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When it comes to the top academies in the Premier League today, it’s hard to look past Arsenal’s Hale End.

The most obvious success for the North Londoners is undoubtedly Bukayo Saka, but the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly look set for bright futures in the game.

On top of that, Max Dowman is arguably the most exciting prospect in the country at the moment, as at just 15 years old, he is already “humiliating Premier League players,” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

As if that wasn’t enough, there is now another crop of exciting prospects who could make their debuts in the coming years, including one who could be another Declan Rice.

Arsenal's next breakout star after Dowman

Everyone and their dog is now aware of how unbelievably talented Dowman is, but there are several other academy gems who could be future stars for Arsenal, like Andre Harriman-Annous.

The 17-year-old will be a familiar name to those who follow the developments at Hale End, as he’s been a real star in the Junior sides over the last few years.

For example, in 35 appearances last season, totalling 2559 minutes, he scored 15 goals and provided three assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games, or every 142.16 minutes.

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Moreover, he already has three goals to his name in seven games for the U21 side this season.

Another 17-year-old who looks destined to make it into the first team at some point is Alex Marciniak.

Described as having “an eye for goal” and being an all-around “insane” talent by Hale End expert Will Balsam, the Cardiff-born maestro can play on both sides of the pitch and in the middle of the park.

Moreover, he’s already racked up an impressive tally of one goal and three assists in five appearances this season and has rapidly ascended the Welsh youth sides, currently playing in the U18s, with a goal to his name in two caps.

With all that said, there is another youngster making waves in the academy at the moment, someone who could be unreal alongside Dowman and a homegrown Rice.

Arsenal's homegrown Rice

With Rice being an undeniably world-class midfielder, any youngster compared to him has to be pretty special, and that is certainly the case with Ife Ibrahim.

In The Pipeline

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

The “excellent” 17-year-old prospect, as dubbed by Balsam, joined Arsenal in 2016 and has worked his way up to the U21s, but what makes him a potential Rice-type player?

Well, first and foremost, while he started out as a striker, he is now a colossal defensive midfielder, but one who can move more into central midfield when needed.

He appears to have many of the same qualities the former West Ham United captain has, with respected U23 scout Antonio Mango describing him as “composed, technically talented in possession and calculated out of possession.”

Moreover, Balsam points out that the young prospect “eats up space, recovers the ball, and glides past players with ease”, which sounds a lot like a certain England international.

It’s not just the defensive side of the game, though, with Balsam also highlighting the fact that he “continues to show his bravery in his passing, without hesitance on either foot.”

In other words, the Hale Ender is someone who can, and does, win the ball deep, drive past opposing players and deliver the ball to his attacking teammates through accurate passes.

It’s these similarities to the Gunners’ £105m man that could make him such an incredible future teammate for Dowman as well.

His boundless energy and ability to collect and recycle the ball would allow the 15-year-old to focus all his attention on happenings at the sharp end of the pitch.

Ultimately, it’s still very early, but Ibrahim looks like one of the most exciting players in Arsenal’s academy and someone who could be a future star.

Forget Odegaard: Arteta has a "future captain" at Arsenal & it's not Rice

With Martin Odegaard’s form and fitness posing a continued problem, Arsenal may already have another captain lined up.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 17, 2025

Chelsea have reportedly joined Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Koln’s rising star Said El Mala. The 19-year-old winger, who only broke into the Bundesliga this season, has taken Germany by storm with his pace and dribbling skills, quickly turning into one of Europe’s hottest young talents.

• Bundesliga breakout catching Europe’s eye

  El Mala, who signed a long-term deal with Koln until 2030, has become one of the most talked-about young players in Europe. His pace and dribbling skills have made him a standout player on the Koln side. Scouts from England have been monitoring him closely, and reports that Chelsea are the latest club to show interest. Earlier, reports confirmed that Bayern Munich and Dortmund are also eyeing to sign the 19-year-old next summer. 

