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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Viktor Gyokeres for what he’s “already” doing behind-the-scenes, as the Swede gears up to face-off against his former boss, Ruben Amorim, at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Gyokeres is poised for his highly-anticipated Premier League debut when the north Londoners travel to Man United for their opening top flight game of the 2025/2026 season – a match where former top Arsenal target, Benjamin Sesko, will likely also be making his first competitive appearance for the Red Devils.

Arsenal attempted to sign Sesko last summer and in January, but that is all ancient history now, with Gyokeres coming to N5 in the Slovenian’s stead after two years of free-scoring for Sporting CP in Portugal.

The 27-year-old joined Arteta’s side in a deal worth up to £64 million, including potential add-ons, whilst putting pen to paper on a five-year contract and officially ending Arsenal’s long hunt for a prolific number nine.

Gyokeres now dons the number 14 shirt, once worn by Gunners legend Thierry Henry (no pressure!), and Arsenal supporters were treated to glimpses of his quality during pre-season.

The ex-Coventry City star scored a thumping header in their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup last weekend, attacking the ball with gusto after a great run into the box, and perhaps giving Arteta a small taste of what’s to come.

Gyokeres has been tipped as a potentially game-changing signing in Arsenal’s quest to end their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title, and nothing Arteta has witnessed so far suggests otherwise.

Mikel Arteta shares what Viktor Gyokeres is "already" doing at Arsenal

In an interview with Sky Sports, Arteta lavished praise on his new centre-forward.

The tactician revealed what Gyokeres has “already” been doing in his first few weeks behind-the-scenes at Arsenal – explaining the one thing that makes the Scandinavian so special.

Gyokeres bagged an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances during his time at Sporting, helping Rui Borges’ side to their first domestic double in around 20 years last season, and Arteta will be praying for similar heroics at the Emirates.

Afghanistan were 95 for 2 at stumps, staring at a mammoth 491-run deficit

Sreshth Shah27-Dec-2024

Brian Bennett celebrates his century•Zimbabwe Cricket

Bulawayo was buzzing on the second day of the Boxing Day Test as the home fans celebrated one landmark after another, with Zimbabwe creating history against Afghanistan by getting to their highest Test score of all time. Overnight centurion Sean Williams posted his personal best in Tests, the captain Craig Ervine scored his fourth Test ton in a 13-year career, and Brian Bennett struck a dramatic maiden hundred, taking Zimbabwe to 586.Williams set the tone early with a cut through point to pass 150. He looked to be aggressive to the leg side but mistimed a pull off Naveen Zadran to deep midwicket, adding only nine to his overnight score before departing for 154 in the day’s sixth over.The No. 7 Bennett, playing only his second Test, then looked busy upon arrival. His early strokes allowed Ervine, starting overnight on 56, to get his eyes in, and together they put on 82 in only 20.2 overs for the sixth wicket. Ervine showed off his ease against spin to dominate square of the wicket. He reached triple figures with a flick towards backward square leg in the 109th over, took off his helmet, and revealed a smile that bore a feeling of satisfaction.Left-arm spinner Zia-Ur-Rehman had Ervine nicking to the keeper for 104 two overs later, followed by Brandon Mavuta’s dismissal for 0 in the same over, those two wickets did not bring any respite for the inexperienced Afghanistan bowling unit. The turn was predictable, the pacers were ineffective, allowing Bennett and the lower-order to score freely.Bennett, a few streaky boundaries aside, peppered boundaries through the covers, and after lunch the message was clear that the remaining batters would also play positively. Teen debutant Newman Nyamhuri, known for his left-arm seam bowling in the domestic circuit, showed he can also contribute with the bat. He was out on 26 to Zahir Khan, but not before bringing up Zimbabwe’s 500 with a big six down the ground. It ended a 21-year wait for Zimbabwe to breach that mark in Tests.Naveed Zadran celebrates the wicket of Sean Williams•Zimbabwe Cricket

The mystery spin of AM Ghazanfar didn’t have much impact either, with Bennett and Blessing Muzarabani (19) crunching sixes off his overpitched deliveries. As Zimbabwe pushed towards their previous highest score of 563 for 9, achieved against West Indies in 2001, errors crept into the Afghan fielding effort too. Fumbles and misfields allowed singles to become doubles, and Muzarabani survived a dropped chance at deep midwicket too.However Muzarabani fell with Zimbabwe at 550 for 9, earning Azmatullah Omarzai a maiden Test wicket, and with only the No. 11 remaining, Bennett, on 82, moved to fifth gear. A six off Zia-ur-Rehman through midwicket took him to 89, and back-to-back twos in Trevor Gwandu’s company got him closer to triple digits. His 96th run also took Zimbabwe to 564, a new high in their 32-year history in the format.But that was not enough for the crowd. Only a Bennett century would make the innings perfect, and it arrived in cinematic fashion in the 135th over. Zadran had set up a short-ball ploy with two sweeper fielders in the deep on the leg side, but Bennett went for the pull anyway. The fielder in the deep took the catch, only to see that he had stepped into the boundary line, and Bennett roared “come on” in the direction of his family on the grass banks, which included his father and twin brother. He would pin another six next ball over the same region before Ghazanfar picked up his third wicket by removing Gwandu, leaving Bennett unbeaten on 110.”[It is] not just my first Test century but my first century for Zimbabwe, so it’s a great feeling,” Bennett said after the day’s play. “To get a Test match hundred at Queen’s [Sports Club] with my family watching, with Sean Williams and Craig Ervine also getting hundreds and putting on a record score for Zimbabwe in Test matches. I don’t think there’s any better feeling to that. So, yeah, I’m just very proud.”At first, when I saw it going, I thought it was six, but when I saw it coming down, I was like, oh shucks, I’m in trouble here,” he recalled the drama. “But you know what? You create your own luck in cricket. And when it stepped over the boundary there, I was lost for words, actually.”It wasn’t too much about me getting to my hundred. It was more about us getting a big score and getting the Afghan guys out on the field for as long as possible. So credit to the tail-enders as well. They did a good effort for me to get my hundred but also, I think we were six down, and with our tail, we added 120 [121] runs.”Afghanistan’s reply to 587 began in overcast conditions after tea, and Sediqullah Atal lost the battle of the debutants to Gwandu trying to flick across the line in the second over. Gwandu got a ball to swing in and shape away late to gain his maiden Test scalp. The seamer would bowl four overs before an injury while fielding ended his day early.Muzarabani was metronic from the other end, bowling in the channel around off stump, and challenged Abdul Malik’s bat on occasion. It needed someone of Rahmat Shah’s experience at No. 3 to get the runs flowing. His strong off-side play earned him four fours in the space of as many overs bowled by Gwandu and Nyamhuri. Malik, instead, offered soft hands when possible, with his only boundary a gentle glance towards fine leg.With the pitch still good for batting and the effects of the new ball wearing off, both batters milked the Zimbabwe bowling, but looking to make something happen Ervine brought Muzarabani back and the idea worked. Malik, who had mostly offered defensive shots, was proffered a short ball by Muzarabani and the rising delivery forced the error, straight to Ben Curran at fine leg.Hashmatullah Shahidi, at No. 4, battled against the fading light to face some tricky overs of spin from Williams and part-timers Mavuta and Bennett. He struck three boundaries in 24 balls, while Rahmat moved to 49 after surviving one catching chance at slip. Bad light stopped play three overs before close, with Afghanistan on 95 for 2, staring at a mammoth 491-run deficit.

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has lured a number of superstars to play their football in the Middle East, with big money on offer.

Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the first big names to make the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2023 and the Portuguese icon now picks up an eye-watering £178m per season.

Messi, Mbappe and Dembele rejected billions in Saudi Pro League contracts

Some big money has been turned down over the years.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 19, 2025

Some star players have turned down moves to the Saudi Pro League, including Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Kylian Mbappe. However, the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante swapped some of the best clubs in Europe for Saudi Arabia.

Darwin Nunez is the latest to do so, heading to Al-Hilal from Liverpool in a transfer worth an initial €53m. But where does he rank on a list of the 10 most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers of all-time?

Player

From

To

Fee

Neymar

PSG

Al-Hilal

€90m

Jhon Duran

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€77m

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

Al-Qadsiah

€68.25m

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa

Al-Nassr

€60m

Malcom

Zenit

Al-Hilal

€60m

Otavio

FC Porto

Al-Nassr

€60m

Ruben Neves

Wolves

Al-Hilal

€55m

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

Al-Hilal

€53m

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham

Al-Hilal

€52.6m

Galeno

FC Porto

Al-Ahli

€50m

10 Galeno €50m to Al-Ahli

Brazilian winger Galeno swapped FC Porto for Al-Ahli in 2025 in a deal worth €50m.

Arguably at the peak of his powers at the age of 27 when swapping Portugal for Saudi Arabia, Galeno helped Al-Ahli win the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title, scoring in the final against Kawasaki Frontale.

9 Aleksandar Mitrovic €52.6m to Al-Hilal

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored goals everywhere he has been during his career, and after starring in England for eight years with Newcastle United and Fulham, caught the attention of Al-Hilal.

In 2023 they decided to pay those at Craven Cottage €52.6m for the Serbian striker, who has gone on to average more than a goal or an assist each game. Mitrovic helped Al-Hilal win a league title in 2023/24 and the Saudi Cup.

8 Darwin Nunez €53m to Al-Hilal

Looking likely to be Mitrovic’s replacement at Al-Hilal in 2025 is Darwin Nunez.

The former Liverpool striker was hit and miss at Anfield after costing the Reds £85m, with Arne Slot and those on Merseyside deciding to cash in halfway through a six-year deal.

7 Ruben Neves €55m to Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal have been big spenders in recent years and also splashed the cash on midfielder Ruben Neves in 2023.

The Portugal midfielder followed his national teammate Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League, paying Premier League side Wolves €55m.

6 Otavio €60m to Al-Nassr

Another Portuguese star who headed to the Middle East in 2023 was Otavio, with Al-Nassr triggering his €60m release clause in his FC Porto contract.

Playing alongside Ronaldo in attack, the winger has made close to 100 appearances for Al-Nassr and is under contract until 2026.

5 Malcom €60m to Al-Hilal

Malcom cost Barcelona more than €40m in 2018, however, after selling the Brazilian winger to Zenit Saint Petersburg, he was then on the move again in 2023, joining Al-Hilal.

Still on the books in 2025, Malcom has won one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup and two Saudi Super Cups.

4 Moussa Diaby €60m to Al-Ittihad

Despite signing the likes of Benzema, Kante and Fabinho in recent years, Al-Ittihad’s most expensive signing is Moussa Diaby.

Costing €60m from Aston Villa in 2024, Diaby has turned into an assist machine for Al-Ittihad, registering 16 in his first Al-Ittihad season.

3 Mateo Retegui €68.25m to Al-Qadsiah

After finishing fourth in the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League, Al-Qadsiah splashed the cash and broke their transfer record by signing striker Mateo Retegui from Atalanta.

Looking to topple the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, Retegui joins Al-Qadsiah after scoring 25 Serie A goals in 24/25.

2 Jhon Duran €77m to Al-Nassr

Like Diaby, Aston Villa also sold Jhon Duran for big-money to the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Nassr briefly partnering the Colombian alongside Ronaldo.

They paid a club-record €77m for the forward, however, Duran was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce for the 2025/26 season.

1 Neymar €90m to Al-Hilal

Topping the charts as the most expensive Saudi Pro League transfer of all time is Neymar, who cost Al-Hilal €90m from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

Unfortunately for Neymar and Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a serious injury shortly after joining and never starred in Saudi Arabia, making just seven appearances for the club.

He left in 2025 after having his contract terminated, returning to Santos.

Games

7

Goals

1

Assists

3

Minutes played

428

Everton will approach the 2025/26 campaign with a sense of excitement that has been missing for several years. Goodison Park will no longer house the Toffees’ Men’s team, but this new chapter promises so much.

After a huge exodus last month, Everton face a steep rebuild as they shuffle over to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, although Moyes is the perfect man to lead this charge, tasked with piecing back together a team fit for purpose in the higher level of the Premier League.

But make no mistake, there’s a lot to sort out for the Scotsman.

The latest on Everton's transfer window

When Everton completed the £27m signing of Thierno Barry from Villarreal earlier in July, Moyes confirmed that he is looking to do more business before the start of the season.

He’s been true to his word. Bournemouth shot-stopper Mark Travers has completed his medical and officially signed for Everton, lined up to provide competition for Jordan Pickford. The Merseysiders also want wide defenders and physical and creative profiles in the middle of the park.

However, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom’s departures after unconvincing loan spells have left Everton devoid of options on the attacking right flank.

Transfer Focus

That’s why, as per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Everton are pushing to sign Francisco Conceicao from FC Porto after the 22-year-old’s loan stint in Italy with Juventus.

The Liga Portugal giants value their rising star at €30m (£26m), and while he is thought to be giving priority to Juventus, Everton are named as the only suitors willing to meet Porto’s demands.

Why Moyes wants Francisco Conceicao

Conceicao played a peripheral role for Juventus last season, but his high-speed performances down the right wing made a positive impression, scoring seven goals and providing six assists across 40 matches in all competitions, including a brace against Al Ain in the Club World Cup.

He’s got the makings of something special, and Everton’s vacancy on the right certainly suggests he could be a wonderful addition, with his physicality and athletic style even suggesting he could be the next version of Iliman Ndiaye.

Ndiaye, 25, signed from Marseille for £15m last summer and has established himself as the crème de la crème of Everton’s transfer business in recent years. It’s admittedly not a high bar, but he’d shine as a standout across even a rich and fruitful era for the club.

Everton’s top scorer in 2024/25 with 11 goals across 37 appearances, the Senegalese winger has a rare skill for excitement, and in Conceicao, Moyes could sign a stylistic match to compete down the right.

League Stats 24/25 – Iliman Ndiaye vs Francisco Conceicao
Match Stats (* per game)	Ndiaye	Conceicao
Matches (starts)	33 (29)	26 (12)
Goals	9	3
Assists	0	3
Shot (on target)*	1.1 (0.5)	1.5 (0.5)
Big chances missed	3	2
Pass completion	85%	85%
Big chances created	3	5
Key passes*	0.5	1.1
Dribbles*	2.1	1.3
Ball recoveries*	5.2	2.1
Tackles + interceptions*	2.2	1.1
Duels won*	5.4 (50%)	3.7
Data via Sofascore

Ndiaye has been hailed for his ability to produce “magic” moments by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson, and there’s no question that he’s more complete and robust at this stage than Conceicao, albeit a few years the Portuguese’s senior.

He could serve as a tutor for this young wideman, who should consider a move to Merseyside after a fringe role on loan with Juventus last season. At Everton, he would have the chance to become a nailed-on starting member.

Conceicao has already been declared ‘statistically the second-best dribbler in the world’ following analytics drawn from the CIES Football Observatory, so he’s got the talent to mirror Ndiaye, for sure.

Ranked among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for tackles per 90, as per FBref. Clearly, he can fill the ball-carrying void that Ndiaye can’t fill on the right, for he plies his trade on the left wing.

Lauded for his “exceptional” dribbling skills and “electric pace” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Conceicao would be a stunning acquisition for an Everton side on the up, establishing a degree of exciting equipoise on the wings as Moyes creates a frontline to be feared.

Dream Doucoure replacement: Everton open first talks to sign £30m star

After Abdoulaye Doucouré departed Everton following the expiration of his contract, could the Toffees sign a “highly talented” replacement for £30m?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 15, 2025

تحدث البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن الفوز على الإسماعيلي بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت مساء اليوم الخميس على استاد هيئة قناة السويس.

وأعرب فيريرا عن سعادته في المؤتمر الصحفي عقب اللقاء قائلًا: “سعيد جدًا بالنتيجة، فقد خلقنا فرصًا عديدة وسيطرنا على المباراة بشكل كامل، لكننا نحتاج إلى روح أكبر من أجل قتل المباراة بصورة أسرع”.

وأضاف: “اللاعبون سيخضعون لتدريبات استشفائية استعدادًا للمباراة المقبلة، ونحن نحرص دائمًا على معالجة السلبيات”.

طالع.. الزمالك يعلن تشخيص إصابتي عمر جابر وحسام عبد المجيد أمام الإسماعيلي

وتطرق للحديث عن إصابة عمر جابر وموقف خوان ألفينا قائلًا: “عمر جابر بنسبة كبيرة سيكون جاهزًا للمباراة القادمة، أما بالنسبة لكثرة البطاقات التي حصل عليها بيزيرا، فاللاعب يتعرض للضرب كثيرًا ويحصل على ركلات حرة، وأحيانًا يتعصب، وقد تحدثنا معه لأن بعض البطاقات كان من الممكن تفاديها”.

وتابع: “نركز الآن على مواجهة الجونة المقبلة، وبعدها سنفكر في المباراة التالية، تحدثت مع اللاعبين عن ضرورة تطوير إنهاء الهجمة، لكن هذه طبيعة كرة القدم؛ أحيانًا تتاح العديد من الفرص ولا تستغل سوى القليل منها، ونسعى دائمًا للتطوير”.

وأضاف: “سعيد بوجود عبد الله السعيد، فهو شخص رائع من حيث القيادة والالتزام رغم أنه يبلغ من العمر 40 عامًا إلا أنه يقوم بدوره على أكمل وجه، وساعدنا كثيرًا في الفترة الماضية، ونتمنى أن يستمر في دعمه للفريق”.

واختتم: “سنفتقد بعض اللاعبين في مباراة الجونة، لكن لدينا البدائل القادرة على تعويض الغيابات”.

ورفع الزمالك رصيده إلى 16 نقطة في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدروري المصري الممتاز، بعد الفوز على الدروايش.

He also wants to see Tamim Iqbal return to international cricket

Mohammad Isam22-Aug-2024In his first press conference as the BCB president, Faruque Ahmed has reiterated that Chandika Hathurusinghe should no longer continue as Bangladesh’s head coach. He had expressed the same view earlier this week as well, before taking up the BCB job.”I am yet to find out about Chandika Hathurusinghe’s contract. I have to see some stuff officially but I have not moved from my previous stance,” Faruque said on Wednesday. “I have to speak to my colleague over the next two or three days, and see if we can find someone better than him. We have to prepare a shortlist, and see who wants to join us.”Faruque had resigned as the chief selector in 2016 after then-BCB president Nazmul Hassan put a two-tier selection panel, reportedly at Hathurusinghe’s request. Hathurusinghe’s current contract as the head coach runs till the end of February 2025, when the Champions Trophy is also scheduled to get over.Related

Hathurusinghe questions BCB's motives after sacking

Bangladesh dig deep to find glory in a time of upheaval

BCB rebooted – Faruque Ahmed's five-point agenda

Faruque Ahmed elected as new BCB president after Nazmul Hassan resigns

Tamim opts out of BCB central contract list

“His credibility and background of what he has done on and off the field, there’s no reason for him to stay [as Bangladesh’s coach],” he said on the YouTube show . “You will lose some money [if you sack him], but there will be greater damage by his presence. I had noticed that it is impossible to work in the environment he wants to work in.”When Hathurusinghe was brought back for a second stint in 2023, Faruque was one of those who had questioned his return. Despite the BCB showing confidence in Hathurusinghe, Bangladesh didn’t continue the upswing of Steve Rhodes and Russell Domingo.Within a few months of Hathurusinghe’s appointment, there was instability in the dressing room, with Tamim Iqbal retiring and Shakib Al Hasan lashing out at Tamim in the media. Allan Donald soon left his role as fast-bowling coach. Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup performance was also sub-par, with many questioning Hathurusinghe’s decision-making in the Super Eight game against Afghanistan.”It was a real blunder to bring back Hathurusinghe for a second stint,” Faruque said. “He had left us in trouble the last time he left the job [in 2017]. Bangladesh was a stepping stone for him. He went back to his country, became their head coach. I couldn’t believe that a 25-member board of directors, including the president, could make such a decision. I hope they are realising their mistake.”Those who brought him back thought that he was a magician. They thought that only Hathurusinghe created this bubble of success. Cricket is not about magic. Bangladesh’s success is due to a combination of players, coaches, selection committee and even board officials.”Faruque: Would like to see Tamim playing for Bangladesh againIn his long press conference at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Faruque also said that he wanted to understand if Shakib was willing to play in Bangladesh this year. Shakib was an Awami League member of parliament until the government fell on August 5. Several ministers and MPs have been arrested since then while others have gone into hiding. They were also targets of violence in the aftermath of Awami League’s exit.”We will give a lot of importance to understanding whether Shakib can play while staying outside Bangladesh. We have two home Tests coming up [in October], so I will discuss with my directors what the policy should be about Shakib. It should have been a policy matter even before [he became an MP] that he won’t be allowed to do politics.”Faruque, however, was hopeful of Tamim’s return to international cricket. Tamim had briefly retired from international cricket last year before making a U-turn on his decision and also opted out of the central contacts. He last played for Bangladesh in September 2023, after which he played in the BPL and DPL.”The relevant board department will see what he has to do to play [for Bangladesh],” Faruque said. “I would like to see Tamim Iqbal play for two or three years more. Maybe ODI is his best format now. I think Tamim can tell you better whether he can play the longer format.”I want to speak to Tamim about his future plans. He is a former captain so he definitely has leadership qualities. If he doesn’t want to play, I will be happy to see him get involved with the board. He can serve us well in the board.”

West Bromwich Albion’s drawn-out search for a new manager has ended with Ryan Mason now officially in the Baggies’ hot seat.

There is plenty of intrigue surrounding this appointment as the Championship side ditch the tried and tested approach of Tony Mowbray for something left-field and fresher, with the 33-year-old taking on his first ever head coach role having only once been a stand-in option at ex-employers Tottenham Hotspur.

He will want to get down to business soon in the transfer market to begin to leave a lasting mark on his new side, with plenty of signings rumoured to be entering the building alongside the fresh-faced manager.

West Brom locked into talks with new striker

Mason could utilise those Spurs connections when adding to his Baggies squad, with North London prodigy Mikey Moore already being tipped to make a loan move to the EFL to expand his horizons, away from previous links suggesting Jamie Donley could call the West Midlands home shortly.

Further, it looks as if West Brom could win themselves a new deadly marksman in the form of Hearts’ goal machine Lawrence Shankland.

Journalist Mark Hendry has now revealed that West Brom are locked in talks about bringing the prolific 29-year-old to the Hawthorns, as the Hearts captain increasingly looks more and more likely to walk away from the Edinburgh giants on a free transfer.

But, the Championship promotion hopefuls aren’t alone in their interest, with Hendry surprisingly adding that both Al-Ettifaq and Al-Wedha are sniffing around from Saudi Arabia.

How Shankland could be West Brom's best striker since Maja

If West Brom were to pip these outfits to the coveted signature of the Scotsman, they could be about to seal their best striker signing since Josh Maja’s addition, with the equally lethal attacker going on to be a golden purchase up top himself, considering he joined the ranks in 2023 on a free transfer as well.

Maja has endured difficult periods at the Hawthorns, however, with a mammoth 44 games missed through injury over the last two seasons.

But, when he’s fit, there’s a real lack of strikers in the Championship that possess the same clinical edge the Nigerian has in abundance, with the devastatingly effective number nine picking up 12 goals last campaign, despite only being fit enough to line up for 26 league clashes.

Shankland has also displayed a “ruthless” cutting edge – in the words of pundit Chris Sutton – throughout his celebrated spell on the books of Hearts, with this last-gasp goal against arch rivals Hibernian just one of many crucial strikes the Glasgow-born attacker has powered home for Derek McInnes’ men.

Having played up and down the various Scottish leagues across his goal-laden career to date, it does feel like the time is right for Shankland to test himself in a new and challenging environment, with the 6 foot 1 menace hopeful he can take to the pressures of the Hawthorns in his stride, much like Maja did when taking the plunge two years ago.

Shankland’s G/A record for Hearts by season
Season	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
24/25	43	9	11
23/24	47	31	8
22/23	47	28	4
Sourced by Transfermarkt

After all, before his return to England, the ex-Sunderland forward had begun to garner his own reputation for being a reliable source of goals when leading the line for Bordeaux, with 29 goals tallied up from 93 appearances.

Therefore, when assessing Shankland’s monstrous total of 68 strikes from 137 contests for Hearts, he should find his shooting boots are an equally uncomplicated find in the EFL’s elite league.

Mason would love to welcome in Shankland then as one of his first signings, with the 33-year-old no doubt crying out for a potent forward line to help his new side instantly gun for promotion.

Mason can sign West Brom's next Fellows in young star who's like "Neymar"

Ryan Mason would love to welcome this stunning star to this brand-new West Bromwich Albion squad.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 4, 2025

Everton chiefs are now confident in their bid to sign a “menacing” forward who has a £34 million release clause, according to a new report.

David Moyes wants midfield reinforcements at Everton

Heading into the new stadium, it is clear to see that David Moyes is keen to put together a squad at Everton that can look up the table rather than over their shoulder. The Toffees are unlikely to have lots of money to spend this summer as like everyone else they dance around PSR, but Moyes will have no intentions of another relegation scrap.

Everton in race with West Ham to sign midfielder who can leave for £25m

Everton are now involved in a Premier League race to sign an experienced international midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

Strengthening his midfield appears to be high on the list, and that can be shown with their latest transfer targets. According to talkSPORT, Everton have returned to Wilfred Ndidi as a potential target this summer. The midfielder could cost Everton as little as £9 million, due to a release clause that has now been activated due to Leicester City suffering relegation.

As well as looking at Ndidi, the Toffees have reportedly registered their interest in signing James McAtee from Manchester City. The attacking midfielder is expected to leave the Etihad due to his lack of game time last season, and he could be available for around £25 million.

There is now a new name on their midfield list, and that is Raphael Onyedika from Club Brugge. Everton are said to be in pole position to sign him, with Club Brugge looking to get £25 million for his services.

Everton confident in their bid to sign Thierno Barry

But as much as Moyes wants a new midfielder, that may have to wait, as the Toffees focus on securing their top striker target. According to TBR Football, Everton are now ready to accelerate talks to sign Thierno Barry from Villarreal.

The Toffees’ interest in Barry emerged at the very start of the summer transfer window, but they have had to be patient when it comes to a transfer, as the forward has been away with France at the U21 Championships, only knocked out by Germany on Wednesday.

Despite interest from other teams across Europe, The Friedkin Group are confident they can sign Barry this summer. The forward’s representatives have already held talks with the Premier League side, and he is now open to the move. The fact that Barry has a £34 million release clause makes the deal easier to do, but the Toffees may even end up paying slightly more than that if they do the deal in installments.

Apps

35

Starts

25

Goals

11

xG

12.41

Total shots per game

2.1

Big chances missed

15

Chance conversion

15%

Assists

4

Big chances created

7

Barry, who has been dubbed “menacing” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, joined Villarreal in August 2024, and in his first full season, the striker scored 11 goals in 35 La Liga appearances.

His presence and ability to find the net have made him a target for Everton, who lacked a serious presence at the top end of the pitch last season and now look set to lose Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the end of this month.

Manchester United have now directly “called” the agents of a “phenomenal” £68m striker, with the race for his signature still “open”, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd eager to bolster attacking options

Man United have already secured the signature of Matheus Cunha, and with Bryan Mbeumo, who could cost around £70m, still in their sights, it is no wonder there is a great deal of skepticism about how they will be able to fund their summer transfer business.

However, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed that INEOS have been using a different company for PSR purposes, and the transfer fees for any new arrivals will be spread across the entire length of their contract.

As such, the Red Devils are £100m better off PSR-wise, which could free up the required funds to sign a new striker alongside Cunha and Mbeumo, and Romano has revealed they have made renewed contact over a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

The transfer expert said: “It’s an open race for Gyokeres. He remains on Arsenal’s list in case the Sesko deal doesn’t happen, Man United have called his agents again over the weekend.”

Having held direct talks with Gyokeres’ agents, there is clearly a great deal of interest on United’s behalf, and the Gunners appear to be prioritising a move for Benjamin Sesko, which could open the door for the Sweden international to move to Old Trafford.

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However, a deal for the Sporting star may not be cheap, with it recently being revealed the Portuguese club have now hiked their asking price to £68m.

"Phenomenal" Gyokeres could push for summer move

Sporting boss Rui Borges will no doubt be disappointed to lose the 27-year-old, should he move on this summer, having singled the centre-forward out for praise back in April, saying: “Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”

However, Borges may have an unsettled player on his hands until a bid is accepted, with it being revealed the former Coventry City man has been left furious by Sporting’s decision to raise their asking price.

It is no wonder the Stockholm-born striker is seeking a move to one of Europe’s top leagues, as he found it all too easy in Portugal last season, outscoring Arsenal target Sesko by a considerable margin.

As such, while it is unclear whether the talks with Gyokeres’ agents were positive, it is promising news that Man United appear to be stepping up their interest, and they will be hoping the Sporting star is keen to reunite with former manager Ruben Amorim.

Manchester United have now made contact over a deal for another “world-class” Brazilian after Matheus Cunha, according to reporter Rudy Galetti.

"World-class" Cunha set to join Man Utd

All signs point towards Man United wrapping up a deal for Cunha in the near future, with Fabrizio Romano stating a deal for the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is now close, and there are signs he could be an exciting addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad.

The forward, who has been lauded as “world-class” by writer George Lakin, has outscored Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combined in the Premier League this season, amassing 15 goals and six assists in 31 appearances for the Old Gold.

Amorim will be pleased that it looks like an early deal for the 25-year-old is close to completion, but the manager may also be looking to strengthen his options in a number of different areas, given just how poor his side have been this season.

Another position in which Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe may look to upgrade their options is right-back, according to an update from Galetti on X, having made contact to explore the conditions of a move for AS Monaco defender Vanderson.

Monaco are willing to sanction a departure this summer, with the French side willing to listen to offers starting from €30m (£25m) for the defender, who is attracting strong interest from the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur also making an approach.

There is yet to be a formal bid made by either English club, but there is clear interest on the Red Devils’ behalf, with Amorim seemingly looking to bring in competition for Diogo Dalot at right-back.

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Bringing in new forwards may be a more pressing matter for Amorim, given that his side have been particularly poor on the front foot this season, netting just 42 Premier League goals up to this point, but there are signs the Monaco star could be a fantastic addition.

Much like Cunha, the Brazilian has been performing at the highest level, having been lauded as “world-class” by one scout, and his defensive aptitude is showcased by the number of tackles, interceptions and blocks he has averaged per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.14 (95th percentile)

Interceptions

1.71 (96th percentile)

Blocks

1.74 (95th percentile)

There is also an expectation that the 23-year-old would be an ideal fit in Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, given that he is comfortable playing at wing-back, picking up two goals and five assists for Monaco in the 2024-25 campaign.

Dalot has made the right-back spot his own this season, chalking up 51 appearances in all competitions, so bringing in competition should not be a priority for Man United, but Vanderson is well-suited to Amorim, and the potential asking price of just £25m makes him an attractive option.