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Last summer, Arsenal needed to sign a new centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko was in their crosshairs but he ultimately ended up signing a new contract with current employers, RB Leipzig.

In the end, the Gunners went without. The only signing to bolster the forward line was Raheem Sterling.

The Chelsea loanee promised we’d see the best of him. That did not happen.

In January, Mikel Arteta was crying out for a striker again but it wasn’t forthcoming. What happened next? Kai Havertz sustained a nasty hamstring injury during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal’s Premier League form suffered drastically and it ultimately tripped them up in Paris when they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stages.

So, a year on from when a new centre-forward first should have arrived, Arteta and Co are back at square one, chasing Sesko again.

Arsenal moving closer to signing a new centre forward

When you end the campaign with Mikel Merino up top, you know something has gone drastically wrong.

In all fairness, Merino was fine. Fine being the key word. He wasn’t exceptional, he wasn’t the spearhead you need to win a Premier League or continental title but he did score six goals in 12 outings as a striker.

That’s not bad at all, but it’s not the 54-goal tally Viktor Gyokeres scored. It’s not the 27 goals Alexander Isak scored. It’s not the 21 goals Sesko scored either.

All three of those players would be excellent signings, but it’s Sesko who looks the most likely to arrive at the moment.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s according to German publication BILD, via Sport Witness. They report on Wednesday that a deal is beginning to move on the player side.

Indeed, BILD states that Arsenal have ‘reached an agreement’ on personal terms between them and the striker.

While that doesn’t mean anything is wrapped up with Leipzig, the report does note that Arsenal have signalled to the Bundesliga club that they are set to made a bid that will not fall below their expectations financially.

It’s likely to take an offer between £68m-£85m to convince them to sell.

How Sesko could replicate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal

It’s safe to say that since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal behind, Arteta has lacked a real potent centre-forward.

That’s not to say it was a mistake to let him go. After all, the Gabonese striker departed in controversial circumstances, stripped of the captaincy (video below) and then flying out to Barcelona on a trip that wasn’t sanctioned by the club.

Despite his flaws, Aubameyang was a mighty fine player for the club and was a key reason behind Arteta’s only trophy as a manager so far, the FA Cup in 2019/20.

Given Arsenal’s recent progress, it’s remarkable that they’re currently in the middle of a five-year trophy drought, but it’s perhaps no coincidence that they’re yet to win any major honours since Auba departed.

His record with the Gunners was exceptional, scoring 92 goals in 163 outings, most notably winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018/19.

He was one of the meanest forwards in the whole of English football during his time at the Emirates Stadium and even deservedly found his way into the PFA Team of the Year for 2019/20.

Aubameyang was relentless, netting 31 goals in 51 games throughout 2018/19 and then the following term, he bagged 29 in 44 matches.

Well, if Sesko did arrive then he’d certainly have a lot to live up to but there are similarities in the way they play the game.

Described as “the new Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Slovenian possesses a tall frame, standing at 6 foot 5. In contrast, the former Arsenal forward stands at 6 foot 2.

There is a slight difference there but what their height allows is for a longer and more powerful stride pattern. They can burst beyond the last line of the defence and surge towards goal in a similarly explosive fashion.

Rather than relying on intricate build-up play, they’re also very clever with their movement and rely on their instinctive finishing ability. In essence, they’re both mighty fine poachers. More often than not, they’re always in the right place at the right time.

Comparing one of Aubameyang’s best seasons at Arsenal with Sesko’s latest campaign, we can see see alike the pair are.

They took a near identical number of touches and completed a near identical rate of successful passes per 90 minutes, suggesting their actions in the build-up are very similar.

Likewise, they come out very closely for key passes and shot-creating actions, underlining how often they make something happen in the final third of the pitch.

