Stand-in captain Maharaj suffered a left groin strain while batting in the second innings of the first Test, Muthusamy will replace him in the team
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jul-2025Stand-in South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo because of a left groin strain. Allrounder Wiaan Mulder will lead the side in the second Test starting July 6.Maharaj captained South Africa in Test cricket for the first time after Temba Bavuma did not recover from the hamstring strain he suffered in the World Test Championship final. Maharaj returned a match-haul of four wickets with his left-arm spin apart from scoring a half-century in the second innings. He sustained the injury while batting on the third day of the first Test, which South Africa won by a whopping 328 runs.This will be Mulder’s first time of leading a team in first-class cricket. He has made 87 red-ball appearances, 20 of them in Tests. His only experience of captaining the team came for Leicestershire in the quarter-final of the One Day Cup 2022 against Kent. Mulder is coming off a productive match, scoring his Test best of 147 in the second innings to follow his four-wicket haul in the first innings.Fellow left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy has been named Maharaj’s replacement for the next Test while Lungi Ngidi, originally set to join the squad ahead of the game, has been released. Maharaj was not part of the T20I tri-series to follow, with New Zealand being the third team.
It’s shaping up to be a sensational season for Arsenal this year.
With nine games played in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side sit atop the Premier League table, six points clear of Manchester City and seven points clear of Liverpool.
Moreover, while the Gunners look impossible to score against at the moment, there is a real sense that the team could still move up a gear or two.
Even then, several Arsenal players are performing at levels fans have not seen before, including one big-money signing who is emulating Jurrien Timber’s rise.
Timber's rise at Arsenal
Arsenal made a number of impressive signings in the summer of 2023, including David Raya, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz.
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Yet the player fans probably knew the least amount, due to him not playing in England, was Timber, who moved to the Emirates from Ajax for a fee of around £38m.
Unfortunately, the supporters wouldn’t learn much about their new defender during his first season at the club either, as he suffered an ACL injury in the opening game against Nottingham Forest, which kept him out until the final match of the campaign.
Fortunately, the Dutchman didn’t miss anywhere near as many games last season and, as a result, made an incredible impact on the team, primarily by being solid as a rock on the right-hand side.
However, this year has seen the Utrecht-born monster take yet another step forward in red and white, as, in addition to being an elite lockdown defender, he has also become a genuine attacking threat.
For example, in just nine Premier League games, the 24-year-old has scored two goals and provided two assists.
Moreover, according to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of full-backs in the league this season for non-penalty expected and actual goals, shots on target and through balls, the top 6% for passes into the penalty area, and more, all per 90.
Goals
0.26
Top 1%
Non-Penalty Goals
0.26
Top 1%
Shots on Target
0.64
Top 1%
Through Balls
1.03
Top 1%
SCA (Shot)
0.51
Top 1%
Passes into Penalty Area
1.79
Top 4%
GCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.13
Top 4%
Tackles (Att 3rd)
0.90
Top 4%
Penalty Kicks Won
0.13
Top 4%
xG: Expected Goals
0.23
Top 7%
npxG: Non-Penalty xG
0.23
Top 7%
Progressive Passes
6.41
Top 7%
In all, Timber has become an all-action full-back who excels in all facets of the game, and as a result, it’s almost impossible to disagree with analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he is “one of the best Emirates-era signings.”
Therefore, it’s massively encouraging to see another one of Arteta’s big-money signings start to emulate him in certain ways this season.
The Arsenal star emulating Timber
There are plenty of Arsenal players having stellar campaigns so far this season, but someone who’s been a big surprise in the best way possible has been Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italian international joined the club in the summer of 2024, and while he did so with plenty of fanfare, he did not have the best of debut seasons in red and white.
In fact, across the whole campaign, the former Bologna star made just 29 appearances, totalling 1497 minutes, which was almost entirely down to his truly dreadful injury record, which saw him miss 30 games for club and country and spend 175 days on the sidelines.
