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Manchester City are now considering a move for a “sensational” £50m midfielder to replace Kevin De Bruyne this summer, according to a report from David Ornstein for The Athletic.

Pep pays tribute to De Bruyne

De Bruyne has played a pivotal role in Man City’s success during the Pep Guardiola era, and the manager has paid tribute to the Belgian for his contributions, saying: “We’ve always had a special relationship. Kevin is a special person and player.”

The attacking midfielder is the last player remaining from the squad Guardiola inherited in 2015-16, but the Spaniard will now have to bring in a replacement this summer, with the 33-year-old set to leave upon the expiration of his contract.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz has regularly been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, and there has now been a positive update on City’s pursuit of the German, with it being revealed they are now leading the race for his signature.

Pep loves him: Man City willing to pay £50m for "sensational" De Bruyne heir

The Sky Blues have identified a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to leave this summer.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 8, 2025

Bringing in a young attacking midfielder from the Bundesliga has shades of the Sky Blues’ original move for De Bruyne, who arrived from Wolfsburg, but they could also choose to bring in an established Premier League player.

That is according to a report from The Athletic, with Ornstein stating Man City are now considering a move for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White as a replacement for De Bruyne.

A number of targets are being considered, including Wirtz, with a move unlikely to be made until Hugo Viana is fully underway as director of football, although City could also select Phil Foden as a direct successor to the Belgium international.

Should Gibbs-White be chosen, however, there is a feeling the Nottingham Forest star could command a fee of around £50m.

"Sensational" Gibbs-White enjoying impressive campaign

The attacking midfielder made an instant impact for Forest in the Premier League, amassing five goals and eight assists in his debut campaign with the Tricky Trees, but the current campaign is on course to be his best to date.

With seven games left to play, the Englishman has 14 goal contributions to his name, playing an integral role for Nuno’s side, who are still on course to unexpectedly qualify for the Champions League.

Lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, there are clear signs Gibbs-White could now be entering his prime, although there are doubts over whether he would be a suitable replacement for De Bruyne, given that he remains unproven at the very highest level.

Wirtz, on the other hand, experienced winning the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen last season, while he has also impressed in the Champions League this term, with six goals and one assist to his name in nine matches.

Tottenham Hotspur are now making moves to sign a striker, who they are planning to offer a place in the starting XI next season, according to a report.

Solanke's first season at Spurs

Dominic Solanke’s first season as a Tottenham player has been marred by a number of injury issues, having suffered with hamstring and ankle problems, but he hasn’t exactly been prolific in front of goal when fully-fit.

The striker started the Premier League season well, netting six goals prior to Christmas, but since then the Englishman has struggled to score as regularly, with just one league goal to his name in 2025.

With Richarlison also missing the majority of the campaign due to injuries, it would make sense for Spurs to bring in a more dependable striker in the summer transfer window, and a report has now revealed they could bring in a Premier League player on a free transfer.

Daniel Levy handed Tottenham boost after talks to appoint 52-year-old

The chairman has apparently been “working hard” on his hire.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 5, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now making moves to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is looking increasingly likely to exit Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

Spurs are willing to offer Calvert-Lewin a ‘prominent’ place in the starting XI, having been impressed by his goalscoring ability and physicality, which indicates Solanke may be forced to drop to the bench, after a mixed debut season in north London.

The Everton forward could offer the Lilywhites a different kind of threat in attack, and they believe he can rediscover his best form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been hampered by a number of injury issues during his time with the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin isn't what Tottenham need

The 28-year-old has impressed in the Premier League in the past, netting 16 goals for the Toffees in the 2020-21 campaign, at which point he was lauded as a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

If the Englishman were able to replicate those numbers for Spurs, he could be an excellent addition to the squad, but there are signs his best days are behind him, having scored just three goals in the Premier League this season.

Not only that, but the Sheffield-born striker’s injury issues are well-documented, having suffered a series of setbacks during his time on Merseyside, which will also be a concern for Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou has had to make do without Richarlison and Solanke for large parts of the current season, and another injury-prone striker isn’t what the manager needs.

Calvert-Lewin’s availability on a free transfer perhaps makes him a slightly appealing option, at least as a squad player, but he arguably should not be brought in as the first-choice striker, given his patchy goal and injury records.

Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for a “sensational” £50m striker, with Unai Emery looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins.

Villa eyeing new striker amid Watkins' slow start

Watkins isn’t having the season he would’ve wanted ahead of the World Cup next summer, having scored just one goal in the Premier League thus far, and Donyell Malen has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for Villa going forward as of late.

Indeed, Malen is in a rich vein of form at the moment, having scored a brace to secure a 2-1 victory against Young Boys in the Europa League, following on from an impressive cameo against Leeds United, assisting Morgan Rogers’ equalising goal.

