Hold the back page! Hold the front page! Oh, and while you’re at it… hold all the ones in the middle as well! Why? Aston Villa have finally signed a player… that’s why!

On Friday morning, the Villans confirmed the arrival of forward Evann Guessand, joining from Nice for a reported fee of £26m plus up to £4.3m in add-ons.

Before that, Unai Emery had only been able to add Marco Bizot and Zépiqueno Redmond on free transfers to his squad; Yasin Özcan has also joined for around £5.8m, but has instantaneously been loaned out to Anderlecht.

Now though, having belatedly got their first serious signing of the summer over the line, could another be right around the corner?

Aston Villa looking to bolster their squad

If all goes to plan, Aston Villa could play as many as 65 matches next season, certainly considered amongst the favourites to feature in next May’s Europa League Final in İstanbul because, well, four-time winner Emery is their manager.

Thus, ahead of a jam-packed schedule, the Claret and Blue Army need to add depth to their ranks and Guessand certainly does that, with Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic noting that Emery appreciates the fact that he is a ‘versatile attacker’, capable of being deployed in multiple roles.

Now, could they bolster their midfield ranks with a familiar face?

Well, according to a report by Football Insider, Aston Villa are interested in re-signing Douglas Luiz from Juventus.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Brazilian only swapped the Midlands for Turin last summer, with la Vecchia Signora paying £42.3m for his signature.

Well, former Juventus player Alessio Tacchinardi believes this move was a “disaster”, given that Luiz has accumulated a miserly 877 minutes in a black and white striped shirt to date, starting just six matches across all competitions.

Thus, the Italian giants are desperate to offload the out-of-favour midfielder, with Filippo Cornacchia of Gazzetta dello Sport noting that a return to the Premier League is his most likely destination, so could he soon call Villa Park home once again?

Why Douglas Luiz's return would be transformational for Aston Villa

During his final season at Villa Park, Luiz was an absolutely pivotal figure in Emery’s team, hence why Juventus were willing to pay such a huge amount to sign him.

Emery himself stated that the Brazilian was “progressing a lot as a midfielder… adding goals”, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines praised both his ‘duel-winning capacity’ and ‘press resistance’ when on the ball in possession.

So, let’s outline his importance to Villa during the 2023/24 season, a campaign which saw the Claret and Blue Army end up fourth, their highest top division finish since 1996.

Minutes

4,185

3rd

Goals

9

4th

Assists

10

3rd

Shots

57

4th

Completed passes

2,353

2nd

Key passes

70

1st

Passes into final 3rd

190

1st

Progressive passes

228

2nd

Shot-creating actions

152

1st

Big chances created

13

3rd

Tackles

72

1st

Interceptions

28

4th

Blocks

37

4th

Ball recoveries

221

1st

Touches

3,069

2nd

Average SofaScore rating

7.27

2nd

As the table documents, Luiz was key to everything Aston Villa did across all competitions and across the entire pitch, ranked in the top four for every metric included, ranging from goals and shots to chances created and all the defensive metrics, namely tackles, ball recoveries, interceptions and more.

Luiz’s nominal replacement Amadou Onana was good if unspectacular last season, but David Michael of BBC Sport believes Villa massively missed the ‘control of midfield’ and ‘set-piece delivery’ that Luiz provided.

Thus, should he return, one would assume the “world-class” Luiz – as noted by Adam Gilks – would immediately do so as a starter, but it’s unclear whether the same can be said for Guessand.

Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Lars Sivertsen was not particularly excited about Guessand’s arrival at Villa, labelling him “fine” given that he did not boast an “incredible” goal-scoring record in Ligue 1, forecasting he’ll be little more than a “squad addition”.

Given the performances of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, with Donyell Malen, Leon Bailey and others vying for minutes in attack too, the Côte d’Ivoire international is unlikely to be thrown in for a debut from the start against Newcastle on the opening weekend.

Luiz though, assuming Villa are able to finalise his potential return quickly, would be a transformational addition to Emery’s first-choice starting lineup, so they should surely take advantage of Juventus’ desperation to cut their losses.

Unplayable with Guessand: Aston Villa keen on signing £40m “special talent”

Aston Villa are in the market for another new attacker after signing Guessand

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 7, 2025

خاض منتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم بقيادة حسام حسن تدريبه اليوم الإثنين باستاد القاهرة الدولي استعدادا لمباراة جيبوتي، المقرر لها في تصفيات كأس العالم.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع جيبوتي، في مباراة حاسمة للتأهل إلى كأس العالم بشكل رسمي، يوم الأربعاء المقبل، بدولة المغرب في الجولة التاسعة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026.

