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Liverpool have made contact to sign a £40m+ striker instead of the heavily linked Alexander Isak to replace Darwin Nunez this summer.

Liverpool eyeing multiple signings despite successful season

The Reds and Arne Slot may have plenty of work to do this summer, despite being on course to lift the Premier League title in the Dutchman’s first season in charge at Anfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold looks on course to sign for Real Madrid, whereas Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

Sky Sports: Arne Slot holds talks to sign £40m+ "monster" for Liverpool

He’s a top priority for the Dutchman.

ByCharlie Smith Mar 25, 2025

Salah has starred in the final third once again, and his brilliance has arguably carried the likes of Diogo Jota and Nunez. Both Jota and Nunez have been linked with Anfield exits of their own this summer, meaning FSG may need to splash the cash on a marquee attacker.

Newcastle star Isak, who scored against the Reds at Wembley earlier this month, has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside. However, his asking price could be in excess of £100m, and it looks as if Liverpool have identified a cheaper alternative.

Liverpool make contact over £40m+ Joao Pedro move

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have been in contact with the agents of Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro, as Nunez’s Anfield exit is looking ‘increasingly likely’.

The Brazilian has caught the eye of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain this season, but it is Liverpool who have started preliminary talks over a move to Anfield. The report states that Pedro could cost around €50m (£41.8m), ‘nearly half of what is required for Isak’.

Pedro, 23, made the move to the Seagulls from Watford in 2023 and has gone from strength to strength on the south coast. In total, the forward has made 65 appearances for Brighton, scoring 28 goals and registering 10 assists.

Games

25

Goals

8

Assists

7

Minutes played

1,838

As can be seen, most of his assists in a Brighton shirt have come this season, and he was hailed by Alan Shearer earlier in the campaign after his starring display against Bournemouth.

Shearer said on Pedro: “He was superb today and they just edged it in those forward positions.

“This for me is a brilliant centre-forward goal. The way he follows it up and he is expecting the rebound to get there. He reacts before anyone else does and then he gets his reward. His hold-up play was superb at times when he had to keep hold of the ball and bring his team-mates into play.”

By the looks of things, a Liverpool move for Pedro will be one to keep an eye on, and it’ll be interesting to see if any other interested side make contact over the coming months after Liverpool’s opening talks.

Florian Wirtz has been voted as the best player of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season by his fellow players in the German top-flight.

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Wirtz voted as best playerHarry Kane in fifth placeVoted by 216 Bundesliga playersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In a survey where 216 Bundesliga players cast their votes, Bayer Leverkusen hero Wirtz was voted over Bayern Munich star Michael Olise by a margin of four votes. Meanwhile, striker Harry Kane finished fifth behind Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, who excelled at Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Wirtz won the award by a large margin last year when he helped Leverkusen win their first title in history. However, the margins were closer this season as Bayern dominated the German top-flight, with Olise impressing for Vincent Kompany's side alongside Kane. Despite finishing as the top scorer of the Bundesliga this season, Kane could only muster enough votes to come in fifth place. Olise, Marmoush and Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy all finished ahead of the Englishman.

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Wirtz scored 10 goals and made 12 assists as Leverkusen finished second in the German top-flight, attracting further interest from Europe's top teams throughout the season.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR WIRTZ?

Wirtz who has agreed terms with Liverpool, must now wait for his club Leverkusen and Liverpool to agree on a financial compensation between the two clubs.

Tottenham have decided to try and sell captain Son Heung-min this summer but will have to wait until after their pre-season tour.

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Son into last 12 months of his contractSpurs looking to sell this summerBut captain has to play against Newcastle in pre-seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Son has just 12 months left on his existing contract at Spurs and could be offloaded this summer, according to The Times. Tottenham are "willing" to sell their skipper but are "commercially contracted" to play Son during pre-season in a friendly against Newcastle at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3. Any sale therefore must wait until the fixture has been played.

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Tottenham are minded to sell Son as he turns 33 in July and will be available to leave on a free transfer next summer if he does continue until then. Saudi Pro League clubs and Turkish side Fenerbahce, now managed by former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, have all been linked with a move for Son if he does move on.

