Tag Futebol

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell made a bold move during the summer transfer window when he swooped to sign Youssef Chermiti from his former club Everton.

The Light Blues paid £8m to sign the Portugal U21 international from the Premier League side, which is the highest fee they have paid for a player since the £12m move for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Because of that transfer fee, Chermiti’s performances for Rangers his season have been under the spotlight, and he has failed to justify the huge outlay as of yet.

Pundit Michael Stewart described his finishing as “so poor” against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final earlier this month. Fellow pundit Ally McCoist also noted on TNT Sport that the striker is “showing nothing” to prove he was worth the fee paid for him.

Chermiti has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, per Sofascore, which may be why pundits like Stewart and McCoist have been harsh on him.

However, the former Premier League flop is not the only summer signing who has struggled at the top end of the pitch this season, as Bojan Miovski has failed to live up to expectations.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Bojan Miovski

Danny Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the summer signing from Girona from the starting line-up because he struggled once again in the 3-0 win over Dundee last weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

The Macedonia international was handed the chance to led the line at Dens Park, but was removed by the German head coach at half-time after a dismal first-half display, with zero shots and two out of nine duels won, per Sofascore.

Miovski was signed from Girona for a fee of up to £4.2m and arrived with a big reputation in Scotland, thanks to his form for Aberdeen in the past, as shown in the graphic below.

However, pundit Charlie Mulgrew recently noted that there is more pressure on him at Ibrox. The ex-Celtic defender said: “When you play for Aberdeen, you can get away with not scoring for three or four weeks. At Rangers, you don’t get six or seven games to find your feet. You’re in the spotlight and you need to hit the ground running, and that’s why there are question marks around him.”

Miovski, who was described as “non-existent” by one Rangers podcaster, has struggled to deal with the pressure of leading the line for the Gers, as shown by his form this season.

Appearances

8

4

Goals

1

0

Minutes per goal

506

N/A

Big chances missed

3

1

Big chances created

0

0

Assists

0

0

Ground duel success rate

32%

44%

Aerial duel success rate

29%

17%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed marksman has not offered much in the way of quality in front of goal or reliability out of possession in the Scottish Premiership or the Europa League.

Miovski should be in the prime years of his career at the age of 26, but his performances for the Scottish giants suggest that the opposite is true, as he has struggled badly in comparison to his previous form in the division, with just one league goal.

This is why Rohl should ditch him from the starting XI, and possibly even from the club in the January transfer window unless he can turn his form around in the next few weeks.

However, as aforementioned, Chermiti has also failed to impress since his £8m move from Everton, which is why the manager may need to get creative with his team selection.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up by unleashing Mikey Moore in a brand-new role as a centre-forward at Ibrox.

Why Rangers should play Mikey Moore as a striker

Rangers signed the England youth international on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and he endured a difficult start to life at Ibrox.

The 18-year-old forward did not provide a goal or an assist in his first five outings in the Premiership, but he has registered a goal and an assist in his last four matches, per Sofascore, which shows that the youngster has been improving.

Moore started as a right-midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 against Dundee at Dens Park last weekend. However, it was by drifting into a central position that he created and scored his first goal of the season.

The teenage whiz looked far more comfortable playing quickly and directly in a central position through the build-up to this goal, which suggests that Rohl could get more out of him by playing the Spurs loanee in a new role.

In fact, his overall career statistics, for Spurs at first-team and academy level, indicate that he is more likely to deliver goals and assists when playing in a central position.

Left wing (19)

4

6

Attacking midfield (10)

6

4

Centre-forward (7)

11

4

Right wing (10)

1

0

Left midfield (1)

0

1

Right midfield (1)

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Moore has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 17 starts as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, whulst his numbers as a winger, on either flank, are not as impressive.

With this in mind, the English attacker could thrive if unleashed as the striker in the team ahead of Miovski and Chermiti, given his goal at Dens Park and his record for Spurs at youth level.

Danilo played as the number ten against Dundee, behind Miovski, and the Brazilian could interchange roles with Moore as a fluid front two in that 4-2-3-1 system, with both players capable of switching between striker and attacking midfield throughout matches.

That could cause problems for opposition defenders, who could get confused about who to step out to or who to mark, and create some interesting dynamics in the final third when Rangers are building attacks.

Rohl can unearth bigger talent than Gassama in £3.5m Rangers flop

Danny Rohl could unearth a bigger talent than Djeidi Gassama in this Rangers flop.

ByDan Emery Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up in order to unleash Moore in this new role, as it could be an exciting tactical change for the Light Blues.

After failing to agree to terms on a contract extension before his self-imposed deadline of Monday night, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made it clear how he feels about his future with the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I want to be here. I want to be a Blue Jay for the rest of my career," Guerrero on Tuesday told MLB.com through an interpreter. "But it’s free agency and it’s business. I’m going to have to listen to 29 other teams."

Guerrero's desire to remain with the Blue Jays is no secret. Just last July at Media Day prior to the All-Star Game, he told reporters he'd "love" to remain in Toronto, but added that he understood it's a "business." But Guerrero's loyalty does come at a price.

When asked if the Blue Jays were close to meeting the numbers that would have prompted him to sign, he responded simply, "No."

"They had their numbers, I had my numbers," he further explained.

The failure to come to terms means Guerrero will be ticketed for free agency after the conclusion of his age-26 season. And, if the respective markets of two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge, three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani and four-time All-Star Juan Soto are any indication, he'll be in line for a massive payday, particularly if he produces like he did in '24.

Guerrero posted a .323/.396/.544 slash line with 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 98 runs scored and 72 walks in 159 games played this past season. Along with his stellar '21 campaign, in which he finished second in the AL MVP voting, '24 was one of Guerrero's finest seasons as a pro.

But more than individual success and impending riches, Guerrero has a clear idea of what he'll look for in free agency.

"Winning team. That’s what I’ll be looking for in free agency," Guerrero said. "As you guys know, my dad played a lot of years. He never won a World Series. My personal goal is to win a World Series and give the ring to my dad. That’s all I’m looking for."

The Blue Jays, who have missed the postseason in three of the six seasons Guerrero has spent in Toronto and have failed to advance past the AL wild-card round in the other three campaigns, have work to do in that department if they want to impress their star slugger.

Pat Cummins is set to sit out the white-ball matches against South Africa next month as part of his build-up towards the Ashes later in the year.Cummins had already been rested for the five-match T20I series against West Indies along with Mitchell Starc and Travis Head. Now Josh Hazlewood has been added to those returning home after the Test series, having originally been included in the squad, with Xavier Bartlett named his replacement.While Hazlewood will feature against South Africa in the Top End during August – a tour which includes three T20Is and three ODIs across Darwin, Cairns and Mackay – Cummins will move into a period of fitness work ahead of the home summer.Related

• Australia to trial new combinations as T20 World Cup build-up begins

• 'It makes me feel old' – Starc reflects on journey to 100 Tests

• 'Might be a few things going on' as Sabina Park makes pink-ball debut

• 'Everything's an option' – Could Lyon be left out for first time in 12 years?

He is eyeing being involved in a short T20I tour to New Zealand in early October and some of the limited-overs matches against India ahead of the Ashes in late November. There is also the potential of a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales, which he didn’t do last season before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”I’ll have a good training block for the next couple of months, six weeks or so,” Cummins told reporters at Sabina Park. “Probably not bowling, but lots of gym work. [My] body feels pretty good, but there’s always little bits and pieces you’re always trying to get right and then build up for the summer. So it’ll probably look like white-ball [cricket]…we’ve got some [matches against] New Zealand, India, potentially a Shield game and then into the home summer.”Cummins remains Australia’s ODI captain but has only led them twice in the format since the 2023 World Cup final. He missed the Champions Trophy earlier this year due to an ankle problem he managed during the Tests series against India.The early stages of next season’s Sheffield Shield are shaping as key for Australia’s Ashes plans amid the continued search for a settled top order. Sam Konstas will have two more innings to make a mark in the West Indies and Usman Khawaja two more to settle the talk around his form. Cameron Green, meanwhile, will be looking to build on the second-innings half-century in Grenada.Attention will then turn to how those players perform ahead of England’s arrival. Green is part of the T20I squad in the West Indies and will likely feature against South Africa before focus shifts to a potential return to bowling. Konstas is expected to be part of the four-day matches on the Australia A tour of India in September, but Khawaja is unlikely to play again until the domestic season starts for Queensland.”There’s a lot of Shield cricket to come and some Aussie A stuff as well,” Cummins said on the significance of the final Test in the West Indies. “I think [if] you do well at Test level, any time it’s going to kind of make your case more compelling. I think there’s a bit of a connection to the summer, but it feels a long way away at the moment.”Xavier Bartlett picked up 18 wickets in 11 innings in MLC•MLC