However, given that Malen isn’t an out-and-out striker, Emery wants to bring in a more traditional centre-forward in the January transfer window, with one of the Premier League’s breakout stars recently being identified as a target.

That is according to a report from The Mirror, which states Aston Villa are now lining up a January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, although it could be a costly operation, with a £50m fee being touted.

Emery is a big fan of the striker, having been keen to bring in a new forward since last summer, while Villa may also need to refresh their forward line due to concerns over Watkins’ form.

Thiago could be "sensational" Watkins heir

It is perhaps a little early to lose faith in the England international, as he is still only 29, but it is important to plan for the future, and the Brentford star has emerged as one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League this season, scoring 11 goals in 13 outings.

Most recently, the Brazilian bagged a brace to ensure his side overcame Burnley in a 3-1 victory, and he is now behind only Manchester City star Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s goalscoring charts.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews has been left impressed by the 24-year-old’s performances too, saying: “He has been pretty good, hasn’t he? He is growing in stature and confidence and he has been pretty sensational this season,”

Thiago is at the right age to be a long-term success at Villa Park, and having proven himself in the Premier League, Aston Villa should undoubtedly launch a January move.

Aston Villa plotting £18m bid for "tremendous" defender, Martinez is a big fan

The Villans are planning a move for a new centre-back, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

Emery has never really managed to replace Jhon Duran since the striker signed for Al-Nassr back in January, and with the Villans looking to compete in both the Premier League and Europe, it would certainly be beneficial to bring in another striker this winter.

Matheesha Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, has been hampered by injuries in recent times

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Nov-2025In a late move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have decided to release Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana from their squad ahead of IPL 2026. ESPNcricinfo has learned that CSK have been deliberating their future with Pathirana, who they had bought ahead of IPL 2023 and retained before the 2025 mega auction for INR 13 crore.This emerged on Saturday – the IPL retention window closes at 3pm.With his slingy action and ability to find swing consistently at 140-plus clicks, Pathirana announced himself at IPL 2023, when CSK won the title, picking 19 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.01. Then captain MS Dhoni, though, had warned that Pathirana would need to be carefully managed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in order for him to have a long career. Dhoni’s words were not far off the mark – Pathirana has struggled with various injuries over the years.Related

• CSK set to release Conway and Ravindra

• RR trade Samson to CSK for Jadeja and Curran

Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, had a curtailed IPL 2024 owing to a hamstring injury and then left for home midway into the SA20, where he playes for Joburg Super Kings. In IPL 2025, he was under par, taking 13 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 10.13.CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming had said during the season that the franchise was concerned by Pathirana’s drop in impact, which he suspected had to do with the SLC tweaking the bowler’s release point which was causing him troubles.CSK have now decided to release Pathirana with a possibility of buying him back at the auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.CSK had been the only team Pathirana has played for in the IPL, with his overall numbers in the three seasons being 47 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 21.61 and economy of 8.68.CSK are set to be among the few teams to go into the auction with a big purse, having also decided to release a host of players including the New Zealand pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. They have also traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson.

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos is reportedly poised to leave Mexican club Monterrey and return to European football, driven by a desire to represent Spain at the 2026 World Cup. The 39-year-old defender has decided against renewing his contract with Rayados, which is nearing its expiry, hoping to bow out with a Liga MX title.

• Ramos prioritises family and national team ambitions

  Ramos’s decision to depart Mexico stems from two primary factors: a preference for family life in Europe compared to Mexico, and a lingering ambition to play for the Spanish national team again. The states that Ramos believes consistent playing time in a top-level European competition brings him closer to the style of play preferred by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, thereby increasing his chances of a recall.

  Despite turning 40 next March, just months before the World Cup in North America, Ramos has not given up on adding to his record 180 caps for La Roja. He last played for his country in March 2021 and was subsequently omitted from the squads for Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Euro 2024 by former coach Luis Enrique and current boss De la Fuente respectively.

  A report from draws a parallel with Aymeric Laporte, who left Saudi Arabia to return to Europe with Athletic Club, a move that bolstered his standing with the national team. Ramos hopes a similar path will convince De la Fuente that he can still contribute at the highest international level.

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  Impact during Monterrey spell

  Ramos joined Monterrey on a one-year deal in 2025 and has made his mark during his brief time in Liga MX. He featured in the Club World Cup for the Mexican side, where he became the oldest goalscorer in the tournament's history. His time there also saw him receive the 30th red card of his illustrious career, further cementing his reputation as a fierce, if sometimes ill-disciplined, competitor.

  Beyond his on-field contributions, where he provided defensive solidity for one of Mexico's biggest clubs, Ramos's presence brought significant commercial and media impact to Monterrey. However, with his contract running down, his departure now seems inevitable as he seeks a new challenge closer to home for the second half of the season.

