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To the chagrin of some, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton removed rookie starting pitcher Paul Skenes from Thursday's 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning, despite the fact that the ace had pitched seven no-hit innings.

But Shelton, citing his eyes, trusted what he saw and ultimately made the tough decision, as he explained to reporters following the game.

"He was tired," Shelton said. "It really didn't have anything to do with the pitch count. Everybody makes it about pitch counts … It was about where he was at. It was about trusting your eyes, trusting him."

"When I went and talked to him after, after that, he was tired. They did a good job of wearing him down, and he gave us everything he had."

Skenes, incredibly, is just the fourth pitcher since 1893 to record multiple outings with 10-plus strikeouts and no hits allowed in a single season, joining Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and three-time Cy Young award-winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, according to ESPN.

Skenes grinded through three innings, expending 63 pitches. But the Pirates ace was able to bear down after that, needing an economic 36 pitches to work through the ensuing four frames. Shelton, though, said he could detect some signs of fatigue from the 6'6" righthander.

"I think the stuff, just how his body was reacting," Shelton said. "I mean, even after the sixth we could tell he was getting a little bit tired. I think it's the first time we've seen it … the volume he's had. But overall, the fact that he was able to go back, get through the seventh."

"It was really impressive. He did a great job."

Skenes, for what it's worth, told reporters he wanted to keep going.

"I mean, definitely wanted to finish it but throwing every six, five days, whatever it is now, definitely understand that side of it," Skenes said.

Skenes, 22, has been nothing short of sensational to kick off his career, getting off to a sublime 6-0 start with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts across 66 1/3 innings pitched. He was announced as an MLB All-Star on July 7 and will be just the fifth rookie in MLB history to start the Midsummer Classic.

A Super Bowl champion has offered to help Harry Kane achieve his NFL dream of becoming a kicker in American football. Kane is shining for Bayern Munich having maintained his flying start to the season with a brace against FC Koln in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday night. However, the England captain has made no secret of his love and desire to play in the NFL one day.

Getty Images Sport'I love it, so I would love to give it a go'

Kane recently made history by becoming the fastest player to score 100 goals for a team in Europe's top five leagues. And while he continues to shine for the Bavarian powerhouse, the 32-year-old has previously stated that trying to become an American football kicker was "always something that is in the back of my mind".

"I know it will be a lot of hard work. I'm not expecting to just rock up and start kicking field goals. It would be a lot of practice," Kane said in 2023. "The NFL is something I've been following for about 10 years now. I love it, so I would love to give it a go."

Football journalist Henry Winter has also speculated that Kane would one day go on to play American football when he retires. Ahead of Kane's 100th-cap earning match for England, Winter speculated about what the future may hold for the former Spurs man.

"If I was taking a punt, as it were, I would say that within three years he'll be a kicker in the NFL. He's talked about it, he's big mates with Tom Brady, and it has been done before," Winter said last year.

Advertisement'He would do fantastic'

And one Super Bowl champion has offered to help make Kane's dream a reality. Dustin Colquitt was part of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City squad in 2020 having followed in his father's footsteps to become an NFL punter.

Colquitt spent 15 years with the Chiefs, but grew up dreaming of playing in the Premier League. Having played football at high school, the 43-year-old remains a huge football fan and believes Kane would "do fantastic" if he tried his luck in American football.

When asked if Kane could become an NFL kicker by BBC Sport, Colquitt said: "Absolutely, if he focused on it. He would do fantastic. I've seen some of his finishing skills.

"I would love to actually work with him just because I love soccer, and his excitement. He's seeking this out – that's part of the fibre of his being, that he wants to try this NFL thing."

Getty Images Sport'When he's ready, I'm ready'

A punter's job is incredibly important for an NFL kicker as the former holds the ball in place for the latter. As such, Kane would need an experienced punter in order to achieve his dream of playing American football professionally.

"The guy that holds for those field goals, that is extremely important – knowing where the laces [on the ball] are, if you've got wind," Colquitt added. "So when he's ready, I'm ready."

In 2021, Kane told The Overlap that the kicks an NFL kicker makes are "almost the equivalent to a penalty kick". "A lot of people can score penalties in training or kick it a long way, but can you do it under pressure when the moment's big, when the game's on the line?" Kane told Gary Neville.

"That aspect is the bit where maybe I have a bit of an advantage over some younger people coming through."

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Kane wouldn't be the first footballer to play in NFL

Kane's hopes of playing American football are boosted in that a number of former footballers have made the transition from professional football to the NFL. Former footballer Toni Fritsch previously quit football at 26, while the Austrian received a 1972 Super Bowl ring despite being injured.

Former Tottenham and England striker Clive Allen was 35 when he tried his lucky with the London Monarchs in 1997. Current NFL kickers Brandon Aubrey, Harrison Butker and Cairo Santos have all played football in the past.

Kane is currently contracted to Bayern until 2027 but has been linked with a Premier League return in recent weeks.

Jurgen Klopp has dramatically left the door open to a second stint as Liverpool boss, with the charismatic German admitting: “It’s possible”. The Premier League and Champions League title winner is not missing coaching, though, as he fills a role with Red Bull, but is ruling nothing out and has hinted that a sensational return to Anfield could be made at some point.

• When & why did Klopp leave Liverpool?

  Klopp brought a nine-year stint as Reds manager to a close in the summer of 2024. He had turned Liverpool into perennial contenders for the biggest of domestic and continental honours by that stage, with the reins being passed on to Arne Slot. The 58-year-old cited fatigue as being one of the main reasons why he walked away from the dugout.

  He has spent over a year recharging his batteries, with plenty of satisfaction being found in his position as Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull. That job is allowing him to spend more time with his family, while still being heavily involved in football business. There are no plans on his part to take on another new challenge any time soon.

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  Will Klopp catch the coaching bug again?

  Klopp is adamant that he does not miss the daily stresses of life as an elite tactician, with his passion for the game having ensured that every ounce of energy was invested in roles with Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

  He may, however, catch the coaching bug again. Klopp would never agree to take charge of another Premier League side, given his strong emotional and professional ties to the reigning champions of England, but concedes that a stunning retracing of steps to Merseyside is not entirely out of the question.

• Liverpool return? Klopp's future plans

  Quizzed by the podcast on what his future looks like, Klopp said: “I said I will never coach a team in England again, that means if it's Liverpool, theoretically it's possible. I don't know exactly, I love what I do right now. I don't miss coaching, I do coach now but just different.

  “I don't miss standing in the rain, two-and-a-half [to] three hours, I don't miss going to press conferences three times a week, having 12 interviews a week, I don't miss that, I don't. I don't miss being in the dressing room, I coached something like 1,080 games so I was in a dressing room often. I don't want to die in a dressing room because it's not nice, it smells.

  “There might be something, I'm 58, I could make the decision in a few years… I don't know. Do I have to make the decision today that I will not coach again? Thank god I don't have to, I can just see what the future brings. Now I'm in a project I really love, I like doing what I'm doing right now. In my mind, only if I'm focused 100 per cent, I can do it really good."

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  Why Klopp is in no rush to return to the dugout

  Klopp told in September 2025 when pressed on claims that he will never coach again: “That’s what I think. But you don’t know. I’m 58. If I started again at 65, everybody will say, ‘You said you’ll never do it again!’ Er, sorry, I thought 100 per cent (when I said it)! That is what I think now. I don’t miss anything.”

  He added: “I missed nothing in my life because I never thought about it. So during almost 25 years, I twice went to a wedding — one of them was mine and the other one was two months ago. In 25 years, I have been four times at the cinema — all in the last eight weeks. It’s now nice to be able to do it. was in so many different countries as a coach and I saw nothing of them; just the hotel, the stadium or the training ground. Nothing else. I did not miss it, but I would now.”

They might not have had as explosive a deadline day as some of their rivals, but Arsenal still got some business done.

Andrea Berta and Co. saw several players go out on loan, including Oleksander Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson, and Fabio Vieira, while also welcoming one player into the club: Piero Hincapie.

The Bayer Leverkusen star put pen to paper on a season-long loan, but as both the German outfit and Arsenal have an option to make it permanent for £45m, it’s pretty much guaranteed that it’ll happen.

The Ecuadorian international is a seriously exciting player to add to the squad, but the Gunners may well have already sold a homegrown version of him.

Why Arsenal wanted Hincapie

Now, it just wouldn’t be an Arsenal transfer window if Mikel Arteta didn’t get his hands on a new left-back who can play at centre-back.

The Spaniard loves signing defenders, but beyond the jokes and the simple explanation of adding depth, Hincapie looks to be a brilliant signing.

What looks to be the most significant reason behind the Gunners securing his services is what he will be able to offer the team going forward.

