Sai Kishore is now the joint-third on the bowlers’ list
ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-2025
Sai Sudharsan made 49 off 36 against RCB•Associated Press
Orange cap listLucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) Nicholas Pooran continues to be the highest run-scorer with 189 runs at an average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 219.76. He scored 44 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) following returns of 75 from 30 balls against Delhi Capitals and 70 from 26 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) .GT’s Sai Sudharsan has moved to the second position after his 49 off 36 balls against RCB. In the earlier two games, Sudharsan had scores of 74 and 63. His overall tally – 186 – is just three short of Pooran’s.The next on the orange cap list is another GT batter: Jos Buttler. Batting at No. 3 this IPL season, Buttler scored a match-winning 73 not out off 39 balls on Wednesday night to steer GT’s chase. In all, he has 166 runs at a strike rate of 172.91.1:54
Bangar: Sai Kishore has steely resolve
Purple cap listNoor Ahmad is currently the purple-cap holder in IPL 2025. Turning out for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who also have R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in their starting line-up, Noor has been by far the most successful, his left-arm wristspin bringing him 4 for 18, 3 for 36 and 2 for 28 so far. That’s nine wickets, five more wickets than Ashwin and Jadeja combined.Mitchell Starc is just one wicket behind Noor, with eight in just two games for Delhi Capitals (DC). He was expensive in his first game, against LSG, conceding 42 runs for his three wickets, but against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he had his career-best T20 returns – 5 for 35.There’s a four-way tie for third place. R Sai Kishore, who picked up 2 for 22 against RCB, took his tally to six wickets from three games. RCB’s Josh Hazlewood, LSG’s Shardul Thakur and CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed also have six wickets each.Highest batting strike rates Best bowling economy rates Most sixes Best bowling figures in a match
Michael Neser did his best to keep Queensland in the match but the home side lost a late wicket
AAP19-Feb-2025
Sam Fanning fell just missed out on a maiden first-class hundred•Getty Images
Opener Sam Fanning fell just short of a century but put Western Australia in a powerful position against Queensland on day two of their Sheffield Shield game.Fanning made 95 as WA posted 312 all out on Wednesday at The Gabba in reply to Queensland’s first innings of 147. At stumps, Queensland were 39 for 1 in their second innings, still 126 runs behind the visitors.Related
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Fanning was within reach of his maiden first-class century when he launched at an off-side drive at a Michael Neser delivery but chopped onto his stumps.The New Zealand-born left hander struck five fours and two sixes in his 229-ball knock and featured in two telling partnerships. He put on 108 with his opening partner Sam Whiteman, who was dismissed for 67 late on Tuesday. Fanning also combined with Jayden Goodwin for a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.Goodwin made 40 before missing an attempted sweep from legspinner Mitch Swepson. Goodwin’s dismissal triggered a slide of 5 for 27 as Queensland stalwart Neser ripped through the middle order.Neser finished with 4 for 34 from 21 overs. He had nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli caught at mid-off for 2 early on the second day’s play and later removed Fanning, Ashton Turner and Keaton Critchell, with fellow quick Xavier Bartlett dismissing Joel Curtis as WA lost five wickets in a 10-over span.WA allrounder Hilton Cartwright then rallied his side with a handy 48 not out, steering the visitors to a 165-run innings lead.WA then achieved a key breakthrough when Rocchiccioli snared his eighth wicket in the match. The offspinner, who claimed a career-best 7 for 52 in the first innings, removed Matt Renshaw for 10 in his first over of the innings.
With less than a week to go until the transfer window slams shut, it would be fair to say Chelsea have had another brilliant summer.
The board have more than backed Enzo Maresca with several quality additions all over the pitch.
In attack, the likes of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap should help solve the side’s finishing issues from last season, and in defence, Jorrel Hato looks like a future star.
The West Londoners aren’t done there, though, as they continue to close in on Alejandro Garnacho, although if reports are to be believed, they’re now looking to sign another youngster who’d be a big upgrade.
