Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku is in the sights of a major club, as their own star striker holds talks to join Arsenal through his agent.

Edu and Arteta targeting prolific new striker for Arsenal

After missing out on RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko this week, who put pen to paper on a new and improved contract, it is back to the drawing board for Gunners sporting director Edu – as he looks to sign a new number nine for Mikel Arteta.

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Sesko had a proposal to leave Leipzig from Arsenal, as well as Chelsea and Man United (Fabrizio Romano), but the Slovenia international opted to remain in Germany. His 18-goal haul in all competitions last season, coupled with a tantalising £55 million release clause in his past contract, pushed Arsenal to move for the 21-year-old – but they were ultimately rebuffed.

Alternative options have been mooted as the transfer window now officially opens for business. Arsenal could reignite their pursuit of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutchman's deal containing its own £34 million exit clause.

Appearances

37

Goals

12

Assists

7

Minutes per goal

246

Minutes played

2,942

Zirkzee helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League with his 11 Serie A goals last season, but Arsenal face stiff competition from AC Milan, who are currently pushing for a deal to sign the 23-year-old.

Arteta wants a young partner for Kai Havertz in the forward area, and one who can add that extra degree of firepower, as Arsenal look to make it third-time-lucky and beat Man City in a race for the Premier League title.

A big-name forward who's been linked with a move to the Emirates, but to a lesser degree, is Napoli star Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian, who signed a new £209,000-per-week contract last season, also agreed to have a £113 million release clause inserted into the deal.

“We still can't rule out Arsenal in the race for Osimhen," said journalist Ben Jacobs to GiveMeSport earlier this year.

"It’s also true that PSG have Osimhen very, very high on their list of targets and can move in the market because they will free up money due to Kylian Mbappe’s departure. I'm still told by sources that Osimhen’s priority is the Premier League, which is encouraging for Chelsea and Arsenal. He would be looking for about £250,000 per week, which Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG would all be happy to pay.”

Napoli eyeing Lukaku as Osimhen holds Arsenal talks

Italian news site Il Roma has shared an update on the 25-year-old this week, and it concerns Arsenal. They claim Osimhen has held talks to join Arsenal via his agent, with Napoli fully preparing for the African's departure amid the growing clamor for his services. He also has suitors in Saudi Arabia, specifically Al Hilal and Al Ahli, while Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain are "in the background".

Napoli have earmarked Lukaku as a top target to replace Osimhen, so it will be interesting to see if the Belgian's departure from Chelsea could actually help to greatly strengthen Arsenal's forward ranks.

Another Leeds United player is looking for a permanent new home away from Elland Road, with technical director Gretar Steinsson ready to take an £18 million loss on his sale.

Leeds pressured into summer sales

The most painful summer exit of this window, and by Leeds' own admission, was that of local sensation Archie Gray – who completed a £40 million move to Tottenham with Joe Rodon heading the other way for £10 million (Fabrizio Romano).

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The 18-year-old won over Whites supporters with a flurry of accomplished displays over 52 appearances in all competitions last season, with Leeds releasing a heartbroken statement after Gray's departure.

"Understanding the attraction of Premier League and European football, the club, with a heavy heart, agreed the transfer, but the move has strengthened the board’s resolve to ultimately return Leeds to a position where it can meet the footballing ambitions of even its brightest stars," wrote the club in a statement (via Ben Jacobs).

"Whilst we understand that supporters will be hugely disappointed to lose such a home-grown talent, and a family name so synonymous with Leeds United, the move improves the club’s chance to compete for automatic promotion next season by increasing our ability to build a competitive squad within the league’s financial control regulations.

Archie Gray's stats for Leeds United in all competitions last season

Total (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

52

Goals

0

Assists

2

Yellow cards

2

Red cards

0

Minutes played

4,273

"Everyone at Leeds United is heartbroken to see one of our own depart and would like to thank Archie for all his efforts and professionalism."

Alongside the highly-rated teenager, both Luis Sinisterra and Marc Roca have sealed permanent moves away from Yorkshire. The three major exits have helped raise £59 million in total for Daniel Farke's side, and these funds will work wonders to balance the books after Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

More look certain to follow the trio, with Crysencio Summerville attracting interest from elite English sides, as expected, following his 21-goal haul in all competitions for Leeds last season.

Meanwhile, USA international Brenden Aaronson, who completed a £28 million move to Leeds in 2022, could be on the move as well.

Aaronson wants to quit Leeds

The 23-year-old made 30 Bundesliga appearances on loan at Union Berlin last season, but the Germans cannot afford a permanent deal for him as things stand.

