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Liverpool will sign Jeremie Frimpong in the coming weeks (perhaps even sooner). The Bayer Leverkusen star was swiftly identified by FSG as the perfect player to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will join Real Madrid when his contract expires next month.

Though some fans will point toward Frimpong’s advanced role in Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side and reserve judgment until a personal gauge on his defensive ability can be delivered, there’s no question he’s an exciting profile, different to Trent but still a “monster in the final third,” as said by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker.

With the balanced Conor Bradley already making headway in Arne Slot’s team, this contrast of profiles on the right could work a treat for the Merseysiders as they look to defend their Premier League title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.

But it stings that Liverpool have been forced into replacing Alexander-Arnold all the same, with the atmosphere around the vice-captain souring since he intimated his decision to the world earlier this month.

Especially when Los Blancos constantly prove to be the scourge of the Anfield side, with their success in signing Dean Huijsen proving a double whammy.

Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen

Liverpool have two of the finest defenders kicking about today in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, but the skipper is nearing the twilight of his Premier League career and the latter has just one year remaining on his current deal.

And you can bet your bottom dollar Real Madrid have a vested interest in bringing him to the Spanish capital.

Huijsen was one of Liverpool’s top targets for the summer, but the Bournemouth centre-back has indeed agreed to join Alonso’s new crew, so will partner with Trent in the Madrid backline.

Slot’s side were thought to have had the lead in the young Spaniard, whose breakout campaign in England has drawn plenty of praise, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing his “extraordinary rise.”

The prototypical modern centre-half, Huijsen’s technical control, rangy physique and natural intelligence make him the perfect player to slot right into the Liverpool project – and he’s left-footed besides.

However, this one’s done, and FSG need to turn their attention elsewhere. Luckily, sporting director Richard Hughes is on the case.

Liverpool make new CB a top target

Liverpool need to sign a centre-back, to be sure. Konate’s actually the last senior signing in that area, arriving from RB Leipzig for £36m four years ago.

Slot needs a rising star, and he might just find one in Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, with the 23-year-old understood by Spanish sources to be the Premier League champions’ favourite now that Huijsen’s out of reach.

The defender still has four years left on his current deal and is a player of significant potential, with Chelsea quoted at £59m when asking about the Ecuadorian’s availability back in January.

What Piero Hincapie would bring to Liverpool

Hincapie has made 164 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring seven goals, assisting five more, winning an invincible domestic double last season.

Described as a “prodigy” by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz two years ago, Hincapie has made incremental progress in Germany, signing from Argentine club CA Talleres as a 19-year-old in 2021.

Piero Hincapie’s Leverkusen Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

Titles

24/25

45

3

2

1x

23/24

43

1

1

2x

22/23

43

1

1

0x

21/22

33

2

1

0x

Data via Transfermarkt

With Van Dijk set to stay for the next couple of seasons, Hincapie could make a shrewd career move by moving to Merseyside and serving as the defensive great’s understudy before ascending to superstardom himself.

He certainly has the attributes to make his mark. As per FBref, the 6 footer ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal involvements, the top 16% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90.

As you can see, he’s got the skill and gifted approach to make a real difference in Slot’s squad, capable even of becoming an even better player than Huijsen.

Also hailed as an “absolute beast” who “can become one of the world’s best centre-backs” by journalist Antonio Mango, Hincapie might have even outperformed Bournemouth’s star defender this term.

League Stats 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Piero Hincapie

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Hincapie

Matches (starts)

30 (25)

32 (28)

Goals

3

2

Assists

1

2

Touches*

64.4

78.5

Pass completion

84%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.6

Clearances*

6.0

3.3

Duels (won)*

3.8 (57%)

5.2 (62%)

Stats via Sofascore

Left-footed, he’d also be a suitable successor for skipper Van Dijk, who has renewed his Liverpool contract by two years but turns 34 this summer.

There’s indeed a case to be made that Hincapie is playing at a superior level to Huijsen right now. That’s not to discredit Los Blancos’ new recruit, who already coats himself with the trappings of something special, world-class, but rather, highlights the quality of Leverkusen’s rising star, whose dynamism and athleticism have even permitted him to play on the left flank 11 times this term.

Hincapie is more active in the duel and more accurate too, with several years more experience that have tuned his completeness to a degree that would see him thrive alongside Van Dijk before finally taking his place.

If Liverpool are able to engineer a deal for a figure not too far north of Huijsen’s £50m release clause, something they were willing to meet, this could prove to be an exceptional deal for the Reds.