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  Koln want to hold El Mala for long-term

  While European giants are eyeing to sign the German winger, Koln want to keep hold of their young star. Last summer, they rejected a written €14 million offer from Brighton, which was verbally raised to €20m (£17m/$23m). According to , the club might only consider bids around €50 million (£44m/$58m) range if El Mala continues to impress. With no release clause in his deal, the Bundesliga club are in full control and wants to take full advantage of his growing value.

• El Mala shines in Bundesliga debut

  Signed from Viktoria Koln in 2024, El Mala spent last season on loan back at his old club, scoring 13 goals in 32 appearances. Returning to Koln this year, he immediately impressed on the Bundesliga stage. His stunning solo goal against Hoffenheim and earlier strike versus Freiburg have made him one of the league’s most exciting young wingers. 

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  What's next for El Mala

  With no release clause and rising interest from top clubs, El Mala is expected to be one of the biggest names in next summer’s transfer window. If he keeps performing like this, Koln will soon have to decide whether to cash in or hold on to their young rising star. For now, the young German winger’s focus remains on helping Koln climb the Bundesliga table, where they sit sixth with three wins from six games.

In the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, Royals tried just five bowlers against Titans, and no one apart from Jofra Archer made a mark

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-20252:07

Jaffer: Quality of RR’s squad after auction is questionable

Getting the team balance right has been a concern for Rajasthan Royals (RR) from the start of IPL 2025. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Wednesday night, the problem was that they didn’t give themselves a proper sixth bowling option. Or, at any rate, they didn’t throw the ball to the part-timers, Riyan Parag among them, despite Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande and Sandeep Sharma proving expensive, going at well over ten an over. RR “had to have a sixth bowling option,” Sanjay Bangar said after watching GT put up 217 for 6 and run out 58-run victors.”A wonderful wicket to bat on and the ball was coming on nicely. There was a little bit of pace and bounce which Jofra [Archer] exploited really well – [he was] the standout bowler,” Bangar said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut show. “But apart from him, just felt that Rajasthan Royals had to have a sixth bowling option to take a little bit of pressure away from the other bowlers. In such batting-friendly conditions, you certainly felt they were under the pump.”RR were without Wanindu Hasaranga for the game after he opted out owing to personal reasons. That was a blow, though his replacement, Fazalhaq Farooqi, went at 9.50, not bad in the circumstances. Archer was the most economical, at 7.50, despite bowling the 18th over. Crucially, no wickets fell between 2.1 and 9.6, that’s almost seven overs, and then again for 5.4 overs after that.Related

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“I think they missed Hasaranga, somebody who could take wickets in the middle overs,” Wasim Jaffer said. “Theekshana, even though he took a couple of wickets [2 for 54], didn’t look like [he was] putting any pressure. He and Tushar [2 for 53] went for 50-plus, that cost them more than 100 runs in those eight overs.”If RR failed to get more wickets in the middle overs, the platform set as a result meant GT could go big at the end – they got 18, 13, 11, 14 and 16 in the last five.”We could have, maybe, given about 20 runs less, but I think they batted well. They had better partnerships than what we did. That’s why they got a total which was big,” Sairaj Bahutule, RR’s spin-bowling coach, said at the press conference. “T20 is a format where sometimes the execution doesn’t go the way you want it to. Obviously they had plans, but the execution didn’t happen the way they wanted.”The last few overs, the death overs, we could have done a bit better.”After RR’s second game of the season, there were questions around the wisdom of playing with exactly six batters despite the Impact Player rule. Parag was the captain then, and Sanju Samson was restricted as a batter because of his finger injury. After their last game, the win over Punjab Kings (PBKS), though, it seemed like, with all systems go, they were getting close to the perfect combination.1:10

Bangar: Royals missed a sixth bowling option

That, curiously, is something GT aren’t even after. For them, flexibility is everything. “No one has a role,” assistant coach Parthiv Patel said, and anything can happen depending on how the pitch and other conditions look.”For our team, it’s about knowing the situation, understanding the conditions, and we felt we might need a fourth seamer in the second innings [so Kulwant Khejroliya came in as Impact Sub],” Parthiv said. “We are flexible as a team. We react to the conditions we see in front of us.”And then comes the execution.”Especially on a wicket like this, I thought every bowler came in and executed their plans really well. Obviously [Mohammed] Siraj is bowling really well; Prasidh Krishna has been phenomenal throughout the tournament; [R] Sai Kishore is probably the best spinner in this tournament, the way he has been bowling, how brave he is, bowling in difficult conditions.3:43

How can Rajasthan Royals get their team balance right?

“So after every game, you see a different bowler stepping up. Bowlers win you games. Obviously batters set it up.”Which didn’t happen for RR. Though, on the bright side, Archer has continued to sparkle after a terrible start to the tournament.”T20 is a game where you’re bound to make mistakes, and [if you] minimise your mistakes, you’ll be in a better position,” Bahutule said. “After that first game, he worked hand in hand with Shane Bond [the fast-bowling coach] and understood a few aspects about his bowling, and the way he has got back is purely due to his understanding of where he needs to improve, where are the areas, the lengths, the lines he needs to get better [at].”He’s a world-class bowler and obviously understood his areas of concern and he rectified it and he’s bowling in the best rhythm we have seen him.”

Newcastle United are “looking” at a potential move for another attacking player hailed as a “pure baller” this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Ramsey completes move to Newcastle

The Magpies’ summer transfer window hasn’t been a happy one, with key targets choosing other clubs instead, and the Alexander Isak saga hanging over them.

On the plus side, Newcastle have now completed the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, with the Englishman looking forward to his new challenge at St James’ Park.

“I’m delighted to be here. It’s been a mad two or three days, but I’m really happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started. This is a big move for me, but as soon as I knew the gaffer was interested and really liked me, it didn’t take much time to decide. His track record of developing players, especially those who have gone on to become internationals here, speaks for itself.

“It was always a tough game playing for Villa against Newcastle – the team is full of energy, so athletic and the fans are so passionate. I feel my game will suit that and I’m excited to be on the other end of it now.”

Now, another gifted young player has also been mentioned as a target for Newcastle, with two weeks of the transfer window remaining.

Newcastle "looking" at move for "pure baller"

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed that Leicester City ace Bilal El Khannouss is a target for Newcastle this summer, with offers expected to arrive for him from clubs.

“He isn’t letting the speculation effect him at the moment, he started for Leicester in their opening game of the season and got a couple of assists as well. Newcastle have been looking at him while pursuing Jacob Ramsey. They could potentially sign both to strengthen the squad in that position.

“Eddie Howe needs a bigger squad this season with Champions League football to contend with. Leicester are open to selling him and they’ll face a real battle to convince him to stay in the Championship if he does have Premier League offers. It’s one to keep an eye on before the end of the window. I expect offers to come in for El Khannouss before the end of the window.”

El Khannouss is a huge talent with so many good years ahead of him, so he could be a superb long-term signing in attacking midfield areas.

The 21-year-old has already bagged two assists in as many games in the Championship this season, while analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “pure baller” because of his natural ability.

Shades of Ekitike: Newcastle given "encouragement" to sign £56m striker

Newcastle United are still interested in securing a £56m deal for this striker who is similar to Hugo Ekitike.

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Aug 18, 2025

Granted, El Khannouss plays in a similar position to Ramsey, so minutes could be hard to come by initially, especially given the quality already in Newcastle’s midfield. That said, he should still feature plenty, and has the potential to be a future star at St James’.

Ange Postecoglou was satisfied with Nottingham Forest's progress since Arsenal defeat and Swansea collapse despite a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Burnley. The contest had all the hallmarks of a relegation six-pointer, with both sides desperate for points, but Forest were left licking their wounds after surrendering a lead.

