“They’ve gained a lot of experience; they’ll only go from strength to strength from here,” Bumrah says of the newcomers to the Test team

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2025

Jasprit Bumrah, India’s stand-in captain, expressed disappointment at not being able to have a crack at Australia on what he described as “the spiciest wicket of the series” in Sydney.Bumrah didn’t bowl in India’s defence of 162 following back spasms that flared up during play on Saturday. Bumrah went for precautionary scans and didn’t return to take the field for the remainder of the Test. He finished the series with 32 wickets in nine innings at 13.06, to be named Player of the Series.”It’s a little frustrating, but sometimes you’ve got to respect your body, you can’t fight your body,” Bumrah told Isa Guha on the official broadcast after the game. “It’s a little disappointing in the end because I probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series, but that’s the way it is. Sometimes, you have to accept it and move forward.”Related

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Bumrah revealed that he had gone off on the second day after he “felt a little discomfort, [and] wanted to check it out what’s happening in the first innings when I came back from my second spell”.In Bumrah’s absence, Prasidh Krishna, playing his first Test on tour, and Mohammed Siraj helped polish off Australia’s lower order to secure a slender four-run lead. In the second innings, they managed to pick up four wickets but fell short in the end.”The chat was about belief, the other bowlers stepped up in the first innings,” Bumrah said when asked about their plans in their small defence. “With one bowler short, the others had to take extra responsibility. This morning, the chat was about having belief, and that we are good enough and if we create enough pressure, we will be able to do some damage.”Reflecting on the tour on the whole, Bumrah said there were a lot of learnings for the younger group to take back, especially in handling different situations under pressure.As many as 15 of the 17 players in the squad got opportunities in the series. India handed a Test cap to Harshit Rana, while Prasidh returned to play a Test after nearly a year after Akash Deep’s injury. Siraj featured in all five Tests, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, who began the series with a century in Perth, was among the standout batters along with KL Rahul.”So, a lot of ifs and buts, because the whole series was well fought, and today as well we were in game; it was not like it was totally one-sided,” Bumrah said. “This is how Test cricket goes; in the nervy moments, whichever team holds their nerve for the longest and sticks together and tries to find a way out of that will win the series.”I think it was a well-fought series, a lot of learnings for us and experience that our players have gained who’ve come here for the first time. Being in the game for longer, creating pressure, sometimes absorbing pressure when wickets are difficult, sometimes playing to the situation.”Sometimes all these learnings are important. Young players come up and they score runs, have success through a certain way, but in Test cricket you have to sometimes adapt to the situation, make your game work in a different manner as well. These learnings will help us in the future.”They’ve gained a lot of experience; they’ll only go from strength to strength from here. Australia is not the easiest place to play cricket, but we’ve shown we have a lot of talent in our group, it’s all about adapting and learning new things about your game. I’m sure a lot of youngsters are keen, obviously they are disappointed we weren’t able to win the series, but they want to take the learning forward.”Jasprit Bumrah and Gautam Gambhir hatch a plan•Getty Images

Bumrah did ‘everything possible’, says GambhirSpeaking at the press conference after the series, India head coach Gautam Gambhir summed up Bumrah’s performance both as bowling spearhead and a leader in the group as “absolutely outstanding”.”I think he’s led the attack really well. He’s bowled a lot of overs. And whenever he’s come on to bowl, he’s done a fabulous job,” Gambhir said. “He’s taken wickets. He’s done everything possible he could from his side. But then he’s been helped a lot from the other end as well.”He’s been helped by Mohammed Siraj. He’s been helped by some of the young boys as well, like Harshit Rana in the first two Test matches, Akash Deep… Ultimately, yes, you will always see the wickets and runs. But yeah, there has been a lot of other contributions as well. But from Jasprit Bumrah’s point of view, he had a phenomenal series.”

Crystal Palace find themselves fighting off clubs for several of their players this summer, but could now be taking crucial steps towards landing another star amid recent reports.

Crystal Palace draw at Chelsea as Eberechi Eze speculation lingers

After a valiant display at Stamford Bridge, Crystal Palace opened their Premier League season with a 0-0 draw away to Chelsea in West London in a match that will be remembered for one particular incident.

