“It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series”

Mohammad Isam15-Sep-2024Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto says his side is confident going into the first Test against India in Chennai, after their 2-0 win against Pakistan earlier this month. The two-match Test series against India starts on Thursday, followed by three T20Is.”It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series,” Shanto said in the pre-departure press conference in Dhaka. “I guess the whole country has that confidence now. Every series is an opportunity. We want to win both Tests, but we have to stick to our process. If we do our job, we can get a good result.”They are well ahead of us in the rankings. But we did play well recently. We want to play well for five days, that’s our goal. We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match. At that time, the match can go in any direction. It is an opportunity [to get our first win in India]. We will play with a win in mind. But we don’t want to think too far ahead. We want to do well for five days, and play to our strength. That’s most important.”Related

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Bangladesh played an inspired brand of cricket in Pakistan where their batters and bowlers combined to beat the home side by ten wickets in the first Test and by six wickets in the second. Much of the focus was on their fast bowlers who combined to take all ten wickets in the Pakistan second innings in the second Test, a first for the country.Shanto knows Bangladesh’s pace attack is not as experienced as India’s, but the recent success will keep them in a positive frame of mind. At the same time, he feels Bangladesh’s spinners – Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz – are much closer to India’s.”We are in a good place with our bowling attack, both spin and pace,” he said. “Perhaps our pacers are behind them in terms of experience but our spin attack is close to theirs. They can bowl in any conditions. All I can say is that our pacers, spinners and batters will give 100%.”I think we can make a difference only if we play as a team. It is not just the spinners but the pacers and the batters also. The whole team has to play together.”Shakib Al Hasan, here with Alec Stewart, picked up nine wickets in the match for Surrey•Getty ImagesBangladesh’s batters also made an overall recovery of their form. They had an ordinary time in the last 12 months, particularly against Sri Lanka earlier this year when the team crossed 300 only once during the home series. But they batted splendidly in the first Test in Rawalpindi, with Mushfiqur Rahim getting 191 and three other batters crossing fifties. In the second Test, too, they fought hard despite a top-order collapse. Litton Das struck his fourth Test century, and Mehidy his second fifty in the series.Shanto and Shakib, though, could not get a half-century in Pakistan. Shanto hasn’t emulated his 2023 form when he scored 1650 runs across formats, with five centuries. He has scored only one century so far this year. Shakib has scored just one half-century in 16 innings. But he has continued his strong bowling form, and took nine wickets for Surrey against Somerset recently. He will join the team in India directly from London.”My personal goal would be for the team to win,” Shanto said. “I want to contribute as a batter, for which I have prepared to the best of my ability. I am hopeful [Shakib] will do well. The expectations are always the same with him. He is in good form with the ball. He didn’t get runs [for Surrey], but he had a good outing with the ball.”Before the Pakistan series, the new BCB president, Faruque Ahmed, had said that he did not want Chandika Hathurusinghe to continue as head coach, but he has reportedly toned down that rhetoric. On Sunday, he also said that the team would donate a portion of their bonus for winning the Pakistan series.”The captain [Shanto] has said that they will contribute a portion of their bonus to the flood-affected people and those who were affected in the student-led people’s movement,” Ahmed said. “The amount is BDT 3.2 crore [approx. US$270,000] for winning two Tests and the series. Some different bonuses have added up also. A portion of the amount will go to the chief advisor’s relief fund for the flood-affected people.”

Chelsea have a number of players they wish to get off the books before deadline day on September 1, with Blues boss Enzo Maresca set for a few key decisions surrounding high-profile first-team stars.

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Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Nicolas Jackson, João Félix and Alfie Gilchrist have all been linked with the Chelsea exit door in recent weeks.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Benoit Badiashile has also hinted that he could leave Chelsea this summer, with The Athletic’s Simon Johnson reporting they’ll consider offers for Trevoh Chalobah too, despite his heroics during the second half of 2024/2025, so Maresca could oversee a major reshuffle of his defence.

Chelsea have already sold Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and Mathis Amougou for an estimated total fee of around £100 million, but they remain under pressure from UEFA to balance out their squad.

