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Celtic made no mistake when it came to reclaiming the Premiership title in Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in charge of the Hoops.

The Bhoys won 29, drew six and lost just three of their 38 league matches, ending the campaign four point ahead of their Glasgow arch-rivals.

However, one man in Postecoglou’s squad who didn’t play much of a part in Celtic’s title charge was left-back Boli Bolingoli.

With just two league appearances to his name in 2021/22 (in September and October), the Belgian only featured in a league matchday squad on one other occasion.

Now that the summer transfer window is on the horizon, it seems as though the Hoops have identified one potential transfer they could make which could push the 26-year-old outcast out of the club for good.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail (via Daily Record), Celtic are exploring the option of signing Velez Sarsfield left-back Francisco Ortega.

A product of the Argentina club’s youth system, the defender has gone on to make 97 appearances for the club across all competitions. In that time, the 23-year-old has scored one goal and provided 10 assists for his teammates along the way.

With 20 league appearances last season, the £3.78m-rated Argentine racked up the second-highest number of crosses (59) and tackles (31) at his club. This shows how dangerous an attacking figure he can be, as well as a capable defender without the ball.

Taking into account how Bolingoli has been away training on his own and how Celtic will reportedly be looking to get rid of him this summer, securing a deal for Ortega could be the best way to replace the unwanted Belgian.

Slammed by Neil Lennon for his “incredibly selfish” actions when he broke the government’s guidelines during the pandemic, Bolingoli’s next step would ideally be one which would see him leave the Scottish champions and join another club where he would be playing regularly again.

If Celtic find themselves calling time on the Belgian’s period at the club, going in for Ortega should definitely be in their plans before the next campaign kicks off.

In other news – Signed for £4.5m, now worth 70% less: Celtic had a huge howler on £9k-p/w “disaster”

Derbyshire see off home side despite season’s-best total led by 84 from captain Josh Cobb

ECB Reporters Network02-Aug-2019Derbyshire 184 for 4 (Reece 60, Madsen 59*) beat Northamptonshire 180 for 5 (Cobb 84, Rossington 50, Rampaul 3-17) by six wickets Wayne Madsen’s 28-ball fifty brought Derbyshire home in a superb chase of 181 to beat Northamptonshire by six wickets with two overs to spare at Wantage Road. It was Derbyshire’s highest total of the season so far and earned them a second win in this season’s Vitality Blast.Madsen arrived after Luis Reece had given Derbyshire’s pursuit an excellent start and immediately looked in good touch. He swept Josh Cobb’s offspin powerfully for four before flicking and pulling two boundaries off Dwaine Pretorius. Fifty-six were needed from six overs and Madsen, via two fielding errors, took Nathan Buck for three consecutive boundaries.He lifted Ben Sanderson down the ground for six to raise a half-century and slashed Faheem Ashraf for four wide of third man and finished with 59 in 31 balls.Reece had laid the platform. He pulled and then cut Matt Coles for boundaries at the start of the third over before whipping Pretorius for two sixes over midwicket in the fifth as Derbyshire made 52 without loss in the Powerplay.The opening stand took Derbyshire to 63 in the eighth over before Billy Godleman’s rather torturous 20-ball stay ended as he swept at Cobb and missed. Reece then lofted Graeme White to deep midwicket to fall for 60 as momentum swung back to Northants, only for Madsen to haul it back Derbyshire’s way. Alex Hughes’ slightly fortunate 21 in seven balls completed the job.Northants slumped to a third defeat despite Cobb’s fine captain’s innings setting his side up for their highest T20 total so far this season.Cobb began by slicing a catch to backward-point at the start of the fourth over, only for Boyd Rankin to overstep. Cobb miscued the free-hit over mid-off for two but found his touch in the fifth over that he took for 13 runs including a clean blow over the long-off fence. He struck a second six straight over Matt Critchley’s head in the ninth over and added a third, again over long-off, against Mark Watt to leave Northants 80 for 1 at half-way.Cobb’s fourth six was a giant pull over deep-square as Rankin returned and he reached an 18th T20 half-century, and first this summer, in 34 balls. He then slog-swept Hughes narrowly over deep-square and lifted Watt twice into the Wilson stand for sixes. But trying to swing away Ravi Rampual in the 17th over, found long-on after equalling his second-highest T20 score.Cobb shared 103 for the second wicket with Adam Rossington in 10.5 overs. Rossington pulled the opening boundary off Rankin in the second over before driving a second four through cover. In the final over of the Powerplay he lifted Fynn Hudson-Prentice over mid-on and then point for boundaries but his third in the over came via a slice of luck, edging a swing past short-third man.It pushed Northants to 50 for 1 after six overs – their most productive start to an innings in this season’s Blast. When Rossington fell, for 50 in 34 balls to a splendid return catch by Hughes, his side were well placed at 115 for 2 after 13 overs.Alex Wakely arrived to drill Watt down the ground for four, slam Hudson-Prentice over his head for six and pull Rankin backward of deep square in making 27 in 18 balls before being well held at mid-off in the final over. Coles then played a reverse-paddle sweep over short-third man for four as Northants reached 180 but it proved light.

