Two-time player-of-match winner in T20 Blast finals moves into age-group coaching at Edgbaston
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2025
Josh Cobb (left) with his Northants team-mate Alex Wakely celebrate victory in the T20 Blast in 2016•Getty Images
Josh Cobb, the only man named player of the match in two T20 Blast finals, has retired from professional cricket to take up a new role as boys academy lead at Warwickshire.Cobb, 34, played 448 professional games across a career which started at Leicestershire in 2007 and has seen him represent two other Midlands counties in Northamptonshire and Worcestershire. He was also a Bangladesh Premier League winner with Dhaka Gladiators in 2013, and has captained Welsh Fire in the Hundred.A powerful top-order batter, Cobb won his first match award in a Blast final for his bowling, taking 4 for 22 as Leicestershire beat Somerset to the title in 2011. Five years later, his innings of 80 off 48 balls secured Northamptonshire’s second T20 title as they beat Durham at Edgbaston – the ground he will now call home in his new role.Cobb spent two weeks working with Australia’s players as a consultant coach during their ODI series in England last September, an opportunity that was the result of his relationship with Andrew McDonald, his former Leicestershire team-mate. He is following his father Russell – who runs the UCCE set-up at Loughborough University – into coaching.”Since making my debut 18 years ago, it’s been a thoroughly enjoyable ride with plenty of ups and downs,” Cobb said in a statement on Tuesday. “I’m immensely thankful for the people I’ve met, places travelled, and memories created over the years. Cricket has given me so much. Scoring my first hundred at Lord’s aged 18 and winning the T20 Blast Finals twice are just some of the memories I’ll cherish.”Recent graduates of the Warwickshire academy include Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley. “My challenge is to keep developing homegrown players that can go on to play for the Bears and England,” Cobb said. “I’m excited at the chance to lead an academy at such a great club like Warwickshire, one that’s had a lot of success over a number of years.”
علق البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، على الفوز على ديكاداها الصومالي بسداسية في كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
وقال يانيك فيريرا لقناة “أون سبورتس”: “بالطبع، عندما تكون في نادي الزمالك، يكون الهدف دائمًا الفوز في جميع المباريات، بغض النظر عن البطولة”.
وتابع: “ندخل كل لقاء بعقلية الانتصار، ونعمل طوال الأسبوع للاستعداد الذهني والبدني بأفضل شكل ممكن، الحمد لله، اليوم توجنا مجهود الأسابيع الماضية بأداء جيد ونتيجة مرضية، ونتمنى أن نواصل هذا المستوى في المباريات القادمة”.
طالع | يانيك فيريرا: أداء لاعب الزمالك كان مشجعًا لي.. ولسنا أفضل فريق في العالم
وأضاف فيريرا: “سجلنا الهدف الأول مبكرًا، وتبعه الهدفان الثاني والثالث سريعًا، ما أثر نفسيًا على الخصم، لكن بعد الهدف الثالث، لاحظنا بعض التراخي في نهاية الشوط الأول”.
وكشف: “في الشوط الثاني، استعدنا الحماس وصنعنا فرصًا كثيرة، وكان من الممكن أن تنتهي المباراة بنتيجة كبيرة، ربما 10 أو 12 هدفًا”.
وواصل: “سيف الجزيري أحرز هدفًا رائعًا، مكافأة على التزامه وجهده في الفترة الماضية، كذلك سيف جعفر قدم مباراة قوية، وواصل تطوره، محمد السيد وبارون في أول مشاركة له أظهرا أداءً طيبًا، وشارك اللاعبون الشباب بشكل مميز، وهو أمر يسعدنا كثيرًا”.
واختتم: “بشكل عام، معظم اللاعبين قدموا أداءً رائعًا، ونحن راضون عن النتيجة والمستوى”.
While the results and honours haven’t always followed, West Ham United have always been a team that can boast a genuine superstar or two in their side.
A few years ago, it was Declan Rice who was grabbing the headlines for the Hammers and representing them in a Euros final for England.
