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Members of the West Ham squad have made it crystal clear who should be their manager as Graham Potter fights to save his job, with an all-important Premier League clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium awaiting the tactician this weekend.

Graham Potter given West Ham stay of execution

As per reliable media sources, if Potter’s side fail to impress against David Moyes’ Everton, or title-chasing Arsenal the weekend after, it is likely that David Sullivan and co will hand the 50-year-old his P45.

West Ham’s under fire board are apparently weighing up the prospect of sacking Potter after these next two rounds of fixtures, so his potential replacement could face Brentford at home on October 20 for a more favourable start to his tenure (ExWHUemployee).

Whether they pull the trigger before then could be dependent on how West Ham fare against Moyes on Merseyside, but what is certain is that results cannot continue on this downward trajectory.

Thus far, the Hammers have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League, with seven of their 13 goals against coming from corners.

Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League	Win percentage
9. Sam Allardyce	30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui	30%
11. Gianfranco Zola	27.8%
12 Graham Potter	26.1%
13. Avram Grant	18.9%
via StatMuse

Bar a surprise 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest prior to the last international break, West Ham have lost all of their league matches, with a stunning right-footed volley from Tyrick Mitchell gifting their last opponents, Crystal Palace, all three points in a 2-1 win at the London Stadium.

West Ham’s managerial shortlist to replace Potter is an intriguing one, with Nuno Espírito Santo, Slaven Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche and Marco Silva all linked with the hot seat this week.

Nuno is reportedly in pole position for the West Ham job as things stand, owing to his free agent status and the excellent job he did at Nottingham Forest, with Bilic also ready to step in on a short-term basis amid reports he’s already planning his coaching staff (ExWHUemployee).

Bilic is believed to be Sullivan’s personal favourite, and is regularly in contact with the Croatian who was in charge from 2015 to 2017.

The ex-West Brom boss delivered one of West Ham’s highest ever Premier League finishes at the beginning of his tenure (7th), but according to The Telegraph, links to Bilic, or any of the aforementioned managers for that matter, are failing to impress the current Irons squad.

Senior West Ham players tell friends who should be manager

As per their information, as revealed by reliable journalist Matt Law, senior West Ham players have told friends who they think is the right man for the job.

That man is apparently Potter himself, with high-ranking squad members informing their inner circle and family members that they have full trust in West Ham’s current boss to turn things around.

Other players have also spoken about Potter in positive fashion to people outside their close circle, which follows a similar update from Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol, who previously revealed the mood around Rush Green is upbeat.

Things can change very quickly in football. Two promising results against Everton and Arsenal could get the West Ham hierarchy thinking, especially with support for Potter among the players appearing this strong.

However, football is also a results business, and we’ve seen time and time again that the popularity of a manager counts for very little if performances on the pitch are lacklustre.

Potter faces a race against time to prove to outside critics that he is indeed the right man to take them forward, with the mood around East London as toxic as ever right now amid protests against the ownership.

