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Adrien Rabiot has revealed he is left “amazed” by Luka Modric’s childlike passion for football, praising the 40-year-old midfielder’s impact since joining AC Milan. The Croatian veteran has instantly become the heartbeat of the Rossoneri midfield, and Rabiot says Modric’s energy and love for the game continues to inspire everyone around him.

• Modric’s Milan influence already ‘extraordinary’

  Modric’s move from Real Madrid to AC Milan was one of the summer’s most dramatic transfers, but the Croatian legend has wasted no time proving he still belongs at the top level. At 40 years old, Modric has slotted straight into the Rossoneri's midfield, dictating games with the same intelligence, composure and work rate that defined his decade in Spain.

  His arrival has transformed Massimiliano Allegri's side into a more controlled and technically secure outfit. Modric has been central to Milan’s early-season push for the top of Serie A, and his leadership has filled a void the Rossoneri had struggled to address since losing Sandro Tonali.

  Rabiot, who joined Milan after Modric, has seen his adaptation from close range. The French midfielder says the Croatian has taken command of the dressing room and the pitch, instantly raising standards around the club. That set the stage for him to share his admiration in detail.

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  Rabiot amazed by Modric’s passion and reflects on derby win

  Rabiot began by revealing just how special it has been to play alongside Modric, highlighting the Croatian’s attitude above everything else. Speaking to , he said: "He's a simple person and loves football like a child. I've felt very comfortable with him in midfield since day one because he has quality and vision, but he also makes a huge contribution when it comes to winning the ball back, running and coming in decisively when needed. He's an extraordinary player who amazes me with the desire he shows on the pitch every day, even at 40. I admire him greatly: when I'm his age, I hope I still have that passion."

  The Frenchman was then asked about Milan’s 1-0 derby victory over Inter, a match in which he played the full 90 minutes after returning from injury. "Happiness because it's a special match for Milan and the Milan fans. It was great to win the first derby at San Siro and I'm proud of how we played. These three points give us further confidence."

• Rabiot’s growing influence & hunger to score

  Rabiot’s start at Milan was disrupted by a calf injury, but when he has played, the numbers speak for themselves: five wins and one draw in six appearances, with only one goal conceded. His importance to the Rossoneri's structure has grown rapidly, especially alongside a veteran like Modric who complements his energy and ball-winning.

  When asked about ending his goal drought for the team, he explained: "I hope so. I'd like to score as soon as possible, both at San Siro and away. I like scoring goals or providing assists, but that's not my main role: I have to help the team with running, tackling, advice, and experience. If we keep winning and I don't score, that's fine too."

  The 30-year-old then reflected on why Milan look more secure with him on the pitch, pointing to his communication and calming presence. "Maybe my teammates have more confidence and I give them a sense of mental security. I try to talk a lot, especially during the most difficult moments of the match, to keep everyone focused. I always give my all and the others feel it."

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  Lazio next and reunion with Sarri

  Milan sit second in Serie A and now prepare for a crucial clash against Lazio at San Siro, where a win could temporarily send them top of the table. For Rabiot, the fixture also brings a personal subplot: a reunion with his former Juventus coach, Maurizio Sarri.

  Looking ahead to Saturday, he spoke warmly about meeting him again: "It'll be great to see him again. We had a strange year at Juventus: I didn't play much at first, but after Covid I was always a starter and we won the Scudetto. Sarri is a great coach."

  Milan will hope Modric’s brilliance and Rabiot’s return to peak rhythm can guide them through another major test, as the Rossoneri continue their push for top spot.

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A derrota do Corinthians por 2 a 1 diante do São Paulo, nesta terça-feira (30), que acabou com o tabu de dez anos na Neo Química Arena, deixou a torcida do Timão revoltada nas redes sociais e arquibancadas. Após o Majestoso, válido pela 4ª rodada do Campeonato Paulista, os torcedores corintianos fizeram fortes cobranças ao elenco comandado pelo técnico Mano Menezes.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

– Bando de c*…, tem que ser homem pra jogar no Coringão – gritou a torcida do Corinthians nas arquibancadas.

