Harry Kane has come under fire after his performance in Bayern Munich's draw against Bayer Leverkusen.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
BILD slams Kane for Leverkusen displayBayern star failed to record a shot on targetVincent Kompany's side held to 1-1 drawWHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern Munich, who were on a roll until last week, were held to a 1-1 draw by reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday in a night to forget for Harry Kane, who didn't manage a single shot on goal. The frustrating outing ended with the striker limping off the pitch with an injury.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The former Tottenham Hotspur star has been on fire this season, scoring 10 goals across all competitions. However, his performance against Xabi Alonso's men came under scrutiny as BILD journalist Walter M. Straten criticised the striker for going missing.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Analysing Kane's performance against Leverkusen, the journalist wrote: "Lots of effort, too little success. Harry Kane is hanging around alone up front. What good are three goals against Kiel if he doesn't even get a shot on goal in a big game like yesterday? Fairness dictates that we shouldn't unleash the Kane-can't-win-a-title curse now. Especially since he had to leave injured."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR HARRY KANE?
Despite the injury setback, the 31-year-old attacker is expected to feature in the club's upcoming Champions League fixture against Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Following the season of his life, it is now believed one player is about to sign for Arsenal after "rapidly" progressing talks in "recent days".
Edu and Arteta looking to make attacking signings for Arsenal
It is no secret that sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta are on the hunt for new attackers to bolster the club's forward line, and could look to make fresh additions both out wide and through the centre.
Arsenal table opening bid for £34 million star after claim he wants to join
The Gunners have submitted an offer.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 22, 2024
Gabriel Martinelli's form took a slight dip towards the back end of last season, while you could make a case that Arteta is lacking a star alternative to Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank.
This has prompted rumours linking Arsenal with a new wide man, and they've apparently been targeting Spain star Nico Williams, among others, as a result. The La Liga gem racked up double figures in assists for Athletic Bilbao over 23/24, and has really impressed for his country at Euro 2024 thus far.
Williams has held talks over signing for Arsenal, according to some reports, but it is believed that his preference is a move to Barcelona. It will be interesting to see which winger could come to the Emirates Stadium, if not Williams. Meanwhile, Edu is also looking to the market for a new striker.
Arsenal's goals last season came from across the forward line, with Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz finishing the campaign as their top scorers in all competitions.
Bukayo Saka
20
Leandro Trossard
17
Kai Havertz
14
Martin Odegaard
11
Gabriel Jesus
8
However, it remains the case that Arsenal are reportedly very keen to end their near-year-long search for a world-class centre-forward. Arteta wants a striking partner for Havertz ahead of 2024/2025, and the club were involved in a very public race to sign Benjamin Sesko for the role.
The Slovenia international ended up rejecting Edu's advances, though, and instead chose to remain at Leipzig by putting pen to paper on a new contract.
Now, they're being heavily linked with Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres as an alternative. The £39,000-per-week Sweden international racked up a phenomenal 43 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga, with Portuguese outlet Leonino claiming earlier this week that Gyokeres is very close to joining Arsenal, with only financial details holding up the transfer.
Gyokeres "about to sign" for Arsenal after rapid talks this week
Now, that same outlet has another update on the matter. Sharing more news, Leonino state that Gyokeres is about to sign for Arsenal for an initial £76 million, after the two clubs reached an agreement over his price. The total operation, including variables and performance-relatred add-ons, could reach as high as £101 million.
Talks between Sporting and Arsenal have "evolved rapidly in recent days", claims the report. Arteta's side believe Gyokeres is the final missing piece of the jigsaw to usurp Man City and finally beat them to a Premier League title.
Lionel Messi is in contention to match Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming an award that he has never won, with the Argentine getting a Golden Foot nod.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Golden Foot awarded to players over the age of 28Can only be won once in a professional careerArgentine GOAT looking to complete collectionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is the most decorated player of all-time, with his collection of major honours being taken to 46 at Inter Miami. The World Cup winner may yet land another winners’ medal in 2024 as the Herons chase down MLS Cup glory.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi has been included on the list of nominees for the MLS MVP award, and now has another individual prize in his sights. The evergreen 37-year-old has been named on the 10-man Golden Foot shortlist for 2024 – a gong handed out to players over the age of 28 that are still plying their trade at the highest level.
DID YOU KNOW?
