Derby County have made a seven-figure offer to sign a versatile new player for John Eustace and the Rams have received a response.
Derby’s summer signings so far as Brewster arrives
It has been a productive summer transfer window for those at Pride Park so far ahead of the new Championship campaign. Eight new signings have been made, with former Sheffield United forward Rhian Brewster the latest to arrive.
Patrick Agyemang
Charlotte
£5.8m
Carlton Morris
Luton
Undisclosed
Andreas Weimann
Blackburn
Free
Danny Batth
Blackburn
Free
Rhian Brewster
Sheffield Utd
Free
Richard O’Donnell
Blackpool
Free
Owen Beck
Liverpool
Loan
David Ozoh
Crystal Palace
Loan
The forward left the Blades following the expiry of his contract this summer and has chosen Derby as his next move. Talking after signing, Brewster revealed his excitement to get started.
The striker joins Patrick Agyemang, Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth, Richard O’Donnell, Carlton Morris, Owen Beck and David Ozoh ahead of Eustace’s first full season in charge, and Derby don’t look to be showing any signs of stopping.
Derby make £1m+ bid to sign Sunderland player
According to reports from The Daily Record, relayed by EFL Analysis, Derby County have made a bid worth £1.2m to sign Sunderland midfielder Nectarios Triantis.
However, Sunderland have actually turned down Derby’s offer for Triantis, who is under contract with the Black Cats until 2027.
The Australian has spent the last 18 months on loan at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian and appears to be surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light.
Hibernian actually wanted to keep Triantis at Easter Road, with manager David Gray praising the player for his “fantastic season”.
Nectarios Triantis
“He is another one who had a fantastic season. You seen how much he improved last year, playing week-in, week out. His parent club have just got promoted to the Premier League and their are conversations going on. Clearly he was a big part of what we done last year and it is a position that we are going to need to fill.”
A versatile player capable of playing as a holding midfielder or centre-back, the 6 foot 2 Aussie is valued at a career-high €1m by Transfermarkt, and it’ll be interesting to see if Derby go back in with an improved bid.
Arsenal's perfect start to the new Women's Super League season came to an end on Sunday at Manchester United as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw in a game they had the better of. Olivia Smith hit the crossbar, Caitlin Foord whistled an effort just wide and Alessia Russo had a decent opportunity through on goal saved as Renee Slegers' side turned the screw in a hard-fought encounter, but the visitors had to settle for a point on the road in the end.
It was United who started brightest, with Melvine Malard the recipient of a good chance inside the opening minute, but Arsenal would grow into the game, and as their pressing started to trouble the Red Devils, opportunities arose. That said, there was a lack of clear-cut opportunites throughout the 90 minutes and the Gunners didn't test opposing goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce enough, with it often from the edge of the box or an unfavourable angle that the looks at goal came.
Even those half-chances dried up in the second period, despite Slegers being able to throw on the likes of Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead from a star-studded bench. There were positives at the other end of the pitch, though, with United themselves limited to few big moments as 18-year-old Katie Reid continued to look incredibly promising in the heart of defence alongside the experienced Steph Catley, whose fantastic block to deny Malard proved crucial in the end as the Gunners were at least able to keep their first clean sheet of the new campaign.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Leigh Sports Village…
Getty Images Sport
Goalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (5/10):
Had a few iffy moments, most notably spilling a cross from Bizet. Recovered well to block Park's follow-up, though.
Emily Fox (5/10):
Got up and down her wing well and beefed up the midfield when needed, too, though lacked her usual cutting edge.
Katie Reid (7/10):
Another wonderfully composed and assured performance from the 18-year-old. Showed great awareness throughout and always positioned herself well.
Steph Catley (6/10):
Worked in tandem with Reid well and mopped up where needed.
Katie McCabe (5/10):
Wasn't as sharp as usual here, with a few loose touches and passes throughout the first half.
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Getty Images Sport
Midfield
Kim Little (7/10):
Battled brilliantly in the middle to recover plenty of loose balls and win most of her duels. Tidy as ever in possession, too.
Mariona Caldentey (6/10):
A little sloppy at times to start but her influence on the game grew and she was soon able to pull strings a little more, albeit not as much as usual.
Alessia Russo (5/10):
Linked well play and had one decent look at goal in the first half, but was otherwise unable to really cause problems.