England 565 for 6 dec (Pope 171, Duckett 140, Crawley 124) beat Zimbabwe 265 (Bennett 139) and 255 (Williams 88, Raza 60, Bashir 6-81) by an innings and 45 runsEngland began their home international summer with a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe after bowling them out twice inside five sessions and finishing the four-day Test with more than a day to spare. Offspinner Shoaib Bashir, playing in his 16th Test, headlined the final day with his fourth Test five-for – the most by an England player before turning 22 – and second in Nottingham.The magnitude of the defeat did not wipe the smiles off the faces of the visitors and their boisterous fans, who filled Trent Bridge with noise and colour, and stayed to applaud them in a lap of gratitude afterwards. This was Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in 22 years and a strong expat crowd delighted in brave batting from Sean Williams, Ben Curran, Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere.Williams fell 12 short of a century and put on 122 for the second wicket while Raza reached a 10th Test half-century and shared a 65-run fifth-wicket stand with Madhevere. Zimbabwe did not disgrace themselves as they came within 45 runs of making England bat again and showed promise ahead of home Tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan later this year.England, meanwhile, have had their first bit of preparation ahead of a massive eight months in Tests which includes a five-match home series against India and the Ashes in Australia. They may have some concerns over their frontline seamers, who lacked some bite. Captain Ben Stokes was the most threatening on his return to bowling after hamstring surgery, and also maintained the highest pace, across his two four-over spells. In total, he bowled 11.2 in the match, while Bashir finished with nine for 143, his best match figures.Zimbabwe began the day on 30 for 2, 270 runs behind and needing a big batting performance from someone. Williams, an international veteran of 20 years who averages 66.56 in the last five years, delivered. He played a typically energetic knock, laced with boundaries. He hit 16 fours in his innings, nine through the covers and mid-off as England overpitched and occasionally offered width. He also ushered Curran through a cautious knock that spanned 104 balls for 37 runs.Stokes began the morning’s proceedings and immediately caused problems for Zimbabwe. His third ball was wide and full, Curran drove hard and edged past gully for four. Stokes would have known he’d also planted a seed of doubt and in his next over, he could have reaped the rewards. On 10, Curran drove the ball back to Stokes, who stuck out both hands but could not hold on in his followthrough. That would have stung and more so when Williams smoked Stokes through point and over midwicket later in the over.Williams reached fifty in the next over with a pinpoint straight drive off Josh Tongue, off the 42nd ball he faced. In the next over, Tongue hit Williams on the bottom forearm, with a delivery that reared up from back of a length and drew blood. Williams was treated on-field and appeared unaffected as he drove a wide Atkinson ball in his favoured region for four more.Sean Williams produced a fighting 88 to lead Zimbabwe’s resistance•Getty Images

Joe Root was used for an over for Tongue to change ends and England went double-spin with the introduction of Bashir. Williams reverse-swept his first ball for four to enter the seventies. At the other end Tongue began a short-ball assault on Curran that almost paid off. Curran, having hauled his way to 29, pulled Tongue to Stokes at midwicket but the England captain could only get fingertips to it.Curran survived again when Umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave him out lbw after he missed a sweep against Bashir but Curran reviewed. Hawkeye showed the ball was bouncing over the top of the stumps. Williams was not quite as lucky. On 88, he was hit on the pads, given out and reviewed. Replays showed the ball was clipping the top of the leg stump. Having faced 82 balls, he had been on course to reclaim the national record for fastest century that Brian Bennett’s 97-ball effort had taken on the previous day.Post-lunch, Curran adopted a more aggressive approach and drove Bashir aerially but only as far as Stokes at short cover, for whom the third time was a charm. He had no trouble holding on. That brought Raza and Madhevere together and they took on the spin and the short ball from Sam Cook with confidence. They had a couple of nervy moments: when Bashir induced Raza’s edge once and the ball ricocheted off Jamie Smith and onto the peak of Harry Brook’s cap at first slip, which saved him from being hit on the forehead. Then, Cook got a full ball to jag back into Madhevere and hit his front pad and convinced Stokes to review. Ball-tracking showed it was missing leg stump.In the end it took a moment of magic, and the return of Stokes, to separate the pair. He went short to Madhevere and found extra bounce, Madhevere attempted a cut but found an outside-edge and the ball seemed to be heading over second slip. Brook jumped, stuck his right hand up and plucked the ball out of the air, to everyone’s surprise. Madhevere looked back, astonished that he had to go while Stokes placed his hand over his mouth a la Stuart Broad, who celebrated in the same way when Stokes himself pulled off a blinder in the Ashes a decade ago on the same ground.With Madhevere went Zimbabwe’s last real hope of making England bat again and the result was only a matter of time. Tafadzwa Tsiga was bowled by Bashir when he came down the track to a ball that turned in and through the bat-pad gap. Zimbabwean emotions see-sawed as Raza reached fifty in the next over when he creamed Stokes through the covers for his eighth four but in the over after that Blessing Muzarabani slog-swept Bashir straight to Root at deep midwicket. Bashir bagged his fifth when Raza, who had added two more fours to his count, tried to heave him over the leg side and managed a leading edge which Brook pouched.Fittingly, Bashir finished things off when he struck Chivanga on the back pad as he played inside the line and was hit in front of middle and off. Richard Ngarava, Zimbabwe’s No.11, did not bat in either innings after leaving the field on the first day with a back injury.