Having proven himself and then some as one of the best young defenders in the game, Hincapie could veritably explode under Slot’s wing in the Premier League.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 19, 2025

Sheffield United have clawed their way to the top of the Championship and could now be ready to pinch one of their rivals’ star assets should promotion be achieved at Bramall Lane, per reports.

Sheffield United look to build on slender Championship lead

Nerves are starting to kick in across the board in England’s second-tier as Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley battle it out for an automatic place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades hold a two-point advantage at the Championship summit over their direct rivals for promotion, while Sunderland, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion occupy the remaining coveted playoff slots.

Since their agonising defeat at home to Leeds, Sheffield United have gone on a five-match unbeaten run at the perfect time and will take encouragement from monumental recent triumphs over Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry.

Coinciding with Daniel Farke’s Whites losing momentum, this period of the campaign may be looked back on as a sliding doors moment when all is said and done.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are active in the transfer market and Jimmy Dunne is a target regardless of what division they end up in come May. Queens Park Rangers are holding out for £3 million after the Republic of Ireland international came close to joining the Blades during the January window.

Sheffield United’s run-in as Chris Wilder looks to secure promotion

Oxford United (A)

Kassam Stadium

Millwall (H)

Bramall Lane

Plymouth Argyle (A)

Home Park

Cardiff City (H)

Bramall Lane

Burnley (A)

Turf Moor

Stoke City (A)

bet365 Stadium

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Bramall Lane

Chancing their luck with divisional rivals’ star assets could be a running theme if promotion is achieved in Yorkshire, with Wilder now lining up a swoop for another proven Championship performer.

Sheffield United line up move for Sunderland star Ballard

According to Football League World, Sheffield United are chasing Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard’s signature and are ready to pounce for the Northern Ireland international if they manage to claim promotion to the Premier League.

Reported to earn around £25,000 at Sunderland, the Stevenage-born star has become a target due to Harry Souttar’s season-ending injury in Yorkshire, which has prompted Wilder to evaluate dipping into the market for defensive reinforcements.

Brewster included: Sheffield United must axe £88k-p/w quartet if they go up

Chris Wilder could have to be brutal with his Sheffield United team selections if promotion is reached.

1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 1, 2025

Despite being a leading light for the Black Cats, Ballard has been restricted to 19 appearances this term due to injury problems, yielding two goals and an assist across all competitions.

Labelled “a natural leader” by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, the central defender has been a dominant presence for Sunderland, winning 85 duels and making 42 recoveries in the Championship.

Ultimately, Sheffield United will have to be creative when tasked with where to utilise their resources if they end up in the Premier League next term, so it makes sense to target players whom they have already had the opportunity to profile at close quarters.

It wasn’t a classic, but Arsenal did what they had to in their League Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta named a significantly changed team to the one that beat Crystal Palace, and still ran out 2-0 winners, and are now set to face the Eagles again in the quarter-finals.

With all that said, while it wasn’t the most thrilling of games, the Gunners did play reasonably well, and aside from a few moments early on, were far and away the better team.

Moreover, there were a few starters who made a strong case for staying in the side, including two gems who are looking like the new Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Arsenal's standout performers vs Brighton

One player who should not be in the team for Burnley this weekend, but still made a good impression on Wednesday night, was Andre Harriman-Annous.

Chalkboard

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

The academy gem was handed his first senior start for the side, and while he didn’t score a goal, he was a handful all night and made several intelligent runs.

Moreover, it was his shot that led to Saka scoring his goal and sealing the deal for the side, so even though he should not play at the weekend, the 17-year-old is someone to keep an eye on.

A youngster who does deserve to make it into the travelling squad for Saturday is, of course, Max Dowman.

The “certified worldie of a talent,” as dubbed by analyst Rohan Jivan, was utterly incredible in his first senior start, and the Seagulls had no option but to double- and triple-team him when he had the ball, he was so dangerous.

Finally, even though they lacked some synergy in the first half, the entire backline came out of the game looking good, with the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie looking particularly sturdy.

With all that said, there was another duo who did themselves proud, a duo who could be the new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Arsenal's new Saka and Smith Rowe

With Dowman already mentioned, it will come as no surprise that the two youngsters who could be Arsenal’s new Smith Rowe and Saka are, of course, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now, this doesn’t mean the pair exactly mirror the former Hale Enders, nor does it mean they’ll follow their exact footsteps, especially as injuries unfortunately saw Smith Rowe left behind by the project.

However, like the duo that came before them, the two 18-year-olds are of the same academy cohort and, most importantly, play incredibly well together.

For example, it was the Gunners’ exciting young left-back that provided the assist for Nwaneri to open the scoring midway through the second half.

