Fixtures-wise, the only potential clash for the IPL – even if just by two days – is with the proposed Lanka Premier League
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Aug-2020Australia’s home T20I series against West Indies has been postponed because of the Covid-19 situation, and that means the IPL now has an uninterrupted window – between September 19 and November 10 – as far as international cricket is concerned.West Indies were scheduled to play matches in Townsville, Cairns and the Gold Coast on October 4, 6 and 9, with the series being seen as a precursor to the now-postponed men’s T20 World Cup, originally set to start on October 18.Now the only potential clash for the IPL – even if just by two days – is with the proposed Lanka Premier League, which has a finish date of September 20. However, Sri Lanka Cricket last week stated that it is considering advancing the dates to ensure there is no overlap with the IPL. As such, only two Sri Lankan players – Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) and Isuru Udana (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – are contracted in the IPL.Meanwhile, Australia’s short limited-overs tour of England is expected to end on September 15, leaving players from both sides just about enough time to hop over to the UAE in time for the IPL, which will be held across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. However, the IPL’s SOPs are yet to be made formal, and it isn’t known if players travelling from the UK – where the number of Covid-19 cases has been much higher than in the UAE – will need to undergo a quarantine period before entering the bio-bubbles of their respective teams, many of whom are likely to begin their training camps in the UAE after the third week of August.Most boards have either provided or agreed to provide no-objection certificates to their players to play in the IPL. However, there are still concerns with regards to the participation of South Africa players since their provincial and international borders remain closed for commercial flights.
Michael Owen is impressed with the swagger of Jude Bellingham and believes that the Real Madrid star is among "the best in the world".
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Bellingham had an exceptional first season at RealHad scored in both the Clasicos last seasonHas shown that he can perform in high-stake encountersWHAT HAPPENED?
Bellingham has made a remarkable impression since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, showcasing a level of confidence and skill that has astounded many in the football world – including Owen, who has been left surprised by his swift adaptation to life in the Spanish capital. Indeed, Bellingham’s debut season with Real Madrid was nothing short of exceptional, as he contributed 23 goals and 13 assists across all competitions and scored in crucial matches including both Clasico fixtures against Barcelona.
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Owen, who graced Santiago Bernabeu in the early 2000s, is well aware of the scrutiny that a megastar like Bellingham faces in the Spanish press. However, the former striker is astounded by the way Bellingham has demonstrated resilience and composure to handle the pressure and deliver top-notch performances even in the most challenging stadiums across Europe in the Champions League – which has made him one of the leading contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
WHAT OWEN SAID
In an interview with ex-England international Owen said: "Jude quickly elevated himself into one of the world’s great players, for club and country. Playing for a club like Real Madrid isn’t easy when all eyes are on you and every poor performance is pounced upon; if you can respond to that and stay at the highest level, then you belong with the best in the world. He’s incredible. At Real, he has developed that big-game energy, that swagger, that attitude. We saw it for England at Euro 2024 as well."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Indeed, Bellingham's performances for England during Euro 2024 further reinforced his status as a player of extraordinary potential. He played a crucial role in the Three Lions' journey to the final, scoring in the opening match against Serbia and netting an injury-time equaliser against Slovakia in the round of 16.
Everton's recent form has been nothing short of incredible, winning four out of their last five matches and drawing the other in a run that secured their Premier League status for another year.
Sean Dyche's side have also won all five of their last top-flight matches, pulling the Toffees 14 points clear of the drop zone, despite having an eight-point deduction.
The club's biggest issue on the pitch, however, has been finding the back of the net, with the club only managing to score 39 times – the second-lowest in the division, only ahead of bottom-of-the-table side Sheffield United.
Jarrad Branthwaite scores for Everton
They've not been helped by the fact their highest goalscorer has seven goals, with Abdoulaye Doucoure level at the top with another player, after scoring his first goal since December in the win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
However, during the recent good run of form in the league, one player has come forward and shown why he's a reliable figure at Goodison Park, scoring valuable goals for Dyche's side that have certainly helped in the battle for survival.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's stats at Everton in 2023/24
Despite struggling with injuries during the early stages of the campaign, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has put his troubles behind him and proved how much of a valuable player he can be to the Everton squad.
He missed games during the opening weeks with various hamstring and cheekbone issues but returned with an immediate impact, scoring three times in his first seven appearances.
However, the 27-year-old would go on a run of 18 games without a single goal – a huge reason why the Toffees have struggled to produce any impressive numbers in front of goal.
With the fight for relegation hotting up in recent weeks, Calvert-Lewin has excelled in front of goal finding the back of the net in four of his last six matches – taking him level with Doucoure as the club's top scorer in the league during 2023/24.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates against Liverpool
He arrived at Goodison Park for a fee in the region of £1.5m from Sheffield United back in 2016, with the striker's market value rapidly increasing since his move to Merseyside.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's market value in 2024
Nearly eight years on from his move to Goodison, the "phenomenal" forward, as dubbed by former boss Carlo Ancelotti, boasts a much higher value, with a £40m price tag having been slapped on him ahead of the summer – an increase of 2566% in relation to that £1.5m fee.
Nathan Patterson
£6m
Abdoulaye Doucoure
£4.5m
Dele Alli
£3.5m
Michael Keane
£1.9m
Idrissa Gueye
£1.5m
However, his rise has seen him overtake Doucoure, who joined the club for £20m, with the Malian now only worth £4.5m – a drop of over £15m since his move to Goodison.
Whilst the pair have both produced respectable goalscoring figures during the campaign, they will be hoping to add to their tallies next campaign should they remain at the club, looking to build on the club's excellent end to the season.
Everton's "incredible" academy star is the perfect Doucoure replacement
The Toffees could find this talented star make a big impression next season.
A £5,800-a-week star with a "great attitude" now wants to join Celtic in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from Sky Sports.
Celtic transfer news
The Hoops are still riding high after not only winning the Scottish Premiership title at the expense of rivals Rangers, but also clinching Scottish Cup glory against them, following Adam Idah's dramatic late winner at Hampden Park last month.
This isn't a time for Celtic to be getting carried away, however, and Brendan Rodgers will know that further improvements are needed to his squad this summer, especially in terms of holding their own more in the Champions League next season.
One audacious piece of business that has been mooted is a move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, which could really catch the eye of supporters. Granted, the 28-year-old has had a tough year or two, struggling at the Etihad and on loan at West Ham, but he has still been a regular starter for England at major tournaments, and is young enough to have plenty of good years in him still.
Celtic are also reportedly "trying to negotiate" a deal that will see Paulo Bernardo join the Hoops for good after being on loan from Benfica, potentially coming in as Rodgers' first signing of the summer. Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could also come in as a replacement for the retired Joe Hart, as he eyes an exit from Old Trafford in order to enjoy more regular football.
Player with "great attitude" wants Celtic move
According to an update from Sky Sports, Celtic's deal for Bernardo just got easier, because the Portuguese talent is "keen" on a permanent move after being "told" he has no future with his parent club. There is an option to buy clause in his loan, which could be worth £6.5m, but the Hoops are still hopeful of lowering it.
Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo.
This is great news for Celtic, with the £5,800-a-week Bernardo proving to be an important player after arriving on loan, making 22 appearances in the league, also chipping in with three goals and assists apiece in the process.
The 22-year-old caught the eye of Rodgers, who is no doubt very interested in retaining his services, with the Hoops boss saying back in December: "For Paulo it was good. He’s such a mature player for a young player. He’s always had a great attitude at training. He’s played in a lot of big games. But he had a wee bit of everything today – he had a wee bit of dig, put his foot in, passed the ball and made runs into the box."
Man Utd now considering offering nearly £1m total package for 18 y/o gem
He’s a future star…
ByTom Cunningham Jun 1, 2024
A permanent switch is a no-brainer for Celtic, and the fact that Bernardo wants the same thing means that a deal will hopefully be struck with few stumbling blocks, even though they will look to get him for less than the aforementioned £6.5m.
