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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has one player at the very top of his list of targets, and it is now believed the man in question is just as determined to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta makes new Arsenal transfer admission

With the first summer window just weeks away from opening, Arsenal supporters are eager to hear what their club has planned after reportedly striking an agreement for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal hold initial talks over signing £202k-a-week Real Madrid star

The Gunners have reached out and made contact.

ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

Zubimendi will be Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano and fellow reliable media sources, but one position they need to reinforce is further up front.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have forced Mikel Arteta to deploy midfielder Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role over the final stretch of this season, and supporters are desperate for Berta to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific number nine.

“I understand the narrative [about signing a No 9],” said Arteta about Arsenal’s rumoured pursuit of a striker.

“When you create five expected goals but only score one, it’s going to happen. It’s normal. We look at the things with much more data and resources than many people, but a lot of people have very good intuition on what is needed – and it’s good to listen to those opinions.

“We have a very clear vision from the ownership, the owner and the board, the new sporting director, we are all aligned on what we want to do. We are very close to achieving it – and that’s it.”

While Arteta remains coy, a host of strikers have already been linked with moves to N5, but one who stands out among them is Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

The Sweden international’s exceptional tally of 52 goals across 50 appearances in all competitions is understandably turning heads, and reports suggest Gyokeres could leave for much less than his £84 million release clause this year.

Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported earlier this week that Arsenal are offering the 26-year-old a £7 million-per-year salary to join them, roughly equating to around £135,000-per-week.

Now, that same source has provided another update, revealing the ex-Coventry star’s stance on returning to England with Arsenal.

Viktor Gyokeres decides he wants to join Arsenal

As per A Bola, Gyokeres has his heart set on joining Arsenal after being “emotionally” and “financially” convinced Arteta’s side are the right option for him ahead of Chelsea.

He is said to be at the top of Berta’s personal shopping list as well, with Sporting’s hopes of an auction between Arsenal and Chelsea quashed by Gyokeres’ burning desire to make a move to the former.

Gyokeres’ potential Arsenal deal would be a four-to-five-year contract, and the player apparently has an agreement already in place with Sporting that he can leave for around £63 million.

All signs are pointing towards an imminent Arsenal move for Gyokeres, but Emirates chiefs will be wary of potential hijacks, akin to Real Madrid’s swoop for Dean Huijsen.

Newcastle United’s season ended in the perfect way last weekend, despite a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton in the final game of the campaign. The Magpies secured Champions League qualification once again, after a year out of any continental competition in 2024/25.

Their final finish saw them pip Aston Villa to that last Champions League spot by finishing in fifth, helped by the fact that the Premier League gained an extra spot due to high coefficient points. They have been in the top five since the second game in April, and have clung onto the position to return to the Champions League.

Thus, it will be a big summer for Eddie Howe and his squad, as they look to shape the perfect group ready to compete amongst Europe’s elite clubs.

Newcastle’s summer targets

Already, the rumour mill has been whirring, and the transfer window has not even opened yet. Newcastle were recently linked with Liam Delap by TeamTalk, who say they held ‘showdown talks’ with the Ipswich Town star.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, according to CaughtOffside, the North East outfit ‘have expressed interest’ in signing Atletico Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina. They are believed to be ‘keen on securing his signature’ as they look to add to full-back depth.

However, they are not thought to be the only side trying to sign him this summer. Premier League rivals Liverpool are also keen. They’re in the market for a new right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

Serie A sides Inter, Juventus and Roma are also interested. Should Molina leave the Spanish capital, he could cost upwards of £29m.

Why Molina would be a good signing

At 27 years of age, you might struggle to find a better option at right-back than Molina this summer. Not only is he in the prime of his career, but the defender is hugely experienced, too. He was a World Cup winner back in 2022 with Argentina.

This season, the former Boca Juniors star has featured in 44 games for the La Liga giants. In that time, he has contributed to an impressive 17 clean sheets playing mainly as a right-back, but even slotting into centre-back as well.

