Man City: "Sensational" £64m star agrees to move to the Etihad after talks

Manchester City have made a breakthrough in their pursuit of a “sensational” star, as he has now agreed to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer, according to a report.

Man City's summer transfer plans

Man City took a huge step towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday night, with Matheus Nunes’ late goal securing a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa, moving his side up to third in the Premier League with just four games left to play.

Should City achieve a top-five finish, they should be in a strong position to attract some top players this summer, and Pep Guardiola is keen to reinforce his squad in a number of areas, given that his side have fallen way short of their usual standards this season.

With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave at the end of the campaign, a new attacking midfielder will be required, and the Blues are now the favourites to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, in a deal that could amount to a stunning £129m.

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There have also been suggestions that Guardiola could look to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, with Ederson in line to be replaced, and potential targets include Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens and FC Porto’s Diogo Costa.

There has now been a new update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Costa, with reports from France revealing the goalkeeper has now agreed to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer following initial talks.

Portugal'sDiogoCosta

Talks are ongoing, with agent Jorge Mendes set to be crucial to negotiations, but the 25-year-old has given the green light to sign for City in the summer transfer window, in what will come as welcome news to Guardiola.

A deal will not be cheap, however, as the Blues will have to fork out the full release clause of €75m (£64m) to secure a deal for the Porto shot-stopper.

Costa could be "sensational" signing for City

Ederson has been a fantastic servant to City, but with the Brazilian set to turn 32 in August, it is time City started thinking about replacements, and the Portugal international could be a fantastic addition to the squad.

It is important for any goalkeeper in a Guardiola system to be comfortable in possession of the ball, and the Switzerland-born goalkeeper appears to fit the bill in that regard, ranking in the 92nd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year.

Not only that, but the Portuguese shot-stopper has been lauded for his “cat-like reflexes” by journalist Zach Lowy, having made some impressive saves during his time with his boyhood club.

Having also been hailed as “absolutely sensational” by journalist Karan Tejwani, there is every indication that Costa could be a success at the Etihad Stadium, so it is exciting news that he has now agreed to join City this summer..

Man City now make £34m+ offer to sign "incredible" Ederson replacement

Manchester City could be a force to be reckoned with in the transfer market and have made their first step to landing a priority target this summer, according to reports.

Man City look to enjoy successful summer window

The Premier League title may have headed to Anfield this season in a transitional year for the Citizens, but you get the impression they will be quick out of the blocks once the window opens for business.

Pep Guardiola acted decisively to bring in Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah in January, and no stone will be left unturned as Manchester City aim to position themselves among the elite.

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With some statement arrivals on the agenda, the Blues are said to be keen on a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Desire Doue, even if they will have to stump up £85 million or over to have a chance of landing his services.

Barcelona winger Raphinha is another high calibre target at the Etihad Stadium and he is believed to be among their priority options to strengthen out wide due to his excellent form for club and country.

Even if the Citizens were to miss out on Champions League football, they still hold an appeal that very few would be able to match with Guardiola’s long-term project likely to yield further silverware.

Nevertheless, Manchester City remain at a vantage point from which they will be confident they can finish the job before a summer when changes could be made to fuel the fire for success. Now, they have taken a step forward in their pursuit of another key target as their ruthless approach to recruitment begins to take its course.

Man City submit £34m+ offer for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa

According to reports, Manchester City have submitted an initial £34.1 million offer for Porto stopper Diogo Costa and look set to improve on their opening bid, which was rejected, sooner rather than later.

FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

The Portugal international’s contract includes a £64 million release clause, but he may be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of £51.1 million if appropriate interest arises for his services.

Labelled “incredible” by countryman Diogo Dalot, Costa has kept 18 clean sheets in 44 appearances across all competitions this season as Porto look to seal continental qualification.

Diogo Costa’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Liga Portugal

Saves

51

Save percentage rate

66.2%

Goals conceded

26

Acted as sweeper

18

High claim

17

Errors led to goal

0

Ederson is expected to leave Manchester City for Saudi Arabia, so it is intriguing to see that they have now upped the ante in pursuing a long-term replacement for the Brazil international.

Looking ahead, it seems plausible that progress could be made in their move for Costa and it will be intriguing to see if he does end up becoming the man between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium.

