Arsenal’s number one priority this summer is clear: sign a striker.

On Saturday morning, Fabrizio Romano reported that the Gunners are close to signing Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, expected to trigger his £51m release clause.

However, this is likely to be just the start of Mikel Arteta’s summer spending, with a new centre-forward top of the agenda, after Arsenal were dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage on Wednesday, despite accumulating an xG figure of 5.11 across the two legs, scoring just once.

So, could they secure a “huge talent” who might just be their best striker since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

Arsenal's interest in a new striker

As reported earlier this week, Arsenal are believed to have made an offer for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap over the possibility of a summer move.

Following the Tractor Boys’ relegation, it was reported by Jacob Steinberg, Nick Ames and Jamie Jackson of the Guardian that Delap now has a £30m release clause, which represents a bargain, given that Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes he is a “huge talent”.

As a result, Arsenal are certainly not the only club interested, with Wayne Veysey of Football Insider noting that Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea are also courting the striker, while Danny Rust and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport claim that Tottenham have also ‘set their sights’ on signing him.

Nevertheless, on course for a third successive top two finish, and in serious need of a new centre-forward, Arsenal could be the most attractive proposition presented to Delap, so could he be the striker they’ve been searching for since a certain high-profile departure.

Why Delap could emulate Aubameyang

Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £55m in January 2018, still, to this day, the fourth-highest fee the club have ever paid, behind only Kai Havertz, Nicolas Pépé and Declan Rice.

The Gabonese international certainly made an instant impact in North London, scoring just 37 minutes into his debut against Everton, netting 92 times in just 163 appearances for the club in total, leaving him right up there in terms of modern Arsenal greats.

Thierry Henry

228

Ian Wright

185

Robin van Persie

132

Dennis Bergkamp

120

Alan Smith

113

Theo Walcott

108

Olivier Giroud

105

Paul Merson

99

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

92

Aubameyang’s finest moment came in the 2020 FA Cup, scoring twice to defeat Manchester City in the semi-finals, before bagging another brace against Chelsea in the final in a 2-1 victory, securing the club’s most recent major silverware.

Straight after the final, Aubameyang was rewarded with a new three-year contract but, by 6 December 2021, he had played his final game for the club, seeing this same contract terminated to allow him to join Barcelona as a free agent, following a high-profile falling out with Arteta.

So, could Delap be the Aubameyang replacement three and a half years in the making?

Well, let’s compare Delap’s exploits for Ipswich this season with Aubameyang’s best campaign at Arsenal.

Appearances

34

36

Minutes

2,515

2,732

Goals

12

22

Assists

2

5

Shots

64

89

Shots on target %

43.8%

38.2%

Goals – xG

+2.3

-0.5

Goals inside the area

11

20

Goals outside the area

1

2

Big chances missed

10

23

Shot-creating actions

62

60

Goal-creating actions

7

11

Touches in opposition area

101

149

Touches per 90

24

35

As the table outlines, when it comes to certain metrics in particular, Delap and Aubameyang are very similar.

Both scored more than 90% of their goals inside the box, while the numbers also underline that both are low-touch, high-shot strikers, with neither touching the ball frequently, but both registering more than two shots per game, which is particularly impressive for Delap, considering how poor Ipswich have been this season.

The Englishman actually outperformed Aubameyang when it comes to shots on target %, goals – xG as well as shot-creating actions, while the former Arsenal man actually missed 23 Opta-defined big chances, the most of any player in the division in 2018/19.

Transfer Focus

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

So, in a significantly stronger side, everything suggests Delap could be the lethal finisher that Arsenal desperately require to take them to the next level.

Best deal since Timber: Arsenal closing in on £25m star after Zubimendi

With Martín Zubimendi now close to joining Arsenal, could another La Liga star be on his way too, becoming the best signing since Jurriën Timber?

May 10, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would reportedly approve the signing of an all-round player who Son Heung-min thinks is “incredible”, with sporting director Andrea Berta and the Gunners boss now having one eye on the next transfer window.