That’s not to say the former Leverkusen star is a liability at the back, far from it, but his ability to overlap is what could make him such a useful signing.

He might not be as gung-ho as Jeremie Frimpong, but respected analyst Ben Mattinson still described him as “a left-sided Ben White,” for the way he gets up and down the pitch.

Moreover, FBref ranks in the top 3% of full-backs in Europe’s top-five leagues for progressive passing distance, the top 5% for progressive carrying distance and overall carries, the top 8% for passes into the final third, and more, all per 90.

In other words, he is brilliant at getting the ball up the pitch, where he can then cross into the box or pass it to a teammate.

In all, Hincapie looks like he’ll be a great addition to this Arsenal squad, but the club might have already had their own homegrown version of him before.

Arsenal's homegrown Hincapie

Arsenal have always been a club that produces sensational young talents, with the likes of Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly just the recent batch.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

However, for every one youngster who gets into the first team, countless others do not, such as Lino Sousa.

The 20-year-old prospect joined the Gunners’ youth setup from West Bromwich Albion in 2022, but instead of making his way into the first team or even going out on loan, he was sold to Aston Villa in January last year.

He spent the rest of that season on loan with Plymouth Argyle before joining Bristol Rovers the following season, where he went on to become a regular, making 29 appearances.

While it may be early to say with certainty how good the Villa gem could be, many in the know have been full of praise for him for some time.

For example, Mattinson claimed that he “could be England’s future LB,” and academy expert Will Balsam has described him as an “athletic” full-back with “a deadly swinging left boot,” which suggests he’d be brilliant at overlapping and crossing the ball into the box.

Moreover, Jeorge Bird, an authority on Hale End, previously characterised the youngster as a defender who ‘relishes pushing forward but also doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.’

In other words, he sounds like the player Arsenal hope they are getting in Hincapie, which begs the question: Should they have sold him at all?

Arsenal sold homegrown Gyokeres for £4m, now he's one of the best in Europe

Arsenal had a promising talent in their ranks who could have been their own homegrown Gyokeres.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 3, 2025

Taskin Ahmed misses out due to a left Achilles tendon issue, while Litton Das has been granted NOC to play in the PSL

Mohammad Isam08-Apr-2025Fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib has earned a maiden Test call-up while Taskin Ahmed’s injury has forced him out of the Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sylhet from April 20. Taskin is rehabilitating for a left Achilles tendon issue, with Tanzim getting in as a like-for-like replacement.The BCB has also given a break to Litton Das to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He is part of Karachi Kings in the league which begins on April 11.Taskin and Litton were part of the two-Test series against West Indies, which was Bangladesh’s last Test assignment in late November 2024. Those returning to the side include regular captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the Tests against West Indies due to injuries.Offspinner Nayeem Hasan is also in the 15-member squad, apart from fast bowlers Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim. There was, however, no place for Shahadat Hossain and Shoriful Islam, who featured in the West Indies Tests, as well as Hasan Murad.”We have formed the Test team with our best possible players,” chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said. “We are returning to Tests after four months. We have Tests against Sri Lanka in June and we haven’t really done that well in home Tests in the last 12 months. This is why we are refraining from experimenting in this Test series.”Taskin Ahmed is currently rehabilitating for a left Achilles tendon issue•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty ImagesBangladesh are also monitoring Ebadot Hossain’s progress, who has returned to competitive cricket this season after a long injury layoff.”Tanzim has shown promise in the white-ball sides,” Ashraf said. “He has shown hunger and ability to take wickets. He has earned his place in the side. We are still observing Ebadot Hossain. We have a lot of cricket coming up, so those who are missing out from the first Test, have no reason to worry.”The Bangladesh side will undertake a ten-day training camp in Sylhet ahead of the first Test. Zimbabwe are slated to arrive in the country on April 15.Bangladesh’s squad for first Test against ZimbabweNajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan

Leeds United have now been handed the opportunity to hijack a move for a “superb” midfielder, as his move to a rival Premier League club has stalled.

Leeds keen on new attacking midfielder before deadline

With the summer transfer window now winding down, there is still work to do at Elland Road, with Daniel Farke keen on bringing in a new attacking midfielder, and a number of different options have made their way onto the shortlist.

Target

Current club

League G/A in 24/25

Gabriel Sara

Galatasaray

11

Facundo Buonanotte

Brighton

7

Bilal El Khannouss

Leicester City

5

However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has made a poor start to life at Leeds, missing three big chances in the EFL Cup exit at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, before going on to blaze his penalty over the bar in the shoot-out.

