Thomas Muller revealed his reasons for joining Vancouver Whitecaps after leaving a long stint at Bayern Munich.
Müller signs with Whitecaps after Bayern exitCites ambition, and clear plan as reasonsSet for August 17 debut vs Houston DynamoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern legend Muller has officially joined Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, bringing down the curtain on his legendary 25-year spell at the German champions. The 35-year-old forward has signed a short-term deal that will see him join immediately, with the option to become a Designated Player from the 2026 season. Muller is expected to make his debut on August 17 against Houston Dynamo, pending match fitness and final paperwork.
The Whitecaps, currently battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, have made it clear they’re aiming higher, and Muller’s arrival is a signal of serious intent.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT MULLER SAID
Muller shed light on the motivation behind his decision to join the Canadian club, making it clear in his monthly newsletter that the move was carefully thought out.
He wrote: "What I particularly like is that since the season is already entering its final phase, I'm getting straight to the point. My first minutes of play will probably be on August 17 against Houston Dynamo. The overall package just worked. From a sporting perspective, we/they are in contention for the title and are currently in second place in the Western Conference. The discussions with managing director Axel Schuster and coach Jesper Sorensen were really good from the start, I noticed they know where they want to go. Clear words, as you know, I've always liked that.
The 2014 World Cup winner also threw light on being present at the turf with old team-mates until recently: "To be honest, this doesn't feel as strange as you might think. I've known about my situation since March and have had time to adjust. I'm now happy that my next stop has been decided and I can continue doing what I love: playing football. In the last few days, I've met my old team-mates and shared some wonderful moments. It was relaxed, with no feeling of farewell or anything like that."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Muller’s move to Canada marks one of the most high-profile European arrivals in MLS history. While many stars choose larger US-based franchises, Muller’s decision reflects both personal and sporting factors, from club vision to lifestyle. Besides, the weather in Canada is also quite suitable for the Bavarian. It’s a major coup for the Whitecaps and a signal that the MLS continues to evolve as a genuine destination for world-class talent who still want to compete at a high level.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR THOMAS MULLER?
Muller is set to link up with his new teammates immediately and is expected to feature against Houston Dynamo later this month. With Vancouver firmly in the playoff mix, he could have a decisive impact on their title push. The club also has the option to register him as a Designated Player in 2026, a move that would further elevate his role as the face of their project both on and off the pitch.
لا يتوقف لامين يامال، نجم فريق برشلونة، عن إثارة أجواء ما قبل الكلاسيكو، بعدما لجأ إلى حسابه الشخصي بموقع “إنستجرام” من أجل استفزاز ريال مدريد بطريقة ما، قبل مباراتهما مساء الأحد.
ويستضيف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة فريقي ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، في الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26.
وأثار لامين يامال الجدل بطريقة واسعة، قبل يومين، بعدما أدلى بتصريحات هجومية ضد ريال مدريد، حيث قال عنهم: “يسرقون ويشتكون”.
ولم يكتفِ لامين يامال بذلك، بل نشر عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع “إنستجرام” مقطع فيديو، عبر خاصة ستوري، جاء به: “اللاعب الذي جاء الحي لا ينافس على الشهرة، بل ينافس من أجل المستقبل، لا يلعب من أجل الأضواء، بل يلعب ليتجنب النظر إلى الوراء”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ماركا: لامين يامال يثير القلق في برشلونة
وأضاف: “الضغط الحقيقي ليس في الملعب، بل في عيون أولئك الذين لم يتوقفوا عن الإيمان، وعندما يسجل، لا يحتفل لنفسه، بل لأن هذا الهدف يمكن أن يغيره ويغير عائلته وحيه”.
وتضمن مقطع الفيديو صورًا من مغامرات طفولته في حي روكافوندا، وأصدقائه، وزملائه، وعائلته، وهدفه في البرنابيو في الدوري الإسباني الموسم الماضي، واختتمه قائلًا: “تركت خوفي في حديقة ماتارو منذ زمن طويل”.
