A vitória do Palmeiras diante do Corinthians no último sábado (29), no Allianz Parque, pelo Brasileirão, foi uma partida especial para Raphael Veiga. O meia, recuperado de lesão muscular na coxa, foi titular no clássico e teve uma noite ‘de gala’, balançando a rede e distribuindo assistência. Com o gol marcado, o camisa 23 alcançou a artilharia do Verdão em Dérbis no século.
> Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Veiga se igualou a Luiz Adriano e Romarinho como os maiores artilheiros no clássico desde 2001: cinco gols para cada. Além disso, o meia, que é o maior artilheiro do clube em clássicos no século XXI, ‘desencantou’ e marcou o seu primeiro gol contra rivais nesta temporada.
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Agora, o craque do Palmeiras soma 14 gols diante dos rivais desde que chegou ao clube, no final de 2016. Foram cinco contra o Corinthians, quatro contra o Santos e cinco contra o São Paulo. Atrás dele está o atacante Dudu, que já anotou 12 gols em clássicos.
Veiga é o vice-artilheiro do Verdão no ano com seis gols. Diante do Timão, o meia encerrou um jejum de dois meses sem balançar a rede de qualquer adversário. A última vez havia sido diante da Ferroviária, em fevereiro, na vitória por 2 a 1, pela primeira fase do Paulistão.
> ATUAÇÕES: Em retorno “de gala”, Veiga é decisivo em vitória do Palmeiras no Dérbi pelo Brasileirão
Após a vitória no Dérbi, o Palmeiras se prepara para o seu próximo compromisso: a Libertadores. O Alviverde enfrenta o Barcelona-EQU, na próxima quarta-feira (3), em Guayaquil, às 21h30, pela terceira rodada da fase de grupos da competição continental.
Chelsea’s opening Premier League match is under three weeks away, yet it doesn’t appear as though Enzo Maresca is finished with his transfer business.
Despite adding plenty of talent to his already bloated squad, including the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens, the Italian is still on the hunt for more attacking players.
Over the previous few weeks, Tyler Dibling, Karim Adeyemi and even Real Madrid starlet Goncalo Garcia have all been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
While initial links have been established, nothing concrete has been made regarding any of these three players as of yet.
All of Maresca’s attention is being taken up by the potential transfer of Dutchman Xavi Simons.
The RB Leipzig starlet is edging close to a move to the Blues, and given his performances in the Bundesliga since the summer of 2023, could he be the final piece of the attacking jigsaw for the club?
RB Leipzig's Lois Openda and Xavi Simons.
Any move could potentially go through at some point this week, but what exactly will the former PSG sensation bring to Chelsea?
Why Chelsea are trying to sign Xavi Simons
On Sunday, journalist Ben Jacobs gave an update on X regarding the club’s pursuit of the attacking midfielder.
“Chelsea advancing talks with Xavi Simons. Terms now broadly in place,” said Jacobs. “Club-to-club talks ongoing. Chelsea expected to place a first formal offer soon after verbal discussions over numbers. Talks described as positive.”
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match
If all goes to plan, Maresca could be welcoming Simons to Stamford Bridge sooner rather than later, and it will give him more firepower.
The playmaker could cost Chelsea a reported £70m, but on the surface, this could be money well spent by the London outfit.
The Blues return to the Champions League this season for the first time since 2022/23. As such, signing someone who can make a difference in this competition makes perfect sense.
Step forward, Simons. When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last season, the Dutch starlet was sublime across a range of performance metrics.
Not only did he rank in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.88), but the 22-year-old also ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and in the top 11% for progressive carries (3.22) in Europe’s premier club competition.
With ambitions heightened ahead of European competition next term due to the club’s success at the Club World Cup this summer, signing Simons would give Maresca a chance of taking his team deep in the tournament.
Given that João Félix seems to be moving on in the next few days, with Chelsea recouping the same fee that they paid for him a year ago, there is space for Simons to come in.
Despite his obvious strengths and his growth potential, do the Blues really need to make him a priority signing?
