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أعلن الدنماركي ييس توروب، المدير الفني للنادي الأهلي، تشكيل الفريق الرسمي، لخوض مواجهة إيجل نوار البوروندي، اليوم السبت، في افتتاح مشواره الإفريقي، بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع إيجل نوار، في بوروندي، ضمن منافسات الذهاب لمواجهات لدور الـ 32 من عمر بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للموسم الحالي 2025-2026.

طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وإيجل نوار اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وتعد المباراة الظهور الأول، للمدرب ييس توروب، في القيادة الفنية للنادي الأهلي، بعد تعيينه خلفًا للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو.

ويشهد تشكيل الأهلي، تواجد الرباعي أحمد سيد زيزو مع محمود حسن تريزيجيه وأشرف بن شرقي ويقود الهجوم محمد شريف. تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام إيجل نوار في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

حراسة المرمي: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني، ياسر إبراهيم، ياسين مرعي وأحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط: محمد علي بن رمضان، مروان عطية ومحمود حسن تريزيجيه.

خط الهجوم: أحمد سيد زيزو، أشرف بن شرقي ومحمد شريف.

يذكر، أن مباراة الإياب التي تجمع الأهلي وإيجل نوار البوروندي، في القاهرة، تقام في الثامنة مساء يوم السبت المقبل 25 أكتوبر، على ستاد القاهرة الدولي.

Fresh off toppling England again, Afghanistan face Australia with a semi-final place at stake

Andrew McGlashan27-Feb-20251:44

Shahidi: We have planned for the entire Australia team

The last time Afghanistan faced Australia in an ODI, Glenn Maxwell produced arguably the greatest innings the format has ever seen with his unforgettable double century to secure a remarkable chase in Mumbai.It ripped away a game that appeared a certain Afghanistan victory when Australia were 91 for 7 chasing 292, but they have insisted there is no extra focus purely on Maxwell ahead of a winner-takes-all clash in Lahore with a semi-final spot on the line.Related

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Ankle injury and 'personal views' behind Starc's Champions Trophy absence

A significant reason for that is Afghanistan know they beat Australia: last year at the T20 World Cup they prevailed by 21 runs despite Maxwell’s 59 off 41 balls. His dismissal to Gulbadin Naib was the defining moment of the game”You think we will come only to play with Maxwell?” Hashmatullah Shahidi said when asked about the 2023 World Cup meeting. “We have planning for all Australian team. I know that he played really well in 2023 World Cup, but that’s part of the history.”After that, we beat them in [the] T20 World Cup. We think about all [the] opposition team, we are not coming to the ground to plan on [an] individual player. We will try our best to come with the planning and we are not playing only Maxwell – we are playing Australia.”Afghanistan were the winners of this fixture at last year’s T20 World Cup in West Indies•ICC/Getty ImagesA second consecutive ICC tournament semi-final beckons if Afghanistan prevail on Friday, but they insist their minds won’t wander that far. “We will try to play positive game – just like we defeated England today, we hope to beat Australia as well,” Shahidi said. “We won’t put that pressure on ourselves by thinking too much about the semi-final qualification.”Afghanistan will enter the match less than 48 hours after the eight-run victory over England highlighted by Ibrahim Zadran’s magnificent 177. He also has good memories of facing Australia having scored 129 in that Mumbai match then 51 off 48 balls in the T20 World Cup victory in St Vincent.”It’s never easy for a player to return from injury and make such a strong comeback in a high-stakes match,” Shahidi said. “I am extremely happy for him because he is a very talented and hardworking player. When players like him perform well, as a leader, it makes me very happy and hopeful for the future. Ibrahim played a brilliant innings, and I pray that he continues to perform like this always.”The two matches so far in Lahore have seen all four innings pass 300 with Australia chasing down 352 against England in their opening match. Pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s match-winner yesterday with 5 for 58, but there was enough assistance for the spinners to provide encouragement. Noor Ahmad conceded just 51 from his 10 overs.”There was support,” Shahidi said. “I think the spinners bowled also really well. In this kind of condition our spinners are very good, and if they have a little bit help, I know they will do it for the team.”

