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New York Mets outfielder Jesse Winker went viral for a hilarious moment in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Roger Centre.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Winker picked up Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s line drive to left center and threw the ball to Eddy Alvarez at second base to get the out. Guerrero collided with Alvarez at the base and appeared to be safe, according to the initial call.

However, after a Mets’ challenge, the call was overturned and Guerrero was confirmed to be out. 

As Guerrero stood there shaking his head in visible disbelief, Winker walked over, looked him in the eyes and stuck out his hand, offering what seemed to be an olive branch.

Guerrero flashed a wry smile, shook Winker’s hand, and that was that.

It wasn’t exactly the most thrilling moment in baseball, but it still gave fans a good laugh.

After claiming the MLS Golden Boot, Lionel Messi has been named to the MLS Best XI for the second time since joining Inter Miami. The recognition comes after Messi finished with the second-most goal contributions in a single season in MLS history and became the second player in league history to lead the league in goals and assists.

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  A star-studded team

  The squad features six first-time honorees and players representing nine different clubs, with the Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps each seeing two players recognized. The team features multiple award winners, too, including Golden Boot winner (and MVP favorite) Messi, MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon, MLS Young Player of the Year Alex Freeman, and MLS Newcomer of the Year Anders Dreyer.

  Freeman is the youngest player named to the Best XI in five years (Brenden Aaronson in 2020), while Dreyer joins Roman Burki and Walker Zimmerman in making the list from a first-year expansion team in the 2020s. Denis Bouanga, meanwhile, became the first player since Josef Martinez to make the team three consecutive times as he joins Dreyer and Messi as the three attackers in the team.

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  Best XI in full

  Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)

  Defenders: Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union), Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union)

  Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

  Forwards: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)

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  Local flavor

  Four players in the side have played for the U.S. men's national team this year: Freeman, Blackmon, Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan. All four were in the U.S. squad for the September camp, with Roldan and Freeman returning for the October camp as well. Berhalter, meanwhile, joined Freeman this summer in representing the U.S. on the run to the Gold Cup final.

  Canada, too, is represented by St. Clair, who becomes the second Canadian player to be named to the MLS Best XI in the last decade, following Tajon Buchanan in 2021.

  The five domestic selections are the most since 2015, when there were also five: Luis Robles, Matt Hedges, Benny Feilhaber, Ethan Finlay and Dax McCarty, all American.

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  What comes next?

  Of the Best XI selections, Freeman is the only one not left in the playoffs after Orlando City were knocked out in the Wild Card round. All five deciding Game 3s of the current round will be played this weekend.

Premier League fans will have enjoyed a feast of football after the conclusion of the international break. However, a former player in England’s top-flight calling out Jake Paul may not have been on their bingo card this weekend!

Former Premier League star Curtis Davies claims KO victory over Paddy Kenny

Boxing is a sport that has seen plenty of high-profile crossovers in recent years. On Saturday night, it was the turn of former Hull City defender Curtis Davies and ex-Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to pull on the gloves for charity.

The Sun report that Graham Stack was behind the event, one that also saw Jody Morris and David Bentley go head-to-head, among other bouts involving Leroy Lita, Lee Trundle and Greg Halford, but Davies and Kenny grabbed the headlines due to a turn of events in Mayfair that has garnered social media attention.

With both ex-footballers fighting it out looking to raise money for Playskill, Willow Foundation, Helping Hands and Sport In Mind, Davies took the victory ruthlessly, knocking out Kenny in the first round to claim a resounding victory.

Despite showing admirable bravery to carry on after his opponent landed a series of blows, Kenny, a former Republic of Ireland international, was eventually downed after a standing count took place moments earlier, in footage that can be seen below courtesy of The Daily Mail.

Unfortunately, the Sheffield United favourite needed oxygen after suffering the knockout blow. Hopefully, he can recover well following a bruising affair with some noble causes at the heart of the event.

Davies said after the fight: “Really pleased, I’ve worked hard for this, it’s bittersweet, I love Paddy to bits, I didn’t want to have to knock him about, but that’s what we’re here to do. It’s all for charity, yes, but I enjoyed that win.”

Curtis Davies calls out Jake Paul after victory over Paddy Kenny

Later on, Davies took the surprise step of calling out world-renowned influencer and professional fighter Jake Paul, alongside signalling his intention to enter the Misfits boxing scene.

