Wicketkeeper had a year to run on his contract but will pursue other career options in London
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2024
Michael Burgess made seven first-class hundreds in his professional career•Getty Images
Warwickshire wicketkeeper Michael Burgess has made a sudden retirement from professional cricket.Burgess had been at Warwickshire since 2019 having initially joined from Sussex on a two-year deal. With his current contract due to run until the end of the 2025 season, the 30-year-old has decided to step away from the game altogether and will pursue other career options in London.Having come through the age-group set-up at Surrey, Burgess took up a three-year Sports and Excercise Science degree at Loughborough, making his first-class debut for the UCCE side in a pre-season fixture against Sussex in April 2014. A year later, he joined Leicestershire and struck an impressive 98 on first-class debut during a tour match against Sri Lanka in 2016 before being released at the end of that season.After considering other options at the time, including a city job in London and at Royal Hospital School in Ipswich, he was able to secure a trial at Sussex which soon evolved into a permanent deal. Two years later, having found his first-team opportunities limited, he swapped Hove for Edgbaston as one of Paul Farbrace’s first signings as Warwickshire’s director of sport.Burgess went on to score exactly 3,000 runs in 65 first-class matches for Warwickshire, including a career-high 178 against Surrey at the start of the 2022 County Championship. In 2021, he helped the club secure the double of a County Championship title and the Bob Willis Trophy. Last summer, he struck 745 runs at 43.82, scoring his sixth and seventh red-ball hundreds.Speaking on his retirement, Burgess said: “It’s been a very difficult decision. I know it will come as a surprise to many people around the club. But I’ve decided the time is right to step away from the game and pursue other opportunities.”I’d like to thank all the members, fans and the wider club for their support over the last six years. Warwickshire is a brilliantly supported club and the members make it a great place to play cricket.”Winning the Championship in 2021 will always be an incredibly special part of my career and something I’ll forever be proud of. It’s been great sharing a dressing room with this group of players, who I know will bring lots of future success to the club.”In a statement released by Warwickshire on Wednesday, performance director Gavin Larsen said: “On one hand it’s extremely disappointing to lose a player of Michael’s experience, but also we recognise all player’s careers come to close at some point and Michael has decided now is the time for ‘life after cricket’.”What I loved about Michael was his combativeness and toughness with the bat when presented with challenging situations. I’ve lost count of the number of times he has rescued a Championship innings, batting superbly with the tail.”He’s a gifted wicketkeeper who always showed the ability to deliver classy performance behind the stumps. There’s no doubt we’ll miss his all-round skills. He’s made the call right at the start of the new season, as the players return to training, so it gives us time to consider options.”We wish Michael all the very the best, and like we say to all our departing players ‘Once a Bear Always a Bear’. Michael will be welcomed back at Edgbaston at any time, and we wish him all the very best for his new career start in London.”The onus is now on Warwickshire to reinforce their squad, with Burgess’ retirement another loss ahead of the 2025 season following the departures of Will Rhodes and Chris Benjamin, to Durham and Kent respectively. Fast bowler Liam Norwell, who was forced to retire through injury this week, was released in August. Their only incoming so far has been seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex.
Estevao Willian admits he thought it “would take longer” to adapt at Chelsea, but he already has his own song and is loving life in England.
Teenage wonderkid starring for BluesEnjoyed memorable run for club & countryFast becoming a fan favourite in west LondonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian wonderkid completed a transfer to Stamford Bridge from Palmeiras over the summer after turning 18. He lined up against the Blues, registering a goal against them, at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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Estevao, who is known as ‘Messinho’ in his homeland, has been thrown in at the Premier League deep end. That challenge has been embraced, becoming the youngest player to register a top-flight assist for Chelsea. He has also opened his senior goal account for Brazil – with the target being found in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Chile at the Maracana.
WHAT ESTEVAO SAID
Estevao told of a whirlwind few weeks: “It's happening very quickly, and I'm already getting a lot of opportunities there, more than I even expected at Chelsea.
“But I think it's the result of the hard work and dedication I've maintained in training. [Enzo] Maresca has a lot of confidence in me to play, even arriving in a new league, in a new country. I try to repay that on the field by giving my all. And this adaptation has been incredible.
“I thought it would take a little longer to adapt, because of the climate and the language. But, thank God, it's happening very quickly. I'm already getting used to the language well.
“The climate there has helped a lot during the three weeks I've been there, because it's not cold, it's hot. It's getting dark by nine o'clock at night. So, I think that was crucial for me too, for my adaptation. It's been really, really, really good, I'm loving it.”
