حقق منتخب مصر الثاني الفوز على نظيره التونسي، بهدف دون رد، في المباراة الودية التي جمعت بينهما، ضمن الاستعدادات لبطولة كأس العرب.
واستقبل ملعب هيئة قناة السويس بالإسماعيلية، مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني وتونس في إطار معسكر الإعداد لبطولة كأس العرب.
طالع.. فيديو | أفشة يُسجل هدف منتخب مصر الأول أمام تونس
ونجح محمد مجدي أفشة في تسجيل هدف منتخب مصر الثاني في الدقيقة 30، بعد تمريرة سحرية من مروان حمدي لينفرد بمرمى حارس تونس عبد السلام الحلاوي، ويسدد بقوة في الشباك.
ويستعد منتخب مصر لخوض بطولة كأس العرب، والتي ستقام على الأراضي القطرية في الفترة من 1 ديسمبر المقبل وحتى الـ18 من الشهر ذاته. موعد مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني وتونس وديًا
يستعد منتخب مصر الثاني لمواجهة تونس وديًا، من جديد يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، الموافق التاسع من شهر سبتمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة التاسعة والنصف مساء بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
England ring changes with T20 World Cup in mind, and land statement victory
Valkerie Baynes06-Jul-2024
Sarah Glenn claimed three wickets in an over as England secured a big win over New Zealand•Getty Images
Sarah Glenn appreciates that she is part of a “really special” time for England spinners.Her legspin yielded a triple-wicket over in a haul of 3 for 16 as England romped to a 59-run victory over New Zealand in the first of five T20Is which are key to both sides’ preparation for the World Cup in October. The haul came as part of an enviable four-pronged spin attack which took seven of the nine wickets to fall at Southampton. Off-spinner Charlie Dean took 2 for 28 while world No. 1 Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith – playing her 12th T20I but only her third since June 2019 – took one wicket each.”The more the merrier, I love it,” Glenn said. “Linsey has just been consistently performing for a really long period of time now, especially in the powerplay, at the death, and we all just bring something so different and I just felt it was really effective, so it was nice to see us all come together.”With England captain Heather Knight saying on match eve that her side wouldn’t be afraid to experiment during this series as they look to finalise their squad for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October, Glenn said she felt comfortable in a spin-heavy side.”It doesn’t really change much,” Glenn added. “You’ve just got an extra opinion, which is actually quite nice. If there’s a couple of spinners that might be struggling or anything like that, or you just want some advice, you’ve just got more people to speak to, and we obviously all bring something different. If anything, it’s just more of a strength. We’ve got more people to talk to who might be going through something I’m going through out there, so I think it’s really good.”It’s five games as well, so we’ve got plenty of time to practice those things, but also against a top-quality team, who will put us under the pump, so I think it’s really good prep.”Related
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Glenn’s three wickets included the vastly experienced batters Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, upon whom New Zealand rely heavily. Bates top-scored for the White Ferns with 43, but Devine fell for for a duck that she described at the post-match presentation as “horrendous”. In her absence, Jess Kerr was their second-highest scorer on 38 batting at No. 8 as they attempted to chase down a lofty target of 198, after Danni Wyatt’s 76 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 47 had led England to 197 for 3.England’s margin of victory was their highest in T20Is against New Zealand and could have been even greater were it not for a rash of dropped catches and misfields. But, with the hosts in a buoyant mood, Glenn was confident they could rectify their fielding errors.”Some of them, we made it into a good effort to get there and there were quite a few dives as well,” she said. “There were some simpler catches put down, but I think the fact that we’re getting in powerful positions to give ourselves even a chance of catching those balls is really good for us. If we just keep focusing on that and our intent, it’ll put us in good situations.”England’s spin-heavy line-up required the omission of their strike seamer, Lauren Bell, with the fast-bowling duties instead shared between two allrounders who have only recently made a return to full-time bowling: Sciver-Brunt, whose workload has been managed all summer as she recovers from a knee problem. and the left-armer Freya Kemp, who suffered a back stress fracture on England’s trip to the Caribbean at the end of 2022.In her second England appearance of the summer, Kemp made an unbeaten 26 from 17 balls batting at No. 4 and bowled her full allocation for figures of 4-0-30-1. She bowled during England’s tour of India last December but, after a flare-up, reverted to a batting role for England A in New Zealand earlier this year, against Pakistan in May and in regional cricket.Bates admitted that, despite best-laid plans, New Zealand had been bamboozled by England’s spinners. But she had faith in her side to counter-attack during this series, which moves to Hove on Tuesday.”They’ve got such a clear game-plan,” Bates said. “The powerplay, they use their swing and pace and then Ecclestone, Glenn, Dean come on and really squeeze you and we’ve talked about that, but it’s about executing in the middle. I think today we got ahead of the game slightly in the powerplay and that makes playing the spinners easy. But when you need boundaries they can bowl at the stumps and defend. So we’ve got to be brave to take them on, whether that’s behind the wicket or in front of the wicket and just keep being aggressive.”They’ve probably got one of the best spinning attacks in the world, Ecclestone leading from the front, and when you’ve got an off-spinner, a leg-spinner – Glenny, and Linsey they added today, there’s some world-class players so they’re obviously tough through the middle. If we can keep taking the game on and keep backing our shots, I think we are going to be able to get them in trouble at some point in the series.”
