Fair to say, it’s been an eventful week at Everton.

On Thursday, mere hours before their FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough United, it was announced that Sean Dyche had been sacked, leaving Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman in caretaker charge, overseeing an unspectacular 2-0 victory.

Remarkably, this is the first time any Premier League club have sacked their manager on the day of a game, prior to kick off, for 30 years.

Then, on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that David Moyes had returned, 13 years after leaving Merseyside for Manchester United, having overseen a whopping 518 matches during his first spell in charge.

With the Toffees currently 16th in the Premier League table, a mere one point clear of the relegation zone, reinforcements are needed, but could the first arrival of the second Moyes-era be imminent?

Everton want to bolster their forward line

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Everton are ‘in talks’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Ernest Nuamah.

Meanwhile, reports from France on social media claim the deal is only ‘one step away’ with an ‘agreement almost reached between the different parties.’

Numah joined Lyon from Danish Superligaen side Nordsjælland for a reported €30m in 2023, suggesting the Blues are unlikely to get him on the cheap.

However, as noted by Colin Millar, Matt Slater and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, les Gones have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 “following an audit of their finances”, informed they must “satisfactorily improve their financial situation before the end of this season”.

As a result, Nuamah appears set to be sacrificed, although no Everton supporter should consider this a done deal until he has officially put pen to paper.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s because, in the summer, Nuamah was reportedly on the verge of joining Fulham, only to “vanish” part-way through his medical, after breaking down in tears, declaring his love for OL and refusing to move to West London, with American owner John Texter subsequently forced to send an apology letter to the Cottagers.

Fair to say, the Toffees will be hoping to avoid similar complications.

How Ernest Nuamah compares to Dwight McNeil

Ghanian commentator George Addo Jnr on Twitter describes his compatriot as “some talent”, with journalist Owuraku Ampofo adding that he is “a fantastic dribbler”.

Wesley Mak of Opta’s The Analyst labels him as “a multi-functional forward” capable of playing anywhere across the front three, comparing him to West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, another Ghanian attacker who began his career at the world-renowned Right to Dream Academy.

Well, considering Everton are the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers this season, ranked rock-bottom for xG, the Blues need all the attacking reinforcement they can get, but how does Nuamah compare to their joint-top scorer Dwight McNeil?

Appearances

56

56

Minutes

3,205

4,732

Goal

8

7

Expected goals

6

4.3

Assists

4

10

Expected assists

5.1

12.2

Shots on target %

39.7%

27.4%

Shot-creating actions

109

190

Crosses

122

365

Attempted take-ons

160

103

Progressive carries

146

111

The table outlines that these two wingers are stylistically very different.

McNeil is much more a creator, hence why he’s accumulated significantly more assists and expected assists while, last season, only eight players across Europe’s “top five” leagues put in more crosses than his 229; Dyche-ball at its finest.

Meanwhile, Nuamah is much more of a dribbler, registering more take-ons and progressive carries, with the Ghanian significantly more of a goal threat, bagging 15 goals during his final campaign at Nordsjælland, on target against such illustrious opponents as Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt since making to move to Lyon.

Well, considering Everton have scored nil during eight of their last ten Premier League outings, failing to find the net in a whopping 39% of the league games Dyche took charge of, Nuamah will certainly be a welcome addition for all Evertonians.

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Sri Lanka and Pakistan are three and four on the WTC table, and this series could make a difference to their chances of making the final