Failure to do so could even result in Maresca not being able to register new players for their Champions League campaign next season (Kaveh Solhekol), even if Chelsea are currently making a profit after also winning the Club World Cup and taking home £87.5 million.

Financially, Chelsea are in a very good position to carry on signing players, and that is certainly their intent towards the latter stages of this transfer window (Simon Phillips), but they’ll need to seal more departures.

Unofficial swap deals could be a key method that Chelsea utilise to both bring in upgrades and trim their bloated squad (Simon Phillips), with £195,000-per-week forward Christopher Nkunku a potential sacrifice in this regard.

Reports earlier in the window suggested that Chelsea and Man United have explored an exchange involving Nkunku and Alejandro Garnacho, and journalist Simon Phillips has now shared an update on the Frenchman’s future.

Chelsea looking to replace Christopher Nkunku as Newcastle eye "surprise" move

Writing via his Substack, the reporter claims that Chelsea are actively looking to replace Nkunku, and Newcastle have emerged as “surprise” suitors for him.

Eddie Howe’s side have expressed an interest, and even though it hasn’t advanced further than that right now, the Magpies are believed to be considering a swoop for the former RB Leipzig sensation.

This follows other audacious claims from Spain that Chelsea offered Nkunku to Real Madrid as part of a two-player swap deal for Rodrygo, but it is unclear whether the west Londoners would propose the versatile attacker for any Newcastle player.

Nkunku, despite not being a firm fixture in Maresca’s starting elevens, still managed double digits in terms of goals scored in all competitions last season, and most recently put in some impressive displays at the CWC.

“Yeah, he’s a top player, we all know his quality, how he is as a player,” teammate Felix told the media about Nkunku last campaign.

“We already saw him doing amazing things at Leipzig. And yeah, I like to play with him. I think we think the game kind of like the same way. So I think he already know what I’m going to do, and I know what he’s going to do. I think it’s pretty easy to play with him. I think we connect very well.”

Glasgow Rangers navigated an error-laden first-half performance to secure a brilliant 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

Jack Butland had to be called into action to make a series of fine stops to keep a clean sheet in the opening 45 minutes, before goals from Findlay Curtis and Djedi Gassama sealed the win in the second half.

Despite the nervy moments defensively that were littered throughout the 90 minutes, there were some impressive individual performances for Russell Martin’s side, as Curtis grasped his opportunity with both hands.

Findlay Curtis' performance in numbers

The academy graduate was given the nod to start on the left flank, with Gassama unfit to start and Thelo Aasgaard out injured, and stepped up to the plate with a fantastic showing.

It was an all-action and forward-thinking display from the 18-year-old starlet, who ended the game with four tackles and one interception made, which shows the hard work that he put in defensively.

As you can see in the clip above, Curtis also opened the scoring with a stunning goal, brilliantly taking the ball inside on the run before bending a shot, via a slight deflection, into the bottom corner from distance.

The teenage whiz attempted three dribbles and had two shots on goal, one of which was his goal, and this shows that he was constantly probing and looking to put the Gers on the front foot in the match, which the supporters at Ibrox were loving.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

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Whilst Curtis shone on one wing, Kieran Dowell started on the opposite flank and was only able to show why the Gers must replace him with a new forward before the end of the window.

Why Rangers must replace Dowell

The left-footed flop has only produced two goals and two assists in 33 appearances for Rangers as an attacking midfielder or wide player, and was sent out on loan to Birmingham City in January because of his disappointing performances.

However, Martin has seemingly seen something in him because he selected Dowell to start on the right wing against Panathinaikos, but it was not a decision that was backed up by the performance.

Vs Panathinaikos

Kieran Dowell

Minutes played

75

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

0

Big chances created

0

Duels won

5/7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Norwich man, who was outshone by Curtis, did put himself about to win duels but he was ineffective at the top end of the pitch, once again in a Rangers shirt.

Dowell, who was described as “non-existent” in the first half by the Heart & Hand Podcast, does not impose himself on matches in the final third, hence his lack of goal contributions throughout his Gers career, and that was the case against Panathinaikos, notably taking fewer touches (29) than Butland (31),.

