Category Sports News

After moving to Chelsea from Ipswich for £30 million, Liam Delap’s contract is no longer an issue.

Chelsea, the first Premier League team to sign a prominent striker this summer, defeated rivals Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton to sign Delap’s signature.

The race to add those vital extra goals continues, though, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs that missed out on Delap and those who wanted to add more firepower.

The transfer window for the summer ends on June 10 and resumes on June 16 with players having until September to build up their squads.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 48 Goals: 22 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 165.4

Hugo Ekitike, 22, scored 22 goals and added 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt to help them finish third in the Bundesliga and earn a place in the Champions League. This is his best season so far in his career.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 34 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 111.9

Only Harry Kane, England’s captain, managed 21 Bundesliga goals in 2024-25 against Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinea international has been on the radar of the best Premier League clubs because of his 13 Champions League goals (he also tops with Raphinha and Barcelona’s Raphinha).

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 52 Goals: 54 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 77.8

Viktor Gyokeres, a former Coventry City striker, has scored an incredible 54 goals in 52 games for Portuguese side Sporting this year.

Although the 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United that would bring him back to his former team, Ruben Amorim, his goalscoring record is drawing clubs from all over Europe.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 46 Goals: 17 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 194.1

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had eight goals in his first nine games for Crystal Palace, had a good year and was successful in his debut year.

He led Palace to a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley as the Eagles won their first major trophy by scoring 14 Premier League goals, which ranks him 10th overall.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 42 Goals: 20 Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 178

Mbeumo has not previously played that role for the Bees, despite having a central striker status.

Any potential suitor who prefers playing central or playing on the right would have the option of playing either position twice.

The 25-year-old Cameroon international has been linked with interest from Manchester United, as well as Newcastle and Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 37 Assists: 7 Minutes per goal: 85.8

Victor Osimhen, a striker from Nigeria, helped Napoli win their first Italian title since 1990 in 2022-23, but he missed their comeback this year because he spent a lot of time on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey.

The 26-year-old has been scoring twice in his team’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Tottenham in November, which was among his best efforts so far in 2024-25.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 49 Goals: 28. Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 112.6

Mateo Retegui, an international striker from Italy, scored 25 goals for Atalanta in 2024-25, six more than any other player, ending the campaign as the top scorer in Serie A.

The 26-year-old’s goals have helped his team advance to the competition next season after playing in the Champions League this year.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 21 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 155.2

As Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko continues to improve his status at RB Leipzig, he has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Due to his new “long-term deal” with the German side last summer, the 22-year-old is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall and won’t cost a lot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 15 Assists: 5 Minutes per goal: 171.1

Dusan Vlahovic, a Serbia international whose contract runs until June 2026, has long been a subject of interest.

The 25-year-old is 6’3″ (1.91m) and spent another excellent season with Juventus in Italy after missing out on a move to Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 54 Goals: 17 Assists: 14 Minutes per goal: 210.5

In the final few days of the winter transfer window, Arsenal made a late offer to sign England international Ollie Watkins, with Aston Villa refusing to make the rumored £40m offer.

Unai Emery’s side’s goal difference was lower than Newcastle’s, so Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season meant they were unable to earn a lucrative Champions League spot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 39 Goals: 20 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 153.9

Only five Premier League players combined in the year 2024-2019 to score 19 goals, including Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

After moving to Chelsea from Ipswich for £30 million, Liam Delap’s contract is no longer an issue.

Chelsea, the first Premier League team to sign a prominent striker this summer, defeated rivals Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton to sign Delap’s signature.

The race to add those vital extra goals continues, though, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs that missed out on Delap and those who wanted to add more firepower.

The transfer window for the summer ends on June 10 and resumes on June 16 with players having until September to build up their squads.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 48 Goals: 22 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 165.4

Hugo Ekitike, 22, scored 22 goals and added 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt to help them finish third in the Bundesliga and earn a place in the Champions League. This is his best season so far in his career.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 34 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 111.9

Only Harry Kane, England’s captain, managed 21 Bundesliga goals in 2024-25 against Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinea international has been on the radar of the best Premier League clubs because of his 13 Champions League goals (he also tops with Raphinha and Barcelona’s Raphinha).

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 52 Goals: 54 Assists: 12 Minutes per goal: 77.8

Viktor Gyokeres, a former Coventry City striker, has scored an incredible 54 goals in 52 games for Portuguese side Sporting this year.

Although the 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United that would bring him back to his former team, Ruben Amorim, his goalscoring record is drawing clubs from all over Europe.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 46 Goals: 17 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 194.1

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had eight goals in his first nine games for Crystal Palace, had a good year and was successful in his debut year.

He led Palace to a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley as the Eagles won their first major trophy by scoring 14 Premier League goals, which ranks him 10th overall.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 42 Goals: 20 Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 178

Mbeumo has not previously played that role for the Bees, despite having a central striker status.

Any potential suitor who prefers playing central or playing on the right would have the option of playing either position twice.

The 25-year-old Cameroon international has been linked with interest from Manchester United, as well as Newcastle and Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 37 Assists: 7 Minutes per goal: 85.8

Victor Osimhen, a striker from Nigeria, helped Napoli win their first Italian title since 1990 in 2022-23, but he missed their comeback this year because he spent a lot of time on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey.