The record books are already being rewritten by the USWNT at the 2024 Olympic Games, with Emma Hayes and Lindsey Horan making history.

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• Perfect start made to quest on French soil
• Comfortable victory enjoyed over Zambia
• Historic achievements for coach & captain

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States got their bid for gold medal glory off to the perfect start when easing to a 3-0 victory over Zambia. That game was over as a contest inside the opening 25 minutes, as Trinity Rodman broke the deadlock and Mallory Swanson scored a quickfire brace.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There are tougher tests to come in Group B, with Germany and Australia yet to be faced. Early momentum is being established, though, with confidence beginning to flow through a squad that blends youth with experience.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Former Chelsea boss Hayes is taking in her maiden competition at the helm, and has become the first USWNT coach to win her first major tournament match by a margin of three or more goals. Elsewhere, talismanic captain Horan is the first player to assist two goals in the opening 30 minutes of a tournament fixture – having teed up Rodman and the first of Swanson’s two efforts.

• WHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?

  The USWNT, who have not claimed an Olympic gold medal since the 2012 Games in London, will be back in action on Sunday when facing Germany in Marseille. They will remain at Stade Velodrome for a meeting with Australia on July 31.

With just two games left in the current campaign – and with Premier League safety long since assured – Newcastle United are likely beginning to turn their attention towards the upcoming transfer window as they look to build upon the positive early strides made in the January market under the new owners.

While it will be the potential marquee incomings which will grab the headlines in the coming weeks and months, consideration should also be made as to who could be moving on, with there likely to be numerous few casualties among the current squad.

Recent reports have suggested that as many as seven players could be ruthlessly axed by manager Eddie Howe ahead of next season, with one of those set to be Paraguayan playmaker Miguel Almiron.

Despite arriving amid much fanfare following his £21m move from MLS outfit Atlanta United in January 2019 , the 28-year-old has failed to truly ignite in English football, memorably waiting almost a year to net his first goal for the club in all competitions.

Things have not really improved since then for the £74k-per-week dud, who has made just 19 goal contributions in 121 games across all fronts for the St James’ Park club, with his lack of cutting edge proving an issue despite his admirable work ethic.

His stint in the northeast has also not been aided by controversial comments made by the player himself towards the back end of last season, in which he admitted that he wished he played for a team which “fights more”.

Now it would seem it is the £14.4m-rated man who is fighting for his Newcastle future under Howe, with the former Bournemouth boss already having the perfect replacement in the form of academy graduate Elliot Anderson.

The 19-year-old starlet – who has made just two senior appearances for the club – is set to return to Tyneside this summer after a dazzling six-month loan stint with Bristol Rovers in League Two, during which the teenager provided eight goals and five assists in just 21 appearances.

That tally included a goal and two assists in the final day thrashing of Scunthorpe, with the playmaker netting the vital seventh goal in that 7-0 drubbing to clinch automatic promotion for Joey Barton’s side.

Such form has seen him dubbed “unbelievable” by Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, while former club scout Graham Carr insisted that the youngster is “like Peter Beardsley” due to his technical talent, also naming him the “best young player I have seen in a long time”.

Such high praise would indicate that the Magpies starlet is set for a bright future, and it is imperative that he doesn’t get lost amid the likely surge of incomings which seem set to arrive at St James’ Park in the coming months and years.

As for now, Howe and PIF must be ruthless in ensuring that they get the teenager in the first-team squad, with Almiron potentially being axed to free up space if needed.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker to boost their attacking options ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to ESPN, Erik ten Hag is monitoring the performances of Reims marksman Hugo Ekitike, and they have reportedly made an enquiry over the 19-year-old.

They could face a battle for him though, as Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move, and the player could be available for a bargain price of €15m (£12.7m).

