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Nick Woltemade returned to Newcastle on a £75 flight after scoring on international duty with Germany. The striker went from national hero to EasyJet passenger in a matter of hours after scoring the decisive goal for Germany in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Northern Ireland. Talk about a humbling journey home.

• From Windsor Park to economy class

  As reported by the Magpies' £69 million ($92m) club-record signing, who has been setting the Premier League alight with his form, jetted back to Tyneside on a £75 flight from Belfast, sharing the same plane as none other than Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, whom he fought against on the pitch. The 6ft 6in German striker kept a low profile during the 45-minute journey, hiding under a cap and hoodie while sitting in the front row of the 10:40am flight from Belfast International to Newcastle.

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• AFP
  

  German giant finally breaks his international duck

  After facing criticism back home for failing to find the net in his first five international appearances, Woltemade finally delivered when it mattered. His first goal for Germany sealed a vital victory in their World Cup qualification campaign and eased the growing pressure on the 23-year-old.

  "I'm really happy about it," Woltemade told BBC Sport NI after Germany's win. "The last game didn't go so well for me so I was really happy today that I score. Maybe it's because I'm in the West of Europe, I score there more often!"

  Woltemade had endured a frustrating outing against Luxembourg, managing just one attempt before being subbed off after an hour. But on Monday night, he answered his critics in emphatic fashion;  the goal machine was back in business. The strike against Northern Ireland means Woltemade has now hit four goals in his last five games for club and country combined. Since his big-money move from Stuttgart to Newcastle in August, he’s wasted no time justifying the price tag, already bagging four for the Magpies.

  "It was really important when you look at the table. We needed this win, it was a difficult away game, but an amazing atmosphere," he said. "It was a hard game. A lot of long balls. A lot of duals, it was not easy. It was really difficult. They shoot the ball and cross the ball from everywhere, so we always have to go on the dual, it was like 50/50 and the ball is dropping somewhere but I think we did really well. We knew this would be part of the game but I think we did quite good."

  Now that the goal drought is over, Woltemade is already hungry for more. With World Cup qualification within touching distance, the striker is targeting more goals next month against Luxembourg and Slovakia.

  He added: “We’ll continue to work to develop further, to push our game forward, and I’m looking forward to the next training camp.”

• German teammates rally behind Woltemade & Wirtz

  Not everyone had a night to remember in Belfast, though. Liverpool’s £100m ($133.5m) playmaker Florian Wirtz endured a frustrating evening, failing to make his mark. But teammate David Raum leapt to his defence while also hailing Woltemade’s resurgence.

  “They’re amazing players. They both have amazing abilities,"  he said. "Florian has not had the best start at Liverpool I know but he’s working hard at training and always stays long on the pitch. I’m sure he’s going to make his way at Liverpool and he’ll be an important player this season for me. Nick is already scoring for Newcastle and I’m happy to play with both of them. I’m very happy for Nick. He’ll keep going and scoring for Newcastle. He’ll grow there and I hope he’ll become an even better player there because we’ll need him.”

  While Newcastle fans are revelling in their new talisman, back in Germany, Stuttgart are still licking their wounds. Their manager, Sebastian Hoeness, hasn’t minced his words about how much the club misses Woltemade. The 48-year-old boss, who openly criticised the decision to sell the striker late in the transfer window, called it a “bitter loss” and admitted the Bundesliga club are struggling to fill the void.

  "It's not about whether my fears were confirmed. We all knew that we were taking a risk by selling Nick and the Hyeon Gyu Oh transfer not coming to fruition," Hoeness said in an interview with . "There was great hope that he would make it through the season, as has been the case in recent years. But injuries are unfortunately a part of competitive sport. [Demirovic] is the only true centre-forward in the squad. For us, this means that we as a coaching staff have to work with the players on solutions. We were already doing this before Medo's absence due to the large number of games, but now the task is obviously significantly more challenging."

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• Getty
  

  From Easyjet to the Premier League fast lane

  Two months into Woltemade's Premier League adventure, it’s clear Newcastle have unearthed something special. The Toon faithful adore him and Monday night’s international breakthrough will only boost his confidence heading into the weekend’s clash with Brighton. A £69m man flying home on EasyJet, but on the pitch, Woltemade is soaring at 30,000 feet.

كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات جديدة بشأن الثنائي الذي يراقبه ليفربول للحصول على خدمات أي منهما لتعويض محمد صلاح.

وبحسب “فوتبول إنسايدر” البريطانية فإن ليفربول يراقب عن قرب الثنائي أنطوان سيمينيو جناح بورنموث وأنتوني جوردون نجم نيوكاسل يونايتد.

ويستهدف ليفربول التعاقد مع الجناحين اللذين يقدمان أداءً رائعًا مع بورنموث ونيوكاسل على الترتيب هذا الموسم.

ويحظى سيمينيو وجوردون بتقدير كبير من جانب فريق التعاقدات في ليفربول، ويثير الثنائي إعجاب مسؤولي الريدز بقدراتهما على اللعب في مراكز متعددة في خط الهجوم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سبورت: هل تضاءل دور محمد صلاح مع ليفربول؟

ويأتي إعجاب ليفربول بضم الثنائي انطوان سيمينيو أو أنتوني جوردون وسط شكوك حول مستقبل محمد صلاح مع الريدز مع اقتراب سوق الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير.

ويعد سيمينيو أحد أبرز اللاعبين في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم تحت قيادة أندوني إيراولا، وسجل اللاعب ستة أهداف في الدوري هذا الموسم وصنع ثلاث تمريرات حاسمة.

ولم يسجل جوردون أي هدف في الدوري الإنجليزي مع فريق نيوكاسل تحت قيادة إيدي هاو، لكنه تألق في أوروبا، وسجل أربعة أهداف في ثلاث مباريات.

Last season’s finalists have been off the boil in IPL 2025

Sreshth Shah02-Apr-20253:35

‘The latest Venkatesh Iyer should walk in at is No. 4’

Big picture: Rematch of the IPL 2024 finalThe last time Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) met, it was in the IPL 2024 final. But three games into IPL 2025, they are at the wrong end of the points table. SRH are eighth and KKR tenth, and the only team either of them have beaten is Rajasthan Royals, sandwiched in between at ninth.For defending champions KKR, their whole batting line-up has been fragile. Last season, their opening partnership set games up by averaging 43.9 at a strike-rate of 207. This season they are averaging 15.3 and striking at 100. The batters between Nos. 4 to 8 – which includes the retained quartet of Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh – are averaging 17.22 and striking at 117.3. They appear to have picked up a vulnerability to the short ball too. Nine of the 12 KKR dismissals to fast bowling this season are to balls pitched between the 8 and 10 metre mark or shorter.SRH have had poor powerplays with both bat and ball. The shots off Abhishek Sharma’s bat have sounded sweet but he has scored only 31 runs in three innings. Against Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, their batters kept attacking even as wickets tumbled to finish with totals that turned out to be below-par. Their fast bowling was supposed to be an upgrade but they’ve not made an impact in the first six overs. Their powerplay economy (11.4) is the poorest among all teams this year, and even with the quality of Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel, the economy rate (11.7) of their pace attack is in the doldrums. Only RR’s quicks (11.8) have fared worse.Although both teams are facing similar issues, their approaches remain different. Cummins said after the last defeat that SRH will not change their batting plan, while KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo said on match-eve their batters will have to move beyond being aggressive and be crafty. Thursday will show which philosophy succeeds.3:12

Cricinformed: Are Sunrisers selling themselves short?

Form guide
Kolkata Knight Riders LWL
Sunrisers Hyderabad LLWTeam news: No major injury concernsSRH are expected to back their primary XII, but the type of pitch (more on that later) could dictate whether they play Adam Zampa, Wiaan Mulder, seamer Simarjeet Singh or spinner Zeeshan Ansari. Anrich Nortje, KKR’s fastest bowler, is still not match ready.Kolkata Knight Riders: (probable) 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Spencer Johnson, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav AroraSunrisers Hyderabad: (probable) 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Aniket Verma, 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Wiaan Mulder/Adam Zampa, 10 Harshal Patel, 11 Mohammed Shami, 12 Simarjeet Singh/Zeeshan AnsariBig questionAdam Zampa made a return to the IPL on the back of great performances since 2024. In that period, his 50 appearances have brought 76 wickets at a strike rate of 14.3 and economy of 7.7. He is especially useful between overs 7-16 since 2024, where he has bowled 80% of all his overs. Is it time for him to be a permanent fixture in SRH’s line-up?In the spotlight: Aniket Verma and Andre RussellNitish Kumar Reddy was SRH’s standout domestic player in 2024 and the team has found another exciting talent in Aniket Verma this season. Even with wickets tumbling, Aniket, bought for INR 30 lakh, has found a way to smash bowlers. His 13-ball 36 against LSG was a trailer of what would follow as he went on to hammer a 41-ball 74 against DC. Aniket has been among the most destructive players of spin in IPL 2025, hitting them for a boundary once every three balls, at a strike rate of 238. His 11 sixes against spin is second only to Nicholas Pooran’s 12. With KKR possessing Narine and Varun Chakravarthy in their bowling XI, will Aniket continue his dominance?2:47

Bangar: Don’t see any change in SRH’s approach

Since the end of IPL 2024, Andre Russell has scored only 586 runs in 41 T20 games at an average of 18.9. He also has just nine runs in two innings this IPL. Last season, Russell had given KKR power at the death, averaging 31.20 with a strike-rate of 185. His highest score in IPL 2024 of 64 not out came against SRH at Eden Gardens.Pitch and conditions: Turn on the cards?The surface at Eden Gardens has been in focus over the last week. The pitch that was used in the season opener against RCB backfired on KKR, with the captain Rahane asking for something slower that would suit the team’s spinners. Two pitches have been prepared for this fixture, both having very little grass, which suggests the team’s demand may well have been met.Key Stats: SRH’s dependency on their openers KKR won all three games against SRH in IPL 2024: one league game, the first qualifier and the final. KKR have also won eight of the last ten matches against SRH. KKR have the second-lowest powerplay run-rate (7.8) this season, ahead of only CSK’s 7.4. They also have the joint worst powerplay bowling strike-rate of 54. Travis Head has the second highest strike-rate against fast bowling (206) since IPL 2024 (min. 100 balls faced). Abhishek Sharma has the best IPL strike-rate of 206 for the first ten deliveries of an innings (min. 75 balls) Heinrich Klaasen has never been dismissed by Sunil Narine in five IPL innings, scoring 34 runs off 22 balls. Against Varun Chakravarthy, Klaasen has scored 35 runs off 20 balls, but has been dismissed once. SRH have an 80% win record when both Head and Abhishek survive the powerplay. It drops to 71% when one of them is dismissed and dips to 17% when both are out.Quotes”The bowlers have an attacking plan, but also have a defensive plan. When we are under pressure, you will see our bowlers go to a defensive plan. But when we are also picking up wickets, we will continue to try and pick up more.”
“Our team is suited to play an aggressive style, but we don’t speak about 300 as an expectation that are put on us by other people. We try to play a positive brand of cricket. It’s a strength of ours and we try to double down on our strengths.”

On a blustery Wellington day, an Antarctic chill blowing in with the southerly, New Zealand’s home advantage may have played a role in their victory. This is what Matt Henry thinks, after his 4 for 19 led the demolition of Sri Lanka’s batting order. Bowling first on a green pitch, New Zealand rolled Sri Lanka over for 178. And yet Sri Lanka’s seamers were unable to exert similar pressure, New Zealand winning by nine wickets, inside 27 overs.Though this is midsummer in New Zealand, the temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius in the morning. And as almost always at the Basin Reserve, there was an end at which the bowlers had to work against a substantial wind. New Zealand understood how to harness these conditions, Henry said.Related

• Henry, Young give New Zealand thumping win in series opener

“It’s probably about understanding ends,” he said. “The wind plays a huge part here at the Basin. That’s the home advantage – knowing what it looks like to attack from both ends, and using the bounce that’s usually available here as well. Thankfully we were able to force some errors and take some wickets.”The first ten overs, at the end of which New Zealand had Sri Lanka 23 for 4, were the definitive period of this match. Henry claimed the first wicket – that of Pathum Nissanka – and Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith also took wickets in their first spells.Jacob Duffy knocked over Kusal Mendis in the first powerplay•Getty Images

“The way we started with the ball, we were able to create pressure at both ends, and take wickets throughout, which is our key objective as a bowling group,” Henry said. “Any time you get the new ball you want to have an impact on the game. It’s nice to have that success, but you don’t have that without the guys doing the job at the other end as well. Starting with the new ball down-breeze, the way Duffy started and Smith as well – that’s how chances come as well. I thought it was a great team performance.”New Zealand also produced an outstanding fielding effort, with Mark Chapman in particular electric in the point region. The highlight of the fielding performance, however, was Mitchell Santner swooping on a ball from cover to fire in an underhand throw as he dived forward, to hit the single stump he had to aim at. This ran out Kamindu Mendis in the 10th over.”We pride ourselves on our fielding,” Henry said. “With these windy conditions, you can get lost out there. The engagement was brilliant, and we were taking our chances when they came. To have a run-out in the first 10 overs through Mitch Santner, with a great bit of fielding, it really puts a team under pressure and puts momentum in your favour. Little moments like that have a huge impact on the game.”Henry himself has entered a new phase in his career – one in which he makes all three New Zealand teams. For much of the last 10 years, he’d been in the shadows of the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner. With all three now retired, Henry is the senior-most bowler around.”It’s great to have that continuity. Playing for New Zealand in all forms is something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve been involved with this group for 10 years now. I love playing for New Zealand.”And though playing all three formats could pose fresh challenges to a fast bowler’s body, Henry is unconcerned.”That’s the beauty of the strength and conditioning coach, who does a great job. We play all year round now, and it’s something that I’ve always done. I’ve played a lot of county cricket as well. It’s probably about understanding your body and how to stay fresh.”

تلقى نادي ليفربول، ضربة موجعة بين صفوفه، بعدما تعرض أحد لاعبي الفريق لإصابة خلال الأيام الماضية، بينما انطلقت فترة التوقف الدولي خلال شهر أكتوبر للتو.

ليفربول يعاني الأمرين خلال الفترة الأخيرة، حيث تعرض الريدز إلى خسارتين متتاليتين في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي شملت الهزيمة ضد تشيلسي بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم السبت الماضي في ملعب ستامفورد بريدج، ومن قبلها خسر الريدز ضد كريستال بالاس 2-1 أيضًا الأسبوع الماضي.

ولم يسلم ليفربول من الهزائم في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث خسر الريدز ضد جالطة سراي بهدف دون رد يوم الثلاثاء الماضي، ضمن مرحلة الدوري من المسابقة الأوروبية.

اقرأ أيضًا .. لاعب مانشستر سيتي: محمد صلاح أصعب خصم واجهته مع ميسي وهالاند

وسوف يفقتد ليفربول إلى خدمات لاعب خط وسط ميدانه خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك بسبب الإصابة.

وأكد ليفربول في بيان عبر موقع النادي الرسمي، أن الاتحاد الياباني أعلن غياب إندو عن قائمة المنتخب والذي سوف يخوض مباراتين خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي.

اليابان سوف تواجه نظيرتها باراجواي يوم الجمعة المقبل في لقاء ودي، وبعد ذلك سيلعب الساموراي ضد البرازيل يوم 14 أكتوبر المقبل وديًا أيضًا.

إندو كان قد شارك خلال الشوط الثاني من مواجهة ليفربول وتشيلسي، لكن ابن الـ32 عامًا لم يقدم من جهته الإضافة المطلوبة.

Glasgow Rangers return to competitive action again on Wednesday night when they travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos in the second leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

The Light Blues head to Greece with a 2-0 lead on aggregate after they beat them at Ibrox last week in Russell Martin’s first official match in charge of the club.

Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama in the second half wrapped up the win for the Gers, as both wingers cut inside from the left to fire the ball into the back of the net from distance.

It was a first chance for Ibrox supporters to watch Gassama in action after his move from English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, and he showed what he is about with his strike.

The French winger produced eight goals and one assist in all competitions for the Owls last season, which suggests that Rangers fans can expect him to provide more quality as a goalscorer this term.

However, the Light Blues may be in the market for further additions in the wide areas because they still lack creativity in those positions, as they look to find their new Ryan Kent.

Why Rangers need to find their next Ryan Kent

In the 2024/25 campaign, no Rangers attacking midfielder or winger provided more than five assists in the Scottish Premiership, and no player in any position racked up more than James Tavernier’s tally of seven assists.

This suggests that the Light Blues are in need of a winger who can consistently open up the opposition’s defence with passes and crosses to create high-quality chances for their teammates to find the back of the net.

The Gers did have a winger who had the quality to consistently provide assists from the flanks when they had Kent on their books between 2018 and 2023, particularly in his final few seasons at Ibrox.

22/23

44

3

10

21/22

46

3

19

20/21

52

13

14

19/20

33

8

4

18/19

43

6

9

As you can see in the table above, the English forward hit double figures for assists in his last three seasons with the club, and produced at least nine assists in four of his five years in Glasgow.

These statistics show that he was a consistent creative threat down the left wing for the Gers, although they also show that he was inconsistent as a goalscorer.

Rangers are now looking to add more creativity to their squad to improve the team, and a fresh report suggests that they are on the verge of landing their next version of Ryan Kent.

Rangers set to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, the Premiership giants have agreed a deal with Go Ahead Eagles to sign winger Oliver Antman to bolster their squad.

The report claims that the Finland international is poised to become the latest addition to Martin’s team within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a possible debut to come against Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday.

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It adds that a fee of around £5m has been mentioned for the 23-year-old right-sided attacker, who is now set to agree personal terms before completing a medical and officially signing for the club.

The Daily Record explains that the two teams have made progress on a deal for the forward in recent days, and a fee has now been agreed to bring the Finnish whiz to Ibrox this summer.

It now appears to be only the finer details, including a medical and media duties, that need to be finalised before the Gers can officially announce Antman as their new hero.

Why Oliver Antman could be the new Ryan Kent for Rangers

Rangers could finally have their new Ryan Kent in the building once they get this deal over the line in the coming hours or days, as he is an incredibly creative forward.

Antman is not a like-for-like in comparison to the English forward, because he predominantly plays on the right rather than the left, but they share the same creative qualities.

The Finland international, who assisted a goal for his country against Scotland last year, enjoyed a stunning season with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie in the 2024/25 campaign, as he showcased his ability to create goals on a regular basis.

Like Kent, Antman struggled at times as a goalscorer. He only scored six goals from 6.99 xG in the Dutch top-flight, which shows that the winger was too wasteful in front of goal, but the £5m-rated star made up for that with his assists.

Starts

28

Goals

6

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old talent created a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ in 28 starts in the Eredivisie, which landed him 15 assists.

His tally of 15 assists in the league meant that he created more than double as many league goals for his side in comparison to Tavernier, who was the top creator for Rangers in the Premiership last term with seven.

This suggests that Antman, who was aptly described as a “creative” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the potential to be a Kent-esque figure on the flank for Rangers due to his ability to consistently create ‘big chances’ for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Of course, the young attacker is unproven in the Premiership and needs to show that he can do it in Scottish football, but his form for Go Ahead Eagles shows that the potential is there for him to be an incredibly creative presence out wide for Martin.

He's as bad as Propper: £5m Rangers flop "edging closer" to an Ibrox exit

This Rangers flop who was as bad as Robin Propper is now closing in on an Ibrox exit.

ByDan Emery Jul 27, 2025

Hopefully, Rangers will wrap this deal up sooner rather than later and supporters will get the opportunity to see him in action for the first time on Saturday against Motherwell.

Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are about to sign yet another player this summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining busy in the transfer market after an already-ambitious window.

Eze's dream CF: Arsenal in talks to sign £69m "monster" & it's not Gyokeres

Arsenal could still change their mind on Viktor Gyokeres.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

Mikel Arteta has already watched the Premier League title hopefuls confirm deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard most recently.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£75m

The Gunners announced Norgaard’s capture on Thursday for an initial fee of £10 million, which could rise to £15 million if add-ons are met, and he comes in to shore up Arteta’s midfield whilst replacing the departed Thomas Partey.

“We’re delighted to welcome Christian to Arsenal,” said Arteta about Norgaard’s arrival.

“He is an international player with a wealth of experience of the Premier League. He has proven leadership skills and a strong character which will be invaluable to our squad.

“He is a strong midfielder with excellent tactical awareness and versatility. He also has physical presence and intelligence which will give us added depth and balance. Christian will bring a lot to the group both on and off the pitch, and we’re excited to start working with him in this next chapter of his career. We welcome Christian and his family to Arsenal.”

Attention now swiftly turns to who will follow the Denmark international to N5.

Arsenal remain in ongoing talks to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as negotiations reach a very advanced stage, and it is believed the 27-year-old is now on strike as he attempts to force through his desired move to north London.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also held talks with Eberechi Eze’s representatives, according to reliable media sources, and a potential deal for the England international playmaker is separate to their pursuit of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Earlier this week, after agreeing personal terms with the 23-year-old, Arsenal opened formal talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, and it now appears those negotiations have reached a swift conclusion.

Arsenal given green light to sign Noni Madueke with agreement reached

That is according to Romano and widespread reports, which claim that Arsenal have now reached a total agreement for Madueke, in a deal worth north of £50 million including add-ons.

Arteta’s side have been given the “green light” to sign the ex-PSV Eindhoven sensation, with Chelsea set to make a £20 million profit – two years after he joined them from the Eredivisie for around £30 million.

The forward, called a “machine” by members of the media, was also dubbed one of Chelsea’s “best players” by Enzo Maresca last season.

However, Madueke is now poised to become the latest in a long line of transfers between the west Londoners and Arsenal, which surely casts major doubt over the long-term futures of both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard – especially if they also complete a deal for Eze.

Arsenal supporters have watched new sporting director Andrea Berta get to work on a flurry of statement transfer deals this summer, with Noni Madueke joining from Chelsea for around £52 million and defender Cristhian Mosquera travelling to London for a medical most recently (Standard Sport).

International captain approves Arsenal exit with talks planned in coming days

The Gunners need to balance out their squad.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

The duo have joined Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard among Mikel Arteta’s crop of brand-new players ahead of what will be an all-important Premier League campaign, with Arsenal seeking to end their 21-year wait for a league title.

Madueke’s arrival, after he put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Arsenal on Wednesday (Fabrizio Romano), has raised eyebrows among supporters – but journalist Charles Watts says that Arteta was really pushing to make the deal happen.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

“I know Arsenal are very happy with the price they have paid,” Watts said to CaughtOffside.

“They believe it matches up well to what other players of Madueke’s profile have moved for this summer and are adamant that in a couple of years time people will look on it as an excellent piece of business.

“Mikel Arteta has really been pushing this deal, he believes Madueke can thrive in an environment like Arsenal’s and does not view him as a back-up. He is bringing him in to play a lot of games, whether that be on the right or on the left.”

Now, attention has fully turned to finalising a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres after weeks of talks.

Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Sweden international, who will put pen to paper on a five-year contract (The Athletic), but there’s a final round of negotiations happening right now over the add-ons and bonuses involved (The Guardian).

Gyokeres’ agent agreed to waive his fee to help make the transfer happen, and Berta is currently attempting to get him through the door in time for Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the Far East, which begins on Wednesday against AC Milan in Singapore.

Viktor Gyokeres wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday

That is according to Football Transfers, who also report that Arsenal are expecting a breakthrough in the discussions surrounding bonuses soon – which could take the transfer cost up to £69 million.

Gyokeres and Arsenal want him to join up with Arteta’s squad in time for their clash with Milan, and a medical is apparently scheduled to take place for him over the weekend, so all parties appear pretty confident this transfer will be completely finalised in imminent fashion.

The 27-year-old’s arrival would mark the end of Arsenal’s long search for a prolific number nine, and Gyokeres could well be a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Arsenal and English champions Liverpool.

The former Coventry City star is on the verge of returning to England after two years free-scoring in Portugal, with Gyokeres netting an outstanding 97 goals in 102 appearances.

Leeds United have a massive summer ahead of them in the coming months, with shrewd additions needed if the side are to survive the drop in the Premier League next season.

Daniel Farke has done a tremendous job leading the side back to the top-flight, but the real job starts now, with the German needing to keep the side in the division.

None of the last six sides to secure promotion back to such a division have been able to remain in it for longer than one season, highlighting the task on the Whites’ hands in 2025/26.

Whilst they secured the Championship title in 2024/25, multiple additions will be needed in key areas of the pitch this summer, with added depth and quality required if they are to buck the recent trend.

With the season less than two months away and with no additions made, the hierarchy need to start making moves to strengthen the first team squad, leading to countless names being thrown into the mix.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

All areas of the pitch have been subject to links for Leeds in the last couple of weeks, with Farke evidently plotting moves for numerous talents before the start of the season.

The likes of Fabio Silva, Douglas Luiz and Japhet Tanganga have all been mooted with moves to Yorkshire, but as of yet, no deals have edged closer for any of the aforementioned trio.

However, another name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers firmly on their radar, according to 67 Hail Hail.

Their report claims that the Whites are battling Sunderland for the 27-year-old, with the Scottish side potentially holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for his signature.

It also states that the American could be tempted by a return to the Premier League, with the real expectation that he will leave Brendan Rodgers’ side before the end of the summer window.

Why Leeds’ £25m target would be a better option than Bijol

Over the last couple of days, Leeds have emerged as strong contenders to secure a deal for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, with the Slovenian appearing a key target for Farke’s side.

The Whites have already had their first bid for the 26-year-old rejected, but remain in talks with the Serie A side over a move to land the defender ahead of the 2025/26.

It’s been reported that the first bid was in the region of £15m, but it remains to be seen how much the Italian side would be demanding to part ways with Bijol this window.

He’s been a key member of the side this campaign, featuring in all but four matches, highlighting his importance to the side and making it understandable that they don’t want to part ways with him this summer.

They should look past a move for the Slovenian and prioritise a deal for the Celtic star, offering a better defensive option ahead of their return to the Premier League.

However, when comparing his stats to those of Carter-Vickers this campaign, the American has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas, showcasing why the board needs to pursue a move for his signature.

The 27-year-old, who’s been labelled “the best centre-back outside the top five leagues” by Euro Expert, has completed more passes and made more progressive passes per 90 – showcasing his ability to play out from the back when needed.

How Carter-Vickers compares to Bijol in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Carter-Vickers	Bijol
Games played	30	34
Minutes played	2618	2963
Pass accuracy	94%	83%
Progressive passes	4.8	2.3
Tackles won	1.6	1.3
% of tackles won	71%	52%
Aerials won	74%	67%
Stats via FBref

He’s also starred out of possession, winning more tackles per 90, and making more interceptions, having the talent without the ball, massively aiding their survival battle next season.

The former Spurs star has also won more aerial battles, having an impact at both ends of the pitch, potentially offering a set-piece threat within the final third.

Whilst he may be an expensive addition for the Whites this summer, his figures produced this campaign are examples of the talent he possesses – offering a better signing than Bijol.

Both players would massively improve the options currently in the first team squad, with Farke needing to work tirelessly in the coming months to secure Carter-Vickers’ signature.

He'd be Farke's own Jansson: Leeds preparing bid for "monstrous" talent

Leeds United are set to make a move for a star who could become a fan favourite at Elland Road.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 13, 2025

Arsenal have been told exactly what it will take for Benjamin Sesko to leave RB Leipzig this summer, as his agent speaks out about reports linking his client with a move away from the Red Bull Arena.

Arsenal offered 21-goal striker who's a "priority signing" for Tottenham

The north London clubs could go head-to-head.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Sesko has just finished a career-best Bundesliga campaign, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, but he couldn’t quite guide Leipzig to a European spot – with the Germans missing out on a place in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

It is the first time Leipzig haven’t qualified for Europe since their top-flight arrival in 2016, and this will surely get Sesko thinking about his immediate future as Arsenal reportedly circle to offer him a route out.

The Slovenia international is a top target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, who’s been chasing his signature for 12 months.

Arsenal had a proposal rejected for Sesko last summer, who instead put pen to paper on a contract extension to remain at Leipzig and further his development, with the north Londoners also having an attempt rebuffed in January (Ben Jacobs).

They’re now trying to make it ‘third-time-lucky’ with another move for Sesko, and “concrete talks” have been taking place since late May (Florian Plettenberg). However, as things stand, Sky Germany are reporting that Arsenal are unwilling to match Leipzig’s financial demands for the centre-forward.

With plenty of work still to do, the 22-year-old’s own representative, Elvis Basanovic, has now provided an update on his client’s future in an interview with GiveMeSport this week.

Arsenal told key transfer condition by Benjamin Sesko's agent

Speaking to GMS, Basanovic has revealed the key condition for Sesko to depart Leipzig before summer deadline day on September 1.

The agent claims he’ll only leave Leipzig for a “special” new destination, refusing to clarify whether Arsenal fall into this category. When asked if the plan for Sesko is to find a new club, Basanovic said: “Well, his numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words.

“He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.”

More worryingly for Arteta, the intermediary even suggested that Sesko could stay at Leipzig for years if they deem it the right call.

“It can be next week, or next year, or in 3 years,” Basanovic continued.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.

“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests, but no matter what, I believe in the football world ‘there’ should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way, or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”