Things certainly didn’t go their way last season, but Arsenal will still be genuine contenders in the Premier League and Champions League next year, as the team remain stacked with talent.

The likes of David Raya, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and more will all still be some of the best in their position, and Declan Rice looks set to continue improving.

The Englishman, who played more of a left-eight role this year, was named the club’s Player of the Season last week, and it would be hard to say he didn’t deserve it.

So, fans should be excited about reports linking the club to an international superstar who could be one of the reasons why the former West Ham United star is even more effective next year.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other players touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, like Benjamin Sesko and Anthony Gordon.

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 has been linked with the Gunners since last summer, but more recent reports suggest that he might finally be on his to the club for around £67m in the coming weeks, which, for a 22-year-old striker who racked up 27 goal involvements this season, isn’t too bad.

Gordon, on the other hand, is reportedly available for around £80m, and while he’s most certainly a talented player, his tally of 16 goal involvements in 42 games is hardly mind-blowing.

Fortunately, the Gunners are now heavily linked with another winger who’d be a far more exciting acquisition: Rodrygo.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are intensely interested in the Real Madrid star this summer.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners have already made contact and are now willing to make an offer for him.

The story does not mention how much the international star may cost, but reports from earlier this month seem to agree that a fee of around £84m should be enough to tempt Los Blancos into selling.

It would be an incredibly costly and potentially complicated transfer to get done, but given Rodrygo’s outrageous ability, notably described as one of the “best players in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, it would be a superb signing.

Why Rodrygo would be a dream for Rice

Now then, when it comes to a player of Rodrygo’s calibre, you could probably say that he’d be a dream teammate for every player in the Arsenal squad, so what about him makes him such an exciting prospect for Rice?

Well, there are, in fact, several reasons, but the first and ultimately most important, is the Brazilian’s raw output.

For example, in 51 appearances this season, totalling 3360 minutes, the 24-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Statman Dave, scored 14 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.12 games, or every 140 minutes.

This is important because Arteta has turned the Gunners’ tenacious number 41 from a traditional six into a left-eight, and as such, he is expected to help out with attacks more often, which he has done this season.

Across 52 appearances this season, the former Hammers star scored nine goals and provided ten assists, and according to Understat, he should have had at least two more assists in the league alone.

Appearances

51

51

56

Minutes

3360′

3564′

3455′

Goals

10

10

10

Assists

14

6

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.31

0.35

Minutes per Goal Involvement

140′

222.75′

172.75′

So just imagine how much more dangerous the Englishman could be with a truly effective winger just ahead of him, as when we compare the Real star’s numbers to Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in this table, it’s clear he is far more dangerous.

Finally, on top of helping the monstrous midfielder further improve his own output, signing the former Santos gem also sends the right message: that the club are determined to bring in world-class players to help those they already have to achieve greatness and win things.

Therefore, while it will be costly and likely drawn out, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer.

Walcott 2.0: Arsenal now eyeing "one of the fastest players in the PL"

The rapid international would be an exciting addition to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 11, 2025

Arsenal’s season of disappointments has finally come to an end.

While it would be fair to say that they probably exceeded expectations in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side certainly underdelivered in the Premier League.

Now, injuries and suspensions certainly played their part in this, but many of the Gunners’ first-team stars have been seriously underwhelming, including the reigning Player of the Year, Martin Odegaard.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the Norwegian’s lacklustre form could cost him his place in the team next season, as one of the league’s most exciting midfielders has now been touted for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal transfer news

With yet another trophyless season under their belt, it seems as if Arsenal are determined to make significant additions to the team this summer, as the last few weeks have seen them linked to a number of seriously talented players, such as Eberechi Eze and Kaoru Mitoma.

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 has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract, and while that is a lot of money, he’s certainly worth it, as on top of playing a key role in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.

Mitoma could end up costing the Gunners around £80m and has amassed a reasonable enough tally of ten goals and four assists in 36 games.

However, another name has now entered the picture, someone who could end up being the perfect upgrade on Odegaard: Morgan Gibbs-White.

Yes, according to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Nottingham Forest star this summer.

