He's better than Gittens: Chelsea in talks to sign "world-class" £64m star

With just a couple of games to go in the Premier League this season, Chelsea sit in a superb position to claim a top-five place and secure a Champions League spot.

The Blues are two points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, but could be set for a last-day showdown with the Reds at the City Ground – in what will undoubtedly be a nervy affair.

However, regardless of what happens between now and the end of the campaign, Enzo Maresca deserves tremendous credit for the work he’s done during his first year in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager EnzoMarescalooks on before the match

The Italian has achieved a 60% win rate in the role, with the prospect of winning the Europa Conference League firmly within their own grasp ahead of tonight’s semi-final second leg against Djurgarden.

However, given their previous work in the transfer market, it would be no surprise to see them spend big again to take the side to the next level under the manager’s guidance.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new signings this summer

Since Maresca took the reins back in the summer of last year, he’s desperately been in the market for a new talisman to help lead the line and take Chelsea to the next level.

Liam Delap has been one player who’s been on their shortlist over the last couple of weeks, potentially moving to the Blues after his £30m relegation release clause became active.

Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts

However, he’s not the only attacking player in their sights, with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao once again emerging on their shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Blues have begun talks with the 25-year-old’s representatives over a move to the club after registering 23 combined goals and assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that the Portuguese international is seen as a top-level reinforcement for Maresca, taking the side to the left level as a result – but it’s previously been reported he could cost in the region of €80m (£64m).

Why Chelsea’s £64m target would be a better signing than Gittens

Over the last couple of months, Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move to land Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens this summer, but no deal has yet been agreed with the Bundesliga side.

Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in action

The 20-year-old has impressed in Germany this campaign, registering 12 goals and three assists to date, with other English sides such as Liverpool and Arsenal also interested in his signature.

The former Manchester City youngster looks almost certain to return to England this summer, but the Blues should look to swerve a deal despite their keen interest.

Such an interest in Leao proves the club are evaluating all options to improve their attacking department, needing to make the right call over whom to land to fill the void in the final third.

When comparing the Milan star’s stats with those of Gittens, he’s managed to outperform in numerous key areas, highlighting what a superb addition he would be to Maresca’s side.

AC Milan's RafaelLeaocelebrates scoring their first goal

Leao, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has registered more combined goals and assists than the Dortmund star’s, whilst also completing more take-ons, showcasing the threat he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more progressive carries per 90, along with more passes completed into the final third – having the tools to aid other people in improving their own tallies in the final third.

Games played

33

30

Goals & assists

16

11

Progressive passes

3.6

2.1

Passes into final third

1.5

0.8

Shot-creating actions

4.4

3.7

Take-ons completed

46%

45%

Aerials won

57%

41%

His all-round dominance doesn’t stop there, winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered, potentially offering Maresca an added option in central areas should they fail to land a new striker.

£64m may appear to be another hefty fee to splash out on a new signing, but Leao has proven in Serie A this campaign that he has all of the qualities needed to improve the Blues squad.

As a result of the latest transfer story, the hierarchy should look to forget about any deal to land Gittens in the coming months, subsequently putting all of their focus into a deal for the Milan star.

The perfect Jackson upgrade: Chelsea ready to bid for £76m "complete CF"

Chelsea are looking to add a new striker to their ranks this summer

ByJoe Nuttall May 7, 2025

Liverpool ramp up interest in Militao-esque "revelation" to replace Trent

Liverpool are now ramping up their interest in a defender who’s been likened to Eder Militao, with Trent Alexander-Arnold looking increasingly likely to move to Real Madrid this summer, according to a report.

Trent's time at Anfield coming to an end

With just a matter of months remaining on Alexander Arnold’s contract, the right-back looks set to leave at the end of the season, and Real Madrid is in his sights, as revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Conor Bradley is the obvious choice to replace Trent, with the Northern Irish youngster stepping in at right-back on a number of occasions this season, but there is a feeling the Reds could also look to bring in another option this summer.

Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento is one of the latest defenders to be linked with a surprise move to Anfield, while contact has also been made over a deal for Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza, who has a release clause of just £17m.

Liverpool make contact to sign "world-class" £62m striker ahead of Arsenal

The Reds are now in the race to sign a “world-class” striker, having made the first move towards getting a deal done.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 1, 2025

According to a report from The Boot Room, another target has also now entered the frame, with Liverpool ramping up their interest in SC Freiburg’s Kiliann Sildillia, who is also on the radar of Premier League rivals Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton.

