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The co-hosts turned up the heat in all departments as Pakistan disintegrated at the finish

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Jun-20241:47

Is the Babar-Rizwan combo a cause for concern?

USA muzzled an experienced Pakistan top order, brought their hitters to heel, then produced a measured batting performance that tied the scores at 159-all.This forced the game into a Super Over, and here is when USA really seemed like the veteran team on the circuit while Pakistan went into high-pressure-meltdown mode.Related

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USA's Super Over smash and grab

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, bowled three wides in his Super Over, the US batters stealing another run every time, and Mohammad Rizwan conceded another extra run on an overthrow off the last of these wides.Thanks to the extras and other acts of fielding indiscipline from Pakistan, USA made 18 off their Super OverIf this already seemed a tough ask for Pakistan to better, Saurabh Netravalkar made their job even more difficult. He had been outstanding for USA in regular play, taking 2 for 18 from his four overs. His Super Over was outstanding too, as he conceded just one boundary.Thanks to four leg byes off the penultimate delivery, Shadab Khan had the opportunity to send the match into a second super over if he clobbered a six off the last ball. He could only hit it to deep point, all along the ground.The USA were jubilant, having taken down the biggest opposition they had ever faced. Pakistan, ahead of their massive match against India, had been subjected to one of their greatest World Cup setbacks. It’s not as if Pakistan had had it in their grip and let it slip – USA had actually been in control of this match for much of its duration.Saurabh Netravalkar picked up 2 for 18 in his four overs and came back to tie Pakistan down in the Super Over•ICC via Getty ImagesNetravalkar and Kenjige share five wickets
Left-arm seamer Netravalkar had Rizwan caught at slip – fairly spectacularly by Steven Taylor – to begin with, second over. Then, in the third, left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige had Usman Khan holing out to long-off, bringing Pakistan’s score to 14 for 2.Others would take wickets in between, of course, but these two would continue to impose themselves.Pakistan made only 35 in the powerplay, and Netravalkar bowled three overs for just eight runs in that phase. Kenjige came back in the middle overs and made crucial incisions, dismissing Shadab Khan, who looked the most fluent of Pakistan’s batters, for 40 off 25 balls, before getting Azam Khan first ball with a fast slider. All up, these two took 5 for 48 in eight overs between them.Netravalkar bowling the Super Over, and conceding just one four, was a bonus.Monank Patel made a match-winning 50 off 38 balls•ICC/Getty ImagesUSA measured in their approach
Although this would turn out to be USA’s first major act of giant-killing on the global stage, their measured batting performance gave no sense of being a bolt from the blue. Their openers were not parted for five overs, but they only made 36 together.Then the second-wicket partnership, between captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous, brought 68 runs in 48 balls, and formed the backbone of the chase.Monank provided most of the highlights in this partnership, making 50 off 38, hitting seven fours and one glorious six down the ground to get to his half-century, off Shaheen Shah Afridi. He was out soon after, but had left USA in a potentially winning position.Pakistan pull things back at the death
Even with Monank and Gous out with 35 balls to go, Pakistan still had to bowl well, with USA only needing 49. Naseem Shah, Shaheen and Amir shone through the death overs to leave USA needing 15 off the last over. Haris Rauf, landing his yorkers there or thereabouts, brought the equation down to 12 off 3.But then, Jones smashed a six off a low full-toss on the stumps, then with five required off the last ball, Nitish Kumar crashed a four over mid-off to tie the game.Super over mayhem
It was at this point, though, that the more experienced international team lost their heads, and USA kept theirs. Both teams hit a four each in their Super Overs. But Pakistan’s waywardness in terms of wides and overthrows cost them. USA won the Super Over 18 to 13.

Chelsea are continuing to work on their summer recruitment plans, even after the pre-Club World Cup transfer deadline passed at 7pm on Tuesday, with manager Enzo Maresca still able to add new players to his squad midway through the tournament.

How Chelsea can still introduce new signings for the Club World Cup

It was thought that the mini-summer window, which opened from June 1 to June 10, would be Chelsea’s only opportunity to strengthen ahead of their CWC campaign.

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It was, after all, why the window was introduced in the first place – to hand competing teams a chance to register new players after long and gruelling 2024/2025 campaigns.

