Sri Lanka have rung in the changes, naming six uncapped players in their squad for the first Test against Bangladesh starting June 17 in Galle.There’s a distinct feeling of a changing of the guard about the 18-man squad announced on Sunday, with this being Angelo Mathews’ final Test series and Dimuth Karunaratne too no longer around following his retirement earlier this year.Of the six uncapped players, opening batter Lahiru Udara, 31, and spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, 24, are carry-overs from Sri Lanka’s last tour against Australia. Udara is primed to step in to the Karunaratne-shaped hole at the top of the order, having had sustained domestic success over several years now – though, notably, it was Oshada Fernando who got the nod in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test.Related

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Sadeera Samarawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Peries and Vishwa Fernando all missed the cut. There was also no room for Nishan Madushka, who had opened the innings – and impressed – for large parts of 2023 and 2024, but has since been overlooked following a tough tour of England last year.Dinusha, who bowls slow left-arm spin and struck an unbeaten 104 against Afghanistan A in his most recent first-class innings, meanwhile is among those who Sri Lanka will be eyeing as potential replacements for Mathews going forward. His all-round exploits might give him an edge, but the exciting pair of Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 25, and Pavan Rathnayake, 22, are arguably the more accomplished batters.Sri Lanka’s batting order, however, largely picks itself right now. Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis are guaranteed to make up six of the top seven, with Oshada and Udara vying for the other opening berth.On the spin-bowling front, there’s a mix of new and old. Akila Dananjaya returns to the Test fold and if picked could be poised to play his first Test in nearly six years. His selection has come about as a direct result of his recent form in domestic cricket, where he’s grabbed 37 wickets in his last five first class games, topping the wickets charts in the National Super League four-day Tournament.But there could be a debut for the ambidextrous Tharindu Rathnayake in the offing as well. The 29-year-old is another who has impressed domestically and with Sri Lanka A. His left-arm spin is his strong suit, but he’s flat and accurate with his right-arm off breaks as well. Along with his handiness with the bat, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sri Lanka opt for Ratnayake over Dananjaya.Isitha Wijesundara is final new face in the squad, a late inclusion in place of Lahiru Kumara who suffered an undisclosed injury in training. Asitha Fernando will lead the line, while Kasun Rajitha has earned a recall following his recent county stint with Essex. Milan Rathnayake rounds out the selections.Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Pavan Rathnayake, Prabath Jayasuriya, Tharindu Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Isitha Wijesundara

Brazilian forward Richarlison has reportedly "given the green light" to a potential move away from Tottenham, with Flamengo making the striker their top target for the January transfer window as they look to bring the national team’s No.9 back home. The Rio de Janeiro natives have been struggling with injuries this season and are keen to explore a blockbuster move this winter.

• Flamengo target Spurs striker

  Flamengo are preparing an ambitious move for Richarlison as the club searches for a proven centre-forward ahead of the new year. The Brazilian giants are currently short of attacking options, with Pedro injured and Bruno Henrique struggling for form, while recent signing Juninho has failed to convince coach Filipe Luis.

  According to Brazilian journalist Fabricio Lopes, the club’s management views Richarlison as their dream signing. He said: "The player Flamengo really wants is Richarlison, formerly of Fluminense. The figures are still negotiable, but they’re far above what other clubs are willing to pay."

  The 28-year-old, who has once again been in and out of the Tottenham team this season, is said to have responded positively to the idea of returning to his homeland in an effort to lock down his spot in the 2026 World Cup squad. Richarlison remains under contract with Spurs until the summer of 2027, but with the north London club undergoing a period of change in their hierarchy, there is an understanding that some players may be nearing the end of their time in Lilywhite.

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  Why do Flamengo want Richarlison?

  Flamengo’s pursuit of the man nicknamed 'Pombo' comes amid a shortage of reliable options up front as they prepare for the second leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final against Racing Club. Injuries and a sharp drop in form have left the squad thin in attack, with the knock-on effect now effectively pushing the board into moving in the transfer market.

