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Nottingham Forest are making headlines with one of the most eye-catching transfer pursuits of the summer.

Fresh from securing Europa League football, the Midlands club have intensified efforts to strengthen their squad, targeting several high-profile young talents from across Europe.

Forest have already confirmed the signings of Dan Ndoye, Igor Jesus, and Jair Cunha, with deals for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson also nearing completion.

The package for McAtee is worth around £30m, while Hutchinson’s deal could break Forest’s transfer record at £37.5m.

Talks are also ongoing for Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is close to agreeing fresh terms at the City Ground.

This ambitious activity comes after manager Nuno Espírito Santo publicly voiced concerns about a lack of progress in the transfer market earlier this summer.

The club’s hierarchy appear to have responded.

With Europa League football guaranteed after Crystal Palace’s unsuccessful appeal to CAS demoted them to the Conference League, Forest should see this as the perfect moment to cement their status as one of the Premier League’s rising forces.

Among their boldest moves has been a bid for one of Manchester City’s most highly regarded academy graduates.

Nottingham Forest working to sign Man City talent

The target in question is 20-year-old Rico Lewis, a versatile full-back and defensive midfielder who has been with Manchester City since childhood.

His progress through the ranks has been notable.

A player already described by Pep Guardiola as “exceptional”, Forest submitted an opening offer of £25.8m, which was swiftly rejected.

According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs as the Tricky Trees work on a deal to snap him up from the Cityzens this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Debuting at 17, Lewis soon became a regular part of Guardiola’s treble-winning squad in 2022/23, demonstrating maturity far beyond his years.

Last season, he made 48 appearances across all competitions, starting 37 of them, per Transfermarkt. Along the way, he scored twice and provided five assists, while his positional flexibility proved invaluable for City. Capable of operating at right-back, left-back, or stepping into midfield, Lewis embodies the modern tactical demands of top-level football.

For Forest supporters, the pursuit of Lewis evokes memories of another bold move for a Manchester United academy graduate – Anthony Elanga.

Signed in 2023 for £15m after struggling for opportunities at Old Trafford, Elanga quickly became a star at the City Ground.

Over two seasons, the winger contributed 11 goals and 21 assists in 82 appearances, per Transfermarkt, his form earning him a big-money switch to Newcastle United earlier this summer worth £55m.

Why Lewis could be the next Elanga

The data, as per FBref, reinforces why Lewis is regarded as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in Europe. Among positional peers last season, he ranked in the 99th percentile for pass completion (91.9%), highlighting his composure under pressure and his ability to maintain possession even in tight areas.

He also ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive passes (5.93 per 90 minutes) – evidence of his willingness to advance play rather than simply recycling possession. His attacking instincts are further illustrated by his ranking in the 87th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.45 per 90).

Matches played

28

Starts

21

Minutes

1,893

Goals

1

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

39

Progressive Passes

107

Such numbers place him in the company of players like Andrew Robertson, Jules Koundé, and Malo Gusto – names that underline the calibre of Lewis’ performances despite his relative infrequency in the starting line-up.

With five international caps already to his name and a market value of around £35m, he is a player who would normally be well beyond Forest’s reach. Whether they can prise Lewis away from the Etihad remains to be seen.

His contract runs until 2028, and City are under no financial pressure to sell. The rejected bid of £25.8m may have been opportunistic, testing the waters to see whether limited playing time in a stacked City squad could make Lewis or the club open to a move.

But even if the pursuit proves unsuccessful, it is another signal of Forest’s intent to continue their rapid rise.

Their business so far this summer already paints a picture of a club determined to compete on multiple fronts. Ndoye, Jesus, and Cunha have added depth, while the potential arrivals of McAtee, Hutchinson, and Kalimuendo would give Nuno a squad brimming with energy and creativity.

Lewis would represent a statement signing that underlines Forest’s ambition to attract players capable of starting for Europe’s elite.

Just as Elanga helped elevate Forest during his time at the club, the arrival of Lewis could usher in another era of growth and excitement at the City Ground.

Leeds United are now leading the race for an “incredible” attacker, and they are ready to trigger his release clause, according to a report.

Leeds looking to sign another attacker after Calvert-Lewin

Leeds are closing in on the signing of former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with David Ornstein revealing the Englishman is now set to undergo a medical before completing a move to Elland Road.

However, Gary Lineker is not entirely convinced the 28-year-old has what it takes to be a success in Daniel Farke’s side, saying: “I suppose if you look back at his career there’s been a decent season or two. He’s got all the attributes [but], he’s not a clean finisher and that for a striker is an issue.

“He’s never going to be a 20/25 goals a season player even in a side that’s really attacking and has got creative players. I think in the end in football, you find your level.”

While Lineker doesn’t believe Calvert-Lewin is cut out to be a top striker even with a playmaker behind him, Leeds are now planning to add a new attacking midfielder to their ranks, and they have moved into pole position in the race for his signature…

Related Offer made: Leeds tabled near club-record £34.5m bid to sign "revelation"

The Whites have now tabled a big offer for a forward.

Posts 1 ByDominic Lund Aug 13, 2025

According to a report from Caught Offside, the Whites are now leading the race for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss, having taken the most concrete steps to secure a deal, amid rival interest from the likes of Newcastle United, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Having already held talks with El Khannouss’ representatives and offered the attacking midfielder a £50k-a-week salary, the Premier League newcomers are now ready to trigger the £24.5m release clause in his Leicester contract.

"Incredible" El Khannouss could flourish at Elland Road

While the 21-year-old struggled to find his rhythm in a very poor Leicester side last season, picking up just five Premier League goal contributions, there are indications the youngster could be a success at Elland Road.

At times in the 2024-25 campaign, the Morocco-born playmaker did manage to impress, being lauded as “incredible” by talkSPORT writer Jack Johnson after impressing in his side’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City.

The starlet also managed to make a good impression on Pep Guardiola, having confirmed the Man City boss complimented his performance after the match, saying: “He (Guardiola) said he was impressed by my play today. I am not. I know myself and this is the player I can be. I have to show that every week now.”

El Khannouss deserves another chance in the Premier League, and Leeds should look to finalise a deal before Newcastle or Dortmund step up their interest.

Courtney Winfield-Hill will join the England Women’s set-up as an assistant coach for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the Women’s Ashes.Winfield-Hill, a 37-year-old former cricket and rugby league professional who was part of England’s backroom staff on the tour of Ireland in September, will be reunited with the squad in South Africa once she has finished her second-year stint as an assistant coach with WBBL side Brisbane Heat.Winfield-Hill worked with Trent Rockets in the most recent edition of the Women’s Hundred and previously held a regional academy coach role with Northern Diamonds as well as assistant coaching roles at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and England Women’s A and U19 squads.”I am really proud to be a part of the set-up,” Winfield-Hill said. “Since working with England teams, I have been made to feel nothing but welcomed and feel the ECB have invested in developing me as a coach.”The development of the domestic game over the last five years has been brilliant to watch and I have taken a lot from recent involvements with the England A, development games and the Ireland tour. South Africa and the Ashes are two exciting series and I am really looking forward to linking up and working with the group.”As a player, Australia-born pace bowler Winfield-Hill – who is the wife of former England and current Brisbane Heat batter Lauren Winfield-Hill – represented Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat.After moving to England in 2018, she led Leeds Rhinos to a Grand Final and Challenge Cup double in 2019. She represented England at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 having qualified on residency and now works for the sport’s governing body as Senior Women and Girls’ Partner.Courtney Winfield-Hill switched countries and sports to star for England at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup•Getty Images

Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, said Winfield-Hill’s dual background in professional sport offered a fresh outlook to the current coaching set-up, led by head coach Jon Lewis.”Courtney has played such an important role in developing the up-and-coming players on our international pathway and adds tremendous value in any environment she is part of,” Finch said. “She will bring a different outlook on the game into the coaching team which will ensure the support we provide to players continually moves forward in what will be an exciting period for the senior team.”

