Category Uncategorized

Manchester City have a historic summer transfer window ahead of them. The disappointing season they have endured in 2024/25 is almost over, and there is a chase to strengthen the squad in the summer, ahead of the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 campaign.

It will be all change at the Etihad Stadium next term. Talisman Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club after a decade of success in the famous Sky Blue shirt, including the famous treble in 2022/23. He might not be the only club legend to leave on a free, given that Ilkay Gundogan’s contract is up in a few months.

It means that City will almost certainly sign a new midfielder this summer, and there has already been an update on their targets.

The latest on City's midfielder transfer plans

Well, it is going to be a crucial few months at City, and that all starts with their new director of football, Hugo Viana. The former Sporting CP director, who worked with Manchester United boss Ruben Amoirm, will take over from Txiki Begiristain at the helm in East Manchester.

According to the highly reputable David Ornstein, City’s hunt for transfer targets will “ramp up” now that Viana’s role at the Etihad Stadium is sorted. The journalist has already confirmed two of the De Bruyne replacements they are eyeing up.

City are believed to be targeting Nottingham Forest number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen and Germany starlet Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for their outgoing club legend.

There is not a clear first-choice target for the Mancunian side at this stage, and more could well emerge.

However, a deal to sign Wirtz in particular could be an expensive one. Sky Germany reported at the end of March that he could cost as much as £101m if a deal was to be struck.

With that hefty price in mind, perhaps City will be put off any potential deal. This could lead to them turning to an academy star to fill the void left by De Bruyne.

Man City's in-house Wirtz and Gibbs-White solution

There is plenty of attacking talent in the City academy, as you might expect. One of the most exciting players in that group is Reigan Heskey, the son of former England striker Emile and brother of Jaden, another City academy starlet.

Said to possess “Rashford-like ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 17-year-old has made a big impression this term for City’s academy. In 33 appearances across all competitions, he’s amassed an impressive goal tally of 24, as well as grabbing eight assists.

Heskey for Man City academy 2024/25

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

U18 Premier League

17

15

6

UEFA Youth League

8

3

0

FA Youth Cup

4

2

1

Premier League 2

3

3

1

EFL Trophy

1

1

0

Stats from Transfermarkt

It is worth noting that Heskey is, by trade, a winger rather than a number 10, like Gibbs-White and Wirtz. The latter can play in a wide area as well, but, if Pep Guardiola wanted to unleash the youngster, he could move Jack Grealish or Phil Foden into a more central role and play Heskey as a left-winger, where he truly excels.

There is no doubt that the teenager, who is an England U17 international, is an exciting talent. He is a tricky winger who excels when isolated against the full-back, thriving in one-vs-one situations. He also has a natural eye for goal, just as his father did.

Football scout Antonio Mango once said that Heskey is a player who “can’t be ignored” any longer by City. His goal involvement numbers this term across academy sides are exceptional, and it really does feel like he is ready to explode in first-team football.

With De Buryne guaranteed to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, perhaps that opens the door for Heskey’s inclusion in the first team. It certainly would be a very much-deserved opportunity.

Related Bigger talent than De Bruyne: Man City lead race to sign £87m "superstar"

Manchester City have a huge task in replacing Kevin De Bruyne this summer but have wasted no time in the window.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 8, 2025

His speed makes him an outlier even among the game’s great outliers, and mystery spin at that speed is devastating

Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-20251:36

Chawla: Noor was ‘spot on’ with his lengths

T20 is always played at breakneck speeds but even so Noor Ahmad operates on a level that feels misplaced at a cricket match. He runs in to bowl like he’s about to tackle someone that’s just stolen a little old lady’s handbag.It singles him out. Aged a mere 13, he attended an open selection trial in Kabul and made the cut. Out of a total of 125 participants or so, he made the final 15. His speed renders him an outlier even among the game’s great outliers. Batters often deal with mystery spinners by picking them off the pitch. Noor denies them even that little bit of refuge.Suryakumar Yadav held this game in his hand when he came on strike for the third ball of the 11th over. Mumbai Indians had recovered well, memories of a poor powerplay receding from view and a 200-plus total coming into focus. Noor looked up from the top of his mark, which is a considerable distance away from the bowling crease. This is very deliberate. He isn’t like Ravindra Jadeja who takes two steps and slings 100kph darts.Related

History and spin riches make CSK favourites at home against RCB

'Quick timing, great hands, good vision' – Hayden on Dhoni's stumping of Suryakumar Yadav

No T20 experience? No problem for MI's Vignesh Puthur, who stood out on his IPL debut

Noor Ahmad is living his cricket dream

Will 300 be scored for the first time in IPL 2025?

