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Stats showed that on average, the ball was only in play for 55 minutes in games last season, and that led the Premier League to take action this term.

The new initiative – which involves referees timing interruptions before restarts after a goal, substitutions, injuries and set pieces – has seen stoppage times increase dramatically throughout the leagues, with some matches even entering the 100th minute and beyond.

Football FanCast has decided to look at this year's latest goals by listing every Premier League strike scored in or after the 95th minute this season.

35

Pedro Neto v Manchester United – 90+5 mins

1st February 2024: Wolves 3-4 Manchester United

Wolves thought they had snatched themselves a point at Molineux in what has proven to be one of the games of the season with Pedro Neto's late strike.

The Portuguese winger levelled the scoring after the Red Devils had seemingly wrapped up the game early on in the first half.

Neto continues to impress for Wolves having remained at Molineux following the conclusion of the January transfer window. But if this form continues, surely his time will come in the summer to move on to bigger and better things.

34

Edson Alvarez v Everton – 90+5 mins

2nd March 2024: Everton 1-3 West Ham United

Everton found themselves pushing for a late equaliser against West Ham at Goodison Park, but Edson Alvarez raced up the field to put the finishing touches on an impressive performance from the Hammers.

That's two really consistent performances now by Alvarez as he continues to make the defensive midfield position his own.

33

Lewis Dunk v Everton – 90+5 mins

24th February 2024: Brighton 1-1 Everton

It was a game in which Brighton dominated proceedings with 23 shots to Everton's six, but the Seagulls just couldn't find the target, and ended up paying for their lack of composure in the final third, as Jarrad Branthwaite made them pay.

Lewis Dunk left it late to snatch an equaliser against an Everton side who were desperate to pick up three points, as he headed the ball past a helpless Jordan Pickford.

The Englishman has taken his tally to four goals in all competitions, with three coming in the Premier League this season.

32

Cole Palmer v Manchester City – 90+5 mins

12th November 2023: Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City

Chelsea struck late to earn a dramatic point against the reigning Premier League champions in one of the most entertaining games this season.

Rúben Dias hauled down Armando Broja in the box, resulting in a penalty kick, which former City winger Cole Palmer cooly converted in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Palmer has impressed in West London since his £42.5m move in the summer and was awarded a first senior call-up to the England squad this month.

His 95th-minute penalty was his fourth league goal of the season.

31

Gabriel Martinelli v Crystal Palace – 90+5 mins

20th January 2024: Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace

After a difficult run of four games without a win, the Gunners put three points firmly on the board with an emphatic win over their fellow Londoners, Crystal Palace.

And it was a return to the scoresheet for Gabriel Martinelli who has had his own issues for Arsenal this season as he struggles to match the standards he set for himself last season.

Arsenal's title push has certainly taken a hit over the last few weeks, but the win against the Eagles kept them within arms length of the leaders Liverpool.

30

Luis Díaz v Luton Town – 90+5 mins

5th November 2023: Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool

Luton opened the scoring in the 80th minute of their clash with Liverpool after former Manchester United winger Tahith Chong completed a wonderfully worked counterattack with a sliding finish.

The Hatters seemed to be moments away from a monumental result in their history as fans geared up to celebrate a joyous victory against England's most trophy-laden club.

But Luis Díaz's 95th-minute leveller denied those celebrations, though most football fans would've been happy to see the Colombian on the scoresheet with the current circumstances surrounding his father.

A point for the visitors moved them above Arsenal into third whilst the hosts lifted themselves out of the drop zone.

29

Evan Ferguson v Luton Town – 90+5 mins

12th August 2023: Brighton and Hove Albion 4-1 Luton Town

Luton's first match back in the top flight after a 31-year absence ended in a heavy defeat to the high-flying Seagulls.

Solly March opened the scoring in the 36th minute before João Pedro and Simon Adingra added a second and third to seal the three points.

Though Albion weren't finished there, as Evan Ferguson netted a fourth goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The Republic of Ireland international turned in Pervis Estupiñán's cross to open up his Premier League account for the season.

It capped off a wonderful performance from Roberto De Zerbi's men, who will be eager to better last year's sixth-placed finish.

28

Lucas Paqueta v Chelsea – 90+5 mins

20th August 2023: West Ham United 3-1 Chelsea

Matchweek 2 saw another late stoppage-time goal as Lucas Paqueta scored West Ham's third in the fifth minute of added time.

