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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

Sunderland will be all too aware of how challenging the Premier League can be, having been relegated four times from the intimidating division since its 1992 rebrand.

The Black Cats will be up against it too when you consider how poorly the newly promoted sides have done in recent memory, with the last six teams to go up triumphantly sinking straight back down with a whimper.

Regis Le Bris, of course, will have other plans as he embarks on his first-ever season in England’s well-known top-flight, but signings galore will need to take place to give the Frenchman and his wide-eyed team a fighting chance at survival.

One dream incoming would have been the amazing return of Amad Diallo to the Stadium of Light, but with his Old Trafford career finally now taking flight, it looks like an unlikely route to explore.

Amad's fan favourite status at Sunderland

Rumours have already begun to circulate that the entertaining Ivorian could be on the Sunderland shopping list, with this deal perhaps even bolder than the Black Cats’ reported attempts to tempt former star Jordan Henderson back to home turf.

A potential reunion will always catch the eye of Sunderland supporters just for how impactful Amad’s first stint at the club was, with his heroics from down the right wing clinching playoff football for Tony Mowbray’s men during the 2022/23 campaign.

They would eventually slip up at the semi-final stages, but nobody could knock the 22-year-old’s efforts during the near-miss season, with Amad picking up a hefty 14 goals and four assists across 42 appearances.

Since then, he has been able to firm up his Manchester United starting spot under Ruben Amorim, scoring 11 goals this season, so a stunning move back to Wearside would surely be a tall order to pull off.

But, Le Bris might well be able to win Sunderland’s next version of the spellbinding 22-year-old if another move comes to fruition.

Sunderland could sign their new Amad

It will be all about striking a fine balance between picking up signings by the bucket load and ensuring the star performers from their promotion heroics are given a fair chance up a level.

As per a new report from GIVEMESPORT, the Black Cats could be about to bolster their attacking arsenal even more away from the likes of Romaine Mundle and Wilson Isidor with the addition of Kwame Poku. Indeed, the Mackems are just one of 26 clubs who are looking to seal the winger’s signature on a free transfer after his contract with Peterborough United came to a close.

The concern on Sunderland’s end, however, will be whether Poku can make that gigantic leap up from League One to the Premier League look seamless.

But, as was the case with Amad, he had never really been exposed to the ins and outs of the English game before his Stadium of Light loan experience – minus one or two United senior chances – with the rest now history as he tears up the Premier League for the Red Devils.

The “unplayable” Ghanaian – as he was hyperbolically labelled by Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson last season – could well take the top-flight by storm too if given time to impress, with Poku’s trickery, flair and ability to finish off a chance at League One level making him very similar to Amad at his Black Cats peak and shows off a player ready for an increase in quality.

To rubber stamp that comparison, you only need to look at their dribbling numbers from the 2024/25 campaign with EFL hotshot, Poku, averaging 1.9 dribbles per match to Amad’s 1.6. Their eel-like ability on the ball is almost uncanny.

Games played

147

Goals scored

30

Assists

30

Trophies

2x

L1 Player of the Month

2x

LT Team of the Season

1x

Unfortunately for Le Bris and Co, they were unable to get the very best out of Amad over a long period of time, but with Poku – who is fresh off tallying up an insane 21 goal contributions from only 29 clashes last season – he will have so much more to give the cause permanently, considering he is only 23 and will be surrounded by some top-notch teammates equally eager to succeed up a division.

He might not instantly hit the ground running, but if there’s one location that should be able to get the optimum out of him eventually, it’s Sunderland with the likes of Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham and Amad all blossoming here so early into their playing days.

His value's soared 3,868%: Sunderland have struck gold on their new Clarke

Sunderland have hit the jackpot with this star who could be their next Jack Clarke.

ByDan Emery May 28, 2025

Rangers supporters simply cannot wait for this season to end.

On Sunday, the Light Blues held their fierce rivals to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox, taking the lead through Cyriel Dessers on the cusp of half time, but ultimately thankful for an excellent save by Liam Kelly right at the death to preserve the point.

