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Arshdeep Singh was the first player sold at the mega auction, also to PBKS for INR 18 crore

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-20244:10

Moody: ‘Tantalising thought to have Pant and Pooran batting together’

Rishabh Pant has become the most expensive player in IPL history after he was sold to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crore (USD 3.21 million approx.) on the first day of the mega auction in Jeddah. He surpassed the mark set by Punjab Kings (PBKS), who had bid INR 26.75 crore (USD 3.18 million approx.) to buy Shreyas Iyer a few minutes earlier.Both LSG and PBKS were in need of new captains this season and Pant and Shreyas will likely fill those roles for them. Both players surpassed the record INR 24.75 crore bid that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had made for Mitchell Starc at the IPL 2024 auction.LSG and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began the bidding for Pant, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) joining the race once RCB dropped out. SRH and LSG took the bid to INR 20.75 crore, at which point SRH dropped out and Pant was sold to LSG. The auctioneer then asked Delhi Capitals (DC) if they wanted to use a right-to-match (RTM) option to buy back Pant, and DC said yes. According to the new RTM rules at this auction, the team that won the bidding was given another opportunity to raise their bid, which LSG did from INR 20.75 crore to INR 27 crore. DC said they did not want to match that bid, which meant Pant was sold to LSG for a record price.”No matter how much you plan, things don’t always work out like that,” Shashwat Goenka, the LSG owner, said. “This [getting Pant for 27 crore] was very well to our plan. It wasn’t really a magic number, we just wanted a number so that the RTM doesn’t get exercised.”ESPNcricinfo LtdShreyas was the third player up for sale from the first set of marquee players and KKR opened the bidding in an attempt to buy back their title-winning captain. However, they dropped out of the bidding at INR 10 crore, after which DC and PBKS were competing for Shreyas, with both teams needing captains. PBKS, who came in with the largest purse of INR 110.5 crore, won the bid at INR 26.75 crore.Ricky Ponting, the new PBKS coach, said he was delighted to work with Shreyas again, after their time together at DC. “I haven’t spoken to him yet, I tried to call him before the auction but he didn’t pick up,” he said when asked if Shreyas would be the new PBKS captain. “He’s been a successful captain in IPL before, I worked with him for 3-4 years in Delhi and he was the championship winner last season. I’m delighted to work with him again, if he can do that for us in the IPL I’ll be pretty happy.”KL Rahul was the third major Indian batter in the marquee sets and while KKR, RCB and CSK all bid for him, he was eventually sold to DC for INR 14 crore ($1.67 million approx.) and could become their captain. Rahul’s previous franchise LSG did not use the RTM option on him.Venkatesh Iyer sold for INR 23.75 crorePerhaps the biggest surprise on day one, however, was the fierce bidding for allrounder Venkatesh Iyer from KKR and RCB. He was eventually sold for a whopping INR 23.75 ($2.83 million approx.) crore to his former franchise KKR, whose most expensive retained player was Rinku Singh at INR 13 crore, followed by Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy at INR 12 crore each. Iyer was KKR’s first buy at the auction.3:43

Moody: PBKS paid dearly for Shreyas and Arshdeep

New homes for Buttler, Starc and RabadaRajasthan Royals (RR) tried to buy back Jos Buttler but were unsuccessful. After competition from PBKS and LSG, GT were able to buy Buttler for INR 15.75 crore (US$ 1.88 million), to partner Shubman Gill at the top of their order and keep wicket.”Very happy to have Jos Buttler in our side. He can bat anywhere, he can keep as well, he can help Shubman also,” Parthiv Patel, GT’s assistant coach, said. “We wanted to buy our No. 1 bowler and No. 1 batter from the marquee set and we have both.”GT began the auction with the third-largest purse of INR 73 crore and managed to buy a second player – South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada – from the first marquee set, staving off competition from RCB and MI to buy him for INR 10.75 crore ($1.28 million approx.). They also picked up Mohammed Siraj from the second set of marquee players for INR 12.25 crore ($1.46 million approx.).KKR and MI began the bidding for Starc, with RCB also showing interest before he was eventually bought by DC for INR 11.75 crore ($1.40 million approx.), which is a massive pay cut from his erstwhile record price of INR 24.75 crore last year ($2.98 million approx. at the time).”Pretty elated with the buys. Both KL and Starc are world-class players. In fact, they’re battling each other right now in India versus Australia, so it’s pretty interesting,” DC head coach Hemang Badani said. “Starc is a match-winner, he’s a wicket-taker, and [we] couldn’t be happier. And with KL Rahul, again, somebody who we believe is a bankable player, will give you runs each season. For me, at the moment, this is the best buy of the auction. But having said this, there’s work to do.”3:58

‘KL Rahul a good steal for Delhi Capitals’

