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Arsenal are now exchanging documents over a deal to sign a new “beast” on deadline day, with the target sharing the same agent as Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.

Arsenal suffer first Premier League loss against Liverpool

The Gunners fell to defeat for the first time in the 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, going down 1-0 against title rivals Liverpool.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s late free-kick was the difference at Anfield, with Mikel Arteta’s side struggling to create from open play. That led to criticism from Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane, and Arteta also rued his side’s lack of killer instinct in the final third.

Incomings

From

Fee

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

£67.5m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£63.5m

Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad

£55m

Noni Madueke

Chelsea

£48m

Christian Norgaard

Brentford

£15m

Cristhian Mosquera

Valencia

£13m

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea

£5m

“You have to put the ball in the back of the net when you have it. We were much better than last year when we drew the game. Much, much better.

“No difference. And today, when we had three, four, five situations inside the box, 1v1, when [Eberechi Eze] is completely through, just to finish the action. We have to put those balls in the back of the net if you want to win the game.

“I am very disappointed with the result but very proud of my players. I think both teams took the game to a level where there were no margins between the two and little happens. A lot of action in many areas, not much in the boxes. And it was going to be decided in one of two actions: an individual error or a magic moment, and it was decided a magic moment.”

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Strong at set pieces, Arsenal lined up with four defenders who could play centrally against the Reds, whereas three powerful midfielders were also named in Arteta’s XI.

Now, another towering defender is set to be unveiled as an Arsenal player with hours before the window shuts.

Romano shares update on Arsenal’s move for Hincapie

The final signing of the summer for the Gunners could well be Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

On course to join on an initial season-long loan with a move then set to become permanent next summer for a fee of around £45m, Hincapie’s deal is yet to be announced.

However, taking to X on deadline day, Romano said the two clubs are “exchanging documents” with the Ecuador international in London.

Called a “beast” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Hincapie, represented by AS1, who also look after Amorim, is on course to leave Leverkusen after 166 appearances. He won the Bundesliga and German Cup under Xabi Alonso in 2023/24 and his arrival could be perfect timing, especially following William Saliba’s injury at Anfield.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin did not do himself any favours with the fanbase when he said that he was happy that the team did not lose against Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday.

In isolation, the comment was understandable because the Light Blues were 1-0 down, with ten men, until James Tavernier’s penalty in the 92nd minute rescued a point.

However, it is not what a lot of supporters wanted to hear after a 1-1 draw at Ibrox against Dundee in the first home match of the Scottish Premiership season, especially after a draw with Motherwell on the opening day.

Whilst the team’s performances in the Champions League qualifiers have shown plenty of promise, there is clearly a lot of work that still needs to be done to get the team to a place where they can realistically compete for the title.

Part of that process will be continuing to use the transfer market to improve the team with new signings before the summer transfer window officially slams shut.

The Gers have already done some good work to bolster their squad in recent weeks and months, as Djeidi Gassama is now the role model for new signings to look at.

Rangers have hit gold with Djeidi Gassama

Rangers reportedly splashed out a fee of £2.2m to sign the 21-year-old attacker from Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent deal to bolster their options on the flanks last month.

It is fair to say that Gassama has not taken very long to become a loved figure among the supporters at Ibrox, thanks to his quick feet and quick start to life in Glasgow.

The French winger has hit the ground running with four goals in five appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, with all four of those goals coming in Champions League qualifiers.

Minutes

15

34

90

83

90

Shots

1

1

N/A

2

2

Goals

1

1

2

0

0

Key passes

0

0

N/A

1

2

Dribbles completed

2/2

0/1

N/A

2/3

2/3

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has also provided quality as a dribbler for the Hoops with his ability to take on opposition full-backs effectively.

The former PSG youngster also won the penalty, of course, against Dundee with a brilliant dribble into the box to draw a foul, which led to Tavernier’s equaliser.

The task for Martin and the rest of the team, now, is to ensure that Gassama is platformed in a way that gets the best out of him, by getting him the ball in the best positions.

Part of that means having a left-back who can complement and support the French whiz down the left side, and the Gers may be on course to lose their current option in that role.

Rangers in talks to sell Brazilian star

According to Globo Esporte, as relayed by Sport Witness, Palmeiras are interested in a deal to sign Glasgow Rangers full-back Jefte this summer.

The report claims that the Brazilian side are currently in talks with the Light Blues over a potential transfer for the 21-year-old defender in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Palmeiras are set to lose their left-back, Vanderlan, and that they have identified the Rangers dynamo as their ideal replacement for him.

The outlet states, though, that it will not be an easy deal for the Brazilian outfit to get over the line because the Gers are set to demand a fee of up to around £5m for the full-back.

It also points out that there are unnamed clubs in England keeping tabs on his situation, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will enter the race for his signature before the end of the summer window.

Why this could be great news for Djeidi Gassama

This could inadvertently be great news for Gassama and the future of how the left side of the pitch looks for Martin moving forward, if Palmeiras are able to strike a deal with Rangers for Jefte.

It was clear in the opening matches of the campaign that the manager was not too fond of the Brazilian full-back, as he played Max Aarons, a right-footed right-back, at left-back for the first three games.

Jefte, who was described as “suspect defensively” by Maurice Ross last season, has been at Ibrox for a year now, yet has not taken big steps in his development defensively or offensively as of yet.

The Brazilian defender only completed one of his five attempted crosses and one of his four attempted dribbles as a starter against Dundee, whilst he did not create a single ‘big chance’ for his teammates, which shows that he struggled to produce quality in possession.

Whilst Jefte has shown signs of promise with his technical ability at times, his performances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign also lacked a cutting edge all too often.

Appearances

33

Starts

30

Goals

1

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.0

Assists

4

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success rate

46%

As you can see in the table above, Jefte only created four ‘big chances’ in 33 appearances in the division, which shows that he did not provide a constant threat in the final third.

If you go back to the last successful left side for Rangers, Borna Barisic created 14 ‘big chances’ from left-back in the 2020/21 campaign, whilst Ryan Kent scored 12 goals and delivered 11 assists on the wing.

Gassama is similar to Kent in the sense that he is also a right-footed player who likes to drift inside to score and create, which is why he may need a Barisic-esque left-back option to support him.

Having an offensive left-back who can draw attention away from the opposition’s defence to free up space for Gassama could get the best out of him in the Premiership moving forward, as defenders do not currently have to worry too much about the threat, or lack thereof, Jefte offers.

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That is why selling Jefte could end up being great news for the French winger, as it would provide the club with an opportunity to dip into the market to find a player with a profile that suits playing alongside the ex-Owls man the best.

Big picture: The year India embraced T20

In a fickle, unpredictable format, India have had arguably the greatest year for a team, winning 23 of their 25 T20Is in 2024. It was also the year where they truly embraced the format, shedding their safety-first approach with the bat to play attacking, modern-day T20 cricket.The results could not have been better. They whitewashed Afghanistan and Bangladesh at home and did the same to Sri Lanka away. In between, their second-string side won 4-1 in Zimbabwe. But all that pales in comparison to their unbeaten run to lift the T20 World Cup in June.Friday’s T20I in Johannesburg will be their last outing in the format this year. Having taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series, they will be keen to hit yet another positive note.Related

• Groin injury rules Ngidi out of action till January

• Klaasen calls for more cricket for South Africa across formats

• Tilak asks Suryakumar for No. 3 spot and owns it with dazzling century

• Tilak ton, Arshdeep three-for put India 2-1 up

Until they met India in the final in Barbados, South Africa were also unbeaten in the T20 World Cup. But on either side of the tournament, their performances have been underwhelming. One can argue that they were almost always missing one or more of their first-choice players but the same can be said of their opponents as well.Even if they win on Friday, South Africa’s winless streak in bilateral T20I series will stand at eight. Still, 2-2 is much better than 3-1.

Form guide

South Africa LWLLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
India WLWWW

In the spotlight: Marco Jansen and Abhishek Sharma

Making his comeback from a shoulder issue, Marco Jansen has been South Africa’s player of the series. He may have picked up only three wickets but his economy of 6.41 is the best for any bowler in the series. That India posted 200-plus totals twice in three games makes Jansen’s performance even more impressive. He is also the leading run-getter for South Africa with 73 runs at a strike rate of 208.57. In Centurion, he almost pulled off an impossible-looking chase with his 16-ball half-century, the second-fastest for South Africa in the format.Having not crossed 20 in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek Sharma was under pressure coming into the third T20I. At times, he had looked out of his depth, especially against the hard lengths, and it seemed he had only one gear. But in Centurion, his shot selection was much better as he scored a 25-ball 50 to set the platform for a big total. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill ahead of him in the pecking order, he will be aware that he cannot relax after just one good innings.

