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The preparation for the T20 World Cup in the middle of next year will be more exhaustive, with a tour of South Africa, home games against Zimbabwe, and a tri-series in Ireland also including West Indies

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2025

Pakistan will play three ODIs at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against South Africa from September 16 to 22 in the build-up to the 2025 ODI World Cup before leaving for Sri Lanka, where they will play all their group matches – as well knockout matches, if they qualify for that stage.There is no other cricket scheduled for the team for the rest of 2025 apart from a three-match T20I series in Dublin in early August.The major part of the build-up to the T20 World Cup in England in June-July 2026 will be in South Africa, where they play three ODIs and three T20Is in February-March next year, and the same number of ODIs and T20Is against Zimbabwe at home in April-May. That series was supposed to include five T20Is in addition to the three ODIs according to the future tours programme, but has been trimmed to three.Women’s international calendar 2025-26

International calendar
Three T20Is vs Ireland, Dublin, Aug 6-10, 2025
Three ODIs vs South Africa, Lahore, Sep 16-22, 2025
Women’s ODI World Cup, India and Sri Lanka, Sep 30-Nov 2, 2025
Three ODIs and three T20Is vs South Africa in South Africa, Feb 7-Mar 2, 2026
Three ODIs and three T20Is vs Zimbabwe in Pakistan, Apr 24-May 11, 2026
T20 tri-series in Ireland, May-June, 2026
Women’s T20 World Cup, England, June 12-July 5, 2026

Domestic calendar
National One-Day Tournament, Karachi, Nov 6-24
National T20 Tournament, Karachi, Mar 24-Apr 17, 2026
Inter-University, Oct 2025

Pathways
Under-19 T20 Tournament, Karachi, Sep 15-Oct 6, 2025
Pakistan U-19 tour to Bangladesh, Dec, 2025

Pakistan will then travel to Ireland for a triangular T20I series also involving West Indies in May-June before travelling to England for the World Cup.The women’s Under-19 team is scheduled to play a national T20 tournament in Karachi from September 15 to October 6. The PCB has said in a statement that the tournament’s top performers would be invited to a three-week skills development camp afterwards too. This, and a conditioning camp, will lay the foundation for the team for their tour of Bangladesh for a five-match T20 series in December this year.On the domestic seniors’ front, the PCB is “actively engaging in discussions with various departments to introduce a departmental tournament for women’s cricket” and “this initiative will provide additional playing opportunities for our women cricketers”, PCB’s head of women’s cricket, Rafia Haider, said.The tournament, if it comes to pass, would slot into the domestic calendar alongside the women’s one-day tournament, which takes place in Karachi from November 6 to 24. The international players are expected to take part in this event, played on a double-league basis and featuring 15 matches.The women’s T20 tournament will be staged in Karachi from March 24 to April 17 next year. An inter-university tournament is scheduled for October 2025 as well, though no schedule or venues have been announced for it yet.

Will Arsenal hit the ground running when they return following the international break?

Well, if they’re going to win the Premier League title, they’re going to have to.

Last time out, Mikel Arteta’s team swatted aside West Ham 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

That made it four victories on the spin for the Gunners across all competitions, having conceded just three times in ten outings so far.

Next up in the Premier League, Arsenal’s next four fixtures are against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, while also facing Atlético Madrid in Slavia Prague in the Champions League, as well as Brighton in the EFL Cup between this international break and the next.

If Arteta’s team are to be considered the serious team that they appear to be, this has to be a sequence of wins, especially in the Premier League, so he will need his big players to come to the fore, notably that man Viktor Gyökeres.

Viktor Gyökeres' miserable international break

While many football fans up and down the country bemoan the international break, another person who is probably pleased to return to club duties is Gyökeres.

This window could hardly have gone any worse for Sweden, losing both World Cup qualifiers, beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in Stockholm on Friday night, before an ignominious 1-0 defeat when Kosovo, world-ranked 91, visited Göteborg on Monday.

The Blågult are therefore rock-bottom of Group B with just a solitary point to their name after four matches, in serious danger of missing out on a third successive major tournament.

Sweden are pretty much guaranteed a play-off spot, by virtue of having won promotion to Nations League B a year ago, Gyökeres the competition’s top scorer with nine goals, but the way they’re playing at the moment, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team don’t appear likely to make much headway in March’s play-offs.

