Finishing with aplomb, Sunderland have now reportedly reached an agreement to sign another impressive star from a Champions League club.

Chelsea recall Marc Guiu from Sunderland

One of the many impressive deals that Sunderland struck earlier this summer was an agreement to take Marc Guiu on loan from Chelsea. The young forward is full of potential and was ready to challenge for a place in Regis Le Bris’ side until Liam Delap’s injury caused a frustrating domino effect.

Now, having only just started working his way into Sunderland’s Premier League plans, Guiu must compete for a place in a dressing room that is filled to the brim with young talent. Sunderland, meanwhile, have been forced to turn their focus back towards the transfer market.

On that front, it looks as though the Black Cats are in for a frantic deadline day. Despite already spending big this summer, Reports now suggesting that they’ve reached an agreement with RB Leipzig to Lutsharel Geertruida in yet another impressive move for a player from a European club.

Meanwhile, when questioned on potential deadline day moves, Le Bris told reporters: “The last couple of days are always a crazy period. I think every club waits until the last minute to decide.”

After such a strong start to their Premier League return – winning two out of their opening three games – any added reinforcements will be an even further boost for those at the Stadium of Light. With Geertruida agreed and Guiu heading back to Chelsea, Sunderland have also shifted their focus towards a Champions League ace.

Sunderland reach agreement to sign Brobbey

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland have now reached an agreement to sign Brian Brobbey from Ajax on deadline day. The forward has benefitted from Cheslea’s Guiu decision and a deal worth around €25m (£22m) with add-ons has now been struck. With a medical scheduled, the Dutchman looks poised to seal his move.

Granit Xhaka was an excellent coup earlier this summer, but Sunderland will arguably top that by signing both Geertruida and Brobbey on a fantastic double deadline day deal. The forward, in particular, would be a major upgrade on the more inexperienced Guiu.

Dubbed “powerful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango last year, Brobbey scored seven goals and assisted another six in all competitions last season as Ajax struggled, but it was the season prior that he showed his true potential.

Sunderland now "keen" to sign rapid £35m star similar to Vinicius Junior

The Black Cats are ready to make a late swoop…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Aug 31, 2025

After scoring 22 goals and assisting 11 more in all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign, it’s clear that Sunderland are signing a player that is capable of taking the Premier League by storm.

West Ham United have endured somewhat of a dilemma at centre-back in recent days, with Graham Potter yet to have an established partnership at the heart of his defence.

Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos started the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday – subsequently keeping their first clean sheet of the new Premier League season.

However, Nayef Aguerd looks set to depart the Hammers after refusing to travel with the squad for the trip to the East Midlands – with Marseille expected to land the Moroccan before the transfer deadline.

As a result, the manager and the hierarchy have been tirelessly targeting other options in the market to try and bolster the depth in such a department.

Numerous names have been mentioned throughout deadline day, with multiple players being frequently mentioned over a switch to the London Stadium.

West Ham’s hunt for a centre-back on deadline day

Earlier today, Braga star Bright Arrey-Mbi was seen as a viable option for West Ham – with a deal seemingly heading in the right direction before the 7pm deadline.

However, a deal has since gone quiet, which has seen the Hammers’ hierarchy pursue moves for various other targets – mainly in the Premier League.

The latest name mentioned is Chelsea’s Axel Disasi, with the Frenchman currently not part of Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

It’s been reported by journalist Fabrice Hawkins that Potter’s side have made a late approach to the Blues to try and sign the 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa.

It’s unclear if the deal is a permanent or temporary one, but the Hammers are making a last-ditch attempt to secure his signature before the window slams shut.

Why West Ham’s latest is better than Igor

Deadline day always springs up a surprise or two, with this year’s instalment being no different – with West Ham being involved in a saga to land Brighton star Igor Julio.

The Brazilian centre-back has been allowed to depart by manager Fabian Hürzeler, after dropping down the pecking order in recent months at the AMEX.

He looked set to complete a loan move to Crystal Palace, but Oliver Glasner’s side pulled the plug on the transfer – resulting in Potter’s men taking advantage in recent hours.

It’s been reported that the 27-year-old has since travelled to East London to complete a move to join the Irons – but the hierarchy face a race against time to complete the transfer.

However, despite the move for the Brazilian, they could still complete a transfer for Disasi in the closing stages of the window – further adding needed depth to the backline.

