All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and his ‘scattergun’ approach to the transfer window continues, with a fresh report claiming that discussions are now being held over a marquee Serie A star.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Berta operates a different transfer strategy to his predecessor, Edu. Rather than identifying one key target to seriously pursue, the Italian is known to work on numerous deals simultaneously before landing on the best one for a key position.

“The best way of describing it is that Andrea Berta’s approach is different to Edu. If he was going to a party, he would lay out three or four outfits, try them all on and finally decide what to wear,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on talkSPORT recently.

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

“With this race for a number nine, what’s happening is that both deals, for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, are being advanced or ‘tried on’ before a bid is made. Andrea Berta is out in the market, effectively lining up both deals, whereas Edu tended to pick one and be very meticulous, and then discreetly try and get it over the line, often with a series of bids.

“It was either a very smart tactic because Arsenal had confidence that they would get that man, or it dragged on, and we got more summer sagas. We won’t see that with Andrea Berta.”

This was echoed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month, who revealed that Berta held talks over “numerous” transfer targets for the wide area.

Recent reports from Turkey state that one of the many wingers on Berta’s Arsenal radar is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

Yildiz was said to have emerged as a “prime” Arsenal target recently, and a further update has now come to light on their interest.

Arsenal in discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

As per news outlet Juve FC, the Turkey international commands a valuation of around £85 million, following an excellent 2024/2025 campaign where he finished the Serie A campaign as the Old Lady’s best-performer by average match rating, according to WhoScored.

It’s also reported that Arsenal have entered discussions with Juventus over signing Yildiz, despite their unwillingness to sell the 20-year-old, as they also try to tie him down with a new deal which could run until 2031.

Juve view Yildiz as a future star and cornerstone of Igor Tudor’s team, while the player himself isn’t exactly chomping at the bit to leave either, despite some contact made with his “close” circle.

The Turk is currently starring at the Club World Cup for Juve, scoring in their 5-0 win over Al Ain, and with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors, Tudor won’t want to lose one of his star men before the tournament ends.

After missing out on Joao Pedro to Chelsea, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their attention towards an instant alternative who scored 27 goals last season.

To say it’s been a disappointing summer for Newcastle thus far would be a major understatement. The Magpies first missed out on Dean Huijsen, then saw their bid rejected for Anthony Elanga and have since watched on as Pedro chose Chelsea instead of a move to St James’ Park. Going three for three for transfer failures, the Magpies will be desperate to secure at least one top target in the coming months.

To that end, there will be some relief around Tyneside that James Trafford is still on his way. The Burnley shot-stopper, like Elanga and others, has been a top target for quite some time. On this occasion though, the Magpies are set to get their man.

Whilst Trafford will offer Eddie Howe an instant upgrade on Nick Pope, what he will not end is Newcastle’s search for attacking reinforcements.

Once again, they simply must go again in pursuit of fresh options. The money is there for PIF to spend this time around after PSR struggles forced Newcastle to take a step back in the past and now they must back Howe with alternative targets.

The next Gordon: Newcastle have made contact to sign "special" £40m star

Newcastle are seeking to bolster their ranks ahead of their return to Champions League football

2 ByRobbie Walls Jun 29, 2025

Those around St James’ Park will be frustrated with how this summer has gone so far, but it’s far from over. Missing out on Pedro would even be a blessing in disguise if Newcastle now go and sign one particular forward as an excellent alternative.

Newcastle battling to sign Samu Aghehowa

According to O Jogo, as relayed by Caught Offside, Newcastle are now battling to sign Samu Aghehowa from FC Porto this summer. The former Atletico Madrid forward enjoyed a clinical debut season in Portugal and has attracted plenty of interest from the Premier League as a result. As has been the case with in-form forwards all summer, however, he will cost a hefty price.

Porto are in no mood to lose their star at a cut-price and will reportedly demand that his €100m (£85m) release clause is triggered if they are to bid farewell this summer. Having had bids around the £50-60m mark rejected for other targets already, that fee may not be a problem for Newcastle who will be getting more and more desperate to land key reinforcements.

Starts

30

27

Goals

19

10

Assists

3

6

Expected Goals

14.1

8.1

Dubbed a player with “elite potential” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Aghehowa would turn any Pedro failure into an instant afterthought at Newcastle if he arrived this summer. With 19 league goals and 27 goals in all competitions last season, the Spain international would be worth every penny of his £85m release clause.