Indeed, it’s arguable that their defence needs more work ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Chelsea closing in on another signing
The links to attacking players seem to grow day by day, but there haven’t been as many defenders linked with a move to the club.
One player whom the club have shown plenty of interest in, however, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues “will be in direct contact” with Hato regarding a potential deal. Romano also went on to state that Hato “only wants Chelsea” which should pave the way for Maresca to wrap up this deal as soon as possible.
David Ornstein of The Athletic has further reported that personal terms have already been agreed with Chelsea closing in on a deal that may be worth around £40m.
The squad is heavily stacked from an attacking perspective, but there is no doubt that Chelsea needs another couple of defenders to freshen things up.
As such, could Hato turn out to be an even better signing than Simons ahead of the 2025/26 campaign?
Why Hato would be a better signing than Simons for Chelsea
One reason why Maresca is keen on adding the teenager to his squad is surely due to his positional flexibility.
Over the course of his embryonic career thus far, Hato has played 88 games at left-back and 70 matches as a centre-back.
Games played
11
33
31
Goals scored
0
1
2
Assists
0
2
6
Touches per game
57.4
94.8
67.2
Accurate passes per game
42.6 (91%)
72.8 (93%)
45.2 (90%)
Total duels won per game
3.1
5.5
4.1
Clean sheets
1
5
11
Last season, however, saw the 19-year-old operate on the left side of the defence and he showcased his talents, both going forward and defensively.
In the Eredivisie. The defender helped Ajax keep 11 clean sheets while he averaged 1.9 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and was dribbled past only 0.3 times per match.
Along with his eight goal contributions, Hato also managed to create six big chances in the top flight, while averaging 0.6 key passes per match, thus displaying plenty of attacking intent for his club.
Furthermore, when compared to his positional peers in leagues similar in reputation to the Dutch top-flight over the previous 365 days, Hato ranked in the top 5% for assists (0.21) per 90, along with ranking in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area (2.33) per 90.
On this evidence, Hato would offer plenty at both ends of the pitch for Chelsea, thus giving Maresca a major boost.
There was no doubt that the 2024/25 season was his major breakout campaign for the Dutch giants, one that was largely praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Netherlands' JorrelHatois shown a red card by referee Glenn Nyberg
“Jorrel Hato is having an excellent season,” said Kulig. A fantastic mix of complete full-back, playmaking full-back, and ball-playing centre-back. Over 100 games for Ajax and 6 caps for Oranje at 19. Immense quality and experience for such a young defender.”
Simons will bring something extra to the Chelsea attacking department; there is no doubt about that. Still only 22, he will only go from strength to strength in the next few years.
Hato, on the other hand, may well turn out to be the better signing for the Stamford Bridge outfit given that the Blues are already stacked in offensive areas.
By signing both players, it would signal yet another statement of intent by Maresca. Chelsea will surely be a force to be reckoned with this season if the squad can gel swiftly.
Instant Felix upgrade: Terms now "in place" for Chelsea to sign £60m star
With João Félix poised to join Al-Nassr for £43m, Chelsea are in talks to sign a £60m attacker who’ll be a massive upgrade.
Nottingham Forest have now tabled a new bid for an “exceptional” Premier League attacker who Tottenham also want with Morgan Gibbs-White.
Nottingham Forest suffer Gibbs-White blow
The Reds had so many star performers like last season, from Murillo to Chris Wood, but Gibbs-White is arguably the most prized asset at the club, proving to be such an influential figure since arriving from Wolves.
Sady, Forest are on the brink of losing the 25-year-old this summer, though, with Tottenham triggering the £60m release clause in his contract. He was previously linked with a move to Manchester City, but it now looks as though Spurs have got their man.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts after the match
It is a massive setback for the Reds, given the quality that Gibbs-White possesses both in and out of possession – he scored seven goals and registered eight assists in the Premier League last season – with Nuno Espirito Santo always speaking highly of him during their time together at the City Ground: “Morgan is a very special player for us. Very important, talented, the work rate on the pitch, but to allow Morgan to have these moments a lot of things happen behind, hard work by the boys and this is very important.”