However, as per Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol in the last few days, Chelsea and other sides taking part in the tournament will also have a unique registration period to benefit from midway through the CWC.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

From June 27 to July 3, just after the group stages finish, teams will be given the chance to add new players to their CWC roster – which allows Chelsea to introduce new signings who could take part in the knockout phase – if they indeed make it that far.

Chelsea missed out on deals for both AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens before the pre-CWC window deadline, with the west Londoners walking away from the former after refusing to meet Milan’s asking price.

Chelsea made three last-minute bids for Gittens as well, but none of them could satisfy Dortmund, who kept demanding more and more money for the English sensation.

It is unclear whether Chelsea will maintain their pursuit of Gittens in time for the CWC unique registration period starting on June 27, but they could perhaps turn to Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ekitike instead.

Chelsea in ongoing talks for Hugo Ekitike after pre-Club World Cup deadline

There are reports that Chelsea believe Ekitike could eventually rival Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, which is how highly they rate the Frenchman after his exceptional 22-goal campaign.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are maintaining talks for Ekitike, despite failing to sign him in time for the CWC, so he’s still very much “one to watch”.

“Chelsea and Ekitike remain in talks for the summer transfer window – but Liverpool are still in the race,” said Plettenberg.

“One to watch in the coming weeks.”

The 22-year-old is very highly-rated, with ex-Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder even calling him a blend of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, so Ekitike could well be worth the punt – but not for his ridiculously high price tag of around £84 million.

“I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappé. I sincerely think so,” said Sneijder.

“He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappé. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”

Liverpool’s mastery in the transfer market must leave rivals hot under the collar. FSG have their drawbacks, criticised for their frugality, but who can reasonably rail against their formula?

Arne Slot, though, has exceeded expectations this season, winning the Premier League at a canter, somehow replacing the irreplaceable Jurgen Klopp.

It’s frightening to think that Liverpool are now ramping up their transfer plans, rewarding Slot with a deep-pocketed transfer chest which has already led to the signing of Jeremie Frimpong, with his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz lined up for a reported British-record €130m (about £110m) transfer.

With a deal for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez also in the pipeline, Liverpool fans would be forgiven for indulging in fits of excitement: Slot and the powers that be are investing in a team ready to challenge at the highest European level for many years to come.

However, more is needed in attacking areas if the Reds are to do it all over again next year and keep Mohamed Salah, who turns 33 this month, on his A-game.

How Liverpool can keep Mo Salah firing

Last season, Liverpool won the Carabao Cup and restored their place in the Champions League after a wretched 2022/23 campaign, but failed to secure the biggest prizes.

Salah promised the Liverpool faithful he would put that right, and delivered on his promise by winning the Premier League under Slot’s wing, winning the clean sweep of individual prizes in the process.

It was, all in all, a rather good campaign for the Egyptian King, but there’s no question he was overburdened with responsibility at times, dragging his profligate teammates across the finish line.

Salah no doubt misses the seamless synergy that Jurgen Klopp pieced together when creating one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever frontlines, Salah joined by Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in turning Liverpool back into a superpower over so many years.

Premier League

38

29

18

Champions League

9

3

4

Carabao Cup

5

2

1

Now, Liverpool must reward their legendary veteran with new partners in the final third who maintain clinical rates of scoring, of supplying. Whether Salah will secure teammates on the level of Firmino and Mane remains to be seen, but FSG are certainly acting with the intent of achieving just that.

Slot driving ambitious Liverpool deal

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are considering ‘a fresh approach’ for Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon this summer, who is valued at around £80m.

Contacts were established one year ago when Newcastle fretted over ways to circumvent PSR, having failed to qualify for Europe. Liverpool were drawn to the possibility of signing Gordon, but in the end, Eddie Howe’s side found alternative routes to go down.

Now, though, it’s become clear that Anfield’s interest has remained intact, and while the former Everton star would not force his way out of St. James’ Park, a return to Merseyside to sign for his boyhood club would be a big temptation.

Why Anthony Gordon could replicate Mane at Liverpool

Liverpool released Gordon from their academy when he was only 11 years old, leaving him adrift until washing up at Goodison Park, where he made his name.

Newcastle paid Everton a £45m fee to sign Gordon in January 2023, and this was before he made genuine headway. Now, it’s understandable that the Magpies would want to bank nearly double that figure, and if Diaz is sold, Liverpool might just be able to make it happen.

Hailed for his “unbelievable” 2023/24 campaign by teammate Bruno Guimaraes, Liverpool’s interest came after a campaign that saw Gordon post 28 goal contributions across all competitions, earning Newcastle’s Player of the Season.