Rangers have lost Vaclav Cerny, who was on loan from Wolfsburg last season, and the 12 goals and four assists that he provided in the Scottish Premiership from a right wing position.

This means that the Light Blues need to find another right-sided attacker who can score and create goals at an impressive rate, and Dowell’s performance on Tuesday, coupled with the rest of his career at Ibrox to date, suggests that he does not fit the bill.

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Therefore, Rangers should be looking to replace the English flop with a new right winger, who can contribute in the final third on a regular basis, to start week-in-week-out for Martin this season, before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Australia lost 10 for 93 after a blistering powerplay but still had enough in the bank to overcome the home side

Matt Roller11-Sep-2024

Travis Head produced another barnstorming display•Getty Images

England’s new era started with a familiar result: a second heavy defeat to Australia in three months. After a 36-run loss at Barbados’ Kensington Oval in June’s T20 World Cup, the margin was only eight runs smaller over 4,000 miles away at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl, with Travis Head’s powerplay blitz setting up Australia’s win.An England side with an interim captain and coach – Phil Salt and Marcus Trescothick respectively – gave off an air of impermanence, quickly slipping to 52 for 4 in pursuit of 180. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran – both dropped from next week’s ODI squad – added 54 for the fifth wicket, but the innings fell away in the chill.Sent in after a rain shower which delayed the toss, Australia failed to capitalise on their flying start, losing all 10 wickets for 93 runs after reaching 86 for 0 with one ball remaining of the powerplay. Head and Matt Short hit 15 of the first 35 balls for either four or six, with Head scoring only slightly slower than during his remarkable 80 off 25 against Scotland a week ago.England’s bowlers fought back once the field spread, with their two legspinners – Livingstone and Adil Rashid – returning combined figures of 4 for 45 from seven overs. Regular wickets through the second half of the innings meant Australia were bowled out with three balls unused – not that it proved costly, with Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa proving a cut above.Travis’ HeadstartConditions could hardly have been more different from the sides’ last meeting, with temperatures at least 20 degrees cooler than in Barbados on this bitter mid-September evening. Yet for England’s bowlers, the two powerplays felt remarkably similar: Australia’s early onslaught brought Will Jacks and Mark Wood’s 22-run overs in Bridgetown to mind.Short, who missed the Scotland series on paternity leave, replaced Jake Fraser-McGurk at the top of the order and pitched a strong case to be David Warner’s long-term replacement. They could hardly be more different in stature but Short proved just as imposing, flicking Reece Topley over square leg for consecutive sixes in the second over.Travis Head blazed a 19-ball fifty for Australia•Getty Images

And Head soon took over, making the sort of lightning-fast start that has become his trademark in his second coming as a T20 player. After thrashing Jofra Archer for three fours in four balls, Head successfully overturned a caught-behind decision off Saqib Mahmood. It seemed to prompt a realisation of his impermanence, with Curran bearing the brunt.Curran conceded a boundary off each of his first six balls, with half of those clearing the rope. Head was a step ahead, predicting where each ball would pitch: whether they were short or full, straight or wide, they disappeared to the rope. After losing his place in England’s ODI squad, this was not how Curran would have wanted to start the T20I leg.Head pulled Mahmood to six to reach a 19-ball 50, the seventh time he had brought up his half-century inside the powerplay this year alone. He fell to the final ball of the powerplay for 59, holing out to deep backward square leg, but Australia’s six-over total of 86 for 1 was the third-highest in their T20I history.Legspin to winSalt backed his spinners to put the brakes on through the middle and was vindicated straightaway when Rashid’s legbreak knocked back Mitchell Marsh’s off stump. Josh Inglis kept things moving in his 37 from No. 4, punishing Jacob Bethell when he dropped short, but Livingstone – the seventh bowler Salt used – proved the standout.Phil Salt was aghast after holing out in the deep•Getty Images

