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Manchester United have been told that they have hit the jackpot with the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a whopping £74 million ($100m) deal, as the Slovenia international can become a "complete striker" at Old Trafford. The Red Devils, however, will need to be patient with their new forward, who needs time to realise his full potential.

Man Utd told Sesko will become "complete striker"Backed to shine at Old TraffordJoined Man Utd from RB Leipzig this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sesko has had an underwhelming start to his journey in England as he is yet to feature in Ruben Amorim's starting line-up in the Premier League. However, the former RB Leipzig forward did star in Slovenia's 2-2 draw against Sweden in a World Cup qualifying game as he contributed with the assist for Zan Vipotnik's late equaliser. 

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While Sesko has not lived upto the expectations at Old Trafford yet after the first three rounds of Premier League games, his national team strike partner and former Middlesbrough star Andraz Sporar has backed the 22-year-old to be a hit at Old Trafford and be a "complete striker". 

WHAT SPORAR SAID

The 31-year-old spoke highly of his compatriot as he told reporters: "What does he bring to United? Everything. He has speed, power, intelligence, good football IQ. I believe he can be a complete striker in the next two or three years. But he’s still young. He will help Manchester United a lot, they just need to be patient. I believe he’ll score the goals and every year he will be better and better."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

The Red Devils striker will be back in action for Slovenia on Monday as they take on Switzerland in their second World Cup qualifying game. Next Sunday, he is expected to be handed his maiden Premier League start in the Manchester derby.

As Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes look to move on from their rejected bid for Alexander Isak, Liverpool have now reportedly agreed personal terms with another superstar.

Following the bombshell news that Isak wants to leave Newcastle and has been training away from the club in an attempt to push through a summer exit, Liverpool’s offer seemed inevitable. As soon as they had encouragement, reports always suggested that Hughes and Edwards would pursue the Swede’s signature.

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That’s not to say the deal was ever going to be routine, however, and the Anfield chiefs found that out the hard way. After seeing an opening offer worth around £110m rejected by Newcastle, Liverpool, for now at least, have ended their pursuit of Isak.

With one month until the transfer window slams shut, it currently looks like Isak will remain a Newcastle player. But plans could change if their reported £70m bid to sign Benjamin Sesko is successful.

Of course, if those at St James’ Park welcome the calibre of player able to replace Isak, which Sesko certainly is, then their stance on selling their star man may loosen slightly – allowing Liverpool to come in with their next offer.

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That said, given that Manchester United are also lurking in the race to sign the RB Leipzig star, there is still a long way to go before the dominoes can fall into place for Isak to become Liverpool’s biggest signing yet.

Until the saga unravels, meanwhile, the Premier League champions have been left turning towards alternative blockbuster targets and have reportedly agreed personal terms with Luis Diaz’s potential replacement.

Liverpool agree personal terms with Rodrygo

According to ESPN Brasil, as relayed by The Standard, Liverpool have now agreed personal terms with Rodrygo in what is a major step towards signing the Real Madrid winger after they sent super agent Pini Zahavi to get the deal done.

Earning £11m-a-year at Real Madrid, the Brazilian’s contract is unlikely to come cheap, but his talent would more than make up for any hefty costs involved in his arrival.

Mohamed Salah

£21m

Virgil van Dijk

£18m

Rodrygo

£11m

Hugo Ekitike

£10m

Florian Wirtz

£10m

To sign a Galactico, Liverpool will need to add their third-highest earner and someone who will earn more than recent arrivals Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

For that price, however, they would be getting a player who has starred on the biggest stages and earned impressive praise from the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, who told reporters: “He is a special striker, he can play in all positions. He is fast, smart and effective one on one. The learning is over. He is a Real Madrid player for all purposes.”

Chelsea are now just two games away from being crowned champions of the world.

Late on Friday night, the Blues booked their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals, thanks to a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Cole Palmer broke the deadlock early, only for Chelsea-bound Estêvão Willian to score a stunning equaliser, but Malo Gusto’s late cross was deflected into his own net by Agustín Giay as the Londoners prevailed in Pennsylvania.