Jofra Archer makes big comebackJofra Archer made a big splash at the auction too, having initially not been in the list and only entered as a late inclusion. LSG and MI opened the bidding for him, before it became a race between RR and MI, both of whom Archer has played for in the past. He was eventually sold to RR for INR 12.5 crore; their first buy at the auction after 37 players were up for bidding. Archer had last played in the IPL in 2023, where he played only five games for MI.Big pay-day for ChahalOne of the biggest surprises at the IPL 2022 mega auction was Yuzvendra Chahal getting sold for only INR 6.50 crore, to RR. This time, however, Chahal had a lot more interest, with GT, CSK, LSG, RCB and SRH trying to buy him. PBKS outbid them all, though, to buy Chahal for INR 18 crore.”I was quite nervous and anxious because this amount is what I got in the last three seasons combined. I think I deserve this price, and I am very excited,” Chahal told . “I had a hunch and even my friends told me that I’d go to Punjab, but I had no idea it would be for such a high price. I had INR 12-13 crore in mind, but I do deserve this. Wherever you go, you always have the opportunity to learn and grow, and I’ll make sure to work hard and deliver my best.”CSK get busy; quiet start for MI and RRThere were a total of 12 players in the first two marquee sets, of which PBKS and GT bought three each; DC and LSG bought two each; and RCB and SRH bought one. CSK, MI, KKR and RR did not manage to buy a single player from the marquee sets.CSK, however, got extremely busy after that, picking up Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra and R Ashwin for a total of INR 23.40 crore in quick time. It was a big-money homecoming for Ashwin; CSK’s winning bid of INR 9.75 crore ($1.16 million approx.) is the highest he has ever received at an IPL auction. He last played for CSK in IPL 2015.RR’s first buy was Archer, who was the 37th player who came up for bidding, while MI’s was Trent Boult, who was the 40th.Arshdeep the sole RTM buy from marquee setsWhile there were several opportunities for teams to use their RTM options to buy back their former players in the marquee sets, PBKS were the only team to successfully do so when they bought back Arshdeep Singh. They exercised their RTM option after SRH raised their final bid for Arshdeep from INR 15.75 crore to INR 18 crore. Later on, DC bought back Jake Fraser-McGurkl CSK got back Rachin Ravindra; and MI got Naman Dhir via the RTM route.Warner, Bairstow unsoldDevdutt Padikkal, from the first set of batters, was the first player to get no bids at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The bigger surprise, however, was when David Warner, one of the IPL’s most prolific batters, got no bids either in the first round of the auction. He could come back in the accelerated round on day two of the auction. The same was the case for Jonny Bairstow, who came up in the set of wicketkeepers and also went unsold.

The right word to describe the last couple of weeks for Arsenal would be hectic.

In a fairly unusual fashion, the Gunners have been extraordinarily busy in the transfer window.

Midfield monster Martin Zubimendi was finally announced following his £60m move from Real Sociedad, while Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard have also made their way to the Emirates to bolster the squad.

However, not every rumour has gone down well, with Noni Madueke’s potential move causing backlash online.

Yet, in more good news, the club has once again been linked with a Premier League star who would represent a far better signing, someone other than Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal in the hunt for more Premier League talent

While there were links to Madueke last month, they have intensified this week.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, Arsenal have reportedly agreed a fee of £50m with Chelsea for the transfer of Madueke, with the winger “set to complete a move” in the words of Fabrizio Romano.

While the Englishman is a talented player, it’s easy to understand why fans would be resistant to welcoming in yet another Chelsea star.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as on top of reports claiming the Gunners have already made a bid for Eze, it now looks like another Premier League star wants to join Mikel Arteta’s project.

At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has revealed that Ollie Watkins is keen on a move to the Emirates.

Bailey has revealed that the Aston Villa star is still on the North Londoners’ shortlist as a potential backup should they fail to sign Viktor Gyokeres.

However, while the Premier League runners-up like the player, they would be unwilling to pay more than £50m for him.

It might not be a transfer Arsenal are desperate to complete, but perhaps they should allocate the funds going towards Madueke to Watkins, as, like Eze, he’d be a way better signing than the Chelsea ace.

Why Watkins would be a way better signing than Madueke

Okay, let’s start with the most straightforward and hard-to-deny reason that Watkins would be the far better signing than Madueke: his output.

Since the start of the 23/24 season, the free-scoring “nightmare,” as dubbed by Conor Coady, has found the back of the net a staggering 44 times and provided 29 assists in 107 appearances in all competitions, totalling 7901 minutes.

That means the Torquay-born monster has averaged a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or one every 108.23 minutes, which really has to be considered world-class.

Appearances

34

53

Minutes

1593′

4323′

Goals

8

27

Assists

4

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

0.79

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.75′

102.92′

Appearances

46

54

Minutes

2647′

3578′

Goals

11

17

Assists

5

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.34

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

165.43′

115.41′

In stark contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 80 appearances, totalling 4240 minutes.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.85 games, or every 151.71 minutes across the last two years.

The second reason the “phenomenal” goalscorer, as dubbed by Statman Dave, would be the better signing is that he’d probably get more game time anyway.

After all, the 29-year-old can play up top or off the left, whereas the Pensioners’ dynamo is primarily a right-winger, and that is already an area of the team locked down by Bukayo Saka, and even Ethan Nwaneri to an extent.

Ultimately, Madueke is not a bad player, but if Arsenal plan to spend £50m on him this summer, it makes far more sense to use that money on Watkins, as he is simply the far better attacker.

Bad news for Odegaard: Arsenal close to agreeing deal to sign £45m star

The mercurial midfielder could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 9, 2025

Newcastle United missed out on one of their key targets this summer, Bryan Mbeumo. The Brentford attacker reportedly chose to join Manchester United over the Magpies, as well as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, although that is a deal that is yet to go through.

So, with the Cameroon star off the table, they turned their attention to another Premier League forward, Anthony Elanga. The Nottingham Forest star had his move to St. James’ Park all but confirmed by Fabrizio Romano with his famous “here we go” tagline. It is a deal that will cost the Magpies £55m.

Even though one winger is essentially through the door, Newcastle are not stopping there. They are targeting another wide player who could be an even better signing than Elanga.

Newcastle’s next winger target

There are certainly not many options for Eddie Howe out wide. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon did an impressive job last season, but it is no surprise that they are signing Elanga to help reduce the workload.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, to supplement that further, the Magpies could turn to Manchester City and England international winger Jack Grealish. Football Insider says that the North East giants ‘are planning to accelerate their interest’ in the 29-year-old this summer.

However, they will face competition for the former Aston Villa star. Everton, who move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, as well as newly crowned Serie A champions Napoli and clubs in Saudi Arabia, are also interested.

It was reported by Caught Offside at the start of the week that City will ask for £40m to secure Grealish’s services.

Why Grealish would be a good signing

It has obviously not been the season that Grealish may have hoped for in 2024/25. He barely got a look in at the Etihad Stadium and was not included in their squad for the Club World Cup, a competition in which they were eliminated by Al-Hilal.

The Birmingham-born winger played just 32 times for the East Mancunian side across all competitions. That included just 20 Premier League games, and 715 minutes, in which he scored and assisted just two goals.

Yet, let’s not forget the quality that the former Villa star possesses. He played 96 Premier League games for his boyhood club, scoring 15 goals and grabbing 19 assists. That included 18 goal involvements in 26 games during his final top-flight season at the club in 2020/21.

Those are impressive numbers, with Elanga putting up similar numbers in the most recent Premier League campaign, to the ones Grealish notched up five seasons ago.

For Forest last season, he managed six goals and 11 assists in 38 top-flight games.

He also scored one of the best solo efforts in the Premier League in recent memory, against his former club, Man United. The Sweden star picked up a loose ball in his own half and carried it all the way into the United penalty area, before slotting home past Andre Onana.

Indeed, ball carrying at such an electric pace is a key part of Elanga’s game. Likewise, Grealish is a specialist carrier, although in a slower and more methodical way. The numbers from 2020/21 via FBref suggest his all-around game was better than Elanga’s now.

For example, Grealish averaged 7.08 progressive carries and 7.78 progressive passes for Villa in that campaign. In comparison, the Forest number 21 averaged 3.67 progressive carries and 2.27 progressive passes last term.

Goals and assists

0.66

0.61

Key passes

3.33

1.8

Progressive passes

7.78

2.27

Progressive carries

7.08

3.67

Take-ons completed

2.67

0.9

Ball recoveries

5.14

3.2

If the Magpies can help Grealish find his best form, like what he showed in the 2020/21 season, they may have made an even better signing than Elanga.

At his best, he can be a “menace”, according to Statman Dave, and Howe will be hoping to unleash that side of his game.

For a Premier League proven, England international, £40m seems like a bargain of a move for the Magpies this summer.

He's more important than Elanga: Newcastle now working to sign £60m PL star

With Anthony Elanga set to join Newcastle for £55m, the Magpies are now chasing an “exceptional” PL star worth £60m, who is a long-term target.

Jul 8, 2025

Chief selector Upul Tharanga said Angelo Mathews was not being considered for selection in T20Is any longer

Madushka Balasuriya24-Jul-2024

The nature of Dushmantha Chameera’s injury is not yet known•AFP/Getty Images

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s home series against India with bronchitis and a respiratory infection. Asitha Fernando is his replacement in the ODI and T20I squads.Chameera played for Kandy Falcons in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) earlier this month, though he wasn’t picked in the side towards the end of the tournament.”Only yesterday did we get back the reports, and it can be confirmed that he will miss the T20Is and ODIs against India,” Sri Lanka’s chief selector Upul Tharanga said at a briefing, alongside newly appointed interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya on Wednesday, where he outlined the road ahead for Sri Lanka in T20 internationals.Related

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What next for Angelo Mathews?Mathews had received an unexpected recall to the T20I side at the start of the year, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. However, despite scoring 261 runs at a strike rate of 151.74 in the LPL, he was not in the squad to face India.While Mathews is yet to retire from T20Is, Tharanga seemed to confirm the 37 year-old was no longer being considered as Sri Lanka build towards the next T20 World Cup in 2026.Chief selector Upul Tharanga said Angelo Mathews is not part of Sri Lanka’s T20I plans•Bangladesh Cricket Board

“When we came in [as selectors] we spoke to Angie about playing in this past World Cup, that was the plan,” Tharanga said. “But after the tournament we spoke again, and this time we told him he wasn’t in our plans for the next World Cup.”But during the brief time he was in the side after we brought him in, he played well. And in the LPL as well he did will as a finisher. But we need to look to the future. There’s a big gap to fill when it comes to an allrounder in the side – we have about two-three new players in mind to slot into that role. We’ll give them an opportunity and get them ready for the next World Cup.”How do Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera fit in?Chandimal and Perera had excellent performances in LPL 2024, scoring 287 and 296 runs respectively at exemplary strike rates while opening the innings.But competition is tough at the top of Sri Lanka’s batting order, with Tharanga confirming Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis as first-choice openers. It’s also likely that Kamindu Mendis will slot in at no.4, with Avishka Fernando – who also had an impressive LPL – the back-up.Dinesh Chandimal is back in Sri Lanka’s T20I side after an impressive LPL season•SLC

Captain Charith Asalanka will remain at no. 5, which leaves one spot – at no.3 – for either Chandimal or Perera.What will Sri Lanka’s attack look like against India?With all three T20Is being played in Pallekele, a venue that has offered more pace and bounce than anywhere else in the country, Tharanga said Sri Lanka’s could play three fast bowlers.Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana could be the first-choice combination, with each offering something different in the powerplay and death. Dasun Shanaka is another seam option at no. 6, with the uncapped allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe serving as a back-up.On the spin front, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana will play, with Dunith Wellalage an option if Sri Lanka want an extra spinner.What can we expect from Jayasuriya, the coach?Jayasuriya’s international career spanned 22 years. After retiring in 2011, he remained in the game in different capacities: most recently he was cricket consultant for SLC, overseeing players and coaches at the high-performance centre. The home series against India will be his first as a head coach of the national side.Sanath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s cricket consultant during the T20 World Cup 2024•ICC/Getty Images

“I was here as a consultant, I’ve played for Sri Lanka for 22 years, and I’ve worked under a lot of great coaches. I think whatever I can do, I will do with the side,” Jayasuriya said when asked about his new role. “Yes, I don’t have experience as a head coach, but I will try and do my best with this challenge. That said, I’m only in the role on an interim basis, so we will have a permanent coach coming in soon.”How have Sri Lanka prepared for India?Every member of the squad played in the recently concluded LPL. They will be familiar with the conditions in Pallekele, having played one of the legs of the tournament there.The team is currently having a training camp in Kandy ahead of the series and is working with Rajasthan Royals high-performance director, Zubin Bharucha, on a short-term basis. The move was facilitated by former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, who is the director of cricket at RR.”It was great training with Zubin, as we did a lot of things that we had not done before,” Jayasuriya said. “There was a lot of work done with him, we learnt a lot from him, and I hope the players have learned about more optimal practicing and techniques. So I think preparations have been really good – and we have another two more days in Kandy.”

Nottingham Forest have “sealed” the signings of two players from the same club, according to an exciting new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Nottingham Forest raid South America in transfer market

After a fantastic 2024/25 season in the Premier League, in which the Reds exceeded all expectations and finished seventh in the table, it’s now a case of building on that success and making Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad even stronger moving forward.

Further signings will be needed, albeit ensuring they keep in line with financial rules at the same time, and Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge has been linked with a summer move to the City Ground. The Brazilian has scored 17 goals in 41 appearances for his current club, highlighting the quality he could bring to Forest in the final third.

Another South American attacker, Goztepe’s Romulo Cardoso, has also been mentioned as a possible addition for the Reds before next season gets underway, with the club seemingly feeling that added firepower is needed, especially if Chris Wood fails to hit the same level as he did last term.

The summer transfer window may still be in its infancy this year, but Forest are already acting fast, with two different players now reportedly all but confirmed as new additions.

Nottingham Forest seal double signing

According to a key update from the renowned Romano on X, Nottingham Forest have “sealed” the double summer signing of Botafogo pair Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha.

Reds supporters will no doubt be buoyed by this news, with Nuno being backed in the transfer market by owner Evangelos Marinakis and being handed a couple of exciting signings in very different positions.

Nottingham Forest now rivalling Chelsea to sign "complete" £25m midfielder

He’s a wanted man…

ByTom Cunningham Jun 20, 2025

Jesus could be a fantastic addition to Forest’s attack, having scored one in four caps for Brazil and netted 43 times in 88 appearances for Saudi side Shabab Al-Ahli, also being described as a “special talent” by Bleacher Report.

Brazil

4

1

Shabab Al-Ahli

88

43

Botafogo

57

17

Coritiba FC

49

5

Meanwhile, Cunha is an exciting young centre-back with a bright future in the game, with scout Jacek Kulig describing the 20-year-old as an “intriguing” player who can become “top-class” in the future.

This business immediately strengthens Forest at both ends of the pitch, with Jesus and Cunha representing long-term signings who could mature into massive players at the City Ground as the year pass.

Even if Manchester City do finish inside the top five positions in the Premier League and find themselves victorious in lifting the FA Cup again, this summer looks likely to be one of upheaval at the Etihad.

After all, it’s already been confirmed that Pep Guardiola’s men are waving goodbye to City royalty in Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian unlikely to be the only face moved to one side by the serial trophy winners.

Whilst there will be an obvious sadness in the air that notable figures like De Bruyne are departing, an exciting, new horizon on offer will still be met with lively anticipation, with the light blue half of Manchester expected to open its doors to a whole host of fresh signings.

The potential new-look Man City

Guardiola’s flashy spenders did show off their intimidating might in the transfer window just this January when acquiring the services of Omar Marmoush for a hefty £59m.

Now, they could be about to splash even more cash on another equally exhilarating attacker in the form of Florian Wirtz, with the German midfielder rumoured to be leaving Bayer Leverkusen behind for a wild £102m.

Morgan Gibbs-White might also relocate to the Etihad for a whopping £100m, but City could win themselves a potential bargain by signing former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Francisco Trincao.

A report from Caught Offside has revealed that Guardiola’s men could snap up the 25-year-old for as little as £33m, but Manchester United are also waiting to pounce alongside Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Whilst his prior stint in England was choppy, the Sporting star would surely relish an opportunity to strut his stuff again in the Premier League, with a potential here for Trincao to be the Spaniard’s next version of Leroy Sane patrolling down the City right flank.

How Trincao could be Man City's next Sane

Whilst City fans will likely wax lyrical about the past exploits of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez when commenting on memorable ex-wingers, Sane doesn’t always find himself in the same glowing conversation.

Indeed, after only bagging five Premier League goals during his debut season, the German would go down as a slow burner to the City masses when finally improving, with an impressive tally of 83 goals and assists eventually coming his way from 135 total contests.

Trincao – much like Sane – has unfortunately been negatively impacted by the bright lights of the English game before.

Indeed, only three goals came his way from 30 appearances at Molineux. However, unlike the Bayern Munich number ten, the Portuguese forward was never given the platform to kick on and rebuild his dented reputation until now.

Since this one season misfire in the West Midlands, the 25-year-old has been able to transform his fortunes on home soil and turn into a menace up top for his current employers, with the Sporting winger left-footed in approach much like his German counterpart, despite being able to line up down both the left and right channels like the 29-year-old.

24/25

51

9

18

23/24

48

10

10

22/23

52

13

4

Looking at the table above, City would be winning themselves a golden bargain snapping up Trincao for just £33m, with a jaw-dropping 18 assists picked up by the former Wolves reject from 51 games this season.

He definitely has the potential, therefore, to reenter the English game and take it by storm as a tricky, left-footed attacker in a similar vein to Sane.

Once lauded as a “special” talent when emerging up the ranks at Braga by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, this move could finally be the opportunity for Trincao to rip up the Premier League, with Sane’s eye for picking up goals and assists aplenty at the peak of his powers seen in the 25-year-old’s unbelievable game in Lisbon.

Their own Bruno Fernandes: Man City readying bid to sign £51m "monster"

As Manchester City seek to rebuild their squad this summer, could they sign their own Bruno Fernandes?

May 7, 2025

Liverpool’s season will live long in the memory, but FSG won’t want the 2024/25 campaign to stand as an outlier in the post-Jurgen Klopp years.

Luckily, that doesn’t look likely, not when Arne Slot is at the helm and thriving. The Dutch coach has been a remarkable success story, arriving last summer after several trophy-laden years in his homeland with Feyenoord.

The record-equalling title triumph must now be used as a foundation, built upon over the coming years to create another dynasty on Merseyside.

Arsenal and Manchester City will both feel their campaigns have been laced with disappointment, and they will be determined to strengthen over the next few months.

Liverpool need to do the same, especially after such nominal transfer activity in recent years. While a striker is among the priorities, it’s Anfield’s defence that could see the most dramatic shifts.

Liverpool's defensive plans this summer

Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool, but he will leave a two-time Premier League champion and one of the harbingers of the illustrious modern age for the club.

Liverpool are going to need to replace their vice-captain, even if Slot is willing to give Conor Bradley the chance to prove himself as the first-choice option. However, matters are complicated by the urgency for a new left-back, with Andy Robertson showing signs of decline.

FSG do have a name in mind. Milos Kerkez is the far-and-away favourite to join Liverpool’s ranks this summer, having enjoyed an exemplary campaign on the south coast with Bournemouth.

The Telegraph claim Wolves are growing in confidence that they can tie Rayan Ait-Nouri down to a new deal, with Liverpool ready to bin their interest in the Algerian in favour of signing the £45m-rated Kerkez.

That’s not all. Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job at the Vitality Stadium, and the Reds are keen on raiding the European contenders for their star centre-back Dean Huijsen too.

Huijsen, 20, has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League this term, with analyst Ben Mattinson even going as far as to call him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”

With a £50m release clause, the young Spain star is wanted by every top team, but Liverpool need a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement.

And there’s more going on in central defence too, with one of Slot’s superstars continuing to pad along without any real clarity on their future, and whether that will remain on Merseyside.

In any case, Liverpool have struck gold on their towering titan.

Slot has hit gold on "monster" defender

Liverpool have a self-sustaining model under the ownership of FSG. This has rankled at times, but who can say the Premier League champions have been unsuccessful over the past decade?

This model does mean that certain hardships have to be endured, with some talented players warming to the idea of a pay rise that simply won’t be granted. Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, it must be said, are the two exceptions to the rule.

However, in the case of Ibrahima Konate, it feels we have an incipient transfer saga on our hands, Reds, with the France international about to enter the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.

It’s understandable that he should want a new deal to better reflect his “monster” defending alongside the skipper, as has been said by Liverpool writer Josh Williams. However, if reports are to be believed, Konate is looking for a £200k-per-week salary to stay put.

This would make him the third-highest-paid player in Slot’s senior squad, perhaps not an unfair reflection of Konate’s worth, but maybe a little tall.

There’s also the matter of Real Madrid. That ever-present and ominous shadow that lurks over Liverpool. They are taking Trent, and now they want Konate too, disassembling and then piecing back together the right side of Slot’s backline, though in a shiny white hue.

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According to Spanish outlet Marca, Konate is very much a transfer target for Los Blancos, but given that he is valued at €100m (£85m) by Liverpool’s chiefs, they are hoping to call upon more dark magic and sign another world-class player on a free transfer.

This is quite the hike in value for the 25-year-old, who first arrived in Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 after his £36m release clause was met.

Ibrahima Konate in the Premier League

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

Clean Sheets

24/25

29 (27)

1

2

12

23/24

22 (17)

0

0

5

22/23

18 (17)

0

0

7

21/22

11 (11)

0

0

4

Stats via Sofascore

It’s a neat reflection of Konate’s improvements on the fitness front; never has the 6 foot 4 star been so consistently available in a Liverpool shirt.

His value as one of Europe’s elite defenders is further underscored by how far he is currently away from up-and-comers like Kerkez and Huijsen, whose combined transfer value would only exceed Konate’s by about £10m.

Both talented players, the young Bournemouth duo are worthy of a move to Merseyside this summer, but they are not yet the finished article.

Konate has spent several years learning from Van Dijk beside him, completing 90% of his passes in the Premier League this season, winning 71% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.

He’s athletic and imposing, technical and tenacious. Liverpool have reaped the fruits of his labours for several years now, but he’s truly made himself known as an elite player under Slot’s wing, so important in winning the title.

Liverpool have hit the jackpot on their French defender, but it won’t feel that way in 12 months, if the ghost of Alexander-Arnold returns to take another top-tier player away from Slot’s ranks on a Bosman.

It’s paramount that FSG manage to engineer a new deal for this wonderful player. Maybe £200k-per-week demands aren’t so absurd after all.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 7, 2025

Glasgow Rangers sealed their first summer signing at Ibrox earlier this week, announcing the arrival of defender Max Aarons on a season-long loan deal.

Russell Martin is under no illusions that the next few weeks are vital. But by bringing in several high-profile targets, he sets up the Light Blues nicely ahead of the Champions League qualifiers against Panathinaikos next month.

The capture of Aarons badly bolsters a defence which, at times last season, performed dreadfully, having shipped 15 more goals than their Glasgow rivals in the Premiership.

Supporters will be hoping that Martin can add another centre-back or two before the first competitive game of the season to improve that record in an attempt to close the gap.

It looks as though he is monitoring a player down south…

Rangers search for a new defender

Leicester City defender Conor Coady has been earmarked for a move to Glasgow, with one report claiming the club are in advanced talks to secure his signature.

Luka Jelenic is another defender linked with a move, although he is a left-back rather than someone who can play at the heart of the defence.

According to the Daily Record, it is reported that Peterborough defender Emmanuel Fernandez is currently on the club’s radar as Martin seeks more defensive reinforcements.

No fee has been mentioned, but the centre-back still has two years remaining on his contract with the English side, meaning Martin will have to spend it to secure his signature.

If he can add Fernandez to his squad in the coming weeks, it would be another step forward regarding Martin’s aim to improve the defence. Not only that, but he could shine alongside Aarons.

Why Rangers must sign Emmanuel Fernandez

Joining from Bournemouth on a temporary basis, Aarons will offer competition for James Tavernier at right back next term, and he has plenty of experience in England.

Game time was limited last term, but throughout the 2023/24 season for the Cherries, Aarons won 60% of his ground duels per game, while also succeeding with 54% of his dribbles and recovering 3.8 balls per game.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25 (Bournemouth and Valencia)

9

0

0

2023/24 (Bournemouth)

21

0

1

2022/23 (Norwich)

48

1

2

2021/22 (Norwich)

35

0

2

2020/21 (Norwich)

47

2

2

2019/20 (Norwich)

40

0

2

2018/19 (Norwich)

43

3

6

He even ranked in the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League that term, showcasing his attacking abilities.

This could mean Aarons is able to create plenty of chances for the Light Blues next term. With him bombing up and down the flank, Fernandez will be tasked with covering his runs.

The English centre-back was hailed as a “colossus” and “aggressive” by Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony last season, and given his stats, this praise is spot on.

Indeed, the 23-year-old won an impressive 60% of his total duels last term, along with making 1.1 tackles and being dribbled past only 0.3 times per match.

As such, he offers plenty of quality defensive attributes which would help the Ibrox side shore up their defence. With Aarons likely to be pushing forward often, Fernandez will be tasked with tucking in and providing cover, providing an exciting, new-look partnership on that right-hand side.

He may have played in League One last season, but there is no doubt Fernandez and Aarons could work wonderfully alongside each other for Rangers, both domestically and in Europe.

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ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

Senne Lammens admits he is flattered Manchester United fans are likening him to legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. The 23-year-old joined from Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp and has made a good impression with Red Devils supporters over the past few months. And after these favourable chants from the home faithful, the keeper has sent a grateful message back to them.

Lammens makes bright start at Man Utd

The keeper position has proven to be a troublesome one for the past two seasons at United, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir not showing the quality and consistency needed between the sticks for a club of this size. The former was shipped out on loan to Trabzonspor in September, while the latter has been usurped as the club's first choice by summer signing Lammens. 

Incidentally, when he joined the Premier League giants, he said: "I am extremely proud to be joining Manchester United; it is a real dream come true. The past few years have been an amazing journey; it’s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special. You can feel the positive atmosphere that is being created here, and I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years. I cannot wait to get to know my team-mates and begin working with Ruben and the coaching staff. This is the perfect place to keep developing, grow together with this exciting team and achieve my career objectives."

While he has let in 10 goals in eight appearances, he has also kept one clean sheet, which came in his first start in a 2-0 win over Sunderland. And despite being in the embryonic stages of his Old Trafford career, fans have serenaded him with a tongue-in-cheek chant at some games, asking if the Belgian is Schmeichel in disguise. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLammens touched by Schmeichel chant

While Lammens understood that it was not a completely serious song, he appreciated it all the same. 

He told United's website: "It was really nice to hear it already in the first game [against Sunderland]. I think it is a sign that the fans are happy with me. It feels really good that I can give them that trust."

Lammens was seen talking to the Dane ahead of United's 2-1 win at rivals Liverpool in October, and now, he has revealed what was said between the two. 

He revealed: "He just wished me luck and told me to be myself. He gave me good energy before the game against Liverpool, and obviously we won that, so I think that was very nice.

"It started [journaling] when I started playing at Antwerp. I like to write things down before and after the game just to get my head in the right mindset, and then get things off your chest after the game. I write down things about how the opponent plays and how they put pressure on me, and also individual things I need to know during the game, nothing too special – just something to get my head into the right mindset."

Amorim warns against Schmeichel comparisons

While United supporters are clearly fans of Lammens, head coach Ruben Amorim said it was too early to compare him to Schmeichel. 

He said in October: "Nothing is impossible [regarding if Lammens is impossible to drop]. You have to prove during the week but, of course, he did a great job. It is possible that he is going to start the game. The first impression in this club is really important; to maintain the level is even more important and is really difficult.

"He’s not Schmeichel yet. He’s a young guy with talent. He showed a lot of composure, and the fans liked it. But again, that is in the past; we need to prove in the next game."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Lammens and Man Utd?

The United keeper will hope to help his side to victory on Monday night when they travel to Premier League basement side Wolves. If they beat the relegation favourites, the Red Devils will rise from 12th to sixth in the table.

Watching Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 defeat to their bitter rivals in the Premier League on Sunday made it clear where Thomas Frank’s priorities need to be moving forward.

Whilst you could look at that loss and suggest that they need to improve defensively, which would be a fair comment after they conceded four goals, it is in possession where they really need to improve.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

As you can see in the table above, Spurs are one of the worst teams in the Premier League at progressing play with passes, creating shooting opportunities, and creating high-quality chances.

The Lilywhites ended the match against Arsenal with three shots on goal and 0.07 xG, per Sofascore, with their goal coming from Richarlison’s stunning long-range lob over David Raya.

Tottenham’s struggles at the top end of the pitch explain why the club are reportedly considering a move to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.

The Ghana international has a £65m release clause that can be activated at the start of the January transfer window, and Spurs are one of the teams vying for his signature.

How Antoine Semenyo could solve Tottenham's attacking problems

Whilst a lot of Tottenham’s problems could come down to coaching issues, with how players are asked to play, the team selections, and the patterns that are or are not coached in training, having a top talent in the final third can make up for some coaching problems.

Semenyo is the kind of forward who can create things for himself with his incredible speed, power, ball control, and ability in front of goal when he gets near the opposition’s box.

The former Bristol City striker’s goal against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season is the perfect example of the kind of quality that he could bring to North London in the second half of the campaign.

With Tottenham’s lack of progressive passing and high-quality chances this season, having a player who has runs and goals like that in his locker would be invaluable for Frank.

That strike against Liverpool was also not a flash in the pan for the versatile attacker, who can play out wide or through the middle, because he has been in impressive form in the Premier League this term.

xG

4.58

Top 1%

Goals

6

Top 1%

Shots

23

Top 10%

Shots on target

14

Top 1%

Assists

3

Top 6%

Successful dribbles

21

Top 5%

Touches in the opposition’s box

45

Top 12%

As you can see in the table above, Semenyo has been one of the most productive wingers in the division for Bournemouth this season, with more goals than any other winger in the league.

These statistics, and the nature of his goal against Liverpool in particular, suggest that signing the Cherries star would go a long way to solving some of the attacking issues that Frank’s side have.

Therefore, Spurs should push hard to win the race for his services by activating his release clause at the start of the January transfer window and trying their hardest to convince him that a move to North London is the best next step in his career.

£65m, though, would make him the club’s joint-record signing alongside Dominic Solanke, who also came from Bournemouth, so it would take a big financial commitment from the Lilywhites.

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In order to make a move for the 25-year-old star viable, sporting director Fabio Paratici should look to ruthlessly sell some of the club’s current players to fund a transfer for Semenyo.

One of the sellable assets who should be cashed in on by Paratici to create funds for a swoop for the Cherries sensation in January is right-back Pedro Porro.

Why Spurs should sell Pedro Porro

Ahead of the summer transfer window, CaughtOffside reported that the Spain international was attracting interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

It was claimed that Spurs were not interested in selling the full-back at the time, which was in May, but that they would have changed their tune if an offer of around £57m came across their desk.

Whilst Porro ultimately remained in North London, that report in the summer shows that there are some top clubs across Europe who would be interested in him if he became available, although it remains to be seen if any of them would pay the £57m price tag.

The Spaniard attracted interest from those teams after a return of four goals and nine assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for Spurs in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but his form this season has left a lot to be desired.

Polish journalist Michał Okoński described his crosses into the box as a “disaster” earlier this month, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that he has lost possession 222 times and delivered one assist in 12 Premier League games, per Sofascore.

Appearances

33

12

Possession lost per game

17.5

18.5

Key passes per game

1.7

1.2

Big chances created

10

2

Assists

6

1

Pass accuracy

76%

73%

Cross accuracy

31%

17%

As you can see in the table above, the Spain international’s use of the ball has regressed since the end of the 2024/25 campaign. He is currently giving the ball away more frequently whilst creating less for his team.

Porro has been far too wasteful with the ball at his feet at right-back for Tottenham. That is evident in his regressing creative stats, but it is also evident in that he has made four errors leading to shots for the opposition in the Premier League, twice as many as he made in 33 matches last season.

As well as his struggles on the ball, the former Sporting star has gone from averaging 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game last season in the Premier League to averaging just 1.7 per match in the current campaign, per Sofascore.

These statistics show that Porro has regressed in and out of possession at right-back for the Lilywhites, which is why it could be the right time for Paratici to cash in on him in January, amid interest from City, Barcelona, and Bayern, to avoid his value dwindling if his form does not improve.

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Whilst it remains to be seen how much teams would be willing to pay for him, any fee in the region of the quoted £57m would go a long way to funding a deal for Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause.