Borussia Dortmund have been keeping a close eye on Ecuadorian wonderkid Justin Lerma since striking a deal to sign the teenager back in 2024. The young sensation is set to join the Bundesliga giants next summer once he turns 18 in a €4 million deal and the club's current plan is to immediately thrust him into the senior team after being impressed by his performances in his homeland.

Dortmund’s 2024 signing Justin Lerma to arrive next summer

Dortmund secured the signature of Lerma back in 2024, paying around €4m to Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder, highly rated across South America, will officially move to Germany in 2026 after turning 18. Dortmund moved early to beat competition from several top European clubs, including Chelsea, maintaining close contact with Lerma and his family since the agreement was reached.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBuilding on a legacy of nurturing world-class talent

Die Schwarzgelben's scouting department has once again beaten Europe’s elite to a South American gem. The club’s track record speaks for itself from Ousmane Dembele and Jadon Sancho to Jude Bellingham and they hope Lerma can follow a similar trajectory. Independiente del Valle, known for producing players like Moises Caicedo, Kendry Paez and Piero Hincapie, continues to be a goldmine for European clubs looking for future stars.

Inside the deal and BVB’s long-term plan

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl revealed that Dortmund had been monitoring Lerma for years, maintaining close contact with his family to secure the deal. 

"We've been monitoring Justin for some time and have maintained close contact with the player and his family ever since," said Kehl.

reports that Dortmund staff made multiple trips to Ecuador to ensure the player felt integrated even before his arrival. Head coach Niko Kovac is expected to include Lerma in first-team training next summer, giving him time to adapt before making his Bundesliga debut. Lerma has already visited the Dortmund facilities on several occasions, too, and has been impressed by the atmosphere.

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What lies ahead for the teenage midfielder

Lerma, capable of operating as a No. 10 or No. 8, will need time to adjust to the pace and physicality of European football. For now, he continues to feature primarily for Independiente del Valle’s youth sides. Dortmund, however, see him as a long-term project, one who could potentially follow the same rise as Bellingham or Dembele and eventually command a major transfer fee.

Crucial stands with Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge defy tenacious Amanda-Jade Wellington in rain-hit match