Nevertheless, it matters little considering the champions had rubber-stamped the title a week earlier, the gap between Glasgow’s giants remains 17 points, with Barry Ferguson’s side now without a win in four Premiership games.

The Light Blues are guaranteed to finish second, thereby entering next season’s Champions League in the second qualifying round, the first leg of which takes place on 22/23 July, with Brann, Austria Wien or familiar foes Servette currently forecast to be their possible opponents.

So, with a tight turnaround between this season ending and next season commencing, the new 49ers ownership are under pressure to appoint a new manager and fast, but are they close to doing just that?

The latest on Steven Gerrard's Rangers return

According to widespread reports, including from Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Steven Gerrard is currently ‘the leading candidate’ to be re-hired as Rangers’ new manager.

Harri Burton of Football Insider has previously reported that Gerrard has impressed Paraag Marathe, who is spearheading 49ers Enterprises’ 51% takeover of Rangers, making him the obvious choice to be Ferguson’s successor.

The 44-year-old Englishman was previously in charge of Rangers for 192 matches between July 2018 and November 2021, before departing for Aston Villa, most-notably leading the club to a Premiership title, the club’s only top-division triumph since 2011.

So, while Ferguson will remain in charge for the final three matches of this season, against Aberdeen, Dundee United and then Hibs, all the current indications are that Gerrard will be returning to the Ibrox dugout in time for July’s Champions League tie.

The Liverpool legend will no doubt be looking to repeat the success he enjoyed during his prior stint at the helm…

Steven Gerrard's key men at Rangers

During Gerrard’s first Rangers tenure, few players were as important to him as Ryan Kent, with the table below outlining this point.

Connor Goldson

182

17

James Tavernier

168

42

Alfredo Morelos

158

83

Allan McGregor

156

Zero

Scott Arfield

153

29

Ryan Kent

138

28

Steven Davis

127

4

Borna Barišić

124

7

Glen Kamara

122

5

Joe Aribo

113

20

Ryan Jack

110

11

As the table outlines, only five players made more appearances under Gerrard than Kent, while only James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos contributed more than his 60 goal-involvements.

Kent initially arrived on loan from Liverpool, before being signed permanently for a reported fee of £7.5m, the highest fee Rangers have paid in the modern era, only eclipsed by the £12m splashed to bring in Tore André Flo from Chelsea in 1997.

Fast-forward to the present day, is a current Rangers star on a similar trajectory?

Rangers' best attacker could be the new Ryan Kent

As noted by Alan Galindo of the Daily Record, it’s pretty difficult to dispute the fact that Václav Černý has been Rangers’ best attacker this season.

The table below underlines this assertion, with the loan star having been simply “devastating” at times, as per analyst John Walker.

Cyriel Dessers

25

7

32

Václav Černý

17

7

24

Hamza Igamane

15

3

18

James Tavernier

5

12

17

Mohamed Diomandé

6

9

15

Ianis Hagi

4

7

11

Nicolas Raskin

3

8

11

Danilo

6

4

10

Tom Lawrence

6

2

8

Nedim Bajrami

5

4

9

Only Dessers has been directly involved in more Rangers goals this season than the Czechia international, while Černý was the club’s top scorer in the Europa League with six, a tally only bettered by Bruno Fernandes, Kasper Høgh and Ayoub El Kaab across the entire tournament.

Back in October, then-manager Philippe Clement described the Czech winger as “important for the club”, adding “I want to see more and more” from him.

As a result, Černý’s performances should offer some optimism for the Rangers support ahead of next season, the problem being the fact that he is only on loan.

Well, Mark Walker of the National has previously reported that Wolfsburg would be willing to sell Černý for £6.75m, which would be a huge outlay, similar to that paid to tie down Kent permanently six years ago.

Well, based on Černý’s output this season, Rangers should absolutely pay the money to sign him and, should they do so, as stated by Amy Canavan of BBC Sport, this would be quite the statement of intent by the new owners.

With Gerrard back at the helm also, the Englishman could find a new Kent-like attacking weapon to wield.

