All posts by h716a5.icu

“At the IPL, no one really complained about 270 plays 270. Now the bowlers are getting conditions a little bit more in their favour”

Firdose Moonda06-Jun-20242:03

Flower on New York pitch – ‘Bordering on dangerous’

Batters will have to learn to “suck it up,” and accept the difficulties of run-scoring at Nassau County, according to one of T20s most prolific run-scorers: Heinrich Klaasen. The South African middle-order batter, who is reputed for his six-hitting ability, put aside his personal preferences and stuck to the team line that they “don’t mind,” having a little spice in the surface for bowlers, especially their seamers.After South Africa bowled Sri Lanka out of for their lowest T20I total – 77 – at the first T20 World Cup match played in New York, and took 16.2 overs to chase the score, Anrich Nortje said he didn’t “think there’s anything wrong with the wickets,” and that they are just “different,” to the kinds of surfaces players have become used to in the recent past, especially at the last IPL. Klaasen agrees.”At the IPL, no one really complained about 270 plays 270. Now the bowlers are getting conditions a little bit more in their favour, so I think it’s just getting the balance right,” Klaasen said from New York, where South Africa will play three of their four group matches. “The batters need to suck it up as well. It’s not always going to be a 200 wicket, and you have to play a little bit smarter cricket to get over the line. We don’t mind if the bowlers got something in it; that makes some good entertaining cricket and you have to use your cricket brain a little bit. It’s just getting the balance right, too flat and too bowler-friendly. That’s obviously why the groundsman gets paid the big bucks.”But at this early stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, with two matches played in Nassau County and six to come, the curator has got more criticism than anything else for a surface with inconsistent bounce that Andy Flower told ESPNcricnfo’s Timeout is “bordering on dangerous.”The pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York have been the subject of debate•ICC via Getty ImagesFlower, the former Zimbabwe captain and former England coach, was speaking in between innings as India dismissed Ireland for 96 and two of their batters, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, were hit by Irish quick Josh Little in response. “You saw the ball bouncing from a length, both ways, so skidding low occasionally but in the main bouncing unusually high and striking people on the thumb, the gloves and the helmet and making life very, very difficult for any batter,” Flower said.Klaasen conceded that the strip South Africa played Sri Lanka on was “a little bit too much on the bowler’s side,” but regards it “part of the game,” which players have to adapt to. “Sometimes you get the wickets too flat, and now it’s just as bad and you need to suck it up a little bit. Hopefully we get a better wicket in the next game.” The other concern is the outfield. It is heavy and sandy, which meant even balls that were timed well didn’t always travel very far.Related

T20 can be fun without the ball-bashing too

South Africa up against their bogey team in batter-unfriendly New York

Nortje: Don't need 20 sixes to make an entertaining game

New York's World Cup debut leaves questions to answer

Ponting asks batters to 'lower expectations' about big totals at T20 World Cup

There are four drop-in pitches at the ground and it is still unclear whether moving will produce a more even contest. While Klaasen said the pitch used for the India-Bangladesh warm-up match last week facilitated a “decent” score in the first innings (182), it didn’t when India met Ireland on it on Wednesday. Whichever surface they get, Klaasen is convinced South Africa can fare better because they have some idea of what to expect. “We’ve got experience playing in these types of conditions now, so we just need to go back into the memory bank and take some responsibility that it might not be a wicket that we can just tee off and hit boundaries,” he said. “We need to play some clever cricket and need to make peace with that.”All that said, Klaasen still thinks it’s possible to clear the ropes. “You can still hit boundaries. If you play on one side of the field it’s not that big and so you can still hit boundaries.”But not, perhaps, boundaries the size of what the South Africans saw on an excursion to Yankee Stadium. “That’s quite a big hit. We worked it out and it’s 120 metres. It’s a long hit, but we as batters had a nice chat and we reckon we can give it a go. We will find a batting cage somewhere and try to see what we can do.”The upshot from their visit was Klaasen’s conclusion that baseball batters are doing something “completely different to what we do,” and that he thinks “cricket is more entertaining than baseball,” even though those who enjoy higher totals may disagree.South Africa’s next match is against Netherlands – who have beaten them in their previous two World Cup meetings – on Saturday in New York.