Mano Menezes chegou pressionado para o clássico com Tricolor, tendo em vista as duas derrotas do Timão no Paulistão. No anúncio da escalação, o treinador foi vaiado por grande parte da Arena.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Com o resultado, a equipe alvinegra estaciona nos três pontos e pode acabar na lanterna do Grupo C em caso de vitória da Inter de Limeira. O Corinthians volta a campo no domingo (4), às 11h, contra o Novorizontino, pela quinta rodada do Paulistão.

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حقق فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك، فوزًا صعبًا على حساب زيسكو يونايتد، بنتيجة 1-0، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

وأقيمت المباراة بين الزمالك وزيسكو يونايتد على أرضية استاد القاهرة، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات لـ الكونفدرالية.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الزمالك في الكونفدرالية بعد فوز المصري على كايزر تشيفز

وسجل سيف الجزيري هدف فوز الزمالك بالدقيقة 43 من عمر المباراة، بعدما تسلم الكرة داخل منطقة الجزاء، وصوبها لترتطم في القائم الأيسر واستقرت داخل الشباك. هدف فوز الزمالك أمام زيسكو يونايتد في الكونفدرالية

ويتواجد الزمالك على رأس المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، والتي تضم معه أندية المصري وكايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.

وبهذه النتيجة، حصد الزمالك أول 3 نقاط في مشواره بمرحلة المجموعات لـ الكونفدرالية، محتلًا المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة خلف المصري المتصدر.

It’s the start of a new era for Newcastle United at boardroom level.

Last week, Ross Wilson was appointed as the club’s new sporting director.

They’ll be hoping he sticks around in the role, having succeeded Paul Mitchell, who held the position for only a year, while Dan Ashworth only held the post for two years, before being placed on extended gardening leave prior to his ill-fated five-month stint at Manchester United.

Wilson himself has previously been a sporting director at Huddersfield, Southampton, Rangers and, most recently, Nottingham Forest, spending two seasons in the East Midlands before now heading to Tyneside.

Under Saudi ownership, Newcastle are certainly one of the most ambitious clubs around, so Wilson is likely to oversee plenty of high-profile deals, but which current squad members will need to be phased out in the coming year or so?

Newcastle's squad transition under PIF

Since the Saudi takeover in 2021, a lot of the Newcastle squad have remained virtual ever-presents.

Eddie Howe has been in charge of 183 matches to date, with 12 players featuring in at least 100 of them, nine of which are currently at the club.

Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almirón and Alexander Isak are the only trio of exceptions, and the latter’s record-breaking departure could signal the start of a new era.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Using the £125m yielded from the no longer very popular Swede’s sale, the Magpies spent around £256m last summer, recruiting five new senior players on a permanent basis.

Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey are yet to make much of an impact due to injury, but Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw have established themselves as part of the first-choice lineup, while Nick Woltemade has made quite the early impression, scoring four goals already.

So, while players such as Bruno Guimarães, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope have been stalwarts of the Newcastle team for around four years, players are going to have to be eased out, and for one in particular, he could be on borrowed time.

Newcastle's ageing star set to be phased out

Kieran Trippier will always go down in history as Newcastle’s first signing of the Saudi era, arriving in January 2022 for around £12m.

With previous club Atlético Madrid, he’d won the La Liga title the season before and was first-choice for England at the time, thereby representing a major coup for a side in the Premier League relegation zone at the time.

Well, to date, he has made 132 appearances for the Magpies, starting all eight Champions League fixtures they’ve had, as well as both EFL Cup Finals, donning the armband during the defeat to Manchester United at Wembley.

So far this season, Trippier has also started five of seven Premier League fixtures, but was left on the bench against Bournemouth, before coming on towards the end against Arsenal after Tino Livramento was stretchered off with a knee ligament issue.

