Champions make plans for title defence amid likely England call-ups in seam department

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2024

Matt Fisher played his one Test for England on the tour of the Caribbean in 2022•Getty Images

Surrey have shored up their bowling stocks in anticipation of a heavy international workload for their seamers in 2025, by signing Matthew Fisher from Yorkshire.Fisher, 27 next month, has played one Test to date, on England’s tour of the Caribbean in 2022, after which he was awarded an ECB pace bowling development contract. He confirmed his enduring qualities by claiming 18 wickets in three games last month, to help Yorkshire secure promotion to Division One of the Vitality County Championship.To date, Fisher has claimed 144 first-class wickets at 26.58, including a best of 5 for 30 against Derbyshire in 2023. He is also a useful lower-order batter, with a career-best of 88 against Leicestershire.His move comes in the wake of Conor McKerr’s recent departure to Nottinghamshire, and with Surrey having secured their third consecutive County Championship title, despite a glut of England call-ups testing the renowned depth of their squad.In 2025, Surrey can once again expect to be without Gus Atkinson for significant portions of the season, while Sam Curran, Jamie Overton and Reece Topley are likely to be absent on England white-ball duty at key periods of the campaign.What’s more, Surrey’s Australia-born seamer Dan Worrall – arguably the player of the season with 52 wickets at 16.15 – will next year be qualified to play for England, and even at the age of 33, he may come into consideration by the national selectors.”I’ve always looked to strengthen our squad straight after we’ve won the Championship,” Alec Stewart, Surrey’s outgoing director of cricket, said. “So bringing in a player of Matt’s ability and experience made perfect sense. With Conor McKerr leaving the club and the expected England call-ups next summer, it’s important we maintain a quality bowling group.”I actually first met Matt when he was 15, on a visit to his Yorkshire secondary school on behalf of a cricket sponsor and have followed his career from afar ever since. I now look forward to welcoming him to the Kia Oval and watching him perform well for Surrey CCC.”Fisher added: “I’m both excited and honoured to have signed for Surrey. I’ve watched the recent successes of the squad with huge admiration and I hope to contribute to more success in the coming years.”I’m also looking forward to working with some of the best players and coaches in the game.”

يخوض فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك مباراة هامة أمام نظيره الإسماعيلي، في اللقاء الذي يجمع بين الفريقين، اليوم الخميس، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتقام المباراة بين الزمالك والإسماعيلي على أرضية استاد هيئة قناة السويس، في إطار لقاءات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري المصري.

ويرغب فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك في مواصلة انتصاراتهم في بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، بعد تحقيق انتصار غالي وثمين على حساب المصري بثلاثية نظيفة.

وعلى الجانب الآخر، يخوض الإسماعيلي مواجهة الزمالك ولديه أمل في تحسين مركزه في الدوري والعودة إلى النتائج الإيجابية، حيث خاض 6 مواجهات، فاز في لقاء وحيد وتعادل في مثله، وتلقى الهزيمة في 4 مباريات.

ويحتل الزمالك المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 13 نقطة، من الفوز في 4 لقاءات والتعادل بمواجهة وحيدة وتلقى هزيمة أخرى.

صلاح سليمان: متشائم من حكم مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي.. واستمرار تعثر الأهلي “مستحيل”

بينما على الجانب الآخر، يحتل فريق الإسماعيلي، المركز الثامن عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 4 نقاط، من فوز وحيد وتعادل و4 خسائر. موعد مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي اليوم في الدوري المصري

تقام مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي، اليوم الخميس، في تمام الساعة الخامسة عصرا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي في الدوري المصري

من المقرر أن تنقل مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي عبر قناة أون سبورت 1.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

A Glasgow Rangers target has now been put up for sale in a twist from the reports of a loan offer with a £10m buy obligation.

Rangers now eyeing multiple new faces

Russell Martin is already putting his own stamp on his Rangers team, as the Gers have brought in eight new players in this transfer window so far. The arrivals have been a mixed bag of positions and roles, but with still over a month and a bit left of the window, Rangers are looking to remain active.

