Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has addressed growing speculation linking him with the vacant Celtic job following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation. The 39-year-old has made clear that he remains fully focused on his current role, insisting that there have been “no formal conversations” with Celtic despite being widely touted as a leading contender for the position.

• Celtic shaken-up by Rodgers' resignation

  Celtic’s managerial shake-up has sent shockwaves through Scottish football after Rodgers stepped down unexpectedly earlier this week. The Northern Irishman’s departure, coming midway through the campaign, has forced the Hoops' hierarchy to accelerate their plans for a successor. Among those linked most prominently is Ipswich Town boss McKenna, whose rapid rise in English football has earned him admiration across the UK.

  McKenna’s stock has soared in recent years after steering Ipswich from League One back to the Premier League, ending a 22-year top-flight exile. Although their return season ended in relegation, the 39-year-old’s tactical acumen and long-term project management have kept his reputation intact. Celtic’s interest stems from his ability to build cohesive, attacking sides and his calm leadership under pressure, qualities the Scottish champions are eager to replicate after Rodgers’ turbulent exit.

  According to reports from Sky Sports News, McKenna is under serious consideration but remains under contract with Ipswich until 2028. The Tractor Boys are determined to keep their manager, meaning any potential approach from Celtic would require a compensation fee of around £5 million. Despite his apparent childhood affinity for Celtic, McKenna made clear this week that his only focus is on Ipswich’s season and their ongoing Championship campaign.

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  McKenna refutes links with Celtic

  Speaking at a press conference, McKenna dismissed talk of formal discussions with Celtic. The 39-year-old told reporters, “It’s not something [the Celtic vacancy] I have given any thought to, or where any part of my concentration is.” He continued, “I have a special job here at a special football club. It’s a massive club. We’re at a really important stage of the season, starting on Saturday at QPR. My focus has been 100% on the group here.”

  The Ipswich boss reinforced that message, saying: “My focus is honestly just on Ipswich. I know the size and significance of this football club. So there is no time or space to discuss any other football club.” Despite being asked about his emotional ties to Celtic, McKenna downplayed any notion of distraction, stating, “I have not had any of those [formal] conversations [with Celtic]. My focus has been here.”

  He added: “I’ll work here as if I am going to be here forever, and I have done since the day I came here. When I arrived, I always knew it was going to be a long-term project. We are still in the middle of that. [Celtic] is a really big football club. Growing up, we all have our affinities, but we are in a really busy stage of our own season.”

  When asked about rumours of a £5 million release clause, McKenna smiled: “In every manager’s contract, there are always contractual things. I don’t know what they are, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you anyway!”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Postecoglou also linked but unlikely to get Celtic return

  While McKenna remains a leading candidate, Celtic are also understood to have explored the idea of bringing back former boss Ange Postecoglou. However, according to Sky Sports News, that interest is unlikely to progress. The Australian who guided Celtic to five major trophies in two years, including a domestic treble in 2022-23, remains an adored figure in Glasgow, but his recent struggles in England have made a swift return improbable.

  Postecoglou endured a turbulent 2025, beginning with his sacking from Tottenham Hotspur despite winning the Europa League, the club’s first major European honour in decades. His subsequent appointment at Nottingham Forest proved disastrous, lasting just 39 days before he was dismissed following six defeats and two draws. This abrupt decline stands in stark contrast to his golden period at Celtic, where his attacking “Angeball” philosophy redefined Scottish football and restored dominance to Parkhead.

  With Postecoglou’s immediate return off the table, Celtic’s shortlist now includes McKenna, Craig Bellamy, and other names. The club is being led temporarily by Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, who began their caretaker spell with a 4-0 win over Falkirk. For now, the Hoops’ board is carefully evaluating their next move, with McKenna’s rising reputation making him a strong but not certain favourite.

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  Celtic still hopeul of Scottish Premiership title fight

  Celtic’s focus now shifts to appointing a new permanent manager capable of steadying the ship and maintaining their domestic supremacy. With the Scottish Premiership title race still finely poised as Hearts continue to lead, time is of the essence for the Hoops' hierarchy to finalise their decision on Rodgers' successor.

  Retaining McKenna remains a top priority for Ipswich Town as the Tractor Boys' board view him as central to their long-term strategy, having already entrusted him with a multi-year contract extension to 2028. While speculation about his future continues, McKenna’s insistence suggests that an immediate move north is unlikely.

MatériaMais Notícias

A briga na qual o vice de futebol do Flamengo, Marcos Braz, se envolveu em um shopping na tarde desta terça-feira (19), pode levar a desdobramentos na trajetória política do dirigente. Filiado ao PL-RJ, Braz ocupa uma cadeira na Câmara dos Vereadores do Rio de Janeiro.

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De acordo com a Resolução 1133/2009, há margem para qualquer cidadão enviar à Câmara uma representação pedindo a cassação de um parlamentar por quebra de decoro.

Posteriormente, são recolhidas provas para comprovar se houve uma quebra de decoro parlamentar. O tema é abordado em dois artigos da resolução. Marcos Braz recebeu 40.938 votos na eleição de 2020.

O partido ao qual Braz é filiado se manifestou em nota:

– O PL tomou conhecimento da ocorrência através da imprensa e vai se pronunciar após a apuração dos fatos.

+ Polêmicas, protestos e agressão: Marcos Braz é peça central em abalado 2023 do Flamengo, mas tem respaldo para permanência

Veja os artigos detalhados:

Art. 21. Qualquer cidadão poderá propor à Câmara Municipal representação em face de parlamentar em exercício do mandato, respeitados os requisitos dispostos no art. 11 desta Resolução.

Art. 11. São requisitos formais da representação:

I – subscrição de dois quintos dos membros da Câmara Municipal, mais o autor, exceto quando a iniciativa for do Conselho de Ética e Decoro Parlamentar ou da Mesa Diretora nos casos em que a pena prevista seja a de advertência;

II – fazer menção através de prova, a fato determinado com temporalidade atual, sendo vedada à representação apresentada que tenha como fato determinado ação pretérita do representado, exceto as praticadas durante o mandato em exercício.

Manchester United icon Dimitar Berbatov is backing summer signing Benjamin Sesko to succeed at Old Trafford, but insists the striker must find more confidence on the pitch. It has been a tough start to life in the north of England for the Slovenian, but there have been signs of the quality that commanded a £74 million ($98m) fee to sign him from RB Leipzig.

Sesko must step things up

After making nine Premier League appearances for his new club, Sesko has returned just two goals under Ruben Amorim, although he is not the only summer arrival to struggle in England. The 22-year-old's general play has been good, earning him praise from the Manchester faithful, but there are still clearly new levels to his game yet to be unlocked. Berbatov believes that it starts with being open with his team-mates about his struggles.

Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the Bulgarian said: "Know your team-mates. Speak with them. If you see that it’s not working out quick enough or soon enough as you like, speak with them. On the pitch, because he’s a big, strong lad, he can run, he can cover the space, he can hold the ball. The goals that I saw him score in his previous club were unbelievable. Left, right, shooting. So I think he has the quality. I am cautiously optimistic. I don’t want to jump up and down because [Rasmus] Hojlund was the same, right? Everybody was optimistic, but it didn’t quite work for him."

AdvertisementGettyArrogance goes a long way

Berbatov's words of wisdom did not stop there. Known for his flair and skills on the ball, the former United and Tottenham man went on to add that top players must have a certain level of arrogance in their game, if they are to stand out at Europe's top clubs.

He added: "Be confident in yourself. Be arrogant in a way that you demand the ball from your team-mates when you make the run. And when you make a good run, if the ball doesn't come for you, say it or express it in a way that your teammates will understand that, 'I am here. I’m making the run for you. Respect my run. Not every time but try to see me and believe in what I can do with that run.'

"Sometimes be angry. Scream, swear at him, whatever. [It’s] not personal. Just in a way that I’m here, man. That’s why I’m here. Just give me the ball. Pass to me. I will try to score for you. Half-time, before and after the game, speak. Sometimes I think the players need to be more aggressive and emotional, in a way like, 'Pass me the damn ball, man!'

"Be angry with your team-mates. Not always polite and best friends and buddies. Be more angry. Demand more from each other. Whoever is in the position of being the captain, be the one to demand more from yourself and from them.

"In the end, it comes down to the goals for the strikers. If they don’t score enough goals, people will be on them. If you’re someone who can stay in the box, then train on that. Be in the box. Training session after training session on the empty goal. Someone to give you the ball, just do tap-ins. Get into the habit of scoring that easy goal as well."

Avoiding Hojlund's path

Strikers have had a hard time settling in at United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Hojlund was just the latest in a long line to have not made it at the Theatre of Dreams, but there is hope that Sesko's case will be different. At just 22, the 6ft 5in forward has plenty of time ahead of him in his career, and he has already impressed some at the club, even if the goals are not flowing every week. And with the Red Devils' upturn in form under Amorim, the next few weeks will give fans more of an indication of what he has to offer in the frontline.

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Getty ImagesFight for your place

However, should Sesko fail to impress, the club will not hang around when it comes to replacing him. After exiling Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee has also faded into the background at United. Amorim has also opted to play Matheus Cunha in a false nine role instead of Sesko. But he will have another chance to prove himself soon. Next up for United is a trip to Nottingham Forest, where they will be aiming to pick up a fourth successive league win for the first time since February 2024.

He replaces Shanto and will take over the reins from the Sri Lanka series next month

Mohammad Isam12-Jun-2025Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been appointed Bangladesh’s ODI captain for the next 12 months. He will take over from the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.Mehidy’s ODI appointment means Bangladesh now have three different captains in the three formats. Mehidy took over from Najmul Hossain Shanto, who remains the Test captain, while Litton Das is the T20I captain.”It is a huge honour for me to be entrusted with this responsibility by the board,” Mehidy said. “Leading the country is a dream for any cricketer and I am grateful for the confidence the board has shown in me. I have every faith in this team. We have the talent and the belief to play fearless cricket. I want us to perform with confidence, play without inhibition, and continue giving our best for the country.”Related

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Mehidy led Bangladesh in four ODIs last year when Shanto was injured, first against Afghanistan and then in the West Indies. Bangladesh lost all four games. Mehidy also stood in as Test captain in the series against West Indies, helping Bangladesh draw the second Test in Jamaica after they lost the first Test. He has played 105 ODIs and is the fourth Bangladesh player to do the double of 1000 runs and take 100 wickets in the format.”The board felt that Miraz’s consistent performances with the bat and ball, his ability to fight and inspire the team, and his energetic presence on and off the field make him an ideal candidate to lead the ODI side during a transitional time,” BCB’s cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedeen said. “We believe he has the temperament and maturity to take Bangladesh forward in this format.”Abedeen said that Shanto, who was appointed Bangladesh captain in all three formats in February last year, would continue to be in the leadership group.”We take this opportunity to thank Shanto for the positivity and character he has demonstrated as captain,” he said. “He remains very much a part of the leadership group and we know how important his batting is to the team.”Shanto led Bangladesh to four wins in 13 ODIs since 2023. Bangladesh won the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year but lost to New Zealand and Afghanistan. Bangladesh also exited the Champions Trophy in the first round earlier this year.Mehidy’s appointment also comes with the 2027 ODI World Cup not far away. Bangladesh are currently ranked No. 10 in the format. They need to be among the top-eight teams to earn automatic qualification for the World Cup.

Success is yet to arrive, but Mikel Arteta has built a squad full to bursting with incredible talent at Arsenal.

The Spaniard has turned what was a fallen giant struggling in mid-table into a side that will surely get over the line in the Premier League sooner rather than later.

When it comes to the best player in the squad, it’s hard to look past the talismanic Bukayo Saka, and while he had a poor season last year, club captain Martin Odegaard was starting to look back to his best before his MCL injury.

There are other match winners all over the pitch, though, and Arteta even has one youngster who could be described as something of a hybrid between the Englishman and Norwegian.

What makes Saka & Odegaard so special

What is it about Saka and Odegaard that makes them so special, and two of the best players in Arsenal’s squad?

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Well, when it comes to the former, it really is multifaceted.

For example, his development at Hale End gives him a connection with the club and fans that few other players can match, and he marries that with an incredible willingness to improve and work rate.

On top of these brilliant foundations, the 24-year-old has also become a consistent scorer of goals and provider of assists over the last few years, so much so that he produced his 100th Premier League goal involvement on his 200th appearance in the competition last weekend.

Moreover, the Ealing-born monster has developed the ability to score all sorts of goals, from sensational far-post curlers to powerful drives off his weaker foot and even the odd tap-in off the back of a well-timed run.

The Emirates poster boy really is one of the most well-rounded attackers in the game and can be compared to any right-winger in Europe.

Odegaard, on the other hand, had an undeniably lacklustre campaign for the club last season, but with back-to-back Player of the Year awards in the two seasons before that, his ability cannot be denied.