The Swedish media were ultra-critical of strike partner Alexander Isak, frustrated by his lack of sharpness, but Gyökeres did not get off lightly, with outlet Fotbollskanalen exclaiming that he was ‘a shadow of the striker’ he was before.

In the defeat to Switzerland, Arsenal’s new big-money signing registered just 33 touches, that’s four fewer than goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, before touching the ball only 35 times at the Ullevi on Monday, ranked 20th in the match.

Chalkboard

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

Across the two defeats, Gyökeres mustered four shots, only one of which found the target, and was largely ineffective, which obviously isn’t all his fault, but this won’t have helped boost his confidence, now without a goal in eight appearances for club and country.

As the centre-forward seeks to end that barren period at Craven Cottage on Saturday, should Arteta also unleash Arsenal’s “little magician” who enjoyed his international break rather more?

Arsenal's "little magician" who should start vs Fulham

While Gyökeres was not having a pleasant evening in Göteborg, just 155 miles west of North London, Leandro Trossard scored his 11th international goal for Belgium, rubber-stamping a vital 4-2 victory over Wales in Cardiff, leaving the Red Devils on the brink of World Cup qualification.

It was a classic Trossard goal, making sure he was in the right place at the right time in the penalty area before finishing crisply as if it was no effort at all.

Back at club level, already this season, the 30-year-old has scored on the road against Athletic Club and Port Vale, cementing 2-0 victories both times, as well as assisting Gabriel Martinelli’s opener at San Mamés and Martín Zubimendi’s header against Nottingham Forest.

Ever since he arrived from Brighton in January 2023, Arsenal very much thankful they ended up with the Belgian rather than Mykhailo Mudryk, he has consistently produced end product, as the table below documents.

Bukayo Saka

42

35

Leandro Trossard

30

25

Kai Havertz

29

13

Gabriel Martinelli

29

16

Martin Ødegaard

24

28

Gabriel Jesus

21

13

Declan Rice

17

23

Since Trossard’s debut in late January 2023, only Bukayo Saka has scored more goals for the club than the Belgian, with only Saka and Martin Ødegaard ahead of him in terms of assists too.

This is despite the fact that he has not always been a guaranteed starter, with 55 of his 132 appearances for the club coming off the bench, while 11 of his 30 goals have been scored as a substitute, including both this season.

Following a win at Wolves in April 2024, Arteta labelled Trossard a “little magician”, adding that he is “so composed, so cool… it’s just a joy to have him in the team”.

Meantime, Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who scored 185 goals for the club, asserted that the Belgian is Arsenal’s “best finisher and most clinical finisher of chances”, praising his movement and suggesting he deserves to start on a more regular basis.

Thus, at Fulham on Saturday, with Ødegaard sidelined, Eberechi Eze is likely to be deployed centrally in the number ten role.

This leaves the left-wing position up for grabs, and Trossard’s form probably warrants a start, even if Martinelli himself scored for Brazil against Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday; he isn’t a bad alternative.

Nevertheless, Trossard’s goal-scoring prowess will help alleviate the pressure on Gyökeres’ shoulders, aiming to bag the goals that the Gunners need if they’re to land the Premier League title.

Forget Odegaard: Arsenal can get Gyokeres firing by starting "explosive" star

With Martin Ødegaard sidelined, Mikel Arteta’s “sensational” Arsenal star is the player who can get the best out of summer signing Viktor Gyökeres.

ByBen Gray Oct 13, 2025

£25m very much appears to be the benchmark for any high-profile Celtic sale.

Matt O’Riley, Jota and Kieran Tierney have all been sold for that amount in recent years, with Nicolas Kühn’s move to Como this summer, for a reported fee of around £16.5m, not quite reaching that mark.

Given Celtic’s very successful player trading model, their entire business plan revolving around signing less-known players on the cheap, providing them with a platform on which to shine and then selling them for an enormous profit, many more players are set to follow suit in exiting for a big amount.

Well, could a breakout start of this season prove to be the next player to do just that, and it might not be who you think it is?

Sebastian Tounekti's start to life at Celtic

Sebastian Tounekti signed for Celtic from Hammarby for a reported fee of £5.2m, which is already looking like a bargain.