Leeds, led by technical director Steinsson, value the player at around £10 million, so they're ready to take an £18m loss off his sale this summer. Aaronson is ready to quit Leeds and find a permanent new home, but despite the £10m price tag, Union will still struggle to match it.

That is according to regional source Berliner Kurier, via Sport Witness, and it will be interesting to see if any club are willing to pay the asking price for Aaronson.

“He gets better every day,” said former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch during his tenure (via GOAL). “He's like a weed. You almost see him grow before your eyes. It's really amazing. He's a special young man.

"It's so much just about his ability to make final plays and slow himself down a little bit in the last third. He has more quality than people think. He's a good finisher, he's really clever with how to put passes together in tight spaces.”

It's been a roller coaster five months or so for the Crystal Palace faithful following the appointment of Oliver Glasner last season.

The Austrian has thoroughly altered the club's direction and turned them into one of the most attractive projects in the Premier League, and while they're set to lose stars like Michael Olise this summer, you can be sure they'll replace them.

In fact, the latest star touted for a move to Selhurst Park could see Steve Parish and Co repeat the masterclass trick that saw them recruit Adam Wharton in the winter.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Palace are incredibly interested in signing Sunderland's exciting prospect Jobe Bellingham this summer.

The Italian claims that the young Englishman is one of Glasner's dream signings and that they are just waiting for the player's green light before making an offer to the Black Cats.

However, it won't be a cheap deal to complete for the Eagles, as Ed Aarrons from the Guardian claimed earlier this week that the Championship side are holding out for offers in excess of £20m.

It would represent a significant investment in a somewhat unproven youngster by the club, but considering the last time they did that, they picked up Wharton, it might be worth the risk.

Palace could repeat their Wharton trick

If there is any trepidation from the board or fans about paying such a substantial fee for a young English midfielder from the Championship, then they only need to cast their minds back to the winter window when they paid £22m to sign Wharton from Blackburn Rovers who had just 51 senior appearances under his belt.

Since then, the 20-year-old has played 16 games for the South Londoners, racked up three assists, made his England debut and is now in Germany as a member of Gareth Southgate's Euros squad – even if he isn't getting as much game time as he should.

It would be hard to describe the transfer as anything other than an overwhelming success, and while it would be wholly unfair to expect Bellingham to quite match that trajectory, his performances in the second tier are undoubtedly promising.

Appearances

45

Goals

7

Assists

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.17

In 45 Championship matches last season, the Stourbridge "wonderkid", as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored seven goals and provided one assist, which is genuinely impressive for an 18-year-old midfielder in his first full campaign of senior football.

Moreover, FBref, which compares players in similar positions across the next best 14 competitions, has placed the young dynamo in the top 5% of midfielders for non-penalty expected goals, the top 22% for actual non-penalty goals and touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 12% for progressive passes received and the top 14% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing unproven youngsters from the Championship will always be a risk, but based on Bellingham's performances last season, it looks like one worth taking for Palace, especially if they end up with another Wharton situation.

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A batsman who looks increasingly under pressure for his Test place made a low score, one who is among the most prolific players in the world bagged a duck and two former Test batsmen filled their boots on the opening day at Glenelg.Usman Khawaja probably won’t come into consideration for Australia’s Test squad, and Matt Renshaw certainly won’t, but the former made his first century since February 2019 and the latter closed within touching distance of his first for two-and-a-half years.Joe Burns’ hold on the Test opening berth appears more tenuous by the day – across town Will Pucovski piled up another big hundred – as he fell for 10 in the sixth over, given caught behind via an inside edge although he did not seem thrilled by the decision.Marnus Labuschagne then bagged his second consecutive duck, walking into a wide delivery and edging to slip, to leave Queensland 2 for 11. Khawaja and Bryce Street added 128 for the third wicket followed by a 103-run partnership between Khawaja and Renshaw, before the day was capped by a boundary-studded half-century from Jimmy Peirson.Khawaja was the aggressor in Queensland’s early recovery as Street took 107 balls to reach double figures. Street had started to make progress when he fell to a stunning short leg catch by Henry Hunt who parried the ball up then held the rebound.That gave Lloyd Pope his lone success of the day but it was another tough outing for the legspinner who conceded a run-a-ball. Khawaja, especially, enjoyed his regular loose offerings while Renshaw did not miss out on many.Khawaja’s previous century had been his Test hundred against Sri Lanka in Canberra and he reached three figures off 149 balls against the first delivery of the evening session. He eventually fell to the deserving Wes Agar, edging to Callum Ferguson at first slip in his last first-class match, but Queensland rattled along in the final session which brought 159 runs in 38 overs.Peirson was largely responsible for that, hitting 48 off his 60 runs in boundaries, and the stand with Renshaw was unbroken on 89 on another tough day for the South Australia attack.