Rangers must ruthlessly axe "sloppy" Ibrox flop who wouldn't suit Gerrard

Rangers must cash in on the dud who earns more than Mohammed Diomande if they appoint Steven Gerrard.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

From a brisk fifty on debut to herculean efforts in Sydney and Brisbane, here’s a look at Pujara’s best knocks

Ashish Pant24-Aug-202572 vs Australia, Bengaluru, 2010Pujara’s debut innings lasted just three balls, but in the second innings, with India chasing 207, the 22-year-old showed his class. Promoted to No. 3, ahead of Rahul Dravid – whom he would eventually replace at that position – Pujara scored 72 off 89 balls in a tricky chase. He had been dismissed by Mitchell Johnson in the first innings, but having settled himself in, he handled the pace remarkably well in this time. He was also immaculate against the spin of Nathan Hauritz, often waltzing down the track. By the time Pujara was dismissed, India were just 61 shy of their target.153 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2013Pujara showed his wares on a spicy Johannesburg surface, recording a second-innings century against a top South African attack, which included Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. He came into bat on 23 for 1, with India 59 ahead. He added 70 with Murali Vijay before a mammoth 222-run stand with Virat Kohli. Pujara’s 153 off 270 balls included 21 fours, his innings helping India set South Africa a target of 458. The match eventually ended in a draw.Cheteshwar Pujara is pumped after reaching his double hundred•Associated Press202 vs Australia, Ranchi, 2017An all-time great knock on a spiteful Ranchi surface. KL Rahul and Vijay gave India a good start after Australia’s 451, before Pujara came to the crease and stitched a century stand with Vijay. The middle order did not contribute much, but Pujara stood firm and amassed 202 off 525 balls against some tight Australia bowling. That helped India declare on 603 for 9, and the match ended in a draw. This is the only instance of an Indian batter facing more than 500 balls in an innings (where data is available).Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates his Adelaide hundred•Associated Press123 and 71 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2018Pujara showed the value of patience on the opening day of the 2018 Adelaide Test, even as the rest of India’s batting crashed. Batting first, India found themselves on 41 for 4, with most of the batters guilty of playing loose shots. Pujara, though, held his own and almost single-handedly took India to 250, facing 246 balls for his 123. The next best score was Rohit Sharma’s 37. If that wasn’t enough, Pujara scored a vital 71 in the second innings to set Australia a target of 323. They fell short by 31.Girish TS/ESPNcricinfo Ltd 50 and 77 vs Australia, Sydney, 2021 and 56 vs Australia, Brisbane, 2021Pujara was a different beast in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and not just with the amount of runs but also the way he put his body on the line. In a show of tremendous grit and resolve, he wore several blows to help India save the Sydney Test. He scored 50 off 176 balls in the first innings, but it was his 77 off 205 in the second innings that gave India the belief. Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin then showed similar resistance to deny Australia. A few days later, Pujara was at it again in Brisbane. He scored 25 off 94 in the first innings and 56 off 211 in the second, often getting pinged on the body. India eventually pulled off a famous win to take the four-match series 2-1.

Poor use of resources and not utilising Impact Player rule to best effect eventually cost them a playoff spot

Sidharth Monga22-May-20233:13

Moody: Rajasthan Royals were hurt by the batting form of Buttler, Samson and Hetmyer

Right from the time Shane Warne put together his motley crew in the inaugural season, Rajasthan Royals are a T20 hipster’s team. They don’t play to a formula. They experiment. They push the boundaries. They invest in lesser-known players. Like other teams from the north, they don’t have a parochial fan base, but they do appeal to a neutral observer.In this run itself, Royals have used R Ashwin in a way that helped rejuvenate his T20 career, they have used a pinch anchor, then retired him when his job was done, they have played a part in the beautiful development of Yashasvi Jaiswal by gradually expecting more from him, and they have nominated a captain who talks about T20 as a different sport to the rest of cricket.There is so much to like about Royals, but they are no longer a hipster team now. Two years ago they had Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, among the best that money can buy. Their bowling attack now has three IPL champions. They have a whole analytics wing that helped them develop metrics for players to go after in the auction. They don’t fly under the radar anymore; more is expected from them.Related

