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It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to describe the last few years as being incredibly hectic for Chelsea.

The Blues have seen new ownership come, have spent an enormous amount of money in a relatively short space of time, and have been through their fair share of managers.

However, even though there have been more than a few bumpy moments in terms of performances and results, it looks like the team are finally on the right track.

Enzo Maresca led his side to a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and on top of securing Champions League football, led them to Conference League glory.

Following the Argentine’s impressive first campaign, the board have already backed him in a big way this summer, with the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens all making their way to the King’s Road.

The wheeling and dealing looks far from finished there, though, so here’s what Chelsea’s dream squad could look like if everything goes according to plan this summer.

The Goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez takes the gloves

While Robert Sanchez improved towards the end of last season, it would be fair to say that many fans would still like to see an upgrade signed this summer.

That seems to be the opinion of the board as well, with reports linking them with Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning shot-stopper Emiliano Martínez.

The Argentine, who won last year’s Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper, is reportedly also a target for Manchester United and could end up costing around £40m.

That would see Sanchez become the number two, and with Đorđe Petrović looking set to join Bournemouth for around £25m, Filip Jorgensen could be third choice.

Full list of goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen.

The Defence Chelsea add promising depth

Chelsea managed to produce the third-best defence in the Premier League last season, conceding just two more goals than Liverpool and nine more than Arsenal.

So, instead of wholesale change, they would be wise to trim the fat and add a couple of exciting prospects to the group.

Funnily enough, that seems to be the approach the Blues are taking, with Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga looking likely to leave, while Jorrel Hato could make his way to West London from the Netherlands.

Alongside the West Londoners, the “exceptional” Ajax gem, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been linked with a host of clubs and could be available for around £40m.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

It might sound like a lot to spend on a 19-year-old, but he’s already made 111 first-team appearances for the Amsterdam side, has six caps for the national team and can play as either a left-back or centre-back.

The young Dutchman probably wouldn’t start many games, at least not right away, but he’d be brilliant depth and help ensure Marc Cucurella isn’t played into the ground.

Full list of centre-backs: Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile.

Full list of right-backs: Reece James, Malo Gusto.

Full list of left-backs: Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato.

The Midfielders Chelsea add an exciting talent

Arguably, Chelsea’s most stacked area of the squad is the midfield, and there isn’t a whole lot that needs to be done there this summer.

So long as they remain fit, the incredible Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández will remain the first choice for the middle of the park.

At the same time, Andrey Santos and Roméo Lavia are excellent rotation options.

Moving up into attacking midfield and to the man who has to be the first name on the team sheet: Cole Palmer.

Appearances

96

Minutes

7770′

Goals

41

Assists

28

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

Minutes per Goal Involvement

112.60′

While he is capable of playing out wide and on the wing, he can have a far greater impact on proceedings as the most advanced midfielder, and with a tally of 41 goals and 28 assists in 96 games for the Blues, Maresca will want him where he can have the most significant impact.

However, the club appear to be after someone who can cover for the sensational talent, and based on reports, that player could be Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine ace had a very public falling out with Manchester United and was told he would be sold this summer, and one of the clubs interested in the £60m ace is Chelsea.

While it might not be a move that excites the fanbase, the Madrid-born international wasn’t too bad last season, racking up 11 goals and ten assists in 3568 minutes, and spending most of the campaign in attacking midfield.

In all, Chelsea have an incredible array of midfield talent, and the United star could be great depth.

Full list of midfielders: Cole Palmer, Alejandro Garncaho, Moises Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernández, Andrey Santos, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The Attackers Chelsea go huge on the frontline

Chelsea have already gone big when it comes to attacking signings this summer.

Delap cost them £30m from Ipswich Town, Pedro cost a cool £60m from Brighton & Hove Albion, and Jamie Gittens cost around £48m from Borussia Dortmund.

With all of that business in mind, plus the likes of Pedro Neto and Estavão looking ready for the new season, it makes sense for the club to be looking to sell a few players.