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Jul-2022

Big pictureThrough the middle of the last decade, Sri Lanka and Pakistan seemed to play Test series annually. Often, these were closely contested, and frequently produced compelling cricket. Pakistan’s two incredible fourth-innings chases stand out – the manic one in Sharjah in early 2014, the masterful Younis Khan-led triumph in Pallekele the following year. There were the Rangana Herath routs as well, such as in Abu Dhabi in 2017, and Galle in 2014.Kumar Sangakkara’s mastery over Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah dominating a series in Sri Lanka in 2015, Sri Lanka quicks occasionally outdoing Pakistan’s in the UAE. This is a low-intensity rivalry, perhaps, but the narratives have been consistently gripping.These teams had played a series in Pakistan in 2019, which the home side had won 1-0. But in Sri Lanka, at least, this seems a fresh start. The batting greats from either side are gone. Pakistan have fearsome young quicks, and Sri Lanka’s batting is beginning to make strides, despite their woeful outing in the first Test against Australia.As this is a Galle Test, however, spin is the thing, and here is where the greatest unknowns are. Yasir is likely to be back in the XI, but can he recapture the magic of 2015? His last Test came in 2019, and he wasn’t particularly impressive in the warm-up match in Colombo, where he took 86 for 1. Nauman Ali, the other spinner who is likely to play, went wicketless for 60 in the warm-up, and took his wickets at 42.22 in the recent series against Australia, though that had been on flat surfaces.Sri Lanka are going in with a confident but inexperienced attack. Prabath Jayasuriya is almost certain to play, having claimed a match-winning 12 wickets on debut last week. Ramesh Mendis has been somewhat consistent, but he’s played only eight Tests himself. Maheesh Theekshana, the other likely spinner, has played only four first-class matches all up.How the slow bowlers from either side impose themselves on the match may go a long way to deciding the outcome.Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)Sri Lanka WLWDL
Pakistan LDDWWNiroshan Dickwella’s place is under a little bit of scrutiny•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlightWith Sajid Khan left out of the squad and Nauman Ali out of the XI for the first Test, Pakistan are trying an entirely new spin combination. While Yasir Shah can win Test matches by himself – and has done so before in Sri Lanka – he is returning from injury, and could do with solid support from the two allrounders in the XI, neither of whom is proven at this level. If Mohammad Nawaz and the debutant Agha Salman can give him that, Pakistan could have the tools to keep Sri Lanka’s batters under control.There is a theory that Niroshan Dickwella is Sri Lanka’s best wicketkeeper, but in recent series, there has not been a lot of evidence in this direction. He missed four stumpings in the series against Australia, two of which were fairly straightforward [in his defence, opposition wicketkeeper Alex Carey did not have a great series with the gloves either]. Add to this his often promising but insubstantial contributions with the bat, Dickwella’s place is under a little scrutiny.Team newsSri Lanka are likely to stick to the same spin attack that routed Australia in the second Test between those teams. But they will bring back Dhananjaya de Silva into the middle order, despite Kamindu Mendis’ excellent outing on debut. Seamer Asitha Fernando may come back in for Kasun Rajitha too, after missing the last match with Covid-19. Pathum Nissanka remains out with Covid-19, and Oshada Fernando will open instead.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Oshada Fernando, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dinesh Chandimal, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Prabath Jayasuriya, 11 Asitha FernandoAllrounder Agha Salman is set to make his Test debut for Pakistan, following an impressive run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament in the last three years. Legspinner Yasir Shah, the hero of Pakistan’s 2015 series win in Sri Lanka, will also return to the XI, as will 28-year-old Mohammad Nawaz, who last played a Test in November 2016.Pakistan: 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 6 Agha Salman 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Yasir Shah, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Naseem ShahPitch and conditionsThe surface is likely to be decent for batting in the first two days, before it starts to take spin from day three. There is always the likelihood of rain in Galle at this time of the year, while the stiff wind that blows across the ground will also be something bowlers will have to contend with.Stats and triviaPakistan have won 20 Tests to 16 they have lost against Sri Lanka. Even within Sri Lanka, they have a better-than-even record – they have won eight and lost only seven. Dickwella’s best batting average is against Pakistan. He averages 40.55 against this opposition, with 365 runs across ten innings. Yasir averages 19.33 in Sri Lanka, which is better than he averages anywhere else. He has only bowled in six innings and taken 24 wickets there, though, all in that 2015 series. Sri Lanka sit at third on the World Test Championship points table, and Pakistan fourth. A 2-0 win for either could put them in with an outside chance of making the WTC final.

Newcastle United are now leading the race to sign a “special talent” who could cost £30m ahead of the opening of the January transfer window, according to a report.

Newcastle searching for new winger

With speculation mounting over Harvey Barnes’ future at St. James’ Park, Newcastle are keen on signing a new winger, having identified a new right-sided player and centre-back as priority targets ahead of the January transfer window.

The Magpies are believed to be very close to completing a deal for PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko, with positive talks over the terms of a deal recently being held between the two clubs.

However, there are mixed reports regarding whether the deal for Bakayoko is nearing completion, as there has also been a suggestion that players will first need to be moved on before Eddie Howe is allowed to do any business this winter.

