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It will be Trent Rockets, not Northern Superchargers, who face Oval Invincibles in Sunday’s Hundred final at Lord’s after a soggy night in south London ended in an abandonment. Showers delayed the start by 20 minutes, prompted two hour-long interruptions, and eventually wiped the game out altogether, with Rockets progressing by virtue of their higher group-stage finish.The final call came at 9.52pm, nearly four hours yet only 80 legal balls after the scheduled 6pm start. Rockets twice started to chase adjusted targets – 134 off 75, then 105 off 55 – only for the drizzle to turn into rain, and the crowd had thinned by the time a final heavy downpour prompted umpires James Middlebrook and Martin Saggers to finally pull the plug.The final will start barely 20 hours after the Eliminator ended, and a stop-start night hardly served ideal preparation. “It’s been a long day… I thought you had to wait until the rain stops before you start,” reflected Rockets’ Marcus Stoinis, who removed Harry Brook and David Miller before the rain took over. “It’s a bit of chaos, but I think it will be fine.”Invincibles, by contrast, have had since Monday to prepare for Sunday’s final as table-toppers, and will welcome back Stoinis’ close friend Adam Zampa as a handy replacement for Rashid Khan. Jordan Cox and Sam Curran helped them to surge home against Rockets in the stand-out match of the group stage, and they are gunning for a third successive title.David Willey struck with his third ball to remove Zak Crawley•ECB/Getty Images

“It was a good contest last time,” Stoinis said of their meeting at The Oval earlier this month. “We probably had the better of them for the majority of that game and they played really well. Credit to them for winning… It was some of the best hitting that there’s been in any cricket, really. But to be honest, we haven’t really thought about it – we haven’t had a chance!”This was a cruel end for Brook’s Superchargers, but one they could have avoided. These two teams were level on points heading into the final week of the group stage, but Superchargers lost their last fixture on Tuesday, and Rockets clinched second place with a win on Wednesday. With no reserve day for the Eliminator, it proved enough for them.”I think everybody in the world knew that was going to happen,” Brook said, ruefully. “Everyone saw the forecast was going to be shocking from about five or six o’clock. It is what it is. We can’t do anything about it.”It’s easy to say loads of things when you’re sat on the losing side. You could say we could have played last night, knowing that it was going to rain tonight; or we could have brought the game earlier, say the girls play at 11 and we play at 2. But this is how they’ve set the schedule… There’s so many things you could say.”Harry Brook was cleaned up by Marcus Stoinis•ECB/Getty Images

Rockets shaded the limited action there was, with captain David Willey setting the tone after winning what looked like an important toss. He struck with his third ball, which Zak Crawley edged to slip, and frontloaded his 20-ball allocation into the first 40 in the knowledge that the innings was unlikely to last its scheduled duration.Dan Lawrence top-scored with an unbeaten 44 from No. 3 around cameos from Dawid Malan and David Miller as Superchargers reached 76 for 3 after 50 balls at the first rain break, and 119 for 5 after 75 at the second. Lawrence was unusually due to keep wicket, but the discarded Michael Pepper took the gloves as a substitute fielder after Malan tweaked a muscle.After the first long delay, Jacob Duffy pushed the first ball of Rockets’ chase past Tom Banton’s pad; after the second, Banton slashed him over slip for four and picked up four leg-byes from an attempted scoop. But no sooner had Matthew Potts removed his cap to bowl the second set, than the rain returned with a vengeance, sending Superchargers’ season down the drain.

Manchester United have an unseen teenager at Carrington who Red Devils defender Harry Maguire is helping around the training ground.

Maguire reaches 250 Man Utd appearances

After signing from Leicester City in a deal worth £80m back in 2019, Maguire has had plenty of ups and downs at Old Trafford but continues to be a regular at the back under Ruben Amorim.

Maguire recently hit 250 appearances as a Man Utd player, following in the footsteps of teammates Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw. Talking about reaching the milestone, he said:

Going on to talk about fellow defender Shaw, Maguire said: “You don’t play at this club 250 or 300 times if you’re first and foremost not a good player.