• Potential European destinations emerge

  While a return to La Liga remains a possibility, it is considered difficult to imagine Ramos playing for any Spanish clubs other than his former teams, Real Madrid and Sevilla. Consequently, several other European options are reportedly being explored.

  Reports suggest that Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille are among the clubs that could offer Ramos a route back into European football. Roma are currently mounting a surprising title challenge in Serie A under Gian Piero Gasperini and boast the league's meanest defence. Ramos's vast experience and leadership could prove invaluable to their relatively young backline during the title run-in.

  Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are recovering from a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign. Following a managerial change, they are looking to close the eight-point gap to leaders Bayern Munich. Having lost several key players in the summer, Ramos is viewed as a potential stopgap signing who could provide direction and stability.

  In Ligue 1, Marseille are enjoying an excellent season under Roberto De Zerbi, sitting just two points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Given Ramos’s history with PSG, his arrival at their arch-rivals would add significant intrigue to the title race. His experience in high-pressure situations could help Marseille sustain their pursuit of a first league title in years.

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  What next for Sergio Ramos?

  Ramos will now focus on finalising his departure from Monterrey as his contract winds down. His representatives will be aiming to secure a move to a European club in the upcoming January transfer window, ensuring he is playing regularly at a high level in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. His performance in the second half of the European season will be crucial in determining whether his dream of a final international recall can become a reality.

Crystal Palace are now readying a January move for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, with Oliver Glasner personally keen, and they hold an advantage in the race for his signature.

Palace are one of many clubs looking like they could make a push for the European places this season, should they manage to keep their squad together, and there has recently been a positive update on that front, despite Liverpool retaining an interest in Marc Guehi.

There has also been a new update on Adam Wharton’s future, amid widespread interest from Premier League clubs, while the Eagles have been forced to make do without Eberechi Eze this season, with the 27-year-old moving to Arsenal in the summer.

Following Eze’s departure, Glasner’s side brought in Yeremy Pino, but it has now been revealed they want to bring in another forward to soften the blow of losing their talisman in the previous window…

Crystal Palace readying January move for Raheem Sterling

According to a report from SportsBoom, Crystal Palace are now readying a January move for Chelsea’s Sterling, with Glasner personally keen, and the Blues willing to pay part of the winger’s wages to get him off the books.

There is expected to be competition for the Englishman’s signature from Leeds United, but Palace may hold a key advantage in the race for his signature, as he wants to remain in the south for personal reasons.

The South Londoners’ location could give them the edge in the battle for the Chelsea outcast, who has been named as one of the best wingers in Premier League history, given that he lives in Berkshire, but there are doubts over whether they should even pursue a move.

Pep Guardiola has lauded the former Manchester City man in the past, saying: “For his confidence it will be massive, the first goal is brilliant, when Raheem executes without thinking he is excellent.”

However, the 30-year-old has had little opportunity to show his brilliance in recent times, having not made a single appearance for the Blues this season, and he struggled on loan at Arsenal last term, scoring zero goals and picking up just two assists in 17 Premier League games.

Having amassed a whopping 198 goal contributions in 396 Premier League matches and won 11 trophies, there can be no denying that Sterling was a top player in his prime, but his best days might be behind him, so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if Leeds beat Palace to his signature.

Crystal Palace join race for "extraordinary" forward likened to Kvaratskhelia

Crystal Palace join race for "extraordinary" forward likened to Kvaratskhelia

The Eagles are looking to bolster their options in attacking areas during the January transfer window.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 12, 2025

The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) has sanctioned the ILT20 as an official men and women’s competition

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2025In the coming years, the UAE’s ILT20 could see games take place in Saudi Arabia after it entered into a partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF). The league gains official recognition in the Kingdom as part of its expansion across the Gulf region.While no specific date has been set on the first matches that will be played in Saudi Arabia, the SACF has sanctioned the ILT20 as an official men and women’s competition that could host matches in the Kingdom in future seasons. The linkup will also provide Saudi Arabia players with a direct pathway into the tournament, starting with the auction for this year’s edition on October 1, where each franchise will be required to sign at least one player from the country.”We are very proud to announce our partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation,” ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni said. “Saudi Arabia is a key part of the Gulf region, and its commitment to developing cricket is inspiring. This partnership is built on our shared vision of growing the game beyond borders. The DP World ILT20 will create opportunities for players, and hopefully bring world-class cricket closer to the fans.”Related

• ILT20: Dinesh Karthik joins Sharjah Warriorz

• IPL chair: No concrete proposals from Saudi

• Is cricket ready for a Saudi-backed Grand Slam circuit?

