Tag Futebol

Aston Villa fans didn’t quite get the entertainment they would have longed for on the opening day of the Premier League.

Neutrals and Villa fans alike would have been disappointed with the attacking intent on show versus Newcastle United on Saturday, with just three efforts registered on Nick Pope’s goal, compared to the Magpies notching up a mammoth 16 shots on Marco Bizot’s far busier net.

Of course, the Villans were hindered up top by Ezri Konsa being dismissed with 24 minutes remaining on the clock, as a 0-0 draw was ultimately met with some relief at the full-time whistle.

Still, some new signings could be in the pipeline to make Villa a more captivating watch, which might well include a £13m deal being in the works to bring back a former fan’s favourite.

Aston Villa on the brink of securing £13m star

Evan Guessand will believe he can be a bright goalscoring spark at Villa Park down the line, away from the need for more new signings to enhance Unai Emery and Co.’s firepower.

Costing £30m to obtain, the former OGC Nice striker remained rooted to the bench against Eddie Howe’s side, but will surely be in line for more opportunities soon, particularly if Villa remain wasteful in front of goal.

The new Villa centre-forward would surely be more confident about his chances of ripping up the Premier League if he had the creative magic of Marco Asensio on his side.

Caught Offside revealed this weekend that the goal-shy Villans are on the brink of bringing back their former midfielder on a £13m deal.

The report states that this amount should satisfy the Ligue 1 titans, with a three-year contract agreed with the Spaniard to return to the West Midlands permanently.

With Asensio no longer in Luis Enrique’s first team plans, it does feel as if it’s a no-brainer for the former four-time Champions League winner to return to Villa, with other suitors such as Besiktas coming up short compared to the might of Emery’s men.

Why Asensio's return could get Watkins firing

This really is a move that suits all parties, with Asensio just what Watkins needs to get back to his intimidating best, after a timid opening match against Newcastle.

After all, it’s not all too common that Watkins registers just one meagre effort on goal like he mustered up against the Toon.

To date, the former Brentford marksman has a devastating 87 strikes for Villa next to his name, with a phenomenal 17 goals and 14 assists coming his way last season in all competitions, despite experiencing some notable barren patches of form.

Staggeringly, Watkins’ game has reached such lofty heights that 17 strikes last season was seen as a dip, with his 2023/24 offering culminating in him bagging a ridiculous, career-best 27 strikes.

To get back to that peak, Asensio will have to be at the top of his game in attack next to the England international, which is what he showed off in abundance during his breakneck Villa loan stint.

Overall, the 38-time Spain international would amass a crazy eight goals and one assist for Emery’s side from just 21 outings, with the hope he can add more assists to his Villa back catalogue on his return, to get the Villa number 11 firing on all cylinders once more.

Real Madrid

286

61 + 32

RCD Mallorca

56

7 + 9

PSG

47

7 + 11

Espanyol

37

4 + 15

When plying his trade in Spain and France, Asensio – away from his celebrated stay at the Santiago Bernabeu – stood out as an electric playmaker, with a sublime 15 assists coming his way from just 37 Espanyol outings.

Even when he became more clinical in front of goal in Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti would still label the attacking midfielder as a “playmaker who can make the difference”, as seen in him creating nine big chances during his swansong La Liga season with the club, despite only starting 15 contests.

If that same unselfish side to Asensio’s game came to the forefront at Villa Park, Watkins would surely be laughing at the prospect of how many goals he could tuck away, knowing he has such a “world-class” – as he has been lauded by football pundit Matthew Upson – ace next to him.

The new Rogers: Aston Villa join race for "unplayable" Bailey replacement

Aston Villa are planning to replace the outgoing Leon Bailey before the end of the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 16, 2025

James Maddison’s injury in Tottenham Hotspur’s most recent pre-season friendly will undoubtedly provide cause for concern, with the England international suffering yet another setback.

He entered a challenge during the clash against Newcastle United, before hobbling and eventually requiring treatment before being stretchered off the field.

