Aston Villa are now set to make a move for an “amazing” striker, who has been identified as a priority target for the January transfer window.

Villa eyeing striker after Watkins' slow start

Ollie Watkins has been one of the driving forces behind Villa’s resurgence under the helm of Unai Emery, with the striker maintaining a fantastic goal and assist record across the past five Premier League seasons.

Season

PL appearances

Goal contributions

2020-21

37

19

2021-22

35

13

2022-23

37

21

2023-24

37

34

2024-25

38

24

However, it would be fair to say the striker has made a slow start to the new campaign, having failed to register a single goal contribution despite featuring for 90 minutes in each of the Villans’ opening three games.

Of course, it is still very early days, and the 29-year-old still has plenty of time to get back on track, but it now appears as though Emery wants to bring in another striker during the January transfer window.

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa and NSWE are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, with the Europa League side planning to maintain pressure on the Eagles throughout the January window.

With Villa aiming to secure qualification for the Champions League once again, they are keen to bring in more depth in attacking areas, and Mateta has been identified as a priority target, but there is set to be competition for his signature.

Leeds United and Newcastle United have also pinpointed the striker as a priority target, given the level of his performances last season, but any deal may be relatively expensive, given that Palace are set to hold out for a fee of around £40m.

"Amazing" Mateta would provide Emery with great depth

Given that Emery implements a 4-2-3-1 system, it is difficult to see how the 28-year-old would fit into the side, although Emery has been willing to drop Watkins in the past, with the England international hitting out after not starting against Paris Saint-Germain last season.

The striker said: “I was fuming I wasn’t playing. I let him (Emery) know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.

Related Aston Villa's most expensive signings of all time

NSWE have splashed the cash in recent years.

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“It’s something I haven’t experienced before, missing out on the biggest stage. You always want to play, especially in the Champions League.

Given that Mateta is the main man at Palace, scoring 17 goals in all competitions last season, he is also unlikely to be willing to sit on the bench, but the signing of the Frenchman would provide Emery with great depth in attack. He has also loved playing against Villa in the past, scoring six goals in 10 appearances.

Lauded as “amazing in the box” by manager Oliver Glasner, Mateta is a proven Premier League striker in the prime of his career, but Emery would be a real selection dilemma in attack if Villa were to win the race for his signature.

Essex captain given chance to finish tour as she started it in T20I leg

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2025

England A captain Grace Scrivens made 35 in the first T20I•Getty Images

Grace Scrivens will be given another chance to enhance her captaincy credentials as she leads England A’s red-ball team in their four-day match against Australia A in Sydney this week, at the conclusion of their multi-format series.Scrivens, 21, was handed the captaincy of the T20I leg of the seven-match tour, and succeeded at the first attempt where her senior counterparts had failed in their Women’s Ashes whitewash earlier this year.England A won that opening match of the series by three wickets at Hurstville Oval in Sydney, with Scrivens herself making 35 from 38 balls, before the remaining two matches were washed out.Hollie Armitage, Durham’s captain, then took over the reins for the three 50-over matches that followed, with England’s thrilling one-wicket win in Monday’s third ODI leaving the teams with two wins each in the four completed games so far.Although there are no official points at stake in the multi-format series, the series finale has an element of winner-takes-all to it, and will take place at Cricket Central from April 12-15.Scrivens, Essex’s captain, has yet to make her full England debut and so is unlikely to be considered as Heather Knight’s replacement, following the latter’s removal from the role after a nine-year tenure.However, Scrivens is widely considered as an England captain in the making, having led the Under-19 team to the T20 World Cup final in South Africa in 2023. Andy Tennant, her director of cricket at Essex, recently described her as “the English Graeme Smith”, in reference to the South Africa captain who led his side for 11 years after taking over at the age of 22 in 2003.With Charlotte Edwards now installed as England’s head coach, a new captain is due to be announced ahead of the team’s first series of the summer, against West Indies in May. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current vice-captain, is currently on maternity leave following the recent birth of her son, Theodore.

And so we reach the end of the summer transfer window. Three days out and Liverpool still lack a few parts to reorient them as the well-oiled super-squad that won the Premier League under Arne Slot last season.

But they are getting there. Liverpool have dramatically clawed three points from Bournemouth and Newcastle United in their opening fixtures of the campaign, scoring late both times to deflate their opponents after commendable comebacks.

Spirited though Slot’s adversaries were, such results outlined Liverpool’s defensive fragility and tactical imbalance, and there is hope that a late-window deal will be finalised for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, adding the depth and skill at the rear to smooth out the wrinkles.

Liverpool have conceded six goals across their opening three fixtures of the term, two in each game. Each time they have let their lead slip away, albeit recovering in both league outings.

Guehi, one of Anfield’s main targets throughout the course of August, is anticipated to sign for the Reds before Monday’s transfer deadline, having entered the final year of his contract with Crystal Palace.

The persisting uncertainty around Ibrahima Konate’s future at Liverpool demands such an acquisition, and some of a Reds persuasion might suggest that therein lies the crux of the club’s biggest issues.

However, Liverpool are not limited to one player or one position as the window enters this final stretch, with a certain someone seemingly edging closer to Merseyside themself.

Liverpool getting closer to late-stage deal

When Liverpool sold Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, they did so with the knowledge that they had won the race for an exciting new forward in Hugo Ekitike, beating off competition from Newcastle United for the Frenchman’s signature.

FSG’s efforts have proved fruitful, even at this early stage. Ekitike has scored three goals and laid on one assist across his first three games at Liverpool, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing him for his “brilliant start” to life in Slot’s system.

However, Liverpool want more.

Transfer Focus

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

And perhaps they will get their wish. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have submitted an official proposal for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, with the Magpies’ stance thought to have relaxed, having found a breakthrough in their bid for a striker,

The report suggests that there is now a growing confidence at Anfield that a deal can be struck ahead of Monday’s deadline. Isak, for his part, has been desperate to leave the Toon following what he has described as “broken promises”.

Indeed, a deal has been agreed for Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, opening the door for Isak’s departure. Newcastle have already rejected a £110m offer at the start of August, but there seems to be encouragement as the window winds down.

Though Newcastle want to receive £150m for their talisman, Liverpool are aware that this is a one-horse race, and are ready to pay a figure in the region of £130m.

What Alexander Isak would bring to Liverpool

There’s no mistake, elements of Liverpool’s protracted summer pursuit of Isak have been somewhat unsavoury, not least the striker’s breakdown in relations with those at St. James’ Park.

But Liverpool won’t care a jot, not if they manage to guide the deal over the line in the coming days.

Isak joined Newcastle for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, and he has since established himself as one of the most dangerous and complete strikers in the world.

Remarked by journalist Sid Lowe to have long held “the potential to be very special”, Isak has proved as much over the past few years in England.

Given the nature of how the saga has transpired, Liverpool might find themselves signing their own version of Philippe Coutinho, for the Brazilian playmaker left Liverpool for a record-breaking figure back in December 2017, having previously handed in a transfer request as he sought to push a move through to Barcelona.

Many expected Liverpool fall by the wayside after Klopp lost his prized gem, but the Merseysiders only went from strength to strength, and though this deal would be the inverse, Liverpool welcoming their own version instead of parting ways, Isak’s quality and proven Premier League experience suggest he could make a lasting impact on Slot’s side, combining with and challenging Ekitike over the coming years.

Coutinho, to be sure, was on another level during that early iteration of Klopp’s Liverpool, and while the Reds initially rejected his request to leave for pastures new, it goes to show that once a player has their heart set on a new home, it’s often futile to try and keep them against their will – just ask Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Coutinho: PL Stats 17/18
Stats* (* = per game)	#
Matches (starts)	14 (13)
Goals	7
Assists	6
Shots (on target)*	3.9 (1.2)
Pass completion	79%
Key passes*	2.9
Dribbles*	2.8
Tackles*	1.2
Duels won*	5.6
Stats via Sofascore

Newcastle, for what it’s worth, will adapt without their star striker, but Liverpool will only raise their level even higher with a completed deal for the Scandinavian talent, who has actually been hailed as being “the best striker in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan, owing to his wide range of qualities, a scope that is wider than the expectation of a focal frontman.