Chelsea target Garnacho upgrade
Chelsea have been involved with several transfer sagas this summer, from Gittens to Xavi Simons, but the one concerning Garnacho has felt like it has dragged on the longest.
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The Blues were first linked with the Manchester United ace back in the winter window, but things have really developed over the last few weeks or so.
While there remains a disagreement on the final price between the two clubs, the player has made it crystal clear that he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge, and it now feels like a matter of when, not if, he gets it.
Yet, even so, the West Londoners now appear intent on making another attacking addition to the team in someone who’d be an upgrade on Garnacho.
At least that is according to a recent report from Spanish publication Sport, which claims Chelsea are interested in Fermin Lopez.
In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Blues have already submitted a bid worth around £50m for the player.
Moreover, another report from Mundo Deportivo has now claimed that the West Londoners have given the player 48 hours to decide if he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.
While that’s a lot of money to spend on a youngster, Lopez would be worth it for Chelsea, especially as he’d be an upgrade on Garnacho.
How Lopez compares to Garnacho
So, when comparing two positionally versatile attackers, it makes sense to start with their raw output, as, at the end of the day, they’ll be judged by the number of goals and assists they chalk up.
FC Barcelona'sFerminLopezin action with Las Palmas' Stefan Bajcetic
Unfortunately for Garnacho, when we do this, it’s Lopez who comes out looking far more impressive.
For example, in his 46 appearances for Barcelona last season, totalling just 2039 minutes, the young Spaniard scored eight goals and provided ten assists.
That means he managed to average a goal involvement every 2.55 games, or every 113.27 minutes, which is undeniably impressive for someone his age.
For his efforts, the United ace scored 11 goals and provided ten assists, but did so in 58 appearances, totalling 3568 minutes.
That translates to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or more crucially, every 169.90 minutes.
The one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers.
Lopez vs Garnacho
Statistics per 90
Lopez
Garnacho
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.69
0.48
Non-Penalty G+As
0.79
0.33
Progressive Carries
2.23
5.78
Progressive Passes
5.68
2.30
Shots on Target %
36.6%
34.5%
Passing Accuracy
81.8%
78.9%
Key Passes
2.09
1.52
Passes into the Final Third
4.68
0.90
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.44
1.02
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.43
0.20
Shot-Creating Actions
4.10
3.40
Goal-Creating Actions
0.50
0.25
Tackles Won
1.08
0.74
Blocks
0.79
0.78
Successful Take-Ons
1.80
1.07
Ball Recoveries
4.75
4.43
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
When doing this, the “creative” Barça star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, emerges as the top performer in most relevant metrics.
These include actual and expected non-penalty goals, progressive carries, key passes, shot- and goal-creating actions, tackles won, and more, all per 90.
Spain'sDaniOlmo, Marc Cucurella and Fermin Lopez celebrate with the trophy after winning the final
In other words, these statistics paint a picture of a player who is a genuine goal threat, an accomplished creator, and more than willing to contribute to the defensive work.
Ultimately, while Garnacho could still be a massive success at Chelsea, it appears that Lopez is the superior player, and by some margin at that.
Better deal than Lopez: Ornstein expects £50m "diamond" will join Chelsea
As Chelsea make a move to sign Fermín López from Barcelona, will the Blues also snap up a “diamond” attacker for £50m who is an even bigger talent?
Liverpool have been told that they have “one hell of a player” on their hands in Federico Chiesa, with the Reds yet to see the Italian forward’s “true qualities”. The European Championship winner was heavily linked with a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window, but the deadline passed with no deal done and he remains part of Arne Slot’s plans at Anfield.
Limited game time in title-winning season
Former Juventus star Chiesa moved to England in a cut-price deal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. His debut season in England saw the 27-year-old winger become a Premier League title winner, but he took in just 104 minutes of top-flight action across six appearances.