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-May-2025

Bryony Smith celebrates her century with team-mate Sophia Dunkley•Getty Images

Surrey 306 for 7 (Smith 110, Dunkley 79, Wyatt-Hodge 44, Wellington 4-47) beat Somerset 215 (Knight 36 Wellington 36, Monaghan 2-43, Gregory 2-43, Stonehouse 2-47) by 101 runs DLS methodBryony Smith posted a superb hundred to steer Surrey to a convincing 101-run win over Somerset on the Duckworth Lewis Stern Method in the Metro Bank One Day Cup women’s competition at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton.Leading by example, Surrey’s captain scored 110 from 103 balls, struck 15 fours and dominated crucial stands of 100 and 134 with Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley for the first and third wickets respectively as the visitors made 306 for 7 in a contest reduced by rain to 44 overs a side. Dunkley raised an attractive 79 from 81 balls and Wyatt-Hodge contributed 44 with eight fours, while Australian spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington returned figures of 4 for 47.Chasing a revised target of 317, Somerset came up short in the face of accurate bowling and sharp fielding, Heather Knight and Wellington top-scoring with 36 and Alice Monaghan, Danielle Gregory and Alexa Stonehouse claiming two wickets apiece as the home side were dismissed for 215 in 40.5 overs.Somerset’s seamers struggled with their lengths and Smith and Wyatt-Hodge took full advantage, raising 50 in just 6.3 overs amid a flurry of boundaries as Surrey got off to a flyer. Smith was especially severe on anything short and wide, accruing eight fours in a forthright 57-ball half-century, as the opening partnership realised three figures in 13.4 overs.Wyatt-Hodge took on Somerset’s spinners and was just six runs short of 50 when she finally came a cropper, attempting to carve Wellington through the covers and slicing high to backward point with the score on 100. Wellington then had Alice Capsey held at slip in the act of reverse sweeping to further reduce the visitors to 106 for 2.But there was no stopping Smith. Afforded a life on 80 when dropped in the deep by Laura Jackson off the bowling of Chloe Skelton, Surrey’s skipper made good her escape to register a buccaneering hundred via 96 balls with 14 fours. She found a willing ally in Dunkley, who scored freely all around the wicket in compiling 50 from 57 deliveries, and these two threatened to take the game away from Somerset.Under intense pressure, the home side made too many errors in the field and the third wicket stand was already worth 112 when rain forced the players off with the score on 218 for 2 after 32.4 overs. Desperate to take wickets and bring the DLS equation back into their favour, Somerset trusted in Wellington following the resumption. The Australian did not disappoint, persuading Smith and Paige Scholfield to hole out to Knight at long-off in quick succession.Having done her utmost to ensure the visitors would post a total in excess of 300, the resourceful Dunkley stepped across her stumps and was bowled around her legs by Skelton as Somerset continued to fight back. Charlie Dean then accounted for Monaghan and Alice Davidson-Richards, but not before these two, together with Kira Chathli, had added valuable lower middle order runs.Chasing a revised total of 317 in 44 overs at a required rate of 7.2 runs an over, Somerset suffered an early setback, Emma Corney playing down the wrong line and being bowled by Rhianna Macdonald-Gay with 19 on the board.Adhering to the tenets of line and length, Surrey’s seamers were able to create pressure and the required rate was above eight when Sophie Luff top-edged a pull shot and was brilliantly caught by Macdonald-Gay on the run at midwicket. Somerset’s captain had scored 15 and the home side were 56 for 2 in the thirteenth over with much work still to do.Having failed to defend big totals in matches against Warwickshire and Lancashire, Surrey needed to remove former England captain Knight for their own peace of mind. This they managed to do in startling fashion, Monaghan deflecting a Fran Wilson drive onto the stumps with Knight, having scored 36 from 41 balls, hopelessly out of her ground. There appeared to be no way back for Somerset from 73 for 3 at the end of the fifteenth.Surrey were fully in charge by the time Wilson was stumped by Chathli, pushing forward to Gregory and departing for 23, while Dean was held at backward point off the bowling of Stonehouse as the home side lurched to 117-5. The game was effectively up by the time Griffiths was bowled by Gregory for 14 with the score on 144, but nobody had told Wellington or Skelton, who staged a defiant alliance of 53 to hold up Surrey. Capsey ended Wellington’s innings on 36, holing out to deep backward square with a notional 120 more runs needed from eight overs.

Arsenal ended up just about getting past Greek Super League champions Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, courtesy of strikes from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

For all the chances, possession and clear-cut openings created by Mikel Arteta’s side, they held a tender 1-0 lead for the majority of the 90, and goalkeeper David Raya was forced into a magnificent first-half save to keep them ahead.

Martin Odegaard

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Myles Lewis-Skelly

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David Raya

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Mikel Merino

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Chiquinho

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via WhoScored

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres also had multiple chances to extend their advantage, but the Sweden international just couldn’t quite fire home on what was a frustrating night for him.

Arsenal’s control of the match never wavered, with club captain Martin Odegaard pulling all the strings in midfield and dictating the tempo throughout.

The Norwegian’s vision and passing range constantly stretched the visitors’ defence, creating numerous opportunities, particularly for Gyokeres, with the striker feeding off Odegaard’s excellent through balls but missing the final end product.

The £30 million star was very nearly rewarded for his efforts with a goal, but was unable to convert Bukayo Saka’s cut-back very late in the second half.

Instead, it was Saka who ended up putting the game beyond sight in added time, courtesy of another excellent threaded pass from Odegaard, with the England international slotting home through goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis’ legs.

Their routine win over Olympiacos was Odegaard’s first start after coming back from a shoulder problem, and boy did he deliver on a night where he absolutely silenced his critics.

In the build up to their Champions League clash, former Arsenal player Perry Groves suggested that Arteta should continue to bench Odegaard in order to send a message and help the ex-Real Madrid man rediscover his best form.

However, Wednesday’s heroics sent a clear message in return — the 26-year-old is still one of Arteta’s superstars.

Owen Hargreaves says Martin Odegaard has proved he's still Arsenal's star man

This is echoed by TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves, who told the panel during last night’s broadcast that Odegaard was back to his “absolute best” against Olympiacos.

