Angel Gomes called Mason Greenwood his "little brother," with the English international now reunited with his former Manchester United team-mate.

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Gomes presented as new Marseille playerExplained how Greenwood convinced him to join the clubDuo came through the Man Utd youth ranks togetherFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gomes was presented as a Marseille player on Friday and the English international spoke about Greenwood, calling him his "little brother" and explaining how the forward helped him reach the decision of joining him at the Stade Velodrome. Gomes has made the switch from Lille, joining as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both Gomes and Greenwood were part of the Manchester United youth academy, with the former making his first team debut in 2017. Greenwood made his first appearance for the senior team in 2019, with the duo a part of the Red Devils' first-team in the 2019-20 season. Over five years after last sharing a dressing room together, the England-born duo will once again play together, this time around in Ligue 1 at Marseille.

WHAT ANGEL GOMES SAID

Speaking at his first press conference as a Marseille player on Friday, Gomes said: “I’ve spoken to Mason on the phone several times. He’s a bit like a little brother to me. We met when we were eight, when we played together at the youth level. Starting so young and ending up at a professional club together is rare and beautiful… I can’t wait to share these moments with him in Marseille.” 

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ANGEL GOMES?

The 24-year-old midfielder will be aiming to hit the ground running when he features for Les Phoceens in their first summer friendly on July 21 against Belgian second-tier side Olympic Charleroi.

Already planning ahead to the summer transfer window, Everton have reportedly added a Player of the Year winner to their shortlist, which includes three other midfield targets.

Everton's midfield plans explained

With Abdoulaye Doucoure on course to depart as a free agent at the end of the current campaign, the Toffees have reportedly set their sights on a number of potential replacements. The Frenchman has enjoyed an impressive campaign and finding someone who will have the same influence on David Moyes’ side will no doubt prove to be a difficult, but crucial task.

As things stand, names such as Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Sunderland captain Dan Neil have all been mentioned as targets, with The Friedkin Group willing to shop in the Championship market this summer.

Dewsbury-Hall, out of those three options, is the most interesting name on that list of targets. The former Leicester City star has struggled to break into Enzo Maresca’s Premier League side at Chelsea and has often found himself relegated to Europa Conference League responsibilities. Now, a year on from arriving at Stamford Bridge, he looks destined to depart.

Meanwhile, Ndidi would likely be the cheapest option of the lot, given that he reportedly has a relegation release clause worth just £9m at Leicester City. For a player with such invaluable experience, a price tag below the £10m mark should be considered an undeniable steal.

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Whether Everton decide to push on and land Dewsbury-Hall, Neil or Ndidi this summer remains to be seen, however. Instead, Friedkin could turn towards a player who has just picked up a Player of the Year award.

Everton add Gustavo Hamer to shortlist

According to TeamTalk, Everton have now added Gustavo Hamer to their midfield shortlist, which now reportedly sits at four names ahead of the summer transfer window. The Sheffield United star enjoyed a standout season even as the Blades missed out on automatic promotion in the Championship and could yet find himself on the move as a result.

Earning plenty of praise after picking up the Player of the Season award, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told reporters when asked about Hamer’s quality: “When Gus speaks, everybody listens. And rightly so, there should have been interest in him in the summer, because of how outstanding he was in an incredibly disappointing campaign for us. He cleaned up in the Player of the Year awards, so there was always going to be interest in him.”

With nine goals and seven assists in all competitions, the midfield star will be looking to perform one or two more moments of magic to seal promotion through the play-offs for Sheffield United, before potentially earning the big move that he deserves this summer.

Durham are 341 runs off what would be a county record chase of 475, with seven wickets to go

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2024Durham’s Ben Stokes took five second-innings wickets for 98 against Lancashire at Blackpool but Keaton Jennings’s second century of the match helped ensure that his side will go into the final day of this game as warm favourites to win their first Vitality County Championship match of the season.Jennings was dismissed by Stokes but only after making 155 in his side’s 353 for 9 declared, setting his former side what would a county record fourth-innings score of 475 to win.Durham’s confident pursuit of that distant target was damaged by Tom Aspinwall, who took two wickets in seven balls, and the visitors ended the day on 134 for 3.Lancashire made the most cautious of starts to the morning, only nine runs being scored in the opening eleven overs of the day for the loss of nightwatchman, Will Williams, who was lbw to Ben Raine for one.Jennings was particularly careful, taking 54 balls to score the dozen more runs he needed for his half-century, but his circumspection was justified on a pitch offering left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson plenty of help.Stokes was brought on from the South End in the 15th over of the day and soon had a wicket when he trapped George Bell lbw for 17. Stokes also had Jennings caught at second slip off a no-ball when the opener was 75 but the England captain’s initial six-over spell cost 36 runs as Jennings and Tom Bruce sought to accelerate in the second half of the morning session.Having scored 33 runs off 16 overs in the first hour of play, Lancashire added another 82 off 15 in the second and Jennings reached his century off Paul Coughlin’s last ball before lunch when he tucked the ball backward of square on the leg side. He became only the second batter after Warwickshire’s Jim Stewart in 1959 to score a hundred in each innings of a match at Blackpool.Jennings and Bruce had taken their fifth-wicket partnership to exactly 100 when Bruce was caught behind by Robinson for 43, but Jennings went on to pass 11,000 first-class runs on what became an unusually productive afternoon for Lancashire’s batters.Stokes returned to the attack and had George Balderson caught behind for 17 before he eventually had Jennings pouched at mid-off by Scott Borthwick for 155. Typically, the England captain was the first man to congratulate his former Durham colleague and he also dismissed Aspinwall to finish with 5 for 98 in Lancashire’s second innings and a match analysis of 38-2-169-7.Jennings declared when Lancashire’s ninth wicket fell just before the scheduled tea break, leaving Durham needing 475 to win. Borthwick and Alex Lees made an impressive start to their pursuit of that goal by putting on 83 in 16 overs but Aspinwall then struck twice in his first seven balls.First, he had Lees well caught low down to his left by Matty Hurst for 40 and then he bowled Colin Ackermann for a five-ball nought with a fine delivery that nipped away to hit the off stump. Three overs later, Borthwick was bowled by Nathan Lyon for 39 when he attempted to slog-sweep the Australian off-spinner and Durham ended the day still 341 runs short of their improbable goal with David Bedingham unbeaten on 31.

The West Indies offspinner knows bowling spin in England is a tough ask, but he’s up for the challenge

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi20-Jun-2020West Indies selectors have always believed Rahkeem Cornwall, the 27-year-old offspinner, to be a special talent. Four years ago in a tour game against the visiting Indian side, Cornwall picked up the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, and prompted Kohli to request his presence in the nets before the Tests. When he made his Test debut last year, at home against India, Cornwall bowled long spells and impressed against the strong Indian batting line-up. He then picked up a ten-for in his second Test, against Afghanistan in Lucknow last November.Cornwall is part of the 14-man West Indies squad touring England for the three-Test series beginning in July. In the following interview Cornwall talks about the England tour, understanding his bowling, and his big batting ambitions.How proud a moment is this for you, to be on the England tour?
It is exciting. Always good to be back to play cricket. It was a long break. Excited to get into English conditions to start this Test series. It is always a proud moment for anyone that makes the West Indies team. It’s an honour, so you just have to go there, perform and make sure you be in the team for a long period.Growing up, was England always a special place for you in terms of Test cricket?
It is a good, challenging cricket territory. I played there once for West Indies A team [in 2018]. Growing up, I watched a lot of Ashes series. So it is good to go there [now] and play there. No, I don’t need to pinch myself. I just see it as another tour. Do the right things and the results will come in the end.Did you have to think hard before saying yes to touring?
Just a few calls and a few checks to make sure everything is safe – safety comes first. Once I was comfortable with all the necessary checks that the West Indies board has done, I was ready to go on the tour.This must be a big moment for your family. Were they nervous about it?
I have three sisters and two brothers. We live with our parents. They have always given me love and support for me to go out and perform. We all were on the same page, waiting on CWI [Cricket West Indies] to give us information to see if it is comfortable or not to go. We were not nervous. We were just trying to be safe before we make a decision.

“In my first Test, I bowled to Rahane, and he is a good player of spin. Once I was bowling my stock deliveries and my best deliveries, he understood where I am coming from. Then I needed to be patient and wait for a mistake”

Last year was one to cherish for you: you made your Test debut in Kingston, against India, and then took ten wickets in the Lucknow Test against Afghanistan, where you did better than even Rashid Khan on a pitch Afghanistan had made to suit their spin-strong bowling attack. How did that feel?
It was a proud moment for me, getting my first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. I just knew that going to India, probably the surfaces there would suit my type of bowling, and so I just went there and put the ball in the right areas and tried to be as consistent as I can.It was a special year for me. For a few years I was very close to making the team, it was just a matter of when. Didn’t imagine I would pick up a ten-wicket haul in my second Test match, but I knew I was capable enough to do those kind of things. So it is not a really big surprise to me.ALSO READ: How ‘Big Jim’ Cornwall made it to the big timeCan you tell us about your first Test wicket – Cheteshwar Pujara?
He is a player that plays spin well. He looks to use his feet to the spinners. So basically I was trying to keep him in the crease, and I got a little bit of bounce and he cut it to backward point. Probably catch ‘im a little bit off guard in terms of the bounce, yeah.In fact, you also got Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane out in a warm-up match before the previous Test series in 2016.
That was in a President’s XI game in St Kitts. I got a five-wicket haul in that game as well. I got Kohli lbw and Rahane caught bat-pad. They were basic offspin deliveries with just a little bit of bounce. I also got Pujara bowled in that match – he was attempting a sweep shot.Kohli asked for you specifically to bowl to him in the nets before that Test series started. What was that like?
I see it as a breakthrough moment for me where one of the best batsman in the world is asking for me to come to bowl to him in the nets.”Fielding is something I put in a lot of hard work. I am a very good catcher. I catch the ball well at slips, even midwicket or short cover”•Randy Brooks/AFP/Getty ImagesWhat do you learn from bowling against such batsmen?
You learn a lot. A lot of patience, [that you need to] stick to line and length consistently rather than being all over the place.How did your bowling action develop?
I bowl like that from ever since I know myself, and I go from strength to strength.As a spinner, would you say your height is one of your assets?
That is one of my biggest strengths, but I also get a lot of bounce as well. And the way how I impart spin on the ball. Yes, control is a very big part of my bowling.Has anybody helped you with your bowling?
I did a lot of work with Mushtaq Ahmed. That was in 2019. We had a two-week bowling camp when I learned a lot of different things from him about spin bowling. He didn’t really change much, he just worked on what I already had to see how best we can create that offspinning art and we just go from there. Curtly Ambrose came out in support of you after former West Indies offspinner Lance Gibbs was critical of your bowling action. He said, “Let them see you can get the job done in your own way and you own style.” Were you encouraged by that?
Okay. No, I never heard what he [Ambrose] said. Once you know how to master the craft, why would you want to change it? I just stick to what I know.

“I’m not too far. I think my batting technique is very good. Just a couple more things that I need to iron out. I am capable enough to do the job for my team”

Can you talk about how you find a bowling rhythm?
Once you get your mechanics right and everything in line, your rhythm will fall in place. Shoulders, the way how I set up my bowling side to land the ball in the right areas. In the Afghanistan Test I had good rhythm, the ball was coming nicely out of my hands. I enjoyed that.In my first Test, I bowled to Rahane, and he is a good player of spin. Once I was bowling my stock deliveries and my best deliveries, I was being played with an understanding – he understood where I am coming from. So all I had to do now was to be patient and wait until whoever make a mistake.What is your stock delivery?
My normal offbreak.You have now bowled more than 100 overs in Test cricket. What have you learned? And what do you think you need to work on?
Test cricket and first-class cricket are two different types of cricket. Test cricket, you have to be more patient, you are bowling to better players, so you have to be more smarter and more putting the ball in the right areas consistently. In first-class cricket, probably you can get away with one or two bad balls, but in Test cricket the margin is very slim, so you have to be consistent and always be on the money.After the ten-for against Afghanistan you said you expected to score a Test century before getting a five-for. What did you mean?
My batting is going to be a big part of my career. I’m capable enough of scoring runs, so I just have to work hard on my batting and do the right things that I know I can do with the bat, and maybe I come up full-blown allrounder.You have spoken about having the ability to be a top-order batsman. How far away from that goal are you?
I’m not too far. I think my technique is very good. Just a couple more things that I need to iron out. I am capable enough to do the job for my team.In ten Caribbean Premier League matches last season, Cornwall made 254 runs at a strike rate of 190.97 with two half-centuries•Ashley Allen/CPL T20/Getty ImagesYou are an amazing slip fielder. Does it come naturally?
Fielding is something I put a lot of hard work into. I am a very good catcher. I catch the ball well at slips, even midwicket or short cover. I am trying to master areas and see how best I can contribute in the field. During training I do a lot of catching. Just make sure you keep your eyes on the ball right through.Is it those big hands plus reflexes?
It is a little of both. You have to have both to do the job.When it comes to your fitness, what are the things you focus on?
There’s no doubt about it I am a big guy, but I have to put in work. I don’t really get too bogged down and lazy about it. I spend a lot of time on my fitness. Try to eat properly.Does the focus on your body size and weight distract you or mentally hurt you?
I don’t really study what other people say. I know what I can do. And I know what I need to do. So I just focus on that and leave the rest.”A lot of people underestimate me because of my size. I fool a lot of people – especially bowling from my height and getting a lot of spin.” You said that a couple of years ago to the . Does that still hold true?
Yeah. Nothing has really changed. I just have to work from strength to strength.You recently had surgery on both your knees. In terms of intensity where are you right now?
I got the knee surgeries in December 2019. I am getting back there. My knees are way better than before. I had to get the surgery done because of an old injury.

“In first-class cricket, probably you can get away with one or two bad balls, but in Test cricket the margin is very slim”

You have 300-plus wickets in 62 first-class matches with 19 five-fors. Do you think you are underappreciated despite the good numbers?
Not really. The numbers speak. I just have to keep building as my career goes on. I have to cherish my performance. Celebrate with my team-mates. You just have to stick to basics and stay calm and go about your business.And are you calm at all times?
I am this calm from day one. That’s how I know myself from ever. Hold your composure and do your thing.Pitches in England are not spin-friendly, but you have played there before, with West Indies A. Do you reckon because of that and the bounce you generate, you hold the upper hand?
England is not really spinner-friendly, but if you put in the work you’ll get some result. If the weather is dry, you will get spin. You just have to be consistent and with different bounce, line and length, you will be good.What will be the key for you to be effective?
Patience. Consistency. Keep at it for long periods.Finally, what did your family tell you before you left the Caribbean?
Stay safe and enjoy your cricket. Once you enjoy your cricket, success will come

da esport bet： Already focused on the summer transfer window, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly leading their charge to sign a Serie A midfielder in the coming months.

Emery focused on Tottenham game

da dobrowin： Whilst the Villans continue to build their summer plan around the action on the pitch, Unai Emery’s focus has not changed. Champions League qualification is still a possibility for his side, who have Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play as they wait for a potential slip up from those above them in the Premier League.

Emery will be well aware of just what’s at stake in the next couple weeks and reiterated the need for focus ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham game, telling reporters: “I am wishing to play. I don’t want holidays because we’re in a very good moment after a long season, but now we’re very, very motivated.

“Very excited to play at Villa Park tomorrow, for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. It’s not in our hands but we can have some options to play Champions League again. And focusing on Tottenham because I know the most difficult way we can have is our own way, playing against Tottenham tomorrow and how we can beat them.”

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Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

Aston Villa won’t need reminding what Champions League football can offer, either. They experienced moments that those at Villa Park will forever savour this season, with victory over Bayern Munich a particular standout. Now, however, they’ll be desperate to ensure that their place among Europe’s elite is not just a one off blip and, instead, a consistent feature of the competition.

Meanwhile, away from the action, Monchi is already thinking about the targets that could arrive with or without Champions League qualification.

Monchi leading Payero charge

According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now leading Aston Villa’s charge to sign Martin Payero from Udinese this summer. The sporting director is reportedly a huge admirer of the midfielder, which could yet see the Villans push on and secure his signature in the coming months. In terms of depth, there’s no doubt that the Argentine has plenty to offer.

League stats 24/25 per 90 (via FBref)

Martin Payero

Youri Tielemans

Minutes

1,381

2,997

Progressive Passes

3.33

7.03

Progressive Carries

2.16

1.17

Ball Recoveries

4.90

4.35

When assessing the numbers, it’s clear that Payero wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality in possession as Tielemans, but he would be able to complete the legwork that the Belgian arguably struggles with. And that could create quite the midfield combination for Emery.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the midfielder enjoys a foray into English football, either, having previously been at Middlesbrough. It was there that he earned the praise of former manager Neil Warnock.

The former manager told reporters when he unveiled the midfielder in 2021: “Martin will be a great addition to the squad. I think he will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Justin Broad and Saif Zaib share six wickets as Worcestershire fall well short in steep chase

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2024Allrounder Justin Broad claimed two wickets in an over as Northamptonshire’s seamers ran through Worcestershire’s top order to set up a comprehensive 130-run victory in this Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Wantage Road, the hosts’ first win in this year’s tournament.Chasing 296 to win, Group A leaders Worcestershire slumped to 34 for 5, Broad finishing with three wickets and Jack White also bagging two wickets for 26 in a miserly, unbroken 10-over spell.Tom Taylor threatened a repeat performance of the List A century he scored against Worcestershire on this ground last summer as he smashed 57 off 49 balls (nine fours, two sixes) against his former Steelbacks team-mates. But his departure ended Worcestershire’s hopes, with Saif Zaib taking three wickets for 44, including two in one over as the visitors were bowled out with 11 overs to spare. Skipper Jake Libby finished unbeaten on 50, his third half-century in four innings in this year’s competition.Earlier Prithvi Shaw continued his love affair with the One-Day Cup, hitting a swashbuckling 72 off just 59 balls (10 fours, one six) his third consecutive half-century.George Bartlett (60) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (68) then shared a partnership of 107 in just over 21 overs which took Northamptonshire to 215 for 1 in the 40th over. But after such a positive start, both batters fell in the space of seven deliveries and the hosts would have been disappointed at not setting a steeper target. Fateh Singh meanwhile claimed career best List A figures of 3for 51.Shaw had got Northamptonshire off to a flier, taking leg-side boundaries off the first two balls of the match from Taylor. Strong on the drive and on the pull, he also hit Taylor over long-on for six and clubbed Hishaam Khan down the ground for four.Ethan Brookes put the brakes on Northamptonshire’s progress in a five-over spell which conceded just 14 runs, Vasconcelos in particular finding it hard to put him away.It was Khan though, who claimed the prize wicket of Shaw when the Indian international was caught behind attempting to hook. It was a first List A wicket for Khan, a graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy.Bartlett soon found his fluency, driving Singh through cover and bringing up Northamptonshire’s 150 in the 27th over. He found runs all round the wicket, sweeping Tom Hinley fine for four and cutting Singh square for another boundary.Vasconcelos had managed just 33 off 66 balls but the drinks break sparked a change in his approach. He signalled renewed intent by immediately sweeping Singh for consecutive boundaries and brought up his 50 soon afterwards. Bartlett reached his half-century too with Northamptonshire in a strong position to attack the final 10.However, with Brookes building pressure in his second spell, Bartlett looked to manufacture a shot against Singh and was caught at backward point. Next over Libby turned to his own part-time offbreaks, accounting for Vasconcelos first ball, the batter playing on as he attempted to cut.Zaib tried to regain the momentum, scooping Brookes for four and swatting Singh over mid-on, but Northamptonshire lost three quick wickets after passing 250. First Singh bowled James Sales and had Zaib caught at point before Lewis McManus holed out at deep midwicket off Taylor. Gus Miller though finished the innings with a late blitz, pummelling Taylor down the ground for six.When Worcestershire batted, Ed Pollock swung White’s second delivery over deep midwicket for six before he was dropped at wide mid-on. White struck next ball though, dangerman Gareth Roderick caught low down at first slip by Shaw.Pollock was unable to capitalise on his early reprieve when he heaved at a White delivery which kept slightly low and was bowled. The visitors lost a third wicket in the ninth over when Rob Jones steered Ben Sanderson to Vasconcelos at short leg. Things went from bad to worse as Worcestershire were left reeling at 34 for 5 when Broad struck twice in four balls, nipping one back to trap Brookes lbw before Rehaan Edavalath was caught at first slip by Shaw.Libby hit a rare loose ball from White for four to take Worcestershire past 50 in the 18th over as Taylor put his foot down and a brief fightback began.Taylor opened his account with a handsome cover drive off Broad before smashing the all-rounder down the pitch for six and an even bigger maximum over deep midwicket off Miller, bringing up his 50 off 38 balls. He fell soon after the drinks break though, lbw to Zaib to leave the Rapids on 112 for 6.Singh swept Zaib for six and hit him straight for another maximum before he top edged to short fine leg off Freddie Heldreich. A double wicket from Zaib then accounted for Khan, who inside-edged onto his stumps, and Hinley who was caught in the deep. Finally Harry Darley was caught behind to give Broad his third wicket.

Nottingham Forest are making a strong move to sign an international forward with Champions League experience.

Nottingham Forest back in Champions League spots after 2-1 win at Tottenham

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed their top four credentials by winning 2-1 at Spurs on Monday evening. Forest went into the meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outside the top five Champions League spots after wins for Manchester City and Chelsea over the weekend.

However, early goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood settled the nerves and ensured the Reds would go back up into the Premier League top four.

Talking after the win at Tottenham, Espirito Santo said: “We have a clear way to play and when we found ourselves in our identity. We had goals [against Tottenham] but also they created chances in the second half and we had to hold on to what we had. We’ve been able this season to compete well and fight for every ball.”

Attention now turns to the weekend and an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Pep Guardiola’s Man City side as Forest look to add silverware to what has been an outstanding season.

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Away from the pitch, owner Evangelos Marinakis looks to be making preparations ahead of the summer transfer window where Forest could be readying themselves for Champions League football.

Now, Forest are moving behind the scenes to sign a player who has Champions League experience.

Nottingham Forest making strong moves to sign Alexis Saelemaekers

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Alexis Saelemaekers from AC Milan.

The 25-year-old is currently on loan at AS Roma, however Forest are making a strong move to sign Saelemaekers, with Milan wanting €20m (£17m) to sell for good. Should Forest qualify for the Champions League, the report states that it could be crucial in a move for Saelemaekers.

A Belgium international, Saelemaekers can play as a right or left winger and is valued at €20m by Transfermarkt. Interestingly, the attacker also shares the same agency as Forest right-back Neco Williams and has actually scored twice in the Champions League in his career.

Similar players to Alexis Saelemaekers	Club
Alex Grimaldo	Bayer Leverkusen
Dejan Kulusevski	Tottenham
Kenan Yildiz	Juventus
Jacob Ramsey	Aston Villa

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri hailed the Forest target earlier in the season, saying: “Saelemaekers is an international player, a good player who can play different roles. I needed him on this wing to execute certain plays, and he is doing well in interpreting what I want from him.

“So, this is my comment: he is fine like this. But this does not mean that it will always be like this, because, from game to game, coaches make choices, maybe change their minds and evaluate other solutions.”

Now, it looks as if a move to the City Ground could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, providing things go to plan for Forest in the final stages of the season.

Bayern Munich are looking to pounce on the opportunity to lure Nico Williams to Bundesliga, amid lack of registration guarantees from Barcelona.

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• Bayern back in race for Nico Williams
• Plan to submit increased offer for Bilbao star
• Want to capitalise amid Barca's financial troubles

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to of Germany, Bayern Munich are intensifying their pursuit of Nico Williams, aiming to capitalise on the winger’s hesitation over a move to Barcelona. The Bavarians are on the lookout to bolster their attack, specifically the left wing, and are seemingly not giving up on the Athletic Club star just yet.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Bundesliga giants have reportedly increased their offer to €12 million net per season in a second bid to lure the Spanish international. While Barca and Williams have agreed on a six-year contract and are prepared to activate his release clause in the coming days, the deal remains stalled due to demands from the player's agent. With both Barca and Bilbao returning to training on July 13, a final decision is expected soon.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In their quest to sign a new winger, Bayern have been linked with numerous names over the past few weeks. They remain linked with Luis Diaz, another player on Barca's radar, while they also expressed interest in signing the Chelsea-bound Jamie Gittens. AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Dutch star Cody Gakpo are said to be in the frame, too. Meanwhile, speculation has been rife with Bayern's determination to get a deal over the line for Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade, although he is being looked at as a Harry Kane backup rather than an out-and-out winger.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  La Liga president Javier Tebas insisted on Tuesday that Barcelona are not in any sort of position to successfully register Williams, reiterating that the Catalans must return to the 1:1 financial rule before they can dream of new arrivals. Bayern, having lost Leroy Sane and with Thomas Muller set to depart, too, are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements. The situation will become clearer in the coming days, and it's anyone's guess as to where Williams ends up playing next season, despite his preference to play for the league champions.

Chelsea lost 2-0 to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the Premier League on Sunday, but they could still have a successful end to the 2024/25 campaign.

The Blues are fifth in the league, on course to qualify for the Champions League, and are in the final of the Conference League after their semi-final success over Djurgarden.

Enzo Maresca and the board, however, already have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window, as the club have reportedly held talks to sign a LaLiga star.

Chelsea at the front of the queue to sign LaLiga star

According to The Boot Room, Chelsea are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, and they have already held talks with his representatives over a move to Stamford Bridge.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Blues have had meetings with the player’s camp to convince him to make the move to England, but he is unwilling to make a final decision until the end of the season.

It also reveals that Arsenal and Chelsea are the two teams at the ‘front of the queue’ to land the Spain international, who is also of interest to Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

Possessing a reported release clause of £48m, it’s not a move that would totally break the bank, which is certainly good news.

If Williams does decide to move on from Athletic Club this summer, Maresca’s side appear to be well-positioned to swoop in, which should come as great news for Cole Palmer.

Why Nico Williams would be amazing with Cole Palmer

The Chelsea superstar would surely love it if the club signed the Spanish winger because they could be amazing together at the top end of the pitch next season and beyond.

Palmer, as evidenced by the 38 ‘big chances’ he has created in the Premier League since the start of last season, is an attacking midfielder who is constantly looking for a defence-splitting pass to create chances for his teammates.

Williams is a winger who has shown that he can finish chances effectively in LaLiga and in the Europa League this term, which suggests that he could make the most of the high-quality opportunities that the England international consistently creates.

Starts

21

12

xG

3.84

2.85

Goals

5

5

Big chances missed

2

2

Assists

5

2

As you can see in the table above, the Spanish sensation has outperformed his xG in both competitions, whilst only missing four ‘big chances’ in 33 matches.

These statistics suggest that he has the finishing quality to find the back of the net on a consistent basis if provided with the constant stream of ‘big chances’ that Palmer has proven he can create at Premier League level.

Williams, who was dubbed a “relentless” dribbler by analyst Ben Mattinson, would also come in as another young talent with room to improve at the age of 22, which means that the Spaniard and Palmer, 23, could be an exciting pairing for Chelsea for many, many, more year to come.

It is now down to the Blues to win the race for his signature in the summer transfer window because his electric pace and lethal finishing could make him an amazing partner for their creative maestro in the Premier League next season.

Bigger talent than George: Chelsea in talks to sign £42m "wonderkid"

Chelsea could be edging closer to signing a Bundesliga starlet

ByRoss Kilvington May 11, 2025

Five takeaways from Pakistan’s heavy defeat at the hands of South Africa

Danyal Rasool15-Jan-2019No obvious sign of improvement
It isn’t so much the clean sweep that should trouble Pakistan fans. Better teams than this one have gone to South Africa and come back empty-handed. Indeed, the last touring party from Pakistan returned with the same result, including the ignominy of being shot out for 49 in the opening game and, in Mohammad Hafeez against Dale Steyn, providing us with one of cricket’s classic mismatches.The worrying aspect is this is simply another point on the curve that depicts Pakistan’s sliding fortunes in Test cricket, and no one quite knows whether this is the nadir, or fi they have further to fall. The team came here, after all, following their first home series loss to New Zealand in half a century, and they have now won one series in five since Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan retired in 2017 (plus a one-off Test against Ireland).What happened was what everyone expected to happen, in a way. Pakistan’s batting was consistently unable to post the runs on the board to give them a chance, and Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq still struggle to assume the positions of responsibility required from them. The bowling was good, but shrug-of-the-shoulders good, not drop-your-jaw good. Little of this was expected to challenge South Africa at home, and duly, little of it did.Duanne Olivier celebrates the wicket of Azhar Ali•Associated PressBabar is the real deal
With 77, 74 and 70 runs in each game respectively, Babar Azam was Pakistan’s second-most prolific batsmen. What there is little doubt about, however, is he’s the country’s best batsman in each format, with the series he had here in South Africa further vindication of that. Just months ago derided as a limited-overs player, he has shaken off the label comprehensively since the start of Pakistan’s home season. He ended 2018 with the third highest Test average for the year for players who scored over 500 runs, behind only Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls.Most famously, he was the player who dismantled perhaps the greatest fast bowler of all, smashing Steyn for 21 boundaries across the series. No player has ever dispatched Steyn to the fence more often in one series, or scored runs faster against him. Whatever Babar may go on to achieve in his career, this duel will be one for the rocking chair, and Pakistan fans will hope it isn’t the only lore he recounts to his grandchildren in what has begun to take the shape of a glistening career.Masood 2.0 is promising
Remember that book you gave up on because the first chapter was rather dull, or that TV series you never got around to watching ever since the first 10 minutes bored your pants off? You packed them along in your suitcase just in case you had absolutely nothing else to do, and because people had started to tell you they weren’t all that bad after all.That, loosely (okay, very loosely), is what Pakistan did with Shan Masood this tour. They had discarded him after several short stints in the side showed promise but never blossomed; for all his elegance, he had averaged 23 in 12 Test matches. They took him along after a couple of promising A tours against New Zealand and England, to warm the bench more than anything else, it seemed.Shan Masood played the pull shot confidently•Associated PressBut then, Haris Sohail’s knee, as reliable as the Artful Dodger, flared up on the morning of the first Test. Pakistan fished around in that suitcase, and dug out Masood. And boy, were they thankful. This newer version of Masood gave them better mileage, was more reliable, yet continued to look as pretty as it always had done. He batted at No. 3, and he batted at the top. Wherever he batted, he got his side runs, ending as the highest scorer for Pakistan, and second-highest overall this series. It might have been an accidental discovery, but just like that book or TV series, Masood has demonstrated he is worth persisting with.A case of beginner’s luck for Abbas?
Perhaps this one’s premature, or maybe he’s still recovering from what was a particularly nasty right shoulder injury. But ever since that outrageously glorious series against Australia in October, Mohammad Abbas has struggled to replicate the magic. In four Tests that followed, he’s managed 7 wickets at an average of 46.00 per scalp, a far cry from the 15.64 he averaged at the end of the Australia series. That he would never be able to keep up those otherworldly numbers we should have known, but the mouth-watering prospect of Abbas playing the Vernon Philander role for Pakistan in South Africa didn’t quite materialise. He is, after all, still just 14 Tests into his career, but Pakistan will hope the lack of rhythm is down to injury rather than a permanent dip.Theunis de Bruyn was caught behind off Mohammad Abbas•Associated PressShadab really is a genuine allrounder
His legspin is so skilful it is easy to forget how consistent Shadab Khan has been with the bat, especially in the longest format. His absence in the first two Tests due to injury prevented Pakistan from fielding a combination that included five bowlers. He did play the Johannesburg Test, the only one where Pakistan had five bowlers at their disposal, and the only one where they took all 20 opposition wickets. While his bowling will surely continue to come along in leaps and bounds – Shadab is still only 20 – he has also been one of the most consistent Pakistan batsmen whenever given the opportunity.He averages 34.28 with the bat across nine innings, with three half-centuries. In Johannesburg, he was cruelly denied a fourth when, unbeaten on 47, a mix-up between him and Abbas meant the latter was run out, leaving Shadab stranded. When he said a few months ago his idol was Steven Smith, there would have been more than a few giggles amongst the supposed cricket gentry. If Shadab can keep this up in what will almost certainly be many more Tests to come, those giggles may have to be stifled.