Meanwhile, Bartlett, who holds a Cricket Australia contract, will get the opportunity to build on his impressive early T20I record of 11 wickets at 14.72 from seven matches. He will arrive in the Caribbean after a productive MLC campaign for San Francisco Unicorns which, as of Friday, put him as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.He has been joined as a late call-up by Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has replaced left-arm quick Spencer Johnson with the selectors altering the balance of the squad. Johnson is nursing back soreness that he picked up during the IPL. Fraser-McGurk, who played alongside Bartlett at Unicorns in MLC, started the tournament strongly but finished with four single-figure scores in five innings.He has made 113 runs in seven T20Is with a top score of 50 against Scotland last year. He was dropped by Delhi Capitals during this year’s IPL where he averaged 9.16, which came after a lean BBL for Melbourne Renegades that produced 188 runs at 18.80, 95 of which came in the last match of the season against Brisbane Heat.The T20I series against West Indies starts on July 20 with two matches at Sabina Park before the final three are played in St Kitts.

أكد أحمد عبدالرؤوف، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، أن فريقه جاهز لتقديم مباراة قوية أمام بيراميدز في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، مشيرًا إلى ثقته الكبيرة في لاعبيه رغم الغيابات التي يعاني منها الفريق.

وقال عبدالرؤوف في تصريحاته خلال المؤتمر الصحفي: “اللاعبون مستعدون لتقديم مباراة كبيرة أمام بيراميدز الذي نحترمه ونقدّره، ومن يمتلك جمهور الزمالك ويكون داعمًا له، لا يقلق من البطولات الكبيرة”.

وتابع: “جمهور الزمالك دائمًا ما يكون داعمًا في الظروف الصعبة، وكثيرًا ما مررنا بأوقات صعبة وتخطّيناها وحصدنا بطولات، الكرة لا يوجد بها صعب، وأنا أثق في اللاعبين على المستوى الفني، بالتأكيد الغيابات مؤثرة، ولكن اللاعبون الموجودون على قدر المسؤولية، وأثق أنهم سيقدّمون مباراة كبيرة”.

وأضاف: “الحديث عن تصدير المشاكل يحدث في الإعلام، لكن على أرض الواقع نحن نمرّ بمشكلة على مستوى النادي وليس المستوى الفني، نحن نثق في اللاعبين الموجودين، والزمالك يعيش مشاكل على مستوى النادي وهذا حقيقي، لكننا سنستغل ذلك دافعًا لنا، نحتاج أن يقف الجميع إلى جانب النادي أكثر من ذلك، لكن لا توجد مشكلة فنية، الزمالك أينما وُجد فهو كبير وسيظل كذلك، أنا لست مجرد مدرب للزمالك، لكنني عشت كلاعب وحملت قميصه، وحلمت أن أكون مساهمًا في تحقيق أي انتصار للزمالك”.

وواصل: “الظرف صعب بالنسبة للمدرب، لكن عندي نظام معين أطبّقه على لاعبين كبار فنيًا وأخلاقيًا ومقاتلين، أتمنى أن يكون التوفيق معنا، لأن مهما درست الخصم فإن التوفيق يبقى مهمًا، أنا لست متخوفًا، فقد عملت مديرًا فنيًا لفرق أقل كثيرًا من الزمالك، فعندما أتواجد على رأس القيادة الفنية للزمالك لا يمكن أن أخاف”.