He had Short well caught by Curran at deep backward square leg, then struck twice in two balls. Marcus Stoinis crunched Livingstone back over his head for six but was trapped lbw on the reverse-sweep, and Tim David was smashed on the front pad while sweeping his first ball to leave Australia 132 for 5 in the 13th over.Curran recovered from his early struggles to bowl a reverse-scooping Inglis, before Archer and Mahmood rearranged the lower order’s stumps with a series of yorkers and low full tosses at the death.Australia catch England coldTemperatures dropped to single figures during the run chase, and England’s batters could only rarely warm the 15,011-strong crowd by prompting the pyrotechnics that greeted every boundary. Hazlewood, returning after a calf complaint, struck in his first over to have Jacks caught at long leg and England struggled to keep the required rate in check.A superb outfield catch from David, running back from mid-on to deep midwicket and diving at full stretch, accounted for Jordan Cox on international debut. When Salt picked out Short at deep square leg off the final ball of the powerplay, England were in trouble – and it got even deeper Bethell misjudged the length of Zampa’s legbreak to chop onto his stumps.Livingstone, promoted to No. 4 from his usual finishing role, took Stoinis for 17 in an over to give England a glimmer but when he and Curran fell within four balls of one another, the game was done. The only blemish for Australia came in the form of an apparent side strain for Xavier Bartlett: Cameron Green had to complete his fourth over, and later took an extraordinary diving catch running back from mid-off to remove Rashid.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has now personally identified one former Chelsea star as a top target for the Lilywhites this summer, according to a report.

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Spurs are currently working to reinforce their squad with more quality options as Frank gears up for his first ever campaign as a Champions League manager, not to mention his debut season in charge of a ‘big six’ Premier League side.

The pressure is truly on Frank, to a much greater extent than any of his previous managerial roles, especially after his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa League.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham have promised Frank that they will invest significantly in the transfer window this summer, according to some reports, and they’ve so far made good on that pledge by striking deals for Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus.

By all accounts, Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White should’ve joined them a while ago, but the club’s unprecedented threat of legal action against Spurs, for what they consider an ‘illegal approach’, has significantly delayed the Englishman’s move (Sky Sports).

Gibbs-White was scheduled to have a medical at Spurs around a fortnight ago (BBC), and if they’re currently in the middle of a tense standoff with Forest, it is believed that Tottenham remain in pursuit of the 25-year-old.

Fabrizio Romano has said Spurs are still confident they can strike a deal for Gibbs-White, but in the meantime, reports continue to surround the potential addition of a new midfielder.

Tottenham have repeatedly been linked with a move for Bayern Munich ace Joao Palhinha for that role, but as things stand, it hasn’t stretched beyond interest, contrary to some reports.

Interestingly, £150,000-per-week Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher is another target on their midfield shortlist.

Tottenham prioritise Conor Gallagher after Thomas Frank decision

Spurs were believed to be suitors for Gallagher before he opted to join Diego Simeone’s side in La Liga last summer.

The England international went on to score four goals and register another six assists in 50 total appearances for Atlético during his debut season, including a strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League, and it is believed that Tottenham are keen on tempting him with a return to the Premier League.

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham have placed Gallagher at the “top of their list” of potential midfield reinforcements, after Frank decided that the 25-year-old is a player he “needs” in north London.

Gallagher can play as a number six, traditional centre-midfielder and even as a left-winger when required, but it is currently unclear what the boyhood Chelsea supporter would think about joining an arch Blues rival.

“When we think of him we think of his youth, energy and intensity in the game. He also strikes the ball very well,” Simeone told reporters about Gallagher before a match against Real Valladolid.

“It’s never easy for players coming from England to adapt to the Spanish championship, to the language, he has competed very well in different places and in positions where he doesn’t feel more comfortable.

“He will evolve, he has room for growth. He is very intense in offensive and defensive play, he brings a lot to us.”

South Africa’s two-Test series in Bangladesh will be played on schedule, with CSA okaying the tour following a security assessment by its experts. The first Test will be played from October 21-25 in Dhaka, and the second in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2.A CSA statement on Monday said that it had given the tour the go-ahead after “an in-loco inspection” on the part of the board’s operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers’ Association, who submitted their recommendations to the board after visiting Bangladesh last week.South Africa will reach Dhaka on October 16. The squad for the series is expected later on Monday.