The report claims that Arteta views the Englishman as the ‘perfect option’ to add some added drive and tenacity to the Gunners’ midfield next season, although he could be an expensive addition, with prior stories claiming he could cost around £100m.

It would likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gibbs-White’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Gibbs-White compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to say is that even though Gibbs-White is talented and capable enough of playing in several different positions, from right-wing to central midfield, his best and most played position is undoubtedly attacking midfield.

Moreover, the ten position is where he has truly excelled and reached another level for Forest this season, so were he to move to Arsenal in the summer, it seems like a sure bet that he would come in to play as the most attacking player in the midfield.

Therefore, his most significant competition for game time at the Emirates would be Odegaard, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes down to their pure output from this season, which is ultimately what matters most and what the Gunners need to focus on, it’s the Tricky Trees star who comes out on top.

For example, in 38 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3142 minutes, the “exceptional” 25-year-old, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, scored seven goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.23 games, or every 184.82 minutes.

Gibbs-White vs Odegaard 24/25
Player	Gibbs-White	Odegaard
Appearances	38	45
Minutes	3142	3447′
Goals	7	6
Assists	10	12
Goal Involvements per Match	0.44	0.4
Minutes per Goal Involvement	184.82	191.5′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, the North Londoners’ captain scored six goals and provided 12 assists in 45 games, totalling 3447 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Norwegian star, the difference is even more stark when we just look at their Premier League record, as his tally of 11 goal involvements in 30 games comes out to an average of one every 2.72 games.

In contrast, the Forest ace’s haul of 17 in 34 appearances comes out to one every other game.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more goals and assists to their midfield next season, and while Odegaard may well get back to his best, Gibbs-White has shown that he can do just that.

Therefore, even though it’ll cost a king’s ransom, the North Londoners should do what they can to bring him in.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 27, 2025

Every year, football’s elite gather in Paris to determine the winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Well, perhaps not if your name is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian famously snubbed the awards evening in 2024 when he found out he’d been outvoted for the major accolade by Manchester City’s midfield sensation Rodri.

It was a landmark year for the Spaniard, who won the Premier League with City and also won the European Championships after defeating England in the final.

Having suffered a terrible ACL injury towards the end of the year, Rodri was not in the conversation to win the award again in 2025.

2014

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2015

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

2016

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2017

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid

2018

Luka Modric

Real Madrid

2019

Lionel Messi

Barcelona

2021

Lionel Messi

PSG

2022

Karim Benzema

Real Madrid

2023

Lionel Messi

PSG/Inter Miami

2024

Rodri

Manchester City

2025

Ousmane Dembele

PSG

Instead, it was PSG’s Ousmane Dembele who reigned supreme, having starred as the Parisiens finally won the Champions League in 2024/25.

Ballon d'Or 2025 Final Rankings

Where did the 30 nominees finish?

ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

What made Dembele’s triumph all the more remarkable was the fact that he’d never actually been dominated for the award before.

He beat off some stiff competition, including Lamine Yamal, but what does the future have in store for the Spaniard? Well, with the help of Grok, the next ten winners of the Ballon d’Or have been predicted.

1 2026: A first crown for France's best Kylian Mbappe

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer the players they once were, it was always predicted that Kylian Mbappe would rise to the top.

A victory in 2026 would be a long time coming for Madrid’s latest Galactico but it would be an award well deserved. There’s a World Cup in 2026, too. Perhaps he’s just led France to a second triumph in three attempts?

2 2027: The wonderkid triumphs for the first time Lamine Yamal

One of the favourites for 2025, Yamal finally gets the recognition on a global stage that he deserves in two years time. At the age of 17, he’s already won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, and it feels only a matter of time before he’s officially crowned the best player in the world.

Cole Palmer already thinks he is, and with numbers like he’s achieved in 2024/25, scoring 18 and assisting 26, anything is possible. He is a generational talent, the rightful heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.

Games

55

Goals

18

Assists

25

3 2028: A victory for the Premier League Erling Haaland

Like Mbappe, Haaland has been tripped as a future Ballon d’Or winner for a while now but AI thinks we’ll have to wait another three years before seeing Manchester City’s goal machine given the gong.

