Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made it clear that only players with mental toughness will make his roster for the World Cup, saying his project with El Tri isn’t for those who “can’t handle the heat.” Aguirre also addressed the goalkeeping situation, casting doubt on Luis Ángel Malagón’s status as the starter and saying the position is still up for grabs.
The lack of Premier League football might be a drag, but West Ham United fans were at least able to watch Jarrod Bowen on Tuesday night.
The sensationally talented winger didn’t feature in the drab 2-0 win over Andorra, but he did come off the bench in the 5-0 demolition of Serbia.
It was the Hammers star’s 17th cap for the country, and while that’s a great achievement, plenty would argue his talent and form suggest he should have plenty more under his belt.
The Englishman has been one of the Irons’ best players for years now, but he might have some welcome competition in the shape of an academy gem pretty soon.
Bowen's West Ham career
Bowen joined West Ham in January 2020 from Hull City for a fairly hefty fee – for a Championship player – of £20m.
While it’s easy to forget today, the then 23-year-old wasn’t an instant hit in East London, scoring just a single goal and providing four assists in his 13 appearances that season.
However, we started to see the player we recognise today the following season, as he bolstered his return to eight goals and six assists and, from that point on, was one of the club’s key players.
Undoubtedly, the 28-year-old’s best moment for the Hammers came in the 2023 Conference League final, in which he scored the match-winning goal in the 90th minute to hand the club their first European trophy.
In all, the Leominster-born monster has made 242 appearances for West Ham, totalling 19251 minutes, in which he’s scored 75 goals and provided 52 assists.
That means the legend in the making has managed to average a goal involvement every 1.90 games, or every 151.58 minutes since making the move to the London Stadium over five years ago.
With all that said, it’s certainly encouraging that the academy might be about to provide the club with their own homegrown version of Bowen.
West Ham's homegrown Bowen
West Ham have a proud history of developing some seriously top talent, and the latest star to come out of their academy may just be Elisha Sowunmi.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The 18-year-old prospect joined the club at the under-9s level and put pen to paper on his first professional contract earlier this summer.
It’s not hard to see why the Hammers were keen to tie him down, as he’s come on leaps and bounds in the junior sides and had a campaign to remember last season.
For example, in 25 appearances totalling just 2081 minutes, the promising talent put the ball in the back of the net 14 times and provided two assists to boot.
That means he was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.56 games, or every 130.06 and suggests he could be a real goal threat when he progresses to the first team, like Bowen.
Appearances
25
Minutes
2081′
Goals
14
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.64
Minutes per Goal Involvement
130.06′
However, that isn’t the only trait he shares with the 28-year-old, as he’s also incredibly versatile, having played all over the pitch from attacking midfield to up top and off the right, which is now considered his primary role.
It should be said that the step-up to senior football is massive, and it may take a few years before fans see him on a regular basis, but as academy manager Kenny Brown points out, “he has all the talent in the world.”
Ultimately, Bowen is without question West Ham’s best player and probably will remain so for at least a few more years, but keep an eye out for Sowunmi – he looks like the real deal.
West Ham can forget Lampard by hiring "the best manager in the world"
The league-winning legend would give West Ham a much bigger boost than Lampard.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 9, 2025
MatériaMais Notícias
Nesta manhã de quinta-feira (29), Luís Castro aceitou a proposta do Al-Nassr, da Arábia Saudita, e deixou o comando do Botafogo após um ano à frente do clube carioca. O treinador ainda comandará o Fogão no jogo desta quinta-feira, contra o Magallanes-CHI, pela última rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.
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Botafogo vai ao mercado: confira treinadores estrangeiros livres no mercado
Botafogo vai precisar buscar técnico: Veja treinadores brasileiros sem clube
Com a saída confirmada do português, haverá uma queda de rendimento do clube na temporada? Para responder esta pergunta, repórteres e editores do Lance! analisaram a saída de Castro. Confira:
+ Botafogo vai ao mercado: confira treinadores estrangeiros livres no mercado
+ Botafogo vai precisar buscar técnico: veja treinadores brasileiros sem clube
VINÍCIUS PERAZZINI – EDITOR
– Luís Castro é importante para o Botafogo, mas o clube hoje está estruturado e não acredito em uma queda brusca do time com a saída do treinador. Diversas peças do time têm muita qualidade. Agora, com o adeus confirmado, outro técnico com mentalidade vencedora poderá ocupar bem os espaços. Mais preocupante seria a saída de jogadores como Adryelson e Tiquinho Soares.
