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West Brom are believed to be closing in on the signing of a new midfielder in the January transfer window, with a £1.7m move on the verge of being completed.

Latest West Brom news

New Baggies manager Tony Mowbray watched his team draw 1-1 at home to Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, with Grady Diangana’s second-half goal earning his side a point at the Hawthorns.

The point means that West Brom sit sixth in the table with 27 matches played this season, meaning they are just in the playoff places, which surely has to be seen as the bare minimum for them in 2024/25. The hope is that Mowbray can come in and be an instant hit, taking over effectively from the departed Carlos Corberan in the process.

For that to happen, new signings could be required during the January transfer window, and a move for Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas has been mooted in recent weeks. He is currently on loan at Stoke, but the Baggies have tried to entice him to the club, with his father Jason Koumas playing for the club in the past.

Rangers youngster Adam Devine has also been mentioned as a possible target for West Brom between now and the end of the month. He is on loan at Motherwell currently but is out of contract at Ibrox this summer, and a move to the Baggies in January hasn’t been ruled out.

West Brom close in on £1.7m signing

According to a fresh claim from Het Belang van Limburg [via Sport Witness], West Brom are close to completing the signing of Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price.

The 21-year-old is said to have played his final game for his current club, with the Baggies set to snap him up on a permanent deal worth £1.7m. He is both “about to leave” Liege and is “on his way” to the Hawthorns for a medical.

Price could be a great addition for West Brom before deadline day reaches its conclusion on February 3rd, with Asmir Begovic once calling him “outstanding” during their time together at Everton, and former manager Frank Lampard also heaping praise on him.

“Obviously we have players at the World Cup and Alex (Iwobi) is with his national team so we are okay once we get everybody back and fit, to a degree, but I suppose it gives an opportunity to Isaac Price who was the best player on the pitch.”

Still only 21, there is so much more to come from Price, which is precisely why he could be such an eye-catching signing for the Baggies, having already scored five goals in 16 caps for Northern Ireland. He also made 63 appearances for Liege, despite his tender years.

Imagine him & Mowbray: West Brom must sign "extraordinary" Maja replacement

Tony Mowbray would love to welcome this star to the Hawthorns now he has been officially appointed West Bromwich Albion boss.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 18, 2025

The midfielder would give Mowbray quality in the middle of the park, not to mention be a long-term asset for West Brom, so the hope is that the move is finalised as soon as possible.

Lanning’s women have won everything but Harmanpreet’s are still chasing that elusive global title

Shashank Kishore07-Aug-2022Big pictureTwo years after they played the T20I World Cup final in front of 86,174 fans at a packed MCG, Australia and India will square off in the gold-medal match at the Commonwealth Games 2022.The setting is perhaps a little less intimidating, but Edgbaston will likely be sold out to its 25,000 capacity. This is a rivalry that is fast gaining ground as the second biggest in women’s cricket after England vs Australia.Having laid their hands on every trophy of significance in the game, Australia are overwhelming favourites. For India, it’s another shot at trying to win a major global crown, five years after they came closest to winning one, at Lord’s at the 50-over World Cup final against England.Related

Schutt: Australia 'thrive' on the favourites tag

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Harmanpreet: CWG 2022 gold 'can change a lot of things'

India reap the rewards of Mandhana and Rodrigues' personal growth

Mooney: 'The belief in the dressing room is at an unprecedented level'

