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Arsenal are in talks over a move for Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, according to widespread reports, but another high-profile attacker may well follow the 27-year-old to north London.

£140m signings start alongside Zubimendi: AI predicts Arsenal's 2025/26 line-up

It could be a productive transfer market for the Gunners.

4 ByCharlie Smith Jun 28, 2025

GiveMeSport and other reliable media outlets reported that Eze’s representatives held “positive” talks with Arsenal last weekend, and the England international is pretty keen on a switch to the potential Premier League title challengers.

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

£5m

Andrea Berta also possesses the option of paying his £68 million release clause in installments, which they’ll likely take up, as Arsenal look to back Mikel Arteta whilst erring on the side of caution when it comes to PSR.

The notion of spreading out Eze’s transfer fee will also be a huge help when it comes to signing another star winger, which is what Arsenal are expected to try and do (Fabrizio Romano).

It is believed that Arsenal are looking at both a right and left-winger, with Eze potentially poised to fill just one of these spots as Berta looks at signing another wide player to come in with the 27-year-old.

One of their other wide targets, alongside Chelsea forward Noni Madueke, is £206,000-per-week Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

The Brazil international is said to be a “dream” target for Arteta’s side, and he could push to leave the Bernabeu once their Club World Cup campaign concludes.

“I think Rodrygo is quickly emerging as Arsenal’s dream target,” journalist Graeme Bailey told TBR Football this week.

“From what I’m hearing, from people close to the situation, once Real Madrid get back from the Club World Cup, Rodrygo is going to make it clear that he wants to leave.

“I think everything points towards Rodrygo leaving and my belief is that Arsenal will be towards the top of his desired places to go.”

Arsenal will move to sign Rodrygo with Eberechi Eze on one condition

Now, GiveMeSport provide another update on Arsenal’s interest in the 24-year-old – who’s bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions since the start of 2024/2025.

They report that Arsenal would love to sign Rodrygo this summer, and will move for the ex-Santos sensation with Eze on one condition.

If they get clear signals from the South American that he’s willing to leave Real and make a Premier League move, then Arsenal will make an approach, but until that point, they’re still waiting for his green-light.

Considering the other reports that he’s likely to request a transfer from Real, Arteta might not be waiting too long for Rodrygo’s approval, so this could be one to keep an eye on.

Los Blancos legend, Luka Modrić, has already stated that Rodrygo is a “world class superstar” – partly highlighting why Arsenal are so keen on him.

Ed Pollock leads charge in simple chase after inexperienced attack thrives once again

