Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin announced his departure from the club last week upon the expiration of his contract.

“After nine remarkable years at this club, I’ve made the incredibly difficult decision – together with my family – to begin a new chapter in my career,” said the Englishman on social media, confirming the news.

The previous few seasons haven’t quite gone to plan, as he scored just 11 goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

David Moyes now faces the challenge of bringing in another attacker who can replace the former Sheffield United man. Might a move be close for someone linked recently?

Everton ramping up talks to sign La Liga centre-forward

While Calvert-Lewin was reduced to a bit part figure at Goodison Park last season, he still needs replacing, and Beto still needs some competition up top.

Well, the Toffees may well have found their man already.

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, Everton are currently in talks to sign Villarreal striker Thierno Barry and are ramping up their efforts to bring him to the Premier League now knowing that Calvert-Lewin is departing.

The La Liga side are desperate to keep their prized asset, and unless a club matches his €40m (£34m) release clause, the Frenchman won’t be going anywhere.

“We want the player, and if he were to leave, it would have to be, if not for the release clause, something very close to it. If not, he won’t leave.” commented Villarreal Sporting Director Fernando Roig Nogueroles.

With Calvert-Lewin’s £120k-per-week wage now off the bill, Moyes will have some flexibility regarding potential incomings.

Not only would Barry be an excellent signing, but the youngster would also be an upgrade on the former Toffees frontman.

Why Everton must sign Thierno Barry

Calvert-Lewin has really struggled for form over the previous two seasons. Last term, he managed to score just three times in the Premier League, recording two assists.

In comparison, Barry netted 19 times while assisting four times across all competitions, instantly suggesting he would be a big upgrade on the Englishman.

Furthermore, Barry also registered more shots on goal per game (2.1 vs 1.9) than Calvert-Lewin, along with scoring more frequently (a goal every 211 minutes vs every 543 minutes), created more big chances (seven vs one) and finished the season with a better goal conversion percentage (15% vs 6%) in their respective leagues.

By coming out on top across all of these metrics, Barry could give Everton some much-needed firepower next season under Moyes.

He was hailed by U23 scout Antonio Mango in May this year, who spoke glowingly of his 6 foot frame, noting that his “strong physique makes him menacing in the box.”

His hulking frame means Barry is excellent in the air. Indeed, when compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top 14% for aerials won (3.84) per 90.

This ability in the air will be music to Moyes’ ears, who can ask his wingers to deliver crosses into the box on a regular basis.

For a fee of just £34m, the Merseyside outfit can sign a player with proven ability in a top-five European league.

Not only that, Barry would be an instant upgrade to Calvert-Lewin.

Everton considering shock move to sign £40k-p/w ace likened to Messi

The Toffees could cause a shock…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 29, 2025

For the first time this transfer window, the transfer activity in through the door at Birmingham City seems to have slowed down.

After all, in the space of just a week recently, Birmingham had managed to welcome in the likes of Demarai Gray, Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, and many other star names to the camp, with some calm perhaps now needed to balance the books appropriately.

Still, when it comes to Chris Davies and Co., there might well be another sublime addition just waiting around the corner at any moment, with Birmingham not giving up all hope just yet that they can resign this midfield ace very soon, among other targets being chased after.

Birmingham still pursuing move for EFL ace

Reports do seem to suggest that the Blues will have to move on some bodies to be able to finance some more high-profile captures, especially if they want to be successful in landing Hwang Hee-Chan up top.

It was recently revealed that Birmingham had their eye on the Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker, but the £14m fee required to win his services – on top of his potential steep wage costs – has rendered this a deal that will be difficult to get over the line right now.

There are more unwelcome obstacles in Birmingham’s way with other targets, too, with Kieran Dowell, who was expected to be surplus to requirements on his return to Rangers, now being utilised in pre-season under a fresh set of managerial ideas from Russell Martin.

A recent updated report from Birmingham Live does suggest that a permanent move could still be on the cards, with Davies once stating it would be “something we will have to look into” over arranging for the £16k-per-week star to come back to St. Andrew’s for good.

