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It wasn’t a vintage performance from Arsenal last night, but they did what they needed to do against Port Vale and are through to the Fourth Round of the League Cup.

With that said, while much of the team underwhelmed against the League One side, Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of those who didn’t.

For example, he got the faintest of touches on the ball that led to Eberechi Eze’s goal, and then, across the 94 minutes, completed 76 of 78 passes, was successful in 100% of his dribbles, and won 100% of his duels.

It was the sort of showing that should remind fans and pundits alike just how special a talent the Hale Ender really is.

Moreover, it’s a testament to him that he’s already an established first-teamer, as Arsenal had a young prospect who some could say was the original Lewis-Skelly a few years ago, and he eventually left the club for nothing.

Lewis-Skelly's incredible rise at Arsenal

It’s almost hard to believe, but at this point last year, Lewis-Skelly had played just a minute of senior competitive football for Arsenal when he came off the bench against Manchester City in the league.

Impressively, though, and perhaps as an indication of his willingness to get stuck in, the teenager actually received a yellow card early on in that game before he’d even made his debut for telling his teammates to stay down from the sidelines.

His first start for the club came a year ago tonight, however, as Arteta put him in from the start against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup, and it didn’t take long for him to play a brilliant ball into Raheem Sterling, which led to an Ethan Nwaneri goal.

Over the next few months, the young Englishman would become more and more critical to the team, as persistent injuries to Riccardo Calafiori gave him the time to cement the left-back position as his own.

In fact, the teenager was so impressive in red and white that he was handed his first senior England cap in March of this year, when he made his debut against Albania and scored his first international goal.

The “fearless” academy star, as dubbed by Declan Rice, ended up making 39 first-team appearances last season and already has four under his belt this year, looking like he could really be going to the World Cup in the summer.

In all, Arsenal have an incredible talent on their hands in Lewis-Skelly, and he looks destined to reach the top of the game, unlike another young defensive prospect they had who eventually left for nothing.

Arsenal's original Lewis-Skelly

As with every major club, Arsenal has had numerous promising young academy talents who have struggled to make the transition to the first team.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Unfortunately, that was what happened in the case of the very talented Reuell Walters.

Before joining the Gunners academy set-up in 2020, the 20-year-old ace spent 18 months without a team following a failed move to Manchester United after he left Tottenham Hotspur.

However, that time out of junior football seemingly made no difference to his ability when he did make it to Hale End.

For example, across the almost four years he spent with the Gunners, the Lambeth-born gem made 55 appearances for the U21S, 20 for the U18S and five for the UEFA Youth League squads.

Moreover, he was very highly rated by those in the know, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “ball-carrying monster” who “loves to drive up the pitch with conviction, brushing off challengers and shielding the ball with his body.”

U21

55

U18

20

UEFA YL

5

Total

80

Mattinson then goes on to claim the youngster’s “passing ability is technically secure” and that he “looks to play long balls over the top of the opponent’s defence to switch play.”

In other words, he was seen as a young full-back who was tough on the ball, could carry it with ease and still had a killer pass in his locker, which sounds a lot like Lewis-Skelly.

However, even though he was an unused substitute on a number of occasions, it was clear that the young Englishman wanted more first-team football. As a result, he turned down a new contract and instead joined Luton Town for free in July 2024.

Since then, he’s made 20 appearances for the Hatters, and while that might not sound like much, he is still young and missed 15 games through injury last season.

Ultimately, it’s now clear that Walters was never going to hit the levels of Arsenal’s recent Hale End stars, but given his age and the skills he has, there is every chance he can still have a great career in the game.

Ruben Amorim was shocked by the 'knee-jerk reaction' to Manchester United's latest defeat, as they lost 3-1 to Brentford, and insiders at the club now fear that he will resign, instead of being sacked, per a new report. The Red Devils have lost three of their opening six Premier League games and were dumped out of the League Cup by Grimsby Town.