TADEU ROCHA – EDITOR
– Luís Castro está à frente deste elenco desde o início de sua montagem. Viveu com o grupo os altos e baixos de um processo de construção da identidade e estilo de jogo. É difícil prever como será o comportamento da equipe sem o seu idealizador. A certeza é que, com a saída confirmada, o português deixa uma equipe pronta. Uma queda pode acontecer, mas tende a não ser tão acentuada.
LUCAS PESSOA – REPÓRTER
– De fato, a queda de rendimento pode acontecer com confirmação da saída de Luís Castro. Um novo técnico irá chegar e pode mudar coisas que têm dado certo atualmente. Todo início de trabalho é uma incógnita. Mais do que aspectos técnicos e táticos, acredito que o principal impacto negativo seja no psicológico do elenco. A confiança dos jogadores está em alta nos últimos meses, mas pode ser abalada sem o comandante.
HUGO MIRANDELA – EDITOR
– A saída de Luís astro pode impactar no desempenho do Botafogo. Afinal, o técnico foi um dos responsáveis por montar o elenco e lapidar o time que vem liderando o Campeonato Brasileiro. Com a saída, é preciso que o clube contrate um novo técnico que tenha a filosofia parecida com a do português. A equipe está ajustada, e mudar a forma de jogar no meio da competição pode acabar com o sonho do título.
JOÃO BRANDÃO – REPÓRTER
– A sensação é de que Luís Castro conseguiu construir uma família, mas o mais importante são os jogadores e o nível de confiança da equipe por conta da série de vitórias. Com um novo treinador, a função do substituto do português será manter o elenco único e não inventar. A ideia do título, por mais que o Brasileirão seja excelente até aqui, ainda é algo distante, uma vez que não chegamos nem na metade da competição, mas uma classificação direta para a fase de grupos da Libertadores 2024 é uma obrigação diante do que se construiu até aqui.
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has reportedly left his role at Salford City as he seeks a return to management. The Welshman has been the League Two team's director of football and also helped out with head coach Karl Robinson on matchdays. But it is understood that the ex-winger has parted company with a club that is co-owned by David Beckham and Gary Neville.
Okay, so that might have just been Arsenal’s third official pre-season friendly, but we can admit that losing a North London Derby always hurts.
Mikel Arteta’s side looked to continue their perfect record this afternoon, but Tottenham Hotspur had other ideas.
The Lilywhites scored in the first half, and while there were a few chances to draw level, the Gunners just did not look anywhere near as sharp as they have in the two games prior.
Unfortunately, several players stood out for all the wrong reasons, including one who was so underwhelming, he showed just why Andrea Berta needs to get Eberechi Eze to the Emirates before the Premier League season starts.
While there is no need to go in too hard on anyone in a pre-season friendly, there were more than a few starters this afternoon who’ll really need to bounce back in a significant way against Villarreal next week, such as Kai Havertz.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
The German set up two goals for the team against Newcastle United in the last game, but was entirely ineffective against Spurs today, offering little to no threat as a goalscorer or creator.
In fact, the most notable thing the German did was take out Djed Spence with a sliding tackle after being nutmegged by Cristian Romero, and therefore more than deserving of the 5/10 match rating he received from the Standard’s Simon Collings.
Another player to get a 5/10 was David Raya, who was lobbed from the halfway line by Pape Matar Sarr after Myles Lewis Skelly lost possession.
It wasn’t just the goal, though, as the Spaniard looked off his game for practically the entire match and, as Collings put it, was ‘unusually shaky when trying to deal with set-pieces’.
