Leah Williamson makes the cover of Beano! Lionesses captain guest edits iconic British comic to mark 70th anniversary of Minnie the Minx

England captain Leah Williamson has guest edited a special edition of Beano magazine celebrating the 70th anniversary of Minnie the Minx.

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Williamson guest edits Beano comicLionesses hero hoping to inspire young girlsArsenal captain recovering from ACL injuryBeanoWHAT HAPPENED?

The Arsenal and European Championship-winning England captain has guest edited the latest issue of the famous comic strip magazine. The issue celebrates Minnie the Minx, widely considered the world's first female comic heroine. As well as appearing on the cover and writing an editor's letter, Williamson features alongside Minnie in a story that celebrates two of the most empowering female trailblazers in modern Britain.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Williamson has long been vocal in her support of social causes, one of them encouraging more children to read. After winning the European Championship in 2022, the defender signed a three-book deal, two of which have been published this year. In Beano, Williamson champions her mum as a role model and encourages girls to never be afraid to try something new.

WHAT LEAH WILLIAMSON SAID

Williamson said: "Minnie has shown children for generations, through mischief and laughter, that it’s okay to blaze their own trail through life, and strong role models like her empower young girls, helping them break down barriers. I’m honoured to have got the chance to guest edit this historic issue of the comic, and I hope Minnie will continue to inspire many more generations to come!"

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMSON?

Williamson has been out of action since April, when she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Arsenal, and missed England's run to the 2023 World Cup final. Last month she confirmed that she has started running on grass again, but the 26-year-old did not give a timeline for her return. In her absence, Arsenal have made a strong start to the WSL season, after suffering a shock exit from the Champions League in the qualifying rounds.

Yasir six-for edges Pakistan ahead on testing day

Shai Hope battled to a gritty 90, leading West Indies into a handy lead, before Yasir Shah claimed another six-wicket haul to push Pakistan ahead on an attritional fourth day

The Report by Danyal Rasool03-May-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsYasir Shah claimed five wickets in the final session to turn the second Test in Pakistan’s favour•AFPIt was a memorable day of Test cricket at the Kensington Oval, but for West Indies, it was a cruel finish. After all, West Indies – led by a resolute 90 from Shai Hope that lasted over five hours – made Pakistan’s bowlers graft and toil for the majority of the day, but the defining period will be five minutes of chaos that saw his side lose three wickets in eight balls for one run. It might yet lose them a game they have grated their way back into on more than one occasion, but with the lead already 183 with one wicket in hand, the Test is still alive. Yasir Shah claimed another six-wicket haul to lead Pakistan’s fightback in the final hour.With West Indies leading by 154 runs with six wickets still in hand, thoughts may already have been turning to an early declaration on the final day. But all of a sudden, Hope sought to cover drive a flighted Yasir delivery through the air, perfectly picking out Azhar Ali at cover. The next ball saw Vishaul Singh, the other set batsman, drag an inswinging delivery from Mohammad Abbas onto his stumps. Six deliveries on, Jason Holder poked at one from Yasir, and even as the light eroded, Younis Khan was never going to drop that.There was still enough time for West Indies’ last recognised batsman – Shane Dowrich – to edge one that ballooned up for an easy catch to second slip. Yasir dismissed Alzarri Joseph soon after to take his innings tally to six, and West Indies’ hard work crumbled.They had begun the final session with the resoluteness that characterised their batting all day. The runs, which had begun to flow a little too freely, dried up after tea as Misbah operated spin from both ends, waiting for the new ball. The likelihood of a wicket seemed to recede with both Vishaul and Hope looking increasingly comfortable, and West Indies began to take hold of the game. Shadab came closest to a breakthrough with an lbw shout against Vishaul that Pakistan decided to review, only to be thwarted by the on-field umpire’s call. As a result, the breakthrough Yasir provided through Hope’s moment of ill-judgment will seem even more fateful, coming as it did at a time when the hosts were looking to bat Pakistan out of the game.Momentum in the first session had fluctuated, a half-century partnership between Kraigg Brathwaite and Hope steering West Indies into the lead. West Indies got off to a terrible start, having added only one run to their overnight score when Shimron Hetmyer, who had looked convincing on the third evening, was dismissed by Mohammad Amir. The manner of the wicket was identical to his dismissal in Jamaica, the ball seaming back in sharply to crash into the stumps.Hope and Brathwaite batted more positively after coming together, but just as it looked like West Indies might creep into the ascendancy once more, Brathwaite was undone by a combination of vicious spin from Yasir and staggering reflexes from Younis. Yasir pitched one well outside leg stump from around the wicket, which spun sharply across and clipped the shoulder of his bat. Younis dived to his right with agility and reflexes that belied his age, holding on to a splendid one-handed catch that could end up being as crucial as any runs he scores this game.The afternoon session was a cagey affair as Yasir resumed the session by bowling around the wicket again to exploit the rough, while Roston Chase and Hope kept him at bay. Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Amir kept chipping away laboriously from the other end, as Misbah appeared reluctant to trust a misfiring Shadab with runs at a premium. But it was Yasir’s persistence from around the wicket that finally paid off for Pakistan when he drew Chase into driving him on the up. Chase hadn’t been able to get to the pitch of the ball, and the drive came straight back to Yasir for an easy catch, giving Pakistan a breakthrough they needed badly.