طالع أيضًا | عمر جابر: الزمالك المرشح الأول للفوز بالسوبر.. ونعرف قيمة بيراميدز

وعن سبب غياب ناصر منسي وبديل بيزيرا في مباراة الغد، قال: “هي قائمة وُضعت لأن النادي مرتبط بتأشيرات السفر، أنا توليت المسؤولية منذ أسبوع فقط، فجئت على قائمة موجودة بالفعل ونظام مُطبّق، حتى المواعيد كانت محددة، أعمل وفق الظروف الموجودة، وبالنسبة لتعويض خوان بيزيرا، إن شاء الله (هتشوفوه بكرة في الماتش)”.

واستكمل: “كرة القدم لا تعترف إلا بالجهد والعرق، وهذا ما سنفعله، عندي يقين أن اللاعبين سيبذلون كل ما لديهم، أما على المستوى الفني، فسيكون هناك التزام بالنظام داخل الملعب، الزمالك وبيراميدز يعرفان قيمة بعضهما، وسنحترمهم جدًا، ولكن سنتعامل بمكانة نادي الزمالك وقيمته”.

وأضاف: “الفرق الكبيرة دائمًا عندها شخصية، أنا لم أختر أن أكون مديرًا فنيًا، لكن الله هو من اختار، جئت كرجل مساعد للفريق، وتولّيت القيادة الفنية بعد رحيل يانيك فيريرا، ولم أكن أعلم مسبقًا، لكن اختيار الله لا يوجد أفضل منه، مهما كانت الجودة، فالتوفيق مهم، ولو تولّيت تدريب الزمالك يومًا واحدًا فهو شرف كبير لي”.

وأردف: “غياب بيزيرا بالتأكيد مؤثر، لكن من المهم ألا نهمل أننا نلعب مباريات كثيرة في وقت قصير، الزمالك ينافس في الدوري وكل البطولات، وطبيعي أن نفقد بعض اللاعبين وسط ضغط المباريات، لكن عندنا عناصر تستطيع تعويض غياب أي لاعب”.

واختتم: “المكسب مهم جدًا لي مع الفريق في الفترة الحالية، لأن الفوز في البداية يطمئن الجماهير، بيراميدز فريق كبير، وبالنسبة للتعامل مع فيستون مايلي، فنحن نحترمه، ولكن لدينا مدافعين قادرين على التعامل معه”.

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly battling to complete the signing of “one of the strongest forwards in Europe” in 2026, with his big wages not a problem for either side.

Rooney impressed with Mbeumo at Man Utd

The Red Devils’ start to the season has been flawed, with not all of their new signings hitting the ground running, but Bryan Mbeumo has made an encouraging start to life at Old Trafford.

One player who has been impressed by the Cameroonian’s performances in a United shirt is Wayne Rooney, who admitted as much on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“He looks like the type of character who would be fine with it (going back to his old club). I think he’s been a real positive for Man United this season. I think his energy, his running off the ball, his commitment, he’s scored a couple of goals, he could have had more.

“So I’ve been really happy. I think he’s been, out of all the signings, the most positive one. And he looks like someone who will just take it in his stride. So, yeah, I think he’ll be ok. It’s not always easy when you go back.”

While Mbeumo has been joined by Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko at United this summer, another attacking player is now being mentioned as a transfer target for them.

Man Utd battling Chelsea for soon-to-be free agent

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United are interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is on course to become a free agent in 2026.

The Red Devils will reportedly have no issue paying the Serb’s £10m-a-year wages, with Chelsea also keen on acquiring his signature, and Juve could cash in on him in the January transfer window, rather than lose him for nothing.

Vlahovic is an outstanding striker who has proven himself over an extended period, being hailed by his former manager Cesare Prandelli earlier this week.

“Dusan has shown great professionalism. He has endured everything. His goals reflect his inner balance. For me, he is a champion. I’d like to see him score even more – he is one of the strongest forwards in Europe.”

Dusan Vlahovic’s key career stats	Appearances	Goals
Juventus	150	62
Fiorentina	108	49
Partizan Belgrade	27	3
Serbia	38	15

Vlahovic has all the tools to be a big hit for United, from physicality to expert finishing, but the one question mark against them signing him is whether it would stunt Sesko’s growth at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old Slovenian is still adjusting to life with the Red Devils, but there needs to be a point where United show faith in a striker and stick with him, having loaned Rasmus Hojlund out to Napoli for the 2025/26 season.

Man Utd thought they had "the next Scholes", but he was sold for just £435k

One former Manchester United talent ultimately failed to reach the hype he arrived with.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 26, 2025

That said, strong depth is never a bad thing, and the club needs to be ruthless, so if Sesko doesn’t enjoy a big first year at Old Trafford, a move for Vlahovic could make perfect sense.

Rana back in the T20I side; maiden T20I call-ups for Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay

S Sudarshanan15-May-2025

Shafali Verma returned to the T20I squad for the first time since October 2024•AFP/Getty Images

Shafali Verma has been named in India’s T20I squad for the first time since the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, while Sneh Rana, too, makes it for the first time since the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. They are part of the 15-member T20I squad for the white-ball tour of England that starts on June 28.Seam-bowling allrounders Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare, and left-arm spinners N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay received their maiden T20I call-ups. Shree Charani and Upadhyay were part of the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka that India won earlier this week. Goud was called-up to that squad after Kashvee Gautam was ruled out midway because of a leg injury.Related

India's road to Women's T20 World Cup 2026: what's right and what needs a look

India are shedding their over-dependency on Mandhana and Harmanpreet

Shafali was out of the national side after ODI series at home against New Zealand last year. She went back to domestic cricket and scored heavily – leading run-getter in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy (527 runs, 152.31 strike rate, 75.29 average) and the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy (414 runs, 145.26 strike rate, 82.80 average) – while captaining Haryana. She also scored 304 runs (fourth-most in the season) from nine innings at a strike rate of 152.76 for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025.Following her ODI debut, Kranti Goud received her maiden T20I call-up for the England tour•SLC

Rana, on the other hand, has forced her way into the T20I setup following her performance in WPL 2025, where she was drafted in by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the injured Shreyanka Patil. Rana picked up six wickets in five matches and almost helped RCB qualify for the playoffs when she hit Deepti Sharma for 26 runs in an over against UP Warriorz. She is not part of BCCI’s centrally-contracted players but was the Player of the Series in the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka. Patil, who picked up an injury at the T20 World Cup last year, is yet to be given clearance by BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy).Harleen Deol, who is a regular No. 3 in the ODI side, is back in the T20I side for the first time since July 2024. She was Gujarat Giants’ third-highest run-getter in WPL 2025, scoring 232 runs at a strike rate of 120.83. Raghvi Bist, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani, who all played in India’s last T20I assignment against West Indies at home, do not feature in the England-bound squad.Despite the strong showing, Shafali continues to miss out from India’s ODI squad, that is largely unchanged following their strong tri-series showing. Satghare is the only addition to the team that won the competition. She made her ODI debut against Ireland at home earlier this year and took three wickets in three matches.Pratika Rawal, who averages 63.80 in 11 ODIs, is the designated opening partner for Smriti Mandhana with Deol backed to bat one-drop. Yastika Bhatia will be the back-up wicketkeeper for Richa Ghosh while Maharashtra’s Tejal Hasabnis is the spare batter in the ODI setup.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Shree Charani and Upadhyay, who finished third on the wickets tally and was the Player of the Tournament as Madhya Pradesh won the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy last year for the first time, are part of the spin department headed by Deepti and Rana.There was no word on fast bowlers Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu, who were left out of the tri-series squad because of injury.India Women will play five T20Is followed by three ODIs on the tour that overlaps with the men’s five-match Test series. As per the women’s future tours programme, this is India’s last ODI series ahead of the Women’s World Cup they would be hosting later this year.India squad for the women’s T20I series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Sayali SatghareIndia squad for the women’s ODI series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare

Arsenal supporters were all hoping their clubs would invest heavily in the squad this summer, but even the most optimistic Gooner must surely have been pleased, and surprised, by the extent of the summer recruitment.

On deadline day, Piero Hincapié was unveiled as the eighth summer signing, joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with an obligation to buy of around £45m, becoming the first Ecuadorian in the club’s history.

Before this, the Gunners had spent around £267m, bolstering all areas of their squad, after Mikel Arteta’s team were so significantly hampered by injuries last season.

While certain signings have garnered all the headlines, could one of Arsenal’s under-the-radar arrivals actually prove to be the best signing any Premier League club made this summer?