Ambidextrous Sri Lankan allrounder bowls one over on IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sidharth Monga03-Apr-2025Sri Lankan spin allrounder Kamindu Mendis has become the first man to switch his bowling arm during an over in the IPL. He did it in his debut game for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.Brought on for the 13th over of the innings, Mendis bowled three balls of left-arm spin and three of offspin. He landed each delivery on a good length or slightly fuller, giving the batters no room to work with. The fourth ball of the over brought him the wicket of the right-hand batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 50 off 32 courtesy an excellent catch from Harshal Patel, running in from deep third.Well before he got off a Bradmanesque start as a Test batter, Mendis was a curiosity for his ambidextrous bowling in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. At senior international level, he bowled with both arms in the same over against Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant in a T20I last year.Mendis’ left-arm spin is marginally better than his offspin, which might be the reason he bowled just one over against KKR, as Raghuvanshi’s dismissal brought together two left-hand batters in Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh.While it is legal to switch arms during an over, a fastidious umpire could make it a little difficult for the bowler by insisting they inform of the switch each time. Mendis didn’t seem like he had to inform the umpire every time on Thursday. A practical approach seemed to have been followed as he was always going to bowl left-arm to the right-hand batter and vice versa.Ironically, Mendis bowled with both hands against a side had consciously looked for ambidextrous bowlers in the past. KKR’s innovative coach John Buchanan picked two of them, a spinner and a quick bowler, among 45 probables 2009.Trust a Sri Lankan to cause havoc with logging the data in cricket. The previous man to bowl ambidextrously at international level was Hashan Tillakaratne, against Kenya at the 1996 World Cup. Before Tillakaratne, Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad, a part-time offspinner, bowled left-arm spin when West Indies’ Gary Sobers scored his record 365th run – the highest score in a Test innings – in Jamaica.

Iyer, who scored a match-winning half-century, was originally meant to sit out the first ODI

Karthik Krishnaswamy06-Feb-2025

Shreyas Iyer came out all guns blazing in the first ODI•BCCI

Shreyas Iyer, who scored a match-winning 36-ball 59 in the first ODI against England in Nagpur, was originally meant to sit out the match. Iyer revealed this in a post-match interview with the broadcasters.India were without Virat Kohli, who was ruled out of the match with a swollen right knee, and they handed the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal an ODI debut. Rather than coming in for the injured Kohli, however, it has emerged that Jaiswal may have been part of India’s original line-up for the match, with Iyer, their regular No. 4, due to start the series on the bench.Iyer revealed that he only came to know he was playing via a late-night call from captain Rohit Sharma.”So, funny story,” Iyer said. “I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. And then [I] hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway.”Related

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Asked about Jaiswal starting ahead of him, Iyer kept his answer diplomatic. “You know what you want me to say, but I’m going to keep it low-key and cherish this moment, the victory today.”Jaiswal’s addition necessitated a shuffle in India’s line-up, breaking up their regular opening partnership of Rohit and Shubman Gill, with Gill moving down to No. 3. It is as yet unclear who would have batted at No. 3 had Kohli also been available.Iyer has established himself as India’s ODI No. 4 over recent years, and was a vital member of their line-up during their run to the final of the 2023 World Cup, scoring 530 runs at an average of 66.25, with two hundreds including a 70-ball 105 in the semi-final against New Zealand. His strike rate of 113.24 was the best among India’s middle-order batters.The series against England is India’s last set of ODIs before the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19. India are set to open their tournament with a match against Bangladesh on February 20.It’s not yet clear that India’s original top order for Thursday’s match indicates how they are looking to line up at the Champions Trophy. With Jaiswal uncapped, it is possible they may have been looking to give him game time in this series to keep him ready to play in case India lose one of their regular openers. Gill’s move to the middle order could have been aimed at testing him out in that role should the need arise to replace a middle-order batter. Jaiswal’s left-handedness could also be a factor: there is no left-hand batter in India’s first-choice top six from the World Cup.