Aged just 22, Sesko clearly has a lot of development left to do but if Arteta could extract that in north London, the Spaniard may well have the next Aubameyang on his hands, just without the excess baggage. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

He's shades of Nwaneri: Berta holds talks to sign £40m star for Arsenal

Arsenal are looking at signing one of Europe’s best young prospects this summer.

By
Matt Dawson

Jun 18, 2025

Newcastle United are thought to be interested in completing the signing of an “exceptional” Premier League player in the summer transfer window.

Who are Newcastle being linked with this summer?

The Magpies continue to push for new signings all over the pitch, as Eddie Howe prepares for an exciting season back in the Champions League in 2025/26.

Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi is a long-time target and Newcastle are said to be among the favourites to snap him up this summer, with a move away from the Eagles arguably feeling more likely than ever.

Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford has also emerged as an audacious summer target, as the Magpies battle the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona for his signature. It feels highly likely that he will leave Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim not considering him an important part of his plans.

Bryan Mbeumo has constantly been mentioned as the leading choice to bolster Newcastle’s right-hand side, but it looks as though the Brentford ace could be off to United or Tottenham instead. For that reason, Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert is reportedly being lined up as an alternative option.

Newcastle keen on "exceptional" Liverpool attacker Jota

According to a new claim that has emerged from Anfield Index, Newcastle are interested in signing Liverpool striker Diogo Jota this summer.

The Portuguese is considered a “potential attacking target” for the Magpies, with his future at Anfield up in the air, not least because the Reds have been linked with Alexander Isak, even holding talks with him over a move and remain in contact with the Newcastle star.

On £140,000-a-week, Jota is a top-quality player when fit and firing, with Jurgen Klopp making it clear what he thought of him during their time working together.

“Exceptional player, exceptional boy. He has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs. He has the technical skills, he has the physical skills and he is very smart and can learn all the tactical stuff pretty quick. On top of that, he can play all three positions; in a 4-2-3-1 he could play as the 10. So, it is very helpful. He has the speed, has the desire to finish situations off really good. I think his goalscoring record is pretty impressive.”

If Jota is potentially being seen as a replacement for Isak, though, it would be very risky, considering the Portugal international is an injury-prone player who was limited to only 14 starts in the Premier League last season.

He also turns 29 later this year, and the fact that Liverpool may be willing to sell him suggests that he could be past his peak, with his fitness woes catching up with him.

Schar upgrade: Newcastle among favourites to sign "unbelievable" £40m star

Newcastle will be looking to improve their defence this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 16, 2025

If the Reds ace is brought in as a backup option to Isak, it is easy to see it being shrewd business, given Jota’s ruthlessness in front of goal, but he may not be considered a key starter for Howe.

England legend looks set to sign all-formats deal with club, after retiring from Tests last summer

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jan-2025James Anderson looks set to make a professional comeback in Division Two of the County Championship next season, after it was revealed he is in talks with Lancashire about an all-format return that will take his career past his 43rd birthday.Anderson played his 188th and final Test against West Indies at Lord’s in July 2024. He bowed out after 21 years as an England cricketer with 704 Test wickets at 26.45, and has not featured competitively since.However, he showed he had unfinished business when he put himself forward for the IPL auction in December – where he went unsold – and has stayed fit during his role as England’s Test bowling coach, with regular stints in the nets plus work with the team’s strength and conditioning coaches.Now, according to The Telegraph, he is ready to commit to at least one final season with Lancashire – the club that first signed him as a teenager almost a quarter of a century ago, and for whom he made his first-class debut in 2002.Lancashire were relegated from the top flight of the County Championship last season, although Anderson demonstrated his enduring prowess in first-class cricket with figures of 7 for 35 in his solitary appearance against Nottinghamshire at Southport in June.He is expected to be available from the start of the 2025 season, including a return to Lord’s to face Middlesex in Lancashire’s opening match from April 4 to 7, and – assuming he continues his coaching role with England – he could feature in five matches before the Test summer begins with a one-off match against Zimbabwe in May.Anderson’s comeback would also have to be combined with his burgeoning media duties, while Lancashire would also have to pay his wages for the first time in more than a decade, now that he is no longer an ECB centrally contracted player.Lancashire’s first home match is against Northamptonshire at Old Trafford in the second round of the Championship, beginning on April 11.He could also feature in Lancashire’s white-ball teams, although he hasn’t played any form of T20 cricket for more than a decade. His last match in the format was Lancashire’s four-run loss in the T20 Blast final in 2014.

Wrexham have been warned, as they bid to become the No.1 team in Wales, that they are entering “one of the hardest leagues in world football”.

• Run of three successive promotions
• Hollywood co-owners dreaming big
• Ready for Championship challenge

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Three successive promotions, with the history books being rewritten along the way, have lifted the Red Dragons into the Championship. Dreams of one day reaching the Premier League continue to form at SToK Racecourse.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped to fund an ambitious project that shows no sign of slowing down. Wrexham have been busy again in the summer transfer window, with recruitment records being smashed on a regular basis.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Phil Parkinson is aware of the need to raise collective standards, despite all that he has achieved, with Wrexham now operating at a level above former top-flight performers Cardiff City and alongside Swansea.

• Getty
  

  WHAT PHELAN SAID

  Quizzed on whether the Red Dragons can become top dogs in Wales, former Swans defender Terry Phelan – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “When ownership come in, they have a vision. Wrexham are a big club, let’s be honest. Wrexham are a massive club. Back in the day, Wrexham were competing with everybody – Micky Thomas was playing there, Joey Jones, Brian Flynn was there.

  “You look at Wrexham, the owners have gone in there, seen the vision and put this vision together. They have gone out and splashed big money, so they are not afraid of spending. They are going in the right direction. They have a wonderful environment with the ground, the training facilities on the way, and what they want to do is attract players. You want to attract players because it’s a new project. I think they are selling the project very well.

  “Yeah, it’s a different kettle of fish now, they are going to be playing in one of the hardest leagues in world football. That is a big statement. It is a hard league and we’ll see how they go.

  “Swansea, bit of a yo-yo club. They have been there in the EPL, come down a little bit, but I think they will always be there or thereabouts. South vs North, there is a bit of distance there. The rivalry is more between Swansea and Cardiff, so I think Wrexham will just want to compete at the highest level and with the best teams.”

And what’s the record for the most consecutive Test appearances by a player against the same opposition?

Steven LynchI was looking at Rory Burns’ Test stats, and noticed that his average during wins is surprisingly quite a bit lower than in defeats. Who has the biggest difference between averages in wins and defeats? asked Rahul Sompura from India

That’s a great spot because, as it turns out, England’s Rory Burns has the biggest negative difference between his batting average in Tests won (25.41) and lost (35.86). Looking at the 394 players who were part of at least ten wins and ten defeats, next comes the 19th-century Australian Harry Trott, who averaged 16.40 in wins but 25.88 in defeats, a difference of -9.44 to Burns’s current -10.45.This is a very wide-ranging list: next come Mohammad Sami of Pakistan, with 6.11 in wins and 12.87 in defeats, and the old England wicketkeeper Dick Lilley (13.38 in wins, 20.11 in defeats). The England offspinner John Emburey averaged 13.88 in wins but 20.26 in losses, while Wasim Raja managed 21.92 when Pakistan won but 28.09 when they lost.Another old Australian deserves a mention: Monty Noble averaged 26.17 in victories, and 36.73 in losses – a difference of -10.56, slightly higher than Burns – but Noble only tasted defeat on nine occasions in Tests, so doesn’t quite make our cut-off.The winner in the opposite direction is rather less surprising: Don Bradman averaged a stupendous 130.08 in Australia’s wins during his long Test career, but a more modest 43.27 in defeats, a difference of 86.81. Next comes the West Indian Frank Worrell, with a difference of 55.74 (74.15 in wins, 18.41 in losses).I think Mark Waugh played 29 successive Tests against England without missing one. What’s the record for consecutive appearances in one match-up? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England

