Grace Scrivens half-century sets hosts up before Aussies dampen Spirit
ECB Media07-Aug-2024
Alana King picked up three crucial wickets for the Rockets•PA Images/Getty
Aussie duo Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King spun Trent Rockets to a much-needed 31-run win over London Spirit at Trent Bridge.Gardner and King combined for six wickets as a star-studded Spirit line-up never threatened to chase down 158 for 5.Young gun Grace Scrivens struck 55 from 43 balls for the hosts, although she had to walk off the field in the second innings when she was struck in the face attempting a catch.It meant Rockets ended a three-game losing streak and was made all the more impressive as Nat Sciver-Brunt, the women’s competition’s leading run-scorer, had a comparatively quiet match with 21 from 12 balls.Former England Under-19s skipper Scrivens played arguably her best innings of The Hundred sharing a 74-run opening stand with Bryony Smith that set the tone for a performance that will have caught the attention of the other teams.Scrivens hit nine boundaries and her opening stand with Smith, who crashed 34 from 22 balls, was only ended in misfortunate when Charlie Dean got a finger on the ball before it crashed into the stumps with Smith unable to recover her ground after backing up.India star Deepti Sharma claimed the big wickets of Sciver-Brunt and Gardner, but Heather Graham’s unbeaten 22 from 12 balls ensured a fast finish.Spirit’s chase was immediately undermined when Gardner removed Georgia Redmayne and Cordelia Griffith from successive balls before King had former Australia captain Meg Lanning caught by Kirstie Gordon at mid-on.Gardner trapped Dani Gibson lbw and when England and Spirit skipper Heather Knight’s sweep at King landed in the hands of Smith, after hitting 29 from 20, the game was up.Gardner and King both finished with identical figures of 3 for 23 from 20 balls as Spirit closed on 127 for 7.Meerkat match Hero, Gardner, said: “It was huge (win for us). It was probably the first game we put all three facets of the game together. The openers did a fantastic job giving us the start that they did, that was the best we’ve been with the ball and we were pretty clean in the field. It was a pretty perfect performance.”
تعرض منتخب الأرجنتين لخسارة مريرة فجر اليوم الأربعاء أمام نظيره الإكوادور بهدف مقابل لا شيء، وذلك لحساب منافسات تصفيات قارة أمريكا الجنوبية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم في كندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك.
وأجرى مدرب منتخب الأرجنيتن، ليونيل سكالوني، تعديلات على تشكيلة فريقه الأساسية، وأبرزها استبعاد الأسطورة نجم إنتر ميامي، ليونيل ميسي، للراحة.
وأعطى ميسي القميص رقم 10 في لقاء الإكوادور لنجم ريال مدريد الشاب، فرانكو ماستانتونو، حيث كان الأخير بديلًا اليوم.
طالع.. فيديو | البرازيل تسقط أمام بوليفيا بهدف في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026
وفي ظل غياب ميسي ومع ضمان الأرجنتين تأهلها سلفًا إلى كأس العالم، كان لاعبو الإكوادور أكثر رغبة في تحقيق الانتصار من التانجو في لقاء اليوم.
وساعد الإكوادور كثيرًا الطرد الذي تعرض له مدافع الأرجنتين ونادي بنفيكا، نيكولاس أوتاميندي في الدقيقة 31، بعدما أعاق إينر فالنسيا، مهاجم الإكوادور على حدود منطقة الجزاء.
وأسفر الضغط الذي مارسه لاعبو الإكوادور عن هدف في الدقيقة الثالثة عشر من الوقت بدل الضائع من الشوط الأول عن طريق فالنسيا من ركلة جزاء عجز حارس الأرجنتين وأستون فيلا، إيميليانو مارتينيز عن التصدي لها.
واستمرت سلسلة البطاقات الحمراء في شوط اللقاء الثاني، حيث تعرض نجم تشيلسي والإكوادور، مويسيس كايسيدو، للطرد في الدقيقة 50، عقب احتكاك قوي بدون كرة مع جناح أتلتيكو مدريد والأرجنتين، نيكولاس جونزاليس، ليخرج لاعب برايتون السابق مباشرًة من أرض الملعب.