⏳ El vídeo que ha subido Lamine Yamal en su Instagram a horas de El Clásico pic.twitter.com/V8ZUU1F0WM — Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) October 25, 2025
كما نشر لامين يامال منشورًا ثانيًا، عبر “إنستجرام”، عبارة عن صورة احتفاله بهدفه في سانتياجو برنابيو الموسم الماضي، حيث تعرض حينئذ لصيحات استهجان من جانب جماهير ريال مدريد، وهو يشير إلى رقم قميصه ثم يدير ظهره، وذلك خلال فوز برشلونة برباعية نظيفة.
😁 Seguido de esta foto ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/jMCPsQ2ZwT — Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) October 25, 2025
Filling in as opener, Babar Azam had a good day with the bat but was left to ponder what could have been
Danyal Rasool06-Jan-2025Babar Azam found himself rooted to the crease in disgust. He couldn’t believe the shot he’d played after being set on a surface where there was limited threat from either the pitch or the bowlers. He must have thought he’d never make that mistake again, but two sessions later it happened.So, on a day where Babar scored two half-centuries, the bigger talking point surrounded his shot selection. Well set during Pakistan’s first innings in the opening session, Kwena Maphaka had bowled one well down leg side, and managed to coax Babar into tickling it through to the wicketkeeper. It has been a persistent issue with Babar – the strangle down leg. But then again, so is his manner of dismissal two sessions later when, in the dying throes of the day, he threw his hands at a wide delivery from Marco Jansen, and edged it straight to gully.Related
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Babar admitted the dismissals meant it was disappointment rather than relief that dominated his emotions. “I’m very disappointed with both innings. I started well, but didn’t finish well,” he said. “If you settle, you must go much bigger. That is why I was a bit upset. There were just 15 minutes left.”It was all the more frustrating because South Africa posed no danger of dismissing either him or Shan Masood, who scored an unbeaten hundred. Having sent down nearly a hundred overs across the two innings, their discipline over the last two sessions had been poor; they bowled 10 no-balls in 49 overs of the second innings. There was almost no swing or movement of the seam, and Pakistan’s openers appeared set to finish the day unbeaten, looking to salvage something after the disaster of the first.”The conditions here are different from Centurion,” Babar said. “When you come to South Africa, you don’t expect that [the pitch will be so flat]. With the new ball, it was a bit challenging, but once you settled down and built a partnership, it became easier. But there are some rough patches; you saw a couple of overs from Maharaj to Shan which got some turn and bounce. So the spinner is a bit of a challenge for the batter. But against the fast bowler, if you’re settled, just play your normal game.”There was, however, some relief for Babar. After about two years without a Test fifty, he had scored three on the trot, a run stretching back to the second innings in Centurion. However, all three dismissals were down to poor shot selection rather than bowlers working him out.”I should have capitalised during our partnership, but unfortunately it didn’t happen,” he said. “In the second innings, my partnership with Shan has helped us come back into the game a little. Tomorrow, we have to try and build a partnership, and the longer those partnerships are the more pressure there’ll be on South Africa.”But there is a bigger picture, one that his continued struggle of late has put him in a better position to appreciate. He is the highest run-scorer for Pakistan this series, and now has something every batter values: competitive time at the crease under his belt.”Things change in life all the time,” he said. “I learned a lot during this time [of poor form] when what I wanted to do I wasn’t able to do, and when I couldn’t do the things that people expected of me. I just kept telling myself to stay calm, and believe that my ability and hard work would be vindicated, and to try and enjoy myself. But what was really important was to spend some time on the pitch, and thankfully [that has happened this series].”
West Bromwich Albion’s drawn-out search for a new manager has ended with Ryan Mason now officially in the Baggies’ hot seat.
There is plenty of intrigue surrounding this appointment as the Championship side ditch the tried and tested approach of Tony Mowbray for something left-field and fresher, with the 33-year-old taking on his first ever head coach role having only once been a stand-in option at ex-employers Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
He will want to get down to business soon in the transfer market to begin to leave a lasting mark on his new side, with plenty of signings rumoured to be entering the building alongside the fresh-faced manager.