Whether his comments were tongue-in-cheek or not remains to be seen, but he said after speaking about his victory:

In his heyday, Davies was a dominant central defender who would offer a physical challenge to any striker in the English football pyramid, and it appears he may have found a new calling in boxing, becoming part of a growing trend of ex-players who have swapped boots for gloves.

Curtis Woodhouse has carved out a successful career in the sport. At the same time, Danny Simpson have been involved in Misfits, creating some intriguing match-ups in a different setting to test out their competitive nature.

Either way, charity was the real winner on this occasion, and money raised will go towards helping vital causes after a momentous night of action in Mayfair.

Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly ready to end his troubled Manchester United spell by formally requesting a transfer in January. The £36 million 2024 signing has fallen completely out of favour under Ruben Amorim, and West Ham United are leading the race to rescue the Dutch striker from his Old Trafford nightmare after a torrid year where he has struggled to find any form.

• Zirkzee to request transfer

  Zirkzee is set to ask Manchester United for a move away when the transfer window reopens in January as per the Daily Star. The 24-year-old forward has endured a miserable stint since joining from Bologna in 2024, managing only seven goals in 49 appearances during his first season before falling out of the Amorim’s plans this term. Red Devils boss Amorim has not made it clear that Zirkzee is not part of his long-term vision, however, the Dutchman has slipped behind new arrivals Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the pecking order.

  West Ham United have emerged as frontrunners to secure his signature, according to reports from talkSPORT. The Hammers are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements, having scored just six goals in eight Premier League games and currently sitting second bottom of the table. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is seeking a striker to complement Jarrod Bowen and lift the team out of their early relegation battle.

  Zirkzee has become increasingly frustrated with his lack of minutes, featuring only four times this season and accumulating just 74 minutes of league football. He has not scored in a Premier League match since December last year, and his peripheral role at Old Trafford has left him “desperate” to secure a move that will reignite his career. United are open to letting him leave either on loan or permanently, with the possibility of a short-term exit leading to a full transfer next summer.

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  Zirkzee's struggles

  Signed as a key part of Erik ten Hag’s rebuild, Zirkzee arrived with high expectations following an impressive season in Serie A but never truly settled into the pace and intensity of English football. Fans initially hoped he would provide competition for Rasmus Hojlund, but inconsistency and low confidence turned him into a peripheral figure long before Amorim’s arrival.

  The arrival of Amorim brought no change in fortunes, as the Portuguese coach has favoured more mobile, high-pressing forwards suited to his tactical system. Zirkzee’s technical ability is undisputed, yet his lack of aggression and efficiency in front of goal have cost him opportunities. His struggles were amplified by United’s turbulent form last season and the pressure surrounding every performance, making it difficult for him to recover lost confidence.

  Despite being on the fringes, Zirkzee has remained professional, continuing to train and maintain a positive presence in the dressing room. After United’s recent 2-1 win over Liverpool, he was seen celebrating enthusiastically with teammates, even putting Bruno Fernandes in a playful headlock. However, while fans admired his attitude, sources close to the player insist that the forward knows he must move on if he is to salvage his international ambitions and reignite his club career.

• World Cup worries

  Zirkzee’s situation has been further complicated by his omission from Ronald Koeman’s recent Netherlands squads. The Dutch national team manager openly criticised the striker’s performances, stating that he was not currently “good enough” to be considered for selection. Koeman specifically highlighted issues with Zirkzee’s decision-making and awareness, saying: “He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment. Scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.” 

  Koeman’s comments underline the urgent need for Zirkzee to secure consistent playing time ahead of next year’s World Cup, should the Netherlands qualify. The forward believes that remaining on United’s bench will only further damage his prospects of making the squad. A move to West Ham could provide the platform he needs to rebuild his form, especially given the club’s lack of reliable goal scorers.

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  What comes next?

  Manchester United are expected to listen to offers for Zirkzee once the January window opens. While Amorim appreciates his professionalism, he has prioritised other attacking profiles more suited to his tactical setup. The Red Devils are reportedly open to both permanent and loan exits, depending on the terms of any offer that arrives.

