Santiago Gimenez took to social media earlier this week and revealed that he has been battling an ankle injury for the past six months. The Mexican international, who has scored just one goal in all competitions for AC Milan this season, has confirmed that he will spend the rest of the year on the treatment table, hoping to return to his best version upon his return.
Gimenez reveals battle with ankle problems amid Milan goal drought
Gimenez has broken his silence, revealing on social media that he has been battling an ankle problem for weeks – an issue that has finally forced him onto the sidelines. The Mexican striker, who was withdrawn during the second half of the match against Atalanta and missed last weekend’s clash against Roma, admitted the injury has significantly affected his recent performances. He confirmed that he will now take time off to undergo treatment, though he stopped short of giving a specific timeline for his return.
Gimenez hasn't had an ideal start to life at the San Siro since his arrival from Feyenoord in January earlier this year. He has scored just seven goals in 30 games. This season, he has netted just once in 11 games across all competitions. Despite his lack of effectiveness in front of goal, Rossoneri head coach Massimiliano Allegri has continued to defend Gimenez.
“Santiago is a fundamental piece of this team,” Allegri said after the Juventus game in September. “He gives us structure – the way he connects play, holds up the ball, and presses from the front is vital. The goals will come, but what he brings goes well beyond statistics.
“Giménez played really well today. He worked hard, created spaces, and even forced a penalty. I took him off thinking [Rafael] Leao could give us a different spark, but Santi didn’t deserve to come out.”
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Gimenez's statement: 'The time has come to stop'
Taking to social media, the former Feyenoord forward wrote: "For several months I've been playing with an ankle injury that hasn't allowed me to be 100% fit or feel comfortable on the pitch. With determination, I continued to help the team, I continued to play, but the pain increased: the time has come to stop. Now I have to focus on my recovery and prepare to be back with you as soon as possible. God is in control. Thank you for your support, see you soon!"
Milan surprised by Gimenez's medical statement
Inside Milan, however, there’s less alarm. Since joining AC Milan after a demanding summer with Mexico at the Gold Cup, the 24-year-old frontman has struggled to hit peak condition, a factor that has mirrored his modest form – just one goal in the Coppa Italia so far.
Still, questions linger. It’s uncommon for a player to personally announce a significant injury and suspension before an official club statement, and it seems at odds with coach Allegri’s typically cautious approach to player management. The timing also raises eyebrows: Milan are entering a decisive stretch of fixtures to secure their league position and prepare for the Supercoppa Italia in December.
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Milan reportedly eyeing alternatives in January
With the January transfer window approaching, Gimenez’s absence could reignite discussions about reinforcing the attack. Milan’s management remains alert to market opportunities; ironically, just months after the striker himself was linked to a possible swap deal with Roma. Allegri has employed Rafael Leao as a centre-forward in a two-man attack alongside Gimenez, but his latest action could lead Milan to eye alternatives in the upcoming transfer window. Reports have claimed that Milan are monitoring out-of-favour Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, while a swap deal with Roma's Artem Dovbyk is another option, too.
However, Gimenez doesn't seem to be in any mood to leave Milan just one year after joining them, having reiterated his desire to mark an era at the San Siro. “As a striker, you have to score goals. In the last few games, I’ve had chances, but the ball just wasn’t going in. The important thing is that one goes in so the others can follow," he said in January.
"As a child, I dreamed of playing for AC Milan. I'm in my dream team, and I want to fulfill my dreams wearing this jersey. I never thought about leaving."
Liverpool have ebbed and flowed this season, but the Reds fanbase will expect Arne Slot’s side to bury the three-game losing run that chased them into the October international break and start performing with the coherence and quality of champions.
After all, the Merseysiders breezed their way through the 2024/25 campaign, winning the Premier League title with relative ease after Jurgen Klopp stepped down from his post.
But so much upheaval this summer was always going to knock things out of kilter.
Liverpool’s attacking synergy has been anything but smooth this season, even with an excess of world-class quality welcomed down Anfield Road, even with Hugo Ekitike firing on all cylinders since joining and reminding Alexander Isak his berth at number nine is anything but secure.
But with things not quite right on the attacking right flank, rumours have circulated pertaining to interest in Bournemouth superstar Antoine Semenyo, whose form this term suggests he would be a credit to any side across Europe.
Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo
For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has been a gift from the gods.
But nothing lasts forever, and the Egyptian King is into the penultimate year of his £400k-per-week contract. He is 33 years old, and his performances haven’t been good enough this season.
It’s with this in mind that Liverpool have focused their sights on Bournemouth’s Semenyo, who has been among the most prolific wingers in Europe so far this season, six goals and three assists across seven matches in the Premier League.
Valued at £75m, Bournemouth are aware of Liverpool’s interest, with sources reporting this month that the 25-year-old is at the top of Richard Hughes’ wish list.
However, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also hot on the Ghana international’s tail.
Semenyo’s multi-positionality is an attractive feature of his. Dangerous across the left wing and right, he is a menace of a footballer and hailed by one Premier League analyst this season as being “one of the best players in the world” at the moment.
Right winger
23
10 (2)
Left winger
23
7 (6)
Centre-forward
1
1 (0)
Bournemouth’s £75m valuation is a reflection of that market value. Semenyo, to be sure, would cost a pretty penny.
But Liverpool might manage to save millions. Sure, a Salah replacement will be required in the coming transfer windows, but Slot already has a Semenyo-type player at his disposal.
Liverpool's own version of Semenyo
Semenyo is a rare type of forward, two-footed and confident across a range of different attacking roles. It is no coincidence that the rise and rise of Andoni Iraola’s outfit has coincided with his own.
He would strengthen Liverpool’s team, no doubt, but Slot might actually already have his own version of the maverick in the young Rio Ngumoha.
Handed his professional debut during the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley in January 2025, Ngumoha excelled as an up-and-comer at Liverpool last season, poached, aged 15, from Chelsea’s youth academy despite his prodigious potential.
The winger’s long-time youth coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, said “he can reach any level he wants”, having been awed many a time over the years by Ngumoha’s pace and power and confidence on the ball.
Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha
He said, “I don’t say it lightly, he is one of the best academy talents I have come across, and I have seen some top players become superstars. What makes him stand out is his one-v-one ability on the ball – he can break lines, drive at players, beat players on either side and end product.
“I told his brother I expect him to see him on the Ballon d’Or list one day, I believe he can do that.”
One online youth football promoter has even gone as far as to claim that Ngumoha “will become one of the best wingers in the world”. Early days, early days, but the teenager has the talent, and each passing performance merely adds grist to the hype mill.
The hype is real, and Ngumoha’s match-winning goal at St. James’ Park in August, on his Premier League debut, has only increased the fanfare around the 17-year-old’s potential.
Direct and dynamic with startling close control on the ball, Ngumoha has all the skills required to become a superstar, and his natural potency and the trust Slot has shown in him already this season tell much of his potential.
Ngumoha’s height was recorded at 5 foot 7 at the start of the season, but his physical growth continues, and it’s becoming clear he will not be a diminutive wideman but a force to be reckoned with, Lamine Yamal-esque, even, as his winged feet carry him up and down the flank, leaving defenders for dust.
That crucial goal against Newcastle United at the start of the season also emphasises a positional understanding and coolness in the big moments, and this is something Semenyo has added to his game spectacularly across the past few months.
The Cherries star was already considered one of the best wingers in the business for his efforts last year, with Tottenham lodging an enquiry for the talent this summer, rebuffed upon the south coast side’s £70m demands.
If he keeps on playing as he is, that figure might prove to be a bargain down the line, but with such thick competition for his signature, Liverpool might want to hold fire and instead continue the emphasis on developing Ngumoha, who is the real deal and could play with a frightening quality and control in a couple of years, when he reaches physical and technical maturity.
Better than Semenyo: Liverpool plot bid for "one of the best RWs in the world"
Liverpool need to begin plans to replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing.
Both sides confirmed their XIs with Australia opting for three frontline quicks on a surface with a few unknowns
Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan24-Jun-20252:57
Cummins: ‘Iconic’ Barbados, Konstas impressing, team reset
Big picture: Resets all-round in BarbadosThe prevailing northeast trade winds are a constant in beautiful Barbados but the winds of change have swept through both the West Indies team and Australia as they begin a new World Test Championship cycle in Bridgetown.West Indies have not played Test cricket since January in Pakistan and begin the cycle under a new captain in Roston Chase after Kraigg Brathwaite stepped down. Extraordinarily, Chase has not played a Test match since March 2023, having not played in West Indies’ last 13.He leads a new-look squad which, for the opening Test, sees a debut for Brandon King and returns for John Campbell and Shai Hope – the latter as wicketkeeper – for the first time since 2022 and 2021 respectively.Related
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'Emotions got to me' – Konstas keen to settle into Test cricket
Meanwhile, veteran Kemar Roach was left out of the squad entirely despite playing in each of West Indies’ last three series. Joshua da Silva could not earn a recall either on account of his Gabba heroics against Australia and a recent run spree in the West Indies Championship, with selectors holding firm after dropping him in Pakistan. There are only three survivors from West Indies’ previous Test: Brathwaite, Justin Greaves and Jomel Warrican.Australia’s “reset” is not quite as extreme following the disappointment of the WTC final loss to South Africa just two weeks ago, but it is significant by their standards. For the first time since December 2018, they will field an XI without either Marnus Labuschagne or Steven Smith on the team sheet.The selectors finally lost patience with Labuschagne and he has been dropped for first time in six years having been a mainstay of Australia’s top three for 53 consecutive Tests. Smith had played 51 in a row before his gruesome finger injury ruled him out of the first Test of this series. He is a chance to return for the second.It means Australia do not have a single batter in the squad remaining from the last Test Australia played in the Caribbean in 2015, when Smith made 199 and 54 not out. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are the only others to have played Test cricket in the Caribbean.Australia confirmed five days out that Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis will play in Barbados to change the age profile of the side. But they will still only field two players under 30.Australia rarely undertake full-scale reboots, and it is understandable they have not made sweeping changes following Lord’s given they have lost just one of their past seven Tests and did not lose a multi-Test series during the previous WTC cycle. But they cannot afford a slow start to the new cycle with an inexperienced top six and an aging attack, given they have away tours to South Africa and India in this WTC schedule as well as an Ashes series later in the year.Form guideWest Indies: WLLWL Australia: LWWWWShamar Joseph starred the last time the teams met in Test cricket•Getty Images
In the spotlight: Shamar Joseph and Sam KonstasShamar Joseph’s star looked set to explode on the global stage after he carried West Indies to an astonishing Test victory at the Gabba last year. But with the exception of his 5 for 33 against South Africa in August, he has not quite reached the heights that were expected of him. He was named West Indies’ Test player of the year at an awards ceremony in Bridgetown on Sunday night but he has not played Test cricket since November and has hardly played at all due to injury and non-selection in West Indies’ white-ball teams. He bowled 31 overs and claimed just three wickets across two innings for West Indies A against South Africa A in early June. The arrival of Australia should give him a boost of confidence given the way he bowled to them 18 months ago.Similarly outlandish expectations have fallen on Sam Konstas’ slender shoulders following his spectacular Test debut last Boxing Day against Jasprit Bumrah. But he has only played one Test since and his Sheffield Shield returns were lean at the back end of the summer, with his batting causing some consternation among coaches and selectors. He has not played a game of cricket at any level since March and has a first-class average of just 34.89 from 30 innings with only two centuries. Yet Australia’s selectors are convinced he is the man to walk out alongside Usman Khawaja in the hope that they can end the revolving door of openers Australia have had since David Warner retired. Konstas is expected to play all three Tests in the Caribbean no matter what, with a view to getting valuable experience ahead of the Ashes.Team news: Hope to keep wicket, Kuhnemann misses outThe significant call made by West Indies was to make Shai Hope wicketkeeper on his return to the side which opens up a spot for another allrounder. Brandon King will make his debut at No. 4. The bowling attack is as expected.West Indies: 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 John Campbell, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Brandon King, 5 Roston Chase (capt), 6 Shai Hope (wk), 7 Justin Greaves, 8 Jomel Warrican, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Shamar Joseph, 11 Jayden SealesAustralia opted to retain their traditional balance of three frontline quicks and a spinner supplemented by Beau Webster who can provide medium pace and offspin. Josh Inglis will cover for Smith at No. 4.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditions: Dry grass, may turn laterKensington Oval is an unknown for both sides in some respects given it has hosted just one Test in six years and none in the last three. In that game in 2022, Brathwaite batted for 710 minutes in a draw that arguably was a catalyst for England’s Bazball revolution. This surface looked an interesting one with a mixture of bare patches and areas of more grass, although it was dried out. In this season’s four-day Championship there were only two totals over 300 in 12 completed innings. After some rain in the build-up the forecast is promising for most of the game, with Saturday looking the mostly like to be hit by thunderstorms and showers. Chase termed it a “typical” Barbados surface and expected it to start slow before maybe gathering some pace.Stats and trivia Roston Chase’s first Test as captain will be his 50th overall; Jomel Warrican will be playing his 100th first-class match Kraigg Brathwaite and Nathan Lyon are the only members of the two XIs that played in the last West Indies-Australia Bridgetown Test in 2012 which Australia won by three wickets. Australia have played 11 Tests in Bridgetown. They have won four overall including the last three. Despite the drought-breaking Gabba victory in 2024, West Indies have not won a home Test against Australia since the world-record fourth innings chase in 2003. They have not won a home series against Australia since 1991.Quotes”Coming over here with a few unknowns, that’s fine, you have to think on your feet. We feel like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket.” “We’re looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game. And we’re just looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. I just want to ask the fans to just support the boys through and through.”
Prolific county seamer could be in contention for Zimbabwe Test next month as selectors expand pace stocks
Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Apr-20251:05
Should we expect to see Sam Cook in England’s Test squad?
Sam Cook’s wait for a Test debut could be coming to an end. The seamer has been rested for Essex’s upcoming County Championship clash at home to Worcestershire, with a view to playing in England’s opening Test this summer against Zimbabwe next month.Cook boasts 318 first-class wickets at an average of 19.77, and has long been on England’s radar without ever earning a cap. That now looks set to change with Essex collaborating with England to manage the 27-year old’s workloads ahead of the one-off fixture with Zimbabwe, which begins on May 22 at Trent Bridge.It was at the same venue last week that Cook took five wickets in a draw with Nottinghamshire, including 4 for 44 in the first innings, with men’s managing director Rob Key in attendance. Though it may seem overly cautious to rest Cook after just two rounds of the Essex’s Division One campaign, he has already bowled 75 overs across four innings, taking his seven wickets at 28.42. His domestic tally for the club is now 301 dismissals at 18.30.The right-armer came close to debuting last summer, only for a hamstring injury to rule him out of contention for the three-match Test series against West Indies. Now, injuries to others provide a clearer route into the squad, both for Zimbabwe and the five-Test series against India, although he could yet be vying for a spot with the 22-year-old fast bowler Sonny Baker, who was handed a development contract in February, and has been rested by the ECB for Hampshire’s home match against Somerset this week.Mark Wood and Olly Stone are ruled out until the end of July, while there remains uncertainty over Brydon Carse’s recovery from a toe issue. Chris Woakes is also dealing with an ankle issue. Dillon Pennington, the Nottinghamshire seamer who featured in England’s Test squads last summer, is also out of action for the time being with a side strain.Surrey’s Gus Atkinson is in line for his first appearance of the season this week, with Josh Tongue returning for Nottinghamshire after resting for the second round. The squad for the opening Test will be selected in the next two weeks, and no players will be called back early from the IPL.Despite Cook’s injury at the end of last May against Kent, he finished the 2024 season with 43 wickets at 17.30. And he restated his case over the winter on an England Lions tour of Australia, taking 13 wickets including 3 for 58 in the unofficial Test against Australia A.Sam Cook has been an outstanding performer for Essex since 2017, but hasn’t yet broken into the England Test team•Getty Images
His presence alone on that trip impressed selectors, having spurned Lions commitments the previous winter to focus on honing his white-ball skills at the Abu Dhabi T10 and SA20. This time, his priorities flipped.”I give him a lot of credit – he gave up going to franchise cricket to prove his point in the Lions,” England selector Luke Wright said on the latest Sky Cricket podcast. “It’s great when we get the players that want to do that, because we get a lot of guys that turn us down for franchise cricket. So, when you get players like him who get away from just the money side of it and prove their point, that’s exactly what you want as a selector.”Despite not being on the ECB’s central contract list, Cook has had regular conversations with the management, particularly as to where he sits in their bowling stocks. The recent onus on bolstering the battery of quicks has seen Atkinson, Josh Hull and Carse handed debuts since the start of last summer, while Baker’s development contract was earned through his exploits on that same Lions tour.However, the desire for a balanced attack means Cook’s skills have him in a separate queue, vying with Woakes and Matthew Potts for the “mid-to-low” 80mph seamer slot, following James Anderson’s retirement.Ahead of the Ashes, Cook’s recent work in Australia highlighted his red-ball skills, transferring them from the regular Dukes ball to the newly designed Kookaburra with a more prominent wide seam. He showcased as much last season when taking 23 wickets with the latter across four rounds of the County Championship.”We have never not thought about Sam Cook,” Wright said. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve spoken to Sam Cook a lot. Each time we picked someone else out of County Cricket, you know, we picked the phone up to Sam Cook to sort of explain why.”It was explaining to Cooky that you’re competing with the likes of Woakes or Potts and those guys you want in a varied attack. They’re certainly those guys that are bowling with high skill, not necessarily 85-plus, but they’ve still got a definite part to play in a bowling attack. And people like Sam, Woakesy are going to be massive going into Australia.”Though Essex will miss Cook, even with Sri Lankan quick Kasun Rajitha recruited for their next five matches, they should benefit in the long term from England’s vested interest in their premier seamer. Cook’s contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the summer, and concrete international recognition will likely prevent him joining the litany of bowlers who have recently moved to Test match venues in a bid to further their England causes.
Everton’s summer has been one of change, ambition, and a clear attempt to rebuild under David Moyes.
The return of the former West Ham boss has ushered in a new era at Goodison Park, with the Toffees eager to put a difficult few seasons behind them.
The club marked their first competitive match at the newly opened Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2-0 win against Brighton, where marquee signing Jack Grealish produced two assists in a sparkling debut.
Everton star Jack Grealish
That victory was followed up by another 2-0 triumph in the EFL Cup against Mansfield Town, underlining the positive early momentum.
The only blemish came on the opening day of the Premier League season, when Everton slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at a raucous Elland Road against Leeds United.
Moyes has wasted little time reshaping his squad, recruiting a blend of proven quality and youthful promise.
Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joined from Chelsea, and Tyler Dibling was finally secured from Southampton.
Yet the Everton manager has made clear his intention to add further reinforcements before Monday’s deadline, with midfield depth a particular priority.
Everton turn to new midfielder
That urgency stems from the loss of several senior players in recent months.
Ashley Young, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all departed, leaving gaps in the squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As speculation continues around further arrivals, Everton’s focus has now turned to a familiar face for their manager – a player he knows well and trusts implicitly.
Earlier this week, reports indicated that the Toffees had made a bid to sign West Ham star Tomas Soucek, but it was rejected.
Despite that, he would allegedly “jump at the chance” to sign for the club. That’s according to former Everton scout Bryan King.
Soucek, now 30, has been a mainstay in the Premier League since his arrival from Slavia Prague in 2020.
Over his time at the London Stadium, he has amassed 42 goals and 13 assists in 248 appearances, underlining his knack for arriving in the box and chipping in with crucial contributions.
He was also a central figure in West Ham’s famous Conference League triumph over Fiorentina, lifting the trophy in his native Prague.
Why Soucek is an upgrade on Doucouré
The move makes sense on multiple fronts.
Everton are light in midfield following Doucouré’s exit, and Soucek represents a ready-made solution who can slot into Moyes’ system immediately.
The comparison between Soucek and Doucoure is unavoidable. Doucouré, who joined Everton from Watford in 2020, became a fan favourite at Goodison Park.
His 21 goals and 14 assists in 166 appearances included some unforgettable moments, none bigger than the goal against Bournemouth on the final day of the 2022/23 season that kept Everton in the Premier League.
But having left for Saudi Pro League side Neom S.C. on a free transfer this summer, his departure has left Moyes searching for a like-for-like replacement.
One who could match his energy, athleticism, and threat. Soucek not only offers those traits but statistically provides an upgrade in several key areas.
Standing at 1.92m, he gives Everton a significant aerial advantage. According to FBref, he averaged 3.47 aerials won per 90 last season compared to Doucouré’s 1.05.
His physical presence also translates into defensive contribution, with 1.44 blocks per 90 compared to Doucouré’s 1.09, and slightly more tackles in the midfield third (0.81 vs 0.70).
In attacking output, the gap widens further. Last season, Soucek registered ten goal involvements, double that of Doucouré’s five.
He also took more shots per 90 (1.93 vs 1.09) and placed a higher percentage on target (30.9% vs 29.0%).
His ability to get into scoring positions is highlighted by his superior shot volume, while his long stride and late runs into the box often catch defenders unprepared.
Passing remains one area where Doucouré held the edge, completing more progressive carries (42 vs 9) and slightly more passes per 90 (25.4 vs 25.1) at a higher completion rate (80.3% vs 73.8%).
But Soucek compensates with his greater progressive passing distance per 90 (113.0 vs 79.1), demonstrating his tendency to move the ball forward into dangerous areas rather than recycling possession.
Perhaps the clearest indication of Soucek’s suitability for Moyes’ Everton lies in his reliability.
While Doucouré provided moments of brilliance, the Czech’s consistency, durability, and adaptability make him an ideal option to anchor Everton’s midfield in the seasons ahead.
His statistical profile suggests he can match, and in many cases exceed, what Doucouré offered, all while fitting seamlessly into a Moyes blueprint that values structure, pressing, and aerial dominance.
Matches Played
35
33
Starts
31
30
Goals
9
3
Assists
1
2
Progressive Carries
9
42
Progressive Passes
74
82
For Everton, signing the West Ham man would represent more than just replacing a departed player.
It would be a statement of intent – bringing in a proven Premier League performer who can offer immediate impact and leadership at a crucial juncture.
With Monday’s transfer deadline fast approaching, all eyes will be on whether the Toffees can get this deal over the line.
New Deulofeu: Everton enter race to sign "immense" £30m O'Brien upgrade
Everton are looking to sign a right-back before the summer transfer window slams shut.
After missing out on Facundo Buonanotte to Chelsea, Leeds United have now reportedly re-opened talks to sign a priority target before the transfer window slams shut.
Chelsea hijack Leeds' Buonanotte move
Just like Igor Paixao earlier this summer, Leeds are set to miss out on an attacking reinforcement at the death. This time, it’s Chelsea who have jumped ahead of them in brutal fashion to close in on a deal to sign Buonanotte from Brighton & Hove Albion. The news leaves those at Elland Road back to square one and still in need of additions.
Just where Leeds go from here is the big question. The 49ers have just two days to welcome alternative options and complete a squad that must be good enough to avoid the drop.
So far, Leeds have welcomed as many as 10 signings, with the latest arrival being James Justin from Leicester City. Once again, though, he will boost Daniel Farke’s backline rather than add some much-needed goals to his side.
The defender told Leeds’ official website after putting pen to paper: “Obviously to join a club of this size and to have the history it has had, and being back in the Premier League was a massive thing for me, so I’m over the moon to have joined.
“Everyone that I’ve spoken to about the club and the area has had great things to say about it. So I’m excited to join the lads and get to work.
Whilst Justin is a welcome arrival, Leeds have continued their search for an attacking reinforcement and have reportedly turned back towards one of their main targets.
Leeds re-open El Khannouss talks
According to Leeds United News, Leeds have now re-opened talks to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester this week. The attacking midfielder just missed out on a move to Crystal Palace after they decided to sign Yeremy Pino instead. Although that would have been a disappointment for him, it has seemingly allowed Elland Road chiefs to swoop back in for their priority target.
Dubbed a “fantastic talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, El Khannouss was a rare bright spark in a relegated Leicester side last season and could now provide Leeds’ attack with that same spark.
Leeds eyeing £75k-p/w Premier League playmaker who's a lot like Buonanotte
The Whites may have landed a late boost in the transfer market.
BySean Markus Clifford Aug 30, 2025
With their attacking problems clear for all to see, the 49ers must back Leeds one final time to welcome a talent like El Khannouss before the deadline.
Are Rangers on course for a return to the Champions League?
Having already dumped out Panathinaikos in the previous round, the Gers demolished Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Tuesday night; new hero Djeidi Gassama scored twice, while Cyriel Dessers converted a penalty in first half stoppage time.
Thus, Russell Martin’s side will take a commanding lead to Stadion města Plzně next Tuesday, now likely to face Club Brugge in the play-off round, after the Belgian outfit beat Red Bull Salzburg 1-0 away from home in their first leg on Wednesday.
Even though the Light Blues have both Champions League and Scottish Premiership commitments during a very busy August, they remain active in the transfer market too, so could they sign a “talented” youngster from a Premier League giant?
Rangers continuing to reinforce
So far this summer, Rangers have made nine new signings, most recently bringing in Oliver Antman for a reported fee of £4m on Monday.
24 hours later, the Finnish international was thrown in for his debut against Viktoria Plzeň and certainly impressed, posing a constant threat all night, with European scouting expert Joost van der Leij asserting that they “robbed the living daylights out of Go Ahead Eagles”, getting such a high-quality player at a bargain price.
One position Martin has not yet strengthened is his goalkeepers, failing in attempts to sign Carl Rushworth from Brighton and Aaron Ramsdale from the new manager’s former club Southampton.
Thus, as reported by Dominik Schneider of FußballTransfers, Rangers “have joined the race” to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein, with Sevilla amongst those also interested.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The 23-year-old finds himself third-choice in North London, behind David Raya and new signing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Last summer, manager Mikel Arteta stated that the youngster “needs to play games”, adding that he has “big potential and a big future ahead of him”, with Hein subsequently loaned out to Real Valladolid, so another loan move, this time to Govan, could be on the cards.
How Karl Hein would improve Rangers
Hein joined Arsenal from Meistriliiga side Nõmme United back in 2018, but has only featured once for the Gunners at senior level since then, starting a Carabao Cup tie against Brighton in November 2022.
He endured a pretty underwhelming loan spell at Reading earlier that year, appearing just five times for the Royals at EFL Championship level, but took a gigantic leap forward in his development in Spain last season.
During that aforementioned loan spell at Real Valladolid, Hein was their starting goalkeeper, racking up 32 appearances, earning plenty of praise for his performances, even though los Blanquivioletas finished rock-bottom of the table.
Minutes
2,790
13th
Goals conceded
68
1st
Post-shot xG faced
58.8
1st
Saves
96
4th
Crosses stopped
34
5th
High claims
28
6th
Errors leading to a goal
1
19th
Passes attempted
941
6th
As the table outlines, while Hein did concede more goals than anyone else in La Liga last season, he did face the most expected goals too, given that Valladolid were largely hopeless, and other statistics make for more encouraging reading.
He ranked fourth for saves and fifth in terms of crosses stopped, making just one error resulting in an opposition goal.
Also, despite his lack of club experience, Hein does boast plenty at international level, having already accumulated 39 caps for Estonia since his debut five years ago, starting 22 of the Blueshirts’ last 23 competitive fixtures.
Chris Wheatley of the Sporting News labelled him a “talented goalkeeper”, while Josh James of Arsenal.com documents his ‘rapid development’, praising his ‘laser-like focus’ on improving every single day.
Meantime, following Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Valladolid last August, President Florentino Pérez praised the opposition’s “very good goalkeeper”, making six saves that afternoon at the Bernabéu.
So, could he become the latest loan star to arrive at Rangers from a Premier League giant and shine?
Well, the most recent player to do this was Ryan Kent, who impressed to such an extent during his loan period from Liverpool in 2018/19 that the Gers paid a reported fee of £7.5m to make the deal permanent, the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history, only surpassed by the £12m splashed to sign Tore André Flo in 2000.
Most expensive SPFL signings (timeless) Rangers Celtic
Kent would go on to make 218 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring 33 goals and registering 56 assists, winning the Premiership title and a Scottish Cup, also a pivotal figure in the team that reached the Europa League Final in Seville.
Well, if Hein went on to have even half as successful a career as that in Glasgow, his signature would represent quite the coup.
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Rangers reportedly made an approach to sign a wing wizard who could be exciting alongside Djeidi Gassama.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is reportedly "working hard with Arsenal coach" to improve two key weaknesses after losing his starting spot to Riccardo Calafiori. The teenage academy graduate had been thrown into the deep end during an injury crisis, cementing himself as Mikel Arteta’s surprise first-choice left-back. He racked up 15 league starts in the second half of last season, dazzled in the Champions League quarter-finals by keeping Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo quiet, and even scored on his England debut under Thomas Tuchel.
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But football can be brutal. Fast-forward to now, and the 18-year-old finds himself demoted to the bench, his role reduced to late cameos while Calafiori has stormed ahead in the pecking order. On average, the Italian attempts more passes into the box (1.74 vs 1.18), swings in more open-play crosses (1.01 vs 0.66), and delivers far more attacking threat in front of goal, from total shots (0.91 vs 0.2) to efforts on target (0.55 vs 0.07). Even in progressive play, the Italian averages 13.17 forward passes per game, compared to Lewis-Skelly’s 10.38.
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According to recognising the need to develop his attacking instincts, new assistant coach Gabriel Heinze has taken Lewis-Skelly under his wing. Sessions have been heavily focused on crossing accuracy and how best to exploit attacking zones when Arsenal dominate possession.
The youngster has responded well, putting in extra hours after training and working closely with the coaching staff to close the gap to Calafiori. Those at London Colney believe the teenager is still far ahead of schedule, having jumped from the Under-21s to Champions League knockout football in less than a year.
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While Arsenal minutes are proving harder to come by, Thomas Tuchel has shown no hesitation in trusting Lewis-Skelly for England. He started and impressed in the Three Lions’ 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Andorra, showing the composure and fearlessness that made him such a sensation in his debut year.
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Lewis-Skelly is still a rock defensively, winning more duels per game last season (6.04) than established stars Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and even Calafiori himself. His relentless tackling, tireless energy and versatility, since he was raised as a midfielder before being shifted to full-back, mark him out as one of Arsenal’s brightest prospects. Club insiders insist his long-term place is secure, pointing to the five-year deal he signed earlier this year.
ظهر أندرياس كريستنسن لاعب فريق برشلونة الإسباني، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الأربعاء، للحديث قبل المباراة أمام نيوكاسل يونايتد الإنجليزي.
ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا على نيوكاسل غدًا الخميس، في الجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا لموسم 2025-2026.
وافتتح كريستنسن الحديث بشأن فرص برشلونة ضد نيوكاسل قائلاً: “نحن في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وستكون هناك سرعة كبيرة، نيوكاسل فريق رائع، علينا أن نكون مستعدين، الأجواء ستكون جزءاً كبيراً من المباراة، وهي من أفضل الأجواء التي عشتها”.
وعن المنافسة القوية بين لاعبي برشلونة على مراكزهم في التشكيل، أفاد: “لقد طرأت تغييرات، لكن هناك العديد من المباريات، وستكون هناك فرص للجميع، الجميع يلعبون بشكل جيد، يجب أن تكون مستعداً عندما يقرر المدرب إشراكك، إنها وضعية حساسة، لكن عليك أن تقدم أفضل ما لديك وأن تكون جاهزاً عندما يحين دورك في اللعب، وأن تستمتع بذلك”.
وحول شعوره بعد غياب طويل عن اللعب بانتظام، أجاب: “أشعر أنني بحالة جيدة جدًا، في الموسم الماضي، كنت تحت ضغط كبير، أشعر أنني بحالة جيدة، والمعالجون الفيزيائيون يعملون معي بشكل جيد، إنهم يعتنون بنا بشكل رائع، العودة إلى الفريق في حالة جيدة أمر جيد بالنسبة لي، وأنا مستعد للعمل والنضال”.
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وفيما يتعلق بالضغط الجماهيري، أستطرد كريستنسن: “لا داعي للتفكير في الأمر، إنه جزء مهم من المباراة، لكنهم سيضغطون في كل حركة، علينا إدارة هذا الضغط، لقد كان جزءًا من استعداداتنا، إنه ملعب صعب، وعلينا التحلي بالهدوء، علينا أن نلعب بأسلوبنا”.
وبشأن التعطش لدوري أبطال أوروبا، أشار: “كل موسم في هذه البطولة له طابع خاص، في العام الماضي، كدنا نصل إلى النهائي، الجمهور متعطش جدًا للوصول إلى النهائي، إنه هدفٌ لنا، ونسعى جاهدين لتحقيقه، كان الأمر مؤلمًا، كانت اللحظة الأخيرة من المباراة التي ودعنا فيها البطولة”.
وعن زميله ماركوس راشفورد، علّق: “التحدث باللغة الإنجليزية يُسهّل التواصل معه، يُضيف جودةً وقد اندمج جيدًا، عليه أن يُثبت ذلك، أصبح أكثر درايةً بالنظام، لقد كان مفيدًا جدًا للمجموعة، لدينا فريق شاب، وهو قادر على التواصل معهم”.
وبشأن التشكيلة الأساسية غدًا وإمكانية تواجده بها، أتم: “لا أعرف (يضحك)، اسألوا هانز فليك الآن، أتمنى أن أكون كذلك، أنا جاهز في حال اختارني، لكن ليس لدي أي فكرة”.
As he prepares to depart the ICC, Alex Marshall, the head of global cricket’s anti-corruption unit (ACU), has warned that “badly run” domestic T20 leagues “at lower level” remain a “threat” to the game with corruptors looking to use them as an entry point. Marshall, 63, has decided to retire from the ICC job this November, ending a seven-year term, which started in 2017 as general manager of the ICC’s integrity unit, which includes the security and anti-doping units apart from the ACU.Marshall, a former senior policeman in the UK, recently communicated his decision to the ICC, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, including parents and grandchildren in England. Marshall, who replaced YP Singh, was the fourth ACU head and was shortlisted by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the independent chairman of the anti-corruption watchdog.Marshall said that while the malaise of corruption will continue to shadow cricket, he was “proud” that during his stint the ACU had been successful in helping players be more forthcoming about approaches from corrupters. “I am proud of the significant increase in trust from players who now report approaches to us frequently whereas there was a time when they lacked confidence in confidentiality and the action that will be taken,” Marshall told ESPNcricinfo on Friday. “They have now seen corruptors being disrupted, named, banned when they get involved in cricket. And the education we now do with players shows them who the corruptors are, what their methods are, so everyone is much better equipped and protected to keep corruption away from the game.”Immediately upon taking charge in September 2017, Marshall and his team investigated several people in Sri Lanka, a country where the ACU was busy at that point, conducting a number of probes concerning “various types of corrupt activities.” That operation lasted several years during which the ACU met the top-most authorities of the Sri Lankan government, including the President and Prime Minister, to paint them a picture of corruption that had seeped into the country’s cricketing system. Eventually, the ACU intervention paved way for Sri Lanka becoming the first South Asian country to criminalise several offences related to match-fixing.Related
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'We are investigating several people in SL' – ACU head Alex Marshall
Marshall said he was happy with the progress in Sri Lanka, where he says there are now stronger guardrails to ward off corrupt elements. “Sri Lanka turned out to be a good news story because there were serious issues which were addressed locally and with ICC,” he said. “Now with the legislation and stronger measures Sri Lanka is in a much better place to keep the corruptors away.”Another significant outcome of the ACU probe involved charging several Sri Lankan players under its own code, including sanctioning a two-year ban on former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya in 2019 for refusing to co-operate with investigations related to corruption in cricket.Two other former international captains, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan and Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak, who passed away last September, were charged by Marshall’s ACU for wrongdoing. Both players accepted their offence. In 2019, the ACU sanctioned Shakib across the three international formats for failing to report “not one but three” approaches made by alleged corruptor Deepak Aggarwal to engage in corrupt conduct in two tournaments in 2018: an ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe and an IPL match the same year when the Bangladesh player featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad.In 2021, Streak was handed an eight-year ban by the ACU after admitting to five breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code, including accepting a payment in bitcoin from a potential corruptor.As he prepares to leave his ICC job, Marshall has a word of caution for those administering, playing and governing cricket: that corrupt elements continue to wander around, waiting for any opportunity to enter the system. And one of those routes, Marshall stressed, was “badly” managed T20 franchise leagues, which are outside the ambit of the ICC ACU and are instead monitored by the member country boards.”I am confident that the cricket you watch is safe and clean,” Marshall said. “But I am also absolutely sure that corruptors are constantly looking for a route into the game, particularly in badly-run lower-level franchise leagues. The threat to the game is corruptors won’t go away while there is always money to be made and they will look for weakness in the system to get in.”