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Bangladesh captain Litton Das wants to put the series loss against UAE in Sharjah last week behind and is looking forward to the “new challenge” against Pakistan.”We were not up to the mark in the last series,” Litton said ahead of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan. “This is a new series, a new challenge. We know where we did well and where we did badly in the past. We will have to apply that [information] in the game.”This is a different ball game. We however have the belief that we can beat any team in the world. We have to play good cricket. We are not focused on the opposition. I am not only focused on the team’s result, which doesn’t always come your way. I think what’s more important is how we are playing the game. If we can play sticking to a process, we will have more chance of a good result.”Related

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Litton said that he accepts the criticism that comes the way of the team, but he believes that the team is focused on playing better cricket. “It is expected that there will be discussions and criticism when we don’t play well. We always try to play good cricket. We don’t want to repeat our mistakes of the past. I think we can have a good series.”We would be among the top teams in the world if we were a consistent side. We definitely lack something as we are down in the rankings. We are working towards becoming more consistent. Every series presents a different challenge. We faced distinctive challenges in West Indies and UAE. How we accept the upcoming challenges and perform as a team is something worth looking at.”Bangladesh captain Litton Das and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha pose with the trophy•Associated Press

While they struggled to defend totals in the second and third T20Is against UAE, Bangladesh’s batting was inconsistent throughout the series. Parvez Hossain Emon struck a hundred and Tanzid Hasan got a fifty, but the rest couldn’t quite capitalise on good starts. Litton made 65 runs in the series.”I know how important my batting role is in this team,” Litton said. “I will try my best to stay consistent. We have some good form players in the team. T20 needs a combined batting effort, so if we can do well together, we will have chance of good results.”Bangladesh are also wary of the conditions in Lahore. Litton said that he hasn’t spotted dew in the training sessions at the Gaddafi Stadium so far, but expects it to be a high-scoring series.”We fielded in the second half in all three matches in Sharjah. The dew was a factor in those games. We haven’t seen any dew in the three days we have been in Lahore. We expect the conditions to be similar to how it was in the PSL. It will be a high-scoring series. We have to play smart cricket.”The three matches are scheduled on May 28 and 30, and June 1, all in Lahore.

Wayne Rooney has revealed that he loves watching Manchester City star Erling Haaland, but the striker has one key flaw that “frustrates” him.

Rooney reveals he wants "more" from Haaland

Although Man City haven’t started the Premier League campaign in their usual dominant fashion, Haaland has been fantastic on a personal level, reminding everyone why he is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world.

The Norwegian was at his best in the 3-0 victory in the Manchester derby, scoring a brace in what was a comfortable victory for City against their rivals, who simply couldn’t cope with the towering centre-forward, who has continued to set new records this season.

As such, it will come as no surprise to learn that Rooney is a keen admirer of the 25-year-old, with the former Manchester United striker naming him as the striker he loves watching, on a recent podcast with Rio Ferdinand.

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However, the 39-year-old was also quick to point out that he feels the Man City star has a key flaw, saying: “I do like watching Haaland, but also frustrates me as well. If you watch his movements in the six-yard box, it’s incredible, but then you just want a little bit more from him.

“I want him to be more commanding.”

Haaland can still make improvements to his game

The Leeds-born striker has been an absolute revelation in the Premier League, retaining an astounding goal record ever since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer of 2022.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

2022-23

35

36

2023-24

31

27

2024-25

31

22

2025-26

5

6

However, just like any player, the 45-time Norway international can still make improvements to his game, and at just 25-years-old, he still has plenty of time on his side.

City may not be at their best, but the former Borussia Dortmund man has proven he is still a big game player, who is at the top of his game, most recently reaching an insane top speed before opening the scoring in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal.

Man City have proven time and time again that they are capable of hunting Liverpool down, so they certainly shouldn’t be too disheartened by the start they’ve made, but Haaland will be crucial to their chances of winning the Premier League title.

West Ham United have been here before when losing a star asset in the drama of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, the summer of 2023 saw Declan Rice heartbreakingly leave behind his boyhood Hammers for Arsenal, with the only bonus being that £105m hit the Irons’ bank account to soften the immediate blow.