Enzo Maresca’s team will now take on Fluminense in Tuesday’s semi-finals at MetLife Stadium, the third different Brazilian club they’ve faced this summer, firm favourites to reach the final, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid await.

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Meantime, Chelsea remain, as is their want, extremely busy in the transfer market, with João Pedro debuting off the bench on Friday, while Jamie Gittens has since arrived too, it could mean that another of their forward players is to take his leave.

The latest on Noni Madueke's Chelsea future

As reported by Sam Dean and Sam Wallace of the Telegraph, Arsenal are preparing a £50m bid for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Meantime, David Ornstein of the Athletic notes that the England international has actually already ‘agreed personal terms’ with the Gunners, and this deal appears as though it could actually happen, with Madueke thereby becoming the tenth player to leave Chelsea for Arsenal in the modern era, six of which have done so since 2019.

Players Arsenal have signed from Chelsea (1992-present)
Players	Year	Fee
William Gallas	2006	£5m
Lassana Diarra	2007	£6m
Yossi Benayoun	2011	Loan
Petr Čech	2015	£10m
David Luiz	2019	£8m
Willian	2020	Free
Jorginho	2023	£12m
Kai Havertz	2023	£65m
Raheem Sterling	2024	Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga	2025	£5m
Information courtesy of Premier League.com

A real mixed bag there from an Arsenal perspective, with Chelsea supporters very much viewing their North London rivals as a bit of a dumping ground, but could a highly-rated teenager be moving in the opposite direction?

Chelsea targeting Madueke upgrade

According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closely monitoring Ethan Nwaneri’s contractual situation at Arsenal and are ‘ready to attack the situation’.

The 18-year-old, only eligible to sign a professional contract since March, currently has just one year remaining on his deal with the Gunners, and James McNicholas of the Athletic has reported that ‘talks are at a delicate stage’, with the club desperate to tie down ‘such a valuable prospect’.

He adds that, before committing to anything, the £47m-rated youngster wants to seek assurances over his playing time, following a breakout season at Arsenal, seeing 1,378 minutes of action across all competitions, including starting 11 Premier League matches, scoring nine goals.

For context, despite his age and the fact he played 1,246 fewer minutes, he only scored two fewer goals than Madueke across all competitions, underlining the immense potential and talent that he possesses.

Indeed, Nwaneri is only the third player to score nine goals before their 18th birthday for a Premier League club, after Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who weren’t bad, were they?

Described by Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout as a “magnificent talent”, he could well be the perfect long-term replacement for Madueke, but if it is indeed first-team opportunities that are the teenager’s priority, perhaps Chelsea are not the right club to join, considering all the wide-attacking options currently on their books.

Chelsea’s current wide attackers
Players	Age	Chelsea appearances
Cole Palmer	23	95
Noni Madueke	23	91
Pedro Neto	25	49
Christopher Nkunku	27	60
Raheem Sterling	30	81
João Félix	25	40
Jamie Gittens	20	0
Mykhailo Mudryk*	24	73
Tyrique George	19	26
Kendry Páez	18	0
Estêvão Willian	18	0
Omari Kellyman	19	0
*currently banned for doping.
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt

Fair to say, Maresca has a fair few options from which to choose out-wide, even if Mykhailo Mudryk is currently banned, while a couple of others are likely to depart, including the aforementioned Madueke and João Félix.

Nevertheless, might Nwaneri be the best of the lot?

Well, former Chelsea winger Joe Cole compared the teenager to Lionel Messi, following Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City in February, stating “you can’t mark him because he can go both ways… I don’t even want to say it, but it’s like Messi”.

Meantime, Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis praises Nwaneri’s ‘versatility’ and phenomenal ‘potential’, adding that his ‘best attribute is his ability to find pockets and exploit spaces’.

Thus, it is clear that Nwaneri is a player who is poised to be a future star, and if there’s one thing Chelsea love, it is hoovering up such young talents, so will they strike again?

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a huge task ahead of him in the 2025/26 campaign, potentially coming under serious pressure should he fail to win a trophy.

The Spaniard has now been in the role at the Emirates for five and a half years, with his only trophy coming in the FA Cup back in his first season at the helm.

In the Premier League, the Gunners have finished as runners-up in each of the last three seasons, being unable to make that final step and end the two-decade wait for a league triumph.

Investment is needed from the hierarchy during the off-season if they are to finish at the top of the table next time around, handing the manager the tools he needs for success.

With the transfer window now in full swing, countless names have been mentioned as options for Arteta, leading to moves being made on various deals.

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

A striker has been firmly on their radar over recent weeks, leading to talks being held with the representatives of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, but no agreement has yet been reached.

Moves have also been made to sign PSG wonderkid Warren Zaire-Emery, looking to take advantage of his situation in France which has seen him losing his starting place in Luis Enrique’s side.

However, they may look past a deal for the teenager, given the progress that has been made to sign Sevilla star Lucien Agoume, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that the Gunners are leading the race for his signature, with fellow English sides Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also firmly in the race for his signature.

It also states that the 23-year-old is available for a fee in the region of £20m this summer, potentially forming an excellent partnership with one other talent in North London.

Why Arsenal’s £20m target would be perfect alongside Zubimendi

Over recent months, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been the name on all supporters’ lips after he’s been consistently linked with a move to Arsenal.

It was confirmed back in January that a deal had been agreed to land the 26-year-old this summer, but such a move has been quiet over the last couple of weeks.

That was until Fabrizio Romano confirmed that a deal is imminent with the midfielder still set to make the move to the Emirates despite interest from Real Madrid.

It’s been reported that the hierarchy are set to pay just over his €60m release clause in his contract, securing the deep-lying option Arteta has been crying out for.

However, he could thrive alongside Agoume in North London next season, with the Frenchman having all the tools to star in the middle of the park and giving the Gunners a new dimension.

Agoume, who’s been labelled “one of the most talented defensive midfielders” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed 83% of passes and achieved a dribble success rate of 76% – subsequently able to drive forward after Zubimendi regains possession for the side.

He’s also created 1.2 chances per 90, showcasing his ability his progress the play and aiding the attackers in front of him to thrive and bolster their title credentials.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

4

Passes completed

83%

Dribbles success

76%

Chances created

1.2

Tackles won

1.4

Interceptions made

1.7

The 23-year-old’s talents continue without the ball, winning 1.4 tackles per 90 and making 1.7 interceptions per 90, handing Arteta an added ball-winning option alongside Zubimendi and taking some of the pressure off his shoulders as a result.

£20m in today’s market would be a superb piece of business by the hierarchy, landing a young player who could improve massively in the years ahead given his tender age.

The prospect of a partnership between Agoume and the Spaniard at the heart of the side is certainly an exciting one, handing Arteta the strength and depth he needs to push for the title in 2025/26.

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The trend of low scores continued in New York as India’s attack defended a total of 119 against Pakistan

Alagappan Muthu09-Jun-20241:18

Kumble: Bumrah creates pressure on any surface

One team had Jasprit Bumrah. The other didn’t. And that was that. That was the difference. His legend is littered with incredible displays. But this will feel sweeter, not merely for the fact that it came in a T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, but for the fact that without his intervention this game would have almost certainly had a different ending. India defended 119. Pakistan lost after being 80 for 3. The finalists of the 2022 tournament are in serious danger of an early exit.Boom in BluePakistan need 40 runs off the last 36 balls with seven wickets in hand. ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster gave them a 93% chance of victory then. Poor thing. It’s been left on the fritz. Bumrah’s discipline, his calmness under pressure, his extraordinary skill, not just in delivering the right ball but in understanding what the right ball is, confounded man and machine alike In New York.Ironically, all this happened because Bumrah refused to go searching for wickets. He just bowled what he thought would be unhittable – which was the back of a length delivery – and by doing it consistently he made Pakistan desperate. He forced them into a corner, which to be fair is their happy place in World Cups, but that wasn’t the case here. Here, there was only panic.Related