The £240,000-per-week playmaker now has Eberechi Eze to compete with for a place in the centre of Arsenal’s attacking midfield, alongside Ethan Nwaneri, who the Gunners wish to deploy more centrally rather than in the wide area like last season (David Ornstein).

Odegaard will undoubtedly be mindful of the growing competition for a place in Arteta’s starting elevens, but he appears to be staking his claim as an undroppable following last night’s sumptuous display and his assist against Newcastle last weekend.

The international break will have come at a welcome time for Rangers and under-fire boss, Russell Martin, with the former Scotland defender having endured a miserable start to life at Ibrox.

Four points from four in the Premiership, alongside a Champions League qualifying embarrassment, has already plunged the ex-Southampton boss into crisis. Can he turn it around?

There’s no hiding from what was a miserable August, although nothing has been decided yet. The season is only in its infancy.

With 14 new signings needing to properly bed in to life in Glasgow, it may still be too soon to properly judge Martin’s tenure, albeit with the pressure on considering the nature of their summer outlay.

Roughly £30m was reportedly spent by the Gers during the most recent window, with the most notable investment having been the £8m that was splashed out on goal-shy Everton youngster, Youssef Chermiti.

That eye-watering fee – which could rise to £10m with add-ons – will bring with it a lefty weight of expectation. Is the Portuguese striker worth the risk?

Youssef Chermiti's record pre-Rangers

Three goals in 22 games for Sporting Lisbon. No goals in 24 senior outings for the Toffees. A record that points to Rangers – and former Everton chief Kevin Thelwell – gambling on potential rather than proven quality.

It is a “heck of a gamble” at that, in the words of club legend Ally McCoist, with there little evidence to suggest that Chermiti will prove to be a success in Scottish football, amid his recent woes on Merseyside.

Signed on a £15m deal by the Premier League side back in the summer of 2023, the 21-year-old has been reduced to bit-part status since then, albeit with then-boss Sean Dyche admitting in 2024 that he was recruited as a “development player” who would have fared better with a loan move.

Rather than a temporary exit, Chermiti has now secured a permanent switch to Scotland, thus marking the club’s most expensive outlay since the £12m capture of Tore Andre Flo back in 2000.

The merits of such a deal can be debated long into the night, with the Portugal youth international – who has scored seven times in 75 recorded games at academy and senior level, as per Transfermarkt – in need of a positive start to try and win over an expectant fanbase.

That said, the Light Blues’ extensive recruitment can help ease the burden on the marquee new addition, with Bojan Miovski likely to be the main man in attack for Martin and co instead.

Bojan Miovski's market value

If Chermiti is the long-term expensive gamble, then Miovski appears to be the perfect alternative, providing an experienced, ‘proven’ option who has already delivered the goods in the Premiership.

Market Movers

Described as a player who “does everything” during his time at Aberdeen by Billy Dodds, due to his impressive scoring rate and link-up play, the Macedonian marksman could prove a real coup following his £2.6m switch.

Indeed, while Chermiti is yet to flourish at first-team level, the 26-year-old has more than proven his worth in recent years, having notably scored 44 times in 98 games during his time at Pittodrie.

That impressive haul included a fine record on the big occasion, with Miovski scoring four times from just nine meetings with Rangers in all competitions, alongside netting three times in eight games against Celtic.

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While a return of four goals in 23 games for Girona last term is hardly the most eye-catching, the clinical number nine has already been there and done it for the Dons, a fact that pundit Andy Walker believes will make him a “better signing” than his new teammate:

That fact is also reinforced when considering what Miovski’s actual market value is, with the Gers having seemingly secured a bargain when considering their £2.6m investment.

As per the great minds at CIES Football Observatory, the 33-cap international has a peak value of as much as €16m (£14m), eclipsing the figure that was dished out on Chermiti.

While Rangers won’t be looking to cash in on their new addition any time soon, that valuation does point to them striking a significant profit in the years to come.

Better than Chermiti: Rangers must regret selling "rapid" star for just £4m

After signing Youssef Chermiti for an enormous fee of £8m, would Rangers have been better off keeping a “rapid” attacker sold for £4m?

