Late wickets dent hosts’ progress after comic scenes on the outfield cause 45-minute delay

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Apr-2025

Ben Slater drives the ball through the off side on the way to his 92•Mark Dunn

Nottinghamshire 297 for 5 (Slater 92, McCann 79) trail Durham 378 (Ackermann 116, O’Neill 5-81) by 81 runsA couple of key scalps for seamer Paul Coughlin in the final session left Nottinghamshire with work to do on day two of their Rothesay County Championship match against Durham.The Sunderland-born 32-year-old, whose had two injury-plagued years at Trent Bridge, bowled key man Joe Clarke (37) and had 19-year-old prospect Freddie McCann (79) caught behind before Nottinghamshire closed the day on 297 for five in their first innings in reply to Durham’s 378, having also lost Jack Haynes just before the close.Nottinghamshire had looked well placed at 225 for two after opener Ben had provided a platform with a fine 92, before Coughlin’s spell set them back.Earlier, following a start delayed by 45 minutes after a sprinkler malfunction left pools of water on the outfield, Coughlin had been last Durham man out as Australian fast bowler Fergus O’Neill completed a debut five-wicket haul.For spectators present when the bails failed to drop after Durham’s Colin Ackermann was bowled on day one, the delay was another freakish occurrence they could have done without under a near-cloudless sky, even if it initially brought amusement.As the umpires’ attention was drawn to a leaking sprinkler nozzle a few feet from the stumps at the Stuart Broad End, comic scenes ensued as the offending sprinkler and several others then suddenly burst into life, sending players and officials scurrying to avoid a soaking.The water was turned off after a matter of seconds. Yet enough was deposited on the playing area to hold things up for a frustratingly long period.Once play did start, the players went off again after just 14 minutes for the change of innings after Durham, 370 for nine overnight, lost their final wicket.Not that O’Neill was complaining. A leg-before verdict against Coughlin gave the bustling seamer figures of five for 81 on debut.Durham could have done with O’Neill’s in-form Australia A team-mate Brendan Doggett at their disposal with injuries depleting their pool of seam bowlers here, although in the event, the available quartet served them well.Doggett, who took 11 wickets in the match to help South Australia win the Sheffield Shield final a week ago, will join them for next week’s home fixture against Warwickshire.Nottinghamshire openers Slater and Haseeb Hameed negotiated the first 16 overs to be 48 without loss at lunch, Hameed surviving a chance to wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson off England’s Matthew Potts on eight. By tea, the home side were probably where they wanted to be at 166 for two, although they had suffered a blow moments before when Slater fell.Potts had got his man when skipper Hameed was leg before for 27 but the left-handed Slater looked in imperious form, having just pinged away his 19th four, most of which raced away to the short boundary on the Bridgford Road side.But when Will Rhodes dropped one in short on the leg side, Slater was irresistibly tempted by the longer boundary, only to find Emilio Gay lying in wait at long leg. His meaty pull could not have picked out the fielder any more accurately, enabling Rhodes to celebrate a debut wicket and end a 95-run stand with McCann.Clarke began with a streaky four off an inside edge but settled quickly and was building another potentially valuable partnership with McCann until a belter of a delivery from Coughlin uprooted his middle stump.McCann, a tall, technically elegant left-hander who scored two centuries in five matches after being promoted to the Championship side towards the end of last season, continued where he left off and after 10 boundaries few would have bet against another hundred until he dabbled with a ball he need not have played outside off stump and was well taken by Robinson, before Ben Raine turned the screw by dismissing Haynes leg before for 30 with the second new ball.