Data from statistics-led platform FBref reveals that Isak, who scored 27 goals for Newcastle last season, also ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 20% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Like Coutinho in his pomp, Isak is a wonderful and multi-faceted player. Given everything involved in this gripping and, at times, exhausting transfer saga, he may well prove to be Liverpool’s own version of the one-time superstar midfielder.

Better deal than Isak: Liverpool planning D-Day bid for £76m "superstar"

Liverpool need to sign another forward before the transfer window closes on Monday.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 28, 2025

Gabriel Milito’s influence at Chivas was on full display as his team earned a third straight win, defeating Pumas 2-1 away on Matchday 12. The result pushed Chivas into ninth place with five matches left, reviving belief in Milito’s project even as their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Chivas currently sit ninth in Liga MX.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A significant turnaround

  Milito emphasized that his team must continue to treat every match as a final as they chase a spot in the postseason. Guadalajara are now clinging to a Play-In position – a significant turnaround after a difficult start to the season.

  “We’ve reached the decisive stretch,” Milito said after the match. “If we want to reach the goal we set at the beginning, we have to keep earning points – ideally three at a time. We don’t have much margin for error. We’ve climbed in the table, but there are still five games to go, and every match will continue to be a final.”

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• AFP
  

  The rise of a new star

  The Argentine manager also praised 20-year-old forward Armando González, whose six goals this campaign have made him a key figure in Chivas’ recent surge.

  “He’s still developing, but he’s got a great mentality,” Milito explained. “He presses, he fights, and he has a natural instinct for scoring – something that’s hard to find at his age. The team depends on his goals, and he gives us confidence up front.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  González dreams of joining El Tri

  After the match, González spoke to about the joy of scoring past Costa Rican legend Keylor Navas, calling it “a special moment.”

  “Keylor is one of the greats,” González said with a smile. “I’m happy and thankful to God for the experience.”

  Although he wasn’t called up by Javier Aguirre for Mexico’s latest international window, González admitted that representing El Tri at a future World Cup remains a dream.

  “Playing in a World Cup? Of course,” he said. “If I keep doing things right, I believe my time will come. For now, I just have to stay focused on Chivas.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tough schedule ahead for Chivas

  Looking ahead, Chivas will face Mazatlán FC, Querétaro, Atlas, Pachuca, and Monterrey, with the clash against Monterrey shaping up as the toughest test in their remaining schedule.

  “There’s no more room for mistakes,” Milito concluded. “We’ve made progress, but we have to keep improving and avoid getting too comfortable with recent results.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras entregou neste sábado (29) a lista de inscritos para as oitavas de final da Libertadores. O clube enviou os nomes para a Conmebol dentro do prazo estabelecido pela entidade, que é de 72 horas antes do início da fase (1º de agosto). Mesmo sem os esperados reforços, o Verdão precisou fazer mudanças nos 50 jogadores que foram inicialmente registrados para a fase de grupos da competição.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras ainda pode acionar ’emergência’ para garantir reforço nas oitavas da LibertadoresPalmeiras29/07/2023PalmeirasSaiba quanto a atual patrocinadora do Palmeiras investiu no clube desde o início da parceriaPalmeiras29/07/2023PalmeirasDe olho no futuro, Palmeiras contrata jovem que pode ter multa de mais R$ 500 milhõesPalmeiras28/07/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Na sexta-feira (28), segundo o diretor de futebol, Anderson Barros, o Alviverde foi “ao limite” na tentativa de contratar o volante Aníbal Moreno, do Racing-ARG. No entanto, os argentinos estavam irredutíveis e não abriram mão do valor que vinham pedindo. Dessa forma, a diretoria palmeirense acabou desistindo de contratar um atleta a tempo de atuar pelas oitavas da Libertadores.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O clube poderia fazer até cinco alterações dentro da lista de 50 nomes que havia sido entregue para a fase de grupos. Como não trouxe novos jogadores, restou ao Palmeiras fazer outro tipo de mudança: retirar os atletas que foram negociados e não estão mais no grupo.

continua após a publicidade

São os casos de Vinicius Silvestre, que está no Portimonense-POR, de Rafael Navarro, que está no Colorado Rapids-EUA, de Giovani, que está no Al Sadd-QAT, e de Bruno Tabata, que está no Qatar SC-QAT. Todos eles foram removidos da lista, restando 46 nomes disponíveis para Abel Ferreira. Desses, 27 estão na base, no grupo de transição ou acabaram de subir para o profissional.