He has also managed to chip in with goal contributions this term. Not only has the defender registered three assists across all competitions, but he even managed to get himself on the scoresheet away to Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-1 win in the Champions League group phase. As Neal Gardner said, he is a “stupidly good” player.

Molina would not be the only right-back Newcastle have signed from Atleti in recent seasons. In fact, they brought Kieran Trippier to the club from the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano for just £12m back in January 2022.

Now, three years on from his move to St James’ Park, the former England international is still a big part of Howe’s squad, although maybe not as much of an important player. This term, he played 25 times in the Premier League, but featured for just 1309 minutes, the equivalent of 14.5 full 90-minute games.

With that being said, there is no denying Trippier’s importance to this Newcastle project over the past few years under Howe. In 123 appearances, he has four goals to his name and an impressive 25 assists, which included ten in the Premier League in 2023/24.

During their most recent season for Atleti, Molina and Trippier can be compared statistically via Squawka. For example, in 2024/25, Molina created 0.8 chances and won 4.4 duels per 90 minutes, compared to Trippier in 2021/22, where he created 0.7 chances and won 5.8 duels each game.

Chances created

0.8

0.7

Forward passes

19.5

22.6

Take-ons competed

0.9

0.7

Duels won

4.4

5.8

Ball recoveries

3.8

5

If Molina can come into Newcastle and recreate the impact Trippier has had at the club, then he will surely be a successful signing.

The 27-year-old might well have a role that is just as important to play.

For just £29m, this could be a steal for the Magpies, as they look to bring in a player who could be Howe’s next Trippier.

Newcastle can find the next Ben Arfa by signing "astonishing" £14m magician

As Newcastle United look to strengthen their squad this summer, could they sign an “astonishing” magician reminiscent of Hatem Ben Arfa?

1 ByBen Gray May 25, 2025

Manchester United have made some key moves in the transfer market over the last couple of weeks, with Matheus Cunha completing his move to Old Trafford ahead of 2025/26.

The Brazilian could be joined at the club by striker Viktor Gyokeres, who could be reunited with boss Ruben Amorim after previously featuring under him at Sporting CP.

He’s registered 54 goals in his 52 appearances throughout 2024/25, leading to keen interest in his services over the last couple of months, with the Red Devils just one side interested in his signature.

It was reported this week that he would be open to a switch to Old Trafford, with Arsenal another side in the race to land the 27-year-old during the off-season.

However, the club should look past a move for Gyokeres, prioritising a move for another talisman instead, helping the club reach the next level in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Despite the window only opening on Sunday, United have wasted no time in pursuing options to help Amorim’s squad within the final third of the pitch at Old Trafford.

Antoine Semenyo, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Liam Delap have all been on their radar over recent weeks, but have missed out on the latter after he agreed a £30m deal with Premier League rivals Chelsea.

However, they could make a move to land Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who spent the current season on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray, scoring 37 times in 41 appearances across all competitions.

A report from Corriere del Mezzogiorno via Sport Witness confirmed that the Red Devils have been in contact with the Serie A outfit over a deal for the Nigerian, who has a €75m (£67m) release clause in his current deal.

Amorim’s side may have received a boost in their pursuit of the 26-year-old, after he rejected a proposal from Saudi side Al Hilal, with the race for his signature wide open this summer.

Why United’s £67m target could be a great signing for Amorim

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been a player who has set the Premier League alight over the last couple of seasons, often being a nuisance to countless backlines.

The Norwegian has scored a staggering 121 times in his 142 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, with six of his efforts coming in eight games against United.

Such a talent doesn’t come around very often, with the Red Devils previously passing up an opportunity to land the talisman under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Multiple years on, Haaland is now undoubtedly one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe, highlighting the mistake United’s hierarchy made in not pursuing a move for the 24-year-old.

However, this summer, that could all change with United’s latest target Osimhen, being dubbed “even better than Haaland” by agent Andrea D’Amico in recent months.

When delving into their respective stats this season, the Nigerian has managed to better him in numerous key areas, backing up the statement which may have seemed far-fetched.

Osimhen has scored more goals than Haaland throughout 2024/25, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing the clinical edge he possesses over the Norwegian in front of goal.

Games played

30

31

Goals & assists

31

25

Shot-on-target rate

52%

51%

Shots taken

7.3

3.4

Aerial won

4.3

1.8

Aerial success rate

63%

53%

Take-ons completed

60%

36%

He’s also won nearly three times more aerial battles and posting a higher success rate in such a department – handing Amorim the focal point he’s lacked since taking the reins.

The loaner’s dominance hasn’t stopped there, completing nearly two times more take-ons in 2024/25, and having the all-round skillset that would bolster the attacking department at Old Trafford.

After splashing £62.5m on Cunha already this summer, a £67m transfer for Osimhen may seem steep, but it’s one that would transform the side based off his figures from this season.

Should he make the move and get anywhere near close to the levels produced by Haaland in England’s top-flight, it would be an absolute bargain – pushing the club closer towards their former glory.

Amorim's next Amad: Man Utd closing in on agreement to sign £70m "monster"

Manchester United could be set to land their next summer addition in the next few days.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 5, 2025

As Manchester United look to balance their books this summer amid early incomings, Al-Nassr could now reportedly offer INEOS their biggest payday of the window in pursuit of an attacking ace.

Man Utd readying summer clear-out

With Matheus Cunha already signed and Bryan Mbeumo reportedly likely to follow suit, Manchester United will have little choice but to clear some room in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

In what feels like a never-ending cycle, the Red Devils must rebuild once again and, in doing so, show the door to any unwanted stars in a ruthless summer plan.

Among those heading for the exit door is likely to be Rasmus Hojlund. The struggling striker has never truly made his mark at Old Trafford, despite costing an eye-watering £72m in 2023. Now, two years on, Inter Milan have reportedly come calling for his signature in a deal that could eventually cost around £38m.

Whether Hojlund, himself, accepts a summer departure may be another question, though. The young forward told Danish media when questioned about his Manchester United future this week: “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United. I’m looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I’m fully dedicated to the project that’s underway.

“I know I can’t get much out of reading things. I know what the facts are, and that is that I have a contract with Manchester United until 2030. I expect to play there, so I’m just getting ready for some summer vacation and then hopefully a good pre-season.”

Man Utd submit bid for once-£57m ex-Man City ace who’s desperate for move

He won six Premier League titles at Manchester City.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 7, 2025

Whilst Hojlund is keen to stay put, however, the same can’t be said for another struggling Man United star, who could yet hand the Red Devils an impressive financial boost on his way out.

Al Nassr now eyeing Garnacho swoop

One player who has looked almost certain to be heading for the exit door ever since Amorim arrived is Alejandro Garnacho. In Amorim’s first Manchester derby, the Argentine found himself dropped alongside Marcus Rashford. The latter soon left on loan and went on to thrive at Aston Villa. Garnacho, however, stayed put but things have not become better in recent months.

Now, according to The Mirror, Al-Nassr could hand INEOS their biggest payday of the summer by signing Garnacho. The Saudi giants have been pursuing a move to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool, but may turn towards the £50,000-a-week winger if the Premier League champions remain reluctant to sell their South American star.

If that does prove to be the case, Amorim may well be glad to see the back of the winger after Garnacho publicly disagreed with his decision to start Mason Mount in his place in the Europa League final.

Since then, Amorim has reportedly told the young winger to find a new club in front of the rest of his teammates in a public dressing down. Unless anything dramatic happens at this stage, Garnacho’s exit is one that would be best for all parties.

Arsenal have come an incredibly long way over the last few seasons.