Leeds United have now made an initial approach to sign a £17m midfielder, with talks over personal terms currently ongoing, according to Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri.

Leeds eyeing attacking midfielder amid doubts over Aaronson

It is clear that Leeds want to bring in at least one new central midfielder this summer, having now made offers for both Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra and Besiktas’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the 49ers were willing to bet heavily on the former, submitting a £22m bid.

The eagerness to strengthen in the engine room comes amid Paul Robinson’s suggestion that one of Daniel Farke’s midfielders may not be good enough to make the step-up to the top flight: “Leeds are going to have to replace players.

“They came out of the Premier League with a similar squad, and players in that squad weren’t good enough. To mention two: Brenden Aaronson and Junior Firpo weren’t good enough for the Premier League.”

Aaronson regularly featured in an attacking midfield role last season, but it now appears as though the Whites are keen to bring in another number 10, who could be capable of pushing for the American’s starting spot.

According to Tavolieri (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made an initial approach to sign RSC Anderlecht’s Mario Stroeykens, who could be available for around €20m (£17m) this summer, as per reports from elsewhere.

Sky Sports: Leeds now make approach for £17m striker who's keen on PL move

The Whites have made contact to sign a 25-year-old, with bringing in a new striker now a priority.

1 ByDominic Lund Jun 10, 2025

Farke’s side are yet to make an offer for Stroeykens, but talks over personal terms are currently ongoing, so there is serious interest on their behalf, although there may be competition from soon-to-be Premier League rivals West Ham United.

With the attacking midfielder’s contract set to expire in 2026, the Belgian side may be forced to cash-in this summer, as they will be eager to avoid losing him on a free transfer, potentially opening the door for a move to Elland Road.

"Absolute hero" Stroeykens impressing in Belgium

The Anderlecht youngster is still only 20-years-old, but he has been impressing in the Jupiler Pro League for quite some time, with scout Jacek Kulig singling the starlet out for praise after scoring two goals as a substitute.

Since then, the Belgian has managed to kick on, collecting five goals and seven assists for Anderlecht in all competitions last season, featuring regularly as his side went on to finish in fourth place.

Stroeykens is yet to prove himself in a major European league, which may be a cause for some concern, but he is still very young, and the maestro’s performances in Belgium suggest he could soon be capable of pushing for Aaronson’s starting spot.

Celtic are taking stock ahead of another busy transfer window and could now be set to field interest in one of their star players from the Premier League, according to a report.

Celtic set to pursue reinforcements in the wide areas

By now, everyone knows that Celtic are in the market to buy a striker this summer and several names have began to crop up on their radar to address the position, including Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati.

However, their pursuit of a winger over the coming months is arguably just as important, especially when you factor in that Jota is a long-term injury casualty at Parkhead.

The iconic Portuguese winger is set to be out for another six months, give or take, meaning there is plenty of room to secure another body or two to prop up Brendan Rodgers’ range of options.

Sarpsborg talent Sondre Orjasaeter was a Celtic target in January and there is every chance the reigning Scottish champions could return to bid for the Norwegian during the window, albeit he won’t be the only name on their shortlist.

Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha has also been mentioned in connection with a move to Glasgow and could be available due to his current employers’ wish to cut costs drastically during the summer.

Jeremie Frimpong repeat: Celtic eyeing move for "outstanding" £1m star

Celtic are lining up a move for an English full-back who could be a repeat of Jeremie Frimpong.

ByDan Emery Jun 2, 2025

Daizen Maeda had to feature out wide and as a centre-forward during the second half of the campaign, and it would be wise for Rodgers to provide cover for the Japanese attacker in light of his extraordinary 33-goal campaign for the Bhoys.

Nevertheless, Celtic are also aware that everyone has their price; something that could now be put to the test if recent developments are to be believed.

Brentford emerge as frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn

According to TEAMtalk, Brentford are now frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn from Celtic as they search for potential replacements in light of developments that could point Bryan Mbeumo in the direction of Manchester United, while he also has interest from Arsenal.

The outlet claim a bid of around £20 million could be difficult to reject for the Bhoys, who have made a habit of regularly selling players for profit down the years.

