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Southampton are building for a campaign back in the Championship and could now be about to make a transfer statement ahead of the new season, according to reports.

Will Still begins to lay down authority at Southampton

Despite suffering relegation in acrimonious circumstances last term, Southampton appear to be heading back in the right direction after appointing Will Still to lead them forward.

The former RC Lens coach has added Paul Trollope to his staff as an assistant, which is something Rickie Lambert believes can have a major impact behind the scenes in the Saints’ quest for promotion.

He explained: “Trolls has bought me twice, at Bristol Rovers and at Cardiff. He’s an excellent manager. I went to see him and Rob Edwards at Luton to see how they were working together there. Honest to god, the way they worked together was one of the best I’ve seen.

“Trolls as a person is one of the best. His sessions are brilliant, his knowledge about the game…he’s an excellent addition to Southampton.”

In the field of recruitment, Southampton have turned their attention to Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, and their interest could intensify if Aaron Ramsdale’s relegation release clause is activated this summer.

Southampton and Still want to sign new £4m+ forward with 11 goals in 24/25

The Saints are looking for a swift return to the Premier League.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

May 30, 2025

Finances could be available for Saints to spend over the next couple of months. Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been the subject of a rejected £19 million bid from Porto, and he may be a candidate to bring in funds for Still to ignite a rebuild on the South Coast.

Paul Onuachu is moving to Trabzonspor after an uninspiring spell at St Mary’s. His departure may now have paved the way for an exciting new arrival, per recent developments.

Southampton agree deal to sign Damion Downs

According to Sky Sports journalist Marc McAdam, Southampton have agreed a deal to sign FC Koln striker Damion Downs and the ‘finer details’ of his move to the South Coast club will be ironed out after the United States international returns from the Gold Cup.

Believed to be coming in for £6.8 million, he will likely take Onuachu’s place in the squad ahead of the new campaign. He is set to be involved in the Gold Cup final against Mexico on Monday, 7th July.

Earning plaudits after a return of 11 goals and six assists in 32 appearances across all competitions for FC Koln, the Werneck-born man also managed to direct 25 of his 60 shots on target in Bundesliga.2.

Fresh faces are needed for Southampton to gain the hunger needed for a tilt at promotion back to the top-flight, and Downs is someone who could now have a big part to play under Still’s guidance.

Nottingham Forest have submitted a £10 million bid to sign a new 23-year-old ace, and they have already had a reply, according to a recent report.

Nottingham Forest face fierce competition to sign a new winger

The Reds have just seen Anthony Elanga swap the City Ground for St James’ Park, so for what remains of this transfer window, Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis are going to be in the market for a new winger to replace the Sweden international.

Related Nottingham Forest among frontrunners for £20m+ Elanga replacement after talks

The Reds are progressing in talks to sign a player who will replace the departed Anthony Elanga.

Posts 1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025

It was revealed over the weekend that Forest were progressing in talks to sign Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven and were even considered one of the frontrunners to sign the Belgian. The 22-year-old is out of contract next summer, and a deal of £22 million could be enough to bring him to England.

However, the Premier League side now face strong opposition in their pursuit of Bakayoko, as according to Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzighave reached a verbal agreement with Bakayoko. The Bundesliga side are in talks with PSV over agreeing a fee, which could be less than the £22 million that was originally reported. The Belgian international has already agreed terms with Leverkusen on a five-year deal.

Fortunately for the Reds, he is not their only option when it comes to replacing Elanga, as Forest are ready to return with their pursuit of Yoane Wissa, but they do face competition from Tottenham Hotspur to secure his signature.

Nottingham Forest submit £10m offer to sign new 23 y/o and have had a reply

As the Premier League side weigh up their attacking options, according to Turkish outlet Sporx, relayed by Sport Witness, Forest and Marinakis have placed a €12 million (£10 million) bid to sign defender Arseniy Batagov, which has been turned down by Trabzonspor.

The report states that while Batagov has impressed during his time with the Turkish outfit, and they would ideally like to keep hold of the player, they are looking to get around €17 million, which is roughly £15 million, instead of the £10 million Forest bid.

The Reds are not the only team chasing the 23-year-old, as Brighton & Hove Albion and Lazio are interested, with the Italian side said to have made an offer worth €10 million, which again was rejected.

Arseniy Batagov’s 24/25 Süper Lig stats

Apps

18

Starts

18

Goals

1

Passing accuracy per game

54.8 (87%)

Big chances created

3

Clean sheets

8

Interceptions per game

1.5

Tackles per game

1.6

Clearances per game

5.4

Total duels won

3.8 (59%)

The Ukraine under-21 international, who is under contract at Trabzonspor until 2028 with the club having a one-year option, played 18 times in the Süper Lig last season, during which he grabbed one goal and recorded one assist.

Forest already have the likes of Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Willy Boly, and Morato, to name a few, in central defence, but Nuno Espirito Santo is obviously keen to strengthen his options further, and the fact that Batagov can play left-back and midfield as well as centre-back means he would bring versatility to the Reds.

Far removed from the days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment or Brian Clough’s no-nonsense approach, players have all the power in modern football.

Teams who hover around the bottom half of the Premier League have felt the full force of player power since the rise of the ‘big six’, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Matheus Cunha and Kalvin Phillips moving within the top flight for huge fees in recent years.

Leeds United have dealt with their fair share of star players leaving for pastures new, including Ballon d’Or candidate Raphinha and academy starlet Archie Gray.

Leeds' record departures

10. Chris Wood

Burnley – £14m

9. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Atletico Madrid – £14.5m

8. Luis Sinisterra

Bournemouth – £20m

7. Tyler Adams

Bournemouth – £23m

6. Crysencio Summerville

West Ham United – £25m

5. Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United – £30m

4. Archie Gray

Tottenham Hotspur – £40m

3. Georginio Rutter

Brighton – £40m

2. Kalvin Phillips

Manchester City – £42m

1. Raphinha

Barcelona – £50m

Despite Leeds’ status as a huge club with a rich history, some players are just destined for greater things, as Pascal Struijk revealed just how good Raphinha was right from the off at Elland Road: “I knew for sure that he would be able to play with a top team.

“You look at his goals and assists, which he did for us as well. When you go to a big team, it’s about how you react when you make a move like that and I always believed in his ability, I had no doubts.

“My first impression of him was, ‘this guy’s got quality’. Sometimes you have players and you see them on the pitch and you think, he’s got that bit extra. When you see him doing it in the Prem, the talent speaks for itself.”

The Brazilian left Yorkshire on good terms after scoring in the game that secured the Whites’ Premier League status for another year, but not everyone on the list above can say the same.

I was as good as Gerrard and Rooney at youth level, but only scored 3 goals for Leeds

Things didn’t really work out at Elland Road.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 5, 2025 Ferdinand: 'I was a nightmare to make Leeds sell me'

Rio Ferdinand was perhaps the most controversial transfer of his time, leaving Leeds to join arch-rivals Manchester United in 2002, going on to win six Premier League titles under Fergie as one of the greatest centre-backs of all time.

And while it may be of little surprise to the Elland Road faithful who have never forgiven the legendary England defender, he told talkSPORT this week that he refused to leave then-chairman Peter Ridsdale’s office, imploring Leeds not to haggle on their price.

That’s not to say Leeds were hard done by from a financial point of view however. Accounting for inflation, Ferdinand would be the second most expensive Premier League transfer of all time, coming in at around £200m in today’s terms.

Considering Southampton only received £75m for Van Dijk, widely regarded as the world’s best current centre-back, when he joined Liverpool in 2018, Ferdinand certainly cost the Red Devils a pretty penny.

However, his attitude towards his former employers only soured relations further after what was already a controversial move, taking advantage of the club’s financial difficulties as they plummeted to the third tier of English football.

Manchester United have a reported interest in Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, who worked with Ruben Amorim in Portugal, but they look unlikely to win the race for his signature.

A recent report claimed that the Sweden international has decided that he would rather sign for the club’s Premier League rivals Arsenal instead of making a move to Old Trafford to reunite with his former boss.

The former Coventry star, who scored a staggering 52 goals in all competitions for Sporting in the 2024/25 season, is available for a fee of just over £61m, but it is the Gunners who seem to be in pole position to bring him over to England.

His incredible goal return in Portugal suggests that this news is a blow for Amorim and for Manchester United. However, the club are reportedly eyeing up a star who could be the manager’s next version of Gyokeres.

Man Utd battling to sign Spanish striker

The Premier League giants appear to be in the process of identifying alternative options in the number nine position, as the Swedish star looks to be headed elsewhere.

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 CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams eyeing up a move to sign FC Porto’s Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all also keen on doing a deal for the former Atletico Madrid centre-forward in the coming weeks.

It states that the Portuguese giants are looking for a fee of up to £63m for the 21-year-old marksman, with United and their Premier League rivals now set to battle it out for his signature.

Whilst they appear to be on the back foot with Gyokeres, the Red Devils should push to win this race to unearth Amorim’s next version of the Sporting superstar.

Why Samu could be Gyokeres 2.0 for Amorim

The Porto marksman is similar to the Swedish ace from a physical perspective, as he stands at 6 foot 4 and has the physicality to occupy and cause problems for defenders.

In fact, talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as a “monster” in the making due to his physicality and speed, which suggests that the forward could offer similar attributes to Gyokeres.

The Spain international’s performances in the Portuguese top-flight also suggest that he has the potential to be a prolific striker for United, albeit not as prolific as Gyokeres could be in the short-term.

Starts

23

31

xG

14.07

30.95

Goals

19

39

xG differential

+4.93

+8.05

Minutes per goal

119

72

Conversion rate

23%

28%

As you can see in the table above, Samu enjoyed a brilliant season with Porto, scoring 19 goals in 23 starts and outperforming his xG, yet still ended with 20 fewer goals than the Sporting number nine.

It is worth remembering, though, that the Spanish marksman is six years younger than Gyokeres and has plenty of time left ahead of him to hone his skills and improve his output as a scorer.

Samu, dubbed “outstanding” by journalist Josh Bunting, did also score six goals in nine matches in the Europa League, which shows that he can perform on the European stage.

Whilst he may not be the final, polished, product in comparison to the seasoned Gyokeres, the Porto star appears to have the physical and finishing attributes to develop into Amorim’s next version of the Swedish marksman, which is why he could be a shrewd signing for the club.

Twist: "Extraordinary" £60m+ star now plans to snub Man Utd to join Arsenal

The Gunners have received a boost in their pursuit of a forward, who Andrea Berta has already held talks to sign.

1 ByDominic Lund Jun 8, 2025

A “dynamic” Crystal Palace academy talent is wanted by some big clubs in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Ins and outs expected at Crystal Palace this summer

The Eagles have once again enjoyed a solid season in the Premier League, preserving their top-flight status for another year and reaching the FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month.

It could be a busy summer at Palace both in terms of incomings and outgoings, with star man Eberechi Eze linked with a move to Manchester United. The south Londoners will do well to keep hold of the England international, but they will of course only allow him to leave for big money.

In terms of possible signings, Holstein Kiel striker Phil Harres has been touted as an option for the Eagles, with the 23-year-old scoring eight goals in the Bundesliga this season. Wolves are also thought to be in the mix to sign him.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi has also been backed to move to Palace ahead of next season, following the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. The 28-year-old would be an experienced addition to Oliver Glasner’s midfield.

"Dynamic" Crystal Palace ace a wanted man

Taking to X on Monday, Romano claimed that Crystal Palace youngster Hindolo Mustapha is wanted by a host of clubs this summer, including Eredivisie giants Ajax and Feyenoord.