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Staying put: No deal done in transfer window
Many expected Chiesa to head home after attracting interest from Serie A, but no suitable option materialised. That means that he remains on Merseyside, but no place was found for him in Liverpool’s Champions League squad for 2025-26.
Champions League snub is not an issue
Ex-Italy international Roberto Di Matteo does not consider that to be too much of an issue, with the Reds set to take in plenty of fixtures across multiple competitions this season, and believes that Chiesa can still “prove a point” if given an opportunity to showcase his talent.
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Di Matteo's take on Chiesa's situation
Di Matteo, who spent time in England with Chelsea during his playing days and was speaking in association with , told GOAL when asked if Chiesa would have benefited more from another transfer: “It’s a very good question. I’m not sure how much he knew that he was going to be out of the squad. I think that depended on [Alexander] Isak’s signing. The fact that they signed him lastminute.com cost him the position in the squad.
“He had plenty of suitors in Serie A. I think there are two or three clubs that would have loved to have signed him. Maybe he wants to stick around at Liverpool and prove a point.
“If he stays fit, he’s one hell of a player. I know him very well. He just hasn’t been able to show his true qualities. Let’s not forget that Liverpool did pretty well last season – they had a settled team, [Luis] Diaz and [Mohamed] Salah on the sides. It wasn’t easy to break into that team.
“He showed glimpses of what he can do. But there are so many games, he’s not in the Champions League squad but he might get more Premier League time. It’s just a shame that we don’t see more of him because he’s a quality player.”
It feels like a very long time ago now since Enzo Le Fee put pen to paper on a permanent stay at Sunderland.
The confirmation of the dazzling Frenchman staying put at the Stadium of Light past his standout loan spell did occur way back at the start of June, long before the Black Cats had added in the likes of Habib Diarra for a whopping £30m, on top of also boldly convincing Granit Xhaka to return to the Premier League.
Sunderland’s ninth venture into the transfer market is nearly complete as well, as Chelsea hotshot Marc Guiu set to join the building on loan very soon after passing his medical. Expect that number to soon hit double digits, too, if the ongoing Black Cats rumour mill is anything to go by.
Sunderland in the mix for £26m attacker
Every passing minute on Wearside seems to throw up another tantalising rumour.
TalkSPORT recently revealed that Sunderland had been plotting an ambitious free-agent swoop for former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, only to be met by the ex-England international keeping his options wide open, as a move further up the top-flight rankings is preferred.
Everton's DominicCalvert-Lewincelebrates scoring their first goal
Sunderland may well also face an uphill battle to land this explosive left winger off the back of new, emerging rumours coming out of Turkey.
Indeed, as per a fresh development from Turkish outlet Saba Spor – via X – Galatasaray are unwilling to let their star-man Barış Alper Yılmaz leave the Super Lig giants this summer, unless an ‘astronomical’ offer is forthcoming.
AZ Alkmaar's Ernest Poku and Seiya Maikuma in action with Galatasaray'sBarisAlperYilmaz
This will be a setback for those keeping an active eye on Yilmaz’s situation, with Atalanta, RB Leipzig, and West Ham United all named in the mix to pick up the exciting 25-year-old, alongside Sunderland, having been previously tipped to have a £26m price tag above his head.
It remains to be seen what amount would satisfy his current employers’ excessive wants, but if Sunderland were to win Yilmaz’s services down the line, he could go on to be viewed as another statement, Le-Fee style capture.
How Yilmaz can be another Le Fee level signing
After all, it was immediately apparent from minute one of Le Fee’s Sunderland adventure that the Frenchman had a higher pedigree about him.
Before heading to England to link up with his former Lorient boss in Regis Le Bris, the silky 25-year-old had amassed a bumper eight goals and 15 assists for the French side.
Unfortunately, a subsequent move to AS Roma just didn’t work out, but the Serie A outfit’s loss ended up being the Black Cats’ gigantic gain, as seen in him picking a single goal and three assists last season to steer Le Bris and Co. immediately up a division.
