Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee had the perfect response to Ruben Amorim going 'ballistic' at him during the 4-0 win over Everton.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
In the space of 12 months, Cole Palmer has gone from a promising youngster, to one of the most talented players in the country after his phenomenal first season at Chelsea.
The attacker arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £40m deal from Manchester City last summer, with Palmer moving to West London to gain more consistent first-team minutes to aid his development.
His move to the Blues has catapulted the 22-year-old to stardom, scoring 22 Premier League goals last season and finishing the campaign as the division’s second-highest goalscorer behind former teammate, Erling Haaland.
Palmer’s subsequent form for Chelsea earned him a call-up to the England national side for Euro 2024, where the youngster scored a stunning equaliser in the final defeat to Spain.
Every Blues fan will be hoping that he can build on his excellent form over the last couple of months, with one new addition potentially helping the Englishman in 2024/25.
Chelsea make bid to sign German talent
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea have submitted a concrete offer to sign Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier this summer.
Aston Villa have also made an offer for the 21-year-old talent, with Bayer Leverkusen still in the race for his signature.
Plettenberg claims that Beier’s current contract has a €30m (£25m) release clause, which could be triggered by the Blues, but it’s unknown how much their current offer is worth.
The youngster produced some phenomenal stats in the Bundesliga last season, with his figures perfectly falling into the hands of Palmer who could become unplayable with the addition of Beier.
Why Beier could make Palmer unplayable for Chelsea
Despite featuring with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk at the top end of the pitch for Chelsea, Palmer struggled to form a settled partnership with neither of the duo able to secure a regular first-team spot.
However, Beier’s potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could allow the English international to form a deadly partnership with the German, who’s capable of featuring across the entire front line.
The Hoffenheim talent registered 17 goal contributions in the Bundesliga last season, proving to be a constant threat in attacking areas.
Beier, who’s previously been dubbed “sensational” by journalist Zach Lowy, also produced some key figures that would allow Palmer to further increase his already impressive goalscoring tally from 2023/24.
Games played
33
Goals + assists
17
Progressive carries
2.3
Carries into penalty area
1.3
Successful take-ons
1.2
Passes into penalty area
1
He registered 2.3 progressive carries per 90, 1.3 of which were into the opposition’s penalty area – demonstrating his ability to travel with the ball at his feet and create opportunities for players such as Palmer.
The 21-year-old also averaged 1.2 successful take-ons last season, showcasing his talent in possession, with a link-up alongside the Chelsea talisman potentially improving Beier’s own tally from last campaign.
With the duo both in the form of their life during the previous season, it could be a deadly partnership that could take Chelsea back to the Champions League places in 2024/25.
£25m in today’s market is a bargain for a player of his quality, also following in the club’s current philosophy of signing talents who can make an immediate and long-term impact at Stamford Bridge.
Outscored Osimhen & Palmer: Chelsea could land £86m Jackson upgrade
Chelsea continue to hunt for clinical striker option
ByConnor Holden Jul 30, 2024
The return of the Premier League is less than three weeks away, and while they still had a good campaign last season, Arsenal will be desperate to go one better in 2024/25.
Last year, Mikel Arteta's side produced the best defence in the league but scored five goals fewer than Manchester City, which saw them miss out on the title by just two points on the final day.
With the defence already strengthened following the signing of Riccardo Calafiori, Edu Gaspar and Co can now switch their focus to the attack.
Based on recent reports, that appears to be happening, as the latest name touted for a move to the club is an incredible goalscorer and someone who'd help make Martin Odegaard unplayable.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have rekindled their interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
In recent weeks, it had been widely reported that the Nigerian superstar was set to join French giants Paris Saint-Germain once negotiations between the two clubs were completed. However, according to this report, that deal is now dead and very much off the table following the Parisians' refusal to pay the striker's €130m release clause, which is about £109m.
As a result, other clubs, including Arsenal, have re-entered the frame, with Football Transfers claiming that the Gunners have returned to Napoli to reopen talks over a potential move.
