All posts by h716a5.icu

The fast bowler has become a BBL sensation out of nowhere, and could soon turn out for Pakistan

Umar Farooq10-Jan-20203:09

‘If I had support, I’d have been playing for Pakistan now’ – Haris Rauf

Haris Rauf went to Australia with the hope of a Hobart Hurricanes contract, but has instead hit the jackpot with the Melbourne Stars, lighting up the Big Bash with his exhilarating fast bowling. He was originally signed up for only three games as cover for Dale Steyn, but he has been retained for the whole tournament following an injury to the English quick Pat Brown and is expected to confirm an extension for next season soon.Rauf, 26, was only discovered three years ago in open trials by the PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars in Gujranwala, but became hot property within two weeks of playing the Big Bash. He already has a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick, taking 13 wickets so far in just four games to make him the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. These performances in a highly competitive environment have instilled Rauf with the belief that he is close to fulfilling his dream of playing for his country.”It’s a completely different experience here,” Rauf told ESPNcricinfo. “The standard of cricket, the crowd and the atmosphere around make you truly absorbed in the game. Every moment in the field is enjoyable and the enthusiasm from the crowd really intensifies your passion. It is a really great time out here for me and I am making most out of it. I know I have proved my potential and my next goal is to play for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, which is also in Australia.”I never really planned my future in cricket. I grew up playing with a tennis ball until 2017, and never thought that I could play for Pakistan. But this dream was given to me by Lahore Qalandars and Aaqib Javed’s persistence with me gave me direction. He has been a driving force for me. I had a feeling that a pure fast bowler bowling over 140kph can’t be ignored in Pakistan. I have the pace, the passion, and with all the development I started to believe that I can play top-level cricket.”ESPNcricinfo understands that Rauf was sent to Australia by Lahore Qalandars with the intention of attending trials with the Hurricanes, who wanted to have a look at him before signing a full season’s contract in November. During his stay he was linked with Glenorchy in Hobart, in Tasmania’s Premier League, and took 4 for 12 in a T20 game against Clarence including the wicket of the Australia and Hurricanes batsman D’Arcy Short.The Hurricanes didn’t pick him up, and Nick Cummins, the general manager, commercial and marketing, for the Melbourne BBL sides, called the Qalandars CEO Sameen Rana, offering Rauf a short-term opportunity when Steyn suffered a side strain.Haris Rauf is ecstatic after taking a wicket•Getty ImagesRauf shot to prominence alongside another fast bowler, Salman Irshad, when both were in the race for the third edition of the PSL. Rauf previously played for Western Suburbs Cricket Club in Sydney, where he was injured playing two-day cricket after bowling nearly 26 overs per day. Aaqib setHe was given a target by Aaqib, to add ten kilos to his 73kg frame in order to aid his development.”I was excited and was taking wickets and pushing myself hard,” Rauf said. “Fitness has been an issue because until 2017 I never really had any sense about it. Never thought about it because I had been playing tennis-ball cricket and never been disciplined with fitness and diet. I only started to hear about its importance when I signed with the Lahore Qalandars development program. In Pakistan when you grow up as an immature cricketer the word fitness is just an alien to you. You hear it, but you never really understood its significance.”But when I first came Australia with Qalandars, who linked me with a club, I saw the lifestyle around the sportsmen, how they train and how they enhance their performance. What are their routines and how they pull themselves together in the off-season to get ready for the active season. How they avoid injuries by getting fitter, so I learnt all this from here and the fitter you are, the more control you have of your game and performance.”Rauf missed PSL 3 and returned to Western Suburbs in 2018 with a promotion to the first grade and later earned a place in the Qalandars’ PSL side for the fourth edition of the tournament, his first major break. He took 11 wickets in 10 matches, with an economy rate of 7.41, including a match-winning 4 for 23 against the Karachi Kings.Rauf idolises Steyn and playing in his place was an “honour” for him. “I admire him a lot,” he said. “He has done great for his country, he is a tremendous fast bowler and is a perfect role model for any youngster who wants to become a fast bowler. With him around you have a lot to learn and sharing a dressing room with your hero is like a dream come true. If he isn’t playing it’s in a way a loss for me because I am not able to share the ball with him. His aggression is the thing I love about him. I obviously follow his work ethics, lifestyle and ability to control the line with outswingers.”

Also, can the CPL stars and captain Pollard step up to the pressures of playing India in India?

Deivarayan Muthu03-Dec-20193:55

ODI, T20I captaincy was ‘sprung upon me’ – Kieron Pollard

Are the CPL’s best good enough?
Guyana Amazon Warriors opener Brandon King and CPL 2019 champion with Barbados Tridents Hayden Walsh Jr, the top run-getter and top wicket-taker respectively in the T20 competition, were fast-tracked into the limited-overs squads for the series against Afghanistan in India.While King did make a fairly compact 39 on his ODI debut from No. 4, he couldn’t quite adjust to the more sluggish tracks that Lucknow rolled out for the T20Is. Opening the batting in the shortest format, King scrounged scores of 4, 12, and 1.Walsh Jr has been picked for the wicket-taking threat he poses with his legbreaks as well as zippy wrong ‘uns, but he struggled for control against Afghanistan and proved to be expensive in both the ODIs and T20Is.Sure, these are still early days yet for the two CPL stars in international cricket, but a series against a full-strength India line-up in India brings with it greater pressure. The talent scouts from various IPL franchises will also keep a close eye on their performances in this series. Do they have it in them to stand up to this kind of pressure?Getty ImagesWho’s your No. 1 spinner?
Sunil Narine returned to the West Indies attack for the three T20Is against India in the USA and Caribbean earlier this year, but a finger injury sustained during CPL 2019 has sidelined him from this tour of India. Walsh Jr, the wristspinner, leaked runs in the ODIs and the first two T20Is, prompting the management to bench him for the decider. Trinbago Knight Riders left-arm fingerspinner Khary Pierre got a game instead and although he didn’t bowl a single over in the powerplay – his happy place in the CPL – he offered Pollard a semblance of control by attacking the stumps and hitting hard lengths.ALSO READ: Khary Pierre, TKR’s master of thriftSo, what do you want, West Indies – Pierre’s parsimony or Walsh’s variations? You can’t separate them when it comes to fielding, though. Both players are great athletes who can provide electric moments both in the infield as well in the deep.How will captain Pollard fare?
Pollard has led West Indies in only eight internationals so far – six of those came against Afghanistan in the previous series. He might be a bit of an unknown quantity as captain at the international level, but he has enough experience in franchise cricket.His in-your-face captaincy and aggressive approach saw him go from villain to hero when Tridents secured their maiden CPL title in 2014. There had been reports of protests in Barbados after Trinidadian Pollard had been appointed captain of Tridents ahead of locals Dwayne Smith and Kirk Edwards, but Pollard brushed off the incident and lifted the team to the title, eventually winning the approval of the locals. And, more recently, Pollard took over as Knight Riders’ captain and nearly lifted the team to the final.Pollard has also taken many youngsters like Nicholas Pooran and Pierre under his wing, passing on his wealth of T20 knowledge and making them feel comfortable in the dressing room.Is Fabian Allen good enough to fill the gap left by Dre Russ?•Getty ImagesHow can you fill the Russell-sized hole?
Russell is a monster-hitter and can crank it up to 140kph with the ball when he’s fit. How can you replace him? The simple answer is you can’t. West Indies have dropped former T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite and are now looking up to St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ Fabian Allen to try and fill that void.In 2018, Allen was part of a West Indies B side in the inaugural Global T20 Canada. In less than two years, he has made a swift step-up to international cricket, and even represented West Indies in the 50-over World Cup earlier this year. His USP is his power-hitting, which has set the CPL alight in the past two seasons. Allen shellacked 177 off 79 balls between overs 16 and 20 at a strike rate of nearly 225 in CPL 2019.He can also bowl useful left-arm fingerspin, and is one of the best fielders in the world. If you don’t believe me, just watch this catch. Allen has just recovered from injury to make the trip back to India and it remains to be seen if he can reprise his CPL heroics against a well-rounded India side.Who should be the keeper?
Thirty-four-year-old Denesh Ramdin played his part in Knight Riders winning back-to-back CPL titles in 2017 and 2018, and continues to be a safe wicketkeeper, but could West Indies have invested in a younger keeper in Shai Hope? Or will Pooran take the gloves from the second T20I once his ball-tampering ban ends?Ramdin had been part of the T20I team that toured India last year and managed just 27 runs in three innings, at not even a run-a-ball. Before that, he had struggled so badly in the Pakistan Super League that his ability to rotate the strike – or the lack of it – in subcontinent conditions came under intense scrutiny.While Hope isn’t a big-hitter either, he is more adept at tapping the ball into the gaps and keeping the scorecard ticking, something that was on display in the Afghanistan T20I series decider in Lucknow. In the absence of the injured Ramdin, Hope stepped in and made a valiant fifty in a challenging chase against Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack.Among the three keepers, though, Pooran seems to be better equipped to fit into a dual role: keep wicket and seamlessly slot into the middle order. Pooran strikes at nearly 144 in T20 cricket while the strike rates of Ramdin and Hope are 118.25 and 128.23 respectively.

Leeds United fans must dread the business end of any season with the Whites now out of the coveted top two positions in the Championship, as just six games of the regular campaign remain.

Indeed, last season saw this exact same doomed scenario play out as Daniel Farke’s men had to settle for a place in the second tier play-offs, with a 1-1 draw away at Luton Town on Saturday lunchtime meaning Burnley leapfrogged the underperformers to the very top of the division.

There is still time to salvage some pride and points, but Farke will be scratching his head as to what side he should play moving forward, having boldly axed both Illan Meslier and Brenden Aaronson for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Farke's bold team selection vs Luton

Both Meslier and Aaronson being dropped for the same game shows off how irked the German is by Leeds’ notable dip in form, with the Frenchman starting 39 of his team’s clashes this season in the Championship, alongside his American counterpart only missing three games from the start.

Those rash alterations didn’t pay off against the Hatters, unfortunately, with stand-in goalkeeper Karl Darlow unable to keep a clean sheet in place of Meslier, after Isaiah Jones was left unmarked to tap home this early first-half strike.

Moreover, Leeds’ overall attacking game wasn’t enhanced by Aaronson sitting out, with the likes of Joel Piroe unable to fire a single shot on the Luton goal, away from Daniel James thankfully thundering home the away side’s equaliser.

But, it was Aaronson’s direct replacement on the day in Wilfried Gnonto that looked way off the pace away from mentions of the misfiring Dutchman, with the Italian perhaps one who could face the boot in a similar manner in crunch clashes to come.

Why Farke could now drop 4/10 Leeds star

Despite only starting 21 of his 37 Championship appearances this season, Gnonto has managed to regularly provide the goods for his promotion-chasing outfit.

The explosive 21-year-old attacker has helped himself to a sizeable 11 goal contributions from those limited starts, but the often electric number 29 was largely anonymous on the road on Saturday, leading to Farke’s men looking rather limp when marauding forward.

Minutes played

63

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

23

Accurate passes

13/15 (87%)

Shots

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Accurate long balls

0/1

Successful dribbles

0

Total duels won

4/8

Shockingly, Gnonto would end up amassing fewer touches during the contest than back-up shot-stopper Darlow, with the former FC Zurich forward managing just 23 touches of the ball next to the Welshman’s 38.

On top of that – much like the heavily criticised Piroe – Gnonto would also fail to register any meaningful effort on Thomas Kaminski’s net, alongside failing to register a single accurate cross, long ball or dribble to further reinforce his passenger-like offering.

He could well find he’s out of his manager’s starting XI when Leeds face off against play-off chasing Middlesbrough this mid-week, with Aaronson perhaps in line to return to the first-team fold subsequently.

Handed a low 4/10 rating post-match by Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson, Gnonto was just unable to grab the contest by the scruff of its neck, as yet another poor result was tallied up next to Leeds’ name to damage their automatic promotion bid even more.

It’s up to Farke now to inspire his bruised troops to leap back into those golden top two positions, with more fearless alterations potentially needing to be made to try and get a tune out of his low-on-confidence side.

94% duels lost: Farke must drop Leeds lightweight who was worse than Gnonto

The Leeds lightweight was even worse than Wilfried Gnonto and should be dropped to the bench.

ByDan Emery Apr 5, 2025

The final nail in Ipswich Town’s Premier League coffin could well have been handed to them on Saturday, as Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers recovered well on the road to beat Kieran McKenna’s hosts 2-1.

Ipswich did race into a slim one-goal lead in the first half courtesy of Liam Delap, but it was to no avail as the Old Gold eventually clinched a dramatic three points, meaning the gap between the Tractor Boys in 18th and Wolves in 17th spot is at a sizeable nine points.

Therefore, McKenna will likely be preparing for Ipswich to drop back down to the Championship very soon, with a hope that Omari Hutchinson will stick it out in Suffolk if a bruising relegation is confirmed.

Hutchinson's heroics at Ipswich

After all, Hutchinson’s finest form donning Tractor Boys blue came about when Ipswich last found themselves in the entertaining EFL.

The ex-Chelsea man would fire home a hefty ten goals and pick up an impressive six assists during Ipswich’s promotion-winning exploits back in the 2023/24 season, leading to McKenna and Co landing Hutchinson for a bumper £20m.

He has since acclimatised to the demands of the top-flight well – even if an instant return to the Championship is on the cards for his employers – with this breakaway effort against Chelsea in December one of five goal contributions he’s managed from 27 league clashes.

If Hutchinson does stay put, he will hope he can wriggle free of any injury concerns that have made this season somewhat stop-start for him, with the 21-year-old missing from his side’s last crushing loss to Wolves.

But, regardless of what does occur with the Ipswich number 20 moving forward, McKenna will know he has his next Hutchinson in the making in this entertaining ace who has previously taken the Championship by storm.

McKenna's next Hutchinson in the making

Everyone associated with the Portman Road strugglers will hope when relegation is inevitably confirmed, all the building blocks are put in place for Ipswich to mount an instant return to the top-flight.

Already possessing a top talent for the division in Jaden Philogene-Bidace will make this mission easier to accomplish, with the ex-Hull City star twisting and turning second tier defences for fun when Ipswich were hunting down automatic promotion last time around.

Games played

44

32

Goals scored

10

12

Assists

5

6

Shots*

1.5

3.6

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

7

7

As can be seen glancing at the table above, Philogene tore the second tier to shreds playing as a fast-paced loanee for the Tigers, with the 23-year-old actually bettering Hutchinson’s blistering numbers in the process by picking up three more goal contributions from 12 less encounters.

Therefore, McKenna will have full faith in Philogene to dust himself down and get back to his rampaging best if second tier football returns on the menu, with one audacious effort for Hull last season leading to him be recognised by FIFA as a Puskas award nominee.

Dubbed a “special” talent by his then-Hull boss in Liam Rosenior, McKenna will further hope he can be as impactful as Hutchinson by delivering the goods to see promotion be instantly achieved.

Philogene could perhaps be capable of even more on the books of Ipswich, considering the Tigers finished just outside the playoffs in seventh position despite their dazzling attacker’s heroics.

Whatever does transpire this summer, the Tractor Boys won’t want to dwell on matters for too long, with everything in place for a finish near the Championship summit if stars such as Philogene can be as exciting as Hutchinson proved to be.

Ipswich may have found the Premier League's new Alexander-Arnold

The incredible talent is one of Ipswich’s most important players.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 6, 2025

Arsenal could now be handed the chance to sign yet another Bayern Munich player, following their recent talks with Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman.

Arsenal make contact with Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman

Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta are reportedly keen to bring in a new winger this summer, prompting the Gunners to reach out to Bavaria in search of quality options.

Arsenal convinced they'll sign "world-class" player by June, talks ongoing

He could be Andrea Berta’s first major signing as sporting director.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 16, 2025

At the beginning of April, it was reported that Arsenal held “fresh talks” with Sane over joining on a free transfer.

However, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Vincent Kompany’s side have tabled a formal contract proposal to Sane, who was recently named Bayern’s Player of the Month for March amid his sensational end to the campaign, and it is highly likely the German will extend his stay – dealing a blow to Arsenal in their pursuit.

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

After seemingly missing out on the 29-year-old, Arsenal then turned their attention towards Coman, who has expressed a desire to leave Bayern and is far more likely to seal a departure.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia, not to mention arch rivals Tottenham, are also believed to be expressing an interest – so it won’t be plain sailing for Berta.

“Kingsley Coman has already internally expressed his desire to leave this summer, as revealed,” wrote Plettenberg on X.

“Saudi clubs are now taking the matter seriously and are planning a visit to Munich for talks with Bayern. In England, Arsenal are currently the most concrete option – especially since Leroy Sané is about to extend his contract with Bayern. Spurs would like to sign Coman but are currently in a waiting position due to his high salary.”

Since then, Arsenal have moved to open talks with Coman’s representatives, and this communication is said to be “ongoing” as the north Londoners seek to tempt him with a move to N5.

Amid these discussions, it is now believed another Bayern ace could be on the table for Arteta – £165,000-per-week midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Arsenal likely to be offered Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha

According to CaughtOffside, Palhinha is likely to be offered to Arsenal, as his representative seeks a new landing spot just one year after he joined Kompany’s side – following a lengthy Fulham transfer saga.

The Portugal international has made just 21 appearances in all competitions, partly due to a muscle injury, with Liverpool and Man United also set to be handed an opportunity to strike a deal for the former Premier League star.

The Bundesliga frontrunners could be open to selling Palhinha, as they’re currently prioritising a contract extension for Leon Goretzka, so the 29-year-old’s availability is on the cards.

“He’s been absolutely sensational this season,” said pundit Rio Ferdinand on the midfielder in 2023.

“You need someone like that in front of you as a defender.”

Wolves have made contact over the signing of a “brilliant” Manchester United player on a free transfer this summer, according to a new report.

Man Utd circling for Cunha after Wolves win at Old Trafford

Wanderers are sweating over the future of star man Mathues Cunha, with United looking like they are leading the race to sign him at the end of this season. The Brazilian has been such an impressive performer for Wolves, in what has largely been an underwhelming season for too many players, scoring 14 goals in the Premier League and once again shining in the recent 1-0 win at United.

If Cunha does leave Wanderers this summer, a top-quality player needs to come in and replace him, and Chelsea’s Joao Felix has been mentioned as a loan target. The Portuguese hasn’t reached his potential, having won the European Golden Boy award back in 2019, but he could still be an exciting addition.

Aside from Cunha, there could be other exits at Wolves in the coming months, with Tommy Doyle expected to move on to pastures new, in order enjoy more regular playing time. Now, a well-known central defender has been backed to head to Molineux in the next transfer window.

Wolves make contact with Man Utd's Lindelof

According to the latest from Caught Offside, Wolves have “been in contact” with United centre-back Victor Lindelof over a summer move to Molineux. The 30-year-old is expected to leave the Reds Devils on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Wanderers are among a host of clubs who are keen on snapping him up. Fulham, Everton and West Ham are all mentioned in the report, too.

The £120,000-a-week Lindelof could be a shrewd signing by Wolves, even though his best days may arguably be behind him, hence United being willing to lose him on a free. The defender is a hugely experienced figure, making 277 appearances for the Red Devils and winning 71 caps for Sweden, while Fraizer Campbell lauded a performance against Everton last season.

“He was brilliant. He’s not let his man have time or space, [Jack] Harrison, who started on the right fot them, he’s a good player, he could have caused us a lot of problems, he snuffed that out. He did really well. That’s exactly what the manager wants. He wants people he can trust when he picks them, whatever position they play in, to do a job for him. He’s demonstrating that by playing left-back.”

There is a certain gamble Wolves would be taking in signing Lindelof, especially as he has had lots of injury problems at United, but the free aspect of the transfer would take out some of the risk element.

Wolves must rue selling sensational star who is worth £40m more than Cunha

Wolves sold a player in 2022 who is now worth around £100m

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 21, 2025

The Swede can come in and be a strong squad option for Vitor Pereira, putting his experience to good use and adding the much-needed depth that Wanderers crave ahead of what is hopefully a more positive 2025/26 campaign.

Liverpool are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their argument to continue winning silverware and they are now looking to fend off stiff competition for one of South America’s most talented youngsters.

Liverpool kickstart their summer transfer business

The Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield in a matter of weeks and there is little to be despondent about among the Reds’ support, who have taken to Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s magnificent debut season in charge.

Internally, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed extensions to continue their association with Liverpool. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unsolved amid heavy links claiming the Three Lions international could join Real Madrid.

While the wait goes on regarding his long-term plans, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda to strengthen their forward line following an excellent season for the Japan international north of the border.

Reds scouts have also ran the rule over Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and it is anticipated that they could make a move to bring the former Manchester City man to Anfield.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar to provide competition for Andy Robertson after another solid campaign for the Wolverhampton Wanderers man, even if he would cost around £51 million to lure from the West Midlands.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 1, 2025

Several other names will continue to do the rounds and plenty of transfer scenarios are set to be thrown around in connection with Liverpool, given their status as reigning champions under Slot. Tapping into that theme, the Reds have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s brightest talents once the window opens.

Liverpool make transfer approach for Flamengo's Wesley

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have made ‘informal approaches’ to Flamengo over Wesley as they look to land the Brazilian star following over a year of scouting the full-back. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona are also in contention to sign the 21-year-old, who the Reds see as an ideal successor to Alexander-Arnold should he depart this summer.

Wesley in 2025 – Serie A

Tackles won

9

Successful crosses

8

Completed dribbles

8

Recoveries

28

Goals

0

Assists

1

Chelsea are preparing an opening offer of around £17 million for his signature. However, Flamengo are looking to recoup a fee nearer the £29.7 million mark. Negotiations are expected to pick up pace during the Club World Cup.

Labelled “exceptional” by Felipe Luis, the Brazil international has made 125 appearances for Flamengo in total, registering three goals and five assists. His agent has travelled to England previously to hold talks with Manchester City and Liverpool surrounding a potential transfer, suggesting that there could be legs to this story from more than one angle.

Conceivably, the Reds stand a good chance of landing Wesley due to their position as Premier League title holders. Nevertheless, it will be up to the player himself to determine his next career step.

Newcastle United will be looking to do just one thing this summer and that is making sure Alexander Isak is still part of their squad when the summer transfer window closes.

The Swede has enjoyed yet another fruitful campaign in the North East and securing Champions League football will do Eddie Howe’s prospects of keeping him – at least for another season – no harm at all.

The Magpies have a rich history of towering, magnificent centre-forwards throughout their history. From Hughie Gallacher to Jackie Milburn. Malcolm Macdonald to Alan Shearer. Every generation of Newcastle supporters has had the privilege of seeing a proper number nine lead the line for the club.

Since Shearer’s retirement, things looked bleak on that front for a few years. That was until Isak joined the Toon in the summer of 2022 for a fee in the region of £63m.

This was a club-record fee, but over the previous three seasons, the former Borussia Dortmund starlet has more than repaid the faith shown in him by Howe, that’s for sure.

Alexander Isak has been one of Newcastle’s finest signings

Bringing Isak to the club was a major statement of intent by Howe, especially as the club were looking at playing in the Champions League.

Injuries restricted him to just 27 appearances during his maiden campaign at St James’ Park, but he still managed to score ten Premier League goals while chipping in with three assists.

Last season, the Magpies made the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition. Isak may have scored a solitary goal in that campaign, but his overall tally of 25 was the most he had recorded in a single season at club level.

Not someone to be content with that output, the Swedish hitman has only gone and bettered that this season.

At the time of writing, the 25-year-old has found the back of the net 27 times in all competitions, but the striker is offering more than just goals to this Newcastle side.

Indeed, when compared to his peers in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Isak ranks in the top 3% for successful take-on percentage (47.7%), in the top 10% for touches in the attacking penalty area (6.28) and in the top 15% for goal-creating actions (0.47) per 90.

Add in the fact that he has recorded six assists for the Toon in the league this term, and it proves just how much he has developed his game.

If Newcastle do qualify for the Champions League, Howe will be determined to reach the knockout stages. In order to do so, however, he must spend this summer in a bid to improve his squad.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Goal conversion percentage

20%

27%

24%

Scoring frequency (minutes)

152

108

116

A lack of depth, especially in key attacking positions, is worrying. Could a move for a Bundesliga starlet change that?

Newcastle plotting move for Borussia Dortmund star

Anthony Gordon may be Howe’s main source of goals and assists from the wing, but it is evident that another top-class talent is required to take the club to the next level.

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies have sent scouts to monitor Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens, who has a reported release clause of £50m, as they plot a move to sign the England U21 international.

If the club fails to qualify for the Champions League next season, this fee will fall, opening the door for several clubs to make an offer.

There is no doubt that he wants to play at the top level of European competition, which means Howe will be desperate for his side to finish in the top five.

If so, signing a talent like Gittens would be a huge statement of intent. Furthermore, the young winger would also be a dream signing for Isak.

Why Newcastle must sign Jamie Gittens

Since Niko Kovac began his tenure at Dortmund, it is obvious that Gittens doesn’t quite fit in with his tactical plans.

This means he could be on the move in the summer and, if Howe has the necessary funds, it is a deal that must be a top priority for the club.

The Englishman has already played over 100 competitive matches for the German giants, scoring 17 goals and grabbing 14 assists in the process.

Like compatriots Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham before him, Gittens could certainly be the next massive English talent to depart Dortmund for a move abroad.

After he scored the first Champions League goal of his career in November 2022, Statman Dave hailed the winger as a “wonderkid” and it was hard to argue.

Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, using Dortmund as a potential stepping stone for a move to the Premier League.

Although his displays haven’t been as good as hoped since Kovac took charge, Gittens still ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.58) and in the top 9% for progressive carries (5.49) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

These statistics show that the youngster is highly effective at beating his man and taking the ball into the final third, which is why he could be a dream for Isak.

He has also created six big chances in the German top flight while averaging 0.7 key passes per game. Again, yet more evidence of why he would be an excellent signing for Isak next season, because he can create high-quality chances for the striker to put away.

The most important aspect for Howe is that Gittens still has plenty of development to do. He is by no means the finished article. Playing alongside stars such as Bruno Guimaraes and Isak will only help him take the next step in his career.

Transfer Focus

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

Gittens is a man in high demand this summer and with Dortmund looking like they are open to selling, the Magpies could face stiff competition for the Englishman when the window opens.

Finishing in the top five of the league table is therefore imperative to their hopes of landing the talented winger. If not, then the club will likely miss the boat on Gittens.

Newcastle now eyeing "unplayable" once-£100m player as cheap loan signing

He could be such an exciting addition to Eddie Howe’s squad.

ByHenry Jackson May 16, 2025

Will Manchester City end this season by hoisting aloft silverware?

On Saturday, the Sky Blues will compete in a third successive FA Cup Final, this time facing Crystal Palace, firm favourites to win the competition for the eighth time.

However, Erling Haaland was insistent this week that victory at Wembley would not constitute a successful season, simply echoing the message given by manager Pep Guardiola following the semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest.

So, regardless of the result this weekend, a mass-squad overhaul is required at the Etihad this summer, but could the recently dethroned Premier League champions land not one but two top-class midfielders?

Manchester City is targeting a new midfielder

It’s evident that City are hot on the trail of a crop of new central players with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze linked in recent weeks.

Yet, it’s not all about the England internationals as far as Pep and Co are concerned, with a bid now potentially set to be launched for one of the best midfielders in Italy.

Indeed, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City will “submit a formal opening bid” as they attempt to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.

The 26-year-old joined Milan from AZ Alkmaar for a reported €20m (around £17m) two summers ago, and his impressive performances mean that, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, he is now valued at £50m.

Matt Santangelo from That Milan Podcast described the Dutchman as “fantastic”, adding that he’s been “Milan’s best midfielder this season”, while Luca Bianchin of Gazzetta dello Sport believes he is ‘one of the most beautiful players to watch in the world’.

With I Rossoneri down in eighth in Serie A and, following Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia defeat to Bologna, it’s looking very likely that Milan will not qualify for any European competition at all, so they’ll surely be under pressure to sell some key assets, merely adding to the speculation that Reijnders could be on his way to Manchester.

Manchester City's new-look midfield

It’s not just Reijnders because, according to a report by Christian Falk and Phillip Arens of Bild, Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen representatives as they aim to sign Florian Wirtz.

This, though, certainly won’t be an easy deal to get over the line given that, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also ‘made contact’ with Wirtz’s entourage, while TEAMtalk notes that incoming Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso would love to bring him from the BayArena to the Bernabéu too.

Patrick Scherer from Kölner Stadt Anzeiger claims that Wirtz is valued at around €100m (around £84m), reflective of the fact that, as noted by Michael Cox of the Athletic, he is ‘one of the most sought-after talents in world football’, adding that he is a top-class creator and ‘brilliant at finding space’.

What is clear is that Wirtz is a world-class talent and, whoever does manage to sign him this summer, will be getting their hands on a genuine difference maker.

What Man City's midfield and attack could look like in 2025/26

But how would Wirtz, Reijnders and the soon-to-be-returning from injury Rodri all fit together?

Well, let’s assess their respective statistics to help answer this question.

Appearances

44

52

50

Minutes

3,302

4,411

4,327

Goals

16

15

9

Assists

15

5

15

Shots

118

123

84

Shots on target %

44.9%

41.5%

32.1%

Attempted passes

2,170

1,848

4,588

Pass completion %

80%

87.9%

91.9%

Progressive passes

229

267

495

Attempted take-ons

205

92

78

Tackles

38

32

84

Blocks

38

24

32

Interceptions

21

49

34

Ball recoveries

141

143

287

Touches per 90

64

40

107

As outlined by the table, these three players as a midfield trio would work really well together, complementing each other’s strengths.

Rodri is pretty much exceptional at everything, no wonder Man City have missed him so much this season, with the Spaniard’s 107 touches per 90 and 4,588 attempted passes particularly eye-catching.

Wirtz meantime, is the creator in chief, one of only six players across Europe’s big five leagues to reach double-figures for both goals and assists this season, alongside Mohamed Salah, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Romelu Lukaku and Gaëtan Perrin.

Meantime, the German’s 205 attempted take-ons is also pretty noteworthy, ranked second in the Bundesliga this season for this metric.

Lastly, we come to Reijnders, who is something of an all-rounder, scoring a very impressive 15 goals across all competitions this season, actually taking the most shots of the trio, while his 49 interceptions stands out too, suggesting he’d been an excellent Rodri partner.

The Dutchman has racked up over 4,400 minutes for Milan during this campaign, sitting out just one of their 53 matches, and this was due to a suspension, and his availability is certainly a valuable asset so, if Man City are able to assemble these three as a midfield trio, they might just become unstoppable once again.

Florian Wirtz now has representatives in Manchester as Guardiola pushes deal

It’s not one they want to miss out on.

1 ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025

Wingers have played a key part in Liverpool’s success over recent years, helping them win multiple domestic and continental trophies under various managers.

Mohamed Salah has been a key part in the success endured throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly being the star in Arne Slot’s side that claimed the Premier League title.

The Egyptian has registered 28 goals and 18 assists in his 37 appearances – the highest of any player within the division, highlighting his importance.

His new two-year contract at Anfield will enable him to be a star for multiple more campaigns, potentially adding to the two league triumphs he’s already won on Merseyside.

However, there’s only so much work he can do on his own, with the 32-year-old needing to be joined by reinforcements within the final third to sustain any long-lasting success.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Over recent weeks, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, looking to secure a move away from the Bernabeu this summer.

The Brazilian, who also has admirers from Arsenal ahead of the transfer window, has registered 23 combined goals and assists this campaign – undoubtedly handing Slot the added quality he desires.

However, such a deal could prove to be too expensive in the coming months, with Athletic Club’s Nico Williams emerging as a key target, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report states that the Reds have been monitoring the 22-year-old for a number of months and are considering a move for the winger, who’s registered 18 goals and assists in 2024/25.

It also claims that the LaLiga outfit won’t stand in the Spaniard’s way in the coming months, as long as any interested party forks out the entirety of his £50m release clause.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be Liverpool’s best LW since Mane

Sadio Mané is a player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his spell at Liverpool, proving to be one of their best signings of the modern-era at Anfield.

The Senegalese international, who joined from Southampton for £36m in the summer of 2016, spent six years on Merseyside, producing countless moments of magic along the way.

He registered a staggering 120 goals in his 269 appearances for the club, an average of one every 2.2 outings – undoubtedly leading them to their title triumph in 2019/20.

However, he would leave for German giants Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, leaving a huge hole within the first team setup – something which they’ve failed to replace in the three years since.

Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have been the two players to often fill the void over the last couple of seasons, having various levels of impact as seen by their total of 23 league goals combined in 2024/25.

Both have shared the role in the title-winning campaign, but could find themselves with decreased game time next season should Williams arrive at Anfield.

When comparing his stats to those of the aforementioned duo since Mane’s departure, the Bilbao star has outperformed them in numerous key areas, handing Slot the club’s best option since the departed winger.

Games played

95

89

104

Goals & assists

36

37

56

Progressive carries

5.7

4.2

2.7

Carries into final third

2.7

2.4

1.8

Shot-on-target accuracy

40%

36%

39%

Crosses completed

5.7

1

3.5

Take-ons completed

3.1

2.2

1.6

Williams, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Zach Lowy, has registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists, but has registered a higher shot on target rate – showcasing his threat in attacking areas.

He’s also completed more progressive carries per 90 and completed more carries into the final third, handing Slot an added threat when driving into the final third at Anfield.

He’s also completed more take-ons than current first team members Diaz and Gakpo, whilst completing more crosses – handing other options on the books the opportunities to improve their own tallies.

It would be a superb addition should the club trigger his £50m release clause this summer, having the potential to improve massively in the years ahead, given his tender age.

Should he reach the levels produced by Mane on Merseyside, it would be one of the best additions they could make in the near future, setting them up for added success during the Dutchman’s tenure.

Dream Wirtz alternative: Liverpool plot move for "generational" £34m star

Liverpool can forget about a move for Florian Wirtz, with another name entering the mix this week.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 22, 2025