Dream Cerny replacement: Rangers make offer for a "truly special talent"

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ByBen Gray Jul 24, 2025

Earlier this week it was reported that Rangers are interested in signing Johannes Bjarnason from KR Reykjavik. The midfielder is only 20 years old, but it is his impact in the final third that has attracted attention.

However, the Scottish side are not the only team chasing the youngster, as Genk and Pro Vercelli are also keen. Bjarnason has already netted an impressive 15 goals and recorded 10 assists in 72 appearances for his club.

However, Bjarnason is not the only midfielder the Gers are looking at, as, according to Edinburgh News reporter Barry Anderson, the Scottish giants are keen on a deal for Andrej Bacanin, who plays for FC Cukaricki.

There is strong competition for the Serbia under-19 international, as Celtic, Ajax and Udinese are also chasing a transfer agreement.

Rangers target up for sale in £8m twist

According to Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has now been put up for sale after Rangers made a loan offer to Crystal Palace.

David Orstein reported on Thursday that Rangers saw a loan bid with a £10 million obligation to buy Rak-Sakyi turned down by Palace. Orstein stated that the Gers remain interested in the winger alongside other suitors from England.

However, Jack reports the Gers did make a loan offer but it did not include a £10 million buy option. They are still keen to strike a loan deal with Crystal Palace for Rak-Sakyi, but the Eagles are now looking to sell the winger on a long-term basis.

Rangers are now looking at their options, which do include possibly making an £8 million offer, but they may have to wait until late in the window to do so.

Clubs

Apps

Goals

Assists

Charlton

49

15

9

Palace U23

40

24

8

Sheffield United

36

7

2

Palace U18

17

8

8

Crystal Palace

10

0

0

Chelsea U18

1

0

0

Brighton U18

1

1

0

Rak-Sakyi has spent the last two seasons away from Selhurst Park, as he spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Charlton Athletic, during which he scored 15 goals in 43 League One games.

Then, last season, the 22-year-old scored seven goals in 34 Championship games, as he spent the campaign at Sheffield United. Rak-Sakyi is under contract until 2027, but the Premier League side have clearly decided it’s time to cash in for good.

The start of Newcastle United’s pre-season fixture list is fast approaching.

Eddie Howe’s team will be back in action on 19 July, taking on Celtic at Parkhead, and 10,000 Georgies will be joining them in Glasgow for the game, which should make for quite the atmosphere.

In the meantime, the Magpies have been busy in the transfer market, looking to bolster their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League, so will it be a busy week of unveilings on Tyneside?

The latest on Newcastle's transfer activity

As has been widely reported, Anthony Elanga is on his way to the North East to complete a £55m move from Nottingham Forest.

The winger scored six goals and registered 11 assists in the Premier League last season, now set to become the Magpies’ second-most expensive signing of all time, behind only his Swedish international teammate Alexander Isak.

Newcastle are far from done there though, because, according to a report by GIVEMESPORT, they are ‘working to sign’ and ‘remain hopeful’ of landing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi.

The report adds that Howe wants to ‘prioritise the addition of a centre-back’, while Chris Waugh of the Athletic documents that those inside the club believe the England international ‘would be an ideal addition’, noting their long-standing interest, having unsuccessfully bid for Guéhi both last summer and in January.

Well, speaking on the Athletic FC podcast, Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam believes the club captain could leave Selhurst Park this summer, mainly due to the fact he has just one year remaining on his contract, valued at around £60m.

Palace’s summer plans are somewhat on hold at the moment, as they wait to find out whether or not they’re allowed to compete in the Europa League; a decision is belatedly expected this week.

Meantime, Arsenal are attempting to sign Eberechi Eze for around £67.5m which, should he depart, would increase the Eagles’ determination to keep hold of their other star player Guéhi.

Transfer Focus

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

Nevertheless, with Liverpool also seeking to sign the centre-back, it appears very possible that he could be on the move, so will the 24 year old end up on Tyneside?

