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Harry Brook is ever the straight-talking Yorkshireman. He will fly to New Zealand on Friday night to captain six white-ball internationals but knows that there is one question occupying England fans’ minds more than any other: when he returns home from Australia in January, will he bring the Ashes urn with him? His response: “I bloody hope so.”England’s recent record in Australia is dreadful, but their quiet optimism about this winter’s series has been reinforced by the revelation that Pat Cummins is increasingly unlikely to play in the first Test. Australia have played down the severity of his back injury, but Andrew McDonald conceded on Friday that Cummins is “running out of time” before November 21.Cummins’ absence would be a shame for the series, but can only be seen as a boost to England’s chances. Brook said that Australia have “a hell of a lot of good bowlers” who could deputise, but Cummins’ package of leadership, pace and skill is impossible to replicate and England know as much.”He is an amazing bowler and has been for many years,” Brook said at Thursday night’s PCA awards ceremony, in partnership with Toyota. “He bowls at high pace, with high skill. With him out of their side for the first game, from what we’ve seen, hopefully that plays into our hands… [But] we can’t take anybody lightly.”Related

• Harry Brook is going to the Ashes with a clear mind, but how will he fare there?

• Cummins says he's 'less likely than likely' to play in the first Ashes Test

• Brook named as Ashes vice-captain as Jacks wins recall

• Rob Key: Woakes 'not in England's plans at all' after Ashes omission

• Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

The series will be the biggest challenge of Brook’s career to date: it is his second Ashes series, but his first in the country where England have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests. He has built a remarkable away record – he has scored seven hundreds in his first 11 overseas Tests – but has only played in Pakistan and New Zealand, and will head down under with his eyes open.”I don’t know what I’m stepping into,” Brook said. “I know it’s a massive thing, but I’m still trying to get over that India series. That was awesome to be part of: to play 25 days out of 25 was mega. That was the most intense series I’ve ever been part of. If the Ashes tops that, I will be a very happy man.”It is obviously intense. I can’t even remember much about the 2023 Ashes, if I’m honest. It’s a very similar group of players that we’ll come up against: a very strong bowling attack and on home soil they’ll present different challenges. I haven’t had too much experience of the pitches out there, so I have to stay in the moment as much as possible and play what’s in front of me.”England’s series against India was the “most intense” that Brook has experienced•Getty Images

Brook’s experience in Australia is limited to a short spell at Hobart Hurricanes as a 22-year-old where he did “horrendously”, and a walk-on role (56 runs in five innings) in England’s T20 World Cup win three years ago. “I see white-ball and red-ball as completely different sports, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I’m going out there with a clear mind.”He started manically in his first Ashes series, hooking compulsively as England let a strong position slip at Lord’s, but played priceless innings in their wins at Headingley and The Oval to secure a 2-2 draw. His return of 363 runs at 40.33 featured four half-centuries in nine innings, and Brook played down the potential significance of scoring his first Ashes hundred on this tour.”That’s not something I really think about,” he said. “I want to be a match-winner. If the team is in a little bit of trouble, I want to get us out of it, which so far in my career I’ve done fairly well. If that’s getting 75 and getting us out of trouble for a little while and gets the team into a better position, I’d rather that than get a hundred and lose the game.”Brook’s captaincy experience in the white-ball team may yet be called upon in the Ashes•Getty Images

Another potential challenge for Brook in Australia is the prospect of captaining a Test match for the first time, after his appointment as Ben Stokes’ deputy. He described the role as “an honour” but does not expect to be called upon: “I see Stokesy playing all five Tests, if I’m being honest. I think he’ll power through, even if he has a little niggle.”Brook’s promotion means a return to the ranks for Ollie Pope, whose position at No. 3 looks increasingly precarious – even if Brook described him as a “vital part” of England’s side: “I dropped him a couple of messages a couple of weeks ago, talking about golf mainly. I don’t think he’s too bothered. He’s just happy to still be in the squad.”Stokes has not played competitively since damaging a shoulder muscle while attempting to bowl England to victory in the drawn Manchester Test against India; perhaps Brook’s biggest role as deputy will be to save him from himself: “Because he wants to bowl long spells, that can sometimes be to his detriment… Everybody in the world knows what he’s like.”

أجرى الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، منذ قليل مراسم قرعة الملحق الأوروبي المؤهل إلى بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، التي ستُقام الصيف المقبل في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك.