Getty Images Sport
Attack
Olivia Smith (6/10):
A lively performer down the right in the first half especially, striking the crossbar early in the game with a great effort.
Stina Blackstenius (5/10):
Didn't give United as much trouble as she often can, with the hosts quite comfortably dealing with her threat.
Caitlin Foord (6/10):
Always willing to run at her marker and that created some of Arsenal's best openings, be they for others and herself. Went very close with a strike at the end of the first half.
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Subs & Manager
Frida Maanum (5/10):
Was loose in possession, though threatening when she could get on the ball and drive at the United defence.
Chloe Kelly (5/10):
Struggled to make a significant impact, with runs at the United back line rarely fruitful.
Taylor Hinds (6/10):
Looked assured and confident on the ball after replacing McCabe with half an hour to play.
Beth Mead (N/A):
Only on for the final 10 minutes or so.
Renee Slegers (7/10):
Gave United a different look by deploying Russo behind Blackstenius but it didn't have the effect it so often does, with neither getting much of a look at goal other than a one-on-one for Russo from an angle. Half-time came at the wrong time for her side, who were having real success with their pressing as it approached, and while she made subs with half an hour to go, they couldn't quite find a breakthrough either.
The Saudi Pro League has attracted some star players in recent years, none bigger than Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been with Al-Nassr since 2023.
Al Nassr'sCristianoRonaldo celebrate
The Portugal icon signed a new two-year Al-Nassr deal in 2025 which sees him earn a staggering £488,000-per-day in Saudi Arabia.
Per season
£178m
Per week
£3.42m
Per day
£488,000
Per hour
£20,357
Per minute
£339.28
Per second
£5.65
The finances on offer have seen plenty of world-class footballers swap Europe for Saudi Arabia. However, others have also said no to heading to the Middle East.
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ByRobbie Walls Jul 11, 2025 Players who have turned down Saudi Arabia moves 1 Lionel Messi
Back in 2023, Lionel Messi decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain and was wanted by Al-Hilal.
The Argentine, fresh off the back of a World Cup triumph in Qatar, was offered a three-year contract worth £1.3bn, where he would earn €500 million per season to make him the richest footballer in history.
However, Messi, considered the greatest of all time by many, snubbed the advances of the Saudi Pro League and instead made the move to the MLS with Inter Miami.
2 Bruno Fernandes
In 2025, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was also wanted by Al-Hilal, two years after they moved for Messi.
The attacking midfielder was offered £700,000-a-week plus bonuses, treble his Old Trafford wage, whereas the Red Devils were also in line to bring in £100m in a transfer fee.
However, Fernandes wanted to play at the ‘top level in Europe’, so snubbed the Saudi interest.
3 Romelu Lukaku
A running theme with Al-Hilal missing out on European targets saw Romelu Lukaku snub them ahead of the 2023/2024 campaign.
At the time, the Belgium striker was still under contract at Chelsea after a loan spell with Inter Milan and was the subject of a £50m per season proposal.
He turned the Saudi Pro League down, though, counting his career in Italy with AS Roma and Napoli.
4 Kylian Mbappe
In what would have been the most expensive signing in football history, Kylian Mbappe was the subject of interest from Al-Hilal in 2023, and they even reportedly agreed a €300m transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain.
Per season
€700m
Per month
€58.33m
Per week
€13.3m
Per day
€1.9m
Per hour
€79,900
Per minute
€1,332
Per second
€22
Mbappe was even offered a one-year deal worth €700m where he could of then sealed his dream move to Real Madrid. The French superstar did get his move to the Bernabeu, however, he stayed in Paris instead of heading to the Saudi Pro League for 12 months.
5 Son Heung-Min
Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-Min has become a Spurs legend since moving to north London back in 2015, and he turned down the chance to join Al-Ittihad in 2023.
The South Korean said that ‘money doesn’t matter’ when linked with a move to Al-Ittihad, who were willing to pay Tottenham more than £50m at the time. In the end, they brought in former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
6 Ousmane Dembele
Ronaldo and Ousmane Dembele is a partnership that could have been for Al-Nassr, with the Saudi side targeting the France star when he was still on the books of Barcelona.
Al-Nassr were even willing to pay Dembele £35m per season for five years, however, he ended up turning them down to move to Paris Saint-Germain.