Everton emerge as shock contenders to sign £30,000-a-week Liverpool ace

As The Friedkin Group look to send shockwaves throughout the Premier League in their first summer in charge at Everton, the Toffees have reportedly joined the race to sign a young English talent.

Everton transformed under David Moyes

As if those at Goodison Park have gone back in time to the days of Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar, Everton have been a side transformed under David Moyes, who is thriving in his second stint in charge. The experienced manager returned with the club battling relegation once again but, since his arrival, has turned Everton into a side performing at the level needed to qualify for European football if they continue into next term.

After arguably his most impressive victory back in charge of the Toffees yet – a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest – Moyes told reporters: “I have got to say it was a great goal but thoroughly deserved. It certainly merited a win and I thought we played very well, when you come to a team sitting third in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup. I think if anyone was going to score, it was us.

“I have had a lot of games and sometimes football can go that way for you. I am getting a brilliant response from the supporters and the players but I am also calm enough to know it could change. Today we have put on a good show and I am proud of how the players are performing. We are trying to make small steps every week.”

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Those in Merseyside will be hoping that their recent run is only the sign of things to come before they potentially launch one of the most unexpected moves of the summer transfer window.

Everton join race to sign Jarell Quansah

According to Caught Offside, Everton have now emerged as shock contenders to sign Jarell Quansah from Merseyside rivals Liverpool this summer. The young defender has endured a tough season under Arne Slot having done plenty to impress Jurgen Klopp in the last campaign. Now, he could be heading for the exit door.

It’s not just Everton interested in his signature either. Joining the Toffees, Newcastle United’s interest has been well-documented and now Brentford, Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have also reportedly joined the race. Amid such interest, Everton would be landing a major coup by signing the £30k-a-week defender, especialy considering the reputation of the German duo for transforming British talents abroad.

Jarell Quansah for Liverpool

An England international, the 22-year-old earned plenty of praise from Klopp last season, who told reporters after handing the defender his debut: “I have to say he did really well. He was good.

“In possession as well he was calm. It was like we had just met in the car park before the game with the organisation in the first-half. But he played really well. In such a disorganised team like we were in the first half, he was the one who looked alright. It was a statement and he is really happy at the moment.”

T20 World Cup 2024 – a zero for Bumrah, and other curious numbers

The slowest T20 World Cup but with the most sixes, an unbeaten champion, and much more

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Jun-20247.09 – Overall run rate, which was the lowest at a men’s T20 World Cup. The previous lowest was 7.43 in the 2021 edition, played in the UAE.517 – Sixes hit in the tournament, making it the first T20 World Cup with 500-plus sixes. The previous highest was 405 in 2021.The balls-per-six ratio was 21.35, the best ever. Also, the ratio between fours and sixes hit at this World Cup was 1.86, the lowest across all the editions.Related

