Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler admits that Manchester United's transfer interest in Carlos Baleba may have unsettled the midfielder after a difficult start to the season. The Red Devils were keen on signing the 21-year-old this summer but in the end, they were put off by his reported £115 million price tag. And after being taken off early against Tottenham, Hurzeler has fired a warning to Baleba.
Baleba struggling after Man Utd transfer links
Baleba's 2025-26 preparations were not helped by a pre-season injury, and in Brighton's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, he was taken off at half-time as head coach Hurzeler said the youngster was "tired" and "didn't track back". The German challenged the Cameroon international, who is yet to play a full 90 minutes this term, to "stay humble" after United's interest but called for patience as he is "not a machine".
Advertisement
(C)Getty Images
Brighton boss Hurzeler fires warning to Baleba
He told reporters: "For sure, when a young boy reads there is interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep, deep (down). That’s also part of the development to understand that when you play well, there comes a big offer, there comes a big club who wants to have him. But then to keep pushing, to be humble, stay here in Brighton, and try to make the next step with the team and that’s something we have to keep on working with him and therefore I can’t give you a clear answer if it’s really affected him or not. But for sure, he’s a young boy and we need to understand he’s not a machine that if you click on then he always runs and off then he stops. We need to understand his feelings, his emotions, where he comes from, and that’s our responsibility."
Man Utd to return for Baleba
Baleba is reportedly a top target for United boss Ruben Amorim as he tries to sign an athletic, defensively-minded player who can anchor his midfield. But other big teams, who are more likely to win trophies and qualify for the Champions League, may try and sign him next summer. Alternatively, if he struggles for form, eye-catching transfers elsewhere may be put on hold.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
What next for Baleba and Brighton?
Brighton, who sit 14th in the Premier League, will hope Baleba can find some form again ahead of their third round Carabao Cup trip to League One side Barnsley on Tuesday, before heading to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
England captain targets 3-0 win in New Zealand to cap year of evolution for Test squad
Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Dec-2024England men’s last overseas Test before the 2025-26 Ashes takes place in Hamilton this week – but Ben Stokes has urged his team not to get distracted by next winter’s assignment in Australia.The warning comes as England prepare for their final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park this week – their 17th of the year – as they look to cap off 2024 with a 3-0 clean sweep. Their next assignment will come in May, a one-off Test against Zimbabwe, before a huge five-match series with India. Though the Ashes glow brightly on the horizon, the captain has reiterated head coach Brendon McCullum’s mantra, to “be where your feet are”.Stokes has overseen a transitional year with the red-ball set-up. There have been seven debuts, with Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir becoming mainstays. Winter debutants Brydon Carse and Jacob Bethell have made strong cases to remain part of the XI, particularly against the Black Caps – Carse as the series’ leading wicket taker (16) and Bethell as the team’s second-highest runscorer (172 at 57.33). While Carse is 29, the rest are mid-twenties and younger: Atkinson 26, Smith 24, while Bashir and Bethell are both 21.The collateral has been an experienced core of players moved on, including Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson at the start of the home summer. Indeed, it was while addressing Anderson’s enforced retirement after his 188th and final Test cap, against West Indies at Lord’s, that Stokes explained the move to refresh the team was done with a view to competing in the next Ashes. “We had to make some decisions around what we think is best for the team going into that Ashes series,” Stokes said at the time. “We want to go out there and we want to get that urn back.”While there was plenty of blowback from pensioning off Anderson, the motivation was sound. Hard though they pushed Australia in 2023’s home series – in which Anderson took five wickets at 85.40 – the 2-2 draw saw England fall short of a first Ashes win since 2015. That disappointment, wrapped up with the 4-1 series defeat to India at the start of 2024 put the onus on finding players who could perform in all conditions – particularly those they will face next winter.Stokes says he now regrets those comments made at Lord’s. While he insists those words have not impacted the team, there is a suggestion the management are wary of players looking too far ahead and possibly overlooking the challenges in front of them.Related
Stokes leaves field with recurrence of hamstring injury
Potts grinds away with the right attitude and skill, and a smile
Stokes finds his peace in home comforts after 'hardest trip' to Pakistan
Stokes' brotherly helping hand gets the best out of Carse
The problem with Ben Stokes' problem with over-rates penalties
“I know whenever we spoke about Australia there is a lot looking towards that, but there are still massive series before that,” Stokes said. “We have India. And I think through my own fault, I maybe spoke a little too much about the Ashes and putting too much emphasis on that series, considering how much cricket we had to play before that.”I quite like staying in the present, in the moment. But it is quite tough when you’ve got an Ashes coming around the corner.”I’ve been involved in quite a few of those now and you do always look at the calendar and think ‘oh it’s nearly here’. It’s just hard to avoid. But I think just making sure I keep my focus on being in the here-and-now and what we’ve got coming up. And then, when the Ashes is our next series, then we will focus on it.”On the field, it has broadly been a positive year for England. They will finish with a winning record regardless of the result in Saturday’s Test in Hamilton, having won 9 out of 16 thus far, with three series victories. But the 4-1 and 2-1 losses away to India and Pakistan, respectively, still smart, particularly having been 1-0 up on both occasions.”Seventeen (Tests) in a year is a lot when you add the other cricket,” Stokes added. “A long tough slog but a really good year. Played some good cricket, found some extraordinarily talented players who have shown they’re capable of delivering big performances on the biggest stage, which is playing for your country. So overall, really happy.”The year has also been one of discovery for Stokes, both of the limits of his body, and of areas to improve as a captain – two facets which have been intrinsically linked.A return to bowling as an allrounder following knee surgery at the end of 2023 was interrupted by a hamstring injury, which resulted in him missing four Tests. That had knock-on effects in Pakistan when Stokes’ mood had his team-mates “walking on eggshells”.He had reason to be on edge, after working flat out to regain full fitness, then having his house burgled during the second Test. But in the time between tours, both he and McCullum felt he had veered from being the leader he set out to be when taking charge in 2022.Stokes began this New Zealand tour apologising for his conduct in Pakistan. He now ends it in similar fashion, sensitive to the fact that talk of the Ashes might have a distracting effect on the team.”At the start of the tour where there was a learning curve for me as a captain, from my experience of Pakistan. And then looking back to then (his comments at Lord’s), even speaking and saying stuff like that – we’re so far away from what my leadership had been about. Staying present, staying where we are, and then worrying about stuff when we have to worry about.”In leadership roles, you can maybe differ from where you first started, and think that’s the right thing to be saying or be thinking about. Which then takes you away from a successful mindset, a successful way of speaking within the group. So, yeah, learning curves as a leader I guess.”
Former PSV full-back Matteo Dams revealed Al-Ahli’s strong push and financial incentives convinced him to make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Dams moved to Al-Ahli for €10 million in JanuaryAl-Ahli coach and exponential salary reasons for his move Won the 2025 AFC Champions League in his debut seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Dams completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) move from PSV to Al-Ahli in January, with his salary receiving a massive boost in the process. The full-back was in the final six months of his PSV contract and negotiating an extension when Al-Ahli swooped in to seal the deal.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Dams featured 15 times across all competitions for Al-Ahli last season, registering one assist and contributing to seven clean sheets. His solid displays were key in helping the club lift the prestigious 2024-25 AFC Champions League title.
The Belgian admitted that he initially said he would not move to Saudi Arabia if an offer came in, especially at just 20 years old, but the salary on offer was too high for him to turn down, with reports in Netherlands claiming he went from earning €2,500 per month to €250,000.
WHAT DAMS SAID
"It was the end of January. I was in full talks with PSV, where the plan was actually to extend my contract. One phone call changed everything," he told
"I'm not usually much of a caller, but I was in the car and saw a message from Jorik [Benoit], my agent, come in: 'Matteo, I have to call you, this is really important.' On the phone, he told me about Al-Ahli's interest. At first, I thought it was a joke. It turned out to be serious. I initially assumed it was a summer transfer, but they wanted me right away. So I barely had a week and a half to think about it.
Honestly? I was already convinced after the phone call with Jorik. Obviously, because I knew what I could earn in Saudi Arabia, but also because Al-Ahli really wanted me. I felt that immediately, and I thought that was very important. The coach was completely behind my arrival. I was just afraid of what people, especially those around me, would say. You know the prejudices: that I'd choose the money, that I'd throw my career away, that the level here is terrible. But in the end, it was me who had to come here to play football, so I had to be completely committed to my decision. So I said yes."
Asked for his reaction after seeing the contract, he said: "I just started laughing. Because those were ridiculously high amounts for a 20-year-old. Not just for a 20-year-old. I never discuss amounts. I understand why people ask the question; I would have been curious too if one of my friends went to Saudi Arabia. But actually, the questions about that aren't that bad. It's rarely, if ever, discussed in the locker room.
Take Riyadh Mahrez, for example. Of course, all his teammates know he earns an incredible amount of money, but it's never discussed."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DAMS AND AL-AHLI?
Dams will be aiming for another successful season with Al-Ahli, chasing more trophies while also hoping his performances secure him a spot in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Whilst England are lucky to have the likes of Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden to choose from at the heart of their midfield these days, it wasn’t so long ago that Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes were all available in the engine room.
The current generation is special, but England’s last ‘golden generation’ still arguably had the most talent at their disposal in pursuit of a first honour since the 1966 World Cup.
It wasn’t just in midfield that the Three Lions were spoilt for talent. It’s a squad which also featured Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. And the list could go on.
Many have had their say as to why England were dumped out of the 2002 World Cup and then on penalties against Portugal at Euro 2004, including Lampard. The former England and Chelsea midfielder told reporters: “I think at times, we [the Golden Generation] were too rigid. I talk from my own personal experience of playing at World Cups against teams that were not at our level.
“I’m not talking about France and Italy, more teams like Ecuador, who were keeping the ball in midfield because they were outnumbering us in the centre of the park. The things that maybe me and Stevie [Steven Gerrard] were used to doing where we had numbers, now we are just trying to cover space and you get a bit mentally done with it in the game wondering why this is happening.”
England: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying info, format, fixtures & more
England are set to get their World Cup campaign up and running under Thomas Tuchel.
ByRoss Kilvington Mar 20, 2025
Outnumbered or not, there’s no denying the quality that England particularly had in the middle of the park. But finding the right balance between Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes often proved to be The Three Lions’ biggest problem, and that sparked a midfield debate which has rumbled on for decades since.
Rooney named Gerrard as his greatest ever England teammate
Having played with all three at international level and Scholes with Manchester United too, Rooney should be an expert in the age-old England midfield debate, and he delivered his official verdict to The Overlap in 2024.
Whilst praising all three, Rooney went on to reiterate that Scholes could not achieve what Gerrard did in a Liverpool side which often struggled to compete with the very top honours: “All were world-class players. Stevie could come to Manchester United and be a top player and do what Scholes could do. But I don’t think Scholes could do what Stevie did at Liverpool.”
Appearances
504
611
499
Goals
121
177
107
Assists
97
116
61
League titles
0
3
11
The numbers certainly don’t help to end the debate after Rooney’s verdict, but what they do highlight is England’s clear failure with all three at their disposal in a golden generation.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz appears to be entering the endgame phase as they look to wrap up a deal for the Germany international.
Arne Slot is attempting to bolster his squad, having already signed Jeremie Frimpong in the summer transfer window, and the midfield creator is next up on his wishlist.
Florian Wirtz
According to BILD journalist Christian Falk, an offer of £110m from Liverpool for the German wizard has already been rejected by Leverkusen, as they want up to £118m for his services.
The reporter claims that the Bundesliga outfit are expecting the Premier League champions to come back with a final offer for Wirtz, and that both sides are expected to agree on a fee of £118m.
This deal for Wirtz looks set to smash the club’s record transfer fee, set at £85m when they signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer of 2022, but is he worth the money?
Why Florian Wirtz is worth the money for Liverpool
The 22-year-old starlet is worth the gamble, even at a whopping £118m, because the star could be a transformational signing for the Reds, even after they won the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, due to the impact he could make at the top end of the pitch.
No central or attacking midfielder for Liverpool managed more than Dominik Szoboszlai’s return of six goals and six assists in the top-flight for Slot’s side, which shows that none of the manager’s options in that area of the park were particularly prolific or creative.
Liverpool's DominikSzoboszlai
Wirtz, however, is a number ten who can consistently provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, as evidenced by his performances for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons, in particular.
During the 2024/25 campaign, the right-footed dynamo racked up 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the German outfit, including six goals in nine matches in the Champions League.
Florian Wirtz (Bundesliga)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
32
31
xG
9.00
9.40
Goals
11
10
Big chances created
12
17
xA
9.75
9.44
Assists
11
12
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Wirtz has hit double figures for both goals and assists in each of the past two Bundesliga campaigns, which shows that he can provide a consistent threat in the final third from an attacking midfield position.
Whether the 22-year-old superstar can translate that kind of form over to the Premier League still remains up for debate, of course, but he has done it on the big stage for Germany as well.
The international star scored four goals and provided three assists in seven matches for his country on their way to the semi-finals of the Nations League, which is further proof that he would be worth the money for the champions.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtz
Liverpool, alongside a deal for Wirtz, could unearth England’s answer to the German star by signing one of their reported targets, Morgan Gibbs-White.
Liverpool's interest in Morgan Gibbs-White
It was recently reported by a Spanish outlet that Liverpool are one of a number of teams eyeing up a possible move for the Nottingham Forest playmaker in the summer transfer window.
The outlet claimed that Chelsea and Manchester City are also in the running to sign the England international from the Tricky Trees, who qualified for the UEFA Conference League for next season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It also revealed that Nottingham Forest would be willing to negotiate with those three clubs for a fee in the region of £70m, which means that he would be significantly cheaper than Wirtz as a number ten option.
The report, however, did not mention any incoming bids or imminent talks planned with the Premier League side for the Reds, so Gibbs-White may not be a priority target for the champions at this moment in time.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts after the match
Irrespective of whether or not Liverpool finalise a move for Wirtz from Leverkusen, the Nottingham Forest star would be an excellent signing for the club as England’s own version of the Bundesliga star.
Why Gibbs-White could be England's own Wirtz
England fans watched on, likely in boredom, as their team struggled to break down Andorra and came away with a drab 1-0 win, thanks to Harry Kane’s 50th-minute strike from close range.
Despite the fairly dismal attacking showing from the Three Lions, Gibbs-White was brought on with just one minute left to play and did not have a chance to make an impact.
Morgan Gibbs-White for England
Moving to Anfield and playing in Europe, in the Champions League, would put the former Wolves starlet in the spotlight at the very top of the domestic game and make it incredibly difficult for Thomas Tuchel to ignore him.
A transfer to Liverpool could also help to take Gibbs-White’s output to the next level as part of a team that creates more chances and has more of the ball than Nottingham Forest.
In the 2024/25 season, Liverpool created 82.2 xG to Forest’s 45.5 xG and averaged 57.7% possession to Nuno Santos’ side’s 41.2%, as per FBref, which means that the English star would be part of a far more dominant and attacking outfit if he made the move to Anfield.
24/25 Premier League
Morgan Gibbs-White
Appearances
34
xG
6.34
Goals
7
Big chances created
10
Key passes per game
1.5
Assists
8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old playmaker still managed to produce 15 goals and assists combined in the division, despite his team’s lack of dominance and creativity on the whole.
Gibbs-White, once dubbed “exceptional” by Pep Guardiola, scored more goals and provided more assists than any of Liverpool’s central midfielders. Now imagine how many goal contributions he could rack up as part of Slot’s dominant side…
Nottingham Forest player Morgan Gibbs-White
The Forest star has not had the chance to showcase his talent in a team as great as Leverkusen’s or Liverpool’s, like Wirtz, and could explode in the final third if given that opportunity, based on his outstanding output in Forest’s team.
Therefore, the Reds could unearth England’s answer to Wirtz and give themselves two versions of the German star by signing the Tricky Trees talent before the end of the summer transfer window to provide him with a chance to flourish in a dominant side.
Move over Wirtz: Liverpool can sign Salah's next Firmino in £84m "magician"
Mohamed Salah is going to have some exciting new attacking talent alongside him next season.
No Liverpool fan could’ve envisaged the impact midfielder Philippe Coutinho would have at Anfield after the Brazilian star completed his £8.5m move from Inter Milan back in 2013.
However, he wasted no time in making himself a fan favourite on Merseyside, with his direct dribbling and ball-striking ability catching the eye throughout his five years at the club.
The now-32-year-old made a total of 201 appearances for the Reds, registering 54 goals and 44 assists, averaging a goal contribution every 2.1 matches he appeared in.
Former Liverpool player Philippe Coutinho.
Such form would see the talent depart in a staggering £146m deal to join Spanish side Barcelona, a move that would ruin his career, now featuring for Vasco de Gama in Brazil after years of struggles.
However, this summer, Arne Slot has the opportunity to land his own version of the attacking star, looking to take advantage of his situation at his current employers.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers
With the summer transfer window just around the corner, Liverpool have already wasted no time in pursuing targets who would add to the talent already at Anfield.
The likes of Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a switch to Merseyside over the last couple of months to add depth to the forward line.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
They’re not the only ones who’ve been on their radar, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo the latest player they’re in the running for, according to Sports Zone.
They claim that the Brazilian’s representatives have already been in talks with Slot’s side over a potential switch to Anfield after refusing to come off the bench in the El Clásico last weekend.
It also confirms that he could be a viable option to add depth to the side, with previous reports claiming that the 24-year-old could be available for a fee in the region of £85m this summer.
Described as “world-class superstar,” by Luka Modrić, it’s safe to say this would be an exciting signing.
Why Liverpool’s £85m target could be Slot’s own Coutinho
Liverpool’s attack has massively catapulted them to the Premier League title in 2024/25, registering 83 goals in their 36 outings – the highest in the division, at an average of 2.3 goals per game.
Mohamed Salah has been the shining light in forward areas, registering 28 goals and 18 assists in his 36 appearances – the highest combined tally of any player in the league, showcasing the threat he’s posed.
The Egyptian penned a new two-year contract at Anfield last month, extending his stay at the club to over a decade, with such a deal undoubtedly the best deal the Reds could conduct this summer.
However, if the side are to continue their excellent form in the league next campaign, further reinforcements are needed to help take the weight off the 32-year-old’s shoulders.
A deal for Rodrygo would be an excellent one, handing the side the added reinforcements they need and allowing the manager to have another version of Coutinho.
The Real Madrid star, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has managed to register six goals and five assists in LaLiga this campaign – starting in just 22 matches to date.
He could prove to be their next Coutinho, following suit of the midfielder by joining from a European outfit after rapidly falling down the pecking order before his switch.
Kylian Mbappé
31
27
3
30
Vinícius Júnior
29
11
7
18
Jude Bellingham
29
8
8
16
Rodrygo
30
6
5
11
Federico Valverde
33
6
4
10
Arda Güler
25
3
4
7
Brahim Díaz
30
4
2
6
Luka Modrić
32
2
4
6
Lucas Vázquez
30
1
5
6
The pair, who are both Brazilian, also have the ability to feature in the number 10 role or even in any of the three forward roles – handing Slot needed versatility and quality in the final third.
Rodrygo’s tally of 2.3 successful dribbles and 2.3 chances created per 90 highlights his ability to create added opportunities in attacking areas, just as the dazzling Coutinho did at Anfield.
He’s also registered 2.5 shots per 90, with one of which per game getting on target, with his record potentially seeing him further the club’s already impressive goalscoring record.
£85m would be a huge investment from the board, but it could allow for added success given the talent that he would add to the first team setup.
If he manages to get anywhere near the levels produced by Coutinho at Anfield, it would be a deal worth every penny – aiding Slot in his quest of bringing further glory to the Reds in the years ahead.
A Salah-esque signing: Liverpool agree personal terms with "insane" target
Liverpool are ready to begin their summer shopping spree.
Will Leeds United be able to consolidate themselves as a Premier League-worthy outfit next season after finally breaking free of the Championship’s grip?
It will certainly be easier said than done, however, considering all three promoted teams that went up at Leeds’ expense at the end of the 2023/24 campaign are all tumbling straight back down to the EFL’s top league after a short-lived top-flight stay.
Moreover, Daniel Farke himself has a sketchy track record in the Premier League, having picked up just six career wins at the tricky level, leading to speculation surrounding his future at Elland Road that he could be let go of despite successfully guiding the Whites up to the big-time.
To help in their mission to stay afloat, one of Leeds’ tactics in the summer transfer window could be to poach some of the Championship’s cream of the crop.
Who Leeds could sign this summer
Before looking to bring in some of the EFL’s very best, it might be a case that the Whites look at strengthening courtesy of some Premier League players.
Inevitably, rumours linking Kalvin Phillips with a return have been lingering in the background over the last few months, while last week, West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek has reportedly become a target for the club.
Tomas Soucek for West Ham
But, who else is on their radar?
Well, heading into the 2024/25 campaign, they were persistently linked with Sheffield United playmaker Gustavo Hamer.
Leeds would, of course, snap up Jayden Bogle from the Blades, but this other switch wouldn’t go ahead, with the ex-Coventry City attacker then going on to win the coveted prize of Championship’s Player of the Season at the EFL awards this weekend for his efforts under Chris Wilder’s wing.
Gaining such recognition could well reignite the promoted side’s interest, with Hamer now having to fight it out for a place in the Premier League next season via the playoffs.
It’s a move pundit Lee Hendrie thinks has legs too, telling Football League World: “Obviously (Leeds) were interested (in Hamer), and particularly if the Blades don’t go up, I think that is going to be the key factor, isn’t it? He’s a very good player, and he has had a lot of clubs that were sniffing around him, even before going to Sheffield United. He’s proven that he has got that x-factor, one of the better players in the Championship arguably, in that position, anyway.”
Why Hamer would be a major upgrade on Aaronson
Described as an “unbelievable” player by former teammate Oli McBurnie, signing Hamer could finally see Brenden Aaronson pushed to one side in Farke’s starting lineups.
Aaronson should be commended for slotting back into the Whites set-up this season after his time at Elland Road had become sour but that doesn’t mean an upgrade shouldn’t be sought once their Premier League return is here.
The 24-year-old was loaned out to Union Berlin for all of the 2023/24 season right after his side’s demise down to the EFL, only for the number 11 to notch up nine goals and two assists from 44 Championship appearances the following campaign back among the first-team fold.
Unfortunately for the rejuvenated USA international, he has endured a poor personal end to the season even as his side sit pretty in the league’s top two, with a mere two goal contributions falling his way in the Championship in 2025.
Whereas, Hamer – as seen via his sumptuous free-kick against Coventry back in March – has been a constant menace all campaign long for Wilder and Co, with four of his impressive 16 goal contributions in league action coming during United’s last six contests.
Hamer at Sheff Utd vs Aaronson at Leeds
Stat
Hamer
Aaronson
Championship games played
163
44
Premier League games played
36
36
Champ goals
26
9
Champ assists
31
2
PL goals
4
1
PL assists
7
3
Stats by Sofascore
Shades of a certain Pablo Hernandez – a goalscoring and creative midfielder, Hamer certainly blows Aaronson out of the water with his standout Premier League output.
While goals certainly haven’t been hard to come by for Leeds in 2024/25, he would be a welcome addition to Farke’s ranks if a move whirred back into motion, with Hamer more than comfortable as a number ten option to usurp his ex-Red Bull Salzburg counterpart.
Also equally as lively down the left where he’s predominantly starred this season at Bramall Lane, Hamer would potentially give Farke a whole host of options in attack ahead of the step-up in quality, with this signing one that would undoubtedly boost Leeds in their fight for instant survival.
Farke is brewing a Piroe upgrade in Leeds teen with "masses of potential"
Leeds United could have a top star for the future in this highly rated youngster.
This summer is another opportunity for boss Enzo Maresca to make the desired changes he wants to his Chelsea squad to help in their ambitions of edging closer to a Premier League title.
The Italian took the reins last summer and has so far done a commendable job at the helm, still having the opportunity to claim a Champions League place for 2025/26.
He could also secure the club another European title in the coming months, currently in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League, with a clash with Djurgarden on the horizon.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescalooks on before the match
However, regardless of whether they achieve their goals between now and the end of the campaign, the 45-year-old will want new additions to help strengthen his first-team squad.
The hierarchy have already been laying the foundations for the summer transfer window, undoubtedly looking to back the manager in his quest to take the Blues back to their glory days.
An update on Chelsea’s hunt for new attackers this summer
Over the last couple of weeks, endless names have been thrown into the mix over a summer move to Stamford Bridge, but as of yet, no deals have yet been completed.
The likes of Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Benjamin Sesko have all been high up on their shortlist as Maresca desperately craves added quality within the final third.
However, another name has now been linked with a switch to West London in the form of Morgan Rogers, with The Independent reporting the club’s interest in the Aston Villa sensation.
They claim that Unai Emery’s side are reluctant to part ways with the 22-year-old, but could be forced to sell to maintain their current PSR standing and avoid a potential points deduction.
The report goes on to state the club’s keen desire to increase firepower, with Rogers doing just that given his record of 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.
Why Morgan Rogers would revive Palmer at Chelsea
Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s go-to attacker in the final over the last couple of seasons, thriving beyond all imagination after the hierarchy forked out £40m for his signature in 2023.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer
The England international has notched a staggering 62 combined goals and assists in his 85 appearances for the Blues – with no other first-team member getting near such a record.
However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the 22-year-old in recent months, certainly enduring his trickiest period since moving to the Bridge, undoubtedly having an effect on the club’s form.
He’s now gone 16 matches without a goal in all competitions, dating back to the middle of January – by far and away his biggest drought since arriving in West London.
A move for Rogers in the summer window could allow the former Manchester City star to recapture his previous form, linking up with one of his former academy teammates.
His stats at Villa Park this campaign have been nothing short of sensational, undoubtedly enabling Palmer to hit the heights he’s previously demonstrated under Maresca.
Rogers, who’s been labelled as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” by podcaster and content creator Jamie Kent, has registered 1.5 chances created per 90, along with 3.7 progressive passes per 90 – handing his compatriot the chance to thrive in the final third.
Morgan Rogers’ stats for Aston Villa in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
33
Goals & assists
16
Chances created
1.5
Progressive passes
3.7
Successful take-ons
2
Progressive carries
3.3
Shot-on-target accuracy
37%
Goal per shot-on-target rate
0.5
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed two successful take-ons per 90, whilst posting a staggering 3.3 progressive carries, showcasing his excellent ball-carrying ability in moving into attacking areas.
However, the Villa star has also thrived in front of goal, getting 37% of his shots on target, along with a 0.5 goal per shot-on target rate, subsequently allowing Palmer to increase his own assist tally.
Palmer’s lack of form in recent weeks will be a concern for many, with their chances of success between now and the end of the season potentially falling onto his shoulders.
If he is to recapture his best form in 2025/26, a move for Rogers would be the perfect solution, with a familiar face allowing the England international to resurrect his recent slump.
It’s unclear how much a deal for Emery’s star man would set the hierarchy back, but given his form this campaign, it’s a deal they have to pursue – having the opportunity to develop further given his tender age.
Big upgrade on Gittens: Chelsea plan to enter talks to sign £55m winger
Chelsea could seriously boost their attacking options with this statement buy.
The glitter went against a serious Mushfiqur’s pre-match routine, and was something his team-mate Mominul had never seen before
Mohammad Isam19-Nov-2025The air around the Shere Bangla National Stadium was, for once, sweet.Expectations of great gestures, a bit of ceremony, and a good day of cricket – as opposed to the usual cocktail of vitriol, disappointment and trolling – hung in every corner of this storied venue on Wednesday morning. Mushfiqur Rahim, the stadium’s most frequent visitor, was about to make history for Bangladesh.By the time the crisp morning gave away to a bright afternoon, and a cool evening descended on Dhaka, Mushfiqur was on his way to another landmark. Eventually, though, after remaining stuck on 99*, he left a bit of overnight anticipation for another sweet morning.Related
Mushfiqur: 'I want to give back for as long as I'm playing for Bangladesh'
Mushfiqur 99* headlines Bangladesh's strong start
Tamim: Mushfiqur's 100th Test 'should be celebrated'
From youngest at Lord's to 100 Tests: Mushfiqur's legacy
The BCB felicitated Mushfiqur in a ceremony that lasted just ten minutes, but one that was done tastefully. His first captain Habibul Bashar gave him a brand new cap, while team-mates from his debut Test stood behind them wearing black and grey T-shirts. Mushfiqur’s family was in tow. He made a short speech after current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. It was all over in a flash.Bangladesh cricket, enduring high winds accompanied by howls and squeals in the last couple of years, sorely needed a moment like this. Mushfiqur, the most loyal of servants of the game, made sure cricket remained on everyone’s lips for more than a day.Mushfiqur remains unbeaten on 99 despite his best efforts to reach the milestone before stumps. Ireland, however, slowed down the play significantly in the last half an hour to ensure they bowled 90 overs, and not one more, by 4.30pm local time.After the day’s play, though, Mushfiqur’s long-time teammate Mominul Haque said he is not worried about a nervous Mushfiqur in the hotel tonight.”He is not like you think he is. We actually joke with him a bit more these days” – Mominul Haque on Mushfiqur Rahim•AFP”We thought that he would do it today, but I think it didn’t happen because [Ireland] took their time,” Mominul said. “I am not too worried because we are talking about someone who has made hundreds and double-hundreds in the past. There is no panic, since he isn’t panicked. If it was someone else, I would have been slightly concerned, but not him. He will complete the century tomorrow.”Pressed if the team would be wary of speaking to Mushfiqur in the team hotel this evening, Mominul said those days are long gone. “He is not like you think he is,” he said. “We actually joke with him a bit more these days.”Still, Mushfiqur is the serious type. As his current and former team-mates and coaches said this week, his disciplined lifestyle is a cornerstone of his two decades in international cricket. It is what has made him, and got him to a hundred Tests.So when large banners hung over the walls at the stadium in Mirpur, one of them directly opposite the dressing room – or when the felicitation programme took place with his family around – it went very much against Mushfiqur’s pre-match routine.Bangladesh losing three wickets before lunch meant it was his turn to bat much earlier than he must have anticipated. If there’s anyone in this team with strong muscle memory for a crisis, it is Mushfiqur. Mominul, who was at the other end when Mushfiqur walked out to bat, saw the Mushfiqur he has known for the last 12 years.
“He was quiet calm when he was returning to the dressing room at the end of the day. He is the same person as he was before he played his 100th Test”Mominul Haque on Mushfiqur Rahim finishing the day on 99*
“When he arrived at the crease, he was calm and quiet going about his business,” Mominul said. “He was batting according to the situation. He was batting in a calm and controlled manner.”They set defensive fields from an early stage. They were allowing singles, so we were batting accordingly. We know that Ireland was playing with our patience, so we decided to be patient. We wanted to play for a long time, as it was the requirement here to get a good score. The outfield was slow, too, so it played a part in our approach.”When the century didn’t happen in the last over of the day, Mominul said that he didn’t notice anything different in Mushfiqur’s demeanour. “He was quiet calm when he was returning to the dressing room at the end of the day. He is the same person as he was before he played his 100th Test,” he said.Mominul, though, enjoyed watching Mushfiqur’s reception at the start of the day, even as it could usher in a new era of the BCB appreciating a player’s milestone.”Honestly, we haven’t seen this type of environment [where a player’s family was invited] before,” he said. “It even seemed like it was someone’s retirement; but then we realised that it was a celebration of a hundred Tests.”I mean, it looked like how other countries treat their player retirements. Honestly, it felt great seeing [Mushfiqur’s reception]. I realise now that the young generation will be inspired to play 100 Tests if this is how we maintain the culture. As for me, I am only thinking about what happens in this match.”The first day of the Mirpur Test, therefore, will not only be marked as the day Mushfiqur played his 100th Test. It was also a day when cricket got a bit more priority at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, as opposed to the usual focus on more hostile topics. Maybe, for the first time in many, many years, the stadium will get a half decent crowd on Thursday morning when play resumes on day two of the Test.
He is the model T20 opener but the other two formats are a work in progress
Alagappan Muthu and Mohammad Isam24-Dec-2023Finn Allen hits the ball like an epiphany at 4 in the morning. So very hard.His strike rate at the end of his first full T20 season (2020-21) was 193.93. Even now, having added 86 matches to those initial 11, it’s up at 167.78.Allen and others like him can play like this only because they make a conscious effort to devalue their wicket. Their job, instead, is to make the most of every ball that comes at them. He was at the crease for a mere four overs in the opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup and it was enough to derail the defending champions. Australia’s net run rate took such a big beating that the captain Aaron Finch admitted “their fate was out of their hands.”Related
'Back to basics' Allen turns form and fortune around this summer
T20 World Cup agenda dominates clash of the titans
Meet Will O'Rourke, New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson clone
Wellington to Wankhede: How Rachin Ravindra has made himself cricket's new poster boy
Days like those, however, come at a price.Allen has made only six scores of 30 or more for New Zealand in 26 innings since then. He also missed out on a place in the ODI World Cup. “It’s obviously tough,” he told ESPNcricinfo in September. “It’s something you work towards for a long time and to get that news was obviously a little bit devastating. But you just get on with it.”Looking for the most runs off every single ball became Allen’s instinct and instinct is hard to curb. It’s like trying not to laugh at a good joke. Before you know it, you’ve already done it. This is why all-format excellence is rare. You have to be three different people in one, like AB de Villiers was or Jasprit Bumrah is. Allen’s idol probably fits in that bracket as well.”I definitely looked up to Kevin Pietersen. The way it kind of started was, I moved to Wellington and I guess they just wanted me to go out there and express myself in the T20 competition and I had never really done anything like that before so I guess I surprised myself a little bit. Now its just about developing that and as I said trying to be more consistent at that for longer.”
“I’ve found it a lot tougher in ODI cricket. Bowlers bowl a bit more attackingly. If they get hurt early on, they can still come at you aggressively because they’ve got time later in the game to pull their figures back and pull it back in the team. So I guess it’s been more of a challenge of my method if anything. The mental challenge around sticking at it for longer and being able to stick to your processes for longer”Finn Allen
That will invariably involve restraint. But how much? Allen is desperate for higher honours. “For sure, you have your setbacks. People have had far tougher roads in their career so who knows. It’s almost fuel to the fire, you know [every time you aren’t picked in the team]. You take time to process it. Grieve a little bit and yeah, we’ve got a big summer coming up and hopefully I can still make some strides.”But he does not want to lose his X-factor. He is actually prepared to risk everything for it. “Something I’m working on at the moment is around consistency in my game. Trying to figure out my method to be consistent but still strike at a high strike rate, I guess. You have to be okay with failure at times and you have to I guess be thick-skinned in a way because there’s going to be peaks and troughs along the way. The highs are going to be really high and the lows can be really low.”At the end of the day, we’re entertainers, right? We’re here to put a show on for the crowd and get their money’s worth and that’s the way I want to play my cricket.”In some ways, Allen came to internationals too soon. The allure of him smashing fast bowlers at the lower levels, where he seemed proficient on both sides of the wicket and against any length on offer, was too great. New Zealand had to try him out but once he was there, he realised he had a pretty decent plan A but no real fallback; or at least none that worked the way he wanted.Finn Allen smashed 168 off 110 balls in his first game of this year’s Ford Trophy•James McCully/Auckland Cricket Association”It’s been interesting. Obviously, played a bit of List A cricket back home, figuring out my method there and then trying to replicate that on the international stage is obviously challenging.”Take just the powerplay. Allen dominates it in T20Is, because success here is measured in strike rate and since his debut, only Nicholas Pooran (160.52) has a better one than his 153.86 (min 20 innings). In ODIs, though, a batter’s worth is measured in the weight of runs he makes and the way it shapes the team’s fortunes. For that, he has to spend time at the crease. Allen has played 21 innings in ODIs so far and in 13 of them he has not been able to survive the powerplay.”I’ve found it a lot tougher in ODI cricket,” he said. “Bowlers bowl a bit more attackingly. If they get hurt early on, they can still come at you aggressively because they’ve got time later in the game to pull their figures back and pull it back in the team. So I guess it’s been more of a challenge of my method if anything. The mental challenge around sticking at it for longer and being able to stick to your processes for longer.”Allen’s entire New Zealand career – two years, nine months and five days on Christmas – has been about finding a tempo that satisfied both the game and himself. He is still searching for that balance, but once again there have been some good signs at the domestic level.Last month, in his first-ever appearance for his hometown team, Auckland, he very nearly broke their record for the highest 50-over score (174 by Colin Munro) and he did it in a match where only two others, having faced more than 10 deliveries, could keep a strike rate above 80. Eight days later, he raised another century. A career tally that was only 1421 when this season’s Ford Trophy began is already up at 1808 – a 30% increase. And here’s the cherry on top: the last three months of 2023 witnessed three of his five longest innings across formats.Say it softly but Finn Allen is hitting the ball like good coffee on a bad morning. Just the right kind of hard.