Burnley bite back leaves forest frustrated

Burnley winger Jaidon Anthony struck the killer blow, cancelling out Forest’s opener and stretching Postecoglou’s unwanted drought to nine Premier League matches without a victory. For a man who has lifted silverware in Australia, Japan, Scotland, and even England, this marks the longest barren spell of his career in top-flight management.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAnge looks for progress not perfection

Despite the disappointment of dropping points, Postecoglou remained upbeat when speaking afterwards. The Australian was keen to underline the strides his side have made since last weekend’s 3-0 hammering at Arsenal and their midweek League Cup implosion against Swansea.

"It is always a tough game here," Postecoglou told . "From seven days ago from when we played Arsenal, we look a different team and we saw elements of that on Wednesday night too. I am disappointed but, at the same time, the progress in our play is the most positive thing for me."

Keeper heroics deny forest breakthrough

Forest carved out enough opportunities to win two matches, but a stubborn Burnley shot-stopper stood firm. Time after time, clear openings were created only to be smothered or tipped wide, leaving the visitors wondering how they hadn’t returned to Nottingham with three precious points. For Postecoglou, the problem wasn’t a lack of creativity but a lapse in concentration that allowed Burnley to grow into the game.

"We lost a certain amount of control but disappointed we didn't take all three points," he said. "We had a couple of sloppy moments and it allowed them to get a bit of traction in the game. We still created enough chances to win the game."

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Getty Images SportEuropean memories keep spirits alive

Next up is a trip back to Postecoglou’s comfort zone: the Europa League. Forest lock horns with Real Betis in midweek, giving the Australian a chance to end his winless streak in the competition he knows best. He has three seasons of experience in the tournament, most recently guiding Tottenham to European glory before his shock sacking in June, barely two weeks after lifting the trophy. Now, with Forest, he has the chance to remind the football world that his pedigree on the continental stage still matters.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "It'll be great for this group of players. I have three years of experience in the Europa League. Last year went well but it'll be great for these players."

For now, it’s progress without pay-off, promise without prizes. But if Postecoglou’s faith in his project holds true, Forest’s story could yet turn from frustration to revival.

Erling Haaland was back to his very best as the striker led Manchester City to a thumping derby win over Manchester United on Sunday. The Norwegian made yet more history, becoming the joint-top scorer in the fixture as well as the fastest player to reach 90 Premier League goals. And a beaming Pep Guardiola declared that Haaland was in the best form of his career.

"Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever. I would say better than the Treble year," Guardiola said after the demolition derby. "Erling never disappoints us. He is a special player." 

The Norwegian's brace against City's greatest rivals saw him move ahead of the legendary Didier Drogba in the league's all-time scorer list, despite playing less than half the amount of seasons as the former Chelsea hitman.

And with Haaland closing in on a century of goals early into his fourth season, the time has come to ask where he ranks among the league's greatest strikers of all time…

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  10Michael Owen

  Owen's career is often remembered as for what might have been had it not been for his hamstring injuries and he managed to alienate fans of all the clubs he played for. But no one should forget what an exciting player he was when he burst onto the scene, scoring on his debut for Liverpool at Wimbledon while still 17 and then scoring 18 goals in the season when he turned 18 plus 12 assists.

  Owen struck 118 times in his seven full seasons at Anfield and in 2001 became the first English player in 21 years to win the Ballon d'Or after firing Liverpool to a cup treble. He remains the last Englishman to have won the game's most prestigious individual prize. His career never really recovered from leaving his boyhood club to move to Real Madrid and he never got the return to Liverpool he craved.

  But when he was fit, he continued to score with impressive consistency for Newcastle and Manchester United, where he picked up two Premier League titles and netted a thrilling winning strike in a 4-3 win over City. He kept going despite the toil of all his hamstring injuries until 2013, bowing out aged 33 with 150 Premier League goals to his name.