Arsenal's attacking reinforcements

We’ll ultimately never know, but it’s safe to assume that Arsenal would not have invested in their squad quite as heavily as they did, had current Premier League champions Liverpool, the side they’re ultimately attempting to dethrone, spent even more.

The Reds’ signed Alexander Isak for £125m on deadline day, shattering the Premier League record transfer fee, taking their summer outlay to around £450m, with Florian Wirtz’s £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen a short-lived British record.

The German is yet to sparkle in a Liverpool shirt, albeit it’s very early days, and he did score a scrumptious free-kick against Northern Ireland at RheinEnergieStadion last Sunday, showcasing his talent.

Isak meantime is, arguably, the best striker in the world, not a bad player to add to your squad if you’re Arne Slot, but it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in, considering fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitiké has already caught the eye, and how long he takes to get up to speed.

Nevertheless, the champions now possess an array of attacking talent, with Arsenal recruiting Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres in response.

Eze is set to make his eagerly-anticipated home debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Gyökeres has earned mixed reviews so far, barely involved against Manchester United and Liverpool, but scoring a brace during the Gunners’ only home game to date, the 5-0 demolition of Leeds.

However, could a less heralded new recruit actually prove to be Arsenal’s best?

Arsenal's best summer signing

With Jorginho and Thomas Partey both departing Arsenal as free agents this summer, the base of their midfield has undergone a major revamp, and an important one at that, given that the player in this position is very much the nucleus of an Arteta team.

Martín Zubimendi is the new midfield fulcrum, arriving to little fanfare, even though he deserves much more.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, David Ornstein of the Athletic reported as far back as mid-January that his move from Real Sociedad was essentially a done deal, meaning by the time he arrived in July, most anticipation and excitement had subsided.

Also, at the time, Gyökeres was still yet to join, with Gooners fixated on the striker signing, unable to be pleased about anything else until that was done.

Nevertheless, Zubimendi is someone worth heralding, not least because the Spanish international turned down the chance to join Liverpool 12 months earlier, emphasising the attractiveness of moving to Arsenal.

The reason Zubimendi was so sort after is simply because he is an exceptional player, as the table below documents.

Attempted passes

1,772

21st

Passes into final 3rd

172

12th

Progressive passes

195

10th

Touches

2,131

18th

Touches mid 3rd

1,332

8th

Interceptions

44

12th

Blocks

42

16th

Ball recoveries

140

24th

Worth noting that Zubimendi’s statistics last season are all the more impressive given that his Real Sociedad side ended up 11th in La Liga, their lowest finish since 2018, losing almost half of their matches.

Upon his arrival in North London, Arteta spoke glowingly about his compatriot, praising his “football intelligence”, adding that he will bring “a huge amount of quality”, concluding that “he has all the attributes to be a key player”.

Already in Arsenal’s opening three matches, Zubimendi has been able to show what he is all about, completing 145 of his 167 passes, 11 of which have been into the final third, while 12 are categorised as progressive.

The 26-year-old may not be someone you’ve really noticed during Arsenal matches so far, more a player you need to witness in the flesh to truly appreciate, but he crucially has the capabilities to increase the Gunners’ speed of in-possession play, improving the team at both ends of the pitch.

If Arteta’s team do go on to achieve what they want to achieve this year, the £60m paid for Zubimendi’s signature will feel like a steal. Those on Anfield may well live to rue missing out on him a year ago…

Their homegrown Isak: Arsenal may regret selling "special" Hale Ender

The talented goalscorer could have become something really special at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 10, 2025

Harry Kane’s release clause has sparked rumours of a Premier League return, but Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus insists the striker is “in very good hands” in Munich. The England captain has scored 13 goals in seven games this season and is closing in on his 100th strike for the German giants after a weekend hat-trick.

Release clause rumours swirl but Kane shines on the pitch

Speculation has resurfaced around Kane’s contract at Bayern, with reports suggesting a €65 million (£55m/$71m) release clause could allow him to leave in 2026. Talk of a possible return to England resurfaced again when Tottenham coach Thomas Frank said he would be in favour of bringing him back to north London. For now, though, the English striker is thriving in Bavaria. His hat-trick against Hoffenheim pushed him to 13 goals in just seven appearances this term, keeping him on course for a third consecutive Bundesliga Golden Boot.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMatthaus: Bayern is where Kane belongs

Speaking to and , legendry Bayern midfielder Matthaus dismissed concerns over Kane’s future: “Exit clause or not. It’s not a mandatory clause. He can stay at Bayern.

"Kane is in very good hands in Munich. He feels very comfortable there. He has been Germany's top scorer twice and is on the verge of his third top scorer award. He's winning titles with Bayern, something he didn't do with Tottenham."

The German the concluded: "I don't think he can feel more comfortable anywhere else than at FC Bayern."

Why Bayern can’t afford to lose him

The 32-year-old's form has transformed Die Roten's attack since his arrival in 2023, and Matthaus’ comments underline how vital the England captain has become. Beyond his goalscoring exploits, his link-up play and leadership have made him central to Vincent Kompany’s system. While Premier League clubs may circle in the future, Bayern’s project looks built around Kane as their focal point.

Asked if Kane is the best striker in the world, Matthaus said: "Yes. Especially when you look at the goals: He scores everywhere in every competition. He's not just someone who scores goals, but also provides assists. And what I like about an attacking player: When he contributes to the defence – Harry Kane does that brilliantly."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportCentury mark within reach for Bayern’s No.9

Kane is just two goals away from reaching 100 for Bayern, a staggering tally in only 103 games. His immediate focus will be on the Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen, before switching attention to the Champions League trip to Pafos at the end of the month.

Celtic have had a mixed start to the season, and despite sitting top of the Scottish Premiership, failure to qualify for the Champions League and an inability to sign a new striker in the transfer window have dampened the mood at Celtic Park.

In the final few days of the window, Brendan Rodgers’ side were frantically trying to bring in a replacement for the departing Adam Idah. Celtic were in negotiations for Anderlecht’s Kasper Dolberg, but that move fell through with the Danish striker returning to his former club Ajax.

In an even more concerning turn of events, deadline day saw Celtic try to sign Chelsea’s David Datro Fofana, but the 22-year-old opted to attempt a loan move to Championship side Charlton instead.

While they failed to sign their final player in the window, the Bhoys have received the unique opportunity to bring in their much-desired striker.

Celtic's Iheanacho lifeline running out of time

Indeed, Celtic have received a second opportunity to sign their final striker target. On deadline day, the Hoops tried to sign Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, but this move did not materialise. However, Rodgers has been offered a transfer lifeline as Sevilla and Iheanacho have reached an agreement to terminate his contract. The Nigerian striker had one year left on his deal in Spain.

When revealing Celtic’s deadline day interest in Iheanacho, Anthony Joseph reported that it was the Scottish side’s second attempt to sign the midfielder as they also approached Sevilla about signing him in January, but he decided to go out on loan to Middlesbrough instead.

As a free agent, Celtic have the opportunity to recruit Iheanacho outside of the usual transfer window. However, time is still of the essence for Celtic as they have to submit their UEFA Europa League group stage squad by 11 pm on Tuesday. This means that if they want Iheanacho in Europe, they have to sign and register him as soon as possible.

Iheanacho can revitalise his career at Celtic

Some fans may be concerned that the striker they may end up with was quite a way down their shopping list and that his club would rather terminate his contract than keep him for another season. However, he has shown in the past that he is a more than capable striker who can help Celtic in their multiple cup campaigns.

British football fans will most likely be familiar with Iheanacho from his time in the Premier League with Manchester City and Leicester City. While he never set the world alight in England, he was always playing second fiddle to another striker.

In both Manchester and Leicester, he was rotated with club legends Sergio Aguero and Jamie Vardy, respectively, and he only reached 30 league appearances in a season on one occasion. This means that despite only averaging just over 8 goal involvements a season, he actually averaged a goal involvement about every 98 minutes of play time.

While the move to Sevilla undoubtedly didn’t work out, given a new opportunity and ample game time, Iheanacho has a good chance of rediscovering his Premier League form and prolificness in front of goal.