With all potential relegation permutations happily off the agenda at last, Warwickshire calmly settled down to avoiding defeat against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on the final day of the 2024 Vitality County Championship. Saving the follow-on with five wickets down effectively saved the game.The draw, for which the pitch was probably intended from the start, thus duly arrived with ease, Notts taking 14 points to the visitors’ 13. Sam Hain signed off the season with an unbeaten 153 and his overnight partner Ed Barnard made 81 before Michael Burgess struck 56 from 71 balls in an eventual 373 for 7 after the resumption on 143 for 4.It was not until the 13th ball after lunch in fact that the fifth-wicket partners were finally separated after adding exactly 150. The wunderkind off-spinner Farhan Ahmed switched to bowling over the wicket for the first time in the day and Barnard, who had passed 5000 first-class runs on the way, immediately top-edged a sweep to the deep.The catch was well judged by the 21-year old substitute Sam King, yet to gain a first-class debut, with Brett Hutton briefly off the field. But only 84 more runs were then needed to avoid the follow-on, reduced to 58 by the time Hutton returned to take the new ball five overs later.In a challenging summer during which personal reasons and concussion had seen him miss six games, Hain had completed a heartening second hundred of the season from 202 balls just before lunch. As Ahmed shared the new ball, he remained the anchor while Burgess proved typically combative.The follow-on target of 333 was passed with 43 overs remaining but the match, bonus points aside, long since academic as certain to be drawn. Burgess entertained with four sixes in all until he swiped at Lyndon James 21 runs later and failed to clear mid-on. Ahmed came off next over with three for 93 from 33 overs, good figures on this pitch.A second substitute, James Hayes, also without first-class experience, then took a gentle catch at cover off Rob Lord as a loose cut undid Danny Briggs without score. After tea taken at 361 for 7, however, just four bonus-point overs remained, neither side adding to their tally. Notts brought Ahmed back on but he found no further success and bad light conveniently ended play at 3.50.Warwickshire could reflect on a season of just one win but the boon of no fewer than 33 batting points, a total bettered only by Surrey and Essex in Division One. Added to the reinstated increased reward of eight points for each of their nine draws, it served them very well.Nottinghamshire too benefited from eight draws and Lancashire would no doubt rue the fact that they arguably had a marginally better playing record than both their rivals but could muster just 15 batting points along with their four draws. They ended with three wins and six losses, compared to Notts’ two wins, four losses and Warwickshire’s one win also with four losses.

Defending champions India are grouped with West Indies, Sri Lanka and hosts Malaysia for the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup which begins on January 18, 2025. The 41-game event will feature 16 teams, like the inaugural edition in 2023, and will conclude with the final on February 2.Four venues across Malaysia will host the event. Bayuemas Oval in Selangor will host all Group A games and the final. The Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA Oval) in Johor will host the Group B games. Sarawak’s Borneo Cricket Ground will be the venue for the Group C fixtures, and the UKM YSD Oval in Selangor will host the Group D matches.It will be the first World Cup appearance across any age division for Samoa, who are in Group C alongside New Zealand, South Africa and an Africa qualifier, yet to be decided. Group B has England – losing finalists in 2023 – alongside Pakistan, Ireland and USA. Group D features Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland and an Asia qualifier. Group A has India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, who will be featuring in their maiden U-19 women’s World Cup competition as well.

How the teams stack up

Group A – India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Malaysia [Bayuemas Oval in Selangor]

Group B – England, Pakistan, Ireland and USA [Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy, Johor]

Group C – New Zealand, South Africa, Africa’s Qualifier and Samoa [Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak]

Group D – Australia, Bangladesh, Asia’s Qualifier and Scotland [UKM YSD Oval in Selangor]