Whilst this has gone cold for the moment, Birmingham do have plenty of time on their hands to try and work out a deal, with Dowell perhaps a dream teammate for Kyogo to bounce off of as he grows accustomed to leading the line in the Championship.

Why Dowell could be a dream for Kyogo

Whilst the Japanese ace has proven himself to be a reliable goal machine in Scotland – as seen in his ridiculous tally of 85 strikes leading the line with venom for Celtic – he has never tested himself before in the challenging terrain of the EFL’s elite league.

Therefore, he could well be daunted by the prospect of having to be the Blues’ leading man here, particularly as he’s coming into Davies’ camp off the back of a barren spell in France with Rennes and the fact that he’s been purchased for a fee around the excessive £10m mark.

Games played

123

Goals scored

26

Assists

12

Big chances created

25

Those nerves would surely be quelled knowing he has the likes of such a reliable Championship playmaker in the form of Dowell by his side, with the second-tier veteran notching up a hefty 26 goals and 12 assists across his last 123 outings in the division. On top of that, 25 big chances have also been created, which will be music to the ears of a poacher-like forward in Kyogo.

At the height of his goalscoring powers at Celtic during the 2022/23 season, which saw him net a blistering 27 Scottish Premiership strikes, the potent 30-year-old would only need to average a mere 13.3 touches per league game to cause said widespread damage, meaning he should become even more prolific if he latches onto plenty of Dowell’s defence-splitting passes to come.

Whilst they used to be divided across enemy lines in Glasgow, both Dowell and Kyogo might well form a dream partnership in the West Midlands very soon, with Davies even going as far as to describe the 27-year-old as “high quality” last campaign when he popped up with four assists from just 17 League One starts.

He might well have only scratched the surface of what he’s capable of at St. Andrew’s with his promising loan stint, with the Championship more his bread and butter, as Birmingham aim to potentially bring him back to take their new division by storm.

He'd be Kyogo 2.0: Birmingham looking at incredible deal to sign £14m star

Birmingham City could seal another ambitious deal very soon.

3 ByKelan Sarson Jul 15, 2025

In the last couple of days, Arsenal finally landed the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi, after a pursuit for his signature felt like it was taking an eternity.

It was originally proposed that the Gunners had agreed a deal for the Spaniard back in January, joining up with the side during the current transfer window.

However, a deal went quiet, before it was eventually announced that the 26-year-old had completed his £60m move to the Emirates on a five-year contract.

The holding midfielder will certainly fill a massive void within the current squad, but ultimately, boss Mikel Arteta will be craving added reinforcements to bolster his Premier League title credentials.

Numerous players have been mentioned since the window opened, but multiple deals now appear to be edging ever closer to being completed ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this window

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been constantly touted with a move to join Arsenal this summer, but a deal did appear to have stalled in recent days.

However, it now appears as though the two clubs are edging closer to agreeing a deal for the Swede, with the forward still desperately wanting a move to join the Gunners during the off-season.

He may not be the only player to arrive in the near future, with Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera all set to complete a move, according to journalist Henry Winter.

He claims that a deal for the 21-year-old looks likely to be signed off and all done by the end of the week, with a £15m price tag mooted for his signature.

Winter also states that the majority of the transfer is completed, with minor details needing to be finalised before the youngster can be announced as an Arsenal player.

Other reports suggest that the player already has an “agreement in principle” to sign for the club this summer. Any move could cost a reported £17m.

Why Arsenal’s latest target would be perfect for Zubimendi

Even after spending upwards of £100m to sign Declan Rice in the summer of 2023, the hierarchy have been targeting a new defensive midfielder for Arteta’s side.

The Englishman has operated in more of a number eight role at the Emirates, contributing to his impressive record in attacking areas that has seen him register 16 goals for the club.

If the side are to make the jump and become title winners in the near future, the signing of an anchor at the heart of the side has been vital – with Zubimendi’s arrival providing just that.

He could be further aided in his pursuit of being a success in North London by the addition of Mosquera, that’s despite the Spaniard being a defensive option.

Whilst his main priority is to stop the side from conceding goals, he will also have the responsibility of building up from the back and allowing those in front of him to- like Zubimendi – to thrive in forward areas.