Arsenal turn attention to next season after PSG defeat

Their 3-1 Champions League semi-final loss to PSG means Arsenal no longer have any silverware to play for next season, meaning attention is continues turning further to Berta’s debut summer at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal "closer to finalising" deal for £85m star with contract semi-agreed

The Gunners have made significant progress ahead of this summer.

2

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Emilio Galantini

May 7, 2025

The ex-Atletico Madrid chief is expected to be very busy in the coming weeks, and a major squad overhaul has already been mooted by sections of the press.

Berta could even orchestrate a summer spend worth up to £300 million on seven signings across the squad, according to GiveMeSport, and it is highly anticipated that forwards will arrive at Arsenal among them.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games	Date
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have seriously debilitated Arteta’s forward options and exposed their lack of a potent goalscorer to lead their line, while there are also precious few options on the right-wing behind star man Bukayo Saka.

Some uncertainty also surrounds the long-term futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who’ve been sporadically linked with potential exits from N5, so Arsenal’s forward line could be looking significantly different by the time next season commences.

Arsenal could sign a striker, left-winger and right-winger this summer (GiveMeSport), but Arsenal will only have so much money to spend on high-profile stars and competition is set to be rife for their signatures.

However, one man who could cover a lot of bases in the attacking areas, and a player they’re now believed to be interested in, comes in the form of versatile PSG ace Lee Kang-in.

A report from The Sun claimed earlier this week that Berta personally wants Lee at Arsenal, and PSG are prepared to sell the South Korea international who can play as an attacking midfielder, on the right, on the left and even as a striker when required.

Mikel Arteta would "welcome" Lee Kang-in signing at Arsenal

Berta was apparently driving a move for Lee when he was at Atlético, only for the Italian to miss out on his signature to PSG.

Following on from these claims, a Spanish media source now states that Arteta would “welcome” the signing of Lee at Arsenal as well, so it appears both the manager and sporting director are in agreement over his quality.

The 24-year-old has bagged six goals and six assists in all competitions this term, across 44 total appearances, but a fair portion of his minutes have come off the bench.

Enrique, who called Lee a “complete” player, has found real use of him as a utility man at the Parc des Princes, and judging by praise from international teammate Son, he could end up being a very useful addition for Arsenal, even if reports late last year claimed PSG could demand £51 million to let him go.

“Kang-in Lee’s talent is incredible,” Son told Sungmo Lee in 2023.

“I believe he could grow even further. We have to help him not to get too much pressure.”

A hard taskmaster at times, an astute judge of the game, and someone not shy of voicing an opinion are the key traits of the new coach

