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India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is excited to have a “healthy headache” after a long time, one that involves having several options to choose from for certain roles.Take the opening spot for example. Pratika Rawal, with an average of 63 in 11 innings, remains the preferred opener alongside Smriti Mandhana for the upcoming ODI series against England. However, Shafali Verma is still in contention, thanks to her recent form in the WPL, domestic cricket, and the T20Is.This is something head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed last week after India’s T20I series win. If Shafali returns, Rawal could find herself competing with the in-form Harleen Deol for the No. 3 spot.Related

• Harmanpreet and Mandhana hope India 'break the barrier' for maiden World Cup glory

• The metamorphosis woman – third time a charm for Shafali?

• 'One more ball, please' – The quiet rise of N Shree Charani

• India lift their fielding to the next level

• Muzumdar: Shafali in contention for ODI WC 'without a doubt'

“After a long time, we’re having a healthy headache of having to pick the best team,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the first ODI in Southampton. “Earlier, we didn’t have so many options. Credit to Shafali and Pratika for the kind of performances they’ve put in.”Even Harleen, whenever she’s got the opportunity, she has shown she can also take the responsibility for the team. Clarity as a captain is something I give to all players so that when we go to the ground, we know our role and what kind of cricket we’re going to play.”Everyone knows their role. A lot of clarity is there compared to previously. It’s very important as a player and team to get that. When you’re playing for the country, you want clarity of roles. All credit goes to the team and staff for giving that clarity to the players.”The depth isn’t just in the batting, but in the spin department too. Over the last two years, the spin-offs from the WPL have led to a number of players, like Saika Ishaque, Shreyanka Patil, Tanuja Kanwer, breaking through. The latest among them to make a mark is left-arm spinner N Shree Charani, who was named Player of the Series in the T20Is for her series topping 10 wickets.”She’s a key player for us,” Harmanpreet said of the 20-year-old Charani. “In the WPL, where she played two-three [two] matches [for Delhi Capitals], she was impressive. From there only, we all [team management and selectors] had a chat that she can be a very good option for us.”We kept rotating players to see who fits in well, who could give most two the team. She has been outstanding for all of us. A player like her is very important. Along with her, even Radha [Yadav] has made a solid comeback. Hope their combination will keep helping the team like it is.”Radha, as Harmanpreet alluded to, wasn’t part of the original T20I squad, and only made it as a late replacement for the injured Shuchi Upadhyay. Her ground fielding and catching, along with tight left-arm spin, came in for plaudits from the coaches during the T20I series. And Harmanpreet couldn’t have been happier at her coming of age.Radha Yadav has experience as well as pedigree•Getty Images

“Radha is one of the most important teammates for us,” she said. “When she was not doing well, it was a big headache [for the team management] how we can extract performances out of her. She’s a player I as a captain don’t want to lose at any cost.”In between, she got time to work on herself. When she came back, we had a chat that whatever she’s been doing has been helping. In this [T20I] series when she came into the team, she had the same attitude. She wanted to keep bowling all the time, whether for the first six overs or slog overs. She worked hard during the break and improved herself. In ODIs also she can be useful for the team.”Another encouraging development for the team management is the emergence of Amanjot Kaur. Her rise comes at a crucial time, with key allrounder Pooja Vastrakar sidelined by a stress injury that puts her World Cup participation in doubt. With pace spearhead Renuka Singh also unavailable, Amanjot has stepped up to share the seam-bowling responsibilities alongside Arundhati Reddy.”In the first year of WPL [2023], she was unlucky, didn’t get so many opportunities to bat or bowl. The team we had, it was a big line-up with a lot of bowling options,” Harmanpreet said. “This season, with Pooja not there, she played that role very well. In the batting also, she proved herself.”She wants to contribute across all three departments. The WPL and T20I series, even tri-series [in Sri Lanka], when he has had opportunities, she has contributed. She wants to do something in all departments. It feels good to see a player with that attitude.”In recent times, India’s ODI approach has undergone a slight change. From wanting to bat deep, they’re now trying to embrace a more robust approach as evident in the recent tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka, where India made 276, 275, 337 and 342 during their title-winning run.”In the ODI cricket we’ve been playing for the last couple of years, we’ve always focused on scoring more than 300 with the bat,” she said. “It gives the bowlers some cushioning. Earlier we had five bowling options, and it becomes slightly tough if we have only so many runs on the board. Recently, like in the T20Is, we went for four spin options. I think somewhere that has helped.”When we’re batting, we want to look for more than 300 and when we’re bowling, we have good bowling options so that there’s no extra pressure on any one bowler, because anyone can have an off day. We should have another option to be in the game. Pratika is our sixth bowling option; she’s been doing well in between. We’ll try to get more options in bowling. Our fielding was outstanding in T20I series, so we’ll try and carry that momentum.”