“Luke’s an excellent footballer, and every manager that comes in, he gets questioned a lot. That’s what happens at this club.

“Every manager that comes in plays Luke, and there’s a reason why they play Luke, because he’s an excellent footballer, always has been and always will be.”

Maguire’s current Old Trafford contract is worth £190,000-a-week, making him the fourth highest paid player at the club currently, however, that deal is set to expire in 2026.

1

Casemiro

£350,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

Whether or not he remains at the club remains to be seen, but he appears to be helping out the future generation at Carrington.

Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey impressing

According to a report from The Daily Mail, Man Utd teenager Shea Lacey, who is yet to make his debut or a first team matchday squad and be seen by fans, but is catching the eye of those at Carrington.

It is claimed that the 18-year-old ‘was invited back after a handful of sessions with the seniors’ and is impressing first-team stars with his technical level.

Maguire ‘has taken it upon himself to help Lacey settle into the senior group and act as a sounding board’, with the winger running riot against opponents at academy level.

In just three Premier League 2 appearances this season, Lacey has scored two goals in 122 minutes of action, and in total, has contributed to 14 goals for the U18s.

"Sealed and signed" – Man Utd agree $1m deal and personal terms with 17 y/o

The exciting young talent has represented his country nine times at the U17 level.

ByCallum Kemp Oct 2, 2025

It appears as if he could be the next Carrington graduate to make the grade at first-team level, although it is stated that ‘United are eager to take a slow and steady approach when it comes to Lacey, particularly in terms of managing his minutes, after injuries in recent years’.

Bayern Munich have filed an official protest with UEFA and threatened legal action after Paris police imposed last-minute travel restrictions on their supporters ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. The German club labelled the decision “unacceptable” and received backing from the host PSG themselves.

• Bayern furious with last-minute police order in Paris

  The German giants have taken their frustrations public after the Paris Police Prefecture issued a “general order” just 24 hours before their Champions League meeting with PSG. The order, delivered on Monday afternoon, required all Bayern fans traveling by coach to gather at a toll booth outside the French capital before being escorted by police to the Parc des Princes. Additionally, all other supporters were instructed to travel solely via public transport and to return the same way after the match.

  The German club reacted swiftly, filing an official protest with UEFA during a meeting later that day, calling the sudden decision “surprising” and “unacceptable.” Bayern also confirmed that the new measures mean fan buses will not be permitted to leave Paris until around 5:00 AM CET, hours after the final whistle. The restrictions have drawn strong criticism from both clubs, with PSG supporting Bayern’s stance against the ruling.

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• Bayern announce legal action and UEFA complaint

  Bayern’s statement outlined their dissatisfaction with how French authorities handled the matter, stressing that all necessary travel and safety details had been planned weeks in advance. The club confirmed they would be pursuing legal avenues alongside their protest lodged with UEFA.

  “This Monday afternoon, the Paris Police Prefecture issued a general order at short notice to regulate the arrival of fans and set up a police control zone for the Champions League match between FC Bayern and Paris St. Germain at the Parc des Princes stadium. After FC Bayern was only informed of this surprising measure today, the club immediately lodged a protest at today's UEFA meeting and will take further legal action. Paris St. Germain supports FC Bayern in this matter.

  "The general ruling affects all fan coaches and stipulates that they must gather at a toll booth outside the city before the match. It also stipulates, among other things, that all other Bayern fans must travel to the stadium exclusively by public transport. After the match, everyone must return to their original means of transport. The coaches will then be escorted out of the city by the police.

  "For FC Bayern, the short notice of the decree is unacceptable, as all the relevant information has been available for weeks, as is the case with all matches involving the German record champions. Furthermore, there has been no change in the risk situation with regard to FC Bayern fans since the last meeting in Paris in 2023. Due to the official regulations it is expected that the fan coaches will only be able to leave Paris in the early hours of the morning (from around 05:00 CET) to make their way home.”

• PSG side with Bayern amid growing tensions

  Interestingly, PSG themselves backed Bayern’s complaint, confirming that they were not involved in the police directive and expressing solidarity with their visitors. The situation has sparked tension just hours before one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Champions League group stage.