There were washouts in Lauderhill on Friday and Saturday, but the forecast for Sunday isn’t as bad
Danyal Rasool15-Jun-20242:55
Flower: ‘Pakistan underperformed, they were panicking’
Match detailsIreland vs Pakistan June 16, Lauderhill, Florida, 10:30am local timeBig picture: An end to two disappointing campaignsThere are parties you don’t want to be at, and parties the host doesn’t want you at. And then there are parties no one wants to be at.Pakistan and Ireland find themselves in that last position, in extremely wet conditions in Lauderhill, Florida. They’ve both been eliminated from the T20 World Cup, and nothing that happens during their final group game on Sunday can change that. But it must be played, weather permitting, and so they will gear up for one more fixture that will have no impact on this tournament, and almost certainly no implications on qualification for the next one in 2026.For Pakistan, it’s one more day in America before the players return to face the wrath of a nation whose anger has been bubbling up in the days following defeats to the USA and India. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in an impregnable position, and is expected to ring the changes in the coming weeks, with Pakistan’s central contracts also up for review at the end of this month. Babar Azam’s side can do little to change the mood back home, though another defeat won’t help at all.Ireland have also endured a disappointing tournament, especially since the build-up was promising. A home win over Pakistan and victory in a T20 tri-nation series in the Netherlands. But crumpling on a horror pitch in New York against India set the tone for a dismal campaign, with a defeat against Canada the nadir. While their qualification chances were theoretically alive before Lauderhill’s weather washed out their match against the hosts, all that’s left now is the hope that they may end their party in the USA on a high note.Form guidePakistan: WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first) Ireland: LLWWWIn the spotlightThis is almost certainly Imad Wasim’s final international match. Controversially brought back into the side, he has failed to provide the stardust Pakistan believed he would bring when they persuaded him to rescind his international retirement. His performances with the ball have been solid, if unspectacular, with no batting contribution of any heft, a point his innings during Pakistan’s chase against India painfully underscored. His statement before the tournament that “no one remembers semi-finalists and finalists, people remember champions” has aged like milk after Pakistan’s earliest T20 World Cup exit, but at this point, a game to remember as he signs off is the best consolation he can ask for.Lorcan Tucker scored two half centuries in three games against Pakistan last month, before following up with 40 and 55 in the tri-series against the Netherlands and Scotland. Since then, his runs have dried up as Ireland’s T20 World Cup campaign flamed out before it even got off the ground. He has managed starts in each of the group games, getting into double figures while facing 13 and 15 balls. With no pressure and little to lose, Tucker has the opportunity to rediscover the form he found against Pakistan just a few weeks ago.Pakistan have never been eliminated so early from a T20 World Cup•Associated Press
Team newsPakistan may give Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi – the two players who haven’t got a game so far – a start.Pakistan: (probable) 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Fakhar Zaman 5 Usman Khan 6 Shadab Khan 7 Imad Wasim 8 Shaheen Afridi/Abbas Afridi 9 Naseem Shah/Abrar Ahmed 10 Haris Rauf 11 Mohammad AmirIt’s been over a week since Ireland last played, so it’s trickier to predict how Ireland line-up.Ireland: (probable) 1 Andy Balbirnie 2 Paul Stirling (capt) 3 Lorcan Tucker (wk) 4 Harry Tector 5 Curtis Campher 6 George Dockrell 7 Gareth Delany 8 Mark Adair 9 Barry McCarthy 10 Josh Little 11 Craig Young/Ben WhitePitch and conditionsThe matches in Lauderhill between USA and Ireland on Friday, and India and Canada on Saturday, were both abandoned without a toss because of lots of rain and an extremely wet outfield. The forecast for Sunday is better, however, but it depends on how much rain falls overnight and the state of the outfield in the morning.Stats and trivia Pakistan have never before been eliminated from a T20 World Cup after just three games Ireland have lost four successive completed T20 World Cup games. They have only had one worse run, when they lost six in a row across the 2009, 2010 and 2012 World Cups.
This has been a testing first window as Arsenal Sporting Director for Andrea Berta so far. Then again, it was never going to be easy was it?
The Gunners desperately need a new striker and the footballing world knows that. RB Leipzig and Sporting are trying to milk Arsenal for all Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are worth.
The Londoners have reportedly held talks to sign both players but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t look too forthcoming.
Still, Arsenal are active and Berta is working his socks off to ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side are ready for that opening weekend’s encounter against Manchester United.
The arrival of Martin Zubimendi will certainly help.
Arsenal’s pursuit of new midfielders
The Gunners are set to confirm the arrival of Zubimendi from Real Sociedad any day now.
The Spaniard was first linked with the club back in January when it was revealed that Arsenal were ready to trigger the midfielder’s release clause.
Fast forward several months and a deal is now on the verge of completion with it reported that he was in London over the weekend to tie up the formalities of his switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Zubimendi isn’t the only midfielder Arsenal have been tracking.
Indeed, according to TBR Football, they are ‘trying’ to sign PSG’s highly talented teenager, Warren Zaire-Emery.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
They understand that the Gunners started talks with the Champions League winners last week regarding a move.
However, any deal looks incredibly unlikely with the Ligue 1 side informing Arsenal that the 19-year-old is not for sale.
They note that if a switch did happen, Berta and Co would need to come armed with a ‘significant’ offer.
What makes Zaire-Emery so special
With Jorginho having exited the Emirates on a free transfer and Thomas Partey’s Arsenal adventure potentially set to come to a conclusion, Arteta needs more midfielders.
Zubimendi certainly ticks one box. European football expert, Sid Lowe, has previously noted that the 26-year-old “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri”.
So, wouldn’t it be rather special if he were partnered alongside Zaire-Emery?
The PSG sensation may be young but the fact of the matter is that he’s rather special. The teenager’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while data analyst Ben Mattinson notes that he is an “Mbappe at Monaco level of talent”, largely thanks to his blend of skills.
Arsenal have enjoyed the talents of some of the best young players in Europe throughout the years, none more so in the current day than Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Yet, Zaire-Emery reminds us of a certain Cesc Fabregas.
The Spaniard was younger than the French superstar when he moved to London, just 16, but his impact in the Premier League quickly helped him to showcase why he was one of the best young players in world football.
He eventually left Arsenal behind having scored 57 and assisted 95 in 303 outings. Named captain of the club when he was just 21, making him the youngest skipper in their history, there have been few better midfielders to grace Highbury and the Emirates over the last 20 years.
In short, he was a generational talent, an assist machine, someone who oozed class and could pass through the lines like very players on the planet.
Zaire-Emery, a player generating the same level of hype Fabregas was as a teenager, is cut from a similar cloth. He notably made his Champions League debut at the age of just 17, and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.
Youngest UCL debutants since 2000
Player
Club
Age
1. Youssoufa Moukoko
Dortmund
16 years, 18 days
2. Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
16 years, 2 months
3. Rayan Cherki
Lyon
16 years, 3 months
4. Alen Halilovic
Zagreb
16 years, 4 months, 6 days
5. Youri Tielemans
Anderlecht
16 years, 4 months, 25 days
6. Francesco Camarda
AC Milan
16 years, 7 months, 12 days
7. Warren Zaire-Emery
PSG
16 years, 7 months, 17 days
8. Charalampos Mavrias
Panathinaikos
16 years, 7 months, 29 days
Data via Transfermarkt.
Compared to midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top 3% for pass success rate, the top 9% for passes made and the best 10% for switches, a ball that travels more than 40 yards the width of the pitch.
What those numbers rubberstamp is the comparison to Fabregas, one of the best passers of the modern era.
While PSG’s teen superstar doesn’t quite possess the same rate of assists just yet – producing just two last season – his ability as a deep-lying playmaker certainly evokes memories of Fabregas in the latter stages of his career.
As for his development as a youngster, it certainly has hallmarks of the way the Spaniard burst onto the scene all those years ago.
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Manchester United are set for a huge summer transfer window if they are to rise up the table and be a success in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.
The Red Devils finished in a measly 15th position last time around, registering their lowest points tally and finish since the division formed back in 1992.
Ruben Amorim was unable to work his magic after being appointed back in November, but this window presents him with the chance to make his desired changes at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
The likes of Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof will all depart at the end of the month, raising key funds in their pursuit of landing key targets.
With the window reopening on Monday, it allows the club to add to the signing of Matheus Cunha, with multiple additions needed if they are to have any chance of pushing for European football.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions
All areas of the pitch are expected to be subject to investment as the hierarchy looks to hand Amorim with the tools he needs to be a success at Theatre of Dreams.
Hugo Ekitiké, Richard Rios and Ronald Araujo are just three names thrown into the mix over recent months, but as of yet, no deals have yet been agreed for any of the aforementioned talents.
However, serious moves have been made to land Copenhagen star Rooney Bardghji before the end of the transfer window, that’s according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update.
They claim that the Red Devils have held talks with the Danish side over a move for the 19-year-old, who’s previously scored against United in the Champions League.
It also states that he’s seen as one of Europe’s most promising stars, but has endured somewhat of a dismal spell with injuries, only making six appearances in 2024/25.
Why United’s latest target would be a more exciting signing than Mbeumo
Over recent weeks, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has been the most likely star to make the move to join United and further aid Amorim’s attempts in the final third.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
The Cameroonian has starred in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, scoring 20 times in his 38 appearances, undoubtedly being the shining light in the Bees’ side.
Such a record has led to the Red Devils’ keen interest, even making a £55m bid for the attacker, but it was swiftly rejected with a £70m price tag mooted.
They face huge competition from Tottenham Hotspur for his signature this window, with the Lilywhites potentially having the edge given the appointment of his former boss, Thomas Frank.
However, given the interest from elsewhere, it’s led to a move for Bardghji, with the Swedish youngster a more exciting and upcoming talent than Mbeumo, with Amorim needing to pursue a move for his signature.
FC Copenhagen midfielderRoony Bardghji.
The teenager, who’s been labelled “very special” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase his talents this campaign, but has previously demonstrated the elite-level talent at his disposal.
In the 2023/24 campaign, he thrived in the Champions League, completing 90% of the passes he attempted and creating 1.9 chances per 90 – highlighting his ability to provide for teammates in attacking areas.
Roony Bardghji’s stats for Copenhagen in the UCL (2023/24)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
9
Goals scored
1
Pass accuracy
90%
Chances created
1.9
Dribbles completed
3.8
Dribble success rate
75%
Shots taken
2.8
Stats via FotMob
He also managed to complete 3.8 dribbles per 90, at a completion rate of 75%, posing a real threat with the ball at his feet and starring in a competition Mbeumo has yet to be in his career.
Bardghji’s effort against United in such a period is evidence of the brilliance he’s able to produce when featuring on the pitch, having the potential to explode into a top-level talent when injury-free.
Given his tender age, he has bags of time to reach his full potential and build on the impressive start he’s made to his professional career at Copenhagen.
Should he move to United, he would hand Amorim a new dimension, certainly offering a more exciting signing than the Brentford star, given the levels he’s produced and the room he still has to grow over the next few years.
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Baartman successfully defended seven runs in the 20th over to give SA a stirring come-from-behind win
Madushka Balasuriya14-Jun-20243:06
Morkel: Nepal’s bowling made life difficult for SA
It was heartbreak for Nepal and their fans in Kingstown, as they fell short by only one run against South Africa in a nail-biting encounter.Fans and players alike were in tears since the result also eliminated Nepal from Super Eight contention at the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa made a clean sweep of the group stage with four wins in four, riding on Tabraiz Shamsi’s 4 for 19 that dragged them back with a stunning 18th over.But for so very long, the game seemed Nepal’s to lose. Their spinners had spun a web to limit South Africa to a subpar 115 for 7 – even on a difficult, turning track – and then with the bat had brought the equation down to 25 needed off 30 balls, with seven wickets in hand.Related
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Shamsi though, in for Keshav Maharaj, turned the game with a double-wicket 18th over, including that of the set Aasif Sheikh (42 off 49). The dots that followed raised the required rate, but two powerful late strikes from Sompal Kami and 18-year-old Gulsan Jha took the game down to two off two balls. But Ottneil Baartman bowled two dots as Nepal failed to get bat on the ball both times, and a desperate attempt at a last-gasp run left them inches short in the end.SA’s overly cautious startPossibly scarred by their earlier outings in the tournament, South Africa began the game a touch too cautiously, and in the process batted conservatively when conditions for batting were at their best.While their 38 for 1 in the powerplay was their best of the tournament, South Africa were guilty of waiting for loose deliveries instead of putting the bowlers off their lines early on. Nepal for their part, rarely strayed in their lines and lengths and once the spinners took hold, they never looked back.Nepal spinners make SA crumbleSandeep Lamichhane’s first delivery spat 6.2 degrees as it gripped and turned past Reeza Hendricks’ defence, and that set the tone as South Africa rarely looked comfortable against the turning ball from that point on. While Lamichhane would end wicketless, his probing spell went for just 18 runs in his first outing of the tournament in Nepal’s first game outside the USA. But in Dipendra Singh Airee (3 for 21) and Kushal Bhurtel (4 for 19), Nepal had enough overs of spin to exploit the conditions, with the pair accounting for all seven South African wickets.2:32
Morkel: South Africa need to have more intensity with bat
South Africa did their best to negotiate the conditions with a steady approach, but despite run-a-ball stands of 22 and 46 for the first two wickets, they struggled to up their gears. Only Tristan Stubbs, who scored 27 in 18 balls from No. 8, scored at a strike rate of over 100.In all, Nepal bowled spin for 14 overs, including the final over of the innings. There Bhurtel grabbed two wickets for nine runs, and Nepal had conceded only 58 runs in the back end for six wickets, after conceding only 57 in the first ten.Sah, Aasif steady the chaseNepal were provided an early reprieve when Kagiso Rabada dropped a catch. After that, Nepal opted for risk-free cricket as they lumbered to 32 at the end of the powerplay without losing a wicket. With spin playing such a pivotal role though, Shamsi’s introduction was always going to prove critical in the game and so it proved.In just his first over he disturbed the stumps of both Bhurtel and Rohit Paudel to bring South Africa roaring back into the game. After seeing out Shamsi’s next over, both Aasif and Anil Sah sought to rebuild. Sah was the first to raise the ante as a pair of boundaries off Anrich Nortje boosted their rate, before a six off Shamsi brought about genuine belief of a win. Sheikh joined in an over later taking Rabada for six and four, with the pair reaching their fifty partnership off just 36 deliveries.Shamsi’s 18th-over heistWith just one frontline spinner in the XI, South Africa knew they’d have to time Shamsi’s reintroduction perfectly. Aiden Markram, with his part-time offbreaks, had ended the Sah-Sheikh stand, but Airee was determined to stick in with the set Sheikh.But enter Shamsi. His third delivery of the 18th turned down the leg side, but Airee’s attempted pull got a feather touch to Quinton de Kock. So light was the touch that Airee reviewed thinking he hadn’t touched it. Shamsi then grabbed the big fish off his final delivery, ripping one through Aasif’s bat and pad to clatter into the stumps. By the time he was done, Nepal needed 16 off 12.Baartman holds his nerveShamsi’s over was backed up by Nortje, who bowled four consecutive dots to start the penultimate over – including one which took off the top of Kushal Malla’s middle stump. That left Nepal needing 16 off eight, with them needing at least one big hit before it got too late.Kami then unleashed a monstrous 105-metre pull that sent the ball sailing out of the stands to bring the equation down to eight off the final over. When the teenager Jha found a boundary over cover to make it four runs off three balls, the Nepal fans stood up, with their phones out, to capture a potentially historic moment.A hard-run two off the next delivery showed that Nepal understood the brief precisely, but a pair of expertly executed slower bouncers by Baartman off the final two deliveries proved too good to get away.A desperate run off a bye off the final ball might have led to a Super Over, but as the ball deflected off Jha, it was picked up by Heinrich Klaasen lurking near the stumps and he flicked to the non-striker’s end. Jha was short and Nepal were out.
Chelsea’s second signing of the summer is through the door. Last week, the Blues completed a deal for Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, activating his relegation release clause and bringing him to Stamford Bridge, beating the likes of Manchester United in the race for his signature.
Now, signing number two is also in the building for Enzo Maresca and his squad. Centre-back Mamadou Sarr has made the move to West London from their sister club, Strasbourg, who were one of the standout clubs in Ligue 1 last summer. The defender has signed with the club for eight years and could be in line to play in the Club World Cup.
Sarr might not be the only defender Chelsea sign this summer. They are already linked with another centre-back.
Chelsea’s next centre-back target
So, it seems clear that Maresca is intent on strengthening at the back this summer. After the addition of Sarr, the Blues seem likely to pursue another defender, although they might not be in before the pre-Club World Cup deadline on Tuesday.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are set to make a move for Ajax and Netherlands international Jorrel Hato. They have reportedly ‘had contacts with Ajax in the last few days’ regarding a potential move for the Dutch talent.
Despite the contact and willingness to get a deal done, they will face stiff competition from Premier League rivals. Hato has ‘long been on the radars of both Arsenal and Liverpool’, with Newcastle United also showing interest.
Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match
They have all ‘asked for information on the player’ ahead of a potential summer move, which could cost as much as £42.3m.
Why Hato would be a good signing
Football scout Antonio Mango summed up just how good Hato is by describing him as “one of the best young talents in football”. Indeed, that is the kind of impression the 19-year-old has made during his short career so far.
Last season was a strong campaign by the talented young defender. He amassed 50 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, mainly playing as a left-back, but also slotting in at centre-back, a position in which he equally excels. He managed three goals and six assists in total.
To put into perspective the kind of player Chelsea are looking to sign, Hato was Ajax’s youngest ever captain back in November 2023, at the age of just 17. He has now skippered his boyhood club three times, showing incredible leadership at such a young age.
Hato might even be a better signing for Chelsea than their new defender Sarr. The 19-year-old France under-20 international is certainly an exciting addition, and impressed for Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior last season.
The youngster played 28 games in all competitions, with all but one of those appearances coming in Ligue 1. It was certainly a successful season for the new Blues defender, who helped keep ten clean sheets in the top flight of France as his side qualified for the Conference League.
However, Hato managed to keep more clean sheets in an Ajax shirt than Sarr managed for Strasbourg under Rosenior. The Dutchman played his part in 14 clean sheets in the Eredivisie last term.
When looking at the underlying data on FBref from Hato and Sarr’s campaigns in 2024/25, there are further numbers which suggest the Ajax star is a better player than the new Chelsea man. For example, Hato averaged 2.78 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.39 each game for Sarr.
Hato and Sarr – key stats in 2024/25 compared
Stat (per 90)
Hato
Sarr
Progressive passes
4.17
1.98
Tackles and interceptions
2.78
2.36
Blocks
1.22
0.99
Ball recoveries
4.51
3.73
Aerial duels won
1.77
1.14
Stats from FBref
It seems as though, for a talent perhaps better than Sarr, £42.3m is a steal for Hato. He has all the tools needed to make it to the very top, and the fact that he has already captained Ajax at such a young age is even more of a reason to sign him.
With the Blues looking to bolster at the back, this is a fantastic option for Maresca’s side, which can definitely add quality and potential to their defensive options.
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As you might expect, it has been a busy summer transfer window already for Chelsea. Liam Delap’s move to Stamford Bridge is all but confirmed.
The West London outfit have agreed a deal with now-relegated Ipswich Town for the transfer of Delap, and ‘he can be considered’ a Chelsea player, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The England U21 international is not the only player Chelsea are hoping to sign in the coming days, before the Club World Cup. AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also a target, although Romano reported in a separate post that the two clubs are not close in valuation for the shotstopper.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Chelsea are also closing in on another transfer target before their Club World Cup campaign begins.
Chelsea's new transfer target
Over the past few summers under Todd Boehly, Chelsea have become a club notorious for spending big money on some of the most exciting young talents in Europe; Delap would be a prime example of that transfer policy.
Another player who fits that trend is Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. According to a report from Caught Offside, the 20-year-old is reportedly subject to a £55m bid from the West London side, who are ‘in talks to try to get a deal done’ sooner rather than later.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
The reason they are in such a hurry to get this one over the line is that they face competition from other English clubs.
Newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, London rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, who Gittens represented as an academy player, as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, are also interested. Hence, Chelsea have placed a bid.
Why Gittens would be more exciting than Delap
It was a shockingly poor season for Borussia Dortmund, who just snuck into a Champions League qualification spot on the final day of the league season. For Gittens, however, it was a campaign of success from an individual point of view.
The England youth international was a key aspect of Dortmund’s side in the 2024/25 campaign. He featured in 48 games across all competitions, finding the back of the net 12 times and registering five assists.
The winger, who was born in London, has a knack for scoring goals in big games. Last term, one of his eight Bundesliga goals came against 2023/24 champions Bayer Leverkusen and the side who snatched their title off them, Bayern.
However, they were not the biggest goals that Gittens scored last term. The former Man City academy star bagged away against Real Madrid in the Champions League, giving Dortmund a 2-0 lead and becoming the youngest English player ever to score against Los Blancos in the process.
In fact, it is something like that means you can argue that the “world-class” Gittens, as Dougie Critchley called him, is a more exciting signing than Delap. Of course, the Tractor Boys attacker is a brilliant piece of business from Chelsea, for just £30m, but Gittens is perhaps a better deal.
It has been a strong season overall from Delap. The Ipswich forward star scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances.
However, he was not incredibly consistent, and actually failed to score in the last seven top-flight games last season.
Not only has Gittens shown how dangerous he can be at such a high level, against one of Europe’s biggest teams, but his underlying numbers are exciting.
In particular, the Dortmund winger’s dribbling stats on FBref show just how deadly he can be. For example, he averaged 3.57 successful take-ons per game last season, ranking him in the top 1% of wingers in Europe.
Gittens dribbling stats in last 365 days
Stat (per 90)
Number
Percentile
Take-ons attempted
7.97
98th
Take-ons completed
3.57
99th
Progressive carries
5.53
91st
Carries into final third
2.95
88th
Carries into penalty box
3.06
93rd
Stats from FBref
Signing the Dortmund attacker would certainly be a captivating addition for Chelsea. There is no doubt about that. There is certainly a strong case to be made for the fact that he is an even more exciting signing than Delap, given the European pedigree he brings and his ability in one-vs-one scenarios.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action
For £55m, this seems like an excellent deal for the Blues, and one that can elevate them to new heights this term.
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In what would be quite the move, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly expressed interest in hijacking a move to sign 19-year-old talent who has already held talks with Arsenal.
Wolves searching for Cunha replacement
Top of Wolves’ wishlist remains signing a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer. The Brazilian is reportedly set to join Manchester United, who will trigger his £63m release clause, even after they lost the Europa League final and failed to qualify for the Champions League as a result. Left with money to burn, those at Molineux will have quite the task on their hands in the coming months.
With Premier League safety long confirmed, Wolves have at least had the luxury of turning their attention towards the summer transfer window before the season has even reached a conclusion.
As a result, names such as Yuri Alberto have been back in the headlines as of late. According to recent reports, Vitor Pereira has now requested a reunion with the Corinthians star in the coming months and he could yet arrive to become Wolves’ Cunha replacement.
It would be a fitting reward for Pereira, who has transformed Wolves ever since arriving to replace Gary O’Neil to earn a nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Season award in the process.
He will undoubtedly be one to watch next season in his first full year in charge in the Midlands. Whether the summer transfer window only boosts expectations remains to be seen, but even if it’s not Alberto, a Cunha replacement seems top of Wolves’ list of priorities.
Wolves interested in hijacking Carrizo deal
If it’s not Alberto then it could be a surprise candidate who replaces Cunha this summer. According to Velez Sarsfield journalist Martin Etcheverry, Wolves are now interested in hijacking a deal to sign Maher Carrizo, who has already held talks with Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
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Still just 19 years old, Carrizo has a promising future ahead of him and one which could, ultimately, lie away from Argentine club Velez. With a release clause worth just £14m, a deal would certainly be feasible for Wolves, who wouldn’t be outspent by those in the Premier League’s top six on this occasion.
A “superb prospect” according to scout/analyst Jacek Kulig, Wolves would be welcoming a player who could step into Cunha’s role for years to come if they have the right patience. The Midlands club will have money to spend this summer and Carrizo should be among the players they attempt to splash out on this summer.
In what is a frustrating blow for those at the Stadium of Light, one Sunderland star could now miss the rest of the season – including the play-offs – after already missing the Norwich City game.
Le Bris provides Sunderland injury update
Whilst the play-offs are already well within their grasp, Sunderland would have still been left frustrated by their 0-0 draw against Norwich City in midweek. The Black Cats are in the type of form that many expected to continue against the inconsistent Canaries, having lost just once in their last five Championship games. Nonetheless Regis Le Bris’ side were forced to settle for a frustrating point.
The Sunderland boss delivered his verdict on the 0-0 draw in his post-match press conference, telling reporters: “It was a tough first half. We defended well and we expected a strong team in possession with many threats. We did well without pressure, which was probably the main problem.
“The first half was a little bit too reserved. The tactical set-up was clear, so now it was a case of taking risks. It’s easier when you are on the bench, but after 30 minutes, it was a little bit better.
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“At half time, we spoke about the boldness we needed to have against a strong team. Things were better in the second half – we had good possession and the four subs helped. These games against West Brom and Norwich are really interesting because they are strong in possession with many threats. The fact that we can manage these games and keep a clean sheet says a lot about our efficiency.”
Le Bris was also able to provide an update on Jobe Bellingham’s injury, revealing that the midfielder missed the draw through a minor recurring ankle injury in what should see him make a swift return. The same can’t be said for another Sunderland star, however, following a recurrence of his own injury.
Romaine Mundle suffers injury blow
After the winger missed the Norwich game through injury, Le Bris revealed that Mundle could now be out for the rest of the season. The Sunderland boss told reporters: “Romaine has a hamstring injury, but we don’t yet know the timeline. We need to seek some further advice from some specialists and so we will have to wait a little bit.
“It’s possible [that his season could be over], we’ll have to make a decision about the situation. It’s not up to us really, we need specific advice before we can make a specific decision.”
Sunderland manager RegisLeBris
The latest piece of bad news continues a frustrating campaign for Mundle, who already missed 16 Championship games through the same injury frustration earlier this season. Having scored five goals in all competitions despite the disruption, it’s clear that Sunderland will miss the winger if that is to be it for him this season.
Dubbed “brilliant” by captain Dan Neil in the past, Mundle will be desperate to put his struggles behind him as soon as possible and look forward towards a comeback which may have to wait until next season.