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Veteran seamer to move into full-time coaching with Middlesex’s back-room staff

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2023

Tim Murtagh has been named in Middlesex’s squad for their final home match of the season•Getty Images

Tim Murtagh, the former Ireland seamer and stalwart of county cricket for 23 years, has announced he will retire from professional cricket at the end of the season.Murtagh, 42, has been named in Middlesex’s squad to face Warwickshire at Lord’s this week, where the club will continue their fight to stay in Division One of the County Championship, with one final match of the season to come against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.If selected against Warwickshire, the match will be the 264th first-class appearance of his career, and his 91st at Lord’s, a venue where he confirmed his enduring class earlier this season by claiming the fifth ten-wicket haul of his career – including his 1000th wicket for Middlesex – in an emphatic nine-wicket win over Kent.However, having taken up a player-coach role at the start of the 2023 season, Murtagh is now set to move into coaching full-time, with a permanent role in the Middlesex back-room staff.”I’ve had these words mulling around in my head for around ten years, but now is the time to put them onto paper,” Murtagh said in a statement released by the club.”It’s with a great deal of pride and a tinge of sadness that I announce my retirement from cricket at the end of this season. Its finally time to hang up the speed menace boots (the irony is not lost on me) after an incredible 25 years of joy playing professional sport.”It’s been an incredible honour to have played for this great club since 2007 and I am grateful to everyone who made me feel instantaneously at home here. Right up to the present management in helping me transition out of playing this year. I still hope to play a big part in keeping us in Division One these last two weeks.”Moving forward I can’t wait to help the next generation of Middlesex cricketers live out their own dreams as I move onto the coaching staff and the next phase of my life.”Murtagh’s career wickets tally currently stands at 1341, including 951 in a first-class career that began at Surrey in 2000, before his switch to Middlesex in 2007.In between whiles, he played 75 matches across formats for Ireland, for whom he qualified thanks to his Dublin-born grandfather. His finest hour came in the last of his three Test appearances, on his home ground at Lord’s, when he secured the first-morning figures of 5 for 13 to bowl England out for 85, and book himself a place on the dressing-room honours board.Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, added: “Players like Murts come along so rarely … he is an absolute gem of a bloke, both on and off the field.”Whilst we’re sad that we won’t be able to call upon Murts’ skills on the field anymore, we’re thrilled that he will still be around the group and playing a leading role in continuing to develop the players we have here at Middlesex.”I’ve been hugely impressed with how quickly he has taken to coaching, and the impact he has had in a short space of time, and I am looking forward to seeing him develop these skills in the next chapter of his career.”

Legspinner Danielle Gregory starred with a triple-wicket maiden to demolish Sunrisers for just 64 as South East Stars triumphed by 91 runs at Radlett to go top of the table in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Sunrisers looked well-placed to record a first victory against their local rivals in any format after restricting them to 151 for 9 from 29 overs in a rain-reduced game, with legspinner Abtaha Maqsood taking 4 for 23.But the Stars bowlers rose to the challenge, with medium-pacer Phoebe Franklin taking a trio of early wickets to finish with 3 for 18 while Sophia Dunkley pulled off four outfield catches, two of them outstanding.Gregory then claimed three wickets in an over, returning figures of 4 for 12 as the innings disintegrated and Sunrisers were dismissed in 17 overs for their second-lowest score in the tournament.After morning showers, play finally got under way at 12.45pm, with Sunrisers inserting their visitors in overcast conditions and gaining an early reward when Dunkley’s leg stump was sent flying by Kate Coppack.It took Stars until the fifth over to register a boundary, courtesy of Bryony Smith’s sweetly-struck on-drive, but they began to gather momentum as she and Kira Chathli capitalised on short bowling from Coppack and Eva Gray.A downpour struck with Stars 37 for 1 in the eighth over – and, when play resumed an hour later, the visitors continued to make good progress despite the loss of Smith, caught in the deep off opposite number Kelly Castle.Paige Scholfield, with two centuries already to her name in this year’s tournament, thrashed Gray for the first six of the game and followed it up with another maximum off Mady Villiers as she raced to 27 from 25 balls.But the pendulum swung towards Sunrisers as Villiers had Chathli caught at midwicket for 28 and the innings never recovered after Maqsood’s flight trapped Scholfield in front in the next over.Smart glovework behind the stumps by Amara Carr brought the spinner two more wickets, while Alice Davidson-Richards was bowled attempting to drive through the off side and Grace Scrivens’ tidy spell of 1 for 15 from five overs helped to squeeze the Stars tail.Although the target was raised by four runs to align with DLS, Sunrisers set out needing less than five and a half an over – but that assignment looked close to impossible once their top order had been blown away by Franklin.Freya Davies, a model of accuracy during her opening spell, brought one in to bowl Scrivens before opening partner Lissy MacLeod slapped a wide delivery from Franklin into the hands of the cover fielder.Leaping to her left at extra cover, Dunkley pulled off a magnificent grab to remove Villiers and, when a slower ball by Franklin deceived Saskia Horley, the fielder gobbled up a more straightforward chance.Cordelia Griffith did her best to hold Sunrisers’ innings together, hitting four boundaries in her knock of 27 from 29 until she fell victim to another impressive catch by Dunkley, running back from mid-off to take the ball over her shoulder.Gregory then collected three wickets in six deliveries, including a return catch to dismiss former team-mate Gray for a duck and although Carr and Coppack stemmed the bleeding with a stand of 20 for the ninth wicket, the damage had long since been done.

Sunderland will be playing in the Premier League next season and they know that their recruitment work this summer will need to be spot on to give them a chance of avoiding an instant relegation.

The Black Cats recently confirmed the signing of Enzo Le Fee on a permanent basis from Roma for a club-record fee of £20m as their first addition ahead of their return to the top-flight, after he spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan with Regis Le Bris’ team.

Le Fee showed quality on the ball, with 1.3 dribbles completed per game, but combined that with 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in his 11 league starts, which suggests that he could thrive in a relegation battle where plenty of defending will be needed.

The French maestro also heads into the Premier League with plenty of experience in Europe’s major leagues, with 132 games in Ligue 1 and six matches in the Serie A, which means that he is used to playing at the top level and that is why he could be an excellent signing for the Black Cats.

Sunderland eyeing deal for Premier League defender

Sunderland could repeat the blinder that they have seemingly played with Le Fee, who is an experienced top-flight performer who is already settled in and used to playing for the club, by signing another one of their loan stars.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to the Northern Echo, the Premier League newcomers are considering a deal to bring Chris Mepham back to the Stadium of Light in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Wales international is one of a number of defensive options being weighed up by the board at Sunderland, as they eye up a possible reunion with the Bournemouth centre-back.

It states that there was no obligation for the loan move to be turned into a permanent one this summer, which means that they would have to negotiate a fee with the Cherries.

Why Sunderland should sign Chris Mepham

The Black Cats should swoop to sign Mepham on a permanent basis in the coming weeks because it could be a repeat of their Le Fee blinder.

Like the French star, the 27-year-old colossus would not need any time to settle in because he just played 40 matches on loan at the club in the 2024/25 season.

The Welsh titan also has top-flight experience, like Le Fee, having played 61 times in the Premier League for Bournemouth, which means that he knows the division and could provide vital experience to a young team lacking games at that level.

Mepham, who was hailed as “outstanding” by pundit Carlton Palmer, also delivered solid performances for Sunderland when called upon in the Championship this season.

24/25 Championship	Chris Mepham
Appearances	38
Pass accuracy	87%
Tackles + interceptions per game	2.3
Clearances per game	6.1
Ground duel success rate	55%
Aerial duel success rate	63%
Clean sheets	11
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Bournemouth loanee was dominant in his duels and helped the team to keep 11 clean sheets in 38 outings in the second tier.

He also averaged the most clearances per match in the entire squad, ahead of the likes of Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard, which may be down to his experience and know-how, as he excels at being in the right place at the right time at the heart of the defence.

Mepham was, therefore, an important player for Sunderland in the Championship and that is why they should press ahead with a deal to sign him on a permanent basis, as a star who knows the club and has Premier League experience under his belt.

Like Le Fee, the 27-year-old brute would hit the ground running on Wearside in the top-flight because of his loan spell at the Stadium of Light and because of the top-flight games that he has played.

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It is now down to the club to ensure that they can strike a deal with Bournemouth to bring him back to Sunderland, to join Le Fee as their second signing.

تلقى نادي الهلال السعودي دفعة معنوية كبيرة قبل المواجهة المنتظرة أمام الغرافة القطري في إطار الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة، بعد تأكد جاهزية ثلاثة من أبرز نجومه العائدين من الإصابة.

وكشفت مصادر داخل الهلال لصحيفة “الميدان الرياضي” أن الثلاثي داروين نونيز، وسيرجي سافيتش، وجواو كانسيلو باتوا في كامل الجاهزية للمشاركة، عقب تعافيهم التام من الإصابات التي حرمتهم من الظهور في الأسابيع الماضية، بما في ذلك مباراة الفريق الأخيرة في الدوري السعودي أمام الشباب، والتي انتهت بفوز الزعيم بهدف دون رد.

طالع أيضًا | صراع بين الهلال والاتحاد لخطف صفقة مميزة في الميركاتو الشتوي

ويحل الهلال ضيفًا على الغرافة مساء الإثنين المقبل في مواجهة مرتقبة يسعى من خلالها الزعيم إلى مواصلة سلسلة الانتصارات والحفاظ على صدارة مجموعته الغربية، بعدما جمع 9 نقاط كاملة من 3 مباريات، متفوقًا على الأهلي صاحب المركز الثاني بفارق نقطتين.

وتُعد عودة الثلاثي الدولي إضافة فنية ضخمة للمدرب سيموني إنزاجي، الذي يطمح لاستثمار اكتمال صفوف الفريق من أجل تعزيز الهيمنة الزرقاء آسيويًا، ومواصلة مشوار الزعيم بثبات نحو لقب البطولة القارية الذي يضعه الهلال ضمن أهدافه الكبرى هذا الموسم.

MatériaMais Notícias

da leao： O Palmeiras já está classificado para a fase mata-mata do Paulistão 2023, mas não medirá esforços para conquistar a liderança geral da competição. O técnico Abel Ferreira já afirmou que não irá poupar seus principais jogadores nas rodadas finais do estadual, visando garantir a melhor campanha geral e a liderança do grupo D. Assim, o LANCE! mostra o que é preciso para isso.

> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui
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Com a vitória diante do Red Bull Bragantino por 2 a 0 na última quarta-feira (22), o Alviverde chegou a 24 pontos e reconquistou a primeira posição do grupo.O próximo desafio é no domingo (26) contra a Ferroviária, às 18h30, novamente no Allianz Parque.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras x Ferroviária: mais de 24 mil ingressos vendidos para o duelo pelo PaulistãoPalmeiras23/02/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras tem mais um jogador convocado para a Seleção Brasileira sub-17Palmeiras23/02/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras se reapresenta após vitória no Paulistão e já pensa na FerroviáriaPalmeiras23/02/2023

da stake casino： A equipe do São Bernardo está na segunda colocação com 23 pontos. Logo, para conquistar a liderança geral do Campeonato Paulista e do grupo D, dois cenários são possíveis para o Verdão. O primeiro é simples: vencer os dois últimos jogos da fase de grupos contra Ferroviária e Guarani, respectivamente, isto é, fazer a sua parte para não depender de outros resultados.

O segundo bastaria uma derrota do São Bernardo diante do São Paulo no Morumbi e vitória do Alviverde já neste final de semana. Neste caso, o Palestra chegaria a 27 pontos e não conseguiria ser alcançado pelo Tigre do ABC, que ficaria quatro pontos atrás.

>Palmeiras desiste da contratação de Andrey Santos, do Chelsea

Vale ressaltar que o Tricolor, vencendo no sábado, iria a 23 pontos, mas em caso de vitória do Palmeiras, a equipe comandada por Rogério Ceni também não conseguiria a melhor campanha do Paulistão. O São Paulo enfrenta o São Bernardo neste sábado, às 18h30.

continua após a publicidade

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans include the signing of another new winger, as chairman Daniel Levy looks to back Thomas Frank this summer with more fresh faces in preparation for their journey back to the Champions League.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

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Spurs, despite a torrid 2024/2025 domestically, where they lost a record-breaking 22 Premier League games, have suddenly found themselves among Europe’s most elite next term after their historic Europa League final triumph last month.

This has suddenly exacerbated the need for Levy and technical director Johan Lange to reinforce weaker areas of the squad.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham have already signed Mathys Tel in a £30 million permanent deal from Bayern Munich, whilst also sealing a £5 million agreement for Japanese sensation Kota Takai, but Frank may find himself in need of more wide attackers very soon.

Timo Werner’s return to parent club RB Leipzig, combined with Son Heung-min’s potential move to Saudi Arabia, could leave their new manager pretty short of quality wingers, even when taking into account Tel’s stay.

Man City outcast Jack Grealish, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are just some of the names to be linked with moves to N17 recently, with Frank also recommending Lazio winger Gustav Isaksen to the Spurs hierarchy.

Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also remains high on Tottenham’s radar, as per reports this week, but interest is also still firmly there when it comes to a possible swoop for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.

Tottenham plan bid for Mohammed Kudus after talks in the last week

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for TBR, the Ghanaian is a serious option, and West Ham would be prepared to sell their star winger for a fee north of £60 million.

Tottenham have apparently held talks with Kudus in the last week, and Frank’s side are now thinking about making a bid for the ex-Ajax star after these discussions. His release clause is actually around £80 million, but given West Ham’s need to sell, they’ve reduced his asking price by a significant amount as they look to raise funds and reshape Graham Potter’s squad.

Chelsea are noted as contenders for Kudus too, but they’re yet to go back in with a bid after seeing their proposal for a player-exchange rejected earlier in the window.

The 24-year-old didn’t exactly hit the heights of his debut campaign in east London during his second season, but he still ranked as one of the best dribblers in the Premier League per 90, according to WhoScored.

Kudus can be a truly devastating player on his day, as echoed by his teammate, Aaron Cresswell, in 2024.

“I’ve just trained with him and you don’t want to go anywhere near him,” Cresswell told the Iron Cast.

“I’m up against him all the time and I’m like: ‘Mo, go on over to the left!’. He’s a top, top talent and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“I won’t go near him in training because I know if I’m going to try to knock him off the ball I had better make sure he’s not looking and doesn’t see me coming. You just can’t get near him. He’s so strong, so quick, so sharp.”

Not every transfer has panned out the way they planned, but Chelsea have built themselves a brilliant squad over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro wouldn’t look out of place in any other Premier League side.

Moreover, while it’s still early days, it looks like Enzo Maresca and Co have a genuine world-class superstar in the making with Estêvão.

The Brazilian has been incredible so far this season, so Chelsea fans should be delighted about reports linking them to someone who could end up being another Estêvão.

Chelsea target their next Estêvão

There has long been a lot of hype around Estêvão, so much so, in fact, that respected analyst Ben Mattinson labelled him a “future Ballon d’Or winner” a few months before Chelsea even signed him.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, there is still a long way to go until the teenager reaches that level, but he has already been sensational for the Blues this season.

For example, in 17 appearances, totalling 740 minutes, he has provided one assist and scored five goals, including a stunner against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that the club are now interested in another young star, Assan Ouédraogo, who could potentially emulate the Brazilian.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany, Chelsea are one of a few clubs keen on signing the RB Leipzig gem.

Alongside the West Londoners, Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old, whose contract runs until 2029.

Unfortunately, there is no release clause in that deal, so the fee needed to sign the German could end up being rather significant, as much as £50m according to further reports out of Germany in the last few months.

Even so, given Ouédraogo’s ability and potential, this is a transfer Chelsea should pursue, especially as he could be another Estêvão.

Why Ouédraogo could be another Estêvão for Chelsea

So, the first thing to point out is that, yes, the two youngsters primarily play in different positions.

Ouédraogo has spent this season playing as a central and attacking midfielder, while Estêvão has spent most of this year on the right.

However, while the pair do not necessarily operate in the same areas of the pitch, both are highly rated youngsters who seem destined to reach the top of the game.

For example, while Chelsea fans are more than familiar with the Brazilian’s exploits so far this season, they likely don’t know that the German has been even more productive.

In 12 first-team appearances, totalling 561 minutes, the Leipzig gem has scored three goals and provided four assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 80.14 minutes.

Moreover, the Mülheim an der Ruhr-born prospect has already made quite the impression at the international level.

After blitzing his way up through the various youth levels, he was handed his first senior cap for Germany earlier this month, and instead of just coming on and focusing on not making a mistake, he scored.

Finally, on top of already producing goal involvements for fun, the £22k-per-week gem has some unreal underlying numbers to back up exactly why content creator Neal Gardner has described him as a “powerhouse.”

Goals

0.48

Top 1%

Assists

0.48

Top 1%

Goals + Assists

0.97

Top 1%

Yellow Cards

0.00

Top 1%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.31

Top 1%

Shots Total

2.90

Top 1%

Shots on Target

1.45

Top 1%

Goal-Creating Actions

1.13

Top 1%

Touches (Att Pen)

4.83

Top 1%

Successful Take-Ons

1.77

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.97

Top 1%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, assists, shots on target, goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it’s still early in his career, it’s hard to disagree with Mattinson’s assessment that Ouédraogo is a “beast ready to be unleashed” and therefore capable of being another Estêvão for Chelsea.

Chelsea have already signed another exciting star who's "just like Estevao"

Chelsea have already signed another youngster who could become another Estevao for Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 26, 2025

Bayer Leverkusen's summer signing Jarell Quansah admits Jurgen Klopp gave him a boost of confidence while also helping him plan for his future.

• Jarell Quansah gets candid about his debut
• Says Jurgen Klopp's words helped calm his nerves
• Klopp also guided him on his future

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Quansah moved to BayArena this summer in a record-breaking deal for the 2023-24 Bundesliga champions, worth €35 million (£30m/$40m) plus more in add-ons. The 22-year-old got candid in a recent interview, where he talked about his Liverpool debut and the words he exchanged with former coach Jurgen Klopp.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The ex-Liverpool player made 58 appearances for the Merseyside club, during which he scored three goals, won the 2024-25 Premier League title and also the 2024 League Cup trophy. But above all, it's his Liverpool debut that still gives him the chills. It was a match he says he won't forget, as the team made a comeback to win 2-1 against Newcastle after he came on for Joel Matip in the 77th minute. Before he came on, Klopp had a very simple message for the defender.

• WHAT QUANSAH SAID

  Talking to about what the coach told him ahead of his first senior appearance, he said: "I remember him coming up to me just before I came on and saying: "You're ready!" Hearing that from this legend in that moment was very comforting and gave me a lot of confidence. I was very happy he gave me that chance. We were 1-0 down and still won 2-1. Making my debut there was challenging.You can also lean on him sometimes. At the end of his last season, we talked together about what my future might look like. After that, I knew what I wanted."

• getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR QUANSAH?

  Quansah made his debut for Leverkusen in their pre-season friendly against Bochum. There is still a possibility for the English defender to return to the Reds, as they have inserted a buy-back clause in his contract. But for now, the 22-year-old is focused on his life in Germany and working on his growth under head coach Erik Ten Hag.

Manchester United have made a start on their summer transfer business ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge.

Matheus Cunha has become the first signing at Old Trafford from Wolves, with the Red Devils triggering the forward’s £62.5m release clause.

However, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe aren’t stopping there when it comes to more additions, although they may have to raise funds through the sales of players ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Grok, the AI tool on X, has named Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Casemiro as stars who could be sold to raise funds, and it has also predicted five more signings Man Utd could make between now and the end of August.

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ByBarney Lane Feb 26, 2025

AI predicts 4 players Man Utd will sign this summer

1 Bryan Mbeumo Brentford (£60m)

After Cunha, Man Utd are looking to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, with the pair potentially playing behind a striker at Old Trafford under Amorim.

Mbeumo scored 20 goals for the Bees last season, his best ever year in front goal, and the Red Devils have already made an offer worth an initial £45m.

However, AI feel as if that figure needs to worth an initial £60m, although reports elsewhere have claimed Brentford want around £70m to part ways with their star man.

2 Viktor Gyokeres Sporting CP (£80m)

Should Mbeumo arrive to partner Cunha behind a striker, Man Utd could look to replace current centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund for Viktor Gyokeres.

A player who Amorim knows well from his time at Sporting CP, Gyokeres has been a goalscoring machine in Portugal but now looks set to return to England.

Man Utd can’t offer the Sweden international European football, however, AI believe a transfer could still go through in the region of £80m, which is thought to be his release clause.

3 Jarrad Branthwaite Everton (Undisclosed)

At the back, Man Utd have been predicted to win the race to sign Everton central defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Currently, Amorim has the likes of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez, but in his 3-4-3 system, there could be room for another, with Branthwaite a long-term target at Old Trafford.

Reports earlier in 2025 said a £50m offer was being prepared by Man Utd, however, AI don’t state a fee it would take to sign the England international.

4 Antoine Semenyo Bournemouth (£60m)

Finally, another Premier League attacker in Antoine Semenyo has been backed to make the move to Old Trafford.

The Bournemouth forward impressed playing on both the left and right under Andoni Iraola, scoring in both games against Man Utd in 24/25.

Games

3

Wins

2

Draws

1

Losses

0

Goals

2

AI state that Semenyo’s ‘speed, physicality, and goal-scoring ability’ make him a shrewd option to potentially replace the likes of Rashford, Sancho and Antony.

da dobrowin： While finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League would constitute an unreal campaign for most clubs, it wasn’t for Arsenal.

da poker： Mikel Arteta’s side came into this season hopeful of finally getting over the line in a major competition, only to fall short yet again.

With that said, this year wasn’t a total write-off, as there have been some massive positives, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The latter, in particular, now looks destined for stardom since cementing a starting spot in North London and earning three caps for the senior national side.

Yet, in an exciting development, recent reports are now linking Arsenal with another youngster who could be an even bigger talent.

Arsenal looking to sign new defender

While Arsenal have been linked to a host of established superstars who could come in and make an immediate impact on the first team this summer, several tremendously exciting prospects have also been touted for moves to the club in recent weeks, like Kenan Yildiz and Konstantinos Karetsas.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

The former could reportedly be available for an astounding £86m, and while that is a mind-blowing sum of money for a 20-year-old, he was able to score seven goals and provide five assists in just 35 Serie A appearances this year.

Karetsas, on the other hand, could cost a slightly more palatable £38m, although with him still being just 17 years old and only managing seven goal involvements in 39 games this year, that could still be too much.

Moreover, it would be hard to compare either youngster to Lewis-Skelly, unlike Jorrel Hato.

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal and Chelsea are incredibly interested in the Ajax gem.

In fact, the Italian claims that within the last week, the Gunners have been ‘calling’ the Dutch giants to learn more about the young defender.

Romano does not mention how much a potential deal might cost, but according to other reports from earlier this week, the Amsterdam outfit could ask for up to £42m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Hato’s immense ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, especially as he might be a bigger talent than Lewis-Skelly.

How Hato compares to Lewis-Skelly

Okay, so the first thing to say is that nobody is disputing the fact that Lewis-Skelly is a simply phenomenal talent, who at this point looks destined to be a part of Arsenal’s first team for years to come and likely a regular starter for Arsenal as well.

However, at this point in time, it’s also not controversial, at least it shouldn’t be, to suggest that Hato is a bigger talent, and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, while this season was the young Englishman’s breakthrough campaign, and he only became a regular fixture in the first team in the latter half of it, the Ajax star, who has “superstar potential,” according to U23 scout Antonio Mango, has been playing senior football for some time now.

He made his first team debut for the Amsterdam outfit back in February 2023, when he was still just 16 years old, and since then, he’s played 111 matches for the first team, in which he’s scored four goals and provided nine assists – he also made his senior national team debut at 17 years old, in November the same year.

Moreover, in another example of just how absurdly developed and highly-rated the Rotterdam-born talent is, he has started 102 of those 111 club games and even worn the captain’s armband multiple times.

Finally, on top of the experience and responsibility that the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has over the Gunners’ gem, he also comes out on top when we compare the two teenagers’ underlying numbers.

Hato vs Lewis-Skelly

Statistics per 90

Hato

Lewis-Skelly

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.16

0.04

Non-Penalty G+As

0.28

0.07

Progressive Passes

4.17

4.67

Progressive Carries

1.42

2.43

Key Passes

0.63

0.53

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.80

0.66

Live Passes

52.4

43.4

Shot-Creating Actions

1.43

1.91

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.00

Tackles

2.01

1.45

Blocks

1.22

0.26

Interceptions

0.76

0.46

Clearances

2.29

1.78

Ball Recoveries

4.51

3.49

Aerial Duels Won

1.77

0.72

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Domestic Season

For example, the 19-year-old does far better in metrics like actual and expected non-penalty goals, key passes and passes into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Lewis-Skelly is a superstar in the making, and of that, there is no doubt, but as things stand, Hato looks to be even better.

Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Dutch gem this summer, as he could be a world-class player a few years down the line.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 12, 2025