A place in the Super Eight in 2024 guarantees direct qualification for the 2026 edition of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2024

Teams still chasing spots in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 have extra motivation to get the job done: a spot in the top eight guarantees direct qualification for the next T20 World Cup, in 2026.The next edition will also have 20 teams like this one, with 12 automatic qualifiers: the two co-hosts – India (who have made the Super Eight) and Sri Lanka (who have not) – as well as the other teams in the Super Eight in 2024 (that’s seven, excluding India), and the three highest-ranked teams outside of these on the ICC’s T20I rankings as of June 30, 2024. That’s 12. The remaining eight spots will be decided through the ICC’s regional qualifiers pathway.Related

Stats – New Zealand's biggest win in men's T20Is

India and Australia in same Super Eight group

Pakistan knocked out of T20 World Cup 2024 in first round

That means, USA – who took a vital point from their washout against Ireland in Lauderhill – have booked a spot in their second successive T20 World Cup.* Scotland, should they get past Australia – even one point would do, but the weather forecast is clear – in Gros Islet, are still very much in the running. Afghanistan, too, have confirmed their spot for 2026, while Netherlands are in a race with Bangladesh for the same, albeit with Bangladesh firm favourites.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

However, this does not spell doom for some Full Members who have already been knocked out of contention this year. Sri Lanka automatically qualify as co-hosts, while England – should they lose out to Scotland – will still make the cut based on the ICC rankings. The same goes for Pakistan and New Zealand. Currently, England, New Zealand and Pakistan are ranked Nos. 4, 6 and 7 respectively, well clear of the other teams who might need to rely on the rankings. Depending on how other results go, Ireland, at No. 11, could also get through via the rankings.The first of the ICC’s qualifier tournaments for 2026, the Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier, is currently on in Italy.*

Chelsea suffered a disappointing defeat in their second group match of the Club World Cup, going down 3-1 against Brazilian side Flamengo.

Enzo Maresca had led the Blues to an opening victory against LAFC, but the loss now means he will need to secure all three points against ES Tunis to qualify for the knockout round.

Given how big the prize fund is, going as far as possible is certainly within the club’s best interests.

The Stamford Bridge side have already signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for a fee of £30m, while deals for Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez have also gone through so far this summer.

Maresca won’t be stopping there, that much is certain. With a move for Hugo Ekitike high on the priority list, it is clear the Blues want to sign another centre-forward this summer.

They have also been linked with moves to sign Tyler Dibling, Murillo, and Mohamed Kudus in recent weeks as Maresca prepares to take Chelsea into the Champions League.

With so many potential transfer links, the manager will surely be looking to offload a player or two. Not only to free up space in the first-team squad, but also to balance the books.

Several names have been touted as departing the club, but could Noni Madueke be the most high-profile sale this summer?

What the future holds for Noni Madueke at Chelsea

Last season saw Madueke come of age at Chelsea. Across 43 appearances in all competitions, the English winger scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the Blues.

He helped them win the Conference League in the process, and this campaign surely gave him plenty of confidence heading into the Club World Cup.

According to The Telegraph, Arsenal are seemingly keen on making a move to sign the former PSV Eindhoven starlet this summer in a bid to improve their attacking options.

With Maresca continuing his heavy recruitment drive at Stamford Bridge, Madueke’s space in the starting XI is certainly not guaranteed heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

The report goes on to state that the winger is not up for sale, but should things change in the coming weeks, he could be obtainable in the transfer window.

Noni Madueke’s stats for Chelsea last season

Metric

Premier League

Conference League

Goals

7

3

Assists

3

1

Big chances created

6

0

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

1.6

Key passes per game

1.1

1

Via Sofascore

He would be a fine signing for any club in the top flight, as evidenced by his statistics when compared to peers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Not only did he rank in the top 1% for progressive carries (6.82) per 90, but the winger also ranked in the top 4% for touches in the opposition penalty area (8.15) per 90 and in the top 7% for total shots per 90 (3.54), proving just how big an impact he had at Chelsea.

Should an offer come in that is too good to turn down, Maresca will surely accept it. This could allow him to make a move for a player who is on his wish list of late.

Chelsea eyeing move for Lyon sensation

According to football.london, Chelsea are interested in signing Lyon starlet Malick Fofana this summer.

As per the report, the club have already initiated contact with the Ligue 1 side regarding a move.

