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Everton could be an appealing destination for players on the move this summer and they could now be close to one of their first signings at Bramley Moore Dock following recent developments.

Everton making inroads ahead of exciting summer window

The Toffees are in a secure place under David Moyes and optimism is beginning to grow ahead of next campaign, with several arrivals mooted to be on the way.

Financially, Everton are expected to have a healthy budget to play with in comparison with recent years, even if they will need to bare PSR regulations in mind like most of their other Premier League competitors.

With that said, Moyes has told the Toffees’ hierarchy to sign Evan Ferguson alongside Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap as part of a two-pronged striker solution to firm up his pool of offensive options.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set to become a free agent, so it is anticipated by many that he could be the first domino to fall in a long line of Everton stars that could exit during the off-season.

Everton’s long list of potential departures

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Contract expiry

Seamus Coleman

Contract expiry

Ashley Young

Contract expiry

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Contract expiry

Idrissa Gana Gueye

Contract expiry

Joao Virginia

Contract expiry

Asmir Begovic

Contract expiry

Michael Keane

Contract expiry

Orel Mangala

Loan expiry

Jesper Lindstrom

Loan expiry – option to buy

Armando Broja

Loan expiry – option to buy

Jack Harrison

Loan expiry

Carlos Alcaraz

Loan expiry – obligation to buy

Ultimately, change is in the water on the blue half of the Mersey. Moyes has taken his side to a comfortable footing in the league standings, but their habit of dicing with the bottom three in recent years is something supporters want to become a thing of the past.

Savvy additions are needed to combat that scenario, and Everton could now be closing in on a smart summer addition following recent reports.

Everton confident they can sign Tom Fellows from West Bromwich Albion

According to TBR, Everton are confident they can sign Tom Fellows from West Bromwich Albion and have received a boost in their pursuit due to the fact the 21-year-old wants to move to Bramley Moore Dock.

After running out of time to sign him in January for £12 million, it is anticipated that a fee of £15 million plus add-ons would be enough to lure the playmaker away from the Hawthorns this summer.

Everton now racing Inter Milan to sign "devastating" £20m Serie A attacker

The Toffees want to cut a deal.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 18, 2025

Labelled “wonderful” by Tony Mowbray, Fellows has registered two goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances this campaign as his side remain with an outside chance of sneaking into the EFL Championship playoff slots.

Logically, stepping up to the Premier League would be the next step for the winger/playmaker, and Everton may be a match made in heaven due to their similar upward trajectories.

All parties appear to share a determination to get a deal done, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Fellows arrive on Merseyside over the next few months.

Celtic are well down the line in their hunt for the Scottish Premiership title and could now be set to offload one of Brendan Rodgers’ signings at the club come the summer window, per reports.

Celtic are set for movement in both directions this summer

The Bhoys are closing in on a fourth Scottish Premiership title in succession and could also land a domestic clean sweep should they advance by St Johnstone and one of Heart of Midlothian or Aberdeen in the latter stages of the Scottish Cup.

Continuing their proactive nature off the pitch, Celtic expect Kieran Tierney to arrive from Arsenal on a pre-contract ahead of 2025/26, replacing the outgoing Greg Taylor amid the latter opting not to sign an extension at Parkhead.

In light of Rodgers’ admission that the Scotland international is set to leave, Dinamo Zagreb have put a lucrative proposal on the table to Taylor that may see him earn a significant increase in wages if he opts for a switch to the reigning Croatian champions.

Alternatively, Celtic could move for £5 million-rated Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha to provide an extra dimension on the flanks. Daizen Maeda has recently transitioned to a central-striking role, and it is likely the Japan international will remain the preferred option in attack should he remain at the club.

Celtic and Rodgers can now sign "excellent" long-term target for just £4.2m

The Hoops tried to snap him up mid-season.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 5, 2025

Exciting times are on the horizon for the Bhoys, but they must trim where possible to ensure they have a balance when registering players for next campaign’s Champions League qualifying play-off round.

Now, Rodgers and company could have the opportunity to sell one of his first signings upon returning to Glasgow, per recent developments.

