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Will Arsenal have any of their injured attackers back?

Ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, as well as star centre-back Gabriel, Gooners fear that as many as six forward players could remain on the sidelines.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke have all been out long-term, with Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Ødegaard joining them in the treatment room more recently.

So, if none are back, Mikel Arteta remains very short of forward options, which isn’t ideal considering games against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are up next, meaning Mikel Merino could once again be thrust into the emergency centre-forward role.

With Ødegaard out, the Spaniard will have Eberechi Eze behind him, although the England international will need to improve upon his recent displays.

He did find the net for Thomas Tuchel’s side last week but hasn’t had much to cheer about in recent weeks beyond that.

Eberechi Eze's start to life at Arsenal

Eze’s move from Crystal Palace is the most excited the Arsenal fan base have been about a signing since Mesut Özil’s deadline day move from Real Madrid in 2013.

That’s not just because he is such an enthralling player, but the fact that he appeared destined to join Spurs, before a last-minute U-turn.

His presentation on the pitch prior to the first home game of the season against Leeds was genuinely a spine-tingling moment, but now the dust has settled, the discussion is around Eze’s performances.

Many suggested the England international had been signed to play on the left wing but, in the absence of Ødegaard, he has started the last eight Premier League and Champions League games in a more central role.

Well, so far, Eze has scored two goals and registered three assists, lashing in a spectacular scissor-kick against, who else, former club Crystal Palace in a 1-0 victory last month.

Nevertheless, supporters would like to see a little bit more end-product from their high-profile new addition, considering all the numerous absentees, aiming to add to his tally against Tottenham on Sunday; should he manage it, the roof might just come off.

Considering all their sidelined stars, determined not to allow another campaign to be derailed by injuries, could Andrea Berta and Arteta enter the transfer market in January, which opens in just 42 days, and attempt to bring “one of the best wingers in the world” to North London?

Arsenal targeting a world-class Eze upgrade

It was one of the sagas of the summer, but we’re back here again!

According to reports over recent days, Arsenal are willing to spend as much as £80m to sign Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with further claims stipulating that Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City have registered official offers for the player.

The 24-year-old has started just three times for los Blancos this season, included in Xabi Alonso’s lineup for just one of the last ten La Liga games, yet to score this season.

Despite this, Rodrygo did start both of Brazil’s friendlies during the international break, these against Senegal in North London and Tunisia in Lille, still very much trusted by Seleção boss Carlo Ancelotti, but could he push for a January move away from the Bernabéu to increase his chances of featuring prominently at the World Cup?

Thus, other reports in Spain claim that President Florentino Pérez would sanction a sale in January should a Premier League club bid £70m or more.

So would the winger be worth such heavy investment? Let’s compare his statistics last season to Eze to help answer that question.

Appearances

54

43

Minutes

3,453

3,303

Goals

14

14

Assists

11

11

Big chances missed

6

8

Shooting accuracy

53%

48%

Chances created per 90

2.3

2

Big chances created

9

11

Dribbles success %

58%

51.9%

Possession lost per 90

12.5

15.2

Touches per 90

67.1

54.9

As the table documents, the duo’s statistics were remarkably similar last season; the Brazilian played only 150 more minutes across all competitions, with Rodrygo and Eze both scoring 14 goals and registering exactly 11 assists apiece.

When looking at the underlying numbers though is where the difference is made apparent, with the Brazilian coming out on top when it comes to chances created, dribbling and touches per 90.

Spencer Mossman labels him “one of the best wingers in the world”, while Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham asserted that Rodrygo is “the most gifted player in the squad”, adding that he is “underrated” and “does a lot for the team”, something Arteta would certainly appreciate.

Thus, it is clear that Rodrygo and Eze are very different players, with the Englishman more of a chance creator, while the Brazilian is a direct winger who boasts blistering pace and the ability to take on and glide past defenders.

Right now, particularly with Martinelli, Madueke and Gyökeres in the treatment room, the Gunners would certainly benefit from adding someone with Rodrygo’s talent, skillset and quality, so could he be the final piece in the jigsaw as they chase that elusive first Premier League title for 22 years?