It’s now a case of Forest using the Gibbs-White money wisely this summer, and a new update suggests that a move for a top-quality Premier League player could be on the cards.
Nottingham Forest make new bid for Premier League forward
According to the reliable David Ornstein of The Athletic on X, Nottingham Forest have now tabled a “fresh offer” for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, as new global head of football Edu looks to strike a cheeky deal of well under the £50m the Bees want for the DR Congo international this summer.
“Nottingham Forest renew pursuit of Yoane Wissa – fresh offer made to Brentford for 28yo Congo striker. Bid falls under £25m NFFC were prepared to pay in Jan window & considerably lower than BrentfordFC valuation; in excess of £50m.”
Interestingly, Tottenham have also held talks with Wissa’s representatives as they look to transform their side with moves for Gibbs-White and Mohammed Kudus.
Wissa could be an outstanding signing for Forest ahead of next season, having shone so brightly throughout the 2024/25 campaign, scoring 19 goals in the league.
The 28-year-old shouldn’t take any time to hit the ground running, having already proven himself in the Premier League, and former Brentford manager and new Spurs boss Thomas Frank lauded his performances during last term.
“15 Premier League goals – wow! That’s exceptional and it’s down to Wissa but also down to how we play and how we create chances and big moments.”
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There are few negatives to Forest signing Wissa, even though at 28 years of age he isn’t necessarily getting any younger, and by the looks of things, a move to the City Ground is one to watch this summer.
Arsenal are making serious moves behind-the-scenes as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to make a real impression on English shores, with the 53-year-old thought to be closing in on another target.
Arsenal in advanced talks for player with 5-year deal "already agreed"
The north Londoners have made a significant transfer stride.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025
The Gunners confirmed Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arrival in N5 earlier this week.
The now-ex-Chelsea goalkeeper comes in as Berta’s first official signing since he replaced Edu in late March, but Kepa is widely expected to be followed by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who could even be announced as a new Arsenal player on Thursday (Team News and Ticks).
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
25/26 – summer
£5m
After agreeing a deal for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard recently, which could reach up to £15 million, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano now says that all the necessary paperwork has been exchanged for his transfer to the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta and co will ideally welcome the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as well, as talks remain ongoing with the La Liga side in an attempt to strike their fourth deal of the window. Valencia did attempt to offer the 21-year-old a new contract to ward Arsenal off, but he’s apparently determined to join Arteta’s side.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
“Cristhian Mosquera’s plan remains clear: he wants to join Arsenal project despite new contract proposal from Valencia,” said Romano on X.
“Full focus on negotiations with #AFC as personal terms are agreed, and new bid will be needed after opening one for €14m, rejected.”
Berta has many plates spinning right now, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also firmly on their radar.
Arsenal talks with Eberechi Eze "well advanced"
Earlier this week, it was reported that Arsenal held “positive” talks with Eze’s representatives last weekend, and like Mosquera, he’s pretty keen on the idea of joining.
Now, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Arsenal’s negotiations with Eze are “well advanced”, and all that is really left to do is trigger the England international’s release clause to strike a full agreement.
This comes after “further moves” in “recent hours”, as the outlet reported on Wednesday afternoon, so it appears Berta and co have upped the ante in their pursuit since their weekend discussions.
It is worth noting that Palace have no intention of accepting an offer lower than Eze’s £68m clause, with Arsenal told the exact price needed to make the 27-year-old their next major signing.
Senegal's Habib Diarra in action against England's Eberechi Eze.
It is currently unclear what the ex-QPR star is demanding in terms of salary, with Eze on a reported £100,000-per-week in south London right now, but it could end up being quite a costly operation overall.
However, after his best-ever season at Palace with 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, there is little denying he’d seriously upgrade Arteta’s squad.
“His journey has been unique,” said pundit Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports.
“He’s had disappointments in his academy life, released from clubs, found a new journey and a different pathway for himself. He’s got to this level and now he’s an England international.
“This kid, no disrespect to Palace, could go on and play for one of the top teams. He’s got that individual brilliance; he’s got the awareness when he’s dribbling to keep his head up and bring others into play. I speak to other players that play against him, and they say he’s such an elusive player, unpredictable in the way that he carries the ball, but also [his strength].”
Chelsea have just hours to register more new signings in time for the Club World Cup, which kicks off this weekend, and Stamford Bridge officials are attempting to finalise some behind-the-scenes captures.
Chelsea working on deal for Jamie Gittens with Mike Maignan move off
After sealing their £30 million deal for Liam Delap, who will be travelling with Enzo Maresca’s squad to the CWC rather than competing in the Euros with England Under-21s, BlueCo have been trying to get two more players through the door before the 7pm deadline this evening.
Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea
8.08
Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town
8.05
Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa
8.04
Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton
7.83
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
7.55
via WhoScored
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and Chelsea have been in talks with the Rossoneri over a cut-price deal, but Milan value their captain at around £25 million – a figure which Maresca’s side are not keen to pay.
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Chelsea would have preferred to fork out £10 million for Maignan, but while there was some hope that a compromise could be reached at £15 million (Dom Smith), the deal is now off according to Romano.
Meanwhile, despite time running out fast, Chelsea have also been working to finalise a high-profile deal for Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea had an opening bid of around £30 million rejected for Gittens, but they’re expected to go in with another offer as Maresca’s side scrap to agree a deal and bring him to the CWC.
Jamie Gittens
It is believed that Chelsea have already agreed personal terms with Gittens, though Dortmund are demanding up to £51 million to sell, so this is another story to keep a close eye on today.
Luckily for Maresca, even if Chelsea miss the deadline to sign Gittens tonight, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has shared that there will be a unique registration period midway through the CWC – from June 27 to July 3 – which allows Chelsea to introduce new signings to their tournament squad right after the group stage finishes.
Chelsea make contact with Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers via representatives
So, taking this into account, Chelsea are in fact able to strengthen their team midway through the CWC – so failing to complete a deal for Gittens or Maignan by 7pm may not actually be the end of the world when it comes to their prospects of winning the competition.
Chelsea are looking to bring in a versatile attacking midfielder alongside a new left-winger in the form of Gittens, according to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, and they’ve started to lay some groundwork over a potential deal for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.
England'sEberechiEzecelebrates scoring their third goal with England's Morgan Rogers
As per Phillips, via his SPTC Substack, Chelsea have made contact with Rogers’ agents, and are seriously weighing up adding to their contingent of ex-Man City academy gems with a summer move for the forward – who is expected to cost around £80 million.
Chelsea would apparently “love” to sign the England international, if they consider it a realistic opportunity, and it’s not hard to see why.
Rogers is fresh off the back of a phenomenal campaign with Villa, racking up 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. While it is claimed that the 22-year-old wouldn’t push to leave the Midlands, he’s also likely to be at least open to the prospect of a switch, according to Phillips.
Liverpool are now seriously keen on a second defensive signing alongside their widely reported move for Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong.
Liverpool closing in on Frimpong deal – Ornstein
The Reds have wasted no time seeking out a replacement for the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong being identified as a key target, after it emerged the Dutchman was keen on a move to Anfield last week.
Such is their level of interest, Slot’s side are looking to wrap up a move for the full-back quickly, and it appears as though a move for the 24-year-old is edging close to completion. David Ornstein reporting on Thursday morning that Liverpool are advancing to sign Frimpong and there is “increasing confidence” from the player’s camp that a roughly £30m deal will be struck.
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However, a report from The Mail reveals he is not the only Dutch defender on Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes’ shortlist – Liverpool may also look at bringing in RB Leipzig defender Lutsharel Geertruida. In fact, signing Geertruida is considered a serious possibility, despite the interest in Frimpong, particularly considering Slot knows the former Feyenoord man very well from the time the successful period they spent together at the Eredivisie club.
RB Leipzig's LutsharelGeertruidain action
The Reds have a good relationship with RB Leipzig, which could potentially make a deal more likely to transpire, with signing the Dutchman deemed an attractive proposition, given his versatility, having proven himself in central defence and even midfield.
Liverpool's right side sorted for years to come?