+ Racing-ARG recusa oferta por Aníbal Moreno, e Palmeiras fica mais longe de se reforçar para a Libertadores

Caso passe para as quartas de final e consiga contratar um reforço até o dia 2 de agosto, quando se encerra a janela de transferências, o Palmeiras poderá inscrevê-lo até o dia 19 de agosto, quando serão permitidas três trocas na lista.

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Confira a lista de inscritos do Palmeiras na Libertadores:

Goleiros

21 – Weverton
42 – Marcelo Lomba
51 – Kaique
24 – Natan

Laterais-direitos

02 – Marcos Rocha
12 – Mayke
32 – Garcia
52 – Gilberto

Zagueiros

15 – Gustavo Gómez
26 – Murilo
13 – Luan
34 – Naves
33 – Michel
43 – Vitor Reis
44 – Vareta
53 – Pedro Felipe
54 – Benedetti

Laterais-esquerdos

22 – Piquerez
06 – Vanderlan
36 – Ian

Meio-campistas

08 – Zé Rafael
25 – Gabriel Menino
23 – Raphael Veiga
20 – Atuesta
27 – Richard Ríos
30 – Jailson
35 – Fabinho
40 – Jhon Jhon
31 – Luis Guilherme
38 – Patrick
45 – Léo
48 – David Kauã
50 – Pedro Lima
55 – Vitor André
60 – Thalys

Atacantes

07 – Dudu
09 – Endrick
10 – Rony
14 – Artur
18 – López
19 – Breno Lopes
37 – Kevin
39 – Daniel
41 – Riquelme Fillipi
47 – Kauan Santos
49 – Wendell

It may have ultimately proved to be fleeting and flawed, although there was a time where it looked as if Manchester United were fashioning a new fearsome forward line under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

2019/20 – albeit while latterly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic – was a particularly fruitful campaign for the Norwegian’s bright young attack, with the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea on the opening day setting the tone for what was to come.

Reinstated as the number nine once again, amid Romelu Lukaku’s swift exit, Anthony Martial was in fine fettle leading the line, having got off the mark himself after bundling home against the Blues.

In all, the mercurial Frenchman reached career-best figures of 17 Premier League goals, a tally matched by teammate Marcus Rashford for his own joint-best top-flight record.

While Rashford – who bagged a brace on the opening weekend – would be hampered by injury in the latter stages of the campaign, it is noteworthy that nine of Martial’s league goals came in February onwards.

Wonder what could have happened to help spark that scoring spree….

Bruno Fernandes' connection with Martial & Rashford

Ah yes, the 2020 January transfer window marked the arrival of a certain Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker instantly hitting the ground running with a Man of the Match display on debut against Wolves.

As Luke Shaw stated later that year, Fernandes struck up a particularly “flowing” partnership with Martial straight off the bat, with the pair memorably combining for that inventive Manchester derby free-kick in March.

According to Transfermarkt, the pair enjoyed a joint goal participation of 14, with that the third highest of Fernandes’ career to date, behind ex-Sporting CP teammate Bas Dost (17), and the aforementioned Rashford (26).

To see the Englishman leading the way is perhaps no surprise, with his ability to run in behind and put a defence on the back foot, partnered with Fernandes’ creative brilliance, proving a simply deadly combination.

In 2020/21, for instance, five of Rashford’s goals were assisted by the one-time Udinese man, as per WhoScored. That figure rose to six in 2022/23, with only Erling Haaland and Manchester City’s chief provider, Kevin De Bruyne, enjoying a more fruitful marriage that season (8).