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Son scored seven goals last season for Spurs in the Premier League. It's the first time he has failed to reach double figures in the English top flight since his first campaign with the club in 2015-16.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR SON?

Son will undoubtedly be given a huge reception when he heads to South Korea as he remains a hero in his homeland. Tottenham are due to play Arsenal and Newcastle in Asia in pre-season before a game against Bayern at the Allianz Arena. The fixtures could be Son's last in Spurs colours

England have scored at 4.86 in their second innings, ensuring they go into the final innings of the Test as standout favourites

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Jul-2023Saturday at The Oval was never going to be quiet. After Australia had tried and failed to quieten the crowd here on day two of this fifth Ashes Test, England turned the volume back up to 11 on day three with a sensory overload of a second innings to assume control of this final round of a tumultuous series.But it is a day that will be remembered for what happened at its end. Speaking at stumps, after England had reached 389 for 9, leading Australia by 377, Stuart Broad announced this would be his 167th and final Test. Before attempting to ensure he goes out on a win, he will resume his innings with fellow veteran quick James Anderson. They were able to tough out the day to give them a shot at some bonus runs on Sunday before they strap their bowling boots back on in the pursuit of a 2-2 series scoreline.Unsurprisingly, a team driven by entertainment used their final Test innings of the summer to produce a “best of” performance. There were contributions throughout the line-up, with the biggest from the main headline-grabbers over the last six weeks. Such has been their speed of play in both innings, they have even stolen a march on the rains forecast for day five.Zak Crawley’s 73 took him to a final tally of 480 runs for the series, with the Kent batter the clubhouse leader on the run-scoring charts, 56 ahead of Usman Khawaja. Joe Root fell short of a second century of the series, for the second time in ten days, with an engaging 91. And Jonny Bairstow, who has had more words dedicated to his wicketkeeping – most of them unflattering – provided a reminder of his batting prowess with a punchy 75 that ensured one of these sides went into the final innings of a match as standout favourites for the first time this series.Such was the flow of play, and thanks to a hugely partisan south London crowd, Australia’s attack seemed secondary to proceedings. They bowled their overs – slowly, as per this series, managing just 80 in the day – but beyond that, runs came as and when England wanted, and wickets, too. Mitchell Starc’s 4 for 94 and Todd Murphy’s 3 for 110 spoke of their endeavour among the carnage. The pair combined for day three’s last five wickets, which fell for just 47 runs.Australia’s first-innings lead of 12 coming into the weekend was considered nominal in the grand scheme of things. The key question was whether England had learned from mistakes made at Edgbaston and Lord’s, where batting miscalculations bordering on over-indulgence spurned promising positions and, ultimately, led to two defeats that put the Ashes beyond their reach.Joe Root ramps a boundary over deep third•Getty ImagesWithin the first over, England were into the lead. Crawley did as he had done at the very beginning of this series, striking the first ball for four through the covers, as 13 were scored off the first six deliveries – almost as many as Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne managed in the first hour of play on day two.Both Crawley and Ben Duckett raced out of the blocks, bringing up their fifty stand in 8.4 overs before Duckett was adjudged caught behind on review, at the end of the 17th over. The 79 they managed took their opening partnership tally to 359 for the series, at a rate of 4.72 – just 0.01 shy of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer’s scoring pace during the 2002-03 Ashes.With Moeen Ali unable to bat higher than five because of time spent off the field after picking up a groin strain while batting on day one, Ben Stokes strode out at No. 3 for the first time since November 2018. It has long been a position others have suggested for him, particularly given Root’s preference of No. 4. And he showed the necessary application in a stand of 61 with Crawley.The pair made it to lunch on 130 for 1 from 25 overs, and were keen to add plenty more. Those hopes died just nine deliveries into the afternoon session, when Crawley edged a smart delivery from Pat Cummins to Steven Smith at second slip.No bother. Out bounded Root to join Stokes, two best mates who are England’s best at gauging a situation, which, given the lead was only 128, was one of controlled hurry. First, however, a huge dose of luck. With just four to his name, Root was hit in front by Josh Hazlewood and adjudged not out, presumably because contact with bat and pad were close enough to suspect bat first. Cummins opted for a review, which confirmed pad as the first point of contact. Alas, the umpire’s call on line of impact meant Australia had to suck up a not-out call that got bitter as Root clicked through the gears.Mitchell Marsh was the unfortunate recipient of the reverse-ramp for six, over-correcting the next ball to see a full toss tickled down leg for four. At one point, Root had raced to 35 from 32, just two behind Stokes on 37 from 30 more deliveries. Then, with three successive fours off Starc – driven, fortuitously under-edged up and over Alex Carey, and guided more deliberately over the wicketkeeper’s head – took him ahead of Stokes. England’s lead, meanwhile, was up to 200.A single off the start of the very next over brought up Root’s second half-century of the series, from 42 deliveries. Stokes, however, would not join him, becoming the first of two wickets to fall in the space of nine deliveries. An attempt to channel Root’s aggression saw him cloth Murphy to Cummins at wide mid-on. Harry Brook walked in and closed out that Murphy over with the straightest of straight sixes, but he could not resist feathering a wide-ish Hazlewood delivery to have him heading back to the dressing room.Pat Cummins contemplates his options as England pile on the runs•Getty ImagesThe early work cushioned the mini-collapse (England were still 210 ahead) and Root’s presence at the crease meant there was always calm in the middle. Bairstow’s entrance has usually been cause for some kind of manic passage, but there was little of that here. The most productive partnership of the innings – 110 – was as normal as we have seen in the Bazball era. No undue risks, especially as Australia were the ones having to do the probing, meaning the Yorkshire duo just had to wait for the bad balls to come.Bairstow brought up a seven-boundary fifty from 60 deliveries, in keeping with a reserved domination by his standards that saw him contribute 70 of the century stand he and Root brought up from 142 deliveries. It was a stand that would only last an over more, as Murphy found some quality drift and bite off the surface to spin into Root’s stumps via an inside edge.The annoyance of falling nine short of a 31st Test century was eased somewhat by the lack of bounce from the delivery, which Root will look to exploit as the sole, functioning spinner. With the lead at 320, Bairstow and new batter Moeen were happy to go for broke.Bairstow could not get going, eventually falling to Starc attempting to find a second boundary after Root’s dismissal, but Moeen did find 29 more runs himself. Some were classy – a picture-perfect straight drive off Starc – while others were not, like when Hazlewood missed a catchable chance at fine leg, which ran away for four.A classy looking ramp off Starc allowed Hazlewood to make amends with a catch on the rope running to his right from fly slip, before England were whittled down to their final pair of Broad and Anderson, who managed to see things through to stumps. Though Anderson was struck on the arm, he toughed it out to take the innings into day four, even overturning an lbw decision off the penultimate ball of the day.The ovation when Anderson walked out at 379 for 9 was akin to a farewell, greeted to the field with a standing ovation and the singing of his name. None of those in the stands knew it was actually the man already out there who was about to finish up for good. No matter – they can make it up to Broad on day four.