Why Guehi would be a better signing than Elanga for Newcastle

Guéhi’s performances have earned widespread praise, with then-England manager Gareth Southgate describing his displays at Euro 2024 as “exceptional”, starting six of the seven matches last summer, including the final at Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Meantime, Nathan Jackson of Total Football Analysis notes that the 24-year-old stands out for all defensive metrics, while Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines praises his ‘resilience’ and ‘composure’, asserting that he is impressive both in and out of possession.

This would be such a transformational addition for Howe, given that he had very few options at centre-back last season, largely due to Sven Botman’s injury issues, with Dan Burn alongside Fabian Schär by far the most-used partnership.

So, let’s see how Guéhi compares to Newcastle’s current central defenders.

Appearances

34

34

37

8

Minutes

3,060

2,938

3,330

414

Pass accuracy

84%

85%

89%

89%

Tackles

1.8

1.2

1.1

2.7

Aerial duel success %

54%

44%

66%

61%

Ground duel success %

63%

48%

50%

71%

Interceptions

0.9

1.4

0.7

1.1

As the table outlines, when compared to Schär and Burn in particular, Guéhi’s statistics are very impressive.

The fact Botman made just eight appearances skews the data somewhat, boosting his per-90 statistics, while it will come as a surprise to no one that Burn comes out on top in terms of aerial duels.

Nevertheless, as well as being a top-class player, Guéhi would be transformational for Newcastle because centre-back is such an obvious area of need.

At the other end of the park, Elanga too will be a shrewd addition, but Howe’s team have scored plenty of goals without him.

Jacob Murphy continues to exceed all expectations, enjoying a career-best campaign in which he scored nine goals and supplied 14 assists in all competitions. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon has been deployed on the right wing on occasion too and is a fine player himself, now a regular part of the national team.

So, while Elanga’s arrival is certainly worth getting excited about if you’re a passionate member of the Toon Army, getting Guéhi over the line might be the key bit of business.

Newcastle set to "prioritise" new striker signing after Elanga and Trafford

More business incoming from the Magpies…

ByHenry Jackson Jul 8, 2025

Captain Pat Cummins has downplayed the so-called “bat off” for the final spot in Australia’s Test team but has noted that it does provide a “final piece of information” and help the player chosen prepare for the first Test given the public scrutiny around the contests against India A.Cummins spoke at the MCG on Sunday ahead of the first ODI of the summer against Pakistan, which will be his first international appearance since the T20 World Cup in June after he missed the tour of the UK in September.But while the three-match series does carry some importance given it is Australia’s last ODI series before the Champions Trophy in February, bar a one-off game in Sri Lanka, the fight for the final batting spot in the Test side remains the major talking point.Related