Despite winning the Carabao Cup and restoring his club’s place in the Champions League, the current season hasn’t been so kind to the England international, with injuries and suspensions disrupting the second half of the term.

The 24-year-old remains one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League, though, having pronounced himself a “nightmare for anyone” he plays against.

With levels still to scale as he makes improvements, Gordon might just be Slot’s long-term solution on the left flank, maybe even becoming Liverpool’s new version of Sadio Mane, with blistering speed and a dynamic danger to his skill set.

Last August, pundit Jamie Carragher actually tipped the Three Lions man to serve as Mane’s heir over on Merseyside, claiming he could make a “frightening” impact.

A player of such physicality and athleticism with ostensibly sharper weaponry than Diaz could certainly make a positive impact, striking a stunning partnership with the evergreen Salah, who will remain at Liverpool for at least two more years.

And if Darwin Nunez is sold and replaced by Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, with Liverpool locked in battle with Chelsea for the French forward, Slot might even have his own version of Firmino to complete a deadly new strike-force.

How to define Bobby Firmino? The Brazil forward was the glue which held Klopp’s iconic front three together, effortlessly brilliant and commendably selfless.

Mane and Salah were the goal-getters, but Firmino made it all tick, and given that Ekitike would join Liverpool as an up-and-coming Bundesliga talent, the similarities are clear to see, as Firmino arrived from Hoffenheim a decade ago for £29m.

Ekitike, 22, is a good goalscorer, having scored 22 times for his club this term, but he’s also so much more. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for assists and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Such quality would give Gordon an inroad to a new level of goalscoring success, especially with Salah shaping into one of the game’s superlative wide playmakers in recent years.

Liverpool have enjoyed tremendous success in Slot’s newly-crafted system, but with such signings, they could reach even higher, giving Salah a new attacking partnership for the ages.

A new Mac Allister: Liverpool set sights on signing "dangerous" £35m star

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be Alexis Mac Allister 2.0.

ByDan Emery Jun 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s pull in the transfer market, not to mention the finances available for crucial signings, have undoubtedly been boosted by their spot in the Champions League for next season, with chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team set for a very intriguing summer window.

Ange Postecoglou vows better Premier League finish for Spurs

Spurs confirmed their place in Europe’s most prestigious competition by reigning triumphant in the Europa League final last week, an historic night for both the club and under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham hold negotiations over signing 6 foot 5 defender in last few days

The Europa League champions are making their first moves of the transfer window.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 26, 2025

Domestically, Spurs finished one place outside the relegation zone in 17th, breaking their all-time record for most Premier League defeats in a single campaign, and this has resulted in a major dilemma for Levy when it comes to deciding Postecoglou’s long-term future.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Their Europa League triumph represents a significant milestone for the north Londoners, who ended their 17-year wait for silverware and secured their first European trophy since 1984, with Postecoglou highly suggesting that he wants to stay at Tottenham during their trophy parade last week.

The final call on that won’t rest with the Australian, though, who also vowed to put Spurs in a much stronger position domestically if he’s given the chance next term.

“From my perspective, I made decisions that I felt were giving us the best chance of achieving the goal we needed to achieve this year and that has affected our league form,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Brighton on the final day.

“If people don’t want to take that into account, then there is nothing I can say to explain it any better than that.

“I came to the club and we had finished eighth. I didn’t take over a club that had finished second. They had no European football to speak of. Lost the one player who probably guarantees you European football. That was my starting point. At the end of two years, I’ve got the club a trophy it has been crying out for, Champions League football, we finished fifth last year. Either people are saying ‘last year it was a huge anomaly for us to finish fifth or this is what we deliver right.’

“I have got no doubt next year we will be in a much stronger position, challenging for the top places.”

If Postecoglou does stay for 2025/2026, there is little denying he needs to be backed in the transfer market with Tottenham’s newly-found Champions League riches this summer.

Pundit convinced Angel Gomes wants to join Tottenham

Injuries left Postecoglou hamstrung at various points over the course of 24/25, emphasising the need for Spurs to strengthen across the board.

Their greater pull could also help them to land Europe’s most coveted free agents, like England international midfielder Angel Gomes, who is set to leave Lille when his contract expires on June 30.