  For West Ham, the deal presents an opportunity to revitalise their faltering frontline and secure a striker with proven experience in top European leagues. Early discussions suggest the Hammers could propose an initial loan with an option to buy, giving Zirkzee the chance to prove himself in a less pressurised environment. Sources indicate that personal terms are unlikely to be a major issue, as the Dutchman is eager to play regular football again.

Arsenal have become a far smarter club when it comes to the transfer market over recent years.

Mikel Arteta and Co have overseen a host of incredible additions to the squad that have turned them from a mid-table side into consistent Premier League and Champions League contenders.

Yet, the North Londoners lag behind their rivals when it comes to the selling side of transfers.

However, at least they don’t lose future stars for nothing anymore, like they did with a current world-class talent who is playing as well as Bukayo Saka.

Youngsters Arsenal released too soon

As with all big clubs, there are a number of international superstars that Arsenal let go as youngsters, only to regret that decision later.

However, unlike a lot of other clubs, they have gone on to re-sign one of them in a statement deal: Eberechi Eze.

The club released the summer arrival as a teenager and after spending time with Fulham, Reading and Millwall’s academies, he’d finally get a professional contract with QPR, where he’d be spotted and signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020.

During his time south of the river, the Greenwich-born dynamo would rack up a brilliant haul of 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 appearances, which was enough to convince his former side to bring him home.

Another player who came back to North London after being released by Arsenal, although to the wrong side, is Harry Kane.

Released after just one season with the Gunners, the young Englishman would go on to join Tottenham Hotspur a few years later, and by the time he left the capital, he had scored 280 goals and provided 63 assists in 435 games.

The England captain is now tearing it up for Bayern Munich, and he’s not the only former Arsenal prospect doing so.

The former Arsenal youngster now looking like another Saka

There are actually two former Arsenal gems plying their trade for Bayern alongside Kane, and one of them is, of course, Serge Gnabry.

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, while getting rid of the German international was a mistake, the Gunners did at least get a fee for him, which they did not for Michael Olise.

Yes, before spending time in the academies of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Reading, the dynamic youngster spent a short period at the famous Hale End of the North Londoners, before leaving for nothing.

It was during his time with Reading that Crystal Palace spotted him, and in 2021 he earned an £8m move to the South London side.

During his three seasons with the Eagles, the French international scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists in 90 appearances, which caught the attention of Bayern, who agreed to pay £50m for him last summer.

Now, when we say that the 23-year-old is playing ‘like Saka’, we don’t necessarily mean in playstyle, but more in how important he is to his team from an output perspective.

For example, despite missing almost four months of action last year, the Englishman still racked up 26 goal involvements in just 37 appearances for Arteta’s side.

In comparison, the former Eagles star scored a staggering 20 goals and provided 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and as he’s already racked up seven goal involvements in seven games this season, it would be fair to say Oliver Glasner has been proven more than right when he claimed the Frenchman was “one of the best talents in the world.”

Ultimately, Arsenal have a brilliant team this year, but just imagine how dangerous they’d be with Saka and Olise in the squad.

Saved by Martinelli: 5/10 Arsenal man was even worse than Merino vs City

It was a game to forget for Mikel Arteta and this Arsenal star.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 22, 2025

Liverpool have been warned that Florian Wirtz could leave in January, as Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is keeping tabs on his former Bayer Leverkusen apprentice. The German arrived at Anfield amid huge fanfare this summer for a staggering £116 million ($153m). The 22-year-old was supposed to be the creative spark to define Arne Slot’s new era. But ten games into his English journey, the German wonderkid is already under the microscope for his ordinary performances, and the pressure is mounting fast.

• From Bundesliga glory to Merseyside misery

  Wirtz is facing the toughest test of his young career, with warnings coming thick and fast that his Premier League adventure could be cut short and a stunning reunion with Alonso at Real Madrid may be on the horizon. When the Spanish manager took over Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, Wirtz was still recovering from a serious cruciate ligament injury. Under the Spaniard’s guidance, he transformed into one of Europe’s most electrifying midfielders who could turn any game on its head. His numbers spoke volumes: 18 goals in his first full season under Alonso, followed by another 16 in the next, driving Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga title and halting Bayern Munich’s dominance. 

