Carlo Ancelotti admits that Endrick’s development at Real Madrid stalled due to the presence of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, with the Italian tactician having to decide whether the teenage forward is deserving of a place in his Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup. Spots in that selection remain up for grabs less than a year out from the tournament itself.
Brazil squad: Household names left out
Endrick did not feature in Brazil’s latest squad, although a number of household names were rested for the final rounds of World Cup qualifying duty as the Selecao are already safely through to next summer’s finals.
AdvertisementGettyEndrick has 14 senior caps for Brazil
He was last picked in March, with regular game time at club level proving hard to come by. Endrick started just three La Liga games for Real last season, when Ancelotti was his manager at Santiago Bernabeu.
Why Endrick's Brazil spot is under threat
The 19-year-old faces fierce competition for places in the Spanish capital, which is putting his place in the Brazil squad under threat. The South American nation also have other exciting youngsters emerging – such as Estevao Willian, who is now in the Premier League with Chelsea.
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GettySelecao stars: Exciting talents emerge for Brazil
Ancelotti told when asked about the potential at his disposal: “I really like Estevao, he's young, he has personality, character. He started well in the Premier League, obviously Estevao, not only for this World Cup, but for the future of the national team, will be a very, very important player.
“Well, Endrick is like Estevao. He's a great talent. I think Estevao was lucky. The problem with young people who go to Europe is that they have a leading role here, but not much of a leading role there. I coached Endrick for a year and really liked him as a person and as a professional.
“And, obviously, he didn't play as well as he could, because Real Madrid had Rodrigo, Vini; competition in a big team is important, and that can affect a player's progression a little.”
Ronaldinho’s son, Joao Mendes, is poised to join Championship side Hull City on a free transfer after severing ties with Burnley.
Spent time on the books at BarcelonaHas cut short spell at Turf MoorReady for new challenge with the TigersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The reports on how the 20-year-old forward is set to link up with the Tigers’ academy system. He is expected to form part of their U21 squad that is based at Bishop Burton College.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Mendes is taking on a new challenge after spending a little over 12 months with Burnley. He signed a two-year deal with the Clarets when making his way to Turf Moor, but agreed to the termination of that contract over the summer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mendes started out in the youth ranks at Brazilian side Cruzeiro, before following in the footsteps of his famous father and heading to Barcelona. Eyebrows were raised when he swapped Catalunya for Lancashire.
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GettyWHAT MENDES SAID
He is now preparing to trade one Championship outfit for another, with his intention being to step out of the shadow cast by his Ballon d’Or and World Cup-winning dad.
Mendes has said to : “I want to be Joao, regardless of anything. I never tried to be my father, I never wanted to be my father. So to get away a bit from where he played [Barca] and what's close, I think it was a good start and a good step for me.
“I think people on the outside want you to be something you're never going to be, whether you like it or not, right? My father was one of the best, if not the best, to ever play the game. So, being his son, being able to talk about him, is a source of pride. I try to do my own thing, I try not to put my father in the middle of things, I try to play my football my way, without pressure.”