  The move by French authorities has revived memories of the 2022 Champions League final in Paris between Real Madrid and Liverpool, when organisational chaos outside the Stade de France led to severe crowd congestion, tear gas incidents, and a 37-minute delay to kick-off. An independent report later found that UEFA bore “primary responsibility” for what could have been a “mass fatality catastrophe.”

  The new restrictions, seen by many as an overcorrection, have caused widespread frustration among both clubs. Bayern maintain that there has been no change in the security landscape since their last visit to the Parc des Princes, while PSG reportedly described the late decision as “regrettable.”

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• Getty
  

  Clash of Europe’s in-form teams

  The controversy arrives on the eve of a blockbuster encounter, as on the pitch, all eyes now turn to Tuesday’s showdown at the Parc des Princes, a clash that not only determines who tops the standing but also reignites one of Europe’s fiercest modern rivalries. The tension off the field has only heightened anticipation, with Bayern looking to make a statement win against the defending champions, and PSG aiming to cement their position as Europe’s most in-form side.

  PSG and Bayern head into the tie unbeaten in the Champions League group phase, each having secured three wins from three matches. The reigning champions, PSG, currently top the table on goal difference, while Vincent Kompany’s Bayern trail closely behind, having scored one goal fewer.

  Kompany’s men enter the fixture in electric form, riding a 15-match winning streak across all competitions, a new record for the Bavarian club that eclipses AC Milan’s 1992-93 benchmark. The trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have spearheaded their attack, contributing 54 goals already this season.

There isn’t a job in football that comes under more scrutiny than that of a referee. Whether it’s jeers from the stands, managers from the dugout or players within touching distance, criticism is often everywhere to be seen no matter the reason for certain decisions. And that’s even been the case for some of the best referees to step foot in English football.

"Sir Alex gave me the hairdryer treatment!" – Peter Walton reveals the life of a Premier League referee

Read our exclusive chat with former Premier League referee Peter Walton.

ByBen Goodwin Apr 2, 2025

Mark Clattenburg is considered one of those. The 50-year-old took charge of some of the biggest games that both English and European football has to offer during his 11-year spell in the centre circle, including the Champions League final in 2016.

Since then, he hasn’t been afraid to reveal all about the career of an experienced referee, telling stories about arguments with Jurgen Klopp and even taking aim at current PGMOL head chief Howard Webb.

Clattenburg also isn’t the first ex-Premier League referee to be so open about his career. Graham Scott recently appeared on talkSPORT to speak about the frustrations of VAR and why he felt sorry after ruling out Alexis Mac Allister’s wonder goal a few years ago.

He said: “Off the field you can’t control anything and the noise now is insane. It’s almost unbearable and it becomes an extremely challenging role. Then, layering on top of that being VAR, as I’ve tried to convey in my piece, being a VAR is utterly unenjoyable.”

Now, Clattenburg has explained a regret of his own and one that left Everton boss David Moyes fuming several years ago.

Clattenburg: I got Everton decision "completely wrong"

Speaking on the Daily Mail Sport’s Whistleblowers podcast, Clattenburg revealed he got one Everton decision “completely wrong” in the 2007 Merseyside derby. The referee sent off two Everton players that day, with one being Tony Hibbert and the other being Phil Neville, which sparked fury from Moyes.

Clattenburg also failed to award the Toffees a late penalty when Jamie Carragher hauled Joleon Lescott to the ground, which he has now admitted was the wrong decision as the Red went on to seal victory.

Moyes was left incredibly frustrated after the game and told reporters: “You wonder whether they allow themselves to be influenced by the top four. Didn’t Clattenburg go to Hong Kong with Liverpool for the Asia Cup this summer? Maybe he wants to be their friend.”

وجه الحساب الرسمي لنادي برشلونة رسالة للاعبيه بعد الخسارة أمام ريال مدريد بهدفين لهدف واحد في الكلاسيكو، ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وكان ريال مدريد قد سجل هدفيه في المباراة عن طريق كيليان مبابي في الدقيقة 22 بصناعة من جود بيلينجهام، وأحرز الإنجليزي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 43.