Shashank Kishore21-Dec-2018Few men in India have covered the entire gamut of the coaching spectrum like WV Raman. He has coached Tamil Nadu and Bengal, been part of Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders and briefly even held the India A job in 2008, but the biggest validation of his coaching credentials may have come only recently, having played a key role in charting the revival of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.Once touted by a now-retired domestic cricketer as a ‘paradise for good food and great weather in the summer’, the NCA was in an abyss until 2015. Physios, coaches and trainers didn’t know what they should do. There was a chairperson, but his duties were unclear. Also, there seemed to be little in sync between the NCA and the selectors.When he took over as batting coach in 2015, Raman, the former India opener, along with Narendra Hirwani, the bowling coach, demarcated responsibilities to methodically groom the next set of age-group talent, apart from working with senior players who have used the facility to regain match fitness.Outside of the NCA, Raman has been on a number of tours with India Under-19 teams, and has set up a new pathway for cricketers, many of whom have been fast-tracked for a higher honours. Raman has been pivotal towards the building of this assembly line, acting as a feeder for Rahul Dravid while he has been away on overseas tours as head coach of India A. Raman’s experience of being a well-travelled domestic cricket commentator too has come in handy.Handling young groups apart, Raman has a demonstrated history of dispute resolution. In his stint with Bengal in 2011-12, there were public differences between senior cricketers Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary. The fight for captaincy in the aftermath of Sourav Ganguly’s retirement from all forms of cricket threatened to derail the side. But he managed to tide over the crisis, with Bengal winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-over competition in 2012, by beating Mumbai in the final.Raman took over the Tamil Nadu job for the second time in the aftermath of personal issues between two senior players. To his credit, he managed to pull the side through the muddle and they reached the Ranji Trophy final in his second season, in 2014-15.Now with the women’s team, one of his first tasks will be to defuse a clash of personalities. While Mithali Raj may say publicly that “I have no problems with Harmanpreet Kaur”, there is enough evidence of a possible rift. Raman will only know too well a senior player feuding over batting positions can’t be the best way to begin an overseas assignment. They go to New Zealand in January while there’s only 15 months left for the next Women’s World T20 in Australia.As a coach, there has also been talk of Raman being a hard task-master and a disciplinarian prone to flashes of short temper. Former players he had coached termed him aloof when he first joined a team but that perception has also thawed.Abhinav Mukund, the Tamil Nadu captain until last season, said of Raman in an interview with ESPNcricinfo: “I have always felt he used to take a lot of pressure from external sources and protect the younger players from it. He would never give me any sort of bullshit, which is something I always appreciate. We had a lot of arguments about my technique. I could tell him that I wasn’t comfortable with it.”Even as captain, we used to have arguments about a certain player, but at the end of the day he would give me the player I wanted. A lot of people think he is extremely short tempered, but I genuinely feel he’s a reasonable man.”When it comes to the technicalities and an eye for talent, there are few that can match Raman. In 2008, he was convinced of Manish Pandey’s future as a batting star, even before the player had made his Ranji Trophy debut. A decade on, Pandey is on the fringes of India’s limited-overs teams but the impact he’s had for Karnataka, various India A sides and KKR are undeniable.As a coach, Raman is instinct-driven. Numbers and analytics only complement his style, and aren’t the sole criteria for his functioning. In 2013, soon after he was dropped from the Test side, Gautam Gambhir turned to Raman for one-on-one sessions. It was there that Raman suggested Gambhir bat with a slightly-open stance, a method that would define his batting for a better part of his next six years as a first-class cricketer.The jury may be out on whether the change brought Gambhir the kind of prolific returns he managed in the first half of his career. But that Raman wasn’t afraid to suggest something radical to an experienced cricketer – a two-time World Cup winner – indicated his strong personality and the respect he commands as an astute reader of the game.The women’s team is in need of someone who can take charge with a vision for the greater good. Raman has the credentials, and his test will be in how he manages to tide over the current clash between his ODI captain and the T20I captain. This conflict-resolution could define his legacy, which could yet mark the start of a defining period in Indian women’s cricket.

MatériaMais Notícias

da apostaganha： O Palmeiras está forte na briga para contratar o volante Wendel, atualmente no Zenit-RUS e que foi revelado pelo Fluminense. O jogador de 25 anos possui proposta em mãos do alviverde e pode dar adeus ao futebol russo para voltar ao Brasil e defender o atual campeão brasileiro. A informação é do jornalista Fábio Aleixo e foi confirmada pelo Lance!.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel comenta ações da CBF e reflete sobre seu lugar no futebol brasileiro: ‘Talvez eu seja pequeno demais’Palmeiras17/07/2023PalmeirasANÁLISE: Em má fase, Palmeiras não pode mais ‘se dar ao luxo’ de perder tantos golsPalmeiras17/07/2023PalmeirasVÍDEO: Abel Ferreira cutuca rival após eliminação do Palmeiras na Copa do Brasil: ‘Não sei quantos títulos ganharam’Palmeiras16/07/2023

da doce： + Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

No momento, o grande entrave na negociação é que o Fenerbahce, da Turquia, também possui interesse no jogador revelado nas Laranjeiras e também fez proposta pelo volante. O clube turco tem ótima relação com os russos e o destino do atleta não deve demorar para ser definido. Os valores do negócio não foram revelados para a reportagem.

Apesar de estar na busca de um camisa 5 para repor a saída de Danilo, Wendel atua mais como um segundo volante, e ainda não seria uma peça para resolver a posição de primeiro volante do Verdão.

continua após a publicidade

Wendel já foi procurado pelo Flamengo na temporada passada e também recentemente pela Roma-ITA de José Mourinho.

Contratado pelo Zenit-RUS em 2020, Wendel teve passagem pelo futebol português, onde atuou pelo Sporting-POR de 2018 até ir para o futebol russo.

O Palmeiras está em busca de uma reposição para a função de volante desde a venda de Danilo, ao Nottingham Forest-ING, em janeiro de 2023. Outros nomes como Walace, da Udinese-ITA, Matheus Henrique, do Sassuolo-ITA e Jean Lucas, do Monaco-FRA (hoje no Santos), chegaram a ser cogitados, mas nenhuma negociação foi para frente.

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Celtic are preparing for another exciting campaign under Brendan Rodgers, but they may have to lose one of their key stars while preparations are ongoing ahead of pre-season.

Celtic's early window priorities start to emerge

Next campaign, Celtic don’t have the luxury of automatic qualification in the Champions League, which may bring their transfer planning forward regarding targets in a few key positions.

Kieran Tierney will return to Parkhead on a free transfer from Arsenal to address their left-back berth, leaving an element of mystique regarding who will compete with the Scotland international in his position.

Further up the field, Brendan Rodgers is also keen on a new striker after opting not to replace Kyogo Furuhashi following his move to Rennes in January.

In a rapid turn of events, Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati has rejected a move to Hannover amid interest from the Bhoys. Available under freedom of contract, the 25-year-old has confirmed he will make his next destination known soon.

He stated before playing a starring role in his current side reaching the Dutch top-flight: “I think it is 100 per cent certain that I will make a fantastic step this summer.

After Bain: Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic flop who's a "bit soft"

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ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

“But first, I want to leave something behind at Telstar that will make them never forget me. I think it is very important that I end my time here well.”

Speculation over incomings will dominate the landscape for supporters as the Bhoys look forward to another campaign they hope will be littered with success.

However, they may now have to proceed forth without one of their established stars if recent reports are anything to go by.

Celtic star Greg Taylor presented with exit proposal

According to Greek outlet Sportal, Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has been presented with a two-year contract offer by PAOK and they are now ‘anxiously awaiting’ a response from the Scotland international, who could leave Parkhead for nothing this month.

Out of contract in Glasgow’s east end, he has been offered a greater salary than his current terms at the Hoops and is said to be the main defensive target for Razvan Lucescu’s men this summer.

Greg Taylor’s Scottish Premiership statistics in 2024/25 (Fotmob)

Chances created

36

Successful dribbles

10

Pass accuracy

88.1%

Tackles won

22

Duels won

109

Recoveries

111

Labelled “instrumental” by Rodgers, the 27-year-old has registered nine goals and 33 assists in 216 appearances across all competitions at Celtic, contributing to the delivery of 11 trophies during his extremely successful spell.

Seeking replacements, the Bhoys have reportedly made an approach for Peterborough United youngster Harley Mills. The 19-year-old is also attracting interest from Fulham regarding a move during the off-season.

Either way, the wheels certainly appear to be in motion as Celtic plan for the coming months, though they may need to part ways with Taylor officially before making advances for his successor.

Wolverhampton Wanderers know they will enter the 2025/26 season without the services of Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth £62.5m in the coming weeks and this will leave the Old Gold short in the attacking department.

Cunha was arguably the reason why Wolves remained in the Premier League last season. All good things must come to an end, however, and Vitor Pereira will now be looking to replace the former Atlético Madrid man when the transfer window opens.

Matheus Cunha's Wolves record

Cunha was the club’s biggest attacking threat last season. Not only did he top the scoring charts with 17 goals, while finishing second in the squad for assists with six in all competitions.

Indeed, Cunha registered the most goal involvements (21) in the squad during the Premier League, while also ranking first for big chances created (13), key passes per game (1.8) and successful dribbles per game (1.8).

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

17

6

2023/24

36

14

8

2022/23

20

2

1

If it weren’t for his contributions in the final third, Wolves might have found themselves in graver danger towards the end of the season, that’s for sure.

Now the onus is on Pereira to find a suitable replacement for the Brazilian talisman. One who can hit the ground running at Molineux at the start of next season.

Could the manager target a player from a fellow Premier League club?

Wolves could land Premier League star as Cunha replacement

Last week, Birmingham World claimed that the Old Gold were considering making a move for James McAtee of Manchester City this summer.

A fee of around £25m appears to be what Pep Guardiola is set to demand for the youngster. Given that Pereira will have money to play with upon Cunha’s sale, this shouldn’t be a problem.

McAtee has already made 48 Premier League appearances throughout his embryonic career, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists.

Despite playing 27 times last term, only nine of these came in the starting XI. If McAtee wishes to fulfill his potential, moving to a club like Wolves will allow him to play every week.

Hailed as a “special player” by Guardiola, the Englishman would certainly offer something extra to the Wolves side next term.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, McAtee ranks in the top 1% for goals (0.78) and the top 6% for total shots (3.53) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

If given chances, he will certainly score plenty of goals for Wolves. Furthermore, he also created two big chances and had a goal conversion percentage of 25% in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

This was despite averaging just 24 minutes per game for City. He might not be at the same level as Cunha just yet, but the English talent certainly has the tools required to eventually get there one day.

Transfer Focus

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

Pereira will need to act swiftly, as there are a few other teams also seeking a move for the City starlet this summer.

Offer made: Wolves submit bid for £42m star who "never puts a foot wrong"

The Old Gold have now made a move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

Deal for English county confirmed after former majority owner Rod Bransgrove sells stake

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Sep-2024The GMR Group, the newly unveiled owner of Hampshire, is “keen and open” to buying a majority stake in the Southern Brave franchise in the Hundred. That confirmation has come from Grandhi Kiran Kumar, GMR’s corporate chairman, who recently sealed a multimillion-pound deal which has made Hampshire the first English county to have overseas ownership.ESPNcricinfo understands that GMR Group’s parent company, GGPL, will initially hold a 53% stake in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, Hampshire’s parent company, with a completed 100% acquisition expected within the next 24 months. The overall deal, which was sealed earlier this year, is close to £120 million, half of which is understood to be operating debt. The equity part of the deal is worth £43 million.It is understood that GMR, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate that owns teams in various T20 leagues, including the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, have paid 53% of that equity amount upfront with the remainder to be be paid in a phased fashion. There is also an incentive element in the deal which is related to the performance component, but the exact nature of how that will work will be worked out by all parties soon.The process does not guarantee GMR’s acquisition of Southern Brave, the Hundred team who play at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl, though they are clear favourites to acquire full ownership. The ongoing sale of equity in the eight Hundred teams by the ECB will involve 51% stakes being transferred to host counties – in this case, Hampshire – but the process includes a mechanism which would require GMR to pay fair market value for the remaining 49% before that transfer happens.Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo on Monday that the acquisition of Southern Brave was part of his plan. “We will evaluate as we go forward,” he said. “Certainly, we are happy to work with ECB. We are certainly very keen and open.”Jofra Archer is Southern Brave’s star player•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Both parties have stressed that the Hundred was not a significant part of the original plan when Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s majority owner, first pitched the idea of selling his 60% stake in the company. It was in June of 2023 when India and Australia were playing the World Test Championship final at The Oval that Grandhi was alerted to a possible investment opportunity in Hampshire.As the months went by, GMR started looking at the opportunity seriously. While the cricketing aspect of the deal was appealing, GMR, whose core business remains in infrastructure, was equally – if not more – attracted to five-star Hilton hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl.”We come from an infrastructure background,” Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo. “We are into airports, roads etc. When you see this, it is quite amazing with what they have done. When we visited the facilities, including the hotel, we were impressed.”The entire concept is very nice, especially the fact that it was developed with keeping the fans in mind. Rod [Bransgrove] and his management team have kept the cricketing and sporting culture intact. I was quite amazed with the other facilities like the golf course. It is quite inclusive.”Kiran Kumar Grandhi (left) sits on the IPL auction table•BCCI