Domestic cricket is set to resume later this month, while Zimbabwe and South Africa are due to visit later in the season
Umar Farooq02-Sep-2020The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced dates for the four remaining games of the 2020 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which were which were suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All four matches will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.The Qualifier between the top two teams from the league stage, the Multan Sultans and the Karachi Kings, will take place on November 14, as will the first Eliminator between the third- and fourth-placed Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi. The second Eliminator, between the loser of the Qualifier and the winner of the first Eliminator, will take place on November 15, and the final on November 17.Professional cricket is set to resume in Pakistan this month after a 24-week hiatus forced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The PCB has opened up training facilities at its National High-Performance Centre (NHPC) while maintaining a strictly controlled environment, and has also issued an advisory to restart the sport at the grassroots and recreational level with adequate safety measures in place.Apart from the final leg of the PSL, the PCB is also looking to conduct the 2020-21 domestic season, and host two international teams. Zimbabwe is scheduled to visit Pakistan in November for three ODIs and three T20Is, and South Africa in January 2021 for two Tests and three T20Is.The domestic season is set to start from the last week of September with the National T20 Cup played over two legs – in Multan and then in Rawalpindi – followed by the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is set to be played entirely in Karachi, a city with six venues capable of hosting 12 teams. With an eye on preparatory camps for its top players, the PCB has said the resumption will be gradual and over phases across the country. Cricket might return in full this month on, but both the domestic and International games through the season will likely be played behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance.The situation around Covid-19 in Pakistan is nearly under control, and a sense of normalcy is beginning to return. Of the 296,590 cases that the country has recorded in total, as on Wednesday, 281,559 have recovered while there have been 6318 deaths. Stores, restaurants and public transportation have opened up, and educational institutes should be operational from September 15 according to the Prime Minister Imran Khan.Only men and women cricketers who have represented Pakistan in the last 12 months will be allowed to train at the NHPC or undergo rehabilitation programmes at the facility. Under the PCB’s regulations, they will only be allowed to take part in socially-distanced training sessions. Players are prohibited from bringing their helpers or assistants, while net bowlers will have to be nominated and approved by the the centre. The use of saliva to shine the ball will not be allowed in training sessions as well as in domestic cricket.”It was important that we produced these protocols so that our elite players can prepare for the upcoming season in the best possible and safest environment,” said Nadeem Khan, the NHPC’s director. “I want to thank our medical team for preparing comprehensive protocols, which, we are confident, will ensure safety and security for the players. This is an unprecedented situation which continues to evolve. We are committed to monitoring the situation, while broadening our scope and opening doors for more players on the circuit as we move ahead.”The PCB is the sole custodian of organised cricket in Pakistan but doesn’t run recreational and grassroots cricket. It mainly operates at the domestic level and leaves lower-level cricket on its own, following the local government. Cricket outside PCB facilities has continued to take place in public playing fields without restriction.”We don’t control recreational cricket but as the game’s governing body in Pakistan, we can request all organisers to ensure that their participants are strictly adhering to the government-issued Covid-19 protocols,” Khan said. “This is in their best interest as well as their close ones and cricket. Sport is a healthy activity and it needs to stay that way.”The government opened up sports activities in the country over four phases with social distancing as the major point. Sports complexes and stadiums, according to the advisory, must adhere to occupancy limits of 25 or fewer people indoors and 100 or fewer outdoors, inclusive of players, coaches and staff, and the facility as a whole may not exceed 50% of its total occupancy. The PCB, however, is most likely to conduct games behind closed doors.
Lamine Yamal simply cannot be stopped at the moment as he brought Barcelona level with Monaco thanks to his first Champions League goal.
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Barcelona concede early against MonacoYamal scores first Champions League goalBecomes second-youngest scorer in the competitionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona went down to Monaco after the French side capitalised on the Catalan side's early red card for Eric Garcia with a goal from Maghnes Akliouche. However, it was Yamal yet again for Hansi Flick who turned the tide in Barcelona's favour as he slotted a perfect shot into the bottom left of Monaco's goal to bring up his first goal in the Champions League.
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The goal also made Yamal the second-youngest player to score in the Champions League behind teammate Ansu Fati as the 17-year-old missed the Champions League record by just 28 days. Yamal has been on a remarkable run so far this season as he has scored four goals in five games.
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WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?
Yamal will next be in action when Barcelona play Villarreal this weekend.
With Virgil van Dijk's current Liverpool contract coming to an end this time next year, the Reds reportedly want to sign a long-term replacement in the form of a player who recently made history for his current club.
Liverpool transfer news
There's no need for Liverpool to panic over the short-term future of their captain quite yet. The Dutchman has made it clear on more than one occasion that he is keen to stay put at Anfield, saying recently via The Metro: "I still have a year left on my contract. I am club captain and I have made it clear I am there for the new coach and enthusiastic over the next season.
"Obviously, there will be a lot of changes but I am confident we will make a big success of it. I congratulated him of course and I'm really pleased for him and his family. We spoke about the team and the future, but now my focus is fully on the national team."
Liverpool eyeing up “world-class” £50m star who’d finally unlock Nunez
Arne Slot would wield quite the frontline by getting his hands on this long-time Anfield target.
ByAngus Sinclair May 28, 2024
It is reportedly among Liverpool's priorities to get a new deal sorted for their star defender, but even with a new deal, they should be thinking about a long-term replacement now that he's 32 years old and not getting any younger. That, of course, is where Piero Hincapie could step in.
According to Christian Martin via El Futbolero, Liverpool now want to sign Hincapie in a deal worth €50m (£42m) this summer. The defender, alongside the rest of his Bayer Leverkusen teammates, impressed many by winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in an invincible season in domestic football. In fact, their only defeat of the entire campaign came against Atalanta in the Europa League final to deny them an incredible invincible treble win.
Nonetheless, becoming the first-ever team to win the Bundesliga unbeaten has its own place in history and a place Hincapie played his part in earning.
"Talented" Hincapie can help fill long-term Liverpool void
Replacing Jurgen Klopp is a tough enough task in its own right, but if Liverpool then have to replace Van Dijk just one year later, they'll have to form quite the plan, which could see Hincapie arrive before crisis mode hits. The Ecuador international is still just 22 years old but has shown more than enough potential to earn such a move in the coming months.
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36
Progressive Carries
34
32
Ball Recoveries
78
170
Tackles Won
22
23
With fewer starts, Hincapie managed to keep up with Liverpool's captain in a number of areas, sparking plenty of promise when it comes to the peak years of his career as a central defender.
Leverkusen will be frustrated if the defender does leave, however, with sporting director Simon Rolfes previously saying via the Bundesliga's official website: "Piero’s signing 18 months ago was an investment in the future, back then he was a talented central defender with really big potential.
"He became a key performer for our Werkself a long time ago, he has shown his international quality in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and recently at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Piero is one of the key elements in the team who we can count on to help us achieve ambitious targets in the next few years."
Anderson claims three with Pakistan already on the ropes, thanks to Crawley’s 267 and 152 for Buttler
The Report by Matt Roller22-Aug-2020James Anderson took three late wickets to ram home England’s advantage on the second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan after Zak Crawley’s 267 led them to an imposing first-innings total.With 11 overs left in the day after Joe Root’s declaration, Anderson bowled a superb new-ball spell to remove both of Pakistan’s openers and their best batsman, leaving them reeling at 24 for 3 and some 559 runs behind ahead of the second day.England had piled on 583 for 8 declared, their highest total in four years, despite the absence of their best batsman Ben Stokes for family reasons. Crawley turned his overnight score of 171 into a maiden first-class double hundred in a commanding 359-run partnership with Jos Buttler, who buckled down to bring up only his second Test hundred.In a morning session twice interrupted by the weather, Buttler and Crawley struggled to score with the fluency they had demonstrated on the first evening – Crawley spending 40 balls on 171 before eventually adding to his score.Buttler survived two scares. The first came on 91 when he was trapped on the pad by Shaheen Afridi. Michael Gough shook his head, and Hawk-Eye showed that the ball was going over the top of the stumps after Pakistan reviewed.The second was a heart-in-mouth moment, as he was given out caught behind on 99, groping at a ball in the off-stump channel from Mohammad Abbas with the wicketkeeper up to the stumps. He reviewed the decision immediately, and it was clear that the only shimmer on Ultra-Edge came when his bat hit his pad. A ball later, he brought up his hundred with a punch through point off Abbas, saluting the dressing room with a beaming smile and exhaling in relief.Crawley ticked off various landmarks of his own in the afternoon session, moving to 200 with an edge through the slips, nudging a single off Yasir Shah to go past his mentor Rob Key’s highest score of 221, and whipping Abbas through square leg to bring up 250.Buttler, meanwhile, struggled to find the tempo that he had settled into on the first day. He went 106 balls without a boundary, spanning the whole of the afternoon session, though he did continue to tick over with regular singles and twos. Pakistan’s heads dropped as fatigue set in, and Azhar Ali found himself turning to part-timers in the hope of a breakthrough.It was Asad Shafiq who eventually removed Crawley, though not before he had 267 to his name. He speared one in down the leg side which Crawley charged, turning round to find Mohammad Rizwan had completed a sharp stumping.That meant the end of the joint sixth-highest partnership in England’s history, their highest for the fifth wicket, and their 10th-highest individual innings; unsurprisingly, Pakistan’s fielders rushed round to congratulate him, with the England balcony offering a standing ovation.”It’s always nice to score all round the ground,” Crawley said. “Luckily the pitch was very nice to bat on so it was nice to score a few runs.”Jos was exactly the right man at the other end, telling me to calm down. He batted brilliantly as well. He played better than me today, he was flawless.”Buttler brought up his 150 soon after tea, crashing Naseem Shah through the covers for four, but chipped a straightforward return catch to Fawad Alam four balls later, looking furious at his dismissal despite it following his highest Test and first-class innings.England batted on past the drinks break, with Fawad making Chris Woakes his second Test victim as he picked out cover after an enterprising 40, while Dom Bess and Stuart Broad both struck lusty blows. Joe Root eventually called time on the England innings with the score on 583 after Afridi cleaned up Broad, leaving 11 overs for his seamers to wreak havoc with the light fading.After Masood survived an early scare, successfully reviewing after Broad had trapped him on the pad, Anderson continued his stranglehold over him, pinning him lbw in the third over. He added Abid, nicking off as he prodded forwards, before taking the key scalp of Azam in the day’s final over, trapping him on the knee roll in line with the off stump to leave Pakistan staring down the barrel.Anderson’s three scalps leave him only four wickets away from the 600 mark in Tests, and with every chance of reaching that milestone before the home summer is out; it is hard to believe that he was denying rumours he was on the cusp of retirement barely two weeks ago.Jofra Archer chipped in with a lightning-quick spell of his own, regularly touching the 90mph/145kph mark as Azam and Azhar ducked, weaved and hopped on the crease. With four frontline seamers in their attack, England will offer no respite on the third day, not least with some rain in the forecast for the final two days. Pakistan, meanwhile, know that they desperately need to put at least one substantial partnership on the board if they are to escape with a draw.
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino has confirmed that Lionel Messi's minutes will be managed ahead of a busy period in the MLS schedule.
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Messi makes Inter Miami returnArgentinian back from ankle injuryHerons eyeing MLS Cup gloryFollow GOAL's official WhatsApp channel!Join nowWHAT HAPPENED?
The Argentina international made his return to action after two months out on Saturday night as he starred in Inter Miami's 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union. Messi displayed no signs of rust, scoring twice and providing an assist, but Martino has confirmed he was "tired" after playing the entire match, which lasted 105 minutes.
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Messi's return comes at a crucial point in the MLS calendar. The Herons are currently top of the Eastern Conference standings and are eyeing MLS Cup glory. For now, the focus is on ensuring that their star player stays fit and isn't pushed too hard ahead of the playoffs, which begin on October 23.
DID YOU KNOW?
Inter Miami face a busy run over the next few days which will require them to pay close attention to Messi's fitness. Martino's side take on Atlanta United on Wednesday before they head to New York for a clash against NYCFC on Saturday.
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AFPWHAT MARTINO SAID
"Leo is fine, he ended the game well. Tired, obviously," Martino said. "It's the first 90 minutes in a long time, but it ended very well. He is going to travel to both games. He is available but there are three games this week with travel included, so we have to see it day by day.
"Wherever he is, he will surely always be missed. So, obviously, we are very happy to be able to have him back in the team. We didn't replace him individually because individually they cannot be replaced, but we have tried to ensure that collectively the team acquires a physiognomy that makes it reliable and I think that within what we have done it seems to me that it turned out quite well."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will enter the summer transfer market with two things in mind: sign a midfielder, and sign a centre-forward.
His side might have fallen short in the Premier League title race for the second year running against Manchester City, but the Gunners spent large portions of the campaign looking like the finest team in all the land, and now it's time to not narrow the gap but leapfrog over England's dominant force.
With Thomas Partey set to leave, Edu and Co will scour the globe for a new star to perform alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but few would contest that landing a striker is the most pressing concern.
Arsenal midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard
Arsenal flourished as one of the slickest and most successful attacking forces in Europe last season and the thought of a first-rate goalscorer added to the mix certainly sparks some measure of excitement.
It's well known that RB Leipzig talisman Benjamin Sesko is of a vested interest to Arsenal, but he's not the only one on the radar, with a Premier League star being lined up.
Arsenal eyeing Premier League forward
As per The Sunday Express, Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in signing Dominic Solanke amid The Athletic's revelation that the Bournemouth striker has a £65m release clause in his contract.
Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.
It is important to note that that clause is applicable to a select few clubs, though the Gunners' reported interest suggests that they are on that list.
There's some measure of doubt that arrives with an overseas signing, warranted or not, but Solanke has showcased his scoring skills in the Premier League and could prove to be a shrewd alternative to a player such as Sesko.
Dominic Solanke's season in numbers
Perhaps it's inapt to suggest that a £60m player would be a 'shrewd' alternative for any club, but Solanke represents a methodology that stretches somewhere outside the box, with Victor Osimhen, one of Europe's most coveted players, also on the radar.
But unlike Osimhen, and unlike Sesko, Solanke has fostered, honed and sharpened his skill set on English shores, weathering plenty of attrition and recently blooming into one of the Premier League's finest.
He might have experience at Chelsea and Liverpool but only on the periphery, in his fledgling years, and it was Bournemouth and the promise of a starring role that proved to be the making of a marksman once touted for big things.
1.
Erling Haaland
31
27
0.95
2.
Cole Palmer
34
22
0.75
3.
Alexander Isak
30
21
0.83
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Phil Foden
35
19
0.60
4.
Ollie Watkins
37
19
0.53
4.
Dominic Solanke
38
19
0.51
Solanke wedged his way into the leading scorers list after posting only six goals from 33 matches the season before, as Bournemouth staved off the threat of relegation on their first season back after promotion.
The improvements have been remarkable, with the one-cap England international showing the consistent signs of a "top, multi-faceted forward" – said to be shaping up as such several years ago by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.
Why Solanke would suit Arsenal
The £50k-per-week sharpshooter would offer Arsenal something different, something more solid and pointed in the final third. Arteta has nurtured a wealth of talent but first-rate stars such as Bukayo Saka need a striker such as Solanke to ensure that extra edge is found in the potential third successive fight against Pep Guardiola's City next year.
The above-mentioned deadliness is exactly what is needed for a player such as Saka, who scored 20 goals and added 14 assists in all competitions last term and has been described as one of the "best players in the Premier League" by retired Three Lions skipper Wayne Rooney.
As per FBref, Saka ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 21% for progressive carries, the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area and even the top 10% for tackles per 90.
He's the embodiment of multi-functional and would thrive with a focal point such as Solanke to channel his talents on a regular basis. Especially given the South Coast star is so similar to Sesko and Osimhen.
Indeed, according to FBref, Sesko is Solanke's most comparable player, with the 6 foot 2 Cherry a powerful and formidable forward with disguisable bursts of sharp speed.
Sesko, too, is an imposing physical specimen, framed at 6 foot 4, though he enjoys a more dynamic style of play to that of a traditional centre-forward and would be perfect to bounce off Saka, but then, if that's the case, surely Solanke could adopt such a role with seamless integration.
One of Arsenal's biggest strengths under Arteta is that they move forward in concert, en masse, and do so to frightening effect, with teams blitzed and riven in half by the storm-blazing fury of the Emirates machine. Solanke would only add to this, and open up a new dimension.
Arsenal will not want to miss out on Sesko, especially to a rival such as Chelsea or Manchester United, but it's inconceivable that Edu would place all his eggs in one basket.
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko
The resounding rise of recent years bears testament to the Arsenal squad, and their performances on the pitch, but, perhaps more so, the unerring transfer hits that have fuelled the resurgence.
Arteta and Co will have done their homework, and while Sesko is the number one target, Solanke has all the skills to succeed as the final piece of the puzzle at Arsenal.
Arsenal can forget about Sesko by signing "incredible" £85m "powerhouse"
The prolific striker could be the perfect alternative for Mikel Arteta.