This query tested the database skills of ESPNcricinfo’s Shiva Jayaraman, who thought it was the toughest one I’d ever asked him (luckily, he enjoyed the challenge!) And the record turns out to be held by Mark Waugh’s long-time captain for Australia – Allan Border played 44 successive Tests against England between 1979-80 and 1993. He went past two other Australians in Ashes matches: Victor Trumper played 40 in a row between 1899 and 1911-12, and Monty Noble 39 between 1897-98 and 1909.Next come the first non-Ashes combatants: Sunil Gavaskar appeared in 38 successive Tests for India against England between 1971 and 1986, while Courtney Walsh played 38 in a row for West Indies against Australia between 1984-85 and 2000-01.Jaskaran Malhotra of the USA hit 16 sixes but only four fours in an ODI the other day. Was this some sort of record? asked H Sharma from the United States

That remarkable effort by Jaskaran Malhotra last week, when he hammered 173 not out – the United States’ first century in ODIs – against Papua New Guinea in Al-Amerat also included six sixes in the final over, only the second instance of six sixes in an over in ODIs after Herschelle Gibbs did it for South Africa against Netherlands in St Kitts during the 2007 World Cup.The ratio of sixes to fours wasn’t quite a record, however. For England against Afghanistan during the 2019 World Cup, England’s captain Eoin Morgan thrashed an ODI-record 17 sixes, but only four fours, in his 148 at Old Trafford.The most sixes in an ODI innings without any fours at all is six, by Paul Collingwood for England against New Zealand in Napier in 2007-08, and Jimmy Neesham (who faced only 13 balls) for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui in 2018-19. For the list of the most sixes in an ODI innings, click here.Jimmy Anderson has been not out in 99 Test innings so far, 38 more than the next No. 11, Courtney Walsh•Getty ImagesAs a perennial tail-end “not-outer” myself I was interested to see that Jimmy Anderson is currently on 99 red-inkers in Tests. Is this the record? asked Robert Lewis Jones from the UK

It’s the record by a distance: Jimmy Anderson is on the verge of becoming the first man to have remained not out in 100 Test innings. Only five others – all fully paid-up members of the No. 11s union – have managed more than 50: Courtney Walsh (61), Muthiah Muralidaran (56), Bob Willis (55), Chris Martin (52) and Glenn McGrath (51). The first recognised batsman comes next: Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten in 49 innings in Tests, during which he made more than 4000 runs. Allan Border and Steve Waugh both finished not out on 44 occasions.Anderson also leads the way in all international cricket, with 145 not-outs in the three formats – but his lead there is much narrower: MS Dhoni had 142 not-out innings, Muralidaran 119, and Shaun Pollock 113.Maheesh Theekshana took a wicket with his first ball in ODIs – how many people have done this? asked Jayant Sampath from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s latest “mystery spinner”, 21-year-old Maheesh Theekshana, dismissed Janneman Malan of South Africa with his first ball in one-day internationals, in Colombo last week. His captain, Dasun Shanaka, predicted a bright future: “It’s not easy to read him because he’s now got the googly and the carrom ball, and his offspin as well. Because he’s got several variations, I don’t think it’ll be easy for any team to read him.”Theekshana was the 29th bowler – the third this year – to take a wicket with his first delivery in ODIs, a list which includes a few unexpected names.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Tom Brady has been “so impressed” with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as Birmingham spend in a bid to “keep up” with Wrexham in the transfer market.

• NFL legend on the Blues' board
• A-list co-owners in North Wales
• Friendly rivalry has been forged

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues will believe that they are in a stronger position at present than ‘Hollywood derby’ rivals from North Wales. It was they who captured the League One title in record-breaking style last season, accumulating 111 points in the process.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  They smashed recruitment records in 2024 and have continued to splash the cash 12 months on, with notable additions at St Andrew’s placing them among the favourites for promotion out of the Championship and into the Premier League.

