Ilan Meslier’s long fall from Leeds United’s undisputed starting position to a goalkeeper searching for a lifeline has pushed his agent, Pini Zahavi, to attempt to engineer a move to Serie A. With both AC Milan and Inter monitoring the situation, Leeds run the risk of losing a once-elite Premier League talent for far less than they hoped, while Meslier weighs a fresh start to revive a career derailed by dwindling confidence.
Meslier frozen out as his agent pushes for a Serie A escape
Meslier has not started a competitive match for Leeds since April, a dramatic decline for a goalkeeper once regarded as one of the club’s most valuable assets. His role has diminished to the point where he is now effectively out of the picture, watching from the sidelines as Lucas Perri and Karl Darlow occupy the first-team spots. With his contract expiring in 2026 and Leeds unwilling to keep a high-earning third-choice goalkeeper, the club is open to selling him in January.
According to Tutto Sport,sensing the urgency of the situation, his agent Zahavi has moved aggressively. Zahavi, who maintains strong relationships with Milan and Inter is positioning Meslier for a switch to Serie A. Both Milan clubs are interested, attracted by the possibility of signing a young, technically gifted keeper who once ranked among the Premier League’s brightest prospects. But while Leeds want a January sale, both Milan and Inter prefer to wait until summer to sign him for free, setting up a standoff that could deprive Leeds of a transfer fee entirely.
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From Premier League standout to a sudden collapse in form
Meslier’s decline has been gradual but unmistakable. At his peak in the 2020–21 Premier League season, the Frenchman was electric, producing extraordinary reflex saves, commanding his box with confidence and playing a crucial part in Leeds' ninth-place finish under Marcelo Bielsa. He looked every bit the modern goalkeeper being calm in possession, agile under pressure, and brave in one-on-one situations.
But the seasons that followed exposed the fragility of both Leeds' defensive structure and Meslier’s still-developing decision-making. As Bielsa’s chaotic, high-risk style increasingly stretched the defence, Meslier faced more dangerous situations than almost any keeper in the league. His shot-stopping numbers plummeted, errors multiplied and the pressure mounted. During Leeds’ relegation campaign he conceded well over expected goals against and ranked among the poorest shot-stoppers in the division.
Leeds' dilemma: sell now, risk losses or hold on to a fading asset
Leeds now find themselves in a difficult position. They see Meslier as a player whose value has dropped but still carries Premier League experience that should, in theory, command a meaningful fee. Yet the market is unforgiving for goalkeepers who have lost their starting role, and European clubs know Leeds are under pressure to sell. The club has explored offers in previous windows but has not received anything close to their valuation.
Adding to the complexity is that Leeds had once considered offering Meslier a new contract, largely to protect his transfer value. But the emergence of Perri and the reliability of Darlow have pushed Meslier further down the depth chart, making a renewal both financially unwise and sporting unnecessary. If Milan and Inter insist on waiting until the summer to sign him for free, Leeds risk losing him without compensation just two years after rejecting offers that would have earned them substantial profit.
The club must now decide whether a cut-price January sale is better than clinging to an asset whose value and playing time are evaporating by the month.
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What Meslier needs
For Meslier, a move away from England may be the only path to rediscovering the promise that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young goalkeepers. Serie A, with its emphasis on tactical organisation and structured defensive systems, could provide the stability he has lacked since Bielsa’s final seasons at Leeds. Milan and Inter offer environments where keepers have time to rebuild confidence and refine fundamentals without the relentless chaos and pace of English football.