He has become the second Tunisian international to call Parkhead home, after Lassad Nouioui, who made 19 appearances for the club in 2012/13, with Tounekti, arguably, already making more of an impact, scoring his first goal for the club against Partick Thistle in the League Cup last Sunday.

In fact, Tounekti has started all three matches since making the move from Stockholm, including Wednesday night’s commendable 1-1 draw with Crvena zvezda in the Europa League, replaced in the 77th minute by fellow new recruit Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The 23-year-old is hoping to be very busy over the next 12 months, set to represent Tunisia at both the Africa Cup of Nations in December and then the World Cup next summer, the Eagles of Carthage having qualified earlier this month, with Tounekti coming off the bench during their most recent international against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo.

However, it is another of the new faces in Celtic’s side whose value could exponentially increase the most, catching the eye of onlookers.

Celtic's new star at full-back

Right-back has been something of a problem position for Brendan Rodgers in recent weeks, ever since Alistair Johnston suffered a hamstring tear during the first leg of the Champions League play-off against Kairat last month.

Then, reliable deputy Anthony Ralston sustained a foot injury which saw him withdraw from international duty, as well as miss all three club matches so far this month.

Thus, 19-year-old Colby Donovan has started against Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle and now Red Star Belgrade, having made his senior debut as recently as August against Livingston, but he has been earning widespread praise.

The teenager made 36 appearances for Celtic B in the Lowland League and SPFL Trust Trophy, as well as starting all seven UEFA Youth League games last season, and has seemingly transitioned into senior football seamlessly.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton labelled him “mature beyond his years”, while manager Rodgers hailed his “outstanding” performance in Belgrade, adding “he played with personality, composure and has a toughness to him where he’s not going to get beat easily.”

His statistics below emphasise his impressive showing at Stadion Rajko Mitić.

Tackles

3

2nd

Duels contested

11

1st

Duels won

6

2nd

Aerial duels contested

5

2nd

Accurate passes

34

10th

Touches

69

6th

After the match, speaking to TNT Sports, Donovan said that he was “over the moon” and it was a “dream come true”, praising the impact of the “brilliant” Rodgers on his confidence and development.

Thus, even if Ralston is back fit, he was an unused substitute at the Marakana, the teenager could keep his place for the visit of Hibernian on Saturday, before Braga visit Glasgow in the next Europa League fixture on Thursday.

As already alluded to, Celtic’s most-expensive academy sale of all-time remains the £25m Arsenal paid to sign Tierney back in 2019.

By the time he departed for London, Tierney had made almost 150 appearances in hoops, winning 12 Scotland caps, so Donovan certainly has a long way to go, but he certainly has the quality to follow in those footsteps as Parkhead’s next homegrown full-back sensation.

100% dribbles: "Fearless" Celtic star was even better than Iheanacho

Celtic drew 1-1 with Crvena zvezda in the Europa League, Kelechi Iheanacho scoring in Belgrade, but a “fearless” attacker was even more impressive.

