It would be fair to say that Arsenal had one of the best transfer windows in the Premier League this summer.

Mikel Arteta finally got his hands on a prolific number nine in Viktor Gyokeres, a dangerous left-winger and ten in Eberechi Eze, and the perfect six to anchor the midfield in Martin Zubimendi.

However, one player who didn’t necessarily excite the fans to begin with, but now looks like an excellent addition, is Noni Madueke.

The Englishman could be the perfect player to complement and rival Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, although had Arsenal kept hold of one of their youngsters years ago, they’d have an even better option today.

Why Madueke can challenge Saka this season

Now, nobody is arguing that Madueke is the better player than Saka here; that would be far too reactionary.

However, from what we saw of him at Chelsea, and more importantly, what we’ve seen from him over the last couple of weeks, it looks like he could challenge the Hale Ender for game time this season.

For example, while he looked better than Gabriel Martinelli when playing off the left in the first two games of the season, it was away to Liverpool when he started on the right-hand side that he looked the most dangerous.

In fact, including the Reds’ frontline, the former Blues ace was probably the best attacker on the pitch, as even though he wasn’t able to score or set up a goal, he was a constant threat on the break.

According to Sofascore, he was successful in 100% of his dribbles, took the Gunners’ only shot on target, and had 29 touches, so the stats support the idea that he was Arteta’s best offensive player.

However, it’s been the 23-year-old’s performances for England over the last five days that have really turned heads.

In the game against Andorra, he helped to open the scoring when his cross was deflected in for an own goal, and then against Serbia, he was near enough unplayable.

In his 76 minutes of action, the Barnet-born winger scored his first senior international goal, completed 20 of 22 passes, completed 100% of his dribbles, won four of five duels, made two tackles and was ultimately a massive problem for the home side.

In all, Madueke currently looks like he’ll be able to challenge Saka for a place in the team when the Hale Ender is back to full fitness.

Although Arsenal would have had an even better option had they kept hold of a former youth player.

The Madueke upgrade Arsenal lost as a youngster

Just like other clubs of their size, Arsenal have let their fair share of incredible talents slip through their fingers, such as Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry and even Eze.

Where Are They Now

However, in this instance, we aren’t talking about someone who’s returned to the club or someone who’s nearing the end of their career; we’re talking about a player approaching the peak of their powers: Michael Olise.

Yes, as a youngster, the outrageously gifted Frenchman spent time in the Gunners’ youth setup before moving to Chelsea, Manchester City and then Reading, where he caught the eye of Crystal Palace.

The South Londoners decided to splash £8m on the then-19-year-old in the summer of 2021, and to say that it worked out for them would be a colossal understatement.

Over the following three years, the game-changing winger would score 16 goals and provide 25 assists in 90 appearances, more than justifying Sky Sports analyst Dougie Critchley’s claim that he is “one of the best players in the world.”

Moreover, the Eagles made a cool £42m profit on the player when they sold him to Bayern Munich for £50m last summer, although based on his performances for the German giants since, we’re sure they’d have gladly paid double that.

For example, he racked up a brilliant haul of 20 goals and 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes last season, and has already scored four goals in four games this season.

Appearances

55

46

Minutes

3842′

2646′

Goals

20

11

Assists

23

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.78

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

89.34′

165.37′

Ultimately, while there is every chance Madueke could be a brilliant player for Arsenal and great competition for Saka, it’s clear Olise is comfortably better than the former Chelsea ace.

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The Minnesota Twins are the odds-on favorites to win the AL Central with a -115 payout:

Minnesota Twins -115
Detroit Tigers +350
Cleveland Guardians +350
Kansas City Royals +850
Chicago White Sox +4000

The AL Central was the only division in 2023 to have just one team finish with a winning record.

Minnesota won the division with a total of 87 wins — the only division winner to tally fewer than 90. The second-place Tigers finished with a .481 win percentage and 78 wins.

The AL Central is expected to remain one of the less competitive divisions in 2024. The Twins should stay in the driver’s seat with strong pitching and a mix of veteran and young talent. If Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa and — stop me if you’ve heard this before — Byron Buxton can remain healthy, the Twins should waltz into the division title once again.

It is always nice to see an academy player make their breakthrough and impress at first-team level, at any club, and that is why Colby Donovan’s recent emergence at Celtic has been enjoyable.

Injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston left Brendan Rodgers in a difficult position, facing the possibility of playing a player out of position to cover in that position.

Instead of going with a makeshift right-back, the Hoops boss dipped into the academy to provide 19-year-old Donovan with a chance to impress in the first-team in recent weeks.

The Scottish youngster made his first three appearances for the first-team in games against Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, and Red Star Belgrade, starting all three matches, before being an unused substitute against Hibernian last weekend.

