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Without Bumrah, India’s hopes faded away as Australia wrapped up the win within three days

Deivarayan Muthu05-Jan-20253:19

Cummins on making WTC final: ‘It’s huge, we talk about it a lot’

Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the silverware that had eluded them for a decade, and confirmed their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final alongside South Africa, after finishing off India inside three days at the SCG.India’s hopes of staying in contention for the WTC final rested on Jasprit Bumrah, but without him those faded away. For someone who had a massive influence on this series, with the most wickets by an India bowler on a tour of Australia, it was a shame he couldn’t play a part in the final act, though he had still done enough to be the Player of the Series.Related

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After having left the SCG on the second day for scans on his back, Bumrah returned to bat at No. 11 on the third day but wasn’t fit to bowl. All the early visuals had portended Bumrah’s absence. He didn’t warm up with the other bowlers and only did a bit of shadow-bowling. Then, after becoming the last India batter to be dismissed, for a duck, he didn’t take the field at all for India’s defence of 161. Given his history of back issues, India had to wrap him in cotton wool.The target was a substantial one for Australia, especially on this spicy SCG surface, but it did appear a whole lot smaller when Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sprayed the new ball around. The pair conceded 12 runs via wides and byes down the leg side in the first two overs. Though Prasidh tightened up and took three wickets, including that of Steven Smith, Bumrah’s absence hung like Coleridge’s albatross around India’s neck.The batters didn’t make it any easier for India’s depleted attack. They lost 4 for 16 in 7.5 overs on the third morning to fold for 157. Scott Boland, who might not have played this series had Josh Hazlewood been fit and might not be a certainty for Australia’s next Test assignment in Sri Lanka, bagged his first ten-wicket haul in professional cricket to hasten India’s collapse. Having taken four wickets on the opening day at the SCG, Boland added six to his tally – his second five-for in Test cricket since his 6 for 7 on debut, which was just as glorious.The Australians got their hands on the trophy after a long gap•Getty ImagesBoland had started the day with a maiden and continued to stalk both the edges by hitting a perfect length. He had Siraj caught at first slip and castled Bumrah in the 40th over to wrap up India’s innings. Boland then, fittingly, held the ball aloft and led Australia off the field, with the SCG crowd giving him a rousing reception.His captain Cummins had earlier accounted for Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja had been dropped by Smith in the slips on 6 on day two, but it cost Australia just seven runs, with Cummins going much fuller to kiss Jadeja’s outside edge. He then nipped one through Washington’s gate to expose India’s tail to Boland.Australia capitalised on the wayward new-ball bowling from Siraj and Krishna, running away to 39 for no loss in the fourth over. Prasidh provided India with the breakthrough when he had Sam Konstas miscuing a slog to mid-off for 22 off 17 balls.After the second day’s play, Prasidh spoke of how he shifted from his stock back of a length plan to a much fuller one after a chat with the analyst. However, on Sunday, with the harder, newer ball, he gleaned more bounce and seam movement with his natural length. After smacking Marnus Labuschagne on his elbow, Prasidh had him steering a catch to gully.For the second time in two days, more than 40,000 fans at the SCG were poised to celebrate Smith scaling 10,000 Test runs, but Prasidh had other ideas and snared him one shy of the landmark with a prancing delivery. Smith will now have to wait until the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle later this month for his next opportunity to become the 15th Test batter in the 10,000 club.India had to wait until after lunch to get rid of Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s length, bottom-edging a pull to Pant for 41 off 45 balls. India felt that they were on to something after that. Siraj roared while Virat Kohli, who stood in as captain, charged towards his bowler from the slips and animatedly pumped his fist.Beau Webster, the debutant, roars after hitting the winning runs•Getty ImagesTravis Head and debutant Beau Webster, however, changed the mood and the game quickly. When Nitish Kumar Reddy offered up a wide half-volley in his first over, Head stayed leg side of the ball and unleashed a rasping blow through the covers. At the other end, Webster was less adventurous, but still scored at a fast clip, thanks to his long reach, which messed with the lengths of the bowlers.Webster, who had made his first-class debut back in 2014, might have wondered if his time at the top level would ever come. When it finally did, the 31-year-old made it a memorable one. He top-scored for Australia with 57 in their first innings – only Pant scored more runs than him – and dismissed Shubman Gill to go with some excellent catching in the slips.On Sunday, Webster struck an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls and provided the when he stepped out to Washington and pumped him straight of mid-off for four. Australia chased down 162 in 27 overs.Prasidh and Siraj bowled 24 of the first 25 overs in the chase. Their only respite – besides a lunch break – came when Australia were three hits away from victory. Jadeja didn’t bowl at all in the final innings and Washington bowled just one over, bringing India’s selection into sharp focus once again. While Australia had immense depth in their attack, India lacked it and Bumrah’s injury only compounded their troubled tour of Australia.