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1 – India became the first team to win the men’s T20 World Cup without losing a game. India won all eight matches they played, with one – the group-stage game against Canada – abandoned without a toss.2 – Editions of the men’s T20 World Cup without an individual century: 2009 and 2024. The highest score in 2009 was an unbeaten 96 by Tillakaratne Dilshan in the semi-final game against West Indies, while Nicholas Pooran’s 98 versus Afghanistan was the highest in 2024.19 – Four-plus wicket hauls in 2024. That’s the highest at a men’s T20 World Cup, going past 14 in 2021.4.17 – Jasprit Bumrah’s economy rate at this World Cup, the best for anyone who has bowled 100-plus balls in a single edition of the men’s T20 World Cup. The most Bumrah conceded in the eight matches he played was 29 runs against Australia.3 – Difference between wickets taken and boundaries conceded by Bumrah at this World Cup. He took 15 wickets in the 29.4 overs he bowled, but only 12 boundaries, including two sixes, were scored off him.1 – Bumrah became the first to win the Player-of-the-Tournament award at a T20 World Cup – for men or for women – without scoring a run. Bumrah bagged a golden duck against Pakistan, the only time he had to bat in this tournament.Two players have done the same in ODI World Cups: Glenn McGrath in 2007, where he did not bat even once in 11 matches, and Mitchell Starc in 2015, when he faced three balls across three innings and did not score a run.14 – Number of dismissals for Rishabh Pant as a wicketkeeper. He took 13 catches and effected one stumping. No wicketkeeper (or player, for that matter) other than Pant has had even ten dismissals in a men’s T20 World Cup.ESPNcricinfo Ltd17 – Wickets for Arshdeep Singh and Fazalhaq Farooqi in this World Cup, the best ever. Both of them topped Wanindu Hasaranga’s mark of 16 in 2021.5 – Instances of teams winning despite scoring 120 or less in a full 20-over first innings at this World Cup.That had happened only once in the men’s T20 World Cup before 2024 – by Sri Lanka, who won after being bowled out for 119 against New Zealand in 2014.1 – Rohit Sharma is the first to win the men’s T20 World Cup both as a player (in 2007) and as a captain (in 2024). Daren Sammy won the title twice as a captain – in 2012 and 2016, while seven other West Indies players were part of those two wins under him: Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Andre Russell and Denesh Ramdin.109.52 – Percentage increase in maiden overs at this World Cup and the previous highest. A total of 44 maiden overs were bowled in the 52 completed matches at this World Cup, while the previous highest was 21 across 27 games in 2012.The 44 maiden overs in the 2024 edition account for 28.95% of the total maidens bowled in men’s T20 World Cups.25 – Difference between balls taken for the two individual fifties in the final – Virat Kohli took 48 balls and Heinrich Klaasen took 23 balls. Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty is the fastest in an ICC tournament final, while Kohli’s 48-ball fifty was the slowest of his T20 career.5-3 – Afghanistan’s win-loss record at this World Cup. They bowled out their opponents in all five matches they won, the joint-highest for a team at a men’s T20 World Cup alongside Australia in 2010.Afghanistan were themselves bowled out in all three matches they lost, the joint-highest for a team at a men’s T20 World Cup.Hardik Pandya and Rahul Dravid lead the celebrations after India’s second T20 World Cup win•Getty Images0 – Sixes hit in the match between New Zealand and Uganda. It was only the third men’s T20 World Cup match (discounting shortened T20 games) where no sixes were hit. South Africa vs Zimbabwe in Hambantota in 2012 and Netherlands vs Pakistan in Perth in 2022 were the others.4 – Papua New Guinea and Oman were the only teams in this edition without a point to their names. The four matches they played were the most without a win in an edition of the men’s T20 World Cup. PNG lost all four matches. As did Oman, but they took their first game against Namibia went into a Super Over.171 – Runs scored by Pant in this World Cup are the second-highest in an edition without a half-century. Anamul Haque scored 184 runs for Bangladesh in 2014 with a highest of 44*. Pant’s highest score was 42 against Pakistan.Tristan Stubbs scored 165 runs with a best of 33, the fifth-highest in a T20 World Cup without a fifty.96 – Balls Mohammad Amir bowled in this World Cup, the most without conceding a six. Amir is now the first bowler to not concede a six in two different editions of the men’s T20 World Cup (minimum of ten overs).He bowled 139 balls without being hit for a six in 2010, the second-highest by a bowler in an edition behind Umar Gul’s 147 balls in 2009.2 – Fours hit by Kohli in his first seven matches in this tournament, till the final. He went past that tally in the first over of the final itself, when he hit Marco Jansen for three fours.

No fairytale hometown finish for England's ODI totem

As Ben Stokes brought the curtain down on his one-day career, the overwhelming feeling was sadness

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Jul-20221:59

Ehantharajah – Stokes’ ODI retirement a seismic turn of events

Five tortuous overs, creaking red-faced around a sweltering Chester-le-Street outfield, five forgettable runs and a humbling 62-run defeat to South Africa. A reminder for Ben Stokes, in his final ODI, that cricket does not owe you a thing.Not that Stokes has ever approached the game in that way. Perhaps the closest was here, actually, for number 105, styled as a farewell after his impromptu retirement from the one-day format on Monday. It was a decision clearly made on a whim, which doesn’t make it any less thought out. He was already rested for the T20Is against India that followed the four Tests against New Zealand and India, and was going to sit out the three T20Is against South Africa (and the Hundred) ahead of the Test matches in August.Perhaps if the schedule was skewed a different way, Stokes might not have come to the realisation ODIs were the one to bin. Ultimately, though it was the volume rather than the order of the 12 limited-overs matches spread across 24 days. His statement carried a dagger for the powers that be and the crammed fixture list they have concocted, a point he insisted remained as the ECB were checking and double-checking as they do all released utterances from their players. He reiterated the sentiment to Sky Sports and BBC ahead of play on Tuesday. As ever with Stokes, the power of his words are carried in the fact he can say them, as much as what he said.Related