Given the length of his contract, he’s set to stay in the Premier League for a long time and is likely to continue banging in the goals on a domestic and continental level. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he is the definitive best number 9 of all time once he hangs up his boots.

4 2029: Messi 2.0 does it again Lamine Yamal

We told you he was generational. Two years on from his first success, Yamal is set to be handed his second Ballon d’Or, truly following in the footsteps of the great Messi.

At this point in his career, he’ll still only be 22 years of age. His potential is utterly frightening.

5 2030: Another win for Real Madrid Vinicius Jr

Six years on from what he felt was a cruel loss at the hands of Rodri, Brazil’s heir to Neymar and Real Madrid’s heir to CR7, Vini Jr, will finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual award.

Although aged 30, AI thinks he’ll still be going strong for Real Madrid, and with it being a World Cup year, maybe, just maybe, Brazil have got their hands on the trophy again.

Games

51

Goals

20

Assists

17

6 2031: Another Barca great does it Pedri

Every player on this list so far has been a forward but Barcelona star Pedri is set to topple the Yamal dominance by winning the award himself, following in the footsteps of the amazing Luka Modric and Rodri, the last midfielders to win the award.

The Spaniard is only 22 at the time of writing but he had a captivating season for Barca as they reached the Champions League final and won LaLiga. He’s played 59 times in 2024/25, scoring six goals and assisting eight. If he does indeed win the Ballon d’Or in 2031, his longevity certainly will have been Modric-esque.

7 2032: Liverpool's new signing takes it home Florian Wirtz

On the cusp of signing for Liverpool, who knows where Florian Wirtz will be playing in seven years time but AI seems to reckon that after securing a transfer to a Champions League giant and putting in strong showings for Germany, he’ll be the best player in the world.

Well, if it’s with the Reds, it would be their first Ballon d’Or winner since a certain Michael Owen back in 2001.

Wirtz is certainly one of the finest playmakers in the world already, contributing to 31 goals (16 goals, 15 assists) in the 2024/25 season when he was still with Bayer Leverkusen.

8 2033: More success for Germany Jamal Musiala

Back-to-back success for Germany as Jamal Musiala picks up his first crown in 2033. This could be the start of a newfound dominance for Die Mannschaft, who with Musiala and Wirtz in tow, may well have won the 2032 European Championships.

AI is backing the attacking midfielder to trump everyone else due to Bayern Munich’s dominance, international accolades and consistent form.

9 2034: A third major honour awaits Lamine Yamal

Rounding things off is a third triumph for one of the best players this generation has seen; Yamal.

In 2034, he’s be 27 and at the peak of his career with AI predicting him to cement his legacy as a generational talent. If he isn’t already, he’s now a truly household name, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in the game and right up there with Messi.

Only two players, Messi and Ronaldo, have won it more than three times, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten are the only other players to have all taken it home on three occasions.

10 2035: Brazilian follows in the footsteps of Vini Jr Endrick

While Yamal will no doubt be in the conversation again after winning it for a third time, his reign is brought to a halt by another of LaLiga’s top wonderkids at the moment, Endrick.

AI predicts that the Brazilian striker will become a powerhouse over the next decade, potentially winning the World Cup 2034 Golden Ball before cementing himself as the best striker in the world in ten years’ time. Grok reckons that the forward’s physicality and finishing ability will give him the edge over Yamal at this point.

The best XI of players to never win the Ballon d'Or

Some of these players were brutally snubbed for the golden ball.

ByBarney Lane Oct 26, 2024

Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week when they announced that Kieran Tierney has re-joined the Glasgow giants.

The experienced defender will officially link up with his new teammates when his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, returning to Scotland as a free agent.

Tierney came up through the academy system at Parkhead and won five Scottish Premiership titles during his time in the first-team, a haul that he will now be looking to add to.

The 28-year-old full-back amassed 37 assists in 170 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions, and he will be aiming to provide that sort of creativity down the left flank for Brendan Rodgers.

Tierney is set to come in as a direct replacement for Greg Taylor, whose Celtic contract expires this summer, but the Hoops have also lost their second-choice left-back, as Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan has come to an end.

Why Celtic need to replace Jeffrey Schlupp

Celtic will play in four competitions next season: the Champions League, the Premiership, the League Cup, and the SFA Cup. Because of this, having depth across the park in every position is vital for Rodgers.

It is not enough to just have one player in each position, and that is why the Bhoys have to sign a back-up left-back to replace Schlupp, particularly when you take Tierney’s injury history into account.

The Arsenal left-back has missed 45 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there is a concern that he will not be available on a consistent basis for Rodgers next term.

This emphasises the importance of signing a replacement for Schlupp because the Hoops will need a left-back who is good enough to step in and start when Tierney misses games through injury over the course of the season.

Appearances

13

2

Starts

7

1

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.7

7.0

Duel success rate

52%

71%

As you can see in the table above, Schlupp was needed to start eight matches in the Premiership and the Champions League, despite only joining in January, which shows how important it is to bring in a quality back-up option in that position.

Celtic, therefore, need a left-back who provided the quality, particularly defensively, that Schlupp provided during his five-month loan spell at Parkhead.

The Scottish giants are in the market for another option in that position and their latest reported target could be an even better signing than the Palace loanee was.

Celtic progressing in deal for Scottish defender

According to a recent claim by journalist Graeme Bailey, Celtic are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign Josh Doig from Sassuolo in the summer transfer window.

The reporter was speaking about Harry Toffolo’s situation, after it was confirmed that he is leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer, and all but ruled out the Hoops in the race for his signature, due to their interest in Doig.

Transfer Focus

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

Bailey told EFL Analysis: “He’s an interesting one. I did hear a little bit of a squeak for Celtic, but I don’t think there’s anything in that. I do know Celtic are looking at Josh Doig and I think that one’s progressing, to be fair.”

This suggests that the Hoops are moving forward in a deal to bring the Scottish defender back to Scotland, in what would presumably be a permanent move, given that he was just a key part of Sassuolo’s title-winning season in the Serie B.

If Celtic can finalise a transfer to sign Doig from the newly-promoted Serie A outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, then they could have an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Josh Doig would be a better signing than Jeffrey Schlupp

Perhaps the biggest reason why he would be a better signing than the Palace loanee was would be the permanent transfer aspect of it, as it would be a long-term solution to that position.

Schlupp was only a short-term stop-gap until the summer, whereas Doig is 23 and could be Celtic’s back-up, or first-choice, left-back for many more years to come.

This means that Celtic could get far more long-term value out of this signing, should they sign him permanently, if he adapts well and performs on the pitch as hoped.

Doig, who former boss Gabriel Coffi claimed has “incredible potential”, also put in good enough performances on the pitch in the Serie B this season to suggest that he could be a quality addition to the squad when called upon as a back-up to Tierney.

Passes attempted

54.48

Top 6%

Pass accuracy

77.4%

Top 27%

Progressive passes

3.70

Top 22%

Progressive carries

3.00

Top 9%

Successful take-ons

1.23

Top 15%

Touches in the opposition’s box

1.81

Top 38%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star could be well-suited to playing in a ball-dominant Celtic team, particularly in a similar role to the one that Taylor played this term, inverting into a midfield position in possession.

These statistics show that Doig is incredibly comfortable and progressive in possession, excelling as a passer and a carrier of the ball, which suggests that he would thrive under the unique demands that Rodgers places on his left-back.

Therefore, the Sassuolo star, who started 25 Serie B matches, could be a perfect fit for what Celtic are looking for in that position, which is another reason why he would be a terrific signing for the club.

Overall, he would be an even better signing than Schlupp due to his age, with plenty of room left to improve, his long-term potential as a signing due to it being on a permanent deal, and because of the quality that he can produce on the pitch.

Nicolas Kuhn 2.0: Celtic are in talks to sign “underrated” £2m star

Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a star who could be their next Nicolas Kuhn.

ByDan Emery Jun 13, 2025

Blackburn Rovers have now reached an agreement over the signing of a versatile forward player, according to a key update from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Ismael preparing for first summer at Blackburn

Rovers narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship playoffs in 2024/25, finishing two points adrift, and it’s now a case of kicking on next season. This summer is manager Valerien Ismael’s first chance to sign players who he believes can suit his system best at Blackburn, and the 49-year-old recently discussed his plans for the summer.

“Our job now is to keep the vast majority of this squad as I’ve learned about the players. Reliability is very important for a manager – at the same time, we need to add some of what we don’t have in the team to ensure we can compete better. We have a lot of trust in the players and, with a good pre-season and being clearer with the principles, I think we will be in a good place.”

Swansea City striker Jerry Yates is among the players to have been linked with a summer to Blackburn, but Hull City are also believed to be providing competition for his signature. It looks as though one piece of business is extremely close, though, following a fresh claim.

Blackburn reach agreement to sign winger

According to Tavolieri on X, Blackburn are now closing in on the signing of Kortrijk winger Dion De Neve, having reached a “long-term” agreement to snap up the 23-year-old. The young attacker is set to sign his contract soon and will then start his medical.

De Neve may not be a household name to Rovers supporters, but any new signing is exciting, and he could be an excellent addition to Ismael’s squad. For starters, the Belgian’s versatility stands out, with a wide attacking role his strongest position, but left-back is also an area of the pitch that he can thrive in, perhaps offering the manager a route to vary his system with attacking wing-backs.

De Neve won seven caps for Belgium at Under-17 and Under-16 level combined earlier in his career, too, showing that he was a highly thought of teenager.

A powerful runner down the left flank, he could add much-needed quality for Blackburn, as they look to make the step up to being in the playoffs next season.

Blackburn fighting QPR and Hull for "amazing" forward with 96 career goals

The Rovers are among the clubs leading the chase to sign a forward, who is now expected to leave his club this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025

This feels like a strong start to Blackburn’s summer, and it’s now a case of Ismael bringing in more players between now and August.

Uganda beat PNG for their first World Cup win but the co-hosts will present them with a much stiffer challenge at the Providence

Srinidhi Ramanujam08-Jun-20241:56

Badree: Shamar and McCoy can rattle Uganda

Match detailsWest Indies vs Uganda
June 8, Providence, 7.30pm localBig picture: Uganda’s players take on their heroesIt’s strange and beautiful that Uganda’s third T20I against a Full-Member nation – they first beat Zimbabwe in Africa Qualifiers to reach the T20 World Cup and then lost to Afghanistan on their World Cup debut – is against West Indies. Irrespective of the result, Saturday will be celebrated and cherished not just in the Ugandan dressing room in Providence but also back home. Some Ugandan players’ role models are West Indians. In batter Simon Ssesazi’s words, some of them “only support West Indies in any format of the game” and it’s a “blessing” to play against them. There is so much love and admiration for the co-hosts of this World Cup – Frank Nsubuga, 43, had named his son Pollard after a certain West Indian legend.West Indies are coming into this game on the back of five successive wins and will be keen to extend that streak. Though they were given a scare by Papua New Guinea (PNG) in their opening match, West Indies eventually got home thanks to Roston Chase’s cameo in the chase.As for Uganda, they are history-makers. They are fighters. Back home, they don’t even have a floodlit facility for practice and so they are not used to playing under lights. Treading in this uncharted territory in their first World Cup appearance, where all of their four Group C matches are played under lights, they suffered a heavy defeat to Afghanistan in their opener. However, Uganda were quick to adjust to the conditions as they overcame PNG in a low-scoring thriller in their next game to secure their first victory in the World Cup.Related

Nsubuga's bowling, not his age, takes him into the record books

Uganda's bowlers. Riazat seal their first win in T20 World Cup history

For them, facing co-hosts West Indies will be a much stiffer challenge. If Uganda have played a total of 93 T20Is so far, Nicholas Pooran alone has featured in 89 T20Is. The biggest concern for Uganda going into Saturday’s game will be their batting after they had been bowled out for 58 against Afghanistan and lost seven wickets in a chase of 78 against PNG. Can they challenge the power-packed West Indies at the Providence?Form guideWest Indies WWWW
Uganda WLWLWMeet 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga, the oldest player in the 2024 T20 World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesIn the spotlight – Roston Chase and Riazat Ali Shah Andre Russell isn’t the only West Indian allrounder Uganda should be wary of. Roston Chase 2.0, has been in exceptional form since being recalled to the T20I side this year. In 2024, he has bowled full quota of four overs in three of the four T20Is, picking up four wickets and conceding less than six runs an over. With the bat, he has scored 37, 32*, 67*, 42* – at a strike rate of 154.78.Riazat Ali Shah, one of Uganda’s most promising talents, made a cautious 33 off 56 to steer a tricky chase after an early collapse against PNG. He has a strike rate of 122.7 in 59 T20Is and will look to find a higher tempo against West Indies.Team newsWest Indies couldn’t accommodate fast bowler Shamar Joseph and batter Shimron Hetmyer in the XI against PNG. Instead, they continued to back Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford. They might stick with the same XI against Uganda.West Indies (probable XI): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Brandon King, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Gudakesh MotieUganda made three changes for the second game from the XI that played the opener with Ronak Patel (opener), Henry Ssenyondo (left-arm spinner), and Bilal Hassan (medium pacer) sitting out. They brought in two pace options in Juma Miyagi and Kenneth Waiswa and a spin allrounder in Nsubuga. Both Miyagi and Nsubuga played key roles in Uganda’s win against PNG and are likely to retain their spots.Uganda (probable XI): 1 Roger Mukasa, 2 Simon Ssesazi (wk), 3 Robinson Obuya, 4 Riazat Ali Shah, 5 Dinesh Nakrani, 6 Alpesh Ramjani, 7 Juma Miyagi, 8 Brian Masaba (capt), 9 Kenneth Waiswa, 10 Cosmas Kyewuta, 11 Frank NsubugaRovman Powell’s West Indies will look to click into top gear against Uganda•Getty ImagesStats that matter: Pooran hot on Gayle’s heels Nicholas Pooran needs 25 runs to surpass Chris Gayle’s tally of 1899 and become West Indies’ highest run-getter in men’s T20Is.Pooran and Russell have hit 786 sixes between them in T20s since 2019.Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani has 13 wickets in in six T20Is this year at an economy rate of 4.3.Pitch and conditions: Another sluggish surface on the cardsThe surface in Providence is expected to be slow, so scoring might not be easy once again. Saturday might be cloudy with temperatures hovering around 23 degrees in the evening but there is no threat of rain or thunderstorms.Quotes”My game was always one [where] I could always rotate the strike and turn over the strike in the middle overs. But my game has evolved where I have learned and I’ve been practising to finish the game in the back end in terms of the power-hitting and getting stronger and stuff. So, I think that’s what really helped my game to evolve. So that’s made me a better player, yes.”
“Getting our first win against PNG is a dream come true. We never thought we’d win any game and everyone was like, ‘I think they’re just going to play and just come back and sit’. But putting in that good effort against PNG on the big stage, it has been mind-blowing. Kampala is just booming since the day we won, everyone is just calling us legends. I don’t know if we’re legends but yeah, it’s exciting.”

As Manchester United aim to clear some deadwood out of Ruben Amorim’s squad, Inter could reportedly provide a helping hand after submitting an enquiry to sign two Old Trafford attackers.

Man Utd exit door set to swing open

Whilst much of the focus so far this summer has been on the incomings that the Red Devils have made or could go on to make, there’s no denying that they’ve got plenty of work to do on the exit front. Before pre-season gets underway, there are several stars who should be shown the door if INEOS are to make room for the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Emiliano Martinez.

Among those is, of course, Rasmus Hojlund. The young forward struggled yet again last season – scoring just four Premier League goals – and is likely to leave Manchester United this summer as a result even if he does want to fight for his place.

It’s a return to Italian football which looks the most likely escape route for Hojlund in the coming months. Reports have already linked the forward to Serie A champions Napoli in a move that saw Scott McTominay rise to unexpected stardom, whilst previous headlines suggested that Inter are closing in on his signature.

His departure would certainly suit all parties. For Manchester United, although they wouldn’t be making back their stunning £72m fee that they initially paid out, they would be clearing an unwanted player from their wage bill. For Hojlund, meanwhile, it would be a much-needed fresh start.

Inter could yet do more than one deal with the Red Devils, however, amid rumours that they’re also interested in another unwanted star this summer.

Inter submit Rashford enquiry

According to Manchester Evening News, Inter have now submitted an enquiry to sign Marcus Rashford on loan. Like Hojlund, the England international is likely to leave the Red Devils this summer following a mid-season fall-out with Ruben Amorim and subsequent loan spell to Aston Villa.

Better signing than Ekitike: Man Utd submit bid for "world-class" £60m star

Manchester United could finally get their man after making a huge bid in recent days.

5 ByEthan Lamb Jun 21, 2025

It was at Aston Villa that Rashford began to rediscover his best form, though, and even earned the praise of manager Unai Emery. The Spaniard told reporters following Rashford’s impressive display against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League: “He is feeling better and he played a fantastic match. We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy.”

Appearances

17

Goals

4

Assists

6

Whether Aston Villa, themselves, come back in for Rashford is another question that will be asked as the summer goes on. He certainly enjoyed success under Emery, but as their PSR issues continue, they simply may not be able to afford his £14m-a-year salary.

That could leave just Inter to swoop in and land a potential loan deal to welcome another Premier League player to the Serie A this summer.

Only three members of New Zealand’s squad will be below 30 by the time the team returns home

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Jun-20243:49

‘If this is their last tournament, Southee and Boult can hold their heads high’

Could it be the end? Is it over? For Trent Boult, at least, it is.”Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be my last T20 World Cup,” Boult told the media after taking a tone-setting 2 for 7 in what was essentially a dead rubber against Uganda.In T20 World Cup matches all told, his returns are excellent. He has 32 wickets in 17 outings, and an economy rate of 6.07, the second-best among the tournament’s top ten all-time wicket-takers.Boult, now 34, has anyway only been a sporadic presence in New Zealand international sides since he was released from his central contract almost two years ago. If this is his last T20 World Cup, it may follow that the world has seen the last of him in ODI World Cups as well – the next T20 World Cup is set for 2026, but the next ODI World Cup is scheduled only for the year after that.Although New Zealand have not made the Super Eight of this ongoing tournament, Boult still has one final T20 World Cup match remaining, against Papua New Guinea on Monday.Trent Boult has 32 wickets in T20 World Cups and an economy rate of 6.07•ICC/Getty Images

Confirmation that Boult will not play another T20 World Cup brings into sharp focus the future of what is now an ageing New Zealand team. In this squad, only three players will be under 30 years of age by the time the team returns home (Mark Chapman has a birthday over the next few days).It is natural to question whether this is the beginning of a transition period for New Zealand, particularly after they failed to progress out of their group. New Zealand had made the semi-finals of every ODI and T20 World Cup since 2015.Boult and Tim Southee had played significant roles in the majority of those campaigns. After this game – in which they bowled unchanged through the powerplay to leave Uganda 9 fo 3, and finished with combined figures of 5 for 11 in eight overs – Boult spoke as if he felt there would be limited opportunities for the two to play together in the future.”I look at the partnership with Tim with very fond memories,” he said. “We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously he’s a very good friend on and off the ground. It was nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. Some great memories, and hopefully a couple more still to come.”Earlier in the tournament, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had also been asked whether he saw this tournament as the end of a generation, to which he replied: “No, I think there’s still guys that will be here for some time.”But at the very least, New Zealand will soon have to find a replacement for one of their greatest-ever quicks.

India fast bowler Niranjana Nagarajan has quit all cricket, making the announcement through a social-media post.”Playing cricket at a professional level has been the best thing that could have happened to me for everything in life commenced with it,” she said. “Playing this game gave me a vision, ambition and reason to look forward in life. I am grateful, blessed and thankful to have played this sport for 24 years at a professional level and when I look back at it, the journey has been nothing less than beautiful and I will be carrying the lovely warm memories it gave me along the way through my life.”