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Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin is still dealing with changes to his first-team squad as he prepares for a European qualifying clash later this month.

One player whose future at Ibrox remains uncertain is striker Cyriel Dessers, who was not involved in Rangers’ friendly draw last weekend.

After the game, Martin explained the striker’s absence: “Cyriel has had a bit of a niggly ankle so he was here today. We turned down a bid a while ago for him that was nowhere near our valuation at the football club.

“He’s been great, he’s been desperate to train but he’s had some treatment this week on his ankle. He’s coming back and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

The Ibrox boss confirmed that the club have turned down an offer for the 30-year-old attacker, who has been linked with a move to AEK Athens, and it remains to be seen whether or not the striker will still be at the club come September.

It could, however, make sense for Rangers to part ways with the experienced forward in the coming weeks, in order to improve Martin’s team for next season.

Why Rangers should sell Cyriel Dessers

It makes sense from a financial perspective because the striker is now in his 30s, in the latter stage of his career, and only has two years left to run on his contract at Ibrox.

This means that this summer could be the club’s last chance to get optimal value for the former Cremonese star, as he will only have 12 months left on his deal next summer at the age of 31.

It could also make sense from a footballing perspective because Dessers has not been clinical enough in front of goal to be a reliable number nine for Rangers in the big moments.

Wasteful finishing, like the attempt in the clip above, has been a recurring issue for the Rangers number nine, who has only scored two goals in ten matches against Celtic.

His performances on the European stage for the Light Blues were particularly telling of his quality in front of goal, as he struggled against top-tier opponents.

Appearances

12

xG

5.49

Goals

3

Big chances missed

10

Big chances created

2

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Dessers missed a staggering ten ‘big chances’ in just 12 Europa League matches, and underperformed his xG by over two goals.

The wasteful striker has missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in his two seasons at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership and European competitions combined, which is why the Gers could benefit from selling him to fund the signing of a new striker who can provide more quality in front of goal.

Rangers in the race to sign LaLiga striker

According to Macedonian news outlet Gol Mk, Rangers are one of a number of clubs in the race to sign Girona centre-forward Bojan Miovski before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues want to sign the Macedonia international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, one year on from his move to Spain from Aberdeen.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that German sides Hamburg and Freiburg have both made contact with Girona to enquire about a possible deal for the forward, whilst Celtic are also interested in the left-footed marksman.

However, the outlet does not reveal how much the Spanish team would want in order to sanction a move for the striker, who was signed from Aberdeen for a reported fee of £6.8m.

If the Gers can win the race for the 26-year-old centre-forward in the coming weeks, though, then Martin would have a big upgrade on Dessers on his hands.

Why Miovski would be an upgrade on Dessers

The Light Blues would improve their team by selling the Nigerian forward in order to bring the Macedonian marksman back to Scotland this summer, because of his ability in front of goal and his record in the biggest games.

During his time with Aberdeen, Miovski scored four goals in nine matches against Rangers and three goals in seven games against Celtic, making it an impressive haul of seven goals in 16 games against the top two teams in the country.

Whereas, as aforementioned, Dessers has only found the back of the net two times in ten games against the Hoops, as he has let his side down too many times in the biggest matches.

This suggests that Miovski, who was once hailed as a “complete number 9” by journalist Josh Bunting, would be more likely to be a difference-maker for Rangers in the games against Celtic, both in the league and in the cup competitions, to increase the club’s chances of clinching silverware ahead of their closest rivals.

Appearances

75

70

Shots

171

185

Goals

32

34

Big chances missed

31

47

Big chances created

10

10

Assists

4

6

As you can see in the table above, they have a similar goal return across their two seasons in the Premiership, but Dessers has missed significantly more ‘big chances’.

This suggests that Miovski’s output could be even greater as a scorer if he were in a Rangers team that consistently creates the high-quality chances that the current Gers number nine gets on a weekly basis.

The left-footed striker endured a difficult season in LaLiga, with just two goals in 17 games, but he is a proven performer in Scottish football who would, in theory, be able to hit the ground running at Ibrox next season if the club can agree a deal to sign him this summer.

This is why Rangers must push to cash in on Dessers to fund a move for Miovski in the coming weeks, as they could improve their team by signing a proven Premiership star who has the potential to deliver even more quality in front of goal than the AEK Athens target.

Martin's own Defoe: Rangers "frontrunners" to sign "sensational" striker

Rangers are leading the race to sign a forward who could be their next Jermaine Defoe.

2 ByDan Emery Jul 8, 2025

England confirm XI for Wednesday’s first Test against Sri Lanka, with Stokes absent through injury

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Aug-20240:53

Lawrence: Pope doesn’t need to try to be Ben Stokes

Matthew Potts has been announced as Ben Stokes’ replacement in the XI for England’s first Test against Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook stepping into the vice-captaincy role for the series to assist stand-in captain Ollie Pope.Potts, who earned the last of his six Test caps in the one-off Test against Ireland last summer, has been given the nod ahead of fellow quick Olly Stone and uncapped batter Jordan Cox after Stokes was ruled out of the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury sustained during the Men’s Hundred.Potts, 25, is a team-mate of Stokes for both Durham and Northern Superchargers, and will slot in at No. 9 for the fixture at Emirates Old Trafford, which begins on Wednesday. That means promotions up the order for Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, who will bat from No. 6-8 respectively.While not quite an allrounder, Potts is a handy lower-order batter, as showcased by an unbeaten 149 against Warwickshire earlier this season, which was his maiden first-class century. Nevertheless, the selection adds to the peculiar nature of the XI, which also features Dan Lawrence as opener following Zak Crawley’s finger injury sustained during the last Test against West Indies.Matthew Potts is set to play his first Test since June 2023•Getty ImagesBoth Potts and Lawrence have had to bide their time. Potts’ debut summer in 2022 brought 20 wickets at 28.00 as he featured in the first five Tests of the Bazball era. But beyond a sole appearance against Ireland, he has been a spare body around the squad, including at the start of this summer against West Indies when he was superseded by Atkinson.For Lawrence, this will be a first Test cap in the new era, though he has still yet to play under Stokes. He has been a squad regular for the last 17 Test matches – a run which began at the start of 2023 against New Zealand – including the entirety of the India tour at the start of the year. Lawrence debuted against Sri Lanka in 2021, with the last of his 11 appearances coming at the end of the Caribbean tour in March 2022, which was Joe Root’s last as Test captain.Even within that small sample size, Lawrence has occupied every position between No.3 and 7 and will tick off the opening berth this week. While his early learnings at Essex came as an opener, particularly for their second team, only seven of the 27-year-old’s 203 first-class innings to date have been at the top of the order.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe most recent of those came as a pinch-hitter for new county Surrey against Somerset, finishing 54 not out from 34 balls. While the match situation was something of an anomaly, as Surrey made an ambitious dart at a target of 209 inside 19 overs, it is that kind of aggressive intent Lawrence is looking to channel in his new, temporary role.”I think my natural style is to try and be aggressive, always try to take the game on and score runs,” said Lawrence. “Not necessarily as quickly as possible, but try to take every opportunity. And that won’t change over the next few weeks. Throughout my whole career, I’ve played a certain brand of cricket and that has served me well so I’m just going to do the same thing.”I think it’s kind of the style of cricketer that Baz and Stokes are generally after, and my general way of going about it is to try and be quite aggressive. So I think I fit the mould more in that aspect.”I did actually start my first-class career as an opener and then I’ve gradually kind of moved up and down as I’ve gone along. But I’m only really focusing on trying to really enjoy the week. It shouldn’t be too much different from batting three or four.”England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk),7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now ready to make an official bid for a “complete” player, who could be in line to join alongside Fluminense’s Jhon Arias, according to reports.

Wolves agree deal to sign Arias

Wolves are now closing in on the signature of Arias, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano corroborating reports that a fee has been agreed with the Brazilian club.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the forward’s seemingly imminent arrival, having performed remarkably well for Fluminense in the 2025 season, regularly contributing goals and assists in all competitions.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Campeonato Carioca

10

1

4

Copa do Brasil

4

1

2

Copa Sudamericana

3

0

2

Serie A

11

1

4

With the Old Gold closing in on a new attacker, it may be wise to now turn their attentions towards strengthening at the opposite end of the pitch, and they are ready to make an offer for a defender.

That is according to a report from Prasinoforos, which reveals that Wolves are preparing to make a formal bid for Panathinaikos right-back Georgios Vagiannidis, given that he has impressed scouts over the past few months.

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Vitor Pereira’s side have been closely monitoring Vagiannidis for quite some time, and they are now ready to launch an official offer, although the Greek club should be in a strong negotiating position, as the defender remains contracted until 2028.

With an important Champions League qualifier against Rangers on the horizon, Panathinaikos are unwilling to sanction a departure, but reports from elsewhere have revealed that a bid of £13m could be enough to tempt them into a sale.

"Complete" Vagiannidis could be smart acquisition for Wolves

Pereira may be forced into bringing in a new right-back this summer, with Nelson Semedo looking increasingly likely to join a club overseas, and there are signs the Panithinaikos ace could be a solid signing.

At 23-years-old, the full-back is at a good age to be a long-term heir to Semedo, and he has received praise from scout/writer Jacek Kulig in the past, who described him as “complete”, while also likening the Panathinaikos ace to Kyle Walker.

The Athens-born defender has now amassed 104 appearances for Panathinaikos in all competitions, including five in the Europa League, but there may be some concerns over the fact he is yet to prove himself in a major domestic league.

As such, while Vagiannidis could be a smart acquisition for Wolves, they will still be holding out hope that the more-experienced Semedo decides to sign a new contract.

Brooke Guest 85 in vain as Leaning, Grant Stewart halt Kent slide

ECB Reporters Network09-Aug-2024Jack Leaning’s unbeaten 81 from 117 balls guided Kent to a thrilling three wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup game at Derby.Kent were sliding to defeat at 106 for 6 chasing 207 with Samit Patel taking 3 for 30 but Leaning and Grant Stewart’s 48 from 39 balls revived them.Leaning and Matt Parkinson then added 33 from 43 balls to see Kent over the line with 28 balls to spare at 207 for 7.Brooke Guest made 85 from 117 balls, sharing an eighth wicket stand of 75 with Harry Moore who made a career-best 40 to take Derbyshire to 206 with Parkinson claiming 3 for 23.Kent bowled well on a used pitch with George Garrett finding late movement to have Harry Came caught behind.But there were some soft dismissals starting with Luis Reece who was run out by a direct hit from cover in the seventh over.David Lloyd drove back a low return catch to Grant Stewart but it was Parkinson’s spell which put Derbyshire on the back foot.Guest and Anuj Dal ran well, picking up quick singles and twos, but Parkinson tempted Dal into a big drive which landed in the hands of long on.Patel pulled Jas Singh for the only six of the innings but Parkinson snared him in the 25th over with a slower ball which he drove to cover.When Yousaf Bin Naeem was trapped lbw half forward, Derbyshire were 109 for 6 with Guest’s 77 ball 50 holding his side together.Garrett returned to bowl Zak Chappell with a late inswinger but Moore provided Guest with the support he deserved to give the hosts respectability.The pair kept the board ticking over without taking risks before Moore ramped and cut Jas Singh for three consecutive fours in the 44th over.Guest’s excellent innings ended when he pulled Charlie Stobo to mid-wicket and Moore went in the 47th over, run out at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from cover.But they had given the bowlers something to defend and Moore struck when Marcus O’Riordan was caught behind down the leg side.Moore saw Joey Evison dropped at first slip before Leaning dispatched him for four boundaries in his next over.Derbyshire needed inspiration and Daryn Dupavillon provided it by taking a stunning one handed diving catch at mid on off Patel to remove Evison for 32.Patel struck again in his next over when Jaydn Denley was cramped for room trying to pull and holed out to long on leaving Kent 78 for 3.Derbyshire sensed there was an opening when Harry Finch played a loose drive at Pat Brown and this time David Lloyd made no mistake at slip.The pressure was now on Kent who started to unravel as two more wickets went down in four overs.Ekansh Singh clipped Chappell to mid-wicket and Stobo got a leading edge to slip trying to work Patel through the leg sideBut Leaning gave Kent hope, reaching 50 from 79 balls and with Stewart, he steered his side back into the contest.Stewart pulled Brown for two sixes and appeared to be winning the game until he lifted Chappell to fine leg where Moore managed to take a superb catch without carrying the ball over the rope.But Leaning hit Moore for three fours and with Parkinson, saw his team to a win that keeps their slender hopes of making the knock-out stages alive and dents Derbyshire’s chances of qualifying.

Arsenal are very active in the transfer market and could complete an array of different deals before summer deadline day on September 1.

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It starts in three days.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2025

Mikel Arteta is being backed to the very hilt by new sporting director Andrea Berta, who’s making quite the impression since he was officially announced as Edu’s replacement in late March.

The Italian has begun his reign by completing the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke, with the latter undergoing his medical this weekend ahead of a £50 million move from Chelsea (Fabrizio Romano).

19/20 – winter

£0

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£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 England international, who has divided opinions among the Arsenal fanbase, will also put pen to paper on a long-term five-year contract – putting an end to Arsenal’s search for a left-winger.

While their pursuit of an out-and-out wide appears has drawn to a close with Madueke’s arrival, Arsenal still want Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to complement club captain Martin Odegaard in central attacking midfield, according to Sky Sports.

Arsenal have held positive talks with Eze’s camp, but are yet to open formal Palace talks with regard to paying the 27-year-old’s £68 million release clause.

The potential arrivals of both Eze and Madueke would come as a serious statement from Arsenal, but one area of the squad which quite simply needs to be prioritised is at centre-forward.

Arsenal’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third last term, especially when compared to their previous two campaigns, was a major cause for concern and played a serious role in the Gunners’ lacklustre Premier League title challenge.

Viktor Gyokeres only wants to join Arsenal this summer

The consensus is that Berta’s looking towards Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres to solve this problem.

The prolific Sweden international has been unplayable since moving to Portugal two years ago, scoring 97 goals in just 102 total appearances, but his time at Sporting, it’s safe to say, is now over.

The former Coventry City star is actively refusing to return to pre-season training, and Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Gyokeres, as negotiations rumble on over the final fee.

Now, the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on the situation.

Writing for CaughtOffside, he states that Gyokeres only wants to join Arsenal this summer, and he won’t entertain talks with any other club as things stand, so there is little danger of a potential hijack from Ruben Amorim’s Man United.

This comes after personal terms were agreed with Gyokeres days ago, but Sporting’s price is a major sticking point.

Some reports have even claimed that their president, Frederico Varandas, could go back on his promise not to demand the player’s full £85 million release clause – due to the toxic situation involving Gyokeres’ agent (CNN Portugal).

Manchester City have now engaged in talks over a deal for a Paris Saint-Germain star, who is very highly-rated by Pep Guardiola, according to a report.

Pep's Man City rebuild continues

Guardiola has rung the changes at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with two of his most long-serving players, Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, being shown the exit door, and another loyal servant could soon be on his way out of the club.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Ederson has agreed terms on a move to Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray.

Consequently, Man City may also be faced with the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement for the 31-year-old this summer, although there is certainly no shortage of exciting options on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

League clean sheets in 24/25

James Trafford

Burnley

29

Diogo Costa

FC Porto

16

Yassine Bounou

Al-Hilal

9

According to a report from The Boot Room, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has also been identified as a potential replacement for Ederson, with City engaging in talks over a deal after being approached by the ‘keeper’s representatives.

The 6 foot 5 goalkeeper is weighing up his future at PSG, despite winning the Champions League last season, with the shot-stopper yet to commit to new terms to extend his stay at Parc des Princes beyond next summer.

Having snubbed talks with PSG over a contract extension, the Etihad Stadium has now emerged as a potential destination for the 26-year-old, although there could be competition for his signature, with Galatasaray and Chelsea also named as potential suitors.

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1 ByDominic Lund Jul 22, 2025 Pep believes Donnarumma has "huge skill"

Crucially, the £34m-valued Italian is held in very high regard by Guardiola, who once branded the goalkeeper “top”, while also claiming he has “huge skill” in 2017, and there are plenty of signs the PSG man could be a fantastic long-term replacement for Ederson.

City will no doubt be setting out to compete for a second Champions League title next season, and the towering goalkeeper has already proven he has what it takes to compete at the highest level, receiving high praise for his performance in the quarter-final against Aston Villa last term.

The Italy international also caught the eye in the semi-final against Arsenal, producing a remarkable save to deny Martin Odegaard in the second leg.

It will be a tall order to find a suitable heir for Ederson, but Donnarumma has proven he has what it takes.

First-class fixtures in Plunket Shield have been scheduled keeping in mind the home Tests against England

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2024For the first time in six years, New Zealand’s domestic season will begin with the Ford Trophy, the men’s 50-over competition, instead of the Plunket Shield. NZC announced the domestic fixtures for 2024-25 on Friday, with the season set to begin on October 20 with three rounds of matches in the Ford Trophy. Defending champions Canterbury will play one of the three games on the opening day, against Wellington.The Plunket Shield then takes over from November 11, with two rounds scheduled in the lead-up to New Zealand’s home series against England. The first Test begins on November 28, along with the third set of Plunket Shield games.Likewise, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the domestic one-day tournament for women, will begin on November 16, and will be held keeping in mind Australia’s inbound tour, which will comprise three ODIs. Six rounds of the Johnstone Shield games will be played before New Zealand take on Australia in the first ODI on December 19.In all, 14 venues will host domestic matches across the three competitions this season.”We consulted with the players, coaches and turf managers around white-ball cricket starting the men’s season instead of the Plunket Shield,” Richard Brewer, NZC head of cricket operations, said. “The change will see slightly different pitch conditions for both competitions, which will bring new challenges for both batters and bowlers. The fact the red-ball competition also now aligns with the England Test tour is an added bonus.”Similarly, it’s great to have the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield leading into the White Ferns series against Australia before Christmas, which will allow many of our best female players quality one-day preparation, and a chance to push their cases for selection.”For men, five rounds of the Ford Trophy are followed by four in the Plunket Shield until December 10. The Ford Trophy then resumes on February 6, and ends with the final on March 2 in Dunedin, before the Plunket Shield again takes over from March 5. The domestic season will conclude with the Plunket Shield final round from March 29 to April 1.For women, the Johnstone Shield breaks after six rounds on December 15, and restarts on February 8. The final will be played on March 1, again in Dunedin.However, the NZC is yet to confirm dates for the men and women’s Super Smash, the T20 competition.

Florian Wirtz admitted that he's still adapting to the rigours of Premier League football and claimed he has "no idea" when his first Liverpool goal will come. The German playmaker, who has dazzled on international duty, is still finding his feet in England after joining one of Europe's most demanding divisions.

Wirtz adjusting to Premier League intensityGermany hero struggling to find Liverpool scoring touchUpcoming fixtures could offer breakthroughFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Wirtz recently lit up the international stage, scoring a stunning free-kick for Germany during their World Cup qualifying win over Northern Ireland. However, his moment of brilliance was contrasted by a lacklustre overall performance from Julian Nagelsmann’s squad, which drew half-time boos from the Cologne crowd. Nonetheless, the Germans went on to win the match 3-1 with Serge Gnabry and Nadiem Amiri also finding the net.

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Meanwhile on Merseyside, despite Liverpool winning all three of their opening fixtures against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Arsenal, Wirtz has yet to get off the mark. Each game has thrown him into high-intensity scenarios, testing his adaptability against teams with distinct styles.

WHAT WIRTZ SAID

Speaking to after the Germany match on Monday, Wirtz reflected on the unique demands of English football. "It's another league, another type of football. I'm happy to be there," Wirtz said. "I have no idea when I'll score my first goal, hopefully in the next game, but it will come at some point."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ?

Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures might provide more of the space and freedom Wirtz thrives on. Matches against Burnley at Turf Moor and Everton at Anfield are expected to be less congested, giving the No. 10 room to showcase his dribbling, vision, and creativity.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is informed of the exact costs required to seal Mikel Arteta’s seventh deal of the summer.

£265k-per-week Arsenal star approves exit as club prepare bid after talks

The north Londoners may need to trim their squad.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 26, 2025

After weeks of advanced talks and a very lengthy transfer saga, the Gunners finally reached a full agreement to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP recently – shaking hands on a deal worth up to £64 million including add-ons.

19/20 – winter

£0

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£81.5m

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£900k

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£156.8m

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£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

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£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Gyokeres refused to train with Sporting in an attempt to force through a Premier League move, with his agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, even waiving due commission fees to help move the forward’s transfer to Arsenal along.

Gyokeres put pen to paper on a five-year contract and was finally confirmed as Berta’s sixth major signing for Arsenal last weekend, following the Italian’s moves for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

The Sweden international, who bagged 54 goals in all competitions last season on Sporting’s run to a first domestic double in around 20 years, is viewed as perhaps Arsenal’s most crucial new addition of the summer.

Their inability to break down teams in the low block was a reoccurring theme of their struggles last term, with Arteta’s side scoring just 69 Premier League goals and drawing more matches than any other side in the top 10.

Gyokeres’ arrival could be imperative to fixing this issue, and it is perhaps a key reason why Berta and co are targeting Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze after the 27-year-old.

Eze was, by some distance, Palace’s most devastating attacking player in the Premier League season, averaging more shots at goal, key passes and successful take-ons per 90 than any of his teammates (WhoScored).

The England international also scored 14 goals and registered a further 11 assists in all competitions, with Arsenal widely believed to be focusing on Eze as their next top transfer target.

Arsenal given £35 million demand after "initial" Crystal Palace talks

Arsenal are in active discussions with Eze’s representatives, according to reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano, and The Guardian’s Ed Aarons has now shared another update.

According to his sources, Arsenal have also held “initial talks” with Palace over a deal for Eze, with the south Londoners making crystal clear what it would take to sell their star player.

Palace want £35 million of Eze’s £60 million release clause to be paid in advance and in full. They will allow the rest to be met through instalments, not including bonuses, which could take the clause to around £68 million.

The Eagles have to pay 15 per cent of Eze’s fee to QPR thanks to a previously agreed sell-on clause, perhaps explaining their reluctance to negotiate below Eze’s asking price.

Given Arsenal already have both club captain Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri for the number 10 role, so it remains to be seen whether they’re willing to pay his full clause after spending north of £200 million already this summer.

Interestingly, there are some suggestions that Arsenal could offer players as makeweights in a deal for Eze to tempt Palace into agreeing a lesser fee.