ECB Reporters Network11-Aug-2024

Worcestershire took another significant step towards the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One Day Cup as they overcame Hampshire by eight wickets at New Road.An excellent all-round performance with ball and then bat secured a fifth win in seven games for the second-placed Rapids. It keeps them on course to clinch the top three spot needed to go through to the next stage of the 50-over tournament. Victory also maintained their 100 percent home record in the competition after previous victories over Middlesex, Durham and Kent.With eight senior players sidelined through injury, Worcestershire’s inexperienced and young attack again performed admirably to dismiss Hampshire for 164 in 47.4 overs.Academy player Jack Home continued his impressive form since his promotion with another three wickets to take his tally to 15 in four One Day Cup games with some more pacey and threatening bowling.Ethan Brookes also maintained his excellent run with the ball and spinners Fateh Singh and Tom Hinley had such a grip on proceedings that they returned combined figures of 20-1-59-1.Gareth Roderick and Ed Pollock then ensured that there would be no alarms for the Rapids in reaching their modest target with a spendlid century opening stand.Pollock was the dominant partner in racing to his half century off just 44 balls with one six and 10 fours. But Roderick was the perfect foil and his 47 took his run tally to 385 – the third-highest overall in this year’s competition.Hampshire will console themselves with the fact they are still in contention themselves to qualify despite a below-par performance and a third setback of the campaign.Worcestershire made two changes with Home and Hishaam Khan replacing the rested Tom Taylor and Harry Darley. Hampshire also made changes with Joe Weatherley, released to play by Southern Brave, and Mohammad Abbas coming in for Joseph Eckland and Eddie Jack.Hampshire captain Nick Gubbins opted to bat on winning the toss on the same wicket used for Wednesday’s encounter against Kent. Tommy Sturgess took the new ball and struck in his second over when Weatherley (10) attempted a cut and edged through to keeper Roderick.Fletcha Middleton and Gubbins scored freely during the powerplay but in the 10th and final over the former went to pull Khan and fell to a good catch by Singh running back to backward square leg.Home came into the attack and claimed the wicket of Gubbins and Ben Brown in the space of three deliveries during his first over. Gubbins tried to leave a shortish ball but the ball hit the back of his bat and went through to Roderick. Brown then nicked a delivery which moved away from him and Roderick pouched his third catch of the innings.Brookes, Worcestershire most economical bowler in this year’s tournament, also enjoyed success in his first over as Tom Prest mistimed a pull to mid on where Khan took a fine low catch.Toby Albert (26) was fortunate to inside edge Home for a boundary but the introduction of Singh led to his downfall as he was trapped lbw after sweeping.There was another scalp for Singh as Organ, having struggled for 35 balls in making nine, picked out Rob Jones at short cover. Brookes kept the pressure on the Hampshire batters from the New Road during a frugal spell of 7-1-12-1. And there was no let-up for the visitors, with Kyle Abbott then pushing forward to Hinley to be neatly stumped by Roderick at 113 for 8.The ninth-wicket pair of Dominic Kelly and Brad Wheal batted sensibly in adding 36 before Home returned to the attack and bowled the latter after he went for an expansive drive. Some late blows from Kelly (45) lifted the final total before he tried to sweep Brookes and the ball ballooned up for Roderick to complete another dismissal.The Rapids were given a positive start to their reply by Pollock and Roderick and negotiated their way through the initial powerplay against the new ball threat posed by Abbott and Abbas. Roderick straight drove Abbott to the boundary and turned the same bowler through mid wicket to the ropes while Pollock collected three boundaries in an over from Abbas.Pollock greeted Wheal’s introduction into the attack with a maximum over midwicket and successive boundaries off the same bowler carried him to his half century. His fine knock ended on 67 out of 104 in the 23rd over when he sliced Prest to backward point.Roderick fell at extra cover off Gubbins but Rob Jones and Jake Libby quickly saw their side over the finishing line with 13.4 overs to spare.

Freya Kemp set to return to allrounder ranks, side strain rules out Mahika Gaur

Valkerie Baynes20-Jun-2024Sophia Dunkley has been recalled to England’s T20I squad less than a week after earning an ODI return for the upcoming series against New Zealand, where Freya Kemp is set to feature as an allrounder as she continues her return from a back injury.England’s 16-strong squad for the five-match T20 series is otherwise unchanged to the one which defeated Pakistan 3-0 last month.Mahika Gaur, the 18-year-old fast bowler who has been absent from England’s squads this year while completing her A-Levels, will have finished her exams by the time the T20Is start but was left out of the squad due to a side strain.Kemp, the 19-year-old left-arm seamer, returned home early from England’s tour of the Caribbean in December 2022 with a back stress fracture after making her international debut against South Africa during the English summer earlier that year, and impressing against India a few months later when she became the youngest England player, male or female, to make a T20I half-century.ESPNcricinfo LtdShe bowled during England’s tour of India in December 2023 but subsequently suffered a flare-up in her back and has since played as a batter only for England A during their tour of New Zealand and for England Women in the Pakistan series, as well as in regional cricket.Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, said he hoped to include Gaur in squad activities as she continues her development. Gaur made her ODI debut for England against Sri Lanka last September, having made her England T20I debut earlier in Sri Lanka’s tour after playing 19 games in the shorter format for UAE.”This five-match series against a strong New Zealand side is really important for us and also vital preparation as we build towards the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh,” Lewis said. “We are pleased to welcome Freya Kemp back as an allrounder and we will hopefully see her bowl across this series as she returns from injury.”Sophia Dunkley comes back into the squad after showing good form at regional level, she has earned the right to be in this squad. Mahika Gaur is not available to play due to a small side strain. We will look to have her in and around the squad preparing to return to play.”Related