Any deal for the Belgian international will likely cost around £45m, which shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for the Blues, that’s for sure.

Given how many players are set to make the move to Stamford Bridge, however, moving for a first-team star or two looks like the best bet, hence the interest in Madueke.

Swapping the current Chelsea winger for Fofana has the potential to be an excellent deal for all parties involved.

But just what would the 20-year-old bring to Chelsea next season?

Why Chelsea must sign Malick Fofana

Just a couple of months ago, football talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the young attacking talent, saying: “Malick Fofana – 17 G/A in around 2000 minutes for Lyon this season. 20 years of age.

“Still a bit inconsistent, but already showing flashes of his enormous potential.

“Big future ahead.”

If he continues on this recent upwards trajectory following a stunning breakthrough season with Lyon, then he could become one of the finest attacking talents on the continent.

With the Blues returning to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign, Fofana could be a dangerous weapon in their quest for glory. Especially taking his Europa League displays from last term into account.

Across ten games in the competition for Lyon, the young dynamo scored six goals while providing two assists.

In addition, when compared to his peers in Europe’s secondary competition, Fofana ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05), progressive carries (7.88) and touches in the opposition penalty area (8.23) per 90 last term.

Of course, this wasn’t in the Champions League, but performing as well as this at such a young age, what is stopping him from shining on the biggest stage?

Fofana is a right-footed winger who prefers to operate on the left so he can cut in on a regular basis. Last season, however, Fofana did play a couple of matches on the right flank, scoring twice in the process.

Could he, then, be an ideal replacement for Madueke should the English starlet move on from the club this summer? It would be interesting to see exactly what position Maresca would utilise Fofana in, especially as he does appear rather flexible.

Given Madueke still has a few years left on his contract, the Blues should be able to demand a decent fee for the player, who only joined in January 2023.

If his sale can free up space for Fofana coming in, a player who appears to have a brighter future, then it would be a shrewd piece of business. For now, Maresca will just be looking to see his team defeat ES Tunis in order to seal a place in the last-16 of the Club World Cup.

Related Not just Jackson: 5/10 flop must never play for Chelsea again after the CWC

Chelsea were beaten 3-1 by Flamengo in their second game of the Club World Cup.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Jun 21, 2025

Essex 339 (Walter 134, Critchley 53, Potts 4-71) and 208 for 2 (Elgar 120*, Westley 63*) drew with Durham 587 and 184 for 8 dec (Borthwick 71, Harmer 4-75, Porter 3-18)Dean Elgar reaped his 50th first-class century as he and Tom Westley dropped anchor to secure a draw against Durham in the Vitality County Championship.Former South Africa international Elgar batted the whole of day four, almost exclusively with Westley, to make sure Durham didn’t have a sniff of victory.He ended up with 120 after an epically stoic 165 runs, 421 balls and 276 minutes third wicket stand with Westley – who scored 63 not out.Essex are now 12 points behind leaders Surrey ahead of their meeting next week, while Durham remain in the chasing pack having collected 16 points from a match they led throughout.The hosts needed 405 runs to win on the final day, a tough but not impossible task, but made no attempt to secure a fifth victory of the season.The rationale made sense with a draw meaning Essex would fall 12 points behind table-toppers Surrey – but victory at the Kia Oval next week would likely even things back up.Durham’s initial aim had been to see off the night watcher Jamie Porter.They managed to do that in the fifth over as the day when Matthew Potts beat his fellow fast bowler for pace and crashed into his off stump.From then on, Elgar and Westley got their tents and airbeds out to camp out for the day – as Durham couldn’t extract anything from the pitch to aide a wicket.Westley took 19 balls to get off the mark, and when he did, he also ended a 27-ball spell barren of runs.The lack of opportunity or entertainment seemed to get to the Durham team who took to slow clapping the bowler, in a similar manner to a long jumper preparing to leap.Members of the crowd did not take kindly to the jesting and things got testy when a shout of “no ball” went up as Ben Raine was halfway through his run-up. The incident prompted the umpires to chat to Durham captain Scott Borthwick, while angry comments were volleyed between spectators and fielders.Elgar and Westley were unfazed by the shenanigans as they reached lunch with just 54 runs scored in the morning session.Things didn’t change afterwards, but milestones began to appear. The fifty stand came in 168 balls, Elgar reached a half-century in 96 deliveries and the century partnership in 247 balls.As close as Durham came to a wicket was when Elgar tried to clip Borthwick into the leg side but the ball struck Michael Jones at short leg and ballooned up for Ollie Robinson to pouch. But the umpires, and subsequent replays, made it clear it had been a bump ball.It was one of only three appeals against Elgar, with the other two hopeful lbw shouts at best, with technique and temperament coming to the fore.His maiden first-class century had been scored in Bloemfontein for Free State against Limpopo in 2007 as a 19-year-old.Now 37, Elgar has a half-century of them to help Eagles, South Africa A, Knights, Somerset, Titans, Surrey and Northerns, although his most prized will be the 14 Test tons he plundered before retiring from international cricket last winter.This one came up in 170 balls with a pronounced tickle around the corner before he lifted his helmet, clapped the balcony, and earned a hug off Westley.A mere 85 runs came in the afternoon session, and once Westley had reached an 86th first-class fifty in 198 balls – and 17:00 BST had been reached the hands were shaken on a draw.To sum up Elgar and Westley’s solidity, exactly 400 dot balls had been delivered in Essex’s second innings.

There has been a twist in Arsenal’s pursuit of an “extraordinary” £60m+ star, with a report revealing he would now prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of Old Trafford.

Starmer insists Arteta must sign new striker

There have been widespread calls for Mikel Arteta to sign a new striker for quite some time, and Keir Starmer has now weighed in with his thoughts on what the manager should set out to do in the summer transfer window.

The Prime Minister said: “I think one or two extra players, I would not go for widespread change, a striker. That is the one that leaps out and it has been for a little while now.

“It looks like we are shoring up midfield, so that is good and the back four is pretty good, perhaps a little bit more strength because of injuries, but it is that up front striker role we need. We need to add there.”

Not just Sesko: Arsenal in talks to sign £84m star who's like Nico Williams

Arsenal are looking to sign new forwards in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 8, 2025

There is certainly no shortage of options for the Gunners, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres thought to be among the main targets, and sporting director Andrea Berta has already held talks over a deal for the latter player.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Gyokeres wants to join Manchester United this summer, with the forward eyeing a reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim, but there has now been a twist in the saga.

According to a report from The Mirror, the Sporting CP striker would now prefer to move to the Emirates Stadium ahead of Old Trafford, and a move to the Premier League is thought to be of more interest than heading to Spain or Italy.

Should the Sweden international get his pick of the clubs, Arsenal would be first choice, with the Portuguese club ready to sanction a departure for a fee of just over £60m.

Gyokeres could be "extraordinary" signing for Arsenal

As previously mentioned, the 27-year-old is thought to be among the Gunners’ main targets this summer, alongside Sesko, and there are some signs the Sporting star could be the better option, given his superior goal return.

Sporting boss Rui Borges has, of course, been left very impressed by the Sweden international’s performances, saying: “There are no adjectives to describe Viktor. He is an extraordinary striker, very important to our team.”

That said, while the Stockholm-born striker is by no means old, Sesko is five years his junior, and the Slovenian has proven himself in a tougher league, while also picking up a total of 21 goals and six assists in all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign.

As such, Arsenal have a very difficult decision to make this summer, but it is promising news that Gyokeres would be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, despite the widespread interest from clubs across the continent.

It’s not hard to work out Arsenal’s most significant area of need this summer.

This season has proven beyond all doubt that Mikel Arteta’s side need a new striker, not only to help cover for injuries but to come in and replace Kai Havertz in the starting lineup.

The first choice among the majority of fans would likely be the simply unreal Alexander Isak, who has been linked with the club on many an occasion in the past.

However, it was reported that he could cost up to £150m earlier this year, and since the Toon qualified for the Champions League, we can only assume that the price tag has increased further.

Yet, the good news is that the Gunners are now being heavily linked with a centre-forward who could be their own Isak.

Arsenal's striker search

Given Arsenal’s need for a new striker this summer, it’s hardly been a surprise to see them linked with a plethora of free-scoring forwards in recent weeks and months, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could reportedly cost around £59m and has a simply sensational tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games for Sporting CP this term, but a lack of a track record in a top-five league makes the comparison to Isak difficult.

Watkins, on the other hand, has that experience and a brilliant haul of 17 goals and 14 assists to his name in 54 games this season, but with him set to turn 30 at the end of the year, he’s too old to draw paralells to the Swedish superstar.

Fortunately, another centre-forward has been heavily touted for a move to the Emirates, someone who very much could be compared to the Toon star: Benjamin Sesko.

Yes, according to a recent report by journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the RB Leipzig star.

In fact, Jacobs goes a step further, stating that it now “looks like they [Arsenal] are going to make a bid for Benjamin Sesko,” and that while he has a €80m release clause in his current deal, which is about £67m they’d “like to negotiate something a little lower.”

It might be a costly deal to get over the line, but given Sesko’s impressive ability and potential, it would be more than worth fighting for, especially as he could be the club’s answer to Isak.

Why Sesko could be Arsenal's Isak

So, the first thing to say is that we are not trying to claim that Sesko is as good a striker as Isak at the moment.

After all, the Swedish international is arguably one of the best in the business, and his brilliant tally of 27 goals and six assists in 42 games this season proves as much.

However, there are some key ways in which signing the Slovenian star could be looked upon as the Gunners recruiting their own version of the Newcastle phenom, but before he’s quite at the same level.

For example, the “incredible” Leipzig ace, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, only turned 22 this season, whereas the Toon’s talisman reached that age in the 21/22 season while he was still plying his trade in Spain with Real Sociedad.

That campaign saw the Solna-born monster rack up a decent but hardly earth-shattering haul of ten goals and three assists in 41 appearances, totalling 2761 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.15 games, or 212.38 minutes.

Appearances

45

41

Minutes

3258′

2761′

Goals

21

10

Assists

6

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.6

0.31

Minutes per Goal Involvement

120.66′

212.38′

In contrast, the Gunners’ current target scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which comes out to a better average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.

Furthermore, just as respected analysts and scouts like Jacek Kulig were describing the then-Sociedad gem as “simply amazing,” the likes of EBL have recently claimed that the former RB Salzburg ace “has the potential to become the best #9 in the world.”

Ultimately, it’s unlikely that Sesko will be able to reach the same level as Isak next season, but in a couple of years, there is a genuine chance we could be looking at the two strikers as equals, and for that reason, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Arsenal's own Wirtz: Berta now eyeing "one of the best 10s in the world"

The incredibly gifted attacking midfielder would add some much-needed dynamism to Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Harry Tector could be a doubtful starter after injuring his thumb against India

Ashish Pant06-Jun-20248:17

O’Brien: Ireland want to right some wrongs

Match detailsCanada vs Ireland
June 7, New York, 10.30am local, 2.30pm GMT, 8.00pm ISTBig picture – All eyes on New York pitchIt’s been a rough start for cricket in New York with more focus on the pitches than the cricket that has been played on them. No team has gone past 100 at this venue in four innings, with uneven bounce and prodigious movement up front bringing about plenty of criticism.The fast bowlers have so far held sway here, having picked up 18 of the 26 wickets to fall while going at an economy rate of 5.46. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 77 here on June 3 and South Africa took 16.2 overs to chase that down. On Wednesday, India rolled out Ireland for 96 and while their chase was slightly more comfortable, Rohit Sharma retired hurt after being struck on the upper arm, while Rishabh Pant was also hit on his elbow and required some attention.Just two days later, as Ireland gear up to play another fixture in New York against Canada, the build-up has entirely centred around the pitch.Related

Undercooked pitch could undermine India-Pakistan spectacle

Klaasen on New York pitch: Batters need to suck it up

“It’s tough to adjust when you don’t know what you have to adjust to,” Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan said after their eight-wicket loss against India. “You’ve got to take into account that when you play the game you need a really good surface or as good as surfaces you can get and unfortunately what we’ve seen over the last couple of games just doesn’t necessarily live up to that. So hopefully, over the next day or so it can hopefully flatten out a little bit and we can see some good cricket come Friday.”It is an important game for both Canada and Ireland, who have suffered losses in their opening games. Another loss here and the road to Super Eights becomes challenging. Canada, who played their opening fixture in Dallas where they went down to USA in a high-scoring clash, haven’t been in great T20I form. They have lost each of their last five T20Is, and all the pitch talk here might not bode well for their confidence.”This wicket is a bit, kind of, what you can say, a tricky one. So you cannot play some of the T20 shots. So you have to play conventional cricket. And what I see, it’s playing on the up, it’s a little bit difficult than Dallas,” Canada batter Navneet Dhaliwal, who scored a 44-ball 61 against USA, said. “It’s a lot of lateral movement so there’s a lot of swing comparatively to Dallas so if you kind of want to basically hit the good-length balls it’s a bit difficult.”The Canada-Ireland fixture will likely take place on pitch no. 4, the same one that hosted the India-Ireland clash and the warm-up game between India and Bangladesh. In addition to the surface, the slow, sand-based outfield has also not helped the batters in any way. Which will be the first team to cross the 100-mark in New York?Form guideCanada LLLLL
Ireland LWWWLIn the spotlight – Dilon Heyliger and Mark AdairDilon Heyliger’s all-round abilities could be useful for Canada. He has been in good bowling form this year, having picked up five wickets in as many games while going at a tick over eight an over. His medium-pace and wicket-to-wicket lines might be perfect on this New York surface. So can his lower-order ball-striking. No other Canada batter has a higher strike rate than Heyliger in T20Is since the start of 2023 – 243.75. He’s hammered 117 runs off just 48 balls, with most of them coming in the death overs.Mark Adair picked up the key wicket of Virat Kohli on Wednesday•Getty ImagesMark Adair has been in excellent form this year. He is comfortably Ireland’s highest wicket-taker in 2024 with 18 scalps in 10 T20Is and an economy rate of 8.16. Moreover, he knows the kind of lengths to bowl on this surface having bowled four overs for just 27 runs on Wednesday while also picking up the key wicket of Virat Kohli.Team newsBoth teams might want to go pace-heavy on this surface. Offspinner Nikhil Dutta went for 41 runs in 2.4 overs in Canada’s opening game, so there is a chance they could bring in left-arm fast bowler Rishiv Joshi to boost their pace-bowling resources.Canada (probable XI): 1 Aaron Johnson, 2 Navneet Dhaliwal, 3 Pargat Singh, 4 Nicholas Kirton, 5 Shreyas Movva (wk), 6 Dilpreet Bajwa, 7 Saad Bin Zafar (capt), 8 Dilon Heyliger, 9 Nikhil Dutta/Rishiv Joshi, 10 Kaleem Sana, 11 Jeremy Gordon.There was visible bruising on Harry Tector’s right thumb after he was struck by a rip-roaring Jasprit Bumrah bouncer. Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson said Tector seemed fine after an initial inspection, but a call on his availability for the Canada clash would be taken a bit later. If he does not recover in time, Ireland might bring Ross Adair into the mix.Ireland (probable XI): 1 Paul Stirling (capt), 2 Andy Balbirnie, 3 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 4 Harry Tector/Ross Adair, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 George Dockrell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Josh Little, 11 Ben White.Pitch and conditionsIt’s another early-morning start in New York and the weather looks good for a game of cricket. The temperature is likely to hover around the 29-degree (Celsius) mark. Expect it to be a little humid as well.Stats and trivia Canada and Ireland have a 2-2 head-to-head record in T20Is, but haven’t met since 2019. Their last T20I was back in 2013. Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar has an economy rate of 6.14 against right-hand batters in T20 cricket. Ireland’s line-up is entirely composed of right-handers. Mark Adair is sixth on the wicket-taker’s list in T20Is this year, with 18 in 10 games.Quotes”We were probably a little bit off with our lengths with the ball, but it was going to be very difficult to defend 96. I think very rarely do you see a team get rolled and then the next innings is also very low. Speaking to [India head coach] Rahul Dravid after the game, he said that they were able to manage that so well because they knew they only had to get 96, but he also said if the shoe was in the other foot, it could have been a different story.”
“Drop-in wickets take time to settle down. I think normally it takes around a year or so. It’s not ideal – I think it’s a bit early, but still, it’s a challenge. Like the par for Dallas is what, 180-190, and par for here is 120-130. It’s a different wicket and a different kind of competition, you can say. It’s exciting, basically.”

The decision not to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal evoked memories of the Chelsea of old. A ruthlessness that famously saw Carlo Ancelotti given the sack after missing out on the Premier League title in his second season – just a year on from guiding the club to the double

In the case of Sancho, the Englishman had notably scored a stunner in last month’s Conference League final, albeit while ending 2024/25 with just three goals and five assists to his name in the league. Good, but not good enough.

That has been a commendable motto for the Blues over their glorious last 20 years or so, having repeatedly hired and fired, all while increasing the competition in their playing ranks with successive statement signings.

Take Nicolas Jackson, for instance, the Senegalese striker hardly disgracing himself – suspensions aside – with 24 league goals across his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, albeit with just ten of those coming last term. Again, good, but not quite good enough.

£30m man Liam Delap looks to have swiftly usurped the former Villarreal man in the pecking order, all while being acutely aware that failure to perform himself could see yet another fresh face acquired – a certain Hugo Ekitike springs to mind.

As the old adage goes, pressure makes diamonds, with Enzo Maresca and co no doubt hoping that more exciting additions can thrive in this pressurised environment in west London…

Latest on Chelsea's search for new forwards

Sancho is gone, but in his place, young Jamie Gittens could be set to arrive, with Chelsea still working to bring the 20-year-old back to England from Borussia Dortmund, amid his prior stint in Manchester City’s youth ranks.

Despite reports that Gittens has agreed a seven-year contract with the Blues, there appears to still be club-to-club negotiations taking place regarding his reported £55m price tag.

With that deal yet to get the green light, it is still worth the west Londoners seeking alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that they are among the clubs to have made an enquiry over Lyon starlet, Malick Fofana.

Transfer Focus

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

That contact has come amid the Ligue 1 side’s recent relegation – something they are set to appeal – with clubs lining up to potentially pounce on their ongoing financial woes and apparent need to sell.

As per the report, the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also made their move for the 20-year-old, with those suitors hoping to strike a deal for less than the Belgian’s previous £42m price tag.

Why Fofana could be Chelsea's next Eden Hazard

The signing of an exciting, young Belgian talent from Ligue 1 – ring any bells?

Of course, Chelsea famously won the race for a 21-year-old Eden Hazard back in the summer of 2012, with the then-Champions League holders plucking the winger from Lille for a reported fee of £32m.

198 goals and assists would follow in a Chelsea shirt for the now-retired wizard, although that doesn’t quite tell the full story. This was a player, at his pomp, who was a match for any opposition or opponent.

A man who could win a game on his own – take his solo stunner against Arsenal in 2017, for example – Hazard at his best was simply a sight to behold, jinking his way past defenders with consummate ease. It’s no wonder he was hailed the “best player in the Premier League” at one stage by pundit, Paul Merson.

Young Fofana has a way go to hit the levels of his sparkling compatriot, although the comparisons are – unsurprisingly – already being made, with GOAL noting that he has been described as ‘Eden Hazard-like’ by those in his homeland.

As per The Athletic’s Alex Barker, what particularly sets the 20-year-old apart, in a similar mould to Hazard, is his dribbling prowess, having been noted as “one of the best” in Ligue 1 in that regard.

Indeed, he notably ranks in the top 3% among his peers in France’s top-flight for progressive carries made per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 2% in that same metric among attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

8

4

12

Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

7

5

12

Eliesse Ben Seghir – Monaco

6

3

9

Malick Fofana – Lyon

5

4

9

Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig

3

4

7

Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Frankfurt

2

3

5

Jesus Rodriguez – Real Betis

2

1

3

Mamadou Diakhon – Stade Reims

2

1

3

Yan Diomande – Leganes

2

1

3

Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim

0

3

3

For context, Hazard ranked in the top 1% of Premier League wingers in that regard during his final season in English football (2018/19), having simply been a master ball-carrier for the Blues.

Like the 126-cap Red Devils star too, Fofana also boasts an end product to match that devastating flair, having ended 2024/25 with 11 goals and six assists to his name in all competitions, included six goals in just ten Europa League outings.

Described as a “starboy” by writer Zach Lowy, the Lyon gem looks destined to reach the top over the coming years, with Chelsea able to offer him the chance to follow in Hazard’s footsteps at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca's next Cole Palmer: Chelsea enter race to sign £50m PL "machine"

The incredible talent could be a star for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 28, 2025

Everton head into the 2025/26 campaign full of optimism after a solid second half of last term under David Moyes.

The Toffees move into their new stadium and hopes will be high that progress can be made on the field.

In order to move the club up the Premier League table next term, Moyes must spend money this summer; that much is certain.

With Profit and Sustainability regulations to abide by, the manager must balance his ins and outs strategically, which could make business more difficult.

One player who won’t be at the club next year is midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, who departs at the end of his contract.

Could the Merseyside outfit be eyeing a replacement?

Everton transfer news

According to GIVEMESPORT, Everton are just one of the clubs showing interest in Valentin Atangana this summer.

The Reims starlet is also being tracked by Leeds United. West Ham United, Burnley, and Crystal Palace are also among the potential suitors for the midfielder.

Due to Reims suffering relegation from Ligue 1 at the end of last term, Atangana could be available for a fee in the region of just £9m.

Given the fact Moyes might not have a financial war chest at his disposal, this sort of deal could see the club land a perfect replacement for Doucoure for a decent transfer fee.

Why Everton must sign Valentin Atangana

Doucoure spent five years at Goodison Park, making over 150 appearances for the club, contributing 35 goal involvements during that time.

At 32, he is past his peak, and freeing up his wages could give Moyes some flexibility in the transfer market this summer.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

4

2

2023/24

35

7

3

2022/23

27

5

2

2021/22

34

2

4

2020/21

34

3

3

Last season, Atangana played 41 matches for Reims, although he couldn’t save the famous club from suffering relegation to the second tier.

Despite his tender years, the teenager shone over a range of metrics last season. Indeed, when compared to his peers in Ligue 1, the Frenchman ranked in the top 2% for percentage of dribblers tackled (73.7%) per 90, while also ranking in the top 10% for touches in the defensive third (3.63) and in the top 8% for aerials won (1.48) per 90.

It is evident based on these statistics that the midfielder offers excellent defensive support in the heart of the pitch, something which Everton have been missing of late.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the teen sensation a few weeks ago, saying: “Defensive midfielder – Box-to-box style, great anticipation and technical ability to initiate attacks. He allows others to express themselves.”

By signing Atangana, Moyes will have someone who is able to prevent attacks and allow more creative players to thrive in the final third, knowing he is there to protect.

For just £9m, it could well be a shrewd move by the Toffees, although they will have to act swiftly to fend off the competition, and a perfect replacement for Doucoure in the middle of the park.

The next few weeks could be interesting indeed, that’s for sure.

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Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin finally has the chance to meet some of his players in the flesh for the first time after they returned for pre-season testing on Monday.

The Light Blues head coach will have a lot of difficult decisions to make over the playing squad at Ibrox in order to end the summer transfer window with a squad that is capable of competing for the Scottish Premiership title.

Martin will be working with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who is now in his first window at Ibrox as well, to secure new signings to bolster the team.

In fact, Thelwell is reportedly pursuing a deal for a new player who would leave the Scottish manager with a big decision to make on two of his current options in the same position.

Rangers set to bid for Premier League defender

According to DAVEOCKOP, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign left-back Owen Beck from Premier League champions Liverpool this summer.

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The report claims that the Light Blues are planning to submit a bid to sign the Wales international, as Thelwell aims to add another full-back option to Martin’s squad.

It adds that Liverpool have held talks with Beck over a potential new contract and that the plan has been to send him out on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

However, Rangers are now looking to disrupt those plans by swooping in with an offer to sign the left-footed star on a permanent deal this summer, although it remains to be seen how likely a move is at this moment in time.

Why Rangers should sign Owen Beck

The Light Blues should push to convince the Reds to part ways with the 22-year-old full-back because his performances on loan at Dundee in the Premiership in the 2023/24 season suggest that he has the potential to be an upgrade on Jefte.

Beck spent this season on loan at Blackburn in the second tier of English football and started 21 of his 24 appearances in the division, averaging 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game at left-back.

The Welsh star, who was once hailed as a “spectacular” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, really caught the eye whilst playing in Scotland with Dundee, though.

Jefte started 30 of his 33 appearances in the top-flight during his debut campaign in Glasgow in the 2024/25 campaign, but the arrival of Beck on a permanent deal could put an end to his role as a regular starter.

Premiership

Owen Beck (23/24)

Jefte (24/25)

Appearances

25

33

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

4

4

Key passes per game

2.3

1.0

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.9

3.3

Ground duel success rate

57%

53%

Dribble success rate

60%

46%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Beck’s performances for Dundee suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more to the team as a creator and as an out-and-out defender.

The 22-year-old star put up more impressive creative numbers than Jefte did whilst playing in an inferior team, with respect to the Premiership, which suggests that he could thrive even more at the top end of the pitch as part of a ball-dominant Rangers team led by Martin.

Couple that with his superb defensive numbers, which suggest that he does not shirk his responsibilities going back the other way, and it appears as though Beck would come in with a real chance of being an upgrade on Jefte.

As a proven Premiership performer, the Liverpool dynamo would also have the potential to hit the ground running without having to get used to the physical demands of the style of football in Scotland.

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Therefore, this is a signing that would make a lot of sense for the Light Blues, but it would also leave Martin with some big decisions to make on Jefte and Ridvan Yilmaz.

The start of Glasgow Rangers’ season is now fast approaching with the Gers’ first pre-season fixture taking place a week on Saturday, with the start of European qualifying coming up as soon as 22 July.

That’s all before the new Rangers manager, Russell Martin, will commence his Scottish Premiership campaign on Saturday 2 August.

Ahead of that busy fixture list, the Light Blues have been busy off the field overhauling their squad, so could they secure a “phenomenal” new signing in the process?

Rangers' busy transfer activity

On Wednesday, Max Aarons put pen to paper, joining Rangers on a season-long loan from Bournemouth.

He is the club’s second signing of the summer, after Lyall Cameron, but many more are forecast in the coming days and weeks.

Indeed, according to a report by EFL analysis, new manager Martin is targeting a move to bring in goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who he signed for Southampton just 12 months ago, for a reported fee of £25m.

Bailey adds that, due to the fact he is earning £120,000-per-week, the Saints are willing to sanction a loan ‘with an option to buy’ for Ramsdale this summer; Wolves and Leeds United also ‘interested’,

A fee could prove prohibitive for Rangers, given that their record-signing of the post-liquidation era is the £7.5m spent on Ryan Kent in 2019.

Nevertheless, with Southampton looking to offload, thereby open to a loan move, could the England international end up in Glasgow?

Why Aaron Ramsdale would be a game-changing signing for Rangers

Max Aarons has arrived at Rangers to much excitement, and rightly so.

The 24-year-old did just endure a pretty miserable campaign, barely featuring for Bournemouth, thereby spending the second half of the season on loan at Valencia, albeit he then made only five appearances for los Murciélagos, totalling a miserly 208 minutes.

Nevertheless, the youngster is still a player of great potential, almost joining Tottenham for £15m as a teenager, with Tom Quartly of Breaking the Lines asserting that he offers ‘fluidity in both attacking and defensive phases’ from full-back.

Aarons’ arrival does bring into question the future of Rangers’ two existing right-backs, namely captain and long-serving stalwart James Tavernier, as well as the promising Dujon Sterling, as this was not an area of obvious need.

The same, however, cannot be said about goalkeeper, with the potential arrival of Ramsdale addressing a pressing issue.

After arriving two years ago, for so long, Jack Butland was Rangers’ undisputed number one, starting 102 of his first 111 matches at the club, before being dropped by interim manager Barry Ferguson, following a sequence of high-profile errors, hence why deputy Liam Kelly got the nod for the Europa League quarter-final tie against Athletic Club.

Even though the Scotland international shot-stopper dramatically saved Álex Berenguer’s late penalty in the first leg at Ibrox, the table below emphasises that neither Kelly nor Butland are perhaps what Martin is looking for.

Goals against per 90

1.11

3rd

1

2nd

Save %

65.5%

17th

67.9%

11th

Clean sheet %

37.5%

5th

40%

4th

So, would Ramsdale be a major upgrade?

Well, former Arsenal goalkeeper asserted that Ramsdale’s performances for the Gunners as “phenomenal”, while manager Mikel Arteta described him as “exceptional”, following a man of the match performance during a 2-2 draw at Anfield two seasons ago.

So, let’s take a deeper look at his statistics in the Premier League.

Saves

120 (2nd)

94 (10th)

Save %

67.6% (15th)

70.6% (11th)

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

-0.08 (17th)

-0.05 (12th)

% of crosses stopped

5.5% (16th)

5.8% (16th)

Short passes attempted

1,026 (9th)

956 (8th)

The table includes last season, when Ramsdale was plying his trade for a historically terrible Southampton team, hence why only Mark Flekken made more saves than he did, as well as his final campaign as Arsenal’s number one, this 2022/23.

While the England international’s statistics don’t all leap off the page, it is clear that he is certainly a Premier League-level goalkeeper and a very good one at that, one that should not be playing for the team at the bottom of the division, that’s for sure.

His passing numbers are also impressive, which would very much fit into Martin’s style that prioritises control through possession.

Thus, if Rangers are able to lure him north of the border, this would be a massive coup, especially considering the trials and tribulations endured by Butland and Kelly last season.

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