Key takeaways

Agrani Bank and Gulshan Cricket Club were the surprise packages in the second week of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Both teams won three matches each and are joint-top on the points table alongside defending champions Abahani Limited. All three have ten points each but Abahani Limited have a better net run rate.Meanwhile, Big-spending Mohammedan Sporting Club dropped points after their 65-run defeat against Gazi Group. Gulshan Cricket Club are also on eight points like Mohammedan, having won their last three matches. Agrani too have been impressive, with Shadman Islam and Imrul Kayes leading with the bat.Related

• DPL week 1: Naim's 176 helps Prime Bank breach 400

Best batters

Gazi Group’s Anamul Haque scored an unbeaten 149 against Mohammedan in their big win at the BKSP-4 ground on March 18. He struck 12 fours and four sixes, batting through their 336 for 5 in 50 overs. He was particularly brutal against Taskin Ahmed, who conceded 107 runs in his ten overs for his three wickets, the most expensive spell in Bangladesh’s List-A history.

Best bowlers

Left-arm spinner Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby took the only five-wicket haul this week but it was Agrani Bank’s Robiul Hoque whose 4 for 14 damaged Dhanmondi Sporting Club quite badly. He removed Ashiqur Rahman, Yasir Ali, Moin Khan and Hasan Murad in a miserly spell that helped Agrani Bank to a five-wicket win at the BKSP-4 ground on March 13. Robiul has been knocking on the senior team’s doors for a few years, only being held back by the plethora of fast bowlers around him.

Best match

Rupganj Tigers picked up their first points this season in dramatic fashion, after their last-ball win against Partex Sporting Club at the BKSP-3 ground. Batting first, Partex were bowled out for 223. Abdul Mazid held things together despite Partex keeping the chase tight. Rupganj needed ten runs in the last over, and three from the final ball. Mazid scooped the last ball for a four to win the game and bring up his first century of the season.

Points to ponder

With just over halfway through the first phase, eight teams are in contention for six Super League spots. Dhanmondi Sports Club and Prime Bank Cricket Club seem to be having a hot and cold season so far. The battle for avoiding relegation is also going to be tight, with four teams – Rupganj Tigers, Partex, Brothers Union and Shinepukur Cricket Club – on two points each.

Players to watch

Seam-bowling allrounder Tofael Ahmed has made some telling contributions for Gazi Group with 192 runs at an average of 48.00, and seven wickets at 11.85. The Sylhet-born Tofael was instrumental in his side’s superb win against Mohammedan, taking on Taskin frequently.

Tottenham Hotspur are no longer led by long-serving former chairman Daniel Levy, who’s now departed Spurs after a mixed but very memorable 25-year tenure.

Levy, who helped to transform the Lilywhites from a mid-table Premier League side under Sir Alan Sugar into a financial powerhouse off the field, couldn’t do that much to turn around their on-pitch form.

Just two major trophies in his two-and-a-half-decade-long spell in charge highlight exactly why supporters staged recent protests over Levy and ENIC, demanding change in their thirst for success.

Tottenham are one of the most valuable football clubs in the world, and in that sense, Levy leaves N17 in a much more fit state than when he first arrived.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

via Deloitte Money League

However, criticism surrounding a lack of spending compared to elite rivals, not to mention some pretty comical moments as a result of questionable decision-making, perhaps explain why a change is needed in the boardroom.

Spurs’ infamous 2021 search for a new manager after sacking José Mourinho, which spanned a crazy 72 days, resulted in their hire of Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked just months later. Antonio Conte replaced the Portuguese, but he’s remembered just as badly for his insane post-match press conference against Southampton in 2023.

More recently, Tottenham’s repeated fumbles in the summer transfer market were pretty embarrassing. Despite agreeing deals for Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, both moves fell through at the eleventh hour, forcing Levy to scramble for new signings in the final days, even if he had months to prepare beforehand.

While Levy wasn’t solely responsible for these mishaps, the 63-year-old had a “vice-like” grip on Tottenham’s day-to-day running, but that was eventually weakened by the involvement of Joe Lewis’ kids, who are growing in influence behind-the-scenes (Paul O’Keefe).

Eventually, Levy was informed by ENIC that he’d be stepping down from his role as chairman, and according to The Times, he wasn’t aware of this until just hours before the north Londoners made it official.