أصدر الاتحاد الفرنسي لكرة القدم بياناً رسمياً، بعد أن تعرض لإصابة جديدة عقب فوز منتخب الديوك على أذريبجان بثلاثية نظيفة في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وكانت أهداف منتخب فرنسا قد سجلت عن طريق كيليان مبابي في الدقيقة 47، وأدريان رابيو في الدقيقة 69، وفلوريان توفان في الدقيقة 84.

ويستعد منتخب فرنسا لمواجهة منتخب أيسلندا يوم الاثنين المقبل 13 أكتوبر، ويحتل صدارة المجموعة الثالثة بـ9 نقاط وخلفه أوكرانيا بـ 4 نقاط.

وذكر الاتحاد الفرنسي في بيان رسمي :”لقد خضع إبراهيما كوناتي الذي أصيب في عضلة الفخد اليمنى خلال مباراته الأخيرة مع ليفربول للعلاج والبروتوكول منذ وصوله يوم الاثنين لكنه لن يشارك ضد أيسلندا”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. مبابي.. ديشامب يتعرض لضربة جديدة قبل لقاء أيسلندا في تصفيات كأس العالم

وكشف البيان عن اللاعب الذي سيتم استدعائه بدلاً من ابراهيما كوناتي لاعب ليفربول: “تم استدعاء بينجامين بافارد، لتعزيز صفوف الفريق وسينضم لتشكيل الفريق في ريكيافيك”.

وكانت تقارير فرنسية قد أشارت اليوم إلى أن كوناتي سيغادر منتخب فرنسا ليعود إلى ليفربول بعد أن أبقى على مقاعد البدلاء ولن يرافق رحلة المنتخب إلى أيسلندا الاثنين المقبل.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has made a serious statement during his debut summer window at the club, having already spent well north of £200 million on a host of key additions.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star new number nine, Viktor Gyokeres, have arrived to rejuvenate Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of another Premier League title challenge.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

According to reports, Arsenal have maintained their long-standing interest in Eberechi Eze too, which has been ongoing for well over a month now.

The Gunners are prioritising the creative midfielder as they seek to bolster their attacking options – but Berta wants to balance the books first (Fabrizio Romano), with the likes of Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Jakub Kiwior, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Leandro Trossard all tipped for potential exits recently.

Major discrepancies revolve around Eze’s £68 million release clause, with some credible reports claiming that this buy-out expired over a week ago on Friday at 11:59pm, whilst others believe that the clause doesn’t run out until August 15. However, there was never a plan from Arsenal to trigger it anyway.

talkSPORT reported last week that Arsenal wish to strike a deal for the England international at around £55 million after Eze’s direct talks with both Arteta and Berta.

This situation is definitely one to keep an eye on from now until the transfer deadline on September 1, but Palace chairman Steve Parish has displayed in past windows that he’s not afraid to dig his heels in when it comes to selling key assets.

In January, the Eagles snubbed an ambitious £70 million bid from Tottenham for star defender Marc Guehi, despite the centre-back’s contract expiring in 2026, so Palace are unlikely to be bullied around in negotiations over Eze either.

A deal may end up not being feasible for Arsenal after a summer of lavish spending, but Berta is known for working on many different transfer targets at once, so it’s not surprising to see them linked with a move for wantaway Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.

Arsenal plot £44m bid for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman

The Nigerian wants out of Atalanta, and has admitted to handing in a formal transfer request in his bid to wave goodbye to the Gewiss Stadium.

Lookman was occasionally deployed in the number 10 role last season, making the rest of his appearances as a left-winger, centre-forward and striker, so he could tick many boxes for Arteta, who demands versatility from his players.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (page 6) report that Arsenal could make a £44 million bid for Lookman and hijack Inter Milan’s long-winded talks for the 27-year-old, coming after the Nerazzurri’s most recent £39m offer was turned down.

The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester star is perhaps best known for one of the most scintillating performances ever witnessed in a cup final.

Lookman’s 2024 Europa League hat-trick both won the trophy for Atalanta and ended Bayer Leverkusen’s unprecedented, season-long unbeaten run – with the African standing out as a star player in Bergamo ever since then.

His 20 goals and seven assists last term, with five of those strikes coming in the Champions League, are testament to his obvious quality and Arsenal would have a serious player on their hands.

Liverpool were told to trust in Arne Slot by Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and the Reds rode the crest of that wave of faith right through to the league title.

They won it confidently. They won it emphatically. Manchester City and Arsenal and the rest were dispatched by an outfit who, quite simply, were better than everyone else.

Now Liverpool have taken things to the next level, pulling in fresh faces from every which way in the summer transfer window to reinforce Slot’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Reds will have their sights set on a successful Premier League title defence, but they will also be hungry to win the Champions League, and the FA Cup and Carabao Cup too.

Pre-season performances should be taken with a pinch of salt, but Florian Wirtz’s start to life as a Liverpool player has certainly fuelled hopes that these lofty goals are within reach.

Florian Wirtz's pre-season show-stopper

Wirtz signed for Liverpool in June for a £100m fixed fee. Potential add-ons could take that to £116m, which would make the 22-year-old the most expensive footballer in British history.

His illustrious career beginnings with Bayer Leverkusen have led him this far, though many rivals will wait to see how he fares amid new surroundings. But then Wirtz’s talent is off the scales, and he’s undoubtedly got the physical profile to match within the English game.

Across pre-season so far, the Germany international has shone, bagging a brace of assists against Stoke City back in England before jetting over to Asia, featuring against AC Milan and then picking up the Man of the Match award against Japanese side Yokohama FM.

He’s the real deal, all right, and Liverpool must know they have hit the jackpot. Wirtz is the cream of the crop of arrivals, but he may yet be trumped by another.

Liverpool lining up new striker

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now putting a British-record package together for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, just waiting for the perfect moment to show their hand.

Isak, 25, has informed the Magpies that he wishes to pursue a move to Merseyside, having refused to go on their pre-season tour and instead using his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities.

One of the best strikers in the world, Isak would cost a staggering sum, with Newcastle expected to demand £150m for their talisman.

Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak

If Liverpool were to sign Isak, they would partner Wirtz with a truly special star. The German playmaker has already been called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, and Isak is regarded by many – including pundit Alan Shearer – to be a “world-class” forward.

Building this new-look team is a staggering display of FSG’s intent, but the profiles of Wirtz and Isak could evoke a sense of nostalgia, potentially handing Slot his own version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Torres’s game was built on pace and power, and this aligned perfectly with the robust creativity of Gerrard, who marshalled his midfield while playmaking for his Spanish frontman. The results were incredible.

Arguably at his career-finest when playing for the Anfield side, El Nino notched 101 goal contributions from 142 appearances as a Liverpool striker.

The legend who is Gerrard helped him reach that pinnacle, instrumental as he widened the scope of the Spaniard’s potential.

And Torres knew it. When the Scouser hung up his boots way back when, the forward said this: “I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard. I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.”

Fabrizio Romano has praised Isak for being a “machine” in front of goal, but he’s also elegant, athletic and creative in his attacking play. In this manner, he’s a bit like Torres.

As per FBref, the Sweden international ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Truly, he’s the all-encompassing number nine. Torres was too. And with Wirtz pinging balls through to him, using his seamless movement to shift from left to right, left to right, there’s no telling how dangerous Slot’s Liverpool could be over the coming years.

Moreover, there’s a certain semblance between Isak at Newcastle and Torres in his Liverpool heyday, the strikers comparable in their rate of scoring and supplying for teammates.

Games

109

142

Goals

62

81

Goal rate

0.57

0.57

Assists

11

19

Assist rate

0.10

0.13

G/A rate

0.67

0.70

If the duo manage to bag themselves a partnership at Slot’s Liverpool next season, fans may well be treated to some incredible new football, but also a sense of the past, keeping the spirit of the club alive as they chase down more honours.

Whether Liverpool succeed in prising Isak away from Newcastle this summer is still open to the court, but the Merseysiders know that the £120k-per-week talent wants to join them, and they know that they have a world-class playmaker in Wirtz who could create a sensational new duo.

It’s bad news for Rio: Liverpool discuss move for "electric" £43m Diaz heir

Liverpool will now get ready to sign a winger after Luis Diaz signed for Bayern Munich.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

Federico Chiesa has not travelled with the Liverpool first team for their pre-season tour in Japan. A minor niggle best treated on Merseyside, so the club say.

But we all know the decision is carried by the undertow of Chiesa’s wretched debut campaign, having been the only man to sign for Arne Slot’s side last summer, arriving from Juventus in a deal worth just £12.5m.

The 27-year-old had just one year remaining on his deal with the Turin side, and FSG sensed an opportunity. Low risk, high reward.

Sadly, the versatile forward’s time on Merseyside has yielded little personal success, though he will leave a Premier League champion, should he depart as expected.

Premier League

6

–

–

104′

Champions League

3

–

1

107′

Carabao Cup

3

1

1

120′

FA Cup

2

1

–

135′

Injuries and Slot’s unwillingness to hand him minutes don’t detract from the fact that a replacement might be needed, especially since Luis Diaz is the subject of Bayern Munich’s vested interest, with a £58.5m bid already knocked back.

How Liverpool are replacing Federico Chiesa

In a sense, Liverpool have already replaced Chiesa, for they have signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for about £30m. The right-sider is a defender and forward both, with the athleticism and monstrous attacking qualities to provide cover for Mohamed Salah.

Replacing Chiesa comes less from a strictly positional standpoint than the addition of one or two signings who can complete Liverpool’s frontline.

With Florian Wirtz signed for a British record £116m fee, steps have already been taken in this regard. More of a playmaker, the German is nonetheless one of the most dangerous attacking players on the globe.

And Hugo Ekitike is in the process of completing his medical before sealing his move to Anfield. Liverpool agreed a £79m total package with Eintracht Frankfurt for the 23-year-old striker.

However, if Diaz is sold, Liverpool would need a new winger, one preferably who could provide support both on the left and on the right.

Liverpool in the race for Premier League winger

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have retained an interest in Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon after being offered the chance to sign the England winger last summer.

Gordon, 24, has been shortlisted along with Lyon prospect Malick Fofana and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo as FSG prepare for Diaz’s potential departure.

However, Gordon’s affiliation with Liverpool (who he supported as a child and played for as an academy member until he was 11) and his Premier League experiences could see a bid placed for him.

The Magpies are looking to bank as much as £100m, and Arsenal are also interested.

Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon

Gordon might have been of an Everton persuasion in the past, but Liverpool would hit the jackpot by reeling him back over to Merseyside as a Red.

Fast, furious and threatening with a variety of instruments, Gordon has established himself as a real menace, notching 36 goal involvements across the past two Premier League seasons and winning Newcastle’s Player of the Year award for 2023/24.

Not just a sharp attacking presence, Gordon also gets stuck in and contributes across the park. As per Sofascore, he averaged 1.5 key passes and 4.4 successful duels per game last term, thus illustrating his combativeness and crispness on the ball.

And given that he would be a direct Diaz replacement, it’s only fitting that he should be positionally fluid. In this way, he could in fact cover Chiesa’s position when called upon, also capable of moonlighting as a centre-forward, like Diaz did so expertly last year.

Left winger

124

26

29

Right winger

53

8

8

Attacking midfield

21

13

2

Centre-forward

16

5

1

Gordon’s performances since swapping Everton for Newcastle have seen him spring from the floor, but his ceiling’s higher still.

Declaring himself “a nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, Gordon has the experience to dovetail right into Liverpool’s first team, with his dynamic skills making him an exciting teammate for any forward looking to make their way.

All this is to say that Gordon could actually prove to be an even bigger talent than Ekitike, who has been named “one of the best strikers out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson but has yet to pass the English top-flight test.

The Frenchman might need a bit of time to bed in, whereas Gordon would be expected to hit the ground running.

That’s not a blight on Ekitike’s skill set. He is indeed one of the most exciting prospects out there, and he could shape into a world-beater for a fluent Liverpool side so rich with quality to ease him into his touted talismanic role.

But Gordon has already hit an astounding level in the Premier League, and joining Slot’s brood, he would be expected to raise his bar once again, taking a leaf from Ryan Gravenberch’s book, from Cody Gakpo’s.

Moreover, the fact that Liverpool’s interest stretches back to last summer makes a rather interesting comment on the depth of their intrigue, and indeed how the powers that be appear to be in concert: this is a player that the club need to sign, for he could not only replace Diaz but rise to a level above the Colombia star.

Ekitike is a talented player, but Liverpool know that he is a work in progress. Gordon may well be too, but he would be expected to lead with confidence, all the while reaching a level which might truly blow the Merseyside fanbase away.

Better deal than Ekitike: Liverpool preparing £45m bid for "monster" star

Liverpool are still planning to make several more signings in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 21, 2025

Everton only went from strength to strength to strength when the Friedkin Group ended Farhad Moshiri’s dysfunctional reign toward the end of 2024, moving swiftly to replace Sean Dyche with David Moyes in the dugout.

