كشف محمد حجاج، المدرب العام للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بتروجيت، عن وضع حامد حمدان لاعب الوسط بعد أزمته الأخيرة.
وكان حامد حمدان قد دخل في صدام مع إدارة بتروجيت خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية، بسبب رفض رحيله إلى الزمالك قبل الاعتذار للنادي البترولي.
طالع.. فيديو| الجونة يتعادل مع بتروجيت في الدوري المصري
وقال حجاج، عبر قناة “تن”: “لا توجد لدي معلومات عن حامد حمدان، هو منقطع عن التدريبات، والموضوع مع مجلس الإدارة، وحتى الآن غير متواجد مع الفريق نهائيًا، في البداية تدرب، وبعد ذلك انقطع عن التدريبات”.
وتابع: “حامد حمدان لاعب في الفريق، هل أي لاعب يتلقى عرضًا ينقطع عن التدريبات هل هذا يصح؟ إذا كان الأمر كذلك فكل لاعب يحصل على عرض سيبقى في المنزل”.
وأضاف: “في بداية انقطاعه عن التدريبات تواصل البعض مع حمدان بشكل رسمي، لكنه رفض، وهناك لوائح وقوانين نعمل بها”.
وأتم:” أزمة حامد حمدان مع إدارة بتروجيت وليست مع الجهاز الفني، لا يوجد تأثير للفريق بغياب حامد حمدان”.
A young Indian side outgunned an experienced Bangladesh to start off the three-T20I series. Two debutants in their XI, only three men retained from the side that won the T20 World Cup earlier this year, but India were too good for Bangladesh, who wore the same look of the side from the World Cup.From the moment they lost Litton Das to a slog in the first over, Bangladesh never really looked like they had the batting for the Gwalior pitch with slightly uneven bounce and an accurate Indian attack. After Arshdeep Singh’s early strikes, Mayank Yadav started his international career with a maiden over before the returning Varun Chakravarthy scythed through the middle overs. Chasing a paltry 128, a dominant India got home with 49 balls to spare.
Arshdeep on the money
Leader of the attack, fast approaching the top of wickets chart for India, Arshdeep started on the money with just enough swing to keep the young Parvez Hossain Emon, one of the few new players tried by Bangladesh, honest. Das then opened the face for a four first ball, which led to short third going back and a fielder on the leg side coming up. He looked to play the field second ball only to be defeated by the angle of it. In his second over, Arshdeep had Parvez, who had whipped Hardik Pandya for a six, playing on. Bangladesh 14 for 2 in 2.1 overs.
Pace and mystery
Already behind the game, the combination of Mayank and Varun, high pace and mystery spin, was hardly the ideal one to force the pace against. Bangladesh’s only hope was ring rust: this was the first time Mayank was playing any competitive cricket since his injury during the IPL, and Varun was coming back to the India XI after three years. Neither of them was rusty.Varun Chakravarthy showed no ring rust on T20I return•BCCI
Varun created an opportunity second ball, but the other debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy lost the ball in the floodlights of the debuting stadium in Gwalior. Mayank bowled the last over of the powerplay, becoming the third man to start his India T20I career with a maiden. The other two are the current chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, who has fast-tracked Mayank, and Arshdeep.Soon the duo was rewarded with a wicket each. Towhid Hridoy, the beneficiary of the earlier drop, pulled Varun straight to long-on, and Mahmudullah spooned Mayank to deep point. They really didn’t have many options but to play these low-percentage shots as the runs were hardly coming.Varun continued to be incomprehensible, doing Jaker Ali in on the inside edge and Rishad Hossain on the outside.
No kick at the death
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was forced to play the anchor role, but even he fell to the introduction of the offspin of Washington Sundar, who denied him room and had him caught and bowled. Mehidy hasan Miraz prolonged the innings, but there was no impact to be had against the accuracy of Arshdeep, Pandya and Mayank at the death.Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 35 off 32 balls•Associated Press
None of the last seven overs yielded double figures as the wickets kept falling. Arshdeep ended the innings with the off and middle stumps splayed with a pinpoint yorker. He is now India’s fifth-most prolific T20I wicket-taker with 86 scalps, hot on the heels of the leader Yuzvendra Chahal at 96.
India end it in a hurry
The hosts were not going to be satisfied with just a win. They wanted a big win. Sanju Samson, with another shot at opening the innings in the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, got off to a great start with two boundaries driven either side of the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Abhishek Sharma was less touch and more power as he took Taskin Ahmed down for a six and two fours in the second over. Almost as though he was on an adrenalin rush, he ran himself out looking for a non-existent single.India, though, continued to leave Bangladesh helpless. Samson kept driving down the ground while Suryakumar Yadav manufactured shots behind the wicket. The result was India’s best powerplay against Bangladesh in T20Is: 71, which is just the fourth-highest they have conceded in powerplays. His dismissal in the final over of the powerplay didn’t slow India down although Samson will be disappointed he fell to a hoick the first ball of offspin he faced. Both of them scored quick 29s.Pandya, 39 off 16, continued to have his way with Bangladesh, topping the chase with a no-look ramp over the keeper’s head.
Arsenal are now in club-to-club talks with a Premier League side over another transfer, as Mikel Arteta receives new sporting director Andrea Berta’s full support in his attempts to end the Gunners’ long wait for title glory.
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Having already sealed confirmed deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, with the latter set to be announced shortly after completing a medical (David Ornstein), Arteta’s side certainly aren’t slowing down.
Arsenal appear determined to bridge the gap between themselves and English champions Liverpool, who won the league by a seismic 10 points last season, and Berta will be mindful of the excellent business their rivals have already conducted themselves this summer.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£65m
With Man City and Chelsea also making splashes in the market, competition at the top of the table will be rife, and Arsenal are attempting not to be left behind.
Reports suggest that Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, and the Sweden international could well join them in time for their pre-season tour of Asia later this month.
Alongside the prolific 27-year-old, who netted an outstanding 54 goals in all competitions last season, Arsenal have held positive negotiations for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who would join in a deal independent of the club’s chase for a new left-winger.
While Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been mooted as Arsenal’s “dream” target in that area, Berta appears to be moving for Chelsea forward Noni Madueke as an alternative.
The England international has already agreed personal terms to join Arsenal, as widely reported, but there’s been a slight wait for them to make formal contact with Chelsea.
However, it now appears that the wait is now over.
Arsenal open talks with Chelsea over "surprise" Noni Madueke deal
As per talkSPORT and other reliable media sources, Arsenal have opened club-to-club talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, with the broadcast giant saying he’s “emerged as a surprise candidate” to become their fourth signing of the window.
It is believed that Chelsea value their man at north of £50 million, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano also sharing a key piece of information from his own sources, via X.
An initial bid has apparently gone in for Madueke, which is worth £50m including add-ons, but as things stand, that still won’t be enough.
Chelsea want more than £50m as a fixed fee, not including add-ons, with the west Londoners referencing Anthony Elanga’s £55 million move to Newcastle, among other similar deals, as a yardstick for Madueke’s valuation.
Talks remain ongoing, and it appears there is still some ground to cover in negotiations before we can call this one a ‘done deal’.
In terms of the 23-year-old’s quality, he would be an excellent option, with Enzo Maresca even calling Madueke one of his “best players” from last season. It does plunge the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard into serious doubt, though, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one of the duo depart before deadline day if Madueke is signed.
Fast bowler expected to win debut during five-match ODI series against Australia
Matt Roller17-Sep-2024England will test out their fast-bowling depth when they unleash seven seamers across their ODI series against Australia. A tight schedule of five matches in 11 days – starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday – will demand some degree of rotation, which could aid Hampshire’s John Turner in his long-standing bid to make his international debut.Turner is 23 and only finished an economics and finance degree at Exeter University this summer, but has been on the fringes of England white-ball selection for over a year. He was first named in a squad for last summer’s T20I series against New Zealand, but was ruled out through injury, and was then an unused member of the touring party in the Caribbean in December.After running the drinks during last week’s drawn T20I series, Turner looks set to win first cap at some stage in the Australia ODIs – not least with Jofra Archer’s workload being managed, and three of England’s seven fast-bowling options (Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Olly Stone) flying to Pakistan for October’s Test series days after the final ODI on September 29. Saqib Mahmood’s late addition to the squad on Tuesday further underlined that there will be regular changes through the series.”Just being in the squad is a cool experience for myself,” Turner said. “But you obviously want to and hope to debut at some point, and hopefully that comes at some stage in this series… being in and around the squads and the players, you naturally improve and you naturally learn.Related
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“I definitely would say I’m in a much better place now than I was this time last year, but I’ve still got quite a long way to go: I’m not anywhere near the finished product… The way you approach the game with different ideas for different batsmen and different scenarios, that’s what I end up taking from these types of environments.”Turner has an unmistakable South African accent and only moved to the UK four years ago. But his pace piqued England’s interest during his first T20 campaign for Hampshire last summer and he has taken regular wickets throughout his young professional career, with a bowling average below 20 in all three formats.England are still hoping to identify a middle-overs wicket-taker in the Liam Plunkett mould and Jos Buttler – who will watch this series from the sidelines due to his calf injury – hinted last week that Turner could be used in a similar role. “[It’s about] finding ways to break partnerships and take wickets, which is crucial in those 50-over games,” Buttler said. “Having high pace is certainly a way of doing that.”Turner broke the 90mph/145kph barrier while playing for Trent Rockets this year and describes himself as “naturally competitive”. His Hundred season started in bizarre fashion – he was removed from the attack with figures of 0-0-5-0 against London Spirit after consecutive beamers – but he quickly recovered, taking five wickets in his next two games.He has enjoyed the challenge of playing in the Hundred – “constantly bowling against the best… you’re always under pressure” – and in particular, having his speeds tracked. “Post-game, I’ll probably end up watching every single ball back to see what speed I was at… it’s quite handy to know at times: almost don’t try too hard and it works itself out.”Turner believes that there will be “healthy competition” among England’s fast bowlers in their ODI series. “I’ve never played in the same team as Jof, and I probably won’t be as quick as him. But if I’m bowling with him, if I see his speed on the board, I’ll be like, ‘let me see if I can match him.’ I’m naturally competitive and I’ll naturally want to try and be the quickest.Turner jumps in celebration during the Hundred•PA Images via Getty Images”It’s probably healthy competition if we have that as well… Pace is my point of difference, but around that, I want to have the skillset also to be able to compete. It’s always exciting to have a full stock of fast bowlers: the crowd enjoy watching sixes and boundaries, but I think it’s quite enjoyable watching guys bowling 85-plus and pure speed.”Despite having played only twice in the County Championship this year, Turner’s ambitions extend across formats. He missed the start of the season with a knee injury and has struggled to break into a Hampshire seam attack which boasts both Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott as spearheads.”Just being in and around them has been a good learning area for me: they’ve helped me improve my game immensely,” Turner said. “That’s definitely the way I want my career to pan out. I’d like to be an all-format [player]: Test cricket, white-ball and franchise stuff. I don’t really want to put myself into a single category.”John Turner was speaking at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl to mark the installation of 1044 solar panels at the venue, as part of an industry-leading partnership with Utilita Energy
Leeds United have only just announced the £12m capture of Sean Longstaff, but another midfield deal looks to be nearing to completion to complement the ex-Newcastle United man’s arrival.
Indeed, it is now being reported that Daniel Farke’s Premier League newcomers will welcome Anton Stach to the building imminently, with the versatile Hoffenheim presence going down as their sixth summer buy for around the £17.4m mark.
Longstaff and Stach might just be the start, however, before another wave of new faces joins very shortly, with attacking signings now looking to be a priority.
Leeds chasing deal for Premier League youngster
Away from Stach offering Leeds more options in midfield alongside the 27-year-old giant, the other signings through the door this summer have mostly been defensive, besides Lukas Nmecha.
Therefore, attack is surely the next part of the pitch due for a makeover, with Rodrigo Muniz reportedly still on the Leeds agenda, on top of new, exciting targets such as Igor Paxiao coming to the surface to gift the Whites more options on the left and right flanks.
Whilst Muniz is a buy that will appeal to Whites supporters everywhere, when assessing his weighty 17 goals in the Premier League, Leeds’ other pursuit of Marc Guiu might well raise some eyebrows.
Chelsea's Marc Guiu celebrates
Football journalist Graeme Bailey claims that Leeds could soon chase a loan deal for the Chelsea youngster to boost their options up top, having looked at him previously.
Whilst Guiu does come highly rated from Stamford Bridge, his lack of Premier League experience would worry those at Elland Road as they jump back up to the gruelling division.
Yet, the Spaniard might well go to be an even bigger talent than Mateo Joseph if he does move to West Yorkshire, which would unfortunately push his fellow compatriot down the Whites pecking order even more.
How Guiu could be a bigger talent than Joseph
Joseph must already know deep down that his Premier League minutes next season are going to be somewhat sparse, considering only 11 league starts were handed to him last season on the way to Farke and Co. sealing the title.
A promising three goals and three assists would come his way, but the 21-year-old hasn’t quite shown enough in these bursts of quality from the bench to suggest he should be pushing for more consistent first-team minutes. Whereas, Guiu at Chelsea might well fancy his chances at being a second-in-command to Joel Piroe, and even more, based on his blistering cameos in West London last campaign.
Games played
16
73
Goals scored
6
6
Assists
0
4
PL appearances
3
3
Amazingly, despite appearing 57 times less for Enzo Maresca’s outfit overall when weighed up next to the 21-year-old’s haul at Elland Road, Guiu finds himself on the exact same goal tally Joseph has next to his name at Leeds, with all six of those efforts also staggeringly coming about last season as Chelsea ran out convincing champions of the UEFA Conference League.
Of course, the quality of the opposition can be questioned here, but Guiu does look ready for more senior chances, with those six goals coming about from just four starts, meaning he’s a far more lethal and composed finisher from limited chances than his Whites counterpart.
With two goals under his belt in the senior ranks at Barcelona, too, the 19-year-old would surely go on to enhance and elevate his game surrounded by the likes of Piroe as a hungry asset wanting to learn more, as opposed to Joseph, who has made his intentions clear on his desire to move on from West Yorkshire.
Once labelled as a “nightmare for centre-backs” to contain by football talent scout Jacek Kulig off the back of his high-energy game, Guiu might well be the perfect impact bench option for Farke to call upon next season, away from landing a more seasoned head such as Muniz.
Marc Guiu
With all these thrilling new buys in the offing, there might not be a place for Joseph at Leeds very soon, as fresh blood is potentially preferred over the reserve striker.
Even better than Paixao: Leeds hopeful of sealing signing of £50m striker
Leeds United are hopeful of signing a star who is even better than Igor Paixao.
Chelsea have recently been handed a boost in their pursuit of an attacker, with it being revealed he would love to move to Stamford Bridge despite interest from Arsenal.
Blues looking to sign new attacking midfielder
Enzo Maresca has already made major improvements to his squad this summer, with new striker Joao Pedro playing a major role in the Club World Cup triumph, scoring the third goal in his side’s 3-0 rout of Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
However, the Blues are by no means done, with a new attacking midfielder also of interest, and there are three main options on the shortlist.
Target
Current club
Asking price
Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
£90m
Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace
£68m
Xavi Simons
RB Leipzig
£67m
The west Londoners have recently held talks over a deal for Simons, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Tottenham Hotspur also keen, while fellow London rivals Arsenal are thought to have made an approach of their own.
That said, despite the major interest from elsewhere, Maresca’s side should be well-positioned to win the race for the RB Leipzig star, as per a new update from journalist Simon Phillips.
Phillips said: “Arsenal are interested in Simons as said, but our sources have heard they are focusing on Eze still but if they cannot get that over the line then Simons is the backup for them.
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“Sources feel Chelsea could have come in and snapped Simons up by the time that happens anyway. So this one is certainly brewing up and all connected.
“Further to this, our sources have heard that Simons ‘would love to join Chelsea’ this window, so there would be no problem on the player side. Chelsea, expected to make more enquiries on Simons this week now.”
"Game-changer" Simons could be statement signing for Chelsea
Scout and writer Jacek Kulig lauded the Leipzig attacking midfielder as a “game-changer” last season, and it is clear to see why, with the Dutchman impressing for both club and country.
The Netherlands international picked up a goal and an assist in a very impressive performance against European champions Spain in March, while also regularly finding the back of the net and setting up his teammates in the Bundesliga.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
25
10
7
DFB Pokal
3
1
1
It is little wonder the 22-year-old is very keen on sealing a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, with Maresca’s side recently being crowned Club World Cup champions, and Champions League football on offer next season.
Having already proven they have what it takes to compete against the world’s best teams, the signing of Simons could elevate the Blues and help them compete for even more major honours in the 2024-25 campaign.
Australia survived a collapse of 7 for 28 that saw them bowled out for 142, with Kerr bagging four wickets
Alex Malcolm22-Sep-2024
Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets after missing the opening game due to a concussion scare•Getty Images
Ashleigh Gardner made a successful return from a concussion scare to claim three wickets and help Australia claim an untidy and unconvincing series win over New Zealand after a stunning collapse with the bat in the second T20I in Mackay.Australia lost 7 for 28 to be bowled out for 142 having won the toss and elected to bat. New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr put the world champions in a spin, claiming a career-best 4 for 20 as the home side relinquished a commanding position that had been set up by captain Alyssa Healy to be bowled out for just the second time in their last 55 T20Is.Healy made 38 off 25, which was the standout innings of the match on a surface that batters found difficult despite it looking like it would offer plenty of runs. Ellyse Perry compiled a scratchy 34 from 33 that would prove important but her dismissal to a bizarre run-out started Australia’s slide.New Zealand’s chase began cautiously and they paid the price as Australia’s bowlers squeezed. Suzie Bates made another start, scoring a run-a-ball 34, but could not kick on after guiding her side to 34 without loss in the powerplay. Gardner and Annabel Sutherland went to work taking 4 for 34 between them off eight overs in the middle and death phases to close out the game despite some shoddy fielding from Australia.Amelia Kerr returned her T20I best figures of 4 for 20•Getty Images
Healy’s hot startOn a surface where only five batters managed to strike at a rate of above 120, Healy stood head and shoulders above the pack. Molly Penfold had been the biggest threat in the first T20I and Healy took her out of the game in the first over. She thumped her down the ground on the up and then unfurled a stunning front-foot pull shot over midwicket off the next ball as Australia took 12 from the first over. She then carved Lea Tahuhu over point before lap-sweeping Eden Carson fine.She saved her best for Kerr, reverse-sweeping her from middle stump through cover point as Australia reached 48 for 1 in the powerplay. But while Healy was running hot, Perry was ice-cold. After the early loss off Beth Mooney – playing her 100th T20I – bowled by Fran Jonas trying to pull, Perry struggled for timing. She faced eight dot balls in her first 16 and was 13 off 18 at one point. She struggled to even feed Healy the strike. Healy fell trying to keep the foot down against Carson, holing out for 38 from 25. But it would prove an invaluable contribution.Kerr puts Australia in a spin cycleJust as Perry started to find some rhythm, her dismissal started Australia’s downfall and was emblematic of what was to follow. She tried to sweep Kerr and was hit on the pad. The ball bounced off her pad high above her head. Perry was confused as to where it had gone and oddly took off for a run. By the time she realised it had landed behind her, wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze had whipped off the bails to run her out for 34 off 33. Shortly after, Australia suffered a cataclysmic collapse, the likes of which has never happened to this all-conquering team.They were bowled out inside 20 overs for just the second time since the T20 World Cup 2020. It started with Phoebe Litchfield charging at Brooke Halliday’s wrong-footed medium pacers and losing her leg stump. Then Kerr whirled her way through the order. Two superb wrong’uns undid Gardner and Tahlia McGrath through the gate. Sophie Molineux was beaten in flight and stumped by a mile before Megan Schutt was done all ends up by a quicker delivery. Kerr finished with 4 for 20 from four overs. Australia looked vulnerable defending just 143.Darcie Brown and Phoebe Litchfield combined to dismiss Suzie Bates•Getty Images
Australia’s bowlers squeezeEarly wickets are always the desired way to put pressure on when defending a small total. The next best thing is to apply run-rate pressure. And that’s exactly what Australia did in the powerplay. They did not concede a boundary in the first four overs with Bates and Georgia Plimmer struggling for rhythm. Bates finally broke free against Schutt and Darcie Brown, finding the rope three times. But New Zealand only managed to score 34 runs in the powerplay despite not losing a wicket. When Plimmer dragged an attempted sweep onto her stumps off Georgia Wareham, the required rate had climbed above eight per over. It soon went over nine when Gardner got her revenge on Kerr, pinning her lbw with a subtle change of pace when she tried to sweep. Litchfield then clung onto an athletic catch at cover to remove the well-set Bates for a run-a-ball 34.Sophie Devine fell two overs later for a tortured 4 off 10 balls, which included being dropped by Brown at short third. Australia were able to close the game out from there despite more untidy fielding. New Zealand’s equation reached 54 off 18 before Maddy Green and Gaze briefly threatened to pull off a miracle. But that was only possible because of some sloppy fielding. Schutt dropped a sitter off Green at cover-point and then watched three of the next five balls reach the rope. Green then should have been run-out by Gardner attempting to steal a second but Healy fumbled the throw, which was a little wider than it could have been. But Sutherland held her nerve in the deep at long-on off Gardner to finally end Green’s rearguard.
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.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
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.
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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.
Manchester City's JackGrealishduring the warm up before the match
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.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
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.
Grealish and Elanga key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Grealish (2020/21)
Elanga (2024/25)
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
Stats from FBref
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.
Former Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.
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.
Leeds United supporters will have noticed that a familiar name has been reintroduced to the team in the current set of pre-season matches, as Jack Harrison has returned from his two-year loan spell with Everton.
The English forward has been involved in Daniel Farke’s plans this summer and it remains to be seen if that will still be the case when the Premier League campaign gets underway.
Farke told BBC Sport: “Jack has many Premier League appearances and we would be stupid if we didn’t want to use that. It is a bit tricky if you have a couple of years away but that was a decision before my time.
“Right now he is back with us. He is a great guy, a hard worker and very reliable. It is up to him to win the confidence and trust back. I had this situation when I arrived with Junior Firpo, and people saying he was the worst signing ever and he couldn’t defend. Now he has left as a hero.”
Vs Man United (pre-season)
Jack Harrison
Minutes
45
Shots
0
Chances created
0
Big chances created
0
Dribbles completed
0/1
Duels won
0/1
Dribbled past
1x
Stats via Sofascore
The statistics in the table above show that Harrison did not make much of a positive impression upon the Leeds supporters in his first outing in pre-season against Manchester United last weekend.
Why Jack Harrison should not be a starter for Leeds
Harrison’s lack of impact at the top end of the pitch against the Red Devils sums up how the last couple of years have gone for him in the Premier League, as he has consistently struggled to deliver on a regular basis.
The 28-year-old flop, who was met by a few boos last weekend, spent the last two seasons on loan with Everton in the top-flight, but did not do enough for them to want to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.
A return of five goals and three assists in 74 matches in all competitions for the Toffees may explain why David Moyes was not eager to bring him back for another year.
24/25 Premier League
Jack Harrison
Percentile rank vs wingers
xG
3.52
Top 43%
Goals
1
Bottom 17%
xG on target
1.07
Bottom 24%
Shots on target
7
Bottom 33%
Assists
0
Bottom 3%
Dribble success rate
35%
Bottom 19%
Dispossessed
41 times
Bottom 15%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, the English winger offered very little in front of goal for Everton in comparison to his positional peers in the Premier League, with one goal and zero assists before his return to West Yorkshire this summer.
Everton's loan forward Jack Harrison.
This is why Farke should not be considering Harrison as a potential starter in the top-flight for Leeds next season, and he may not have to amid interest from the club in a new winger.
Leeds have explored deal for Ligue 1 star
According to The Athletic, Leeds United have an interest in RC Strasbourg’s left-sided attacker Dilane Bakwa, as they eye up new additions to their frontline.
The report claims that the Whites have explored the possibility of a swoop to sign the 22-year-old forward during the current summer transfer window.
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However, it adds that they are not actively pursuing a deal for him at this moment in time. Instead, he remains one of a number of options they have looked at before they decide who to seriously target.
Just before the start of the summer transfer window, it was reported that Chelsea were showing an interest in the French whiz, who is valued at £26m by the Ligue 1 side.
It now remains to be seen whether the Championship champions will actualise their interest with an official approach for the winger before the end of the summer, but Farke would have an upgrade on Harrison on his hands if they do.
Why Leeds should sign Dilane Bakwa
The Whites should swoop to sign the Strasbourg star in the coming weeks because he has the potential to be a terrific addition to the squad as a big upgrade on Harrison on the flanks.
As aforementioned, the English dud has only scored five goals and provided three assists in 74 appearances in the last two seasons combined. Meanwhile, Bakwa scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in 66 matches across all competitions for Strasbourg, which immediately suggests that he will offer far more in the final third.
The French whiz, who is also a left-footed winger like Harrison, has performed well in one of Europe’s major leagues in France, which suggests that the potential is there for him to be a strong signing for Leeds.
Of course, there are no guarantees in football, and it remains to be seen if he can translate his form over to English football, but if Bakwa’s form from the 2024/25 campaign is anything to go off, the £26m-rated star would be a huge upgrade for the Whites.
24/25 season
Bakwa (Ligue 1)
Harrison (Premier League)
Appearances
30
34
xG
4.36
3.52
Goals
6
1
Big chances created
12
6
Assists
8
0
Dribbles completed per game
1.7
0.7
Dribble success rate
44%
36%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Ligue 1 starlet significantly outperformed Harrison as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler, whilst playing four fewer matches.
Bakwa, who was described as “underrated” by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango, could provide a greater goal threat and create more high-quality chances for his teammates than the ex-Manchester City winger could do for Farke in the Premier League next term.
Jack Harrison for Everton
This is why Leeds should be pushing to sign the Strasbourg magician this summer, after already exploring a possible deal, because he could arrive as a big upgrade for the club in the right-wing position ahead of next season.
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It is now down to the club to pursue a move for the 22-year-old winger to ensure that Farke has enough high-quality options to call upon at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League.
Liverpool won the Premier League last season, finishing ten points ahead of second-place Arsenal. Few gave Arne Slot a chance to establish himself as a title-race outlier, but he took the division by storm.
And he’s been rewarded in the summer transfer market, with FSG green-lighting ambitious moves for Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, with the latter signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m.
Navigating the transfer market has become a far more delicate matter for Liverpool after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
But Liverpool’s forward interest dates back to the start of 2025, with Darwin Nunez transfer-listed while the Reds pursued the Premier League title.
Nunez is still set to leave Liverpool, with the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal among the frontrunners, and FSG have worked to sign a replacement.
While nothing’s set in stone, it looks like that replacement is going to be Hugo Ekitike.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool
Liverpool appear to have won the race for Ekitike, with the 23-year-old submitting a transfer request as he looks to inch a move to Merseyside closer.
Newcastle United were also in the mix, but have dropped out following the Reds’ concrete advancements.
Ekitike’s is an unrefined skill set, but with a few tweaks here and there, he could prove a stunning signing for Slot’s cause. After all, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that he “could definitely reach world-class striker levels”.
With 22 goals and 12 assists to his name across the 2024/25 campaign, such a claim certainly seems to have some substance.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
On Friday morning, Sport BILD reported that Ekitike had linked back up with Frankfurt for training and, as things stand, is slated to join his teammates on their pre-season tour in the United States.
The Reds are closing in on their quarry, but they have another target in their sights, too. You might even say he’s an upgrade on the French forward.
Liverpool lining up another striker
According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still pushing to land Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, in spite of their push for Ekitike’s signature and indeed the rebuffed formal approach for the Sweden striker earlier in the week.
Liverpool were willing to put a £120m offer on the table, but the focus shift to Ekitike in recent days speaks of a roadblock between Anfield and St. James’ Park.
Isak
Elsewhere, Foot Mercato have revealed that Isak and Newcastle have given Al-Hilal the initial green light to commence discussions over a deal that would send shockwaves through the footballing world.
While this is peculiar news, it perhaps suggests that the Isak saga is not quite finished for Liverpool this summer.
Why Liverpool should sign Alexander Isak
Time was when Liverpool’s owners were widely regarded as being frugal, if effective with their resources. But who can call FSG misers now? Having forked out a shedload on new signings this summer, there’s still more yet to come.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
BBC reporter Sami Mokbel believes that Liverpool’s interest in Isak will remain intact regardless of the outcome of the Ekitike saga. One of the French talent’s underlying qualities to have piqued Slot’s interest is his versatility, with a sharp tactical mind and a nimble athleticism making him, as Kulig alluded to, world-class material.
But Isak’s already there, with pundit Alan Shearer hailing his “world-class” level. Indeed, there’s a case that the Swedish gem’s the finest number nine in the game right now, having scored 27 goals and supplied six assists across all competitions for the Magpies in 2024/25. Certainly, he’s the most complete, with pundit Ally McCoist saying: “In terms of his all-round game, he’s unstoppable.”
Without a doubt, Isak would pack a heavier punch than Ekitike, definitely across the next campaign or two. Sure, the Frankfurt man has the potential to become one of the best, but his Swedish counterpart is already there.
Newcastle signed him from Real Sociedad for what still stands as a club-record £63m deal, and injuries have been his only foible.
Instrumental in securing United as a top-end competitor, scoring as they beat Liverpool at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup and end a 70-year trophy drought, he would revolutionise a Liverpool frontline already packed with high-level quality.
1.
Erling Haaland
97
85 (0.88)
2.
Mohamed Salah
108
66 (0.61)
3.
Alexander Isak
86
54 (0.63)
4.
Ollie Watkins
112
50 (0.45)
5.
Bryan Mbeumo
101
38 (0.38)
And not just a goalscorer, Isak’s completeness can be observed through his FBref data. The stats-led site reveals the 25-year-old ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries, and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
The thing is, Liverpool cannot afford to be so reliant on Mohamed Salah for goals, especially now that the right winger has turned 33. In Isak, Slot would sign a striker with a far superior ball-striking ability than Ekitike; certainly, the Swede is more efficient and economical in his efforts, with a conversion rate to be feared and an impressive rate of creativity besides.
The £120k-per-week forward is just one year away from his penultimate year on Tyneside. Then the alarm bells will be screeching down the St. James’ Park hallways. Perhaps Newcastle will want to cash in for a pretty penny while they still can.
Newcastle, for sure, know that Liverpool are willing to break the British transfer record (again) before summer’s out. And from a Reds perspective, sporting director Richard Hughes will be doing all he can to achieve this, for Isak is the cream of the crop and would certainly arrive as a more accomplished and complete player than Ekitike.
Better than Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool make £142m "monster" a dream target
Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.