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When the fixture list was drawn ahead of the upcoming season, things were not kind to Arsenal.

The Gunners faced trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park. They also faced Manchester City at home.

Thus, after seven weeks of action, for Arsenal to be top of the league, and top having conceded just once from open play, is seriously impressive.

While Mikel Arteta’s men now begin to motor, their closest rivals, Liverpool, falter. Last weekend, had the north Londoners lost and Arne Slot’s side secured victory, the gap between the two would have been eight points.

Instead, Arsenal lead by one after consecutive defeats for the Merseysiders. It’s funny how quickly football can change. Who knows just how important this weekend’s action will be come next May, though.

How Arsenal defeated West Ham

While on paper this clash looked like a straightforward victory for Arsenal, it has been a bogey fixture of late.

Indeed, as Thierry Henry reminded Bukayo Saka prior to Saturday afternoon’s fixture, the Hammers have won on their last two visits to the Emirates Stadium.

Well, with Graham Potter recently sacked and Nuno Santo now at the helm, a new manager bounce threatened a third straight victory for the Irons.

Fortunately for those of a red and white persuasion, that did not happen. In fact, Arsenal didn’t really have to work too hard for victory at all.

Indeed, Nuno’s men only had four shots throughout the entire game. To put that into context, the Gunners managed 21.

Much of their win is owed to that man Saka who, despite an injury-hit start to the campaign, is growing into the season nicely now.

Saka scored in the Champions League in midweek and followed that up by netting from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 after Jurrien Timber had been fouled.

That spot kick capped off an electric display from the winger who walked away at the end of the game with an expected assists (xA) tally of 1.11. To sum up how good that is, until Saturday, no player in the Premier League this season had accumulated more than 0.75 Expected assists (xA) in a single match.

The other hero of the day was Declan Rice, who once again found the net against his former employers.

The midfielder started the game in a deeper role, behind Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, but following Odegaard’s injury was pushed further forward again and his goal came as a result of a late dart into the penalty area.

It wasn’t the most free-flowing of displays from Arsenal but they got the job done and kept yet another clean sheet. Weaknesses are certainly few and far between; however, their 2-0 win wasn’t without one big negative.

The biggest negative from Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham

While another game went by without Viktor Gyokeres finding the back of the net, there was a bigger worry come full-time for Arteta.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Indeed, after just half an hour, Odegaard walked from the field with yet another injury. For the Norwegian, he has really been through the wringer over the last year and more specifically, this season.

To sum up the captain’s woes, on Saturday, he became the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive league starts. It’s a flabbergasting statistic.

It’s a rather dismal fact and one that is clearly a source of huge frustration for the midfielder. Last season, it was an ankle problem that disrupted his campaign and led to some below-par performances.

In the first few weeks of this season, it was his shoulder that was causing discomfort. He returned to the starting XI in midweek against Olympiacos and had a stunning hat-trick, winning the Man of the Match award.

Match rating

8.5

Assists

1

Key passes

4

Shots

4

Dribbles success

100%

Duels won

5/9

Odegaard was instrumental in the victory, providing the assist for Saka’s strike and supplying the pre-assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opener. Both passes were exceptional, but the first was a timely reminder of just how good the skipper is when fit and firing.

So, to get him back in a Premier League starting lineup on Saturday meant a lot. Sadly, it was robbed of him after just half an hour in heartbreaking scenes.

This time it was a knee problem, and it looks rather more significant on this occasion. Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta confirmed that his star playmaker had left the Emirates with his knee in a brace.

While this isn’t just frustrating for the player, it’s equally frustrating for the club. Once one of the finest wonderkids in the land, Odegaard has worked hard to get to where he is now.

Ignored and shunned by Real Madrid, the Norway international has found a home for himself in London, and he’s been one of the star players for a while now.

Cast your minds back to 2022/23 and you may well recall how he ended the term with 15 Premier League goals. No midfielder scored more in England’s top-flight that season.

Yet, he just cannot stay fit now and ended last campaign with just three league goals to show for his efforts.

Odegaard is yet to find the net this term and is plagued by injuries again. Might we have another Jack Wilshere on our hands here? The club will hope not, but parallels are almost uncanny.

Two of the most exciting wonderkids to have graced the game in the last two decades, they’re both left-footed, they both possess the same level of vision and sadly, Odegaard is quickly becoming as injury-prone as Wilshere.

He’s not there yet but if the 26-year-old is to live up to his enormous potential, he will need to find a way of stringing a run of games together.

As The Standard’s Simon Collings noted on Saturday, Odegaard has been “ridiculously unlucky” of late but to put things more bluntly, as one prominent fan noted, he looks like “he’s made of paper”. That was a phrase that sadly became synonymous with Wilshere.

While the Norwegian’s fitness up until the last year has not been too troubling, he is now in dangerous territory. The positive for Arteta is that he has a phenomenal replacement in Eze, but the negative is that he looks set to be without his captain again.

Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system has received plenty of criticism at Manchester United, but it looks here to stay as far as the manager is concerned and that may see one star player continue to suffer.

Amorim: "I am not going to change"

A 2-1 win against top six rivals Chelsea at least handed Amorim a much-needed glimmer of hope, but that doesn’t take away the problems that he still has in his Man United side.

Victory over the Blues saw the former Sporting Club boss reach just his ninth Premier League victory in around 10 months in charge, summing up the work that is still to come at Old Trafford. Yet, even with such a dismal record, Amorim has insisted that his 3-4-2-1 system will not be changing anytime soon.

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The manager told reporters after a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City: “I understand and accept it is not a record you should have in Manchester United.

“There are a lot of things, you have no idea what happened during these months but I am not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”

One player who has struggled to make his mark in the current system as of late is Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder has been forced to settle for a deeper role in front of the back three rather than one of the two most advanced positions. As a result, he has contributed to just one open-play goal all season, which came against Chelsea last time out.

According to former player Lee Sharpe, however, it’s not the captain who’s suffering the most under Amorim. Instead, it’s another one of United’s top players who’s struggling to find his feet.

Lee Sharpe reveals why Amad has "suffered" under Amorim

According to Sharpe, it’s Amad Diallo who has “suffered” during Amorim’s reign. The winger was United’s “best player” in stages of last season in the opinion of the former Old Trafford ace, but has now been limited by being asked to play a number of different roles instead of nailing down just one.

Without a goal all season and with just one assist to his name, the numbers certainly suggest that Sharpe is correct in his verdict. Alas, just like his formation, Amorim is unlikely to change things any time soon.

It’s difficult to remember when the mood in the Arsenal fanbase has been this positive.

While there are several reasons why, the most significant factor is undoubtedly Eberechi Eze’s arrival.

The England international has been one of the most entertaining players in the Premier League for years, and just before their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur got their hands on him, the Gunners swooped in to bring him back to the Emirates.

Now with less than a week until the window closes, it looks like the club could be about to bring in another talented player in an Eze repeat.

Arsenal eye Eze repeat

While Arsenal have made a few signings from foreign leagues this summer, Andrea Berta and Co have made good use of the Premier League market as well.

Transfer Focus

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

On top of Eze, the Italian oversaw deals to sign Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea and then, staying in West London, a deal to sign Christian Norgaard from Brentford.

In years gone by, that would be more than enough business for the Gunners, but now it looks like they could be going back to the Bees for another star in an Eze-esque deal.

At least that is according to a recent report from Graeme Bailey, who has claimed that Arsenal are interested in Nathan Collins.

The journalist has revealed that the Brentford captain has caught the eye of several top sides this summer, and alongside Spurs, the Gunners are one of them.

While the West Londoners do want to sell the 24-year-old, who they signed for just £23m a couple of seasons ago, there are still six days left until the window closes, and therefore every chance the Gunners could pull off an Eze repeat.

Why signing Collins would be an Eze repeat

While Eze and Collins obviously play in totally different positions on the pitch, there are plenty of reasons why Arsenal signing the latter would mirror their deal for the former.

The first reason, and then one their fans will likely enjoy the most, is that it could be yet another example of them hijacking a move for a player Spurs want to sign.

Baliey’s story makes it clear that one of the other sides currently most interested in the defender is the Lilywhites, and therefore, if the Gunners get in first, it’d give the fans yet more opportunity to gloat.

Another key similarity between the two is that both were, or are, in Collins’ case, key players for a fellow London-based Premier League side.

For example, although he doesn’t receive nearly as much media attention, the Irish titan is now Brentford’s captain and has made 80 appearances for the club.