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From now on, these are no longer Stokes’ problems. Nor is it his job in the immediate future to work out just how England turn around what has been a dire nine days in the 50-over format, with three pretty comprehensive defeats out of four. This 62-run defeat to put them 1-0 down against South Africa was all the more dispiriting given they were never quite in it, aside from when Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow reprised their century-addled partnership to bring us back to those glory days of 2019. That proved to be the only throwback tribute this Tuesday.The one the Durham faithful truly wanted didn’t come, especially given this was only Stokes’ fourth international appearance out of 222 at his home ground. The situation set before him was a familiar one, requiring the kind of rescue act that has him regarded as the fourth emergency service. Roy and Bairstow’s demise within six overs of one another gave Stokes a chance to bat one last time in coloured clothing with good mate Joe Root, and 209 to get of the 334 target and 26 overs to do it in.He could only manage 5, trapped in front attempting the same reverse sweep that brought about his downfall at Lord’s against India. Then it was leg-spinning force Yuzvendra Chahal, here it was bit-part offspinner Aiden Markram. This would usually be the place for some extrapolation about his headspace had he not told us already.Arguably the most dispiriting parts were in the field. He was as valiant as ever, rushing at the ball to such an extent that he was chewing turf two deliveries from the end of South Africa’s innings after throwing himself head first at a shot down the ground that eventually went for four. His five overs were expensive (0 for 44), though featured the odd delivery – such as the one that struck Janneman Malan – that belied a surface slowly baking in the 37-degree heat.A dejected Ben Stokes walks back after his final ODI innings•AFP/Getty ImagesWhile others took time off the field, he remained on throughout, at times limping after his overs or after a particularly full-blooded dive. Again, we know his body can only take so much, but it was hard to shake the strangeness of seeing Stokes like this. These flashes of vulnerability that would come and go in an instant, as if he were Superman puffing occasionally of a Kryptonite vape.Of course, it is dangerous to refer to any athlete in terms that put him above the physical and emotional toil of a regular person. And certainly after his mental health break last year, Stokes is now more au fait with his internal rhythms than ever before. But it was in ODIs that, really, the legend of what we know of Ben Stokes came to be.Broadly, it is the format where he has the best record: an average just under 40 with the bat (strike-rate of 95), 74 dismissals and 49 catches, with a few worldies dotted about in there.His omission from the 2015 World Cup squad drew criticism, even if justified given he averaged just 16.25 across 14 innings in 2014. The crux of the derision, however, was not based on form but what his non-selection said about a cautious attitude. That a pugnacious 23-year-old with a high ceiling and lust for the grander stages was not to be trusted.In hindsight, Stokes might be regarded as a totemic figure in the revolution that followed. In the 71 ODIs played between his readmission in 2015 to the end of the 2019 World Cup, he averaged 50, scoring 2400 of his overall 2924 runs, along with three hundreds. There were also 50 wickets.The Lord’s final and an 84 not out to take England home from the brink of defeat was the true legacy maker, capturing the country’s imagination as it played out in front of a free-to-air crowd. But the tournament as a whole – 465 runs at 66.42, seven dismissals and an economy rate of 4.83 – confirmed the arrival of a global talisman who had that rare, oxymoron trait of delivering rarely seen brilliance on demand.Even that remarkable stanza in his career had an ODI-adjacent origin story. After all, it was following a 50-over win against West Indies back in 2017 that he embarked on that ill-fated night out in Bristol that cost him the best part of a year in his career and a whole heap of goodwill. Both of which he made up for in 2019.”Probably, as with every England cricket fan, there’s a bit of sadness that Ben is no longer available in this form of the game,” captain Jos Buttler said after the match. “He’s been an ambassador for us as a team. You know you get 100 percent from him, he’s been a real leader in this team, to take it [to] where it is now from where it was. Guys who play like Ben are once in a generation players. It’s a good challenge for us to work out our best way forward as a team without him.”Buttler’s sadness will no doubt also come from losing a general and a totem for excellence out in the middle and in training. You wonder if he ever thought he would have to do without him when taking the job in the first place. Not that it would govern his decision to take on the limited-overs role, but he’ll now be the first England captain for a while who will have to move forward without Stokes to call upon.The real sadness to all this is Stokes has never been one to leave his team in the lurch, but has seemingly been forced to. And England look decidedly mundane, desperate for more X-factor cricketers like Ben Stokes. Not fewer.

South Africa turn to Lungi Ngidi to carry resurgence forward in India

He has the form and the record, and he’ll need to lead the attack with Rabada and Shamsi both absent

Deivarayan Muthu13-Mar-2020In his first press-conference on his return to India, South Africa captain Quinton de Kock was asked if the inexperience in the line-up on this tour was a “weak link”. De Kock countered that question, replying that they still have the likes of Faf du Plessis and David Miller, who have vast experience in these conditions, having been regulars in the IPL. On the bowling front, however, South Africa are without Kagiso Rabada, who is still recovering from injury, and Tabraiz Shamsi, who is on paternity leave.In the absence of their No.1 quick and No.1 spinner, South Africa will look to Lungi Ngidi to step up once again. The 23-year old had led the attack admirably against Australia at home, his 6 for 58 in Bloemfontein wrapping up the series for the hosts. During the process, Ngidi became the fastest South African to 50 ODI wickets, getting there in his 26th match.Ngidi is just over three years old in international cricket, and has had his fair share of injuries during this period, but has already grown into a well-rounded white-ball bowler. He’s adept at bowling in the Powerplay as well as at the death, something that was on bright display during the home summer. In the second ODI against Australia, Ngidi hit hard lengths in the early exchanges and later returned at the death to snip off the tail with his variations.South Africa’s dominance, though, did not seem as likely when David Warner was in charge. He had used the extra pace and bounce of Anrich Nortje to his advantage, cracking the tearaway for 25 off a mere 12 balls. Where Nortje offered width, Ngidi immediately cut that off and took down Warner with his third ball. Ngidi hit a length that was neither cuttable nor pullable, on off stump, and although Warner had made some room of his own by backing away, he could only spoon a catch to cover.Then, after the Powerplay, Ngidi got rid of both Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschange by steadily building up pressure. By the time Ngidi had returned for the 34th over, Australia had recovered to 181 for 4, but Ngidi rocked them with another triple-strike. His offcutters gripped in the tiring Bloemfontein surface and proved too good for Australia’s lower order.Lungi Ngidi dismisses Moeen Ali•Getty ImagesThese variations and the scrambled seam had also scrambled the minds of England’s batsmen in the T20I series opener at Buffalo Park, helping Ngidi defend seven off the final over. Overall, in the death overs in T20s, Ngidi has picked up 27 wickets at an economy rate of 8.01.He has done the job at the death in the ODIs as well, giving up just 203 runs off 194 balls while claiming 19 wickets at an economy rate of 6.27.India’s lower-middle order has been strengthened by the return of Hardik Pandya, but South Africa can count on Ngidi and his good friend Andile Phehlukwayo, who also has some canny variations in his repertoire, to deal with India.It’s also worth noting that Ngidi has a decent ODI record against India: eight wickets in four games at an economy rate of 6.18. However, he has just played a solitary international in India – the Ranchi Test last year, where he not only went wicketless in 20 overs but also leaked over four runs an over.So, the question is can Ngidi be as effective in India as he is on the juicier tracks in South Africa? Ngidi can draw confidence from IPL 2018, where he emerged as an unlikely hero for Chennai Super Kings, especially at the death. He even fronted up to the Powerplay, and in the end his smart economy rate of 3.77 was by far the best among 42 bowlers who had bowled at least 25 overs in the tournament.Ngidi wasn’t selected for the first seven games that the Super Kings played in IPL 2018, but then the franchise had their home games shifted to Pune and they adapted on the fly, understanding the value on his pace – and sometimes the lack of it. Against Kings XI Punjab on a spicy Pune pitch, Ngidi repaid Super Kings’ faith and bagged a career-best 4 for 10 to knock them out of contention.Ngidi then missed the following IPL season and suffered multiple injuries that year, but he’s now back to his best. In South Africa’s last ODI series in India, Rabada denied MS Dhoni at the death and closed out the match skilfully. There’s no Rabada on this tour, and there’s no Dhoni either for India, but Ngidi has it in him to lead South Africa’s attack and extend their resurgence.