Sep 25, 2025

Marcus Harris made his second century of the season to help Lancashire dominate the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship match against Gloucestershire.The former Australia opener also became the first batter to pass fifty five times in his first seven innings in first-class cricket for the county and finished on 165 not out with Lancashire on 342 for five after opting to bat first on what now appears an easy-paced pitch.Such an outcome looked unlikely after the impressive Ajeet Singh Dale had taken two wickets in his first ten balls to leave the home side on 23 for two but Harris shared partnerships of 98 with Josh Bohannon and 212 with Matty Hurst, who was caught behind by James Bracey off Zaman Akhter for 78 three overs before the close.Nevertheless, Lancashire are well placed in this match between two teams who have yet to win a match this season. During his innings, Harris became the leading run-scorer in the country in either division and will go into the second day’s play with a total of 559 runs against his name this season.Yet Gloucestershire’s bowlers had dominated the first hour of the day and Singh Dale reinforced his growing reputation by bowling George Bell via body, pad and boot for 10 with his second delivery and having Keaton Jennings caught by Cameron Bancroft at second slip for four in his next overThat left Lancashire on 23 for two but after some early uncertainty Bohannon and Harris played with growing fluency and took their side to 79 for two at lunch after 28 overs, 50 of those runs having been scored in the second hour of the session.On the resumption Bohannon cruised smoothly to his half-century in 96 balls with seven fours but he was then leg before wicket to Ollie Price for 56 when he misjudged the length of an off-spinner he attempted to pull.Although that wicket ended a productive 98-run third-wicket stand, Hurst played himself in with little fuss as the wicket eased. He gave Harris excellent support and Lancashire reached tea on 189 for three with Harris unbeaten on 90 after a session in which the Gloucestershire captain, Cameron Bancroft, had rotated his bowlers frequently, albeit to limited effect.Having reached his half-century off 106 balls, Harris hit three fours off the next six deliveries and that set the tone for his second fifty. He reached his century shortly after tea with a single off Tom Price after facing 176 balls and hitting 11 fours and the six over long-on off Ollie Price that took him to 99.The evening session served merely to underline Lancashire’s dominance. Hurst reached his fifty off 98 balls and Harris took only 47 deliveries to get from 100 to 150, a picked-up six over square leg off Josh Shaw epitomising his dominance.At that point, Shaw might well have looked back with some feeling to the 14th over of the day when Harris had tried to let the ball go but only succeeded in involuntarily inside-edging it to the fine leg boundary.Singh Dale was the pick of the Gloucestershire attack but this was a day on which loose shots either didn’t find the edge or go to hand and Bancroft will hope that his batsmen can reply in kind on the second and third days of this game.First, though, he must try to prevent Lancashire collecting four batting points for the first time this season and Akhter’s late success in claiming Hurst’s wicket when the batsman appeared to pull out of a hook was a considerable fillip, especially as it was followed four balls later by a delicious yorker which castled nightwatchman Saqib Mahmood for four.Akhter’s late strikes left him with figures of two for 68 while Singh Dale finished with two for 36 from 15 tight overs.

Rio Ferdinand may not have been teammates with Manchester United players who were knocked out of the first round of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby, but he did still share a dressing room with some frustrating figures.

Of course, when compared to Ruben Amorim’s current squad, some may say that the likes of Anderson and Bebe wouldn’t be bad options to turn to these days – that’s how bad things have become. But the reality is that, under Sir Alex Ferguson, both players were not up to the incredibly high standards set by Ferdinand and others in that Old Trafford dressing room.

Man Utd record

Bebe

Anderson

Appearances

7

181

Goals

2

9

Assists

0

20

Whilst Bebe was swiftly moved on at Manchester United, Anderson’s slow burn from one of the world’s best young players into a forgotten star is one that often frustrated Ferdinand.

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The former centre-back said, when speaking on FIVE: “Anderson was a player that used to frustrate me sometimes. This kid won the Golden Boy, that everyone goes mad about now, he won it when he was at Porto, best young player in Europe.

“The kid was unreal talent-wise but we have a WhatsApp group we always talk about, where he gets hammered. We always appreciate his ability but we’re all frustrated that he didn’t probably apply himself like he could have, because if he did, he might not have got injured as much as he got.”

It also goes without saying that there were plenty more to forget alongside Anderson and Bebe. In the middle of a dressing room full of success, Diego Forlan also failed to live up to the hype – scoring just 17 goals in 98 appearances.

However, as disappointing as Forlan and Anderson were, and as poor as Bebe was, Ferdinand decided to name-drop an unexpected Manchester United legend as his “worse teammate”.

Ferdinand names Rooney as "worst teammate"

Out of all the transfer flops that came and went, it’s Wayne Rooney who’s taken the crown as Ferdinand’s worst teammate. Somehow, some way, the man with the most goals in Manchester United history has found himself with an unwanted title. But Ferdinand has his reasons, as the defender revealed to the Seven Meets Podcast in 2023.

The Manchester United dressing room were never shy when it came to airing their grievances. Perhaps that’s why they proved to be so successful. Although David Beckham and a certain football boot may have something to say about that.

Liverpool’s summer rebuild continues to gather momentum, with Arne Slot looking to add quality and depth across multiple positions.

Defence is the focus for the time being, as the club push to secure Parma’s Giovanni Leoni and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

The need for defensive reinforcements grew after Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez’s calf injury, leaving Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk as the only fit senior centre-backs.