Back my stock ball, googly a variation to take wickets – Kuldeep

Kuldeep Yadav has said bowling to MS Dhoni was challenging but he was not scared to be hit for a boundary

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-20171:20

‘Wasn’t afraid of bowling to Dhoni’ – Kuldeep

Kuldeep Yadav could feel the pressure of bowling to MS Dhoni on Wednesday evening. Despite being a spinner, Kuldeep was picked by Gautam Gambhir to bowl the 18th over of Rising Pune Supergiant’s innings with Dhoni and Steven Smith in a partnership of 35 runs from 21 balls. One batsman had regained his touch of smashing sixes in the end overs and the other has not gone out of form since landing in India for the Test series.”If you are a spinner there’s always pressure on you,” Kuldeep said after the match. “As a spinner, I believe that you can put the opposition under pressure by picking wickets. Like in the last over I took two wickets and they were under pressure. Bowling the 18th over is always tough; the captain needs to believe in you for that.”Kuldeep’s first ball to Dhoni in the match, in the 16th over, had been pulled for a flat six over midwicket. In the 18th over, Kuldeep deceived Dhoni with a googly. Dhoni stepped out to get to the pitch of the ball, but it turned away, beat his bat and was stumped.”Bowling to Dhoni is always challenging and I could feel the pressure,” Kuldeep recalled. “But I wasn’t scared that he would hit me for a six or a four. I flighted the ball and I was focused on getting him out.”Three balls later, Kuldeep had Manoj Tiwary on strike, Rising Pune’s best batsman this season in terms of strike rate (with at least five innings). Kuldeep had conceded only three runs in four balls until then in the over and he had Tiwary stumped even though the batsman did not step out to hit him. Kuldeep bowled another googly, Tiwary leaned forward to tuck the ball to the leg side with the spin but the ball went the other way and Tiwary’s back foot was outside the crease.Kuldeep, however, said the conventional legspinner was still his stock delivery as he used the wrong’un and the flipper mainly to get wickets.”It (googly) is only a variation and you can use it in T20s to confuse a batsman when he is attacking,” he said. “But I really believe in my chinaman bowling rather than the wrong’un and flipper. I back my stock ball more and I’m mainly a chinaman bowler; the wrong’un is a variation you use to pick wickets or stop the runs. But my main delivery is chinaman delivery. Obviously, the wrong’un gets you wickets and the batsmen keep wondering if the ball will come in or go out, they find it difficult to pick, especially the overseas batsmen. So if you dismiss Indian batsmen like that, it’s a big boost for confidence.”Kuldeep has so far gone wicketless in just one match this IPL and has collected eight wickets, joint with team-mates Nathan Coulter-Nile and Umesh Yadav, who have had the advantage of a pacer-friendly relaid pitch at Eden Gardens.Kuldeep has had an impressive run since the beginning of the domestic season. He was the highest wicket-taker and the leading run-scorer for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy; he topped the wicket-takers charts in the Duleep Trophy too, with 17 wickets in three matches, and he shone on his Test debut with 4 for 68 against Australia in Dharamsala.”If you play the entire season and you’re highest run-getter or the highest wicket-taker, it becomes easier to play on the next level because of the momentum you are carrying,” Kuldeep said. “If you aren’t playing domestic cricket you might lack in some places. I’ve played Duleep Trophy, one-dayers, T20s, India A, so this season has been really helpful for me which is why I have a lot of confidence.”Knight Riders will play their next match against Delhi Daredevils on Friday.