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Pressed further on whether he expected Chelsea fans to come up with a song for him so quickly, Estevao added: “No! I only heard ‘Estevao’ – the little song. But the affection I see the fans have for me – and the coaching staff, everyone at Chelsea – is incredible. Since I arrived, I've felt at home.
I think I'm developing now at Chelsea; I'm getting the opportunity and taking advantage of it. It's been incredible. I'm loving Chelsea, I'm loving London. I don't think it could be better. Wow, I think it is the happiest moment of my life.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers recently revealed that the Scottish Premiership champions need to add more goals to their team during the summer transfer window.
When asked about what the Hoops need to do before the start of September, the manager said: “I think it’s bringing goals to the squad. Especially when you score four goals, it seems like you’re okay. But we lost an important player in Kyogo [Furuhashi] in January. He brought us a lot of goals. We lost Nicolas Kuhn. He brought us a lot of goals. Matt O’Riley even last summer.
Celtic'sKyogoFuruhashi celebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
Ligue 1 side Rennes swooped in to sign Kyogo Furuhashi from the Scottish giants for a reported fee of £10m in January, ending a goal-laden time for the striker at Parkhead.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Kyogo Furuhashi
Ange Postecoglou signed the centre-forward from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021, and it is safe to say that it was an incredibly successful move for all parties involved.
Kyogo ended his Celtic career with a return of 85 goals and 15 assists in 165 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which shows that he was prolific throughout his time at the club.
His best season at Parkhead, by far, was when he plundered 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign for Postecoglou, though, as the Japan international was a goal machine that year.
Whilst it is unrealistic to expect Celtic to find a new forward who can score 34 goals in one season, Rodgers could finally replace Kyogo by signing Federico Chiesa on loan from Liverpool, as the club are reportedly one of the teams chasing a loan deal for the attacker.
Why Celtic should sign Federico Chiesa
If the Hoops can convince the Italy international to make the move to Parkhead on loan, the £150k-per-week star could be a high-quality addition to the squad.
Liverpool's FedericoChiesaand Alexis Mac Allister
Chiesa primarily plays as a winger but he has also started 87 career club games as a second striker or as a centre-forward, which suggests that he could play through the middle for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
The Italian forward has scored 66 goals for Juventus and Fiorentina, whilst he has also scored seven goals for his country. This speaks to his pedigree and shows the kind of quality that the Hoops would be bringing in.
Chiesa only played 14 times, scoring twice, in all competitions for Liverpool last season, but his form in the 2023/24 campaign for Juventus shows that he has the quality to be a fantastic signing for Celtic.
23/24 Serie A
Federico Chiesa
Starts
25
xG
6.43
Goals
9
Big chances created
12
xA
5.58
Assists
2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Italian forward, who can play wide or centrally, provided a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals in one of Europe’s major leagues.
The 27-year-old star, who was once dubbed “unplayable” by reporter Carlo Garganese, was also incredibly efficient in front of goal, overperforming his xG by almost three goals.
Whereas, Kyogo only scored 10 goals from 14.14 xG in the first half of last season’s Premiership campaign. Chiesa, based on his form for Juventus, could be far more efficient with the chances that come his way if Rodgers provided him with an opportunity to play regularly.
The Italian dynamo is a clinical finisher and creative force who can offer quality out wide or through the middle as a dynamic forward option, who is already proven at a higher level of football than the Premiership.
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Therefore, Celtic should be pushing to win the race for Chiesa’s services as he is a clinical forward who could provide a cutting edge to the team’s attack as a Kyogo replacement this summer.