The tournament will begin with six games on opening day: Australia versus Scotland, England against Ireland, and Samoa taking on the Africa qualifier in the morning; followed by Pakistan-Ireland, Bangladesh against the Asia qualifier, and New Zealand versus South Africa in the afternoon. India begin campaign on the second day against West Indies. Before the main event gets underway, there will be 16 warm-up games between January 13 and 16.Once the group stage is over, the top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage, with the three teams from Group A and Group D combining to form one Super Six group, and the same with the top three teams of Group B and Group C in the other group.The teams will also carry forward their points and net run rates and will play the two sides who, a) were not in their group in the first stage, and b) finished at a different position from them. As an example, if India finish second in Group A, then they will play the winner and second runner-up of Group D. The top two teams from each Super Six group will progress to the semi-finals.The groups and teams for the Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“This is a special event to the ICC and forms an important part of our Global Growth Strategy of raising the profile of women’s cricket and further growing the game around the world,” ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said in a statement. “It is also a unique opportunity to introduce our vast global audiences to the future stars of the sport.”We look forward to building on the success from the foundation laid at the inaugural event in South Africa in 2023. We wish all the teams the very best of luck in their preparation and to the Malaysian Cricket Association in organising the event.””Malaysia is proud to host the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2025, continuing our tradition of supporting the growth of cricket on the global stage,” host tournament director Dinesh Muthuraman said. “Women’s cricket is experiencing unprecedented growth both in Malaysia and around the world. We are fully confident that this World Cup will further accelerate that momentum, leading to significant developments in the sport, especially for women’s cricket.”The tournament was originally supposed to be co-hosted by Thailand, but their withdrawal means Malaysia will host all games. In 2008, Malaysia also hosted the Men’s Under-19 World Cup which had future stars like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steven Smith, Imad Wasim, Reeza Hendricks, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Ravindra Jadeja.

It was a strange old campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou led the club to European glory in the Europa League but also to their worst Premier League finish in a generation, which ultimately cost him his job.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable then to suggest that for much of the season, at least domestically, very few players stood out for the right reasons.

However, one star who stepped up during the first half of the season was Dejan Kulusevski, with his performance away to Manchester United a particular highlight.

Yet, perhaps in a sign of how ruthless the club now want to be, reports are linking them to a Premier League star who could well be an upgrade on the Swedish international.

Tottenham transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting players linked with Spurs in recent weeks, such as Antoine Semenyo and Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for around £60m this summer, and if that’s the case, he might be something of a steal, as in just 42 appearances this season, he scored 13 goals and provided seven assists.

Simons, on the other hand, looks set to cost a little more at around £65m, but as he’s still just 22 years old, produced 19 goal involvements in 33 games this season and has been described as “one of the best 10s in the world”, in the words of one analyst, that might be a fee worth paying.

Yet, when it comes to the player who could come to the club as an upgrade to Kulusevski, we should be looking closer to home at Eberechi Eze.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Paul O’Keefe, Spurs are still incredibly interested in the Crystal Palace superstar this summer.

Speaking on a recent edition of the Last Word on Spurs podcast, O’Keefe revealed that the club “would like to do that deal” in regards to the Eagles ace and that he is still “definitely on their radar.”

However, as other reports from this month have made clear, the North Londoners will need to stump up around £68m to activate the release clause in his contract.

It sounds like it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but it is worth pursuing, even if it could be bad news for Kulusevski.

How Eze compares to Kulusevski

So, the first thing to address is that while Eze is more than capable of playing out wide, he has spent the vast majority of this season in attacking midfield, which also happens to be where Kulusevski thrived this year.

So, there is a genuine chance that if Tottenham get their man this summer, the two players will be up against one another for game time next season.

In that case, who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when we take a look at their raw output from this season, which is ultimately what matters more than anything else, it’s the “unbelievable” Palace ace, as dubbed by Oliver Glasner, who comes out on top.

For example, in 43 appearances, totalling 3303 minutes, the Englishman scored 14 goals – including the winner in the FA Cup – and provided 11 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

In contrast, the Swedish international scored ten goals and provided 11 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3450 minutes for the North Londoners this term, which comes out to a good but less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 164.28 minutes.

Okay then, what about when we take a look under the hood? Which star comes out on top when we compare their underlying numbers?

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.52

0.39

Non-Penalty G+As

0.69

0.53

Progressive Passes

3.37

4.66

Progressive Carries

2.36

4.51

Shots

3.18

1.75

Shots on Target

0.93

0.69

Passing Accuracy

74.2%

73.7%

Key Passes

2.01

2.44

Shot-Creating Actions

4.69

4.82

Goal-Creating Actions

0.35

0.34

Successful Take-Ons

2.33

1.43

Ball Recoveries

5.07

4.55

The former Juventus star does fare slightly better here, coming out ahead in metrics like progressive passes and carries.