Enzo Maresca returned silverware to Stamford Bridge last season, two loads of it. Chelsea also finished fourth in the Premier League to unlock the doorway into the Champions League.

It’s been an up-and-down start to the 2025/26 campaign, but there’s little sense that Chelsea have been hit with a case of second-season syndrome, instead finding their footing after a summer of change.

There is enough on show for the fans to remain confident in the project. Before the international break, the Londoners beat Liverpool, and it was Estevao Willian who wheeled away in celebration after that last-gasp strike against the champions, Chelsea making their pressure and optimism count and keeping pace on the fringes of the early title pack.

However, if the Maresca era is to reach new heights, the Blues will need a ready-made superstar to lead the way toward glory. Someone, perhaps, in the vein of Eden Hazard.

Hazard's Chelsea legacy

Hazard is one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League. He might have retired relatively early, but the Belgian maverick gave everything across seven seasons for Chelsea, and his record-breaking departure to Real Madrid in 2019 led Joe Cole to hail him as “the greatest player the club has ever had.”

The 34-year-old played 352 matches for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals and supplying 88 assists. No player in Premier League history has completed more take-ons in a single campaign than him (180), as per Squawka.

Quite simply, his dribbling and directness left nothing to be desired; what more could be demanded from one of the greatest to do it?

The two-time league champion also won two Europa League titles among further domestic honours. Four times he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year, and he was crowned the Premier League Player of the Season in 2014/15 after guiding his side to the trophy.

In some ways, Estevao may be a new incarnation of the fleet-footed winger, but Hazard was a talisman who transcended his positional role, and there’s another within Maresca’s squad who is shaping up to be the next version.

Chelsea's new version of Eden Hazard

While Estevao has the world at his feet, it’s important not to overburden the 18-year-old. That said, Cole Palmer is already settled into his talismanic berth at Stamford Bridge, and he has the quality and experience to lift Chelsea to new heights and emulate Hazard.

Palmer, 23, joined the Blues from Manchester City just over two years ago, penning a long-term contract off the back of a £42.5m fee.

Ice-cold from the start, the England international’s maiden campaign in the capital was the stuff of legend, fast-tracking himself to the overhanging posters across the Premier League advertising boards. He was, in other words, instantly among the most talented and marketable players in the country.

Given that Palmer is still so young, hailed by Sky Sports’ Nick Wright as being ‘Chelsea’s new leader’, the rangy playmaker might not have Hazard’s same blistering speed, but he’s got the skills and potency in the final third to guide Chelsea toward heights more illustrious than have been reached already under Maresca’s wing.

Indeed, it’s curious to note that Palmer has actually outperformed Hazard across his opening two terms at the outfit, when comparing the superstars’ respective starts to life in London.

Games

111

97

Goals

30

43

Assists

31

29

G/A Rate

0.55

0.74

Trophies

2x

2x

Maybe this underscores just how impressive a start to life at Chelsea Palmer has made. There was a reason that Jamie Carragher described the Three Lions star as “the best player in the Premier League” one year ago, after all.