States are having to delve into their reserves due to the Australia ODI and A series

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2024Josh Hazlewood will make his first appearance of the season for New South Wales as he builds up to the India Test series while Nathan Lyon has been rested.Hazlewood had been due to play last week’s One-Day Cup game against Victoria alongside Pat Cummins but withdrew on the morning of the match due to illness. It means the Sheffield Shield fixture against Queensland will be his first outing since the England tour finished in late September and will likely be his one competitive game before the first Test against India.It had been expected that Lyon would feature in three Shield matches before the Test series, but he has sent down 104 overs in the two matches he has played against South Australia and Victoria and it’s understood he is unlikely to have another run before facing India.A number of states have been significantly hit for round three of the Shield by Australia ODI and Australia A call-ups. From their previous XI, alongside Lyon, NSW are missing Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Sam Konstas and Josh Phillippe due to those concurrent series.Ollie Davies is also part of the Australia A squad but will only feature in the second four-day game next week at the MCG so is available to face Queensland. And in a boost for NSW, allrounder Jack Edwards is fit after a hamstring injury. Lyon’s absence means legspinner Tanveer Sangha will be able to return to the XI.Mitchell Swepson will captain Queensland with Marnus Labuschagne in ODI duty. They are also with Michael Neser (Australia A) and Mark Steketee (ankle), Gurinder Sandhu (calf), Callum Vidler (groin). Jimmy Peirson will be the wicketkeeper in the second Australia A match next week.Mahli Beardman is a chance to make his first-class debut for Western Australia after being named in a 13-man squad to play Tasmania in Hobart. Beardman was a shock selection on Australia’s recent limited-overs tour of the UK after playing just one List A game last summer. The Under-19 World Cup winner has played just one Second XI match for WA this summer returning figures of 1 for 30 and 1 for 25 from just 13.3 overs across the two innings. He’s also gone wicketless in his three WA premier cricket matches for his club side Melville.Uncontracted international spinner Ashton Agar has also been named in the squad with Corey Rocchiccioli rested ahead of his appearance for Australia A. Agar has not played a first-class match since his last Test appearance in January 2023. Joel Paris has been named for his first game of the Shield season. Cameron Bancroft (Australia A), Cooper Connolly (Australia A), Aaron Hardie (Australia ODI), Josh Inglis (Australia ODI) and Mitch Marsh (paternity leave) are all unavailable.Joel Curtis will keep wicket while Jhye Richardson has been named to play another Second XI game for WA as he continues to build his red-ball fitness. Lance Morris played a club T20 for Scarborough last Sunday but is still working back to full fitness from a quad injury.Tasmania have lost Beau Webster to Australia A duty but welcome back Gabe Bell and Lawrence Neil-Smith after the two seamers were rested from the last Shield clash with WA.South Australia are also missing key players with Nathan McSweeney captaining Australia A while pace bowlers Jordan Buckingham, Brendon Doggett and Nathan McAndrew are in the squad. Alex Carey, who has been in outstanding form, will captain against Victoria.Peter Siddle, who turns 40 later this month, has been recalled for his first Shield game of the season as Victoria are missing Scott Boland, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy and Marcus Harris due to Australia A duty.New South Wales squad Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques (capt), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Kurtis Patterson, Tanveer SanghaQueensland squad 4. Mitchell Swepson (capt), Jack Clayton, Benji Floros, Liam Guthrie, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Jack Sinfield, Tom Straker, Jack WildermuthSouth Australia squad Alex Carey (capt), Harry Conway, Daniel Drew, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Conor McInerney, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry ThorntonVictoria squad Will Sutherland (capt), Dylan Brasher, Ash Chandrasinghe, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Cam McClure, Jon Merlo, Mitch Perry, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Doug WarrenTasmania squad Gabe Bell, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen, Jordan Silk (capt), Charlie Wakim, Jake WeatheraldWestern Australia squad Sam Whiteman (capt), Ashton Agar, Mahli Beardman, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Matt Kelly, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Teague Wyllie