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Chelsea have now submitted an opening bid for Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, amid a new update on his future at the La Liga club.

The Blues already have a plethora of attacking options, having invested heavily during the summer transfer window, with Jamie Gittens grabbing his first Premier League assist of the season in the 2-0 victory against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Gittens set up fellow winger Pedro Neto with a perfectly weighted ball from the left, before Enzo Fernandez sealed all three points with just minutes left to play, moving the Blues up to second in the Premier League in the process.

After the disappointing 2-1 defeat against Sunderland at the end of October, Enzo Maresca’s side look like they are starting to click, and there may be an outside chance they could even compete for the title, although BlueCo may need to strengthen the squad in January to make that dream a reality.

Chelsea submit opening offer for Nico Williams

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea have now submitted an opening offer of €70m (£62m) for Athletic Club star Williams, and they are willing to triple the winger’s salary in order to tempt him into a January move to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have been working on a deal for weeks, and they are now confident they will be able to get it over the line soon, with the 23-year-old being identified as a key target, although there is set to be competition for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur have now matched the west Londoners’ offer for the Spain international, with it being revealed his future at Athletic Club is ‘more open than ever’, amid interest from two of the Premier League’s top sides.

There are question marks over whether the Athletic Club star would be a necessary signing, given that Maresca already has a wide array of attacking options, as Chelsea have been obsessed with signing young forwards with high potential.

However, the Pamplona-born forward has certainly impressed in both Spain and Europe over the past three seasons, indicating he could be capable of displacing Gittens in the starting XI at left-wing.

Nico Williams’ performance by season

Appearances (all comps)

Goal contributions

2023-24

37

26

2024-25

45

18

2025-26

10

4

The Spaniard was also one of the stars of Euro 2024, scoring two goals and picking up one assist as his side went on to defeat England 2-1 in the final, while Statman Dave was left particularly impressed by his performance against Georgia in the round of 16.

As such, Williams, who is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, could be a solid signing for Chelsea, as they look to mount an outside push for the Premier League title.

Chelsea plotting fresh talks to sign another winger alongside Williams Chelsea plot fresh talks with forward after failed £62m bid and 'very exciting proposal'

He’d be a stellar addition to Enzo Maresca’s side.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 20, 2025

Big picture: Road to the Ashes World Cup

Very rarely does the international schedule seem to fit together in any logical way, but the next two weeks of bilateral white-ball competition should suit both England and New Zealand down to a tee (and not just because of the plentiful opportunities for golf).It’s true that for England, this tour comes hard on the heels of a long home summer and with a much-anticipated Ashes campaign looming in the background. But having already done their team-bonding thing down in Queenstown, the prospect of easing into the southern summer with some guilt-free tonking around some of world cricket’s more scenic venues should be right up their street – not least because of the local knowhow provided by Brendon McCullum, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee.New Zealand, meanwhile, can look forward to bumper crowds – Saturday’s first T20I at Hagley Oval is already sold out – for what is otherwise an off-peak time of the season; so early in spring that the domestic programme hasn’t even got underway yet. Having made a bit of a false start against Australia earlier in the month, it’s also a good opportunity to try to get back on track with their T20 World Cup preparations.Related

• Brook parks Ashes chat to train focus on New Zealand

• Saker returns to England set-up as Ashes fast-bowling coach

• Williamson to miss England T20Is, targets return for ODIs

• Switch Hit: Black Caps and Pat's back knack

• Quality trumps context as England, New Zealand prepare for early-season showdown

On that front, Mitch Santner returns after abdominal surgery and will retake the reins from Michael Bracewell. New Zealand are unbeaten in bilateral series since Santner was made permanent white-ball captain last December, and have plenty of T20I cricket to come – including five-game match-ups against West Indies (at home) and India (away) as they build into the World Cup.England are also led by a new-ish captain, with Harry Brook back from a mini-break (during which he also got engaged) that saw him miss last month’s trip to Ireland. No one in the touring party can avoid the pre-Ashes rumbling – Brook is fully aware of priorities for the winter – but this series will provide vital game time for a T20I side that is still coming together, with a three-match series in Sri Lanka their only other outing before the World Cup. Never mind whether Jacob Bethell can stake a claim for the Test No. 3 spot, Tom Banton has a T20 finisher role to nail down.Somehow, for the next three games, we have both context aplenty and the sense that this is a bit of a free hit. What’s not to like?

Form guide

New Zealand LLWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
England WWWLWHarry Brook takes part in a traditional welcoming ceremony•Getty Images

In the spotlight: Jacob Duffy and Phil Salt

Jacob Duffy has had a phenomenal 12 months in T20I cricket for New Zealand, taking 30 wickets at an average of 12.76, and rising to the top of the ICC bowler standings (he currently sits in fifth). A tall right-arm seamer who is fast enough and has all the tools you need, 31-year-old Duffy is the epitome of under-the-radar New Zealand excellence. Alongside Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, he could provide the sort of Test-match examination in seamer-friendly conditions that may start English minds casting ahead to the Ashes (perish the thought).Phil Salt has proven over and again that he is a T20 gun, ending the English summer in record-breaking form (having begun it out of the side while on paternity leave). His fourth T20I hundred underpinned England’s mahoosive 304 for 2 against South Africa last month, and there is every chance that he could cause similar havoc on his first outing in New Zealand, where the boundaries tend to be small and the wind a useful aid to hitting. After all, the man is bound to have done his research.

Team news: Santner and Ravindra fit

New Zealand have confirmed the return of both Santner and Rachin Ravindra to the XI after both missed the Australia series with injury. Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes and Bevon Jacobs are the squad members to sit this one out.New Zealand: 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Tim Robinson, 4 Mark Chapman, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 James Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Jacob DuffyEngland named their team more than 48 hours in advance, with Brook back and Jordan Cox dropping down to take on a finisher role in the absence of Will Jacks. The presence of Sam Curran and Bethell in the top seven means England can call on three seamers and three spinners. Zak Crawley is with the squad but must wait for a T20I debut.England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Tom Banton, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Jordan Cox, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Luke Wood

Pitch and conditions: Wrap up warm

Conditions are likely to be fresh this early in the New Zealand spring, with extra layers needed for a game under floodlights. Seamers have tended to prosper at Hagley Oval – Santner termed it a “spinners’ graveyard”. As well as a chilly breeze, there might also be some rain around to contend with.

Stats and trivia

• England have previously played three bilateral T20I series in New Zealand, and won all of them.
• Their last trip came a few months after the 2019 ODI World Cup final and featured a tied game at Eden Park, with England again winning the Super Over.
• Since the last T20 World Cup, New Zealand have won 12 and lost five – their only series defeat a 2-0 loss to Australia earlier this month.
• Jos Buttler is 164 runs away from becoming the fourth man to score 4000 in T20Is.
• Brook is 84 shy of 1000 T20I runs; Jimmy Neesham needs another 20.

Quotes

“Some wins would be nice. It’s the start of a bit of a nice build-up for us: England, West Indies, India away before the World Cup. But first things first we want to win a series in front of our own fans here in Christchurch.”
“We’ve got a great opportunity here against a very strong side to go out there and try and capitalise on the momentum we’ve already made. The last game we played together as a full group, we got 300.”

It's no wonder Camilla Kuver can't stop smiling. After making her Champions League debut only a couple of weeks prior, the 22-year-old has just won her first and second caps for Germany, starting both games against France over the last international break to help her country qualify for the Nations League final. These would be milestones worth celebrating for any player, but they are particularly special for the Wolfsburg defender, given the incredible bad luck she has had with injuries over the past four years.

“I’m not even really sure how I handled it all,” Kuver admits. Coming into this season, Germany’s new centre-back had made just five first-team starts since tearing her ACL in November 2021, at the tender age of 18. In fact, she didn’t get onto the pitch once in the 2024-25 campaign, that her second season with Wolfsburg, the two-time European champions and the most successful club in the history of German women’s football.

But after enduring setback after setback, Kuver looks to finally be on the other side and back on track in a career that still has so much promise. After all, despite all of those injuries, her goals in football were never really gone. “They were just postponed,” she notes.

Now, as huge Champions League encounters with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and, on Wednesday, Manchester United loom, Kuver has plenty of opportunity to show everyone just why she remains one of the most highly-rated young defenders in the game.

• Getty Images
  

  Injury hell

  As GOAL walks through Kuver’s injury history with her, it’s no wonder she admits there were times where there would be questions in the back of her mind asking, ‘Is it even worth it?’ After coming through the youth national teams as a talented and versatile full-back, and breaking into the Eintracht Frankfurt first team as a 17-year-old, an ACL tear during her second senior season would spark the beginning of an incredibly difficult few years.

  Kuver was back on the pitch at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, only to suffer another knee injury that would keep her out for eight more months. Then, after making just five appearances during her first season at Wolfsburg, having completed a move to the German giants during her rehabilitation process, she would miss the entire 2024-25 campaign in what she describes as “definitely the toughest” part of an extremely taxing time. Having overcome cartilage damage in her knee that sidelined her for half of the year, a dislocated shoulder and a ligament injury in her foot took care of the rest.

  “At some point I couldn't even take myself seriously, I feel like, because I came back from injury and then the next one came. Then I thought, 'Okay, now I'm really getting back', and then the next thing came,” Kuver tells GOAL. “Looking back on that time, I'm not even really sure how I handled it all. I just kind of did. I mean, I had to. I think that's what makes this time right now even more special.”

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• Getty Images
  

  Fighting through

  A lot of people would’ve given up had they experienced the setbacks Kuver did. Yet, aside from what she describes as the occasional “tiny questions in the back of my head”, the 22-year-old never considered quitting. Why? “Just because I love playing football,” she responds. “It's always been the greatest joy in my life.

  “During rehab, I realised there's nothing that could compare and there's nothing that could give me the same kind of joy. That was something. I just wanted to be back on the field. Also, I had so many goals – for one, the national team goal. I still wanted to prove myself. I still wanted to show what I can do. That was always something, the mindset of, 'I'm not really done yet'. Even though there were all the injuries and stuff, my goals weren't gone. They were just postponed. That was definitely something that kept me going.”

• Getty Images
  

  Helpful factors

  Other factors helped, too. Kuver had several friends who were either enduring or had endured long-term setbacks like hers, meaning she could talk to people who knew exactly what she was going through.

  “I've always felt it was easier to talk to people who have gone through the same thing because, of course, people are trying to support you and be empathetic, and I'm sure they can imagine just how hard it is, but it's different when you've gone through it,” she explains. “That was definitely easier for me to talk to those people with. It was very, very important, actually.”

  School was a welcome distraction during her ACL recovery, while Wolfsburg’s decision to sign her when she was sidelined the following year provided a confidence boost. “It was definitely nice to hear that people saw my abilities and, despite my injuries, they thought it was worth it,” she says.

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• Getty Images
  

  Savouring the 'special' moments

  The hope now is that all of that is well behind Kuver. She speaks to GOAL as a regular starter for the team placed second in the Frauen-Bundesliga table and as someone who, last month, experienced Champions League and senior international football for the first time. The player who ranked ninth in the 2022 NXGN list of the best teenage talents in the world is reminding everyone why she generated so much hype as she broke through. And while the injuries are something she would’ve gladly done without, they have made the recent months all the more sweet.

  Kuver describes playing for Germany as something she thought about during her rehab process, “because it’s not always easy to be motivated to go to rehab every single day”. “That was just one of the big goals and dreams that made it possible for me to even get through it,” she recalls. “It is a very, very special feeling. I think it's also important that I keep reminding myself that it is very special, given the journey that I've been on.”

The Chicago White Sox staved off history on Tuesday with a win over the Los Angeles Angels. The 3-2 victory kept them from passing the 1962 New York Mets on the list for most losses in a season since the start of the 1900s. With just five games remaining, the 1899 Cleveland Spiders' record 134 losses is safe, but that doesn't mean the White Sox are going out draped in glory.

During the top of the fifth inning Angels centerfielder Mickey Moniak popped the ball up in fair territory near the pitcher's mound. That's where White Sox pitcher Jonathan Cannon, catcher Chuckie Robinson, first baseman Gavin Sheets and third baseman Miguel Vargas converged.

It's unclear who yelled, "I got it. I got it," but it's good to know his teammates were listening because no one made much of an attempt to catch the ball. Including the player who called it.

This kind of thing happens in baseball. Even in the big leagues. For proof, just look at how the White Sox scored the game-tying run in the eighth inning on a similarly poorly played shallow fly ball that dropped.

Despite the result of the game, only one of these highlights is likely to live on.

Pakistan haven’t had a head coach for their Test team since Jason Gillespie resigned in December 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2025

Azhar Mahmood has been appointed as the acting head coach of the Pakistan men’s national Test team, as the churn continues in the management of the side. Azhar, who had been the all-format assistant coach since last April, is expected to serve in the position “until the conclusion of his current contract”; that, it is believed, is until March 2026, and it means that he will be Pakistan’s Test coach in their next assignment, against South Africa at home in October.Azhar becomes the seventh man since 2021 to be the head coach of a Pakistan Test side, although period in which the structure of the coaching set-up has also changed (as when Mohammad Hafeez was team director, or when Grant Bradburn was coach but Mickey Arthur the team director). Azhar is a familiar appointment and presence in this dizzying period. He was appointed the all-formats assistant coach in April last year. He had been an interim head coach for Pakistan’s T20I series at home against New Zealand earlier that month.But he was not part of the white-ball coaching set-up in Pakistan’s series against Bangladesh recently, the first under the new white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, and is not expected to continue there. Instead, he will now concentrate on the Test format. He succeeds another interim coach, Aaqib Javed, who had taken over red-ball duties after Jason Gillespie left the position.The 50-year-old former allrounder represented his country in 143 ODIs and 21 Tests over a 20-year period from 1996. He retired with 162 international wickets and three centuries but has since coached in different formats and competitions around the world.”A seasoned cricketing mind, Azhar Mahmood steps into the role with an impressive portfolio of experience,” the PCB said in a statement. “Having served as the assistant head coach of the national side, Azhar has long been a pivotal part of the team’s strategic core. His deep knowledge of the game, combined with hands-on international exposure and proven success in the English county circuit, make him exceptionally well-suited for this position.Related

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'Not going to be easy for Pakistan to hire international talent'

“His red-ball pedigree is underscored by two County Championship titles [with Surrey] – an achievement that speaks volumes about his leadership, tactical acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence. The PCB is confident that under Azhar’s guidance, the red-ball squad will continue to grow in strength, discipline and performance on the global stage.”Pakistan have not had a full-time head coach for their Test team since Gillespie resigned six months into his stint in December 2024. Aaqib took over in an interim capacity for the two-Test tour to South Africa and the home two-Test series against West Indies in the previous World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.Aaqib had also filled in, again in an interim capacity, as the head coach of the white-ball team after Gary Kirsten quit in October 2024, less than six months into his contract. Hesson has since been appointed in that position.The interim nature of Azhar’s appointment means Pakistan start another World Test Championship (WTC) cycle in a less than ideal situation. They finished last in the previous WTC cycle, with just five wins in 14 games. Their next assignment after the Sri Lanka series will be a three-Test tour of England, their only three-Test series in the current WTC, and a first Test tour of England since 2020.

There is a squad depth at Arsenal that hasn’t been witnessed in years, with Mikel Arteta also boasting the meanest defence in the division – one which will look to emulate the great days of Adams, Campbell, Keown and the like.

For all the desire to try and replicate the heroics of Arsene Wenger’s glittering stars of the late 90’s and early 2000s, however, the question remains as to whether the Gunners truly have the firepower to end their Premier League barren run.

The defensive solidity is there – emphasised by having conceded just three times in seven top-flight outings this season – but a settled attacking unit is yet to be configured, not least on the left flank.

Even through the middle, the merits of Viktor Gyokeres’ marquee £63.5m capture are still being debated, with the Sweden star scoring just three goals in north London to date, after previously plundering 97 goals in just 102 outings for Sporting CP.

With a rich history of forwards to try and live up to, be it Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp, the 27-year-old has plenty of work to do – just how can Arteta get the best out of him?

How Arteta can take Gyokeres to 'Invincibles' levels

The combination of Bergkamp and Henry is perhaps an unfair benchmark for any modern-day Arsenal forward line to try and live up to, with the dynamic duo having been the centre-piece of Wenger’s glorious side all those years ago.

While they may have actually only combined for 20 goals in their 216 matches together, as per Transfermarkt, the Henry-Bergkamp pairing was one of telepathy and genius, the pair dovetailing off each other beautifully to devastating effect.

The age of the strike partnership may have died a death, although with things having become far more direct this season in the top-flight, from set-piece reliance to repeated long throws, why not consider handing Gyokeres a centre-forward colleague moving forward?

With Martin Odegaard set to be out until mid-late November at least, there is a chance for Arteta to reconfigure his forward line in the Norwegian’s absence, partnering Gyokeres with a support act and leaving Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice to control the midfield.

In the case of Bergkamp and Henry, the pair fed off each other’s different strengths, with the Dutchman the technical, powerful presence, while his French colleague provided that electrifying pace and finishing prowess.

In the end, the former Ajax man evolved into just as much of a creator as a goal-getter for the Gunners, racking up 120 goals and 116 assists in all competitions.

Despite also contributing his own 108 assists, Henry’s brilliance was primarily as a finisher, as his record as the club’s all-time top scorer can attest to.

If Gyokeres – who showed in Lisbon just how devastating he can be – is to try and emulate such consistency in front of goal, he may well need his own Bergkamp figure alongside him.

Arsenal's new Dennis Bergkamp

As already stated, the loss of Odegaard – alongside the playmaker’s dwindling form – has opened up the possibility of a reshuffle in the weeks and months to come, with Arteta blessed with a wealth of options to choose from.

Bergkamp’s PL record

Stat

Record

Games

315

Goals

87

Assists

94

Yellow cards

40

Red cards

1

Titles

3

Stats via PL website

The obvious pick would be to deploy Eberechi Eze in a number ten role, although the Englishman could look to make the left flank his own, amid the struggles for consistency regarding both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

Instead, with Eze shuffled out wide, a central role behind Gyokeres could soon be taken up by Kai Havertz, with the German international tipped to return next month, having been absent since undergoing knee surgery at the start of the campaign.

The ex-Chelsea man was memorably signed in 2023 to operate in an unorthodox left-sided number eight role, before ultimately transitioning back into a striking berth, ending last term with 15 goals in all competitions, despite again being hampered by injury.

With Gyokeres now in tow, the languid left-footer is less certain to feature as the attacking spearhead – even if Jamie Carragher suggested he may still do so in the “biggest games” – ensuring his route to game time could well come as something of a second striker or advanced number ten.

Arteta, for his part, has already suggested that Havertz and Gyokeres could play together, with the left-footed Havertz likely to slip into the right channel, while Gyokeres typically favours the left, as evidenced in his solo goal against Leeds United earlier this season.

With Gyokeres stretching the play in that Henry-like manner, Havertz could then knit things together nicely more centrally, having previously been described by Paul Merson as a “Dennis Bergkamp kind of player” during his days at Stamford Bridge.

Not an out-and-out centre-forward, just like Bergkamp, the former Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid is capable of producing magic off the front, as shown in him ranking in the top 12% of European forwards for progressive passes made per 90, as per FBref.

While Arteta will have to wait to unleash such a tactic, as the 26-year-old steps up his return from injury, it would be intriguing to see if a new Bergkamp-Henry style pairing can take flight at the Emirates.

It’s certainly worth a try.

Related Arteta can fix Odegaard blow by unleashing "£100m" Arsenal star in new role

Arsenal could have a wildcard replacement for Martin Odegaard in their ranks…

Posts ByRobbie Walls Oct 14, 2025

After a few years away, Chelsea are finally back in Champions League action tonight.

It won’t be an easy reintroduction to Europe’s premier competition, though, as Enzo Maresca’s Conference League winners will be taking on Bayern Munich.

The German champions are stacked with incredible players in every position, but the one the Blues have to be most wary of is undoubtedly Harry Kane.

The England captain has the ability to take games away from teams, although Chelsea have a superstar of their own, someone who could well outshine Kane.

Chelsea's record against Bayern Munich

Despite both Bayern and Chelsea being two of the biggest clubs in European football and consistently competing for the top prizes in recent decades, they’ve only played one another in five competitive games.

The first was back in the 2004/05 season, in which the Baverians travelled to West London for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, a game the hosts won 4-2, which was then followed by a 3-2 win for the German giants in the second leg.

However, the most famous meeting between the two institutions came just over 13 years ago, when Roberto Di Matteo’s side managed to beat the odds and claim their first Champions League title by beating Jupp Heynckes’ men 4-3 on penalties.

It was in that game that Didier Drogba scored his most famous goal for the Blues, and Petr Čech played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time.

Unfortunately, FC Hollywood have had the upper hand in the two games since that incredible final.

They demolished Frank Lampard’s side 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in February 2020, and then completed the job with a 4-1 win when the competition resumed that August after the first lockdown.

In all, while Bayern have won most of their encounters, Chelsea fans wouldn’t swap their records thanks to that famous night in Munich. Although with that said, Maresca will be looking to improve that record tonight, and so long as he starts the player who could upstage Kane, then there is every chance he will.

Chelsea star could outshine Kane

While they’ve received plenty of criticism for their transfer strategy over the years, Chelsea now have a team packed with brilliant players.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernández could get into most top teams around Europe, but without a doubt, the Blues’ best player is Cole Palmer.

The former Manchester City gem is the definition of a game-changer, and should he be on song against Bayern, there is every chance he could outshine Kane.

While the England captain is that bit more prolific a goalscorer, almost everything good the West Londoners do goes through their dazzling number ten, so much so that GOAL’s Sean Walsh once suggested that he is “Lampard, Drogba & Hazard all in one”, combining the best attributes of three Stamford Bridge legends.

Rather unsurprising, Chelsea’s fortunes changed for the better when he came on at the weekend, entering the fray on Saturday in the 56th minute and just five minutes later scoring the equalising goal for his side.

It was hardly a surprise, though, as in 99 appearances for the Pensioners, totalling 7984 minutes, the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Scott Bradley, has scored 44 goals and provided 29 assists.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 109.36 minutes, which is frankly absurd.

Moreover, he proved himself to be a big-game player at the Club World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against a heavily favoured Paris Saint-Germain.

Ultimately, while Bayern will be the favourites, Chelsea have every chance of coming away with all three points tomorrow night, especially if Palmer starts and is on song.

"It's on you" – Redknapp criticises £40m Chelsea star after Brentford draw

The Sky Sports presenter slammed one Chelsea player after the 2-2 draw against Brentford.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 15, 2025