The offspinner had played in all Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield games over the last two seasons

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2024Tasmania offspinner Jarrod Freeman has taken an indefinite break from cricket to manage his mental health.Freeman, 23, has played in all Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield matches over the last two seasons, taking 40 wickets at 46.00, and was part of the side that reached the final in the 2023-24 campaign.Last October he also played a key role with the bat in a famous Tasmania win as they chased down 432 against Queensland.”Cricket Tasmania extends its support to Jarrod during this leave period and values the importance of mental health,” Cricket Tasmania said in a statement. “The organisation hopes to see him return to cricket in the future.”Cricket Tasmania continues to support all athletes with appropriate mental health training and education, acknowledging the challenges professional athletes can face throughout their careers.”Tasmania have bolstered their spin resources in the off-season with the signing of Test left-armer Matt Kuhnemann from Queensland and Australia Under-19 offspinner Raf MacMillan on a rookie contract.Kuhnemann, who was recently on standby for Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, has moved states in a bid for more red-ball cricket having only played four first-class matches (three for Durham and one for Australia A) since featuring in the Test series against India early last year.Legspinner Mitchell Swepson was Queensland’s spin option in the Sheffield Shield last season although the pair played together as a key part of Brisbane Heat’s BBL title-winning side. Kuhnemann will remain with Heat for the 2024-25 season.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their possible pursuit of a new manager, with a reported target of chairman Daniel Levy’s now turning down a new contract at his current club.

Postecoglou could leave Tottenham after dismal Premier League season

It has been a domestic season to forget for current head coach Ange Postecoglou, who’s managed to equal Spurs’ record for most Premier League defeats in a single season with 19.

Tottenham favourites to appoint "exciting" manager over Bundesliga club

Contact has reportedly been made already.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 7, 2025

The unwanted record could yet be broken with three top flight matches still to play this term, with Postecoglou’s saving grace coming in the form of their Europa League campaign.

If Tottenham get past Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their semi-final in Norway this evening, the Lilywhites will book a place in the Bilbao final later this month, where they have a golden chance to win their first piece of major silverware since 2008.

However, this still may not be enough to save Postecoglou, with some reports claiming the 59-year-old could leave north London regardless of their success in Europe (The Telegraph).

In the event Levy does hand Postecoglou his P45, a succession of candidates are being tipped as potential candidates to replace the Australian, including Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The Portuguese has impressed at Craven Cottage this season, nearly guiding Fulham to a European place, and they briefly contended for a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.

This is despite the gap in quality between his Fulham side and fellow English competitors, not to mention lack of financial firepower, with Whites vice-chairman Tony Khan admitting that he’d absolutely love to keep Silva after his stellar work in west London.

“Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club,” he added. “He is such an amazing person, and he is so important to the football club. Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco, and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever. He is a huge part of what we have got going for the future and the present, and he is a great man.”

Marco Silva rejects new Fulham contract amid Tottenham interest

However, there are reports that Silva is tempted by a move to Tottenham, with journalist Pete O’Rourke claiming earlier this week that the 47-year-old is open to the prospect of a switch to N17. Now, fellow reporter Graeme Bailey has shared another significant update in a piece for The Boot Room.

It is believed Silva has rejected Fulham’s offer of a new contract, amid interest from Tottenham and Saudi side Al-Hilal, which is made all the more worrying given the 47-year-old is about to enter the final year of his current deal.

If Tottenham wish to appoint the former Everton and Hull City boss, this could come as a real boost, and they can bypass any talks with Fulham by triggering Silva’s £8 million release clause.

Silva has been praised as a “master” tactician by those who’ve worked under him, and Levy is believed to be a personal admirer (Football Insider).

Aston Villa gave their Champions League ambitions a massive boost after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Friday evening.

Spurs had one eye on the Europa League final next week, but Unai Emery’s side delivered a confident performance.

The game was even balanced before Villa opened the scoring courtesy of Ezri Konsa, who netted from six yards out following a flick-on from Ollie Watkins.

Boubacar Kamara doubled the lead 15 minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box that all but sealed the victory.

In the end, the three points were well deserved, and the starting XI was excellent. Konsa must receive extra praise, not just for his goal but also for how imperious he was at the heart of the defence.

Ezri Konsa’s game in numbers vs Spurs

The Englishman has missed just four Premier League games for Villa this season, becoming one of Emery’s key players as they seek to make the Champions League group stages yet again.