The core of both squads remains the same as it was in 2020. Australia may have aged a bit, but their never-say-die spirit, as was evident in their jailbreak in the tournament opener, makes them a formidable force in any conditions.India’s is largely a young team learning the ropes of big-match play. After the emotional high of beating England in a tense semi-final, they will need to quickly channel the anticipation, and subdue nerves that playing Australia can often elicit.India have backed their strengths of batting first and putting opponents under scoreboard pressure. Australia nearly wilted in the first game but found a saviour in Grace Harris, who played a match-turning knock in her first game in six years.Much of India’s success has been down to Smriti Mandhana’s aggression at the top, followed by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma finishing off games. Can Sunday be Harmanpreet Kaur’s turn to rise to the occasion against her favourite opponents?The 171* she made in the 2017 semi-final was pathbreaking in every way. Another impact performance to deliver a win here could spur a revolution. Purely given the novelty and the fascination India attaches to gold medalists, a win on Sunday could be as big, if not bigger, than a World Cup win.Form guideIndia WWWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWWWTahlia McGrath has been so good as an allrounder that she’s keeping Ellyse Perry out of the XI•Getty ImagesPlayers to watchIndia are blessed to have three quality allrounders in Deepti, Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana. Deepti has lent much needed batting depth and has been Harmanpreet’s go-to bowler to restrict run-flow, while Rana has been the banker. Vastrakar’s inclusion has given the team the balance they missed when they played Australia in the opener. She is a useful medium-pacer and can wield the long handle down the order. This is firmly a team that is carving out an identity that isn’t always superstar centric.Alyssa Healy knows a thing or two about turning up and slaying nerves in crunch games. But since that T20 World Cup final in 2020, where she blew India away with a stunning assault, her form hasn’t quite been the same. She has passed 25 just once in 16 innings and averages a shade over 10. Sunday is as good an opportunity as any to once again remind the world of her prowess.Team newsThe only question dilemma India may have is between picking a makeshift wicketkeeper who offers batting depth in Yastika Bhatia or an out-and-out wicketkeeper in Taniya Bhatia. The spate of run outs under pressure on Saturday made it amply clear it helps to have a proper wicketkeeper in crunch moments.India (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Deepti Sharma, 6 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 7 Sneh Rana, 8 Pooja Vastrakar, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Meghna Singh, 11 Renuka SinghShe has bowled plenty in the nets lately, but game time remains elusive for superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry. Barring an injury or a late change owing to short turnaround time, it’s likely she may have to settle for watching Australia’s entire CWG campaign from the bench. Moreover, Meg Lanning has gone in with the same XI in all of their four games in the tournament.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Tahlia McGrath, 5 Rachael Haynes, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Grace Harris, 8 Jess Jonassen, 9 Alana King, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Darcie BrownPitch and conditionsForty overs of cricket would have already been played on the surface by the time the final comes around, with the bronze medal playoff between New Zealand and England having finished. On Saturday, the adjacent surface, prepared similarly with an even grass cover that aids consistent bounce, remained good for batting right through. Expect more of the same on Super Sunday.Stats and trivia India have lost only two wickets in the powerplay across four matches, the fewest by any team in the CWG India’s powerplay scoring rate of 8.73 is by far the fastest among all teams in the tournament. Since March 2020, Alyssa Healy has managed just 140 runs in 16 T20Is at an average of 10.76 and strike rate of 84.84.

Jose Mourinho is reportedly 'close' to replacing Roberto Martinez as Portugal manager in a shock move that could reunite him with Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Mourinho 'close' to Portugal jobSet to replace MartinezCurrently under contract at FenerbahceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Fenerbahce boss has been lined up by the Portuguese federation, report CNN, who claim he will likely land the job this summer. It would see Mourinho reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo, who he managed for three seasons at Real Madrid between 2010-13.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Coaching Ronaldo is said not to be an issue for Mourinho, despite the tension between the two from their time together at Real. Taking over now would allow Mourinho a year with the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

DID YOU KNOW?

Portugal's progression to the Nations League semi-finals in June is said not to have disrupted the talks with Mourinho. Martinez is set to take charge of that match – plus either the third-place play-off or final that follows – but the decision has supposedly been made to make the change afterwards.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MOURINHO?

For now, Mourinho is focusing on Fenerbahce's bid to win the Turkish Super Lig. They sit three points behind Galatasaray with seven matches remaining.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement from Manchester United in 2013, there have been some exciting attackers to grace the Old Trafford turf.

Of course, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Chicharito, and Robin van Persie were there beyond the legendary manager’s reign, but they also bought some enterprising attackers.