Less than a week after smashing the fastest T20 century by an Indian, off just 28 balls, Gujarat’s Urvil Patel blitzed an unbeaten 115 off just 41 balls in an eight-wicket win over Uttarakhand in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game in Indore. This vaulted Gujarat to the top spot in Group C with five wins in six matches, with one league fixture still remaining.Urvil got to his century on Tuesday off just 36 balls – his second consecutive T20 hundred – as Gujarat made light work of Uttarakhand’s total of 182, getting there with 41 balls to spare. Urvil hit eight fours and 11 sixes in his innings. Along the way, he overtook Hardik Pandya to be the tournament’s highest six-hitter (25) at this stage.

Red-hot Saurashtra flex batting muscle again

Hot on Gujarat’s heels are Saurashtra, who have joined them on 20 points in Group C. Saurashtra followed their 266 for 6 against Baroda with 235 for 5 in their 59-run win over Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, courtesy three half-centuries: Harvik Desai’s 55, Ruchit Ahir’s 56 and Sammar Gajjar’s 55 not out.Ahir was particularly impressive, hitting his second straight T20 half-century in just his third game. Desai, too, carried on from where he left off against Baroda (where he made a 39-ball 76). Tamil Nadu were at no stage up to challenging the target as they finished 64 short with Chirag Jani and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja among the wickets.It was a fourth defeat in six games for Tamil Nadu, who won the championship in successive seasons, 2020-21 and 2021-22.Shivam Dube was in form in his first game since September•AFP/Getty Images

Dube returns in style; Shardul redeems himself

Mumbai gave their knockout aspirations a fillip as they secured a comfortable 39-run win over Services in Group C. Their win was fuelled by key contributions from Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur.Dube, who has been out of action for the past three months following a back injury, made an impact upon his return straightaway. He top-scored with a 37-ball 71 that was the cornerstone to Mumbai’s 192 for 4. Dube put on 130 for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar, who made 70 off 46.Prithvi Shaw, who has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons for a while now, made a three-ball duck.But there was redemption for Thakur, another Mumbai player – like Shaw – who went unsold at the latest IPL auction. A week after returning the most expensive figures in SMA Trophy history, Thakur finished with an impressive 4 for 25 off his four overs to help Mumbai defend their total.Shreyas Gopal’s hat-trick included the Pandya brothers•Maharaja T20

Karnataka knocked out despite Shreyas hat-trick

Shreyas Gopal’s hat-trick wasn’t enough to help secure a victory for Karnataka in a must-win game against Baroda. Shreyas, who finished with 4 for 19, accounted for Bhanua Punia, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya (both for first-ball ducks) as Baroda slumped from 102 for 1 to 102 for 4 in the 11th over in response to Karnataka’s 169 for 8.But the good work done by Shashwat Rawat up top (69 off 37) and Vishnu Solanki (28 not out in 21 balls) lower down helped Baroda win by four wickets with seven balls to spare. The win left Baroda on five wins from six games and level on points with Gujarat and Saurashtra, while Karnataka have been knocked out of contention.

