Manchester United have signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the towering Slovenian striker set to be the main centre-forward under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Sesko snubs Newcastle move for Man Utd
After already signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, the Red Devils have also pipped Newcastle United to a big-money deal for the Bundesliga star in a transfer worth a total of €85m.
Sesko always wanted a move to Old Trafford over St James’ Park, and we could see Cunha and Mbeumo line up behind the 22-year-old as two attacking No 10’s in a 3-4-2-1 system under Amorim.
AI predicts how many goals and assists Cunha and Mbeumo will get for Man Utd in 2025/26
The pair have been backed to star at Old Trafford.
ByCharlie Smith Jul 22, 2025
The striker has already penned a five-year deal in Manchester and will arrive in similar circumstances to Rasmus Hojlund. A young and exciting forward costing mega money, pressure will be on Sesko to perform after netting 27 times and registering six assists for Leipzig in 2024/25.
Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted how many goals Cunha and Mbeumo will score, and it has also forecasted how Sesko will get on in his first season in England.
AI predicts how many goals Sesko will score for Man Utd
When asked how many goals Sesko will score for the Red Devils in 2025/26, Grok gave a precise prediction.
Assuming Sesko plays 32 matches (accounting for rotation or minor injuries), he could score 13 Premier League goals if he adapts quickly and maintains his Bundesliga record in the Premier League.
In cup competitions, FA Cup and League Cup as United have no European football on offer, he could score 5 more goals, providing Amorim’s side go deep into both and play 10 games.
Premier League
FA Cup/League Cup
Games
32
10
Goals
13
5
Grok adds that ‘Sesko’s physical attributes and comparisons to Erling Haaland suggest he could outperform expectations if United’s system maximises his strengths, potentially pushing him towards 20 goals in an optimistic scenario’.
An 18-goal season in all competitions, Amorim, Man Utd and the supporters would be satisfied with that figure, considering Hojlund has scored just 15 goals in domestic competitions in the last two seasons.
Harry Kane may have departed Tottenham Hotspur two years ago, but his absence is still strongly felt within the current first-team squad to this day.
Losing any key player to a European giant is always likely to cause trouble, but when that player is arguably one of the best to ever wear the club’s shirt – the task of replacing him becomes a near impossible task.
The Englishman registered 280 goals for the Lilywhites, with such a tally making him their highest-ever goalscorer, surpassing the record previously held by the late Jimmy Greaves.
He managed to find the net over 30 times in 50% of the seasons he spent as a first-team regular in North London, further highlighting how important he was to their ambition for success.
However, Thomas Frank has the opportunity this summer to potentially make a move for a star who could emulate the 32-year-old’s massive success within the final third should he make the move.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
In recent days, Roma star Matias Soule has been touted as a potential option for Spurs, looking to inject needed depth and quality into the club’s forward line.
Recent reports have suggested that Frank’s side have already made a £28m offer to sign the 22-year-old, potentially facing a battle with Aston Villa for the winger’s signature this summer.
However, he’s not the only attacker currently in their sights, leading to key work being done to complete a deal for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that the Lilywhites have already entered negotiations with the Brazilian’s representatives over a move to North London after he was told he’s free to leave the Spanish giants this window.
Their report also states that the 24-year-old could be available for a fee in the region of £86m, but Frank’s side aren’t alone in their pursuit, with fellow English sides Arsenal and Liverpool also closely monitoring the situation.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be their best attacker since Kane
After selling Kane for £82m a couple of years ago, the hierarchy turned to Dominic Solanke last summer in an attempt to fill the void left by his compatriot.
However, despite costing a club-record £65m, his first season in North London was littered with injuries, only making 25 Premier League starts and netting just nine goals.
He still has time to showcase he was worth the money spent, but the same can’t be said for Richarlison, who could be on the way out of the club this summer.
The Brazilian only managed to score four times in England’s top-flight last campaign, further highlighting the need for added quality in such an area this window.
A move for Rodrygo may prove to be a pricey one, but it’s a deal that could hand Frank the talent he craves to be a success during his first season in the role.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
His stats from his most recent season at the Santiago Bernabéu highlight the threat he carries within the final third, arguably being worth every penny of what would be another new record signing.
Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 14 times across all competitions last season, having the goalscoring nouse despite his wide position – something the side have desperately lacked in 2024/25.
Games played
30
Goals & assists
11
Pass accuracy
86%
Progressive passes
5.1
Progressive carries
5.3
Successful take-ons
2.3
Key passes made
2.3
Shot-on-target accuracy
38%
Passes into final third
3.1
However, alongside his superb ability to find the back of the net, he also possesses a creative side that could allow those around him to bolster their own tallies next season.
He registered 5.1 progressive passes per 90, 3.1 of which were into the final third, subsequently able to help Solanke in his quest to raise his figures throughout 2025/26.
The Brazilian’s talent on the ball is further reflected in his tally of 2.3 successful take-ons per 90, subsequently wanting to take on his opponent at any given opportunity.
