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Nicolas Garcia Hemme, LALIGA North America Managing Director, backed the Spanish top flight's controversial Miami-based fixture for success, despite criticism over its scheduling. The executive admitted that the December game could ruffle some feathers, but claimed that it is a crucial way for Spanish football to differentiate itself in the U.S.

Getty Images'This is strategic for us'

Garcia Hemme said that, although local fans have questioned the scheduling of the fixture – due to be played on Dec. 20 in Miami – it is part of a wide-ranging venture to encourage La Liga's growth in the United States. 

"This is strategic for us. It is very important for us to make sure that people understand that we as La Liga are willing to be bold, are willing to be innovative, are willing to try things in a different way, and we're gonna try," he told GOAL following a media event in New York City on Tuesday.

Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami: Pre-sale Oct. 21Ticket accessAdvertisementAlienating home fans?

While Garcia Hemme, LALIGA North America Managing Director, is confident about the success of the match, he also admitted that the decision could alienate some fans in Spain. Numerous groups of both Villarreal and Barcelona supporters have pointed out that playing a fixture so far from home will prevent season ticket holders from attending.

The game was due to be hosted at Villarreal, a key match on the calendar and a potential significant moneymaker for the club. Real Madrid sit at the top of the La Liga table, followed by Barcelona and Villarreal.

"So even with the game, there's been conversations about a compensation plan for the fans of Villarreal at home, that is something that costs a lot of money, and we are willing to do the investment," Garcia Hemme said. 

The club has suggested that they will offer free travel to Miami for the game for supporters.

AFPA long time in the making

The fixture has been in the works for a while now. La Liga first attempted to play a game abroad in January 2019, when they floated the possibility of Barcelona facing Girona in Miami. But that idea was quickly scrapped after the Spanish Football Federation voiced strong opposition.

Since then, though, the idea has gathered steam, with league president Javier Tebas leading the charge.

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Pushing the U.S. market

La Liga, for their part, have also insisted that they're eager to honor U.S. fans of both Barca and Villarreal. That desire – not financial incentives – they insist, is the driving force behind the controversial fixture. 

"We are willing to do the investment to make sure that we balance the feelings of both fans in the U.S. that wake up at 5 a.m. to watch a game in LA and are willing to travel to Miami to watch that game, and fans in Villarreal that are season ticket holders and feel that the club is part of their lifestyle," Garcia Hemme said. "So it is part of what we are exploring is how we are able to make everybody decently happy with this initiative."

The initial plans for the new stadium had included a fully-fixed roof but the latest modeling has raised significant doubts over where it would work for cricket

AAP26-Mar-2025

A concept design of the proposed new stadium in Hobart•Tasmania Government

Tasmania’s proposed waterfront stadium that is a condition of the state’s entry into the AFL could end up with a less extensive roof after concerns about shadows and its ability to host cricket.Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Tasmania have written to the state government raising worries about designs for the 23,000-seat Macquarie Point venue.Construction of a roofed stadium on the Hobart site is a contractual obligation of a deal with the AFL for a 19th licence and entry into the men’s league in 2028.Related

Gabba to be demolished after 2032 Olympics, cricket to get new home in Brisbane

Hobart's new stadium designed to host indoor Test cricket

In a letter obtained by the ABC, the two cricket bodies say the roof design means the stadium is unlikely to be conducive to hosting Test matches. They also say holding one-day and T20 fixtures could be challenging.The letter raises concerns about the impact of shadows cast by the roof on the field of play, particularly on the cricket pitch block throughout the day.”For this reason, we would like to discuss with you what opportunity there is to consider a stadium design option that does not have a roof, or that has an operable roof,” the letter to the state government says.Cricket Tasmania and CA support the stadium, slated to cost AU$775 million, and want to see it progress, a spokesperson said.The stadium design includes a transparent fixed dome-shaped roof supported by steel and timber.  Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who inked the deal with the AFL, said all parties were working through the challenges.The government was committed to a roof but open to design options including a partial roof, Mr Rockliff said.”This is not just an AFL stadium, it is a multi-purpose stadium that needs to cater for events, other codes of sport,” he told reporters.It is planned that Tasmanian cricket will move away from Bellerive Oval when the new stadium is completed•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach said designs were being finessed.”Because we have a fully transparent covering, you then have a fair bit of contrast on a fully clear day,” she told a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday. “The beams have been made as efficient as they can, so they are relatively small. But they are still there, so they do cast a shadow.”There were several ways to address shadows including reducing the number of timber beams and adjusting building materials, Ms Beach said.The extent of the roof “might be something” that needed to be looked at, she said.”We are in constant dialogue with the Tasmanian government about the design for the Macquarie Point stadium,” a CA spokesperson said. “We want to ensure the stadium is fit for purpose for all forms of cricket so we can bring the best possible international and domestic cricket to the stadium and maximise benefits for all Tasmanians.”The AFL has reiterated its commitment to a roofed, 23-000-seat stadium at Macquarie Point. The federal government is chipping in AU$240 million for development at the site, while the AFL is contributing AU$15 million.The project, with a 2029 build goal, is being assessed by an independent planning body which will provide a draft report by the end of March and a final report in September.  It must then be voted through state parliament to get the green light.Tasmania’s Labor opposition supports the stadium but has raised concerns about the delivery.”Nowhere in the world has cricket been played under a cross laminated timber roof,” Labor MP Josh Willie said. “It is up to the premier [in terms of] how he is going to deliver the project.”

