but there is still a long way to go before the visitors can consider this game safe.