Arteta can fix Gabriel injury blow by unleashing Arsenal's £45m "beast"

After both Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori picked up injuries on international duty, Mikel Arteta must unleash Arsenal’s “physical” defender vs Spurs.

ByBen Gray Nov 16, 2025

The balls used for this year’s men’s and women’s competitions are from the same batch used in the T20 Blast

Matt Roller06-Aug-2025The ECB has ditched a controversial batch of white Kookaburra balls that was blamed for low scores in the Hundred last year after consistent negative feedback from players.Scoring rates in the men’s Hundred dipped to 1.37 runs per ball last season, significantly lower than other short-form leagues like the IPL, Major League Cricket and SA20 despite the shorter format in theory lending itself to more attacking batting. Specialist new-ball bowlers like Daniel Worrall and Tim Southee thrived, and players anecdotally blamed the batch of balls used.The balls used in the first four seasons of the Hundred had the tournament’s logo – a large ‘H’ – imprinted on them, which players felt required additional lacquer and gave them a ‘plasticky’ feel. “The seam seems to be massive,” Moeen Ali told the . “Every game, it seems the ball is nipping. Most teams are 30 for 5 in most games.”Kookaburra insisted that they were made to identical specifications as the white balls used in other domestic and international cricket, beyond the logo, while the ECB commissioned an extensive study over the winter which found minimal evidence that the balls behaved differently to those used in other white-ball cricket in England and Wales.Ball-tracking data did suggest a spike in seam movement and swing at the start of Hundred games in 2023 (compared to 2022), which continued last season. This was attributed primarily to pitches, weather, and the Hundred’s unique format – which allows bowlers to bowl 15 of the first 20 balls – rather than any change to the condition of the balls.But the ECB has opted to ditch the Hundred-branded balls regardless, reverting to the same batch used in the T20 Blast for the 2025 season. Their hope is that the switch will satisfy players after consistent negative feedback and that the perception of less assistance for bowlers will lead to higher scoring rates.The change made no apparent difference in Tuesday night’s curtain-raiser, with London Spirit’s men bowled out for 80 by Oval Invincibles on a slow, low surface. “It was a tough wicket to bat on,” Rashid Khan said, after taking 3 for 11 on debut for the two-time defending champions.

The Lord’s Test moved very quickly in the morning but began to settle in the afternoon

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2025

Washington Sundar helped tip the scales in India’s favour at Lord’s•ICC/Getty Images

Tea Two wickets to Washington Sundar kept India on top at tea on the fourth day of the third Test against England at Lord’s.Washington claimed the big wicket of Joe Root for 40, rattling leg stump with one that slid under the bat as Root attempted to sweep, breaking his fifth-wicket stand with Ben Stokes at 67 in the process.Four overs later, Washington bowled Jamie Smith for just 8 with an excellent quicker ball that didn’t turn but skidded past the outside edge and onto off stump.At that point England were 164 for 6 and they were subsequently becalmed as Stokes, unbeaten at the interval on 27, and Chris Woakes looked to avoid further damage.Earlier, Mohammed Siraj had been gutted to have missed out on removing Root himself when he rapped the pad with one that angled in down the slope and, after India challenged, the batter survived on umpire’s call on impact.Siraj had been pivotal in putting India in control on the fourth morning when he removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in a tight opening spell.Nitish Kumar Reddy removed Zak Crawley for the second time in the match, a loose drive outside off stump gathered by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully, and Akash Deep negated England’s counter-attack by flattening Harry Brook’s middle stump so that the home side were four down at lunch.

Leeds United will be hoping they can win successive Premier League games following their 3-1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux last weekend.

Daniel Farke’s side picked up their second win of the campaign, thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach, and Noah Okafor.

On Saturday afternoon, they host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Elland Road, in what will be a tough clash. It presents a good opportunity for the Whites to pick up another three points against a side flying high this season; the Cherries are already up to fourth in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen if Farke plays the same team that beat Wolves. Brenden Aaronson is one player who could be dropped from the side.