Should he transfer his skillset over to England with him, it would be a sensational piece of business by the board, further highlighting their ambitions of building on the recent Europa League success.
He would offer an all-round ability in attacking areas, similar to that of Kane, having the chance to make himself a fan favourite just like the Englishman did during his stint in North London.
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أسدل الستار على منافسات الجولة السابعة من مسابقة الدوري المصري موسم 2025-2026، بمواجهة الأهلي مع نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، والتي حسمها الأحمر لصالحه بهدف نظيف.
وجاء هدف الأهلي في الدقيقة 26 عن طريق محمود حسن تريزيجيه، بعدما راوغ داخل منطقة الجزاء ثم سدد كرة قوية R2 على يسار حارس المرمى محمد بسام.
وفي الجولة ذاتها، التقى بيراميدز مع زد وفاز 1-0، كما حقق الزمالك الفوز على الإسماعيلي بهدفين دون رد، على استاد هيئة قناة السويس.
طالع.. فيديو | بـR2 رائعة.. تريزيجيه يسجل هدف الأهلي الأول أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا
كما شهدت الجولة تعادل إنبي مع مودرن سبورت بهدفين لكل فريق، كما تعادل الاتحاد السكندري مع كهرباء الإسماعيلية سلبياً.
وفاز المصري على غزل المحلة، بهدفين مقابل هدف في نفس الجولة، كما انتصر سموحة على حرس الحدود 1-0.
ويتصدر الزمالك جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 16 نقطة، بينما يتواجد المصري بالمركز الثاني، ولديه 14 نقطة، فيما يأتي وادي دجلة في المرتبة الثالثة، وفي جعبته 13 نقطة. جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري
1- الزمالك: 16 نقطة
2- المصري: 14 نقطة
3- وادي دجلة: 13 نقطة
4- بيراميدز: 11 نقطة
5-مودرن سبورت: 11 نقطة
6- إنبي: 10 نقاط
7- سموحة : 10 نقاط.
8-سيراميكا كليوباترا: 10 نقاط
9- بتروجت: 10 نقاط
9- زد: 9 نقاط
10- الأهلي: 9 نقاط
12- غزل المحلة: 8 نقاط
13- حرس الحدود: 8 نقاط
14- طلائع الجيش: 8 نقاط
15- البنك الاهلي: 7 نقاط
16-الجونة: 7 نقاط
17- الاتحاد السكندري: 5 نقاط
18- الاتحاد: 5 نقاط
18- كهرباء الإسماعيلية: 5 نقاط
19- المقاولون: 4 نقاط
20-الإسماعيلي: 4 نقاط
21- فاركو: 3 نقاط
يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، بشكل محدث وباستمرار من هنا
Everton fans still have around two months to wait until they’re able to watch their beloved Toffees play at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium in the Premier League.
Brighton and Hove Albion will be the first tricky visitors standing in the way of David Moyes and Co. on that memorable afternoon, with August also seeing the Merseyside outfit travel to Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in search of some early-season results.
Everton manager DavidMoyesreacts
Moyes will hope he’s backed in the transfer window ahead of his side moving into their new home for good, with one transfer target now on the agenda that could boost the Scotsman’s numbers in the midfield department.
Everton in contact to sign £13m star
The Toffees are yet to bring in any new faces this summer but with the window now in full swing, TFG must press on and strengthen ahead of their first game at their new home.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, as per a report by Turkish outlet Sabah, Everton has now initiated contact with ex-Manchester United midfielder Fred’s agent over a potential summer deal.
The report does state that the Brazilian is well-liked by his current Fenerbahce boss in Jose Mourinho, but Everton remain keen.
Fred in action for Fenerbache.
However, the high reported price tag of £13m might well put off TFG, with the Turkish giants actually purchasing Fred for a far more modest £7.7m after his bumpy Old Trafford stay had finished.
How Fred can be Everton's next Doucoure
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the South American when situated in the red half of Manchester, but if Everton were successful in their advances, they could be about to win an ideal replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, with the long-standing Toffees servant no longer on the books of Moyes’ men after his contract expired.
It was a sad severing of the ties when Doucoure was officially announced to be departing Merseyside, considering the Malian had scored many a vital strike from the midfield areas across his 166 games, with that goal against Bournemouth definitely the most important one of his 21-goal collection in pushing Everton away from the perilous drop.
But, with his wage coming in at a hefty £130k-per-week as per Capology, it might well have been deemed a necessary alteration to make, with slightly cheaper alternatives on the table in Fred, who earns a lesser £113k-per-week pay packet himself.
Moreover, whilst Doucoure had enamoured Everton fans with his entertaining displays from the center of the park, Fred can offer that same goalscoring ability in abundance, with 14 goals and 19 assists collected for the Red Devils, away from his promising output of five goals and six assists in 2024/25 for Mourinho’s titans.
Erik ten Hag would even go out of his way to label the 32-time Brazil international as “magnificent” when the pair were together at the Theatre of Dreams, with Fred no doubt also hungry to return to the English game to prove a point, having become a scapegoat during tough recent times at United.