The Brazilian netted a coolly-taken penalty to secure the victory against London rivals Chelsea as his side rose to sixth in the league table, whilst the Blues sunk to 15th without a win in their opening two games.

The fourth official indicated a minimum of six added minutes in this fixture.

27

Erling Haaland v Fulham – 90+5 mins

2nd September 2023: Manchester City 5-1 Fulham

The treble-winners demolished the travelling Cottagers before the international break, and yet again, another goal was scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time. It's almost becoming the norm!

The new initiative will be the catalyst for plenty of stoppage-time goals this term, and quite remarkably, a goal in the 95th minute may not be the last kick of the game nowadays as it has been in previous years.

This instance saw Erling Haaland score a very late goal to complete his second-half hat-trick and send his team back to the summit of the table, two points clear of their closest challengers.

26

Michael Olise v Manchester City – 90+5 mins

16th December 2023: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace pulled off an almighty comeback against the defending champions at the weekend, as they came from 2-0 down to level the tie at 2-2.

Jean-Philippe Mateta won a penalty in the dying embers of the game, which was slotted away calmly by Michael Olise after a rather nervy VAR check.

The Eagles currently sit in 15th position on 17 points, which seems them now eight points above the drop zone.

Rohit Sharma leads from the front and respects the dressing-room atmosphere, Raina points out

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2020Suresh Raina has called Rohit Sharma “the next MS Dhoni” of the Indian team, highlighting the former’s credentials as captain as well as his leadership qualities on and off the field.”I would say he is the next MS Dhoni for the Indian cricket team,” Raina said on . “I have seen him, he is calm, he likes to listen. He likes to give confidence to the players and on top of that, he likes to lead from the front. When a captain leads from the front and, at the same time, he gives respect to the dressing-room atmosphere, you know you have it all.”He thinks everyone is a captain. I have seen him, I have played under him when we won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. I have seen how he gives confidence to young players like Shardul [Thakur], Washington Sundar and [Yuzvendra] Chahal.”Sharma is the most successful captain in the history of IPL, having led Mumbai Indians to a record four titles in eight years. He is only behind Dhoni in terms of win percentage among captains who have lead in more than 100 games, with 60 wins in 104 matches at 58.65. Sharma has also captained India in Virat Kohli’s absence and has led India to title wins at the Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2018. Overall, he has captained in ten ODIs and 19 T20Is, winning eight and 15 of those respectively.

Somehow I feel I can still play but at the same time I want to enjoy my cricket. I haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of yearsSuresh Raina

“Around him, players enjoy the intensity, they enjoy his aura. When you enjoy the aura of a player, you like to be positive and I think that is what he is good at,” Raina said. “MS Dhoni was brilliant. He [Rohit] has won more [IPL] trophies than MS, but they both are very similar. Both of them, as captains, like to listen. When your captain is listening, you can solve a lot of problems, you can solve the mental aspects of the players. So in my book, they both are wonderful.”‘Haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of years’On being asked about his ambitions of playing for India again, Raina said that he would like another chance as long as he’s enjoying his game.”Definitely, I feel I still have it,” he said. “After every operation [injury-related] I feel I’m a different person. You know how it is after a rehab – after every rehab I felt I became tougher, after every rehab I thought I’ll play again. But I don’t want to be so pushy. Somehow I feel I can still play but at the same time I want to enjoy my cricket. I haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of years.”So the next three-four years me playing or not is destiny but I just want to go out there and smile on the field and enjoy my batting and fielding. Cricket has become very commercial but at the end of the day, you need to go out there and come back as a happy soul. That’s what I’m searching for in my mind, when I go the ground and come back, I want to be happy. I just want to try one more time and see how it goes.”

Team GB Olympic gold medal winner Alex Yee has merged Cole Palmer and Kylian Mbappe celebrations in an iconic finishing line pose.

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• Triathlete won gold at Paris Games
• Crossed the line first at Boston event
• Paid homage to footballing superstars

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yee claimed gold at the 2024 Games in Paris with an epic late surge that saw him sweep past triathlon rival Hayden Wilde of New Zealand. The pair have been at it again during an event in Boston, with the pair finishing first and second.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yee held his nerve to take top spot on the podium, and made a point of giving waiting photographers a memorable image as he crossed the line. When breaking the tape, the 26-year-old struck a celebratory pose.

• WHAT YEE SAID

  Some have questioned his antics, with showboating frowned upon, but Yee makes no apologies for his arms-folded pose and has posted on social media as followers ask which footballing superstar he was trying to emulate: “We live for this sport.. After the Olympics I’ve ridden a rollercoaster. Incredible highs but also some lows too.. So to be able to race these guys again was pure excitement. We race fiercely and competitively but at the end of the day we all are mates and want to put on a show for you. Thanks Boston! #mbappe or #palmer”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  World Cup winner Mbappe has taken his trademark celebration with him to Real Madrid – giving it an early run out in the Blancos’ UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta. Palmer, meanwhile, has just been named PFA Young Player of the Year and will be hoping to remain in “ice cold” form for Chelsea in 2024-25.

Kylian Mbappe has responded to questions of whether he could be the first man since Cristiano Ronaldo to enjoy a 50-goal season for Real Madrid.

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• French star joined Blancos as free agent
• Opened goal account in Super Cup win
• Looking to emulate Portuguese legend

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Portuguese superstar Ronaldo achieved that feat across six successive campaigns during his time at Santiago Bernabeu – between 2010 and 2016. A personal-best of 61 efforts was posted in 2014-15, with nobody able to scale such heights since.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real believe that they have somebody ready to follow in those illustrious footsteps, with World Cup winner Mbappe being acquired as a free agent. He has become the latest ‘Galactico’ in Madrid and opened his goal account for the Blancos in a 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta.

• Getty
  

  WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  Mbappe has told when asked if he can hit a half-century in his debut campaign: “We are at Real Madrid, we have no limit, if I can score 50, then 50, but the most important thing is winning and improving as a team, because we will win as a team.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Frenchman added on enjoying a dream debut for the Liga title holders: “It was a great night, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. To play with this shirt, with this badge, for these fans, it's a gift for me. We won a trophy too, that's very important, we know that here we always have to win and I am very happy.”

It’s not only his performances but also his data-driven approach that has played a part in Pakistan getting to the final

Osman Samiuddin12-Nov-20222:03

What makes Shadab so successful in Australia?

Before the start of this tournament, Shadab Khan was asked to rate Pakistan’s reliance on data analytics in T20 on a scale of 1 to 10. He answered with words, not numbers, but if ever words represented a solid five, this was it. Difficult to say. Franchises are different. International cricket is different. Hmmm. Haww. Not reliant on it. Not disregarding it.Shadab is a poster boy of the Islamabad United data dynasty. He gets it. He applies it. He believes in it. He is also the vice-captain of a Pakistan team where the captain is not a great believer in match-ups, where a religious philosopher doubles as a coach and a mentor who is a man of words that don’t always make sense. At the last T20 World Cup, almost the same Pakistan side were mostly ignoring – politely – data-based tactical advice they were getting from analysts, and they reached the semi-finals unbeaten. Shadab gets this too. He believes in this too.Related

From injury rust to purple patch: Shaheen Shah Afridi is back

Tactics board: Babar vs Rashid, Moeen vs Shadab and a host of unknowns

T20 World Cup 2022 final – The parallels with 1992 are alluring, they draw you in

Vibes-over-tactics Hayden has had a big impact on Pakistan's Class of 2022

Melbourne rain keeps men's T20 World Cup final on tenterhooks

But this happy accommodation – Shadab of the Pakistan ethos, Pakistan of Shadab – captures something intrinsic about this latest Pakistan ride, of which Shadab has been the absolute beating heart. A ride fuelled by a little bit of data, a little bit of (prayer) and a whole lot of Pakistan.

****

History repeats itself, the saying should go, first as Pakistan cricket, then as a meme. The 1992 parallels have long gone viral, but there’s a more compelling one from an individual performance from Pakistan’s second world title. Trent Bridge, 2009 and you know where this is headed: the coronation of Shahid Afridi, 13 years into his career. A fifty first, the blown kiss for Jacques Kallis and then the iconic castling of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers in four balls to set up Pakistan for the final.In Sydney, a little over a week ago, against South Africa, in another must-win game, Shadab dismissed Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram in the space of three balls to unhinge the chase. Earlier he had rescued Pakistan with a 22-ball 52, like Afridi in 2009, his first fifty in an ICC event. No kisses were blown.Memory says the Shadab ball to dismiss Markram might have resembled Afridi’s to de Villiers but Youtube proves otherwise. Afridi was getting so much drift in those days, each ball was like a fully formed character out of a Kerouac novel. But the Markram delivery was almost identical to Shadab’s own dismissal of Markram from the only other time he’s bowled to him, in a World Cup game three years ago. A flipper maybe, or a toppie, a goodie definitely: across nine balls, it’s bowled Markram twice.Shadab Khan is a big draw in this Pakistan team•ICC via Getty ImagesThis isn’t a coronation, not yet anyway, more an arrival. Shadab’s been a gun for a while, but he’s now stamped his presence all over a global event. He’s a genuine shot for player of the tournament though if it’s just a fan vote, only one guy is winning that (You don’t even have to scroll down. He’s right there).Shadab still considers himself a legspinner first, though his batting has come on so sharply in recent years soon it might not be so easy to agree. But it’s perhaps the highest compliment to his bowling in this tournament that it has made the central issue of his batting – to be higher up the order more often – redundant.He’s offered Pakistan essential control in those middle overs, foremost with 10 wickets – the most by any bowler in that phase at the tournament (to have bowled at least 30 balls). That’s one wicket less than Rashid Khan, Adil Rashid and Adam Zampa combined. Among spinners, his economy rate of 6.59 is the fifth best, and he’s basically as good as the most economical spinners because only 0.22 per over separates him from top spot.That fifty against South Africa was no fluke though. Since 2020, he’s one of just three players in all T20s to have scored over 1000 runs and taken 100 wickets (Samit Patel and Jason Holder are the other two). Dig a bit more into that period* and he’s the only player alongside Mohammad Nabi to have at least 10 scores of 30+ at a strike rate above 150 as well as at least 10 innings where he’s bowled his full quota of four overs and conceded less than six per over. Most teams would love to have a player tick one of those boxes: Shadab ticks both. No surprise either that ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats has him as the fifth-most impactful T20 player in the world since 2020.So he might call himself a legspinner, but he’s as all-round as they come, not least when his fielding is factored in. He’s the best fielder in the best fielding side Pakistan has ever put out at a global event. The run-out of Devon Conway in the semi-final was an electric and pivotal moment, but in the canon of Shadab run-outs, hardly spectacular. All three stumps, nice and easy bounce for the pick-up – if he’d missed it, it would’ve been surprising.

****

Shadab Khan might call himself a legspinner, but he’s as all-round as they come•Getty ImagesIn his first season as captain, Shadab’s Islamabad were chasing 183 against Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Stadium. They were 5-2 at the end of the second, both openers gone. Until that point Shadab had mostly batted lower down, usually at seven.The story goes that he reasoned to coach Misbah-ul-Haq that he should go in at four. The chase was a tall one and going in himself was a way of maximising resources. He would go hard from ball one and if he failed, it would hardly be a dent on batting resources with Colin Ingram, Asif Ali and Hussain Talat to come.As it turns out, his 29-ball 52 helped Islamabad win a raucous game, but more than the potential of his batting, the story reflects his grasp of the format’s demands. The phrase low-value wicket wasn’t as in vogue then, but that is exactly what he was.That game awareness, built off some homespun instinct and enabled by the environment at Islamabad, is something that few in the Pakistan side can match. That is what filters through to the national side. It’s been said, for instance, that it was his input that led to the recent tactical flexibility in Pakistan’s batting order. There’s a suggestion Shadab had a fingerprint on the early introduction of Mohammad Nawaz against Glenn Phillips in the semi-final. High pace is usually a good way to go against Phillips but Shadab was aware that Phillips’ can struggle early against left-arm spin. Nawaz took his wicket sixth ball, bowled one more economical over and was done.None of this is to exaggerate Shadab’s role, merely to highlight that Pakistan have come upon, in him and Babar Azam, a valuable complementariness in on-field leadership. Babar’s a more orthodox captain, albeit with sound instincts. Shadab’s approach bounces nicely off this and they get on far too well for it to be any more complicated than that.Not that the last bit matters at this moment. The last Pakistan captain and vice-captain to feature in a world final at the MCG had, you might recall, an infamously complicated relationship. You might also recall where that got them that day.

The ICC’s trophy tour of the Champions Trophy will begin on Saturday from Islamabad in Pakistan but will not go to Muzaffarabad in the first leg of its journey. The BCCI had objected to the trophy’s original route, which included Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir, a territory disputed by the two countries.The objection caused the delay in finalising a new route, raising the prospects of the tour being delayed altogether. The PCB had announced the launch and route of the tour on its social media channels on Thursday, catching the ICC by surprise; as it is an ICC event, the protocol is that the global body announces those details.But an alternative route was finalised late on Friday, allowing the tour to begin, as originally planned and announced by the PCB, from Saturday. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will accompany the trophy on the first day as it is displayed at well-known landmarks in the capital, including Daman-e-Koh, Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument.From Islamabad the trophy will go to schools, colleges and landmarks in Abbottabad, Murree and Karachi in the opening leg before heading off on an international tour, taking in the seven other countries who are part of the Champions Trophy.The trophy then returns to Pakistan on January 27, three weeks before the scheduled start of the tournament, with another tour of venues around Pakistan.Less than a 100 days before the start of the tournament, however, there remains no clarity about how much of the event will be played in Pakistan. The BCCI has told the ICC its government will not allow the team to play in Pakistan, raising the possibility of a hybrid model tournament that sees India playing its games outside of Pakistan. The PCB has stood firm against that possibility, however, and insists the entire tournament is played in Pakistan.The PCB has written to the ICC asking the BCCI to put down in writing the exact reasons for its inability to visit, as well as asking the ICC when they were informed of the BCCI’s decision.

After reaching an agreement to sign Fer Lopez to get their summer business underway, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly showing “intent” in the race to sign a veteran defender.

Premier League fixtures confirmed as Wolves plot signings

Whilst the chaos continues in the transfer window, the Premier League fixtures have now officially been announced. Discovering their fate, Wolves will have an interesting reunion on the opening day of the 2025/26 season, with the visit of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Manchester City kicking things off in difficult fashion for Vitor Pereira’s side.

Of course, the last thing that Wolves will want is to get sucked into another relegation scrap – especially after Pereira’s instant progress after taking the job last season. But if they do find themselves in trouble, then relegation six-pointers against Leeds United in April and then Sunderland and Burnley in May stand out as crucial fixtures.

Burnley away on the final game of the season could be particularly decisive and already looks like one to watch in the relegation battle. As much as Wolves are keen to avoid another season in and amongst the dropzone, there’s no denying that they could face a tough transition into life without Matheus Cunha and Ait-Nouri.

On that front, however, those at Molineux are already working on replacements. The big question will be whether the likes of Lopez and Evann Guessand are capable of replicating Cunha’s crucial output in the Premier League, which singlehandedly carried Wolves’ frontline at times.

It’s not just attacking additions that the Midlands club need either. Pereira and Wolves have also reportedly set their sights on some key defensive reinforcements and could even reunite with a familiar face as a result this summer and one that Molinuex would need no introduction to.

Wolves show "intent" in Conor Coady race

Just two years on from his departure, Molineux could have one of their favourites back this summer. According to Sky Sports (17:10pm), Wolves are now showing “intent” in the race to sign Conor Coady in a transfer battle against Scottish giants Rangers. The veteran defender has been shown the door at Leicester City, handing Wolves the chance to secure an important reunion with their former captain.

By rejoining Wolves, Coady would instantly become the most experienced Premier League player in the current squad and could even go on to break the record for appearances in the club’s Premier League history, jumping ahead of Ruben Neves in the process.

The veteran defender experienced it all at Molineux, from Championship failure and then Championship promotion all the way to a European tour. Now, at 32 years old, he could return to ensure that Wolves steer clear of the dropzone and so much more once again.

Molineux chiefs scrambling as Club World Cup side Benfica set to raid Wolves

A major European side have their eyes on an important member of Wolves’ team.

By
Brett Worthington

Jun 16, 2025

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Leicester demand to sell their defender, reports that they have opened the door for the £75,000-a-week defender to leave suggest that they’d be willing to accept a relatively cheap price this summer.

A “world-class” player is “waiting” for Manchester United to sign him in the summer transfer window, according to an exciting new claim.

Man Utd still pursuing new striker

The Red Devils struggled all over the pitch last season, but they lacked a top-quality striker throughout the campaign, playing a part in them finishing 15th in the Premier League table.

With serious doubts over the long-term worth of Rasmus Hojlund, United continue to be linked with elite-level strikers, with Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres mentioned as a leading option to come in. In fact, the club have even reportedly spoken to his agents about a move to Old Trafford.

The Swede has enjoyed a stunning few years for the Portuguese giants, scoring an incredible 68 goals in the past two Primeira Liga seasons combined, as well as netting 11 times in Europe during that period.

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike and Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta have also been mentioned as alternative options to Gyokeres, as United look to nail their new striker choice ahead of next season. Now, a new transfer rumour has dropped at the other end of the pitch.

World Cup winner "waiting" for Man Utd

According to an update from TyC Sports [via Sport Witness], Emiliano Martinez is “waiting” for Manchester United to make their move and sign him this summer.

The 32-year-old World Cup winner has lots of interest, including from Galatasaray, but he likes the idea of moving to the Red Devils most, even though they can’t offer him Champions League football next season.

The £150,000-a-week Martinez could be a perfect signing for United this summer, at a time when there are genuine doubts over Andre Onana’s worth between the sticks.

The Argentine has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for Aston Villa in recent years, if not in Europe for that matter, having won the Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper award in 2024, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ederson, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, David Raya and Unai Simon to the prize.

Martinez possesses huge character, as shown during his heroics performances for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, not least during the penalty shootout in the final, and he has been called “world-class” by Gary Neville, as well as being lauded by Nuno Espirito Santo for one stunning save against his Nottingham Forest side last season.

He's better than Cunha: Man Utd in talks to sign £40m Ekitike alternative

Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a star who could sign ahead of Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Martinez would immediately give United more presence between the sticks, and still has plenty of years left in him at the top. His personality would also make him a popular figure at a time where the club need characters, not least his ability to get under the skin of opposition players and fans.

Newcastle United hold plenty of appeal for prospective recruits this summer and they could now be on the verge of landing a key target, according to a report.

Newcastle United make inroads during the summer window

There are plenty of transfer stories beginning to circulate in the North East after Antonio Cordero’s arrival from Malaga was confirmed earlier this week, and it remains to be seen where Eddie Howe will decide surgery is necessary to enrich his squad.

According to Sky Sports reporter Phil Dorsett, Newcastle remain keen on Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro, and it is mooted that the former Bournemouth boss is keen to strengthen his forward line regardless of whether Alexander Isak or Callum Wilson depart.

“NUFC interested in Joao Pedro, who has admirers in PL and Europe. Big summer for Newcastle – Callum Wilson out of contract, and widespread interest in Alexander Isak – who nufc don’t want to sell. But Howe wants another striker, departures or not. And Pedro is an option.”

Defensively, talks have been held to bring Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae to Tyneside. His asking price is said to have dropped from £42 million to £29.5 million, but Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are also waiting in the wings.

Bolstering the heart of his backline has to be a priority for Howe amidst Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles coming towards the latter stages of their career.

Teenage attacker agrees 4-and-a-half year deal to join Newcastle United

Paul Mitchell isn’t messing around.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jan 31, 2025

Lloyd Kelly has left on a permanent deal to join Juventus worth £20 million. Meanwhile, Jamal Lewis has been released by the club as per their annual retained list.

With spaces to fill, Newcastle have now turned the tables and are closing in on a landmark signing, per recent reports.

Newcastle reportedly close to signing Marc Guehi

According to Portuguese newspaper outlet A Bola, Newcastle United have more or less completed a deal to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, which has prompted the Eagles to target Sporting Clube de Portugal’s Ousmane Diomande as a direct replacement.

There is no mention of the fee that it would take for the Magpies to pull Guehi away from the FA Cup holders, but the report states Palace have “lost Guehi to Newcastle”, and he is thought to be valued at around £50m.

Similar players to Marc Guehi – FBRef

Trevoh Chalobah

Chelsea

Oumar Solet

Udinese

Sinaly Diomande

Auxerre

Waldemar Anton

Borussia Dortmund

Once again a lynchpin for Crystal Palace during a productive campaign under Oliver Glasner, the Abidjan-born man made 44 appearances across the recent season, registering three goals and two assists.

Maintaining an element of dominance, Guehi won 168 duels in the English top-flight and continues to show up on a consistent basis for the Eagles, piquing the interest of clubs on the lookout for solidity.

Newcastle have long been at the front of the queue for his signature, and it appears they may finally be close to pushing a deal over the line, making this one to keep an eye on over the next few days.

New Zealand were bowled out for 88 in a chase of 149, leaving their progress in doubt

Madushka Balasuriya08-Oct-20243:16

Clinical Australia complicate NRR matters for others

Australia put one foot in the semi-finals with a dominant 60-run victory over neighbours New Zealand in Sharjah, and in the process recorded their 13th straight win in T20I World Cups. The result means Australia have two wins from two with a healthy net run-rate of 2.524 – they are also the only unbeaten side in the group. For New Zealand, the margin of defeat has had a hefty impact on their net run-rate, now going below Pakistan’s as they fell to third place.The win was a result of a supreme all-round effort from Australia, and a solid execution of plans. Their top order of Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry contributed heavily, and while Amelia Kerr – who ended with excellent figures of 4 for 26 – did her best to reel New Zealand back into the game, Australia’s total of 148 for 8 on a sluggish surface always felt like too tall a chase.And so it proved as New Zealand’s batters struggled to get going. Suzie Bates hung around for a scratchy 20 off 27, while Kerr’s 29 off 31 was the only other innings of substance. While Megan Schutt, Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland shared eight wickets among them, it was Schutt’s outstanding spell of 3 for 3 that pinned New Zealand down. Schutt took home the Player-of-the-Match award for her efforts.Healy takes chargeOn a surface with a nice layering of grass, Australia might have suspected they had won a good toss when they elected to bat. After Healy’s 26 off 20, that decision was looking more sound than ever, as Australia struck 43 inside the powerplay.It might not have been so though, had Healy not been convinced by partner Mooney to review an lbw call in the third over. That overturned decision seemed to bring clarity, as the very next delivery from Fran Jonas was smoked over mid-off. Two balls later, another one over extra cover. She’d repeat the trick in the next over as well, before carving one over point in the final over of the powerplay.While Healy fell looking for a fifth loft over the offside, Australia had set the ideal platform for their innings.Mooney and Perry shift through the gearsOnce the fielding restrictions were lifted, Perry in particular struggled to turn over the strike. The pressure that was built eventually told when she struck one straight to long-on, only for Maddy Green to spill the chance. New Zealand unsurprisingly came to the rue that missed opportunity as Perry and Mooney stitched together the match’s highest stand of 45 off 38.Amelia Kerr picked up 4 for 26•ICC via Getty Images

What both batters did well from there on was not get bogged down. While boundaries were hard to come by, they were still eager to use their feet and keep ticking over singles. It meant the momentum set up by Healy’s early salvo was never lost. This was highlighted by Mooney’s 40 off 32, which included just the two boundaries.Once Mooney fell, caught trying – and failing – to clear mid-off, Perry took over as aggressor carting Eden Carson for six over long-off, before pummeling her through square leg. Bookending those strikes was a pair of boundaries off two Kerr overs, as Perry threatened to take the game away from New Zealand.Kerr keeps New Zealand in itBut just as Australia were looking to truly unleash, Kerr struck in consecutive deliveries in the 14th over to take out Perry and Grace Harris, having already removed Mooney earlier. Kerr grabbed one more before signing off, making it three wickets in a five-ball period for the legspinner.These wickets had the effect of snuffing out Australia’s momentum, though their propensity for picking up singles mixed in with the odd boundary meant they still managed 32 runs off the final five overs. Not as much as they would have liked, but enough to push them to a fairly imposing total.Australia execute to perfectionKnowing that they had a good total on the board, Australia’s goal was to simply make life as difficult as possible for New Zealand’s batters – and that they did. Schutt set the tone with her impeccable lines and lengths, never allowing the batters to swing their arms, while she was ably supported by her team-mates.This meant that while New Zealand lost just one wicket inside the powerplay, they were only able to muster 29 runs. By the 10th over, it was still one wicket down but the scoreboard had just about ticked over to 54.The final 10 overs then brought about the conclusion they’d been planning for throughout as batter after batter got out trying to hit out. In the end, at no point in the chase we New Zealand ever in the game.