7 Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy has 13 hugely successful years at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes legend won the Premier League and FA Cup with Leicester, but back in 2023, turned down an approach from Al-Khaleej.
It is unknown just how much Al-Khaleej were willing to offer the striker, who ended up staying with the Foxes for two more years before leaving in 2025.
Games
500
Goals
200
Assists
71
Trophies
5
8 Luka Modric
Iconic Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was wanted by Al-Hilal in 2023 and was even offered a mammoth €200m deal over three years to head to the Middle East.
The Croatian decided against leaving Europe, though, instead spending two more years at the Bernabeu before heading to Italy with AC Milan.
9 Sergio Busquets
Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets came up against Ronaldo plenty of times in Spain, and the pair could have been teammates for Al-Nassr in 2023.
The holding midfielder was the subject of a €20m per season offer from the Saudi side, however, Busquets ended up snubbing the prospect of playing alongside Ronaldo to reunite with Messi at Inter Miami.
10 Bernardo Silva
Manchester City star Bernardo Silva has been a Saudi Pro League target for a number of years, and in 2023, was offered a deal three times more than his Etihad contract to head to the Middle East.
Al-Hilal were willing to pay the Portuguese midfielder £500,000-a-week, however, he remained in England under Pep Guardiola.
The start of Celtic’s competitive season is right around the corner.
A week on Sunday, the Hoops begin their Scottish Premiership title defence when they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
After that, they’ll travel to Pittodrie for a Scottish Cup Final rematch against Aberdeen, while there’s plenty more for supporters to get excited about throughout August, with an Old Firm derby at Ibrox and a Champions League play-off tie to come later in the month.
Thus, with the new season rapidly approaching, Brendan Rodgers is doubly eager to get his new recruits over the line.
Celtic's search for a new centre-forward
Ever since Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £10m in January, the Hoops have been in the market for a new striker.
Following last mid-week’s pre-season friendly victory over Stade Rennais, Rodgers stated that he wants “to add to our front line” having “lost a lot of goals” in recent months, given that Nicolas Kühn has also departed for Como for around £16.5m.
In terms of pure centre-forwards, Shin Yamada has arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1.5m, so will challenge Adam Idah for the starting number nine spot, but Rodgers will still want more.
Mathias Kvistgaarden appeared to be their top target since January, but he has instead decided to join Norwich City from Brøndby for a reported fee of £6.9m, leaving the Scottish champions searching for an alternative.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, Rodgers does have previous when it comes to unearthing unknown strikers as Celtic manager, namely signing Moussa Dembélé nine years ago, so could he be about to do something similar?
Could Celtic sign a highly-rated young striker?
As Celtic scour far and wide for a new striker, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman claims they should go all in and sign Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers.
He believes, should he make the move to Glasgow, Kone “would thrive massively at that level” adding, given that Celtic “dominate games and create chances”, he would score plenty of goals.
Back in January, Luton Town had a £6m bid rejected by the Chairboys for Kone, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, likely to cost even more than that now.
To support this, a week ago, it was documented that Celtic have an interest in Kone, with the young marksman believed to be worth around £7m.
Richard Kone
Speaking on CBS’ Morning Footy, Wycombe legend Adebayo Akinfenwa noted that “if Hollywood was going to have a script for a story, this would be it”, given that Kone arrived in England to represent Côte d’Ivoire at the Homeless World Cup in 2019.
He then represented Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League, England’s ninth tier, for five years, before being scouted and signed by Wycombe in January 2024, following an extended trial.
Richard Kone
Well, what a find this has proved to be, with the 22-year-old scoring 25 goals in 73 appearances for the Buckinghamshire-based EFL League One outfit, named both the division’s Player and Young Player of the Season, having netted 18 times in the league.
Let’s assess his statistics from League One last year to underline why he scooped up both accolades.
Richard Kone 2024/25 EFL League One statistics
Statistics
Kone
League 1 rank
Goals
18
3rd
Shots
100
5th
Shots on target
40
5th
Shots per 90
3.28
3rd
Successful dribbles
44
16th
Big chances missed
16
6th
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table notes, only two players, Charlie Kelman and Jay Stansfield, both of whom were playing for clubs who got promoted, scored more goals than Kone, while he ranked highly for every attacking metric included.