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Dunkley was last week named in England’s ODI squad to face the White Ferns after losing her place during England’s tour of New Zealand earlier this year. She was added to the 50-over squad for the last two games of England’s three-match series with Pakistan last month, but didn’t play in either – she was named 12th for the second fixture in Taunton, which was washed out after 6.5 overs.That followed a run of strong performances for South East Stars in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, where she is the competition’s leading run-scorer with 293 runs at 97.66 and a strike rate of 83.00, with a century and a fifty to her name. She has also scored 200 runs in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition at 28.57 and a strike rate of 120.48 with two half-centuries.England Women squad: Heather Knight (capt), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice ⁠Capsey, Charlie ⁠Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie ⁠Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, ⁠Bess Heath, Amy ⁠Jones, Freya ⁠Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danielle Wyatt

Tottenham Hotspur were beaten on home soil (again) to conclude their 2024/25 campaign, with Brighton & Hove Albion winning 4-1 to consign Ange Postecoglou to a 17th-place Premier League finish in his second season.

His second season will be remembered for something different, of course, for the Australian tactician made good on his brazen claim earlier in the year, ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday night in Bilbao.

But the league form simply hasn’t been good enough, and the manager’s future is up in the air. He’s failed to get a tune out of these players, domestically, at least, and while defensively the squad have been shoddy, there’s been a lot to desire up top too.

That’s why Spurs are gearing up to sign a new forward this summer, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap at the top of the shopping list.

Spurs chasing new forward

Dominic Solanke scored from the spot on Sunday afternoon to seal his 16th goal of the season across all competitions, having also laid on eight assists for his teammates.

However, injuries have prevented him from quite living up to the initial £55m fee, which could rise to a club-record £65m with add-ons, and he needs more frontal support, especially with Heung-min Son entering the twilight of his Premier League career.

That’s why there may be substance to rumours the Lilywhites are preparing to bid for Delap, with GIVEMESPORT reporting earlier in May that Postecoglou’s side are in the race for the English goalscorer, who was relegated with Ipswich this term but impressed throughout, scoring 12 goals across 37 outings.

If Spurs are to make their move, they may need to part ways with one or two, not least because this squad needs a shake-up.

Richarlison may well be at the top of that list.

Levy must sell Richarlison this summer

If Richarlison leaves this summer, he will do so as a Europa League winner, part of the squad whose names are immortal having triumphed on a stage so many before them failed to reach.

However, the versatile star has fallen by the wayside, all in all, especially when considering he cost Daniel Levy a whopping £60m figure when joining from Everton in 2022.

Having overcome a woeful debut campaign, the 28-year-old has enjoyed more clinical results over the past two terms, but it’s not enough to turn the tide.

Richarlison – Tottenham Career by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

24 (11)

5

2

23/24

31 (21)

12

4

22/23

35 (17)

3

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

And against Brighton this weekend, Richarlison failed to leave a positive mark when called into play, albeit he was likely nursing a hangover with the rest of the squad after the midweek merriment.

The Brazilian forward was introduced with less than an hour still on the clock but was still criticised by football.london’s Alasdair Gold for failing to influence the game, branded with a 4/10 match rating.

As per Sofascore, the £90k-per-week star only completed two passes after replacing Solanke, Tottenham trailing by just one goal. He also failed with his one attempted dribble and lost five of six duels.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Richarlison is now considering his Tottenham future, with Everton and Flamengo back in his homeland both interested. The robust player wishes to enhance his prospects of playing for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup over the pond.

Tottenham need reform this summer, and Richarlison is a big part of the struggling crew who need to be shipped out, creating space for a new era which could take the success of this season and build something special. Something fit to last.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 24, 2025

At 4.15pm on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal fans were given a pretty large surprise.

With the Gunners gearing up for their Champions League semi-final second leg in Paris on Wednesday, it was expected that Mikel Arteta would rest heavily. He did not.

The likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all featured in the lineup with only two changes made; Jurrien Timber for Ben White and Mikel Merino for Thomas Partey.

While the starting XI was surprising, the end result was perhaps not. After all, the way in which Arsenal dropped points typified their season.

Arteta’s side led Bournemouth 1-0 through Rice but the Cherries fought back in the second half courtesy of some lapse defending. The equaliser came from Antoine Semenyo’s long throw which found Arsenal-linked Dean Huijsen inside the area who headed home.

The second was not great either. From a set play, the ball found Evanilson at the back stick who forced the ball home with what looked to be an elbow. VAR adjudged it to have been a legal play, however.

While it was an off day as far as defending set pieces are concerned, it was another off day for skipper Martin Odegaard.

Martin Odegaard's performance vs Bournemouth

In midweek, Arsenal needed their leaders to stand up.

Rice was once again impressive, driving his side forward whenever he got the chance. Saka also made life difficult for PSG but ultimately couldn’t find a way through. Nonetheless, neither player hid.

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The same could not be said of Odegaard who left the pitch having lost five of his eight duels and having not had a shot.

He coasted through the game with very minimal influence, slowing Arsenal down in transition and ultimately making the side a poorer one.

Well, the visit of Andoni Iraola’s men on Saturday was a time for the Norwegian to right his wrongs, and he began the game in fine groove, playing in Rice for the opening goal of the game.

It was classic Odegaard, jinking past his marker and sliding the ball past the final line of the defence for the club’s record signing to get on the end.

Sadly, that was about as good as it got for the midfielder who was once again slow in transition and indecisive on the edge of the box, refusing to shoot when he got the opportunity to do so.

Club captain, one has to question whether he deserves a place in the team on Wednesday night. Many fans will suggest he doesn’t.

Still, he wasn’t the only big underperformer in the final third for the Gunners.

Leandro Trossard's performance in numbers vs Bournemouth

Arsenal’s attack since Kai Havertz got injured at the back end of the winter has not been firing on all cylinders.

In fact, even since Saka returned, the final third has been a problem for Arteta.

Their failure to strengthen in the January transfer window has certainly come back to haunt Arsenal with Mikel Merino largely used as the makeshift centre forward since his two-goal haul against Leicester.

From that moment onwards, the Spaniard has been excellent, perhaps even better than Leandro Trossard. The Belgian scored 17 goals last term but despite a run of three goals in his last four outings, has struggled in all honesty.

There is a reason Arteta enjoys playing with Merino and Havertz up top and that’s because they can hold the ball up well, acting as a focal point and duel winner.

Despite Trossard’s technical skill, he is not that profile. The Belgium international simply doesn’t offer enough as an outlet and he summed that up not only against PSG, where Arsenal struggled to get out of their own half in the first 20 minutes, but also at the Emirates on Sunday.

The truth is that the former Brighton man, signed for £27m, has served his purpose; this could well be one of his final starts in Arsenal red.

Trossard vs Bournemouth

Minutes played

90

Touches

37

Accurate passes

16/19 (84%)

Expected Goals (xG)

0.16

Expected Assists (xA)

0.18

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Successful dribbles

1/1

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

0/1

Duels won

5/9

Possession lost

10x

Stats via Sofascore.

In all honesty, this wasn’t his worst performance of the season but while Odegaard did register an assist, Trossard did little to dig his side out of the hole his team found themselves in.

His best moment came in the first half when he stooped low to meet a header that Kepa Arrizabalaga did well to keep out. That was his only shot on target in the game.

Beyond that, it was a supremely underwhelming display from the 30-year-old, registering 37 touches, which was 11 fewer than goalkeeper David Raya.

He also only won five of his nine duels and gave away the ball on ten occasions, once every 3.7 touches of possession.

While it’s safe to say that no one in Arsenal’s attack really covered themselves in glory, Trossard certainly did little to help this weekend. It says it all that Arsenal look better with a midfielder as their 9, rather than him. Expect the attacker to be back among the subs in Paris in a few days time.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 30, 2025

Scarred by hope, this thrown-together South African side leaves New Zealand with pride intact – but it’s still unlikely several of these players will play another Test

Firdose Moonda16-Feb-20240:51

Conrad: South Africa’s fight shows volumes about the character of the side

Thank goodness that’s over.No one in the South African camp actually said those words but they would have all been feeling that as their two-Test tour of New Zealand ended largely as expected. They lost.A makeshift South African team, with eight uncapped players in their touring group including the captain, were always considered no match for a New Zealand side unbeaten in home series since 2017 when they were defeated by… South Africa. That South African team would go on to beat Australia at home for the first time since readmission. This one may never play together again. But these players carry with them one of the game’s biggest what-ifs, after threatening to pull off an upset for the ages when they took a lead against New Zealand and floated the possibility they could keep their record of never losing a Test series to New Zealand intact.Related

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“I am very disappointed right now,” Neil Brand, South Africa’s stand-in captain, said afterwards. “Yesterday after tea we were in an amazing position to push the game forward and we had a big batting collapse which cost us greatly. If we batted up until lunch today, the result might have been different.”It’s the shards of hope that cut the deepest, as Brand’s words suggest. South Africa were completely outplayed in the first Test and lost by 281 runs. They were adequate without being exceptional in the first innings of the second Test and scored 242. But then they dragged themselves back into contention by bowling New Zealand out for 211 and sitting in a strong position on 202 for 4. Even, the collapse – 6 for 33 – left them with a lead of 266 and they had New Zealand 53 for 2. Up to that point, the flames of possibility were being fanned. Then Kane Williamson put them out and it was back to reality.”When the No.1 ranked batter in the world plays the way he does, I don’t think we can be too disappointed on the outcome of the match,” Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s Test coach said. “We were always going to be up against it. The only time you are allowed to lose is when the opposition are better than you and they certainly were better than us.”So fair play to New Zealand but what happens to the members of this South African side now?To start with, they will allow themselves a moment of reflection and maybe a little celebration because, after the first Test defeat, they fought back and did not disgrace themselves. “It speaks volumes for the character of the side,” Conrad said. “We only need to look at some of the more experienced guys: the way Dane Paterson still ran in with that second new ball. And Dane Piedt – the competitive edge he has got and how he performed. On the playing field we knew it was going to be tough and it was everything and more. The manner in which the guys have stuck together and wanted to put up a good showing and almost pull off the impossible today. We were in with a shout and can’t fault them for trying and giving their absolute best.”Keegan Petersen will not be too pleased with himself for missing out after making starts•Getty ImagesPaterson will go back to playing domestic cricket at Western Province and on the county circuit for Nottinghamshire. Piedt will return to North Carolina and his life on the American League circuit. Neither are likely to play a Test again. The same can be said for 37-year-old legspinner Shaun von Berg, wicketkeeper-batter Clyde Fortuin and probably also Tshepo Moreki and Duanne Olivier. And what of the others?Before the series, Brand put his hand up as a candidate to replace the retired Dean Elgar. Though he showed glimpses of his potential, he did not put in any performances that suggested he could step up immediately and his leadership was, at times, puzzling. His decision not to bowl himself in Hamilton after taking eight wickets in the first Test was a mystery even to Conrad, who called it “somewhat surprising”. It would seem he hasn’t made a strong enough case though the man himself hopes he will be looked at in future. “It has been an amazing experience. Definitely something I want to be part of in the future,” he said. “And now we know it is possible to play at this level.”He may end up competing with Edward Moore, who scored 23 in the first Test, for a squad place in future but its likely South Africa will look to Tony de Zorzi to open the batting. Another candidate is Raynard van Tonder, who was once seen as a real possibility for the national side after especially after topping the first-class run charts in the 2019-20 season, but was disappointing in this series. On debut, amongst many others, he can’t be blamed for his nerves and, at 25, there’s time for him to find a way back.Zubayr Hamza and Keegan Petersen will be the most despondent because this was their chance to stake a place in the first-choice Test side and they didn’t. Hamza did well in occupying the crease but scored too slowly and Petersen did not capitalise on his starts. Ruan de Swardt gave a better account of himself than both of them with a fighting first-innings 64 in the second Test but it’s difficult to see how South Africa will find a place for him in their first XI.It is only David Bedingham, whose century created the opportunity to unsettle New Zealand, who can be sure he will go on to play Tests in the near future. “He showed glimpses against India but on this tour he showed he is a cut above, certainly of the group we’ve got here,” Conrad said. “Hopefully he has a long, distinguished, successful Test career for the Proteas.”That might be the only measurable gain South Africa makes from this tour but they also walk away with something that can’t be quantified: their pride. They leave with it intact. “That we could come out and push one of the top ranked sides in the world and give them some nervy moments was a good advertisement for us and for Test cricket,” Conrad said.There will be those that argue that failing to reschedule these Tests and being forced to send this squad was the complete opposite of a good advert for Test cricket, and they have a point. But the necessity of the SA20 to South African cricket has been well-documented, as have the efforts CSA made to ask NZC to move this series. It was NZC’s right not to and the board acted on it. In the end, in the grand tradition of South African-ness, South Africa had to “make a plan” and they did. And the plan almost worked. That it didn’t is what will likely have them feeling glad that it’s all over and hopeful they will not be put in a situation like this again.

