Simmons hopes the players can “leave out the confusion” as they prep for the upcoming Tests against South Africa

Mohammad Isam19-Oct-2024A lot is happening in Bangladesh cricket at the moment, but new head coach Phil Simmons wants the focus to be firmly on the upcoming Test series against South Africa.Things are messy. Simmons took over as Bangladesh’s head coach on Tuesday, replacing Chandika Hathurusinghe, who was sacked earlier this week and has since hit back at the BCB. Shakib Al Hasan, who hasn’t returned to Dhaka because of protests against him (for political reasons), has withdrawn from the Test side.When Simmons attended Bangladesh’s training session at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, protests for and against Shakib were on. All this, two days out from the first Test.Related

Bangladesh look to begin post-Shakib era on winning note

Hyderabad hammering sums up Bangladesh's need for change

Shakib 'unavailable' for first South Africa Test

Hathurusinghe sacked for 'assault' on player

“[Keeping distractions away from the players] is a big part of our job over the next few days, to make sure the focus is on the cricket, and not on the outside of cricket,” Simmons said. “We can control how we prepare for Monday, that’s how we are trying to get the team to focus.”The good thing is we have a very important Test match to prepare for. We win the next few Tests, and we are in contention for the [WTC] final. My first port of call is cricket and about getting the squad ready for Monday. The last two days [of training] have been brilliant. We have tried to leave out the confusion that’s around the cricket, and concentrate on preparing for Monday.”Simmons comes in with vast coaching experience, having worked with Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies, Afghanistan and PNG as well as several T20 franchises in the last 20 years. He was one of the candidates interviewed for the Bangladesh job in 2017 – to fill the role left vacant by Hathurusinghe – but was not selected.”All these experiences [with other teams] will help me in the next few days to get me ready for Monday,” Simmons said. “Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier sometimes. Ireland helped me with developing young players. It all comes in [handy] at the end of the day. I have to use all those experiences in this assignment.”Conversation with the captain [Najmul Hossain Shanto] has been about his thoughts on players and direction he wants to take the team. It was also about what we do before Monday. It is generally about how we go into the first Test match. As we get to know each other, there will be more discussions about ODIs etc. Now it is about Test cricket, and what we are going to do in these two matches.”Shakib Al Hasan’s fans show their support for the cricketer outside the Shere Bangla Stadium•ESPNcricinfo LtdSimmons said he took more interest in the role after Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series win against Pakistan and was particularly impressed by the youngsters in the side.”The interest comes from seeing the quality of the young players. They handled themselves well against Pakistan,” he said. “They didn’t do well in the T20Is against India but they played against the best T20 team in the world, so you have things to take out of there. It all added up to an assignment, which I enjoyed. One, [there are] young players to develop. Two, there’s Tests and ODIs involved. It wasn’t a hard decision [to take the job].”He believes Bangladesh have a good chance to beat South Africa, who haven’t won a Test series in the subcontinent in the last ten years, but was wary of taking them lightly.”It is definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good opportunity for us to win the Test series,” Simmons said. “South Africa has that [record in the subcontinent] hanging over their head but they are a resilient team. They will work hard to change that.”

Lizelle Lee produced a sharp piece of wicketkeeping to claim the key wicket of Phoebe Litchfield

AAP28-Oct-2024

Hobart Hurricanes congratulate Lizelle Lee on her vitals stumping to remove Phoebe Litchfield•Getty Images

