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The race to finish inside those coveted Champions League spots in the Premier League is heating up with Chelsea having to make sure the wins keep flowing to stay put.

Chelsea do have a potential Conference League final on the horizon, but the main focus for the Blues this May will centre on ensuring they finish inside those top five spots, even as tense games against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest present themselves as upcoming hurdles.

The Blues will also be aware that a place amongst Europe’s elite again will help them out in the transfer window, with Enzo Maresca’s men looking to splash the cash once more if the rumour mill filtering out of Stamford Bridge is anything to go by.

Chelsea's growing list of targets

This summer won’t just see a whole host of incomings arrive through the door you imagine, with some players in Maresca’s camp also needing to be offloaded, as seen in the growing likelihood that Blues flop Christopher Nkunku will reportedly depart shortly.

New attacking recruits are already being lined up, with Viktor Gyokeres one centre-forward routinely linked with a switch to West London, on top of fresh winger additions in the form of Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

But, it’s not all just attackers on Chelsea’s varied shopping list, with Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato another face that has also been linked incessantly with a move to England away from the Eredivisie giants.

However, with Liverpool and Arsenal also sniffing around for the Dutch powerhouse, this could see the Blues opt to try and snap up long-term target Ousmane Diomande instead.

New reports from Spain indicate that Chelsea are in the running to finally snap up the Sporting titan for a fee around the £68m ballpark with Maresca personally keen on adding him to the Stamford Bridge ranks.

When comparing the 21-year-old’s strengths next to Hato’s, he could well be a dream alternative and even an upgrade on the Rotterdam-born youngster.

Why Diomande is be a dream alternative to Hato

Whilst there is so much hype around Hato’s name as a starlet tipped for big things, Diomande could be just what Chelsea need right now, particularly when it comes to his experience on stages such as the Champions League.

Indeed, this season saw Diomande line up for nine Champions League contests, whilst his Dutch counterpart had to make do with appearances for Ajax in the lesser Europa League.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 enforcer has proven across 99 games in the Portuguese capital that he has an eye for goal, with six goals – usually powered home via a header – tallied up by the 21-year-old.

Hato does possess a similar reputation of being a young and hungry defender capable of joining in with attacks, but his goal number for Ajax currently sits at a lower four, even from nine more senior outings.

Attempted passes

58.63

76.51

Pass completion %

89.4%

93.8%

Progressive passes

4.15

3.04

Touches in attacking penalty area

1.40

1.71

Total shots

0.57

1.15

Tackles

2.15

1.29

Interceptions

0.82

1.05

Clearances

2.11

2.69

Aerials won

1.68

2.97

The table above further validates why Chelsea splashing out £68m for Diomande could prove to be a golden buy over snapping up the 19-year-old.

Indeed, the Ivorian betters Hato in multiple different areas of their respective defensive games, including when playing as both a composed passer of the ball, but also when it comes to regularly winning duels and being a full-blooded presence at the back.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has even lauded the Blues target as an “elite talent” previously, with Diomande himself perhaps edging for a chance to impress away from Sporting in a more challenging environment to further back up his glowing praise.

Chelsea have had their fair share of fighters defensively over recent years that can also put in classy displays – with the likes of Thiago Silva and John Terry springing to mind – with a hope that Diomande can also cement himself as a first-team regular if he’s given a shot at Stamford Bridge.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

May 4, 2025

Arsenal are thinking about signing a £20 million striker as well as Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it's been reported that he's set to leave his current club.

Edu targeting new striker for Arteta

While a lot of noise has surrounded Edu's pursuit of a new midfielder, there are still suggestions that manager Mikel Arteta wants to bring in a new striker next year. ESPN recently reported that Brentford star Ivan Toney is still a target for Arsenal as we head into 2024, with Arteta having just Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to choose from to lead the line.

The Gunners have also been linked with Vlahovic regularly amid their search for a new forward, as they seek to win a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years.

"Arsenal will" – Romano thinks Edu is certain to bid for "underrated" star

Former Gunner Paul Merson’s a big fan.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2023

A proven goalscorer could be the difference between domestic glory and falling just short, especially given Arsenal have to contend with both Man City and Liverpool who are also vying for first place. Club legend Ray Parlour, speaking to TEAMtalk at the start of this month, urged Arteta and Edu to bring in a striker if they wish to maintain their place among England's elite sides.