Fred’s career G/A numbers by position
Position played in
Games
Goals
Assists
CM
296
29
34
DM
99
5
13
AM
31
4
4
RM
22
4
5
LM
4
1
2
LB
1
0
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
To sum up his woes in Manchester, journalist John Deehan labelled Fred as a “headless chicken” , but his career and time in Turkey paint an opposing picture – especially as Everton hunt down a capable Doucoure replacement.
Indeed, the former Toffees midfielder would line up all over the midfield department during his lengthy Everton journey, whether that be as a number ten, as a traditional central face, or as a defensive anchor, with Fred able to offer that in spades too to ease Moyes’ worries about his midfield depth in the wake of the ex-Watford battler’s exit.
Fred
With 83 appearances and counting in both the Europa League and the Champions League, Fred’s arrival on the scene might also help Everton push up the league standings in their fresh, state-of-the-art stadium, away from any future relegation scraps.
It would be a risk, considering the Brazilian had a reputation at the Red Devils for fading in and out of contests. But, as an option to bolster after Doucoure’s departure, it could well prove to be an inspired signing.
He's Ndiaye 2.0: Everton enter race to sign "wonderful" star
Everton have yet to make a signing this summer to bolster their squad.
Newcastle United have got better and better since Eddie Howe’s appointment three-and-a-half years ago, and though last season bred trophy-winning success and paved the way back into the Champions League, the best may still be to come.
Carefully, assiduously, Newcastle have developed a project which has been rooted firmly into the soil of top-level football, now sure to be regular contenders for a seat at Europe’s elite table; now regarded as a huge threat to the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’.
Despite finishing the 2024 summer transfer window with harboured frustrations over targets not landed, Howe led his squad to glory.
Suitors are inevitably swarming for St. James’ Park’s superstars, but, in the case of Alexander Isak, it would take an offer in the ballpark of £200m to convince PIF to sell.
Even so, the world-class striker needs a foil, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro has been identified as the man for the job.
Newcastle advancing on Joao Pedro deal
Newcastle have had Pedro on their radar for a while, and after missing out on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo (it seems), the Brighton star has been identified as the perfect addition for Howe’s cause.
Chelsea, typically, also want the Brazil forward.
Pedro is versatile and dynamic, but also a blooming goalscorer, someone who provides output to a pleasing degree: across 70 matches for the Seagulls, he has scored 30 goals and has laid on ten assists.
However, JP has converted 16 penalties for his current club, which means he has only scored 14 times from open play across 70 outings. This in itself isn’t a negative – a penalty counts just the same, after all – but Isak isn’t likely to forgo his duties from the spot.
Newcastle would get stronger with Pedro in their squad, but they may be more powerful still by bringing over one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers instead.
Newcastle make contact for Premier League forward
According to Liverpool reporter Matt Thielen, Newcastle are among a host of Premier League clubs to have approached Liverpool for Diogo Jota.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
Tottenham Hotspur and Jota’s former club Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in the frame, as well as further outfits overseas, but Newcastle’s interest dates back to the spring, when they were informed it would take around £43m to convince the Reds to part with their veteran.
It doesn’t seem likely that United would add both Pedro and Jota to their ranks, but if the bid for the former falls through, the Portugal international represents the perfect alternative.
Why Newcastle should sign Diogo Jota
Jota might not have the cleanest fitness record of all time, but there’s no denying he’s an incredibly cool and composed finisher, having posted 65 goals and 26 assists across 185 matches for Liverpool.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota
Last season, despite winning the Premier League, the Iberian marksman didn’t enjoy his finest season, only scoring six times and providing four in the league (albeit across only 14 starts) as he battled through injury and then struggled to find his usual sharpness.
However, at 28 years old, Jota has more in the tank and would arrive on Tyneside without the expectation of being number one at number nine, instead applying friendly pressure on Isak and perhaps filling in on the flanks too.
Portugal'sDiogoJotascores a goal
Pedro, 23, is five years his junior and would be a longer-term investment, but Newcastle need instant results next year to ensure they retain their position among Europe’s heavyweights.
And such results Jota would bring – and that’s without the usage of the penalty spot. Also, as per FBref, the Anfield star ranked among the top 15% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 8% for ball recoveries and the top 8% for tackles + interceptions per 90.
What does that tell us? Well, by examining his rate of recovery and by aggregating such data to form a clear picture of his work rate, we can see that the Portuguese ace is switched on and dialed in to help his team toward victory.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro
Energy and spirit are staples of Pedro’s faculties, to be sure, but in Jota, Newcastle would bag themselves a similarly industrious forward with a sharper sense in the final third.
It helps that he has a pedigree in the Champions League. Not one to be swallowed by a big occasion, Jota would prove a cool head in the final third under those glaring European lights to ease the burden on Isak’s shoulders and increase Newcastle’s overall fluency.
Of course, we would be remiss to turn a blind eye to the Liverpool forward’s shoddy injury record, but from purely a technical standpoint, he is one of the best in the business, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even going as far as to say that he’s “the best finisher” Liverpool have had in the Premier League.
Pedro might have a “magical” style when on the ball, as has been noted by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, but Jota’s prowess is built on his mechanical skill set, efficient and almost economical in the way he approaches the game.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
Newcastle have a range of attacking options but certainly not an overload, and an experienced and trophy-proven option in Jota might just prove to be the difference-maker Howe needs as he leads his team back into the Champions League.
Clinical and intelligent, Jota’s movements and underrated link-up play are elements that Newcastle need. Furthermore, he’s a wide-ranging forward, proven across each prong of the offensive fork, bringing goals and assists from each position.
Centre-forward
91
29
15
Left winger
61
24
8
Right winger
22
9
2
Attacking midfield
3
3
1
This is a move Newcastle need to make this summer, adding depth and dynamism to a fluid outfit which has now established its title-winning credentials and just needs a touch more experience to reach the next level under Howe’s wing.
Newcastle now eyeing £40m Gordon upgrade who's "the closest thing to Gazza"
Newcastle have yet to heave over some attacking additions in the summer transfer market.
Chelsea are showcasing real ambition in the transfer market after qualifying for the Champions League next season, with the Blues looking back to manager Enzo Maresca after a successful debut campaign in the dugout.
Chelsea seal Liam Delap deal with more signings identified
On Wednesday, Chelsea officially announced the arrival of striker Liam Delap, who joins in a £30 million deal from Ipswich Town.
Chelsea hold new talks to sign "fantastic" £40m defender who's keen to join
The west Londoners want to get him in before the Club World Cup.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025
Delap, who scored 12 league goals for the Tractor Boys last season, but couldn’t save them from relegation, will wear the number nine shirt and becomes eligible to take part in the Club World Cup later this month.
Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea
8.08
Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town
8.05
Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa
8.04
Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton
7.83
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
7.55
via WhoScored
Chelsea can register players in time for FIFA’s competition due to a unique mini-transfer window, which is open until June 10, with Maresca having four more days to reinforce his squad ahead of the tournament.
BlueCo want one or two more new arrivals through the door before their CWC campaign kicks off, and Stamford Bridge chiefs have a number of plates spinning.
Journalist Simon Phillips claims Chelsea held fresh talks over a deal for Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato recently, with personal terms not seen as an issue considering the defender’s desire to join Maresca’s side.
Meanwhile, links continue to surround Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, who could be their second striker signing after Delap.
As well as in attack and defence, Chelsea haven’t given up on signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the San Siro.
AC Milan's MikeMaignanreacts
The France international, who captained Milan last season, is valued at around £25 million by the Rossoneri, despite his contract situation. Right now, Chelsea appear unwilling to go that far, but there is a major willingness from the 29-year-old himself to make the move happen.
Mike Maignan tells AC Milan he wants to join Chelsea
According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, backing up other reports, Maignan has informed Milan that he wants to join Chelsea.
Convincing him is no issue, with the clubs now having to find common ground when it comes to his asking price. Maresca’s side only want to pay around £10 million for the keeper as things stand (The Mail), so there are plenty of negotiations still to be had if a deal is still possible.
France's Kylian Mbappe, Jules Kounde andMikeMaignanduring the national anthems before the match
This comes after another report from the reliable Fabrizio Romano, who told GiveMeSport that Maresca has personally approved Maignan’s potential switch to west London.
With Chelsea’s manager and the keeper wanting this deal done, they’re simply waiting for club-to-club talks to reach a positive resolution.
Maignan, described as a “world-class” shot-stopper, has plenty of top-level experience – which is something lacking in Chelsea’s overall squad – and is widely regarded as one of Serie A’s top keepers.
Burnley will head back into the Premier League desperate to stay there for the long term, with Scott Parker also having plenty to prove as a top-flight worthy manager.
Parker has now impressively sealed three promotions up to the big time on his managerial CV, but he’s never looked like the most comfortable figure plying his trade in the top-flight away from the Championship, with a dire 30 defeats next to his name when managing at the elite level.
He will no doubt be eager to prove all his doubters wrong from the Turf Moor hot-seat, but he will be very aware that any chance he has of establishing himself as a top manager at the level will rest on the newly promoted side keeping talents such as Josh Brownhill around.
Why Burnley must keep Brownhill
Jumping up a division and staying put there is going to be a very difficult ask for Burnley, especially when you weigh up the ongoing fate that every newly promoted side that triumphantly tastes promotion immediately falls straight back to the EFL.
That’s before you further factor in the grim fact that Burnley could lose a large portion of their promotion-winning heroes this off-season, with 18-goal star Brownhill allegedly on the summer shopping lists of both Everton and West Ham United.
Losing their beloved captain to a top-flight rival would be nothing short of disastrous for Parker’s men, with Brownhill’s 18 strikes and six assists across 44 league games undoubtedly playing a huge part in Burnley’s push back up to the top-flight.
The in-demand 29-year-old has also shown he can perform up a level previously, with six goals and six assists next to his name in the Premier League to date, meaning he could be just the steadying presence the Lancashire club need to try and secure survival.