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  9Eric Cantona

  'Le God' was not as prolific as the modern day strikers, but his influence on the Premier League in its infant stage was utterly astounding. Put simply, he guided United to the title in every full season he played, the Red Devils missing out in 1994-95 when he was suspended in January for his infamous 'kung fu' kick on a Crystal Palace fan.
  He joined United four months into the league's inaugural season, when United had made a pitiful start to the campaign of four points from four games which has only just been matched by Ruben Amorim's crop of misfits. His nine goals and 11 assists fired United to a first title in 26 years and he followed it up by inspiring them to a league and cup double, with 18 goals and 13 assists. We'll never know how prolific he could have been in the 1994-95 season as he was on 12 goals when he was hit with his long ban. 

  He returned in irresistible fashion, scoring on his comeback against Liverpool and helping United reclaim the title with 25 goal contributions. His six goals in as many games between March and April were worth 11 points, none more valuable than his winner in the title showdown away to Newcastle. His retirement one year later after captaining United to another title came as a massive shock but he ensured he bowed out at the very top of his game. 

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  8Andy Cole

  "He gets the ball, he scores a goal, Andy, Andy Cole." No one could argue with the words to the chant dedicated to one of the deadliest strikers the league has ever known. Cole made his Premier League debut 32 years ago but he still remains in the top five scorers of all time, only being knocked down from fourth to fifth by Mohamed Salah on Sunday.

  In his very first season in the top flight after firing Newcastle to promotion, he scored 34 goals in one season, a record which stood along with Alan Shearer's as the most strikes in a season for 29 years until Erling Haaland broke it. Cole's feats made him the most expensive English player when he switched to Manchester United in 1995 and he overcame some difficulties to become Alex Ferguson's most reliable hitman. His goals helped the Red Devils win five titles, including the decisive strike to clinch the crown in 1999 – the first step of the historic treble. 

  Cole was not without his critics, among them England coach Glenn Hoddle who declared, somewhat unfairly, "I don't think he's international class, he needs five chances to score one." Cole had the last laugh, scoring regularly for Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham to retire as the league's second top scorer, only trailing Alan Shearer at the time.

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  7Sergio Aguero

  The deadly Argentine's signing for City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 for £35m was greeted with the usual doubts about his price tag and his suitability to the league but he quickly made a mockery of his critics, scoring twice on his debut against Swansea after coming off the bench. He finished the season with 21 goals, the last proving the most famous in the league's history as it gave City their first title in 44 years, snatching it from Manchester United's grasp. 

  It was the first of five crowns he would win with City, becoming the club's all-time top scorer midway through his seventh campaign. He scored 20 goals or more in six of his 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium and were it not fo injuries he would have got far more. 

  A lot has been made of the fact that Pep Guardiola wanted him to contribute more than goals and used him less and less in his last couple of seasons, and yet Aguero still played a crucial role in the 2017-18 'Centurion' triumph and to beating Liverpool by one point in 2018-19, bagging 21 goals in each campaign. He signed off with 184 league goals to his name, with a statue soon erected one year later recreating his iconic, history-making goal against Queen's Park Rangers.

Striker appears ready for the upcoming rivalry clash against Chivas

Jonathan dos Santos missed Tuesday’s sessionAllan Saint-Maximin could start against ChivasAmérica trained without their internationalsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Henry Martín looks to be finding light at the end of the tunnel after a frustrating stretch of injuries – from Achilles issues last season to recurring muscle problems and, most recently, a knee setback. The América captain has endured the toughest run of his career, limited to just 20 appearances and two goals so far in 2025. But signs point to the No. 9 being ready for Saturday’s Clásico Nacional against Chivas.

The 32-year-old returned to full training Tuesday, a key step for a striker who has scored 97 goals for América since arriving in 2018. He also played in his club's friendly against D.C. United on Sunday – a 3-1 loss. 

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Henry Martín apunta al Clásico este fin de semana contra Chivas El capitán sigue realizando algunos trabajos por separado de sus compañeros pero entrenó al parejo este martes No deberían existir contratiempos 🔥 #clubamerica #clubamerica🦅💛💙 #LigaMX #chivas #henrymartin

♬ sonido original – Alex Orellana

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Las Águilas head into the clásico sitting second in Liga MX with 17 points, while Chivas languish near the bottom on just four. Still, history shows the Clásico rarely follows form – often, the bigger the gap between the clubs, the likelier the upset.

At Tuesday’s session in Mexico City, several regulars were missing. In addition to internationals Luis Ángel Malagón, Erick Sánchez, Brian Rodríguez, Rodrigo Aguirre, Sebastián Cáceres, and Alejandro Zendejas, veteran midfielder Jonathan dos Santos was absent for a routine medical check. Club sources stressed Dos Santos' availability for Saturday isn’t in doubt. Jardine expects to have all of his call-ups back by Thursday to rejoin the squad ahead of the match against Chivas. 

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

One of the biggest storylines could be French winger Allan Saint-Maximin. Fresh off scoring two goals in two substitute appearances, he earned a start against D.C. United Sunday and may well feature again from the opening whistle against Chivas.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?

The 262nd edition of the Clásico Nacional between América and Chivas, set for this Saturday, could mark a historic milestone in Mexican football’s biggest rivalry.

América enter the match with the chance to record their 100th victory over their archrivals. The all-time head-to-head currently stands at 99 wins for Las Águilas, 80 for Chivas, and 82 draws across official competitions.

Miles Hammond, James Bracey score fifties before late scare as result puts Middlesex promotion hopes in peril

ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2024

Miles Hammond scored 78•Getty Images

Tom Price and Zafar Gohar held their nerve to steer Gloucestershire to a tense victory at Lord’s and deal Middlesex’s Vitality County Championship promotion hopes a severe blow.The visitors appeared to be cruising to their target of 234 after Miles Hammond and James Bracey both struck half-centuries in a fourth-wicket partnership of 113.But a three-wicket burst for off-spinner Joshua De Caires in the space of nine deliveries hauled Middlesex back into contention before the seventh-wicket pair steered Gloucestershire over the line with an unbroken stand of 54.It was Gloucestershire’s second successive red-ball win at Lord’s, lifting them to fifth place in Division Two, while the home side drop to third and trail Yorkshire, in the second promotion spot, by 15 points.Middlesex applied pressure during the early stages as Toby Roland-Jones opened up with a maiden and Ryan Higgins struck with his fourth delivery, searing back down the slope to trap Ben Charlesworth in front for a duck.Opening partner Cameron Bancroft soon followed suit, lbw to a ball that Higgins moved the other way, but Hammond started to score freely against the change bowlers, pulling Tom Helm over the short boundary for six.The left-hander added a valuable 41 in tandem with Ollie Price before Helm made the breakthrough, having the latter caught low at first slip to bring Bracey to the middle on a pair.Bracey banished that prospect by carving Henry Brookes for successive off-side boundaries and added two more off Helm’s next over as Gloucestershire started to settle down again, going to lunch at 101 for 3.There was a scare for Bracey soon after the interval, when he slashed outside off stump at Helm and the ball flew fast and high to Robson at slip but, despite getting both hands to it, the fielder was unable to cling on.It was Hammond who won the race to 50 with his partner, reaching the landmark from 100 balls by drilling Higgins to the cover fence and Bracey was not far behind, using up 20 fewer deliveries in posting his half-century.Having swept Luke Hollman for successive fours to raise the century partnership, Hammond (78) looked on course for a ton of his own until he attempted a repeat of the stroke to De Caires and skied to mid-on.With Graeme van Buuren given out caught behind two balls later and Bracey sweeping into the hands of deep midwicket for 56, Gloucestershire suddenly found themselves six down and under renewed pressure.De Caires (3 for 45) continued to test the batters with flight and turn, but Price eased the tension by on-driving Roland-Jones to the boundary to take Gloucestershire beyond 200 and he and Zafar advanced steadily towards the finish line.Zafar, who had top-scored with 86 in the first innings, applied the finishing touch as he struck a De Caires full toss to the fence to finish unbeaten on 19, with Price alongside him on 34.

Southampton are now in advanced talks to sign an international striker who is represented by the same agency as midfielder Flynn Downes.

Southampton are expected to lose one or two key players over the coming months and therefore will have to enter the market to find replacements as they bid to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Will Still.

Done deal: Southampton have "agreed" £6.8m exit of "incredible" attacker

He has played his final game for the club.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 20, 2025

Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis could be considered their most important player, as he managed to stand out last season in what was a diabolical campaign for the club. His performances for the Saints earned him a call-up to the England national team, and that has now earned him the attention of Portuguese giants FC Porto.

According to Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas, Southampton have turned down a bid worth £19 million for Harwood-Bellis from Porto. Despite being under contract until 2028, the Saints are open to selling the defender in this transfer window, but they believe he is worth much more.

Southampton paid £15 million to sign the player from Manchester City last summer, so the likelihood is they’re going to want closer to double that price.

Southampton in advanced talks to sign £7m striker

But while Harwood-Bellis may eventually be on his way out of St Mary’s Stadium, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports some good news – Southampton are closing in on the signing of Damion Downs from FC Köln.

The 20-year-old is considered to be a top target for Saints this summer, and they have submitted a bid worth €8 million, which is roughly £6.85 million, to the German side. Downs is currently away with the USA for the Gold Cup, so a deal for the forward is likely to be completed once that competition is finished.

Downs, who has earned two caps for the USA national team, has been at FC Köln since 2020, when he joined their under-17 team. The young forward worked his way through the age groups and was finally promoted to the first team during the 2023/24 season, where he played 10 Bundesliga games. Downs became even more of a regular last season, as he played 29 games, this time in Bundesliga 2, and scored an impressive ten goals in the process.

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Downs has just one year remaining on his contract, and Saints will be hoping that can work to their advantage, as the German side are likely to want to sell the player before he leaves the club for nothing in 12 months.

They may hold another advantage in the race to sign Downs too, as the striker is represented by agency Wasserman, who also represent current Southampton midfielder Downes, perhaps smoothing negotiations when it comes to agreeing personal terms.

Burnley have “entered the fray” in the race to sign a young midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a new update regarding the Clarets’ upcoming business.

Burnley preparing for Premier League return

After the joy of sealing promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League this season, Scott Parker will know the importance of the club bringing in top-quality players ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

In fact, the Burnley manager has gone into some depth as to how he hopes the summer window will pan out, with the club needing to be shrewd in the market:

“We’d like to be, of course. We’ll be searching, we’ll be in the market. At the same time, we’ve got an incredible squad here that has absolutely given me and this football club absolutely everything. We’ll try and be clever, we’ll try and improve where we can improve, but again, we probably won’t really have a clear idea until we actually know what the market is and where the market is for everything.”

The fact that all three promoted sides have gone straight back down to the Championship in the past two Premier League seasons highlights the gulf that now exists between the top flight and the second tier, again highlighting the need for reinforcements at Burnley.

Burnley enter race to sign 18 y/o winger

According to Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Burnley have “entered the fray” to sign TP Mazembe winger Faveurdi Bongeli this summer.

The 18-year-old is a wanted man currently, with Crystal Palace among those named as possible suitors, and the report states that talks have intensified, albeit not stating which exact clubs are in discussions with him.

Bongeli isn’t yet a household name, considering he is such a young player and isn’t plying his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues, but that’s not to say he won’t be a strong addition for Burnley.

At just 18 years of age, the winger has already won three caps for DR Congo’s Under-20s, ahead of what could be a good international career at senior level, and he has made four appearances for the first team at his current club.

Burnley need to be focusing on both long-term signings and immediate additions in the summer, with Parker knowing that he needs some individuals who can go straight into his squad as proven Premier League footballers.

That said, it is also vital that the Clarets don’t simply focus on the present and ignore young talent, which is where Bongeli coould come into play.

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The teenage attacker clearly wouldn’t be signed as someone who would be in the starting lineup on the opening day of next season, but he could develop into a top player over time, either enjoying time in Burnley’s youth team to begin with, or potentially even heading straight out on loan for a year.