His performances certainly impressed writer Kai Watson, who labelled him a “mentality monster”, adding that “aggression, positioning and work rate” are amongst his strengths.
So why could he be a repeat of Dembélé’s arrival from 2016?
Well, before joining Celtic, the Frenchman had made just 64 senior appearances for Fulham, the vast majority of which had come at Championship level, so few could’ve forecast that he burst onto the scene as he did, scoring 32 goals during his first season at Celtic, five of which came in the Champions League.
Thus, there is certainly precedent for a young, inexperienced striker joining Celtic from the EFL and exploding into a top-class centre-forward.
If you’re not yet convinced by the déjà vu, listen to this; Kone’s non-league Athletic Newham are based on Atlético Madrid, they wear the same kit and their badge is nigh on identical, and with whom did Dembélé win La Liga? You guessed it!
Celtic now submit £1.5m bid to sign 17 G/A forward, they've had a response
The Hoops have made a formal approach for an attacker, who was regularly among the goals in the 2024-25 campaign.
Hosts beat champions Southern Vipers by one run in a last-ball thriller chasing 241 at Headingley
ECB Reporters Network04-Sep-2024
Rachel Slater traded bowling for batting with her star turn for Diamonds•Getty Images
No. 11 Rachel Slater hit the winning two to long-on to help Northern Diamonds beat champions Southern Vipers by one run in a last-ball thriller chasing 241 at Headingley to qualify for a home semi-final in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Diamonds were on the ropes at 216 for 9 after 46.5 overs in reply to 240 for 8. Visiting captain Georgia Adams impressed with 57 and a season’s-best four for 26 with her off-spin.Debutant left-arm spinner Rebecca Tyson impressed with three wickets, but she couldn’t quite defend nine runs off the last over with Katie Levick at the crease alongside Slater. They shared 25, with Slater finishing 18 not out. Leg-spinner Levick’s 13 had been preceded by three wickets.The Vipers innings was built around a measured 82-ball innings from Adams.She was supported by a quartet of scores in the thirties from opener Ella McCaughan, Georgia Elwiss, Emily Windsor and Naomi Dattani.Having elected to bat, Vipers made steady progress. There was little aggression in the innings, more determination to get themselves into the game following back-to-back defeats.This XI may have lacked the experience of previous title-winning Vipers sides, but they still found a way to a competitive total.A superb diving catch in the covers from Abi Glen helped Scotland seamer Slater remove Rhianna Southby before Levick bowled the other opener, McCaughan, for 30.Adams and Elwiss then steadied with a no-frills partnership of 76 in 18 overs.Adams hit all six of her boundaries through the off-side in a 74-ball fifty, cutting and driving nicely. Elwiss added 31. Both then fell as part of a loss of three wickets for 30 as the score slipped from 126 for 2 in the 32nd over to 156 for 5 after 38.Adams was bowled trying to cut a ball too close to her, Elwiss was run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from mid-off and Abi Norgrove was run out having slipped trying to get up from playing a sweep to short fine-leg.A trio of Vipers were run out, including new loan signing Dattani in the final over. Dattani, on loan from Lancashire Thunder, hoisted the only six of the innings off Phoebe Turner’s seam over midwicket.On Sunday, Dattani played against Diamonds for Thunder and was bowled by Turner, who claimed six wickets in that Southport fixture. Today, Turner only struck once, with Levick leading the way.After bowling McCaughan and Adams, she later broke a crucial 47-run stand for the sixth wicket between left-handed Dattani and the ever-resourceful Windsor, getting the latter stumped as the score fell to 203 for 6 in the 45th over.Diamonds lost stand-in captain Lauren Winfield-Hill – Hollie Armitage is on England duty in Ireland – early in their chase as she miscued Adams to mid-on, leaving the score at 5 for 1.But they were boosted by a 91-run partnership between Emma Marlow and Rebecca Duckworth, who were both strong on the drive. Duckworth posted her maiden regional fifty and Marlow only her second, off 71 and 81 balls respectively.However, both fell quickly after reaching their milestones as Diamonds lost three wickets for 26 inside seven overs to set them back at 122 for four in the 32nd.Duckworth and Sterre Kalis were trapped lbw sweeping at Adams before Marlow was bowled by the seam of Elwiss.Australian allrounder Erin Burns added 31, but when she sliced Tyson to short third it felt like a defining moment. Not so.Tyson also bowled a scooping Phoebe Turner and had Glen (24) caught at backward point. In between, Adams bowled Katherine Fraser before Freya Davies bowled Sophia Turner.Slater and Levick chipped away at the target before, with three balls left, the former crashed Tyson through cover for four. Then came the winning two to long-on.
