The veteran batsman walked in at 13 for 2 against Pakistan and scored a crucial 70

Umar Farooq26-Dec-2020When he featured in the team sheet for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui, Ross Taylor became the most-capped New Zealand player, with his 438th international appearance. A standing ovation from his team-mates made it “a special occasion”, and Taylor marked the occasion with a rescue act after his team was stuttering on 13 for 2.”Every time you represent your country, it’s a special moment,” Taylor said after the game. “To represent them 400-odd times and to get the record, it’s not what I play for, but it’s nice to have got it and a special occasion. Got some nice words from BJ (Watling) and the team this morning and it felt a little bit like my 100th Test [he now has 104], going out to bat today with a standing ovation. I didn’t hear what the ground announcer said, but he must have told the crowd, because I’m sure they wouldn’t have known.”Related

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Pakistan won the toss, chose to field, and Shaheen Afridi sent back Tom Latham and Tom Blundell with just 13 runs on the board. Taylor then shared a 120-run stand with Kane Williamson for the third wicket. He brought up his half-century off 127 balls and added another 20 off 24 before becoming Afridi’s third victim. New Zealand ended the day with 222 for 3 in 87 overs, not quite able to break free but denying the Pakistanis wickets, though dropped catches made it worse for them.”It was difficult early on and you expect that on the day-one wicket. It definitely flattened out but probably a little bit two paced at times,” Taylor said. “I am sure it going to be bit more uneven in the next couple of days with the wind and whatnot. The way I and Kane got through that it was nice and pleasing. But you’ve got to give it to Shaheen as he bowled outstandingly well and [Mohammad] Abbas really didn’t give us much. So I had to either try and take them on or just try and get through it, and that’s the plan we had.”Comparing the Pakistan bowlers to the West Indians, who had visited recently, Taylor said, “They [Pakistan] were a lot more disciplined and got the ball in good areas for a lot longer. West Indies, they did bowl well at times but weren’t as consistent as this lot (who are) probably a little bit more experienced.”When Yasir Shah was bowling, we were on our toes. Quite often the spinners in New Zealand don’t bowl much on day one or at all, so it shows what type of wicket it is. Obviously, we are happy with where we are at 222 for 3 and would have taken that at the start of the day. But it’s how we how we turn up tomorrow and get through that first hour or two that really dictates how good a day this really was.”Yasir Shah is a world-class bowler and even the way he bowled today, just trying to get through his overs, pick and choose his moments when he tried to attack… We’ve got a bit of luck and we’re fortunate to get through that stage. But he’s definitely going to play a big part tomorrow and whenever we bat again.”

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Chelsea could dip into the market to improve their playing squad once again.

Italian head coach Enzo Maresca has been brought in from Championship champions Leicester City and Todd Boehly may look to back him over the next few months to give him the best chance of competing next season.

The defence is one area in which the Blues could look to strengthen after their woes at the back during the 2023/24 campaign in the Premier League, and they have already with the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer.

Only West Ham United (74) conceded more goals than Chelsea (63) within the top ten in the division, whilst they also let in at least 29 more than Manchester City (34) and Arsenal (29) in the top two.

This suggests that the London giants did not have enough quality at the back, or within the structure of the team, to have a title-challenging level defence.

Maresca and Boehly could now dip into the market to add another central defender to bolster the team this summer and they reportedly already have an eye on one ace who is starring at the 2024 European Championship.

Chelsea's interest in Italian colossus

Tutto Mercato Web recently reported that the Blues are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Bologna central defender Riccardo Calafiori this summer.

The report claimed that Juventus, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur are also eyeing up the Italy international ahead of next season.

It stated that Chelsea, Spurs, and the Magpies have all come forward to make contact with Bologna to investigate how viable a potential deal could be over the coming months.

However, the outlet did not reveal how much the Serie A side are set to demand for the talented centre-back, or how much any of the interested parties are prepared to pay.

Is is also worth remembering that Calafiori is currently competing at the Euros with his country and Bologna may want to wait it out to see if his value soars alongside an impressive tournament from him on the pitch.

This means that Boehly may have to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to sign the excellent titan later in the transfer window, rather than being able to strike now and get it done early.

If they can eventually get a deal over the line for the left-footed star, however, then that could allow them to ditch Benoit Badiashile this summer.