Nicolas Kuhn’s 2024/25 campaign – all competitions

Appearances

51

Goals

21

Assists

15

Mbeumo could be set for Old Trafford if the Red Devils pay in excess of £60 million, and Brentford have turned their attention to the former Germany Under-20 international alongside Brighton & Hove Albion and three other unnamed English top-flight clubs.

Fashioning 52 chances on Scottish Premiership duty, Kuhn was a thorn in the side of opposition defences and has previously been labelled “breathtaking” by Marvin Bartley due to his excellent attacking displays.

Celtic won’t want to lose one of their prize assets. However, they usually do make a signature sale at this time of year, so it is a scenario that cannot be ruled out.

On the final day of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Newcastle United sealed a place in next year’s Champions League.

It was the perfect icing on the cake, and well deserved at that. Eddie Howe exhumed the demons of recent years in winning the Carabao Cup and responding to last year’s European heartache by clinching the fifth spot in the standings, and now has the power to target some big names.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is the top target for the Magpies’ attack, fitting the bill as a prolific and Prem-proven right-sided forward, but Manchester United are also very keen, and a fallback will be needed to prevent a repeat of the previous summer window.

Well, Paul Mitchell might have left his position as sporting director at St. James’ Park, but Newcastle are uniform in their desire to make this a summer to remember, with an Mbeumo alternative already lined up.

Newcastle exploring move for PL star

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are closely monitoring Mohammed Kudus’ situation at West Ham United, with the Ghanaian winger expected to leave east London in the coming months.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It’s previously been claimed by the BBC that Graham Potter could move to sell Kudus this summer to create funds for investment, and United will need to act quickly, given there is concrete interest from the Saudi Pro League.

As per Football Insider’s report, the former Ajax man featured highly on the Magpies’ shortlist, with the St James’ Park outfit said to be ‘exploring a move’ for his signature.

It’s been a difficult campaign for the 24-year-old and for West Ham, so while he has an £85m release clause, suitors are ready to offer something in the ballpark of £50m.

What Mohammed Kudus would bring to Newcastle

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith in the past, Kudus is one of the most powerful and physical wingers in the world, but he’s struggled to perform throughout a turbulent West Ham season.

With just five goals this season and 19 from 80 total matches as a Hammer, Newcastle wouldn’t be signing a player with the prolific track record of Mbeumo, who bagged 20 goals from 38 Premier League matches for Brentford this season, placing him behind only Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.

But Kudus offers a singular threat, with his ball-carrying ability sure to add an exciting dimension to a fluent, trophy-winning team stepping back onto Europe’s elite stage.

Isak is one of the, if not the, most clinical goalscorers on the continent, and Anthony Gordon knows where the back of the net is too. Kudus, indeed, has a prolific vein in his locker, but the London Stadium hasn’t been the right ground for him to discover his finest streak.

Matches (starts)

33 (27)

32 (31)

Goals

8

5

Assists

6

3

Shots (on target)*

2.0 (0.5)

2.3 (0.7)

Pass completion

84%

90%

Big chances created

5

4

Key passes*

0.8

1.0

Dribbles*

3.8

2.9

Ball recoveries*

6.4

4.3

Tackles*

2.0

1.3

Duels won*

8.5

6.4

As you can see, Kudus has endured a less profitable season than last, but he’s still an excellent player, offering a range of qualities, and could go from strength to strength in Howe’s system.

It’s unlikely he would hit the same clinical form as Mbeumo, but Kudus would bring his own take on the winger’s game, stretching and snapping backlines while adding a dynamic threat.

As per FBref, the £90k-per-week talent ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for pass completion and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, so it’s hardly as if he hasn’t offered significant qualities to a struggling Irons side.

There’s a different breed of fluency and togetherness about Howe’s Newcastle, who were the fourth-highest scorers with 68 strikes.

Newcastle have, after all, felt the full force of Kudus’ ball-striking ability when he’s on his A-game.

Signing Kudus would be something of a risk, but Howe’s tactical skills and high demands would compel Kudus to work as hard as he ever has, probably harder.

If Newcastle can get the finest version of the speedy star performing at St. James’ Park, week in, week out, it could be a stunning capture, one which could elevate the team just as high as if Mbeumo had arrived instead.

Better than Mbeumo: Newcastle make "terrifyingly good" £67m ace a key target

Newcastle are in the market for a new winger, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo among those being mooted.