Tottenham have been tipped as one of the favourites to sign Gomes on a free this summer, with pundit John Wenham telling Tottenham News that he’s convinced the 24-year-old would jump at the chance to join Postecoglou’s side.

“Tottenham are going to be playing in the Champions League next season,” Wenham said.

“Therefore, when it comes to the pecking order of options Gomes has, I’m sure that Tottenham would be near the top of the list if they were to make an offer.

“I’m sure Gomes wants to come to Tottenham and live in London and play Champions League football with the current Europa League holders. As a result, I’m sure a decision will be made on that soon.”

The former Man United gem has impressed in Ligue 1 since his switch there in 2020, so much so that he was awarded his first call-ups to the Three Lions squad late last year.

He could be an astute option to reinforce Tottenham’s midfield, which was left desperately short at points last season and crippled their chances of success.

Manchester United will desperately need to land new attacking talent this summer, as seen by their recent moves in the market, which has led to a deal for Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian has been on their radar over the last few months, but a deal seems to be edging closer after Fabrizio Romano confirmed the club had struck a deal with the fellow Premier League outfit Wolverhamtpon Wanderers.

However, further reinforcements are likely needed, especially when considering the side only registered 44 goals in their 38 league outings this campaign.

Such a tally is the fifth-lowest in the division, with all the teams within the bottom three and Everton the only teams to manage fewer, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly league standing.

Ruben Amorim has wasted no time in pursuing other options, with countless players on the Red Devils’ radar ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Striker Liam Delap has been firmly on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially a bargain given his tally of 12 goals this campaign.

The 22-year-old has reportedly agreed personal terms over a switch to Old Trafford, looking to fend off any interest from fellow Premier League outfits Chelsea and Everton.

However, he’s not the only name on their shortlist this summer, with a move for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha now edging closer to completion. Reports on Tuesday evening noted that United have met the conditions required to prise him away from Wolves and the player has been given permission to undergo a medical.

An exciting option once that deal is done could well be Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that talks have already been held over a move for the 22-year-old Frenchman, who has registered 22 goals and 12 assists throughout 2024/25.

It also states that the Red Devils are preparing a serious offer for his signature, but it remains to be seen how much they would bid for his services given his £84m price tag.

Why United’s £84m target would be Amorim’s own Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who every side in world football must wish they had their own version of given his goalscoring exploits over the last couple of seasons.

The Swede, who currently plies his trade for Newcastle United, has registered 27 goals this campaign – 23 of which in the league, which saw him finish second in the Golden Boot race.

Over recent months, numerous teams have been interested in a move for the 25-year-old, but have been quoted a fee in the region of £150m – highlighting how impressive he’s been at St James’ Park.

Given the nature of such a fee, it’s virtually impossible that the Red Devils could fork out such a figure, which has led them to pursuing other options in the final third.

Ekitike is one player who could be the club’s own version of Isak, with the Frankfurt star comparable to the Newcastle talisman on FBref based off their respective figures and also described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Frenchman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists this season, but he’s registered more shots on target per 90 – highlighting his clinical abilities in the final third.

He’s also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

Ekitike’s impressive figures don’t stop there, registering more shot-creating actions, along with more progressive carries per 90 – handing the players around him the chance to bolster their own tallies.

Whilst £84m may appear to be a small fortune for the striker, it’s a deal that would hugely improve the options at the manager’s disposal heading into 2025/26.

Should he manage to get anywhere near the levels produced by Isak in the Premier League, it would be a bargain and one that could push the side one step closer to a return to European football next season.

Man Utd now in shock talks to sign "unbelievable" £50m forward after Cunha

The Red Devils have now opened discussions to sign a forward, who amassed 29 goal contributions in the 2024/25 season.

ByDominic Lund May 27, 2025

West Ham United manager Graham Potter is now driving a move for a “sensational” Premier League player, who is now very high on the list of summer targets, according to a report.

Potter staves off pressure with Old Trafford triumph

West Ham remained winless in the Premier League throughout March and April, which ramped up the pressure on Potter, with the manager hitting back at the media amid the intense scrutiny over his position as manager.

However, the Hammers boss managed to relieve some of the pressure with an impressive victory on the road on Sunday, picking up a 2-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford courtesy of goals form Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.

The win moves the Irons up to 15th in the Premier League table, leapfrogging Man United and Tottenham Hotspur, but the poor results throughout the campaign suggest the manager will need to make major improvements to his squad in the summer window.