بينما سجل برشلونة هدفه الوحيد في المباراة عن طريق لاعب خط الوسط فيرمين لوبيز في الدقيقة 38، وشهدت المواجهة طرد بيدري في الدقيقة الأخيرة من الوقت بدل الضائع.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تشابي ألونسو: مواجهة برشلونة ليست عبئًا.. ونستعد لهم مثل خيتافي

وعبر الحساب الرسمي لنادي برشلونة على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، نشر النادي رسالة تحفيزية للاعبيه بعد الخسارة: “الطريق طويل جداً والرغبات لا تزال قائمة”.

وقد ارتفع رصيد ريال مدريد بعد الفوز في مباراة الكلاسيكو إلى النقطة 27 في المركز الأول، وتجمد رصيد برشلونة عند النقطة 22 في المركز الثاني.

When thinking about the best players to ever play for Germany, the likes of Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller all spring to mind. The fact is, they have been blessed with outrageous talent in several different eras – winning four World Cups as a result.

The biggest name that stands out in the modern era is arguably Neuer. It’s rare when a goalkeeper is recognised as the best of his time, but the Bayern Munich legend has simply revolutionised his role. As the first real ‘sweeper keeper’, Neuer shocked opponents by positioning himself close to the half-way line and often taking risks as if he were in the No.6 role rather than between the posts.

Manuel Neuer

Germany Record

Appearances

124

Clean Sheets

51

Goals Conceded

118

Conceding less than a goal a game throughout his international career, it’s no surprise that Neuer has been showered with praise over the years. And that includes from Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who told reporters: “I’ve seen everyone. Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn, and now Manu.

“I have the greatest respect for Sepp and Oli, they were absolutely world-class. But what Manuel has done is something else: he took the whole goalkeeping game to a new level.”

Meanwhile, if your preference is goals rather than those that prevent them, then Muller stands out for Germany. Nicknamed Der Bomber by fans thanks to his ability to tear defences apart, only Miroslav Klose has scored more goals for Germany than Muller.

So, there’s certainly plenty of players to choose from in Germany’s illustrious history. You could do a lot worse than simply picking any of the players involved in their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in 2014, that’s for sure. But that didn’t stop recent Newcastle United signing Nick Woltemade from naming a shock Arsenal player as his favourite German player of all time.

Nick Woltemade: Kai Havertz is my favourite German player

After putting pen to paper to join Newcastle, Woltemade shocked everyone by naming Kai Havertz as his favourite German player. The Arsenal forward was selected over the likes of Klose, Muller and Neuer, with the Newcastle star revealing that he’s a big fan of his compatriot in unexpected fashion.

Whilst Havertz made the cut above several legends, Woltemade may simply enjoy the thought of playing alongside the Arsenal man. If both enjoy impressive campaigns, they could provide Julian Nagelsmann with quite the strike partnership.

Germany are due some success if history is anything to go by too. They haven’t won a major trophy since the 2014 World Cup and the pressure is on ahead of next summer.

With 20 goals and 17 assists in just 55 games for his country, there’s every chance that Havertz will play a large role in Germany’s attempt to get back to the top of world football. Whether his biggest fan in Woltemade is alongside him remains to be seen, however.

Arsenal have their eyes on an “extraordinary” attacker amid their transfer talks for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.

Andrea Berta has enjoyed an extremely busy and productive first summer window at the Emirates Stadium already, and Hincapie could be their latest in a long line of excellent additions for Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners have quietly transformed their squad this summer through purposeful reinforcements, with Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks, Martín Zubimendi anchoring the midfield, Christian Nørgaard offering depth, Noni Madueke adding pace on the wing, Cristhian Mosquera bolstering the defence, Viktor Gyökeres adding a proven goal return and Eberechi Eze injecting serious creativity behind the striker as their new number 10 in place of the injured Kai Havertz.

While Berta’s spending has been lavish, with reports placing the total close to or over £270 million, it has been strategically spread across key positions rather than wasted on a single marquee name.

This approach has reinforced multiple areas across the pitch and allows for serious tactical flexibility, as well as responding to the inevitable injuries of a demanding season – which has already happened following Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka’s injuries last weekend.

While Saka is expected to miss four weeks, Odegaard could play against Liverpool on Sunday (football.london). Still, the north Londoners now have quality players to jump in their place, unlike last season.

Arsenal have covered every base: creativity, goals, stability and versatility. With the structure now there, Arteta’s side look ready and raring to take the final step and bring home a Premier League trophy after over two decades of waiting.

They’ve already made an excellent start to the campaign, scoring six goals in two games whilst conceding zero – beating both Man United and Leeds respectively as Arteta’s side gear up for a tough trip to Anfield.

Despite their flurry of transfer activity this summer, they may not be done there, with Arsenal in talks to sign Piero Hincapie after agreeing terms with the Ecuador international as a replacement for FC Porto-bound Jakub Kiwior.

As well as this, with Arsenal often conducting their transfer plans months in advance, the club are scouting future targets.

Arsenal targeting Ajax forward Oscar Gloukh

As per The Mail and journalist Simon Jones, Arsenal have their eyes on four young stars ahead of potential moves, and one of them is highly-rated Ajax forward Oscar Gloukh.

The Israel international has only just signed for Ajax this summer from RB Salzburg for around £12.5 million, but Arsenal are believed to be eyeing Gloukh as a potential future signing alongside the likes of Jon Martin (Real Sociedad), Arnau Martinez (Girona) and Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjælland).

The 21-year-old Gloukh is a particularly interesting name, as he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League before and already boasts a fantastic reputation.

Australia will have another debutant in their XI, while India will make at least one change in their bid to draw the series

Alagappan Muthu02-Jan-20254:27

Is Rohit in Manjrekar’s India XI for Sydney?

Big picture: SCG showdown to decide Border-Gavaskar TrophyFrom that first day, when 17 wickets fell in Perth, there has been intrigue in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Even the game ruined by rain in Brisbane threw up something unexpected – a sudden retirement. Now as a hard fought, highly entertaining series comes to an end, Australia have the chance to cement their legacy – the reigning ODI and Test world champions have one hand on a trophy that has eluded them for 10 years – and India still have the chance to deny them.There were reports of friction inside India’s ranks. The captain Rohit Sharma is so short of runs his place in the team isn’t looking so good. The coach Gautam Gambhir did not confirm if the captain would be in the XI, which created a very different feel to India’s build-up. Shubman Gill, who was left out at the MCG Test, was one of the first in the nets and Dhruv Jurel, who hasn’t played since Perth, was the last to leave. If that’s any indication of a change in India’s batting line-up, is Rohit going out?India have been struggling to score first-innings runs – their average of 22.40 is their seventh lowest in a season where they’ve played at least five Tests – and have had to play catch-up constantly in Australia. Sydney is a place they might enjoy though. The SCG isn’t quite the batting paradise it used to be, like when India declared on 705 here in 2003, but it is still offering 34.85 per wicket which is better than any other ground in Australia over the last three years. That could be one of the reasons Australia are bringing in bowling reinforcements. The short turnaround between the Boxing Day and the New Year’s Tests is another. Beau Webster will be making his Test debut in place of Mitchell Marsh.For a while it looked like India might be able to escape the MCG with a draw. Yashasvi Jaiswal once again proved to be India’s best batter. At the end of that game, Rohit said the juniors still had a bit to learn about Test cricket, but it seems like they’re doing alright. Jaiswal is India’s highest scorer of the series. Nitish Kumar Reddy produced their best moment. Akash Deep has won Steven Smith’s admiration, but he’s out of the Sydney Test with a bad back. India’s vulnerabilities lie elsewhere.Related

'He'll push through' – Carey confident Starc won't let back issue keep him out of SCG Test