If the North Londoners were to pay his full release clause, it would be a record-breaking transfer, but based on his performances over the last couple of seasons, he's likely worth it – he could also make Odegaard one of the best midfielders in the world.
Why Osimhen would make Odegaard unplayable
So, while there may be several reasons why Osimhen would help Odegaard truly assert himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, there is one leading and overriding reason: his incredible output.
The Arsenal captain has proven he's a brilliant leader, technician and even goalscorer over the last few seasons. However, had he been playing alongside a genuinely clinical striker since joining the club, his tally of 25 assists in 153 appearances would be significantly higher.
According to Understat, the Norwegian international has consistently fallen short of his expected assists in the league by at least 1.50 every year for the past three seasons. This underscores the fact that his teammates are not converting the chances he creates as frequently as they should.
This is where the "world-class" Nigerian, as dubbed by managerial icon José Mourinho, would come into play, as in his 133 appearances for Napoli, he has scored 76 goals, equating to a goal every 1.75 games.
Moreover, over the last season, he has comfortably outperformed Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, racking up 57 goal involvements to the German's 31 and the Brazilian's 34.
Appearances
39
47
33
Goals
31
9
11
Assists
5
1
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.92
0.21
0.54
Appearances
32
51
36
Goals
17
14
8
Assists
4
7
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.65
0.38
0.44
Ultimately, while he's likely going to cost a king's ransom, Osimhen has proven himself to be one of the best goalscorers in world football, and with him playing in front of the mercurial Odegaard next season, the Gunners could end up outscoring everyone in the league, with the Norwegian racking up the most assists.
Therefore, Edu and Co should do whatever they can to ensure the Napoli star makes his way to N5 in the coming weeks.
Arsenal target £147kp/w "artist" who's the perfect Smith Rowe upgrade
The experiences international would be an excellent addition to the Gunners’ squad.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 29, 2024
Since Todd Boehly took on ownership, Chelsea Football Club have become known as the big spenders of Europe. They have not been known to look for any bargains, choosing to spend big money instead.
The Blues have spent an extraordinary £1bn since the American took the reins of the club in May 2022.
Twice, Chelsea have broken the British transfer record. Firstly, when they signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107m on transfer deadline day of the 2023 winter transfer window. They broke the previous record of £100m which Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish to sign the World Cup winner, who lifted the prestigious trophy just two months before his big move.
They then broke it again just months later in the summer transfer window. They eclipsed the deal to sign Fernandez by bringing Moises Caicedo to Stamford Bridge last August. The Ecuadorian international left Brighton to join Chelsea for £115m, after rejecting a move to Liverpool.
It is fair to say that the Blues have not exactly found any cheap deals since Boehly has been at the helm. The Fernandez and Caicedo deals are just two examples, but to have spent £1bn in 24 months tells you all you need to know. However, with that being said, they have recently been linked with one player who could be a cheap, and shrewd piece of business.
Chelsea target La Liga striker
The player in question here is Barcelona’s Spanish wonderkid striker Marc Guiu. The 18-year-old is a product of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy and has impressed during his fleeting first-team appearances so far.
According to a report from reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are one club who are interested in signing Guiu this summer. The Blues are thought to be “exploring” a transfer for the youngster, who could depart his boyhood club.
However, Enzo Maresca’s side are not thought to be the only club interested in signing Guiu during the summer transfer window. Romano reports that German giants Bayern Munich are also “showing interest” in Guiu, as they look to find an understudy to first-choice centre-forward Harry Kane.
However, it is not clear if Barcelona will sell Guiu at this stage. Romano explains that the Catalan club hope to keep the exciting prospect at the club, and a new contract for the youngster will be “discussed” soon. However, interest is “now growing” in Guiu, and Chelsea are one of the clubs best placed to activate his £5m release clause.