  But since landing in Merseyside, things haven’t clicked. Despite flashes of his magic, including two dazzling assists in Liverpool’s 5-1 Champions League demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt, Wirtz has struggled for rhythm in the unforgiving world of English football. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford summed up his situation as he was hauled off late in the game after another ordinary performance. 

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  Hamann warns Real Madrid may come calling

  Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has now issued a startling warning suggesting that Wirtz could find himself loaned out to Real Madrid as early as January to rediscover his confidence.

  Speaking in an interview withhe said: "Top players didn't get loaned in the past. A loan was for players who didn't get a game, but the top players didn't get loaned. It probably started with Philippe Coutinho a few years ago, when he went for 140 million or something to Barcelona. And a year later he was loaned out to Bayern Munich.

  "I wouldn't rule anything out in today's world, especially in football. It's been reported that Xabi Alonso has asked Real Madrid to keep an eye on Florian Wirtz’ performances and what he does at Liverpool, I reckon it could be true. Because we know how fondly he talks of him. He was the reason they won the league, they won the cup. He was the heartbeat of the Bayer Leverkusen team with Granit Xhaka, and yeah, they keep an eye on him. He's too good to fail at Liverpool, but it's been about 10 games now. You can never rule anything out."

  Taking cue from examples from his time as a player, Hamann added, "In my time, Juan Sebastian Veron came to Manchester United as potentially the best midfielder at the time. He lasted one season. So you can never rule anything out. It'll depend on what happens in the next few weeks. But as I said, at the moment I wouldn't rule anything out, and if Real Madrid are keeping an eye on him, it could happen."

• Hamann lauds Wirtz's courage for choosing Liverpool over Bayern

  Hamann also reflected on the choices that brought Wirtz to Liverpool, suggesting that a more straightforward route to glory might have been available if he had signed for Bayern Munich.

  "Wirtz could’ve had success at Bayern, but I liked that he didn't choose the easy way; he could have gone to Bayern, won the league, and perhaps played a decent role in the Champions League," he said. "If he had gone to Munich, I think it would have given them a better chance to be successful in the Champions League, even though they are doing well at the moment. He's a tough kid, and as I said, one or two games can make all the difference. I still haven't given up."

  While Hamann’s assessment was laced with caution, another former star, Dimitar Berbatov, offered a very different view. Speaking on Presents, the ex-Manchester United striker, who also made the jump from Leverkusen to England in 2006, urged patience and faith in the young midfielder.

  "I love him. He’s a fantastic player," he said. "He will be unbelievable, trust me. Hopefully, he will be patient. Hopefully, he’ll have good people around him, agent, family, whatever. Hopefully, the coach sees his quality like everybody sees him. I’m sure that everybody sees his quality, and they’ll give him that time that he needs to fit into the team. And I guarantee you, he’s going to be a success."

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  Can Wirtz turn it around?

  For Slot, patience is wearing thin. After a flying start to the campaign, where they picked up seven straight wins that had fans dreaming of another title push, Liverpool’s form has nose-dived. The Liverpool boss knows that restoring confidence in Wirtz could hold the key to turning the season around. After being dumped out of the Carabao Cup, the Reds face a testing Premier League clash against Aston Villa, followed by a blockbuster Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, the very club that could soon come calling for their faltering star.

Russell Martin has survived another day as Rangers manager.

On Saturday, the Gers reached the League Cup quarter-finals, managing to win 2-0 at Ibrox, although a Glasgow derby at Hampden on 2 November is probably far from what they need right now.

The question though still remains; will Martin be in charge by then?

Well, to avoid becoming the shortest-serving permanent manager in Rangers’ history, breaking Pedro Caixinha’s record, Martin would still need to be at the helm for the visit of Braga in the Europa League on 27 November, which appears unlikely considering he is yet to win a Premiership match in five attempts, leaving them second-bottom, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Almondvale.

Thus, surely 49ers Enterprises, who took over the club in the summer, are considering potential replacements, so a future “elite manager” should be top of their wish list, not the obvious front-runners.

The favourites to replace Russell Martin at Rangers

Ever since it became clear that Martin was not going to last particularly long in Govan, amid widespread protests against him and chief executive officer Patrick Stewart present throughout the weekend win over Hibs, two obvious front-runners have emerged, both with Merseyside connections.

