All posts by h716a5.icu

Fakhar Zaman made 84 in the chase of 331 in Lahore, but once he fell the hosts crumbled

Danyal Rasool08-Feb-2025A blistering onslaught from Glenn Phillips in the final six overs of the first innings helped New Zealand ease to a crushing win over Pakistan in the first ODI of the tri-series in Lahore. The visitors posted 330 thanks to Phillips’ 72-ball century, with 98 runs coming in the final six overs. Pakistan could never quite muster a convincing response, with all hopes pinned on a flying start from Fakhar Zaman. However, when Phillips – who could seemingly do no wrong – trapped him in front for a 69-ball 84, their resistance melted away, and New Zealand’s task became something of a cakewalk. To make Pakistan’s evening worse, Haris Rauf picked up an injury which prevented him from batting, and New Zealand won by 78 runs.New Zealand’s innings appeared a struggle until the 44th over, with Pakistan taking regular wickets, even if half-centuries from Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell kept them ticking along. On a flat wicket, Pakistan’s bowlers had done a stellar job restricting New Zealand’s scoring rate, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah combining for five wickets. So it seemed, anyway, until Phillips let loose, ripping apart Pakistan’s bowlers at the very end. He would score his last 77 runs in 32 balls, as New Zealand took momentum with them into the dinner break.New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat on what looked a dry, flat surface at the newly built Gaddafi stadium, but immediately ran into headwinds. Afridi continued his ODI wicket-taking form with one in his first over, inducing Will Young into a prod that got a nick through to the keeper. With Williamson largely subdued in the opening powerplay, run scoring came largely through a belligerent cameo from Rachin Ravindra. A couple of boundaries off Afridi either side of the wicket set the tone, and he had raced to 25 off 18 deliveries; 20 of them came through fours. But a slightly careless shot off Abrar Ahmed ended a nascently dangerous innings with Ravindra out caught and bowled.Williamson continued to consolidate, and for a while New Zealand had entered a rut. By the end of the 18th over, their scoring rate had fallen below four, with Mitchell looking laboured as he shuffled along, scoring 9 off his first 22 balls. The escalation came all of a sudden, and primarily through Mitchell, when he charged down the ground to loft Khushdil Shah over the sightscreen for six. Williamson began to come into his own, too as New Zealand began to milk the bowling, with the run rate beginning to tick upwards as the partnership approached three-figures.But Pakistan were maintaining a hold over the game by picking up regular wickets, and two in five deliveries pegged New Zealand back sharply. Afridi, once more, proved the partnership breaker, another gentle edge from Williamson that Rizwan comfortably pouched. The two-paced nature of the wicket went on to do for Tom Latham, who found the ball stopping on him as he chipped it up to midwicket.In Mitchell and Phillips, though, New Zealand’s two most potent late-overs bludgeoners were at the crease, and they would go on to prove it over the next hour. Mitchell was picking off the Pakistan spinners whenever their lengths dropped short; each of his five sixes came against spin, but it would also be his downfall. A harmless full toss from Abrar was clipped straight into midwicket’s arms, Mitchell’s disbelief writ large on his face as he walked away 19 short of a hundred.Fakhar Zaman’s quick fifty led Pakistan’s chase•Associated PressBut for Pakistan, that was the reprieve before the storm. Phillips had been sedate until the 42nd over, nudging it around for 29 off 43, but when Salman Agha was pumped back over his head for a six, there were signs he was awakening. Agha was dispatched for another pair of sixes in his following over, but it was when the fast bowlers returned that the beast was truly unleashed.A nudge off Naseem in the 47th over brought Phillips his half-century, but he wasn’t nearly done yet. Afridi was launched over deep midwicket and then scooped above short third for consecutive sixes, before Naseem was plundered for 17 in the 49th over. But the worst of the carnage was left for Afridi in the final over, which produced a whopping 25, bringing up Phillips’ maiden ODI century.The crowd was at full capacity and full pitch when Pakistan came out to bat, because Babar Azam was opening alongside Fakhar. The noise was for Babar, but it was Fakhar who sprung out of the traps, helping Pakistan to a brisk start in the Powerplay. But Babar’s start to opening – the first time he has done so since 2015 – was inauspicious, flicking a harmless delivery from Michael Bracewell straight into midwicket’s hands.Kamran Ghulam was similarly turgid, and the pressure fell squarely on Fakhar to produce a mammoth innings if Pakistan were to make headway in the chase. For a while, he offered them hope, taking down Mitchell Santner and Bracewell as he hurtled towards his century, but Ghulam and Rizwan were sent packing at the other end.The death knell for Pakistan was struck by Phillips in the 24th over when he skidded one on that trapped Fakhar plumb in front. With the asking rate rising above nine and 212 runs still to get, there was little realistic hope the lower-middle order would be able to get Pakistan close. It was reflected in the activity of the crowd, which streamed towards the exits.Tayyab Tahir and Agha tried to keep it going, building up a tidy little partnership, but even moments of brilliance went New Zealand’s way when Bracewell took a stunning catch diving to his right to send a disbelieving Tahir back to the pavilion.Thereafter, it appeared both sides were going through the motions, New Zealand doing enough to chip away at the lower order. The only bad news for the visitors was what appeared a nasty injury to Ravindra, who lost a ball in the lights as it went on to hit him flush in the face, and went off as blood streamed down his hair.The game itself was far more straightforward for New Zealand. Khushdil and Agha fell to spin within four balls of each other and, despite an entertaining little cameo from Abrar at the very end, Pakistan were merely delaying the inevitable. Matt Henry bounced out Naseem with 13 balls still to go; they are well placed in this tournament, and, it appears, well placed ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Hugo Ekitike has not been fined by Liverpool for a "stupid" red card as Arne Slot claimed that the striker is "allowed to make a mistake". The French forward, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Southampton, was sent off just moments after taking off his shirt in celebration, earning a second booking having already picked up a yellow card.

