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The visitors will arrive in Dhaka on January 10 and are likely to do in-room quarantine for the first three days

Mohammad Isam15-Dec-2020West Indies will tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and two Tests in January, CWI confirmed on Tuesday after their inspection team reported back to the board of directors on what they saw during their short trip earlier this month. The tour will be a shortened one from what was originally scheduled, as there will be one less Test and no T20I series.The visitors will arrive in Dhaka on January 10, after which they are likely to do in-room quarantine for the first three days, followed by four days of training among themselves. They will play a warm-up one-day game at the BKSP in Savar, some 40km to the north of the capital Dhaka.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe ODIs will be played on January 20, 22 and 25, with the third game to be held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, which will also host the first Test from February 3. Ahead of the Test series, West Indies will also play a four-day warm-up game at the MA Aziz Stadium (also in Chattogram), a ground just across the road from the team hotel.The second Test is in Dhaka from February 11, and West Indies are expected to leave the capital on February 16. This will be Bangladesh’s first international series since the pandemic put most of the world into lockdown. Bangladesh have already had bilateral series against Pakistan, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and Sri Lanka postponed indefinitely, although the BCB has maintained that they are trying to rearrange all of these matches.

Puig, who once played alongside Messi at Barcelona, is now the Argentine's biggest threat as both march toward MLS Cup

In the final game of the 2019-20 La Liga season, Barcelona defeated Alaves 5-0, and in that match, Riqui Puig earned his first La Liga assist for the Catalan giants. He played a simple, yet accurate, pass to the feet of Lionel Messi, who danced past a defender and the goalkeeper to slot home for their second goal of the game.

It was the only time they ever connected for a goal on the pitch, and for Puig, it was just one of 57 total senior appearances he would make for the club. Messi, meanwhile, made 778 across his storied career in Spain.

It was a brief overlap in time, a small moment in each footballer's career. However, it was a moment of impact; and now, four years on, both Puig and Messi craft their trade in MLS. Instead of feeding each other passes in and around the opposition box as teammates, though, they're direct competitors who stand in the way of each other achieving greatness in 2024; lifting MLS Cup.

Messi and Inter Miami are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Galaxy are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, they largely say on the top seed for most of the season, letting it slip from their grasp on Decision Day.

Seeding wouldn't matter much if the two teams were to face off in the MLS Cup though.

The South Beach club lifted the MLS Supporters' Shield in record-breaking fashion , and both Messi and Luis Suarez are 2024 MLS MVP nominees. Barring something unexpected, Miami will host the MLS Cup final. So considering all of that, who will stop them from storming the playoffs and lifting the championship trophy?

Well, the answer – four years on from that shared moment between Puig and Messi – might just be the Galaxy, who began their MLS Cup journey with a 5-0 smashing of the Colorado Rapids in game one of their Best-of-3 series.

GOAL looks into Messi's success in 2024, what makes LA so special this season, and how a potential meeting in MLS Cup could be awaiting the ex-Barcelona teammates.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAFPCombining in Catalonia

Puig, now 25, was a La Masia graduate during his youthful days in Spain. He joined the famous academy in 2013, progressing through the various youth teams into the reserves of the first-team. In December 2018, he signed a contract with the Spanish side that would keep him with the club through 2021. However, his La Liga debut would not arrive until April 2019, and his promotion to the senior team would not come until October 2020, when he was handed the No. 12 shirt on the first-team roster.

In January 2021, he scored a famous winning goal in a penalty shootout against Real Sociedad in the semifinals of the Supercopa De Espana, a 3-2 victory in kicks from the spot for and Puig. 11 days later in a La Liga match against Elche, he scored his first senior regulation goal, heading in a cross from Dutch international Frenkie De Jong.

In total, Puig went on to make 42 senior appearances in La Liga for Barcelona, scoring twice and recording two assists across 1,421 minutes of action.