ByJoe Nuttall May 28, 2025

A “quality” Liverpool player’s agents have reportedly held multiple discussions with the sporting director of a huge European club over a move there this summer.

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

The Reds’ attack is in need of being bolstered in the summer transfer window, with an elite-level No.9 required to come in and make the Premier League champions even more formidable ahead of next season.

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota don’t represent the long-term solution leading the line for Liverpool, while Luis Diaz isn’t a natural in a central role, even though he has performed well there at times in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

The Reds need to sign a striker who is strong in terms of both end product and availability, with Nunez lacking in the former and Jota a constant issue in the latter, taking them to the next level and easing some of the pressure on Mohamed Salah, who has carried the attack at times.

The likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko have all been mentioned as options – in fact, journalist Ben Jacobs has only recently talked up the Merseysiders’ chances of signing RB Leipzig ace Sesko, saying he has “become high” in Liverpool’s thinking.

Napoli sporting director in touch with "quality" Liverpool ace

According to Calciomercato journalist Daniele Longo [via Sport Witness], Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has spoken to Nunez’s representatives about a summer move to the club.

It is claimed that he has had “more than one contact” with the Uruguayan’s agents, seeing him as a backup option to Lille star Jonathan David, who they are finding it hard to sign. The report also states that Nunez has decided he wants to leave Anfield this summer.

An exit for the 25-year-old feels like the ideal outcome for all parties in the coming weeks and months, with Liverpool’s No.9 simply not at the level required.

Liverpool big admirers of £90m Wirtz alternative who's a Bellingham clone

Liverpool are interested in signing Florian Wirtz this summer.

2 ByMatt Dawson May 18, 2025

The £140,000-a-week Nunez may be a popular figure among the fanbase, due to his personality, but patience has now worn thin with many, even though Jurgen Klopp said of him last year: “He had absolutely more than an OK first season but he had to adapt, that’s done, and he is settled in the middle of the team.

“He loves to play for this team together with these boys and has quality coming out of his ears, to be honest. Is he at his absolute peak in general? Not now for us. But can he develop? Yes. Is he a threat all the time? Yes.”

Appearances

29

Starts

8

Minutes played

1094

Goals

5

Assists

2

Key passes per game

0.3

Dribbles per game

0.3

Pass completion rate

70.9%

Ultimately, Nunez’s Liverpool career has been disappointing, considering the expectations of him when he arrived in 2022, with his finishing far too unpredictable and his all-round game lacking intelligence and subtlely. A summer farewell is a no-brainer, with a big upgrade on him required.

A summer of huge change awaits for Manchester City.

On Saturday, the Sky Blues were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final at Wembley, meaning they will end the campaign without silverware, well unless, like Pep Guardiola, you include August’s Community Shield.

Now, ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Bournemouth at the Etihad, the Citizens find themselves outside the Champions League places, something that would have been simply unthinkable before the season began, requiring four points from their final two fixtures to secure a top-five finish; anything less could be catastrophic.

Even with Premier League games still to play, Man City’s summer transfer activity is well underway, so could a new “world-class” midfielder be arriving very soon?

Manchester City targeting a new midfielder

As has been widely reported, including by Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to ‘the soaring costs of any deal’.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Schwarzroten value their star asset at £126m, hence why Man City have turned their attention to other targets; Bayern Munich and Liverpool are still in the race to secure Wirtz’s signature.

So, who’s the alternative? Well, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Manchester City ‘have accelerated their efforts’ to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and are now preparing a bid worth £59m.

Sky Sports Switzerland has previously reported that personal terms have been agreed, with the Citizens ‘fully committed’ to finalising this deal, although there is currently a gap in valuation, with reports claiming he is valued at €90m (around £76m), significantly higher than Man City’s initial offer of €60m (£50m).

So, why are Man City so determined to complete this deal?

How Reijnders compares to Wirtz

Well, Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show asserts that Reijnders has been AC Milan’s ‘best player this season’, taking his game to another level since the arrival of Sérgio Conceição in January, while analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Dutchman is capable of playing at a “world-class level”.

So, how would Reijnders fit in at the Etihad, and would his arrival soften the blow of missing out on another highly coveted midfielder in Wirtz?

Let’s asses how these two players compare.