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Four players, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft have emerged as the main contenders for the vacant spot at the top of the order and have been on show in the Australia A game against India A in Mackay.McSweeney has been the standout performer of the four, finishing unbeaten on 88 in Australia A’s victory, and is almost certainly set to be part of the Test squad given two batters will need to be selected in an extended 13 to ensure there is a batting concussion substitute with the team in Perth. Harris got starts in both innings without kicking on while Konstas and Bancroft missed out twice each.Cummins said he had kept an eye on the scores from Mackay and emphasised the quartet would likely get another chance to impress in the second four-day game at the MCG starting on Thursday. But he added the Australia A games are not the be-all and end-all as far as selection for the first Test is concerned.”I think it’s like a final bit of information,” Cummins said. “It’s never as clean cut as a bat off. Some of these guys have only played a few games of Shield cricket, and then you’ve got other guys who have played over a decade.”That last couple of weeks, is it really important? It’s got some importance, but it’s not going to guide the 100% of the decision. So it’s that final bit of decision.”In some regards, it’s a lot of pressure on those last two games, which, whether you like it or not, it’s probably what you’re going to get in Test cricket anyway. So I suppose, again, whoever does get picked, they’ve experienced as much pressure as they might get in a Test debut anyway. So it means they are pretty well placed.”Cummins was not concerned about having to leave the decision quite late given Australia’s current selection panel and leadership group has preferred to give players more certainty in the recent past.”I don’t think it’s a new problem,” Cummins said. “The good thing is, if it’s say that one batting role that we’re looking at, whoever’s picked, they’re going to come off the back of plenty of runs at the start of the year, you’d think, and they’ll be well positioned. The reality is you try and make a debut as comfortable for someone as you can. But it’s a Test debut. Whoever it is, they’re going to be feeling nerves. So, yeah, it’s not like they’re going to wake up one morning and kind of be told they’re playing. They’ll certainly know at least a week or so out I’d imagine.”Cummins was asked whether it was possible that Marnus Labuschagne could open the batting to allow McSweeney to possibly debut at No. 3 given that is where he bats in first-class cricket for South Australia.”You could do,” Cummins said. “Again, maybe once we kind of start discussing who’s in the side, then you start looking at the batting order.”Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] and I have said it quite a bit, we think the place where you bat isn’t that important. You try and work out how the batting order as a whole is going to function best. And I don’t think anyone should be super protective around a certain spot.”Pat Cummins hasn’t played for Australia since the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Cummins did note there had been plenty of jokes flying around at training in the last two days about positions in the batting order given how vocal Labuschagne and Steven Smith had been about the latter’s move away from opening in Test cricket.Meanwhile, Cummins said he was feeling physically as fresh as he had in a long-time after skipping the T20I and ODI tour of the UK in order to undergo a significant training block in Sydney to get ready for the summer. He also explained his decision to not play a Shield game prior to the first Test.”The one that I would have had to play back here in Melbourne, I probably would have had to start bowling about an extra two or three weeks earlier,” he said. “So we kind of made the decision to have an extra two weeks of building up in the gym and prioritizing that. I feel like I’ve done it for a fair while now, and so I feel like the ODIs will give me a good lead in and obviously the two weeks before the first Test, we’ll make sure we do loads of red-ball and centre wickets to try and replicate it.”Cummins said he was unsure if he will play all three ODIs against Pakistan. He confirmed he would play the first two but it appears likely he will miss the final game in Perth in order to avoid a cross-country return flight, a week before having to make the same trip for the Perth Test.If he does miss the Perth match it will mean Australia will have to find a captain, with ODI vice-captain Mitchell Marsh missing the series while on paternity leave.Smith and Josh Hazlewood have both led the ODI side previously but there is a possibility both could also be rested from the Perth trip for the same reasons as Cummins.Australia’s new T20I captain is set be announced this week with Josh Inglis and Matt Short the two most likely candidates for the job. It is possible the man who gets the nod could also captain the ODI side in Perth.

The fast bowler returns to action for the first time since a side strain in September, and will spearhead Australia’s T20I attack against Pakistan

Tristan Lavalette12-Nov-2024

Xavier Bartlett is part of Australia’s T20I side that takes on Pakistan•Getty Images

The return of Xavier Bartlett will be a welcome sight for the national hierarchy hoping to shore up fast bowling depth with a gruelling Border-Gavaskar Trophy set to test the fitness of Australia’s frontline quicks.Bartlett has not been sighted in domestic cricket so far this season after a side strain cut short his white-ball tour of the UK in September. He has recently returned to local cricket in Brisbane and is set to play in the T20I series opener between a shorthanded Australia – missing their Test players – and Pakistan at the Gabba on Thursday.Showcasing immaculate upright seam positioning, enabling him to conjure menacing late swing with the new ball, Bartlett was the leading wicket-taker in last season’s BBL and a key in Brisbane Heat’s stunning title triumph.He subsequently claimed four-wicket hauls in his first two ODIs against West Indies and has taken 6 wickets from four T20Is at an average of 17.66.Bartlett has been on the hierarchy’s radar as they strive to build depth behind the big three quicks of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who have been resilient over the years but face the tough challenge of five Tests against India within seven weeks.There have been fitness issues with Australia’s fringe quicks. Michael Neser suffered a hamstring injury in the recent Australia A-India A match at the MCG, while WA speedsters Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson have been working their way back through white-ball cricket. Scott Boland is Australia’s reserve quick for the first Test in Perth starting on November 22.Xavier Bartlett topped the bowling charts in the last BBL•Getty Images