Should Newcastle miss out on the PSV star, they do have some other options in mind, with reports that they are racing Premier League rivals Manchester United to the signature of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

Newcastle leading the race for Dibling

Now, there has been a new update from Football Insider, which reveals that the Magpies are now leading the race for Dibling’s signature, as a move to United is unlikely to appeal to the youngster. Regular game time is an important factor for the winger, which he seemingly believes will be a more likely scenario at St. James’ Park, meaning Howe is now in the driving seat to land the £20m – £30m rated 18-year-old.

A move is more likely to happen in the summer, as the Saints will not want to lose such an important player halfway through the Premier League season, but should they be relegated it is ‘inevitable’ the starlet will leave the club.

As such, given that Southampton are bottom of the Premier League table by a considerable margin, it seems likely that Dibling will move on at the end of the campaign.

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The Englishman has been a bright spark in a poor Southampton team this season, underlining his importance by appearing in 14 out of 15 Premier League games up to this point, in what is a real breakthrough campaign.

Lauded as a “special talent” for his performance against title-chasing Liverpool earlier in the season, the Southampton academy graduate is showing great potential, but Bakayoko may be a better signing for Howe.

Dibling is unlikely to be available this January, while PSV are open to selling their winger, and given that Howe wants to strengthen at right wing as a priority, he may be better off pursuing a deal for Bakayoko over the course of the next month.

The Belgian is in fine form this season, with five goals in 14 Eredivisie outings, indicating that he could make a real impact for Newcastle as we enter the second half of the Premier League season.

More misery at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United defeated by Brighton & Hove Albion to erase the feel-good factor that was nurtured at Anfield one week ago.

The cyclical nature of United’s form is deeply concerning, with the capacity for dazzling, front-footed performances clearly within this Red Devils mix but produced inconsistently.

Bruno Fernandes cut a dejected figure as he made his way down the tunnel, Seagulls elated around him. His revealed fear might just be coming true. Liverpool was a flash in the pan. United have relapsed back into old ways.

It’s clear that Amorim has the tactical mind to achieve great things but some of the players at his disposal simply won’t do in the long run. Man United need new signings, and they need to get it right.

Who Man United want to sell

Marcus Rashford looks nailed-on for a departure from his boyhood club this month, perhaps on loan but likely with a view toward a permanent future elsewhere.

Antony is also closing in on a winter move to Real Betis, freeing up some room on the wide flanks for investment. United’s issues have been mitigated by Amad Diallo’s growth, but the 22-year-old can’t be expected to carry the weight of Old Trafford on his back, and support is needed.

Perhaps this winger will do the trick…

Man United chasing exciting winger signing

According to Sky Germany, Manchester United have a concrete interest in signing Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who has been tearing it up in the Bundesliga this term.

Dortmund have previously stated that they would be seeking a jaw-dropping €100m (£85m) payday for the 20-year-old’s exit, but it’s since been revealed that the tenth-place side will cede their bargaining power if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

With Antony and Rashford on the way out, this would be a fantastic deal for Amorim’s team, providing United with the fresh quality to spearhead a new era.

However, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Premier League rivals such as Chelsea and Liverpool are gearing up to make their moves, so it’s crucial that INEOS act swiftly.

Why Jamie Gittens would be perfect for Man United

Gittens’ emergence has come at a breakneck pace, with the young talent having impressed last term under Edin Terzic, notably racking up eight assists across all competitions as he settled into the senior stage over the final months of the campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

He’s young and malleable enough that Amorim can will him into his own design, and while the left-sided forward feels like the natural Rashford heir, it’s Alejandro Garnacho who he could prove to surpass.

Chelsea and Napoli have been interested in Garnacho this month, but it seems unlikely that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will green-light the Argentine’s sale, given the mini-exodus already taking place.

The 20-year-old practically oozes with quality, so dynamic and daring when on his a-game. However, Man United could find themselves enjoying the talent of an even better winger in Gittens, for the Englishman boasts an exemplary scoring record and could assume the talismanic role at the Theatre.

Garnacho has scored eight goals and added five assists across 32 matches this term but he has only bagged three times in the Premier League, with MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst noting that the winger “hasn’t distinguished himself” in recent appearances under Amorim after being ostracised from the first-team squad over the festive period.

As per FBref, Gittens ranks among the top 7% of positional peers in the Bundesliga this term for non-penalty goals scored as well as the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, illustrating the type of electric, goalscoring winger that Amorim would get his mitts on.

Garnacho, by way of comparison, ranks in the top 51% for non-penalty goals, the top 8% for progressive carries and among the worst 32% for successful take-ons in the Premier League, underlining that the English talent is, in fact, more efficient.

Most exciting, perhaps, is Gittens’ ability to hit the mark across multiple competitions, having also been in fine fettle for the Yellow Wall throughout their Champions League campaign, with Dortmund currently ninth, one point off the automatics.

Matches (starts)

18 (14)

6 (5)

Goals

7

4

Assists

3

0

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.9)

2.2 (0.8)

Big chances missed

4

0

Pass completion

83%

83%

Key passes*

0.8

1.0

Dribble (success)*

3.1 (52%)

2.3 (56%)

Ball recoveries*

2.1

3.2

Total duels (won)*

5.6 (51%)

4.3 (52%)

One of the most eye-catching aspects of Gittens’ skill set has got to be his clinical edge, having missed four big chances across Dortmund’s two major competitions this season while having scored 11 times – an excellent strike rate.

In fact, the wide forward has even been hailed as “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchlety, suggesting that Three Lions gaffer Thomas Tuchel will have a close eye on the rising star, who might just find himself in some exciting conversations across 2025.

It’s just more fuel for the transfer fire as far as United are concerned, but there’s no question that if Gittens was successful in translating his German and European form to English shores, he could unlock United’s attacking capacity under Amorim’s wing.

Ultimately, Amorim entered a disaster zone at Old Trafford and has struggled, so far, to establish the kind of enduring synergy that has been missing for ever so long.

Some might say that United have regressed since the Portuguese took to the helm, but he simply needs more time to stamp his authority onto one of the world’s biggest footballing institutions.

Will he be the one to lead Man United back to the limelight? He’ll need signings, and with Gittens on the market and attracting intrigue from some of the country’s biggest hitters, United need to ensure that they are the team to welcome him back to his homeland.

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Birmingham City have joined the race to sign a new versatile defender to help them in their push for a return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Birmingham flying high in League One

After signiificant outlay in the summer transfer window, it is no surprise to see Birmingham City at the top of League One heading into the second half of the season. Chris Davies has overseen a strong campaign so far for the Blues, with the club boasting the best defence in the division alongside the second best attack.

As a result, they sit two points clear of fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers, while having two games in hand on the pair, meaning that when all is said and done they could find themselves a mammoth eight points clear at the top of England’s third tier.

Birmingham City’s season stats

Statistic

League Rank

Wins

16

1st

Losses

2

1st

Goals scored

41

2nd

Goals conceded

17

1st

Goal difference

+24

1st

But despite losing just twice so far this campaign, they are still active in the January transfer window, with the club having already agreed a deal to sign Phil Neumann at the end of the campaign when his current deal with Hannover comes to an end, having had a substantial offer for the German knocked back over the summer transfer window.

Now, they could be looking to make a more immediate addition to Davies’ side as they look to ensure an instant return to the Championship.

Birmingham rival West Brom for defender

That comes according to the Daily Mail [Via the Scottish Sun], who report that Birmingham are ready to rival their Midlands rivals West Brom for Rangers talent Adam Devine, who the pair see as a potential bargain buy this January.

Just 21-years-old, Devine’s reported £2,500 a week deal at Ibrox comes to an end this summer, and he is no closer to forcing his way into the first team. In fact, he has not featured for 16 months in Glasgow.

Last spotted on loan at Motherwell, Devine has managed just 33 senior appearances to date across spells with Rangers, Motherwell and Brechin City. Though breaking into the Rangers side under Michael Beale in 2022, he has failed to kick on and is now deemed surplus to requirements.

That means that Rangers are ready to let him leave this month in order to receive a fee for the versatile defender, who is a rightback by trade but has also played at left back regularly across his brief career to date.

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And Birmingham are one of the sides positioning themselves to land a potential bargain, as the Blues eye “an opportunity to sign a Rangers player on the cheap”.

Of course, Birmingham raided Rangers twice over the summer too, signing Scott Wright in a deal worth £300,000, while they also added Ben Davies to their ranks on loan. Now, it could be Devine’s time to tread what is becoming an increasingly familiar path from Glasgow to England’s second city.

A fresh Newcastle United exit update has emerged during the January transfer window, with a £150,000-a-week first team player wanting to seal his exit from the club.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are still smarting after their 4-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, in a result that saw their momentum halted emphatically. It was a reality check for Eddie Howe and his players, but there is also no need for it to lead to an overreaction given their incredible run of form prior.