Appearances

53

45

Minutes

4,501

3,392

Goals

15

16

Assists

5

15

Shots

125

121

Shots on target %

40.8%

45.5%

Non-penalty goals – xG

+3.2

+4.1

Big chances created

10

23

Progressive carries

132

159

Progressive passes

272

229

Pass completion %

87.9%

79.9%

Shot-creating actions

136

191

Goal-creating actions

11

30

Take-on success %

47.9%

48.3%

Interceptions

49

22

Ball recoveries

148

145

Average Sofascore Rating

7.29

7.56

As the table outlines, many of Wirtz’s statistics are outstanding, which is not too surprising considering he is, indisputably, one of the best creative midfielders in the world, ranked second in the Bundesliga this season for big chances created.

Nevertheless, Reijnders’ statistics are pretty comparable across the board, mustering more shots, registering more progressive passes and completing a higher percentage of his passes, while his out-of-possession statistics, namely interceptions and ball recoveries, are also higher.

So, the Dutchman is a more well-rounded midfielder, which could be exactly what City need given that, as outlined by Sam Lee of the Athletic, the Citizens’ midfield has been far too easy to play against this season, ever since Rodri suffered his long-term ACL injury in September.

Thus, as much as Wirtz would have been a game-changing arrival, while Reijnders may not have quite as much name recognition, all the indications are that he’ll be an excellent addition, even if quite an expensive one.

Man City's "exceptional" star is finished at the Etihad if Reijnders signs

Man City could be set to move on a few players this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 20, 2025

As Manchester United romped to a brutal first-leg victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday evening, the performance of a certain Rasmus Hojlund quietly went under the radar in that semi-final clash.

With all the talk centred around the experienced trio of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire, the lively display of United’s number nine was easy to overlook, with the towering Dane notably winning the penalty that proved a key turning point in the tie.

Speaking after that bright performance, manager Ruben Amorim suggested that it was the 22-year-old’s “best game” since he took charge at Old Trafford, with the struggling number nine perhaps beginning to find his groove after netting at the death against Bournemouth last week.

That recent revival could prove vital if United are to claim European glory come the end of May, although in the long term, the fact remains that the former Atalanta man has scored just four Premier League goals all season – a simply dismal return for a striker.

Whether the £64m signing stays or goes this summer, a real upgrade is needed at the top end of the pitch ahead of next term – the Red Devils simply can’t afford a Hojlund repeat.

Man Utd's search for a striker

Amorim has gone from witnessing the heroics of Viktor Gyokeres – who scored 66 goals under his watch in just 68 games – back at Sporting CP, to now having to witness his goal-shy group toil in Manchester.

It is then no surprise that United have been heavily linked with a move to reunite the 40-year-old coach with his former talisman, while recent reports have also suggested that Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick could represent a wildcard option this summer.

With Victor Osimhen also reportedly in the frame, as the Nigerian gets set to enter the final year of his Napoli contract, there are proven targets out there for United to consider, as they seek a new centre-forward for the third summer in succession.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Frustratingly, however, it would seem that the man that INEOS have actually identified as the leading candidate is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Old Trafford outfit are making a ‘huge effort’ to bring the 22-year-old to the club.

As per the report, Everton have now joined the race to sign the £30m-rated ace, alongside Chelsea, albeit with there said to be ‘hope’ at United that they will emerge victorious in their pursuit.

A player known well to technical director Jason Wilcox, amid his previous stint at rivals Manchester City, the England U21 international would be an exciting addition – but is he really what Amorim needs?

Why Man Utd could be set to sign another Hojlund

There appears to have become a growing obsession in the modern game with adopting a youth-centric approach in the transfer market. Take Chelsea, for example, whose oldest outfield player this season has been Tosin Adarabioyo, who is still only 27.

Even at United under the INEOS regime, every signing made since last summer has been aged 25 or under, excluding Noussair Mazraoui. Ironically, it would not be difficult to argue that the now 27-year-old has proven to be the best of the bunch.

Equally, Thursday’s triumph away in the Basque Country indicated the benefits of the older heads, with Fernandes and Casemiro proving to be “the difference again”, in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

United have no doubt been stung in the past by short-term, high profile signings – with transfer fees for those players also likely to prove more costly – although in the case of centre-forward, in particular, the club can’t afford to skimp this summer.