Everton have now reportedly enquired about the availability of a Premier League star in the summer transfer window, with David Moyes an admirer of the player in question.
Everton in talks with ace and reach verbal agreement with player
The Blues appear to be pushing hard to complete some exciting summer transfer business, with the Merseysiders reportedly in talks with the agents of Fred over a move to Bramley Moore Dock.
The former Manchester United midfielder could be a shrewd and experienced addition who has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, making 139 appearances in the competition. Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is keen on keeping hold of the Brazilian, though.
Fred in action for Fenerbache.
Meanwhile, Everton have reportedly reached a verbal agreement over the signing of Kenny Tete from Fulham, with the right-back out of contract in west London at the end of this month.
The Dutchman could come in as an upgrade on the likes of Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman, bringing a mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust to Moyes’ team, and the fact that it would be on a free transfer is an added bonus.
Everton enquire about Premier League "fighter"
According to a new claim from Give Me Sport, Everton have enquired to Manchester City about the potential signing of Jack Grealish this summer.
Newcastle United and Napoli are also believed to be in the mix to sign the 29-year-old, who is expected to leave the Etihad after four years there, joining for £100m from Aston Villa back in 2021. However, the Toffees may find a transfer hard to complete as Grealish is looking to play in the Champions League next season.
Grealish’s stock has fallen over the past year or two, with a lack of end product under Pep Guardiola, but it could simply be that he needs a new challenge and regular game time.
Guardiola has described the Englishman as a “fighter”, often being relentlessly kicked and fouled during games, while Moyes heaped huge praise on him back in 2021, saying:
“He is a really good player and probably the best player in the Premier League at this time. He has done such a big job at that club (Villa) and is probably the best player in the league right now.”
There are definite risks in Everton signing Grealish, not least because he turns 30 this year and would demand big wages, but he possesses the swagger and unpredictable style to be a hit among Blues supporters.
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He may love the idea of being given more freedom to express himself in the final third, compared to Guardiola’s precise tactics, so it is a signing that could be worth the gamble, although it may be tricky to seal.
The first of two transfer windows this summer is now open, with Chelsea set to be very active before the initial 10th June deadline.
According to a report by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Liam Delap is on the cusp of joining Chelsea, noting that personal terms have been agreed and that a medical will take place on Monday, with the Blues having agreed to pay his £30m release clause.
The 22-year-old will therefore be eligible to make his debut in just a couple of weeks time, given that Chelsea commence their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on 16 June.
However, could the Blues also be showcasing another new striker by the time that clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium rolls around?
Chelsea's search for another striker
According to widespread reports, including by the Daily Post in Nigeria, Victor Osimhen’s entourage are ‘working’ on a deal to get the striker to Chelsea this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
They relay quotes from Peter Okoye, one of Osimhen’s close associates, who said that last summer, both he and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel “made every effort to secure the signing of Victor Osimhen for Chelsea”.
Well, a year on, it’s revealed that they “remain steadfast” in their pursuit and “will continue efforts this summer.”
Now that the season is over, the 26-year-old is once again a Napoli player, having scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for I Partenopei, the Capocannoniere (top-scorer) in Serie A in the 2022/23 season, firing the club to their first Scudetto for 33 years.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
Last summer, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis placed a €130m (around £110m) price tag on Osimhen, hoping to create some sort of bidding war, but after no concrete offers were made by the time the vast majority of European windows had shut, the Nigerian striker spent last season on loan at Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray.
Now, reports believe he would be ‘available for £60m’, so could he soon be swapping the Bosphorus for the King’s Road?
How Victor Osimhen would improve Chelsea
It is pretty difficult to dispute the fact that Osimhen is one of the best centre-forwards on the planet.
During his one season with Galatasaray, he scored 37 goals in just 41 appearances, thereby averaging a goal every 87 minutes.