Still, overall, this is another comparison he loses to the Eagles maestro, who edges him out in more relevant metrics, like expected and actual non-penalty goals, goal-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Kulusevski is an undeniably talented footballer, but from his output to the underlying numbers, Eze is an upgrade, and therefore, Spurs should do all they can to sign him this summer.

Frank can strike gold with "future £100m" Spurs star he once tried to sign

The impressive youngster could be a star for Spurs next season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

Arsenal are ready to sell an “exceptional” player, as he has now expressed a concrete interest in leaving this summer, according to a report.

Arteta blames red cards and injuries for lack of success

The Gunners managed to sign off on a high at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United to secure Champions League football next season, but there will be major disappointment about the fact they have once again missed out on a trophy.

In the end, Liverpool ran away with the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta’s side set to finish second for the third season on the spin, and there has been widespread debate about why they have been unable to get over the line.

Gary Neville has questioned the decision not to sign a striker, which means Mikel Merino has been leading the line since February, but Arteta has provided a different explanation for his side’s lack of success.

When asked why the north Londoners have come up short once again, the Spaniard told Sky Sports: “Red cards and injuries, for sure.”

“But without that, we don’t know what would have happened. “Would we have been much closer? For me, the answer is without a question, yes.”

Injuries have no doubt been a major issue for the Gunners, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel all spending prolonged periods on the sidelines, and the latter’s absence has meant an increase in game time for Jakub Kiwior.

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1 ByDominic Lund May 18, 2025

However, according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Kiwior’s time at the Emirates Stadium could be coming to an end, with Arsenal now ready to cash-in on the defender for a fee of €35m (£29m) this summer.

There is widespread interest in the centre-back from Italy, with Napoli, AC Milan and Atalanta in the race, and the 25-year-old has now expressed a concrete interest in leaving.

"Exceptional" Kiwior impressing Arteta

Gabriel’s absence has not been ideal for the Gunners, with the Brazilian missing the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals, but the Poland international was solid in both legs against Real Madrid, limiting the reigning European champions to just one goal.

Arteta has been left impressed by the back-up defender too, saying: “He deserves a lot of credit because he hasn’t played too much throughout many months. He has suddenly been thrown into the most difficult context playing at the highest level when you haven’t had the physical rhythm or confidence. He’s been exceptional.”

Most recently, the former Spezia man put in a commanding performance against Newcastle, achieving the highest SofaScore match rating of any player after making a number of important defensive contributions.

Jakub Kiwior

Performance vs Newcastle

Clearances

11

Interceptions

2

Blocked shots

2

Tackles

4

As such, it would be a bonus if Arsenal are able to retain Kiwior beyond the summer, but his recent performances mean they may be able to achieve a sizeable fee for the defender, and they should not stand in his way if he is eager to leave.

Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of an “amazing” £58m striker, who’s now keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer, according to a report.

Gunners' striker pursuit heating up

A new striker has been of interest to the Gunners for quite some time, and there is no shortage of options on the shortlist, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres seemingly one of the main targets, and talks over a deal have been held in recent days.

The north Londoners are confident about getting a deal for Gyokeres over the line, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but if they miss out on the Swedish striker, there are plenty of alternative targets in the frame.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins are the main options from within the Premier League, while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been liked for quite some time, and there has now been a development in the pursuit of the striker.

Arsenal and Berta eye move for £68m star if Saliba is sold to Real Madrid

Real Madrid are interested in the Arsenal defender.

2 ByTom Cunningham May 4, 2025

According to a report from The Boot Room, Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of Sesko, having conducted extensive background work to assess the forward, while also sending scouts to watch him in action against Bayern Munich.

The Slovenian’s entourage remain in active talks with the Gunners, but rivals Chelsea and Liverpool are also in discussions, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, with a £58m move to England now looking like the most likely outcome.

The 21-year-old is yet to make a final decision about where his future lies, but there is a feeling he is now leaning towards a move to the Emirates Stadium, which will be welcome news for Mikel Arteta’s side.

"Amazing" Sesko enjoying impressive Bundesliga campaign

It has been far from a perfect season for RB Leipzig, with the German side sacking Marco Rose at the end of March, while currently occupying sixth place in the Bundesliga, but the Slovenia international has managed to catch the eye with his performances.

The youngster has picked up 13 goals and five assists in 31 Bundesliga outings, while also regularly getting on the scoresheet in both the DFB Pokal and the Champions League.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

31

13

5

Champions League

8

4

0

DFB Pokal

4

4

1

Not only that, but NK Domzale sporting director Matej Orazem clearly believes the 6 foot 5 powerhouse is capable of playing at the highest level, having claimed he is “destined for greatness”, while also lauding him as “amazing”.

Of course, Isak would be a dream signing for Arsenal, given that he is proven in the Premier League, with the Swedish striker adding to his goal tally in his side’s 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday afternoon.

However, it may be difficult to prise the 25-year-old away from Newcastle, and there are plenty of signs that Sesko could be a solid alternative option.

Nottingham Forest are said to have entered the race to complete the signing of an “absolute hero” this summer, following a new transfer rumour.

Nottingham Forest prepare for another huge game

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have wobbled of late in their quest to finish in the Premier League top five this season, securing a place in the 2025/26 Champions League in the process. Forest have lost their last two league outings on the bounce, being beaten 2-1 away to Aston Villa before losing 1-0 at home to Everton last time around, with Abdoulaye Doucoure scoring a last-gasp winner for the hosts.

Next up for the Reds is a trip to Tottenham on Monday evening, which has the potential to be another tough game, even though Spurs have flattered to deceive this season. They have still reached the Europa League semi-finals, which shows what they are capable of.

Granted, Forest are still in a wonderful position, sitting fourth in the league table, but they are only two points ahead of fifth-place Manchester City, and perhaps most importantly, just three clear of Chelsea in sixth. Champions League qualification will make for an exciting summer at the City Ground, and now a new transfer rumour has emerged.

Nottingham Forest join the race for Juventus defender Gatti

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Nottingham Forest have joined the race to sign Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti in the summer window. Newcastle United are mentioned as rivals for the 26-year-old’s signature, with the Italian valued at £25.7m. A new deal until 2030 looks set to be agreed in Turin, but the Old Lady may simply use that to cash in on the towering defender.

While Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have excelled at the heart of Forest’s defence this season, signing Gatti would still feel like a statement signing, also adding strong competition, ahead of the chance to compete on four fronts next season.

Gatti vs. Milenkovic vs. Murillo in the league this season

Gatti

Milenkovic

Murillo

Appearances

28

31

31

Starts

26

31

31

Minutes played

2188

2790

2750

Clearances per game

2.6

5.1

6.5

Aerial duel wins per game

1.3

2.9

1.1

Tackles per game

1.0

1.4

1.4

Goals

1

4

1

Assists

0

2

0

The Juve ace is now a six-cap Italy international who has already made 103 appearances for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him in the past, calling him an “absolute hero”.

Admittedly, there is a fair chance that Gatti will remain at Juve and sign a contract extension, but if Forest are willing to bid enough for his services, it will be interesting to see if the Turin giants’ head is turned.

Related Contact made: Nottingham Forest make enquiry for £40m "one-man machine"

The Tricky Trees have now made a move for a midfielder, who is attracting widespread interest from across Europe.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

At 26, he is at an ideal age to come in and enjoy his peak years at the City Ground, and he could make Forest an even more formidable defensive proposition.

Sitting out injured when RCB lifted the IPL trophy was frustrating, but he’s returned to action with his eyes firmly set on “high ambitions”

Srinidhi Ramanujam08-Sep-2025It’s been a stop-start year-and-a-half for Devdutt Padikkal. There was a Test debut in March last year and a second cap in Perth in November. He began 2025 with a century and an 86 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and enjoyed a successful homecoming in the IPL with consistent scores for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). But just as he really seemed to be hitting his stride, with back-to-back match-winning half-centuries against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, a hamstring injury ruled him out of the rest of the season, forcing him to watch from the outside as RCB won their first-ever title. The injury also kept him out of contention for India A’s tour of England in May-June.It was only this week that Padikkal returned to top-level domestic cricket, and he did so with a solid 57 for South Zone against North Zone in the semi-final of the Duleep Trophy. The innings came at a handy time, with Padikkal part of the India A squad for two unofficial home Tests against Australia A starting September 16 in Lucknow.”It [this tournament] was very important,” Padikkal tells ESPNcricinfo. “I haven’t played much red-ball cricket for some time now. So coming into this game, I knew that I needed to make sure that I was getting back into the groove of things. I am really happy that I was able to spend some time out there and get a few runs.”Related

• Patience and precision: how Kartikeya turned the Duleep final on its head

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Padikkal walked out to bat when South Zone were 103 for 1 on the second session of day one, with the seamers still finding a little bit of movement at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He looked confident from the get-go, driving elegantly through the covers, cutting behind square for a pair of boundaries, and pushing the ball down the ground with ease. He raced to his half-century in just 64 balls, and hit seven fours before chasing a wide delivery and nicking Anshul Kamboj to the keeper.By his own admission, Padikkal was playing “too many shots”, likely a carry-over from his recent stint in the Maharaja Trophy (Karnataka’s T20 tournament), where he was the Player of the Tournament for his chart-topping 449 runs in 12 innings for Hubli Tigers, including an unbeaten 99.”That’s the frustrating part,” Padikkal says of his dismissal. “It’s just a moment of lapse of concentration, which probably is more down to the fact that I have played very little red-ball cricket over the last few months. So that’s something that I need to work on.”Obviously, coming from T20 cricket directly here, I felt like I was playing a few too many shots, even in the first innings. Which is something that I need to think about a little bit. And hopefully, going into the A series, I can work on that.”A hamstring injury cut short a promising IPL season for Padikkal•BCCIJudging by his approach in the second innings, he already seems to have done so. On the final morning, South Zone took five quick wickets to bowl North Zone out for 361, securing a crucial first-innings lead and a place in the final. When Padikkal joined N Jagadeesan, the pair swapped roles from the first innings, during which the latter had crafted a 352-ball 197. Jagadeesan, a picture of patience during that innings, hit a flurry of boundaries now to reach his fifty off just 60 balls. Padikkal, meanwhile, finished unbeaten on 16 off 54 balls, hitting just the one four.Padikkal admitted that the months away from the game were some of the hardest he’s gone through, particularly as a local boy watching RCB lift the IPL trophy without him.”Obviously, the first couple of weeks were the hardest,” he says. “Because you have to come to terms [with the fact] that you are not going to be playing much cricket for a month or so. And especially watching the IPL from home was a bit challenging.”I would have loved to be a part of that side, winning the trophy. That is the first couple of weeks and after that, again, you just switch into that zone of trying to get better.”During rehab, it gives you a lot of time to just focus on yourself in terms of what you need to work on. Because during a season, it is very hard to really give that time to yourself to look at the specific areas that you need to work on. So during my rehab, I was just looking to find things that I struggled with during the season physically and in terms of my technique, and trying to see how I can make that adjustment going into the next season.”So, I feel I used that very well during those couple of months. I am really happy where I am at now.”After the Duleep Trophy final, Padikkal’s next assignment is an unofficial Test series for India A against Australia A•PTI Now back in the India A set-up, Padikkal isn’t just looking to make up for lost time but hoping to make a statement. With two home Test series on the horizon – India are playing two Tests each against West Indies in October and South Africa in November – he knows he could get an opportunity if he stays consistent.”You know, every game that you play, especially for India, is very important,” he says. “We have a few home Test series coming up. I’m looking forward to making a mark in the A series to hopefully stake a claim for that team as well. But at the same time, you have to just go out there and bat.”I really enjoyed batting here in red-ball cricket. And just more opportunities to play red-ball cricket are always welcome.”For all the ups and downs, the ambition remains intact. After earning his Test cap, Padikkal doesn’t want to dwell on milestones with his eyes firmly set on the long haul.”I wouldn’t say life’s changed [since the Test debut],” he says. “Obviously, playing Test cricket for India is one of the biggest achievements you can have as a cricketer. But at the same time, I have high ambitions. So just playing or just making my debut is not what my career is going to be about.”Hopefully, I can continue to represent India at the highest level and continue to win games for them. That’s always been my aim. It was a great feeling on that day. But from the next day, it’s about getting back on the ground again.”