Just four years ago, Mikel Arteta’s side were languishing down in mid-table, and in the campaign after that, were unable to make it into the top four.

Since then, the North Londoners have made it to the quarter-finals and then semi-finals of the Champions League while also finishing as runners-up in the Premier League three campaigns on the bounce.

19/20

9

6

5

8th

20/21

18

7

13

8th

21/22

22

3

12

5th

22/23

26

6

6

2nd

23/24

28

5

5

2nd

24/25

20

14

4

2nd

However, the time has come for the club to make good on their transformation and finally lift some major silverware next season, which could explain recent links to a superstar attacker who has won comparisons to serial winner Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal transfer news

With the club being so close to achieving something great over the last few years but still coming up short, it’s not been much of a surprise to see them linked to several attackers who could provide them with that extra push in recent weeks; stars such as Morgan Rogers and Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for a fee as high as £100m this summer, but while that’s an astronomical amount of money, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it, as in 54 appearances for Aston Villa this season, he scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists.

Williams, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as productive, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 45 games for Athletic Bilbao, but then again, he’d also cost a lot less, with a release clause reportedly worth around £50m in his current deal.

Yet, while both players would certainly improve Arteta’s side next season, they might not utterly transform it, unlike Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to reports from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Sporting CP striker ahead of the transfer reopening next week.

In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United, the Gunners have already submitted an offer for the Swedish star.

However, it would appear as if the Portuguese outfit now want €80m, which comes out to about £68m.

While it would represent a serious financial investment to match that fee, Gyokeres’ incredible ability and record suggest it would be one worth making, especially as he’s won comparisons to Mbappé.

How Gyokeres compares to Mbappé

Before going over some of the other reasons why Arsenal might want to sign Gyokeres this summer, it’s worth examining this comparison to Mbappé and where it’s come from, as the Real Madrid forward is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in world football.

Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Champions League this season and then created a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it concluded that the Frenchman was the number one most similar forward to the Swedish international in the entire competition this season.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.70

0.77

Progressive Carries

4.26

4.24

Goals per Shot

0.18

0.14

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.03

0.96

Shot-Creating Actions

3.85

3.52

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.91

1.92

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to assists, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, goals per shot, passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

With all that said, while a comparison to one of the best and most exciting players in the world is certainly encouraging, there is another enormous reason why the Gunners should be doing all they can to sign the former Coventry City star: his ridiculous output.

In his first season with Sporting, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, was able to rack up a sensational haul of 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes, which equates to an average of 1.16 goal involvements per game, or one every 71.87 minutes.

Then, as if on a one-man mission to prove he wasn’t just a one-season wonder, the 27-year-old marksman did even better this year, scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 appearances, totalling 4248 minutes, which comes out to a frankly absurd average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Ultimately, Gyokeres is a lean, mean goalscoring machine and, like Mbappé, is someone who could potentially lead a team to multiple league titles, and therefore, is someone Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign this summer.

Berta makes approach to sign "Timber 2.0" in £42m deal for Arsenal

The incredible talent could develop into a world-beater at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

This has been a testing first window as Arsenal Sporting Director for Andrea Berta so far. Then again, it was never going to be easy was it?

The Gunners desperately need a new striker and the footballing world knows that. RB Leipzig and Sporting are trying to milk Arsenal for all Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are worth.

The Londoners have reportedly held talks to sign both players but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t look too forthcoming.

Still, Arsenal are active and Berta is working his socks off to ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side are ready for that opening weekend’s encounter against Manchester United.

The arrival of Martin Zubimendi will certainly help.

Arsenal’s pursuit of new midfielders

The Gunners are set to confirm the arrival of Zubimendi from Real Sociedad any day now.

The Spaniard was first linked with the club back in January when it was revealed that Arsenal were ready to trigger the midfielder’s release clause.