Derby stood host to three double-centurions in the second round

Sampath Bandarupalli18-Apr-20221 Tom Haines (243) and Cheteshwar Pujara (201*) became the first pair to score double-centuries in the same first-class innings while following-on. They are also the first pair with double-hundreds in the same first-class innings for Sussex since Ted Bowley (228) and Maurice Tate (203) in 1921 against Northamptonshire.2 Pujara became only the second Indian to score a double-century in the County Championship. Mohammad Azharuddin was the first, having scored 212 against Leicestershire in 1991 and 205 against Durham in 1994, both for Derbyshire. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi also had four double-hundreds in County Cricket, but were scored while he was a Test cricketer for England.ESPNcricinfo Ltd52 First-class innings without a hundred for Pujara before the unbeaten double-ton for Sussex. His last first-class century was scored in January 2020 when he made 248 against Karnataka. Between his recent two hundreds, Pujara scored 1518 runs in the format at an average of 30.36 with 14 fifties.14 Number of first-class double-centuries for Pujara, the most by an Asian player. He has now surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 13 double-tons. Only eight batters had more first-class double-hundreds than Pujara. No active player other than Pujara has even scored ten double-tons.1 Pujara’s 14 double-centuries in first-class cricket are also the most by any player in the format since the start of the 21st century. Sangakkara held the record previously as all his 13 double-tons came between 2002 and 2017.201* Pujara also recorded the highest individual score on the first-class debut for Sussex. The previous highest score on debut for Sussex was 152 by Joe Gatting against Cambridge UCCE in 2009.239 Shan Masood’s score during the Derbyshire’s first innings. It is the highest individual score by a Pakistan player in the County Championship. The previous highest was 230* by Zaheer Abbas for Gloucestershire against Kent in 1976.