  The club had previously made contact with Real Madrid youngster Endrick, but the teenager is keen to stay in Europe and secure a loan move to help his development. With that door shut, Flamengo have turned their attention to more experienced names, and Richarlison has quickly emerged as Plan A.

  Richarlison began his professional career with America Mineiro before joining Fluminense, where his performances earned him a move to Watford in 2017. He later joined Everton and became one of the Premier League’s most energetic forwards, known for his aggressive work rate. His time at Tottenham has been mixed, scoring 23 goals in 104 appearances but being marred by several injuries.

  Flamengo believe the striker’s experience in Europe makes him an ideal fit to lead the line. That, coupled with his time with the Brazilian national team and ability to deliver in high-pressure matches, are qualities the club feels they have missed this season.

• January deal not straightforward

  Despite Richarlison’s reported openness to a move, buying him from Tottenham will not be straightforward. The forward joined Spurs in 2022 for a fee in the region of £50 million ($66m) and remains under a long-term deal. Any transfer would therefore require a huge investment from Flamengo, who would likely need to negotiate creative payment terms or rely on sponsorship and external investment to fund the deal. Richarlison’s current market value sits at a reported €25m (£21.3m). That figure alone would make him one of the most expensive signings in Brazilian football history if Flamengo were to match it.

  Reports suggest Flamengo are prepared to test Tottenham’s resolve once the January window opens, although a permanent deal remains a long shot unless Spurs agree to a structured arrangement or loan option. Richarlison has featured nine times for Tottenham in the current Premier League campaign, scoring three goals. While he has shown glimpses of his ability, he has yet to secure a consistent starting spot under manager Thomas Frank, who has spoken highly of the forward this season, but is seemingly losing faith in him.

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  Popular figure in Brazil

  Unlike other European-based Brazilians who have declined opportunities to return home, Richarlison is reportedly open to the idea of rejoining the domestic scene. The 28-year-old remains a popular figure in Brazil, admired for his commitment on the international stage and his connection with supporters. Since leaving Everton, he has kept an emotional attachment to the club. He is a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and would be welcomed home by thousands if he were to make that decision.

Things weren’t looking so great for Chelsea just a couple of weeks ago.

Enzo Maresca’s side were coming off their third loss on the bounce, and there was some frustration among the fans.

However, thanks to an incredible performance against Liverpool and a last-minute goal from Estevao, things at Stamford Bridge are starting to look up.

The Brazilian wonderkid is the man of the moment after that goal, and that, combined with some of his other exciting cameos, all point towards him being a first-team star come the end of the season.

Chelsea look like they’ve struck gold with the former Palmires gem, but had they been able to keep hold of another sensational talent who left for nothing, they’d have two Estevao-level prospects in the squad today.

The youth stars that got away for Chelsea

Cobham is a powerhouse of an academy, and one that has served Chelsea well over the years, whether by producing players for the first team or ones to be sold for big profit.

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However, as with all big clubs, the Blues have also lost several youngsters who went on to be superstars, sometimes due to poor decisions and sometimes through no fault of their own.

Two players that unfortunately fall into the former category are, of course, Declan Rice and Michael Olise.

The Englishman was famously part of the academy side that featured Mason Mount. He was released in 2013 at the age of 14, joined West Ham United, and then moved to Arsenal in 2023, where he could potentially win the league.

Olise, on the other hand, left the club in 2016 in what was reportedly a “mutual decision,” and has since gone on to star for Reading, Crystal Palace, and now Bayern Munich.

A former Cobham gem who left despite the club’s best efforts was Jamal Musiala.

The German international joined the club’s academy system from Southampton in 2011 but moved to Bayern Munich in July 2019, which netted the West Londoners just £180k.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, something similar happened again last September for a player who could end up being as good as Estevao.

The homegrown Estevao Chelsea lost

Unfortunately, the homegrown Estevao Chelsea lost for nothing is none other than Liverpool’s latest wonderkid, Rio Ngumoha.

