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Liverpool may now have to do battle with Real Madrid and Barcelona for the signature of a £80m midfielder this summer, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Florian Wirtz race heating up

The transfer window is yet to officially open, but the Reds are clearly looking to get their business done early, with a deal for Jeremie Frimpong looking like it is edging closer to completion, and the Dutchman’s Bayer Leverkusen teammate could follow him to Anfield.

Indeed, Florian Wirtz has emerged as a major target for Arne Slot’s side, who have now taken the action of submitting a concrete contract offer for the German, but a deal will not be cheap, as the total package could amount to over £250m all-in.

Wirtz is being targeted to bolster the attacking midfield area, having consistently provided goals and assists for Leverkusen ever since breaking into the first team at a very young age.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goals

Assists

2020-21

29

5

6

2021-22

24

7

10

2022-23

17

1

6

2023-24

32

11

12

2024-25

31

10

13

As such, the 22-year-old could be an exciting addition to the attack, but there have also been suggestions that Slot is also looking to strengthen in a slightly deeper area, with Brown telling Football Insider that Liverpool are now racing Real Madrid for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Barcelona have also been “having a look” at the FA Cup-winning midfielder, who has a huge asking price of £80m, which could pose a problem for the Reds, and Brown believes the Merseysiders may also have some concerns over certain aspects of his game.

The former scout said: “Adam Wharton’s quality is unquestionable, there are no concerns there. In the Premier League, that’s very, very important.

“On the other side of things is his ability to cover the ground, and he seems to me to be a yard short in terms of covering the ground. So that’s going to be a concern for the likes of Liverpool or Man City – albeit not a major one.”

Wharton is a "generational talent"

Brown suggests the Palace star may not yet be the full package, but he is still very young, and the 21-year-old has been tipped to be capable of going on to achieve big things by members of the media, who have lauded the midfielder as a “generational talent”.

Despite not playing in as advanced a role as Wirtz, the England international also has attacking tendencies, given his ability to advance the ball further up the pitch, averaging the second-highest percentage of forward passes in the Premier League this term.

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ByDominic Lund May 21, 2025

Brown’s phrasing suggests Real Madrid’s interest is not advanced, but Trent Alexander-Arnold’s prospective move underlines the allure of moving to the Bernabeu, so Liverpool could find it tough to win the race for Wharton if the Spanish side come calling.

Not only that, but Madrid are also in the race for Wirtz, with the European giants keeping an eye on the German, which will be another cause for concern.

The mood at Liverpool right now is pretty good. Arne Slot’s side have been crowned Premier League champions, after all.

However, now that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave his boyhood club has been confirmed, that same mood has unquestionably soured, with the vice-captain expected to join European rivals Real Madrid when his contract expires in less than two months.

Monday morning’s announcement took the wind out of the fanbase’s sails; even the most optimistic of supporters will have known deep down that the 26-year-old was likely to join the Spanish giants, but FSG have the chance to make it all better in the coming weeks.

Yes, Liverpool are gearing up for a summer of significant spending, bolstering Slot’s squad ahead of next season’s title defence. The Reds are hoping to challenge for silverware across other fronts too.

The best way to help fans forget about the heartbreak of losing Trent to Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid? Bringing in some top-brass signings.

Sadly, Alexander Isak isn’t likely to be among such arrivals.

Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak

With Darwin Nunez reportedly expected to be sold this summer, Liverpool are in need of a new striker. Newcastle United’s Isak is right at the top of the shopping list, but if financial plates fail to shift, FSG simply aren’t going to lodge a formal offer.

Mohamed Salah is the only player in the Premier League to have outperformed Isak in front of goal this season, so you can imagine how good Liverpool would be with both players combining for the same cause.

However, Liverpool’s interest is unlikely to advance to something more concrete, with reports suggesting that the Magpies will look for a payment in the £150m ballpark.