His stats from the 2024/25 in LaLiga are evidence that he’s capable of thriving in possession, potentially handing Arteta the perfect ball-playing option at the back.

Mosquera, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Statman Dave, registered a 91% pass accuracy rate, with 3.3 progressive passes per 90, highlighting why he’d be able to provide the midfielder with the tools he needs.

However, without the ball, the youngster has also impressed, winning 1.5 tackles per 90, along with 3.5 clearances made – handing the side the added depth and quality needed to become title contenders.

His subsequent tally of 75% of tackles won last season ranked him within the top 15% of all players in Spain’s top-flight, with the Gunners potentially getting themselves a bargain.

If he can replicate his tremendous form in England next season, it would be a phenomenal pickup, having the potential to develop into a top-level talent in the years ahead.

The prospect of Mosquera linking up with his compatriot in North London is certainly an exciting one, with the pair potentially handing the club a huge chance of success in 2025/26.

Instant Norgaard upgrade: Arsenal make contact for "spectacular" £43m star

Following the signings of both Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi, Arsenal are now targeting a midfielder who is at a “spectacular level”.

By
Ben Gray

Jul 12, 2025

Newcastle United are preparing for a significant shake-up in their forward line.

As uncertainty continues to surround Alexander Isak’s future, the club’s recruitment team have been working behind the scenes to line up a replacement.

The player they’ve identified won’t command the same fee as Isak, nor is he yet a household name in English football.

But what he does offer is an athletic profile and goal-scoring instinct that aligns with Eddie Howe’s system and, crucially, with Newcastle’s newest attacking addition: Anthony Elanga.

Big-money striker on the horizon for Newcastle

According to reports from Italy, Benjamin Šeško has agreed to personal terms with Newcastle on a contract that would keep him at the club until 2030.

The report reads that ‘Sesko has an agreement in principle’ at St James’ Park, but the club are now focused on reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig, where Šeško is under contract until 2029.

Newcastle have admired Šeško for some time, and it’s easy to see why their interest has reignited, even if he is valued at around £60m.

The 22-year-old striker enjoyed a successful season at Leipzig, scoring 21 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions, including 13 in the Bundesliga.

Bundesliga

13

DFB-Pokal

4

UEFA Champions League

4

This return is all the more impressive when you consider Leipzig’s underwhelming campaign: a seventh-place finish domestically and an early Champions League exit.

Why Elanga and Sesko makes sense

Elanga’s arrival from Nottingham Forest has already added a new dimension to Newcastle’s attacking patterns, scoring in their clash with Arsenal on Sunday.

Well, at Forest, Elanga found chemistry with Chris Wood.

While the Kiwi striker offered a traditional physical presence, it was his understanding of Elanga’s timing and delivery that allowed the pair to combine effectively.

“He’s so good at taking out his opposite number and then finding me,” Wood said. “We’ve developed a great partnership; he anticipates my movements and I his.”

Newcastle now appear to be betting on a similar dynamic – only this time, with a more mobile and higher-ceiling version of Wood.

At 194cm tall, Šeško offers a commanding physical presence, but his game is more than just height and strength.

He possesses impressive acceleration and mobility for his size, a rare combination that has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland.

Compared to Isak, Šeško trails in some attacking metrics. He recorded 18 goal involvements to Isak’s 29, with non-penalty expected goals of 8.4 to Isak’s 17.2.

According to data from FBref, his shot on target percentage (43.9%) actually slightly edges out Isak’s (43.2%), while his per-90 metrics for touches (36.2 vs. Isak’s 35.7) and shots on target (1.10 vs. 1.34) show he is consistently involved in forward play.

Šeško’s style complements Elanga’s perfectly. With his aerial dominance and ability to make sharp near-post runs, he becomes a natural target for Elanga’s whipped deliveries.

Last season, the Sweden international quietly posted some of the most creative numbers in the Premier League: 11 assists, with per-90 metrics placing him in the 94th percentile for both assists (0.40) and crosses (6.66), and the 93rd percentile for corners (3.09).

Šeško’s physicality means he can pin defenders and create space for Elanga to operate in wide areas, much like Wood did at Forest, but with more pace and finesse.

