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Smriti Mandhana’s half-century took India to 165 but it proved inadequate

Srinidhi Ramanujam28-Jul-2024 • Updated on 29-Jul-20242:58

Sri Lanka show they aren’t solely reliant on Athapaththu

Sri Lanka created history on Sunday, dethroning India to clinch their maiden Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Fighting half-centuries from top order batters Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Kavisha Dilhari’s all-round heroics stood out as Sri Lanka cruised to an eight-wicket victory in front of a packed crowd in Dambulla.Samarawickrama and Dilhari’s valuable contributions in the final once again highlighted a crucial point that Sri Lanka are not just dependent on their captain to deliver. They have now won 14 of the 17 T20Is this year and go into the T20 World Cup slated in October with massive confidence and pride from their performances.Smriti Mandhana’s 60 and quickfire knocks from Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues helped India post a competitive total of 165 for 6 but in the end, it proved inadequate.Athapaththu vs left-arm spinThings were quiet until the fifth over. Then, with Sri Lanka on 28 for 1, Athapaththu targeted the inexperienced left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar. After lofting a short ball to deep square leg for six, she punished two full length deliveries for a four and a six to score 16 runs off the over and end the powerplay on 44 for 1. Radha Yadav, another left-arm spinner, bowled the next over and conceded nine runs with six coming off Athapaththu’s bat. With only Deepti Sharma as the specialist offspinner, Harmanpreet had to use Radha and Kanwar against the two left-handers Athapaththu and Samarawickrama. In the end, 29 of the Sri Lanka captain’s 61 runs came against left-arm spinners, at a strike rate of 170.58.Samarawickrama, Dilhari step upSamarawickrama has been playing at the international level for six years now and her most important knock came in Dambulla. She had hit only four half-centuries in 61 matches prior and her career strike rate in T20Is is less 100. But on Sunday, Sri Lanka needed her to stay as long as possible and not think about those numbers.When Deepti bowled Athapaththu in the 12th over, the crowd was stunned to silence. Sri Lanka needed 72 runs from 48 balls and there was a chance of an Indian comeback. After getting set, scoring 29 off her first 27 balls, it was on Samarawickrama to take her side through and she did it in style. She brought out her A game with pull shots and slog sweeps to eventually top-score for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 69. When 25 was required from the last three overs, Radha’s 17-run 18th over – where Samarawickrama smashed two fours and a six – blunted India.Smriti Mandhana’s half-century went in vain for India•ACC

Dilhari, a strong bottom-handed player, chipped in with an unbeaten 30 off 16 and sealed the victory with a six in the penultimate over. The duo shared a match-changing unbeaten 73 off 40 balls for the third wicket. Meanwhile, India endured misfields and two dropped catches and were also tactically tested as the game slipped away. This included a fumble from Harmanpreet when she dropped a simple catch in the 15th over when Samarawickrama was on 45.Mandhana marches on to another fiftyMandhana brought all her experience to the fore in the final. Sri Lanka dominated the first five overs of the powerplay, and Mandhana made a run-a-ball 14. But in the final over, she tried to up the ante by shuffling across to manufacture runs against left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani. She hit three fours, and India ended the powerplay on 44 for 0. Soon after Shafali Verma and Uma Chetry were dismissed, Mandhana punished anything too short or too full, especially from Athapaththu as she raced to her 26th T20I fifty off 36 deliveries. She was dropped by Samarawickrama at cover on 10 off 10 in the fifth over.Mandhana also got a life when she hit one straight to Athapaththu, the bowler, in the 16th over, but the ball bounced twice before reaching the batter and so was declared a no-ball. However, in the following over, Athapaththu took an excellent running catch off Dilhari’s bowling to dismiss the India opener.The Dilhari-Ghosh battleDilhari has been crucial to Sri Lanka’s recent success. Of her 16 T20Is this year, only thrice has she gone wicketless. She usually doesn’t concede many either. At the end of 17 overs, the legspinner’s had gone for 18 runs and picked up two wickets in her three overs. But her final over, the penultimate of the innings, against Ghosh, was bittersweet. The first ball was a legbreak which Ghosh looked to cut and probably got an edge to the wicketkeeper. There was a huge appeal from the bowler and the keeper, but the umpire was unmoved. Dilhari pleaded and kicked the turf in disappointment, but there was no DRS in this tournament. The next three deliveries saw Ghosh muscling away two fours and a six to take India past 150. Dilhari ended up conceding 18 runs off her final over. Ghosh eventually finished on a 14-ball 30

أجرى رودري لاعب خط وسط منتخب إسبانيا، مؤتمراً صحفياً قبل لقاء تركيا، في الجولة الثانية من تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لمونديال 2026.