1

Mohamed Salah

28

18

46

2

Alexander Isak

23

6

29

3

Bryan Mbeumo

18

7

25

4

Erling Haaland

21

3

24

4=

Cole Palmer

15

9

24

Liverpool need to strengthen across a range of areas, and signing Isak would be to the detriment of the greater vision. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to drop out of the race for Jude Bellingham and instead target multiple midfield additions would be something to recall at this point.

And anyway, it’s not like Isak’s the only exciting striker on the market.

Liverpool scouting new striker

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko this summer, though Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on him.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s understood that Liverpool had scouts present during Leipzig’s recent draw against Bayern Munich, in which Sesko scored, and though the Gunners have conducted extensive groundwork into the potential signing, a move to Merseyside definitely can’t be ruled out.

Indeed, it’s alleged that Liverpool and Arsenal have held talks with the player’s camp ahead of a possible summer switch.

Valued at £70m, Sesko – labelled “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – might be a raw talent but he’s one who could be willed into a world-class shape under the wing of Slot.

Why Benjamin Sesko is perfect for Liverpool

Sesko is only 21 but has already been making waves in the Bundesliga, hitting 27 goals and seven assists across his first 62 appearances.

In fact, Sesko has clinched 39 goals and eight assists across just two campaigns for Leipzig, hitting 21 goals in all competitions this year.

He’s got the trappings of something special, and it’s hardly surprising that FSG should want to pursue his signature instead of that of Isak, who would cost around £80m more than the Slovenia international.

Harking back to that earlier point concerning Bellingham: Liverpool pulled out of the race for Borussia Dortmund’s prodigious midfielder in April 2023, a decision met with dismay from many of a Reds persuasion.

Where was the ambition? How were Liverpool so resigned to their slumped position? After all, the 2022/23 campaign was one of endurance for a Liverpool side falling apart, ultimately failing to qualify for the Champions League.

But, FSG stuck by their guns and their decision proved the right one. Liverpool welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo instead, four stars who have each played instrumental roles in winning the Premier League this season.

Back to the present, moving for Isak would leave to similarly anticipated financial ramifications, limiting Liverpool’s scope for improvement this year. And change is needed.

Not only is Alexander-Arnold’s departure going to raise questions about right-back depth, but Liverpool need a left-back, maybe a central defender too.

Moreover, with Diogo Jota joining Nunez in falling by the wayside this season, it wouldn’t be remiss for FSG to consider more than one attacking addition.

Sesko, have no doubt, would be Liverpool’s main man if he signed, though. The 21-year-old has already been remarked to be “rewriting the laws of physics” by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his extraordinary power and precision with both feet.

Sesko, as per FBref, ranks among the top 8% and 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-on and aerial duel success rates, his “elite athleticism,” as has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson, and tenacity lending itself to such metrics.

Not just a sharpshooter, and further evidence as to why he could be the perfect Isak alternative, who has been described as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

The Sweden star’s pace and link-up play is second to none, also ranking among the top 7% of strikers for progressive carries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90.

While moving for Sesko would be something of a risk, he’s scored 13 Bundesliga goals this season having missed just ten big chances. He’s powerful and purposeful and intelligent besides, the perfect Isak alternative and for less than half the cost.

Kerkez upgrade: Liverpool could sign £21m star who's a left-footed Trent

Liverpool are looking to sign a left-back in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 4, 2025

Arsenal were finally back in action on Tuesday night, and after months off with a hamstring injury, so was Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon didn’t start the Premier League game against Fulham, but he did come off the bench midway through the second half and then, just seven minutes later, scored what ended up being the winning goal.

It was a cameo that reminded everyone of just what the Gunners have been missing since December, and if they are to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League, it’ll no doubt be in part down to him.

In even more exciting news, Andrea Berta seems intent on supporting Saka next season by signing an international star who’d be his dream teammate next season.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Following what is likely to be another season without any silverware, it’s no surprise that the transfer rumours around Arsenal are already coming thick and fast, with one of the most significant in recent days concerning Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is supposedly another one of Berta’s targets, as not only has he seriously impressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, producing 19 goal involvements in 29 games, but he worked with the Italian during his time with Atlético Madrid and has a release clause of around £62.5m in his contract.