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Hours after their hopes of making it to the playoffs had ended with Mumbai Indians’ win in the penultimate match of the league stage, the Royals leadership would have experienced the cruelty of it all. Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their match in 19.1 overs, thus tipping their net run rate just below Royals’. You wonder how much some of the questionable tactics are hurting the Royals personnel now that they have ended the season in the fifth position, just one win short of qualification for playoffs.In the decisions that are made before the start of the match, which probably include the coaching staff and the analytics team, Royals were the only team that didn’t make proper use of the Impact Player.In 13 matches that they used the Impact Player, the substituted player and the substitute put together created a total impact of 99.4 according to ESPNcricinfo Smart Stats, easily the worst among all teams. The next lowest was 128.2. It gets way worse for matches they batted first in. In seven matches, the Impact Player created a total impact of 6.9, the next worst being 61.6.It should come as no surprise. In most matches, Royals’ XI was the same for batting first and fielding first: six batters, five bowlers. It defeated the whole purpose of the Impact Player: extra depth in each innings.This was the year Royals’ long-term investment in Yashasvi Jaiswal blossomed•Associated PressThanks to the quality of their attack – which also was hampered by the non-availability of Trent Boult for a few games – they didn’t feel the pinch that much when they bowled first because they would end up with seven batters in the chase.That is probably why they chose to chase in their sixth and seventh matches – against Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers, respectively – when the ideal choice, especially in a day match in Bengaluru, was to bat first. In both these matches, they failed to use Jason Holder’s batting at all, sending him behind Ashwin, who has improved a lot and has been used superbly as a disruptor by Royals but is still less of a limited-overs allrounder than Holder.In the failed chase in Bengaluru, they sent in debutant Abdul Basith, who had played 73 balls in all T20 cricket, ahead of Holder.Trying to fit into the middle-overs enforcer role that the injured Prasidh Krishna used to play, Holder didn’t quite deliver what he and his team would would have expected. Not using Holder the batter, and not getting the best out of Holder the bowler, Royals just wasted an overseas slot, which could have been used to build the trio of world-beating spinners with Adam Zampa joining Yuzvendra Chahal and Ashwin.Trent Boult picked seven first-over wickets in IPL 2023•Associated PressIt didn’t help that Kuldeep Sen, who made a superb start to his season and could have been the third fast bowler, injured himself during his first match, in Chennai.Scarred twice when chasing, Royals now began to choose batting in every game instead of asking more of the batters in the chase, even in a night match at Wankhede. That promising start to the season – four wins in their first five matches – was now whittling away, and it all came to a head against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Jaipur.This was a perfect storm of pre-game and in-game calls that kept going wrong. On a pitch that they felt they needed three spinners, Royals couldn’t play Zampa because they also wanted to reinforce the batting with Joe Root. Then they picked Obed McCoy, who hadn’t bowled at all since the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, as the Impact Player but proceeded to bowl legspin in the 14th over. M Ashwin, who had already gone for 23 in his two overs, went for 19 more.Chahal dragged the game back for Royals, but they didn’t bowl their best bowler in the 19th, instead giving Kuldip Yadav that over and keeping Sandeep Sharma for the last. In the end, it came down to a no-ball from Sandeep on the last ball, but it needn’t have.This is not to say that Samson or the team management didn’t have the team’s best interests in mind, but they made too many tactical errors to be able to maximise their potential. It will hurt all the more that this was the year in which their long-term investment in Jaiswal blossomed, they found a solution for the Riyan Parag problem in Dhruv Jurel, the two spinners bowled well while their home venue provided them pitches conducive for them, and Boult kept giving them first-over wickets.The quality of the individuals in the side still brought them to the brink of qualification, but they just made one mistake too many.

Use of Adil Rashid and Matt Parkinson in the same side points at attacking option for UAE tournament

Matt Roller18-Jul-2021The second ball of Imad Wasim’s third over gave it away.Imad has admitted in the past that he hardly tries to spin the ball in this format but by the second half of England’s innings it had become clear that with the Headingley pitch baking in 30-degree heat, the pitch was offering something. Imad tossed the ball up, slower than usual, outside Liam Livingstone’s off stump and it gripped in the surface as he punched to cover. If England’s decision to pick two frontline legspinners for the first time in T20 internationals hadn’t already made it clear that this was a day for spin, Imad – – turning one sharply on a length confirmed it.Pakistan’s two spinners, Imad and Shadab Khan, ended up returning 3 for 70 between them in a combined eight overs, and England’s response was immediate at the start of the chase. Adil Rashid was thrown the new ball, reprising the role he filled so successfully in India four months ago, but it was in the middle overs that England’s spin-heavy strategy became apparent.Related

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Every ball between the end of the Powerplay and the start of the 17th over was bowled by a spinner – either Rashid, Matt Parkinson or Moeen Ali – and in those 60 balls, England won the game, conceding 81 runs and taking five wickets to rip through Pakistan’s middle order. Never before had they bowled so many overs of spin in a single T20I – even though Livingstone, whose bowling has helped springboard him into contention for a starting spot in the World Cup, went unused.The strategy stood in contrast to that used by England in India earlier this year, when Eoin Morgan’s assessment of the Ahmedabad pitches was that fingerspin would be completely ineffective against a strong home batting line-up. Instead, this game served as ideal preparation in the event that the pitches served up in the UAE for October’s World Cup – which will have been used for the remainder of the IPL immediately before – turn out to be dustbowls.The biggest beneficiary of their strategy was Parkinson, who only a month ago was seen as England’s fifth-choice spinner behind Rashid, Moeen, Livingstone, and Liam Dawson (who is not involved in this series following his self-isolation). Parkinson’s method stands in stark contrast to Rashid’s, tossing the ball up above batters’ eyeline and almost exclusively bowling legbreaks with the occasional slider thrown in for good measure, but after his confidence was dented by a tough 10-game stretch in the T20 Blast this year, his stock has risen sharply in the past two weeks since his last-minute ODI call-up.He had started brightly at Trent Bridge on Friday night, conceding only 11 runs from his first two overs without conceding a boundary, but was targeted by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in his final two, who hit him for three sixes towards the short boundary at midwicket even as he hung the ball wide outside off. Four overs for 47 was not far below par on a night where 433 runs were scored in 39.2 overs, but it was a chastening end nonetheless.In Leeds, he recognised that conditions were in his favour and stuck to his strengths. ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data recorded 24 legbreaks and no variations in his four-over spell, and his speeds ranged from 44-50mph (71kph-80kph). He conceded a single boundary, when Imad Wasim launched him over his head for six, and roared in celebration with both fists clenched when Azam Khan walked past the final ball of his spell to leave him with 1 for 25.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe contrast between Parkinson and Rashid was particularly apparent when they were bowling in tandem, and hinted that it might not be impossible for them to play in the same side more often – even if it means sacrificing some of the batting depth which has been so key to their approach. Rashid’s wealth of variations means he is more comfortable bowling to left-handers or when defending a short boundary, and on a turning pitch, Parkinson is a much more attacking option than Dawson, albeit without his batting or his ability to bowl in the Powerplay.Equally significant for England was Moeen’s success, with bat as well as ball. His 16-ball 36 was a vibrant, modern T20 innings, taking down his match-up by carting a four and a six in the three balls he faced from Shadab, and cracking Haris Rauf away through the ring to make the most of the final Powerplay over. With the ball, he conceded 32 from his three overs, but his sharply-spun offbreak to Fakhar Zaman which beat his outside edge and slid into the top of off stump was the perfect fingerspinner’s dismissal. Pakistan’s approach – in particular, their decision to send Mohammad Hafeez in ahead of Zaman and Azam Khan – might be called into question, but England’s execution was near-perfect.”The two legspinners in particular bowled fantastically well: Parky and Rash complemented each other brilliantly,” Moeen said. “They’re very different, but both very skilful. If conditions come the World Cup do spin, we’re going to have to bowl well.”I’ve not bowled for England for a while but today was great conditions for a spinner. It’s not always going to be a high-scoring game – when it’s spinning and it’s quite a small ground, you’re skill going to see high scores. Sometimes it’s not like that when it’s a complete dustbowl but it was a great toss to lose.”The result is that England seem better-placed than many would think if they end up playing on a slow, used pitch in the T20 World Cup, not least after Friday’s draw saw them avoid any Asian sides in the group stage (barring qualifiers from the first phase). Their batters have both the attacking intent and the skill to take down spin, and their spinners have the quality to exploit conditions to their advantage; as a dry run for a dry pitch, this could hardly have gone better.

The 2025 summer transfer window was a crazy period for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side lost their star player, Alexander Isak, at the 11th hour, and whilst they had already replaced him with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, it took them some time to land their new pair of number nines.

The two strikers were not the only additions the Magpies made in the summer, but they were arguably the most important. With Isak and Callum Wilson leaving, there was certainly a need to add quality depth up front to combat the loss of their former strikers.

Whilst Wissa is yet to play a game due to injury, Woltemade has really hit the ground running.

How Woltemade and Isak’s Newcastle starts compare

There was always going to be lots of pressure on German striker Woltemade. The former Stuttgart star was a target for Bayern Munich too, but Newcastle ended up paying a club-record fee of £69m to secure his services.

However, it has been a fast start to life in the Premier League for the 23-year-old.

He’s only played four Premier League games so far, but has already bagged three goals in that time, including a strike on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Interestingly, that is the exact same start that Isak had in that famous Black and White shirt. In the same number of Premier League games, the Swede had bagged three goals, which included a strike on his debut.

To build on that even further, they both scored on their debut, a game in which both players came off the bench. They didn’t find the back of the net on their second appearance, but in the two that followed, each of the strikers scored.

There are certainly some interesting parallels between Woltemade and Isak’s first four games as a Newcastle player.

Despite Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, suggesting the German “isn’t worth” the money they spent – having also been criticised by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for their ‘idiotic’ deal – he’s made a fast start to life at St James’ Park.

However, the same cannot be said for another of their summer signings, who hasn’t performed at his best yet.

Newcastle’s summer signing who has struggled

Moving to a club the size of Newcastle is always going to be a challenge, especially after the PIF takeover back in 2021. Yet, Woltemade seems to have dealt with that pressure well, and Magpies fans will be hoping he can continue that form.

One of their summer signings hasn’t quite hit the ground running in the same way. Anthony Elanga, the Magpies’ “mega money” signing, as Statman Dave put it, has certainly not found his best form at St James’ Park yet.

Elanga cost the North Eastern giants £55m this summer, a fee which Jamie O’Hara said was an “inflated valuation” of the Swedish star.

Indeed, in ten games so far for the club, the former Manchester United academy graduate is yet to score or set up a goal. He did pick up the player of the match award in the Champions League, gameweek two.

Yet, the winger certainly has lots to offer his new club, despite the slow start he’s made in that famous Black and White shirt. He was excellent for Forest last season, racking up 17 goals and assists in 38 top-flight games.

That included this sublime solo effort against Man United.

On top of that, his underlying numbers from last term highlight his quality.

For example, Elanga averaged 1.8 chances created and made 3.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, showing how good he is both on and off the ball.

Elanga 24/25 PL – Key stats
Stat	Per 90 mins	Season total
Goals and assists	0.7	17
Chances created	1.8	49
Take-ons completed	0.9	25
Fouls won	1.7	47
Ball recoveries	89	3.2
Stats from Squawka

So far, Elanga has not lived up to the huge price tag that Newcastle spent on him, with there perhaps a feeling that the club and PIF might have overpaid, considering his current market value only rests at €42m (£36m), as per Transfermarkt.

Certainly, though, Newcastle fans will be hoping the Swede’s Magpies career can take more of an upward trend and he can start chipping in with goal involvement.

Newcastle's "monster" duo are becoming their best pairing since Gordon & Isak

Newcastle have found a new elite partnership to lead them to success.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 7, 2025

It might not have led to a Premier League title, but Arsène Wenger still had some sensational players in his later years at Arsenal.

The likes of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey, for example, became some of the most entertaining players in the league.

However, arguably the best of the lot was Mesut Özil, who sent the fan base into delirium when he joined the club on transfer deadline day in 2013.

The World Cup winner was an artist with the ball at his feet, capable of things most would only dream of, and now, based on reports, it looks like Arsenal could be going after someone who could become Mikel Arteta’s version of Ozil.

Arsenal target their new Ozil

Arsenal went big in the summer window, signing more players than perhaps even the most optimistic of fans would’ve expected.

Transfer Focus

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

However, with a title on the line, the club appear to be in the market for more reinforcements ahead of the winter window, and have been linked to a host of players.

For example, Nottingham Forest’s Murillo has been touted for a £79m move to the Emirates, as has Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

However, while both players would be excellent additions to Arteta’s squad, neither could really be described as the next Ozil, unlike Arda Güler.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the Turkish international.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners are now stepping up their pursuit of the 20-year-old, although the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United appear to be doing the same.

In addition to the competition, a potential roadblock for this deal is that, per reports last month, it could cost as much as £88m to get the playmaker out of Real Madrid.

However, while it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, as Güler is an extraordinary talent and could be Arteta’s own Ozil.

Why Güler could be Arsenals new Ozil

Now, while it’s still early in Güler’s career, and it will take some time before he reaches the heights Ozil did, there are still apparent similarities between the pair.

Firstly, were this transfer to happen, then, like the World Cup winner over a decade ago, the young talent would be swapping the white of Real Madrid or the red and white of Arsenal.

Secondly, the 20-year-old is a sensational talent who still has so much room to grow and, like the Gunners’ former star, is someone whose future appears to be more central than out wide.

For example, while he has played on the right and several other positions, attacking midfield is where he has played most of his football and where he has been thriving this season.

Speaking of this season, the Ankara-born wonderkid is proving he is both a goalscoring threat and a creative force for his teammates.

In his 21 appearances, totalling 1365 minutes, the “generational talent”, as described by journalist Dean Jones, has scored three goals and provided seven assists, averaging a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 136.5 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, the young dynamo’s underlying numbers also help to justify such labels.

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.38

Top 1%

Progressive Passes

7.98

Top 1%

Key Passes

3.27

Top 1%

Passes into Final Third

6.49

Top 1%

Live-ball Passes

59.32

Top 1%

Touches

77.43

Top 1%

Pass Completion %

85.3%

Top 2%

Through Balls

0.95

Top 2%

Shot-Creating Actions

6.08

Top 2%

Carries

47.71

Top 3%

Assists

0.41

Top 5%

Tackles Won

1.16

Top 7%

Switches

0.54

Top 8%

Crosses

5.42

Top 9%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.70

Top 10%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, progressive passes, key passes, touches and more, all per 90.

Finally, if you still aren’t convinced, just listen to İlkay Gündoğan, who in 2023 made a clear link between the two midfielders.

“If there is a Turkish football player who is similar to Mesut Özil, the first name is Arda Güler. I see his future bright.”

Ultimately, while there is still a long way to go for Güler to reach the level Ozil did at his peak, he is clearly on his way. He was ranked second in the 2025 Golden Boy awards, living up to writer Neal Gardner’s billing that he is “the single best midfield prospect in world football.”

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him

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ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

Manchester City have hit some extraordinary heights under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage. The Spanish coach will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game, and his Citizen side have written themselves into the English and European history books.

Last season, City fell off a proverbial cliff, their four-in-a-row domination of the Premier League coming to an end. They rallied, but it was a campaign to forget about, and many felt that it marked the end of Pep’s illustrious tenure.

But he’s not done yet, rebounding emphatically after signing a two-year contract extension last November. And Guardiola isn’t the only one who is resurgent at the Etihad, with this optimistic new season coinciding with the tentative resurgence of Phil Foden.

Why Foden is improving for Man City

There’s no denying it: Foden fell by the wayside last season. But he’s picked himself back up. The Three Lions superstar still has gears to shift through before he recalls his finest form, but this is an essential comeback, should City hope to reclaim their Premier League title and ensure the peerless Erling Haaland has a strong complementary force in the final third.

He hasn’t found prolific form yet this season, but the 25-year-old is undoubtedly producing more polished and cultured results, having been placed deeper to influence and dictate play.

He has been more convincing in the duel and is seeing more of the ball on average. There is also a clear tactical maturity, Pep’s teachings seeping into Foden’s brain. He might not be the headline stealer at this stage, but Foden is unquestionably operating at a higher level, and City’s wider system are feeling the benefits.

Matches (starts)

28 (20)

9 (8)

Goals

7

1

Assists

2

1

Touches*

43.5

59.4

Accurate passes*

27.0 (89%)

39.7 (89%)

Chances created*

1.5

2.3

Dribbles*

0.5

0.7

Ball recoveries*

2.2

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

0.8

1.3

Duels (won)*

2.3 (45%)

3.1 (54%)

Foden is one of the best in the Premier League, and he is on his way to reminding everyone of that fact. However, he’s not the only member of City’s squad doing such a thing right now, with his younger countryman emerging as the latest starboy fashioned under Guardiola’s wing.

Man City's homegrown talent is now one of PL's best

Manchester City’s academy is a thing to behold. Truly, the dominant Premier League force have welcomed some of the country’s most exciting talents to the scene, and the likes of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are among those plying their trade elsewhere, such is the bloated nature of the club’s youth scene.

But City learn from their mistakes, and when Chelsea came calling for Nico O’Reilly in January, they were flat-out rebuffed in their advances, despite The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirming the interest was very much genuine.

This time last year, the 20-year-old was on the fringes of Guardiola’s outfit. Now, he is emerging as the first-choice left-back for club and country.

He impressed for the Three Lions after making his debut last week, playing 90 minutes against Serbia and then Albania, keeping clean sheets on both counts. As per Sofascore, he lost only one duel across those two clashes, recovering eight balls and completing 92% and 93% of his passes.

Already, he has nailed down a prominent position in City’s first team. Naturally a centre-midfielder, the boss has repeated hisown spectacular trick and redefined his technically sound up-and-comer into a dynamic, inverted full-back. O’Reilly has started seven of the last eight Premier League matches, defending resiliently and getting forward and arcing inward to create overloads and help service Haaland.

Continuing to look at it from a wider scope, the 6 foot 4 star ranks among the top 16% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive carries and touches in the attacking box, and the top 6% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

He’s only going to get better, and given the high regard he is held in by Guardiola and for the Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel, there’s little question that City have found their latest superstar in the making.

It is important, typically, not to overburden up-and-coming prospects. But O’Reilly is different, so cultured and convincing across the various phases of play.

One Man City content creator was left speechless after the club’s recent win over Liverpool, hailing O’Reilly as “our best academy graduate since Phil Foden”.

That might just be the case. Even Roy Keane agrees. The Manchester United legend remarked that the versatile defender “could surprise everybody” by securing a starting berth at the 2026 World Cup next year. Clearly, this is a player becoming one of the best in the Premier League, if not the world.

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ByJoe Nuttall Nov 20, 2025

The Atlanta Braves are shoring up the bullpen by agreeing to acquire veteran right-handed relief pitcher Scott Blewett in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, according to a team announcement.

The Braves will be sending cash considerations to Baltimore in exchange for Blewett, who is in his fifth MLB season. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez has been designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Blewett.

Blewett, 29, has appeared in four games this season, two with the Orioles and two with the Minnesota Twins. He owns a 1.00 ERA with one earned run, 11 strikeouts and just one walk in nine innings on the mound.

Last season, Blewett pitched in 12 games for the Twins and recorded a 1.77 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings.

Atlanta's pitching has struggled as a whole in 2025, ranking 23rd in MLB with a team ERA of 4.36. They've converted in just four of seven save opportunities on the year, too.

The Braves have limped out to a disappointing 8-13 start to the season and sit in last place in the NL East. They're next scheduled to play on Monday, April 21, which will be the first game of a home series against the St. Louis Cardinals.