Grandhi assured Hampshire fans and members that GMR do not intend to “come and takeover”. He said: “We are looking at this opportunity holistically. The Hundred [opportunity] came only recently. Our discussions with Hampshire started nearly one-and-a-half years ago. When I heard about the opportunity I said, ‘Why not?’ The first six months went knowing each other and become comfortable. The deal happened much later.”The deal makes GMR Group the majority shareholder in the club, after Hampshire’s former chairman, Rob Bransgrove decided to sell his 60% stake in the company. Bransgrove will, however, continue as group chairman until at least September 30, 2026, with David Mann retaining his role as group CEO.While its business focus has been in the infrastructure business, GMR Group made its first major sporting investment in 2008 when it bought Delhi Daredevils. In 2018, GMR sold a 50% ownership stake in the Delhi franchise to Jindal South West (JSW), a fellow Indian business heavyweight. In cricket, the GMR Group also owns the Dubai Capitals franchise in the UAE’s ILT20 and has a stake in Seattle Orcas in MLC.The potential for overseas investment in Hampshire derives from Bransgrove’s original bail-out of the county in 2000, when he secured the club’s move from its 116-year home at Northlands Road in Southampton to the Utilita Bowl, on the outskirts of the city.Related

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• Kevin Pietersen helped to broker Hampshire's 'historic' GMR deal

In so doing, he converted Hampshire from a members-owned club to what was then known as Rose Bowl PLC, and oversaw the building and development of the venue – which now includes the Hilton hotel and Boundary Lakes Golf Course, with plans for more additions currently under consideration with Eastleigh Borough Council.The Utilita Bowl hosted its maiden Test match against Sri Lanka in 2011, while in 2020, its on-site hotel and remote location made it an ideal venue for the ECB’s bio-secure summer during the Covid pandemic. The ground hosted three Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, and six white-ball matches against Australia and Ireland.”This is the fulfilment of a dream for me and, I hope, for all Hampshire Cricket supporters,” Bransgrove said. “Beyond our team’s accomplishments on the field over the past 24 years, we have transformed our stadium into a premier Test Match and events venue and one of the most exceptional cricket and leisure facilities in the country. We have also been pioneers in the development of women’s cricket and have consistently innovated throughout this relatively short history.”After a thorough selection process, we chose GGPL as our partners due to their shared values and commitment to our vision. We believe GGPL is the perfect organization, with the right people, to build on our proud legacy. Becoming the first English cricket club to join an international cricket group will open exciting new opportunities as we embrace the globalization of this great sport.”Rod Bransgrove (left) and David Mann (right) were GMR’s guests at the ILT20 in February•ILT20

In 2021, Hampshire also hosted the inaugural World Test Championship final between New Zealand and India, again with Covid restrictions, while in 2027, it is due to host its maiden Ashes Test.Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said that the deal “demonstrates the global interest” in investing in English cricket and underlines “the continuing appeal of county cricket.”Gould said: “This is an exciting time for Hampshire Cricket, and I’d like to welcome GGPL to cricket in England and Wales. I am pleased to see their commitment to continuing to develop Hampshire’s cricket teams and pathways and enhance facilities at Utilita Bowl, and their respect for the traditions of the game in this country.”I’d like to thank Rod Bransgrove for all he has done in transforming Hampshire and creating a world-class stadium, and look forward to continuing to work together in his role as Group Chair.”

England mixed it up, put it in a test tube, found themselves under pressure and still came out with a win and an unassailable 3-0 lead in their T20I series against New Zealand.Sophie Ecclestone’s four-wicket haul smothered Sophie Devine’s defiance before Alice Capsey’s T20I career-best of 67 not out saw the hosts win by six wickets with four balls to spare in Canterbury.With two matches left, the hosts could well continue their experimental approach which saw Sophia Dunkley take her chance with a 26-ball 35 returning to the top of the order and sharing a 66-run partnership with Capsey to put England in control. Two quick wickets to Fran Jonas preserved the hope that Devine had given New Zealand but Capsey’s 60-ball innings, and an cool cameo by Freya Kemp of 16 not out from eight balls saw England home as the White Ferns were left to rue a rash of missed chances in the field.