وقال رودري في مؤتمر صحفي نقلته صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “أنا سعيد جداً بالعودة للمنتخب، لقد كان عام طويل جداً بالنسبة لي، أنا في كامل طاقتي وأتمتع بلياقة بدنية ممتازة، حتى الآن لعبت مباراتين مع فريقي وأبذل قصارى جهدي لاستعادة لياقتي”.

وعن زميله في المنتخب زوبيمندي: “يذكرني بأيام تواجدي مع بوسكيتس، من دواعي سروري أن يكون لدينا لاعبون بهذه الجودة العالية في جميع المراكز، ما قدمناه كان مذهلاً، خسرنا دوري الأمم بركلات الترجيح”.

وتابع: “زوبيمندي لاعب رائع وقادر على الوصول للقمة، إن لم يكن قد وصل لها بالفعل، إنه تحد كبير أن ينتقل للبريميرليج للعب مع آرسنال، وأرى كثير من التطورات الإيجابية، لقد استحق مكانه في المنتخب وقدم أداء رائعًا في نهائي كأس الأمم الأوروبية وطوال العام”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. دي لا فوينتي يوجه رسالة لـ إنريكي قبل مواجهة تركيا في تصفيات كأس العالم

وعن الكرة الذهبية وفوزه بها في وقت سابق، أكمل رودري تصريحاته: “مررت بلحظات من الأفضل والأسوأ على التوالي، كان تأثير الإصابة أكبر بكثير من الكرة الذهبية، كانت نفس منعش في مرحلة كنت أمر بوقت عصيب، أنا سعيد بهذا التكريم لكن لا فائدة منه لما هو قادم، أريد العودة لأعلى المستويات”.

وعن لامين يامال، قال: “إنه انعكاس لما أتمناه له، يضع موهبته في خدمة الفريق وكرة القدم، لاعبون أكثر خبرة مثلي شاهدوا لاعبين يضيعون أحياناً لكن لامين لديه رؤية واضحة جداً، نحن هنا لمساعدته، أراه سعيداً مبتسماً ويطور مهاراته لأن ذلك سيكون معنى النجاح في بلدنا”.

وعن رأيه في الفائز بالكرة الذهبية، تابع: “جائزة صعبة، لدي تفضيلات لزملائي، باريس كان فريق الموسم ومن الصعب تخيل لاعب منهم لا يفوز بها، لكن من باب التعاطف أفضل لامين أو بيدري، ولكن بناء على الجدارة والاستحقاقية قد يكون ديمبلى أو فيتينيا”.

وعن أخطر لاعبي تركيا أتم رودري تصريحاته: “هم فريق رائع، ليس فقط على المستوى الفردي بل الجماعي، فريق قوي جداً متماسك لكن لاعبين مثل جولر وشالهان أوجلو قادران على صناعة الفرق، نركز عليهما وغداً علينا أن نبذل قصارى جهدنا”.

وحول المنافسة على المركز الأول في تصفيات أوروبا ختم رودري تصريحاته: “كل الاحتمالات مفتوحة، لعبنا مباراة واحدة فقط، غداً ستكون المباراة النهائية والفائز لديه فرصة احتلال المركز الأول، الفريق الأكثر ثباتاً في الأداء سيتأهل”.

وجه لاعب نادي ليفربول، صدمة لزميله في الفريق محمد صلاح اليوم الأحد، واختار مرشحه للفوز بالكرة الذهبية عن 2025.

محمد صلاح يعد بين المرشحين للفوز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية، وذلك عقب الموسم الرائع الذي قدمه مع ليفربول والذي انتهى بالمساهمة في تتويج الريدز بلقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

اقرأ أيضًا.. “مثير للاهتمام”.. لاوتارو مارتينيز يرشح محمد صلاح للفوز بالكرة الذهبية 2025

ويرى إبراهيما كوناتي، مدافع ليفربول، أن مواطنه وجناح نادي باريس سان جيرمان، عثمان ديمبلي، هو الأوفر حظًا للفوز بالكرة الذهبية عن العام الحالي بالفعل وليس محمد صلاح.