At least the Premier League side had sufficient time to adjust to their Rice-less reality, with Lucas Paqueta’s exit from the club, perhaps going right down to the wire of deadline day, instead, amid interest in his services from Aston Villa.

Graham Potter’s men will surely have last-minute replacements up their sleeve in case their much-talked-about midfielder does depart, with the low-morale Hammers entering into a last-ditch race for this £34m gem, as per reports.

West Ham enter late race for £34m star

The latest on Paqueta’s short-term Hammers future seems to change by the minute.

He was reportedly in line to make a £47m move to Unai Emery’s Villans, but now, according to journalist Jacob Steinberg, he should be staying put, unless a drastic exit takes place imminently.

That was seemingly rubberstamped by the Brazilian’s goal celebration during the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Still, after the pretty bleak start to the season experienced by those at the London Stadium, additions to the midfield ranks could be prioritised.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the already relegation-threatened Hammers have entered the late race to secure the services of Arsenal reserve midfielder Fabio Vieira.

Plettenberg states that a departure is planned before deadline day for Vieira to exit the Emirates, with the previous £34m buy for the Gunners also attracting interest from Stuttgart.

How Vieira can be Fornals 2.0

Potter and Co. might well view the Portuguese attacking midfielder as a suitable replacement for Paqueta if the Brazilian does up and leave dramatically, with West Ham also winning their next Pablo Fornals potentially by snapping up the versatile 25-year-old.

Before heading back to his native Spain with Real Betis, Fornals was a firm fan favourite plying his trade in East London.

The six-time Spain international would tally up an impressive haul of 23 goals and 19 assists across a mammoth 203 appearances for the club, with pundit Noel Whelan even going as far as to herald the 29-year-old as an “unsung hero” when he was still pulling on claret and blue.

Vieira will hope he can be seen in a similarly glowing light if he leaves North London behind shortly, having shone in flashes for Mikel Arteta’s men, when not consistently stuck on the periphery.

After all, despite making just 49 appearances for Arsenal since his £34m switch from FC Porto, the attacking midfielder has gone on to collect a respectable three goals and ten assists.

With a sublime 15 goals and 24 assists under his belt in Portugal, too, he really could come into his own as an adaptable, Fornals-like presence if Potter and Co. come calling.

Vieira’s career numbers

Position

Games

Goals + Assists

AM

65

9 + 20

CM

42

7 + 7

RW

24

3 + 4

RM

18

2 + 2

SS

9

3 + 3

LW

4

1 + 1

LM

3

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Across his up-and-down playing days in Portugal and England, Vieira has at least managed to stand out as a flexible presence, with seven different positions on the pitch being filled by the diminutive 5-foot-7 attacker across 165 clashes above. To add context, Fornals would line up in the same number of different positions for West Ham during his celebrated stay.

While he hasn’t always been front and centre of Arteta’s plans, the 25-year-old playmaker will pray he can get back to his “special” best at the London Stadium, as he was once labelled by writer Hayley McGoldrick, having also been dubbed a “smooth operator” previously by journalist Tom Kundert. That smooth presence could certainly also be applied to Fornals.

If he can star in East London away from the stifling environment of North London, he could also fill a Paqueta-shaped hole down the line, with the Brazilian also being showered with high praise, having been branded “mercurial” for the Hammers by ex-London Stadium coach Mark Warburton.

Even if he does stay, West Ham needs some boosts to lift the dire mood, with Vieira arriving just in the nick of time perhaps having that desired effect.

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James Vince has quit first-class cricket for 2025 in a move that will enable him to play in the Pakistan Super League despite the ECB’s new policy on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs). Vince will continue to lead Hampshire’s T20 side but has stepped down as club captain after nine seasons in charge, and will play no part in their County Championship campaign this summer.Vince, 33, was retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL draft on Monday. The ECB announced in November that it will only grant NOCs – the paperwork required for players to feature in overseas leagues – to white-ball specialists for tournaments that take place during the English season, with the notable exception of the IPL.The new policy, and the PCB’s decision to shift its flagship tournament into a new April-May window, left Vince with a choice between skipping the PSL – at significant financial cost – or renegotiating the final year of his Hampshire contract to become a white-ball specialist. He has chosen the latter, in a move confirmed by the club on Wednesday morning.”I love Hampshire,” Vince said. “It’s been my club and home for 16 years, so I want to be able to maintain my best to keep delivering for Hampshire in T20 cricket, and hopefully even further our success in the competition [the Blast]. I also need to understand what is best for my family, and combine that with the stage of my career I am at.”Hampshire cited Vince’s decision to relocate his family to Dubai – where he is currently playing for Gulf Giants – as a major factor in his new deal, following a series of unexplained attacks on their home in the county last year. “I am so grateful to everyone at Utilita Bowl for supporting me last year through a really tough time, and for allowing me to make this next step,” Vince said.Related