Chelsea are reportedly ready to give Thomas Tuchel a warm welcome when he visits Stamford Bridge as the England manager.

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• Tuchel to take England job from January 2025
• Will visit Chelsea to watch them in the Premier League
• Blues will welcome former manager with open arms

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea dismissed Tuchel during the early months of BlueCo's ownership after they were embroiled in several disagreements and following a shaky start to the campaign in 2022-23. Despite the unceremonious exit, the Blues are ready to bury the past and show their appreciation for his past contributions, notably their 2021 Champions League triumph, when he returns to west London in a different capacity, according to .

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  Chelsea's American ownership are said to take great pride in players representing their national teams. They are reportedly supportive of Tuchel’s quest to lead England to glory in the 2026 World Cup and are willing to assist him in any way possible way. The Blues hope that their cooperation is expected to benefit Chelsea players such as Cole Palmer, who will be aiming for regular call-ups to the national team under Tuchel. Moreover, most Premier League clubs often have a specific reserved seat at their stadium for whoever the England manager is.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tuchel has brought aboard former Chelsea assistant Anthony Barry to his backroom staff and has reportedly expressed interest in bringing more familiar Stamford Bridge faces to his England setup. It is said he also wants to recruit Henrique Hilario, Chelsea's current goalkeeping coach, to his England team. However, Chelsea will not allow him to split his duties between the club and the national team. The Blues are only open to Hilario taking a full-time role with England if he leaves his position at Chelsea entirely. Meanwhile, James Melbourne, who was the head of performance analysis at Chelsea, has left his post and is also tipped to reunite with Tuchel.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TUCHEL?

  Interim manager Lee Carsley will remain in charge of England for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month before Tuchel takes up his role in the new year.

MatériaMais Notícias

Raphael Veiga está consolidado como uma das principais peças a compor os 11 titulares do Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira neste ano. Um dos destaques do time na vitoriosa temporada de 2020, o meia segue evoluindo no clube e mira ser convocado pela Seleção Brasileira.

Alejandro Guerra sem clube: veja 20 jogadores sul-americanos conhecidos que estão sem time

Em entrevista à BandNews FM, Veiga revelou que vestir a camiea da Amarelinha seria um sonho e, para ele, é algo que pode estar cada vez mais perto de acontecer.

– Tenho um sonho muito grande de vestir a camisa da Seleção Brasileira e vejo que está próximo. A cada jogo, a cada treino, preciso melhorar. É sobre isso que tenho controle – afirmou.

Veja a tabela completa do Brasileirão

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O jogador de 26 anos tem bons números pelo Verdão na temporada e, com o sucesso do time nas principais competições, tem tudo para chamar a atenção de Tite. Em sua opinião, esse ano tem sido ainda melhor que o último em relação à perfomance individual. Até aqui, são dez gols e cinco assistências em 35 jogos.

– Este ano tem sido melhor porque estou mais maduro. Tenho uma expectativa de anotar mais gols, dar mais assistências. A leveza que eu tenho, cabeça boa, tudo cooperou para ser melhor que 2020 – apontou.

Contratado ainda bastante jovem, o camisa 23 demorou a ter sequência no clube. Depois de um empréstimo e um bom tempo no banco de reservas, o meia canhoto, enfim, se encontrou no Palmeiras e diz que valeu o esforço para chegar a essa fase.

– Foi um processo um pouco demorado, de treinamentos, desde a minha chegada em 2017. Mas tudo valeu a pena – garantiu.

Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

Desde 2017 no Palmeiras, Raphael Veiga soma 144 partidas, 35 gols e três títulos com a camisa alviverde.

Garber said global soccer leagues should look to the MLS approach as a model for success

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MLS commissioner Garber speaks at Leaders Week 2024Says other leagues should follow MLS' infrastructureSays streaming services may be future of sports coverageGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?

MLS Commissioner Don Garber believes that global soccer leagues would be in "much, much better shape," if they followed a structure similar to that of the domestic men's league, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Garber's comments came at the Leaders Week 2024 conference in London Wednesday, with the veteran commissioner saying "If you were to ask the people that are running some of the big European leagues, they'd say, 'Boy, MLS has got it right."