Considering he’s set to be sidelined for around eight weeks, Trippier will be required to deputise for now, but there’s already started to be a changing of the guard in terms of Newcastle full-backs, with Livramento earning three England caps, while Lewis Hall’s performances on the opposite side are catching the eye too.

Writer Scott Wilson labelled Trippier Newcastle’s “talisman” shortly after his arrival but, now 35 years old, his importance is starting to be diminished.

So, let’s compare the England international’s statistics from last season to the year before.

Appearances

28

25

Minutes

2,240

1,308

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Chances created

2.6

1.6

Big chances created

0.52

0.14

Crosses

2.5

1

Take-on success %

73%

50%

Interceptions

1

0.9

Ball Recoveries

6.6

4.7

Tackles

2

1.5

Ground duel success %

53%

56%

Touches

98

98

Average SofaScore rating

7.31

6.94

As the table outlines, by pretty much every metric included, Trippier’s numbers worsened last season compared to the year before.

His chance creation numbers drastically decreased, as did his out-of-possession statistics, including ball recoveries and tackles.

This is a clear sign of a player in decline, which is to be expected given the player’s age, but with Trippier in the final year of his contract, one of Wilson’s biggest challenges will be finding a replacement who has not only his quality but also his leadership skills.

Before Dan Burn: Newcastle "leader" is the first player Wilson must ditch

This Newcastle United star, who was once called a leader by Alan Shearer, is now on borrowed time on Tyneside.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2025

Manchester City fans who had made the long journey to Swansea City on Wednesday night might well have been fearful that their up-and-down side could be on the receiving end of an EFL Cup upset.

Their fears were beginning to be realised when Gonzalo Franco fired the Championship hosts into the lead after 12 minutes, after the number 17 calmly beat stand-in City stopper James Trafford to send the home masses into raptures.

Thankfully, for City’s sake, that was as good as it got for Alan Sheehan’s home side, as Pep Guardiola’s visitors ended up running away with the clash to secure a comfortable 3-1 win.

City are still on for some silverware; therefore, in the EFL Cup, with Jeremy Doku hopeful that his efforts in Wales mean he is in with a shot of a Premier League start against AFC Bournemouth this approaching Sunday.

Doku's performance in numbers versus Swansea

After all, the Belgian likely stood a good chance at starting against the Cherries on the left flank, anyway, irrespective of what he mustered up on Wednesday night, with Savinho seriously struggling in City sky blue as of late.

Doku has only boosted his already strong chances, though, with his showing against the Swans, as this deflected effort – which came about from the ex-Rennes man’s initially tricky footwork – levelled the scores in the first half, before Omar Marmoush eventually handed the away side a late second-half lead.

The diminutive attacker is well known for his front foot approach in attacking areas, as can be seen looking at his high successful dribble rate per 90 minutes back in the Premier League, and it was on full display throughout in Wales, with seven dribbles attempted in total.

With four key passes under his belt, too, it’s clear that Doku will be able to ramp up the entertainment levels far more on the left flank than Savinho moving forward, meaning the fast-paced number 11 could soon be reinstated into Guardiola’s starting lineup.

Yet, he isn’t alone in banging down the door for more first-team chances, as this other sensational performer against Swansea looked a class above everyone else on the pitch and is now viewed as undroppable.

The undroppable City star who looked "streets ahead"

In the end, even with Guardiola hooking the likes of Erling Haaland and making wholesale changes, City just had too much star power for the hosts to contain.

Rayan Cherki, in particular, bamboozled the Swans all night long, with one City-based content creator stating that the ex-Lyon playmaker “absolutely ran the show”, which is a fair assessment when you dig deeper into his numbers from the 3-1 win.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

1

Touches

119

Shots

5

Accurate passes

74/92 (80%)

Key passes

6

Total duels won

5/11

Unfortunately, Cherki’s early days at the Etihad have been riddled with injury issues, with the dazzling Frenchman only fit enough for six games so far this season.