West Brom locked into talks with new striker
Mason could utilise those Spurs connections when adding to his Baggies squad, with North London prodigy Mikey Moore already being tipped to make a loan move to the EFL to expand his horizons, away from previous links suggesting Jamie Donley could call the West Midlands home shortly.
Further, it looks as if West Brom could win themselves a new deadly marksman in the form of Hearts’ goal machine Lawrence Shankland.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland.
Journalist Mark Hendry has now revealed that West Brom are locked in talks about bringing the prolific 29-year-old to the Hawthorns, as the Hearts captain increasingly looks more and more likely to walk away from the Edinburgh giants on a free transfer.
But, the Championship promotion hopefuls aren’t alone in their interest, with Hendry surprisingly adding that both Al-Ettifaq and Al-Wedha are sniffing around from Saudi Arabia.
How Shankland could be West Brom's best striker since Maja
If West Brom were to pip these outfits to the coveted signature of the Scotsman, they could be about to seal their best striker signing since Josh Maja’s addition, with the equally lethal attacker going on to be a golden purchase up top himself, considering he joined the ranks in 2023 on a free transfer as well.
Maja has endured difficult periods at the Hawthorns, however, with a mammoth 44 games missed through injury over the last two seasons.
But, when he’s fit, there’s a real lack of strikers in the Championship that possess the same clinical edge the Nigerian has in abundance, with the devastatingly effective number nine picking up 12 goals last campaign, despite only being fit enough to line up for 26 league clashes.
Shankland has also displayed a “ruthless” cutting edge – in the words of pundit Chris Sutton – throughout his celebrated spell on the books of Hearts, with this last-gasp goal against arch rivals Hibernian just one of many crucial strikes the Glasgow-born attacker has powered home for Derek McInnes’ men.
Having played up and down the various Scottish leagues across his goal-laden career to date, it does feel like the time is right for Shankland to test himself in a new and challenging environment, with the 6 foot 1 menace hopeful he can take to the pressures of the Hawthorns in his stride, much like Maja did when taking the plunge two years ago.
Shankland’s G/A record for Hearts by season
Season
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
24/25
43
9
11
23/24
47
31
8
22/23
47
28
4
Sourced by Transfermarkt
After all, before his return to England, the ex-Sunderland forward had begun to garner his own reputation for being a reliable source of goals when leading the line for Bordeaux, with 29 goals tallied up from 93 appearances.
Therefore, when assessing Shankland’s monstrous total of 68 strikes from 137 contests for Hearts, he should find his shooting boots are an equally uncomplicated find in the EFL’s elite league.
Lawrence Shankland
Mason would love to welcome in Shankland then as one of his first signings, with the 33-year-old no doubt crying out for a potent forward line to help his new side instantly gun for promotion.
Mason can sign West Brom's next Fellows in young star who's like "Neymar"
Ryan Mason would love to welcome this stunning star to this brand-new West Bromwich Albion squad.
Jasprit Bumrah struck with the last ball of the day after India were bowled out for 185
Deivarayan Muthu03-Jan-2025
Scott Boland finished with figures of 4 for 31 in 20 overs•Getty Images
Australia 9 for 1 (Bumrah 1-7) trail India185 (Pant 40, Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49, Cummins 2-37) by 176 runs Off-field chaos swirled around India in the lead-up to the Sydney Test. Their on-field batting performance on the opening day in Sydney was just as chaotic after Rohit Sharma dropped himself in a nearly unprecedented move in Indian cricket and Jasprit Bumrah took over as captain. After Bumrah chose to bat, India struggled in the face of relentless bowling from Australia and were eventually dismissed for 185, just before close of play.Bumrah produced the final twist when he got rid of Usman Khawaja off the last ball of the day, and Australia went to stumps on 9 for 1.Related
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Rohit did the decent thing, so why cloak it in intrigue?
