Celtic ended the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Parkhead, having already clinched the title at the end of last month.
Jonah Ayunga’s goal gave the away side a shock lead at the start of the second half, but James Forrest stepped up in stoppage time to score a league goal for the Hoops for the 16th consecutive season – an extraordinary achievement.
As you can see in the clip above, central defender Liam Scales failed to get good distance on his headed clearance, which teed up Ayunga to rifle the ball into the back of the net.
Liam Scales' performance against St Mirren in numbers
The left-footed defender came into the side to replace Auston Trusty next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, with a chance to catch the eye ahead of the cup final.
Liam Scales
Whilst he may not be happy with the goal that Celtic conceded and his part in it, Scales did a lot of good work in the match to keep the away side at bay.
The central defender ended the 90 minutes with eight clearances, four interceptions, and eight duels won, including seven out of 11 aerial battles won, which shows that he made a number of key defensive interventions.
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Meanwhile, central midfielder Paulo Bernardo was even worse than Scales and should be dropped by Brendan Rodgers for the SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen next weekend.
Why Paulo Bernardo should be dropped
The Portuguese midfielder was given another chance to impress in the middle of the park ahead of the cup final, as Reo Hatate has been ruled out through injury.
There is a vacancy in the midfield next to Callum McGregor and Arne Engels, due to the Japanese star’s absence, and it should be Luke McCowan who is given the nod, not Bernardo.
Paulo Bernardo
In the clash with St Mirren, the former Benfica starlet lost 67% (4/6) of his duels and failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 54 minutes on the pitch.
This shows that he struggled in and out of possession for the Hoops and was even worse than Scales, who at least made numerous defensive interventions and completed 94% of his attempted passes.
Vs Aberdeen & St Mirren
Luke McCowan
Paulo Bernardo
Key passes
6
1
Big chances created
1
0
Assists
2
0
Shots
4
6
Goals
1
0
Duels won
4/9
7/12
Tackles + interceptions
4
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, in the two matches since Hatate suffered his knee injury, McCowan has provided far more quality in possession from a midfield position in comparison to Bernardo.
These statistics suggest that the former Dundee man is more likely to make a big impact from the start at Hampden Park against Aberdeen next weekend, given his recent form in front of goal.
Therefore, Rodgers must take Bernardo out of the starting XI to bring the Scottish dynamo back into the side when the team takes to the field with the ambition of winning the treble.
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Celtic could find their next version of Jota by swooping to sign this star this summer.
Mohamed Salah is a player who’s exceeded all expectations at Liverpool Football Club, taking the club to new heights in the eight years he’s spent at the club.
The Egyptian joined the Reds in a £34m deal from Roma back in the summer of 2017 and has since registered over 400 appearances, breaking all sorts of records along the way.
He notched a total of 29 goals and 18 assists in his 38 Premier League outings, matching the record for the most combined goal contributions – highlighting his impact within the final third.
Liverpool's MohamedSalahreacts after conceding their second goal
The 2024/25 campaign was the fourth time the 32-year-old had claimed the division’s Golden Boot award, with his efforts undoubtedly leading Arne Slot’s side to title glory.
However, many other attackers on the books have struggled to make a similar impact at Anfield, with the manager needing to delve into the transfer market as a result.
Liverpool’s deals to land new attackers over recent years
The likes of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz have all been signed by Liverpool in the last couple of seasons, costing a pretty penny in the process.
The trio have set the hierarchy back around £180m, but have struggled to deliver to the same level as Salah – scoring just 28 between them, lower than the Egyptian managed alone.
All three of the players have been linked with a switch away from Merseyside over the summer months, showcasing how much they’ve struggled to deliver on a consistent basis.
Saudi Arabia, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been touted as possible destinations for the current Reds attackers, but it’s unclear if the hierarchy would be willing to allow them all to leave.
However, if they were to leave the club, it would provide vital funds for Slot to land targets he wants to improve the side, leading to noise about potential additions.
The player who could be Liverpool’s best attacker since Salah
In recent days, Florian Wirtz has been labelled as a potential addition for Liverpool, with talks already being held to land the 22-year-old attacking midfielder.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts
The Bayer Leverkusen star has impressed throughout 2024/25, registering 30 combined goals and assists, with Bayern Munich also interested in his signature this summer.
However, it’s been claimed that the youngster only wants a switch to Anfield this summer, potentially linking up with current teammate Jeremie Frimpong in the process.
Despite the links to Wirtz, the Reds have also been linked with a move for Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez over the last few weeks, with a real emphasis on improving the club’s front line.
The Argentine has also impressed massively this campaign, registering 36 combined goals and assists, offering a versatile option that can play right across Slot’s frontline.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
He only joined the LaLiga outfit from Manchester City last summer, but could be on the move again, should any side agree to pay his lofty £126m release clause during the off-season.
Alvarez, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one journalist, has enjoyed the best year of his career, helping Diego Simeone’s side register a third-placed finish in Spain’s top-flight.
How Alvarez compares to Liverpool’s attackers & Wirtz (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Alvarez
Gakpo
Nunez
Diaz
Wirtz
Games played
37
35
30
36
31
Goals & assists
23
14
7
18
22
Goals per 90
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
Shot-on-target accuracy
51%
38%
38%
42%
47%
Shots on target per game
1.3
1
1
1.1
1.2
Take-on success
52%
50%
34%
45%
49%
Aerials won
40%
39%
37%
25%
20%
Stats via FBref
When delving into his underlying stats, he’s outperformed current Liverpool stars Gakpo, Diaz and Nunez, whilst also being a better option than Wirtz for the Reds.
He’s registered the most combined goal contributions, handing Slot the added dimension in attacking areas to give the side the best chance of retaining their title.
Alvarez has also managed a higher shot on target rate than the quartet, showcasing the clinical edge that he could provide the squad in 2025/26 should he complete a switch to Merseyside.
The £105m fee mooted for his services is certainly a huge investment, but one that could allow him to follow in the footsteps of Salah and become a fan-favourite under Slot.
alvarez-atletico-madrid
If he gets anywhere near close to the levels produced by the Egyptian, he will be a sensational signing, one that would allow Slot to have another deadly attacker at his disposal ahead of next season.
Slot's answer to Huijsen: Liverpool enquire about signing £74m "freak"
Liverpool would consider signing a centre-back this summer.
It is perhaps the worst-kept secret in football that Arsenal are trying to sign a new striker for Mikel Arteta this summer, following a 2024/2025 campaign marred by the struggle to break sides down as often as they should.
Arsenal search for new striker after disappointing 2024/2025
Arteta watched on from the sidelines as his Gunners side drew more Premier League games than any other side in the top half whilst scoring just 69 goals in the top flight, a far cry from the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two seasons.
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ByDominic Lund Jun 2, 2025
Major factors at play were the long-term injuries sustained by Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who were both sidelined for extended periods midway through the campaign, prompting Arteta to deploy Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role.
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
Arsenal’s lack of potency in the final third saw them surrender the Premier League title to Liverpool by a seismic 10 points, and sporting director Andrea Berta appears determined to ensure they don’t repeat that scenario next term.
According to reliable media sources, Berta’s two top striker targets for Arsenal are Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal began “concrete” talks for Sesko last week, and some reports in Portugal claimed that Gyokeres received a contract offer from Arsenal. The north Londoners appear to be laying groundwork over both deals before they formally move towards their best option, and the two frontmen have very enticing credentials.
That being said, there are alternative options under consideration, and one of them was Botafogo striker Igor Jesus.
Botafogo'sIgorJesuscelebrates scoring their second goal
Last month, Arsenal were reported to have made contact over a deal for Jesus, who actually has an £84 million release clause in his contract.
Igor Jesus "set to join" Nottingham Forest with Arsenal snubbed
However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal appear set to miss out on a move for the highly-rated Brazilian.
It is reported that Jesus is “now set to join” Nottingham Forest instead, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side closing in on a £30 million deal for the 24-year-old after opening talks. The striker was also attracting interest from Brentford, Everton, Leeds United, Newcastle, and West Ham, but Forest are now far out in pole position to secure his signature.
Arsenal have one less option to turn towards in the event they cannot strike deals for Sesko or Gyokeres, which comes as a minor setback for Berta considering Jesus’ glowing reputation.
“Igor Jesus has had an incredible year,” said journalist Zach Lowy in late 2024. “Started 2024 off on fire in the UAE, went back home after four years abroad, made his Brazil debut, started in each of their last four matches, led Botafogo to the greatest year in their entire history.
Chelsea’s capture of Liam Delap was Enzo Maresca’s first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window.
It will likely be the first of many as the Italian looks to sign high-profile stars that will improve his squad ahead of next season.
With Champions League football to look forward to for the first time since the 2022/23 season, Maresca is going to spend in order to be fully prepared for the group stages.
As such, the club have been linked with numerous attacking players in recent weeks. Hugo Ekitike is someone that the manager is keen on bringing to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup fixtures
Date
Opponent
Venue
Monday, June 16
Los Angeles
Mercedes-Benz stadium
Friday, June 20
Flamengo
Lincoln Financial Field
Tuesday, June 24
Esperance
Lincoln Financial Field
Via Chelseafc.com
He could cost around £84m, however, which may prove to be a stumbling block. Samu Aghehowa is another striker on Maresca’s list of targets, but he could cost roughly the same as Ekitike if Chelsea are serious about bringing him to London.
Wide options are also being targeted and Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens is a talent that the Blues are desperate to have before the start of next season.
How much would the German side demand for the Englishman to let him move to the Premier League?
The latest on Chelsea's pursuit of Jamie Gittens
Gittens has been linked with a move to Chelsea over the previous few weeks, and it appears the club are serious about signing him.
According to Ben Jacobs on Sunday, the Blues have had a bid rejected. He said on social media: “Understand Dortmund want around £42m for Jamie Gittens. Chelsea’s opening bid of £30m has been turned down but positive talks continue. Chelsea happy to wait until after the June 10 deadline if no breakthrough ahead of the Club World Cup.”
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
Less than a year ago, Gittens was hailed as the future of Dortmund and was looking to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
Since Nico Kovac took over as coach, however, the youngster has struggled to fit into his system, and it now appears they are looking to cash in on the winger.
Since making his debut for the club in the 2021/22 season, the 20-year-old has amassed over 100 competitive appearances.
A total of 31 goal contributions – 17 goals and 14 assists – have been registered in that period, establishing him as one of the most promising young wingers on the continent.
While landing a player of Gittens’ quality this summer, do the club need another wide option?
Maresca can already count on the likes of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Tyrique George and Mykhaylo Mudryk (when he returns from his suspension) to play on either wing.
Add in the fact that they have signed Sporting CP winger Geovany Quenda, it is evident that this area is rather stacked with players.
Instead of spending another £40m-£50m on someone like Gittens, no matter how talented he is, perhaps directing these funds to other areas of the squad should be deemed a bigger priority.
A new goalkeeper, for example.
Chelsea preparing to make move for new goalkeeper
It is no secret that the Blues have struggled to find a consistent number one goalkeeper in recent years.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy and Robert Sanchez have all held the position over the previous few years, but none truly convinced the supporters, with Kepa and Sanchez notably-error prone.
AC Milan's MikeMaignanreacts
As such, signing a new ‘keeper this summer should be what Maresca is focusing on.
Well, according to Sky Sports, the Blues have told AC Milan that they are willing to pay a transfer fee in the region of €15m (£12.6m) to secure the services of Mike Maignan.
It’s a fee that could get them close to completing a move with journalist Graeme Bailey reporting on the saga that the Blues now expect to sign the Frenchman in time for the Club World Cup.
The Milan number one has been with the club since the summer of 2021, making a total of 163 appearances for the Serie A side, notably impressing at club level and on the international stage, most recently against German in the Nations League.
If Maresca wishes to improve his options between the sticks, then signing the 29-year-old is clearly a must.
Why Mike Maignan would be a better signing than Jamie Gittens
The Blues have a plethora of wingers available to make an impression under Maresca but their goalkeeping department leaves plenty to be desired.
Last year, Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen were both used by Maresca. The Spaniard made 34 appearances, while Jorgensen played 23 times for the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Across his 34 games, the Spaniard kept just ten clean sheets, conceding 37 goals in the process. Jorgensen managed to keep only nine clean sheets while shipping 22 goals.
To summarise, the Blues need someone who could be the main choice under Maresca. A player that will win them points when the club aren’t playing well.
In that regard, Maignan is the ideal choice. He was hailed as “world-class” by writer Carlo Garganese in 2022 for a stunning performance against Inter Milan.
France's Kylian Mbappe, Jules Kounde andMikeMaignanduring the national anthems before the match
Across his 163 games for the Italian giants, Maignan has kept 59 clean sheets, working out as one every 2.7 games.
In the Italian top flight last season, the Frenchman made 2.7 saves per game – a 71% success rate – while also keeping 12 clean sheets, conceding 1.1 goals per game, was successful with 95% of his passes within his own half and averaged 46.5 touches per match.
When compared to his positional peers in Serie A, Maignan ranks in the top 10% for passes attempted per 90 (37.02), while also ranking in the top 7% for defensive actions outside his penalty area (1.86) per 90.
That last statistic is important, signifying that the 29-year-old plays quite far off his goal line in order to distribute the ball and stop opposition attacks.
Maignan is now the French number one and with Milan not in any European competition next season after an eighth-place finish in Serie A, joining Chelsea makes sense for all parties.
He will be able to establish himself as the number one ‘keeper at Stamford Bridge while playing in the Champions League once again.
Could they secure his services for a fee just north of £10m? It would be tough, but not impossible, that’s for sure. He could turn out to be a much better signing than Gittens should Maresca get a deal over the line.
Better than Delap: Chelsea step up move for £85m "monster in the making"
Chelsea are looking to improve their attacking options further
Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have been blessed with an abundance of world-class players in the past.
The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were unreal in the early 2000s, while Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez were the shining lights of the latter Arsène Wenger years.
However, on top of the bonafide stars, the Gunners also had more than their fair share of those who fell one or two rungs below, those who were still incredibly talented but are now seen as cult heroes more than anything else.
Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.
Theo Walcott would likely fall into the category for many fans, as while he never really fulfilled the potential so many believed he had, the former England international was still more than a handful, responsible for some iconic goals and was arguably the club’s best attacker for a season or two.
So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international who could be the Mikel Arteta’s own Walcott.
Arsenal transfer news
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented internationals touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Rodrygo and Mohammed Kudus.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is reportedly available for around £84m, which might be a fee worth paying, as in 51 games for Real Madrid this season, he has scored 14 goals and provided ten assists.
On the other hand, Kudus might prove even more challenging to pry away from West Ham United as, according to reports from last week, he has a release clause worth up to a staggering £120m in his current deal.
West Ham's Mohammed Kudus
Fortunately, another attacking talent has entered the frame for Arteta and Co: Anthony Elanga.
According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in the Nottingham Forest star ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.
The report claims that, alongside the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely.’
However, on top of dealing with the potential competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up a hefty fee of around £60m to get their man.
It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Elanga’s ability and the potential for him to improve further, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he could be their new Walcott.
Why Elanga would be Walcott 2.0
Okay, while there are certainly numerous reasons why Arsenal would want to, and probably should, sign Elanga this summer, let’s first address just why he could be the club’s new Walcott.
The first is that, like with the former Southampton gem, it would be another example of the Gunners signing an exciting and dynamic right-winger who can play in other positions from a fellow Premier League side.
Moreover, while the Swede is a fair bit older than the Englishman was when he moved to North London, the fact he’s still just 23 years old means there is plenty of time for him to further develop and grow in N5.
However, there is another, even more significant similarity between the two players: their pace.
While he was playing under Wenger, the former Arsenal star wasn’t always necessarily the most technical of footballers, but he was blisteringly quick, as shown by the Castol Football Index calculating his top speed to be 22.72 mph in March 2014, which converts to about 36.56 km/h.
In comparison, the Forest star reached an even higher speed of 22.78 mph this season, which is about 36.66 km/h, but did even better and hit 22.93 mph last season, which is around 36.91kmph.
Impressively, that is currently the fourth-fastest sprint since Premier League records began and more than justifies his statement that he’s “one of the fastest players in the league.”
Elanga’s 24/25
Appearances
43
Minutes
2752′
Goals
6
Assists
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.41
Minutes per Goal Involvement
152.88′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Finally, on top of being absurdly fast, the “special” talent, as dubbed by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, is also a potent threat, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in just 43 appearances, totalling 2752 minutes this season.
That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 152.88 minutes.
Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more attacking talent to the squad this summer, and someone who’s a genuine threat while also being incredibly fast sounds like just the player they should be signing.
He's like Mbappe: Arsenal submit offer to sign £68m "powerhouse"
The prolific international would be a sensational and game-changing signing for Arsenal.
Ask an Arsenal fan where the team need to improve this summer, and we reckon the majority would say attack.
After all, Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League this season with the best defence but scored 17 fewer goals than Champions Liverpool and three fewer than third-place Manchester City.