Pant was sidelined for large parts of the first Test after taking a hit on the knee, while Gill was left out of the XI due to neck stiffness
Deivarayan Muthu22-Oct-20243:18
Ten Doeschate: Gill good to go; Sarfaraz, Rahul fighting for one spot
Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are both likely to be available for the second Test against New Zealand, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has suggested two days out of the game.India are also hopeful of Pant returning to action as a wicketkeeper as they aim to bounce back from the defeat in the series opener in Bengaluru.Pant hurt his knee on the second day of the Test when he was attempting to stump Devon Conway in the 37th over of New Zealand’s innings. He failed to collect the ball and copped a blow. He winced in pain and went off the field straightaway. Dhruv Jurel took the gloves from Pant and kept for the rest of the first innings and the 27.4 overs of New Zealand’s second innings.Related
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Gill had missed the Bengaluru Test with neck stiffness.”Rishabh’s pretty good,” ten Doeschate said. “I think Rohit [Sharma] touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed he’ll be good to keep in this Test as well.”He’s batted last week in Bangalore, he had a few nets,” ten Doeschate said of Gill. “He’s got a little bit of discomfort, but I’ll think he will be good to go for the Test.”The team will of course be wary of taking risks with Pant’s knee because of the serious knee injuries he sustained in a car crash in December 2022. While he did come back to bat in India’s second innings in Bengaluru, hitting 99 off 105 balls, he showed signs of discomfort while running between the wickets. After India had lost that Test, captain Rohit had called for an “extra careful” approach with respect to Pant’s injury.During India’s first practice session in Pune on Tuesday, it was Jurel who was the first to undergo keeping drills with Pant watching from the sidelines. Pant then batted at full tilt in the nets against India’s spinners and net bowlers. Pant also kept wicket at the fag end of India’s training session.His injury kept him off the field while India bowled, but Rishabh Pant later came out to bat in the second innings•AFP/Getty ImagesTen Doeschate also clarified that R Ashwin, who just bowled two overs in New Zealand’s chase of 107 in the first Test, isn’t carrying any injury. Ashwin had conceded 94 runs in 16 overs for just one wicket in New Zealand’s first innings, as Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee took the attack to him, but India aren’t reading too much into it.”Ashwin’s fine. He’s absolutely fine,” ten Doeschate said. “He bowled nicely. I know he bowled only two overs in the second innings, but it looked like his pace and his rhythm were back to where it needs to be.”With Pune set to roll out a low-bounce black-soil pitch that could aid turn, India have beefed up their spin stocks by calling up offspin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar as their fourth spin-bowling option behind Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Ten Doeschate dismissed notions that Washington had been added to the squad as part of “desperate measures” after India had been shaken up in Bengaluru.Ryan ten Doeschate explained the logic behind adding Washington Sundar to the India squad as a fourth spin option•PTI “Did you say desperate measures? No, definitely not,” ten Doeschate said. “Look, we’ve obviously got Axar in the squad as well and with four left-handers in their XI, we want the option to take the ball away from the left-handers as well.”That count could increase to five if New Zealand choose to boost their own spin attack by recalling Mitchell Santner. Washington has not played Test cricket for India since March 2021, but his recent form in red-ball cricket is encouraging. In the second round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy, Washington made 152 from No. 3 and followed it with a match haul of six wickets for Tamil Nadu on a fairly flat Delhi pitch. While there wasn’t much turn on offer at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Washington kept things tight and even managed to challenge the outside edge of the right-hand batters with some drift.”We’ve had Washy around the white-ball squad for a while and [we] like the way he operates,” ten Doeschate said. “And it’s also nice to see guys are getting rewarded for Ranji Trophy performances as well. So hopefully that sends a good message out to the other guys and it’s certainly not a desperate measure. We’ve certainly got a lot of faith in the spinners that we have, and we just want to make sure we’re absolutely prepared for the conditions and if that does mean taking the ball away from the left-hander, we want that option.”
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.
Dusan Vlahovic scores at Club World Cup for Juventus.
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.
Benjamin Sesko
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.
Man Utd strikers
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.
Bad news for Onana: Man Utd make contact for "incredible" star after Sesko
Manchester United are making huge moves in the transfer market this summer.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is readying an offer for their potential seventh signing of the summer, which is expected to be placed in the next few days, according to a new report.
Arsenal reach part £30m "agreement" to sign player who Arteta really wants
The Gunners are making progress.
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Following another season of near-misses, the Gunners have committed to backing Mikel Arteta once again, and their business so far reflects a side serious about ending their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.
The blockbuster, headline-grabbing signing has been that of Viktor Gyökeres, who’s widely seen as the final missing piece of their jigsaw.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£208m
Arsenal finally secured the Swedish striker from Sporting CP in a deal worth up to £64m, including add-ons, with Gyokeres making his long-awaited debut against Tottenham in the first overseas north London derby ever on Thursday.
Berta has been a long-time admirer and sees him as the clinical, physically dominant number 9 which Arsenal have seriously lacked. The 53-year-old apparently pushed to sign the 27-year-old over fellow top striker target Benjamin Sesko (Simon Phillips), with Berta finally getting his wish last weekend.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Gyökeres arrives off the back of another phenomenal season in Portugal, scoring 54 goals in all competitions, and he could be the difference between success and another ‘close but no cigar’ season for Arsenal.
Despite spending upwards of £200m already on fellow new arrivals Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera in that order, Berta’s business may not be done.
Talks continue with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and his representatives, as per Fabrizio Romano, with Arteta keen on the England international who could provide more creativity, ball progression and a serious goal return from midfield.
Arsenal missed the deadline to trigger Eze’s £60m release clause, which expired on Friday at 11:59pm, but it was never their idea to activate it anyway, as Berta looks to strike a cheaper deal for him.
Arsenal poised to make "formal" Eberechi Eze bid early next week
Football Transfers have an update on the matter, after the outlet’s previous claim that Arsenal have agreed to pay £30m on a ‘first down payment’ for Eze.
Eberechi Eze for Crystal Palace.
Arsenal are now stepping up their pursuit of Eze, with FT reporting the club are preparing a “formal” £51m bid to tempt Palace, which would be made up of the £30m down payment and a further £22m to be paid over the next two years.
Berta’s offer for Eze will apparently be submitted “early next week”, so in the next few days, with talks intensifying behind the scenes and the Gunners ready to make their move.
Eze would be an ideal fit for Arsenal as a central playmaker, and a different threat to captain Martin Odegaard.
The “unique” forward racked up eight goals and eight assists in just 34 Premier League appearances last season. That’s a goal involvement every other game, and his creativity went even deeper than that.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzeposes with the player of the match trophy
Eze also ranked in the 94th percentile for key passes and expected assists, with 2.06 key passes per match (Footy Stats) – dazzling around the box and completing over two successful dribbles per game too.
Arteta’s side often struggle against teams in the low block, as evident by their goalscoring record in 2024/2025, but Eze’s proven creativity could seriously help to solve this glaring issue.
O Corinthians derrotou o Cruzeiro por 2 a 1 na tarde deste domingo (16), na Neo Química Arena, pela estreia no Campeonato Brasileiro. O técnico Fernando Lázaro, em entrevista coletiva após o confronto, elogiou os jogadores do Timão, que conseguiram ‘mudar a chave’ após a derrota no meio da semana.
> Lázaro elogia Cantillo, vê Corinthians intenso contra o Cruzeiro e explica mudanças no esquema tático
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O treinador também destacou o apoio da torcida corintiana, que voltou à Arena para apoiar a equipe mesmo com o revés diante do Remo, na última quarta-feira (12), pela partida de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil.
– Os atletas conseguiram uma brilhante vitória depois de pouco tempo. Eles conseguiram trazer um espírito, trazer o nosso torcedor, um retorno à Arena depois de um mês. Mesmo após um revés no meio da semana, o nosso torcedor está aí presente, lotando o estádio e trazendo uma atmosfera. Um jogo difícil, uma estreia em um campeonato muito difícil, não vai ter facilidade pra ninguém – disse Fernando Lázaro.
– Otime conseguindo dar essa resposta, sabíamos que era importante o resultado pra confiança, pra tudo, e os atletas conseguirammudar a chave em um curto espaço de tempo. Assim que é o futebol. A gente tinha feito uma brilhante estreia anteriormente, e agora é manter essa sequência, estar concentrado, porque daqui a três dias temos novamente um jogo importantíssimo. Agora é recuperar, descansar, tirar lições e seguir em frente – concluiu.
O Corinthians volta a campo contra o Argentino Juniors, nesta quarta-feira (19), pela segundada rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. A bola rola às 21h30, na Neo Química Arena.
It’s hard to remember a summer quite this hectic for Arsenal.
It was less than a month ago that fans were complaining about a lack of business, and now it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening every day.
Mikel Arteta and Co have seriously improved the squad with the additions of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, and it feels like a matter of when, not if, Cristhian Mosquera is announced as well.
Arsenal manager MikelArteta
The same could be said for Viktor Gyokeres, who could be the answer to the Gunners’ goalscoring problems of last season, and if reports are to be believed, the club are interested in someone who’d be a dream signing for the Swede.
Arsenal target dream teammate for Gyokeres
While Arsenal have been linked with an absurd number of players this summer, it would be fair to say the most significant saga, if you can call it that, has been around Gyokeres.
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The club switched focus from Benjamin Sesko to the former Coventry City star once it was clear the German side were not interested in negotiating a reasonable fee, and while things have been easier with Sporting CP, there have still been a number of delays.
However, it now appears that the only things left to work out before the 27-year-old can go off for his medical are the add-ons, as it has been widely reported that the initial fee the Gunners will have to pay is around £55m.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokeresin action with Gil Vicente's Facundo Caseres
While the North Londoners might have called it a day following such a flurry of spending in the past, it now looks like they’re eyeing up another international ace, someone who’d be a dream teammate for Gyokeres.
At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal are interested in Xavi Simons.
The Italian journalist has revealed that the Gunners made an enquiry with RB Leipzig at the start of the window, suggesting there is more than a passing interest.
While Romano makes no mention of how much the Dutchman might cost, reports from earlier this summer claim that a fee of around £68.8m might be enough to secure his services.
It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but Simons is an incredible talent and worth the effort, especially as he’d be a dream for Gyokeres.
Why Simons would be a dream signing for Gyokeres
To understand why Simons would be a perfect signing for Gyokeres, we first need to understand how the Sporting star plays.
Interestingly, while he can play in several ways, he’s first and foremost a penalty area specialist, as evident from his heat map from last season and the locations where he takes his shots.
Therefore, to get the very best out of the Swedish poacher, Arsenal will need players who can get the ball to him in dangerous areas, be that through carrying the ball or passing it up the pitch.
Netherlands'XaviSimonscelebrates scoring their third goal
Fortunately, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem can do both, as per FBref, he is in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers for through balls in Europe’s top five leagues and the top 7% for passes into the penalty area.
Moreover, when compared to midfielders alone, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
On top of his clear ability to get the ball into goalscoring areas, the Amsterdam-born ace, who one analyst has dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world,” is also an output machine.
In 33 appearances last season, totalling 2763 minutes, he scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes.
Simons in 24/25
Appearances
33
Minutes
2763′
Goals
11
Assists
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement
145.42′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Just imagine what those numbers could look like playing with a striker as prolific as the Sporting monster.
Ultimately, it’s clear that from his effectiveness in moving the ball up the pitch to his raw output, Simons would be an incredible teammate for Gyokeres, and therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign him this summer.
£69m star wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday, Berta expects breakthrough
Despite plenty of speculation over their futures at Ibrox, Nicolas Raskina and Mohamed Diomande both lined up for Glasgow Rangers in their first game of the season on Tuesday.
The duo both started and both registered assists in a 2-0 win over Panathinaikos at Ibrox in the first leg of the club’s second round Champions League qualifier.
It remains to be seen if Diomande, who assisted Djeidi Gassama’s goal, will still be in Glasgow at the end of the summer transfer window, though, amid interest from Besiktas.
Mohammed Diomande
The Turkish giants have already had one offer turned down for the central midfielder, and are reportedly expected to go back in with a second bid for the Ivorian star.
Why Mohamed Diomande is important to Rangers
Russell Martin may not want to lose the left-footed star, though, because he is an important player who provides quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park.
In the 2024/25 campaign, Diomande scored four goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and registered seven assists in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, which shows that he offered a strong threat at the top end of the pitch.
The 23-year-old talent also showcased his defensive talent in the Europa League, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 54% of his duels overall.
Mohammed Diomande
These statistics show that Diomande is important to Rangers as a midfielder who can impact games at both ends of the pitch, but the Gers could forget all about him with a move for Salvatore Esposito.
Why Rangers should sign Salvatore Esposito
It was reported earlier this month that the Light Blues are one of the clubs in the race to sign the Spezia central midfielder, who is valued at around £5m by his club.
The 24-year-old midfield star is the kind of signing that could make supporters forget all about Diomande, if the Ivorian whiz moves on to Besiktas, or elsewhere, this summer.
That is not a disservice to Diomande, of course, who has been a fantastic player for Rangers, but it speaks to the kind of quality that the Italian ace could offer in the middle of the park.
Appearances
36
34
Goals
4
7
Big chances created
11
18
Assists
7
9
Duels won per game
4.4
7.3
Ground duel success rate
57%
68%
Aerial duel success rate
48%
51%
As you can see in the table above, Esposito significantly outperformed the Rangers star at league level last season, offering more to his team in possession and defensively.
Whilst he is unproven in the Scottish Premiership, the Spezia star appears to have the potential to provide more quality, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, in the final third, whilst also being stronger and more efficient in his duels off the ball.
Salvatore Esposito for Italy vs England.
The Italy international was described as a “tenacious” midfield “controller” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics from the 2024/25 Serie B campaign back those comments up, as he excelled in duels and offered quality on the ball.
Esposito is the kind of box-to-box midfielder that Rangers will desperately need if they lose Diomande this summer, which is why this is a signing that could make a lot of sense for Martin in the coming weeks if it becomes clear that the Ivorian gem is going to be on his way out of Ibrox.
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Whilst the Gers would like to keep their current number ten, the Spezia star is a player who has the quality and pedigree, as an Italian international, to make the Light Blues forget all about Diomande.