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“Our first priority is to spread cricket around the country,” he says soon after taking over

Mohammad Isam30-May-2025

The new BCB president Aminul Islam wishes to play a “quick T20 innings” in his limited time as the board chief, by using his vast coaching experience. Aminul had to take leave from working as an ICC development manager in Melbourne as he was elected as the 17th BCB chief by the rest of the board of directors during a meeting at the headquarters in Dhaka on Friday.Aminul, the former Bangladesh captain who is also Bangladesh’s first Test centurion, takes over from Faruque Ahmed, who was removed from the role after the country’s sports ministry cancelled his directorship late on Thursday evening. Aminul was reportedly contacted by the sports ministry last month when they offered him a position at the BCB, which ESPNcricinfo understands is for a limited time, mainly to oversee the next board elections. Aminul didn’t comment on the duration of his role, but said that he wants to use his time to raise the standard of Bangladesh cricket.”I have been elected as the BCB president, but it’s not for three months,” Aminul said. “As you know that I have worked in the ICC, where I learned a lot of things in management. They willingly told me to work for my country, so I am thankful to them. I don’t have any deal with the ICC that I will be away for two or three months. I will work here (as BCB president) based on my need. There’s no time frame.Related

Faruque Ahmed removed as BCB president

Aminul Islam elected new BCB president

“Tests are of five days, ODIs are seven hours. I am here to play a quick T20 innings. One that you will remember. I want to make the statement that cricket is for everyone.”Aminul said that his vast work experience of working with top cricketing nations and with the Associate and Affiliate teams will be useful in his effort to take cricket far and wide in Bangladesh. He reminded that decentralisation of cricket was one of Bangladesh’s first promises to the ICC when they got the Full Membership in 2000.”My skillset is a package,” he said. “I have worked in places like India and Pakistan, as well as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. I want to bring my experience from the Associate world [to the BCB], to do things like decentralisation of Bangladesh cricket. I will try to bring a young guy from a village to mainstream cricket with the confidence and belief.”Our first priority is to spread cricket around the country. It was our promise to the ICC when we got the Test status in 2000. We will have regional cricket bodies. The framework is ready, and we will discuss it at the board. We will have countrywide robust coaching system. We will try to bring competitiveness in every level of cricket to bring natural, raw talent.”Aminul further said at the press conference that he will work with the other board directors. His predecessor Faruque was reportedly instructed by the government high-ups to not engage the BCB directors, who were holdovers from the older Nazmul Hassan era.”I don’t have to work as hard [as a coach], but I will have to give directions,” he said. “I will have the help of the experienced directors. I will know more about cricket in Bangladesh, not just Bangladesh cricket. We are a team. I want to use everyone’s energy and experience to go forward. I believe that a cricket nation does well when it works together.”Aminul also said the board will investigate financial misappropriations that took place in the past, stressing on the need to have a chief financial officer. “We want to appoint a CFO, and keep our financial transactions as transparent as possible. BCB’s earning is for cricket; it is for the boy or girl who will be born after ten years. We want to use our funds in a better way. End of the day, we will definitely investigate [financial misappropriations],” Aminul said.

Jude Bellingham has spoken candidly about the negativity and scrutiny that athletes face in the age of social media, admitting he’s had moments of self-doubt while trying to maintain a “macho image”. The Real Madrid and England star called for more openness about mental health in football and revealed why he no longer reads social media comments about himself.

• Bellingham opens up on mental health struggles and stigma

  Bellingham has reflected on the emotional challenges that come with elite-level football. The Madrid star, who has become one of the sport’s biggest global stars at just 22, admitted that beneath the confident exterior, he has often battled with moments of vulnerability and pressure.

  Speaking as a Laureus ambassador, Bellingham called for athletes to embrace honesty about mental well-being and reject the long-held stigma around discussing mental health in sport. 