طالع.. رسميًا | قائمة منتخب مصر لمباراتي جيبوتي وغينيا بيساو.. عودة لاعب الأهلي

شارك في المران 24 لاعبا بعد اكتمال الصفوف وهم: محمد الشناوي ومصطفى شوبير ومحمد صبحي وعبد العزيز البلعوطي ومحمد هاني ومحمد حمدي و أحمد عيد و رامي ربيعة و خالد صبحي و ياسر إبراهيم و عمرو الجزار و حسام عبد المجيد و أحمد نبيل كوكا و مروان عطية وحمدي فتحي ومهند لاشيـن ومحمود صابر وأحمد سيد زيزو و محمود تريزيجيه ومحمد صلاح و إبراهيم عادل ومصطفى فتحي ومصطفى محمد وأسامة فيصل.

ومن المقرر أن تغادر بعثة منتخب مصر، إلى المغرب، مساء اليوم الإثنين، لخوض مباراة جيبوتي.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، بجانب منتخبات جيبوتي وغينيا بيساو وبوركينا فاسو وسيراليون وإثيوبيا.

ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب المجموعة في تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 20 نقطة، إذ فاز في 6 مباريات وتعادل في مباراتين ولم يتلق أي خسارة.

England Lions 316 (Flintoff 108, Davies 76, Whitney 4-72) and 276 for 9 (Coles 67, Hurst 53, Elliott 3-38) drew with Cricket Australia XI 214 (Hicks 64, Brown 5-21) and 442 for 9 dec (Ward 120, Clayton 84, Hackney 70*, Radhakrishnan 58, Cook 4-47)England Lions held out for a battling draw after last pair Josh Tongue and Sam Cook defied a Cricket Australia XI attack for more than an hour in their tour game at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.Half-centuries from Matt Hurst and James Coles rebuilt the Lions innings after they had slipped to 21 for 4, before the tail held on despite Jem Ryan and Sam Elliott claiming three wickets apiece.The Lions had been set a target of 331 after Ryan Hackney’s unbeaten 70 helped the home side to declare at 441 for 9. Cook finished with 4 for 47 but his unbeaten 8 in 86 minutes of batting at the end of the day was just as valuable as he survived alongside Tongue, who finished unbeaten on 19 from 50 balls.The Lions innings had run into trouble when Elliott struck twice in as many balls, removing Hamza Shaikh and James Rew, to leave the tourists four down inside nine overs.Opener Ben McKinney counter-attacked with 47 before Hurst and Coles got to work on balancing a salvage job with keeping a still-achievable victory target within their scope.Hurst was judged leg before after moving down the wicket and looking to engineer a shot to leg off Elliott before Coles pulled Ryan to Hackney as the field had started to spread.First-innings centurion Rocky Flintoff was cast into a different role, his patient 28 from 64 balls befitting the situation, while Shoaib Bashir (24) batted for an hour before Hugo Burdon found his off stump. Last pair Tongue and Cook completed the rearguard by surviving 45 balls, as the Lions reached stumps on 276 for 9.The Lions now turn their attention to next week’s first-class match against Australia A in Sydney, which start on 30 January.

Ruben Amorim capped off Manchester United’s hard-fought victory over Chelsea with a classy gesture that has further endeared him to the Red Devils faithful. Despite torrential rain lashing down outside Old Trafford, the United boss stayed until late in the evening to sign autographs and take photos with supporters. The act of appreciation followed a much-needed 2-1 win that lifted pressure and boosted morale.

• Amorim's classy gesture towards Man Utd fans

  Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 in a rain-soaked clash that saw both sides reduced to ten men. After the game, hundreds of supporters waited outside Old Trafford in grim conditions to meet Amorim. The Portuguese coach obliged, staying until after 9 pm to greet fans, sign shirts and pose for selfies in the pouring rain.

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• AFP
  

  Building a bond to last at Old Trafford

  The victory not only provided a morale boost but also gave Amorim vital breathing room after a tough run of results. His willingness to connect with fans beyond the pitch shows a human side that has struck a chord with the United faithful. The bond between manager and supporters could prove crucial as he looks to build trust and stability in a new era at Old Trafford.

• Amorim: It's time to create a bit of momentum

  Amorim welcomed the win but stressed the importance of consistency moving forward. He said: "Now it's time to create a bit of momentum. We deserved the win, it's just one win. And we need to think about the next one. It's really important because I understand the environment around the team and the coach. 

  "It's Manchester United winning a game at home, it's just that. Three points. We cannot forget that we suffer a lot when we are not in the top, in our maximum in all aspects. We can lose against Grimsby, we can win against any team. We need to take that for the next week. Of course it's really good to win, you can feel the environment in the dressing room. But forget that feeling. I prefer the other feeling now, because it will bring us the urgency to win again. That is really important again."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Next up for Man Utd: Brentford away

  Amorim will hope the win over Chelsea can serve as a turning point for his side. United are due back in action next Saturday when they take in a trip to the Gtech Community Stadium to face Brentford.

As Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes look to move on from their rejected bid for Alexander Isak, Liverpool have now reportedly agreed personal terms with another superstar.

Following the bombshell news that Isak wants to leave Newcastle and has been training away from the club in an attempt to push through a summer exit, Liverpool’s offer seemed inevitable. As soon as they had encouragement, reports always suggested that Hughes and Edwards would pursue the Swede’s signature.

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That’s not to say the deal was ever going to be routine, however, and the Anfield chiefs found that out the hard way. After seeing an opening offer worth around £110m rejected by Newcastle, Liverpool, for now at least, have ended their pursuit of Isak.

With one month until the transfer window slams shut, it currently looks like Isak will remain a Newcastle player. But plans could change if their reported £70m bid to sign Benjamin Sesko is successful.

Of course, if those at St James’ Park welcome the calibre of player able to replace Isak, which Sesko certainly is, then their stance on selling their star man may loosen slightly – allowing Liverpool to come in with their next offer.

Imagine him & Gakpo: £120k-p/w "wizard" is now "pushing to join" Liverpool

Liverpool are ready to replace Luis Diaz in the summer transfer market.

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Angus Sinclair

Aug 1, 2025

That said, given that Manchester United are also lurking in the race to sign the RB Leipzig star, there is still a long way to go before the dominoes can fall into place for Isak to become Liverpool’s biggest signing yet.

Until the saga unravels, meanwhile, the Premier League champions have been left turning towards alternative blockbuster targets and have reportedly agreed personal terms with Luis Diaz’s potential replacement.

Liverpool agree personal terms with Rodrygo

According to ESPN Brasil, as relayed by The Standard, Liverpool have now agreed personal terms with Rodrygo in what is a major step towards signing the Real Madrid winger after they sent super agent Pini Zahavi to get the deal done.

Earning £11m-a-year at Real Madrid, the Brazilian’s contract is unlikely to come cheap, but his talent would more than make up for any hefty costs involved in his arrival.

Liverpool’s highest-earners with Rodrygo	Salary per-year
Mohamed Salah	£21m
Virgil van Dijk	£18m
Rodrygo	£11m
Hugo Ekitike	£10m
Florian Wirtz	£10m

To sign a Galactico, Liverpool will need to add their third-highest earner and someone who will earn more than recent arrivals Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

For that price, however, they would be getting a player who has starred on the biggest stages and earned impressive praise from the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, who told reporters: “He is a special striker, he can play in all positions. He is fast, smart and effective one on one. The learning is over. He is a Real Madrid player for all purposes.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Estão definidos os times que vão disputar as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil: Flamengo, São Paulo, Bahia, Palmeiras, Corinthians, Athletico, América-MG e Grêmio. Os confrontos da próxima fase serão definidos por sorteio, que será realizado na próxima terça-feira, a partir das 13h, na sede da CBF, no Rio.

RelacionadasPalmeirasOLHAR DO PORCO: Por um Palmeiras quente, Abel precisa de mais cabeça friaPalmeiras01/06/2023GrêmioGrêmio sai da pressão e embala depois do Gre-NalGrêmio01/06/2023Humor EsportivoMessi no Brasil? Torcedores sonham com craque vestindo camisas de clubes brasileirosHumor Esportivo01/06/2023

Os jogos de ida das quartas de final serão disputados nos dias 5 e 6 de julho, enquanto os de volta serão na semana seguinte, nos dias 12 e 13.

Quanto vale a classificação para as quartas de final da Copa do Brasil?

Resposta: R$ 4,3 milhões. Esta é a quantia que os times classificados recebem apenas por avançarem às quartas de final. Sem contar, claro, as premiações pelas fases anteriores.

+ CONFIRA A TABELA DA COPA DO BRASIL

Premiação de cada fase da Copa do Brasil 2023:

1ª fase:R$ 1,4 milhão (grupo I), R$ 1,25 milhão (grupo II) e R$ 750 mil (grupo III)
2ª fase:R$ 1,7 milhão (grupo I), R$ 1,4 milhão (grupo II) e R$ 900 mil (grupo III)
3ª fase:R$ 2,1 milhões
Oitavas de final:R$ 3,3 milhões
Quartas de final:R$ 4,3 milhões
Semifinal:R$ 9 milhões
Vice-campeão:R$ 30 milhões
Campeão:R$ 70 milhões

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s match against Scotland was abandoned due to rain

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2025India clinched a comfortable eight-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the Super Six stage of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. With the win, India along with Australia from Group 1 and South Africa from Group 2 are assured of semi-final spots. England and Nigeria, who are placed second and third respectively, in Group 2, will be fighting for the remaining spot after Sri Lanka’s match against Scotland was abandoned due to the rain and both teams shared the points.For India, left-arm spinner Vaishanvi Sharma starred with 3 for 15 to restrict Bangladesh to just 64 for 8. India chased down the target in 7.1 overs.Bangladesh were asked to bat first after rain delayed the clash and they were put under pressure immediately as they lost the opener Mosammat Eva to the third ball of the innings. India kept a lid on Bangladesh throughout as they were left reeling at 23 for 5 by the end of tenth over. Bangladesh’s top score came from their captain Sumaiya Akter, who made a 29-ball 21 at No.7. Vaishnavi took two of her three wickets in the 17th over while G Trisha, Shabnam Shakil and VJ Joshitha accounted for a wicket each. With this performance, Vaishanvi is now the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with nine scalps.In the chase, Trisha smashed a quickfire 40, laced with eight boundaries, before getting dismissed in the seventh over. Captain Niki Prasad and Sanika Chalke took India home with 77 balls remaining.

Warner has had an impressive season with the bat but also helped bring the side together after last summer’s problems

AAP21-Jan-2025

David Warner has led Sydney Thunder from bottom to the finals•Getty Images

David Warner has helped the Sydney Thunder to believe again according to coach Trevor Bayliss as the team’s fairytale BBL resurgence stretches into the finals.A year ago, they were preparing for a post-mortem on the equal-worst season from any BBL team in a decade. Not since the Thunder outfit of 2013-14 had a side won only one match in a BBL summer.But led by new captain Warner, they have surged to third place on the ladder this summer with a 5-3 record, easily securing a top-four spot and knockout date with Melbourne Stars on Wednesday.Related

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Bowlers take Hobart Hurricanes to their first BBL final in seven years

On the pitch, Warner scored the second-most runs of any player in the tournament, an unbeaten 88 against the ladder-leading Hobart Hurricanes the clear highlight of his first full BBL season to date.He would likely have sat atop the batting rankings if not for rain; wet weather meant the Thunder played one fewer game than the Perth Scorchers, whose star allrounder Cooper Connolly scored only five more runs. But Bayliss has noticed Warner’s impact stretch beyond the playing field.”The job he’s done as captain, it’s not just about his batting for example, it’s his personality,” he said. “He’s always up for it, he’s a positive character. Loud, obnoxious sometimes, but the boys love it.”I think it’s the confidence that he gives his team-mates, and their belief then that they’re good enough to do the job. They’re all good players, they sometimes just need that belief. Certainly I think the results have shown this year.”Public opinion of Warner has wavered dramatically over the years, from his early days as a hyper-confident ballstriker, to his role in the Newlands ball-tampering controversy, and the shift to introspection that followed. The latest iteration of Warner has made an impression on new Thunder team-mate Sam Billings.”People have this perception around him, but he’s incredible in terms of the conversations he has with individuals and the consistent drive,” Billings said. “You see why he’s one of the best players in the world, still at the age of 38. I’m learning off him every day.”As they prepared to host a similarly resurgent Stars at ENGIE Stadium, Warner felt the Thunder still had room for improvement. The team’s largest partnership, 89 between Warner and Matthew Gilkes against Perth Scorchers, was only the 10th-largest of the regular season. The side also does not have a wicket-taker in the top 10 for the tournament.”The batters haven’t all gelled together and gotten big partnerships,” Warner said. “We talk about bowling partnerships as well, one has leaked at one end and then the other has taken wickets. We still haven’t played a complete game yet, which for me is scary.”

Chelsea have now received a response after submitting a £43m offer for a defender who’s “as good as Van Dijk and Saliba”, according to a report.

Blues looking to strengthen at centre-back

Although his side were unable to pick up all three points against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Enzo Maresca will be pleased that his side managed to keep a clean sheet, with the centre-back partnership of Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah holding firm.

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The duo made a combined 17 defensive actions to keep Palace at bay, with both players also showcasing their ability in possession of the ball, averaging pass-completion rates of over 90%.

However, there may be some doubts over whether the Blues’ defence is good enough to mount a serious Premier League title challenge, with Acheampong still only 19-years-old, while Chalobah remains relatively inexperienced at the top level.

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With Levi Colwill also sidelined for the foreseeable future due to an ACL injury, it would make sense to get another centre-back through the door, and an offer has been made for a Serie A defender.

That is according to a report from Gazzetta, which states Chelsea have tabled a €50m (£43m) bid for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, which was ‘politely declined’ by the Italian.

The Blues are not the only Premier League club to have expressed an interest in Bastoni, with Newcastle United also coming forward over a potential deal, but the defender remains focused on Inter’s upcoming campaign.

That said, another approach from one of the interested English clubs isn’t ruled out, suggesting that a deal could still be possible later in the window.

Bastoni could be on Van Dijk and Saliba's level

The 26-year-old is held in very high regard by presenter and analyst Nieve Petruzziello, who claimed he was “as good as Van Dijk and Saliba” last season.

The Italy international is also extremely comfortable in possession of the ball, as showcased by his passing and dribbling ability, which has regularly been on display over the course of the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

80.63 (94th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.49 (92nd percentile)

Progressive carries

1.99 (98th percentile)

The Inter star’s passing ability, coupled with the fact he is used to playing in a back three, could make him an ideal addition to Maresca’s squad, given that the Chelsea boss often implements a three-at-the-back system.

As such, it is disappointing the Blues’ opening offer was rejected, but a move later in the window has not been ruled out, and it could be worth submitting an improved bid for the centre-back.

Former MLS forward and current CBS Sports analyst Mike Grella praised Christian Pulisic's impact at AC Milan, suggesting that the USMNT star’s success at one of Europe's most storied clubs represents a milestone for soccer development in the U.S. Grella said Pulisic, who scored twice Saturday for Milan, has changed perceptions of American players in Europe.

Getty Images SportStandard bearer reshaping perceptions

Grella said that Milan's Rafael Leao might have questioned Pulisic’s ability when he first arrived at the club.

"Imagine you're Leao – 100 percent this went through his head," Grella said on CBS Sports. "And I don't want to put words in his mouth but 100 percent. I know this for a fact because I was an American playing in Europe. Pulisic comes and he (Leao) goes ‘I'm the guy here, I'm the man, I’m the most talented player,' right?

“There was rumors of how much he was worth year one after he got the MVP, he was saying he's worth $100 million, right? No doubt in his head, he goes. ‘Who's this American kid coming here? Thinking that he can play at AC Milan with me.' Right? One hundred percent, there was that thought in his mind. And now with Pulisic, year three, constantly being this steady?"

Grella said Pulisic is now setting standards for U.S. internationals.

“Scoring goals constantly, look at him," he said. "Just gets his job done, hard worker. That sends a shockwave through the entire team, especially to guys like Leao. 'Look hey pal, you have to play, you have to perform, you have to work.' Like, this is a standard now at Milan.

"And the fact that Pulisic is setting that standard for AC Milan tells you where American football is going. Hopefully in the right direction, with obviously things going on with the national team, not so great. But him leading the flag for American football… is an awesome storyline. Credit to Pulisic."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPulisic is a complete player

Grella praised Pulisic after his brace helped the Rossoneri to a 3-0 win over Udinese.

“He can do it all,” Grella gushed. “Both feet, he can score with his head if it’s not a contested header. He can beat guys on the dribble. He’s just a guy you want in the changing room. With so much change in the team, managers, players… he’s been the guy that’s been, ‘No I’m here and this is my job, and this is what I do.' He’s been the one steady at a club that’s been trying to figure things out over the last couple of seasons.”

AFPMarco Messina on Massimiliano Allegri’s influence

Analyst Marco Messina also praised Massimiliano Allegri’s influence on the team. The Italian was appointed as the Rossoneri’s new coach before the season.

“What stands out to me most is how professional they they were,” Messina said on CBS Sports Golazo. “Even at 3-0, they were going to get the fourth goal, they didn’t want to concede, you could see the anger in them. That’s a touch of Max Allegri and we’ve said before, he was exactly what they needed.

“Milan’s management have gotten things wrong in the past, and we’ve sat here and we’ve said ‘They got this wrong, they got this wrong.' In this summer, we all sat here and said, 'They got the best possible coach for this exact situation.' Yes, it’s only a few games into the season, but you can see the writing on the wall, that this Milan is headed in the right direction.”

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Getty Images SportPulisic now with three goals

With three goals in four league appearances in the Serie A, Pulisic will hope to continue his run of form.