• IPL auction marks start of Saudi's cricket push

The agreement will also see the ILT20 and SACF work together on talent identification and grassroots development, with a development tournament planned in Saudi Arabia next year.HRH Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, chairman of SACF, said: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing cricket in the country, and providing our players with opportunities to grow and succeed on an international stage. With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing strong emphasis on sport and community engagement, we believe this partnership will inspire more young men and women to take up cricket.”The ILT20’s fourth season, to be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, begins on December 2 this year, and will run until January 4, 2026, featuring six teams across 34 matches.

India legspinner steps in for contest against Hampshire at Utilita Bowl

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2025 Rahul Chahar, the India spinner, has joined Surrey for their season-ending fixture against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl this week, as the club bids for their fourth County Championship title in a row.Chahar, 26, was registered to play for Surrey at the start of September, in line with ECB regulations, but was not required to play in the club’s home matches against Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. That latter fixture ended in a thrilling 20-run loss that has handed Notts control of the title race going into the final week.Chahar has regularly featured for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, and also made a one-off appearance in this season’s IPL, as an impact substitute for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Overall, he has taken 87 wickets in 24 first-class matches at 26.12, with best match figures of 9 for 148.He also played one ODI and six T20Is for India between 2019 and 2021, around the same time that he played a key role in Mumbai Indians’ twin IPL titles in 2019 and 2020.”I’m excited to join Surrey for this week’s match,” Chahar said. “I’m coming here to have an impact and help the team in their final match of the season.”His call-up comes after Surrey lost both of their current spinning options, Will Jacks and Cam Steel, to injury. Alec Stewart, the club’s high-performance advisor, said: “Adding Rahul to the squad gives us another spin option at the Utilita Bowl.”We always knew that we would be missing players for the final period of the season and try to plan accordingly given the potential surfaces and the opposition we’re playing.”We had originally earmarked for Sai Kishore to return for the latter stages of the season but he unfortunately has a finger injury resulting in an operation has meant he was unavailable.”Surrey trail Nottinghamshire by 14 points going into the final round of matches, meaning that they must win their fixture, and hope that Notts accrue fewer than 11 points in their own final match against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge.

Arsenal summer signing Eberechi Eze has opened up to former team-mate Adebayo Akinfenwa on the latest episode of GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast and lifted the lid on his new life with the Gunners. The England international has explained which Arsenal player has impressed him the most so far and revealed what it's like to work with manager Mikel Arteta.

GOAL’s Beast Mode On Podcast, hosted by Adebayo Akinfenwa, welcomes guest Eberechi Eze to talk about life at Arsenal following his big-money move to the Emirates Stadium this summer from Crystal Palace.

Eze has joined a host of new recruits in north London in a squad packed full of talents and admits there's one player in particular who has caught his eye at the club. The England international has also revealed he's thriving playing in an environment when all the players are eager to improve.

• Eze thriving at Arsenal after summer move

  Eze swapped Crystal Palace for Arsenal in a £60 million move as part of a big-spending summer by the Gunners who also brought in stars such as Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Cristhian Mosquera. The winger has gone on to feature regularly for Mikel Arteta's side and appears to have settled into life quickly with the Gunner, scoring twice already in the Premier League. Eze has now opened up on his journey to becoming an Arsenal and England star.

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  Eze lifts lid on 'special' Arsenal team-mate

  Speaking exclusively to GOAL's Beast Mode On podcast, Eze said: “Everyone is sort of what you expect them to be. The expectation of all the players is high. I'll say one player who has gone even beyond the high expectation I already had – because I'd heard good things about him – was Jurrien Timber. He's a special player and a special guy. 

  “I think for me, in an environment of people and you have a culture that is geared towards improving, these guys all want to improve. So for me it's a pleasure to be part of it and to see guys like him who perform the way they perform, who carry themselves the way they carry themselves. It’s inspiring, for sure.”

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  'Incredible' Arteta creating 'special place' at Arsenal

  Eze also spoke about working with Arteta. The Arsenal boss currently has his team four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table also topping the standings so far in the 2025-26 Champions League.

  Asked what it’s like working under the Spaniard, Eze said: “He’s incredible. Attention to detail, how much I’m learning so fast, the type of player I know I’ll become (under him), the culture he’s created… It’s a special place to be right now, for sure.”

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Jose Caballero began Thursday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees in the former team's dugout and ended up in the latter club's after the Yankees acquired him midway through the contest ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. And with his acquisition by the Yankees, Caballero quite literally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, as the Yankees bested the Rays 7–4.

After the game, Caballero was asked what it was like switching his rooting interests during a game.

"I was winning today regardless," Caballero said. "We won the game—I guess. That's what I feel right now."

That's one way to get a win!

In all seriousness though, Caballero, who grew up a fan of the Bronx Bombers, should be able to do plenty to help the Yankees win. The 28-year-old has swiped 34 bases, tied for the most in the majors, while rating three Outs Above Average at shortstop, a particularly key metric considering incumbent Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe's defensive struggles.