Moreover, while they only combined for a single goal, there were other moments in the game in which the “fearless” Lewis-Skelly, as dubbed by Declan Rice, charged into the middle of the park and played some quick passes with his “phenomenal” teammate, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock.

Games

28

Minutes

765′

Points per Game

2.14

Goals

2

Including Wednesday night’s game, the pair have now made 28 senior appearances together, totalling 765 minutes, in which they’ve combined for two goals and averaged 2.14 points per game.

Finally, on top of their connection on the pitch, the youngsters have made it clear in numerous interviews that they are incredibly close friends, which can surely only improve their in-game synergy.

Ultimately, it’s still early in their careers, but it looks like Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could be Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Not Zubimendi: Arteta has found Cazorla 2.0 in Arsenal's "little magician"

The international monster has been one of Arteta’s best signings at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 29, 2025

First, there was one blot on Arne Slot’s second-season copybook. Then two, then three, then four. Now, Liverpool are in a crisis, having lost five of their past six matches in the Premier League.

There is nothing damning about losing to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, but as the Sky Sports pundits rightly pointed out after the Reds’ 3-0 defeat, they lacked even the basic bones of an expected performance, and to say they toiled would be far too suggestive of any kind of work-rate.

This title defence is quickly becoming a muddy footslog for Slot’s side, who trail and have only the vestiges of last season’s fluency and coherence across the park.

To think of Slot’s side as title challengers at this moment of time would be deceitful. Not only are Liverpool eight points adrift of Arsenal at the summit, but they are so far away tactically that it’s simply unfathomable to imagine a string of the incredible form we have been witness to over the past decade.

It’s difficult to single out a single defining negativity at Liverpool, but Florian Wirtz has been the loudest talking point after his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

Why Florian Wirtz is struggling at Liverpool

There are arguably been an uptick in Wirtz’s performances over the past several weeks. Certainly, the German international excelled during the win over Real Madrid after racking up two assists against Eintracht Frankfurt during the previous Champions League matchweek.

But, as with the rest of Slot’s Redmen, that good work has been undone by a wretched display at Man City, with the visitors totally outplayed by their rivals.

Wirtz wasn’t the worst player on the pitch, and in the first half, especially, he was bright, drawing fouls and catching the eye with fleet-footed bursts.

But it wasn’t enough, and the 22-year-old was swallowed up along with the rest of his side, failing to create a chance until he was hooked for Federico Chiesa late on, having faded after the interval.

This is hardly an Anfield side whose stability – or lack thereof – would allow a young playmaker to dovetail right in, but Wirtz has still got to account for his struggles, having now gone 11 matches in the Premier League without a single goal involvement.

And yet, he was regarded as “a truly generational talent” for his efforts in his homeland, as was said by sports media professional Cristian Nyari after Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen stormed their way to an invincible Bundesliga title, Wirtz crowned the division’s Player of the Year.

Hope and expectation remain that he will come good. However, long-term hope is fading regarding a more established part of the Liverpool squad. For this player, there is a growing sense that it might be better to part ways with him in 2026.

Liverpool's "serious, serious problem"

Slot has more than a few problems to wrestle with across the third international break of the season, and at the top of his pile of worries has got to be the form of Ibrahima Konate in defence.

Konate, 26, has been among the most concerning starters in Liverpool’s line-up this season, maybe even the worst of a bad bunch.

Konate’s time on Merseyside has been defined by ups and downs. He has struggled with injuries at different points since signing for the club in 2021, leaving RB Leipzig after his £36m release clause was activated.

There’s no question that he is a top-class defender, so strong and powerful and convincing as Van Dijk’s partner. Most of the time, that is. Not now.

Konate, a Premier League title winner, is becoming a significant worry. Liverpool do not have the depth in central defence to drop him, and yet, on current form, he surely cannot be allowed to play, as he is a threat to Liverpool’s own performance. Pep knew this on Sunday and targeted him, evidenced by Konate’s 88 touches compared to only 58 from the skipper.

And though he was largely imperious last season, the Frenchman has plummeted since the summer, and he might have hit the nadir against Man City.

After the game, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley took to social media to label Konate “a serious, serious problem” for the struggling Premier League champions, with his mistakes and unconvincing displays now frequent symptoms of Liverpool’s wider decline.

With Virgil van Dijk now 34 years old, there is a real conundrum for sporting director Richard Hughes to chew on going forward, especially as Joe Gomez is clearly untrusted as a centre-half by Slot and summer recruit Giovanni Leoni is out for the campaign with an ACL injury.

Konate, after all, is out of a deal next summer, with Real Madrid at the top of his list of suitors. Given the star’s form this season, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if FSG felt they should part ways with the defender.

Minutes played

90′

Goals conceded

3

Touches

88

Accurate passes

70/75 (93%)

Possession lost

6x

Dribbles

0/1

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

0/0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

5

Duels won

3/8

Given the amount of pressure pushed against the France international, it’s curious that he failed to make an interception or even attempt a tackle against City’s rampant forwards.

The Liverpool Echo were unimpressed, handing Konate a match-low 4/10 score and commenting on his faults for the penalty, saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Erling Haaland’s opening goal.

What do to about this quandary is up to Hughes and Slot and FSG, but the fans are getting fed up, and Konate may well be playing himself into a hole.

Better than Guehi: Liverpool now chasing for 'one of the 'world's best CBs'

Liverpool need to sign a new centre-back in 2026.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

The Apertura 2025 final features the two teams that set the pace all season. Toluca topped the table with 37 points and rolled past FC Juárez and Monterrey, while Tigres finished just behind them on 36 before ousting Xolos and Cruz Azul. Now, Antonio Mohamed’s Diablos chase a bicampeonato and a 12th star, as Guido Pizarro’s Tigres look to claim their ninth league title.

Getty Images SportWhat’s at stake?

The first leg will be played Thursday at Estadio Universitario, the always-demanding home of Tigres. The return match follows Sunday at Estadio Nemesio Diez – one of Liga MX’s most intimidating venues and a true “Infierno” where Antonio Mohamed’s Toluca has been nearly untouchable. Both sides will face hostile conditions, but the title may ultimately hinge on who handles the heat in Toluca.

AdvertisementAFPHistory on the line

A Toluca championship would secure the club’s 12th league crown, pulling the Red Devils level with Chivas as the second-most decorated team in Liga MX history. Tigres, meanwhile, are pushing for a ninth title – a milestone that would move them past Cruz Azul and further cement their status as a modern powerhouse.

Two contenders with heavyweight ambitions now stand one series away from Apertura 2025 glory.

Getty Images SportKey to Success

Tigres – Key to Success
Guido Pizarro’s side must contain Toluca’s attacking firepower and prove why they finished the Apertura 2025 as the league’s best defense, allowing only 16 goals. However, their road form remains a concern: they lost 3-0 to in the first leg of the quarterfinals and drew 1-1 at Cruz Azul in the semifinal opener. Tigres must be a significantly better visiting team if they want to lift the trophy on Sunday at Toluca’s fortress.

Toluca – Key to Success
Toluca enter the final as slight favorites. They have been the most consistent and well-balanced team in Liga MX throughout 2025. Their only major concern is the possible absence of their best player, Alexis Vega, who has yet to recover from an injury that has sidelined him for the entire Liguilla. His absence would be a significant blow, but Antonio Mohamed has managed the playoffs impressively without him. Even so, Vega’s potential return – whether in the first leg or the decisive match – could tilt the balance in Toluca’s favor.

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AFPPlayers to Watch

Player to Watch: Juan Brunetta
The Argentine playmaker has been one of Tigres’ most decisive threats this postseason, scoring three goals – including two in the dramatic 5-0 comeback against Xolos and another in the clinching win over Cruz Azul. Alongside Ángel Correa, Brunetta is a true difference-maker capable of tilting the final on his own.

Player to Watch: Paulinho
The Portuguese striker captured his third straight Liga MX Golden Boot and has added two more goals in the playoffs. Toluca will lean heavily on his finishing in the final, as Paulinho’s form could be the factor that determines whether the Diablos claim another league title.

Despite flat-track preferences, this was a victory that displayed skill and nous

Cameron Ponsonby20-Oct-2025When the going’s good, this England team is great.The common critique of Harry Brook’s team, and Jos Buttler’s before him, is that they are flat-track bullies. The best in the world when the odds are in their favour but one-dimensional when they are not.The opening T20I at Christchurch hinted towards that. They slipped to 81 for 5 on a wicket that was lively, only to be bailed out by Sam Curran and New Zealand’s lasagne hands. A total of 153 may look under par, but at the lowest scoring ground in the country, where the average run rate is 7.8 (aka, a final score of 156), it was a step in the right direction for a team aiming to add brains to their brawn.Cut to 48 hours later and, while the match was on the same wicket, it was a different pitch. Less live grass plus two days of sun had both captains scratching their heads at what to do. Mitchell Santner said bowl, but wasn’t sure.”We’ll see if there’s anything there,” Santner said at the toss. “And if there’s not it might be more of a challenge.”It was more of a challenge.England’s 236 for 4 blitzed the previous highest score at Hagley Oval by over 30 runs. In the history of international T20 cricket at the venue there had only ever been four scores above 170. All things considered, this was an anomalous performance. And a close-to-perfect one at that.”The boundaries are way back,” Curran said after the first match. “A couple of balls you smack and it goes nowhere.”But while England did pack their biceps, striking ten sixes, they also packed their running shoes, scampering 16 twos across the innings. Brook and Phil Salt’s partnership cruised along in fifth gear but took different forms. The boundary may be big, but that means the outfield is too.”He’s very good at playing the field,” Santner explained after the match. “Both him and Salt were very smart using the wind and were able to run hard and hit the pockets on the big side. I think they had 20-something twos (16) and when it’s tough to find dots, when you go two, then four, you’re leaking.”Despite unfurling his ramp once more, Brook’s strengths came down the ground•AFP/Getty ImagesBrook had spoken about this innings before he played it. Ahead of the series he explained his “disappointment” at his white-ball returns. For all the glamour of his roly-poly ramp shots in the Hundred, they weren’t where he believed his strengths lied. He wanted to stand there. And hit straight.”That’s one goal for me this series,” he said, one day out from the first match. “Just to try and play on instinct as much as possible.”All five of Brook’s sixes came from the City End, where the leg-side was to the shorter boundary and had the wind in assistance. Two landed in the stands, one dropped onto the roof, and two went over it.Related

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Salt had been on 39 off 21 when Brook arrived at the crease. But when it became clear Brook was the man of the moment his strike-rate slowed as he focused on getting his captain back on strike. From his next 35 balls he made just 46 runs but England continued to motor.Salt is on four T20I centuries. Only Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma have five, a stat of which Salt is aware, but one he put to one side.”The difference between me going on and getting that score or not was getting Brooky on strike,” he said afterwards. “And, 100 times over, I’d like to be at the other end watching that again.”That’s batting, isn’t it? You have to take the ego out of it.”This was as complete a performance as England could have hoped for. A coach’s dream, in which all parties played their role. Two batters batted big, and those that didn’t, did so quickly. All of Jacob Bethell (24), Tom Banton (29*) and Sam Curran (8*) struck at above 200.”It’s warming to be able to say ‘lads, you go do your thing’,” was Brook’s conclusion at the close.Rashid and Dawson benefitted from England’s willingness to attack their catches in the deep•Joe Allison/Getty ImagesEngland’s perfect day extended to ball in hand as well. Brydon Carse took two up top, before the spin duo of Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid killed the game in the middle. Dawson bowled four through the middle, counterintuitively bowling to New Zealand’s left-hand-heavy middle order to the shorter side, but keeping his line wide. Until Santner got a hold of him in his final over, it worked. After 3.4 overs his figures were 2 for 18. Somehow, his final two legal deliveries conceded 20 runs. We’ll brush over that bit.”Dawson bowling to the short side,” Santner said afterwards. “I thought that was very smart, keeping it off the batsman.”Even Rashid’s four-fer, all of which were caught in the deep, came with thought attached, as those on the large square boundaries were instructed to settle five or ten metres in from the rope.”That’s something we spoke about,” Brook said of his fielders roaming around. “There’s a lot of balls plinked into the outfield and if our fielders were on the rope they’re probably not carrying. So that’s another positive move about taking wickets.”So much of T20 cricket comes down to volatility. One player executing on the day and wrenching the match in one direction or the other. England’s joy this evening will be their success at the bits that are repeatable. Plans were made. And plans were executed.”That’s part of being a team,” Salt concluded. “You have to take the ego out of it. Everything is team first and team orientated. And long may that continue.”

Chelsea have now reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign a rising Ligue 1 talent, who’s been billed as the second coming of William Saliba.

Maresca: Chelsea must "switch off" before Arsenal clash

Chelsea couldn’t have asked for a better warm-up before their crucial clash against Arsenal this weekend. The Blues brushed Barcelona aside as Estevao Willian stole the show in front of Lamine Yamal. Two of the world’s best teenagers commenced battle at Stamford Bridge and it was the Brazilian who came out on top.

Now, Enzo Maresca’s side have the small matter of playing host to the Premier League leaders. Victory would see Chelsea move to within three points of Arsenal and lay down a marker in the title race. Defeat, meanwhile, would leave them nine points adrift of their London rivals.

Maresca will be well aware of the importance of Sunday’s game, but has told his players to “switch off” in the build-up – telling reporters: “I’ve told the players, next 48 hours, completely switch off,” he said. “Have a rest. Recover the energy.

“Because next Sunday we have Arsenal. My message after the game was just: recover the energy. That, in this moment, is the most important thing.

“Then, on Friday, we start to think about Arsenal. We need to keep the momentum because it’s very nice — and it’s much easier to recover energy when you win games.”

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It’s also worth noting that it’s not just on the pitch that Chelsea and Arsenal are set to do battle. In the transfer market, the two clubs are also reportedly set to go head-to-head to welcome a defensive reinforcement.

Recent reports have claimed that the Blues have now joined the race to sign Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet in an attempt to deal Arsenal a frustrating blow.

Chelsea join race to sign Jeremy Jacquet

As reported by Caught Offside, Chelsea have joined the race to sign Jacquet alongside Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig.

The 20-year-old defender will reportedly be available for as little as €30m (£27m) in 2026, handing those at Stamford Bridge a crucial opportunity to reinforce their backline at a bargain price.

Dubbed the next Saliba by The Standard when Arsenal’s interest emerged in August, Jacquet’s rise has been coming for a few years. His old development coach at Rennes, Pierre-Emmanuel Bordeau, even went as far to describe the defender as the “technical leader of his generation”.

League stats Per 90

Jacquet

Saliba

Minutes

1,170

814

Progressive Passes

3

4.44

Tackles Won

0.92

0.56

Ball Recoveries

4.46

3.89

It’s easy to see why comparisons have been made with Saliba. Statistically speaking, Jacquet has even outperformed the Arsenal star out of possession so far this season, whilst also impressing on the ball.

It would be quite the move from Chelsea if they didn’t just land the next Saliba, but a player capable of exceeding Mikel Arteta’s top defender in years to come. Amid so much competition for Jacquet’s signature, though, the Blues will have to act quick.

Shades of Estevao: Chelsea have another "left-footed magician" out on loan

Sciver-Brunt scored century in a game where India’s batting collapsed in the absence of senior players

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2025Without Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Pratika Rawal, India’s batting order crumbled against England at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence ground in a warm-up fixture ahead of the ODI World Cup. Chasing 341, India were all out for 187, with Arundhati Reddy not coming out to bat due to a leg injury she sustained while bowling.Wicketkeeper Uma Chetry, who was included in the squad in place of the injured Yastika Bhatia, made a promising 45, while captain Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with 66 off 68 balls. Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Sneh Rana combined to make just 43 runs in the middle order.Related

• Reddy suffers blow to knee during warm-up match against England

Sent in to bat, England, propelled by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brisk 120 and Emma Lamb’s 84, piled up 340. India’s pace spearhead Renuka Singh struck in her first over to remove Tammy Beaumont, and the hosts had both Amy Jones and Heather Knight back before the halfway stage. However, Sciver-Brunt and Lamb’s 173-run stand put England in front, despite Kranti Goud’s three-wicket haul later in the innings.Shafali Verma notched up 70 off 49•Getty Images

Shafali Verma, left out of India’s World Cup squad, scored a blistering 49-ball 70 in India A’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in a rain-affected fixture.After New Zealand posted 273 for 9 on the back of Izzy Gaze’s unbeaten 101 at No. 7, multiple rain interruptions left India chasing a revised target of 225 in 40 overs. Shafali’s brisk knock – which included 11 fours and a six – gave the innings early momentum. Captain Minnu Mani remained unbeaten on 39, while wicketkeeper Madiwala Mamatha contributed a crucial 56 not out off 60 balls at No. 8.Earlier, Sayali Satghare, the reserve seamer for India at the World Cup, picked up three wickets. India A had New Zealand reeling at 146 for 7, but Gaze’s counterattacking century helped the Sophie-Devine-led side post a competitive total.In Colombo, both the Pakistan-Sri Lanka game and South Africa’s match against Bangladesh were washed out. Sri Lanka were 33 for 1 in 7.3 overs when play came to an end, while in the other contest, South Africa had reached 45 for 3 in nine overs before rain intervened. Bangladesh’s young pacer Marufa Akter dismissed both Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen, while Nahida Akter bowled Marizanne Kapp – a dream start for Bangladesh.

Change to visa rules mean Australian seamer will be available for first half of red-ball season

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2025

Fergus O’Neill has started the Sheffield Shield season in good form•Getty Images

Nottinghamshire have confirmed the return of Australia A seamer Fergus O’Neill for the first half of both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.O’Neill claimed 21 wickets at 17.90 in four matches at the start of the 2025 summer, helping set Nottinghamshire on their path to winning the County Championship. He had been expected to make a return and the club have now announced that he has signed a two-year deal.While O’Neill was only eligible for a short-term visa last season, limiting him to a four-week stint, changes to the UK’s visa rules to cover appearances in first-class cricket mean he will be available for the first block of Championship games from April through to June.It was O’Neill who purchased the “MOM” blazer that became a feature of Notts’ title win, and he will now be back to help with the defence.”I’m keen to come back and make sure our momentum keeps rolling,” O’Neill said. “Trent Bridge is a great place filled with great people, where I’ve had success.”With all the success I had, and we had as a team, it was a simple decision for me to sign on for not just one, but another two years. Success is what I play for, so for as long as I’m a part of Nottinghamshire, I’ll be putting my best foot forward for us to win another Championship title.”O’Neill has twice been picked for Australia A, including on their recent tour of India, and has started the Sheffield Shield season in good form, with 15 wickets at 21.80. He could come into contention for the Ashes, although is currently behind the likes of Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser among back-up quicks.”Every now and then, you seem to sign a player who fits into the team perfectly, and Fergus was that man last year,” Nottinghamshire’s head coach, Peter Moores, said. “His impact on the field was clear for everyone to see, though it was his impact off it that also made a real difference.”His energy and excitement to play were infectious, as was belief in his own ability. That belied spread into everyone else in the team and was a real catalyst at the start of our season.”His ability to move the ball laterally and control line and length were perfect for English conditions, and it’s great news that the change in regulations will allow him to take on a fuller role next season.”We can’t wait to get him back to continue the promising start he has shown to his Notts career and to positively influence the defence of the title.”Notts have also secured the services of South Africa Test wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne for 2026. Verreynne, who has enjoyed productive spells at Notts in each of the past two seasons and hit the runs that secured the title, is expected to be available for a full summer of County Championship due to South Africa’s limited international commitments.

The bowling combination and the identity of their reserve batters are in focus at the start of the home season

Karthik Krishnaswamy23-Sep-20251:48

Chopra: Don’t see Bumrah playing the first Test

On Wednesday, India will pick a 15-member squad for the two-Test home series against West Indies, which begins on October 2 in Ahmedabad. It’s a deceptively tricky selection, with India about to feel the full force of R Ashwin’s retirement for the first time (he didn’t miss even one of India’s 65 home Tests during his career), with Jasprit Bumrah’s workload still needing to be managed, and with questions still lingering from the unexpected, unprecedented 3-0 defeat to New Zealand last year. Here are five that Ajit Agarkar’s selection panel will need to answer.

Pick Bumrah or rest him?

The first Test in Ahmedabad begins four days after the final of the Asia Cup, which India have an excellent chance of featuring in. Four members of their Asia Cup squad – Test captain Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Bumrah – would ordinarily be certainties in a Test squad for a home series, but the circumstances around one of them are far from ordinary.Bumrah only played three out of five matches in India’s last Test series, in England, and that ratio of participation looks set to continue into the foreseeable future given his history of serious back injuries. So do India pick Bumrah for both Tests against West Indies, or just one of them? Or do they rest him for the entire series?In a similar situation a year or two ago, India may not have found it especially difficult to rest Bumrah. But their bowling resources at the moment aren’t quite what they’re used to having in home conditions. There’s the absence of Ashwin, for one, though you would expect a spin attack of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep, Washington Sundar and Axar to cope with it.Jasprit Bumrah in action•Getty ImagesLast year’s defeat to New Zealand may have led India to ponder the kind of pitches they want to play their home Tests on, and potentially prompt a shift away from square turners to flatter surfaces that produce bigger first-innings totals. Any such shift, however, will also mean a bigger role for the fast bowlers. And India could have issues on that front if Bumrah isn’t around.India haven’t felt the overt impact of phasing out Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav – for so long their go-to quicks in home Tests – but it’s not hard to imagine a situation in the near future where they feel a desperate need for a bit of experience and know-how with an old ball on a bare surface. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep have only played 19 home Tests between them, and Prasidh Krishna is yet to play one.Related

• Rishabh Pant to miss home Tests against West Indies

India would dearly love to have Bumrah in this scenario, but against this desire they will have to weigh the demands of a packed schedule. After this series India have a white-ball tour of Australia in October-November followed by an all-format home series against South Africa, and then a white-ball series against New Zealand in early 2026 in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in February-March.

Is there room for Nitish Kumar Reddy?