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

Ten Hag could find the next Mbappe in Ekitike

With Manchester City announcing the signing of Erling Haaland earlier this week, that news would have come as a blow to United, especially given their prior interest in the Borussia Dortmund striker.

However, in Ekitike they could well have “the next Mbappe”, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, and this could well be music to the Old Trafford faithful’s ears ahead of next season.

With his market value currently sitting at £18m, almost 50% more than the aforementioned transfer fee, it represents an excellent deal and one that the Red Devils simply can’t let slide.

The 19-year-old has scored nine times this season and possesses a 33.3% goal conversation rate, which places him fifth out of all players in the top five leagues in Europe. This actually ranks above the likes of Haaland and Robert Lewandowski, illustrating what an immense talent he is.

In one sense, it may be wise for the teenager to remain in France for another season to continue his development. The new project at Manchester United under Ten Hag could go either way and it would be a shame to see a young prospect’s career being derailed if the club have yet another poor season.

However at the price quoted, it might be tough to resist for United, especially if they dither and allow rival suitors to nip in and sign Ekitike instead.

AND in other news, Man United plotting bid to sign “complete” £63m monster, he’d be their own De Bruyne

The quick bowler has matured through a series of injury setbacks and is primed to make a telling impact on the Ashes

Daniel Brettig in Southampton27-Jul-2019If Cameron Bancroft and Marnus Labuschagne were among the last players settled upon by the national selectors for this years Ashes tour, James Pattinson has revealed that he may well have been the first.The broad grin that appeared on the face of the selection chairman Trevor Hohns when asked about Pattinson’s return to Ashes ranks was perhaps the most spontaneous moment of an otherwise highly orchestrated squad announcement in Southampton, and Pattinson was himself able to outline how, as far back as the end of the Sheffield Shield final, that he was advised that he need only keep himself fit and keep bowling as he had done in recent months to assure himself of a spot.It was a revelation at odds with the tense way in which the 25 players in Hampshire were advised of how the squad had been cut back to 17, via 25 individual meetings with Hohns at the team hotel, but also spoke volumes for how highly Pattinson is regarded as a bowler of high pace, accuracy, hostility and movement both through the air and off the pitch. Having been robbed of a significant contribution to the 2013 Ashes by injury, his time looms now.ALSO READ: Bancroft, Wade and Mitchell Marsh earn Ashes call-ups“I feel like I have a lot to offer the Australian cricket team and that’s what I’m excited about,” Pattinson said. “I remember Cracker [Hohns] ringing me after the Shield final this year asking what are your plans? We want you fit for the Ashes. That’s when I knew I was a chance of getting back into the Australian set up and since then we’ve kept in constant communication about being managed. Knowing that you’re wanted and feel like you can make a difference to the team. I think I can do that given the chance.”When I have played for Australia I’ve made good impact. Being a bit older and wiser, knowing your game a bit better, I definitely feel I can impact Tests and not just that but influence players around me to try and push them on as well. I had a meeting about two months with JL [Langer] and Cracker when I got a contract and they said if I’m fit and bowling well then I’d be every chance of being in the Ashes. There was constant communication between myself and my county team and Cricket Australia about bowling loads because I knew how much this was a really important series so I didn’t want to burn myself out.”Pattinsons was just 23 years old six years ago when he bowled the first ball of the 2013 series at Trent Bridge, and made an impact with both the ball and the bat in a match Australia lost by only a handful of runs. But the strain of back-to-back Tests was compounded by a batting collapse in the first innings at Lord’s that had Pattinson bowling again within hours, leading to a tear that brought the fast bowler to tears and pushed him away from Ashes cricket for the next three whole series.James Pattinson gave Australia’s batsmen the hurry up•Getty Images

“Because I was in such a really good space going into that, when you’re 23 you don’t really think about too much you just crack on and do it all,” he said. “That’s the great thing about being young, you just do it and you don’t really worry about the outcome. For me, it was just a good experience to be involved in that series. I was bowling the first ball for my country at 23 so it was pretty exciting.”I came into that series in a really good space so to get injured was quite disappointing – it probably hit me harder than it has before. Even the setbacks after that, that one was probably the hardest one to take just because I didn’t think it was going to happen, I wasn’t thinking about getting injured. That’s the thing you learn, you know that when you get older the chances of getting injured are always there and you have to do rehab, you have to be really diligent with all that sort of thing otherwise you leave yourself really open.”The onset of maturity has been seen in Pattinson’s personal life – fatherhood for one – but also his bowling and his attitude to it. Looking at the abundance of pace bowling riches on offer to Tim Paine’s team, Pattinson said he had no qualms about being rested from parts of the series if it meant that the best bowlers for a given match and circumstance were on the park at the critical moment, reflecting on how his state coach Andrew McDonald emphasised the long game.”Realistically if you have a big workload and with my history with my back, backing up has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to do especially after bowling 50 or 40 overs,” he said. “I’ve been working closely with Andrew McDonald and the Vic physio since I’ve been coming and one his messages to me was ‘I want to try and get you to 35 and not 30’ and that’s something that really hit home with me, that I want to try and be around for the next six years and not one year.ALSO READ: How Wade became too good for Australia to ignore“I’ve been through all this surgery to try and do that. As big as an Ashes series is you have to think of it long term. I think it’s something a lot of people have been waiting for. Especially Cricket Australia, who has invested a lot into us a young fellas. We were all playing pretty much the same age group together and they’ve always wanted to have a lot of these bowlers up and running at the same time. They’ve got that now so it gives them a great choice of variety of bowlers. It also gives them the option of resting players. It’s five Tests with two tour games in six weeks then straight into an Australian summer.”James Pattinson appeals successfully for the wicket of Alex Carey•Getty Images

This is not to say that Pattinson has got here without hiccups. The coaches, selectors and sports scientists held their collective breath when Pattinson was briefly sidelined for Nottinghamshire by a side strain early in the county season, but experience of previous injuries helped him to manage the ailment successfully without letting it escalate.”It was a funny one because I didn’t feel anything bowling and woke up the next morning feeling a little sore coughing,” he said. “I had the same thing in the Big Bash and I decided to play the next game and I ripped it off the bone. If anything you can learn from your mistakes. That was a good one. We got it early and I missed a couple of games. For someone who has gone through extensive injuries and time off the field, you’re talking up to a year at a time with back injuries, those little injuries you can take them a bit better. That’s the bonus of being a bit older now – you know your body a bit better. If you get them early you could just miss two-three weeks like I did there. As I’m getting older I think I’m learning a bit which is good.”Learning has also applied to Pattinson’s bowling craft, as he underlined by repeating the mantra “good areas” multiple times when speaking ahead of the warm-up match in which he had the ball on a string through figures of 4 for 35 from 23 overs. “The best thing with international cricket and playing different teams is you’re exposed to all sorts of people of great quality, he said. “I’ve worked closely with a guy called Andy Pick who is a bowling coach at Nottingham who is really good.”I was over here in 2013 and picked up a few things there. I bowled closely with Stuart Broad for half a dozen games. You just learn by looking at those blokes and seeing how they go about it. A really big help for me is Sidds [Peter Siddle], who’s played a lot of cricket over here and done really well too. So to have him in the squad and players like that to bounce ideas off and communicate with is great.”The faith placed in Pattinson by the selectors is shown in how calm and quietly confident he appears, in contrast to the ebullience of his wicket celebrations. Pattinson, for so long the coming man, knows his time is now, and his place is right here. “I’m here now, I’ve got the chance,” he said. “I’m still 29 so the great thing was I experienced Test cricket at such a good age so it holds me in great shape now.”I’m not someone who hasn’t played before, it’s something I’ve done at a young age. I’m a bit more experienced having setbacks and going through a lot of emotions at a younger age it holds me in good shape a bit older and a bit more relaxed.”

Manchester City star Erling Haaland hilariously revealed that his dad Alfie "forced him to chop wood in the forest" to stay fit before pre-season.

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• Haaland went out of the way to stay fit
• Turned himself into a woodcutter
• Back at Etihad for pre-season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  While most of his clubmates were sweating it out with their respective national teams in the European Championship or the Copa America, the forward was preparing himself for the next campaign away from the public glare in the Norwegian woods. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Haaland showcased his summer training routine, which included chopping wood, hiking in the mountains, and meditating by the water.

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• @erling.haaland/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAALAND SAID

  Haaland is back at Etihad for pre-season duties and during a routine medical checkup, he humorously admitted that his father, Alf-Inge "Alfie" Haaland, who also played for Manchester City, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest, was behind this rugged training regimen.

  "Cutting woods in the mountains is the most Erling Haaland thing I've heard," remarked the cameraman, to which Haaland responded with a laugh, "My father forced me, I didn't have a choice."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for £52.1 million in 2022, Haaland has made a significant impact as his arrival has coincided with an era of remarkable success for the club. In the 2022-23 season, Manchester City achieved a historic treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and their first-ever Champions League title. This triumph was followed by a league title and League Cup double in the 2023-24 season.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Haaland is set to embark on a tour of the United States with City, starting with a match against Celtic in North Carolina on July 23. This will be followed by games against AC Milan in New York on July 27, Barcelona in Orlando on July 31, and Chelsea in Columbus on August 3. After returning to England, the striker will be in action in the Community Shield match against Manchester United at Wembley in London on August 10.

Sunil Narine, Mohammad Amir, Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez among confirmed overseas signings

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2021Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and Jason Roy are among the England men’s internationals who have been retained by their teams for this year’s inaugural edition of the Hundred, while Sunil Narine, Mohammad Amir, Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp and Mignon du Preez have been confirmed for overseas player slots.The ECB has announced another batch of more than 50 player retentions for its new competition, which was pushed back by the Covid-19 pandemic. The process for allowing men’s teams to decide whether they want to keep players selected in the original draft in 2019 will run until February 4, after which there will be a mini-draft to complete the squads.All players in the women’s competition had previously been given the option to roll over their contracts or negotiate with other teams.ALSO READ: The Hundred – full 2021 squad listsBairstow will remain with Welsh Fire, despite losing his place as the team’s centrally contracted Test player to Ollie Pope, where he is understood to have secured a top-band contract worth £100,000. He will play for the Cardiff-based team alongside fellow white-ball internationals Tom Banton and Ben Duckett.”I’m delighted to be staying at Welsh Fire and I’m really looking forward to representing the team this summer,” Bairstow said. “Ben and Tom are both excellent players and we’ve got the makings of a really strong line-up.”Malan, ranked the ICC’s No. 1 T20I batsman, has opted to stay with Trent Rockets on an increased deal after initially being drafted in the sixth of seven salary bands, while Roy will play on his county home ground with Oval Invincibles.”I was really pleased when Trent Rockets picked me in the men’s draft and it was a no-brainer to stay with the side,” Malan said. “We’ve got a really exciting mix of local talent and overseas stars and we’ll be aiming to bring the trophy to Trent Bridge.”In the women’s competition, South Africa’s Lee and du Preez have signed for Manchester Originals, Kapp stays at Oval Invincibles, and their compatriot Chloe Tryon will turn out for Lord’s-based London Spirit.”I’ve got some fantastic memories of playing in England both internationally and in the Kia Super League and I can’t wait to take part in the Hundred later this year for Manchester Originals,” Lee said. “It’s really exciting to be playing in a new competition and I think it’s a great opportunity to continue to grow the women’s game.”Kapp added: “The Kia Oval is a fantastic place to play cricket and I’m really looking forward to playing for Oval Invincibles there. We’ve got a great group of players and I’m hoping we can go all the way in the competition.”Other notable retentions include England spinner Kirstie Gordon remaining with Birmingham Phoenix, Narine staying at Oval Invincibles, and Amir and Mohammad Nabi sticking with London Spirit.

Player retentions

Birmingham Phoenix: Emily Arlott, Kirstie Gordon, Tom Helm, Benny Howell, Phoebe Franklin, Abtaha MaqsoodLondon Spirit: Mohammad Amir, Amara Carr, Aylish Cranstone, Jade Dernbach, Danielle Gibson, Mohammad Nabi, Luis Reece, Adam Rossington, Susie Rowe, Chloe TryonManchester Originals: Joe Clarke, Danielle Collins, Mignon du Preez, Alice Dyson, Cordelia Griffith, Hannah Jones, Lizelle Lee, Phil SaltNorthern Superchargers: Helen Fenby, Bess Heath, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam LythOval Invincibles: Megan Belt, Alex Blake, Eva Gray, Marizanne Kapp, Sunil Narine, Jason Roy, Rhianna Southby, Nathan SowterSouthern Brave: Lauren Bell, Alex Davies, Sonia Odedra, Max WallerTrent Rockets: Kathryn Bryce, Matthew Carter, Abbey Freeborn, Dawid Malan, Tom Moores, Steven MullaneyWelsh Fire: Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessy, Lauren Filer, Sophie Luff, Natasha Wraith

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had some genuinely world-class players represent them.

From the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp in the Invincibles era, to Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and their backline today.

However, the Gunners also have more than their fair share of cult heroes, such as Sunderland’s current captain, Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss international left Arsenal in the summer of 2023, but it looks like Mikel Arteta might have someone in his squad today who could be the club’s next Xhaka.

Xhaka's turbulent Arsenal career

It’s summer 2016, and after a reasonably impressive Euros with Switzerland, Arsenal opt to splash around £34m on Xhaka.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, while he certainly wasn’t one of the team’s worst players, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach ace was fairly underwhelming over the following few years.

However, given his experience, combative nature, and general personality, he was chosen by his teammates to become the club’s captain in September 2019, under Unai Emery.

It was a decision that would cataclysmically backfire just a month later, when, during a game against Crystal Palace, he was substituted off to a jeering crowd, to which he responded by throwing the shirt and armband to the floor and swearing.

At that point, it looked like his Arsenal career was well and truly over, but once he was appointed manager, Arteta was able to convince the fiery midfielder to stay and fight for his place.

Over the next two years or so, that is exactly what the Basel-born titan did, and finally, against all the odds, away to Brentford in September 2022, the fans began to sing his name once more.

The tough-tackling, all-action international had his best campaign in red and white that season, ending it with nine goals and seven assists in 47 games as the club launched a surprising title charge.

It would prove to be his final year with the club, but instead of leaving in disgrace like so many thought he would, the Swiss icon was serenaded by an adoring Emirates crowd as he grabbed a brace and said his goodbyes.

Now, two and a half years later, it looks like Arteta could have his own Xhaka-type player in his Arsenal squad.

Arsenal's new Xhaka

Now, arguments could certainly be made for either Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi becoming the next Xhaka for Arsenal, but instead, it’s actually Myles Lewis-Skelly.

It might sound a little out there at first, but there are a few reasons, such as the youngster’s natural position.

Yes, the teenager has played at left-back for the first team, but spent most of his time in the academy playing as either a defensive or central midfielder.

Moreover, when you watch him play, it is so apparent that he’s more of a central player, as not only does he have the spatial awareness and range of passing to thrive there, but he also has the carrying ability.

In fact, it was his incredible drive and assist for Gabriel Martinelli against Atletico Madrid that led one content creator to label him as one of the best in “world football” when it comes to carrying.

Furthermore, the 19-year-old has already shown the physical and mental strength Xhaka possess, and as Rice has pointed out, he seems utterly “fearless” on the pitch, regardless of the opposition.

Finally, in addition to the fiery attitude, the Hale End gem also has a wand of a left foot, and has already chalked up a few assists thanks to his weight of pass.

Ultimately, it is still so early in his career, but it’s clear that Lewis-Skelly shares some of Xhaka’s best traits and could become Arsenal’s new version of the Swiss monster.

Forget Dowman: Arsenal's "explosive" Hale Ender looks like another Saka

The impressive youngster could be the next Saka and the next talent off the block for Arsenal after Dowman.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 7, 2025

Kylian Mbappe is already proving his ‘Galactico’ status at Real Madrid, with the Blancos struggling to deal with demand for his new No.9 shirt.

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• French superstar heading to Spanish capital
• New shirt met with unprecedented demand
• Fans excited by arrival of World Cup winner

• Getty/Goal
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The World Cup winner is heading to Santiago Bernabeu as a free agent, having reached the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. He is severing ties with the Ligue 1 giants as the club’s all-time leading scorer, but with Champions League glory having proved elusive.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Shop Real Madrid 2024-25 kits at adidasBuy now

  Mbappe will be hoping to break that trophy duck after linking up with the current kings of Europe, with the 25-year-old ready to embrace a new challenge while still approaching his peak. His arrival in Spain is generating unprecedented excitement, with supporters around the world clamouring to get a Madrid jersey.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  On the opening day of sales, with it confirmed that Mbappe will be taking on No.9 for Real as Vinicius Junior already fills his favoured No.7 spot, the Blancos had to contend with an overwhelming surge – with sales far exceeding expectations.

• WHAT REAL MADRID SAID

  Real were forced to put out the following statement, with Mbappe’s instant popularity suggesting that he will quickly become a fan favourite: “Due to current high demand, items in this collection may experience a delay in delivery of up to 4-6 additional weeks, regardless of the shipping method selected. This delay will affect both orders exclusive to the Mbappe collection and those that combine products from the Mbappe collection with other products from the online store.”