Andhra dent Kerala’s knockout hopes

Kerala’s hopes received a massive dent as they suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Andhra to round off their league fixtures. Andhra are now top of Group E with five wins in as many matches, while Kerala finish with four wins in six matches. To progress to the knockouts, Kerala must hope Andhra beat Mumbai in their final league fixture.Andhra’s win was set up by their bowlers, who made use of the early morning conditions in Indore to skittle Kerala for 87. Fast bowler KV Sasikanth was the pick of the lot, with 3 for 23. Andhra’s chase was set up by KS Bharat, who hit a second straight half-century. He remained unbeaten on 56 in 33 balls.

Manchester United have submitted an offer for a former Premier League striker, who has release clause of £44m, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on Gyokeres alternatives

Fabrizio Romano has now made it clear that Viktor Gyokeres is “only” thinking about signing for Arsenal this summer, with the Swedish striker refusing to turn up for Sporting CP training, meaning Man United will likely have to move on to alternative targets.

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is among them, with Rio Ferdinand recently insisting securing the Nigerian’s signature would soften the blow of missing out on Gyokeres, saying: “He’s a centre-forward, he’s experienced, he knows how to score goals at the top level. I’ve seen today that Galatasaray have put a £50m bid in.

“I mean, £50m to get a top-class striker, one of the top strikers in the world, is absolute peanuts in today’s market. I’ll be disappointed if he goes to Galatasaray for that type of money when Man United are crying out for a No. 9.

“I’ll be disappointed to miss out on Gyokeres if we don’t get a No.9 in. But if we got Osimhen, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.”

According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness) United are also battling Galatasaray for the signature of a different striker, namely Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, with both clubs making contact over a potential deal.

In fact, it is claimed the Red Devils have even gone as far as submitting a bid, although it is unclear whether they are willing to match the €52m (£44m) release clause in the striker’s Fiorentina contract.

Serie A winners Napoli are also in the race for the centre-forward, who is in two minds about his future, with the next six days said to be ‘key’.

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ByDominic Lund Jul 9, 2025 "King of kings" Kean has earned big move

The former Everton man’s previous stint in the Premier League didn’t go exactly to plan, scoring just two goals in the competition for the Toffees, but the Italian has really kicked on since returning to his home country.

Last season was the Fiorentina star’s most impressive campaign to date, scoring 25 goals in all competitions as his side finished sixth in the Serie A and reached the semi-final of the Europa Conference League.

Competition 24/25

Appearances

Goals

Serie A

32

19

Conference League

9

3

Italian Cup

1

1

UECL qualifiers

2

2

Football writer Mina Rzouki was also left impressed by the Italy international’s displays, describing him as a “king of kings” after bagging a brace in a 3-0 victory over Inter Milan back in February.

That said, it would be a big gamble for Man United to sign Kean, given that the forward struggled during his previous spell in England, so it may be wise to turn their attentions to Osimhen, who bagged 37 goals in all competitions last term.

Both SL and their most prolific batter have struggled in Sharjah; they will hope that improves in their bid to beat India in Dubai

Shashank Kishore08-Oct-2024

Chamari Athapaththu has taken three wickets this World Cup but has scored only nine runs•ICC/Getty Images

“Chamari, are we going to see some shots?”

Alyssa Healy’s wisecrack from behind the stumps during the Australia game has been playing on Chamari Athapaththu’s mind over the past few days.It’s because Sri Lanka, coming off a historic first-ever series win against England and a maiden Asia Cup triumph, are now on the brink of elimination following big losses to Pakistan and Australia. Athapaththu’s own contributions in those games? Scores of three and six.On Wednesday, Sri Lanka will play their first game in Dubai with everything on the line. While it’s likely even two wins from here may not be enough to make the semi-finals, they’re approaching the India game with more questions than answers.”We can’t complain about the conditions as batters,” Athapaththu stated emphatically when asked about the prospect of playing in Dubai after two straight games on Sharjah slow-burns. “We have to play our best cricket, and we have to adapt; that is the most important thing.”I saw Nat Sciver-Brunt, how she played [against South Africa] and even Laura [Wolvaardt] and South African batters. So, we can’t blame anyone. Actually, I ask same question to myself: why can’t I play? I have to answer it myself how I can play in the next game. As a batter I love that challenge. I challenge myself and I want to play my best cricket in the next two games.”Wanting to emulate Sciver-Brunt is a conversation not just for Athapaththu, but the entire batting unit. Barring Nilakshika Silva, who made 23 and 29 in the two games, none of the other batters have even given themselves a chance to get in. This reflects in Sri Lanka’s 85 for 9 and 93 for 7 in their two innings – disappointing even after factoring in tough batting conditions in Sharjah.Related

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“First, I asked myself in my room why I can’t play, because I always see the games and I always analyse them,” Athapaththu said. “The next day, I talked to a few batters, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on them.”I talked to a few, and because they have good experience, so I said to them: ‘if Tazmin Brits can play, if Laura can play, why can’t we play?’ So I said we have to rethink, and adaptation is most important. And we have to ask from each and every one why we can’t play that cricket.”I saw South Africans adjust to these conditions, really good. The important thing is how we play. To be at our best, we have to play fearless cricket. And the most important thing is one ball at a time. If we take too much pressure on our shoulders, if we take too much information, it’s too hard to play cricket. So we have to keep it simple and play fearless cricket.”SL will hope they can emulate their Asia Cup final performance against India, where they won emphatically•Sri Lanka Cricket

Athapaththu will have happy memories from her previous meeting with them: a 43-ball 61 in Sri Lanka’s historic chase of 166 to win the Asia Cup. But going into Wednesday’s clash, Athapaththu admits indecision has hampered her own game and hopes she’d be able to take on the role of an aggressor, like she usually does.”Actually, in the first game, the first over I scored a boundary against Sadia Iqbal. When I just hit the ball and it went so fast, I felt, ‘oh, the wicket is so good.’ Because when Pakistan played, the wicket was a little bit slow and low. But when I played that first shot, I felt, ‘no, the wicket is really good.'”I think that thing affected me [her thinking] and I lost my wicket in the next over. Because when Fatima Sana bowled, I felt ‘okay, so the wicket is good, I can trust the wicket and I just play’ but I’d made the mistake.”In the next game [against Australia], I felt the wicket was a little bit slow, so I took my time. Then I felt, ‘okay, I will take time’, and suddenly it was different. So, I just want to play my natural game freely.”Athapaththu was asked if this was Sri Lanka’s best opportunity to sting an Indian team that has had its own share of batting struggles that could potentially leave them in a net run rate scenario in a tight Group A. She chose to look inward.”Yeah but same thing for us,” she said of the batting struggles. “We are not scoring many runs either. So, yeah I think the both teams have struggled. I feel like the Indian team is so good on wickets with pace and bounce, even my team.”Because we don’t have big arms, big bodies to hit the ball so hard, we need some kind of pace and support from the wicket, because we are really good with timing the ball compared to other teams So, I feel both teams are struggling.”I know it’s big pressure for both teams, but our team has nothing to lose. We are going with the underdog tag all the time. So we [want to] keep it simple and I want to play my best cricket and fearless cricket all the time.”

There was a point last season when Liverpool had established a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League yet still failed to earn the respect and, perhaps, fear, of their closest title rivals.

You might have traced it back further. Before a ball had been kicked, BBC Sport’s 30 experts had a go at naming their pick for the league champion. Each of the pundits failed to choose Liverpool, who won the Premier League at a canter, ten points ahead of Arsenal at the finish despite loosening standards across the final four fixtures.

In fact, Stephen Warnock and Fara Williams were the only BBC Sport pundits to declare Liverpool would finish in the top two. Make no mistake, the Reds were hardly expected to challenge for the title after losing Jurgen Klopp, but Klopp left an incredible, dynamic team behind, and FSG bagged Slot gold, having barely dipped into the transfer market.

Is it any wonder Liverpool have attacked the market with such vicious intent? The Merseysiders have spent around £200m this summer and more is yet to come, with striker Hugo Ekitike and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi both fixed at the top of the shopping list.

In Guehi’s case, Eagles chairman Steve Parish might prove to be too tricky a negotiator, pricing his captain at £50m despite their being just one year remaining on his contract.

But should Liverpool push ahead all the same?

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Liverpool could wrap up their transfer window right now and be content. Who wouldn’t after signing Florian Wirtz for a British-record £116m fee? The German talent, plucked from his heralded position in the Bundesliga, could revolutionise the Anfield side.

But Liverpool would like to pack more quality across other positions. Sporting director Richard Hughes tried and failed to convince Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen to join from Bournemouth in May, but in Guehi, Liverpool might find the perfect alternative.

His leadership and composure, technical qualities and combativeness all see him align with Slot’s vision, especially if a breakthrough cannot be found with Ibrahima Konate, who has 12 months left on his own deal as Los Blancos look to pilfer more talent from Liverpool’s chest.

Jarell Quansah has also been sold to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m.

Liverpool want Guehi, and they want him bad. However, they are open to a variety of options and could hit the jackpot with a certain alternative hailing from the German scene.

Liverpool in race for Bundesliga star

Liverpool have registered their interest in RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba, who, according to Foot Mercato, is being chased by the Reds, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

With a €90m (£77m) release clause, Lukeba wouldn’t come cheap – although it’s unlikely that the suitors would pay such a figure.

However, with the France international open to leaving, Leipzig would be willing to cash in for a more modest sum, for they finished sixth in the Bundesliga last term and thus have no European football to look forward to in 2025/26.

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Expand Collapse What Castello Lukeba would bring to Liverpool

When previously discussing Lukeba’s potential transfer to Liverpool, analyst Ben Mattinson said that Anfield would represent the “perfect move” for the defender.

Indeed, Lukeba’s “freak profile”, positively spoken in regard to his athleticism and versatility, bespeaks his suitability in Slot’s system.

And have Liverpool not hit the jackpot many times when raiding the Bundesliga for exciting young prospects?

Wirtz, indeed, is a fine example of this; he might not have kicked a ball on Merseyside yet, but the 22-year-old is destined for greatness.

Lukeba is only 22 and has already demonstrated his qualities superbly across the 2024/25 campaign, ranked among the top 13% of central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the top 15% for aerial duel success rate, as per FBref.

His energy and hunger to win duels and fend off opposing forwards blends with a sharp technicality that Slot would use to instil calm through Liverpool’s backline. The progressiveness that we can observe through his attacking metrics only emphasises his wide-ranging skill set further.

Bundesliga Stats 24/25 – Castello Lukeba

Stats (* per game)

Lukeba

Matches (starts)

23 (18)

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches*

65.4

Pass completion

87%

Key passes*

0.2

Dribbles*

0.9

Ball recoveries*

3.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

Clearances*

3.0

Duels (won)*

4.0 (65%)

Data via Sofascore

This “leader”, as he’s been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would follow Wirtz in being a young Bundesliga talent stepping into Slot’s squad to plug a gap and potentially rise toward the uppermost level of the game.

He has the potential, to be sure. Having already completed 72 appearances for Leipzig after transferring from French side Lyon, where he played 68 times after cutting his teeth in the club’s academy, there’s a wealth of experience which Liverpool could build upon.

Moreover, Lukeba has rebounded from injury setbacks throughout his youthful career in a similar vein to Wirtz, whose ACL injury as a teenager preceded his invincible domestic campaign of 2023/24 with Bayer Leverkusen, when he was crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Year.

Lukeba might not carry quite the same stock, but he’s an immensely talented defender targeted by one of the best clubs in the world.

Following Konate, Joel Matip, Bobby Firmino and more from making his way from Germany to Anfield, this young centre-half could define the coming era on Merseyside, along with Wirtz.

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It’s fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur have had an eventful end to the season. Spurs finally ended their 17-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League, however, Daniel Levy then decided to sack Ange Postecoglou following a 17th place finish in the Premier League.

The search for a new manager in north London led Spurs to Thomas Frank, with the Danish coach arriving as Postecoglou’s permanent successor at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

With Champions League football on offer following the Europa League triumph, Spurs will have plenty of funds available to them as they look to back Frank in the summer transfer market.

One deal that has already gone through is Kevin Danso’s loan move becoming permanent for more than £20m, but who could join the Austrian through the door over the coming months?

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Well, Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted four summer signings Tottenham and Levy could make to bolster Frank’s squad, totalling £250m.

1 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace (£80m)

Starting at the back, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi could be a wanted man again this summer following rumours of a move to Newcastle United last summer.

The Magpies are still being linked with Guehi, but so are Tottenham, with claims suggesting Guehi was keen to hold talks with Spurs following their Europa League win.

Spurs had a £70m offer rejected for Guehi in January, but Grok estimate a cost in the region of £80m would get a deal done. They also add Guehi ‘would provide defensive stability and leadership in defence, allowing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to rotate or play in a back three’.

2 Morten Hjulmand Sporting CP (£50m)

Another midfielder could be on Frank’s wishlist ahead of the 25/26 season, and Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand is another predicted signing.

A fellow Dane, there were claims earlier in 2025 that Spurs were set to make a bid for Hjulmand this summer, amid interest from rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.

Morten Hjulmand stats

WhoScored

Games

52

Goals

4

Assists

2

Average passes per 90

53.7

Pass completion

90%

Tackles per 90

2

Protected by a €80m (£69m) release clause in his contract, Grok thinks a deal could work at £50m due to Sporting’s willingness to negotiate, adding Hjulmand ‘would complement Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur’.

3 Eberechi Eze Crystal Palace (£70m)

Alongside Guehi, Spurs are also showing an active interest in another Crystal Palace star – Eberechi Eze.

The scorer of the Eagles’ FA Cup final winner against Manchester City, Eze is a player of interest to Frank, who has reportedly been urging Levy to sign for Tottenham when in talks to take over in north London.

Grok feels a deal could be worth £70m and say ‘Eze’s flair and goalscoring ability would add star quality, reducing reliance on James Maddison and supporting Dominic Solanke’.

4 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth (£50m)

The final predicted Spurs signing by Grok is Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has been heavily linked with Tottenham in the early stages of the summer window.

There have been claims that Levy and co have personally held talks with Semenyo’s representatives over a Tottenham transfer, with Grok believing a fee could be worth up to £50m.

AI also adds that Semenyo ‘could provide depth and competition for Heung-min Son and Wilson Odobert’ and that his ‘ability to play across the front three offers tactical flexibility’.

With one eye on Champions League qualification and the other on the summer transfer window, Newcastle United have reportedly set their sights on signing a future star.

Where Newcastle stand in Champions League race

The second-half of the current campaign has so far been one to remember for Newcastle, who even managed to end their long wait for a trophy by picking up the Carabao Cup in March. Now vying to finish a successful season by qualifying for Champions League football for the second time in three seasons, Eddie Howe’s side have their fate firmly in their own grasp as they head into the final four games.

Liverpool (C)

82

34

Arsenal

67

34

Newcastle United

62

34

Manchester City

61

34

Chelsea

60

34

Nottingham Forest

60

33

Aston Villa

57

34

With the top five all qualifying for the Champions League, Newcastle currently have a two-point buffer on Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand to break back into the all important places. Even if Nuno Espirito Santo’s side win that game in hand, however, it would be Chelsea who drop out of the top five and not Newcastle, who would move down to fourth.

The importance of a place amongst Europe’s elite cannot be overstated either, especially for Newcastle. Those at St James’ Park have been forced to sit back and watch in the last two transfer windows, but Champions League qualification should mean that their spending can commence under their rich PIF ownership.

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They’ve wanted him for ages.

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Just who arrives if that is the case remains to be seen. Already, names such as Liam Delap and Ademola Lookman have been mentioned, but before the stars arrive it may well be a teenage sensation who emerges to commence Newcastle’s summer window.

Newcastle plotting move to sign James Wilson

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle now want to sign James Wilson from Hearts this summer after PIF stepped up their scouting mission in Scotland and the 18-year-old talent stood out. A player who already has a senior Scotland cap to his name, Wilson is certainly one to keep an eye on as Newcastle plot an impressive summer swoop.

At just 18 years old, the forward has already been making his mark in the Scottish Premiership too – scoring five goals in 20 games and even finding the back of the net once in the Europa Conference League. When given the chance, Wilson has simply enjoyed every moment of the spotlight.

Earning impressive praise as a result, former Hearts boss Neil Critchley told reporters when asked about Wilson’s Scotland debut: “It’s an unbelievable achievement. To be the youngest Scottish international player ever is an incredible achievement. It’s one him and his family should be extremely proud of.

“You could see the lift and the excitement it gave him. He’s come back here with a permanent smile on his face. We’ve actually allowed him into the senior dressing-room this week. Shanks [Lawrence Shankland] and Craigy [Craig Gordon] have let him in. I say that, it was more Goggsy the kit man who gave his blessing! So he’s in for the first time.”

Here’s a not particularly original statement: Arsenal should probably sign a striker!

The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes have been over for a while now, and it’s their lack of attacking firepower that supporters want to see addressed in the summer.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was the 22nd time in all competitions Mikel Arteta’s team have scored either zero or one goal in a match, doing so in a whopping 50% of their Premier League fixtures.

Thus, do the Gunners lead the race for one of Europe’s most sought-after centre-forwards?

Which striker are Arsenal seeking to sign?

According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of Sporting Clube de Portugal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who he believes will be available for as little as £55m this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

David Ornstein and James McNicholas of the Athletic previously reported that the Gunners have ‘developed a strong interest’ in the Swedish international striker, with recently appointed new sporting director Andrea Berta described as a long-term admirer.

They add that Arteta’s preference would actually be to sign Gyökeres’ international teammate Alexander Isak, but Newcastle United ‘have no intention’ of selling their most-prized asset, let alone to a direct rival.

So, could Gyökeres be the final piece in the jigsaw?

How Gyokeres would improve Arsenal's attack

Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are currently sidelined long-term; the Brazilian ruptured his ACL against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January, while the German required hamstring surgery after suffering this injury during the warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

However, despite scoring 29 goals for the club, Havertz was never supposed to be Arsenal’s striker, initially signed as a midfielder.

Jesus, meantime, simply has not been the same since suffering a knee injury against Cameroon at the last World Cup, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

22

74

Minutes

1,453

4,008

Goals

5

21

Minutes per goal

291

190

Assists

6

14

Minutes per assist

242

286

Matches missed due to injury

0

48

% of matches missed

0

37.8%

As the table outlines, Jesus simply cannot be counted upon due to fitness reasons and is unlikely to feature again until Christmas, so he cannot be in Arteta’s immediate plans.

As a result, for now, Mikel Merino is spearheading Arsenal’s attack, his stunning strike against Real Madrid last Tuesday actually his eighth for the club, six of which have come since becoming the emergency striker at Leicester in February.

Nevertheless, Gyökeres would be a clear upgrade on the Spaniard, as his remarkable statistics at Sporting prove.

Appearances

95

Minutes

7,779

Goals

87

Minutes per goal

89

Assists

26

Statistics

Gyökeres in UCL

UCL rank

Goals

6

13th

Goals per 90

0.89

7th

Shots per 90

3.26

24th

Goals – xG (min 4 goals)

+1.5

15th

Gyökeres’ statistics at Sporting are obviously frightening, hence why Romano has labeled him a “goal machine”, adding that he is “wanted by several clubs for the summer”.

Meanwhile, Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines believes the Swede is a ‘clinical finisher with great movement’, also impressed by his ‘link-up play, physicality…. [and] top-quality ball-striking’.

Speaking on the Arsecast Extra, Andrew Mangan claims Gyökeres would represent a ‘win now’ signing, which is exactly what Arsenal are attempting to do, hence why they should push the boat out to make this move happen. He’s be a phenomenal upgrade on their current options.

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