According to a report from Football Insider, Potter is particularly eager to strengthen between the sticks, with the manager keen on signing Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is now very high on West Ham’s shortlist.

New target: West Ham now preparing substantial offer to sign 45 G/A "beast"

The Hammers are willing to make a significant bid for a forward, who has been at the top of his game this season.

ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025

Alphonse Areola has been inconsistent this season, which means the Hammers are now looking to bring in a replacement for the Frenchman, and the £25m relegation release clause in Ramsdale’s Southampton contract makes him an attractive proposition.

However, there could be stiff competition for the goalkeeper’s signature, with Man United, Leeds United and Newcastle United also believed to be keen on a deal.

Ramsdale could be "sensational" signing for West Ham

Although they avoided the ignominy of recording the joint-lowest points total in Premier League history with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City last time out, it has been a terrible campaign for Southampton, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed long ago.

That said, the Englishman cannot be blamed for his side’s extremely poor season, having put in some solid performances, recently recording a 9.3 SofaScore match rating after saving two penalties in his side’s 3-0 loss against Aston Villa.

With Potter well-known for a possession-based style, the manager may also be keen to bring in a goalkeeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, and the 26-year-old is placed in the 92nd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year, when compared to other goalkeepers.

Having also been lauded as “sensational” by journalist Dan George during his time with Arsenal, there are clear signs that Ramsdale could be a solid signing for West Ham this summer, and £25m feels like a reasonable fee for his services.

Even after earning promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United could be about to lose one of Daniel Farke’s star men amid reports that Barcelona are now plotting a summer swoop for his signature.

Leeds celebrate title success

Whilst Leeds had reason to celebrate with or without the Championship title after earning automatic promotion, silverware simply added the cherry on top of what was a season full of moments to savour.

The open-top bus parade was for those who could not celebrate promotion in the 2019/20 campaign, and it more than made up for lost time as those in Yorkshire partied through the night.

Daniel Farke spoke about the pride that he has in his side after eventually coming out on top in the Championship, telling reporters: “I felt empty at the final whistle. I was too tired to celebrate. Even at half-time, it was complicated because I wanted to give the right message. I am proud to have achieved what we wanted to.

“Looking forward to being on the coach home and to close my eyes. I have to be ready again to celebrate this evening. Next week will be celebrating. I need the summer to recharge my energy.”

Agent aware: Leeds now serious about signing Ligue 1's best shot-stopper

He could replace Meslier.

ByTom Cunningham May 10, 2025

At some point, of course, the celebrations will come to an end, and that’s when the focus may well shift towards what is a crucial summer transfer window for all involved at Elland Road. Leeds must get things right if they are to stay up, and it looks as though the 49ers are willing to spend the money to do exactly that.

Whilst reports have centred around potential incomings, Leeds could yet lose one of Farke’s most experienced players when the summer transfer window arrives.

Barcelona plotting Junior Firpo move

According to transfer reporter Graeme Bailey, Barcelona are now plotting a summer swoop to sign Junior Firpo, who is currently on course to leave Leeds as a free agent at the end of June. Yet to sign a new contract, the defender’s agent has now reportedly held talks with a number of suitors, which may have included Barcelona.

Reporting on Firpo’s future, Bailey told Leeds United News: “He’s been speaking to numerous clubs, Spain is close to his heart. There appears to be a preference, I do know he’s had a lot more interest in recent weeks. Which is not a surprise, given his performances.

“There has been some interest in England, Everton, with Angus Kinnear and Nick Hammond. It’s down to Firpo, I am told he inching towards Spain. Barcelona have even looked at him as a no.2, Betis are there as well. It does sound like he’s heading back to Spain; his people have had a lot of talks.”

Hailed for his “tremendous” performances this past term, Firpo could now be about to take his talents to one of the biggest clubs that European football has to offer.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces the prospect of losing a player he “loves” this summer, with the Gunners star holding exit talks despite the club’s wish for him to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal players who could leave this summer

A host of players appear set to depart N5 this summer, but some won’t be major losses for Arteta.

£16m player now keen to join Arteta after holding talks with Arsenal

He fancies a switch to the Emirates.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

Left-back Kieran Tierney has been handed opportunities this season, partly due to Arsenal’s shortage of options at points, after looking as if he’d already played his final games for the north Londoners in 2023.