ولم يعق هذا الطرد الإكوادور عن تحقيق الانتصار الذي رفع رصيدهم إلى 29 نقطة في المركز الثاني، بينما تجمد رصيد الأرجنتين عند 38 نقطة في المركز الأول.
من علامة الجزاء.. فالينسيا يسجل أول الأهداف للإكوادور ⚽️🔥
Chelsea are now just two games away from being crowned champions of the world.
Late on Friday night, the Blues booked their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals, thanks to a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Cole Palmer broke the deadlock early, only for Chelsea-bound Estêvão Willian to score a stunning equaliser, but Malo Gusto’s late cross was deflected into his own net by Agustín Giay as the Londoners prevailed in Pennsylvania.
Enzo Maresca’s team will now take on Fluminense in Tuesday’s semi-finals at MetLife Stadium, the third different Brazilian club they’ve faced this summer, firm favourites to reach the final, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid await.
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ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025
Meantime, Chelsea remain, as is their want, extremely busy in the transfer market, with João Pedro debuting off the bench on Friday, while Jamie Gittens has since arrived too, it could mean that another of their forward players is to take his leave.
The latest on Noni Madueke's Chelsea future
As reported by Sam Dean and Sam Wallace of the Telegraph, Arsenal are preparing a £50m bid for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
Meantime, David Ornstein of the Athletic notes that the England international has actually already ‘agreed personal terms’ with the Gunners, and this deal appears as though it could actually happen, with Madueke thereby becoming the tenth player to leave Chelsea for Arsenal in the modern era, six of which have done so since 2019.
Players Arsenal have signed from Chelsea (1992-present)
Players
Year
Fee
William Gallas
2006
£5m
Lassana Diarra
2007
£6m
Yossi Benayoun
2011
Loan
Petr Čech
2015
£10m
David Luiz
2019
£8m
Willian
2020
Free
Jorginho
2023
£12m
Kai Havertz
2023
£65m
Raheem Sterling
2024
Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga
2025
£5m
Information courtesy of Premier League.com
A real mixed bag there from an Arsenal perspective, with Chelsea supporters very much viewing their North London rivals as a bit of a dumping ground, but could a highly-rated teenager be moving in the opposite direction?
Chelsea targeting Madueke upgrade
According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closely monitoring Ethan Nwaneri’s contractual situation at Arsenal and are ‘ready to attack the situation’.
The 18-year-old, only eligible to sign a professional contract since March, currently has just one year remaining on his deal with the Gunners, and James McNicholas of the Athletic has reported that ‘talks are at a delicate stage’, with the club desperate to tie down ‘such a valuable prospect’.
He adds that, before committing to anything, the £47m-rated youngster wants to seek assurances over his playing time, following a breakout season at Arsenal, seeing 1,378 minutes of action across all competitions, including starting 11 Premier League matches, scoring nine goals.
For context, despite his age and the fact he played 1,246 fewer minutes, he only scored two fewer goals than Madueke across all competitions, underlining the immense potential and talent that he possesses.
Indeed, Nwaneri is only the third player to score nine goals before their 18th birthday for a Premier League club, after Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who weren’t bad, were they?
Described by Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout as a “magnificent talent”, he could well be the perfect long-term replacement for Madueke, but if it is indeed first-team opportunities that are the teenager’s priority, perhaps Chelsea are not the right club to join, considering all the wide-attacking options currently on their books.
Chelsea’s current wide attackers
Players
Age
Chelsea appearances
Cole Palmer
23
95
Noni Madueke
23
91
Pedro Neto
25
49
Christopher Nkunku
27
60
Raheem Sterling
30
81
João Félix
25
40
Jamie Gittens
20
0
Mykhailo Mudryk*
24
73
Tyrique George
19
26
Kendry Páez
18
0
Estêvão Willian
18
0
Omari Kellyman
19
0
*currently banned for doping.
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
Fair to say, Maresca has a fair few options from which to choose out-wide, even if Mykhailo Mudryk is currently banned, while a couple of others are likely to depart, including the aforementioned Madueke and João Félix.
Nevertheless, might Nwaneri be the best of the lot?