That pairing has the potential to be devastating. Elanga thrives when he has a clear reference point to aim for, a striker who knows how to time his movement and get across defenders.

Šeško, for all his physical gifts, has also shown sharp spatial awareness in the box.

His knack for finding space between centre-backs was a constant theme in his Bundesliga goals, and if he can build rapport with Elanga, Newcastle could unlock a new attacking avenue.

Under Howe, whose team press high and look to create quick attacking moments, Šeško’s physical tools and directness could be better leveraged.

What’s also enticing for Newcastle is the long-term potential. Still just 22, the Slovenian is younger than Isak.

His statistical profile is promising, but not yet polished, meaning Newcastle have the chance to mould him into a true Premier League forward.

With the striker reportedly ready to take the next step in his career, a Premier League move feels timely.

For now, the negotiations continue. But should Newcastle seal the deal, they won’t just be replacing Isak. In Šeško and Elanga, they could be assembling a modern-day duo with real chemistry – one that could trouble even the Premier League’s strongest defences.

Better signing than Wissa: Newcastle open talks to sign "the new Haaland"

With Alexander Isak potentially set to leave, and a move for Yoane Wissa now off the table, Newcastle have enquired about signing a “powerful” striker

ByBen Gray Jul 28, 2025

The Hundred franchises could make players direct offers of multi-year contracts worth up to £300,000 per season if an overhaul to the tournament’s draft system being considered by the ECB is approved. The board is also considering lobbying the UK’s Home Office to permit each team in the Hundred to field a fourth overseas player in the XI, an increase from the current limit of three.The ECB started the process of selling stakes in each of the eight Hundred teams last month and has told prospective investors that total wage bills could increase by over 80% next year. Each team currently spends around £1.9 million per year on salaries across men’s and women’s players and coaches, which is projected to jump to more than £3.5m per year once deals are signed off.If the early-stage plans are approved and the sale process moves quickly, top salaries could climb from £125,000 to £300,000 in the men’s Hundred ahead of the 2025 season, and from £50,000 to over £100,000 in the women’s Hundred. The changes would put the Hundred’s total salary spend second to the IPL among men’s leagues, and second to the WPL among women’s leagues.Related

• Richard Gould: ECB 'unapologetic' about attracting top talent to Men's Hundred

• Richard Gould: Hundred equity sale can future-proof county cricket for '20-25 years'

• Top Men's Hundred salaries to rise by 60 percent in 2025

• ECB rules out 'IPL takeover' of the Hundred

• Disaffected county players discuss Hundred boycott as 'nuclear option' in NOCs row

The Hundred has consistently attracted the best overseas players in the women’s game, but not the men’s. This year, Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled out of his deal with Welsh Fire because Canada’s Global T20 was due to pay him at a more competitive rate, while Pat Cummins revealed he “hadn’t thought” of playing in the Hundred while he was at Major League Cricket.As a result, the ECB is considering allowing an updated recruitment model which would allow each franchise to make up to six direct overseas signings – three men’s and three women’s – on multi-year contracts, following the lead of several other leagues including the BBL, ILT20 and SA20. The existing draft system would remain but with increases in salary bands across the board, particularly at the top end.Vikram Banerjee, who is running the sale process at the ECB, said recently that the Hundred has “fallen behind” a number of other short-form leagues in attracting top men’s players. “We are the sixth highest-payer in the men’s game,” Banerjee told the podcast. “We’re about to go seventh if we stay still at the moment – which we won’t.”Banerjee also suggested that top salaries would grow at a much more significant rate than those at the bottom. “The 15th selection in a 15-man squad, with all due respect, you don’t need to pay huge sums for. They might be an up-and-coming player,” he said. “It’s that top three or four players [per team] that you do need to pay to get their time and their effort to be there, and we have fallen behind.”Top salaries could climb from £50,000 to over £100,000 in the women’s Hundred ahead of the 2025 season•Getty Images