Steven Gerrard would be the populist choice, with many supporters wanting to see him return to Ibrox, having managed the club for 194 matches between 2018 and 2021, re-establishing Rangers as a force in European football, as well as leading them to their sole Premiership title since 2011, stopping Celtic’s pursuit of ten-in-a-row.

A key figure in Gerrard’s success in Glasgow was then-assistant Michael Beale, who returned to Ibrox as manager himself in 2022, lasting just 43 matches before being hounded out.

The pair did briefly reunite in Saudi Arabia, working together at Al-Ettifaq before Gerrard was unceremoniously sacked in January, so could the 49ers get the band back together?

The other leading candidate is Sean Dyche, who has also been out of work since January, dismissed by Everton earlier this year.

Having taken charge of 557 games as a manager, of which 332 have come in the Premier League, the former Burnley boss is surely one of the most experienced coaches Rangers could attract, and he has proven himself adept at getting the best out of whatever he has to work with, something the current occupant of the Ibrox hot seat certainly is not doing.

However, rather than playing it safe, Rangers should be bold and appoint a future “elite manager” who is currently out of work.

Rangers' dream Russell Martin successor

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordi Cruijff, son of the legendary Johan, asserted that “all the best managers were midfielders”, a claim supported by a study from The Athletic, which found that ‘almost half of coaches with a professional playing background were midfielders’.

Well, a man looking to reinforce that stereotype is Michael Carrick – formerly tipped to replace Gerrard in the hot seat by Charlie Adam back in 2021.

After spending 12 years at Manchester United as a player, he retired in 2018 and worked under José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær as an assistant coach, placed in interim charge for three matches in 2021, overseeing victories over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

After leaving Old Trafford, Carrick returned to the North East, where he was born and raised, appointed Middlesbrough manager in October 2024.

As the table below documents, his time on Teeside was generally pretty successful.

As outlined by the table, Carrick led Boro into the Championship play-offs in his first season, having taken over with the side 21st, before they were beaten 1-0 by Coventry City in the semi-finals.

He also guided them to the EFL Cup semi-finals, actually defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at the Riverside, but eighth and then tenth place finishes in the Championship saw him sacked and replaced by Rob Edwards during the summer, who has made a flying start in fairness, with Middlesbrough currently top of the table.

Nevertheless, Carrick earned plenty of praise, labelled a future “elite manager” by one analyst, while Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis was impressed by his ‘eye-catching’ brand of football, praising Boro’s ‘organisation’ and ability to attack quickly.

Meantime, Solskjær has backed Carrick to be a future Manchester United manager one day, describing him as a “winner”, forecasting he will be a top-class coach in the near future.

Thus, while Carrick is out of work, Rangers should surely do everything they can to convince him to take over in Glasgow, successfully taking a chance on Gerrard back in 2018, even more of a rookie himself at the time, so a young coach with fresh ideas is surely exactly what they need.

Imagine him & Raskin: Rangers must rue selling £6m "left-footed Yaya Toure"

As Nicolas Raskin underlines his importance at Rangers, imagine him alongside the “left-footed Yaya Touré” sold for £6m by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

By
Ben Gray

Sep 24, 2025

After storming the Championship with 100 points last term, Leeds United were always going to need a busy summer window to prepare for their Premier League return.

Under the stewardship of 49ers Enterprises, the club pushed to strengthen Daniel Farke’s squad, with signings in multiple positions.

Anton Stach, Jaka Bijol, Lucas Perri, Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, James Justin, Sebastian Bornauw and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all arrived.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition was Swiss forward Noah Okafor, who joined from AC Milan for £18m, bringing Champions League experience to Elland Road.

Departures also shaped the window. Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wöber, Junior Firpo and Largie Ramazani all moved on.

Fans were especially vocal about Ramazani, whose loan to Valencia was seen by some as a risk given his ability on the wing.

The early weeks of the season have been a rollercoaster.

Leeds edged Everton 1-0 at home on the opening day but then suffered a 5-0 hammering at Arsenal.

A hard-fought goalless draw with Newcastle steadied the ship before a cruel stoppage-time own goal from Gudmundsson condemned them to defeat at Fulham.