Farke publicly backed Calvert-Lewin after the Englishman’s disastrous debut, saying: “For him, it’s a little bit like a pre-season. I’m happy that he has the chance and I know that a top fit, 100% Calvert-Lewin use this chance but he needs desperately the minutes today to build up his fitness.”

That said, it would not be a surprise if the manager is privately having doubts, and with the Whites perhaps in need of another striker, alongside an attacking midfielder, they are now one of the clubs to “enter the scene” for Getafe’s Christantus Uche.

Leeds now showing strongest interest in signing "incredible" £70m maestro

The Whites are very keen on bringing in a new central midfielder.

1 ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025

That is according to reporter Eduardo Burgos on X, who reveals Leeds have now been handed a boost in the race for Uche, with a hijack possible, given that his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers has now stalled.

The Nigerian is blocking the move to Molineux via his agents, with a number of other clubs now “evaluating the situation”, including Crystal Palace, OGC Nice and AC Milan.

The 22-year-old is expected to cost around £17m, but it remains to be seen whether he is keen on a move to Elland Road, having been hesitant to commit to a move to Molineux.

Uche could be "superb" signing for Leeds

The Getafe star took a little while to adapt to life in La Liga, but he enjoyed a very strong end to the campaign, receiving particularly high praise from scout Jacek Kulig.

The Nigeria international’s versatility would also be very useful for Farke, given that he is able to play in both attacking midfield and at centre-forward, with the jury still out on Calvert-Lewin, while it remains to be seen whether Joel Piroe can adjust to the Premier League.

Uche is in fine form, having already picked up a goal and an assist in La Liga this season, but a move to Elland Road seems a little unlikely, given that he is hesitant to join Wolves, who are a more established Premier League side.

Over the last few years, Liverpool’s midfield has undergone a serious rebuild with the final pieces of the puzzle looking to be completed this summer.

Despite Dominik Szoboszlai’s arrival two years ago, Florian Wirtz – a £116m signing – has been added to Anfield’s core and he’s ready to take the Premier League by storm.

However, despite the likes of Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all arriving, Richard Hughes and Co are not content.

Indeed, they reportedly feel as though they still need a natural defensive midfielder. Graverberch filled in admirably last term, notably winning the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award, but he’s forward-thinking by nature and not the long-term holding midfielder that Arne Slot desires.

So, where could they look?

Liverpool's hunt for another midfielder

In recent years, Liverpool have done a lot of work on signing a new holding midfielder but haven’t quite got anything over the line.

Last summer, it was Martin Zubimendi, now of Arsenal, who they tried to lure to Anfield. They were confident too, only for the Spanish maestro to remain at Real Sociedad for another year.

Before that, there was Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Liverpool wanted to spend big money on Caicedo but he ultimately chose Chelsea.

The Ecuadorian was a key player for Brighton and made himself a household name while on the south coast.

Transfer Focus

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

Carlos Baleba – Caicedo’s replacement as the Amex – is now earning himself a similar reputation in Brighton’s midfield.

He’s attracted big interest from Manchester United this summer with David Ornstein reporting that the Red Devils want to do a deal. However, it could be a difficult one to finalise this summer.

Now, according to Caught Offside, a number of other Premier League teams have also registered their interest in the 21-year-old.

Indeed, it’s revealed that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Spurs are also all monitoring the Cameroonian’s situation.

However, Brighton reportedly have no interest in selling the midfielder and according to prior reports, it could take an almighty bid of £104m to prise him away.

Why Baleba could finally replace Fabinho

Liverpool are not missing many pieces of the puzzle heading into the 2024/25 campaign. They’ve added Wirtz – one of the best attacking midfielders around – and signed Hugo Ekitike, a player who some suggest could be “the next Mbappe.”

However, if you are looking for areas to critique, then it would be the defence. Amid links to Marc Guehi, the Reds want to sign a central defender before the window shuts with Joe Gomez injured, Ibrahima Konate linked with an exit and Jarell Quansah having already left Anfield.

Well, the other area of perceived weakness might be in holding midfield. Gravenberch was exceptional in that role last season, officially crowned as the Premier League’s best young player, but you sense that was only a short-term fix. The Dutchman’s future surely lies as a more advanced number 8.

As a result, the big-money addition of Baleba could finally see Liverpool replace Fabinho.

Since the Brazilian left following a hugely successful stint on Merseyside, the Reds have struggled to really replace him.