However, while the North Londoners seem to be making progress on deals to sign the likes of Christian Norgaard and Christian Mosquera, they have yet to make significant ground on a new winger or striker.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetain the stands before the match
Fortunately, the club have now been linked with another centre-forward, a world-class marksman who would be a better signing than Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal's striker search
Arsenal tend to find themselves embroiled in some kind of transfer saga every summer, with Declan Rice being the subject two years ago and Mikel Merino last summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This year, the saga has focused more on a position: a striker.
While there have been more than a handful of centre-forwards linked with the club in recent weeks and months, the two most significant have been Sesko and Gyokeres.
The former has been a long-term target for the Gunners, but with reports suggesting RB Leipzig now want between €80m-€100m for him, which is around £68m-£85m, the North Londoners’ interest seems to have cooled.
At the same time, the latter is currently in open conflict with Sporting CP over a supposed gentleman’s agreement that the club have broken, which in turn has seen his price soar up to £80m, per some reports.
With these problems present, it would make sense for the Gunners to look towards other targets, which appears to be what is happening.
At least that’s according to a recent report from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, who revealed that Arsenal are, in fact, interested in Julian Alvarez.
Speaking on the Latte Firm podcast, the respected journalist claimed that the North Londoners have “looked at” how they could do a deal for the Atlético Madrid superstar this summer.
Unfortunately, Mokbel does not believe it would be a deal the club is capable of doing, which may well be the case, as he only joined the Spanish giants for £82m last summer, and according to the CIES Football Observatory, he is now worth up to €125m, which is around £106m.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
With that said, even though it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, as Alvarez would be a better signing than Sesko and Gyokeres.
How Alvarez compares to Sesko and Gyokeres
So then, if we start by looking at the comparisons between Sesko and Alvarez, it’s really quite straightforward to understand why the latter would be a better signing for Arsenal than the former, and it almost entirely comes down to their respective output.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
For example, there is no denying that the Slovenian enjoyed a strong personal campaign with RB Leipzig this season, in which he scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3,258 minutes, which is an average of a goal or assist every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.
However, even with impressive numbers such as those, he was less effective than the Atlético star.
Alvarez vs Sesko in 24/25
Players
Alvarez
Sesko
Appearances
57
45
Minutes
3967′
3258′
Goals
29
21
Assists
8
6
Goal Involvements per Match
0.64
0.6
Minutes per Goal Involvement
107.21′
120.66′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In his 57 appearances for the Spanish giants, which totalled 3967 minutes, the “best forward in the world,” as dubbed by Argentine journalist Roy Nemer, scored 29 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to a sublime average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 107.21 minutes.
Okay then, what would make the former Manchester City star a better signing than Gyokeres, who ended this season with a haul of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games?
Well, in this case, the argument comes down to two interlocking reasons: the level of opposition and his experience.
Regarding that first reason, the Portuguese league is currently ranked as only the 11th best in world football according to Opta, and worse than that, 11 of the 18 teams in it are considered to be around League One level. In contrast, La Liga is the third best in the world.
Add to that the fact the Swedish international has never played in a top-five league, and the risk of signing him over someone with Premier League-winning experience becomes crystal clear.
Ultimately, Arsenal need to make sure they sign the right striker this summer, and Alvarez looks like he ticks all the boxes, even if it’ll prove tough to get him out of Madrid.
Arsenal have just announced something that's more exciting than Zubimendi
Arsenal unveiled a special announcement on Thursday.
Birmingham romp home in chase after spinners strangle Derbyshire batting effort
ECB Reporters Network16-Jun-2024
Dan Mousley produced a T20 career-best 66 not out•Getty Images
Birmingham Bears picked up a second win in three days to keep their place among the North Group contenders with a seven-wicket Vitality Blast victory over Derbyshire Falcons at the Incora County Ground.On a used pitch that yielded runs only reluctantly, the visitors restricted Derbyshire to 133 for 7, left-arm spinner Danny Briggs taking 2 for 23 with David Lloyd scoring 50 and Brooke Guest an unbeaten 38. Richard Gleeson took two wickets in the powerplay but it was the Bears spinners largely responsible for tying down Falcons.Derbyshire’s spinners threatened to do a similar job but Dan Mousley and Sam Hain (43) showed considerable patience and eventually reaped the rewards, their 93-run partnership across 13.3 overs effectively winning the match, Mousley closing it out with his seventh four with seven balls to spare.Having opted to bat first, Derbyshire suffered a setback when the in-form Aneurin Donald fell for just 2 but seemed to be heading for a satisfactory start until Gleeson removed Cam Fletcher and Wayne Madsen in the space of three balls in the last over of the powerplay to give Bears an early advantage.A boundary apiece from Guest and Lloyd off Jake Lintott’s opening over hinted at acceleration but Falcons’ progress was unspectacular at 65 for 3 from 10. Lloyd drove a soaring straight six off Lintott and repeated the blow against Briggs to complete a 36-ball half-century but was then caught aiming to clear the midwicket boundary.Samit Patel perished cheaply, pouched at backward point when he skied one from Briggs as the competition’s all-time leading wicket-taker on 229 dismissed his closest rival. At 103 for 5 from 16, Derbyshire had been properly strangled by Bears’ spinners. Mousley’s offspin was wicketless but conceded only 16 in his allocation.Ross Whiteley lifted Chris Woakes into the car park on the leg side but once the ball had been found Woakes promptly bowled him with a full delivery off an inside edge. The over cost 13 runs but was one of only three across the innings to yield a tally in double figures and, after Zak Chappell was run out in the last over, 133 looked too little.Daryn Dupavillon, the South African quick, angled one in to bowl Rob Yates with his fourth delivery. Mousley picked up three quick boundaries but Alex Davies, having uppercut Dupavillon for four and lifted Pat Brown for an audacious six on the leg side was caught at midwicket as Brown exacted instant revenge. Mousley slog-swept Madsen for six and the Bears were 50 for 2 from six.Patel and fellow spinner Mitch Wagstaff applied the brakes, conceding just 29 in six overs bowling in tandem, but with 55 needed after 12 overs, and eight wickets in hand, the Bears were still favourites, more so after Mousley and Hain plundered 21 from the next two before Mousley swept Patel to go to fifty from 42 balls.The requirement was down to six from 17 balls by the time Brown bowled Hain after a 42-ball innings containing only one boundary. Mousley cut Chappell for his seventh four to complete the win.
تحدث الدولي الفرنسي كيليان مبابي عن معادلة عدد أهداف الأسطورة تييري هنري مع منتخب فرنسا بعد هدفه أمام أوكرانيا في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم 2026 بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.
وعادل مهاجم ريال مدريد رصيد أسطورة آرسنال السابق بـ 51 هدفًا مع منتخب الديوك بعدما سجل هدفا رائعًا أمام أوكرانيا بالمباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات كأس العالم 2026.
وأصبح اللاعب البالغ من العمر 26 عامًا بفارق 6 أهداف عن الرقم القياسي لمنتخب فرنسا الذي يحمله أوليفييه جيرو والذي يبلغ 57 هدفًا.
وقال مبابي، في تصريحات نقلتها شبكة “بي بي سي سبورت”: “أشيد بتيتي (هنري)، ولكنني الآن أريد أن أتفوق عليه”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ديمبلي: لم أكن محظوظًا في برشلونة.. ولن أتوقف عن تناول الهامبرجر والبيتزا
وأكمل: “إنه لشرف لي أن أعادل لاعبًا مثل هنري، فالجميع يعلم ما يعنيه لنا نحن الفرنسيين وخاصةً للمهاجمين، إنه شخص مهد الطريق لنا وأكن له احترامًا وإعجابًا كبيرًا”.
وأضاف: “الرقم القياسي يقترب لكنني لا أفكر فيه، لا أعلم إن كان عدم تفكيري بسبب اعتقادي بأنني قادر على تحطيمه أم لأن هناك أمورًا أهم”.
وأتم: “الوصول إلى هذا الإنجاز وأنا في سن الـ 26 من عمري أمر جنوني لكنني أحبه، أريد الاستمرار والأهم من ذلك الفوز بالمباريات والألقاب”.
216-run stand with Luis Reece sets up cruise to nine-wicket victory
ECB Reporters Network27-Jul-2024
Harry Came latches onto a pull•David Rogers/Getty Images
Harry Came scored a maiden List A hundred as Derbyshire moved to the top of Group A in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a thumping nine-wicket victory over Middlesex at Derby.Derbyshire’s second win in the competition was set up by Came and Luis Reece, 88, who shared an opening stand of 216 off 202 balls. Came was unbeaten on 110 from 130 balls as Derbyshire reached their target of 267 with seven overs to spare to condemn Middlesex to a second defeat.Joe Cracknell top-scored for Middlesex with 56 but the loss of three wickets in 19 balls undermined them before Martin Anderrson, 46, and the lower order lifted the total to 267, with Daryn Dupavillon taking 3 for 47.After being put in, Middlesex had looked on course for a more substantial total until a middle-order collapse forced them to regroup in the second half of the innings. Sam Robson appeared set before Sam Conners found some late movement to have him caught behind for 32 off 28 balls in the 10th over.Cracknell struggled initially but a pulled six off Conners got him going although he was dropped at slip off Dupavillon on 33. England Under-19 fast bowler Harry Moore again impressed with his control and he got one to lift to have Nathan Fernandes caught behind in the 17th over.Cracknell reached his 50 from 74 balls by lifting Reece over midwicket for his fifth four and with Mark Stoneman starting confidently, Middlesex were well placed at 117 for 2. But Stoneman then flashed at a wide ball from Dupvaillon and Jack Davies skied a pull to deep midwicket before Cracknell missed a sweep at Samit Patel to reduce the visitors to 131 for 5.Andersson and Luke Hollman had to temper aggression with the need to get their side up to a competitive score and they worked the ball around to add 61 from 77 balls. The return of Moore broke the stand when Hollman cut him to point but Josh De Caires helped Anderrson push Middlesex towards 250.He put a dent in Patel’s figures by launching him over long off for six but the Derbyshire skipper responded by bowling Andersson as he made room to cut. De Caires made 23 from 19 balls before he pulled Zak Chappell to deep midwicket but Middlesex were back in the game.To have a chance of building on the recovery, they had to bowl well from the start but both Noah Cornwell and Blake Cullen conceded five wides in their opening overs. Reece climbed into Cullen’s second over, pulling him into the car park and whipping him over the ropes at long leg before driving the last ball past mid off for four.Ethan Bamber also gave away five wides in his first over and Reece and Came sailed along serenely at six an over with Middlesex struggling to contain them. Reece reached his 50 from 48 balls and Came brought up his half-century off 72 by pulling Cornwell for his sixth four.Stoneman rotated his bowlers to no avail as the openers did much as they pleased with Came straight driving Hollman for six in the 30th over. The stand was finally broken when Reece was lbw sweeping Hollman but Came reached his century off 116 balls as Derbyshire cruised home in the early evening sunshine.
With Newcastle United now confident that they’ll sign Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest have reportedly entered the race to sign his replacement in a deal worth over £50m.
Newcastle optimistic about Elanga deal
After rejecting Newcastle’s initial offer, some around the City Ground may have been hopeful that would be the end of the Magpies’ chase to sign Elanga, but that has proved to be far from the case. Instead, the Magpies have reportedly returned with an offer worth £55m and are now optimistic that they’ll secure the Swede’s signature, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Given the importance of Elanga in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side last season, it would be an undeniable blow if Forest were to lose the winger to Newcastle this summer. As ever though, their attention is likely to turn towards incomings of their own.
Already, those in the Midlands have welcomed a fresh attacking boost in the form of Botafogo star Igor Jesus and now they could shift their focus towards other reinforcements.
After putting pen to paper, Jesus told Forest’s official website: “I’m really happy to be a part of this new story, especially at a club like Nottingham Forest.
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“I didn’t have to think twice about the offer, I embraced it. I embraced the project that they sent me. I am delighted to be coming here and hope to do some great work. I will do my very best to achieve great results and bring joy to all the Forest family.”
With Jesus secure and Elanga potentially leaving, reports are now suggesting that Forest’s efforts have turned towards a winger who’s worth over £50m this summer.
Nottingham Forest join race to sign Lookman
According to reports in Spain, Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, who are set to demand as much as €60m (£52m) to sell their star man this summer. Joined by Atletico Madrid and Midlands rivals Aston Villa in the battle for the Nigerian winger, Forest will hope that the funds gained by potentially selling Elanga are enough to jump ahead of their competitors.
Losing Elanga but replacing him with Lookman could quickly prove to be an act of genius by all involved at Nottingham Forest. The latter enjoyed a sensational season in Italy last time out, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, and could finally prove any doubters wrong in the Premier League following tough spells at Everton, Fulham and Leicester City.
Full of praise, former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini told reporters last season: “Lookman became a fantastic player when he improved his perception of the team. He used to have a more individual approach.
“He wasn’t a bad guy, but he mostly focused on the individual. He made Atalanta great, and Atalanta made him great. I am convinced he can be the captain before the end of the season.”