Up to 5mm of rain is also forecast on Thursday – match eve – although clear conditions are expected through the Test match

Tristan Lavalette20-Nov-20244:38

Australia SWOT analysis: Formidable attack, but top-order questions

By the time Josh Hazlewood fronted the cameras for his press engagement, the sun finally emerged over Optus Stadium in a welcome sight for the ground staff after unseasonal damp weather hit Perth just days before the first Border-Gavaskar Test.WA Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald has been striving to produce a fast and bouncy wicket that emulates last summer’s Australia-Pakistan Test, where the pitch deteriorated as the match wore on with rearing deliveries contrasted by balls that crept low on big cracks.But McDonald’s plans have taken a turn due to intermittent rain in recent days. Up to 5mm of rain is also forecast on Thursday – match eve – although clear conditions are expected through the Test match.”Yesterday, we pretty much lost the whole day of prep with it [pitch] being under cover,” McDonald told reporters on an overcast Wednesday morning. “We saw the forecast early on, and we started prep a little bit earlier than we normally would.”Related

Settled Australia vs new-look India as fabled rivalry resumes

Fast and furious: A spicy pitch awaits India in Perth

Labuschagne wants to do to India what Pujara did to Australia

'Welcome to Test cricket' – McSweeney prepares for baptism of fire

Wet weather in Perth this deep into spring is unusual, with the famously warm Western Australia capital usually almost totally dry from November through to April. But the unexpected rain has forced McDonald to adapt.”It’s been quite conditions-based,” he said. “At the moment, we’re leaning towards rolling it a bit more on top to get that firmness, and that happy medium between bat and ball. [It] would be nice if the sun pops out, but we’re really comfortable as a curating team.”McDonald said 8-10mm of grass would be left on a pitch that he didn’t believe would deteriorate like last year’s surface.The Optus Stadium pitch has been under cover because of unseasonal rain in the lead-up to the India Test•Getty Images”I don’t think this weather is going to make this pitch fall apart,” he said. “There’ll be some deterioration. Grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce. But in terms of big-snake WACA cracks, unfortunately, I don’t think the weather’s going to get us there.”Hazlewood had been almost unplayable against Pakistan last year, as he relentlessly targeted the cracks late on day four to finish with 3 for 13 from 7.2 overs in the second innings. Pakistan were routed for 89, and that capped off Australia’s fourth win in as many Tests at the 60,000-seater ground.”I love playing in Perth. The wicket is always a nice one to bowl pace… [it’s] bouncy and a few cracks potentially,” Hazlewood told reporters amid the sunshine on Wednesday afternoon. “I think the conditions suit us. We’re probably more used to it with that bounce and pace.””I love playing in Perth. The wicket is always a nice one to bowl pace… [it’s] bouncy and a few cracks potentially” – Josh Hazlewood•Getty ImagesWith Australia’s XI settled after the selection of new opener Nathan McSweeney, the focus in this prolonged series build-up has shone on India, whose line-up is largely unknown despite them having started their preparations in Perth over a week ago.”There are no real secrets behind those closed doors. We have seen a lot of them, we play with them all the time, [and] we play against them,” Hazlewood said. “It’s going to come down to bowling in that area, and batting with patience and trying to outlast them.”While the make-up of India’s batting order remains to be seen, Hazlewood and his fellow bowlers won’t have to come up against the formidable presence of Cheteshwar Pujara, who ground down Australia’s attack in India’s famous series victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21.”I’m pretty happy that Puj isn’t here. He’s obviously one that bats time, [and] makes you really earn his wicket every time,” Hazlewood said.”[But] there’s always young, fresh guys coming into the Indian team that they’re under so much pressure to perform with so many guys nipping at their heels all the time. Whoever they pick in that XI, they’re unbelievable players. It doesn’t really matter who they pick; they’re all great players.”Australia had last won a Test series against India in 2014-15, when Hazlewood had made his debut in the second Test in Brisbane. He underlined the length of Australia’s barren run against India in the format, and said his side were looking forward to end that.”There’s only a couple of us from that series when we won 2-0…. everyone’s really determined [to win this time],” he said. “It’s one that we need to tick off as a group. I think the added fact that it’s a five-Test series, it’s going to be a bit more gruelling. If you win a series against India, in any part of the world, you know you’ve earned it.”