Why Guiu would be a good signing
It was a La Liga debut to remember for Guiu on the 22nd of October last year when he came off the bench to score the winning goal against Athletic Club, at their temporary home Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
It was an 80th-minute winner from the teenage whiz, 33 seconds after coming on, to seal a 1-0 win and three points for Barca. During the game, he had just four touches and won two out of three ground duels, too, as per SofaScore.
In total, the youngster has played seven times for his boyhood club, all of which came last season, under Xavi who has now departed the club. He also scored in the Champions League against Royal Antwerp, although that was in a losing cause, with the Belgian side winning 3-2.
For the 18-year-old to have scored twice in 182 minutes, the equivalent of roughly two full 90-minute games is very impressive. It backs up what football talent scout Jacek Kulig said about him. Kulig described Guiu as a “natural born killer” who is an “incredibly dangerous player in the penalty area” during his exploits for Spain at the under-17 World Cup last year.
Should Chelsea add Guiu, who scored six goals in 16 games for Barcelona Atletic, to the ranks, he could well become the natural backup option to Nicolas Jackson.
The Senegalese striker had an impressive first season in the Premier League for the Blues, scoring 14 times in 35 games, as well as registering five assists. He was bettered by only Cole Palmer for the most goal involvements for Chelsea last season in the top flight.
Player
Games
G/A
Cole Palmer
34
33
Nicolas Jackson
35
19
Raheem Sterling
31
12
Conor Gallagher
37
12
However, the Blues do not really have a natural understudy to Jackson. In his absence, Raheem Sterling led the line once, and so did Palmer on occasion. Christopher Nkunku was often injured last season, but he is also a candidate to play up front.
Should they sign Guiu, Chelsea would be adding a talented youngster to their squad, whilst also providing Jackson with an excellent understudy, thus not taking away from the overall plan of the team, without a natural centre-forward. It would also allow Guiu to develop his game without the pressure of being the first-choice number nine at Stamford Bridge.
For just £5m, the youngster could be an ideal option for Chelsea and would also help reign in their spending as they look to get a better-refined squad for Maresca as he approaches his first season as a Premier League manager.
Pep Guardiola is reportedly more likely to sign a new Manchester City contract if the club are punished for supposed Financial Fair Play breaches.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Current deal expires in 2025Waiting on outcome of FFP caseManaged expected to stay regardlessFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The reigning Premier League champions have been dragged into an FFP case that includes somewhere between 115 and 130 charges. Speculation regarding what could happen if City are found guilty on multiple counts continues to rage, with rumoured sanctions ranging from points deductions to expulsion from the English top-flight.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Guardiola’s future has provided another unwelcome distraction amid that saga, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2025. There has been talk of him agreeing an extension through to 2026, which would see a decade of service at the Etihad Stadium completed.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to , Guardiola would be more willing to put pen to paper if City were hit with severe sanctions from the Premier League – with it suggested that decision “would partly be out of defiance and partly not leaving a club he has come to love in a difficult spot”.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty/GOALTELL ME MORE
It is also being claimed that City have inserted no clauses into the contracts of new arrivals that relate to potential relegation out of the Premier League. The official line coming out of the Etihad is said to be “there is nothing to worry about”, with players advised to “get on with the job”.
ليس من السر أن المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، كارلو أنشيلوتي، كان مهددًا بالإقالة من تدريب الملكي بسبب سوء النتائج سواء في الدوري الإسباني أو دوري أبطال أوروبا.
خسر ريال مدريد أمام برشلونة في “سانتياجو برنابيو” وكذلك ضد ميلان بنفس الملعب وهو ما أثر كثيرًا على قوة وجود أنشيلوتي مع الفريق.
كان ريال مدريد بعيدًا عن المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإسباني ولم يكن لديه سوى 6 نقاط حتى الفوز الأخير أمام أتالانتا في “بيرجامو”، ورغم أنه لا يزال مهدد بعد بشأن الصعود من أول 8 فرق في الترتيب ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
إلا أن الوضع تحسن كثيرًا بعد الفوز على المنافس الإيطالي بعد أن كانت التوقعات هي السقوط من جديد، لكن الأمر تحسن كثيرًا.