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Mohammad Rizwan was made to believe that a full length ball was there to play a cross-bat shot. His stumps paid the price. Soon after knocking it back, Bumrah spread his arms wide and broke into a smile. That’s his usual celebration. But he didn’t stop there. He roared. And over 30,000 people at the ground roared with him. He punched the air. Millions joined him. This was the opening that India could build on. This was the crack that would cause the collapse. Rizwan, the set batter, fell for 31 off 44. Bumrah, who had accounted for Babar Azam earlier, also took out Pakistan’s final hope, Iftikhar Ahmed, in the 19th over. Of his 24 balls, 15 were dots. Somehow, even his full tosses proved game-changing.Bumrah’s mastery carved out a piece of history: 119 is the joint-lowest total ever defended in men’s T20 World Cups.The support actIndia waited until the third over to deploy their super weapon. Then they had to wait until the 15th to bring him back. In between, they relied on others to keep the pressure up and two people in particular did that with aplomb. Hardik Pandya and his short-of-a-length offerings were always going to be a threat on this New York pitch with uneven bounce. He stopped Fakhar Zaman before he could play the kind of cameo that would kill chases like these. And then he took out Shadab Khan. Both times the batters were surprised by how high the ball was when they made contact with it. Hardik wasn’t. He just shrugged, as if to say, yeah, I do that. No big deal.Axar Patel was the other unsung hero, bowling the first of the death overs and somehow keeping it to just two runs even though he was up against a left-hand batter with the short boundary on the leg side. Imad Wasim was never allowed to win the match-up as he was fed a diet of non-spinning deliveries that were angled across him and kept bouncing over his cut shots. Bumrah produced the biggest swing in momentum towards India according to Forecaster, 44% at the end of the 19th over. Axar produced the second-biggest swing, his defensive skills earning a 13% bump.Rishabh Pant used his luck and played some creative shots•Getty Images

Pant doing Pant thingsThis was the best pitch to bat on in New York so far. But even that had its perils. Largely in the form of the ball not coming on, and occasionally with uneven bounce. Rizwan and Arshdeep Singh took blows to the hand.A bit of luck is required in these conditions. Pant got that when he survived three catching opportunities in three balls and later survived an inside edge that could have gone onto the stumps. A bit of bravery helps. Pant showed that when he smashed Haris Rauf over extra cover. A bit of imagination doesn’t go amiss either. Pant epitomised that with a flick shot that he played while falling to the floor because that was the only way he knew how to get under a good length ball and put in the gap at fine leg. Later, to Imad’s highly accurate left-arm spin, he brought out the standing reverse sweep.It was tough to bat out there. Pant’s unorthodox methods made him successful; made him stand out. He made 42 off 31 at a strike rate of 135. The rest of India made 70 off 84 at a strike rate of 83.It’s all blue in New York•Getty Images

The footnotesIn the game against USA, Mohammad Amir was all over the place. In this one, he was spot on. Eight of the first 12 deliveries he bowled produced false shots. Early on with the new ball, he beat the bat three times in a row. Later on, with the old one, he was on a hat-trick. Pakistan demoted him to first-change and by the time he came on, India had already lost their two best batters, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli caught off balls that stuck in the pitch, a theme that would continue for the rest of the innings. Amir had a soft entry but he made the absolute most of it. His best work coincided with the best phase of the game for Pakistan, when they strung four overs together between the 12th and the 15th where only eight runs were scored and four wickets were taken. India went from 89 for 3 to 96 for 7. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were ahead. Twenty overs later, they were facing elimination, in part because they weren’t the team with Jasprit Bumrah.

Celtic are active on the market and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly closing in on a bargain deal to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Celtic begin to motor in summer transfer window

The official opening of the window for Celtic will take place next week, but they are already moving down the line with several deals as scaling up becomes the mantra at Parkhead.

Recent interest in Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden and Telstar’s Youssef El Kachati has cooled. However, supporters would have been delighted to see Kieran Tierney officially announced, following months of waiting for his signature to be confirmed.

Looking forward to working with a player who delivered so much during his first spell in charge, Brendan Rodgers believes his ‘elite’ qualities will bring an element of stardust as Celtic chase more success domestically and on the continent.