Having struggled with injury across the opening months of the new campaign, Palmer has only featured four times across all competitions, with two goals scored. Despite his limited showing thus far, Palmer has been praised by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp for a “world-class” performance against Bayern Munich in September.

But he’s a hero for the club, alright, and could leave a legacy that ends up rivalling and maybe even surpassing that of Hazard.

Chelsea's "young Hudson-Odoi" is now on borrowed time because of Estevao

Estevao’s stunning ascent at Chelsea could now mean this other exciting starlet is on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 15, 2025

Tifos are woven into the fan experience for MLS, allowing authentic expression and breathing new life into old rivalries

There were 200 identical pieces of cardboard in the stands at Yankee Stadium. 

Each one had an enthusiastic fan hiding below it. Every single one was painted separately by a group of supporters, depictions of Timberland boots hoisted into the air.

Further down flew two massive canvases with “Timbs Army” emblazoned on them. It was NYCFC fans’ way of marking their home fixture against Portland Timbers. It was also a bit of an inside joke. “Timbs” are popular in New York, the unifying shoe of the five boroughs. The idea here was that NYCFC would stomp on their opponent. 

The final score is irrelevant. But the image went viral. Reddit blew up. Fans of other clubs offered their praise. The best comment? A reluctant “Haha that’s hilarious” from a Portland fan. 

This is one of the many ways MLS defines itself. Fan culture in MLS is an elusive thing, caught in a battle between American authenticity and rip-offs of other global leagues. For the most part, no one really wins. But the most authentic, and often most effective way of supporting a club – or getting one over another – is through tifos, massive visual displays meticulously crafted by fans. 

They are the product of hours of planning, days of painting, and, presumably, the consumption of countless beers to piece together the perfect method of fan expression. 

“Most matches, we're gonna do some fun banter for the other team, or try to razz them out a little bit, and then we just kind of go from there,” James Shelton, creative director for the Pride Cincy, an FC Cincinnati supporters group, told GOAL.

Getty'There is going to be some ribbing'

Tifos are not a particularly new or MLS specific phenomenon. They were originally used by ultras in parts of Italy and Eastern Europe in the 1960s, mostly to make political statements – or send messages to their own club. They were, in effect, early examples of fan protest. The term “tifo” originates from the Italian word tifosi (fans). 

They have since changed in meaning. In the early 2000s, tifos became more prevalent worldwide. And while in Europe they have stayed mostly black and white with simple lettering, MLS fans have used them as a primary way of expressing club culture. Chants are ripped-off rhythms, or co-opted versions of European culture. Singing post-match might be a bit too niche. 

But put up a beautiful and well-crafted display, and everyone takes notice. There are some classic examples. Portland’s Timbers Army led the way, but other clubs have followed. These days, tifos are the primary way in which clubs address rivalries, make statements, or simply have a bit of fun. 

“There is going to be some ribbing that happens, but I think it's all in good humor,” said Andrew Tucker, president of The Third Rail, an NYCFC supporters’ group.

AdvertisementAndrew Tucker'We have the graphic designers'

The concepts often start in a Discord, WhatsApp or Facebook chat. Supporters’ groups can reach triple digits these days, and some teams allow their fans to be as active as possible. When the season schedule drops, chats become a flurry of activity: big games, tough stretches, and who, exactly, they can target over the course of the season. 

“We have a lot of conversations… like, ‘Hey, listen, what do you guys think we should focus on? We should focus on at least five games this year. What games do you want to do?’” Victor Arroyo of the Red Bulls' Empire Supporters Club said. 

And then the ideation starts. Most groups work with graphic designers, natural creatives, or artists. Then those without artistic backgrounds get involved, too. What happens, often, is a flurry of ideas, combined with a select few people capable of actually bringing the concepts to life. 

“We have the graphic designers, and they'll be like, ‘I got you, we'll do this, and we'll take care of it,’” Arroyo said. 