اقرأ أيضًا | رداً على ماركا.. ليفربول إيكو تكشف حقيقة أنباء انضمام أرنولد إلى ريال مدريد
وبحسب شبكة “ريليفو” أن أنشيلوتي كان مهددًا بالإقالة بداية من مباراة جيرونا والتي أقيمت قبل 22 يومًا في ملعب “مونتليفي” لأن الفريق كان يأتي من هزيمة ضد أتلتيك بلباو في “سان ماميس”.
وتواجد فلورنتينو بيريز في ملعب “مونتليفي” لمتابعة المباراة، وهو ما جعل البعض يشعرون أن هناك شيئًا ما سيحدث ربما الأقرب كانت إقالة الإيطالي.
ولكن بمساعدة كيليان مبابي، الذي كان يمر أيضًا بفترة متذبذبة عبر ريال مدريد من عنق الزجاجة بالفوز خارج الأرض بنتيجة 3-0، ثم تخطي عقبة أتالانتا في دوري أبطال أوروبا بصعوبة بنتيجة 3-2.
هذا ما جعل ريال مدريد يتنفس الصعداء مع أنشيلوتي ورغم التعادل المحبط أمام رايو فاليكانو في الدوري، إلا أن الفوز ببطولة كأس الانتركونتننتال قد جعلت المدرب الإيطالي هو الأكثر فوزًا بالألقاب مع الملكي.
أداء ريال مدريد في تحسن كبير في الفترة الأخيرة وأصبح في المركز الثاني بترتيب الدوري الإسباني قبل نهاية عام 2024 ومرشح قوي للمنافسة على اللقب مع أتلتيكو مدريد وبرشلونة رغم تراجعه في الفترة الأخيرة.
ولكن الفوز في جيرونا وأتالانتا أنقذ أنشيلوتي بحسب التقرير الذي يأتي بالتزامن بعد عام واحد من تمديد عقد المدرب مع ريال مدريد عقب نجاح، فلورنتينو بيريز، في إقناعه بتجاهل عرض تدريب منتخب البرازيل.
Celtic are set to compete in the revamped and restructured Champions League set-up next season after they won the Scottish Premiership title.
In the 2024/25 campaign, the Hoops will play eight games in the new league phase (formerly the group stage). They will play eight sides from Europe, rather than three teams twice, and play half of the games at Parkhead and half of the matches away from home.
Teams will need to finish inside the top eight in the league to automatically qualify for the knock-outs, whilst teams from ninth to 24th will then compete in two-leg play-off games to make the last 16.
The Scottish giants were knocked out of the Champions League during the group stages this season, as they finished bottom of their group, which included Lazio, Feyenoord, and Atletico Madrid.
Brendan Rodgers may now look to use the upcoming summer transfer window to improve his squad with the hope of making more progress in Europe next term.
The Northern Irish head coach could aim to strengthen his attacking options after the Hoops scored just five goals in six Champions League matches in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Celtic's interest in signing loan star
According to the Daily Record, Rodgers is 'desperate' to sign loan star Adam Idah from Norwich City after his impressive stint with the club this year.
The report claims that the Ireland international is a target for the former Liverpool and Leicester boss, who wants to snap him up on a permanent deal after his temporary spell at Parkhead.
It also states that the Canaries are looking for a fee of at least £6m to allow their academy graduate to move on from Carrow Road before the end of the summer transfer window.
There is no mention, though, of how much Celtic are prepared to pay for the 23-year-old centre-forward and if they are willing to splash out £6m on his services.
Football Insider have also published a report on the situation and they claim that new Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, who recently replaced David Wagner in the dugout in Norfolk, wants to evaluate the forward in pre-season before making a decision on his future.