His best performances, however, arrived after Messi departed the club for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021. During their time in Spain, though, Messi was a part of the Barcelona roster for 40 of his 58-total appearances across all competitions. Their moment together, though, was in that match against Alaves. Puig, full of excitement, sprinted to the Argentine and hugged him after the goal, leaping into the air with the cheekiest of smiles on his face.

In that contest, Puig, then 20, set a Barcelona record becoming the youngest player since Thiago Alcantara in 2011 to record two assists in a match for the with his other assist being an Nelson Semedo goal.

It was an evening where Puig announced his presence on the global stage, and the world suddenly turned their eyes to what many thought was the next superstar to come out of La Masia. However, that never happened. Messi departed as the club fell into financial hardships in 2021, and one year later, Puig was also a victim of those hardships, departing the club on a shocking free transfer to the LA Galaxy and MLS.

Since joining MLS, Puig has become one of MLS' elite attractions, capitalizing on the potential he's shown earlier in La Liga.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMLS' midfield maestro

Since arriving to Major League Soccer in 2022, Riqui Puig has been one of, if not the, best central midfielders in the league. He's been nothing short of incredible for the Galaxy, crafting creativity in the middle of the park with all of those around him. The ball? Glued to his boot on the run. The pass? Delivered on a string.

Puig, an MLS MVP nominee in 2023 and 2024, has been crucial to the resurgence of the Galaxy, a storied club who have not won a trophy in over a decade. Their last trophy came at the 2014 MLS Cup, with a roster fielding the likes of both Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.

Things are different now, though. The Galaxy are the best they've been in 10 years, and Puig is spearheading their sensational campaign.

"Always when you come from Barcelona, the expectations are really high," Puig told CBS Sports ahead of their playoff opener against the Rapids. "When I come from Barcelona, I think that people are waiting for something of me that I cannot give to the fans, you know? I think that I'm trying to make goals, make assists and I think this year, it was one of the best seasons of my life and I'm really happy and really proud."

The Spaniard scored 13 goals and recorded 15 assists across 29 matches in 2024, recording 28 goal-contributions during that span. His expected goals (xG) across the campaign was 8.6, and he surpassed that tally, nearly doubling it across the regular season, too.

In his central midfield role, the 25-year-old stood out from the rest of MLS' midfielders.

With 3,240 touches on the ball, he led the rest of the league in that category, with Houston Dynamo's Artur coming in second with 2,768 touches – nearly 400 less than Puig. The same duo topped the league in passes-completed, with Puig having 5,919, however, Artur had nearly 900 less completions than him, with 5,099 completed. Factor in that the Galaxy's Maya Yoshida and Marco Delgado came third and fourth in that category, it comes to no surprise that LA were MLS's top passing team in 2024 with 20,191 passes.

The composer of that midfield, Puig was nothing short of brilliant, and virtually no coach or XI figured out how to stop him during the regular season as a result.

gettyThe king of South Beach

As strong as Puig was, he isn't considered one of the MVP favorites. And that is largely due to the otherworldly performances from Messi this season.

The Argentine, a 2024 MLS MVP finalist, scored 20 goals and recorded 16 assists in just 19 matches this season, only 15 of which were starts. His outstanding attacking numbers helped not only lift the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield, but also helped them clinch a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as well.

After his 2021 departure from Barcelona, and his brief stint in Paris in between, he joined Miami in 2023 on a free transfer – one year after Puig's arrival. However, the two did not meet during the 2023 season, rather, their first time clashing on the pitch came in 2024 on LA's Opening Day of the campaign. It was a contest where Puig saw an early penalty attempt saved by Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, and in dramatic fashion, a late equalizing goal from Messi in the second minute of stoppage-time secured Miami a point in a 1-1 draw between the two sides.

Ahead of the match, Puig warned his squad about his ex-Barcelona teammate, someone he dubbed "the best player in the world" before the contest, but last-gasp heroics from the Argentine denied the Galaxy an early-season victory.