Moreover, he’s not just earned the armband through his leadership skills, but also for the fact that he’s an immense centre-back.

In fact, journalist Mario Marra has gone as far as dubbing him “one of the best defenders in the Premier League,” and while that might sound somewhat hyperbolic, his underlying numbers suggest it might not be.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 1% of centre-backs in the Premier League last season for shots blocked, the top 3% for overall blocks, the top 4% for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

In other words, while he doesn’t attract many headlines, the Bees star is an accomplished defender who excels at the basics and is more than adept at the technical aspects of the game.

Collins’ Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
GCA (Fouls Drawn)	0.05	Top 1%
Shots Blocked	1.50	Top 1%
Penalty Kicks Won	0.05	Top 1%
Blocks	2.03	Top 3%
Touches (Att Pen)	1.82	Top 3%
Assists	0.08	Top 4%
npxG/Shot	0.15	Top 9%
SCA (Fouls Drawn)	0.05	Top 9%
Goal-Creating Actions	0.21	Top 9%
GCA (Dead-ball Pass)	0.03	Top 9%
Aerials Won	3.08	Top 11%
Fouls Drawn	0.82	Top 12%
Goals + Assists	0.13	Top 13%
All Stats via FBref

Ultimately, from beating Spurs to another player, the team he currently plays for, and his overall quality, signing Collins would be something of an Eze repeat for Arsenal.

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Looking to get one over on their Premier League rivals, Manchester United have now reportedly jumped ahead of Cheslea in the race to sign a young defender this month.

Man Utd still targeting reinforcements

For a team coming off the back of their worst-ever finish in the Premier League, Manchester United have enjoyed an excellent summer transfer window. The addition of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha should transform Ruben Amorim’s attack from entriely blunt into one of the sharpest in the so-called top six.

There were plenty of promising signs from Cunha and Mbeumo last weekend, in particular. Even as Arsenal stole a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, it was clear that the Red Devils were the better side on the day and deserved at least a point, if not all three.

Amorim reacted to the opening day defeat with plenty of pride, praising his players for their bravery and aggression in a marked improvement from last season.

There is still plenty of work to be done and improvements to be made, however, which could come courtesy of the transfer window. The Red Devils are still reportedly targeting deals to sign Senne Lammens and a Lucien Agoume as they aim to address two problem areas, whilst also setting their sights on a future star.

Man Utd jump ahead of Chelsea in Bright Ede race

As reported by Polish journalist Sebastian Staszewski, Manchester United are now ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Bright Ede from Motor Lublin this month. The 18-year-old defender has impressed in his home country and is reportedly valued at around €8.5m (£7m) as Lublin potentially cash-in ahead of the deadline.

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Those at Old Trafford aren’t alone in pursuit of Ede’s signature, though. Whilst Chelsea and Benfica have paused talks, an unnamed Italian club are also reportedly interested in signing the young defender to hand United some frustrating competition.

United’s interest in Ede should come as little surprise. INEOS have focused on welcoming young players and partiucularly young defenders since arriving, having already signed Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. Now, they could add a third young prospect to their backline in the form of the Polish defender.

Compared to Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes by scout Jacek Kulig, Manchester United would be landing an undeniable hidden gem if Ede went on and reached the same level as the dominant Brazilian in the Premier League.

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac asks the media to refrain from turning Jobe Bellingham's playing time concerns into a media frenzy as he warned the midfielder he will have to fight for a place in the starting XI. He claims the crucial thing is to perform as a team after the England international's was benched for the Champions League opener against Juventus on Tuesday.

• Bellingham dropped from Champions League clash

  Bellingham hasn't had the perfect start at Dortmund. Despite his strong performances in pre-season and an impressive debut at the Club World Cup, where he scored his first goal, he has struggled to get consistent playing time under coach Kovac. The Dortmund manager has been cautious in using him, especially in big matches like the Champions League opener against Juventus, where Bellingham was left on the bench.

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• AFP
  

  Dortmund open up on Bellingham's lack of playing time

  Bellingham was introduced in the 71st minute after replacing Felix Nmecha. This was his second consecutive game coming off the bench for Dortmund, sparking questions about Kovac's trust in him.

  "I understand the questions, but we're at BVB, and at BVB, there's a lot of competition and quality in the team," the coach told reporters. "I know what he can do. He's 19 years old and new to us. So we don't need to write anything that's totally unimportant. The crucial thing is that we perform as a team; everyone is part of that."

  Sporting director Sebastian Kehl also explained the situation, stating: "We've put a lot of effort into him (Bellingham) and don't need a topic about him every three days. In the end, we have a very, very large squad, which gives the coach several options."  

• Bellingham's parents confronted Dortmund sporting director

  After Bellingham was substituted at halftime in Dortmund's 3-3 draw with St. Pauli, his parents confronted sporting director Kehl in the tunnel to discuss his early withdrawal. The heated exchange prompted Dortmund to issue a firm reminder that family members are barred from restricted areas and that such incidents must not be repeated. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dortmund starts Champions League campaign with a draw

  Despite some commendable performances and taking a two-goal lead in the 86th minute, the Bundesliga club were unable to clinch a win against Juventus as the game ended in a 4-4 draw after two-late strikes from Dusan Vlahovic and Llyod Kelly. Kovac's side will now be facing Wolfsburg in their next league game on September 21, with the media keeping a close watch on Bellingham's selection.

أزالت مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الفرنسية الستار عن أصوات الصحفيين الذين قاموا بالتصويت للاعبين المرشحين المتنافسين على جائزة الكرة الذهبية لعام 2025.

وكان عثمان ديمبلي نجم باريس سان جيرمان قد استطاع أن يتفوق على العديد من اللاعبين ليفوز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية، في الحفل الذي تم يوم الاثنين الماضي في مسرح شاتليه في باريس.

وحصد عثمان ديمبلي 1380 نقطة في المركز الأول، وجاء لامين يامال نجم برشلونة في المركز الثاني بـ1059 نقطة، بينما حصد فيتينيا لاعب وسط باريس سان جيرمان 703 نقاط، واحتل محمد صلاح المركز الرابع بـ657 نقطة، بينما حل رافينها خامساً بـ620 نقطة.

أقرأ أيضاً.. لمن ذهب صوت مصر في الكرة الذهبية 2025؟

وجاءت أصوات الفرنسي والتي حصل على أغلبها من بين 100 صحفي مؤهل للتصويت على الجائزة بفضل تألقه مع باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي.

وبحسب “تريبونا” فقد تم الكشف عن أصوات الدول العربية عبر صحفييها في جائزة الكرة الذهبية، حيث قامت فقط الأردن والبحرين بالتصويت لمحمد صلاح نجم ليفربول في صدارة العشرة الأوائل للفوز بالجائزة.

وتتكون لجنة التحكيم في الكرة الذهبية للرجال من صحفيين متخصصين يبلغ عددهم 100 صحفي، حيث يقوم كل منهم باختيار 10 لاعبين، ويحصد صاحب المركز الأول في اختيارهم على 15 نقطة، ثم 12 نقطة للثاني و10 للثالث و8 للرابع و7 للخامس و5 للسادس و4 للسابع و3 للثامن ونقطتين للتاسع ونقطة للعاشر. وفيما يلي جاءت أصوات الدول العربية عبر صحفييها كممثلين عنها في جائزة الكرة الذهبية:

الصحفي عبد السلام “ممثل تونس”:

1- لامين يامال
2- عثمان ديمبلي
3- أشرف حكيمي
4- بيدري
5- محمد صلاح
6- رافينها
7- فيتينيا
8- كيليان مبابي
9- هاري كين
10- جيراسي

الصحفي “عروة قنواتي” ممثل سوريا:

1- عثمان ديمبلي
2- رافينها
3- محمد صلاح
4- لامين يامال
5- سكوت ماكتومناي
6- هاري كين
7- جانلويجي دوناروما
8- أشرف حكيمي
9- كيليان مبابي
10 – فيتينا

الصحفي ماجد الخليفي “ممثل قطر”:

1- عثمان ديمبلي
2- أشرف حكيمي
3- فيتينا
4- لامين يامال
5- كيليان مبابي
6- نونو مينديز
7- هالاند
8- هاري كين
9- جود بيلينجهام
10- خفيتشا كفاراتسخيليا

الصحفي صالح البارحي “ممثل عمان”:

1-عثمان ديمبلي
2- محمد صلاح
3- أشرف حكيمي
4- لامين يامال
5- رافينها
6- كيليان مبابي
7- هاري كين
8- فينيسيوس جونيور
9- بيدري
10 -إيرلينج هالاند