Fast forward several months and a deal is now on the verge of completion with it reported that he was in London over the weekend to tie up the formalities of his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Zubimendi isn’t the only midfielder Arsenal have been tracking.

Indeed, according to TBR Football, they are ‘trying’ to sign PSG’s highly talented teenager, Warren Zaire-Emery.

Transfer Focus

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

They understand that the Gunners started talks with the Champions League winners last week regarding a move.

However, any deal looks incredibly unlikely with the Ligue 1 side informing Arsenal that the 19-year-old is not for sale.

They note that if a switch did happen, Berta and Co would need to come armed with a ‘significant’ offer.

What makes Zaire-Emery so special

With Jorginho having exited the Emirates on a free transfer and Thomas Partey’s Arsenal adventure potentially set to come to a conclusion, Arteta needs more midfielders.

Zubimendi certainly ticks one box. European football expert, Sid Lowe, has previously noted that the 26-year-old “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri”.

So, wouldn’t it be rather special if he were partnered alongside Zaire-Emery?

The PSG sensation may be young but the fact of the matter is that he’s rather special. The teenager’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while data analyst Ben Mattinson notes that he is an “Mbappe at Monaco level of talent”, largely thanks to his blend of skills.

Arsenal have enjoyed the talents of some of the best young players in Europe throughout the years, none more so in the current day than Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Yet, Zaire-Emery reminds us of a certain Cesc Fabregas.

The Spaniard was younger than the French superstar when he moved to London, just 16, but his impact in the Premier League quickly helped him to showcase why he was one of the best young players in world football.

He eventually left Arsenal behind having scored 57 and assisted 95 in 303 outings. Named captain of the club when he was just 21, making him the youngest skipper in their history, there have been few better midfielders to grace Highbury and the Emirates over the last 20 years.

In short, he was a generational talent, an assist machine, someone who oozed class and could pass through the lines like very players on the planet.

Zaire-Emery, a player generating the same level of hype Fabregas was as a teenager, is cut from a similar cloth. He notably made his Champions League debut at the age of just 17, and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.

1. Youssoufa Moukoko

Dortmund

16 years, 18 days

2. Lamine Yamal

Barcelona

16 years, 2 months

3. Rayan Cherki

Lyon

16 years, 3 months

4. Alen Halilovic

Zagreb

16 years, 4 months, 6 days

5. Youri Tielemans

Anderlecht

16 years, 4 months, 25 days

6. Francesco Camarda

AC Milan

16 years, 7 months, 12 days

7. Warren Zaire-Emery

PSG

16 years, 7 months, 17 days

8. Charalampos Mavrias

Panathinaikos

16 years, 7 months, 29 days

Compared to midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top 3% for pass success rate, the top 9% for passes made and the best 10% for switches, a ball that travels more than 40 yards the width of the pitch.

What those numbers rubberstamp is the comparison to Fabregas, one of the best passers of the modern era.

While PSG’s teen superstar doesn’t quite possess the same rate of assists just yet – producing just two last season – his ability as a deep-lying playmaker certainly evokes memories of Fabregas in the latter stages of his career.

As for his development as a youngster, it certainly has hallmarks of the way the Spaniard burst onto the scene all those years ago.

Rodrygo upgrade: Arsenal make approach for "one of the best LWs in Europe"

The incredible Champions League winner would be a Rodrygo upgrade for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 23, 2025

He had previously served as New Zealand men’s batting coach between 2014 and 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jun-2024Craig MCmillan, the former New Zealand batter, has been appointed as the assistant coach of the women’s team for the next two years.McMillan, who played 260 internationals between 1997 and 2007, will work alongside head coach Ben Sawyer starting with the upcoming tour of England later this month.McMillan had previously served as New Zealand’s batting coach between 2014 and 2019, a period that saw the team reach consecutive ODI World Cup finals. He had also featured as a fielding coach for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2018. McMillan’s most recent assignment was as a batting consultant for Canterbury last season.”He’s a proven coach with an extensive international playing career,” Sawyer said. “The players are excited to start working with Craig; they’re looking forward to having him on board for the upcoming tour to England.”McCullum said he was looking to “drive the team forward” ahead of a busy schedule that includes the women’s T20 World Cup in just four months.”I’m rapt with the appointment and to be back involved in coaching international cricket again,” he said.”It’ll be great to be part of the White Ferns family as we head into a busy nine-month schedule with some exciting challenges ahead. I’ve watched these talented players a lot from close quarters over the past few seasons and can’t wait to join the management team in driving the group forward.”New Zealand are scheduled to tour England for three ODIs and five T20Is, between June 26 and July 17. They will then travel to Australia for a three-match T20I series in September, before the T20 World Cup in October.

India completed a splendid turnaround after losing the series opener

Sreshth Shah14-Jul-20243:43

Takeaways: India’s future bright as youngsters come good

Zimbabwe kept India to a par total of 167 despite a half-century from Sanju Samson, and they took the upper hand in the chase after a strong powerplay. However, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube hit back with the ball to sniff out any chance of a Zimbabwe victory, and India sealed a 42-run win to complete a splendid series turnaround in Harare after losing the opening fixture of the series.Sunday’s victory was India’s fourth win in a row, all completed in comfortable fashion.Jaiswal, Abhishek, Gill fall inside powerplayAfter Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss for the first time all series, he sent India in. Yashasvi Jaiswal began with two sixes off the first two balls of the match, including one off a Raza no-ball, but the opener could not maximise his start, and was bowled in the first over itself.That brought in Abhishek Sharma, but his stay was brief too, Blessing Muzarabani getting him caught behind with a length ball angling across him. Shubman Gill followed Abhishek to the hut when a Richard Ngarava short ball got big on him, and he sliced a mis-hit to mid-on.Samson lifts India’s inningsThe three top-order wickets left India at 44 for 3 after the powerplay and forced a rebuild from No. 4 Samson – he was pushed up in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence – and No. 5 Riyan Parag, who was batting for the second time this series. They batted together for 56 balls, and even though they added only 65 for the fourth wicket, they ensured India arrested a potential collapse. Parag made a 24-ball 22 and was out to legspinner Brandon Mavuta when he tried to up the scoring rate.Samson, though, made full use of the time he took to get going. At one stage he was on 17 off 18 balls, but when Mavuta bowled in his arc, he capitalised to up the scoring rate. Samson struck four sixes in all, and just the lone four, and when he fell in the deep in the 18th over trying to take Muzarabani on, he was out for a 45-ball 58.With 15 balls to go and India at 135 for 3, the base was set for an aggressive finish. Dube ruined Ngarava’s economy rate by smacking him for 4, 6, 4 in the 19th over in his 12-ball cameo of 26, and Rinku Singh hit a six in the 20th to ensure India finished above 160. Muzarabani picked up 2 for 19 in his four overs, and was the best of the five bowlers used by Zimbabwe.Mukesh Kumar finished with a career-best 4 for 22•Associated PressMarumani, Myers put Zimbabwe on trackBack in the XI for the final game of the series, Mukesh continued his habit of striking early, taking his third first-over wicket in three outings. This time, Wessly Madhevere was the victim, chopping on off a ball that moved into the right-hand batter sharply to fall for a duck.Mukesh added a second when he tempted Brian Bennett (10) to play over the off side with a full ball swinging away, but the No. 3 could only slice to deep backward point, leaving the hosts 15 for 2 in the third over.Mukesh could have had a third, pegging back Tadiwanashe Marumani’s stumps after a tidy spell to the left-hander from around the wicket, but he had overstepped, and it briefly looked like an expensive mistake as Marumani and No. 4 Dion Myers (34) attacked seamer Tushar Deshpande and wristspinner Ravi Bishnoi.They went particularly hard against Bishnoi, a player Zimbabwe have struggled against all series, and the wristspinner began with a 16-run sixth over that took Zimbabwe to 47 for 2.Washington kickstarts Zimbabwe’s downfallWashington took the ball after the powerplay, and struck in his second over from around the wicket to Marumani, who was lbw trying to slog across the line. That dismissal forced a slowdown, allowing India to drag the game back into their favour with Bishnoi and Washington controlling proceedings.Dube chipped in with a solid shift, picking up a wicket apiece in the 13th and 15th overs, both with short balls. He first dismissed Myers, and then had Johnathan Campbell holing out. In the over in between, he ran Raza out with a direct hit at the bowler’s end. All this left Zimbabwe struggling at 90 for 6.Dube eventually finished with 2 for 25, while Abhishek and Deshpande also picked up a wicket apiece with the game going out of Zimbabwe’s grasp. Faraz Akram (27 off 13) entertained the home crowd with two fours and two sixes late in the innings before being caught behind off Mukesh in the 19th over. No. 11 Ngarava then had no answer to a full, fast delivery, and Mukesh finished with his best T20I figures – 4 for 22.Dube was adjudged Player of the Match for his 12-ball 26 and 2 for 25. Washington claimed the Player-of-the-Series trophy for his eight wickets at an average of 11.62 and an economy rate of 5.16.