Fermin Lopez joked Real Madrid were not among the clubs trying to sign him in the summer as he admitted that he received more offers than just Chelsea's late bid. The midfielder insisted that leaving Barcelona was never an option, though, as he looks to become a crucial figure for Hansi Flick's side following another injury upset.

Lopez rejected Chelsea bid as he stays at Barcelona

The Blues reportedly tabled a €40 million (£37m/$50m) bid, including potential add-ons, in a bid to bolster their midfield before the transfer window closed. While the offer prompted Lopez to consider his options, he ultimately chose to remain at Camp Nou, prioritising continuity and development under Barca's management.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLopez confirms transfer offers amid Chelsea interest

The midfielder made it clear that he had no intention of leaving the club he has supported since childhood. “I didn’t consider the offer and I don’t think they wanted to sell me either,” he said in an interview with He further admitted that he had received several approaches from elsewhere, adding: “I received some, yes, but I don’t think any came from Real Madrid.”

Fermin staying loyal to Barcelona roots

Lopez underlined his deep ties to Barcelona, stressing that playing for the club was always his dream. 

“I’ve been a Barca fan all my life. Since I was a child. Everything comes from an uncle of my mother’s, Miri, who has always been a Barca fan,” he explained. His attachment to the club influenced his stance on transfer speculation, as neither he nor Barca saw a move away as realistic. Despite not yet being an undisputed starter, the academy graduate has already shown his ability to impact key matches, including a brace against Valencia earlier in the season.

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AFPInjury setback as PSG clash looms

Lopez’s promising start to the season has been interrupted by injury, with the midfielder suffering a muscle issue in his left iliopsoas during Barca's recent 3-0 win over Getafe. He left the pitch in tears, sparking fears of a lengthy absence. Initial tests, however, confirmed a three-week recovery timeline. 

“The problem is not major,” he clarified, insisting he will return soon. Unfortunately for Barca, the setback means he will miss the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as upcoming La Liga fixtures against Oviedo and Real Sociedad.

The injury to Lopez comes at a difficult moment for Barca, who are also without Gavi, sidelined after being forced to undergo knee surgery. While Fermin is expected back by late October, his absence will test Flick’s depth options in midfield. Chelsea’s interest has underlined Lopez’s rising reputation across Europe, but for now his focus remains on recovery and fighting for a bigger role at Camp Nou.

Javier Aguirre’s squad drew 0-0 against Japan in Oakland and salvaged a 2-2 result against South Korea on Tuesday

As Mexico manager Javier Aguirre continues shaping his roster for the 2026 World Cup, a handful of players already look like the backbone of El Tri: Luis Ángel Malagón, Johan Vásquez, Edson Álvarez, and Raúl Jiménez. Others are still fighting to prove they belong in the final 23. The results, draws against Japan and South Korea,  may not have met fans’ expectations, but Aguirre made clear that Mexico’s foundation is set.

“I can’t say whether we’re close or far from where we want to be for the World Cup, but after a year, we’ve established a base, we’re on the right track,” Aguirre said. “Good, bad, or average football – that’s for you to judge. My job is to train, to find players for the World Cup, and to give them a clear football identity. We’ve used around 35 players so far, and we’re still searching.”

Against Japan, Mexico lost Álvarez to injury, but his replacement, Erik Lira, impressed. Many observers even argued that looked sharper with the Cruz Azul midfielder pulling the strings than with the Fenerbahçe veteran in charge.

In Nashville, Jiménez ended his scoring drought with goal No. 43 for Mexico, moving into third on the country’s all-time scoring list and reminding everyone of his quality as a veteran striker. Fellow forward Santiago Giménez also eased the pressure on himself with a stunning stoppage-time strike to seal a 2-2 draw against South Korea.

Not everyone left camp on a high. San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano, in his first call-up in more than a year, failed to make an impact in either match. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel also had little to show as South Korea’s attackers exposed him on both goals.