Nine months on, and now, a potential meeting between the two sides may be on the cards again, but only if they can make their way to MLS' championship game. For Messi though, just over one year after his arrival to South Beach, he has been the face of North America's top flight, and an MLS Cup win would be the crown on his head to go with it.

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The bounce back

Puig and the Galaxy have had a 2024 remember, rising from 13th in 2023 to being second this year. Their confidence is riding high – and rightfully so. They've defeated every single Western Conference playoff team this season, and in their lone match against Messi and Miami, they earned a point.

And one year ago? Fans of the club couldn't fathom believing that.

It's a complete 180-degree turn from 2023, where they finished 13th in the Western Conference, missing the postseason despite having an MVP-caliber midfielder like Puig run the show. Now, one year on from that disappointing campaign, it's a new team and a new Puig. Factor in their smart offseason transfer business, acquiring the likes of Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec, and things are better than ever.

"I think that this year, we have really good pieces, we [made] good transfers," Puig added while speaking to CBS on Oct. 24 "Also with [Gabriel] Pec and [Joseph] Paintsil, I think that the team improved a lot, and for me, it's more easy because I have runners up top and that's more easy for me. Last year, we had a lot of injuries and I think that this year, the injuries and all the atmosphere we have at Galaxy, it's better and we improve a lot and for sure with Greg [Vanney], I think he's making a really good job and we understand what he wants inside the field and we're really happy because we are playing really good and for sure, we are winning. That is important."

Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2020/21 did not go the way they had intended it to at the start of the summer.

The club, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were strongly rumoured to want to sign the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham, but they ended up signing very different players.

Their marquee signing that summer was legendary striker Edinson Cavani, on a free transfer. The Uruguayan striker had left Paris Saint Germain just months before, with United eventually snapping him up in October, at the end of what was an extended transfer window.

Young wingers Amad and Facundo Pellistri were also signed during the summer window of 2020, from Atalanta and Penarol respectively. Both are slowly beginning to make a name for themselves in the first team and have enjoyed successful loan spells, with Amad scoring an incredible late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup last April.

Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, was also brought in by United that summer, from Porto. He struggled to nail down a starting spot during his time at Old Trafford.

However, there was one other signing, who still remains at this club to this day, who has never settled in at Old Trafford and could well depart four years after he made the move to Manchester, to make room for potential incomings such as Manuel Ugarte.

Midfielder to leave Man Utd

The player in question here is Donny van de Beek, who joined United from Ajax in 2020, for an initial £34.6m, which could rise to £39m due to add-ons. However, after a tough time at Old Trafford, he could be in line to leave the club this summer.

At least, that is according to a report from Tyrone Marshall, a journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He reports that United are “working on a permanent exit” for the Dutchman, who himself would like to leave Old Trafford.

A potential destination for the player has not been made clear at this stage, although his loan to Eintracht Frankfurt did not offer any clarity on his future.

The German side declined to turn his loan spell at the club permanent, deciding against activating the £9m buy-clause in his contract. However, United will search for a new club this summer, given Van de Beek’s contract expires in 12 months, with the club not willing to let him leave for free.

Why Man Utd should cut their losses

Van de Beek’s time at United has been very frustrating for all parties, given his lack of game time and injury record. He has played just 62 times for United in all competitions across his four seasons at the club, scoring twice and registering two assists. Not only that, but he has missed 52 games for the Red Devils due to injury.

Incredibly, the Dutchman is one of the top 15 highest earners at United and is currently within the top 10 highest pay brackets at the club. This is certainly a problem for United, given his lack of minutes at Old Trafford, hence why a sale is best for all parties, meaning United can reinvest that money.

Amount per week

Player(s)

£350k

Casemiro

£300k

Marcus Rashford

£250k

Mason Mount

£200k

Antony

£195k

Jadon Sancho

£190k

Harry Maguire

£150k

Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen

£120k

Victor Lindelof, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez

£90k

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek

£85k

Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot

The player who they could bring in as an alternative to Van de Beek is Ugarte. The PSG midfielder is thought to be “close” to joining the Red Devils, as reported by Diego Munoz of ESPN Uruguay.