However, there was another starter who really let himself down, someone whose lacklustre display only further made the case for why Berta and Co need to sign Eze as soon as possible: Gabriel Martinelli.
Unfortunately, it really was a game to forget for Martinelli this afternoon, as while Bukayo Saka endeavoured to make something happen on the opposite flank, he failed to do much of anything.
In the first half, the Brazilian international failed to make the most of the space available to him and was easily dealt with by Pedro Porro.
Then, in the second half, as Spurs began to sit back more, he was completely unable to get past the Lilywhites’ low-block.
We weren’t the only ones disappointed with the former Ituano gem either, who took fewer touches than Raya, as Collings dished out another 5/10 rating for the 23-year-old, writing that it was a ‘quiet game’ for the winger.
It was his inability to have any discernible impact whatsoever in the second half that truly highlighted the need for a player like Eze this summer, as while the Crystal Palace ace spent most of last season in midfield, he’s also an accomplished and creative winger.
For example, in 32 appearances off the left for the Eagles, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, has scored six goals and provided six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.66 games.
In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 has scored 40 goals and provided 26 assists in 179 appearances there, which comes out to a worse average of a goal involvement every 2.71 games.
|
Eze vs Martinelli at LW |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Players |
Eze |
Martinelli |
|
Appearances |
32 |
179 |
|
Goals |
6 |
40 |
|
Assists |
6 |
26 |
|
Goal Involvements per Match |
0.37 |
0.36 |
|
All Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
Moreover, he’s achieved those numbers in a team that have been challenging for the title over the last three years, whereas Palace are a mid-table side at best.
Ultimately, we aren’t saying Arsenal need to sell Martinelli, but the game today once again made it crystal clear that against a low-block, he’s incredibly ineffective, and therefore, Berta should be doing what he can to bring in Eze, as he’s got the creativity to help the club solve that problem on the left.
Arteta's new Saka: Berta working to sign "incredible" £86m star for Arsenal
The sensational winger could be a real game-changer for Arsenal.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Jul 30, 2025
After Australia were restricted to 134 for 5, Bosch smashed her career-best 74 not out off 48 balls to seal the win
S Sudarshanan17-Oct-2024South Africa showed ’em all how it is done – with the papare band blaring at the Dubai International Stadium in front of a sparse crowd.A collective bowling effort was followed by a strong batting show, led by a 96-run partnership between captain Laura Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch. They registered an eight-wicket win in the first semi-final to send Australia packing from Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, thereby ending their run of seven successive finals in the competition.Australia’s first ICC competition after Meg Lanning’s retirement ended in the knockout stages, with the six-time champions also missing Alyssa Healy who suffered a foot injury against Pakistan.South Africa first restricted Australia to 134 for 5 despite a late surge, and then romped home by eight wickets with 16 balls to spare to make a massive statement and enter their second consecutive T20 World Cup final.Powerplay strangle ft. Kapp and KhakaThe clarity in South Africa’s thinking was evident at the toss, when they inserted Australia in a crunch game. Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka got enough swing with the new ball. In fact, Khaka did not even have to find out about the purchase to pick up a wicket. Her first ball in the game was a length ball that shaped away a touch and Grace Harris slashed into the hands of backward point.Nonkululeko Mlaba and Co celebrate Tahlia McGrath’s wicket•AFP/Getty ImagesKapp had extracted enough movement both ways in the opening over. In her second, she saw a free hit being dispatched through square leg by Georgia Wareham. But she used the outswing to undo the batter, the DRS coming to South Africa’s aid. Kapp bowled one on good length around the fifth stump and Wareham couldn’t resist the slash. The on-field umpire missed the edge but Kapp and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta knew.Kapp was getting so much assistance that Wolvaardt gave her a third straight over inside the powerplay. Australia managed only 35 for 2 in the first six overs, their lowest in the phase in this T20 World Cup, and ended up facing 19 dots.A semblance of recovery courtesy Mooney, McGrathBeth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath are called “McMooney” by fans for their numerous rescue acts with the bat. They joined forces when Australia were 18 for 2 after three overs. McGrath ended the powerplay with two fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba’s over, but it felt the ball was not coming onto the bat. Wolvaardt exploited that by bringing spin on from both ends and McGrath’s next boundary was only in the 11th over. She fell a couple of overs later, hitting Mlaba straight to cover to end her 50-run stand with Mooney.At that stage, it seemed Australia had the perfect base for take-off. Mooney, on 37 off 38 then, swiped one through square leg in the 16th over to end another boundary-less phase of 29 balls. In the process, she became the ninth woman – third from Australia – to 3000 T20I runs. But in a bid to steal a non-existent run – coupled with a Kapp brilliance – she was run out for 44 off 42 balls.Despite that, Australia managed to get a strong finish, scoring 31 off the last three overs, thanks to Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield. But given what followed, it was not strong enough.Laura Wolvaardt got off to a solid start•Getty ImagesWolvaardt and Bosch knock out AustraliaLike Australia, South Africa also faced 19 dot balls in the first six overs. But they hit five fours and a six in that phase to finish on 43 for 1, the highest by any team against Australia in this T20 World Cup. But while Australia scored 21 in their nine attacking shots in the powerplay, South Africa managed 32 off ten. It began with Tazmin Brits unafraid of using her feet against Ashleigh Gardner and then against Megan Schutt, too. Brits hit Gardner for a six, clearing the leaping Annabel Sutherland at the rope.Sutherland, though, struck with her first ball, getting a length delivery to skid and rattle Brits’ off stump. The time was ripe for Australia to apply the squeeze, but Wolvaardt and Bosch had other ideas. The former first clubbed Sutherland over midwicket before Bosch hit back-to-back boundaries off Sophie Molineux in the sixth over. Wolvaardt also swung her Adelaide Strikers team-mate Darcie Brown over long-on for a massive six.Intent was writ large throughout South Africa’s chase with Bosch attempting a couple of reverse hits and being nimble on her feet against spin. South Africa had hit a four in every over from the third to the eighth. It was followed by three boundary-less over but Bosch broke the shackles by hitting Wareham for a four and six off back-to-back deliveries. She then went 4, 2, 4 against Gardner in the next over to bring up her fifty.Wolvaardt fell – holing out to mid-off – with South Africa only 14 away. Bosch duly finished it off to remain unbeaten on 74, her best T20I score.Only earlier this year, South Africa had defeated Australia for the first time in T20Is. Who knew that would be a precursor to something massive like this, and put them a step closer to their maiden world title?
Alick Athanaze is fit and available for selection after having recovered from injury
Deivarayan Muthu11-Sep-20241:08
Powell: Very important to win home games
Rovman Powell’s Barbados Royals, one of two as yet unbeaten teams in CPL 2024 along with defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors, will be at full strength for their home leg, which kicks off against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in Bridgetown on September 11.The South African pair of David Miller and Keshav Maharaj has linked up with the side while batter Alick Athanaze has recovered from the finger injury that had put him out of Royals’ game against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Basseterre last week. With Maharaj back and available until the end of the season along with Miller – both players were rested for the upcoming UAE tour where South Africa will face Afghanistan and Ireland in white-ball games – Dunith Wellalage, the Sri Lanka allrounder who was picked by Royals as a replacement player, has returned home.Related
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Shamarh Brooks, who was originally selected as a temporary replacement for Miller, however, will continue to stay with the squad as cover.”We’ve got David Miller and Kesh Maharaj, and we’ve got our full complement of five overseas players,” Royals head coach Trevor Penney said on the eve of their first home game of the season, against Falcons. “Looks like Alick Athanaze is fit for selection as well. So it will definitely be a different team and will be a good headache to have with some of the youngsters that have come in and played really well as well. So we will have a selection meeting later and will come up with the team for tomorrow.”Alick has been playing for West Indies. He’s an up-and-coming batsman that really needs to play in our side. It’s going to be up for debate in our selection meeting.”David Miller has represented Royals in both the CPL and SA20•SA20Royals have secured contrasting wins in contrasting conditions so far in CPL 2024. In their first game, on a North Sound pitch that got better for batting, Royals overhauled 146 with plenty to spare while in their second, they scrapped to victory with just one ball to spare on a used Basseterre surface. Bridgetown has had some rain in the lead-up to Royals’ home leg but their captain Powell suggested that has not affected their preparation.”I think, to be honest, it [Barbados] has one of the better conditions I’ve seen,” Powell said. “The practice wickets were good and the guys told me that the wickets in the middle are good. They had a camp here before we started the CPL, so cricket is being played on the wicket.”Royals finally have all their five overseas players available for selection and Powell hoped that their franchise T20 experience will serve them well. Miller and Maharaj are familiar faces already at the Royals set-up. While Miller had played his part in Royals’ run to the final in CPL 2022 and had even captained Paarl Royals in the SA20, Maharaj has represented Royals in the IPL.”This is just a top-up,” Powell said. “A lot of the guys have been playing franchise cricket around the world. So, these training sessions are just top-ups – just to get some blood flowing, hit a few balls in the middle and as a bowling group see if we can correct a few errors that we have made in the past few games.”Maharaj will slot into Wellalage’s role and will work with mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, whose economy rate of 4.62 is currently the best among all bowlers who have bowled at least 24 balls this CPL. With the pitches in the region expected to slow down even further as the tournament progresses, Powell spoke about the impact the spinners could have on the CPL. With slower-ball specialist Naveen-ul-Haq and offspin-bowling allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall also pitching in with the ball, Royals haven’t even needed Nyeem Young’s medium-pace at all across two matches.”Bowlers win tournaments and batters win games,” Powell had said after the win against the Patriots. “I think we have a pretty good overseas spin department and that is very, very important. In the Caribbean, quality spinners sometimes become difficult to bat [against]. But having said that, we have fast bowlers that are there to back them up.”Aaron Jones has prioritised the CPL over USA commitments•ICC/Getty ImagesJones to stay at the CPL; Gous to leave for international dutyAaron Jones, the USA vice-captain who made a splash during the T20 World Cup earlier this year, will stay with St Lucia Kings for the rest of the CPL while his national team-mate Andries Gous is set to leave the Trinbago Knight Riders squad for the upcoming ICC CWC League ODI series in Namibia.Jones is in action in the CPL as a local player through his Barbados passport while the South Africa-born Gous slotted in as a temporary replacement for Tim David at TKR. As such, Gous was signed up for just four games and is now in line for his ODI debut. David, meanwhile, is set to link up with TKR and reunite with his Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard, who is the TKR captain in the CPL, after participating in three T20Is in England.Hassan Khan in action for San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC•MLCHassan Khan replaces Fakhar Zaman at FalconsFalcons have brought in allrounder Hassan Khan as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman for the rest of CPL 2024. Fakhar has returned home for the the Champions One-day Cup, Pakistan’s newer version of the domestic 50-over competition, which will run from September 12 to 29, clashing with the CPL.Hassan, 25, was born in Karachi and had captained Pakistan in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand before he moved to the USA. A left-arm spinner and a right-hand batter, Hassan was the highest wicket-taker for San Francisco Unicorns in MLC 2024 with ten strikes in nine matches at an economy rate of 7.09.
It only closed last week, but the transfer window is open for the second time this week, and it looks like it’ll be a hectic one for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side are undoubtedly one of the best in the country, but with a third second-placed finish in the Premier League in as many years this season, it’s clear that they are lacking something their competition are not: goals.
The North Londoners produced the best defence in the league last season, but Liverpool and Manchester City scored more goals than them.
So, while some new wide talent wouldn’t go amiss, it’s evident that Arsenal need a new goalscoring number nine, and while Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with the club, another striker now reportedly wants the move.
Arsenal's striker search
Gyokeres has been touted for a move to Arsenal for some time now, with the first reports linking the Swede to the club emerging as far back as last summer and then reappearing here and there during the winter window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Yet, the reports seemed to gather momentum once more over the last few weeks, with stories even suggesting that the North Londoners were set to launch a bid for the former Coventry City gem.
However, with it now clear that Sporting CP do not intend to let him leave for £59m, as he and his agent believed they would, the Gunners could turn their attention to more attainable alternatives, such as Ollie Watkins.
Yes, according to a recent report from the Mirror, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Aston Villa superstar from earlier this year.
The report claims that the former Exeter City gem remains on their list of targets and that the player himself is incredibly keen on joining his boyhood team.
A potential price tag is not mentioned in the story, but according to other reports from late last week, the Englishman could cost up to £40m, which may well be a bargain and help make the case for him being a brilliant alternative to Gyokeres.
Why Watkins would be an ideal alternative to Gyokeres
Now, while the potential price differential is already one massive reason why Watkins would be a great alternative to Gyokeres, there are others, such as their respective experience.
For example, while the Swedish international has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine this season and has been able to rack up a staggering tally of 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, he has almost no experience of playing in a top-level competition.
In fact, while he has played eight games in the Champions League and nine in the Europa League, the former Coventry City star has never played in a traditional top-five league, and currently, according to research from Opta Analyst, the Portuguese top-flight is only the 11th strongest in the world, behind the likes of the Belgian Pro League and Championship.
Moreover, if that wasn’t enough to cast some judgment over the 27-year-old’s numbers, then perhaps the fact that 11 of the 18 teams in that competition are considered to be of a League One level will.
In contrast, the “world-class” Englishman, as dubbed by journalist Jack Grimse, has been plying his trade in the toughest competition in world football for five years now and has consistently been a dangerous outlet for the Claret and Blue.
Appearances
53
54
Minutes
4323′
3578′
Goals
27
17
Assists
15
14
Goal Involvements per Match
0.79
0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement
102.92′
115.41′
For example, the Torquay-born monster was able to rack up a tally of 42 goal involvements in 53 games last season and then was able to amass 31 in 54 games this year, which is the sort of output that could fire the Gunners to glory.
Furthermore, while the 29-year-old’s record in the Premier League means that fans know what to expect from him, it also means that there should be little to no adaptation period for him, meaning he could come in, hit the ground running and supercharge the North Londoners attack, whereas the Sporting star could take months to get used to playing in the league.
Ultimately, a combination of his price, track record, and experience playing in the Premier League all make Watkins an ideal alternative to Gyokeres this summer.
Berta readying £53m bid to sign Arsenal's answer to Florian Wirtz
Arsenal are in need of their own Florian Wirtz-like signing this summer.
ByMatt Dawson Jun 15, 2025
Brentford are keen to bank maximum value on their star forward, the £60m-rated Bryan Mbeumo, this summer, meaning Newcastle United have hope yet in pipping Manchester United to his signature.
However, Mbeumo has intimated his desire to sign for Old Trafford, and thus Eddie Howe and his transfer coterie will need to turn toward alternative targets.
Having already missed out on Man United-bound Matheus Cunha, a bounce-back is needed, for sure. And Newcastle might just be centring on the perfect new forward.
Newcastle lining up new forward
Though Tynesiders will be relieved to hear The Athletic’s David Ornstein declare there’s “no chance” Alexander Isak will be leaving the club this summer, the need for more firepower is evident.
That’s why, as per Sky Sports report Rob Dorsett, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro is on Newcastle’s shortlist, with Howe in particular desperate to bring in such an attacking profile.
The 24-year-old is expected to leave the AMEX this summer – amid admirers in the Premier League and in Europe – and Brighton will do business if their €70m (£59m) valuation is met.
Why Joao Pedro would be perfect for Newcastle
Though Pedro attacks from a central berth, and Mbeumo is a principally right-sided forward, he could regardless fill in a hole at St James’ Park, should Callum Wilson depart at the end of his contract later this month.
Joining Brighton from Watford in a deal just shy of £30m in June 2023, Pedro has scored 30 goals and provided ten assists across 70 appearances in all competitions.
Across his two years on the south coast, the former Hornets star has converted 19 goals in the Premier League, only missing 17 further big chances, as per Sofascore.