Before his injury issues, Anthony Martial was electric to watch at times in the Premier League, and his partner in crime, Marcus Rashford, has shown his qualities in patches. Bruno Fernandes has led from the front in a United shirt since joining in 2020 and has 86 goals and 77 assists for the club.

Arguably, one of the most underrated attackers since the glory days under Ferguson was Edinson Cavani.

Cavani’s United record

Cavani made the move to Old Trafford on a free transfer after leaving French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. United legend Gary Neville explained he “was a skeptic when United signed Cavani”, but admitted the striker was “absolutely sensational in every single way” during his stint in Manchester.

Indeed, the United fans adored their former number seven, although he did not play much in front of fans due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He only played 59 times for the Red Devils, scoring 19 goals and grabbing six assists.

The striker’s impact in the Europa League during his first season at the club was fantastic. He scored six goals and registered two assists in the final four games of the competition as United got all the way to the final but lost to Villarreal.

He left upon the expiration of his contract in 2022 and explained that he had “nothing but words of gratitude towards the fans and supporters”. It was a short but sweet time at United for Cavani, and he will go down as a cult hero of the club.

Funnily enough, United are linked with another Uruguayan striker in recent days, who would have to work hard if he wants to win over the United fans like Cavani did so quickly. However, manager Ruben Amorim will be hoping he can become his own version of Cavani.

Man United target Uruguayan striker

The player in question here, rather surprisingly, is Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez. According to reports from Spain, the Red Devils are ‘emerging as the main candidate to secure the Uruguayan attacker’s services’. The fee is currently unconfirmed, but Liverpool are likely to want to recoup much of the £85m they spent on him back in 2022 from Benfica.

Nunez was always touted as a player who would go on to do great things, described as a player with “world-class potential” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. His numbers at Benfica were impressive, with 48 goals and 16 assists in 85 games for the Portuguese giants.

At Liverpool, he has not been quite as potent. Now into his third season with the club, the 25-year-old has scored 39 goals and 21 assists in 123 games, although just six goals and four assists have come in the 2024/25 campaign.

His best season for the Reds came in the 2023/24 campaign, where he chipped in with 18 goals and 13 assists in 54 games. His Sofascore stats from that season were impressive, where he managed 3 shots per game and created 11 big chances.

Stat

Number

Starts

22

Goals and assists

19

Shots per game

3

Shots on target per game

1.3

Big chances created

11

Dribble success % per game

43%

Duels won per game

2.4

United signing Nunez would be a shock, and perhaps not the most popular move straight away. However, that is similar to the Cavani deal, with Neville suggesting people were unconvinced, although for different reasons.

The former United striker turned out to be a massive success over time, and whilst a potentially costly signing from rivals Liverpool may take longer to win the Old Trafford faithful over, it is possible.

Should United get this deal over the line, Amorim will be desperate for Nunez to become his own Cavani and help take his side to the next level.

علقت جماهير ليفربول، على أداء الدولي المصري محمد صلاح، في مباراة آرسنال، اليوم، بمنافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وشارك محمد صلاح أساسيًا، في مباراة ليفربول وآرسنال، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة والثلاثين من البريميرليج، والتي انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “أنفيلد”.

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد ليفربول إلى النقطة 83 في المركز الأول في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، بينما ارتفع رصيد آرسنال إلى النقطة 68 في المركز الثاني.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | بمشاركة محمد صلاح.. ليفربول يسقط في فخ التعادل أمام آرسنال بالدوري الإنجليزي ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفريول وارسنال بالدوري الانجليزي

يذكر، أن ليفربول حسم لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم 2024/25، بعد أن فاز على توتنهام بنتيجة 5/1، في اللقاء الذي أقيم ضمن منافسات الجولة 34 من البريميرليج.

ولم يتمكن محمد صلاح من تسجيل أو صناعة أي هدف لـ ليفربول في مواجهة اليوم.