Amorim surprised by fallout

Per the , Amorim has been surprised by the sheer amount of scrutiny that is on both the club and his position after their uninspiring start to the season. The Portuguese is said to be shocked by the fact there is a 'knee-jerk reaction' after every single defeat, and United have, thus far, lost half of their Premier League fixtures, and were also embarrassed by Grimsby in the League Cup. The most recent loss, to Brentford, has left Amorim with the sixth-lowest points tally after 33 games at any club in the history of the Premier League. Nevertheless, the club are said to have faith that the former Sporting CP boss can turn their season around, but insiders now fear he could walk away.

Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be very keen to ensure that Amorim has a full season to prove himself but there is a concern that Amorim will see United as being a career-defining job, particularly if they keep losing games with the same regularity they are currently. 

AdvertisementAFPUnited being linked with other managers

United have been heavily linked with potential replacements for Amorim, although the report states that sources at the club are maintaining they have yet to draw up any kind of shortlist. While Erik ten Hag was in charge, the club did actively speak to other potential hires, doing so with Amorim before the Bayer Leverkusen boss moved on, but they are insistent there has been no repeat this time. Reports are linking the club with both Michael Carrick and Gareth Southgate, however, but the latter has not had any contact with Ratcliffe, despite the owner being an admirer of the former England boss.

Carrick could be seen as a potential interim appointment if Amorim does move on, but it speaks to the faith INEOS have in the 40-year-old that they are yet to open direct communications with anybody else. United play Sunderland before the international break and that game has already become a must-win, with the newly-promoted side in fine form with only one defeat from their opening six fixtures.

Amorim's defining period?

Amorim said after the defeat to Brentford that he was not concerned about his immediate future. 

He said: "I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here."

He was also not willing to throw his players under the bus after such a poor display, adding: "I think we played the game they wanted us to play, the opponents – really confused: first balls, second balls. If we play the game of the opponent, it’s harder for us. We never settled the game down. We suffered two goals where we knew they are really strong on that, with the long balls. Then we tried to get back in the game. We miss a penalty, and all these moments are a little bit against us. That could change the game, but in the end, we need to – and we should do – better.

"We need to have those moments for us. In the last game we had that, especially in the beginning of the game. Today, my biggest concern is the way we didn’t settle down the game, to control the game, to play our game. We should do that more in the game."

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(C)Getty ImagesWhere next for Man Utd?

United face Sunderland before the international break but they then face a huge test once they return: A trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. The two sides could not be enjoying more different seasons, and the Reds will be out to hand down another major defeat on their bitter rivals. Last season at Anfield, Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Amorim's men, and a similar result for United would feel like manna from heaven given the state of their current campaign. 

There may be some Glasgow Rangers supporters who are currently questioning the board, the recruitment department, and head coach Russell Martin.

You did not have to have super hearing to be aware of the feelings of some fans towards the manager during the 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues have conceded 17 goals in ten competitive matches under the new head coach, failing to qualify for the Champions League and failing to win any of their three games in the Scottish Premiership to date.

However, the recruitment department should also take some of the blame because it is, ultimately, the players on the pitch who are significantly underperforming at this moment in time.

Yes, Martin has to put a system and tactics in place that get the best out of the players, but there have been far too many simple mistakes that players signed by Rangers should not be making.

The recruitment team need to get the right calibre of players in the building, and that is why some may be frustrated to learn that Abdallah Sima currently looks set to leave Brighton for a relatively modest fee.

Rangers have missed a trick with Abdallah Sima

The Senegal international is reportedly on the verge of signing for Ligue 1 side Lens in a deal that is worth an initial fee of just £3.9m, plus add-ons on top of that.

For context, Rangers paid £4.5m to sign Oscar Cortes from Lens as part of their obligation to make his loan permanent this summer. The Colombian winger has scored one league goal for Rangers since his arrival, initially on loan, in January 2024.

During Sima’s time on loan at Rangers from Brighton in the 2023/24 campaign, the left-sided attacker proved that he had the quality to make a big impact in Scottish football.

The £3.9m-rated star scored 16 goals in all competitions for the Ibrox giants, per Transfermarkt, and offered a big goal threat in the Premiership for Philippe Clement.

