English Premier League (EPL) clubs have flexed their financial muscle once more in the race for the world’s best talent ahead of todays start of the 2022-2023 season, when five of the biggest signings of the summer will be looking to make an impact:
ERLING HAALAND
(MANCHESTER CITY)
Photo: Reuters
City have addressed their need for a central striker and got one of the most highly sought after players in the world to do so after beating off competition for Haaland.
The Norwegian’s buyout clause from Borussia Dortmund was a bargain at ￡51 million (US$62 million), but the reported signing-on fee, agents fees and wages over the course of a five-year contract would reportedly set City back ￡190 million.
Haaland might have had a debut to forget as he missed practically an open goal in City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield on Saturday last week, but Pep Guardiola warned that as his side’s challenges for the title, “the goals will come.”
Photo: AFP
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund and although he has been signed as the final piece to get Guardiola’s men over the line in the Champions League, his arrival makes the champions favorites for a fifth league title in six years.
DARWIN NUNEZ
(LIVERPOOL)
Photo: AFP
In contrast to Haaland, Nunez had the perfect start to his Liverpool careeer by scoring and winning a penalty against City in the Community Shield.
The Reds have banked on the Uruguayan to evolve their attacking options after the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich.
Nunez cost an initial 75 million euros (US$76.2 million) from SL Benfica, but that fee could rise to 100 million euros depending on his success at Anfield.
Photo: AFP
Luis Diaz is expected to take the place of Mane on the left of Liverpool’s front three with Nunez phasing out Roberto Firmino.
His aerial presence offers Juergen Klopp’s men a different focal point in attack, but it could take some time for the Reds to adjust.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ
(MANCHESTER UNITED)
Much of the debate over United’s only big-money signing has surrounded on how his diminutive 1.8m presence will cope with the rigours of the Premier League.
The Argentine is well-known to new United manager Erik ten Hag, who signed Martinez for Ajax.
A ￡57 million transfer fee suggests that Ten Hag sees Martinez as a regular starter at Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen in what position.
RAHEEM STERLING
(CHELSEA)
A key player in City’s first two Premier League title triumphs under Guardiola, Sterling found himself slowly edged out at the Etihad by the arrival of Jack Grealish and the emergence of Phil Foden.
Still a vital part of England manager Gareth Southgate’s plans in a FIFA World Cup year, Sterling has moved south to become the face of Chelsea’s new era.
The 27-year-old was the Blues’ first signing since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club from Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea badly need a goalscorer if they are to compete with City and Liverpool for the title, and Sterling is the most likely member of Thomas Tuchel’s squad to get 20 goals.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Jesus was another victim of the wealth of attacking talent at City as the Brazilian hopes to relaunch his career at the Emirates ahead of the World Cup.
Despite winning seven major trophies at the Etihad, Jesus never became the successor to Sergio Aguero City hoped they were buying six years ago.
Arsenal badly needed a striker after the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
Arne Slot has denied that Darwin Nunez was dropped from Liverpool’s win against West Ham because of a training-ground row with a member of his coaching staff. The Liverpool head coach on Sunday last week said that Nunez was absent from the 2-1 victory at Anfield, having felt unwell during training the day before, although the striker sat behind the substitutes throughout the game. Speculation has been rife that the Uruguay international, whom Slot criticized for his work rate against Wolves and Aston Villa in February, was left out for disciplinary reasons. Asked on Friday to clarify the situation, Slot said: “He
RSS