Josh Brownhill
Away from Brownhill, Burnley will also need to ensure they keep their formidable defence around to try and stave off relegation, with one stern Clarets defender actually boasting a higher worth than the electric midfielder now after a breakout promotion-winning season.
The "exceptional" Burnley star worth more than Brownhill
Remarkably, across the full 46-game marathon, Burnley would only ship a minuscule 16 goals in total, leading to first-choice goalkeeper James Trafford reprotedly being on the radar of Newcastle United.
He isn’t the only defensive star being eyed up by a higher suitor, however, with Crystal Palace also reportedly keeping tabs on Clarets number 16 Maxime Esteve, after the French colossus looked near faultless all season long alongside Trafford.
The former Montpellier man would deservedly slot into the Championship team of the season, with Esteve operating as both a classy performer on the ball with 60.5 accurate passes averaged per league game, but also acting as a forceful presence when needed by picking up a whopping 30 clean sheets.
Unsurprisingly, off the back of such a sterling individual season alongside his standout teammates, Esteve’s transfer value has shot up, with Burnley definitely winning themselves a golden bargain when purchasing the 22-year-old for around the £12.5m mark just last year.
Games played
46
Goals scored
1
Assists
0
Touches*
78.0
Accurate passes*
60.5 (91%)
Ball recoveries*
3.7
Clearances*
5.0
Total duels won*
3.6
Clean sheets
30
Transfer value when joining
£12.5m
Transfer value now
£19.3m
Now, the in-demand centre-back is worth a far heftier £19.3m – as per Football Transfers – with Brownhill’s own value of £9.6m falling way short of Esteve’s bumped up valuation.
Therefore, it will likely have to be an astronomical offer put on the table for Burnley to consider parting ways with their “exceptional” – as he has been previously labelled by Parker – centre-back.
Further billed as possessing “undeniable” Premier League potential by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it will be intriguing to see if does become even more of an imperious defender next season, whether that be lining up for Parker’s men, for Oliver Glasner’s Eagles or moving elsewhere.
Burnley have struck gold on "superstar" talent who's as good as Trafford
Burnley will hope they can succeed in the Premier League next season with this superstar already possessing top-flight quality.
Liverpool have veered down into that later-season dip that seems to be a perennial occurrence for the Anfield side.
You could say that Arne Slot’s side have run out of steam, but then this would be a shallow and overblown viewpoint on a team that has been nothing short of brilliant for so long and now, perhaps, is feeling the effects of such gruelling, incredible efforts.
After all, Liverpool are set to lift the Premier League despite losing to Fulham at the weekend. That loss, bitter though it was, was Slot’s first on the road this season, ending a 26-game unbeaten run in the division.
Multiple players were culpable at Craven Cottage, but away from the error-strewn nature of the defensive efforts, those further up the field toiled too.
Dominik Szoboszlai, so impressive in recent months, certainly flattered to deceive, raising a question once again: do Liverpool need more creativity in midfield?
A look at Liverpool’s Szoboszlai
Saudi swoops for Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson widened the scope of Liverpool’s summer rebuild in 2023, but the plan was always to sign a creative and robust midfielder in the mould of Szoboszlai.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho
Red Bull Leipzig’s attacking midfielder moved to Anfield after stand-in sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, activated his £60m release clause.
The 2024/25 Premier League title will soon be added to the Reds’ bulging trophy cabinet and Szoboszlai has played a crucial part, hailed as a “vital cog in Slot’s slick Liverpool machine” by The Athletic’s James Pearce.
However, he’s only scored seven goals and added six assists this term, with his 3/10 performance against the Cottagers on Sunday, as per The Liverpool Echo, underlining his lack of bite. A lot of running but not much substance.
Minutes played
55′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
34
Shots (on target)
2 (0)
Accurate passes
22/28 (79%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles
0/0
Tackles + interceptions
0
Duels (won)
1/2
More is needed, and Liverpool wouldn’t be unwise to turn to the transfer market, should the right chance reveal itself.
While attacking midfield isn’t FSG’s priority, there’s little question that Liverpool would pounce on one of the world’s finest if they could. That opportunity may have presented itself.
Liverpool join race for elite midfielder
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have joined Manchester City in the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The four-in-a-row champions need to replace the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne, but Liverpool could strike a deal themselves given their need for more attacking impetus.
And few stars shine brighter than Wirtz, whose performances under Xabi Alonso’s wing over the past several years have seen him valued at a whopping €100m (£87m).
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Though Bayern are unquestionable favourites in the race, Wirtz will be sure to keep his options open and might just be tempted by the Premier League.
Liverpool will need to weigh up their options, especially when considering the efforts that must be focused across other areas of the park, but Wirtz is the gold standard and would surely dovetail right into Slot’s starting lineup.
Why Liverpool should sign Florian Wirtz
Wirtz, still only 22, has already completed 191 appearances for Leverkusen, racking up 119 goal involvements. He was invaluable through the staggering success achieved last year, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal without swallowing a single defeat.
