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“We need more domestic players like Vipraj Nigam to step up in the IPL,” Varun Aaron says

Ekanth11-Apr-20253:02

Are Delhi Capitals the most balanced side this IPL?

With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, Delhi Capitals (DC) have arguably the best spin attack in IPL 2025. But are DC also the most balanced side in the competition, given that Axar and Nigam’s all-round skills add depth to their batting order and provide six bowling options without having to think too much?After KL Rahul led them to victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sanjay Bangar and Piyush Chawla suggested that Capitals weren’t quite there yet but were very much in the conversation.”Good bowling attack, they still have some issues at the top of the order,” Bangar said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “Top order hasn’t really fired for them as expected. But with KL Rahul and [Tristan] Stubbs – like now Stubbs’ second back-to-back season that he’s really producing the goods for them – [they are] clearly a team to watch out for.”Related

KL Rahul hands RCB another loss in Bengaluru

You have to graft for runs at the Chinnaswamy now

Behind-the-wicket lessons told Rahul 'what pockets to target'

Chawla agreed. “They look like a good balanced side, but there is always a scope of improvement. Top of the order and I’ll say the fast-bowling department just feel… maybe a few wickets with the new ball, like you can’t always be dependent on [Mitchell] Starc and Mukesh [Kumar] all the time. When spinners are bowling in the powerplay, they have to come into the party as well.”They do have a point about the top of the batting order.Jake-Fraser McGurk, who has opened in all four of DC’s games so far, averages 11.50. Abishek Porel and Faf du Plessis, the others in the top three, also average in the 20s and the three of them have one half-century between them. Rahul, who was promoted to open against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), slotted back to No. 4 and had to pull off a rescue act against RCB. He led the way from the top of the order in du Plessis’ absence in the last game too.On the bowling front, they have Starc and Kuldeep, who have 17 wickets between them, but Phil Salt smashed 30 off a Starc over and 16 off an Axar over in the powerplay on Thursday. DC fought back strongly with Nigam dismissing Virat Kohli and joining Kuldeep later on to dismantle RCB’s middle order and reducing them to 125 for 7, before scripting a six-wicket win.3:17

Bangar: Rahul’s assault on Hazlewood was ‘terrific batsmanship’

Vipraj Nigam ‘a great find’Varun Aaron, the former India quick, said that along with his bowling, Nigam’s ability with the bat has highlighted the importance of domestic talent coming through in IPL 2025.”Vipraj was brilliant tonight, he’s a great find for Delhi Capitals,” Aaron said on JioStar. “He’s contributed with the ball and, as we’ve seen, can be destructive with the bat too. Going forward, he’s great value for the investment Delhi Capitals made in him. We need more domestic players like him to step up in the IPL and help take their teams over the line.”Nigam and Kuldeep finished with 2 for 18 and 2 for 17, respectively, to stop RCB at 163 for 7. They bowled 23 dots in the eight overs between them. That set up DC’s win, but watching them do their stuff worried Stubbs.”I went in at the break thinking ‘how are we going to make a run here’,” Stubbs, who went on to play the perfect second fiddle to Rahul in the chase, said at the post-match press conference. “It looked like it was really hard to bat, so I was like, ‘flip, what am I going to do’. But that just shows the three of them are world-class spinners. Kuldeep’s, if not the best in the world, [among them] at the moment.”2:13

Why was Kuldeep difficult to attack at Chinnaswamy?

Stubbs: ‘If you can get through net sessions, you feel confident’Stubbs, who bats in the top order in South Africa’s Test side and in the middle order in their white-ball sides, drew from his international experience to stitch a match-winning 111-run partnership with Rahul. His contribution wasn’t insignificant: 38 not in 23 balls.”I think my roles recently have been so different, like face the new ball in Test cricket and then, I feel like international cricket can still sort of be classed as old-school cricket because the scores aren’t as big as they are here [in the IPL], so you’re always that space,” he said. “So, you just fall back on past experiences and then, when it’s really good, it frees you up to [go], ‘okay, I can just play here’. But yeah, it’s tough playing different situations but it’s cricket and that’s why we love it.”Now, if spin does become more and more impactful at the IPL, Stubbs should be ready for it.”Kuldeep I faced in one net session. He actually asked to bowl to me because the last time he bowled to me was the [T20] World Cup final. So, he wanted to do it again,” Stubbs said. “But, honestly, if you can get through that net session, you feel really confident because they [DC’s spinners] are bowling really well.”And then if you walk out of that session feeling good, then you know you’re in good stead.”

Wasim Jaffer said that they will need to find a way to win games at the start of tournaments going forward

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-20256:01

A deep dive into Afghanistan’s recent rise

Dale Steyn backed Afghanistan to win an ICC tournament within the next decade. To do so, he suggested that they inject patience into their individual and collective games.Afghanistan beat England in a thriller in Lahore but couldn’t make the knockouts of the Champions Trophy 2025. They lost their first match to South Africa and looked in trouble against Australia as well before rain intervened.”Back in the day, a lot of players would go play county cricket,” Steyn said, “Or they would go play first-class cricket to improve their skills and improve their patience really. I think we live in a time now where people are not patient enough. We can hardly watch two seconds on an Instagram story and it just feels like the Afghanistan players are similar when they’re playing their cricket.”They want things to happen so quickly. This ball must be a wicket, there’s no patience to building up and taking a wicket. And sometimes, the batters are the same, they’re batting in the first over. There’s so much movement happening in the crease, so they’re trying to hit a six and they’re trying to get the game going.Related

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Ibrahim Zadran goes from staid to spectacular to finish England off

Australia seal semi-finals spot after rain spoils Head's party

“I think a lot of them play T20 cricket around the world, which is great, it’s great for their pockets and it’s great for them to learn. But, maybe, spending some time in four-day games might help, because one-day cricket is essentially a shortened version of a Test match. It’s got its moments where T20 is applied. But patience is one of the biggest things that Afghanistan players need to learn, and once they get that down, honestly, in the next decade, they could win ICC tournaments, for sure.”5:03

How can Afghanistan build on their progress?

Wasim Jaffer, who also praised Afghanistan’s rapid rise at the international level, identified their inability to hit the ground running in tournaments and fragility in their batting line-up as issues they need to look into going forward.Ibrahim Zadran made a match-winning 177 against England but Sediqullah Atal couldn’t convert his 85 against Australia into a big score. Their top-three have not set up a game collectively and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, arguably their best batter, finished with 16 runs in three games.”Afghanistan are on the rise,” Jaffer said “And you’ve got to applaud them because they’ve played semi-finals [at the 2024 T20 World Cup], they’ve beaten good teams and, when they beat anybody it’s not an upset anymore. So, you can expect Afghanistan to put on a show.””They will be disappointed [with] the way they started the first game. In such a short tournament, it’s important to start really well because you don’t get too many chances. One loss and you could be out of the tournament, which happened here.”Their batting needs to improve as well. We say that they are not a big chasing team. Their [Nos.] 3, 4, 5, even though Atal played well today, Rahmat Shah needs to be more consistent. He got a 90 in the first game, [Hashmatullah] Shahidi got stuck today, Gurbaz is their main player, he had a very off tournament. That’s where I think they lacked this time.”

If you are planning to visit Gillette Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we've got you covered!

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, with 48 teams set to battle it out for the ultimate prize. The tournament will take place across June and July in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with some of the most iconic stadiums in North America set to host matches, including the home of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium.

Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium will host a total of seven matches during the tournament, covering both group stage and knockout rounds.

Over its 23-year history, Gillette Stadium has welcomed a range of major events, including NFL and MLS games, international soccer matches, college football events, and concerts featuring some of the world’s biggest artists.