Sep 8, 2025

Liverpool have reportedly made a decision on whether they will pursue a Nico Schlotterbeck transfer as contract talks with Borussia Dortmund continue to stall. The 25-year-old's negotiations with Dortmund have dragged on for months, with both sides yet to agree on fresh terms. The club is desperate to keep hold of one of their defensive cornerstones, but Schlotterbeck’s camp has been reluctant to commit, leaving Europe’s biggest teams circling with the hopes of a potential transfer.

Anfield deal off as Liverpool pull the plug

According to Liverpool have stepped back from pursuing Schlotterbeck, ending weeks of speculation linking the German with a move to Anfield. Despite growing uncertainty around the centre-back’s contract situation, the Reds have decided not to join the bidding war, even with Ibrahima Konate’s future still unresolved. The Reds had considered Schlotterbeck but have ultimately turned their attention elsewhere after failing to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. However, with Giovanni Leoni, the young Italian defender from Parma, sidelined by an ACL injury, Liverpool’s backline is looking stretched. The report suggests that the Merseyside giants could re-enter the market in 2026 for a new centre-back, possibly revisiting their pursuit of Guehi when he becomes available on a free transfer. But with Real Madrid monitoring the situation at Selhurst Park, the Reds will face stiff competition for the England international. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDortmund's tense stand-off

Dortmund have tabled a lucrative deal designed to make Schlotterbeck one of their top earners, worth an eye-watering €10 million a year. The new contract would keep him at the club beyond 2027, but despite the golden offer, the player and his agent, Bjorn Etzel, have refused to sign on the dotted line. Those close to the player claim he’s in no rush to decide. With the next World Cup on the horizon, Schlotterbeck wants to keep his options open, and with Bayern Munich lurking, his hesitation has sent alarm bells ringing in Dortmund’s boardroom.

further claim that Bayern have indeed made contact with Schlotterbeck’s representatives. The Bavarian giants are keeping a close eye on the situation, aware that a domestic rival could soon have a defensive gem available. The club faces uncertainty in defence as Dayot Upamecano’s contract negotiations have stalled, Min-jae Kim has been linked with a potential sale, and Hiroki Ito’s recurring injury issues have created instability. A left-footed, ball-playing defender like Schlotterbeck fits perfectly into the club’s long-term vision. Though Bayern have yet to speak directly to Dortmund, the report confirms the interest is very real.

BVB's warning to Schlotterbeck

Dortmund’s sporting director, Lars Ricken, has subtly warned the player that the club won’t wait forever.

In an interview with , Ricken remarked, "It is his absolute right to plan his future carefully. We respect that. And I believe that the focus should not be on salary, but on prospects, trust, and conviction. We will not rush into anything. But of course, we don't want to drag it out indefinitely. Everyone is aware of that."

Ricken’s tone has shifted, suggesting that while Dortmund value Schlotterbeck, they’re unwilling to be held hostage by endless uncertainty. However, head coach Niko Kovac, speaking to ahead of the blockbuster clash against Bayern, brushed off the transfer talk and insisted that Dortmund aren’t panicking.

"What I see is completely positive," he said. "Schlotti is here with all his heart and soul. He's giving it his all in training, he wants to play every game, every minute. We had to wait a long time for him after his injury. Now he's back. He's looking forward to every minute in the black and yellow jersey, and that's why I'm not thinking about the future at all. It's all about the present, and he's very important to us."

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AFPSchlotterbeck holds all the cards

There had been reports that Real Madrid might enter the race, especially with David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger approaching the final years of their contracts. But there have been no concrete movements from Los Blancos, which effectively narrows the race to Bayern and Dortmund, with Liverpool observing from afar and waiting to see how the dominoes fall.

For his part, Schlotterbeck remains torn. The player has repeatedly spoken about his love for German football and his desire to stay in the Bundesliga. Before joining Dortmund from Freiburg, he told , “I'm not the type of person who necessarily wants to play in England or Spain. I always wanted to play in the Bundesliga, and preferably at the best club."

The defender is still leaning toward a renewal, believing in the Dortmund project and cherishing the bond with the club’s 81,000-strong Yellow Wall. But ambition and the lure of bigger trophies may prove too tempting to ignore forever. If the stalemate continues into next year, Dortmund may face an impossible decision as they might be forced to cash in on their prized asset.

Mohammed Kudus’ second-half strike earned Tottenham a 2-1 win at Elland Road as Leeds lost a home league game for the first time in over a year.

Ghana forward Kudus fired the winner shortly before the hour-mark after Leeds winger Noah Okafor had cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for Tottenham before the break.

It was Leeds’ first home league loss since a 1-0 defeat to Burnley in September 2024 and their third in the top flight this season, while Tottenham notched their fourth Premier League win under Thomas Frank.

The Londoners, who began the day in fifth place, have lost only one of their 11 matches in all competitions since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, while they have won on their last three visits to LS11.

And Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold spotted an emotional scene at the full time whistle, as former Elland Road wonderkid Archie Gray finally got the chance to wave goodbye to his boyhood club in person, where he was met with applause from the home support.

Leeds 1-2 Tottenham: As it happened

Leeds, unchanged for four successive matches, quickly showed their intent through Sean Longstaff’s crunching tackle before Joe Rodon’s header from Anton Stach’s free-kick hit a post.

Joao Palhinha was wayward with a first chance for Spurs, who made five changes after Tuesday’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Bodo/Glimt in Norway.

The visitors threatened again as Destiny Udogie’s angled shot was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow and more incisive play saw them take the lead in the 24th minute.

Kudus slipped Tel away down Leeds’ left channel and after racing to the edge of the box, the French winger unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner via a deflection off Pascal Struijk.

Kudus should have doubled Tottenham’s lead soon after when he fired wide from inside the penalty area as Leeds began to look ragged.

But Farke’s side regrouped. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was wayward after creating space inside the area and 10 minutes after falling behind they hauled themselves level.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was only able to parry Brenden Aaronson’s deflected low effort and summer signing Okafor turned home the rebound for his second goal of the season.

Longstaff lashed over from the edge of the box as Tottenham began to creak, but in a see-saw encounter, the visitors went close to a second when Tel’s header from Wilson Odobert’s cross struck the crossbar before half-time.

The two sides resumed in pouring rain and half-chances continued to flow.

Darlow blocked Pedro Porro’s cross and at the other end Vicario was at full stretch to keep out Calvert-Lewin’s low strike.

A slip by Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson helped Tottenham regain the lead in the 57th minute.

The Sweden left-back was dispossessed near the penalty are by Kudus, who darted inside and arrowed a low left-footed inside Darlow’s near post, via another deflection off Struijk.

But after edging back in front, Tottenham were unable to dictate the tempo and Leeds went close when Longstaff thundered a low shot narrowly wide.

Leeds swept forward in the closing stages, but substitute Joel Piroe was foiled by Vicario’s low save and Struijk’s header was deflected narrowly over.

Tim Southee will link up with his former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in time for England’s first Test of the summer, against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge next week, after being confirmed on a short-term deal as James Anderson’s replacement in their coaching staff across formats.Southee, 36, retired from Test cricket at the conclusion of England’s 2-1 series win in New Zealand in December, after a 16-year career that included a national-record 776 wickets across international formats.In that period, he played alongside McCullum on 170 occasions, including 78 under his leadership – while also sharing the field at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and Middlesex in the T20 Blast. McCullum presented Southee with a bottle of red wine signed by the England team at the conclusion of Southee’s 107th and final Test in Hamilton.His official title in the England set-up will be “Specialist Skills Consultant”, but his appointment is in effect a like-for-like replacement for Anderson, who took his own vast international experience straight into the back-room staff after his own 21-year Test career came to an end at Lord’s last July.This summer, however, Anderson is proritising a season-long deal to play for Lancashire, for whom he could make a first appearance of the season later this month after recuperating from a calf injury.Southee’s England deal includes the one-off Zimbabwe Test, beginning May 22, as well as the white-ball series against West Indies and the five Tests against India that get underway in June and July. His stint will conclude after the Oval Test on August 4, at which point he is due to resume his playing career with Birmingham Phoenix in the Men’s Hundred.In a press release, the ECB welcomed his involvement, saying: “With his vast experience of playing in a wide range of conditions around the world and across all formats, [Southee] brings valuable insight and knowledge to the players.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras enfrenta o Flamengo nesta quinta-feira (7), em Volta Redonda, na grande final do Brasileirão Sub-20, que será decidido mais uma vez em jogo único.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Sem Endrick, que ainda tem idade para atuar na base, mas não defende mais o Sub-20 alviverde, o Palmeiras conta com Kevin, a grande esperança de gols do time rumo ao título.