The Gabon forward netted the 2–1 winner that kept América out of the Club World Cup

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Market value is $9.2 million according to TransfermarktLAFC reportedly want $12 million to sell himBouanga has scored 81 goals in 130 appearances for LAFCWatch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

After a trophyless semester, Club América are preparing for their upcoming season as they aim to reclaim the Liga MX title and secure the CONCACAF Champions Cup – the only trophy missing under André Jardine. Among the players they are reportedly targeting is LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, whose performance helped eliminate América from the Club World Cup.

According to TUDN, América have formally asked LAFC about Bouanga, who struck late in the Play‑In round to score the crucial second goal that kept them out of the tournament.

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LAFC are reportedly seeking a transfer fee in the region of $12 million, despite Bouanga’s current market valuation standing at approximately $9.2 million per Transfermarkt.

The striker is still with LAFC at the Club World Cup but he has underwhelmed so far – missing a penalty in the loss to ES Tunis that confirmed LAFC’s early exit.

Back in Mexico, América have kicked off their preseason in Cancún, including beach training. A friendly against Cancún FC is scheduled for Friday. Their Apertura 2025 opener is set for July 11 at FC Juárez, with no signings officially announced yet—though Cruz Azul midfielder Alexis Gutiérrez appears poised to become their first arrival.