The way in which United’s two main men combined that season, in particular, was a joy to behold, with Fernandes speaking at the time about his ‘connection’ with the United academy graduate:

While both Rashford – now out on loan at Barcelona – and Martial have since departed, the opportunity remains for the 31-year-old to strike up a new bond under Ruben Amorim’s watch.

Why Fernandes may have found his new Fernandes & Martial

As time goes on, hopefully marquee summer signing Benjamin Sesko will begin to catch fire in his new surroundings, with six games having now come and gone without a goal for the £74m Slovenian.

Still just 22, the ex-RB Leipzig man has largely been restricted to cameos thus far, with chances so far at a premium.

There was a neat one-two with Fernandes in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, although the United skipper uncharacteristically overhit his return pass, forcing Sesko wider than he would have liked with the goal in sight.

That connection will need to be struck – as it seemingly wasn’t with Sesko’s predecessor, Rasmus Hojlund – if United are to have a fruitful season, albeit with the early signs at least promising regarding Bryan Mbeumo.

Off the mark already with goals against both Grimsby and Burnley, the £65m signing from Brentford has undoubtedly been the shining light of 2025/26 so far for Amorim and co, putting in his “best game yet” against the Blues, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Mbeumo’s PL record

Season

Games

Goals

21/22

35

4

22/23

38

9

23/24

25

9

24/25

38

20

25/26

5

1

Total

139

43

Stats via Transfermarkt

Direct, dynamic and remarkably unfazed, the 26-year-old – described as an “output machine” by content creator Ronaldo Brown – appears to have the best of Martial and Rashford rolled into one, if the early evidence is anything to go by.

As his composed, calm finish against the Clarets indicated, Mbeumo is truly an elite finisher, having notably scored 20 league goals last term in west London. The manner in which he can almost stroke the ball home does evoke memories of Martial at his best, with it worth re-watching some of the Frenchman’s early days, in particular.

That unerring ability to almost caress the ball into the corner hasn’t been evident among many United forwards of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, yet Martial – when fit and firing – was a master. As Mbeumo’s strike against Grimsby showcased, he too possesses that silky quality in front of goal.

Like Rashford too, however, the pacy left footer has the speed and power to stretch a defence, having expertly latched onto Sesko’s flick on in the build-up to Robert Sanchez’s red card at the weekend.

The early connection with Fernandes also looks promising, with the playmaker notably picking out his new teammate with a delightful, searching pass in the early knockings of the Burnley win.

Mbeumo pulled away from his man in Rashford style to get on the end of that chance, before expertly killing the ball dead, a la Martial, to cut inside and test Martin Dubravka from range.

It is, of course, still early days, yet the Cameroon international looks set to be central to everything good about United, both this season and beyond.

Having briefly struck gold with both Rashford and Martial, Fernandes may well have found a new, exciting partner-in-crime to dovetail with at the Theatre of Dreams. He no longer has to do it all on his own.

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The toss was delayed by close to two hours due to a persistent drizzle

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2025

RCB captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field•BCCI

Toss Punjab Kings chose to bowl vs Royal Challengers BengaluruAfter rain kept the players waiting for two-plus hours, Punjab Kings (PBKS) won the toss and unsurprisingly, chose to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The game has been reduced to a 14-overs-a-side affair with three bowlers being allotted a maximum of four overs and one bowler being allotted a maximum of two.Shreyas Iyer, PBKS’ captain, said that this being a rain-interrupted game with the overs being reduced was the reason behind his decision. The visitors made one big change: Glenn Maxwell, who has had a lean season so far, made way for Marcus Stoinis. Harpreet Brar also came in for the visitors.Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, said that they have to be smart in adapting to the situation and conditions. When asked what he made of the conditions, he said it might be “a bit sticky, but the surface looks pretty hard and good to put up a total.”RCB XI: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Tim David, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Suyash SharmaImpact players list: Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil SinghPBKS XI: 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 3 Shashank Singh, 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Xavier Bartlett, 11 Arshdeep SinghImpact players list: Prabhsimran Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Pravin Dubey