وتُعد تلك النسخة هي الأولى من نوعها بعد تحديث نظام كأس العالم، حيث يشارك 48 منتخبًا، من ضمنهم 16 فريقًا من قارة أوروبا، مع العلم إنه قد تأهل 12 منتخبًا بشكل مباشر، وتتبقى 4 مقاعد ستُحسم عن طريق الملحق.

ويشارك 12 منتخبًا في الملحق الأوروبي، وهم الذين تواجدوا في المركز الثاني في مجموعاتهم خلال التصفيات، إلى جانب 4 منتخبات عن طريق تصنيفهم في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

اقرأ أيضًا | نتائج قرعة الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026.. تحديد منافسي العراق والكونغو الديمقراطية

وتنقسم المنتخبات الـ16 إلى 4 مسارات، كل مسار يضم 4 منتخبات، بنظام نصف النهائي والنهائي، ويتأهل الفائز من كل مسار إلى كأس العالم.

وحسب قواعد فيفا، تلتقي منتخبات الوعاء الأول مع الرابع، والثاني مع الثالث، وهم ما تم اتباعه في القرعة التي تمت منذ قليل. مباريات الملحق الأوروبي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

المسار الأول

نصف النهائي: إيطاليا ضد أيرلندا الشمالية.

ويلز ضد البوسنة والهرسك.

النهائي: صدام بين الفائز من مباراتي نصف نهائي المسار المذكور (على ملعب الفائز من مباراة نصف النهائي الثانية).

المسار الثاني

نصف النهائي: أوكرانيا ضد السويد.

بولندا ضد ألبانيا.

النهائي: صدام بين الفائز من مباراتي نصف نهائي المسار المذكور (على ملعب الفائز من مباراة نصف النهائي الأولى).

المسار الثالث

نصف النهائي: تركيا ضد رومانيا.

سلوفاكيا ضد كوسوفو.

النهائي: صدام بين الفائز من مباراتي نصف نهائي المسار المذكور (على ملعب الفائز من مباراة نصف النهائي الثانية).

المسار الرابع

نصف النهائي: الدنمارك ضد مقدونيا الشمالية.

التشيك ضد جمهورية أيرلندا.

النهائي: صدام بين الفائز من مباراتي نصف نهائي المسار المذكور (على ملعب الفائز من مباراة نصف النهائي الثانية). مواعيد مباريات الملحق الأوروبي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

تنطلق مباريات نصف نهائي المسارات الأربعة المذكورة يوم الخميس 26 مارس المقبل، على أن تُقام مباريات النهائي للمسارات نفسها يوم الثلاثاء 31 من الشهر نفسه، وسيتم تحديد التوقيت في وقت لاحق.

With Arsenal flying high in the Premier League and looking imperious in the Champions League, the narrative from rival fans has been that the North Londoners are boring to watch.

Now, it’s undoubtedly true that set-pieces have been an essential source of goals for Mikel Arteta’s side so far, but the suggestions that the Gunners are unusually dull fall apart when properly scrutinised.

For example, according to FBref, they take the second most shots in the league, play the second most passes into the penalty area, play the most through balls, and take the most touches in the opposition’s penalty area, all per 90 minutes.

Moreover, while Arteta has his fair share of physical monsters in the side, he also has an abundance of brilliant technicians, including one player who’s showing shades of Santi Cazorla in his game.

Why Arsenal fans love Santi Cazorla

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have had plenty of brilliant midfielders play for them over the years, many who went on to win far more at the club than Cazorla did.

So, why is the Spaniard still one of the most beloved to wear red and white?

Well, there was that free-kick that started the side’s fightback in the 2014 FA Cup final.

There is also the fact that he played for the side during a rather barren spell, and so fans were desperate to see some genuine quality in the team.

However, while both of these factors certainly contribute to the high esteem in which the fans hold him, they remain secondary to the primary reason: his style of play.

The former Malaga gem was the epitome of an Arsene Wenger-type player, someone who was brilliantly effective yet also a crowd pleaser and a genuine magician on the ball.

The 40-year-old was seemingly able to do it all with a ball at his feet.

Ping a ball from one side of the pitch to the other? He could do it. Carry the ball through the middle of the park, beating four players in the process? Easy. Play the perfect defence-splitting pass to set up his striker with a one-on-one? Piece of cake.

Cazorla might not get the respect he deserves from rivals, but Arsenal fans correctly hold him up as one of the most entertaining players to grace the Emirates.