When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last season, the Chelsea man managed to outperform him in key areas – subsequently making him a better addition for Potter and Co.

Disasi, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by one content creator, managed to win more tackles and came out on top in more aerial battles – offering a needed defensive presence given the Hammers’ tally of eight goals conceded in three league games.

Games played

13

13

Goals & assists

1

0

Tackles won

1.1

0.4

% of tackles won

50%

40%

Interceptions made

0.8

0.3

Clearances made

3.7

3.1

Progressive carries

1.7

0.8

Aerials won

1.4

0.7

Aerial success rate

62%

57%

His dominance over Igor defensively is further highlighted in his tally of clearances and interceptions made per 90 – further handing Frank the added quality he craves at the back.

In possession, the Frenchman has been just as impressive, completing more progressive carries per 90 – arguably being a great ball-playing option should the side want to play out from the back.

While both players could make the move to the London Stadium, it’s clear that Disasi would provide the side with the added quality they desperately crave in the defensive third.

The signings could play a huge part in the club’s future in the Premier League, with Potter’s side desperately needing to build on their recent triumph at the City Ground.

Shades of Isak: West Ham consider last-gasp move for "monster" £29m striker

The international goalscorer would be unreal for Graham Potter and West Ham United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 1, 2025

Smriti Mandhana had a poor WPL 2025, both as captain of a team that didn’t make the knockouts and as a batter with mediocre returns. WPL winners in 2024, RCB finished second-last this time, just above UP Warriorz, and that too on net run-rate.Mandhana’s demeanour at her final press conference of this season after an 11-run win against against Mumbai Indians, however, gave us a wise and pragmatic captain who had ended on a high, and not a sullen leader after a disappointing season. She became slightly philosophical, too, almost summoning the cricketing gods as she rued her team’s failure to clinched some of the crucial moments.”Yeah, we were just having a joke post the match that we started the season on a high, ended it on a high and midway we just lost somewhere,” Mandhana said after the game on Tuesday. “Pretty much that sums up our season. But yeah, having lost a lot of players from last season post the auction, definitely we had our thinking shoes on in between the auction and the season. But the way we started, I really thought that we are in it.”Related

• Mandhana, Wareham, Rana breach Brabourne fortress to deny MI top spot

The defending champions started with two wins before stuttering to five straight losses that cost them a knockout spot.Injuries to Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux, and Sophie Devine opting for a break didn’t help, and the big setback was that RCB didn’t win even one out of their four home games, in stark contrast to 2024 when they won three out of five in Bengaluru.What hurt them further was that at home, where local fans again filled the stands, RCB lost two matches by agonisingly close margins: by four wickets with one ball to spare to MI and then the Super Over loss to Warriorz.”I think in Bangalore, a lot of things didn’t go our way,” Mandhana said. “But I am really proud of the way the team showed the character. Losing a lot of close matches is not easy on a team and I think we lost first two to three matches, which were pretty close. But everyone was really positive, which is something I am really pleased [about] as a captain. You win or lose. Sometimes in franchise cricket, these things go your way, and you win it. But when it doesn’t go your way, and the team sticks together, that is a team for me.”5:25

Mel Jones: ‘Phenomenal’ Perry played a different sort of innings

What also didn’t work for RCB at home was the toss. Teams opted to chase as the league moved from Vadodara to Bengaluru to Lucknow to finally Mumbai, and with the lack of dew and big totals in the first innings, chasing teams won most matches.RCB, in their home leg, lost all four tosses and were inserted by oppositions. At their home stretch also came Mandhana’s own lean patch, which meant the team largely relied on No. 3 Ellyse Perry for the bulk of the runs. But their totals were never enough.Perry’s prolific run placed her second among the run-scorers this season and on top in the WPL overall.”Sometimes, there’s something called cricketing god, which I believe a lot in,” Mandhana said. “You do a lot of things right and in the last two or three overs, things don’t go your way. We won [the title] last year by winning those moments. And this year, in the first two matches in Bangalore, we couldn’t make those moments ours, which is, I feel, a turning point for us, especially the first two matches.”Looking back, I wouldn’t want to throw anyone under the bus saying that would have changed it. We all, together as a team, could have contributed a lot more. Me as a batter in the mid phase, I was not able to score a lot of runs.”I think especially the Bangalore leg, losing the toss, not many teams could actually put up more than 160, but we could do that only because the way she [Perry] batted out there. Just really good to have her around the team, around all the Indians as well, because [there’s] a lot to take from her, lot to learn from her. And I am sure a lot of people in the team watch her and try and take a lot of things from her. And I hope that it only goes well for Indian cricket because people like that make you work really hard.”Richa Ghosh struck at 175.57 in WPL 2025•BCCI

The other positive for RCB was the big hitting of Richa Ghosh, whose strike rate of 175.57 was the best in the team (minimum 30 balls faced). She smashed 13 sixes and 25 fours on her way to 230 runs off 131 balls. She ended the RCB campaign also in style, particularly when going after Shabnim Ismail. Ghosh scooped and reverse scooped Ismail and reverse swept Hayley Matthews for boundaries on her way to 36 off 22 on Tuesday.”She is just amazing to watch,” Mandhana said of Ghosh. “I have seen her grow throughout the last three seasons of WPL and with the Indian team. The way she can change the game single-handedly is a sight to watch. When she is out there, the other dugout can’t sit peacefully, and no equation is less or more for her.”I mean, for us to chase 223-odd runs [against Warriorz] and just losing by ten runs and the way she batted… For batters like us, we see the smaller side [of the boundary], but for batters like Richa, they just see the ball and hit with their power.”The variety of shots is something she has really worked on. People always just relate Richa with a lot of power, but the cuts, the reverse sweeps today, which she switch hit. A lot of things have gone in, a lot of work, and her work ethics have been really good for the past year. [I am] really happy for her, and I hope she keeps going because [Ghosh] batting like that is amazing signs for Indian cricket.”

A win at home on Thursday will put them top of the table in WPL 2025

Ashish Pant26-Feb-2025

Who’s playingRoyal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm ISTWhat to expect: Can Giants find form?Two teams coming off back-to-back losses, but in no way comparable. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have actually been really good in WPL 2025. Yet, they find themselves under pressure as they get ready to face Gujarat Giants at home.After two commanding wins, they went down to Mumbai Indians off the second-last ball of the game, and then lost to UP Warriorz in a Super Over, despite dominating most of the match. Momentum in cricket is a double-edged sword. Wins under the belt can act as a confidence booster, but losses can be deflating. And having suffered two heartbreaking losses, RCB will want to get back to winning ways, especially with the tournament entering its business end.RCB have a good record against Giants. They have won three out of five matches, which includes a solid win in this year’s season opener. In addition, they have never lost to them in Bengaluru. They also have the current purple cap holder and an all-time great in touching distance of the orange cap, and will want to move up the points table before the Bengaluru leg ends.Giants, on the other hand, have a number of problems to sort. They ended WPL 2023 and 2024 bottom of the pile, and are down there again. They are too dependent on Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin, who have also failed to get going in the last two matches.Their problem starts right from the top in the batting. Giants have the worst run rate (5.79), least runs, least boundaries (16 fours and four sixes) and have lost the most wickets (11) in the powerplay this season. With Beth Mooney not in form, and Harleen Deol not a natural striker, do they need one of Gardner or Dottin to go up the order and go on the assertive?Recent resultsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: LLWW
Gujarat Giants: LWLLESPNcricinfo Ltd

Team newsIt is unlikely that RCB will make any changes to their playing XI from the previous match against Warriorz.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Ekta Bisht, 11 Renuka SinghGiants made three changes to their playing XI in the previous game, but didn’t have Phoebe Litchfield open the innings. There is a chance she moves to the top with Harleen Deol moving to the No. 3 position. Simran Shaikh has failed to make an impact so far in the tournament, and it is possible Giants might draft in Dayalan Hemalatha to shore up the batting.Gujarat Giants (likely): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 5 Deandra Dottin, 6 Dayalan Hemalatha, 7 Bharti Fulmali, 8 Kashvee Gautam, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Priya Mishra, 11 Meghna SinghPlayers to watch: Ellyse Perry and Kashvee GautamEllyse Perry seems to have gone up a gear with the bat in WPL 2025. The second-highest run-scorer this season with 235 runs in four innings at 117.50, Perry, in the last game, also went past Meg Lanning to become WPL’s overall highest run-scorer. Coming into the tournament with a hip injury, Perry did not bowl in RCB’s first three games, but sent down two overs against Warriorz, picking a wicket. If she can contribute with four overs, it could help in balancing the RCB unit even better.In an otherwise demoralising tournament so far, Kashvee Gautam has been a bright star for Giants. She was picked up for a whopping INR 2 crore ahead of the WPL auction for 2024, but was ruled out of the season due to an injury. Giants still retained her, and she is repaying the faith. She started poorly against RCB going for 22 off her two overs, but in the next three games, the 21-year-old has picked five wickets at a miserly economy. Out of all the bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 30 balls this WPL, Gautam’s economy of 6.00 is the fourth-best. Apart from the 15-ball 20 against Mumbai, Gautam hasn’t done much with the bat, and that’s one area she might want to improve.Stats that matterMandhana has been dismissed by Gardner nine times in 26 T20 innings and three times in five innings at the WPLGiants have won just five matches in the WPL and two of those wins have come against RCBGiants have the two lowest scores this season – 120 against Mumbai and 127 for 9 against Delhi CapitalsRCB have the worst economy rate in the powerplay this season: 9.04. Giants have the best, 7.29Giants have conceded 175 runs across four innings in the powerplay this season. Only Mumbai with 142 runs in three games have conceded fewer

Donny van de Beek's injury-blighted career has taken another devastating blow with reports he's suffered an Achilles injury during his first match back for Girona after five months on the sidelines. The Dutchman's time at Manchester United was hampered by a series of injuries and he was allowed to leave, but his injury luck has not improved since leaving Old Trafford.

Getty Images SportVan de Beek's worrying injury

Van de Beek suffered a serious injury in Girona's match against Athletic Club where the midfielder, making his first start in five months after returning from surgery, was forced off the pitch in the 33rd minute, clutching the back of his ankle, clearly in considerable pain. Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reports he has damaged his Achilles. 

AdvertisementDutchman's injury woes continue

Van de Beek signed for Manchester United in 2020 for a fee of £40 million (£54m), but struggled to secure a place under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was loaned out to Everton where he suffered a serious of injuries. Back at United, under new boss Erik ten Hag he suffered a serious knee injury against Bournemouth and was sold to Eintracht Frankfurt the following season. 

Girona fear 'worst news' over Van de Beek

Girona boss Sanchez, told Mundo Deportivo: "We'll see after the tests, but it could be the worst news of the match." 

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AFPWhen will the Dutchman return?

There's no update on Van de Beek's injury as yet, but the injury comes as a massive blow for the Dutchman's hopes of rebuilding his career, coming six years after he was nominated for a Ballon d'Or award, while he was playing for Ajax. 

The pair added 215 for the fourth wicket, helping Vidarbha recover from 24 for 3

Shashank Kishore26-Feb-2025Stumps Danish Malewar and Karun Nair at are different stages of their careers.At 21, Malewar, a heavy run-getter in the age-group circuit, is in his maiden season. At 33, Nair, a two-time Ranji Trophy winner with Karnataka, has overcome a form slump to enjoy a second wind which has the potential to turn into something bigger, possibly an unlikely Test call-up eight years after he last played in one.On Wednesday, Malewar and Nair were at the forefront of an incredible Vidarbha fightback on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final against first-timers Kerala in Nagpur. The pair added 215 for the fourth wicket as Kerala’s bowling reserves were severely tested.Vidarbha recovered from 24 for 3 in the first hour and looked primed to take the opening-day honours when Nair’s run out late in the day for 86, after being sent back by Malewar as they tried to steal a bye, gave Kerala a late lift.Vidarbha went into stumps on 254 for 4 on a VCA Stadium surface that flattened out as the day progressed, with Kerala at the receiving end of a slow-burn kind of treatment they meted out to Gujarat in the semi-final.Malewar and Nair superbly negated Kerala’s major threat – spin – as Jalaj Saxena and hometown hero Aditya Sarwate, who made the switch from Vidarbha ahead of the 2024-25 season, proved ineffective.The spin twins had combined figures of 0 for 92 off 26 overs, although Saxena was the only bowler who induced a possible opportunity when he managed to induce the outside edge from Malewar after he was beaten in flight and drift while on 110. The resultant edge as he pushed at the delivery that didn’t turn as much flew past a vacant slip that had only a few overs earlier been taken out.That was the only genuine wicket-taking delivery all afternoon; the Nair dismissal was entirely down to Rohan Kunnummal’s presence of mind and pinpoint accuracy as he ran to his right from the slips to stop the ball that deflected off the keeper’s pad.Then he fired a flat throw to the stumps to catch Nair well short after he was sent back by Malewar. Yash Thakur was sent in as a nightwatcher and remained unbeaten on 5 alongside Malewar, who was 138 not out – his highest score yet.The partnership between Malewar and Nair not only denied Kerala for large parts of the day but also covered up for a slightly unconventional move from Vidarbha that may have been scrutinised had they collapsed.Vidarbha promoted Parth Rekhade, a lower-order batter to open in place of Atharva Taide, who had been left out. And after he was out two balls into the game – courtesy an lbw decision Kerala overturned through DRS – they sent in Darshan Nalkande, a seam-bowling allrounder who bats in the lower-order, at No. 3.That move backfired too as Nalkande mistimed a pull to deep square as Nidheesh picked up a second wicket.Eden Apple Tom celebrates the wicket of Dhruv Shorey•KCAKerala’s boisterous energy and keenness to take the game on had them burn an lbw review off Dhruv Shorey, the only genuine top-order batter in the top three. Shorey looked assured for the brief while he was at the crease but nibbled at a short and wide delivery from 19-year-old seamer Eden Apple Tom to the wicketkeeper to leave Vidarbha in choppy waters.Malewar and Nair joined hands at a time of crisis and slowly rebuilt the innings, not through denial but by picking runs whenever the bowlers erred. Malewar left the ball well outside off, forcing the bowlers to attack the stumps. And as they went full, Malewar brought out some incredible wrist work – at times picking length balls from middle-and-off through midwicket and mid-on. He was equally impressive off the back foot, while tucking deliveries off his hip.Malewar got to his half-century in style as he stepped out to launch Sarwate over the long-on boundary. The first real rash stroke he played was to get into the 80s when he chased a short and wide Nidheesh delivery to slash it towards third man.Nair occasionally kept pepping Malewar every time he erred, and was the more industrious out of the two – sweeping spinners off their lengths, on a couple of occasions reverse sweeping Sarwate to prevent him from settling into a rhythm.Nair’s driving through the covers was imperious – especially off rookie Apple Tom who was playing in only his third game, three years after debuting as a 16-year-old. Nair’s defence was compact, as he negated Kerala’s tactic of attacking the stumps and looking to get some reverse swing with a short midwicket in place.Like he raised his fifty, Malewar showed no sign of nerves in the 90s either, stepping out to launch Sarwate over long-on to get to 99, and then whipping him through midwicket for a boundary to raise his century.Nair, meanwhile, brought up his half-century off 125 balls and then feasted on some tired bowling to charge towards what would’ve been his fourth hundred of the season, and 23rd overall, in the final session. Before his run out had him uncharacteristically flinging his bat in disappointment as he walked back to a dressing room that stood up to applaud a rescue.

Glasgow Rangers supporters were hit with a surprise on Saturday when it was revealed that the club had pulled out of a deal to sign versatile defender Nobel Mendy.

RangersReview reported that the Light Blues have pulled out of a £2m deal to sign the Real Betis centre-back, who can also play at left-back, after discussions collapsed in recent days.

The 20-year-old titan had looked set for a move to Ibrox to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the back, but is now set to remain at Real Betis, or move elsewhere before the end of the summer transfer window.

Why Rangers may have dodged a blunder with Nobel Mendy

Pulling out of a move for the Senegalese defender may turn out to be a blunder dodged by the Gers, as there is little evidence to suggest that he would have been a significant signing for the club.

Transfer Focus

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

Whilst Mendy, who is only 20, may turn out to be a fantastic player in the future, and could have turned out to be a quality addition for Rangers, there is little in the here and now to suggest that he would have hit the ground running.

The versatile defender has only played six senior games for Real Betis. He also struggled for the B team in the 2024/25 campaign, losing 59% of his duels across 13 league games for the reserve side, per Sofascore.

Rangers could forget about Mendy by swooping for a player who is more likely to make an immediate impact at Ibrox this season – Kassoum Ouattara.

Why Rangers should sign Kassoum Ouattara

The Light Blues have been linked with loan interest in the Monaco left-back, who is valued at £13m by his club, and they should be pushing to get a deal done for the 20-year-old star.

Despite being the same age as Mendy, Ouattara has played 55 times at senior level, including 33 times for Monaco, per Transfermarkt, and is more established in first-team football.

The French whiz may not seem like an obvious alternative, given that he plays at left-back mainly instead of centre-back, but the Gers could allow Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar to battle it out for a place next to Nasser Djiga, and bring Ouattara in to cover the left-back role that Mendy would have offered cover in.

As you can see in the table above, the Monaco talent’s output in Ligue 1 last season even suggests that he could be an upgrade on the departing Jefte, who is set to sign for Palmeiras, from an offensive perspective.

Ouattara, who writer Kai Watson described as a “very offensive” full-back, could excite supporters with his front-footed performances at left-back, as he is clearly a defender who likes to get forward to put crosses and passes into the final third to create chances for his teammates.

The £13m-rated talent may make more sense for what Rangers need in their backline, with Ridvan Yilmaz out of the picture and Jefte set to depart, than Mendy would, which is why it could make more sense to pursue the Monaco starlet.

So instead of signing a centre-back who could play left-back, in Mendy, the Gers could sign a talented left-back, who may have the potential to cover at left centre-back should Martin decide he would suit that role.

Dream Dessers replacement: Rangers have "lethal" £5m star on shortlist

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be a dream signing to replace Cyriel Dessers.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 16, 2025

This is why Rangers could forget all about this collapsed deal for Mendy because the signing of Ouattara could make more sense for the team, and make a greater impact on the pitch.

MatériaMais Notícias

Essencial na vitória contra o Athletico-PR, Luciano ultrapassou um dos grandes nomes da história tricolor. Graças ao gol, se tornou o sétimo maior goleador do São Paulo na história do Campeonato Brasileiro. Agora, com 36 gols marcados na competição, ultrapassou Dagoberto, com 35. Dagoberto, que foi um dos principais nomes na conquista do Brasileirão de 2007.

RelacionadasSão PauloCruzeiro x São Paulo: prováveis escalações, desfalques e onde assistir ao jogo pelo BrasileirãoSão Paulo23/06/2023São PauloÀs vésperas de jogo contra o Cruzeiro, São Paulo viaja com novidades para Belo HorizonteSão Paulo23/06/2023São PauloNa mira do São Paulo, Erick teve uma das melhores sequências de 2022 ao lado de Dorival Júnior no CearáSão Paulo23/06/2023

Mas isso tudo graças ao crescimento que teve com Dorival Júnior. É fato, o começo de ano não foi dos melhores para o camisa 10. Improvisado por Rogério Ceni como um meia armador e exercendo, de fato, o papel de um ’10’, posição na qual nunca esteve acostumado, Luciano viu sua produtividade cair e viveu uma seca de onze jogos sem gols – algo que era atípico falando de um nome tão influente no ataque da equipe.

ATUAÇÕES: Gabriel Neves vai do inferno ao céu e Luciano comanda virada do São Paulo contra o Athletico-PR

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Mas quando Dorival chegou, o cenário mudou. Com o novo treinador, voltou para onde se sentia mais confortável e aí cresceu bastante no número de gols. Inclusive, a maioria dos gols desta temporada aconteceram sob o comando do treinador. Ao todo, em 2023 foram sete gols em 32 partidas disputadas. Destes sete, cinco foram com Dorival. Além disso, Luciano também está se consolidando como um dos ‘garçons’ do elenco.

No ano todo, foram seis assistências. Destas seis, quatro com Dorival Júnior. Inclusive, Luciano é o atleta do elenco que soma mais assistências.

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Neste ranking de maiores goleadores do São Paulo na história do Brasileirão, deste elenco atual, Alexandre Pato e Calleri também fazem parte. Calleri, com 30 gols, e Pato com 24. Acima de Luciano, estão França (44), Müller (49), Careca (54), Rogério Ceni (65) e Serginho (83) e Lusi Fabiano (108).

Arsenal will get their 2025/26 Premier League campaign underway on Sunday afternoon when they travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The clash will see the battle of the big spenders in the summer transfer window, with both clubs splashing over £200m on new additions during the off-season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have added the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi to the squad, addressing issues within key areas of the side early into the summer.

However, with just a couple of weeks left of the window, further additions could still be expected at the Emirates to further bolster the club’s ambitions of ending the year at the top of the table.

Other positions are still set to be subject to investment, handing Arteta the tools to go one better and finally end their two-decade wait for a top-division triumph.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this summer

After a long-standing pursuit, Arsenal have once again stepped up their attempts to complete a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze this window.

It’s been reported that the Gunners are in talks to land the 27-year-old, who managed a total of 25 goal contributions across all competitions for the Eagles in 2024/25 – helping them win the FA Cup.

However, he’s not the only forward-minded player currently in their sights, with Real Madrid talent Rodrygo another player they are considering, according to TBR Football.

They claim that Arteta’s side have already held talks with the player’s representatives over a move to the Emirates after being told he’s free to leave Xabi Alonso’s men.

It also states Manchester City are interested in a move for the 24-year-old, with the Brazilian keen on a switch to the Premier League ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Any deal could cost in the region of £78m.

Why Arsenal’s latest target would be an upgrade on Eze

Given Eze’s success at Selhurst Park under Oliver Glasner last season, it’s no surprise to see the player touted with a move to join one of England’s leading sides.

The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in their FA Cup triumph, but their recent demotion to the Europa Conference League could see the player want to take the leap and further his career.

His tally of 25 goals and assists is no mean feat, evidently able to produce the spectacular on a consistent basis – as seen by his strike against the Gunners throughout the recent campaign.

However, a move may not be as straightforward as it seems, with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also entering talks to land the Englishman ahead of the September 1st deadline.

However, missing out on Eze may not be a huge issue, especially if they land the signature of Rodrygo, who could prove to be worth his current £87m asking price.

When comparing his stats to those of the Palace star in 2024/25, he managed to better him in various areas, subsequently offering Arteta’s side a more potent attacking option.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, achieved a better shot on target accuracy rate, whilst notching a better goal per shot on target rate – undoubtedly handing Arteta the added threat he craves.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

11

16

Shot-on-target accuracy

37%

26%

Pass accuracy

86%

74%

Key passes made

2.3

2.1

Passes into final third

3.1

1.7

Progressive carries

5.3

2.4

Carries into opposition box

2.4

0.7

Progressive passes

5.1

3.3

He also completed more key passes per 90, with more of which going into the final third, subsequently handing Gyokeres the chances he needs to be a success in North London throughout 2025/26.

Rodrygo’s ability to take the ball into dangerous areas is sensational, completing nearly double the amount of progressive carries per 90 and carries into the opposition box – having the end product to top off his mazy runs – as seen by his tally of 11 goal contributions.

There’s no doubt that the Madrid star would cost slightly more this summer, but it’s a move that would allow the side to land a better talent in the process.

His versatility within the final third would also provide needed depth in multiple positions, with the hierarchy needing to push hard to avoid missing out on his signature.

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Tottenham Hotspur have now agreed a deal to sign a “remarkable” £50m star, who is now jetting into London to complete his medical.

Tottenham set for busy transfer deadline day

Having finally managed to get a deal for an attacking midfielder over the line last week, with Xavi Simons arriving from RB Leipzig, Thoma Frank is now looking to strengthen multiple other areas of his squad on transfer deadline day.

In terms of new defensive options, Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez have emerged as potential targets, although it remains to be seen whether the Reds are willing to sell the Englishman, having called off a move to AC Milan, while Akanji himself could be heading to Italy to sign for Inter.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Spurs may feel a need to bring in a new forward, having drawn a blank in their most recent game, losing 1-0 against AFC Bournemouth in what was a disappointing display, recording one of their lowest xGs in recent memory.

As such, it may be a relief to hear that Tottenham have now agreed a deal to sign a new forward, with Randal Kolo-Muani set to sign on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report from The Sun.

Kolo-Muani is now set to jet into London to undergo a medical, before completing a move to north London, in what will be a straight loan move, which does not include an obligation or option to buy.

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Signing the PSG forward on a permanent basis would be a costly operation, with the French club thought to be looking to receive £50m+, whereas bringing him in on loan makes the move very low-risk, given that he is proven at the top level.

While the 26-year-old has been unable to force his way into Luis Enrique’s plans, he performed very well on loan at Juventus last season, chipping in with eight goals and one assist in 16 Serie A outings.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt man also impressed considerably during his time in the Bundesliga, with Lothar Matthäus saying: “He has remarkable technical ability, he’s ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges. The most impressive thing is that he’s performing in every game.”

With Tottenham looking bereft of ideas going forward against Bournemouth, failing to create a big chance throughout the match, it makes perfect sense to bring in a new forward on deadline day, and Kolo-Muani could be ideal.