Aaronson’s start to the season

Based on Farke’s team selections over the last few weeks, it might come as something of a surprise if Aaronson were to lose his place in the side. The United States international has started three of the six games he’s played in this season.

In the last couple of games, the forward, who was born in Medford, New Jersey, has started twice for Leeds, operating on the right-hand side. He even played 90 minutes in their win in the West Midlands last weekend.

Yet, despite featuring for the full game, the 24-year-old did struggle at times. Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson gave the attacker a 6/10 for his efforts at Molineux, and said he was “chastised by teammates or his manager of being either too erratic or too cautious” in possession.

This season, Aaronson has yet to score or assist for Farke’s side. In the Premier League, he’s only played three key passes and created two big chances. It certainly feels as though his slow start to the season needs to pick up soon, to both help the team and cement his place in the side.

If Farke does decide to drop Aaronson from the starting lineup this week, it could be perfect timing with one possible replacement back from injury.

The Leeds star who could replace Aaronson

In the last few weeks, the Whites have had to deal with a couple of injuries. Farke confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Wilfried Gnonto and Lucas Perri would both remain sidelined, but there is more to come at Elland Road.

One of those is full-back Jayden Bogle, who picked up a slight knock. The other is winger Daniel James, the man who could step in for Aaronson. Farke confirmed the Welshman “has a chance to be involved” at the weekend, but it “will take a late decision” to determine how ready he is.

It could well be the case that James is ready to play from the start. The 27-year-old would certainly add a different dynamic to the Leeds attack, thanks to his “unstoppable” direct threat, as Statman Dave once described him.

Although the former Manchester United star is yet to score this season, his form in the Championship last term was impressive. He scored and assisted 21 times in just 36 games, 10 more than Aaronson’s tally in 46 games.

The Leeds number seven also edged out Aaronson in key stats from last season. For example, the Welshman averaged 1.3 crosses completed and 8.7 forward passes per 90 minutes, compared to the USA star’s 0.4 completed crosses and 8.4 forward passes each game.

James’ pace on the counterattack could play into Leeds’ hands against Bournemouth. According to Sofascore, the Cherries average 48.8% possession this season compared to 43.8% for the Whites.

If they have less of the ball, James’ pace and direct dribbling would surely be more potent in transitional situations. Elland Road could see a lot of that if Bournemouth dominate the ball, as the stats suggest they will.

On top of that, the 27-year-old’s superior crossing ability would suit Calvert-Lewin far better. The Englishman has already scored a header this season, and with James’ proficiency from those areas, a similar opportunity could well arise.

If James is fit to start against the Cherries this weekend, it might well be the case that Farke chooses to start him over Aaronson.

He can steal #9 from DCL: Leeds star looks like the best since Archie Gray

Leeds might have another gem on their hands to rival Dominic Calvert-Lewin…

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 26, 2025

If it wasn’t for a last-minute equaliser from AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, Leeds United would have been celebrating two successive Premier League wins under Daniel Farke.

A 2-2 draw against Andoni Iraola’s stern Cherries isn’t a terrible result, all things considered, as the promoted sides up from the Championship continue to show that they belong at such an intimidating level.

The close showdown with the visitors from the South Coast also showed off Leeds’ excellent summer recruitment, as both Anton Stach and Noah Okafor stood out once more, among other fresh purchases.

Leeds' standout performers vs Bournemouth

Stach wasn’t as overwhelmingly brilliant as he was against Wolverhampton Wanderers, however, with no more audacious free-kicks being hammered home.

Still, come the final whistle, the German had still won three ground duels from his 40 touches of the ball, with his goalscoring flair substituted out for some grit for the challenge of Bournemouth.

Leeds fans would have been relieved to see another hero from that 3-1 away day success at Molineux start against Bournemouth in the form of Okafor, with the Switzerland international looking rather sheepish by the close of that whirlwind contest.

