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Arsenal remain in serious pursuit of a new striker, but talks over a deal for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko are believed to be stalling.

Arsenal plan £51m Chelsea hijack as key target now eyes Barcelona move

Andrea Berta has shifted focus.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners recruitment team have held negotiations over signing the Slovenia international for weeks, but as of now, Arsenal are not willing to match Leipzig’s demands of £68-£85 million.

Arsenal first opened “concrete” discussions for Sesko near the end of May, but it’s proving to be a very complicated deal. Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs recently reported that the Gunners want to sign him for around £59 million, so Berta appears to be some way off Leipzig’s valuation as things stand.

Attention is now beginning to turn towards alternatives, even if the 22-year-old appears to be at the top of Berta’s wishlist.

Viktor Gyokeres told Arsenal could sign him

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for The Boot Room, Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres remains in their thinking, and his agents have been told something crystal clear behind-the-scenes.

Indeed, Gyokeres’ camp are informed that he’s a striker option for Arsenal if Sesko talks end up going nowhere, following the Swede’s exceptional Primeira Liga campaign.

“From what I’m told, there is some push back from Arsenal on saying that Arteta is the one simply banging on the table saying ‘bring me Sesko’,” said Bailey.

“That’s not how a big club operates now, my belief is that Arteta made it clear in terms of what he wants in terms of a striker — he’s voiced his opinion on certain options and he’s generally happy with who Arsenal are targeting.

“So I don’t think it’s intrinsically true that Arteta is just pushing for Sesko. I know for a fact that other players’ camps like Gyokeres’ have been told that Sesko isn’t the only option.

“Whether that’s the truth or not, maybe it’s somewhere in between, but as it stands, Sesko is still the furthest along in terms of a deal being done. We know Arsenal are speaking to Leipzig about a deal and Sesko has made his feelings known to Leipzig — he thought there was an agreement to leave for X amount.

“Sesko is furthest along, but it wouldn’t take an awful lot for Arsenal to divert to Gyokeres, Ekitike or Watkins if they wanted to. But Sesko is the priority.”

Gyokeres spearheaded Sporting to their first domestic double in two decades last season, all while scoring a sensational 54 goals in all competitions. In truth, he’s seen as “underrated” by some considering he’s still yet to secure a big move away, despite free-scoring in Portugal for the last two years.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas has already ruled out the prospect of him leaving for around £60 million, though, so Arsenal may have to invest significantly here as well.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have not only lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United this summer, but they look set to sell Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on sealing a deal worth around £36.3m for the left-back and this will leave a gaping hole in the Wolves’ defence.

Vitor Pereira will have money to spend, that’s for certain. The onus now is for him to bring in a suitable replacement for the Algerian star.

Wolves looking to sign Ait-Nouri replacement

With another season in the Premier League to look forward to, it won’t be hard to find a player who can step up to the mark and succeed in England.

Recent reports suggest the club are turning towards Barcelona for a player who could replace Ait-Nouri. How much will he cost, however?

Transfer Focus

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

It was reported last week that the Old Gold were showing plenty of interest in Barcelona defender Gerard Martin.

Now, a new report from Spain has emerged, stating just how much the Catalan side are willing to sell their left-back for this summer.

Barcelona are open to selling Martin for a fee in the region of €12m (£10m), which is certainly a bargain deal for the Molineux outfit. The report further states that Wolves are set to make the player an offer that will significantly improve his salary.

Having come through the club’s famed La Masia academy, Hansi Flick will make a profit on the defender, and given Barcelona’s still precarious financial situation, it is a deal they are willing to consider.

With money not an issue in this regard, Pereira will be hoping to secure his signature as soon as possible.

Why Wolves must sign Gerard Martin to replace Ait-Nouri

Ait-Nouri ended his most productive season at Wolves since joining in 2020. Across 41 matches in all competitions, he scored five goals and grabbed seven assists.

He also created eight big chances, averaged 1.3 key passes and succeeded with 1.7 dribbles in the top flight for the Old Gold, signifying his attacking presence.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

41

5

7

2023/24

38

3

4

2022/23

27

2

1

2021/22

27

1

6

2020/21

27

1

2

This will be missed, of course, but Martin looks like a ready-made replacement ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Indeed, he might have only started 11 of his 28 La Liga appearances, but the 23-year-old still managed to score once and provide three assists domestically.

Arguably, his finest performance came against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final second leg last month.