Garber attributed the growth of MLS team valuations and investment in soccer-specific stadiums in part to the league’s unique structure as single business entity.

Garber said that a key driver for the success of MLS is the lack of promotion and relegation – a mechanism used in the majority of leagues around the world. Garber suggested that MLS owners and public entities would be reticent to put significant funds toward stadiums if their team had a chance of being sent down — resulting in a major revenue loss — after an unsuccessful season.

However, in certain instances, he admitted he may be open to trying the concept in certain scenarios.

“I do think that there are ways for us to think about what that could look like going forward as the development of the minor leagues continues to grow,” Garber said. “We have a competition with [Liga MX] called the Leagues Cup, where we play against the Mexican league in the summertime — could we have different ways that our teams are qualifying in for that?”

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That said, Garber also noted that there are structural changes that could still benefit MLS, especially around governance.

“In terms of governance, we'd probably change things: maybe not have strict salary caps, maybe not have a centralized entity like the league office making a lot of learned decisions based on committees and the like,” Garber said. “But I think we have a model that has driven our success, and I think if that model was adapted around the world, football would be in much, much better shape.”

Garber also discussed the growth of soccer in the U.S. beyond MLS, saying of the 2026 World Cup in North America: “People have no idea how big the World Cup is going to be in the States. I've said that to [FIFA President] Gianni Infantino. I've said it to Victor Montagliani, who runs CONCACAF. Our country is going to explode with interest, and that's not selling. We are a football-soccer nation.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Garber also pointed toward the value of the MLS' 10-year media deal with Apple TV, adding that he believes streaming services may become the dominant option for future sports consumption.

“I do think the world is moving, as we all know, to a streaming environment," he said. "Ninety-eight percent of Americans have at least one streaming service. Think about that from where it was five years ago. Most kids today have never consumed cable. So, the most important question is, ‘Are we early? Are we on time?’ Time will tell, history will judge it.”

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IMGANWHAT NEXT FOR MLS?

Decision Day 2024 is set for Saturday. The league's regular season finale will determine the final entrants, and official seeding, for the 2024 postseason.

The no. 1 overall seed has already been clinched by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, who claimed the MLS Supporters' Shield earlier this month.

The PCB also has the option to extend his contract till the 2023 50-over World Cup.

Umar Farooq12-Nov-2020Younis Khan will be Pakistan’s full-time batting coach, after he accepted a long-term deal from the PCB to train the national team at least until the 2022 T20 World Cup. The PCB also has the option to consider extending Younis’ contract for another term, till the 2023 50-over World Cup. In addition to his role with the national team, Younis will also run the Batsmen Development Program at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.Younis had travelled with the team to England during the summer on a short-term stint as a batting consultant, with the PCB keen to fully integrate him into the coaching system. His immediate assignment now will be to assist the team’s head coach Misbah-ul-Haq in New Zealand, as Pakistan will fly out on November 23 for a tour that includes three T20Is and two Tests.”I am pleased to join the Pakistan cricket set-up on a long-term basis,” Younis said. “I felt honoured when I was given the opportunity this summer and thoroughly enjoyed my time, and I now look forward to continuing the work with the same group of people on an important tour of New Zealand. I am particularly happy that my scope of work has been extended beyond the national duties.”I am equally interested and keen at working at the domestic level by identifying potential batsmen and then helping them improve their skills. However, I want to remind all fans and followers that there is a process to achieve excellence and while some improvements can be noticed quickly, this will require lots of hard work, perseverance and patience before the required skills are embedded and start producing consistent results.”Younis’ integration into the Pakistan coaching set-up hasn’t been straightforward, as the former batsman had turned down the PCB on two previous occasions. The board had earlier tried to rope him in to work at the development level at the NCA, but those talks didn’t materialise into anything concrete. Then, in May last year, Younis was close to taking up a role as the country’s Under-19 coach, but that plan, too, did not come to pass. One of the sticking points, ESPNcricinfo reported, had to do with finances, while the other was with the job profile, as the PCB had proposed for Younis to be only a mentor and coach, while the former captain wanted a bigger say in the national team’s selection as well.The PCB moved on and turned to other former players, with an aim of revamping the entire coaching structure. While Younis brings with him vast experience as Pakistan’s highest scorer in Test cricket, he has had a frayed relationship with the PCB over the years. However, a pep talk that he gave to the players on video during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown earlier this year, as well as his first stint as batting coach in England, seem to have mended some bridges. Younis even received positive feedback from the backroom staff for his role during the tour of England, where he had to deal with a large pool of players.”I am delighted that Younis will now be with us for, at least, the next two years as a batting coach,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief, said in a statement. “The feedback we received about Younis’ impact in a short period of time in England was excellent. His work ethics, commitment and knowledge are second to none, and I am confident that his appointment will benefit a number of talented batsmen who have either recently broken into the national side or are knocking on the door of international cricket.”The PCB will also be utilising his expertise and skills when he’s not on national duty as he will help local batsmen hone their skills. This is part of the PCB’s strategy to appoint highly-qualified and respected coaches across all major centres of the country so that we can start producing cricketers who can represent Pakistan with distinction.”

