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England international Ivan Toney has returned to Saudi Arabia and training with club side Al-Ahli after being arrested in London over an alleged headbutt in a nightclub. The striker was spotted being led away in handcuffs by police following a brawl in the English capital. However, he has now returned to work with the Saudi Pro League side ahead of a fixture on Friday against Damac.

Toney arrested in London nightclub

Toney found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after being arrested after an alleged headbutt on a recent visit back to London. The former Brentford striker, who joined Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024, reportedly became involved in an ugly incident when a fan grabbed the England star and asked for a selfie. The alleged victim was left bloodied, with the police responding quickly and taking Toney away in handcuffs. The striker was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray, as reported by .

A statement from the Metropolitan Police stated: "We were called to Wardour Street at 00:47hrs on Saturday following reports of an assault. The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray. He has since been released on bail while inquiries continue."

AdvertisementTraining return for Toney

Toney is now back in the Middle East and has been pictured hard at work with his club side. Al-Ahli have shown off pictures from their training session, with Toney sporting an oxygen mask as he was put through his paces with the Saudi club. "Breath by breath… we level up," is the caption added by Al-Ahli.

Toney plays a 'different game' in Saudi Arabia

Toney has previously talked about how difficult it has been to adjust to playing football in the intense heat in Saudi Arabia following his move and has insisted he has no interest in criticism of his decision to head to the Middle East. He told : "Those that know me, know that I do what I want to do. If there is something I want to go for, to try, then I will do it. If people want to talk, they can talk. It doesn't hurt me, doesn't bother me, I just concentrate on myself. I do what makes me happy.

"The weather played a massive part. Somebody should go and try to play in a sauna and see if they can cope. You have to play a different game with different tactics and it is something you adapt to. There are different blocks of 20 minutes where it is intense and then it has to slow down and pick up again."

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AFPToney not giving up on World Cup dream

Toney finished last season behind only Cristiano Ronaldo on the list of top scorers in the Saudi Pro League and has bagged five in eight games so far in 2025-26. There has been talk he could still sneak his way into Thomas Tuchel's squad for World Cup 2026 even though his last appearance for the Three Lions came against Senegal in a friendly in June. Yet Toney has insisted he hasn't given up hope of an international recall and told in September: "I have to concentrate on myself and give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country but if not, I’ll be cheering the boys on."

"I don’t expect to have a conversation with him [Thomas Tuchel]. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance."

Shaka Hislop has revealed he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer, sharing the emotional update in a deeply personal message to fans. The former Newcastle and West Ham goalkeeper detailed his 18-month medical journey, including surgery, spreading cancer and recent radiation therapy, while urging men, especially those at higher risk, to get tested early.

Hislop announces his prostate cancer diagnosis

Former Premier League favourite Hislop shocked the football world by announcing he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, outlining an 18-month timeline of tests, surgery, recurrence and ongoing treatment. The 56-year-old revealed the cancer was initially detected after an elevated PSA reading during routine screening, before spreading months later despite a radical prostatectomy. Hislop, now a respected pundit, disclosed that he has just completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy and is continuing treatment.

The diagnosis marks a difficult chapter for the ex-goalkeeper, who is widely remembered for starring in Newcastle’s title-challenging sides under Kevin Keegan and for making over 100 appearances for West Ham. Hislop’s video update has sparked an outpouring of support from fans, teammates and viewers who have followed his post-playing career in broadcasting. His message stressed both the importance of early detection and the reality that prostate cancer can develop even without a family history.

Hislop’s announcement has renewed attention on the risks of prostate cancer for men over 50 and particularly for Black men, who statistically face higher mortality rates. His call for regular PSA testing challenges the inconsistent medical guidelines found across different countries. The news has also prompted wider conversations about awareness within football communities, where former players have increasingly used their platforms to highlight major health issues.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHislop urges men to get tested early for prostate cancer

In a video released on his social media, Hislop said: “I have a story to tell. Roughly 18 months ago, I went for my annual physical and insisted on a PSA test, as I always do. This time around though my PSA was elevated.

“An MRI and biopsy quickly determined that I had a fairly aggressive prostate cancer. A year ago, almost to the day, December 6 to be exact, I had a radical prostatectomy. And I thought that was it.

“But then, six months later, my PSA was again on the rise and another scan showed that my prostate cancer had spread to my pelvic bone. I started on medication pretty soon after, and just this morning completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy. The journey continues.”

“Doctors recommend that all men over the age of 50 get their PSA checked regularly. If you're of African descent, that age drops to 40. If you're somewhere like the UK or somewhere else where PSA tests aren't encouraged, you have got to insist.

“Having a history of cancer in the family doesn't matter. I had genetic testing done and it showed no traits in my family, yet this year would show that, without going into too much detail, even that didn't exclude everybody in my immediate family. The highest rate of prostate cancer mortality is in Caribbean men, so allow me to speak to my community, my people. Please, go get tested. Know your PSA, track – its history.

“Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. There are treatments for it. Testing saves lives. It saved mine.”

Getty Images NewsProstate cancer awareness: A growing necessity

Hislop’s message resonates strongly because prostate cancer is one of the most common yet most quietly developing cancers in the world, often showing no symptoms in its early stages. Many men only seek medical attention once the cancer becomes advanced, making Hislop’s insistence on annual testing a crucial reminder about preventative health. The 99% survival rate for early-stage prostate cancer highlights why screening remains the single most impactful step men can take.

The former Trinidad and Tobago international has long been admired not only for his playing career but for his off-field contributions as an activist and broadcaster. His leadership within the Show Racism The Red Card campaign and his standing within ESPN FC make his message highly influential across global audiences. By speaking directly to Black and Caribbean men, Hislop underscores a demographic reality: these groups face some of the highest prostate cancer mortality rates in the world, making early detection uniquely urgent.

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Hislop contines to undergo treatement after radiation therapy

Hislop’s treatment continues following the completion of his radiation therapy, and he has vowed to keep supporters updated as he navigates the next phase of his recovery. His central aim is to use his platform to amplify awareness around PSA testing and encourage men worldwide to prioritise early screening. For now, the football community will rally around him as he continues both his medical journey and his mission to save lives through education and advocacy.

Naomi Girma has returned to the U.S. women’s national team as manager Emma Hayes named a 26-player squad for the year-ending friendlies against Italy. Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce misses out after suffering an eye socket fracture, while Trinity Rodman was not called in following a limited appearance in the Washington Spirit’s playoff win last weekend.

Getty ImagesA closer look at the squad

Chelsea defender Girma headlines the roster with her long-awaited return after missing the last FIFA window through injury. She’s featured just four times for the USWNT in 2025 – starting all of them – making her inclusion a welcome boost. Hayes has also turned again to a few fresh faces: Chicago Stars forward Jameese Joseph and Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz earn their first senior call-ups, while Washington Spirit defender and long-time U.S. youth international Kate Wiesner also joins the squad.

The group features seven changes from the October friendlies, including the notable return of Gotham FC midfielder Jaelin Howell. Howell last appeared for the U.S. in 2022 and is among several Gotham players preparing for this weekend’s NWSL Championship. In all, 20 NWSL players are represented in this camp, with seven set to compete for the title in San Jose. Lindsey Heaps and Rose Lavelle enter as the most capped players in the squad, with Heaps at 160 caps and 38 goals and Lavelle at 115 caps and 27 goals.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSquad in full

GOALKEEPERS: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 4), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 4), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0) 

DEFENDERS: Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC; 4/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 69/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG: 48/2), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 8/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 4/0), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current; 1/1), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 6/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 112/2), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave; 1/0), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit; 0/0) 

MIDFIELDERS: Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit; 4/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 41/5), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 167/38), Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC; 5/1), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 9/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 115/26), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 11/1) 

FORWARDS: Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars; 0/0), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 27/13), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 10/4), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 11/4), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 29/8), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 24/3)

Getty ImagesWorld Cup build continues

Italy was the USWNT's first international opponent in 1985, and since then the two sides have only met a total of 15 times across 40 years. The last time the U.S. faced Italy was in 2011, when the Americans defeated the Italians 2-0 to advance in the tournament. Hayes pointed out the match against is an important end-of-year test for her side. 

“It’s been an exciting and important year for our group, and we’ve accomplished a lot of goals, expanded the player pool, and made strides in our game model, so this camp will be an extension of that, but it will also set the groundwork for 2026, which will be our World Cup qualifying year,” said Hayes. “Games against top European teams are so valuable as they give us an honest assessment of where we are in our growth as a team, so I know our players with embrace that challenge.”

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Getty ImagesWhat's next?

The USWNT will first play Italy on Friday, Nov. 28 at Inter&Co Stadium, home to the Orlando Pride. The second meeting will be in Fort Lauderdale at Chase Stadium on Monday, Dec. 1. These two matches are the USWNT's final contests of the 2025 year.

Ben Geddes and Luke Hollman hit career-bests as Middlesex raced to a six-wicket win over strugglers Kent at Radlett to keep their hopes of a place in the Metro Bank Cup’s knockout stages alive.Geddes led the way with an unbeaten 141, his first century in List A cricket, while Hollman made his maiden half-century in the format, the pair sharing a record unbroken stand of 195 for the fifth wicket as the hosts chased down a target of 280 with five overs to spare.Kent’s 279 for 6 was built around an unbeaten 63 for Jack Leaning and 50 for Chris Benjamin, with Leaning sharing a stand of 81 in nine overs with debutant Corey Flintoff, son of former England allrounder Andrew, who impressed with an unbeaten 29. Henry Brookes and Middlesex List A debutant Sebastian Morgan took three wickets apiece.England Under-19 international Ben Dawkins took three fours from one Noah Cornwell over and ramped Toby Roland-Jones over wicketkeeper Joe Cracknell’s head to dominate an opening stand of 52 with Jaydn Denly. The latter struggled for any fluency, his torturous effort ending when he cut Brookes to backward point. Dawkins took his boundary count to eight only to fall two short of 50 when caught by Cracknell, giving Morgan his first wicket.Benjamin and Joey Evison upped the tempo in a stand of 47 before Morgan pegged back the latter’s off stump and a chance for a fourth wicket was spurned when Brookes dropped Benjamin on 33.File photo: Luke Hollman shared an unbroken stand of 195 with Geddes•Getty Images

Benjamin profited from the life, flaying Morgan over third and crunching a seventh four through the covers to reach 50, but he fell immediately afterwards to Brookes, ending a stand of 58 with Harry Finch. Brookes struck again two balls later to remove Ekansh Singh, superbly caught by Sam Robson, and when Finch became Morgan’s third victim Kent were 198 for 6.However, Leaning and Flintoff launched their late charge, Flintoff evoking memories of his father’s batting heroics with two huge sixes, while Leaning’s beautifully paced effort was capped by clearing the ropes twice in the final over as Kent posted a daunting target.The host’s chase got off to a bad start when Cracknell was caught down the legside without scoring. Robson was then dropped at short fine leg by Michael Cohen, but later in the same Fred Klaassen over, Josh de Caires attempted an injudicious hook to sky a simple catch to Flintoff at midwicket.Robson’s response was to unleash a flurry of boundaries, the former England opener cutting and pulling with authority and with Geddes launching a huge six into the trees a 50-stand came up in 40 balls. Evison though wrestled back control by having Robson caught behind and though Davies planted a six over square leg, he didn’t stay long.Geddes continued to carry the fight, reaching his 50 with his second six, a blow which endangered those on the 4.45pm train to St Albans City. Cohen was similarly despatched into the trees and Hollman swept Matt Parkinson to the fence as the partnership prospered.Both batters were dropped, before Geddes moved to his hundred and Hollman to 50 with the help of a towering six. Landmarks reached, the pair cut loose to scamper home with time to spare.

Jordan Montgomery is running it back with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Thursday that Montgomery has exercised his $22.5 million player option for next season. He now is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 campaign.

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Montgomery opted in and took the guaranteed money, as he struggled through the '24 season and registered an 8–7 record, 6.23 ERA and 11.5 hits per nine innings in 25 appearances (21 starts).

It is a bit surprising, however, given Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick's comments earlier this month in which he openly admitted that he regrets giving Montgomery a contract.

"Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did," Kendrick said on Arizona Sports radio's show. "It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that."

Montgomery had an interesting offseason last winter. Fresh off a career-best season in '23 when he logged a 3.20 ERA and helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series, the left-hander entered free agency as one of the most intriguing arms available.

But Montgomery never landed the deal that he and agent Scott Boras desired, and he ended up signing a one-year contract with a player option for '25 with Arizona in late March, just two days before the season opener.

Montgomery missed the entirety of spring training and struggled to find a rhythm in 2024. He fired Boras in August and will head into free agency after the '25 season with new representation.

After a travel day on Monday, Major League Baseball is back in a big way with a loaded Tuesday night slate featuring plenty of pitchers to bet on. 

When betting on the prop market in baseball, I love targeting starting pitching matchups that I believe to be favorable, and there are a few starters that are worth a look on June 11.

New York Yankees righty Marcus Stroman, Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and San Francisco Giants righty Jordan Hicks are among the top players to target, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. 

Let’s dive into these plays for Tuesday’s 15-game slate. 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Tuesday, June 11Marcus Stroman OVER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)Zack Wheeler OVER 1.5 Walks Allowed (-145)Jordan Hicks UNDER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

Marcus Stroman OVER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

Marcus Stroman lasted just 4.2 innings in his last start for New York, but he had cleared 16.5 outs recorded in five straight starts prior to that outing.

Stroman has been solid for this season, posting a 3.04 ERA and 4.82 Fielding Independent Pitching, and he was elite in May, posting a 1.67 ERA and a .191 opponent batting average that month. 

I think this could be a bounce-back spot for Stroman, even though the Kansas City Royals have been a solid offense this season. We’re not asking Stroman to even get through six innings to clear this prop, and he’s done it in more than half of his starts in 2024. 

Zack Wheeler OVER 1.5 Walks Allowed (-145)

Zack Wheeler has been elite for the Phillies this season, but I’m actually fading him against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

In 13 starts, Wheeler has walked two or more batters in eight games, tallying 26 total walks. 

Boston doesn’t draw a ton of walks (16th in the league), but Wheeler has cleared this prop in five straight games. He usually pitches pretty deep into games – 10 starts with at least 6.0 innings pitched – which gives him more chances to rack up the free passes. 

Even at this price, Wheeler is a solid fade candidate tonight. 

Jordan Hicks UNDER 16.5 Outs Recorded (-125)

The last time Giants righty Jordan Hicks started, I faded him in this prop, and I’m going back to the well tonight. 

Hicks is a converted reliever, and the Giants have played things safe with him this season when it comes to his pitch count and innings pitched. 

Hicks has gone under 16.5 outs recorded in 10 of his 13 starts and each of his seven starts since the beginning of May. 

While Hicks has thrown over 90 pitches on several occasions, he’s also been pulled through five innings in games where he’s failed to reach 80 pitches. 

Until we see Hicks reach the sixth inning in a game, he’s a must fade at anything above 14.5 outs.

Liverpool aren’t quite right this season. Despite an incredible summer spending spree that soared above anything that English football has seen before, Arne Slot’s side are struggling to recapture the verve of last season.

But for Liverpool to have completed an underwhelming start to their title defence and perch at the top of the table after six games, winning the first five before suffering defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Many Redmen have struggled to find their finest form, but not all have flattered to deceive, with Federico Chiesa already looking leaps and bounds above the rarely-seen winger on the margins last year.

Chiesa's Liverpool resurgence

Liverpool hardly broke the bank after replacing Jurgen Klopp with Slot during the summer of 2024, only adding Chiesa to the ranks, and for a shrewd £12.5m fee at that.

However, Chiesa arrived having been ravaged by injury problems in recent years at Juventus, and he spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 campaign on the sidelines, either suffering from fitness issues or overlooked by Slot.

This year, however, he is looking to make up for lost time, already with two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions. So impressive has he been that there have been calls for the underperforming Mohamed Salah to be dropped, and for Chiesa to start from the right.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 25/26 (all comps)

Player

Apps

Goals (assists)

Hugo Ekitike

9

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

9

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

5

1 (0)

Cody Gakpo

9

1 (2)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

The versatile Italian will play an important role across the term, but there’s another member of Slot’s squad who has fallen deeper into the fringes of the squad and is beginning to look like last year’s version of the 27-year-old.

Slot's new version of Chiesa

While Chiesa is enjoying a resurgence on Merseyside, Wataru Endo’s role at the club continues to become more and more insubstantial, having

Described by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch as being an “unsung hero” for Liverpool, Endo was instrumental in steering Klopp toward a trophy-winning crescendo at the Anfield helm, and he achieved cult status last year for his tough-tackling cameos in the dying embers of matches.

Having joined for about £16m from Stuttgart after Liverpool missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both signing for Chelsea, the 32-year-old Endo has played a crucial role in getting this current Liverpool team off the ground, but he’s into the penultimate year of his contract and has sat as an unused substitute for each of his side’s past three top-flight fixtures.

Tenacious, industrious and a model professional, Endo remains a valued member of Slot’s squad, but it’s hard to see him earning many opportunities, with his quality on the ball admittedly limited.

Given Gravenberch came into his own last year and is now one of Liverpool’s most important players, even said by journalist Beth Lindop to be “on par with Salah and Van Dijk”, it doesn’t look like Endo will be earning a string of starts in the Premier League any time soon, with Slot sure to look for other ways to cover at number six, should the Dutchman fall to an injury.

With Stefan Bajcetic also waiting in the wings and boasting a confidence in receiving the ball, pivoting and progressing forward, there’s a sense Endo’s fringe role at Liverpool may become more peripheral still as the year goes on.

While Chiesa’s bounce-back across the opening weeks of the season serves as inspiration for any footballer looking to pick themselves up from the wayside, Endo is not a spring chicken anymore, and his big moments in Slot’s squad might trail behind him.

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O Santos busca a remontada no Brasileirão diante do Fortaleza neste domingo (13). Com técnico novo e nova esperança, o Peixe terá que quebrar um tabu incômodo que persiste desde a promoção do clube cearense para a Série A do futebol nacional.

Quando o assunto é enfrentar o Leão do Pici na Arena Castelão, o Alvinegro Praiano encontra dificuldades. Desde 2019, quando o Fortaleza voltou para a primeira divisão do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Santos não venceu uma partida sequer.

+ Já atualizou sua camisa de 2023? Confira os novos uniformes do Peixe!

No total do confronto dentro da casa do time nordestino, aconteceram quatro partidas, com duas vitórias do Fortaleza e dois empates.

Além disso, ao pegar o histórico mais longínquo do confronto, o Alvinegro não vence o Tricolor fora de casa há 39 anos. Contudo, vale ressaltar que aconteceram apenas sete duelos no período, pois a equipe da capital do Ceará ficou ausente da elite do futebol nacional durante muito tempo.

INSPIRAÇÃO PARA O PEIXE!

O rival do Santos deste domingo passou por maus bocados no primeiro turno do Brasileirão 2022. Após terminar a 19ª rodada na lanterna da competição, com apenas 15 pontos conquistados, o Leão do Pici embalou uma sequência invejável em busca da melhora na tabela.

No término da competição, o clube cearense finalizou a participação na liga nacional com 55 pontos e o 8º lugar da tabela, garantindo uma vaga na Pré-libertadores.

Fair to say, in recent seasons, a large number of players have come through Chelsea.

In fact, since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in 2022, the Blues have signed 49 senior players, costing around £1.5bn, while 64 have been sold, recouping approximately £789m; many fit into both categories!

Almost inarguably, the best signing made during this period is the £40m paid to bring Cole Palmer to the club from Manchester City, considering the England international has scored 43 goals and registered 29 assists in 98 appearances for the club.

However, of the numerous players sold since 2022, many have gone on to flourish elsewhere, with one ex-Chelsea attacker, once compared to an all-time club legend, actually performing better than Palmer in 2025.

Cole Palmer's importance to Chelsea

Talisman Palmer is sidelined at the moment, suffering a groin injury during the warm-up ahead of Chelsea’s 5-1 demolition of West Ham, not featuring since, and not expected to recover in time for Saturday night’s clash with Brentford.

This is far from ideal considering Enzo Maresca’s team travel to Bayern Munich for their Champions League opener on Wednesday, before facing Manchester United at Old Trafford three days later.

The table below emphasises Palmer’s importance last season.

As the table documents, in the Premier League last season, Palmer ranked first for pretty much every attacking metric at Chelsea last season.

Minutes

3,191

2nd

Goals

15

1st

Assists

8

1st

Shots

121

1st

Shots on target

44

1st

Big chances missed

14

2nd

Big chances created

24

1st

Key passes

87

1st

Shot-creating actions

202

1st

Progressive carries

120

3rd

Carries into final third

76

1st

Touches in final third

901

1st

Average SofaScore rating

7.63

1st

This doesn’t even consider his contributions in other competitions, most notably bagging three goals en route to Club World Cup glory, scoring a quick-fire brace during the final demolition of Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium.

However, is a former Chelsea attacker actually outperforming Palmer this calendar year?

The former Chelsea forward with more goals than Palmer

Back in 2019, Christian Pulisic joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £58m, signed in January before arriving in the summer, just as the club were hit with a transfer embargo, thereby prioritising youth under Frank Lampard.

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This worked to Pulisic’s advantage, scoring 11 goals and providing ten assists during his debut campaign in West London, with four of each coming during project restart, with many Americans joking that “lockdown Pulisic” is the greatest player of all-time.

Upon his arrival, he asserted that he wanted to replicate his idol Eden Hazard, stating “he is a guy to look up to and what I would love to become”.

Well, 18 months later, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes aptly stated, “he looks the closest thing I’ve seen to Eden Hazard”, high praise indeed from a legend of the game.

The USMNT winger’s importance dwindled during the subsequent three campaigns, however, scoring just one goal during his final campaign with the club, thereby sold to AC Milan for around £18m in the summer of 2023.

Well, this has been a shrewd bit of investment because Pulisic bagged 15 goals and 11 assists during his first season with the Rossoneri, before increasing this to 17 goals and 12 assists last season.

To commence the new campaign too, he has also scored against Bari in the Coppa Italia and Lecce in Serie A, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in Massimiliano Allegri’s new-look side.

This means, in 2025, the American has now scored 11 club goals, five more than Palmer’s tally, having played just one more match.

Also, according to Football Transfers, this form has seen Pulisic’s value skyrocket up to around £41m, more than double the £18m he was sold to Milan for.

Thus, given that Chelsea have essentially become a player trading platform under Boehly’s ownership, they may regret selling the American for such a low fee and, who knows, had he stayed in West London, he could’ve been a key contributor, working in tandem with Palmer.

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And just like that, Arsenal are set to get their Premier League campaign underway later today.

Mikel Arteta and his side will be hoping it’s fourth time lucky this season, and they can finally get their hands on the trophy that has been tantalisingly close for some time now.

​​​​

While it’s going to require a Herculean effort from the entire squad, the Gunners have put themselves in a good position with their transfer activity this summer.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres could be real game-changers for them, and with two weeks until the window slams shut, there is time for Andrea Berta and Co to get a couple more stars through the doors, such as Rodrygo.

However, with the Real Madrid ace now being linked to other teams like Tottenham Hotspur and, most recently, Manchester City, Arsenal might be wise to shift their attention to another winger they’ve been linked with this summer, a winger who has previously been compared to Thierry Henry.

Why Arsenal would want to sign Rodrygo

While they have somewhat slowed down over the last couple of weeks, likely due to the supposed growing interest from other teams, the stories linking Rodrygo with Arsenal were relatively constant earlier in the window, with many suggesting he would be able to leave Spain for a fee of around £78m.

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Now, that is undoubtedly an enormous sum of money for one player, but it’s not hard to see why the Gunners might be willing to spend so much on the Brazilian.

After all, he’s helped Real win two La Liga titles, two Champions League titles and a host of other trophies since moving to the club back in 2019.

On top of that, the 24-year-old has been a pretty reliable source of goals and assists in recent campaigns, scoring 14 of the former and providing 11 of the latter in 54 appearances last season.

Moreover, due to the other superstars in the side, the former Santos gem has been forced to play out of position for much of the last two years, making what he has achieved all the more impressive.

In short, Rodrygo is an effective winger with experience of playing at the very top of the game and winning the biggest prizes in club football.

However, as things stand, it doesn’t look like Arsenal are going to be the one to secure his services, and while that’s not ideal, they could forget all about him by going big for another winger touted for a move to N5 earlier this summer: Rafael Leao.

Why Arsenal should sign Leao

While they have not been as constant as with other targets and players of interest, there have been several stories linking Arsenal with a move for Leao this summer, with the price tending to be around the £77m mark.

Once again, that is a lot of money to spend on one player, but as is the case with Rodrygo, the AC Milan star would be worth every penny, and arguably a better signing than the Brazilian.

For example, despite playing for a team that struggled more than LOSC Lille last season, the former LOSC Lille ace still managed to score 12 goals and provide 13 assists in just 50 appearances.

In other words, the 26-year-old dynamo averaged a goal involvement every other game, compared to the Real man, who averaged one every 2.16 games.

On top of being a slightly more productive player, the Almada-born “superstar,” as dubbed by writer Theo Mwangi, is also likely to be the more entertaining winger to watch, and the data shows as much.

According to FBref, the Milan man ranks in the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons per 90, whereas the Osasco-born international ranks in the top 20%.

Finally, if you still aren’t convinced that Leao is the man for Arteta and Co, then perhaps the words of his former manager, Stefano Pioli, will help.

It was back in 2022 that the Italian made the bold statement that his star winger “reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry, who started wide then came inside.”

While it might sound like a wild thing to say, given the Frenchman’s legacy in the game, it’s easy to see where he was coming from when you watch his highlights, as the Portuguese monster frequently gets down the left-hand side before cutting in and firing home.

Ultimately, while it would be an expensive deal, Arsenal should do what they can to bring Leao to the Emirates this summer, as he could end up being an even better signing than Rodrygo.

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