Amid the mixed results, one problem has stood out above all others. To put it plainly, Leeds are short of goals, they need a talent like Ramazani in their ranks.

Why losing Ramazani has been a blow

Ramazani’s loan departure was framed as a blow to Leeds’ wide options.

The 24-year-old Belgian, valued at £6m via Transfermarkt, joined from Almería and played 29 Championship games last season, registering six goals and two assists.

His pace and direct running gave Leeds an outlet in transition, and his ability to stretch defences created space for others.

Now on loan at Valencia, Ramazani has continued to show flashes of his potential.

For Leeds supporters, seeing him leave after only one season felt premature, particularly given his adaptation to English football appeared to be underway.

However, while losing the wide forward has reduced Leeds’ width, it has not addressed their bigger problem: a lack of reliable goalscorers.

Ramazani’s output, even in the Championship, was respectable but not prolific.

His nine goal involvements across 30 matches last term underlined his inconsistency in decisive moments.

As results so far this season have shown, what Leeds arguably miss more than an extra winger is a forward with an eye for goal.

Leeds real loss came two years ago

If Ramazani left a hole out wide, the departure of Max Dean may yet prove far more costly through the middle.

The 21-year-old centre-forward, who can also operate off the wings, came through Everton’s youth system before joining Leeds’ academy.

He quickly made his mark, scoring 20 goals and adding five assists in 43 appearances whilst on loan at MK Dons.

Dons head coach Mike Williamson hailed him after a brace against Morecambe in December 2023, describing him as “an infectious character.”

It was that blend of energy and end product that led Belgian side Gent to sign him, where he has since scored 13 goals and two assists in 30 appearances.

His trajectory shows a player who has adapted quickly at every step along his footballing journey.

Statistically, Dean is not as active on the ball as Ramazani, but he is far more efficient in front of goal.

Last season, Dean registered seven goal involvements in 17 games compared to Ramazani’s nine in 30.

His 48.5% shot accuracy also edges the Belgian’s 45%, while his 1.48 shots on target per 90 highlight his ability to test goalkeepers regularly.

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.

Though Ramazani surpasses him in terms of progressive carries and creative actions, Dean’s finishing instincts arguably address Leeds’ more pressing needs.

Dean’s England U20 debut in 2024 only added weight to the argument that Leeds might have given up on him too soon.

At 21, he still has time to develop into a top-level forward, and his knack for being in the right place at the right time is a trait Leeds could use as they adjust to the Premier League.

For all the discussion around Ramazani, Dean represents the type of player Leeds currently lack: a forward who can turn half-chances into goals.

In a side that has so far relied on penalties and moments of fortune, that cutting edge might have made the difference between mid-table comfort and early-season frustration.

It's not Darlow: Leeds star is in danger of becoming their new Meslier

This Leeds United star is in danger of becoming the next Illan Meslier at Elland Road.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 16, 2025

When it comes to legendary players, Arsenal aren’t short of names.

Now, most fans will understandably go back to the era of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès. After all, they were the stars of the Gunners’ iconic Invincibles.

However, if you were to go back just a little further, you’d end up talking about one of the most beloved players to ever pull on the famous red and white shirt: Ian Wright.

The sensational striker became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer when he netted his 179th goal in September 1997.

While it was a record later broken by Henry, it cemented the Englishman’s legacy, and if recent reports are to be believed, Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta may soon sign someone who could be Arsenal’s new Wright.

Arsenal transfer news

So, before we get to the striker who could be the club’s new Wright, it’s worth looking at some of the other centre-forwards they are reportedly looking at, such as Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian has been on the Gunners’ radar since last summer, but could finally be available for around £58m this year, which might sound like a lot, but as he’s amassed 26 goal involvements in 41 games this season and is still just 21, it could be a fee that looks like a steal a few years from now.

However, it also appears as if the Gunners are after someone even more prolific than the RB Leipzig star, as they continue to be linked with the £60m Sporting CP monster, Viktor Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

The Swedish international has been in utterly sublime form this season and has racked up an absurd tally of 47 goals and 11 assists in 46 appearances, although aside from his eye for goal, there isn’t much he shares with Wright, which isn’t the case for Ollie Watkins.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa star ahead of the summer window.