Devine intervention

From Suzie Bates’ stunning straight drive for four off the first ball of the match – bringing up her 10,000th international run – to her 52-run partnership with Amelia Kerr for the second wicket, this was more like the batting performance New Zealand had craved. At the end of the powerplay, the White Ferns were 46 for 1 and Kerr took them past the 50-mark with four off Sarah Glenn’s first delivery, a fuller one which she lifted behind square. But when Ecclestone cleaned up both in a devastating first over, Devine needed to produce the sort of innings that had so far eluded her on this tour.With Georgia Plimmer having fallen for a first-ball duck in the opening over, the spectre of New Zealand’s batting woes loomed large again and, at 63 for 3, it fell to Devine and Brooke Halliday to steady them. Devine received a life on 4 when Charlie Dean couldn’t hold a sharp return catch before Halliday spooned a Glenn delivery straight to Nat Sciver-Brunt at long-on. Devine broke a boundary drought lasting 5.4 overs when she struck Dean for two fours in four balls, swung through square leg and thundered through long-on, but as the wickets continued to fall, Devine would have to unleash if they were to turn 100 for 6 into a defendable total.Kemp made it 106 for 7 with a perfect yorker to remove Hannah Rowe but Devine slammed the first six of the match over long-on two balls later then slog-swept Ecclestone for an even bigger one over deep square leg and drove the next ball down the ground for four. Devine brought up her fifty with the first of three fours in a row off Dani Gibson, smashed down the ground, before slashing past short third and ending the innings with a heave through square leg to walk off with her first half-century of the tour.

Ecclestone’s incisions

Ecclestone came into the attack and struck with her second ball, Bates chipping straight to Sciver-Brunt at mid-off for a 27-ball 38. Kerr swung her bat in anguish after she was beaten a beauty three balls later, a flighted delivery that dipped then gripped off the pitch and sailed past the inside edge onto the top of middle stump. When Ecclestone splattered Izzy Gaze’s off stump with her arm ball, New Zealand were in all sorts of trouble. That’s when Devine shifted gears but Ecclestone claimed her fourth when Leigh Kasperek tried to match her captain’s hitting and heaved across the line, only to miss and see her middle stump rattled. It was the last ball of Ecclestone’s allocation, giving her 4 for 25, her second four-wicket haul in T20Is and bettered only by the 4 for 18 she took against New Zealand at Taunton in 2018.Alice Capsey’s half-century got England over the line•Getty Images

“What-if?” planning

England made sweeping changes in a piece of “what-if?” planning ahead of the T20 World Cup, as it was described at the toss by Sciver-Brunt, standing in as captain for Heather Knight, who sat out alongside Danni Wyatt and Lauren Bell. That made way at the top of the order for Dunkley to play her first T20I since March. Kemp returned after her unbeaten 26 and 1 for 30 playing again as an allrounder in the opening T20I in Southampton while making her comeback from a back injury. Bell made way for fellow seamer Lauren Filer in the other change, which was in keeping with a theme Knight painted ahead of the T20I series where she said England would look to try different combinations and tactics with a view to needing to adapt to changing conditions in Bangladesh.Having been dropped after England’s tour of New Zealand earlier this year, Dunkley scored 15 in her only other appearance of this visit by the White Ferns, in the third ODI in Bristol. Here she had another chance to show what she could do ahead of the T20 World Cup and the spotlight intensified here when Maia Bouchier fell on the first ball of the run-chase, pinned lbw by Rowe. In Rowe’s next over, Dunkley powered a big six over long-off, then helped herself to three fours – and 15 runs in all – off Devine’s second over, which was the last of the powerplay and ended with England comfortable on 50 for 1. But when left-arm spinner Jonas entered the attack, she had two wickets in two balls, Dunkley cramped by a full ball which drifted in and chopping onto her stumps and Sciver-Brunt to an lbw decision that would have been overturned had she reviewed with ball-tracking showed it was missing leg stump.

Capsey, Kemp get the job done

That left England needing 73 runs in 10 overs and Capsey made the most of her chance when she was pinned on the front pad attempting a reverse sweep off Kasperek and successfully reviewed, the ball shown to be going down the leg side. Amy Jones survived two dropped chances, put down on 11 by Plimmer at long-off and Devine at mid-off on 18 with England needing 28 off 17 balls. Capsey slammed Kerr over long-on for six next ball so that when Jones was run out, the equation was 22 needed from 15.Yet another chance went begging when Maddy Green failed to hold in the deep and Kemp capitalised, cleverly reversing Kasperek to the boundary through short third and smashing the next ball down the ground to leave England with five to get off the last over. They got there with four balls to spare via a streaky four by Capsey off a Jonas misfield.

An Arsenal delegation flew to Lisbon last week to hammer out a transfer agreement with Sporting CP over star striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Arsenal travelled to Lisbon for talks
• Gyokeres agreement getting closer
• Striker to move for €80 million

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The group is assumed to have included sporting director Andrea Berta, who joined the Gunners in March to replace the departed Edu Gaspar. reports that talks marked a "decisive step forward" and that Arsenal officials left Lisbon with "almost everything lined up" for a transfer.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal are also believed to have agreed personal terms with Gyokeres, which, combined with the latest information, points increasingly towards a deal becoming a reality. The expected transfer package between the clubs is set to be worth €80 million (£68.9m; $93.7m) overall, but the lack of a total agreement at this stage is down to how much is guaranteed and how much is a triggerable add-on. They could be as little as €5m apart.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the Gyokeres saga being fraught at times, it has also been reported in Portugal this week that Sporting have allowed him to delay his return for pre-season. That extra time could be all he and the clubs need to arrange and finalise everything with regard to his transfer.

• GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES?

  After two years in Portugal, former Brighton and Coventry man Gyokeres could be back in English football sooner rather than later. He is likely to miss the formal start of Arsenal's pre-season training later this week, with an optional camp in Spain taking place before then. But with the pace of recent developments, it doesn't feel out of the question that the Swede is involved on the tour of east Asia, where the first friendly against AC Milan is scheduled for July 23 in Singapore.

يحل منتخب فرنسا، ضيفًا على أيسلندا، مساء اليوم، في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم 2026.

ويحتل منتخب فرنسا صدارة المجموعة الثالثة برصيد 9 نقاط خلال 3 مباريات، حيث حقق 3 انتصارات وسجل 7 أهداف وأستقبلت شباكه هدفًا واحدًا.

بينما يحتل منتخب أيسلندا المركز الثالث بـ3 نقاط من 3 مباريات، حيث فاز في مباراة وخسر اثنتين، وسجل 9 أهداف واستقبلت شباكه 7 أهداف.

ويدخل منتخب فرنسا مباراة أيسلندا بدون أبرز لاعبيه كيليان مبابي، الذي عاد إلى ريال مدريد ولكن إصابته ليست خطيرة، كذلك تم استبعاد إبراهيما كوناتي قلب دفاع ليفربول.

اقرأ أيضًا.. النرويج يوجه دفعة إيجابية لمانشستر سيتي حول إيرلينج هالاند

وكان منتخب فرنسا قد حقق فوزًا كبيرًا ضد أذريبجان بثلاثية نظيفة يوم الجمعة الماضية، أما عن منتخب أيسلندا، فقد تعرض للهزيمة بخمسة أهداف لثلاثة ضد أوكرانيا. موعد مباراة فرنسا وأيسلندا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم

ستنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة العاشرة إلا ربع مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. معلق مباراة فرنسا وأيسلندا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم

تم إسناد مهمة التعليق في هذه المباراة للمعلق علي سعيد الكعبي. القناة الناقلة لمباراة فرنسا وأيسلندا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم

من المنتظر أن تنقل المباراة عبر قناة (beIN Sports 1 HD)

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا