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Evening Standard
4 days ago
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Inside Crystal Palace's new recruitment team as transfer spending stalls for Eagles
On the flipside is the potential outgoings, and the huge question marks over the futures of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi. Eze's £68m release clause expires on Friday, as Standard Sport first revealed, but neither Arsenal nor Tottenham are wanting to part with that amount of money. Guehi, meanwhile, is out of contract next summer and while Palace might want to cash in now, with Liverpool and Newcastle among those who are interested, Guehi is aware he would be playing roulette with his chances of starting for England at next summer's World Cup if he were to move now.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arsenal handed huge boost for Eberechi Eze transfer as Stuttgart confirm £25.9m deal
Arsenal's pursuit of Eberechi Eze may have been handed a huge boost with Al Ahli completing the signing of Enzo Millot from Stuttgart. As announced by Al Ahli and the Bundesliga outfit on Saturday, Millot has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi Pro League club. Neither club have provided financial details of the deal, but local media claim Al Ahli have paid £25.9million (€30million) for the 23-year-old attacking midfielder. Millot joined Stuttgart in 2021 and made 43 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists. Furthermore, he netted twice in their 4-2 German Cup final win over Arminia Bielefeld in May. His departure leaves Stuttgart on the market for a replacement and Standard Sport reported earlier in the week that they have held talks with Arsenal over a deal for Fabio Vieira, which could see the midfielder leave Emirates Stadium permanently. It has been widely reported that the Gunners would make a move for Eze once they have sold the Portuguese playmaker. This may soon become a reality as Stuttgart can now accelerate plans to sign Vieira with the funds brought in from Millot's sale to Al Ahli. Arsenal do retain an interest in the Crystal Palace star and Mikel Arteta has said the club remain open for more signings despite spending nearly £200m this summer. 'Let's see what happens, in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks,' said Arteta after his side's 3-0 win over Athletic Club. 'But, we are actively looking at options. 'As well, there are a few players that, maybe, they have to leave as well. So, we will be open to see what happens.' Additional reporting by Reuters.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gus Atkinson interview: Oval Invincibles bowler targets Hundred impact before Ashes shot
Looking back at the year that Gus Atkinson made a stunning start to his Test career, it is unsurprising that a solitary appearance in the Hundred does not immediately spring to mind. The England seamer earned a Test debut against West Indies a year ago. By the end of the match he had 12 wickets to his name. Fast forward to the end of 2024 and he had taken 52 scalps, more than any other England players in the calendar year. There was also a Test hundred at Lord's for good measure. In amongst that, Atkinson's Oval Invincibles team-mates defended their Hundred title. The 27-year-old's contribution amounted to ten balls bowled in the final group-stage match, but the international calendar this year offers a window for a more significant role. 'Last year I only got to play one game, which was a shame," Atkinson tells Standard Sport. 'Obviously this year I've been injured for two months. Things might have been different if I'd played all five Tests, there might have been a chance that England pulled me out of the Hundred. 'But playing the one Test and then some white-ball cricket is exciting. 'Getting the chance to play for the two-time winners and trying to win that third one on the bounce will be good.' Atkinson's opening Hundred match will be his first white-ball appearance since an ODI against India in February. He was named in the England squad for the subsequent Champions Trophy but did not feature in a disastrous campaign. 'I felt like I wasn't really prepared well for that series, I hadn't played much white-ball cricket at all," Atkinson said. 'Red ball has been my priority in the last year or so." That will change over the coming weeks when Atkinson lines up for the Oval Invincibles. It is once again an incredibly strong side, with Rashid Khan a "very cool" addition to a squad already containing the likes of Sam Curran, Sam Billings and Will Jacks. Atkinson is ready to play his part after returning to fitness. His flying start to life in the Test arena was halted by a hamstring injury picked up against Zimbabwe this summer. England have been cautious over his recovery and Atkinson had to wait until the fifth and final Test of the India series to make his return. Eight wickets on his home ground, including 5/33 in the first innings, was a swift reminder of what he brings to the attack. 'It was frustrating," Atkinson says of the hamstring injury. "I had the India series very much on my mind leading into the summer. 'I've never really had a muscle injury like that before. It came as a bit of a surprise. I was out fielding with my injury and it was definitely worse than we thought it was going to be. 'We thought it might be a few days of resting. We didn't think it would be this long. 'It's been quite frustrating, especially because I've been able to bowl. I bowled in Leeds for the first Test off a full run-up but not quite at 100 per cent." Efforts to build up his match fitness involved an outing for club side Spencer in Surrey Cricket Championship Premier Division. What did he sense the Sunbury batters were feeling as he marked out his run-up? Atkinson graciously points out his figures of 0/36 from his eight overs. 'I didn't take any wickets or anything! 'They're still good players. Cricket is one of those sports where it's small margins between being right at the top and a club player." Following the epic drawn Test series against India, England have white-ball fixtures against South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand before the spotlight shifts firmly to the Ashes at the end of the year. Despite having now taken 63 Test wickets at 22.01, Atkinson still feels he has something to prove when asked how much of a target being in the side for that first Test in Perth in November is. After a lengthy pause, he responds: 'It's difficult. People on the outside would say I haven't been tested much in Test cricket. 'You've got Australia and you've got India as the two big series. That's why it's disappointing to miss so much of the series this summer. 'I think if I can get a good block of cricket now leading up to Australia - there's no red-ball cricket now before that series so it's important that I play a lot of white-ball games." Atkinson spent a season in Australia playing grade cricket when he finished school but is set for a slightly more high-profile experience this winter. He could have a crucial role in a series that will define the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era, and Atkinson is determined to play his part in ensuring the history books are kind. 'I love playing under Stokesy as a captain," he says. "I don't know what it is, but he just makes you want to do well and put in big performances. He gets that out of players. You want to run through a brick wall for him basically.' This will be the first time since the 2002/03 Ashes series that England have travelled to Australia without James Anderson or Stuart Broad in their ranks. There is a largely settled top seven in the batting line-up but the bowling attack is far more uncertain. England will hope to have Jofra Archer and Mark Wood fit, while the likes of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have featured prominently this summer. Atkinson could not have done more to push his case over the past 12 months and is confident England's seamers, whoever they are, can take the wickets to secure only a second series win in Australia in nearly 40 years. 'You could say we've got inexperienced bowlers, but I don't think that's a bad thing at all," Atkinson says. "Going out there with no expectations, we're all really excited and looking forward to the challenge. 'Different sorts of bowlers to Jimmy and Broad. Slightly more hit-the-deck bowlers, which has worked in Australia in the past. 'It will be a challenge but I think we've got a good group of lads who are eager to go out there and impress.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres 'convinced' of transfer agreement as Sporting return is 'delayed'
Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly seen his Sporting return delayed as links to Arsenal continue. Gyokeres was not among the initial batch of Sporting players to report back for pre-season training at the beginning of the month. Although, his absence was due to being granted extra time off by the club after being away with the Sweden national team at the end of last season. In fact, a Sporting statement read: 'Those who have been away with their respective national teams will report to training at a later date.' There had been reports that the striker was due to report for pre-season training today, Friday July 11, 2025. However, Portuguese publication, Record, claim that the date has been moved to tomorrow, Saturday July 12, 2025. This is the same return date as Conrad Harder and Geovany Quenda, who were away with Denmark and Portugal respectively at the Euro U21 tournament this summer. That said, A Bola are reporting that Gyokeres has no intention of turning up to training on Saturday unless he has a 'last minute change of heart' with O Jogo, stating he is not bothered about potential sanctions from Sporting because he's convinced an agreement will be found with Arsenal. As revealed by Standard Sport, both clubs had hoped to reach an agreement over a transfer fee before the end of the week. Negotiations are ongoing, but Standard Sport reported last Sunday that Arsenal's current proposal of €65million (£56m) plus €15m (£13m) in add-ons was not enough and would need to be increased. Gyokeres has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Arsenal on a five-year contract, but it remains to be seen whether a fee can be agreed between the clubs before the Gunners fly out to Singapore and Hong Kong for a tour next week.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arsenal closing in on £65.5m Viktor Gyokeres signing as transfer talks near completion
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting. Standard Sport understands the final details of a move are now being discussed and all parties are moving towards reaching a full agreement for the Swede to join the Gunners. Gyokeres has already agreed personal terms on a five-year deal and has been awaiting a club-to-club agreement. He is now expected to join Arsenal in a deal worth €63.5million (£54.86m), with a further €10m (£8.64) in add-ons. Sporting want the full add-ons to be realistic and achievable while, the striker's agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has waived his entire commission, which was due to be worth around €7m (£6.05m), to help finalise the deal. Arsenal always intended to sign a leading striker this summer, with Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko the two primary targets for months. Gyokeres has made clear his desire to leave Sporting and move to the Emirates, and will face disciplinary action for refusing to board a plane on Saturday to join his team-mates for the Portuguese club's pre-season training campaign. Gyokeres, formerly of Brighton, Swansea and Coventry, believes Sporting's president, Frederico Varandas, failed to honour an agreement between the pair that would allow him to join Arsenal for around €70m. Talks had been at a stalemate, but Arsenal have made progress over the weekend and are now closing in on a deal to sign their No1 striker target, who has scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting. Gyokeres's arrival would make him the latest signing Arsenal have made this summer, after Martin Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad, Christian Norgaard from Brentford, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from London rivals Chelsea. Noni Madueke is in London ahead of undergoing a medical to complete a £52m move from the Blues. The belief from many at Arsenal is that the arrival of a leading striker such as Gyokeres can help them bridge the gap to win the Premier League title. They have finished second in each of the last three seasons.