Said prize can only be won once in a career, meaning that Messi is running out of time in a bid to add it to his CV. Eternal rival Ronaldo, who is still going strong in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr at 39 years of age, was handed the Golden Foot in 2020 during his time at Juventus.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
TELL ME MORE
The Golden Foot was first presented in 2003, with Italian icon Roberto Baggio the inaugural winner. Since then the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Brazilian great Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba, Andres Iniesta, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski have seen their achievements recognised.
Row erupts over tour biosecurity after England players use nets adjoining construction site
Firdose Moonda07-Dec-2020The use of a previously off-limits nets facility at Newlands has emerged as a possible source of the Covid-19 infection within the England camp, as the ECB hit back at claims from officials at Western Province that its players had breached the teams’ biosecure environment for a practice session on the eve of Friday’s scheduled first ODI.In an email sent on Thursday, December 3, and seen by ESPNcricinfo, WP informed CSA, ECB and the Claremont Police, who are in charge of maintaining the teams’ bio-bubble, that they could not be held liable for the safety or health of the England team, who opted to practice in a nets facility adjoining a construction site at the Kelvin Grove End of the ground.”Please be advised that the England cricket team has not adhered to the arrangements as agreed by all in the ESSPC [Event Security and Safety Planning Committee] meetings,” the email read. “The practice nets next to the construction site is not allowed to be used on practice days. Three cages of nets was set up on the square on the field. This serves to inform you that the England Cricket Team has accessed and used the nets today (3 December 2020) at their own risk. WPCA and the ESSPC will not be held liable or responsible for the safety and health of the England Cricket Team.”In response, an ECB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo that the session had arisen due to the “unacceptable” standard of the three practice pitches provided on the square at Newlands, and that CSA had accepted England’s request to put up a security cordon to facilitate the use of the nets as per similar arrangements during the T20I series on November 28.”On arrival at Newlands on 3 December, we advised the venue that the three nets provided on the main pitch were not of a standard for conducive practice, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the respective boards,” an ECB statement said. “Batsmen were unable to face seam bowlers on the nets on the main pitch as the surfaces were rendered and unacceptable.ALSO READ: Explainer – Will the series still go ahead after Covid outbreak?”We requested with CSA that we would like to use the practice nets and that we would create a security cordon to ensure the players and coaches could enter the facility safely, as done previously on 28 November. This was confirmed by England’s Security Team, the Team Operations Manager and the Team Doctor. We were satisfied with this outcome and we were able to practice in the net facility safely.”The team also used the main outfield for fielding drills, a seam bowlers bowl through pitch and a number of nets were used for range-hitting against spin bowlers and coaches throws.”As far as the England touring party are concerned, the safety and health of our players and coaches was not compromised.”The nets at Newlands are currently out of bounds due to the construction of an office block at the Kelvin Grove End of the ground. The building site is attended to by several workers throughout the day. When South African players, including Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller, who missed the T20 series, and some support staff attempted to have a net after Friday’s postponed first ODI, they were sent back and instructed to return to their hotel rooms.At the time, a third South African player had just tested positive for the coronavirus, causing the first ODI to be pushed back. On Saturday, two members of the Vineyard Hotel staff, who do not work in the same area and have not left the premises since November 16, also tested positive, prompting the entire England touring party to be retested. England returned two “unconfirmed” positive results, but have sought to get the tests analysed by doctors in London. The two England cases meant Sunday’s ODI in Paarl was abandoned.The fate of the rest of the series, which has now been reduced to two ODIs, hinges on the analysis of England’s results. Should positive cases be confirmed, those infected and their close contacts will have to quarantine in South Africa for 10 days before leaving for the UK, which could impact on Big Bash and Christmas plans. If the results of the tests are negative, the series could be completed with back-to-back ODIs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Howard Webb was listening to the VAR conversation which led to William Saliba’s red card for Arsenal, but did not influence the final decision.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Gunners defender was initially shown yellowJones asked to review incident before dismissalPGMOL chief in the stands at Vitality StadiumFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners were left incensed after seeing their France international sent off during the first half of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Saliba was initially shown a yellow card, before referee Rob Jones was encouraged to review the incident on a pitch-side monitor.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Sky Sports cameras showed PGMOL chief Webb sat in the stands with an earpiece and mobile phone as he watched events unfold on the south coast. He was in conversation with the person sat next to him, while ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher asked on social media – before hastily deleting the post: “Was Howard Webb involved in the decision-making of the red card of Saliba??”
DID YOU KNOW?