With FIFA windows still to come in October, November and March – just before World Cup call-ups begin – Mexico’s roster should soon look far more defined. By then, fans and observers will have a much clearer sense of what “Vasco” plans to field in the June 11 opener. Some players moved closer to securing their spots with these performances. Others will be left wondering if they did enough. So, who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

Getty Images SportSTOCK UP: Erik Lira

There wasn’t much to celebrate for Mexico in their friendlies against Japan and South Korea as both opponents looked sharper and exposed several of weaknesses. Still, one bright spot was Lira. After Álvarez went down injured against Japan, the Cruz Azul midfielder stepped into the starting lineup and immediately made Mexico look more fluid in possession. Lira’s ability to progress the ball and stay composed under pressure stood out, an area where Álvarez often struggles. While it’s hard to imagine Álvarez being dropped from Aguirre’s starting XI, some experts argue his future with the national team may be as a center back rather than in midfield. Lira's rise could be a factor that sees that change push through. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSTOCK DOWN: Hirving Lozano

The left winger displayed flashes of individual quality, winning duels and taking on defenders, but his passing accuracy left much to be desired. He failed to establish himself as the offensive leader down his flank in either match. Fans might be patient with "Chucky," one of Mexico’s recent icons thanks to his European career and World Cup performances, but in a position with heavy competition and limited standout talent, the San Diego FC star missed a key opportunity to shine.

Getty Images SportSTOCK UP: Santiago Gimenez

 Giménez has just six goals in 44 appearances for the Mexican national team. The AC Milan striker has suffered from bad luck at times and also a lack of finishing touch on the national team, but his quality is undeniable. He proved it with a stunning strike against South Korea to rescue a 2-2 draw, just when it looked like Aguirre’s side would finish the FIFA window with a draw and a defeat.

The goal ended an eight-match scoring drought for Giménez, easing some of the pressure on him, as he is always under the spotlight. For now, Gimenez remains Raúl Jiménez’s backup, though Aguirre has consistently given him minutes. If he keeps finding the back of the net, he’ll be a serious contender for a spot in the starting XI.

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Getty Images SportSTOCK DOWN: Diego Lainez and Germán Berterame

Both Diego Lainez (Tigres) and Germán Berterame (Monterrey) were called up for this FIFA window due to their strong club form. However, neither has shown they can compete with Raúl Jiménez, Santiago Giménez, Hirving Lozano, or Ángel Sepúlveda – the latter missing this call-up due to injury and still not guaranteed a spot for the World Cup, though he ranks ahead of Berterame.

Lainez made his first appearance with El Tri since 2024, playing only 28 minutes – he stayed on the bench against Japan and was limited to a short spell against South Korea, where he couldn’t showcase much of his talent. He hasn’t scored for the national team since 2021. On the other end, Berterame – in four appearances for Mexico – has yet to score and has only recorded two shots on target in 180 minutes of play.

It seems likely that these two players have had their last call-ups for the foreseeable future, as they are unlikely to feature in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Khaled Ahmed has been cut from the group that toured India and Pakistan

