It was a day when Radha Yadav could do everything: fly like a superwoman to grab two stunning catches, take 4 for 69 with the ball, be India’s top-scorer with 48 from No. 9, and help add 70 with Saima Thakor for the ninth wicket. That was not only India’s highest stand in pursuit of 260 against New Zealand on Sunday, but also their highest ODI partnership for the ninth wicket.But unfortunately for India, all those performances could not help them avoid defeat. New Zealand, led by an all-round show from their captain Sophie Devine, sealed a comfortable 76-run win to take the series into the decider. Not only that, New Zealand also grabbed crucial points in the Women’s Championship to remain afloat for direct qualification for next year’s ODI World Cup.Devine hit 79 and saw off a quiet period with the bat for her side, eventually pushing New Zealand’s first-innings total to 259. With the ball, she bagged her opposite number Harmanpreet Kaur, and also Jemimah Rodrigues. India’s chase was never on track either side of that brief stand, falling well short despite some resilience late in the contest.Five overs into the chase, India were 26 for 3, with Smriti Mandhana falling without scoring. She chipped Lea Tahuhu to point in the first over, before Jess Kerr trapped Shafali Verma in front for an entertaining 11 in the fourth. Next over, Tahuhu had Yastika Bhatia edging behind to wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze, who finished the day with four catches.Harmanpreet and Rodrigues added 38 for the fourth wicket, and that remained India’s highest stand until Radha and Thakor’s ninth-wicket stand of 70. Harmanpreet’s 24 was the most that any top-seven batter from India managed on the night, and at 77 for 5 in the 18th over, the wheels had come off.But the fact that they a challenging target to chase was down to the half-centuries from Devine and Suzie Bates. Bates put on a stand of 87 with Georgia Plimmer for the first wicket to set the tone for New Zealand, whose innings could be split into four different quarters. The first one belonged to Bates and Plimmer, who combined to thump 13 fours and a six in the first 15 overs.Radha Yadav scored runs, took wickets and pulled off stunners on the field•BCCI

But in the tenth over, Plimmer was dropped by Deepti Sharma when on 16, the first of three dropped catches from the allrounder. Plimmer and Bates relied mostly on timing and placement instead of power. Harmanpreet, back into the side after missing the first ODI due to a niggle, introduced spin in the sixth over, but it hardly affected New Zealand’s momentum.The breakthrough finally came when Radha took the first of her two great catches in the 16th over. Placed at midwicket, she moved swiftly to her right before diving full stretch to have Plimmer caught for 41 off Deepti. That started a run of 12 overs which saw New Zealand score only 34 for the loss of three wickets.Bates got to fifty to start the 19th over, but next ball, Deepti put her down at midwicket, attempting a catch with her right hand instead of going at it with both hands. Two overs later, though, one of Bates’ drives down the ground deflected off debutant Priya Mishra’s hands, and caught Lauren Down short at the non-striker’s end.In the 27th, Radha had Bates caught and bowled for 58, but Devine stood firm at the other end. That started a period of play where New Zealand steadied themselves. In the next 17 overs, they scored 84, and lost only one wicket. Devine cut, flicked and pulled for boundaries, but in the 32nd over, Radha stunned New Zealand with her fielding again. Now placed at extra cover, she sprinted and dived full stretch to have Brooke Halliday caught for 8.But Devine and Green ensured India didn’t run away with the game, even though Deepti dropped Green on 6 in the 34th over. The two batters kept ticking along, with Devine overturning an lbw decision against her when on 36. She got to her fifty off 65 balls in the 41st over, and set it up for a solid finish. The last six overs saw New Zealand pummel 55 runs, with Green driving, ramping and flicking Thakor for successive boundaries in the 45th over.Radha had Green holing out to long-off for 42 next over, but boundaries from Kerr and a six from Devine took New Zealand to 259. That proved more than enough.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers still have plenty of work to do in the market before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.

When asked about what the Hoops need to do, Rodgers said: “I think it’s bringing goals to the squad. Especially when you score four goals, it seems like you’re okay. But we lost an important player in Kyogo [Furuhashi] in January. He brought us a lot of goals. We lost Nicolas Kuhn. He brought us a lot of goals. Matt O’Riley even last summer.