Cast your mind back to 2023, for instance, when Erik ten Hag set his sights on Tottenham Hotspur’s 280-goal hero, Harry Kane, only for the club to instead fork out for a 20-year-old Hojlund, who had scored just ten goals in all competitions for his former employers.

Last summer, meanwhile, another ‘cheap’ option was pursued in the form of Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutchman available due to a £36.5m release clause in his Bologna contract. After netting just 12 goals last term in Italy, only a further seven have followed in Manchester.

To then consider moving for another young, inexperienced, but affordable forward in Delap could represent a real mistake, with the Englishman not exactly setting the world alight this season. 12 top-flight goals for a now-relegated side is nothing to turn your nose up at, although it’s hardly spectacular.

The Man City academy graduate, as he has shown in 2024/25, is an undoubted talent, with his bulldozing displays for the Tractor Boys seeing him lauded as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones.

And yet, it was only last season that the in-demand marksman had scored just eight league goals while on loan at Hull City in the Championship, with the question there to be asked over whether he is indeed ready to make such a seismic, pressurised step up.

Non-penalty goals

0.37

0.21

Assists

0.07

0.00

Total shots

2.30

1.55

Shot-creating actions

2.23

2.17

Pass completion

61%

76.7%

Progressive passes

1.11

0.83

Progressive carries

2.19

1.34

Touches in opposition box

1.41

2.99

Aerial duels won

1.93

1.19

What will also be of concern is that Delap is actually noted as a statistically similar player to Hojlund among those in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref, with it looking as if Amorim could be handed almost a carbon copy of what he already has at his disposal.

Yes, Delap is of far greater status right now, but it wasn’t too long ago that the speedy Hojlund was also earning rave reviews of his own. Who can forget his debut cameo against Arsenal, when the Denmark international ran William Saliba and Gabriel ragged.

As perhaps to be expected of a young striker, the pressure and expectation of leading the line for Manchester United has weighed heavy on Hojlund, culminating in his current woes.

Amorim is then in need of a Gyokeres, an Osimhen, who will shoulder that burden with ease, having repeatedly proven themselves over a number of seasons. Can the same really be said of Delap?

Approaching yet another pivotal summer window at Old Trafford, the club can’t afford any further mistakes. Of course, the tight budget must be considered, although the desire for affordability should not come at the expense of the need for ready-made quality.

Imagine him & Bruno: Man Utd make £68m bid for "one of the best" talents

Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

Manchester City’s mass-squad overhaul continues.

In January, the Sky Blues spent around £180m, which was more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s spending spree is not forecast to stop there, with the Sky Blues seemingly planning to splash the cash this summer too.

With Man City stalwarts Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, possibly alongside others too, on their way out, do they have their eye on a “ridiculously talented” forward?

Man City's potential new attacker

According to a report by Foot Mercato, Gabriel Sara is one of Manchester City’s ‘top targets’ this summer, claiming that initial contact has already been made between the club and the player’s entourage.

Born in Brazil, Sara began his career at São Paulo, before spending two seasons with Norwich City in the EFL Championship, making 96 appearances for the Canaries, scoring 21 goals and registering 17 assists, leading analyst Ben Mattinson to describe him as “ridiculously talented”.

Thus, he earned a big-money move to Galatasaray last summer, the Turkish giants paying a reported £15.3m to secure his services, the highlight of his time in İstanbul being his goal during the Intercontinental Derby victory over Fenerbahçe at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in September, with Okan Buruk’s team currently on course to a domestic double.

So, would Sara be a good signing for Man City, and how would he fit into Guardiola’s team?

Why Man City could be targeting the new Bernardo Silva

As referenced earlier, Walker and De Bruyne are already confirmed departures from the Etihad this summer, but there could be more, with Bernardo Silva a prime candidate.

Since arriving from Monaco for a reported fee of £43.6m eight years ago, Silva has made 399 appearances for the Citizens, set to become only the 12th player in club history to reach 400 against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night.

Ben Littlemore of Transfermarkt labels Silva an ‘unsung hero’, adding that he was absolutely pivotal to Man City’s success under Guardiola. However, this season, the Portuguese international has endured a sharp decline, with Adam Drury of Goal believing his time is up at the highest level.