Someone who could join for free in the summer is Bayern Munich ace Leroy Sané, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and has reportedly held “concrete” talks with the North Londoners.

However, with the German set to turn 30 midway through next season, fans might want the club to sign a younger winger for the long term, which is what appears to be happening with Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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

According to the Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Arsenal are currently “exploring a summer move” for the Athletic Bilbao gem, who has a release clause worth about £48m in his current contract.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that, as one of “his first acts as the club’s sporting director”, Berta has already “held talks” with the player’s representatives.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be unreal alongside Saka.

Why Williams would be a dream for Saka

When it comes down to it, there are a couple of intertwined reasons why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and, specifically, Saka, with the first being his raw output.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored eight goals and provided 16 assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games.

Appearances

37

38

Goals

8

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.42

Then, this season, he’s scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 38 appearances, which comes out to a slightly reduced but nonetheless impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.

Having a player who is this productive on the left wing will not only reduce the burden on the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, but with how frequently the Spaniard scores or assists, he will likely see his own tally increase.

Moreover, the fact that he’s so dangerous will force opposition defenders to focus on both wings instead of doubling up on the Englishman as they do today, which should open up space for the 23-year-old, which is the second reason he’d be a dream teammate.

Finally, according to FBref, the Bilbao dynamo sits in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for successful take-ons per 90, which again, should see him pull defenders away far more than the North Londoners current left-wing options do.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Williams this summer, as his output is spectacular, and even when he’s not scoring or assisting, he has the ability to make things happen, which will make him a dream to play with for Saka.

Their best CF since Aubameyang: Arsenal in talks to sign £58m "powerhouse"

The unreal goalscorer would be a game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 3, 2025

Their spinners have the worst average and economy rate among all teams this season

Deivarayan Muthu23-May-2024In the lead-up to IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had a problem of plenty when it came to their overseas combination. But then Wanindu Hasaranga’s injury left them with plenty of problems in the middle overs.SRH first tried out Mayank Markande before turning to Hasaranga’s (almost) like-for-like replacement Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, but neither of them has produced the kind of output SRH might have hoped for. Shahbaz Ahmed, who is primarily playing as a batter at SRH, has also leaked runs with the ball when it has been thrown to him.Here’s a rundown of options available for SRH should they want to rejig their combination against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second qualifier in Chennai.

Can Viyaskanth do the job in the middle overs?

Viyaskanth, the 22-year-old legspinner from Jaffna, is arguably the biggest success story of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). He impressed Mahela Jayawardene at MI Emirates in the 2024 ILT20, and Kumar Sangakkara at RR, when he was a net bowler with them last IPL. But he hasn’t posed much of a wicket-taking threat in this IPL, though three games is a very small sample size.Related

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Viyaskanth has picked up just one wicket in ten overs so far at an economy rate of 8.60, but the concern for SRH is that their Indian spin options – Markande and Shahbaz – have fared worse, going at more than ten runs an over. As for Washington Sundar, the offspinner, he has featured in just two games so far, the last of which was on April 20, when he took some tap from right-hand batters Prithvi Shaw and Jake Fraser-McGurk.The average (54.38) and economy rate (11.20) for SRH spinners are the worst among all teams this season. If they end up bowling in dewy conditions at Chepauk on Friday, those numbers might rise further. Even overall, SRH have the worst economy rate (9.98) in the middle overs (7-16) among all ten teams this season.In the last game SRH had played in Chennai, against CSK, they left out Markande, for an extra batter, but Jaydev Unadkat performed the role of a (quick) spinner, bowling offbreaks and offcutters into the pitch to handcuff CSK’s batters. So, perhaps, there is a case for SRH to pick an experienced Unadkat over a rookie like Viyaskanth and free up the overseas slot for an extra batter.Aiden Markram has played nine innings for 199 runs this IPL•BCCI

Should Markram or Phillips come in?