Indeed, Fabinho was a rock during the Jurgen Klopp era. After the midfielder left, the German told the club’s website that “Fab was for so long the insurance we had in midfield.”

The German continued: “He always gave us the freedom to play all the fancy stuff. He was involved in that from time to time as well but loved to be the hoover for the team, loved to do all the dirty work for the team.”

Baleba is very much cut from a similar cloth, but perhaps possesses more power and energy. Described by data analyst Ben Mattinson as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the young Brighton gem has quickly become a force to be reckoned with.

In the words of Seagulls writer Ryan Adsett, the youngster is a “powerhouse” and that comes across in the stats.

Comparing Baleba in the 2024/25 campaign to Fabinho in his prime and there are some similarities, coupled with some big differences.

The duo both completed their passes with the same degree of accuracy and made a similar number of tackles and interceptions.

However, if we are to refer to that ‘powerhouse’ nature, we can see that as far as progressing the ball and getting up the pitch are concerned, Fabinho is bettered by the Brighton superstar.

He’s got a huge amount of energy in the locker and if Liverpool are to sign a player with Fabinho’s defensive work-rate but Gravenberch’s progressive ability, Baleba looks pretty ideal.

Liverpool have bigger priorities this summer, of course they do, but if the opportunity to sign the midfielder arises in the coming years, the Reds must be all over it.

Better than Barcola: Hughes leading Liverpool bid for £120k-p/w "wizard"

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2

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Angus Sinclair

Aug 9, 2025

تلقى برشلونة أخبار سيئة خلال تدريبات اليوم الجمعة، بعد الفوز على ريال أوفييدو بثلاثية لهدف واحد مساء أمس في الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم.

وكان هانز فليك قد اضطر لاستبدال البرازيلي رافينها بسبب ألم في عضلات الفخد الخلفية، وتعرض حارس المرمى خوان جارسيا لإصابة في التدريبات صباح اليوم.

وكان خوان جارسيا قد ارتكب أول خطأ له كحارس مرمى لنادي برشلونة على ملعب كارلوس تارتيري أمس، حث أخطأ في تقدير التوقيت ومرر الكرة للمنافس، وبخلاف ذلك أظهر تأثيراً حاسماً في المباراة.

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية فإن خوان جارسيا سيغيب عن لقاء ريال سوسيداد يوم الأحد كما أنه سيغيب عن مباراتي باريس سان جيرمان وإشبيلية.

أقرأ أيضاً.. إنريكي: إذا كررنا أخطاء مباراة مارسيليا أمام برشلونة سنكون في عداد المفقودين

ولن يتمكن هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة من الاعتماد على خوان جارسيا إلا بعد فترة التوقف الدولي بجانب رافينها، ولن يكون حارس البارسا مؤهلاً للانضمام لقائمة مدرب إسبانيا لويس دي لا فوينتي.

وسيصبح تشيزني حارس برشلونة الأساسي خلال المباريات القادمة وسيتم تصعيد حارس مرمى شاب وهو إيدر ألير صاحب الـ18 عاماً ليكون احتياطياً له، وكانت تدريبات برشلونة قد شهدت مشاركة لامين يامال وأليخاندرو بالدي مع الفريق.

جدير بالذكر أن خوان جارسيا شارك بشكل أساسي في جميع مباريات برشلونة السبع هذا الموسم، منها ست مباريات في الدوري الإسباني وواحدة ضد نيوكاسل في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

In T20I batting rankings, Salt moves to No. 2 while Sanju Samson’s 50-ball 107 sees him jump 27 positions

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2024

Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi is back as the No. 1 ODI bowler in the latest ICC rankings, making it a double for Pakistan cricketers at the summit with Babar Azam extending his lead as the top batter in the format.Afridi’s eight wickets at an average of 12.62 in three outings against Australia took him past Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan and Keshav Maharaj to the top. Rashid remained at No. 2, while Maharaj slipped from first to third and Kuldeep one place down to fourth. This is the second time Afridi has reached top position in ODI rankings after a brief stay there during the 2023 ODI World Cup.Afridi’s seam-bowling partner Haris Rauf moved up 14 places to 13th after bagging 10 wickets in the ODIs against Australia, that had earned him the Player-of-the-Series award. Naseem Shah also climbed 14 spots to a career-best 55th.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