South Africa needed 30 off 30 balls with six wickets in hand, to win their maiden World Cup title, and then India fought back

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Jun-20241:12

Manjrekar: ‘No surprise to see Hardik flourish on the big stage’

Suryakumar Yadav snatched a boundary catch for the ages, Jasprit Bumrah snuck in two electric final overs, and Hardik Pandya pilfered the two big wickets as India pulled off one of their great heists to win a World Cup, finally.With five overs to go, South Africa were rampant. Heinrich Klaasen, one of the great hitters in the game, threatening to throw off decades of painful big-match history for his team with a hail of sixes. He and David Miller had clubbed 38 runs off the two previous overs, and with six wickets in hand South Africa needed only a run-a-ball off the last 30 balls.Related

Rohit Sharma joins Kohli in retiring from T20Is after World Cup triumph

Stats – India first team to win the men's T20 World Cup unbeaten

Magic moments – Bumrah, Klaasen and SKY go flash, bam, alakazam

Kohli retires from T20 internationals after winning World Cup title

'We fulfilled what the whole nation wanted' – India players react after winning T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Sharma was forced to go to the best bowler in the world, when he would have otherwise saved Bumrah for later overs. Bumrah didn’t quite break the partnership, the batters never daring to take him on. But he did break Klaasen and Miller’s stride. They scrambled only four runs off that over.But the most telling blow, came at the start of the 17th over. After the flow of the game was further slowed due to an apparent knee complaint for Rishabh Pant, Hardik bowled a wide line outside off and took the edge of Klaasen, Pant snaffling the chance gleefully.Still, Miller was there, though he couldn’t get a boundary away off the rest of that over.Then Bumrah came back, bowled several ripsnorters in the last over of yet another tournament he has dominated. With one of those magic balls, a wicked in-seamer, he burst through the defenses of the last recognised South Africa batter, Marco Jansen, and grazed leg stump.With Keshav Maharaj now in the middle, their batting line-up notably short, and 20 needed off 12 balls, South Africa were for the first time since the early overs of the chase in trouble. Arshdeep Singh delivered a nerveless 19th over, off which South Africa could muster only four.Rohit Sharma holds the T20 World Cup trophy aloft, and the celebrations begin•AFP/Getty ImagesThe dream-killing blow came next. With 16 needed off the final over, bowled by Hardik. Miller tried to lift the first ball, a wide full toss, over the straight boundary. But he didn’t connect perfectly, and Suryakumar, running full tilt along the rope, his feet only centimetres inside, caught the ball, popped it up as he briefly stepped over the boundary, then completed the running catch as he hopped back into the field, sparking wild jubilation in the stands, and ecstatic celebrations from the India players.South Africa batters No. 8, 9, and 10, did not manage to get Hardik away, aside from a single outside edge that flew for four.When Hardik India completed the seven-run win, the bowler sank to his knees in relief, his team-mates exulted, and the crowd, largely supporting India, flew into euphoria. Their team had become World Champions again, after 13 years.Bumrah’s spectacular finals showingOn a flat track in Barbados, Bumrah bowled two unplayable deliveries that brought him two wickets – both bowled. The first of these was the better one. It was one of the best in the tournament, and very arguably one of the best ever in finals. Angled in to Reeza Hendricks, it pitched and seamed away to hit the top of off, beating the batter’s outside edge.Jasprit Bumrah sent back Marco Jansen in his final over•ICC/Getty ImagesHe conceded five runs in that first over, eight runs in the next (one of only two boundaries off his bowling came here – a not fully-controlled steer through deep third).But those last two overs went some distance to defining this match. Four runs off the 16th over, after the 15th had been clubbed for 24 runs. Two runs off the 17th. His figures were 2 for 18.Arshdeep plays his roleArshdeep Singh was almost as outstanding, returning 2 for 20. His two powerplay overs cost only eight, and brought the important wicket of Aiden Markram, who edged him behind. In the middle overs, he dismissed Quinton de Kock, who was looking to raise the tempo after he had overseen the recover after two early blows.And then that fantastic 19th over, in which he bowled two balls to Miller but conceded only three off them, otherwise keeping Maharaj on strike.This, after India’s spinners had leaked 106 off their nine collective overs.Klaasen makes a six-filled chargeOne of the best hits of the tournament was Klaasen crashing a wide, Kuldeep Yadav googly way over the cover boundary for six, with minimal foot movement. That was his third six (he’d banged Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja over the rope earlier).But it was against Axar Patel that he really thumped South Africa into the ascendancy. First ball of the 15th over, he bullied down the ground off the back foot for four. Axar bowled two wides in fear. Then later, two massive hits down the ground – one of which pounded the roof of the stadium, then a four through wide long-off for good measure.Heinrich Klaasen took on the bowling in the middle overs•Getty ImagesHe completed his fifty off 23 balls, the fastest ever in a T20 World Cup final. After he was dismissed, South Africa could not manage a single intentional boundary, the only four coming off Kagiso Rabada’s outside edge.Kohli drops anchorThe headlines will say Virat Kohli top scored with 76 off 59, but there were times when this knock was laboured.Between the fourth and 18th over, Kohli faced 35 balls in which he scored 29 and hit no boundaries. When he got to fifty, he had used up 48 deliveries, and didn’t raise his bat, having batted for most of that time in ODI middle-overs mode. There was an obvious critique to make here: was this an innings so unambitious, it was actually doing India harm?But the counter-argument is strong. Kohli had been 22 off 16 when the third wicket (Suryakumar Yadav) went down, in the fifth over. And the security he gave at one end, allowed Axar (pushed up the order No. 5) and Shivam Dube to prosper with their big-hitting.The boundaries returned for Virat Kohli after he got to his fifty•Getty ImagesHis stands with those batters reaped 72 off 54 (Axar hit 47 off 31) and 57 off 33 (Dube hit 22 off 13), and formed the heft of India’s innings. Their 176 for 7 was the most any team has scored in a World Cup final.Did South Africa choke?For 35 overs of this game, you could not have possibly arrived at that conclusion. They were pumped up in the early overs, when Keshav Maharaj struck twice, and Rabada removed Suryakumar – India’s most-dangerous batter. They held their catches and were excellent in the outfield.They overcame losing early wickets nicely too. But at one point, they needed 26 off 24 balls, had six wickets in hand, and only one over of Bumrah left to face. They tried to target Hardik, which was the smart play in that situation, but lost both their key batters to him.There are simpler explanations too: India were battle-hardened and skilful; South Africa’s batting line-up was short.

