As a marathon Game 3 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays stretched into the sixth hour, the pitching options for both clubs were dwindling. So much so that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Fox's and 's Tom Verducci that if the game went beyond 17 innings, he would have opted to let a position player pitch.
Not on Yoshinobu Yamamoto's watch
If Roberts was serious, Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn't about to let it happen. Yamamoto, just two days removed from throwing 105 pitches in a complete game gem in the Game 2 victory, "volunteered" to pitch in the marathon game on Monday night, according to Verducci.
As Verducci chronicled, Yamamoto approached Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior and offered his services in relief, even though he was coming off back-to-back complete games in his last two outings.
And so there was Yamamoto, to the shock of baseball fans, warming up in the bullpen in the top half of the 18th inning, mere minutes before first baseman Freddie Freeman belted a walk-off home run to lift Los Angeles to victory.
Dave Roberts lauds Yamamoto for his willingness to pitch
Even though, he ultimately didn't need to turn to Yamamoto, Roberts praised the hurler for his willingness to enter the game after just expending so much energy on the mound two days ago.
"…And Yamamoto with a day off potentially taking the baseball—he was in the next inning," Roberts said after the Dodgers' 6-5 win. "And so it just speaks to, guys will do anything to win a championship. And they're laying it out there."
But that begs the question.
How long would Yamamoto have pitched had he entered the game?
"He would have gone as long as we needed," Roberts said. "He would have been the last guy."
Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly remain interested in Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani after ruling out signing Alexander Isak.
Man Utd & Chelsea rule out Isak pursuit
Remain interested in PSG's Kolo Muani
Face competition from European giant
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Juventus are expected to send a new offer for Kolo Muani but United and Chelsea could provide stiff competition for the 26-year-old. This comes days after the Premier League sides ruled themselves out of trying to recruit Newcastle talisman Isak.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The report adds that PSG value Kolo Muani, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juve, between €40-45 million (£35-39m) – although Tuttosport, via Football Italia, believe they could hold out for 50m (£43.7m). Whether United, who are still in search of a number nine, and Chelsea, who have signed forwards Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, are willing to pay that much for him remains to be seen.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Italian press adds that if former Nantes striker Kolo Muani, who appears to not have a future at PSG, didn't move to Juventus, then the Old Lady would strike out for United's Rasmus Hojlund. Incidentally, the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for the Italian giants last term.
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WHAT NEXT?
Despite these reports suggesting United and Chelsea are interested in Kolo Muani, ESPN has claimed that the Blues and Arsenal turned down the chance to sign the PSG attacker. With just over a month to go of the transfer window, the potential suitors are likely to be revealed.
da betway： Take out Erling Haaland from the equation, and it’s likely most clubs in European football, Arsenal included, would choose to sign Alexander Isak this summer.
da dobrowin： The Gunners have had a long-vested interest in the Swede, dating back to before he was even a Newcastle player.
Sadly, after a campaign in which the Toon’s star man bagged 27 goals in 42 games, he looks like he’s staying in the north east.
Asking prices from £150m to £200m have been touted, making this move nigh on impossible for anyone, let alone the Gunners.
Liverpool are reportedly at the table too and if Arne Slot’s men were to prise the forward away from Newcastle, it would be a colossal kick in the teeth for Arsenal.
Still, there are alternatives, and alternatives that share similar traits to the Swedish superstar.
The latest on Arsenal's hunt for new attackers
With moves for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi set for completion in the not-too-distant future, Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta are getting a move on with their summer business.
Still, a new forward continues to elude them amid ongoing talks to sign Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal have also been looking at wingers, namely Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace’s playmaking sensation, Eberechi Eze.
Well, what if they could find a player with the ability to play on the flanks and through the middle? That fact is certainly true of Ademola Lookman.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Caught Offside, the Gunners are now in active negotiations to sign the Nigerian attacker from Italian outfit Atalanta.
After previous spells in England with Charlton, Everton, and Fulham, Lookman has more than proven himself in Italy and appears to be keen on coming back to the Premier League.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
While Arsenal will face competition from Liverpool for his signature, the 27-year-old is said to be valued at around €45m to €50m (£38m – £43m) plus add-ons.
How Ademola Lookman could improve Arsenal
Let’s take you back to the year of 2020 for a moment. Football is being played behind closed doors due to the pandemic and Lookman has just missed one of the worst penalty attempts you will ever see.
A panenka looks great when it comes off, but in this instance, it disgraced and embarrassed a young Lookman.
Since then, the attacker has become “one of the best prospects in Europe”, in the words of former Man City defender-turned pundit Nedum Onuoha.
Why? Well, who could forget the Lookman final, a game where Atalanta won the Europa League in 2024 courtesy of the Nigeria international who scored a stunning hat-trick to seal a 3-0 win over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
It was genuinely one of the best individual performances you will see on a big stage and he’s not slowed down since that moment.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Lookman scored 17 goals and supplied ten assists in all competitions. In 2024/25, he was even better in front of goal, netting 20 and registering seven assists.
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting players in Serie A, his rate of productivity in the final third is captivating, but the player’s versatility is also an enormous plus point. Capable of playing on the flanks, as a striker or behind the leading no.9, that versatile nature should be a big box tick for Arteta.
Such an ability to play in a plethora of positions has led data-led website FBRef to proclaim that Bukayo Saka is the third-most similar winger in Europe to Lookman, while Isak is the third-most similar striker. Not bad indeed. But, what makes them alike? We’ve crunched the numbers.
Lookman vs Isak & Saka: 2024/25 league
Stat (per 90 mins)
Lookman
Isak
Saka
Goals
0.60
0.75
0.31
Assists
0.20
0.20
0.52
Shots
3.24
3.10
3.44
Key passes
2.44
1.34
3.02
Progressive passes
2.98
2.88
3.65
Shot-creating actions
5.41
3.01
6.09
Succesful take-ons
1.48
1.37
2.14
Progressive carries
5.68
2.71
5.00
Stats via FBRef.
Blessed with pace, fleet-footedness and low centre of gravity, Lookman possesses a very similar style on the flanks to Saka and his ability to dart in behind and run the channels can draw comparisons to Isak.
That’s certainly seen in the numbers, where the former Fulham man combines the best of both players here.
He’s more potent than Saka in front of goal per 90 minutes but he creates a similar number of key passes. He’s also very progressive with his actions, only slightly falling behind Arsenal’s number 7 for progressive passes but actually ranking higher for progressive carries.
Like Isak, he completes a similar number of take-ons and they’re almost equal for shots taken as well.
So, if Arsenal are not willing to break the bank to sign someone like Sesko or Gyokeres this summer, Lookman could be the next best thing.
It’s a rare opportunity to find someone who combines the best attributes of two of the best players in the Premier League.
£100m star & the "new Haaland" sign: Arsenal's dream summer
Andrea Berta is in for a big summer at Arsenal; here’s how it could play out.
The visitors have Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Agar and Todd Murphy as spin-bowling options, even as they ponder replacements in their pace battery
Alex Malcolm06-Feb-20232:20
Ravi Shastri: ‘I want the ball to turn from day one’
Does Green play as a pure batter?Green broke his right index finger during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa last December, and thus required surgery. He did not pick up a bat for the next four weeks, with another seven days having passed since the injury. Australia coach Andrew McDonald has already confirmed that Green is currently unable to bowl, although he admitted that he was surprised at how well Green was batting given the short recovery time.Green is pushing to play as a pure batter in Nagpur, but the short turnaround from the injury and the obvious need to be protected in the field means it might be touch and go. If Green is not fit, Australia will almost certainly pick a specialist batter at No. 6, as they did against South Africa in the Sydney Test after Green’s injury. It was Matt Renshaw who had got the nod there, and he has been in tremendous form in all formats recently and has experience in India as an opener.Related
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But if Renshaw plays, Australia will have five left-handers in the top seven. Peter Handscomb is a realistic option if the selectors prefer a little more right-left balance to not give R Ashwin a chance to settle against a bevy of left-handers. Hanscomb is one of Australia’s better players of spin, and had the experience of playing all four Tests in 2017. He is also coming off two back-to-back big-run-scoring seasons in the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s premier first-class competition.Two spinners or three quicks?It seems highly likely that Australia will play two spinners as they have only three fit quicks to choose from following the injury to Hazlewood. Starc doesn’t arrive until after the first Test, as he continues to recover from his finger injury, while Green can’t bowl even if he does play. Australia did win at the old Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur in 2004 with three quicks and one spinner, but that was with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne.Scott Boland has hardly bowled on a flat pitch in international cricket so far•Getty ImagesScott Boland looks set to play in place of Hazlewood, and has a good record on very flat, low pitches in Australia in the Shield, although he has hardly bowled on a flat pitch in international cricket so far. Australia have one other quick option in Lance Morris, who has made a name in Shield cricket as Australia’s fastest bowler, and has proven himself to be more than capable of reversing an old ball at high pace and troubling batters on slow surfaces.But Morris regularly plays in a five-man attack for Western Australia and is used in short impact spells. Thus, handing him a Test debut in a four-man attack – especially with Starc and Hazlewood missing, and Boland low on experience – would be a huge risk, especially on Indian pitches.Who partners Lyon?It was Ashton Agar in Australia’s previous Test in Sydney, as McDonald went on record stating that they wanted left-arm orthodox to complement Lyon, particularly with Travis Head’s improvement as a part-time offspinner heightening the need for a different skillset in the attack. Agar went wicketless and battled for control, which was understandable given he has worked tirelessly at becoming one of Australia’s best T20 bowlers in recent years at the expense of playing very few first-class games; before Sydney, his last Test had come back in 2017, while since 2021 he has played only four first-class games.Todd Murphy has emerged as arguably Australia’s second-best red-ball spinner but, like Lyon, he too is an offspinner, albeit a different one. The desire for a left-arm spinner is strong, though, given that in the previous game played at the venue of the first Test, Vidarbha bowled Gujarat out for 54 when defending only 73 in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class competition. Granted, that match was played on a side pitch while the Test between India and Australia will be held on one of the centre pitches, but it was left-arm spin that did most of the damage.Ashton Agar’s last Test in Asia had come in 2017•Getty ImagesNine of the ten wickets in Gujarat’s second innings – which happened to take place on the third day of the match itself – had fallen to left-arm orthodox spin, while 23 of the last 30 in the game also went to the same kind of bowling. The pitch for the first Test is expected to be very dry, and India are certain to have at least four right-hand batters in their top seven; that number could rise if they play one or both of Suryakumar Yadav and KS Bharat.But Murphy’s record against right-handers in seven first-class matches – with 14 wickets at 26.7, and a strike rate of 62.2 – far outweighs Agar’s in his last 12 matches (10 wickets at 75.9, while striking at 171.5).Legspinner Mitchell Swepson is also in the squad, having played four of Australia’s five Tests in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year. But Australia’s selectors have flagged a clear preference for a fingerspinner offering more control in India, with even India not preferring Kuldeep Yadav at home in recent times; although the fact that all three of Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are better batters than Kuldeep might have also played a part.Eventually, Australia must decide between trying Agar for the first time in Asia in the last six years, or handing a debut to Murphy, which would leave them with two specialist offspinners, and a part-time offspinner in Head with very little rough to exploit outside the right-handers’ off stump given there will be no left-arm quicks playing in either team to create any footmarks to exploit.
Root’s side look increasingly accomplished, bringing much-needed cheer for supporters locked down at home
George Dobell18-Jan-2021England supporters have never had it so good.Yes, the lockdown is rubbish. And yes, as the pandemic continues to ravage the UK, you can almost imagine plague-ridden Londoners of the 1660s looking on and sighing: ‘those millennials are having it tough’. There’s no disputing that life in general is pretty grim right now.But on the cricket pitch, at least, this England team is achieving things which their predecessors could scarcely imagine.Victory in Galle means England have won four successive away Tests for the first time in more than 60 years. To put that in perspective, when the first of those previous four victories was achieved (against New Zealand, in March 1955), Winston Churchill was Prime Minister. By the time of the last (in January 1957), the country was in the middle of the Suez Crisis.If this sounds like a modest achievement by comparison with some other sides, it should never be forgotten how awful England have been for really quite sustained periods in their cricketing history. Even recently, from October 2016 to November 2018, England went 13 Tests in a row without an away Test victory.Across the 1980s and 90s, they won 16 of the 96 away Tests they played. At least three of those came in dead rubbers, with four more against a post-Hadlee New Zealand side in transition and one against a Sri Lanka team still finding its feet. Between December 1986 and February 1990, they didn’t win away at all.Ahead of one Ashes tour, England said their aim was simply to “compete.” Which is one up from saying the aim was to turn up on time in the right clothes. And even that proved too much to ask at times. You’d need Wes Craven to direct a documentary that really conveys how awful it was following England in the 90s.So yes, Sri Lanka (who have now lost five times in a row to England at home) were remarkably poor in their first innings in Galle. And yes, South Africa are not the side they once were. But these are significant, historic victories from an England perspective. It would be churlish to explain them away entirely.At the centre of all this is Joe Root. With a double-century – his record-equalling second as captain – he went a long way towards defining the course of this game. In the course of doing so, he passed 8,000 Test runs in fewer innings than any England player except Kevin Pietersen and with a higher average than any of those above him on the overall list.Almost as impressively, he marshalled an attack which included two obviously rusty spinners – Dom Bess and Jack Leach – sufficiently well that both claimed five-wicket hauls – the first time a pair of England spinners have done this in the same Test since 1982 – and grew in confidence as the Test wore on.Root was rewarded for his faith in Buttler, Bess and Leach•SLCHe was also rewarded by keeping faith with Jos Buttler, who put in perhaps the most accomplished performance of his Test career with the gloves. This was England’s first away victory when batting second since 2016 and Root’s first as captain without his key allrounder, Ben Stokes. For one reason or another, he was without Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes, too. Whichever way you look at it, that’s a good effort.Root has now led England to victory in 24 Tests. Only Michael Vaughan, who led the side to 26 wins, has more victories as captain for England, while only Mike Brearley has a higher win percentage out of regular captains than his 53.33%.Of course, there are far fewer draws in Root’s era, meaning his loss percentage is higher too. But Brearley never captained against West Indies, the outstanding side of the age, and his Ashes results were skewed by Australia’s World Series absentees. And crucially, his batting average as captain (22.88) was less than half of Root’s (48.80).Regrettably, England’s Test captains are still judged disproportionately on their success in Ashes series, particularly away from home. As a result, Root’s legacy will be determined by events over the next 12 months, and it would take something approaching a miracle for England to win in both India and Australia.But with his boyish face and soft voice, Root can easily be underestimated. He doesn’t have the obvious authority – or World Cup-winning CV boost – of Eoin Morgan. He doesn’t have the gravitas bestowed on Brearley by his academic background, or the free-to-air platform of Vaughan. And, most of all, he doesn’t have the complete lack of expectation that accompanied previous England captains on tour.Related
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But he’s a decent man, an indecently talented batsman and hugely respected by a team that see him as their natural leader and unifier. He has not only improved his team’s results, but improved their standing in the eyes of the public. In Galle, he actually raised his bat to the one England spectator on the fort when he reached his 200 and then took the time to phone him afterwards.He’s embraced the requirement to pose for every selfie, accept every interview request and ensure a team which was in a state of something approaching civil war at the start of 2014 has developed into something entertaining, likeable and generally pretty successful. And he’s accepted the sacrifice in his own returns – he averages 44.33 as captain and 52.80 when not – without complaint.Perhaps there is a lesson here. Root could doubtless have done with more preparation time coming into this game, but it is also relevant that he was fresh. Having missed out on selection for England’s T20I squad in South Africa, he came into this Test without playing competitively since September.His work ethic is admirable: at the end of the summer, he played for Yorkshire in the Blast the day after his release from the England bubble. His love for the game is charming: “I love playing cricket” is his typical answer when asked about his T20 future. But as someone already juggling the demands of fatherhood, captaincy and the pressures of being his side’s best batsman, he is a man of whom a huge amount is required.If England want to continue to get the best out of Root, he does need to be treated with the same care as Archer and Stokes seem to be. It may well make sense to officially lay his T20I career to rest and tell him he will not be required for ODI cricket again until at least the other side of the Ashes.Joe Root thrived on the sweep shot during his double-century•SLC”With the time off, the thing that’s really benefited me is having a period of time to work on my game,” he said after the Galle Test. “To have time to think about things and take stock and look where I can improve. That’s where I think I’ve benefited the most.”There will be occasions where I might have to miss out here and there. I’m desperate to play as much as I can. I love playing cricket, love playing for England and feel very privileged to get the opportunity. I suppose getting the balance right is very important. But the way I thought about things in that period of time off, I will look to replicate.”I don’t think you can ever be a finished article as a captain. I certainly don’t feel it’s the case with me. I will always look to improve and get better; I feel I am getting a better handle on things.”Captains of a previous vintage will look at the job now and wish they had central contracts in their day. And it’s true, they are a major asset. But Root has not been dealt a handful of aces by a set-up that renders it difficult to produce red-ball players and demands its best international players adhere to a schedule a Victorian factory owner might feel excessive.Don’t forget that England are likely to play 17 Tests this year, alongside a T20 World Cup and what amounts to a goodwill tour of Pakistan. Like several other sides, they have spent a large part of the last eight months in bio-bubbles that vastly inhibit the freedoms we used to take for granted. In doing so, they’ve ensured the English game – including the counties, women’s cricket and the disability sides – has been able to keep its head above water despite the storm that threatened to wash it away. There has barely been a squeak of complaint from any of them.Whatever happens over the next year, Root’s England side have provided some much-needed cheer for a land going through its bleakest period since World War 2. For that, he deserves rather more respect, rather more appreciation and, crucially, rather more nurturing than he sometimes receives.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi warned an in-demand Mason Greenwood that while leaving the French giants might be simple, finding a club that offers the same platform and passion could prove far harder. The English striker’s electric debut season in Ligue 1 has turned heads across Europe, but De Zerbi is making it clear, Marseille isn’t prepared to let its crown jewel walk out the door without a fight.
De Zerbi remains adamant about Greenwood's futureMarseille reluctant to sell star strikerLigue 1 opener against Rennes loomsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Greenwood’s first year at the Stade Velodrome couldn’t have been scripted better. Bagging 21 league goals, the former Manchester United man not only became a Ligue 1 sensation but also claimed a share of the coveted Golden Boot, along with Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele.
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Such a form has inevitably stirred up interest, with clubs in Spain and Saudi Arabia monitoring his situation closely. In Spain, memories are still fresh of his standout spell at Getafe, where he showcased the same sharp eye for goal and creativity that has now lit up Marseille’s attack.
WHAT DE ZERBI SAID
Speaking to reporters ahead of the new season, De Zerbi underlined his desire to keep his core squad intact, name-checking Greenwood alongside key names like Leonardo Balerdi, Geronimo Rulli, Adrien Rabiot, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
"I don't think they'll leave," he said. "Keeping Balerdi, Rulli, Rabiot Hojbjerg, Greenwood is important for OM and for them. It's easy to leave Marseille but difficult to find a similar place."
DID YOU KNOW?
The prospect of losing Greenwood is one that Marseille’s hierarchy clearly dreads. A clause in the agreement that took Greenwood from Old Trafford to the south of France means United are entitled to 50 per cent of any transfer fee the Ligue 1 club might receive for him.
Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another new forward this summer after sealing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with Thomas Frank reportedly eager to reinforce his brand-new squad ahead of the tactician’s debut campaign in the Champions League.
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It will be Frank’s first-ever season managing in Europe’s most illustrious competition, and far more eyes will be on the Dane in comparison to his successful stint at mid-table Brentford.
The pressure that comes with leading a ‘big six’ side will be very new to the 51-year-old, but it is something that Frank will need to take in his stride over the course of this three-year contract.
“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?
“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy. That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.”
Above all, Frank will need backing in the transfer market, and their indefinite deal for Tel simply won’t be enough.
Son’s very possible move to Saudi Arabia, which would put an end to his legendary 10-year stay at N17, has exacerbated Frank’s need for another proven winger, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo among their key targets in that regard.
Tottenham make contact over signing Antoine Semenyo
Tottenham have already been tipped to make a £65 million bid for Semenyo, but that won’t be enough, as journalist Pete O’Rourke explains to Football Insider this week.
According to the reporter, Spurs have made contact over a deal for Semenyo, with the Cherries having placed a £70 million valuation on their star front man. However, if Frank’s side meet this price tag and make the Ghanaian their club-record signing, Bournemouth are confident they can sign a “swift” replacement and have a “contingency plan” in place.
O’Rourke adds that there is a “real possibility” that Bournemouth could lose Semenyo amid Spurs’ approach, and he could be their fourth high-profile exit of the window after Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and potentially Illia Zabarnyi, who’s in advanced talks to join PSG.
The 25-year-old bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing a decent mixture of roles on the left and right-hand side.
Semenyo’s versatility and proven Premier League experience would be invaluable for Frank, but Daniel Levy will need to dig deep into his pockets.
Former Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe has revealed Granit Xhaka asked for his input before moving to the "sleeping giants" of Sunderland.
Xhaka signs for SunderlandEx-Tottenham man talks up moveSays Black Cats are "sleeping giant"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Swiss international secured a surprise move from Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen to newly-promoted Premier League outfit Sunderland last month. Now, former England forward Defoe has spoken about the midfielder asking for advice about places to live in the north east, the fanbase, the club, and more.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT DEFOE SAID
He told Sky Sports: "He [Xhaka] reached out to me because he was on my A license (coaching) when we did it last year. Just if people think, 'Arsenal and Tottenham, that's a bit strange!' but he's a nice guy and a family man. He reached out to me and said 'It looks like I am going to sign for Sunderland, is there anywhere I can live?'. It was important to his wife and kids and for school. I pointed him in the right direction and he obviously spoke to me about the club, I said 'It's a sleeping giant' and a Premier League club at the end of the day. When it's going well there, it's one of the better places to play football. The atmosphere and the fanbase is huge, I am sure he will enjoy it."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Former Arsenal star Xhaka has enjoyed a distinguished career, playing in World Cups, European Championships, the Champions League, and winning trophies. So for many, it was a surprise to see him move to a side that is one of the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League. But it seems he still wants another crack at English football.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
The 32-year-old, who joined Regis Le Bris' team on a three-year deal, could make his full Sunderland debut as the north east outfit host West Ham in their Premier League opener on Saturday, August 16.
da betcris： Chelsea find themselves in the hunt for a striker this summer and could now have landed a boost after one target has agreed to leave his current club.
Chelsea looking to sign a striker
da esport bet： Nicolas Jackson’s red card against Flamengo last week at the Club World Cup has raised conversations over whether the Blues should look for another striker despite Liam Delap arriving earlier in the window from Ipswich Town.
The Senegalese attacker was also sent off against Newcastle towards the end of the Premier League season, missing some crucial games during the run-in, but he did contribute with an effort in the Blues’ Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis upon his return.
Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez celebrate in the Europa Conference League final.
While Jackson continues to divide opinion, Chelsea have opened talks to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain as his loan spell at Juventus draws towards a close.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is also mentioned. Nevertheless, Liverpool have emerged as rivals for his signature amid their recent mission to get things done swiftly after claiming the Premier League title.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is a key priority for Chelsea and Mohammed Kudus could move to Stamford Bridge from West Ham United, with the latter capable of stepping in through the middle when needed.
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Whether it be finding the creative foil behind the main man or securing another option to provide competition up top, Enzo Maresca is clearly in the hunt for goalscoring prowess at Stamford Bridge.
Now, he could possibly have landed a boost on that front after recent developments involving a star operating in Europe’s top-five leagues that is open to a move elsewhere.
Chelsea's long-standing Dusan Vlahovic interest could take a twist
According to Sky reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea are attentive to Dusan Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus and could now have an advantage in their hunt for a striker after it was revealed both he and the Old Lady have found agreement that he will be allowed to leave this summer.
Currently, he is on Club World Duty and won a penalty in the dying stages against Wydad Casablanca before stepping up to slot home his 16th goal of the season in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Five similar players to Dusan Vlahovic (FBRef)
Ermedin Demirovic
Stuttgart
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Valentin Castellanos
Lazio
Artem Dovbyk
Roma
Patrick Cutrone
Como
Vlahovic earns roughly £369,000 per week at Juventus and appears primed for a move, given he has one year left on his contract. He has recently turned down two big proposals from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
It feels like the Belgrade-born man has been someone in line to move to the Premier League for a number of years. However, that dream could finally be realised if Chelsea firm up their interest in his services over the next few months, which they could now do ‘under certain conditions’, per the outlet.
Phil Parkinson has been warned that he could soon be sacked, with Wrexham tipped to target a “big name” that will “enhance” their documentary.
Promotion specialist appointed in 2021Overseen three successive promotionsChange being mooted in ChampionshipFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney worked hard to bring EFL promotion specialist Parkinson to North Wales shortly after their stunning takeover was completed in 2021.
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They have seen him deliver a historic rise through the Football League, with 136 victories being picked up through 221 games at the helm. Parkinson’s place in Red Dragons folklore is safely secured.
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Questions have, however, been asked of his tactical approach at times. More of those are doing the rounds as Wrexham step up into the Championship. It is being suggested that the 57-year-old will not see out the 2025-26 campaign at SToK Racecourse.
Getty/GOALWHAT EFL PUNDIT SAID
EFL pundit Ryan Dilks has told the when discussing managers that face axe threats: “Let’s go with someone who can probably get packing their bags now, Phil Parkinson at Wrexham. Probably one that’s not going to go down well with some Wrexham fans. But the reason I say that is because I just look at the job he’s done so far and great, he’s a Wrexham legend without a doubt, of course back-to-back-to-back promotions, it’s a pretty impressive thing to do. But I think he is above his level now, I think he’s out of his depth in the Championship based off all the evidence that we’ve seen from him before at Championship level and to be honest.
“I’m quite surprised he’s managed to last this long at Wrexham because he’s not a big name, he’s not someone who I think is going to enhance a documentary put it that way.
“So with that being said, I think this could be Phil Parkinson’s last season at Wrexham. I think the most likely scenario is they don’t do as well as expected, and then they sack him and get in a manager who’s a much bigger name and is more entertaining for a documentary. So yeah Phil Parkinson, I’m pretty sure about losing his job at some point this season.”