“I can’t really talk for the fans, but…” – Celtic star sends message ahead of cup final

Luke McCowan says Celtic need to show their character in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park.

Wilfried Nancy became the first Hoops manager to lose his opening two matches when Italian giants Roma won 3-0 at Parkhead in the Europa League on Thursday night, which followed on from a 2-1 home defeat to leaders Hearts in the William Hill Premiership last weekend.

Celtic fans, some of whom booed at the end of the defeat by Roma, are approaching the final against the Buddies with more nerves than they would have done before the Frenchman took over from interim bosses Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, who in turn had taken over from Brendan Rodgers.

McCowan calls for players and fans to stick together

McCowan, the 28-year-old midfielder, who joined from Dundee in August 2024, called for unity and a demonstration of the traits that have made the Parkhead club so successful in recent times.

He said: “I can’t really talk for the fans, but we are fully bought-in. We need to buy-in, it’s kind of non-negotiable.

“We need to back everyone in this building, regardless of who’s been playing well, who’s not.

“We are a team and we need to back each other through the good and the bad because everybody’s all high-fives and cuddles when we are winning but this team doesn’t go through two or three bad results and this is where the true characters are shown.

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ByDan Emery 3 days ago

“So we need just to be together and I know I’ve said so many times, stick together.

“It’s when you go through bad spells – personally I’ve done it with Dundee and Ayr – then we just need to kind of have that same attitude of work hard, move on to the next game.

“The games are coming thick and fast in this period and it’s a good thing that if you get one win it can propel you to get a few hopefully and we just need to start with that on Sunday.

“We just need to get on top of it again.”

Mariners Prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, a Switch-Pitcher, Is a Sight to Behold

Switch-hitters are common across baseball, but have you ever seen a switch-pitcher? Well, if not, Seattle Mariners prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje is here to fix that.

The Mariners chose Cijntje with the 15th pick in the 2024 MLB draft. Now, the Mississippi State product is throwing for Seattle at Spring Breakout, a showcase event for the best prospects across MLB farm systems.

Friday night, Cijntje stood atop the mound and threw back-to-back pitches with opposite arms. First, he got Travis Bazzana, the top pick in the 2024 draft, to ground out with a 92-mph heater from his left arm. Then, he switched to the right arm for the next at bat, hurling a 95-mph fastball from the opposite side mere seconds later.

“That's something special,” Bazzana, the top Cleveland Guardians prospect, said of Cijntje via MLB.com. “You don't really see that ever. I think he's got a bright future, and it was cool to battle.”

After the initial out against Bazzana, Cijntje threw right-handed for the rest of his two-inning outing. He even struck out Bazzana with his right arm for the final out of his night.

Pat Venditte, who played in the big leagues from 2015 to '20, is the most recent pitcher to throw with both arms in the MLB. He pitched for six different teams as a reliever, mainly with his right arm against right-handed hitters while switching to the left for left-handed hitters. His unique style prompted a new rule requiring pitchers to indicate the hand he intends to pitch with before an at-bat, known as the "Pat Venditte Rule."

According to MLB.com, the Mariners intend to develop Cijntje as a right-handed starter because it's his better pitching arm with a deeper arsenal where he can reach a higher velocity. But he still has plenty of upside as a lefty, too.

Cijntje, who was born in the Netherlands but primarily grew up in Curaçao, grew up as a switch-pitcher. He pitched from both sides during the 2016 Little League World Series as a member of the team which represented his hometown of Willemstad, Curaçao.

One day, we'll likely see him as one of the rare pitchers who needs to keep the Pat Venditte Rule in mind on the mound.

Aston Villa scouts blown away by hat-trick hero Ismael Saibari

Aston Villa scouts are being put through their paces ahead of the January window and may now have found a player worth pursuing in PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ismael Saibari.

The Villans struggled for goals in the early part of the campaign, and it is fair to say that their efforts to hit the target need to improve, given they are one of the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League table.

Yet to hit double figures on that front, at the time of writing, much has been made of Ollie Watkins’ poor form at Aston Villa this season. The England international has hit the target in just one of 13 this campaign, failing to repeat the stellar form he showed in 2024/25.

Undoubtedly, January will be a time where finding potency will be prioritised. Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani is on the Villans’ radar and may be pursued, with Unai Emery set on achieving even loftier goals than the accomplishments he has met during his three years in the West Midlands.

He said before the clash with Liverpool: “Still work to do, still objectives to set and work hard to achieve those objectives – collectively and myself as well, individually.

“One of them is some titles, but of course the title only is winning one, Premier League, the cups in England, and Europe, is the target we can set through to achieve some titles, and we are in this way.”

PSR may force Aston Villa’s hand as Liverpool plot a move for Ezri Konsa. Even then, there will be room to recruit more additions to offer Emery a greater sense of potency in his side’s hunt for continental qualification, something he may now find in his latest target.

Aston Villa scouts blown away by Ismael Saibari

According to TBR in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Aston Villa scouts were blown away by PSV midfielder Ismael Saibari after watching him in action against Feyenoord last weekend, where he scored a hat-trick.

Bailey said: “Saibari is attracting a lot of attention and his treble last week was special. He is one to keep an eye on for January, getting goals in January is something Premier League clubs especially are looking for and he could offer that.”

With ten goals and an assist to his name this term, the engine room operator is also wanted by Leeds United, West Ham United, Everton, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Aston Villa eyeing Joshua Zirkzee to fill attacking void

Versatility is a key part of his game, something that could potentially signal several arrivals are imminent, given Saibari can feature as a ten, in central midfield or in a role shielding the back four.

Nevertheless, PSV hold the cards in negotiations due to having the Morocco international under contract until 2029. Aston Villa may need to shell out a premium to land his services, though could now be tempted by the prospect of a January bid.

Amorim upgrade: "Best coach in the PL" would now "love" to manage Man Utd

Manchester United’s situation on the pitch is one that needs a rapid change in the coming weeks, especially if boss Ruben Amorim is to save his job at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old will mark a year in charge in just over a month’s time, but it remains to be seen if he will reach such a landmark given the Red Devils’ dismal displays in recent weeks.

His men have lost three of their first six Premier League matches in 2025/26, whilst also being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby Town.

Such results see the club occupy a place just above the relegation zone, just as they did last campaign, whilst already missing out on the opportunity to win a piece of silverware this season.

As a result, pressure has rapidly been building on Amorim’s shoulders, with numerous options already being lined up by the hierarchy should they decide to make a change of manager.

The latest on Man Utd’s shortlist of Amorim replacements

After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield within the last few months, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has emerged as one of the options United could turn to if Amorim is sacked.

Such a move would be an excellent appointment, but it remains unclear at this stage whether the Austrian would be open to a switch to Old Trafford given his recent success at Selhurst Park.

However, he’s not the only manager currently in their sights, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola another option under consideration, according to TEAMtalk.

Their report claims that the Spaniard “would love” to take over at the Theatre of Dreams, with such a move reflecting his rapid rise in his managerial career.

It also states that the 43-year-old only has one year left on his contract at the Vitality, with the Cherries potentially having no choice but to allow him to depart in order to gain a compensation package.

Why United’s manager hunt could see an Amorim upgrade arrive

After joining last November, it’s safe to say no United fan would have expected the club’s form to take a further nose-dive after Amorim filled the hot-seat after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

The Portuguese boss arrived with huge expectations after winning two Liga Portugal titles during his spell in charge of Sporting CP – even beating Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League prior to his move to England.

However, the 40-year-old has only achieved a 39% win rate in his 49 matches at the helm, with the defeat against Brentford last Saturday, the 21st of his tenure.

Such a result made it nine losses in the club’s last 15 league matches, with promoted sides such as Sunderland and Leeds United already ahead of them in the current standings.

A change is desperately needed, with a move for Iraola offering the Red Devils the fresh impetus they’ve desperately craved over the last couple of months.

AFC Bournemouth manager AndoniIraolalooks dejected after the match

Should he join the club, the first team would no doubt go back to a 4-2-3-1 system, something which Amorim has refused to do, but also offering the hierarchy an improvement on the man currently at the helm.

When comparing their respective stats in the Premier League, the difference is there for all to see, with the Spaniard a perfect option to right the wrongs of the last 12 months.

Games managed

94

49

Wins

38

19

Draws

22

9

Losses

34

21

Goals conceded

1.4

1.9

Points won

115

66

Points per game

1.5

1.3

Win percentage

40.4%

38.7%

Iraola, who in the words of journalist James Horncastle – via John Brewin of the Libero podcast – is the “best coach in the Premier League”, has achieved a 40% win rate at the Vitality, a rate higher than that of Amorim, winning 38 of his 94 matches in charge – subsequently doing so on a shoestring budget.

He’s also achieved a better point per game rate to date, with his side also conceding fewer goals per 90 – subsequently offering the Red Devils the needed defensive quality they’ve lacked.

The former Rayo Vallecano boss led the Cherries to a top-half finish last time around, something which Amorim was unable to do with a vastly more expensive squad at his disposal.

There’s no denying that the 40-year-old is on borrowed time, with the hierarchy desperately needing to make a decision soon to avoid another embarrassing campaign.

Should he be given his matching orders, it’s clear that Iraola would be a phenomenal option, with the Spaniard’s desire to make the move another reason why he should be the man to transform the club’s fortunes.

He's Klopp 2.0: "Incredible" boss is Man Utd's top target to replace Amorim

Manchester United now have a new option to replace Ruben Amorim as manager at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Frank can finally get Simons firing by unleashing "phenomenal" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur face Monaco in the Champions League tonight, looking to return to winning ways after the defeat to Aston Villa on home soil over the weekend.

Thomas Frank’s side will have huge expectations placed upon them in Europe this season, understandably so given their successes in the Europa League last campaign.

The Dane has already made an impressive start to life in Europe’s biggest club competition, winning one and drawing the other of their first two outings in 2025/26.

However, the meeting against the Ligue 1 outfit will present a tricky challenge, with Sebastien Pocognoli’s side holding Manchester City to a 2-2 draw at the start of the month.

If Frank is to claim another European victory as the Lilywhites boss, he will likely need one of his current first-team members to be on top form in the South of France.

Xavi Simons’ disappointing start to life at Spurs

During the summer transfer window, the Spurs hierarchy made it clear they wanted to improve the options available to them within the attacking midfield positions.

After numerous failed attempts during the window, they decided to fork out a fee in the region of £52m for the signature of Dutch international Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

His tally of 19 combined goals and assists across all competitions generated huge excitement, but it’s safe to say his period in North London has failed to take off to date.

The 22-year-old has only registered one assist in his first eight outings for the Lilywhites, with his transfer now starting to be called into question by numerous pundits.

Simons has only created 1.3 chances per 90 and completed just 40% of his attempted dribbles – with the latter of his two stats ranking him within the 44th percentile of all players in the Premier League.

He’s also demonstrated a lack of physicality in England’s top-flight, only being on the winning side of 38% of his duels – with only 27% of players in the division winning fewer.

He desperately needs to find his form to justify his staggering transfer fee, but Frank can aid him against Monaco by starting one other first-team member tonight.

The Spurs player who can finally get Simons firing

Throughout the first few weeks of his time in North London, Simons has operated in a variety of different roles – with most of his playing time coming in an unnatural left-wing position.

Such a situation would likely have contributed to his recent lack of impact in attacking areas, with the manager needing to utilise him in his natural number ten position.

He created nearly double the amount of chances per 90 at Leipzig last campaign, further showcasing the levels he can produce when featuring behind the striker.

The centre-forward department has also been brought into question as of late, with Richarlison failing to back the faith shown in him by the new manager.

Dominic Solanke will certainly have been the number one option for Frank, but the Englishman’s constant setbacks with ankle injuries have prevented him from consistent first-team action.

Such scenarios should see the manager hand loanee Randal Kolo Muani his first start for the Lilywhites in the clash with Monaco later on this evening.

The Frenchman has only made 24 minutes of action for the club after joining from PSG on deadline day, but a European night under the lights could present an excellent chance to stake his claim for a starting role.

Kolo Muani, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former boss Christian Gourcuff, scored 10 goals in just 22 appearances at Juventus last season – highlighting his clinical ability in the final third.

Such talent within attacking areas could hugely benefit Simons, with the Dutchman having the opportunity to boost his assist tally alongside the Frenchman.

After all, this is a player who, in the words of the Bundesliga website, has the “hallmarks of Thierry Henry’s game”. We’re yet to see that since his move but there is no time like the present.

Games played

26

Goals & assists

12

Shot on target accuracy

48%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

Key passes made

1.4

Take-ons completed

1.5

Carries into opposition box

1.2

Aerials won

1.2

The big-money addition has completed 1.1 crosses per 90, too, with such numbers playing perfectly into the hands of the loanee who scored three headers last campaign.

Both players have ultimately struggled to match the expectations they arrived with in North London, but that could all change tonight if Frank hands them the chance to start together.

Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani

The pair could help the side maintain their unbeaten record in Europe this campaign and bolster their chances of claiming another European title.

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ByEthan Lamb Oct 21, 2025

Sold for £1m: Arsenal thought they had Foden 2.0 in Hale End's "best ever"

When it comes to producing top-quality players, it’s hard to think of many Premier League teams with a better track record than Arsenal.

On top of numbers, Hale End has also produced a string of players who look destined for the very top of the game.

However, for every player who does make it to the pinnacle of the sport, there are plenty who fall by the wayside.

Unfortunately, that has been the case for one such talent, who was at one point compared to Phil Foden.

Arsenal's Hale End hotstreak

It would be fair to say that this current run of Hale Enders making it into the Arsenal team truly started with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Granted, the latter was eventually sold, but his impact in the two and a bit years he was fit under Arteta cannot be overstated, and well, when it comes to the former, what else is there to say?

The regular England international has only just turned 24 and has already made 266 appearances for the club, in which he’s scored 71 goals and provided 71 assists.

The next two academy graduates to make an impact at the club were Ethan Nwaneri and Myles-Lewis Skelly.

The former became the youngest player in Premier League history in 2022 and ended last season with an impressive tally of nine goals and two assists in just 37 appearances.

Lewis-Skelly, however, arguably made an even bigger impact, cementing himself as the manager’s first-choice left-back for some time and scoring on his debut for the senior national team.

Finally, the latest uber-talented teen to make their way out of Hale End looks to be Max Dowman, who has impressed every time he’s made it onto the pitch since his debut in pre-season.

However, a few years ago, many would have expected another name on this list, a player who was compared to Foden.

The Hale Ender compared to Foden

So, to be compared to a player as talented as Foden, the Arsenal youngster must have been looked at as a special prospect.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

While it seems a long time ago now, that is exactly how people perceived Charlie Patino.

For example, in October 2021, Jack Wilshere, who knows a thing or two about being a wonderkid, told the press that the youngster was “going to make a name for himself in the future” and that he was “one who everyone at the training ground is talking about.”

On top of that, scout Brian Stappleton claimed that fellow Arsenal scout Sean O’Connor told him Patino was “the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.”

Then came the comparison to the Man City star, which stemmed from his attacking ability during his time at youth level and was then highlighted in an article by the Times’ Gary Jacob.

All the excitement around the youngster came to a head when he scored on his competitive debut for the club in a Carabao Cup game against Sunderland in October 2021.

However, as we now know, all the hype around him and the comparisons to players like Foden were soon to be proven to be overblown, as two underwhelming loans to Blackpool and Swansea City began to cast doubt over his true potential.

Team

Blackpool

Swansea

Appearances

37

35

Goals

3

4

Assists

4

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

0.22

Moreover, his representatives then told the club that he wanted to leave for more guaranteed game time, but after two middling years in the Championship, there was very little interest in his services.

Eventually, with little other option, the North Londoners agreed to sell the Hale Ender to Segunda División side Deportivo La Coruna for £1m, where he made just eight appearances last season.

However, while he didn’t live up to the expectations placed upon him, there is reason to be hopeful that the youngster can still have a successful career, as so far this season, he has six appearances for the Spanish outfit.

Ultimately, Arsenal have produced exciting talent after exciting talent from Hale End over the last few years, but Patino just wasn’t quite at the level required to become one of those who made it in North London.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 22, 2025

Emerson Palmieri says 'special person' Roberto De Zerbi has 'a passion I've never seen' as winger opens up on decision to join Marseille from West Ham

Emerson Palmieri has praised Roberto De Zerbi as a “special person” with unmatched passion, revealing how the Marseille coach played a crucial role in his summer transfer from West Ham. The Italy international full-back admitted he once feared the move would collapse, but is now thriving in Ligue 1 under a manager he deeply admires.

Emerson's fresh start in France

Emerson joined Marseille from West Ham late in the summer window for a €1 million fee including bonuses, signing a two-year deal with an option for another season. The defender, who previously played for Lyon, has quickly settled in, making six appearances for the Ligue 1 side as they push to stay within reach of Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.

AdvertisementGettyEmerson opens up on De Zerbi’s unmatched passion

Speaking to , Emerson was full of admiration for De Zerbi, describing the Marseille manager as a one-of-a-kind personality who values players beyond the pitch.

"A special person. I've had many coaches in my career, but I've never met anyone like him," he said. "He brings a passion I've never seen on the pitch. He values the human aspect, and the players sense this: you can talk to him about anything. On the other side, there's not just a coach, but a person who loves you."

Italian reveals late drama behind his Marseille move

The 31-year-old revealed that his transfer to Les Phoceens nearly fell through because of West Ham’s reluctance to lower their asking price.

“Two weeks earlier, I had already given De Zerbi the OK; the clubs needed to reach an agreement. I was afraid they wouldn’t, but the manager and Benatia wanted me so much that they waited until the very end.” 

He added: “Before the transfer, I spent 50 days training alone. West Ham wouldn't lower their demands, but I kept calm because I knew Marseille were there.”

Emerson’s arrival has boosted Marseille’s defensive stability and added valuable European experience from his time in the Premier League and Serie A.

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Getty Images SportEmerson targets key clashes in Ligue 1 and Europe

Marseille sit second in Ligue 1, just one point behind PSG, and will face Le Havre after the international break before meeting Sporting CP in the Champions League. Emerson is expected to feature in both matches as De Zerbi continues to shape his ambitious Marseille side.

Vídeo mostra suposto ato de racismo do preparador físico do Universitario em direção à torcida do Corinthians

MatériaMais Notícias

Uma vídeo filmado da parte alta da Neo Química Arena registra o momento em que Sebástian Avellino Vargas, preparador físico do Universitario, do Peru, supostamente faz um ato de racismo em direção à torcida do Corinthians, logo após o fim do jogo em que o Timão venceu a equipe peruana pela Copa Sul-Americana, nesta terça-feira (11).

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasAmérica MineiroMancini pode ter desfalques no América-MG diante do Corinthians e prevê ‘guerra’ no dueloAmérica Mineiro13/07/2023BrasileirãoQuem é melhor: Corinthians 2017 ou Botafogo 2023? Veja votação jogador por jogador feita pela redação do LANCE!Brasileirão13/07/2023CorinthiansCrise sanitária no Peru preocupa Corinthians, mas Conmebol não mudará local do jogo com o UniversitarioCorinthians13/07/2023

O Lance! teve acesso as imagens, que começou a circular na imprensa peruana, mas foi informado que ele não é do circuito interno da Neo Química Arena, como aparenta. Porém, a reportagem apurou que imagens semelhantes, registram o que seria o ato de injúria racial, foram coletadas pelas câmeras do estádio corintiana e encaminhados pelo clube, tanto para os órgãos de Justiça competentes, quanto para a Conmebol, que investiga o caso no âmbito desportivo.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

A empresa que cuida da parte de imagens do estádio corintiano é terceirizada. Mas logo após os primeiros registros do suposto caso de racismo de Sebástian Avellino no local da partida, o Corinthians solicitou o início das análises das imagens do circuito interno de segurança para que elas pudessem colaborar com as investigações.

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Sebastián está detido desde a madrugada desta quarta-feira (12), quando teve voz de prisão expedida em flagrante. Na parte da tarde, ele passou por audiência de custódia que manteve a decisão de prendê-lo de forma preventiva.Nesta quinta-feira (13), o preparador físico teve um pedido de habeas corpus negado pelo desembargador Roberto Porto, da 4ª Câmara de Direito Criminal do Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo, que declarou que há fortes indícios da autoria do delito por parte de Avellino e que a prisão, de forma cautelar, se mostra correta diante da conduta do investigado.

Na próxima terça-feira (18), Corinthians e Universitario voltarão a se enfrentar. Dessa vez no estádio Monumental de Lima, casa da equipe peruana. Todos os ingressos destinados ao clube mandante já foram vendidos. Com a vantagem construída com a vitória por 1 a 0 no jogo de ida, o Timão pode até empatar fora que avançará às oitavas de final da Copa Sul-Americana.

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'He wanted to work on one more shot' – Karthik backs Kohli against spin-heavy CSK

RCB’s batting coach and mentor is pleased with where Kohli’s spin game is at

Alagappan Muthu27-Mar-20252:50

Cricinformed: Spin no more a weakness for Kohli in IPL?

There was a time when Virat Kohli could be kept quiet by spin bowling. Then last year, in keeping with the Indian team’s new direction in T20 cricket, he upped his game when pace was taken off the ball. Kohli began IPL 2025 with an innings full of intent, and on the eve of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s game against Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk, there is once again focus on what he will do when he faces R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad.”He has batted well in the recent past against spin, especially in white-ball cricket,” RCB batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik said, “So, I don’t want to go too deep into stats. I am not very aware. But if I remember, in the [T20] World Cup finals, he got runs where it mattered. And apart from that, in the Champions Trophy, he had a good tournament second-highest run-getter [for India]. And that doesn’t come without playing on spin.”So, I believe right now, he is batting as well as he has ever done. And you speak to him even today, just now as I came out. He wanted to work on one more shot. At this point of time, to work on one more shot, tells you the hunger that he has in his mindset. He wants to just improve and keep raising the bar. So, he is a special player. And at this point of time, the way I see it, he is batting as confidently and as well as he has ever done in IPL.”Related

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The conditions in Chennai haven’t always been spin-friendly though. CSK coach Stephen Fleming has previously stressed on wanting to get back their home advantage. His preference remains the same – “if it does turn, great”, he said – but he does appear to be at peace with whatever he gets on match day.”It’s difficult,” Fleming said. “We don’t have much influence, really, on what comes up. Each pitch has a different characteristic. We’ve found that. So we’ll work really hard from ball one to try and work out what we have, trying to get us a team that’s pretty well-equipped for all conditions because that’s been the key to playing here.”We do find it’s a flat wicket. We’ve got guys that are good at bowling in those conditions. If it does turn, great. I’m sure we won’t get a green seamer, so the other two is what we’re looking for.”Noor Ahmad has given CSK’s attack a point of difference•BCCI

Fleming also had a theory on why mystery spin is so popular in T20 cricket. “A lot of these players are coming straight out of one season or half a season, two seasons at most, of first-class cricket. So they haven’t got a lot of grounding. They haven’t got the 10 years of first-class experience, but they’re incredibly powerful. So they know how to hit the ball, hit it a long way, but the subtleties of the game is something that you learn over time.”When you’re young and getting these big opportunities, sometimes you haven’t had the experience against a wide range of bowlers. So for many, it’s coming up against this type of player [mystery spinner] for the first time, and it’s a tough stage. But their default position is power, so you still have to be very smart with what you do. But that’s why we think players with a little bit of difference make a big difference.”

Boost for Fulham: £100k-a-week PL forward now keen on Craven Cottage move

Fulham are now looking to sign a “dangerous” Premier League forward, who is keen on a move to Craven Cottage this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Cottagers keen on new forward amid Atalanta's Muniz pursuit

Last week, it was revealed that Rodrigo Muniz has emerged as a major target for Atalanta, with Fabrizio Romano stating the Italian club are now confident they will be able to get a deal over the line.

However, a more recent update suggests that Atalanta are prepared to walk away from a deal if the Cottagers don’t lower their £50m asking price, with the Serie A side delivering a 48-hour ultimatum.

As such, it remains to be seen whether the 24-year-old exits Craven Cottage this summer, but the west Londoners are pressing ahead with deals for new attackers regardless, and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kevin is among the potential targets.

However, the Donetsk star is not the only winger on the shortlist, with a report from Sky Sports revealing Fulham are still looking to sign Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, who spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Craven Cottage.

Nelson missed the last six months of the season due to a seriously hamstring issue, but crucially, he is keen on a return to west London this summer, and a number of options are on the table.

A loan deal with an obligation to buy is highlighted as one possibility, although the forward’s wage demands could be reasonably high, given that he is known to pocket a whopping £100k-a-week at the Emirates Stadium.

"Dangerous" Nelson needs to leave Arsenal this summer

The 25-year-old unquestionably needs to leave the Gunners this summer, considering he was shipped out on loan last season, and is now likely to be even further down the pecking order following the recent arrival of Noni Madueke.

There are also some signs the London-born winger could be an exciting addition to Marco Silva’s squad, with scout Ben Mattinson once saying: “Nelson as always has looked so dangerous. You can’t give him space because he’s always decisive creating chances for himself or others.”

Fulham now open talks to sign "outstanding" £20m forward with 123 PL goals

The Cottagers are in negotiations over a deal for an attacker.

1 ByDominic Lund Aug 6, 2025

That said, even prior to the winger sustaining a hamstring injury, he didn’t exactly make a major impact for the Cottagers last season, chipping in with just two goal contributions in 11 Premier League outings.

As such, a move for an alternative target could be a good idea, and Fulham have a number of options on the shortlist, including Kevin, who amassed ten league goal contributions last season, and experienced Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling.

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