He scored 66 and fell just before lunch, adding 107 with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the third wicket
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2025
Akash Deep celebrates his maiden Test fifty•Getty Images
Lunch England started the third day with a slight upper hand, but by lunch were in deep trouble. They have often struggled to dislodge Yashasvi Jaiswal, but it was India’s nightwatch Akash Deep who threatened to take the game away from them. His 66 was the highest score of his professional career, and his stand with Jaiswal was the biggest partnership of the match.Deep faced just two balls on the second evening before bad light prompted an early close, and sensed an opportunity to chance his arm. He dragged the third ball of the day – from Jacob Bethell, allowing Gus Atkinson to change ends – over mid-on for four, then flashed hard against the seamers.England could have dismissed him twice in as many balls. They were convinced that Josh Tongue had trapped him lbw on 21, only for Ahsan Raza’s not-out decision to be upheld via umpire’s call, and then had him edging to Zak Crawley at third slip. But Crawley put down his second – and England’s fourth – catch of the innings, and Akash Deep ploughed on.He had a fair slice of good fortune, but also played some outrageous shots. He rocked back to uppercut as though mirroring Jaiswal – who seemed happy to assume an unusual role as second fiddle – and punched the air in delight on reaching 50 by hauling Atkinson away through the leg side. The Indian balcony stood to applaud; Gautam Gambhir even cracked a rare smile.Akash Deep finally fell for 66 shortly before lunch, a leading edge ballooning up to Atkinson at point to give Jamie Overton his first wicket of the match, but England were rattled. Their attack, bowling for the third day in a row, looked toothless, and the absence of the injured Chris Woakes leaves them one bowler down. It could be a long afternoon.
O técnico do Fluminense, Fernando Diniz, afirmou que era “totalmente evitável” o lance que deu origem ao gol da derrota por 1 a 0 do time carioca o Red Bull Bragantino, neste domingo (22), em jogo válido pela 28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.
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➡️ A sua carreira no futebol pode começar hoje. Garanta a sua vaga no curso Gestor de Futebol e capacite-se!
– É um time que joga de maneira agressiva. Na maioria das vezes que a gente adiantou a marcação no primeiro tempo, levou vantagem. O lance do gol era totalmente evitável, fácil de ganhar a primeira bola, fácil de fazer a falta no lance e a gente acabou cometendo pênalti – disse o treinador tricolor em entrevista coletiva.
Além de falar sobre o gol dos paulistas, Diniz destacou que, apesar do Flu ter melhorado em campo após ficar em desvantagem no placar, sua equipe voltou pior depois do intervalo. Segundo o comandante, as mudanças que fez não deram resultado e o adversário mereceu vencer a partida.
– Depois começamos a encaixar as saídas. Nos primeiros 15 minutos começamos sofrendo mais, mas porque o time estava se encaixando em campo. Depois nos encontramos, começamos a jogar melhor, quase todas as bolas conseguíamos sair pelo chão. No segundo tempo o time voltou pior, as mexidas não surtiram efeito e o Bragantino mereceu ganhar o jogo – afirmou o técnico tricolor.
➡️Clique aqui e confira mais detalhes da partida
De acordo com Diniz, faltou movimentação ao Fluminense no segundo tempo. O treinador afirmou que as entradas de Yony e Lelê, substituindo Alexsander e Samuel Xavier, respectivamente, visavam explorar as bolas longas e aproveitar a velocidade dos atacantes. Disse, ainda, que houve um erro tático por parte da equipe.
– No segundo tempo, sim, faltou movimentação e variar o jogo. O jogo estava pedindo bolas mais longas e nós insistimos colocando Yony González e depois o Lelê para fazer um jogo mais direto. Quando tiramos Daniel e Alexsander, perdemos movimento na saída. Ficou um jogo mais na característica de avançar e ser mais direto, mas continuamos no mesmo jogo que fizemos no primeiro tempo. Foi um erro tático que cometemos e facilitou as ações do Bragantino – comentou Diniz.
➡️ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão
O Fluminense volta a campo na quarta-feira (25), às 19h, para enfrentar o Goiás, no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda, pela 29ª rodada do Brasileirão. A equipe ocupa a nona colocação do campeonato, com 42 pontos, cinco a menos que o Palmeiras, quarto colocado e primeiro time da zona de classificação direta para a Libertadores 2024.
After making a slow start in front of goal this season, Newcastle United are reportedly ready to launch a 2026 move to sign a £40m+ striker who just humiliated Real Madrid.
Newcastle's goalscoring problem
It’s only natural that Newcastle are struggling in front of goal. They just lost one of the best strikers in the Premier League for a record deal in Alexander Isak. Replacing the Swede’s output was never going to be an easy task, but replacing his underrated creativity has so far proven to be even tougher.
Whilst Nick Woltemade has so far ticked the box for goals on his own – scoring three goals in his first four Premier League games – the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga have still struggled to contribute around him.
Minutes
392
269
329
Goals
3
0
0
Assists
0
0
0
In total, Newcastle have scored six Premier League goals. Only Nottingham Forest and bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers have managed less and there’s no denying that it’s a problem that Eddie Howe must solve.
That said, the manager is far from panicking, having told reporters earlier this season: “I’m excited by the team we can be. We have certainly got things to learn about each other and formulas to try and generate that we know will work.
“The biggest thing is the foundation is solid. The team’s playing at strength, but we’re just missing that X-factor that I think will come. With the players that we have, some are guaranteed goals and have done that historically.”
What could certainly help find that “X-factor” is the January transfer window. After such a chaotic summer, the Magpies are reportedly ready to go again in the hope of boosting their attacking options even further this winter.
Newcastle readying Sorloth offer
According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are now readying an offer to sign Alexander Sorloth from Real Madrid in a deal worth €50m (£44m). The Atletico Madrid forward has started just three La Liga games so far this season and may be forced to look elsewhere for consistent game time in the near future.
Newcastle should be well aware of the 29-year-old’s situation after sending scouts to watch him in action against Real Madrid as he scored the equalising goal in a 5-2 thrashing of Atletico’s rivals.
Whether Diego Simeone and the Atletico sanction Sortloth’s exit in 2026 is the big question.
The iconic manager was full of praise for the forward when he scored the fastest hat-trick in La Liga history against Real Sociedad last season, saying: “I was very happy with the team’s first half in general.
“Alex, of course, is a whole different matter. He had a fantastic night, especially those first 45 minutes, where he decisively finished every ball that came his way.”
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If there is a chance for Newcastle, then turning towards Sorloth wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s a proven striker at the top level these days and has unfinished business in the Premier League after previous struggles at Crystal Palace.
IPL 2025 has been suspended “with immediate effect for one week,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday afternoon. The decision was taken in the wake of the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.”Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,” board secretary Devajit Saikia said in the statement. “The decision was taken by the IPL Governing Council after due consultation with all key stakeholders following the representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players, and also the views of the broadcaster, sponsors and fans; while the BCCI reposes full faith in the strength and preparedness of our armed forces, the Board considered it prudent to act in the collective interest of all stakeholders.”The decision to suspend the IPL was taken after senior BCCI officials got on a call, Saikia and IPL chairman Arun Dhumal among the participants. All the franchises were informed about the suspension before the statement was issued at 2.40pm IST. It is understood that the participants on the call agreed unanimously that it was not appropriate to continue the IPL in the current environment.The teams have already started disbanding, with players and support staff understood to be taking the next available flights out of and within India with help from their respective franchises and players associations in the case of the overseas contingent.The development came a day after the IPL decided to abandon Thursday’s match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) midway into the first innings. With the airport in Dharamsala and the ones in nearby areas shut, the players and support staff of PBKS and DC travelled from Dharamsala to Jalandhar by bus and then took a train to Delhi.”The health and safety of players is not negotiable. We are in direct contact with all the South African players at the IPL and keeping them updated with security reports. We have offered them any support they need,” South African Cricketers’ Association chief executive Andrew Breetzke said in a statement.IPL 2025 is currently 58 games old, including the abandonment in Dharamsala. There are 12 games left to play in the group stage, followed by the playoffs. If the IPL can’t resume soon, with India’s five-Test series in England starting on June 20, the next possible window might only be in September, when India don’t have a bilateral series lined up, though it is the window for the men’s Asia Cup.