Over his first seven Tests in Australia and England, Nitish Kumar Reddy gave India a glimpse of the high-ceiling seam-bowling allrounder he could become in the future. He’s an exceedingly useful player even in the present when India travel away from Asia, but do they need him in home conditions?In Jadeja, Washington and Axar, India have three high-quality spin-bowling allrounders for Indian pitches. A fourth allrounder who might not bowl all that much could be hard to fit into a squad of 15. But given the push for batting depth that’s defined Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach so far, India may still try hard to find a place for Reddy.This could mean picking either one fewer middle-order batter in the squad, or one fewer frontline seamer.2:05

Is there a role for Nitish Kumar Reddy in home Tests?

What happens to Abhimanyu Easwaran?

Abhimanyu Easwaran has played 31 first-class games for India A, captained them eight times, and been part of five Test squads, but he’s yet to get his hands on the Test cap. Now it seems likely that he won’t be part of the squad for the West Indies series, because there may not be room for a specialist reserve opener.With Rishabh Pant ruled out with the foot injury he sustained in England, Dhruv Jurel looks set to be India’s first-choice keeper in Ahmedabad, with N Jagadeesan – who joined the team in England after Pant was sidelined – as his understudy.Jagadeesan can also open the batting, and he’s been in terrific form doing that. His last two first-class games, at the time of writing, have brought him 197 and 52* for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy and 64 for India A against Australia A, in a match where he alternated keeping duties with Jurel.Abhimanyu opened with Jagadeesan in that India A game, and made 44. When KL Rahul came into the India A side in the second unofficial Test against Australia A, he replaced Abhimanyu rather than Jagadeesan. A clear sign of things to come?Devdutt Padikkal has been in good form since recovering from a hamstring injury•PTI

Who are the reserve batters?

If they’re all fit, six of India’s top seven pick themselves: Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill, Jurel, Jadeja and Washington. That leaves the No. 3 slot, for which the incumbent B Sai Sudharsan appears the frontrunner, having firmed up his credentials with a 73 in the first unofficial Test against Australia A.If India also pick Reddy in their squad, it leaves either no space for another middle-order batter, or just one spot, depending on how many fast bowlers they pick.That one spot, if it exists, could go to Devdutt Padikkal, who was ruled out of the England tour after injuring his hamstring during the IPL. Padikkal, who made his Test debut against England last year in Dharamsala, also played the first Test of the 2024-25 Australia tour in Perth – he wasn’t part of India’s original squad there, but was added to it following impressive performances on the shadow India A tour.Padikkal has been among the runs since recovering from the hamstring injury, scoring 57 for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy and 150 for India A in the first unofficial Test against Australia A.If Padikkal is picked, it would be at the expense of his Karnataka team-mate Karun Nair, who played four of the five Tests in England but was ruled out of contention for the India A squad by a finger injury. Nair had a strange tour of England, getting to 20 in five of his eight innings but only managing a top score of 57. There were periods of pristine strokeplay, but also uncertain moments against the rising ball, and India may have expected better returns overall from a 33-year-old making a comeback in good batting conditions.Sarfaraz Khan could have been in contention for this middle-order role too, but the Mumbai batter has been out of action since May, and has been recuperating from an injury – quadriceps, according to reports – at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.Sourav Ganguly presented Akash Deep with an award for his performance in England•Garima Agarwal

How many fast bowlers, and who?

Given that West Indies’ biggest strength is their fast bowling, it is unlikely that conditions in either Ahmedabad or Delhi will have too much help for the quicks. Given this, India are unlikely to play more than two seamers in their XI, which means their squad is likely to contain no more than four frontline quicks – potentially just three plus Reddy.Whether Bumrah is one of them remains to be seen. Siraj, Prasidh and Akash Deep, the other three frontline quicks who played at least three Tests each in England, would be the main names in contention now, but one of them has struggled with fitness issues over recent months.Akash Deep was less than fully fit during two of the three Tests he played in England, and has been out of action since his return. He was originally part of the East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy but missed the tournament after being advised rest – he later told that he was dealing with an “impact” injury that he suffered in England and not a fresh one. There is a chance that his lack of recent match time – he isn’t part of the India A squad either – could count against his selection, at least for the first Test.Siraj and Prasidh, the heroes of India’s series-levelling win at The Oval, are playing the unofficial Tests against Australia A, and have no known fitness issues.If India don’t pick Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who were part of India’s squad in England and are currently at the Asia Cup, could come into the picture. Punjab’s towering Gurnoor Brar, whom India called up as a net bowler ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh last year, and who is currently playing for India A, is a possible left-field selection.

Possible India squad for two-Test series against West Indies

Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (possibly for one Test only), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal, N Jagadeesan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy/Akash Deep/Arshdeep Singh.