Celtic could sell Luis Palma as he wants permanent departure

According to Futbol Centroamerica, Celtic winger Luis Palma has no intention of staying at Parkhead once his loan spell at Olympiacos comes to an end.

The Hoops now want to sell the Honduras international to the Greek giants for the £3.3 million option inserted in his initial deal, though they are also open to dropping their price lower.

Appearances

48

Goals

10

Assists

10

From a personal standpoint, sources close to £16,000-per-week Palma have cited mistreatment while in Glasgow as a reason behind his desire to move on in the summer. Should Olympiacos activate his clause, it is believed that he will join the club on a four-year contract.

Labelled “a brilliant lad” by Rodgers, the 25-year-old has registered one goal and an assist during his temporary stint in Greece. Ultimately, despite moments of brilliance at Celtic, his style of play never really fitted the high-octane framework his parent side operate within.

Jota and Maeda are said to offer adequate cover on the left flank, so it comes as no surprise that the Scottish Premiership champions are now willing to cut their losses on Palma after failing to find a place for him in their plans.

The 21-year-old has been appointed Guyana’s vice-captain as they prepare to defend their four-day title in the West Indies Championship

Deivarayan Muthu29-Jan-2025Guyana’s Matthew Nandu had a rousing start to his career, scoring a century on first-class debut and almost repeating the feat on List A debut, in 2023. He then suffered a slump in form but is rising again, having topped the run-charts for Guyana in the 2024 Super 50 competition, with 260 runs in six innings at an average of 43.33. The 21-year-old has now been appointed Guyana’s vice-captain as they prepare to defend their four-day title in the West Indies Championship, which will kick off on January 29.Guyana will open their campaign against Barbados at Providence. Nandu has fond memories of his 126, spanning over eight hours, against the same opposition on debut in North Sound almost two years ago.”Before making my debut I was nervous but after I got a hundred it was a special feeling,” Nandu recalled, speaking to ESPNcricinfo during a camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai in December 2024. “Yes, not many people can say that they have a hundred on debut, but I think we can now leave that behind and keep moving forward. “I don’t want to look back at the past, I want to continue looking at tomorrow and what it brings.”Nandu prepared for West Indies’ domestic season by facing a variety of spinners on a variety of surfaces, including black and red, in Chennai. He hopes he can incorporate the Chennai lessons against spinners in the Caribbean.”I’ve been able to figure out ways to score off the spinners in the middle, especially against left-arm spin, and the coaches have given me some good pointers,” Nandu says. “I think what the coaches have passed on over this past week and a half, it’s been very helpful towards my game. I came here with an open mind, looking to learn as much as I possibly can and try and incorporate as much as I can towards my game. So, when I get the time to go back home and put in the work, I’ll definitely focus on the things that I learnt here and try and make it more consistent towards my game.”Related

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While Guyana continues to produce new heroes – Shamar Joseph is the latest poster boy of the region – cricket isn’t as popular in Canada, where Nandu grew up. Nandu played a number of sports, including baseball, basketball and ice hockey, when he was young, but he was always hooked to cricket, which is in his blood. Matthew is the son of Arjune, the former West Indies Under-19s and Guyana legspinner, who played four first-class matches before he moved to Canada. His uncle Richard Jodah has also represented Guyana in youth cricket.During the off-season in Canada, Nandu used to travel to Guyana and went onto emulate his father by playing for both West Indies Under-19s and Guyana. Against Papua New Guinea in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup at Diego Martin in Trinidad, he made 128 off 134 balls to go with two wickets with the ball.”I’ve had my dad work with me since I was a kid, so he’s played a big part in my journey as well; I’ve had the support from my mom and my brother and my uncle as well,” Nandu says. “I’ve been working hard towards my game since I was about nine-ten years old, fell in love with the game and found my way in Guyana, playing trials and stuff like that to get to the next level, so just looking to continue moving forward and taking one game and one opportunity at a time.”Matthew Nandu hones his defence at the CSK Academy in Chennai•Super Kings AcademyWhile these are still early days in his first-class career, Nandu has displayed stickability, which was the calling card of his hero and Guyanese great Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Nandu also idolises current West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope, who had handed out his maiden CPL cap at Guyana Amazon Warriors.”He’s not playing now but I looked up to Shiv Chanderpaul growing up,” Nandu says. “I think right now, it’s Shai Hope – the way he goes about his game and his mannerisms on and off the field. I feel special that Shai was the one who gave me the [CPL] cap and hopefully I’m looking forward to that happening in the future.”Shai was very open. He always wanted to share his knowledge with me, and I tried to work as much as I could with him, to learn as much as I can. And he was always open to share his experiences, and I took that with both arms.”You can be fairly certain Nandu wasn’t talking about getting another cap from Hope for any other team in domestic or franchise cricket.”Well, yeah, it [playing for West Indies] is the ultimate goal, but I think it’s one thing, getting to the level is one thing…but staying there and performing every game is another thing,” he says. “So, it comes more so with the mindset and working on that every day, every game. Just want to continue to have that right mindset.”

Also, is the weather likely to hold up? Here’s everything you need to know about the showpiece event’s final between India and Australia

Abhimanyu Bose05-Jun-2023What is the WTC final? Is it a big deal?
The WTC final is essentially like the World Cup final, but for Test cricket. Since 2002, the ICC has awarded a trophy annually to the team that has topped the rankings, but since 2019, they began the World Test Championship (WTC), which sees nine teams compete in two-year cycles in a league. The top-two teams eventually face off in the final.Who won last time?
The final in 2021 was the first ever, held in Southampton. New Zealand became the inaugural champions after beating India.Related

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India keep their options open as Oval build-up intensifies

How did India and Australia get here this time?
The 2021-23 cycle of the WTC kicked off with India’s tour of England in August 2021. India took a 2-1 lead in the series, but the fifth game was postponed to 2022, and England won that to draw the series 2-2. In between, India won a home series 1-0 against New Zealand and then travelled to South Africa, where they were beaten 2-1. It was also after this series that their Test captaincy was passed on from Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma.India then blanked Sri Lanka 2-0 at home, before that fifth Test against England. Their next Test series saw them go to Bangladesh, where they swept the hosts 2-0. But they were still not sure of qualifying when they faced Australia at home in their final series as part of the WTC cycle. However, a 2-1 series win, coupled with favourable results from Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand sealed second place for them.Australia, meanwhile, had started their WTC campaign with an emphatic 4-0 Ashes win at home. A three-Test tour of Pakistan followed, and after draws in the first two games, Australia won the decider in Lahore. Then in Sri Lanka, Australia took the lead in the series, but the hosts won the second Test as the series finished 1-1.That followed another dominant home summer, which started with a 2-0 sweep of West Indies followed by a 2-0 win against South Africa in a three-Test series. However, Australia still hadn’t secured their position in the WTC final when they went to India, but their solitary win of the tour, which came in Indore, and the draw in Ahmedabad were enough to see them qualify.Pat Cummins is all geared up for the WTC final•ICC via Getty ImagesWhat ball will they play with in the final?
The Dukes ball, which is used primarily in England, Ireland and the West Indies, will be used for the final.What happens if the Test is drawn or tied?
In that scenario, both Australia and India will share the WTC trophy for the 2021-23 cycle.Why are they playing at The Oval and not Lord’s?
The ICC wanted a “clean” venue in terms of sponsorships, and Lord’s has some deals in place which made it untenable for the final. Lord’s was supposed to host the 2019-21 WTC final too, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced it to be shifted to Southampton, where it was easier to maintain a bio-bubble for the teams.Have they played many Tests at The Oval in June?
None at all. In fact, this will be the first time that The Oval will be hosting a Test in June. The earliest a Test has started there during the English summer is July 8 in 1982, when England drew against India, as Ian Botham scored a double-century.When will the sixth day be used?
The WTC final does have a reserve day scheduled. But it will be used only if there has been play lost due to bad weather across the regular five days, they are unable to make up for it in those five days, and no result has been reached by the end of day five. The 2019-21 WTC final saw the first day completely washed out, and the game eventually went into the reserve day.What’s the weather forecast?
London is expected to stay mostly sunny through the first three days and the fifth day of the WTC final. However, there are spotty showers of rain expected in the afternoon on day four. The reserve day, should it come into play, is also expected to have clear weather.The 2021 WTC final was interrupted by rain, forcing a sixth day into action•ICC/Getty ImagesAre the teams at full strength?
Unfortunately, neither team can claim to be at full strength. Josh Hazlewood, who picked up a side soreness during the IPL, was replaced in Australia’s squad by Michael Neser three days before the big game. Meanwhile, India will be without key players like Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.How have India and Australia prepared for the final?
India trained at Arundel in Sussex for nearly a week, before moving to London for the final few days of preparation. While a majority of their contingent arrived in England in batches after the IPL, Cheteshwar Pujara, who did not get an IPL gig this year, has been playing for Sussex in the County Championship.The Australian team also began preparations as a group after members joined them following the IPL. Some of their players too, like Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Neser, have had red-ball prep by playing county cricket. In fact, Smith and Pujara were team-mates at Sussex this year. Australia trained for three days in Beckenham before moving to London.What are they playing for?
The winners will not only be awarded the Test mace, but will also get a prize of $1.6 million. The runners-up will go home with $800,000.

The 15-year-old left-arm leggie from Afghanistan speaks ahead of his BBL stint with Melbourne Renegades

George Dobell09-Nov-2020Tell us a little about how you got in to cricket?Cricket is the most famous sport in Afghanistan. I used to watch the Afghanistan national team matches on TV and cheer them. I dreamed that one day I would play for my country and I still have that dream now. I played cricket at home with my elder brothers, some of them had played at the local cricket academy too. When my elder brother, Mohamad Noor, saw my passion, love and talent he told me to join an academy in Khost province. Things took off from there.Where did your talent for wrist spin come from?I was playing with my brothers at home and I tried to bowl wrist spin and day by day my bowling was getting very good and also I was watching Rashid Khan bowling on TV and learnt too much that way.How did you discover you could turn the ball so far?Playing at home with brothers, school friends or in the village, I noticed the batters found it hard to judge my wrist spin and play me easily. That gave me motivation. Then my family sent me to the cricket academy in Khost province.Do you see your googly as your big weapon?At the last Under-19 World Cup, I bowled a lot of googlies but I had lost some trust in that delivery, to spin the ball away from right-handed batsmen. So when I came back from the World Cup, I started to work even harder to turn the ball both ways. Now, I can turn the ball both ways and can bowl the straighter one too.ALSO READ: 20 cricketers for the 2020sAre you working on anything in particular?As a professional cricketer, like in any sport, I find it helpful to just keep going regularly to practice and playing some local matches too in Khost province along with Afghanistan national, A team, and Under-19 players. Working on lines and lengths in match conditions is very helpful. And target bowling. I work on my fielding a lot also.What is your ultimate dream? Test cricket? World Cups? To be a T20 franchise star?I work hard to keep performing well and trying to impress selectors so I can represent my country in all three formats. Test cricket is a big dream for every player. Personally I think if you do well for your country, all the world cricket league franchises’ eyes are on you to follow you and buy you in their own leagues. We have a live example in Khost, with Mujeeb. He performed well in the Under-19 World Cup and was then bought by Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. A similar thing happened with me. I was selected by St Lucia in the CPL but because of the Coronavirus lockdown I couldn’t get my visa in time to play.Have you ever been star struck? Are you looking forward to bowling to Virat Kohli or AB de Villiers at some stage?Not so much but definitely watching guys like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Steve Smith… they are the big stars around the world and are a big inspiration for youngsters who want to follow their path and become like them. It will be a dream come true when I bowl to them. Hopefully I’ll get them out too!Is there anyone you’re testing your bowling against?I tested myself against our national stars – they’re all big-hitters – in the Shpageeza Cricket League. I have now had two good Shpageeza League campaigns in 2019 and 2020 [the first was when Noor was just 14] and had good economy rates and wicket numbers, too. I got the Emerging Player Award at my first Shpageeza before playing the Under-19 World Cup. We Afghans have many big hitters in the cricket world and many of them represent different franchises. Bowling to them on a flat surface with small boundaries in Shpageeza… that has given me confidence having tested myself against them. But still I need to work hard day by day, as those leagues are now history.

Orrrrr pic.twitter.com/xI6axpTtIB

— Noor Ahmad Lakanwal (@LakanwalNoor) August 9, 2020

Can you describe how big an opportunity the Big Bash is for you and how exciting is it for your family?I’m feeling like the luckiest cricketer in the world. I’ve been selected for one of the best and biggest leagues in the Big Bash. At my age, I’m sure the Big Bash League will be a good for me and I will come back home with a lot more experience. I’ll learn a lot of things from this league and it will add maturity and confidence in my cricketing life. Of course, my family is happy about it. Every family wants to see their child on the big stage.Is it daunting deputizing for Imran Tahir? He has an amazing record and, aged 41, is, I guess, old enough to be your dad. He’s 26 years older than you, no?Imran Tahir is one of the greatest leggies in the world so I’m really excited to meet him and having him in the same squad as me. I’m sure he will share with me his experience and I’ll learn some things from him at the net sessions. My father is almost 48-years-old.Are you excited to play in the next IPL? My biggest dream is to represent the Afghanistan national team. But of course I would love to play in the IPL also. There is no doubt the IPL is the biggest league in the world and every professional cricketer has a dream to play in the IPL.As a bowler, you ran out a batsman who was backing up too far at the U-19 World Cup. Would you do same again? Maybe in the Big Bash?In cricket, it’s out, but as a fan watching cricket you feel like it should not have happened. I’m sure it won’t happen again from my side but I hope all batters at non-strikers’ end don’t go forwards before I release the ball. If they are still going forwards before I release the ball, I will warn them and tell the umpire but won’t Mankad them.Noor Ahmad bowls•Louis Botha/Getty ImagesHow does Afghanistan keep producing so many talented spinners?Afghanistan is the home of talent. There are more talents we have and not only with spinners. You will see other talents there as well, .Have you worked with Rashid Khan yet? Not yet because he’s been busy with national team duties and playing different leagues. I hope I have chance to work with him in a training camp in the future and will learn some things from him.What would you be doing if you weren’t playing cricket? School work, perhaps?Of course, I’d be at school. I am still at school. I’m in the 11th Grade. I won’t stop studying. I’ll do my studying alongside my cricket career. By the way, I’m at first position in my class from first to tenth class.

The Mets ended their losing streak in fashion on Tuesday night, beating the Braves 13–5. New York came into the game having lost 11 of their last 12 and broke out with six home runs, including two from Pete Alonso as he became the franchise's all-time leader in the category.

The Mets hit so many home runs that the crew at Citi Field didn't have enough fireworks to celebrate them all properly. By the time Brett Baty hit the team's sixth homer of the game to tie the franchise record for home runs in a home game, the Home Run Apple appeared too tired to rise.

If only Baty had waited a couple pitches so the apple could catch its breath. Things got so bad that Citi Field had to put an announcement on the scoreboard apologizing for running out of fireworks.

In addition to Alonso and Baty, Francisco Alvarez added two of his own and Brandon Nimmo hit the other home run.

The Mets record for home runs in a game remains eight.

Manchester United have now reportedly sent scouts to keep close tabs on an Elliot Anderson alternative who Ruben Amorim once called a “natural leader”.

Roy Keane slams "schoolboy" Man Utd star after West Ham draw

Just when it seems like Man United are making progress, the Red Devils are hit with more frustration. This time, it was West Ham United who took full advantage to snatch a point at Old Trafford thanks to Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser.

It’s now one win in five for Ruben Amorim’s side and club legend Roy Keane couldn’t hold back his criticism any longer following the draw against West Ham.

It was another game in which United failed to make their attacking prowess count as Keane questioned midfielder Mount following his cameo from the bench.

It’s not the first time that Amorim’s midfield has been questioned and it certainly won’t be the last. INEOS are well aware that additions in that area should be next on their list of priorities, having reinforced the frontline in the summer.

Related 18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man

This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Dec 5, 2025

As such, names such as Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton have emerged as 2026 targets. The former is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League, with United among the chasing pack to land his signature.

But the Nottingham Forest star isn’t the only name on their shortlist. Instead, they could yet form a reunion between Morten Hjulmand and Amorim.

Man Utd keeping close tabs on Hjulmand

According to Caught Offside, Man United scouts are now keeping close tabs on Hjulmand in case they miss out on both Anderson and Wharton. The Sporting CP star is valued at £50m – making him a cheaper alternative to Anderson – and is someone that Amorim knows well from his time in Lisbon.

League stats 25/26

Hjulmand

Anderson

Minutes

1,067

1,260

Progressive Passes

91

119

Tackles Won

16

20

Ball Recoveries

79

115

Although Amorim was quick to dub Hjulmand a “fantastic player” at Sporting, there’s no denying that Anderson should remain Man United’s top option.

The Nottingham Forest star has blown the Dane away, statistically speaking, so far this season and has done the same comparison to a number of Premier League stars.

He won’t come cheap and United must overcome the hurdle of competition from Manchester City and others, but INEOS simply have to go all out for the England international in 2026. If the Red Devils are to rise again, they cannot settle for second best.

"Pretty torrid" – Samuel Luckhurst slams Man Utd star vs West Ham

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is stuck between a rock and a hard place after Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary outburst in the wake of the Reds’ 3-3 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Having led 2-0 after the hour mark, Liverpool succumbed to recurrences of fragile defending and weak mentalities, and Salah’s comments were fuelled by frustration after sitting on the bench for the third successive game, this time not entering the field at all.

But the Egyptian attacker’s narrative-stealing invective has turned attention away from the latest woes from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, the former making yet another mistake and the captain’s collapse in confidence and composure laid bare – barer – at the weekend.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp believes the centre-backs are “playing like they’ve never met each other before”, and it’s crucial that Slot finds a way to solve this problem that is threatening to swallow the Premier League champions whole.

Liverpool need to fix their defence

With Liverpool’s star defenders flattering to deceive, it’s only natural that FSG should consider signing a new man this winter. That botched bid for Marc Guehi at the end of the summer transfer window continues to look more detrimental for Slot and Liverpool’s season.

The need for a centre-back is great, but Liverpool’s midfield has been well below standard this season, and a robust and physical force might bear dividends in Slot’s plan to rekindle balance and make his side more compact, harder to play through.

As per Football Insider, Atalanta’s Ederson has been earmarked as the candidate, FSG having been informed they could strike a deal for the 26-year-old in January.

A bid worth £50m could do the trick. Liverpool have the facilities for such an offer, and it is one they must make to arrest this disastrous slump.

What Ederson would offer Liverpool

Slot is a man on the brink. What only months ago looked like the foundation of a dynasty could now collapse like a house of cards, with so many things having gone wrong at Anfield.

In isolation, Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t been poor this season, but he’s struggling to combine with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and create a balanced and efficient central unit.

This is one of the many issues Slot has yet to find the answer for, and if he is to restore Liverpool’s equilibrium and get the centre-backs operating at their maximum once more, it might be a centre-midfielder who needs to be signed.

Ederson could be the perfect man for the job. Reporter Carlo Garganese described the Brazilian as a “machine” of a midfielder when Gian Piero Gasperini led Atalanta to the Europa League title, severing Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.

The South American enforcer packs a more powerful punch than any of Liverpool’s current midfield options, and he’s mobile and balanced in his midfield performance too, ranking among the top 8% of Serie A midfielders this season for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

He is a combative, ground-covering midfielder, and his impetus on progressing play could see him provide the coating Liverpool’s defence needs to turn things around, helping cover Konate’s weakness in the build-up and providing legs to ensure Van Dijk, 34, can settle in his defensive berth.

Italian content creator Damiano Coccia has even claimed that Ederson is “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, so it’s clear to see why he would be such a brilliant addition for an Anfield side in disrepair.

Against Leeds, Van Dijk and Konate combined for an abject second-half display, and this is exactly the type of player who would stop the rot and bring Liverpool back into the ascendancy.

His athleticism and tough-tackling nature would help Van Dijk and Konate play their way back into form.

Salah upgrade: Liverpool prepare British record bid to sign £131m magician

Mohamed Salah may leave Liverpool in January after an extraordinary outburst at Elland Road.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 8, 2025

Questions surround some of the long-term futures of Arsenal’s stars, with Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta poised for tough decisions.

The Gunners are preparing for a relatively quiet January transfer window, as is usually the case for them, following their hefty £267 million summer spending spree, but a few notable first-team players could still depart the Emirates Stadium as Arteta continues refining his squad.

Gabriel Martinelli, who’s currently racing to be fit for Arsenal’s looming North London derby on Sunday, has emerged as the most high-profile potential departure.

The Brazilian winger has slipped down Arteta’s pecking order following the summer arrivals of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, according to The Mail, with Arsenal apparently prepared to entertain significant offers for Martinelli.

Arsenal haven’t actively pushed for Martinelli’s departure, but there’s been little in the way of contract extension talks, suggesting the club are open to different options.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

His current deal runs until 2027 with an option for a further year, meaning Arsenal hold a strong negotiating position. Interest from Saudi Arabian clubs and Bayern Munich has been mooted, though Martinelli himself has shown little desire to leave the Emirates, and even stated back in 2022 that he’d stay his “whole life”.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Arsenal would be open to offers for Ben White, despite Arteta’s admiration of the right-back. The competition for places at full-back, combined with his fitness woes, has limited White to just one Premier League game all season.

Leandro Trossard penned new and improved terms at Arsenal recently, but this didn’t include an actual extension, so with his deal expiring in 2027, the BBC suggest that Arsenal could decide to sell the 30-year-old, despite him being one of their best attackers this season with four goals and four assists in all competitions.

Another player who could leave Arsenal in January is Ethan Nwaneri, though the club has zero intention of letting him go permanently.

The 18-year-old wonderkid has managed just 163 Premier League minutes this season despite his obvious talent, with Eze’s arrival limiting opportunities further. A temporary loan move could be sanctioned to accelerate his development, though Arsenal remain extremely high on his long-term potential following the five-year contract he signed last summer.

Then, there is the matter of Gabriel Jesus, who is out of contract in under two years.

Gabriel Jesus makes Palmeiras admission amid doubts over Arsenal future

Jesus is back in training and working his way back from an ACL injury he picked up against Man United at the start of 2025, and Arteta has expressed how he cannot wait to welcome their ‘unpredictable’ weapon back on the field.

However, the 28-year-old has also confirmed his interest in joining Palmeiras after his spell at Arsenal, with Jesus making another admission to Globo Esporte.

The Brazil international told the South American media outlet, via Standard Sport, that he’s informed Palmeiras players of his intentions to eventually join them.

Interestingly, The Mail reported recently that Arsenal could be open to bids for Jesus in the new year, so his return to Palmeiras may even come sooner than he’d expected if they can foot the bill.

The former Man City star is currently on £265,000-per-week in N5, so the Brazilian Serie A side would need him to take a dramatic pay decrease for this move to be possible.

If not, it is certainly one to watch for the future.

New Zealand have ramped up their prep for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka with a two-week camp in spin-friendly conditions at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in Chennai.While a number of Black Caps, including Rachin Ravindra, have frequented the high-performance facility in the recent past, this is the White Ferns’ first specialised overseas camp and the timing of it has been “perfect,” according to head coach Ben Sawyer, who is overseeing ten New Zealand players in Chennai along with assistant coach Craig McMillan.”Yeah, 100% correct. It’s currently winter in New Zealand, there’s no cricket and we’re nearly two months out of the World Cup,” Sawyer told ESPNcricinfo. “So, to have that prep time in India, we’ve been able to bring seven contracted players and then three of our players of interest along. So, the girls that we think will play lots of cricket in India in the future as well. So yeah, it’s been an amazing experience so far.”Related

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Seam-bowling allrounder Jess Kerr, opening batter Georgia Plimmer and Brooke Halliday, who had scored 38 off 28 balls in the T20 World Cup final last year, which New Zealand won, are among the seven contracted players on tour while Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire and Emma McLeod have been included as emerging players.After the Chennai camp, New Zealand’s players and staff will return home and will likely head to Dubai to play one-dayers against England in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup, which will kick off on September 30. Sawyer believes that exposure to stifling conditions in Chennai and Dubai will tune up New Zealand’s players for similar conditions that may face during the ODI World Cup.”Yeah, it’s hugely beneficial and even more so this year because just with the FTP cycle, we’ve had no official matches since February,” Sawyer said. “So to get these three one-day games in Chennai, to get two or three games in Dubai against England, a really strong opposition, will be great and then we also get the two World Cup warm-up games. So that’s seven or eight games we’re going to get in similar conditions. Yeah, that’s just huge for us.”Jess Kerr runs in to bowl during New Zealand’s time at the Super Kings Academy•Super Kings Academy

New Zealand’s team management is also leaning on inputs from High Performance Sport New Zealand and Dr Kirsty Fairbairn, an experienced dietitian who has worked with both the White Ferns and Black Ferns (the women’s rugby team), to look after their players in subcontinent conditions.”We’ve actually tried to train really hard the last five days and I guess in a way not to recover, try to just do it naturally and let your bodies adapt to the conditions,” Sawyer said. “And now we’re playing the three games, we’ll try and recover really well.”But yeah, we’ve actually tried to expose ourselves as much to the heat as we can. So, we’ve had some really good help from High Performance Sport New Zealand and a guy that helped with the Tokyo Olympics and how they dealt with the heat. He’s basically told us that the week here and then the week in Dubai are probably perfect timings for the World Cup.”The presence of India internationals such as Asha Sobhana and D Hemalatha, Tamil Nadu’s teenage prodigy G Kamalini, who had won WPL 2025 with Mumbai Indians, and Swiss international Meghna Rajan has added a competitive edge to the camp. Asha castled Polly Inglis on Saturday and tested other New Zealand batters with her loopy legbreaks and wrong’uns on a sluggish surface.”Getting balls to face in New Zealand during the winter is really difficult,” Sawyer said. “We’ve had WPL players come down to bowl to us and Asha from RCB is with us here in the camp and it’s been great for our girls to chat to her and learn about these conditions.”Just a few days into the camp, Sawyer is impressed with the positive approach of the New Zealand batters against spin.”I think Izzy Sharp is a great example today,” Sawyer said. “She made 80. She played a lot off the back foot, but then was able to get really close into the pitch of the ball. And Sri (Sriram Krishnamurthy, former NZC pathway coach who is now CSK academy’s head coach) was great the other day, gave us a bit of a masterclass in playing spin.”And it was great to see Izzy use her feet today and get down the wicket really quickly. Maddy Green’s a great player. She did it her way [with sweeps and reverse-sweeps], she did it in a different way to Izzy, but both were successful and that’s what we’ve spoken about.”While this group is sweating it out in Chennai, Suzie Bates had posted a career-best 163 for Durham last month and Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr are currently playing in the Hundred. It’s still winter in New Zealand, but the team management has ensured that their players won’t rock up cold at the World Cup.”You can see we brought a lot of younger players because the likes of Sophie, Suzie and Lea Tahuhu have been here before and Sophie is at the Hundred,” Sawyer said. “Paul Wiseman is with our spinners in Lincoln and a few of our quicks are working with Graeme [Alridge] in various locations. So, everyone’s getting what they need. Some players are actually doing a few sessions in heat chambers back home. I think we’re doing as much as we can to prepare for the conditions [at the World Cup].”