A big week for Arsenal started in captivating fashion on Saturday afternoon as the Gunners swept aside Bournemouth with pure ease.

It was as comfortable an away performance as you could ever ask for as Mikel Arteta's men ran away from the south coast with a 4-0 victory.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a header from close range before two penalties – one from Martin Odegaard and another from Kai Havertz (yes, he actually scored) – saw the game put beyond all doubt.

There was even room for Ben White to pop up with a rare goal, heading home from a late free-kick.

After Manchester City's remarkable loss to Wolves, Arsenal have moved to within a point of the league-leading Citizens, who they face in a crunch match at the Emirates next Sunday.

That match is sandwiched by the return of the Champions League, with the Londoners set to face French opposition in Lens on Tuesday night.

With City to come, a degree of rotation is likely to be afforded in a few day's time, with William Saliba one player who could sit out.

What's the latest on William Saliba's fitness?

The Frenchman missed the League Cup win over Brentford in midweek due to a niggle, with Arteta refusing to take any risk on his star centre-back.

Last season, a back problem curtailed the £190k-per-week defender's season, and indeed ended any hopes Arsenal had of winning a first Premier League title since 2004. Rob Holding ended up being his deputy and we all know how that turned out.

Speaking after the 1-0 win over the Bees, Arteta said: "He has a knock… Let’s see how everybody is today. They weren’t selected for a reason. We need to assess them today….They weren’t fit enough to be in the squad [against Brentford], that’s it."

Saliba returned to the squad against Bournemouth and kept a clean sheet, with it proving to be the type of game where he even had fewer touches than David Raya. However, he could well sit out again for the trip to Lens.

Should Saliba play against Lens?

If Arteta has any sense this is surely the ideal match to rest the France international.

The international break may be around the corner but the fact of the matter is that Arsenal cannot afford any injuries to their star men heading into such a critical encounter with Man City in seven days from now.

If Saliba was to get injured then either Ben White or Takehiro Tomiyasu could deputise in central defence, but no one quite offers the "world-class" qualities – as dubbed by journalist Jason Soutar – that the club's number 2 provides.

Saliba doesn't rank particularly highly in a number of defensive metrics this season when compared to positionally similar players in the top flight, largely because Arsenal haven't had a huge amount of defending to do, but his composure and ability to play out from the back is second to very few.

The 22-year-old sits in the top 12% of centre-backs in the Premier League this season for pass completion, the best 23% for progressive passes and the top 20% for carries, via FBref.

Remarkably, he is yet to be dribbled past once in the league this season, boasting a 100% success rate when it comes to dribblers tackled. An irremovable force, he is one of few defenders in the world that you'd fancy getting any change from Erling Haaland.

An injury, therefore, would be disastrous and he simply has to be benched for the club's forthcoming Champions League tie.

Aston Villa achieved a successful summer in the transfer window, bolstering the squad in a host of areas to better their chances at improving on last season's highs.

Five new faces have arrived on the scene during the window, with Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo, Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Clement Lenglet joining Unai Emery on his quest to take Villa to the next level.

Making impressive signings would not have been possible without the Spaniard’s intervention following his arrival at Villa Park in October 2022, where he has since transformed the club in ways beyond in-play performance.

Aston Villa summer signings

Player

Club

Fee

Youri Tielemans

Leicester City

Free

Pau Torres

Villarreal

£33m

Moussa Diaby

Bayer Leverkusen

£51.9m

Nicolo Zaniolo

Galatasaray

Loan

Clement Lenglet

Barcelona

Loan

Figures via Sky Sports.

The Midlands club have been granted a new lease of life thanks to the 51-year-old’s objectives for his side, bringing with him a stellar CV that has ultimately helped to attract some star names to join his project.

Despite bringing in such a calibre of talent, as well as smashing the club's record transfer fee to obtain the £51.9m signature of Diaby, there were some targets that could not be collected by Emery and Monchi this summer.

Last month, one name was rumoured to be of interest to the Villans, as midfielder Tyler Adams was speculated to be on the manager’s and Monchi's radar, in a move that could have prevailed to have a strong outcome for Villa.

Did Aston Villa nearly sign Tyler Adams?

Reported by Football Insider in August, it was claimed that the Midlands side were ‘exploring a potential move’ for the former Leeds United midfielder, who joined a host of players who were hoping to depart Elland Road.

The Whites’ relegation to the Championship called time on a number of players’ futures at the club, with Adams being one of them eager to leave to avoid playing in the second tier.

Luckily for the United States international, a £20m relegation release clause was in place in his contract with the Yorkshire club, making him an affordable asset for interested parties to consider.

Villa looked to be in the race to sign the American, however, Chelsea seemed to get their first, as it was reported that the Blues were closing in on the 24-year-old.

Things took a quick turn, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side pulled the plug on the deal after the midfielder’s medical, with the Daily Mail reporting their concerns over his ongoing hamstring injury.

It didn’t take long for the former RB Leipzig star to find a new club after the west Londoners’ snub, as Bournemouth activated his release clause to secure his signature on a five-year deal.

The American is back in the Premier League, however after making such an impact in his debut campaign at Elland Road, it poses the question of just how much of a strong acquisition he would have been under Emery.

What is Tyler Adams’ market value?

Valued at €38.3m (£32.9m) by Football Transfers, Villa could have sealed a bargain in Adams, whose release clause was a price far lower than the figure reflective of his form.

At just 24, the combative midfielder has experience playing in his home nation in the MLS, as well as the Bundesliga and of course, the Premier League, where he made 24 appearances for Leeds.

Lauded as a “monster” by former defender and fellow countryman Alexi Lalas, the United States ace is highly-regarded back home, captaining his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar aged just 23.

With strong leadership ability and a rounded skill set in the engine room, the New York-born gem could have sparkled in Emery’s midfield, considering that the Spaniard recruited in such a position earlier in the window.

Who do Aston Villa have in that position?

Before the summer transfer window officially opened, Villa announced that they had reached an agreement to sign former Leicester City marvel Youri Tielemans, as the central midfielder’s contract expired with the Foxes.

A middle of the park maestro that had just suffered relegation from the Premier League, the Belgian had a similar claim to the club to their later rumoured target in Adams.

Deployed more typically in a slightly more advanced role to that inhabited by the American, Tielemans signed to seek relief from relegation, however, he hasn’t had a chance to show his worth yet under Emery.

Speaking in a recent press conference, relayed by Football 365, the former Anderlecht star admitted that his situation at Villa Park is “not pleasant”, as he still waits to earn his first Premier League start for the claret and blues.

The player believes the reason behind his absence to be down to the manager’s preference to play two in midfield, with enforcers Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara fitting the demographic of a combative presence better.

Should Aston Villa have signed Tyler Adams?

There were rumours in the summer that Luiz, Villa’s favoured midfielder, was attracting interest from the capital, with The Sun reporting that both Arsenal and Tottenham were eyeing his movements.

In the instance that the Brazilian was to leave Villa Park one day in the future, Tielemans would get a clearer path to being a crucial member of the midfield, which poses the question as to whether Adams would have been a better fit from the off.

Last season, the former Leeds dominator ranked in the top 3% of midfielders in the Premier League with reference to his rate of tackles per 90, in which he averaged a stellar 3.72 per 90, via FBref.

Tielemans, while eye-catching from a technical point of view is not so good at that part of the game, averaging below Adams but still impressively with 2.53 tackles per 90 in the same campaign with Leicester. However, his numbers fell glaringly short of those of Adams, telling of what Emery could have got in the American considering the role he wants his midfield duo to undertake.

Instead, the Belgian is heralded for his passing ability, but the Bournemouth man actually topped the Villa outsider in terms of his average pass completion rate per 90, recording 82.5% to his 80.3%.

There’s no denying the quality that Tielemans has in his locker, but with him missing out on minutes due to Emery’s preference to field the two holding midfielders, the Spaniard could have hired the player that fits his wishes better in Adams.

Adding in the fact that sides interested in Luiz may come knocking for the Brazilian again in the winter and beyond, the former Arsenal boss could have had a reassuring defensive presence in the American.

There are of course many factors to the reported interest, with the fact remaining that the Villans have got a seasoned midfielder in Tielemans despite missing out on Adams, however only time will tell if Emery lives to regret not pushing for the 24-year-old.

Newcastle United supporters are feeling a sense of excitement ahead of the new season, and their club are now set to ramp up their pursuit of a talented young defender, according to a report.

Newcastle look to add to pool of talented stars

While being active on the transfer market is a priority for Eddie Howe, retaining his most talented players for the foreseeable future will also be a central mission at St James’ Park.

One of his brightest stars is Tino Livramento, and the England international clarified he is in ‘constant contact’ with the Magpies manager despite reported interest from Manchester City in his services.

He said on international duty at the UEFA Under-21 EURO Championship: “The manager, I’m in constant contact with him. He has just said to keep focusing on what you’re doing now and you’re doing so well.

“So having that relationship with someone that is obviously such a big figure in what I’ve done so far, I think is an amazing thing for me.”

Liverpool are also targeting star striker Alexander Isak, but who could Howe look to add to his squad in the midst of rival clubs circling for key talent?

Newcastle United’s first five Premier League fixtures in 2025/26

Aston Villa (A)

Villa Park

Liverpool (H)

St James’ Park

Leeds United (A)

Elland Road

Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

St James’ Park

Bournemouth (A)

Vitality Stadium

Taking advantage of his uncertain situation, Newcastle are keen on a season-long loan for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, though the Red Devils would also accept a fee of £40 million to sanction a permanent departure.

Reverting to the other end of the field, the Magpies are now readying a bid for a defender who they will need to see off Real Madrid’s advances for to bring to the North East, per reports.

Newcastle readying Ousmane Diomande offer

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are preparing a bid for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, who is also attracting heavy attention from Real Madrid and Chelsea. The Magpies have not engaged in any talks with the player, but are preparing to go straight in by submitting a bid to Sporting.

The Ivory Coast international is seen as part of Howe’s long-term strategy to compete in the Champions League, and the Magpies have tracked him for several months, hence why they are now ready to firm up their advances with a concrete proposal.

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Crystal Palace have also entered the hunt, though it remains to be seen if any suitors can get near to his £68.3 million release clause, which clubs will likely try to whittle down.

Last season, the 21-year-old notched two goals and one assist in 46 appearances as Sporting stormed to the Primeira Liga title, while he also won 134 duels in that timeframe.

Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles are coming towards the twilight of their careers, so it may make a degree of sense that the Magpies are in the hunt for a younger alternative at centre-back.

Everton manager Sean Dyche is under pressure at the moment, and journalist Paul Brown has been discussing his possible successor at Goodison Park.

Will Sean Dyche be sacked as Everton manager?

Dyche took charge of the Blues back in January, following the sacking of Frank Lampard, but he has found it hard to have a major impact at the club to date.

Granted, he steered them clear of relegation from the Premier League, following a nervy 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth on the final day, but Everton arguably shouldn't have even been in that position in the first place.

This season has started in similarly disappointing fashion, with three defeats and one draw coming the Merseysiders' way in the league, and back-to-back losses suffered at home. Next up is Arsenal at Goodison on Sunday afternoon, in what looks like a daunting challenge on paper.

While Dyche's position doesn't appear to be under threat at the moment, if results continue to be poor for a sustained period, those high up at Everton may start looking at potential replacements for him.

Will Graham Potter be Everton's next manager?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown claimed that Graham Potter coming in for Dyche would make little sense, though, due to their contrasting approaches to football:

"I think it would frankly be too big a swing from one extreme to the other to go from Dyche to Potter. One of Everton’s big problems is they've never had, since Moshiri arrived, one overarching strategy of what they are, what the team’s identity should be and how it should play or line up.

"They've lurched from one extreme to another each time they've had to get rid of a manager, and you've had to start from scratch, rebuilding a team for a completely different style of play. That can't go on."

As mentioned, Dyche appears to have some credit in the bank for the time being, but it is only natural that the club could be sounding out alternatives, should things not improve in the coming weeks and months.

In Potter, Everton could have an intriguing option to come in, with the Englishman still a top manager, despite his time at Chelsea going extremely badly. In truth, that job appears to be a tough one for any manager, so it would be harsh to assess him too negatively there, especially as Pep Guardiola called him "outstanding" earlier this year.

Brown has a point, in terms of the former Brighton boss' style of play being very different to Dyche's – the former favours a possession game, while the latter is known for being more direct – but if the Blues feel Potter is the best option to replace the current manager, they shouldn't worry about players having to adapt to a new system.

For now, though, Everton should stick with Dyche, who still needs time with new signings after the summer transfer window closed.

There isn't enough patience shown with managers in the modern game and there is no reason why he can't turn things around, having excelled so much as Burnley. The next few games in the lead-up to October's international break will tell us a lot more about him.

Reliable reporter Mark Hendry has shared what he’s heard out of Celtic following rumours of a potential move to bring Jota back to Parkhead.

Is Jota returning to Celtic?

The Hoops enjoyed a productive transfer window over the summer under new manager Brendan Rodgers. The club managed to bring in 10 new players at a total cost of just under £20m and still brought in a healthy profit due to Jota’s big-money move to Saudi Arabia.

The 24-year-old moved to Al Ittihad in a deal worth £25m, however, things haven’t quite gone to plan, with Jota making just five appearances so far. Al Ittihad also brought in nine overseas players but are only able to register eight, resulting in Jota being the man left out and only able to feature in AFC Champions League and Club World Cup games.

It was even claimed that Jota requested for his contract to be terminated but saw that rejected, with Tottenham one club to be linked with a move. Celtic have also been rumoured over making a potential swoop, with pundit Frank McAvennie recently saying:

“Someone told me Jota is coming back in January.

“It would be nice to have him back because you know what you are getting with him but I do think Brendan will need to sit down with the powers that be and tell them that he needs to sign some players.”

However, Hendry shared an update for Football Scotland regarding the Hoops and Jota in the last 48 hours. The reliable reporter stated that ‘sources have confirmed’ that no movement or approach has been made to bring Jota back to Glasgow in what ‘would be a major swoop’, with the club not considering a transfer.

Who did Celtic sign this summer?

It doesn’t look as if Jota will return to Scotland, however, as mentioned, Celtic have a number of new players thanks to the Portuguese attacker’s sale.

Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Odin Thiago Holm, Hyun-jun Yang, Marco Tilio, Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Tomoki Iwata all penned permanent Parkhead deals, whereas Nat Phillips and Paulo Bernardo joined on loan from Liverpool and Benfica respectively.

Palma, Yang and Tilio are naturally wingers, so Celtic aren’t exactly short of options despite the loss of Jota, with Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston and the injured Liel Abada also on the books.

Bringing back a player of Jota’s quality could have been nice for Rodgers, especially if it was for a cut-price fee, however, the Northern Irishman will have to work with what he has until the New Year, recently hinting that he wanted one or two more additions over the summer.

"We work with the players who are here. I’m not saying that in any disrespectful way. I think every manager will tell you they maybe wish they could have done one or two more signings but the window closed, we had the players we had and we will work with the best players at our disposal to make our performance level as best as it can be."

Leeds United endured a disappointing 2022/23 campaign as they were relegated from the Premier League and dropped back down to the Championship.

The Whites enjoyed three seasons in the top-flight after their promotion from the second tier under Marcelo Bielsa at the end of the 2019/20 term.

They were unable to achieve safety in the third campaign and they lacked a consistent creative threat at the top end of the pitch throughout the year after Brazilian winger Raphinha moved on to sign for Barcelona.

The Spanish giants swooped in to sign the talented ace for a reported fee of £55m in the summer of 2022 and the club are yet to fully unearth their true replacement for him, just over a year later.

However, current head coach Daniel Farke has a player within his ranks who has the potential to develop into a Raphinha-like figure at Elland Road – Daniel James.

Who recorded the most assists for Leeds last season?

Whilst the Wales international was on loan with Fulham, Jack Harrison ended the 2022/23 campaign with the most assists for Leeds as he racked up seven in the Premier League.

The former Manchester City prospect provided 1.5 key passes per game for the Whites and no other player within the squad made more than 1.3 per outing.

This came after Raphinha had produced ten 'big chances' created and 1.9 key passes per match throughout the 2021/22 Premier League season.

The Brazil international also showcased his outstanding creativity during his debut year in English football. He assisted nine goals and created 12 'big chances' for his teammates to go along with 2.1 key passes per game across 26 top-flight starts.

These statistics show that Leeds missed his creative quality last season as they were relegated down to the Championship without a player who could open up the opposition's defence as regularly as Raphinha was able to for the club.

How many chances has James created this season?

So far this term, James has created 13 chances for his teammates in six Championship appearances, with one of his outings coming as a substitute.

No Leeds player has managed more than his 2.2 key passes per game this season for Farke's side and he has two more assists (four) than any of his teammates.

The English-born whiz, who scored nine goals in 74 outings for Manchester United in all competitions, did also create five 'big chances' and assist four goals in 31 Premier League starts during his first season with Leeds in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics suggest that James has been able to take his game up a notch at a lower level in the Championship, as he found it too difficult to deliver quality on a consistent basis in the top-flight for the Whites.

However, there is still plenty of time left for the Welsh gem, at the age of 25, to develop and improve to get to a point where he can deliver Raphinha-like levels of creativity in the future.

Farke, who has helped to improve the likes of Emiliano Buendia, James Maddison, and Todd Cantwell throughout his coaching career to date, could work with James to help him take the next step in his career.

How has James performed this season?

Along with his assists, the former Red Devils speedster has averaged an outstanding Sofascore rating of 7.42 across his six Championship appearances so far.

He has created five 'big chances' for his teammates and only Crysencio Summerville (7.68) has averaged a higher Sofascore rating than the 25-year-old ace.

This shows that James has emerged as one of Farke's top performers in the division so far this season and is starting to prove his worth, two years on from his £25m move to Elland Road from Manchester United.

How many assists did James rack up for Swansea?

His excellent creativity is not a flash in the pan, either, as the speedy wizard amassed ten assists in 39 appearances for Swansea during his time in Wales.

He produced four goals and nine assists in 33 outings throughout the 2018/19 Championship campaign with the Swans as he showcased his ability to split open the opposition's defence with regularity.

In fact, James ranked within the top 9% of his positional peers in the second tier for shot-creating actions (4.61) per 90 and the top 16% for assists (0.25) per 90, as per FBref.

The 5 foot 7 dynamo, who pundit Micah Richards once described as a "nightmare", also displayed his exceptional ability to carry the ball up the pitch for Swansea as he placed within the top 2% of players in his position for progressive carries (6.55) per 90.

This was also a strength of Raphinha's as the Brazilian hotshot ranked within the top 5% of his positional peers in the Premier League for progressive carries (3.89) per 90 during the 2020/21 campaign.

Both players excel at being able to take the ball past players to progress the team forward from deep positions. This allows the side to thrive in transition as they do not have to solely rely on inch-perfect passes to move into dangerous areas.

What's next for James?

Whilst James is already showcasing Raphinha-like chance creation numbers from a wide position, it is now down to the 25-year-old gem to add a goalscoring threat to his game over the coming months.

The Barcelona wizard scored 17 Premier League goals across his two seasons in Yorkshire and that included 11 during his final campaign with the club.

Whereas, the current Leeds speedster, who was once hailed as "electric" by international teammate Joe Allen, has never scored more than four league goals in a single season throughout his senior career to date.

However, Buendia had never scored more than six league goals in a season before his move to Norwich to work with Farke and went on to score eight in his first Championship season before an impressive return of 15 goals from out wide in his second campaign at that level under the German head coach.

This suggests that the Leeds tactician has the coaching chops to improve the goalscoring output of his wingers and if he can do that with James then he could unearth the club's replacement for Raphinha, as the creativity is already there from the gem.

An unbeaten 157 from opener Luis Reece – and an opening stand of 219 – was part of another dominant day against Middlesex

ECB Reporters Network22-Apr-2018
ScorecardDerbyshire are poised to end their long wait for a home Championship victory after they outplayed Middlesex for the third day running in the Division Two match at Derby.Luis Reece scored an unbeaten 157 and Ben Slater fell one short of a century before Derbyshire declared on 333 for 3, setting Middlesex a highly improbable target of 442 in a minimum of 129 overs.Their chances were even slimmer after Sam Robson, Rob White and Hilton Cartwright were dismissed leaving Middlesex on 86 for 3 at the close and Derbyshire scenting a first home win since they beat Leicestershire at Derby in September 2014.Derbyshire started the day in a strong position with a lead of 226 and they increased that by 53 in 17 overs before rain resulted in an early lunch.Middlesex were without injured pace bowlers Toby Roland-Jones and James Harris and although they did well to restrict Derbyshire’s run rate, it was always a question of when the home side pulled out.Reece and Slater passed Derbyshire’s previous highest opening stand against Middlesex of 181 and then eclipsed the best ever partnership against the county of 209 set in 1932.Both looked certain to reach three figures but after Reece completed his third Championship hundred for Derbyshire from 268 balls, Slater became becalmed on 99 and cut a long hop from Ollie Rayner to cover.Reece drove Rayner for six as he and Wayne Madsen added 101 before Paul Stirling had Madsen caught at short fine leg and Alex Hughes stumped before the declaration came leaving Middlesex to equal the highest winning fourth innings total against Derbyshire.But their first target was to get through 29 overs against an attack that bowled them out for 157 in the first innings and although conditions were good for batting, Middlesex’s chances suffered a big setback when Hardus Viljoen removed Robson.The Middlesex captain played across a full length ball and was lbw for 5 and there was another breakthrough when Duanne Olivier replaced Viljoen at the City End. White shuffled across and was only half forward when he was struck in front and Olivier was celebrating again when he switched ends.Hilton Cartwright pulled a short ball to the midwicket boundary but the next left him and took the outside edge to take Derbyshire a step closer to that elusive victory.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag could ensure there is no way back at Old Trafford for one of his mega-money stars, according to sources at Old Trafford.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

Former Manchester United icon Andy Cole has criticised Red Devils' striker Anthony Martial for his goal record at the Premier League giants, stating: "Martial has been at Manchester United for 8 years now and he hasn't even scored 100 goals. It's incredible. He is a centre-forward at Manchester United and he has played in some fantastic teams. His best performance in the league was 17 goals. He’s had more than enough time and opportunity to show United just how good he is and he unfortunately hasn't been able to do so."

Meanwhile, according to Football Insider, both Galatasaray and Fenerbache are monitoring the situation of out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, with the Turkish transfer window open for business until September 15th.

Lorient and Real Sociedad were also keen on bringing in the Netherlands international; however, neither move materialised in the end and the Super Lig could now represent a potential destination for Van de Beek to get his career back on track. Manchester United believe it would be best to get him off the wage bill to 'free up squad space and wages' at Old Trafford.

Dialogue has been opened between Manchester United and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka over the 25-year-old potentially signing a new contract at Old Trafford, according to The Daily Mail.

The Croydon-born defender has less than a year left to run on his current deal in the North West, though Manchester United have the option to extend the agreement by a further 12 months.

Which player is Ten Hag unhappy with?

According to Telegraph Sport's James Ducker, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is set for showdown talks with Ten Hag over his future at Old Trafford, though he looks to be in a position of real uncertainty at the club following his public outburst at the Dutch coach, which was in rebuttal to his performances in training being criticised.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by former Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, tried to sign Sancho late on in the transfer window; however, Manchester United blocked any notion of letting the international leave on loan.

Ducker says sources at Old Trafford believe that any chance of the 23-year-old making a comeback at the Red Devils are 'doubtful' following recent events, so his time as a Ten Hag player may effectively be finished despite staying put in the window.

Sancho has failed to set the worth alight at Manchester United since joining from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £73 million back in 2021, recording 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The Sun claim that Borussia Dortmund would be keen on a dramatic reunion with Sancho and are monitoring his situation – the Bundesliga giants also failed with a loan swoop for the ex-Manchester City youth player earlier this year.

تحدث هاري كين قائد منتخب إنجلترا عن منافسات كأس الأمم الأوروبية، والمواجهة الأولى لفريقه أمام صربيا المقرر خوضها مساء اليوم الأحد.

هاري كين سيصبح أول لاعب يقود منتخب إنجلترا في أربع بطولات كبرى عندما يرتدي شارة القيادة في بطولة أمم أوروبا 2024. 

ويأمل مهاجم بايرن ميونخ أن يتمكن منتخب بلاده من الوصول للنهائي والتتويج بلقب يورو 2024.

وقال هاري كين في تصريحاته لموقع “يويفا”: “أنا متحمس، هناك دائمًا الإثارة، خاصة عندما تغادر إلى الدولة المضيفة وتستقر في الفندق وترى أين يوجد كل شيء، نأمل أن يستمر معسكرنا لمدة أربعة أو خمسة أسابيع”.

وأكمل: “مع مرور الأيام، تشعر ببعض التوتر، وتبدأ الاستعدادات، وتشاهد المباراة الأولى، ألمانيا ضد اسكتلندا، وعندها تبدأ الأمور بالفعل، لكن في الوقت الحالي، الجميع هادئون ومتحمسون جدًا”.

وعن الرسالة التي تركها له زميله في بايرن ميونخ توماس مولر، بفندق إقامة المنتخب الإنجليزي، أفاد كين: “ترك لي تومي رسالة صغيرة، لأن منتخب ألمانيا كانوا هنا قبل أسبوعين فقط”.

وأشار: “أرسل لي رسالة نصية مفادها أن ملعب الجولف رائع ولكن الطقس لم يكن جيدًا، يبدو الفندق رائعًا، والفندق مذهل، والتواجد في ألمانيا هو بمثابة منزل لحين العودة لمنزلك”.

وأردف: “لقد كان الاستقبال الذي حظيت به منذ أن كنت في بايرن لا يصدق، ومنذ أن كنت في الفندق، جاء بعض الموظفين وألقوا التحية، أنا لا أقول إنهم يريدون فوز إنجلترا، لكن أعتقد أن لديهم نقطة ضعف بالنسبة لنا الآن، وأنا هنا، وهذا رائع”.

وأكد: “ربما يكون كوني قائدًا لمنتخب إنجلترا وقيادة اللاعبين هو أعلى امتياز يمكن أن أحصل عليه كلاعب، ولن أعتبر ذلك أمرًا مسلمًا به أبدًا، هذا الشعور هو حقًا فريد من نوعه، إنه لشرف كبير أن أفعل ذلك للمرة الرابعة”.

وواصل: “لقد خضنا الدور نصف النهائي والنهائي وربع النهائي، لذلك آمل أن نصل إلى النهاية ونواصل تحقيق الفوز، لقد عشنا بعض اللحظات الجيدة حقًا، ولقد حظيت شخصيًا ببعض اللحظات الجيدة حقًا، ولكن في النهاية نحن هنا للفوز بكأس الأمم الأوروبية، ونأمل أن يكون هذا ما يمكننا القيام به”.

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واستطرد: “أعتقد أن هذا الفريق هو واحد من أفضل الفرق التي لدينا، إن لم تكن الأفضل، حيث يستمر في مستواه والمواسم المحلية التي خاضها الكثير منا، لدينا مواهب شابة مذهلة لا تعرف الخوف وتريد فقط الحصول على الكرة واللعب”.

وأكد هاري كين: “آمل أن يتمكن الرجال من الاعتماد علي وطرح الأسئلة علي، وإذا كان بإمكاني مساعدتهم في تجاوز أي شيء، فهذا رائع، لكن لدينا علاقة جيدة معًا، فنحن دائمًا نتحدث أو نتناول العشاء معًا، وهناك دائمًا محادثات تجري، وهذا يساعدنا”.

وتابع: “كان أمام المدرب ساوثجيت قرارًا صعبًا للغاية وكان عليه اتخاذ بعض القرارات الصعبة مع الفريق، لأننا نمتلك بعض اللاعبين الهجوميين الجيدين حقًا في إنجلترا، لكن بالنسبة لي شخصيًا، إنه أمر رائع”.

واسترسل: “أريد أن ألعب مع لاعبين يمكنهم تقديم التمريرات الحاسمة، ويمكنهم تسجيل الأهداف، ولديهم تحركات جيدة، ويمكنهم الحصول على الكرة في المناطق الضيقة، ولدينا كل ذلك”.

وعن كون إنجلترا أحد المنتخبات المرشحة للقب، أشار: “أعتقد أننا اكتسبنا الحق في الحصول على هذا المكانة من خلال البطولات السابقة التي خضناها، لكننا أيضًا فريق لم يفز بكأس الأمم الأوروبية من قبل، لذلك نحاول صنع التاريخ هنا”.

وشدد: “وهذا هو الهدف الذي شرعنا في محاولة تحقيقه، ولكننا نعلم أنه سيكون أمامنا طريق طويل وصعب، نحن بحاجة للتأكد من أننا نقوم بالأمر بشكل صحيح، لأنه في هذه البطولات، إذا لم تكن جاهزًا بنسبة 100٪، فقد يتم معاقبتك”.

وبشأن مواجهة صربيا، أوضح: “إنهم فريق يمكن أن يؤذيك إذا لم تواجهه بشكل صحيح، وهم أقوياء حقًا من الناحية الدفاعية، إنهم يجعلون الأمر صعبًا من خلال الكرات الثابتة ولديهم لاعبين طوال القامة، لذا فهم يشكلون الكثير من التهديدات”.

وأصر: “كما قلت، إذا لم نكن حذرين، وإذا لم نكن مركزين بنسبة 100٪، فقد تكون مباراة صعبة بالنسبة لنا، لذلك نحن بحاجة للتأكد من أننا نقوم بذلك بشكل صحيح.

وفي تصريحات لإذاعة “5Live’s Football Daily”، أفاد: “إنها فرقة رائعة، أعتقد أنه من الصعب تحديد ما إذا كان الفريق هو الأكثر موهبة، فقد كان لدينا فرق موهوبة طوال تاريخ إنجلترا بأكمله”.

وأضاف: “لكن أعتقد أن ما أود قوله عن هذا الفريق هو أنه ربما يكون الفريق الأكثر جاهزية لدينا عندما تنظر إلى اللاعبين والمواسم التي قضوها مع أنديتهم، أعتقد أن الجميع مستعدون حقًا”.

وأتم: “لقد خضنا جميعًا مواسم رائعة، لذا سيخبرنا الوقت، عليك أن تحول مستواك مع النادي إلى المستوى مع منتخب بلادك وهذا ما سنتطلع إلى القيام به، وأمامنا بضعة أسابيع الآن للاستعداد مع بعضنا البعض وعلينا أن نستعد، اذهب وأظهر ذلك”.

Journalist Dean Jones has shared some imminent news on a possible Jesse Lingard transfer decision at West Ham United.

Who have West Ham signed 2023?

The summer signings of Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez, ex-Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, defender Konstantinos Mavropanos and the highly-rated Mohammed Kudus have bolstered manager David Moyes options to no end.

West Ham's quartet of new arrivals come in for around £119 million, coming after they sold Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku for a grand total of £134 million.

So far, these off-field calls have been totally justified, as Moyes's side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table with three wins out of their opening four league games.

West Ham's impressive victories over Brighton, Chelsea and Luton Town showcase the real promise of this side after last season's unexpected UEFA Europa Conference League triumph in Prague.

Reports have also suggested that the east Londoners could move to re-sign former star Lingard as a free agent, coming after he left Nottingham Forest in late June.

Will West Ham sign Jesse Lingard?

The 30-year-old has been training with West Ham recently, both in a bid to improve his fitness and display his full ability on a sort of trial basis.

Lingard featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ipswich Town last week, which ended 1-1, and it is believed he impressed in flashes before being subbed off.

Moyes provided a small update on the midfielder to talkSPORT this week, refusing to rule out the possiblity of a short-term contract.

“Jesse has trained with us for three weeks and he’s improved greatly from when he first came in," said Moyes.

“He’s in really good condition – much better condition than he was when he first came in. I have to say, when Jesse joined us two years ago I think he scored nine goals in 15 games and was probably the difference between us getting into Europe for the first time.

“I want to give him every opportunity to get himself back in condition and see how he does."

Speaking to GiveMeSport in the last few days, reporter Jones has shared his own update on Lingard and West Ham.

He says a decision could now be made imminently, after hearing news from a "contact" of his at the London Stadium.

"They're making a very full assessment of it," said Jones.

"Obviously, they've been getting a close-up look at him in training and also in games behind closed doors. I don't think a decision is very far away and it might even be at the back end of this week.

"One contact was saying that West Ham might make up their mind on what they do with Lingard. There isn't a rush on it, but the longer it drags on, the more uncertainty it causes and the more of an issue it potentially becomes over why he hasn't signed a contract."

The former Man United star scored nine goals and assisted four others in 16 league starts during a 2021 loan spell at West Ham. If he can rediscover that kind of form, Lingard could prove a real asset for Moyes ahead of a long season.