In fact, the report has revealed that new Sporting Director Berta pushed for the club to chase the Englishman in January, and he is again the leading force for his inclusion on their shortlist now, as he wants an ‘oven-ready’ striker to join the team.

It’s not entirely clear how much the former Exeter City gem would cost, as the Villans demanded £60m in the winter window but may well ask for less in the summer; either way, his goal record speaks for itself and Arsenal should do what they can to bring him in, especially as he could be their new Wright.

How Watkins compares to Wright

So, some of you out there may be scratching your head trying to work out why Watkins could be Arsenal’s new Wright, but rest assured, should this transfer happen, then there would be some unmistakable similarities between the two strikers.

The first is that, like the former professional, who joined the North Londoners from Crystal Palace in 1991, the Torquay-born monster would be moving to N5 from a fellow Premier League side in Villa, already having amassed plenty of experience in English football, which cannot be said of the club’s other targets.

On top of that, he’d be securing his move to the team at the older age – for a footballer – of 29, which is both unusual and similar to the former Gunners star, who turned 28 just two months after moving to Highbury.

Finally, on top of both having played for England and putting in their best performances when playing on the shoulder, the “world-class” Villa ace, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has proven that he has what it takes to score bags and bags of goals.

For example, since joining the Claret and Blue in 2020, he’s amassed a brilliant haul of 86 goals and 41 assists in 217 appearances, totalling 17259 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games, or every 135.89 minutes. On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise to see him described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe” by Arsenal podcaster Rohan Jivan.

Ultimately, while it might cost the club a pretty penny, and he may be on the older side of players normally targeted by Arteta and Co, Watkins has proven he can perform at the highest level consistently, so Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer, especially as he could become their new Wright.

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Leeds United have received approaches from a number of clubs to sell a player who Daniel Farke called “outstanding” last month.

Players who could leave Leeds if they win promotion

The Whites are in a strong position to get the job done and win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League over the coming weeks.

Farke’s side are five points clear of third-place Sheffield United heading into the Easter weekend, knowing a maximum of seven points from their next three games will get the job done.

Should Leeds go up, a number of players from the current squad could be on the way out of the Eland Road door. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has recently been dropped for Karl Darlow, may well be one to exit.

Meanwhile, Leeds are also unsure of Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford’s ability to make the step-up to the top flight, with the former failing to score in his last eight and Bamford’s injury history in recent years telling.

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Left-back Junior Firpo is also out of contract at the end of the season, as is fellow full-back Sam Byram. Now, another player has been linked with a move away from Yorkshire, however, he is looking to remain at Leeds.

Leeds receive approaches to sell £15k-a-week star Ilia Gruev

According to a report from TEAMtalk, a number of clubs have approached Leeds over a move to sign Ilia Gruev this summer.

The 24-year-old is being eyed up by several sides, however, it is added that the midfielder is happy at Elland Road and is looking to stay, should the Whites win promotion.

The report says that ‘Gruev is very comfortable at Leeds and believes in the project they have embarked upon’ and ‘wants to prove himself’ in the Premier League.

Currently on £15,000-a-week in Yorkshire, the Bulgaria international has missed parts of the season with a serious knee injury but has regularly been trusted by Farke, especially in away games. Farke actually hailed Gruev just last month, calling him “outstanding” for most of 2024 until his injury.

“Ilia Gruev, since he came into our line up more or less in January ’24 I would say, probably until his big injury, he was our most consistent player. He was outstanding for us, defensive-wise offensive- wise, controlled our game.

“Then he sacrificed his body. I think it was away at Norwich. Got a tackle against him. He was out for everyone said more than four months. He worked so hard and his socks off in his rehab more or less three and a half months in order to come back as quick as possible.

“Everyone was moaning when he was out about our away form, we don’t win away games anymore. Ilia Gruev, after being out for three and a half months, we brought him back, Burnley, away, clean sheet. Watford away, clean sheet, win, Coventry away, clean sheet, win.

“Yes, right now, after all his rhythm is a bit away after he was out, after he was back, after being out for three and a half months, he had one or two poorer performances in the starting lineup away at Sheffield and against Sunderland, but we still managed to win both games when he was in the starting line up and everyone is like complaining a little bit about him.”

Gruev’s future could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, especially with Leeds being linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Julian Weigl in recent days.