While Die Werkself have struggled to reach the same heights this year, Wirtz has still been an elite-class option from attacking midfield, notching 15 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
While he isn’t quite the same type of player, Wirtz could prove to be Anfield’s own version of Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £115m in 2023, a race that Liverpool ceded defeat in months earlier.
Real Madrid'sJudeBellinghamcelebrates
While Bellingham is one of his era’s generational talents, Liverpool packaged their midfield with Szoboszlai and more and are now heading toward the Premier League title.
Industriousness aside, though, you feel that a player of Bellingham’s technical level, with his flair, could take Liverpool to the next stage, and that man might be Wirtz.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
Positionally, this pertains to attacking midfielders and wingers, however, while most are restricted to one particular role, Wirtz has proven that he can maintain absurd levels across a vast range of areas.
Attacking midfield
153
47
52
Centre-forward
15
7
7
Right winger
11
4
3
Left winger
9
2
3
Central midfield
5
0
3
Interestingly, Wirtz maintains his potency no matter his positional placement, something that could play right into his possible future in Slot’s Liverpool system.
However, like Bellingham, he’s at his best when occupying the number ten role, playing as his team’s attacking “mastermind,” something noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
Such a decisive factor could prove a trump card for Liverpool in the years ahead. Expected success in the Premier League is fantastic, but fans have been left frustrated after poor efforts in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and the Carabao Cup final, losing to Newcastle United.
Couple that with the woeful loss against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fourth round and you see why something a bit different, someone truly devastating in attack, could bear dividends for the Reds in the long run.
Bellingham, indeed, has posted 13 goals and 13 assists apiece for Los Blancos this term – almost identical to Wirtz – which add to last season’s haul and take the Three Lions star’s haul to 62 contributions across 86 matches for the Spaniards.
Real Madrid'sJudeBellinghamreacts
Szoboszlai, by comparison, has scored 14 goals and added 11 assists across 87 Liverpool outings. You can see where his deficiencies lie.
Bellingham is out of reach, but make no mistake, signing Wirtz could be a goal for FSG to work towards. It might just make all the difference over the coming years.
Liverpool hit gold on "special" academy ace playing like a £66m superstar
And who has the most Test runs after their first 15 innings?
Steven Lynch05-Mar-2024Yashasvi Jaiswal had scored 971 runs in 15 innings after the fourth Test. Has anyone ever had more after 15? asked Suhail Badrinath from India Only seven men have had more runs after 15 Test innings than Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 971. He’s not far behind the West Indians Frank Worrell (980) and Lawrence Rowe (983). Then there are five in four figures: the leading Indian, Vinod Kambli (1005), Australia’s Neil Harvey (1045), Herbert Sutcliffe of England (1050) and another West Indian, Everton Weekes. And as I seem to say so often, it’s not a great surprise to find one name well clear at the top: Don Bradman had no fewer than 1445 runs after his first 15 Test innings.With the final Test in Dharamsala looming, to move up the list Jaiswal would need to have more than Worrell’s 1116 runs after 17 innings. Harvey had 1118, Rowe 1131, Sutcliffe 1158, Weekes 1251, Graeme Smith 1258… and Bradman 1471. Six other men had more than 1000 runs after 17: Len Hutton (1077), Harry Brook (1028), Gary Ballance (1019), Kambli (1011), Sid Barnes (1010) and George Headley (1009),Mumbai’s last two batters scored centuries in the Ranji Trophy the other day. Has this ever happened before? asked Satyam Sinha from India, and several others Mumbai were 337 for 9 in their recent Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Baroda in Mumbai when last man Tushar Deshpande joined Tanush Kotian. Neither had scored a first-class century before, but by the time Deshpande was out for 123 Mumbai had advanced to 569; Kotian was left with 120 not out.There’s only one more instance of Nos. 10 and 11 both scoring centuries in the same first-class innings. It also involved two Indian players – but a long way from the Mumbai maidans. In the third match of the 1946 tour of England, against Surrey at The Oval, the Indians had an undistinguished 205 for 9 when last man Shute Banerjee joined the No. 10, Chandu Sarwate. Both of them were actually reasonably accomplished batters: Sarwate finished his career with 14 first-class hundreds, and Banerjee with five.In 1946, against an attack containing Alec Bedser – soon to make his Test debut – the last pair more than doubled the score. They eventually put on 249 before Banerjee fell for 121, leaving Sarwate with 124 not out. “Both gave masterly displays and neither at any time appeared in difficulties,” thought Wisden. The watching John Arlott was also impressed: “The stand was chanceless; Sarwate sent one streaky shot through slips but no catch went to hand. The two men batted capably and correctly, defending well against Bedser, who bowled industriously, and scoring chiefly in front of the wicket by strokes made out of confidence and with no trace of last-wicket anxiety.” The Indians went on to win the match, and Arlott concluded: “The last-wicket stand changed the team’s outlook from that of 16 newcomers to that of a team playing the game at which they excelled in their own country.”Going back to the recent match in Mumbai, Deshpande’s century was only the 13th by a No. 11 in all first-class cricket, the highest being 163 by the England legspinner Peter Smith for Essex against Derbyshire at Chesterfield in 1947. In last week’s game, Hardik Tamore also scored a century, after going in first: it was only the second time the No. 1 and No. 11 had scored a century in the same first-class innings, after Ferozuddin (133) and Ahsan-ul-Haq (an unbeaten 100 in 40 minutes from No. 11) for Muslims against Sikhs in Lahore in 1923-24.Fourteen of Brian Lara’s 34 Test hundreds came in Tests lost, the last of them in 2006 in a loss against Pakistan•Arif Ali/AFP/Getty ImagesBhargav Bhatt took 14 wickets for 312 runs in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final. Was this the most expensive such haul? asked Minal Acharya from India Baroda’s slow left-armer Bhargav Bhatt had figures of 7 for 112 and 7 for 200 in the Ranji quarter-final in Mumbai mentioned above.The database-crunchers on the Ask Steven page on Facebook soon tuned up their fingers. Pete Church from Australia worked out there had been only four more expensive ten-fors in first-class cricket: another Indian spinner, CS Nayudu, had eye-watering figures of 11 for 428 (6 for 153 and 5 for 275) for Holkar against Bombay in the Ranji Trophy final at the Brabourne Stadium in March 1945; the great Australian Test legspinner Clarrie Grimmett took 10 for 394 (4 for 192 and 6 for 202) for South Australia against New South Wales in Sydney in 1926; another Aussie, offspinner Jason Krejza collected 12 for 358 (8 for 215 and 4 for 143) on his Test debut against India in Nagpur in 2008; andNorman Williams, another legspinner from South Australia, had 11 for 326 (6 for 134 and 5 for 192) against Victoria in Adelaide in 1928. The Sri Lankan slow left-armerSandaken Pathirana also conceded 312 runs in taking 11 wickets (8 for 184 and 3 for 128) for Moors against Colts in Colombo in 2018.The most runs previously conceded in taking 14 or more in a match was 289, by Grimmett in the course of 16 wickets (9 for 180 and 7 for 109) for South Australia against Queensland in Adelaide in 1934. The most for exactly 14 wickets was 271 (8 for 119 and 6 for 152), by the Uttar Pradesh seamer Ashish Zaidi against Haryana in a Ranji Trophy quarter-final in Faridabad in 1991. (Thanks to Charles Davis for that one.)After Joe Root’s hundred in defeat against India in Ranchi, I wondered which batter had the most Test centuries in a losing cause? asked Thiagarajan Kaushik from India Joe Root’s unbeaten 122 in the fourth match of the current series in Ranchi was his 31st century in Tests. Of those, 20 have come in victories, seven in draws, and only four in defeats.That puts Root fairly low down on the list you’re asking about: some 24 batters have scored five or more hundreds in Test defeats. Top of the pile is Brian Lara, who made no fewer than 14 centuries in losing causes; Sachin Tendulkar made 11, Shivnarine Chanderpaul nine, and Mohammad Yousuf eight.I was pleased to see Ireland win a Test recently. We seem to have a high turnover of players – how many men have appeared in all Ireland’s Test matches? asked Patrick Newton from Ireland Ireland have so far used 29 players in their eight men’s Tests, and the only one to appear in all of them – including the victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi last week – is the current captain Andy Balbirnie. Offspinner Andy McBrine played in seven, and batters James McCollum and Paul Stirling in six. Here’s the list of most Tests played by Ireland cricketers.Ireland got off the mark with a win in their eighth men’s Test. Australia are the only country to win their first (the first of all, against England in Melbourne in 1877). England (also in 1877), Pakistan (1952) and Afghanistan (2019) all won their second Test, and West Indies (1930) their sixth.All the other countries took longer in terms of matches: Zimbabwe won their 11th Test (1995), South Africa their 12th (1906), Sri Lanka their 14th (1985), India their 25th (1952), Bangladesh their 35th (2005), and New Zealand their 45th (1956, some 26 years after their first).While we’re talking about Ireland, we should mention that their women’s team won an official Test match – the only one they’ve played so far – back in 2000, when they defeated Pakistan in Dublin in July 2000.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
Time and again he has been written off, time and again he proves people wrong
Shashank Kishore12-May-2022″Most of Australia hate me. There’s no doubt that I’ve had a lot of opportunity and haven’t quite nailed it, but hopefully they can respect me for the fact I keep coming back… hopefully I’ll win them over one day.”This was Mitchell Marsh, speaking after picking up his maiden Test five-for in 2019. It was supposed to be a happy occasion, but it was overshadowed by a decade of under-performance. After all, Marsh had first made heads turn in 2010, at the Under-19 World Cup, and later that year for the Deccan Chargers as an 18-year-old.At the time, Adam Gilchrist, captain of the defending champions, spoke glowingly of the boy from Perth who could hit a long ball and take big wickets. He was deemed the “perfect package”.Little did Gilchrist, or anyone else, know that Marsh would play all of 27 IPL games over the next 12 years. Or for that matter, no more than 36 T20Is for Australia since his debut in October 2011. But he kept coming back. Not quite as the finisher that everyone expected to be, but as a No. 3 who would go on to win a T20 World Cup.Related
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On Wednesday, nearly six months after that surreal innings in the final in Dubai, Marsh was at it again. And like then, there was no inkling of this being his night. Covid-19 had pushed him to the sidelines of an IPL season which began while he was nursing a hip flexor injury.When you’ve been as injury prone as Marsh has been, you’re playing as if every game is possibly your last. Remember the opening game of IPL 2020? A hobbling Marsh, who was one of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s big-ticket signings, had to leave the tournament due to a “moderate- to high-grade syndesmosis injury” in his right ankle and saw his season go up in smoke.This wasn’t a final, but the stakes were still high. Delhi Capitals, his third IPL franchise, had outbid Sunrisers, his former team, and new entrants Gujarat Titans to secure his services of INR 6.5 crore (USD 866,000 approx) for precisely magic like this. A chase of 161 a sluggish pitch was no walk in the park for a team that had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.Then, he walked into bat at the fall of the first wicket in the very first over. The scoreboard didn’t move for the next two, as Rajasthan Royals, perhaps the best bowling attack in the competition, kept coming at him. Marsh’s season – not to mention his whole team’s as well – was going to be defined by the passage of play over the next 90 minutes.He was initially at sea when Prasidh Krishna tested him with hard lengths. Inside edges rolled off the pads, out swingers whizzed past the outside edge, cut shots going nowhere, playing and missing at deliveries that reared up – it was all happening. But Marsh didn’t seem agitated, not even after playing out a maiden over.In the third over, he had a massive slice of luck. The ball from Trent Boult swung in late and struck him on the boot right in front of the stumps. Royals appealed but the umpire was unmoved. Everyone thought there had been an inside edge. There wasn’t. Marsh was on 1 off 9 deliveries. As he looked at the replay on the giant screen, there was a grin and a fist bump with Warner.Marsh: Warner opening and me batting at three, we’ve had a lot of great partnerships•BCCI”If you looked at the powerplay tonight for both teams,” Marsh said later, “the ball was swinging around, also nipping around, probably one of the toughest powerplays I’ve batted in since I started playing T20 cricket. We just had to get through that unscathed. If we are two or three down, the game gets really hard. So we assessed that we have got to cut back on our runs and make sure we’re just one down at the end of the power play.”Lot of credit to them [Royals], they bowled exceptionally well in the powerplay to us and made it really tough, but chasing 160, you only need that one big partnership and that was our main focus. The last 18 months, I’ve loved batting with Davey [Warner]. Him opening and me batting at three, we’ve had a lot of great partnerships. Tonight was a memorable one for the Delhi Capitals.”Marsh made the plan sound simple, but it needed a lot of work, starting with a change in stance. Normally, he bats on leg stump and then shuffles across just as the ball is delivered. But that was leaving him wide open to Boult’s inswingers. So, he took guard just a little outside leg stump. Now he could keep his natural trigger movement and not worry about the lbw.R Ashwin came on for the next over. Marsh had seen enough. Length deliveries into the pitch were causing batters some discomfort. He knew that because that had been his earlier in the night – mixed in with cutters and slower ones – to pick up two massive wickets. At the first sign of something full, Marsh opened his shoulders and crunched Ashwin for six over long-off. He had picked the carrom ball off the hand and went inside-out. It came as a massive relief. The fist bump with Warner after the shot, which he stood back and admired on the giant screen, told you how much he enjoyed it. It was the start of superb spell of batting.Marsh was in control even without really imposing himself. He played to his strengths rather than trying to outfox the bowler or second guess what was coming. It was just simple and clean hitting that comes from picking the lengths – and the spin – early. It must have helped that he was batting with a great mate. Warner was with him at the other end on that famous night in Dubai. And he was with him again, just turning the strike over so he could sit back and watch from the best seat in the house.As if to say thank you, Marsh provided a power-hitting exhibition. The two sixes he hit off Kuldeep Sen in the seventh over – dead straight and over the sight screen – were right out of the top drawer, By then he’d raced to 39 off 28 even as Warner was a run-a-ball 12. The six to bring up his fifty as he took on Chahal was a sign of complete mastery over his batting. From there on, it was a cruise.”In terms of the way he goes about it, he’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long time now,” Marsh said of Warner. “I’ve been very lucky, over the last 18 months, to have been able to bat with him a lot and form a great partnership and great friendship. The friendship side of things comes out in the middle of the game. His experience, calmness – you can all see how much he loves winning. It feels like he’s back to where it all began for him. He’s been super consistent this year, I love batting with him.”Marsh couldn’t quite finish the job, but by the time he was dismissed in the 18th over, he’d made 89 off 63 and taken the Capitals to the doorstep. As he walked back, soaking in the applause, he had served a quiet reminder, something that he has had to right through the career. That he wasn’t to be counted out. Not now, not for the next few years. At 30, the possibilities are endless.