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Harry Kane has been told his dream of matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity is “pushing it”, with Alan Shearer predicting how many years he has left.

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Three Lions captain is 31 years of ageBelieves he has a lot of football left in himUnlikely to emulate greats Messi & CR7Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The 31-year-old frontman has stated his desire to follow in the illustrious footsteps of all-time greats Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by playing on towards, and potentially into, his 40s. Kane’s game has never been about blistering pace or boundless energy, so steering clear of serious injury should allow him to continue down that path.

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He has already rewritten the history books in his career to date, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer for Tottenham and England. His international tally for the Three Lions was taken to 68 when bagging a brace on the occasion of his 100th cap in a UEFA Nations League clash with Finland.

GettyWHAT SHEARER SAID

Kane is captain of his country and a talismanic presence for Bayern Munich – as he chases down elusive major silverware with both – but Shearer cannot see him staying at the top for the best part of another decade. The legendary ex-England striker has told : “I know Harry spoke about wanting to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored more goals last week at the age of 39, but seven or eight more years might be pushing it. I know Ronaldo still scores goals but whether Kane can remains to be seen. Having said that, I do see Harry playing for another three or four years and I think the key is to get runners and to get pace in and around him.

“England had that, with [Anthony] Gordon and with [Bukayo] Saka, and Kane has proven that there's no one better for England than him when it comes to creating chances and putting the ball in the back of the net. His record is phenomenal and whenever he's played, especially for England, he’s never let anyone down. He got his 100th cap and another two goals to end a fantastic night. I think he can go on for another three or four years playing at that level without a doubt.”

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Kane, who is tied to a contract at Bayern through to 2027, made his senior international debut for England back in 2015. He scored on his Three Lions bow against Lithuania and has gone on to claim World Cup and European Championship Golden Boots.

Nottingham Forest have had their fair share of stars at the City Ground in recent times, with a new generation of supporters able to witness some brilliant players on a weekly basis.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo have excelled beyond all expectations for the Reds, subsequently resulting in huge links with big-money moves away from the Reds ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, not all of the players the club have recruited have been a hit, with Harry Arter the main example, still pocketing a huge weekly wage despite not featuring for the club since 2021 under Chris Hughton.

Another player has also struggled since his move to the East Midlands during the Championship days, resulting in numerous temporary stints away from the City Ground, suffering a huge drop in his market value as a result.

Loic Mbe Soh’s stats during his time at Nottingham Forest

During the summer of 2020, Forest spent big in the hope of building on the seventh-placed finish in the season prior, but unfortunately, a number of the deals proved to be a disaster.

In particular, the deal to sign centre-back Loic Mbe Soh, which was confirmed as an undisclosed fee. The move appeared a significant one at the time after luring him away from French giants Paris Saint-Germain, the emerging talent having been named as a nominee for FIFA's Golden Boy award in 2020.

He arrived with huge potential to take the Reds’ defence to the next level, but unfortunately for both parties, the deal never worked out.

In his near four years at Forest, the Frenchman has only managed to feature a total of 13 times, scoring one goal in the 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in January 2021.

However, he’s since been sent on various loan moves to sides such as Guingamp and Almere City, with Mbe Soh struggling to prove any value for the fee paid for him by the Forest hierarchy.

With his contract set to expire at the end of June, the 22-year-old will undoubtedly depart on a free – an unsurprising decision given his rapid decline in form and value.

2020/21

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Loic Mbe Soh’s market value in 2024

Nearly four years on from his move to the Reds, the defender has seen his market value drop from £4.2m to now just £1.7m, as per Transfermarkt – a decrease of 60%, around 20% per year spent in the East Midlands.

As a result of his drop, he’s now worth less than 33-year-old centre-back Willy Boly, who has a value of £2.1m – despite his brilliant end-of-season form that has seen him be rewarded with a new one-year contract extension.

Whilst it’s a disappointment that Mbe Soh has never kicked on at Forest, it’s clear that the club’s rapid success under Steve Cooper has seen them outgrow the defender’s current ability, with an exit needed for the youngster in order for him to reach the potential shown during his time at the Parc des Princes.

However, despite the woeful dealing to sign the French talent must be an example for the club to deal with caution in the summer to avoid anymore repeats of unsuccessful business that could plunge the Reds into yet more financial problems.

Nottingham Forest must sell Cooper signing who's now worth less than Turner

He’s been dreadful for the Reds in recent weeks.

ByEthan Lamb May 18, 2024

Tom Brady's Birmingham City has announced a multi-year kit deal with sportswear giant Nike in a sign of their commercial growth.

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Brady a minority owner at BirminghamLeague One side seek investmentLand multi-year agreement with NikeWHAT HAPPENED?