The Irishman stated: “We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”

Not to be deterred there, Celtic have identified Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top summer target, amid holding a concrete interest in his services over the past year.

The latest names on Celtic’s summer transfer wishlist
Ross Doohan	Aberdeen – deal near completion
Harley Mills	Peterborough United
Lennon Miller	Motherwell
Demir Tiknaz	Rio Ave (on loan from Besiktas – buy option)
Callum Osmand	Fulham – deal near completion

As mentioned above, a compensation package for Fulham striker Callum Osmand is on the verge of going through to solidify Rodgers’ striking options, representing smart business as the Hoops aim to find value for money in the market.

Now, a young defender is also set to join the Parkhead ranks in a similar agreement, even if he won’t be thrust into the first team straight away.

Celtic set to sign prospect Isaac English

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are on the verge of signing defender Isaac English from Greenock Morton and are set to agree a bargain fee of £50,000 with the Scottish Championship side ahead of his proposed move.

Scouts were alerted to his potential off the back of his displays in the second-tier outfit’s Club Academy Scotland Performance League title win at Under-18 level.

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Admittedly, not much is known about English in the public domain. The 17-year-old hasn’t made a senior appearance at Cappielow Park, though he has trained within Dougie Imrie’s senior set-up and looks to be one for the future.

After losing youngsters such as Daniel Cummings, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly in recent times, news that Celtic have a prodigious star ready to walk through the Lennoxtown entrance will be a welcome boost in their mission to stockpile emerging talent.

With Jose Mourinho looking to take advantage of Manchester United’s ruthlessness, Fenerbahce are now reportedly preparing a summer move to sign one of Ruben Amorim’s unwanted attacking options.

Man Utd need another summer overhaul

Manchester United have been attempting to return to the top of English football for over a decade now. As each year has passed, however, the Red Devils have become further away from where they once belonged under Sir Alex Ferguson, and the current campaign has seen them fall deeper than ever. Closer to the relegation zone than the European places in the Premier League, United desperately need yet another squad overhaul.

In the past, it’s been Jose Mourinho demanding reinforcements or Ole Gunner Solskjaer receiving a Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped gift that some may argue he never truly desired. These days, it’s Ruben Amorim who needs change at Old Trafford if he is to stand a chance at success with his 3-4-2-1 system. Unlike under Mourinho and Solskjaer, though, there remain question marks over whether United can afford such a big summer.

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INEOS have been cutting costs in every way they can this season, including when it comes to the travel expenses and tickets for staff to attend the Europa League final, but next week’s game against Tottenham Hotspur may yet hand them a much-needed boost.

Europa League victory would see the Red Devils clutch Champions League football from the claws of disappointment and from the bottom half of the Premier League. Suddenly, from their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League, Manchester United could be back among Europe’s elite.

That said, with or without Champions League football, some big calls look set to be made this summer, which could spell the end for Joshua Zirkzee amid recent reports and others. The struggling forward may well be one of few to be shown the door at Old Trafford.

Fenerbahce preparing Hojlund move

According to Sozcu, as relayed by TeamTalk, Fenerbahce are now preparing a loan-to-buy move to sign Rasmus Hojlund, who will be allowed to leave Manchester United this summer. A move courtesy of former United boss Mourinho, the Dane desperately needs to rediscover his best form following a disastrous spell in the Premier League.

Appearances

60

Goals

14

Assists

2

With just 16 goal involvements in 60 Premier League appearances, Hojlund has far from lived up to expectations since completing a move worth as much as £72m from Atalanta in 2023.

Whether some around the club still have faith in the Dane despite his record will certainly be interesting to see this summer. Amorim recently praised his goal-shy forward, albeit whilst admitting that he needs fortune to fall his way in front of goal, telling reporters: “Today, he did some three or four connections that can allow us to change the side of the game. I think he deserved this kind of moment [the assist for Dalot] to feel that.

“Every striker wants to score goals and we are going to help him score. He’s so anxious, you can see it. But Josh, everybody, Nous did it. All the team played really well today.”

Looking to rebuild Pep Guardiola’s midfield, Manchester City are now reportedly preparing to step up their deal to sign a £50m star who they want sealed and delivered by June 1.