The plans would also see each team able to sign one designated ‘England star’ on a multi-year deal, worth around £100,000 in the women’s competition and £250,000 in the men’s. The proposed increase in overseas players per playing XI from three to four would bring the tournament in line with the global standard set by the IPL, WPL, PSL and SA20.ESPNcricinfo understands that while the plans have been circulated to prospective investors, they are at a relatively early stage and may not come to fruition until 2026, depending on the speed of the ongoing sale process. The ECB has declined to comment.The Hundred’s sale process has come under fire in the past week. Banerjee, the ECB’s director of business operations, conceded that it could take until beyond the 2025 season to complete, and the process was described last week as “a big fat Ponzi scheme” by Lalit Modi, the founder and architect of the IPL who is serving a life ban from the BCCI.”I don’t recognise his particular comments,” Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, told the BBC last week in response to Modi’s criticism of the Hundred’s financial projections. “It wasn’t so long ago that he [Modi] had an article in the saying he wanted to buy the competition for £1 billion.”Gould insisted the ECB are “very confident” in the strength of English cricket. “We’ve got nearly 100 or so interested parties involved in [the Hundred sales process] which is a huge number… Everyone knows that the money that comes in, we want to use it to protect and then supercharge the game throughout our county network and beyond.”The Hundred’s 2025 season will start in early August, immediately after England’s men complete a Test series against India.

Leeds United officially confirmed the signing of German central midfielder Anton Stach from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim as their latest arrival on Tuesday.

The 6 foot 4 enforcer becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window after Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Stach, 26, made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game across 30 outings in the Bundesliga last season, but has joined to compete in a bloated midfield set-up, with Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Ao Tanaka, and Longstaff also at the club.

This means that he has not arrived as an essential signing, albeit he may well go on to be a huge success, and that is why the club’s interest in a new goalkeeper could be an even better signing.

Leeds in the race to sign new goalkeeper

It is no secret that Leeds need to improve their options between the sticks, after Illan Meslier was dropped towards the end of last season after he conceded 2.73 more goals than expected, based on xG, and made three errors that directly led to goals.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Leeds United are eyeing up a potential swoop to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp this summer.

The report claims that the Championship champions have emerged as serious contenders to sign the 23-year-old shot-stopper to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad for next season.

However, it adds that Manchester United are also interested in the Belgian star, who is valued at a fee of up to £17m by his club, which means that there could be significant competition for his signature.

Why Senne Lammens would be a big signing for Leeds

Lammens would be an even better signing than Stach for Leeds because he would arrive as a huge upgrade in a position that the club are currently desperately lacking in quality.

The latest Whites signing is part of a healthy group of quality midfield options, which means that he is not guaranteed to be a regular starter, but the Belgian goalkeeper would come straight in as Farke’s best goalkeeper.

Lammens, who saved four of the eight penalties he faced in the Pro League last season, produced outstanding performances for Royal Antwerp in the 2024/25 campaign, and could be a phenomenal signing for the club.

24/25 season

Lammens (Pro League)

Meslier (Championship)

Appearances

40

39

Save percentage

77%

71%

Penalties saved

4/8

1/4

Goals prevented

+15.57

-2.73

Saves

173

65

Error led to goal

2

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian goalkeeper would come in as an unbelievable upgrade on Meslier if he can carry his form over to English football, as he prevented a ridiculous 15.57 goals based on the xG against him.

These statistics suggest that Lammens, whose shot-stopping numbers were hailed as “remarkable” by Statman Dave, would be a huge positive between the sticks for Leeds, as a goalkeeper who can make game-changing saves to keep his team in matches.

Whereas, Meslier has let Leeds down too many times with his inconsistent shot-stopping, which has led to him conceding more than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the quality of shots against him.

Therefore, Lammens would be a huge upgrade on what the Whites currently have in goal, and he would arrive as a crucial signing for Farke ahead of their attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.

Related He'll send Harrison packing: Leeds chase deal to sign "explosive" £30m star

Leeds United remain interested in a deal to sign a star who could send Jack Harrison packing this summer.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Jul 22, 2025

That is why the Royal Antwerp stopper would be an even better signing than Stach for the Whites this summer, because he would solve a problem position for the club, whilst the midfielder is competing in an area of the pitch that Farke has plenty of quality in.

Leeds United have now submitted a £12m offer to sign an “unbelievable” player, with an agreement also being reached on personal terms, reliable reporter David Ornstein has revealed.

Leeds vying to sign new midfielders

Having missed out on Habib Diarra to fellow promoted side Sunderland, Leeds have been forced to move on to alternative central midfield targets, and it is looking increasingly likely that there could be multiple additions in the engine room.

Hoffenheim’s Anton Stach is of particular interest, with the Whites now growing more confident they will be able to complete a deal for the German, while they have also set their sights on several players who boast Premier League experience.

Newcastle United’s Joe Willock is one of the players on the shortlist, although Crystal Palace may have an advantage in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, given that he is believed to favour a move to the capital this summer.

Leeds eyeing huge £17m talent wanted by Champions League clubs

Leeds United are in the mix of teams who want to sign a highly rated midfielder.

2 ByBrett Worthington Jul 7, 2025

Consequently, Daniel Farke’s side have seemingly made little progress in their pursuit of Willock, but they are now stepping up their pursuit of a different Newcastle midfielder.

That is according to an update from Ornstein on X, with the reporter revealing that Leeds are “pushing to sign Sean Longstaff”, having recently submitted a £12m offer for his services.

The latest bid is believed to be “close to the limit” before the West Yorkshire outfit decide to move on to other targets, but they are yet to receive a reply from the Magpies.

With personal terms already “in place”, the deal could move quickly if the offer is accepted, with the Newcastle academy graduate keen for his boyhood club to receive a fee for his services, rather than losing him on a free transfer next summer.

"Unbelievable" Longstaff could be ideal signing for Leeds

The 27-year-old wouldn’t exactly be the flashiest of signings, but he could be the ideal addition to a Leeds squad looking to stabilise as a Premier League club, given his vast experience in the top flight.

During his time with the Magpies, the Englishman has chalked up a total of 171 Premier League appearances, while also being dubbed “unbelievable” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has also praised the Newcastle maestro for his work-rate and versatility: “He can play in a variety of midfield roles and it’s that ability to get the best out of Bruno (Guimaraes) in that Newcastle midfield. Bruno plays better when Sean Longstaff is behind him, in front of him or alongside him. He can run all day, he’s a great athlete.”

As such, Longstaff clearly has the quality to help Leeds survive in their first season back in the Premier League, and £12m seems like a reasonable fee for his services.

We might still be just under a month away from the start of the Premier League season, but this week should be a good one for Arsenal fans.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in Singapore and kick off their pre-season campaign proper with a game against Italian giants AC Milan on Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to simply getting to see their team play again, it’ll also be the first chance for fans to see the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and possibly Kepa Arrizabalaga kick a ball for the side.

However, it’s not just the football that fans should be excited about, as it now looks like the club could complete another signing, a player who would be a dream teammate for another of their recent targets, Xavi Simons.

Arsenal close in on dream signing for Simons

It’s been an unusually busy summer of business for Arsenal this year, as, on top of the aforementioned trio of additions who are on tour with the side at the moment, the club have also signed Noni Madueke from Chelsea and are surely set to announce Cristian Mosquera from Valencia any day now.

Transfer Focus

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

Moreover, while links to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze appear to have quieted down somewhat, the opposite is true for RB Leipzig’s Simons.

The Gunners have been linked with a £52m move for him several times over the last few days, and given his impact in Germany over the last couple of years, it’s not hard to see why.

The young Dutchman would certainly add some real quality to Arteta’s squad, and it now looks like the club are close to securing the signature of another international who’d help make the 22-year-old even better.

At least that’s according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, who claims Arsenal are in “advanced” stages of negotiations for Viktor Gyokeres.

In fact, Jacobs has revealed that a “breakthrough” is “expected soon” and that rumours of Manchester United submitting a bid for the player are unfounded.

The English journalist makes no mention of the final price in his update, but according to stories from earlier this summer, the Gunners are set to pay an initial fee of £55m, with add-ons that could reach up to £8.7m.

While it’s a substantial sum of money, it could still prove to be good value for someone so prolific, especially as he could be a perfect teammate for Simons.