Hopefully, he will move past these recurring niggles to become a crucial first-teamer now in Manchester, with Cherki helping himself to a goal and an assist across the duration of his sensational 90 minutes against their in awe EFL opponents.

Cherki would stylishly dictate play by amassing a whopping six key passes from his mammoth 119 touches, while also showing off a fiery edge to his game when winning five ground duels.

With a further goal coming his way against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day, the time is right, surely, for Cherki to be given an extended run in the main side.

Haaland will also be licking his lips at the prospect of working alongside such an entertaining attacking marvel, who was labelled as being “streets ahead” of everyone else on Wednesday night by journalist Amos Murphy for his quick-witted play up top.

Doku and Cherki would love to cause similar havoc together when Premier League action returns, with more wins soon to be added to Guardiola and Co.’s league tally, if they can regularly run rings around top-flight defences together.

Man City have "Rashford-like" 17-year-old star who can surpass Savinho

Manchester City have an unbelievable 17-year-old starlet who could soon surpass Savinho.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 29, 2025

Pep Guardiola longed to see Jack Grealish return to being the player he was when he helped Manchester City sweep to the treble. He waited and waited, and now has finally got his wish, albeit not in the way he would have hoped. Grealish feels like a brand new player away from City on loan at Everton, even more influential than in 2023, a talisman for his new club rather than just one of many stars.

Grealish will be limited to the role of spectator when Everton visit City on Saturday, but he will be fondly welcomed back by the Etihad Stadium faithful, who loved him for his happy persona and the way he revelled in the club's many triumphs. Grealish reached cult hero status when he became the focal point of the debauched treble celebrations, from blasting out music in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, continuing the party in Ibiza and then taking things to a whole new level during the parade back in Manchester.

For Guardiola, though, Grealish was never quite the same player as in that season, his second after joining in Premier League record, £100 million move from Aston Villa. After curbing his usual sensibilities to suit Guardiola's demands, becoming a ball-hogging tactical chess piece known among team-mates and staff as a 'rest station' as he allowed others to take a breather while he kept possession or drew fouls, City signed Jeremy Doku to compete with Grealish. 

Phil Foden, who had been injured or ill for key chunks of the treble season, was another player who competed with Grealish for a place in City's midfield, and his role in the team subsequently faded amid a number of niggling injuries. At the end of a disappointing 2023-24 campaign for Grealish – but a record-breaking, fourth-successive title for City – Guardiola vowed: "He will be back. He’s struggled this ­season. Jeremy has made an incredi­ble step forward as everyone has seen in the last games, but Jack will be back at the level of last season – I’m pretty sure." 

Guardiola was not correct. Having made 10 Premier League starts the previous season and contributed to four goals, Grealish made only seven starts while scoring once and assisting once in the Premier League. Amid increased competition from Savinho and Omar Marmoush, Grealish was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final despite City chasing the game against Crystal Palace.

Halfway through the season, Guardiola admitted that he had effectively given up on Grealish: "Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that." Grealish, however, is that player once more – he just had to leave City and Guardiola behind to rediscover himself.

Getty Something to prove

When Grealish was looking for a new club in the summer, he had various conversations with David Moyes. The Scot, who has been a Premier League coach for more than two decades, knew exactly how to push Grealish's buttons. Moyes saw a player who had fallen in the estimation of football fans, just as he had done after his nightmarish 10-month spell managing Manchester United immediately after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. 

And just as Moyes emerged from that harrowing time at Old Trafford to win a European trophy with West Ham and oversee an incredible resurgence at Everton, who were in danger of relegation when he returned at the start of 2025, he believed Grealish could turn it around.

"The knowledge that he thinks he’s got a little bit to prove and to stand up," Moyes explained after signing Grealish on loan on the eve of the new season. "I’ve had to do that myself. I’ve had to come back from being knocked down. Sometimes you have to have that resilience to bounce back, to fight back and to show everybody. I just sense Jack is carrying that with him now. I hope it shows through this season because, if it does, then we’ll get a lot of good things from Jack."