Sunderland Can Land Gelhardt Upgrade In £3.3k-p/w Ace

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has around two months left to build a squad capable of going all the way in the Championship next season after failing during the semi-finals of the play-offs earlier this year.

One area in which the former Blackburn Rovers head coach is seemingly looking to strengthen in is the forward department, as Ross Stewart is the only senior No 9 in the squad as it stands.

The Sunderland Echo recently reported that the club are 'obviously' interested in a deal to sign Ellis Simms from Premier League side Everton.

He spent the first half of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light and Kristjaan Speakman is now eyeing a second swoop for the attacker, who is said to be keen on returning to Wearside.

Although, they must first wait for the Toffees to green-light an exit for the centre-forward after Sean Dyche called on him for 11 Premier League matches this year.

Would Ellis Simms be a good signing for Sunderland?

The 22-year-old has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign due to his previous form for the club.

Simms' impressive performances in the first half of the last term indicate that he would be a huge upgrade on Joe Gelhardt, who spent the final few months of the season on loan with Mowbray from Leeds United.

The Whites attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.82 across 16 Championship starts and contributed with three goals alongside three assists, whilst the former Wigan man also created two 'big chances' for his teammates.

He ranked 12th among the squad for Sofascore ratings and did not crack the top three performers for Sunderland for goals or assists in the division.

These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old marksman endured a fairly average spell at the Stadium of Light as he was unable to provide quality on a regular basis.

Sunderland loanee Ellis Simms.

Simms, however, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 across 14 league starts for Sunderland and chipped in with seven goals to go along with two assists and five 'big chances' created.

Only Ross Stewart (7.40) averaged a higher rating than him in the Black Cats squad, which suggests that the English hotshot was one of the team's top performers during his time at the club.

The £3.3k-per-week finisher, who was dubbed an "absolute nuisance" by journalist Phil Smith, has already proven himself capable of delivering excellent performances and consistent end product in the final third under Mowbray's management with the likes of Stewart and Jack Clarke alongside him.

Therefore, Simms could be an exceptional signing as he is a player who could hit the ground running to make an instant impact next season while being a big upgrade on Gelhardt.

Wolves: Fosun plans for Neves money revealed

Despite selling club captain Ruben Neves for big money this month, Wolverhampton Wanderers are "not looking like" they will reinvest the money into players over the summer, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news – what's the latest?

The Old Gold confirmed that after six years at the club, they had completed the sale of club captain Neves earlier this month, in a deal that reportedly earned the club a hefty transfer fee of £47m.

Ruben Neves Wolves

Usually, when a team sells a vital player for such a significant fee, a good portion of the proceeds are reinvested into new transfers to help rebuild the squad.

Unfortunately for Wolves fans, that isn't going to be the case this time.

On June 15th, Sporting Director Matt Hobbs updated fans on the club's plans for the coming window.

On the transfer front, Hobbs confirmed that Wolves would be looking to minimise spending this year as they try to operate "within FFP limitations" and operate on the basis that "players will leave before we can bring new faces in."

It's a strategy in stark contrast to the side's previous summers of high spending and reportedly shocked manager Julen Lopetegui, leading to 'genuine fears' he would walk away from the job, per the Athletic.

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui

Luckily for club fans, the Telegraph confirmed that after considering his options, he informed the club about his commitment to staying and making the best of their situation.

The new strategy for Wolves, as revealed by journalist John Percy, will be to target players within the £8m-£15m price range, which, if the current market is anything to go by, completely rules out any big names.

What has Jones said about Wolverhampton Wanderers' transfer situation?

Jones wasn't optimistic about the prospect of Wolves bringing in any like-for-like replacements for Neves this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "You'd like to think Wolves would now be able to go and sign some high-profile replacements. But unfortunately, that's not looking like the case."

Why are Wolverhampton Wanderers at risk of breaching financial rules?

The major concern for the Midlands outfit is their mounting 'losses' over the previous three years.

According to the rules, no Premier League team can lose more than £105m over a three-year period, and at the end of 2022, Wolves had already posted losses of £46.1m.

Their record of spending big over the last few years makes things even more precarious.

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

Last summer, the team paid fees amounting to £115m for just four permanent signings, of which none have been a massive success as the club was embroiled in a relegation scrap for much of the season.