Why Chelsea should ditch Benoit Badiashile

Firstly, it has already been reported that the Blues are open to offers for the French central defender, which shows that the club are prepared to cash in on him.

Italian giants AC Milan had been linked with an interest in the former AS Monaco star back in May and it remains to be seen whether or not any other teams will come forward to pursue the young enforcer.

Chelsea must now take advantage of any interest in the left-footed dud and ditch him from the squad before the window slams shut in August, after a poor campaign in the Premier League last term.

Badiashile missed 18 games in all competitions through injury and has been absent for at least 12 matches through injury in each of the last three seasons, which suggests that he is a liability from an availability perspective.

His performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired as he failed to catch the eye in his 18 appearances in the top-flight during the 2023/24 campaign.

Appearances

18

Ground duel success rate

51%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

Error led to shot

1

Error led to goal

1

Own goals

1

Penalties committed

1

As you can see in the table above, Badisahile barely won the majority of his duels on the deck and made a number of defensive errors despite only playing in 18 games.

The 23-year-old dud also ranked within the bottom 48% of Premier League centre-backs for progressive passes per 90 (3.09) and the bottom 11% for progressive carries (0.20) per 90, which shows that he rarely progressed the ball when playing out from the back.

Why Chelsea should sign Riccardo Calafiori

The Blues must now sign Calafiori to then ditch Badiashile as their left-footed centre-back option as the Italian titan could come in as a big upgrade on him in and out of possession.

Firstly, the 22-year-old colossus ranked within the top 30% of his positional peers in the Serie A for progressive passes per 90 (3.69) and the top 21% for progressive carries per 90 (1.07).

This immediately indicates that the Italy star, who is currently averaging 3.55 progressive passes and 2.00 progressive carries per 90 at the Euros for his country, would offer more than Badiashile in possession due to his ability to consistently progress the ball into forward areas through his passes and carries.

Therefore, Maresca could bring in a defender who can find the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer in dangerous positions with greater regularity by signing the Bologna star.

The left-footed Italian, who has been described as a "bulldozer in slippers" by writer James Horncastle, is also a dominant defender who could be an upgrade on the Frenchman at the back.

Appearances

30

18

Sofascore rating

7.19

6.80

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.3

2.2

Ball recoveries per game

6.5

4.6

Ground duel success rate

58%

51%

Aerial duel success rate

71%

56%

Error led to goal

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Calafiori dominated opposition attackers, particularly in the air, in the Serie A far more than the Chelsea dud did in the Premier League.

He also won possession back, through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries, far more frequently than the Frenchman and was available for more matches, racking up 30 league appearances.

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Therefore, Chelsea must ditch Badiashile and sign Calafiori as his replacement in the left centre-back role due to his fantastic qualities in and out of possession, as well as his scope to improve and develop further at the age of 22.

The powers that be at Aston Villa would have allowed themselves a moment to rejoice over Ollie Watkins' incredible swivel-and-strike to send England into the final of the 2024 European Championship, but the focus will swiftly have shifted back to the summer transfer market.

Especially considering that efforts are underway to bring Jaden Philogene back to the club, matching Ipswich Town's £18m offer to sign the winger from Hull City, as per the pre-signing agreement that saw him leave Villa Park one year ago.

Ian Maatsen (£37.5m)

Douglas Luiz (£42m)

Samuel Iling-Junior (£14.5m)

Tim Iroegbunam (£9m)

Enzo Barrenechea (£8m)

Morgan Sanson (£3m)

Lewis Dobbin (£10m)

Ross Barkley (£5m)

However, that's not the only deal in the pipeline for Unai Emery's outfit – the Spanish manager, admittedly, will have celebrated Watkins' winner with certain reservations, given the Three Lions' forthcoming opposition – with a bid having been rejected for a former Premier League midfielder.

The Villans could now return with an improved offer.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to Lazio News, Aston Villa have seen a €25m (£21m) bid rejected by Serie A side Lazio for centre-midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

Newcastle United have also been turned down, though it is thought that Lazio could entertain a refreshed offer from such outfits if it reaches the €30m (£25m) ballpark.

Why Matteo Guendouzi would be perfect for Aston Villa

The 25-year-old Guendouzi, first and foremost, is well acquainted with Aston Villa's current manager. Emery signed the Frenchman from French side Lorient for around £8m back in July 2018, when he was a teenager.

He completed 66 fixtures under the 52-year-old and was described as a "warrior" and an "important player" for the Gunners by club legend Robert Pires.

The 6 foot 1 midfielder spent the latter half of his four-year period at the Emirates Stadium out on loan, moving to Marseille on a permanent deal in 2022 after failing to win Mikel Arteta over.

One year back in his homeland provided comparative success but he was loaned to Lazio after one year and has since settled into the Italian way of things as a permanent addition.

As per Sofascore, Guendouzi featured 33 times in Serie A last season, scoring twice and adding three assists, notably creating five big chances and averaging 3.6 ball recoveries per game, also completing 85% of his passes.

At his best, the £52k-per-week talent is found driving forwards, seeking to stretch lines and influence play from an attacking standpoint. His problem has been the wandering nature of his career thus far, failing to assimilate himself into a long-term project.

Marseille

103

10

19

Arsenal

82

1

4

Lazio

46

3

4

Lorient

30

0

1

Hertha Berlin

24

2

3

Villa could offer him that, and since he's adept at pushing into promising positions to supplement the frontline, he might be the perfect man to take Watkins to an even higher level – and vice versa.

How Watkins could get the best out of Guendouzi

Watkins has shaped into quite the player. 27 goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Aston Villa last season, with The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell hailing him as "the Premier League's second-best striker" – no prizes for guessing who's first.

Electric, versatile and riding the richest vein of confidence he likely has ever felt throughout his 27 years, Villa's main man would be a supreme partner for any player, but Guendouzi could find himself thriving behind the dynamic marksman.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once pronounced Guendouzi to be a "monster in the making" after a fantastic performance in the North London Derby. There is a sense that brought back to the Premier League, under Emery's wing once more, he could showcase the style that had led to such commendations.

Especially when considering the conditions that he would walk into at Villa Park. Villa are, of course, about to step into the Champions League after making significant strides under Emery's leadership, and Guendouzi would undoubtedly be excited to play a part in such a project – especially as le Aquile are set to compete in the Europa League.

Furthermore, Watkins could be the ideal partner to eke out the very best of the eight-cap Les Bleus player's progressive and aggressive approach.

Guendouzi, indeed, might not have enjoyed the finest of campaigns in Italy last year but it was by no means poor, merely inconsistent. His ball-playing prowess is evident though, and could be used to provide Watkins with a steady outlet as he darts into the danger area.

As per FBref, Guendouzi ranked among the top 15% of central midfielders in Serie A last season for passes into the penalty area and the top 17% for crosses into the penalty area per 90.

England (and Villa) fans need no reminder of Watkins' quality on the end of such deliveries, having expertly latched onto Cole Palmer's surgical through ball to bypass Bart Verbruggen's goal. Cue the Rapture.

Guendouzi has showcased his quality on numerous occasions throughout his career so far but he's struggled to find a home that truly allows him to shine.

At least, he's struggled since Emery was sacked at Arsenal in November 2019. A reunion could pay dividends for a club seeking to cement its place among the big boys at the height of the continental stage.

With Newcastle also sniffing around, Monchi and Co better launch an improved offer quickly, lest he fall into rival clutches.

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After yet another summer of uncertainty in Catalunya, the Blaugrana have somehow emerged as a fearsome force

Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony was eerily similar to Saturday's Clasico: Real Madrid didn't turn up while Barcelona had a blast. The Catalan contingent were all smiles as they rocked up on the red carpet in Paris – and not just because they got to meet Hollywood star Natalie Portman.

Barca Femeni occupied all three podium places in the women's Ballon d'Or vote, with Aitana Bonmati taking top spot, while Lamine Yamal became the youngest male player ever to win The Kopa Trophy.

Madrid, of course, were named Men's Club of the Year, while Carlo Ancelotti landed the Johan Cruyff Trophy for best men's coach of 2024 – but Los Blancos still end up looking like losers after petulantly boycotting the event simply because Rodri beat Vinicius Jr to the men's Ballon d'Or.

One would have thought that Madrid would have had bigger concerns right now, given Hansi Flick's Barca have emerged as a serious threat to their hopes of retaining their Primera Division and Champions League titles…

• Getty
  

  'Beating only 'normal' teams'

  This time last week, Barca were feeling a little underappreciated themselves. They weren't anywhere near as amusingly annoyed as Madrid over their perceived lack of recognition – but Yamal admitted that he and his team-mates felt that they deserved more credit for their excellent start to the season.

  Nobody was quite sure what to expect from Barca after another turbulent summer in which Xavi was dismissed as coach in the most farcical and disrespectful of circumstances, before the Catalan's financial problems once again became the focus of their market activity – or lack thereof.

  Barca exploded out of the blocks in La Liga, though, winning their first seven games, and scoring 23 goals in the process. However, a 4-2 defeat at Osasuna, coupled with a self-inflicted 2-1 loss in their Champions League opener against Monaco, cast doubt on Barca's true strength.

  Yamal pointed out, "They said we were beating only 'normal' teams." However, the past week has changed everything.

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• Getty
  

  No solution to Barca's brilliance

  Last Wednesday, in their first meeting with a bona fide heavyweight, Barcelona battered Bayern Munich at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, with Raphina hitting a hat-trick and Robert Lewandowski netting against his former club.

  A stunned Vincent Kompany admitted afterwards that his side simply couldn't cope with Barca's awesome attack. "I don't want to beat around the bush," the Bayern boss said. "We didn't find a solution to the counter-attacks and the individual play of the front three."

  And Madrid couldn't either.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ancelotti's plan falls flat

  The build up to Saturday's Clasico was dominated by talk of how Ancelotti would go about containing Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha, while at the same time exploiting Flick's favoured high line, which the ex-Bayern coach uses to pressurise opponents inside their own half. The Italian refused to disclose his precise plan to the press in his pre-match press conference but revealed, "I have something in mind."

  Whatever it was, it didn't work, with Ancelotti, Madrid and Kylian Mbappe all made to look ridiculous in a humiliating 4-0 loss in their own back yard – with the Frenchman caught offside a historic eight times in total while the hosts were repeatedly picked off on the break by their great rivals.

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• AFP
  

  'Defensive work of this team is spectacular'

  Flick's bold tactical approach had been integral to Barca's resounding victory, which propelled them six points clear of Madrid after just 11 rounds of La Liga.

  "It's incredible to have the balls to have such a high defensive line," midfielder Marc Casado pointed out afterwards. "But we've been doing it all season and the defensive work of this team is spectacular. It's incredible and, at the moment, it's working for us."

  There can be no questioning that particular claim, with Barca having just put eight goals past two of the strongest sides in Europe while conceding only once in the process.

  There is, of course, an inherent risk involved in compressing the pitch to such an extent that acres of space is always left in behind the backline. Barca are undoubtedly going to get opened up at times. However, Flick sees this tactic as a calculated gamble, and it's paid off for him before at Bayern, with whom he won a treble thanks in no small part to his team's intense pressing game. He'll also feel that this Barca side is only going to get better, and for a couple of reasons.

Priyank Panchal, though, has “no preference” among domestic cricketers ESPNcricinfo spoke to

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2020

Bengal reached their first Ranji Trophy final since the 2006-07 season•PTI

Faiz Fazal, Vidarbha captain: Given it’s a T20 World Cup year and with the IPL auction in the pipeline, I would like to begin with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s and then move on to the Ranji Trophy. Beginning with T20s will allow players to get into the thick of things.Parvez Rasool, Jammu & Kashmir captain: For players like me who don’t have an IPL contract, the SMA T20s are a lifeline. Even one big impact performance for your team can boost your chances of being noticed by franchises. So I’d definitely like to start with the Mushtaq Ali T20s and then move on to the Ranji Trophy. The window is very limited, so maybe then [we] can look to have a zonal system this year and then stage the knockouts. I understand the number of matches each team plays will reduce, but having some form of first-class cricket is better than not playing at all.Priyank Panchal, Gujarat captain: I have no preference, and I’ll tell you why. After the previous season, one of my goals was to better my white-ball game. There were a few limitations to my batting in the shorter formats. So once the lockdown was lifted, I worked on a range of shots – like the ramp, scoop, paddle, short-arm jabs to deliveries banged into the pitch [and] my range hitting. The goal was to score consistently in the shorter formats, like I’ve done with the red ball. So if they plan to have the limited-overs options only, it’ll be a chance for me to see how the work during the off-season has helped. If it’s one of the 50-overs or T20 and Ranji Trophy, I’m fine with that too. The main thing is to get back onto the field.Jalaj Saxena, Kerala allrounder: Personally, I’d pick the Ranji Trophy as first priority and then if time permits, look to conduct the Mushtaq Ali T20s. But the dynamics will vary now with the IPL auction. If auctions are there, then SMA T20s will be held first.Abhimanyu Easwaran, Bengal captain: I’d prefer to have two tournaments – at least. For me, Ranji Trophy is really important. Obviously with the auction coming up, it [also] makes sense to have T20s. The more cricket we get, the better.

أعلن الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، رسمياً اليوم الإثنين، موعد ومكان إجراء قرعة بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين لعام 2025، المقرر تنظيمها بمشاركة أكثر من دولة.

ومن المقرر أن تقام منافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين في 3 دول وهي، كينيا، تنزانيا وأوغندا خلال الفترة ما بين 1 وحتى 28 من شهر فبراير المقبل.

وكشف الاتحاد الإفريقي عن موعد إجراء القرعة، حيث ستقام في مركز كينياتا الدولي للمؤتمرات في نيروبي، كينيا.

طالع أيضاً.. خاص – الأهلي يوافق على انتقال لاعبه لـ السويحلي الليبي

وكان منتخب السنغال قد توج بالبطولة الأخيرة التي أقيمت في الجزائر في يناير 2023، بفوزها على الدولة المضيفة 5-4 بركلات الترجيح في المباراة النهائية.

الجدير بالذكر، أن هذه البطولة ستكون الأولى التي تستضيف فيها شرق إفريقيا مسابقة كرة قدم قارية للمنتخبات الوطنية، وستكون بمثابة مقدمة لاستضافة الدول الثلاث لكأس الأمم الأفريقية 2027.

وعلم “بطولات” في وقتٍ سابق أن منتخب مصر لن يشارك في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين.. طالع التفاصيل موعد قرعة بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للمحليين 2025

ستقام القرعة يوم 15 من يناير الجاري، في تمام الساعة السابعة بتوقيت القاهرة، الثامنة بتوقيت السعودية.

On debut, Shubman Gill’s first two overs at the wicket were the kind that made Geoff Boycott ask his team-mates to thank him for not getting out before the last ball from Michael Holding’s first in Jamaica.First Gill saw from the non-striker’s end Mitchell Starc spear in high-pace accurate inswinging missiles just short of driving length but full enough to trap a batsman lbw. Gill saw Mayank Agarwal couldn’t keep the last of those out.Then he himself faced Pat Cummins for the first time in a Test. Cummins with the red new ball on a spicy pitch is quite a different proposition to Cummins in Kolkata Knight Riders. In one over, Gill saw swing, seam, pace, bounce and accuracy as if Test cricket wanted to tell him with alacrity how difficult it can get. On the first 17 balls that Gill faced, his response was not in control eight times. On one occasion he was dropped. And that had nothing to do with his skill or inexperience.It is natural to imagine Gill might have been awestruck, but if he was, it wasn’t for long. He said having been with the Test team for a few series before getting his eventual debut meant facing this attack – arguably the best in the world – did not feel like a big jump to him.”I have been travelling with the team for the last four-five Test series, and being with the team has helped me a lot,” Gill said. “To be able to settle in the team. I have been doing all my net sessions and practice sessions and to be able to play someone like Boom [Jasprit Bumrah], [Mohammed] Shami , Umesh [Yadav] and Ishant [Sharma] in the nets, it’s a huge confidence booster for a youngster. To be playing a top bowling attack in the nets. When you go out in a match, like when I went out to bat today, I didn’t feel like I am in a whole new place. It didn’t feel like a completely different level.”Gill soon showed he belonged at Test level with his defence tightening and his natural stroke-play coming to the fore. His control percentage off the remaining 48 balls of his innings was 83, which made his overall control percentage just about acceptable on such a pitch. He did need some luck, as you do in such conditions, but a couple of his off-drives might already have become GIFs. The first one was to get off the mark, getting a stride in and meeting Cummins with a straight bat. The second was to the third ball of spin he faced. He skipped down to all three of them without any intention to hit Nathan Lyon hard. He caressed the first one through covers for two, defended the next time, and then just played a slightly forceful off-drive to gather four runs. If you end the day on such a note, it is no wonder you feel like you belong when you come out for day two.”When I came into bat, there was something in the pitch and the pitch was lively,” Gill said. “The only thing that I told myself was that no matter what is happening on the pitch, or what is happening around me, I should play my game and should express myself and I should play with intent. That was my whole thought process.”In the two warm-up games before the Tests, Gill had shown a tendency that was of slight concern. After getting himself in, he tended to, at times, play away from the body with just his hands. That is what Gill did after he and Cheteshwar Pujara had done all the hard work for close to an hour. This was the last ball of the sixth over of Cummins’ spell. It is quite possible Cummins wouldn’t have bowled another over had he not got the wicket. In that other over, he dismissed Pujara too.”The way I got out,” Gill said. “I am not satisfied with my effort. That was the last ball of Cummins’ spell. I should have kept it out. It was a loose shot to play at that moment. Overall, my goal was to play with intent and put together partnerships. I did that to an extent but the way I got out made me feel very bad.”However, a part of his job was done as the batsmen after him faced slightly less menacing bowling with an older ball bowled by bowlers who were not as fresh. India ended the day with a lead of 82 with five wickets in hand, and Gill said they needed to make sure they didn’t relent and score all their runs in this innings rather than in the fourth.”I think in the fourth innings there is going to be… like you could see even on the first day there was a bit of turn for Ash [R Ashwin] and Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja] . And today also you could see there was turn for Nathan [Lyon]. As time goes on, the wicket is going to get more challenging for the batsmen. So it is really important for us to capitalise on the lead we have and get them all out as quickly as possible.”

Casemiro scored in his second successive game for Manchester United to strike first in the post-Erik ten Hag era against Leicester.

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Casemiro opened the scoring for Man UtdScored a long-ranger from 25 yards outCompleted his brace in the 39th minuteFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Casemiro’s early goal came in the form of a 25-yard stunner. The build-up began with a skilful play by Alejandro Garnacho, who manoeuvred expertly to keep the ball in United's possession and pass it onto the Brazilian. The midfielder then curled a right-footed shot into the top-right corner of Leicester’s goal that sparked a jubilant celebration from Ruud van Nistelrooy, the interim manager after the departure of Ten Hag.

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By the 39th minute, Casemiro had secured a second goal. Marcus Rashford contributed with a smartly-placed cross, giving Casemiro a prime chance in the box. While his initial header ricocheted off the woodwork, he capitalised on the rebound with a powerful left-footed shot, leaving Leicester's defence unable to respond.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CASEMIRO?

Following his stellar showing against Leicester, Casemiro will now prepare to face Chelsea in United’s upcoming Premier League clash.

Chelsea are willing to make a near-£50 million bid for one player who Joe Cole said made history, as Enzo Maresca's side scour the market for squad upgrades ahead of the Italian's debut campaign.

Chelsea undergoing busy summer transfer window

Having already sealed the signings of Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham and Omari Kelleyman in a £19 million move from Aston Villa, alongside Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, it has already been a quick start to this summer window for Chelsea.

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Todd Boehly is expected to make multiple attacking signings on top of this, with Chelsea in advanced talks over a deal for Barcelona forward Marc Guiu.

They've missed out on a move for Michael Olise, who has chosen to join Bayern Munich instead, but the Blues have wasted no time in identifying alternatives to the 22-year-old.

Chelsea's top scorers in all competitions last season	Goals
Cole Palmer	25
Nicolas Jackson	17
Raheem Sterling	10
Noni Madueke	8
Conor Gallagher	7

One of them is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, coming after an excellent campaign under Gian Piero Gasperini. There have been reports that Chelsea are prepared to bid for Lookman, and now another report explains how much they could offer for the Nigerian.

Chelsea prepared to bid nearly £50 million for Lookman

Calciomercato explains that Chelsea are willing to offer nearly £50 million to sign Lookman, but are not alone, with Liverpool and Man United also in the chase.

The 26-year-old, who can operate as a second striker, racked up 17 goals and 10 assists across 45 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A side last season.

Lookman also ended Bayer Leverkusen's incredible unbeaten run last season in dramatic style, bagging a hat-trick against Xabi Alonso's side as Atalanta beat Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final.

“Honestly, this is why you play football,” said former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch on TNT Sports.

“Somebody like Lookman, who’s been around, a footballing nomad at times, somebody who’s been Sunday League, to Charlton, to Fulham on loan, Leicester, Leipzig, he’s gone around the houses to get to the moment where he’s found a home today and scored a hat-trick in a European final. It’s an amazing story. Those fans will never forget the name of Ademola Lookman. It’s absolutely sensational.

"It’s really emotional for him. Obviously his family, I’m sure. It was a footballing masterclass from Gasperini. They were brilliant as a team, but I’m so pleased for Lookman.”

Meanwhile, fellow TNT pundit Joe Cole claimed he made history with his Europa League final heroics.

“For Lookman, a kid from Wandsworth, who played in the cages, playing street football, going around the houses, not finding a place where he’s at home, he’s found a home here,” Cole said.

“They will love him forever. His name will be etched into the club’s history. This is what the moments are all about. A kid, who couldn’t find a club, couldn’t find a home, super talented, he’s gone and done it. Fair play to him and his family. Enjoy the moment.”

During his first pre-season interview, Mikel Arteta admitted that the transfer window was a rather slower affair this time around.

You can perhaps blame Copa America and Euro 2024 on that. Plenty of Arsenal players have shone over the summer months, however, notably in Germany.

Kai Havertz scored twice before the host nation were knocked out. Bukayo Saka scored against Switzerland and netted his crucial penalty in the same match.

The true star, however, is not one who plays for the Gunners. They'd love him to, but sadly he doesn't. That is 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Lamine Yamal's Euro 2024 in numbers

The teenager has been a total phenomenon during the European Championships, scoring a simply sumptuous goal in the semi-finals against France and registering three assists along the way.

Yamal's stats prior to the Euro 2024 final.

He has captivated not just his nation, but the entire continent. There isn't a single player in football history to score a goal at a major tournament at a younger age than Yamal.

The Spaniard is the natural heir to Lionel Messi and after such a breakout tournament, Barcelona will be slapping an almighty price tag on his head to warn off any potential suitors.

At the moment, he is currently valued at €90m (£77m) by Transfermarkt but that is set to skyrocket in the forthcoming years.

Actually rather similar to Saka in the way he cuts inside onto that deadly left foot, you may well ask why the Spanish sensation is relevant to Arsenal's transfer business. Well, there's a player they've previously been interested in who's worth a little bit more.

Arsenal have targeted Florian Wirtz

Reports from Spain a few months ago suggested that Arsenal and Liverpool were battling Real Madrid to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

The German, who like Yamal scored at the Euros this summer, was nothing short of spectacular under Xabi Alonso last term.

Playing alongside former Gunner Granit Xhaka, the attacking midfielder scored 18 goals and supplied 20 assists in all competitions as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title unbeaten.

It was a remarkable achievement and indeed a remarkable term for the 21-year-old who has undoubtedly captured the eye of plenty of suitors.

There is an inkling that Wirtz will be staying put this summer but if Arsenal, or any other suitor could tempt him away from his homeland, they would surely strike gold.

To put his numbers into context versus those already at Arsenal, only Saka scored more goals last term (20), while no player in the famous red or white registered more assists. The club's number 7 was the main man again in that regard, supplying 14, three more than Martin Odegaard.

Described as a "little genius" by scout Jacek Kulig, he could fetch an almighty fee when the time comes to leave.

According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at a colossal price, more than the aforementioned Yamal.

That estimation currently sits at a whopping £112m. To offer some perspective, Saka is rated at £120m and Declan Rice – their £105m signing of a year ago – is still valued at a similar amount.

We must admit that a deal this year seems unlikely but if the player is on the table in 2025, Arsenal should be all over it. He is an elite talent who is set to star at the top level for many a year to come.

Related Arsenal struck gold on amazing star who's worth way more than Lamine Yamal

The incredible star is worth his weight in gold.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2024