The League One outfit have confirmed the Nike design team will come up with bespoke kits for the club based on the West Midlands side's 'storied history'. The American company have been confirmed as Birmingham's exclusive sportswear sponsor, with preparations for the Blues' 150th Anniversary range (for 2025) already underway.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BIRMINGHAM SAID

Birmingham City CEO, Garry Cook, told the club's website: “We are delighted to have finalised this contract and look forward to developing our relationship with one of the world’s most iconic brands. As a Club, we are constantly striving to provide our players and our supporters with the very best in class. Nike delivers this. Next year sees our 150th anniversary and I am confident that our fans will be proud of the unique commemorative designs the Nike team have created which are befitting of this landmark. The link-up with Nike reiterates our desire to forge mutually beneficial strategic alliances with world-leading brands and organisations. We are thrilled to have Nike by our side as we embark on a journey that is going to make Birmingham City one of the most exciting stories in football in the coming years.”

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US-based Shelby Companies Limited took over the club last year and former NFL star Brady bought a minority stake in the team. While they were relegated from the Championship in their first season and sacked manager Wayne Rooney in a disastrous spell, they seem to be making statements of intent with transfers and partnerships this term.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Birmingham, who sit second in League One after beating leaders Wrexham 3-1 on Monday, take on Rotherham United on Saturday before rounding off the month at home to Peterborough United a week later.

An agent with close ties to Edu Gaspar wants his £34 million client to join Arsenal over AC Milan, and it is believed the Gunners are prepared to meet his salary demands to make the move happen.

Arteta wants to make Arsenal forward signing before summer tour

Manager Mikel Arteta, as per reliable journalist Miguel Delaney, personally wants Arsenal to seal the signing of a new forward before the beginning of their summer pre-season tour.

Arsenal ready bid for £51 million Kompany target as board aim to act fast

The north Londoners are keen to beat Bayern Munich to his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 30, 2024

Arsenal were imperious going forward last season, with Arteta's men scoring more than 90 goals in the Premier League alone. Their attacking output came from all over the pitch, which is testament to their fluid, interchangeable system.

Kai Havertz also impressed in a makeshift forward role, despite a slow start to his Arsenal career, yet it is still the consensus among reliable media sources that the club will look to bring in a goalscoring, natural number nine to spearhead the team.

Bukayo Saka

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Leandro Trossard

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Kai Havertz

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Martin Odegaard

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Gabriel Martinelli

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Arsenal are set to sign an important new striker this summer, according to the likes of Fabrizio Romano, and there are believed to be many names on their radar. RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko is being targeted by Edu as an option to bolster their attack, coming after the Slovenia international's impressive 18-goal haul in all competitions last season.

Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is rumoured to be Arteta's ideal striker signing for Arsenal, but a deal for the Swede could be very hard to pull off considering his importance to Eddie Howe.

The north Londoners also have multiple other areas of the squad they'd like to reinforce this summer, so it is imperative that Edu and the Arsenal board are wise in the money they spend when the transfer window reopens on June 14.

Serie A could be a fruitful pool of talent when it comes to cost-effective targets, and reports suggest that Bologna ace Joshua Zirkzee is on their radar. Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, contrary to previous claims, have even stated this week that the Dutchman's contract includes a £34 million release clause which is valid for all clubs.

Agent wants Zirkzee to join Arsenal over AC Milan this summer

His agent, Kia Joorabchian, also has close ties to Edu and is having a real say about where Zirkzee could end up.

Corriere, via Sport Witness, suggest that Zirkzee's agent wants him to join Arsenal over AC Milan as things stand, with the north Londoners willing to pay Joorabchian's demanded agent fees of around £8.5 million-£12.7 million.

Arsenal also have "no problem" paying Zirkzee's salary either, which could hand them an advantage over the Rossoneri. The Netherlands international was a star player under Thiago Motta last term, who called him "special".

"Joshua is Joshua, he’s special," said Motta.

"I hope he continues like this and I won’t compare him to anyone. He plays well but above all he works, I will never stop saying that from the first day of training camp, he has always been the first to work and has become a leader. He must continue like this and we must help him continue like this because this is on the right path.”

BCB president is confident nearly all of the team’s postponed series will take place in due course