24/25
175
30
23/24
4
2
22/23
53
15
21/22
73
18
20/21
118
33
19/20
43
5
18/19
291
75
It was so bad, and Myles Lewis-Skelly did such a good job in his place that there were doubts over whether he’d actually be able to hold down a place in the team, or if he would suffer injury after injury before being shipped off, akin to what happened with Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Fortunately, this year has been completely different, and as things stand, he’s already made ten appearances for the first team, totalling 791 minutes, and is yet to miss a single game through injury.
This comeback is one of the similarities he shares with Timber, and the second is that, on top of simply being available, he’s also been absolutely incredible for the team this year, both defensively and especially going forward.
For example, he’s already scored a goal and provided two assists, and his underlying numbers, like the Dutchman’s, are sensational.
According to FBref, the £120k-per-week monster ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in the league for total shots, the top 4% for expected goals, the top 7% for goals plus assists, the top 10% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.
On top of the incredible numbers, the Rome-born wildcard is also one of the most entertaining players to watch in the league.
Shots Total
2.20
Top 1%
GCA (Defensive Action)
0.13
Top 1%
xG: Expected Goals
0.25
Top 4%
npxG: Non-Penalty xG
0.25
Top 4%
SCA (Fouls Drawn)
0.26
Top 4%
GCA (Shot)
0.13
Top 4%
Goals + Assists
0.39
Top 7%
npxG + xAG
0.31
Top 7%
SCA (Shot)
0.39
Top 7%
Goal-Creating Actions
0.65
Top 7%
Touches (Att Pen)
3.50
Top 7%
SCA (Defensive Action)
0.13
Top 10%
Assists
0.26
Top 13%
npxG/Shot
0.11
Top 16%
GCA (Live-ball Pass)
0.39
Top 16%
Goals
0.13
Top 19%
Non-Penalty Goals
0.13
Top 19%
Passes Completed (Medium)
18.78
Top 19%
For example, the freedom given to him by Arteta and his subsequent roaming approach to the game have led him to being described as a “wild horse on the loose” by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean and “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” by journalist James Benge.
Ultimately, while he had a poor start to life at Arsenal, Calafiori has exploded into life this season, and, like Timber, has become one of the most indispensable players in Arteta’s squad.
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After the dismissal of Erik ten Hag nearly 12 months ago, Manchester United fans will have been excited by the appointment of Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP.
The 40-year-old won two league titles back in his homeland, even beating Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League just a couple of weeks before his appointment at Old Trafford.
However, his stint in charge of the Red Devils has been nothing short of a disaster, with the manager achieving a win percentage of just 39% in his 49 outings.
His latest defeat against Brentford has once again cranked up the pressure on his shoulders, with his £200m attacking additions still struggling to have the desired impact.
His future at the Theatre of Dreams remains hugely up in the air, with the INEOS hierarchy already seemingly targeting other alternatives to replace him should he be handed his marching orders.
The Man Utd shortlist to replace Amorim
Over the last couple of days, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has emerged as a potential option to replace Amorim at United should he be given the boot in the near future.
Whilst the Cherries want to keep hold of the Spaniard, they could have no choice in allowing him to depart, with the 43-year-old’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.
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However, he’s not the only name currently on their shortlist, with former England boss Gareth Southgate once again emerging on the INEOS radar, as relayed by FootballTransfers.
They claim that the 55-year-old could be open to returning to management and moving to Manchester after taking time out of the game following his departure from the national team in July last year.
It remains unclear if he will be the club’s main target for the role should Amorim depart, but the board have been impressed with his ability to get the best out of his players at international level.
Why United’s latest manager target would revive Mainoo
United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has endured somewhat of a frustrating last 12 months on the pitch, with boss Amorim often looking past him for selection in his midfield.
The Englishman only registered 20 league starts out of a possible 38 last season, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro ahead of him in the manager’s pecking order.