وفي تصريحات نقلها موقع “توك سبورت”، تم سؤال كوناتي عما إذا كان ديمبلي سيتوج بالكرة الذهبية، والتي سيتم إقامة حفل خاص بها يوم 22 سبتمبر المقبل، حيث رد: ”نعم”.

ثم تم سؤال كوناتي ما إذا كان مقتنعًا بفوز ديمبلي بالكرة الذهبية، حيث رد وأضاف: ”نعم، بالطبع”.

وأخيرًا سئل كوناتي عن احتمالية فوزه بالكرة الذهبية مستقبلًا، ليرد مدافع لايبزيج السابق: ”نعم، نعم، نعم!”.

كوناتي يعتبر مستقبله محل شك مع ليفربول سواء بالاستمرار أو الرحيل، حيث لم يجدد الدولي الفرنسي عقده مع النادي الإنجليزي والذي سوف ينتهي بنهاية الموسم الجاري.

ويراقب نادي ريال مدريد موقف كوناتي، حيث ذكرت تقارير عديدة أن النادي الإسباني يريد ضم اللاعب في نهاية الموسم كوكيل حر.

Arsenal could now “close the deal” to sign a “world-class” player in less than two days, should they be willing to submit a £51m offer, according to reporter Buchi Laba.

Gunners' striker search rumbles on

The Gunners have certainly been busy in the early stages of the summer transfer window, having agreed deals for Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga, but they are still yet to get a new striker through the door.

Troy Deeney has been left particularly bemused by the length of time it has taken to bring in a new centre-forward, with the former Watford man saying: “It just seems that Arsenal are dragging their feet a little bit in terms of getting the striker,”

“It’s been a talking point since they basically bottled it in January with going to get that last little bit, get it over the line.”

Deeney also outlines the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Oliver Watkins, Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres as potential options for the north Londoners, and there has now been an intriguing update regarding their interest in the latter player.

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Taking to X, Laba said: “Sporting Lisbon will easily do a deal for any club offering €60m in total for Gyokeres. Right now none of the clubs interested are willing to pay that. Right now there’s nothing even concrete. – Gyokeres going on strike because that’s not the verbal understanding he had with the president last season.

“As of today, Arsenal have not made any bid for him but Berta has all the information about him. If Arsenal wants Gyokeres. They will close the deal in less than 2 days.”

With a bid of €60m (£51m) reportedly enough to get a deal over the line, the Sweden international could be a relatively affordable option for the Gunners, when compared to some of their other targets, although he is not the cheapest option on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

Price tag

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£63m

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

£40m

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

£70m

"World-class" Gyokeres could be ideal signing for Arsenal

It is no secret that Gyokeres has a remarkable eye for goal, placing second in the European Golden Shoe rankings, behind only Kylian Mbappe, courtesy of a phenomenal campaign in front of goal for Sporting CP.

The 27-year-old, who has been lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, bagged 39 goals and eight assists for Sporting in the league alone last season, showcasing that he could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League.

While it will be difficult to replicate those numbers in England, Gyokeres could be Arsenal’s best bet, given that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is seemingly unavailable, with Mikel Arteta in dire need of a new striker.

Kai Havertz, who missed large parts of the season through injury, finished as Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League last season, courtesy of netting just nine goals, indicating some extra attacking firepower is needed if they are to compete for the title.