Red card chaos at Anfield

Ekitike entered the Carabao Cup tie as a substitute for Alexander Isak in the second half. Within eight minutes, he was booked for punching the ball away after referee Thomas Bramall awarded Southampton a free-kick. The French striker redeemed himself in the 85th minute, tapping in a precise pass from Federico Federico Chiesa to put Liverpool ahead 2-1. In the heat of the moment, Ekitike removed his shirt to celebrate in front of the home fans, a decision that proved costly. The second yellow card came swiftly, and he was forced to walk down the tunnel, leaving Slot fuming.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesSlot steps in to defend Ekitike

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Slot addressed rumours that Ekitike had been handed a two-week wage fine. The manager dismissed the claims and offered full backing for the striker.

"Disciplined means a fine, which he didn’t get. I spoke to him," he said. "He said sorry straight away to his team-mates, he is young and players of all ages make mistakes and you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without getting fined."

Lesson learnt by young striker

Slot went on to praise Ekitike’s character, noting his warmth and professionalism off the pitch. "A fantastic human being. If you asked staff for top three warmest and polite players, he would be in there. So he can make a mistake," Slot said.

"It wasn’t smart, it didn’t hurt us. It might hurt a bit more tomorrow but Chiesa is showing himself and a chance for him to play tomorrow off the bench."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportChampions League test awaits Ekitike next

Ekitike will be missing out on the trip to Crystal Palace due to suspension, but is set to return for Liverpool’s Champions League clash in Istanbul against Galatasaray next Tuesday. With a European showdown in midweek, the striker has the perfect opportunity to bounce back and show that the rash moment was simply a blip in the matrix.

Prior to Sunday’s hotly anticipated Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Arsenal, Chelsea were the early league leaders.

Fulham were on the receiving end of some controversial VAR decisions at Stamford Bridge, but it was their West London foes in Enzo Maresca’s Blues that would collect a 2-0 victory on Saturday, courtesy of an Enzo Fernandez penalty being tucked away, on top of Joao Pedro scoring yet another strike in his new location.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion hotshot now has five goals and two assists from six blistering appearances for Maresca’s men, with the Italian set to try and clinch a deal for another exciting attacker to help out the clinical Brazilian.

Chelsea's last-minute business

Expect Chelsea to be extremely busy as they head into Monday’s intense deadline day.

Indeed, there have been various twists and turns emerging from West London over the past few days, with it still unclear whether Nicolas Jackson will leave Chelsea behind for Bayern Munich or not.

An injury suffered by Liam Delap against the Cottagers might well make Chelsea feel less inclined to give up their hit-and-miss striker to the Bundesliga, with an enquiry also being lodged for the services of Sporting rising star Conrad Harder to boost the attacking ranks.

Moreover, away from a last-gasp switch to try and sign Harder, the early top-flight pace-setters also look set to go down to the wire to try and snap up Barcelona star Fermin Lopez.

Transfer Focus

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

As per Fabrizio Romano, via X, the big-spending Blues have officially sent a written proposal to the Catalan giants about signing the explosive attacking midfielder for a fee around the £34m mark.

This development was then followed up by Romano clarifying that the La Liga giants do not want to sell the 22-year-old, with an exit only occurring if the Spaniard wanted to depart the Camp Nou at the last minute.

He could well be tempted by a move away, seeing how instantaneous Pedro has managed to light up Stamford Bridge, with Lopez perhaps entering and making instant waves, too, if a dramatic move is sealed.

Why Lopez could be as impactful as Pedro

When Chelsea snapped up the services of the ex-Seagulls striker this summer, fans of the Stamford Bridge outfit would have been excited by the £55m capture.

After all, heading into his Blues switch, the “exceptional” attacker, as he has been labelled recently by pundit Troy Deeney, had 30 goals and ten assists next to his name from 70 clashes on the South Coast, with Lopez also standing out for his top-drawer numbers in the final third for Hansi Flick’s giants.

Games played

31

28

Games started

14

12

Minutes averaged

47

45

Goals

8

6

Assists

0

5

The 22-year-old has managed to seriously impress those watching on at the Camp Nou over his past few seasons despite regularly being utilised as an impact substitute, with a weighty 19-goal contributions in league action falling into his lap, despite only making 26 starts from 59 overall appearances.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has even dubbed Lopez as being “technically brilliant” with his added presence in Maresca’s camp gifting the Blues yet another standout attacking player to complement the likes of a red-hot Pedro and a skilful Cole Palmer. After all, he’s already a record-breaker at Barca, a fact illuminated below.

It remains to be seen whether the La Masia academy product would be tempted by a switch to West London away from the comforts of his home patch.

But, there could be a pull here for Lopez to test himself in a new environment, having viewed the instant leading man status handed to Pedro after exiting Brighton.

The last few action-packed days of the window always throw up some tantalising rumours, with Chelsea landing Lopez a golden potential deal that could see them maintain their early grip on the top positions in the Premier League.

11 duels won: Chelsea sensation is becoming as undroppable as Enzo & Pedro

Chelsea maintained their unbeaten Premier League record against Fulham this afternoon.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 30, 2025

Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or win was a surprise to his former coach Peter Bosz, who has revealed his battles with the star's lack of discipline during his time at Borussia Dortmund. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was described as "disorganised" and "often late," but the Dutch coach feels he has undergone a transformation since joining the French side.

Ex coach surprised by Dembele's magic

Dembele has been crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner after leading Paris Saint-Germain to a historic quadruple, securing the award by a convincing margin of over 300 points ahead of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. However, despite a stellar campaign that included 35 goals, 14 assists, and a first-ever Champions League title for PSG, the victory came as a surprise to his former Borussia Dortmund coach, Bosz. In an interview with Dutch newspaper , Bosz praised the attacker's immense talent but detailed the off-field issues, including chronic disorganisation and poor diet, that once threatened a career that has now reached the pinnacle of world football.

AdvertisementAFPBosz on Dembele's 'unparalleled' but 'disorganised' talent

Bosz, who managed Dembele briefly in 2017, expressed his shock at the 28-year-old's crowning moment. "I honestly didn't expect it, but he's one of the best players I've ever worked with," Bosz said. "What he could do with the ball was truly sensational. I honestly didn't know if he was left- or right-footed. His dribbling was unparalleled.

"Privately, he was very disorganised. He was often late," Bosz explained. "Then he went to Barcelona, and there, too, he was constantly late. So it wasn't Dortmund's fault, but his."

Dembele's six-year tenure at Barcelona was a turbulent period of unfulfilled potential following his monumental transfer. His time was severely hampered by a relentless series of injuries, preventing any consistent run of form. While he registered a respectable 40 goals and 41 assists in 185 appearances, these flashes of brilliance were often overshadowed by lengthy spells on the sidelines and disciplinary issues. His struggles with fitness and consistency meant he never fully justified his massive price tag before a transformative move to PSG.

'He needed a chef to avoid McDonald's and pizza'

The former coach shed light on the extent of Dembele's lifestyle problems, which continued after his move to Spain. Bosz stated that the player's teammates had to intervene to provide structure. 

"He was a very quiet, gentle boy who lacked the structure a top footballer needs," he said. "I understood that his teammates helped him there because he was still arriving late. With an alarm clock and a chef accompanying him so he would avoid McDonald's and pizza and eat well."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

PSG move key to unlocking 'full potential'

Bosz credits Dembele's transformation to his time at Paris Saint-Germain, where he believes the player finally matured. He highlighted the forward's improved work rate, particularly after being deployed as a central striker. "It wasn't until he reached his full potential at Paris Saint-Germain," Bosz noted. "If you look at the final against Inter, the way he applied pressure… If you had asked me in Dortmund if I thought he would ever apply that kind of pressure, I would have said no. But he did."

Two weeks ahead of the Champions Trophy, both teams have an air of vulnerability

Karthik Krishnaswamy05-Feb-20250:52

What will India’s playing XI for the first ODI be?

Big picture: An air of vulnerability in both campsThere are two Indias.There’s the India of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, an India that is, for the moment, scarred and uncertain.There’s also, at the same time, another India, an India of an assuredly post-Rohit, post-Kohli era, an India that has flown to dizzying heights over recent months.There are two Indias, but there are three formats. So where exactly do they stand, as the awkward middle format gets this rare chance in the spotlight? India in ODIs are still the India of Rohit and Kohli, but what does that mean for India, Rohit, and Kohli? There are several questions hanging over India ahead of these three ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy that will follow, but this one, for now, seems the most urgent.Related

Rohit: Varun 'definitely in contention' for Champions Trophy

Rohit and Kohli's form in focus; Rahul or Pant as wicketkeeper?

Sam Curran on omission: 'I've got to keep banging the door down'

Varun added to India's ODI squad for series against England

India last played ODIs in August, when they lost 2-0 to Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. It seemed like an anomalous result then, but events that followed it have cast it in a different light. As India return to the 50-over format, then, they find themselves in an odd position. They are still more or less the same team that looked like one of the greatest of all time during their run to the World Cup final in 2023. But even if the players are largely the same, they no longer play together day in and day out, so are they still the same team? And so many of them carry wounds from other battles, bringing to this group a distinct air of vulnerability.But airs of vulnerability – and invincibility – come and go depending on results. India – the other India, admittedly – are fresh off a 4-1 T20I series win, and should count themselves as heavy favourites against an England side that’s coming off that T20I result, and is still trying to find its feet in ODIs after a poor 2023 World Cup.And England, too, are fighting the awkwardness of this middle format. This is still the England of Jos Buttler and Joe Root, but neither played a single ODI in 2024.So here we are, then. The India of Rohit and Kohli versus the England of Buttler and Root, both unsure of where exactly they stand in ODIs, with a major ODI tournament starting in two weeks’ time.Form guideIndia LLTWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
England LWLLWJoe Root has been out of England’s ODI side since their league-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup•Michael Steele/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Hardik Pandya and Joe RootRohit and Kohli may be under more scrutiny at the moment, but arguably, no player is as important to India’s Champions Trophy hopes as Hardik Pandya is. Until his premature departure from the 2023 World Cup with an ankle injury, Hardik’s presence allowed India to have six bowling options, and gave them the luxury of playing a third frontline seamer or spinner depending on conditions. Hardik hasn’t played an ODI since that tournament, and as the next big one looms, India will hope his body can take a genuine allrounder’s workload once again.He has been out of England’s ODI side since their league-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup, but Joe Root is back, and will bat at No. 3. “He’s one of the great players of the game, in all the formats,” England’s captain Buttler said of Root in his pre-match press conference. “I’m excited to see him in this sort of phase of his career where I look at what he’s done in the Test stuff, where he’s not had the captaincy. He’s sort of back with that cheeky smile on his face, and really enjoying his cricket. I expect him to do exactly the same in this environment.” Apart from the smile, Root will also be expected to bring backbone to a line-up that has sometimes struggled to find the right tempo for 50-over cricket, as England have lost eight or more wickets in seven of their 11 ODIs since the World Cup.KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant? India have a choice to make against England•Getty ImagesTeam news: England rest Mark WoodIndia are expected to line up with their first-choice top six from the 2023 World Cup, with only the wicketkeeper’s slot under debate. Rishabh Pant could potentially come in ahead of KL Rahul thanks to his left-handedness. Meanwhile, Nagpur, with its large outfield and tendency for slow turners, is likely a three-spinner venue, which leaves India to choose two out of their three spin-bowling allrounders to partner Kuldeep Yadav, who returns for the first time since his hernia surgery.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 and 8 two of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed ShamiEngland have named their XI for the series-opener, with Mark Wood rested and Saqib Mahmood partnering Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse in the pace attack. With only four frontline bowlers, part-time spinners Liam Livingstone, Root and Jacob Bethell are expected to shoulder a considerable bowling workload.England: 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Phil Salt (wk), 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Jos Buttler (capt), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Jacob Bethell, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Saqib MahmoodPitch and conditionsA clear, sunny day is expected in Nagpur with daytime temperatures in the low 30s. The pitch at the VCA Stadium over recent years has tended to offer a good amount of help to spinners, who also appreciate the long boundaries at this ground. The last three ODIs in Nagpur were all India-Australia contests won by the hosts: a memorable chase of 351 in 2013 powered by one of Kohli’s great hundreds, followed by significantly lower-scoring matches in 2017 and 2019.Stats and trivia: Virat Kohli on cusp of 14,000 Both India (2-3) and England (4-7) have negative win-loss records in ODIs since the end of the 2023 World Cup. Kohli is 94 runs away from the 14,000-mark in ODIs. Only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) have more runs in the format. Mohammed Shami is five wickets away from becoming the eighth India bowler to take 200 in ODIs. Since the last time they played together, which was at the 2023 World Cup, Buttler has played 23 games for England (three ODIs and 20 T20Is) and Root 17 (all Tests).Quotes”World Cup was one and a half years back, so clearly we need to regroup as a group now and think about what we need to do here […] It’s just about coming together now – because it’s been a while since we’ve played this format – it’s just about coming together and trying to [carry on from] where we left [off] during the World Cup. If it takes a little bit of time, so be it. It’s not easy to start what we did in the World Cup.”
“I look back on [the 2023] World Cup, and the two teams in the final were playing a really positive and aggressive brand of cricket. You think of the way Travis Head took that final on with the bat, you see it can be successful. This can be a great part of the world to play that fashion of cricket. Obviously Rohit [Sharma] takes a lot of credit for the way he’s come out and played himself as a captain and pushed India more towards that style of cricket. So, absolutely, we want to do exactly the same. We believe that’s the way that’ll give us the best chance of getting positive results.”

Aston Villa are a club firmly on the up under Unai Emery, and NSWE have backed the Spaniard in the transfer market. But who is Villa’s record signing?

Football FanCast has taken a look at Aston Villa’s most expensive signings in their history, with a detailed look at the top 10.

1

Moussa Diaby

£51.9m

Bayer Leverkusen

2023

2

Amadou Onana

£50m

Everton

2024

3

Ian Maatsen

£37.5m

Chelsea

2024

4

Emiliano Buendia

£33m

Norwich City

2021

5

Pau Torres

£31.5m

Villarreal

2023

=6

Ollie Watkins

£30m

Brentford

2020

=6

Leon Bailey

£30m

Bayer Leverkusen

2021

8

Diego Carlos

£26.8m

Sevilla

2022

9

Evann Guessand

£26m

Nice

2025

=10

Lucas Digne

£25m

Everton

2022

=10

Danny Ings

£25m

Southampton

2021

12

Wesley Moraes

£22m

Club Brugge

2019

13

Donyell Malen

£21m

Borussia Dortmund

2025

14

Tyrone Mings

£20m

Bournemouth

2019

15

Darren Bent

£18m

Sunderland

2011

=16

Philippe Coutinho

£17m

Barcelona

2022

=16

Bertrand Traore

£17m

Lyon

2020

=16

Emiliano Martinez

£17m

Arsenal

2020

=19

Douglas Luiz

£15m

Manchester City

2019

=19

Matt Targett

£15m

Southampton

2019

Here's a detailed look at Aston Villa's 10 most expensive signings: 10 Lucas Digne £25m from Everton

Left-back Lucas Digne moved to Villa Park from Everton in January 2022 under Steven Gerrard, and the Frenchman has gone on to become a regular under Emery.

Despite Emery bringing in Alex Moreno, Digne mainly remained first-choice during the manager’s first full season in charge.

9 Evann Guessand £26m from Nice

Evann Guessand was Villa’s only real marquee signing in the summer of 2025, with the forward costing around £26m from French side Nice.

An Ivory Coast international, Guessand was a man in-demand and can play anywhere across the front line.

8 Diego Carlos £26.8m from Sevilla

Defender Diego Carlos had his injury troubles after signing for Aston Villa.

The Brazilian joined Villa in 2022 and was named vice-captain under Gerrard, before rupturing his Achilles tendon on his home debut. He was sold to Fenerbahce on a permanent deal in 2025.

7 Leon Bailey £30m from Bayer Leverkusen

Winger Leon Bailey arrived from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, but the Jamaican is another who has had his battles in the treatment room.

Bailey had his best season for Villa in 2023/24, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in 35 Premier League games but was sent on loan to Roma in 2025.

6 Ollie Watkins £30m from Brentford

Arguably one of Villa’s best-value signings in the top 10 is striker Ollie Watkins, who arrived at Villa Park from Brentford with no previous Premier League experience.

The forward has starred under numerous different managers, scoring more than 10 Premier League goals in each of his five seasons.

5 Pau Torres £31.5m from Villarreal

Centre-back Pau Torres was one of Emery’s top targets in the summer of 2023 after previously working with his compatriot at Villarreal.

NSWE managed to bring Torres to the Midlands, and it is a decision that has paid off so far, with the Spaniard under contract until 2028.

4 Emiliano Buendia £33m from Norwich

Aston Villa won the race to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City in 2021 after the Argentinian’s starring years at Carrow Road, pipping the likes of Arsenal to a deal.

Unfortunately for Buendia, he missed the entirety of the 2023/24 season through injury, but he is under contract until 2026.

3 Ian Maatsen £37.5m from Chelsea

After he starred out on loan with Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa made the permanent move to sign left-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea.

Costing around £37.5m, Maatsen signed a six-year deal at the time and is under contract until 2030.

2 Amadou Onana £50m from Everton

Central midfielder Amadou Onana also arrived at Villa Park in 2024 ahead of their Champions League campaign, costing £50m from Everton.

The Belgian was a shining light with the Toffees and is under contract with Villa until 2029.

1 Moussa Diaby £51.9m from Bayer Leverkusen

Top of the charts and Villa’s record signing is Moussa Diaby, who like Bailey, arrived from Bayer Leverkusen.

The winger quickly became a key player under Emery and helped the club to a top-four finish in 2023/24. However, Diaby then made the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, who paid around £50m for the Frenchman.

Gary Neville has now suggested an “ungainly” Arsenal “misfit” could struggle against better teams than Nottingham Forest.

Gunners breeze past Nottingham Forest

Liverpool’s late winner at Burnley ensured the Gunners remain three points behind Arne Slot’s side in the Premier League title race, but Mikel Arteta is likely to be happy with the statement his side made against Nottingham Forest.

The north Londoners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Martin Zubimendi bagging a brace, while Viktor Gyokeres also scored his third goal of the season after linking up with fellow summer signing Eberechi Eze.

The Sweden international has made an impressive start to the campaign, having also chipped in with two goals against Leeds United, although there have been some suggestions the former Sporting CP man could be a flat-track bully.

That view is echoed to a certain extent by Neville, who suggested Gyokeres doesn’t fit in with the rest of his teammates, given that he isn’t easy on the eye, although the Sky Sports pundit also made it clear that he could be exactly the type of player Arsenal need.

"He's still got it" – Odegaard says "complete" icon is Arsenal's best ever

The Arsenal captain has revealed who he believes the best player in the Gunners’ history is.

ByDominic Lund Sep 14, 2025

Neville said: “He’s a misfit, he’s a misfit for that group of players in the sense that he’s not sort of technically amazing, but I actually like that sort of contrast. That idea of having this battering ram who’s a little bit sort of ungainly, and he’s sort of, I think he’ll beat up small teams.

“Whether he’ll do it in the big games and score in the big games, not as sure, I think that the best defenders might handle him, and we’ll see, but I think he’ll beat up smaller teams for Arsenal, you know, that’s not a bad thing.”

Gyokeres is what Arsenal have been crying out for

In recent years, slipping up against some of the so-called smaller teams has been a problem for the Gunners, with draws against Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace in April costing them in the Premier League title race last season.

As such, it is by no means a bad thing that Arteta has brought in a striker who may get the majority of his goals against teams lower down the table, and the 27-year-old has made a flying start to life in the Premier League.

The former Sporting CP star is not the only new signing who is looking promising either, with Eze bagging his first assist in an Arsenal shirt against Forest, while Noni Madueke completed five dribbles, the highest number of any player on the pitch.

The Gunners have the squad to make a real push for the title this season, but their next Premier League match will be another real test, with Arteta’s side set to take on Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Veteran allrounder opens batting and bowling after Rishi Patel suffers dislocated finger

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Apr-2025Leicestershire 65 for 1 trail Glamorgan 229 (Cooke 55, Holland 3-40, Mike 3-54) by 164 runs Leicestershire took control on the opening day of the 2025 Rothesay County Championship against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, bowling the hosts out for 229. Ian Holland and Ben Mike took three wickets apiece for the visitors after putting Glamorgan into bat while Chris Cooke’s half-century was in vain after a series of starts in the top order.Three-match loanee and debutant, Shoaib Bashir participated in a 53-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Cooke as the pitch became easier to bat on, although the England international went wicketless from his solitary over bowled.Despite the success with the ball, concerns were for Rishi Patel who left the field and didn’t return after just 16 balls with a dislocated finger fielding a ball in the slips. As a result, Holland came and went at opener as the Foxes ended the day strongly, returning for day two on 64 for 1 with Sol Budinger and makeshift No. 3 Mike at the crease.After winning the toss and putting Glamorgan into bat on a green-topped Sophia Gardens wicket, the bowlers soon reaped the rewards, led by Leicestershire’s new-ball pair of Holland and Chris Wright with a combined age of 73.Zain Ul Hassan was the first to fall, with full credit deserved for the 34-year-old Holland who troubled the Glamorgan left-handers throughout the day.Eddie Byrom and captain Sam Northeast worked hard to see off Holland’s opening spell combining for a 57-run partnership. Just when the gruelling first hour in bowling-friendly conditions appeared done, the pair fell. Northeast, lbw squared up by Tom Scriven in a mode of dismissal that had been threatened by earlier appeals, and Byrom prodding outside his eyeline for a well-made 41, a familiar story from 2024.Another rebuild for Glamorgan, and more signs of promise. Both Kiran Carlson and last year’s County Championship top run-scorer, Colin Ingram, battled past Ben Green and Scriven bowling consistently, taking advantage of loose Mike deliveries to keep the scoreboard going along into lunch at 90 for 3.Ingram came out after lunch firing, cover-driving his way past 9000 career first-class runs, making light of his early signs of discomfort. In similar fashion to earlier dismissals, however, wickets came in a group: Carlson and Ingram both falling to the second spell from Holland and an uncomfortable 18-ball knock from Ben Kellaway, bowled by Scriven, leaving Glamorgan at 132 for 6.Leicestershire continued to dominate the second session as the hosts bided their time, scoring at two-an-over heading into tea with the wickets of Timm van der Gugten and Andy Gorvin falling to Mike, bowling a better spell the second time around.As the ball began to wear and the sun shone down on Sophia Gardens, the pitch appeared to flatten and life became easier for Cooke and Bashir who added 53 for the ninth wicket, 48 of those in less than 10 overs after tea – before falling to Mike, claiming his third, and Rehan Ahmed picking up a first wicket, respectively.As expected, Patel couldn’t bat for Leicestershire with his return unknown, and Holland faced up before falling to van der Gugten for a third time in as many innings. Mike continued to have his day as he and Budinger negotiated Glamorgan’s bowlers until the end of play with an unbeaten partnership of 47 despite a dropped catch from Ingram and a couple tight lbw appeals denied.

Despite the thumping 4-1 loss to Sevilla, the Barcelona board has kept full faith in manager Hansi Flick. Although critics have raised eyebrows over his mentorship and tactical prowess, the main decision-makers at the club have confidence in his project.

Laporta meets Flick

According to SPORT, Barca president Joan Laporta met Flick on their flight back from Sevilla and informed the manager about his faith in him. The club is fully supportive of Flick's decisions and is confident that the team will bounce back and fight for titles. 

AdvertisementAFPFlick has identified the problems

The manager has identified the issues surrounding the team. After the game last night, former player Gerard Lopez spoke up about the team's defensive lapses. Moreover, defender Alejandro Balde, who won a penalty after coming on in the second half, had also highlighted the lack of ruthlessness and other mistakes committed by his teammates. Flick knows that certain collective and individual errors cost his team the game, but he is optimistic about a revival in the coming weeks. Reportedly, the team will now work on the pressing mechanism and fine-tune their defensive flaws. 

What happened against Sevilla?

Barca saw themselves 2-0 down within the first forty minutes. Rashford, who is playing on loan from Manchester United, pulled one back before half-time. However, a penalty miss by Robert Lewandowski and multiple other misses, coupled with two late goals from Sevilla, handed them a 4-1 defeat away from home.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPCan Barca make any new announcement soon?

Recently, Barca confirmed Lamine Yamal's injury and highlighted that he will miss two to three weeks of action. While there are no injury concerns, the Catalans are expected to announce a contract renewal of skipper Frenkie De Jong, who is deemed to be an important figure in Flick's project.

Dominic Solanke has struggled to match the demands placed upon him at Tottenham Hotspur after joining in a big-money transfer back in the summer of 2024.

The Englishman cost a club-record £65m from AFC Bournemouth a little over 12 months ago, but he’s failed to put a regular run together within the first team squad.

He’s made 49 appearances in his two years in North London, only two of which have come in 2025/26, with his outings only totalling a dismal 31 minutes.

Solanke may have netted 16 times across all competitions last campaign, but ultimately, such a record is way below what was expected upon his big-money transfer to join the Lilywhites.

However, the fanbase could have a reason to be excited, with the prospect of the players who Solanke replaced potentially being teed up for a return to the club in the near future.

The latest on Kane’s potential return to Spurs

Club-record goalscorer Harry Kane left Spurs in an £82m deal back in the summer of 2023, joining German giants Bayern Munich in an attempt to win trophies.

It’s safe to say he’s been a success in the Bundesliga, scoring 98 times in his 103 appearances for the club – catapulting Vincent Kompany’s side to the title last season.

However, the 32-year-old could be set for a dream return to his boyhood club in the near future, with the Lilywhites having first priority if he is to move back to the Premier League.

Such news has led to current boss Frank stating that he would welcome the talisman back to North London with open arms – but cast doubt that such a move would happen anytime soon.

Kane is likely to have a release clause worth £56.7m becoming active in the summer of 2026, further generating excitement among the fanbase – understandably so given his tally of 280 goals for the club.

However, regardless of whether he does rejoin the Lilywhites in the near future, the club already have another talent in their ranks who could emulate his success in the capital.

The Spurs star who could be the new Harry Kane

In an attempt to battle for Premier League glory, Spurs have shifted their recruitment focus over the last couple of years, subsequently targeting young talent over recent years.

Lucas Bergvall is just one example of such a talent, joining in a £8.5m deal from Swedish side Djurgarden back in the summer of 2024, subsequently having an immediate impact despite his tender age.

The 19-year-old has since racked up over 50 appearances across all competitions, starring in key moments and arguably being one of Frank’s most important players in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

However, they’ve already got another impressive youngster lined up, with Irish striker Mason Melia set to join the club from St Patrick’s Athletic in the January transfer window.

The 18-year-old has already made a name for himself in his homeland, scoring 12 times and registering three assists in his 30 league outings during this calendar year.

His latest showing against Cork City saw him bag two goals in just 64 minutes, now currently sitting as the division’s second top goalscorer despite his tender age.

Padraig Amond (37)

13

Mason Melia (18)

12

Moses Dyer (28)

10

Owen Elding (19)

10

Michael Duffy (31)

9

Liam Boyce (34)

8

Rory Gaffney (35)

8

Ademipo Odubeko (22)

7

Such form has seen him even be included in the Ireland U21 squad over recent times, subsequently scoring twice in as many appearances – already starring against players multiple years above his age group.

Melia himself spoke glowingly about Kane upon his agreement to join the Lilywhites, stating that the Englishman was a player he looks up to in his career.

The teenager, who’s been labelled “relentless” by analyst Ben Mattinson, is currently averaging 0.5 goals or assists per 90 in Ireland, a simply remarkable feat given his teenage years.

His tally of 1.5 shots on target per 90 further demonstrates the clinical edge he possesses when in front of goal, potentially being a key first-team member in North London for many years to come.

It’s unclear upon his transfer in January whether Melia will be a first-team player or originally link up with the academy – but it’s clear he is a talent who does possess huge amounts of potential. As noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he is the “Irish Harry Kane”.

If he can make the same impact as Kane in North London, he will certainly go down as one of the best talents in their history – but he could also link up with the Englishman if he returns to join Frank’s side in the near future.

The best since Kane: Spurs talent could steal the #10 shirt from Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur may already have a star who could be Thomas Frank’s new number ten.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 23, 2025