Jarred Gillett, who was on VAR duty, asked Jones to take a second look at Saliba’s challenge on Bournemouth striker Evanilson – with the Cherries star dragged back while running clear as he looked to latch on to a wayward pass from Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GETTYTELL ME MORE
Saliba was judged to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity, as all angles of the challenge were taken into account, and was given his marching orders in a game that Arsenal went on to lose 2-0. The Gunners believe that they have been on the wrong end of another controversial call from the match officials.
Liverpool need to strengthen this summer. Arne Slot has allayed fears that FSG are going to hold off on bolstering the Anfield first team by confirming during his first interview as head coach that he is in constant communication with sporting director Richard Hughes.
Jurgen Klopp has left Liverpool in a strong position, with a talented and expansive squad buoyed by winning the Carabao Cup and returning to the Champions League with a third-place Premier League finish last season.
But there's little question that reinforcements are required across a range of positions. Chiefly, central defence could do with some work, for Virgil van Dijk stands alongside only the up-and-down Ibrahima Konate and young and talented Jarell Quansah after Joel Matip's contract expired this month.
Leny Yoro is FSG's No. 1 target but there is an acceptance that the Lille prodigy will wind up at Real Madrid. There are, however, some interesting alternatives emerging.
Liverpool eyeing new centre-back
According to Football Insider – as reported earlier this week – Liverpool are in the mix to sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, with the Brazilian valued at £40m.
Liverpool will look to exploit the Tricky Trees' need for compliance with PSR, and given Murillo's left-footedness and modern-tailored skill set, he could be an impactful addition.
Nottingham Forest defender Murillo
Chelsea are also known admirers and have recently made checks on completing a deal, as per The Telegraph. Liverpool will need to ramp up their intrigue if they do wish to sign the 21-year-old this summer.
Why Liverpool should sign Murillo
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed that Murillo "turns into prime Roberto Carlos" in the Forest rearguard, with his sparkling skills and technique placing him in a distinct category.
With a wand of a left foot and a robust approach to his play, he ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 3% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.
While Murillo only completed 78% of his passes in the Premier League last term, he also averaged 1.6 tackles, 4.6 ball recoveries and 5.8 clearances per game, as per Sofascore, impressing on many occasions, including when Liverpool won at the City Ground in March, with Darwin Nunez's last-gasp header breaking the deadlock.
Minutes played
90'
Touches
51
Accurate passes
30/40 (75%)
Long balls
3/11
Dribble attempts
1/1
Duels won
3/4
Tackles
2
Clearances
4
Blocked shots
2
Sliding in on the left of Liverpool's central defence, Murillo could prove to be a perfect fit for Slot's Liverpool, with his progressive, "bullish" style – as noted by scout Antonio Mango – even making him the perfect alternative to Konate, who is highly talented but prone to bouts of inconsistency, with his nosedive in form at the end of the 2023/24 campaign evidence of this.
Moreover, Konate made two errors for Liverpool last term, whereas Murillo avoided a single direct error across his 32 Premier League appearances, which is a testament to his character and composure in difficult conditions at the City Ground at times.
By signing Murillo, who has barely scratched the surface of his exciting Premier League career, Liverpool would secure a unique talent and a player who could see Van Dijk shift onto his favoured right side.
FSG must ensure that he is welcomed this summer, providing the depth and dynamism to ensure success.
Liverpool in contention for "monster" signing who's better than Fabinho
An elite mix of clubs are all considering a move for this high-profile star.
Football FanCast brings you the latest Rangers transfer round-up.
The Gers fell short in their pursuit of the Scottish Premiership after falling away during the run-in, which may give Philippe Clement plenty of food for thought as we enter another transfer window, ahead of the Belgian's first full season in charge.
With a potential return to the Champions League ahead, here are who the Ibrox giants have been looking at this summer.
Latest Rangers transfer rumours Transfers in
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Bright Osayi-Samuel: Rangers continue to be linked to Fenerbahce winger Bright Osayi-Samuel. The former QPR ace has piqued the interest of the Light Blues, as well as English Premier League duo Southampton and Wolves in the past. Recent reports have claimed that his Turkish outfit are open to allowing him to leave for the right price – described as a potential "bargain" by reporter Alan Nixon.
Bobby Clark: The Gers are in a congested race to sign Liverpool starlet Bobby Clark on loan. Clark is set to sign a new deal at Anfield, with several teams looking to take in the 19-year-old next season. Red Bull duo Salzburg and Leipzig are among those interested, while Norwich City also have their eye on the teenager.
Gonzalo Tapia: Rangers have been mentioned as a potential destination for Chilean ace Gonzalo Tapia. The forward, who plays in his native country for Universidad Catolica, is also of interest to the likes of Anderlecht and CSKA Moscow. Reports claim that he could also be available for a relatively low fee.
Bojan Miovski: A deal for Aberdeen ace Bojan Miovski could be considered a longshot at this stage, with the Dons reportedly not likely to allow the North Macedonian to depart on the cheap. However, Rangers do have an interest in the forward as they seek a replacement for Kemar Roofe up top.
Transfers out
Todd Cantwell
Scott Wright: Rangers have reportedly received an offer from English Championship club Sheffield Wednesday for forward Scott Wright, and they may allow the 26-year-old to leave given his contract is entering its final year.
It is thought that Rangers are seeking a six-figure sum, though at the time of writing, no details have emerged regarding the Owls' offer.
Todd Cantwell: The Gers midfielder has emerged as a transfer target for Saudi Pro League new boys Al-Qadsiah. Former Rangers chief executive James Bisgrove is now working there, and also reportedly has eyes on James Tavernier as well as Cantwell.
Sam Lammers: The Dutchman's move to Rangers has not worked out at all, and Sam Lammers could now be set to finally end his Ibrox nightmare. Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar are thought to have a "serious interest" in the attacker and have already held talks with him over a deal. However, he is not the only name on their shortlist, so it remains to be seen where this one goes.
Latest Rangers transfers 2024/25
Rangers' summer business began with Mohamed Diomande's deal turning permanent following his loan spell from Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, with the Gers having an obligation to buy.
He has since been joined by six others to date, including Brazilian full-back Jefte, Milan starlet Clinton Nsiala and 21-year-old Moroccan Hamza Igamane.
Oscar Cortes has also extended his loan spell at Ibrox, though he has signed a deal with an obligation to buy next summer, upon which he will sign a four-year contract.
On the outgoings front, several Rangers servants have seen their deals expire in the past few days, including experienced duo Borna Barisic and Ryan Jack, who amassed over 400 appearances for the club between them. John Lundstram, Jon McLaughlin and striker Kemar Roofe will also be looking for new clubs in 2024/25.
Pakistan’s discipline with ball and bat, however, ensured the hosts haven’t run away with the game
Karthik Krishnaswamy27-Dec-2020The wicket of Shan Masood late in the evening ensured New Zealand remained the happier team at Mount Maunganui, but Pakistan put in a second impressive day on an improved batting pitch to ensure the hosts haven’t run away with the game just yet.Having bowled New Zealand out 11 overs after tea for 431, Pakistan were left needing to negotiate a tricky 20 overs before stumps, and they came close to getting through that period unscathed, only for Shan Masood to tickle Kyle Jamieson for a catch down leg side in the 16th over, having seen out 41 balls until then.Watch cricket on ESPN+
New Zealand vs Pakistan is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the series
Masood had offered the only chance until that point, driving well in front of his body against a Tim Southee delivery that swung back less than he anticipated, and edging to third slip, where the substitute fielder Daryl Mitchell put down a tough low chance.That and the wicket ball apart, there were few alarms for Pakistan against New Zealand’s pace attack, with Abid Ali looking particularly impressive with his judgment outside off and his alertness to pounce on scoring opportunities. He ended the day batting on 19, with the nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas alongside.Apart from the visual evidence of the ball swinging and seaming far less than it had done on day one, there was numerical evidence to support the idea that the pitch was getting better to bat on. Where New Zealand’s batsmen achieved a control percentage of 76 through the first 20 overs of their innings, Pakistan’s top three went at 88.Rather than seam movement, the main threat from this pitch now seems to be the increased frequency of uncertain bounce – low bounce in particular – and sharp turn for the spinners. Yasir Shah picked up three wickets in New Zealand’s first innings, and he could become hugely influential if Pakistan can get close to New Zealand’s first-innings total. They’ll have to contend with Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin before that, however, and the continued threat of New Zealand’s quicks – especially the effect of uncertain bounce on Neil Wagner’s short ball.Wagner bowled three overs before stumps, despite having suffered a painful blow to the toe from a Shaheen Afridi yorker while batting. Wagner is set to have his foot x-rayed after the day’s play, and New Zealand will hope it won’t reveal any major damage.That yorker from Shaheen followed another that burst through Wagner’s defences to bowl him, only for replays to show the bowler had overstepped. Wagner contributed 19 to a lower-order effort that stretched New Zealand’s total to 431 after Pakistan had reduced them to 317 for 6 at one stage.BJ Watling drives one towards point•Getty ImagesChief architects of the lower-order fight were the tiny-and-towering pair of BJ Watling and Jamieson, who added 66 for the seventh wicket in 22 overs to build on the efforts of the upper middle order, in particular Kane Williamson who completed his 23rd Test hundred earlier in the day.Their partnership, which spanned 22 overs, came to an end in the third over before tea, when Mohammad Abbas extracted bounce and an unusual amount of seam movement in the corridor to get Jamieson to nick off. It was one of a handful of deliveries that had moved as much all day, and it brought Abbas a much-deserved first wicket in his 29th over of the innings.Until then, Watling and Jamieson had looked mostly untroubled against all of Pakistan’s bowlers, save for a brief period early in the partnership when Yasir was engaged in a cat-and-mouse contest against Jamieson. The legspinner dared Jamieson to hit over the top with a series of loopy tempters – there were two towering sixes, but also a wild slog and miss – and wrong-footed him on a couple of occasions with his quicker skidder, with an inside edge saving the crease-bound batsman from a possible lbw on one occasion.Other than that, though, Jamieson showed the same gifts of technique and composure that had brought him scores of 44, 49, 51* and 20 in his four previous Test innings, and got into good positions to defend the faster bowlers in particular. At the other end, Watling was typically compact in defence while cashing in quickly whenever there was width on offer. He was also adept in getting off strike against Yasir, waiting for the line to drift either side of the stumps to get down on one knee and sweep.There were a couple of flowing drives too, most impressively an effortless straight punch off Faheem Ashraf that beat a diving mid-on to his left. He was finally dismissed for 73, getting cramped for room while trying to ramp a short ball over the slips, handing Afridi his fourth wicket.Abbas and Afridi began the day with a seven-over-old ball, but neither found any swing, and what seam movement there was was minimal.Their lines, as a result, were more defensive than on day one, wider outside off in an attempt to play on the batsmen’s patience. Neither of the overnight batsmen lacked that quality, and Williamson, on 94 overnight, waited until his 14th ball of the morning to add to his score.Kane Williamson acknowledges his home crowd after bringing up his 23rd Test hundred•AFP via Getty ImagesPakistan made their first bowling change in the eighth over of the morning, and that gave Williamson the opportunity to bring up his hundred, with Naseem Shah overpitching and allowing him to unfurl the most pleasing of drives to bisect extra-cover and mid-off. This was Williamson’s first Test hundred in his hometown, and having brought it up he immediately switched gears, having sussed out that there was little in the pitch to threaten him.He began driving balls that weren’t quite half-volleys, picking up two off-side fours in this manner off successive balls from Abbas, and then beat mid-off to his left with a back-foot punch off Naseem, finishing with left elbow high and both feet off the ground. Having taken 261 balls to bring up his hundred – his slowest in Test cricket – Williamson had scored 20 off his next 20.But Pakistan clawed their way back, with a bit of luck finally going their way with the dismissal of Henry Nicholls, after he had extended his overnight partnership with Williamson from 89 to 133. Pakistan had been trying to attack Nicholls with the short ball, and Naseem produced a loud caught-behind shout when he hurried the batsman through a hook from around the wicket. It was given out, perhaps because there seemed to be two noises, and Nicholls, after a lengthy consultation with his partner, declined to review, only for replays to show the ball had brushed both his forearms without hitting bat or glove.Then Pakistan brought on Yasir in the 18th over of the day, and he struck with his third ball, drawing Williamson forward with his flight, and finding the edge of his defensive bat with dip, turn and bounce. As with most Williamson edges, the ball barely carried, but Haris Sohail took a sharp one-handed catch diving to his right – it was referred upstairs by the on-field umpires, who made a soft signal of not-out, but replays showed that Sohail had got his fingers underneath the ball as he fell.Watling and Mitchell Santner then added 36 before Ashraf struck in the eighth over after lunch, getting him caught behind after preying on Santner’s tendency to play angled-bat shots to rising balls in the corridor.
Rap star Snoop Dogg admits to taking inspiration from Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds as he eyes up potential investment opportunities at Celtic.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Hollywood actors at SToK RacecourseFamous friends have joined them at gamesRap icon open to investment in GlasgowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 17-time Grammy award nominee is a big sports fan and regularly attends NBA and NFL games in the United States. He was also a torchbearer at the 2024 Olympic Games, becoming an unofficial mascot for Team USA in Paris.
AdvertisementTHE GOSSIP
Snoop has been a Celtic fan for some time and wore a Hoops shirt when performing in Glasgow back in 2023, while offering his “congrats” following a Scottish Premiership title triumph. The 52-year-old, who is said to have a £120 million ($156m) fortune, is now looking to follow Hollywood actor Reynolds into British football.
WHAT SNOOP DOGG SAID
Snoop has told the : “I love what Ryan has done with Wrexham – it’s just a great story. Investing in a sports team has been something I have been looking at for a long time – if the chance came to invest in Celtic, I would be crazy not to take a look at it. I have watched so much soccer in Europe but I have never seen fans like the Celtic fans. There is something so special about them.
“There is a reason why their fans are talked about across Europe – the best players and coaches in the world tell you there is nowhere like Celtic Park and I want to be a part of that. Their mascot is a hound – you couldn’t make that up. Snoop Dogg becomes Hoopy the Hound – that’s gotta be a match made in heaven. The headlines write themselves.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?
Rap icon Snoop Dogg has also revealed that he wants to attend a Celtic game with fellow musician and avid Hoops supporter Sir Rod Stewart. Famous faces have been flocking to watch Wrexham alongside Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, including the likes of Kaitlin Olson, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman, Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell.
West Ham United supporters felt a pang of concern after David Moyes departed the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. It was the right decision, but still, the Scot had led the club to their brightest period in modern history, and the road ahead looked fraught with the murky unknown.
Julen Lopetegui's subsequent appointment failed to allay such trepidation, with supporters viewing the deal as pragmatic, but he has since proved himself bold and committed to building a competitive squad, combining with technical director Tim Steidten in the transfer market to make some exciting signings.
Wolves captain Max Kilman
A new centre-forward is yet to come, but one of the most important issues has been mitigated in central defence, with Max Kilman signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40m.
West Ham transfer news
Lopetegui wants more in defence. According to Caught Offside, West Ham are leading the race to sign Ajax centre-half Josip Sutalo, who has also been scouted by Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham in the Premier League.
Josip Sutalo for Croatia
Valued at €30m (£25m) by the struggling Dutch giants, the Croatian is expected to be at the centre of official bids, albeit below Ajax's expectation.
West Ham are in the most commanding position after signing Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus from the Eredivisie side last year, and could now use past dealings to their advantage.
Why West Ham want Josip Sutalo
West Ham have considered selling central defensive mainstays Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma this summer, the latter of whom is the club's captain.
Kurt Zouma for West Ham
Sutalo, 24, completed 39 appearances for Ajax last term and played every minute of Croatia's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, with the Luka Modric-captained nation failing to make it past the group phase, collecting two points.
It might have been a tough season for club and country as far as the 6 foot 3 titan is concerned, but there's no question that he has maintained a formidable level throughout, combining defensive steel with bouncing energy and crisp passing.
Matches played
23
3
Goals
1
0
Pass completion
92%
96%
Clean sheets
3
0
Touches per game
85.8
82.0
Tackles per game
1.3
1.7
Interceptions per game
1.7
4.3
Clearances per game
3.7
2.3
Ball recoveries per game
6.6
4.3
Dribbles per game
0.6 (61%)
1.0 (100%)
Duels won per game
5.0 (60%)
5.3 (59%)
Direct errors made
0
1
Progressive and proficient across a wide range of roles, Sutalo would be a brilliant addition to a new-look West Ham defence, partnering with the left-sided Kilman to create a dynamic sheen.
Kilman, aged 27, is not exactly the conventional defender either, prone to surging forwards and seeking out passages himself, with the clip below highlighting the kind of shuttling success he can find with the ball at his feet.
The Wolves defender, who plied his trade under Lopetegui during the 2022/23 season, averaged 4.7 recoveries and clearances per game in the Premier League last term and won 71% of his aerial battles, suggesting that the Irons could find a solid partnership capable of performing well whatever the conditions.
One year ago, talent scout Jacek Kulig described Sutalo as "one of the most underrated U-23 CBs in Europe", speaking highly of his potential.
Max Kilman for Wolves
He might have endured a testing 12 months but the Croatia star has proved himself sturdy despite the woes of the collective, and would be a credit to West Ham as they step into a new era.
West Ham submit bid to sign Duran alternative who's better than En-Nesyri
Tim Steidten has made the first move to sign this Euro 2024 sensation.