The most notable departure is undoubtedly Noni Madueke, who is set to join Arsenal for around £52m, but it also looks like João Felix could be on his way for close to £17m.

If the board can then get rid of Raheem Sterling as well, that would leave them with plenty of room in the wage budget to further bolster the attack, which seems to be the plan.

One of the names linked with the team this summer has been Malick Fofana, who has a price tag of around £50m.

The young Frenchman would be another signing for the future, but with a tally of 17 goal involvements in 41 games last season, he could still make an impact from the bench.

Finally, if Chelsea are able to amass their dream squad this summer, then they’ll surely get their hands on Hugo Ekitiké.

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker has been linked with a £85m move to Stamford Bridge this summer, and while that is a lot of money, it would be money well spent.

In 48 appearances last season, totalling 3644 minutes, the 23-year-old marksman scored a mammoth 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot.

Appearances

48

Minutes

3644′

Goals

22

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.17

In other words, the Reims-born dynamo whom journalist Graeme Bailey once dubbed the “next Mbappé,” averaged a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes.

Just imagine how dangerous he’d be playing in the same team as Palmer; that duo could be enough to fire the Blues into a title charge.

Full list of wingers: Pedro Neto, Estavo, Jamie Gittens, Malick Fofana.

Full list of strikers: Hugo Ekitiké, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea "close" to agreeing "excellent" player's exit after Thursday update

The west Londoners need to trim their squad.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 10, 2025

The 56-year-old will take charge of the franchise from the Global Super League, which begins on November 26

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2024

Mickey Arthur has previously served as the head coach of South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan•ICC/Getty Images

Rangpur Riders have appointed Mickey Arthur as their head coach. The 56-year-old will take charge of the franchise from the Global Super League, which begins on November 26. He will also be in charge of the Rangpur side during this season’s Bangladesh Premier League.Arthur has recently worked with the Dambulla Aura team in the Lanka Premier League. He is also currently Derbyshire’s director of cricket. Arthur has previously been the head coach of South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.”We have signed Mickey Arthur for the GSL and BPL this year,” Rangpur team director Shanian Taneem said. “It is a one-year deal. He will take care of us for these two tournaments this year. He is a great addition to our side. The local players are really excited to be coached by him. We have been in touch with Mickey for the last seven-eight days to build the squad for GSL and BPL. He is very active, always gladly helping us.”I think he is perfect for Rangpur Riders’ culture. He is a very friendly guy. He will be of great benefit for the Bangladeshi cricketers in particular. He has huge experience. He has already taken care of so many international sides like Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan.”Arthur has also coached in the BPL previously, with the Dhaka Dynamites side in 2015.

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers have signed India opener Smriti Mandhana for the upcoming WBBL.Mandhana is the club’s pre-draft signing and she will be playing for her fourth WBBL team after previous stints with Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder. During her season for Thunder in 2021 she hit 114 not out off 64 balls against Melbourne Renegades which is the joint second-highest individual score in the tournament’s history.Related

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• Chamari Athapaththu signs three-season WBBL deal with Sydney Thunder

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• Lizelle Lee locks in two-year deal with Hobart Hurricanes

Earlier this year, Mandhana captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the WPL title with the side coached by Luke Williams who holds the same role with Strikers.”I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers,” Mandhana said. “I’m thrilled to continue working with Luke. Our previous experiences together have been so rewarding, and I’m looking forward to building on that.”Strikers have been keen to bring Mandhana to the club for a number of seasons but last year she opted out of the nominating for the draft to manage her workload. She is expected to miss the first couple of matches due to an ODI series against New Zealand straight after the T20 World Cup but will then be available throughout, including finals if Strikers qualify in their bid for a hat-trick of titles.”Smriti is an exceptional talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Strikers,” Williams said. “Her technical skill, experience and strategic insights are a tremendous asset for us. I know firsthand the dedication and energy she brings to the team and on the field. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we drive for success in the upcoming season.”Strikers could further strengthen their top order at the draft on September 1 as they have retention rights for South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt. However, if Mandhana is allocated as their first-round platinum player they would not be able to use their retention in the same round.Strikers have also made a pick trade with Renegades ahead of the draft, handing picks 19 and 30 to Renegades while getting 22 and 27 in return. Strikers have pick 6 in the first round and 14 in the second.