Thus, he could leave the club this summer, but would Sara be a good replacement? Well, let’s compare the duo to find out.

Appearances

41

44

Minutes

3,196

3,454

Goals

2

4

Assists

8

4

Shots

72

43

Take-on success %

64.7%

42.5%

Progressive carries

23

125

Progressive passes

66

157

Pass completion %

82%

87.1%

Big chances created

12

8

Ball recoveries

53

109

Average Sofascore Rating

7.19

7.18

As the table outlines, Sara and Silva are stylistically very similar, on top of the fact that they’re both diminutive and left-footed.

Of course, Sara has a long way to go to be as good as Silva, lagging behind in terms of progressive carries, progressive passes, pass completion percentage and ball recoveries, although the Brazilian has created more chances and been successful with a higher proportion of his take-ons this season.

It’s also worth considering the respective level at which the duo are currently playing at: Global Football Rankings believe the Premier League to be the strongest division in the world, with the Süper Lig down in 18th place.

Nevertheless, Sara is still only 25 years old, and appears as though he would slot into a Guardiola team nicely.

Best signing since Haaland: Man City consider move for £85m "genius"

Man City are looking to make a move for a teenager who is one of the best in Europe

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 25, 2025

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace have largely been in excellent form since the start of 2025, only losing three times in their last 11 Premier League matches, keeping eight clean sheets in all competitions this calendar year and earning themselves a spot in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

The Eagles didn’t start the campaign at 100mph. After losing the likes of Michael Olise and Joachim Anderson in the summer, Palace had to reassemble their tools, find ways to recruit and replace those players and then begin to build.

After the first ten matches of the season, Palace found themselves 17th, only picking up seven points in that time.

But due to their excellent form since then, Palace now find themselves in mid-table in the Premier League, with the top seven not too far out of reach.

So why did it take a while at the start of the season, and how much did Glasner’s side miss Olise?

Michael Olise's creative burden

Olise was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer, joining the German giants for a fee of around £50m. Since joining Bayern, Olise has been in sublime form, making 43 appearances, scoring 13 goals, and providing 16 assists.

But, the Frenchman was key in his time at Palace, making 90 appearances in his three years at the club, netting 16 times, providing 25 assists and totaling 5,782 minutes played.

Having Olise on the right and Eberechi Eze on the left made it tough for teams to contain the Eagles, with the duo often combining to create chances out of nothing.

With Olise gone, more focus being solely on Eze and a right-hand side that had to be re-invented, it was always going to take some time to find the best way to replace the French wingers’ presence.

That being said, Glasner has certainly found a way to do it.

Chalkboard

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

Glasner's "spectacular" duo have replaced Olise

Crystal Palace signed Ismaila Sarr from Marseille in the summer, joining for a fee of around £12.6m. The 27-year-old was the clear signing destined to take the spot of Olise on that right-hand side, but the difference in overall quality is clear, and therefore, a new dynamic on that side would be needed.

Daniel Munoz, working in tandem with Sarr on the right, has been Glasner’s key weapon to replacing Olise’s output, with both players proving to be very direct, making clever runs in behind and stretching play for their teammates. This right side has proven to be a key outlet for Palace this season.

Goals

0.17

0.29

Assists

0.14

0.11

xG

0.15

0.33

xAG

0.14

0.26

Progressive Carries

1.51

2.52

Progressive Passes

2.44

2.91

Shots Total

1.04

1.93

Key Passes

1.22

1.41

Passes into Pen Area

0.72

1.41

Shot-Creating Actions

2.29

3.85

Successful Take-Ons

0.61

0.60

When looking at the pair’s underlying metrics this season, you can see how their combined effort has helped to replace the French star, both getting forward and getting shots off, both putting balls into the box, chipping in with output and contributing in build up.

Munoz was described as “spectacular” by Jefferson Lerma and that is certainly one way to describe the pair down that right-hand side, working in tandem to attack in a direct fashion and create chances for the team.

Whilst Olise will never fully be replaceable, losing a world-class talent is always tough to replace, even more so when you are a mid-table Premier League side.

Therefore, Palace fans must be fairly happy with their right-side rebrand, with Glasner proving he can make it work.