Leicestershire rolled aside for 88 in one-sided encounter at Grace Road

ECB Reporters Network26-Jul-2024

Ed Barnard was in the wickets to enhance his allround reputation•Getty Images

Warwickshire made it two wins out of two in the Metrobank One Day Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Leicestershire at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.Bears’ skipper Ed Barnard, who made a big century and took two wickets in his side’s first game against Essex at Chelmsford, continued his outstanding form in the competition by taking four quick wickets, including that of India Test star Ajinkya Rahane, after putting the Foxes in to bat, reducing the home side to 40 for 4.Craig Miles picked up three wickets, and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Will Rhodes and Jake Lintott one apiece as Leicestershire subsided to 88 all out in just 25.4 overs.Although former Warwickshire player Chris Wright then took two quick wickets when the visitors began their reply, Rhodes and teenager Hamza Shaikh put together an unbeaten partnership of 85 to steer their side home with 32.4 overs in hand.Both sides came into the match having won their opening fixture, Leicestershire against Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire against Essex. While Leicestershire were unchanged, however, Warwickshire gave starts to Kai Smith, the teenage wicketkeeper fit again after six weeks out with a broken hand, and another 18-year-old in spinner Taz Ali. On a fine day Leicestershire’s supporters turned out in good number in anticipation of the second appearance of Rahane, whose 71 off 60 balls against Notts had left many searching for superlatives.Warwickshire supporters made the journey from the West Midlands in the hope of seeing for a third consecutive century from Barnard, who had followed his 143 in the warm-up match against Staffordshire with an unbeaten 173 against Essex. In that respect they were to be disappointed, but it was the only disappointment they were to suffer on what became a near perfect afternoon for their side.Barnard chose to bowl first after winning the toss, but can hardly have anticipated what would follow, on the same pitch on which Leicestershire had scored 369 for 6 against Notts. The first five overs were relatively uneventful, albeit Foxes opener Harry Swindells played and missed at several outswingers, but fellow opener Sol Budinger appeared untroubled, hitting three crisp boundaries. There was movement off the seam though, particularly for Barnard, and soon after bringing one back to bowl the struggling Swindells, found the edge of Budinger’s bat with a fine delivery which left the left-hander.Opposite number Hill was his third victim, edging a lifting delivery to the wicket-keeper, but his fourth wicket, the key one of Rahane, had an element of fortune about it, coming off a low leg side full toss which the batsman tried to help down to long leg only to turn the bat too soon. The ball struck the back of the bat and looped gently back to the grateful if slightly startled bowler.Leicestershire’s second overseas batsman, Peter Handscomb, also went caught and bowled, in his case chipping a full straight delivery straight back to Rhodes for a duck. The procession continued, Liam Trevaskis edging a delivery pushed across him from Hannon-Dalby low to Rhodes at slip, before a stand of 34 between Ben Cox and Ben Mike gave Leicestershire’s disbelieving supporters faint hope of posting some sort of score.The hopes were quickly and decisively extinguished as Cox chipped a simple catch to midwicket, Mike top-edged an ambitious pull for Ali, running back from mid-on, to take a good catch, a catch made to look ordinary when Rhodes took a really fine diving catch at slip off Jake Lintott to see the back of Scriven.Wright was last to go, bowled off the inside edge, but the seamer at least enjoyed some measure of revenge, trimming Barnard’s bails with a beauty and then winning a leg before decision against Theo Wylie to reduce the Bears to 7 for 2. Thereafter however Rhodes and Shaikh played with increasing comfort to see their side over the line in double-quick time.

After scouts completed their “due diligence”, Leeds United have now reportedly opened talks to sign a Champions League-level midfielder for Daniel Farke this summer.

49ers pushing on after signing Bijol

Back in the Premier League and ready to end the trend of promoted sides heading straight back down to the Championship, Leeds have already welcomed both Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol this summer. The latter, costing around £19m, particularly stands out as one to watch after swapping Udinese for Elland Road in a big-money move.

After putting pen to paper, the central defender told Leeds’ official website: “This is a big day for me, for my family and I’m happy to be here. Maybe the biggest one of my career so far, but I’m ready for it.

“I work for it and that’s why I’m here, because it’s a big challenge for everyone. It’s a big challenge for me, for the club, and we’re getting ready for it together. I think the club and myself are ready for the Premier League.

“I can promise that I will give everything, that I will give everything in every training as well to be ready for the first game of the season and then just go from there.”

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Not resting on their laurels, however, the 49ers have since set their sight on further reinforcements such as Habib Diarra who would hand Farke a midfield boost. And it seems as though midfield is the ongoing focus at Elland Road with “due diligence” complete and talks now open to sign a Champions League star this summer.

Leeds open talks to sign Douglas Luiz

According to former Premier League scout Mick Brown, Leeds have now opened talks to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus this summer as he desperately looks to make his way back to the Premier League just one year on from leaving Aston Villa.

Brown told Football Insider after claiming that Juventus want to sell the Brazilian: “So Leeds may well be interested after speaking to his agent, but they have to know what they’re getting.

“If they want somebody to get on the ball and help them progress, he can do that. If they want somebody who’s combative and willing to battle in the middle, they’ll look elsewhere. Their scouts will have done their due diligence on him, they’ll know what he can and can’t do, and then it’s up to them to make a decision.”

The former Manchester United scout Luiz as “talented” before revealing Leeds’ talks to secure his signature in the coming months. As signings go, welcoming the former Villa star back to the Premier League would be quite the statement from the 49ers and would instantly negate their need to sign another midfield reinforcement.