Manchester United went into the transfer window with a long list of deals that needed to be completed. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS looked to overhaul United’s squad to one that would better fit Ruben Amorim’s style of play and avoid another catastrophic Premier League season.
In terms of outgoings, they looked to offload their “bomb squad”. They successfully moved on, whether temporarily or permanently, all of its members bar Tyrell Malacia. The club also managed to move on Rasmus Hojlund on a loan with a conditional option to buy to Napoli.
On the recruitment side of things, going into the window, the priority was attacking midfielders and a striker, which United successfully signed. Once those deals were completed, the club looked at signing a goalkeeper and a midfielder, with the former arriving on deadline day with Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens.
However, the crucial midfielder was not signed despite several inquiries to a number of players. It has now been revealed that United approached Chelsea about the signing of one of their defensive midfielders.
Chelsea star Lavia among those Man Utd inquired about in midfield hunt
News has emerged that during their fruitless hunt for a new midfielder, Manchester United approached Chelsea over the signing of Romeo Lavia. The £53 million midfielder joined Chelsea in 2023 from Southampton.
Benfica's Orkun Kokcu against Chelsea's Romeo Lavia.
Speaking to United in Focus reporter Graeme Bailey, revealed that United were interested in the Chelsea midfielder and could be keen again come Janaury.
The report also indicated that Lavia was one of the club’s four main midfield targets. Other midfielders included Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand, Atlético Madrid’s Connor Gallagher and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, with the latter being priced at over £100 million following United’s inquiry.
Where Lavia ranks among United's midfield targets
United weren’t expected to have massive amounts available to spend in the transfer window this summer, but they ended up spending £216 million thanks to player sales, sell-on clauses and a new revolving credit facility. It is currently uncertain if they have enough left over to sign a new midfielder in January or if they have to wait until next summer.
If the money is available, then they will likely look at the same options they did this summer, in which case Lavia may not be the best candidate. Options like Baleba and Gallagher have performed to a higher standard in recent seasons and are more likely to be an immediate upgrade to the United squad.
One of the main reasons that these two have performed better than Lavia in recent seasons is that they’ve been available far more often.
While he could turn out to be a fantastic midfielder, his injury record makes signing him a massive gamble. Since joining Chelsea, Lavia has averaged 11.5 appearances a season, and with a club like United, who will hope to be back in Europe next season, that means he may only be available for a quarter of their games.
If Lavia was signed at the end of the summer transfer window after nothing else worked out, then he would be a useful addition to the squad. However, given the other options available, Lavia should be further down United’s transfer wishlist for January.
EA Sports FC 26 is released later this month, amid much excitement, so we’ve shared the 10 fastest players on the game, from Kylian Mbappe to Vinicius Junior.The much-anticipated game gets its worldwide release on September 26th, as football fans across the globe look to show off their gaming expertise.The question is: who are the fastest players on the game? And is their place fully merited? Here are the top 10…
10 Ousmane Dembele Speed: 91
It has been quite a 12 months or so for Ousmane Dembele, who has not only won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, but is also the favourite to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or later this year.
The Frenchman is known for his quick feet and end product, but his blistering pace arguably stands out more than anything, hence him sneaking his way into the 10 fastest players on EA Sports FC 26.Dembele gets a 91 rating for speed – something most of us can only dream of!