Mohammad Isam16-Oct-2024

Shakib Al Hasan has been playing Test cricket for 17 years•BCCI

The Bangladesh selectors naming Shakib Al Hasan in the Test squad for the first match against South Africa confirms that he will return to the country for the first time since May. Shakib is reportedly landing in Dhaka on Thursday, which allows him three days to prepare for his final Test match.Shakib announced his retirement in Kanpur on September 26, wishing to complete his Test career with at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. But he had expressed concern about his safety if he came to Bangladesh, given the number of Awami League leaders being arrested since August 5, the day their government effectively resigned from power after 15 years. Shakib was a member of parliament from his hometown Magura. He was one of 147 people named in an FIR for an alleged murder during the unrest.Although the BCB said that they couldn’t guarantee Shakib’s security, Bangladesh’s interim government confirmed – a couple of times – that he is unlikely to be arrested. But the sports adviser Asif Mahmud did say that the allrounder would be better off if he were to break his silence about the student protests. Shakib did that last week, when he put up an apology on Facebook.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Selector Hannan Sarkar said that Shakib was selected only after the BCB had given them the green light.”Shakib had expressed his desire to play his final Test at home. We also know that this was a government issue and BCB issue. We sought the BCB’s clearance so when they gave us the green signal that Shakib is available for selection, we picked him. We are proud to see our legend retiring from the home of cricket.Shakib is among four spin-bowling options in the squad, alongside Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan. Almost everyone that were part of the recent tours to Pakistan and India made it to this squad as well, except the fast bowler Khaled Ahmed, who was picked to play in Kanpur but bowled only four overs.Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan opened in all four Tests, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy has become their back-up. Mominul Haque and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto could continue at No. 3 and 4, rather than the other way around since Mominul got a century batting at No 3. Shakib, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das and Mehidy round out a long Bangladesh batting order.Taijul is usually picked in home Tests ahead of a third seamer. Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud should be the first choice, although Nahid Rana’s pace could be tempting.Bangladesh host South Africa for two Tests, in Mirpur from October 21 and in Chattogram from October 29. It is the first assignment under their interim coach Phil Simmons, who joined the squad on Wednesday, a day after the BCB removed Chandika Hathurusinghe from the position for disciplinary reasons.Bangladesh are currently seventh on the World Test Championship points table, after a 2-0 win in Pakistan and a 2-0 defeat in India. South Africa are fifth on the WTC standings, having most recently won a two-Test series 1-0 in the West Indies in August.Bangladesh squad for first Test against SANajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

At long, long, long last, Arsenal have their striker. The Gunners have arguably needed one for the last two years, but after several months of searching, the answer has arrived.

On Saturday evening, they announced the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres who put pen to paper after signing for around £64m.

It ended a saga that became rather toxic, particularly at the Sporting end. Gyokeres reportedly told his former employers that he’d never play for the club again after a breakdown in relations.

The Swede felt that the Portuguese side had broken the agreement they had that he could be sold for a particular fee.

Anyway, the attacker has finally got away from Lisbon and will now call London his home, bringing with him an abundance of goals. He scored 54 times in 52 outings throughout 2024/25.

Had that move fallen through, then Andrea Berta did have other options.

Arsenal's striker options this summer

Before Berta decided to go all in on Gyokeres, Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesko was widely thought to be Arsenal’s number one choice.

They’ve been looking at the RB Leipzig striker for the best part of 18 months but things unravelled over the summer of 2025.

Indeed, according to the Athletic, it looked for all the world as though Sesko would be their first choice this summer. In March, Jason Ayton, Edu’s interim successor, was going to head to Germany in a bid to make headway on a deal. But, towards the back end of that month, the dynamic changed after Berta’s arrival at Arsenal.

That trip to Germany was canned and Gyokeres’ name came into contention with Berta a big fan of the player. With support from the owners, the club decided to explore the conditions of both deals.

Unfortunately, Sesko’s salary expectations and associated commission meant that the cost of any deal was too high. Consequently, they focused on Gyokeres and here he is.

Via The Athletic, also considered this summer was Ollie Watkins but they had reservations over his age. Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez was also on the agenda.

Indeed, the Atletico Madrid star’s name was discussed behind the scenes before they focused their attention on Gyokeres. That was probably a smart move considering some reports valued the Argentine at around £142m this year.

Still, he’d have been a remarkable signing had the club gone in that direction instead.

How Viktor Gyokeres compares to Julian Alvarez

While the Sesko move fell apart due to finances, the Gunners will be enormously content with the deal to bring Gyokeres to the Emirates Stadium.

Lavish fees have been spent in England this summer and you only need to look at the £79m fee Liverpool have paid for a project striker in Hugo Ekitike to know what Arsenal have got a better bargain here.

The Portuguese top-flight will have its doubters but the hierarchy in north London have paid just over £60m for a player who bagged 50 plus goals last season.

Even if he scores half that number in Arsenal colours this forthcoming campaign, he will have been a good signing. After all, Mikel Arteta’s men just need goals. For the first time since the 1923/24 campaign, no player in red and white scored double figures in the league. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz endured lengthy injury spells but it makes for grim reading nonetheless.