Nicola Carey’s shift up the order and some clutch bowling from Heather Graham has propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to a 31-run WBBL win over the Sydney Thunder.Hurricanes got their season off to the right start on Monday night, consigning Sydney to their fifth-straight loss at the recently re-named Ninja Stadium.  Carey top scored with 52 from 38 deliveries, including seven boundaries, batting at No. 3.”I’ve had a few different roles with the bat over the last few years. It’s nice to get a bit more time out in the middle,” the allrounder told Fox Cricket, adding she was surprised when her coaches suggested she bat at No. 3. “I’m not someone who is going to clear the rope, so it might look a little bit different.”Carey also played an important role with the ball, getting rid of Thunder’s second-highest scorer Anika Learoyd (29).Learoyd had shared a 52-run partnership with 21-year-old skipper Phoebe Litchfield, who hit 51 and appeared on track to guide the Thunder home.But Litchfield fell in the 14th over when stumped by swift work from Lizelle Lee off Graham.Carey had to steady the ship when Lee departed in the second over after Hurricanes lost the bat flip and were sent in.She came to life in the two-over power surge, hitting four boundaries to push the Hurricanes to 92 for 2 but was out shortly afterwards.Her departure sparked a collapse of 4 for 12 with Samantha Bates and Sri Lankan star Chamari Athapaththu tightening the screws.Sydney’s chase got off to the worst possible start when Molly Strano trapped Athapaththu lbw on the first ball.Thunder have a shot at revenge when they meet Hurricanes on Thursday night at North Sydney Oval.

The patio heaters, industrial-sized fans and rakes have worked their magic. But as Rawalpindi’s famed batting track produced 13 wickets on the opening day of this third and decisive Test, it was England who benefitted, first scrapping to 267 and then making that a workable total by reducing Pakistan to 73 for 3 by the close.On a pitch that had everyone guessing, Ben Stokes winning England’s first toss in eight attempts felt heaven-sent, especially as his opposite number Shan Masood admitted to trepidation as to how matters would play out underfoot. But it would have been a wasted miracle were it not been for a remarkable 89 from Jamie Smith, bagging a first half-century way from home, and driving a vital 107-run stand with Gus Atkinson (39) for the seventh wicket.Sajid Khan flourished once more, finishing with 6 for 128 from 29.2 overs for the third five-wicket haul of his career, and second in as many first-innings in this series. His early incisions and quick dismantling of the tail kept England in check as they dreamed of 300 following Smith and Atkinson’s rebuilding effort from 118 for 6.The initial foundations set by Ben Duckett’s accomplished 52 had collapsed on an uncertain surface displaying irregular bounce rather than excessive turn. A score of 56 for 0 became 98 for 5 in the space of 12.5 overs as the pitch started to play tricks, exacerbated once more by Sajid and left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who finished with 3 for 88.As expected after sharing all 20 English wickets in the second Test in Multan to square the series, the spin duo did the lion’s share of the bowling, sending down all but 11 of the 68.2 overs, including the first 42 unchanged. For only the second time in Test history – and first since 1882 – no pace bowler was used in the first innings of the match.England began reasonably enough, with a relatively untroubled 50 up in 12 overs. After a watchful start before Zak Crawley – playing in his 50th Test – he fell to Noman with a scuffed drive to backward point. Ollie Pope unfurled another skittish effort of 3 off 14 – trapped in front playing a desperate sweep – before Duckett (wearing one on his toes), Joe Root (trapped in front) and Harry Brook (bowled leg stump attempting to sweep) succumbed to deliveries that did not get up as expected.That England had something to work with, lunching on 110 for 5, was thanks largely to Duckett. While somewhat precarious, it was hard to label it outright as a problematic position, and in propelling that total to 242 for 8 by tea, Smith and Atkinson ensured England had a firm footing.By the time Sajid was eventually relieved of his mammoth first spell of 21 overs, he had removed Stokes, caught at slip, 11 balls into the second session, for his fourth wicket. He eventually returned to bring Noman’s opening salvo to an end after 23 overs.Sajid Khan salutes the crowd after his six-wicket haul•Getty Images

Atkinson joined Smith and set about an all-Surrey stand, acting as the straight man to the latter’s devastation, even if those roles only truly came to the fore at the end of their century stand. After a watchful start from both – Smith’s fifty took all of 94 deliveries – the final 39 runs to take their partnership to three figures took just 21 deliveries.It was a charge instigated by Atkinson, striking three fours in the last four balls off the 56th over, against the legspinner Zahid Mahmood who was was now in England’s sights as the bowler to target. That being said, Smith followed with successive boundaries off Sajid, albeit the second – his third six – pierced the hands of Saud Shakeel at long on.Had Shakeel been set back on the fence rather than a few feet in front, he might have ended the keeper-batter’s innings on 54. Alas, Sajid felt the brunt of that miss, taken for another two more boundaries by Smith in his next over – the first smeared over midwicket for six, the second lofted gloriously down the ground for a one-bounce four.The second took the value of the seventh wicket to 103 from just 159 deliveries. And though it would only reach 107 as Noman returned to take a catch off his own bowling as Atkinson bunted back a delivery that stuck in the pitch, Smith kept going, blasting two sixes down the ground off Zahid as he rounded on his second Test century. A third six at the end of the over was avoided thanks to exemplary work from Sajid, who took a boundary catch twice, but had to hurl the ball back in play for a second time to prevent the boundary.Alas, Smith would fall nine short, Zahid the beneficiary of a top-edged heave that was taken to end a remarkable knock and polish the legspinner’s figures, which would read 1 for 44 from 10 overs. It was Pakistan’s first wicket in 28 for a bowler other than Sajid and Noman, who combined for all 20 in second Test in Multan.Leach and Rehan Ahmed, recalled to the side for his first international appearance since February, resumed after the break but lasted just 32 deliveries, with Sajid dragging both out of the crease to claim his fifth and sixth wickets of the match, and his 15th in three innings since his recall in Multan.Naturally, Stokes opened with Leach, though he handed Atkinson the new ball at the other end for the first sight of pace, albeit for just a two-over spell. A leg bye in the second of that burst took Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub past their previous highest opening stand of 15. But having made it to 35, Bashir spun one into Shafique’s front pad for the first of three Pakistan wickets to fall for just 11 runs.An attempt to batten down the hatches through to stumps allowed England to squeeze. Leach pocketed Ayub, prodding to Root at midwicket – the middle of three catchers on the leg side – before Atkinson returned for a solitary over and profited from the low bounce to knock back the off stump of Kamran Ghulan, gone for three having marked his debut in Multan last week with a century.Masood will resume on day two with Shakeel, who was incorrectly given out on one when adjudged to have been caught by Stokes after Smith deflected the ball to his skipper at first slip when attempting a take down the leg side. It was the second of two clear errors from umpire Sharfuddoula overturned by DRS, having earlier raised the finger to Ayub at the start of the seventh over for a similarly mistaken call for a catch in the cordon.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos fechou com um novo patrocinador master para estampar a parte central do uniforme. Após rescindir com a Pixbet, o Peixe anunciou no último domingo (16) a parceria com a casa de apostas Blaze.

Segundo confirmação do LANCE!, o Alvinegro Praiano deve ganhar R$ 45 milhões durante dois anos de contrato, resultando em R$ 22,5 milhões de recebimentos anuais com a parceria. Esse valor garante o 6º maior patrocínio master entre os clubes da Série A do Brasileirão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosSantos oficializa renovação com Deivid WashingtonSantos17/04/2023SantosAdversário do Santos na Sul-Americana, Audax Italiano demite técnicoSantos17/04/2023Santos‘Safado, filho da p…, ladrão de m….’: Soteldo pode desfalcar o Santos além da suspensão automáticaSantos17/04/2023

+Vasco acerta com atleta do Santos, Firmino pode substituir astro… O Dia do Mercado

Mesmo com o salto de valor recebido pelo patrocinador principal do clube, o Santos ainda fica distante do topo da lista. O Palmeiras, líder do ranking, recebe anualmente R$ 81 milhões.