Bangladesh vs South Africa

Oct 21-25: 1st Test, Dhaka
Oct 29 to Nov 2: 2nd Test, Chattogram

South Africa’s concerns about the security situation in Bangladesh were because of the anti-government protests in the country in July-August, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, and, later, the women’s T20 World Cup moving out of the country to the UAE.CSA sources had told ESPNcricinfo earlier this month that they had been told the situation in Bangladesh had “settled”, but the tour wouldn’t go on if any risks were identified in the security assessments.South Africa only have six Test matches left in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. They have already played six games, having won two, lost three, and drawn one. They are currently sixth on the points table, and need to win at least five of their remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for next year’s final at Lord’s. All six of their series in this cycle have been limited to two Tests, as CSA prioritised the launch of the SA20, their domestic T20 franchise competition, and cost-cutting.The last time South Africa and Bangladesh had faced each other in a Test series was in South Africa in March-April 2022. South Africa’s white-ball squads are currently in the UAE to take on Ireland.

Joao Pedro was the perfect fit for Newcastle United, the ideal profile to nestle into the front ranks and challenge Alexander Isak for the spot at number nine.

The Brazil forward’s range of properties even suggested he could be ferried out wide, matching the fluid positional values Eddie Howe seeks from his players.

However, the Toon could only watch as Pedro opted to become the latest to walk the well-trodden path from Brighton to Chelsea, joining Enzo Maresca’s side for £60m.

Newcastle have since agreed a £52m deal with Nottingham Forest for Anthony Elanga, but a frontman is still needed.

The latest on Newcastle's search for a striker

It’s a marker of PIF’s ambition that they have expressed an interest in signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

However, the Frenchman, 23, is valued at €100m (£85m), and this is too expensive, with Ekitike’s many suitors all presently hesitant to advance their curiosity.

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a free agent after leaving Everton last month, would be a far less costly option, he’s perhaps not quite good enough for Howe’s vision.

Especially when considering Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is an option. As per Caught Offside, the 28-year-old is attracting interest from all the far-flung corners of the Premier League, with the Magpies joined by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in their interest.

Spurs appear to be leading the pack, having already begun talks ahead of a potential move, although both Newcastle and the Red Devils are set to offer ‘competition’, with the pair said to be ‘both exploring the market’ for a new centre-forward.

He’s been priced at £50m, and that’s no small sum. However, Wissa is a proven goalscorer in England’s top flight and is dynamic enough to play that Pedro-esque role, knocking on Isak’s door or indeed complementing him.

What Yoane Wissa would bring to Newcastle

Wissa has been an important player for Brentford over the past four years, helping Frank to secure a comfortable place in the Premier League after joining from French club Lorient for £8.5m in 2021.

With an interesting blend of pace and power, Wissa is the real deal, stepping up and then some for the Bees over the past year, with Ivan Toney having moved to the Saudi Pro League.

As Brentford’s focal striker last season, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists across 35 Premier League matches, with Frank describing his iconic partnership with Bryan Mbeumo as “unplayable” (after their 4-1 win over the Toon in December 2024).

Wissa’s distinctive style of play has even seen Newcastle’s Isak drawn as one of his most comparable players. FBref’s data pointed toward a likeness, with Wissa ranked among the top 15% of strikers across Europe last year for goals scored, the top 14% for pass completion and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90.

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions in 2024/25, but he offers so much more than a mere goal threat, with intelligent off-the-ball movement and menacing motions in the final third apt to wrongfoot many an unfortunate defender.

Wissa isn’t Isak, but he does have a wide-ranging skill set of his own that offers shades of the 25-year-old’s game. This is why United wanted Pedro. They missed out, but could sign just as interesting a profile here.

Centre-forward

86

34

8

Left winger

28

6

4

Right winger

7

4

0

Attacking midfield

3

1

0

As you can see, his versatile nature expands his potential in a prospective attacking position at Newcastle. He’s been hailed for his “unbelievable” quality by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

In this way, Wissa’s similarity with Isak is further underscored, for the Sweden international, while typically fixed at number nine, has been called “the complete striker” by pundit Alan Shearer, who even went on to liken him to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

As Howe leads his troops back onto Europe’s elite stage, he’ll need strength in depth to compete and to flourish.