Well, former Chelsea winger Joe Cole compared the teenager to Lionel Messi, following Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City in February, stating “you can’t mark him because he can go both ways… I don’t even want to say it, but it’s like Messi”.
Meantime, Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis praises Nwaneri’s ‘versatility’ and phenomenal ‘potential’, adding that his ‘best attribute is his ability to find pockets and exploit spaces’.
Thus, it is clear that Nwaneri is a player who is poised to be a future star, and if there’s one thing Chelsea love, it is hoovering up such young talents, so will they strike again?
More exciting than Estevao: Chelsea chase one of "England's biggest jewels"
Chelsea could be looking to make a move for one of England’s finest talents
Leeds United are ramping up their transfer activity as the new Premier League season edges ever closer.
Former Manchester City youth starlet Lucas Nmecha has now joined the ranks from Wolfsburg to enhance the Whites’ attacking options. It’s surely only a matter of time before Jaka Bijol is announced too, after he has allegedly undergone a medical at Elland Road.
Jaka Bijol in action for Udinese.
The next logical step would be to add some reinforcements in the middle of the park, therefore, and Leeds’ wish could be granted if they were to land a former Premier League ace.
Leeds interested in deal for £25m star
Strengthening the midfield ranks is evidently a key priority for Leeds this summer with moves for the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki reportedly lined up.
Diarra seems to be a more concrete target at the moment with fresh claims suggesting that they made a bid worth £21m.
Transfer Focus
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Slow progress is being made on that deal, so the Whites are seeking alternatives. Well, according to a new report from Italian outlet Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Leeds are in the picture to land former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer.
The report states that Luiz will be allowed to leave Juventus this off-season after a mediocre stint in Turin, but Leeds could well be put off by the Serie A giants and their asking price, with Igor Tudor’s men having purchased the Brazilian for a bumper £42m fee.
The move could still have legs on a loan-to-buy basis, however, with the report clarifying that such a deal would only cost Daniel Farke’s men £25m down the line. That marks a sharp decrease from Luiz’s staggering £100m valuation back in 2023.
Thus, that £25m fee feels like a reasonable fee to pay for the South American, with his reputation needing to be repaired, and that could occur back in England, where he once starred for Unai Emery’s men regularly.
Why Luiz could become Leeds' new Raphinha-like star
Luiz could come in and seriously improve Farke’s midfield options, with this deal having a similar feel to when Leeds purchased another Brazilian from Europe in the form of Raphinha for a bargain £16m, with the rest now history on the end of the Barcelona superstar.
Obviously, Raphinha didn’t have the backdrop of flopping at Rennes before he relocated to West Yorkshire, but it would have been seen as a savvy deal at the time, with Leeds only having to fork out a modest fee to win the slick winger.
The 34-time Brazil international would go on to cement himself in Leeds hearts everywhere with his skilful performances throughout his short stay, leading to the now Barca number 11 collecting 17 goals and 12 assists from 67 appearances, with his efforts as the Whites’ top goalscorer during his swansong season at Elland Road helping Leeds to just about beat the drop.
Luiz might well follow in Raphinha’s footsteps and be the energetic presence Leeds need to secure their Premier League status this coming season, with the Rio De Janeiro-born midfielder a proven top-flight performer.
Farke would love to call upon Luiz as an additional central body, therefore, with the vibrant Brazilian capable of getting stuck in when needed. Like Raphinha, who’s now a firm Ballon d’Or contender, he’s got fine pedigree, notably hailed as “one of the best 6s in the Premier League” and “one of the best [midfielders] in the world” by Sky Italia.
That’s showcased perfectly by his numbers for the Villans, where he ranked within the top 7% of midfielders in the Premier League in 2023/24 for goals, demonstrating his attacking flair to go alongside his defensive qualities.
Luiz’s numbers in the PL for Villa by season
Stat (* = per game)
19/20
20/21
21/22
22/23
23/24
Games played
36
33
34
37
35
Goals scored
3
0
2
6
9
Assists
2
2
3
6
5
Touches*
46.1
55.6
56.9
60.6
70.1
Accurate passes*
27.7 (83%)
36.8 (86%)
37.1 (87%)
39.6 (86%)
50.4 (89%)
Big chances created
3
4
2
7
10
Tackles*
1.3
1.5
1.7
2.0
1.7
Clearances*
1.3
1.2
0.6
0.6
0.5
Total duels won*
4.1
4.9
4.4
4.4
4.2
Stats by Sofascore
Luiz only got better and better the more his Premier League journey at Villa Park went on, culminating in him firing home a ridiculous nine Premier League strikes during his final season in the West Midlands.
He would even be labelled as “world-class” during his celebrated stay with the Villans by teammate John McGinn, with Raphinha once also talked about in the same glowing manner in West Yorkshire when heralded as “special” by Marcelo Bielsa.
Everything is pointing in the direction of this being a superb deal, with Luiz potentially going on to be their new Premier League saviour, just as Raphinha was once upon a time.
He's better than Diarra: Leeds now looking at deal to sign £26m "threat"
Leeds United are eyeing up a midfield star who could be even better than Habib Diarra.
England opener leads charge as she admits absence from T20I squad creates unique pressure
Valkerie Baynes26-Jun-2024
Tammy Beaumont got England motoring•Getty Images
England’s nine-wicket rout in the first match of New Zealand’s visit represented exactly how the hosts want to play.Having lacked a ruthless streak for much of their victorious ODI and T20I campaigns against Pakistan earlier in the home summer, England crushed the White Ferns on Wednesday, first by bowling them out for 156 in 33.3 overs thanks largely to Charlie Dean’s 4 for 38 before reeling in the target for the loss of just one wicket with a staggering 28.4 overs to spare, via brutal half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier.Beaumont, unbeaten with 76 from 69 deliveries, and Bouchier, who had a breakout tour of New Zealand earlier this year and struck 67 off 50 balls, took England within 20 runs of victory with 137-run opening stand off just 106 deliveries. Combined with England’s spinners Dean, Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn – who took seven wickets between them – it was the sort of clinical all-round performance they had been seeking.Against Pakistan, England scrapped their way to victory in the first ODI before Nat Sciver-Brunt dominated the third, following a second-match wash-out. During the three T20Is, only Danni Wyatt’s quickfire 87 at Leeds stood out after Amy Jones and Dani Gibson rescued them from 11 for 4 in the series opener at Edgbaston and they managed to defend a modest total in the second match by bowling Pakistan out for just 79.It was those sorts of results, Beaumont said after beating New Zealand in Durham, that England had said they wanted to turn into much more dominant victories, especially given the mantra of “inspire and entertain” that has been underpinning their endeavours for the past two years.”We spoke a lot this morning about how we want to play our 50-over cricket, and what inspiring and entertaining is. At times that’s being ruthless and putting on a show like that,” Beaumont said. “To respond to that conversation and go out straight away and put it into action … in particular the bowling was absolutely ruthless.”That’s certainly the word we’ve started to use a bit more,” she added. “We want to enjoy our cricket, we want to show off, we want to show our skills and how much talent there is in that dressing-room, but actually we want to also win games of cricket and really dominate at the same time, and the two can definitely being mutually exclusive. So I think it was still a lot of fun today but still incredibly ruthless, and a bit of a statement for the start of a series.”It’s not necessarily the be-all and end-all. We still want to try and push the game forward and take the game to as many new heights as possible. But at the same time, when you’ve got the foot on the throat, we’re going to try and ram home that advantage.”England’s performance showed what they are capable of, given the talent at their disposal. Heather Knight was barely called upon after arriving with 20 runs still required, Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt went unused, while Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley were left out of the starting XI altogether, the latter having won back her place in the squad after a disappointing tour of New Zealand.Beaumont said that while Dunkley’s welcome return increased the competition for places, the same could be said for most spots in the side, as reflected by Ryana MacDonald-Gay’s call-up from an impressive domestic season as cover for injured seamer Kate Cross.Maia Bouchier got to fifty at well over a run a ball•PA Photos/Getty Images
Beaumont and Cross find themselves in a tough place, on the fringes of T20I selection with a World Cup just over three months away but important to England’s 50-over campaign in 2025 and, where applicable, the Test set-up too.And while hosting Pakistan and New Zealand hasn’t carried the same buzz as last year’s Women’s Ashes, Beaumont – England’s double-centurion in the Trent Bridge Test against Australia last June – said she was playing with more freedom now than she was back then, when England came back from a 6-0 points deficit after losing the Test and first T20I to draw by winning both the T20I and ODI series two games to one.”I found the Ashes quite difficult last year,” she said. “You have the high of scoring a double-hundred in a Test match and then literally an hour after the end of the Test, you get told you’re not around for the next 10 days – that kind of took the wind out of your sails a little bit. You then have 10 days of regional cricket and then rock up and you have to win every game of the Ashes to stay in. What the girls did in the T20s was incredible, but actually the pressure to come back in, be the opening batter, and keep that roll on and not be the one that messes it up and loses the Ashes, is pretty tough to deal with.”But unfortunately that’s the situation the likes of myself and Kate Cross are in. It feels like you’ve got to constantly make an impact to stay relevant, but that’s what you have to do. Both of us are good enough at sticking to our game and acknowledging that it’s tough, that’s how it is and it’s not going to get any easier. There’s nothing anyone can do really, unless they pick you in the T20s, but it doesn’t seem to happen. So yeah, that is what it is.”Related
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New Zealand have plenty of reflection and improvement ahead if they are to bounce back, having lost their home T20 and ODI series against England in March and April.Had 20-year-old opener Georgia Plimmer not been run out for 29 pressing on for a single after deflecting Melie Kerr’s shot off her boot straight to midwicket, New Zealand may have been able to forge a much-needed partnership. As it stood, only Brooke Halliday’s half-century stood out, and she was the sole White Ferns bowler to take a wicket after playing as a specialist batter during England’s tour of New Zealand while making her way back from a foot injury.”I was a little bit confused because I was just putting my kit on, but yeah, maybe one day when Georgia gets a little bit older, she’ll be able to say ‘no’ to Melie,” Halliday said. “We talked about recently trying to be in the crease a little bit tighter to the stumps to try and help get the single down at mid-on, so that came back to bite her a little bit there… it’s just unfortunate the way she got out, but good signs.”Individually everyone will probably reflect on batting, bowling and fielding and then we’ll come together as a group and see what we want to work on and how we’re going to approach the next game. We’re not going to dwell too much on it, I’m sure, but you’ve always got to reflect and take what you can out of a game like this.”
Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing a free agent for manager Enzo Maresca, with the player leaving his club this summer and now readily available for hire.
Chelsea continue transfer plans after Club World Cup deadline
The Blues couldn’t get some high-profile deals signed and sealed in time before the pre-Club World Cup deadline, which passed on Tuesday at 7pm, but they could still add new players to the tournament’s squad thanks to a unique registration window open from June 27 to July 3.
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This does exclude winger Jamie Gittens, though, due to the fact he’ll be registered as a Borussia Dortmund player for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season
Average match rating
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
However, regardless of not being able to participate for Chelsea at the tournament in any aspect, if they do eventually strike a deal, club director Sebastien Kehl confirmed in an interview this week that Chelsea will hold transfer talks for the 20-year-old again.
“We spoke on the phone, in the end we did not agree, because we have different ideas about the current value of the player,” he said to Tage Spiegel.
“Jamie definitely makes our team better. We are glad that he is there. We are in a good exchange and see how things are shaping in the future.
Jamie Gittens
“Of course, at some point, if you take a player with it, you also have to sell. I assume that his market value will not fall. We will see to what extent we can keep it until the end of the tournament. There will be talks again.”
Alongside Gittens, Chelsea are believed to be prioritising new attacking additions right now, which includes a new winger, versatile attacking midfielder and another new striker after Liam Delap (Simon Phillips).
They could also add to their large crop of promising youngsters, following deals for Geovany Quenda, Dario Essugo and 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg in the last six months.
Chelsea close to finalising deal for ex-PNE defender Kian Best
According to a report from EFL Analysis, Chelsea want to sign former Preston North End left-back Kian Best on a free transfer.
The teenage defender was a “shock” departure from Deepdale this summer and is free to talk to clubs, which has piqued interest from Stamford Bridge officials who are now looking to bring Best to Cobham.
It is believed Chelsea are “close to finalising” a deal for Best after opening talks, with Maresca’s side pushing to make it happen. The England Under-19 international could then go out on loan to sister club Strasbourg to further his development.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescaduring training
Despite interest from Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, Best is on the verge of a move to Chelsea instead, and he’s been called “different class” by the manager who gave him his senior debut in 2023.
“His intelligence, passing range and quality on the ball is different class,” said former PNE boss Ryan Lowe.
“I think you only have to look at my record, I won’t hesitate to put them in regardless of how old they are. He’s definitely deserved a place in the team so far.”
Throughout the years, countless players have rejoined Celtic for a second spell after departing.
Fraser Forster returned in 2019, following in the footsteps of Willie Fernie, Bertie Auld, Frank McAvennie, Andy Walker, Charlie Mulgrew, Charlie Nicholas, Emilio Izaguirre and countless others who have done so before him at Parkhead.
Kieran Tierney will soon be added to this list, his return from Arsenal all but officially confirmed, after Jota re-signed in January, so could another fans’ favourite be doing the same this summer?
Jota's incredible Celtic return
Back in the summer of 2023, after two successful seasons at Celtic, Jota was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for a record-equalling fee of £25m.
Well, after a miserable stint in the Middle East, following by an equally unspectacular six months in France with Stade Rennais where he scored just once in ten games, Jota returned to Glasgow for £8m in January, a mere 18 months after leaving.
The Portuguese winger marked his return with a goal at Fir Park on his second debut, also on target during Premiership victories over Dundee United, Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian, as well as the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Johnstone on Easter Sunday.
However, after making just 16 appearances in Hoops, Jota ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at Tannadie in April, on the day Celtic clinched the title, with Brendan Rodgers later confirming that he would be sidelined for “between six and nine months”.
A heartbreaking blow for a 26-year-old, who was just happy to feel at home again, but could he be re-united with another fans’ favourite, with Celtic returning to Roazhon Park for their shopping?
Celtic could seal stunning Jota repeat
Jota’s return to Glasgow was incredibly unexpected but it no doubt raised the excitement levels among the green and white side of the city. So, surely they couldn’t do it again?
Well, think again. Indeed According to a report by French outlet Foot 7 Sur, Kyōgo Furuhashi will leave Stade Rennais this summer, just six months after arriving in Brittany, claiming that the Japanese forward ‘could return’ to Celtic.
Celtic'sKyogoFuruhashi celebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
Like Jota in the six months before him, Kyōgo has failed to make any sort of impact at les Rouge et Noirs following his January move, playing just six times, of which only one was a start.
He has also failed to find the net and featured as an unused substitute on six occasions. Dismal reading, indeed.
Kyōgo Furuhashi’s Stade Rennais career
Statistics
Kyōgo
Appearances
6
Starts
1
Minutes
120
Goals
0
Assists
0
Matches an unused sub
6
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
Despite his complete lack of success in France, not featuring in any of Rennes’ last five fixtures of the Ligue 1 season, Kyōgo will always be a modern icon at Celtic, as Jota is.
The first Japanese import of the Ange Postecoglou era, Kyōgo scored 85 goals in 170 appearances for the Hoops, leaving him amongst the club’s highest-scorers of modern times.
Celtic players to score 75+ goals (1997-present)
Players
Tenure
Games
Goals
Henrik Larsson
1997-04
292
2204
Leigh Griffiths
2014-21
262
123
James Forrest
2009-present
528
110
John Hartson
2001-06
198
106
Kris Commons
2011-17
227
89
Odsonne Édouard
2017-21
179
87
Kyōgo Furuhashi
2021-25
170
85
Chris Sutton
2000-06
197
84
Gary Hooper
2010-13
138
82
Anthony Stokes
2010-16
192
76
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
Yatao of the Celtic star describes Kyōgo’s performances for the club as “world-class”, while Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman asserts that he is Celtic’s best striker since Henrik Larsson.