U23 Football Scout Antonio Mango is clearly a big fan of the Leipzig defender, having described him as “monumental” in the past, while also lauding the Netherlands international for his technical ability. His ableness to play multiple positions makes signing both players a real possibility, adding depth up and down the right flank as well as at centre-back in two quick swoops.
While Frimpong has caught the eye going forward, there are concerns that his explosive dribbling style isn’t suitable for Slot’s system, with the Liverpool manager preferring more conventional full-backs, so the Leverkusen man could even be used further up as cover for Mohamed Salah.
The £77k-a-week Leipzig defender meanwhile could be an ideal fit in a traditional back four, given that he is also able to slot in at centre-back when required, featuring in the middle of the defence only slightly less than as a right-back throughout his career to date.
Another added bonus is the fact that Slot knows he can rely on Geertruida, given the success they enjoyed together at Feyenoord, with a Dutch journalist previously describing the 24-year-old as an “Arne Slot favourite”, underlining the manager’s admiration for his former player.
West Ham have found themselves limping through this Premier League campaign, now sitting 17th in the table having only scored 37 goals and conceded 55 times.
Graham Potter, coming in halfway through the season, has struggled to get all of his ideas across, focusing more on defensive stability to gain some results and ensure the club’s safety, which could be confirmed this weekend.
WestHamUnited manager GrahamPotter applauds fans after the match
Last season, with David Moyes in charge, the Hammers scored 60 goals, conceding 74 times. Therefore, despite West Ham’s poor start under Julen Lopetegui, Potter is likely to guide his side to a better defensive year.
So the focus next season will be back on the attack, looking to bridge the gap and get back towards that 60-goal mark, especially with talent such as Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus in attack.
Sadly, Kudus might not be at the London Stadium for too much longer.
The latest on Kudus' future at West Ham
According to reports from The Guardian, Kudus could be set to leave the club in the summer, with West Ham accepting a sale of their Ghanaian forward could be the best way to ‘boost their transfer budget’.
mohammed-kudus-west-ham
One interested club is Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr, where the 24-year-old could team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Saudi club are reportedly preparing to “up the ante” in their attempts to lure Kudus away from London, with an offer of around £85m expected. West Ham signed Kudus for around £38m back in 2023 from Ajax, and a big sale just two years on could be good for their books.
Kudus has made 75 appearances for the Hammers so far, scoring 17 goals, providing 12 assists and totaling 5,883 minutes played.
Whilst the 24-year-old has struggled to find the same form this season as his debut campaign, it won’t be easy for the club to replace him, already forming a strong connection with Bowen at the top of the pitch.
How West Ham could replace Kudus internally
Luckily for West Ham, they already signed a young superstar winger back in the summer, with Luis Guilherme joining the Hammers from Palmeiras for a fee of around £25.5m.
Luis Guilherme for West Ham.
Since his arrival, the 19-year-old has only made 12 appearances for the club, struggling for first-team opportunities in his first season in England.
When Guilherme was signed in the summer, Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall from Analytics United provided analysis on the Brazilian winger, labeling him “an impressively potent offensive asset”. This talent is something that has not dissipated, but is perhaps being protected whilst he acclimatises to the Premier League and the conditions of English football.
Luis Guilherme vs Mohammed Kudus comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Guilherme
Kudus
Goals
0.00
0.11
Assists
0.00
0.11
xG
0.20
0.25
xAG
0.07
0.09
Progressive Carries
2.00
3.49
Progressive Passes
2.00
2.85
Shots Total
1.88
2.60
Key Passes
2.00
1.08
Shot-Creating Actions
6.67
3.78
Successful Take-Ons
3.33
3.09
Stats taken from FBref
When comparing Guilherme’s underlying numbers with Kudus’ underlying numbers, it is important to include the context of the Brazilian’s minutes, only managing 133 minutes this season, which contributes largely to his per 90 metrics.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, you can begin to analyse the styles of each player, both being direct with the ball at their feet, looking to make things happen in the attacking third and create for themselves and their teammates.
Guilherme, in his minimal chances, has shown his creativity, producing shot-creating actions and key passes at a good rate.