Although Barcelona lost the tie, Martin provided two assists during the game, as well as delivering nine crosses, winning seven duels and creating two big chances for the club. Essentially, it was a very Ait-Nouri-esque display.

This impact on the biggest stage of all should convince Pereira that Martin is the correct replacement for the departing Algerian, no doubt about that.

Football writer Zach Lowy recently stated that while Martin was still “quite raw”, he “has tremendous upside and character” and Wolves could be an ideal place for him to become a starting left-back.

For a fee of just £10m, it is unlikely the club will do much better throughout the transfer window.

Wolves could sign dream Cunha replacement who's "Bruno Fernandes-esque"

Wolves are seeking a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 8, 2025

Looking ahead towards the summer, Newcastle United are reportedly set for talks with Juventus sporting director Cristiano Guintoli over bringing a midfield star back to the Premier League.

When Newcastle could seal UCL qualification

Whilst the transfer window is on its way, the Magpies’ main focus should currently be transfixed on Champions League qualification. With their fate in their own hands too, Eddie Howe’s side could confirm their place in the next two games if results go their way.

If Newcastle manage to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion and then Chelsea next weekend all whilst the Blues suffer defeat against Liverpool in between, then they will have their Champions League place secured.

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The alternative, meanwhile, relies on Aston Villa to lose their next two games against Fulham and Bournemouth whilst Newcastle pick up six points from six, allowing them to seal their place in the top five. Of course, at this stage it is merely a game of predictions, but the Magpies – no matter what – are responsible for their own destiny in the coming weeks.

As things stand in the Premier League

Points

Games played

Liverpool (C)

82

34

Arsenal

67

34

Newcastle United

62

34

Man City

61

34

Chelsea

60

34

Nottingham Forest

60

33

Aston Villa

57

34

Having his say on the Champions League race, Howe recently told reporters: “It will go down to the wire. The important thing today was that we bounced back from last week. We have been very consistent, and now we have four huge games.

“They do [feel like a cup final]. With four games to go, you’re ticking down. We have put ourselves back into a strong position, but we know it can change quickly.”

Should those at St James’ Park seal their European place then all eyes will, of course, instantly go to the summer transfer window where one particular midfielder could be waiting.

Newcastle set for Douglas Luiz talks

According to TVPlay as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now set for talks with Cristiano Guintoli over signing Douglas Luiz this summer. The Juventus sporting director reportedly wants to learn more about the Magpies’ interest in the Brazilian whilst also discussing a potential swap deal involving Sandro Tonali.

Luiz has endured a frustrating spell in Italy and is almost certain for a Premier League return just one year on from his Aston Villa departure, with both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest interested.

Whether those at St James’ Park are big enough admirers of Luiz that they part ways with the talented Tonali remains to be seen, however. When compared in the Premier League, it’s clear that the choice would be a difficult one to make.

Premier League stats (via FBref)

Douglas Luiz 23/24

Sandro Tonali 24/25

Starts

35

24

Tackles Won

38

29

Progressive Carries

60

33

Ball Recoveries

184

162

Given just how much Luiz has struggled at Juventus, Newcastle could even be in a position to chase his signature whilst keeping hold of Tonali. A player dubbed “strong” by Villa sporting director Monchi even amid his struggles earlier this season, Luiz will be desperate to get back to his best.

West Ham United have struggled this season in the Premier League, switching managers back in January in an attempt to save their season. However, the Hammers still sit 15th in the Premier League after 31 games played.

Defensively, West Ham have improved under Graham Potter, but this has affected their offensive purchase, scoring just six goals in their last six Premier League games. The Hammers also rank 15th for xG generated this season, with 44.42 xG across their 31 Premier League games so far.

Their striker issue is a well-documented one this season, with both Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug suffering from injuries, but this isn’t a new issue at the club, as the Hammers have struggled to nail down that number nine spot for some time.

West Ham's striker issues

In recent years, West Ham have had the likes of Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca join the club for big transfer fees, never really living up to the expectation, before leaving soon after to thrive elsewhere in Europe. These are just two examples of failed attempts by West Ham to address their need for a top-class number nine.

Haller was signed for around £45m, a club-record fee at the time, going on to make just 54 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals and providing one assist in his 3,681 minutes played.

Meanwhile, Scamacca cost the Hammers around £35.5m, making 27 appearances for the club, netting eight times in 1,342 minutes.

But perhaps one of their worst was the loan signing of Simone Zaza from Juventus in 2016. The Italian only made 11 appearances for the Hammers, scoring zero goals, providing zero assists and totaling just 572 minutes played, before being sent back to Italy at the end of the season.

West Ham's newest Zaza

West Ham have looked to address their striker issues with a loan signing once more, bringing Brighton striker Evan Ferguson to the club in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old has made six appearances for Potter’s side, totaling 137 minutes played with zero goals or assists so far.

Minutes

45

Touches

20

Big Chances Missed

1

Shots

1

Accurate Passes

7/9

Ground Duels Won

2/5

Aerial Duels Won

0/1

Possession Lost

8

Tackles

1

The 20-year-old striker was taken off after just 45 minutes against Wolves in their 1-0 loss midweek, being replaced by summer signing, Fullkrug. Ferguson only managed 20 touches in the game, losing possession eight times and missing his only “big chance”, with The Athletic’s Carl Anka outlining the Irishman’s “unfortunate” decline of late.

Potter didn’t hide his frustration with the first-half performance, stating “we weren’t happy with the overall performance in the first half”. But he was quick to praise the man who replaced Ferguson, stating “you can see he gives us a different option which we haven’t had”.

That resulted in Ferguson ultimately proving an unused substitute for Saturday’s 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth, with that man Fullkrug notably netting off the bench just after the hour mark. The Brighton man has then plummeted even further down the pecking order.

With games running out ahead of the climax of the campaign, this could prove to be yet another brief, unsuccessful loan swoop – much like the case of Zaza of before him.

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Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2024Update: This poll has ended. Virat Kohli’s performance goes into the quarter-finals. Check the other polls here.ESPNcricinfo LtdAnil Kumble bowled 88.5 overs and took 12 wickets at the SCG•William West/AFP

Anil Kumble – 8-141 & 4-138 in Sydney, 2004

Match drawn, series drawn 1-1Anil Kumble’s match-winning ability was unquestionable at home but he hadn’t earned a similar reputation overseas. This Australia tour was an opportunity to improve that aspect of his game. Having started the tour on the bench, he replaced an injured Harbhajan Singh in the second Test. By the time the final match began at the SCG, with the series level 1-1, Kumble had bowled the most overs by an Indian bowler and taken a five-for in the famous win in Adelaide.In Sydney, after India posted 705 in the first innings, Kumble bowled 46.5 overs to pick up 8 for 141, his second-best haul after his perfect ten, and give India a lead of 231, which they extended to 442 before declaring late on the fourth day.Bowling another 42 overs in Australia’s second innings, Kumble went on to take 4 for 138 – his match-haul of 12 was his best overseas – but India were only able to take six wickets in total, falling agonisingly short of what would have been their maiden series win down under.By Shashank KishoreWatch the highlights of these performances on the Star Sports network at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm IST, from October 25 onwards.Virat Kohli was batting on another level in Perth 2018•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Virat Kohli – 123 in Perth, 2018

India lost by 146 runs, series level 1-1Virat Kohli was already one of India’s greatest batters before 2018. He stepped up to an even more rarefied level that year, scoring 1322 runs at an average of 55.08 over 24 innings, of which 22 were played in South Africa, England and Australia.Conditions in all three tours were hard on batters, but the more challenging they became, the more Kohli seemed to relish them. When he walked in to bat in Perth, everything must have looked familiar. India had lost the toss and conceded a bigger total than they should have, bowling well but not without spells of releasing pressure. Then they lost early wickets.In similar circumstances, Kohli had scored 153 at Centurion and 149 at Edgbaston. Now, from 8 for 2, he proceeded to play an even better innings. This was a proper trampoline of a pitch, and Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were routinely getting the ball to rear throat-high from just back of a length. Kohli negotiated the vertical threat expertly, though not without suffering blows to his arm and ribs, but the standout feature of his innings was how well he dealt with Australia’s attempts to sucker him with full balls after pushing him back.Almost every time there was an opportunity to drive, he did so pristinely, down the ground or through the covers with a decisive front-foot stride. A 20th century version of this list would have undoubtedly contained Sachin Tendulkar’s 114 in Perth in 1992. Kohli’s innings came at Perth Stadium and not the WACA, and just as the new ground seamlessly carried forward the old one’s legacy of pace and bounce, a new master had carried forward an old master’s legacy.Karthik Krishnaswamy

Both teams had to deal with out-of-form captains and injury issues this season

Shashank Kishore23-May-20226:53

Shastri: Tilak Varma has made a mark for himself

Mumbai Indians

Where they finished
Tenth in a ten-team pool, an inferior net run-rate to Chennai Super Kings, who also finished with four wins and eight points, keeping them at the bottom of the table.Season in a nutshell
Whatever could go wrong, went wrong.Rohit Sharma finished the season without a half-century. Ishan Kishan, their costliest buy, struggled for runs and form at the top. Injured at the start, Suryakumar Yadav was unfortunately hit by injury again towards the back end. Kieron Pollard, one of their MVPs over the years, failed to fire. He struck at less than 110 while managing all of 144 runs in 11 innings. The loss of form also led to the team leaving him out for the last three games.Tymal Mills, who they hoped would be a death-bowling partner for Jasprit Bumrah, was out with injury after five games. In the games he played, he conceded runs at 11.17 an over. They lacked a reliable wristspinning option once M Ashwin lost the confidence of the team management. By the time they introduced left-arm wristspinner Kumar Kartikeya and legspinner Mayank Markande at the back end, their playoff hopes had been dashed.3:09

Rohit Sharma reflects on Mumbai’s forgettable season

Questionable move
Leaving out their big-ticket signing Tim David after a couple of poor outings. When he was eventually handed an opportunity at the back end, their campaign was done and dusted. Still, he played a big part in them winning three out of their four games – something Royal Challengers Bangalore benefited from; his whirlwind ten-ball 34 in Mumbai’s final game knocked Delhi Capitals out. Overall, he struck his 186 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 216.27, showing enough to be worthy playing the finisher’s role next year and beyond.Find of the season
Tilak Varma, the tall left-handed top-order batter, earned plaudits from Rohit, who believes he will soon be an “all-format player for India”. The high praise came on the back of a consistent season where Varma played the role of a middle-order enforcer, striking 397 runs at 131. His fearlessness, range of shots, and composure stood out.Dewald Brevis switched from Under-19 cricket to the IPL seamlessly. His aggressive middle-order hitting along with Varma bodes well for the team as they look to bounce back in 2023. Brevis can’t be judged yet on impact, even though he struck his runs at 149. However, his exciting stroke play that elicited comparison with AB de Villiers, left everyone asking for more.Notable mention
Hrithik Shokeen proved to be a handy offspinner with excellent smarts, while Kartikeya, a left-arm-everything bowler, showed he was not overawed by the big stage in the handful of games he played.1:23

Ponting – ‘It’s been one of those up-and-down seasons’

Delhi Capitals

Where they finished
A heartbreaking fifth after missing out on the playoffs following a loss in their final league game against Mumbai.Season in a nutshell
Covid-enforced quarantines, isolations, cancelled training sessions, venue shifts, key players injured or ill – all contributed to Capitals having to mix and match their combinations at different times, leading to a lack of continuity. If they were patching together opening combinations for one game, in the next they were looking to plug a middle-order hole or their bowling attack.Prithvi Shaw’s ill-health at a crucial time caused a stir, as did Khaleel Ahmed’s absence for four games in the middle phase. Rishabh Pant’s form was patchy at best, while Lalit Yadav, whom they banked on to go big, disappointed. All this contributed to them not being able to string up more than two wins in a row at any stage.Questionable move
The rotation of fringe Indian players, especially the batters, did them no good. They started with Mandeep Singh, moved to Sarfaraz Khan, then to Ripal Patel and KS Bharat before returning to Sarfaraz. This game of musical chairs may have affected the players too.Find of the season
Mitchell Marsh showed he is no longer the injury-prone allrounder that teams used to be wary of picking. Two impact knocks with the bat at No. 3 and handy contributions with the ball meant he had his best season in 11 years – qualitatively, of course. Kuldeep Yadav rediscovered his mojo after an indifferent last three IPL seasons, picking 21 wickets in 14 games.Notable mention
Back to where it all started in 2009, David Warner seamlessly switched back in with a chart-topping 432 runs at a strike rate of 150. Axar Patel’s lower-order hitting came of age and Rovman Powell brought with him the promise of greater things as a finisher.

And who holds the team record for most sixes in an innings?

Sreshth Shah and Gaurav Sundararaman25-Sep-2020If the quiz does not load, please click here.