Ollie Robinson and Sean Hunt share seven wickets as Sussex build healthy lead

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2024

Peter Handscomb continued his prolific County Championship season•Getty Images

Sussex 442 (Simpson 183*, McAndrew 53 Holland 4-64) and 66 for 2 lead Leicestershire 275 (Handscomb 92, Mulder 53, Hunt 4-70) by 233 runsPeter Handscomb continued his fine form with 92 but Leicestershire are up against it against second division leaders Sussex at Hove.The Australian took his tally to 640 runs in this season’s Vitality County Championship, but the visitors lost their last four wickets for 18 runs after Handscomb was seventh out with the score on 257.Left-armer Sean Hunt profited handsomely after switching to bowl down the slope at the 1st Central County Ground, picking up Handscomb, Ben Mike, Scott Currie and Josh Hull in 11 deliveries as Leicestershire were bowled out for 275.It gave Sussex a lead of 167 but they elected not to enforce the follow-on and in 15 overs before stumps they lost Oli Carter – squared up by Ian Holland – and nightwatchmer Jack Carson, closing on 66 for 2 – a lead of 233.The second day had started encouragingly for the Foxes after they took Sussex’s last three first-innings wickets for 11 runs in 23 balls with skipper John Simpson finishing unbeaten on 183, although he was only able to add three runs to his overnight score in a total of 442.Holland finished with 4 for 64 after claiming last man Hunt but his day took a turn for the worse when Ollie Robinson removed him during a high-class new-ball spell of 3 for 23 from eight overs by the England pace bowler.Bowling a fullish length, Robinson found enough movement to find Holland’s edge in his second over. Lewis Hill and Rishi Patel took advantage of some wayward bowling by Hunt before 45 for 1 quickly became 51 for 4. Hill was leg before trying to work Robinson through the leg side and Robinson struck again when he found some extra bounce and Lewis Goldsworthy gave Tom Alsop the first of four catches at slip. In between, Nathan McAndrew picked up the important wicket of Patel who lost his off stump shouldering arms to an in-ducker.Handscomb and Wiaan Mulder rebuilt the innings during a hot afternoon, adding 108 in 20 overs with few alarms although Handscomb had an absorbing battle with fellow Australian McAndrew. Robinson bowled another five-over spell without reward, and it was Fynn Hudson-Prentice who made the breakthrough when Mulder edged the next ball after reaching his fifty low to second slip.Sussex belatedly introduced offspinner Carson in the 50th over and he struck with his 11th delivery, an arm ball which Louis Kimber – who dropped down the order after struggling in the opener’s role – fatally played back to.Simpson dropped a difficult chance offered by Ben Cox on 1 and he and Handscomb put on 57, including five penalty runs awarded by umpires Paul Baldwin and Neil Pratt when Handscomb was hit by an errant throw from James Coles as he turned his back, having stepped out of his crease.Handscomb looked untroubled but Hunt, whose first nine overs cost 62 and included eight no balls, was a totally different proposition when he came back on at the Cromwell Road end.Handscomb made a rare misjudgement playing too far away from his body and giving Alsop an easy catch before Hunt swept away Leicestershire’s tail. Extra bounce defeated Mike’s defensive prod and Simpson took an outstanding one-handed catch diving to his left to remove Scott Currie. In his next over Hunt had Josh Hull leg before and walked off with figures of 4 for 70.

Arsenal are looking to strengthen their squad in almost all areas ahead of another Premier League title challenge next season, but up until now we’ve heard precious little in regard to new defenders on their radar.

Arsenal missed out on Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid

While a new addition to their backline isn’t exactly reported as a key item on Andrea Berta’s agenda, the Gunners did attempt to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, before his high-profile move to Real Madrid.

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Arsenal were among the elite Premier League clubs attempting to lure the Spaniard, with Liverpool and Chelsea also showing a keen interest before Xabi Alonso’s side ultimately won the race for his signature.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

All three sides were ready to trigger his previous £50 million release clause at one stage, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Arsenal also presenting a formal contract offer to Huijsen’s representatives (Cadena SER).

After missing out on Huijsen, Arsenal’s pursuit of a centre-back appears to have been reduced to Berta’s backburner, with Mikel Arteta already boasting Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel all able to play at the heart of his defence.

A recent new deal for the latter also mitigates the immediate need for another centre-back, and even if AC Milan formalise their interest in Kiwior and sign the Poland international, any new defender would potentially need to accept their role as a back-up option behind Gabriel and Saliba.