Although used on the right side of defence at times this season, Konsa is at his best in the middle, using his incredible physical strength to win duels.

Metric

Highest-Ranked

Accurate passes

Pau Torres (114)

Key passes

John McGinn (3)

Tackles

Amadou Onana (4)

Ground duels won

Amadou Onan (6)

Shots on target

Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins (2)

Via Sofascore

Against Spurs, he made three clearances and two tackles and won four of his six ground duels throughout the match.

Furthermore, he only lost possession twice and committed two fouls, but he was in total control against the North Londoners.

He will be integral to Villa should they finish in the top five and secure a spot in the promised land next term, that’s for sure, due to his fantastic defensive work.

Someone else who could also prove influential is Amadou Onana, who made just his fifth league start since the beginning of February on Friday evening.

Amadou Onana is now undroppable for Aston Villa

While plaudits have gone to Youri Tielemans for the superb job he has done in the Villa midfield this term, Onana may give Emery plenty to think about due to his display against Spurs.

The Belgian not only completed 91% of his passes, but he also succeeded with 100% of his dribbles, made a single key pass, and lost the ball only four times when he was on the pitch, which shows how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.

Four tackles and winning six of his seven ground duels proved his tenacious nature was on show for all to see, and it certainly gave the likes of Morgan Rogers and Marco Asensio more freedom to express themselves in the final third, as he constantly broke up Spurs attacks to regain possession for his side.

Journalist John Townley gave the former Everton man a rating of 8/10, saying that ‘Onana covered ground effortlessly and showed his range in possession, playing accurate balls out wide and combining well in tight areas. A strong all-round showing’, which shows that he was as good and as effective as Konsa.

Villa need to win their final game against Manchester United, who will either be on a high or despondent after the Europa League final in midweek, to secure a top-five finish in the top flight, and Onana’s performance against Spurs shows that he should be undroppable heading into that match.

If they perform like they did against Spurs, United will stand no chance.

Aston Villa eyeing "unbelievable" £51m star who impressed in front of Emery

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ByTom Cunningham May 17, 2025

Bangladesh made just one change to the squad that sealed a 2-0 series win in Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2024

Bangladesh made one change to their Test squad for the upcoming tour of India from their historic 2-0 series win in Pakistan, with uncapped batter Jaker Ali replacing fast bowler Shoriful Islam. Shoriful had suffered a groin injury during the first Test against Pakistan, and did not play the second.Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed make up Bangladesh’s pace attack in Shoriful’s absence.Yet to play a Test and ODI, Jaker has represented Bangladesh in 17 T20Is since making his debut at the Asian Games in 2023. He has played 49 first-class games, and averages 41.47 with four centuries.Selector Hannan Sarkar said that it was Shoriful’s groin injury that kept him out of the side, and the extra batter was included keeping in mind the Indian conditions.”Shoriful isn’t 100 per cent fit for Test matches. He would be required to bowl 15-20 overs so we didn’t want to take a risk,” Sarkar said. “Shoriful missed the second Test against Pakistan due to his injury. The physios and trainers are looking after him. He remains within the system. He is an important member of our white-ball team. We have a T20 series coming up against India.”Jaker’s recent good form, which included a 174 against Pakistan A in Islamabad, helped his cause. He was picked ahead of Shahadat Hossain, who has been Bangladesh’s go-to middle-order batter in the recent past in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan or Mushfiqur Rahim.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We picked Jaker Ali as a middle-order batter. We considered the conditions and opponents for this decision. We had taken five pacers in Pakistan, but we are taking four to India,” Sarkar said. “We had taken Dipu [Shahadat Hossain] in place of Shakib or Mushfiqur previously. I wouldn’t say he played really well, but he also didn’t do badly.”We have taken into account recent performance. Dipu played four-day matches in Australia and Pakistan. He isn’t in rhythm. His form is very important when he is going to play international matches. Dipu is part of our future plans. He is now preparing to play in the NCL.”Jaker can be a useful player in the longer version if you consider his record in domestic first-class cricket. He played a splendid innings in Pakistan recently, batting for a long time. This is what kept Jaker a step ahead.”Opening batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who missed the Pakistan Tests due to a groin niggle suffered during the four-day games between Pakistan A and Bangladesh A in the lead-up to the Test series, retains his place in the squad. However, Shadman Islam’s impressive showing in the first Test in Rawalpindi could see him keep his spot at the top alongside Zakir Hasan.The first Test against India begins on September 19 in Chennai, with the second one from September 27 onwards in Kanpur. Both games are part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, where India are currently placed on top, while Bangladesh are at No. 4 on the points table.Bangladesh squad for India TestsNajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Taijul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Nayeem Hasan, Khaled Ahmed

Chelsea are convinced a marquee Brazilian would be a star for Enzo Maresca next season, and a move for the player is expected to happen “soon”.

Chelsea agree Liam Delap deal as BlueCo continue forward search

Earlier this week, Chelsea reached an agreement over the signing of Ipswich striker Liam Delap, with the Englishman, barring any unexpected surprises, looking set to become their first completed deal of the summer.

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The 22-year-old had alternative offers on the table, particularly from Man United, Newcastle and Everton, but Delap started to give his preference to Chelsea after they qualified for the Champions League (talkSPORT).

Rank

Team

Points

GD

Man City

71

+28

Chelsea

69

+21

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

Reports then began emerging that Delap had fully agreed to join Chelsea after being convinced of the project, with Maresca now also said to have played a “crucial” role in convincing the ex-Man City starlet to choose a Stamford Bridge move.

Delap is now also set for a medical at Cobham ahead of a £30 million switch from Portman Road.

While Chelsea are closing in on the Englishman, this doesn’t appear to be the end of their search for new forwards. Now that they’ve qualified for the Champions League, and with many squad members potentially leaving to raise even more funds, there is a chance that Chelsea sign two strikers this summer.

As well as this, BlueCo are targeting a winger, as heavily reported, and one name high on their transfer shortlist is Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

The Brazil international is valued at £84 million by Real, following his 23 goal contributions over 50 appearances last season (13 goals, 10 assists), so Chelsea would need to invest significantly in his capture as they also “push” for Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké (Florian Plettenberg).

Chelsea convinced Rodrygo would be a star for Enzo Maresca

Spanish newspaper Diario AS, and their reporter Eduardo Burgos, share some interesting details on Chelsea’s links to the 24-year-old.

Chelsea believe Rodrygo could be one of Maresca’s “crown jewels” next season, envisaging a key role in the squad for him. While London rivals Arsenal have already held informal discussions over the £202,000-per-week attacker, Chelsea are expected to do the same “soon”.

Burgos writes that Chelsea are intent on making a “statement” this summer and anticipate a very busy window, especially after confirming their spot in the Champions League, and Rodrygo “ticks all the boxes”.

“Rodrygo, so underrated,” said Jude Bellingham about his Real teammate.

“For me he’s probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football — we’ll be messing around and he’ll flick the ball up somehow and you’re like, ‘How do you do that?’. I’m trying to do it, twisting up my ankles and everything like that. He’s a pleasure to play with.”

Liverpool hardly need a rebuild, and could likely go again next season, qualifying for the Champions League and competing for major trophies, with just minimal investment.

But FSG are prepared to reward Arne Slot for winning the Premier League in his first year in charge by making a ferocious statement of intent in the market.

Already, the Reds have signed Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold; Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz are in talks to follow.

But it’s not just incomings on sporting director Richard Hughes’ mind. Liverpool have a few potential high-profile exits to contend with.

Liverpool transfer exit news

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is expected to leave this summer, having been persistently linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League. La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have also shown an interest.

Having scored only seven times across all competitions for Slot’s side, the 25-year-old would probably be best off wiping the slate clean and trying his hand elsewhere, especially since plans have been drawn up for a new number nine.

Though Nunez is tenacious and likeable, there’s no doubt he’s regressed in a Liverpool shirt over the past year, incongruous and ineffective as the frontman of Slot’s set-up.

24/25

45

1,982′

7

7

23/24

54

3,026′

18

15

22/23

42

2,366′

15

4

On the note of players in need of a switch, Harvey Elliott has admitted on England U21 duty that he may need to leave Anfield this summer.

Elliott, 21, is a boyhood Liverpool supporter and a special creative talent, but his opportunities have been limited since Klopp departed, and a move away might be for the benefit of his career.

However, Liverpool may not just be selling those they wish to part with. Indeed, Luis Diaz is being mooted for a move to Saudi Arabia, and it might prove a bigger mistake than many are anticipating.

Why selling Luis Diaz would be a mistake

Liverpool acted swiftly to replace Sadio Mane with Diaz before their Senegalese legend had even left the club. In January 2022, FSG purchased Diaz from Porto in a deal, rising to £49m, and his predecessor stayed on until the end of the campaign.

When Liverpool sold Mane to Bayern Munich, however, they perhaps didn’t grasp how out of kilter it would knock Klopp’s side. The 2022/23 season sits as an infamous outlier across the illustrious span of Klopp’s tenure, a dark and permanent blot on his copybook.

Though Mane objectively reached a higher level of quality than Diaz, the Colombian is still one of the most important parts of Slot’s system, and he’s just come off his most productive campaign too, having posted 17 goals and eight assists across 50 appearances.

Regarded as a “world-class player” in the view of his former German boss, at least, Diaz’s unique value for Slot has been further underscored by his regular deployment as a false nine, combating an absence of reliable central striking options.

Diaz might be happy at Liverpool, but the riches of the Saudi Pro League could tempt him to pack up and leave off the back of winning the Premier League.

According to Foot Mercato, talks appear to have already begun, with Al-Hilal having established contacts with the 28-year-old as they sound out a bid.

Liverpool were warned that losing the “irreplaceable” Mane would “knock them sideways” by former star Dean Saunders in 2022, and this proved to be the case – in the short term, at least.

Diaz has done a rather good job in the years since, now a Carabao Cup and Premier League champion in the seasons since Mane’s departure.

Given the need to make numerous signings this summer, maybe Liverpool would be better off warding away interest in their dynamic left winger.

Move over Wirtz: Liverpool can sign Salah's next Firmino in £84m "magician"

Mohamed Salah is going to have some exciting new attacking talent alongside him next season.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 8, 2025

Some states would be without big names if the IPL is slotted in later this year

Andrew McGlashan28-May-2020+ donates Cricket Australia contracted playerAlex Carey (South Australia/Delhi Capitals) +Australia’s limited-overs wicketkeeper has previously spoken about the challenge of building his red-ball game with ODI and T20 duty often keeping him out of the Sheffield Shield. Depending on the length of any IPL overlap with the Australian season, he could again miss a significant chunk of games, especially if the Shield season is also reduced due to Covid-19-related cuts. From South Australia’s point of view, they would lose a senior figure at a time when they are looking to rebuild under a new head coach who is yet to be named.Nathan Coulter-Nile (TBC/Mumbai Indians)Less than a year after being in the World Cup squad, Coulter-Nile dropped off the CA contract list and that is likely to signal the end of his international career. It has also been reported that he is set to miss the Western Australia list but may sign up for another state. Else he could well see his future as being in T20 leagues.Pat Cummins (New South Wales/Kolkata Knight Riders) +One of four New South Wales players with IPL contracts who the state is used to not seeing due to their international commitments. Cummins, who set a record as the most expensive overseas player with a US$2.2 million deal, played one Shield match before the Test season last year and it could be something similar in 2020-21 if the IPL does find a home in October.Josh Hazlewood during a one-day outing for New South Wales•Getty ImagesAaron Finch (Victoria/Royal Challengers Bangalore) +As ODI and T20I captain, Finch is another whose international duties can limit appearances for Victoria but although his brief Test career is behind him, he would no doubt be an asset to their top order when available.Josh Hazlewood (New South Wales/Chennai Super Kings) +Unlike Cummins, he is not part of Australia’s T20I set-up so he would potentially be available a little more for New South Wales outside of Test duty but is now back in the ODI team. Last season he played two Shield matches before the series against Pakistan and New ZealandMitchell Marsh (Western Australia/Sunrisers Hyderabad) +Marsh is eager to restate his credentials to be Australia’s Test allrounder after missing the first half of last season having broken his hand punching the dressing room wall and then earning a recall to the limited-overs side, which meant he only made one Shield appearance. Having regained his CA contract last month, Marsh is one of four Western Australia players with an IPL deal.Josh Philippe began the season with a rapid half-century•Getty ImagesGlenn Maxwell (Victoria/Kings XI Punjab) +One of the gun T20 players in the world, Maxwell’s chances of forcing his way back into Test contention are probably gone but he remains a player who can add plenty of value to Victoria’s four-day side when available and would be a lock for the Marsh Cup.Josh Philippe (Western Australia/Royal Challengers Bangalore)One of the rising stars in Australian cricket, it is T20s where Philippe has really caught the attention and had a superb 2019-2020 Big Bash as he helped the Sydney Sixers to the title. He also played five Shield matches last season and was settling into a middle-order role in the second half of the campaign.Kane Richardson (South Australia/Royal Challengers Bangalore) +Not a regular in South Australia’s Shield team – he has played taken just two first-class wickets in three games over the last two seasons – amid selection, injury and Australia limited-overs duty but he would be part of the Marsh Cup side.Steven Smith (New South Wales/Rajasthan Royals) +New South Wales enjoyed having Smith around for the early part of last season as he scored two hundreds in three matches to help put them on course for their eventual title. But they also have a batting order that knows how to manage without big names.David Warner celebrates his century•Getty ImagesBilly Stanlake (Queensland/Sunrisers Hyderabad)Stanlake’s chances of being part of the T20 World Cup squad appeared to have drifted away after he dropped out of the side following the early-season matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan last year then endured a poor Big Bash for the Adelaide Strikers. The four Shield matches he played last year represent half his career total although eight wickets at 38.62 showed he remained a work in progress.Marcus Stoinis (Western Australia/Delhi Captials)Stoinis lost his CA contract last month despite a record-breaking Big Bash for the Melbourne Stars and faces a challenge to resurrect his international career. He has spoken of the desire to push for a Test slot – he was briefly part of the squad in the 2018-19 season – but a batting average of 30.61 and bowling return of 34.50 in eight matches last season did not hammer down the door. If he and Marsh are both at the IPL, there could be a lot on Cameron Green’s plate in the allrounder role for Western Australia if he is allowed to bowl again.Andrew Tye (Western Australia/Rajasthan Royals)Very much a white-ball specialist having not played a first-class game since 2018, Tye had a truncated 2019-2020 season after suffering an elbow injury which meant he did not play after October and missed the entire BBL. Was part of Western Australia’s Marsh Cup side before injury struck.David Warner (New South Wales/Sunrisers Hyderabad) +Like Smith, Warner had an impact for New South Wales during his brief Shield appearances last season with a crucial century at the Gabba to set up an opening victory. But once again, New South Wales may not see much of him.Other Australians at the IPLChris Green (Kolkata Knight Riders), Chris Lynn (Mumbai Indians) and Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings) were also due to be involved in the Shield tournament but they do not have state contracts. Green and Lynn have BBL deals – with Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat respectively – while Watson no longer plays in Australian domestic cricket.

Khurram Shahzad has not fully recovered from the side injury he picked up during the Bangladesh series

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2024

Pakistan have retained Shan Masood as their captain for the first match of their three-Test series against England, which begins in Multan on October 7. Aamer Jamal has found a place in their 15-member squad following his return from a back issue, while Khurram Shahzad, who took a six-wicket haul in the second Test against Bangladesh, misses out having failed to fully recover from an injury to his left side.Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who didn’t feature in the Bangladesh series, returns to the side as a second frontline spin option alongside Abrar Ahmed.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

There was some scrutiny around Masood’s position in the aftermath of the 2-0 home Test series defeat to Bangladesh earlier this month, but he retains the role for now, with Pakistan looking to overturn a run of poor results in the longest format. They have lost each of their last five Test matches, all with Masood in charge, and they are on a 10-match winless streak in home Tests.One piece of positive news for Pakistan is the return of the fast-bowling allrounder Jamal, their most impressive performer on their 2023-24 tour of Australia. Jamal has been dealing with lower-back issues over recent months, and didn’t take part in the series against Bangladesh. He has since returned to 50-overs action in the Champions Cup.This is counterbalanced, however, by the absence of Shahzad. He picked up the side injury during the second Test against Bangladesh, and was expected to be fit in time for the England series when a fracture was ruled out, but he hasn’t yet staged a complete recovery.Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh series, have been left out. A PCB release said both “remain firmly in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.”The players selected in the Test squad have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to enable them to rest before the start of the England series. The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with their pre-series training camp starting on October 1.Pakistan squad for first Test against EnglandShan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Arsenal are now in “advanced” talks to sign a marquee player ahead of interest from Premier League champions Liverpool, with new sporting director Andrea Berta reportedly making an eventful start to life as Edu’s successor.