WBBL pre-draft signings

Adelaide Strikers: Smriti Mandhana
Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk
Hobart Hurricanes: Lizelle Lee
Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews
Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine
Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr
Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu

Going in search of their next Tom Rogic, Celtic now reportedly have concrete interest in signing an attacking addition who’s valued at just £1.5m ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

Next Rogic could be key for Rodgers

During his time at the club, Rogic more than played his part to continue Celtic’s Scottish dominance and ensure that Brendan Rodgers’ first spell ended with a place in the history books. Now, in his second stint in charge, it’s clear just how much of an impact a player in a similar mould would have on the current Celtic side.

Appearances

272

Goals

46

Assists

51

Scottish Premiership titles

7

Scottish Cups

5

Scottish League Cups

5

A player who made his mark going forward in key moments, Rogic’s best work came when working under Rodgers, who was full of praise for the Australian during his time in Scotland.

The Celtic boss told reporters when Rogic returned from a spell on the sidelines in 2017: “He’s back in the squad. The magic man is back – what a player. He’s an amazing player. I think he can grow into one of the top midfield players in Europe.

“You saw him grow in the Champions League. You saw him against Manchester City and just purr at his quality. There was a big disappointment when he got injured because the week building up to it he was amazing. Top players know where there is space and he’s as good as any I’ve seen at finding space.”

Fenerbahce readying move to sign Celtic star who Rodgers called "brilliant"

The Bhoys could suffer a frustrating blow.

ByTom Cunningham May 28, 2025

Eight years on, Rogic is now retired and Rodgers is searching for his next arrivals at Celtic amid reports that the Bhoys have now set their sights on signing a 23-year-old star who has already been compared to the Australian.

Celtic interested in "Rogic-esque" Fallenius

According to Fotboll Direkt in Sweden, Celtic now have a concrete interest in signing Oskar Fallenius from Djurgarden this summer afetr sending scouts to watch him in aciton.

The winger reportedly cost the Swedish club just £1.5m in 2023, but that price is only likely to increase if they decide to sell their emerging star in the coming months.

Celtic’s interest should come as no shock. As detailed by Celtic Down Under’s – a Celtic fan channel in Australia – and X account UnDiluted, Fallenius is a potential “Rogic-esque” fit on the Bhoys’ radar.

The podcaster reiterated that whilst the Swede is not a like-for-like clone of Rogic, he does share some similar traits. The Australian’s greatest strengths came in his close control, powerful striking ability and creative vision. In comparison, Fallenius is similarly physical – standing at 5’11 and reportedly has a reputation for his skill and movement.

With that said and Celtic’s interest reportedly concrete, Fallenius looks set to be one to watch in the coming months.

Sunderland supporters have been seriously put through the wringer by their side in recent memory, with League One football even on the menu back in 2019.

But, all that agony and woe surrounding the Black Cats has been finally lifted courtesy of Regis Le Bris’ heroics from the dug-out, as the Frenchman proudly brings Premier League football action back to the Stadium of Light.

The hope will be that Sunderland’s emotional 2-1 win over Sheffield United will keep Jobe Bellingham around for a little while longer, amidst interest from elite sides such as Borussia Dortmund.

But if that is to be Bellingham’s swansong moment, he delivered yet another classy display for his top-flight-bound side from the middle of the park, alongside a whole host of other standout performers.

Sunderland's best performers vs the Blades

Before looking at the other heroes in Le Bris’ camp, Bellingham stood out once again as a key part of the young and promising Sunderland side.

The in-demand number seven would only misplace six of his 55 passes when offering the Black Cats calm through the middle on such a tense stage, whilst also winning six duels to display more grit and fight than an underperforming Sydie Peck for the Blades.