Noor burst into the popping crease. There should really be a meme of his run-up with fire coming off of his shoes. All that momentum he gathered, plus a quick arm action ensured the ball came out at 95.6 kph. Mystery spin at that speed is devastating.Suryakumar had probably picked the googly. He was setting up for the inside out drive. But that ball was in such a hurry to turn the wrong way that it began doing so in the air. The revs Noor had put on it produced so much drift that it surpassed the abilities of one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket. He was stumped.A flash of genius from a 20-year-old in front of the wicket and a 43-year-old behind it.Noor had taken out Suryakumar before, in IPL 2023 and back then too he was overjoyed in being able to match up against players of that calibre. On Sunday, he was the trigger for the age-old spin squeeze. Mumbai were only able to hit one boundary between the 11th and the 17th overs but Noor was able to pick up two more wickets, including the other set batter, Tilak Varma, who was unable to pick the googly out of the hand and had no time to read it off the pitch, not when it was onto him at 92kph. That was his average speed in this game. His slowest delivery was still 87 kph. Mystery spin at that pace is devastating. Mumbai were only in control of 58.3% of the shots they played against him. They were much better against R Ashwin and Jadeja (84.8%).Noor Ahmad gave CSK’s attack a point of difference•BCCIDuring the mega auction in November, Mumbai were the first team that raised the paddle when Noor’s name came up. Their scouting network is legendary but it is unlikely that they had to work very hard this time. CSK chased them down. The price went up to INR 5 crore. Mumbai backed out. Gujarat Titans, Noor’s previous team, exercised their right-to-match option. But Stephen Fleming wasn’t willing to let go. He doubled the bid. Pushed it up to INR 10 crore. At a time where most people are expecting the 300-barrier to be broken in T20 cricket, CSK are arming themselves with party poopers.”We’ve just identified that the way the game is going, your bowling has to be really specific,” Fleming had said, “And you have to take wickets to slow teams down. And if you’re just trying to contain, then some of the hitting power of players these days will just take the game away from you. So we’ve tried to be smart with our options given our retained players and add some variation, which maybe we lacked a little bit last year.”The Noor Ahmad pick was looking more at the middle [overs] to attack. So if we do get turning conditions, then we’ve got an opportunity to keep taking wickets. We’ve got [Matheesha] Pathirana at the end, which is the death aspect.”This pitch did turn and CSK used Noor not just in the middle overs, but the death as well. He picked up four wickets. That’s one less than the combined tally of all of CSK’s spinners last season at Chepauk. Wristspin is art. Noor’s is art in fast forward.

Former Australia international on switching to commentary, hoovering up opportunities and dealing with abuse

Matt Roller17-Jul-2023Moments after Chris Woakes crashed Mitchell Starc through point to clinch England’s three-wicket win in the third men’s Ashes Test at Headingley, Ian Ward turned to Mel Jones at the start of Sky Sports’ analysis of another breathless session. “You’re not allowed a day off,” Ward told Jones, “because wherever you go, we get this.”Jones’ voice has been a constant of Sky’s commentary this Ashes summer, across both men’s and women’s series. She has had a relentless schedule over the last five weeks, covering as much of both series as has been logistically possible. She will miss the Old Trafford Test this week for a short break but either side of that, she will be in Taunton and south London for the finale of both series.”I pinch myself, daily,” Jones tells ESPNcricinfo, interrupting a rare day off. “I never coveted or planned to do the job that I now have, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s an absolute privilege to be thinking that I’ve got a prime seat in two of the best Ashes series that we’re probably going to have.”Related

Katey Martin: 'This isn't a job – we're literally talking about cricket. How fun is that?'

Perry: Australia have Ashes series win 'in their sights'

Sciver-Brunt: 'England have exceeded the public's expectations'

Moeen Ali targets Ashes win 'to finish Test cricket properly'

'You have to play a spinner' – Moeen answers Murphy question for Australia

During the rain delay on the third day of the Headingley Test, Jones raced down to London for the third women’s T20I at Lord’s – then was back in Leeds the following morning. “I wasn’t down to do it initially, but the two producers put it in my hands. When it rained, it felt like the cricketing gods telling me I’d made the right decision. If you’re after a quiet day, you’re probably in the wrong job.”Jones played 66 times for Australia during her eight-year international career, but it was being dropped that set her on course for life after cricket. In 2001, she was not part of the Australia squad for an Ashes tour to England but was playing for Surrey, and working for the club in a developmental role. “Sky and the ECB had just started a broadcast deal, and they televised one women’s game per summer,” Jones explains.”They asked me to commentate and in my head, I thought, ‘That’s just rubbing salt into the wound, for a game I want to be playing in.’ Then they told me it was £300, so I said, ‘Tell me when, where and what to wear.’ Back then, we weren’t paid [to play] – so I was paid more than every single player collectively that day.”Jones won her place back the following Australian summer but playing in the amateur era meant working alongside as a teacher and in cricket development. After her playing career, she worked as an athlete manager at a sports management company but continued to take up commentary opportunities and became an established voice within an increasingly professional women’s game.In 2015, she was one of four female commentators at the Indian Premier League, and two years later, she decided to “give it a crack” on a full-time basis. “It was hectic for the first couple of years,” Jones reflects. “I knew I was going into a male-dominated world and I thought, ‘Am I going to get enough work?’ So I said ‘yes’ to every opportunity.”For those first few years, I averaged about eight months away from home. I just thought, ‘I have to take this while it’s there.’ And honestly, I was like a pig in mud: most people would give their kidney and left arm if it meant they could travel the world, watching cricket and working with some fantastic people.”

“Sport is a wonderful vehicle for social change. As soon as you start speaking about social justice with cricket it stirs the nest with certain people. You’ve got to manage your energy levels on how you engage at different stages”

And Jones has become increasingly established as a prominent broadcaster, a voice associated with major events and big moments. She cites several colleagues – Ian Bishop, Alan Wilkins, Danny Morrison, and the producer Mike O’Dwyer – as positive influences, but those who have worked with her say she is among the hardest-working people in the industry.”MOD [O’Dwyer] always talked about the Es: engaging, entertaining, educating. I try to keep that at the back of my mind. I don’t want to try and be anyone else, but you’ve also got to remember that it’s an entertainment game and bring that through. My mum knows nothing of the sport – still! – and if she’s watching, I want her to walk away from that having learned something.”Cricket commentary boxes are almost unrecognisable from 20 years ago, with a far broader range of voices which has doubtless changed coverage of the game for the better. Yet those broadcasters who have embodied that change have had to contend with a barrage of abuse, which Jones admits can take its toll.”It goes in waves, and I tick a few boxes here. So there’s definitely a colour piece, and it depends on what country you’re in; sometimes there’s also definitely a gender piece as well. We’re all human: if you said that it doesn’t get to you on some sort of level, I’d worry about myself.”During the innings break of the first women’s ODI last week, Jones led a discussion around misogyny within the game, revealing that she was recently contacted by Victoria Police about a man who had been abusing her on social media and calling a hotline to complain about her being on air due to her gender.”Sport is a wonderful vehicle for social change,” Jones says. “As soon as you start speaking about social justice with cricket, that stirs the nest with certain people. You’ve just got to manage your energy levels on how you engage at different stages: sometimes they might be really high and I’ll be quite vocal on a few things; if you’re travelling around the country and your energy levels are low, you might just choose another time.”Both Ashes series have been hotly contested•PA Photos/Getty ImagesIn reality, Jones’ different perspective to many of her colleagues is a strength. “We all have that whole imposter syndrome in the back of your mind sometimes, when you’re thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’ But I know I have a different lens, and five solid years of broadcasting that I can bring to the table as well.”Like most of the country, Jones has been gripped by both Ashes series: she noticed Australia’s women lacking their usual “edge” during their three consecutive defeats, after 18 months in transition, and believes the men’s series has forced players – and broadcasters – to “throw out the rulebook for Test match cricket”.She has noticed a surge in interest across the country: “When I’m on trains or walking down the street, people are stopping me now and just going, ‘How good are both these Ashes series?’ They want to talk to me about both of them, which is just brilliant.”It is a mark of Jones’ success in her post-playing career – and the transformation of profile in the women’s game in the last two decades – that she is now recognised as a broadcaster first, and a former Australia international second, even as a double-World Cup winner.”TV’s a ridiculous medium: because you’re on it, people think you’re important, for some reason. Kids will come up to me and ask for an autograph because I’m Mel Jones, the commentator, not even knowing I played for Australia, which I find quite amusing. It’s just a different world from those days.”Jones will stay in the UK for the start of the Hundred, before heading home for a short break and then diving into the Australia season. Her attitude is the same as ever: “Bring it on, keep it rolling. I’d prefer to arrive back home and feel as if I’ve got absolutely nothing left in the tank.”

Why Harshal Patel came in second on the Smart Wickets list, the top match performers and more

ESPNcricinfo stats team16-Oct-2021Glenn Maxwell was the MVP of IPL 2021, according to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats. Maxwell, who was bought for INR 14.25 crore in the 2021 auction by Royal Challengers Bangalore, put together a stellar performance with the bat and exceeded most expectations. It was not just the 513 runs that he scored at a strike rate of 144.10 in the season, but the manner and the difficult conditions in which he scored them. While most batters found it hard on the dry pitches in Chennai and Sharjah, Maxwell struck at 149.15 and 138.33 respectively on these grounds. He was also the second best player of spin in the tournament, scoring 264 runs from 171 balls at a strike rate of 154.38 and average of 52.8 against spin. Ruturaj Gaikwad was marginally ahead of him. But Maxwell’s impact was not limited to strike rates and averages. He scored when others struggled, and ensured that conditions were taken out of the equation.However, these numbers don’t do full justice to his performances this season. For that, we need to look at Smart Stats, which looks at every batting and bowling performance through the prism of match context, and the pressure on the batsman and bowler at each delivery when they batted or bowled. Maxwell’s 513 runs were worth 624 runs. Coming in at 9 for 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chepauk, Maxwell smashed 78 off 49 to help his team reach 204. This was against a bowling attack that was spin heavy. Similarly, on another tough pitch at Sharjah against Punjab Kings, Maxwell hit 57 off 33 to help Royal Challengers post a competitive total. On several occasions, Maxwell had to soak up the pressure of slow run rates to help his team score above par.ESPNcricinfo LtdMaxwell’s match impact of 46.53 is marginally ahead of the second-placed KL Rahul, who had a match impact score of 46.23 (for a minimum of 11 matches played, to account for those who had done well in India and the UAE). Rahul once again was Mr. Dependable for the Kings. He scored 626 runs in 13 matches. The reason Rahul’s impact was so high is because barring his opening partner Mayank Agarwal, there were not many other contributors with the bat for his team. Rahul often played the anchor’s role for Punjab; in several innings, he scored at a conservative pace due to the middle order’s failures.There is little to separate the rest in the list. Rashid Khan, Avesh Khan and Prithvi Shaw complete the top five. The Chennai Super Kings opening batters – Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis were eighth and ninth respectively in match impact. The reason for their lower impact compared to Rahul was mainly because both Gaikwad and du Plessis had ample support through the batting order.ESPNcricinfo LtdESPNcricinfo’s Purple Cap

The list of bowlers with the highest Smart Wickets is different from the list of top wicket-takers, because Smart Wickets takes into account the quality of batter dismissed, their score at the time of dismissal, and the match context at that point. Taking all those factors into account, Avesh, who is second on the wicket-takers’ list with 24 wickets, tops the Smart Wickets tally with an aggregate of 31.5. Harshal Patel, who was the tournament’s Purple Cap winner with 32 wickets, is marginally behind with 30.7 Smart Wickets. The main reason Avesh’s wickets were valued higher than Harshal’s is because Avesh took wickets of better batters, when the match was still in the balance. While 25% of Harshal’s wickets were of lower-order batters (Nos. 8 to 11), the figure for Avesh was just 16%. Of the 24 wickets Avesh took, 12 were of the top-four batters, including eight dismissals of openers. Avesh also took eight and six wickets respectively in the middle overs and the powerplay, while conceding runs at just 6.5 and 6.8 in those two phases. Harshal’s late wickets were crucial on some occasions, but others came when the match result was a formality. These added to the tally for conventional wickets, but don’t add much to the Smart Wickets count.One of the bowlers who struck crucial blows was Shardul Thakur. He took 21 wickets, but they were worth 26 Smart Wickets. His scalps included Shikhar Dhawan, Venkatesh Iyer (twice), Andre Russell, AB de Villiers, Agarwal and Sanju Samson, to name a few. Most of his dismissals involved either breaking a partnership, or getting a set batter out. Because Smart Wickets takes into account the quality of the batter and the score at which they were dismissed – getting a good batter out early before they can inflict any damage fetches higher points.ESPNcricinfo LtdBest Match Performance
While Maxwell and Avesh took pole positions in terms of MVP and best bowler, the match-wise top impact position was dominated by all-rounders. Kieron Pollard’s outstanding performance with bat and ball against Super Kings took the top spot. Pollard took 2 for 12 in two overs, and scored an unbeaten 87 runs from 34 deliveries. He came in to bat in the 10th over when the score was 81 for 3, and helped win the match off the last ball, chasing a mammoth 218 smashing eight sixes and six fours. Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliantall-round show against Royal Challengers was in second spot, and Jason Holder’s 3 for 24 and 29-ball 47 against the Kings was the third-best match performance.

Arsenal have been utterly sensational so far this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Champions League, and look near enough unstoppable when it comes to the Premier League.

More impressively, the Gunners tore Tottenham Hotspur to shreds on Sunday afternoon without the man many would consider to have been their best player so far this year: Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has been sensational in defence and attack, and so fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal with a star who could be looked at as another version of him.

Arsenal target another Gabriel

With the transfer window just over a month away from opening, it’s not been a surprise to see reports starting to link Arsenal with some brilliant players in recent weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while the Gunners are fairly well-stacked in the position, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been touted for a £120m switch to the Emirates.

Likewise, despite Leandro Trossard’s impressive form this year, Kenan Yıldız continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League title challengers.

However, while incredibly talented, neither of these players can really be compared to Gabriel, unlike Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few clubs interested in the Brazilian defender.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Barcelona are keen to sign the talented centre-back, who Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and similarities to Gabriel, one Arsenal should be pursuing.

Why Murillo would be another Gabriel

So to start with, there are the more superficial similarities between the pair, such as both being Brazilian centre-backs.

On top of that, there is the fact that when Arsenal signed Gabriel from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020, he was 22 years old, and if they sign Murillo in the winter window, he’ll be just 23.

However, the comparison goes deeper than that, as, in addition to playing in the same position, the two defenders tend to play in a similar style as well.

For example, while he’s not quite as tall as the Gunners star, the “monstrous” Forest man, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is someone who makes the most of his physicality.

Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the former Corinthians gem is more than happy to go in for a full-throated challenge, which, more often than not, he comes out better off from.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking the Sao Paulo-born titan is just an old-fashioned defender who can’t compete when it comes to the technical side of the game, as that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Like his compatriot, the 23-year-old is far more accomplished on the ball than most who don’t watch him on a weekly basis would expect.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 5% of centre-backs in the league for successful take-ons, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and shot-creating actions from live-ball passes, the top 13% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

When you consider those technical qualities alongside the fact that he helped Forest produce one of the defensive record in the country last season, it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

Ultimately, while he might not be on the exact same level as Gabriel – few defenders are – Murillo is clearly an exceptional player. Therefore, Arsenal would be wise to sign him before one of their rivals gets there first.

Arsenal have signed an "unpredictable" star who's the new Ian Wright

The incredible match-winner could be the difference for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 24, 2025

Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United from boyhood club Everton in August 2004 for a fee of £27 million ($36m), a world-record sum for a teenager at the time. The transfer was controversial among Toffees fans, and the former England striker has revealed details of the intimidation campaign directed at his family and his then wife-to-be Coleen and also how he's helping his son take first steps in his football career.

• Rooney switch caused anger on Merseyside

  Rooney quickly justified the chunky price tag, making an explosive debut with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. At Old Trafford, under Sir Alex Ferguson,he matured into a world superstar, becoming known for his incredible work rate, stunning goals – like his famous overhead kick against Manchester City – and leadership. 

  Over 13 successful seasons, Rooney won 16 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League. He became the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals in 559 appearances, cementing his status as a United legend, alongside the likes of Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

  But in the immediate period after his move from Goodison Park, 49 miles up the M62 to Old Trafford, his family faced a campaign of hostility. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Rooney: 'I had to stay tough'

  Rooney said on the : "I got death threats. My parents' house was getting spray painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, her house was getting spray painted. I think that's where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help. Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, and Liverpool and Manchester was a big rivalry so that made it a lot more difficult. But I was always of a mindset of 'I don't care'. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get there. I had to stay tough in my mind. This was people from my city so it was tough but I thought 'I don't care', you have to be selfish and make these decisions." 

• Rooney reveals life as a football dad

  Rooney has been retired for just shy of six years, and in that time he has seen his eldest son progress through the youth ranks at Manchester United, and is conscious of the changing pressures that face Kai, compared to his playing days. 

  Rooney said: "Now the difference is social media. When I was young, I was in the local newspapers and so everyone in Liverpool really knew me. Now I have it with my boy who's 16 and he's on social media. He plays for my United, he's sponsored by Puma and there's hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they're that young, and I didn't have that really. Being a young player and going into the first team especially, you're getting judged. Rightly or wrongly, you get judged and that's where you need the people around you, people at the club or your family to keep you in a good place. We can all get carried away with social media as well. So it's really important that the people who are close to you have your best interest. It's the main thing." 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Media career makes stuttering start

  Rooney's career at the BBC has faced certain challenges primarily due to a difficult transition to live television punditry on Match of the Day. While he has been praised for his knowledgeable and candid approach on his pre-recorded podcast, his on-camera performances have been hindered by significant nerves and hesitation. This has led to criticism, which has described his live analysis as "dreadful" or "painful" and noted his struggle to form coherent sentences under the pressure of the studio environment. The BBC is reportedly providing additional media training to help him adapt, which underscores the initial difficulties in his role despite a lucrative two-year contract.

Former Arsenal and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has revealed that he abandoned a near-completed move to Manchester City to sign for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal back in 2008. The Frenchman, who spent nearly a decade at Old Trafford and won five Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson, says he was "halfway through his medical" at City when the opportunity to join Wenger emerged, prompting him to walk away from negotiations altogether.

• Silvestre lifts the lid on his Arsenal transfer

  Silvestre’s reputation in English football was built at Manchester United, where he arrived in September 1999 from Internazionale and went on to clock up 249 Premier League appearances. Over nine years in Manchester, he collected a haul of major honours, including the Champions League, the FA Cup and five league titles. His final season at United, however, was derailed by a significant knee ligament injury, which kept him out for much of the campaign. He returned to action in April but found himself facing uncertainty, with one year remaining on his contract and limited clarity about how he would fit into the United squad. At 31, Silvestre was drawing attention from several clubs. Paris Saint-Germain were keen. Bordeaux made enquiries. City were deep in negotiations and, according to Silvestre, had already reached a provisional agreement with him. Sunderland were also in talks. But everything changed when Arsene Wenger made his interest known.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Wenger's phone call changed everything

  Silvestre, speaking to , recounted the extraordinary moment his transfer took a sharp detour. 

  "I almost signed for Manchester City in 2008, believe it or not," he said. "I was halfway through my medical in Manchester and was very close to finalising a move to the club. However, Arsene Wenger reached out to me through a friend to try and get me to sign for Arsenal during the medical."

  Within 24 hours, he had apologised to City officials and travelled to London to complete a two-year contract at the Emirates. He added: "I couldn’t turn that offer down, and I signed for the club the very next day!"

  Wenger said at that time: "We have a strong squad, but a young squad and Mikael's versatility, experience and calibre will provide the extra depth we need to reinforce our challenge for honours. His defensive adaptability will serve us well, and it's a big plus that Mikael has top-level experience and a great understanding of football in the Premier League."

• Silvestre's split allegiance between United & Arsenal

  Earlier in 2025, Silvestre looked back fondly on his time in north London, acknowledging the warmth he received from Arsenal supporters and the respect he gained within the club. But he does not disguise where his heart lies.

  During an interview on last year, he said: "When you have been travelling as much as I did, you still look back and support the clubs you played for. But, as you know, nine years at United is a long time in one career. If you asked me to pick, it would be more United, but I had a great time at Arsenal."

  However, given the current circumstances at United, he revealed that he would now prefer a transfer to north London. "I would go to Arsenal right now. I am not a patient guy!" he laughed. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Silvestre has elite company in a small club

  Arsenal’s acquisition of Silvestre for a reported fee of around £750,000 was one of the most surprising moves of the 2008 summer window. United’s long history of avoiding direct transfers to rival clubs made the signing almost unthinkable at the time. The last player to make the same journey had been Brian Kidd in 1974. He belongs to a surprisingly small and illustrious group of footballers who have worn both Arsenal and United colours. Alexis Sanchez is perhaps the most famous modern example, with his blockbuster move to Old Trafford. Robin van Persie made the opposite journey, leaving Arsenal for United in 2012 and famously firing Ferguson’s side to the league title. Danny Welbeck, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Andy Cole also crossed the divide at various points, each with differing levels of success.

Manchester United are now very keen on signing Ajax midfielder Jorthy Mokio, amid a new update on his future at the Eredivisie club.