However, he has previously nailed down his place in the starting eleven, with Ten Hag often relying upon the 20-year-old to produce the goods during his tenure in charge.
Mainoo racked up various key goals in 2023/24, from last-minute winners to derby day goals and an FA Cup final strike – it truly was a year to remember for the youngster.
Such performances secured him a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad last summer, further showcasing his remarkable rise over such a short period of time.
He even started four of the nation’s six games in such a tournament, showcasing the faith that Southgate had in the youngster to deliver on the biggest stage for his country.
The appointment of the former England boss would certainly hand Mainoo the chance to regain his place in the side, whilst also instilling the confidence he’s been massively lacking in recent months.
For the Red Devils, the potential decision to hire Southgate may not be many supporters’ first choice, but it is one that could deliver the needed turnaround in form they’ve been craving.
The 55-year-old, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Scott Parker, achieved a 63% win record in charge of the Three Lions and subsequently took them to two major international finals.
Gareth Southgate – England record
Statistics
Tally
Games managed
102
Wins
64
Draws
20
Losses
18
Goals per game
2.3
Goals conceded
0.8
Points per game
2.1
Win percentage
63%
Stats via Transfermarkt
His side’s also achieved an average of 2.3 goals per game under his guidance, offering the Red Devils the needed attacking quality they’ve lacked in recent weeks under Amorim.
Such numbers are nothing short of remarkable, with the former England boss potentially able to end the club’s decade-long wait for a league title in the years ahead.
Success in the role is one thing, but the development of the players at his disposal would also be a massive part of his task in charge at Old Trafford.
Mainoo could be a huge beneficiary of such an appointment, potentially starring under Southgate’s reign once again and getting back on the trajectory he was once on at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Manchester United appear to be targeting a manager who could replace Ruben Amorim.
Could we be looking at the shortest permanent managerial tenure at Ibrox in Glasgow Rangers’ 153-year history?
Not including caretakers, Pedro Caixinha is the shortest-serving Rangers manager of all-time, for now, overseeing 26 matches in 2017, but could Russell Martin smash that record?
Well, things have not gone very well for Martin in his 11 matches in charge of the Gers, ignominiously dumped out of Champions League qualifying by Club Brugge, demolished 9-1 on aggregate, while he is yet to win a Premiership fixture, drawing all four so far.
Martin’s 26th match would be a Europa League home game against Braga on 27 November, but many are forecasting he’ll be long gone by then, so could 49ers Enterprises turn to an experienced Premier League manager instead?
What is going wrong for Martin at Rangers?
Back on 23 February, Philippe Clement was sacked, following a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of St Mirren.
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Barry Ferguson took caretaker charge for the remainder of last season, actually producing some exceptional results, during which time 49ers Enterprises completed their takeover of the club.
Thus, after a thorough recruitment process, Martin was appointed 102 days on from Clement’s dismissal and, well, supporters were pretty underwhelmed.
Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Ewan Murray asserted that never before has a managerial appointment been so instantaneously “doomed” from day one as this, noting that Rangers fans never wanted Martin in the first place, and he has certainly not won them over.
The Gers have failed to win any of their first four league outings for the first time since 1983, going on to finish fourth back then, lucky to salvage draws at St Mirren and Motherwell, outplayed by both for long periods.
Also, the aforementioned 9-1 annihilation at the hands of Club Brugge is the Light Blues’ heaviest aggregate European defeat since a 12-4 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the European Cup semi-finals 65 years ago.
After the international break, Rangers welcome both Hearts and then Hibs to Ibrox, the latter a League Cup quarter-final, before commencing their Europa League campaign against Genk in Govan, but, should results continue to deteriorate and Martin’s position become untenable, who should the 49ers turn to?
Rangers' ideal Russell Martin replacement
When looking at the current out-of-work managers, some names immediately leap off the page.