Kudus may have a higher athletic ceiling than the Brazilian, being a nightmare to stop once he hits top speed and hurting teams in transition, but Guilherme is no slouch, described as an “electric” player with an “explosive first step” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Giving the young Brazilian a proper chance next season to fill Kudus’ shoes could be a much cheaper alternative, allowing them to spend those funds acquired wisely in other positions such as midfield.
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West Ham chiefs have now been told exactly what they need to complete a deal for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez in January, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in the market for another centre-forward as Niclas Füllkrug packs his bags.
The Hammers are stepping up their pursuit of a number nine ahead of the winter transfer window, with Fullkrug set to depart as the injury-ridden German international seeks a new chapter (Fabrizio Romano).
Fullkrug, according to multiple reliable media sources, is exploring options to leave, with talks already happening, after having struggled with injuries and a lack of overall form since his move from Borussia Dortmund last year. His impending departure has intensified the need for attacking reinforcements, with Nuno apparently keen to bolster his forward options following a difficult start to the campaign.
The East London club have “already” begun scouring the market for potential targets (Fabrizio Romano), and West Ham are reportedly keeping an eye on Man United striker Joshua Zirkzee as a potential reinforcement, among others.
West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
West Ham have been linked with Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque and explored a loan move for Real Madrid’s Endrick, before Lyon swooped in to take command in the race for his signature as the Ligue 1 giants press ahead with a deal.
Additionally, Gimenez has emerged as a target for West Ham too.
The Mexico international, who scored for fun in the Eredivisie and even once commanded an £88 million price tag, hasn’t managed to carry on that form at the San Siro since making his eventual £28 million move to Milan earlier this year.
Gimenez has managed just seven goals in 30 total appearances for the Rossoneri, and Milan chiefs may now green-light a mid-season departure for the 24-year-old, who had previously starred under Arne Slot at Feyenoord.
The North American racked up 26 goals in 41 appearances in Slot’s final season at Feyenoord, and finished the previous campaign as their top scorer whilst firing them to the title that year.
Interestingly, Milan are believed to be interested in Fullkrug as a replacement for Gimenez, with the prospect of a swap deal even touted in the press very recently.
West Ham told Santiago Gimenez deal conditions as Fullkrug swap deal mooted
While the possibility of a swap deal or even part-exchange is apparently there, a report by Calciomercato has detailed exactly what David Sullivan needs to do to make a deal happen.
According to their information, West Ham’s hopes of securing Gimenez in January hinge on meeting strict conditions set by the Italian giants.
AC Milan's SamuelChukwueze, AC Milan's Malick Thiaw and AC Milan's Santiago Gimenez celebrate after the match
Milan will only consider selling for a permanent transfer fee of at least £22 million, and crucially, the deal must come from a club that Gimenez himself approves. The Italian outlet emphasizes that without these two conditions being met, any discussions remain purely hypothetical.
The situation presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Nuno’s side. However, that being said, there is reason to believe that Gimenez would be a major upgrade on Fullkrug.
The eight-year age difference between the two strikers means that West Ham would certainly benefit from a swap for the long-term, and unlike Fullkrug, Gimenez enjoyed 20-plus goal seasons in the build up to his Milan move.
Gimenez’s “sensational” form at Feyenoord attracted interest from elite Premier League sides, including Arsenal, and West Ham could now have a chance to help him rediscover his goalscoring touch in England.
Milan’s willingness to sell means a deal is there to be done, so Gimenez could genuinely be one of Nuno’s better options.
LOS ANGELES — The digital clock on the wall of the Dodgers’ clubhouse read 12:10 a.m., only 20 minutes after the most exhausting World Series game ever played, and Shohei Ohtani, hair tousled and uncombed from a quick towel dry, clad in shorts and a T-shirt, hurried out a back door. His first World Series start on the mound was approaching later the same day, just 17 hours away.
Maybe Ohtani was headed toward a phone booth to restore his superpowers. Or maybe he is the modern Chiron, the centaur whom the ancient Greeks believed when wounded by Hercules invented modern medicine to heal himself.