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Since his arrival in 2022, Bouanga has been pivotal in LAFC’s successes, helping them lift the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield. In 130 appearances, he has found the net 81 times and provided 37 assists.

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Steve Cherundolo’s team, already eliminated from the Club World Cup, will wrap up its participation tonight against Flamengo at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Kusal Perera comes back after long absence from ODI cricket; Wanindu Hasaranga left out keeping in mind the World Cup

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Aug-2023Seamers Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan have been named in Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup squad, replacing the more experienced quicks who are out with injuries. Legspin-bowling allrounder Dushan Hemantha has also made the squad, essentially as a like-for-like replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga.Kusal Perera is in the squad as well. It has been more than two years since he last played an ODI, but this has mostly been because of injury. He had been ill with Covid-19 in the past week, but is understood to be improving, and will join the squad when he makes a full recovery.Fernando and Madushan came in in the absence of the injured Dushmantha Chameera (pectoral tear), Dilshan Madushanka (oblique tear), and Lahiru Kumara (side strain), who have all been ruled out of the tournament. Chameera and Madushanka, in particular, are also battling to be fit in time for the World Cup, which starts on October 5.ESPNcricinfo LtdHasaranga, who has a thigh strain, could conceivably have played towards the end of the tournament, but with the World Cup so close, Sri Lanka have chosen not to risk aggravating the injury.Elsewhere in the squad, Matheesha Pathirana and Kasun Rajitha round out Sri Lanka’s pace contingent, left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage joins Hemantha and Maheesh Theekshana as part of the spin-bowling group, and wicketkeeper-batter Sadeera Samarawickrama also finds a place.There are no major surprises on the batting front. Avishka Fernando, who also had Covid-19 over the past week, was available but not selected.Sri Lanka play their first match on Thursday, against Bangladesh.Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan

Players learn news while in field on third afternoon against Hampshire at Ageas Bowl

Vithushan Ehantharajah28-Sep-2023Surrey 207 and 112 for 6 (Sudharsan 31*, Prest 2-32) need another 73 runs to beat Hampshire 219 and 172 (Vince 56, Jacks 5-87)A butterfly flapped its wings – in this case, Tom Taylor clattering the stumps of No.11 Jamie Porter at Wantage Road – and 115 miles away at the Ageas Bowl, Will Jacks pulled out of delivering the fourth ball of the 24th over to clap the travelling fans sat in the stands at square leg. Surrey were 2023 County Champions.Essex had been bowled out for 211, the requirement of full batting points along with a win unfulfilled after losing their final five wickets on the morning of day three. It meant Surrey’s own first-innings malaise of 207 would go unpunished, and yet another season of otherwise unrelenting brilliance rewarded with title number 21, and second under head coach Gareth Batty.”When I heard those cheers, I didn’t know what to do,” Jacks said of that moment the Championship was confirmed. “I looked around at everyone. Foakesy was clapping but everyone was still in the same spot – I didn’t know if we would come together and have a high-five and huddle. I just did a little clap and looked around and got on with it.”I bowled a pie and the next few overs were terrible. I didn’t know what to do.” Jacks went on to take 5 for 87, as Hampshire were dismissed for 172 to set Surrey a target of 185 that – to judge by their stumble to 112 for 6 at the close – they don’t wholly seem bothered about chasing.”I’m out of suggestions [for the guys batting in the morning],” joked Rory Burns, now with three titles as captain. His main objective of a successful title defence, having failed to achieve that in 2019, has been ticked.”It feels pretty special,” Burns said. “We set out to go back-to-back and the way we have done that is very pleasing.”Essex have pushed us all the way so there was pressure around this week, so it was all about winning the game this week as that was the best method to do that. To get over the line without having to finish our job is nice.”Essex were the side that toppled Surrey four years ago, and Burns admitted their disappointing sixth-place showing in that year’s campaign had influenced the squad’s approach this time around.”We learned a few lessons from [winning in] 2018. The way we have played our cricket this year has been really positive. How we have taken games on and seized the initiative in big moments. We didn’t want to defend it this season, we wanted to attack it. Not many teams go back-to-back so that is a feather in our cap and a really pleasing element to this one.”As far as successful title defences go, a feat they’ve achieved on 11 previous occasions, this was somewhat unremarkable in that it relied on errors elsewhere. Essex did push Surrey close, winning six on the bounce before their penultimate-round defeat to Hampshire. But those from south London had established ample ground between themselves and the rest in the months before. Of the many things in Surrey’s bank, points was one of them.Those in the away dressing-room embraced upon confirmation of their title, followed by chants of “Champeones!” from the stands as the players on the field got ready for the next over. Ryan Patel, who started the match in the XI before being replaced by Jamie Smith from the third innings of the match, was spotted heading into the changing room with a pre-printed flag honouring Surrey’s achievement.Only when they made it through to lunch did the players on the field embrace in the middle, as James Vince and Nick Gubbins headed off with Hampshire on 67 for 2, leading by 78, as if that even mattered anymore.Surrey celebrate after their Championship title retention was confirmed•Surrey CCC/Getty ImagesAlec Stewart, director of cricket, stepped onto the field to embrace the team, starting with Burns, and when the ground MC announced Surrey as champions, applause from all in the stands scored their walk off. By stumps, they were 112 for 6 chasing a target of 185, with a few shots making you wonder if they were (understandably) trying to finish it tonight. Either way, a night in the Ageas Bowl Hilton awaits.If the blow of a Championship spurned led to Essex’s collapse to an innings defeat at Northampton, Surrey were certainly buoyed by their fresh crown, emerging to take Hampshire’s last eight first-innings wickets for the addition with 105. The pitch, which has turned throughout, seemingly went into overdrive as Jacks claimed a first five-wicket bag for Surrey, adding to the maiden first-class haul of 6 for 161 on Test debut against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last December.It was particularly quirky given that Jacks had come in from ODI duty to replace Tom Lawes on day two, who had taken 5 for 27 in the first innings. The pair say they are claiming the 10-wicket match haul together. Jacks even adopted a white-ball approach for a breezy second innings cameo of 24 from 16, striking two sixes and two fours before falling as the fifth wicket. Sai Sudharsan remains unbeaten on 31, with Jordan Clark.The booze had been flowing shortly before bad light ended the day at 5.26pm. Later, Kemar Roach knocked up his favourite concoction – Guinness, sweet milk and cinnamon. Bubbles weren’t too far off. Whether the remaining 73 runs get knocked off is academic. Soon after stumps, those not involved in the travelling group of players and staff, such as Test vice-captain Ollie Pope (recovering from a shoulder dislocated during the Ashes), Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy and an assortment of friends and family had made their way into the away dressing-room. Even actor Rory Kinnear, he of the Daniel Craig run of James Bond films, joined them.This has been a real team effort, of old, new and overseas. As many as 19 players have been used across the 14 matches, nine of whom are academy graduates. Moreover, they have contended throughout with absences at the Indian Premier League and England duty. Even here, having welcomed back Smith and Jacks from the ODI series against Ireland, they are without Sam Curran and Gus Atkinson, who headed to India on Wednesday evening for the 50-over World Cup.No batter will finish the season with four figures, but Ben Foakes has been the standout with three centuries. No bowler has reached 50 dismissals, with Jordan Clark and Dan Worrall settling for an impressive haul of 48 apiece, at 21.35 and 24.20 respectively.They were ruthless when they needed to be, with four of their eight wins to date coming inside three days. When they were pushed into dark corners, they emerged gloriously into the light, notably after being skittled for 145 against Kent in their first innings back after the first Championship break, then chased down 501 for the loss of just five to win. And even that carried an air of inevitability.Over the last two years, they have suffered two defeats in 27 matches. The first – the last match of the 2022 season at Lancashire – was after a week (and then some) of revelry having sewn up the title a round early. It may well be three in 28 by tomorrow for the same reasons.There’s no better reason for losing a match than having completed a gruelling, six-month-long marathon with time to spare and marking it accordingly. Imagine how good you have to be to do that twice?