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Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket, asked the club’s supporters to be understanding of Vince’s decision. “James has been at the heart of the club for the best part of 20 years, showing absolute commitment on and off the field as the team’s leading batter and captain,” he said.”We recognise that this announcement will be tinged with disappointment for many fans but hope everyone will join us in celebrating what he has given to our club over many years and supporting him as he fulfils his commitment to continue leading the Hawks in the 2025 Vitality Blast.”Vince is the first high-profile player to make a major career decision informed by the ECB’s new policy and even if, at 33, he was unlikely to add to his 13 Test caps, his move is significant. He has captained Hampshire since 2015 and has been the linchpin of their batting line-up, scoring 29 hundreds and averaging 41.22 across his 197 first-class matches for them.Tom Kohler-Cadmore could follow Vince’s lead•PCB

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who was signed on a lucrative contract by Peshawar Zalmi on Monday, is likely to follow Vince’s lead and has committed to playing in the PSL. He has been speaking to Somerset and the ECB in a bid for clarity over whether he will need to renegotiate his own deal – moving to a white-ball contract – in order to be granted an NOC.Players reacted furiously when the ECB announced its new policy in November, threatening legal action, but the board has dug its heels in since. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said last month that the policy is designed “to defend our game” and that the collective interest of English cricket “takes precedence over the priorities of an individual”.2025 will be Hampshire’s first season under new ownership, after the GMR Group – who co-own Delhi Capitals in the IPL – agreed a multi-million pound deal to buy the club from Rod Bransgrove last year. GMR are also expected to become owners of Southern Brave, the Hundred team based at Utilita Bowl, assuming they meet the ECB’s valuation.

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

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

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

Dimitar Berbatov was a completely unique player during his time at Manchester United, with no player able to emulate such a skillset over the last few years.

He often looked completely uninterested, but would often come alive in and around the 18-yard box, as seen by his tally of 56 goals in his 149 appearances for the Red Devils.

The Bulgarian also had a sensational first touch and close control, as seen by his superb Elastico Spin against West Ham United back in October 2008.

Given the lack of goalscoring threat currently within Ruben Amorim’s side, as seen by their tally of 44 Premier League goals last season, the supporters must wish they had a player of the 44-year-old’s calibre.

However, the board are clearly trying to resolve such an issue this summer, leading to various top-level talents being linked with a move to Old Trafford ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have both already completed their big-money moves to join United, costing the hierarchy a staggering £130m to complete both deals.

The likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Dušan Vlahović have also been touted with moves to join Amorim’s side, but it appears they have been sounded out by the hierarchy.

However, the main player currently in their sights for the current window is Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins, that’s according to talkSPORT’s latest update.

They claim that Amorim desperately wants a move for the 29-year-old this window, making him his top target for the centre-forward position at the Theatre of Dreams.

Their article also states that Unai Emery’s side are reluctant to lose their main forward, subsequently slapping a £60m price tag to fend off any interest from the Red Devils.

Why United’s latest target would be the next Berbatov

Despite the interest in Watkins’ signature, RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has also been a player United have been making moves to sign this summer.

The Red Devils hierarchy have already held talks with the Bundesliga outfit over a potential move for the 22-year-old, with a real conflict over who the club should target between the boss and the board.

However, given his tally of 21 goals throughout 2024/25, he would cost a pretty penny, leading to his current employers demanding £78m to part ways with the Slovenian international.

Despite the move for Sesko, it’s clear Amorim prefers a move for Watkins, arguably a better choice, given the Englishman’s similarities to former fan-favourite Berbatov.