Newcastle United haven’t quite got going in the summer transfer window, but Eddie Howe has a plan and is beginning to put it into action.

Despite missing out on a host of top targets, the Tynesiders will be confident that they can make something meaningful out of a transfer window that is preceded by the Magpies’ success in winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.

They will need to recover from the slew of setbacks which has seen them miss out on Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Joao Pedro.

And things are gathering pace on that front.

Newcastle looking to kickstart transfer window

Newcastle have reportedly launched a fresh attempt worth £50m + to sign Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga and their pursuit of new talent isn’t going to stop there.

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is also anticipated to be on the verge of joining the St. James’ Park ranks, having been hailed for his “world-class” level by manager Scott Parker earlier in 2025.

With a goalkeeper and a new winger potentially ticked off, it’s over to the midfield. While it isn’t regarded as the highest priority by Howe and Co, the opportunity to sign Matteo Guendouzi might be too good to resist.

As per reports in Italy, translated by Sport Witness, Newcastle have joined Aston Villa and rivals Sunderland in preparing a bid for the Lazio midfielder, who is valued at €50m (£43m).

Guendouzi, 26, is a valued member of Maurizio Sarri’s squad, but financial concerns may force them to cash in.

Why Newcastle want Matteo Guendouzi

France international and former Arsenal star Guendouzi never hit his finest form when cutting his teeth as a Gunner, however, he was always regarded as a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He completed 66 fixtures under Unai Emery’s wing before moving back to his homeland. A stint with Marseille led to rehousing in the Serie A with Lazio, where he has now performed for the past two campaigns, featuring prominently.

His combative and progressive mix of qualities, hardened by his time in Italy, suggests he could be Howe’s next version of Sandro Tonali, who served as an inimitable maestro for Newcastle last season.

Guendouzi, indeed, ranked among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Press-resistant and confident in their roles, Guendouzi would add competition for the Italian, who was so instrumental for Newcastle’s incredible resurgence last term.

Indeed, with Sean Longstaff potentially being sold, the need for such a signing is underscored.

Matches (starts)

36 (28)

37 (37)

Goals

4

1

Assists

2

3

Touches*

53.4

68.3

Pass completion

86%

91%

Big chances created

4

3

Key passes*

0.8

1.2

Dribbles (success)*

0.6 (59%)

0.4 (60%)

Ball recoveries*

4.9

4.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

1.9

Duels won*

3.7 (54%)

2.8 (50%)

Both players operate so fluidly in the middle of the park, and Guendouzi could add the perfect bit of depth to ensure Newcastle pull their weight across domestic and continental competitions in 2025/26.

