Manchester United have been put through the wringer over the past decade, claiming silverware throughout but always languishing below the desired position.

It's been 11 years since the Premier League title was brought back to Old Trafford; 16 years have drifted by since glory was clinched in the Champions League, at the height of the continental game.

But with INEOS working with gritty determination to wipe away the dirt and repackage the Red Devils as bona fide contenders, there's a growing sense that exciting times lie ahead.

Last season's glut of injuries prevented Erik ten Hag from implementing his vision – though he still bagged the FA Cup with victory over Manchester City – but now moves are being made to ensure growth, and there's a potential incoming that might just complete the set.

Man United transfer news

Ten Hag demands a fresh face to sit in the holding midfield position and influence play for Man United while protecting the rear with steely conviction. Manuel Ugarte is the top target and Burnley's Sander Berge has been earmarked as an alternative, but the Premier League giants could actually drive down a different road.

It's a path well trodden over recent years, a rumour that surfaces every year. According to journalist Jack van Gelder – talking on Dutch television programme De Oranjezomer – United could move to sign Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona.

He said that "negotiations are ongoing", with several bids for the Netherlands international rejected in the past but an increasingly fractious relationship perhaps swaying the odds.

Man United reached an agreement for the £63m transfer of De Jong two years ago following Ten Hag's appointment, but it didn't reach completion. Now, things could be different; the Theatre of Dreams is on the up.

What Frenkie De Jong would bring to Man United

One thing's for certain, Man United have done their homework with this one. De Jong has been profiled and pinned to the transfer board and would be an immense addition to an outfit requiring a player of his strengths.

He suffered an injury-hit 2023/24 campaign but still showcased his technical qualities, ranking among the top 1% of centre-midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 4% for passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Last season, De Jong proved that he has the properties to survive the rigours of the Engish game – for a player of his ability, this is hardly a revelation but nonetheless leaves an air of excitement as rumours rise once again.

Matches (starts)

20 (20)

37 (34)

25 (21)

Goals

2

1

0

Assists

0

2

2

Touches*

94.8

53.1

67.6

Pass completion

93%

89%

91%

Key passes*

1.1

0.8

0.6

Dribbles*

0.7 (62%)

0.5 (56%)

0.8 (58%)

Ball recoveries*

5.9

5.5

7.2

Tackles*

2.2

2.1

3.9

Total duels won*

5.1 (58%)

4.8 (54%)

6.4 (53%)

As the table above shows, De Jong is more rounded than his fellow United anchor targets, with his elite ball-playing skill allowing him to star at the centre of the system and influence and dictate.

It's no surprise that the 27-year-old has been dubbed “one of the best players in the world” by former boss Xavi: his accolades are many.

While Paris Saint-Germain's Ugarte is a more tough-tackling and tenacious defensive member, he's not as creative and nor is he the kind of smooth distributor to properly charge Ten Hag's team, enhance the attack.

Indeed, the Uruguayan ranks among the bottom 28% of midfielders for progressive passes per 90, and while few offer greater tackling success, the polarity in technical acumen is stark.

It's a signing that will have a great impact on the season(s) ahead for Manchester United, and it's one that must be chosen wisely, especially when considering the kind of partnership that De Jong could forge with Bruno Fernandes.

Imagine him & Bruno Fernandes

Man United signed Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47m in January 2020, having scored 79 goals and supplied 66 assists over 233 fixtures, being instrumental in winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

The club captain has recently extended his contract at Old Trafford until 2027, speaking of his eagerness to jump into the new era, feeling his best days wearing the shirt are yet to come.

An elite-level playmaker, Fernandes embodies the creativity, tenacity and drive fitting for one donning the armband at one of Europe's pre-eminent outfits, with Paul Scholes praising him for seeing "everything on the pitch".

He's not infallible though, and he was hindered by the woes of his teammates throughout the previous term, with Casemiro notably disappointing on more than a couple of occasions in the No. 6 role – Wayne Rooney even called him "lazy" at one stage.

De Jong would go a long way toward rectifying that wrong, slotting into the centre of the field and placing passes into Fernandes' vicinity, allowing him to latch on and score, assist, create.