The 26-year-old has been scoring twice in his team’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Tottenham in November, which was among his best efforts so far in 2024-25.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 49 Goals: 28. Assists: 9 Minutes per goal: 112.6

Mateo Retegui, an international striker from Italy, scored 25 goals for Atalanta in 2024-25, six more than any other player, ending the campaign as the top scorer in Serie A.

The 26-year-old’s goals have helped his team advance to the competition next season after playing in the Champions League this year.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 45 Goals: 21 Assists: 6 Minutes per goal: 155.2

As Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko continues to improve his status at RB Leipzig, he has long been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Due to his new “long-term deal” with the German side last summer, the 22-year-old is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall and won’t cost a lot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 41 Goals: 15 Assists: 5 Minutes per goal: 171.1

Dusan Vlahovic, a Serbia international whose contract runs until June 2026, has long been a subject of interest.

The 25-year-old is 6’3″ (1.91m) and spent another excellent season with Juventus in Italy after missing out on a move to Arsenal.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 54 Goals: 17 Assists: 14 Minutes per goal: 210.5

In the final few days of the winter transfer window, Arsenal made a late offer to sign England international Ollie Watkins, with Aston Villa refusing to make the rumored £40m offer.

Unai Emery’s side’s goal difference was lower than Newcastle’s, so Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season meant they were unable to earn a lucrative Champions League spot.

2024-25 stats (all competitions). Appearances: 39 Goals: 20 Assists: 4 Minutes per goal: 153.9

Only five Premier League players combined in the year 2024-2019 to score 19 goals, including Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Due to three potential owners focusing on closing deals to purchase team stakes in The Hundred, plans to hold a European T20 franchise tournament this summer have been put off until 2026.

Beginning next month, the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which is a part-owned by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan and features city-based franchises from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, was scheduled to begin.

Although the six-team competition was scheduled to take place on July 15 through August 3, multiple sources have informed BBC Sport that the event will undoubtedly not take place this year.

Cricket Ireland is working with the Scottish and Dutch boards to lead the project.

The ETPL’s designated locations included Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and it was intended to “elevate local talent, attract international superstars, and incite a wave of cricketing enthusiasm across Europe.”

Deals for at least three of the six city-based franchises are reportedly close to being finalized, and it was initially anticipated that the remaining three would follow soon after they were finished.

Three of those potential ETPL franchise owners, however, are reportedly prioritizing the acquisitions of stakes in The Hundred.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) extended the January 1st, 2014, deadline for the Hundred franchise sales.

The delay in those sales has a negative impact, with a formal announcement to confirm that the ETPL has been rescheduled for a later 48 hours.

When Rules Sport Tech and Bollywood actor and producer Bachchan first became part-owners of the ETPL, Bachchan was confirmed as a part-owner.

A private Indian company called Rules Sport Tech “promotes and creates high quality sports initiatives, tournaments, and events”

In March, Mumbai-born Bachchan, 49, traveled to Dublin to promote the event through a number of press conferences and Instagram posts.

The Dutch, Irish, and Scottish cricket boards have not played a single game of European T20 franchise competition before.

The Euro T20 Slam, which attracted various backers in 2019, was postponed just over a fortnight before the tournament opener.

Following the release of team names, the holding of a draft, and the franchises’ allocation of marquee players, including Eoin Morgan,

The tournament was never held, but it was repeatedly postponed over the course of several years.

Even though no franchises have yet been sold, the ETPL’s prospects are encouraging, and organizers are confident that it won’t suffer the same fate as the Euro T20 Slam.

Due to three potential owners focusing on closing deals to purchase team stakes in The Hundred, plans to hold a European T20 franchise tournament this summer have been put off until 2026.

Beginning next month, the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), which is a part-owned by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan and features city-based franchises from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, was scheduled to begin.

Although the six-team competition was scheduled to take place on July 15 through August 3, multiple sources have informed BBC Sport that the event will undoubtedly not take place this year.

Cricket Ireland is working with the Scottish and Dutch boards to lead the project.

The ETPL’s designated locations included Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and it was intended to “elevate local talent, attract international superstars, and incite a wave of cricketing enthusiasm across Europe.”

Deals for at least three of the six city-based franchises are reportedly close to being finalized, and it was initially anticipated that the remaining three would follow soon after they were finished.

Three of those potential ETPL franchise owners, however, are reportedly prioritizing the acquisitions of stakes in The Hundred.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) extended the January 1st, 2014, deadline for the Hundred franchise sales.

The delay in those sales has a negative impact, with a formal announcement to confirm that the ETPL has been rescheduled for a later 48 hours.

When Rules Sport Tech and Bollywood actor and producer Bachchan first became part-owners of the ETPL, Bachchan was confirmed as a part-owner.

A private Indian company called Rules Sport Tech “promotes and creates high quality sports initiatives, tournaments, and events”

In March, Mumbai-born Bachchan, 49, traveled to Dublin to promote the event through a number of press conferences and Instagram posts.

The Dutch, Irish, and Scottish cricket boards have not played a single game of European T20 franchise competition before.

The Euro T20 Slam, which attracted various backers in 2019, was postponed just over a fortnight before the tournament opener.

Following the release of team names, the holding of a draft, and the franchises’ allocation of marquee players, including Eoin Morgan,

The tournament was never held, but it was repeatedly postponed over the course of several years.

Even though no franchises have yet been sold, the ETPL’s prospects are encouraging, and organizers are confident that it won’t suffer the same fate as the Euro T20 Slam.