Despite Eberechi Eze scoring a stunning free-kick, the England international saw his effort disallowed after Marc Guehi was deemed to be standing too close to the Blues’ wall, offering Enzo Maresca’s men a lucky escape on home soil.

Oliver Glasner spoke honestly about speculation involving the ex-Queens Park Rangers man and his teammate Guehi at full-time, praising both players for their commitment to the Crystal Palace cause while they remain under his stewardship.

He told Match of the Day: “Ebs and Marc, there has been a lot of noise about these two players in the last week. Everyone could see the performances against Liverpool and today they were 100 per cent aligned with this team and Crystal Palace.

“As long as they are 100 per cent committed, they will play as they are so good. I watched them all week in training, I spoke to them almost daily, maybe more than my kids and wife, but it’s been worth it to talk to them. They didn’t just show they are great footballers, but they are great people and that’s what I expected.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly close to signing Eze and will hope to agree a deal for his signature, while Arsenal are long-term admirers of the playmaker as his future continues to be examined under the microscope.

With that in mind, Crystal Palace appear to be focusing on finding a replacement and have now received a reply to a bid submitted for the man that could fit that bill.

Crystal Palace see bid rejected for Bilal El Khannouss

According to Sacha Tavolieri on X, Crystal Palace have seen an improved bid turned down for Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss as the Morocco international continues to be at the forefront of their list of targets. Since that report, more news has come to light from Ben Jacobs, who revealed the player has now actually asked his club to let him join the Eagles.

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Labelled “elite” by Ben Mattinson, El Khannouss has registered two assists in the Foxes’ opening two Championship encounters and may be a worthy replacement for Eze, factoring in the fact he created 42 Premier League chances last term, per Fotmob.

However, it remains to be seen if talks yield a desirable outcome for all parties, something that could shape the mood music surrounding the rest of Crystal Palace’s window.

Newcastle United hold a “strong interest” in signing an exciting set-piece expert this summer, according to a new report from reliable journalist John Percy.

Two new signings agreed at Newcastle

It has been a tumultuous summer at St James’ Park, with the Magpies failing to bring in numerous transfer targets, being pipped by other Premier League clubs to the likes of James Trafford and Bryan Mbeumo, among others.

Still, there have been more positive signs in the past few days, with AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw agreeing a move to Newcastle, strengthening Eddie Howe’s defensive options, which has been a priority throughout the summer transfer window. He underwent a medical on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Magpies have also completed the signing of teenager Isaac Moran, who was formerly at Liverpool, with the 16-year-old midfielder coming in as a bright part of the club’s future.

It is important that further business is also completed between now and deadline day, not least signing a couple of strikers if Alexander Isak ends up sealing a move to Liverpool. Now, a positive update has emerged in that respect.

Newcastle have "strong interest" in set-piece wizard

According to Percy on X, Newcastle club chiefs have a “strong interest” in Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, amid interest from other Premier League clubs.

El Khannouss is a big talent who could impress greatly for the Magpies, not least with his set-piece quality that he outlined over the weekend during the opening round of Championship matches.

The 21-year-old registered both assists in Leicester’s 2-1 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, both from set-pieces, and he is arguably too good a footballer to be playing in the second tier of English football.

El Khannouss has been hailed as an “elite” player by Ben Mattinson as recently as last year, and while an attacking midfielder by trade, he can also take up a deeper role if needed, and can shine on the left wing.

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At 21, there is still so much more to come from the Moroccan, too, and he could add some extra midfield guile that is arguably needed for Newcastle, giving Howe a different option to the likes of Joelinton and Joe Willock in the current squad.

Manchester United are now accelerating a deal to sign a “magnificent” midfielder, who has been identified as one of their priority targets ahead of the transfer deadline, according to a report.

Man Utd looking to sign midfielder after pulling plug on Baleba

Carlos Baleba emerged as one of Ruben Amorim’s top targets in central midfield, but Man United have now pulled the plug on a deal, given that it was set to be an extremely costly operation, and Brighton & Hove Albion are very reluctant to sell.

It is a shame that Baleba now seemingly won’t be heading to Old Trafford this summer, given that the 21-year-old is at a good age to be a long-term replacement for Casemiro, and received high praise from Alan Shearer last season.

Speaking after Baleba impressed against Manchester City, Shearer said: “He was absolutely wonderful. He changed the tempo and performance on the front foot and defensively. They got the three points which they deserved.”

That said, there are still a number of other potential options on the shortlist, with INEOS believed to be particularly big fans of Adam Wharton.

Target

Current club

Potential price tag

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

£40m+

Eduardo Camavinga

Real Madrid

£69m

Morten Hjulmand

Sporting CP

£68m

Angelo Stiller

VfB Stuttgart

£50m

However, according to a report from Spain, a different midfielder has now emerged as Man United’s priority target ahead of the transfer deadline, namely Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume, who is set to be available for the affordable fee of €25m to €35m (£22m – £30m).

Crucially, Agoume is said to be interested in a move to the Premier League, and United are now accelerating the deal, to ensure they secure his signature before another big European club enters the race.

The 23-year-old is emerging as the ideal addition to Amorim’s midfield, as his physicality and tactical awareness mean he should be able to adapt to life in the Premier League comfortably.

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2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 21, 2025 "Magnificent" Agoume could be ideal Baleba alternative

Former Sevilla boss Enrique Sanchez Flores has hailed the central midfielder in the past, describing him as “magnificent”, and there is every indication the Cameroon-born maestro could be an ideal alternative option to Baleba.

Most notably, the Sevilla star has outperformed the Brighton youngster across a range of key defensive metrics over the course of the past year.

Average per 90

Lucien Agoume

Carlos Baleba

Tackles

2.90

2.64

Interceptions

1.83

1.62

Clearances

1.96

1.48

Aerials won

1.66

1.29

Importantly, a deal for the 13-time France U21 international also wouldn’t break the bank, at around £30m, while there were suggestions that Brighton were looking to receive £115m for Baleba.

Should Man United pursue a move for Agoume, rather than the Brighton star, they should have money left over to strengthen other areas of the squad, and Amorim may be keen to sign a new goalkeeper, with Altay Bayindir receiving widespread criticism after the Arsenal defeat.

Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s Test coach, has hit back at criticism of his team reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final after a cycle in which they faced neither Australia nor England, and played only 12 Tests. They were the first team to book a spot at Lord’s after they reeled off six successive wins and qualified with a game to spare.”I’m never going to apologise for getting into the final,” Conrad told ESPNcricinfo at Newlands, ahead of the second Test against Pakistan. “It’s the biggest thing in this team’s existence. It’s the biggest thing for South African cricket at the moment. It’s the biggest thing for Test cricket, for world cricket, where the right noises are going to start being made.”Former England captain Michael Vaughan on Fox Cricket said South Africa got to the final “on the back of beating pretty much nobody” and that they don’t “warrant being in the World Test Championship final with whom they have played over the last two years”, while former Australia spinner Kerry O’Keeffe called South Africa’s run “like making the Wimbledon final without playing a seed on the way”.Related

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For Conrad, that is both incorrect and an insult to the opposition South Africa faced. “One of the nobodies we beat won a Test match in Australia – West Indies beat Australia in a Test match,” Conrad said. “They are not nobody. New Zealand beat India: three-zip in India. New Zealand is not a nobody. Sri Lanka won Test matches [against England and New Zealand]. I don’t buy this thing about us beating nobody. You tell any side to go and win six on the bounce, in places you haven’t won in a decade and with a young side, with a decimated bowling attack and when you do that, you come back and tell me that we’ve beaten nobody.”Because of South Africa’s paucity of fixtures – and because they sent an understrength side that lost 2-0 to New Zealand last February – every Test since their tour to the West Indies in August was almost a must-win. South Africa won that series 1-0. Then, they went to Bangladesh where captain Temba Bavuma could not play after an elbow injury, which resulted in them fielding the eighth and 11th least capped teams in the cycle, but they won their first series in the subcontinent in a decade.The home summer has been marred by bowling injuries with seven frontline quicks out of action – two (Wiaan Mulder and Gerald Coetzee) mid-Test – and South Africa have had to dig deeply into their reserves. Still, they came up with teams that beat Sri Lanka 2-0 and have now taken the lead against Pakistan.Michael Vaughan has questioned South Africa’s qualification for the WTC final•Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

While Conrad is proud of that, he understands his team is not the finished product and has repeatedly pointed out areas of improvement. He also acknowledged that “the format is not ideal” because not only do all the teams in the WTC not play against each other in a cycle but teams also don’t play the same number of matches. Each team plays six series in a WTC cycle – three home, three away – which means there are at least two teams on the points table they will not play.The number of matches in each series is also agreed on by the individual boards. While India, Australia and England scheduled five-Test series against each other, Cricket South Africa chose only two-match series for this cycle as a cost- and time-saving measure and Conrad hopes that will change.”Hopefully, the ICC is going to take control, whoever is going to take control, make it more even or more fair. But I’m not going to sit here and apologise.”The uneven number of fixtures is also why the WTC table is based on percentage points rather than actual points. As things stand, South Africa have won seven of 11 Tests in the cycle and have a winning percentage of 66.67%. Even if they lose the New Year’s Test to Pakistan, their percentage of 61.11 will be enough to see them finish in the top two. Conrad believes this is as fair a way of ranking the teams as there can be.”What do I say to the people who are jumping up and down? Look, with the little bit of math I did, percentages are probably the ideal way of working it out. Let’s assume we play 12 [Tests] now and we win six, then we end up with 50%. Because some other teams play 20 Tests, is it okay for them to lose ten and be the same? You still have to win more than you lose and get your percentages up, irrespective of who you play against.”Vaughan also concluded that South Africa “decided Test match cricket wasn’t quite as important” when they took a second-string team to New Zealand and insisted their frontline players fulfilled contractual obligations to the SA20. At the time, Steve Waugh wondered if South Africa’s actions would be a “defining moment in the death of Test cricket”, but Conrad viewed it pragmatically.”The SA20 has to happen because it is the lifeblood of South African cricket,” he said last January. “If it doesn’t happen, we are not going to have Test cricket anyway. We’ve got to find a way to coexist with the league, we’ve got to co-exist with leagues around the world to ensure the sustainability of the game.”The third season of the SA20 will begin on January 9; the tournament has turned a profit for the last two years. CSA, as majority shareholders, has been paid dividends in the tens of millions of Rands and that is only expected to grow.This year the scheduling of the SA20 means that South Africa will not have their strongest side available to them for an ODI tri-series in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy. CSA has promised there will not be any further clashes with the SA20 and bilateral cricket, which includes England’s inbound tour in the 2026-27 season.That Test series will form part of the 2025-2027 cycle of the WTC, in which South Africa will play both England and Australia (also at home) in three-Test series each, after travelling to Pakistan and India later this year.

Aston Villa have been handed a golden opportunity to sign a “prolific” striker, with his club now open to sanctioning a departure this summer, according to a report.

Villa set sights on new striker amid Watkins uncertainty

Widespread reports have suggested that Villa have no interest in allowing Ollie Watkins to leave this summer, but they may find it difficult to hold onto the striker, given that he is thought to be really keen on a move to Old Trafford.

At the moment, Manchester United are battling Newcastle United for the services of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but there is a feeling that Ruben Amorim’s side may not be able to match the Magpies’ offer, which would force them to move on to alternative options.

Should that happen, the Red Devils could pursue a move for Watkins, with the 29-year-old of the belief that now is the right time to leave Villa Park, and Unai Emery’s side have now started running the rule over potential replacements.

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Last week, it was revealed that RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda has been identified as a key target, should Watkins leave, but the 25-year-old is not the only striker on Emery’s shortlist.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now assessing a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos, and they have been handed a golden opportunity to get a deal done, given that the French club are now open to a sale.

Ramos is looking to leave PSG this summer, given that he is no longer a regular starter, and there are plenty of potential suitors waiting in the wings, with Newcastle, Man United, Liverpool, Napoli and Juventus all named as interested parties.

However, Villa may have to spend big if they are to get a deal over the line, as PSG are looking to recoup as much of the €65m (£56m) fee they forked out to sign the centre-forward as possible.

"Prolific" Ramos could be ideal Watkins replacement

The 24-year-old may be finding it difficult to force his way into Luis Enrique’s plans, but he still managed to amass 19 goals in all competitions in the 2024-25 season, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised the striker for his performances at international level.

Luis Enrique has also singled the Portuguese striker out for praise in the past, saying: “If I have to talk to you about Ramos, I can only say that he has an iron spirit. He has a faultless ambition and he’s a very interesting player.”

That said, Villa’s number one priority this summer should be to keep hold of Watkins, given that the Englishman has already proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years.

تحدث لوكاس فاسكيز نجم بايرليفركوزن عن زميله السابق في ريال مدريد فينيسيوس جونيور، موضحاً الجدل الدائر حوله بين جماهير ولاعبي الفريق المنافسة.

وقال فاسكيز في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “كان الأمر صعباً في أيام المباريات خارج ملعبنا لأنك ترى زميلك لا يستمتع بوقته”.

وأضاف فاسكيز عن فينيسيوس جونيور: “نريده أن يكون في أفضل حالاته ولا يمكن أن يكون تحت الأضواء في أمور لا تتعلق بكرة القدم، قلنا له ألا يدع ذلك يؤثر عليه لكنه لم ينصت دائماً”.

ويفتخر لوكاس فاسكيز بمسيرته مع ريال مدريد: “كانت مسيرة رائعة، أشعر بالتقدير ولاحظت عاطفة الجماهير والنادي وكثير من الناس، لقد كان الأمر مثير للإعجاب، في داخلي لا تدرك ذلك كثيراً”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. سكالوني يشيد بـ ألونسو بسبب لاعب ريال مدريد قبل مواجهة فنزويلا

وحول رحيله من الفريق وسبب ذلك علق فاسكيز: “لم أكن أرغب في ذلك لكنني أعتقدت أن الوقت قد حان، كان من الأفضل الرحيل ولم يؤثر علي قرار التعاقد مع أرنولد بل حدث لاحقاً”.

وعن قراره بتفضيل الانتقال إلى بايرليفركوزن عن الانتقال للسعودية أكمل فاسكيز: “تلقيت اهتماماً من عدة فرق لكني أردت الاستمرار في المنافسة والبقاء في مستوى النخبة، أتيحت لي هذه الفرصة وهو أمر جيد جداً لي من جميع النواحي، لا أعتقد أنني سأعود لإسبانيا، لدي أفكار واضحة جداً حول مواصلة اللعب”.

وأشاد فاسكيز بفريق برشلونة لكنه يأمل أن يفوز ريال مدريد بالدوري: “برشلونة فريق رائع ومن الرائع مشاهدتهم يلعبون، سيكون دوري صعب للغاية آمل أن يفوز به ريال مدريد”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras vive ótima fase na temporada e segue favorito nas três competições que disputa. Acontece que há sempre um “porém” ou outro, e uma situação que gera certo debate sobre o time é a utilização de Endrick. Apesar de muitas especulações sobre o que tem afastado o jovem da equipe titular, a verdade é que se trata de uma opção puramente tática do técnico Abel Ferreira, proporcionada principalmente pela chegada de Artur.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Depois de ser decisivo e ajudar o Verdão a ser campeão brasileiro de 2022, Endrick não tinha outro caminho que não fosse começar 2023 não apenas no elenco principal, mas como titular do time. Já negociado com o Real Madrid e sem qualquer “novela” para atrapalhar sua trajetória no clube sua entrada de vez no 11 inicial era até óbvia, lembrando que Scarpa sairia e deixaria uma lacuna na formação de ideal de Abel. O ataque com Veiga, Rony, Dudu e Endrick passava a ser realidade.

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Acontece que no futebol nem sempre a matemática é exata. Embora o time tenha iniciado a temporada muito bem, com dois títulos e seguindo como a equipe mais forte do país, Endrick demorou a marcar seu primeiro gol no ano. Foram 12 jogos de jejum em 2023 até balançar a rede na primeira partida da final do estadual. Ele ainda marcou no jogo da volta, que definiu a taça para o Alviverde e poucos dias depois deixou sua marca na estreia do Brasileirão, contra o Cuiabá. De lá para cá, porém, ele não mais foi titular e ficou cinco jogos sem entrar em campo.

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Depois de não ser utilizado também contra o Cerro Porteño, o LANCE! buscou informações se tem havido algum tratamento diferenciado com o atleta ou se há algum problema que esteja afetando a presença da joia no time. Nas diferentes fontes consultadas pela reportagem, a resposta foi a mesma: “opção de Abel Ferreira”. Endrick segue a mesma preparação de seus companheiros e tem uma equipe fora de campo para cuidar de todas as suas necessidades. Nos treinos, é muito elogiado pela sua entrega e dedicação, inclusive pelos mais experientes do grupo.

Quando todas as vertentes apontam para a “opção de Abel”, fica até mais fácil buscar explicações. A formação ideal do Palmeiras, embora o português tenha tentando alternativas, é aquela com Rony como “falso 9”. É muito claro que o camisa 10 não vai sair do time, é peça fundamental para a engrenagem funcionar. Dessa forma, sobram apenas as vagas nas pontas ou na meia. Dudu é outro titular absoluto em uma ponta, então uma dessas vagas é dele. Veiga é mais um garantido, restando apenas um lugar no ataque.

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+ OLHAR DO PORCO: Quando não há mais o que falar do Palmeiras, o que a gente faz?

Abel Ferreira já vinha pedindo um reforço para essa posição e ele queria um ponta canhoto rápido. Na cabeça do técnico, era a peça que faltava para fechar esse 11 ideal depois da saída de Scarpa. A contratação não veio no início do ano, por isso a tentativa com Rony pela ponta e Endrick pelo meio, que acabou por ser abortada quando tentou Tabata pela direita e Rony de volta ao centro. Mas aí a diretoria conseguiu fechar a chegada de Artur, do Bragantino, que estreou entre as duas finais do Paulistão e não mais saiu do time titular.

Não é à toa que desde aquela época Endrick não é titular. O garoto até teve seu lugar na estreia do Brasileirão, mas quando Rony estava se recuperando de cirurgia. A presença de Artur, como o próprio Abel afirmou em entrevista coletiva após a vitória sobre o Cerro, atende a todas as necessidades que a comissão técnica entendia precisar para aquela função, que é atacar e defender na mesma proporção e ainda entregar gols e assistências para finalizações. Artur parece estar jogando no time de Abel há muito tempo, mas faz apenas dois meses.

Neste momento, o português acredita que Endrick não é opção que possa fazer essa função pela ponta e na verdade, briga por uma chance no lugar de Rony, mas tem a concorrência de López e Navarro, que cresceram de produção ultimamente. Nesta temporada, a joia palmeirense entrou em campo em 22 jogos e marcou quatro gols, sendo o quinto maior artilheiro do elenco até aqui. Endrick faz parte dos planos da comissão técnica e é tratado como um excepcional jogador no clube, mas neste momento há um trio na frente que não dá espaço.

What a sensational start it was for Jack Grealish as an Everton player. The Toffees’ first professional game at their state-of-the-art new ground, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, was memorable thanks to a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Grealish made all the difference for David Moyes’ side, assisting both of the goals to help secure the three points for his new club, including a fizzing left-footed cross to pick out Illiman Ndiaye for the opener.

Grealish could prove to be one of Everton’s best pieces of business in the transfer market this summer, and more signings might yet join him.

Everton plotting late move for £50m addition

The Toffees were able to secure the signing of Tyler Dibling from Southampton in the last couple of days. The Saints academy graduate made the move to Merseyside for a fee in the region of £40m, including add-ons.

Transfer Focus

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

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However, he might not be the last addition made by Moyes this summer. According to a report from TBR Football, Everton are one of the sides in the race to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher.

They are said to be one of the sides who could ‘make a late attempt’ to bring the former Chelsea star to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

However, this will not be a straightforward battle. Gallagher is wanted by five other Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace, where he was once on loan, and Manchester United.

As for a price if he was to make a permanent move, it was revealed in July that the England star is available for £50m.

Why Gallagher would be a good signing

If the Toffees were to acquire the services of Gallagher before Monday’s deadline, they would be bringing a “special” midfielder to the club, as Statman Dave described him. He has played in the top flight for Chelsea, his boyhood club, as well as loan spells at Palace and West Brom.

At just 25 years of age, Gallagher is an incredibly experienced player. He has played 136 times in the top flight of England, scoring 18 times and assisting 13. He has also shown great versatility, playing mainly as an eight but also as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder and out wide on the right.

Of course, the Cobham graduate has spent the past 12 months in Spain playing for Diego Simeone’s Atleti. He made 52 appearances last term for the club, chipping in with ten goals and assists. That included a strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

This potential Everton move for Gallagher is certainly Grealish-esque, in a couple of ways. Firstly, the former Aston Villa star is an England international just like Gallagher, with the pair having played together five times for the Three Lions, as per Transfermarkt.

On top of that, they have both departed some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Grealish switched to Merseyside from Manchester City on a loan deal that could turn permanent, and, of course, Gallagher will be departing the Spanish capital and Atleti to join Moyes’ side.

If Gallagher can have anything like the sort of impact Grealish has already had for Everton, he will be well on his way to becoming a successful addition.

As per Sofascore, Grealish created three chances and won six duels on his home debut, setting up both his side’s goals.

Gallagher will bring tenacity off the ball and a goal threat in possession. The stats from his two Premier League seasons with Chelsea highlight just that, with the defender averaging 3.8 and 3.6 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes in each of the respective seasons, and had an expected goal involvement tally of 0.23xGI and 0.22xGI each game, respectively.

Gallagher – 2 PL seasons for Chelsea

Stat (per 90)

2022/23

2023/24

Key passes

1.2

1.5

Passes completed

37.6

50.7

Expected goal involvements

0.23xGI

0.22xGI

Tackles

2.5

2.4

Interceptions

1.3

1.2

Stats from Sofascore

It is easy to see how this move could be similar to that of Grealish. The 25-year-old would also be leaving one of Europe’s biggest clubs for the Blue half of Merseyside, and is looking to secure his England place in a World Cup year.

For both club and player, this could be a fantastic move ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Aug 27, 2025

Ilkay Gundogan has lamented Galatasaray's mental fragility following their 5-1 Champions League thrashing by Eintracht Frankfurt. The ex-Manchester City star claimed his side were superior until the German team equalised, after which their "heads were hanging down". Gundogan admitted they "invited" Frankfurt to score and must improve as a group as they look to bounce back from the humiliation.

• Gundogan on Galatasaray's UCL loss

  Galatasaray got off to the perfect start in Frankfurt when Yunus Akgun scored just eight minutes into their first game of the competition. However, a Davinson Sanchez own goal tied the game after 37 minutes, and the Bundesliga club ended the first half with two stoppage time goals to put them fully in control at the break.

  Gundogan has claimed Galatasaray were "clearly the better team" before the mental collapse that resulted in the stunning 5-1 demolition. Speaking to after the match, the former City captain expressed his frustration at the simple mistakes and poor reaction from his side after conceding the equaliser.

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  Gundogan on Galatasaray's mental collapse

  The 34-year-old midfielder, who joined the Turkish giants in the summer, was positive about his team's initial performance but was critical of their response to adversity. He pinpointed Frankfurt's first goal as the moment the game turned, suggesting his team's spirit broke after the setback.

  "I think we were clearly the better team until the 1-1 score – we even had chances to score the second goal," Gundogan began. "Then we conceded the 1-1 and you could already see on the pitch that their heads were hanging down and that their courage was somehow lacking."

• 'We invited Frankfurt to score'

  Galatasaray conceded two more goals in the second half, with Gundogan admitting the defeat was self-inflicted. He stated that errors at this level will always be punished and that Frankfurt were clinical in taking their chances.

  "It felt like we invited Frankfurt every time we conceded, simply giving them away," a disappointed Gundogan said. "In the Champions League, every opponent has the quality to punish these errors. If you make the first, the second, the third, then you'll be punished at some point. Frankfurt did that coolly today and scored five goals accordingly. It just wasn't good enough overall."

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  What next for Galatasaray in Europe?

  The heavy defeat is a significant blow to a Galatasaray side that invested heavily in the summer, bringing in established top-level talent like Gundogan and Leroy Sane, who set up their goal, to compete in Europe. The midfielder issued a call for his team to function better as a unit to achieve their objectives. 

  "We have a lot of individually strong players who can play at a very, very high level. We have to manage to bring that to the pitch as a group," he added. The Turkish club's aim remains to qualify for the knockout phase, with seven games remaining in the Champions League's new league stage to turn their campaign around.