In the Premier League last season, the Villa forward produced numerous stats and moments that would see him replicate the Bulgarian if he moved to United.

Watkins, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist John Townley, registered 16 league goals last year, with his effort against Everton highlighting his poacher instinct – something which Berbatov also possessed at Old Trafford.

His comparison to the former professional is further reflected in his ability to produce beautiful touches, having the talent to lay off other teammates around him.

The 29-year-old’s underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.4 shots on target per 90, at an accuracy rate of 44% last season – having the ability to change the side’s fortunes in attacking areas.

Games played

38

Goals & assists

24

Goals per shot on target

0.4

Progressive passes

1.1

Pass accuracy

72%

Progressive carries

1.9

Carries into final third

1.3

Aerials won

1.9

Fouls won

1.2

He also notched 1.9 progressive carries and 1.1 progressive passes per 90, subsequently able to further showcase his similarities to previous players who have worn the red shirt.

Whilst the debate remains about which striker the club should go for, there’s no denying that Watkins would offer an immediate option in the club’s quest for glory next season.

If he can have as much success in Manchester as Berbatov did, it would be an excellent pickup and one that could finally end the side’s hunt for a new talisman.

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Sunderland supporters must constantly be checking up on transfer rumours involving their busy side this summer.

The bold Premier League new boys have already welcomed in a jaw-dropping six new signings into Regis Le Bris’ camp, and supporters thought that number would reach seven when Armand Lauriente’s arrival from Sassuolo was officially announced.

The 18-goal hero had been pictured jetting into Wearside ahead of completing a statement £17m move to the Stadium of Light, but things have taken an unexpected twist.

Indeed, Sky Sports’ north east reporter Keith Downie revealed on Sunday that a deal is now off after failing to reach an agreement between all parties. As a result, Sunderland have decided to end discussions.

Lauriente had travelled to Portugal to join up with the Black Cats squad ahead of pre-season but has now had to go back to Italy.

Transfer Focus

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

As a result, what’s next for Sunderland?

Sunderland still pursuing £34m striker

There will come a time when Sunderland’s fast approach in the transfer market does inevitably slow down, but that doesn’t look like arriving anytime soon.

Indeed, it’s back to the drawing board for the Mackems now as Sunderland go about finding someone to make up for the fact that Lauriente won’t be arriving at Wearside this summer.

As per a development from journalist Ryan Taylor, Sunderland’s move for Almeria goal machine Luiz Suarez could now be back on after once going cold.

Indeed, the Spanish outfit have stated that they will be moving forward soon with negotiations with other clubs for their star-man, having been subjected to a slog on the end of Sporting who are waiting for Viktor Gyokeres to move to Arsenal before committing to a switch.

The Black Cats have already made contact over a deal for the £34m-rated attacker, with Burnley also previously lodging an enquiry, as Le Bris’ men now pray another statement signing is willing to call Wearside home.

Why Suarez would be even better than Lauriente

Across 33 Serie B clashes last season, Lauriente regularly tore the Italian second division to shreds, culminating in him ending the campaign with 18 goals and five assists next to his name, as promotion was also instantly won back up to Serie A for Fabio Grosso’s men.

Amazingly, Suarez was even more prolific in the Spanish second division with Almeria across 2024/25, demonstrating why, perhaps, Lauriente may not be such a miss for Sunderland if they can sign an alternative.

Games played

41

Goals scored

27

Assists

8

Shots per game

4.1

Big chances missed

27

Big chances created

10

In total, Suarez scored 27 goals and assisted eight goals too. He also created a hefty ten big chances demonstrating his creative side.

Indeed, the striker doesn’t just possess a “crazy” record in front of goal, as he’s been labelled previously by scout Jacek Kulig, but he’s got creativity to boot, just as Lauriente has.

Yet, it’s Suarez that surely comes out on top in the two key areas for a forward, goalscoring and creativity.

He’s not a one-hit wonder either, notably bagging 19 in 38 league outings in the Spanish second division in 2019/20.

The Almeria star is clearly a prolific forward and despite missing out on Lauriente, it might not be all doom and gloom for Le Bris. Suarez looks like a pretty handy talent too.

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Hoping to spark their transfer window into life to follow up on Thierno Barry’s pending arrival, Everton have reportedly entered the race to sign a Championship star.

Who Everton are targeting after Barry

With Barry reportedly on his way to complete a move worth around £30m from Villarreal, it won’t be long until Everton are able to shift their focus towards further incomings. Just who those targets are is the big question. As things stand, names such as James McAtee and Takefusa Kubo remain the most interesting and the Toffees could yet push on to land two more attacking reinforcements.

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McAtee particularly stands out. The Manchester City graduate desperately needs to leave the Etihad in search of consistent game time and entering a new era with Everton at The Hill Dickinson Stadium would hand him exactly that.

Whilst he was forced to play a frustrating role last season, McAtee still impressed whenever given the opportunity to thrive under Pep Guardiola. So much so that the Spaniard had nothing but positives to say about the 22-year-old after he scored a hat-trick against Salford City in the FA Cup.

Even after that praise, however, McAtee’s future looks destined to come away from the Citizens. Of course, the last time that City sold a young player like McAtee, Chelsea gained an incredible player in Cole Palmer, who is now one of the best that the Premier League has to offer.

Whether Everton can repeat Chelsea’s genius for McAtee remains to be seen, but midfield reinforcements seem to be the Toffees’ priority with or without the Man City gem this summer.

Everton join Hayden Hackney race

According to Sky Sports, Everton have now joined the race to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer after making initial enquiries over his availability.

Joining a hectic race to sign the £25m midfielder, the Toffees may finally hand Hackney a well-earned path to the Premier League and land an impressive replacement for the departed Abdoulaye Doucoure in the process.

Minutes

3,792

2,564

Progressive Passes

440

38

Tackles Won

56

28

Ball Recoveries

281

150

To say that Hackney is ready for the Premier League would be an understatement. Even as Boro failed to secure a spot in the playoffs last season, he dominated the Championship in the middle of the park both in and out of possession and recently helped England U21s to a European Championship triumph.

It’s no surprise that former manager Michael Carrick was so full of praise for his star man, telling reporters after Hackney won the Young Player of the Year award in 2024: “I’m not taking any credit for Hayden Hackney winning the Young Player of the Year award.

“He’s a talented lad and more importantly he is so down to earth and humble. He’s willing to listen and he’s a very fast learner, so anything you tell him he takes on board straight away.”

The start of Newcastle United’s pre-season fixture list is fast approaching.

Eddie Howe’s team will be back in action on 19 July, taking on Celtic at Parkhead, and 10,000 Georgies will be joining them in Glasgow for the game, which should make for quite the atmosphere.

In the meantime, the Magpies have been busy in the transfer market, looking to bolster their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League, so will it be a busy week of unveilings on Tyneside?

The latest on Newcastle's transfer activity

As has been widely reported, Anthony Elanga is on his way to the North East to complete a £55m move from Nottingham Forest.

The winger scored six goals and registered 11 assists in the Premier League last season, now set to become the Magpies’ second-most expensive signing of all time, behind only his Swedish international teammate Alexander Isak.

Newcastle are far from done there though, because, according to a report by GIVEMESPORT, they are ‘working to sign’ and ‘remain hopeful’ of landing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi.

The report adds that Howe wants to ‘prioritise the addition of a centre-back’, while Chris Waugh of the Athletic documents that those inside the club believe the England international ‘would be an ideal addition’, noting their long-standing interest, having unsuccessfully bid for Guéhi both last summer and in January.

Well, speaking on the Athletic FC podcast, Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam believes the club captain could leave Selhurst Park this summer, mainly due to the fact he has just one year remaining on his contract, valued at around £60m.

Palace’s summer plans are somewhat on hold at the moment, as they wait to find out whether or not they’re allowed to compete in the Europa League; a decision is belatedly expected this week.

Meantime, Arsenal are attempting to sign Eberechi Eze for around £67.5m which, should he depart, would increase the Eagles’ determination to keep hold of their other star player Guéhi.

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

Nevertheless, with Liverpool also seeking to sign the centre-back, it appears very possible that he could be on the move, so will the 24 year old end up on Tyneside?

Why Guehi would be a better signing than Elanga for Newcastle

Guéhi’s performances have earned widespread praise, with then-England manager Gareth Southgate describing his displays at Euro 2024 as “exceptional”, starting six of the seven matches last summer, including the final at Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Meantime, Nathan Jackson of Total Football Analysis notes that the 24-year-old stands out for all defensive metrics, while Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines praises his ‘resilience’ and ‘composure’, asserting that he is impressive both in and out of possession.

This would be such a transformational addition for Howe, given that he had very few options at centre-back last season, largely due to Sven Botman’s injury issues, with Dan Burn alongside Fabian Schär by far the most-used partnership.

So, let’s see how Guéhi compares to Newcastle’s current central defenders.

Guéhi vs Newcastle centre-backs (PL 2024/25)

Stats (per 90)

Guéhi

Schär

Burn

Botman

Appearances

34

34

37

8

Minutes

3,060

2,938

3,330

414

Pass accuracy

84%

85%

89%

89%

Tackles

1.8

1.2

1.1

2.7

Aerial duel success %

54%

44%

66%

61%

Ground duel success %

63%

48%

50%

71%

Interceptions

0.9

1.4

0.7

1.1

All statistics courtesy of Squawka

As the table outlines, when compared to Schär and Burn in particular, Guéhi’s statistics are very impressive.

The fact Botman made just eight appearances skews the data somewhat, boosting his per-90 statistics, while it will come as a surprise to no one that Burn comes out on top in terms of aerial duels.

Nevertheless, as well as being a top-class player, Guéhi would be transformational for Newcastle because centre-back is such an obvious area of need.

At the other end of the park, Elanga too will be a shrewd addition, but Howe’s team have scored plenty of goals without him.

Jacob Murphy continues to exceed all expectations, enjoying a career-best campaign in which he scored nine goals and supplied 14 assists in all competitions. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon has been deployed on the right wing on occasion too and is a fine player himself, now a regular part of the national team.

So, while Elanga’s arrival is certainly worth getting excited about if you’re a passionate member of the Toon Army, getting Guéhi over the line might be the key bit of business.

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More business incoming from the Magpies…

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jul 8, 2025

Sunderland and Regis Le Bris are thought to be plotting a move to sign a new defender who once “surprised” Jurgen Klopp, ahead of rival interest from Leeds United.

Sunderland transfer latest after Le Fee deal announced

The Black Cats are still riding the wave following their dramatic Championship playoff final victory over Sheffield United last month.

With Premier League football now on offer at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland are expected to be busy in the transfer window and have already made Enzo Le Fee’s loan move permanent. Talking after penning a four-year contract on Wearside, Le Fee shared his delight.

Alongside Le Fee, Sunderland aren’t planning to stop there, with Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie even claiming the club could break their transfer record again after Le Fee.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 6, 2025

Le Bris and co will also be looking to get value for money in the summer market, potentially looking to take some Championship stars with them to the top flight. Now, a fresh report has stated that Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland all have their eyes on a second-tier player.

Sunderland plotting Japhet Tanganga move with release clause shared

According to GiveMeSport, Sunderland are plotting a move to sign Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga alongside the Clarets and the Whites.

It is claimed that Tanganga has a release clause in his current contract to leave for just under £2m, a figure which could represent great value for money considering the Lions have previously wanted £12m for their star centre-back.

The 26-year-old has impressed for Millwall after making his loan move permanent at The Den in 2024, and he has previous Premier League experience after coming through the Tottenham academy.

Tanganga’s stats at Millwall
Games	61
Goals	4
Yellow cards	10
Red cards	1
Minutes played	5,370

He made 27 appearances for Spurs in the top flight, with Jose Mourinho hailing Tangana for a display against Liverpool back in 2020.

“Can we say Tanganga is a new player? Can we say that? He never played a match for Tottenham in the Premier League. Today he played and today he proved that he can play for us. It’s a pity that he’s not a striker, it’s a pity that he’s not a midfield player, but he’s one more player that we have. So I think Mane and Salah, they know who Tanganga is.”

Meanwhile, Klopp was also caught off guard by Tanganga, saying: “I didn’t know about him, I was obviously surprised when he came up. He was good, impressive for sure.”