The pair are nothing alike in terms of their midfield profile, with Van de Beek a number 10 who likes to pick the ball up in pockets behind the striker, and PSG’s number four a defensive midfielder who excels as a ball-winner, exactly what United are missing.

As per Fbref, he averages 5.97 tackles and interceptions and 8.14 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% amongst midfielders in Europe.

Incredibly, Van de Beek is worth substantially less than the Uruguay international, according to Football Transfers. The former Ajax man is valued at just £4.3m, compared to Ugarte’s valuation of £35m, a whopping £30.7m less than the PSG midfielder.

It really seems as though selling Van de Beek to make room for the likes of Ugarte might well be the best possible move for United to make this summer. Not only would they be allowing the Dutchman to rebuild his career elsewhere, but they would be saving money on wages and adding a profile to their squad that fits better.

Therefore, ten Hag must brutally ditch him from the squad before the end of the summer transfer window as he continues to reshape his midfield options.

Real Madrid have opened an investigation into the alleged racist abuse aimed at Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during Saturday's El Clasico thrashing.

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Barcelona thrash Real MadridYamal allegedly racially abusedLos Blancos open investigationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Videos on social media have emerged that appear to show the 17-year-old being taunted by some Madrid fans at Santiago Bernabeu during the 4-0 defeat. Now, Los Blancos say they are looking into this matter and condemn all forms of racism, xenophobia or violence in football.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT REAL MADRID SAID

The Madrid statement reads: "Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behaviour involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium. Real Madrid has opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults so that the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures can be taken."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Yamal scored in the Madrid rout, as his Barcelona side opened up a six-point lead over their bitter rivals to stay top of La Liga. They also ended the 42-game unbeaten La Liga run of Carlo Ancelotti's team in the process and are now strong favourites to win the league title.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

While this Madrid investigation gets underway to find the culprits, Yamal's Barcelona team host Espanyol in their next La Liga match on Sunday, November 3.

Despite the huge investment from owner Todd Boehly since his takeover in 2022, Chelsea have showcased the need for more signings in numerous key areas.

The defensive unit has struggled at periods during the 2023/24 campaign, highlighted by the need for new additions such as Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo who arrived at Stamford Bridge on July 1st following his pre-contract agreement.

It’s unlikely that Tosin will be the last defensive reinforcement in London during the upcoming summer transfer window, with new boss Enzo Maresca recently being linked with the likes of Riccardo Calafiori.

However, the Italian is also looking to improve his forward line, with the Blues still lacking that cutting edge, despite star man Cole Palmer registering 22 Premier League goals last term.

Various different names have been thrown into the mix, but in recent days, the club have pondered a move for one talent who’s taken the Premier League by storm in recent years.

Chelsea interested in £51m talent this summer

According to Ben Jacobs on the London is Blue podcast – via Chelsea Chronicle – Chelsea have held internal discussions about the potential signing of Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma.

The 27-year-old, who has previously been valued at €60m (£51m) earlier this year, featured in 19 matches under Roberto De Zerbi for the Seagulls last season, scoring three and assisting four, as the club featured in European competition for the first time in their history.

Chelsea’s rumoured interest in the Japanese forward is hardly a surprise considering his form since his move to Brighton, registering 25 goal contributions since his debut for the club back in August 2022.

Jacobs also confirmed that there has been no official approach made for the attacker, but that the Blues remain interested in Mitoma, in a move that would break the club’s mould of investing in younger attacking talents for the future.

He previously tormented the Blues during Brighton’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge back in 2023, with the ace potentially being a perfect signing for one player in particular.

Why Mitoma would be perfect for Jackson at Chelsea

After joining the club for £29.8m from Villarreal last summer, striker Nicolas Jackson has certainly had his critics during his first campaign in the Premier League.

With Chelsea being such a massive club in England’s top flight, there is always an expectation for a centre-forward to be the main man and deliver the goals for the Blues.

However, the Senegalese ace did manage to score 14 goals in the Premier League last season, finishing the campaign as the club’s second-highest scorer.

He clearly has the ability to be a top-quality striker and, with the added service of potential new addition Mitoma, Jackson could reach the next level and be a success at Stamford Bridge.

The “sensational” Japanese winger, as dubbed by journalist Daniel Hussey, produced 3.9 progressive passes per 90 last season, showcasing his ability to get the ball into forward areas whenever possible.

He also contributed with 6.4 progressive carries for Brighton, a stat that ranked him within the top 2% of all wingers in Europe’s top five leagues during the 2023/24 campaign.

Games played

19

Goals + assists

7

Progressive passes

3.9

Progressive carries

6.4

Successful take-ons

2.1

Assists

0.3

Touches in penalty area

7.2

Mitoma also produced 0.3 assists per 90 for the Seagulls, providing a huge attacking threat in the final third, with Jackson potentially the beneficiary should the 27-year-old move to London this summer.

With the club investing a lot of money in talent for the future, new boss Maresca may potentially want a more senior option in the attacking third to try and propel the Blues back towards the top four.

Mitoma has demonstrated his quality, with his ability to create chances in the final third allowing Jackson to build on his impressive goalscoring tally from 2023/24.

Better than Adeyemi: Chelsea targeting the 2nd best dribbler in the world

The talent has enjoyed a successful Euro 2024 campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 10, 2024

Makes reference to India’s “power in world cricket” in light of rumblings around Brisbane Test’s venue

Andrew McGlashan06-Jan-2021Australia Test captain Tim Paine believes there is “tension starting to boil under the surface” of the Test series against India, which is poised at 1-1 and amid talk of where the final match – scheduled for Brisbane – may be played.The build-up to the series and the early exchanges have been notable for the relative harmony in what is a head-to-head with a feisty history, which Paine partly put down to the collective relief of being able to play cricket again amid the Covid-19 pandemic.However, after two Test matches that have seen significant swings in fortune – from India being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide to their stunning victory at the MCG – which has been followed by the rumblings of discontent in the India camp at the restrictions they will be under for the final two weeks of the tour in order to be allowed entry to Queensland, confined to the team hotels other than for training and match days, there is a sense things might change.Paine made reference to the “power” of India in world cricket and how it can potentially influence the decisions that are made, although as things stand, the final Test remains at the Gabba with exemptions having been granted by the Queensland government for the two teams and a small number of other personnel.”It’s been unusually tame, the start of this series and I think it’s because both teams are just happy to be back playing Test cricket, there’s been such a big break and there’s a lot of respect between the two teams no doubt about that,” Paine said. “But [they are] very competitive sides. It’s boiling away, there’s some stuff starting to happen, a bit of chat starting to happen, so I think this Test is going to be fascinating not just from a cricket point of view, but I think there’s a bit of tension starting to boil under the surface with unnamed sources coming out from their camp saying where they want to play the fourth Test and where they don’t want to go. I think it’s starting to grind a few people, so we’ll see how it goes.”Related

Plans continue for Gabba Test despite Brisbane's newly announced weekend lockdown

India to not travel to Brisbane if there's hard quarantine: BCCI to CA

Fresh report casts doubt on Brisbane Test, but Cricket Australia says it's not heard from BCCI

Ajinkya Rahane: Stay in bubble 'challenging' when 'life outside in Sydney is completely normal'

Injuries a worry for India as battle of top-class Test bowling enters third act

Australia have a formidable record at the Gabba having not lost a Test there since 1988 and regularly make no secret of their desire to start a series in Brisbane. The venue did not host India on their last tour and the restructured schedule this season has meant it is now the final match of this contest – and the game that could decide the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, Paine insisted that while there remains uncertainty he did not care where the match eventually took place.”I wouldn’t say [there’s] frustration, I’d just say a bit of uncertainty because when you hear things like that coming, particularly from India, who we know hold a lot of power in world cricket, it’s likely that it could happen,” he said. “So for us we just want to be really clear on this Test match. We know the protocols, we know what is expected of us. We’re going to focus on that this week then whatever happens never week, happens, and we’ll adapt to it.”But we’re not too fussed. We’re not buying into where the Test is being played. As far as we’re aware it is at the Gabba, but as I said in the team meeting the other day, we couldn’t care less. If you rang us up and said it’s in Mumbai tomorrow, we’d get on a plane and play it. That’s the way we are looking at it.”Speaking at the SCG on Tuesday, CA’s interim CEO Nick Hockley said: “I obviously can’t speak for the BCCI but we’re working towards the schedule and we’re just very grateful for everybody involved, both sets of players. We thank everybody for all their sacrifices.”

2020 Under-19 World Cup star Shoriful Islam has been included in the 18-man party

Mohammad Isam16-Jan-2021Shakib Al Hasan is back in the Bangladesh squad, which includes newcomers Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud, as well as Mahedi Hasan, for the three-ODI series at home against West Indies starting next week in Dhaka.Also in the 18-man party are Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain. Former captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who was left out of the 24-man training group earlier this month, as well as Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Mohammad Naim are among the prominent names missing.Who’s in and who’s out

IN: Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

OUT: Mashrafe Mortaza, Al-Amin Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Mohammad Naim

When Shakib was named in the 24-man preliminary squad for the series, it marked his comeback to the national frame after serving a one-year ban for not reporting a corrupt approach. Shakib was Bangladesh’s Test and T20I captain before his ban, but has returned as an ordinary member of the side.Islam is a left-arm quick who was one of the star performers in Bangladesh’s Under-19 World Cup triumph last year. Mahmud is a fast bowler who broke into Bangladesh’s T20I side last year, while offspin-bowling allrounder Hasan has played T20Is before. All three also did well in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup recently.

“Whether they play or not, we want them to adjust in the dressing room quickly. Hasan Mahmud and Mahedi Hasan have played for Bangladesh, but Shoriful is the total newcomer. We want to give them the experience, since we believe they are our future”Habibul Bashar, Bangladesh selector

Selector Habibul Bashar hoped Shakib’s return would add the balance to the XI that had been missing for a while. “Shakib makes it easier to make an XI,” Bashar said. “Shakib and Mushfiqur [Rahim] are our genuine allrounders, which many teams don’t have. We can always play with an extra bowler or batsman when we have these two players in the side. Shakib’s inclusion is going to help the team’s balance. He wasn’t around for a long time but I am hope he can return to his old form through this series.”Bashar wanted the three new players to get comfortable with the dressing-room atmosphere, given that they are being considered as future prospects. “They have been performing well, and they are definitely our future prospects,” he said. “Whether they play or not, we want them to adjust in the dressing room quickly. Hasan Mahmud and Mahedi Hasan have played for Bangladesh, but Shoriful is the total newcomer. We want to give them the experience, since we believe they are our future.”Taskin and Rubel, who had been regulars even two years ago, found themselves out of favour in the last 12 months, but during the pandemic, they have worked hard on their fitness, and according to Bashar, it has been showing in their pace and swing. “They have been bowling quicker recently. Rubel is looking very good, and he has been swinging the ball too.”As for Naim’s axing, Bashar explained that it was the return of Tamim Iqbal, the captain, that had worked against the younger player. “Tamim has returned so we already have a number of openers. But Naim is always going to be in our plans, and not far from the main squad.”Bangladesh ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Arsenal chiefs view a £76 million forward as a key potential signing for manager Mikel Arteta, and one who could really suit his long-term project in north London.

Edu and Arteta targeting new attacker for Arsenal

The Gunners have been linked with signing both a new wide player and striker this summer, but as of now, it is unclear which position Edu Gaspar and the recruitment team will prioritise.

£24 million forward targeted by Ten Hag now set for talks to join Arsenal

His agent will sit down with Gunners officials.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2024

The likes of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and Wolves star Pedro Neto have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium in the last few weeks, but after investing significantly in a deal for Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal will have to tread with caution in terms of marquee prices.

Arsenal chiefs think Neto will cost around £50 million to sign from Wolves, while the cost of a deal for Williams could be high given the Spain star's lucrative rumoured wage demands.

Arsenal have reportedly told Williams they're willing to pay his £50 million release clause, but reliable journalist Charles Watts has claimed that the 21-year-old's wages could prove to be the major roadblock in any proposed move.

If the Gunners do go for a winger who can alternate with Bukayo Saka on the right, they do have cheaper options, like Lille winger Edon Zhegrova.

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Jesus

8

In terms of strikers, Arsenal have been seriously linked with Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, but the Swede's £84 million release clause is a price which Edu and co may not be so eager to pay – despite his 43-goal haul in all competitions.

Arsenal also attempted to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig earlier this summer, but he instead decided to remain at his current club and pen a contract extension.

Arteta is known for being a fan of versatility in his players, so one man capable of playing at both centre-forward and out wide, and a player who's thought to be on Arsenal's radar as a result, is PSG forward Xavi Simons.

Arsenal view Xavi Simons as key potential project signing

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal chiefs view Simons as a key potential signing for Arteta's project, but face competition from Bayern Munich who are also real admirers.

PSG value the Dutchman, who helped his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2024, at around £76 million – so he wouldn't be cheap. Simons is fresh off the back of an impressive stint on loan at RB Leipzig last year as well, racking up 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

“It will be interesting to see if that’s what Enrique wants, but based on what he’s said publicly, he seems very keen on Simons’ profile," said journalist and French football expert Jonathan Johnson on Simons' future earlier this summer.

"There’s been talk of potential offers from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, but I think it would have to depend on the offer, because I don’t really see PSG doing business unless there’s an offer that’s deemed too good to turn down.

“I expect decisions to be made soon, and PSG’s preparations for next season can even start now, given that they’ve gone out of the Champions League. There’s still a cup final to win, but Ligue 1 has been confirmed, so Enrique can start discussing with the club which positions need reinforcing and how Simons might fit into his plans for next season.”

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has come to the defence of his French national teammate Kylian Mbappe after being dropped by Didier Deschamps.

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Konate defends MbappeDeschamps dropped him for upcoming fixturesForward joined Real Madrid in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has come to the defence of his France team-mate Kylian Mbappe after the Real Madrid superstar was surprisingly left out of the squad for this month's international games by head coach Didier Deschamps. Mbappe was at the centre of a controversy when he pulled out of the France squad for last month's international break due to injury, only to then travel to Sweden for a short holiday trip instead. French press were all over the Madrid striker following the unfortunate turn of events and Konate has acknowledged that dealing with all the attention cannot be easy for Mbappe.

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Mbappe has had a forgettable 2024 so far and his fortunes are not about to turn around just yet by the looks of it.

After failing to fire Les Bleus to EURO 2024 success, the former Monaco prodigy arrived at Real Madrid to much fanfare in the summer. He was expected to hit the ground running immediately, but has drawn the ire of the Spanish media due to his underwhelming record. A return of eight goals in 16 games have left both the team and its fans wanting for much more from the latest 'Galactico'.

Owing to fitness concerns, Mbappe was left out by Deschamps in the previous international break in October. However, Deschamps confirmed that Mbappe had been snubbed for the upcoming Nations League fixtures this month as he explained it was "better like this."

This incident has raised eyebrows and sparked rumours of a possible rift between France captain Mbappe and his manager Deschamps. Amid all the external noise, however, Konate has the back of Mbappe.

WHAT IBRAHIMA KONATE SAID

“When he is with us, everyone is around him. Mbappe's position in today's world is exceptional. I often tell him: 'I want your level of football, but I don't want your life'," Konate told Canal+.

"Because, frankly, it is difficult to bear having your name everywhere, for everything you do.

"When Mbappe is with us, we know the qualities he has, we know what he has brought to us and we should not be ungrateful for what he has been able to contribute to this French team and the whole world is aware of it.

"He is not here now and it is up to the players who are going to play in his position to do the job, be decisive and allow us to win games. It is the coach who makes his decisions. He is the one who decides whether he wants to call him up or not. I have no say in it."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

Mbappe's start to life at Real Madrid hasn't gone to plan so far. He is still finding his feet as a No. 9 for the club and has scored just one goal in his last seven outings. However, with the international break ahead, Mbappe will be hoping to work hard in training in the coming weeks and return to his best when Madrid visit Leganes on November 24.

De Kock remains on leave as Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma appointed to leadership roles

Firdose Moonda04-Mar-2021Quinton de Kock remains central to South African cricket’s plans although there is no indication of when he will be ready to play again.De Kock is on a mental health break and did not take part in the recent CSA domestic T20 Challenge. He is unlikely to feature in the first-class competition this month, and has been relieved of the national captaincy in all formats.”It was felt that the burden of leadership was just too much for a person or a player like Quinton,” said Graeme Smith, Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket. “We wanted to free him up.”His commitment to South African cricket is there. We want to get the best out of him as a player and as a team man. He’ll certainly form part of our leadership group, but we felt this was the right way to move for South African cricket and back a consistent way forward.”Related

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South Africa name Dean Elgar Test captain and Temba Bavuma ODI and T20I captain

De Kock was appointed South Africa’s white-ball captain last February, when Faf du Plessis was removed from the role, and asked to stand-in as temporary Test captain for this summer. He took them to a home series win over Sri Lanka, though his own form suffered, and then defeat in Pakistan, where his unease with the struggles of living in a biosecure environment and leading the team became apparent.On the Pakistan tour, when it was announced that Australia had postponed their three-Test series in South Africa that was due to be played in March, national coach Mark Boucher said de Kock would be released from the burden of Test captaincy as soon as the international season ended. He did not discuss de Kock’s ODI or T20 leadership, but selection convener Victor Mpitsang and Smith have decided it is best for de Kock to also be freed from those roles.”He hasn’t been fired,” Mpitsang said. “The agreement with Quinton when I got into the job was that we needed a Test captain, and it was just an interim job until after the Australian series, which never happened. Quinton probably feels that he needs to focus on his game. I wouldn’t want to see that as a burden because, at the time we made that decision. We’ve come to an agreement to say that he doesn’t need the captaincy any more.”Asked what de Kock’s feelings around being stripped of the captaincy across the board was, Smith acknowledged it would have been tough on him.”There’s always a bit of emotion around these things,” Smith said. “Quinton understands that there’s a burden that comes with leadership. It hasn’t been an easy time for him either. He’s a proud guy. I’m sure there’s a bit of emotions and feelings around this.”We have engaged with Quinton on this and the burden of leadership has been mentioned on a number of occasions. It required us to make a tough and important decision for South African cricket.”Smith and Mpitsang have decided to split the captaincy between Dean Elgar (Tests) and Temba Bavuma (ODIs and T20s) because “we feel it’s a very difficult job to captain in all three formats,” Smith said. “The stresses on one man to do that, the workloads, the job in itself… we felt it was too much to give to one person.”With no Tests scheduled for South Africa until the end of the year, Elgar will have to wait to begin his work, but Bavuma’s starts next month. South Africa host Pakistan for three ODIs and four T20s between April 2 and 16, and could be without several key players, who will be required at the IPL.”That series is very important, especially the one-day series. It’s still the qualifying period for the 50-over World Cup. A few of the T20 players might have to leave earlier, but we’ll still have some players in the T20 side,” Mpitsang said.It is not known whether de Kock will be back to playing at that time, be it for South Africa or the IPL and it is likely his availability will depend on medical advice. De Kock is contracted to the Mumbai Indians.