The Portuguese Magnifico, indeed, created 21 big chances in the Premier League last season and averaged 3.3 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, but he also chipped in with 1.9 tackles per game, emphasising the complete skillset that would allow De Jong to dovetail into the system.

In turn, Barcelona's maestro in the middle would prove to return the favour and add a layer of stability to the engine room that would allow Fernandes to perform with greater fluency and freedom.

Casemiro, one of the finest midfielders of his generation, is on the decline. The 32-year-old still offers shades of the iron-clad strength in dispossessing and overpowering his opponents, but his decision-making and control have waned. He ranked only among the top 35% of midfielders in the English top flight last year for progressive passes per 90 and the bottom 46% for pass completion.

This is all evidence that De Jong would represent the multi-skilled upgrade that Man United need to make Fernandes positively unplayable.

The club might just ascend to the next level this year, not only fighting for a place in the Champions League and pushing for silverware but going somewhere that the Theatre has not across the past decade – restoring glory of the highest calibre, at the top of the English pyramid.

Move over Ugarte: Man Utd could sign dream £30m Casemiro upgrade

He missed his club’s first game of the season

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 16, 2024

Having reportedly reached an agreement to sign Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf, Leeds United now want to sign two more reinforcements for Daniel Farke's side before the transfer window slams shut on Friday.

Leeds transfer news

Those at Elland Road have had an incredibly busy few weeks, with Georginio Rutter's exit reigniting their window on the incomings front in the form of Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon. The latter recently became the latest to arrive, joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, in an attempt to replace the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Rutter this summer.

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Not done there, however, Leeds have seemingly set their sights on further additions. According to Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds still hope to sign a full-back and another addition alongside Tanaka. The Japan international is set to complete a medical ahead of a move worth a reported €4m (£3m) in a deal that will see Leeds replace the departed Glen Kamara.

Those two new names, it seems, are Roland Sallai and Isaac Schmidt. According to GiveMeSport, Leeds now want to sign Sallai from SC Freiburg before the deadline, with the right-winger potentially adding the final piece to Farke's attacking rebuild for around £7.6m.

Meanwhile, according to Patrick Berger, Leeds are on the verge of signing Isaac Schmidt from St. Gallen in deal worth €3m (£2.5m) plus add ons, with the full-back set to travel for his medical after his side's Europa Conference League game against Trabzonspor tomorrow if all goes to plan.

The 24-year-old isn't the only reported left-back target, however, with Owen Wijndal also eyed after he was frozen out at Ajax ahead of a likely summer exit away from the Dutch giants. Alongside Tanaka, it looks set to be a busy 48 hours for those in Yorkshire.

"Determined" Sallai would unleash Piroe

A player who has starred on the international stage for Hungary, Sallai would certainly finish Leeds' attacking rebuild and perhaps finally unleash the clinical form of Joel Piroe at a crucial time. The Dutch forward managed 14 goals in the Championship last season in a solid debut campaign, but was at his best at Swansea City in the year prior, scoring 19 league goals.

That's the forward Leeds now need more than ever and the type that Sallai should help unlock. The Freiburg winger managed eight goals and four assists in all competitions last time out and his ability to score from range on top of that output makes him one to watch.

Dubbed "determined" by former Freiburg head coach Christian Streich, Sallai could have quite the decision to make in the next 48 hours, as Leeds push for his signature before the deadline.

South East Stars 324 for 7 (Dunkley 104*) beat Sunrisers 189 (Farrant 5-33) by 135 runs
Sophia Dunkley earned the applause of Lisa Keightley as her century set up a crushing 135-run bonus point victory for South East Stars over Sunrisers.All-rounder Dunkley smashed an unbeaten 104 off 93 balls to send the Stars to a record highest Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy total of 324 for 7.Dunkley, who has played 15 international T20s, is hoping to make her ODI debut this summer with India and New Zealand touring and will have impressed an on-looking England head coach Keightley.England fast bowler Tash Farrant took 5 for 33 as Sunrisers were bowled out for 189, with 65 balls to spare at the Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford.Bryony Smith and Alice Davidson-Richards got the Stars off to a flier by putting on 107 in 18 overs, having been asked to bat first on a belting wicket in flawless conditions.Smith was the more aggressive, pulling a six in just the second over and another to bring up a 53-ball fifty – comfortably bettering her best score of 8 in last year’s truncated competition.Davidson-Richards joined her at the milestone in 63 balls before Kelly Castle entered the attack and halted the visitors’ progress.Related

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The Essex-born seamer had Smith well caught at square leg with her first delivery before picking up Davidson-Richards and Alice Capsey in consecutive deliveries soon after – eventually returning 3 for 40.Dunkley rebuilt, initially steadily, but with Aylish Cranstone began to find her tempo while playing strongly in front of the wicket.Cranstone, Kirstie White and Farrant fell in quick succession but Dunkley went past her 51-ball half-century for the seventh time in her last eight List A innings.Partnerships of 53 and 44 with the destructive Grace Gibbs and Rhianna Southby pushed the Stars over 300 before Dunkley firmly swept through mid-on to wave her bat on her third 50-over hundred – with Keightley clapping the impressive knock.Left-armer Farrant made sure the chase was never really on for Sunrisers as she had Cordelia Griffin and Amara Carr caught within the first nine overs.The Stars captain then picked up Lissy MacLeod and Fran Wilson in her sixth over before Sunrisers retaliated in the shape of a 73-run stand between Mady Villiers and Naomi Dattani. Gibbs broke the stand by castling Villiers before Dattani was bowled for 47.The required run-rate continued to grow exponentially to leave the chase to fizzle out, with Farrant and Smith taking the last two wickets.

New Zealander makes unbeaten 73 to put contest out of Leicestershire’s reach

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2021Lancashire 172 for 8 (Allen 73*, Griffiths 4-24) beat Leicestershire 156 for 5 (Steel 54*) by 16 runsLancashire Lightning’s New Zealand opener, Finn Allen, made an unbeaten 73 off 51 balls as his side made it two wins out of two in this year’s Vitality Blast with a 16-run victory over Leicestershire Foxes.Allen batted through his side’s innings of 172 for 8 and that total proved just too many for the visitors, who finished on 156 for 5 despite Scott Steel’s 54 not out.Having opted to bat first, Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas saw his openers, Allen and Liam Livingstone, score 31 runs off the first three overs but that healthy progress was ended by Gavin Griffiths, who dismissed Livingstone for 25 and Alex Davies for a golden duck with his first two balls.Griffiths completed a rare double-wicket maiden but Lancashire’s brisk run-rate was maintained by Jos Buttler, who made 22 off 16 balls before he was caught at long off by Ben Mike off Colin Ackermann.Related

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Vilas made 16 and Steven Croft included a straight six in his 21 but Griffiths returned to dismiss both Croft and Luke Wood and it was left to Allen to take Lancashire to a defendable total. He succeeded in this task, reaching his 50 off 41 balls and he celebrated his half-century with a straight six off the Afghan fast bowler Naveen ul Haq.Griffths was the most successful Foxes bowler, taking a career-best four for 22 but Ackermann returned his customary fine figures off 2 for 22.Needing to score at 8.65 runs per over, the Foxes took 47 runs off the first 4.3 overs before Josh Inglis was bowled for a 19-ball 34 when attempting to reverse-sweep Danny Lamb. Arron Lilley holed out at deep midwicket for four in Parkinson’s first over and the three Lancashire spinners began to control the game.Livingstone dismissed Ackermann and Tom Hartley’s superb figures off one for 18 included Lewis Hill’s wicket. The Foxes needed 73 off the last six overs but Steel and Rishi Patel maintained the pursuit, both batsmen taking sixes off Lamb’s third over.With 42 needed off three overs Patel hit Parkinson for a straight six before being caught at long on by Croft for a 17-ball 32 when he tried to repeat the shot. Steel and Patel’s 52-run partnership off 31 balls left the Foxes with a hope of scoring the 32 needed off the final two overs but Lancashire’s seamers held their nerve.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira (10), às 21h30, Fortaleza e São Paulo se enfrentam pela 31ª rodada do Brasileirão, no Castelão. Enquanto o Tricolor terá o desfalque de Rigoni, o Tricolor do Pici terá os retornos de Matheus Jussa e Ederson. O São Paulo é o 14º colocado, com 37 pontos, enquanto o Fortaleza é o 5º, com 48.

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Para essa partida, o São Paulo terá o retorno de vez do atacante Calleri, que deve começar a partida como titular. Ele voltou contra o Bahia, mas jogou apenas 25 minutos após se recuperar de um edema na coxa.

No entanto, o time também tem desfalques, como o atacante Rigoni, que recebeu o terceiro cartão amarelo e está suspenso. Outro que não joga é o zagueiro Arboleda, convocado para a seleção do Equador que disputa as Eliminatórias para a Copa do Mundo de 2022.

VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO E SIMULE OS RESULTADOS

Já o Fortaleza não poderá contar com o atacante David, machucado. Em compensação,o técnico Vojvoda terá os retornos de Matheus Jussa e Ederson, que cumpriram suspensão contra o Corinthians.

O Leão do Pici quer voltar a vencer apósapós duas derrotas consecutivas, para América-MG e Corinthians, ambos fora de casa.

Veja todas as informações sobre a partida

FORTALEZA X SÃO PAULO
Local: Castelão, em Fortaleza (CE)
Data/Horário: 10/11/2021, às 21h30
Árbitro: Paulo Roberto Alves Junior (PR)
Assistentes: Rafael Trombeta (PR) e Sidmar dos Santos Meurer (PR)
VAR: Pathrice Wallace Corrêa Maia (RJ)
Onde acompanhar: TV Globo (SP), Premiere e Tempo Real na parceria LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

FORTALEZA
Marcelo Boeck; Tinga, Benevenuto, Titi; Edinho, Ronald, Éderson, Lucas Lima e Bruno Melo; Robson e Romarinho. Técnico: Juan Vojvoda.
Desfalques: David, Yago Pikachu e Lucas Crispim (lesionados)
Suspensos: Felipe (3º Amarelo)
Pendurados: Robson, Lucas Lima, Romarinho, Igor Torres, Matheus Vargas, Ronald e Felipe Alves
Voltam de suspensão: Titi, Ederson e Matheus Jussa (Todos pelo 3º Amarelo)

SÃO PAULO
Volpi; Orejuela, Léo, Miranda e Reinaldo; Liziero, Igor Gomes, Gabriel Sara e Benítez; Calleri e Luciano. Técnico: Rogério Ceni.
Desfalques: Arboleda (convocado), Luan, William e Galeano(lesionados)
Suspensos: Rigoni (3º Amarelo)
Pendurados: Liziero, Arboleda, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Welington, Luan, Luciano, Gabriel Sara e Rodrigo Nestor
Voltam de suspensão: –

Arsenal have been busy on transfer deadline day, working to secure the signing of a new goalkeeper following Aaron Ramsdale's exit.

He joined Southampton on a permanent deal which has forced the Gunners into acquiring a replacement.

Espanyol's Joan Garcia looked like one option but he proved too expensive so Edu and Co have looked to bring in Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto on loan instead.

That deal is now done but official confirmation from the Gunners is yet to emerge.

That said, he's not the only deadline day signing on the cards with a forward player potentially set to arrive before 11pm.

Arsenal looking to sign Premier League forward

Arsenal are in talks to sign Raheem Sterling in a last-minute deal according to the Athletic's David Ornstein.

The winger is available after being alienated by new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca following the player's omission from the squad during their opening weekend defeat to Manchester City.

Rumours had been rife surrounding the player's future on transfer deadline with a will he won't he saga emerging.

Arsenal had been reported to be the player's favourite destination if a move could be agreed after a phone call with Mikel Arteta and now it appears a move is well and truly on the cards.

Should a deal be struck then it looks like Arsenal could sign a similar player to Gabriel Martinelli.

How Sterling compares to Gabriel Martinelli

According to FBRef's statistics for the 2023/24 season, Arsenal's Brazilian superstar was the fourth-most similar player in the Premier League to Sterling.

Why? Well, both tricky wingers who largely play down the left, they possess similar qualities that help make themselves a total nightmare for the opposition when en-song.

Here's a breakdown of the numbers between the two for last season which showcases a number of similarities.

Goals

0.36

0.27

Assists

0.18

0.18

Expected goals (xG)

0.30

0.30

Shot-creating actions

3.86

4.11

Progressive passes

3.55

2.90

Successful take-ons

2.05

1.79

Progressive carries

5.45

5.67

As we can see from the data above, they're particularly alike in a host of important areas for a wide player, most specifically progressive passing, dribbling and carrying.

For progressive carries, in particular, they are almost identical, with Arteta now potentially set to be able to call upon another electric dribbler in the form of Martinelli.

The Brazilian has been off the boil of late, scoring just one league goal since the beginning of March. That form, and the sheer number of minutes that Bukayo Saka played in 2023/24, meant that signing another body in the final third of the pitch was particularly vital.

Sterling, certainly at the 11th hour, isn't a bad option indeed, even if he wasn't their first choice.

Some may complain about his lack of form at Stamford Bridge but this is a player Arteta knows and he represents a brilliant late market opportunity. This one is unexpected but certainly needed for Arsenal.

Arsenal now favourites to sign £35m star who's like Nico Williams

Arsenal are looking at signing a winger on deadline day.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 30, 2024

Fulham star Antonee Robinson has put up a first in 31 years by a USMNT player as he emulated Roy Wegerle with two assists against Liverpool.

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Fulham hold Liverpool to 2-2 drawRobinson gets two assists in clashFirst USMNT star to do so in 31 yearsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Fulham were able to hold heavy favourites Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Marco Silva's side opened the scoring via Andreas Pereira's strike from a Robinson assist to give Fulham a lead into the break. Cody Gakpo equalized for the Reds before Fulham put themselves ahead again via Rodrigo Muniz after he latched onto Robinson's ball. However, the Cottagers eventually lost their lead with Diogo Jota levelling late in the clash.

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Robinson's two assists in Fulham's 2-2 draw with Arne Slot's Liverpool has made him the first USMNT star to gather multiple assists in a single Premier League clash since Wegerle did the same with Coventry City against Arsenal in August 1993, as per OptaJack.

WHAT SILVA SAID

Speaking to the club media, Silva said post-match: “He [Robinson] is improving so, so quick in some things. I know him very well from Everton, but the way he’s improving in some set-ups, defensive set-ups, being much more brave in the way he faces one-on-one situations, and the way he goes inside the spaces as well.

“And of course, again, two assists from a full-back at Anfield shows the quality that he has. I remember some seasons ago, even last season, many people were talking about his decision-making, but already he’s the player from our team with more assists for sure.

“Being clear, what a performance from him. What a performance. Brilliant, unbelievable performance from him, and I told him at the end of the game that he has to be really proud.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ROBINSON?

The USMNT star has been on top form since the start of the season for Fulham and will be a starter again when the Cottagers take on Southampton on Sunday.

Zimbabwe may have squandered their best chance to hit Pakistan hard, losing the first game mainly because of lapses in the field

Danyal Rasool22-Apr-2021

Zimbabwe nearly matched Pakistan every step of the way in the first match•AFP/Getty Images

Big pictureHarare threw up a fun T20I contest in the first game, though both Zimbabwe and Pakistan were far from pleased with how things unfolded. Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams termed his side’s performance in the field “inexcusable” after they shelled no fewer than five catches, including an opportunity to send Mohammad Rizwan packing early; Rizwan went on to carry his bat and score 82 of Pakistan’s 149 runs. Babar Azam was similarly displeased, admitting the batsmen didn’t perform well enough, and that Pakistan’s 11-run victory was “not a convincing win”. Both sides promised to bounce back, an opportunity they will have in the second game, which is set to take place at the same venue on Friday.Zimbabwe may wonder if they have already squandered a big chance to give their higher-profile opposition a bloody nose; if Pakistan are quite as poor at any point across the remaining games, that will be a serious concern for the visitors. Both Azam and Rizwan spoke of the adjustment it took from the higher-bouncing pitches in the Highveld in South Africa to the less lively ones at the Harare Sports Club. Now that that adjustment has been made, presumably, Pakistan should be more attuned to the conditions and perhaps less troubled by some of the factors they deemed unknown on Wednesday.The hosts, however, would know that it was only a lack of experience that prevented them from taking a 1-0 lead in the series. They simply don’t play enough international cricket; they have only played three T20Is – all against Afghanistan – between the last time these two sides played an international series last year and now. Pakistan have been their most familiar big-name opponent of late, and matching them nearly every step of the way in the first match should have given Zimbabwe confidence that they could be competitive.Form guide
Pakistan WWWLW
Zimbabwe LLLLLBabar Azam has come out second best against Blessing Muzarabani quite a few times of late•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlightBlessing Muzarabani continues to be Zimbabwe’s spearhead with the ball and arguably their most important player. He was, once more, comfortably the best fast bowler for his side in the first game, and resumed a running battle with Azam that has seen the lanky fast bowler finish on top more often than not. Of the last five times the Pakistan captain has been dismissed against Zimbabwe across formats, Muzarabani has been the bowler on four occasions. Even if the pitch isn’t quite as springy as the one at the SuperSport Park and at the Wanderers might have beenMuzaranabi is able to extract enough extra bounce to keep batsman on their toes in more ways than one.Pakistan’s middle order continues to be a pressing concern, with every combination the visitors have tried on tour blowing up in their faces. Rizwan mentioned after the previous game how he almost had a pact with Azam regarding how one of them needed to stay there till the end, and while that speaks of the confidence in their own abilities, it also shines a light on how little they appear to trust the batsmen lower down. Haider Ali remains woefully out of form, while Danish Aziz has struggled on tour, too. Mohammad Hafeez, perhaps more surprisingly, is also yet to hit his stride, which means Pakistan remain vulnerable at later stages of their innings. With games running out before the T20 World Cup later in the year, there are numerous spots up for grabs, but if only there were the personnel to grab them.Team newsBrendan Taylor missed the last game with a gastrointestinal infection but should be fit to return in the second game. Unfortunately, Craig Ervine will miss out, not just this game but the series, after picking up a right calf muscle strain while fielding during the first match. Tarisai Musakanda has been called up as his replacement.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 2 Wesley Madhevere, 3 Tadiwanashe Marumani, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Sean Williams (capt), 6 Tarisai Musakanda, 7 Ryan Burl, 8 Luke Jongwe, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard NgaravaPakistan rested Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali in the previous game, and just about got away with that. And the question of whether they trust themselves to back their secondary bowlers – as much as what they can a misfiring middle order – remains.Pakistan (possible): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Sharjeel Khan/Danish Aziz, 5 Mohammad Hafeez, 6 Mohammad Nawaz, 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Hasan Ali, 9 Mohammad Hasnain, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Usman QadirPitch and conditionsThe weather should be clear once more, and similar conditions are to be expected as in the first game. The sides would be playing on a fresh pitch, though.Stats and trivia Sean Williams needs a further 64 runs to become just the second Zimbabwean to reach 1000 T20I runs, with Hamilton Masakadza well clear at the top with 1662. Mohammad Rizwan’s lead at the top of the T20I run charts this year already stands at 108 runs – he has 426 to the second-placed Martin Guptill’s 318. Rizwan also averages 106.50 with the bat in T20I cricket this calendar year.

Edoardo Bove was given a hero's welcome as he returned to the Fiorentina training ground for the first time since his terrifying on-field collapse.

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• Collapsed against Inter
• Fitted with internal defibrillator
• Greeted warmly by team-mates

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bove suddenly collapsed 15 minutes into Fiorentina's Serie A clash with Inter on December 2, reducing worried team-mates to tears in a similar situation to that faced by Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020. A video shared by the club showed Bove's return to the Fiorentina training ground following heart surgery. Unsurprisingly, the 22-year-old was given a hero's welcome.

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• WHAT FIORENTINA SAID ABOUT BOVE'S INJURY

  After the initial incident, Fiorentina shared a statement that read: "Fiorentina and the Careggi University Hospital have announced that footballer Edoardo Bove, who was treated on the pitch following a loss of consciousness during the Fiorentina v Inter match, is currently under sedation and is hospitalised in intensive care. The Viola player arrived at the emergency department in stable haemodynamic conditions and initial cardiological and neurological tests have ruled out acute damage to the central nervous system and the cardio-respiratory system. Bove will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since that statement was released, further news has emerged. The decision was taken to fit Bove with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), the same device Christian Eriksen has used since returning to football following his cardiac arrest. However, this ICD will stop the young Italian from being able to play in his native league again because of the country's sports medicine regulations on subcutaneous (under the skin) defibrillators.

There are less than two weeks until the Premier League returns, and while it's sure to be an important season for every club, that's probably truer for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping they can get over the line and end their two-decade title drought at the third time of asking after coming so close for the last two campaigns.

However, to do that, the Gunners need to bring in some more stars. While there are a plethora of super-talented players that Edu Gaspar and Co could bring in to supercharge the team, one in particular would be an incredible pickup.

The superstar in question has been heavily linked with the Gunners in the past, and while signing him could prove exceptionally challenging, he'd be an incredible addition to the midfield and form an unreal partnership with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Arsenal transfer news

The player in question is Newcastle United's midfield general Bruno Guimarães, who, according to a recent report from The Mirror, remains a long-term target for Arsenal despite reaffirming his commitment to the Magpies in recent days.

However, as fans are well aware nowadays, a player's platitudes mean very little in modern football, and so, while it might be unlikely, the Gunners should push to bring the former Lyon ace to the Emirates this summer.

If Edu and Co could work their magic and convince the 26-year-old to up sticks and move to North London, the club would have to stump up a massive fee, as reports this summer have claimed that the Toon value him at around £100m.

It would require a serious effort from Arsenal to get this transfer over the line, but if they have a chance, they have to take it, as a midfield three of Rice, Odegaard, and Guimarães would be incredible.

Why Guimarães would be an incredible signing for Arsenal

Okay, so let's entertain this hopeful optimism for a little bit longer and examine a few of the reasons why Guimarães would be such an incredible signing for Arsenal, particularly for Rice and Odegaard.

The first is that, like the two Arsenal stars, the Toon ace has an extraordinarily clean injury record, with just eight games missed for club and country across his entire career thus far.

This resilience and ability to remain fit for entire seasons would make it much easier for him to form effective partnerships with those around him. Unlike Thomas Partey, for example, the 26-year-old could be relied upon to be there day in and day out.

The second reason the Rio de Janeiro-born ace would be great for Arteta's midfield stars is his raw output.

In 50 games for the Magpies last season, he scored seven goals and provided ten assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 2.9 games.

Guimarães's 23/24
Appearances	50
Goals	7
Assists	10
Goal Involvements per match	0.34
All Stats via Transfermarkt

This means he'd be able to either get on the end of killer passes and score himself to boost his teammates' assist tallies or play that killer ball himself, potentially helping Odegaard improve his goalscoring numbers from their already impressive level.

The final reason the "world-class" midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would be such a great signing is his ability to play in either central or defensive midfield.

Across his career, he has played 160 games as a six and 63 as an eight, although when you look at his heatmap from last season, when he started more games as a six, you can see that his natural game is to venture forward.

This ability to do both would make him the perfect player to connect play between Rice and Odegaard in the middle of the park. He would help the former out with some defensive work when needed before flying forward to help the latter by either creating space or playing the ball himself.

Arsenal can finally axe Zinchenko by signing the "best LB in the world"

The incredible talent would be a game-changer for the Gunners.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 9, 2024

Ultimately, this is a move that seems unlikely this summer and there is no getting away from that, but if Guimarães really is still a long-term target for Arsenal, then going all out to bring him in would be a bold statement and the perfect way to complete the team's midfield at the same time.