• WHAT BRADY SAID

  Wrexham are also hoping to be in that mix, as A-list co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney smash transfer records of their own, and Brady admits that the Blues are looking to stay one step ahead of the Red Dragons on and off the field.

  NFL legend Brady told : “We've got to [keep spending]. We've got to keep up with one another. Wrexham have, I'd say, done an incredible job. I mean, you can't be anything but excited about what they've done for that club … I'm so impressed by Wrexham. What they do on the pitch, off the pitch, and again, they're in a great position to succeed as well.”

• Amazon Prime Video
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ is about to be rivalled in the documentary stakes by ‘Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues’, with “fun theatre” being generated. Brady added on light-hearted banter between A-list ownership groups: "We're going to talk a lot of smack in the meantime between all of us [Birmingham and Wrexham], because it's pretty fun theatre, and I think there's some little friendly side bets going on. But make no mistake, the people who are going to decide the fate of those games are the players wearing those jerseys."

Leeds United are set for a busy summer of transfer business as they look to make sure that their squad is ready to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Athletic reporter Beren Cross has reported that Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff is one of the names on the club’s shortlist of targets to improve their midfield options. He claimed that no bid has been made for the English maestro, but he is an ‘experienced’ player that they like.

Longstaff only started eight times in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign and Leeds could look to offer him a chance to play more regularly next term.

The Championship champions, however, are reportedly looking at another star from the top-flight who would be a way better signing than the homegrown Magpies ace.

Leeds eyeing move for Brentford midfielder

According to CaughtOffside, Leeds United are one of the teams monitoring Brentford central midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, Everton, Wolves, Borussia Dortmund, and Napoli are all keeping tabs on the Ukraine international.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Bees are set to demand a fee of around £25m for the 21-year-old talent, and that no clubs have made any formal offers for his services as of yet.

Caught Offside adds that Brentford would prefer to keep hold of him to utilise his quality in the Premier League next term, but Leeds must now convince them to part ways with the young gem by meeting the £25m asking price.

Why Leeds should sign Yehor Yarmolyuk

Daniel Farke should push for the club to swoop for the Bees midfielder over a move for Longstaff because of his age profile and the quality that he could provide on the pitch.

He is six years younger than the Newcastle star, at the age of 21, and would arrive at Elland Road as a long-term addition to the group, whilst also being able to make an instant impact.

Yarmolyuk, who was described as a “dynamic” player by Thomas Frank, only started 15 of his 31 outings in the top-flight, but showed plenty of promise in the minutes that he did play.

If you look at his performances in comparison to Longstaff’s in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign, the Ukraine international appears to be the better option for Leeds on paper.

As you can see in the table above, Yarmolyuk could offer more to Farke’s team with his play both in and out of possession, particularly when it comes to progressing the ball into the attacking third whilst remaining efficient with his passes.

These statistics suggest that the Brentford ace is very similar, if not better, defensively to Longstaff, but is more effective at making things happen at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, the £25m-rated midfielder would be a significantly better signing than the Newcastle man because he can deliver more quality immediately, having outperformed him in the Premier League, whilst also offering more to the side in the long term due to his age.

He could be a terrific investment for the future, at the age of 21, whilst also being a Premier League proven star who can hit the ground running for Farke next season, which is why the Whites must seal a deal for him this summer.