McSweeney, Buckingham put South Australia in charge

Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli bowled well for WA but there best result appears to be a draw

AAP24-Nov-2025South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney top-scored to put his side in position to push for victory on the final day of the Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia.McSweeney and Henry Hunt combined for an 88-run stand for the second wicket as the hosts chase a second consecutive Shield win.Related

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The defending Shield champions were bowled out for 333 at Adelaide Oval in the pink-ball day-night clash and at stumps on day three the visitors were 85 for 2, still trailing by 60 runs.South Australia paceman Jordan Buckingham was a menace under lights and took the key wicket of opener Cameron Bancroft for 41.Hunt continued an impressive season that has returned 385 runs at an average of 42. He was trapped in front by a ball that seamed in from Cameron Gannon who was rewarded for attacking the stumps.McSweeney, who scored a century against WA earlier in the season, was the rock who kept the innings together.Western Australia offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli continued the form that has him vying with Todd Murphy to be the next in line when Test star Nathan Lyon retires.Rocchiccioli has a penchant for breaking partnerships by dismissing the key men in the opposition and it was no different when he cleaned up McSweeney with a ripper. The South Australia captain went back to a vicious offspinner that also skidded through with added pace.Extra bounce and spin from Rocchiccioli had earlier accounted for Jason Sangha.He has 17 wickets for the summer after claiming 38 last season.It was that form which won Rocchiccioli a place in the Australia A side for the India A tour to Lucknow where he took six wickets in three innings in September.

Wolves now close to selling Joao Gomes despite Rob Edwards wanting to keep him

Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes is now close to sealing a move to a rival Premier League club in January, despite Rob Edwards wanting to keep him.

With just under a third of the Premier League season gone, Wolves find themselves in a worse position than they possibly would’ve imagined, having collected just two points from their opening 11 games, leaving them nine points adrift of safety.

It has been nothing short of a disastrous start to the campaign for the Old Gold, who are arguably already staring down the barrel of relegation, having now lost their last five league games on the spin, failing to score in four of those matches.

As such, it is little wonder that Fosun & co have started to identify new targets ahead of the January transfer window, with it recently being revealed that Independiente’s Patrik Mercado is in line to become Edwards’ first signing since arriving at Molineux, following talks.

However, Mercado may end up simply being brought in as a replacement for one of the Wanderers’ current key players, with a new update emerging on the future of a central midfielder…

Joao Gomes close to sealing January move to Man Utd

According to a report from Trivela (via Sport Witness), Gomes is now close to sealing a January move to Manchester United, with talks advancing over the course of the past week, despite the fact Edwards wants to keep hold of the midfielder.

A move to United could now be on the cards in January, with a €50m (£44m) fee being mentioned, which would undoubtedly be a major blow for Edwards in his bid to steer the struggling side clear of the bottom three.

The Brazilian has been a key player over the past few seasons, recently surpassing 100 matches in a Wolves shirt, and it would be fair to say supporters were impressed by his performances in the 2024-25 campaign.

The 24-year-old, who rakes in £105k-a-week, is particularly impressive from a defensive point of view, placing in the 97th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 3.39.

With Gomes contracted until 2030, Wolves should be able to command a good fee for his services, but the fact they are currently bottom of the Premier League table weakens their negotiating position, as relegation would surely make a summer departure an inevitability.

That said, if Fosun were to cash-in this winter, it would significantly weaken Edwards’ side’s already low chances of avoiding the drop, and they should keep hold of the 10-time Brazil international until the end of the season.

Fosun in contact to sign £30m Premier League ace Fosun in contact to sign £30m Premier League ace who Wolves feel is perfect

The Old Gold haven’t got the reply they’d have wanted.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 21, 2025

لاعب الجيش الملكي: مواجهة الأهلي قمة عربية.. وهدفنا لا يقتصر على الفوز فقط

قال عبد الفتاح حدراف لاعب فريق الجيش الملكي، إن مواجهة النادي الأهلي، تعد من القمم العربية القوية، مشيرًا إلى أن الفريق المغربي عازم على تحقيق الفوز وحصد النقاط الثلاث.

ويحل الأهلي ضيفًا على الجيش الملكي، اليوم الجمعة، على أرضية ملعب مولاي الحسن بالرباط، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وقال حدراف خلال تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “هسبورت”: “مواجهة الأهلي قمة عربية، نطمح إلى تسجيل الأهداف وندرك قيمة الأهلي كنادٍ كبير، لكن الجيش أيضاً فريق كبير، ولن نبخل على جماهيرنا بأي مجهود”.

طالع | مدرب الجيش الملكي: الأهلي سيشكل لنا متاعب.. وسنظهر قوتنا

وأضاف: “الجماهير تشكل حافزًا أساسيًا للفريق، نعي حجم المسؤولية، ونعلم أن المدرجات ستكون ممتلئة، هدفنا لا يقتصر على الفوز على الأهلي، بل جمع أكبر عدد من النقاط لضمان بلوغ ربع نهائي دوري الأبطال وتعويض التعثر السابق”.

ويتواجد النادي الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مع الجيش الملكي وشبيبة القبائل الجزائري ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني.

وكان النادي الأهلي، حقق الفوز في لقاء الجولة الأولي على شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، بنتيجة 4-1، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بالقاهرة يوم السبت الماضي، بينما الجيش الملكي كان قد خسر في مباراة الجولة الأولى أمام يانج أفريكانز التنزاني بهدف دون رد.

Arsenal learn major Martin Odegaard injury update ahead of Tottenham showdown

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been handed a major injury update on club captain Martin Odegaard ahead of their clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

The Gunners welcome their fierce to the Emirates Stadium for the 198th edition of the North London derby, but Arteta faces perhaps his most challenging selection dilemma of the season after news that Gabriel Maglhaes could be out for at least a month with a thigh injury.

The Premier League leaders enter this weekend’s face-off sitting four points clear at the summit, maintaining their position despite a recent 2-2 draw at Sunderland that ended their remarkable 10-match winning streak across all competitions.

That minor setback pales in comparison to losing Gabriel, who’s been both the cornerstone of their water-tight backline and a major threat from set pieces all season.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Initial medical assessments suggest the Brazilian centre-back could miss anywhere from one to two months of action, potentially sidelining him until mid-January.

Gabriel’s absence creates a massive void at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, with the 27-year-old having been instrumental in the north Londoners conceding just five goals across their opening eleven league matches.

Arteta breathed a sigh of relief when Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori is able to play against Tottenham after his own injury scare, but the Spaniard will still be forced to deploy an unfamiliar centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie alongside William Saliba.

Arsenal’s attacking contingent also faces uncertainty heading into the derby.

Viktor Gyökeres remains doubtful with a hamstring problem he sustained against Burnley, whilst there’s ambiguity surrounding Gabriel Martinelli’s fitness after missing recent games with a muscle issue.

Kai Havertz’s situation looks particularly concerning after Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the midfielder suffered a minor relapse in his recovery from a knee injury, potentially delaying his return until nearer the end of 2025.

Noni Madueke appears most likely to return from the injured quintet, reportedly having come close to making the squad for Sunderland before medical staff opted for caution.

Odegaard’s fitness adds yet another layer of intrigue.

Norway manager Stale Solbakken suggested the midfielder remains “some distance away” from returning, yet Odegaard himself offered more optimism — stating his injury is “starting to look better.”

Of course, neither of these statements offer clarity about his Spurs involvement, but insider HandOfArsenal has some very good news on that front.

Martin Odegaard in contention to play Tottenham after Arsenal update

According to the reliable Emirates Stadium source, there is a ‘possibility’ that Odegaard will be available to play against Tottenham this Sunday — giving Arteta some real encouragement that he could be about to welcome his chief creator back into the fold.

Odegaard’s return would alleviate the creative burden currently shouldered by Bukayo Saka.

As so many attackers deal with fitness issues, Saka has been forced to carry much of Arsenal’s responsibility going forward, so the boost of Odegaard’s potential presence cannot be overstated following what has been a stop-start, injury-ridden 2025 for the player.

The psychological boost of having their captain available once again could undoubtedly be huge as well.

In a match where Arsenal will field an unfamiliar defensive partnership and potentially be without several key attackers, Odegaard’s return would provide some much-needed stability.

The 26-year-old hasn’t played since coming off against West Ham in October, having only just returned from a shoulder problem, so he’ll be dying to take to the field once more in one of Arsenal’s biggest games of the season.

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