He did last just an hour against the Cherries, but his directness on the ball in forward areas certainly caught the eye of the Elland Road masses, with three successful dribbles and two shots on the Bournemouth goal nearly catching Iraola’s men out.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Yet, away from all the shiny new toys filling out Farke’s starting XI, it was the old reliable Joe Rodon who equalised for Leeds with a bullet header, with the £10m to bring him in permanently last summer continuing to look like a steal.

He isn’t the only recent buy being made to look like a bargain deal, however, with one under-the-radar star now boasting a higher transfer valuation than both in-form Stach and Okafor, despite both their impressive starts to life in England.

Leeds' under-the-radar star is now worth more than Stach & Okafor

Signings from far-off Europe are always going to be instant attention grabbers, with Stach costing a high £20m to obtain from Hoffenheim, on top of Okafor joining from AC Milan for an equally pricey £18m.

However, Farke would have been abundantly aware this summer that the spine of his side needed Premier League experience, having tasted the bitter disappointment of relegation from the division previously with Norwich City when that experience just wasn’t there.

Thankfully, Sean Longstaff has already come to the rescue in this department.

Purchased for just £12m, the ex-Newcastle United midfielder has already managed to show off his top-flight class, with his all-round showing against Bournemouth seeing Farke declare the 6-foot-2 ace as “outstanding.”

It was deserved praise too, when glancing over his superb numbers from the score draw, with Longstaff very much good value for both his goal and assist, having amassed a ludicrous seven key passes throughout.

On top of this creative flair, however, the 27-year-old – who is now up to 177 top-flight outings – also won a powerful ten duels in total, with Alan Shearer’s previous comments about Longstaff being an “unbelievable” talent very much now ringing true, even if he has departed his boyhood employers.

Arguably, Newcastle could well have driven a harder bargain when getting rid of their homegrown talent, with Football Transfers now estimating that Longstaff’s value is way above the £12m he was purchased for back in July.

1. Wilfried Gnonto

£23m

2. Sean Longstaff

£21m

3. Jaka Bijol

£20m

4. Joel Piroe

£16.5m

5. James Justin

£16m

Amazingly, Longstaff is now Leeds’ second-highest valued asset at £21m – according to Football Transfers – with both Stach and Okafor not even making the above list, with their own values coming in at £16m and £15m respectively.

Despite this sharp increase in Longstaff’s value sticking out, Farke will know he needs his full talented squad to keep firing on all cylinders to ensure survival is reached, with the early signs looking hopeful in their quest for Premier League safety.

Leeds want to sign new Brazil winger with £50m+ release clause on the cheap

The Whites are looking to sanction an exciting deal…

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025

Eden Hazard is set for a Chelsea return as the former Belgium international is poised to play at Stamford Bridge once more after a fractious exit. The 34-year-old former superstar, who retired from football in October 2023, will return to West London this Saturday as part of the Chelsea Legends vs Liverpool Legends charity clash.

• Hazard’s homecoming: A legend walks back into blue

  According to Hazard will be back where he belongs, surrounded by a cast of old team-mates: John Terry, Petr Cech, Diego Costa, Ramires, and John Obi Mikel. The event will see the proceeds go directly to the Chelsea FC Foundation and the Chelsea Players’ Trust, ensuring Hazard’s comeback is not just sentimental, but for a greater cause. His final competitive appearance came in that unforgettable Europa League final, when Chelsea battered Arsenal 4-1 and Hazard bowed out by lifting the trophy. Just a week later, Real Madrid came calling with a staggering £100 million ($134m) deal, ending Hazard’s seven-year love affair with Chelsea.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  From king of the Bridge to a nightmare in Madrid

  When Hazard arrived in Madrid, it felt like a match made in footballing heaven. The Bernabeu awaited a galáctico ready to light up La Liga. But instead, his dream turned to dust. Injuries, poor form, and fitness woes saw his Spanish fairytale fall apart. Over four painful years, Hazard managed just 76 appearances and seven goals, a shocking decline for a player once considered one of the world’s best. By June 2023, both sides had had enough. Madrid and Hazard agreed to terminate his contract a year early.