A nova parceria faz o Peixe ultrapassar alguns times com os novos ganhos, como Corinthians, Atlético-MG, Internacional e Grêmio. Confira os maiores recebimentos entre os times da elite do futebol nacional:

TOP 10 GANHOS ANUAIS DE CLUBES DA SÉRIE A COM O PATROCINADOR MASTER

1º – Palmeiras – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 81 milhões anuais
2º- Flamengo – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 35 milhões anuais
3º – Botafogo – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 27,5 milhões anuais
4º – Cruzeiro – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 25 milhões anuais (não revelado oficialmente)
5º – São Paulo – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 24 milhões anuais
6º – Santos – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 22,5 milhões anuais
7º – ​Corinthians – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 20 milhões anuais
8º – Athletico-PR – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 16 milhões anuais (não revelado oficialmente)
​9º – Atletico-MG – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 15 milhões anuais
​10º (empate entre dois clubs) – Grêmio – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 13 milhões
​10º – Internacional – Valor pago ao clube: R$ 13 milhões anuais

Leeds United are in the market to sign a new number to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.

Football Insider reported in May that the Championship champions were not planning for Joel Piroe to be their main number nine in the Premier League, despite the fact that he won the Golden Boot last season.

The Dutch marksman scored 19 goals in the second tier to beat the likes of Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent to the Golden Boot, but he may not be the go-to option for Daniel Farke once the window is over.

Leeds have been linked with an interest in Everton’s Beto and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz as Premier League proven centre-forward options, whilst they have also been linked with Roma striker Artem Dovbyk.

This shows that the Whites are looking to bring in a high-calibre number nine to take Piroe’s place as a starter in the team for the upcoming top-flight season.

The West Yorkshire outfit will be hoping to find a striker who can score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League for many years to come, which means that they are looking for their best centre-forward since Chris Wood.

The strikers Leeds have had since Chris Wood left

The New Zealand international, as shown in the graphic below, scored 44 goals in 88 games for the Whites before his move to Burnley in the summer of 2017.

Since moving on from Elland Road, Wood has established himself as a reliable goalscorer in the top-flight. To date, the 33-year-old star has racked up 89 goals in 263 Premier League appearances for Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest combined.

In the time since the Forest star left the club, Leeds have had Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford, and Joel Piroe as their main starting number nine options, whilst Rodrigo is a debatable one as a versatile star who played in midfield, as a second striker, and as a striker at times.

Leeds United’s top scorers since Chris Wood left

Season

Top league scorer

League

Goals

24/25

Joel Piroe

Championship

19

23/24

Crysencio Summerville

Championship

20

22/23

Rodrigo

Premier League

13

21/22

Raphinha

Premier League

11

20/21

Patrick Bamford

Premier League

17

19/20

Patrick Bamford

Championship

16

18/19

Kemar Roofe

Championship

15

17/18

Kemar Roofe

Championship

11

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, Bamford is the only one of those players to have cracked over 13 top-flight goals in a single season, with his 17-goal haul.

However, the former England international has failed to consistently deliver in the top-flight, with just 24 goals in 102 Premier League games overall in his career.

The Whites, though, have now been offered the chance to bring in a centre-forward who would be better than all of the strikers they have had since Wood left.

Leeds offered chance to sign prolific striker

According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of the teams to have been offered an opportunity to sign Al Hilal number nine Aleksandar Mitrovic before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Whites could see an offer accepted by the Saudi Pro League outfit because the striker may be on the move this summer, due to his side’s interest in bringing in another option in his position.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

This update reveals that Al Hilal are one of a number of Pro League teams in the running to sign Liverpool marksman Darwin Nunez this summer, and his potential arrival has left Mitrovic’s future up in the air.

The Boot Room states that the Serbia international’s representatives have offered him to Leeds, Sunderland, and Fulham, among others, ahead of a possible return to England, a country the player is said to love.

It has previously been reported this summer that Al Hilal would want a fee in the region of £26m for Mitrovic, which provides an insight into the kind of money Leeds will have to spend to get a deal over the line.

Why Leeds should sign Aleksandar Mitrovic

The Whites should push to bring the Serbian forward to Elland Road in the coming weeks, now that they have been offered a chance to sign him, because he could be the club’s best striker since Chris Wood.

As aforementioned, the New Zealand international is the only striker Leeds have had in the past eight years or so who has been able to establish himself as a regular goalscorer at the top level.

Mitrovic would come in as a player who has already proven himself at the top level, with three Premier League seasons with nine or more goals under his belt. The 30-year-old star has also scored a staggering 62 goals in 100 caps for Serbia at international level.

No past or present Leeds striker has scored nine or more goals in multiple seasons in the top-flight other than Wood since 2016, which speaks to the kind of quality that Mitrovic would bring to Elland Road.

Mitrovic (Saudi Pro League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

28

23

xG

26.60

17.41

Goals

28

19

xG on target

26.26

22.12

xA

2.48

1.33

Assists

5

2

Stats via FotMob

His form in the Saudi Pro League, as you can see in the table above, has also been sensational. The former Fulham star has scored a mind-blowing 47 goals in 51 appearances in the league for Al Hilal.

Mitrovic, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, has proven, in Saudi Arabia and in England, that he is a reliable and consistent goalscorer at the top level.

The 30-year-old marksman, who holds the record for the most goals in a Championship season with 43, would be the club’s best number nine since Wood, as he would be the only other forward to have shown consistent quality as a goalscorer in top-flight football.

Therefore, the Whites should be doing everything that they can to win the race for Mitrovic’s signature this summer, as he may be the prolific number nine they need to fire them to safety in the Premier League next season.

Related The new Rutter: Leeds submit bid to sign "fascinating" £22.5m star

Leeds United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign a star who could be their new Georginio Rutter.

Posts ByDan Emery Aug 4, 2025

India put on a chasing masterclass in Ahmedabad after their bowlers – led by Deepti Sharma’s 3 for 39 – restricted New Zealand to 232

Ashish Pant29-Oct-20243:55

Mandhana: ‘Team still had half a mind on World Cup, series win will boost confidence’

After scores of 5 and 0 in the first two ODIs, Smriti Mandhana regained her touch in the series decider as she cracked her third ODI century of the year, helping India beat New Zealand by six wickets and take the three-match series 2-1. She was ably supported by first Yastika Bhatia (35) and then Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out) as India put on a chasing masterclass in Ahmedabad.Batting first, New Zealand rode largely on Brooke Halliday’s career-best 86 off 96 balls as she lifted her side from the depths of 88 for 5 in the 24th over to 232 all out in 49.5 overs. Teams batting first won both ODIs in the series, but India were having none of it as the top order shone through in the chase as they romped home with 34 balls to spare.Mandhana had fallen to the outside-the-off-stump trap twice in two innings in this ODI series. In the first game, she carved Jess Kerr to backward point. Two days later, she did it again, chipping it straight to point for a duck. So, when Mandhana came out in pursuit of New Zealand’s target of 233, she was circumspect to the point that in the first three overs, she shouldered arms to at least five balls. She was ready to be patient and build her innings. The move paid dividends.Mandhana has had a good 2024 in ODIs, having scored two centuries and a half-century in six innings coming into this game. On Tuesday, she played the patient game. She was on 9 off 26 balls at one point, but did not throw it away. She had a slice of luck when she seemingly inside-edged a Lea Tahuhu full-length delivery on to her pad in the third over. Replays later suggested the ball had hit her pad first and had New Zealand reviewed, she would have been out. It was the luck Mandhana needed, and she did not look back.ESPNcricinfo LtdAt the other end, Shafali, though, had no such luck. She got going with two crips fours, but was caught down the leg side after a faint nick in the fourth over.Mandhana was joined by Bhatia in the middle and the two kept their composure in the chase. Mandhana struck her first four in the ninth over, a swivel-pull against Sophie Devine, followed by a chip down the ground off Eden Carson. Bhatia also struck a few smart boundaries. They added 76 runs for the second wicket before Bhatia was caught and bowled by Devine.Harmanpreet walked out at No. 4 and with a platform set, the two went about their innings calmly. Mandhana brought up her half-century with a short-arm jab through midwicket and soon started finding the fence with more regularity. Harmanpreet, too, was wary initially but soon found the measure of the surface and the runs started flowing from both ends. They brought up the 50-run stand for the third wicket in the 31st over.Harmanpreet did go down with cramps not long after, but that was not going to stop her. She unleashed an array of drives and pulls with Mandhana also going after Devine. Harmanpreet reached her half-century off 54 balls while Mandhana got to her century, the eighth of her career, off 121 balls with a push down the ground. She fell without adding another run, cleaned up by Hannah Rowe, but the job was done by then.Jemimah Rodrigues walked out and immediately got four fours away as India could see the finishing line. She fell lbw to Fran Jonas with India needing a run, and Harmanpreet fittingly finished off the chase in the 45th over.Brooke Halliday hit three sixes despite tiring in the heat•BCCIEarlier, Halliday braved the scorching Ahmedabad heat as she strung important stands with Izabella Gaze and Rowe, before Tahuhu smashed an unbeaten 24 off 14 balls to get New Zealand past the 230-run mark.It was a much-improved Indian fielding show on display in the third ODI. They had dropped as many as six catches in the second ODI, to go with multiple misfields, as they went down heavily. But they came out as a unit on a mission on Tuesday, led by the two usual fielding stars, Radha Yadav and Rodrigues, as they frustrated the New Zealand openers, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, in the powerplay.Rodrigues was into the act in the third over as she almost effected a run-out after a stunning save at short extra-cover, with Bates having to dive full length to just about make her crease. Rodrigues’ brilliance came to the fore in the seventh over again when there was a spot of miscommunication between the two batters and this time Bates was caught well short of her crease despite the dive.Plimmer had, meanwhile, started to find the hang of the red-soil surface. She got her boundary-counter running with a solid on-drive off Renuka Thakur before piercing the gap between mid-off and cover off the same bowler. Saima Thakor was also driven for two fours in three balls in the sixth over, but she bounced back with the wicket of Lauren Down, removing her with a gentle length ball that tailed away late and caught her outside edge.Devine, the star of the second ODI, looked ominous from the get-go, striking two authoritative fours within her first seven balls. But she was undone by a stunning wrong’un from Priya Mishra as she went back to a delivery that she ideally should have been forward to, and the ball crashed into her middle stump.Deepti Sharma was named the Player of the Series•BCCIHalliday, though, looked the part all the way. She got off the mark with an elegant off drive, but regular wickets at the other end pinned New Zealand down. Plimmer was removed by Mishra, who induced a thick outside edge, with Deepti Sharma taking a sharp catch at slip – she was guilty of dropping three catches in the second ODI.New Zealand then lost half their side when another miscommunication ensued between Maddy Green and Halliday, with the former stuck in the middle of the pitch. Rodrigues was again in the thick of things at point.Halliday had to do the repair job, and she found an ally in Gaze. Halliday struck her first six in the 38th over off Mishra, and soon reached her sixth ODI fifty with a flick in the 40th over.Gaze fell chipping a full toss meekly back to Deepti for her first wicket, but Halliday and Rowe carried on by adding 47 off 41 balls for the seventh wicket. Halliday, who was spent by that time, put her foot on the pedal, even showing off a few innovative reverse hits and paddles. She managed to generate enough power to clear the ropes twice – once off Harmanpreet Kaur and then off Deepti – but fell in the 46th over caught at deep midwicket.Rowe fell soon after but Tahuhu smashed two fours and a six to help New Zealand end on a high. Eventually, they were well below par.

Leeds United have made a couple of much-needed signings in midfield this summer. After their incredible 100-point campaign in the 2024/25 Championship season, the Whites have made two new additions in the middle of the park to replace Josuha Guilavogui and Joe Rothwell, who have now left.

The first midfielder Leeds signed this summer was Newcastle United academy graduate Sean Longstaff. He joined for a reported fee of £12m from the Magpies. Daniel Farke’s side also signed German midfielder Anton Stach from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. He cost a reported £17.4m up front, with further add-ons.

However, the Yorkshire outfit are not seemingly done there when it comes to signing new midfielders this summer. They have recently been linked with a further man in the middle of the park.