“Those main three [Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood] have been amazing for so long, unbelievable,” Bartlett told reporters in Brisbane. “Going forward there will be opportunities. Personally, the goal is always to try and play Test cricket for Australia.”There’s so much cricket and every time you get a chance to play for Australia it’s a childhood dream. Whether it’s [due to] people who are unavailable or available you just have to try to take your opportunity. And this is a great opportunity.”Everything is good [with my fitness]… champing at the bit to get out there.”Bartlett, 25, will be part of a second-string Australia team aiming to salvage some pride after their surprise ODI series defeat to Pakistan, which included successive thrashings in Adelaide and Perth.Australia’s batters had no answer for Pakistan’s four-pronged pace attack who relished favourable fast and bouncy conditions throughout the series. “They have been amazing, the last two games they only used four bowlers,” Bartlett said.”The 140 [kph] from both ends, been exciting to watch. They bowled some really great lengths and were really attacking. Hopefully we can emulate that. We’ve spoken about just trying to take wickets and try to make early inroads.”Bartlett is set to share the new ball with left-arm quick Spencer Johnson in a return in tandem for the pair who so often ignited Heat during their title run. Much like at Optus Stadium, the Gabba surface tends to be fast and bouncy but runs can flow quickly there in white-ball cricket.There has been stormy weather in Brisbane this week with showers forecast on Thursday. “It’s a really good cricket wicket, so it should make for entertaining cricket,” Bartlett said.While some eye-catching performances across the three-match T20I series could see Bartlett move up the pecking order of fringe Test bowlers, his Heat teammate Nathan McSweeney will make his debut in the first Test after being named as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner.”To see his journey from when we were about 11 or 12 [years of age] to where he is now, making his Test debut, it’s unbelievable – I’m absolutely stoked for him,” Bartlett said of McSweeney, who is from Brisbane but captains South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.”He’s worked so hard. I can’t wait to see him go out there and hopefully go well for Australia.”

With Alexander Isak pushing for a move to Liverpool and Benjamin Šeško firmly on the radar of Manchester United, Newcastle United’s hunt for a new striker has taken on renewed urgency.

A replacement who can offer a consistent goal threat, hold-up play, and experience at the highest level is now a top priority for Eddie Howe and his recruitment team.

Though Šeško has long been considered Newcastle’s ideal replacement for Isak, the difficulty of securing the Slovenian this summer has forced the Magpies to explore alternatives.

RB Leipzig are open to a sale, but with growing interest from Manchester United, Newcastle are unlikely to match the wages on offer at Old Trafford.

What they need is a reliable, Premier League-proven scorer who can slot straight into Howe’s system without a lengthy adaptation period.

And crucially, someone who wants to join.

Newcastle looking at Sesko alternative

Enter Yoane Wissa.

The 28-year-old Brentford forward has emerged as a frontrunner in Newcastle’s striker search, and with good reason.

While not their first-choice profile due to age, Wissa has made it clear he wants to move to Tyneside, refusing to train with Brentford in a bid to push the transfer through.

Well, there seems to be an expectancy that the move goes through. Speaking to Football Insider, former Manchester United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown revealed this week:

“He’s made it clear he wants to leave, he’s told Brentford that and he’s refusing to train, so Brentford have to decide whether they want an unhappy player at the club. I expect they’ll reach an agreement at some stage.”

Despite competition from Tottenham, Wissa’s priority is reportedly to join Newcastle.

Brentford, who have already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal, may be forced to lower their original £50m valuation.

So why are Newcastle willing to consider a player much older than their usual recruitment age of 24 and under?

Comparing Wissa to Šeško

The answer lies in Wissa’s output.

In the 2024/25 Premier League season, only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals.

Wissa notched 20 goals and four assists in 3,072 minutes, a remarkable return in a Brentford side that struggled for form at times last season.

His efficiency in front of goal is particularly eye-catching.

Though he only averaged 1.26 shots on target per 90 minutes, his movement and composure inside the box meant he made those moments count.

Thomas Frank was keen to point this out: “Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a No. 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”

However, he’s also far more than a poacher. According to FBref, he ranked higher than Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland for completed passes (76.5%) and recorded more shot-creating actions per 90 than Dominic Solanke.

Wissa’s mobility and involvement in buildup play give him an edge over other traditional No. 9s.