Bellingham wasn’t the only star who managed to show up for the big occasion, however, as Daniel Ballard put in another imperious display defensively when winning his own sizeable duels count of 11, whilst Eliezer Mayenda also shone when levelling the proceedings as a pacey option up top.

But, the main talking point afterwards was Tommy Watson’s last-minute winner, with the homegrown Wearside product capitalising on a lax pass by Kieffer Moore to fire home a stunning effort to seal Sunderland’s progression back up to the big time.

That was one hell of a parting gift from the 19-year-old hotshot, who is set to join Brighton and Hove Albion this summer for £10m.

Indeed, Watson is perhaps the club’s next Jordan Henderson as he goes on to potentially affirm himself as a Premier League regular with the Seagulls.

Why Watson could be Sunderland's next Henderson

Amazingly, Henderson was only one year older than Watson when his big move to Liverpool occurred.

He never looked back after waving goodbye to his boyhood club either, leading to the now Ajax man going on to make 492 appearances for the Reds, alongside winning 83 England caps.

Therefore, Watson will be aiming to follow in Henderson’s footsteps as an equally talented and promising starlet through the middle – albeit one who unfortunately does their best work away from the Stadium of Light.

After all, from only 24 first-team games to date, the 19-year-old is up to three strikes with the best left till last when breaking Blades hearts. To add context, Henderson would only power home two more efforts himself donning Sunderland red and white, even from 55 more outings.

U18s

40

18

7

U21s

31

13

11

First team

24

3

0

The attacker’s blistering numbers for the Black Cats at both an U18 and U21 level also show off a prodigy ready for the bright lights of the Premier League, albeit now without his hometown side.

Still, everyone associated with Sunderland will be overjoyed that it was one of their own that got them back up to the promised land regardless of his next onward route, with Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson handing out an 8/10 post-match rating to Watson subsequently.

There will be a concern that Watson is only getting started and will be taken to new heights on the South Coast, much like Henderson managed at Anfield.

But, whatever does happen across Watson’s lengthy career to come, he will always have this moment of magic on his resume that took his boyhood employers back up to the Premier League.

Jobe Bellingham holds positive talks to leave Sunderland before play-off final

The Black Cats are desperate to keep hold of him.

1 ByHenry Jackson May 23, 2025

It was always going to be a tough ask on the type of surface the Australians have dreamed of all season, but it was still disappointing that the visitors capitulated twice

Andrew McGlashan at the Gabba26-Jan-2019They came hoping they could compete. In the end Sri Lanka were beaten in less than eight sessions at the Gabba. Given the history and conditions it was always a long shot even taking into account Australia’s own problems, but the capitulation was still a woeful performance.Sri Lanka’s run tally of 283 over the two innings was their second-lowest in Australia behind Darwin in 2004 and Melbourne in 2012. This wasn’t quite as bruising as the latter of those two contests when Sri Lanka’s second innings ended with only seven batsmen out, due to two being unable to bat and another having retired hurt, but it was a pretty brutal experience nonetheless.The batsmen appeared to have come through physically unscathed, but Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the rest of this series and the South Africa tour with a hamstring injury and Dushmantha Chameera has also picked up an niggle.Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson bowled exceptionally well, while Nathan Lyon was an excellent support act to ensure a below-par Mitchell Starc was accommodated. It left a crestfallen Dinesh Chandimal, who himself had fallen for scores of 5 and 0 in the match, short of answers.”Credit to the way they bowled. We don’t want to give excuses,” he said. “But we need to find ways to score runs. As I said before the game started our main concern was our inability to post a decent total in the first innings. That’s one area we need to improve.”Unlike in New Zealand recently, where their second-innings performances showed improvement in both Tests, this time it was even worse than the opening day as they folded for 139. Few gave them a chance of escape when the third day began, but they were hoping for a contest – instead it was done and dusted by lunch with Sri Lanka five down.Niroshan Dickwella shapes up to play the ramp•Getty ImagesWhile some were victims of fine pace bowling from Cummins and Richardson, there was a helping hand in a few dismissals and foremost among them was Kusal Mendis, who entered the series with significant expectations and the need to carry a batting order without Angelo Mathews, when he drove widely at Cummins and edged to slip.The captain himself had already gone, fending a delivery into the gully off Cummins, but Chandimal said he would be continuing at No. 3. “I used to bat at five because I had to take gloves as a wicketkeeper. [Niroshan] Dickwella has shaped up well. I being an experienced player need to come up the order and take up the responsibility.”Sri Lanka’s previous experience of facing Cummins had been just three T20Is back in 2017 in which only two of this team – Mendis and Dickwella – had featured. On the type of surface the Australians have been dreaming of all season, but had only really materialised before in Perth, it was always going to be a tough ask.In victory, Tim Paine graciously acknowledged the difficulty of conditions. “For Sri Lanka to come to the Gabba first up is really, really tough. It’s out of their comfort zone,” he said. “It’s hard for the Australians to come from the southern states to play on that wicket with the extra bounce. We expect Canberra will probably suit them a little bit better and we’ll have to be on top of our game again to beat them.”Canberra, hosting its first Test next week, will be an unknown for both teams – evidenced by Australia’s decision to call up the uncapped allrounder Marcus Stoinis – and Sri Lanka will be hoping for a surface where the bounce is more stump height than chest height. Even then, however, you wonder whether they can lift themselves after these tough few days in Brisbane.

Manchester United star Manuel Ugarte has revealed his relationship with influencer Georgia May Heath after months of speculation.

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Ugarte posts loved-up Instagram pictureFans have linked the pair togetherHeath previously dated Kylian Mbappe Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ugarte and Heath have been linked for months, since eagle-eyed fans spotted that the social media influencer had taken a photo in a room resembling one that served as a backdrop to a picture of the United midfielder. Now, the Uruguay international has posted a loved-up photo on Instagram, confirming that the pair are together.

AdvertisementGettyTHE GOSSIP

Heath has previously been linked with Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, as the pair were spotted having dinner together in Greece, when the striker still played for PSG. Neither of the pair ever confirmed the relationship, however, and it appears she has firmly moved on from that rendezvous.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ugarte and Mbappe were team-mates at PSG but the midfielder has struggled somewhat at United. He has made 29 appearances for the club but was on the losing side in the Europa League final as the club limped to a 15th-placed finish.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Ugarte will have to tear himself away from his new partner soon, as United face Leeds in a pre-season friendly on July 19.

Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for an “extraordinary” Real Madrid player, and an opening offer of £17m is in the works, according to reports.

City planning summer rebuild

Pep Guardiola has been tasked with replacing legendary Man City players in the past, and the manager has largely been successful, with Erling Haaland’s exploits since coming in to replace Sergio Agüero a shining example.

However, finding an heir for Kevin De Bruyne this summer may be the manager’s most difficult task yet, with the 33-year-old set to end his ten-year stint at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the campaign.

Not only is the manager tasked with replacing De Bruyne, but he may have to enter the market for a new right-back, given that Kyle Walker was shipped out on loan to AC Milan back in January.

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City are looking to strengthen their defence this summer, and they now have a new target in mind.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

Walker’s time in Manchester could be coming to an end, and the same applies to long-serving goalkeeper Ederson, with the Sky Blues actively looking for replacements, and they have held talks over a deal for FC Porto’s Diogo Costa.

According to a report from Spain, Man City have also made contact over a deal for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin (via Sport Witness), who could be on the move this summer, given that first-team opportunities have been limited this season.

City are keen on bringing in a goalkeeper comfortable in possession of the ball, and Lunin fits the bill, meaning they have approached the Ukrainian’s entourage, and a report from elsewhere has stated a €20m (£17m) offer is being prepared.

Bayern Munich are also interested in signing the 26-year-old, so there could be competition for his signature, but the report indicates the goalkeeper could be keen on a move to the Premier League.

"Extraordinary" Lunin impressing in Europe

Displacing Thibaut Courtois in the starting XI is always going to be a difficult task, but the 6 foot 3 colossus has impressed when given the opportunity, most notably making eight appearances en-route to Madrid’s Champions League triumph last season.

The Ukraine international was particularly impressive at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of the quarter-final, achieving a 9.7 SofaScore rating after making six saves from inside the box to keep Guardiola’s side at bay.

The towering goalkeeper was also lauded as “extraordinary” CBS Sports’ Nico Canot, and his performances for Madrid indicate he deserves to be a regular starter for a top club, rather than playing second fiddle to Courtois.

As such, Lunin could be a fantastic signing for City this summer, and it is exciting news they are now making moves to secure his signature, although it will be sad if Ederson leaves the club, given the major role the Brazilian has played in Guardiola’s success.

da betobet： Arsenal hold a serious belief that they’ve now signed a “world-class” player for Mikel Arteta ahead of next season, and they’re behaving like it is a done deal behind-the-scenes.

Arsenal's main transfer plans for this summer

da roleta： Buoyed by the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta, Arteta has already admitted that Arsenal are set for a “big” summer transfer window after the Italian’s appointment.

Related Arsenal demand major Thomas Partey concession in talks over new deal

The Ghanaian has arguably enjoyed his best campaign at Arsenal.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 25, 2025

A host of incomings across multiple areas of the squad are anticipated ahead of what is expected to be a busy debut window for Berta, with GiveMeSport recently reporting that £300 million could be spent on seven major signings.

As per GMS, Arsenal are believed to be prioritising a new second-choice goalkeeper to replace Neto, a full-back, new midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker. Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to be sold after falling down Arteta’s pecking order.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

While Thomas Partey is in talks to extend his Arsenal contract, Jorginho remains likely to depart when his contract expires, meaning the addition of a centre-midfielder is still pretty imperative before 2025/2026.

Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard’s long-term future is uncertain, as his contract expires in 2026, with Arsenal arguably in need of another winger who can provide Arteta with a quality alternative to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries have also emphasised the need for Arsenal to finally sign a prolific striker, so there is plenty to do for Berta. Indeed, Arteta confirmed last week that he wants Arsenal to bring more strength and depth into the squad, sending a subtle message to his director.

“Squad quality and availability. Without those two, we cannot compete in four competitions,” said Arteta on his Arsenal transfer wish.

“At this level, especially in this country, it’s impossible. The higher the quality, the higher the availability, the more chances, probability you have. After you have to do it. But the probability goes high.”

Arsenal "internally" behaving like Martin Zubimendi deal is "done"

One top target for Arsenal, as per multiple reports, is Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

They’ve been in negotiations over the Spain international’s acquisition for quite some time, with The Mail first reporting advanced pre-summer talks in January. Since then, the consensus has been that Arsenal are confident they can sign Zubimendi before June, while Marca journalist Juan Castro reported this week that an agreement appears to be struck already.

Now, the reliable David Ornstein has somewhat backed up Castro’s claim, stating that Arsenal are “internally” behaving like Zubimendi is a “done deal”.

This interesting update from a very credible source should fill supporters with confidence, as the feeling within N5 appears to be that it is inevitable the 26-year-old will finally make his long-awaited move to England, just a year after he publicly rejected Liverpool’s advances.

Called a “world-class” player by Tierney, during their time together at Sociedad, Zubimendi has been likened to Balon d’Or winner Rodri and played a key role for Spain in their Euro 2024 final triumph against England.

The La Liga mainstay is indispensable for his boyhood club, but it appears he’ll soon be waving goodbye if all goes to plan.

MatériaMais Notícias

da apostaganha： Desde o início da temporada, o Botafogo convive com um paradoxo que irrita a torcida. Por um lado, Luís Castro tem a manutenção da espinha dorsal do trabalho de 2022. No entanto, o primeiro trimestre da equipe deixou a desejar, sobretudo quando mediu forças com os principais rivais, ficando de fora das semifinais do Carioca. A meta era estrear bem no Brasileirão para recuperar a confiança também para a Sul-Americana.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Para triunfar sobre o São Paulo, era necessário encontrar o equilíbrio e quebrar um jejum de onze anos sem vencer em estreias na competição nacional. Somado a isso, o time tinha dois aliados importantes para o restante da temporada. O retorno ao Nilton Santos, que passou por reforma com a troca para o gramado sintético, e a presença da torcida.

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da fezbet： Sem Marçal, Luís Castro optou por escalar Rafael e viu o Alvinegro ter os melhores dez primeiros minutos do ano. Com intensidade e volume de jogo, a equipe entendeu que a bola aérea era o caminho, e Eduardo a colocou na cabeça de Tiquinho Soares para abrir o placar. Parecia que a grama sintética ajudaria o estilo de jogo em velocidade e que o Alvinegro construiria uma boa vantagem no primeiro tempo.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho e Eduardo marcam e Lucas Perri fecha o gol em triunfo do Botafogo pelo Brasileirão

Entretanto, a partir disso, o Glorioso voltou a oscilar e teve dificuldade em oferecer perigo. Com a bola nos pés, o time produzia pouco e só era efetivo quando recuperava o domínio e partia para o contra-ataque. Foram dois momentos completamente distintos dentro dos primeiros quarenta e cinco minutos. Indo da intensidade à apatia mesmo tendo a vantagem no placar.

Diante da queda de rendimento, a defesa do Botafogo voltou a falhar, e Calleri aproveitou. Para o segundo tempo, o português teria que fazer mudanças para encontrar o equilíbrio e perceber o ponto fraco do adversário. O lado direito do São Paulo era o mais frágil, com Rafinha dando espaço para Júnior Santos se infiltrar. Mas somente no etapa final o atacante finalizou com perigo, assim como Luís Henrique, que entrou na volta do intervalo no lugar de Gustavo Sauer, apagado no jogo, e explorou os lados do campo

Outro grande nome da partida foi Lucas Perri. O goleiro, mais uma vez, mostrou que irá brigar pela posição mesmo com a volta de Gatito Fernández. Duas defesas seguras que impediram uma possível virada do adversário e deixaram o Alvinegro vivo no jogo. Ao longo do ano, o arqueiro tem dado demonstrações de estar no auge de sua forma física e ser um trunfo do time nos momentos mais difíceis.

+John Textor fala sobre possibilidade do Botafogo contratar James Rodríguez

Ao perceber o caminho das pedras, o português lançou Matías Segovia para dar velocidade e incomodar. Mas foi novamente pelo alto que os donos da casa se destacaram e sacramentaram o triunfo. Víctor Cuesta achou Eduardo na área para, de cabeça, recolocar o time carioca na frente e trazer os três pontos em uma estreia de Brasileirão. Algo que não acontecia há onze anos, contra o mesmo adversário.

O triunfo é importante para dar confiança ao grupo que disputa três competições e sonha em alçar voos maiores no segundo ano de SAF. Luís Castro terá que trabalhar as oscilações e fazer com que a equipe tenha a mesma intensidade dos dez primeiros minutos, sobretudo em casa. Ao contrário da temporada passada, o foco é utilizar o Nilton Santos como alçapão e mostrar força diante da torcida não só com bom desempenho, como também com resultados.

Estreias do Botafogo nos últimos onze anos
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2012 – Botafogo 4 x 2 São Paulo
2013 – Corinthians 1 x 1 Botafogo
2014 – São Paulo 3 x 0 Botafogo
2016 – Botafogo 0 x 1 São Paulo
2017 – Grêmio 2 x 0 Botafogo
2018 – Botafogo 1 x 1 Palmeiras
2019 – São Paulo 2 x 0 Botafogo
2020 – Bragantino 1 x 1 Botafogo
2022 – Botafogo 1 x 3 Corinthians
2023 – Botafogo 2 x 1 São Paulo