Leeds’ next midfield target

So, there is a clear transfer policy at Elland Road this season, for the midfield to be strengthened ahead of a huge season back in the Premier League. With Longstaff and Stach through the door, it seems Leeds have identified their next target.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a recent report from journalist Gianluigi Longari, Leeds are one of the sides who ‘have come forward’ about signing Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis. The Portuguese midfielder is a player who his club ‘might consider the departure of’ in the coming weeks.

However, this is not going to be an easy deal to do. Benfica have also ‘had inquiries from Serie A clubs in the past’, and recently other Premier League sides have shown interest. Fellow newly-promoted side Burnley are one side in the race, as are Everton.

It was reported last May that the Toffees made a bid of around £26m for Luis, so perhaps he would cost Leeds a similar fee.

Why Luis would be a good signing for Leeds

The 25-year-old defensive midfielder played an important role in the Benfica side last season. He’s become an established player for his boyhood club in the last few seasons, after having a couple of loan spells, including one for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.

Last term, he made 45 appearances in all competitions, slotting in at the base of their midfield. In 26 appearances in the Portuguese top flight, he played 90 minutes in 15 of those games, helping to steer his side to a third-place finish.

The former Portugal under-21 international, who is yet to make a senior appearance for his country, was described as an “exceptional talent” by former boss Rui Vitoria.

As well as his strong defensive contributions, he also chipped in with two goals and one assist.

Luis is certainly consistent as a defensive midfielder. It could be argued that the 25-year-old has shades of former Leeds hero Kalvin Phillips. Although his career has taken a downward trajectory since departing Elland Road, his impact at his boyhood club was superb.

In 234 games for the Whites, the England international became a pivotal figure at the base of their midfield, scoring 14 goals and assisting 13, too. He was once described as ‘the best English midfielder there is by far’ by Gary Neville.

The statistics between Phillips’ debut campaign in the Premier League back in 2020/21, and Luis from Benfica’s most recent season, further reinforce the fact he is so similar to Leeds’ homegrown hero.

When looking at the numbers on FBref, the Benfica star averages 6.12 tackles and interceptions and 5.8 progressive passes per 90 minutes. In comparison, Leeds’ former midfielder averaged 4.41 tackles and interceptions and 5.07 progressive passes each game.

Progressive passes

5.8

5.07

Blocks

1.51

1.81

Tackles and interceptions

6.12

4.41

Aerial duels won

1.23

1.11

Ball recoveries

5.66

7.93

Not only will Luis bring quality out of possession, but his progressive nature will aid Leeds in build-up, too. There are certainly aspects of his game that are similar to Phillips’, especially his defensive work.

For a fee of around £26m, this could be a fantastic deal for Leeds to further enhance the quality in midfield.

The new Dallas: Leeds make £11m-rated England international a key target

Leeds United are eyeing up a move for a Championship star who could be a Stuart Dallas repeat.

ByDan Emery Jul 30, 2025

Arsenal are now making progress in their pursuit of a £68m “monster”, with talks currently ongoing, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Gunners set to splash the cash this summer

Having delivered record earnings in the 2023-24 campaign, before going on to reach the semi-final of the Champions League last season, the Gunners can afford to spend big this summer, and multiple deals are now edging closer to completion.

For quite some time, there has been huge demand to bring in an out-and-out centre-forward, and it looks like Mikel Arteta is about to finally get his man, after Arsenal made a breakthrough in the pursuit of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

Not only that, but the north Londoners are also set to bolster their options in defence, having reached an agreement for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, who will provide cover for William Saliba and Gabriel.

Having been left short on wide options due to Bukayo Saka’s lengthy spell on the sidelines last term, Arteta has also made it clear he wants to bring in a new winger, and a deal for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is expected to be finalised soon.

However, there is also a desire to strengthen on the opposite flank, and O’Rourke has now told Football Insider that Arsenal have made progress in their pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze.

Talks are currently “ongoing”, with the Gunners unable to pay the £68m release clause up front, which means they may need to structure the deal by paying a large fee up front and the rest in installments.

Should Palace be willing to agree to a deal of that nature, the north Londoners are prepared to trigger Eze’s release clause, although the Eagles are reluctant to let their star player leave.

£27m Arsenal ace agrees terms to leave with Gunners now ready to take loss

One of Mikel Arteta’s key players, who featured in every Premier League game last season, could now be on the verge of leaving.

ByDominic Lund Jul 14, 2025 "Monster" Eze has earned big move

It is clear to see why Palace are hesitant to sell the 27-year-old, fresh off the back of scoring the winning goal in the 2025 FA Cup final, as he has performed remarkably well over the past three seasons.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

38

10

4

2023-24

27

11

4

2024-25

34

8

8

However, having given Palace the most memorable day in their history, the England international has now earned the chance to prove himself at the highest level.

With Leandro Trossard’s future in major doubt, Arteta is in need of a versatile forward, and the Palace star ticks that box, given his ability to play on the left and through the middle, while he has also been dubbed a “duel monster” by reporter Simon Collings.

As such, it is exciting news that progress has been made in the pursuit of Eze, with the forward keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has admitted that leaving Alexander Isak out of Friday’s 2-2 draw against Slovenia was purely down to caution. The striker, who shattered the British transfer record with his £125 million move to Liverpool on deadline day, has barely trained and hasn’t kicked a ball in competitive action since forcing his way out of Newcastle United this summer.

• Isak benched by Sweden over fitness
• Could come on as a sub against Kosovo
• Tomasson not ready to risk his star from the start

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Isak’s switch to Anfield was one of the shocks of the transfer window, completed after weeks of speculation and growing tension in the North East. The 24-year-old effectively sat out Newcastle’s summer fixtures and their opening Premier League games to push the move through, a decision that left a sour taste in the mouths of many Magpies supporters.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Isak's absence from pre-season has raised concerns about his sharpness. While Liverpool fans are eager to see their blockbuster signing unleashed, Tomasson insisted that Isak is nowhere near peak condition.

• WHAT TOMASSON SAID

  Speaking to , Tomasson said, "He had only done three training sessions with the team. He had no preseason with the team and of course, no playing time. The risk was probably a bit too great to use him today."

  Asked whether the striker could feature in Sweden’s next qualifier against Kosovo on Monday, Tomasson offered a glimmer of hope: “Hopefully, hopefully. He could come in as a game-changer.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ISAK?

  In the midst of the noise, Isak has gone quiet. The striker has reportedly chosen to snub all media duties during the international break, refusing interviews and public appearances. Instead, he wants to focus solely on rebuilding fitness and letting his football do the talking when the time comes. The international break may serve as a reset for Isak, giving him precious time to gain minutes with Sweden before returning to Merseyside. If his body responds, Liverpool boss Arne Slot could hand him his debut against Burnley on September 14.

Manchester United are not giving up on signing Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, despite failing to land him in the summer transfer window.

Man Utd still keen on BalebaRed Devils missed out in summerBrighton thought to want £115mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils were linked with a host of players as they looked to strengthen their midfield options before the transfer window closed on September 1. Manager Ruben Amorim reportedly made Baleba his primary target but Brighton repeatedly insisted the 21-year-old was not for sale.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

However United are not losing hope of signing Baleba in the future, with reporting the Old Trafford club are planning to keep the Cameroon international on their shortlist heading into 2026. The report claims that it would take a large sum of money to prize Baleba away from Brighton, though, with other reports suggesting Fabian Hurzeler's side would want a fee equivalent to the £115 million (€132.5m/$156m) they received from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo in 2023.

DID YOU KNOW?

Baleba has emerged as one of the most promising midfielders in the Premier League since joining Brighton from Ligue 1 outfit Lille in 2023. He has made 64 top-flight appearances so far for the Seagulls, scoring three goals. Baleba has also earned seven caps for Cameroon.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BALEBA, MAN UTD AND BRIGHTON?

Amorim's United are next in action when they lock horns with rivals Manchester City in the derby on September 14. Meanwhile, Baleba will be expected to start when Brighton travel to high-flying Bournemouth on September 13.