José Mourinho, Erik ten Hag, Marco Rose, Sérgio Conceição, Steven Gerrard, even Ange Postecoglou (could you imagine?), but surely the most sensible appointment for Rangers, given their current predicament, would be Sean Dyche.
The 54-year-old was sacked by Everton in January, but undeniably did a good job on Merseyside, keeping the Toffees in the Premier League during a period of austerity at Goodison, with the Blues finishing 17th and then 15th with a very poor squad.
Dyche is most well known for his decade as Burnley boss before that, taking charge of 425 games, the third most of any manager in Clarets’ history, behind only Harry Potts (1958-70) and John Haworth (1910-24).
Under Dyche, Burnley twice won promotion from the EFL Championship, enjoying six successive seasons in the Premier League, their longest continuous period in the top division since the early-70s, most notably finishing seventh in 2018, thereby qualifying for Europe for the first time since 1966.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
The Clarets were known for being defensively organised and tough to beat, with Dyche getting the best out of his players, elevating them to become better than they ever believed possible. He did so on a shoestring budget too, much like current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers did with Swansea City.
Well, these are all qualities one cannot say about the current Rangers team, who are all over the place at the back, with Max Aarons and Nasser Djiga’s red cards against Brugge and Dundee respectively epitomising this chaotic approach.
Dyche’s Premier League record, when compared to Martin’s, tells the story.
Matches
332
16
Wins
93
1
Win %
28%
6.25%
Goals scored
323
11
Goals per game
0.97
0.69
Goals conceded
467
36
Conceded per game
1.41
2.25
Points
370
5
Points-per-game
1.11
0.31
As the table documents, Dyche is exponentially more experienced than Martin at Premier League level so, while the latter does only offer a small sample size, the way his Southampton team were going, they would’ve conceded 747 goals had he reached 332 matches; that’s 280 more than Dyche.
The main issue for Rangers right now is that, frankly, they have a poor squad, but even their competent players like John Souttar, who was excellent for Scotland in Denmark on Friday night, are not suited to Martin’s style of play.
RussellMartinatSouthampton
Thus, what the Gers need right now is a pragmatist, not a dogmatic idealist who sticks to their principles at all costs.
So, if the Light Blues are going to fight for silverware domestically and make a deep run in the Europa League, they need a manager who can get the best out of players, and Dyche appears perfectly suited to that role.
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It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.
During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.
And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.
Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.
"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."
Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.
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'What was done before doesn't count'
Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.
The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.
For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.
However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."
It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica.
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An unquenchable fire
Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.
As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.
After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".
And there can be no arguments on that front.
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A 'f*cking disgrace'
When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.
However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.
During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.
He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.
The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.
Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.
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A clever PR move from the president
Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).
So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking? Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.
Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.
It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."
Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…
New Napoli signing Sam Beukema heaped praise on team-mate Kevin De Bruyne as the defender claimed that he was left "surprised" by the Manchester City legend's humility. De Bruyne, who left City after 10 years this summer to join Napoli on a free transfer, has made a bright start to his life in Italy as he has already scored two goals in five appearances for his club, across all competitions.
Beukema surprised by De Bruyne's humility
Like De Bruyne, Beukema switched to Napoli during the summer transfer window from Bologna on a five-year deal. The Dutch centre-back is loving his life in Naples and has already made some close friends in Belgian duo Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne. The 26-year-old spoke highly of the two senior players' character, while claiming he was surprised by their "humility".
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"They surprised me a bit"
In an interview with , Beukema said: "They are two high-level players. They surprised me a bit, because they are very humble. We have joked many times together, and they’ve helped me settle into the group. Lukaku has been here for one year already. I’m so happy to be here with them and face them in training sessions. I can’t wait to continue with them."
De Bruyne backed to guide Napoli to back-to-back Serie A titles
Former Italy international Paolo Di Canio has backed De Bruyne and Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund to shine for Napoli and help Antonio Conte's side win their second consecutive Serie A title in the 2025-26 campaign. Di Canio also praised the club for their impressive transfer activities during the summer.
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Busy schedule awaits Conte's side
Conte's side are currently in action against AC Milan in the Serie A. They will next host Sporting CP in a Champions League clash on Wednesday, before taking on Genoa in the Serie A again on October 5.
حصل نجم منتخب البرتغال وفريق النصر، كريستيانو رونالدو، على جائزة مرموقة من جانب الاتحاد البرتغالي لكرة القدم، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، حسبما نشرت صحيفة “ريكورد” الشهيرة.
وأقام الاتحاد البرتغالي لكرة القدم حفل توزيع جوائز، للمرة الأولى، حيث نال كريستيانو رونالدو جائزة تُسمى بـ”جلوب برستيج”.
ويتواجد رونالدو حاليًا مع منتخب البرتغال استعدادًا لخوض مباراتين في إطار تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، 2026، وذلك ضد كل من أيرلندا والمجر.
وقال رونالدو في تصريحاته خلال تسلمه الجائزة المميزة: “مساء الخير، أمتلك بعض الجوائز في المنزل، لكن عليً أن أقول إن هذه الجائزة مميزة وجميلة”.
وأضاف: “حسنًا، ماذا عساي أن أقول؟ أعتقد أن كل شيء قد قيل بالفعل، عليً أن أعترف أنني أفكر فيما سأقوله في هذه الكلمة خلال فترة ما بعد الظهر، كنت أفكر فيما هي تلك الجائزة، كنت أتساءل إن كانت جائزة تُمنح في نهاية مسيرتي المهنية، شعرت ببعض التوتر وقلت لنفسي (لا يمكن أن تكون كذلك)”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. قائمة منتخب البرتغال لمباراتي أيرلندا والمجر في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026
وواصل: “هذه الجائزة مصدر فخر كبير لي، لا أراها نهاية مسيرتي، بل استمرارًا لكل ما فعلته، أود أن أشكر كل من هنا، لقد مرت أجيال عديدة عبر المنتخب الوطني، أرى هنا العديد من اللاعبين السابقين الذين كانوا زملائي في الفريق، لقد لعبت مع المنتخب 22 عامًا، هذا يتحدث عن نفسه، شغفي بارتداء القميص والفوز بالألقاب واللعب للمنتخب الوطني، أقول دائمًا لو استطعت، لاخترت اللعب للمنتخب الوطني فقط، لن ألعب لأي ناد آخر لأنه قمة وذروة مسيرة لاعب كرة القدم، لهذا السبب ما زلت هنا”.
واسترسل: “أود أن أشكركم جميعًا، أشكر جميع زملائي في الفريق، على التعلم منهم جميعًا، وحتى من هذا الجيل الأصغر أيضًا، بالنسبة لي إنه لشرف لي أن أكون معكم، هدفنا هو الفوز في المباراتين القادمتين والتأهل لكأس العالم”.
واستكمل مازحًا: “أعلم أنكم قد سئمتم من رؤيتي هنا، في هذه الاحتفالات، لكنني أعتقد أنني ما زلت أساهم كثيرًا في المنتخب الوطني وفي كرة القدم، أريد الاستمرار في اللعب لبضع سنوات أخرى، ليس كثيرًا، يجب أن أكون صادقًا”.
واختتم: “علينا أن نركز فقط على الحاضر، مع وضع أنظارنا على المستقبل، سيكون حلمًا (التأهل لكأس العالم)، لكن خطوة بخطوة، تهانينا لجميع الفائزين، وللرياضة النسائية التي حققت الكثير، وللرئيس على الحفل، وللجميع هنا، وأعتقد أن هذا يكفي، تصبحون على خير جميعًا”.
After leaving David Moyes unimpressed during pre-season, Everton have now reportedly told one player to find a new club before the end of the transfer window.