Babar’s scores of 37, 15* and 28* increased his lead among ODI batters. He stays well ahead of the Indian trio of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli who remain in second, third and fourth respectively.There were big gainers among allrounders after the ODI series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in the UAE. Player of the Series Mohammad Nabi remained as the No. 1 ODI allrounder and Rashid went up a place to third, and Azmatullah Omarzai’s strong showing pushed him two places up to No. 9, making it three Afghan players in the top 10. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who took three wickets in the series and scored 66 in the third ODI, jumped four places to No. 4.Wanindu Hasaranga rattled New Zealand in Dambulla•AFP/Getty Images

Samson, Hasaranga, Salt make gains in T20IsIn T20Is, Wanindu Hasaranga’s series haul of 6 for 37 against New Zealand – despite limping through the second fixture where he claimed 4 for 17 – took him four places up to second spot among the bowlers, only behind England’s Adil Rashid.Akeal Hosein’s economical performance against England lifted him to third place while Ravi Bishnoi’s four scalps in two games against South Africa took him one spot up to No. 7.Among batters, the England pair of Phil Salt (second) and Jos Buttler (sixth), alongside West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran (10th) all moved one place up each in the batting rankings after two games in the five-match series in the Caribbean.From the ongoing South Africa vs India T20I series, Sanju Samson continued his rise in the batting ranks. A second successive T20I century for the India opener, this time a 50-ball 107 in the first game, saw him leapfrog 27 positions to 39th. The South African duo of Reeza Hendricks (up two places to 12th) and Tristan Stubbs (up 12 spots to 26th) also made headway on the T20I batting charts that is still led by Travis Head. Salt and Suryakumar Yadav round off the top three.

It’s hard to remember a summer quite this hectic for Arsenal.

It was less than a month ago that fans were complaining about a lack of business, and now it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening every day.

Mikel Arteta and Co have seriously improved the squad with the additions of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, and it feels like a matter of when, not if, Cristhian Mosquera is announced as well.

The same could be said for Viktor Gyokeres, who could be the answer to the Gunners’ goalscoring problems of last season, and if reports are to be believed, the club are interested in someone who’d be a dream signing for the Swede.

Arsenal target dream teammate for Gyokeres

While Arsenal have been linked with an absurd number of players this summer, it would be fair to say the most significant saga, if you can call it that, has been around Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

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The club switched focus from Benjamin Sesko to the former Coventry City star once it was clear the German side were not interested in negotiating a reasonable fee, and while things have been easier with Sporting CP, there have still been a number of delays.

However, it now appears that the only things left to work out before the 27-year-old can go off for his medical are the add-ons, as it has been widely reported that the initial fee the Gunners will have to pay is around £55m.

While the North Londoners might have called it a day following such a flurry of spending in the past, it now looks like they’re eyeing up another international ace, someone who’d be a dream teammate for Gyokeres.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal are interested in Xavi Simons.

The Italian journalist has revealed that the Gunners made an enquiry with RB Leipzig at the start of the window, suggesting there is more than a passing interest.

While Romano makes no mention of how much the Dutchman might cost, reports from earlier this summer claim that a fee of around £68.8m might be enough to secure his services.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but Simons is an incredible talent and worth the effort, especially as he’d be a dream for Gyokeres.

Why Simons would be a dream signing for Gyokeres

To understand why Simons would be a perfect signing for Gyokeres, we first need to understand how the Sporting star plays.

Interestingly, while he can play in several ways, he’s first and foremost a penalty area specialist, as evident from his heat map from last season and the locations where he takes his shots.

Therefore, to get the very best out of the Swedish poacher, Arsenal will need players who can get the ball to him in dangerous areas, be that through carrying the ball or passing it up the pitch.

Fortunately, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem can do both, as per FBref, he is in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for through balls in Europe’s top five leagues and the top 7% for passes into the penalty area.

Moreover, when compared to midfielders alone, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

On top of his clear ability to get the ball into goalscoring areas, the Amsterdam-born ace, who one analyst has dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world,” is also an output machine.

In 33 appearances last season, totalling 2763 minutes, he scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

Simons in 24/25

Appearances

33

Minutes

2763′

Goals

11

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

145.42′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Just imagine what those numbers could look like playing with a striker as prolific as the Sporting monster.

Ultimately, it’s clear that from his effectiveness in moving the ball up the pitch to his raw output, Simons would be an incredible teammate for Gyokeres, and therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.

Related £69m star wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday, Berta expects breakthrough

The Gunners are attempting to strike a deal.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 18, 2025