That spending, combined with their previous losses, is the primary reason Wolves won't be splashing the cash this summer, even with the windfall from Neves' sale.

Chelsea beating Man United in race to sign "monster" player

Chelsea remain the 'most likely' destination for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo to end up this summer, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Moises Caicedo?

Chelsea were reported to have joined the race just under a week ago, and things look to have picked up since then.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has given an update on the state of play surrounding Caicedo and Chelsea, stating on Twitter: "Understand Chelsea will continue talks with Brighton for Moisés Caicedo next week. Clubs will be in direct contact as negotiations are ongoing. Chelsea hope to find a solution soon as personal terms are not an issue, Moisés already said yes to Chelsea. Talks on."

Rudy Galetti, who is also a journalist, has issued a further development in the Blues' quest to land the £60k-a-week ace on Twitter, stating: "Moises Caicedo, the talks between Chelsea and Brighton are entering in the final stage. Understand the 2 clubs agreed the fixed amount of the transfer (~£75m) and now they are discussing the add-ons. Moises is keen to join CFC and he’s pushing for the move."

The Athletic have alternatively provided information that suggests Brighton could demand a colossal £100 million fee to part ways with the Ecuador international this off-season.

The Seagulls are believed to have benchmarked the price bracket that West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is being quoted at amid interest from Arsenal and think that Caicedo is every bit as good, if not better, than the England international.

Football Insider detail that Chelsea are 'increasingly confident of securing an agreement' to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs believes that somewhere around the £80 million mark would be a more realistic fee structure for Caicedo than the reported £100 million demand from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Jacobs said: "Of course, you'd expect Brighton to try and get the best possible deal. But I understand that Caicedo will be a lot closer to £80m than £100m and Chelsea, not Manchester United, remains the most likely destination at this point."

Would Moises Caicedo be a good signing for Chelsea?

It's hard to argue otherwise when you take his meteoric rise at the Amex Stadium into account, which has paved the way for high-profile interest from the likes of Chelsea to become apparent this window.

Last season, Caicedo, who has been hailed as a "monster", made 43 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion in all competitions, registering one goal and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Caicedo also managed an average of 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match in the Premier League across 2022/23, making his presence known at the heart of the Seagulls' engine room, according to WhoScored.

Driving his side forward from midfield, the Ecuadorian enforcer successfully completed 88 shot-creating actions in the English top flight and showed his desire to help offensive moves, as per FBRef.

Mauricio Pochettino looks to be hard at work as he looks to secure his preferred targets and Caicedo may well be the next in line to pitch up in SW6.

Mashud calls for domestic schedule rethink

Domestic cricket in Bangladesh should be scheduled during the cooler part of the year, and venues must have better facilities, the former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has urged

Mohammad Isam22-May-2017Domestic cricket in Bangladesh should be scheduled during the cooler part of the year, and venues must have better facilities, the former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has urged. Mashud has asked the BCB to make these changes after many players suffered in the ongoing heat wave across the country.In the 2016-17 season, the National Cricket League first-class tournament began in September but took a break to accommodate the Bangladesh Premier League T20 competition, which was held from November 8 to December 9. The NCL ended after a second phase that stretched from December 20 to January 6.The Bangladesh Cricket League, the four-team first-class competition, then took place from January 28 to March 8. The Dhaka Premier League, which began this season on April 12 and is likely to end in mid-June, has a history of scheduling delays as the major clubs want the top cricketers to participate in the List A competition. Since September last year, the Bangladesh team has been busy playing home or away, so it was hard for the BCB to make the clubs agree to start the DPL in March, when the top cricketers were in Sri Lanka.Mashud, who is also Prime Bank Cricket Club’s coach, said the major domestic competitions such as the DPL and the two first-class competitions must be completed by mid-April.”Implementing the domestic calendar during the season is everyone’s priority,” Mashud wrote in a Facebook post. “It won’t be possible to hold back the [Dhaka Premier] league this season but these concerns should be addressed ahead of the next season. I would urge the BCB to finish the longer-version and one-day competitions by mid-April. They can think of a T20 tournament when the weather gets hotter. I believe such a step will help Bangladesh cricket.”The temperature in Bangladesh touched 38 degrees last week. Mashud cited the examples of Gazi Group batsman Jahurul Islam and Prime Bank wicketkeeper Zakir Hasan, who suffered severe cramps during DPL matches. Zakir was particularly affected during Prime Bank’s May 21 match against Gazi Group Cricketers, suffering seizures despite being given an ice massage in the dressing room. He still hasn’t recovered from his cramps.The DPL has had to deal with other issues too. Avishek Mitra, the Mohammedan Sporting Club batsman, suffered a hamstring injury at the BKSP ground, where there was no ambulance to take him for treatment. In the end, the team had to improvise and use a cycle-van.Mashud also pointed out the effect of power failures, at the BKSP and Fatullah grounds, on players.”Like every other place in the country right now, power failure is also affecting the stadiums,” he wrote. “Cricketers don’t get adequate rest after returning from fielding for 50 overs. While there are generators in place for international matches, it is not the case for domestic games.”It is quite embarrassing to find such a situation in the only List A tournament in the country in which local and foreign stars participate. A bigger challenge awaits from May 24 when the Super League begins. Ramadan is also starting on May 27 which is a major concern for me as a coach.”