This time last year, nobody expected that Arteta would hand the 27-year-old a total of 17 appearances in all competitions, including a very rare Premier League start against Brentford, but these will be among his last outings for the Gunners.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Tierney is set to join Celtic this summer after agreeing a pre-contract in the January transfer window, and will make a return to his former club in July.

The defender could be joined by a host of his teammates in vacating Arsenal, including out-of-favour left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has struggled for consistent minutes throughout 2024/2025.

Arsenal will sell Zinchenko this summer in the event a suitable offer arrives, while veteran midfielder Jorginho is currently set to depart on a Bosman deal when his contract expires past June 30th.

Jorginho has an offer from Flamengo, according to Fabrizio Romano, so a return to Brazil is on the cards for him during these twilight years of his impressive career.

While Arsenal appear ready to let the Italy international leave, they’re not prepared to lose fellow midfielder Thomas Partey, who has impressed in his arguably best season to date.

Thomas Partey still talking to other clubs over Arsenal exit

The Ghana international has made more appearances this term than in any of his previous campaigns, putting his past issues with injuries behind him and proving a very useful member of Arteta’s starting eleven.

Partey helped to dominate Real Madrid in the last round of the Champions League whilst also filling in at right-back this term, to great effect, and his impressive displays have prompted the club to open talks over an extension.

While Partey will have to take a cut to his £200,000-per-week wages to remain at Arsenal, according to ESPN, there is a real eagerness to extend his stay beyond 24/25. However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, in a piece for The Boot Room, the 31-year-old is still keeping his options open.

Partey and his camp are actively in talks with other clubs as well, something which Arsenal are fully aware of, with the African putting contingency plans in place if an agreement can’t be reached over his stay.

Bailey adds that Partey is a player who “Arteta loves”, following on from the Spaniard’s public statement that the midfielder is a “massive” player for them.

Liverpool are going to win the Premier League. However, the charged feeling about FSG’s transfer window preparations makes a firm comment on the view toward the wider campaign.

Exiting the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain in the round-of-16 was a bitter pill to swallow, and the following defeat at Wembley to hand the Carabao Cup over to Newcastle United was more distasteful still.

PSG deserved to win against Arne Slot’s side, and so did the Magpies. However, the Reds will no doubt be frustrated that they failed to get those jobs done.

Liverpool need to reinforce the fringes of their first-team squad this summer, need to pack Slot’s team with more quality and depth across the park.

One of the priorities heading into the off-season is replacing Darwin Nunez at the front of the ship, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to leave Anfield and join Real Madrid, more midfield creativity should be targeted too.

Liverpool need more midfield spark

Make no mistake, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have been immense across the 2024/25 campaign, combining to lead Liverpool to the brink of a Premier League title, a job they will surely see over the line.

But autumn will arrive with a new footballing season and it’s crucial that tweaks are made to prepare Slot’s side for an expected title defence.

As you can see from the table below, Liverpool players are nowhere to be seen on the most amount of big chances created from Premier League centre-midfielders this season.

1.

Cole Palmer

20

2.

Declan Rice

16

3.

Youri Tielemans

15

4.

Bruno Fernandes

13

5.

Enzo Fernandez

12

5=

Bruno Guimaraes

12

7.

Mikkel Damsgaard

11

8.

Martin Odegaard

10

In fact, you’d have to trawl down to 12th to find Liverpool’s most creative midfielder: Szoboszlai, with nine big chances created. With Trent leaving, Mohamed Salah may well be tasked with upholding his enhanced creative virtues next year.

It’s times like these you wish Liverpool still had an attacking midfielder in the vein of Philippe Coutinho, the little magician, the brightest spark in a pre-Klopp world and the financial architect of Liverpool’s ultimate success of modern times.

However, goalscoring is still the Egyptian’s forte, and FSG would be wise to pack some more flair into their central ranks.

Liverpool make contact with new playmaker

Liverpool are set to spend, alright, and sporting director Richard Hughes seems to be putting out feelers to ascertain whether RB Leipzig would entertain the sale of Xavi Simons this summer.

That’s according to transfer insider Duncan Castles, who has revealed on the Transfers Podcast that Liverpool have enquired over Simons’ availability ahead of the summer market.

Simons, only 21, is one of the most exciting young playmakers around and would command a £60m fee for Leipzig, who are fourth in the Bundesliga, to agree to part with him.

Why Liverpool must sign Xavi Simons

Simons would join a strong Dutch contingent on Merseyside that has demonstrated a knack for winning trophies over the past few seasons.

Adding his own brand of creativity, it could be just what Slot needs to consolidate his new-found elite status and win more silverware during the 2025/26 season and beyond.

Leipzig signed Simons from PSG last year for a €50m (£43m) fee after a productive initial loan spell. So far, he’s doing good, having been involved in 41 goals across 72 games for the German outfit.

As per FBref, Simons ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for passes attempted, the top 11% for progressive passes and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90, emphasising the ball-playing ability that Liverpool would claim.

His data’s great, but watching Simons play should be enough by itself for Liverpool fans to subscribe to the notion of bringing him into the fold.

Silky and artful in his playmaking, the diminutive ace might prove to be Anfield’s next version of Coutinho, whose £142m sale to Barcelona at the start of Klopp’s reign acted as the spark to raise the team to the next level, for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were then brought in.

In his pomp, Coutinho was one of the best number tens in the world, commanding, influential and inventive. In Simons, Liverpool could finally return to the style of play before the Brazilian made the move to Spain, when he charged the Reds’ deadly frontline.

Looking at Coutinho’s statistics during that final half-campaign with Liverpool, you can see the similarities with Simons, both elite-level creators who aren’t afraid to get stuck in and drive the ball forward themselves.

Matches (starts)

14 (13)

21 (21)

Goals

7

9

Assists

6

5

Shots (on target)*

3.9 (1.2)

1.9 (0.9)

Pass completion

79%

84%

Key passes*

2.9

2.2

Dribbles*

2.8

1.3

Tackles*

1.9

1.5

Duels won*

5.6

5.4

While Slot won’t want to disrupt the harmony of Liverpool’s midfield trio, it’s clear that something different needs to be added to the mix, and there’s no one in the centre of the park currently who’s quite like Coutinho.

Described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, Simons has all the properties needed to serve at an elite level as Liverpool’s new creative force.

With Alexander-Arnold leaving, there’s going to be a vacant spot for such a playmaker, one who could dynamise the midfield and add that bit of depth needed to truly unlock another layer to this wonderful Liverpool team.

Worth more than Huijsen: Slot has hit the jackpot on Liverpool "monster"

Liverpool hope to employ this star for many years to come.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 18, 2025

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is said to be keen on selling a “world class” player to Newcastle United as part of a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali this summer.

Tonali open to leaving Newcastle this summer

Tonali has enjoyed an impressive season for the Magpies, helping Eddie Howe’s side win the EFL Cup, as well as making 31 appearances in the Premier League, looking to help them return to the Champions League.

That said, a worrying update recently emerged regarding the future of the Italian, who is thought to be open to the idea of leaving Newcastle at the end of the current campaign.

It has been claimed that the Magpies will be willing to listen to offers above £68.5m for Tonali’s services in the summer, which would bring an end to his two-year stay at St James’ Park.

That would be a big disappointment, with the 24-year-old such an influential performer for Newcastle in the middle of the park alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, but a new rumour has at least suggested that a swap deal involving a top-quality attacker could be on the cards.

Newcastle linked with a move for "world class" Vlahovic

According to TuttoSport [via Sport Witness], Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli wants to sell striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer, and Newcastle’s interest is referenced specifically because it could see Tonali head in the opposite direction.

The Serb’s agents want him to remain with the Turin giants for another year, but the club are believed to be looking to strike a deal for him before next season gets underway. As mentioned, Newcastle losing Tonali this summer would clearly be a setback, given his age and influence, but if a swap deal with Vlahovic did happen, the £320,000-a-week striker could be a great addition.

While fitting both him and Alexander Isak into the same team wouldn’t necessarily be easy for Howe, the Serbia international would be a real asset, being described as “world class” by journalist Siavoush Fallahi.

Vlahovic hasn’t had his most productive season in a Juventus shirt, only scoring nine goals in the league, which is perhaps why there is a willingness to allow him to leave in the summer transfer window.

That shouldn’t change the fact that Newcastle would love to have him, though, having scored 14 goals in 34 caps for Serbia, and 55 in 138 matches for Juve.

Newcastle expected to open talks to sign £40k-a-week Nottingham Forest ace

He has enjoyed a great season in the Premier League.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 20, 2025

Seeing Tonali stay put is still arguably more important, however, with the Italy international still having so many years at the top level ahead of him.