For sponsorship reasons, the venue will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” during the World Cup. Whether you're planning to attend a match or simply want to explore the venue while in town, GOAL has everything you need to know for a smooth and memorable experience.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Gillette Stadium overview

  Capacity	65,878
  Year opened	2002
  Tenant(s)	New England Patriots (NFL), New England Revolution (MLS)
  Address	1 Patriot Pl, Foxborough, MA 02035, USA

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  History of Gillette Stadium

  Built in 2002 to replace the old Foxborough Stadium, Gillette Stadium became the new home of the New England Patriots and later also for MLS side New England Revolution. Originally named CMGI Field, the stadium was later renamed after Gillette acquired the naming rights.

  Since its opening, Gillette Stadium has hosted countless matches, unforgettable moments, legendary athletes, and world-renowned artists. In 2023, it underwent a $250 million renovation, transforming it into a modern, state-of-the-art facility. A key highlight of the upgrade is the addition of a 22-story tower known as "The Lighthouse," offering visiting fans 360-degree views of the stadium as well as the city of Boston. 

  In 2024, Lionel Messi played at the venue with Inter Miami, facing off against the home team. More recently, a statue honoring Patriots legend Tom Brady was unveiled outside the stadium.

  Now, a new chapter awaits, as Gillette Stadium is set to host seven matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Who knows what kind of spectacle it will deliver this time?

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Which teams play at Gillette Stadium

  Gillette Stadium is currently home to the New England Patriots of the NFL and features a striking statue of Tom Brady just outside the venue, honoring the legendary quarterback. It also serves as the home ground for MLS side New England Revolution.

  Team	League
  New England Patriots	NFL
  New England Revolution	MLS

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  How to get to Gillette Stadium

  How to get to Gillette Stadium by public transport 

  The best and most efficient way to reach Gillette Stadium via public transport is to take the MBTA Rail Commuter service that runs from South Boston station to Foxboro station which is adjacent to the stadium. The round-trip usually costs around $20 and travelling fans can book their ticket from the MBTA's mTicket app. 

  How to get to Gillette Stadium by car 

  For those travelling by car, the stadium is easily accessible via the I-95 and I-495. There is ample parking near the stadium, however, it is recommmended to purchase parking tickets and reserve your spot advance to avoid any hassle, especially on event days. 

Big picture: Contest between two good pace attacks

The Sabina Park will host its first Test in more than three years, but it’s a favourite venue of the hosts, and they play there regularly in one format or the other. Which gives them a great chance to put together another strong performance to send Bangladesh back with a 2-0 defeat. If it happens, it will be West Indies’ first Test series sweep since July 2022, and Bangladesh were the opponents then too.Given how fragile their batting has been of late, West Indies will be particularly pleased with the way they batted in the first innings in the North Sound Test. They had two big – 140 runs, each time – partnerships, the first involving Alick Athanaze and Mikyle Louis, who both got out in the 90s. Even though they missed their maiden Test centuries, they batted with responsibility and showed discipline. The same was the case with Justin Greaves, who did get to his first Test century. What was also heartening was the way Kemar Roach supported Greaves in their stand for the eighth wicket.Related

• Alzarri wraps WI's win with twin strikes on fifth morning

West Indies also bowled with discipline, the four-man pace attack not giving Bangladesh that odd spell when run-scoring becomes easy. Jayden Seales is the attack leader. Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph bowl in fiery bursts. Roach banks on his huge experience, and the years of dominance over Bangladesh helps.Pace bowling was Bangladesh’s only positive in the first Test, too. And it could well be the only thing that they can bank on in the second Test.Taskin Ahmed led the way with eight wickets in the match, including a six-for in the second innings, where West Indies scored 152 in 46.1 overs. It was Taskin’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The performance, coupled with Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam showing consistency, kept Bangladesh going in the Test. In Jamaica, Nahid Rana could get a look-in too, making the attack that much more potent.But what about Bangladesh’s batting? It has been one collapse after another, wherever they have played, for a while now – the main reason they have now lost their last five Tests after the big 2-0 win in Pakistan. They showed a bit of patience in their first innings at North Sound, lasting 98 overs – Jaker Ali and Mominul Haque got fifties, while Litton Das made 40. There was little more on offer from the group outside of that, except a bit of fight from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker in the second innings.One thing that both teams need to improve is their catching. There were plenty of dropped catches right through the match. Mominul dropped two in a short span before West Indies dropped four during Shamar’s first spell on the fourth day. It was a blot on an otherwise good game.Taskin Ahmed picked up his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket in North Sound•BCB

Form guide

West Indies WLDLL
Bangladesh LLLLL
Both West Indies and Bangladesh are out of the running for a spot in the World Test Championship final.

In the spotlight – Justin Greaves and Jaker Ali

It took Justin Greaves ten years to become a Test cricketer since his first-class debut, but after the debut series in Australia earlier this year, he was dropped. Then it took him another ten months to return to the Test side, but this time, he made it count. He showed restraint and enterprise, especially when batting with Roach late in the script. West Indies will expect a similar showing with the bat from Greaves in Jamaica.Jaker Ali showed character under pressure, unlike most of his team-mates. Jaker now has fifties in his first two Tests, which is rare for a Bangladesh batter. He is a fighter, and constantly encourages his batting partners, particularly the lower-order batters. Jaker himself is slowly opening up as a batter, and can expect a bit more responsibility in the Bangladesh batting line-up in Jamaica.

Team news – Expect changes in Bangladesh XI

West Indies are unlikely to change their playing XI barring any injuries.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Alick Athanaze, 5 Kavem Hodge, 6 Justin Greaves, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Kemar Roach, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Shamar JosephJustin Greaves batted for over six hours as he scored a century in the first Test•Cricket West Indies

One or both of Shadman Islam and Mahidul Islam could expect a call-up for the second Test after Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan failed in the first. Nahid could also feature as Bangladesh tend to rotate their fast bowlers.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy/Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan/Mahidul Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Shahadat Hossain, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Shoriful Islam/Nahid Rana

Pitch and conditions

Sabina Park has seen big scores in T20Is this year, but it has also traditionally been a good pitch for both fast bowlers and spinners in Tests. Weather, however, could play a part as rain is in the forecast for all five days in Kingston.

Stats and trivia – Brathwaite set to go past Sobers

• Kraigg Brathwaite is currently equal with Garfield Sobers on 85 Tests, the most consecutive appearances for West Indies. Sobers played non-stop from 1955 to 1972, while Brathwaite has been a West Indies constant from 2014.
• Bangladesh have now played 18 Tests without drawing one. Their previous record is 21, between 2001 and 2004.
• At North Sound, Mominul struck his first half-century in the West Indies since 2014. He aggregated only 20 runs across three matches in the two Test series there in 2018 and 2022.
• The last time West Indies played a Test match in Jamaica, in 2021, Phil Simmons was their head coach. Now he is Bangladesh’s head coach.

Whittam oversees a new body which will take over duties from the Cricket Discipline Commission

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2024

Richard Whittam KC is the new chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel•England & Wales Cricket Board

Richard Whittam KC has been appointed chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), a new independent tribunal which will take over from the Cricket Discipline Commission as the body to hear and adjudicate on regulatory breaches in English professional cricket and subsequent sanctions handed out.Whittam’s appointment, made by the ECB board for a four-year term, comes after an open recruitment process. The 64-year-old is a specialist regulatory and criminal barrister with a background in sport.After serving as a deputy high court judge between 2016 and 2022, Whittam was appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s Head of Independent Judiciary last year. He has chaired discipline, safeguarding and appeal panels in rugby union since 2014. Whittam is also a member of the Word Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels.Whittam will be responsible for presiding over specific disciplinary cases, and appointing the other members of the CDP who possess an appropriate range of skills and diversity. Once they are in place, the panel will begin considering cases, taking over this role from the current CDC, which is chaired by Tim O’Gorman.The CDP’s function will be to consider cases brought before it by the Cricket Regulator, the body responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcement of adherence to the game’s regulations on behalf of the ECB. Formed in 2023, the Cricket Regulator was a key recommendation from a damning report published by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) in June of that year, detailing structural inequalities across race, gender and class in cricket in England and Wales.The majority of cases brought to the panel will relate to breaches of the ECB’s Professional Conduct Regulations, but will also include other regulations such as the Anti-Corruption code, Player and Match Officials’ Minimum Standards, Cricket Playing Conditions, Bowling Review Regulations, Pitch Regulations and Head Protector Regulations.Speaking on his appointment, Whittam said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this important role. It is vital to the integrity of cricket that the sport’s rules and regulations are upheld. As the first Chair of the CDP I look forward to getting the Panel up and running and ensuring that cases are dealt with promptly, in a fair, thorough and transparent manner.”ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “The independent Cricket Discipline Panel will play an important role in enforcing cricket’s regulations and dealing with any misconduct and regulatory breaches. Richard Whittam KC has an impressive background in law and sports discipline which makes him the ideal person to chair the Panel.”I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks to Tim O’Gorman and all the panel members from the Cricket Discipline Commission for the service they have given the game over many years. They have performed an important duty in enforcing cricket’s regulations, and I’m grateful for their continued service while the new Cricket Discipline Panel members are recruited.”

Fair to say, Everton have not made a rip-roaring start to pre-season.

So far, the Toffees have drawn 1-1 with Accrington Stanley, Beto converting a late equaliser at the Crown Ground, but David Moyes’ men were beaten 1-0 by Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Next up, the Blues have travelled stateside to participate in the Premier League Summer Series, taking on Bournemouth in New Jersey on Saturday, before games against two of Moyes’ former clubs, facing West Ham in Chicago and Manchester United in Atlanta.

Before then, will Evertonians everywhere have a new signing to get excited about?

Everton's search for a new signing

So far this summer, Everton stalwarts Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré have both been released, meaning reinforcements will be needed.

Well, to replace Calvert-Lewin, Thierno Barry has arrived from Villarreal for a reported fee of £27.6m, with Cerys Jones and Steve Madeley of the Athletic outlining how, at 6ft 5in (195cms), he is your archetypal, classic target man centre-forward, adding that he does his best work inside the penalty area.

To add to this, according to reports in Spain, Everton are ready to make a move to sign Atlético Madrid left-back Samu Lino, with the Toffees said to be ‘willing to sign’ the defender.

They add that Atleti are listening to offers for him, with the Premier League his most-likely destination, while reports elsewhere in Spain claim that he is valued at around £20m.

Transfer Focus

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

Los Colchoneros, for their part, have already bought a replacement, namely Matteo Ruggeri for around €20m, also bringing in Álex Baena (€50m), Johnny Cardoso (€30m), Thiago Almada (€27m) and Marc Pubill (€15m), which all suggests they’d be open to a sale.

So, could Lino soon swap the Metropolitano for Hill Dickinson Stadium?

How Samu Lino would improve Everton

Vitaliy Mykolenko started 35 of Everton’s 38 Premier League matches at left-back last season, so Lino is coming in to usurp him in the pecking order.

So, let’s assess how the duo compare.

Assists

0.1

0.3

Chances created

0.8

1.2

Crosses attempted

3

2.4

Crossing accuracy %

29%

22%

Take-ons completed

0.3

1.6

Duels won

4.5

6

Touches

51

64

Ball recoveries

2.6

5

As the table outlines, Lino comes out on top for the vast majority of statistics included.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes the 25-year-old has a “very interesting profile”, while Sive Vishwa of Breaking the Lines describes him as ‘athletic and strong’, adding that ‘he is a very attacking player’ often ‘overlapping’ to support attacks.

In 93 appearances for Atleti, Lino has accumulated 12 goals and 16 assists, underlining his attacking threat, while he also ranks in the top 1% of his peers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90, as well as in the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

While that ball-carrying quality is exciting, the point about getting forward to put crosses in and create chances is particularly key, given the profile of Everton’s new striker Barry.

The towering Frenchman scored 11 times in La Liga, three of which were headers, from an average distance of 12 yards out from goal, underlining that he does all of his best inside the box. Indeed, he also ranks in the top 14% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won, once again highlighting that aerial prowess.

So, with Lino – who was described as “incredible” by scout Antonio Mango during his time on loan at Valencia – bombing forward and putting in crosses, he and Barry could form a lethal combination.

Everton could hijack move to sign hulking £42m striker who'd be Lukaku 2.0

Everton will be keen on signing another striker this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 22, 2025

Even though Arsenal are blessed with an abundance of talented players, it’s not hard to pinpoint their most important: Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon has become a talisman for the club and a constant source of goals and assists from the right-hand side, racking up a sensational haul of 26 goal involvements in 37 games this season.

Yet, as unbelievably talented as the Englishman is, he cannot drag the Gunners to glory on his own, as even Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has an incredible supporting cast, including the likes of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and most crucially, this season, Cody Gakpo.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an attacker who’s been compared to Saka and the Flying Dutchman.

Arsenal's winger search

With their attack letting them down on several occasions this season, it’s not been a surprise to see Arsenal linked with a host of talented wingers this summer, such as Karou Mitoma and Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for around £80m and was able to rack up a tally of 15 goal involvements in 41 games this season, while the latter might cost as much as £77m but was even more effective, racking up a haul of 14 goals and 11 assists in 52 games.

Yet, there is another name that has entered the frame, a player who has Premier League experience and has been compared to Saka and Gakpo: Noni Madueke.

According to a recent report from the Telegraph, Arsenal are now one of several teams in the picture to sign the former Spurs academy star and Chelsea forward this summer.

The report claims that while the Blues do not want to sell the Englishman, there is a distinct possibility that he would be let go for the right price.

While that price is not mentioned in the story, reports from earlier this month claimed that a fee in the region of €60m, which is about £51m, could do the trick.

It might not be a transfer that is immediately popular with Arsenal fans, but Madueke has shown glimpses of quality in the Premier League, and the fact he’s been compared to Saka and Gakpo is undoubtedly intriguing.

How Madueke compares to Saka & Gakpo

So then, before going over some of the other reasons why Arsenal might want to sign Madueke this summer, it’s important to examine these comparisons and where they stem from.

Well, they both stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in the Premier League this season before making a list of the ten most comparable for each.

According to this list, Gakpo was the seventh most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Chelsea this season, while Saka was the tenth most similar.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.61

0.71

Shots

3.54

3.44

Passing Accuracy

77.4%

75.5%

Passes into the Final Third

0.71

0.78

Tackles Won

0.80

0.78

Clearances

0.49

0.42

Successful Take-On %

44.1%

45.6%

Aerial Duels Won

0.49

0.52

Now, the best way to understand how these conclusions were reached is by looking at some of the underlying numbers in which the players rank closely, and in the case of the Gunners’ talisman, that includes things like non-penalty expected goals plus assist, passing accuracy, passes into the final third, clearances, tackles won and more, all per 90.

In the case of the Eindhoven-born maestro, similar metrics include expected assists, live passes, carries, ball recoveries, goal-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.61

0.53

Passing Accuracy

77.4%

75.7%

Expected Assists

0.14

0.18

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.35

0.37

Live Passes

29.2

28.7

Goal-Creating Actions

0.35

0.37

Carries

28.4

28.1

Ball Recoveries

3.72

3.58

However, it’s not just the comparisons to two of the best wingers in the league that should excite fans, as the “unbelievable” dynamo, as dubbed by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, has also been a relatively reliable source of goals and assists for the West Londoners.