Virat Kohli gears up for the final reckoning of a tour defined by misjudgments

Mitchell Marsh dropped, Beau Webster to debut in Sydney

Form GuideAustralia: WDWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: LDLWLIn the spotlight: Rohit Sharma and Pat CumminsWill Sydney be the last of Rohit Sharma in Test cricket or is he already done? India’s win in Perth came without him. He tried not to upset their momentum by moving himself down to the middle order but then felt that wasn’t working well enough. With not enough runs behind him, his on-field decisions backfiring, and India’s next Test not until June 2025, by which time Rohit will be 38, it feels like the end of something. He did bat in the nets on Thursday, facing only throwdowns, which is what he did ahead of the Melbourne Test as well.If this series didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah in it, Pat Cummins would be its best bowler. After a wayward start in Perth, he looked pumped in Adelaide, keeping the rich tradition of fast bowlers and their nerve-popping celebrations alive. He was Player of the Match in Melbourne for contributing with the bat as well. A win at his home ground in front of what is expected to be record crowds again to seal a place in the World Test Championship final would be the perfect way to end the season for Cummins.Akash Deep won’t play the SCG Test because of a back niggle•Associated PressTeam news: Webster in; Akash outMitchell Starc will play in Sydney while managing a side/rib complaint. Webster, who bats right-handed and bowls both medium pace and offspin, will be the third debutant for Australia in this series after Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas. He was the highest scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season with 938 runs at 58.62 and took 30 wickets at 29.30.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Nathan LyonWith Akash ruled out with a stiff back, India will have to rejig their bowling attack, with either Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana set to replace him. There appear to be changes in batting line-up as well with Gill receiving direct attention from Gambhir, who gave him throwdowns. Jurel also seems like a chance to make the XI with Washington Sundar possibly sitting out.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt)/Shubman Gill, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 KL Rahul, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dhruv Jurel, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Prasidh Krishna/Harshit Rana, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajPitch and conditions: A good cricket wicket A day out from the Test match, there was a bit of grass on the SCG pitch. The feedback Cummins has received about it from the two Shield games that took place here this season is that it’s been a “good cricket wicket”, with enough in it for the bowlers, particularly that there’s a bit more pace in it. The weather for the start of the Test is expected to be clear, although there is some rain forecast on the final two days.Stats and trivia Steven Smith is 38 short of 10,000 Test runs. He will join Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting as the only Australians to have got to the mark. He’ll be the second fastest among them, behind Ponting in 196 innings, if he gets there in Sydney. Sydney might be his home ground but Starc’s record here is under par: he has 24 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 44.16. History isn’t on India’s side as they look to draw the series. They have won only one out of 13 Tests at the SCG.Quotes”If someone had said 40-45 days ago that we would be in this situation, that we can come to Sydney and draw this series, it’s a good position to be in.”
“You go into every Test trying to win so no different this week. Really happy with the last three Tests, how the boys have played. We’ve shown for most that we’ve been the frontrunner, that’s the aim again this week, keep it up.”

Sheffield United are preparing for another campaign in the English second-tier and now reportedly leading the race to bring a renowned central defender to Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United look for further additions after Louie Barry

After a quiet start to the window, the Blades made their fourth signing after bringing in Louie Barry on loan following his excellent spell at Stockport County last term.

The 22-year-old forward also spent time at Hull City and can’t wait to get started in Yorkshire, as he stated: “The first time I had conversations about it, I just couldn’t wait to come here. The season is three weeks away, and I know we have a couple of friendlies before, but I am just buzzing to get started.

“I’ve been at Villa, playing games, training and working hard just for whatever will come next. As I say, when a club like this comes calling, you can’t turn it down and I can’t wait to get into it.”

Addressing their issues in central defence has also become a priority for Ruben Selles, with Le Havre defender Ettiene Youte Kinkoue a Sheffield United target with the competitive season now only a couple of weeks away.

Undoubtedly, winning promotion from the EFL Championship has to be the priority at Bramall Lane this term. Losing out in the playoff final provoked feelings of heartbreak, but a fresh opportunity will soon be here to make amends.

Familiar faces like Bindon will help Selles to get his feet under the table. However, there is a collective appetite among supporters to see experienced new additions join his squad to give them a fighting chance, which could be the case if recent developments evolve.

Sky Sports: Sheffield United lead race to sign Rob Holding

According to Sky Sports Premier League, Sheffield United and Colorado Rapids are ‘leading the race’ to sign Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding this summer.

The £45,000 per week earner is expected to leave Selhurst Park following two years on the books, and a return to Yorkshire could now be on the cards after his loan spell at the Blades last term, where he made 11 appearances in total.

Previously, Holding has been labelled “brilliant” by Mikel Arteta and him coming in on a permanent deal would offer Selles a wealth of top-level experience, given he has featured in just shy of 100 Premier League matches.

Time is of the essence with the Championship kick-off now around the corner, so it will be intriguing to see if Sheffield United can force this one over the line.

Since taking the hot seat at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has got plenty of things right.

He’s taken a team that were spiralling with no end in sight and turned them into genuine contenders for the Premier League and Champions League.

Additionally, he has overseen several impressive signings, including Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, David Raya, and Gabriel Magalhães.

Yet, arguably the Spaniard’s most underrated purchase since becoming manager has been that of Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion, who joined the club for a relatively low price of £27m, and has since produced 51 goal involvements in 124 games.

And now, based on reports, it looks like Arsenal are about to sign another promising player who could emulate the Belgian international over the coming years.

Arsenal's summer business so far

There was plenty of justifiable unease earlier this summer, as it appeared that Arsenal would once again take too long to sign their targets, or, like last year, massively underinvest in the squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Fortunately, such concerns can now be firmly put to rest, as the club have already announced three signings: Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Add to that Viktor Gyokeres, who is reportedly set for his medical on Friday, Noni Madueke, who has already passed his, and the fact that links to Eberechi Eze refuse to go away, and this window is shaping up to be one to remember for the North Londoners.

Moreover, we could be days away from another announcement, an announcement for someone who could end up becoming something of a new Trossard for Arteta.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal have almost completed the signing of centre-back Christian Mosquera.

The Italian journalist claims that the Gunners have now exchanged documents with Valencia and agreed a final fee of €15m – £13m – plus add-ons for the Spaniard, with the overall package coming in at under €20m, which is about £17m.

Moreover, fans shouldn’t have to wait too long to see the 20-year-old in red and white, as Romano has revealed that his medical is planned for today.

In all, it looks like a sensational bit of business for Arsenal, and we can’t help but see him following a similar path to Trossard over the coming years.

Why Mosquera could emulate Trossard at Arsenal

Now, it is an undeniable fact that, as someone who primarily plays at centre-back, Mosquera is quite different from Trossard.

However, when we discuss the young Spaniard emulating the Belgian at Arsenal, his position and playing style aren’t particularly relevant; instead, it is more about the finances involved, the role he could play in the squad next season, and the expectations placed on him.

For example, when the former Brighton star joined the North Londoners in 2023, he did so for a decent fee and as a back-up option to the then far more talented Gabriel Martinelli.

The Waterschei-born ace was a third-choice winger, but through good performances, he was able to secure plenty of minutes and improve his reputation among fans.

That is the path we see the Valencia ace taking, as, due to his right-footedness, there is no doubt that his role next season will be as the back-up to William Saliba.

Moreover, with Riccardo Calafiori being so injury-prone and being more of a left-back option, as well as reports that Jakub Kiwior could still leave this summer, the Spaniard could instantly be the third-choice centre-back.

Finally, based on his performances for Valencia, and the way those in the know speak about him, there is every chance Arteta tasks him with playing more games than some might be expecting.

Appearances

137

Starts

129

Minutes

7399

Goals

1

Points per Game

1.34

Yellow Cards

9

Second Yellow Cards

0

Red Cards

0

For example, despite just turning 21 years old, the “dominant” defender, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 137 first-team appearances for the Murciélagos, of which 129 have been starts.

On top of that, Mattinson has argued that he’s similar to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the sense that he’s already so good, he’s “past the point of being compared to the best young players in his position.”

Lastly, U23 scout Antonio Mango has been incredibly complimentary of the young defender, stating that he possesses “a nice blend of physical prowess and a deep understanding of the game.”

Additionally, his ability to play on the right or left, as well as at right-back, “offers flexibility” to his manager.

Ultimately, Mosquera is a very different player to Trossard, but there is a strong chance he ends up fulfilling a similar role to him next season, but in defence, as the reliable third option who ends up getting far more game time than most expect.

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