The Norwegian is unlikely to ever be as prolific as Saka, but at his best, he is one of the most aesthetically pleasing midfielders to watch in world football.

He is someone who can collect the ball deep, beat an opposition player with a quick shimmy and then play the ball into space for his attackers to run onto and score.

This was what fans were seeing in his last two performances before, only for another knee injury to halt his momentum.

Overall, both Saka and Odegaard are sensational footballers, and it looks like Arsenal have someone who could develop into a hybrid of both.

Arsenal's Saka & Odegaard hybrid

While this description could fit Max Dowman in a year or so, given his age and the limited time he’s spent with the first team, it’s difficult to predict what kind of player he could become in the future.

This is less true for Ethan Nwaneri, who made his debut for the first team over three years ago and put his stamp on things last season.

When it comes to the young Englishman, it’s quite easy to see the ways in which he emulates both Saka and Odegaard.

For example, when in the team last season, he spent most of the time on the right, covering for the former, doing well in the process.

In fact, in his 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the Enfield-born monster managed to score nine goals and provide two assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

Moreover, a couple of the goals looked similar to Saka’s trademark far-post curlers.

The similarities to the club captain, on the other hand, are starting to show this season and will likely continue as the campaign progresses.

After all, while he did well on the wing, he is primarily a central player, and that is reportedly how the club view him.

On top of that, while the “phenomenal” prospect, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, hasn’t quite got the same weight of pass as the Norwegian just yet, he is improving.

Ultimately, while Nwaneri isn’t on the level of Saka or Odegaard at the moment, it’s easy to see parts of them in his game, and with time, he could well get there.

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تغادر بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي فندق الإقامة بمدينة العين، اليوم الجمعة، متجهة إلى العاصمة أبوظبي؛ استعدادًا لخوض نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري أمام الزمالك.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع الزمالك، في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، المقرر إقامته في الخامسة والنصف مساء الأحد المقبل، على استاد محمد بن زايد بالعاصمة أبوظبي.

ووفقًا للموقع الرسمي للنادي الأهلي، فإن بعثة الفريق ستغادر فندق الإقامة بمدنية العين، في تمام الساعة 12 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، الثانية بتوقيت الإمارات.

طالع | توروب: لا يوجد لاعب فوق الفريق.. وهذا ما ننتظره في النهائي أمام الزمالك

ومن المقرر أن يخوض النادي الأهلي مرانه الأول في أبو ظبي، مساء اليوم، بعد وصوله العاصمة أبو ظبي.

وكان الأهلي قد تأهل إلى المباراة النهائية بعد الفوز الذي حققه على سيراميكا كليوباترا بهدفين مقابل هدف في اللقاء الذي جمع الفريقين أمس على استاد هزاع بن زايد بمدينة العين ضمن نصف نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

بينما نادي الزمالك كان قد تخطي بيراميدز، بالفوز عليه بركلات الترجيح 5-4، بعد انتهاء المباراة في وقتها الأصلي بالتعادل السلبي بدون أهداف.

West Ham have been left with a major shortage of forwards, and could now go into the market to raid one of their Premier League rivals for a versatile striker in January.

West Ham short of strikers ahead of Brentford visit

With the slightly later slot of Monday night, the Hammers have some extra time to prepare ahead of Brentford’s visit to the London Stadium for a clash that could be pivotal during Nuno Espirito Santo’s early reign in charge.

Niclas Fullkrug is out with a torn thigh and is expected to be out for the foreseeable future, and the Portuguese boss has now hinted that youngster Callum Marshall may be set for a start as he vies with Callum Wilson for a place in the side.

Later, he expanded on Marshall and the potential striker competition, suggesting it will give West Ham’s options extra motivation to battle it out for a starting place.

Jarrod Bowen continues to be a central threat for West Ham, and the England winger could yet be used in a makeshift striker role once again after Fullkrug’s latest problem.

However, West Ham are in need of a natural striker, and have considered January loan moves.

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While that scenario has been evaluated, pace could be a defining factor behind any purchase, with the Hammers struggling to penetrate their opposition at the top end of the field.

After a return of six goals in their opening seven Premier League encounters, West Ham could now turn to one of their rivals to secure a much-needed injection of quality going forward.

West Ham could strike deal for Chelsea sensation Tyrique George

According to Keith Wyness, in conversation with Football Insider, West Ham are trying to land Chelsea forward Tyrique George and ‘sources’ suggest the 19-year-old could well move to the London Stadium in January.

The teenager, while traditionally a left-winger, can play as a centre-forward when required, as he has already done for Enzo Maresca this season on three separate occasions.

George bagged a goal and an assist in Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup after being deployed as a striker — effectively winning the clash and sparing Maresca from a major embarrassment.

Now, West Ham are believed to be in for George, and Wyness says it makes perfect sense.

Five similar players to Tyrique George (FBRef)

Bruma

Benfica

Mika Godts

Ajax

Estevao

Chelsea

Manor Solomon

Villarreal

Artur

Botafogo

Valued at around £26 million during the summer by Chelsea, George has registered four goals and six assists in 31 total appearances for the club.

Due to his limited minutes this season, West Ham may now have the perfect opportunity to offer regular exposure to senior football, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive in East London permanently or on loan.

Liverpool’s spending spree could have been even more impressive in the summer, with reports now indicating that they made an approach to sign a midfield star.

What Liverpool need in 2026

After breaking their transfer record twice in one summer to sign both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool need anything when 2026 arrives. But the reality is that they’re still short at centre-back and in the most ideal world, could do with backup for Ryan Gravenberch at the heart of their midfield.

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He’d be an excellent addition.

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Arne Slot will be hoping that his side at least end their three-game losing run when they return to action against rivals Manchester United this weekend. That would at least help to quiet the noise surrounding the Reds’ current struggles and their need for reinforcements even after a £400m spending spree.

The Dutchman will also be hoping to see the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister bring their international form to club level. The latter scored a brace against Puerto Rico for Argentina on Wednesday, whilst Wirtz has received backing from compatriot Ilkay Gundogan during his time with Germany.

It’s certainly not a replacement for Wirtz that Liverpool need in 2026. Instead, they need to strengthen at centre-back by finally signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace and they need some competition for Gravenberch.

Liverpool made contact to sign Thuram

Those at Anfield very nearly signed backup for Gravenberch in the summer. According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool launched an approach to sign Khephren Thuram from Juventus alongside a number of their Premier League rivals. Juventus reportedly rebuffed any efforts to steal the Frenchman and aim to build their midfield around the 24-year-old.

Whether that’s the end of that saga remains to be seen. History would suggest that it’s unlikely to end there. Before Slot even arrived, it was Jurgen Klopp who set his sights on Thuram, only for Juventus to swoop in and Liverpool to sign Gravenberch, Wataro Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai instead.

Of course, that trio have since become Premier League champions, but that doesn’t mean Thuram wouldn’t have plenty to offer the Reds in the middle of the park.

Described as a “powerful” ball-carrier by analyst Ben Mattinson, Liverpool shouldn’t give up on adding Thuram to their ranks just yet.

Brydon Carse will play his first home Test match against India at Headingley and will do so in an unfamiliar role. England spent more than a decade with James Anderson and Stuart Broad as their new-ball bankers but this week opening the bowling alongside Chris Woakes will be Carse, taking on a job he has not done regularly since 2019.Carse was England’s standout bowler across their winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand, showcasing his pace, bounce, ability to nip the ball in off the seam, and physical robustness to take 27 wickets at 19.85 in his first five Tests. But he only once took the new ball, and that was effectively by default, as one of two fast bowlers in the second Multan Test.England gave him the chance to open the bowling in their recent ODI series win over West Indies, when he took an early wicket in all three matches, and were sufficiently impressed to give him another opportunity this week. He may return to first change when Gus Atkinson returns to fitness, but his performance at Headingley could have long-term implications.Related

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Ben Stokes insisted on Thursday that his players are solely focused on the India series, rather than the away Ashes that follows. But with Woakes’ struggles overseas well established, Carse will have the opportunity to turn himself into a viable opening bowler for England in Australia this winter – potentially sharing the new ball with Atkinson, with Mark Wood at first change.Stokes said that England’s decision to hand Carse the new ball will also help them get the best out of Josh Tongue who, like Carse, has spent most of his first-class career as a change bowler. Tongue had a quiet match for England Lions against India A in Northampton this month, but will win his fourth cap in Leeds after missing the whole of last summer through injuries.”I know it’s a different format and different colour ball, but Brydon looked very threatening with the Kookaburra in the white-ball series leading up to this,” Stokes said. “The skills Tonguey has, I think it suits him better in the role he’s got in this team, being first change. But Brydon looks all the part of a new-ball bowler.”Carse has practised with new balls in training this week to prepare for the role, and believes versatility is one of his strengths. “I’d like to think I can be quite adaptable,” he said. “Over the winter, we saw slightly different conditions and different roles used… Being adaptable and being flexible around my role in the team is something that I know is probably going to happen.”Brydon Carse is set to play his first home Test•Getty Images

He is fully fit after a serious toe injury ruled him out of the IPL and last month’s Test against Zimbabwe, and revealed – half-joking – last month that he had considered an amputation. “It was true, what I said. I’ve had a lot of friends giving me a lot of stick asking if I still have my toe,” Carse said on Tuesday. “It was a little tricky period over the winter.”It was an even trickier period for him last summer. This time last year, Carse had just started serving a three-month ban from all cricket for gambling offences; he did not place bets on any matches that he was involved in, but placed more than 300 on other cricket matches between 2017 and 2019, which violates the ECB’s anti-corruption regulations.The ban ended up working in his favour when he made his Test debut in Pakistan: rather than arriving in Multan at the end of a long season, he was physically fresh after working hard on his fitness while suspended, and was able to endure the challenge of back-to-back Tests on pitches which offered no lateral movement for fast bowlers.He should get more assistance in Leeds this week on a surface that had a healthy grass covering on Thursday afternoon. Carse has played seven Hundred games at Headingley for Northern Superchargers and an ODI for England last year, but believes his first home Test will provide a “different feeling” to anything he has experienced before.”I’m so excited,” he said. “To be at home and to be in familiar surroundings gives me a lot of confidence. It’s a good chance to see where our side is at the moment, with a couple of younger players and slightly less experience. It’s a great opportunity to stamp down our authority throughout the series.”England’s seam-bowling resources are depleted in Leeds, but they hope to bolster them as the series wears on. Atkinson, who has a hamstring strain, has trained at Headingley this week and could be in contention for the second Test in Birmingham, while Jofra Archer is set to make his comeback to first-class cricket this week for Sussex in the County Championship.Stokes revealed on Thursday that Archer had been texting him about the prospect of making his return against Zimbabwe. “I was like, ‘Let’s just hold it there, all right,'” Stokes said. “It’s great that he’s in a position now where we’re looking to build his overs and his loads back up to hopefully be considered at some point for the series, which would be great.”

Arsenal are now battling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a Real Madrid star, with both clubs conducting scouting missions.

Gunners battling Tottenham and Newcastle for new attacker

The Gunners made major improvements to their already fearsome attack during the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish striker making an impressive start to life in north London.

Having pushed Liverpool and Manchester City close over the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s side clearly have the quality to end their long wait for a Premier League title, and the manager’s tactics are arguably the main thing holding them back.

After the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, Gary Neville criticised Arteta for his cautious approach to the game, saying: “He could have been more attacking at Anfield and he wasn’t and certainly against City from the start he could have been more attacking.”

As such, Arteta adopting a more attacking mindset may be the key to the Gunners winning the league, but there has also now been a suggestion that the manager remains keen on improving his options in forward areas.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now battling Tottenham and Newcastle for the signature of Real Madrid star Arda Guler, who has emerged as a crucial player since the arrival of Xabi Alonso as manager.

Consequently, the Spanish giants have no desire to cash in on Guler, but that hardline stance hasn’t halted the interest from elsewhere, with the Gunners sending scouts to watch the attacking midfielder in action in La Liga.

With Madrid expressing no interest in selling the 20-year-old, who is focused on his future at the club, it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, but there is certainly interest on the north Londoners’ behalf.

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By
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"Exceptional" Guler finding his form in La Liga

After a solid, if not spectacular, first season in Spain, during which the youngster picked up eight La Liga goal contributions, he has really started to find his form this season, picking up three goals and three assists in the opening seven matches.

The Turkey international is particularly adept at setting up chances for his teammates, while he is also an impressive passer of the ball, and strong at winning back possession.

Jose Mourinho has been left particularly impressed with the £87k-a-week starlet in the past, describing him as “exceptional”, and he clearly has the ability to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, having established himself as a key player for Real Madrid.

That said, it will not be too disappointing if Arsenal miss out, given that they are already blessed with options in attacking midfield, having signed Eze in the summer.