We know not how he does it. All we know is that those 17 hours, like the eye of a hurricane, define the sheer wonder of Ohtani as definitively as the whirlwind of what he does on the field. Somehow after reaching base nine times in the 18 innings of madness that was Game 3—three more times than anybody ever did in a postseason game—and refusing to leave the game as cramps wracked his legs, Ohtani planned to take the ball as the starting pitcher in Game 4.
The Dodgers outlasted the Blue Jays, 6-5, on a merciful home run by Freddie Freeman that put an immediate stop to 18 innings, 19 pitchers, 31 hits, 399 minutes, 595 pitches and innumerable thrills, many of which were the consequences of awful baserunning and shaky fielding interspersed with moments of grandeur. It was a night you needed the organist to sign off with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” the way Fenway Park’s John Kiley did 50 years and six days previous when Carlton Fisk presaged Freeman. But nothing rose above the sublime and the ridiculous like the industriousness and unique greatness of Ohtani.
When I asked him on the field immediately after the game how he felt, he said quietly, “I need to go to bed.” The most active game anybody ever played in the World Series was played by the next day’s starting pitcher. Just the idea of that, like most everything Ohtani does, was unfathomable until he came along.
“I mean, I threw two innings, and I feel like I’m dead,” Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan said. “So, it’s really just a testament to everything he does behind the scenes, like taking care of his body. He’s one of a kind. And yeah, if anybody can do it, play a game like that and pitch the next day, it’s him.”
Shohei Ohtani’s Record-Setting Night
Running a depleted staff, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has little choice but to stick with Ohtani on the mound for Game 4. Given how exhausted and hobbled Ohtani looked over the back half of Game 3, maybe Roberts would do well to allow him to pitch only—and give him some rest while somebody else takes his DH spot. But such an impact hitter is Ohtani that giving his four or five—or nine—plate appearances to anybody else is doing the Toronto Blue Jays a favor.
How is this for spending the day before your start on the mound:
First player to reach base nine times in a postseason game.First player in 119 years to swat four extra-base hits in a World Series game.First player with a third multi-homer game in one postseason.First player with four intentional walks in one postseason game.
By the 11th inning, so worn out was Ohtani that Roberts, upon seeing him dead-legged hobble from first to second, offered to take him out of the game to rest for his Game 4 start on the mound. Ohtani told him he wasn’t going anywhere.
“It’s really crazy to put it in words what he did,” said Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas, “but the biggest thing is he didn’t want to come out of the game. He got the opportunity to. When he was cramping and he was feeling discomfort on his legs, he got the opportunity to come out of the game knowing that he needs to pitch tomorrow.
“But he talks a lot about like the commitment and the effort that everybody’s doing. Like he’s seeing his teammates out there and the pitchers going extra mileage, like a guy [pitcher Will Klein] who maybe never threw more than 25 pitches or 30 pitches in a game in his life. With Shohei, that’s kind of like his aura and who he is. He will never come out of the game because he wanted to win today. And regardless of what happened tomorrow, we got this one. And that’s the most important part.”
Right there in the gallantry department with Ohtani, Klein, Freeman and exhausted catcher Will Smith, who caught all 18 innings and blocked more pitches than a Hollywood show-runner, was Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Only two days earlier, the 5-foot-10 Yamamoto became the smallest pitcher to post a World Series complete game win since Billy Pierce of the 1962 Giants. Yet around the 16th inning, just after Roberts told me he would have to use a position player after Klein, Yamamoto, still with his sneakers on, approached pitching coach Mark Prior in the dugout with the interpreter Will Ireton. He volunteered to pitch in relief.
Ohtani elected to stay in the game after suffering a cramp in extra innings. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Indeed, Yamamoto put his spikes on and reported to the bullpen to warm. He was only one pitch away from entering the game in the 18th as a spent Klein went to a 3-and-1 count on Tyler Heineman with runners at second and third and two outs. Suddenly from the dugout, Kershaw, who had left the bases loaded in the 12th by getting a third-out grounder, yelled for time from home plate umpire Mark Wegner. Roberts heard Kershaw and doubled down on the request.