Promotion-chasing Yorkshire worked their way into a strong position after the first day against Glamorgan, George Hill the mainstay with 90 as they finished on 361 all out.Second placed Yorkshire were chasing batting points and had to settle for three after being put in to bat first.Hill went on to get the big score, getting out with only a handful of overs left at the end of the day, while no fewer than four other batsmen got more than 40 without going on to make the most of their starts.Glamorgan’s top bowler was Andy Gorvin with 4 for 67 as he was able to extract some seam movement, Timm van der Gugten getting reward for his efforts with two wickets late in the day to keep the Yorkshire innings within reach. Glamorgan survived two overs before the close, 12 without loss.Yorkshire made steady progress with a bright day ahead and no terrors in the Sophia Gardens pitch after early cloud cover lifted.The story of the early part of the day was batters who got in and then got out when seemingly set for a bigger score, a trend started by opening partnership Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean.Lyth passed 1,000 runs in the season for the fifth time of his career, as the pair put on 67 for the opening wicket before both departing in similar style.The unlikely Glamorgan spearhead was the medium-fast bowling of Gorvin, twice getting the ball to straighten to trap the left handers in front of the wicket to depart lbw.James Wharton looked assured on his way to 63, so much so that it came as quite a surprise when he hooked James Harris straight to long leg to be caught by van der Gugten.Jonny Bairstow was on Yorkshire duty having been left out of the England one-day squad, back at his home ground in The Hundred where he plays for Welsh Fire. He did not hang around and provided Gorvin with his third wicket, waving the ball to backward point from a loose drive, caught by Ben Kellaway.Glamorgan’s fifth wicket came with a substantial slice of luck. Leg-spinner Mason Crane sent a long hop down the leg side, which somehow went from the edge of Jonathan Tattersall’s bat to be clutched in his belly by home wicketkeeper Chris Cooke.The skipper was more than a little disappointed to have missed out on a bigger score, departing for 41.Crane was particularly expensive as Hill and Dom Bess eased any Yorkshire nerves with a century stand, before Bess was lbw trying to sweep Crane to depart just after reaching his half-century.Hill made the most of recent good form coming into the game despite falling narrowly short of a deserved century, van der Gugten getting his second wicket with the second new ball.Glamorgan openers Sam Northeast and Asa Tribe survived the last two overs of the day.
Kent’s lurch towards Vitality Championship relegation continued as they were bowled out for 156 by Warwickshire on the opening day of their Division One battle at Edgbaston.Having collected just nine batting points from ten games, Kent were skittled in just 39.5 overs by the seamers before the home side eased past them to reach 207 for 3 at the close.Michael Booth, Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Rushworth each took three wickets to dismantle a Kent batting order in which only Ben Compton and Joey Evison reached double-figures. If Compton had not been badly dropped on 1, Kent’s implosion would have been complete.Warwickshire completed their excellent day by moving 51 ahead with seven wickets intact, Will Rhodes compiling a measured unbeaten 82 off 134 balls to build a perfect platform for a belated first Championship win of the season.Warwickshire chose to wield the Kookaburra ball first and took just four balls to strike with it. Tawanda Muyeye, fresh from 211 against Worcestershire at Canterbury last week, sliced the first ball from Hannon-Dalby to the third man boundary and edged the fourth, a perfectly pitched outswinger, to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess.Muyeye copped an unplayable delivery, but Daniel Bell-Drummond was culpable five overs later when he edged a footwork-free waft at Rushworth to third slip. When Jack Leaning edged Hannon-Dalby to first slip, Kent were in distress at 44 for 3. They would have been in total disarray if Compton had not been reprieved by Rhodes at fourth slip off Rushworth.Compton and Evison added 57 in 13 overs before the vestige of resistance was torpedoed by a collapse just before lunch. Evison edged Ed Barnard to Burgess and Booth took three wickets in 11 balls to gallop to career-best figures. Harry Finch and Charlie Stobo edged to Burgess and Grant Stewart miscued to point.Compton reached a defiant half-century from 74 balls but lost an eighth partner when Matt Parkinson edged Rushworth behind and a ninth when Alfie Ogborne sliced Hannon-Dalby low to second slip. Compton was within sight of carrying his bat when he pulled Hannon-Dalby to square leg to supply the bowler with his 500th wicket in all formats for Warwickshire.If Kent looked devoid of confidence with the bat, they did so equally with the ball as Warwickshire openers Rob Yates and Alex Davies added 62 in 11 overs. Somerset loanee Ogborne trapped Davies lbw and Yates edged former Bears team-mate George Garrett behind but Rhodes and Hain, with tons of time and the weather forecast excellent for the duration of this match, added a sedate 94 in 30 overs. Hain played on to the impressively persevering Ogborne but Rhodes is within 18 runs of his 11th first-class century.For Kent, this miserable season can’t end soon enough. Warwickshire are charging towards a win that will pretty much ensure they don’t join their rock-bottom opponents through the trapdoor to Division Two next month.
Positivity has been a short-lived thing at Manchester United in recent times, although the past week has provided reason for optimism, following a pivotal few days off the field.
With manager Ruben Amorim confirming his future at the club ahead of the final game of the season against Aston Villa – which ended in a rare victory – the Red Devils were further boosted by the news on Tuesday that his compatriot and captain, Bruno Fernandes, has turned down a move to Al-Hilal.
Despite admitting to having held talks with the Saudi side, the 30-year-old outlined that he remained committed to the Old Trafford outfit, with the club seemingly only intending to cash in had the playmaker requested to leave.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, United have also confirmed that an agreement has been reached for the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, with that £62.5m deal looking set to be followed by the capture of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
The latest on Mbeumo's move to Man Utd
Much to the irritation of rival supporters, a United side who finished 15th in the Premier League last season still appear to have some of the old magic left, having been able to convince Cunha into sealing a move, despite the lack of European football next term.
The same looks to be true in the case of Mbeumo, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein breaking the news on Monday evening that the Cameroon international wants to join the Red Devils, with club-to-club talks set to take place with the Bees.
Ornstein revealed that despite rival interest from the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – all of whom have qualified for the Champions League – the 25-year-old’s preference is to move to Manchester, should a deal be agreed.
While a stumbling block could emerge amid reports from The Times that the winger is set to demand a wage increase to £250k-per-week, it would be a surprise not to see the former Troyes man lining up under Amorim next season.
With Cunha and perhaps Mbeumo in the bag, United could now turn their attention to another Premier League star in the bid to bolster the forward line.
Man Utd keeping tabs on Premier League forward
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – writing in the Transfer Deal Sheet – noted that the ‘priority’ for United this summer is ‘adding goals to the team’, with the top-flight strugglers netting just 44 times in total in the league. For context, Cunha and Mbeumo alone scored 35 league goals between them.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That search for more firepower has led to INEOS turning their attention toward Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with Whitwell outlining that the Ghanaian is a player being ‘looked at’ by the club.
This follows prior reports which indicated that United were actually leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with it yet to be seen if they would be willing to meet the Cherries’ reported £60m asking price.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
Having already missed out on Chelsea-bound striker, Liam Delap, moving for another Premier League-proven talent like Semenyo could be the perfect solution for Amorim this summer.
Why Semenyo can thrive with Mbeumo
While there will be the question of whether Mbeumo will be able to replicate his recent heroics amid the pressures that come with playing for the Red Devils, there will also be an intrigue as to whether he can thrive without his current partner-in-crime, Yoane Wissa.
Mbeumo and Wissa
Indeed, under Thomas Frank’s guidance in 2024/25, the United target scored 20 goals in the top-flight, with the 28-year-old Wissa registering a remarkable tally of 19 league goals of his own.
That deadly and fluid combination saw the in-form pairing dovetail beautifully as the spearheads of Brentford’s frontline, with the duo both able to operate on the flanks or in a central role.
It could be argued that bringing Semenyo into the fold could allow Mbeumo to find his new Wissa in the process, with the former Bristol City man also a highly flexible and versatile asset who can thrive out wide, through the middle or even in a wing-back role.
Described as “almost unplayable on his day” by journalist Ed Aarons, Semenyo enjoyed a positive season of his own at the Vitality Stadium, having registered 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League, after previously racking up eight goals in 2023/24.
The beauty of the 6 foot 1 sensation is just how two-footed he is, with the record above outlining his similarity to Wissa, with regard to his ability to score with either foot, thus making him a particularly dangerous proposition.
What is particularly key regarding the Wissa-Mbeumo combination has been their speed on the counter-attack, something that pundit Danny Murphy noted last year, after highlighting the “width and pace with Wissa and Mbeumo, two players playing with confidence with a real threat.”
Non-penalty goals
0.31
Top 24%
Assists
3.51
Top 5%
Shots
0.14
Bottom 43%
Shot-creating actions
3.71
Top 34%
Pass completion
73.4%
Bottom 35%
Progressive carries
3.06
Bottom 42%
Progressive passes
3.93
Top 29%
Successful take-ons
1.94
Top 20%
Tackles
1.55
Top 40%
Aerial duels won
1.85
Top 8%
*compared to attacking mid/wingers in PL
Those attributes are certainly shared by the Bournemouth man, his former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson having described him as “very difficult to play against” due to his “power and pace”.
Semenyo’s ability to thrive in tandem with his fellow forwards is also showcased by the fact that he created 11 ‘big chances’ in 2024/25, while averaging 1.2 key passes per game, thus ensuring that Mbeumo would again have quality service to thrive off.
While not an orthodox striker by trade, having Semenyo operating through the middle could then allow Mbeumo to flourish alongside him, with that final attacking berth taken up by the aforementioned Cunha.
Having so often witnessed a limp attacking unit at the Theatre of Dreams of late, what a mouthwatering prospect that trio would be.
He's outscored Mbeumo: Man Utd weighing up bid for £40m Delap upgrade
Manchester United are preparing a move for a star who could thrive at Old Trafford.
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.
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates for Brentford
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.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
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.
PSG forward Goncalo Ramos
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.
The Women’s FA Cup has just as much magic as its male equivalent, with the finale’s place at the end of the domestic calendar handing two teams the opportunity to finish the campaign on a high in front of a large capacity crowd.
That has only been heightened by the welcome rise in prominence within the women’s game of late, with the FA Cup final being held at Wembley Stadium since 2015.
While the national stadium has typically only been half full for such occasions in the past, the 2023 final between Chelsea and Manchester United saw over 77,000 witness the Blues secure a third straight triumph through Sam Kerr’s winner.
Large crowds like these are now the norm for showpiece women’s events, particularly at Wembley, with the FA Cup final and England internationals well in the habit of bringing in spectators en masse.
The 2024 final was further evidence of this, with United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur again drawing in over 75,000 supporters.
But who are the most successful clubs in the FA Cup’s history? Here is a look at the history of the competition and a detailed look at the most recent finals.
Women's FA Cup history timeline
1970: Following the lifting of a ban on women’s football, which had stood for nearly 50 years, the first FA Cup tournament is held by the Women’s Football Association (WFA). The National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace hosts the first final in 1971, won by Southampton Women’s FC.
1993: The Football Association takes administrative control of the competition, along with the rest of women’s football in England.
2015: The final is held at Wembley Stadium for the first time, as 30,000 spectators see Chelsea defeat Notts County 1-0.
2023: A world-record crowd attends a domestic cup final, nearly 12 months on from the Euro 2022 final at a sold-out Wembley.
2024/25 Women's FA Cup
The 2024/25 FA Cup takes place on Sunday, 18th May, one day after the men’s event. This year’s women’s final is between Chelsea and Manchester United, in what is a repeat of the 2023 final.
Chelsea are going for a treble after being crowned as unbeaten champions and having won the League Cup back in March, while holders United are defending their FA Cup crown, which was won through their 4-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in May 2024.
It has been an exceptional first year in charge for Sonia Bompastor since replacing Emma Hayes, with the Blues’ only defeats this term coming in the Champions League to Manchester City and Barcelona.
Manchester United are looking to end the season on a high after having to settle for third following their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the WSL season.
Women’s FA Cup past winners
18 different clubs have won the Women’s FA Cup, with Arsenal being the record winners, having won it 14 times.
Southampton Women’s FC is the next-most successful club, winning eight times, most recently in 1981.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s record is only bettered by Doncaster Belles, who appeared in 11 out of 12 finals between 1983 and 1994, winning six times. However, the Blues can draw level with them in 2025.
Most Women’s FA Cup wins
Club
Times won
Last won
Arsenal
14
2016
Southampton Women’s FC
8
1981
Doncaster Belles
6
1994
Chelsea
5
2023
Manchester City
3
2020
Charlton Athletic
3
2005
Everton
2
2010
Fulham
2
2003
Millwall Lionesses
2
1997
Manchester United
1
2024
Birmingham City
1
2012
Norwich City
1
1986
AFC Wimbledon Women
1
1985 (as Friends of Fulham)
Howbury Grange
1
1984
Lowestoft Ladies
1
1982
St Helens
1
1980
Queen’s Park Rangers
1
1977
Fodens
1
1974
Previous FA Cup finals
12th May 2024: Manchester United 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United sealed their first FA Cup triumph against first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 in a comprehensive victory at Wembley.
Ella Toone got the ball rolling just before the end of the first period, with her long-range rocket adding to her catalogue of big-game goals.
The second half saw Spurs tire and crumble under the wave of United attacks, with Rachel Williams’ header and Lucia Garcia’s double seeing the Red Devils run out deserved winners.
Beth England came closest for the runners-up when her header smashed the bar, but there could be no complaints about the final result as United claimed their first major trophy.
14th May 2023: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
Chelsea secured a league and cup double in 2023 after battling to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Marc Skinner’s side had most of the better chances, particularly in the first half when they had a goal ruled out for offside in the opening minute and forced Ann-Katrin Berger into a number of important saves.
Sam Kerr turned home Pernille Harder’s pinpoint cross in the second half, to which the Red Devils had no reply.
15th May 2022: Chelsea 3-2 Manchester City (aet)
The Blues edged a five-goal thriller against United’s closest rivals in 2022. Sam Kerr nodded Chelsea ahead before Lauren Hemp equalised just before half-time.
Erin Cuthbert’s screamer restored the Blues’ lead and had looked set to be the match-winner until Hayley Raso’s fine finish forced extra time.
Both sides had chances in the extra period, but Kerr took the crucial one in the 99th minute, with her deflected strike handing Chelsea another FA Cup.
5th December 2021: Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
Postponed due to the pandemic, the 2021 finale took place nearly seven months later than usual. The date chosen for the final came a century after the FA’s ban on women’s football in 1921.
It was Chelsea who once again emerged victorious, as opponents Arsenal came up against an inspired Kerr, who scored twice after Fran Kirby’s early opener to seal a comfortable victory.
1st November 2020: Everton 1-3 Manchester City (aet)
Played in front of no fans during the pandemic-affected 2020/21 campaign, Man City won their third FA Cup in four seasons with an extra-time victory over Everton, who were in the first final in six years.
The 50th Women’s FA Cup final saw Sam Mewis’ header put Gareth Taylor’s team in front, before Valerie Gauvin’s equaliser from a corner took the sides to extra time.
Georgia Stanway’s poked finish left City with one hand on the cup, and she laid the ball on a plate for Janine Beckie to finally put the game to bed and secure a second successive cup triumph.
Based on what we’ve seen since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the club three years ago, we’re expecting yet another busy summer of transfer activity at Chelsea.
So far, under Boehly’s ownership, the Blues have spent in excess of £1bn on over 40 new first-team players, numbers that are likely to rise this summer, regardless of whether or not Enzo Maresca’s side secure Champions League qualification next Sunday.
A new striker is likely to be at the top of their list of priorities, so could they return to one of their favourite shopping destinations?
The latest on Christopher Nkunku's Chelsea future
Earlier this month, Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland reported that Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided’ he will leave Chelsea this summer.
Christopher Nkunku scores for Chelsea
The French international arrived from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £52m two summers ago, but has made very little impact at Stamford Bridge, as the table below outlines.
Christopher Nkunku’s Chelsea career in numbers
Statistics
Nkunku
Total appearances
56
Total starts
24
PL appearances
38
PL starts
11
Matches an unused substitute
7
Matches missed due to injury
43
Total goals
17
Total assists
5
PL goals
6
UECL goals
7
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As highlighted in the table, Nkunku has spent almost half of his Chelsea career in the treatment room, while 41% of his goals have come in the Conference League, which isn’t the competition they spent big money hoping he would star in.
Aurélien Léger-Moëc of Foot Mercato claims that Bayern Munich and Newcastle are amongst those ‘interested’ in signing Nkunku this summer, and now is certainly the time for Chelsea to cash in and attempt to recoup a decent fee, so do they have their eyes on a replacement?
Chelsea could sign dream replacement for Nkunku
As reported by Sam Dean of the Telegraph, Chelsea are ‘interested’ in signing Brighton forward João Pedro, with Arsenal and Liverpool also considering making a move.
This week, the Brazilian was nominated for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, with manager Fabian Hürzeler praising his forward as an “important player” for the Seagulls.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “simply fantastic”, Oliver Haines from Breaking the Lines is impressed by his high-quality finishing, while Chris Wilder, who was his manager at Watford, believes he is a “super-talented player”.
Pedro joined Brighton for a reported £30m two years ago, and his outstanding form means the Albion now value him at £100m, according to James Holland of Team Talk.
Well, Chelsea are not usually shy when it comes to signing Brighton players, as the table below underlines.
Chelsea signings from Brighton (2022-present)
Players
Fee
Moisés Caicedo
£115m
Robert Sánchez
£25m
Marc Cucurella
£62m
Shumaira Mheuka
£4.25m
Zak Sturge
£1m
Total
£207.25m
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
With that in mind, could João Pedro be next?
Well, let’s compare his statistics this season to those of Nkunku to see if he would, indeed, be the dream replacement for the wantaway Frenchman.
Christopher Nkunku vs João Pedro Premier League 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Nkuku
Pedro
Appearances
27
27
Minutes
910
1,953
Goals
3
10
Assists
2
6
Shots
25
42
Shots on target %
44%
35.7%
Big chances created
1
11
Big chances missed
6
7
Shot-creating actions
34
72
Goal-creating actions
4
9
Touches per 90
44
44
Average Sofascore Rating
6.82
7.15
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table outlines, Pedro boasts almost universally better statistics than Nkunku this season, when it comes to goals, assists, shooting, and chances created.
Thus, the Brazilian would surely be an excellent signing for the Blues, and that is why the club should ruthlessly ditch Nkunku from the squad in order to make room for this new addition.
He's better than Joao Pedro: Chelsea looking at signing the "next Mbappe"
O São Paulo divulgou que a cirurgia de Rodrigo Nestor foi bem sucedida. O meio-campista, que teve uma desinserção no menisco e uma lesão no ligamento colateral medial, realizou o procedimento nesta quarta-feira (8).
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Nestor deverá receber alta hospitalar já nos próximos dias, quando iniciará a fisioterapia no CT do Tricolor. O clube não estipulou um prazo para a recuperação do jogador, mas o camisa 11 não atua mais nesta temporada e deverá ficar de três a quatro meses afastado dos gramados.
Rodrigo Nestor foi peça fundamental do São Paulo para a conquista da Copa do Brasil de 2023, em cima do Flamengo. O gol de empate do Tricolor, que valeu o título, foi marcado pelo meio-campista, que ganhou a condição de herói após enfrentar uma série de críticas de parte da torcida.
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Além do gol que valeu a conquista, Nestor foi o autor da assistência para o gol de Calleri na vitória por 1 a 0 fora de casa, no jogo de ida da decisão. O camisa 11 fez 54 jogos na temporada, com dois gols e sete assistências.
The cricketing gods have not always been on his side, but on Thursday, his hard work finally met the fortune it deserved
Karthik Krishnaswamy02-Oct-20251:46
Aakash Chopra decodes Siraj’s scrambled seam
Getting squared up isn’t a good look for anyone, but sometimes a batter gets a ball so good there’s little else they can do.Mohammed Siraj bowled a ball like this to Roston Chase on Thursday in Ahmedabad. Pretty much every cue the batter must have picked up in the split-seconds either side of the ball leaving the bowler’s hand must have told him it was coming into him. There was, first of all, Siraj’s beyond-the-perpendicular release, which always creates a natural angle into the right-hand batter. Then it swung in further – 0.7 degrees according to ball-tracking data.Chase must have also seen the seam coming out scrambled. When Siraj releases the ball like this, it invariably behaves like an offcutter, nipping into the right-hander and away from the left-hander.Well, not invariably. Not this ball. This one pitched and straightened, seaming away 0.7 degrees. And suddenly, Chase’s perfectly reasonable idea of looking to work the ball into the on side looked very, very silly. All he managed was a sliver of leading edge to the wicketkeeper, and West Indies were 105 for 6, with four of those wickets falling to Siraj.Related
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If the first three had made for satisfying watching for Siraj’s growing ranks of fans, this one must have made them jump out of their seats. What had happened here? Was this a moment of pure randomness, the ball deviating in an unexpected way because it had happened to land in a particular way, with the edge of the seam happening to make contact with a grassy, responsive pitch at a particularly opportune angle?Or had Siraj willed this? Was this a new variation, a new addition to his wobble-seam repertoire?”The wobble-seam [ball] is like this, that it sometimes straightens and sometimes cuts [into the right-hand batter],” Siraj said at his press conference at the end of the day’s play. “That ball kind of straightened towards the shiny side. I mostly look to move the wobble-seam [ball] in, but it kept straightening towards the shiny side, and took the edge, caught behind.”2:02
Siraj: Really enjoyed dismissing Brandon King
From this it seems that ball may have been something of a happy accident – one that Siraj knows can happen from time to time, but not one he can will into occurring. He may deliver some of his wobble-seam balls with the shiny side facing into the batter, some with the shiny side facing away, and this may well influence the way the ball behaves before pitching, but what happens after isn’t entirely in his control.It’s a very Siraj kind of delivery, because which cricketer in the world has a better understanding of what’s in their control and what isn’t?This is a man who, from November 2024 to August 2025, bowled tirelessly and with immense skill, control and smarts across ten Tests in Australia and England, who seldom wavered from good lines and lengths, seldom let his intensity drop, almost always gave batters reason to worry about both their edges, and yet ended up averaging 31.15 and 32.43 in those two series. Even as luckless spell followed luckless spell, he never lost his ironclad belief in his processes, and though he found belated reward and recognition by the time he willed India to a series-levelling victory at The Oval with one of the great Test-match displays by an India fast bowler, his career numbers continued to do him no justice.Thursday was a day of redressal. Tagenarine Chanderpaul strangled him down the leg side. Brandon King shouldered arms to a ball that knocked back middle stump without having deviated in an unusual or unpredictable way. Alick Athanaze edged him, rather than playing and missing, when he chased at a wide tempter, and second slip held on to the chance rather than grassing it.And now the gods had given him a bit of a hand, coaxing this wobble-seam ball to Chase to behave the way it did.Mohammed Siraj leaps in celebration after bowling Brandon King•Associated PressSiraj had earned every bit of good fortune, of course. It was reward for all the work he’s put in over all the months and years of his career, and for all the work he had put in on this new day, another day of impeccable lengths, buzzing intensity, and the relentless threat of movement in either direction, in the air and off the pitch.At his press conference, someone suggested to him that it must have been a relief to get his wickets as quickly as he did today, against lower-ranked opposition, after all the toil he’d endured in England. Without ever losing his sweetly polite manner, he made it clear that the question wounded him.”Sir, even here I took four wickets only by working hard,” Siraj said. “You only get wickets by working hard. I got wickets in England by working hard, and I worked hard for them here too. It isn’t as if anyone gave me wickets free of cost. No one gave me that fifth wicket. All four wickets came from hard work.”It was clear how much a fifth wicket – all five of his Test-match five-fors have come away from home – would have meant to Siraj. He nearly got it when he had an lbw appeal against a shuffling Justin Greaves upheld only for DRS to save the batter, with ball-tracking suggesting his inducker would have missed leg stump.It was as if the cricketing gods had spoken again. Even on this day of redressal, not everything would go Siraj’s way.