The outlet states that he is a 'top target' for the Scottish giants, which backs up the Daily Record's claim, but adds that they are not going to wait around for too long if Thorup takes his time to decide on whether or not to cash in on the striker.
If Rodgers and Celtic can convince the Yellows to part ways with the forward this summer, though, then he could come in and thrive at Parkhead alongside another potential signing – Stuart Armstrong.
Celtic's interest in a Parkhead reunion
Football Insider recently claimed that the Premiership champions are plotting a swoop to sign the Scotland international on a free transfer ahead of next season.
The outlet reported that the 32-year-old attacking midfielder has emerged as a target for the Bhoys after his 'surprise' exit from Southampton upon the expiry of his contract, after they won promotion to the Premier League.
They are said to be considering a move to sign the former Hoops ace but will look at younger alternatives before they decide to bring him back to Parkhead for a second stint in Glasgow.
During his first spell with Rodgers at Celtic, between 2016 and 2018, Armstrong racked up an eye-catching 22 goals and 13 assists in 88 appearances as a central midfielder.
This shows that the Scottish dynamo already knows how to perform in the Premiership and for the Hoops under the pressure of winning titles and trophies each season, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Parkhead next season.
Like Idah, Armstrong has the experience of playing in Glasgow and in Scotland, which makes them both ideal targets in comparison to players from foreign leagues who would need time to adjust to the league and the pressures of playing for the club.
Appearances
42
Goals
5
xA
7.08
Big chances created
11
Key passes per game
1.6
Assists
7
As you can see in the table above, the Hoops target is also still in top form after an impressive season in the Championship with Southampton, as they won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Idah could now be an exciting signing alongside Armstrong as the duo could come in and hit the ground running at Parkhead as an impressive attacking duo.
Why Adam Idah could thrive with Stuart Armstrong
The Saints maestro showcased his creative quality from a central midfield position during the 2023/24 campaign and he could be a fantastic player to play behind the Irish marksman.
Armstrong ranked within the top 9% of midfielders in the Championship for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.20) and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.33), which speaks to his ability to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates.
Idah, meanwhile, displayed his ruthless finishing in a Celtic shirt as he scored eight goals from 6.86 xG in the Premiership during the second half of the season.
That came after the 23-year-old striker, who Rodgers hailed as "fast" and a "catalyst", had scored six goals from 5.23 xG during the first half of the campaign for Norwich in the English Championship.
These statistics show that he was an efficient and effective finisher in England and Scotland during the season, with a combined 14 goals from 12.09 xG.
Appearances
15
Starts
5
Goals
8
Big chances missed
7
Conversion rate
27%
Minutes per goal
76
As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 3 star was prolific during his short spell at Paradise as he impressively averaged a goal every 76 minutes for the Scottish giants.
Whilst there is no guarantee that he will be able to carry that form over to a full campaign in the Premiership if Celtic sign him permanently, Idah has the potential to thrive alongside Armstrong.
Celtic could start the window perfectly with £4m+ swoop for star target
The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the shot-stopper this summer.
ByDan Emery Jun 10, 2024
The pair could be an exciting duo to watch at Parkhead next term as the free agent midfielder has the creative quality to split open the opposition's defence to put the forward in positions to showcase his superb finishing ability.
Matchday 34 brought the chaos, as Eastern and Western Conference leaders fell, while fringe playoff teams secured results
Saturday's slate of MLS action brought out everything soccer fans could imagine. Dramatic upsets, shocking performances, golazos to remember and thrilling matches.
In the Western Conference, both Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids clinched spots in the playoffs, with Chris Armas' side securing a massive win over Toronto FC while RSL played to an exciting 3-3 draw with Phil Neville's Portland Timbers. Elsewhere in the West, LAFC suffered a shocking defeat, while the Houston Dynamo claimed victory in the Texas Derby.
In the East, league-leaders Inter Miami were stunned by a late equalizer from NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, while Nashville SC pulled off a major result against FC Cincinnati. The winners on the day were the Columbus Crew, who came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Orlando City.