Wolves’ summer window has been one marked by exodus. Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri have joined Manchester clubs, and long-standing players like Nélson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia have also left on free transfers.

These departures have led to some pundits talking about Wolves in terms of Premier League relegation candidates, but the board are making moves to ensure they survive the drop.

Underrated striker Jorgen Strand Larsen’s time at the club has been made permanent, and he has arrived alongside his Celta Vigo teammate Fer Lopez for a combined £43.3 million. These signings will go some way in securing the club’s future, but Vitor Pereira is looking to further deepen their roster by bringing in a versatile player who can support the team across the pitch.

Pereira working to bring in versatile Tchatchoua

Ben Jacobs has shared on X that Wolves have approached Hellas Verona over the signing of Jackson Tchatchoua “with club-to-club talks active”. The Cameroon international spent most of his early career in the Belgian league before joining Verona last summer. He is seen as one of a number of targets that Wolves are currently exploring.

Verona paid just under £2.6 million for Tchatchoua last summer and are looking to make a hefty profit on him already. Fabrizio Romano reported that Nottingham Forest had previously been interested, and there were other reports of a £10 million offer from the Reds, though nothing materialised.

Tchatchoua doesn’t look like a replacement for one specific player, as during his time for Hella Verona, he has been utilised in six different positions, including right and left back, on both sides of the midfield and further up as a left or right winger. He could fit comfortably in any of the roles that were previously occupied by Ait-Nouri, Sarabia or Semedo.

Tchatchoua's versatility and his drawbacks

The phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” may come to some apprehensive fans’ minds when hearing of a player who can play in six different positions. With Tchatchoua, there may be some merit to this fear.

When looking at his stats in comparison to similar profile players, there are very few categories where he stands out, and in most metrics, he is middle of the pack. Where he does shine is in his dribbling, his winning of possession high up the pitch and in not letting players past him.

However, he struggles in terms of pass accuracy (where he was in the bottom third of players in Europe last term) and touches per 90 (where he was in the bottom 5 per cent of players). These are some worrying results that indicate he is not a confident player with the ball, but with his previously mentioned ability to win the ball and dribble, he will get Wolves further up the pitch with his directness.

While he may not specialise in any position and has some areas of weakness, he should do a competent job wherever Pereira puts him, and with the high volume of games teams now face, he may become an invaluable addition to the squad.

MatériaMais Notícias

A mobilização do Fluminense para tentar abrir vantagem nas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil inclui a cautela ao opinar sobre o clássico diante do Flamengo. Na véspera do clássico, que acontecerá na terça-feira (16), às 21h (de Brasília), no Maracanã, o meio-campista Lima rechaçou que os tricolores entrem em campo como favoritos.

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Embora a equipe das Laranjeiras tenha vencido dois dos quatro clássicos disputados neste ano (incluindo uma goleada na decisão do Carioca), o atleta vê o Rubro-Negro em uma ascensão.

+ Veja a tabela e saiba quais serão os jogos da Copa do Brasil

– Não é vantagem alguma, até porque (o Flamengo) mudou treinador e algumas peças. Do lado deles também tem um treinador bem inteligente. Nós temos nosso trabalho e convicção. Trabalhamos forte depois do jogo com o Cuiabá e vamos com tudo para buscar a vitória. É outro Flamengo, tem jogadores bons do lado de lá, tem um grande treinador e são muito inteligentes. Mas estamos trabalhando firme e pensamos bastante no que fazer para amanhã – afirmou Lima, em entrevista coletiva nesta segunda-feira (15), no CT Carlos Castilho.

Atualmente escalado como substituto de Keno, Lima destacou sua afinidade com o técnico Fernando Diniz. São 25 partidas com a camisa do Fluminense.

–  Antes da minha chegada, ele já tinha me ligado e comentado que eu poderia jogar em várias posições. Ele já tinha visto outros jogos meus já que já joguei de volante, extrema ou meia e eu disse que não tinha problema algum. Ele também me deu muita confiança. Tem jogos que eu atuo pela beirada, tem jogos que eu atuo por dentro e não vejo problema algum – declarou.

Em seguida, o meia valorizou a forma como o Tricolor das Laranjeiras vem se desdobrando mesmo sem Keno e Alexsander.

– O elenco é muito forte. Infelizmente perdemos Keno e Alexsander que estão em grandes momentos. Torcemos pela recuperação deles, mas não vejo problema algum em jogar nas posições, mas deixo para amanhã vocês ficarem sabendo a posição que vou atuar – disse.

Lima também ressaltou a força transmitida pela torcida do Fluminense.

–  É importante ver a torcida no estádio nos apoiando, fazendo festa. Às vezes estamos cansados dentro de campo e o grito deles evolui e nos ajuda bastante. Espero que tenha um belo espetáculo fora de campo, que nos apoiem bastante para conseguirmos a vitória – afirmou.

Os tricolores vão a campo na terça-feira (16), às 21h (de Brasília), para encararem o Flamengo nas oitavas da Copa do Brasil. O jogo de volta é no dia primeiro de junho, às 20h, no Maraca.

Chelsea legend Florent Malouda says the Blues should do everything they can to make Raheem Sterling "feel at home" again & not terminate his contract.

• Sterling not in Chelsea's plans
• Blues told to reintegrate winger
• Urged to not terminate contract

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite interest from Fulham, among others, Sterling ended up staying at Chelsea when the transfer window shut, and now he is set for a season on the sidelines. But ex-Blues winger Malouda feels that the 30-year-old may still have a part to play in Enzo Maresca's team going forward.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT MALOUDA SAID

  He told Boyle Sports: "The first thing about Raheem Sterling is that he earned this contract through his performances. So I believe at this moment, he is not part of the plan, but he's still a good player.  We will mention injuries; it's not like there was an issue where you'd say: ‘OK, let's cross this player. We don't want him anymore'. I don't like the topic of his wages or the money involved. He earned his contract, and everybody was fine with it. Now it's more about how, as a club, you consider your players and how you bring them back to full confidence. I'm sure Raheem Sterling, in full confidence, without injury problems, terminating his contract wouldn’t be an option. The perspective must change. That comes with conversations, honest conversations, because you need players like him, but at his best level. While he's still a Chelsea player, we should do everything as a club for him to feel at home. I think that's the best way to get the best out of a player like Sterling."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sterling is said to be on wages in excess of £300,000 a week and the England international still has two years left to run on his contract. A January transfer move makes sense but the ex-Manchester City man may have to lower his salary demands. Ultimately, the winger's career is seemingly taking a turn for the worse.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Former Liverpool ace Sterling, who had an underwhelming loan stint at Arsenal last season, will continue to train but not with Chelsea's first-team squad. Maresca's side return to Premier League action on Saturday away at Brentford. 

All you need to know about the IPL mega auction 2025 – date, time, venue retention list, players to watch and more – on ESPNcricinfo

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-20241:10

Did Pant want to go back to the auction?

When is the IPL 2025 auction happening, and where?The IPL 2025 auction will take place on November 24 and 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It’s being held overseas for only the second time – the 2024 auction was in Dubai. The two-day auction is scheduled to begin at 1300 local time (1530 IST) on November 24. This year, the IPL 2025 auction will clash with the third and fourth days of the Australia vs India Test in Perth.Why is the IPL 2025 auction a ‘mega auction’?Every three years, the IPL franchises undergo a reset of sorts. They are allowed to retain only a small number of players – a maximum of six this time – and must rebuild their squads at the mega auction. In other years, in between mega auctions, teams can retain as many players as they like before a ‘mini auction’, which takes place over the course of one day. Mega auctions take two days because the number of players up for bidding is much higher than at mini auctions.So how many players are there in the IPL 2025 auction?As many as 1574 players registered for the IPL 2025 mega auction but that list has been shortened to 577 players (367 are Indian and 210 are overseas). Here’s the final list of players.Will there be a marquee set of players like in the previous two mega auctions in 2018 and 2022?Yes, in fact there are two marquee player sets right at the start of the auction. Expect the teams to bid fiercely for those players. The first set of marquee players contains: Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, and Mitchell Starc. the second marquee set contains Yuzvendra Chahal, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed SirajWho are the other big names in the IPL 2025 auction?There are plenty. Among the Indian players, there’s Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, and many others.The overseas list includes David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Devon Conway, Tim David, Rachin Ravindra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, and many more.Related

Iyer, Pant, Rahul among 12 marquee players to kick off IPL 2025 auction

IPL 2025 auction – Full list of 577 players

MI retain big four; Klaasen retained for INR 23 crore

How will bidding take place?The marquee players will go up for bidding first, separated into two groups of six each. The next round of names to go up will be of capped players divided into sets based on their specialisation: batters, allrounders, wicketkeeper-batters, fast bowlers and spin bowlers. This will be followed by a round of uncapped players divided based on their specialisation. After player No. 116 (subject to timings), the auction will enter its accelerated phase, covering all players from 117 to 574.After this, franchises will be asked to submit names of unsold players from the full list who will go up once more for bidding in another accelerated phase.How much money do teams have to form their squads at the IPL 2025 auction?Each team has a total purse of INR 120 crore but some of that has already been spent on retaining players before the IPL 2025 auction. Punjab Kings have the biggest purse – INR 110.5 crore – to spend at the mega auction, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have INR 83 crore, Delhi Capitals (INR 73 crore), Gujarat Titans (INR 69 crore), Lucknow Super Giants (INR 69 crore) Chennai Super Kings (INR 55 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 51 crore), Mumbai Indians (INR 45 crore), Sunrisers Hyderabad (INR 45 crore), and Rajasthan Royals (INR 41 crore).And how many players can the teams buy at the IPL 2025 mega auction?The size of each franchise’s squad is a maximum of 25 (minimum size is 18) and there are ten teams – so a maximum of 250 players in total. Forty-six players have already been retained by the teams, leaving a maximum of 204 slots to fill during the IPL 2025 auction. Each squad can have a maximum of eight overseas players so there are 70 slots for overseas players at the auction. CSK: 20 slots (7 overseas) RCB: 22 slots (8 overseas) SRH: 20 slots (5 overseas) MI: 20 slots (8 overseas) DC: 21 slots (7 overseas) RR: 19 slots (7 overseas) PBKS: 23 slots (8 overseas) KKR: 19 slots (6 overseas) GT: 20 slots (7 overseas) LSG: 20 slots (7 overseas)1:16

Steyn: ‘Another team will welcome KL Rahul with open arms’

Why do teams have varying number of slots to fill at the IPL 2025 auction?That’s because teams retained different numbers of players before the auction. While teams were allowed to keep a maximum of six (with a maximum of five capped and maximum of two uncapped players), PBKS, for example, retained only two players, while RR and KKR retained six.Mumbai Indians
Players retained: Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crore), Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore), Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crore), Rohit Sharma (INR 16.30 crore), Tilak Varma (INR 8 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 1
Players eligible for RTM: One uncapped playerSunrisers Hyderabad
Players retained: Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore), Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore), Travis Head (INR 14 crore), Nitish Kumar Reddy (INR 6 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 1
Players eligible for RTM: One uncapped playerChennai Super Kings
Players retained: Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore), Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore), MS Dhoni (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 1
Players eligible for RTM: One capped or uncapped playerRoyal Challengers Bengaluru
Players retained: Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore), Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 3
Players eligible for RTM: One uncapped player and two capped players, or three capped playersDelhi Capitals
Players retained: Axar Patel (INR 16.50 crore), Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.25 crore), Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 crore), Abishek Porel (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 2
Players eligible for RTM: One uncapped player and one capped player, or two capped playersKolkata Knight Riders
Players retained: Rinku Singh (INR 13 crore), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 12 crore), Sunil Narine (INR 12 crore), Andre Russell (INR 12 crore), Harshit Rana (INR 4 crore), Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: None
Players eligible for RTM: NoneRajasthan Royals
Players retained: Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crore), Riyan Parag (INR 14 crore), Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crore), Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore), Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: None
Players eligible for RTM: NoneGujarat Titans
Players retained: Rashid Khan (INR 18 crore), Shubman Gill (INR 16.50 crore), Sai Sudharsan (INR 8.50 crore), Rahul Tewatia (INR 4 crore), Shahrukh Khan (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: One
Players eligible for RTM: One capped playerLucknow Super Giants
Players retained: Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore) Mayank Yadav (INR 11 crore), Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crore), Ayush Badoni (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 1
Players eligible for RTM: One capped playerPunjab Kings
Players retained: Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crore), Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crore)
Right-to-match (RTM) options at auction: 4
Players eligible for RTM: Four capped playersWhat does this Right-to-Match option at the IPL 2025 auction mean?The IPL teams were allowed to retain up to six players this time – of which a maximum of five can be capped and a maximum of two can be uncapped. The six could either be retained outright ahead of the auction, or can be bought back using Right-to-Match (RTM) options at the auction, or a combination of both.So here’s how the RTM options work: If a player has been bought by another franchise at the mega auction, the franchise that he was part of in IPL 2024 can step in at the end of the bidding process and buy back their player using the RTM option by matching the highest bid. After that, the franchise that made the winning bid will be given another opportunity to raise the bid to whatever amount they wish. In that case, the player’s previous team will have to match the increased bid to buy back their player.Having retained just two players, PBKS have the most RTM options (four) at the auction. RCB, who retained three players, have three, while Delhi Capitals, who retained four players, have two. Five teams – MI, CSK, GT, SRH and LSG – retained five players each and have just one RTM option at the auction, while RR and KKR have no RTM options.There is of course no limit on the number of players a franchise can buy back if they place the highest bids for them during regular bidding at the auction.

Arsenal are currently working to tie up a few key summer deals for Mikel Arteta, as the Gunners also prepare to kick off their pre-season tour of Asia against AC Milan on Wednesday.

After announcing the signing of England international winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea for an initial £48.5 million, rising to £52 million with add-ons (Sky Sports), defender Cristhian Mosquera is poised to follow soon.

£50m "game-changer" would now love to join Chelsea despite Arsenal approach

The Blues have been handed a boost in their pursuit of an attacker.

ByDominic Lund Jul 21, 2025

Arsenal reached an agreement with Valencia to sign the 21-year-old some time ago, and reports suggest he’s undergone a successful medical in north London (Tribuna Deportiva Valencia).

However, sources from both sides are refusing to disclose the reason for Mosquera’s announcement delay (Tribuna Deportiva Valencia), and they’ll likely delay unveiling his capture until after their tour of the Far East.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

Arteta’s side are in the market for a central attacking midfielder too, with both Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and now RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons among Arsenal’s chiefs targets for the role.

Bolstering that area of the squad and bringing in someone to complement captain Martin Odegaard will immediately be prioritised once they finally seal a deal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal reached an agreement in principle with Sporting over the signing of Gyokeres midway through July, for a total fee of around £64 million including add-ons (The Athletic), but it is taking some time to fully finalise his transfer to N5.

The final round of negotiations has reportedly centered around the conditions of those add-ons and bonuses involved, which could take the fee up to £69 million (The Guardian), with Gyokeres’ agent even agreeing to waive his fee to make this move happen.

Viktor Gyokeres has "chosen to go to Arsenal" with Man Utd rejected

The hold-up has prompted reports that Man United could mount a late hijack for the 27-year-old, and Fabrizio Romano even confirmed this morning that intermediaries have invited the Red Devils to make a bid of their own.

Now, journalist Duncan Castles has told The Transfers Podcast that Sporting are unhappy with Gyokeres’ conduct, informing the striker last week that he’s in breach of contract for refusing to train.

His lawyers defended against this by accusing Sporting of going back on their gentlemen’s agreement that Gyokeres could leave Sporting for a certain fee. So, there is a legal dispute apparently going on in the background, and the sense is now that Rui Borges’ side are attempting to make his exit as difficult as possible.

In some good news for Arteta, though, Gyokeres has “chosen to go to Arsenal” and will continue forcing through a move to north London, with United facing a brutal knockback if they decide to enter the race.

“There was a story in Portugal over the weekend that Manchester United had come in and gone over the top of Arsenal’s offer and that Sporting were very close to agreeing a transfer fee with Manchester United for Gyokeres,” said Castles.

“I’m told by sources at Manchester United that that’s not true, and also by people close to Gyokeres that it’s absolutely not true, and even if it were true, Gyokeres would not go to Manchester United. He has chosen to go to Arsenal, and he will continue to force that move.”

Gyokeres bagged 54 goals in all competitions for Sporting last season, leading the line in their charge for a first domestic double in around 20 years, but his memorable spell in Portugal isn’t about to end smoothly.

The spin-bowling consultant says the team is heading in the right direction and could start winning more away from home

Mohammad Isam15-Aug-2024

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushtaq Ahmed have a chat•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh’s spin-bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed says that Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim have lifted the team’s morale ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.”All the players are excited about the first Test match,” Mushtaq said. “Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim are the senior players. They are playing a positive role with the guys. I also give credit to the management who has been good with the players. The focus is on cricket now.”The Bangladesh players arrived in Pakistan on August 13 upon invitation from the PCB, after the BCB could not arrange a full team practice session with head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe due to political upheaval in Dhaka. Shakib reached Lahore on Wednesday and joined the team in their training sessions hours later.Related

T20 WC blues behind them, Pakistan and Bangladesh switch focus to red-ball cricket

Shakib and Mushfiqur: the yin and yang of Bangladesh cricket

Hathurusinghe on the protests in Bangladesh: I hope the students' questions will be answered

Bangladesh look to shut out the noise and find rhythm in Rawalpindi

Injured Mahmudul out of first Test against Pakistan

Before that, he was playing for Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the Global T20 Canada where he had an eventful week. He played a match on August 5, mere hours after the Awami League government fell in Bangladesh and the prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India. As a result, Shakib lost his seat in the parliament and was booed by fans during the game.He was then embroiled in controversy for not showing up for the toss in Bangla Tigers’ eliminator match against Toronto Nationals, which led to his team forfeiting the game.Mahmudul Hasan Joy was among several Bangladesh Test regulars to get some game time ahead of the Pakistan Tests•PCB

Mushfiqur is currently playing a four-day game against Pakistan A in Islamabad. This is a rare occasion when a Bangladesh A tour is connected closely to the senior team’s tour of the same country. Although the match has been affected by rain, it provided much needed game time for Mushfiqur, who last played a Test ten months ago. Other red-ball regulars – Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan and Hasan Mahmud – are also playing in this match.Bangladesh have only won one Test series of two or more matches abroad, against West Indies in 2009. But Mushtaq believes they could start winning more Test matches away from home.”A cricketer has to have basics and belief to do well at this level, otherwise he loses the battle,” Mushtaq said. “Skill-level looks after itself. We will give them the belief that you can beat anyone. Bangladesh is a good side. You saw that they challenged good teams in the World Cup. They are getting good fast bowlers. They are going towards a good direction. If they keep learning and keep believing in themselves, hopefully, they can start winning games outside.”Mushtaq also praised the Bangladesh spinners, saying they were eager to learn and quite receptive to his suggestions Legspinner Rishad Hossain has really levelled up under Mushtaq’s guidance and was the joint fifth-highest wicket-taker at the recent T20 World Cup.”The spinners are very mature. They are keen to learn. My role is to talk about tactical and technical things. You have to wait for the technical things for after the match. Tactically, you have to tell the spinners which angle to use, how to read the pitch, what pace to use, field settings for particular batters. You need reminders despite your experience.”Taijul [Islam] and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz are match-winners. They are a great bunch of guys. They are coachable people. They are good listeners. I am honoured to be working with them. Hopefully, I can make a difference for them.”

It’s no secret that Manchester United have fallen way below the high standards they’ve set for themselves this season, currently occupying a place in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The Red Devils are set for their lowest ever points tally and league finish of the Premier League era, with boss Ruben Amorim desperately needing to make changes next year if he’s to be a success at Old Trafford.

The forward line has certainly contributed to their recent failures, netting just 42 goals in their 36 outings, with Bruno Fernandes their current top scorer on just eight goals.

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have only managed to find the back of the net seven times between them, highlighting the lack of attacking threat within the current squad.

However, the upcoming transfer window hands boss Amorim the perfect opportunity to improve the situation, with a new talisman needing to be at the top of his list this summer.

United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

With the transfer window rapidly on the horizon, United have already wasted no time in pursuing potential targets to strengthen the options at the manager’s disposal.

The likes of Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha and Victor Osimhen have all been touted with a summer switch to Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the aforementioned trio.

However, another name has entered the frame in the form of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, with a potential reunion on the cards with Amorim, according to CaughtOffside.

The report claims that the Red Devils are preparing an offer for the 26-year-old Swedish international, who’s managed to register a staggering 52 goals in his 50 appearances throughout 2024/25.

It also confirms that Arsenal and Liverpool are in the race for his signature this window, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to avoid missing out on him to a divisional rival.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect alongside Amad

The Europa League final next week hands United a golden opportunity to end the season on a high, whilst also securing their place in the Champions League for 2025/26.

Amorim’s side must be fully focused on such an occasion, especially considering there is no longer anything to play for in the Premier League.

If they are to go beat Tottenham Hotspur for the first time this season and claim European glory, Amad Diallo will be a key reason, with his success this campaign nothing short of remarkable.

He’s registered 18 combined goals and assists across all competitions despite missing a large chunk of the year through an ankle issue, which required surgery.

However, he’s back and ready for action, with a fully fit 22-year-old a prospect to fear for any opposition, as seen by his contributions throughout 2024/25.

Such figures could fall perfectly into the hands of Gyokeres should he make the switch to Old Trafford, with his goalscoring tally undoubtedly improving the situation Amorim has on his hands.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in Europe” by Fabrizio Romano, has also managed to register 4.4 shots per 90, with 2.5 of which going on target – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.

Most combined goals & assists in Europe (2024/25)
Player	Games	Goals	Assists	Total
Viktor Gyokeres	32	38	8	46
Harry Kane	30	25	9	34
Omar Marmoush	31	21	12	33
Kylian Mbappé	32	28	3	31
Mateo Retegui	34	24	7	31
Victor Osimhen	28	24	5	29
Stats via Transfermarkt

He’s also created 2.1 chances per 90 to date, along with a 52% aerial success rate, handing the side an all-round option at the top end of the pitch, which could allow Amad to increase his own tallies.

It’s unclear how much the Red Devils are set to bid for his services this summer, but it would be a phenomenal piece of business that would see the talisman link up with his former boss.

Given the interest elsewhere, the hierarchy will have to jump ahead of the opposition and make him their number one target, with Gyokeres having the tools to thrive in the Premier League and take the club back to where they belong.

He'd be amazing with Cunha: Man Utd prepare £65m bid for "sensational" star

Manchester United could land a star who would be perfect alongside Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 15, 2025

Arsenal chiefs are now targeting an “all-round” forward, who arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for last summer.

Andrea Berta's transfer plans for Arsenal this summer

The Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, looks set to be a very busy man when the transfer window reopens for business.

Injury to Arsenal star stops Berta from signing two players in key position

The north Londoners had a potentially ambitious plan.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

Manager Mikel Arteta has already admitted that the club are set for a “big” summer after Berta’s arrival, and the Spaniard is “excited” by what could be in store.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s transfer plans ahead of next season.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.

“But it’s a big summer for many things, because first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then, obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with a host of players looking set to depart N5.

Neto will return to Bournemouth after his straight loan expires, while Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic after agreeing a pre-contract with his former club in the winter window.

Arsenal are expected to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko as well, and veteran midfielder Jorginho will be free to find a new club after his contract expires on June 30th – emphasising the need for new arrivals in key areas.

Thomas Partey and Arsenal are in negotiations over a contract extension right now, but a new midfielder remains high on Berta’s agenda, amid reports a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is close.

Arsenal are internally behaving like they’ve already signed Zubimendi, according to David Ornstein. Meanwhile, as Arteta’s side also reportedly chase new wide options, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is emerging as an option.

Arsenal targeting Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal are targeting Ramsey as a potential option, and a Villa Park exit for the 23-year-old isn’t entirely ruled out.

Ramsey has been a firm regular under Unai Emery this term, making 43 appearances in all competitions, where he’s predominantly featured on the left-wing. The Englishman could be a solid alternative to Gabriel Martinelli on that side, but Arsenal are not the only north London club to conjure up ideas about signing Ramsey.

According to The Times, Tottenham made a part-exchange bid for Ramsey, offering Villa £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso, but this offer was rejected out of hand.

Called an “all-round” player by ex-Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ramsey’s rumoured price tag stands at around £50 million, so Berta will have to pay a significant fee if he wishes to seal an Arsenal deal.