الصحفي محمد العراقي “ممثل فلسطين”:

1- عثمان ديمبلي
2- لامين يامال
3- فيتينا
4- أشرف حكيمي
5- محمد صلاح
6- رافينها
7- فيكتور جيوكيريس
8- ديكلان رايس
9- كيليان مبابي
10- نونو مينديز

 

الصحفي حسام بركات “ممثل الأردن”:

1- محمد صلاح
2- لامين يامال
3- عثمان ديمبلي
4- كول بالمر
5- كيليان مبابي
6- أشرف حكيمي
7- رافينها
8- فيتينا
9- هاري كين
10- لاوتارو مارتينيز

الصحفي سامي عبد الإمام “ممثل العراق”:

1- عثمان ديمبلي
2- أشرف حكيمي
3- رافينها
4- كيليان مبابي
5- محمد صلاح
6- لامين يامال
7- رايس
8- فيتينا
9- كول بالمر
10- فيكتور جيوكيريس

الصحفي أسامة محمد العامري “ممثل الإمارات”:

1- لامين يامال
2- أشرف حكيمي
3- فيتينا
4- كفاراتسخيليا
5- عثمان ديمبلي
6- رافينها
7- محمد صلاح
8- دوناروما
9- كول بالمر
10- كيليان مبابي

الصحفي يزيد وهيب “ممثل الجزائر”:

1- لامين يامال
2- عثمان ديمبلي
3- رافينها
4- بيدري
5- أشرف حكيمي
6- محمد صلاح
7- روبرت ليفاندوفسكي
8-ديزري دوي
9- كول بالمر
10 -جواو نيفيز

الصحفي خالد العرافة “ممثل السعودية”:

1- عثمان ديمبلي
2- لامين يامال
3- أشرف حكيمي
4- فيتينا
5- بيدري
6- رافينها
7- محمد صلاح
8- نونو مينديز
9- كيليان مبابي
10 -كول بالمر

الصحفي عبد الله عاشور “ممثل البحرين”:

1-محمد صلاح
2- أشرف حكيمي
3- لامين يامال
4- كيليان مبابي
5- عثمان ديمبلي
6-فينيسيوس جونيور
7- رافينها
8- خفيتشا كفاراتسخيليا
9- فيتينا
10- فيرحيل فان دايك

الصحفي مصطفى بدري “ممثل المغرب”:

1- أشرف حكيمي
2- لامين يامال
3- عثمان ديمبلي
4- محمد صلاح
5- فيتينا
6- كيليان مبابي
7- رافينها
8- كول بالمر
9- جيراسي
10- لاوتارو مارتينيز

Wriddhiman Saha had already made up his mind to retire from cricket when he casually went to the Eden Gardens this June. But after he returned from a meeting meant to amicably resolve differences with certain factions within the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which had led to his departure to Tripura for two seasons, Saha had a change of mind.The reason: Sourav Ganguly. The former India captain had convinced Saha to stay on so that he could end his career with Bengal. And so, Saha, who has had plenty of taping around his fingers and strapping around his hamstring and pain-relief patches on his back, decided to continue with the team’s physio on speed dial to be able to help him fight through another season.”You can say it was because of emotional attachment,” he says as he sits down for a chat on the opening day of Bengal’s fourth-round Ranji fixture against Karnataka in Bengaluru. “I wasn’t going to play this year but Sourav Ganguly and my wife pushed me to play and finish with Bengal after two seasons with Tripura.”When he gave his nod to play, Saha made it clear he won’t be available for the white-ball leg of the domestic season. He knew he wouldn’t last the rigours of another full season. It was also partly influenced by his desire to have his spot taken by someone else, because he’d already informed his previous IPL franchise, Gujarat Titans, he wasn’t going to play in the tournament anymore.As it turns out, one of the direct beneficiaries of Saha’s exit (from when he moved to Tripura) has been Abishek Porel, who has flourished so much over the past year across formats that Delhi Capitals considered him worthy of being retained. For Saha, a mentor to the young group of wicketkeepers across the country, there couldn’t have been a better validation.”I’ve been pushing myself for the last year. But because of my body condition and injuries, I won’t be able to play for the full season,” he says. “That’s why I chose the most vital format – Ranji Trophy. It will be tough [to carry on] but I will play and hopefully we qualify. If we do, I will play till the end of the season, else I’ll finish off at Eden Gardens.”Related

• Captain Jaydev Unadkat wants Saurashtra's transition 'to be smooth'

• Saha returns to Bengal for upcoming season

• Saha looks to wipe slate clean with Bengal

• Saha to retire from cricket after Ranji Trophy season

Saha laughs when asked if the decision to contemplate retirement was tough. “It was very easy,” he replies spontaneously. “I was already prepared that I won’t play this year. But when my wife and Sourav Ganguly pushed me, I couldn’t refuse.”Still considered among the best wicketkeepers in India, perhaps even around the world, Saha seems at peace with his decision. He’s fully happy with the way his career has panned out, even though his career coincided at different times with two mavericks: MS Dhoni in the early years and Rishabh Pant in the later. Has he ever considered himself unlucky?”No, I don’t think so,” he says. “There are so many of them who didn’t play despite toiling so hard. Amol Muzumdar, Padmakar Shivalkar sir. I feel fortunate and proud to have played 40 Tests for India.”Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps: acrobatic and safe•BCCI

As he looks ahead, Saha is open to opportunities in coaching and mentoring. He’s clear the first rights will be with Bengal. “Not yet [thought of the immediate future], but if I get an offer from another state or Bengal, I will think about it,” he laughs. “If not, family life (laughs). I have been playing cricket since childhood. I haven’t done anything else. I want to share as much knowledge as I have in cricket. I’ve already started doing that at a couple of academies back home.”Saha ended his Test career with 1353 runs in 56 innings at an average of 29.41, with three centuries and six half-centuries. Arguably, his finest moment on home turf when he hit unbeaten half-centuries in both innings to help India beat New Zealand in 2016. Saha admits “maybe I could’ve done more” with the bat, but insists his career graph was largely a reflection of his emphasis on being a wicketkeeper first and a batter next.”When I started, I was a wicketkeeper. I knew I could never be as good as Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli,” he says. “I wanted to earn a name in what I did from childhood – that’s why I put more emphasis on wicketkeeping.”He grew up working with Kiran More, Saba Karim and Deep Dasgupta. Chats with Dhoni over the years, and occasional interactions with Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy fueled his pursuits of being his best version. As a seasoned professional, Saha says he’s happy to chat with young keepers and help them.”I’ve spoken to keepers from the women’s team, we keep talking to each other,” he says. “Last IPL, Dhruv Jurel spoke to me. Rishabh [Pant] has done it all along when we played together. The understanding was good, he used to share his experiences, I used to give him as much input as possible.”As Saha reflects on his career, he’s happy he continued to play for three more years despite being told in late 2021 by then coach Rahul Dravid that the Indian team were moving on from him.”That door got closed, but I knew domestic, and IPL was still there,” he says. “It wasn’t like I got demoralised because of that. I’ve played now for three-four years since that. Why did I start playing? Because I like it. Last year, I’d stopped liking the game and planned to leave. After this season, I’m moving on.”Hopefully we can make the final. If not, I’ll finish off at Eden Gardens.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have tabled a £21 million-plus “proposal” to sign a “huge” player who is also wanted by Manchester United, according to a recent report.

Wolves continue search to find Nelson Semedo replacement

The Old Gold are still waiting to hear back from defender Nelson Semedo on whether he will continue at Molineux or not. The Portuguese international has a contract offer on the table but has yet to respond, with it being suggested that a departure is now likely.

Therefore, Wolves are assessing potential replacements, and according to a report last week, the Midlands side are interested in signing Jackson Tchatchoua from Italian side Hellas Verona. The 23-year-old is considered a versatile defender, as he can also operate as a wing-back as well as a right midfielder. However, his performances in Italy have also attracted the interest of teams such as Everton, Marseille, and Galatasaray.

Wolves open talks over deal to sign "powerful" £13m Olympic gold medallist

The Old Gold are in a strong position to win the race for a defender.

ByDominic Lund Jul 10, 2025

As well as looking at Tchatchoua, Wolves are also one of two teams interested in signing Marc Pubill from Almeria. In fact, the Premier League side are in talks over a deal to sign the defender, with Almeria looking to get around £13 million for his services. But Wolves face strong competition, as AC Milan are also working on a deal to sign Pubill.

Wolves table £21m+ bid to sign "huge" ace who Man Utd have also approached

As the Midlands side weigh up their options to improve their defence, the Ol Gold also want a new central midfielder. According to journalist Gianluigi Longari, Wolves have made a “proposal” worth €25 million (£21.6 million) to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras, which has now been turned down.

Longari states that Rios is a priority target for AS Roma, who have also seen a bid turned down by the Brazilian side, but it isn’t clear how much they were willing to offer. As well as Roma, Nottingham Forest have also made a bid for Rios, with theirs being worth €26 million, and that again was not enough for Palmeiras.

The 25-year-old has just come off the back of many excellent performances in the Club World Cup, where Palmeiras reached the knockout stages, and while he didn’t score, Rios registered two assists in five games. Those performances have also caught the eye of Manchester United, and the Red Devils have made an approach to sign Rios, as they see the midfielder as someone who can replace Casemiro.

Apps

137

Goals

11

Assists

10

Should Wolves sign Rios, who has been dubbed a “tough” by Antonio Mango, he would join Joao Gomes, Boubacar Toure and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde as the more recognised central midfielders for the Premier League side. Rios has shown he can not only operate as a central midfielder; he can also be more defensive or offensively minded should that be required, which could be perfect for Vitor Pereira.

Glasgow Rangers have officially made their first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Right-back Max Aarons joins on a season-long loan deal, and the dynamic Englishman will certainly add some competition for James Tavernier.

The Ibrox faithful will be hoping that Russell Martin has several more announcements to make over the coming weeks, especially with the Champions League second round qualifying matches against Panathinaikos just weeks away.

Building a team capable of making it through to the next stage is Martin’s priority, especially with the financial rewards on offer if the Gers qualify for the lucrative group stages.

Buying new players could well depend on the club’s ability to sell a few of their prized assets this summer.

Indeed, Hamza Igamane potentially looks like he could be on the move. According to the Daily Mail, the striker has reportedly agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 side Lille, although no offer has been made.

The Light Blues only signed the player last summer, but it now looks as though Martin is aiming to rake in a solid profit, as Rangers could hold out for a fee in the region of £15m.

He isn’t the only centre-forward who looks set to leave. Cyriel Dessers might well be on his way this summer also. The Nigerian international has been a polarising figure during his two years in Glasgow, but will the club miss him?

Cyriel Dessers’ Rangers record

Just a few weeks ago, it looked as though Greek side AEK Athens were set to secure a move for Dessers. After days of negotiating over a transfer fee, however, this move looks like it could perhaps be in jeopardy.

Cyriel Dessers’ Premiership stats for Rangers

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

18

Assists

4

2

Big chances created

8

2

Big chances missed

27

21

Goal conversion percentage

16%

22%

Via Sofascore

Now it appears that Feyenoord are looking to hijack a move for the Gers frontman after they failed to land a couple of their main targets.

Much will depend on whether the Dutch side can offer a fee that the Glasgow outfit are happy with, as this is why the deal with AEK Athens has broken down.

Dessers cost the club around £4.5m in the summer of 2023 and Martin is looking to recoup the majority, if not all, of that outlay.

Across his two seasons in Scotland, the 30-year-old has netted a more than respectable tally of 51 goals across 109 games. This works out as a goal every 2.1 games.

Despite this stellar record in front of goal, Dessers often takes two or three chances to eventually find the back of the net in matches.

Indeed, during the 2023/24 Premiership campaign, the former Feyenoord striker missed a staggering 27 big chances across his 35 matches.

Last season, this figure dropped to missing 21 big chances, but having someone who is far more clinical in the opposition penalty area, as well as being able to link up well with those behind him, is Martin’s priority.

Moving on Dessers could be a smart piece of business by the new manager, especially considering who he is lining up as his potential replacement…

Latest on Rangers' search for a new striker

With Igamane looking likely to depart Ibrox, alongside Dessers, it is evident that the club need another centre-forward or two ahead of the Champions League qualifiers.

Israeli player Dor Turgeman has been on the club’s wish list for a while, but it remains to be seen whether Martin makes his move for the striker.

According to TEAMtalk, the Light Blues are now exploring a move for Croatian striker Matija Frigan, who is keen to make the move to Scotland, as per the report.

