England and Barcelona star Lucy Bronze does not feel the pressure of being a role model as she believes that everyone “learns from mistakes”.
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Arsenal are making real headway in their move for a summer transfer target as they look to pre-agree a deal, even if talks are far from done, as it is believed they’ve already agreed loose contract terms.
With both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of this season, manager Mikel Arteta’s lack of depth in the attacking areas has been seriously exposed, especially when factoring Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka’s injuries as well.
Arsenal can now sign star striker for just £33m after rejected January bid
They attempted a deal in the winter.
2
By
Emilio Galantini
Feb 19, 2025
Arteta started a front three of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri in their last Premier League clash against Leicester City, but none of the aforementioned trio came to Arsenal’s rescue.
Mikel Merino came off the bench to grab an heroic brace in the final 10 minutes, handing Arsenal a vital three points and 2-0 win in dramatic fashion, but it is unclear whether the Spain midfielder will be used in that capacity against West Ham.
|
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games |
Date |
|---|---|
|
West Ham (home) |
February 22nd |
|
Nottingham Forest (away) |
February 26th |
|
Man United (away) |
March 9th |
|
Chelsea (home) |
March 16th |
|
Fulham (home) |
April 1st |
Sterling, who signed from Chelsea on loan last summer, has been slammed for his sub-par performances – with critics urging the Englishman to do more as Arsenal become in dire need of a vocal point up front.
“It’s been evident since his move to Arsenal that there are a few concerns in the background,” said ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider.
“Firstly, he hasn’t been playing regularly, which always raises questions about why because Arteta thought he could get the best out of him.
“But when he has played, he’s been well below the level expected and required of him in that team. It may well be that he’s gone over the top fitness-wise and in terms of the stage of his career.
“His performance levels have been frightening really, and he needs to step up at this stage of the season because otherwise who knows where he’ll end up.”
Based off his outings this season, it appears unlikely they will pursue a permanent deal for Sterling, with Arsenal targeting new attacking options ahead of next season.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey are also out of contract at the end of 2024/2025, meaning Arsenal need to bring in a elite-level midfielder in their stead.
Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as reliably reported, is a serious target for Arteta in this regard.
Arsenal have been attempting to agree a pre-summer deal for Zubimendi since January, with the Spaniard’s contract also containing a £51 million release clause, which means the Gunners can bypass Sociedad transfer talks and head straight to the player.
According to TEAMtalk and journalist Ben Jacobs, who share another update on Arteta’s pursuit of the 26-year-old, Arsenal are in advanced talks with Zubimendi and “broad” contract terms have been “verbally” agreed.
However, while Arsenal are moving forward in negotiations, it is far from done or formal at this stage, and there is still time for fellow interested clubs to come in and hijack a move.
So, they’re approaching this move with cautious optimism, as hurdles like agents fees, taxes on the release clause, Zubimendi’s own stance and the fact a deal is not finalised yet still stand in the way.
West Brom's Cedric Kipre miraculously escaped punishment for a blatant handball on the goal line against QPR in the Championship.
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Tottenham Hotspur have endured a horrific injury crisis throughout the 2024/25 campaign, massively restricting Ange Postecoglou from success in his second season at the helm.
The Lilywhites have often been depleted in numerous key areas, resulting in their lowly Premier League standing, which has seen them drop to 12th place – 11 points off the top four with just 12 games to go.
However, multiple players have started to make their comebacks in recent weeks, helping the Aussie end the campaign strongly after their mid-season slump.
Spurs have claimed back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Ipswich Town in the last week, with the likes of Brennan Johnson and James Maddison playing key roles since their return to fitness.
However, the injury issues have allowed one player to stake his claim for a starting role, shining with regular minutes after previously being left out in the cold by Postecoglou.
Back in the summer of 2022, Spurs completed a £20m deal to sign full-back Djed Spence from Middlesbrough, with then-boss Antonio Conte confirming he was a signing made by the hierarchy.
He struggled to make an immediate impact in North London, making just six appearances before loan spells with Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa – also failing to star during his respective stints.
However, the injuries at the back presented the 24-year-old with a chance in the first team, taking his opportunity with both hands now appearing to be a key member of Ange’s backline.
The Englishman has registered two goals and two assists in all competitions throughout 2024/25, netting his first Premier League goal yesterday – fully deserved given his recent form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Despite his recent run in the side, he’s still been outperformed by one player who also struggled to settle into life in North London, before starring after his eventual departure.
Over the years, the club have made some questionable dealings in the transfer market as they try to close the gap to the top four places and secure Champions League football.
Some have impressed in the first team, with others unable to make the desired impact, with Spence in the latter category until his recent run of games under the Aussie.
Ivan Perišić was a high-profile addition back in the summer of 2022, joining the Lilywhites on a free transfer under Antonio Conte after his release from Inter Milan a couple of months prior.
The Croatian made 44 appearances during his first season at the club, notching one goal and 12 assists, often being the orchestrator with his two-footed set-piece ability.
However, he would tear his ACL in the early stages of 2023/24, registering just six appearances, before moving to Hajduk Split on a free transfer after a loan spell between January and the summer.
Fast-forward to the present day, the 36-year-old is still going strong in Europe, moving to PSV Eindhoven in September and playing a vital role in their Champions League success.
Perisic, who has previously been dubbed “sensational” by journalist Henry Winter, has registered 13 combined goals and assists, a tally Spence has been unable to match to date.
However, when comparing the underlying stats between the pair, the Croatian has trumped the Englishman in various key areas, demonstrating his talents despite his age.
Perisic has thrived in attacking areas, creating more chances and completing more crosses than Spence, highlighting the impact he possesses in the final third.
|
How Perisic compares to Spence in 2024/25 so far |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Perisic |
Spence |
|
Games played |
17 |
13 |
|
Goals & assists |
6 |
2 |
|
Chances created |
1.8 |
0.7 |
|
Successful crosses |
1.7 |
0.5 |
|
Touches in opposition box |
5.3 |
1.5 |
|
Blocks made |
0.5 |
0.3 |
|
Recoveries made |
4.6 |
4.6 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
||
During his time in North London, the former Inter star often featured at left-back, returning to his more familiar midfield role in the Netherlands, but still managing to better the current Spurs ace for blocks made per 90 in 2024/25.
There’s no denying that Spence has been phenomenal in recent months, potentially earning himself an England call-up as a result of his stellar showings under Postecoglou.
However, Perisic has done superbly well to resurrect his career after his lack of minutes in his second season in England, with his form for PSV once again showcasing his talent despite coming to the back end of his career.
Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must now bench 5/10 Spurs star
The Spurs man was outshone by the likes of Johnson
2
By
Joe Nuttall
Feb 22, 2025
Lamar Jackson has morphed into a USMNT star, with the two-time NFL MVP saying he “could’ve been some Lionel Messi type” in a different football world.
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GOAL's guide to watching the NHL Network, including our Top 3 TV services for live NHL coverage
fuboTV
fuboTV offer the NHL Network on their Elite plan, along with ESPN, NBC, CBS and ABC.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 7
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$84.99
Get fuboTV
Sling TV
The NHL Network is available as a Sports Extra add-on. ABC, NBC & FOX all also available in select markets.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$11 extra
Get Sling TV
DirecTV
The NHL Network is available through DirecTV's Ultimate and Premier along with NBC, CBS, FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$109.99
Get DirecTV
fuboTV
fuboTV offer the NHL Network on their Elite plan, along with ESPN, NBC, CBS and ABC.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 7
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$84.99
Get fuboTV
Sling TV
The NHL Network is available as a Sports Extra add-on. ABC, NBC & FOX all also available in select markets.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$11 extra
Get Sling TV
DirecTV
The NHL Network is available through DirecTV's Ultimate and Premier along with NBC, CBS, FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$109.99
Get DirecTV
fuboTV
fuboTV offer the NHL Network on their Elite plan, along with ESPN, NBC, CBS and ABC.
DVR capabilities: 250 – 1000 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 7
Free trial: 7 days
Monthly from
$84.99
Get fuboTV
Sling TV
The NHL Network is available as a Sports Extra add-on. ABC, NBC & FOX all also available in select markets.
DVR capabilities: 50 – 200 hrs
Simultaneous streams: 3
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$11 extra
Get Sling TV
DirecTV
The NHL Network is available through DirecTV's Ultimate and Premier along with NBC, CBS, FOX.
DVR capabilities: Unlimited
Simultaneous streams: 20
Free trial: No
Monthly from
$109.99
Get DirecTV
Broadcasting rights for NHL games are spread all over the shop. ABC, ESPN, TNT, and your Regional Sports networks, all have fingers in the pot. So, knowing where to find the best coverage for your money can feel like finding a needle in a haystack.
While it’s not possible to get every game in one place, the NHL Network is a great way to ensure consistent coverage of your favorite teams, big events like the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and new developments in the sport.
Whether you’re a casual hockey fan or a long-time devotee of your local team throughout the NHL season, the NHL network prides itself on providing you with the hockey content you need 24/7. Keep reading for upcoming fixtures, Network programs, and our top 4 streaming services to access the NHL Network.
| Date | Fixture | Puck Off Time (ET) | TV / Live Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Mar 23 | Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers | 01:00 PM | Sling TV / fuboTV / DirecTV |
| Sun Mar 24 | Winnipeg Jets @ Washington Capitals | 12:30 PM | Sling TV / fuboTV / DirecTV |
| Sat Mar 30 | Detroit Red Wings @ Florida Panthers | 12:30 PM | Sling TV / fuboTV / DirecTV |
Exactly what it says on the tin. It's the broadcast network for all things NHL, including live coverage of in-market games throughout the season, playbacks, match highlights, expert analysis, player interviews, NHL movies, and more.
The NHL Network is a cable and satellite TV channel, so it requires a pay TV service to be watched.
NHL Center Ice is the NHL’s package for out-of-market games and is available with many satellite/cable TV services. For $ 69.99 per season, the service brings you nearly every puck between the pipes and shows 40 live NHL games per week during the regular season. NHL Center Ice also carries NHL Network in subscription.
While NHL Center Ice now shares a lot of out-of-market NHL coverage with ESPN+, it’s still a great option if you want to watch trim, NHL-focused content. It’s $20 cheaper than ESPN+’s annual plan ($109.99) and integrates with your Pay TV service provide seamlessly.
A lot of the big sports leagues, including the NHL, spread live coverage of their games all over the shop, so NHL Center Ice is a great way to skip the faff and maximize your coverage in one place.
You can get NHL Center Ice through the DirecTV satellite service or Dish.
NHL Network is a cable and satellite TV network. Whether it’s included in the channel lineup or requires an add-on purchase, you’ll need a pay TV subscription to watch it.
We’ve brought together our top 3 live TV services to watch the NHL Network, so you can cut to the chase and get your NHL kicks that much quicker.
Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to trigger a £62m release clause for a “sensational” striker, according to a report.
Goals have not been a problem for Tottenham this season, having found the back of the net 53 times in the Premier League, the second-highest total in the division.
Dejan Kulusevski continued his good form with a goal in yesterday’s 4-1 victory against Ipswich Town, with Brennan Johnson also bagging a brace, showcasing the quality of the attacking options at Ange Postecoglou’s disposal.
Son Heung-min was also singled out for special praise, with Postecoglou lauding the Korean as “almost unplayable”, having returned to form after receiving criticism in recent weeks.
Tottenham in pole position to sign "top" Postecoglou target in £60m forward
The Australian personally wants him at N17.
By
Emilio Galantini
Feb 20, 2025
However, the manager remains keen on strengthening his frontline in the summer, with Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens becoming the latest player to be linked with a move to north London.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has also been named as a target, with Tottenham clearly keen to bolster their options in wide areas, but there are also suggestions they could be set to make a move for an out-and-out striker.
According to a report from Caught Offside, Spurs are now ready to trigger the £62m release clause in Matheus Cunha’s contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
There could be a huge transfer battle on the cards this summer, as a number of top Premier League clubs are also keen on Cunha, namely Chelsea, Aston Villa and Arsenal, while Paris Saint-Germain headline the interest from abroad.
|
Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|
Manchester City (h) |
February 26th |
|
AFC Bournemouth (h) |
March 9th |
|
Fulham (a) |
March 16th |
|
Chelsea (a) |
April 2nd |
|
Southampton (h) |
April 5th |
The £62m release clause is expected to be activated when the summer transfer window opens, with the 25-year-old likely to have a whole host of options to choose from.
Wolves took a big step towards avoiding relegation from the Premier League yesterday, defeating AFC Bournemouth 1-0 away from home, and they have their striker to thank once again, with the Brazilian bagging the only goal of the game.
That takes the Wolves star’s tally to 14 for the season in all competitions, and he has found the back of the net in each of his last three Premier League outings, so it is no wonder clubs are now starting to queue up for his signature.
Lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, the former Atletico Madrid man has proven he deserves another chance at a top club, and a fee of £62m for a top striker in the Premier League seems reasonable.
The only issue for Tottenham is the interest from elsewhere, as it may be very difficult to win the race for Cunha’s signature if he has offers on the table from clubs who have a much higher chance of playing in Europe next season, making this one to watch.
Barcelona hope that a renovated Camp Nou will play a decisive role in convincing Erling Haaland to join from Manchester City in the near future.
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Manchester United will be grateful the international break has arrived when it did, as they are going through a difficult stage under the leadership of Erik ten Hag.
Having secured a top-four finish in the Premier League last season – ensuring Champions League football in the process – along with winning the Carabao Cup, it appeared as though Ten Hag was finally the right man in charge at Old Trafford to return the Red Devils to the summit of English football.
However, it looks as though second-season syndrome has struck the Dutchman and while he hasn’t been helped with injuries to key players or missing out on some transfer targets, he still has a strong enough squad to be doing better.
United have lost four of their eight league matches thus far, while losing their opening two Champions League group games and things will need to be turned around in swift fashion if they want to play European football beyond Christmas.
Rasmus Hojlund has scored three goals in these two Champions League matches, but none in the Premier League so far, while fellow summer signings Andre Onana and Mason Mount haven’t exactly been spellbinding either.
Defensively, United have been poor, conceding 19 goals in all competitions so far this term, including two or more in six of these games.
Ten Hag hasn’t been helped by still having to rely on Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, and he should be looking to offload them as soon as possible.
Maguire saw a move to West Ham United collapse during the summer transfer window, preferring to remain and fight for his place in Manchester, while Lindelof is out of contract at the end of the current season and his seven-year spell at United could soon be over, especially if Ten Hag has his way.
The Swede has featured in all but one of United’s fixtures this term while Maguire has made only four appearances, including just two starts, yet their performances haven’t exactly been wonderful.
|
2023/24 Premier League statistics per game |
Harry Maguire |
Victor Lindelof |
|---|---|---|
|
Accurate passes |
24 |
50 |
|
Tackles |
0.3 |
0.6 |
|
Interceptions |
0.7 |
0.4 |
|
Clearances |
Zero |
One |
|
Total duels won |
Two |
1.3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
Both Lindelof and Maguire rank outside the top five across the United squad with regard to league stats for tackles, interceptions and clearances per game, and it's clear that the duo are underperforming when it comes to these key defensive metrics.
Indeed, when compared to positional peers, the Englishman fails to rank in the top 35% with regard to tackles (1.11), interceptions (1.2) and clearances (4.07) per 90, while Lindelof fails to even rank in the top 60% when compared to positional peers for the very same metrics, proving that they are not at the required standard for the current regime at United.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, Ten Hag will be hoping to add a defender or two to his senior squad, yet much of this might depend on who he could offload first.
Maguire and Lindelof are clearly the two frontrunners in terms of being sold, and it appears United are keen on a duo who are shining in Portugal – Antonio Silva and Goncalo Inacio.
According to Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness), United are extremely keen on bringing both Inacio from Sporting CP and Silva from Benfica to Manchester in the coming months with the report even claiming that the Red Devils have been ‘attentive’ to both players over the course of the previous few months.
The Dutchman couldn’t spend as much during the summer transfer window as he would’ve liked, meaning he missed out on several targets and with the Portuguese giants clearly not letting their players leave unless their release clauses are met, it could be a case of Deja Vue.
Indeed, the report states that Silva could potentially cost €120m (£104m) and while Inacio would cost slightly less at €60m (£52m), the £156m fee for both may prove to be far too much for Ten Hag to splash out in one window for just two players, especially in January.
They would be worthwhile purchases however, especially with United’s leaky defence and the duo should be top of Ten Hag’s list in terms of potential new signings.
Inacio has already gained three caps for Portugal – scoring twice in these games – while making 132 appearances for Sporting, and he has only turned 22 in August, indicating a bright future.
The defender would be an excellent fit for Ten Hag and his style of play as he currently ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (8.84) and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90 (2.01) when compared to positional peers, showing how often he likes to get forward during games.
Silva is three years younger than Inacio, yet has made over 50 appearances for Benfica while even gaining five caps for Portugal since making his debut in 2022, and he even featured at the World Cup last year, proving he is one of the finest young defenders in the country.
While he doesn’t quite have the same forward-thinking qualities that Inacio has, Silva more than makes up for this with his strength in the tackle and while compared to positional peers, he ranks in the top 7% for tackles per 90 (2.2) along with ranking in the top 1% for pass success rate per 90 (91.7%) and these are attractive qualities no doubt about it.
The talented duo could forge a strong partnership at the heart of the United defence for the foreseeable future, especially with their respective strengths.
Inacio would move the ball forward from the back often, starting attacks from the defence, while Silva would offer more in the tackle and would rarely misplace a pass, offering a comfortable presence alongside the current Sporting centre-back.
Ten Hag needs to totally revamp his defence and making moves for both Silva and Inacio, whether it's January or next summer, should be integral to how successful the former Ajax manager becomes at United.
Leeds United could be set to lose one of their senior players next year, with a fresh report revealing that club chiefs have already set their price range.
Daniel Farke sanctioned the sales of 15 players over the summer, Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts, Adam Forshaw and Joel Robles being the ones to leave on a permanent basis, whilst the remaining ten were sent out on a season-long loan to increase their game time.
The Whites will be aware that the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville attracted significant interest during the previous transfer window, so there’s a strong possibility that they could be on the move in the coming months, but they aren’t the only ones to have been linked with an exit.
Maximilian Wober joined Borussia Monchengladbach back in July until the end of the campaign, following the club’s relegation to the Championship, and it’s fair to say that he’s made a fantastic start to life on the road in the Bundesliga.
The Austrian centre-back has firmly established himself as Gerardo Seoane’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.04 (WhoScored – Borussia Monchengladbach statistics), and the 25-year-old’s form means that his loan club are keen to retain his services next year.
According to Fussball News (via The Yorkshire Evening Post), Leeds have named their price for Maximilian Wober.
“Borussia Monchengladbach reportedly know how much they will have to pay if they want to keep Leeds star Max Wober. Much will likely depend on whether the Whites can return to the top flight, but Fussball News have reported a vague asking price.
"They say Monchengladbach will have to pay a ‘low-end double digit figure’ (eight figures) to land Wober permanently amid his comfortable adaption to life with his loan club. Wober only joined Leeds in January.”
Whilst Leeds understandably wanted to get Wober off their wage bill after making the drop down to the second tier, he can be a true “leader” at the heart of a backline, according to former manager Jesse Marsch, so selling him for good may be the wrong decision.
Standing at 6 foot 2, Vienna’s native currently ranks in the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 minutes by players in his position (FBRef – Wober statistics), and he's made 19 tackles so far this season, which is more than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Borussia Monchengladbach statistics), displaying his desire to get stuck in and clear the danger for his team.
The German outfit’s left-footed ace is also capable of getting involved at the opposite end of the pitch having clocked up 32 contributions, 17 assists and 15 goals, since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – Wober statistics), so the fact that he can make an impact in both boxes is a huge bonus for Farke.
Furthermore, Wober has the versatility to operate at left-back and higher up in two midfield roles alongside his usual position at centre-back, so keeping him in the building upon his return from his loan really is a no-brainer of a decision to make should the club be able to afford having him on the books.