With Man United looking to sign a new midfielder, the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba have been identified as potential targets, but it could be difficult to compete for their signatures, having already established themselves as Premier League stars.

As such, it may be a savvy move to bring in a lesser-known midfielder, with talks to sign AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit recently advancing, as speculation over Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford continues to build.

Ruben Amorim has suggested Mainoo’s lack of game time is due to United simply not playing in enough matches to make full use of the entire squad, saying: “Imagine for me to have Mainoo with that (many) minutes that he’s playing, he needs more games for me to make a rotation because, with one game (a week), it’s really hard.”

However, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes making themselves undroppable in recent weeks, a Mainoo departure could be on the cards, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a potential replacement.

Man Utd now very keen on signing Jorthy Mokio

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, in a report for Sky Sports, Man United have now emerged as one of the clubs most interested in signing Ajax midfielder Mokio, who has decided he wants to leave the Eredivisie club.

Ajax are looking to tie the midfielder down to a new contract, but he could seemingly have his head turned, with a number of clubs from across Europe now in the race for his signature.

The 17-year-old is being followed very closely by United, having been identified as the perfect target, but there could be competition for his signature, with Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt also emerging as potential suitors.

The Belgian has been likened to N’Golo Kante, given that he flourishes from a defensive point of view, placing in the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 over the past year, and the 84th percentile for clearances, when compared to other midfielders.

Not only that, but the youngster has also established himself as a first-team regular for Ajax at a very young age, being lauded as an “amazing” player by scout Jacek Kulig.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, it would make sense to bring in another young midfielder, but Man United may also need to sign another central midfielder alongside Mokio, given that Casemiro’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Man Utd want to sign one of the Premier League's "best" central midfielders Next Carrick: Man Utd want to sign "one of the best CMs in the PL" for £60m

Man United could enhance the quality of their midfield with the signing of another Michael Carrick.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 19, 2025

This season is shaping up to be one of Arsenal’s best in a very, very long time.

Now, there is still a lot of football to be played, but going into the third international break of the campaign, Mikel Arteta has his side top of the Premier League and with four wins from four in the Champions League.

What makes it all the more impressive is the fact that, aside from the defence, there is a real sense that the team aren’t even operating at their best.

Moreover, the club have a significant number of injured players set to return in the coming weeks, which will massively bolster the squad, although it might also make it clear that a certain player appreciated by Thierry Henry needs to be moved on.

Arsenal's injury crisis

Now, Arsenal supporters will be the first to admit that the team just weren’t good enough to win the league last season.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Expand Collapse

However, a significant reason why the side was lacklustre on the domestic front was the absurd number of injuries Arteta has to deal with.

Understandably, the club sought to avoid a similar situation this year by signing eight first-team quality players in the summer, rather than spending record sums on individual players.

Arsenal’s Summer Signings

Player

From

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea

Eberechi Eze

Palace

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting

Piero Hincapie

Leverkusen

Noni Madueke

Chelsea

Cristhian Mosquera

Valencia

Christian Norgaard

Brentford

Martin Zubimendi

Sociedad

It’s an approach that has already paid off multiple times this season, as even though it hasn’t been discussed as much, the squad has once again dealt with a barrage of injuries this season.

Noni Madueke was able to cover for Bukayo Saka; Cristhian Mosquera covered for Gabriel Mahgaelese; Eberechi Eze stood in for Martin Odegaard, and Viktor Gyokeres was thrown into the deep end in place of the injured Kai Havertz.

However, the dam can only hold out for so long, and over the last few weeks, the injury list has grown too significant, with Mikel Merino once again starting up top for two matches in a row.

In all, Arsenal were without six first-team players for the draw against Sunderland, and all six of them were attacking players, which helps explain why the bench looked so short on options and why the manager brought on only Mosquera.

The good news is that most of them will be back in contention after the international break, and all should be available to play by the new year.

However, that means the squad could become quite bloated in attack, and so it might be time to sell someone Henry was once very complimentary about.

The Arsenal star who should be sold

With Gyokeres and Madueke being summer signings and Havertz clearly a firm favourite of Arteta, it feels like, of all the injured players, it’s £45m man, Gabriel Jesus, who should be moved on.

Now, that is no indictment of the player himself, as at his best, the former Manchester City star was almost unplayable and capable of things that no other Arsenal attacker could even think of doing.

That’s not hyperbole either, as following a particularly impressive showing against Seville, the legendary Henry said he “would have loved to play with him” due to his close control and ability to create for others.

However, that was over two years ago, and it’s been over three years since he was at his utterly incredible best.

Since then, there have been flashes of that sensational ability, but every time he seems to build up any steam, he goes down with another injury.

Since the start of his Arsenal career in the 22/23 season, the Brazilian international has been injured seven times, which has seen him spend a grand total of 559 days on the sidelines and miss 90 games for club and country.

It doesn’t really matter how talented a player is; if they are that unreliable, then they are not an asset to a club.

Jesus’ injury record

Season

Days out

Games missed

24/25

370 days

56

23/24

89 days

17

22/23

100 days

17

20/21

60 days

14

19/20

34 days

5

18/19

26 days

6

17/18

76 days

13

16/17

68 days

15

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, it’s not like the 28-year-old is on a modest wage; he’s currently earning a whopping £265k-per-week, which makes him the second-highest earner at the club.

Ultimately, Jesus is undeniably an excellent footballer, but he’s just never available when the club need him and considering he has such an enormous wage, it might be time to sell him in the winter, or at the end of the season.

Related Arsenal ready bid to sign £71m Trossard upgrade who's like an "early Henry"

Andrea Berta could end Trossard’s Arsenal career with this big £71m move.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025

Harry Kane has admitted he wants to win the Ballon d'Or and compared himself to Manchester City hitman Erling Haaland as the strikers battle for glory. Kane is one goal off matching Pele's international haul and will hope to match or better the Brazilian when England face Albania in their final World Cup qualifier on Sunday night as the Three Lions look to maintain their 100% record.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Kane expected to start against Albania

  England have won all seven 2026 World Cup qualifiers following their 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday night. Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze netted either side of half time to wrap up another three points at Wembley, as the Three Lions eased to next summer's showpiece.

  Thomas Tuchel's men have scored 20 goals in qualifying, of which Kane has netted six, and have the chance to make it eight wins from eight when they face off against Albania on Sunday evening. And with no other out-and-out striker in the squad, the 32-year-old has a great opportunity to add to that haul and go level with Pele for international goals.

  Pele scored 77 times for Brazil during a legendary career, while Kane sits on 76 for the Three Lions. The England skipper netted in the reverse fixture, a 2-0 win at Wembley back in March, and will feel confident about his chances of scoring against the Red and Blacks, who are guaranteed a play-off spot following their 1-0 victory at Andorra on Thursday.

Advertisement

• 'To be around a name like Pele speaks for itself'

  Kane has confessed that he relishes reaching such milestones, stating: "To be around a name like Pele speaks for itself. Sometimes when you're in it, it's hard to process some of the names you're around or the things you're achieving. You just want to go onto the next one.

  "Hopefully to score tomorrow and go level with Pele, who had such an inspirational international career, just shows how far I've come through my career."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Kane makes Ballon d'Or claim with '100 goals' warning

  Kane doesn't just have Pele's international goal record in his sights, but the Ballon d'Or, too. Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 accolade, pipping Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to the award after the Frenchman's role in PSG's Champions League triumph over Inter last season.

  The Bayern forward, who is England's leading marksman in history, insists he won't win the individual accolade, even if he scores '100 goals this season'. "I could score 100 goals this season but if I don't win the Champions League or the World Cup, you're probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or," Kane said.

  "It's the same with Erling Haaland, it's the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies. With the way the season is going as a team with Bayern Munich, it looks like we're in great shape.

  "It looks like we're one of the favourites for the Champions League, for sure. So that maybe makes the odds a little bit more in my favour. Same with England. I think we're going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites.

  "Whenever you are going into a year, like a World Cup year, there is a lot of excitement, a lot of talk, a lot of noise around everything. You have to try and stay focused on the now.

  "From my point of view, I've got six more weeks before I get a nice break. I am feeling good. And that break will help for us but hopefully if things go my way for club and country then I'm definitely going to be in the conversation for a trophy like the Ballon d'Or."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Haaland instrumental in Norway's qualifying campaign

  Haaland himself has been in sensational scoring form for both club and country this season. The 25-year-old has scored in all but two games for Manchester City and Norway in the 2025-26 campaign, failing to net in defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa.

  The City star has been rampant for Stale Solbakken's side in qualifying having scored 14 goals with Norway on the cusp of reaching their first World Cup since 1998.

  Norway have won all seven matches so far and face Italy in their final round of qualifiers on Sunday night. The Azzurri have won six of their seven games, but would need to win 9-0 in Milan to pip Norway to top spot in Group I.