Alongside this, Liverpool’s recruitment team have also been monitoring the Isak situation at Newcastle.

If any encouragement is given, they’re ready to return with another bid for the Sweden international.

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Liverpool targeting new midfielder

The club are targeting reinforcements in another area of the pitch: midfield.

The player in question has drawn comparisons with some of Europe’s most refined passers, instead of the usual industrious English midfielders.

Transfer Focus

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

To some, he is a throwback to the days when Xabi Alonso dictated the tempo at Anfield, switching play with metronomic precision and breaking lines with his vision.

That player is Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace’s rising star, described by Henry Winter as a “pressing machine” and by Oliver Glasner as someone whose “decision-making is amazing.”

Wharton first came to wider prominence after signing from Blackburn Rovers for an initial £18m in January 2024.

His adaptation to Premier League football has been seamless when fit.

Although a groin injury sidelined him for 17 games last season, he still made 27 appearances across all competitions, providing two league assists and showing the kind of game intelligence more often associated with one of La Liga’s most cultured midfielders.

His influence was particularly evident during Palace’s run to the FA Cup final, with his semi-final display against Aston Villa underlining his ability to dominate a game without fuss.

Liverpool are far from the only suitors. Indeed, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Real Madrid are understood to be monitoring the 21-year-old, while Tottenham made an inquiry before May’s FA Cup final.

Manchester United and Manchester City are also in the mix, though Liverpool’s long-standing admiration makes them one of the front-runners should Palace decide to sell.

Adam Wharton: Shades of Alonso

The Xabi Alonso comparison isn’t a lazy one.

Both players share a deep-lying playmaker’s instinct, operating where the pitch is in front of them, scanning before receiving, and hitting passes that slice through pressure.

Alonso’s Anfield legacy rests on his technical elegance and tactical intelligence.

Wharton is shaping into a midfielder of the same mould, blending defensive awareness with creativity. Statistically, the resemblance is striking.

According to Fbref, Wharton ranked in the 91st percentile for key passes per 90 (1.78), the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90 (7.31), and the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 last season (4.03).

Those numbers place him among Europe’s most incisive passers, with the 86th percentile for long passes completed (4.78 per 90) hinting at the kind of diagonal switches Alonso once made a trademark.

Wharton also ranked in the 93rd percentile for dribblers challenged successfully (3.00 per 90) and the 96th percentile for ball recoveries (6.97 per 90).

He presses with purpose, tackles decisively, and anticipates danger early.

Liverpool’s current options in midfield – Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch – all bring individual strengths, but Wharton offers a rare combination.

The defensive capability to shield a back line and the technical vision to dictate from deep.

In that sense, he could be the missing link in transitioning Liverpool from one phase of play to the next, something Alonso did under Rafael Benítez.

There’s also a psychological element at play. Alonso was never flustered, and Wharton carries the same air of composure.

In big moments – like Palace’s equaliser in the Community Shield against Liverpool, which he set up – he seems to make the right choice more often than not.

That knack for calm decision-making in high-pressure situations is precisely what Liverpool need as they look to build on last year’s title.

The price tag could be the sticking point. Palace know they have a valuable asset, and interest from Madrid and multiple Premier League rivals will only drive his valuation up.

His current market value according to Transfermarkt is around £40m, but any deal would likely require a figure well beyond that, especially given his age and home-grown status. Some reports suggest the Eagles value him at £100m.

For Liverpool, the question becomes whether the cost is worth the potential Alonso-esque impact.

For now, Liverpool’s attention may remain divided between defensive targets and the Isak chase, but the temptation to secure their new Alonso will be hard to resist.

In Wharton, they wouldn’t just be buying talent – they’d be investing in a playing style that once underpinned one of the club’s most successful modern sides.

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A dream partner for Isak: Liverpool in discussions to sign £87m winger

Liverpool could add one or two forward to Arne Slot’s frontline this month.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 12, 2025

لا ينفصل الجدل عن المدرب البرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو، كما هو الحال منذ بداية مسيرته التدريبية في البرتغال، ولم يتغير شيئاً منذ عودته لبنفيكا.