That extra overseas batter could be Aiden Markram or Glenn Phillips. Both batters can also bowl offspin, but RR have just one left-hand batter in their middle order – Shimron Hetmyer – and they often try to delay his entry point as much as possible.It’s also hard to imagine SRH tossing the new ball to a part-time offspinner against Yashasvi Jaiswal, especially when they have Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins in their ranks.Moreover, Phillips hasn’t played a single game so far this season and if SRH finally pull him out of the bench, they run the risk of him rocking up cold in a knockout clash. Phillips was last in action in a Test match in March. Markram, meanwhile, has played nine matches this season and could possibly return to No. 4 as their anchor. Bringing Markram back could somewhat reduce SRH’s reliance on Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz, who had moved up the order in Markram’s absence.

Jansen or Farooqi – the left-arm (and left-field) options

Like Phillips, Afghanistan left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi is yet to play a game in IPL 2024 while Marco Jansen, the other left-arm seamer, struggled for form and rhythm in the three matches he played. Plus, Chepauk hasn’t offered much new-ball swing and if SRH really need to pair up T Natarajan with another left-armer, Jaydev Unadkat, who has a number of slower variations in his repertoire, seems like the frontrunner.

Women’s cricket is all set to debut at the Commonwealth Games beginning in Birmingham on July 27

Valkerie Baynes26-Jul-2022What is the Commonwealth Games?The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event that takes place every four years (usually in between the Olympics), this time involving athletes from 72 nations and territories, many of which were at one time British colonies. The first edition, called the British Empire Games, was held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.Similar to the Olympics, some sports can come and go from the Commonwealth Games and increasingly that list – determined by the host city with agreement from the governing body – is ever evolving in addition to “core sports” that are always featured, like athletics and swimming.This is the first time that women’s cricket will be a part of the Commonwealth Games after it was included along with beach volleyball and para table-tennis.Where is the Games being held?Africa was due to stage the Games for the first time when the South African city of Durban was awarded hosting rights in September 2015. But the Commonwealth Games Federation removed those rights in March 2017 after it emerged that financial constraints brought on by South Africa’s flagging economy would prevent the city from fulfilling some of the promises made when it bid for the event. Birmingham was announced as Durban’s replacement to host the Games in December 2017. The opening ceremony will be held on July 27 and the Games close on August 8.Related

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Cricket at the Commonwealth Games?Men’s cricket featured at the 1998 Commonwealth Games as a 50-over tournament involving 16 teams in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where South Africa won the gold medal after defeating Australia by four wickets in the final. New Zealand won the bronze-medal match against Sri Lanka, while India did not make it out of their group.Women’s cricket will be played in the 2022 Games after the ICC and ECB lobbied successfully for its inclusion. In announcing Birmingham’s proposal for women’s cricket, the Commonwealth Games Federation said that the sport’s addition was “likely to be popular not only with spectators locally in Birmingham, but also for fans across competing nations, with 90% of the sport’s one billion fans worldwide thought to reside in the Commonwealth”.Supporters of the ICC’s push to have cricket included in the Olympics from 2028 in Los Angeles (LA) and beyond will no doubt have a keen eye on this event as a test case, particularly given that the sport failed to make the provisional list for LA with a final decision looming next year. No pressure, then!India play Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games on July 31•ICC via Getty ImagesWho’s playing cricket at the Games?The women’s cricket competition will be played in the T20 format featuring eight teams split into two groups. Group A comprises Australia, India, Pakistan and Barbados, while Group B is England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka, who were the winners of a qualifying tournament – which also involved Bangladesh, Scotland, Malaysia and Kenya – to determine the eighth team. All the matches in the Games will be classified as T20 internationals.Each team plays the other teams in its group once with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals. The top team in Group A will play the second-placed team in Group B in the semis, and the Group B leaders will play the second-placed team in Group A for a spot in the final. The runners-up from each semi-final will go into the bronze-medal playoff.The women’s cricket event begins with Australia playing India on July 29, while India play Pakistan on July 31.All the matches at the 2022 Commonwealth Games will be played at Edgbaston•PA Photos/Getty ImagesWhere will the matches be played?Ah, now this is a place many of us are familiar with … Edgbaston. The scene of Brian Lara’s first-class-record 501* for Warwickshire in 1994, England’s two-run victory in the 2005 Ashes, and, more recently, a seven-wicket victory over India as England completed their highest successful chase in Test cricket. It was also the venue of the Blast finals, with Hampshire winning this year’s title in extraordinary circumstances. Edgbaston also staged the inaugural Women’s World Cup final in 1973, when England defeated Australia.How did Barbados make it to the Games?In late 2020, the ICC announced a qualification process for the Commonwealth Games: England automatically made it as hosts, along with the six highest-ranked sides as of April 1, 2021, with the eighth and final place going to the winner of a qualifying tournament – Sri Lanka.West Indies were direct qualifiers under that rankings criteria and so a tournament within the region – involving Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and two composite teams representing Leeward Islands and Windward Islands – was planned to determine which Caribbean country would compete in the Games. That competition was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and Barbados were selected to participate in the Games because they were the champions of the West Indies’ regional competition – the Twenty20 Blaze.For all you statsgurus out there, Barbados’ matches at the Games count at T20Is, so player and team stats will count as international stats. Some familiar names in the Barbados squad include Hayley Matthews, their captain and recently appointed West Indies skipper, star allrounder Deandra Dottin, twin sisters Kycia and Kyshona Knight, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell and Aaliyah Alleyne, all of whom are experienced players for West Indies.Who are the favourites?Australia. It has to be Australia. Their dominance in recent years has been there for all to see and they would love to add the inaugural Commonwealth Games title in women’s cricket to the T20 World Cup they won at the MCG in 2020, and the ODI World Cup they claimed in emphatic fashion in New Zealand this year.

Also: who is the youngest man to captain in a T20I?

Steven Lynch12-May-2020Is it true that Brian Bolus, who died last week, holds the record for the most Test innings without being out in single figures? asked Graham Sinclair from England

The former England batsman Brian Bolus, who passed away last week aged 86, had 12 innings in his seven Tests in the early 1960s, and his lowest score was 14. That’s the record for the most innings in a complete career without being out in single figures: next come the 19th-century England player Frank Druce, with nine, and New Zealand’s Gary Stead – now their coach – with eight. The Indian opener Prithvi Shaw has so far had seven Test innings, all of them in double figures.I asked Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team which batsman has most consistently made it out of double figures. We imposed a minimum of 50 Test innings, and decided to ignore any cases where the player made a single-figure score but was not out. Clear at the top was England’s Jack Hobbs, who made it out of double figures on 88 of 101 occasions, or 87.13%. Second was his long-time opening partner, Herbert Sutcliffe, with 85.54% (71 out of 83). A slight surprise at No. 3 was the West Indian opener Jeff Stollmeyer, with 83.93%, not far in front of the inevitable Don Bradman (82.50). Just behind the Don were a bunch of big names, including Wally Hammond and Len Hutton (both 82.48%) and Eddie Barlow (82.46).I was surprised to realise that someone was closely involved in the match with the lowest Test total, and also the highest – do you know who it is? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England

The lowest total in Tests remains New Zealand’s 26 all out in Auckland in 1954-55, when England – who had a slender lead of 46 – were rather surprised to end up winning by an innings. And the highest Test total is 952 for 6 declared, by Sri Lanka against India in Colombo in August 1997.On the face of it there’s no obvious connection (the umpires for the Colombo game were not around in Auckland). But that match in Sri Lanka was one of the earliest to have an ICC match referee – and in Colombo it was John Reid, the great New Zealand batsman who had been their top scorer in the first innings in Auckland, with 73.It’s another of those coincidences that cricket seems to specialise in – like Bob Simpson being a player in the first tied Test, and Australia’s coach in the second, or Bob Woolmer being taken as a boy to the match in which Hanif Mohammad scored 499, and later being Warwickshire’s coach when Brian Lara beat Hanif’s record with 501 not out.I was watching some highlights of old matches and saw Jason Holder making a double-century on his home ground in Barbados. Was this a record? asked V Kartik from the United States

The match you must have been watching was West Indies’ first Test against England in January 2019, in which Jason Holder made 202 not out at home in Bridgetown. But the record in this regard is 374, by Mahela Jayawardene, for Sri Lanka against South Africa in Colombo in 2006 – that match was played on his home club ground at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Jayawardene clearly likes his home comforts: in all, he scored 2921 Test runs at the SSC, the record for a player on a single ground.Shai Hope made twin centuries at Headingley and Kraigg Brathwaite almost did too in the same Test, but was out for 95 in the second innings•Getty ImagesWhen Shai Hope scored two centuries in the same Test, in 2017, Kraigg Brathwaite came agonisingly close too, scoring 134 and 95. How often have two batsmen from the same team scored twin centuries in the same Test match? asked Gerhard Jonker from South Africa

There have now been five instances of two players scoring twin centuries in the same Test, but only two of them have been for the same side. The Chappell brothers did it for Australia against New Zealand in Wellington in 1973-74 – Greg made 247 not out and 133, while Ian made 145 and 121. Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq followed suit for Pakistan against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014-15.The first of the three instances for opposite sides came in Adelaide in 1946-47, when Arthur Morris made 122 and 124 not out for Australia and Denis Compton replied with 147 and 103 not out for England. Andrew Jones and Asanka Gurusinha traded twin tons for New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Hamilton in 1990-91, as did David Warner and Virat Kohli for Australia and India in Adelaide in 2014-15.Shai Hope made 147 and 118 not out as West Indies clinched a superb victory in that match in Leeds in 2017. The most remarkable aspect of his double was probably that Hope was the first batsman ever to score two centuries in the same first-class match at Headingley – in 533 previous games, the feat had proved beyond the likes of Geoff Boycott, Len Hutton and Herbert Sutcliffe. It meant that Clarence Park in Weston-super-Mare became the ground with the most first-class matches (191) without a player scoring two hundreds in the same match.I believe that Rashid Khan is the youngest man to captain in a Test match and a one-day international. But does he also hold the record for T20Is? asked Kishore Bharat from India

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan does indeed hold the first two records – he was only 19 when he first captained in a one-day international, against Scotland in March 2018, and two weeks short of his 21st birthday when he first skippered in a Test, undercutting Tatenda Taibu of Zimbabwe by just eight days. But although he was still under 21 when he first led in a T20 international, he now lies fifth on that particular list, which is headed by Virandeep Singh, who was about five months younger when he captained Malaysia against Vanuatu in Kuala Lumpur last September.Use our
feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

He will be replaced in the squad by Jordan Neill

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025

Ross Adair, the Ireland opener, has been ruled out of his team’s upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh due to a bone stress in the knee. Jordan Neill will stay on after the upcoming two Tests and replace Adair in the T20I squad.Adair, who scored a memorable 58-ball hundred against South Africa last year, has had to overcome a few injury concerns in recent months. In his three T20Is this year, he had found some form with 48 against West Indies, and 26 and 33 against England. However, his withdrawal from the Bangladesh tour will now likely see him return to the national fold only in time for next year’s T20 World Cup.Related

Test-starved Bangladesh and Ireland ready to dine on red-ball action in Sylhet

Neill was selected as part of the 15-man Test squad for the upcoming Bangladesh tour, and now will stay on to be part of the T20I squad. Neill made his international debut for Ireland in May this year, however suffered an injury in the field and missed a decent part of the home season.”It’s very unfortunate to have lost Ross on the eve of the Bangladesh tour, he really demonstrated his value at the top of the T20I order during the few chances he had in 2025, and we were looking forward to seeing him perform against Bangladesh,” Andrew White, Ireland s national selector, said.”There are a couple of combinations that we are keen to explore as we build up to next year’s T20 World Cup. Jordan Neill will stay on as part of the T20I squad to provide valuable cover to the wider group. We have players that in the past showed they are capable of deputising at the top of the order – this allows us to adjust the batting line-up and create greater flexibility through the middle and late overs.”The left-handed Ben Calitz coming into the middle order will provide us with the variety we have struggled with over recent years – and this tour gives us a much-needed opportunity to see how a number of players adapt to different situations and conditions.”Ireland will kick off their tour of Bangladesh with the first Test in Sylhet on November 11, before moving to Mirpur for the second Test on November 19. The two teams will then play a three-match T20I series starting November 27.

As far back as September, concern was raised that Leeds United simply lack any sort of potent threat going forward. The Whites are seemingly going to end up in the relegation scrap, with just 11 points in as many games and ten goals scored.

Daniel Farke’s side have been lacking in the final third since the off and that hasn’t changed much in the last two months or so, as the number of goals scored this season shows. Only bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers have bagged fewer.

With that in mind, it is surely no surprise that Leeds are targeting a new attacker to help enhance their final third quality.

Leeds’ latest attacking target

Reports have already begun to break about some of Leeds’ January transfer targets. One of those could see them make an ambitious move for Chelsea star Raheem Sterling, who has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge this season.

In recent days, they have also been linked to Brazilian attacking midfielder Gabriel Sara.

According to a report from Turkish news outlet Takvim, the Whites are strongly considering ‘making a move’ to sign the 26-year-old from Galatasaray.

The former Norwich City star is said to be unhappy with his playing time for the Turkish giants, perhaps coinciding with the signing of Ilkay Gundogan.

He could ask to leave the club, which is where Leeds could swoop in with an offer of £17m, thought to be enough for Galatasaray to sell him.

Why Leeds could be targeting their next Raphinha

It has perhaps not been the season Sara might have expected in 2025/26. The Brazilian has played 16 times this term, but has only racked up one goal and two assists in that time.

His form last season was far better, scoring and assisting 12 times in 45 games.

Of course, Sara has already experienced English football, plying his trade for the Canaries. His best campaign for the East Anglian club came in 2023/24, when his 13 goals and 12 assists in the Championship helped them reach the play-offs, where, ironically, they lost to Leeds.

Goals like this were a real feature of his impressive form that season.

His underlying stats from that campaign highlight why Leeds want him to add a creative influence in midfield.

For example, Sara averaged 2.61 key passes and an expected assist tally of 0.26xA per 90 minutes, which placed him in the top 4% and 3% for Championship midfielders that season.

Key passes

2.61

96th

Progressive passes

6.67

91st

Expected assists

0.26xA

97th

Shot-creating actions

4.96

95th

Goal-creating actions

0.61

97th

Analyst Ben Mattinson is someone who has spoken highly of Sara in the past, praising him for boasting a “magical left foot.”

He wouldn’t be the first Brazilian Leeds player who fits that description, with Raphinha also falling into the category.

The Elland Road faithful will look back fondly on Raphinha’s time at the club. He was sensational in that famous White shirt, bagging 17 goals and assisting 12 in just 67 games.

Strikes like this one against Everton were the sort of class he provided on a game-by-game basis.

Well, if Sara could have close to that level of impact on the club, he’d be a huge success. It is easy to see the comparison, both flair attackers who hail from Brazil, with a tricky left foot and lots of final third productivity.

Since Raphinha left Elland Road, he hasn’t really been replaced, and Farke certainly has not had his own version. Well, Sara, a player described as “technically gifted” by Mattinson, could be the guy they’ve been looking for.

Raphinha had so much quality on the ball, and Sara possesses that in abundance, as the stats show. He could be Farke’s own Raphinha, and the man to add a creative spark to Leeds’ attack.

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