وكالعادة، عبرت جماهير ليفربول عن آرائها في أداء النجم المصري، خلال مباراة آرسنال، عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي المختلفة. ردود أفعال جماهير ليفربول على أداء محمد صلاح أمام آرسنال

“اليوم ببساطة لم يحاول التسديد على المرمى، وذلك لأنه كانت لديه فرصة، وعليه أيضًا إيقاف ذلك، فالرجل على بعد هدف واحد من أخذ زمام المبادرة في الحذاء الذهبي”.

Hoje ele simplesmente não tentou dar um chute a gol, isso pq teve chance, ele também tem que parar com isso, o cara tá a um gol de assumir a liderança da chuteira de ouro e tá nessa? — Profetazzz (@PROFETAAAAAAA) May 11, 2025

“يسارعون جميعًا للتسجيل حتى يتمكنوا من التقاط صورة شخصية مع محمد صلاح، يجب إعادة النظر في مجموعة من لاعبي ليفربول للموسم المقبل لأنهم سيئون للغاية ومغرورون ولا يحبون اللعب بروح الفريق حيث إن كلهم ​​يريدون أن يصبحوا محمد صلاح”.

They all rush to register so they can take a selfie with Mohamed Salah. A group of Liverpool players should be reconsidered for next season because they are very bad, arrogant, and do not like to play with team spirit since they all want to become Mohamed Salah — khadija elmeddah🇲🇦 (@anakhokhoa) May 11, 2025

“محمد صلاح يحتاج أن يلعب كرة قدم عادية وسوف تأتي الأهداف، لا يمكن أن تبحث بشكل صارخ عن الحصول على تمريرة حاسمة فقط، في حين أنه كان من الممكن أن تسجل هدفين بمفردك”.

Mohamed Salah needs to play normal football and the G/A’s wil come.

Can’t be blatantly only looking to get an assist, when you could likely have scored twice going for it on your own. — 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒄𝒐🧣 (@WilcoFtbl) May 11, 2025

“أشعر بخيبة أمل كبيرة جدًا من نهاية موسم محمد صلاح، يمكنه أن يسعى للحصول على الحذاء الذهبي الأوروبي وحتى الرقم القياسي للتمريرات الحاسمة في موسم الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لكن مهلا”.

Je suis très très déçu de la fin de saison de Mohamed Salah.
Il pouvait chercher le Soulier d’or européen et même le record de passes décisives dans une saison en PL mais bon…#LFC #LIVARS — 𝘼 𝙇 𝙄 🏹 (@A__L__I__) May 11, 2025

“كانت المواجهة مع باريس سان جيرمان بمثابة نقطة ما قبل وبعد موسم محمد صلاح. منذ الإقصاء وجدت أداء المصري سيئًا للغاية”.

La eliminatoria con el PSG marcó un antes y un después en la temporada de Mohamed Salah. Desde la eliminación me ha parecido malísimo el desempeño del egipcio. — Luciano Delgado 🎙️ (@Lu_Delgado14) May 11, 2025

“لقد خرج محمد صلاح بالفعل من هذا الموسم منذ شهر فبراير وما زال الناس يريدون منحه الكرة الذهبية، إذا لم يحصل على الكثير من ركلات الجزاء فلن يستمتع أحد بالمناقشة لأن أسلوب لعبه المفتوح كان فظيعًا”.

Mohamed Salah actually checked out of this season since like February and people still want to give him the Ballon d’Or. If he didn’t get so many penalties nobody would entertain the discussion because his open play output has been atrocious — Patron (@szcveee) May 11, 2025

“كان من المفترض أن يحصل محمد صلاح على تمريرتين حاسمتين الليلة، وهو هراء من اللاعبين”.

Mohamed Salah should’ve had 2 assists tonight, rubbish by the players. — Salah Updates (@SalahUpdates) May 11, 2025

“أحتاج إلى أن يكون مهاجمو ليفربول جادين، محمد صلاح لديه رقم قياسي في التمريرات الحاسمة ليحطمه”.

I need Liverpool forwards to be serious MOHAMED SALAH HAS AN ASSIST RECORD TO BREAK — Orania’s biggest hater (@probablymongezi) May 11, 2025

Yorkshire face battle on final day as hosts set up imposing lead in third innings

ECB Reporters Network21-Jul-2022

George Bartlett’s first LV= Insurance County Championship half-century of the season cemented a strong Somerset position on the third day of the match with Yorkshire at Taunton.Having seen hopes of a big summer hit by an early shoulder injury, the 24-year-old top-scored with 88 not out as his side ran up 225 for six in their second innings to lead by 373. Tom Lammonby made 46.Tom Kohler-Cadmore had earlier been dismissed for 100 in a Yorkshire first-innings total of 276, replying to Somerset’s 424. Jonathan Tattersall contributed 43, while Kasey Aldridge claimed three for 23 and Jack Brooks three for 73.Much depended on Kohler-Cadmore, unbeaten on 68 against the county he will join next season, when Yorkshire began the day on 167 for four in their first innings, 257 runs behind.Matthew Waite again offered solid support as the pair extended their fifth-wicket stand to 65.It was broken with the total on 194 when Waite, on 21, was caught at short mid-wicket by the shrewdly-placed Bartlett off Aldridge.Kohler-Cadmore was becalmed in the nineties, partly by Jack Leach’s miserly spell from the River End, but reached a largely untroubled hundred off 199 balls, guiding a Lewis Gregory delivery to third man for two.The 27-year-old, who had struck four sixes and nine fours, received warm applause from Somerset fans, as well as those from Yorkshire, their appetites whetted for next summer.It took the introduction of part-time off-spinner Matt Renshaw shortly before lunch to undo Kohler-Cadmore, beaten by a ball that turned and trapped lbw on the back foot.At the interval, the scoreboard read 228 for six. With six runs added, the second new ball became available.Tattersall’s important 108-ball innings ended when he edged Marchant de Lange to 18-year-old wicketkeeper James Rew, who claimed his maiden first class catch for Somerset.Dom Bess drove a catch to cover off Aldridge and when Jordan Thompson was bowled be de Lange, Yorkshire still required one run to avoid the possibility of following on.A Shannon Gabriel single averted that danger, although Somerset may well have batted again anyway, and the deficit was 148 when he was last man out, skying a catch off de Lange.Openers Renshaw and Lammonby wasted no time building on Somerset’s advantage, taking their second innings score to 57 by tea, Lammonby lofting sixes off Thompson and Waite.Their stand had extended to 65 when Renshaw made a hash of an attempted reverse sweep off Jack Shutt and Kohler-Cadmore held a simple chance at slip.Undeterred, Lammonby soon cleared the ropes again, dispatching Bess over long-on. Another six followed off Shutt, but the next ball saw the left-hander get a leading edge to cover where Harry Brook pouched the catch.Lammonby had made his runs from just 47 balls and Somerset led by 236. Bartlett joined the sixes spree, lifting Shutt over wide long-on.First innings centurion Tom Abell made only ten before falling to another Kohler-Cadmore slip catch, attempting to cut a ball from Bess.But Lewis Goldsworthy helped Bartlett add 48 in sensible fashion before a lapse in concentration on 18 saw him slog-sweep a catch to square leg off Bess. At 162 for four, Somerset led by 310.Bartlett went to fifty off 86 balls, with 2 sixes and 4 fours, a timely reminder of the form that saw him first establish a regular place in Somerset’s red ball side in 2019.Rew and Gregory fell cheaply, but two more Bartlett sixes off Matthew Revis left the hosts reached well placed for a final day declaration.

