It only closed last week, but the transfer window is open for the second time this week, and it looks like it’ll be a hectic one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are undoubtedly one of the best in the country, but with a third second-placed finish in the Premier League in as many years this season, it’s clear that they are lacking something their competition are not: goals.

The North Londoners produced the best defence in the league last season, but Liverpool and Manchester City scored more goals than them.

So, while some new wide talent wouldn’t go amiss, it’s evident that Arsenal need a new goalscoring number nine, and while Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with the club, another striker now reportedly wants the move.

Arsenal's striker search

Gyokeres has been touted for a move to Arsenal for some time now, with the first reports linking the Swede to the club emerging as far back as last summer and then reappearing here and there during the winter window.

Transfer Focus

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

Yet, the reports seemed to gather momentum once more over the last few weeks, with stories even suggesting that the North Londoners were set to launch a bid for the former Coventry City gem.

However, with it now clear that Sporting CP do not intend to let him leave for £59m, as he and his agent believed they would, the Gunners could turn their attention to more attainable alternatives, such as Ollie Watkins.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Mirror, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa superstar from earlier this year.

The report claims that the former Exeter City gem remains on their list of targets and that the player himself is incredibly keen on joining his boyhood team.

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the story, but according to other reports from late last week, the Englishman could cost up to £40m, which may well be a bargain and help make the case for him being a brilliant alternative to Gyokeres.

Why Watkins would be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres

Now, while the potential price differential is already one massive reason why Watkins would be a great alternative to Gyokeres, there are others, such as their respective experience.

For example, while the Swedish international has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine this season and has been able to rack up a staggering tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, he has almost no experience of playing in a top-level competition.

In fact, while he has played eight games in the Champions League and nine in the Europa League, the former Coventry City star has never played in a traditional top-five league, and currently, according to research from Opta Analyst, the Portuguese top-flight is only the 11th strongest in the world, behind the likes of the Belgian Pro League and Championship.

Moreover, if that wasn’t enough to cast some judgment over the 27-year-old’s numbers, then perhaps the fact that 11 of the 18 teams in that competition are considered to be of a League One level will.

In contrast, the “world-class” Englishman, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has been plying his trade in the toughest competition in world football for five years now and has consistently been a dangerous outlet for the Claret and Blue.

Appearances

53

54

Minutes

4323′

3578′

Goals

27

17

Assists

15

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.79

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

102.92′

115.41′

For example, the Torquay-born monster was able to rack up a tally of 42 goal involvements in 53 games last season and then was able to amass 31 in 54 games this year, which is the sort of output that could fire the Gunners to glory.

Furthermore, while the 29-year-old’s record in the Premier League means that fans know what to expect from him, it also means that there should be little to no adaptation period for him, meaning he could come in, hit the ground running and supercharge the North Londoners attack, whereas the Sporting star could take months to get used to playing in the league.

Ultimately, a combination of his price, track record, and experience playing in the Premier League all make Watkins an ideal alternative to Gyokeres this summer.

Berta readying £53m bid to sign Arsenal's answer to Florian Wirtz

Arsenal are in need of their own Florian Wirtz-like signing this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 15, 2025

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have been blessed with an abundance of world-class players in the past.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were unreal in the early 2000s, while Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez were the shining lights of the latter Arsène Wenger years.

However, on top of the bonafide stars, the Gunners also had more than their fair share of those who fell one or two rungs below, those who were still incredibly talented but are now seen as cult heroes more than anything else.

Theo Walcott would likely fall into the category for many fans, as while he never really fulfilled the potential so many believed he had, the former England international was still more than a handful, responsible for some iconic goals and was arguably the club’s best attacker for a season or two.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international who could be the Mikel Arteta’s own Walcott.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented internationals touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Rodrygo and Mohammed Kudus.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is reportedly available for around £84m, which might be a fee worth paying, as in 51 games for Real Madrid this season, he has scored 14 goals and provided ten assists.