Outro destaque do time alviverde é o meia Estevão, de apenas 16 anos, que tem tudo para ser a próxima joia da base alviverde nos próximos anos.

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O provável Palmeiras para encarar o Flamengo é: Kaique, Edney, Vitor Reis, Michel e Ian; Léo, Figueiredo, Allan e Kevin (Estevão); Luighi e Thallys.

O principal desfalque do Palmeiras para essa grande final é o volante Pedro Lima, que participou de toda a campanha, mas acabou sendo negociado com o Norwich, da Inglaterra.

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+ 5 PONTOS PARA FICAR DE OLHO NO PALMEIRAS NA FINAL DO BRASILEIRO SUB-20!

A bola rola para Flamengo x Palmeiras nesta quinta-feira (7), no Raulino de Oliveira, a partir das 11h (horário de Brasília), com transmissão do Sportv.

GOAL US unpacks the main storylines from the international break and World Cup qualifying in The Euro XI

Goodbye, international break. Welcome back to the soccer. The slate of games after international competition are always a little odd: slower, tactically clunkier. It seems as if everyone is still trying to find their feet. 

The result, so often, is a sense of drama and jeopardy. And if you subscribe to that theory, then this was an excellent weekend of evidence. Liverpool lost to Man United at home (which is a weird sentence). Ange Postecoglou got sacked after 39 days (a predictable sentence). And Como are the best story in European football (a charming sentence).

Elsewhere, El Clasico looks pretty intense, and it's still a week away. Man City are maybe back for real this time. And La Liga, in general, is just fed up with everything. 

GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.

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  1Slot feeling the heat?

  Four losses in a row. The first time Man United have won at Anfield since 2016. Who could have predicted all of this? There were always going to be some growing pains when Liverpool signed a load of good players for a load of money. It reeked of a surprise slow start.

  But that really should have meant a draw or two, perhaps a defensive lapse here and there. Now, Slot is left looking at the loss every Liverpool fan despises, with not much time to piece things together.

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  2Ruben Amorim buys himself time

  Is the real narrative here the fact that Man United won? It's sports, so there's a requirement that you pick one or the other, right? No two things can be true at the same time. Those are the rules. But this seemed big for United. They were composed. They defended well. They took their chances.

  These are the basics that haven't happened there for a few years now. Calling this a "turning point" would be a stretch. Still, they can take heart from a solid performance – and enjoy a win over their biggest rivals. 

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  3Kane hits 400

  It was a bumper weekend for Harry Kane, who, in bagging against Borussia Dortmund, reached 400 career goals. That is, objectively, a lot. Yet somehow, he seems to be constantly underrated. It's hard to see why – maybe the Bundesliga distorts things. Still, he's 32, has plenty of soccer left, and likely has many more goals to come. Oh, and Bayern won 2-1. 

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  4Como on fire

  Como are the classy version of the American-owned club that most Europeans hate. Forget J.J. Watt or Ryan Reynolds. Here's part owner Thierry Henry looking cool in the stands. And the thing is, unlike Burnley when they got promoted the first time, or Wrexham – stuck(ish) in the Championship – Como are really rather good, something they proved by beating Juventus, 2-0. 

  They are undefeated in their last five, with Cesc Fabregas turning out to be a smart man at the middle of the project. But the real standout? Real Madrid loanee Nico Paz, who won't be in Italy for long, at this rate. 

Everton blanked against Aston Villa at the weekend, but David Moyes must be pleased with his side’s start to the 2025/26 campaign.

An exodus was needed this summer, but the dramatic upheaval on the blue side of the River Mersey emphasised the need for accuracy in the transfer market.

Seven points from four Premier League games and a three-match unbeaten run have given the Toffees a platform, but it could have been three wins from three save for some shoddy finishing against the struggling Villa.

Beto was the culprit.