Moreover, Pedro drifts out to the left before arcing inward, suggesting Howe could utilise the Brazilian across central and wide berths, maximising his dynamic and skilled approach and indeed his suitability at Newcastle, with the manager apt to field such flexible players as Anthony Gordon across different parts of the frontline.
Centre-forward
119
34
18
Left winger
40
14
0
Attacking midfield
27
8
1
Right winger
5
0
0
As per FBref, he also ranked among the top 1% of Premier League forwards this season for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90. Such qualities have led the data-driven site to draw him against the two aforementioned forwards.
Yes, the £50k-per-week star’s creativity and ball-playing skills are not unlike those of the dynamic Mbeumo and indeed Cunha, whose exploits with Wolverhampton Wanderers have led journalist Nathan Juddah to describe him as a “maverick” and a “flawed genius”.
Pedro’s countryman, indeed, created 13 big chances in the English top flight, and given United only finished eighth for big chances created this term, you can see why Howe is demanding such a profile.
Moreover, his discussed clinical quality aligns with that of Mbeumo, who has been hailed as “one of the best wingers in the Premier League” by The Athletic’s Jay Harris after scoring 20 top-flight goals across the year.
This player, a veritable conglomeration of Newcastle’s desired profiles, would be perfect for Newcastle, aiding Isak and, through his “magical” talent on the ball, as has been noted by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard, he might just hit the ground running.
Newcastle eyeing "scary" £44m Delap alternative who's outscored Mbeumo
Eddie Howe wants to sign some new forwards at Newcastle this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025
Chelsea are showing absolutely zero sign of slowing down after their deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano sharing more transfer news out of Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea set for busy transfer week ahead of Club World Cup
Having already sealed a £30 million deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, it is also believed that Chelsea would ideally like to get one or two more signings through the door in time for this month’s Club World Cup (Simon Phillips).
Chelsea inform £170k-a-week star they're ready to pay his £50m release clause
The Euro 2024 winner is a serious target for Enzo Maresca’s side.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 3, 2025
Chelsea have another six days to register players in time for the tournament, with a mini-transfer window now open until June 10. The window will reopen on June 16, right the way through till September 1, but BlueCo have every intention of using the small ‘pre-summer’ window to acquire some desired targets.
Rank
Team
Points
GD
3
Man City
71
+28
4
Chelsea
69
+21
5
Newcastle
66
+21
6
Aston Villa
66
+7
7
Nottingham Forest
65
+12
With Delap completing his medical in a £30 million switch from Ipswich, Chelsea are also in the market for a new centre-back, winger and potentially other positions as we head into a very busy summer for Enzo Maresca’s side (Simon Phillips).
Interestingly, there could also be some major reshuffling in Chelsea’s goalkeeping department.
It’s been reported that Chelsea could green-light exits for as many as three shot-stoppers. Mike Penders is expected to head out on loan, while it is believed that BlueCo are open to offers for all three of Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Djordje Petrovic (Simon Phillips).
“Chelsea have been compiling a list of potential new goalkeepers for some time, and it is highly likely that they still bring one in this summer,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips in a recent Substack update.
“Chelsea want to upgrade what they have but will also be looking at the stoppers they do have at the CWC. The issue is that the likes of Petrovic and Penders do not want to be backup choices, and I can’t see Sanchez being happy with that either to be honest at his age.”
Chelsea in talks for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan
According to Romano, Chelsea are now moving for a top goalkeeping target ahead of the CWC – AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.
The 29-year-old France international’s contract expires next summer, meaning he could be sold for as little as £30 million, according to reports in Italy. Romano claims that this situation has alerted the Blues, with Chelsea now in talks with Milan over signing Maignan.
Maignan has been linked with Chelsea for a while, and it now appears they’re attempting to formalise their interest.
He would add both top-level experience and assured quality to Maresca’s backline, and you could argue that a swoop for the Serie A star is a real no-brainer considering how cheap Maignan could prove to be.
The Rossoneri star has also been lavished with praise by Alisson, who called him one of the world’s best keepers.
“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world,” said Alisson. “The quality of goalkeepers has really increased – Mike Maignan is within this elite.”