Man City set for midfield rebuild

With Kevin De Bruyne’s departure confirmed and stars such as Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva arguably past the peak of their powers, the focus for Manchester City this summer will be on their midfield.

Just how they replace three club legends in one summer is the big question. Already, both Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz have been heavily linked with moves to The Etihad, but it seems as though the latter is destined to choose Bayern Munich rather than Guardiola’s side. And whilst news has been more positive in the case of Gibbs-White, City will need more than one reinforcement in the middle of the park.

Replacing De Bruyne will be particularly difficult and the extent of the task at hand won’t be lost on Guardiola, who told reporters after the midfielder announced that he would be leaving the club: “Kevin is not a vocal leader. He is a leader in that every day for nine years, except the last year and a half, being there helping the team.

“And his talent is unique, everyone knows it – he has the vision and the pass. When players are up front and Kevin has the ball, and he feels like this, they know they can run because the ball can be delivered.”

Whilst there will be plenty of emotions on show as Manchester City exit an era full of success, this season’s struggles have highlighted that now is the perfect time for fresh faces.

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The Citizens, without Rodri, have been uncharacteristically poor in midfield, and the arrival of one particular player would likely help to put them back on track at the heart of Guardiola’s side.

Man City set to step up Reijnders move

Although reports seemed to go quiet following a flurry of news revealing their interest, those at The Etihad are still reportedly interested in one Serie A star. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now set to step up their move to sign Tijjani Reijnders, which they want done when the window opens next Sunday, June 1, so they can take the midfielder to the Club World Cup.

Whether AC Milan will make negotiations that easy remains to be seen, however. No matter when a deal potentially takes place, Reijnders is unlikely to come cheap amid a reported €60m (£50m) price tag.

Minutes

3,038

2,580

Goals

10

4

Progressive Carries

110

99

Ball Recoveries

115

102

The player who Reijnders could replace in Man City’s midfield is Silva. The Portugal international has fallen away from his usual intensity this season and has been outperformed by the AC Milan star who could yet be on his way to Manchester.

A player who analyst Ben Mattinson previously praised for the “insane” level that he was performing at, Reijnders may soon complete his move in time to make his Man City debut at the Club World Cup.

Everton are “working” on a potential deal for an “outstanding” defender in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Moyes eyeing new signings for Everton

The Toffees continue to be linked with possible new signings this summer, with Greece and Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis emerging as an exciting option to make David Moyes’ side more of an attacking force.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring a combined 21 goals in the Champions League and Primeira Liga, registering seven assists across those competitions.

Meanwhile, Everton have also been linked with a shock move for Liverpool winger Ben Doak at the end of the season, which would send shockwaves across Merseyside.

The Scot is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and there is no guarantee that he has a long-term future at Anfield, which could lead to Everton pouncing for one of their rivals’ most exciting young players.

Whether the Reds would allow him to join their arch-rivals is up for debate, though.

Everton want to sign "outstanding" left-back

Speaking to Everton News, Bailey said that Everton want to sign Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin at the end of the season, with other Black Cats players also mentioned:

“They are one of the teams who are looking at Dennis Cirkin, the left-back at Sunderland. We know Crystal Palace and Tottenham like him.

“Obviously, Everton are looking at Sunderland with Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Dan Neil. The Championship is a division which David Moyes knows very well.

“Cirkin is someone on their list, and they are doing work on the full-back position, I know that.”

Cirkin may be a Championship player, but he could be a great addition for Everton, having been such a consistent performer for Sunderland over an extended period.

Prior to this weekend’s action, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and bagged two assists in the league this season, highlighting the quality he can provide from left-back, which is five times the amount of goal contributions Vitalii Mykolenko had managed in the Premier League (zero goals and one assist).

Stat

Cirkin

Mykolenko

Appearances

34

29

Starts

29

29

Minutes played

2632

2544

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Clearances per game

2.6

4

Tackles per game

2.5

1.8

Aerial duel wins per game

1.2

1.5

Cirkin is a player with plenty of admirers, including former striker Sam Parkin, who has described him as an “outstanding” footballer, saying:

“I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season. When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching, the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top-class this season.”

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At 23, Cirkin still has lots to offer, and the lure of the Premier League could be great if Sunderland fail to earn promotion, so Everton should be looking at him as an excellent option.

“The way to combat [spin] would be to get really far forward or really far back and then using the sweep”

S Sudarshanan15-Dec-2023When you walk out of the DY Patil University campus, which houses the cricket stadium, in the evening onto the main road, there are two serpentine queues of auto rickshaws. The drivers throw two words for you to make a choice: “Nerul [or] Juinagar! Nerul [or] Juinagar!” Those are the nearest railway stations from the university.Not quite in the same tone but “footwork” and “intent” were the oft-repeated words in Nat Sciver-Brunt’s press conference on Friday.England were dismissed for 136 in reply to India’s 428 in the women’s Test match as offspinner Deepti Sharma picked up a five-for. They now trail by 478 after India finished the day at 186 for 6, not enforcing the follow-on.England knew what to expect in Indian conditions. But the practice pitches on the two days leading up to the Test were not turners. In fact, both captains felt the pitches were skiddy with Heather Knight in particular finding “spin easier to face [but] things will change”. On the first day, India amassed 410 for 7 at a run rate of 4.36.Related

Deepti's 5 for 7 gives India complete control on 19-wicket day

England run into Deep(ti) trouble

But England were tied down by India, who opted for a pace-spin combination to start with. And in the ten overs since Deepti’s introduction in the 26th, England lost 7 for 28.Sciver-Brunt, who made 59 off 70 balls, put England’s collapse down to the in-between lengths Deepti bowled. “Making the batters not sure whether to come forward or back,” she said when asked about why Deepti was so hard to deal with. “When you play spin well, [it is about] making good decisions going forward or back and not getting caught in the crease. She bowled lengths that were difficult to read, and she also attacked the stumps.”England’s batting line-up collapsed against Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana•BCCIDanni Wyatt did not press fully forward and got an inside edge onto her pad that lobbed to short leg. Sophie Ecclestone went back to a delivery she should have been forward to – a fullish-length ball spinning in a bit. Lauren Bell played for turn and ended up being bowled on the outside edge.”There was inconsistent spin, and you were not sure what to set up for as a batter,” Sciver-Brunt said. “Covering both sides of the bat was the main challenge. It is obviously a Test-match wicket that was going to deteriorate at some point. Some good bowling and obviously not brilliant footwork. The bowlers are creating indecision in the way we go about things. The inconsistency of the pitch as well [played its part].”England’s frailties against spin came to the fore in their 2-1 T20I series defeat at home against Sri Lanka in September. They lost 18 out of 24 wickets to spin in those three matches, which prompted head coach Jon Lewis to bring a select group of batters to Mumbai for a spin-training camp. It was keeping in mind not just the India tour but the bigger picture – the T20 World Cup next year in Bangladesh and the ODI World Cup in 2025 in India.It would be unfair to expect positive results immediately but Sciver-Brunt offered a template for the rest of hear team-mates to follow. She was constantly on the attack, which is not to suggest she didn’t trust her defence. Against spinners, she scored 27 off 26 balls and hit six off her ten fours but faced 17 dots, too. Of those 27 runs, she scored 18 on the leg side and laid a blueprint that she hoped the other batters could follow in the second innings.”I would speak in the change room a little bit about the surface,” she said, “and about the intent to score and the areas. The bounce from the seamers is not very high and so looking to score down the ground as much as we can will be important. The pitch deteriorated a little bit and some not-so-good footwork in the end.”When you come to India to play, you are expecting a slightly slower surface that takes turn, and face experienced spinners. The way to combat that would be to get really far forward or really far back and then using my sweep the best I can. That’s the plan.”We know when India get on a roll with the wickets, they can create a noise around that. Just try to ride that pressure and wave as a batter is the method that I will be using. Ideally, you don’t want to lose wickets in clusters.”For England’s batting train to get back on track, there is no choice but to follow the Sciver-Brunt advice of showing more intent and being assured in their footwork.