Mikel Arteta's future questioned after trophyless Arsenal season

Discounting the Community Shield, it has been five years since Arsenal last won a major trophy.

Arsenal risk Huijsen repeat after Zubimendi update involving Real Madrid

The Gunners have already been hijacked by La Liga’s heavyweights.

By
Emilio Galantini

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Mikel Arteta guided them to FA Cup glory during the COVID pandemic in 2020, clinching a piece of silverware amid his first campaign in charge of the club, but there has been precious little in the way of honours since then.

You can make a serious argument that this is largely down to Man City’s invincibility over the last few years, barring this campaign, with Arsenal racking up a brilliant 89 points last term only for Pep Guardiola’s side to eventually take all the plaudits.

As per the above table, Arsenal have invested significantly in the squad, and some debate is even beginning to arise over whether Arteta is the right manager to end the club’s two-decade-long-plus wait for a league title.

They’ve undoubtedly evolved into an elite-level side under Arteta’s tenure, as their run to the Champions League semi-finals highlights, so reports of a potential exit for the 43-year-old have been few and far between, with the consensus being that Arsenal are continuing to show faith in him.

“It’s a great achievement, in 2025, to not win a trophy for five years and still be the manager at a top club that isn’t under pressure – from us, from anybody in the football community or even anyone in the Arsenal fanbase,” said Sky pundit Gary Neville.

“That’s an incredible achievement because we thought those days were gone whereby you can have this type of patience being afforded to you. I think it’s a good thing: normally with five years without a trophy you’d ordinarily see a manager be under pressure.

“That’s significant in that you think there is progression.”

Arsenal in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres

However, this may not last for long if Arsenal don’t end their trophy drought soon, and Berta has every intention of backing Arteta with key signings that will reinforce the squad and hand Arteta the best possible chance of achieving glory. Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is a top target, according to widespread reports.

The “massively underrated” Sweden international appears destined to leave Sporting after a haul of 50 goals in all competitions, and some media sources suggest Arsenal have already offered him personal terms worth £135,000-per-week to join them (A Bola).

Now, CaughtOffside shares some more intriguing news about the saga. The outlet reports that Arsenal’s talks to sign Gyokeres are at an “advanced” stage, and they are currently leading the chase for his signature ahead of both Liverpool and Man United.

Arteta’s side are apparently closing in on a five-year deal for the striker, but CO claim it is actually worth around £9 million-per-year, rather than the previously mooted £7 million.

While Liverpool and United are still contending, it is reiterated that Arsenal are in pole position, with the ex-Coventry City star, who has an £84 million release clause in his contract, seemingly nearing a return to England.

Despite interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Kenan Yildiz has chosen loyalty over glamour, opting to commit to a long-term Juventus contract.

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• Yildiz close to signing deal until 2030 with Juventus
• Rejected offers from Bayern Munich and Barcelona
• Starred in Club World Cup with three goals and two assists

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yildiz has rejected transfer interest from both Bayern and Barcelona, choosing instead to stay at Juventus. According to , the 20-year-old Turkish international has agreed in principle to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2030, with a significant wage increase to match his growing importance.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yildiz has become the face of Juventus' future. After impressing during the Club World Cup, scoring three goals and assisting two in just 251 minutes, he is being positioned as the centrepiece of the team's long-term sporting and commercial projects. With many Bianconeri players reportedly up for sale, Yildiz is one of the few considered truly untouchable.

• WHAT YILDIZ SAID

  On his bond with Juventus and his long-term ambitions, Yildiz said in a recent interview: “Staying at Juventus for the rest of my life would be a dream for me.”

  Reflecting on the unpredictability of football, he added: “But in football, you never know what can happen. I prefer to enjoy the present without thinking too much about the future.”

  Speaking about the responsibility of wearing the iconic No.10 shirt, Yildiz explained: “It's an honour to wear this number, but it's me who plays, not the number on my back. The weight of the shirt is the same for everyone.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The 2005-born Turk's new contract is expected to be signed soon, with only minor formalities remaining. Once confirmed, Juventus will have secured a rising star amid growing transfer speculation. With Barcelona and Bayern now effectively shut out, the Bianconeri will look to build their future squad around the young winger.