For example, in 42 appearances this season, totalling 2513 minutes, the 23-year-old “mentality monster,” as dubbed by personal coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, scored 11 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 2.62 games, or every 157.06 minutes.

In comparison, Gabriel Martinelli racked up as many goal involvements in 51 appearances, totalling 3564 minutes, which comes out to a significantly worse average of a goal involvement every 3.18 games, or every 222.75 minutes.

Ultimately, while the price might be a little high, Madueke has the raw ability to make a difference for Arsenal, and the fact he’s been compared to players like Saka and Gakpo this season suggests as much.

Therefore, if the fee can be reduced somewhat, then this looks like a transfer worth chasing.

Big Martinelli upgrade: Arsenal start talks to sign "magnificent" £85m star

The incredible winger would add so much dynamism to Arsenal’s attack.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025

Sunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have been in talks about multiple overseas signings in recent days.

Sunderland transfer rumours after Enzo Le Fee deal

The Black Cats are yet to make a major mark in the transfer window so far following promotion to the Premier League, with Enzo Le Fee’s loan move becoming permanent the only piece of incoming business.

Le Fee has penned a four-year deal and has cost around £20m after helping the club win promotion at Wembley. In regards to outgoings, Sunderland have lost playoff hero Tommy Watson and star midfielder Jobe Bellingham, with the pair joining Brighton and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Le Bris' next Rigg: Sunderland make approach to sign "outstanding" EFL star

Sunderland could be about to win their next Chris Rigg if they successfully sign this EFL ace.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2025

There have been a number of reported targets at The Stadium of Light, though, as Regis Le Bris prepares his side for a Premier League opener at home to West Ham United on August 16.

Leeds United midfielder Sam Greenwood is a player of interest to Sunderland, as is Sassuolo striker Armand Lauriente.

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers also has admirers from the Black Cats, and by the looks of things, Speakman has been making moves for targets outside of England in recent days.

Speakman confirms transfer talks with Sunderland targets

As reported by The Northern Echo, Speakman confirmed that he has personally been in three different countries this week to talk with targets and their agents.

Although he won’t say what players he has spoken with, The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson name-checked Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo and Lauriente as targets for Sunderland.

Vanat is currently at the U21 European Championships after scoring 21 goals and registering nine assists for Dynamo Kyiv in all competitions last season.

The 23-year-old could be one that Speakman held talks with, but by the looks of things, transfer business could soon ramp up on Wearside following this update from the Sunderland chief.

Liverpool’s full-backs have been some of the major talking points ahead of the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot needing to add to his squad to sustain their recent success.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to depart Anfield this summer after announcing he won’t be extending his current contract with the club, looking set to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Andy Robertson has been the Reds’ main left-back over the last few years, but at the age of 31, he’s entering the back end of his professional career, with reinforcements needed in such an area.

Kostas Tsimikas is Slot’s backup to the Scotsman, but both could yet depart the club this summer, opening the door to added investment from the hierarchy to improve the department.

Multiple names have already been tipped to strengthen their defensive unit, with various names in the mix ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders

Centre-back Dean Huijsen is a player who has been on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, even holding talks with the defender’s representatives over a move to Merseyside.

However, it appears as though they’ve fallen behind in the race for the Spaniard’s signature, with Chelsea edging ahead by making a proposal to land his services ahead of 2025/26.

He’s not the only player who’s appeared on their shortlist as of late, with Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri the latest name to emerge as an option for Slot’s side, according to The Telegraph.

The report claims that the 23-year-old is admired by the Reds, but that Vitor Pereira’s side are wanting to hand him a new contract to prevent any interest in his services.

However, if they are unable to come to terms over a new deal, they would have to sell the Algerian international, but would demand a fee in the region of £50m to part ways with the talented ace.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be the dream Kerkez alternative

Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez is a player who’s been at the top of Liverpool’s shopping list over the last few months, as Slot looks to add depth to the left-back department.

The Hungarian has been a star in the Cherries’ unlikely push for European football, starting every single game throughout the 2024/25 Premier League season – the most of any player in the squad.

After such consistent showings, Andoni Iraola’s side have placed a £40m price tag on the youngster to part ways with him during the off-season.

He could be an excellent option and one that could nail down the role for many years to come, but the club may be better off targeting a move for another star instead.

When comparing Kerkez’s stats to those of Ait-Nouri’s, the Wolves star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting what a superb addition he would be for the Reds.

The Algerian, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Gary O’Neil, has registered more combined goals and assists this campaign, whilst also notching more key passes – showcasing the attacking threat he carries.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted, aiding players in forward areas to improve their own tallies.

Games played

34

35

Goals & assists

11

7

Pass accuracy

84%

75%

Key passes completed

1.2

0.9

Tackles won

1.6

0.7

Blocks made

1.3

1

Take-ons completed

1.8

0.5

Aerials won

42%

34%

However, Ait-Nouri has been just as impressive, winning more tackles and making more blocks per 90, handing Slot the added defensive solidity to win the division for a second successive year next season.

Whilst Kerkez will remain many supporters’ number one option for this summer, it’s evident that the Wolves star has all the qualities to thrive in the left-back role on Merseyside.

He could be the answer to their long-term ambitions at the back, potentially allowing the fans to forget about the Hungarian and take the side to the next level in the process.

Better signing than Sesko: Liverpool plot move for "world-class" £64m ace

Liverpool appear to be making a huge move to land a new striker for Arne Slot this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 7, 2025

An Ipswich Town “monster” looks to be interested in leaving Portman Road this summer after two big clubs made new approaches.

Ipswich Town relegation on the cards despite Chelsea draw

The Tractor Boys look to be on course for an immediate return to the Championship from the Premier League despite holding Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Kieran McKenna’s side actually went into half time 2-0 up after goals from Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson, however, an Axel Tuanzebe own goal and a Jadon Sancho equaliser late on ensured the points would be shared.

Ipswich are now 14 points away from safety with just six games remaining, meaning their relegation could be confirmed this weekend if results don’t go their way.

Talking after the draw, McKenna said: “I thought it was a really good game. Really proud of the group again. First half was difficult and our resilience was really good. Second half we played well, really even. It was a big blow them getting a goal so early in second half. It took an incredible strike from Sancho off the bench. We gave everything and showed our quality.”

Relegation could result in a number of Portman Road exits, and one star who looks destined to leave is Liam Delap.

Romano: Ipswich Town eyeing move to sign "fast" new Liam Delap replacement

He’s currently in the Championship.

By
Charlie Smith

Apr 11, 2025

It has been claimed that if Ipswich drop down to the Championship, his release clause will lower from £40m to £30m, and some big clubs are making moves for his services.

Liam Delap open to Ipswich Town exit to sign for Chelsea

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea and Man Utd have been making new approaches to sign Delap from Ipswich in recent weeks.

The striker is a top target for the Red Devils, however, it is added that Delap is interested in leaving Ipswich for Champions League football, something Chelsea may be able to offer ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Delap has scored 12 top flight goals this season and has been praised on multiple occasions this season, including from teammate Alex Palmer, who called the forward a “monster”.

“You look at him and he’s a monster. He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy – and also the talent. So for us to have him and him be playing as well as he is at the moment, he’s going to have a big part to play the rest of the season.

“He’s a proper striker, and I think for us as well he’s an outlet. He’s a big physical boy. He’s not huge but he’s got that raw strength. Even build up, he helps us stick and set, so he’s not just a goal scorer. He’s an all-round striker.”

Delap’s stats at Ipswich
Games	34
Goals	12
Assists	2
Yellow cards	10
Minutes played	2,422

Unfortuantely, it looks as if Delap’s days as an Ipswich player are numbered, so his next move could be one to keep an eye on, should the Tractor Boys go down in the coming weeks.