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Quick bowler wants role in World Cup but says control and variety will be key to success

Andrew Miller29-Jun-2024Lauren Filer insists that England will not be getting ahead of themselves in their ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, despite a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the series opener in Durham. Nevertheless, she admits that the T20 World Cup in October, and her potential role on those slower wickets in Bangladesh, will be a factor in her preparations for the rest of the summer.Filer, England’s fastest bowler, made her second ODI appearance of the summer on Wednesday, opening alongside Lauren Bell for the first time, with Kate Cross missing the series with an abdominal strain. She made a strong impact, bowling five powerplay overs for 18 and claiming the key early wicket of Suzie Bates, before passing the baton to England’s formidable trio of spinners, who claimed seven wickets between them in bowling New Zealand out for 156.England’s openers, Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier, then picked off the bulk of those runs in a 137-run stand spanning 17.2 overs, to extend the team’s recent dominance over New Zealand, whom they beat in six matches out of eight across white-ball formats on their tour of the country in March and April.Related

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“We will definitely not underestimate New Zealand as a team,” Filer said on the eve of the second ODI in Worcester. “We know that they can hit a big ball and take wickets as well, so we’ve got to be careful. We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves and throw everything at it, without actually thinking about it, but we’re just all up for our performance, and taking the momentum from the last game into the next one.”Filer herself took particular pride in her economy-rate (3.60) in the Durham fixture. Despite having been told by Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, that wickets were the key thing that she could offer, and that going for a few extra runs did not matter in the grander scheme of things, she conceded just two boundaries and one wide in her pacy new-ball burst, and admitted that it gave her a lift to perform her primary role with gusto without maintaining an extra level of control.”Lewy’s always told me that runs don’t matter as much,” Filer said. “But in Durham it was lovely to have that control. To only go at three and a half, it was really nice to see that on the scoreboard when when I turned around, because I wouldn’t have necessarily had that control this time last year.”It is evidence, Filer feels, of a greater understanding of her own game, and one that augurs well for a potential tweaking of her role at the World Cup, where there may be a greater need to mix up her lengths and paces to mitigate for the slower conditions.”On the pitch we played on in Durham – and most of the pitches in England – the top of stumps is the best option,” she said. “With the slower pitches, I’ll be using that quicker ball, but then it’ll be about having slower balls or yorkers, and anything that grips into the pitch, and using them wisely. I didn’t feel like I needed to do that in the last game, but moving forward, I might be able to show what I could do.”Lauren Filer celebrates the wicket of Suzie Bates in the first ODI•Getty ImagesFiler’s raw pace, allied to her growing range of variations, means she could yet be deployed at the World Cup in a similar role to that which Jofra Archer performs for the men – with an impact at the top and tail of the innings, plus an ability to return in the middle of an innings if a breakthrough is required.”I’d love to do what Jofra does,” she said. “Obviously he has a great amount of control and his slower balls take a lot of wickets. But I’m trying not to look too far ahead. I wouldn’t say I’ve had a specific role given to me yet, but we’ll see where we’re at closer to the time.”I feel like I’ve worked quite hard on my accuracy, especially since my debut,” she added. “I think I’m in a good place with that. It’s about trying to move away from my stock ball and show my variations, and actually use them as a threat. When you come up against the best players, you’re not able to bowl the same ball all the time. So I’ll keep working on them until the World Cup.”Filer admits there’s no guarantees of a central role at the World Cup, especially given the ubiquity of England’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn. “It’s so hard as a seamer, you really want to play but you can’t push any of them out of the team,” she said. “They’re just absolutely world-class. Even if one of them doesn’t have the best day, the other two will come flying in with three or four wickets.But whatever happens, Filer knows she’ll have the support of a dressing-room which she describes as “the best environment I’ve ever been in”.”It’s just somewhere that you can be yourself,” she said. “As a team, we trust each other to do the things we do well, and that’s really important. Even on a day when it doesn’t go well, knowing that you’ve got the support of your team-mates when you come off the field, and a shoulder to cry on, that’s something really special, and something hopefully we can carry on throughout the years.”

Arsenal supporters are desperate to see new faces come through the door this summer and Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on their latest pursuit.

Arsenal look to find title-winning formula in transfer window

The Gunners have plenty to be optimistic about heading into the new season as they finally look to claim the Premier League title for the first time in over 20 years.

However, Sporting Clube de Portugal president Frederico Varandas has hit out at Arsenal and Manchester United regarding the bidding process for star striker Viktor Gyokeres, making his feelings clear on the way negotiations will be handled.

He stated: “I see the agent in the press releasing information. I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word. Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.

“Now, blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10. As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres.”

Of course, Gyokeres isn’t the only target Mikel Arteta has identified to bring to North London; the Gunners’ pursuit of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko is still very much on the agenda.

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Real Madrid star Rodrygo is also being pursued by the Gunners, albeit bringing the Brazilian to the club would be a tall order in light of the financial details needed to make that happen.

The La Liga giants have been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in the past. Nevertheless, Arteta may need to concede defeat for another target following recent reports.

Romano: Arsenal target Brahim Diaz set to pen new Real Madrid terms

Recently, reports in Spain suggested that Arsenal were willing to offer roughly £42.6 million to sign Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid having made an approach to tempt the Morocco international to the English capital.

However, despite being seen as a cheaper alternative to Rodrygo, Romano has now confirmed that he is set to sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabéu, quashing any rumours of a switch to North London.

Diaz has already said ‘yes’ to new terms in Madrid, and finding an agreement is set to be nothing more than a formality, which may leave one or two Gunners fans feeling frustrated.

The man himself registered six goals and seven assists in 52 appearances across all competitions last term and is now involved with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup, so it may have taken Arsenal a while to get their hands on him anyway.

Tottenham Hotspur are now planning to sell Richarlison, in order to fund a move for an “incredible” £55m star, according to a report.

Richarlison struggling to make an impact at Spurs

The Brazilian’s 2024-25 campaign was marred by a number of injury issues, which meant he only managed to make 15 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he provided four goals and one assist.

However, with Dominic Solanke often leading the line, the 28-year-old has found holding down a starting spot very difficult even when fit, often being utilised as a substitute last term, which indicates Spurs can afford to let him move on this summer.

That is exactly what Tottenham are planning to do, according to Football Insider’s transfer correspondent, Pete O’Rourke, who said: “With Son staying, Dibling linked, and Richarlison likely to be moved on… there’s got to be some restructuring at Tottenham this summer.

“The domestic campaign was awful… the squad depth and quality has to be addressed and must improve.”

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The report also states that Spurs plan to sell Richarlison in order to fund a move for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, with the Saints looking to hold out for a fee of £55m for the forward, although the Lilywhites are hopeful a deal can be done for £40m – £45m.

Signing Dibling is said to align with the north Londoners’ transfer strategy “perfectly”, given that they plan on signing the best youngsters to give them first-team football immediately, in order to make an instant impact.

The Brazilian international’s exit could be crucial when it comes to Spurs’ ability to compete for the Southampton star’s signature, however, given the money it would generate, and Richarlison has previously been linked with a return to Everton.

Dibling could be "incredible" signing for Tottenham

Southampton’s 2024-25 campaign was one of the worst in Premier League history, collecting just 12 points across the entire season, but their 19-year-old winger still managed to make a name for himself.

Reporter Alfie House was left particularly enamoured with the youngster, lauding him as an “incredible” player back in November, and he went on to finish the season with four goals and three assists in all competitions.

The Englishman also drew praise from Match of the Day’s Danny Murphy, who said: “It is the quality he has got – the belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good.”

With Richarlison falling down the pecking order, it could make sense to cash-in on the forward to fund a move for Dibling this summer, given that he showed some very promising signs during his breakout season at Southampton.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke followed in Marcelo Bielsa’s footsteps this season by becoming the latest boss to win the Championship title for the club.

The Whites recorded a club-record 100 points in the second tier with a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season, to earn their promotion to the Premier League.

Bielsa, of course, then went on to keep the team in the top-flight with a top-half finish in the 2020/21 campaign, before he was relieved of his duties midway through the following season.

Farke will now be hoping to follow in the Argentine great’s footsteps once again by coaching the team to avoid relegation from the Premier League at the first time of asking, something that he was unable to do in two attempts at Norwich City.

Recruitment in the upcoming summer transfer window will be key to the success or failure of the German head coach next season, as shown by how important Bielsa’s signings in 2020 were.

Victor Orta and the board backed the manager by making several significant signings to bolster the squad, including high-profile forward Rodrigo from Valencia.

Why Rodrigo was a key signing for Leeds

Leeds pushed the boat out to smash their transfer record with a £30m deal to sign the Spain international ahead of the 2020/21 campaign to back Bielsa.

Rodrigo had already been capped 22 times by his country and had scored 59 goals and delivered 41 assists in 220 appearances for Valencia in all competitions, which meant that the Whites were signing an experienced player at the top level in Europe.

The West Yorkshire outfit knew that they had to add proven quality to their squad to handle the jump from the Championship to the Premier League, so they went out and signed a player who had been there and done it, albeit in Spain instead of England.

Rodrigo delivered seven goals and two assists in 26 matches in the Premier League in his debut season with Leeds to steer them clear of relegation, which was then followed up with six goals and one assist in 31 games in the 2021/22 campaign under Jesse Marsch.

The Spanish star’s haul of 13 goals and one assist in 31 matches in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign was not enough to prevent relegation back down to the second tier, but there is no doubt that he played a role in their survival in his first two years at Elland Road.

Rodrigo was, therefore, a key signing for Leeds because he brought proven quality and made an instant impact at the club in the top-flight, which is why the club should try to repeat that masterclass this summer.

Leeds eyeing deal for Serie A striker

The Whites could be on their way to finding their next Rodrigo in the upcoming summer transfer window, as they are reportedly eyeing a new centre-forward.

According to an Italian journalist, Leeds United are lining up a move to sign Lecce number nine Nikola Krstovic to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

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Farke already has Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph, and Patrick Bamford vying for one place in the starting line-up, but it is seemingly looking to add even more quality to his attacking arsenal.

Krstovic will not come cheap, though, as the reporter adds that Lecce, who are at risk of being relegated from the Serie A, are set to demand a fee of around €25m (£21m).

It now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to pay the £21m that the Italian team want for their star striker, but they should consider doing so because he could be their next Rodrigo.

Why Krstovic could be Rodrigo 2.0 at Leeds

The 49ers should swoop to sign the £21m-rated striker for Farke because he has proven his quality in one of Europe’s major leagues and would be a player who could make an instant impact in the Premier League, rather than a player from the lower leagues in England or a young player with it all to prove.

Like Rodrigo, Krstovic would arrive at Elland Road as a seasoned international footballer. He has scored six goals in 24 caps for Montenegro to date, which shows that he has performed well on the international stage for his country.

The 25-year-old star made a name for himself in Slovakia with Dunajska Streda by scoring 37 goals in 66 matches in all competitions, an unbelievable return in front of goal for the striker, which earned him a move to Lecce in the summer of 2023.

Krstovic, who former manager Roberto D’Aversa claimed has a “hunger for goals”, did not take much time to adapt to life in one of Europe’s major leagues, with a return of seven goals in 35 games in the 2023/24 Serie A campaign.

Appearances

35

36

Goals

7

11

Right-footed goals

4

7

Left-footed goals

1

3

Headed goals

2

1

Big chances created

4

4

Assists

1

4

As you can see in the table above, the Montenegro international has showcased his quality in front of goal, with 18 goals and eight ‘big chances’ created, in his two seasons with Lecce in the Serie A to date.

A return of 11 right-footed goals, four left-footed goals, and three headed goals also shows that he is a versatile goalscorer who can thrive off a variety of service, rather than being limited to one way of scoring goals.

His statistics for Lecce perfectly illustrate why he could be Rodrigo 2.0 for Leeds because he has proven that the quality is there for him to make an instant impact in the Premier League as a goalscorer, given what the forward has already achieved in Italy.

This is why Farke must push the board to get a deal over the line for the £21m marksman, because Krstovic could bolster the club’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the top-flight by providing a big goal threat throughout the campaign.

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Newcastle United are keen on completing the loan signing of a player who has been described as “unplayable”, according to a new update from reliable journalist Sam Lee.

Newcastle prepare for final Champions League push

The Magpies have two games remaining in the Premier League this season, as they look to secure a place back in the Champions League, which would be huge for the club, allowing them to target top players in the summer transfer window.

Not only that, but victory away to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon would actually see Newcastle leapfrog the Gunners into second place in the table heading into the final round of fixtures of the campaign, which would be an amazing achievement.

Eddie Howe is well aware that nothing has been sealed yet, though, stressing the importance of his players remaining focused after last weekend’s crucial 2-0 win at home to Chelsea.

“The crowd were up for the game, the atmosphere was amazing. We’re on the road to what we want to do this season, but there’s still a lot of work to do and two tough fixtures to play. The size of the prize is huge, the players are aware of that. There was a worry when we won the trophy [League Cup] that there would be a negative consequence of that, but I think it actually gave us confidence.”

Newcastle keen on signing £100m ace on loan

Now, according to The Athletic‘s Lee, Newcastle United are among the clubs who are “interested” in signing Jack Grealish on loan this summer. The 29-year-old has struggled for playing time at Manchester City this season and a move away on a temporary basis is possible, with the report stating he “could leave” the Etihad before next season.

Grealish arguably hasn’t justified the £100m that City paid for his services back in 2021, even though he has won three Premier League titles and one Champions League crown, among other trophies. A tally of 17 goals in 156 appearances far from an impressive return for an attacking wide player.

That said, the England international’s maverick style has arguably been stifled a little by Pep Guardiola, who has made him a less entertaining player to watch, and he could be keen for a fresh challenge in order to express himself more, with Rio Ferdinand heaping praise on him in the past.

The fact that Newcastle would be signing Grealish on loan would take out some of the risk element, and he has the ability to provide great competition on the left flank, as well as being able to shine as a No.10.

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Admittedly, he does turn 30 later this year, and some may argue that his peak has passed, but he is the type of footballer who Magpies supporters warm to, given his direct style of play and the way he could light up St James’ Park.

Manchester City are yet to solve one of the most difficult issues that will present itself to a Premier League side this summer: how do they replace Kevin De Bruyne? The Belgian legend will depart the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, after years of success.

He has played 419 times for the Citizens, scoring 108 goals and providing an extraordinary 177 assists. Of course, the real highlight for De Bruyne in that famous Sky Blue shirt was the treble success of 2022/23, which included the club’s first Champions League title.

Pep Guardiola’s side appear to be lining up potential replacements, ahead of the summer window, with a handful of names already being thrown into the mix.

Man City's search to replace De Bruyne

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Tuesday evening that Guardiola’s side ‘have contacted AC Milan to express interest’ in Dutchman Tijjani Reijnders.

Ornstein outlined that no formal offer has yet been made, although early talks are underway for the playmaker – with that news coming amid prior links to both Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz.

Transfer Focus

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One Premier League star who could also be in demand this summer, meanwhile, is Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze. The England international has had yet another impressive campaign for the Eagles, and could be in line to depart the club this summer.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, City are the side who are perhaps best placed to sign Eze. If the London-born star performs well against City in this weekend’s FA Cup final, the club could ‘launch an approach to sign the midfielder as soon as possible’.

However, Eze, who has a £60m release clause in his contract, will also be a target for other English top-flight clubs. Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa could all make a move for the England international this summer.

Why Eze would be a good signing

It has been yet another standout season in South London for 26-year-old Eze, who has been a key man under Oliver Glasner. The attacking midfielder has helped his side to an FA Cup final this weekend against City, where they can qualify for Europe with a win.

Eze has made 40 appearances across all competitions this term and has chipped in with an impressive 12 goals and 11 assists. In four FA Cup appearances, he has managed to find the back of the net three times and has provided one goal for his teammates.

The recent form from the Palace number 10 is perhaps exactly why City want to bring him to East Manchester this summer. In the last seven Premier League games, he has managed seven goal involvements, with five of those goals, including two against Spurs last weekend.

Whilst Eze has shown excellent form of late and could be subject to a bid from City soon, he is evidently not the only target they have to replace De Bruyne, amid those reports surrounding Reijnders.

Just as Eze has been important for Palace this season, so too has Reijnders in that famous Black and Red shirt of the Rossoneri.

He has 15 goals and five assists in 51 games, which is fewer goal contributions than the Eagles star has in more games.

Reijnders was once described as “one of the best ball-carrying midfielders on the planet” by Statman Dave. When looking at the stats on FBref for both the Dutchman and Eze, it is perhaps clear what City are looking for.

That is to say, Guardiola seems like he would like to add more ball-carrying prowess to his side. As the stats show, Eze averages 2.29 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, compared to Reijnders’ 1.1 successful take-ons each game.

Key passes

1.96

1.34

Goal-creating actions

4.68

3.27

Take-ons completed

2.29

1.1

Progressive carries

2.39

3.32

Ball recoveries

4.89

3.35

Described as a “magic” player by football analyst Antonio Mango, Eze could be an excellent alternative to Reijnders for City this summer. He fits the ball-carrying profile Guardiola seems to want, whilst also bringing goals and assists.

For a fee of £60m, this seems like it could be an excellent deal for City, and could really increase the quality they have in attacking areas.

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In a major boost for those in the Midlands, Besiktas are now reportedly willing to listen to offers for a long-term Aston Villa target this summer and the Villans could finally get their man.

All eyes on Bournemouth for Aston Villa

Still battling to squeeze their way into the top five in the final three Premier League games, Aston Villa simply cannot afford anything but three points against a tough Bournemouth side this weekend. Everything is still to play for in the race for European football and anything could still happen. Even sat seventh, Unai Emery’s side should have plenty of hope.

Emery recently spoke about his side’s final run-in and how his side are taking it one game at a time, telling reporters: “Bournemouth, next week. Bournemouth. So, so difficult, Bournemouth. And then, we’ll see. We’ll see. Saturday, finished. Now Bournemouth.

“Before Saturday if we were thinking, ok, the next match is Bournemouth, the next match is Tottenham, Manchester United… if we weren’t winning, forget it! Completely! We have to go to each match and try to win. If we win like today, ok, the next one.”

Following their trip to Bournemouth, Aston Villa will square off against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to end their season. In many ways, nothing quite represents how much the Premier League has changed more than Villa’s fight for Champions League football coming against two bottom half sides who many tipped to be in the Villans’ position at the start of the campaign.

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Things are likely to get even worse for Manchester United and Spurs if Villa qualify for a place among Europe’s elite too. With Champions League football to offer, those in the Midlands could instantly go in pursuit of major upgrades which may yet include one particular young star.

Besiktas now open to selling "dynamic" Kilicsoy

According to Fotomac in Turkey, as relayed by Sport Witness, Besiktas are now open to selling Semih Kilicsoy with Aston Villa already eyeing a summer swoop to finally land his signature. The 19-year-old first grabbed Villa’s attention last summer and was even reportedly the subject of a rejected offer. Now, a year on, a similar offer could be enough for the Turkish side to bid farewell to their young star.

Described as a “dynamic versatile forward” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Kilicsoy is undoubtedly one to watch. His first full season at senior level was incredibly impressive and since then he has not looked back.

In the current campaign, Kilicsoy has managed four goals and six assists – once again proving his ability to be a consistent outlet from either flank or, indeed, the player leading the line. With plenty of years between now and his peak, the teenager is not one that Villa will want to miss out on.

Following their heroics against Real Madrid, there is now a real chance Arsenal’s season could end in Champions League glory.

However, while that would be all fans will remember this campaign for years down the line, it would still be fair to describe their domestic season as a disaster.

While a significant reason for that has been the near-constant stream of injuries Mikel Arteta and Co have had to deal with, it’s also been down to several star players not performing at their best, with club captain Martin Odegaard perhaps the worst offender in this regard.

Since returning from his ankle injury in November, the Norwegian hasn’t been able to hit the heights of the last two years, and that may cost him next season, as recent reports have linked Arsenal to someone who could be a significant upgrade this summer.

Arsenal transfer news

On top of a new midfielder, Arsenal have also been linked with a plethora of wide talent in recent weeks, with perhaps the most consistent being Nico Williams.

The Athletic Bilbao star was touted for a move to the North Londoners last summer as well, but it seems like he could really be available for around £50m this year, and given his tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 42 games this season, that may be a fee well worth paying.

Likewise, the Gunners have long been linked with Raphinha, even before his move to Barcelona, and those rumours have once again reemerged this year, with reports suggesting he could be available for around £80m.

Transfer Focus

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

While that’s an awful lot of money, it doesn’t seem too unreasonable considering he’s amassed a sensational tally of 30 goals and 23 assists in just 48 appearances this term, although if the North Londoners are going to sign Florian Wirtz, they might not be able to afford the Brazilian winger.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several top sides keen to sign the Bayer Leverkusen gem this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all interested in the German international, who could cost up to €130m, which is about £111m.

It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Wirtz’s immense quality and potential, one well worth fighting for, even if his arrival would be bad news for Odegaard.

How Wirtz compares to Odegaard

So, if Arsenal were to get ahead of the chasing pack and splash the cash on Wirtz this summer, they’d likely do so with the intention of having him start most games as an attacking midfielder, which would put him in direct competition with Odegaard.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them both? Well, from a pure output perspective, it’s an overwhelming victory for the Leverkusen star.

For example, in just 41 appearances this season, totalling 3040 minutes, he’s scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.46 games or every 108.57 minutes.

In comparison, the former Real Madrid gem has only been able to amass a tally of five goals and nine assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2896 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.71 games of every 206.85 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.51

0.37

Non-Penalty G+As

0.77

0.28

Progressive Carries

4.91

3.59

Progressive Passes

6.80

10.4

Shots

2.79

1.80

Shots on Target

1.26

0.60

Shot-Creating Actions

5.76

5.02

Goal-Creating Actions

0.85

0.55

Ball Recoveries

4.41

3.73

Unfortunately for the Gunners’ captain, he once again comes out on the losing side of this comparison, as the Pulheim-born gem, whom former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has described as “the best midfielder in the world,” does better in most relevant metrics.