Beto misfires against Aston Villa

He’s come on leaps and bounds under Moyes’ wing, has Beto, but there’s no doubt that the Bissau Guinean striker has flaws within his game, and is prone to ghosting on different occasions across the campaign.

The 6 foot 4 forward fits Moyes’ mould: he is a tower of a talisman and commands the skies well; he has scored twice across five games in all competitions this season, three of which came from the starting whistle.

But Beto has only one goal in the Premier League, and could maybe have tripled his tally against Aston Villa, horribly scuffing a chance into a yawning net when played through by Iliman Ndiaye.

Thierno Barry was signed in the summer to add competition at number nine, but the 22-year-old is raw and not yet settled within the harsh climes of the Premier League.

It’s at moments like these that some fans might wish for another goalscoring option.

Everton will regret selling Beto upgrade

It’s a shame that Moise Kean didn’t prove to be a talismanic figure in Toffee blue.

Kean initially started his professional career with a weight of expectation, such a prodigy he was billed. Things got a little stagnant, though, it’s got to be said, with his £25m move from Juventus to Everton aged 19 doing little to further his career.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, Everton signed Kean in 2019, but it’s not unfair to stress that the Italian failed to bring it together, scoring twice in the Premier League across 32 fixtures, picking up a red card too. The criticism lacing Moshiri’s dysfunctional reign is thick, but a move for Kean spoke of ambition, for sure.

But it didn’t work out, and after a spin of loan spells, Kean found himself back in Turin for a similar figure that Everton first paid for him. Thus, financially, it wasn’t a shocking blow, but the player’s struggles certainly suggest it was a poor signing.

Perhaps viewed as the successor to Romelu Lukaku’s former place in Everton’s team, Kean was one of many misfires in the transfer market during that long and interminable period of struggle, and his recent exploits back in Italy highlight what might have been in England.

Because Kean struggled even after leaving, peripheral at Juventus. But a move to Fiorentina has resurrected his career and then some, having scored 25 goals and supplied three assists across all competitions at La Viola last season.

It’s clear that Kean needed that return to his home country to develop into the player he is today, but Everton saw something and failed to make it work.

Powerful and clinical and with a “scary” physicality, as has been noted by reporter Carlo Garganese, Kean very much might have been Everton’s next version of Lukaku. Indeed, two years after the Belgian’s mammoth sale to Manchester United, it’s not improbable that Lukaku’s name was brought up during internal discussions ahead of the successful bid for the teenager.

His dribbling has come on so much. Data from FBref reveals Kean ranks among the top 14% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, but also the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, demonstrating an athleticism that Lukaku used to project with such strength on his opponents.

It’s something Moyes might have made good use of in this current Everton setting. The Merseysiders and their boss have pulled away from pragmatic perceptions and have shaped into a modern hybrid form.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders
Team	Goals	xG
Man United	4	7.9
Chelsea	9	7.7
Man City	5	7.6
Brighton	4	6.6
Everton	5	6.3
Data via FBref

Fifth Everton sit in the xG (expected goals) rankings for the Premier League campaign so far. Early days, of course, but evidence of growth and newfound attacking impetus.

The caveat being they have only scored five goals, highlighting room for improvement in the ball-striking department. It’s not an egregious deficit by any means, but a striker of Kean’s ability could add that difference to stretch Everton even higher up the table.

Lukaku, in his Everton form, would surely be riding the crest of a wave right now, and Kean could be too. The Azzurri star, after all, was named ‘the new Lukaku’ upon his big move to Goodison Park.

So Moyes and Everton have Beto, and that’s not all that bad. The 26-year-old is a strong and sturdy striker; he commands the box well, tussling with defenders and knocking headers down to his teammates. He is a better player for Moyes’ appointment.

Only, Kean is clearly a cut above, and while it’s hopeless to rue missed opportunities to develop stars who weren’t shining at the time, it must be a frustration for the new board.

Whether Barry comes good is another question, and the Frenchman certainly has the potential to overtake Beto and set his marker as Everton’s starring striker, but he’s not there yet, and Kean could have been a difference-maker this season.

Now worth more than Grealish: Everton must regret selling "phenomenal" star

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa brought into sharp focus Everton’s lack of quality strikers, so they must regret selling this phenomenal striker.

By
Ben Gray

Sep 14, 2025