Decision Day on Oct. 19 is looming, with just four weeks remaining on the calendar. It's make or break for fringe playoff teams, while those near the top of their conference are fighting for a home playoff game.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now
GOAL takes a look at the top games from Matchday 34 in the latest MLS roundup.
USA Today ImagesCrew's Shield dream
Wilfried Nancy's team feel like a club of destiny. One of the few teams that are still alive in the race for the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, they knocked off an in-form Orlando City side 4-3 Saturday night, shrugging off their late comeback with Aziel Jackson's 85th minute goal the difference.
Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez bagged goals, with the Colombian forward furthering his MVP candidacy.
They now sit second in the Eastern Conference, leapfrogging rivals FC Cincinnati, knowing they still have a game in-hand. Their Oct. 2 meeting with Inter Miami has now become blockbuster.
AdvertisementImagnLAFC's post-Leagues Cup woes
LAFC are now winless in five straight matches since falling in the Leagues Cup final to the Crew. They've dropped to fourth in the Western Conference, and now trail first-place LA Galaxy by nine points after a 3-1 defeat to FC Dallas Saturday.
Olivier Giroud has yet to score during the regular season, and MLS Golden Boot candidate Denis Bouanga has only scored once in a challenging stretch.
They're near rock bottom, and could lose a home playoff spot in the West as a result. They hold a one-point lead over fifth-place Houston Dynamo, and are treading water with their current form.
USA Today ImagesRSL and Portland's offer a thriller
Real Salt Lake squandered both 2-0 and 3-2 leads to draw the Timbers 3-3 at America First Field Saturday night, but with the point, moved up to second place in the Western Conference. Goals from Diogo Goncalves, Dominik Marczuk and USMNT prospect Diego Luna helped them earn the point.
Meanwhile, Portland's Evander scored a sensational free kick for the Timbers' second of the game, while star forward and frontrunner for MLS Newcomer of the Year Jonathan Rodriguez bagged his 15th goal of the season in stoppage-time to draw level.
In a six-goal thriller, RSL clinched a berth in the postseason, while Phil Neville's side earned a crucial point en-route to their journey up the Western standings. RSL sit second in the table, while the Timbers hold steady at eighth.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
IMGANElsewhere in the East
Inter Miami were held to a 1-1 draw by NYCFC, with James Sands netting a 95th minute equalizer for the Pigeons…. Charlotte FC pummeled 10-man New England Revolution 4-0 for their first regular season win since July 13… CF Montreal earned their third-straight result, defeating the Chicago Fire 2-0 behind a Caden Clark winner… The New York Red Bulls drew Atlanta United 2-2, with each side finding the back of the net in stoppage-time… FC Cincinnati were stunned by Nashville SC, with FCC coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 as they dropped points in the Eastern Conference.
Reaction after Sourav Ganguly says Indian T20 event would take place on the sidelines of the IPL
Annesha Ghosh02-Aug-2020Healy, Player of the Final as Australia won the T20 World Cup earlier this year, kicked things off, saying that hosting the T20 Challenge while the WBBL would be on may not be a good idea after all.
So during the WBBL…. cool https://t.co/w5aNhN9FTw
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
Haynes, the vice-captain of the Australia side, said that the women’s game needed its best talents on the field, and not competing in different parts of the world.
Agree. If true, it’s a shame… while the game continues to grow, premier domestic competitions do not need to compete against each other. They can be used to showcase the game and support its development around the world.
— Rachael Haynes (@RachaelHaynes) August 2, 2020
The T20 Challenge would not have clashed with the WBBL if it had taken place when it was scheduled to, on the sidelines of the IPL in April-May. Now, with the IPL moving to September-November, things have changed.From the point of view of the premier Indian women cricketers, there was also the opportunity to get some match time if the white-ball tour of England hadn’t been cancelled. That was due in July-August, but after it was postponed, the ECB had suggested playing a tri-series also involving South Africa in September. The BCCI, however, opted out.India ODI captain, Raj, meanwhile welcomed the news as a start to preparations for the ODI World Cup, the planning for which, the ICC has said, continues even as further assessments are made by NZC.