Matthew Montgomery hit 87 and Liam Patterson-White a career-best unbeaten 62 to help Notts Outlaws launch their Royal London Cup campaign with a 65-run victory over Sussex Sharks at Trent Bridge.Despite a sticky start, Outlaws posted 290 for 7 from their 50 overs after left-arm spinner Patterson-White had hit three sixes in his 46-ball knock, which comfortably beat his highest score of 27 in his debut season in 2021.Patterson-White then combined with bowler Dane Paterson to silence Sussex’s most dangerous weapon, taking a stunning catch at square leg to remove India batting star Cheteshwar Pujara for just 9 as Sussex were bowled out for 225 in 44 overs, with Tom Alsop’s 75 off 80 balls in vain, Brett Hutton taking 3 for 24.Montgomery’s best for Nottinghamshire before this match was 35 on his debut in the competition last season, although he has a List A century for KwaZulu-Natal in his native South Africa.The Outlaws looked to be in for a tough day after Haseeb Hameed, captaining them for the first time in a competitive match, had opted to bat on an overcast morning, when a laboured start saw them slip to 38 for 3 inside the opening 12 overs.New ball bowlers Ari Karvelas and Brad Currie – both on trial with Sussex – exploited conditions superbly. Karvelas found a thin edge to have Ben Slater caught behind before Sol Budinger top-edged an attempted pull off Currie and was caught at deep square leg.When Sean Hunt replaced Currie at the pavilion end he struck a further blow as the ball looped off the shoulder of Hameed’s bat to point, where Delray Rawlins held a low catch that was queried by the Outlaws skipper but confirmed as out.Montgomery and Lyndon James added 79 in just under 15 overs before the latter’s mistimed pull was caught at short midwicket. But Montgomery pulled 18-year-old legspinner Archie Lenham for six to go to 51 from 58 balls.Wicketkeeper Dane Schadendorf was run out but Outlaws now had momentum and with Patterson-White setting the pace the last 10 overs saw the total swell by 104 runs despite the loss of Montgomery early in the charge.After playing largely orthodox shots to that point, Montgomery attempted a reverse pull as Currie returned to the attack and could only help the ball into the gloves of wicketkeeper Alsop.His dismissal was a welcome fillip for Sussex but Outlaws hit back with a barrage of sixes, Hutton clubbing three in his 14-ball 29 as he and Patterson-White added 53 from 29 balls for the sixth wicket. Karvelas, whose first five overs conceded only 12 runs, saw his figures take a battering but Currie came back well at the death, his last two overs costing only seven.Needing to score at just under six an over, the Sussex chase got off to a flier as Harrison Ward hammered 18 off Zak Chappell’s opening over bit he was dismissed leg before by Paterson for 28 after Ali Orr had been pinned in front by Hutton in the over before and the loss of Pujara in the 10th looked like a mortal wound.Tom Clark was stumped going down the pitch to Patterson-White and Rawlins fell leg before to Chappell, at which point Sussex were 73 for 5 in the 19th over.Alsop raised the Sharks’ hopes of finding a way back but after he and Dan Ibrahim (40) had added 86 for the sixth wicket, he took one liberty too many with Chappell, hitting him for six and four but then miscuing a slow bouncer to be caught at wide mid-on.Ibrahim was seventh out, pulling straight to deep backward square, Karvelas picked out Chappell at mid-on and Fateh Singh, the 18-year-old left-arm spinner, finished things off with his maiden List A wickets as Hunt and Currie were both leg before swinging across the line.Ollie Robinson, named in the England squad for the opening two Tests against South Africa just before lunch, was due to have played but was withdrawn, the explanation given being that he needed more time to recuperate after his successful comeback on this ground in the LV= Insurance County Championship last week.

Whilst their pursuit of Kevin Danso continues, Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly racing to sign a former Premier League midfielder who’s keen on a return to England’s top flight.

Wolves transfer news

After already signing Emmanuel Agbadou this month, Wolves have seemingly set their sights on a second defensive reinforcement in the form of Danso. The Midlands club have even reportedly seen a first bid worth £16m rejected by the Ligue 1 club and must now up their offer if they want to welcome the central defender before the end of the transfer window next Monday.

Centre-back isn’t the only area of concern for those in the Midlands, however. They are also in need of a replacement for Mario Lemina, who looks destined to depart before the end of the month amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Their former captain, Wolves must replace the midfielder’s experience and can do just that and more by signing one particular target for Vitor Pereira this week.

According to The Sun, Wolves are now racing to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Besiktas this month but face competition from relegation rivals Leicester City and Championship leaders Leeds United.

Related Wolves now working to sign another new defender for Pereira after Agbadou

Wolves and Pereira have their eye on at least one more addition before the transfer window closes.