Farke Could Ditch Leeds "Liability" For £30k-p/w Titan

After a protracted search to find a new permanent head coach, Leeds United have moved to end the recent uncertainty by snapping up former Norwich City and Borussia Monchengladbach boss, Daniel Farke.

The 46-year-old – who has been appointed on a four-year deal – has been tasked with trying to take the Elland Road outfit back into the top flight, having previously enjoyed two promotions from the Championship during his prior stint with the Canaries.

If the German tactician is to repeat that feat in his new surroundings, however, one key area that he will need to improve is the club's dour defensive record, with the Whites having shipped 79 and 78 league goals in each of the last two seasons, respectively.

Such a grim return has not been helped by the woes of first-choice goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, with the 6 foot 6 Frenchman having arguably been "a massive liability" for his side last term, as per journalist David Kent.

As Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher stated during that dismal 2022/23 campaign, the 23-year-old arguably looks like a "kid in goal" due to his slender frame, as he simply offers "no presence" in the sticks.

The former Lorient man notably made three errors leading to goals in the Premier League last season as a sign of his shortcomings, with only Tottenham Hotspur's Hugo Lloris making more mistakes in the division (four).

The £30k-per-week man's costly blunders ultimately saw him axed from the starting lineup for the final four games of the season following Sam Allardyce's interim appointment, with one-time Everton man Joel Robles having been given the nod instead.

As per The Athletic's Phil Hay, the expectation is that Meslier will be moved on this summer if an acceptable offer is received by the club, with Farke seemingly needing to ensure that he does all he can to finally rid Leeds of their problematic stopper.

Who could replace Meslier at Leeds?

With the aforementioned Robles having left the Yorkshire side following the expiry of his contract last month, Farke is currently short on options with regard to who can replace the France U21 international ahead of next season.

That being said, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Leeds are said to be "battling it out" with AFC Bournemouth for the signing of Newcastle United's, Karl Darlow, with a bid for the 32-year-old potentially in the offing.

illan-meslier-leeds-united

The 6 foot 3 Englishman – who has two years left to run on his existing deal at St James' Park – notably enjoyed a strong spell on loan at Hull City in the second half of last season, having arguably been "outstanding" for the Tigers, according to pundit Carlton Palmer.

As Palmer also stated – when discussing Middlesborough's interest in Darlow – the one-time Nottingham Forest man could represent a "shrewd piece of business", particularly as he is valued at just €800k (£700k), according to Football Transfers.

With recent reports suggesting that Meslier could command a fee of around £30m if he is to be sold, Farke could then utilise those funds elsewhere to strengthen his squad, while snapping up the Magpies man for a possible bargain fee.

While Darlow's impact on Tyneside has been sporadic of late – having made just 100 appearances for the club over the last nine years – his form on loan at Hull should represent a strong gauge of his quality, as he kept five clean sheets from just 12 outings – the same as Meslier achieved from 34 appearances last season.

As such, if Farke is looking to move the latter man on, then snapping up the £30k-per-week titan could be just the solution for those at Elland Road.

Newcastle Keen To Snap Up World Cup Star This Summer

Newcastle United's efforts to bring in more top level talent this summer have led them to Sevilla and Morocco star Youssef En-Nesyri, according to a report from Marca – and they may be able to lure him to the club with Champions League football.

How many goals has Youssef En-Nesyri scored for Sevilla?