Derbyshire go down by an innings despite resistance from Harry Came, Wayne Madsen

ECB Reporters Network01-Sep-2024Sussex took a firm grip on the second division of the Vitality Championship when they defeated Derbyshire by an innings and 59 runs, their sixth win of the season. They took a maximum haul of 24 points as they placed more daylight between themselves and their pursuers and with two of their last the games at home they are now clear favourites to win the title.Their undoubted star was offspinner Jack Carson, who followed his innings of 97 with match figures of 11 for 157, the biggest return of his career. His second-innings figures of 6 for 67 was another best. He has taken 20 wickets in his past two games, following his nine in last week’s defeat to Yorkshire at Scarborough.After brave resistance from Harry Came and Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire lost their last eight wickets for 54 runs in just 25 overs. And this match represented a cruel return to normal form following their heavy defeat of GlamorganDerbyshire started the final morning on 141 for 2, still needing 176 runs to make Sussex bat again, with Came 54 not out and Madsen unbeaten on 31.For almost 90 minutes there was an intriguing battle between bat and ball, with Sussex captain John Simpson switching his bowlers thoughtfully, in an attempt to both conserve their energy in the warm sunshine and also to disrupt the immense concentration of Derbyshire’s third-wicket pair. It looked like being Derbyshire’s morning. But then, at 196 for 2, the new ball became available and there was a new match to contemplate.Simpson decided to give the new ball to Fynn Hudson-Prentice and – bowling from his favourite Cromwell Road End – Ollie Robinson. But, after two ineffectual overs from Hudson-Prentice, Simpson replaced him with Jaydev Unadkat, for his first bowl from the Sea End. And Unadkat immediately turned the match towards Sussex with two wicket maidens.With the fourth delivery of his opening over he had Madsen caught by Tom Haines, the more square of the two gullies beside the two slips. Madsen had faced 149 balls and hit ten fours in his 77. He had also batted for five minutes under three hours, to add to the five hours and 12 minutes for his first innings 138.Then, with the second ball of his second over, Unadkat struck again, this time having Derbyshire captain David Lloyd caught low down behind the wicket by Simpson. At lunch Derbyshire were 208 for 4, still 109 runs behind.When Carson replaced Unadkat at 230 for 4 the pressure appeared to be coming off. But in his second over the spinner ended Came’s long vigil when he had the batsman caught at slip by Haines. His 79 had occupied three minutes less than six hours and he had faced 273 balls. And at 251 the same combination accounted for Zak Chappell, with Haines taking his third catch of the innings.Aneurin Donald decided to play his shots, which is the game he knows best. But in Carson’s next over he was caught at backward square leg, as he swept towards the short boundary on the east side of the ground, and Derbyshire looked broken at 252 for 7. Without addition, Jack Morley was caught behind off Carson, his tenth wicket in the match.Four runs later Carson had Daryn Dupavillon caught at bat-pad and finally Anuj Dal, batting heroically with hand and groin injuries, after also being struck on the head, was bowled by Henry Crocombe.

