Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a hamstring injury. Sears, who was also part of New Zealand’s squad for the tri-series in Pakistan, felt pain in his left hamstring at the team’s training session in Karachi on Wednesday.A subsequent scan revealed a minor tear that would require at least two weeks’ rehabilitation, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement. That meant Sears would have been available only from the team’s final group match onwards, against India in Dubai on March 2, the decision was made to rule him out.Sears played both of New Zealand’s league-stage games in the tri-series, but went wicketless after 16 overs, conceding 104 runs in them.Related
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Jacob Duffy, who is also part of the tri-series squad, has replaced Sears for the Champions Trophy.”We’re all really feeling for Ben,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case given it would have been his first major ICC event.”The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go.”Ben is a player with huge potential and given the short rehabilitation timeframe, we’re sure he’ll be fit and raring to go for the home series against Pakistan back in New Zealand.”Duffy has played ten ODIs, in which he has picked up 18 wickets. In the home ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, he took four wickets in two games.”Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at international level,” Stead said. “He’s been part of the squad for the ODI tri-series so he’s fully acclimatised and he’s got plenty of experience in these conditions and is fit and ready to go.”He’s another player who will be experiencing his first senior ICC event, so it will be an exciting few weeks ahead for him.”New Zealand will face Pakistan in the tri-series final in Karachi on Friday. Their first match of the Champions Trophy is also against Pakistan, at the same venue, on Wednesday.
Chelsea appear to be closing in on a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons as widespread reports indicate that talks are seriously progressing, but key issues surrounding the Dutchman are now being brought to the surface.
£40m star drops Chelsea transfer hint on Instagram amid Xavi Simons talks
The west Londoners are set to be even more busy.
By
Emilio Galantini
Aug 5, 2025
Despite having already spent an estimated £277 million on incomings this summer, Chelsea have done extremely well to balance the books through outgoings, which will be imperative amid their pact with UEFA to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’.
If Carney Chukwuemeka seals his long-awaited return to Borussia Dortmund on a permanent deal, which could yield around £22 million, Chelsea’s money raised through outgoings will near the £250 million mark.
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season
Average match rating
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
Given Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson, among others, could also depart in the coming weeks, Chelsea are in a pretty healthy position to add Simons to their squad.
In what is a very exciting prospect for Enzo Maresca, a move for the 22-year-old is a separate topic to that of Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho, and Sky Sports reported earlier this week that Chelsea are in talks to sign both players.
Their move for Simons is believed to be the furthest along, though, with negotiations described as advanced by Fabrizio Romano and the player “clear” in his desire to leave Leipzig for Stamford Bridge.
As Chelsea attempt to make room for Simons, who’s racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in all competitions for Leipzig since the start of 2023/2024, Maresca has been sent an intriguing warning over the ex-PSG sensation.
Chelsea sent Xavi Simons warning as talks advance
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Trans Euro Express podcast, Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard has shared rumours he’s heard of potential attitude problems.
“He scores goals, he makes goals, he’s always trying to affect the game. He’s a real puzzle, Xavi, because I like watching him play. I like what he brings to a game. He’s got really silky skills,” said Hatchard.
“The debate in Germany has been: Is he a team player? Does he have attitude problems? All of that.
“Now, that might be paper talk. That might be just media noise, and it just isn’t true, because there are some coaches that speak up for him. But there are also coaches that have alluded to, he could be more of a team player, his attitude could be different, etc.”
The pundit also questioned how Simons would cope behind Cole Palmer in Maresca’s pecking order, as both men play in the same position.
“What I’m fascinated by is if he does go to Chelsea, how does he deal with not being the main man? Because he won’t be, because Cole Palmer’s the main man.
“He plays in Cole Palmer’s position. So he’s not going to be the main man. They might play him off the left, because he naturally gravitates to the left anyway.
“But I’m just fascinated to see how he deals with it, because it’s not a work-rate thing. The work rate’s there, because you don’t play for Leipzig if you don’t work without the ball. It’s not that.”