Newcastle have already hit the jackpot with one midfield signing brought over from the Italian scene; might they strike gold once again?

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ByBen Gray Jul 3, 2025

Since taking the hot seat at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has got plenty of things right.

He’s taken a team that were spiralling with no end in sight and turned them into genuine contenders for the Premier League and Champions League.

Additionally, he has overseen several impressive signings, including Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, David Raya, and Gabriel Magalhães.

Yet, arguably the Spaniard’s most underrated purchase since becoming manager has been that of Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion, who joined the club for a relatively low price of £27m, and has since produced 51 goal involvements in 124 games.

And now, based on reports, it looks like Arsenal are about to sign another promising player who could emulate the Belgian international over the coming years.

Arsenal's summer business so far

There was plenty of justifiable unease earlier this summer, as it appeared that Arsenal would once again take too long to sign their targets, or, like last year, massively underinvest in the squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Fortunately, such concerns can now be firmly put to rest, as the club have already announced three signings: Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Add to that Viktor Gyokeres, who is reportedly set for his medical on Friday, Noni Madueke, who has already passed his, and the fact that links to Eberechi Eze refuse to go away, and this window is shaping up to be one to remember for the North Londoners.

Moreover, we could be days away from another announcement, an announcement for someone who could end up becoming something of a new Trossard for Arteta.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal have almost completed the signing of centre-back Christian Mosquera.

The Italian journalist claims that the Gunners have now exchanged documents with Valencia and agreed a final fee of €15m – £13m – plus add-ons for the Spaniard, with the overall package coming in at under €20m, which is about £17m.

Moreover, fans shouldn’t have to wait too long to see the 20-year-old in red and white, as Romano has revealed that his medical is planned for today.

In all, it looks like a sensational bit of business for Arsenal, and we can’t help but see him following a similar path to Trossard over the coming years.

Why Mosquera could emulate Trossard at Arsenal

Now, it is an undeniable fact that, as someone who primarily plays at centre-back, Mosquera is quite different from Trossard.

However, when we discuss the young Spaniard emulating the Belgian at Arsenal, his position and playing style aren’t particularly relevant; instead, it is more about the finances involved, the role he could play in the squad next season, and the expectations placed on him.

For example, when the former Brighton star joined the North Londoners in 2023, he did so for a decent fee and as a back-up option to the then far more talented Gabriel Martinelli.

The Waterschei-born ace was a third-choice winger, but through good performances, he was able to secure plenty of minutes and improve his reputation among fans.

That is the path we see the Valencia ace taking, as, due to his right-footedness, there is no doubt that his role next season will be as the back-up to William Saliba.

Moreover, with Riccardo Calafiori being so injury-prone and being more of a left-back option, as well as reports that Jakub Kiwior could still leave this summer, the Spaniard could instantly be the third-choice centre-back.

Finally, based on his performances for Valencia, and the way those in the know speak about him, there is every chance Arteta tasks him with playing more games than some might be expecting.

Appearances

137

Starts

129

Minutes

7399

Goals

1

Points per Game

1.34

Yellow Cards

9

Second Yellow Cards

0

Red Cards

0

For example, despite just turning 21 years old, the “dominant” defender, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 137 first-team appearances for the Murciélagos, of which 129 have been starts.

On top of that, Mattinson has argued that he’s similar to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the sense that he’s already so good, he’s “past the point of being compared to the best young players in his position.”

Lastly, U23 scout Antonio Mango has been incredibly complimentary of the young defender, stating that he possesses “a nice blend of physical prowess and a deep understanding of the game.”

Additionally, his ability to play on the right or left, as well as at right-back, “offers flexibility” to his manager.

Ultimately, Mosquera is a very different player to Trossard, but there is a strong chance he ends up fulfilling a similar role to him next season, but in defence, as the reliable third option who ends up getting far more game time than most expect.

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