Despite already spending big this summer, Sunderland are now reportedly considering a move to sign a La Liga star who has a release clause worth around £26m.

Sunderland's impressive summer business set to continue

Not many saw it coming, perhaps not even the most optimistic of fans, but Sunderland have so far enjoyed an excellent transfer window. The Black Cats have welcomed as many as six fresh faces, with the likes of Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra particularly standing out as ones to watch next season.

The latest to be presented as a Sunderland player, Adingra told the club website after arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion: “It’s a pleasure to be here, and I cannot wait to get started. The Club and the project are really exciting. I spoke with everyone and their interest in me made the decision easy – I wanted to be part of Sunderland’s future.

“Playing in the Premier League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so to continue doing that is incredible. It’s a big challenge ahead – we’ll be facing top players and strong opponents – but I’m ready for it.”

The talented winger will form part of a new-look Sunderland attack that the Black Cats could see in action for the first time in their pre-season trip to Portugal.

Even as pre-season gets underway, however, those back in Wearside may not be done with their transfer business amid reports that another attacking option could now be in their sights.

Sunderland considering Tsygankov swoop

As reported by Diari de Girona and relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland are now considering a move to sign Viktor Tsygankov from Girona this summer. The newly-promoted side have received positive scouting reports about the Ukraine international and could now make their move to trigger his €30m (£26m) release clause.

Minutes

1,913

1,097

Goals

2

2

Assists

5

2

Key Passes

33

16

Although the Girona man didn’t enjoy the best output last season, he did outperform Sunderland’s new man in Adingra, which would certainly make things interesting if the Black Cats made their move this summer.

Dubbed “outrageous” at the start of his career by scout Jacek Kulig, a move to the Premier League could be exactly what Tsygankov needs to rediscover his best form in front of goal.

The next Isidor: Sunderland showing strong interest in "electric" £22m star

Sunderland might be about to win their next Wilson Isidor by picking up this electric £22m attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 15, 2025

Meanwhile, as they look to form an underrated frontline, Sunderland could welcome a player who has experienced life in the Champions League. At 27 years old too, Tsygankov should be at the peak of his powers and may well prove to be an instant bargain at just £26m this summer.

Celtic won their fourth game in five pre-season matches on Saturday when they put Premier League side Newcastle United to the sword at Parkhead.

The Hoops ran out 4-0 winners against the Magpies in front of their supporters, thanks to goals from Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Hyun-jun Yang, and Liam Scales.

Brendan Rodgers will surely be delighted with the way that pre-season is going for his team, given this impressive result, but there are still more gears for the Hoops to find as they continue to improve their squad with new signings.

Their most recent signing was announced on the morning of the clash with Newcastle, as the club confirmed the arrival of Shin Yamada on a permanent deal from Kawasaki Frontale.

The Japanese centre-forward got the chance to say hello to the supporters at Parkhead on Saturday, but he did not sign in time to be involved on the pitch.

It will now be interesting to see what kind of role the 25-year-old striker plays at Celtic next season, because he has arrived in Glasgow off the back of a frustrating campaign in his home country.

Why Celtic need to revive Shin Yamada

Speaking to the club’s official website as part of the announcement, Rodgers said: “He (Yamada) is a strong player who can score goals and create goals for others and I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.”

This suggests that the Northern Irish head coach believes that the Japanese number nine has the quality to make a big impact in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops next term, despite his form in 2025.