  “With the development of social media and technology, there are more ways to attack someone, to make them feel bad, and I think there's still a stigma around talking about mental health," the midfielder said, as quoted by . "I know there have been times when I've felt vulnerable, doubted myself, and needed someone to talk to, but instead, I've tried to maintain that macho athlete image of 'I don't need anyone.' The truth is, I do, just like everyone else. And you'll feel so much better if you talk about your feelings and emotions.

  "As athletes, it seems like we have the world at our feet or in our hands: we can do whatever we want, make a lot of money, and never be affected by it. But the reality is that if we're able to show our vulnerability, it opens up a broader dialogue for people struggling in the dark. It's the duty of people like me, and those of us who hold these positions, to be role models.

  "I still think athletes are supposed to just shut up and take it easy, which is an outdated view. The love an athlete receives is extraordinary. But for every person or people who love you, there are others who despise you because of the team you play for or something you've done . That hate can be very hard on athletes, and I can truly empathize with those who struggle with mental health issues. Everyone has the right to their opinion about sports, but there should be limits to the horrible things that can be said . I'm not entirely sure how you can limit that on social media, but I think the support network around athletes is important."

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• AFP
  

  Why the Real Madrid star stopped reading social media comments

  The former Borussia Dortmund player also revealed how he changed his approach to online criticism after realising the toll it took on his confidence as a young player. He explained that constantly reading what others thought, both good and bad began to affect his self-worth. 

  "When I was a young player in Birmingham, I used to type my name into Twitter and read everything that was said. But even if the comments were positive, I quickly decided: why should I let the opinions of people who don't know me validate what I think about myself?

  "I believed I was a good player before reading it on Twitter, so what was the point of reading what other people were saying? Of course, if I came across negative comments, it would have the opposite effect. So, again, I asked myself: why am I putting that on my own mental health?"

• Balancing authenticity and pressure in the digital age

  The Madrid star believes social media can be both a blessing and a curse for modern athletes. While it offers players the chance to connect with fans and share genuine emotions, it also exposes them to a constant stream of judgment and negativity.

  "There are aspects of social media that are very valuable for an athlete. More and more people are interacting with it, rather than with press conferences and TV interviews," he added. "When you can be honest and authentic with fans, it gives them a very clear idea of how you felt during a match or in your everyday life. It helps you become more relatable. However, as I discovered when I was a young player, there's also a negative element that I've now chosen to avoid, and I know many other athletes have too. There's already enough negativity and pressure in professional sports without going out of my way to seek it out. Now, when I read negative comments, they don't affect me, but I still prefer not to see them."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Real Madrid star determined to regain rhythm after injury setback

  The 22-year-old recently returned to action after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year. He has made five appearances for Los Blancos since his comeback but was not included in England’s latest squad for the friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia.

  Bellingham remains focused on regaining full sharpness after the international break, with Madrid set to face Getafe in La Liga. The midfielder will be hoping to get back in form as they continue their push to stay top of the league table.

  "The most important thing is confidence: when you have it, you feel like you can handle it forever," he added. "But when you don't have it, you can feel lower than low, like your feet aren't working, like your body isn't functioning. I'm sure there are ways to try to regain confidence, but you basically get it from performance, so it's almost a paradox. 

  "I always try to keep my confidence high, whether through self-affirmation or accepting the fact that I'm not going to complete every pass, beat every player, or score and win every game . The more comfortable you are with that, the more comfortable you are with knowing that you're not perfect. "

Glasgow Rangers enjoyed a busy end to the summer transfer window with the signings of Derek Cornelius on loan from Marseille and Youssef Chermiti on a permanent deal from Everton.

The Scottish Premiership giants made plenty of moves, in and out, in an attempt to build a squad that can compete with their Glasgow rivals to win trophies this season.

There were high-profile exits, as Cyriel Dessers, Jefte, and Hamza Igamane moved away from Ibrox, whilst there were some exciting signings brought in to improve the squad, including Bojan Miovski, Djeidi Gassama, and Thelo Aasgaard.

So far, though, the Ibrox giants have not seen any rewards for their work over the summer, as Russell Martin has yet to oversee a victory in the Premiership and his side were knocked out of the Champions League.

The Light Blues head into the first international break of the season off the back of a 0-0 draw with Celtic in the Premiership, their fourth draw in as many games in the division.

It is fair to say that Martin’s start to life at Ibrox has not gone smoothly and that a section of the fanbase is already unhappy with the direction of travel under him.

Why Rangers should part ways with Russell Martin

After the 6-0 loss to Club Brugge, Martin claimed that he was “embarrassed,” and supporters seemingly felt the same way, as a banner left at Ibrox read, “Get him out now before the seats are empty.”

This suggests that some fans feel that the crowd numbers at Ibrox will diminish if the former Scotland international remains in post with the style of play and the nature of the results so far.

This is not to say that Martin cannot turn things around and ultimately become a success at Ibrox, because there has been a big turnover in the squad, and Chermiti and Cornelius have yet to play for the manager.

However, it is seemingly going to take a lot to get the fans back onside and there has not been much to take away from the competitive matches played so far that suggest that things are on the way up.

Celtic

5.7

1.2

8

Hearts

6.4

4.1

7

Hibernian

5.7

1.9

7

Rangers

4.5

3.7

6

Motherwell

5.9

5.5

6

As you can see in the table above, the slow start to the season for Rangers in the Premiership has not been because of unfortunate results, as they have not been particularly impressive with their general performances.

They have the lowest xG tally in the top five in the division after four games, which will not come as a surprise to anyone who has watched the team play, as they have lacked creativity and effective build-up play.

Miovski did not have a single ‘big chance’ created for him in the draw with Celtic, per Sofascore, and Rangers could get him firing by sacking Martin to bring a former manager back to Ibrox.

Before they appointed the ex-Southampton boss, Rangers had reportedly made contact with Steven Gerrard over a possible return to the club.

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Given the woeful start to the campaign, reigniting that interest to bring him back to Glasgow could be a shrewd move and one that could get the best out of their new striker.

Why Gerrard would be perfect for Miovski

Above all else, the former England international is a proven Premiership manager who knows how to earn success in Scotland, having won the 2020/21 league title with Rangers.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, has won a title in his career as a manager and some supporters, who have already celebrated success with him in charge at Ibrox, may find it easier to back and get behind his style and way of playing.

The way the English head coach got the best out of Alfredo Morelos during his time in Glasgow shows that he has a system, typically a 4-3-3 shape, and a way of playing that can help a striker to thrive.

Appearances

158

111

Goals

83

41

Games per goal

1.90

2.70

Assists

36

21

Games per assist

4.38

5.28

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian marksman was far better off with Gerrard in charge at Rangers, scoring and assisting goals with greater regularity.

These statistics, and the fact that he won a league title with Morelos, show that the currently unattached manager’s style of play helps a striker to succeed and provides them with plenty of chances to score.

This is why bringing Gerrard back to the club could get Miovski firing and scoring enough goals to put Rangers in contention for trophies this season, given his record at Premiership level shown in the graphic above.

The Macedonia international has proven that he can score goals in the Scottish top-flight, as evidenced by his 32-goal haul for Aberdeen, but it is now down to Rangers to get the best out of them.

Albeit it was against Celtic, the lack of service to the left-footed forward was a concern on his debut, and one of the reasons why appointing Gerrard again could be a masterstroke by the Gers.

Bringing in a proven manager who knows how to win the Premiership and how to get the best out of a centre-forward in Scotland could be exactly what Rangers need to turn their season around and take advantage of some unsettlement at Celtic, after they had to move to the free agent market to sign Kelechi Iheanacho after failing to land a striker on deadline day.

49ers block move for Rangers star Martin said is "annoyed and disappointed"

Martin seems to have changed his plans for the player.

ByCallum Kemp Sep 2, 2025

Whilst there is nothing concrete to suggest that Rangers are going to sack Martin any time soon, replacing him with Gerrard is a move that could unite supporters and get the best out of the summer transfer business that was done by Kevin Thelwell.

MatériaMais Notícias

Athletico-PR e Corinthians se enfrentam neste sábado (24), às 16h (de Brasília), na Arena da Baixada, pela 12ª rodada do Brasileirão. O Furacão busca reação após a saída de Paulo Turra, enquanto o Timão busca se distanciar da zona do rebaixamento.

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+ Corinthians aproveita erros do Santos, e Ruan Oliveira se destaca em vitória; veja notas

Pelo lado alvinegro, o técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo segue sem poder contar com Fausto Vera e Renato Augusto, lesionados. Além da dupla, ele não poderá contar com Fagner, suspenso. A boa notícia fica pelos retornos de Bruno Méndez e Murillo na defesa.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

No lado do Furacão, a diretoria do clube paranaense não tem pressão para achar o substituto de Paulo Turra. A principal baixa no Athletico é o lateral-esquerdo Fernando, que sofreu uma entorse de joelho na derrota contra o São Paulo e passará por cirurgia na região.

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+ Timão se afasta do Z4? Veja tabela e os próximos jogos do Brasileirão

Veja todas as informações da partida:

ATHLETICO-PR X CORINTHIANS

Local:Arena da Baixada, em Curitiba (PR)
Data e hora:24/6/2023, às 16h (de Brasília)
Árbitro:Wagner do Nascimento Magalhaes (FIFA-RJ)
Assistentes:Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ) e Carlos Henrique Alves de Lima Filho (RJ)
VAR:Igor Junio Benevenuto de Oliveira (VAR-Fifa-MG)
Onde assistir:TNT Sports, Cazé TV, Prime Video, Rede Furacão e em tempo real noLANCE!

ATHLETICO-PR:Bento; Madson, Pedro Henrique, Thiago Heleno e Vinícius Kauê; Hugo Moura, Erick, Christian, Erick e Canobbio; Vitor Roque. Técnico: Wesley Carvalho

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Desfalques:Alex Santana (suspenso) e Fernando (lesionado)
Pendurados:Bento, Thiago Heleno e Pablo

CORINTHIANS:Cássio; Bruno Méndez, Gil, Murillo (Caetano) e Matheus Bidu; Roni, Maycon e Ruan Oliveira; Biro, Yuri Alberto e Róger Guedes.Técnico:Vanderlei Luxemburgo

Desfalques:Fagner (suspenso); Fausto Vera (trauma no tornozelo direito); Renato Augusto (edema na panturrilha esquerda); Barletta (trauma no joelho direto) e Cantillo (treino parcial com o grupo)
Pendurados:Cássio, Fábio Santos, Bidu e Róger Guedes

أعلن مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة الكابتن حسين لبيب، توجيه الشكر إلى المدرب الفرنسي فرانك موريس المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة اليد، مع تمنياته له بالتوفيق في مسيرته المقبلة.

وكشف المجلس عن بدء دراسة عدد من السير الذاتية لمدربين بارزين، من مصر وخارجها، لاختيار الأنسب لقيادة الفريق في المرحلة القادمة، بما يتماشى مع طموحات النادي وجماهيره.

ويأتي هذا القرار عقب الخسارة الثقيلة التي تعرّض لها الفريق أمام برشلونة الإسباني بنتيجة (47-25)، في المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين أمس الأحد ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد، ليودّع الزمالك حلم التأهل إلى نصف النهائي.

طالع أيضًا | الأهلي يخسر أمام فيزبريم المجري ويتأهل لمواجهة برشلونة في نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية

ويشارك الزمالك في المجموعة الثالثة إلى جانب برشلونة الإسباني وتوباتي البرازيلي، حيث يتأهل متصدر كل مجموعة وأفضل فريق يحتل المركز الثاني إلى الدور نصف النهائي، فيما تلعب بقية الفرق على تحديد المراكز الشرفية.

Fulham have now opened talks over a deal to sign an “outstanding” Premier League forward, who looks poised to leave his club this summer, according to a report.

Cottagers vying to sign new attackers

Rodrigo Muniz’s future at Craven Cottage has been cast into doubt, with Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur being named as potential suitors, which means Marco Silva may be tasked with bringing in a new striker before the transfer window ends.

Genk centre-forward Tolu Arokodare was named as a potential target earlier in the window, while midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was also on the shortlist. However, it now appears as though the Englishman is poised to join Everton instead.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte is the only addition Silva has made to his squad up to this point, in what has been a frustrating window so far, but a promising new report suggests the Cottagers are now stepping up their pursuit of an experienced Premier League forward.

Indeed, according to FourFourTwo, Fulham have now opened talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, who looks set to leave the Blues this summer, given that the Blues have already removed his biography from their club website.

Chelsea are hoping to receive £20m for Sterling, who still has two years remaining on his contract, meaning a deal for the winger would not break the bank, although it would be a risk to bring him in, given that the former Arsenal loanee flattered to deceive last season.

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Posts 1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025 "Outstanding" Sterling could reignite career at Fulham

The 82-time England international did not make the desired impact on loan at the Emirates Stadium last season, failing to find the back of the net in 17 Premier League outings, while also being unable to solidify his place as a regular starter, despite Mikel Arteta’s backing.

That said, the former Manchester City man is clearly a hugely talented player, having scored 123 goals in the Premier League, and Paul Merson even praised the forward for a performance during his time with Chelsea, describing him as “absolutely outstanding”.

Having spent the last three seasons in London, across spells with Chelsea and Arsenal, a move to Craven Cottage could appeal to Sterling this summer, and playing for a club where he would be more likely to receive consistent game time could suit him down to the ground.

That said, it would be a risk for Fulham to pursue a deal, given that the 30-year-old clearly isn’t the player he once was.

Tottenham, in unprecedented circumstances, missed out on Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, with the club now forced to move on to other transfer targets.

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ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

The announcement of Gibbs-White’s new contract dropped on Saturday evening, thwarting Thomas Frank’s hopes of bringing in a proven number 10 to inject some much-needed creativity – at least for now.

The England international was due to be another statement signing immediately after Tottenham’s £55 million deal for Mohammed Kudus, with chairman Daniel Levy and co booking Gibbs-White in for medical tests at Hotspur Way on July 11 (BBC).

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The Lilywhites were also ready to pay his £60 million release clause, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis put a stop to the transfer, threatened Spurs with legal action and somehow convinced Gibbs-White to pen a contract extension.

Gibbs-White praised Marinakis in an interview after the new deal was confirmed, with the Greek tycoon standing proudly next to him in what was seen as a bizarre move.

It is never straightforward when it comes to Tottenham, with Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the recruitment team wasting over a fortnight on their chase for Gibbs-White as just weeks remain of the summer window.

Their need for a new creator is emphasised by club legend Son Heung-min’s potential departure to the States.

Los Angeles FC are actively pursuing a deal for the South Korea international with an approach made, but the north Londoners are unlikely to sell before the end of their pre-season tour of Asia due to certain contractual obligations and his obvious commercial appeal in the Far East (The Telegraph).

There are reports that Levy is prepared to sanction Son’s move to LA for around £15-20 million, and another update has now come to light.

Son close to agreeing personal terms with LAFC over Tottenham exit

According to GiveMeSport, Son is now close to agreeing personal terms with LAFC, and the MLS side are eyeing a transfer towards the end of August.

The 33-year-old also has firm admirers in Saudi Arabia, who are prepared to pay £30 million plus add-ons, but it appears LAFC are taking the lead right now with talks “advancing”. That being said, Son has made no final decision on leaving just yet.

The £190,000-per-week winger is expected to hold crunch discussions with Frank over his future and role in the first team once they return to London, with Tottenham happy to keep Son and let him leave on a free transfer next year.

Levy won’t stand in the former Bayer Leverkusen star’s way if he does choose a move to LA, though, meaning Son’s future is entirely in his hands.

An exit would bring an end to Son’s incredible 10-year stay in N17, where he cemented himself as a club icon. Son is past the century mark in terms of both goals (173) and assists (101) since joining Spurs, with supporters facing the prospect of bidding an emotional farewell to the forward.

Robbie Keane called Son the most “underrated” player in Premier League history, and he could soon become the new star of LAFC’s project.

Leicestershire’s quarter-final hopes dented as Hose sets up Rapids win

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2024Worcestershire Rapids ended a run of seven successive defeats in the Vitality Blast and dealt a blow to Leicestershire’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages with a 16-run victory at New Road.Worcestershire achieved their highest score of the season thanks chiefly to Adam Hose’s 63 off just 39 balls, beating last weekend’s previous best of 181for four versus Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford.The Leicestershire spinners, Lewis Goldworthy and Rehan Ahmed, both bowled excellent spells which gave them combined figures of 8-0-45-3 before Hose’s late onslaught.But their powerful batting top order line-up was blown away by Tom Taylor and youngster Harry Darley as they were reduced to 28 for 5.Louis Kimber revived Leicestershire’s hopes with their fastest-ever T20 fifty off 21 balls including five sixes in a two-over spell and he and Ben Cox added 85 in eight overs.But his dismissal for 53 ended their hopes of a remarkable win against the odds despite Ben going onto complete a fine 50 off 35 balls. Matthew Waite cleaned up the innings with a stream of late wickets including Cox in the final over for 55 to give him a career-best Blast return of 5 for 21.The injury-hit Rapids have lost several games by tight margins but this was a convincing performance whereas Leicestershire have now gone four games without a win courtesy of two defeats, a tie and a wash-out.Adam Hose top-scored for the Rapids•Getty ImagesLeicestershire received a treble boost with captain Peter Handscomb (shoulder), Rehan (concussion) and leading wicket-taker Scott Currie (Injury niggle) all returning to the side.Hanscomb won the toss and put the Rapids into bat and Jimmy Neesham made the first breakthrough when Brett D’Oliveira sliced his shot into the hands of third man. Kashif Ali got into his stride with four and a massive six over backward square leg off successive balls from Josh Hull.Josh Cobb inside edged Mike for four but was then caught down the leg side by former Worcestershire keeper Cox off the same bowler. The Rapids reached 61 for 2 in the powerplay but then Gareth Roderick made room to hit Rehan through the off side and was bowled.Kashif, having hit Goldsworthy for a straight six, was given out lbw next ball aiming a blow to the legside. His 41 came off 25 balls with two sixes and three fours. Ethan Brookes also perished aiming to hit Goldsworthy to leg and was bowled but Hose looked in good form and kept the scoreboard moving at a decent rate for the Rapids.Ed Pollock fell to a good catch over his shoulder at long off by Kimber off Currie who next ball trapped Waite lbw as Worcestershire lost momentum. But Hose ensured a sizeable total with a series of big hits as he completed a 33-ball half-century before on 63 he was caught by Cox attempting to scoop Neesham.When Leicestershire replied Rishi Patel, the competition’s leading scorer with 400 runs, was bowled for a duck driving at Taylor. There was joy then for Darley with his first Blast wicket as Rehan sliced the ball to Brookes at wide third. Darley then bowled a wide but his second legitimate ball accounted for Handscomb who clipped straight to Pollock atmid wicket to leave the Foxes 9 for 3.There was no let-up for the visitors and Taylor struck again as Sol Budinger went for a big hit and was caught behind and Waite then disposed of Neesham in the same manner. Then came the remarkable hitting from Kimber to revive the Foxes; chances before he holed out to Cobb in the covers off Brookes.Two wickets in two balls from Waite ensured there would be no late heroics from Leicestershire as he got rid of Mike and Goldsworthy. He struck twice more in the final over in sending back Cox and Currie to complete his five-for.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has opened talks to sign a “commanding” defender, who’s now a top defensive target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new centre-back amid Saliba concerns

The Gunners’ centre-back partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba has received widespread acclaim over the past few seasons, with Jamie Carragher saying: “As a partnership, him and Gabriel is as good as anything in the Premier League.

“I think Saliba is the better player but Gabriel is the better leader, and Saliba needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to the levels we talk about with Virgil van Dijk.

“Saliba needs Gabriel. Since Gabriel has come out of the team, that’s not the same Saliba I’m watching.”

Best ST since Auba: Arsenal agree personal terms for £67m "monster"

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a new striker this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 31, 2025

It has recently been revealed the Brazilian defender is now in advanced talks over a new deal to remain at the Emirates Stadium, but with Real Madrid expressing an interest in Saliba, it could be a wise idea to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

According to a report from Football Transfers, that is exactly what the north Londoners are planning to do, having now moved ahead of Manchester United in the race for Parma defender Giovanni Leoni.

Such is Arsenal’s level of interest in Leoni, he has now been identified as one of their top defensive targets for the summer transfer window, with sporting director Berta leading talks over a deal to bring the 18-year-old to north London.

Juventus and Inter Milan are also in the race for the teenager, who joined Parma in a deal amounting to €8m (£7m) last summer, which has proven to be a savvy investment, given that he has emerged as a key player for the Italian side.

"Commanding" Leoni impressing for Parma

At the start of the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, the centre-back found game time difficult to come by, but he managed to establish himself as a key player during the second half of the season, which is an impressive feat at such a young age.

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Italian defender, describing his aerial dominance and duel prowess as “commanding”, while also stating the youngster is “destined” to play for a top club.

Leoni is yet to prove himself over a sustained period of time, but his emergence as a first-team player at such a young age can only be a good sign, and the Parma ace could be a solid addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

That said, there are a number of other interesting young defenders on the shortlist for Arsenal, and Arteta may even decide against bringing in a new centre-back, given that Gabriel and Saliba are arguably almost undroppable when fit.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Jorrel Hato

Ajax

£40m

Nathan Collins

Brentford

£23m

Cristhian Mosquera

Valencia

£17m

In what would be a bargain deal, Aston Villa are now reportedly in the race to sign a midfield star who has already confirmed his next steps ahead of this summer.

Aston Villa's final UCL push

It all comes down to Sunday for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side travel to square off against a heartbroken Manchester United side who are fresh from their Europa League defeat and simply must compile the Red Devils’ misery. As things stand, they sit outside of the top five on goal difference and must desperately hope to see at least one of Manchester City, Chelsea or Newcastle United slip up.

There’s no denying just how important this weekend’s action is and Emery hasn’t tried to play things down in the build-up. The Spaniard told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “In our hands is only our result on Sunday, how we can respond and how we can perform against Manchester United.

“That’s the only issue I want to focus on with the players. I don’t want to know other results.

“I want only to play our match, only to focus on our match in 90 minutes and try to focus the dressing room on the first half on everything tactically and individually. We will not focus on other results. We must win, we must compete and we must get our result. We must respect Manchester United. That’s the only way I want to focus on Sunday.”

The impact that Champions League football would have on Villa’s summer business also cannot be overstated. It could instantly put them in a position to attract top talents for the second season on the bounce, which may yet include an England international for a bargain price.

Aston Villa chasing Angel Gomes deal

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Angel Gomes, who has already confirmed that he will be leaving LOSC Lille at the end of his current contract next month.

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The England international said in a statement on Instagram: “After four unforgettable years at LOSC Lille, it’s time for me to say goodbye.

“This club has been more than just a team – it’s been a family, a home, and a place that has shaped me both on and off the pitch. Like any journey, there were ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m truly grateful to my teammates and the fans for sticking with me throughout.”

Gomes’ time at the French club will be looked back on as a pivotal turning point for his career. From a Manchester United reject, the midfielder transformed into a deep-lying midfielder who is now ready to step back into the Premier League.

Dubbed a “smart” passer by analyst Ben Mattinson, Gomes is set to become one of the best bargains of the summer transfer window wherever he ends it playing for Aston Villa or, indeed, another club.