Touches per 90 (2024/25 PL Season)

Joao Pedro

43.5

Alexander Isak

33.5

Yoane Wissa

28.5

Liam Delap

23.7

Erling Haaland

21.0

Source: FBref

Still, comparisons with Šeško are inevitable.

The 22-year-old is a more natural fit for Newcastle’s long-term vision, standing at 194cm with a powerful frame that mirrors Erling Haaland.

His age, athleticism, and contract until 2029 at Leipzig make him a major investment, but potentially a transformative one.

Šeško scored 21 goals in 45 appearances last season, including 13 in the Bundesliga.

Data from FBref also revealed that he offered 1.78 progressive carries and 1.74 progressive passes per 90, alongside a solid 43.9% shot-on-target rate and 2.50 shots per 90.

While Šeško remains an exciting long-term project, Wissa is ready-made.

He has performed under Premier League pressure and is pushing to join a club where his profile suits the manager’s tactical outlook.

One point of concern, however, is availability. Wissa is likely to miss part of the 2025/26 season due to AFCON commitments with DR Congo, something Newcastle will need to weigh carefully.

At nearly 29, he also lacks the resale value that players like Šeško might offer.

Still, in terms of what he offers now, Wissa could be the stopgap solution that Newcastle need.

Newcastle may yet revisit their interest in Šeško if Isak is sold for a huge fee, but in Wissa, they’ve found a player who ticks more boxes than he’s given credit for, and who is desperate to prove he belongs at a higher level.

Related Elanga's new Wood: Big-money CF has agreement in principle to join Newcastle

A striker has reportedly agreed to join Newcastle United.

Posts ByWill Miller Jul 28, 2025

Despite only just signing Joao Palhinha, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly back in the market for a midfielder and in pole position to sign a La Liga star this summer.

Frank "surprised" by Palhinha deal

After securing a loan deal with an option to buy worth around £26m, Spurs may have just landed an underrated bargain by signing Palhinha. The Bayern Munich midfielder may have endured a tough year in Germany, but it was only two seasons ago that he thrived under Marco Silva at Fulham. And now, he could be the perfect fit for Thomas Frank.

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Instantly full of praise for his new arrival, Frank admitted his surprise over Bayern’s decision to open the door for Palhinha’s exit just one year after securing his signature.

The Spurs boss told reporters: “Yeah, I was a bit surprised. Bayern went hard for him for two years and for whatever reason, which I actually don’t care about because we can get him, it was an opportunity for us.

“Sometimes everything goes a little bit in circles. Sometimes it is impossible to get a number nine. Sometimes it is impossible to get a number six. Sometimes it is impossible to get a right-back. At this moment in time, there are not many clear number sixes in the market so we are quite lucky to get him.”

“I think he is a top player. He impressed everyone in the Premier League in the two years he was with Fulham. He is a regular for Portugal. Whatever the reason [Bayern let him go maybe] is the coach, the culture, the club, himself. Sometimes it is difficult to say. My concern is that he wanted to come and we wanted him to come.”

That said, the Lilywhites may not be done there with midfield additions. Alongside Palhinha, reports are now suggesting that they could welcome a second familiar face back to the Premier League.

Tottenham willing to submit Gallagher offer

According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now willing to submit an offer worth €50m (£44m) to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid this summer. The England international is reportedly free to leave the Spanish club this summer and it is those in North London who are in pole position to secure his signature.

Minutes

1,633

673

Goals

3

0

Tackles Won P90

1.77

1.87

Ball Recoveries P90

5.91

2.27

Unlike Palhinha in his first season away from the Premier League, Gallagher received ample game time at Atletico last season. But even after with that game time, he is seemingly destined to suffer the same exit fate as the Portuguese midfielder.

A player who Frank Lampard once dubbed an “amazing character”, Gallagher could now be on his way back to the Premier League and on his way to former London rivals Spurs.

Manchester United have submitted a loan proposal to sign an “outstanding” £166,000-a-week star from Bayern Munich, according to a new report.