In the 2025 J1 League campaign, Yamada scored two goals in 21 appearances for Kawasaki Frontale, whilst he also only provided one assist for his teammates and created 0.4 chances per game on average.

That does not mean that he is not likely to offer any quality in the final third for Celtic, though, because his form in the 2024 campaign was sensational.

Appearances

38

21

Goals

19

2

Minutes per goal

107

573

Big chances missed

14

8

Key passes per game

0.7

0.4

Assists

3

1

As you can see in the table above, Yamada scored a whopping 19 goals in 38 league games in 2024 before his decline in form in the first half of this year.

If Celtic can revive the striker and get him back to his best at the top end of the pitch, Rodgers could have a lethal and prolific centre-forward on his hands.

The Hoops are also in the market to add more quality to their options out wide, and they are reportedly pursuing a deal for a star who could help Yamada to get back to his goalscoring best.

Celtic in talks to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a move to bring Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha to Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that talks over a deal to sign the Belgian attacker have been ‘ongoing’, as Rodgers looks to bolster his options on the flanks after Jota’s injury and Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Como.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Royal Antwerp boss Stef Wils has revealed that it is “possible” that the 24-year-old will complete a transfer away from the club ‘soon’, opening the door to a move to Parkhead.

The Daily Record adds that Balikwisha, who is reportedly valued at £5m, has been a long-term transfer target for the Hoops, and they are in talks to finally get a deal over the line.

It also reveals that Royal Antwerp are keen to cash in on the Belgian winger this summer because his current contract with the club is due to expire at the end of next season.

Why Yamada would love Balikwisha

Yamada could be one player who would be happy to see the Scottish Premiership champions secure a transfer for the Pro League attacker this summer, because the flanker could be perfect for the striker.

As aforementioned, the Japanese marksman needs to improve his form in front of goal after a frustrating year so far, and he will need wingers who can create high-quality chances for him in order to do that.

Balikwisha missed 29 matches with muscle injuries during the 2024/25 campaign, which limited his game time, but the 24-year-old talent still caught the eye with some impressive performances.

The Belgian whiz was described as a “creative” talent by analyst Will Glavin and his underlying numbers in the Pro League last season support that claim, as he scored four goals and provided three assists in 12 starts for Royal Antwerp.

xA

0.22

Top 33%

Assists

0.31

Top 22%

Successful passes

34.99

Top 15%

Chances created

1.99

Top 29%

Touches

60.61

Top 24%

Penalties won

0.08

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha ranked highly among his positional peers in the Pro League in a host of key possession-based and creative metrics.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to be a highly influential performer for Rodgers as a creative threat on the left flank if he can stay fit and start regularly, as he is able to create high-quality chances on a regular basis for his teammates.

That is also why Balikwisha could help to revive Yamada next season because he has the creative quality to provide the striker with enough opportunities for him to get back on the goal trail.

Whilst it will still be down to the Japanese striker to finish those chances, by the law of average, the more chances that are created for the forward the more likely he is to start scoring goals on a regular basis again.

He'll send Idah to the bench: Celtic lining up swoop for £7m "goal machine"

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a striker who would send Adam Idah to the bench.

ByDan Emery Jul 18, 2025

Therefore, Yamada will surely be hoping that these talks with Antwerp lead to Celtic doing a deal with the Belgian side for Balikwisha, because he could be the perfect winger to play alongside him at Parkhead next season.

A look at how the teams are placed, and their chances of qualifying for the final

S Rajesh10-Sep-2024Sri LankaThe Oval win keeps Sri Lanka in contention for a top-two finish. If they win all six remaining matches, they’ll finish with 69.23, which will almost certainly take them to the final. Five out of six wins will take them to 61.54, which will still keep them in contention. Four of their six remaining Tests are at home, against New Zealand and Australia.Related

India's stars descend upon Chennai as training begins for bumper Test season

South Africa to decide whether to tour Bangladesh this week

Sri Lanka do their bit to save Test cricket, the way only Sri Lanka can

WTC 2023-25 final to be played from June 11 at Lord's

EnglandEngland’s unexpected defeat at The Oval against Sri Lanka means they can no longer breach the 60% mark in this cycle. The maximum they can achieve now, with wins in their six remaining Tests, is 57.95. That could still be enough if other results go their way.For instance, if India run away from the rest of the pack, then England can finish second if Australia get no more than 42 points out of the 84 on offer from their seven remaining Tests, and if other teams stay below 57.95 as well. If Australia finish on top then England need India to take no more than 58 points and stay below 57.95. However, if England drop more points – five wins and a draw will reduce their percentage to 54.92 – they will need even more help from other teams.ESPNcricinfo LtdIndiaIndia remain on top of the table with a healthy percentage of 68.52, but they still have 10 matches to go, the most for any team. To keep their percentage above 60 – they qualified for the 2023 final with 58.8 – they need 63 more points, which they can achieve with five wins and a draw. Six wins will lift the percentage to 64.03, but to match their current score they will need seven wins, which will lift their overall percentage to 69.3.AustraliaCurrently in second place, Australia need 47 more points from their remaining seven Tests to finish on the right side of 60%. They can achieve that with either four wins, or three wins and three draws. To a large extent, their final standing will depend on how many points they rack up in the five-Test home series against India.BangladeshBangladesh’s terrific 2-0 series win in Pakistan has pushed their percentage up to 45.83 and fourth position in the points table. If they win each of their six remaining Tests, they will go up to 72.92, while four wins out of six will keep them at 56.25.PakistanPakistan not only lost 2-0 to Bangladesh, but they also dropped six points due to slow over-rates. Their percentage dropped from 36.66 at the start of the series to 19.05. From here, the maximum they can achieve is 59.52, if they win each of their seven remaining Tests.New Zealand will play three of their remaining six Tests in the cycle in India•AFP/Getty ImagesNew ZealandNew Zealand have played only six out of their 14 Tests in this cycle. Five of their eight remaining Tests will be in Asia. Out of the 96 points available, they need at least 65 to finish on 60%. That means five wins and a couple of draws (or six wins), but it’s a tough ask given three of those Tests will be in India.South AfricaIf South Africa win each of their next six Tests, they will finish on 69.44, which will almost certainly take them to the final. They have home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan later this year, apart from what could be a tricky two-Test series in Bangladesh.West IndiesWest Indies have already played four series and have only scored 20 points out of 108. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%.

An “excellent” Premier League forward is now open to joining Crystal Palace this summer, and talks have already been held over a potential deal, according to a report.

Palace set sights on new forward amid Arsenal's Eze pursuit

After scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final, Eberechi Eze was always going to attract interest this summer, and Palace may have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of the attacking midfielder, given that he wants to move across the capital.

Arsenal are expected to make a formal bid for Eze soon, which could amount to £52m, £8m below the England international’s previous release clause of £60m, which has now expired.

Should the 27-year-old move on this summer, the Eagles will undoubtedly need to bring in a new attacker, capable of replicating Eze’s attacking numbers, with the London-born star proving himself as a reliable source of goals and assists last season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

34

8

8

FA Cup

5

4

1

EFL Cup

4

2

2

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now considering a move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, having already been informed about the winger’s situation at Stamford Bridge, with Fulham also holding talks.

West Ham United have also been offered the chance to sign Sterling, with the Blues looking to receive a fee of £20m, although the most likely scenario is the forward leaving on a loan deal.

Crucially, the 30-year-old is open to a move to Selhurst Park this summer, as he is looking to stay in London, having spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Arsenal.

Guehi replacement: Crystal Palace now "very interested" in £6m defender

The Eagles have set their sights on a new centre-back, amid the uncertainty surrounding Marc Guehi’s future.

ByDominic Lund Aug 6, 2025 "Excellent" Sterling needs to leave Chelsea this summer

The winger clearly isn’t part of Enzo Maresca’s plans, and he failed to deliver on loan at Arsenal last season, featuring for just 496 minutes across the entire Premier League season, meaning the Chelsea ace clearly needs to move to a new club this summer.

At 30-years-old, the Englishman is by no means in the latter stages of his career, and he has proven himself as a top Premier League player in the past, picking up 131 goals and 86 assists in 339 appearances during his time with Manchester City.

Former manager Pep Guardiola has also previously singled the Jamaica-born winger out for praise saying: “For his confidence it will be massive, the first goal is brilliant, when Raheem executes without thinking he is excellent.”

As such, Sterling could be an exciting signing for the Eagles if he is able to reach his previous heights, but it is more important they keep hold of Eze, given the Palace star’s exploits last season.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has shared his thoughts on the modern game and revealed he has been left "disgusted" by the world of football.