This is excellent news . Our ODI World Cup campaign to finally kick start . A big thank you to @SGanguly99 @BCCI @JayShah and thank you @BoriaMajumdar for your support to women’s cricket . https://t.co/JpJSMGapzV
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 2, 2020
Goswami, who, like Raj, represents India only in ODIs, expressed her eagerness to get back to playing, as did Poonam Yadav. Aside from the T20 Challenge, BCCI’s cricket operations team is working out a schedule where India Women are likely to have two full-fledged white-ball series against South Africa and West Indies before playing the ODI World Cup in New Zealand next year, according to PTI.
Glad to know that @BCCI & Dada have taken such important decisions for the development & upliftment of women's cricket. Can't wait to get back on the field. @SGanguly99 @BCCIWomen @mandhana_smriti @ImHarmanpreet @M_Raj03 @IPL
Special thanks to @BoriaMajumdar da from my side. https://t.co/a3DjEZrzZt
— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) August 2, 2020
Good news! Thank you @SGanguly99 and the BCCI. https://t.co/WWkpydctII
— Poonam Yadav (@Poonam_yadav24) August 2, 2020
As reported by ESPNcricinfo last week, at least three top-drawer India players were WBBL-bound, pending no-objection certificates from the BCCI. Healy wondered about overseas players’ participation in both tournaments now that there’s a clear clash in the scheduling.
So the Indian players who’ve already signed wbbl contracts will do what? And all the international marquee players that will be in aus for wbbl? Good luck with it…..
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates also joined in the debate. Bates, along with her compatriots Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu, have been a part of both editions of the T20 Challenge so far. Devine and Bates were also part of runners-up Adelaide Strikers at the WBBL last season, and the former is set to sign up with the Perth Scorchers this year.
What a huge shame for both the WBBL and WIPL competitions there is a clash.
— Suzie Bates (@SuzieWBates) August 2, 2020
And then there’s a third domestic tournament: the Hundred. Although Covid-19 has pushed back the inaugural edition of the English 100-ball competition – both men’s and women’s – to 2021, Charlotte Edwards stressed that the health of the women’s game depended on all three domestic tournaments co-existing.
Needs to be a window for Women’s IPL, WBBL and The Hundred. All play a massive part in raising the standards and growing the game. https://t.co/biiShKjfRw
— Charlotte Edwards (@C_Edwards23) August 2, 2020
Jess Jonassen, the Australia allrounder who was recently named two-time defending champions Brisbane Heat’s captain, also weighed in.
I have no words for this..
— Jessica Jonassen (@JJonassen21) August 2, 2020
A last-minute stalemate between the BCCI and Cricket Australia in the lead-up to the T20 Challenge last year had led to the Australians missing out on the Indian tournament. The Indian players, meanwhile, could not participate in the WBBL last season as they focussed on preparing for the T20 World Cup instead, with assignments against South Africa and West Indies. The last thing players from both countries would want is another standoff between the two boards.
Our tournament is set and prepared. There won’t be any understanding. Fairly sure players will abide by their contractual agreements in Aus. Especially considering it’ll be leading into finals.
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
After a tough week that saw Arsenal crash out of the Champions League and fall to a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, the Gunners are back on track in the Premier League title race following spectacular wins over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the space of seven days.
Mikel Arteta's side put five past the Blues last Tuesday before scoring three against Ange Postecoglou's outfit away from home, and Bukayo Saka was one of the stars of both games, especially the latter.
The Hale End superstar provided an assist against the West Londoners before bagging a goal and an assist against the Lilywhites on Sunday, showing once again why he's one of the club's most important players.
Unfortunately, while there were plenty of standout performers in the two games, one of the club's highest earners failed to start either, and as such, it might be time for him to move on.