For example, he does far better in metrics like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it would require a club-record bid, Arsenal should be doing all they can to bring Wirtz to the Emirates this summer, even if it sees Odegaard relegated to a squad role.

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Manchester United have now moved ahead of their rivals in the race for an “incredible” striker, having submitted an enticing offer, according to a report.

Man Utd stepping up striker pursuit

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee once again failed to make an impact at the weekend, with Man United succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United, and it is now looking increasingly likely a new striker will be brought in this summer.

The Red Devils are considering a number of options from within the Premier League, with talks recently being opened over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, who has a release clause of £62.5m.

Ruben Amorim’s side are also becoming more confident they would be able to sign Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer, should they make a move, and they have now expressed a concrete interest in signing the 27-year-old.

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However, Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap has been identified as Man United’s top striker target for the summer, following his breakout season with the Tractor Boys, and there has now been a positive update on their pursuit of the Englishman.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, United have now surged ahead of rival suitors in the race for Delap, given that the offer they have made is “far more solid” than Chelsea’s, which could play a crucial role in deciding the striker’s future.

Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton have also been named as potential suitors for the forward, whose agent has fielded a number of calls in recent weeks, but it appears as though the Red Devils are now leading the race for his signature.

Interestingly, the Ipswich star will remain keen on a move to Old Trafford regardless of whether European football is on offer next season.

"Incredible" Delap could be fantastic signing

Ipswich are almost certain to be relegated from the Championship, but it cannot be put down to a lack of effort on their striker’s behalf, having netted 12 Premier League goals.

That total is very impressive, given that the 22-year-old is playing for a side now 14 points from safety, and he has received high praise from reporter Alex Howell, who described him as “incredible” back in March.

Not only has the Winchester-born striker displayed a keen eye for goal, but he has showcased his ability to drive at opposition defences, ranking in the 90th percentile for successful take-ons, and the 86th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year.

It is well-documented that Man United may not have a great deal of money to spend this summer, given their financial issues, which could make Delap the perfect addition at striker, considering he is set to be available for just £30m.

Nottingham Forest are now very keen on signing a £26m midfielder who is becoming increasingly likely to leave his club this summer, according to a report.

Forest's summer transfer plans

Even the most optimistic of Forest fans wouldn’t have predicted their levels of performance this season, with Champions League qualification still very much on the cards, although they were dealt a blow with the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa at the weekend.

It was an afternoon to forget at Villa Park, with the Tricky Trees’ three-game winning streak in the Premier League coming to an end, but they remain in third place, four points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea.

However, should the Tricky Trees manage to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they may have to improve their squad depth this summer, with Nuno setting his sights on targets in a range of different positions.

Bringing in a new striker is of particular importance, with the likes of Crystal Palace’s Jean Philippe-Mateta and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres among the targets, while Marseille winger Luis Enrique could be signed to provide competition for Anthony Elanga at left-wing.

£25m release clause: Nottingham Forest join hectic race for "superb" star

They could trigger his release clause.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 7, 2025

Not only that, but Nuno could also look to bolster his options in the middle of the park, with a report from Italy revealing Nottingham Forest are now very keen on signing AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah (via Sport Witness).

Musah is likely to exit the San Siro this summer, with a €30m (£26m) fee mooted, having put in some disappointing performances this season, recently being substituted in the first half after making a major error against Fiorentina.

The 22-year-old was booed off the field by the Milan fans, which could lead to a move elsewhere this summer, and a number of Premier League clubs are lining up for his signature, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also expressing an interest.

"Incredible" Musah needs to move on this summer

The midfielder’s relationship with the Milan fans is seemingly at breaking point, given their reaction to his substitution at the weekend, and he may need to move on for the good of his career.

While it was undoubtedly a disappointing performance from the American, he is still very young at just 22, and there are plenty of indications he would have a lot to offer Forest in the Premier League.

Journalist Kyle Bonn lauded the Milan ace as “incredible” earlier this season, and he has performed pretty well across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably impressing with his dribbling.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.12 (73rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.43 (96th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.25 (98th percentile)

Should Musah decide he needs to move on this summer, he could be a bargain at just £25m, and Forest could be well-positioned to win the race for his signature, should they manage to achieve their goal of qualification for the Champions League.