Mohammad Isam15-Aug-20203:21

Looking forward to Shakib adding strength to the team – Akram Khan

BCB president Nazmul Hassan is hopeful that Bangladesh will not miss out on most of their postponed international matches during the Covid-19 pandemic, except the two-match Test series against Australia at home, which was supposed to be held in June. Since the Bangladesh government announced a general holiday in March due to the outbreak, the BCB postponed the Dhaka Premier League while their tours to Pakistan and Ireland were also called off.The home Test series against New Zealand were also postponed, but a tour of Sri Lanka, which had fallen through earlier, has now been rescheduled and will take place in October.Hassan added that all the other bilateral series will be back on the calendar in due course. “We have missed a lot of cricket, like the home series against Australia and New Zealand. We have one Test remaining against Pakistan, as well as the Ireland series. Apart from the Australia series, we are going to reschedule all these matches. We cannot match the timing with them.”Hassan drew a bleaker picture for domestic cricket in Bangladesh. The 2019-20 Dhaka Premier League which was postponed after one round of matches in March, is unlikely to take place until the pandemic situation improves in the country.Apart from the Australia series, we are going to reschedule all these matches – Nazmul Hassan•Getty Images”The league can only start under either two conditions,” Hassan said. “Firstly, if the Covid situation in Bangladesh improves, or if the vaccine arrives. Otherwise, I don’t see any logic in starting the league. I don’t see any point taking a risk by trying to be brave.”My only message to (domestic cricketers) would be to look at the rest of the world where millions have lost their job and have no income. Let us pray to Allah to help us recover from this pandemic. Of course, the BCB will try to help them.”Hassan said that the situation in Bangladesh is so dire that he is proposing early departure to Sri Lanka. Initially the plan was for the players to leave for Colombo on September 23 or 24, go through the two-week quarantine and then train for the series that begins on October 24.”I have proposed that we should shift most of the training to Sri Lanka which we can assume is a safer place,” Hassan said. “Making the training camp short here, we should go there early and hold a longer camp in Sri Lanka.”The only reason we are sending the team to Sri Lanka is because it is one of the safe countries. Sri Lanka hasn’t found any new cases in the last few months.”Hassan said that holding a training camp in Dhaka would mean that the BCB has to rent isolated apartment blocks or take over entire floors of a 5-star hotel. “We will instruct the players to get tested from labs from their hometowns and then as soon as they arrive at the camp, they will be tested. Then 20 days later they will be tested again.”I have suggested that if we keep them in a 5-star hotel, couple of floors have to be completely locked down. Even the cleaners have to be in isolation. So we have to speak to hotels or even find apartments. We are still in the process of finalizing, but we are trying to ensure as much security as possible against coronavirus,” he said.

Alisha Lehmann has been given her own custom EA Sports FC 25 cover, with the Juventus forward taking over from Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.

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Blancos star is face of latest offeringSpecial covers produced for other playersJuve forward is a big gaming fanEA SportsWHAT HAPPENED?

England international Bellingham has – following his La Liga and Champions League-winning exploits last season – been chosen as the face of the latest release in the popular gaming franchise. The 21-year-old has spoken of his pride at securing such a standing, and getting the chance to meet David Beckham.

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Prominent figures across the men and women’s game are, however, being given the chance to become cover stars themselves. Specially produced versions of EAFC 25 are being sent out to those considered deserving of such recognition.

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Switzerland international Lehmann, who boasts a huge following on social media, slots seamlessly into that category. She has taken ownership of her unique copy of EAFC 25, meaning that fans may soon get the chance to compete against her in the virtual realm.

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Lehmann, who joined Italian giants Juve from WSL side Aston Villa in the summer of 2024, has never tried to hide her love of gaming. She boasts an 81-rated card in EAFC 25, with dribbling ability considered to be her greatest asset.

Manchester United are stepping up their chase for a new striker this summer, and have already had an answer back as they look to land one of their targets.

Hojlund needs support

Signed by Erik ten Hag last summer, Rasmus Hojlund enjoyed a mixed first season at Old Trafford. The Dane enjoyed a purple patch in the middle of the campaign, but suffered poor runs either side, with nine of his 12 Premier League goal contributions coming in a seven week stint between December and February.

Hojlund's purple patch campaign

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Still just 21-years-old, he was often asked to plough a lonely furrow but showed plenty of promise. However, he is now the only recognised striker on the Manchester United books after Anthony Martial confirmed his departure as a free agent this summer.

It has left the Red Devils in need of a new striker, and they were dealt a blow on that front when target Benjamin Sesko signed a new deal to keep him at RB Lezipig this summer, scuppering any hopes of luring him to Old Trafford.

As a result, they have been forced to look elsewhere, and with new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to avoid past mistakes, they are on the hunt for a younger player who can share the role with Hojlund and who will offer fewer fitness issues than Martial, all while demanding a reasonable salary.

United handed answer over 21 year-old

That comes as Sports Bild have revealed (via Sport Witness) that United are one of the sides keen on 21-year-old attacker Maximilian Beier, who is also thought to be attracting attention from Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool.

The Hoffenheim youngster enjoyed a breakout campaign, scoring 16 times in 33 outings across the German top flight last season, and was rewarded with a call up to the German national side, making his debut in the most recent round of June internationals and doing enough to earn a spot in the squad for the upcoming EURO 2024 in his home country.

Hoffenheim’s sporting director, Alexander Rosen, has heavily praised the youngster, claiming that: “Maxi Beier is a super guy and an extremely talented striker. He is incredibly fast, dangerous and can kick really well.”

And United have made the 'first move' for his signature this summer, it has been claimed, with the Red Devils asking Hoffenheim what terms would be required to sign the rising star.

Man Utd make move for "special" £19k-p/w striker compared to Ibrahimovic

He could be the perfect competition for Hojlund.

ByBen Browning Jun 12, 2024

And they already have a response too, with Hoffenheim reportedly pointing to his 32.5m euro (£27.4m) release clause as a guide price to snatch him away this summer. He will be cheaper next summer, with said clause believed to drop by 2.5m euros every summer across the three remaining years of his £16k per week deal with the German outfit.

As with summer tournaments, a strong performance at EURO 2024 could see a rush of clubs join the queue for his signature, which may leave United wanting to get a deal done sooner rather than later if they are serious about their interest.

All the buzz from the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore

Deivarayan Muthu28-Sep-2020