  "I've been a Zinedine Zidane fan since I was a child. The Bernabeu, the white kit… it has a charm that others don't have," he said in an interview with "Real Madrid is special. Beyond that, I don't think that I fit in. It's not like me. It's a bit of a 'swaggering' club, and I'm not like that. I also didn't like the way we played if you compare it to other clubs. But, it was my dream. I couldn't finish my career without coming here.

  "I would've liked to do things my way and succeed. It shows that Real Madrid is bigger than anything else. It's complicated to play there. Maybe I needed to train more. I also had the worst injuries at the worst times. The operation, the plate… I'm coming back, [and] it hurts, I'm sore. In the second season, Ancelotti arrives. I had good preparation, I play well, but my body, the pain, the injuries…"

• Astonishing numbers at Chelsea

  Across 352 appearances for Chelsea, Hazard developed into a truly world-class player, scoring 110 goals and registering 92 assists. His numbers were outrageous: 595 chances created, 1,441 dribbles attempted, 909 completed, and an astonishing 638 fouls won, as per . Simply put, nobody could get near him. Hazard wasn’t just about the tricks; he delivered when it mattered. His title-clinching strike against Crystal Palace in 2015 remains iconic, as does that equaliser against Tottenham in the infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge’, when Leicester City’s fairytale title was confirmed.

  Hazard has never hidden his affection for Chelsea. "I spent seven years there… it was the best memory of my football career," said Hazard in an interview with My best season was the second season with Mourinho when we won the Premier League and League Cup. The manager was the Special One and it's so hard to explain the feelings after games with the fans all happy."

  Yet when asked who got the very best out of him, Hazard named Antonio Conte. 

  "I think my best time at Chelsea was with Antonio Conte," he said. "All the week training. I was going out Saturday, I need to enjoy a little bit because I know the day after is going to be back on the training ground. I have to do something, it's my only 90 minutes I can enjoy. You remember him, stopping, tactics, 'no we have to do that'. Saturday was the best day for me."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Legends live forever, Hazard lives forever!

  On Saturday, under the floodlights of Stamford Bridge, Hazard will return home to west London, where he is likely to receive a heroes' welcome as he once again dons the blue shirt. 

While both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers were victorious with England over the international break when facing off against Andorra and Serbia, the Three Lions duo will now be desperate for Aston Villa to kick into gear back in Premier League action.

After all, Unai Emery’s men remain winless in the hustle and bustle of the top-flight from their opening three clashes, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last time out souring the mood even more at Villa Park before the break started.

Emery and Co. haven’t been served up the easiest fixture up next, either, as the out-of-form side now has the tough task of trying to thwart ex-star Jack Grealish, who has hit the ground running with some style, pulling on his new Everton blue.

Why Villa will need to stop Grealish

Grealish has been instrumental to all of Everton’s early-season successes to date, having been recognised by the Premier League after claiming the Player of the Month award for August.

Minus the Toffees’ opening weekend defeat to Leeds, the three-time Premier League winner has been key to David Moyes’ collecting two wins so far, with a sublime four assists coming his way against Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There might be some real regret on Villa’s end now that they didn’t try to capture their former boy wonder on a loan deal themselves, but if they are to stand a chance at sealing a result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – away from rueing their decisions in the transfer market – they will have to keep the skilful playmaker quiet.

This will, of course, be easier said than done, with Villa also having to shackle the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to try and pick up a positive result, with the Everton attackers noticeably thriving, while the forwards at Emery’s disposal routinely fluff their lines.

However, Villa could well spark into life if they gift this new signing a chance to impress on Merseyside, with Emery potentially stumbling upon his own Grealish by starting this exciting midfield talent.

Emery's very own Jack Grealish

Villa’s transfer window was a largely frustrating event.

