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Nottingham Forest are prepared to make a move for an “exceptional” £25m player if he becomes available this winter, according to a report.

Forest flying high

Forest’s first half of the Premier League season has surpassed all expectations, with the prospect of Champions League football slowly becoming a real possibility, if they are able to perform at a similar level in the second half of the campaign.

There is no telling when an opportunity like this will arise again, so it could be vital for Nuno Espirito Santo to seize the moment and strengthen his squad this January, to give his side the best possible chance of achieving the unthinkable.

With the transfer window set to open tomorrow, the Tricky Trees have a number of targets in mind, including Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz, with an offer of €20m (£16.6m) potentially on the way soon.

A new left midfielder is also of interest to Nuno, with Forest now racing to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague this winter, although there will be competition from Premier League rivals Brentford.

Nottingham Forest’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

January 6th

Liverpool (h)

January 14th

Southampton (h)

January 19th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

January 25th

Brighton & Hove Albion (h)

February 1st

There are now signs that Nuno may also be keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, with a report from The Daily Mail detailing that Nottingham Forest would be prepared to make a move for Manchester City’s James McAtee this January.

A number of clubs have taken a keen interest in McAtee, including Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, West Ham United and Crystal Palace, so there is set to be stiff competition for his signature if he becomes available. The £25m-rated midfielder’s future at the Etihad Stadium remains in doubt as he has found it difficult to get game time this season, despite Man City’s struggles.

It is believed that the 22-year-old has informed City he wants to leave the club, potentially opening the door for a move to the City Ground, should Pep Guardiola be willing to sanction his departure.

Man City want Nottingham Forest star as part of Guardiola’s January revamp

Manchester City have had a difficult season to say the least…

1 ByBarney Lane Dec 30, 2024 McAtee needs to move

The Englishman needs to move if he is to fulfill his lofty potential, as he has found minutes especially hard to come by this season, making just three appearances in the Premier League. During his time on loan at Sheffield United, the attacking midfielder was lauded by journalist Ryan Taylor.

However, the Salford-born ace has simply not been given the opportunity to show what he can do in a City shirt, so a January transfer may be necessary for the good of his career.

A move to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest could therefore be a very attractive proposition for the City academy graduate, especially considering his current club are by no means guaranteed to be in the competition next season.

McAtee already has some Premier League experience, picking up three goals and three assists in the competition for Sheffield United last season, and he could really kick on at the City Ground.

It would be fair to say that things have not exactly gone to plan for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this season.

As things stand, Ange Postecoglou’s side currently find themselves in 12th place and closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League places.

That said, with a 1-0 lead over Liverpool in their League Cup semi-final and a laboured but ultimately successful 3-0 win over Tamworth in the FA Cup, there is a real chance the Australian could lead the club to a trophy this season.

However, for that to happen, Spurs’ most important players will need to be at their best, including club captain Son Heung-min, whose form has been very hit-and-miss this year, as exemplified by the fact he hasn’t scored or assisted a goal in his last five league games.

Fortunately, the transfer window is now open, and recent reports have linked the club to an incredibly exciting talent who could help revive the South Korean superstar for the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur target Serie A star

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are also keen on the young talent, while the likes of Manchester City, Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are all ‘aware’ of him.

On top of dealing with the enormous competition, Daniel Levy and Co will also have to dig deep into their pockets to sign the Danish ace as, according to the story, the Serie A side value him at around €50m, which is about £42m.

In all, it’ll likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Dorgu’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could help revive Son.

How Dorgu could revive Son at Spurs

So, to get straight to the point, the way Dorgu could help get the best back out of Son is obviously not through his defensive work at left-back but through his sensational attacking abilities.

For example, in just 21 appearances this season, totalling 1820 minutes, the 20-year-old phenom has already scored three goals and provided one assist for Lecce, which means he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 5.25 games, or every 455 minutes.

Granted, he has spent some of the campaign as a right-winger, but if anything, that only shows how accomplished and comfortable he already is in attacking scenarios.

Away from his pure output, we can further see how effective the “explosive” prospect, as U23 scout Antonio Mango described him, is as an attacking full-back when we look at his underlying numbers compared to other full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League across the last 365 days.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 2% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 3% for actual non-penalty goals, the top 4% for total shots, the top 6% for aerial duels won, the top 7% for carries into the penalty area, the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, the top 10% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the top 11% for shot-creating actions from successful take-ons, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.18

Top 2%

Actual Non-Penalty Goals

0.18

Top 3%

Total Shots

1.70

Top 4%

Aerial Duels Won

1.70

Top 6%

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.78

Top 7%

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.26

Top 8%

Touches in Opposition’s Box

2.48

Top 10%

Shot-Creating Actions via Take-Ons

0.21

Top 11%

Now, while most of those metrics would help get more out of the Lilywhites’ captain, perhaps the most important are the last two, as his dynamism in getting up and down the flank and into the opposition’s box should take some of the physical demands off of Son, who can focus more on getting into dangerous positions vacated by defenders tracking the Dane, or playing balls into the marauding full-back.

Ultimately, the South Korean icon is an incredibly gifted player, but at 32 years old, he needs players around him who can do more of the non-stop running required in a Postecoglou system, and in Dorgu Spurs could have that and more in a prospect respected analyst Ben Mattinson claims “oozes calmness and composure”.

Therefore, while it may require a significant investment, Daniel Levy and Co should do what they can to bring the Lecce ace to N17 before one of their rivals gets to him first.

Their own Odegaard: Spurs chasing "quality" England star available for free

The incredible talent could be a game-changer for Spurs.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 10, 2025

Kevin De Bruyne's former club Wolfsburg sent out a cheeky invitation to the Manchester City star to rejoin them.

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Wolfsburg want De Bruyne backSent out a cheeky invitation on social media De Bruyne will leave Man City in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne officially announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the 2024-25 campaign as a free agent after his contract expires. The Belgian midfielder returned to England – having previously endured a tough time at Chelsea – in the summer of 2015 and signed for the Cityzens from Wolfsburg. In the next 10 years, the player won every major trophy at Etihad Stadium, including six league titles and a Champions League trophy. He was also an integral part of the 2022-23 treble-winning City team.

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With De Bruyne exiting Etihad Stadium this summer, his former club Wolfsburg sent out a cheeky invitation to the player on social media and urged the veteran star to return to the Bundesliga and rejoin them. The 33-year-old spent one-and-a-half seasons at Wolfsburg, where he won the DFB Pokal and DFL-Supercup titles.

WHAT WOLFSBURG SAID

Quoting De Bruyne's X post where he made the announcement of leaving the Cityzens, the German club wrote: "Dear Kevin, do you remember? You and I ten years ago? How about the two of us again?"

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR KEVIN DE BRUYNE?

Several top MLS clubs, including New York City FC, Chicago Fire and Inter Miami, are reportedly keen on signing the player, however, the City star is yet to decide on his future beyond the current season. He will be next seen in action on Sunday as Pep Guardiola's side face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

The two Midlands counties have punched above their weight in the Vitality Blast this season and will be keen to carry the form into warm-ups

Matt Roller30-Jun-2022While one Indian men’s team is playing England at Edgbaston in the rescheduled fifth Test, another will be involved in two warm-up matches ahead of July’s T20I series against the same opponents, on the back of their 2-0 series win against Ireland in Malahide.For the England series, Rohit Sharma is back as India captain, with the first match starting at the Ageas Bowl on July 7.Related

Rohit returns to lead white-ball squads for England series; Hardik back for ODIs

Balbirnie 'bitterly disappointed' as Ireland fall agonisingly short in 226 chase

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Derbyshire bring in Hilton Cartwright as Shan Masood cover

Fourteen of the 17-man squad that travelled to Ireland made an appearance in one of the two T20Is, with Rahul Tripathi, Venkatesh Iyer and Arshdeep Singh the three men to miss out. Hardik Pandya captained the side, with Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson putting in stand-out performances in the second T20I.Their opponents this week will be Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, two Midlands counties who have punched above their weight in the Vitality Blast this season. Heading into the final rounds of games, they sit third and fifth respectively in the nine-team North Group, with the top four qualifying for the quarter-finals.Derbyshire’s historic T20 record is poor: they have reached the knockout stages three times in 19 previous seasons and have only once reached Finals Day, back in 2019 when they lost to eventual champions Essex in the semi-finals. But they have been transformed this season since Mickey Arthur’s arrival as a coach, and a win against Durham on Sunday would guarantee a quarter-final place.They have used a core of 13 players in the Blast this season, with Shan Masood, one of their overseas players, leading from the front with 516 runs as captain, averaging 46.90 with a strike rate of 142.14. Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy, both local players despite their South African heritage, have contributed heavily in the middle order.With the ball, Scotland’s Mark Watt and the legspinner Mattie McKiernan have been the keys in the middle overs, while Hayden Kerr – the Australian allrounder who was a net bowler for Lucknow Super Giants at IPL 2022 – and the tall seamer George Scrimshaw have been prolific, if occasionally expensive.Derbyshire have named three overseas players in their 16-man squad for Friday night’s fixture, with Hilton Cartwright, the Australian batter, arriving as cover for Masood, but they are only expected to field three in their playing XI. Ticket sales have been strong, with fewer than 1000 remaining on Thursday evening.”They’re the benchmark of international cricket in pretty much all formats,” Cartwright told Derbyshire’s YouTube channel. “If you can perform well against them, your game is in a good place. It’s a real challenge to see how far you can test them.”For Northants, the atmosphere around Sunday’s game will depend heavily on their result against Leicestershire on Friday night. A defeat will see them eliminated but if they win, they will be relying on results elsewhere on Sunday to help them into the quarter-finals. They have a proud T20 history, lifting the trophy in 2013 and 2016, but have struggled in the last five seasons.Chris Lynn and James Neesham, their overseas players, have been their main stars this year but are not expected to take part in Sunday’s fixture, which has been sold out for the last week. Josh Cobb, their captain, has had an excellent Blast season with bat and ball while young players Saif Zaib, Ben Curran – the middle brother, between Tom and Sam – and left-arm wristspinner Freddie Heldreich have all shown glimpses of their talent.Fixtures: July 1 – Derbyshire vs India, The Incora County Ground (7pm), July 3 – Northamptonshire vs India, Wantage Road (2.30pm)

Manchester City are set to complete with PSG for the signing of Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, but a bid could depend on their Champions League status.

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Man City to battle PSG over signing of AklioucheFrench champions want Monaco star after missing out on SalahPep Guardiola's side keen on attacking midfielderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to L'Equipe, Manchester City have shown interest in signing young Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche, who is likely to leave the Ligue 1 side in the summer. However, Pep Guardiola's side are expected to face competition from French champions Paris Saint-Germain and will likely need Champions League football to make the move appealing for Akliouche.

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Man City are expected to overhaul their central midfield options this summer, with club legend Kevin De Bruyne already confirmed to be leaving at the end of the season. However, the report claims PSG have made Akliouche an important target after missing out on Mohamed Salah, who ended months of uncertainty by signing a new contract with Liverpool this week.

DID YOU KNOW?

Akliouche is one of Ligue 1's leading assisters this season with eight so far, while he also scored twice during Monaco's Champions League campaign. He is expected to leave the club this summer, with manager Adi Hutter and chief executive Thiago Scuro both publicly admitting transfer offers are anticipated.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY AND AKLIOUCHE

City bolstered their Champions League qualification hopes by overcoming Crystal Palace 5-2 in Saturday's early kick-off in the Premier League. Akliouche, meanwhile, is looking to help Monaco secure second place in France's top flight, though they face competition from Marseille, Strasbourg and Lyon.

David Moyes has just masterminded a 3-2 victory for Everton over Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park, with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal.

Despite having just 36% possession in the game, Everton managed to generate 2.03 xG against Tottenham, compared to the 1.11 xG generated by Ange Postecoglou’s side.

This goes against the words of Darren Bent before the game, stating the Toffees had been “apprehensive in front of goal” this season.

Everton managed to create five big chances, effectively breaking the lines of Spurs’ press, going from back to front efficiently and getting their shots off (12 in the game), with one man in particular leading the charge.

Iliman Ndiaye's performance in numbers vs Spurs

Ndiaye has been Everton’s star man in attack this season, joining in the summer from Marseille for a fee of around £16.9m. In his time at the club so far, the 24-year-old has made 24 appearances, scoring six goals in his 1,949 minutes played.

Against Tottenham, Ndiaye played 81 minutes, managing 50 touches on the ball, taking two shots (one on target) and completing four out of his six dribble attempts in the game, often at the heart of Everton’s attacks, receiving the ball and carrying it out on the counter.

It was his mesmeric goal that proved to be the showstopping moment, dribbling forward with pace and then dancing around Radu Dragusin as though he wasn’t even there.

He also did his bit off the ball, winning seven of his 17 contested ground duels, winning one of his three contested aerial duels and making two tackles, showing the attackers’ willingness to work for his team both on and off the ball, in order to have an impact on the game.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

That said, there was a player who was perhaps even more important and he’s certainly made himself undroppable to the new boss…

Idrissa Gueye's performance in numbers vs Spurs

Idrissa Gueye was the key in midfield, providing energy, physicality and defensive stability in the middle of the park, winning duels for fun and setting Everton on the break numerous times.

Minutes

90

Touches

54

Accurate Passes

35/37

Assists

2

Key Passes

2

Long Balls

1/1

Ground Duels Won

6/8

Aerial Duels Won

1/1

Tackles

3

Gueye was winning the ball back in midfield to great effect, kick-starting Everton’s counterattacks, winning his duel (75% on the ground) and looking to play quickly forwards, which explains the nature of his two assists in the game.

Whether it was the defensive groundwork, simplifying play (with a 95% passing accuracy) to keep possession, or speeding up the tempo by playing through the lines, Gueye was at the heart of everything positive Everton did, earning him an impressive 8/10 match rating from the Liverpool Echo who explained that he was ‘showing there is silk as well as steel to his game.’

The performances of both Ndiaye and Gueye, among others, have given Moyes a huge statement win, which could be a great starting point for Everton to begin climbing away from the relegation zone, now sitting 16th in the Premier League, with their next games against Brighton and Leicester City.

He plays like Haaland: Moyes targeting "special" DCL replacement at Everton

Everton are looking to ditch Calvert-Lewin and sign a new centre-forward this month.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 17, 2025

“Whenever we play ODIs, stadiums are full, the excitement remains high,” says the India captain

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2022Ben Stokes’ shock retirement from ODIs triggered a wave of concern about the future of the format. Moeen Ali was scathing in his criticism of it, and so was R Ashwin, but 50-over cricket has found a supporter in India captain Rohit Sharma.A day after his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan said he loved the ODI game, Rohit brushed off concerns about the format.”For me, cricket is important – whatever be the format,” Rohit was quoted as saying by the . “I would never say that ODI is getting finished or T20 is getting finished or Tests are nearing an end. I wish there is another format as well, because for me, playing the game is most important. Since childhood, we dreamt of playing the game for India. Whenever we play ODIs, stadiums are full, the excitement remains high. It’s an individual choice as to which format to play or not, but for me, all three formats are important.”Related

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While India are in Zimbabwe at the moment to play three ODIs, another Indian squad – the T20 version – is gearing up for the Asia Cup beginning on August 27 in the UAE. India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup; Rohit had led them to the title in 2018. That tournament was played in the 50-over format but this year’s Asia Cup is in the T20 format.”Asia Cup is happening after a long time, but we played Pakistan last year in Dubai, where obviously the result did not go our way,” Rohit said. “But the Asia Cup is different now. The team is playing differently and has prepared differently, so a lot of things have changed from then. But for us, we need to assess the conditions, keep in mind the fact that we will be playing in 40-plus degrees. We need to assess all those factors and prepare accordingly.”With less than two months to go for the T20 World Cup, Rohit said the squad that is due to play the Asia Cup could undergo some fine-tuning to best suit the conditions for the tournament in Australia.”There is still about two-and-a-half months left for the T20 World Cup. Before that, we have the Asia Cup and two home series against Australia and South Africa,” Rohit said. “So, more or less 80-90% of your team is set, of course there could be three-four changes if at all depending on the conditions. As of now, we have been playing in India and will play in UAE, so the conditions in Australia will be different. We need to check what suits our team in Australia.”India begin their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on August 28 with a squad that is nearly at full strength. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were not included because of injuries, and they will be in contention for the T20 World Cup if they return to full fitness. Given the volume of cricket India play, Rohit said that one of his priorities was to create a strong bench strength.”Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami and all these guys will not be with the Indian team forever, so you have to try and prepare the other guys,” Rohit said. “Myself and Rahul [Dravid] spoke about how we are going to create our bench strength because that’s going to be very crucial considering the amount of cricket we play, considering the injury factors and everything. We never want to be a team that relies on one or two individuals, we want to be a team where everyone can contribute and help the team win on their own.”

Arsenal’s problems have been laid bare over the last few weeks and if they are going to end the season as Premier League champions, they need to sign a few players this month.

Against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, Mikel Arteta’s men were left to bemoan some awful finishing from Kai Havertz who notably glanced an effort off his shoulder wide of the goal from a few yards out.

It was Havertz again in the FA Cup a week ago, skying the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score, while they were nearly left to rue some poor finishing against Spurs in the north London derby. They did, at least, come through that one.

However, just when you think they’ve found their mojo again, going 2-0 up against Aston Villa, the result was taken away from them after some uncharacteristically bad defending.

Still, bolstering the forward ranks should remain the number one priority this month.

Arsenal's plans to sign a new striker

The man who everyone wants right now is Alexander Isak. The Newcastle forward is one of the most in-form centre forwards on the planet, scoring 11 goals in his last ten matches in all competitions.

He’s been regularly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium but with the Toon slapping a £150m asking price on him, any move is incredibly unlikely.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Alternatives are required, therefore, and in Benjamin Sesko – a man described as the “new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, they may have their man.

Sesko was the subject of interest from the Gunners over the summer but ultimately signed a new contract with German club RB Leipzig. A move in 2025 feels more likely but will it be done in January or the summer?

Well, according to the Sun, Arsenal are now weighing up a massive £70m bid for the striker this month as Arteta aims to bolster his side.

The Mirror also goes as far as to suggest he’s ‘already said yes’ to joining the Gunners, with a willingness now on the player’s side to move.

Why Benjamin Sesko could be Arsenal's very own Alexander Isak

In January 2022, Arsenal were reportedly looking at a move for Isak, who was playing for Real Sociedad at the time.

Boasting a release clause of £75m, the Gunners thought it sat above his market value and instead, they ignored a move and preferred other options.

Just a few months later he moved to St James’ Park in a deal worth around £63m and since then, it’s safe to say Arteta and Co will be regretting their decision not to shell out.

While at the time Isak was hardly prolific, scoring 11 in 29 matches the season prior to moving to England, he has blossomed into one of the most feared forwards on the planet, finding the net 17 times in 24 games in 2024/25.

At the time of the move, the exciting Swede was just 22 years of age. He is now 25. Coincidentally, Sesko will be 22 by the time the summer window arrives. He’s also performing better at a similar age, suggesting that in a few years time, he could live up to the rave reviews he’s being given.

Described as a “monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, this is a player who if you invest in now, has a high chance of turning into something incredibly special.

He’s at the point in his career – as Isak was when Arsenal rejected him – that he’s still learning his craft but he’s showing traits that would tick a lot of boxes for Arteta.

The Slovenian is tall, he’s strong and he’s one of the most incredible strikers of a ball in European football. Just look at the goal below.

So, how did Sesko compare to Isak at a similar age? We’ve compared the Newcastle star’s 2021/22 season with the RB Leipzig striker’s current campaign.

Goals

0.61

0.25

Assists

0.15

0.08

Shot on target %

55%

47%

Key passes

0.53

0.84

Progressive passes

1.89

1.81

Shot-creating actions

1.74

2.61

Successful take-ons

1.36

1.85

Progressive carries

1.97

2.44

Aerial duels won

2.73

1.18

So, it’s an interesting set of data with Sesko confidently the more prolific player when they were at the same point in their career.

Isak does appear to be the more creative and is likely to beat a man with greater regularity but the fact that the Slovenia international is already such a brute in the air and boasts immense physicality, makes him look as though he could be tailor-made for the Premier League.

He is no doubt still incredibly raw but Arsenal must learn from their lesson of not advancing with a move to sign Newcastle’s star man a few years ago. They were made to pay the price then and must not pass up on Sesko.

0 duels won, 0 dribbles, 0 shots: 5/10 Arsenal star dropped a 'stinker'

Arsenal dropped more points in the race for the Premier League title against Aston Villa.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 18, 2025

Edu Gaspar has officially closed the book on his time at Arsenal, penning an emotional tribute to supporters, staff and players.

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Edu served as Arsenal's sporting director for close to six yearsWas in service until November 2024Will embark on a fresh journey with Marinakis' football networkFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazilian, who served as Arsenal’s sporting director, formally exited the club this week after a successful five-and-a-half-year spell behind the scenes. Having first joined as Technical Director in July 2019, Edu was pivotal in reshaping the club’s identity and strengthening its competitive ambitions. He later became Arsenal's first-ever Sporting Director, a title he held before stepping away from the role last November.

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During his playing days, Edu was part of Arsene Wenger’s legendary "Invincibles" squad, winning two Premier League titles (2002 and 2004) and six trophies in total. His connection to the club runs deep, and his transition into a leadership role allowed him to further contribute to Arsenal’s evolution.

WHAT EDU SAID

In a touching Instagram post, Edu thanked the Arsenal faithful for their unwavering support during his time in north London.

He wrote: "Thank you, Arsenal. Thank you, Gunners ! With a heart full of gratitude, today formally I close one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life. After five and a half years, my journey officially as Sporting Director of Arsenal FC has come to the end.

"I joined the club in July 2019 as Technical Director, with the challenge of bringing Arsenal with the mission of bringing Arsenal back where it belongs among football’s elite, driving a cultural shift, keep competing for trophies, and making Champions League qualification the minimum expectation for a club of Arsenal’s size. Later, I had the honour of becoming the first-ever Sporting Director in the club’s history, a milestone I will always carry with great pride.

"And throughout this process of rebuilding, you the fans were an essential part of everything! To the supporters, my most sincere thank you ! The support, the energy, and the connection we felt again in every match were simply special. The Emirates became an amplified version of the old Highbury atmosphere! To have experienced this alongside you is something I will never forget."

The former midfielder also took time to thank Arsenal’s ownership, his colleagues, and the players for their collective effort in re-establishing the Gunners as a force both domestically and in Europe.

"To our owners, Stan and Josh Kroenke, the board, Mikel, the players, the coaching staff, Per, Clare, all executive team, the backroom staff, everyone working at the Emirates Stadium, and especially those who welcomed me so warmly in the Director’s Box, thank you for these years of collaboration and kindness! It was never easy, but our intense work, united by a true team spirit, made me feel fulfilled throughout all these years!"

Edu explained his delayed farewell message by revealing he had been on gardening leave since his departure, choosing to remain silent out of respect until his contract officially concluded.

"(If I’m only now sharing this message, it’s because I’ve been on garden leave in recent months and, out of respect for the club and everyone involved, I preferred to wait until the final official day of my contract to publish this.)

"I wish Arsenal FC all the best and every success, and I also send my warmest wishes to the new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who now takes on this beautiful role.

"I leave with a peaceful heart and immense pride in what we’ve built together!

"Thank you so much!

"Edu Gaspar ❤️⚽️"

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DID YOU KNOW?

In his directorial tenure, Edu oversaw an FA Cup victory in 2020 and two Community Shield triumphs. Under his guidance and Mikel Arteta’s leadership, the Gunners rose from mid-table mediocrity – finishing eighth in back-to-back seasons – to consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League.

While Arsenal's Premier League title hopes appear to be slipping away again this season – they currently trail leaders Liverpool by 11 points – the club remains firmly in contention in Europe. A dominant 3-0 victory over Real Madrid earlier this week has put them on the brink of a Champions League semi-final, offering a potential silver lining to their campaign.

Ryan Patel’s century in reply can’t damage skipper’s great day

ECB Reporters Network10-Aug-2022Stephen Eskinazi maintained his rich vein of form with a second successive century – and Middlesex’s highest-ever 50-over score – to steer his side to victory in their Royal London Cup derby against Surrey.The 28-year-old Seaxes skipper, who had struck his previous best of 146 not out three days earlier against Durham, eclipsed that effort with a majestic 182 at Radlett that included 17 fours and six sixes.Eskinazi, who passed 1,000 List A career runs during his 136-ball knock, shared a third-wicket stand of 142 with Pieter Malan (64 from 60) and batted almost right through to underpin the Middlesex total of 351 for 7.”I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment and feel like I’m playing with a sense of freedom,” he said. “I guess I’ve got a bit of a point to prove after being left out of the Hundred and the best way to silence critics and put my name in that hat is to win games for Middlesex and put in performances like I did today.”Ryan Patel’s resolute effort of 118 from 99 kept Surrey in the hunt but, once he was caught in the deep trying to force the pace, the visitors folded for 249 with 50 deliveries unused.Invited to bat, Middlesex made a steady start as Eskinazi and Mark Stoneman put on 61, but they were pegged back by the introduction of Conor McKerr (three for 38).McKerr’s additional bounce took Stoneman by surprise and the left-hander slapped one to point, while Sam Robson played on after a brisk 18 that included a six and four off Nick Kimber.However, that paved the way for Eskinazi and Malan to join forces and the pair calmly proceeded, with the South African advancing to his second half-century of the tournament.Teenage spinner Yousef Majid – who bowled tidily to finish with two for 51 – achieved the breakthrough, trapping Malan leg before as he attempted to sweep and that triggered a middle-order Middlesex wobble.With runs drying up and wickets falling regularly to Majid and Cameron Steel, the home side drifted to 273 for seven before Eskinazi regained the initiative in the death overs, slamming two McKerr full tosses over the fence.Although Eskinazi departed with three balls remaining, Josh Blake pulling off an impressive one-handed grab behind the stumps, the captain’s efforts were enough to lift Middlesex above the 350 mark.Surrey were beset by problems at the start of their reply, with skipper Ben Geddes dragging on to Umesh Yadav in the third over and Steel forced to retire with concussion, having been struck on the helmet by a ball that leapt off a length.Blake, who replaced the stricken Steel at the crease, was soon making the return journey after flashing outside off stump at his first ball from Ethan Bamber – leaving the visitors 23 for three in effect.However, Patel rose to the challenge, clubbing Bamber for the first six of the innings and punishing some loose Martin Andersson deliveries as he and Tom Lawes (27) added 79 from 74.The left-hander crashed consecutive leg-sixes off Yadav to reach his hundred, but he gradually began to run out of partners as Andersson’s smartly-judged boundary catch removed Lawes and Bamber (three for 46) returned to bowl both Nico Reifer and Nick Kimber in his second spell.Patel eventually skied Andersson into the hands of long-off and, although Middlesex were held up by debutant Nathan Barnwell’s spirited 31 from 27, it was not enough to alter the outcome and Yadav (three for 52) wrapped up victory with two wickets in three balls.