وقد اتضح ذلك في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقده جوزيه مورينيو قبل لقاء بورتو وبنفيكا مساء اليوم في الجولة الثامنة من الدوري البرتغالي لكرة القدم.

ويحتل بورتو صدارة ترتيب الدوري البرتغالي برصيد 21 نقطة خلال 7 مباريات، بينما يحتل بنفيكا المركز الثالث برصيد 17 نقطة.

ونشرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” أنه لم يكن الأمر هذه المرة مع منافس بل مع صحفي، حيث انزعج جوزيه مورينيو من سؤال حول راتبه الذي يتقاضاه مع بنفيكا بعد توليه مسؤولية الفريق.

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وقال الصحفي لمورينيو: “لم تأتي بسعر رخيص للنادي، لديك سيرة ذاتية تحسد عليها”، ليرد المدرب البرتغالي: “لماذا تجبر نفسك على ربط المباريات براتبي؟ كم راتبك، هل تريد أن تقول ذلك أم لا؟ حسناً، لن تقوله، إذن لا تتحدث عن الراتب”.

وأضاف: “تستمر في قول إنني إذا كنت غاليًا جدًا فأنا بخيل جدًا، وكم الراتب الذي أحصل عليه أو لا أحصل عليه”.

وفي تلك اللحظة أراد الصحفي تبرير سؤاله قائلًا: “لم أقل ذلك لأقلل من احترامك”، فرد مورينيو: “لا، أنت لا تقلل من احترامي لكن يبدو أنك فضولي للغاية لكي تريد معرفة كم أتقاضى من راتبي”.

تحدث لاعب خط وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي باريس سان جيرمان عن فوز فريقه أمام برشلونة في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكان باريس سان جيرمان قد حقق فوزًا ثمينًا على حساب برشلونة بهدفين مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما مساء أمس، الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستضاف ملعب “مونتجويك” المباراة المثيرة بين حامل لقب البطولة باريس سان جيرمان وبطل الدوري الإسباني برشلونة.

كان برشلونة قد تقدم في النتيجة عن طريق مهاجمه فيران توريس بعد عرضية رائعة من ماركوس راشفورد وضعها المهاجم الإسباني على يسار حارس المرمى الفرنسي شيفالييه.

فيما تعادل مايولو لفريق باريس سان جيرمان بعد تمريرة رائعة من نونو مينديز انفرد مايولو بالمرمى وسددها على يسار الحارس البولندي فوتشيك تشيزني.

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وأضاف جونزالو راموس الهدف الثاني لصالح باريس سان جيرمان في آخر دقائق المباراة بعد عرضية نموذجية من أشرف حكيمي سددها المهاجم البرتغالي على يسار تشيزني.

وقال بيدري في تصريحات قبل المباراة أن فريقه أفضل من باريس سان جيرمان، فيما نشر لامين يامال حالة عبر حسابة الرسمي على انستجرام يقول فيها: “لقدت عدت والمهمة عادت أيضًا”.

حول ذلك، قال فيتينها في تصريحات عقب المباراة نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لا نهتم بتلك الأفعال ونرد في الملعب فقط”.

وأتم: “هذا يحدث أحيانًا، نعلم أن مثل هذه التصريحات تحدث قبل المباريات وهذا وارد، ليس لدينا خيار ولا نُبالي، أردنا خوض المباراة وفزنا، ونحن سعداء بذلك”.

Liverpool won the Premier League last season, but Arne Slot doesn’t seem like one to rest on his laurels, and is set on making the forthcoming campaign one of an even more significant triumph.

While the Reds were incredible across the league term, they left plenty to be desired through the season’s offshoots, losing an FA Cup tie to Plymouth Argyle, who were ultimately relegated from the Championship, and falling against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final and eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Not too shabby, all told. Premier League rivals Arsenal finished ten points behind Liverpool in second, after all. But there’s little question that Slot lacked depth, for the Dutch coach was hesitant in enforcing rotation to a fault, though this illustrates his frustrations regarding some of Anfield’s wider members of the first-team squad.

At the front of his issue was Darwin Nunez, who, as Liverpool’s star striker, only scored seven goals across all competitions, with Slot even stating he “can’t accept” the Uruguayan’s work-rate across a string of matches.

Though a move to Napoli fell through this week, FSG still expect to cash in on Nunez this summer, having already moved to sign his replacement.

Why Liverpool are signing Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool have stolen ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, with the French forward having submitted a transfer request to push negotiations closer toward the finish line.

Ekitike is only 23, but he’s established himself as one of Europe’s top young forwards, with journalist Graeme Bailey even coining him “the next Mbappe” for his blend of pace, physicality and potency in the final third.

However, the dynamic talent wasn’t Liverpool’s first choice. That would be Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. However, FSG’s formal efforts to prise him away from St. James’ Park proved fruitless.

It’s a shame, but Ekitike’s arrival would cushion the blow and then some, for he has the makings of a truly world-class superstar.

With suitors in the Saudi Pro League eager to snap Nunez up in the coming weeks, Ekitike’s prospective arrival will be an elating thing, having notched 40 goal involvements across a season-and-a-half with Frankfurt.

His silky, fleet-footed movements and dogged approach in the final third have led FBref to record him as one of Isak’s most comparable players, so you can certainly see the vision.

And for a cheaper sum too. Isak would have cost upwards of £120m to bring over to Merseyside, and would that truly be tenable? With a central defender still required and maybe a winger too, perhaps not.

Though Isak would have been an incredible addition, Liverpool fans have already been bestowed one earth-shattering acquisition by the ambitious owners this summer.

And Florian Wirtz might even prove the cream of a crop that, hypothetically, contained Isak in a Liverpool shirt too.

Liverpool have already struck gold on Florian Wirtz

Wirtz doesn’t need to kick a ball in a competitive setting for Liverpool fans to know that Slot has struck gold with this signing, owing to the diligence and perseverance of sporting director Richard Hughes.

Wirtz, 22, joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £100m last month. If potential add-ons are met, this fee will stretch higher still and extend to £116m, past Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, the current record holder at £115m.

Despite his relative youth, the German midfielder has already established quite the résumé, having been awarded the Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023/24, when Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen dethroned Bayern Munich as invincibles, previously rebounding with vigour from an ACL injury.

Last season yielded nothing on the trophy front, but Wirtz still maintained his world-class level, hailed as a “truly generational talent” by sports media professional Cristian Nyari, who believed the creative star was performing at a level higher even than Harry Kane in Germany’s top flight.

What about across Europe’s top five leagues? Well, as per FBref, Wirtz ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers last season for goal involvements, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

He’s a rather efficient playmaker, and with Liverpool having parted with Trent Alexander-Arnold, now Real Madrid property, it’s vital that Slot and co maintain the squad’s peerless creative levels. Wirtz has been picked as the man for that task, it appears.

24/25

Liverpool

112

23/24

Liverpool

102

22/23

Liverpool & Man City

103

21/22

Liverpool

97

20/21

Liverpool

82

You get the picture; Liverpool have signed a sensation. This marquee man’s ability is better defined, perhaps, through the lens of CIES Football Observatory’s player-valuing system.

Indeed, according to the renowned research site, Liverpool’s record signing is actually worth £150m, a stratospheric figure. Pundit Paul Robinson felt previously that this was an accurate figure when considering the player’s worth.

Isak, however, comes in at a ‘lowly’ £95m.

Of course, that is not a fair reflection of Isak’s value in the modern market, but it does serve to illustrate exactly how incredible a signing Liverpool have pulled off by signing Wirtz without breaking the British transfer record (yet).

Already, Liverpool fans have been gifted a glimpse into the playmaker’s winger footwork, seemingly fitting right in as pre-season preparations get underway.

Slot’s side is replete with high-level quality, and though Isak would have been a wonderful addition this summer, those of a Reds persuasion can take more than a measure of solace in having sealed a signing already, which may break the English transfer record.

In any case, given that Wirtz is considered to be the more valuable player, have Liverpool not hit the jackpot?

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Newcastle exceeded expectations when winning the Carabao Cup and rolling out the carpet for the forthcoming Champions League campaign, qualifying as they did via the Premier League.

Given that Eddie Howe was forced to contend with less than fluent form in the early stages of the season as a by-product of a disappointing summer transfer window that was itself preceded by a crushing end to their 2023/24 season, missing out on Europe after Manchester United won the FA Cup, this is a truly remarkable feat.

