da betway： Sunderland have now made an approach to sign an international defender who has 25 Champions League appearances to his name, reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed.

Black Cats set to have money to spend after Bellingham sale

da betobet： Despite the Black Cats securing promotion to the Premier League in dramatic fashion at Wembley, Jobe Bellingham decided to forge a similar path to his brother by opting to move to Borussia Dortmund, in what was a club-record £32m deal.

The departure will no doubt be disappointing for Regis Le Bris, given that the 19-year-old was a crucial player last season, making 43 appearances in all competitions, but there should now be additional funds to bring in a suitable replacement this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Tommy Doyle is one of the players who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Bellingham, but central midfield is not the only area in which Le Bris is looking to strengthen, having also set his sights on a new left-back.

Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno was identified as a potential target earlier this week, following the Spaniard’s return from a loan spell with Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland have now made an approach to sign a different left-back, namely Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo.

That is according to Jacobs, who took to X to reveal that a number of clubs have come forward to sign the Atletico defender, with Leeds United and Forest making approaches of their own, while clubs from Saudi Arabia and Turkey also retain an interest.

Related Sky Sports: Sunderland now in direct contact to sign £17m Ligue 1 forward

The Black Cats are looking to continue their summer business.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 10, 2025

The 31-year-old’s contract is set to expire after the upcoming Club World Cup, potentially opening the door for a move to the Stadium of Light, and given that he currently earns around £13k-a-week, wages shouldn’t be too much of an issue either.

"Talented" Reinildo needs to leave Atletico this summer

The Beira-born defender is still at an age where he should be playing regular first-team football, but that has not been the case at Atletico Madrid for quite some time, having been benched for all of the Spanish side’s La Liga games since the end of March.

As such, the Mozambique international needs to move on this summer, and the Stadium of Light could be an attractive destination, given that the Black Cats have returned to the Premier League.

There are also some indications the left-back could be a savvy signing on a free transfer, considering Le Bris would be bringing in a player with a lot of experience at the top level, having made a total of 25 appearances in the Champions League.

Once described as a “talented” player by Zach Lowy, Reinildo could be a solid addition to the Sunderland squad this summer, but there may be some justified concerns that he is now past his best, given that Atletico were willing to let his contract run down.

Liverpool have launched a 'record' approach for Alexander Isak after opening direct talks with Newcastle over a deal that could be worth £120 million ($161m).

• Reds make 'record offer'
• Deal could be worth £120m
• Reds also interested in Hugo Ekitike

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per David Ornstein, Liverpool have made a formal approach to Newcastle as they attempt to sign Isak this summer. While no bid has yet been tabled, they have told the Magpies that they would be willing to do a deal at £120m. The Magpies do not want to sell him.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Reds are currently scouring the market for a new No.9 as Arne Slot bids to build a squad that can retain the Premier League title. The report states that they are aware of heightened sensitivities after the tragic death of Diogo Jota, but also recognise that movement is required to restructure their playing staff. Hugo Ekitike is also admired, but he is wanted by Newcastle too, potentially opening the door to the Sweden international Isak being replaced at St James' Park by the Frenchman.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Liverpool have broken their transfer record once this summer, to sign Florian Wirtz, and could do so again to buy Isak. The Swede has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies after being signed for £60m ($80.5m) from Real Sociedad.

• (C)Getty images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Newcastle must weigh their options, as they continue to maintain that Isak is not for sale. In the meantime, both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are being linked with potential summer exits, in deals that could finance Liverpool's pursuit of the Magpies ace.

The stats and milestones as Smith breaks yet more Ashes records at Edgbaston

Bharath Seervi04-Aug-20195 Number of Australia batsmen to score centuries in both innings of a Test in The Ashes. Steven Smith joins Warren Bardsley, Arthur Morris, Steve Waugh and Matthew Hayden in doing so. For England, Herbert Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond, and Denis Compton have achieved the feat.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2002 The last time any batsman scored twins tons in an Ashes Test. It was Hayden in Brisbane in the 2002-03 Ashes. Before Smith, only two of the seven instances of twins tons in Ashes had come in England – Bardsley (The Oval) and Waugh (Old Trafford). Overall, Smith is only the second to do so at Edgbaston; the first was Marcus Trescothick against West Indies in 2004.6 Number of centuries for Smith in his last 10 Ashes innings. He has scored 1116 runs in these 10 innings. Bradman is the only batsman to have better numbers in any span of 10 successive Ashes innings. He scored 1236 runs and 7 hundreds between 1937 and 1946 in 10 innings.10 Centuries in Ashes for Smith now – five in Australia and five in England. Only Bradman (19) and Jack Hobbs (12) have hit more Ashes centuries than Smith, although Waugh also hit 10. Bradman, Waugh, Allan Border and Mark Taylor are the only other Australia batsmen to score five or more centuries in England.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 Smith is only the third visiting batsman to score two centuries in the first Test of a series in England and none has done it in the last 70 years. George Headley did so at Lord’s in 1939 and Alan Melville in 1947. Usually the batsmen don’t find English conditions easy and scoring hundreds at the start of the series is not easy. Smith is also coming back into Test cricket after more than a year, following his ban for ball-tampering. Overall, Smith is only the tenth batsman to score two hundreds in the first Test of an away series and last was Virat Kohli in Australia in 2014-15.25 Centuries for Smith in his Test career, in 119 innings. Only Bradman, in 68 innings, had achieved it in fewer innings. Smith has followed Kohli (127 innings), Sachin Tendulkar (130) and Sunil Gavaskar (138) in terms of fewest innings to 25 Test 100s. He is now tied with Kohli on 25 Test centuries.4 Number of batsmen to score 140 or more in both innings of a Test, including Smith with scores of 144 and 142 in this match. Allan Border, Andy Flower, and Tillakaratne Dilshan are the others to have achieved the double.

Anderson, Atkinson and Stokes share six wickets after England build big lead

Matt Roller11-Jul-2024England need four more wickets to secure an innings win over West Indies inside three days, after James Anderson, Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes shared six wickets on the second evening. The hosts were dominant with the bat, scoring at more than four runs per over across their first innings and then turned the screw with the ball to close in on a 1-0 lead.Needing to score 250 – more than double their first-innings total – just to make England bat again, West Indies slumped to 37 for 4 inside 19 overs. Anderson’s inswinger knocked back Kraigg Brathwaite’s middle stump, Stokes removed Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie during a ten-over spell, and Kavem Hodge chopped Atkinson onto his own stumps.West Indies’ batters were far too passive, looking to survive rather than score but ultimately managing neither. Alick Athanaze was a rare exception from No. 4, but he fell for 22 to a textbook Anderson set-up: he was worked over from around the wicket, with some balls shaping in and others leaving him before edging behind as he attempted to push through the covers.Joshua da Silva and Jason Holder added 24 for the sixth wicket – damningly, West Indies’ third-highest stand of the match – but England struck with the final ball of the day. Stokes laid a short-ball trap with two men out on the hook, and Holder could only fend Atkinson’s bumper to Ollie Pope at short leg.Atkinson celebrates his eighth wicket on debut after Kavem Hodge’s chop-on•Getty ImagesEngland were bowled out at the tea interval on the second afternoon, compiling a substantial first-innings lead with Harry Brook, Joe Root and debutant Jamie Smith joining Zak Crawley and Pope in scoring half-centuries. Other than Jayden Seales, the pick of the attack, West Indies’ bowlers were short on red-ball match practice – and it showed.Root and Brook scored heavily square of the wicket in the first hour, with Brook batting fluently in his first Test innings in almost a year. In his 13th Test, he reached fifty for the 12th time but failed to add to it: he top-edged an attempted hook off Alzarri Joseph straight to da Silva, reinforcing the belief that he can be susceptible against the short ball.During his innings of 68, Root went past Allan Border’s career aggregate to enter the top ten of all-time Test run-scorers but he fell shortly before lunch. He was the second England batter, after Stokes, to fall victim to an exceptional Gudakesh Motie delivery, raising the question as to why it took Brathwaite so long to bring his left-arm spinner into the attack.Stokes’ first international innings of the season lasted only 11 balls. Motie, who vindicated his selection ahead of Kevin Sinclair, tossed the ball up in his first over of the morning and found sharp turn after landing it on a footmark. It ripped back past the inside edge of Stokes’ swish and left him open-mouthed as it knocked his middle stump out of the ground.Stokes was bowled by a beauty from Motie•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesIn the penultimate over before the interval, Root was left smiling in disbelief after losing his off stump. This time, Motie went wide on the crease and bowled his arm ball with an upright seam. Root shaped to punch into the off side as the delivery drifted in sharply, but it deviated late off the pitch to beat him on the outside edge.Smith was the protagonist of the second session, hitting Seales over the Tavern Stand and onto St John’s Wood Road during his maiden Test innings. He shared a sedate partnership of 52 with Chris Woakes but after Woakes and Atkinson fell in quick succession to the second new ball, Smith found a new gear while batting with the tail, even with the field spread.After starting his innings uncharacteristically slowly, he started to skip down the pitch and crunched Shamar Joseph into the Grandstand for six, three overs after reaching a 98-ball half-century. Three overs later, he gave himself room and cracked Seales’ short ball over midwicket and out of Lord’s altogether.Related

Jamie Smith unfurls his weaponry as England's keeper hunch is vindicated

Undercooked, inexperienced West Indies learn realities of Test cricket's grind

Lord's non-event highlights global game's growing crisis

England unveil succession plan as Atkinson emerges from the shadows

Anderson endures the beginning of his end

Louis’ dead-eye, direct-hit run-out of Shoaib Bashir at the non-striker’s end meant the retiring Anderson was applauded out to the middle for what may well prove to be his final innings in Test cricket. But he didn’t face a ball, with Smith pulling the final delivery of Seales’ over to McKenzie at deep backward square leg to finish with 70.Shamar Joseph spent some of the afternoon session off the field due to some muscle tightness after a recent diet of T20, and was seen receiving treatment on his left hamstring in the dressing room. He was forced to leave the field midway through his 15th over, and looked in discomfort after getting through one further over with the second new ball.There are not enough batters left for Anderson to leapfrog the late Shane Warne and become the second-highest wicket-taker in the format’s history. But in his 188th and final Test, he has the opportunity to clinch one final victory for his country on Friday.

After 133 years of being Everton’s distinguished home, the Toffees waved goodbye to their historic Goodison Park stadium on Sunday when Southampton travelled to the blue half of Merseyside.

It was an emotionally charged afternoon with Goodison packed to the rafters for one last time in the Premier League and – thankfully – most of the Everton players on the pitch didn’t contribute a drab ending as they comfortably got the better of an already relegated Saints side 2-0.

Iliman Ndiaye, in particular, stood out with the ex-Sheffield United attacker now donning the label of being Goodison’s last ever goalscorer.

Everton's final Goodison Park heroes

The obvious place to start is with Ndiaye who ensured the atmosphere remained electric throughout by breaking the deadlock early on.

The skilful number ten had failed to find the back of the net in Premier League action this month, leading up to the finale at Goodison, but he more than made up for any blanks being fired when curling home a fantastic solo effort after just five minutes.

He would then make sure of the three points when collecting his brace late into the second half, but there were plenty of other positive performers away from just the standout number 10.

Dwight McNeil would chip in with an assist down Ndiaye’s opposing right flank, whilst both Idrissa Gueye and Vitaly Mykolenko would see out their Goodison careers with plenty of fight on show by winning a combined 19 duels. Impressive work indeed.

Whilst all those mentioned could go on to star at Everton’s soon-to-be new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, others might well have played their final home games donning Toffees blue, with an underperformer now likely to be let go of.

Everton star just played his last home game

Ashley Young is a firm definite for this category, with the former Manchester United man already confirmed to be leaving at the expiry of his contract before being given 70 minutes in place of an injury-stricken Seamus Coleman.

Whilst it hasn’t been outright confirmed just yet, it does look nailed on that Abdoulaye Doucoure will soon follow Young out the door this summer, considering the 32-year-old midfielder was seemingly waving an emotional goodbye to the crowd when substituted off against the Saints.

With 165 appearances under his belt on Merseyside, it’s fair to say Doucoure has been a loyal servant to Everton through some testing times.

But, even with an impressive total of 21 goals and 14 assists being tallied up along the way, the veteran’s swansong showing at Goodison left a lot to be desired and showed why contract talks have allegedly stalled.

Doucoure struggled in an attacking midfield capacity throughout, with the number 16 squandering one big chance to make Everton’s lead on the moving day even stronger, alongside failing to complete a single successful dribble.

But, it was also a poor day at the office for Doucoure when attempting to battle away from performing just his attacking duties, with the former Watford man winning only 30% of his duels.

It would be a sorrowful ending for the Senegalese midfielder at Everton, but much like the case is with Young, the removal of some experienced heads for some fresher talent could do David Moyes’ men a lot of good ahead of their major relocation.

While we say adios to Goodison, we must also say farewell to Young and Doucoure.

Most exciting deal since Richarlison: Everton could sign “world-class” star

David Moyes will look to bring in one or two exciting names to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 18, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da supremo： O Palmeiras definiu nesta semana a renovação dos contratos de cinco jogadores do atual elenco formados nas categorias de base. Naves e Jhon Jhon, que tinham vínculo com o clube até 31 de dezembro de 2025, e Garcia, Vanderlan e Fabinho, cujos vínculos iam até 31 de dezembro de 2026, firmaram um novo contrato válido até 31 de dezembro de 2027.

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

Apesar de já terem jogado na temporada 2022, todos eles ainda eram do grupo de transição e não estavam efetivamente fazendo parte do elenco profissional. A partir de 2023 todos eles foram integrados em definitivo pela comissão técnica de Abel Ferreira.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O Verdão tem renovado o contrato da grande maioria das peças do elenco, inclusive os que já estavam há mais tempo no clube. Para os dirigentes, o grande reforço das últimas temporadas é a manutenção do elenco. Além disso, a prorrogação dos vínculos com os jovens dão ainda mais garantia ao Alviverde para negociar vendas futuras.

continua após a publicidade

As Crias da Academia têm batido recordes da história do clube nos últimos anos. Desde 2020, um total de 38 jogadores formados na base do Palmeiras atuaram pelo time profissional. Foram 13 estreias em 2020, 14 estreias em 2021 (recorde no século), uma em 2022 (Endrick) e três em 2023 (Ian, Pedro Lima e Luis Guilherme), além de sete jogadores que já haviam estreado em temporadas anteriores.

+ Palmeiras terá a ‘estreia’ do avião de Leila Pereira em viagem para duelo com o Fluminense

Todos os jogos das temporadas 2021, 2022 e 2023 tiveram presença de pratas da casa. Na temporada 2020, apenas um jogo não teve.

New Zealand ended the second day on 22 for 2, 580 runs behind, after Conway fell in controversial fashion

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Sep-2024

Stumps For Sri Lanka, it was a day of big numbers. Kamindu Mendis became the fastest man to 1000 Test runs in 75 years when he struck 182 not out. He equalled Don Bradman’s pace to the milestone, and sits third-equal alongside the greatest batter cricket has ever seen.Kusal Mendis made a hundred too – the tenth in his career – as he and Kamindu put on an unbeaten stand of 200 for the sixth wicket. All up, Sri Lanka got to 602 for 5 before declaring the moment Kamindu had crossed the 1000-run mark. They had batted 163.4 overs.Related

Kamindu equals Bradman, becomes fastest to 1000 Test runs in 75 years

For New Zealand, it was a day of much smaller numbers. They claimed only two wickets in the 73.4 overs they bowled on day two, with Glenn Phillips the only bowler to make breakthroughs. Towards the end of the day, they had 14 overs to face, and inside those, Tom Latham was out for 2, and Devon Conway dismissed – via a controversial third-umpire’s decision – for 9. They finished at 22 for 2, with hope getting slimmer by the over that they can meaningfully compete in this match. The pitch seemed to be taking substantial turn towards the end of the day, while Sri Lanka operated with the new ball at least.Kamindu’s progress from 51 overnight was largely in the morning session, in which he moved to 93. He scored heavily square of the wicket, as usual, rarely going several balls without finding a scoring shot. Through this period Phillips always seemed the likeliest bowler to get a wicket, thanks in part to the work he was putting on the ball.In fact, Phillips would get two, both off top edges as Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva attempted sweep shots. Mathews had added only ten to his overnight 78, before de Silva made 44 in Kamindu’s company.But after lunch, Sri Lanka had it almost entirely their way. Kamindu moved unfussily to a fifth Test hundred and celebrated with trademark reserve. Kusal started slowly as New Zealand put together some tight spells after lunch – Mitchell Santner bowling with particular control – before he too began to find run-scoring easier, particularly thanks to his strong sweep shot. He made only 24 off his first 71 balls, with only one four on his ledger. But with batting to come, and Sri Lanka’s total growing gigantic now, he began to attack, going after Phillips first, as he got to his fifty in an over that he struck two fours and a six in, before settling into a more positive outlook in general. Twice he launched Ajaz Patel, who went wicketless in the innings and conceded 135, over deep midwicket for six. Kamindu also launched Ajaz down the ground for a six.Glenn Phillips was the only New Zealand bowler who looked like taking a wicket – he finished with three•AFP/Getty Images

The pair batted right through the middle session, going to tea at 135 and 70. The evening was about notching milestones – Kamindu making the second 150 of his career, before Kusal strode to his century, off 148 balls in the end. After that it was about letting Kamindu get to 178, so he could surpass the 1000-run career tally. Captain de Silva declared soon as Kamindu had launched Ravindra down the ground for the six that got him there.New Zealand faced a testing spell from Asitha Fernando first up, as the bowler got substantial late swing in to the left-handed openers. One of these balls moved back in to Latham in the first over, took his edge and flew to gully, where Pathum Nissanka gobbled it up.The dismissal of the struggling Conway in the ninth over of the innings was not as straightforward. Conway had defended at a turning ball from Prabath Jayasuriya, with the bowler and wicketkeeper appealing immediately – seemingly for the lbw. Umpire Nitin Menon gave Conway out, but when the batter reviewed, there was an obvious outside edge, before the ball struck thigh pad.However, after it struck pad, the ball had flown to de Silva at slip, who seemingly took a low catch. The replays did not conclusively show that he had his fingers under that ball, though it was close. The third umpire ruled it out, however, much to Conway’s displeasure.Such was the amount of turn Sri Lanka’s spinners were generating towards the end of the day, even Kane Williamson struggled. He was 6 off 42 at stumps, alongside nightwatchman Ajaz.

Adelaide will host the third Test from December 17 as the traditional Ashes rota is shaken up

Alex Malcolm16-Oct-2024Cricket Australia has unveiled the dates for the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia with the Gabba set to host the day-night second Test while Adelaide will host the third Test as a day game under a new agreement to have the pre-Christmas Test for the next seven years.CA confirmed that Perth will host the first Ashes Test next summer from November 21-25 before the second Test is played with a pink-ball under lights in Brisbane from December 4-8. The third Test will a day game in Adelaide from December 17-21 before the traditional Boxing Day Test begins on December 26 at the MCG. Sydney will host the fifth Test from January 4-8.A shake-up to the traditional Ashes rota had long been forecast after CA announced its fixturing contracts with the various state governments in August.Related

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• Is this the end for the Gabba?

• MCG to host one-off Australia-England Test in 2027 to mark 150 years of Test cricket

Adelaide has been the main home of the day-night Test since the first one in 2015 and has hosted the two previous Ashes day-night Tests in 2017-18 and 2021-22 as the second Test in the rotation in those Ashes series following the traditional Gabba opener.But South Australia’s government, along with CA, were keen to give Adelaide a marquee holiday slot given the Test’s popularity from a tourism standpoint and it is now third in the rotation.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The Gabba has hosted three day-night Tests previously including West Indies’ famous win earlier this year in January. But it will be the first time Brisbane has not hosted the Ashes opener since 1982-83 when Perth hosted the first Test and Brisbane had the second.The future of the Gabba has been left clouded amid uncertainty over the redevelopment plans for the stadium ahead of the 2032 Olympics. There is a chance the Ashes Test next year could be the last Gabba Test ever as there is no Test scheduled there for 2026-27 – and beyond – and the stadium in its current state will not be usable by 2030.There has been criticism of CA for not maintaining the Gabba as the opening Test of the summer for at least the next two seasons, with former Australia allrounder Shane Watson among a host of voices who would prefer the Gabba to be the opening Test. But it understood the Australian team is quite happy to play the opening Test of the summer at Optus Stadium in Perth, as has been the case in the last two summers, given Australia’s perfect record there.There may be less enthusiasm about using the pink ball at the Gabba as Australia’s bowlers have previously been vocal about the pink ball being better suited to the Adelaide Oval pitch than the Gabba. There have been periods in the Gabba pink-ball Tests where the ball has become very soft and the game has stagnated as a result.

With Andrea Berta now Arsenal’s transfer chief, replacing Edu a few months ago, there is a different feel to the club’s transfer strategy this summer.

In fact, it’s quite a clever one really. Berta isn’t putting all of his eggs in one basket. Instead, he’s advancing a number of deals before concluding which would be the best one to proceed with.

If you believe reports, then the Gunners have held negotiations over deals for both RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres.

The latest on that is the Swede is now ‘dreaming’ of a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Alas, signing a striker isn’t Arsenal’s only priority over the transfer window. They also need a winger.

Arsenal's pursuit of a new winger this summer

This is a busy old time for Berta and if he can remodel Arsenal’s attack successfully, he will become a quick fan favourite in north London.

On the agenda on the flanks is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with Arsenal having reportedly held talks to bring the Brazilian to the Emirates.

If a move cannot be done there, they may well turn their attention to Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams again. The Spaniard, who scored in the Euro 2024 final last summer, caught the eye of the Gunners during that tournament but despite the winger’s release clause, did not look at doing a deal.

A year on, they could revisit their interest. That’s according to reports in Spain who claim that while Williams is hoping to stay in Iberia, where Barcelona are very much interested, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are also looking at the 22-year-old.

Williams ‘likes’ the idea of moving to Barca but Bayern and the Gunners are now ‘willing to meet’ his bargain £53m release clause. They are also willing to lodge a high salary offer in a bid to tempt him away from the clutches of the Camp Nou.

Why Williams could be Arsenal's answer to Florian Wirtz

In the opening ten days of the summer transfer window before it shut again due to the Club World Cup, it was all very much about Florian Wirtz.

Why the summer transfer window will close for six days and re-open again

Premier League clubs have recently voted for the transfer window to open early this summer – here’s how it will work and why it’s happening.

ByStephan Georgiou Mar 27, 2025

Liverpool have pulled no punches in their bid to capitalise on a title-winning season and they have done so by breaking a British transfer record.

Wirtz will arrive from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £116.5m. In the words of former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world,” but that doesn’t mean he can’t shine in other areas.

The German is predominantly a no.10, cut from the same cloth as a Mesut Ozil or Kevin De Bruyne, but he’s also very much capable of featuring from the flanks.

Aged just 22, coincidentally the same age as Williams, the Spaniard could be the Wirtz-like signing that Arsenal really need to kick on themselves.

If there was one area of weakness at Anfield this season, it was the no.10 role. Dominik Szoboszlai is certainly no mug, but his goalscoring ability has been questioned, notably finding the net just six times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25. Well, Arne Slot has already solved that problem; Wirtz bagged ten Bundesliga goals and beat the goalkeeper on 16 occasions in all competitions.

So, Arsenal now need to address their own weakness, and it’s on Williams’ left-hand side.

Bukayo Saka is always going to guarantee you output on the right and whatever you say about Mikel Arteta’s lack of a striker, Kai Havertz was on for a 20-goal season before his injury and Mikel Merino scored six in 12 outings as a centre-forward.

It’s the left flank where the biggest imbalance in quality has arguably been seen. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored eight goals apiece in the league this season.

Their biggest issue is consistency and to be fair, you may well argue that with Williams, too. The Spain international bagged 11 in all competitions with only five coming in LaLiga. Judging by that, you may well question where the upgrade is coming from.

The numbers below suggest Williams would certainly be a significant upgrade in some areas. He’s a better and more regular dribbler, while the sheer number of shot-creating actions suggests he could be an enormous threat in the Premier League.

Goals

0.23

0.28

0.31

Assists

0.23

0.25

0.16

Key passes

1.80

1.45

1.57

Progressive passes

3.11

3.57

2.05

Shot-creating actions

5.05

3.29

2.91

Goal-creating actions

0.59

0.28

0.28

Attempted take-ons

8.42

3.04

4.29

Successful take-ons

3.06

1.34

1.30

Progressive carries

5.32

2.83

4.88

Additionally, as he was described by Bilbao’s official channels, Williams is “one of the best wingers in the world”. He famously showcased that for Spain at Euro 2024, thriving in a much better team. He registered two goals and one assist in his six European Championship matches, while during the recent Nations League campaign, the young winger scored two goals in four games, also registering a solitary assist.

This is a player whose output could soar to new heights in a team like Arsenal. He’s already an “electric” talent in the words of content creator, Statman Dave, and given Arteta’s track record of improving young talent, Williams would surely thrive at Arsenal.

Like Wirtz at Anfield, the young Spaniard could solve one of the Gunners’ biggest problems in attack.

Transfer Focus

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

Everton are believed to have entered the race to complete the signing of a relegated Premier League player in the summer transfer window.

Moyes pushing for new Everton signings

The Blues continue to be linked with new signings on a daily basis, with David Moyes knowing the importance of bringing guaranteed quality to the club this summer. One such figure is reportedly Fenerbahce ace Oguz Aydin, with the 24-year-old winger enjoying a strong 2024/25 season with the Turkish giants, bagging 10 goal contributions (seven goals and three assists) in 18 Super Lig starts.

VfB Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade has emerged as arguably one of Everton’s more exciting rumoured transfer targets, especially as the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid are also eyeing him up. A tally of 12 goals in 17 Bundesliga starts in 2024/25 sums up why he is such a sought-after attacking player, having recently broken into the Germany set-up.

Jarrad Branthwaite isn’t guaranteed to remain a Blues player beyond the summer window, so a top-quality replacement needs to be looked at, and Burnley’s Maxime Esteve has been talked about as a potential successor. He enjoyed a fantastic campaign with the Clarets, playing a huge part in them conceding just 16 goals in their 46 Championship matches.

Everton enter race to sign Premier League defender

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Everton are interested in signing Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters ahead of next season. The Blues are “among the clubs joining the race” to snap up the 28-year-old, who will no doubt be keen to stay in the Premier League, following Saints’ relegation to the Championship. West Ham and Fulham are named as suitors, too.

Walker-Peters looks like an ideal option for Everton this summer, with the Englishman now a proven Premier League player who can thrive as both a right-back and a left-back. He would come straight in as a key starter, replacing Ashley Young, and it would be a surprise if he looked out of his depth, having matured into such a reliable performer, being lauded by journalist Adam Blackmore in the past.

“I wonder how important he’s become. You look at what happened in the summer [rumoured transfer interest] and you just wonder by the end of the season how important keeping him will have been. He’s such an integral part of what they’re doing. It’s almost like the team is built around him to get the most out of him.”

At 28, Walker-Peters isn’t past his best, so there wouldn’t be that risk with Everton signing him, and there is no reason why he can’t be an important player for Moyes for the next four or five years.

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He now has 148 Premier League appearances to his name, not to mention two caps for England, so it is difficult to see many negatives to the Blues securing his services.