There are some concerns surrounding the tactical fit of Gyokeres in this Arsenal team. We’re not attempting to bash this move, he’s a great signing, but despite the Swede’s power and height – he stands at 6 foot 2 – only around 12.5% of his shots came with his head and he didn’t score a single header in the league last term.

If Gyokeres finds a way to over 20 goals next season then few will care how they come but it does explain why Arsenal were looking at other options too, notably Alvarez.

Premier League-proven, the World Cup winner has been described as a “monster” by Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez and remarkably as “the best forward in the world” by reporter Roy Nemer.

His stock is incredibly high and his numbers in Spain last campaign demonstrate why. While Alvarez’s goalscoring record paled in comparison to Gyokeres, he did find the net on 29 occasions and at a higher level too. He also registered eight assists in all competitions.

While concerns surround Gyokeres’ ability to translate his form in Portugal to the Premier League, there will have no such doubts about Alvarez. He’s already dazzled for Manchester City at this level.

Alvarez vs Gyokeres since 2023/24 (league only)

Stat (per 90 mins)

Alvarez

Gyokeres

Goals

0.49

1.07

Assists

0.21

0.27

Shots

2.90

3.72

Pass success %

78%

72%

Key passes

1.88

1.81

Passes into penalty area

3.38

0.79

Progressive passes

3.40

1.87

Shot-creating actions

3.94

4.50

Progressive carries

2.50

3.89

Stats via FBRef.

In 2023/24, his final campaign under Pep Guardiola, the 25-year-old netted 19 goals and assisted 14, demonstrating that he is the complete package.

He’s also been there and done it all despite his age. He’s won the English top-flight on two occasions, he’s won the FA Cup, he’s won the Champions League, he’s won Copa America twice and of course, he’s got his hands on the World Cup trophy.

Despite being 25, Alvarez has quite the CV and there is no doubt that he’d have really taken Arsenal to the next level under Arteta’s wing.

Still, with Gyokeres, a 50-goal striker arriving through the door, few can complain when the club’s main problem last term was scoring goals.

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Arsenal are ready to complete their summer transfer window with a big-money signing.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 25, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav knew he “hadn’t touched the rope” and that he’d made the split-second decision of going all out for the catch the moment he saw Rohit Sharma further away from the ball at long-on as compared to him at long-off.The topic of discussion was the catch he took to dismiss David Miller in the final over to tilt the T20 World Cup final in India’s favour, decisively, as it turned out.”Rohit usually never stands at long-on but at that moment he was there,” Suryakumar told the . “So when the ball was coming, for a second I looked at him and he looked at me. I ran and my aim was to catch the ball. Had he [Rohit] been closer, I would have thrown the ball towards him. But he was nowhere close. In those four to five seconds, whatever happened, I can’t explain.”Related

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Was the catch clean? Did Suryakumar’s foot tickle the advertising skirting? Replays have been inconclusive so far.”When I pushed the ball [up and inside the playing area] and took the catch, I knew I hadn’t touched the rope,” he said. “The only thing I was cautious about was that when I pushed the ball back inside, my feet don’t touch the rope. I knew it was a fair catch. In hindsight, anything could have happened. If the ball had gone for six, the equation would have been five balls, ten runs. We might have still won, but the margin would have been closer.”Suryakumar revealed the method behind taking such catches, while also crediting fielding coach T Dilip for motivating the entire group by introducing the fielding medal after every match, which has ensured “everyone wants to do something extra on the ground”.”The catch I took, I have practised it at different grounds, depending on the wind,” he said. “I was standing a bit wide because Hardik [Pandya] and Rohit had put a field for the wide yorker, and Miller had hit straight. My mind was clear that I have to catch it come what may.”A day before the game, we do a quality fielding session where for 10-12 minutes, we have more than ten high catches, flat catches, direct hits, slip catching. It’s not a one-day exercise, I practise these kinds of catches during IPL, during bilateral series. Yesterday’s catch was the reward of the hard work done over the years.”Getty Images

Suryakumar said that such balance and agility wouldn’t have been possible without working on his fitness. He spent four months on the sidelines from November 2023 to March 2024, recovering from a sports hernia and an ankle injury. It was during this period that he worked on slimming down as part of his fitness regimen which also included working with a nutritionist.”I remember last August, I was at around 93kg, maybe because I was having too much local food,” he said. “I got injured and then had a hernia operation. I went to NCA [BCCI’s National Cricket Academy] from January 1 to April 1 [this year]. Even during off days, I used to not go home because I knew Monday morning would be my session. I couldn’t waste time.”I ate proper food prepared by my chef. I used to sleep sharp at 10pm and get up early in the morning. Even now, I have decided on my meals for the next week with the help of the chef and nutritionist; they decide how much protein and fat I will have daily, how much water I need to take with my food. We have a group for it which also has my wife. They decide and I just follow. It helped me here.”How has he soaked that moment in, along with the euphoria of being a world champion?”In those four to five seconds, whatever happened, I can’t explain,” he said. “The amount of reaction I have been getting for that, people have been calling, messaging; there are more than 1000 unread WhatsApp messages on my phone. The catch is all over social media. I’m grateful that I was there in those five seconds of play.”

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed revelling in the triumph of lifting the Europa League and restoring their place among Europe’s elite next term, but Daniel Levy’s decision to fire Ange Postecoglou highlights the hunger to sustain an even loftier level of success over the coming years.

With Thomas Frank snatched from Brentford to lead from the dugout, Spurs are in a good position to challenge at the top end of the Premier League once more, though summer signings will be needed to inject fresh quality within a tired squad, whose success has papered over what was a most difficult year indeed.

Antoine Semenyo’s name has been bandied about, but there’s one man above all others who Tottenham’s new manager would like to welcome to the fold.

Spurs make contact for statement signing

Earlier this week, Sky Sports revealed that Tottenham have been growing in confidence that they could sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer after initial discussions, having made contact with Brentford, despite the player’s preference to join Man United.

This is because the Londoners have appointed Frank, who has led Mbeumo to such impressive individual heights over the past couple of years.

And now, as per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, the Lilywhites believe that Champions League football and the chance for the 25-year-old to stay in London could play into their favour.

Mbeumo won’t come cheap after his exceptional season, with the Bees looking to bank around £60m for the right-sided forward.

What Bryan Mbeumo would bring to Spurs

Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland. Perhaps the Premier League’s three finest goalscorers. They were the only players to outscore Mbeumo last season, with Ipswich Town writer Alex Osborn hailing him as “one of the best wingers in the league.”

1.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2.

Alexander Isak

34

23

3.

Erling Haaland

31

22

4.

Chris Wood

36

20

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Not only has Mbeumo dazzled in front of goal, but he’s performed well across underlying areas. As per Sofascore, the Cameroon international averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles, and 4.7 successful duels last term, underscoring a roundedness that most goalscorers don’t boast.

His prolific style surely makes him a better pick than Semenyo, who is a fantastic player but would cost Tottenham in excess of £50m and only scored 11 goals in the Premier League last year, also racking up six assists across his 37 appearances.

Make no mistake, Semenyo is a talented winger who would have a big effect on reorienting Tottenham’s domestic form and fluency, but can he compete with Mbeumo, who is objectively one of the classiest stars in front of goal?

The Bournemouth man ranked among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last year for shots taken, as per FBref, but only among the top 27% for goals scored per 90, with his efforts leading the data-driven site to draw up Mbeumo as one of his most comparable players.

If that is the case (and there are similarities: both players are physical and dynamic and potent across different positions), then surely the best track to go down would be to sign the more reliable and menacing player in front of goal.

Therefore, Mbeumo is surely the better pick to go for, especially when considering the kind of money that Bournemouth are looking to part with Semenyo.

Their next Werner: Spurs in battle to sign "special" £25m man for Frank

Spurs would be making a massive mistake signing this player.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 13, 2025