“So even though we scored a lot of goals last season, we still want more. And our ambition is to have more. So I think all across the front areas, we have to be active in order to give us that depth we need.”

This suggests that the Scottish Premiership champions will be looking to add more attacking players to their squad, which is backed up by their reported interest in Go Ahead Eagles forward Jakob Breum.

However, the Hoops should also be looking for reinforcements in the middle of the park in the coming weeks, as they look a little light in the number six department.

Why Celtic need to sign another number six

Callum McGregor, the captain, is currently the only player in the squad who you would describe as a natural number six, a tempo-setter who can sit at the base of the midfield to dictate play and screen in front of the back four.

Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo are the manager’s other options in the middle of the park, and they are all more traditional number eight or number ten types, who want to be all-action and pushing forward to get involved in attacks on a regular basis during games.

McGregor is the player who sets the standards, as the captain, and really drives the style of play for Rodgers with his fantastic ability to be a metronome in midfield.

Pass accuracy

94%

1st

Passes attempted per game

80

1st

Passes made per game

74

1st

Least possessions lost per game

6.9

1st

Accurate long passes per game

1.4

2nd

As you can see in the table above, no midfielder in the squad is as effective or efficient as a passer than the former Scotland international, which is why he is the starting number six for Celtic.

However, there is no depth behind the 32-year-old star in that position, which is why it should come as good news that the Hoops are looking at another option for that role.

Celtic eyeing up Premier League starlet

According to TEAMtalk, Rodgers is ‘planning’ a raid to sign Liverpool central midfielder Stefan Bajcetic to bolster his Celtic squad before the end of the summer window.

The report claims that the Spanish youngster has emerged as a target for the Scottish Premiership champions, who are looking for more reinforcements in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Liverpool, who won the Premier League last season, are willing to sanction an exit for the 20-year-old talent, and that they would be willing to explore a loan with an option to make it permanent next summer.

However, TEAMtalk explains that the potential valuation of that permanent option could make it a difficult deal for Celtic to do, as they do not want to go overboard on their budget, which makes this a difficult deal for them to get over the line.

If the Hoops are able to reach an agreement with Arne Slot’s side to bring Bajcetic to Parkhead, though, they could have a McGregor clone on their hands.

Why Celtic should sign Stefan Bajcetic

The 20-year-old starlet could come in as the perfect understudy to the Celtic captain as a natural number six who can step in and play when the Scottish ace needs a rest, with a view to him eventually taking over as the starter in the future.

At the age of 20, Bajcetic is 12 years younger than McGregor and could be the future for the Hoops, as a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to grow and develop, whilst the skipper is in the latter stages of his career.

In terms of how he would fit in from a stylistic perspective, the Liverpool youngster would also be an ideal signing because he was the most comparable player to McGregor, statistically, in the Champions League last season, as per FBref.

The chart above backs that up, as they appear to excel in similar areas of the game in and out of possession, as Bajcetic caught the eye whilst on loan at RB Salzburg in the first half of the season.

During his time in the Austrian Bundesliga, the Liverpool youngster showcased his potential as a number six who can dictate games as a passer, whilst also being strong out of possession.

Passes made

41.55

Top 19%

Pass accuracy

81.8%

Top 27%

Accurate long passes

3.08

Top 17%

Tackles made

1.91

Top 16%

Duels won

8.37

Top 7%

Duel success rate

62%

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, he ranked highly among midfielders in areas of the game that a number six needs to excel at, in terms of setting the tempo with passes and winning his duels in front of the back four.

As you would expect at the age of 20, Bajcetic is not the finished article, as shown by his pass accuracy of 81.8%, compared to McGregor’s 94% in the Premiership, but he has time on his hands to develop.

Journalist Leanne Prescott once claimed that it was “staggering” how in control Liverpool looked with the Spaniard at the base of their midfield, which further backs up the belief that he could come in as the perfect understudy to the Celtic captain.

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Bajcetic is a McGregor clone in the making with his qualities in and out of possession in the number six position, which is why he could be a fantastic addition to the squad this summer.

It’s been a hugely busy summer for Arsenal so far this year.

On top of already playing some intense pre-season games against top opposition like Newcastle United, AC Milan and those lot from up the road, they’ve been making plenty of moves in the transfer market.

As things stand, Andrea Berta has made six permanent additions to the first team in a bid to finally help Mikel Arteta’s side get over the line in the Premier League and Champions League next season.

However, they are not done there, as they continue to be linked to several brilliant stars like Rodrygo and a new name, someone who has won comparisons to the Brazilian and the Gunners’ own starboy, Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal target Rodrygo & Saka hybrid

Of the six additions Arsenal have made thus far, it wouldn’t be much of a hot take to suggest that Viktor Gyokeres is the most exciting, as the team have needed a clinical number nine for some time now and the Swede racked up a tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games for Sporting CP last season.

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However, while it is starting to look less and less likely now, the Gunners do continue to be linked with Rodrygo, who, thanks to his incredible ability, experience and trophy cabinet, could end up taking that spot as the most exciting signing the North Londoners make this summer.

Yet, there are still other names in the mix, as it now appears that the club are looking at another star from La Liga, someone who could be fairly described as a hybrid between the Real Madrid star and the incredible Saka.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Arsenal are one of several teams showing genuine interest in Fermin Lopez.

He actually goes further than that, revealing that alongside Chelsea, the Gunners have already made contact with Barcelona, although it looks like Manchester United are currently leading the race.

According to Vidal, the Red Devils are preparing an offer of around £61m for the 22-year-old, and while Barça do not want to sell, financial issues could force their hand if such an offer arrives, which in turn will let Berta and Co know how much they’d need to offer.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Lopez’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’s been compared to both Rodrygo and Saka.

How Lopez compares to Rodrygo & Saka

In this instance, the primary comparisons to Rodrygo and Saka stem from FBref, which analysed players in similar positions in the Champions League last season and concluded that the Real Madrid star was the most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Lopez, and the Arsenal ace was the fourth most similar.

Lopez & Rodrygo

Statistics per 90

Lopez

Rodrygo

Non-Penalty G+As

0.79

0.72

Passing Accuracy

83.5%

85.1%

Passes into the Final Third

2.60

2.47

Shot-Creating Actions

3.40

3.70

Tackles Won

1.00

1.13

Clearances

0.80

0.72

Attempted Take-Ons

3.20

3.20

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Campaign

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the Frenchman ranked closely to the two internationals. In the Brazilian’s case, these metrics included non-penalty goals plus assists, passing accuracy, shot-creating actions, attempted take-ons, and more, all per 90.

In the case of the Englishman, the underlying numbers included metrics such as non-penalty expected and actual goals plus assists, key passes, shots on target, tackles in the defensive and middle thirds, and more, all per 90.

Lopez & Saka

Statistics per 90

Lopez

Saka

Non-Penalty G+As

0.79

0.83

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.79

0.73

Shots on Target

1.59

1.42

Key Passes

1.20

1.19

Tackles in the Defensive Third

0.60

0.60

Tackles in the Middle Third

0.60

0.60

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL Campaign

These numbers are particularly encouraging as they show that not only could the “amazing” ace, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, match up to the two wingers when it comes to their attacking numbers, but that he’s also capable and willing to do some of the less glamorous defensive work.

With that said, while the comparisons to the Arsenal and Madrid stars are certainly a positive sign, they aren’t the only reason Arteta and Co should look to sign the young Spaniard.

For example, one of his significant strengths is his positional versatility, having played in central and attacking midfield, as well as out on both wings since breaking through at Barcelona.

If there is one thing we know about Arteta, it’s that he prefers players who can offer him tactical versatility.

Finally, despite being young, the El Campillo-born gem has already won a number of trophies with the Blaugrana, including La Liga last season, and so he’d bring some much-needed know-how to the North Londoners.

Ultimately, it might not be a cheap transfer to get over the line, but Arsenal should do what they can to sign Lopez this summer, as he’s got the ability and potential to be something special, and the comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo can only be a good thing.

Leeds United continued their pre-season preparations over the weekend as they held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in their latest friendly ahead of the Premier League season.

Daniel Farke’s side boasted new signings Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Sean Longstaff, whilst the Whites are also set for another new face.

As you can see in the post from Graham Smyth above, Hoffenheim central midfielder Anton Stach is closing in on a permanent move to Elland Road from the Bundesliga outfit.

One player who is not going to be a part of the squad for next season, though, is experienced striker Patrick Bamford, who has been told that he is not in Farke’s plans.

The German head coach has confirmed that he has spoken with the English forward to tell him that he will be training with the U21 team until he can find a new club.

It is now down to Leeds and Bamford to find an ideal solution for him before the end of the summer transfer window, with one year remaining on his contract.

Why Patrick Bamford is not in Daniel Farke's plans

Farke explained his thought process behind his decision on the long-serving Whites number nine, saying: “Patrick is a player who needs right now, at this stage, to be the main man right. He needs the backing, the arm around the shoulder, after difficult years to be there was confidence. And then if Patrick gets this he will score goals.

“He will score on each every level because he’s a top player. But after the last two seasons, I was not willing to say come on you are right now our main man on a permanent level.”

This suggests that the decision has been made with both the club’s and Bamford’s best interests at heart, as it will allow the player to go and pursue a move that would see him play regularly, whilst potentially creating space for Leeds to bring in another forward to improve their team.

24/25 (Championship)

17

0

2.11

0

23/24 (Championship)

33

15

9.52

8

22/23 (Premier League)

28

18

8.61

4

21/22 (Premier League)

9

7

N/A

2

20/21 (Premier League)

38

37

N/A

17

As you can see in the table above, the veteran striker is not the same player he was when he took the Premier League by storm under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

His form in the last three seasons does not suggest that he is likely to make enough of an impact at the top level to be a genuine starting-calibre option, which is why it is the right call to allow him to move on.

Leeds plotting bid for new striker

Leeds, who have already signed Lukas Nmecha, are in the market to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, the Championship champions remain interested in a deal to sign Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz.

The reporter claims that the West Yorkshire outfit are hoping to bank some cash from a sale of Mateo Joseph, whom they value at £10m, to fund a new bid to tempt the Cottagers into cashing in on the Brazilian striker.

He states that Celta Vigo, who have money to spend after selling Fer Lopez to Wolves, and Real Betis are both eyeing up a potential swoop for Joseph this summer.

Muniz has reportedly been valued at £50m by Fulham, though, and it remains to be seen how much Leeds will be able to spend on him, even if they bank £10m for the Spanish youngster.

Why Muniz would be a huge upgrade on Bamford

Bamford being moved on because Farke cannot guarantee that he will be the main man in the Premier League makes even more sense when you consider the club’s ongoing pursuit of Muniz.

The Brazilian centre-forward would arrive at Elland Road as a huge upgrade on the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough man, as a star who has showcased his quality in the Premier League in the last two seasons.

As you can see in the graphic above, Muniz is already an experienced forward in the top-flight, with 17 goals to his name for the Cottagers to date.

The 24-year-old marksman, who was hailed as “seriously impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has performed even better at Premier League level than Bamford has in the Championship in the last two seasons, hence why he would be a huge upgrade for Leeds in the number nine position.

Appearances

57

50

Starts

26

15

xG

14.43

11.63

Goals

17

8

Big chances created

3

1

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, Muniz has scored nine more goals and provided one more assist than the Whites attacker in the last two years, whilst playing at a higher level.

These statistics show that the Brazilian striker is an efficient and clinical centre-forward who can make the most of the chances that are created for him, outperforming his xG by more than two goals.

Whereas Bamford’s finishing let the team down far too often, underperforming his xG by almost four goals in the Championship in that time, which suggests that he may have been a liability in front of goal in the Premier League next season.

This further explains why Farke’s decision to leave the striker out of his squad for the 2025/26 campaign makes a lot of sense, as the club are looking to bring in a forward who would be a huge upgrade on him in the top-flight.

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However, it is now down to Leeds to find Bamford a new club and to secure a deal with Fulham to bring Muniz to West Yorkshire before the end of the window.

After a long summer away, the Premier League is finally back, and West Ham United have a massive season ahead of them.

Graham Potter’s side kickstart their campaign away to the newly promoted Sunderland tomorrow afternoon, which certainly has the potential to be something of a banana skin fixture.

However, while it might not feel like it, there are reasons to be positive as the Hammers won four of their five pre-season games and have made a few interesting signings.

Moreover, if reports are to be believed, they are now looking at a player who could end up being their own version of Morgan Gibbs-White.

West Ham target their own Gibbs-White

While West Ham haven’t been as busy as some fans might’ve hoped they’d be in the market this summer, they’ve still made a few promising additions to the squad.

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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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For example, Kyle Walker-Peters on a free looks like brilliant business, and from what we’ve seen in pre-season, El Hadji Malick Diouf could surprise a lot of people over the next ten months.

However, it looks like the Irons are planning on completing at least one more signing this summer, as they close in on someone who’s won comparisons to Gibbs-White.

At least that is according to a recent report from Sebastien Vidal, who has reaffirmed West Ham’s interest in Lorenzo Pellegrini, stating that the club are plotting a “major move” for him.

The journalist has revealed that the Italian ace is “ready for the Premier League challenge” and that the “Hammers are pushing to seal the deal quickly.”

In even better news, reports from earlier this summer claimed that AS Roma would be willing to let the midfielder leave for free, but even if he cost a small fee, he’d be worth it, especially as he could become West Ham’s Gibbs-White.

How Pellegrini compares to Gibbs-White

So, in this instance, the basis of this comparison stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues and concluded that Gibbs-White has been the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Pellegrini over the last 365 days.

We can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by taking a look at some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closest.

These include metrics such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, shot-creating actions, tackles, carries into the final third and more, all per 90.

Pellegrini & Gibbs-White

Statistics per 90

Pellegrini

Gibbs-White

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.35

0.36

Progressive Passes Received

4.53

4.37

Shots on Target

0.72

0.67

Passing Accuracy

79.5%

78.3%

Key Passes

1.49

1.64

Shot-Creating Actions

3.32

3.69

Tackles

1.33

1.38

Successful Take-On %

40.7%

40.3%

Carries into the Final Third

1.49

1.67

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Campaign

These numbers paint the picture of an all-action midfielder who is as comfortable scoring goals as he is creating them, while also chipping in with the defensive side of the game – sound like anyone else?

Moreover, even if we ignore the underlying data and FBref’s comparison, it’s easy to make one of our own for the Nottingham Forest ace by simply looking at the Roma star’s output over the years.

For example, since moving to the Italian capital, the “exquisite” Conference League winner, as dubbed by former boss Claudio Ranieri, has scored 55 goals and provided 59 assists in 316 appearances, which works out to a goal involvement every 2.77 games.

For comparison’s sake, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has scored 18 goals and provided 28 assists in his 118 appearances for the Trick Trees, which works out to a similar enough average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games.

Ultimately, even if he costs a fee, Pellegrini would be worth it, but if he’s truly available for free, then this potential transfer seems like a no-brainer for West Ham, especially given his similarities to the brilliant Gibbs-White.

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Arsenal are the defensive kings of the Premier League. Across the past two campaigns, Mikel Arteta’s side have shipped the fewest number of goals.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, the club’s all-powerful central defensive pairing, have even been hailed by former midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker for their journey toward the pinnacle: “They could be on their way to becoming Premier League legends in terms of the best defenders we’ve seen.”

The security that the rearguard provides has allowed technical director Andrea Berta to work on signings further upfield. The imminent arrival of centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres is evidence of that.

However, Arsenal may yet be interested in making a defensive signing.

Arsenal's remaining transfer plans

After Gyokeres completes his move to the Emirates, it appears that Arsenal will forge ahead with a deal for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, having reached initial agreements over payments.

Elsewhere, the Gunners indeed want a defender, and that’s having already completed the signing of Valencia talent Cristhian Mosquera for £13m plus add-ons.

But, according to De Telegraaf – via reports in Spain, Arteta wants more, having set his sights on Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. Indeed, the north Londoners have initiated contacts with the Dutch giants as they look to hijack Chelsea’s bid.

The Blues might be frontrunners, but nothing is set in stone. It’s felt that a bid in the region of €60m (£51m) would be enough to get the deal done.

Why Arsenal want Jorrel Hato

Hato, 19, might only be in the early stage of his senior career, but already he has established himself as one of the most exciting up-and-comers on the continent.

In fact, talent scout Jacek Kulig has declared him to be “one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.”

There are few other rising centre-backs who could rival him, but Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen is certainly one of them. The Spain international, who is 20, left Bournemouth for Los Blancos in a deal worth £50m in May, having enjoyed a spectacular breakout year in the Premier League.

Last season, Huijsen was hailed by one analyst for having the making of a “world-class” centre-half, prodigiously cool and confident on the ball, strong in the tackle, commanding in the air.

Hato could emulate him, joining an Arsenal side considering a final flourish to their remarkable backline. Already, he has made 111 senior appearances for Ajax, shifting between left-back and central defence, denoting his wide-ranging technical ability.

Look, for example, at the ball-playing skills that allowed the former Cherries prospect to shine so brightly. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League last year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90.

Hato, while not so expressive on the ball, showcased his own passing prowess to a fantastic effect, ranked as he was among the top 1% of positional peers in the 2024/25 Eredivisie for pass completion, the top 15% for passes attempted and the top 5% for assists per 90.

Jorell Hato – Ajax Stats by Position
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
Left-back	89	4	8
Centre-back	70	3	3
Centre-midfield	1	0	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Moreover, having completed 90% of his passes in the league, averaged 1.9 tackles and won 55% of his aerial duels across league fixtures, as per Sofascore, he’s endowed with the tenacious defensive values needed to succeed in the Premier League.

For all his high-level ability, Huijsen left something to be desired in ground duels last year, winning only 51% of his battles.

Hato’s athleticism and limitless energy levels could see him provide the perfect cover for Gabriel and Saliba, initially serving as an understudy but one who would be certain to feature prominently throughout the campaign.

Arsenal – and indeed the rest of the Premier League – failed to convince Huijsen to remain on English shores, but in Hato, Arteta could sign a similarly complete and technically sharp defender with a wide range of skills.

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Liverpool are continuing to build a squad capable of fighting on all fronts this season and have now turned their attention to a defender who models himself on Virgil van Dijk, according to reports.

Liverpool set for return to action in FA Community Shield clash

After a summer that has yielded several statement signings at Anfield, Liverpool return to competitive action this weekend against Crystal Palace as they aim to win the FA Community Shield.

Speaking ahead of the tie, Arne Slot has confirmed the Reds won’t underestimate Crystal Palace as both sides take part in the curtain-raiser ahead of this season’s Premier League.

He stated: “It’s nice if you can start the season by winning something. We have a chance at the beginning of the season. We face a difficult Crystal Palace side. They have shown how hard it is to win a one-off game with them.

“Counter-attacks, set-pieces, long-balls to Mateta and individual quality of their forwards. Bilbao, AC Milan and Yokohama already gave us good competition (in pre-season). Palace hit the ground running again, it is still the same team. A good challenge for us to start the season.”

With Darwin Nunez heading for Al-Hilal, Liverpool are also expected to submit another bid for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, potentially lifting their attacking output into a different paradigm if they can force Eddie Howe into a sale.

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Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is also on the Reds’ radar, offering scope for a landmark end to a window that has already seen Slot raise the floor of his squad with additions such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

Now, they could add to their defensive ranks with a signing that has previously expressed his admiration for their club captain.

Liverpool continue to push for Giovanni Leoni

According to Florian Plettenberg on X, Liverpool are courting Parma defender Giovanni Leoni and he is said to be “one to watch” on the market, though their focus still remains firmly on Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

Other Italian clubs could come to the table for the 18-year-old and he may indeed remain at his current employers, but the Reds indeed have him on their list and they are believed to be “closely monitoring” his situation.

Citing his biggest influences, Leoni has admitted he models his game on Virgil van Dijk, which would be something that could endear himself to supporters.

Last term, the Rome-born man registered a solitary effort in 17 Serie A appearances, though his arrival at Anfield would very much be deemed as a long-term project.

The Gunners suffered an early scare at the hands of the Hammers, but a dominant second-half performance and some inspired substitutions meant they walked away with all three points

Arsenal Women continued a stunning start to the new WSL season with a 5-1 comeback victory at West Ham United, Alessia Russo finding the net twice late on to put the gloss on an emphatic victory.

West Ham had taken an early lead after Daphne van Domselaar took her eye off Shekiera Martinez's cross from the right, dropping the ball and allowing it to bounce off her and into the net. But the Gunners would not be deterred as Frida Maanum equalised before substitute Stina Blackstenius turned the game around off the bench.

Caitlin Foord added a third on her 100th WSL appearance, before Russo scored twice late on, both assisted by £1million record signing Olivia Smith, to send out a statement to Chelsea and the rest of the the Gunners' title rivals.

Following their opening-day 4-1 victory over London City Lionesses, Arsenal undoubtedly approached this encounter with a spring in their step but were dealt an early blow after just five minutes. Goalkeeper Van Domselaar's early error gave West Ham a shock lead and left the Gunners with an early deficit to come back from.

Arsenal rallied to build their way into the game though, equalising through Maanum just beyond the 20-minute mark. After some smart hold-up play by Russo, Beth Mead played the killer through-ball and Maanum struck the ball early to deceive Megan Walsh and equalise for the visitors.

Remaining level at the break, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers took off goalscorer Maanum and replaced her with Champions League final match-winner Blackstenius. The 29-year-old made a telling impact just seven minutes after her introduction, curling home left-footed from the edge of the box with Russo involved once again with a clever back-heel into her path.

Russo would eventually get her deserved goals late on, firing home from range before rounding off the result from the spot after Smith was felled by Ines Belloumou.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Chigwell Construction Stadium…

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (4/10):

  Had almost the worst possible start following her glaring error after five minutes. While it didn't appear to impact the rest of her performance, West Ham created few opportunities so she had precious little to do.

  Emily Fox (6/10):

  A solid performance in both defence and attack. Confident to get on the ball and play forward from right-back.

  Katie Reid (8/10):

  The 18-year-old was starting for the second successive game and did not look out of place, continuing her confident start to life in the WSL with an assured display at the back. Always asking for the ball, Reid also looked to play progressive passes to begin attacks.

  Steph Catley (7/10):

  While the spotlight was no doubt on Reid, her central defensive partner showed all of her experience to limit West Ham's opportunities to get back into the game.

  Katie McCabe (6/10):

  Similarly to Fox, McCabe showed her athleticism to join attacks while ensuring that the home side created minimal opportunities at the other end.

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• Midfield

  Kim Little (6/10):

  A confident display controlling the midfield by the 35-year-old, who kept things ticking in a solid team performance.

  Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

  The Spain midfielder also looked at ease in the middle of the park and played her role in two of the goals, including a pin-point cross onto the head of Foord.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  Attack

  Beth Mead (7/10):

  Mead was a strong attacking threat in particularly the first half, grabbing her third assist of the new season and driving her team forward on a number of occasions. Could have got her goal in the second period but slid the ball just wide.

  Frida Maanum (7/10):

  Took her chance to equalise in the first half when the team needed it. Was withdrawn at half-time in what appeared a harsh but ultimately effective decision.

  Caitlin Foord (8/10):

  Had an emphatic finish disallowed for offside before heading home just after the hour mark. A fitting way to mark her 100th WSL appearance.

  Alessia Russo (9/10):

  Ran tirelessly for the team and secured victory with her two goals, powering into the roof of the net from outside the box then stepping up confidently from the penalty spot. Not to forget her ingenious back-heel to set up Blackstenius' goal.

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• Subs & Manager

  Stina Blackstenius (7/10):

  Was brought on to win the game and Blackstenius helped to do just that. Already two goals off the bench this season to prove the depth in the Gunners squad.

  Olivia Smith (8/10):

  The Gunners' record signing stole the headlines on the opening day but was initially rested to the bench for this one. Came on in the second half and made her contribution with two assists for Russo, including winning the late penalty.

  Taylor Hinds (N/A):

  Came on with just over ten minutes to play and helped see out a confident victory.

  Victoria Pelova (N/A):

  Also came on late on alongside Hinds.

  Lotte Wubben-Moy (N/A):

  Replaced Catley in the final few minutes of the game.

  Renee Slegers (8/10):

  Slegers made tough calls, both in terms of her starting XI and her substitutions. Most of her decisions proved to be the correct ones and Arsenal won comfortably in the end.

Manchester United have finally landed the signature of Bryan Mbeumo, after a pursuit that felt as though it lasted a lifetime, even having two previous bids rejected.