Everton still seeking reinforcements
Even with Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry already signed and delivered, Everton are still in the market for attacking additions. The Friedkin Group will know how important it is to add goals to Moyes’ Everton side after they were outscored by every team outside the relegation zone in the Premier League last season.
Barry and Grealish represent a solid start, but it could be argued that the Toffees still need one more arrival. Just who that arrival is remains the big question, however. If recent rumours are anything to go by, then those at the Hill Dickinson are certainly still in the mood for reinforcements.
According to recent reports, Everton have submitted an opening offer worth around £37m to sign Artem Dovbyk from AS Roma, who are also owned by Friedkin.
Whether the American owners can help push the deal through remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that the Roma forward would hand Moyes a deadly strike partner for Barry this season.
League stats 24/25
Dovbyk
Barry
Minutes
2,418
2,559
Goals
12
16
Assists
2
4
Expected Goals
11.9
12.5
Two players who outperformed their expected goals and reached double figures, Everton would be adding 28 league goals to their side if they combined Barry and Dobyk this season.
Of course, however, any deal would need to advance in routine fashion to get over the line at this stage with around two weeks remaining until the transfer window slams shut.
Meanwhile, it’s not just incomings that Everton are focusing on. As one striker arrives, another has reportedly been told to find a new club.
Everton tell Beto to find a new club
According to Football Insider, Everton have now told Beto to find a new club with Moyes unhappy about his attitude during pre-season and seemingly at the end of his tether. The towering forward has only been at the club for a year and, to his credit, showed signs of finding his best form under Moyes before pre-season reportedly undid all of his good work.
Beto
In a ruthless decision by Friedkin and Moyes, Beto could go from the centre of praise to an Everton outcast if reports are anything to go by. And given the earlier interest of Leeds United this summer, the Yorkshire club could now be ones to watch as the door opens to sign the Portuguese striker.
Just how Beto and Moyes’ relationship has reached this point will be the big talking point if the forward does depart. It was only back in May that the Everton boss told reporters: “He’s a great boy, I’ve got to say.
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“He practises like you wouldn’t believe to try and get better. Which, when you’ve got that, you know then that you’ve got something which is… at least he’s trying to get better. He’s incredibly humble. He’s very honest with himself, which gives a manager a great chance to try and improve. I have to say, he’s done great.”
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal says he dreams of following in Lionel Messi's footsteps by winning multiple Ballons d'Or.
Yamal among favourites for 2025 prizeHoping to win title many timesWinner to be announced this monthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Yamal is among the favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or award after a stellar year for club and country. The Barcelona teenager played a key role for Hansi Flick's Barca side as the Catalan giants won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup in 2024-25.
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If Yamal does win the Golden Ball in 2025, he will become the youngest player ever to pick up the prestigious prize. However, he faces stiff competition from PSG star Ousmane Dembele, who helped the French side secure their first ever Champions League trophy as part of a brilliant treble. Yamal has now spoken about the Ballon d'Or and is hoping that he can follow in the footsteps of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and be named the world's best player multiple times.
WHAT YAMAL SAID
He told Jose Ramon de la Morena‘s podcast : "I don’t dream of winning one Ballon d’Or, but I dream of winning many of them. I believe I am a player capable of achieving that, and if I don’t achieve it, it will be because I didn’t do things the right way, not because I didn’t want to. So, I dream of having many of them, and when the day comes that I get there, I will be very happy, but I will keep winning more and winning with my team and everything."
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?
The winner of the Ballon d'Or will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on September 22. Before then, Yamal will return to action with Barcelona after the international break against Valencia in La Liga on Sunday.
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.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetalooks dejected after the match
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.
Real Betis' Vitor Roque in action with Valencia'sCristhianMosquera
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.
Cristhian Mosquera’s stats for Valencia in LaLiga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
37
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
91%
Progressive passes
3.3
Tackles won
1.5
Clearances made
3.5
% of tackles won
75%
Stats via FBref
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.
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