Man Utd submit Nicolas Jackson enquiry as they close in on Mbeumo

The Red Devils have only managed to make one signing so far this summer, and that came right at the start of the window with the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The hope was that Bryan Mbeumo would soon become the club’s second signing, but it is a transfer that has taken a long time to get over the line.

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ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025

Those at Old Trafford have already seen two bids turned down for the Cameroon international, but they have not given up on finding an agreement, and according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, United are expected to wrap up the transfer of Mbeumo in the coming days ahead of their tour to the USA. The Premier League side are expecting a breakthrough in talks in the coming days after having opening offers turned down by the Bees.

Despite the arrival of Cunha and the potential arrival of Mbeumo, United and Ruben Amorim are keen to add a new striker to their ranks. The Red Devils have been linked with several forwards, with the latest name being Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea. Jackson could leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and United have made an enquiry over signing the striker, who could be available for just £60 million.

Man Utd make loan proposal to sign £166k-p/w Bayern ace

Mbeumo and Jackson are not the only players United are chasing, as according to Caught Offside, Man United have made a loan proposal for Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, but the German giants have turned it down.

Palhinha, who earns a weekly wage of €192,308 (£166,481), is considered to be no longer in the plans of manager Vincent Kompany and therefore can leave the Bundesliga champions this summer. United have identified the Portuguese international as a target, but they were keen on striking a loan deal, which Bayern aren’t on board with.

Bayern Munich want to sell Palhinha on a permanent basis and are looking to get between €30-35 million, which is roughly £25-30 million. United are not the only team chasing the midfielder, as Tottenham Hotspur have also made an enquiry, while Fulham and West Ham are also interested in a potential deal.

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The 30-year-old, who has been dubbed “outstanding” during his time at Craven Cottage by John Wenham, played just 17 games in the Bundesliga last season, and he only featured once in the Club World Cup, which was 45 minutes against Benfica.

Palhinha’s potential arrival at Old Trafford would see him likely replace Casemiro and partner his international teammate Bruno Fernandes in Amorim’s midfield selection. However, United would have to stump up money to sign the midfielder, and given their financial situation, they may look to alternative targets, whether they are cheaper or on a temporary basis.

كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف المدرب البرتغالي برونو لاج من تدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي خلفًا للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو.

ورحل الإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو عن تدريب الأهلي بعد الأداء السيئ الذي ظهر به الفريق تحت قيادته على مدار بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 والدوري المصري.

ولم يفُز ريبيرو سوى بمباراة واحدة في بطولة الدوري على حساب فاركو برباعية مقابل هدف، بينما تلقى هزيمتين وحقق 4 تعادلات.

ورحل ريبيرو بعد الخسارة أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري بثنائية نظيفة، عقب أداء سيئ للغاية والكثير من المعاناة التي ظهرت على لاعبي الأهلي.

اقرأ أيضًا | الأمور قريبة.. تطورات جديدة في مفاوضات الأهلي مع برونو لاج

ووفقًا لصحيفة “أو جوجو” البرتغالية، فإن المفاوضات بين برونو لاج وإدارة الأهلي قد تُحسم خلال الساعات القليلة القادمة.

وأفادت أن إدارة النادي الأهلي عرضت على المدرب 4.8 مليون يورو سنويًا في حين أن المدرب يريد تقاضي 5 مليون يورو.

وذكرت أيضًا أن إصرار إدارة الأحمر كان له الدور الأبرز في تغيير رأي المدرب البرتغالي الذي كان يريد الاستمرار في أوروبا بعدما تمت إقالته من بنفيكا.

برونو لاج كانت له تجارب سابقة في دول الخليج مع الأهلي الإماراتي والشباب كما قام بتدريب بوتافوجو البرازيلي وولفرهامبتون.

أيضًا من ضمن أبرز أسباب اقتراب موافقة لاج على تدريب الأهلي والدخول لأول مرة في قارة إفريقيا هي موافقة عائلته على خوض تجربة جديدة ومختلفة مع الأهلي باعتباره نادي ثري والأكثر تتويجًا بدوري أبطال إفريقيا برصيد 12 مرة، حسبما أفادت الصحيفة البرتغالية.