It’s thought that it is the same knee the 28-year-old injured at the back end of last season, leading to Thomas Frank claiming he thinks it may be a serious injury.

Should the worst be confirmed, it would be a lengthy lay-off for the England international, once again disrupting his progress during his spell in North London.

As a result, it would be a surprise to no one that the hierarchy are subsequently targeting added reinforcements in the middle of the park in an area that was already being subject to investment this summer.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

An attacking midfielder has been firmly on Spurs’ radar over recent weeks, as seen by their attempts to land Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this window.

The likes of Harvey Elliott, James McAtee and Jack Grealish have all been targeted since, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the English talents this window.

However, moves have been made to land another talent this summer, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher once again in their sights this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are preparing a €50m (£43m) bid for the 25-year-old, who only moved to the LaLiga giants from Chelsea during last summer’s window.

It also states that he could be open to the possibility of a return to the Premier League, with his current employers open to negotiations over a move to offload the central midfielder.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be the perfect Maddison replacement

When he’s been fit, Maddison has often been the go-to choice to operate in a more attacking role within Spurs’ midfield – which usually operates in a three-man system.

The Englishman registered 12 goals and 10 assists across all competitions last season, helping the club win the Europa League, ending their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

However, his injury record has massively plagued his spell in North London, suffering three separate injuries during his two-year spell at the club after his £40m move from Leicester City in 2023.

Their ambitions of landing other attacking midfielders before his latest setback are understandable, but they could now be on the back burner for the time being.

The hierarchy are evidently planning a move for Gallagher, which could allow for a change in shape within the three-man midfield, which could utilise new signing Joao Palhinha in his deep-lying role in the front of the backline.

The Portuguese international would be able to feature at the base of the side with two central midfielders ahead of him, which could include the Atlético star should he make the move.

He has all the tools to be a perfect box-to-box option, potentially being a key component in Frank’s system, which demands real quality in the middle of the park.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist John Cross, starred in LaLiga last season, producing some incredible underlying stats within his 32 league appearances.

He achieved an 85% pass completion rate, whilst completing 2.6 passes into the final third per 90, having the creative ability despite his deep-lying midfield role.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

6

Pass accuracy

85%

Progressive passes

3.5

Passes into final third

2.6

Tackles made

2.5

Blocks made

1.3

Interceptions made

1.2

Take-ons completed

41%

The former Chelsea star also thrived out of possession, making 2.5 tackles per 90, along with 1.2 interceptions made, offering the Dane the perfect box-to-box option in his quest for success.

At 25, Gallagher is entering the prime years of his professional career, potentially making his £43m transfer fee an excellent piece of business for the Lilywhites hierarchy during this window.

Whilst he’s not a direct replacement for Maddison, he could help a needed transition take place at the heart of the side, which could offer a new dimension for the new boss ahead of 2025/26.

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ByEthan Lamb Aug 4, 2025

Will Rangers’ busy transfer window continue?

To date, new manager Russell Martin has made seven signings, four of whom debuted during Tuesday night’s Champions League qualifier.

Nevertheless, plenty more new arrivals are forecast, with the Glasgow giants tipped to sign a centre-forward, currently available as a free agent, who has plenty of Premier League experience.

Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

In the post-liquidation era, no Rangers striker has come close to Alfredo Morelos’ impact at Ibrox.

The Colombian international made 269 appearances for the Gers, scoring 124 goals and registering 57 assists.

Of these goals, 33 came in UEFA competition, thereby becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer in Europe, surpassing Ally McCoist, while only Henrik Larsson, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have scored more goals in the history of the Europa League (including qualifiers).

Then-manager Steven Gerrard stated back in 2019 that he’ll “never get bored” of praising Morelos as he “keeps providing game-changing moments”, while Jordan Campbell of the Athletic outlined his importance to the club’s success in recent years.

Meantime, Nick McPheat of BBC Sport noted how Morelos’ ‘standout performances’, particularly in the Europa League, will forever be remembered fondly, having been ‘integral’ to their continental adventures and Premiership title triumph of 2020/21.

Transfer Focus

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

So now, could Rangers be about to sign their best centre-forward since the enigmatic Colombian?

The latest on Rangers' strikers

On Tuesday night, the Martin era at Rangers officially began, as his new-look side beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in a Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.

Spectacular second-half strikes from teenager Findlay Curtis, making only his second-ever start for the club, and then debutant Djeidi Gassama mean the Gers will take a decent advantage to Athens next Wednesday, albeit the job is far from complete.

Danilo led the line from the start in mid-week, before Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, who’ve both been strongly linked with a move away this summer, were introduced for the final 15 minutes, suggesting they could be on the move, leaving the club in the market for a new centre-forward.

Well, speaking on Football Insider’s podcast, former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness believes that Rangers should attempt to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, stating that the England international could “reinvent himself and be a superhero” at Ibrox.

The 28-year-old is a free agent after leaving Everton, having made 273 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 71 goals, whom he joined nigh on a decade ago.

Calvert-Lewin is purportedly on the radar of numerous clubs; Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic claim that Manchester United have ‘been offered the chance to sign’ him, while Newcastle have also been touted as potential suitors.

However, could he do a reverse Duncan Ferguson by swapping Everton for Rangers?

Well, despite his well-documented injury record, Calvert-Lewin is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level, as the table below documents.

2024/25

26

3

2023/24

32

7

2022/23

17

2

2021/22

17

5

2020/21

33

16

2019/20

36

13

2018/19

35

6

2017/18

32

4

2016/17

11

1

As the table outlines, since his peak in 2019/20 and 2020/21, Calvert-Lewin’s importance at Everton did diminish, but his ability has never come into question.

Speaking on Sky Sports, prior to the Blues’ clash with Manchester City in May 2023, Patrick Vieira praised the striker’s hold-up play, describing him as a “complete” centre-forward, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout simply labelled him a “pure poacher” and a “monster”.

Meantime, Patrick Boyland of the Athletic documents that, without his ‘critical goals’, Everton probably would have been relegated in recent seasons, noting that he thrives ‘on a specific type of service’ which allows him to ‘bully defenders’, forecasting that he is certainly capable of ‘rediscovering the magic of old’.

With Rangers now firm favourites to dump out Panathinaikos, thereby setting up a third qualifying round meeting with, probably, Servette, perhaps the prospect of Champions League football could entice Calvert-Lewin north of Hadrian’s Wall.

Should he do so, this would surely represent a serious game-changer for Martin, as he seeks to dethrone Celtic at the summit of Scottish football.

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Everton are now close to signing a “strong” £34 million player after agreeing personal terms, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Everton set to turn to alternative targets after missing out on Tete

Signing a new right-back has become one of David Moyes’ priorities in this transfer window, as the club decided to let Ashley Young leave, following the expiration of his contract. Seamus Coleman has signed a new one-year deal to remain, but Moyes wants more competition in that area of the team and earmarked Fulham’s Kenny Tete as a target.

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The Toffees were confident of landing the defender after discussing details over a contract, but instead, Tete decided to sign a new contract at Fulham and remain at Craven Cottage. The right-back has extended his stay until 2028 and believes Fulham is a “special club where he can develop”.

This news means Everton have to continue their search for a new right-back, and the BBC have reported that alternative targets for the Toffees could include Kyle Walker-Peters, who is a free agent after leaving Southampton, or Vladimir Coufal, who is also a free agent and knows Moyes well from their time at West Ham.

While they assess their options for a new right-back, the Premier League side appear to be closing in on their second signing of the summer.

Everton close to signing £34m Barry after agreeing personal terms

According to Romano, Everton are now close to signing striker Thierno Barry from Spanish side Villarreal.

The Italian states that the deal has advanced, as the Toffees and the player have now agreed personal terms; all that remains are the final details, and then this transfer is complete.

It’s been widely reported that Barry has a release clause worth £34 million, and Villarreal’s sporting director, Fernando Roig Nogueroles, has been clear that if the player is to leave, it will be for around that price.

He said: “We want the player, and if he were to leave, it would have to be, if not for the release clause, something very close to it. If not, he won’t leave.”

Thierno Barry’s 24/25 La Liga stats

Apps

35

Starts

25

Goals

11

xG

12.41

Goals per game

0.3

Shots on target per game

0.7

Goal conversion

15%

Assists

4

xAG

1.95

Big chances created

7

The Toffees are said to be prepared to pay that sum of money but may look to pay in installments to reach that figure in total. The arrival of Barry, who has been dubbed a “strong physique”, has just got more important for Everton, as on Monday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin announced that he was leaving the club following the end of his contract, meaning options at the top end of the pitch have just become even lighter.

Barry’s expected arrival will likely see him become Moyes’ regular striker, as his physical presence and stature make him the perfect striker in a Moyes team.

Manchester United are ready to make a bid for a “world-class” star, who is now expected to cost €80m (£68m), according to a report.

Man Utd set to spend big despite missing out on Champions League

Man United’s loss against Tottenham Hotspur was disappointing on a number of levels, with suffering a defeat in a European final always tough to take, while the result meant they also missed out on qualification to next season’s Champions League.

Despite missing out on Champions League football, however, the Red Devils have displayed a willingness to splash the cash this summer, and Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth has now explained how they plan to fund their summer transfer business.

Sky Sports: Man Utd also eyeing £60m Mbeumo alternative who Amorim loves

The Red Devils have set their sights on another forward, despite making an approach for Bryan Mbeumo.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 11, 2025

Sheth said: “A lot of people are saying – how can they afford Cunha, who’s already at the club? Mbeumo, who’s going to cost the thick end of £60m as well, and Viktor Gyokeres, who’s going to cost over £60m as well?

“Well, I don’t think Manchester United, despite all their much-publicised financial issues, are going into a transfer window with £0 to spend.

“They will have a certain budget, which we understand to be covered by Cunha and Mbeumo, and then maybe they will have to make sales.”

The interest in Viktor Gyokeres has been stepped up in recent days, with United making an initial approach for the Sporting CP striker, but there has now been a new update which suggests he could be even more expensive than they anticipated.

According to a report from Portugal (via Sport Witness), Man United are now ready to make an offer for Gyokeres, but Sporting are set to hold out for a fee of €80m (£68m), which has left the centre-forward ‘furious’.

Sporting increasing their asking price has unsettled the forward, given that a fee of €60m -€75m (£51m – £64m) had previously been touted, and he has now removed references to the club from his social media accounts.

"World-class" Gyokeres deserves summer move

Having led Sporting to Liga Portugal and Taca de Portugal glory, the Sweden international has earned the chance to prove himself at one of Europe’s top clubs, and it is understandable that he is angry the club could now price him out of a move.

That said, it is also clear to see why the Portuguese side are reluctant to sanction a departure for a fee that does not reflect the 27-year-old’s value, having performed remarkably well across some key attacking metrics over the past year.

Lauded as “world-class” by one analyst, Gyokeres has shown he is more than ready to test himself in the Premier League, and it is exciting news that Man United are now ready to make an offer, although it remains to be seen if they can afford to stump up £68m.

Whilst Birmingham City’s unbelievable attacking arsenal undoubtedly helped them to stroll to the League One title with 81 goals being scored, the defenders also more than played their part in the Blues’ title-winning success when shutting out some dangerous third-tier attackers.

Chris Davies’ men would boast the sternest defence in the division come the end of their near flawless 46-game campaign, with only 31 strikes being shipped in total courtesy of Christoph Klarer at the back showing off their imposing nature.

Still, the reawakened giants won’t be resting on their laurels moving back up to the Championship, with signings all over the pitch rumoured to join the impressive St Andrew’s ranks.

Birmingham's growing list of transfer targets

Davies’ side won’t be content with simply making up the numbers next season after promotion, knowing full well that chairman Tom Wagner will again give the Blues adequate funds to spend on some top buys.

Birmingham have already been linked with major moves for former star Che Adams alongside League One superstar Kwame Poku to enhance their potent forward areas. Further, a move for Irish shot-stopper Mark Travers has also been rumoured.

But, the ever-growing list of statement targets doesn’t stop there, with journalist Alan Nixon now reporting that the newly promoted side could go back in for the much-admired Harry Darling who Birmingham have previously had on their shopping list.

Davies and Co might well be able to land the experienced Swansea City centre-back for nothing, considering his deal with the Welsh side expires very soon, but fellow promoted outfit Wrexham are also allegedly sniffing around for the 25-year-old.

Amazingly, if a deal was to get over the line, Birmingham would be able to land an instant upgrade on Hannover 96 powerhouse Phil Neumann who is also set to join the Blues this summer from the Bundesliga, meaning competition for places in the heart of defence would be extremely fierce.

How Darling would be an upgrade on Neumann

Winning both Neumann and Darling in quick succession would make sense, with the likes of Grant Hanley exiting St. Andrew’s at the expiry of his contract, alongside Dion Sanderson’s future at the club being up in the air after a loan stint at Blackburn Rovers.

But, if it was a toss-up between the two new potential centre-backs as to who would partner a formidable Klarer moving forward, Darling could well get the nod over the 6 foot 3 German when picking apart their impressive 2024/25 numbers below.

Games played

39

32

43

Goals scored

5

2

1

Assists

3

1

3

Touches*

74.5

64.4

91.8

Accurate passes*

53.9 (88%)

38.9 (83%)

68.4 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

3.9

4.3

3.5

Clearances*

5.0

5.2

5.6

Total duels won*

4.9

4.3

7.5

Clean sheets

12

10

18

Straight off the bat, Darling already possesses a lot of experience of the English game to his advantage, with 108 career games under his belt in the difficult Championship.

On top of that, the soon-to-be free agent has also averaged a better pass accuracy per league clash this season in the second tier than Neumann has managed in the German top-flight, alongside also bettering the Hannover number five when it comes to winning duels.

Klarer has shown in abundance for Birmingham that he can be equal parts classy yet attritional too, meaning the “heroic” Swans centre-back – as he was once labelled by former manager Luke Williams – and the Austrian enforcer could soon be a match made in heaven in the heart of the Blues defence.

Of course, Neumann would still be pushing for a starting spot here, but if Birmingham can win such a distinguished performer at the level on a free transfer, it’s a move they simply must pursue.

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ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025

The David Moyes revival has already taken Everton so far; Goodison Park is unrecognisable from the tumbledown slump that the Scotsman inherited, confidence at a low ebb after colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.

Dyche did a good job, all told, but he couldn’t take the Toffees any further and rightly parted ways when The Friedkin Group looked to christen their ownership with an uplifting appointment.

Moyes has done very well indeed, losing just four of his 16 Premier League games at the helm. However, he needs new recruits this summer, especially at the front of the ship.

With Everton stepping into a new home at the Bramley-Moore dock, it feels the right time to replace the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a new number nine.

Everton's search for a new striker

Calvert-Lewin has been a stalwart for Everton, playing 270 matches across nine seasons, scoring 71 goals. He’s out of contract this summer, though, with brittle fitness levels and consequent struggles for form suggesting he should be allowed to leave.

Transfer Focus

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

Beto’s resurgent as a focal frontman, but Everton want more, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst identified as the perfect player to join Moyes’ project.

According to Caught Offside, TFG are ready to pay the €35m (£30m) asking price for the powerful striker, though the same could be said for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Further interest from overseas complicates matters, but Everton’s willingness to place a bid suggests that Moyes and the owners are driven toward making improvements during the off-season.

Why Everton want Tim Kleindienst

Time was when Everton would cede swift defeat in a jam-packed race for a talented striker, Goodison Park devolving into something of a hotbed for disappointment in recent years.

But this is a new era, and Moyes has restored the feel-good factor. Kleindienst, 29, could make this new feeling even better still, with a clinical track record in Germany denoting his capacity to confidently take Calvert-Lewin’s place in the squad.

The Germany international has scored 16 goals and added ten assists across 32 matches for Gladbach this season, arriving from Heidenheim last summer.

Standing at 6 foot 4, he carries the imposing physicality that Moyes has made such good use of throughout his managerial career, and with Kleindienst winning 4.7 aerial duels per Bundesliga match this season, he has what it takes to flourish in the area Calvert-Lewin so expertly excels.

Matches (starts)*

23 (19)

30 (30)

Goals

3

16

Assists

1

7

Big chances missed

1

14

Pass completion

64%

62%

Big chances created

1

11

Key passes*

0.3

0.9

Dribbles*

0.4

0.4

Tackles + interceptions*

0.7

1.3

Total duels won*

5.5

6.9

The two strikers have a lot in common. Both strong and tall, they win many duels through their focal role in the air; each forward dribbles infrequently, with neither proving the most accurate in his passing.

However, therein lies the disparity. Kleindienst is far more fruitful in his passing, so creative and intelligent with his knock-ons, his lay-offs. Indeed, as per The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the German is “an exquisite one-touch player”.

Defensively, there’s a lot to admire too. FBref record Kleindienst ranks among the top 19% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 1% for both blocks and clearances made per 90.

To be sure, signing a striker on the brink of their thirties would be something of a risk, but Kleinsdienst’s athleticism, power and dynamism would be perfect for an Everton side on the up.

Profiled in a similar way to Calvert-Lewin and coveted by divisional rivals, Everton will want to make this statement of intent.

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ByAngus Sinclair May 6, 2025

Chelsea’s next game in the Premier League sees them host London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. This has, historically, been a favourable fixture for the West Londoners; at least, that has been the case in the Premier League.

The Blues’ record at Stamford Bridge against Spurs since the 1992/92 season is exceptional. In 32 top flight games, they have won 20, drawn 11 and lost just one. In that time, they have scored 61 goals to the Lilywhites’ 23.

Last season, this fixture ended 2-0 to Chelsea, thanks to goals from defender Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson. Surprisingly, it was a rare game in which Cole Palmer failed to register a goal involvement.

However, he will have a chance to do so on Thursday night, with Enzo Maresca bearing good news about his return from injury.

Chelsea team news vs. Spurs

Well, Chelsea fans can breathe a sigh of relief because Palmer will return to action against Spurs. After missing England duty and the last Premier League game against Arsenal, Maresca explained, “Cole is back, he is ok. He is better”, in his pre-match press conference.

The Wythenshawe-born sensation has actually been on a bit of a goal drought in recent weeks but still has 14 goals and seven assists in 28 Premier League games this term.

He scored twice away from home against the Lilywhites in a 4-3 earlier in the season, including a clever panenka, and will surely be hoping to repeat the feat this week at Stamford Bridge.

Palmer is not the only England international returning to the Blues’ first team this week. Noni Madueke is also returning to the first-team fold after missing the last four Premier League games with a hamstring injury.

Maresca confirmed the former PSV Eindhoven star is “better” and seemingly will be available for selection against the Lilywhites, where he played academy football. Madueke will be looking to add to his eight goals and four assists this term.

Having Palmer and Madueke back is a huge boost for Maresca, but they are not the only attacking stars returning to action for Chelsea. The Blues boss also has a deadly forward available who could do Spurs some damage.

The returning Chelsea star who can unlock Palmer

Not only are the two England internationals back in action this week for the Blues, but so is Jackson, one of the goal-scorers from last season against the North Londoners.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He has missed the last five league games with a hamstring issue, but Maresca also said he is “better”, describing the returning trio as “all good”.

It has been an impressive season for Jackson on the whole. He has featured 23 times in the Premier League, scoring nine times and grabbing five assists.

His all-round centre-forward play seems to have improved this term, given he has already matched his assist tally from 2023/24. Jamie Carragher described the 23-year-old as a “handful” at the start of February.

Indeed, the stats on FBref certainly back up how much trouble he can cause opposition defences. For example, in the Premier League this season, he averages 0.52 goal-creating actions, ranking him in the top 12% of strikers in the English top flight.

Shots on target

1.56

88th

Non-penalty expected goals

0.59npxG

88th

Assists

0.26

90th

Shot-creating actions

3.21

76th

Goal-creating actions

0.52

88th

Football scout Antonio Mango said Jackson’s “movement is key to unlocking Cole Palmer”, with the movement he makes creating space for the England international to exploit. This seems like something the Blues would appreciate, given Palmer’s goal drought over the last few weeks.

Indeed, his elite movement off the ball was evident at the start of his Chelsea career. In September 2023, analyst Nick Wright wrote a piece for Sky Sports, which noted that ‘Jackson has made more off-the-ball runs than any other Premier League player this season’. Already, you can see how good Jackson is at moving off the ball to facilitate his teammates.

If given the chance, Jackson definitely has the potential to hurt Spurs this evening. The fact that he can facilitate Palmer so well with his elite movement, plus his ability in front of goal, makes him a great weapon in Chelsea’s arsenal ahead of this crunch clash on Thursday night.

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Karthik Krishnaswamy18-May-20251:21

Moody: Gill, Sai Sudharsan now have five gears

On Saturday night, Bengaluru’s cricket fans paid tribute to Virat Kohli’s Test career when they poured into the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a T20 game that never happened. On Sunday night, another man from Bengaluru paid his own tribute to Kohli – in Kohli’s hometown, no less – though this was a T20 tribute in a T20 game.It came in the 19th over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) innings against Gujarat Titans (GT), and it came off a ball that pitched 8.7m from the stumps. That’s solidly back of a length, a length that’s incredibly hard to hit down the ground for six, especially off a rapid, hit-the-deck bowler, with a bat not quite vertical but certainly more vertical than horizontal.Kohli famously hit a 19th-over six like that, off Haris Rauf at the MCG. Sunday’s effort at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, from KL Rahul off Prasidh Krishna, was similar in conception and mechanics, even if it went over long-off rather than back over the bowler’s head.Related

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• Stats – GT second team to pull off double-century chase without losing a wicket

Rahul hit GT’s fast bowlers for three sixes over long-off during his unbeaten 112 on Sunday, and none of them was straightforward. The one off Prasidh took the prize for difficulty level, but the two off Kagiso Rabada didn’t come off slot balls either. In the sixth over, he used his reach to extend his arms through a lofted front-foot drive off a 6.75m ball – 6-8m is the fast bowler’s good-length band. In the 11th over, Rabada followed his movement away from leg stump with a 6.99m ball, seemingly cramping him for room, only for Rahul to manufacture a straight-bat jab down the ground.There were only four sixes in Rahul’s innings – that’s the joint-fewest he’s hit in his seven T20 hundreds. That he hit only four sixes, and that three of them came off genuinely hard-to-hit balls, told a tale – an important tale in the context of this match and of IPL 2025 on the whole, but one that won’t immediately leap out of the scorecard.That scorecard is dominated by three big innings from opening batters – Rahul’s 65-ball 112, B Sai Sudharsan’s 61-ball 108, and Shubman Gill’s 53-ball 93, all three unbeaten, all three scored at strike rates between 172 and 178.GT won by ten wickets, with an over to spare, and they romped home in a manner so clinical that the target they were chasing, 200, seemed inadequate. It probably was, but the story of this match wasn’t the usual story of matches like this, of the team batting first showing too little ambition and ending with a below-par total, of the first-innings centurion ending up with question marks over his intent or lack thereof.1:13

‘DC got it wrong with their bowling match-ups’

Those questions have been asked of Rahul numerous times in his career, but Sunday’s innings wasn’t that sort of innings. If DC only made 199 despite losing just three wickets, they did so not because they didn’t take enough risks with the bat but because GT tied them down with the quality of their bowling.And that quality, though apparent if you watched closely, only really began to stand out when it had something to stand out against. And that something was the opposition’s bowling.Sai Sudharsan and Gill batted brilliantly, in a manner we have come to watch with open jaws, putting on an unbroken 205, their highest partnership in a season that has so far brought them 839 runs as a pair, at an average of 76.27, with seven 50-plus stands of which three have gone past the century mark. It’s almost unheard of for an opening pair to score so consistently, with such control, while seeming to take so few risks, without leaving you wondering if they left ten or 15 runs out in the middle.It’s a neat trick, and it’s partly explained by the quality of batsmanship: you only need to watch Sai Sudharsan’s no-look flicked six off T Natarajan, or Gill’s flicked six off the same bowler, hit nonchalantly against the angle, to know that these are hugely gifted strokemakers.But that’s not the whole story. The other thing that makes this trick possible is GT’s bowling attack, which gives Sai Sudharsan and Gill the luxury of taking chances less frequently than opening pairs who play for teams with inferior attacks.Watch the highlights of Rahul’s innings and count the boundaries off hit-me balls. Do the same with the highlights of GT’s chase. Compare.1:07

Moody: ‘Rahul has managed to adjust again to a different role’

Sai Sudharsan hit four fours and a six off the first nine balls he faced, and four of them came off hit-me balls: two hip-high balls angling down the leg side, two short balls offering room to free the arms.There were periods when DC managed to string together sequences of quiet overs – they only conceded 27 from the fifth to the eighth overs, for instance – and neither Sai Sudharsan nor Gill tried to break free by manufacturing a boundary. But DC simply couldn’t sustain that pressure for long enough, and this is how most IPL attacks operate.And GT, at all times, were only chasing 200, because their attack hadn’t operated like most IPL attacks. They operated, instead, like an attack that had Ashish Nehra’s eyes on them at all times.As GT’s head coach, Nehra’s bowling philosophy is simple: bowl good lengths, bowl to your field, and keep at it; if the batter still manages to find the boundary, say “well done, let’s see you try that again”. A lot of coaches talk the same game, but few keep their bowlers on as tight a leash as Nehra does, screaming instructions from the edge of the playing area.And it helps when those instructions are carried out by fast bowlers as good as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh – both of whom have benefited immensely from the simplicity of Nehra’s stick-to-your-strengths philosophy – and spinners as good as Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. All four have featured in all of GT’s matches this season.2:40

What could DC have done differently?

The moment that best illustrated GT’s bowling quality on Sunday came from their one questionable tactical call, giving Sai Kishore the 16th over when Axar Patel was at the crease. That over, pitting a left-arm fingerspinner against a left-hand batter known for his prowess against spin, brought DC 15 runs, but Sai Kishore really made Axar earn his runs. Both the four and the six he hit in that over came off quick, good-length balls angled away from his hitting arc; both times, Sai Kishore forced Axar to use all of his immense reach to find a way to hit down the ground.The contrast between that over and the big overs that littered GT’s innings was stark, the latter invariably chock-full of slot balls or balls offering width.And this wasn’t just the story of this match. It’s been the story of IPL 2025. GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them. DC have never quite found that sort of structure or coherence – they didn’t have it even during their run of four straight wins at the start of the season.It’s why the two teams are where they are right now. GT are into the playoffs, and DC need other results to go their way to have a chance of joining them. And while the top order will take a lot of credit for how GT’s season has gone, they will know that their bowlers have made things a lot easier for them.

Podcast: We review the India vs Australia Test series and look ahead to the WTC final

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2023Andrew McGlashan and Karthik Krishnaswamy join Karthik Iyer to look back at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series, which had a lot of excitement for three of the four Tests, till a lifeless Ahmedabad pitch spoilt the fun. Here, they pick the best and worst performers and performances, and also look ahead to the World Test Championship final, to be contested by the same two sides.