Yilmaz will hope he can be an instant spark, too, even as Sunderland wrestle with the difficulties of the punishing Premier League, having more than proven himself as an attacking force in his native Turkey.
He has routinely gotten the passionate Galatasaray masses out of their seats with his direct, rampaging approach in attack, with a hefty 25 goals and 20 assists next to his name from 156 appearances for the Super Lig giants.
12 of those strikes would come his way last season as his team reigned supreme again in the Turkish top-flight, with his sublime ability to carve out openings for his teammates also putting him on the same pedestal as Le Fee, as seen in him creating eight big chances in total from those 32 league encounters.
Games played
32
Goals scored
12
Assists
3
Shots*
2.4
Key passes*
1.4
Big chances missed
11
Big chances created
8
Total duels won*
6.3
Yilmaz might even find his game is elevated to that next level partnered alongside Le Fee, with the 25-year-old becoming even more of an “animal” – as he’s been dubbed by football journalist Uğur Karakullukçu – in front of goal as the French playmaker feeds him chances.
Sunderland never know when they’re beaten during this transfer window to date, with another big move in the offing if Le Bris and Co. are willing to splash the cash on another pricey buy.
Better signing than Xhaka: Sunderland make £26m "warrior" their top target
Sunderland is still interested in the prospect of landing this £26m star.
Liverpool’s backline will already have a fresh look next season, amid the arrivals of both Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong at full-back, although that might not be the end of the overhaul if reports are to be believed.
Indeed, the search for a long-term partner or successor to Virgil van Dijk continues, not least with the Merseysiders having already cashed in on 22-year-old starlet, Jarell Quansah, following his £35m switch to Bayer Leverkusen.
A key part of England’s success at the U21 European Championships this summer, the academy graduate has somewhat surprisingly been let go by Arne Slot, albeit while having been restricted to just four Premier League starts last time out.
That departure may not be too much of a blow when taking that limited involvement into consideration, although further upheaval could lie in store, with Ibrahim Konate reportedly holding out for a move to Real Madrid next summer.
Liverpool's IbrahimaKonatecelebrates after winning the Premier League
Reports have indicated that the Frenchman – who has just 12 months left on his contract – is willing to run down that deal in order to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu, with that uncertainty only heightening the need for at least one new recruit in the centre of the defence.
Latest on Liverpool's centre-back search
Speaking of contract uncertainty, reports have suggested that the Reds could be ready to make the most of Marc Guehi’s situation at Crystal Palace, with the Eagles skipper also into the last year of his deal at Selhurst Park.
There have been claims that personal terms have already been struck with the England international, although any noise has quietened down of late, with those at Anfield having also previously been in the mix for ex-Bournemouth sensation, Dean Huijsen.
With the Spaniard having since sealed a £50m switch to Madrid, Liverpool have been left seeking alternatives, with talkSPORT outlining that the Premier League champions could well be in the mix for Parma teenager, Giovanni Leoni.
As per the report, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur appear to be among ten top-flight clubs in England who have made an enquiry for the 18-year-old, with the youngster fresh off the back of an impressive first season in Serie A.
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A swift exit could well be on the cards as a result of that fine start to life in Parma, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the Inter Milan target would be willing to move to the Premier League, with his preference said to be to remain in Italy.
Why Liverpool should make a move for Leoni
At a time when Konate appears to be angling for an exit in the near future – with Quansah already departing – there might well be a desire for Slot to acquire a ready-made, proven option like Guehi to partner Van Dijk, with the 24-year-old having only recently played his part in Palace’s shock FA Cup triumph.
That said, a more long-term option like young Leoni certainly shouldn’t be overlooked, with the in-demand defender arguably “one of the most complete teenage centre-backs in Europe”, in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig.
While the former Sampdoria and Padova starlet has only enjoyed a solitary season in Serie A, that relative lack of experience should not be of too great a concern, not least considering the impact that the aforementioned Huijsen made for Bournemouth last season.
AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsen
Signed from Juventus after a six-month stint with Roma at the end of 2023/24, the Netherlands-born star had made just 14 Serie A appearances prior to joining the Cherries, with a period of adaptation likely to have been expected.
As it proved, the now 20-year-old proved to be a real standout figure in Andoni Iraola’s exciting side, having made 32 Premier League appearances in all, with pundit Jamie Redknapp highlighting the way he “makes the game look effortless”.
That gamble more than paid off for those on the south coast, with perhaps now the time for Liverpool to replicate that trick with Leoni, with journalist Graeme Bailey even noting the likeness between the Italian and Huijsen:
“One scout has told me that Leoni is probably the best young defender he saw last season – composed, elegant and defensively astute. He actually compared him to Dean Huijsen.”
Games (starts)
14 (4)
17 (14)
Goals
2
1
Assists
0
0
Key passes*
0.1
0.1
Pass accuracy*
88%
89%
Tackles & interceptions*
1.0
1.7
Dribbled past*
0.2
0.3
Total duels won*
49%
61%
Possession lost*
4.7
5.1
A right-footed, 6 foot 5 centre-back – much like Huijsen – what particularly sets Leoni apart from his peers is his quality in possession, having averaged an 89% pass accuracy rate in Serie A last term, having lost possession just 5.1 times per game on average, as per Sofascore.
For context, Huijsen averaged 84% and 9.2 for those same two metrics last season, respectively, albeit while having featured 32 times in the league, with Leoni only making 17 appearances in Italy’s top-flight.
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Like Huijsen too, the Parma ace was only dribbled past 0.3 times per game, while he didn’t make a single error leading to a goal, thus showcasing an innate composure that perhaps belies his years.
And so, while Liverpool may have missed the boat on Madrid’s new hero, the opportunity to sign the next best thing is certainly not one to turn down.
Perfect Diaz replacement: Liverpool weighing up move for £68m "superstar"
Liverpool’s Colombian forward is edging closer to an Anfield exit this summer.
Opening pair combine for club-record 259-run partnership to set up huge win
ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2024
Ed Pollock flicks off his pads•Stu Forster/Getty Images
Centurions Ed Pollock and Gareth Roderick rewrote the record books in spectacular style for Worcestershire during their 183-run Metro Bank One Day Cup triumph over Middlesex at New Road.The opening pair smashed 259 off just 35.2 overs, Worcestershire’s highest first wicket List A partnership, in a total of 371 for 3 from 48 overs. Their stand surpassed by the 243 made by Brett D’Oliveira and Jack Haynes against Essex at Chelmsford three years ago.Pollock went onto amass 180 from 138 balls with five sixes and 21 fours, his second century in four days after his 120 not out against Wales in a warm-up match. It was the joint second-highest individual score for Worcestershire in List A cricket alongside Tom Moody with only Callum Ferguson (192) ahead of Pollock.Roderick was the perfect foil to Pollock during the initial phase of his innings but then accelerated to such an extent that he scored his 115 off only 104 balls and also with five sixes in addition to 10 other boundaries.A three wicket burst with the new ball by Harry Darley, one of six Worcestershire One-Day Cup debutants, pressed home his side’s advantage. Another in Jack Home then chipped in with three wickets and, Middlesex who lost half of their side for 118 despite Mark Stoneman’s powerful 75 off 37 balls, were bowled out in just 25.4 overs.Worcestershire fielded arguably the most inexperienced attack in their history after being decimated by injury and illness. Their absentees were Joe Leach, Adam Finch, Nathan Smith, Ben Gibbon, Matthew Waite, Yadvinder Singh, Josh Cobb, Kashif Ali and D’Oliveira.Six players made their One-Day Cup debuts in Home and Darley, Rehaan Edavalath and three new short-term signings from National Counties cricket in Tom Hinley (Oxfordshire), Hishaam Khan (Staffordshire) and Tommy Sturgess (Berkshire). Middlesex had five players absent due to the Hundred in Stephen Eskinazi, Max Holden, Leus du Plooy, Ryan Higgins and Tom Helm, and handed first One Day Cup starts to Nathan Fernandes and Noah Cornwell.Worcestershire were put into bat and Pollock and Roderick gave them a flying start with a century stand in 16.3 overs. Pollock was the dominant partner initially and raced to his half century off 45 balls. But Roderick gradually stepped on the accelerator in supporting the left-hander as boundaries flowed constantly and he completed a 62-ball fifty.Pollock moved into the 90s with a six backward of square off Blake Cullen and then a steer to third man off the same bowler enabled him to complete a superb hundred. Roderick swept Fernandes for another maximum – his fourth – in completing a 92-ball hundred which also contained nine fours.The stand was worth 259 in 35.2 overs when Roderick attempted a similar shot against Fernandes and was bowled. But then Rob Jones provided staunch support in adding 93 in just 10.2 overs with Pollock.. His memorable effort finally ended when he went for another big hit against Fernandes and was caught at long-on.Darley, who made his senior debut with four appearances in the Vitality Blast, struck a trio of early blows with the new ball when Middlesex launched their reply. His second legitimate delivery nipped back and bowled Sam Robson and then a similar ball hit the top of Joe Cracknell’s off stump.There was more joy for Darley when Fernandes aimed a leg-side blow and popped up a catch to captain Jake Libby at cover. Home came into the attack and struck when Jack Davies top edged a skier to fellow keeper Roderick. He then had Stoneman caught behind when driving and Martin Andersson holed out to third man and the innings quickly subsided.
Newcastle United will have to evaluate their attacking targets this summer. Eddie Howe will surely be keen to build on what was a successful 2024/25 campaign for his side, who won the Carabao Cup and secured Champions League qualification thanks to their Premier League finish.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, it seems as though their primary attacking target this summer, Bryan Mbeumo, will join Manchester United.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates after the match
Highly reputable journalist David Ornstein reported on June 2nd that the Brentford star has decided he wants to join the Red Devils this summer, picking them over the likes of Newcastle.
So, with Mbeumo off the table, the North East giants will have to turn their attention elsewhere when it comes to attacking targets.
Newcastle's Mbeumo alternative
There is no doubt that, for Newcastle, losing a player like Mbeumo, who would have slotted into their side nicely on the right wing, is a huge blow to the project. However, it seems as though they have identified the alternative.
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According to a recent report from journalist Christian Falk, the Magpies are ‘interested in signing’ Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, a player who Bayern are ‘are looking to offload’ this summer.
However, the 28-year-old France international is not just a target for the Premier League outfit, but also for La Liga giants Barcelona.
Barca are focusing on moves for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and Man United sensation Marcus Rashford, but could move for Coman if those deals do not materialise. As for the price, Sky Germany reported in March that Bayern would want upwards of £34m for the attacker.
How Coman compares to Mbeumo
It wasn’t necessarily the easiest season for Coman. He struggled with a couple of injuries and perhaps did not play as much of an important role under Vincent Kompany as he may have liked, as Bayern went on to reclaim the Bundesliga title.
Kingsley Coman for Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund.
In 41 appearances across all competitions, the France international, who was born in Paris and came through PSG’s academy, played 41 games in total. In that time, he scored seven goals and grabbed four assists.
Breaking that down further, we can look at Coman’s stats in the German top flight, which, if anything, highlight just how sparse his involvement was this term. The 28-year-old played 28 games, with his 1,280 minutes the equivalent of 14 full games. A high point of his season was surely the goal and assist he grabbed in a 3-0 win at home to Union Berlin.
Yet, despite a season of much frustration for Coman, he could certainly benefit the Magpies. He is a serial winner, having lifted 30 major titles during his career. After all, there is a reason he’s previously been labelled as “one of the best players in the world” by Oliver Kahn.
Perhaps, with that in mind, he’d make a great alternative to Mbeumo, who seems destined for Old Trafford. The Cameroon international was sensational last season, with 20 goals and eight assists in the Premier League.
However, despite the fact that he performed so well last term, and has done for the past few years now, the experience that Coman would bring to the Newcastle squad is not necessarily something that the Brentford winger could match.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
Indeed, the underlying numbers on FBref suggest that the Frenchman would be an apt alternative, too. For example, last season, Coman averaged 0.77 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to just 0.53 goal-creating actions each game for the Bees talisman.
Coman and Mbeumo key stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Coman
Mbeumo
Expected goals
0.3xG
0.32xG
Key passes
2.25
1.85
Shot-creating actions
5.68
3.8
Goal-creating actions
0.77
0.53
Progressive carries
4.65
3.43
Stats from FBref
There is no doubt that losing out on the Premier League talent is a blow for the Magpies. He is a player who could have added a direct threat on the right-hand side. However, adding Coman to the squad could certainly have a similar impact, and he can be a “menace” for opponents, as Statman Dave said.
The package of £34m Bayern are asking for does not seem too outlandish for a player still pursuing the goods on the pitch, as the stats show, and bringing with him bags of experience.
He's Gordon 2.0: Newcastle eyeing £43m "magician" after Mbeumo rejection
Newcastle are looking to make a series of signings this summer.
Birmingham City haven’t always enjoyed Championship life in recent memory, with the Blues last finishing inside the top half of the notoriously difficult division way back in 2016.
Since then, it’s always been a drab finish served up by Birmingham in the lower reaches of the EFL’s elite league, with their ongoing downward trajectory seeing a painful relegation finally occur at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Now, however, the sleeping giants seem to be back on the rise after clinching the League One title with ease, with the Tom Wagner-backed Blues ready to spend big again this summer to try and take the second tier by storm.
How Birmingham could sign their answer to Vardy
With Phil Neumann’s signature already wrapped up from Hannover 96 improving Birmingham at the back, the newly promoted side’s focus could now switch to enhancing their already potent attack.
Peterborough United sensation Kwame Poku has been linked with a move on a free transfer, which would more than boost the ambitious Championship club in this department, having registered 21 goal involvements this season.
Transfer Focus
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However, there’s one statement signing in the offing that could really take Chris Davies’ men to the next level.
Amazingly, reports at the back end of last month suggested that Davies and Co may well attempt to lure former striker Che Adams back to St. Andrew’s this summer, with the former Blues centre-forward currently enjoying life out in Italy with Serie A titans Torino.
Torino'sCheAdams
But, the allure of coming back to the Championship and being the club’s top dog could be very tempting for the goal-hungry 28-year-old.
How Adams can be Birmingham's own Vardy
If a statement reunion does get over the line, Birmingham might be about to win their very own version of Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy.
Why? Well, in the words of the Daily Mail’s Mark Wilson, ‘Adams is Scotland’s answer to Jamie Vardy’, having traded non-league football for Premier League riches, like his former Fleetwood Town counterpart.
Obviously, Adams hasn't quite reached the dizzy heights of Vardy's glory days yet, with the Foxes legend managing to lift a Premier League title across the course of his 199-goal spell at the King Power Stadium.
But, in a similar fashion to the 26-time England international, the 28-year-old Adams has never looked back since being given his first opportunities to impress in the EFL.
Indeed, the former Ilkeston youngster first settled into life as a goalscoring menace in the Championship and beyond on the books of the Blues.
Premier League
144 goals
25 goals
Championship
38 goals
49 goals
League One
0 goals
11 goals
FA Cup
7 goals
3 goals
EFL Cup
8 goals
11 goals
Sourced by Transfermarkt
The table above really reinforces how much of a clinical finisher the Scotland international has been over the years, up and down the relentless divisions, with Adams amazingly boasting more career goals in the Championship than Vardy, even if he has had struggles in the Premier League.
Therefore, bringing the Torino attacker back to Birmingham next season could work wonders for Davies’ men, especially as they aim to consolidate themselves as a second-tier outfit again.
Much like Vardy too, it seems as if Adams is gradually just getting the better the more his varied career chugs along, with the 28-year-old actually firing home ten goals for Torino this season so far, which is one more strike than Vardy’s own total leading the line for Leicester.
Moreover, the last time he was regularly performing at Birmingham’s level, the “fantastic” striker – as he has been previously lauded by ex-boss Ralph Hassenhuttl – managed to fire home a blistering tally of 15 league strikes for Southampton.
Former Birmingham striker Che Adams.
Therefore, Davies will be hopeful that Adams can just pick up from where he last left off if he does seal a return.
Birmingham would really show they mean business back in the Championship by winning Adams’ signature, with second-tier defences no doubt scared stiff by the prospect of the 28-year-old causing chaos again.
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Birmingham City would look immediately more confident in attack in the Championship if they signed this outstanding forward.
Newcastle United took another step towards challenging for a place in the top five in the Premier League by beating Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Monday night.
The Magpies moved up to fifth in the division, having still played a game fewer than Chelsea and Manchester City, as they look to secure Champions League football for next season.
Eddie Howe’s side found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening 11 minutes, scoring after just two minutes, and one of the stars of the show was winger Jacob Murphy, who was heavily involved in the early blitz.
Jacob Murphy's performance against Leicester
The English forward, who is yet to be capped by the Three Lions, brilliantly timed his run to the back post to get on the end of Tino Livramento’s cross after just two minutes, tapping the ball into a virtually empty net.
Murphy quickly added to his and Newcastle’s tally nine minutes later when he was the only one to follow up on Fabian Schar’s long drive that hit the crossbar, giving the winger all the time in the world to control the ball and slot past Mads Hermansen.
The former Norwich City sensation was unable to complete the first hat-trick of his Magpies career, unfortunately, but it was his two goals that gave his team control of the match early on, leading to a fairly comfortable evening for Howe’s men.
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Murphy, who did not create any chances for his teammates, was not the only top performer on the night. Fabian Schar was just as good as the winger and proved that he is as undroppable as Alexander Isak.
Why Schar is as undroppable as Isak
Firstly, Isak is, clearly, undroppable for Newcastle because of the quality he has provided on a consistent basis at the top end of the pitch, scoring 20 goals and providing five assists in 27 appearances in the Premier League.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their second goal
The Swedish star is the main man in the final third, making him crucial to what the Magpies want to do in attack, whilst Schar has been a consistent presence in defence, helping to provide a solid platform for the team to build from.
So far this season, the Swiss titan has started 25 of his 26 appearances in the Premier League and made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game, along with 4.2 ball recoveries per match.
Schar, who earned a player rating of 8/10 from the Shields Gazette, provided another reminder of the quality he can offer at centre-back in the win over Leicester, further proving that he is undroppable.
Minutes
90
Clearances
3
Blocks
1
Tackles + interceptions
3
Dribbled past
0x
Duels won
4/6
Pass accuracy
85%
Long ball accuracy
5/11
As you can see in the table above, the long-serving defensive colossus was dominant out of possession to cut out Leicester attacks, whilst also being reliable in possession of the ball.
It was his strong challenge and sensational effort from long range that created the second goal for Murphy, which perfectly summed up the qualities he can offer on both sides of the game.
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He could form quite the partnership with Isak…
ByTom Cunningham Mar 26, 2025
Schar was as good as Murphy, due to his strong defending to keep a clean sheet and his involvement in the second goal, and Howe must continue to select the impressive defender from now until the end of the season.