Leipzig’s demand for Simons is rumoured to be around £60 million, so the cost of a transfer mistake for BlueCo could be huge here if they get it wrong.
The last thing Maresca needs is another ‘Joao Felix-type’ scenario on his hands, so it will be very intriguing to see how Simons may fare in London.
Daren Sammy has been named head coach of the West Indies men’s team across all formats. Sammy, who has been the coach of West Indies’ T20I and ODI teams since last year, will take charge of the Test side from April 2025 replacing Andre Coley, the CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe announced in St Vincent.”It’s always an honour to represent West Indies in any format or any position. For me, this news is not something I was expecting,” Sammy said at the press conference.”Coaching was never something I saw myself doing but I must admit the way that it’s been going, I’ve developed a much stronger passion and a love for the job… I believe in processes, something that we’ve been able to do in the white-ball formats and, with this new role, I’ve already mapped out some of the areas and some of the processes that we’ll have to follow in order for us to be successful [in Test cricket]. I’m a patient man and once I trust that process and understand the requirement from the director of cricket, then the plan gets into action.”So I’m really excited about the added responsibility and the new journey, one that I think myself and my team will be prepared for.”Under Sammy’s leadership, West Indies have won 15 of 28 ODIs since May 2023, winning four of seven bilateral series. In T20Is, the team clinched four series at home – against India, England and South Africa – and lost to Sri Lanka, Australia (both away) and England (home) – this is not counting the ongoing series against Bangladesh. Overall, they have won 20 out of 35 T20Is played during this period.In Tests, West Indies have lost seven matches, and won and drawn two each under Coley since May 2023, their high point being the pulsating eight-run victory against Australia in the Brisbane Test in January this year. They have not won even one series in this phase though, and are at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.”Post our our current World Test Championship campaign, we are going to be expanding Mr Sammy’s role to encompass all formats,” Bascombe announced. “So when we host Australia next summer, Daren Sammy will be the head coach of all senior men’s teams. I want to take this opportunity to thank Andre Coley, who has served well.”He still has to complete his World Test Championship campaign in Pakistan, and he will have our full support. But again, I want to congratulate Mr Sammy. We have been quite impressed with the way that he has charted a course for our white-ball teams, and he has guided them towards consistency of performance, and that is exactly what we want to see in our Test team.”Before he took over the West Indies role, Sammy’s leadership skills, both as a captain and coach, were central to St Lucia Kings’ success in the CPL. In 2020, he captained an unfancied Kings side to the CPL final. In CPL 2021, he was appointed Kings’ T20 cricket consultant and brand ambassador. In 2022, Sammy took over from Andy Flower as head coach and led them to the Eliminator, where Kings lost to eventual champions Jamaica Tallawahs.At the PSL, Sammy had coached Peshawar Zalmi in 2020 and 2021 before being reappointed to the post for PSL 2023. Sammy had been a mainstay for the franchise since the PSL’s inception in 2016, and had been one of the most popular overseas figures in the league.
Tour arrangements finalised at last minute with England due to depart within fortnight
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2024
Multan Cricket Stadium will host back-to-back England Tests•Getty Images
England’s Test tour of Pakistan next month will comprise back-to-back fixtures in Multan and a series finale in Rawalpindi, with the PCB finally giving the go-ahead to its revised schedule after a protracted delay.The original itinerary for the three-Test series, which forms part of the ICC World Test Championship, had involved a second Test in Karachi – the venue where England secured a historic 3-0 clean sweep on their most recent visit to the country in December 2022.However, the National Stadium in Karachi is currently undergoing major renovation work to prepare it for the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, and with Rawalpindi unavailable for the second Test due to a major international conference in neighbouring Islamabad from October 15-16, the series had at one stage seemed set to be relocated to the UAE, with Abu Dhabi raised as a possible venue.Now, however, an agreement has been reached that the series will begin and end in Multan and Rawalpindi as originally scheduled, but the teams will remain in Multan for the second Test as well.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
England are due to arrive in Multan on October 2, with Pakistan’s squad set to assemble in the city on the same date. The first Test gets underway from October 7-11, with the second following four days later, from October 15-19. The teams will then relocate to Rawalpindi for the third Test from October 24-28.”PCB is thrilled to welcome the England men’s cricket team back to Pakistan,” Usman Wahla, PCB Director, International, said. “Despite minor adjustments, we are committed to supporting fans and ensuring a memorable tour. We look forward to a fiercely competitive Test series and showcasing Pakistan’s renowned hospitality.”The announcement ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding the series, for which England last week named an unusually large touring squad of 17 players. Speaking ahead of the recent third Test against Sri Lanka, England head coach Brendon McCullum pointed out his side needed to know the venues in advance to be able to pick a squad that suited the conditions.The delay has been a huge frustration to England’s fans, with a number of tour operators cancelling their arrangements amid the lack of logistical arrangements.Revised itinerary 7-11 Oct First Test, Multan 15-19 Oct Second Test, Multan 24-28 Oct Third Test, Rawalpindi
It has been a year of emotional homecomings at Celtic in 2025, with the Scottish champions having notably welcomed wing wizard, Jota, back into the fold in January, following a grim 18 months for the Portuguese sensation.
While the 26-year-old’s subsequent injury blow has somewhat overshadowed his £8m return, the hope will be that he can be revived under Brendan Rodgers next season, when he is fit and firing again.
The popular wideman has been a welcome addition back into Rodgers’ ranks, although it is Kieran Tierney’s Parkhead return that is arguably the greater story, with the Scotland star sealing a free transfer switch from Arsenal – six years on from his £25m exit from the Glasgow giants.
Although an injury-hit spell in north London has sparked doubts over whether the 27-year-old can flourish back at his boyhood club, his prior record for the Premiership outfit is more than enough reason for encouragement, having notably registered 37 assists in 170 games during his first spell on the books.
The sight of the rampaging full-back bombing up and down the left flank again in green and white will be a real delight, with Tierney seemingly desperate to be a success once again, having “sacrificed” financially in order to come back to Celtic, according to his manager.
A fit and in-form version of the Scotsman could then prove to be a significant acquisition for Rodgers and co this summer. That said, an even bigger coup could be on the cards…
Latest Celtic transfer news
With Nicolas Kuhn bringing an end to his year-and-a-half stint in Scottish football, in order to join Serie A side Como, the need for reinforcements in the forward ranks has only been heightened – not least with Kyogo Furuhashi having also departed in January.
With Swedish winger Benjamin Nygren already in the door, recent reports have suggested that the 23-year-old could be followed by Shin Yamada and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, albeit with other options still on the table.
Indeed, according to reports, Rodgers is keen on overseeing another high-profile reunion, this time with Tierney’s former teammate, Odsonne Edouard, with Celtic said to be ‘monitoring his situation closely’.
The Frenchman – who left Parkhead to join Crystal Palace on a £14m deal in 2021 – appears to be up for grabs this summer having been ‘put on the market’ by the Eagles, after spending the previous campaign on loan at Leicester City.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
While that temporary stint proved desperately disappointing as the 27-year-old failed to score and made just six appearances for the Foxes, a move back to Glasgow might well be just the solution.
Why Celtic could seal a bigger coup than Tierney
Six months on from having allowed Kyogo to depart for Stade Rennais on a £10m deal, such a switch still has supporters scratching their heads, with the Japanese marksman having shunned the chance to enjoy Champions League knockout stage action, in favour of joining a struggling Ligue 1 side.
Now, the 30-year-old is in England’s second tier at Birmingham City.
As for Celtic, ample time has passed and a suitable replacement has still not been lined up, with Rodgers currently left with Adam Idah – who scored 20 goals last season – and Johnny Kenny as his only senior options through the middle.
It is for that reason that managing to bring Edouard back into the fold could be such an attractive prospect, with the Palace outcast having at one stage looked like the “best striker since Larsson” at Celtic Park, in the words of Martin O’Neill:
Also described as “magnificent” and an “unbelievable player” by former boss, Neil Lennon, Edouard dazzled following his switch from Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2017, before signing permanently a year later for £9m.
Former Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard
Over the next few years, the 6 foot 2 marksman chalked up 87 goals in just 179 games in all competitions for the Hoops, alongside providing a further 37 assists. For comparison, Kyogo racked up 85 goals and just 19 assists in 165 games for the club.
Such a record emphasises why Edouard would be a worthy investment this summer, even amid his recent woes, having still registered a respectable, albeit unspectacular return of 21 goals in 103 games at Selhurst Park.
Edouard’s final full Premiership season – 2020/21
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games (starts)
31 (28)
Goals
18
Minutes per goal
130min
Big chances missed
12
Goal conversion
16%
Assists
4
Big chances created
9
Key passes*
1.2
Pass accuracy*
80%
Stats via Sofascore
Like Tierney, a fresh start is needed for the striker, and if he can recapture the form he showcased during his first spell, then Rodgers would surely be on to a winner.
Yes, the signing of a cult hero like Tierney is a joyous sight, but it is the figures at the top end of the pitch who truly make the difference, with few having been quite so successful in a Celtic shirt in recent times as Edouard.
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England 360 for 7 (McCann 174, Thain 66, Kalupahana 5-81) beat Sri Lanka 330 (Perera 64, Weerasinghe 57, Benkenstein 4-77) by 30 runsA superb innings of 174 by Nottinghamshire’s Freddie McCann put England Men U19s on course for a stirring 30-run victory against Sri Lanka at Hove to level the three-match ODI series at 1-1. In the first match, at Chelmsford on Friday, Sri Lanka won by 65 runs.After a measured start, the left-handed McCann cut loose in the second half of his innings to present Sri Lanka with a formidable total. And when Pulindu Perera and Gayana Weerasinghe put Sri Lanka well ahead of the asking rate, with a second wicket partnership worth 110 in just 14 overs, it was McCann who ended the alliance with a diving outfield catch to dismiss Weerasinghe (57) off the impressive bowling of Farhan Ahmed – younger brother of England’s leg-spinning prodigy Rehan Ahmed.Sri Lanka made a much more positive start to their innings – they were 53 runs ahead of England’s score at the halfway stage of their innings – but their scoring rate declined as they lost wickets regularly as they attempted to take on England’s disciplined attack. Four overs after the dismissal of Weerasinghe, Perera was lbw to Warwickshire’s Tazeem Ali for 64 off 59 balls, with eight fours and a six, and Sri Lanka were unable to find another batsmen capable of dominating the England bowlers. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 330 in 49.2 overs, with Luc Benkenstein, son of South Africa’s Dale, taking four wickets.The England innings had been based around a partnership of 127 in 24 overs between McCann and Noah Thain in which the Sri Lankan fielders were driven to distraction – quite literally. In the course of the partnership, with the fielders becoming increasingly vociferous, the umpires Jack Shantry and Nigel Llong spoke with the captain, Dinura Kalupahana, and told him that they had awarded England five penalty runs for distracting behaviour.England had made a steady start and had scored 36 when Keshana Fonseka was caught in the slips off the last ball of the 6th over, the first bowled by Kalupahana. The 50 came up in the eighth and at the halfway stage England were 120 for one – they would score 240 from the second 25 overs.While they were together, Essex’s Thain was even more impressively commanding than McCann. He swept Paveen Maneesha to long leg for four to reach his fifty from 60 deliveries and when he was out, pulling Kalupahana to backwared square-leg, he had scored 66 from 76 balls, with eight fours and a six.McCann, who had reached his century from 97 balls, with 15 fours, now accelerated away, so his final figures were 174 off 139, with 22 fours and three sixes. There were cameos from Charlie Allison (46 off 43) and Dom Kelly, who hit four fours and two sixes in an 11-ball 32 not out. But Rocky Flintoff – the son of former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff – who came in near the end, was bowled leg stump for just three off five. Kalupahana was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler with five for 81 from his ten overs.
They might have finished second in the Premier League and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, but we aren’t sure anyone at Arsenal would consider this season to be a success.
Long gone are the days in which a top-four finish was celebrated like a trophy at the Emirates, as, thanks to Mikel Arteta and Co, the team are now serious contenders for every competition they enter – meaning a third runners-up medal in as many league campaigns is far from ideal.
Considering the team created the best defence in the league while scoring 17 goals fewer than the eventual winners, it’s pretty clear that to help the squad get over the line next year, the board must invest in offensive players.
Arsenalplayers pose for a team group photo before the match
This line of thinking may help to explain Arsenal’s reported interest in Aston Villa’s brilliant Morgan Rogers, although even if he were to join the club, he’d be worth millions less than one of his new teammates.
Why Arsenal want Rogers
So, if the reported price tag of around £100m proves to be true, just why do Arsenal want to spend that sort of money on one player, and would he even be worth it?
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Well, the answer to the second question is most certainly yes, and there are a few reasons why, starting with his output.
For example, in 54 appearances for Villa this season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born star was able to score 14 goals and provide 15 assists.
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.86 games or every 155.03 minutes, and that is just the sort of offensive capability the North Londoners need in their squad.
For example, Martin Odegaard is the team’s current starting attacking midfielder, and while he’s been brilliant in seasons past, he really struggled this year, ending the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3447 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes.
Just imagine if Arteta could take the Norwegian off, or rest him completely, and start the dynamic Englishman in his place.
Finally, at just 22 years old, the five-capped international could grow alongside some of the team’s other younger stars, and then there is his ability to play in multiple positions, from midfield to out wide.
Rogers’ positional versatility
Position
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Left Winger
83
21
9
Attacking Midfield
46
14
10
Right Winger
39
9
13
Centre-Forward
21
6
4
Left Midfield
8
3
1
Right Midfield
6
1
3
Second Striker
1
0
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Yet, even then and at the fee reported, Rogers would be joining Arsenal with a lower valuation than one of his new teammates.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Rogers
Now, while Arsenal are blessed with a host of incredibly talented players these days, from Declan Rice and David Raya to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, it’ll likely come as no surprise that the star in question is none other than Bukayo Saka.
The Hale End superstar has developed into a talismanic figure in North London since his debut under Unai Emery, and his valuation reflects that, with the CIES Football Observatory pricing him at a whopping €157m earlier this year.
That converts to a staggering £132m, or £32m more than Rogers could end up costing the Gunners this summer, and while that is a sizable difference, it would be hard to argue it’s not fair.
Saka vs Rogers in 24/25
Players
Saka
Rogers
Appearances
37
54
Minutes
2619′
4496′
Goals
12
14
Assists
14
15
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
0.53
Minutes per Goal Involvements
100.73′
155.03′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, even though the 23-year-old missed over three months of the season with a hamstring injury that required surgery, he was still able to rack up a sensational haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances, totalling just 2619 minutes.
That means the North Londoners’ “future legend,” dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or 100.73 minutes, which is not only better than the Villa ace managed but also simply world-class.
Okay, how do their pair stack up against one another when we look at their underlying numbers, then? The Claret and Blue star did spend a sizable part of the season out wide.
Well, rather unsurprisingly, it’s the 43-capped superstar who once again comes out on top, doing better in almost all relevant metrics, such as actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, tackles, shots and shots on target, key passes and more, all per 90.
Saka vs Rogers
Statistics per 90
Saka
Rogers
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.71
0.42
Non-Penalty G+As
0.78
0.52
Progressive Passes
3.65
3.55
Progressive Passes Received
13.3
5.43
Progressive Carries
5.00
3.29
Shots
3.44
1.59
Shots on Target
1.15
0.58
Passing Accuracy
75.5%
73.2%
Expected Assists
0.41
0.15
Key Passes
3.02
1.47
Passes into the Final Third
0.78
2.11
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.98
1.62
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.63
0.09
Live Passes
33.5
24.7
Shot-Creating Actions
6.09
3.04
Goal-Creating Actions
1.20
0.46
Tackles
1.51
1.24
Blocks
1.15
0.75
Interceptions
0.16
0.17
Clearances
0.42
0.58
Successful Take-Ons
2.14
1.91
Ball Recoveries
3.65
3.44
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
Ultimately, Arsenal should be looking to sign Rogers this summer, as he’d add far more creativity and attacking flair to the team, but he’d have to hit the ground running to see his valuation even approach Saka’s.
Arsenal set to submit bid for "incredible" star who's like Rodrygo & Yamal
The impressive winger would be a great addition to Arsenal’s squad.
Newcastle United have been a force to be reckoned with since Eddie Howe arrived in the north-east, but could that be about to change following recent developments?
Newcastle United aim to establish themselves among Premier League elite
Undoubtedly, Newcastle’s focus has shifted significantly in the last few years as PIF aim to bring them in line with the Premier League elite on and off the pitch.
Recruitment has been an avenue where the Magpies have excelled in recent seasons, and Eddie Howe deserves major credit for creating far more success stories than underwhelming signings on Tyneside.
The 47-year-old has placed Newcastle in an encouraging position to secure Champions League qualification this term, while their lengthy trophy drought also came to an end after a heroic EFL Cup victory over Liverpool in March.
Now, the question is how his side plan to take their incredible rise over the last few years even further. Looking towards the summer window, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has become the Magpies’ number-one target, and he could be available for in excess of £60 million.
Girona’s Angel Herrera could also arrive at St James’ Park, though Newcastle will also need to deal with any PSR-related discrepancies to avoid coming into conflict with regulations.
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ByDominic Lund May 8, 2025
Stretching ambition levels to the limit has to be the aim for Howe and company. The Englishman has earned the right to take the club forward, but there will always be lingering questions over what the future could hold beyond his reign.
In surprise fashion, Newcastle have now reportedly made an approach for a manager who has a habit of winning silverware on a regular basis.
Newcastle approach former Barcelona boss Xavi
According to Football Transfers, Newcastle have made an approach for former Barcelona boss Xavi to gauge whether he would be interested in becoming the club’s next manager.
The 45-year-old is said to be enthused by the prospect of coaching in the north-east, while the initial contact has come from an internal source that believes Xavi has a global appeal and gravitational pull that Howe doesn’t possess.
Xavi’s trophy-laden spell in management – nine trophies in total
Barcelona
La Liga x1, Supercopa de Espana x1
Al-Sadd
Qatar Stars League x1, Qatar Cup x2, Sheikh Jassim Cup x1, Emir of Qatar Cup x2, Qatari Stars Cup x1
That said, there is an acknowledgment that relieving Howe of his duties would cause an unwanted level of controversy at this moment in time.
Xavi is open to taking on a high-profile project, and his approach is believed to align with the long-term vision the Magpies are looking to roadmap.
Nevertheless, it feels as if any notion of Howe departing for pastures new is some way off, which is a testament to the job he has carried out since arriving in 2021.
Chelsea are in ongoing negotiations over the signing of an “incredible” forward, and it is believed winger Jadon Sancho could now be used as leverage to make a deal happen for the player.
Chelsea targeting new winger for Enzo Maresca this summer
A new winger is believed to be one of BlueCo’s main transfer priorities this summer.
£200k-a-week Chelsea ace could now join De Zerbi with sale real possibility
It would be a big decision.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025
This year, there will be two separate windows for Chelsea to conduct transfer business, with one open from June 1st to June 10th. This will allow them to sign players before their Club World Cup campaign, which is seen as important by many, given the prize money available.
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
Chelsea could obtain a £97 million windfall by winning all of their group stage games and the tournament itself, based on various factors, so it is clear to see why Stamford Bridge officials won’t be taking their participation lightly.
It could be very lucrative indeed for Enzo Maresca’s side, prompting reports that the west Londoners will be active when the pre-CWC transfer window opens.
One of the key items on their agenda is bringing in an exciting new wide player (Simon Phillips), with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Sancho.
Chelsea's MykhailoMudryk
Mudryk is currently serving an on-field ban after testing positive for banned substances, while there are suggestions Chelsea are open to selling Madueke as Eddie Howe’s Newcastle and Aston Villa consider deals.
Chelsea are obliged to sign Sancho on a permanent deal from Man United, after triggering his £25 million clause, with the Blues now guaranteed to finish above 15th in the table.
Chelsea could still opt out of this by paying a £5 million penalty to United, but it now appears they could hatch a different plan for Sancho, involving top target and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea could offer Jadon Sancho in "separate" swap deal for Jamie Gittens
Chelsea opened talks to sign Gittens earlier this week, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, and now TEAMtalk have shared another update.
The outlet claims Chelsea are in “active talks” to sign Gittens, and preferably want a deal for the Englishman finalised before the CWC commences. While Gittens is valued at around £35 million, they have ways to bring the overall cost down.
Jamie Gittens for Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund loanee Carney Chukwuemeka is also valued at £35m, and could head the other way permanently to cancel out the fee needed for Gittens. However, so soon after triggering his £25m clause, TT write that Chelsea could offer Sancho in a separate deal for Gittens as well.
While both transfers would be apart from one another on paper, this is essentially a swap deal, just not in the traditional sense, and it is a further example of just how common player-trading is becoming in the market now – as clubs seek to navigate their way around PSR.
Gittens has been a mainstay for Dortmund this term, despite his very young age, with the 20-year-old scoring 12 goals and assisting five others across 45 appearances in all competitions.
He could well be worth all of this effort, with ex-Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin describing him as an “incredible” one-v-one attacker.
Full-on and full-scale, England vs India was a series so packed with events and excitement that you’ll struggle to remember more than a handful looking back
Osman Samiuddin06-Aug-2025You know what? Let’s go there right away. Of course you want to. You probably already have. It’s an entirely human urge. As good as ’05? Better than ’23 surely? Does it beat any BGT from this century, even the three-match epic that kick-started the modern rivalry? No, spare yourself and don’t go down that rabbit hole. Or down that cloying path of self-congratulation, where we collectively phew and pat ourselves on the back because Test cricket has been saved. Again.Stay in the present. Let this Anderson-Tendulkar series take over your head. Let it swirl through your veins. Let it be the natural dopamine rush you didn’t have to exercise for. Process what you have seen. Digest it. Take your time – no, actually the time to go back and pore over every bit of it, to make sense of how, nearly every day – every , and sometimes every ball – this series dragged you one way, then yanked you the other and finally wrung out every drop of emotion from you like you were some wet tea towel.Did so much really happen in this one series? Could so much really happen in one series? So much that no matter how much you recall, there’ll always be that much you won’t because, the human brain. Shubman Gill really did go for Bradman’s record. As hard as he went for Zak Crawley’s masculinity. Jofra Archer really did return to Test cricket and Jofra Archer really did bowl those two deliveries to Rishabh Pant. England really did chase down their second-highest total ever and it felt a little underwhelming and quite inevitable. England did really want to be humbler and not so nice and also not d***heads, all in the same series.Related
How do you move on from such an epic series?
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KL Rahul really did become the Test batter he has for so long promised to be, the absolute picture of old-school judiciousness. Mohammed Siraj, for all the big stuff he did, really did take that catch at Edgbaston, arguably the catch of the series. There really was a brouhaha over handshakes. There was definitely one over the Dukes balls. Personally, this would be incomplete without mention of Washington Sundar and his entirely unexpected gatecrashing of this series. He saved one Test with old-school stonewalling, won the last with new-age freewheeling, and got such wicked, deceptive drift with the ball, it should rightfully be labelled grift: as in, 5.369 degrees of grift on that one to Ben Stokes at Edgbaston. He has some of the gait and bearing of R Ashwin, with less genius to be sure, but also, thankfully, less uncle; the Ashwin you fret your daughter will bring home, not the one you want her to be with.There’s still so much that hasn’t made it here, but will no doubt make your lists. Every moment, for instance, when Stokes was involved, was a moment in which Test cricket was an Extreme Sport, with his body on the line. Or, of his 481 runs, the six that Harry Brook swept while falling over off Siraj at The Oval, which, despite Pant having normalised the shot and Brook’s own electric range, was entirely abnormal nonetheless. Or Joe Root who, like Rahul, hummed along, the James Earl Jones (or Morgan Freeman) voiceover to the series, imparting deep and sensible authority unto a fraying, steaming silliness. And imagine, all these feats of memory and none for the very first wicket India took in this series.That was 46 days ago, occurring both like yesterday as well as a lifetime ago. Which is the thing about five-Test series. In more ways than we might think, they are actually perfect for the modern age. Watching seven hours a day more or less. Five days at a stretch. Over six to eight weeks. There’s a term for this you might be familiar with, which made its way into the dictionary officially a decade ago, when streaming platforms truly began to take over our screens, but describes the preferred, and only, mode of following Test cricket since 1877. That’s right: binge-watching.4:04
How do you move on from such an epic series?
Like any bingeable series, a great Test series also becomes our world for a while. We obsess over its plays and ploys, plots and subplots, heroes and villains and their character arcs. We move to its pace and speak its language and live by its logic. We live by its episodic highs and lows and lulls, its continuity, although we can never really know what comes next. And there can never be spoilers.Simply watching one is never enough. We must obsess over it online, listen to all the podcasts, read all the pieces, snigger our way through TikToks, and yes, exult and outrage and hot-take all over everyone else’s feeds. A long Test series enforces an element that is the opposite of the binge-watch: the stinge-watch, when you hoard episodes and space them out for your viewing convenience. Barely a break to breathe between some Tests, but a week or more to meditate between others, and yet somehow the arrhythmia feels normal.Here we were doubly blessed to have, on the final day of the series, a 56-minute recap of every sensation of the 24 days that preceded it. The two boundaries off the first two balls, one authoritative, one unintended, cutting the target down by a fifth; the wicket off the seventh multiplying it back again by five; a chance missed, another turned into a six, a review upheld, one overturned; the breathless, relentless surge and counter-surge of an entire series. England, now India, England again, India again, compressed into under an hour. A recap, but also it hit you like that tool so beloved of the auteur, the long one-shot take, always fraught, always tense, always building to more fraughtness and tension, and never hiding its fragility, of how easily and suddenly everything could go south.Main men: Washington Sundar finished with seven wickets and 284 vital runs, and Shubman Gill averaged 75-plus in his ten innings•Getty ImagesIt was the perfect tribute to the inseparability of the two sides, a closeness that a couple of comfortable-looking results and a comfortable-looking draw don’t necessarily convey (neither does the generally bat-dominated look of the stats tables). Three of the five Tests, after all, were essentially one-innings shootouts, where often the second innings felt like different Tests altogether from the first. But for a catch here or a drop there, a collapse or a call at the toss, a timely ball change or an untimely run out, or just the simple physics of backspin after a perfect back-foot defensive, but for all of this and so much more, who knows? And yet, who cares, because at the end, at two-all, it landed exactly right.As right as it was that Chris Woakes and his sling were on the field at the end, a reminder of how non-fiction this entertainment was, of the unquestionable, unscripted authenticity of this drama. In this series alone, Pant returned to play with a broken foot, Shoaib Bashir took a match-winning wicket with a broken finger, and Stokes bowled an eight-over spell on the final morning at Old Trafford with a torn shoulder muscle of unpronounceable provenance.All four were game-related injuries that could have happened in a shorter series, but there’s no doubting that a five-Test series takes a toll like little else. This one has been almost uniquely exacting. When the sides came out for the final day on Monday, it was only the third time this century that each Test of a five-match series had gone into the final day. It was uncharted territory for all but Root, England captain during the 2017-18 Ashes, when it last happened.It cost the final Test four of the biggest names in the game in Stokes, Archer, Jasprit Bumrah and Pant. But it says everything about the series that their absence was barely noticed, that without these stars, it produced its best game.