Now, a report by The Independent and journalist Miguel Delaney has shared how those within football have viewed this huge announcement.

How senior officials reacted to Daniel Levy exit from Tottenham

Delaney writes that many senior executives in football, presumably Levy’s Premier League counterparts, were “stunned” by the news of his resignation on Thursday evening.

Furthermore, it is reported that multiple sources heard of growing tension between Levy and ENIC owner Joe Lewis, that had been “bubbling away” for years beneath the surface.

The Lewis Family, in an official statement, are adamant that a “new era” has begun at Tottenham, but whether that is the promise of more silverware remains to be seen.

In one of his final acts as chairman, Daniel Levy signed Mathys Tel in a cut-price £30 million deal for Tottenham, but it’s been far from plain sailing for the Frenchman thus far.

Initially, Spurs agreed a £45 million buy-option in the January loan deal which saw him join from Bayern Munich. However, Levy managed to re-negotiate a lesser fee to make Tel the Lilywhites’ first signing of the summer bar Kevin Danso.

The arrival of Bayern’s former prodigy brought plenty of excitement with it, especially after Julian Nagelsmann once tipped the 20-year-old to bag 40 goals a season one day.

Whilst Tel garnered a fearsome reputation as a hot commodity during his time in Bavaria, it’s been a mixed start to life in north London.

He grabbed back-to-back Premier League goals against Southampton and Wolves in April last season, and an assist against both West Ham and Brighton, but is yet to get off the mark since Thomas Frank took charge.

Tel also missed a penalty in the UEFA Super Cup shoot-out against PSG, with Frank ultimately sacrificing the forward for Europe by omitting him from Spurs’ 22-man Champions League squad alongside the likes of Yves Bissouma, Kota Takai, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Mathys Tel’s career at Tottenham so far in all competitions

Stats

Appearances

24

Goals

3

Assists

2

Bookings

3

Minutes played

1,366

via Transfermarkt

He therefore won’t be eligible to make a single Champions League appearance until after the league phase, if they even get that far, with pundit John Wenham suggesting that the north Londoners may be regretting the type of deal they’ve secured for Tel.

Tottenham could be regretting Mathys Tel deal as "frustrating" claim made

Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham hints that Tottenham will be looking back on the permanent deal for Tel with hindsight, asking themselves whether they should’ve just gone for another loan.

Of course, there is still time for him to come good, and that is far more likely than not.

Why Mathys Tel could prove people wrong at Tottenham

Tel is still raw, but Frank has been very impressed by the attacker since his Champions League snub, not least for a hard-working display against West Ham.

The France Under-21 starlet’s main strengths lie in his athleticism and versatility. Comfortable through the middle or out wide, he gives Frank multiple options in attack. His pace allows him to stretch defences, while his ability to play with his back to goal offers a different profile to Spurs’ other forwards. That adaptability will be key in a side competing across several competitions this season.

His finishing, movement and composure are still maturing, but those are qualities that can sharpen with experience.

Manchester City enter the 2025/26 season in transition.

After a challenging 2024/25 campaign that saw Pep Guardiola’s side finish third – 13 points behind champions Liverpool – the Etihad dressing room has experienced significant change.

Key figures including Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and İlkay Gündoğan departed, leaving gaps both on and off the pitch.

To counter this, City acted quickly and decisively in the transfer market.

James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived in goal, while reinforcements Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki all added depth outfield.

However, much of this summer’s wider transfer news has undoubtedly revolved around Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool.

Now, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland to see if he can match his Scandinavian counterpart.

After the international break, City prepare to host Manchester United before a trip to Arsenal. Two matches that will test Guardiola’s revamped squad.

Comparing Isak & Haaland

Isak, now at Liverpool following his British-record £125m transfer, leaves behind a remarkable – yet somewhat controversial – Newcastle legacy.

In 86 Premier League appearances, the 25-year-old scored 54 goals and registered ten assists.

Standing 1.92m, Isak is a modern striker who blends physical presence with pace, skill, and composure.