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It did not take long for Everton to get the best out of Grealish. In his first start for the club, he inspired them to a 2-0 win over Brighton in their first-ever competitive game at the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium, setting up both goals. In that full debut, Grealish equalled the number of goals he had contributed to in his final season with City.

In his next game at Wolves, Grealish provided two more assists in a 3-2 win. No player created more Premier League goals in August, and Grealish was deservedly named the English top-flight's Player of the Month. Just over a month on, Grealish snatched victory over previously unbeaten Crystal Palace by scoring in added time to seal a 2-1 win. It was his first goal for the Toffees, and it was a scrappy one at that, but it also spoke of his desire as he blocked an attempted clearance from Daniel Munoz in the six-yard box to divert the ball in. Grealish had been urging himself to score a late goal in Everton's previous two games, and it proved to be third time lucky.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," he said. "Do you know what’s mad? In the last few games when we’ve been here, we’ve been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute: ‘Come on Jack, imagine if you scored now’. I did it against Villa and West Ham and didn’t score, so today I said the same thing again and scored."

Grealish also dedicated his goal to "all the Evertonians who’ve made me so welcome". He added: "The way they've made me feel since I've come here when I see them, not even at the stadium but just around the place, it's so nice. There's no better feeling in life than to feel loved."

Getty Images SportSymbol of 'iconic' stadium

Moyes could see that Grealish needed more care and attention than he was getting at City under Guardiola. "He probably needs a bit of love and attention," he said after the Palace game. "He is making a big difference. Whether it is his assists, his presence, lots of things. So all credit to him. He is playing the minutes he may not have had in recent years. You know, he's so good. What Jack gives us is something just on the edge, which, hopefully it's on the edge of creativeness and maybe scoring goals.

"It's nothing to do with me, let me tell you – it's all to do with Jack and his own mentality to be better," Moyes added. "There's a wee bit to prove, I'm sure – I think we all have. I think in life, you've always got something you have to strive to do. And I think Jack wants to show that he's a good player. I think he's showing it at the moment."

And while the Everton boss hasn't tried to take credit for Grealish's revival, he is clearly doing something right. Grealish seems to fit at Everton much better than he did at City, precisely because he is the main man, just as he was at boyhood club Villa. Only Iliman Ndiaye can come close to him in the the Everton squad in terms of talent, but in terms of status, Grealish is by far and away the most famous player.  He is the centre of attention for fans and his shirt has proven to be the biggest selling one at the club shop.

Grealish has become a symbol of the club's spectacular new 52,000 capacity stadium which sits on the River Mersey. "It's incredible, it feels iconic," he said of the new arena. And he is its icon.

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Getty 'Warrior in training'

Despite his rock-star status, Grealish does not strut around like he owns the place. His attention to fans looking for photos and autographs has been noted, as indeed it was at City. But his work ethic is also being talked about in a way that it was not necessarily praised in Manchester.

"The thing I’ve noticed is that Jack’s one of the first in and one of the last out every day (at training)," midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall told . "He’s always doing the recovery, ice baths, massages, putting himself in the best possible position to perform. He’s kept himself in the right shape. Everyone knows Jack’s at his best when he’s got a smile on his face, playing confidently. He wants to play every week and show people what he’s about."

Carlos Alcaraz added: "What I have been really impressed about is that he has been a real warrior in training. We want that attitude. We are at a club where we are all in it together. He is a great guy. In the short time he has been here, he has chatted to everyone and tried to get to know everyone."

After his latest controversial decision, one Sky Sports pundit has admitted that he’d be “absolutely fuming” at Russell Martin if he was in the current Rangers squad.

Martin: Some fans didn't want me in the first place

Five league games, zero wins and sat in 10th place. That’s how dire things have been for Rangers under Martin. Their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Club Brugge could almost be excused – put down to simply being outmatched by better opposition – but that same excuse cannot be applied in the Scottish Premiership.

The Gers have endured a historically poor start and the writing is arguably already on the wall for Martin, who admitted that some fans didn’t even want him at Ibrox in the first place after defeat against Hearts.

Up next for Rangers is the visit of Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final. As things stand, it looks as though Martin will be in charge for that game and maintains the support of the 49ers. Whether another defeat would change that is the question that everyone will be pondering.

What certainly hasn’t helped the manager’s case is the latest decision that he’s made, resulting in criticism from Jamie O’Hara.

O'Hara: "I'd be fuming" with Loch Lomond trip

When backs are up against the wall, managers often get creative with their approach and Martin is no different. In the middle of a dreadful run, the Rangers boss took his side to Loch Lomond for a team bonding trip, which featured wild swimming and a hike up a mountain. O’Hara, like many, has shared his opinion on the strangely-timed trip, taking aim at Martin.

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The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder told Sky Sports: “If I was a player, I’d be absolutely fuming. Why would I wanna go swimming in Loch Lomond as a team bonding session?

“Give me some golf clubs and we’ll go play Loch Lomond or get the fishing rods out and go out on the boat for the day, then fair enough. What are you talking about, go swimming in Loch Lomond?”

Only time will tell whether Rangers’ quite literal uphill climb results in an upturn in form, but for now it is the latest in a growing list of Martin’s decisions to come under fire.

In what could end in a major blow for rivals Manchester United, Liverpool are now reportedly keeping tabs on a transfer target that Ruben Amorim is desperate to sign.

Slot defends Wirtz andLiverpool spending

Despite getting off to a solid start in their Premier League title defence, Arne Slot has been forced to defend big-money signing Florian Wirtz. The German is taking longer than some expected to find his feet at Anfield and the patience of those in the Premier League is far thinner than those in the Bundesliga.

However, the Liverpool boss was quick to remind reporters that the former Bayer Leverkusen star isn’t the only one to struggle when it comes to goals and assists.

Aside from the frustrating criticism, it’s good news for Liverpool that their results have remained the same even without Wirtz at his best. It begs the question of just how ruthless they’ll be once he’s up to speed in England’s top flight.

Slot also defended Liverpool’s spending as a whole, arguing that his side also generated impressive funds through player sales. He told reporters: “No club never sells and only buys. We didn’t have a big squad last season and [this summer] we did sell and bring players in. That is such an exception in English football.”

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Those sales may yet allow those at Anfield to spend once more in 2026, and that should concern Manchester United amid reports that Liverpool are eyeing one of their “key” targets next year.

Liverpool keeping tabs on Baleba

As reported by TeamTalk’s Dean Jones, Liverpool are now keeping tabs on Carlos Baleba, who remains a “key” Man United target and someone that Amorim is desperate to sign next summer. The Red Devils were, of course, priced out of a move by Brighton & Hove Albion this summer, but Liverpool are unlikely to face issues meeting the midfielder’s likely £100m price tag.

Jones told TeamTalk: “Manchester United were the first club to make a move for Baleba in the summer and they still see him as a key target for their long-term rebuild under Amorim.

“There was intent behind that approach, wanting to show the player and club how serious they are. But the concern is that Liverpool’s admiration could turn into something more concrete.

“They’ve already shown this year they’re not afraid to splash out big money on the right player, and if they decided to push for Baleba, United would suddenly find themselves in an unwanted situation. No one wants to go head-to-head with Liverpool – on or off the pitch.”

A move for the Brighton star would also make a lot of sense for Liverpool. Now that Slot operates with a double pivot at the heart of midfield, there’s not many Premier League partnerships that would be able to outperform Ryan Gravenberch and Baleba.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is still actively looking at late-window opportunities, as recently confirmed by Mikel Arteta.

Last week, Arteta admitted that Arsenal could still make another addition, despite the Gunners already spending north of £200 million on six major signings, but reports suggest they’ll have to sell players first.

Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have been mentioned as nominees for the Emirates Stadium exit door, and an exit for one of either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard hasn’t been completely ruled out either.