The new Phillips: Leeds want to sign £15m star with "undeniable" potential

Leeds United are reportedly keen on a star who would be Daniel Farke’s own Kalvin Phillips.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 9, 2025

With Hardik Pandya losing the India vice-captaincy, and set to lead T20I captain Suryakumar Kumar at the IPL, could it make for a strained relationship? Not at all, says Suryakumar

Sreshth Shah21-Jan-20251:16

Manjrekar: India’s transition in T20Is has ‘happened quite easily’

Axar Patel has been promoted to being India’s vice-captain, and Hardik Pandya is no longer this team’s deputy. Could that affect T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav’s dynamics with Hardik, who, come the IPL, will be captaining Suryakumar? Not at all, Suryakumar said on the eve of the first T20I in Kolkata. He might not have the tag of vice-captain, but his “good friend” Hardik remains a key member of India’s T20I leadership group, Suryakumar said.”The relationship with him has been really great. We’ve been playing [together] for a really long time. I still remember that from 2018, when I went back to Mumbai Indians [we first played together] and [it’s the same] till today,” Suryakumar told the media in Kolkata. “It’s just that the added responsibility that I’ve got [here]. When we go back to franchise cricket, I can get to be quiet and relax for a little bit.”But we’ve been good friends on the field and we know what we want going forward with the India team. Axar has been given that added responsibility. We saw what he did in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he’s been with the team for a very long time. At the same time, Hardik is also part of the leading group. When we sit, we decide what we want to do with the team going forward and even on the field, he is always around. We have a lot of captains on the ground.”Related

• Powerhouse line-ups clash in a series that could test T20's limits

• Axar hints at flexible middle order as India gear up for England

• Buttler: We're blessed with bowlers that are capable batters

• McCullum promises entertainment as England white-ball era begins

• Shami puts in the hard yards at India's first training session ahead of England T20Is

Suryakumar – who also took his first steps towards being one of the great T20I batters of his generation under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders – feels the working relationship he has with Gambhir is rock-solid. Since Gambhir took over as coach in mid-2024, India have T20I series wins in Sri Lanka, at home against Bangladesh, and in South Africa, losing just one game across those three series. While their Test form might be under scrutiny, in T20Is, Suryakumar believes they are moving in the “right direction” with Gambhir.”I’ve played under Gambhir for four years, so I know how he works,” Suryakumar said. “Even without speaking to him, we know what we need to do. He wasn’t there on the tour of South Africa since he was preparing with the Test team, but we are moving in the right direction with him. He gives freedom, he allows players to express. He keeps things simple, he knows what is going inside a player’s head. He keeps things light and maintains a good atmosphere.”Sanju Samson is currently India’s first-choice keeper in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav confirmed•AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.

India’s T20 team is building towards a home World Cup – hosting rights for the tournament in February-March 2026 are split with Sri Lanka – where they will be defending champions. But Suryakumar doesn’t want to think that far ahead for now and instead “enjoy the journey”.”For me it is important that the T20 World Cup is one year away but I don’t want to think about that,” he said. “We want to enjoy the journey to that event instead. We want to make a team, understand which batters work well in which position, which bowlers can win you games single-handedly.”It’s important for a group to play lots of games in the lead up. That’s what Gauti and I will think about. We want to play with this group until the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.”

No Pant in India’s T20I plans?Neither Rishabh Pant nor KL Rahul is part of this T20I squad, with Sanju Samson – who scored three T20I centuries and maintained a strike rate of 180.16 in 2024 – the incumbent gloveman and Dhruv Jurel his understudy. Suryakumar said that’s a position which is sealed for now.”Currently, there’s no question mark on the wicketkeepers,” he said. “Sanju has done really well in the last 7-10 games and has shown what he’s capable of. It’s what we want from all our players, not just the wicketkeepers but from everyone – to keep the team first. He’s got that opportunity, he’s made full use of it. And I’m happy for him.”Generally, the atmosphere is great. We had a team dinner yesterday. This group has been together for 2-3 series now. The boys know what their team-mates like and don’t like. This camaraderie will reflect on the field as well.”

Harry Kane has “no reason to bow out” of the England fold after gracing the 2026 World Cup, says Three Lions legend Stuart Pearce.