Appearances

25

Starts

17

Goals

11

Big chances created

2

Assists

2

Dribbles completed per game

1.2

Duels won per game

6.4

As you can see in the table above, Sima delivered 13 direct goal contributions in 17 starts in the top-flight for Rangers that season, before he returned to Brighton at the end of his loan spell.

The forward then scored 12 goals in all competitions for Brest on loan in France last season, which shows that he has continued to offer a threat in front of goal.

This is why Rangers missing out on a £3.9m deal, particularly given what they paid for Cortes, could be seen as a blunder by the recruitment team and Martin.

However, the Gers are now reportedly looking at a move for a Premier League attacker who could be a Sima repeat at Ibrox in the 2025/26 campaign.

Rangers in talks to sign Premier League forward

According to RangersReview, Rangers have made contact with Everton over a potential deal to sign Portuguese centre-forward Youssef Chermiti.

The report claims that the Light Blues have enquired about a move to bring him to Ibrox on a season-long loan deal, with talks underway between the two clubs ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Transfer Focus

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

Everton-based reporter El Bobble adds that the Gers are advancing in talks to complete a deal for the versatile forward, which suggests that progress has been made in recent hours.

The account, previously credited by David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, claims that the Scottish giants are also looking to include an option to make the deal permanent.

It is now down to the club to ensure that they can wrap up a move for the 21-year-old star in the coming days before the window slams shut on Monday.

Why Chermiti could be the next Sima for Rangers

Supporters may take a look at Chermiti’s statistics and be concerned by the fact that he has not scored a goal in over two years with Everton, although he only played four times in the Premier League last season.

The young forward has failed to deliver a single goal or assist in 24 matches for Everton in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is not going to instill much hope from fans looking into his career.

However, Chermiti, dubbed an “outstanding” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, also came through the ranks and made first-team appearances at Sporting, a huge club, before being signed for a whopping fee of £15m by Everton in 2023.

Despite not scoring a competitive goal for Everton’s first-team, there is potential for Chermiti to arrive at Ibrox as a repeat of Sima, as another loanee from a Premier League club who could make a big impact at Ibrox.

Prior to his loan move to Glasgow, Sima had not played a single game for Brighton and had only scored five goals on loan at Angers, which shows that they were not signing a proven talent at the time.

U21

2

1

U20

4

2

U19

4

3

U18

12

6

U16

12

1

U15

5

1

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti has showcased his goalscoring potential at youth level for Portugal across various age groups in recent years, scoring 12 goals in 22 games since making the step up to U18 football.

He has not had a run of starts to show what he can do at first-team level, yet, and that is why a move to Rangers could make a lot of sense for all parties involved.

Chermiti will have the chance to play regular football and translate his goalscoring prowess at youth level over to the Premiership, and Rangers will have a talented young player who could develop during his time at Ibrox, much like Sima did.

"They'll hate me saying it" – McCoist slams one thing on Rangers signings

Eight new signings started against Club Brugge.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 28, 2025

The key difference between the two deals, though, could be that Rangers may have an option to make the deal permanent next summer, which will be significant if he has a positive impact on the pitch.

Barcelona and Spain teenager Vicky Lopez has been named the best young women’s player in the world and has picked up the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards in Paris. The 19-year-old played a key role in Barcelona’s stunning season, winning Liga F and Copa de la Reina titles, and also helped Spain make it to the finals of Euro 2025 in the summer.

• Lopez picks up 2025 Kopa Trophy

  Lopez has seen off competition from Lionesses star Michelle Agyemang, Real Madrid's Linda Caicedo, Chelsea midfielder Wieke Kaptein and Club Olimpia and Paraguay star Claudia Martinez to win the Kopa Trophy. The victory comes after another superb season for club and country for the impressive 19-year-old and sees her pick up another individual award after winning the Golden Girl prize in 2024.