Donovan did not look out of place in those senior outings for the Scottish giants, winning five of his six ground duels without being dribbled past a single time against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

The teenage full-back will now be hoping to kick on and establish himself in the senior side, as his fellow full-back Kieran Tierney once did when he first broke through.

Celtic's best Scottish talents since Kieran Tierney

The Scotland international first broke through into the first-team in the 2014/15 campaign, having come up through the academy ranks, and he went on to play 170 matches for the club in all competitions.

Tierney, as shown in the graphic above, enjoyed a terrific first spell with Celtic before his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019, winning five Scottish Premiership titles in the process.

Unfortunately, quality Scottish academy talents have been few and far between since the left-back’s initial emergence in the first-team for Celtic over a decade ago.

As you can see in the table above, Tierney is still the most valuable former academy star to have made at least one start for the club, whilst Callum McGregor, who came through before the defender, is the only other one who is worth more than £3m.

Ben Doak is valued at £14m, per Transfermarkt, but he only played 25 minutes as a substitute for the Hoops before his move to Liverpool, which meant that the Scottish giants did not get to experience much of his talent on the pitch.

To say that Mikey Johnston, a Glasgow-born player who has 17 caps for Ireland, is the most valuable academy graduate since Tierney at just £2.6m is slightly concerning.

Whilst Donovan will be hoping to kick on and be worth way more than Johnston, Celtic may have their biggest Scottish and academy talent since Tierney in a star who is out on loan.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Jude Bonnar is currently on loan in the Championship with Ayr United until the end of the season, gaining vital development and experience that he could bring to the first-team at Parkhead next term.

Why Bonnar may be the best Scottish talent at Celtic since Tierney

As aforementioned, Celtic have not had much success with Scottish talents coming through their academy system to emerge as regular starters in the first-team since Tierney, but Bonnar has the potential to change that.

The Hamilton-born starlet made his senior debut for Celtic in a 5-1 win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership in February of this year, completing 100% (4/4) of his passes in a ten-minute cameo, per Sofascore.

His impressive performances as an attack-minded central midfielder for the B team earned him a chance in the senior side, after a return of ten goals in 55 Lowland League matches in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt.

The teenage whiz, who was described as a “dangerous” player by writer John McGinley, also came back from his loan spell with Ayr to score and grab an assist in a Challenge Cup game against Alloa Athletic for the B team last month.

That performance and his overall form at youth level for Celtic show that he has developed a reputation for being a technical and attack-minded midfielder throughout his development in Glasgow.

However, the 19-year-old star’s loan move to the Championship with Ayr United has provided him with an opportunity to show that there is more to his game in the middle of the park.

Rodgers wants well-rounded midfielders who can provide physicality off the ball as well as technical quality in possession, as shown by the types of midfielders who play regularly for him at the moment: Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate, and Callum McGregor.

Bonnar’s last two outings in the Scottish Championship for Ayr United show that the versatile star, who can play in midfield or out on the flank, has added bite to his performances in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the table above, the teenage prospect has won six of his 11 ground duels and three of his five aerial duels, without being dribbled past a single time, in the last two matches.

Bonnar is currently being managed by Celtic legend Scott Brown, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a number eight for the Hoops, and he appears to be already developing the physical side of his game under the former Scotland international.

It looks as though sending him out on loan to the Championship to be managed by the ex-Celtic captain was a brilliant decision by the club, because the Scotland U21 international is adding physicality to go with his technical quality.

This is why Bonnar, who has delivered one goal and one assist for Ayr United so far this season, could go on to be the club’s biggest and most valuable Scottish talent since Tierney.

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The teenage talent already has the technical skills, as shown by his goal record for the B team, but his loan spell shows that he is becoming a complete central midfielder, which could make him an option for Rodgers to integrate into the senior team next season.

It will then be down to Bonnar to produce consistent performances in midfield to show that he is the biggest talent to come through the academy since Tierney.

يحل فريق ريال مدريد الإسباني ضيفًا على ليفربول الإنجليزي، مساء اليوم الثلاثاء ضم مباريات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا موسم 2025-2026.

ويستقبل ملعب “آنفيلد” مباراة الفريقين اليوم، والتي تأتي في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة لمرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ستكون تلك المرة الأولى التي يواجه فيها ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد لاعب ريال مدريد الحالي، فريقه السابق ليفربول، كخصم.

ليفربول هو نادي طفولة أرنولد وقد لعب في أكاديمية النادي وتدرج في الفئات العمرية إلى أن تم تصعيده للفريق الأول للريدز، وغادر في يونيو الماضي لينتقل إلى ريال مدريد.

اقرأ أيضًا | تشابي ألونسو: غيرت تاريخ ليفربول في لحظة.. وقصة أرنولد تختلف عني

وبحسب ما أفادت شبكة “ESPN” قامت جماهير ليفربول بتشويه جدارية أرنولد في المدينة، والتي تُظهر المدافع إلى جانب عبارة “أنا مجرد شاب عادي من ليفربول تحقق حلمه”، وقد تم تشويهها بطلاء أبيض.

كما تم كتابة كلمة “فأر” على الجدارية عدة مرات، إلى جانب عبارة “adios el rata” والتي تعني (وداعًا أيها الفأر) بالإسبانية.

وفي حديثه قبل مباراة الثلاثاء، قال ألكسندر أرنولد: “عندما أُعلنت القرعة، أعتقد أن الجميع كان يعلم أنها ستُجرى، فقد كان من المُقدّر أن تُقام تلك المباراة”.

وأضاف: “ليفربول فريق كبير، لذلك كنتُ أعلم أنني سأعود إلى هناك في وقتٍ ما أو سألعب ضد ليفربول، مشاعري مُتضاربة، أعتقد أنها ستكون مباراة صعبة للغاية، لكنني مُتحمس لها”.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that Leeds United are keen on signing a “sensational” Champions League player in the January transfer window.

Mixed Leeds injury news ahead of Burnley clash

The Whites make the trip to Burnley on Saturday afternoon, in an important Premier League clash between two of last season’s promoted sides.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has provided an injury update ahead of the game, admitting that there is both good and bad news to report.

“Good news was Lucas Perri, so he was able to train the last two weeks together with us, so he was able to use also this international break to build up a bit his fitness level. Of course, after being out so long, he can’t be there at 100 percent, but you see him going more or less from day to day, which is good news.

“With Willy Gnonto, he won’t be available for this game because his calf problems are sorted but sadly he had to use the international break for a little minor hernia surgery, so not a major thing but he needed to do this. He will be just back in team training next week so I expect then to have him available, perhaps already for Friday evening for the next home game but definitely not for this away trip.

“Very positive and good news was Daniel James because he is a bit ahead of schedule in his rehab, so a compliment also to our medical department, our rehab coaches. He was even involved already, I would say, in major parts of team training during this week but he is definitely not in contention for the starting line-up. Noah Okafor is also struggling a little bit with some adductor problems, he could be perhaps even in contention to be picked for the squad, so I didn’t expect this.”

Away from injury news, Leeds continue to look at potential new signings, and an exciting attacking player has been mentioned as an option.

Leeds have Champions League ace on their "radar"

Speaking to LeedsUnited.News, Bailey claimed that Leeds are eyeing a potential move for Bodo/Glimt winger Jens Petter Hauge in January.

Hauge stands out as such an exciting option for Leeds, with scout Jacek Kulig once calling him a “sensational” player who always stood out as a youngster with huge potential.

Now 26, the 13-cap Norway international is a proven top-level player, scoring twice in as many Champions League appearances, as well as netting six times in the Europa League.

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Hauge is capable of flourishing on both wings and as an attacking midfielder, but is predominantly a left-sided player, and he could add so much quality to Leeds’ attacking midway through the season.

Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea has admitted he feared a 6-0 loss before VAR intervened in his club's dramatic 2-2 draw with Bologna in Serie A. The goalkeeper dismissed pressure as "an excuse" as La Viola remain winless in the relegation zone, relying on two late penalties to salvage a point against their 10-man opponents.

Dramatic comeback salvages point amid protests

Fiorentina's winless start to the 2025-26 campaign looked set to continue in disastrous fashion. Bologna, who remain fifth in the table, established a commanding lead through goals from Santiago Castro in the 25th minute and Nicolo Cambiaghi early in the second half. 

The hosts were met with harsh protests from the Franchi crowd as the match unravelled. The turning point arrived when Bologna's Thijs Dallinga appeared to score a third goal, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out for an offside against Riccardo Orsolini.

Buoyed by the reprieve, Fiorentina were awarded a penalty, which Albert Gudmundsson converted in the 74th minute. Bologna's task was made more difficult when Emil Holm received a red card in the 83rd minute. Deep into stoppage time, Fiorentina earned a second spot-kick, allowing Moise Kean to secure the equaliser after four minutes of stoppage time.

The statistics reflected a chaotic match. Fiorentina registered 17 total shots, with six on target, while Bologna managed six shots, hitting the target three times. Possession was split evenly at 50-50.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDe Gea admits 6-0 fear after disallowed goal

Speaking to , De Gea confessed the panic that set in after Dallinga's disallowed goal, believing the match was lost.

"After the 3-0, we thought we could lose 6-0, then I don't know why the goal was disallowed, but we gained confidence and almost won," De Gea stated. "The truth is, we could have easily lost, but we played a good last 25 minutes."

The goalkeeper acknowledged the result was ultimately positive given the circumstances. "In the end, though, it's a good point because the game was almost lost, but it's true that we're struggling a bit. We all have to do a little better, and even if it's not easy for the fans, we all have to go in the same direction."

Fiorentina 'can't be afraid' – De Gea

During his post-match press conference, De Gea was adamant that the team's poor mentality is not a valid reason for their position in the table, rejecting the idea that pressure is affecting the squad.

"If we're afraid to play… We're men, we play for Fiorentina: we can't feel the pressure, for me that's an excuse," he said. "We're doing badly on the pitch, some young players may feel the pressure, but this is the time to do better. We're close to getting this victory, I'm sure that when we win we'll start playing better and winning more."

He also addressed the chaotic nature of the match's officiating, stating: "A bit of chaos… Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't, it's a bit strange. But this is football today and we have to accept it."

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Goalkeeper highlights Serie A and Conference League disparity

While Fiorentina have performed adequately in the UEFA Conference League, winning both of their games so far to go top of the table, their domestic form is dire. De Gea pointed to the significant gap in quality between the two competitions as a reason for the discrepancy.

"The level of these two teams we faced in the Conference is lower than in Serie A," De Gea explained. "We played well in the Conference, but in the league we're not the same because it's tougher, we play against strong teams. We're struggling a lot and you can feel it in the locker room too: the only solution is to work and fight game after game.

"Certainly no one expected this start to the season. We haven't won yet, and we're struggling. The team isn't performing well, but we have to stay positive.

"As Kean said, we need to believe more among ourselves… We have to believe more than anyone else, raising the bar and winning games. Serie A is tough, but that's football: we have to stay united with the fans, it's very hard for them too, but we have to follow the same path."

Important stands with Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer prevent Hampshire taking control with ball

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 22-Jun-2025Charlie Allison made it back-to-back centuries as he steered Essex into a commanding position on the first day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Hampshire at Chelmsford.Before his 140 against Surrey last month, Allison’s highest first-class score was 28. But the 20-year-old right-hander followed up his Oval heroics with 101 when the Championship resumed after its break for the Vitality Blast.He was the senior partner in a 107-run seventh-wicket stand with Simon Harmer, 16 years older, that carried Essex towards 292 for 8 at the close after they chose to bat. He also put on 66 for the fifth wicket with Matt Critchley, whose 71 came from 104 balls and included nine fours and a six.Kyle Abbott took his season’s tally to 35 wickets with three Essex scalps, but Hampshire let slip their morning advantage as a blustery, overcast day gave way to bright evening sunshine.Initially, it looked as if Essex’s travails of late – one win across both formats this summer – were being lain bare on a green wicket that gave encouragement to Hampshire’s seam attack. By midday Essex had lost three of their top four. Paul Walter mistimed a flick off his legs low to a diving square leg, Dean Elgar was beaten for pace by James Fuller and Jordan Cox ducked into a short ball from Eddie Jack and spliced the ball high to third slip.The premature departures did not preclude Essex handing county caps to the latter pair during the lunch interval. Former captain Graham Gooch handed one to Elgar while Cox received his from Jason Gallian, previously his cricket master at Felsted School, now chairman of the cricket committee.Back in the middle, Critchley was putting behind him his struggles with the bat in the Vitality Blast. He contributed 38 of the 53-run fourth-wicket stand with Tom Westley that included a six over long leg off Liam Dawson and a well-timed sweep for four, also off the England white-ball spinner.Westley was more circumspect, though the four fours in his 77-ball 28 were venomous in their execution and included one from his first ball through midwicket off Abbott and an imperious pull against Fuller. However, he departed lbw to one from Abbott that might otherwise have just clipped the top of the stumps.Under gathering grey clouds, Critchley reached his half-century from 84 balls amid a flurry of boundaries, the milestone four pulled through midwicket off Felix Organ. Another time he went in tiptoes to late-cut Jack to the third-man rope.Allison kept pace with Critchley and he launched Dawson effortlessly over extra cover for a six that brought up the fifty partnership in 13 overs. Later he hit another straight over the same bowler’s head. However, the stand was worth 66 when the wily Dawson had Critchley playing over a shorter-pitched delivery that looked as if it might have missed leg stump.Abbott had figures of 3 for 12 from 13 overs when he had Michael Pepper edging to the wicketkeeper. But that just brought together Allison and Harmer for a patient partnership that steadied Essex and ultimately gave them a measure of control.Harmer brought up the hundred partnership in 33 overs when he swatted Jack to the midwicket boundary. But with Allison on 99, he turned the ball to square leg, the pair hesitated and Harmer sacrificed his wicket as Jack’s throw went to the bowler’s end.Allison duly reached his century from 188 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, but one run later he dragged on to Organ and was bowled off the last ball of the day.