Contact made: Crystal Palace make move to sign "Pique-esque" £5m defender

The Eagles have made an approach for a defender, who is also attracting interest from West Ham United.

ByDominic Lund Apr 10, 2025

Michael Owen is a player who will forever live in the hearts of Liverpool supporters, emerging through the academy and making a name for himself in the first-team at Anfield.

The now-retired striker made just shy of 300 appearances during an eight-year period, notching 158 goals – sitting in the top ten for the club’s highest goalscorers.

He would win the Ballon d’Or in 2001, winning the award at the tender age of just 22, before leaving the Reds in the summer of 2004 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

His achievements on Merseyside have undoubtedly cemented him in the club’s history forever, with his goalscoring record a huge reason for the love he received from the fanbase.

Fast-forward 21 years on from his subsequent departure, current boss Arne Slot has the opportunity to land a new version of the England attacker.

Liverpool to plot £40m summer bid for PL star

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are keen on making a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap this summer should they be relegated from the Premier League.

However, the Reds are not alone in their pursuit of the 22-year-old, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United just three other sides wanting to land the youngster.

Despite the Tractor Boys’ lowly league standing, Delap has managed to notch 12 goals in 30 league appearances – three times more than the club’s next highest goalscorer this campaign.

The report states that the striker has a £40m relegation release clause in his current contract, potentially a bargain given his recent form in England’s top flight.

Despite the interest elsewhere, it would be a superb addition, allowing the young star to follow in the footsteps of Owen at Anfield and taking his own career up a notch.

Why Delap could be the next Owen for Liverpool

Former Reds striker Owen was a freak of nature during his time on Merseyside, with the striker becoming the second-youngest player to ever claim the Ballon d’or.

Whilst Delap is already at the same age as when the 45-year-old claimed the trophy, he still has a lot of work to do before he gets anywhere near emualting such a feat, but the signs of following in Owen’s footsteps are all positive.

The Ipswich ace – who has burst onto the scene at a similar age – has already wasted no time in demonstrating his goalscoring quality at the top-level, possessing a similar skillset, with his pace in behind the backline causing constant problems – just as Owen demonstrated during his eight-year spell in the first-team on Merseyside.

He’s just six goals off the iconic striker’s tally from his own first season in the Premier League, doing so whilst featuring for a lower-quality side – highlighting how impressive he’s been for Kieran McKenna’s side.

If he is to reach the levels set by his compatriot, Delap is in desparate need of a big-money move to a top-six side this summer, but given his nationality, Slot’s side would have to pay a premium for his signature – but it would be worth every penny, especially if his figures from this season are anything to go by.

How Delap compares to Liverpool’s current striker options

Whilst sitting top of the Premier League table, Liverpool have struggled to rely on a striker, with Mohamed Salah often being the man to produce the goods within the final third.

Whilst the Egyptian has registered 54 combined goals and assists in just 45 games across all competitions, with it unthinkable to imagine where the side would be without his contributions.

Strikers Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez have struggled to nail down the centre-forward role, often sharing the role between themselves over the past couple of months.

However, the pair have only registered 11 combined Premier League goals between them in 2024/25, a tally lower than Delap has managed on his own at Portman Road.

Whilst on the face of it, the Manchester City academy graduate has outscored the pair, his underlying stats are also better than the aforementioned pair – highlighting what a superb signing he would be this summer.

Games played

30

20

25

Goals & assists

14

9

7

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

32%

39%

Take-ons per 90

1.4

1

0.7

Take-on success

47%

38%

38%

Aerials won

46%

44%

34%

Fouls won

1.8

1

1.3

Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also achieved a higher shot on target accuracy rate, showcasing his clinical nature within the final third.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90 this campaign and also having a higher aerial success rate, offering an all-round presence that the club have missed in the last few months.

Given the form of the current Reds strikers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to no one to see either of them offloaded during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Should they leave, Delap has showcased that he’s a perfect option to replace either of the current forwards, improving further with higher-quality players around him.

If he moves and gets anywhere close to the levels produced by Owen, it would be a bargain deal at £40m, potentially taking Slot’s reign at Anfield to the next level.

Best signing after Van Dijk: Liverpool struck gold on "world-class" star

He’s been one of the best footballers in the world for quite a few years.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 8, 2025