Losing Mustapha so early in his career would be a shame for Palace, considering he is among the most eye-catching young players at the club.

Hindolo Mustapha’s Crystal Palace stats	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Crystal Palace Under-18s	32	5	12
Crystal Palace Under-21s	27	12	6

The 18-year-old has registered 35 goal contributions (17 goals and 18 assists) in 59 appearances for the Eagles’ Under-18s and Under-21s combined, and analyst Ben Mattinson has praised him for his “dynamic” style of play.

For that reason, sending Mustapha on loan for the 2025/26 season arguably makes more sense than allowing him to leave on a permanent basis.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out amid Man Utd interest

A Crystal Palace star is now ready to start a new challenge at the end of this season.

By
Brett Worthington

May 2, 2025

Palace could then reassess the situation this time next year, looking at how well he has done on loan and weighing up whether he is a long-term part of the club’s plans or not.

Pakistan lost six wickets for 40 runs late in the chase to lose the match by 25 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2025With 11 days to go for the World Cup, Pakistan and South Africa played out a high-scoring thriller in Lahore. There were three centuries: Tazmin Brits posted her career-best 171 not out, Laura Wolvaardt brought up her ninth ODI hundred, and Sidra Amin hit 122. After over 90 overs and a rain break, South Africa won the match and took a 2-0 unassailable lead in the series with a match to spare.Chasing a revised target of 313 in 46 overs due to rain, Pakistan lost their first three wickets for 101, with Omaima Sohail making a brisk 43 and laying a solid platform. From there, Amin and Natalia Pervaiz stitched a momentum-changing 146-run stand off just 111 deliveries to lift Pakistan to a strong position. When Amin was cleaned up by Chloe Tryon, attempting to slog to the midwicket region, Pakistan needed 66 from 49 balls, with Pervaiz batting on 55 off 46. However, South Africa struck again, thanks to Tryon, and that shifted the momentum in their favour.Pakistan lost captain Fatima Sana, Natalia Pervaiz (73 off 60), and Diana Baig in a span of just nine balls, as South Africa seized control late in the chase. The hosts eventually folded for 287 in 44.4 overs, losing their final seven wickets for just 40 runs. Nadine de Klerk led the bowling effort with 3 for 45.South Africa posted 292 for 3 after being asked to bat first, but were sloppy in the field. Sidra Amin, who went on to register her sixth ODI hundred, was dropped several times during her innings.Earlier, Brits and Wolvaardt got off to a steady start and converted it to a 260-run opening stand. Brits was the aggressor in the stand and reached her sixth ODI ton a few overs before rain interrupted play. After 41 overs, South Africa were 238 for no loss, with Wolvaardt unbeaten on 95. Once play resumed and the contest was reduced to 46 overs per side, Wolvaardt reached her ninth hundred in ODIs, and South Africa added 54 runs in the last five overs. Brits, who scored 101 not out in the series opener, remained unbeaten on Friday, scoring 20 fours and four sixes.

Overall, the tournament recorded a reach of 446 million on digital in India, greater than the combined total of the last three editions

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2025The 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup final in Navi Mumbai, where hosts India beat South Africa to lift their maiden title, attracted a record 185 million users on JioHotstar, the official streaming platform in India. It equalled the viewership of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final and exceeded the average daily reach of the 2025 IPL.Apart from that, 92 million tuned in on Connected TV (CTV), equalling the CTV viewership of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final and the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 final, which also involved India as one of the teams. Overall, the World Cup recorded a reach of 446 million on digital in India, the highest ever for a women’s tournament, greater than the combined total of the last three editions.Earlier, the India-Pakistan group-stage match on October 5 had set a record for the most viewers tuning in for a women’s international match: 28.4 million. That pales in comparison to the number of viewers the final drew.The DY Patil Stadium, the venue for the final, was also packed to capacity, with 39,555 watching India make history.

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Uma das principais revelações do Palmeiras nas últimas temporadas, o meia-atacante Estêvão entrou na mira do Chelsea, da Inglaterra, que deseja a contratação da joia de 17 anos.

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➡️ Chelsea sinaliza com proposta de até R$ 300 milhões por Estêvão

O clube inglês, que tem como proprietário o empresário Todd Boehly, estaria disposto a pagar até R$ 300 milhões pelo jogador, incluindo despesas fixas e variáveis.

Formado nas categorias de base do Verdão, Estêvão estreou no profissional em 2023, sob comando de Abel Ferreira. Ao todo, o jogador acumula 11 partidas na equipe profissional, onde contribuiu com um gol, na vitória sobre o Liverpool-URU, pela Libertadores, e uma assistência.

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Confira no vídeo acima a trajetória do jogador no Palmeiras e alguns lances de destaque de Estêvão – na base e no profissional.

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Arsenal are looking to establish themselves as the dominant force in English football and could now be set to accelerate their pursuit of a star who has an intriguing link with a key member of their squad.

Mikel Arteta is into his sixth year at the Gunners and will hope his side can seize the opportunity that lies ahead in the Premier League title race, given they have managed to amass a four-point lead at this point.

Ultimately, their frustrating draw away to Sunderland before the international break will be a source of inconvenience. However, no team is going to win every match across a whole campaign, so they will put it behind them ahead of stiff tests against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Looking at their central priorities, lifting the Premier League title has to be the main focus. Nevertheless, Pete O’Rourke confirmed on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that Arteta could be set to engage in talks over a contract extension later next year.

He said: “Yeah, I think for certain it’s something that they will get to, as you said, it’s probably not the priority right now. Arteta’s contract will take care of itself. I’ve got no doubts about that. Arteta’s happy at Arsenal. Arsenal are obviously very happy with him.

“I think for Arteta himself probably his focus and priority right now is on success for Arsenal this season. I’m sure later in 2026, I’m sure there’ll be talks held between Arteta and Arsenal to see if they can sort out his future and extend his stay at the Emirates as well.”

Planning for the future is also firmly part of his remit at the Emirates, and he could now be set to complete a surprising deal for a star who has a familiar family name.

Arsenal could seal Quinten Timber free transfer

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are plotting a move for Feyenoord midfielder Quinten Timber, who is set to see his contract expire in Rotterdam come the summer of 2026.

Of course, he is the brother of Gunners fan favourite Jurrien, and this could hand them an edge in the race given their obvious tie to the player.

Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and West Ham United are also alert to his situation as he represents a lucrative option to strengthen ahead of next season without having to pay a transfer fee.

On the flipside, Dortmund may be willing to bid for the Utrecht-born midfielder in January, in case Feyenoord opt to take what they can get for his services rather than allow his deal to run down.

Scoring twice and laying on a solitary assist in 14 matches this campaign, 24-year-old Timber has been on the Gunners’ radar for an extended period of time, something that won’t come as a surprise due to his brother’s presence in North London.

Now, they could complete a rare scenario where twins are on board at the same club. However, Dortmund are deemed to be leading the race at this point.

Arsenal are also eyeing an explosive winger to compete with Noni Madueke

Player representatives have reiterated their fear of burnout in the wake of the full fixture release for the 2026 domestic season in England and Wales.Following the announcement of the County Championship and One-Day Cup schedules on Thursday, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) was particularly critical of the period from late August to late September, which comprises six rounds of Championship fixtures and the 50-over final.The 2026 Rothesay County Championship will be played in three blocks of matches – with each side playing a total of 14 times after counties rejected a proposal earlier this year to cut the number of first-class games to 13, a decision which had already raised the ire of the players’ union.Related

• Warwickshire retire Birmingham Bears moniker for revamped T20 Blast

• Counties reject plan to cut Championship fixtures

Each county will play six matches during the first seven-week block, with all matches during that period starting on a Friday. A mid-summer block will be staged in June with each county playing twice while the third block of matches begins on August 20 with each team playing six times. The final round begins on September 24.Daryl Mitchell, the PCA Chief Executive, said he “feared” for that latter part of the season.”Unfortunately, the County Championship schedule does raise concerns with player burnout with mental and physical dangers attached to an overly intense end to the season following the conclusion of The Hundred,” Mitchell said.”The reduction of just one game could have gone a long way to resolving a period that does not look manageable for the majority. I already fear this section of the season.”This is through no fault of the schedulers, but the decision by the county Chairs to not allow for sufficient minimum standards regarding time between games has meant we have a period of 12 days of Championship cricket in just over two weeks with some lengthy travel for the majority.”Nottinghamshire will open their County Championship title defence at Somerset while Leicestershire and Glamorgan, both back in Division One for the first time in more than two decades, host Sussex and Yorkshire respectively in the opening round from April 3.Nottinghamshire won their first Championship trophy for 15 years and seventh overall when their South African wicketkeeper, Kyle Verreynne, hit a six to secure a batting bonus point and top spot in Division One on the penultimate day of the 2025 season.Lancashire, winners of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s Competition and the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup, will begin their 50-over title defence away to Durham on April 11 ahead of a historic first professional Roses clash with Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford on April 25.Yorkshire, the 2025 Metro Bank One-Day Cup Women’s League 2 champions, begin life as a Tier 1 side away to Somerset after their elevation to the top flight was brought forward by one year following a restructure of the women’s domestic competition ahead of last season.Men’s One-Day Cup champions Worcestershire Rapids will begin their 2026 campaign at home to Derbyshire Falcons on July 24, with groups randomly drawn and each county playing once against every team in their group.Gloucestershire, Kent Spitfires, Lancashire, Leicestershire Foxes, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Notts Outlaws, Somerset, Surrey and Warwickshire make up Group A while Group B comprises Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Essex, Glamorgan, Hampshire, Middlesex, Sussex Sharks, Worcestershire Rapids and Yorkshire.The One-Day Cup Women’s final will be played at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, September 19 followed by both the men’s final at Trent Bridge and the Women’s League 2 Final at Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol the following day.Ellie Threlkeld holds the One-Day Cup aloft•ECB via Getty Images

The second season of the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup will involve 37 counties vying for a place on finals day at Emirates Old Trafford on August 29, including inaugural champions Lancashire Thunder.The opening round, from April 26, features 28 counties before the nine Tier 1 counties – Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey, The Blaze, Warwickshire and Yorkshire – enter the competition in Round 3 from June 21.Two all-Tier 1 ties have been confirmed for Round 3 with The Blaze at home to Durham and Yorkshire hosting Somerset.The PCA noted favourably a significant reduction in back-to-back games across men’s and women’s T20 fixtures, announced on Tuesday, down from 54 in 2025 to just six next season.Olly Hannon-Dalby, the PCA Chair, believed that holding the men’s Blast Finals Day ahead of the Hundred along with an improved schedule and less travel represented significant progress.”For the first time in a number of years, I feel the men’s Blast will have the energy and priority within the schedule to show everybody just how great this competition is,” he said. “The Vitality Blast lining up on an equal platform with men’s and women’s teams is something I’m very passionate about and is absolutely the right way to grow the game. We’ve seen the success in The Hundred and double headers should be an opportunity to attract bigger crowds for all.”But he echoed Mitchell’s concern over the Championship schedule.”At a time when many counties have threadbare squads, to start six four-day games and a 50-over final in the space of five weeks is so far from optimum it is something that needs addressing,” Hannon-Dalby said.”We will actively be canvassing opinion on how we could avoid this congestion in the future with options such as starting the season slightly earlier or ending it later. Conversations need to continue to prioritise the wellbeing of its players.”