There are reports of Arsenal holding discussions over 19-year-old Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, who can play at both left-back and centre-back, and he’d be an ideal alternative to Arteta’s star centre-back duo.

A centre-half doesn’t appear completely off the table, with Lille defender Alexsandro now attracting interest from Berta too.

Arsenal hold initial talks over signing Alexsandro from Lille

The 25-year-old made his first senior appearances for Brazil recently after a fine season in Ligue 1, starting both of their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, and Arsenal have taken note of his exploits in 2025.

According to UOL, Arsenal scouts were present to watch him in action against Paraguay, and Alexsandro is considering an exit from Lille this summer, so he could be available for Berta.

What’s more, Arsenal have made initial contact over signing Alexsandro, and are said to be fans of the defender, but face competition from Serie A champions Napoli.

He has a market value of around £26 million as well, but after his excellent 2024/2025 at Lille, the French side could well demand more after losing both Angel Gomes and Jonathan David for free.

The club might not have made any official announcements yet, but it feels like the transfer window is finally starting to heat up for Arsenal.

It was just last week that reports emerged about Martin Zubimendi’s medical being scheduled, and then this week, a significant number of reports claiming that the club are in concrete talks for Benjamin Sesko started coming out.

The Slovenian international might still be a little raw, but with 27 goal involvements in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this season, it’s evident that the 22-year-old striker has an immense amount of talent and potential.

So, fans should be excited that recent reports are now linking the club to a player who’d be an ideal teammate and attacking partner for the 6 foot 5 poacher.

Arsenal in the market to sign new winger

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth having a look at some of the other stars linked with Arsenal who could be Sesko’s dream teammates, such as Morgan Rogers and Leroy Sané.

Transfer Focus

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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The former might cost a staggering £100m, but with 14 goals and 15 assists to his name in 54 games this season, it’s not hard to see why he’d be an ideal partner for the Leipzig star.

With his contract expiring this month, the Bayern Munich star would be a free signing, but don’t let that fool you, as his tally of 13 goals and six assists in 45 games this term shows that he’d still be a winger to pair up with the Slovenian international.

However, there is another player who’d be an even better acquisition: Nico Williams.

Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Athletic Bilbao star.

In fact, alongside London rivals Chelsea, the Italian has revealed that the Spanish international is now the club’s “dream signing.”

However, to make that dream a reality, the North Londoners will have to activate his release clause, which, according to other reports from the last few weeks, stands at about £50m.

While it wouldn’t be a cheap transfer to get done, it’s one worth pursuing for Arsenal, as Williams is both an incredible talent and someone who’d be a perfect teammate for Sesko.

Why Williams would be perfect for Sesko

There are a couple of reasons why Williams would be such an ideal signing to make alongside Sesko this summer, but the most important one is his output.

For example, in the 23/24 season, the dynamic winger scored eight goals and provided 18 assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2729 minutes.

Then, this season, he managed to score 11 goals and provide seven assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3130 minutes.

Williams’ recent form

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

37

45

Minutes

2729′

3130′

Goals

8

11

Asssists

18

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.40

Minutes per Goal Involvement

104.96′

173.88′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the Pamplona-born “level-raiser,” as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has been able to average a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or 133.15 minutes, across two campaigns.

Now, just imagine how effective the Leipzig forward could be with a winger capable of such output to his left. Not only would he receive a constant string of chances, but his own assist tally could soar with someone that effective at finishing the chances he’s shown himself capable of creating.

Moreover, as the Spaniard is such an undeniable threat, and with Bukayo Saka on the other flank, opposition defenders would have to find ways to stop all three of them, inevitably leading to more space being available for the former Salzburg gem to exploit.

Finally, signing the Bilbao gem just makes sense from a squad-building perspective, as both he and the Slovenian phenom are 22, so in theory, they’d be able to further develop and reach their full potential in tandem, meaning fans could and should expect their numbers to only improve from here on out.

Ultimately, Sesko looks like he’d be a great addition to Arsenal’s attack, but to help get even more out of him and the frontline as a whole, Arteta and Co should also be pushing to sign Williams.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Leeds United know that they could have achieved promotion to the Premier League by Monday night if results go their way over the Easter period.

The Whites are currently five points clear of Sheffield United in third place and will officially be promoted if they win both of their matches and the Blades drop any points in their two games.

Daniel Farke’s side beat Preston North End 2-1 at Elland Road last time out to ensure that they had a healthy gap to third place, and they can now get the job done, with a bit of luck from others, in the next few days.

The Whites would still have plenty of work to do to win the title, as they are currently level on points with Burnley, but the main aim of promotion would have been secured.

Farke and his staff could, then, start to think about plans for the 2025/26 campaign and how they will build a squad that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League.

How they set up their midfield in the top-flight, should they get there, will be particularly interesting, given that they currently play with a traditional number ten in Brenden Aaronson.

How Leeds United's midfield could look in the Premier League

The USA international has not done enough this season to suggest that he will be good enough for Leeds to play with an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system at Premier League level.

Aaronson has consistently failed to offer enough quality at the top end of the pitch against the other teams in the current top six in the Championship, as shown in the table below.

Form against the Championship top six

Brenden Aaronson vs

Goals

Assists

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

Given that the script will flip for Leeds next season, fighting at the bottom end of the table instead of the top, Farke could rework his midfield set-up to play with Ao Tanaka in front of two holding midfielders.

The Japan international has scored four goals and provided two assists in a deep-lying midfield role this season, which suggests that he could offer a threat in the final third, but he has also made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match, meaning that the midfield star could provide an added layer of defensive protection for the Whites.

This would, then, allow Ethan Ampadu to play as a defensive midfielder alongside another physical enforcer, with Tanaka ahead of them, and showcase his defensive skills, having won 61% of his duels in the Championship this term.

The Wales international can provide a solid presence at the base of the midfield, and Leeds are reportedly interested in a star who could complete the midfield set-up alongside Ampadu and Tanaka.

Leeds eyeing Premier League colossus

According to Claret and Hugh, Leeds are eyeing up a summer swoop to sign West Ham United defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek ahead of the summer transfer window.

Farke is said to be a fan of the Czechia international and has identified him as a possible target for his Premier League squad for next season, if the Whites are promoted.

Claret and Hugh quote a ‘transfer insider’ as revealing that Leeds are looking at both Soucek and Irish forward Evan Ferguson, who is on loan at the London Stadium from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The insider said: “Leeds are planning for next season — Daniel Farke has already started preparations for the summer window. He likes Souček, but there’s already a Premier League offer in for him. I think Leeds like Ferguson too, and he’d get games there.”

Transfer Focus

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The claim that there is already another Premier League offer in for the former Slavia Prague midfielder suggests that it will not be an easy deal for the 49ers to get over the line, but they should push to bring him in because he could be an excellent addition to the squad to complement Ampadu in midfield.

Why Leeds should sign Tomas Soucek

Soucek provides a mix of physicality, experience, and quality in the middle of the park, having been a regular in the Premier League for the Hammers since his move to London in the summer of 2020.

Despite being a defensive midfielder, the towering colossus has scored 39 goals in 239 appearances in all competitions for West Ham, including 34 goals in 188 Premier League outings.

This means that he has scored even more goals in the Premier League than former Leeds star and current Barcelona superstar Raphinha, who scored 17 goals in 65 top-flight games in England.

Whilst Soucek has played more matches in the division than the Brazil international, his output at the top end of the pitch, compared to the position he plays, makes him a big threat.

This could make him the perfect partner for Ampadu, who has only scored two goals in 82 games for Leeds, to make up for the Welshman’s lack of quality as a goalscorer from midfield.

Soucek, whose defensive determination was described as “magnificent” by Trevor Sinclair, is also a proven Premier League midfielder when it comes do doing the dirty work out of possession.

24/25 Premier League

Per 90

Percentile rank vs midfielders

Clearances

3.01

Top 5%

Aerial duels won

3.98

Top 2%

Percentage of dribblers tackled

50%

Top 40%

Shots blocked

0.67

Top 7%

Blocks

1.38

Top 32%

Challenges lost

0.71

Top 23%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Czechia international ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in the division in a host of key defensive metrics.

He rarely loses challenges or allows players to dribble past him and is dominant in the box, making clearances and winning aerial duels on a regular basis.

Therefore, Soucek could be the perfect signing for Leeds to make in the summer because of his experience in the division, with the best part of 200 appearances in the league, the goal threat he can provide from midfield, and the defensive quality to keep opposition teams at bay.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

Farke would then be able to field a midfield including Soucek and Ampadu at the base with Tanaka ahead of them linking the midfield and the frontline.