أعلنت اللجنة الأولمبية القطرية عن موعد انطلاق ونهاية بطولة كأس العرب، المقرر أن تحتضنها قطر للمرة الثانية تواليًا.

وكانت بطولة كأس العرب للمنتخبات قد عادت للمشهد بعد غياب دام سنوات في عام 2021، بنسخة انتهت بتتويج الجزائر.

فيفا يعتمد كأس العرب بطولة رسمية كل 4 سنوات.. ويُحدد البلد المُضيف

وأكدت اللجنة الأولمبية القطرية، أنها ستستضيف العام الجاري 2025، 84 حدثًا، منها 15 بطولة عالمية، أبرزها كأس العالم لكرة القدم للناشئين التي تقام من 5 إلى 27 نوفمبر 2025 بملاعب كأس العالم 2022. 

ويستضيف الاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم، منافسات كأس العرب خلال الفترة من 1 إلى 18 ديسمبر، وذلك على ملاعب كأس العالم 2022.

الجدير بالذكر، أن البطولة المقبلة من منافسات كأس العرب، ستكون النسخة الحادية عشر، كما سيشرف على تنظيمها الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”.

Everton have identified a £20m rising star as a potential replacement for centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to reports.

Everton face battle to keep Branthwaite

Everton's 2023/24 campaign was hampered by their points deductions – the Toffees ended the season sat 15th in the Premier League, but with the best defensive record in the divison outside of the top-three – conceding 51 goals in 38 outings.

A key reason for this was the displays of 21-year-old sensation Branthwaite, who made 35 league appearances and was handed a call-up to England's provisonal Euro 2024 squad before being cut.

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After such a stellar season, however, the Merseyside outfit are facing a battle to keep hold of the Englishman, with Manchester United working hard to get a transfer completed this summer.

In a bid to solve their defensive issues, United are seemingly targeting the Everton and England centre-back as they aim to sure up their backline for the forthcoming campaign. Last week, it was claimed that Man Utd have agreed personal terms with Branthwaite over an Old Trafford transfer, with a contract worth between £150-160k per week on the table.

However, the two clubs are yet to come to terms of a transfer fee, with United having a £45m bid knocked back recently as the Toffees eye a figure closer to the £75m mark.

Sean Dyche and co. are now seemingly on the lookout for potential replacments for Branthwaite should a transfer to Old Trafford go through, with both Manchester United's Victor Lindelof and Hull City's Jacob Greaves named as potential targets.

Everton keeping tabs on "outstanding" Branthwaite replacement

Now, an update on Everton's pursuit of Greaves has been provided. Speaking about Greaves' transfer rumours last year, ex-Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior labelled the defender as "outstanding".

"It's wonderful that a player who has come through our academy has been spoken about in this way," he said. "I love it when my players are being linked with clubs higher up because it means they're doing a good job and it means the team is doing a good job.

"Jacob's an outstanding player. Would I rather have him here from a footballing point of view? One hundred percent, because he's got so much potential and so much to learn. Every single club has to make a decision based on their best interests. Sometimes that's keeping a player and sometimes that's selling a player and I'm sure we'll make that decision whenever that comes up."

But while Hull were able to fend off transfer interest in the centre-back last year, they face another tough battle to do so in the current window after missing out on promotion to the Premier League. This comes with Hull Live reporting Everton are considering a move for the 23-year-old this summer, with Dyche believing that the defender can fill the void in his team's backline should Branthwaite move on.

Hull do not want to lose Greaves, who has a reported price-tag of £20m, but the Yorkshire outfit will consider selling the stopper if he makes clear his desire to test himself in the Premier League. And speaking earlier this month, Hull owner Acun Ilicali stated that Greaves does indeed want to play in the English top-flight.

"Greaves wants to play in the Premier League. He's such a nice boy, he just said to me (his wish to play in the Premier League)," he said. "I love him as a character. He's a real captain."