Sildillia is deemed likely to leave Freiburg this summer, amid interest from a number of England’s top clubs, having put in some top performances at right-back this season, although he is also able to slot in at centre-back when required.

SC Freiburg's KiliannSildilliain action with West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus

The Reds have watched the defender on more than one occasion in recent weeks, such is their level of interest, with his contract set to expire in 2026, making this summer Freiburg’s last chance to cash-in.

"Revelation" Sildillia could be upgrade on Trent defensively

Liverpool would be hard-pressed to find any full-back capable of replacing Trent’s attacking numbers, but there are signs the Freiburg ace could be an upgrade from a defensive point of view.

The Frenchman has outperformed the Reds’ academy graduate on a number of key defensive metrics over the past year, ranking very highly, when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

1.45 (91st percentile)

Blocks

1.66 (88th percentile)

Clearances

3.83 (94th percentile)

Aerials won

2.28 (99th percentile)

Not only that, but the full-back, who has been a “revelation” in the Bundesliga, is capable of contributing going forward, ranking in the 97th percentile for non-penalty goals. The 22-year-old’s versatility could also be of use to Arne Slot, with scout/analyst Jacek Kulig likening him to Real Madrid’s Militao, who is able to play at both centre-back and right-back.

There is theoretically still time for a late U-turn from Trent, but with it looking ever more likely he will move to Madrid this summer, Sildillia has proven he could be a solid signing.

Switch Hit: Time to Urn

With just a few days to go until the start of the Ashes in Perth, Alan Gardner hears from Vithushan Ehantharajah and Alex Malcolm about the teams’ final preparations

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2025After months of talking, the Ashes are almost upon us. But there’s still time to do a bit more talking, as the teams assemble in Perth ahead of the first Test. On this week’s Switch Hit, Alan Gardner is joined by Vithushan Ehantharajah and Alex Malcolm to get all the latest from both camps, including news on Mark Wood’s fitness, a potential debut for Jake Weatherald, and whether England are a genuine chance of pulling off an upset.

The Hundred play-off scenarios: Six men's teams competing for two spots

There is a three-way battle for a confirmed spot in the women’s final

Sampath Bandarupalli21-Aug-2023ESPNcricinfo LtdMen’s tournament
Oval Invincibles – Wins 5, Points 11
Oval Invincibles stand on the top of the table, leading second-placed Manchester Originals by two points. However, Originals have a better net-run-rate (NRR) than Invincibles. If Invincibles register a win against the Trent Rockets on Monday, they will directly qualify for the final.However, a defeat would mean they would rely on a favour from Southern Brave to defeat Originals, who would climb to the top via NRR if they won.Manchester Originals – Wins 4, Points 9
Manchester Originals have a chance of qualifying for the final directly if they beat Southern Brave in the last match, as long as Trent Rockets do them a favour by defeating Oval Invincibles on Monday. Despite being close to a direct final qualification, Originals are not yet confirmed of their play-off berth as they could fall as low as fifth if results go against them.Though Originals have the best NRR among the eight teams in the men’s competition, they could finish below Southern Brave if they lose to them by a margin of around 42 runs. If that happens, Rockets will also finish ahead of the Originals on NRR irrespective of their win margin against Invincibles.Though Welsh Fire are behind Originals on NRR by more than 100 runs, they can also move ahead of Originals – if Brave defeat Originals by 42 runs and Fire win against the Northern Superchargers by around 62 runs.If Rockets beat Invincibles on Monday, Originals have to make sure they don’t lose by more than 41 runs to Brave and hope Welsh Fire can’t catch them on the NRR. And if Rockets lose on Monday, Originals will be confirmed to finish in the top three if they can ensure their losing margin against Brave is less than 42 runs.A win on Monday night would do wonders for Rockets’ play-off chances•ECB/Getty ImagesTrent Rockets – Wins 3, Points 7
Trent Rockets will more or less seal their place in the playoffs with a win against Invincibles on Monday. However, there is a chance they could miss out despite finishing with nine points – but they could qualify for playoffs even with a loss against Invincibles. For that to happen, they need Southern Brave, Welsh Fire and London Spirit to lose their last matches.Rockets must ensure they don’t lose by more than 45 runs, as any margin higher than that would push them below Brave’s current NRR. And in case Rockets lose by 75 runs to Invincibles, they will need the following results:
a. Brave lose to Originals by at least 31 runs.
b. Welsh Fire to lose by at least 13 runs against Superchargers. But Superchargers shouldn’t win by more than 43 runs.At the same time, the Rockets could still miss out on a top-three finish, despite a modest win by 15 runs. The following results, if they occur, could see the Rockets miss out on playoffs even after a 15-run win:
a. Brave to beat Originals by 58 runs, Originals do not lose by more than 26 runs.
b. Fire beat Superchargers by 79 runsSouthern Brave – Wins 3, Points 7
Southern Brave, the 2021 champions, could miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season if they lose to Originals in their last league match. Although, just a win might not be enough for Brave as they would need to win by at least 42 runs against Originals to move past them on NRR. Trent Rockets are likely to finish ahead of Brave if they win against Invincibles, while Welsh Fire could also catch up with a big win.Scenarios for Brave if they win:
1. Brave, Rockets and Fire win: Brave’s margin of win against Originals should be either 43 runs higher than Rockets’ win margin against Invincibles or within 17 runs of Welsh Fire’s margin against Superchargers.
2. Brave win by less than 42 runs: Rockets should lose to Invincibles, and Brave’s win margin should not be less than 16 runs of Fire’s margin against Superchargers.Brave, in fact, could end up in the play-offs even with a defeat – but that requires Rockets to suffer a big defeat as they are currently about 40 runs ahead of Brave on NRR. They would also need London Spirit and Welsh Fire to lose their respective matches, and at the same time, Northern Superchargers should defeat Fire by a handsome margin which could see them overhauling Brave’s NRR. If Brave lose by 20 runs to Originals, the only way Superchargers can go ahead is with a win as big as 50 runs.Welsh Fire kept their play-off hopes alive on Sunday night•Getty ImagesWelsh Fire – Wins 3, Points 7
Welsh Fire have won three of their seven completed matches this year, the same they won across the first two seasons combined. But they would need more than just a win in their last match to be assured of a place in the play-offs. They are currently 60 runs behind on NRR of Trent Rockets and about 19 runs behind Brave, the other two teams likely to end up with nine points.If the Rockets win, then Welsh Fire’s win margin against Superchargers must be beyond 60 runs. If the Rockets lose, then Welsh’s fate relies on the margin in the Originals-Brave match.A loss for Welsh Fire could make things complicated for them with already a poor NRR. In addition to Rockets and Brave’s defeats, Fire would also need London Spirit to lose as they could finish with eight points. Fire would also face a potential threat from their opponent of the last game Northern Superchargers, who will end with seven points but have a poorer NRR.London Spirit and Northern Superchargers are relying on other results working in their favour•Getty ImagesLondon Spirit – Wins 3, Points 6
London Spirit, unlike the remaining teams in contention, won’t have the NRR headache. All they need to qualify is for Rockets, Brave and Fire to lose their last matches and finish with seven points. If that happens, Spirit, who face Phoenix in the final league match, must win to seal the third place.Northern Superchargers – Wins 2, Points 5
Four consecutive defeats pushed Superchargers to seventh in the points table and left a heavy dent in their NRR. However, they still have an outside chance of making it to the play-offs. For that to happen, they would need to defeat Welsh Fire in their last league match and expect the results in all three other matches to work their way – Rockets, Brave and Spirit to lose.That would still not be enough for Superchargers due to their NRR, as they would need nearly 115 runs to cover between them and Trent Rockets, who have the best NRR of the teams likely to finish with seven points. If the Superchargers win by 75 runs against Fire after the Rockets suffer a 40-run defeat to Invincibles, they will end up with the best NRR among the teams with 7 points and finish third.ESPNcricinfo LtdWomen’s tournament
Southern Brave (12 points) are best placed for the direct route to the final, as a win against Manchester Originals (11 points) in their last league match would be enough for them. However, they can earn it even with a narrow defeat against Originals if Superchargers also secure a close win against Welsh Fire (10 points) on Tuesday.Brave and Superchargers are separated by more than 20 runs on NRR ahead of the last round of the league phase. Welsh Fire would need to beat Superchargers and hope Brave lose against Originals on Wednesday to finish as the table-topper.Brave will be in a must-win situation on Wednesday if Fire defeat Superchargers, or Superchargers beat Fire by about 22 runs, or with around 16 balls to spare.