Nowadays, it’s Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta who are the standouts in the team, with the latter making it very clear he wants to remain in East London with his celebration against Nottingham Forest.
However, before either he or Rice had made their names in Claret and Blue, there was an exciting prospect who looked like an even bigger talent than both.
Rice & Paqueta's West Ham careers
Now, there may still be some ill feelings about where Rice moved on to a couple of years ago, but it would be impossible to deny that he gave an awful lot to West Ham over his time with the club.
Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen for West Ham
He made his senior debut for the club against Burnley in 2017 and went on to make 245 appearances for the club, totalling an astonishing 20,580 minutes.
Despite playing in defensive midfield and even at the back at times, the Englishman managed to score 15 goals and provide 13 assists for the Hammers during his time in East London.
Moreover, he captained the club to Conference League glory in his final game – an achievement that has enshrined him in the club’s history books forever.
Paqueta, on the other hand, only joined the Irons from Lyon in the summer of 2022, but has still played a massive role at the club.
He was also part of the team that secured the Hammers’ European glory, and has amassed an impressive tally of 21 goals and 14 assists in 124 games.
However, for as brilliant as Rice and Paqueta are, there was an academy gem who, a decade ago, was being looked at as an even bigger talent, but is not without a club.
The West Ham gem without a club
Cast your minds back to the distant year of 2015 and West Ham’s Premier League opener away to Arsenal.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.
It was a game to forget for the hosts, but a memorable win for the travelling Irons, and one youngster in particular: Reece Oxford.
It was the then 16-year-old’s competitive debut, and instead of making a fool of himself against a pretty stacked Gunners side, he looked incredible and practically pocketed a prime Mesut Özil.
Reece-Oxford-and-Slaven-Bilic
It was a performance that more than turned heads, with then-manager Slaven Bilic proclaiming afterward that the youngster “has everything.”
Later on, the Croatian would tell the press that, at the time, “I couldn’t move around the place without hearing that Reece Oxford was going to be the next big thing.”
Moreover, in an interview with The Athletic, former West Ham trainee Lewis Page revealed that during his early days, Rice was unsure if he’d get a scholarship as Oxford “was the main talent at centre-back, and I’m not sure if the club thought Dec was good enough to play in midfield.”
Unfortunately, the former Hammers gem didn’t go on to become a world-beater, and after several loans, he left the club with just 17 appearances to his name to join Augsburg in the summer of 2019.
Oxford’s senior career
Club
Games
Goals
Assists
Augsburg
80
3
2
West Ham
17
0
0
Mönchengladbach
8
0
0
Reading
5
0
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Things went reasonably well for the youngster out in Germany for a while, but persistent injuries followed with a severe case of long COVID that prevented him from really kicking on.
In all, the 26-year-old made 80 appearances for the club, but his last senior professional game was all the way back in November 2022, and he’s been without a club since July 1st of this year.
Ultimately, while Oxford was never able to live up to the hype, he did carve out a decent career for himself in the Bundesliga, and we can only hope he finds himself a new team soon.
West Ham now join the race to sign £60m star who was a major Spurs target
The Hammers are keen to bring in a “sensational” player, who was a key summer target for Tottenham Hotspur.