The 17-year-old joined the Reds’ academy set-up from the West Londoners in September of last year.

Unlike with Rice and Olise, for example, the club made every effort to keep him in the capital, but it just wasn’t enough, and he made his way to the North West for nothing.

However, while the Blues have not yet received anything for the youngster, they will eventually be paid; it’s just that, at the moment, the amount has not been decided upon by a tribunal.

Whatever it ends up being, though, the club would likely prefer the youngster, as he’s already looking like a homegrown Estevao.

Liverpool U18s

10

3

Chelsea U18s

9

2

Liverpool U21s

9

2

Liverpool first team

6

1

Liverpool youth league

6

1

For example, in the game against Newcastle United, he came off the bench late on to score a last-minute winner that would have had a similar impact on the fans as the Brazilian’s did last weekend.

Moreover, the “phenomenal talent” as dubbed by his former youth coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, is looked upon as one of the game’s future stars.

According to one analyst, he is “one of the best young wingers in Europe”. At the same time, Ben Mattinson has praised him for being a “technical dribbler with an explosive burst of acceleration,” which makes him “dangerous in 1v1s” and sounds a lot like the Blues’ new young superstar.

Ultimately, it is still early in both their careers, so it’s hard to be completely sure how they will fare going forward. However, as things stand, it looks like Ngumoha could be a genuine rival to Estevao in the coming years.

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Watching on as they stuttered in the second half to a 2-2 draw against Real Betis, Stan Collymore heaped praise on one Nottingham Forest star who enjoyed an excellent game.

Antony denies Nottingham Forest late on

It looked set to be another evening to forget in the early days of Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest tenure when Cedric Bakambu thumped home an acute finish after just 15 minutes. But Forest soon rallied and Igor Jesus soon made his mark.

The Brazilian, who came into the side ahead of Chris Wood, found himself on the end of a free-flowing move that Postecoglou will hope to see become a staple of his tenure. And after levelling things up just three minutes after Bakambu’s opener, the forward was at it again. This time, he headed home on the end of Douglas Luiz’s corner as the two compatriots combined.

It then seemed as though Jesus was destined to get his hat-trick. Chance after chance came his way. The summer signing was at the centre of most things good up until the final finish.

In a game on the European stage, those chances simply must find the back of the net. Otherwise, just as Forest did, teams pay a hefty price. This time, in similar fashion to Swansea City’s recent comeback in the Carabao Cup, it was Antony who took full advantage to equalise for Betis late on.

Unmarked at the back post, the former Manchester United winger had the simple task of tapping home. Once again, Postecoglou’s new side failed to get over the line.

There are still positives to take, however. Jesus enjoyed a goalscoring European debut and one other star man enjoyed yet another excellent game.

Collymore praises "class" Anderson

Whilst Forest failed to hold on to secure victory, that didn’t stop Collymore from sending praise the way of Elliot Anderson. The former City Ground ace took to X to describe the England international as “class” in what was a particularly impressive first-half display.

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Collymore said: “Anderson having an A class game for Forest. Driving forward, keeps ball under pressure, allows Sangare and Luiz to hover around half way and pop the ball around, letting him make quality runs.”

It’s not the first time that the midfield star has been at the centre of praise as of late and it’s unlikely to be the last. At 22 years old, he remains one to watch even as Forest find their feet under Postecoglou.

Pep Guardiola can certainly be credited with bringing through some exciting young talent from Manchester City’s academy. The Spaniard has certainly relied a lot on academy graduates, with the Citizens’ youth sides producing some of the best up-and-coming players in world football.

Of course, it was Guardiola who gave Cole Palmer his first forays into professional football, although the England international left for Chelsea back in 2023. The best homegrown star Guardiola brought through at the Etihad Stadium is Phil Foden, who has made 327 appearances for his boyhood club.

In more recent times, Nico O’Reilly has broken into the first-team squad.

Why Pep Guardiola loves O’Reilly at Man City

There is a lot to like about 20-year-old Mancunian star Nico O’Reilly. He has shone during his short City career so far, and was even rewarded with a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, although he didn’t play a game.

So far, the youngster has made 30 appearances at first-team level for his boyhood club. He’s even chipped in with five goals and three assists in that time.

In 2025/26, O’Reilly has started the last four Premier League games.

The youngster has left a big impression on Guardiola, with the Spanish manager explaining he is “helping us a lot” in the senior side, before confirming he is “taking his opportunity” to impress for City.

It is easy to understand what the long-term City boss is talking about when he says those things. O’Reilly is like a Swiss army knife, able to operate in multiple positions.

A number 10 by trade, he’s played as a left-back more often than not for City, as well as in midfield and even as a centre-forward.

The versatility O’Reilly brings to the table is important in Guardiola’s squad. In many ways, his emergence has seen him leapfrog a similar profile of player in the pecking order.

The Man City star now on borrowed time

Guardiola himself summed it up perfectly, explaining that O’Reilly has grabbed his chance with both hands.

It is easy to consider him a nigh-on indispensable member of the group nowadays, with his England call-up cementing that.

However, O’Reilly’s role in the first team has meant that Rico Lewis’ opportunities have diminished this season. The 20-year-old full-back is also a graduate of City’s academy, and has played a lot of games since he broke into the side back in 2022/23.

In fact, the Bury-born star has reached exactly 100 games for his boyhood club, bringing up the milestone against Burnley last month.

He’s bagged five goals and assisted ten for the Citizens so far, including a strike in the FA Cup semi-final last season against Nottingham Forest.

Described as a “serious talent” by football statistician Statman Dave, Lewis can operate all over the pitch, just like O’Reilly. He has predominantly played at right-back, but has also featured on the opposite side and all across the midfield.

The ability to play as a right-back and tuck inside as a midfielder when his side has the ball has led Guardiola to describe Lewis as City’s “little Philipp Lahm.” However, since O’Reilly has broken through, he has seen his game time reduced, likely due to the similarity of the players.

When looking at a statistical comparison from last season in the Premier League, it is easy to see why Guardiola might favour O’Reilly.

The Mancunian star does outperform Lewis in several key metrics, although the latter did play more forward passes, with 11.9 compared to 11.

Chances created

0.3

0.7

Forward passes

11.9

11

Take-ons completed

0.5

1.6

Duels won

3.8

4.8

Ball recoveries

4.6

5.3

Perhaps Lewis is on borrowed time at City. He has been leapfrogged in the pecking order by a player the same age and a vastly similar profile. It will be tough for him to nail down a spot if things continue the same way.

Last summer, he was a transfer target for a number of Premier League clubs, with Nottingham Forest believed to have made a bid.

If his lack of game time continues this way, maybe he will explore a move away from his boyhood club.

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أحرز ماركوس راشفورد الهدف الثالث لبرشلونة أمام إلتشي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

ويستقبل برشلونة ضيفه إلتشي على ملعب مونتجويك، وكان قد أنهى الشوط الأول بتقدمه بهدفين لهدف واحد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | رافا مير يسجل هدف إلتشي الأول أمام برشلونة

وأحرز ماركوس راشفورد الهدف الثالث لبرشلونة في الدقيقة 60 بعد تلقيه تمريرة من فيرمين لوبيز، ليسدد بقوة في شباك إلتشي من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

ودخل هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: تشيزني، بالدي، جارسيا، أراوخو، كوندي، لوبيز، مارك كاسادو، فرينكي دي يونج، راشفورد، فيران توريس، لامين يامال.

ويغيب عن برشلونة العديد من اللاعبين في مباراة اليوم، مثل رافينها وخوان جارسيا ومارك تير شتيجن وبيدري وكريستنسن للإصابة.

He shares unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 95 with Colin Ingram after visitors were 36 for 3

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Jun-2025

Sam Northeast stretches out to drive•Getty Images

Captain Sam Northeast led stubborn late resistance with an unbeaten 72 as Glamorgan battled to stop Leicestershire registering a fifth successive victory on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship division two match at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.Northeast, who hit a record 410 not out on this ground three years ago, put together an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 95 with Colin Ingram after the visitors had been reduced to 36 for 3 in their second innings.Had a sharp chance given to second slip when Northeast was on only 20 been taken, Leicestershire might well have hoped to enforce a win with a day to spare.An impressive unbroken partnership between allrounders Logan van Beek and Ben Green had helped Leicestershire register their highest score of the season, enabling Northeast’s opposite number Peter Handscomb to declare in mid-afternoon with an imposing first-innings lead of 223.As had happened the previous day, when Green picked up two wickets in the first over of the day, the morning session saw wickets fall early. Nightwatcher Chris Wright had added only three singles to his overnight 16 when he edged a James Harris delivery to first slip, and Lewis Hill only four to his overnight 66 when he too edged to slip, Timm van der Gugten finding a little extra bounce, with Ingam the catcher in both cases.Handscomb and all-rounder Liam Trevaskis played patiently in building a partnership of 42 for the sixth wicket, but Glamorgan enjoyed a moment of good fortune when Hanscomb flicked at a legside delivery from young fast bowler Ned Leonard, got a faint but audible edge, and was comfortably held by Chris Cooke behind the stumps. When Trevaskis, having played solidly, edged a rising delivery from Leonard on to his middle stump, Glamorgan had taken four wickets for 57 runs and must have had hopes of restricting Leicestershire’s lead to not much more than a hundred.If so, Green and van Beek steadily extinguished them. The latter was particularly severe on the leg-spin of Mason Crane, stretching forward and delicately paddle-sweeping a series of deliveries to the fine leg boundary, and with the Glamorgan bowlers tiring as the ball got softer, hitting several fine lofted straight drives, one of which, off Zain ul Hassan, took him to his 50 from 70 deliveries. Green was not far behind, and the partnership was well past 100 when Handscomb called his batters in.Whether, as some Leicestershire supporters in the ground speculated, it was because Handscomb did not want two of the pillars of his bowling attack to get too tired was perhaps debatable, but van Beek’s opening burst certainly showed no signs of weariness, accounting for ul Hassan, bowled middle stump by a fast in-swinging delivery from around the wicket, and stand-in opener Crane, throwing his bat at a wider delivery and inside edging the ball on to his stumps.Kiran Carlson, yet to score, drove wildly at a Tom Scriven delivery and edged to Handscomb behind the stumps, and the odds on a three-day victory would have shortened dramatically had Trevaskis, diving to his right at second slip, been able to hold a Northeast edge off Wright in only the second over after tea.Having had that escape, however, Northeast batted with characteristic calmness, hitting eight fours in reaching his 50 off 86 deliveries. Ingram was similarly unflustered, closing on 37 not out off 92 balls, and giving the visitors real hope of saving the game.

In a move that could see them land their Salah replacement, Liverpool are now reportedly “very very” interested in a deal to sign a Champions League star and now know that a big offer would force negotiations.

Wirtz reveals Slot conversation after slow start

On the topic of big-money signings, it’s not always that they get off to a rapid start as Liverpool are now finding out in the case of Florian Wirtz. The £116m midfielder is yet to show his best form for the Reds and felt the full effect of the quality that Arne Slot has to choose from when he was benched for Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby.

Since then, he has admitted that a conversation has been held with the Liverpool boss in an attempt to find his feet at Anfield. The German told reporters: “It could be that I’m trying to pass the ball faster. I recently talked to the coach about it, and he suggested why I might not be able to get into the situations I normally get into. That is, I’m making the game fast with a dribble or a pass.

“He said it could be because we press a lot, and I run a lot. For example, the running stats. I’m always at the top there because I try to push hard and do what the coach asks.