The Cameroonian joins the Red Devils in a £71m deal which includes add-ons, surpassing the fee paid for Matheus Cunha from Wolves earlier this summer.

Such a deal has made him one of the most expensive transfers in the club’s history, placing huge expectations on his shoulders to be a success at Old Trafford.

However, he does arrive with a decent pedigree after netting 20 Premier League goals last campaign, in what was the best season of his professional career to date.

The fanbase will be hoping he can replicate such form at the Theatre of Dreams next season, but he may be joined by other players to help Ruben Amorim in his quest for success.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Over the last couple of days, United have once again been linked with a move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson in an attempt to strengthen their forward line ahead of 2025/26.

The Senegalese international registered 13 goals across all competitions last season, but would be an extremely expensive addition, with the Blues demanding £80m for his signature.

However, other areas of the pitch are also in need of investment, with Aston Villa shot-stopper Emi Martinez now seen as a viable target, according to the Daily Mail.

They claim that the Red Devils have already had a loan offer for the Argentine rejected after talks at the weekend, and are expected to return with a permanent offer for the 32-year-old.

It also states that the player himself would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, with Unai Emery’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £40m to sell the former Arsenal star.

Why United’s £40m target would be a better signing than Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo is an excellent signing, especially if he can repeat the feats he achieved during his time at Brentford throughout 2024/25.

However, he’s set to operate in one of the two attacking roles behind the striker, a position that is somewhat unnatural given he featured off the right-hand side for the Bees.

Such a move would also see captain Bruno Fernandes drop into a deeper position, possibly restricting him from replicating his figures from last season, which saw him register 37 goal contributions.

Also, given the addition of Cunha within the attacking department, his signing may not have been needed, with other areas of the pitch desperately lacking quality.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana has been prone to mistakes during his time in England, notching seven errors that led to goals throughout 2024/25, costing the side in numerous key moments.

The Cameroonian also remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, leaving Altay Bayindir as the most senior option ahead of the start of the new season.

Such scenarios have seen Martinez be linked with a move to join United this summer, providing an upgrade on the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

Games played

37

34

Goals conceded

1.2

1.3

Saves made

4

3.7

Save percentage

70%

68%

Pass accuracy

78%

72%

Long pass accuracy

49%

36%

Penalty save percentage

50%

25%

Crosses claimed

1.6

0.6

The Argentine, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Mauricio Pochettino, managed to make more saves per 90, along with a better save percentage – offering a more commanding presence between the sticks.

He also completed more of the passes he attempted, handing Amorim the option for his side to play out from the back should he desire such a playstyle in 2025/26.

£40m for a player of his calibre would be an excellent price, massively bolstering one area of the pitch that has been an issue over the last few months.

If he can transfer his form across to Manchester with him ahead of next season, it would be a phenomenal signing and one that could prove to be more important than Mbeumo.

Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd open talks to sign "phenomenal" £67m CF

Manchester United appear to have moved on to other targets after missing out on Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 22, 2025

Ruben Amorim has named Altay Bayindir as Manchester United's goalkeeper on derby day, with Senne Lammens still adapting to a "different ball".

Onana allowed to leave on loanNew signing waiting on debutTurkish keeper gets starting nodFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils are preparing for a meeting with arch-rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. A battle to line-up between the sticks has dominated plenty of discussions prior to that contest taking place.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

United have bid farewell to Andre Onana, with the Cameroon international linking up with Turkish side Trabzonspor on a season-long loan. He has been cast adrift after making a number of costly errors during his time at Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW?

Belgian shot-stopper Lammens was acquired late in the summer transfer window, and is considered to be a long-term No.1 option for United at 23 years of age, but he is still adjusting to the demands of life in English football.

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Getty/GOALWHAT AMORIM SAID

With that in mind, Amorim told reporters when delivering a pre-match update on his selection plans: "Altay is going to continue. Different league, different country, different ball. They will fight for the position. It is clear. Altay will start. He is ready to play, he will play.”

He added on Lammens: "We are really pleased, he is a goalkeeper with a lot of potential. We are in a moment where we need a goalkeeper to be really strong, have a lot of experience, but also in a moment we have to look at the present, but with focus on the future, a little bit both. He is one more option to play. He will be ready."