Team news: Peter comes back?

South Africa could consider bringing back local legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter for Gerald Coetzee.South Africa (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee/Nqabayomzi Peter, 9 Andile Simelane, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lutho SipamlaWith Ramandeep Singh showing his value with the bat in Centurion, India will be hesitant to make any changes.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Varun ChakravarthyMarco Jansen has been South Africa’s best batter this series•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: Rain may delay start

Johannesburg is traditionally a high-scoring venue. The last time it hosted a T20I, in December 2023, India rode on Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred to post 201 for 7. However, South Africa were bowled out for a mere 95 in response, with Kuldeep Yadav taking five wickets. There is a forecast for showers around 4pm local time, half an hour before the toss. But it is expected to be brief and we should get a full game.

Stats and trivia: Arshdeep closes in on Chahal

• In 2024, India have breached the 200 mark eight times – the most by any team in a single year.
• Arshdeep Singh needs five more wickets to surpass Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
• This year, Aiden Markram has 241 runs in 17 T20Is at an average of 16.06 and a strike rate of 120.50. The last time he scored a half-century in the format was 28 innings ago.
• Tilak Varma’s 107 not out in Centurion was the 21st T20I hundred by an India batter. New Zealand (12) and Australia (11) are the only other teams to have ten or more T20I tons.

تعرضت آمال فريق كولومبوس كرو في التأهل للإدوار الإقصائية في الدوري الأمريكي لانتكاسة كبيرة، حيث أعلن ويلفريد نانسي مدرب الفريق، مدة غياب وسام أبو علي.

ويعاني المهاجم الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي من إصابة بكسر في القدم، حيث سيغيب عن الملاعب لمدة ستة أسابيع مقبلة.

وقد تعرض وسام أبو علي للإصابة يوم السبت بعد تسجيله هدفًا في مباراة فريقه كولومبوس كرو ضد تورونتو إف سي، والتي انتهت بالتعادل بهدف لمثله.

اقرأ أيضاً.. “حزين من أجله”.. مدرب كولومبوس كرو يعلق على إصابة وسام أبو علي ضد تورونتو

ويأتي غياب وسام أبو علي وإصابته في وقت حرج، حيث يدخل كولومبوس كرو المباريات الثلاث الأخيرة من الموسم الحالي، ويملك الفريق فرصة قوية للتأهل لكن خسارة وسام أبو علي قد تعقد مسيرته في التصفيات.

وأكد نانسي أن الفريق سيحتاج للاعتماد على عمقه الهجومي وهدافيه المتبقيين، في سعيه لحجز مكان في التصفيات.

وقال نانسي في تصريحات صحفية نشرتها “كولومبوس ديسباتش”: “من الواضح أن وسام كان متأثراً وبشدة عندما علم أنه لن يتمكن من اللعب، كما رأيتم كان يقدم أداء جيدًا ويتواصل مع الفريق بشكل بالغ الأهمية”.

وكان وسام أبو علي قد بقى في الملعب لما يقرب من 10 دقائق حيث احتاج لرعاية طبية، إذ جاءت الإصابة بعد محاولة اعتراض تمريرة للفريق المنافس.