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“I need a lot of strength and energy for that. When I have the ball, I might be lacking a little bit. That it will simply come step by step, as I play more games, get fitter, be able to do things more easily, and then, when I have the ball, be fit enough and recovered enough to push hard.”

That said, Liverpool will be well aware of the talent that they’ve got on their hands. In a new era, they’ve planned for the future and already have another impressive attacker in mind as a result.

Liverpool "very very" interested in Olise

As reported by BILD’s Christian Falk, Liverpool are “very very” interested in signing Michael Olise and FSG now know that a €100m (£87m) would be enough to force negotiations with Bayern Munich.

Given that Mohamed Salah is now 33 years old and into the first of two more years at Anfield after signing a new contract last season, Liverpool’s interest in Olise should come as no surprise.

The former Crystal Palace winger should be at the top of their list to replace Salah when the time comes, having watched on as he’s become the star of the show at Bayern – scoring four goals and assisting another four in eight games this season.

The prevailing narrative around Arsenal this season is that it is now or never for them to win the Premier League title, but is that necessarily the case?

Well, it is true that Mikel Arteta’s team have finished runners-up in each of the last three seasons.

Never before has a side in top-flight English football history come second in four successive seasons, with Arsenal themselves (99-01), Leeds (70-72), Manchester United (47-49) and Preston North End (1891-93) the only teams to manage three in a row beforehand.

To break the sequence, the Gunners won the double in 2002, but Leeds finished third and Manchester United came fourth, while Preston ended up in the relegation zone, albeit that was 132 years ago; different times.

So, while pressure is building on Arteta to deliver success, his players clearly believe glory is going to come sooner rather than later, as one after another, they continue to pen their futures at the Emirates Stadium. Safe to say, Andrea Berta is doing a rather good job in that regard.

Andrea Berta's contract masterstrokes

The reason Gooners everywhere should continue to believe in Arteta is because the players they all adore certainly still do.

Last month, William Saliba signed a new five-year contract at the club, following widespread whispers in the Spanish press that Real Madrid were in his ear.

To date, the 24-year-old has made 142 appearances for the club since his spectacular debut at Selhurst Park in August 2022, with Arteta noting that the Frenchman “has grown so much” since then, rightly adding that he “is loved by all the players” and supporters.

Meantime, Berta praised his “composure, intelligence and physical presence’, noting that he is “one of the best in the world” in his position.

Berta, who arrived in March, has been widely praised for the work he has done, not only bringing in new players but tying down existing stars, with Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, among others, having signed new long-term contracts in recent months.

Another player currently in the final two years of his contract is Bukayo Saka, signing a four-year deal in 2023.

When asked about the possibility of Saka committing to an extension ahead of the recent victory at Newcastle, Arteta exclaimed, “I would love that”, adding, “from everything that I know, he… is extremely happy and proud to be here… everyone knows how important Bukayo is for us so hopefully we can do it”.

So, as was the case with Saliba, while there will rightly be plenty of pomp and ceremony if and when Saka does sign a new contract, one under-the-radar player, who might just be as important as this pair, deserves an equal amount of recognition.

Arsenal star is now one of the best in the world

According to recent reports, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is deservedly set to be rewarded with a new contract.

The Spanish goalkeeper, who reportedly currently earns £100,000-per-week, will be handed a pay increase but not an increased length of contract, essentially a bonus, similar to what the club handed Leandro Trossard during the summer.

When Raya arrived from Brentford, initially on loan but with an obligation to buy for £27m, this move was met with plenty of scepticism, given how popular Aaron Ramsdale had become.

Nevertheless, Arteta has proved to be fully vindicated in his decision, with Raya keeping 45 clean sheets in just 105 appearances for the club, winning back-to-back Premier League Golden Gloves.

Only Pepe Reina, Joe Hart and Ederson have collected the award in three consecutive seasons, with Raya very much on course to equal that streak, enjoying four clean sheets from seven matches so far. Safe to say he’s now one of the best goalkeepers in the league.

When asked about Raya last month, Arteta labelled the goalkeeper’s performances “unbelievable”, cheekily noting that “I was hammered when I brought him”, highlighting that his clean sheet statistics are “the best in the history of the football club”.

So, let’s assess how Raya’s statistics rank among Premier League goalkeepers last season.

Raya’s PL statistics 24/25

Statistics

Raya

PL rank

Minutes

3,420

1st

Goals against

34

1st*

Goals against per 90

0.89

1st

Save %

74.2%

3rd

Clean sheets

13

1st

Clean sheet %

34.2%

2nd

Crosses stopped

53

2nd

% of crosses stopped

13.2%

2nd

High claims

51

2nd

Passes

1,232

5th

Runs out

33

3rd

*minimum 33 appearances.

Stats via FBref & SofaScore

As the numbers outline, Raya ranked among the top-flight’s best goalkeepers last season, finishing first when it came to clean sheets and goals against per 90, while also ranking in the top two for his save percentage as well as high claims.

Thus, speaking during CBS’ Champions League coverage last month, Jamie Carragher asserted that Raya is “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” alongside Alisson, which is high praise from the former Liverpool defender.

The importance of having a top-class goalkeeper cannot be overstated, as Alisson himself proved, taking Liverpool to new heights after replacing Loris Karius.

So, while Saka and Saliba may be heralded as Arsenal’s most important figures, spearheading the Gunners’ title push, Raya cannot be overlooked and is fully deserving of the improved contract that is seemingly heading his way.

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Despite only winning one of their last six fixtures, Leeds United are in a strong position in the Premier League with double the points of 18th-place Burnley.

However, unless they get back to winning ways, they will be dragged into the relegation battle. Ahead of their clash with Tottenham, Daniel Farke spoke to the media about his team’s season and preparation for the game.

The conference came with bad news for Leeds fans, with confirmation that both Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto will be unavailable. Additionally, goalkeeper Lucas Perri is back in team training, but the game against Thomas Frank’s side comes too soon for him to be available. James is the more severe of the three injuries, with the Welshman expected to be out until after the November international break.

All three players will be big losses for Farke against Spurs. However, the Leeds boss seemed positive going into the game, due to players “stepping up when needed”. Another reason Farke may be happy is that he knows the fans will soon receive news that will bolster their spirits.

Leeds set to unveil new contract

Leeds are preparing to announce a new contract for 16-year-old talent Harry Gray. Gray is highly rated by the club and is currently developing well as a forward, having represented Leeds at youth level and once at senior level with a four-minute cameo against Stoke in the Championship. Gray has also impressed at national youth level, where he has represented the England Under-17s on five occasions, scoring once.

Journalist Graham Bailey revealed the news that Gray would imminently have a contract announcement: “Leeds are very excited with Harry Gray. His new deal is done. They’ll be announcing that next week. They are very excited by that internally, obviously.”

However, despite the new contract, it may be a while before Gray is seen in the senior team, and he almost certainly won’t face his brother Archie Gray when Leeds play Tottenham on Saturday.

Gray's route to the first team

Ahead of the season, The Athletics Beren Cross predicted Gray to be Leeds’ “breakout player”. Cross stated that Gray could start putting in performances this season despite his age and emulate strikers like Harry Kane and Michael Owen.

Despite the hype and positive contract news, Leeds fans will have to wait to see Gray’s Premier League debut, as, in his pre-match press conference, Farke confirmed that the 16-year-old was suffering a minor issue with his hip.

The other concern is that Gray plays up front and Leeds brought in two new strikers this summer, making him fourth in the pecking order behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe.

The good news for Gray is that none of these players have hit the season running, so if he continues to perform well in training and stay fit, Farke may try him up front at some stage in the season.

Even if Gray’s appearances are sporadic this season, at 16 years old, he has plenty of time ahead of him to develop and earn his place in the starting 11.