Scott Boland led the line for Australia, returning staggering figures of 20-8-31-4. His metronomic accuracy and mastery of length, with the new ball as well as the old one, was too much to handle for India’s batters. He hardly bowled a bad ball and kept generating sharp seam movement off a lush-green Sydney pitch that also offered variable bounce.Mitchell Starc had gone too full in search of swing in the first over while Pat Cummins erred on the shorter side with the new ball. Boland, though, located the perfect length in his first over and never veered away from it. He struck with his fourth ball when he put one on a good length and got it to seam away to have Yashasvi Jaiswal nicking off to debutant Beau Webster at third slip for 10.Boland nearly had Virat Kohli out first ball•Getty Images
By then, KL Rahul had already been dismissed for 4, having chipped a leg-stump half-volley from Starc straight to Sam Konstas at square leg in the fifth over. Shubman Gill, who had replaced Rohit in India’s XI, started well but his innings was cut short at 20 when he advanced at Nathan Lyon only to offer a catch to slip off what turned out to be the last ball before lunch. Gill has reached 20 three times in four innings on this tour but hasn’t passed 31.Virat Kohli could have been out first ball, but he survived by the skin of his teeth. Boland had Kohli wafting an outside edge to second slip, where Steven Smith dived low to his right and appeared to have grabbed the ball close to the ground before somehow scooping it up to gully, where Marnus Labuschagne completed the catch. After much rocking and rolling, Joel Wilson, the TV umpire, deemed that the ball had touched the ground before Smith lobbed it to Labuschagne.Kohli then left the next ball and 16 more balls before Boland sucked him into nicking another one, with Webster holding onto this chance with his bucket hands at third slip. Kohli has been dismissed seven times in this Border-Gavaskar series and all his dismissals have followed a pattern: edging behind to the keeper or the cordon. It was also the fourth time in six Test innings that Boland had bested Kohli.Kohli had gone to great lengths to avoid this pattern – he had ditched his open stance for a more side-on one – but it proved unavoidable as he fell for 17 off 69 balls.Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja briefly repaired the innings with a 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket in 25 overs before Boland damaged India again, this time with a double-blow. He first had Pant splicing a pull to mid-on, and next ball he had Nitish Kumar Reddy, India’s hero from the MCG Test, caught at second slip for a duck. Boland was denied a hat-trick but remained a threat, nipping even the old ball off the seam from both over and around the stumps.Jasprit Bumrah ended the day with the wicket of Usman Khawaja and this glare at Sam Konstas•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Pant had played an unusually subdued knock, managing 40 off 98 balls. After having been caught on the boundary in both innings at the MCG – his failed first-innings scoop drew particularly severe criticism – he sat back and relied more on his defensive technique. In a rare show of aggression, however, he stepped out to Webster and launched him over the sightscreen for six. It was only the sixth boundary for India in 46 overs.The depth and skill in Australia’s attack meant there was no breathing room for India’s batters. Webster, the allrounder who had switched from offspin to medium-pace during Covid-19, put in a tidy shift, coming away with figures of 13-4-29-0, and his slip catching was even more memorable.Starc and Cummins then took care of India’s lower order. Despite battling back issues, Starc cranked it up to 147kph and discomfited India’s batters, using the uneven bounce to his advantage. He first pinged Pant on his bicep and left him with a bruise before knocking him on his helmet. Pant copped a number of blows on his body during his painstaking stay.Ravindra Jadeja’s vigil (26 off 95 balls) came to an end when Starc pinned him lbw. Cummins then wrapped India up for 185.Bumrah had some fun with the bat, clubbing his way to 22 off 17 balls. He had more fun with the ball when he struck with the final ball of the day. He celebrated it animatedly by spinning around and advancing at Konstas, the non-striker, who had been involved in a fiery exchange with him moments before Khawaja’s dismissal. The on-field umpire had to intervene to diffuse the tension.Bumrah and Konstas promise more entertainment on day two at the SCG.
When IPL 2021 kicked off in India, Iyer didn’t get a single game. Now, in the UAE, he has announced himself to the world in style
Hemant Brar14-Oct-20214:53
Manjrekar: This has been the most frustrating IPL
Who is Venkatesh Iyer?An MBA in Finance and a Rajinikanth fan, as he himself told ESPNcricinfo? Or a swashbuckling opener who has helped Kolkata Knight Riders turn around their IPL campaign? Or a medium-pacer who has been selected as a net bowler for India at the upcoming T20 World Cup?Of course, he is all of the above, but if Knight Riders’ mentor David Hussey is to be believed Iyer is a Stephen Fleming clone as well.
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That’s the adage the sluggish Sharjah pitches have given birth to in IPL 2021.Before Wednesday, the teams that scored more runs in the powerplay won eight out of nine games in Sharjah this season. The reason behind that being once the ball becomes a bit softer and the field spreads out, the run-scoring gets difficult, and whatever teams accumulate in the powerplay proves to be decisive.Watch the IPL on ESPN+
Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the IPL live in the US. Match highlights of Qualifier 2 between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).
Coming into Qualifier 2, both Delhi Capitals and Knight Riders were aware of that.After Capitals were asked to bat, Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw tried to maximise their team’s chances in the powerplay. They took them to 32 for no loss in four overs before Varun Chakravarthy trapped Shaw lbw with his first ball. Marcus Stoinis was sent in at No. 3 to fetch some quick runs but Varun and Lockie Ferguson didn’t let that happen, and Capitals could manage only 38 for 1 in the first six overs.After that, the Sharjah slowdown set in and Capitals finished with a below-par 135 for 5.Now it was Shubman Gill and Iyer’s responsibility to give Knight Riders a brisk start. Gill started with a cover drive off the first ball of the chase but after that, it was all Iyer. The left-hander swept R Ashwin behind square leg, launched Axar Patel over wide long-on and caressed Avesh Khan through midwicket. All done with so much ease and nonchalance.The jaw-dropping shot, however, came against Kagiso Rabada. Rabada didn’t have a great season but he is still Rabada. Iyer, though, jumped out of his crease as if he were facing a dibbly-dobbler in a domestic game. Yes, it was a slower ball but Iyer went through with the shot and dispatched it into the deep-midwicket stands.Despite Gill scoring only one boundary in the powerplay, Iyer’s assault meant Knight Riders were cruising at 51 for no loss after six overs. That was half the battle won.Venkatesh Iyer is pumped after his side’s victory•BCCICapitals coach Ricky Ponting said as much after the game. “The powerplays in both innings were probably the difference in the game. I don’t think we got enough in our powerplay with the bat. I think we were 37 [38] at the end of our powerplay, which was probably eight to ten runs short of where we wanted to be and what the par score is on this sort of wicket.”And then the conditions changed dramatically from the first innings to the second innings. Probably the first ten overs of their batting innings when they had a newish ball and the dew was on the ground certainly made batting look a lot easier. The opening stand today for KKR, I thought they did a great job and I think they’ve actually found a really good player there in Venkatesh Iyer. He looks like someone that could be a terrific player for Kolkata and maybe even India in the future.”By the time Iyer got out, he had steered Knight Riders to 96 in 12.2 overs; his 55 runs off 41 balls were as sublime as they could have been on this pitch.That left Hussey gushing about him. “He struck the ball superbly from ball one. Some of those big sixes he hit actually changed the tempo of the game and got us into a winning position. He’s just a class player at the top. He is tall, a Stephen Fleming clone, I believe. He’s got a big future in the game.”
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Iyer wasn’t a starter when IPL 2021 kicked off in India. In fact, he didn’t get a single game back home. But after coming to the UAE, he has scored 320 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 125; only Ruturaj Gaikwad (407) has scored more runs in this period. Iyer is also the only one to have scored a half-century at all three venues – Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi – in the UAE.Related
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At the post-match presentation, he was asked to compare playing domestic cricket in India to plying his trade against the who’s who of world cricket in the IPL.”There is no difference, I think,” he replied. “I have played the way I wanted to play and I am extremely delighted that the management has asked me to play that way. I don’t see any difference in what happened in the [Syed] Mushtaq Ali [Trophy], and the first-class, and what’s happening here. There is a bit more pressure but if you know how to handle that, this is a wonderful place for all of us to play cricket.”I think for the past couple of games I was restricting myself. I was just wanting to be there till the end. Then I realised that’s not me. In believing I will be there till the end, I was losing out on the present. So I was wanted to stay in the moment and convert bad balls into boundaries and once I got the momentum, I thought this the way I should go. This is the way have been playing in the IPL and I want to keep it going.”And what about his call-up as a net bowler for India? Is he pleased with that? “Absolutely but I am not thinking about it. There’s one more game to go and my entire focus is on that game. Of course, I got the news today but I really didn’t give it a lot of thought because [there was] a big match tonight. So I wanted to stay completely focused on it and that will be the case day after as well.”When asked if his days in a corporate job were over, Iyer didn’t wait for the question to finish. “Absolutely. I don’t wanna go back there.”He need not because he belongs here.
da 888casino： It feels as if things are finally starting to fall into place at Arsenal.
da leao： For example, Sporting Director Andrea Bertas has been able to secure new long-term contracts for Gabriel Magalhães and Myles Lewis-Skelly, but that’s not all.
He has also seemingly secured the services of Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga while also pursuing several exciting striker targets.
The forward who seems to be most heavily linked with a move to the club is Benjamin Sesko, and if recent reports are to be believed, Arsenal could be moving to sign someone who’d be a dream teammate for the Slovenian star.
Arsenal target Premier League superstar
Signing a new striker was always going to be an objective heading into this summer, as while Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are talented and useful players, neither has ever been, nor is likely to become, prolific.
The list of centre-forwards supposedly targeted by the club includes the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak, but the goalscorer who has arguably been linked most with the club, and therefore feels like the most realistic to end up in North London, is Sesko.
The RB Leipzig star was a target for the Gunners as far back as last summer, and while the German outfit is still holding out for a sizable fee, recent reports suggest that the 22-year-old could make his way to the Emirates for around £70m this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It would be an exciting addition to Arteta’s squad and one made all the better by the capture of another target: Eberechi Eze.
Yes, according to a recent report from insider Hand of Arsenal, Arteta was involved in direct talks with the Crystal Palace star’s camp on Saturday.
Talks have not been held directly with the South London side, and although there’s no mention of a fee, it has been widely reported that the Englishman has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract.
It wouldn’t be a cheap deal to get over the line, but given Eze’s ability and track record, it’s one worth pushing the boat out for, especially as he could be incredible alongside Sesko.
Why Eze would be a dream for Sekso
The first reason Sesko would love to play alongside Eze at Arsenal is incredibly straightforward: his output.
The Crystal Palace star has long been an effective player for the South London side, but in recent seasons, he’s really stepped it up when it comes to goals and assists, with this season being a particular high point for him.
For example, in just 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes, the “dangerous” playmaker, as dubbed by Oliver Glasner, was able to score 14 goals and provide 11 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, which for someone in a midtable side, is unreal.
Eze’s 24/25
Appearances
43
Minutes
3303′
Goals
14
Assists
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
132.12′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Just imagine what the Leipzig gem could do with a player as effective as the Englishman playing behind him or off to his left; he’d surely see his own goal and assist tallies soar.
Moreover, he’s not just stat padding against the weakest teams or in meaningless games, as the 26-year-old opened the scoring in the semi-final of the FA Cup this season and then scored the winning goal in the final, demonstrating exactly why teammate Tyrick Mitchell thinks he’s “one of the best players in the Premier League”.
The second reason that the Slovenian would love the former QPR gem is that he’s not afraid to do the dirty work when needed.
For example, FBref ranks him in the top 5% of attacking midfielders or wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for passes blocked and in the top 11% for ball recoveries per 90, which could free up the former RB Salzburg star to focus all his attention on scoring goals.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzeposes with the player of the match trophy
Finally, the fact that the Greenwhich-born dynamo can play as a ten or off the left of a front three should help him get more minutes with the Leipzig star and, in turn, build up more chemistry and a better understanding with him.
Ultimately, while it would be a lot of money, Arsenal should do all they can to sign both Sesko and Eze this summer, as together, they could help Arteta and Co finally get over the line next season.
Better move than Norgaard: Arsenal agree personal terms to sign £17m phenom
The exciting prospect could develop into something special at Arsenal.
Marc Guiu is expected to choose between Sunderland and RB Leipzig as he looks for regular first-team minutes away from Stamford Bridge.
Guiu weighing up a move to Sunderland or RB Leipzig
Chelsea only open to loan spell
Striker scored six goals in six UECL games last season
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The 19-year-old joined Chelsea from Barcelona last July for €6 million, but struggled for consistent game time in the Premier League, playing just 71 minutes. However, the Spaniard did enjoy a strong run in the Conference League, netting six goals in six appearances before a hamstring injury cut his campaign short.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
With Chelsea signing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer, Guiu is way down in the pecking order. The Blues, therefore, are open to a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge for the Spanish striker. The club will reportedly only sanction a straight loan with full salary coverage as they still see Guiu as a potential star.
According to , Leipzig are keen to bring in a young striker as they prepare for the likely departure of Benjamin Sesko, who is being linked with Manchester United and Newcastle. Meanwhile, newly-promoted Sunderland have made Guiu one of their top targets and are one of three clubs to have made formal enquiries.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chelsea's biggest signings in what has been a busy summer have been Brighton forward Joao Pedro, left-winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. However, they have already recovered almost half of that amount by winning the Club World Cup, where they are estimated to have pocketed £96m in prize money.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
The Blues continue to be active in the transfer window, with their next big target set to be Leipzig's midfielder Xavi Simons. They are scheduled to face Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in friendly matches before they kick off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 17.
da pinnacle： Aston Villa are in talks over selling an “incredible” player as their deadline to raise money approaches, with NSWE having till Monday to balance the books in an effort to avoid potential PSR sanctions.
da dobrowin： As per a recent estimation by The Athletic, Villa can only record a loss of around £15 million and stay in line with PSR for 2024/2025.
£120k-a-week Aston Villa outfielder has now opened talks to join elite club
He could leave with Emiliano Martinez.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025
As things stand, Unai Emery’s side are above that mark, and face the possibility of Premier League sanctions if they don’t source cash by the start of the next football financial year – which begins on July 1.
Villa are attempting to sell their women’s team right now in an effort to generate much-needed income, but if that cannot restore their PSR balance, or if they fail to agree a deal in time, then player sales are the next-best option.
Aston Villa Dream XI
Emiliano Martínez, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and Lucas Digne are among the Villa first-teamers linked with high-profile exits before the June 30 deadline, but they’re quickly running out of time.
The club’s president of footballing operations, Monchi, is reportedly working hard to secure a significant sale ahead of the cut-off date (Football Insider), but football finance expert Dan Plumley has reassured supporters there will be a limit in terms of who they’re willing to part company with.
“I still think even with a question mark over Villa and where they’re at with PSR, it’s unlikely that they will be desperate to sell a Watkins or a Rogers as an example,” said Plumley to Football Insider.
“I think if they are going to move players on, it’s probably going to be one or two of the fringe players on the squad. I think Villa would fight hard against that is what I’m saying.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
“And I think if a club’s going to look to do that, I could understand it to a degree, but I don’t see Villa trying to sell a Watkins or a Rogers quickly in the next few days for a cut-price fee.
“I think those are two players in particular that they’ll want to keep, and if someone’s going to buy those players, the premium’s going to be high.”
Instead, a far more viable option comes in the form of young right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Aston Villa in talks to sell Kosta Nedeljkovic
The 19-year-old, after being used sparingly by Emery over the first half of last season, was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig for the second part of 2024/2025, and the Bundesliga side are keen to sign him permanently.
That is according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who also reports that Villa are in talks with Leipzig over selling Nedeljkovic. The club possess an option to buy the Serbian for around £13 million, including add-ons, but Leipzig want to lower this cost by negotiating a new price.
Given the teenager appears out of Emery’s long-term plans, despite being called “incredible”, he’s a very viable candidate to help with Villa’s PSR situation – but Monchi won’t be willing to authorise too much of a cut-price exit.
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.
Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates
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.
Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United
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