Martin will have to spend around £6.5m to sign the Westerlo player this summer, but if he can move on Igamane and Dessers for roughly £20m, he will have money to spend.

The club will be hoping a deal can be sealed before the crucial games against Panathinaikos, especially if Martin is lacking in firepower before then.

Frigan has the potential to be an excellent signing for the Gers. There is no doubt about that.

Why Rangers must sign Matija Frigan

The 22-year-old is yet to hit his peak and a move to Rangers would give him the platform to get even better, especially by playing European football.

Transfer Focus

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

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Across 41 games for the Belgian side last term, Frigan scored 14 goals and grabbed four assists in all competitions.

In the Belgian Pro League, the 22-year-old recorded 2.2 shots per game, while also creating six big chances and finishing the season with a goal conversion percentage of 14% for Westerlo.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the Croatian as a “complete forward” two years ago, even stating that he was similar in style to Ciro Immobile.

As such, signing a player with his talent is surely a key priority for the manager, especially considering he has plenty of room to grow.

Although Dessers may have scored more goals last season, the fact that Frigan is eight years younger, meaning he is a crucial long-term prospect.

Last term, Frigan missed just 12 big chances, compared to Dessers’ 21, while he averaged more touches (22 vs 18.8) and successful dribbles (0.7 vs 0.3) per game in their respective domestic leagues.

If Martin is able to sell the Nigerian player for the same price which Rangers bought him for, then it would be a wonderful piece of business by the new boss.

Frigan – who was also hailed as an “interesting youngster” by Jacek Kulig – has the potential to go from strength to strength by making a move to Glasgow.

Funds shouldn’t be an issue, as the report states the Light Blues may be willing to structure a deal so they will pay a lower fee initially, adding on potential add-ons to make the move more attractive.

With Aarons arriving in Glasgow, the supporters will be looking forward to more arrivals over the coming weeks.

Could Frigan be the next big summer signing? Only time will tell.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Dec 26, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the appointment of Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s immediate successor, just five days after the club announced chairman Daniel Levy’s decision to part company with the Australian.

Tottenham set to hire Thomas Frank as new manager after talks

The 51-year-old appears set to end his impressive tenure at Brentford in imminent fashion, after Levy earmarked Frank as the top candidate to replace Postecoglou.

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Posts ByBen Goodwin Jun 8, 2025

Unlike their infamously drawn-out hunt for a new manager in 2021, their search has ended pretty quickly, and Frank is now on the cusp of a switch to N17. Tottenham were in talks with Frank and Brentford over the last few days, with negotiations coming to a conclusion in a very swift fashion.

According to trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano, Frank will become Tottenham’s new manager, with the Lilywhites paying his £10 million release clause and already finding an agreement on contract terms/backroom staff.

The tactician is perhaps a perfect fit, considering he’s proven to be efficient at operating on a limited budget, not to mention working with a data-driven recruitment model at Brentford, which is quite similar to Tottenham.

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

However, there are some reservations over Frank’s lack of experience when it comes to managing high-profile clubs, competing in the Champions League or winning silverware – with some comparisons already made to Spurs’ failed appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo.

Time will tell whether the Dane’s appointment will prove the correct one, but attention is now turning to how Tottenham will tackle the transfer market under his watch.

Thomas Frank urging Daniel Levy to consider Eberechi Eze deal at Tottenham

According to GiveMeSport, he’s already starting to have his say on Spurs’ summer recruitment drive, with Frank said to be a fan of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

It is believed Frank has already urged Levy to consider a Tottenham deal for Eze, if they cannot hijack Man United’s deal for Bryan Mbeumo, with the new head coach giving his green-light for them to move for the £100,000-per-week England international.

The former QPR star fired Palace to their first ever major trophy, scoring the winner against Man City in their 1-0 FA Cup final win at Wembley, adding to his 2024/2025 tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze’s contract is rumoured to contain a £68 million release clause, so Spurs know the price it would take to back Frank with the attacker’s signing, which would undoubtedly be a statement signing.

“This guy is an immense talent, there’s no doubt about that,” said ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown about Eze.

“He was released by Arsenal as a kid. I wonder if that will come back to haunt Arsenal here today? He said he cried for a week. He realised when it hits you really hard as a young man, you think, ‘Ok, I’m coming back from this.’ It proves that he’s made of really strong stuff.”