Thus, all Celtic supporters would be excited about the possibility of him returning this summer, and reports suggest this hope is not as fanciful as it may first appear.
Brentford set to go at Celtic with £60m Mbeumo windfall to sign "breathtaking" star
The Bhoys are set to witness movement in both directions this summer…
Manchester United are now circling to sign an “incredible” attacker, in what would be a hugely controversial deal, according to a report.
Red Devils moving swiftly in the transfer market
Matheus Cunha became Man United’s first signing of the summer last week, with Ruben Amorim getting his summer rebuild underway early doors, and the manager has no plans to stop there, as another forward could be on their way to Old Trafford soon.
There are conflicting reports about who United’s priority target is at centre-forward, but recruitment chiefs certainly have a number of potential options in mind, with it being revealed they are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Target
Current club
Potential cost
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
£29m
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig
£84m
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford
£60m
Viktor Gyokeres
Sporting CP
£67m
Any top striker is only as good as the service he receives, however, and with widespread reports linking captain Bruno Fernandes with a move to Saudi Arabia, Amorim may also be tasked with bringing in another attacking midfielder this summer.
According to a report from The Mirror, the Red Devils have a hugely controversial target in mind, as they are now circling to sign Manchester City maestro James McAtee, who could now be edging closer towards an Etihad Stadium exit.
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McAtee has been left out of Man City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, which could spell the end of his time on the blue side of Manchester, with United believed to be keen on a surprise deal to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford.
With the 22-year-old’s contract set to expire in 2026, City may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash-in on the Englishman, and reports from elsewhere have detailed they could look to hold out for a fee in the region of £25m.
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Man City have already made the mistake of letting some exciting academy graduates leave in the past, most notably Cole Palmer, who has gone on to excel at Chelsea, and there are signs McAtee could be capable of following a similar path.
Lauded as “incredible” by former teammate Oli McBurnie, the Salford-born midfielder impressed when given the opportunity during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals in 27 outings, but unfortunately his game time was far too limited.
James McAtee
Not only is the City ace an attacking threat, but he is also clearly a well-rounded player, given that he has impressed on some key defensive metrics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.96 (89th percentile)
Blocks
1.96 (99th percentile)
Should McAtee be willing to cross the Manchester divide, there are signs he would be able to kick on at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a difficult deal to get over the line, given the rivalry between the two clubs.
Ange Postecoglou and his team can make their fans forget about their diabolically poor domestic season by continuing their impressive European run and winning the Europa League Final.
However, with Manchester United having a stellar track record on the continent this season as well, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll get their hand on the trophy come full-time.
To give his team a better chance of coming away victorious, Postecoglou will have to make a number of changes to the starting lineup that lost away to Aston Villa on Friday night, like dropping Mikey Moore.
Why Moore should be dropped
The first thing to say is that while we think Moore should be taken out of the team, that doesn’t mean we don’t think he’ll have a large part to play for the club in the coming seasons.
After all, his youth record of 21 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances across the various levels is nothing short of spectacular, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s a “future superstar” in the making.
However, he is still just 17 years old, and while he has looked reasonably impressive for the senior team here and there, he’s not had a significant enough impact – three goal involvements in 21 games – to warrant a start in the club’s biggest game since the Champions League Final.
Moore’s game vs Villa
Minutes
87′
Expected Goals
0.00
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.00
Assists
0
Accurate passes
7/9 (78%)
Key passes
0
Crosses (accurate)
1 (0)
Shots on target
0
Ground duels (won)
9 (4)
Possession lost
7
Dribbled past
2
Dribble attempts (successful)
3 (0)
All Stats via Sofascore
Moreover, his inexperience showed somewhat at Villa Park, as he struggled to assert himself on the game and eventually came off the pitch in the 87th minute, having made just seven passes and failing in 100% of his dribbles.
Moreover, with Brennan Johnson still the team’s top scorer in all competitions this term, with 17 in 49 games, it should go without saying that he should be starting on the right ahead of everyone else.
The other Spurs star who should be dropped
Given the underwhelming nature of the game, there are a few other players you could bring up who should probably be taken out of the team for the final, like Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and more.