Why Gyokeres would be a dream for Simons

The first thing we need to do is examine how, in terms of his output, Simons performed at Leipzig last season.

Impressively, despite being just 21 for most of the campaign, the Flying Dutchman managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.

The former Paris Saint-Germain gem managed to achieve this level of output in a team whose top goalscorer, Benjamin Sesko, scored only 21 goals in 45 games, and their second top-scorer, Loïs Openda, scored just 13 in the same number of games.

Therefore, while it sounds simplistic, it wouldn’t be unrealistic to suggest that with a more prolific striker playing ahead or alongside him, the Amsterdam-born magician would see his goal and assist numbers soar, and when it comes to free-scoring forwards, none are more dangerous than Gyokeres.

For example, in his first season with Sporting, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, scored a whopping 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

In other words, the 27-year-old machine averaged 1.16 goal involvements every game, or one every 71.87 minutes, and while that is an outrageous rate of return, he managed to do even better last season.

In 52 appearances for the Portuguese champions, totalling 4248 minutes, the former Coventry City star put the ball in the back of the net 54 times and provided 13 assists, which works out to an out-of-this-world average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal should do everything possible to sign Simons and Gyokeres this summer, as they’re both exceptional players who would help elevate the team, and together, could make the Gunners one of the most formidable attacking sides in Europe.

Ekitike 2.0: Arsenal actively plotting move for "golden" CF after Gyokeres

The promising poacher could be a star at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 19, 2025

New Zealand have separated the opening pair of Bates and Devine; Harmanpreet will bat at No. 3 for India

Vishal Dikshit03-Oct-2024South Africa vs West IndiesDubai, 2pm local timeSouth Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Seshnie Naidu, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe TryonWest Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa CraftonRelated

Harmanpreet set to end India's No. 3 roulette at T20 World Cup

Sultana: 'Heartbreaking' not to play in Bangladesh, but our support here is brilliant

South Africa head in new direction with calm Laura Wolvaardt at the helm

'It can be tough to do both skills full out' but Kapp will do it for SA

'I'm still World Boss' – Dottin is as hungry as ever

Tournament form guide: South Africa and West Indies lost both their warm-up games in the lead-up to the tournament, although South Africa’s losses were more surprising. They were bowled out for 92 against New Zealand to lose by eight wickets and then couldn’t get close to their target of 145 against India. West Indies’ losses came against teams ranked much higher than them. They first lost to India by 20 runs and then to Australia by 35 runs, on both occasions struggling to chase down totals in the 140s.News brief: South Africa finished as the runners-up in the 2023 T20 World Cup and will be looking to carry their form into this tournament after a 2-1 away series win against Pakistan. Despite a poor 7-14 win-loss record against West Indies, South Africa have won three of their last four T20Is against them. West Indies, too, come on the back of a 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka, although that was back in June. South Africa could go spin heavy by picking 18-year-old legspinner Seshnie Naidu along with allrounders Chloe Tryon and Sune Luus. It’s expected to be a hot afternoon in Dubai, with the temperature around 37°C at the time of the toss. It won’t be much cooler even when the game ends.Player to watch: She last played a T20I in August 2022. Since then, she has played franchise cricket around the world, retired from international cricket, and returned. Deandra Dottin is a powerhouse of a figure, not just a batter. Her presence in the West Indies line-up will be a massive boost who need to start on a winning note if they are to make the semi-finals.0:57

Shafali Verma: Dubai is so hot that we couldn’t even breathe during first practice