An unbeaten half-century from captain Salman Agha and disciplined bowling from their quartet took Pakistan to a 39-run victory in the first game of the T20I tri-series against Afghanistan. After batting first on a surface curiously supportive of quick runs in Sharjah, Pakistan flew out of the blocks before Rashid Khan dragged them back after the powerplay.But their gameplan encourages attack right through the innings, and equipped with a deep batting line-up, Pakistan had the ammunition to keep going hard till the end. It was best summed up by their Nos. 6, 7 and 8 – Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris and Faheem Ashraf – who combined to score 50 runs in 29 balls.Afghanistan’s pursuit combined purpose with craft, tempering their strokeplay in favour of faithfully tailgating the required rate. Rahmanullah Gurbaz had the license to take advantage of the powerplay, but with Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal more cautious, it was clear Afghanistan were trusting their lower order to make up if they fell behind.It worked nicely until the 11th over, but that plan was blown to shreds with a double-wicket maiden from Haris Rauf in the 12th over, which triggered an Afghanistan capitulation. They lost five wickets for four runs in 16 balls, and though Rashid gave his side fleeting hope with a delightfully entertaining 16-ball 39, Afghanistan had drifted far out of the game by then to swim their way back into it.
Farhan’s start gives Pakistan early ground
Afghanistan had the better of all Pakistan batters in the powerplay bar one, and that was the one who counted. Sahibzada Farhan had made up his mind to take on Fazalhaq Farooqi straight from the outset, and intent crystallised into action when he drove him back over his head off the game’s fourth ball. A four followed that six, before Azmatullah Omarzai was greeted with another piledriver over midwicket.Azmatullah Omarzai cut a free-slowing Sahibzada Farhan’s innings short•Emirates Cricket Board
He was gone by the 15th ball of the game, though, when Omarzai strangled him down leg to short fine, but there had been time enough to smash his way to 21 off ten balls. Afghanistan’s spinners applied the squeeze effectively for the next eight overs as Pakistan kept losing wickets and scored just 51 in that period, but the buffer Farhan had provided his side meant they hadn’t lost too much ground before the picked up the pace again.
Captain takes on captain
Rashid is arguably the best T20I bowler in the world, while Salman is inarguably not the best T20I batter. However, in this battle of captains, it was the less fancied skipper who landed all the telling blows. Having dispatched a couple of boundaries off Fareed Ahmad in the previous over, he took on Afghanistan’s talisman, slapping a couple of on-side sixes in an over that leaked 17.Mohammad Nawaz, watching from the other end, joined the action when Omarzai returned, taking his captain’s lead and slapping a couple of sixes in that 15th over.Salman continued, and though that kind of explosiveness wasn’t ever-present, he still finished with an unbeaten 53 off 36; Pakistan scored 99 in the final nine overs, and it had all begun with Salman’s unlikely takedown of the Afghan superstar.Haris Rauf’s double-wicket maiden turned it in Pakistan’s favour•AFP/Getty Images
Rauf’s double-wicket maiden crushes Afghanistan
Well-managed chases are not Afghanistan’s renowned strength, but you could have been fooled for thinking otherwise halfway through their innings. Atal and Darwish Rasooli had struck up a menacing partnership, and Rashid’s side were nicely placed at 93 for 2 with nine overs in which to launch their onslaught.Until Rauf returned to the attack. A couple of furious hard -ength deliveries that flirted with the 150kph mark elicited no runs, and as the pressure built, Atal grew desperate. He lashed out at a slower ball only to find Shaheen Shah Afridi at deep third. Karim Janat failed to get bat on ball on the first two deliveries and then smeared one to deep square-leg, bringing down the curtain on a double-wicket maiden.Afghanistan imploded over the next few minutes. Sufiyan Muqeem removed Rasooli the following delivery, and Mohammad Nabi in his next over. Mohammad Nawaz accounted for Omarzai as he charged down the pitch leaving Haris with a straightforward stumping.From the 12th to the 16th over, Afghanistan scored a mere 6 runs in 24 balls and lost five wickets. It left Rashid’s ensuing onslaught as light entertainment in an already lost cause.
Palmeiras e Atlético-MG se enfrentam nesta quinta-feira (19), às 19h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A partida terá transmissão exclusiva do Premiere (pay-per-view).
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoInvestidora do Palmeiras tem acordo com Vasco em caso de vitória de Pedrinho nas eleições do clubeVasco18/10/2023PalmeirasAproximação de Crefisa com o Vasco acende mais um alerta no PalmeirasPalmeiras18/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras aproveita Data Fifa para blindar o elenco e solucionar vazamentosPalmeiras18/10/2023
+ O brabo tem nome! Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$340 com gol de Rony, do Palmeiras, contra o Atlético-MG
+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Ambas as equipes estão na parte de cima da tabela e buscam, pelo menos, uma vaga para a próxima Libertadores. O Verdão é o atual quarto colocado com 44 pontos e não vence há três rodadas. Já o Galo ocupa a nona posição, com 40, tendo apenas uma derrota nos últimos quatro jogos.
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Na última rodada, a equipe de Abel Ferreira perdeu para o rival Santos por 2 a 1, de virada, na Arena Barueri. Assim como o Palmeiras, o Atlético-MG também perdeu para o Coritiba pelo mesmo placar e de virada, no Mineirão. As equipes se enfrentaram recentemente pelas oitavas de final da Libertadores. Na ocasião, o Verdão se classificou às quartas após vitória por 1 a 0 em Belo Horizonte e empate em 0 a 0 em São Paulo.
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O Alviverde não perde para a equipe mineira no Allianz há sete anos. A última vitória do Atlético-MG na casa palestrina foi em 2016, na vitória por 1 a 0, pelo Brasileirão, com gol marcado porLeandro Donizete.Portanto, o Galo precisará quebrar uma longa escrita para voltar com os três pontos na bagagem.
Na partida do primeiro turno, no dia 28 de maio, os times empataram em 1 a 1 no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG). O jogo ficou marcado pela anulação de um gol de bicicleta marcado por Rony que gerou bastante insatisfação por parte dos palmeirenses.
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+ Palmeiras está invicto contra o Atlético-MG, mas Abel ainda busca quebra de tabu
Os desfalques do Palmeiras são Atuesta, em transição física, e Dudu, que se recupera após lesão no joelho. Além deles, o volante Richard Ríos cumprirá suspensão por acúmulo de cartões amarelos, e o técnico Abel Ferreira também será ausência pois está suspenso pelo STJD. Gustavo Gómez, Piquerez e Raphael Veiga, jogadores que estavam servindo as suas respectivas seleções na Data Fifa, já treinaram com o restante do grupo nesta quarta (18), mas ainda não são certezas para o duelo.
Pelo lado do Alvinegro, Felipão não poderá contar com Mariano e Eduardo Vargas, lesionados. Battaglia e Pedrinho avançaram no processo de recuperação de suas lesões, mas seguem fora. Guilherme Arana, que estava com a Seleção Brasileira, foi relacionado.
Veja todas as informações da partida:
PALMEIRAS X ATLÉTICO-MG 27ª RODADA DO BRASILEIRÃO
Local:Allianz Parque, em São Paulo (SP) Data e hora:18/10/2023, às 19h (de Brasília) Árbitro:Bruno Arleu de Araújo (Fifa-RJ) Assistentes:Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) eThiago Henrique Neto Corrêa Farinha (RJ) VAR:Wagner Reway (VAR-Fifa/PB) Onde assistir:Premiere (pay-per-view)
PALMEIRAS:Weverton, Mayke, Murilo, Gustavo Gómez (Luan) e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga (Jhon Jhon); Endrick, Rony e Kevin. Técnico: João Martins.
Desfalques: Atuesta (transição), Dudu (lesionado), Richard Ríos e Abel Ferreira (suspensos) Dúvidas: Gustavo Gómez, Piquerez e Raphael Veiga
ATLÉTICO-MG:Everson, Saravia, Maurício Lemos e Bruno Fuchs, Guilherme Arana (Rubens), Otávio, Battaglia (Zaracho), Pedrinho (Igor Gomes), Pavón, Paulinho e Hulk. Técnico: Felipão.
Desfalques: Mariano, Vargas, Battaglia e Pedrinho (lesionados)
Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank boasts a wealth of hugely impressive talents in his squad that have seriously impressed under him so far.
The Dane’s exceptional start to life in the Spurs dugout has yielded four wins from seven in all competitions so far, including just two defeats, and they were desperately unlucky to lose that UEFA Super Cup final to European champions PSG.
While a draw at underperforming Brighton last time out is hardly cause for major celebration, the Amex has been a very unhappy hunting ground for Spurs in recent years.
Ange Postecoglou’s Lilywhites blew a two-goal lead to surrender a 3-2 defeat on the south coast this time last year – losing 4-2 away to them the year prior – and history threatened to repeat itself again when Spurs found themselves 2-0 behind last Saturday.
However, Frank’s side displayed real dogged professionalism to claw themselves back to 2-2 — courtesy of goals from Richarlison and reported Spurs transfer target Jan Paul van Hecke (OG) — and had even more chances to score before the final whistle.
Xavi Simons missed a great opportunity to net his first Premier League goal for Tottenham, in what was a promising display of what is to come from the Dutchman, while Lucas Bergvall added to his ever-growing collection of excellent performances.
Lucas Bergvall’s career at Tottenham so far
Stats
Appearances
52
Goals
2
Assists
6
Bookings
8
Minutes played
2,714
via Transfermarkt
Spurs’ midfield is looking stacked right now, with summer loan signing Joao Palhinha also impressing as he eyes a 2026 permanent move to Tottenham.
Alongside the likes of Bergvall and Palhinha, a special nod has to go to the young Pape Sarr.
Tottenham told "important" Pape Sarr deserves much more credit
Speaking to Tottenham News, ex-Brentford boss Martin Allen has claimed that Sarr has gone unnoticed with his Spurs performances this season, and deserves more credit.
Signed by Fabio Paratici in 2021 for around £15 million, the Senegalese spent the rest of 21/22 back on loan at FC Metz before playing his way into the Spurs senior team.
The 23-year-old was awarded a new long-term contract last year as a result of his showings under Postecoglou, keeping him at the club until 2030, and Sarr has been equally as good since Frank replaced the Australian.
Tottenham Hotspur's Mathys Tel, Pape Matar Sarr, Richarlison and YvesBissouma
Prior to their draw at Brighton, Sarr was handed the starting nod by Frank in each of Tottenham’s first four Premier League games — bagging his first of the campaign in a 3-0 win at West Ham and assisting Brennan Johnson’s third against Burnley in a 3-0 opening weekend victory.
According to WhoScored, the ex-Ligue 1 sensation is Tottenham’s third-best performer by average match rating per 90 in the top flight, with only Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison sitting above him.
In truth, Sarr’s price tag from four years ago is now looking like chump change, and he could be a fixture of Frank’s midfield for years to come if he carries on performing when required.
After Rathi went ahead with the appeal, the TV umpire ruled it not out, saying the bowler had completed his delivery stride before taking the bails off
ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2025Jitesh Sharma survived an appeal for run-out at the non-striker’s end after TV umpire Ulhas Gandhe had deemed that Digvesh Rathi, the bowler, had completed his delivery stride before effecting the run-out.The incident took place in the 17th over of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) chase of 228 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025. When Rathi broke the bails at the non-striker’s end, Jitesh was out of his crease. The on-field umpire checked with Rathi if he wanted to go ahead with the appeal and after Rathi had replied in the affirmative, the TV umpire ruled Jitesh not out, saying the bowler had completed his delivery stride before taking the bails off.Related
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The night Jitesh got rid of the enormous weight on his shoulders
According to the IPL’s playing conditions 38.3.1, “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out by the bowler attempting to run him/her out. In these circumstances, the non- striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is broken by the bowler throwing the ball at the wicket or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.”Also, around the time not out flashed on the big screen, Pant gestured that he had withdrawn the appeal and then exchanged hugs with Jitesh. Even if the TV umpire had have ruled Jitesh out, Pant suggested he would have withdrawn the appeal, which he was entitled to.Jitesh was on 57 off 25 when the incident happened. He went onto finish unbeaten on 85 off 33 balls as RCB mowed down 228 with six wickets and eight balls to spare. It was RCB’s highest successful chase in the IPL and the third highest overall in the tournament’s history.The result confirmed RCB’s place in Qualifier 1, where they will face the table-topping Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 29 in Mullanpur. Gujarat Titans (GT) will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator at the same venue on May 30.
Borussia Dortmund are set to offer Nico Schlotterbeck a huge new contract that could triple his wages as they look to secure his long-term future amid renewed Bayern Munich interest. The German defender, seen as a future captain and leader of the club, remains calm about his decision despite Dortmund’s push to extend his deal until 2030.
Dortmund move early to tie down their defensive leader
Dortmund have tabled a fresh contract offer to Schlotterbeck, aiming to extend his stay until 2030. According to , the deal would raise his annual salary by around €2.5 million to at least €8m, with performance bonuses potentially pushing it past €9m. The new contract reflects his growing importance under Niko Kovac, as BVB see him as a long-term cornerstone of their defence and dressing-room leadership group.
Despite the club’s eagerness, Schlotterbeck is taking his time. Having recently recovered from a meniscus injury, the 25-year-old wants to stay focused on regaining full fitness and maintaining form rather than rushing into negotiations. “The appreciation is great on both sides,” he said, “but to be honest, I don’t think I’ll extend my contract anytime soon.”
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesBayern circle as Dortmund fight to keep their star
Die Borussen's urgency stems from renewed interest from Bayern, who have admired Schlotterbeck since his Freiburg days, while reports in Spain claim Real Madrid are also eyeing him. The Bavarians missed out on signing him in 2022 and are once again monitoring his situation closely as they weigh options for their long-term defensive setup. Moreover, Upamecano’s contract talks have stalled due to salary demands of around €17m (£15m/$20m) per year, leading the champions to explore alternatives. Alongside Schlotterbeck, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is also on their radar, though competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool complicates that pursuit.
Inside BVB’s long-term defensive vision
Sporting director Sebastian Kehl has made it clear that Schlotterbeck’s renewal is a top priority. Seen as a potential future captain, he embodies the next phase of Dortmund’s rebuild, balancing youthful energy with domestic experience. The new deal’s performance-based structure mirrors Dortmund’s modern approach to contracts, rewarding consistency, appearances and team success.
The centre-back's commanding displays since returning from injury have reaffirmed his value to the side, while his leadership has earned admiration in the dressing room. Dortmund view him as a player who can define the club’s identity for years to come, both on and off the pitch.
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Getty Images SportWhat lies ahead for Schlotterbeck and Dortmund?
Schlotterbeck has joined up with Germany during the international break for matches against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Upon his return, he’ll face Bayern, the very club vying for his signature in a Bundesliga clash that could carry extra meaning.
Apart from hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand and West Indies will compete for the last two spots in the main World Cup
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2025
Pakistan and Bangladesh will be among the teams hoping to join the top six at the World Cup•BCB
Pakistan vs Ireland and Scotland vs West Indies will kick off the qualifying competition in Lahore on April 9 ahead of the women’s ODI World Cup, which will be played in October this year in India. Bangladesh and Thailand, the other teams in the fray in the six-team event, will face off the following day.Apart from India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the World Cup, and the final two spots will be filled by the top-two teams from the qualifying tournament. The games will be played at the new-look Gaddafi Stadium and the Lahore City Cricket Association grounds. The two venues, as well as the Aitchison College grounds, will host the warm-up fixtures on April 5 and April 7, after the visiting teams arrive in Lahore on April 3. The last set of games will be played on April 19.Tournament schedule
April 9 – Pak vs Ire & Sco vs WI April 10 – Ban vs Thai April 11 – Pak vs Sco & Ire vs WI April 13 – Ban vs Ire & Sco vs Thai April 14 – Pak vs WI April 15 – Ban vs Sco & Ire vs Thai April 17 – Pak vs Thai & Ban vs WI April 18 – Ire vs Sco April 19 – Pak vs Ban & Thai vs WI
The schedule has been officially released today, on March 14, just over three weeks from the start of the tournament, though three boards – West Indies, Ireland and Bangladesh – had put out the dates and venues in an unofficial capacity when announcing their season’s fixtures and in the case of Bangladesh, their squad for the event.This is the second ICC tournament that is being held in Pakistan, after the Champions Trophy and all the matches will be played in the country. Lahore is the only city being used for the event, as there will be no PSL matches held there until April 24. That tournament starts in Rawalpindi on April 11.As reported earlier on ESPNcricinfo, because of the reciprocal arrangement arrived at by the BCCI and the PCB before the Champions Trophy earlier this year, Pakistan, if they qualify for the main event, will not travel to India to play their matches. Those matches will be played at a neutral venue.India will host the women’s ODI World Cup for the fifth time in 2025 – and the first time after 2011. It will also be the first global women’s tournament to be held in India since 2016 when the T20 World Cup ran parallel to the men’s event. The 2025 edition is set to be similar to the 2022 edition, with eight teams taking part and playing a total of 31 matches.
After missing out on Marc Guehi at the 11th hour, Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on signing another Premier League rival when 2026 arrives.
How Liverpool missed out on Guehi
The medical was complete, the fee was agreed and a goodbye video had even been put together by Crystal Palace. All that was really left to do was for Guehi to sign on the dotted line and for Liverpool to announce his arrival. That was until chaos at Selhurst Park erupted, however.
In a mini-civil war at the club, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner reportedly threatened to quit if chairman Steve Parish sold Guehi to Liverpool on deadline day. It was either the £35m fee or his manager, Parish had to choose. And when Igor Julio ditched a move to Crystal Palace for West Ham United, there was only one option for the Eagles.
It’s the one deal that Liverpool failed to get over the line and they may regret not doing so. Recent reports have emerged which claim that Real Madrid are now interested in signing Guehi when his contract expires next summer and, as Liverpool know all too well, the Spanish club rarely miss out on their targets.
Whilst that move could end up benefitting them if Ibrahima Konate signs a new deal and stays put as a result, Arne Slot could still do with another central defender in 2026.
Higher ceiling than Isak: Liverpool make £100m superstar their No. 1 target
Liverpool are already planning for the future after their incredible spending spree this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2025
If it’s not Guehi, then Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes must get back to the drawing board before doing what they do better than most when the opportunity arrives.
Liverpool eyeing Van Hecke swoop
According to TeamTalk, Liverpool are now eyeing a move to sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2026, having already sent scouts to watch the defender in action. Joined by Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in an early race for his signature, Liverpool could yet push on to land an impressive Guehi alternative.
Minutes
2,958
3,059
Progressive Passes
228
134
Tackles Won
29
34
Ball Recoveries
131
146
In possession, Van Hecke should be Liverpool’s man. His progression numbers last season were excellent, especially compared to Guehi, who got the better of the Brighton man when it came to ball recoveries and tackles.
Whether the Reds believe that Van Hecke can eventually match Guehi’s dominance off the ball is the big question, but he certainly puts himself about, nearly causing a full blown fight between himself and Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk this time last year.
Praised as a “great character” by Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, the 25-year-old has shown he’s not afraid of anyone in the Premier League and a big move now awaits. With just two years remaining on his current deal at The Amex, Liverpool could even land a bargain deal to sign Van Hecke if they are willing to wait until next summer.
It’s been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far.
On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side have left a lot to be desired with wins over AC Milan and Newcastle United, but losses against Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal.
However, off the pitch, it would be fair to say that Andrea Berta and his team have exceeded expectations so far with smart depth additions and a couple of big-money deals for Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi.
Atalanta's Davide Zappacosta celebrates scoring their fifth goal with AdemolaLookman
Moreover, the North Londoners look primed to do more business, with both Eberechi Eze and Ademola Lookman touted for moves to the Emirates.
Why Arsenal want to sign Eze & Lookman
As things stand, Arsenal continue to be linked with both Eze and Lookman, with the former having a release clause worth £68m in his current contract that’ll expire in a week, and the latter reportedly being available for a fee of around £43m.
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While it seems unlikely that the Gunners would sign both internationals, it’s easy to see why they are interested in them.
For example, despite playing in a mid-table team at best, the Englishman managed to rack up a brilliant haul of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes, last season.
That means the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.
On top of that, he also scored in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final of the FA Cup, leading the Eagles to the first major trophy in their existence.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzecelebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup
On the other hand, the Nigerian star has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine for several years now.
For example, since moving to the Bergamo outfit in August 2022, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by the BBC’s John Bennett, has scored 52 goals and provided 25 assists in 118 appearances, totalling 7538 minutes.
In other words, the former RB Leipzig star has averaged a goal involvement every 1.53 games or every 97.89 minutes over the last three seasons, which is a level of output that could fire the Gunners to glory next year.
In all, it’s easy to see why Arteta and Co would want to splash the cash on one of these stars, although whoever they decide on will have to smash all expectations to see their valuation even approach that of another Arsenal star.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Eze & Lookman
While they’re yet to win anything with them, Arsenal are a club blessed with an abundance of incredibly talented stars in their squad, although it’s still really quite easy to pinpoint their most important player: Bukayo Saka.
The Hale End icon has developed from an exciting academy graduate into a fully-fledged superstar and the poster boy of Arteta’s project over the last few years, and his valuation reflects that.
Transfermarkt, for example, now prices the 23-year-old game-changer at a staggering €150m, which converts to about £130m, or at least £19m more than Lookman and Eze combined.
While some might question such a valuation, we reckon it’s pretty spot-on, and the first reason why is down to his output.
For example, despite missing almost four months of action with a hamstring injury last season, the Gunners’ “future legend,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was still able to rack up a sensational haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances, totalling just 2619 minutes.
Appearances
37
43
40
Minutes
2619′
3303′
2871′
Goals
12
14
20
Assists
14
11
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
0.58
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
100.73′
132.12′
106.33
Not only did that make him the most effective player in the North Londoners’ squad, but the dynamic winger maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or 100.73 minutes, which is not only world-class, but better than Eze and Lookman.
On top of that, the Ealing-born monster has also established himself as an essential member of the national team, earning 44 senior caps, in which he’s produced 20 goal involvements, and winning back-to-back Player of the Year awards.
Ultimately, while Lookman and Eze are brilliant players who’d make excellent signings for Arsenal, we don’t think their valuations will ever be able to reach Saka’s.
Not Eze: Arsenal ready to pounce for "superstar" in Berta's best deal yet
The international would be a game-changer for the Gunners.
Dorival Júnior rompeu um tabu que era mantido desde 2015 no São Paulo. No caso, nenhum técnico estreava com vitória na equipe há oito anos.
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Em seu retorno ao Tricolor, Dorival estreou pelo clube do Morumbi com uma vitória por 3 a 0 contra o América-MG, em partida que foi válida pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro e disputada em casa. Foi o primeiro resultado positivo do time na competição também.
ATUAÇÕES: Rafael tem noite de “paredão” e salva São Paulo na estreia de Dorival
Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
A última vez que um técnico estreou no São Paulo com vitória foi em junho de 2015, com Juan Carlos Osorio. A partida em questão foi contra o Grêmio, no Morumbi, e terminou em 2 a 0. Desde então, doze técnicos passaram pelo comando do Tricolor.
Deste doze, oito estrearam com empates e quatro com derrotas. Inclusive, na primeira passagem de Dorival Júnior em 2017, o primeiro jogo que fez pela equipe terminou em um empate por 2 a 2, contra o Atlético-GO. Estes levantamentos foram feitos pelo historiador AlexandreGiesbrecht, do ‘Anotações Tricolores’.
Ao falar do século XXI, esta foi a 11ª vez que um treinador estreou com vitória. Desde 2001, 28 técnicos passaram pelo São Paulo.
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Veja todas as estreias de treinadores do São Paulo deste século: