Australian seamer set to be available for club’s next four fixtures in Division Two
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2023
Mark Steketee has been a consistent performer in Sheffield Shield•Getty Images
Yorkshire have brought in Australia A seamer Mark Steketee on an initial four-game deal to bolster their LV= Insurance County Championship attack.Steketee, 29, will be available for Yorkshire’s next game in Division Two, against Gloucestershire at Headingley starting on June 25, and three other fixtures during July – although the club have said there is scope to extend the deal into the back end of the season.The Queenslander, who was a member of Australia’s Test squad in Pakistan last year, has previously played county cricket with Essex. He was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2022-23 Sheffield Shield, and has 248 at 25.34 in his first-class career.”Mark is a very talented young player and has performed well in Australia,” Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, said. “With the schedule Yorkshire has – the Blast games followed quickly by Championship cricket – and current injuries in our ranks it was important that we strengthen the side in our bowling resources.”Mark will be a wonderful addition to our current squad and help give a further boost to our Championship campaign. We have our first Championship win under our belt, and we want to push on from here. Mark can bring something more to our bowling line-up.”Here at Yorkshire, we are still working hard on getting the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone.”Yorkshire were expected to be challenging for promotion this season, after being relegated on the final day of the Championship in 2022, but were winless in their first five games before holding off Derbyshire’s comeback for a three-wicket victory at Chesterfield this week.
Glamorgan captain makes hay on dank day as home attack suffer uncomfortable return to second tier
Andrew Miller05-Apr-2024
Sam Northeast scored the first hundred of the new season•PA Photos/Getty Images
Glamorgan 370 for 3 (Northeast 186*, Carlson 77, Root 67) vs MiddlesexIn a dank start to the year, few would be able to state with any confidence that they’ve yet heard their first cuckoo of spring. But cock an ear to the shires on this cold grey day in April, and you’d hear loud and clear the mocking laugh of the Kookaburra – an invasive species in these parts, and one that’s been flown in direct from the Antipodes to disrupt the habitat of county cricket’s native seamers.By the close, Glamorgan’s own man from the south east, Sam Northeast, was laughing longest and loudest. Ashford in Kent is not quite so far flung as the Eucalypt forests of Queensland, but for Middlesex’s toiling bowlers, Northeast might as well have been Ricky Ponting at the Gabba in 2002-03, for all the effortless dominance he exerted after being handed first use of a characteristically flat Lord’s deck.For it was a case of four washouts and one wipeout on the opening day of the 2024 County Championship. The legendary status of the Lord’s drainage meant that London’s morning downpours were never likely to cause the issues encountered at Derby or Old Trafford, but when Toby Roland-Jones won the toss for Middlesex and chose to bowl first, he could not have envisaged a first-day scoreline of 370 for 3 grinning back at him, or that his incorrectly calling counterpart would be sitting pretty on 186 not out from 266 balls.Perhaps, like Nasser Hussain in that fateful Brisbane Test 20 years ago, TRJ’s was an instinctively defensive decision, borne of his team’s memories – almost exactly a year ago to the day – of being reduced to 4 for 4 by Essex’s Jamie Porter and Sam Cook. More likely, though, it was an unthinking assumption that the ball, any ball, would do enough talking to fast-track Middlesex’s bid for an instant return to the top flight.Not so fast. Although the impact was more apparent at Lord’s than elsewhere, if you squinted through the clouds that enveloped this first day of county action, a common theme emerged, with many of the contests reflecting precisely the type of clear-skied Ashes scoreline that this ball-switching experiment has been designed to do away with – a smattering of breakthroughs within the first 15 or so overs, including Ethan Bamber’s snicking-off of Zain-ul-Hassan for this year’s maiden Championship wicket, then scant reward and a lot of hard yakka thereafter.Billy Root notched a fifty after moving up to open the batting•PA Photos/Getty Images
Both Billy Root and Kiran Carlson might have had designs on centuries of their own when each fell to a glaring misjudgement – with Root’s waft across the line to a decent deck-hitting delivery from Henry Brookes giving Middlesex’s new signing his first and only scalp in 12 energetic but under-threatening overs.Northeast did had a moment of luck on 11, when Max Holden spilled him at backward point off Bamber, but he could hardly have made it count with more aplomb. With a short boundary down the hill to the Mound Stand, he peppered his drives as the shine went off the ball and the Kookaburra’s more slender seam resolutely refused to grip.Notwithstanding a schoolboy hundred for Harrow versus Eton in 2007 (when Gary Ballance, no less, had been a team-mate), in three previous Championship matches at Lord’s, dating back to his first-ball duck for Kent as a 21-year-old in 2011, Northeast had mustered a total of 50 runs at 10.00. Now, en route to what he later described as a “bucket-list” century, he rushed past that total from just 51 balls in a joyous spring offensive. At the other end, Root was scarcely any more sluggish in getting to his fifty from 63 balls, in a second-wicket stand of 129.And, in a direct rebuttal of one of the most pervasive pre-season narratives, by mid-afternoon, the home attack was being carried by the unlikely spin twins of Josh De Caires and Leus du Plooy, a man who might already be feeling a touch of buyer’s remorse after his high-profile move from Derbyshire. Du Plooy even found some purchase in his six exploratory overs, including a snorter that bit past the outside edge to clip the back pad, but it wasn’t enough to dislodge a free-flowing Glamorgan captain.By the time he’d flicked the under-used Ryan Higgins off his toes for the 26th and final four, Northeast had romped along to 179 from 241 balls, and with almost an hour of the day still remaining, he seemed odds-on to rack up a remarkable first-day double-hundred.Instead, with the second Kookaburra offering perhaps just a fraction more assistance than the first, he took his foot off the throttle as the close approached – as is the wont of a man who, two seasons ago, racked up the Championship’s most recent quadruple-century. At the rate this innings has progressed, and with the new ball already primed for its mid-life crisis at the age of 16 overs, there’ll be plenty more where those have already come from.”I plan to be very greedy on day two,” Northeast said at the close. “It’s been a fantastic day and I’m not sure we could have dreamt of it this morning. I want to lead from the front, so it is a nice way to start that, but I’d like to be walking away from here with a victory, that’s the most important thing.”It’s been a good toss to lose at the minute. I would have had a bowl as well, but that’s the way things go. We’ll see what it’s like when our bowlers get on it. We were expecting the wicket to do a little bit more, maybe that is the Kookaburra ball. We may have to get a bit imaginative with how we go about things.”Brookes added: “The Kookaburra is different. You don’t get as much movement and the ball doesn’t stay as hard for as long, but it’s here to stay for a few games this year so we have to work hard with it, see what movement we can get and do things a little bit differently.”
Liverpool face one of their biggest summer windows in recent years and speculation continues to do the rounds surrounding high-profile incomings and outgoings at Anfield.
Liverpool's summer transfer activity set to attract headlines
Arne Slot is edging closer to a Premier League title in his first season in charge on Merseyside, which would be quite the achievement off the back of his arrival from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp.
However, the Dutchman is aware his side could be set for major alterations this summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold could make a free transfer switch to Real Madrid; something that has created a whiff of bittersweet sentiment among the Reds’ support despite their status as champions in waiting.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Mohamed Salah
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also yet to commit to extensions. Both have been emblematic of the success Liverpool have enjoyed over the last few years, though there has been no official communication that either will be around next season to enjoy the fruits of their labours.
Enduring a mini-goal drought, some suggestions have been floated claiming the latter may be unsettled due to his unresolved situation.
Nevertheless, Slot is confident Salah can return to his clinical form in weeks to come, as he stated: “He (Salah) is completely the same but I know Mo, and you probably know him as well, he lives for goals. It would be weird if he was ‘oh, I’m happy I didn’t score’ but he’s not distracted or like ‘I can’t play football any more’.
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“No, Mo knows probably his biggest quality is he can play a poor game and still score a goal. So his head is not all over the place. Not at all.”
All parties are keeping their cards close to their chest as Salah enters the final stretch of his deal, but Liverpool could be in the market for a world-renowned replacement if reports are anything to go by.
Liverpool ready Rodrygo bid as potential Salah replacement
Per developments in Spain, Liverpool have Real Madrid star Rodrygo on their list as a potential Salah replacement and have readied an offer in the region of just over £119 million to sign the Brazil international.
Progress in negotiations could be found in the coming days, while there is also the possibility that further significant changes to their forward line unfold in the summer window.
Mohamed Salah vs Rodrygo – key statistics in 2024/25
Mohamed Salah – Premier League (before Fulham on 06/04/2025)
Chances created
69
Shots on target
56
Successful dribbles
51
Touches in opposition box
321
Rodrygo – La Liga
Chances created
48
Shots on target
18
Successful dribbles
41
Touches in opposition box
128
Liverpool’s pursuit of a striker to replace Darwin Nunez is more or less common knowledge amid links to Alexander Isak and Hug Ekitike, but the fact they are serious about reinforcements out wide does go to show that FSG are putting contingency plans in place should Salah opt not to sign fresh terms at Anfield.
Labelled “spectacular” by Carlo Ancelotti, Rodrygo has registered 13 goals and nine assists in 44 appearances for Real Madrid this campaign.
Reading between the lines, Kylian Mbappe’s position in the limelight alongside Vinicius Junior could play into Liverpool’s hands, even if supporters would rather keep hold of Salah as opposed to entering the market.
Arsenal have now held positive talks over a deal for a £61m striker, with discussions set to continue over the next few weeks, according to a report.
Gunners' striker pursuit heating up
The Gunners proved they have what it takes to compete without an out-and-out striker against Real Madrid last week, chalking up an extraordinary 3-0 victory against the reigning European champions, but it is clear Mikel Arteta wants to bring in a new option this summer.
Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is one of the names on the shortlist, with a £87m offer for the Swedish forward in the works, while a stunning £129m bid for Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez is also being prepared, as the Argentine is now considered a top target.
Other strikers who have received widespread links to the Emirates Stadium include Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and the latter was said to be very keen on moving to north London during the January transfer window.
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There has now been a positive development in Arsenal’s pursuit of Sesko, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have now cleared an important obstacle in their pursuit of the striker by holding positive talks with his entourage.
The Gunners have been in direct talks with the Slovenian’s representatives, and the outcome was positive, which indicates he could be keen on a summer move to the Emirates Stadium, but he will not come cheap.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoscores their first goal from the penalty spot
The 21-year-old is protected by a £61m release clause in his RB Leipzig contract, which could increase slightly based on how he performs for the German side.
Regardless, the north Londoners are seriously keen on the young striker, and discussions are set to continue over the next few weeks.
"Monster" Sesko impressing for Leipzig
The Slovenia international has established himself as a very important player for Leipzig this season, making 40 appearances in all competitions, during which he has amassed 19 goals, including four in the Champions League.
Such is the starlet’s ability, he has been lauded as a “monster” by freelance scout Ben Mattinson, while reporter Sam Dean believes he could be a good fit for the Gunners, given that he possesses qualities very few of Arteta’s players have.
Sesko’s eye for goal could make him a fantastic addition to Arteta’s squad, having vastly outperformed his non-penalty xG over the past year, so it is exciting news that the move is now advancing.
Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season pulled cascades of tears from many of a Liverpool persuasion.
But, in a documentary chronicling the German’s last hurrah at the helm, he issued a sharp closing statement that proved to presage Arne Slot’s incredible Premier League triumph.
“They will be fine, or maybe even more.” Maybe Klopp knew that he was doing something drastic when stepping down, something that would create not ripples but waves across Merseyside and beyond. Rivals tittered, and why not?
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bows out
After Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger left their respective long-held posts, both Manchester United and Arsenal fell by the wayside. Surely the same would be true for Liverpool, whose resurgence was crafted almost single-handedly by Klopp’s brilliance?
It hasn’t proved to be true. Liverpool have equalled the Red Devils’ 20-time title-winning record as they consolidate their position as England’s most successful club.
Slot replaced Klopp and Liverpool went up a level. The fact that transfer investment has been so minimal over the past 20 months bears testament to FSG’s model, but fresh faces are now required to defend their crown and challenge down other lanes.
Liverpool's budding search for a striker
After Liverpool failed in their bid to sign Martin Zubimendi last summer, FSG made the bold decision to cease efforts to add a player to Slot’s midfield. This was met with dismay from some circles of the fanbase, but it paved the way for Ryan Gravenberch to make his name.
Instead of redoubling their efforts, Liverpool turned toward the frontline and signed Federico Chiesa for a cut-price £12.5m fee. The injury-prone Italian hasn’t started a Premier League game and he’s the only arrival of the Slot era so far.
Federico Chiesa in action for Liverpool
Chiesa has been linked with a move back to Italy after his disappointing term, while the under-fire Diogo Jota could also leave.
Liverpool need forwards. Darwin Nunez is also expected to depart at the end of the season and Alexander Isak has been listed as the perfect signing to front Slot’s project.
He’s so far ahead of Nunez that it’s clear to see why Liverpool are keen. Salah, soon to be 33, will need some assistance next year, after all.
Prem 24/25 – Alexander Isak vs Darwin Nunez
Stats (* per game)
Isak
Nunez
Matches (starts)
31 (31)
26 (8)
Goals
22
5
Assists
6
2
Shots (on target)*
2.9 (1.3)
1.2 (0.5)
Big chances missed
18
6
Pass completion
76%
71%
Big chances created
11
3
Dribbles*
1.4
0.3
Duels won*
3.0
2.2
Stats via Sofascore
While Nunez has featured infrequently from the starting whistle this season, it’s clear to see the disparity in quality between him and Isak, one of the best in the business.
If Liverpool can bag the Sweden striker, they could leap even higher next year, but with Chiesa’s future uncertain and Jota’s too, FSG look ready to invest in another attacking player who could prove perfect for the Anfield side.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool ready to bid for new forward
Liverpool are interested in signing West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen this summer, with Caught Offside revealing that the Merseysiders are considering submitting an offer in the coming months.
Though Bowen is the centrepiece of Graham Potter’s plans, West Ham have fallen by the wayside following David Moyes’ departure last summer, languishing in 17th place in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old, who can play off the right in a central striking berth, wouldn’t come cheap, with the east Londoners set to face bids of €60m (£51m) for the England international.
It won’t be a one-horse race either with Tottenham Hotspur also said to be keen.
Why Jarrod Bowen could be a fantastic signing
West Ham’s talisman over the past five years, Bowen has been synonymous with the club’s rise into European competition and, indeed, glory, scoring the winning goal to seal the Conference League title in 2022/23.
Regarded as a “club legend” by his former Irons teammate Declan Rice, Bowen has paid his dues at the London Stadium but is sure to be disgruntled by the club’s regression this season, and Liverpool present an attractive package for sure.
If he were to join an already deep and devastating frontline that may yet add a number nine of Isak’s ilk, it’s got to be a no-brainer for the £150k-per-week talent, whose leadership and experience would be exactly what the Reds need to compete across multiple fronts.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates for West Ham
Bowen might be regarded as something of a natural goalscorer, but he’s far more dynamic than that, ranking among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
This could see him serve well in Salah’s stead when rotation is needed, providing the clinical Isak with a flowing stream of creative support that has been proven in its consistency over the past years at West Ham.
Jarrod Bowen’s West Ham Career by Season (PL)
Season
Apps (starts)
Goals
Assists
24/25
30 (30)
9
9
23/24
34 (34)
16
6
22/23
38 (36)
6
6
21/22
36 (34)
12
12
20/21
38 (35)
8
5
19/20
13 (11)
1
4
Stats via Transfermarkt
Such a consistent and balanced attacking player would be perfect for Liverpool’s system. It’s not likely he would start all the time, with Salah nailed down on the right wing, but Bowen has ample experience at centre-forward too and could finally play in the Champions League with a move to Merseyside.
He’s certainly got the ability to do so. In fact, Bowen was remarked in the past to have joined the “Salah club” by talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino, owing to his skill in swerving inwards and curling unstoppable strikes into the back of the net.
He’s cut from the same cloth as the Egyptian King. Of course, Bowen isn’t on Salah’s level, but he shares similar base properties that Slot could make excellent use of.
If a striker such as Isak is brought in, a dynamic partnership really could be forged over the coming years, with the Newcastle man not just a goalscorer either, actually hailed as “a better all-round centre-forward” than Erling Haaland by pundit Ally McCoist.
Fruits could grow from such a dynamic duo, completing Liverpool’s frontline and filling in the gaps which prevented Slot from winning multiple pieces of silverware this season.
Still, bagging the Premier League in your first year is nothing to be sniffed at.
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On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.
Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.
Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?
Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker
Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.
Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.
It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.
Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?
Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku
As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.
Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.
The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.
Nkunku’s Chelsea career in numbers
Statistics
Nkunku
Appearances
56
Minutes
2,555
Starts
24
PL appearances
38
PL starts
11
Matches missed injured
36
Matches an unused sub
7
Apps 15 minutes or less
15
Goals
17
PL goals
6
UECL goals
7
Assists
5
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.
He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.
So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?
Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.
Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.
So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.
Sesko’s Bundesliga statistics 2024/25
Statistics
Sesko
Bundesliga rank
Top 5 league rank
Goals
13
8th
35th
Assists
5
28th
117th
Shots
65
11th
162nd
Shots on target
29
11th
46th
Goals – xG
+3
11th
43rd
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com
While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.
He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.
Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.
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Birmingham City will only be looking up after a triumphant promotion out of League One, knowing that the club is in a far better place than it was when relegation was confirmed at the close of the 2023/24 season.
Indeed, Blues chairman Tom Wagner has managed to regalvanise proceedings away from previous toxic owners by giving the West Midlands giants plenty of cash to spend.
This cash was spent wisely rather than erratically, with Jay Stansfield an instant fan favourite in St. Andrew’s quarters for his 19-goal heroics in the third tier.
Birmingham won’t suddenly start spending frugally now they’re back in the EFL’s top division, however, with plenty of targets already on their mind that could possibly break the bank.
Birmingham pushing to sign EFL star
Much like fellow promoted side Wrexham, the Blues will be eager to flex their muscles again in the transfer market.
Indeed, Chris Davies’ ambitious side are already being linked with a surprise swoop for former star Che Adams, alongside further showing an interest in AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers who has an impressive 76 Championship appearances next to his name.
But, away from signing some distinguished second tier performers, the newly promoted outfit could also shop back in League One for some top gems, with Birmingham reportedly “pushing hard” again for Peterborough United superstar Kwame Poku according to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett.
Reports in the past have even suggested that Davies and Co have offered a bumper £30k-per-week deal to the Ghanaian, with Birmingham also having to cough up a sum of money for the explosive 23-year-old owing to a compensatory fee, regardless of his current Posh deal nearing to its expiry date.
Clinching a deal for Poku could see the determined Blues win themselves an ideal partner for the potential incoming of Adams, with the pair ready to take the second tier by storm based off their blistering recent form.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
How Poku could shine alongside Adams
Davies could do with more exciting talents down the right flank at St. Andrew’s with ex-Rangers man Scott Wright his only recognised option here at the moment.
This is where Poku would come to the rescue, with the former Colchester United forward picking up 19 of his bumper 23 goal contributions playing down this channel with swagger for Darren Ferguson’s underachievers.
It was only a matter of time before the standout Posh number 11 was poached by a bigger fish, considering he has managed to end the season with this sizeable contribution of 23-goal involvements despite being absent for 23 clashes due to injury.
Also capable of playing just behind the lone striker in Davies’ preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up, the “unplayable” attacker – as he’s been previously lauded by his manager – could be about to give £15m man Stansfield a run for his money too, on top of also offering up chances galore for Adams if he decides to leave Torino behind for familiar pastures back in England.
Poku vs Adams in 24/25
Stat (* = per game)
Poku
Adams
Games played
27
33
Goals scored
12
9
Assists
8
3
Touches*
46.3
24.1
Shots*
2.4
1.7
Accurate passes*
20.3 (80%)
11.0 (75%)
Key passes*
1.2
0.8
Big chances missed
3
11
Big chances created
9
5
Stats by Sofascore
Looking at the table above, the experienced EFL striker and Poku could be about to form a match made in heaven, with both players content with minimal touches of the ball before unleashing havoc. Indeed, Adams has only needed 24 touches on average this season per Serie A clash, yet he still finds himself on a reasonable nine strikes.
With Poku also boasting eight assists despite only averaging a meagre 20.3 accurate passes himself, the duo might end up striking fear into Championship defences out of the blue, which would more than help their new side acclimatise to the tougher division subsequently.
Birmingham could even be eyeing up the prospect of back-to-back promotions if everything goes swimmingly, with the likes of Poku and Adams joining showing they mean business.
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With European football secured, Nottingham Forest now reportedly want to sign a Ligue 1 captain who is represented by the same agency as Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Although Nottingham Forest secured European qualification on Sunday, that was only half the story as they fell to a frustrating 2-2 draw against a relegated Leicester City side. From potentially finishing as high as third, a place in the top five is now out of Forest’s hands after picking up just one win in their last five Premier League games.
Many were left disappointed around the City Ground following the draw against Leicester, but none more so than Evangelos Marinakis. The Nottingham Forest owner marched onto the pitch to seemingly air his discontent at manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Marinakis has since released a statement revealing that his anger was aimed at the medical staff who misjudged Taiwo Awoniyi’s ability to carry on following his collision with the goal post in the dying embers, but the moment certainly sparked plenty of controversy.
The forward gave staff the green light to continue before then coming off not long after Forest had decided to make an alternative substitution.
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The Greek owner said in his statement: “We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.
“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”
Away from any on-pitch controversies, meanwhile, it looks as though Marinakis is looking to put European qualification to instant use. According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest now want to sign left-back Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais this summer.
The club’s captain at just 23 years old, whether Forest can pry Truffert away from Stade Rennais remains to be seen in the coming months, but what should help any deal is the fact that he’s represented by the same agent as Anderson and Gibbs-White.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Adrien Truffert
Neco Williams
Minutes
2,662
2,414
Key Passes
38
17
Tackles Won
34
48
Ball Recoveries
137
101
In terms of numbers, Truffert has endured an excellent season in comparison to Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams. Outperforming the Welshman when it comes to ball recoveries and key passes, there’s every chance that the Frenchman would gain a starting place at the City Ground if he completed a move this summer.
Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert
What his move would do as well is add key depth for Espirito Santo. As his side step into European football, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss will need quality in depth more than ever and Truffert would seemingly provide that at left-back.
Aston Villa have received a boost in their pursuit of a summer target, with it being revealed he is now planning to ignore Barcelona in favour of a move to the Premier League, according to a report.
Villa file complaint after referee blunder
With Newcastle United suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Everton, a point against Manchester United would’ve been enough for Villa to secure Champions League qualification for the second season on the spin, but they ultimately fell to a 2-0 loss.
Morgan Rogers thought he had opened the scoring for the Villans, but referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle for an alleged foul on Altay Bayindir, with VAR unable to intervene as play was stopped before the ball hit the net.
As such, an official complaint has been made to the PGMOL, but Unai Emery’s side will ultimately have to settle for Europa League football next season, rather than the much more prestigious and lucrative Champions League.
Villa’s omission from Europe’s elite competition could also impact the business they are able to do this summer, but a new update has suggested they could still be well-positioned to sign a goalkeeper.
According to a report from Spain, Espanyol’s Joan Garcia is on Aston Villa’s radar for a summer transfer swoop, and the 24-year-old is now planning to turn down a move to Barcelona, amid concerns he would not be the first-choice option.
As such, a move to the Premier League is believed to appeal to Garcia, with Villa, Newcastle United and Arsenal all waiting in the wings, and Espanyol are aware it will be difficult to keep hold of the goalkeeper if they receive a big offer from England.
A deal could be relatively cheap, however, with the rumoured asking price of £25m believed to be appealing to all the interested parties.
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Unfortunately, it appears as though Emiliano Martinez’s time at Villa Park could be over, with the Argentine appearing to say a tearful farewell after his side’s final home game of the campaign.
As such, Emery will be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and the Espanyol shot-stopper could be a fantastic option, having been lauded as “elite” by scout Ben Mattinson during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Not only that, but the 24-year-old ranks in the 86th percentile for his save percentage, and the 91st percentile for his crosses stopped percentage per 90 over the past year, so it is promising news that he could reject Barcelona in favour of a Premier League move.
It has been a funny old season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were abysmally poor in the Premier League and FA Cup but somehow managed to win the Europa League.
Now the North Londoners have the Champions League to look forward to next year, although based on how utterly dominant Paris Saint-Germain were in the final on Sunday, they’ll need to add some real quality to the squad in the coming weeks and months.
Fortunately, recent reports have suggested that the club may well be closing in on the signing of a top-quality midfielder who has won comparisons to one of the stars for PSG in the final: Vitinha.
Tottenham transfer news
The last few weeks have seen Spurs linked with several incredible talents, such as Daizen Maeda and Rayan Cherki.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former might not be the most exciting name, but considering he scored an astounding 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 games for Celtic this season, his supposed £25m price tag could represent a real bargain.
Yet, Cherki might be an even better deal, as the young Frenchman has been able to rack up a tally of 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances for Lyon this year and could be available for around £19m thanks to a release clause in his contract.
Rayan Cherki in action for Lyon
Even still, the North Londoners now seem keen on someone who’d possibly be the best deal of the lot, and it’s another player from Ligue 1: Angel Gomes.
According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, Spurs have already made an offer for the England international.
In more good news, he goes on to reveal that while other clubs, including West Ham United, have also made offers for the midfielder, Tottenham have “grown in confidence” that they’ll be able to get their man.
The reason so many teams have already submitted offers to the player is that he’ll be a free agent at the end of this month and, therefore, represents a sensational bargain.
In all, it’s a deal Spurs should be fighting to get sealed as soon as possible, as, on top of his own qualities, Gomes has also won comparisons to the incredible Champions League-winning Vitinha.
How Gomes compares to Vitinha
So, before we get to some of the other reasons Spurs should be signing Gomes this summer, it’s important to address this comparison to the unreal Vitinha and where it’s come from.
Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Ligue 1 last season and came to the conclusion that the Portuguse star was the ninth most similar midfielder to the Englishman ace in the competition.
The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.
Gomes & Vitinha
Statistic per 90
Gomes
Vitinha
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.29
0.27
Progressive Passes
7.13
7.71
Progressive Carries
1.71
1.74
Passing Accuracy
89.4%
89.7%
Expected Assists
0.21
0.17
Key Passes
1.68
1.57
Successful Take-On %
62.9%
61.5%
Aerial Duels Won
0.24
0.17
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Ligue 1 Season
On top of his undeniable similarities to a European champion, the midfield “magician,” as dubbed by fellow professional Jonathan Panzo, has plenty of experience.
For example, despite being just 24 years old, the Edmonton-born star has made ten appearances for Manchester United, 32 for Boavista, four for the England senior side and 134 for Lille.
Ultimately, even if he wasn’t available for free, Spurs would be wise to sign the experienced and reliable Gomes, so the fact he’s available for free makes this transfer a total no-brainer.
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