Only 9.2 overs of play was possible after rain had reduced the contest to 28-overs-a-side
Ashish Pant17-Dec-2024
Azmatullah Omarzai rattled Zimbabwe with four wickets before rain stopped play•AFP/Getty Images
Match abandonedRain played spoilsport as the opening ODI between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was called off after just 9.2 overs of play.Earlier, persistent rain had delayed the start by close to four hours with the game reduced to a 28-overs-a-side affair. When the weather finally cleared, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had no hesitation to bowl considering the overhead conditions.For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was ruled out of the series due to a Grade 2B quadriceps injury along with a bony hip flexor injury, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman was rested from the series. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, handed debuts to left-hand batter Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.Shahidi’s decision to field was vindicated with both Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi getting oodles of movement both off the pitch and in the air. It was a tough initiation for Curran, who was beaten by Farooqi’s away movement in the opening over. He got off the mark in international cricket with a clip to deep fine leg, but batting was always going to remain a task.Tadiwanashe Marumani got Zimbabwe’s boundary counter running with a neat cover drive off Farooqi but was undone by a peach of an in-dipper from Omarzai that saw his middle pole flattened. Brian Bennett, the highest run-scorer in the preceding T20I series, then fell first ball to Omarzai with Mohammad Nabi holding onto a sharp chance to his right at second slip.Dion Myers got a couple of drives away but was trapped in front of the stumps when he misread a AM Ghazanfar carrom ball and stayed back. Omarzai then removed Curran in the eighth over, who went for a flashing drive, only to get a thick outside edge through to the wicketkeeper. Three balls later, it was Sean Williams’ turn to depart. He hung his bat out to a fuller-length ball from Omarzai only to get a thick edge to Ikram Alikhil.The floodlights were switched on right from the start and once rain arrived two balls into the ninth over, it was curtains for the game. Even in his short burst, Omarzai left a mark picking 4 for 18 off his four overs.The second ODI will be played at the same venue on December 19.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have overtaken AC Milan in the race for a “marauding” £13m defender, and they are now leading the race for his signature, according to a report.
Matheus Cunha was a divisive figure during his time at Molineux, but nobody can deny the Brazilian has bags of ability, amassing 21 goal contributions in 33 outings to help lead Wolves to Premier League safety last season.
As a result, Vitor Pereira may find it tricky to replace the 26-year-old, but the manager should have ample funds to bring in another forward, having raised £62.5m from selling Cunha to Manchester United, and the Old Gold are now closing in on a new signing.
Jhon Arias is not the only player on the shortlist, however, and there have been suggestions that Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is viewed as more of a direct replacement for Cunha, with the 22-year-old set to be available for just £10m.
Bringing in a new forward is an important task on Pereira’s to-do list, but the manager also needs to bring a new right-back, given that Nelson Semedo’s time at Molienux appears to be coming to an end, having failed to agree a new contract.
There has now been a new update on Wolves’ pursuit of Almeria right-back Marc Pubill, with a report from Spain revealing they have overtaken AC Milan in the race for the defender’s signature, meaning Pereira’s side are leading the race.
The Old Gold have been pushing hard to secure a deal for Pubill, and a deal for the Almeria ace would not break the bank, with the Spanish club thought to be holding out for a fee of €15m (£13m).
"Marauding" Pubill could be exciting addition for Wolves
Semedo has been a dependable option for Wolves across a number of Premier League seasons, making over 30 appearances in four of his last five campaigns, but the Portuguese defender is seemingly seeking pastures new.
As such, it would make sense to bring in a like-for-like replacement for the full-back, who picked up four league assists last season, and Pubill is also capable of pushing further up the pitch, with scout Ben Mattinson describing him as “marauding”.
Not only that, but Mattinson also believes the 22-year-old was one of the two best right-backs at the recent U21 Euros, alongside Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, indicating that he has a lot of potential.
The Spaniard could be a solid long-term replacement for Semedo, but Wolves will also be hoping their former captain has a change of heart and opts to stay at Molineux, having been a dependable option for a number of years.
West Ham United fans will be hoping Graham Potter finds his groove in the Hammers’ hot seat this coming Premier League season, after experiencing an underwhelming start to life in East London.
Potter won’t want another blunder damaging his managerial CV, akin to his Chelsea misfire, with only five victories coming his way last season from 19 games.
He will be nervous about what lies ahead, therefore, especially as he grows accustomed to not having Mohammed Kudus at his disposal, with the ex-Irons star costing London rivals Tottenham Hotspur £55m to snap up.
Still, there’s plenty of time for West Ham to make a splash in the transfer market with some of their own exhilarating signings, as a new £35m ace emerges on their radar.
West Ham United manager GrahamPotterafter the match
West Ham weighing up £35m transfer
In all fairness, away from the disappointment of Kudus leaving, West Ham have made some impressive signings here and there.
Indeed, Jean Clair-Todibo has now made his Hammers move permanent this summer, alongside both El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters joining in quick succession to further bolster Potter’s options at the back.
Now, the task at hand will be to improve the attack at the London Stadium in the wake of Kudus upping and leaving, with reports now suggesting West Ham are weighing up a £35m move for Manchester City outcast James McAtee.
The Telegraph has stated that this is City’s asking price amid interest also coming from Nottingham Forest, but the Hammers and the Tricky Trees, who are pushing to seal his signature, would much rather do a deal around the £20m-25m price range instead.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
Potter’s side might just have to bite the bullet if Pep Guardiola’s outfit isn’t willing to budge, with McAtee perhaps going down as a bigger talent to obtain than Harvey Elliott, who has also consistently been talked about as another West Ham target this summer.
How McAtee could be a bigger talent than Elliott
Both midfielders in question are at a crossroads in their careers, having been talked up as shining, homegrown talents once upon a time, only to now find themselves stuck on the periphery.
Between them last season, both McAtee and Elliott would only start a meagre five Premier League clashes, with a fresh move to the London Stadium just the switch the ex-Sheffield United loanee needs to show off his class on a more consistent basis.
Despite such limited opportunities, McAtee still managed to chip in with a high seven goals in all competitions, with three of those efforts coming his way in the bread and butter of the top-flight, on top of also managing to break his initial City duck in the illustrious Champions League.
Elliott falls just behind McAtee in his regard, with a slightly lesser five strikes managed on his end, with the hope now that the 22-year-old can come in and fill Kudus’ hole effectively, having displayed more of a flexibility across his fledgling career to date than his Reds counterpart has shown off.
McAtee’s career numbers by position
Position played
Games
Goals
Assists
AM
68
24
14
CM
47
26
14
RM
12
4
3
CF
8
3
3
RW
6
3
1
SS
4
0
1
LM
2
0
0
LW
1
0
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
McAtee could well morph into a new Kudus-like figure for Potter on his arrival, with the Salford-born talent an adaptable presence.
Indeed, he can line up as a number ten, as a right winger, or as a left winger, much like the Ghanaian, as seen in his impressive 38 goal contributions from the central number ten slot, on top of his equally high 40 goal-and-assist count as a traditional central midfielder, further highlighting his malleable nature.
On the contrary, the Liverpool number 19 has amassed just 12 goals and assists himself as an out-and-out number ten, with plenty more to frighteningly come from McAtee if he’s handed consistent minutes in East London.
Manchester City's James McAtee.
The “incredible” number 87, as he’s been labelled previously by Guardiola, will be champing at the bit to be a leading man for a Premier League side – after also just lifting the Euros with the England U21s alongside Elliott – with West Ham perhaps gifting him that opportunity very shortly if £35m is coughed up.
Payet 2.0: West Ham in talks for £22.5m star who's "made for the big stage"
West Ham United have reportedly made contact to sign a player for just £22.5m, and he could be as good as Dimitri Payet in East London.
Wan Julia’s maiden half-century for Malaysia went in vain
S Sudarshanan20-Jul-2024It was not the perfect game but Thailand got their Women’s Asia Cup 2024 campaign off to a winning start, keeping their perfect record over Malaysia in T20Is intact.Thailand missed a couple of key batters due to injuries, and were being led by a new, young captain Thipatcha Putthawong. But thanks to wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai’s 35-ball 40, they managed to post a challenging 133 for 6 after opting to bat. And then, despite a 68-run opening partnership by Malaysia, they beat them by 22 runs.Despite the win, it was a day to forget for Thailand in the field as they spilled two catches and were a tad sloppy overall.Thailand’s attacking ways pay offUnder the previous coach Harshal Pathak, Thailand developed an attacking game, packing their side with strokemakers. In their first Asia Cup game under new head coach Nitish Salekar, they continued in a similar vein even if the personnel were slightly different. In the absence of Natthakan Chantham, out with an ACL injury, the other regular opener Nattaya Boochatham set the tone early. She got going with three fours in the opening over. No. 4 Putthawong also struck one off the second ball she faced. This was when Malaysia’s seamers were getting plenty of swing.Koncharoenkai also found the gaps regularly, hitting two fours in three balls off Suabika Manivannan to keep the momentum going. Even though Thailand lost two wickets in the powerplay, they managed to hit eight fours and score 44 in that phase. In comparison, Malaysia scored 36 for 0 and hit only five fours in their batting powerplay.Koncharoenkai never let her intent dip, even when offspinner Mahirah Izzati Ismail was bowling in excellent rhythm. That confidence rubbed off on Phannita Maya, who also kept the scorecard moving. Koncharoenkai’s 48-run fourth-wicket partnership with Maya set the platform for Thailand’s score that proved enough.Ismail impacts the middle oversIsmail was introduced right after the powerplay and she struck immediately by deceiving Putthawong in flight. Putthawong went for the sweep but the ball was too full to do so, and was trapped lbw.Wan Julia’s maiden half-century went in vain•ACCIn her third over, Ismail struck twice in three balls. She got the set Koncharoenkai to mistime a cut to backward point, and then flighted the ball to Chanida Sutthiruang, who chipped it straight to cover. Despite Thailand’s attacking ways, Ismail managed to hold her own. She conceded just one boundary in her four overs and finished with 3 for 16.Julia, Duraisingam and Malaysia flatter to deceiveMalaysia had never beaten Thailand in four T20Is before Saturday. And without Mas Elysa, one of only two Malaysia batters with 1000-plus runs in the format, in the side, their hopes rested on their experienced openers Wan Julia and captain Winifred Duraisingam. They did their bit, stitching together a steady partnership.Duraisingam used the crease well to pierce the gaps in the powerplay. Julia used her power more, using the cuts and slashes. But with the Thailand bowlers not offering a lot of boundary opportunities, the pair had to rely on the running between the wickets. They took Malaysia to 59 for no loss after ten overs.But Duraisingam fell in the 12th over in a bid to attack offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu. In the following over, Elsa Hunter also fell trying to attack legspinner Suleeporn Laomi. Even though Julia brought up her maiden T20I fifty – becoming Malaysia’s first half-centurion at the Asia Cup – Malaysia were waging a lost battle. Apart from their openers, no one else entered the double digits and Thailand flexed their bowling muscles aplenty to walk away with a win.
After three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team are determined to finally take the next step.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetareacts
With that objective in mind, could they be about to make yet another statement signing from Spain?
Arsenal's incoming transfer business
By early next week, with Tuesday being the start of July, expect a few of Arsenal’s transfer targets to be unveiled.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will arrive from Chelsea for a reported fee of £5m, to be the back-up to David Raya, while, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Arsenal are ‘finalising’ a deal to sign Brentford captain Christian Nørgaard for £9.3m.
The Dane, however, is not the only central midfielder heading to North London, given that Martín Zubimendi is set to be unveiled next week, after the Gunners paid his £51m Real Sociedad release clause.
Nevertheless, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho both departing on free transfers, this is an area of the team they do require multiple reinforcements, so are seemingly not done yet.
That’s because, according to reports in Spain, the Gunners are ‘preparing an offer’ of around £35m to Barcelona, as they attempt to sign Marc Casadó.
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham in action with FC Barcelona'sMarcCasado
They also claim that Arteta believes the 21-year-old ‘fits his style of play’ perfectly, hence why the la Másia graduate ‘has become a priority’ for Arsenal.
Given Barcelona’s ongoing financial crisis, they have not ruled out sanctioning a departure, especially one that facilitates Nico Williams’ arrival from Athletic Club which, as Pol Ballús of the Athletic outlines, still faces financial obstacles.
How Marc Casadó would improve Arsenal
As alluded to earlier, Casadó joined Barcelona’s academy as a 13-year-old, making his senior debut for the first team during a Champions League dead rubber against Viktoria Plzeň in November 2022.
FC Barcelona's MarcCasadocelebrates scoring their second goal with teammates
Since then, he has accumulated 41 appearances for Barça, but only establishing himself as a key figure this season, a regular starter before suffering a ligament injury in March, as the table below outlines.
Appearances
36
16th
Starts
29
10th
Minutes
2,447
11th
Completed passes
1,682
7th
Progressive passes
154
8th
Passes into the final third
182
6th
Shot-creating actions
64
9th
Tackles
77
2nd
Interceptions
25
8th
Touches
2,122
8th
Ball recoveries
120
8th
Average SofaScore rating
7.03
10th
As the table outlines, Casadó ranked very highly for every metric included at Barcelona this season, including both passing, as well as defensive statistics, namely tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, underlining that he is an all-rounder.
Following his international debut against Denmark in Copenhagen, in which he came off the bench to replace Zubimendi, teammate Bryan Zaragoza described the midfielder as “barbaric”, adding “I don’t even know what to say about how he played…. he’s an animal”.
Meantime, Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis believes he is the heir to Sergio Busquets’ throne, stating that Casadó is ‘mostly a ball-recycler’, praising his ‘crisp close control and great decision-making in possession’.
Meantime, Price of Breaking the Lines outlines how the youngster ‘always wants to make progressive passes’, noting that he is almost never dispossessed and has the ability to ‘dominate’ any midfield battle he is involved in.
So, we all already know what Zubimendi is all about, with Ogunniyi Abayomi of Breaking the Lines stating that he too is ‘capable of making line-breaking passes’ as well as dictating the tempo from the base of midfield.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior in action with Real Sociedad's MartinZubimendi
Thus, together, the Spanish duo – both potentially arriving from LaLiga – could form an unstoppable partnership, finally ending Arsenal’s interminable 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
£70m star wants to join Arsenal after Norgaard and Mosquera, talks ongoing
This season has felt like one long nightmare for Tottenham Hotspur.
On top of losing a staggering 20 games in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou will now be without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the club’s Europa League final next week.
Moreover, on top of losing player after player through injury during the campaign this year, they now look like they’re going to lose one of their most important in the transfer window: Cristian Romero.
However, it is not all doom and gloom, as recent reports have linked them with a Premier League star who could be the ideal replacement.
Tottenham transfer news
Unfortunately, in the last few months, a number of reports have emerged touting Romero for a move to La Liga this summer, with Atlético Madrid being his supposed destination last month.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It was even said that the Argentine defender had personally spoken to Diego Simeone about the purported move.
However, in the last few days, the World Cup winner’s supposed destination has changed to Real Madrid, with reports claiming that Xabi Alonso is a big fan of the player, who could be sold for around £60m.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
While this situation is far from ideal, the good news is that the North Londoners have been linked with someone who could be an ideal replacement: Marc Guéhi.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Spurs have maintained their strong interest in the full England international following their failed £70m bid for him in early February.
Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Newcastle United are keen to sign the Crystal Palace star, who could be available for a pretty reasonable fee of around €55m, which is about £46m.
It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Guéhi’s ability and the potential departure of Romero, Spurs should do all they can to get it done.
Why Guéhi would be a great replacemnet
So, if Spurs cannot keep hold of Romero this summer and are forced to shop for a replacement, why would Guéhi be such a great option?
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Well, first of all, not only is he vastly experienced for someone who is still just 24 years old, but he’s also thoroughly Premier League-proven at this point and someone clearly quite sought-after.
For example, across his career to date, the “exceptional” centre-back, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Stuart James, has made 132 top-flight appearances, 52 in the Championship, 15 in the FA Cup and a handful more in several other competitions.
Appearances
154
59
2
Goals
8
0
0
Assists
4
0
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.07
0.00
0.00
On top of that, the 6 foot “tank,” as dubbed by former England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, is now a full member of the national team, making 23 appearances since his debut in March 2022, and most crucially, was an ever-present in the country’s backline when they made it all the way to the final of the European Championships last year.
Furthermore, while the Lilywhites’ Argentine warrior has missed a staggering 75 games for club and country across his career, the former Chelsea prospect has missed just 16, and you know what they say: availability is the best ability.
Finally, if that’s still not enough to convince you, then perhaps his rather impressive underlying numbers will.
According to FBref, the Palace ace sits in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for through ball, the top 4% for passes blocked, the top 5% for goal-creating actions through a defensive action, the top 9% for goals plus assists, key passes and shot-creating actions, the top 11% for expected assists and more, all per 90.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehiin action
Ultimately, replacing a player as talented Romero is always going to be difficult, but Guéhi looks like he could get pretty close, and therefore, Spurs must do what they can to sign him this summer.
Ange can solve Kulusevski blow by unleashing £45m Spurs star in new role
The gifted ace could provide some more attacking spark to Spurs.
While the major honours haven’t come – bar some FA Cups – Arsenal have had some supremely gifted players pull on the famous red and white shirt during the Emirates era.
In Mikel Arteta’s current team, you’ve got the likes of William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who wouldn’t look too out of place in some of the club’s more successful sides.
Go back a little further, and the likes of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil were wowing fans every week, but perhaps the player who entertained more than any other during his stint at the club was Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez’s Arsenal record
Appearances
166
Minutes
13556′
Goals
80
Assists
44
Goal Involvements per Match
0.74
Minutes per Goal Involvement
109.32′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
The Chilean international racked up a stellar haul of 80 goals and 44 assists in 166 games for the North Londoners, and while his exit left a dreadfully sour taste in the mouths of fans, he remains one of the very best players to have graced the Emirates.
So, fans should be incredibly excited about recent reports linking the club with another superstar attacker who could be their new Sanchez.
Arsenal transfer news
With Arsenal’s need for more goals in the team next year undeniable, there have been several talented wingers linked with the side in recent weeks, like Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo.
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The former could be available for just £42m in the summer, which seems like more than a fair price, as not only can he play on either side of the pitch, but he’s also scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 40 games this year.
Mbeumo looks set to be marginally more expensive at £51m, but even then, that seems like a reasonable price for a winger who’s scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in just 40 appearances for Brentford this term.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
However, if a winger has the potential to be the Gunners’ next Sanchez, they have to be truly special, like Rodrygo.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are indeed interested in the Real Madrid superstar.
In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that the North Londoners are “one of the clubs that has shown the most interest” in the Brazilian international, or in other words, they are currently leading the race for him.
However, while no price is mentioned in the report, stories from earlier this month claim that it could cost up to £85m to sign the talented winger this year.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s incredible ability, it’s one worth splashing the cash for.
Why Rodrygo would be Arsenal's new Sanchez
Given Sanchez’s spectacular stint with Arsenal, it’s certainly a big claim to say that Rodrygo could be the club’s new version of him, but there are some key similarities.
Firstly, like the former Barcelona player with Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, the Real ace would be making his way to the Emirates to get out of the shadow of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
Second, he’d be leaving one of Spain’s big two for the Gunners at 24 years old, just a year younger than the Chilean icon.
Moreover, he’d be able to add some much-needed threat to the North Londoners’ left-hand side, which has been seriously lacking this term.
For example, in 50 appearances, the Osasco-born dynamo has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, and then last year, he managed to rack up a sensational haul of 18 goals and nine assists in 52 games.
Rodrygo’s Real Record
Appearances
267
Minutes
16060′
Goals
68
Assists
50
Goal Involvements per Match
0.44
Minutes per Goal Involvement
136.10′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Furthermore, it’s not just the fact he can score and create goals from the wing; it’s the way in which he plays, the way in which he drives at defences and terrifies opposition defenders that could see him become like Sanchez.
Finally, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, also knows how to win, as, during his time with Los Blancos, he has lifted three La Liga titles, two Champion Leagues, one Spanish Cup and plenty more.
Ultimately, from the similarity in how he might join the club to his playing style and output, Rodrygo has every chance of becoming Arsenal’s new Sanchez, so Arteta and Co have to do all they can to sign him as soon as possible.
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