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• Barcelona star dedicates award to her late mother

  Lopez offered her thanks to her family after picking up the prize. She said in her acceptance speech: "Thank you to my family. I dedicate this to my mother, who watches over me from heaven and is protecting me so I can become a better person. I hope you're proud of me; I miss you. I also want to thank Real Madrid, where I took my first steps. I also want to thank the national team, and obviously I can't forget Barcelona, La Masia, its president… they've supported me and let me compete for the best team in the world at 16 years old. I want to send a little something to the pioneers of women's football. Thanks to them, I'm able to collect this award today."

• Kopa Trophy double for Barcelona

  Lopez's win makes it a Kopa Trophy double for Barcelona as Lamine Yamal scooped the men's prize. It's the second year in a row that Yamal has won the Kopa Trophy. The 18-year-old is also in the running for the men's Ballon d'Or award as well.

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• The full Kopa Trophy rankings

  Lopez finished top of the rankings ahead of Real Madrid's Caicedo. Chelsea star Kaptein was third, with Agyemang fourth and Martinez fifth.

أصدر نادي مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي بيانًا رسميًا، منذ قليل، للإعلان عن تجديد عقد أحد لاعبي الفريق لمدة 6 سنوات، أي حتى عام 2031، حسبما تم الإعلان عبر الموقع الرسمي للسكاي بلو.

ويستعد مانشستر سيتي لخوض مباراة مساء يوم الأحد ضد خصمه برينتفورد، في الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

من جانبه، قال مانشستر سيتي إن اللاعب سافينيو وقع عقدًا جديدًا مع السكاي بلو، في صفقة سيستمر بمقتضاها في ملعب “الاتحاد” حتى صيف 2031.

وارتبط سافينيو بإمكانية مغادرة صفوف فريق مانشستر سيتي في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي لذلك العام، حيث حاول توتنهام ضمه، ولكن تلك الخطوة لم تتم في النهاية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا: إحباط هالاند طبيعي.. وتوخيل يعرف مصلحة إنجلترا أكثر مني

وشارك سافينيو في 48 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات مع مانشستر سيتي في موسمه الأول، وسجل 3 أهداف وصنع 13، ولعب دورًا في التتويج بكأس الدرع الخيرية 2024.

وقال سافينيو: “أنا فخور للغاية بتوقيع هذا العقد الجديد مع مانشستر سيتي، إنه شعور مميز للغاية أن أعلم أن بيب والنادي وضعا هذه الثقة بي، هذا يعني الكثير لي ولعائلتي، أشعر أن أمامي الكثير لأتطور، ما زلت شابًا ومتعطشًا جدًا لمواصلة التعلم، لكنني أعلم أن العمل مع بيب وجهازه الفني سيساعدني على مواصلة التطور كلاعب”.

وأضاف: “أحببت فترة وجودي في مانشستر سيتي منذ اللحظة الأولى التي وصلت فيها، لقد جعلني الجميع في النادي، وجماهيرنا الرائعة، أشعر بالترحيب الشديد وكأنني في بيتي هنا في مانشستر، أود أن أشكر الجميع هنا على مساعدتهم حتى الآن”.

واختتم: “أعدكم بأنني سأبذل قصارى جهدي لمساعدة هذا النادي الرائع على تحقيق المزيد من النجاح”.

Rizwan will take over from Babar, who stepped down from the role recently

Danyal Rasool27-Oct-2024 • Updated on 30-Oct-2024

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam make a return to international set-up against Australia next month•AFP/Getty Images

Mohammad Rizwan has been announced as the new white-ball captain of Pakistan, and his first assignment will be the ODI and T20I series against Australia next month. The squad marks the return of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. The trio, omitted from Pakistan’s last two Tests against England, make a return in both white-ball formats. None of them will feature in the ODI or T20I series in Zimbabwe that immediately follow.Salman Ali Agha, who is in all four white-ball squads for the away tours, has been named vice-captain. He will captain the side in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, with Rizwan sitting that series out.”I am committed to giving my absolute best in this role and look forward to working closely with the selectors, coaches and my immensely talented teammates,” a statement attributed by the PCB to Rizwan stated. “Together, we aim to meet and exceed the expectations of our fans and supporters.”Pakistan’s ODI and T20I squad for the tour of Australia•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, who both missed out on a central contract, do not feature in any squad, but central contracts weren’t always a reliable indicator of squad composition. Mohammad Hasnain didn’t get a central contract, but his performance in the Champions One-Day Cup – where he was Player of the Tournament – has earned him a berth in all four squads. Shadab Khan has been dropped, left-arm wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem added to both T20I travelling parties, while offspin-bowling allrounder Qasim Akram will go to Zimbabwe for the T20Is.Related