Mbappe opens up on superstar statusSays football world disgusts himLaments broken bonds with familyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe is one of the biggest stars in the game after a career that has seen him star for Paris-Saint Germain and Real Madrid as well as win the World Cup with France. However, he has also hit some difficult patches along the way, including a lengthy legal dispute with former employers PSG that has ended up in court.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 26-year-old has now reflected on his superstar status and revealed it has come at a cost. Mbappe has lamented the problems that come from being one of the best footballers on the planet and even admitted he hopes any future child of his "hate" football and do not aspire to follow in his footsteps.

WHAT MBAPPE SAID

He told : "I'm fatalistic about what the world of football is, but not about what life is. Life is magnificent. Football is what it is. I like to say that people who go to the stadium are lucky enough to 'just' come to see a show and not know what goes on behind the scenes. Honestly, if I didn't have this passion, the world of football would have disgusted me a long time ago.

"The more money you have, the more problems you have. Some people don't see that your life is changing, they want to keep the image of you when you were a child, when you were with them… But you're not the same anymore. You have responsibilities, commitments, a job, accounts to render. 

"If some people walk the path with you, it's a beautiful story. It's good to grow up, to reach the top, with the same family and intimate foundation. But, sometimes, it doesn't work, and you have to know how to say it. That's not why the bond is broken, but this relationship doesn't work. It's harder said than done and it's a problem that a lot of athletes and personalities face." 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

Mbappe will be back in action with Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday when Los Blancos take on Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena.

The half-centuries from Kamindu and Asalanka ended up as mere footnotes in the game as WI won with five balls to spare

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Oct-2024West Indies 180 for 5 (King 63, Lewis 50, Pathirana 2-27) beat Sri Lanka 179 for 7 (Asalanka 59, Kamindu 51, Shepherd 2-39) by five wicketsBrandon King and Evin Lewis crashed 107 off 55 balls at the top of the order, to set West Indies beautifully on course to their target of 180, in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. Although the hosts’ middle-overs bowlers slowed West Indies’ progress, they were never in serious trouble.They had plenty of batting to see the chase through, and Sherfane Rutherford finished it off with a four off the first ball of the final over.Shamar Joseph was the most economical of West Indies’ bowlers, conceding only 27 from his four overs. Though King and Lewis later outshone them, Sri Lanka had two half-centurions too, in Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, whose 82-run stand was the most substantial of the innings.King, Lewis blast the powerplayLewis struck the first boundaries, launching Chamindu Wickramasinghe for a six and four at the end of the first over, but it was King who made the greatest impression while the fielding restrictions were in play. King’s standard move was to run at the bowlers and blast them down the ground. So good was his hand-eye coordination, that he did it twice against seamer Asitha Fernando in the second over, before taking aim at the spin of Maheesh Theekshana in the third over.By the end of the powerplay, King had eight fours (some of them edged, to be fair), and 39 runs off 20 balls. Lewis, who had blasted boundaries off Wickramasinghe almost exclusively, had 31 off 16 balls. And West Indies had 74 off the first six.They kept swinging, and by the end, Lewis made 50 off 28, and King 63 off 33. The requirement was fairly simple after their onslaught.Shamar Springer celebrates his maiden T20I wicket•AP Photo/Viraj KothalawalaWI quicks strike earlyBy contrast, Sri Lanka’s top order had failed to prosper on a helpful surface, thanks in part to sharp bowling from West Indies’ quicks. Romario Shepherd caught the edge of Pathum Nissanka’s bat three times, conceded fours behind the wicket and then had him caught by the keeper on the third occasion, to make West Indies’ first breakthrough. Kusal Perera was then bowled by Shamar Joseph early in the following over.When Kusal Mendis was also bowled by an excellent quicker delivery from Gudakesh Motie, leaving Sri Lanka at 58 for 3, it felt as if West Indies were about to carve open the game.Kamindu may be good at cricketBut then perhaps it’s time to admit that Kamindu appears to know what he is doing on a cricket field. Having recently become the fastest batter since 1950 to 1000 Test runs, he produced 50 off 41 here in the shortest format, outdone in his team only by Asalanka who clubbed 59 off 35, Kamindu would also bowl two overs for 14, switching arms when necessary. He took the wicket of the opposition’s top scorer, King, with his left-arm spin, and collected figures of 1 for 14.