He scores with both feet, links up effectively with teammates, and moves intelligently in the attacking third to create space for others.

His versatility allows him to operate as a lone striker, part of a two-man setup, or even on the wing, while his work rate and defensive awareness make him a complete attacking contributor.

Haaland, Manchester City’s record-breaking forward since his 2022 arrival from Dortmund, shares some of these traits.

At 25 and 1.95m, the Norwegian has scored 88 Premier League goals with 17 assists in 100 appearances.

His record includes the most goals in a Premier League season (36 in 2022/23) and 42 goals in 43 games for Norway.

Haaland is a complete centre forward, using his strength, pace, and clever movement to score with either foot or his head. While he is effective at holding up the ball, concerns remain about his technical ability to link play.

Nonetheless, both strikers deliver elite statistical output.

Matches Played

34

31

Goals

23

22

Assists

6

3

Shots

95

104

Shots on Target

41

55

In 2024/25, Isak recorded 29 goal involvements, 17.2 non-penalty expected goals, 19 non-penalty goals, 2.71 progressive carries per 90, and 2.88 progressive passes per 90.

Haaland produced 25 goal involvements, 18.8 non-penalty expected goals, 19 non-penalty goals, 0.79 progressive carries per 90, and 0.66 progressive passes per 90.

Their differences reflect style: Isak’s mobility and link-up play contrasts with Haaland’s dominant presence and finishing efficiency.

Both have been pivotal in modern Premier League systems, but the question remains whether other forwards elsewhere can offer more versatility than the pair, particularly in linking play and contributing across the front line.

How Julian Alvarez compares to Isak & Haaland

One forward who has demonstrated that versatility is just as important as raw scoring is Julian Alvarez.

The Argentine left Manchester City in search of regular first-team football, joining Atlético Madrid, and has thrived since.

Last season, he scored 29 goals and registered seven assists in all competitions, drawing praise from Argentine journalist Roy Nemer, who called him “the best forward in the world.”

Alvarez, 25, combines pace, strength, and composure, like Isak and Haaland, but offers additional dimensions. He can drop deep to link play, manoeuvre in tight spaces, and use his vision to create opportunities for teammates.

His dribbling and one-touch passing make him effective across the front line, while his tenacity off the ball enhances pressing and counter-pressing phases.

Statistically, Alvarez compares impressively with Isak and Haaland, as per FBref. Last season, he recorded 21 goal involvements, 13 non-penalty goals, 2.83 progressive carries per 90, and 3.30 progressive passes per 90.

His shot-creating actions per 90 (3.87) exceeded both Isak (3.01) and Haaland (2.34), while his progressive passing distance (95.1) highlighted his ability to link midfield and attack.

He also completed 25.7 passes per 90 at 74.2% accuracy, combining creative contribution with finishing. Unlike Isak and Haaland, Alvarez thrives in multiple attacking roles.

He can operate in a two-striker system, drop into the midfield to orchestrate play, or act as a wide forward capable of cutting inside.

This adaptability has helped him shine at Atlético Madrid and with Argentina, where he has scored 13 goals in 47 appearances.

In many ways, Alvarez illustrates the evolving profile of elite forwards: one who is not only a finisher but also a team player, capable of creating, linking, and defending.

While Isak’s and Haaland’s output in the Premier League has been exceptional, Alvarez offers a reminder that versatility and movement can sometimes be as valuable as raw goalscoring.

Isak can do the one thing for Liverpool that Haaland never did at Man City

The Swede could already hand the Reds one key advantage.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

أكد هاني سعيد المدير الرياضي لنادي بيراميدز، أن التتويج ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا هو الأهم في مشوار الفريق السماوي، يكشف عن اقتراب التجديد مع لاعبين من الفريق خلال الفترة القادمة.

وقال سعيد في تصريحات على قناة “أون سبورت”: “دوري أبطال إفريقيا البطولة الأصعب، التتويج بها لم يأت من مجرد مباراة، ولكن مشوار طويل تواجه فيه فرق كبيرة، لعبنا مباراة صعبة ضد نهضة بركان في السوبر الإفريقي، لكن دوري الأبطال مختلف، لأنه منافسة على أعلى مستوى، ومع ذلك كنا نلعب بدون جمهور”.

وأضاف: “وجود الجمهور يكون عاملًا مهمًا جدًا، لأن الفرق الأخرى التي تفوز بالبطولات يكون لديها جمهور يملأ المدرجات، فتحقيق البطولة بعدد كبير من المباريات الصعبة وبدون جمهور، توفيق من ربنا وإنجاز كبير”. 

وتابع: “نحن في بيراميدز كنا نتعرض للهجوم من أول سنة لأسباب غير منطقية وليس لها علاقة بكرة القدم، ومن المستحيل أن ناديًا يتأسس وفي أول أو ثاني موسم لا بد أن يفوز بالدوري ودوري الأبطال، شيء مستحيل”.

وأردف: “بيراميدز حالته كانت مختلفة لأن الناس كانوا ينظرون له بطريقة مختلفة، ليس من منظور فني، ولكن عملنا على صناعة غرفة ملابس سليمة من أجل النجاح وهو ما حدث بالفعل، والمدير الفني له دور كبير في ذلك النجاح، لأن اللاعبين دايمًا يتأثرون بمدربهم”.

طالع.. مدرب بيراميدز: انضمام إبراهيم عادل لـ الأهلي سابق لأوانه.. ويورتشيتش بطل أوضة اللبس

وواصل: “عندي قناعة شخصية إنه لا يوجد مدرب يتعمد ظلم لاعب، لأن في النهاية المدرب يريد الفوز، ولو النتائج ليست جيدة هو أول من يحاسب ويرحل، والظلم الحقيقي يكون في المعاملة أو في بعض المواقف، وليس في الاختيارات الفنية”.

وأكمل: “يورتشيتش يعمل بكل إخلاص، (اللي الناس شايفاه هذه طبيعته الحقيقية)، ليس تصنعًا، وهذا فرق مع اللاعبين بشكل واضح، أوقات يتعصب في التدريب ويلغيه”.

وشدد: “بيراميدز لم يأخذ مكان الزمالك وهذا الكلام غير منطقي، نادي الزمالك موجود منذ أكتر من 100 سنة، والأهلي نفس الشيء ولهما جماهير بالملايين، نحن نرسم طريقنا الخاص بين الكبار، لنا رؤية وطموحات نسعى لتحقيقها”.

واستطرد: “نعمل على تجديد عقوده فيستون ماييلي وبلاتي توريه واستمرارهما معنا، لأنهما من الأعمدة الأساسية في الفريق، وقريبًا سيكون هناك اتفاق نهائي، واللاعبان يشعران بالراحة داخل النادي، والعلاقة بين اللاعبين ممتازة، وطبيعي أن يكون هناك عروض لفيستون ماييلي خاصة أن هذا آخر موسم له في عقده”.

وشدد: “لدينا سقف محدد للرواتب ولن نتعاقد مع لاعبين بأرقام خيالية، القضية ليست فقط في القدرة على الدفع، لو تعاقدت مع لاعب بعقد ضخم هذا سيؤثر على باقي الفريق”.

Manchester United have made surprise “contact” to sign a new striker who has been likened to Arsenal’s summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Man Utd sign Sesko after Gyokeres snub

In what has been a productive summer transfer window at Old Trafford, INEOS brought in Matheus Cunha from Wolves before landing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, two players who are set to feature heavily in behind a striker.

Attention then turned to a new centre-forward, and the Red Devils were linked with Gyokeres, who worked under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP. The Sweden international only wanted Arsenal, though, and eventually got his move to the Emirates, opening his Premier League account with a brace against Leeds United.

United, meanwhile, splashed the cash on Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth more than £70m. The three marquee attacking signings have set INEOS back £200m, however, Sesko is still awaiting his first Premier League start and goal.

Man Utd "very optimistic" they'll sign £22m colossus "in the next two days"

The Red Devils believe they will be able to finalise a deal for an “elite” Manchester City target very soon.

ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025

Rasmus Hojlund’s future is also up in the air at Old Trafford, amid rumours of a move to Serie A side Napoli which has resulted in United being linked with making another signing in the final third before the September 1 deadline.

Man Utd make surprise Randal Kolo Muani "contact"

According to Caught Offside, Man Utd have made a surprise attempt to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.

The French forward is valued at €60m (£51m) by the Champions League winners and spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus. The Serie A side are yet to reach an agreement to sign Kolo Muani once again, which led to the Red Devils exploring a move.

However, unfortunately for INEOS and Amorim, Kolo Muani is not open to an Old Trafford transfer. A source told Caught Offside:

The 26-year-old scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for Juventus last season, and has been compared to Gyokeres and other high-profile forwards by Football Transfers.

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Alexander Sorloth

Atletico Madrid

Christopher Nkunku

Chelsea

Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal

Ademola Lookman

Atalanta

Should Man Utd move Hojlund on, it’ll be interesting if the Red Devils explore a move for another striker after signing Sesko, but it looks as if that man won’t be Kolo Muani.

Savinho has officially signed a new contract at Manchester City. The club have confirmed that the Brazil international has put pen to paper on a new deal that will put to bed rumours of a potential exit; the forward was heavily linked with a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

• Savinho pens new deal

  The Brazil international has put pen to paper on a new deal that ties him to the Etihad for the next six years. The winger was heavily linked with a potential summer move to Tottenham Hotspur, but City went to great lengths to ensure he stayed at the club. Now, he has committed his future, and is likely to be properly reintegrated into Pep Guardiola's squad; he has only made two starts thus far this season, with one coming in the Premier League against Burnley and the other against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup. Savinho scored in the latter game as City won 2-0. 

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• Savinho's delight

  The attacker has revealed his delight at putting pen to paper as he bids to become indispensable under manager Pep Guardiola.

  He said: “I am incredibly proud to be able to sign this new contract with City. It’s a very special feeling to know that Pep and the Club have placed such faith in me. It really means a lot to me and my family.

  “I feel I have so much improving to do – I am still young and very hungry to keep learning. But I know that working with Pep and his staff will help me to keep developing as a player.

  “From the moment I first arrived, I have loved my time at City. Everyone at the Club – and our fantastic fans – have made me feel so welcome and at home here in Manchester.

  “I want to thank everyone here for their help so far and I promise that I will give everything to try and help this amazing club achieve more success.”

• Getty Images
  

  City equally pleased

  City's director of football, Hugo Viana, said: “Savinho is still very young, but he has already demonstrated that he possesses the qualities needed to become a truly outstanding player.

  “He has so many excellent attributes. His potential really is limitless. He has superb natural ability, works incredibly hard day in, day out, and he is humble. He is very eager to keep learning and help the team, and his ambition is to be one of the best attacking players in the game. 

  “I have no doubt that by continuing to work with Pep and his coaching team, Savinho will go on to be a key part of our squad for many years to come.”

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• Savinho's dream

  The forward has only won the Community Shield during his time at City and has set his sights on lifting trophies with his team-mates.

  He added, when asked about the club's fans: “They treat me really well. Whenever I’m with my family in the city centre or shopping, I see some fans and they treat me really well. At the stadium too, they treat me really well. I’m very happy when I score goals. When they chant my name, I’m really happy, it moves me a lot, and the message I want to give them is to thank them for all the support they give me and my family. 

  "Fans always give us presents — for my daughter and my wife as well. I hope we can be very happy here at Manchester City and win many trophies. They can expect lots of joy on the pitch, goals, assists. I will give my best to help Manchester City win trophies, which is the most important thing. I hope to put my name in the Club’s history by winning trophies. So I hope to do that together with my teammates and finish the season with lots of silverware.”

Newcastle United’s search for a new striker has intensified as the transfer window enters its decisive stages.

The club are locked in a complex situation involving Alexander Isak, who has made it clear he has no intention of reintegrating into Eddie Howe’s squad.

The Swede has not featured in either of Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixtures and has refused to train, citing broken promises and a desire for change.

Without a recognised number nine, the Magpies have looked blunt in attack.

Against Aston Villa and Liverpool, Newcastle created opportunities but lacked a clinical edge, with makeshift forward Anthony Gordon even seeing red in the latter fixture.

That dismissal leaves William Osula as the only available striker, underlining the urgency of the situation.

Newcastle line up move for new striker target

Eddie Howe’s men have moved for several targets already this summer.

Bids for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen have been rejected, while they’re also now tracking Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth.

Transfer Focus

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

With Liverpool circling around Isak, the club have turned to the continent for solutions.

According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness, intermediaries are attempting to engineer a deal between Newcastle United and AS Roma for Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk.

The Magpies are said to have proposed a dry loan, though Roma are holding firm: they want either a permanent sale or guarantees that a deal will eventually be made permanent.

Villarreal are also interested in the forward. The Spanish side, having agreed a £26m deal to sell winger Yeremy Pino to Crystal Palace, have the funds available to pursue Dovbyk, though they too have only offered a loan arrangement.

Roma are demanding around €30m (£25m) for the 28-year-old, who joined from Girona last summer.

Why Dovbyk could be a better fit than Sørloth

Dovbyk scored 12 goals and registered three assists in 32 Serie A appearances during his debut season in Italy, following on from a remarkable final campaign in Spain where he fired Girona into the Champions League with 24 goals and eight assists.

The Ukrainian international has 36 caps and 11 goals for his country and has drawn praise from some high-profile figures.

Former Manchester City, Liverpool and Italy forward Mario Balotelli recently remarked: “In terms of style, I would say he is similar to Haaland.”

With Isak unwilling to return and Callum Wilson having left for West Ham after his contract expired, the Magpies are short of options.

Dovbyk is now seen as one of the most viable replacements to fill the void and give Howe the focal point his system demands.

The arrival of a new number nine at St James’ Park has been a pressing issue for months, and much of the conversation has centred on whether Newcastle should prioritise Dovbyk or another prominent target: Sørloth.

Sørloth, who enjoyed a prolific campaign with Atlético Madrid last season, netted 20 goals and supplied two assists across 35 La Liga appearances.

The 29-year-old Norwegian stands taller than Dovbyk’s 1.89 at 1.95m and has extensive international experience, with 63 caps and 24 goals for his country.

His form in Spain has reignited his reputation following a disappointing spell in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, where he failed to score in 16 appearances.

By comparison, Dovbyk is slightly younger at 28 and has demonstrated consistency in two of Europe’s top leagues.

His record for Girona marked him out as one of the most lethal strikers in La Liga, and his transition to Serie A saw him continue to contribute regularly.

For Newcastle, that track record of adaptation could be crucial in the Premier League. A statistical comparison between the two highlights the differences in their playing styles.

Stats – 2024/25
Stat	Sørloth	Dovbyk
Matches Played	35	32
Goals	20	12
Assists	2	2
Progressive Carries	32	24
Progressive Passes	31	16
Source: FBref

Sørloth’s numbers showcase his volume shooting and ability to dominate games as a target man.

According to FBref, he registered 4.48 shots per 90 last season with Atlético compared to Dovbyk’s 2.27, and scored 19 non-penalty goals compared to Dovbyk’s ten.

His shooting accuracy was also higher, with 51.3% of attempts hitting the target against Dovbyk’s 41%.

However, Dovbyk edges his rival in other areas. He is more efficient in possession, completing 74.1% of his passes compared to Sørloth’s 63.8%, and averages more shot-creating actions per 90 (1.94 to 1.73).

He is also less reliant on sheer volume, with his ten non-penalty goals last season coming from an expected goals figure of 10.3 – suggesting he converts chances at the rate they are expected, without overperforming.

Sørloth, by contrast, scored 19 from 16.0 expected goals, hinting at a potentially unsustainable level of finishing.

Stylistically, Dovbyk offers Newcastle a profile closer to Isak’s. He can link play, operate as a focal point, and combine technical quality with aerial presence. Sørloth, meanwhile, provides sheer firepower.

His 22 goal involvements outweigh Dovbyk’s 14, but his reliance on high shooting volume may raise concerns about sustainability in a league where space is harder to find.

For Newcastle, the decision could come down to balance. They require not just goals, but a striker who complements their pressing game and fluid attacking style. Dovbyk’s blend of technical skill, physicality, and adaptability suggests he may be the more suitable long-term option, particularly if Isak departs for Liverpool.

Gordon upgrade: Al-Rumayyan in talks to sign £65m "nuisance" for Newcastle

Newcastle are approaching crunch time in their drawn-out bid to sign a striker this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 26, 2025

Real Madrid have provided an update on Kylian Mbappe's ankle injury, suggesting the star striker will take part in France's upcoming international fixtures despite limping out of Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Villarreal. The 26-year-old scored his side's third goal of the game, before he was substituted in the 83rd minute after spraining his right ankle.

• The latest on Mbappe's ankle injury

  It appeared that Mbappe's injury was relatively serious. Just moments after finding the net, he went down in discomfort requiring immediate medical attention. After he was replaced by Rodrygo, Mbappe went straight down the tunnel to continue his treatment.

  However, it would appear the ailment is not a massive cause for concern, as Sergio Quirante said on the game's broadcast: "It's not serious, just a knock to the ankle. He feels good. He'll most likely travel with France."

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• AFP
  

  Alonso coy on Mbappe's involvement with France national team

  Speaking in his post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso was guarded about his star man's release for international duty. Los Blancos' manager did not provide a meaningful update on Mbappe or Franco Mastantuono's prognoses. The Argentinian wonderkid has picked up a slight hamstring tear. He was substituted in the 75th minute.

  Alonso said: "We can't say if Mbappe and Franco won't be with the national team. Let's hope it doesn't go any further. I can't say anything right now." 

  In an interview with , Alonso had suggested Mbappe had entered the game with some discomfort in the ankle, however he also intimated that both Mbappe and Mastantuono could well be released for international duty. 

  "Kylian was already having ankle discomfort, and we'll see. Franco has a hamstring strain. We'll see how they progress with the national teams," Alonso claimed.

• Mbappe's glittering start to 2025-26 season

  The knock is maybe the first negative personal moment for the 26-year-old in what has been a blistering start to the 2025-26 season. Mbappe has scored in all but one of his competitive appearances for Los Blancos this term, bagging 14 goals in 10 games. That represents more than half of the team's 26 goals so far this season. He has been a force in the Champions League in particular, scoring both goals in Madrid's opening 2-1 win over Marseille, and bagging a hat-trick against over-matched minnows Kairat. 

  Those goals have fired Real Madrid to a solid start to life under Alonso, their chastening 5-2 defeat against inter-city rivals Atletico Madrid the only loss on their record in the new season. Mbappe's goal put the game to bed against Villarreal, after Vinicius Jr re-found his form to bag twice.

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• AFP
  

  France looking comfortable in World Cup qualifying campaign

  Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches to call upon in attack for his France side. The World Cup winning coach handed a first call-up to Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Phillippe Mateta, new Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike as well as regular contributors such as Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman. However, he will obviously want to include his best player and captain in Les Bleus upcoming World Cup qualifiers, especially given the ongoing absence of Ballon D'or winner Ousmane Dembele. 

  France currently sit atop of their group with a win over Iceland and Ukraine. They host Azerbaijan on Friday, before travelling to Iceland on October 13.