Yet, in this instance, we are talking about another starter in the attack: Mathys Tel.
The young Frenchman might well be one of the more exciting players in the Lilywhites’ squad, with some at the club reportedly labelling him a “generational talent” before he arrived in February, but against the Villans, he didn’t do enough to convince us he should keep his place in the team for tonight’s monumental clash.
Tel’s game vs Villa
Minutes
96′
Expected Goals
0.00
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.15
Assists
0
Accurate passes
12/14 (86%)
Key passes
1
Crosses (accurate)
1 (0)
Shots on target
0
Big chances created
1
Dribble attempts (successful)
5 (1)
Duels (won)
14 (4)
Possession lost
11
Fouls
4
All Stats via Sofascore
For example, despite leading the line for 96 minutes, he failed to take a single shot on target, registered just 0.15 expected assists, failed in 80% of his attempted dribbles, completed only 12 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, missed one big chance, lost ten of 14 duels, lost the ball 11 times and committed four fouls.
Add to that the fact that he’s scored just three goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances for the club this season, and it’s almost impossible to make a convincing argument about why he should lead the line against the Red Devils.
Moreover, Dominic Solanke, the man who should come in to replace him, has been far more effective in front of goal this season, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in 43 appearances.
Ultimately, Tel could still be a useful asset for Spurs in tonight’s final, but to get the most out of him, Postecoglou would be better off starting him on the bench and then bringing him on later into the match as things get stretched so that he can exploit the opening spaces with his pace.
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Arsenal are now in “advanced” talks to sign a marquee player ahead of interest from Premier League champions Liverpool, with new sporting director Andrea Berta reportedly making an eventful start to life as Edu’s successor.
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Discounting the Community Shield, it has been five years since Arsenal last won a major trophy.
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Mikel Arteta guided them to FA Cup glory during the COVID pandemic in 2020, clinching a piece of silverware amid his first campaign in charge of the club, but there has been precious little in the way of honours since then.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
You can make a serious argument that this is largely down to Man City’s invincibility over the last few years, barring this campaign, with Arsenal racking up a brilliant 89 points last term only for Pep Guardiola’s side to eventually take all the plaudits.
As per the above table, Arsenal have invested significantly in the squad, and some debate is even beginning to arise over whether Arteta is the right manager to end the club’s two-decade-long-plus wait for a league title.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetalooks dejected after the match
They’ve undoubtedly evolved into an elite-level side under Arteta’s tenure, as their run to the Champions League semi-finals highlights, so reports of a potential exit for the 43-year-old have been few and far between, with the consensus being that Arsenal are continuing to show faith in him.
“It’s a great achievement, in 2025, to not win a trophy for five years and still be the manager at a top club that isn’t under pressure – from us, from anybody in the football community or even anyone in the Arsenal fanbase,” said Sky pundit Gary Neville.
“That’s an incredible achievement because we thought those days were gone whereby you can have this type of patience being afforded to you. I think it’s a good thing: normally with five years without a trophy you’d ordinarily see a manager be under pressure.
“That’s significant in that you think there is progression.”
Arsenal in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres
However, this may not last for long if Arsenal don’t end their trophy drought soon, and Berta has every intention of backing Arteta with key signings that will reinforce the squad and hand Arteta the best possible chance of achieving glory. Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is a top target, according to widespread reports.
Sporting Club's Viktor Gyokeres.
The “massively underrated” Sweden international appears destined to leave Sporting after a haul of 50 goals in all competitions, and some media sources suggest Arsenal have already offered him personal terms worth £135,000-per-week to join them (A Bola).
Now, CaughtOffside shares some more intriguing news about the saga. The outlet reports that Arsenal’s talks to sign Gyokeres are at an “advanced” stage, and they are currently leading the chase for his signature ahead of both Liverpool and Man United.
Arteta’s side are apparently closing in on a five-year deal for the striker, but CO claim it is actually worth around £9 million-per-year, rather than the previously mooted £7 million.
While Liverpool and United are still contending, it is reiterated that Arsenal are in pole position, with the ex-Coventry City star, who has an £84 million release clause in his contract, seemingly nearing a return to England.