Posts 1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 26, 2025

The former Liverpool and Arsenal man has fallen down the pecking order at Besiktas and is now reportedly keen on a return to the Premier League. A midfielder who’s won it all in English football, if Wolves want experience then Oxlade-Chamberlain is their man.

Crucially too, they would be denying Leicester the chance to sign such a reinforcement by securing his signature before Monday’s deadline. Whether or not they can thrash out a deal in time remains to be seen though.

"Super" Oxlade-Chamberlain can replace Lemina

At 31 years old, Oxlade-Chamberlain has one last Premier League stint in the tank and it’s Wolves who could benefit. Having missed a number of games through injury last season, the £67,000-a-week man is now seemingly past his issues having missed just one game due to injury in the current campaign.

Playing next to Matheus Cunha in the advanced midfield role, Oxlade-Chamberlain would certainly get the chance to roll back the years in the Midlands and once again unleash some vintage strikes that he often stole the headlines with during his Anfield days.

Full of praise for his shooting ability, former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told reporters in 2023: “It was everything: he came here, had played from time to time at wing-back at Arsenal, winger for sure, and he became a proper No.8 here in the way we wanted to play – super-energetic, technically outstanding.

“I remember early and we had our first finishing sessions and I looked and thought, ‘He didn’t score that many goals in the past, if I could shoot like you I would start in the morning at seven and finish shooting at nine or 10 o’clock because it’s incredible!”

It would be fair to say that the last couple of weeks haven’t been particularly enjoyable for the Arsenal faithful.

They’ve seen their team drop more points in the Premier League, crash out of the FA Cup and given themselves an extraordinarily large hill to climb in the League Cup, and then, to top it all off, Gabriel Jesus is now out with an ACL injury.

Altogether, this has made the need for a new attacking signing this month all the more pressing, and one of the names that keeps popping up is Dušan Vlahović.

The Serbian international is an incredibly talented forward and someone who’d certainly improve Mikel Arteta’s squad, but based on recent reports, the club could end up signing another striker who’d be an even better addition.

Arsenal plot striker swoop

According to a recent report from journalist and transfers expert Ben Jacobs, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško.

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Interestingly, Jacobs has revealed that the Slovenian international was “sold” on the North Londoners project in the summer but opted to remain in Germany as he believed it was “best for his short-term development.”

However, Jacobs does pour some cold water on the news by claiming it’s “unclear if Sesko could be persuaded to move mid-season.”

A potential price tag is not mentioned in the journalist’s report, but stories from last month claimed that Leipzig would demand at least €70m for their star attacker, which comes to about £59m.

In all, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given how well Sesko is playing this season, his age and his potential, it could prove to be value for money down the line and a better investment than signing Vlahovic.

How Šeško compares to Vlahović

So, if Arsenal are currently looking at both Vlahović and Šeško as potential additions to the squad, either for this month or in the summer, which one should they go for?

Well, when we compare their pure output from this season, which is, of course, what matters most for a centre-forward, it’s a close-run thing, but it’s the Leipzig star who comes out on top.

In his 24 appearances so far, totalling 1683 minutes, the unreal “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 12 goals and provided three assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.60 games, or every 112.20 minutes.

In contrast, the Juventus star has found the back of the net 12 times and provided two assists in 23 appearances totalling 1873 minutes, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.64 games, or every 133.78 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Serbian international, he comes out an even more distant second-best when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers from this season.

For example, the Leipzig star, whose “ball striking is a joke” according to Mattinson, comes out ahead in almost all relevant metrics, including but not limited to actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, successful take-ons, goal-creating actions, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Finally, while there isn’t a massive difference in their ages, the fact that the Slovenian is three years younger at 21 and already outperforming his former Fiorentina star further cements the idea that he is the forward with a higher ceiling.

Ultimately, while both players are incredibly talented and would surely improve Arsenal’s frontline, it is quite clear that Šeško is the better option and therefore, the Gunners must do what they can to sign him as soon as possible.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 15, 2025