The striker was once more relied upon by Sevilla for his goals in La Liga during the 2022/23 season, with the forward bagging eight goals in 31 Spanish top flight games.

However, he wasn't as frequent of a first-team starter as he has been in the past, as he managed only 17 starts for the club. It was the lowest amount that the Morocco international had been given since he originally joined back in 2019/20. His ability to still plunder the goals led to him having a respectable rate of 0.49 goal contributions per 90 – which is actually the second-best rate he has managed since his move there.

He still has yet to match the heights of his 2020/21 campaign though, when he bagged himself 18 goals in just 23 starts for Sevilla in La Liga. It wasn't only the best tally he has managed for the La Liga outfit but the best of his career. He has since failed to hit double-digit amounts in the league though.

The 6 foot 2 target man still continues to produce the goods for his national side though and has now managed nearly 60 caps for the country since making his debut for them back in 2016. His goal tally for them stands at 17, and he remains a regular starter for them too.

youssef-en-nesyri-newcastle-united-transfer-news-premier-league

Are Newcastle United signing Youssef En-Nesyri?

En-Nesyri has yet to challenge himself outside of Spain at club level. That could all be set to change though this transfer window though, because according to a report from Marca, the attacker is wanted by Newcastle, who are eager to try and tie up a deal for the player.

Roma are also keeping tabs on him too, meaning the 26-year-old could have the opportunity to branch out to either the Premier League or Serie A, should he opt to move.

owever, the report states that the striker actually isn't too keen on leaving his current team – unless there is an opportunity for him to join a club with "greater sporting aspirations", or in other words a team with Champions League football. With the Toon now set to test themselves against the very best in Europe, that could allow them to potentially land Morocco's number nine.

He's already achieved plenty in the game at just 26-years-old too, with both his club and his country. Journalist Josh Bunting highlighted his achievement in breaking a record for Morocco, as he was became the first player from the African nation to score at consecutive World Cups after a "lovely finish" in Qatar.

En-Nesyri not only is able to bag goals in Spain but on the biggest stage then – David Moyes called him "incredible" during the World Cup – and that could give Newcastle a real extra asset in attack if they were able to sign him this summer.

Chelsea’s "Dangerous" £182k-p/w Target Would Love To Join

Chelsea target and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez would love to complete a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

How old is Lautaro Martinez?

Martinez is a 25-year-old striker who has played his football at the San Siro Stadium since 2018 after joining from Racing Club. During his four years in the Serie A, he’s been a regular feature of Simone Inzaghi’s first-team, racking up a total of 238 appearances to date.

The Argentina international, however, could be on the move during the ongoing window after establishing himself as his side’s both overall and offensive best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.18, not to mention that he also won the World Cup, which has attracted plenty of attention from the Premier League.

Back in June, 90min reported that the Blues and Manchester United, alongside La Liga giants Real Madrid, had all registered an interest in a summer deal for the attacker who is expected to start a new adventure, and his new home could well be in SW6.

Since his arrival, Mauricio Pochettino has already recruited RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku and Villareal’s Nicolas Jackson, but it appears that he’s in the market for even more attacking reinforcements if the following update is to be believed.

Are Chelsea signing Lautaro Martinez?

According to Football Insider, Martinez is "keen to make the switch" to the English top-flight and more specifically "wants to team up" with his compatriot Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea boss is believed to be a "big fan" of the centre-forward and it's claimed by sources that he would "love" the opportunity to work with his countryman.

Inter Milan's talisman is on a "shortlist" of final third targets alongside Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic and Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, though it yet remains to be seen which of the three strikers would be the preferred option in the capital.

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

How many goals has Lautaro Martinez scored?

In the Serie A last season, Martinez posted a remarkable 28 goal contributions (21 goals and seven assists) in 38 appearances with this outstanding form seeing him collect eight man-of-the-match awards, so should he put pen to paper, he could be a real force to be reckoned with leading the line at Chelsea.

Sponsored by Nike, Inter’s “dangerous” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also recorded a total of 125 shots over the course of the campaign which was more than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, highlighting not only how much of a standout star he is but also the constant eye and desire he has to make sure that the ball hits the back of the net.

Martinez, who pockets £182k-per-week and has the versatility to operate anywhere across the frontline, including out wide on both wings, will additionally know what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured eight senior trophies since the start of his career – that number could increase if he was to move to the capital where a new era is about to begin under Pochettino.

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