India vs New ZealandDubai, 6pm local timeIndia squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan SajanaNew Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Isabella Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea TahuhuTournament form guide: India won their two warm-up games with fairly convincing margins, by 20 runs against West Indies and 28 runs against South Africa. New Zealand, meanwhile, had a 50% success in the warm-ups. They beat South Africa by eight wickets and went down to England by five wickets.News brief: Two players were named in the India squad subject to fitness: allrounder Shreyanka Patil and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia. Both played both warm-ups, which bodes well for India. Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed on match eve that captain Harmanpreet Kaur would bat at No. 3, as was the case in the two warm-ups. She has batted there only five times since the start of 2019. The last time was against Ireland in the 2023 T20 World Cup when India’s opening stand lasted 9.3 overs. New Zealand come into the tournament after a streak of ten straight losses in T20Is, most recently being blanked 3-0 by Australia, against whom they play their second game. Therefore, they would be desperate for a win on Friday to push for a semi-final spot. If India have made a late call about their No. 3, New Zealand have decided to move their power-hitting captain Sophie Devine to the middle order recently, with Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates to open. Both teams are expecting plenty of dew in this evening game, so toss could play a massive role.Player to watch: Shafali Verma has worked on her mental game, she has worked on her consistency, and she is trying to mature into a more complete batter. If she can strike a balance between her early ball-bashing mentality with consistent performances from the first game itself, she could play a vital role in giving India a start similar to her nickname in the dressing room for her batting style: (dashing).

The camp was organised as Pakistan stutter through one of the bleakest periods in their history

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2024

The PCB’s much-trailed ‘connection camp’ ended on Monday with what officials said was a roadmap to bring the game out of the doldrums it finds itself in at the moment.Officials and the team management, including both head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, described a day of open and robust conversations, including about the lack of unity within the national side, with the two national captains, Shan Masood and Babar Azam, and a group of other players.The camp was organised as Pakistan stutter through one of the bleakest periods in their history, with administrative tumult begetting a succession of disastrous on-field results. Over the last year, Pakistan have lost to Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup, to USA at the T20 World Cup and most recently 2-0 to Bangladesh in a home Test series.Related

PCB is even more disastrous than usual. Here're the numbers to prove it

Dysfunctional system leaves Pakistan stuck in Test-match mire

Gillespie: 'I want people to be able to say, yes, this is the style of cricket Pakistan are playing'

PCB chairman questions depth of Pakistan's talent pool

Speculation has been rife throughout of growing differences in the dressing room, building from last year but propelled this year by the appointment and swift removal of Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan’s T20I captain, and the return of Babar Azam as the T20I captain. Kirsten, the white-ball coach, is said to have been surprised by the degree of it when he first took up the job.Salman Naseer, the PCB’s chief operating officer, acknowledged that a lack of unity had been part of the discussions, not just within the team but between the board and players.”The session was about this, that we openly and candidly accept and identify [issues] and ask for a commitment from each other, demand it, on how we can improve our performances and how we work together as a team,” Naseer said at a press conference in Lahore after the camp ended. “Our unanimous view was that we need to resolve this going forward and need to identify how we do it.”Naseer did not go into the details of the discussions, saying that providing a “safe space” was essential in allowing people to open up. But tension between players and the board has also been building, especially after a number of top stars were denied NOCs to participate in leagues over the summer. Afridi, Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah were all prevented from playing in leagues before the start of Pakistan’s home season, with workload management the primary reason cited by the board.”Where the talk is of unity, it wasn’t only about the team,” Naseer acknowledged. “It was between the team and management and how we can work together to do things more successfully. These were definitely part of the discussions. We talked about planning, we talked about workload management.”Everyone is feeling that the performances of players, and management, can be better. The idea was to sit together, identify issues and what can be better. What our vision is and how do we get there?”The camp is not believed to have brought up the more immediate questions facing the Pakistan side, in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Bangladesh and with England’s imminent arrival for a three-Test series in October. But Kirsten, who has been in Pakistan for the last 12 days watching the Champions Cup, struck a note of optimism in praising the depth of talent in Pakistan – in contrast to the chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s recent observations on the same.”I’ve been here the last 12 days or so watching the Champions Cup and have been really encouraged at the depth of quality of players in this tournament,” Kirsten said. “It’s been fantastic to see. I’ve really enjoyed the tournament. The quality of the competition has been high. Been great to see a lot of young players showcasing what they are capable of.”The discussions will continue, according to Gillespie. “Because we’re new to the job, our job is to listen and learn and look to implement ways where we can be more effective as players, as a team, and as coaches. What was really clear today was the pride the Pakistan players have in playing for Pakistan and how they want to inspire the country. That was really exciting to hear. The players care and are desperate to do well. We’re on this journey together and we’ll do everything we can to help.”