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Shan Masood gets PCB contract 'subject to captaincy', Babar and Rizwan alone in top category

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed Fakhar’s dispute with the PCB over a tweet he posted in opposition to Babar being dropped from the Test side was a factor in his omission, though according to the chairman, it wasn’t the biggest reason. “The tweet [he posted] is an issue for us,” Naqvi said. “It doesn’t matter as much as him failing his fitness test though. We have to make a decision over his show-cause notice, and after that he has to pass his fitness test. That’s why he isn’t in. He spoke very well at the connection camp, and it was him raising his voice that has led us to reform our international department. I appreciate that. But it’s unacceptable for a player to tweet against the selection committee. That is not permitted, and it will never be permitted.”Pakistan’s white-ball squads for the Zimbabwe tour•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Pakistan Shaheens wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris has also fallen down the pecking order, failing to make any of the squads, with wicketkeeper Haseebullah Khan, who played a solitary T20I in New Zealand in January, included in all four. His team-mate at Peshawar Zalmi Saim Ayub, who primarily made his name as a T20 top order power-hitter, will not feature in either of the T20I series after a sustained lean run in the format, but has made the cut for both ODI squads.The ODI series against Australia, set to begin on November 4, is Pakistan’s first in the format since the World Cup in India a year earlier. It kickstarts a busy period in the 50-over format in the build-up to the Champions Trophy in February, the first ICC event Pakistan are scheduled to host since the 1996 World Cup. The Australia and Zimbabwe ODIs are followed by white-ball games in both formats against South Africa, and a tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa in Multan just before the start of the Champions Trophy.Australia tour (Nov 4-18)
Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah AfridiT20I squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Abbas Afridi, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan.Zimbabwe tour (Nov 24 – Dec 5)
ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Saim Ayub, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab TahirT20I squad: Agha Salman (capt), Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Omair Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan11.50 GMT: This story was updated when Rizwan was confirmed as captain

Two black-soil surfaces are being prepared, but it isn’t clear yet which one will be used for the Kanpur Test

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-20242:23

Manjrekar: I will play Kuldeep Yadav for second Test

There is some uncertainty around the conditions that the second Test between India and Bangladesh will be played in with representatives from both teams admitting that they didn’t know which pitch will be used.”To be honest, I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet,” India batting coach Abhishek Nayar said on Thursday afternoon, which followed similar thoughts expressed by Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Wednesday.”Yes I had a look at [the pitch],” Hathurusinghe had said, “But the groundsman has prepared two pitches. We don’t know on which we will play on. Tomorrow we will find out.”During Wednesday’s training session, India captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir had a look at the two pitches that have been prepared for this Test match. They seemed to spend a little more time looking at the drier of the two black-soil surfaces.Related

Green Park's C stand deemed 'unsafe' for India-Bangladesh Test

Pant re-enters Test batting rankings at No. 6 after Chennai century

Domestic grind prepares Akash well for the deep end

Weather and pitch in focus as India, Bangladesh ponder three spinners

Indications are it might start as a good batting surface before taking slow and low turn from the third day onwards. But the weather in the week of the Test match might complicate matters. It’s overcast and there are thunder storms expected on the first three days of the game, which may slow down the natural wear and tear that helps subcontinental pitches become spin-friendly. There was some rain after India’s training session ended on Thursday as well and the groundstaff were quick to get the square covered.India, as a result, are waiting until the morning of the Test to finalise their XI, specifically whether they need an extra spinner instead of the extra seamer they used on Chennai’s red-soil surface.”Both the pitches look pretty good,” Nayar said. “Kanpur is always known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet. I think, with the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting as to how when we turn up to go in the morning, the conditions are. I think a lot will depend on that because as you know in Test wicket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays. So it is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur.”India lead the series 1-0 and if they go in with a spinner over a seamer, their choice will be between local boy Kuldeep Yadav, who had an outstanding series against England at the start of the year, and Axar Patel, whose ability to relentlessly attack the stumps can come in quite handy if there is low bounce. Axar joined R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the last Test that India played in Kanpur, against New Zealand in 2021, which went into the fifth day with the visitors holding onto their last wicket and drawing the game.

Superb performances from Katie Levick and Bess Heath led Northern Diamonds to a four-wicket win in the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy against Central Sparks at North Marine Road.The pair helped Diamonds to their fifth win in the competition, with Levick taking 4 for 46 and Heath making an unbeaten 58.In a back-and-forth opening innings at Scarborough, Sparks posted a competitive total of 239 for 8, with Davina Perrin and Katie George both passing 50. Every time it looked like Sparks were going to kick on, Diamonds fought back with wickets, with Levick leading the charge.Diamonds’ chase started off well, with opener Lauren Winfield-Hill attacking in the powerplay to give the hosts a good platform. It was backed up by the excellent Emma Marlow who made 55, while Heath and Erin Burns combined well to help take the Diamonds over the line with six overs to spare.Having won the toss and elected to bat first, Sparks made a terrible start as Diamonds’ overseas star Burns bowled the visitors’ skipper Eve Jones for 1 in the first over.Sparks fired back though as Chloe Brewer, who looked in good touch, hit back-to-back fours from a Rachel Slater over easing the pressure on the visitors after a tough start. But Brewer’s innings didn’t last much longer with Levick getting the Sparks opener lbw for 37.Phoebe Turner then got in on the act for Diamonds as Abbey Freeborn pulled one to a diving Katherine Fraser at fine leg for 19.Courtney Webb and Perrin combined well and guided the visitors past the 100 mark, with some good rotation of the strike in the middle overs. The impressive Webb then departed with Turner bowling her for 37 to give Diamonds a vital breakthrough after a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket.Despite losing her partner, Perrin continued to enjoy her day at the seaside, reaching her half-century from 68 balls, but she was then Levick’s second victim of the day, caught behind for 50.The wickets then continued to come with Bethan Ellis departing at the hands of Fraser for a five-ball duck. Coming in at No. 6, the fluent George counterattacked, regularly finding the boundary.Levick then struck again, removing Emily Arlott, but the positive George got her fifty from 53 balls. Levick got her fourth of the innings, trapping George in front of her stumps for 52 in the penultimate over and Sparks set Diamonds 240 to win.Diamonds started their chase in solid fashion, chipping away at the total, but Winfield-Hill picked up the pace with a delightful four straight over the bowler’s head. Marlow was dropped in the slips on 5 and struggled to get going, while her opening partner Winfield-Hill nutmegged bowler Arlott with a beautiful straight drive for four.The England international was attacking a Sparks bowling attack that offered plenty of width, regularly finding the offside boundary during the powerplay.Much to the relief of the Sparks bowlers, Winfield-Hill departed for 46 after being caught by mid-off from the bowling of Hannah Baker.The loss of Winfield-Hill checked the Diamonds progress slightly, but skipper Hollie Armitage and Marlow made sure they rotated the strike as much as they could. The pair took Diamonds past the 100 mark in assured fashion, then Armitage went on the attack with two fours in an Ellis over, leaving the hosts in a good position at the halfway mark.Armitage was then removed by Georgia Davis for 28, but that didn’t halt the progress of the Diamonds with Marlow passing 50 from 70 balls.Sparks fought back through a two-wicket over from Ellis, bowling the impressive Marlow for 55, before getting Sterre Kalis lbw for 7.Heath and Burns then came in and rebuilt well, with Burns producing an eye-catching reverse sweep for four to make further inroads into the target. The experience of Burns, who made 34, and the boundary-hitting ability of Heath helped see the Diamonds over the line for a vital win.

Amazingly, despite not being instantly used to the ins and outs of English football, Regis Le Bris would heroically secure promotion to the Premier League for Sunderland during his debut campaign in the Stadium of Light dug-out.

This wild achievement alone will ensure the Frenchman is in the Black Cats’ history books down the line. Still, all the joy and ecstasy of promotion will be unfortunately short-lived if the Wearside underdogs then struggle to acclimatise to the huge step-up in quality.

This will likely be the case too, considering the last six teams promoted up to the big time have all immediately fallen back down to the comforts of the EFL, having found the Premier League to be a sobering beast.

Yet, with Enzo Le Fee already signing on permanently, the Black Cats will hope they can buck this trend as Le Bris and Co. begin to eye up even more notable signings to aid their difficult survival mission.

This is what Sunderland’s dream XI could potentially look like ahead of their Premier League adventure nervously getting underway, with a whole host of fresh signings entering through the door, away from just the boost of Le Fee…

1

GK – Anthony Patterson

Anthony Patterson had been linked with Liverpool in the past, but his first top-flight chance will now come about with boyhood employers Sunderland.

The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in between the sticks for many a season now, so he is deserving of his opportunity in the Premier League, with Patterson now up to 51 clean sheets for the Black Cats from a total of 188 contests.

2

RB – Trai Hume

Whilst Sunderland will hope no more interest comes their way for their number one shot-stopper this summer, they will know already it will be a hard battle to keep Trai Hume around, considering the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers have already shown interest in the attack-minded right-back.

Still, Sunderland will have to remain firm when it comes to Hume, considering he could well take the Premier League by storm after collecting nine goal contributions across Sunderland’s promotion journey, on top of also valiantly picking up 17 clean sheets.

3

CB – Joe Gomez

The first new signing through the door could well be Liverpool titan Joe Gomez, with a report from the Empire of the Kop revealing that Gomez could be allowed to leave Anfield this summer, amid interest from the Black Cats, among other suitors.

Whilst Luke O’Nien was a brave battler all season long for Sunderland, he might not be cut out for the step-up, having been an EFL regular across the course of his playing days.

On the contrary, whilst he does have recurring injury problems, the 28-year-old transfer target can boast 149 appearances at the level, with only 109 goals conceded.

4

CB – Daniel Ballard

Whilst Daniel Ballard could well be joined by a fresh centre-back partner, the ex-Arsenal defender will be hopeful his spot in the side is set in stone for the Premier League.

After all, without Ballard, Sunderland might have fallen at the semi-final stages in the playoffs, with this last-gasp header sealing their dramatic spot at Wembley.

Moreover, if he can wrestle free of his own injury issues, he should be cut out for the physical demands of the top-flight, with the playoff final itself seeing Ballard win an imposing ten aerial duels.

5

LB – Kyle Walker-Peters

The second new addition in the back-line could well come in the form of Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters joining, with the Saints man an in-demand body as his contract at St. Mary’s begins to wind down.

If he were to join, Walker-Peters might end up usurping Dennis Cirkin as Sunderland’s starting left-back, having collected 12 assists in the Premier League to date from either the right-back or left-back spot.

6

CM – Dan Neil

Much like Hume, Le Bris’ men will be hoping that Dan Neil stays put, regardless of outside noise linking him with a spectacular £15m switch to AS Roma.

Neil is deserving of such attention, with the in-demand Black Cats captain a perfect mix of skill and grit, as seen in his two goals and three assists in league action last season, alongside his average duels won count being a high 4.8 from 47 second-tier clashes.

7

CM – Jordan Henderson

Much like Gomez, the added experience of Jordan Henderson in the midfield ranks could help the Black Cats adjust to the step-up.

After all, the former Sunderland prodigy has a mammoth 431 top-flight appearances next to his name, with the top-flight veteran no doubt eager to add more to his collection if his hometown club swoop in for him imminently.