Super Kings 'pretty darn good' – Steyn

IPL title No. 4 for Chennai Super Kings and social media was bursting with praise for them

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2021From seventh in 2020 to champions in 2021. It was yellow’s day out in Dubai as Chennai Super Kings clinched their fourth IPL title.

Congratulations on A fantastic IPL for the experienced and settled @ChennaiIPL team. @KKRiders great IPL and well played throughout.Great final indeed !

— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) October 15, 2021

Congratulations @ChennaiIPL !!! Well done @SPFleming7 fantastic season #IPL2021

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) October 15, 2021

M S D Congratulations @ChennaiIPL #IPL2021Final

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) October 15, 2021

Congratulations @msdhoni and @ChennaiIPL on the 4th title. . #IPLFinal #cskvskkr2021
Lots to learn from this campaign of @KKRiders, great turn around.

— Mask up and take your vaccine (@ashwinravi99) October 15, 2021

After the setback last season, not many gave @ChennaiIPL a chance this year. But it is that ability of @msdhoni to convert adversity into opportunity that Chennai played outstanding cricket and are deserving champions. Whistle Podu #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/YV5KuntmFU

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) October 15, 2021

Well done to CSK

I mean, they pretty darn good

Well done @faf1307 @ImranTahirSA @NgidiLungi Eric and Kingers

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) October 15, 2021

Dwayne Bravo had a new name for himself after he won his 16th major title in T20 cricket.

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A post shared by Dwayne Bravo aka SIR Champion (@djbravo47)

Brilliant is just not the word to describe @ChennaiIPL, no.4 and well deserved, Brilliant captaincy by @msdhoni and what a team! Great to watch, proud to be a chennaite and a tamilian! #CSKvsKKR #KKRvsCSK #IPLFinal

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 15, 2021

Hey @imjadeja how many titles is that?!

Congratulations @msdhoni and @ChennaiIPL for getting your hands back on that trophy!! #ComebackKings #WhistlePodu #IPLFinal #yellove pic.twitter.com/V7ExWqJplI

— Kate Cross (@katecross16) October 15, 2021

Form is temporary, class is permanent: @ChennaiIPL Congratulations on a fourth Vivo IPL title. Superbly led by the master MS Dhoni .

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 15, 2021

Well done CSK a great win and what can you say about @msdhoni

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) October 15, 2021

Honoured to be a part of legendary team CSK @chennaiipl . No words #blessed pic.twitter.com/wshrEK7NSv

— Deepak chahar (@deepak_chahar9) October 16, 2021

Iconic Team and an outstanding leader.
Champion Super Kings. Congratulations on Trophy No 4 .#IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/m4460W4aJJ

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 15, 2021

Thank you, MSD #KKR #CSKvKKR #AmiKKR #IPL2021 #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/fTnzZmXcer

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 15, 2021

Congrats #CSK for winning the #IPL2021 trophy. What a turn around from last season. All credit goes to @msdhoni for his leadership. Must appreciate #KKR for playing amazing cricket & making it to the finals. Tonight is a great example of how experience & leadership matters. pic.twitter.com/AjtI6GQWmX

— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) October 15, 2021

It is an absolute bliss on winning our 4th IPL. Extremely proud to be among such brilliant team players & leadership, heartfelt thanks @ChennaiIPL for putting all the efforts & making this journey a memorable one! #IPLFinal #champions #WhistlePodu #family #Yellove pic.twitter.com/PyRwWeP6vY

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) October 15, 2021

Congratulations @ChennaiIPL for winning the 4th title..well done our team @KKRiders for playing brilliant cricket.. @IPL

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 15, 2021

Learnings from the greatest ipl team
-respect experience
-Give players enough opportunity & time to get through phases in form
-Give players the freedom to express
-Less closed room meetings,more one-one during practice session.
-Treat non playing members respectfully #csk

— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) October 15, 2021

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A post shared by Shardul Thakur (@shardul_thakur)

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A post shared by Krishnappa Gowtham (@gowthamyadav1)

Cruzeiro lança segundo uniforme; confira fotos e valores

MatériaMais Notícias

Em parceria com a Adidas, o Cruzeiro divulgou nesta sexta-feira (26) imagens do novo segundo uniforme da equipe para a temporada. Inspirado na Igreja da Pampulha, o fardamento é predominantemente branco, com detalhes em azul na gola e nas mangas.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

🤑 QUAIS OS PRECOS?

A nova camisa já está à venda e custa entre R$ 299,99 (modelo infantil) e R$ 349,99 (modelo masculino). Além dessas opções, o Cruzeiro também disponibiliza uma versão feminina, comercializada por R$ 349,99.

Camisa 2 Cruzeiro EC 24/25 MasculinaCamisa 2 Cruzeiro EC 24/25 MasculinaA camisa está disponível nos modelos masculino, feminino e infantil

✅ MAIS MODELOS:

▪️ Camisa 2 Cruzeiro EC 24/25 Feminina

▪️ Camisa 2 Cruzeiro EC 24/25 Infantil

QUANDO SERÁ A ESTREIA DO NOVO UNIFORME?

A data de estreia do novo uniforme ainda não foi divulgada. No entanto, é provável que a equipe mineira estreie o fardamento contra o Alianza, fora de casa, pela quarta rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.

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CamisaCruzeiroFutebol NacionalUniformes

أولمبي الشلف الجزائري يوضح لـ"بطولات" حقيقة عرض الأهلي لضم أشرف عبادة

تتصاعد الأنباء في الأونة الأخيرة حول اهتمام الأهلي بضم مدافع منتخب الجزائر الثاني، أشرف عبادة، وسط تكهنات على مواقع التواصل والصحف الرياضية، مما جعل الجماهير تتساءل عن حقيقة هذا الاهتمام وإمكانية انتقال اللاعب إلى الدوري المصري.

أشرف عبادة الذي يقدم مستويات مميزة مع أولمبي الشلف أصبح حديث الصحافة، بعد تألقه الدفاعي وإظهار شخصية قوية في الملعب، هذه الأداءات جعلت اسمه مرتبطًا بالأندية الكبرى في المنطقة، وأبرزها الأهلي.

لكن، رغم كل التكهنات، يظل الوضع الرسمي بشأن اللاعب غير واضح، حيث لم يصدر أي تأكيد من النادي الأهلي حول تقديم عرض رسمي، وهو ما يثير الفضول لمعرفة موقف إدارة أولمبي الشلف.

اقرأ أيضًا | حازم إمام يكشف حقيقة أزمة تحليل الأهلي قبل القمة.. ويرد على تصريحات فيريرا

رئيس نادي أولمبي الشلف، عبد الكريم مدوار، في تصريحات خاصة عبر بطولات عن أنباء اهتمام الأهلي بضم المدافع أشرف عبادة: “لم يحدث أي تواصل من جانب الأهلي لضم مدافعنا أشرف عبادة حتى الآن، يجب أن يكون هناك عرض رسمي أولًا من أجل دراسته وإلا فالأمر كله مجرد اهتمام عبر الصحافة”.

وعن موقف أولمبي الشلف في رحيل عبادة إذا ما جاء عرض رسمي من جانب الأهلي: “لكل مقام مقال، إذا وصل عرضًا رسميًا، سأدرسه جيدًا وأعطي رأيي”.

12 passes all night: Arteta must bin Arsenal dud who was as bad as Gyokeres

Arsenal’s worst performance of the Mikel Arteta era to date? Quite possibly.

This season has been a brilliant one for the Gunners so far but as Wolves came to town, the team at the bottom of the Premier League table, Arteta’s side didn’t look up to the task.

They struggled to create much of note, relying on two own goals to win 2-1. Their defence was also well below-par. Since Gabriel Magalhaes got injured, they have not been the same side.

Fortunately, though, Arsenal found a hero in the form of Bukayo Saka.

The winger put the team on his back, swinging in the corner that led to Sam Johnstone’s own goal. Then, with the clock running down and Wolves looking like they’d rescued a point, Saka popped up again.

This time it was from open play. He got the ball on the right, put in an inch-perfect delivery, and it was headed into his own net by Yerson Mosquera.

So what went wrong?

Why Arsenal struggled to beat Wolves

As poor as Arsenal were at the Emirates on Sunday, you have to credit Wolves.

The Old Gold have been dire this term but they headed to the capital and played with a renewed sense of organisation, a new sense of grit and fight.

The fact that they scored what they thought was a goal to win them a point said it all. Out of nowhere, Tolu Arokadare headed the ball home with only injury time remaining.

This was a battle for Arsenal and that goal proved it. For that strike, their defending was notably poor. Arteta acknowledged that.

Speaking at full-time, he said that his team showed “horrible defensive habits” before the Wolves goal, suggesting that it was “unacceptable”. Quite.

Chalkboard

That said, they were also abject in the final third. Arsenal created just two big chances, only forced the goalkeeper into one save and had two shots on target.

Against a side who have amassed two points all season, to quote Arteta, that is unacceptable.

What didn’t help, once again, was the performance of a certain Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede scored 54 times in 2024/25 but has really struggled since coming back to England. He now looks like he’s suffering from a lack of confidence.

The three performances he’s put in since returning from injury have been really worrying. He didn’t have a single shot in his 45-minute cameo a week ago against Aston Villa and then after being given a start against Club Brugge in Europe, left the pitch after the hour mark having managed just four passes. He only had one shot of note, too.

Against Wolves, he was just as bad. He struggled to get on the end of chances and barely saw any of the action, completing just three passes. If Arteta’s side are to win the league, then they need far more from their marquee summer signing.

Arsenal star was as bad as Gyokeres vs Wolves

For Arsenal’s forward line this has been a puzzling season to date. In the early months of the campaign, the team were accused of relying on set-pieces. Yet, over the last month, they’ve not scored a single goal from a set play in the league.

Their open play threat has improved significantly. That was until Wolves came to town.

The attacking threat on this occasion, Saka aside, was virtually non-existent. The fact that Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli all failed to last 90 minutes said it all.

While Gyokeres will take a lot of the blame for the bluntness in attack, Martinelli must also take some criticism.

Having scored a brilliant goal in midweek, curling the ball in from range, he was back to his usual inconsistencies on Saturday.

What summed up the Brazilian’s performance was his header from one of Declan Rice’s first-half corners. A deep ball to the back post found Martinelli and standing a matter of yards out from the goal, he somehow headed the ball off target.

Minutes played

57

Touches

33

Accurate passes

12/18 (67%)

Shots

4

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Possession lost

11x

Ground duels won

4/6

Aerial duels won

0/2

Truth be told, the winger struggled to get the better of an ageing Matt Doherty on Wolves’ right flank. Martinelli only completed one dribble and succeeded with a dire 67% of his passes.

While the 24-year-old did have four shots, not a single one of them was on target. Not great at all.

In the words of GOAL’s Charles Watts, he was largely “disappointing”. It was a performance way below what we’ve come to expect from him this season.

In the Champions League, the Brazilian has scored in five consecutive games but domestically, he’s leaving a lot to be desired.

When Arsenal face Everton next week, Arteta must ensure that Martinelli is back on the bench with Leandro Trossard – arguably the club’s best forward this season – selected ahead of him.

Only 3 passes all game vs Wolves: Arsenal star must now be dropped

Arsenal struggled to beat basement club Wolves on Saturday night.

ByMatt Dawson 1 day ago

The Wackiest, Coolest and Most Unexpected MLB Ballpark Food Debuting in 2025

Ballpark food is an event in and of itself—even if there weren't a game happening right in front of you, you could easily busy yourself (and your stomach) for hours, experiencing different cuisines, trying new and exciting drinks and enjoying genuinely quality meals that aren't the typical hot dog and popcorn combo.

But you'll also find some pretty wacky concoctions, too. Things like sandwiches layered in condiments and proteins you'd never think to mix together; savory-sweet combinations that will clog your arteries, but also wow your taste buds; and strange-colored desserts that look radioactive, but are really just delicious.

Indeed, stadiums find new ways to wow each year, which is why we've sought out some of the weirdest, wackiest and just generally delicious-looking ballpark food debuting in the 2025 season to showcase below. To be clear, this isn't new food in stadium, but just some select highlights that, to us, look like either gastronomical home runs or somehow still-delectable culinary fouls.

The TLDR? Goodbye peanuts and cracker jacks, hello cotton candy fries.

Let's dive in:

Chicago White Sox:

The Celebration Cake Shake:

The Celebration Cake shake. / Chicago White Sox

Following the success of last season's campfire milkshake, the Chicago White Sox this year are debuting a new "Celebration Cake Shake," which constitutes birthday cake ice cream, pieces of confetti cake, a pinwheel cookie and a maraschino cherry on top. With any luck, it wil encourage the Sox to do something worth celebrating … like winning a game or two.

Colorado Rockies:

Dessert Nachos:

Dessert Nachos. / Aramark Sports

Have you ever asked yourself, "What if these cheesy, gooey nachos I'm eating were sweet instead of savory?" If so, today is your lucky day.

Colorado Rockies fans can this year treat themselves to "dessert nachos," fried flour tortillas that have been tossed in cinnamon sugar and topped with powdered sugar and caramel, then served with fresh berries and a side of whipped cream. Curious, but seemingly delightful. Per Aramark Sports, this new add is a "fresh twist" on a "classic favorite" at Coors Field.

Houston Astros:

Daddy Mac Dog:

Daddy Mac Dog. / Aramark Sports

As far as heartburn in a hot dog goes, the Houston Astros seem to have things covered with the new Daddy Mac Dog, a footlong angus beef hot dog topped with chopped brisket, mac and cheese, barbecue sauce and crispy dill pickles. Holy clogged arteries.

Kansas City Royals:

The Kansas City Royals are bringing out a few new and wacky-looking ballpark foods this season, offering fans yet another reason to visit Kauffman Stadium after the team's ALDS appearance last year. And there were two dishes in particular that caught our eye:

Blue Velvet Whoopie Pie:

Blue Velvet whoopie pie. / Aramark Sports

First, the Blue Velvet whoopie pie, an odd choice for a ballpark but perhaps a practical one, given the ease with which you can snack on it. Bright blue velvet cakes and vanilla filling comprise this off-putting but surely delicious dessert.

The Slugger Dog:

The Slugger Dog. / Aramark Sports

A corn dog in and of itself isn't exactly crazy, but you have to admit—the Slugger doesn't look like your average frank on a stick. Indeed, this beauty is made of chorizo and Manchego cheese that is then dipped in batter and a Cool Ranch Dorito crust and drizzled with avocado aioli.

New York Yankees:

A tiramisu helmet. / MLB, New York Yankees

Start spreading the news … you can get tiramisu in a helmet.

In case you weren't feeling "New York" enough, the Pinstripes will be debuting a quintessentially New York dessert in the Bronx this season: a Yankees helmet filled to the brim with sumptuous tiramisu. Eating an Italian treat out of regalia for the city's most famous team? Yeah, that's got "I Heart N.Y." vibes all over it.

Philadelphia Phillies:

S'mores Quesadilla:

A s’mores quesadilla. / Aramark Sports

Similar to the Rockies' dessert nachos, Phillies fans can this year try out a s'mores quesadilla, a decadent-looking sweet treat that yet again marries two of the best flavors in the world (chocolate and marshmallow).

Regarding composition, there are no big surprises here, outside of the tortilla: Nutella, mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumble inside, with chocolate dipping sauce drizzled on top.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

In addition to the team's new 98-oz popcorn bats, two new dishes had us looking up tickets to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Polish Cannonball:

Three “Polish Cannonballs.” / Aramark Sports.

First were the "Polish Cannonballs," fried bites of deliciousness that combine three building blocks of Polish food—egg noodles, kielbasa and cabbage— with bacon and cheddar cheese. The perfect concession-style nod to Pittsburgh's Polish scene.

Chipped Ham Empanadas:

A chipped ham empanada. / Aramark Sports

No Pittsburgh table is complete without some chipped ham, so the gastronomical geniuses at Aramark Sports created the chipped ham empanada, a dough pocket filled with barbecue ham, cheddar cheese and pickles. Yinz are gonna love this.

San Francisco Giants:

Miso Ramen and Shoyu Ramen:

Miso Ramen and Shoyu Ramen. / Aramark Sports

Now, Ramen isn't a crazy meal by any means, but it a somewhat crazy choice for a ballpark. Even so, the San Francisco Giants will be offering two delicious-looking new noodle bowls at Oracle Park this year: the miso ramen bowl—egg noodles, seared tofu, marinated bamboo, roasted corn, carrot, scallion, wood ear mushroom and bean sprouts in a miso broth—and the shoyu ramen bowl—egg noodle, roasted pork, bamboo, bean sprouts, scallion, wood ear mushroom and soy sauce tare.

Both sound truly delectable, if not just slightly difficult to eat from the stands.

Seattle Mariners:

Ichi Wings:

Ichi Wings. / Jack Ellis/Seattle Mariners

Wings are certainly not a wacky food, but given the latest group of slugger inducted into Cooperstown, these particular bites deserved a shoutout.

Meet the "Ichi Wings," developed to honor Mariners legend and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro Suzuki. Each piece will be drenched in a sesame glaze that the clubhouse kitchen formulated for the baseball legend specifically.

Lil' Dumpers:

Lil’ Dumpers. / Jack Ellis/Seattle Mariners

Dumplings at the ballpark? Well, why not? These yummy-looking steamed pork soup dumplings come with sesame and hoisin sauce, and will be served at the Mariners' Walk-Off Market. And yes, the "Lil' Dumpers" name is a reference to Cal Raleigh's "Big Dumper" moniker.

"What Up" Corn Dog:

What Up Corn Dog. / Jack Ellis/Seattle Mariners

No, this corn dog is not radioactive; it's just Mariners blue. The "What Up" corn dog is a new Seattle delicacy that's honey-battered with a spicy crunch and served with nacho cheese. Given the color, this is definitely a wacky ballpark food if we've ever seen one.

Texas Rangers:

Boomstick Burrito:

The Boomstick Burrito. / MLB, Texas Rangers.

Behold, the Boomstick Burrito, a new delicacy for Texas Rangers fans eager to answer the question, "What if I want a burrito I can split with ?" This gargantuan roll-up boasts a 26-inch tortilla that's been filled with rice, beans, taco meat, nacho cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce and sour cream. It's just the latest entrant in the Rangers' "Boomstick" concession series, which has also featured a 24-inch loaded hot dog, a burger, and the "Boomstick Triple-Play," which combines a hot dog, hamburger and nachos.

Toronto Blue Jays:

Cotton Candy Fries:

Cotton Candy Fries. / Toronto Blue Jays

Name two things that don't go together, we'll start: Cotton candy and french fri—oh, wait.

The Toronto Blue Jays have defied the laws of gastronomy with a new creation in which cotton candy sits atop fries that have been drizzled with some sort of blue sauce. Despite our best efforts, we cannot get an accurate report on what that sauce actually is, so someone will just need to try this out and let us know ASAP.

And now that Opening Day 2025 has arrived, you can get right on that. All this and more is waiting at a ballpark near you.

Hilton Cartwright, Jofra Archer keep Southern Brave in knockout mix

A 19-ball half-century from Hilton Cartwright led Southern Brave to victory over Welsh Fire in a tight game in The Hundred.Cartwright made an unbeaten 51 to help Brave rally to 129 for 8, before Brave’s bowlers closed the game out with the ball in a topsy-turvy chase.Electing to bowl first in helpful conditions, Welsh Fire’s new-ball pairing of David Payne and Matt Henry were exceptional, bowling 20 of the first 25 deliveries.Henry in particular was relentless, dismissing Leus du Ploy and Jason Roy on the way to a remarkable return of 2 for 5 from 20 balls – the second-most economical figures in the short history of the Hundred.Brave skipper James Vince dug in, helping his side recover to 53 for 3 at halfway before eventually falling when he pulled a short ball from Chris Green straight down Saif Zaib’s throat at deep midwicket for 29.Enter Cartwright. The Aussie big-hitter went on the attack immediately, hitting five sixes, mixing power and innovation, as he reached a 19-ball half-century, finishing 51 not out as the Brave made 129 for 8.Jonny Bairstow’s lively start was not enough for the Fire•ECB/Getty Images

In the run chase, Jonny Bairstow came out swinging, hitting Craig Overton for two fours and a six in the first set. He then smashed Reece Topley for two fours as the Fire raced to 23 for 0 from the first 10 balls before he fell for 22, skying Overton to du Plooy in the ring.The chase ebbed backwards and forwards and with 20 balls left, Fire needed 27 to win with three wickets in hand and just the tail for company for Tom Kohler-Cadmore.Five wides from Jordan took some of the pressure off before four were taken from Jofra Archer’s final five, including Laurie Evans putting down David Payne behind the stumps to leave 16 required off 10.Kohler-Cadmore (25) then found Cartwright in the deep off Coles, leaving Payne and Henry – Fire’s heroes with the ball at the top of the day – to find the crucial 12 runs to take Fire to victory, from final five to be bowled by Jordan. He delivered a fine last five to ensure it was the Brave who got over the line.”That was an absolute thriller. It ebbed and flowed that whole second innings. The crowd got a bloody good game tonight,” Cartwright said. “I took the game on and it paid off, thankfully… It was an all-round team effort tonight. I thought the bowlers did an outstanding job to defend a small total.”

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