Trossard, in particular, has entered the final year of his contract, and Arsenal will likely want to make money off his sale rather than lose him for free in 2026.

If that happens, Arsenal could look to target another left-winger instead of Eberechi Eze, who’s in talks to join north London rivals Tottenham.

In his latest press conference, Arteta suggested Arsenal do still need to strengthen after an already-productive summer.

Chances to add the right player could still emerge over this final fortnight of the window, and Arteta is known to seriously value versatility as a key trait when identifying most transfer targets.

Taking this into account, it isn’t surprising to see them being linked with a last-gasp swoop for £140,000-per-week PSG utility man Lee Kang-in.

Lee Kang-in really tempted to leave PSG as Arsenal make direct contact

The South Korea international can operate as an attacking midfielder, on the right, on the left and even as a striker when required – with Lee even playing as a right-back during PSG early-season 3-1 win over Lille last term.

The 24-year-old was a regular under Luis Enrique in 2024/2025, but didn’t make a single appearance in the Champions League from the quarter-finals onwards – with Lee starting just 19 Ligue 1 games.

He’s now “seriously considering” a Parc des Princes exit, according to CaughtOffside, and the outlet reports that Arsenal have made “direct contact” over signing Lee as we slowly approach the summer deadline.

Despite not being a firm starter week in, week out, Enrique has tipped the former Real Mallorca ace for a bright future.

They have won just one in seven games and need three in three to qualify, but the head coach is confident

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2025

“I’m concerned about everyone’s form at the moment, including mine.”That’s how Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) coach Lance Klusener summed up the team’s fortunes in a season where they are languishing at the bottom of the points table, a year after they made the SA20 final. With just one win in seven games, they need to win their remaining three to stand a chance of making it to the playoffs.”I think we’ve got a group of very good players who just haven’t really found their form, unfortunately,” Klusener said after DSG’s defeat to Paarl Royals. “That’s cricket sometimes, but I think rather than dwelling on the past, we’ve got an opportunity ahead of us.Related

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“I’m pretty certain five [four] wins will qualify us, and that’s pretty much all we’re interested in at the moment. I just think with the quality in that dressing room, it just takes someone to light the fire and get them going.”We need to make sure that we’re just dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s. I’m sure there’s enough quality in that dressing room to get three from three at the moment. That’s kind of where we are at the moment.”Klusener was also confident that if DSG do manage to win three in three and pick up momentum at the back end of the tournament, they could go all the way.”I think if we can get going, we’re going to be difficult to stop if we can qualify,” he said. “I’ve been doing franchise cricket now for many years, and I know that teams that pick up momentum towards the end are the ones that are generally difficult to stop. Yes, we’ve got a bit of work to do, but that’s sport, and that’s what brings these great cricketers back every day. It’s that opportunity to write a story.”This season, DSG have largely used Quinton de Kock at No. 3 or No. 4, where he scored just one half-century in three games. On Thursday, de Kock was back at the top of the order, and top-scored with a 30-ball 43.Quinton de Kock started aggressively on his return to the top of the order on Thursday•SA20

“It’s all about balance. Lots of teams have got left-arm spin in the middle as well,” Klusener said, explaining the decision to use de Kock in the middle order. “That was something we looked at, and if you look at our squad, we’ve got Jon-Jon [Smuts] and… who else is there that can open the batting? [Bryce] Parsons can open the batting. I thought it was an opportunity to give Parsons a go early on.”As I said earlier, it was a thought of maybe just using Quinton in the middle as a left-right combination. That was our thinking about that early on.”In a late boost for DSG, they will have Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis for the late stages of the season following Melbourne Stars’ exit from the BBL.”We’ll have to re-look at that balance,” Klusener said. “I know Stoinis will change the balance slightly and it might give an opportunity for someone like Prenelan [Subrayen] to make a play. We’ll just have to look at that. We’ll just have to see how Stoinis turns up tomorrow as well.”It’s exciting for us. We can have a look and maybe try and play someone who can attack those left-handers as well. We’ll have to see.”