8

RM – Amad Diallo

The boldest of Sunderland’s new pick-ups would certainly come in the form of Amad Diallo amazingly returning to the Stadium of Light.

The “sensational” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by football journalist Daniel Hussey – has been tentatively linked with an ambitious return to the Black Cats, after a magical loan spell back during the 2022/23 season saw him tally up 14 goals and four assists.

Amad’s G/A numbers for Sunderland + after Sunderland
Season	Club played for	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
24/25	Man Utd	43	11	9
23/24	Man Utd	12	2	1
22/23	Sunderland	42	14	4
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Amad is now valued at around the £40m mark off the back of finally proving himself in the top-flight with Manchester United – as can be seen looking at the table above – meaning this summer buy would be an almighty statement purchase.

9

CAM – Chris Rigg

Whilst Sunderland found themselves ultimately powerless regarding Tommy Watson’s exit and Jobe Bellingham’s likely departure, the Wearside underdogs will feel at least a sliver of positivity if Chris Rigg remains in the building for their top-flight ride.

It will be intriguing to see how the 17-year-old hotshot takes to the daunting division, but much like he managed to soar up to the senior ranks at his hometown side with ease by bagging four league strikes last season, this could be another hurdle he fearlessly manages to overcome.

10

LM – Enzo Le Fee

Alongside Rigg and the potential new face of Amad, Enzo Le Fee will likely take up the left wing spot for the Black Cats next season.

Le Bris does have Romaine Mundle up his sleeve down the left flank, but Le Fee might well just get the nod over the ex-Standard Liege attacker based on his wealth of top-flight experience in France, having made 132 Ligue 1 appearances primarily on the books of his manager’s former employers Lorient.

He also showed off his class for the newly promoted side by helping himself to one goal and three assists from 18 clashes, meaning he should take to the Premier League swimmingly.

A Bayern Munich star would be keen on a move to Chelsea this summer, rather than joining Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

Blues set sights on new winger

With the summer transfer window edging ever closer, it is becoming apparent that the Blues are keen on bolstering their wide options, and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is among their main targets, although the 25-year-old is unlikely to come cheap.

The west Londoners are the favourites to sign Leao, having held talks over a deal, but the Portugal international’s £148m release clause may be prohibitive, while there is also rival interest from Arsenal and Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

There are also potential options from within the Premier League, with Enzo Maresca’s side still keen on Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, having remained in contact with the 20-year-old’s agents ahead of a potential summer swoop.

Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea now want to sign £50m star "by the end of May"

The reliable journalist says BlueCo want a deal done as soon as possible.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 10, 2025

In the aforementioned report, it is detailed that Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams make up the shortlist, but a new update has revealed that a Bayern Munich winger could also be in line to move to Stamford Bridge.

According to a report from Sky Sports in Germany, Chelsea are interested in signing Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, and a move to west London would appeal to the German, who isn’t as keen on joining fellow suitors Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle.

Sane is out of contract this summer, which means the winger is set to be available on a free transfer, but there could be competition for his signature, with the 29-year-old open to a move to Arsenal.

A move to La Liga also appeals to the Bayern star, whose current employers want him to make a final decision on his future by May 17th, the date of their final Bundesliga match.

"Outstanding" Sane could help take Blues to next level

The Blues remain in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which means Maresca may be keen to bring in players with experience in Europe’s elite competition, and the forward certainly fits the bill in that regard.

The Germany international has 23 goals and 19 assists to his name in 73 Champions League appearances, while his attacking output in the Bundesliga has been impressive ever since arriving at Bayern.

Season	Appearances	Goals	Assists
2020-21	32	6	9
2021-22	32	7	7
2022-23	32	8	7
2023-24	27	8	11
2024-25	29	11	6

Not only that, but the £244k-per-week forward also received high praise from Harry Kane in November 2023, with the England captain saying: “He has great pace and outstanding power. Leroy is probably our best player so far this season. He is fantastic.”

At 29-years-old, Sane is older than the players Chelsea usually sign, but should they qualify for the Champions League, it is important Maresca has a good blend of youth and experience, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus.