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Everton head coach David Moyes was heavily backed by the club throughout the summer transfer window with a host of new signings to bolster the squad.

Jack Grealish, who scored the winning goal against Crystal Palace last time out, has been a standout signing for the Toffees since his move to the club on loan from Manchester City.

The England international’s impressive start to life at Everton, with one goal and four assists in the Premier League, has meant that Iliman Ndiaye has had to play a new role this season.

Why Iliman Ndiaye has had to play a new role for Everton

The Senegal international played 32 of his 35 starts on the left flank for the Toffees in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, scoring 11 goals.

However, Grealish’s preferred position is on the left wing, cutting inside on his right foot, and that is the role that he has nailed down since his move from The Etihad.

Because of the English forward’s form, Ndiaye has had to be moved out wide to the right wing. Per Transfermarkt, five of his seven starts have been on the right flank, with two of his three goals coming in that position.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With Ndiaye having to play a new role on the right wing as a right-footed player, Moyes could make the attacking midfielder unplayable by starting Adam Aznou in a new role of his own at right-back.

How Adam Aznou could make Iliman Ndiaye unplayable

Everton signed the Morocco international from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, but his only appearance of the season so far came for the U21s at left-back against Doncaster in the EFL Trophy.

The 19-year-old left-back could make his breakthrough with the Toffees in a new role at right-back, though, to form an exciting partnership with Ndiaye down the right wing.

Aznou has played eight times as a right-back in his career, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can play on that side, but it is not his usual position, which is left-back, and he has not played there for Everton yet.

Premier League Panel analyst Raj Chohan described Aznou as a “natural attacking threat” and claimed that Everton’s attack would improve if they played him as a ball-carrying right-back behind Ndiaye.

The Morocco international’s form in LaLiga on loan with Real Valladollid in the second half of last season suggests that Chohan’s theory has some weight behind it.

Dribbles completed

1.96

Top 3%

Dribble success rate

55.9%

Top 24%

Touches in opposition box

1.54

Top 24%

Fouls won

1.75

Top 7%

Tackles won

2.88

Top 17%

Duels won

7.72

Top 5%

Ball recoveries

5.77

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, Aznou excelled among full-backs in the Spanish top-flight for taking players on and getting involved high up the pitch in the opposition’s box, whilst still being impressive in several defensive metrics.

These statistics suggest that the teenage talent has the defensive and technical attributes to play at right-back and support Ndiaye at the top end of the pitch, something that central defender Jake O’Brien is not a natural at in the right-back position.

This means that Ndiaye could have more space to work with in the inside right position because Aznou’s overlapping threat would force opposition defenders to pay attention to him, which would free up the Senegal international to move infield to join up with the other attackers without being marked out of the game.

At the moment, O’Brien does not carry that same threat down the right flank, which means that opposition teams can afford to put two players on the former Sheffield United star.

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Therefore, Moyes could help to make Ndiaye unplayable down the right wing by unleashing Aznou in a new role with the Toffees at right-back this season.

Warwickshire completed a level-headed chase of 185 on day three to beat Yorkshire by five wickets at Headingley, securing their second Rothesay County Championship victory of the season.The Bears started the day on 15 without loss, and openers Rob Yates and Alex Davies contributed 41 and 31 respectively. However, they reached lunch with a 20-point haul by no means secure at 109 for four, needing 76 more.But they were able to move into the top three places in the Division One table midway through the afternoon tea thanks to first-class debutant Zen Malik, who finished 49 not out off 73 balls, including a pulled six off George Hill to win it.While Warwickshire won their second game in four at the start of this season, Yorkshire have now lost two from four and are in the top flight’s bottom three.The hosts will be mightily frustrated at the fact they were unable to capitalise on the one-game availability of England batting duo Harry Brook and Joe Root. The latter’s second-innings 90 was their best score in four innings.However, consistently, they just didn’t bowl well enough on a grassy pitch offering significant assistance for the bowlers. Overseas Australian debutant Jordan Buckingham, for example, went at more than seven runs an over across the two innings on his debut, striking only twice.And the Bears were deserved winners, backing up last month’s one-wicket success at Durham.While they didn’t dominate this fixture, they were on top for much of it and were able to capitalise on winning an important toss and bowling Yorkshire out for 205 on day one.Their new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber excelled with match figures of nine for 107. Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster should also be credited for an excellent 85 in the first innings, which secured what proved to be a decisive 48-run lead for the visitors.Captain Davies started positively this morning. Of the seven boundaries he hit in his 31, three of them came off one Hill over. Two were clipped through the leg-side and the other handsomely driven through the covers.However, he was bowled through the gate by a beauty of an in-swinger from Ben Coad, losing his off and middle stumps in the process as the score fell to 45 for one in the 13th over – the day’s 10th.Buckingham then had Hamza Shaikh caught behind at 60 for two, immediately before a 10-minute rain delay, and Yates and Dan Mousley fell to New Zealand quick Ben Sears and Jordan Thompson respectively to boost Yorkshire before lunch.Left-handed Yates had been more reserved than his opening partner Davies, though by no means becalmed.He pulled Buckingham for four through midwicket and clipped Thompson through the same region for a couple of boundaries in as many overs as the score reached 85 for two, 100 more needed for the visitors.There would have been some nerves in the away dressing room when Yates was undone by extra bounce from Sears and edged a looping catch to Root at first slip before, at the start of the morning’s final over, Thompson uprooted Mousley’s off-stump – 109 for four in the 30th over.Though, those nerves wouldn’t have been around for long given how settled 27-year-old Malik looked in a fifth-wicket partnership of 59 with Ed Barnard.Right-hander Malik was strong on both sides of the wicket, and when he beautifully drove Thompson for four straight of mid-on to move into the thirties, Warwickshire were 136 for four needing 49 more.All-rounder Barnard, meanwhile, had an excellent game with three wickets in each innings, 41 with the bat first time around and then 37 to help get them over the line.With the Bears closing in, he even nonchalantly ramped Sears for six over third but edged the same bowler behind with 17 needed. It was a purely consolatory strike.

Fabrizio Romano has shared some transfer news out of Tottenham in what is a big boost for Thomas Frank, with chairman Daniel Levy adding to their short list of summer signings ahead of an imminent deadline day.

Spurs have just four days to bolster Frank’s squad in the desired areas, as Levy attempts to back the Dane before a very long and arduous campaign where the Lilywhites will be competing on four fronts.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 28, 2025

They’ve made an excellent start to the new Premier League season, rounding off impressive wins against newcomers Burnley and heavyweights Man City in the past fortnight, but injuries to key players have partly prompted a late scramble for new recruits.

James Maddison is set to miss a large portion of 2025/2026 after rupturing his ACL in pre-season, while Dejan Kulusevski could be out until much later in the year as he continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Radu Dragusin also suffered an ACL injury back in the winter, and the Romania international still isn’t ready for selection.

Tottenham’s confirmed summer signings	Price tag
Mohammed Kudus	£55 million
Kota Takai	£5 million
Mathys Tel	£30 million
Joao Palhinha	Loan
Kevin Danso	£21 million

As a result, Tottenham have been in the market for a new centre-back, number 10 and winger over the past few weeks, with club legend Son Heung-min also waving an emotional goodbye to the club earlier this month before joining LAFC.

Spurs were in talks to sign Savinho from Man City, but Pep Guardiola’s side appear to have blocked the move despite the Brazil international’s extreme eagerness to move down south for more game time.

Their search for a playmaker hasn’t been plain sailing either, with Levy missing out on both Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White in spectacular, dramatic fashion this window alone.

However, according to reports, Tottenham’s mission to sign a new number 10 could now be coming to a close.

In the last 48 hours, Spurs began talks over hijacking Chelsea’s deal for RB Leipzig sensation Xavi Simons, who was a former member of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before switching to PSG’s youth ranks.

The 22-year-old has been dazzling in Germany with Leipzig for two years, making his move there permanent in January, but he’s now set to join the Lilywhites after successful talks.

Xavi Simons signs Tottenham contract after "overnight" agreement

According to Romano, following an “overnight” agreement, Tottenham are set to sign Simons in a deal worth £52 million, with his medical already completed and contracts now penned.

The Netherlands international, who can also play on the left, will provide Frank with versatility, attacking flair and proven quality in the final third.

Despite suffering an ankle ligament injury at the start of 24/25, Simons still managed 11 goals and eight assists over 33 appearances in all competitions, with Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard previously sharing exactly what Frank can expect from his newest arrival.

Chelsea have now held talks to sign a “1v1 specialist” forward, and they are tempted to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in his contract.

Maresca keen on new attacker after Simons blow

After missing out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues have now been forced to move on to alternative options in attacking midfield, and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez is rapidly emerging as a major target.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that contact has now been made with the La Liga club over a deal, with an opening offer already being submitted.

However, reports from elsewhere have detailed that Lopez is unlikely to be sold unless the Spaniard makes it clear he wants to leave Barcelona this summer, so it could be difficult for the west Londoners to get a deal over the line.

That said, Enzo Marezca clearly remains keen on adding another forward to his ranks before the transfer deadline, with talks now being held over a deal for SC Braga star Roger Fernandes.

That is according to a report from A Bola, which states Chelsea have now initiated contact over a deal, with the Premier League club now weighing up whether to trigger the €40m (£35m) release clause in Fernandes’ Braga contract.

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Braga would not be willing to settle for anything less, with the Blues planning to sign the 19-year-old now, before immediately loaning him out to sister club Strasbourg, where game time would perhaps be more of a guarantee.

"1v1 specialist" Fernandes is one for the future

Scout Ben Mattinson lauded the youngster when he first burst onto the scene, saying: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”

Despite still being a teenager, the Braga starlet has amassed an impressive number of goals and assists in his opening two full Liga Portugal campaigns.

Season

Liga Portugal appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

14

9

2024-25

28

7

That said, the right-winger is still very young, and Chelsea are already well-stocked out wide, most recently confirming the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.

As such, while Fernandes could be a fantastic long-term addition to Maresca’s squad, the main focus should be to bring in a new attacking midfielder to provide competition for Cole Palmer, while a new striker may also be needed to replace Nicolas Jackson and the injured Liam Delap.

Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta, Georgia, at the weekend, as Ruben Amorim’s side won the Premier League Summer Series over in the United States.

Football is encapsulated by peaks and troughs, and so too was this closing pre-season fixture over the pond defined by some good and some bad for the Red Devils, who are desperate to find themselves once again after finishing 15th in last season’s Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Change was always going to be necessary, and INEOS have indeed acted with intent to reshape the frontline, signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from divisional rivals.

However, more is still needed. United require another central midfielder, and remain interested in replacing Andre Onana between the sticks.

But there’s no question that the most pressing, and most prominent, concern remains finding a new out-and-out central striker.

Man Utd's attacking transfer plans

Rasmus Hojlund, 22, has been vocal in his desire to stay at Manchester United next season and fight for his place at number nine, but the rumour mill suggests technical director Jason Wilcox has transfer-listed him for £30m.

The Danish striker flattered to deceive last season. Sure, he was let down by a dearth of creativity behind him, but lacked control and confidence, and scored only four times across 32 appearances in the Premier League.

And Amorim is focused on signing an upgrade, and the chosen target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has emerged at the centre of the transfer tussle also involving Newcastle United.

The Magpies made a £70m bid on Saturday, which was rejected. Man United haven’t, although INEOS know they can sign the Slovenian without having to sell first (whereas Newcastle must first cash in the Alexander Isak cheque).

But could the Old Trafford side yet have an even bigger deal in the pipeline?

Man Utd lining up British-record bid

According to Spanish sources, Manchester United are ready to shatter the transfer market by launching a bid for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The 24-year-old is one of the best players in the world, and no mistake. However, he has been the subject of persistent transfer speculation concerning the Saudi Pro League in recent years, owing largely to a new Los Blancos contract that remains unpenned.

Man United want to take advantage and remind the world that they are a superpower. A package worth €200m (£174m) is being put together, and that would make the Brazilian the most expensive player in British football history.

Why Man Utd want Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is one of football’s true superstars, having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for a £39m fee as a teenager in 2018.

Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “He’s a player who is already considered one of the great hopes of Brazilian and world football.”

Though Sesko is a centre-forward, and Vinicius Jr is more of goalscoring winger, this would be an opportunity too good to pass up, and there’s no question that the South American is the target INEOS must prioritise.

Indeed, it’s not like he doesn’t have the skills to serve as a goalscoring sensation at the club. As per FBref, the Real gem ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Perhaps he’s coming off the back of a campaign that left something to be desired, but the man still notched 22 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. In fact, he’s now surpassed 35 goal involvements for four seasons in succession.

Sesko, conversely, has yet to prove he has what it takes to take a seat at the elite table, having scored 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga fixtures in 2024/25.

The potential is there, and, of course, Sesko may well shape into one of the finest goalscorers in the business if he signs for Man United this summer, but in Vinicius Jr, Amorim would land a tailor-made figurehead with an absurd amount of technical quality. He’s the real deal.

Of course, the Brazil international is typically found coming off the left flank, and that’s an area that Cunha will be expected to play in, but the Madrid man’s compatriot started up front for Amorim’s team against Everton the other day, and Vinicius Jr, too, could be interchangeable positionally.

Vinicius Junior – Career Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals	Assists
Left winger	284	86	73
Centre-forward	60	29	15
Right winger	14	3	2
Attacking midfield	2	1	0
Data via Transfermarkt

If the talk of his shooting ability wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old also averaged two key passes per game in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore, also averaging 2.7 dribbles and a whopping 5.8 duels per match. Earning £349k per week, you’d expect him to bring such a degree of completeness to the table.

Further, he’s one of the most recognisable faces currently competing in the Champions League, scoring in the 2018 final against Liverpool and the 2023 final versus Borussia Dortmund, triumphant on both occasions.

That’s the kind of pedigree Man United need if they are to restore themselves, rekindle that fire that once burned so bright at the height of the global game.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr has already left an indelible mark at Real Madrid, and could take his development to the next level by becoming a talisman at Old Trafford.

Sure, Sesko is a talented young striker with plenty of power and much determination besides, but we’re talking about a star on a different scale here, and if there truly is a chance to bring Vini over to the Premier League, the Red Devils must pounce as they march back to the top of the European scene.

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Newcastle United hold a “strong interest” in signing an exciting set-piece expert this summer, according to a new report from reliable journalist John Percy.

Two new signings agreed at Newcastle

It has been a tumultuous summer at St James’ Park, with the Magpies failing to bring in numerous transfer targets, being pipped by other Premier League clubs to the likes of James Trafford and Bryan Mbeumo, among others.

Still, there have been more positive signs in the past few days, with AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw agreeing a move to Newcastle, strengthening Eddie Howe’s defensive options, which has been a priority throughout the summer transfer window. He underwent a medical on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Magpies have also completed the signing of teenager Isaac Moran, who was formerly at Liverpool, with the 16-year-old midfielder coming in as a bright part of the club’s future.

It is important that further business is also completed between now and deadline day, not least signing a couple of strikers if Alexander Isak ends up sealing a move to Liverpool. Now, a positive update has emerged in that respect.

Newcastle have "strong interest" in set-piece wizard

According to Percy on X, Newcastle club chiefs have a “strong interest” in Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, amid interest from other Premier League clubs.

El Khannouss is a big talent who could impress greatly for the Magpies, not least with his set-piece quality that he outlined over the weekend during the opening round of Championship matches.

The 21-year-old registered both assists in Leicester’s 2-1 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, both from set-pieces, and he is arguably too good a footballer to be playing in the second tier of English football.

El Khannouss has been hailed as an “elite” player by Ben Mattinson as recently as last year, and while an attacking midfielder by trade, he can also take up a deeper role if needed, and can shine on the left wing.

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At 21, there is still so much more to come from the Moroccan, too, and he could add some extra midfield guile that is arguably needed for Newcastle, giving Howe a different option to the likes of Joelinton and Joe Willock in the current squad.

A series defeat at home to New Zealand, sealed by a pair of spinners who had come on this tour with a combined two first-class five-fors, has led to questions about whether there has been a decline in India’s ability to play the turning ball on turning tracks. India head coach Gautam Gambhir wasn’t willing to go that far, but he did highlight a decline in defensive skills as a result of widespread T20 cricket.”Sometimes you’ve got to give it to the opposition as well,” he said on Thursday, a day before the third Test in Mumbai. “I think Mitchell Santner was outstanding in the last game, but yes, we’ll keep working hard. We’ll keep getting better. That’s about it. Guys are putting a lot of hard yards in the nets. Yes, ultimately it’s the results that matter when you’re playing international cricket, but I don’t think so that our skill against spin has actually gone down.”India have suffered collapses in every innings of this series. Forty-six all out happened in highly unusual conditions in Bengaluru, but from there, they have lost 7 for 54, 6 for 73 and 5 for 40, which has forced them to work on how to bat time in tough conditions.Related

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“Test cricket is about playing sessions,” Gambhir said. “I think if we can start to learn how to play sessions, and the kind of quality we have in our batting line-up, I think if we end up playing four to four-and-a-half sessions, we’ll have a lot of runs on the board.”The inability to meet this fundamental demand has highlighted the challenge that modern-day batters face in the era of T20 cricket. “We need to defend better,” Gambhir said. “I think that is something which is important. And especially on a turning track. Because if you’ve got confidence on your defence, a lot of things can be sorted. And that is something which we need to keep getting better, keep working on.”Because, again, I’ll keep going back to the same answer that a lot has to do with limited over-cricket and T20 cricket as well that when you’re so used to muscling the ball, that you end up forgetting the soft hands and all that stuff, which probably used to happen eight or 10 years back. So that is something, that is why I said that a complete cricketer is a cricketer who plays T20 format really successfully and also the Test cricket really successfully. He can adapt his game. And that is what growth is.”Growth is not only going about hitting the ball in the stands. It’s also about batting sessions on a turning track, where you know that you will not be able to hit in the stands, but you will be able to rotate better. For that, I think the foundation is very, very important.”The Mumbai Test is likely to be played in conditions that should help the spinners as well. At the end of India’s practice session on Thursday morning, the captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli took a good, long look at the pitch with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Kohli then left, but Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel joined Rohit and Nayar and the four of them were involved in a discussion that lasted about 20 minutes. A little while later, the groundstaff began to brush away whatever grass that had managed to cling to the surface. Batters may have to unlearn the skills that help them succeed in T20s to do well here. But is that possible? Can a coach help them make that switch?”To a certain extent, yes,” Gambhir said, “To a certain extent, it has to come from the individual as well. That how much value does he end up giving it in defending the ball? That is something which is very important. And especially on a turning track. Because I’ve always believed that the best players and the most successful players in this format, or be it any format, always had solid defense. So that is something which we keep talking about. And it is not the overnight thing that we’re going to talk about it today and people will start getting better tomorrow. But it’s a continuous process. We need to keep working on it. We need to keep telling people the importance of defense.”Could India end up facing a situation where they have to look at a separate set of players more suited to Test cricket? Gambhir couldn’t commit to a hypothetical question but he did admit that “going forward, obviously, we will have to identify players who are solid red-ball cricketers. Because ultimately, to get the results, you will have to work really hard for three or four days or five days to be honest. So sometimes, as I just mentioned, it’s important. If we can bat sessions, we know that we’ve got the bowling attack to take 20 wickets. At the moment, it’s difficult to answer.”

After two rainy, non-cricket days at Green Park, Kanpur sprung to life on sunny Monday with a speedy India breaking a few Test records. Rohit Sharma extended his white-ball cricket template that has given him immense success in the last couple of years to red-ball cricket, as he cracked 23 off 11 balls, with rest of the India line-up following suit. That approach saw them register the fastest team 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 in men’s Tests, and declare their first innings on 285 for 9 in just 34.4 overs after Bangladesh were bowled out for 233.By stumps, R Ashwin managed to trap Zakir Hasan lbw and bowled nightwatcher Hasan Mahmud, while Shadman Islam survived a dropped chance on 3, as Bangladesh ended the day at 26 for 2 in the second innings, trailing India by a further 26.This was after Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul scored quickfire fifties for India, striking at 141.17 and 158.13, respectively, to give Indian bowlers another shot at Bangladesh’s batters in the dying hours of the penultimate day of the Test. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan picked up four wickets apiece on a surface that showed enough signs of spin.With the sun finally beating down after successive days of overcast conditions and rain, the pitch showed signs of better carry in the first session. But the inherent nature of the black-soil surface meant a few deliveries did keep a tad low.None of that mattered for Jaiswal, who kickstarted India’s response with a hat-trick of fours off Mahmud, who had picked up a five-for in Chennai. At the other end, Rohit thumped the first two balls he faced for sixes, first jumping down the track to fast bowler Khaled Ahmed to deposit him over long-on, before pulling one into the deep-square leg stands. The pair hit two fours and two sixes more to bring up India’s fifty in just three overs.Shakib Al Hasan picked four wickets in India’s first innings•Getty Images

In a bid to slow India down, Bangladesh brought Mehidy on, and though he was greeted with a four clubbed through midwicket, he almost struck fourth ball when Rohit was ruled out lbw. But Rohit reviewed and survived, with the ball hitting him outside the line of leg. On the next ball, though, Mehidy had the last laugh, getting one flighted delivery to keep low and spin back in sharply through Rohit’s defence.That did not deter Jaiswal, who went on a rampage against spin. India managed to hit at least one four in each of overs six to 12. In the process, Jaiswal brought up a 31-ball fifty and India got to 100 in just 10.1 overs. He used his reach well to put the spinners off their lengths, the highlight being a biggie he smoked over long-on off Mehidy, who also got the ball to dip in on a fullish length. However, the low bounce of the surface came into play when Mahmud’s length ball stayed a bit low to clatter into Jaiswal’s stumps.Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also attacked from the get-go, with the former plonking Mehidy over deep midwicket after dancing down the track. But they perished off Shakib after tea, with India in ultra-attack mode. Yet, there was no slowing India down. Their attacking game had pushed Bangladesh back, and for most part, they had at least five fielders at the boundary.Kohli and Rahul used this to rotate strike and bat freely. Kohli was unafraid to use his feet, and switched his ODI mode on. This was after a mix-up with Pant should have sent Kohli back, but Khaled underarmed the throw at the striker’s end and missed despite getting to the stumps. Kohli was stranded out of the crease and had given up.He rubbed salt into Khaled and Bangladesh’s wounds by hitting him for back-to-back fours, the second off which was a loft over extra cover. He also used his feet against spin, thumping Taijul Islam straight over long-off. In a bid to slog Shakib over midwicket, though, he was bowled after one skidded through.Rahul, however, used the sweep and reverse sweep aplenty, and never for once stalled. He looked at ease against the lowish pace on the surface and managed to encash on any width. He put on a masterclass of playing against spin, and scored his fastest Test fifty, off 33 balls. But India went from 269 for 5 to 284 for 9 just before the declaration.Ravindra Jadeja got his 300th Test wicket•Associated Press

The day began with Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah bowling four maidens in the first five overs of Bangladesh’s first innings. The only run in that phase came via Mushfiqur Rahim’s inside edge, with both bowlers hitting the area around good length for varying degrees of lift-off. Bumrah then got an in-ducker to bounce more and take Mushfiqur’s inside edge for four, but knocked him over next ball after he shouldered arms. The boundary ball had landed on a good length outside off and deviated 2cms into the batter, as per broadcast; the wicket ball deviated about 6cms from the same landing spot, and led to Mushfiqur’s misjudgment.Rohit was unafraid to set attacking fields, and the sight of three slips and two gullies was a familiar one for a better part of the first session. That allowed enough gaps for the Bangladesh batters to hit fours, as Litton Das did three times in an over off Bumrah. But India’s disciplined bowling created enough pressure, and Litton fell in a bid to break the shackles, aided by a brilliant piece of fielding. He charged at a length ball from Mohammed Siraj, and slapped it aerially towards wide mid-off, where Rohit timed his jump perfectly to pluck a one-hander.Shakib’s stay in the middle then lasted only 17 balls, his attempt to use his feet against Ashwin proving to be his undoing. He could have got away with it, if not for Siraj backtracking from mid-off and holding on to a one-handed catch while falling backwards.Mominul Haque was the only Bangladesh batter who showed resistance, scoring his 13th Test century, and only his second away from home. He used the sweep to good effect against spin, and did not allow Ravindra Jadeja to settle. He also used his feet well, and got into the 90s by lofting him straight over. Mominul got a couple of lives when Pant failed to hold on to an under-edge feather on 93, and then on 95 when Kohli grassed him after diving to his left from wide first slip.After lunch, Mehidy hit Bumrah for three fours in seven balls, but the latter extracted revenge by getting him to edge a back-of-a-length ball that angled in and seamed away. Jadeja then caught and bowled Khaled to pick up his 300th Test wicket as Bangladesh lost their last seven wickets for 121 runs.

Arsenal have spent big in transfer windows in the past, but this summer is starting to feel like something else entirely.

At the back, Andrea Berta and Co have signed Kepa Arizabalaga and are soon to sign Christian Mosquera.

In midfield, they’ve made a significant investment in the £60m Martin Zubimendi, are being linked with Eberechi Eze, and have completed the shrewd signing of Christian Norgaard.

Then, in attack, the club are set to land Noni Madueke for around £52m and, perhaps most exciting of all, look set to make the statement signing of Viktor Gyokeres, and if reports are to be believed, they are now looking at someone who’d help him perform even better at the Emirates.

Arsenal target perfect teammate for Gyokeres

There was no doubt in the minds of most fans that, coming into this summer, Arsenal had to go all out for a new striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Mikel Arteta and Co must have felt the same way, as their hunt for a number nine has been one of the biggest sagas of the window thus far.

However, once it was clear that Benjamin Sesko was being priced out of a move by RB Leipzig, the Gunners promptly turned their attention to Gyokeres.

Despite Sporting CP’s president talking a big game, it now looks like the North Londoners have got their man, for an initial price said to be just £55m.

The good news doesn’t stop there, though, as it now appears that Berta and Co are looking to sign another attacker, someone who could help the Swede perform even better at the Emirates.

At least, that is according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, who has revealed that Arsenal are keen on Anthony Gordon.

Jacobs claims that the Premier League runners-up hold a ‘genuine interest’ in the Newcastle United star, although they’d likely have to make a sale before making an offer for him.

Moreover, while there is no mention of how much he might cost in the story, reports from earlier this month claim that the Magpies could demand as much as £100m for the Englishman.

While it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, Gordon would undoubtedly be a level-raiser for Arsenal’s left-hand side, and someone who could help Gyokeres be even more effective.

Why Gordon would make Gyokeres even better

While there are undoubtedly a range of reasons Gordon could help Gyokeres perform at an even higher level at Arsenal next season, the most important of the lot is down to his output.

After all, if the Swedish international isn’t being supplied a steady stream of chances to convert, he’s not going to rack up the goals.

Additionally, with 13 assists to his name last season, the former Coventry City ace is reasonably creative, but if the man to his left isn’t a reliable finisher, then he won’t see his assist tally soar either.

Fortunately, over the last couple of years, the Newcastle star has proven himself to be a real threat on the wing, both as a creator and a goalscorer.

For example, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, he’s scored 21 goals and provided 23 assists in 90 appearances, totalling 6815 minutes.

In other words, the Liverpool-born “nightmare,” as he described himself, has averaged a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 154.88 minutes across the last two years.

In contrast, Gabriel Martinelli, who he’d likely replace, has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 95 games, totalling 6204 minutes in the same period, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.27 games, or every 213.93 minutes.

Appearances

48

44

Minutes

3869′

2640′

Goals

12

8

Assists

16

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

138.17′

203.07′

Appearances

42

51

Minutes

2946′

3564′

Goals

9

10

Assists

7

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.38

0.31

Minutes per Goal Involvement

184.12′

222.75′

Finally, in addition to his output, the former Everton gem also ranked in the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers for passes into the penalty area last season, according to FBref.

This is important because, by looking at the Swedish goal machine’s heatmap from last season, it’s evident that he likes to spend as much time in the penalty area as possible.

Therefore, to get the most out of him, his teammates need to get the ball to him in dangerous areas, which is something the Toon star could do based on that metric.

Ultimately, Gyokeres has the potential to be a game-changing signing for Arsenal, and Arteta and Co. could get even more out of him by pairing him up with Gordon.

As exciting as Gyokeres: £80m "superstar" now open to signing for Arsenal

The international monster would be a game-changing signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 15, 2025

Everton came on leaps and bounds under David Moyes’ wing in 2024/25, but there’s no doubt they petered out toward the end of the campaign, illustrating the need for summer reinforcements.

After a slow start that has been defined by outings, things are starting to move at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Indeed, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure at the end of his contract is poignant, the Toffees are close to signing 22-year-old striker Thierno Barry, who has a £34.5m release clause with Villarreal and scored 19 goals across 41 matches last term.

Further additions are expected. Everton might have parted ways with a whole host of first-team stars, but they have also succeeded in tying down an irreplaceable member of the squad to a new deal.

He plays in defence.

The latest on Everton's backline

Despite plenty of speculation, Everton have extended Jarrad Branthwaite’s contract, and the centre-back is now contracted to the Merseyside club until 2030.

While Michael Keane has extended his contract on Merseyside, he is fixed in a back-up role, and landing Branthwaite for more years to come provides an incredible lift, especially as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been sniffing around.

With James Tarkowski, 32, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Jake O’Brien playing so well at right-back, it might be an idea to bring in another centre-half.

Well, according to Italian publication La Repubblica – via Sport Witness – Everton have entered the race for Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck, who could leave San Siro this summer as a by-product of an acrimonious and wide fallout at the club.

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have also been named as suitors, with the German expected to command a £34m transfer fee.

Why Everton want to sign Yann Bisseck

Everton would sign their most modern-tailored central defender yet in Bisseck, who has developed steely defensive skills and an ever-improving ball-playing talent.

That and a shrewd eye for goal. As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranked among the top 3% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal involvements, the top 19% for pass completion, the top 6% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 3% for aerial duel success rate.

What does that tell us? Well, it certainly underscores Bisseck’s roundedness, progressive in his play while utilising his tall frame to defend from aerial attacks.

Something of a career nomad already, the 24-year-old has played 67 matches for Inter Milan, posting five goals and five assists apiece. Used across different competitions, he was a regular feature during Simeone Inzaghi’s Champions League run last term, starting seven of the matches.

And he was hardly a passenger. Throughout Inter’s continental campaign, Bisseck won 66% of his duels, as per Sofascore, and completed 87% of his passes, emphasising the technical virtues Moyes demands from his defenders.

But the expansive nature of his brand is what could see him step above even a player of Branthwaite’s ability.

Goal involvements

0.04

0.20

Touches

54.48

75.63

Passes attempted

42.94

64.92

Pass completion

82.1%

90.6%

Progressive passes

2.37

4.39

Progressive carries

0.36

1.64

Ball recoveries

3.33

3.19

Tackles + interceptions

2.26

2.12

Clearances

6.85

4.19

Blocks

1.11

1.48

As you can see, Bisseck’s passing and ball-carrying game is far above that of Branthwaite, having spent more time on the ball over the past year and retained it with greater regularity too.

While the more expansive part of Branthwaite’s game has been hemmed back by tactical duties, Bisseck still far outstrips his positional peer as far as the technical side of the game is concerned.

Given that Inter’s man, who played such an important part in reaching the Champions League final last year, has been hailed as a “diamond” of a defender by journalist Antonio Mango, he might just emerge as Moyes’ star man in the rearguard, should Everton prevail in their bid.

Bigger talent than Barry: Everton chasing £28m ace with a "hint of Haaland"

Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s exit, Everton are set to sign Thierno Barry, but could they also target another striker who has a “hint of Haaland”?

ByBen Gray Jul 3, 2025