Want a bull wrestling an eagle for New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United? No problem. A replica of a Barbie Doll house to call Inter Miami ‘plastic’? Consider it done. Sometimes, of course, there are too many ideas. And some flat out don’t work. That’s when personalities need to be managed. 

“It’s very hard to have a number of people with very different ideas, or design aesthetics in a group chat trying to decide on one idea,” Tucker said. “And then when you say no to a certain idea, it hurts designer egos. And it's hard then to get them to come back and design another one.” 

For the most part, these are collaborative creative processes, with most fans on the same page as to who, exactly, they want to target.

Andrew Tucker'We've had some big things to give them sh*t for'

And that’s where the real fun is. Friendly rivalries don’t really exist in soccer these days. It’s a bit of an all-or-nothing concept. Your team either hates someone or has a total sense of apathy. These things are subject to change – competition becoming more or less relevant over time. 

But artistic expression can sometimes keep them ticking along. In the early days of the Hudson River Derby, it’s how the New York Red Bulls made fun of transplants NYCFC. 

“We did one for NYCFC when they first came in with Frank Lampard and David Villa, walking around with crutches. They were like 50 years old, trying to bring in a team,” Arroyo said. 

Of course, NYCFC hit back the next year. These days, they are eager to constantly remind their rivals that they play across the Hudson River in New Jersey – and have yet to win MLS Cup. 

“We've had some big things to give them sh*t for – obviously winning MLS Cup before them, them getting to the finals of MLS Cup and then not winning yet again,” Tucker said. 

The same goes for other clubs. Portland and Seattle engage in visual battle every year. Likewise for Cincinnati and Columbus for the “Hell is Real” rivalry – which has yielded some of the league’s finest tifos over the years. 

And there’s plenty of material there, too. 

“The owners of the Cleveland Browns bought Columbus a few years ago, and they've kind of been hinting that they might be playing more games or even possibly moving the club to Cleveland,” Shelton said. “So we just keep making fun of them for that.”

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James Shelton'It was a firestorm in discord'

Cincinnati probably shouldn’t have lost to Columbus this year. First of all, it was a hit to the team’s Supporters Shield hopes. Second, their fans had taken a shot at their rivals before the game, making a tifo inspired by tarot cards, a giant lion accompanied by the inscription “your fate is inevitable.” 

The next time the two teams faced off, the Crew had a laugh with their visuals, taking the same design but replacing the lion with a cat holding three cards, each one with an MLS Cup. 

The supporters lost it online. 

“It was a firestorm in discord,” Shelton said. “And we immediately started to figure out how to respond.” 

It’s those kinds of moments that keep supporters coming back for more. And there are some common targets, too. Miami are most clubs’ favorite team to make fun of. It’s not hard to see why. The club were a struggling entity before Lionel Messi arrived, and have since catapulted to one of the best in the league. There is a widespread resentment towards them and their ownership – with some rival fans claiming that they test the limit of what should be legal within MLS rules. 

It has led to some remarkable displays of art, but it has also helped breed some resentment. The view from Miami fans is a bit mixed. 

“I think it's a fair game, to be honest,” said Nico Abad, member of The Siege supporters’ group. “It does kind of annoy me sometimes, because it's just like ‘No, pink and black lives in your head rent free.’” 

Sometimes, Abad says, it’s just plain jealousy from rivals. 

“It must be so frustrating for the outsiders that all of a sudden their stadium of, like, blue and black or red and blue – all of a sudden there's pink everywhere,” Abad said with a laugh.

Ponting said they were looking at some Indian players as options, and will name replacements in the coming days

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-2025Punjab Kings (PBKS) allrounder Glenn Maxwell has suffered a fractured finger in his right hand and is in danger of missing the remainder of IPL 2025. While PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer said at the toss during the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that they hadn’t “decided about the replacements yet,” head coach Ricky Ponting said in the press conference later that they would do so soon.Maxwell’s PBKS and Australia team-mate Marcus Stoinis also confirmed Maxwell had broken his finger at training before the rained-out encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 26, saying Maxwell is “likely out of the tournament”.In Maxwell’s absence for the match against CSK, PBKS brought in Suryansh Shedge and named only three overseas players in their XI after opting to bowl, and went on to win the game by four wickets.Related

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“It’s very unfortunate that he’s got a fractured finger,” Shreyas said at the toss. “To be honest, we haven’t decided about the replacements yet so far but we are pretty strong in our team’s mindset and what we have outside of our playing XI. We’ve got varieties of players who can win you matches. So we’re going to stick to that as much as possible.”Stoinis also confirmed Maxwell had gone for scans and the results “weren’t great.””He didn’t think it was too bad, but it ended up getting pretty bad,” Stoinis told the broadcasters before the match in Chennai. “He had scans and, yeah, the results weren’t great. So unfortunately for Maxi, I think it’s likely he’s out for the tournament.”Maxwell has endured a poor run in the tournament so far with the bat but has contributed with his offspin, taking four wickets. He has 48 runs in six innings, including single-digit scores in each of his last four games. In the last match against KKR, he scored 7 off eight balls before being bowled by Varun Chakravarthy. He was bought for INR 4.2 crore at the 2025 mega auction.Ponting: Not a lot of high-quality replacements because of PSL clashMaxwell’s injury means he will likely be the second player PBKS will be without after their fast bowler Lockie Ferguson had sustained a “serious injury ” earlier this month. PBKS have, however, not named a replacement for him yet, but Ponting said they will do so soon.”We will be signing some replacements at some stage,” Ponting said. “We’ve got until our 12th game, so we have a couple of games to go yet. With the squad we’ve got, we’re trying to find players in our squad anyway, we’ve got most basis covered. So we’ve got Azmatullah [Omarzai], Aaron Hardie, who hasn’t played yet, Xavier Bartlett who didn’t play today, it’s conditions based. But when we get to Dharamsala he will come back into the reckoning up there, where the ball might swing and bounce a little bit more.”So we’ve actually been a little bit patient. Maxi’s only been a couple of days, Lockie’s has been two or three weeks. And with the PSL happening at the same time, there’s not a lot of high-quality replacements out there, to be honest. So we’ve just been patient. We’re having a look around at Indian talent as well and we’re looking at what roles we might be able to fill with some younger Indian players. We’ll actually take a couple of guys to Dharamsala with us, a couple of guys trained with us yesterday and they will come with us to Dharamsala, we’ll have a closer look at them and they might find themselves with a Punjab contract going forward. It has to be this week, has to be before the 12th game, so stay tuned.”As Ponting said, they have to name the replacements before their 12th game. They have almost a week to name the replacements, with their 11th game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 4 and 12th match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 8; both those matches will be in Dharamsala.PBKS are currently placed second on the points table, only behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). CSK is the only team right now that has been eliminated from the playoffs race.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo deve aprovar em breve um novo empréstimo bancário. O valor deste novo empréstimo deve girar em torno dos R$ 35 milhões e será realizado pelo banco BTG Pactual.

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A informação foi dada primeiramente pelo jornalista Paulo Pontes. Ao que tudo indica, o valor teria sido recebido em julho e passará por votação pelo Conselho Deliberativo do São Paulo.

A intenção é que este valor seja pago em um prazo de 30 meses, com juros de CDI + 6,80% ao ano. Como o Lance! noticiou em março, o Conselho do Tricolor já tinha aprovado quatro novos empréstimos, que conforme informado pelo clube, serviriam para pagamentos de contas do dia a dia mesmo e dívidas.

 Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Campeonato Brasileiro

O São Paulo tem uma verba pré-aprovada de empréstimo por ano. A gestão Casares encerrou o ano passado com mais de dez empréstimos bancários feitos. Segundo levantamento do historiador Alexandre Giesbrecht, da página ‘Anotações Tricolores‘, o montante angariado pelo Tricolor junto de instituições financeiras foi de no mínimo R$ 84 milhões.

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will stand before a judge following allegations he oversaw €30 million in irregular commissions on transfers, including Antoine Griezmann’s move. The complaint, filed by current president Joan Laporta, accuses Bartomeu’s board of disloyal administration, misappropriation, and accounting fraud potentially deepening the shadow over his tenure.

Ex-Barcelona president Bartomeu charged in transfer scandal

According to and , Barcelona’s Investigating Court No. 16 has officially summoned ex-president Bartomeu as a suspect after a complaint from Laporta. The allegations centre on irregular payments and inflated commissions linked to high-profile transfers such as Griezmann and Malcom. Bartomeu and his former deputy Oscar Grau are due to testify in late October.

AdvertisementAFPLaporta accuses Bartomeu of €30m losses amid Barcagate & Negreira scandals

Laporta, who reclaimed the presidency in 2021, filed the complaint after receiving a forensic report from the Kroll detective agency. The findings estimated damages to the club of around €30m (£25m/$33m), citing what Laporta described as a systematic “modus operandi” designed to bypass internal financial controls. The complaint suggests fraudulent contracts and shell companies were used to justify massive payouts. 

Bartomeu has also been directly tied to the Barcagate scandal, where police uncovered WhatsApp messages showing he oversaw a paid social media campaign targeting rivals and even Pep Guardiola. He is further implicated in the Negreira case, with a court hearing last week seeing him deny that Barcelona paid the former refereeing vice-president to influence officials.

Getty Images SportSuspicious transfers of Griezmann and Malcom under the spotlight

Among the operations flagged is the €10m commission allegedly paid in the Malcom transfer, signed after the deal had already been completed. Questions have also been raised over lawyer Jose Angel Gonzalez Franco, who reportedly collected €1.7m in fees connected to the Neymar case and further commissions during Griezmann’s transfer. Payments to Atletico Madrid to smooth Griezmann’s controversial move have also been labelled “illegitimate.”

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AFPWhat happens next in the Bartomeu investigation?

Bartomeu and Grau will appear before the court on October 24, while González Franco is scheduled for December 4. If the investigation confirms financial misconduct, the former president and his associates could face serious legal consequences. For Barca, Laporta’s complaint signals an attempt to draw a line under past mismanagement while reinforcing his pledge to restore the club’s integrity.

With less than 10 days until the transfer window closes, Newcastle United are now reportedly eyeing a deal to sign a Premier League rival alongside Manchester City.

Latest on Newcastle's striker search

Whilst it seemed as though things were finally looking up for Newcastle when a deal was back on the table for Yoane Wissa and Malick Thiaw arrived, they now look destined to suffer a cruel transfer twist yet again. Reports are now suggesting that, despite Brentford’s initial decision to ease their stance, the Bees are now demanding in excess of £60m to sell their forward, who is back training with the squad.

As things stand, the closest that Newcastle have come to meeting Brentford’s demands is an offer worth £40m. Whether that changes before the transfer window slams shut remains the big question, but the forward is no longer the only name on the Magpies’ shortlist.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jorgen Strand Larsen has also entered Newcastle’s radar, according to recent reports. The towering Norway international enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League last time out and would undoubtedly be an ideal alternative to Wissa this month.

Like Brentford, however, Wolves are in no mood to hand Newcastle a cut-price in the remaining days of the window – reportedly demanding over £60m to sell their star striker.

Just where Newcastle take their striker search next remains to be seen in a summer full of twists, especially with recent rumours indicating that their next signing may even be a Premier League defender instead.

Newcastle eyeing Acheampong alongside Man City

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are now eyeing a deal to sign Josh Acheampong from Chelsea in a fresh transfer race against Manchester City. The 19-year-old started Chelsea’s opening day draw against Crystal Palace, keeping a clean sheet in what was a solid performance despite the Blues’ shortcomings going in the other direction.

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Now on Newcastle’s radar, the teenager would offer Eddie Howe instant versatility thanks to his ability to play as both a right-back and a centre-back. Whether the Magpies can convince Chelsea to sell their young star is another question entirely, however. As things stand, despite interest from City and Newcastle, those at Stamford Bridge have stood firm on their stance that Acheampong is not for sale.

Described as a “superb defender in the making” by scout Jacek Kulig, Acheampong is certainly one to watch no matter where he plays his football this season and beyond.

Granit Xhaka has no qualms about Switzerland team-mate Ardon Jashari returning back stronger after his AC Milan career started off with an injury.

Xhaka not worried about Jashari's injuryLauds the youngster's mental toughnessHas no doubts he'll return strongerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Switzerland captain Xhaka is not too concerned about the injury suffered by his national team-mate Jashari, with the Sunderland star backing the Milan midfielder to bounce back stronger from the setback and shine for both club and country.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Just days after making his Serie A debut in a shock 2-1 defeat against Cremonese, the €39 million (£34m/$46m) signing collided with team-mate Santiago Gimenez during a training session. Upon further examination, Milan confirmed that the 23-year-old had sustained a compound fracture on the right fibula, with expected recovery and rehab timelines set for around two months. 

WHAT GRANIT XHAKA SAID

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Xhaka said: "I told him: 'Your time will come.' Ardon has a great future ahead of him, and with his move to Milan, he's shown he can play for a great team. It's a shame about the injury, but he's quite strong mentally and will definitely come back even stronger."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARDON JASHARI?

It is expected that Jashari will be cleared to return to light training somewhere around early November. He will be a huge miss for head coach Massimiliano Allegri, as the Rossoneri are set to face tough fixtures against Bologna, Napoli, Juventus, Atalanta and perhaps Roma in the youngster's absence.

Arsenal are willing to make a £77m bid for a “superstar” forward, who is now keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Gunners closing in on deal for Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres is clearly determined to seal a move to north London, with widespread reports stating the striker has refused to turn up to Sporting CP training ahead of the new campaign, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed Arsenal is the only club he wants to sign for.

Andrea Berta has held positive talks over a deal for the centre-forward, and there is a belief that a fee is “virtually agreed”, with David Ornstein stating on Sunday evening that Arsenal are in the “final steps in negotiations” with Sporting for the striker.

However, the lack of a top striker was arguably not the only reason Mikel Arteta’s side came up short last season, with the manager also lacking depth in wide areas at times, given that Bukayo Saka spent a lot of time on the treatment table.

As such, Arsenal have set their sights on another forward, and reports from Spain have revealed they would be willing to pay around €90m (£77m) to get a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo over the line, with the player making a move to north London his first choice.

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The Brazilian has attracted interest from some of the Premier League’s top clubs this summer, while Bayern Munich are also keen, but his number one choice would be to move to the Emirates Stadium.

There is also a feeling that playing under Arteta could be a good fit for the 24-year-old, given that he would be likely to receive more game time than at Real Madrid, having only featured sporadically at the Club World Cup.

"Superstar" Rodrygo could be exactly what Arsenal need

In order to compete on all fronts next season, Arsenal will need to have strength in depth in attack, and the Madrid forward would be a versatile option for Arteta, given that he is capable of playing on both wings and through the middle.

Not only that, but the Brazil international has been a regular source of goals and assists for Madrid over the past few seasons, most notably catching the eye in the Champions League during the 2024-25 campaign.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

La Liga

30

6

6

Champions League

12

5

2

Supercopa

2

2

0

Copa del Rey

5

0

2

Intercontinental Cup

1

1

0

Having also been lauded as a “superstar” by Luka Modric, there is every indication that Rodrygo would be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are set to announce their first batch of summer recruits soon.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as well as midfielders Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard are all reportedly poised to join Arsenal in the next week or so, the former providing a back-up to David Raya, while the latter duo will be replacing the outgoing Thomas Partey and Jorginho at the base of midfield.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta and the Arsenal hierarchy still have plenty of work to do.

Arsenal targeting attacking reinforcements

After a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League, it is clear what Arsenal need to add this summer and that is more attacking firepower, as the table below outlines.

League finish

2nd

2nd

2nd

Goals scored

88

91

69

Expected goals

71.6

76.1

59.9

Shots

589

647

544

Shots on target

194

209

178

Shot-creating actions

1,045

1,185

969

As shown in the table, last season, when compared to their two previous title bids under Arteta, the Gunners’ attacking output was significantly down by all available metrics.

That’s why the debate of the summer remains Benjamin Šeško or Viktor Gyökeres, with the club clearly in the market for the new number nine, but they’re also looking for reinforcements out-wide too.

Thus, according to reports in Spain, Arsenal are ‘strongly’ interested in signing Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, with the Gunners said to be ‘pushing’ for his signature.

They add that the German international, who is believed to be available for around €45m (£38m), is viewed as a ‘serious alternative’ to Barcelona-bound Nico Williams, as he would add ‘explosiveness’ to Arsenal’s forward line.

The 23-year-old began his senior career at RB Salzburg, scoring four Champions League goals for die Roten Bullen, thereby earning a £38m move to Borussia Dortmund three summers ago.

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So far, in 105 appearances for die Schwarzgelben, Adeyemi has scored 26 goals and registered 17 assists, featuring in all three of their Club World Cup fixtures this summer, starting against both Fluminense in East Rutherford and Ulsan HD in Ohio.

Now, could he become the 13th German to play for Arsenal, joining current Die Mannschaft teammate Kai Havertz, while following in the footsteps of Mesut Özil, Bernd Leno, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and others?

How Karim Adeyemi would improve Arsenal

Arsenal are looking to improve their left-wing options, with most agreeing that an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli​​​​​​​ and Leandro Trossard, or at the very least an alternative to both, is required to take the Gunners to the next level.

Nevertheless, speaking on the Arsecast, Andrew Mangan and James McNicholas both agreed that it is highly “unlikely” that the Gunners will sign two wingers this summer, so someone who can play on the left but also cover for Bukayo Saka on the right would be ideal.

Well, Adeyemi certainly fits that brief, having been deployed on both flanks by both Dortmund managers, Nuri Şahin and Niko Kovač, throughout this season.

So, let’s assess how he compares to the gold standard of Arsenal wide-players, namely the aforementioned Saka – a player he is deemed to be statistically similar to among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.

Non-penalty goals

95th

77th

Shots

82nd

87th

Assists

83rd

96th

Expected assists

91st

98th

Shot-creating actions

45th

91st

Progressive carries

71st

83rd

Successful take-ons

87th

75th

Touches

79th

95th

Progressive passes received

71st

94th

FBref disclaimer: these statistics are based upon matches played in domestic leagues and UEFA club competitions across the last 365 days, and are in comparison to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

As the table outlines, Saka does come out on top for the vast majority of metrics, but that is not to be dismissive of Adeyemi, given that the England international is one of the best players in the world, at least according to teammate Martinelli.

The German’s statistics are broadly comparable to those of Saka, scoring more non-penalty goals and successfully completing a higher percentage of his take-ons.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes him as possessing “electric pace” and “superb dribbling skills”, simply labelling him a “world-class talent”.

Meantime, Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis believes that he provides ‘a direct goal threat’ and the ability to ‘carry the ball at speed past defenders’, while Tunde Young of Breaking the Lines boldly asserts ‘he could go on to be a multiple Ballon D’Or winner, just like Lionel Messi’.

Thus, it is clear that Adeyemi ticks a lot of boxes for Arsenal and would be an excellent, exciting addition, should they be able to pull this deal off. He could well prove to be like a left-sided Saka.

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