Bukayo Saka's Arsenal career in numbers
Saka joined Arsenal's Hale End academy at just eight years old, and after years of hard work and impressive displays, former manager Unai Emery finally gave him his full first-team debut in a Europa League clash against Armenian side Qarabag in December 2018.
GK – Emiliano Martínez
RB – Carl Jenkinson
CB – Sokratis Papastathopoulos
CB – Laurent Koscielny
LB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CM – Joe Willock
CM – Mohamed Elneny
CAM – Mesut Ozil
LM – Bukayo Saka
RM – Eddie Nketiah
ST – Alexandre Lacazette
Since then, the fan favourite has gone on to make a staggering 224 appearances for the senior side despite still being 22 years old, in which he has scored 57 goals and provided 53 assists, giving him an impressive return of a goal involvement every 2.03 games.
This level of output is worthy of praise as it is, but it's made all the more remarkable given the fact that the 32-capped Englishman spent much of his early career bouncing between different positions, playing 21 games as a left-back, 35 games in left midfield, and even seven appearances as a central midfielder, for example.
Appearances
45
Goals
19
Assists
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.73
The "incredible" winger, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, has further improved his output this season. As things stand, he has 19 goals and 14 assists to his name in just 45 appearances, meaning that he's currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.3 games.
For his undeniable importance to the team, the Ealing-born gem has seen his wage soar from around £10k-per-week during his breakout season to a whopping £195k-per-week today, and while that's an unimaginable amount of money for most people, one of his teammates is earning even more, although unlike the young Englishman, he's not justifying it.
What the future holds for Gabriel Jesus
The star in question is Brazilian ace Gabriel Jesus, who cost Arsenal around £45m in the summer of 2022 from Manchester City. At the time, Pep Guardiola and Co likely didn't view Arteta's side as a genuine title rival considering their failure to qualify for the Champions League the season prior.
The then-25-year-old was handed a massive salary of £265k-per-week, which was £175k more than he was making at the Etihad, £70k more than Saka is making, and before the arrival of Kai Havertz last summer, the highest wage at the club.
For that investment, he has returned a reasonably impressive 19 goals and 14 assists in 66 games for the Gunners, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every other game. Therefore, when factoring in his transfer fee and wages to date – which come to £25.1m – he has cost the club around £1m-per-appearance, £3.6m-per-goal and £5m-per-assist.
Transfer Fee
£45m
Wages (Total)
£265k (£25.1m)
Total Cost
£70.1m
Appearances
66
Cost per Appearance
£1m
Goals
19
Cost per Goal
£3.6m
Assists
14
Cost per Assist
£5m
Goal Involvements
33
Cost per Goal Involvements
£2.1m
However, aside from the costs involved, there are two significant issues with the São Paulo-born gem. First is his finishing, or lack thereof. According to The Athletic, the 27-year-old has a conversion rate of just 7% this season, which is just not good enough for a title-chasing side and significantly worse than Havertz's conversion rate of 21%.
The second issue is his injury record. In his two seasons in North London, the 64-capped international has missed 33 games and 184 days of action due to recurring problems with his knee due to an injury he sustained at the 2022 World Cup and a hamstring problem to boot.
Ultimately, these injury problems are not Jesus' fault, and he is right to describe himself as "unlucky", but that doesn't take away from the fact that he has missed half as many games as he has played since moving to the Emirates.
So, while he's an incredibly talented footballer, it's time for Edu and Co to cut their losses, and based on recent reports, they might well be set to do just that.
Recent claims have suggested they are 'open to an exit' for the tricky Brazilian this summer and should that ultimately occur, it would not be a huge surprise at all. Injuries only continue to mount up and he cannot be trusted in a side aiming to win the Premier League title. After all, there is a reason Manchester City decided to cash in. They haven't looked back after acquiring Erling Haaland as his replacement.
Arsenal eyeing 'unstoppable' Jesus upgrade who was in London on Sunday
The incredible talent has shades of Lukas Podolski about him.
ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2024