On the other hand, Kudus might prove even more challenging to pry away from West Ham United as, according to reports from last week, he has a release clause worth up to a staggering £120m in his current deal.

Fortunately, another attacking talent has entered the frame for Arteta and Co: Anthony Elanga.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in the Nottingham Forest star ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.

The report claims that, alongside the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely.’

However, on top of dealing with the potential competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up a hefty fee of around £60m to get their man.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Elanga’s ability and the potential for him to improve further, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he could be their new Walcott.

Why Elanga would be Walcott 2.0

Okay, while there are certainly numerous reasons why Arsenal would want to, and probably should, sign Elanga this summer, let’s first address just why he could be the club’s new Walcott.

The first is that, like with the former Southampton gem, it would be another example of the Gunners signing an exciting and dynamic right-winger who can play in other positions from a fellow Premier League side.

Moreover, while the Swede is a fair bit older than the Englishman was when he moved to North London, the fact he’s still just 23 years old means there is plenty of time for him to further develop and grow in N5.

However, there is another, even more significant similarity between the two players: their pace.

While he was playing under Wenger, the former Arsenal star wasn’t always necessarily the most technical of footballers, but he was blisteringly quick, as shown by the Castol Football Index calculating his top speed to be 22.72 mph in March 2014, which converts to about 36.56 km/h.

In comparison, the Forest star reached an even higher speed of 22.78 mph this season, which is about 36.66 km/h, but did even better and hit 22.93 mph last season, which is around 36.91kmph.

Impressively, that is currently the fourth-fastest sprint since Premier League records began and more than justifies his statement that he’s “one of the fastest players in the league.”

Appearances

43

Minutes

2752′

Goals

6

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.88′

Finally, on top of being absurdly fast, the “special” talent, as dubbed by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, is also a potent threat, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in just 43 appearances, totalling 2752 minutes this season.

That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 152.88 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more attacking talent to the squad this summer, and someone who’s a genuine threat while also being incredibly fast sounds like just the player they should be signing.

He's like Mbappe: Arsenal submit offer to sign £68m "powerhouse"

The prolific international would be a sensational and game-changing signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 11, 2025

One club are willing to sell their star midfielder to Tottenham Hotspur this summer and plan to replace him with Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham, according to an intriguing report this week.

Tottenham target midfielder after 2024/2025 injury crisis

Ange Postecoglou was left desperately short of options in numerous areas throughout 2024/2025, which undoubtedly played a key role in their lowly 17th-placed finish and record number of Premier League defeats.

Salah-like forward considers joining Tottenham as contract expires in 2025

Spurs have an opportunity to strike a bargain deal.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 28, 2025

Injuries threatened to dampen their Europa League final success as well, particularly in midfield, with Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison both forced to sit out of their eventual 1-0 win over Man United in Bilbao.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

Star midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has suffered fairly frequent lay-offs over the last two campaigns as well, and the South American’s presence is always missed when unavailable.

Postecoglou or any new manager is also facing the looming threat of AFCON midway through 2025/2026, with both Pape Sarr (Senegal) and Yves Bissouma (Mali) set to compete at the tournament in Morocco.

The Lilywhites face being left very short in the middle through a combination of possible injuries and international obligations, leaving little surprise that chairman Daniel Levy reportedly has his eyes on new options.

Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is a reported target for Tottenham, with the England international recently confirming that he’s set to quit his club this summer after his contract expires.

“After four unforgettable years at LOSC Lille, it’s time for me to say goodbye,” he said.

“This club has been more than just a team – it’s been a family, a home, and a place that has shaped me both on and off the pitch. Like any journey, there were ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m truly grateful to my team-mates and the fans for sticking with me throughout.”

Gomes’ availability at zero transfer cost makes him a prime candidate to reinforce Spurs’ midfield, but he’s by no means their only target.

Eintracht Frankfurt prepared to sell Larsson to Tottenham

According to GiveMeSport, Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson is on their radar as well, following his very productive campaign with the Bundesliga side.

GMS report that Eintracht are “prepared” to sell Larsson to Tottenham, if Levy pays the required £50 million to secure his signature, and Dino Toppmoller’s side are targeting Sunderland’s Bellingham as a replacement for the 20-year-old.

However, while the door is described as open for Spurs to move ahead with negotiations, the £50m asking price could still prove to be a sticking point, despite the riches acquired from qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

The Sweden international could be considered an elite midfield technician, having registered an 87.4% passing accuracy in the Bundesliga this season (WhoScored), and he’s even been compared to Balon d’Or winner Rodri by some.

His “skillfulness” and “close control” also has shades of Man City legend Kevin de Bruyne, as per the Bundesliga website, so Spurs risk missing out on a potentially world-class talent.

Footballers who possess a unique style of play, supreme technical ability or untapped potential are often referred to as ‘streets won’t forget’ players.

Whether it be Premier League one-season wonders like Michu, tricky mavericks such as Hatem Ben Arfa or players who simply grabbed their moments on the biggest stage like South Africa World Cup star Siphiwe Tshabalala, football fans will always have a soft spot for those players who captured hearts and minds.

Some, like Adel Taarabt, never fulfilled their true potential, while others had glittering careers, but the rise of social media and the pure volume of football coverage has led fans to yearn for those stars who rocked up once a week on a Saturday afternoon with no intention other than to amaze their spectators.

10. Yannick Bolasie

9. Andrey Arshavin

8. Papiss Cissé

7, Dimitri Payet

6. Morten Gamst Pedersen

5. Mousa Dembele

4. Jay-Jay Okocha

3. Adel Taarabt

2. Michu

1. Hatem Ben Arfa

“The boy Michu has been a revelation,” Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Swansea’s Spanish striker. “To sign him for just £2 million and get 20 goals out of him – what a bargain!”

Such cult hero status doesn’t exclusively belong to goalscorers however, as Mousa Dembele proved during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. The Belgian only found the net ten times in 249 appearances for Spurs, but is regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of all time.

Dembele's teammates called him the one of the best players in the world

Winning 82 caps for Belgium, Dembele drew praise throughout his career for his ability to evade the press, weaving his way out of trouble as a deep-lying midfielder.

Dembele started his career as a winger and idolised legendary forward Patrick Kluivert, which led to him being almost impossible to dispossess in midfield, and Harry Kane once said he was the most technically gifted player he’s played with.

Plenty of Spurs stars have echoed this sentiment down the years, with Dele Alli claiming Dembele was the best player in the squad back in 2016, and current captain Son Heung-min revealing: “Mousa he is incredible. I haven’t seen a player like this. I have never seen this.”

Perhaps the best indication of a player’s talent however is what their opponents have to say, and Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere named Dembele as his toughest ever opponent – even despite being left in awe of Lionel Messi.

2012-13

26

1

3

5th

2013-14

22

1

1

6th

2014-15

10

1

1

5th

2015-16

27

3

1

3rd

2016-17

24

1

1

2nd

2017-18

21

0

0

3rd

2018-19

7

0

0

4th

With elite teams now spending hundreds of millions on finding the perfect midfielder, the Tottenham legend’s aesthetically pleasing style would catch a hefty fee in today’s transfer market.

AI predicts the 2025/26 Premier League table

Who are the winners and losers from AI’s table?

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Yet to complete their first move of the summer, Leeds United and the 49ers are now reportedly lining up a deal to sign a relegated Premier League defender for Daniel Farke.

Leeds set to commence summer business

Whilst those at Elland Road are yet to welcome their first summer arrival, it’s not been for the want of trying. Several fresh names have been linked with a move to the Yorkshire club in recent weeks, but it remains to be seen just who arrives. Among those names is Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope, who would be an instant upgrade on Illan Meslier this summer.

The veteran shot-stopper is an England international and the type of arrival that Farke desperately needs if he is to navigate survival at the first time of asking. Pope is not the only one on Leeds’ reported radar, however.

Gustavo Hamer has also found himself in the headlines as of late. The Sheffield United star suffered playoff heartbreak courtesy of Sunderland at the end of the season, but could yet step into the Premier League without the Blades.

Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe had his say on the club’s potential transfer activity this summer when speaking to reporters last month, saying: “I’m not really ready to go into that, but yes, your speculation is probably right.

“It’s going to be a mix of seeing if there are inbounds along with outbounds. And that’s probably, that’s probably accurate, but really not ready to go into more detail than that. But we are looking at maximizing what we can do, and so that involves the whole bag, ins and outs.”

Of course, one market that the Whites could take full advantage of is relegated stars who will be desperate to regain their Premier League place, and that could yet include one impressive defender.

Leeds lining up Dara O'Shea move

According to The Sun, Leeds and the 49ers are now lining up a summer swoop to sign Dara O’Shea from Ipswich Town. The relegated Tractor Boys have already lost Liam Delap, but could still be picked apart even further.

Despite his side’s relegation, O’Shea still impressed at Portman Road and may have done enough to keep hold of his place in the top flight. If that does prove to be the case courtesy of Leeds, then Farke would instantly have impressive defensive depth to choose from in Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and the Ipswich star.

Leeds looking to sign "unbelievable" £15m star who'd be Bogle 2.0

Leeds United could land a star who could follow in the footsteps of Jayden Bogle at Elland Road.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 6, 2025

Kieran McKenna will be desperate to keep hold of the 26-year-old, however, having told reporters earlier in the season: “His character and his nature is always going to be beneficial in times of struggle and challenge because he’s a resilient person, he’s a fighter and he’s got character.

“I haven’t had many conversations with him about his experiences (of relegation) with Burnley and West Brom. But I’m sure those experiences have really helped him with us.”

With former club Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers also reportedly interested in a move to sign O’Shea, Leeds should make their move as soon as possible and get their summer business underway.

West Brom are showing an interest in completing the loan signing of a “sublime” Premier League player this summer, according to a new update.

West Brom eye signings ahead of Mason's first season

The Baggies will once again be among the favourites to seal a top six finish in the Championship next season, as is so often the case, with new manager Ryan Mason admitting he is excited about getting started at The Hawthorns.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base and I am excited about what we can achieve together. Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can’t wait to get started. I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”

Mason will know that some new signings will be needed this summer, though, in order to aid West Brom’s promotion push, with Rangers forward Tom Lawrence mentioned as an experienced option who has proven himself in the past in the Championship.

Nottingham Forest left-back Harry Toffolo has also emerged as a rumoured option for West Brom, following his departure from the City Ground, with the Englishman set to be a free agent. Now, another name has been thrown into the hat for the Baggies.

West Brom want to sign "sublime" Premier League ace

According to a new update from The Express & Star, West Brom are considering the loan signing of Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks in the summer window, having joined them for £11.5m seven years ago.

The report states that a lack of regular starts for the Cherries last season means that “a departure from the Vitality Stadium, if only on a short-term basis, is considered a possibility this summer.”

Brooks, who scored for Southampton at The Hawthorns in a 2-0 win last year, could be a brilliant addition for West Brom, even if it’s just on loan, with the 27-year-old a gifted footballer who has been highly-rated for years, being lauded by Eddie Howe back in 2018:

“He has played ever so well for us, he has got a creative flair, non-stop energy and he took his goals really well today. He is a player that can do a little bit of everything, he is very good offensively, is creative, turns well with the ball and is very intelligent. His first goal was sublime and his second was very clever because he was running at an angle and just directed it backwards behind him which was really impressive.”

Appearances

29

Starts

9

Minutes played

952

Goals

2

Assists

0

Shots per game

0.9

Key passes per game

0.7

Pass completion rate

82.2%

The fact that Brooks is struggling to be a key starter for Bournemouth means that a temporary move away could appeal to him, and he has the technical quality to be an influential performer for West Brom, helping inspire them to a return to the Premier League.

It is far from a secret that Celtic are in the market to add to their options in the wide areas before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Hoops lost Portuguese forward Jota to a long-term knee injury in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he is not going to be available in the opening months of next season.

Losing the forward, who arrived on a permanent deal from Rennes for a second spell at Parkhead in January, came as a blow to Brendan Rodgers, because he had hit the ground running upon his return to Glasgow.

Jota produced four goals and two assists in 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, despite only starting seven of those matches, in the second half of the season, before his injury.

Celtic are now in the market to bring in a left winger who can plug the gap that his injury has created, whilst also having the potential to compete with him for a starting berth in the future.

One left-sided attacker who has emerged as a reported target for the Scottish giants this summer is Royal Antwerp star Michel-ange Balikwisha.

The latest on Celtic's pursuit of Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently reported that the Hoops are in talks with the 24-year-old wide man over the possibility of a move to Glasgow in the coming weeks.

The journalist claimed that talks are already underway and that the right-footed wing wizard is keen on securing a transfer to Parkhead before the end of the window.

Tavolieri did not mention how much money it would take for Royal Antwerp to part ways with their star forward, but The Scottish Sun revealed, in April, that he is valued at £5m by the Pro League outfit.

Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League in the last two seasons suggest that the potential is there for him to be a value-for-money signing at £5m for the Hoops, as he has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic target has racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 39 starts in the division, outperforming his xG in both campaigns, which speaks to his efficiency in front of goal.

These statistics suggest that he could replace the goals and assists that the Hoops have lost through Jota’s injury, if he can translate his performances over to the Premiership at Parkhead.

At the age of 24, Balikwisha would also arrive in Scotland as a player who could have his best years ahead of him, with time to develop and grow, and this could make him an interesting long-term addition, as well as a player who could replace Jota in the short-term.

A fee of £5m would be a decent outlay for the winger, but the Hoops already have a number of forwards who are worth significantly more than that, including Japanese forward Daizen Maeda.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Dazien Maeda

The Scottish giants initially signed the Japan international on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos in the January transfer window at the start of 2022, before they snapped him up on a permanent basis that summer.

Their decision to sign him permanently has turned out to be a blinder because the versatile attacker has gone to become an incredibly valuable player, both in terms of his market value and his value to Rodgers and the team.

Maeda has racked up 62 goals and 28 assists in 158 appearances for the Hoops to date, and remains a regular starter in the attack after three-and-a-half-years in Glasgow. This shows that he has provided consistent quality as a threat at the top end of the pitch during his time in Scotland so far.

His form in the 2024/25 campaign was particularly impressive. The 27-year-old star ended the season with an eye-catching haul of 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances for Rodgers’ side, whilst playing as a left winger and as a centre-forward.

Maeda’s sublime form in the top-flight earned him the Premiership Player of the Year award, which shows that he was deemed to be the best player in the entire division.

The Japanese speedster’s market value has soared as a result of his fantastic performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants, so much so to the point that he is now worth around £8m more than reported target Balikwisha.

Jan 2022

£1.5m

June 2022

£3m

November 2022

£3.5m

December 2022

£4.5m

June 2023

£5m

December 2023

£5.5m

May 2024

£6m

October 2024

£6.5m

December 2024

£7m

March 2025

£9.5m

June 2025

£13m

As you can see in the table above, Maeda’s value has soared by a whopping £11.5m throughout his time in Scotland, to the point where he is now worth £13m, as per Transfermarkt.

He is the most valuable player in the Celtic squad, ahead of the likes of Nicolas Kuhn, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate, which speaks to how impressive his valuation of £13m is.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Japanese marksman, who has been the subject of reported interest from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, because they struck gold by signing him when he was valued at just £1.5m.

The forward has developed into the most valuable member of the squad, and the most prolific after a haul of 33 goals this season, as illustrated by him being worth a whopping £8m more than reported target Balikwisha.

Their next Kuhn: Celtic reach agreement to sign "dangerous" star

Celtic have agreed a deal to sign a “dangerous” wide attacker for around £1.7m, so here is why he could be the Hoops’ next Nicolas Kühn.

1 ByBen Gray Jun 19, 2025

Hopefully, the Scottish giants will be able to retain his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and he will continue to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt says playing Tests is a “challenge” given her team does not get to play domestic red-ball cricket. They should be given the chance to play more multi-day games or “just leave” the format alone, she said, given how tough it is to adapt to.”It’s obviously a challenge for most of us having any sort of preparation in the format,” Wolvaardt said on the eve of South Africa’s Test against India in Chennai. “Just coming straight into an international multi-day game is difficult. For example, balls that I’ve been cover-driving my whole life, I now need to leave, which is difficult for me because it just happens on instinct and I have to fight the way that I’ve been batting for my entire career.”I think either we need to play a lot more Test cricket and incorporate it into our domestic practice and training, or we must just leave it because playing one in three years is very hard to adapt to. But I’m on the side to have more of it.”Related

• Sneh Rana: 'Test championship will be a big boost for women's cricket'

• Wolvaardt on playing Tests: It's like last-minute studying for an exam

• Muzumdar: 'Not a bad idea to have Test Championships for women'

• India head into Chennai Test with an eye on 2025 Women's ODI World Cup

Wolvaardt hopes conversations are happening within the Cricket South Africa board to get women to play more red-ball cricket. South Africa women currently play the CSA Women’s Provincial 50-over tournament and T20s as part of their domestic season.”I haven’t been part of any such conversations, but I’m hoping that it is a conversation higher up,” she said. “If we want to give ourselves the best chance to win these games internationally, we have to do some sort of preparation at a domestic level. Just coming straight into an international Test match is tough with no red-ball experience in the squad.”South Africa will be playing three Tests this year; they have three in a year after a long time – they last did so in 1972. They played a Test in February in Australia, after a gap of nearly two years, now they have India, and they will be playing a multi-format series against England at home that includes a one-off Test in Bloemfontein in December. That will also be their first Test at home since 2002 when they played India in Paarl.”I think getting opportunity to play more Test cricket is awesome and something that a lot of our girls are really looking forward to is playing more Tests. Obviously having three scheduled in a calendar year is pretty cool and something that I’ve wanted to see for a long time. I personally really enjoy the format and would love to see more of it. I think this Test will be a huge challenge for us. And hopefully we’re able to adapt to the conditions.”Wolvaardt also acknowledged the challenge of batting on a spin-friendly Chepauk pitch, conditions South Africa are not too familiar with.”Batting-wise it is going to be a big challenge for our group,” she said. “I think obviously it’s very different to conditions that we’ve been used to and exposed to at home, but thankfully we do have a few talented spinners within our squad as well. I think players like Nonkululeko Mlaba would sort of be licking her lips. Hopefully they’re able to put on a good show and be consistent and tight with their areas.”

‘I’ve been around long enough to know how it works,’ captain says, after emphatic win over Oman

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2024

Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow finished the chase with 30 from just 8 deliveries•Getty Images

Jos Buttler, England’s captain, praised his players for blocking out the noise and focussing on the task of beating Oman in style, as the T20 World Cup defending champions produced a command performance that has put them back on course for Super Eight qualification.England needed a grand total of 99 deliveries to beat Oman in the first of two must-win matches in three days, with Buttler himself striking 24 not out from eight deliveries to hunt down a victory target of 48 in just 3.1 overs.In so doing, England transformed their net run-rate from -1.8 to +3.08, placing them ahead of Scotland’s figure of 2.16, meaning that they will progress at the Scots’ expense from a tightly contested Group B if there are no more upsets or washouts in the remaining fixtures.Though the speed of England’s chase was a key factor in the NRR boost, the match was set up by a thrilling bowling display, led by Adil Rashid’s 4 for 11, with Mark Wood and Jofra Archer both returning the excellent figures of 3 for 12.”I thought the tone was set really well by the bowlers,” Buttler said at the post-match presentations. “We managed to pick up those early wickets and restrict them and knock them off, so job done today and we’ve got another big game in two days’ time.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Asked if he had been surprised by the mood around England’s campaign, after one washed-out contest against Scotland and a poor display against Australia in Barbados, Buttler smiled and acknowledged that he’d seen it all before.”I’ve been around long enough to know how it works,” he told Nasser Hussain, who was conducting the post-match interviews. “How guys like you make some comments, so that’s fine. That’s part of your job. I don’t mind. We know what’s going on in the dressing room. We have lots of confidence in our team and we have another huge match to come.”That match is against Namibia on Saturday, at the same venue in Antigua, which ought to suit England’s bowling attack given the steep bounce on offer for the quick bowlers and the sharp spin that Rashid extracted in the course of his four superbly executed overs.”I thought they bowled brilliantly,” Buttler said. “[Reece] Topley with his height, Jofra Archer with that high release point as well. They were really challenging bowlers on that surface. I thought they bowled a really good line and length.Related

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“I don’t think any of us expected the wicket to probably play like it did,” he added. “It looked a really good surface. But yeah, [Rashid] found spin and obviously you know what a threat he is. He bowled fantastically well.”England’s run-chase was ignited by Phil Salt’s volley of two sixes from the first two balls – the first such instance in a T20I since Spain versus the Isle of Man in February 2023, and sealed 17 balls later by Jonny Bairstow’s second four in as many balls.”Just be ultra-positive,” Buttler said, when asked what his message to the batters had been. “We’ve spoken in the lead-up to this about we have to win games, and if we get a chance we have to try and take advantage with the net run-rate, and we managed to do that today.”We can only focus on ourselves. We’ve got a huge game against Namibia and all focus now is on that.”

In what would be the ultimate statement of intent from INEOS, Manchester United are now eyeing a shock move to hijack a Champions League megastar ahead of Arsenal after Real Madrid lowered their asking price.

Who Man Utd could target after Bryan Mbeumo

After launching a fresh bid worth more than £60m to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, all signs a pointing towards success for Manchester United in their chase to sign the winger. In another big money deal, the Red Devils look increasingly likely to welcome their second attacking reinforcement of the summer following Matheus Cunha.

It always needed to be a big summer at Old Trafford, however, and INEOS may not be done after Mbeumo. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have also set their sights on improvements in goal, in midfield and further attacking additions to round off an excellent summer of business.

On the goalkeeper front, the main name mentioned in recent weeks has been Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. The Midlands club have PSR troubles hanging over their head and will likely need to sell a player before the June 30 deadline – potentially allowing United to take full advantage.

Meanwhile, when it comes to midfielders it is Ardon Jashari who has found himself among recent headlines. The Belgian Pro League’s Player of the Season has reportedly attracted the interest of United, who could land an instant upgrade on Casemiro.

It’s going forward that INEOS could save their best work once again though, with reports now suggesting that United may yet hijack Arsenal’s move to sign a Real Madrid megastar.

Man Utd eyeing shock Rodrygo hijack

As reported by Caught Offside, Manchester United are now eyeing a shock move to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid this summer in what would see them hijack Arsenal’s pursuit.

It looks as though the Brazilan’s Real Madrid departure is a realistic possibility this summer as he continues to be overshadowed by the work of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Arsenal are chasing his signature, which will now cost around €85m (£73m) following Madrid’s price drop from €110m (£94m), but United’s interest could now complicate things for the Gunners.

It would be some statement if INEOS managed to beat Arsenal to Rodrygo’s signature, albeit an expensive statement at that. Not only would United be spending another £73m to secure his signature, but the Madrid man also currently earns around £10.5m-a-year at the Bernabeu to form what would be Ratcliffe’s biggest deal yet.

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Previously described as a “special” player by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, there’s a strong argument to be made that Rodrygo would be worth every penny of that £10.5m-a-year contract.

The talented winger may be an afterthought at Madrid at times, but there’s no denying that he’d instantly become the biggest star at Ruben Amorim’s disposal if he joined Manchester United this summer.