In terms of Newcastle transfer news, Botafogo winger Luiz Henrique has been linked with a move to St James’ Park, being seen as an upgrade on Jacob Murphy on the right wing. With Miguel Almiron set to depart this month, too, reinforcements in that area of the pitch are essential.

Galatasaray wide man Baris Yilmaz is another player who has been thrown into the mix as a possible addition for the Magpies, with the 24-year-old scoring 10 goals in just 17 Turkish Super Lig starts this season, shining on both the left and right flank.

At the back, Howe could also be looking for fresh faces, amid injuries and ageing players there, and highly-rated Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande has been backed to move to Newcastle. They tried to snap him up in the summer transfer window last year, but his £67m release clause proved to be too hefty a price at the time.

Newcastle summer signing eyeing exit this month

According to The Boot Room, Lloyd Kelly wants to leave Newcastle in January, having “grown frustrated” at the club, having come in as one of Paul Mitchell’s only signings in 2024. There is interest from the likes of Fenerbahce and Juventus, the latter of whom have seen an approach turned down, and “intermediaries believe a deal is possible” if a bid of around £25m is made.

It is understandable why Kelly doesn’t feel content at Newcastle currently, considering he has only made four starts in the Premier League this season, and just nine appearances in the competition in total. The likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have simply been preferred to him, as has Sven Botman since his return from injury, meaning his Magpies career has struggled to get going.

It would be a risk for Newcastle to allow Kelly to leave this month, however, seeing as it would affect their squad depth between now and the end of the season. The Englishman can shine as both a centre-back and a left-back, so his versatility would be a real loss.

Assuming the former Bournemouth man’s lack of action continues in the coming months, though, a decision needs to be made about his future at the end of the current campaign.

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The £150,000-a-week Kelly is contracted at St James’ until the summer of 2029, so if Howe doesn’t see him as a key player moving forward, Newcastle could still receive good money for him, with the length of his deal putting them in a strong bargaining position to turn a nice profit after his free signing last summer.

Ochoa is aiming to become the first player to participate in six World Cups, but Sánchez didn't include him in his projected squad

Article continues below

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have also played in five World Cups

Ochoa was not called up by Aguirre for the Nations League FinalsThe former América goalkeeper has 152 appearances with Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

During the official unveiling of the 2026 World Cup poster for the city of Guadalajara, former Chivas goalkeeper and three-time World Cup participant with the Mexican national team, Oswaldo Sánchez, shared his thoughts on which three goalkeepers he believes should be called up for the upcoming tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

His response came as a surprise – he left out the legendary Guillermo Ochoa, who, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is aiming to become the first player in history to appear in six World Cups next year.

"I see both of them doing very well [Luis Ángel Malagón and Raúl Rangel). I’ve known Malagón since Santos Laguna, he’s a very proactive guy, but we can’t rule out Rangel either. There’s still more than a year left before the World Cup – injuries can happen, anything can happen – and I would add Carlos Acevedo," he said. "Those are the three who will be competing for a spot at the World Cup, depending on what the coaching staff decides, but for me, those are the three who should be fighting for the position."

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Ochoa has done everything in his power to remain in European football in order to continue testing himself at the highest level—something truly admirable – the new generation of Mexican goalkeepers has been pushing through in recent years. And for now, everything seems to indicate that the Mexican national team's starting goalkeeper is clear: Malagón.

The América goalkeeper is one of Liga MX’s brightest stars and has proven he has no ceiling at 28. Another goalkeeper currently in fine form is Rangel from Chivas. Both were selected by Mexico manager Javier Aguirre to compete in the Nations League Final Four, along with young Carlos Moreno from Pachuca, whom the coaching staff wanted to evaluate up close.

But as Oswaldo Sánchez pointed out: “There’s still more than a year to go, and anything can happen.”

It remains to be seen which goalkeeper will call up for this summer’s Gold Cup, but signs suggest that the doors to the Mexico national team may be gradually closing for the legendary Ochoa. That said, knowing his professionalism and dedication, he will surely keep fighting to earn his place and achieve the dream of playing in a sixth World Cup.