• The Three Lions' all-time leading scorer
• Closing in on appearance record
• Expected to play on for some time yet

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Prolific striker Kane is currently captain of his country and continues to rewrite the history books. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for England’s men’s national team, with the target being found on 73 occasions through 107 appearances.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The expectation is that Kane will go on to break Peter Shilton’s cap record, which currently stands at 125. He should get close to that by the time that another major tournament rolls around next summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kane, who has suffered defeat in back-to-back European Championship finals, has broken his trophy curse at club level – as a Bundesliga title winner with Bayern Munich – and is determined to end the Three Lions’ long wait for tangible success.

• Getty
  

  WHAT PEARCE SAID

  Pearce – speaking in association with Freebets.com, home of best casino sites – believes a talismanic performer will continue for some time yet, telling GOAL when asked how much international football the 32-year-old frontman has left in him: “He’s got another World Cup in him next summer, then you are looking two years beyond that. He’ll be a 35-year-old.

  “He is incredibly professional. His game is not based on blistering speed. I see no reason at all to bow out. I saw Teddy Sheringham wheeling it out late on in his career. Teddy played with his head and I think Harry Kane does as well. I see no problem going forward. The big question mark will be, who’s coming along to dislodge him? At the moment, I’m not seeing anyone that is consistent enough.”

It was a strange old campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou led the club to European glory in the Europa League but also to their worst Premier League finish in a generation, which ultimately cost him his job.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable then to suggest that for much of the season, at least domestically, very few players stood out for the right reasons.

However, one star who stepped up during the first half of the season was Dejan Kulusevski, with his performance away to Manchester United a particular highlight.

Yet, perhaps in a sign of how ruthless the club now want to be, reports are linking them to a Premier League star who could well be an upgrade on the Swedish international.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting players linked with Spurs in recent weeks, such as Antoine Semenyo and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for around £60m this summer, and if that’s the case, he might be something of a steal, as in just 42 appearances this season, he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists.

Simons, on the other hand, looks set to cost a little more at around £65m, but as he’s still just 22 years old, produced 19 goal involvements in 33 games this season and has been described as “one of the best 10s in the world”, in the words of one analyst, that might be a fee worth paying.

Yet, when it comes to the player who could come to the club as an upgrade to Kulusevski, we should be looking closer to home at Eberechi Eze.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Paul O’Keefe, Spurs are still incredibly interested in the Crystal Palace superstar this summer.

Speaking on a recent edition of the Last Word on Spurs podcast, O’Keefe revealed that the club “would like to do that deal” in regards to the Eagles ace and that he is still “definitely on their radar.”

However, as other reports from this month have made clear, the North Londoners will need to stump up around £68m to activate the release clause in his contract.

It sounds like it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but it is worth pursuing, even if it could be bad news for Kulusevski.

How Eze compares to Kulusevski

So, the first thing to address is that while Eze is more than capable of playing out wide, he has spent the vast majority of this season in attacking midfield, which also happens to be where Kulusevski thrived this year.

So, there is a genuine chance that if Tottenham get their man this summer, the two players will be up against one another for game time next season.

In that case, who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when we take a look at their raw output from this season, which is ultimately what matters more than anything else, it’s the “unbelievable” Palace ace, as dubbed by Oliver Glasner, who comes out on top.

For example, in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes, the Englishman scored 14 goals – including the winner in the FA Cup – and provided 11 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

In contrast, the Swedish international scored ten goals and provided 11 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3450 minutes for the North Londoners this term, which comes out to a good but less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 164.28 minutes.

Okay then, what about when we take a look under the hood? Which star comes out on top when we compare their underlying numbers?

The former Juventus star does fare slightly better here, coming out ahead in metrics like progressive passes and carries.

Still, overall, this is another comparison he loses to the Eagles maestro, who edges him out in more relevant metrics, like expected and actual non-penalty goals, goal-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Kulusevski is an undeniably talented footballer, but from his output to the underlying numbers, Eze is an upgrade, and therefore, Spurs should do all they can to sign him this summer.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 10, 2025