Southern Brave fall short after three wickets in seven balls derails chase

Matt Roller18-Aug-2024Saqib Mahmood put two years of injury hell behind him at Lord’s, winning the Hundred final for Oval Invincibles with a devastating spell of reverse-swing. With Southern Brave’s chase of 148 in the balance, Mahmood removed Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard and Laurie Evans to take 3 for 1 in seven balls, a timely reminder of his talents on the biggest stage in English domestic cricket.It meant the Hundred’s best team won their second successive title, as the Invincibles’ men of 2023-24 matched their women’s achievement of 2021-22 by retaining the trophy. That they had retained Mahmood despite him missing consecutive seasons with back stress fractures confirmed their success in building the clearest identity of any side in the men’s competition.They have not quite lived up to their moniker, but the Invincibles have lost only three games across the last two seasons. Sam Billings and Tom Moody, their captain and coach, have built their team around three allrounders – Will Jacks and the Curran brothers – in the top seven, giving them unrivalled balance.”Saqib Mahmood came and changed the game with that set of 10. That was a turning point,” Billings said. “It’s been a real team effort throughout, probably even better than last year… Your career goes past very quickly and these are the nights to really remember and cherish, as a group of mates as much as colleagues. Winning trophies is what it’s all about.”Mahmood’s England reminder
The Invincibles can boast the Hundred’s most prolific spin attack, with 34 wickets between them this season after Adam Zampa, Nathan Sowter and Jacks snared four more in Sunday’s final, in front of a full house at Lord’s.Zampa made a crucial breakthrough in his second set of five, bowling Alex Davies with a googly for 35 off 23 following a bright start in the Powerplay. Having himself set the game up for the Invincibles with 37 off 22 balls, Jacks then roared in celebration after dismissing the season’s leading run-scorer in James Vince, bowled looking to hack leg-side.Will Jacks claimed the wicket of James Vince•Getty ImagesBut after Evans tucked into Zampa, slog-sweeping consecutive balls for four and six, the Brave needed a manageable 53 off 30 with seven wickets in hand. Du Plooy launched Mahmood past Dawid Malan’s sprawling dive at extra cover, but backed away to the following ball and lost his leg stump as Mahmood went full and straight.Mahmood had the old ball moving both ways and stayed on for a second consecutive set of five from the Nursery End after three dots to Pollard. Fresh from a breather at the strategic timeout, Mahmood went full and straight to smash Pollard on the knee roll, then had Evans chipping to short cover to leave the chase in disarray.With Australia touring in September for three T20Is and five ODIs, Mahmood’s impact will have nudged England’s selectors. He has not played international cricket since March 2023 and would not have featured in Sunday’s final if Spencer Johnson had been fit, but looked back towards his brilliant best.Chris Jordan, fresh from a match-winning hand in the ‘Super Five’ which decided Saturday’s eliminator, was the Brave’s final hope. When Zampa, the season’s joint-highest wicket-taker with 19, cleaned him up third-ball, the Invincibles’ name was on the trophy once again.Jordan Cox kept Oval Invincibles pressing towards a big total•Getty ImagesJacks sets Invincibles up
The Invincibles recovered from 34 for 5 during their comeback win over Manchester Originals in last year’s final, but made a serene start this time around thanks to Jacks. He raced to 31 off 14 balls with early sixes off Jofra Archer, Craig Overton and Akeal Hosein, and was then given a reprieve when Pollard dropped a straightforward chance at long-on.Archer, playing at Lord’s for the first time since his Test debut during the 2019 Ashes, looked sharp with the new ball, with Jacks top-edging a short ball into his helmet. He had Malan caught at deep midwicket for 7 and Tymal Mills removed his opening partner Jacks seven balls later for 37, his full toss slipping under the bat and crashing into middle and off stumps.Sam Curran and Jordan Cox added 46 for the third wicket, but Hosein then sparked a mini-collapse during a set of 10 consecutive balls delivered from different ends. Curran skied to cover, Billings played around a straight one, and Donovan Ferreira holed out to Pollard on the long-on boundary. When Cox top-edged Mills’ short ball through to Alex Davies, the Invincibles had lost 4 for 9.Tom Curran, the star of their 2023 triumph, crashed 24 off 11 balls to keep the innings moving – including one outrageous punch for six over extra cover off Archer – before falling to an excellent catch from James Coles at deep square leg, and Tom Lammonby added 16 from No. 8 in only his third innings of the season. Their 147 looked just above par – and so it proved.

Heather Knight got herself into form ahead of England’s series with New Zealand with 66 as Western Storm condemned Sunrisers to the wooden spoon in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.England skipper Knight grabbed her second fifty in a row to average 52 in the competition, to put the disappointing Pakistan T20Is behind her before the White Ferns arrive for three ODIs and five T20s from next Wednesday.Her 74-run stand with 20-year-old Emma Corney – who made a CEC best of 46 – put Storm on track for 142 for seven, with Blaze loanee Sophie Munro picking up four for 23.Despite Grace Scrivens and Jo Gardner’s speedy start, Sunrisers fell 11 runs short to end as the bottom-placed side for the fourth year in a row – with Storm ending their tournament a point and a place better off.Storm chose to bat, and used Corney as a facilitator for Dani Gibson and then Knight to score runs quickly at the other end.Gibson used her feet to good effect as she bashed a trio of boundaries before top-edging to short fine, with the visitors reaching a creditable 44 for one in the powerplay.While Corney confidently ticked the runs along from one end, Knight showed all her experience and skill – with the pair putting on 74 for the second wicket.Devon-raised Corney strode past her previous CEC best of 40 – but fell four runs short of a maiden fifty when she slapped to backward point.It began a Storm collapse, which saw them lose six wickets for 41 runs in the final six overs.Fran Wilson was run out by a sensational direct hit from the boundary from Gardner, Sophie Luff chipped to mid-off, Kate Coppack brilliantly pouched Amanda Jade Wellington at short third before Nat Wraith skied one.But throughout, Knight continued to score at a decent pace, slog-sweeping the only six of the innings, as she brought up back-to-back fifties in 34 balls.She was stumped off the final ball – to hand Munro the fourth of her impressive haul – as Storm reached 142 for seven.In reply, Mady Villiers holed out to deep square in the fourth over, but Grace Scrivens and Gardner blitzed Sunrisers ahead of the rate.But the duo fell within six balls of each other either side of the powerplay to begin a wobble they never recovered from.Scrivens had continued her form from the 42 versus Blaze and unbeaten 62 against Stars to crash a quick-fire 26 – before falling to the last ball of the powerplay – while Gardner distributed three consecutive fours off Gibson.But both offered up simple catches, before Lissy MacLeod was caught and bowled first ball by Chloe Skelton.Amara Carr swept to short fine, Flo Miller was bowled and Amu Surenkumar found deep midwicket as Sunrisers never recovered.Jodi Grewcock held firm with 40 – one of two run outs in the last over – but Storm completed their second win of the competition without further anxiety.

After a deal was completed to land Matheus Cunha last week, it appears as though Manchester United have shown no signs of slowing down in the transfer market.

Ruben Amorim has made a move to land Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroon international choosing Old Trafford as his next move if reports are to be believed.

The 25-year-old has notched 20 goals in the Premier League during 2024/25, finishing as just one of only five players to reach such a tally within the division.

He’s likely to be an expensive addition, costing a fee in the region of £60m over the coming months, which will already take their summer spending to over £120m.

Despite the potential fee, he would be a superb addition, potentially forming a deadly partnership with another target in their attempts to return to their former glory.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

The attacking department has been of huge interest over the last few weeks, with Amorim clearly wanting to bolster that area of his first-team squad.

Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap have all been touted with a switch to Old Trafford, but appear to have moved on to different targets – with the latter moving closer to a move to Chelsea.

However, another name has entered the mix over recent days, with PSG attacker Gonçalo Ramos the latest name on the club’s shortlist, according to United In Focus.

The report claims that the Ligue 1 outfit are willing to part ways with the Portuguese international this summer, with the Red Devils already in talks with his representatives over a move to Old Trafford.

It also states that the 23-year-old is of interest to multiple Saudi Arabian outfits, with the newly crowned Champions of Europe demanding £50m to part ways with him this summer.

Why United’s £50m target could be the next Cavani & the perfect Mbeumo partner

Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani joined United back in the summer of 2020, arriving on a free transfer after his contract with PSG expired a couple of months prior.

He only plied his trade at Old Trafford for two years, but still managed to star within the final third for the Red Devils despite entering the back end of his professional career.

The forward found the net 19 times in his 59 appearances, with 17 of his efforts coming in his first season at the club – helping the side finish second in the Premier League.

However, Cavani would depart at the end of his contract in the summer of 2022, with the club missing such a talisman over the past couple of years – as seen by their efforts for a new one during the off-season.

A move for Ramos would replicate such a deal, landing a talent from the French giants who could fill the void at the top end and lead them back towards a spot in the top four.

He could also partner Mbeumo in the final third, with both of their respective figures aiding Amorim’s ambitions of taking the club back to their former glory.

Ramos, who’s been labelled “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered 18 goals across all competitions this season, with him and the Brentford star able to add needed goals to the side.

Gonçalo Ramos’ stats for PSG in Ligue 1 (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	22
Goals & assists	13
Pass accuracy	81%
Shots on target per 90	2.7
Aerials won	57%
Touches in opposition box	8.5
Possession won in final third	0.7
Stats via FotMob

The Portugal international has registered 2.7 shots on target per 90, benefiting from the stats produced by Mbeumo, who’s posting a total of 1.8 chances created per 90 this campaign.

Their respective talents don’t stop there, with the PSG star having won 57% of his aerial battles, able to get on the end of the 25-year-old’s delivery, after he produced a tally of 1.3 successful crosses per game.

The prospect of the pair combining within the final third at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, handing Amorim with the attacking ammunition he’s craved since taking the role.

Ramos won’t be a cheap addition this summer, but his goal tally this year is evidence that he can produce the goods when needed, potentially following in Cavani’s footsteps at the Theatre of Dreams.

Better signing than Cunha: Man Utd eye move for PSG Ballon d'Or contender

Manchester United could land a bigger signing than Matheus Cunha by bringing in this PSG star.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 3, 2025

After taking their Premier League throne in dominant fashion, Liverpool are now reportedly plotting a summer hijack to sign a Serie A defender that Manchester City have already agreed personal terms with.

Liverpool looking to use Premier League crown in busy summer

Even when Dominic Solanke headed home to hand Tottenham Hotspur the lead at Anfield on Sunday, not many would have believed that the Lilywhites were there to spoil the part and Liverpool swiftly put any potential upset to bed. Eventually smashing Ange Postecoglou’s side 5-1, it was the afternoon that Arne Slot and his side were dreaming of, as Anfield and the red half of Merseyside erupted into a long-awaited title party.

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Captain Virgil van Dijk, who will have the honour of lifting the title on the final day of the season, told reporters after securing yet another trophy to add to his collection: “It has been an amazing Premier League season for us, very consistent, well-deserved winners. The reaction we showed after going 1-0 down today was outstanding.

“Obviously it was a very emotional game. The time goes very slow towards the end, by the way! But I’m glad we got the job done and now we – and I speak about obviously everyone who is Liverpool-connected – can enjoy and celebrate because that’s what you should do as well.”

Now, those at Anfield will be looking to put their status as champions to good use when the summer transfer window arrives. Suddenly, names such as Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are not only linked with England’s most successful club in history but also the current Premier League champions. And that could make all the difference in a transfer battle against Manchester City too.

Liverpool looking to hijack Cambiaso deal

According to Calciomercato, Liverpool are now plotting a move to hijack Man City’s deal to sign Andrea Cambiaso from Juventus this summer, despite reports indicating that the Citizens have already agreed personal terms with the defender.

With that in mind, it would be some move from the Reds to beat Man City to Cambiaso’s signature at this stage. Stranger things have happened in the Premier League, however, and as Trent Alexander-Arnold edges closer and closer to Real Madrid, the versatile Cambiaso could emerge as an ideal option.

The Juventus star can play both left and right-back, allowing Slot to add competition for the struggling Andy Robertson as well as welcome a key replacement for Alexander-Arnold should Liverpool make their move.

Praised for his “elite passing ability” by analyst Ben Mattinson at the start of the season, Cambiaso would have little trouble replacing Liverpool’s right-back.

Many Liverpool fans will likely be hoping that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak will be playing Premier League football in red next season, but it doesn’t look likely.

The Magpies are third in the standings with five games to play, two points ahead of sixth-place Aston Villa, who sit just outside the Champions League-qualifying zone.

26/04/25

Ipswich Town (H)

18th

04/05/25

Brighton (A)

10th

10/05/25

Chelsea (H)

7th

18/05/25

Arsenal (A)

2nd

25/05/25

Everton (H)

13th

Having beaten Arne Slot’s side in the Carabao Cup final and set to restore their place at Europe’s elite table, Newcastle hold all the cards, and they aren’t willing to sell, even listing Isak north of £150m.

FSG, quite rightly, won’t entertain such talk and are gearing up to turn their attention elsewhere.

After all, Liverpool will bring in a new number nine this summer, with Darwin Nunez all but confirmed to have entered the final weeks of his Merseyside career.

Liverpool set to sell Darwin Nunez

It’s been clear for several months, Liverpool having rejected winter approaches from Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League due to the importance of keeping the title-challenging squad together.

Fabrizio Romano has now updated the situation, claiming that Liverpool’s plan is to sell their club-record signing, Nunez having scored just seven goals across 42 matches for Slot’s Reds.

Nunez has only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, scoring in a win over bottom club Southampton last month.

Having missed 53 big chances in the Premier League since his 2022 arrival, Nunez hasn’t responded to Klopp and Slot’s tactics and can’t shake the erraticness from his final play, thus consigning him to a bittersweet exit, leaving disappointed but with a winner’s medal around his neck.

Isak may well be out of reach, but Liverpool are open to looking elsewhere. Now, news has emerged that FSG are in for a somewhat left-field forward.

Liverpool lining up Nunez replacement

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing Brentford’s star man, Bryan Mbeumo, this summer.

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In fact, the Champions Elect have received a boost in their pursuit, with Brentford – who are believed to be open to offers – willing to discuss Mbeumo’s sale for the right price this summer.

Mbeumo, 25, has been one of the Premier League’s standout forwards this season and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cameroon international supposedly has a £50m price tag, something that has caused Newcastle United to pull out of the race.

Why Liverpool should sign Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has proved over a number of years his capacity for goals and success in the Premier League, having been involved in 68 goals across 131 divisional outings.

This year alone, the versatile forward has netted 18 goals and laid on six assists across 32 top-flight appearances, a haul bettered only by Salah, Isak, Erling Haaland and Chris Wood.

Right winger

28

14

6

Centre-forward

6

4

1

Attacking midfield

1

0

0

Though he’s principally a right-sided forward, Mbeumo has been known to play as the focal frontman and has done so to a prolific effect.

We’ve seen throughout the campaign Slot’s willingness to reshape typical widemen – like Luis Diaz – into central attackers, and who’s to say it hasn’t worked out? Liverpool are on the cusp of the title, after all.

Affectionately described as a “mini-Salah” by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, Mbeumo carries the air of a goalscoring forward who brings much more to the table.

As per FBref, Mbeumo ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 12% for crosses made per 90.

This takes a step toward underscoring Mbeumo’s dynamism, chiefly a goalscorer but also willing to hang wide and whip crisp deliveries in.

The 32-year-old Salah might be staying put for the next couple of years, but he won’t be around forever. The Bees forward could eventually take the veteran’s berth in the years to come.

But for now, he’s more than capable of taking Nunez’s place as Liverpool’s centre-forward, perhaps sharing the berth with Diaz and Diogo Jota.

Given that Mbeumo has only missed eight big chances in the Premier League this term, having scored a whopping 18 times, fans won’t need to worry about Nunez-esque profligacy to hinder Liverpool in their efforts to retain their expected title.

But like all great forwards, those capable of starring for a top-performing outfit such as Slot’s Liverpool, Mbeumo isn’t a one-trick pony either.

He’s averaged 1.8 key passes per top-flight fixture and has created 16 big chances. He might take his share of set-pieces, but this denotes a ranged approach to his play that very much aligns with the role Salah performs with such matchless aplomb.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has recently dubbed Mbeumo as “one of the most deadly players in transition in the Prem,” further evidence – if you needed it – that he’s perfect for this Reds team.

Slot arrived in the Premier League with a reputation for being more ball-focused than his Anfield predecessor, but title-surging Liverpool only rank third in those standings with a 58% average.

This is, of course, not counter-attacking football, but Slot commands one of the deadliest teams in world football when on the break, making that final statement on the myriad reasons behind why this would be a good deal to end Nunez’s frustrating stay and sign the perfect Salah heir at the same time.

Firmino 2.0: Liverpool make "one of the best STs out there" a top target

FSG are going to reward Arne Slot’s Liverpool with a new centre-forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 19, 2025

Top-order had bailed England out all tournament, but stunning collapse left nowhere to hide

Vishal Dikshit29-Oct-2025

Heather Knight was bowled for a duck as England slumped to 1 for 3•ICC via Getty Images

A round-robin exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup, a semi-final loss in the 2023 T20 World Cup, a medal-less finish in the 2022 Commonwealth Games at home, and a runners-up medal in the ODI World Cup months before that. Seizing the big moments in pressure situations is one of the aspects England head coach Charlotte Edwards wanted the team to get better at, when she took over in her role in April this year.Edwards doesn’t like losing, after all. Between her playing and coaching careers, she is the winner of five Ashes, two World Cups, five domestic titles, two WPLs and one Hundred. But the margin of this semi-final defeat to South Africa – 125 runs – once again turned the spotlight on their stuttering campaign with the bat, which had its weaknesses exposed right from the start, against some of the lower-ranked teams.The way Amy Jones missed an inducker from Marizanne Kapp for a duck evoked memories of her missing similar deliveries against Bangladesh and Pakistan. When Heather Knight chopped on for a duck with tentative footwork, the struggles of England’s top four against Pakistan’s pace bowlers came rushing back. As much as this would pose questions for Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Knight, who all fell for ducks in a knockout clash, it also served as a reminder of how England’s batters after No. 4 had barely made a mark in this World Cup.If it was the first time that England lost two wickets without a run on the board in an ODI, and when their top three all bagged ducks in a scoreline of 1 for 3 – the joint-lowest for three-down in the history of 1517 women’s ODIs – there was nowhere to hide for their misfiring middle- and lower-order. Until that point, the problems of those batters after Nat Sciver-Brunt at No. 4 had either been masked by five victories in the league stage or been made up for by the bulk of runs that were scored by the reliable hands of Sciver-Brunt and Knight.Bangladesh were the first to make inroads into that batting order, reducing them to 78 for 5, also at Guwahati. A loss there might have given England a harsher reality check, had it not been for Knight’s unbeaten 79 (and her large share of luck). Against Sri Lanka, England went past 250 despite being 168 for 6 after riding on Sciver-Brunt’s century, while no other batter went past 32. When Pakistan restricted England to 133 for 9 in a truncated game, rain saved them from their inevitable blushes as Pakistan were 34 for 0 when it got called off. Against India, England would have hoped to see some contributions at last from the lower order, having moved to a flatter track in Indore, but their Nos. 5 to 7 managed all of 28 runs combined. However, their batting woes were eclipsed in a four-run heist which posed more questions for India than England, who had booked a semis berth.Related

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By the time the league stage ended, however, England’s Nos. 5 to 7 had the worst average for any team, the second-worst strike rate (61.59) only behind Pakistan, and they had struck the fewest fours and no sixes, which was the same as Pakistan.”We do need to improve our batting, I don’t think it’s been consistent enough at times and equally with our bowling,” Edwards said at the press conference after the semi-final exit. “Our batting has to improve, certainly that middle order and playing against spin, certainly slow spin and obviously bowling across all phases. We’ve not put a whole game together as a team and that’s something we’ll be going away looking at.”Once she gets home, Edwards’ review of the lower-order is bound to put under the microscope the returns of Alice Capsey, who averaged 21 in the World Cup despite a half-century in the semi; Sophia Dunkley, who managed just 68 runs in 133 balls at 11.33, and Emma Lamb, who was dropped for Danni Wyatt-Hodge for the last league game, after she scored just 36 runs in five innings. When Wyatt-Hodge replaced Lamb against New Zealand with nothing for the team on the line, it started to raise questions whether England had drawn on the experience of Wyatt-Hodge a little too late, as it gave her the game-time of just seven balls before the knockouts.”I think Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey had performed brilliantly coming into this tournament and I’m not the type of coach who’s just going to keep swapping and changing,” Edwards said. “We knew Danni Wyatt has played 300 games for England, so we knew she could fit in and she showed today that she can just zip into that position. I mean, people will look at that and think maybe we should have brought her in earlier. But we got to this point in the tournament, and we’re really comfortable with the selections we’ve made throughout.”Capsey showed some signs of redemption at the end with a knock of 50 while stitching a century stand with Sciver-Brunt, while Wyatt-Hodge’s quick 34 also gave England hope. However, the fact is that it all came a bit too late. On the day their top three had failed to score a single run, Edwards said they weren’t at their “best” on Wednesday. They will need to find their best on home soil next summer, as the focus now shifts to the T20 World Cup which begins in just over six months’ time.