And now, during this current window, more adversity has been met. Newcastle need new forwards, but they’ve struggled to reel them in thus far.

That is, up until a breakthrough in regard to Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.

Why Newcastle are signing Anthony Elanga

When Newcastle parted ways with Miguel Almiron midway through the 2024/25 campaign, it was expected they would sign a replacement.

They have needed a right-sided forward for a while, but Jacob Murphy’s incredible form has tempered the urgency over the past 12 months, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in the league alone last season.

Now, though, Elanga could provide the perfect competition, bringing a high-speed, high-energy and high-creativity style of football to Howe’s team, already so impressive in transitional sequences.

Having already seen a £45m offer knocked back, the Magpies have demonstrated their intent by returning with an improved £55m bid, with anticipation growing that their efforts will prove fruitful.

Having already missed out on a slew of top targets such as Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United are in need of some uplifting news.

They will strike gold with Elanga, who has posted 31 goal contributions across his two top-flight terms with Forest, after initially signing from Man United for £15m in 2023.

However, Elanga’s high stock doesn’t mean he automatically qualifies as the cream of Newcastle’s wide attacking crop.

Murphy and Harvey Barnes have both been exceptional for the Toon; however, Anthony Gordon would wager himself the best of the bunch.

Newcastle have hit gold with Anthony Gordon

Gordon didn’t start his Newcastle career on the firmest footing. Indeed, after forcing his way out of Everton and joining the Toon in a £45m deal back in January 2023, he played a peripheral role that lacked a potent finish over the business months of that campaign.

However, he’s since come alive; now a fully-fledged Three Lions star and one of Howe’s most talented forwards, fearsome alongside the world-class Alexander Isak, Gordon is regarded as “one of the best wingers around” by retired manager Harry Redknapp.

It bears testament to his quality that even after an up-and-down year, only scoring nine goals (and providing seven assists) across 42 games, the 24-year-old has still retained the admiration of the fans and indeed potential suitors, who have circled over recent weeks.

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

34 (28)

Goals

11

6

Assists

10

5

Shots (on target)*

2.3 (0.9)

1.7 (0.6)

Pass completion

82%

81%

Key passes*

1.6

1.5

Big chances created

16

6

Dribbles*

1.5

1.1

Ball recoveries*

3.6

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.1

Duels (won)*

5.3 (49%)

4.4 (52%)

Gordon might not have had the finest season in the world, but he showcased his high-level quality across the previous year, racking up 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and dazzling with underlying creative and physical metrics that were certainly still on show last term.

His efforts across his first full term on Tyneside saw the England international crowned the club’s Player of the Year, a talisman through an injury-hit spell that hampered Howe’s project considerably.

The goal involvements act as a neat barometer for assessment of Gordon’s talent, but his performances on the field almost defy such statistical analysis. His driven, tough and intelligent performances have made him an instrumental part of Howe’s success, especially as he’s so versatile, playing dutifully as a right-winger or even as a makeshift centre-forward.

But Gordon’s high ceiling was rubber-stamped when Liverpool came calling, the Anfield side being offered their one-time academy member as St. James’ Park sweated over compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.

Ultimately, United managed to weave around any costly breaches by offloading more peripheral members of the squad – like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – but the fact remains that fans got a glimpse of the financial reckoning their winger is held in, with the Reds looking to strike a deal for £75m.

That figure in itself underscores Gordon’s superior value to Elanga, who could leave the City Ground for £55m, but Gordon has actually seen his stock rise higher still this year, with the £150k-per-week talent now valued at an eye-watering £100m.

His might seem over-expensive, but this is the modern market we’re talking about, and it illustrates Gordon’s reputation as being one of the most talented wingers on the continent.

Confident in his skills, Gordon has declared himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, owing to his combative and electric running style, his willingness to take on his man and get stuck in during defensive phases.

Having extended his contract with Newcastle in October 2024, Howe must well and truly feel that he has hit the jackpot with this wonderful player, whose left-sided predilection will perhaps see him partner Elanga for years to come, servicing the focal Isak in the middle.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Newcastle have come a long way over the past few years, but with Howe engineering such exciting and precise signings with a regularity that eludes many of their divisional rivals, there’s every chance that the best is yet to come.

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