26 of these came in the Süper Lig which, according to Global Football Rankings, is the 18th strongest league in the world, firing the İstanbul giants to a record-extending 25th title, while he also netted six times in seven Europa League appearances, including bagging a brace during a victory over Tottenham in November.
Youssef Maaoui of Talent Football Scout praises Osimhen’s athleticism, describing him as a ‘fast and imposing striker’ who possesses ‘elite goal-scoring instincts’, making him ‘one of the most exciting and unique talents’ in world football.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates after the match
Meantime, Jack Chippendale of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Nigerian was the ‘focal point’ of Galatasaray’s attack, allowing him to take a high volume of shots, while journalist Paolo Esposito simply labelled him “superhuman”.
So, how does Osimhen compare to potential future teammate Delap?
Osimhen vs Delap 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Osimhen
Delap
Appearances
41
40
Minutes
3,236
2,670
Goals
37
12
Assists
8
2
Shots per 90
5.62
2.28
Shots on target %
42.7%
43.3%
Big chances missed
43
10
Big chances created
12
3
Shot-creating actions
25
62
% of aerials duels won
63.6%
42.6%
Touches per 90
29
28
% of touches in opposition box
37%
13%
Average Sofascore rating
7.72
6.85
Stats FBref, Squawka & Sofascore.
First things first when comparing these two players, it has to be noted that Osimhen was playing for the dominant team at a lower level this season, while Delap was playing for a relegated Premier League outfit, skewing the data of both somewhat.
Nevertheless, even with that caveat, we can still learn plenty from the data.
What the numbers underline is that neither get overly involved in build-up play, while Osimhen’s statistic of 5.62 shots per 90 is astronomically high, taking an average of 7.32 shots per 90 in this season’s Europa League, almost three more than anybody else.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
Also, the fact that the Nigerian records over a third of his touches in the opposition penalty area is further evidence that he is a proper penalty box poacher, even if his tally of 43 big chances missed proves there is room for improvement.
Nevertheless, as outlined by Liam Twomey of the Athletic, a world-class number nine is what Chelsea need to reach the next level, and Osimhen, more than the soon-to-arrive Delap, has all the attributes to be just that. He’s a true elite striker.
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Crystal Palace are now in the race to sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, who will cost in excess of £30m this summer, according to a report.
Palace stepping up summer transfer plans
Palace are on course for a solid mid-table finish, but with a number of first-team players’ futures in doubt, including Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton, they may have to be active in the transfer market to remain competitive next season.
With that in mind, Steve Parish has now set his sights on a statement signing, and the chairman is trying to persuade Marcus Rashford to move to Selhurst Park this summer, rather than completing a permanent move to Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Not only is Parish keen on a new forward, but the Eagles could also pursue a new central midfielder, and Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham has been named as a potential target, having impressed in the Championship this season.
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Bellingham is not the only Sunderland star Crystal Palace have their eye on, however, with a report from The i Paper revealing they are also in the race to sign Chris Rigg, whose future will be in major doubt if the Black Cats fail to win promotion.
A number of Premier League clubs are set to battle it out for Rigg, with Everton, Liverpool, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur also running regular checks to assess the 17-year-old, who has established himself as a key player for Sunderland this season.
Sunderland'sChrisRigg
A deal will not be cheap, however, with the Black Cats set to demand a fee way above the £30m Leeds United received for Archie Gray last summer, indicating just how highly regarded the youngster is at the Stadium of Light.
"Phenomenal" Rigg has shades of Roy Keane
Football scout Ben Mattinson is a big fan of the Sunderland starlet, describing him as a “phenomenal” player, who is “capable of moments of brilliance”, while he is also impressive out of possession, according to former manager Tony Mowbray.
Mowbray has claimed the teenager possesses a “Roy Keane-esque type of nastiness”, which may be why former teammate Marco Gabbiadini praised the youngster for his tackling ability, saying: “He is also quite tenacious. He doesn’t shirk out of tackles or challenges. That has been one of the features of his game.”
Having made 38 Championship appearances this season at just 17-years-old, during which time he has scored four goals, the Sunderland star is clearly destined for the top, so it is exciting news that Palace are in the race for his signature.
However, given the level of interest in Rigg, with soon-to-be Premier League title winners Liverpool also interested, it would be a major coup if Palace pulled off a deal.
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.
Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest.
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.
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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
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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.