AFPWHAT OSWALDO SÁNCHEZ SAID

“I got to play in a U-20 World Cup, the Olympics, and three World Cups, but I was only going to be the starter in one of them – so to miss it? I wouldn’t have forgiven myself," Sanchez said. "Getting to live it was incredible. The support from the people at that time, who were always by my side, meant everything. But above all, it was that childhood dream of playing in a World Cup – and that dream, I couldn’t let it go.”

The former goalkeeper, who played professionally from 1993 to 2014, added, “There are no words to describe what a World Cup is – the passion and the deep national pride you feel in that moment.”

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

This Thursday, the Gold Cup draw will take place, where the reigning champions of the tournament, Mexico, will find out their Group Stage opponents for the competition set to be played this summer in the United States.

will have two preparation matches ahead of the tournament—against Switzerland on June 7 and against Turkey on June 10.

Arsenal are targeting a forward who’s already bagged a goal against them this campaign, and it is believed they could advance on a January move before deadline day on February 3.

Arsenal in market for attacker after Saka and Jesus injuries

Star winger Bukayo Saka will be out of action until March after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem, while Gabriel Jesus is set to miss the rest of this Premier League campaign after rupturing his ACL.

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Saka’s return of goals and assists has been sorely missed by manager Mikel Arteta, even if they did secure North London Derby bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Tottenham on Wednesday evening, while Jesus’ absence has left the Spaniard with just Kai Havertz as his only striking option.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Aston Villa (home)

January 18

Wolves (away)

January 25

Man City (home)

February 2

Leicester City (away)

February 15

West Ham (home)

February 22

Arsenal can scarcely believe their luck when it comes to injuries in attack recently, which has reportedly prompted the Gunners to dip into this January market in search of external solutions.

Arteta has confirmed that the club are actively pursuing potential signings right now, and it is reliably believed that a striker is being targeted by Arsenal this month (Sky Sports).

“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that’s been the same since day one,” said Arteta on January transfers.

“It would be naive not to do that because it is always an opportunity to evolve the team and improve the squad, especially with the circumstances. So yes, we are looking, and we are trying and let’s see what we are able to do.”

Arsenal hold a concete reported interest in Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus as one target, while there are rumours that they could look to bring in Marseille striker Elye Wahi, amid reports he’d cost just £25 million.

Given both Saka and Jesus’ absences, it is little surprise we’re now hearing Bryan Mbeumo being mentioned as a potential option.

The versatile Cameroonian can play both out wide and as a centre-forward, acting as cover for both Jesus and Saka, with reports claiming he’s valued at around £50 million by Brentford.

While Thomas Frank has insisted that he’s not for sale this month, you could argue that a big offer could tempt Brentford into selling, especially when you consider the African has just 18 months left on his contract.

Arsenal could advance on potential Bryan Mbeumo deal in January

According to RMC Sport and reliable journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Arsenal could “go on the offensive” for Mbeumo before the end of this transfer window after registering an interest in his services.

Arteta’s side are joined by Tottenham and Man United in this regard, with all three sides gathering information on the 25-year-old who’s scored 13 goals for Brentford in all competitions so far this season.

One of those strikes actually came against Arsenal, where he played up front in a 3-1 defeat against them at the G-tech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day.

تشتعل المنافسة على الحذاء الذهبي هذا الموسم، بقيادة عدد من النجوم، بينهم المصري محمد صلاح، جناح فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي.

ويقترب موسم 2024-2025 من النهاية بالفعل، مع سعي المتنافسين لزيادة رصيدهم التهديفي، في محاولة الظفر بـ الحذاء الذهبي.

وأشعل كيليان مبابي المنافسة، بعدما سجل هاتريك في هزيمة فريقه ريال مدريد أمام برشلونة بكلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني.

يأتي ذلك في الوقت الذي توقف فيه محمد صلاح عن التهديف خلال مباريات ليفربول الأخيرة بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

يتصدر فيكتور جيوكيريس لاعب سبورتينج لشبونة حاليًا القائمة برصيد 57 نقطة، على الرغم من أن الدوري البرتغالي لا يعد من الدوريات الأوروبية الخمس الكبرى وبالتالي يمنح عدد نقاط أقل حتى لو سجل اللاعب أهدافًا أكثر من منافسيه بالدوريات الكبرى.

جيوكيريس سجل 38 هدفًا في الدوري البرتغالي ورصيده 57 نقطة في الصدارة حتى الآن. 

ويأتي محمد صلاح لاعب ليفربول خلفه مباشرة في المركز الثاني برصيد 56 نقطة، وقد سجل 28 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بالفعل هذا الموسم.