So it’s undoubtedly exciting to see one of Arteta’s signings begin to show shades of the Spaniard in his game this season.

The Arsenal star with shades of Cazorla

When considering who in the current Arsenal squad could be compared to Cazorla, most might look to Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, or perhaps even Eberechi Eze.

Chalkboard

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

However, while there are certainly arguments to be made for those three sharing some traits with the Spaniard, it’s Riccardo Calafiori who is showing shades of him in his game this season.

Now, the Italian obviously plays a totally different position to the former Gunners ace, but he still shares several similarities with him.

For example, and this is a negative one, the former Bologna star has had terrible luck with injuries since his move last summer.

In fact, he ended up dealing with six injuries last season, which resulted in him spending 175 days on the sideline and missing 30 games for both club and country.

Fortunately, the 23-year-old also shares a couple of extremely positive characteristics with the 40-year-old, including the freedom he is allowed on the football pitch and the incredible entertainment he brings.

While Arteta can often be quite regimented in his tactics and instructions with the rest of the team, it has become increasingly clear that he wants and allows the Italian to maraud all over and cause as much chaos for the opposition as possible.

This has become obvious from simply watching him play, but it’s even more evident when examining his heatmap from this season, which shows him popping up all over the place.

Crucially, though, the Rome-born “wild horse,” as dubbed by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, is making excellent use of this freedom, helping out attacks by stretching the opposition’s backline, popping up in the box and interchanging with his own attackers.

Amazingly, the £120k-per-week maverick has taken the second most shots in the league for the Gunners this season, and his underlying numbers only further show his attacking prowess.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goal-creating actions, the top 12% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Shots Total

2.11

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 1%

xG: Expected Goals

0.24

Top 4%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.24

Top 4%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.24

Top 4%

Goals + Assists

0.35

Top 7%

SCA (Shot)

0.35

Top 7%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.59

Top 7%

GCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 7%

npxG + xAG

0.29

Top 9%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 12%

Touches (Att Pen)

3.29

Top 12%

Assists

0.24

Top 15%

npxG/Shot

0.11

Top 15%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.35

Top 15%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

29.73

Top 18%

Ultimately, this combination of freedom to express himself and the ability to make the most of it is why journalist James Benge described Calafiori as “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” and why he’s the most Cazorla-esque player in Arteta’s squad.

Arteta can fix Gyokeres blow by starting Arsenal gem who's "shades of Isak"

The promising gem could be the perfect Gyokeres replacement for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 4, 2025

يعد جوليان ألفاريز هو حديث الساعة في أتلتيكو مدريد، وتتجه جميع الأنظار في الفريق نحو اللاعب ويخضع لاهتمام دقيق من جماهير النادي بشغف منذ انضمامه من صفوف مانشستر سيتي.

ويقدم جوليان ألفاريز مستويات رائعة ويواصل فرض موهبته الاستثنائية وتسجيل الأهداف، لهذا السبب فقد دخل في قلوب جماهير أتلتيكو مدريد.

وتحدث دييجو سيميوني مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد عن غياب ألفاريز عن قائمة المرشحين لجائزة ذا بيست في تصريحات نشرتها “سبورت” الإسبانية: “لست من يتخذ القرارات بشأن الجوائز”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ألفاريز يكسر صمته بشأن اهتمام باريس سان جيرمان وبرشلونة بضمه

وأضاف: “بالنسبة لنا جوليان ألفاريز لاعب بالغ الأهمية ومن أفضل لاعبي العالم وهو لاعب في فريقنا، لذا علينا أن نعتني به بشدة”.

وكان جوليان ألفاريز قد غاب عن القائمة النهائية للمرشحين أيضاً للفوز بالكرة الذهبية لعام 2025، ما أثار استياء الجماهير الأرجنتينية وجماهير أتلتيكو مدريد.

جدير بالذكر أن جوليان ألفاريز قد سجل 17 هدف وصنع 4 تمريرات حاسمة في الدوري الاسباني الموسم الماضي،وفي دوري أبطال أوروبا أحرز 7 أهداف وصنع أسيست واحد في 10 مباريات.

Things have gone a bit mad at Chelsea since Todd Boehly completed his £2.45 billion takeover back in 2022. The Blues currently have a whopping estimated annual payroll of £164,216,000, with the average Blues player earning more than £4.5m per season.

A clear out in the summer helped things a bit, as the likes of Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Ben Chilwell headed for the exits, however, the Blues still spent more than £250m on new signings for Enzo Maresca.

Football FanCast has ranked every Chelsea player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Rank	Player	Gross pay per week	Gross pay per year
1	Raheem Sterling	£325,000	£16,900,000
2	Reece James	£250,000	£13,000,000
3	Wesley Fofana	£200,000	£10,400,000
4	Enzo Fernandez	£180,000	£9,360,000
5	Marc Cucurella	£175,000	£9,100,000
6	Pedro Neto	£160,000	£8,320,000
7	Moises Caicedo	£150,000	£7,800,000
8	Cole Palmer	£130,000	£6,760,000
9	Joao Pedro	£125,000	£6,500,000
=10	Tosin Adarabioyo	£120,000	£6,240,000
=10	Jorrel Hato	£120,000	£6,240,000
12	Alejandro Garnacho	£110,000	£5,720,000
13	Jamie Gittens	£108,000	£5,616,000
=14	Mykhailo Mudryk	£100,000	£5,200,000
=14	Liam Delap	£100,000	£5,200,000
=14	Levi Colwill	£100,000	£5,200,000
17	Benoit Badiashile	£90,000	£4,680,000
18	Axel Disasi	£80,000	£4,160,000
=19	Robert Sanchez	£60,000	£3,120,000
=19	Estevao	£60,000	£3,120,000
=21	Marc Guiu	£50,000	£2,600,000
=21	Filip Jorgensen	£50,000	£2,600,000
=21	Trevoh Chalobah	£50,000	£2,600,000
=24	Malo Gusto	£45,000	£2,340,000
=24	Romeo Lavia	£45,000	£2,340,000
=26	Gabriel Slonina	£40,000	£2,080,000
=26	Dario Essugo	£40,000	£2,080,000
28	Andrey Santos	£35,000	£1,820,000
29	Facundo Buonanotte	£25,000	£1,300,000
30	David Datro Fofana	£15,000	£780,000
31	Tyrique George	£7,500	£390,000
=32	Josh Acheampong	£5,000	£260,000
=32	Leo Castledine	£5,000	£260,000
34	Jimmy-Jay Morgan	£2,500	£130,000

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Chelsea earners…

10

Tosin Adarabioyo

£120,000 per week

After securing the services of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham in 2024, Chelsea were able to offer the defender a big contract.

Those at Stamford Bridge handed Adarabioyo a four-year deal on more than £6m a year, and he has gone on to become a regualr under Maresca.

9

Joao Pedro

£125,000 per week

Chelsea splashed the cash on Joao Pedro early in the 2025 summer transfer window, with the Brazilian even able to jet out to the USA and play a part in the Blues’ Club World Cup triumph.

Pedro scored some important goals at the CWC and cost an initial £55m from Brighton.

8

Cole Palmer

£130,000 per week

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s standout signing under Boehly, going from strength to strength at Stamford Bridge after struggling to break into Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

Some may have questioned the Blues for paying £40m to sign Palmer, but he’s been the star man and was rewarded with a new extension to his £130,000 per week deal through until 2033 last year.

7

Moises Caicedo

£150,000 per week

Moises Caicedo is Chelsea’s second most expensive signing of all time after they pipped Liverpool to a deal back in 2023.

Arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in a transfer worth a whopping €116m, Caicedo looks set to play an important role over the coming years as he looks to justify that price tag.

6

Pedro Neto

£160,000 per week

Another big-money signing, Pedro Neto swapped Wolverhampton Wanderers for Chelsea in Maresca’s first transfer window to add yet another attacking star to the Blues’ ranks.

He starred at Molineux and was arguably their most important player when fit, and he’s been a reliable performer so far in London.

5

Marc Cucurella

£175,000 per week

Left-back Marc Cucurella is next on the list, picking up £175,000 per week. The Spaniard was another to swap Brighton for Chelsea and has had his ups and downs in west London.

He now appears to be first choice under Maresca, though, so he’ll be hoping to become one of the first names on the teamsheet while under contract.

4

Enzo Fernandez

£180,000 per week

Chelsea’s club record signing, Enzo Fernandez is only the fourth highest-paid player at Stamford Bridge, something which may surprise some.

The Blues did fork out a whopping €121m for the Argentine’s services from Benfica, and now, they’ll be hoping Fernandez and Caicedo can star in midfield over the coming years.

3

Wesley Fofana

£200,000 per week

On £200,000 per week is central defender in Wesley Fofana. Signed from Leicester City in 2022, Fofana has also had his injury issues at Stamford Bridge.

He managed just 29 Premier League appearances across his first two seasons with the Blues.

2

Reece James

£250,000 per week

Club captain Reece James picks up £250,000 per week. The right-back has struggled to stay fit in recent seasons but is under contract until 2028.

His injury history appears to be a cause for concern for the Blues, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with one of their top earners if he can’t remain fit.

1

Raheem Sterling

£325,000 per week

Top of the charts is Raheem Sterling, who actually isn’t in Maresca’s first-team plans at Stamford Bridge. The winger spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Arsenal, however, the Gunners didn’t want to make a move permanent.

Sterling is still under contract until 2027, picking up just under £17m a season with the Blues.

Calling the decision to allow 120 minutes’ extra time for the remainder of the IPL 2025 league matches as “ad hoc”, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have said that they might have still been in the playoffs race if such a provision were available right from the resumption of the tournament.On Tuesday, the IPL Governing Council approved the amendment of the playing conditions to allow an extra 120 minutes for each of the remaining nine league matches in a bid to complete full 20-over games in case of rain interruptions. Before that, the rules allowed an hour to be added beyond the regulation completion time (10.56pm for evening matches) for league matches and an two hours to be added for the four playoffs.In an email to the ten franchises on Tuesday, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin said the decision to allow the extra minutes was because “several matches are at risk of being affected by rain due to the early onset of monsoon”.However, KKR chief executive Venky Mysore questioned the timing of the decision and asked whether the amendment could have come straightaway once the IPL resumed on May 17 with a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs KKR game in Bengaluru, which was washed out. “While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in the way such changes are being applied,” Mysore said in his email.Rain had the final say at the Chinnaswamy in the RCB vs KKR game•Associated Press

The RCB-KKR contest was the first match after IPL 2025 resumed following the suspension on May 9 following cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. While fans filled up the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and paid a tribute to home team hero Virat Kohli, who had recently retired from Test cricket, there was no cricket as rain fell throughout the evening.Overs started to be lost from 8.30pm and, while the cut-off time was 10.56pm, the match was called off at 10.26pm as the drizzle never ceased. The teams got a point each, which meant KKR’s chances of making the playoffs were washed away.If the extra two hours were available in that match, Mysore said, there could have been a possibility of a five-overs-a-side contest. “When the IPL re-started, it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in [Bengaluru],” he said. “The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out but the additional 120 mins, now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5 over a side game.”The wash-out ended KKR’s chances of making the playoffs. Such ad hoc decision and inconsistencies of applying them are not appropriate for a tournament of this standing. I am sure you also understand why we feel aggrieved.”

Daniel Levy has brought an end to his 25-year stay at Tottenham with the announcement of his resignation as executive chairman on Thursday – huge news which came completely out of nowhere.

Since taking over from Sir Alan Sugar in 2000, Levy oversaw the transformation of Spurs from a largely mid-table side in the late 1990s to one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’, but his running of the club was also marred by protests from supporters over a lack of success on the field.

The Lilywhites are now one of Europe’s most valuable clubs — boasting a state-of-the-art new stadium and training complex — with Tottenham also the ninth highest revenue-generating side in world football, according to the Deloitte Money League.

World Football’s highest revenue-generating clubs — 2025	Value
Real Madrid	£1.2 billion
Man City	£727 million
PSG	£700 million
Man United	£668 million
Bayern Munich	£664 million
FC Barcelona	£659.5 million
Arsenal	£621.5 million
Liverpool	£620 million
Tottenham Hotspur	£533 million
Chelsea	£474 million
via Deloitte Money League

Off the pitch, Levy’s work deserves high praise, but just two major trophies in two and a half decades frustrated the fanbase.

The 63-year-old’s perceived lack of squad investment during his tenure also attracted fierce criticism, but ENIC’s decision to part company represents a “new era” for the north Londoners.

In the aftermath of Levy’s shock exit, questions are being asked about why this has happened now and so suddenly.

BBC journalist Sami Mokbel and other reliable media sources are reporting that the decision to part ways was ultimately taken out of Levy’s hands, with ENIC effectively pushing him out of the door.

Club insider Paul O’Keefe has also shared some intriguing bits of detail about the story.

ENIC plan "weakened" Daniel Levy's grip on Tottenham before resignation

Taking to X, Spurs in-the-know claims that ENIC’s plan to get properly involved — namely through Lewis’ kids Vivienne and Charlie — is said to have “weakened” Levy’s “vice-like grip” on Tottenham before he was forced out.

ENIC appear set for a more hands-on role in the wake of Levy’s departure, and in that sense, a new era certainly has begun at Tottenham.

Their controversial ownership hasn’t exactly been popular among Spurs supporters, but time will tell whether they manage to turn the tide when it comes to public perception.

For Levy, the ex-official and his family are still a beneficiary of ENIC, owning a near-30 per cent stake in the group, but his club involvement will now cease with immediate effect with no notice period (BBC).

Celtic left it late to bring in Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer and could be set to dip into the unattached market once again for another centre-forward.

Kelechi Iheanacho excited to work with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic

In a deal that has triggered plenty of discussion among Celtic supporters, Kelechi Iheanacho is now in the building at Parkhead and may well be in the frame to make his Scottish Premiership debut against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Speaking to official club sources, the Nigeria forward signalled his excitement at being able to work with Brendan Rodgers again following their successful time together while at Leicester City.

He explained: “He’s been massively important in my career. He looked after me when I was in Leicester and gave me the opportunity to show my talent and help the team to win trophies.

“He’s a great manager and a great person. He’s got a good personality as well so I’m happy to play for him again. I’m happy to be a Celtic player and to play for this great club.”

Of course, Iheanacho’s unsuccessful loan spell at Middlesbrough has put the cat among the pigeons for some, given he netted once in 15 appearances while at the Sky Bet Championship outfit.

Nevertheless, his exploits in the Premier League at Manchester City and the Foxes illustrate what he is capable of, albeit Sevilla fans never got to see the best of him either before he was released to complete a move to Glasgow.

With Celtic short on options through the middle, recent developments suggest they could now enter the free agent market once again to bring in a renowned striker.

Celtic favourites to sign free agent Michail Antonio

According to a report from Claret & Hugh, Celtic are ‘favourites’ to sign former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio, who is a free agent after leaving the London Stadium under freedom of contract.

The Jamaica international, who shares the same agent as summer signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, has been using the Hammers’ facilities to keep himself fit over the last few months and his Premier League record speaks for itself; 68 goals and 38 assists in 268 matches.

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Failed moves for David Datro Fofana and Kasper Dolberg late in the window have left the door ajar for another striking arrival at Celtic, though anyone signed wouldn’t be able to take part in their Europa League campaign.

At 35 years of age, Antonio is someone that is definitely in the twilight of his career, even if he is still capable of performing at a high level if granted the platform.

Despite their interest in a deal, it would be harsh if Brendan Rodgers were to block opportunities for Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada to claim more minutes, which may be a consideration that will need evaluation before the Bhoys make a decision on whether to move for the veteran forward.

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta has delighted Gunners insiders with a “masterstroke” he’s pulled off behind-the-scenes, with the Italian continuing to impress after a phenomenal first summer transfer window at the club.

While Premier League rivals Liverpool are currently the favourites to retain their crown as champions of England, thanks to lavish spending of their own, there is still a long way to go until the final whistle blows on this campaign and Arsenal are likely to be their fierce direct rivals.

Arsenal’s confirmed summer signings

Price tag

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

Jamie Carragher, Theo Walcott, Gary Neville and Roy Keane took aim at Arsenal’s lack of creative urgency in the final third against Liverpool, but once their new summer arrivals are fully settled, you wouldn’t bet against the north Londoners finding their feet in this regard.

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, who bagged 68 goals and 24 assists in all competitions between them last season at Sporting CP and Crystal Palace respectively, were top Berta captures to seriously help them compete with Liverpool in attack.

Berta personally wanted Gyokeres over fellow long-time striker target Benjamin Sesko, who ultimately joined Man United, with the 53-year-old also winning the hearts of Arsenal supporters everywhere by hijacking Tottenham’s once-advanced deal for Eze.

With the title race now more competitive than ever, with Man City also reinforcing their ranks alongside big-spenders Chelsea, adding the likes of Eze and Gyokeres could be imperative in Arsenal’s quest to end their 20-plus-year-long wait for a domestic league crown.

The same can be said for their signing of defender Piero Hincapie on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, with Arsenal possessing an option to buy the centre-back for £45 million in 2026.

Hincapie, a key starter for Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso last term, was also a regular during their historic 2023/2024 double-winning season, where the Germans nearly went unbeaten for the entire campaign in all competitions – if not for their surprise Europa League final loss to Atalanta.

The 23-year-old possesses a wealth of proven top-level experience for his age, and it could well prove vital depending on the severity of William Saliba’s fresh ankle injury he picked up against Liverpool last weekend.

Andrea Berta praised for Piero Hincapie "masterstroke" at Arsenal

Journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, has elaborated on Arsenal’s last-minute summer deal for the South American.

The reporter praised Berta for what could be an Arsenal “masterstroke” by signing Hincapie, and those within the club are apparently “delighted” as they expect the centre-back to have a special future.

It is worth noting Hincapie can play in multiple different positions across the defensive line as well, including as a full-back, so he could also cover for the likes of Ben White when required.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze this summer will be remembered for a long time, with the Lilywhites unable to complete a deal for his signature.

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, in what was another infamous saga, the hierarchy turned their attention to the 27-year-old in an attempt to fill the void in the attacking midfield department.

Talks were said to be at an advanced stage for the England international, but a turn of events saw Thomas Frank’s side miss out – in explicable fashion too.

The player instead agreed a deal to join North London rivals Arsenal, leading to discontent shown by the Spurs faithful towards owner Daniel Levy over the last couple of weeks.

However, the owner has the chance to rectify such mistakes before the September 1st deadline, with other alternatives constantly being pursued in recent days.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for an Eze alternative

In an attempt to soften the blow, Spurs have moved on to Eze’s compatriot Morgan Rogers, with Frank said to be a huge admirer of the Aston Villa star.

It’s been reported that the Lilywhites have been in negotiations with Unai Emery’s outfit over a deal for the 23-year-old talent, who could cost as much as £80m before Monday’s transfer deadline.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons another attacking midfielder they’re currently considering, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that Spurs have made an enquiry to land the Dutch international, despite Chelsea currently leading the race after agreeing personal terms with the player.

It also states the Lilywhites could pounce on the recent delay, making their own £60m hijack this summer, potentially swooping in after their recent contact with the Bundesliga outfit.

Why Spurs’ latest target is a bigger talent than Eze

There’s no denying that Eze would’ve been an excellent addition to the current Spurs side, with disappointment undoubtedly being felt amongst the fanbase as a result of his move to Arsenal.

Failing to complete a deal for the player is bad enough, but losing out to your main rivals would undoubtedly compound the misery currently being felt by the supporters.

However, if the side are to reach the next level under Frank, the hierarchy simply can’t rest on their laurels, needing to pursue other targets to help improve the squad.

Given the injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, the need for a new option in such a department has become even more apparent – but they’re desperately running out of time for a deal.

A hijack of a move for Simons could be the perfect signing to help get the fanbase back on side, whilst also handing Frank the tools he needs to build on his 100% start in the Premier League.

When comparing his stats to those of Eze from the 2024/25 campaign, the former PSG star managed to massively outperform him in numerous key areas – which makes missing out on the Englishman a blessing in disguise.

Simons, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Rafael Van der Vaart, posted a better goal and assist rate per 90 – whilst also achieving a better shot on target accuracy rate, with such a figure handing the club more of a clinical option in attacking areas.

How Simons & Eze compared throughout 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Simons

Eze

Games played

25

34

Goals & assists

16

16

Shot on target accuracy

46%

27%

Pass accuracy

79%

74%

Progressive passes

5.9

3.3

Passes into the final third

3.3

1.7

Key passes made

2.2

2.1

Progressive carries

3.6

2.4

Carries into the final third

3.1

1.6

Fouls won

2.3

1.7

Stats via FBref

Whilst such a component of his game isn’t vital, it’s certainly a bonus that could see the Lilywhites gain yet another goalscoring option to help the side in their quest for Premier League success.

However, creativity is massively needed in the number ten role, something which Simons would provide, given his tally of 2.2 key passes per 90 and 3.3 passes into the final third per 90 – with both tallies higher than those produced by Eze.

The Dutchman’s dominance is further demonstrated in his ability to procure more carries into the final third per 90, able to progress the play before putting the final touches on any attack – as seen by his aforementioned figures.

£60m would be another hefty figure forked out by the board, but it would be one that could be a bargain if he continues on his current trajectory and reaches his full potential.

It would also be a better signing than Eze, potentially allowing Frank’s side to get one over a rival and complete their own hijack after their previous defeat in the market.

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