Thankfully, neither Watkins nor Rogers would desert the building, but the Villans did have to say goodbye to homegrown ace Jacob Ramsey, who has now moved on to Newcastle United, owing to PSR-related issues needing to be resolved.

The mood in the West Midlands was lifted somewhat by both Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joining the building on deadline day, with Elliott perhaps in line for a starting spot against the Toffees to be Emery’s own iteration of Grealish.

After all, it goes without saying that the versatile 22-year-old would be enthused by the prospect of making his debut against Everton, having faced off against the Toffees numerous times for Arne Slot’s Reds in some fiercely contested Merseyside Derbys.

Elliott’s career by position

Position

Games

Goals + Assists

AM

60

5 + 4

RW

38

4 + 3

CM

36

4 + 14

LW

7

1 + 0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Elliott – who could sign on a £35m deal next summer – might not be given the nod to start in his preferred central role, however, with both Youri Tielemans and John McGinn solid performers here last time out, even as Villa crashed to a 3-0 loss.

Instead, with Donyell Malen visibly struggling against the Eagles on the right wing – having only registered ten accurate passes and one successful dribble – this could be the spot handed to the England U21 regular, considering Elliott has lined up on this flank 38 times across his career to date.

Emery might well be taking direct inspiration from Moyes here, with the Scotsman placing Grealish down the left wing himself and getting insane results out of him, despite the 39-time England international often being deployed centrally as a number ten when still in the West Midlands.

With Elliott also being branded as an “outrageous” talent when collecting 35 goal contributions at Anfield by scout Jacek Kulig, it does feel as if a change of scenery could get even more out of the reserve Reds figure, particularly if he is starting week in week out, like Grealish is now experiencing.

Villa needs to get out of their slump quickly, with alterations such as bringing in their new number nine, perhaps working wonders in catching Everton off-guard on their own patch.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Sep 11, 2025

Sheffield United have endured a miserable start to the Championship season, though they now want a Sheffield Wednesday ace before Monday’s deadline.

Sheffield United lose again at Middlesbrough

Five matches into the season, and five straight defeats across all competitions for Ruben Selles have put the Blades’ promotion hopes at risk even at an early stage in the campaign, with the club rooted to the bottom of the table without a single point.

Despite a narrow defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday, Sheffield United were second-best by a long shot and away supporters made their feelings known that Selles should be relieved of his duties.

Responding to speculation surrounding his future, the former Hull City boss made it clear that he isn’t in control of what happens next despite a torrid start in the dugout.

He told the Wiltshire Times: “Listen, I cannot control the situation. I will expect to go to my house tonight and then tomorrow go to work and then continue as normal. It’s not in my hands to make a decision.

“And until the very last moment, I will just do my best and try to do my things. When the situation is not in my control, I don’t think too much about what is going to happen in the future. Because realistically, I do as much as I can.”

With a scramble set to take place ahead of the transfer deadline, Sheffield United are advancing in talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive on a permanent deal or loan agreement.

Either way, the Blades need improvements after a shoddy time of things under Selles and have now made a controversial offer to sign a rival player.

Sheffield United receive response to Bailey Cadamarteri bid

According to The Star, Sheffield United have seen a shock £1 million bid for Bailey Cadamarteri rejected by rivals Sheffield Wednesday, while Blackburn Rovers have also been knocked back after making a similar approach.

Although the Owls are desperate to keep their man, it is believed that further bids will arrive before the window closes on Monday evening, and it remains to be seen whether they will bite in light of well-documented off-field problems.

Sheffield United could sign "incredible" £10m star in McAtee repeat

Sheffield United can seal a stunning James McAtee repeat by signing this £10m star.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 17, 2025

Labelled “dangerous” by former boss Danny Rohl, the 20-year-old scored against Wrexham earlier this month and would be the first player to join Sheffield United after playing for Sheffield Wednesday since Max Lowe.

Undoubtedly, any such move would cause controversy, though it is understood that he has no desire to cross the divide or to leave his current surroundings by his own violation.

Nevertheless, financial problems at Sheffield Wednesday will make it harder to turn down offers than usual, so it remains to be seen how this one plays out.

Paarl Royals have become the first team to qualify for the SA20 2025 playoffs with an 11-run win over Pretoria Capitals by “just doing the simple things well”, according to local hero Bjorn Fortuin. The left-arm spinner, who is from the Boland, has played all his franchise T20 cricket for teams based at this venue, and understands the secret to success is being able to slow things down.”We’ve played here quite a bit now, so I’ve sort of tailored a lot of my game plan towards playing in conditions like this,” Fortuin had said after Royals’ win over Joburg Super Kings earlier this week. “I wouldn’t quite call it subcontinent conditions, but it definitely lends itself towards that type of game plan.”Keeping things simple is a big part of doing well here. In the past, we’ve had quite explosive players. Sometimes they come off, sometimes they don’t. This season, there’s been a lot more consistency, and playing well at home contributes to that.”Related

• Paarl Royals hit by Miller niggle; Ngidi absence concern for South Africa

• Fearless Pretorius grabs the spotlight in 'dream come true' innings

• Karthik arrives at SA20, to 'showcase skills', 'help young SA players'

• Jury's out on SA's CT25 picks as SA20 provides selection pointers

The Boland, 50 kms inland from Cape Town, is hot and dry in peak summer, and the surfaces get more difficult for run-scoring as the season grows long. Saturday’s pitch, which was slow and low, was a perfect example of that. Fortuin has spent his early domestic career here and has played five years of T20 franchise cricket for teams based in Paarl: two years with Paarl Rocks in the now-defunct Mzansi Super League, and three in the SA20. He has adapted his game for exactly these conditions, particularly with the new ball.Fortuin is often used in the powerplay to put the pressure on upfront and usually also make a few crucial incisions. Across the three seasons of SA20, Fortuin’s economy rate of 6.08 in the powerplay is the best among bowlers who have delivered at least 15 overs in that phase. His 20 wickets in the same period is the joint most with Marco Jansen. It includes the likes of Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton (all twice); Devon Conway, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Mayers and Kusal Mendis; and on Saturday, the destructive Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.In another country, Fortuin’s record and reputation might see him walk straight into the national squad. But the presence of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi means he plays infrequently for South Africa, and has also missed out on the Champions Trophy squad. Fortuin said the snub is “not something I can comment on right now” as he focuses on SA20 success, where Royals have set the pace, particularly with their spinners.This season, Fortuin has been joined by offspinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Joe Root, and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. Between them, they are dominating every bowling stat in the competition so far. Mujeeb is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, while Wellalage and Fortuin have the two lowest economy rates. Root has bowled 16 overs thus far – perhaps more than he expected to – and on Saturday, Royals added legspinner Nqaba Peter in the first all-spin attack in a T20 in South Africa.This season at Paarl Royals, Bjorn Fortuin has been joined by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Joe Root and Dunith Wellalage•SA 20

Their tactics caught Pretoria Capitals by surprise and helped Royals achieve the second-lowest successful defense in SA20 history.”Looking at their team, we were trying to find the seamers when we saw the line-up,” Rilee Rossouw, Capitals’ captain, said. “It’s definitely something different. It’s something that we are not so accustomed to, especially here in South Africa. Credit also has to go to their bowlers and how they went about their business.”That statement might apply to the tournament as a whole. Royals have only lost one game so far – to their neighbours MI Cape Town – and have won all four at home. This is the third successive season that Royals have made it to the knockout stage, but have yet to make a final. And they will be wary of dropping form at the business end, as they have done in the past.In 2023, they won five of their first eight matches, and then lost two of the last three. Last year, after only losing only one of their first six matches, they finished on a five-match losing streak, including defeat in the knockouts.”So we won’t count our chickens too early,” Fortuin said. “The past two seasons, we’ve had good starts and then sort of fallen away towards the back end. So we’ll take it game by game.”Coach Trevor Penney on Lungi Ngidi: “He was out [with a groin injury] for eight weeks. So he’s on a programme where he’s almost back now”•Sportzpics

The real test will be how they adapt to conditions up country, where three of the four playoffs – including the final – will be played, and the spinners will have less of an impact. Royals have Lungi Ngidi and Kwena Maphaka in their line-up, but neither have played the last two matches (and word from the team camp is that there are no niggles). There are also the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, Dayyan Galiem and Keith Dudgeon. They will have confidence from beating Capitals at SuperSport Park, and completing the highest successful chase of the SA20 earlier this season, and will travel to Johannesburg next week before the playoffs.There, Royals coach Trevor Penney expects his seam attack, and specifically Ngidi, who has not played for the last three matches, to step up.”We’ve got the balance. We’ve got the seamers that are ready to jump in,” Penney said. “With Lungi, we know big fast bowlers like him, they sometimes needed a couple of weeks to get back into that full flow and the rhythm. It’s a tough thing for fast bowlers. He was out [with a groin injury] for like eight weeks. So he’s on a programme where he’s almost back now. So we played him in the first few games so he could get some game time. And I’m sure when we go to the Highveld, he’s going to be straight back in.”Before that, Royals will sign off from Paarl with a match against Durban’s Super Giants on Monday in a goodbye to a crowd that has ridden the wave of their winning streak.”They’re very passionate. The nice thing is that they’re actually quite knowledgeable as well, so they appreciate small bits of cricket here and there,” Fortuin said. “You certainly hear it when you’re not doing well, which is a bit of extra motivation as well. The vibe here is incredible. And in the future, I do hope that we can play games here at the back end of the tournament. It would be quite cool to eventually have a home final if something like that happens.”With a capacity of 10,000, Boland Park is the smallest of the SA20 venues, and has yet to host a playoff game.

Burnley now want to sign an £8.6 million attacking midfielder who has been scouted by club chiefs, according to a recent report.

Scott Parker keen to strengthen his midfield options

As the Clarets prepare for life back in the Premier League, club chiefs have been very busy bringing in ten new players, albeit some of whom were already at Turf Moor but have now joined on a permanent basis.

The Lancashire side have added to almost all areas of the team, but with still over a month and a bit left of the transfer window, Scott Parker is keen on adding to his midfield.

Another England international could terminate his contract and join Walker at Burnley

This could be a signing of real intent by the Clarets.

By
Henry Jackson

Jul 7, 2025

It emerged from Football Insider at the end of last month that Burnley are interested in signing Tomas Soucek from West Ham United. The Czechia international is out of contract next summer, and the Hammers could be interested in selling him for the right price, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Graham Potter. However, a stumbling block for the Clarets is that the midfielder is on £90,000 a week, which may be too much for them to afford.

As well as looking at Soucek, Burnley are also in the race to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just become a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract at Besiktas. Teams from the Premier League and the Championship are also interested in signing the England international.

Burnley line up move for Niko Jankovic

Soucek and Chamberlain have now been joined by a new target, as according to Croatian reports relayed by Inside Futbol, Burnley are interested in signing Niko Jankovic after scouting the player extensively.

The Lancashire side are not the only team to have had scouts watching him closely, as Werder Bremen, 1. FC Nurnberg, Dynamo Kyiv, and Hellas Verona are all interested in a possible deal, as well as teams from the MLS.

The 23-year-old is out of contract next summer, but he is considered an important player by Rijeka boss Radomir Dalovic. Therefore, if Jankovic were to leave in this transfer window, it would have to be for an “excellent” offer, as they value the attacking midfielder at around €10 million, which is roughly £8.6 million.

The former Croatia under-21 international joined Rijeka in 2023 on a free transfer, and apart from a spell in Stuttgart’s youth team, he has played in Croatia for his whole career. Should he arrive at Turf Moor, he would have the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Hannibal to compete with for a starting spot in that attacking midfield role.

However, the fact that Jankovic can also play on the left-hand side of midfield as well as anywhere across the frontline means his versatility could see him have a strong impact in Parker’s team throughout the campaign.