Relegation candidates in the bleak of winter, Everton played to Moyes’ tune across the second half of the campaign, finished comfortably in 13th place in the Premier League.

The Scotsman has overseen a slow start to the transfer window, albeit with chief executive Angus Kinnear settling in and dealing with an overload of potential departures. Albeit, Charly Alcaraz’s loan spell has been made permanent for a £13m fee.

Much has been made of the need for forwards, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin going and the Toffees closing in on his replacement in Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, 22, who has a £34.5m release clause.

But Everton may yet need to package their midfield with one or two impactful additions.

The latest on Everton's midfield situation

Everton always knew this was going to be a significant summer, with so many comings and goings taking place. Midfield is indeed more settled than other areas of the field, but the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure have departed, and with Alcaraz now a permanent feature, Everton might want to invest in a deeper-lying replacement.

There is, however, hope on Merseyside that 35-year-old star Idrissa Gana Gueye might renew his Everton vows to spend a year at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Gueye is still an effective player, but he’s a veteran, and it might be good to seek a replacement, one who could contest for that starting spot next season. That man might prove to be Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, who has emerged as a top target for Everton.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s what Football Insider believe, having detailed Everton’s desire to rival Manchester United for the Nigeria international by making a formal offer for the player.

Suitors are lining up as he is entering the penultimate year of his contract at the King Power, Leicester having been relegated from the Premier League last season.

GIVEMESPORT have also chimed in, stating that the Foxes recognise that clubs might not fancy paying the full release clause and might instead settle on a more agreeable £5m figure.

Part of this is due to Ndidi’s high £75k-per-week salary.

What Wilfred Ndidi would bring to Everton

Leicester signed Ndidi from Belgian side Genk way back in January 2017, when he was only 20 years old. Arriving in a deal worth £15m, he always had a huge task in replacing N’Golo Kante, but he’s done himself justice over his years on English soil.

Still only 28 years old, Ndidi has featured 303 times for his current club, notching 40 goal involvements and playing a tackle-heavy defensive role that has since bloomed into something more dynamic and modern, the anchor raised.

In this way, he could prove to be a fantastic replacement for Gueye but also an upgrade on the older man, bringing to Everton a fitting combative style but also a slick passing game that can help the evolution of Moyes’ system.

1.

Idrissa Gueye

Everton

123

2.

Daniel Munoz

Palace

109

3.

Noussair Mazraoui

Man Utd

102

4.

Moises Caicedo

Chelsea

100

5.

Joao Gomes

Wolves

99

Remarkably, no Premier League player won more tackles than Gueye in 2024/25, the veteran belying his age to play a priceless part in the stabilisation of a side that stared down the barrel of a smoking gun.

Everton need someone to step into his boots and emulate such qualities. Ndidi could be that man. Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 2 star ranked among the top 5% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last season for tackles, the top 7% for blocks, the top 3% for clearances and the top 4% for aerial battles won per 90.

He also averaged assists at a rate of 0.19 per 90, which underscores a ball-playing side to Ndidi’s game that could prove invaluable as Everton look to break free from the pragmaticism which has defined so much of their football in recent years, and instead become a force to be reckoned with in England’s top flight.

Gueye, by contrast, averaged 0.09 assists across all competitions in 2024/25. This was hardly to the detriment of Everton’s fluency and success; it wasn’t within the ball-winner’s jurisdiction. However, it illustrates the presence they would sign by reeling in Ndidi, for sure.

Last season, Ndidi served in a collapsing Leicester system, but he still plied his trade dutifully. As per Sofascore, across his 28 appearances in the league (all starts), the African midfielder racked up five assists, created five big chances and averaged 0.6 key passes per game.

Moreover, he won three tackles, 6.3 duels and made 4.5 ball recoveries on average each Premier League outing. Thus, his ability to slot right in and claim the torch from Gueye is highlighted.

Leicester were abject last year, but Ndidi has long been a pillar of strength in the Midlands. One FIFA expert even named him “the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League” back in 2020, while ESPN’s Colin Udoh described him as an “absolute monster”.

Of course, there’s hope that Gueye will be staying put over the coming year, but he will indeed turn 36 around the start of the campaign, and Everton will need to cover him – especially as the versatile midfielder Doucoure has left.

Moyes has succeeded in stabilising the club, and Kinnear will know, of course, that the wage bill has been slashed by the recent exodus, thus putting the high-salary Ndidi in an attainable bracket.

With Barry potentially shoring up the frontline for a hefty £34.5m fee, Everton could hit the jackpot in shrewdly signing Ndidi, for he could absorb some tricks of the trade from his older positional peer before emphatically replacing him down the line.

Calvert-Lewin upgrade: Everton advancing in talks to sign £34m striker

Everton are edging closer to signing a La Liga forward

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 1, 2025

Jadon Sancho will not stay at Chelsea beyond this season. He had a fairytale end to his career at Stamford Bridge, scoring a goal in what turned out to be his final appearance for the club, the UEFA Conference League showpiece against Real Betis, which the Blues won 4-1.

His return to Manchester United was confirmed on Tuesday morning by David Ornstein. The journalist explained that an ‘agreement could not be reached over personal terms’, meaning he will leave the club at the end of the season. Chelsea will pay £5m to the Red Devils to cancel their obligatory buy clause.

So, with Sancho leaving, it means the Blues will almost certainly need to sign a new winger. There are some options that have been linked.

Chelsea’s options to replace Sancho

In a recent report from Sky Sports, a few options that Chelsea are reportedly interested in for their new winger have been named. One of those players is Jamie Gittens, Borussia Dortmund’s English winger, who has left a strong impression in the 2024/25 season.

Transfer Focus

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

However, perhaps a better option than Gittens, also linked by Sky Sports, is Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The 22-year-old seems available for transfer this summer, and the report suggests the Spaniard is ‘on their list’ to replace Sancho this season.

As for the price, that has been reliably reported by Ben Jacobs. He claims that Williams, who is also wanted by Arsenal this summer, is valued at £48.8m.

One stumbling block could be the fact that he is in talks for a new deal in Bilbao, although that does not rule out a move, but it could see an increase in the price.

Why Williams would be a good signing

Despite being just 22 years of age, Williams is a key player for Athletic Club. He helped his side reach the semi-final of the Europa League and finish third in La Liga, seeing them qualify for the 2025/26 Champions League.

In 45 appearances in the 2024/25 season across all competitions, Williams found the back of the net 11 times and grabbed a further seven assists. Of those goal involvements, ten of them came in 29 games in La Liga.

One reason why Chelsea’s interest in Williams may be piqued is his contributions in European competition. The Spain international, who was part of their Euro 2024 winning side, managed seven goals and assists in 955 minutes in the Europa League. That is the equivalent of just ten games, showing excellent consistency.

It is fair to say that the “electric” winger, as Statman Dave once called him, had a better season than both Sancho and Gittens, when looking at the goals and assists numbers involved.

Man United star Sancho managed 15 goal involvements this season, including his strike in the final against Betis.

Gittens, who is just 20 years of age, had a better season than Sancho, but was still pipped by Williams when it comes to most goal involvements. He managed 17 across all competitions for Dortmund, one less than the Spain international’s tally in 2024/25.

Several stats on FBref suggest Williams would be as good as, if not a better, addition for Chelsea. For example, he averages 5.05 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 3.57 for Sancho and 3.7 for Gittens.

Williams key stats vs. Sancho and Gittens
Stat (per 90)	Williams	Sancho	Gittens
Goals and assists	0.45	0.36	0.56
Key passes	1.8	1.94	1.07
Shot-creating actions	5.05	3.57	3.7
Goal-creating actions	0.59	0.51	0.51
Progressive carries	5.32	5.2	5.74
Stats from FBref

So, there is certainly plenty of supporting evidence to suggest that Williams would be a better addition to the playing staff at Stamford Bridge than Gittens, and a better option than if they had kept Sancho.

The fee is not astronomical, although his new contract could well change that. Regardless, signing Williams could be an excellent piece of business for Chelsea this summer.

A Hazard repeat: Chelsea in talks to sign £84m "monster" after Delap

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Dan Emery

Jun 1, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to step up their efforts to sign an “insane” £64 million player once they complete the deal for Matheus Cunha, according to a recent report.

Man Utd chasing new striker despite closing in on Cunha deal

The Red Devils still have one final Premier League game to play out, but already club chiefs are getting things underway ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that United are now close to signing Cunha from Wolves. The Brazil forward has accepted the project on offer at Old Trafford and has also agreed personal terms with the Red Devils. Romano claims only the finer details need to be sorted before the deal reaches the “here we go” stage.

Amorim must now bench Hojlund to unleash Man Utd "genius" in new role

Man Utd are preparing for a season-defining game on Wednesday evening…

1 ByRobbie Walls May 21, 2025

But Ruben Amorim and United want more than just Cunha to add to their front line – according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, United have also held face-to-face talks with striker Liam Delap after Ipswich Town granted permission for him to travel to Manchester. The young forward has a £30 million release clause, and he is one of a number of targets the Red Devils are interested in signing to play up front with Cunha.

Man Utd ready to step up efforts to sign Viktor Gyokeres

Along with Delap, Viktor Gyokeres is also another option that is under consideration by the Old Trafford chiefs, and according to L’Equipe, relayed by Get French Football News, Man United are stepping up their efforts to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

The report states that the Sweden international wants to resolve his future as quickly as possible, given he is expected to leave Sporting. However, the lack of concrete moves from PSG has now opened the door to United, who will look to make an approach for Gyokeres in the coming days.

It is claimed that the Red Devils are the only team to make serious efforts to try and sign Gyokeres, despite the fact the forward has also been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and is said to be on their transfer shortlist. This would be a costly purchase for United, as it’s been widely reported that it could cost any interested team as much as £64 million to sign the prolific number nine.

Apps

101

Goals

96

Assists

28

The 26-year-old, who has been labelled “insane” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been sensational for Sporting CP since moving to Portugal. Gyokeres has netted 39 goals in 33 league games this season, so while he may be an expensive purchase, his goal-scoring record suggests it would be money well spent.

Current number nine Rasmus Hojlund looks set for a move away from United, and if Cunha is being brought in to play just off the striker like he often has done at Molineux then a more clinial finisher will be required up front.

Sheffield United are going to need a huge end to the season, as well as a bit of help from other teams, to secure automatic promotion from the Championship.

The Blades are currently five points adrift of Burnley, who they still have to play, and Leeds United with just four matches left to play before the end of the campaign.

Chris Wilder’s side have lost their last three Championship games and scored just one goal in that time, which must be particularly frustrating after they splashed the cash on a new centre-forward in the January transfer window.

How much Sheffield United paid for Tom Cannon

The Athletic reported that Sheffield United agreed a fee of £10m to sign Tom Cannon from Leicester City earlier this year to bolster their attacking options.

They made that move off the back of his return of nine goals in 22 Championship matches on loan at Stoke City in the first half of the season.

Unfortunately, though, Cannon has failed to hit the ground running at Bramall Lane and has not been the boost to their promotion chances that supporters may have hoped that he would be at the time of his big-money move.

The 22-year-old attacker has failed to score in 12 league matches for the Blades to date, registering just one assist in that time, and it is fair to say that the striker has flopped due to his complete lack of goals.

£10m was a big outlay for a centre-forward at Championship level, which is why more should be expected from him, and this is illustrated by the fact that United once sold Che Adams, who is now miles better than Cannon, for just £2m.

Why Che Adams is miles better than Tom Cannon

The Blades sold Adams to Birmingham for a reported fee of £2m in the summer of 2016 after he had scored 15 goals in 55 first-team matches for the club.

After scoring 38 goals in 123 games for the Blues, the English-born centre-forward signed for Southampton for a fee of £15m in the summer of 2019.

Following several seasons in the Premier League with the Saints, Adams went back down to the Championship last season and thrived in the second tier, before his move to Torino in the Serie A last summer.

Starts

25

25

xG

13.79

6.27

Goals

16

8

Conversion rate

20%

17%

Big chances created

7

5

Assists

4

3

As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international was prolific for Southampton last season and has carried his impressive finishing over to Italy, outperforming his xG by almost two goals in the Serie A.

These statistics show that Adams is a clinical forward who is reliable in front of goal in one of Europe’s major leagues, whilst Cannon is currently goalless in 12 games for Sheffield United.

The Torino frontman is, therefore, currently significantly more effective than the Blades number nine, as he is thriving in a top European league, whilst the Ireland international cannot score in the Championship.

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Sheffield United once sold the attacker for a fee of just £2m and it currently remains to be seen if their £10m signing will ever reach the heights that the Scottish dynamo has hit in his career.