In Wissa, he might just find the perfect man for the job.

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Newcastle are looking to add further depth out wide

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West Ham United have now submitted a £22m offer for an “exciting” player who turned down a move to Manchester United, according to a report.

Hammers set for busy summer transfer window

There are set to be plenty of changes at the London Stadium this summer, with replacements needed for the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Danny Ings and Kurt Zouma, who have all been released following the expiration of their contracts.

It looks like some of the Hammers’ summer transfer business could be funded by another departure, with Mohammed Kudus emerging as a major target for two of their Premier League rivals.

The Hammers have already knocked back a £50m bid from Tottenham for Kudus, but with the north Londoners set to make another approach, it is looking increasingly likely that Graham Potter will need to bring in a new winger this summer.

Following Fabianski’s exit, a new goalkeeper will also be required, and West Ham have now made a €25m (£22m) offer for Parma shot-stopper Zion Suzuki, according to a report from Parma Live.

The Irons will have to submit a higher bid in order to get a deal over the line, however, considering the 22-year-old is happy to remain at Parma and the Italian club want to keep hold of him.

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1

By
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Several Premier League clubs have also been named as potential suitors for Suzuki, including Chelsea and Man United, with the goalkeeper once turning down a move to Old Trafford because he didn’t want to be second choice behind Andre Onana.

"Exciting" Suzuki could be ideal signing for West Ham

Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Japenese shot-stopper’s performances in the Serie A last season, saying: “Zion Suzuki pulled off a phenomenal save against Roma and he’s rightly making the headlines.

“Despite Parma’s struggles at times this season, Zion Suzuki has stood out for his performances in goal. Remains one of the most exciting young keepers right now.”

The New Jersey-born goalkeeper was a regular starter for the Serie A side throughout the campaign, indicating that he could immediately challenge for Alphonse Areola’s starting spot, and there are signs the Parma man could be an ideal signing for West Ham.

Having averaged 43.59 touches per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 89th percentile, Suzuki is clearly comfortable with his feet, which indicates he could be a good fit in a Potter system.

As such, the Hammers should return with a higher offer, especially given that a long-term replacement for Areola is needed, with the French goalkeeper now 32-years-old.

تحدث محمد بركات، نجم الأهلي ومنتخب مصر السابق، عن الأسابيع الأولى من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، بعد مرور 7 جولات.

وقال محمد بركات، عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “بعد 7 أسابيع ممكن أعطي المستوى 5 من 10 لا أكثر”.

وتابع بخصوص رأيه في التحكيم: “أنا دائمًا حريص على أن أؤكد أن الحكام في مصر في منتهى النزاهة، ولكن عندنا حكام قليلي الخبرة، أو شخصيتهم تهبط مع الضغط والثقة هاربة، مع أنهم كانت لديهم فرصة جيدة طوال السنوات التي كان يُلعب فيها الدوري بدون جمهور”.

طالع.. طلب عاجل من الأهلي إلى اتحاد الكرة بشأن حكم الفار في مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا

وأضاف: “عندنا مشكلة كبيرة أن كل حكم له وجهة نظره في لعبة، لكن في أوقات كثيرة نجد أن الحكم نفسه تتغير وجهة نظره في نفس اللعبة خلال نفس المباراة”

وتابع: “مثلما حدث في مباراة أمس في لعبة طاهر ولعبة إسلام عيسى، الحكم لم تكن له وجهة نظر مختلفة في اللعبتين، ولكن حكم الفار هو الذي كان له وجهتا نظر”.

وأكمل: “لذلك أنا مع الأهلي في بيانه الذي صدر اليوم بشأن طلب التحقيق مع حكم تقنية الفيديو، الميزان لا بد أن يكون واحدًا، هذه الأمور هي التي تثير التعصب عند الجماهير”.

Newcastle United’s search for a new striker has moved into overdrive.

With Alexander Isak pushing for a move and Liverpool having lodged their first bid, the Magpies appear resigned to a future without their star striker.

Isak’s decision to skip the club’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia and train independently at Real Sociedad has only added to the growing sense of inevitability.

Eddie Howe’s side are determined to act decisively.

They don’t just want a short-term solution; they want someone who can lead the line for years to come.

The ideal target? A striker who has already adapted to the Premier League, blends physical presence with technical quality, and is ready to shoulder the scoring burden once carried by the Swede.

All signs now point toward a player who checks those boxes, and who has already made a name for himself in England’s top flight.

Latest on Newcastle's search for a striker

According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle are considering a move for Jørgen Strand Larsen, who enjoyed a standout debut campaign with Wolves.

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Speaking in a Q & A on Thursday, the Newcastle insider suggested that Larsen has been ‘described as the ‘dark horse’ from the list of possibles’, with his performances having ‘not gone unnoticed’ at St James’ Park.

The 25-year-old Norwegian scored 14 goals in the Premier League last season, the most ever by a Wolves player in their first season at the club, surpassing the previous record held by Raúl Jiménez.

Larsen joined Wolves from Celta Vigo in July 2024 on an initial loan, with the option to buy. That clause was activated earlier this summer, with the deal believed to be worth £23m.

Despite the club’s modest position in the table, Larsen quickly emerged as a key figure. His goals included a run of three in three during April, which earned him a nomination for the Player of the Month award.

Reflecting on his season, Larsen told reporters: “It’s been a good first season in the Premier League.” I’m proud of what I’ve done. I’ve been able to take the steps quite earlier than I’ve done before.”

As already stated, his performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, highlighted how Larsen stepped up in the absence of Matheus Cunha:

“The question was how they were going to get on for the four games without their best player [Matheus] Cunha. I actually think they’ve looked a better team.”

“He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent, and I thought his touch and his control were superb.”

The Norwegian international, who has 21 caps and 3 goals for his country, has seen his market value rise to €30m (£26m).

Standing at 1.93m, he has the physical profile of a traditional No.9 but also brings a versatility that makes him appealing to Newcastle as they look to evolve their attack in the post-Isak era.

Why Strand Larsen Might Be a Smarter Fit Than Šeško

Benjamin Šeško has long been admired by Newcastle’s recruitment team. At 1.94m, he draws obvious comparisons to Erling Haaland and fits the club’s typical age preferences.

He scored 21 goals in 45 games for RB Leipzig last season, including 13 in the Bundesliga, and would represent a clear signal of ambition, with prior reports suggesting an agreement had already been struck.

But there are growing doubts over whether Šeško will end up at Manchester United instead, as well as whether he is actually the right man for the job. For starters, the Slovenian’s numbers don’t surpass those of his Norwegian counterpart.

Strand Larsen outscored Šeško in league competition last season – 14 goals to Šeško’s 13, despite playing in a less dominant team and having far fewer chances created for him.

According to data from FBref, Šeško’s underlying stats also suggest that there is still room for growth.

His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) last season was 8.4, with 11 non-penalty goals scored – a good conversion rate, but not exceptional.

Larsen, by comparison, ranks in the 99th percentile for shot-on-target percentage at a remarkable 61.1%. His npxG per shot (0.19) places him in the 84th percentile, indicating smart, high-quality shot selection.

He also ranks highly for aerial involvement, underlining his all-round centre-forward credentials. There’s also the matter of adaptation.

Šeško would require time to acclimatise to the intensity of the Premier League, while Larsen has already proved he can deliver.

Financially, the move for Larsen also makes more sense. Šeško is tied to a long-term contract at Leipzig until 2029, and the German side are unlikely to sell for anything less than £60–70m.

In contrast, Wolves may be willing to negotiate a deal closer to the £25m they paid, especially if Newcastle structure their payments creatively.

Strand Larsen’s profile – similar to Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) or Ante Budimir (Osasuna) – may not sound glamorous, but it’s highly effective.

His hold-up play would complement Newcastle’s wide runners like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, while also giving them an added dimension from set-pieces.

Newcastle won’t rush into a decision and are likely to explore both options thoroughly. But if they’re after an immediate impact, a proven Premier League scorer, and a more affordable route to replacing Isak, Jørgen Strand Larsen might just be the smarter bet.

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