“Where they are going to be lacking is the striker position," said Parlour. "In teams I played in we had four top strikers so I think that is one area they need to improve.

"I know Jesus is out at the moment and Nketiah did brilliantly getting his hat-trick at the weekend but there is not a lot of options up front.

“I am sure Arteta, if there is someone available whether on loan or someone who is not playing on a regular basis but who he knows can do a decent job, will be looking for options. When you are chasing a goal you have got to change it up front and they do not have that at the moment. That might be the place they will be looking at."

Given Toney could cost a seismic £100 million to prise away in January, at least according to Sky Sports, it could be wise for Arsenal to consider other options.

Arsenal open to Leonardo deal

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are open to signing Santos striker Marcos Leonardo "as well as Vlahovic" in their pursuit of new options. It's added that the 20-year-old is set to leave his club for Europe in the new year.

The Brazilian is one of South America's hottest young attackers right now, with reports suggesting Santos are also willing to sell for around £20 million.

This is considerably less than his marquee release clause and Leonardo is a player of serious potential, having scored 13 goals in 29 of his latest Brazilian Serie A appearances.

"I saw in him a brilliant eye for goal, opportunistic and always well placed," the forward's U13 coach Gustavo Roma said (via Football Transfers).

Gets fouled often

Does not dive into tackles

"He is a really good finisher, he always manages to be in the middle of every middle, he's very mobile and intense, with great instincts. He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him, he moves to create the best positions and finish with a goal, that's why he has so many.

"He was our top scorer in 2016 and even as a substitute last year he was one of our top scorers too. He has an eye for goal, he is a killer and born scorer."

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is no stranger to spending big money in the transfer market and his next quest in the market has now been identified, according to reports.

Chelsea's transfer activity…

In the summer window, the Blues made a major splash in the market by bringing in exciting young faces such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea summer signings

Axel Disasi (Monaco)

£38.5m

Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)

£30.1m

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

£52m

Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)

£17.27m

Robert Sanchez (Brighton)

£25m

Moises Caicedo (Brighton)

£115m

Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes)

£23.5m

Angelo Gabriel (Santos)

Undisclosed

Alex Matos (Norwich)

Undisclosed

Diego Moreira (Benfica)

Undisclosed

Ishe Samuels-Smith (Everton)

Undisclosed

Dujuan Richards (Phoenix All Stars Academy)

Undisclosed

Romeo Lavia (Southampton)

£58m

Deivid Washington (Santos)

£17.1m

Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)

£14m

Cole Palmer (Manchester City)

£42.5m

All fees courtesy of Sky Sports

With any bedding in process regarding new players, some fare better than others, which is reflected in the fact that Chelsea sit tenth in the Premier League table, having taken 16 points from their opening 12 fixtures.

Nevertheless, Argentinian coach Pochettino is keen to strengthen his side even further over the next window or two. Recent reports have suggested that Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen is on the radar at Stamford Bridge and the Nigeria international has indicated that he is open to a move to west London.

CaughtOffside report that Chelsea have also met with Brentford striker Ivan Toney's entourage as bringing a number nine into the building continues to be a pressing priority for Pochettino. Arsenal are also strong contenders to acquire the England international. Despite initial claims that Toney could leave Brentford for £80-100 million, the outlet signify that the 27-year-old could be available for as little as £55 million.

One Spanish publication has speculated that Barcelona winger Raphinha is another name in Chelsea's sights as the Blues aim to add more variety in the final third to help break down opposition backlines. Despite this, midfield is another area where Chelsea are plotting potential signings, and one report has now revealed that the Premier League giants have a significant advantage in the chase for a young star.

Chelsea lead Gabriel Moscardo race

Taking to social media platform X, Evening Standard football correspondent Nizaar Kinsella has issued an update regarding Chelsea's pursuit of Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, claiming that the Blues are now "leading the race" for the 18-year-old, who is "one for the future".

In the attached report from the Evening Standard, it is claimed that it could cost interested suitors a fee in the region of £26 million to tempt Moscardo to seek a new challenge. Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool are also keen on the Brazil Under-23 international; however, Corinthians will not discuss his potential sale until after their presidential elections have concluded on November 25th.

Moscardo, who has been labelled "unique" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, primarily operates as a defensive midfielder and has won 2.1 tackles per fixture alongside making 1.3 clearances and 1.1 interceptions per appearance in the Brazilian top-flight (Moscardo statistics – WhoScored).

In an already crowded midfield environment, Moscardo would be likely to fall under the umbrella of being another long-term project for Pochettino to develop at Stamford Bridge if he were to move to the English capital.

Chelsea have yet to click into gear under Mauricio Pochettino, yet the previous few weeks could perhaps be a turning point in their season.

Having secured just one win across their opening six Premier League matches of the season, the Argentinian failed to push the panic button and regrouped following the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in September.

Since then, the Blues have won three of their last four matches and only a late Arsenal comeback prevented that from being four out of four, indicating that there is progress being made.

In order to challenge for the European spots however, this improvement will need to be consistent heading into the festive season and perhaps missing out on continental qualification this season is proving to be a blessing in disguise for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Chelsea have struggled in front of goal this season

Since the start of the season, only Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer than Chelsea’s nine goals in the league and this vast defensive improvement could be key as the campaign progresses.

Indeed, the Blues shipped 47 goals last term as they limped home to a dreadful 12th-place finish and Pochettino has seemingly seen this as an area that needs strengthening.

What is more concerning however is their lack of goals. Across nine games, Chelsea have scored just 13 league goals, with nine teams netting more, and in order to be pushing into the top six, Pochettino must be demanding more from his attacking options.

Both Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling have scored three goals each and the duo currently lead the scoring charts so far this season, hardly the numbers that Pochettino would have been expecting upon his arrival, especially given the vast amount of talent he has at his disposal.

The club need someone who is going to score on a regular basis, and they could well do with someone like former player Alvaro Morata, who is enjoying a wonderful season so far for Atletico Madrid.

Alvaro Morata spent just one full season at Chelsea

Having secured the Premier League title during the 2016/17 season, Antonio Conte looked to further improve his squad and signed Morata from Real Madrid for a fee that could have reached £70m.

The Spaniard had just come off the back of his most profitable season yet for the La Liga side, scoring 20 goals during the whole term, including 15 league efforts, as he won both the Champions League and top-flight titles.

On paper, it looked like a solid signing, especially as he was still relatively young and had not quite reached his peak years, but it did not work out.

While the Blues failed to retain their Premier League title, Conte led them to victory in the FA Cup final and Morata ended the season with 15 goals across all competitions, a decent return for his maiden foray into English football.

He then netted nine goals up until January, yet it was clear he fell out of favour with Maurizio Sarri and the Italian bringing Gonzalo Higuain to the club gave the former Real Madrid starlet a licence to leave.

A loan move to Atletico Madrid was confirmed and during the summer of 2019, it was revealed that the striker was set to join Atletico on a £58m deal when his loan move was completed as Frank Lampard was looking to build his team around other players.

Alvaro Morata has enjoyed success recently

He did not spend long in the Spanish capital, returning to Juventus on a single-season loan deal in 2020 and he ended up spending two years in Turin, scoring 31 times across the two years, yet the Serie A side did not take him up on a permanent deal.

Since returning to Spain however, he has enjoyed some of the best football of his career. During the 2022/23 season, Morata scored 15 goals and this was a solid platform to build on ahead of the current campaign, where he has started off magnificently.

117

45

185

59

72

24

95

32

Indeed, after only 11 matches, the 31-year-old has already found the back of the net on eight occasions and that includes three in three Champions League matches.

In Europe’s elite competition, Morata ranks first across the Atletico squad for goals and assists (three) while also ranking first for shots on target per game (1.7) and second for scoring frequency (a goal every 84 minutes) and these statistics demonstrate he is proving to be a positive influence on the squad.

It is not just on the European stage that he is impressing, with the striker ranking behind only Antonie Griezmann for La Liga goals while topping the pile for shots on target per game (1.1) and winning one penalty, and it appears as though the forward is in the form of his life.

His eight goals combined this season mean he has outscored every single Chelsea player under Pochettino and there is no doubt they could use a player in this type of form as they chase some momentum.

The season is still young and all the signs are pointing in the right direction with regard to progress being made on the pitch, especially over the last few weeks, but more will be expected from Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja heading into the next few months.

Morata failed to really showcase his true talents at Chelsea, scoring only 24 goals in 72 appearances, and was perhaps not given much of a chance following the departure of Conte in the summer of 2018.

He is not the most prolific of players, yet this season, Morata has begun brilliantly and if he keeps this sort of form up, he may start to attract attention from elsewhere.

Lampard seemingly was not a big fan of the Spaniard, based on his decision to sanction a sale, yet Chelsea are crying out for a player who is extremely clinical in the penalty area and can score all types of goals.

The January transfer market is not that far away, and only time will tell whether or not Pochettino be tempted to dive back in and spend even more money to further bolster his team.

Manchester United’s recent 2-1 victory over Brentford was reminiscent of the comeback wins and late, late goals scored when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the club.

Indeed, ‘Fergie time’ was often the moniker used when the Red Devils were deep into the game and required a goal to secure a positive result and nothing is more famous than the two dramatic goals in the final moments of the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

This never-say-die attitude has been missed at Old Trafford over the previous decade with a succession of managers failing to carry on the legacy of the great man and the club are a shadow of what they were.

His longevity will likely never be surpassed, and the Scot continued to build great teams across all four decades he was in charge of the Red Devils, yet might he have won more had he signed everyone that he wanted?

Who did Man United miss out on under Alex Ferguson?

The legendary gaffer managed to lure some incredible names to Old Trafford during his reign, including the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie among others.

They all played a significant part in their success, yet there may have been another couple of Premier League crowns or European titles added to the collection had Fergie managed to sign some of the names United were linked with throughout the years.

Icons such as Alan Shearer, Gabriel Batistuta, Gareth Bale and even Spaniard Raul were once linked with a move to Manchester as Fergie sought to bolster his starting XI and these are just a few of the many glamorous figures that were touted for big money moves to Old Trafford.

They all forged legacies at other clubs but one name that the club were linked with went on to become a legend at a club very close to home – Manchester City.

Remarkably, Ferguson tried to lure David Silva to the red half of the city before he eventually joined Man City, and it might well be one of his few regrets in the transfer window given Silva’s impact in the Premier League.

Did Man United come close to signing David Silva?

It appeared that United were keen on the attacking midfielder, yet Fergie wasn’t convinced by his defensive skills which scuppered a move.

“We watched Silva a lot when he was at Valencia,” said the wily Scot. “And the other player they had, the same type, years before it, played in that No.10 role.

“My problem with that was you have to be very, very good to play in that position, because there's no defensive duties for them.

“So if you're wanting to be really successful, everyone has to do their turn, has to work, you know?

“So I had a difficulty with that. But, in the end, of course, there's the greats. You could say Lionel Messi was a No.10 type, Maradona, some fantastic players, and I don't dispute that.”

His attacking prowess surely would’ve made up for his lack of defensive contributions had United signed him, and it proved to be a massive mistake, as he eventually joined City from the Spanish side for a fee of £24m in 2010 and gave Fergie a first-hand account of exactly what he missed out on.

What did David Silva achieve in his career?

Following 168 appearances for Valencia – scoring 32 goals and grabbing 36 assists – the time for Silva to test himself in the Premier League had come, and he joined the City revolution two years after their takeover.

The signing proved to be one of the greatest value-for-money buys in their history as he flaunted his creative talents in England.

436

77

140

168

32

36

93

7

19

36

4

0

10

1

0

Silva played a prominent role in City’s first league title since 1968 during the 2011/12 season, registering a staggering 23 goal contributions from an attacking midfield role, and he was also a factor for their second Premier League crown in 2014, managing 18 contributions from just 27 games.

He flourished under Pep Guardiola, becoming the main link between midfield and attack and during the title-winning season of 2017/18, Silva averaged a mammoth 97.7 touches per game while holding an 89% pass success rate as he controlled games on a regular basis.

His talents in the final third were still outstanding under his enigmatic compatriot, however. He created 16 big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes during the 2018/19 season and these statistics ranked him fourth and fifth across the whole league, indicating that he was still one of the better performers in the top-flight despite his advancing years.

He enjoyed one more season at City before bowing out having won four league titles among a handful of other honours and his creative talents have certainly been missed, despite the club securing a wonderful treble last season.

Jonathan Liew heaped praise on him following his departure from City back in 2020, saying: “Genius. Magician. Best City player ever. One of the greatest-ever Premier League imports. After 10 years, David Silva finally has his due. Maybe in time, Yaya Toure will get his too. This week’s column.”

There is no disputing any of those when describing the Spaniard and might United’s recent history been radically altered had Ferguson looked over his supposed defensive fragilities?

The former Valencia starlet emerged as one of the finest ever Premier League imports during his decade in Manchester, but there is no doubt the recent history of the competition would’ve changed had United lured him to Old Trafford.

£24m may have seemed a lot in 2010 for a player who hadn’t played in England, yet it turned into a wonderful bargain for City and he only got better.

Ferguson didn’t have that many transfer mishaps over the course of his 27 years at the Red Devils, but missing out on Silva might be one which stung rather hard, especially as he got to see his talents up close during his final three seasons in charge of United.

Would the Old Trafford side be in their current predicament had Silva joined them instead of City? Who knows, but they may have been a far better team to watch during their first few years after Fergie’s retirement, that’s for sure.

Celtic have been busy when it comes to new contracts in recent months, and another player has penned new Parkhead terms in the last 48 hours.

Who has signed a new Celtic contract?

The Hoops have enjoyed a solid start to life under new manager Brendan Rodgers in the Scottish Premiership, currently sitting top after dropping two points from their opening six games. There have been disappointments in the Scottish League Cup and opening Champions League group game, though, with a number of new faces brought in over the summer.

In total, Celtic signed 10 players in the recent transfer window, eight on permanent deals and two on loan. The club have also extended the contracts of key players such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Callum McGregor and Liel Abada in recent months, and another player has followed suit.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that full-back Anthony Ralston has signed a new four-year deal to keep him at the club until 2027, with the defender saying:

“I’m absolutely delighted, and it’s a great feeling to sign with your boyhood club on a new contract. It never gets old, that feeling of being able to put pen to paper to secure your future where you want to be.”

Rodgers was also buzzing at the news, saying:

“I’m absolutely delighted for Anthony. He was a young player who showed a lot of promise when I was first here.

“He came into the team and played some good games, and obviously he really kicked on when Ange came in and had that early spell where he played quite a lot, and you could see him grow from that.

“So, for me and the squad, I’m absolutely delighted. He’s a Celtic guy who’s come through the system here and I just think that when you have guys like that in your squad, you always get that extra wee bit out of them.

“When I spoke to him a little while back, he’s so happy to commit himself to Celtic. He loves being here, he loves being a part of the club and he loves being here and ready to contribute, and I’m very happy he’s decided to sign on.”

How old is Anthony Ralston?

Ralston, who can also play slightly further forward as a right midfielder if needed, is a product of the Celtic academy and has spent the majority of his career at Parkhead.

The Scotland international did spend time out on loan with Queen’s Park, Dundee United and St Johnstone but has now made 90 senior appearances for the Hoops in all competitions.

The defender is now 24 years of age, so you’d like to think he still has plenty of years left in the tank in Glasgow, looking to add to the nine major honours he has won at Celtic Park.

After beginning the season as first choice, Ralston, described as an "excellent" player who "has it all" by journalist Josh Bunting, has been left on the bench in Celtic’s last three games in all competitions, so his immediate task will be looking to break back into Rodgers’ side after signing his new contract.

The last international break for around four months is finally behind us as Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend.

During the last break, the Gers were in crisis, having just sacked Michael Beale and the Ibrox hierarchy went on a mad dash to find an appropriate successor.

They announced Philippe Clement just a few weeks later, and it's safe to say, the move has gone swimmingly so far.

The Ibrox faithful shouldn’t get carried away, however, as there have been managers in the past who have enjoyed decent starts before their reigns turned into a disaster (looking at you Giovanni van Bronckhorst) and their feet should remain firmly on the ground.

The performances under the Belgian have been much better than what was served up under Beale and with a League Cup final to contest next month, the Light Blues could secure their first piece of silverware in 18 months.

A tie against Aberdeen in the league is first up, however, and following on from their 2-0 victory over Livingston last time out, Clement could make a few changes ahead of the trip to the north-east.

With that mind, here's how the Gers could lineup this weekend

1 GK – Jack Butland

The ever-present Rangers player has featured in every single match this season and his performances between the sticks have been excellent.

While Beale failed to really improve sections of the squad during the summer, luring Butland from England has proven to be a stroke of genius, and he will start once again versus the Dons.

The 30-year-old has kept eight clean sheets in 12 league ties and another one against Barry Robson’s men could be crucial.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain will be leading the side out on Sunday as he aims to maintain their recent excellent form by securing another three points.

Tavernier has scored 11 goals and grabbed three assists – no other Rangers player has more goal contributions – and he would love to add to this tally.

If he leads the Gers to a win, it will give them a major boost heading into the League Cup final against the same opposition in just three weeks.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

Connor Goldson has been solid under Clement so far, starting every match during his tenure, and the club have conceded only three goals in that period.

The defender has been a colossus at the heart of the defence, winning 72% of his total duels so far this season, and if he is in this type of mood, the Aberdeen forwards stand no chance.

4 CB – Leon Balogun

The question is, who will partner Goldson on Sunday? Balogun certainly deserves another start following his impressive display against Livingston a few weeks ago.

The Nigerian won a staggering 13 out of 15 total duels during the tie while also making four clearances and three interceptions to keep Livi at bay.

He may be approaching the end of his career, yet the 35-year-old is still a class act on the pitch when given a chance.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Three of his four league starts have come under Clement and the Turkish gem should be given the opportunity to show his worth from the start against Aberdeen.

With the future of Borna Barisic still unclear, Yilmaz is the heir to his throne at left back and the more he plays, the better he will become.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder has returned to some solid form this campaign, and he will be unleashed in the starting XI for the ninth league game on the trot.

The Englishman has created two big chances and averages 1.1 key passes per game, linking the defence to the attack quite nicely, and he will be looking to prove to Clement that he deserves a contract extension.

7 CM – Jose Cifuentes

The former Los Angeles FC midfielder hasn’t started a match since the 3-0 win over St Mirren at the beginning of October, but three sub appearances in the last four matches indicate that he is ready to start.

This means Ryan Jack is dropped to the bench for the tie against his former team. The Scot has entered into the final year of his deal at the club, but he has been impressive this term.

The Ecuadorian needs game time, however, and once he returns to full fitness, he will be a key asset for Clement.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The young winger has enjoyed a wonderful few weeks. Firstly, he made his first start for the Light Blues in their win over Livingston, winning a penalty and even scored, but the goal was disallowed.

Then, he made his debut for Northern Ireland during their recent Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland and it could be the beginning of a fine career for the starlet.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

Often deployed out on the right-hand side this season, Todd Cantwell’s best position is just behind the striker.

Indeed, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from that position during the second half of the 2022/23 season after he joined the club from Norwich City in January.

He should be unleashed by Clement as, when in top form, Cantwell is able to cause opposition defences plenty of trouble.

10 LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan winger has been wonderful this season since arriving in the summer from Brighton and Hove Albion.

He has been a solid attacking threat from the left-hand side, scoring nine goals already and his pace has been a valuable asset.

Expect him to start against the Dons.

Arsenal didn't wait around in the summer window, securing their targets early on and splashing the cash fresh from Premier League title heartbreak but, more importantly, a Champions League return. The Gunners welcomed the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in big-money moves, with the former enjoying a better start at The Emirates than the latter.

Mikel Arteta's squad is still not perfect, however, and that could cost them up against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City yet again by the end of the current campaign. The January transfer window could help ensure that they avoid the same heartbreak as last May, but recent news suggests that Arteta is set to be handed a major stumbling block in his pursuit of winter targets.

Arsenal transfer news

Arsenal's summer spending reportedly reached the €235m (£206m) mark, as they brought in Rice, Jurrien Timber, Havertz and David Raya in a busy window. Building on the side that pushed City all the way last season, Arsenal now sit behind Guardiola's side on goal difference alone, with the Premier League champions set to play their game in hand on the North London club. And whilst Arteta won't want to settle for second place, he may not have the option of turning to the January transfer window for extensive reinforcements.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Arsenal do not have the January transfer budget to sign a defensive midfielder, given the likely reported price of Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz. The plan was to reportedly attempt to sell Thomas Partey in the winter window, but his recent injury means that his departure is now unlikely to come before the summer.

With that said, it looks as though the Gunners will have to make do with their current squad, who could make it back-to-back seasons behind the winning machine that is Manchester City.

"Clever" Luiz would boost Arsenal

Given Partey's recent injury issues, there's no doubt that a January move for Luiz would provide Arsenal with a major boost. But Aston Villa are in a far stronger position to negotiate these days as they take steps back into European football under Emery. The fact that the Brazilian's contract doesn't expire until 2026, too, means that any deal is likely to be expensive and one that those in North London reportedly can't afford in January.

Luiz's stats compared to Partey's last season proves that the Villa man is more than capable of taking the former Atletico Madrid midfielder's place at The Emirates.

Player

Goals

Assists

Progressive Carries

Tackles Won

Blocks

Douglas Luiz

6

6

48

42

36

Thomas Partey

3

0

34

40

26

Luiz's performances for the Villans over the years have resulted in praise from the likes of Guardiola, who said via The Boot Room: "He’s a guy who plays all of the minutes. He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy."

The midfielder looks like one to keep an eye on in the summer rather than in January, with Arsenal seemingly unable to pursue a deal during the winter window.

Sam Billings has said that the chance to learn from MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings during this year’s IPL was an opportunity that made his subsequent struggles for form worthwhile.Billings started his IPL campaign in impressive style with a matchwinning 56 from 23 balls, in partnership with Dhoni, against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he was unable to touch those heights again, as he finished a stop-start stint with 108 runs at 13.50 in ten innings all told.That lack of time in the middle then seemed to spill over into Billings’ sketchy start to his home international summer – he was overlooked for England’s T20 and ODI squads against India after failing in two innings against Scotland and Australia last month.But Billings insists he has few regrets about his time at CSK and says that, as a wicketkeeper-batsman who is now settling into his captaincy role at Kent, Dhoni is a role model whose input and advice can only improve his game.”It was incredible batting with him in the first game, and to get us across the line as well,” Billings told ESPNcricinfo at a Chance to Shine event in Sussex. “What struck me most was his calmness. He’s just so calm the whole time.”I asked him about it, and he said that, through experience and being able to train, he’s got better and better at it towards the latter part of his career. It was amazing to witness – he selects the bowlers that he looks to take down, then executes it as well. It’s pretty special being at the other end and in the same dressing room as someone like that.”The lessons were manifest at the other end of the pitch as well. In light of England’s struggles to pick the variations of India’s mystery spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, in the first T20I, Billings said that exposure to such bowlers on a daily basis was another valuable reason for having a stint in the competition.”You have to adapt very quickly to two high-quality spinners, but that is the benefit of playing in the IPL,” Billings said. “You come up against quality spin every time you play the game. It’s about adapting, having a gameplan and putting the pressure back onto them.”Chahal is a great bowler, he got me out at Bangalore this year, and Kuldeep with his variations is high class as well. The challenge is to adapt as quickly as possible, and certainly the reverse-sweep and sweep are good options, especially if you are not picking them.”Billings returned to form with the bat in the recent Royal London Cup final at Lord’s, although his 75 from 60 balls wasn’t enough to get Kent across the line against Hampshire. Nevertheless, he found himself implementing some of Dhoni’s techniques while marshalling his troops from behind the stumps.Sam Billings will hope to make the most of a rare chance in England’s side•Getty Images

“It was about being conscious of body language, not giving too much away to the batsman but the bowler as well, to be honest,” he said. “People don’t mean to bowl bad balls, but the way Dhoni deals with it and relaxes, ultimately it makes them feel a hell of a lot more comfortable.”Dhoni, however, isn’t the only star batsman from whom Billings has been picking up a few tips in recent months. Jos Buttler’s form, both for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and for England in all formats, has been revelatory – particularly, in T20 cricket, since his move to the top of the order.”He’s one of the best players in the world when he’s playing like he is at the moment,” Billings said. “It’s a pleasure to watch. I’ve known him a long, long time and he’s a great mate of mine, so to see him going so well is brilliant.”To be honest, his game has always been there, it’s just his consistency. Now that he’s putting those consistent scores together, he’s pretty much unstoppable when he gets into full flow.”Consistency for Billings has clearly been lacking of late, although his natural confidence has not been dented by his struggles out in the middle. On the contrary, he sees Buttler’s flowing form as proof that his own good times can roll again.”I’m a similar type of player to Jos, and I’m looking to up my game as well and emulate what he’s done,” Billings said. “To see him go from a middle-order role to excelling at the top of the order is really pleasing. As cricketers now you’ve got to be versatile and he’s doing it as well as anyone now.”It’s tough being in and out of the team and feeling like you have to prove yourself every single time you go out to bat,” Billings said of his stop-start international career. “You play one ODI, then you don’t play another one for nine months. But that’s international sport.”I average over 40 in List A cricket, so my stats are on the board. It’s about reminding myself of what I’ve done with Kent and for the [England] Lions, and focusing on that some more going into the future.”I’m just looking forward to getting another opportunity. It will come at some point, and it’s about taking it, as simple as that. It’s a really hard side to break into at the moment, but there’s plenty of competition around, and when the opportunity arises, hopefully I’ll be ready.”Sam Billings was speaking at an event for National children’s charity Chance to Shine, who are teaming up with ICC and ECB to deliver the Cricket World Cup 2019 Schools’ programme

ESPNcricinfo understands the fast bowler will undergo intense rehabilitation for about four weeks at the NCA before the selectors make a call on his fitness for the final two Tests

Nagraj Gollapudi and Sidharth Monga18-Jul-2018

BCCI

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will return to India to recuperate from the lower-back injury that has kept him out of the squad for the first three Tests in England. ESPNcricinfo understands Bhuvneshwar will undergo intense rehabilitation for about four weeks at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before the selectors make an assessment on his fitness for the final two Tests.According to the BCCI release announcing the Test squad, Bhuvneshwar “aggravated” his lower-back issue while playing the third ODI against England. Apart from Bhuvneshwar, India’s fast-bowling group will also be without Jasprit Bumrah for the first Test at least. Bumrah has been out of action since suffering a thumb injury during the first match of India’s tour, the first T20I against Ireland in Dublin. Bumrah is part of the 18-member Test squad, but the BCCI has confirmed he will miss the first Test.An important member of the side, responsible for 42% of the wickets taken by seamers in their last Test series in England, Bhuvneshwar has been struggling with a back issue since the start of the IPL where his workload was managed. Even before the IPL, Bhuvneshwar sat out of the Nidahas Trophy and the one-off Test against Afghanistan to manage the injury. Bhuvneshwar had missed the first two ODIs, but was selected for the series decider in which he bowled seven overs for 49 runs and no wickets, and also dropped a catch.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

At the toss, Virat Kohli said the decision to bring Bhuvneshwar back for the decider was taken to given him some game time. “Some tactical some because the guys haven’t got a game so far,” Kohli explained the three changes to the XI. “So Bhuvi and Shardul Thakur come in for Umesh [Yadav] and Sid [Siddarth] Kaul. And KL Rahul misses out. Dinesh Karthik replaces him at No. 4. He has done well at that spot, and we just wanted to have a guy in the middle overs who can be versatile and improvise a little. Yeah Dinesh was tactical, and the other two guys because they haven’t got a game yet.”An official present in Leeds told ESPNcricinfo that Bhuvneshwar passed a fitness test before the team management decided to include him in the XI. Bhuvneshwar was the first player to enter Headingley on Tuesday morning and did stretching routines, under the observation of India trainer Shankar Basu. The fact that Bhuvneshwar was in the reckoning for the final ODI of the England series became clear after he bowled for about half an hour in India’s optional training session on Monday afternoon in Leeds.After India were sent in, Bhuvneshwar batted for nearly an hour, first in the company of MS Dhoni and then the tail, to take help raise a modest total of 256. He finished the match wicketless and also dropped a straightforward catch.The official present in Leeds pointed out that the team management had been guarding Bhuvneshwar until then, keeping in mind the freak injury that ruled out Bumrah. Although Bhuvneshwar passed the pre-match fitness test on Tuesday, the official said he was “probably a bit jaded” when he arrived in the UK after the IPL.In the future, the official said the team management had agreed to closely monitor the workloads of key players like Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah to keep them fresh for the World Cup.