9 Sophia Wilson Speed: 92
The first female entry on the list is Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Wilson, who is renowned for the pace she is able to generate in attacking areas.
The 25-year-old is a key player for the USA at international level, scoring 24 goals in 58 caps, with her speed helping her get into great positions and take down her opponents.
Wilson is one of four players here to get a 92 pace rating.
8 Victor Osimhen Speed: 92
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
One of the most dominant strikers in the world on his day, Victor Osimhen has been a nightmare for defenders to face in recent years, not least during an unstoppable period in Serie A for Napoli.
Not only does the Nigerian possess power and stature leading the line, but his speed is the cherry on top, allowing him to make runs in behind before finishing in deadly fashion.
Osimhen may not always look like one of the fastest players around, but when he gets going and reaches full pace, he is a sight to behold.
7 Achraf Hakimi Speed: 92
Is there a better right-back in the world at the moment than Achraf Hakimi? It would take a bold person to claim that anyone is better.
The Algerian has matured into a wonderful player for PSG, playing such an important role in his side’s Champions League success last season, providing scintillating pace from deep.
Hakimi’s pace is also a valuable asset to have at the other end of the pitch, allowing him to thwart danger if he is out of position, and he is the seventh-fastest player on EA Sports FC 26.
6 Kadidiatou Diani Speed: 92
Kadidiatou Diani is next up, with the Lyon attacker one of the fastest players in the women’s game and topping the scoring charts in the Champions League in 2023/24.
Now 30 years of age, there don’t appear to be too many signs of her pace dwindling in her autumn years, and she places at a highly impressive sixth on the list of quickest players.
5 Nico Williams Speed: 93
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliams
Lamine Yamal may take the limelight as Spain’s star winger in the current game, but Nico Williams is a fantastic player in his own right, not to mention a speedier option than Barcelona’s teenage superstar.
The Athletic Bilbao wide man has a devilish combination of lightning pace and strength in wide areas, allowing him to give even the best full-backs in Europe a tough assignment, and he is a joy to watch at his best.
Williams edges his way into the top five here, outlining just how quick he is.
4 Melchie Dumornay Speed: 93
Lyon midfielder Melchie Dumornay is rated here as the fastest player in the women’s game, notching a 93 rating for pace, which is the same as Williams.
The 20-cap and 20-goal Haiti international was named the Champions League Young Player of the Season in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, and it is going to be fascinating to see how her career pans out.
The unstoppable pace that Dumornay has in her locker is such a great weapon to have.
3 Nuno Mendes Speed: 95
If Hakimi was impressive for PSG on the right flank, Nuno Mendes may have been even better at left-back for the reigning European champions.
Surely the world’s best player in his position currently, the Portuguese has been given a speed rating of 95, which seems entirely fair when you watch him in the flesh.
The pace that Mendes can provide on the overlap is a great foil for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, allowing the Georgian to cut inside from the left wing, and at just 23 years of age, there will be so many more years of seeing him flying down the left-hand side.
2 Vinicius Junior Speed: 95
Vinicius Junior is one of the best attacking players of his generation, possessing Brazilian flair and a relentless flow of goals and assists from his favoured left-sided role.
The Real Madrid icon can be unplayable on his day, proving capable of cutting inside and also hitting the byline, and a lot of that is due to the incredible speed that he has in his armoury.
Vinicius is deemed to be the second-fastest player on EA Sports FC 26, getting a 95 rating to put him on the same level as Mendes. So who comes in at No.1?
1 Kylian Mbappe Speed: 97
France's KylianMbappereacts
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kylian Mbappe is still seen as the fastest player in the world – in fact, there aren’t many footballers in history who can lay claim to being as quick as him.
The World Cup and Champions League-winning Frenchman is arguably the world’s best player currently, but for all his inch-perfect finish and cleverly-timed runs, it is his speed that most associate him with.
Mbappe in full flight almost feels like you’re watching peak Usain Bolt, with the 26-year-old’s giant strides allowing him to pull clear of opponents and so often find the back of the net.
تتواصل أزمة نادي الزمالك المتعلقة بقرار وزارة الإسكان بشأن سحب الأرض المخصصة للقلعة البيضاء، وهي القضية التي تهدد النادي بخسائر مالية فادحة وتضعه أمام مأزق إداري واقتصادي غير مسبوق.
وفي خضم الجدل الدائر، وجه الكابتن أيمن يونس، نجم الزمالك السابق، رسالة مؤثرة عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “إكس”، قال فيها: “السيد معالي الوزير الدكتور أشرف صبحي المحترم… نثق فيك في حل أزمة أرضنا.. أرض نادي الزمالك”.
وأضاف: “نتمنى أن تبذل كل جهدك، عارفين بوجود أخطاء، لكن الحساب مش على حساب نادي الزمالك وتاريخه وجماهيره.. نادي الزمالك كيان تاريخي وشريك مؤثر في الصناعة الرياضية المصرية.. كل التوفيق لمعالي الوزير”.
السيد معالي الوزير الدكتور أشرف صبحي المحترم…نثق فيك في حل ازمه أرضنا..أرض نادي الزمالك..نتمني ان تبذل كل جهدك .عارفين بوجود أخطاء..بس الحساب مش علي حساب نادي الزمالك و تاريخه و جماهيره..نادي الزمالك كيان تاريخي شريك مؤثر في الصناعه الرياضيه المصريه..كل التوفيق لمعالي الوزير . — Ayman Younis. ايمن يونس (@AymanYounis) October 13, 2025
طالع أيضًا | حسام المندوه يبرر تصريح “الزمالك بيموت”.. ويلوم الجماهير: تذكروا كيف تسلمنا النادي
وتعود أزمة الأرض إلى السنوات الماضية، حين خصصت الدولة مساحة لصالح نادي الزمالك ضمن خططه التوسعية لتطوير منشآته، قبل أن تتدخل وزارة الإسكان مؤخرًا وتصدر قرارًا بسحب الأرض بدعوى عدم استغلالها وفق الجدول الزمني المحدد.
هذا القرار أثار غضب إدارة وجماهير القلعة البيضاء، التي اعتبرت أن الخطوة قد تتسبب في كارثة مالية للنادي، خاصة في ظل التحديات الإدارية والديون المتراكمة التي يعاني منها الزمالك في الفترة الأخيرة.
Whilst Newcastle United have completed some major deals with summer, the biggest transfer story surrounding the club has been the potential exit of Alexander Isak to Premier League holders Liverpool.
Until this week, the player had been quiet on the situation, but ahead of the PFA awards, the Swedish striker put out a statement to explain why he would not be in attendance.
Isak first acknowledged the award ceremony and then his silence on the transfer controversy before sharing his perspective on the matter: “The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.”
After Isak’s post, the Magpies responded with a statement that denied the existence of any agreements and explained that they would be willing to sell Isak if their conditions are met, but at this stage, that has not happened, and they don’t foresee it happening this window. The statement concluded by saying that Isak would be welcomed to return to training once he accepts the situation.
Whilst the Isak transfer drama has captured the media’s attention, a different club has attempted to recruit another one of Newcastle’s players.
Ipswich approach Newcastle for Miley loan
Ipswich Town have approached Newcastle and inquired about signing 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley on a season-long loan.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has reported that this approach has been turned down as “Eddie Howe sees the teenager playing a key role” this season. Newcastle will once again be featuring in the Champions League, and it will be their first season playing it under the new format, meaning there’ll be guaranteed a higher level of European games than ever before.
These European fixtures, alongside the three domestic competitions, will require sufficient squad depth, and Miley is seen as a part of this. Downie shared that there has been interest in Miley from other clubs, but at this stage, Ipswich are the only ones to have made a formal approach.
Big season for "key player" Miley
This season is set to be an important one in Miley’s development. Over the last two seasons, he’s shown promise in brief cameos, but this season, with the heavy fixture schedule and Howe’s view of him as a “key player”, he will have more opportunities to prove himself and try and break his way into the team.
Becoming a starter for Newcastle is no easy task, especially in the midfield, as they currently have one of the most cemented midfield threes in the league with Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães. The club have also been linked to Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, which would make the competition for places even tougher.
If, when Miley is given a chance this season, he produces performances of a similar quality to last season, he will be in with a chance of breaking into the first team. Last season, he ranked in the 99th percentile of similar players for tackles made per 90, and he was in the top 5% for tackle success rate.
It’s not just defensively where Miley shines, as he also scored in the league despite only playing in the competition for 300 minutes. With more game time, he will be able to demonstrate more of his attacking ability and prove himself as an all-round midfielder who can step in for any of the three starters when necessary.
Things are really starting to heat up at Everton in the transfer market.
As they prepare for life at their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, the Toffees have, so far, made five new signings.
Most notably, striker Thierno Barry has arrived from Villarreal and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has joined from Chelsea, but the headline arrival is Jack Grealish’s loan move from Manchester City, which contains a £50m option to buy.
Nevertheless, David Moyes still wants to add more attacking quality to his squad, so could the Toffees target a “special talent”?
Everton's attacking options
With Grealish in the door, observers are wondering where the England international will fit into Everton’s attack.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Iliman Ndiaye was, by some distance, the Toffees’ most-productive forward last season, scoring 11 goals across all competitions during his debut campaign on Merseyside, with the Senegalese international deployed on the left.
This suggests Grealish is going to be played more centrally, so could the Blues add another rapid winger to their team, one that’ll help get the best out of their high-profile new arrival?
Well, according to Alan Myers of Sky Sports News, Everton have added Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu to their list of targets.
Vinny O’Connor of Sky Sports News adds that the Blues have turned their attention to Fatawu as they are ‘reluctant’ to meet Southampton’s £45m price tag for Tyler Dibling.
Abdul Fatawu
No potential fee has been reported thus far, but the Ghanaian international’s transfer value is estimated to be around £15m, so could the winger soon swap the King Power for Hill Dickinson?
What Abdul Fatawu would bring to Everton
Fatawu’s European career began at Sporting CP, making 12 senior appearances for the Lisbon-based giants, before moving to Leicester City in August 2023, initially on loan, before the move was made permanent for around £15m a year later.
The Ghanaian international was key to the Foxes’ EFL Championship title-winning team during his debut campaign in the East Midlands, before making just 11 Premier League appearances last year, heartbreakingly suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Angola in Talatona during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier back in November.
The 21-year-old is back now, playing 78 minutes of Leicester’s league opener against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, so could he be in line for a return to the Premier League?
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shay Given labelled him a “special talent”, while Gary Lineker was left baffled every time then-manager Steve Cooper chose not to start Fatawu.
The Leicester starlet is a direct, dynamic threat who regularly looks to beat his man, having ranked in the top 7% of Championship wingers for take-ons attempted in 2023/24, as per FBref, successfully completing 2.88 of those per 90 (ranking in the top 6% in that regard). That mirrors his potential new teammate, Grealish, who ranks in the top 1% in Europe for progressive carries per 90.
While the left-footer is often erratic in front of goal, having ranked in just the bottom 8% for shots on target in that promotion-winning campaign, he does still boast an astonishing effort in his locker, such as this one against Bournemouth in an FA Cup tie.
They add that Fatawu is at his best when he ‘receives the ball close to the touchline’ on the right wing, able to dribble forward or combine quickly with teammates.
So, let’s assess his statistics from Leicester’s Championship promotion-winning campaign.
Goals
6
5th
Assists
13
2nd
Shots
75
3rd
Goals – xG
+1.3
3rd
Key passes
72
2nd
Big chances created
32
2nd
Shot-creating actions
133
3rd
Goal-creating actions
23
2nd
Attempted take-ons
181
2nd
Successful take-ons
90
1st
Progressive carries
144
3rd
Average SofaScore rating
7.52
2nd
As the table documents, Fatawu was at the heart of everything Leicester City did in an attacking sense when they won promotion from the EFL Championship, namely in terms of scoring goals, creating chances and much more.
His creativity and dribbling prowess is surely what makes the 21-year-old such an attractive proposition to Everton.
Fatawu would alleviate a lot of the creative burden that’s surely going to be thrust onto Grealish’s shoulders, making runs in behind with which either Grealish will be able to find him, or the Ghanaian will pull defenders away, thereby creating space for the England international.
Put succinctly, all available evidence suggests the pair would form an excellent partnership, thereby making Everton both fun and, more importantly, a dangerous attacking team again.
He's like Grealish: Everton tempted by signing "explosive" £40m star
With Jack Grealish joining Everton on loan, David Moyes also wants the Toffees to sign an “explosive” winger valued at £40m who could be even better.
Celtic kicked off their defence of the Scottish Premiership title with a dramatic 1-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead in their opening match on Sunday evening.
Luke McCowan scored the goal of the game for Brendan Rodgers’ side, as he came off the bench to fire into the bottom corner, via a deflection, from the edge of the box.
The Scottish midfielder saved the Hoops from drawing a blank on the opening day, as they had looked rather blunt at the top end of the pitch in the 86 minutes that preceded his strike.
Adam Idah was selected to start as the centre-forward for the Premiership champions ahead of new signing Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny, and he failed to justify his inclusion.
Adam Idah's disappointing showing against St Mirren
The Ireland international was provided with a big chance to show the supporters that he has what it takes to be the main number nine for Celtic, but he failed to take it.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Idah had a huge opportunity to open the scoring from close range in the second half and rattled his effort off the past, albeit from a fairly tight angle, whilst the striker failed to score with his other three shots on goal.
The 6 foot 3 forward did with both of his aerial duels, to his credit, but the former Norwich man also lost four of his five duels on the deck and failed to complete his only attempted dribble.
It was a blunt performance from the Irish striker, who may have harmed his chances of keeping his place in the XI, but he was far from the only disappointing performer, as Benjamin Nygren also struggled on his debut.
Why Celtic should drop Benjamin Nygren
Rodgers must ruthlessly drop the Swedish central midfielder for the trip to Aberdeen next Sunday because he was just as bad as Idah against St Mirren.
The left-footed summer signing was picked over Arne Engels in midfield and failed to justify his inclusion, with an awkward-looking showing in the middle of the park.
Benjamin Nygren
Nygren appeared to trip over his own feet a few too many times, with Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton describing a few of his touches as “dreadful” during commentary.
Like Idah, the 24-year-old attacker also fired a shot against the post, although his was via a save from Shamal George, and had two shots on target without scoring.
Minutes
78
Big chances created
0
Shots on target
2
Accurate crosses
1/8
Successful dribbles
0/1
Ground duels won
1/5
Aerial duels won
1/4
As you can see in the table above, Nygren was too much of a lightweight in midfield for Celtic, as he lost 77% of his overall duels, whilst Idah, at least, was dominant aerially.
This shows that he was just as bad as the Irish forward because he was even worse in duels and only came slightly closer to scoring than the striker with his shot that was saved.
Hoops supporters also may not want to see too many more corners from the Sweden international, as he only completed one of his eight attempted crosses from set-pieces and open play combined.
Nygren may just need some time to settle in and adapt to Glasgow and Scottish football before Celtic fans can see the best of him on the pitch, which is why it may be best for Rodgers to place him on the bench for the time being.
Engels delivered ten goals and 13 assists in his debut campaign in Scotland, and McCowan won the game with his strike off the bench on Sunday. They are both suitable options to come in and replace Nygren as a starter for the trip to Aberdeen next weekend.
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