وفي المركز الثالث يأتي كيليان مبابي لاعب ريال مدريد الذي انتقل إلى 54 نقطة بعد ثلاثيته في الكلاسيكو.

وفي المركز الرابع يتقاسم روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم برشلونة، الذي جمع 50 نقطة من 25 هدفا سجلها في الدوري الإسباني، وهاري كين مهاجم بايرن الذي جمع 50 نقطة من 25 هدفًا التي سجلها في الدوري الألماني هذا الموسم. تصنيف الحذاء الذهبي الحالي

1- فيكتور جيوكيريس (سبورتنج لشبونة) (البرتغال): 38 هدفا، 57 نقطة.

2- محمد صلاح، ليفربول (إنجلترا): 28 هدفًا، 56 نقطة.

3- كيليان مبابي، ريال مدريد (إسبانيا): 27 هدفا، 54 نقطة.

4- روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، نادي برشلونة (إسبانيا): 25 هدفًا، 50 نقطة

5- هاري كين، بايرن ميونخ (ألمانيا): 25 هدفًا، 50 نقطة.

6- ماتيو ريتيجي، أتالانتا (إيطاليا): 24 هدفًا، 48 نقطة.

7- ألكسندر إيزاك، نيوكاسل (إنجلترا): 23 هدفًا، 46 نقطة.

8- ميكا بيريث، شتورم جراتس (النمسا): 24 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

9- عثمان ديمبيلي باريس سان جيرمان (فرنسا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

10- عمر مرموش، فرانكفورت (ألمانيا)/مانشستر سيتي (إنجلترا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

11- إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي (إنجلترا): 21 هدفًا، 42 نقطة.

West Indies’ batting crumbled with Santner and Bracewell sharing six wickets

Associated Press12-Aug-2022

Glenn Phillips struck a half century from 31 balls to propel New Zealand to a 90-run win over the West Indies in the second T20I in Jamaica, clinching the three-match series with a 2-0 lead.After reaching his fifth T20I half century, Phillips went on to 76 from 40 balls and led New Zealand to 215 for 5, exceeding the 185 for 5 that was a winning total in the first match of the series. His innings included six sixes and four fours.West Indies managed only 125 for 9 in reply, lacking the partnerships that underpinned a New Zealand total which was the highest by a visiting team against the West Indies in a T20I in the Caribbean.Phillips put on 71 for the third wicket with Devon Conway who made 42 from 34 balls and 83 with Daryl Mitchell who made 48 from 20, the latter partnership coming off just 34 balls. In all, New Zealand scored 130 off their second 10 overs.West Indies’ best were stands of 35 for the seventh wicket between Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell which began when the home team was 40 for 6 and the match already lost. Hayden Walsh and Obed McCoy put on 38 in an unbroken stand for the last wicket.Phillips put to good use his knowledge of conditions at Sabina Park, which is his home ground in the Caribbean Premier League.”Coming back to Sabina Park is amazing. I’ve got great memories here,” Phillips said in a television interview. “Being able to get a 50 for my country over here in front of a crowd which I really love is definitely very special for me.”Credit to the West Indies for the way they bowled up front with the new ball which was really, really good in terms of taking the pace off the ball when it was new and harder. As it got older the pitch became a bit nicer to bat on.”Seven West Indies wickets fell to spin bowlers, including the first four of the innings.Mitchell Santner, who was Player of the Match for his 3 for 19 in the first game, took a wicket with his first ball and two wickets in his opening over to set back West Indies’ run chase.Offspinner Michael Bracewell, who replaced fast bowler Lockie Ferguson in the New Zealand line-up, also took a wicket with his first delivery, dismissing captain Nicholas Pooran as West Indies slumped to 12 for 3 at the start of the fourth over.Santner and Bracewell both finished with 3 for 15. Tim Southee took the only wicket which fell to a fast bowler, removing Odean Smith at the tail.Shimron Hetmeyer was the first batter not to fall to a spin bowler, run out by a direct hit at the bowler’s end by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. West Indies were 28 for 5 at that point and couldn’t recover.”We just didn’t show up today,” Pooran said. “They batted us out of it and we couldn’t see our way with the bat. We had to stay in the game. It just didn’t start well for us. We are struggling but the more cricket we play our performance will grow.”The final T20I will be played on Sunday at the same venue, followed by three ODIs