Klein, they claimed, needed to have the mud cleaned from his spikes. The timeout seemed to be designed to give Yamamoto more time to get ready and/or provide a breather to Klein after Smith already had visited the mound. Not so, Kershaw said.
“It wasn’t a gambit,” Kershaw said. “I saw he was slipping on the mound. I didn’t want him to slip while throwing a pitch.”
In any case, Klein, given his break, fanned Heineman. If Klein throws Ball 4 there, Yamamoto is in the game and channeling Orel Hershiser, vintage 1988. In the 1988 NLCS, Hershiser saved Game 4 the day after starting Game 3, in which he threw seven innings on three days of rest after throwing 8 1/3 innings in Game 1. (He would throw a shutout in Game 7 on three days of rest, pitching four times in nine days.)
Blue Jays’ Questionable Moves Cost Them
The Dodgers outlasted the Blue Jays as much as they beat them. Toronto hurt itself with unforgivable mistakes. There was Isiah Kiner-Falefa tryng to go from first to third with one out in the ninth on a ball that caromed off the glove of Freeman and into short right field. Kiner-Falefa, with the ball behind him, never picked up the third base coach and decided wrong-headedly to just keep booking toward third. Second baseman Tommy Edman threw him out.
There was manager John Schneider replacing Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk for pinch-runners, which, after an injury to George Springer and the removal of Bo Bichette to save his sore left knee, left a lineup nearly half full of bench players. Sending Myles Straw to run for Barger in the eighth was particularly baffling. The upgrade was miniscule. Both are plus runners. The downgrade in offense in a one-run game was huge. The game seemed continually to wheel toward Straw, Heineman and Kiner-Falefa, who went a combined 0-for-11 off the bench.
Most egregiously of all was the one pitch that reliever Seranthony Domínguez threw to Ohtani in the seventh when the Blue Jays were up 5–4 with two outs to go before turning to Jeff Hoffman for a six-out save. Such a dangerous hitter is Ohtani that pitching coach Pete Walker ran to the mound to warn Domínguez to give Ohtani nothing to hit with the bases empty. No sooner had Walker returned to the dugout than Domínguez threw a fastball right down the middle. Ohtani clocked it for a game-tying home run.
Schneider walked him intentionally four times after that homer, five if you count a pitch-around walk. Ohtani has not been swinging the bat well as he tried mostly for pull-side fly balls. He had not had an opposite field hit in 37 days.
But in the sixth, Mason Fluharty did him the favor of throwing him six straight sweepers—10 straight since they met in Game 1. The left-handed break of the pitch forced Ohtani to let the ball travel and to keep his front shoulder tucked on the ball longer. He smashed the 10th straight sweeper into left-center for a ringing double. It was exactly the kind of swing Roberts had been waiting for all month. It was the swing that locked in Ohtani, who after that looked like transformed, confident hitter not to be messed with.
Freeman won the game but Ohtani, fully dangerous again, swung the series. Schneider can no longer have his pitchers challenge him in any meaningful spot.
It wasn’t just that no game like the one Ohtani forged had never happened before. Four extra-base hits and nine times on base by the next day’s starting pitcher? Come on, folks. It is also stunning that no one even would think such a thing were possible.
Ohtani kept ducking into the clubhouse between at-bats to make sure he was hydrated and to treat his fatigue. At one point so haggard was Ohtani that he returned to the dugout wearing an alternate cap, one with a script “D” rather than the interlocking “LA.” A coach whispered in his ear, “Dude, you’ve got the wrong hat.” Ohtani spun on his heels and returned to his locker to get the proper one.
However, so restored was Ohtani as a hitting force that the Blue Jays did not allow him to swing the bat for the next three hours, 56 minutes after his home run off Domínguez. They put him on base five straight times with walks.
Ohtani did not reach full exhaustion. That was evident in a touching coda to his night. After celebrating with teammates greeting Freeman at home plate after the home run, Ohtani turned and began sprinting toward left field. Where was he going? Who was out there that would make him leave the mosh pit at home plate?
Ohtani remembered the sacrifice of Yamamoto, who did not get into the game but was willing to risk his health to make sure the Dodgers won this game. Yamamoto was jogging in from the bullpen when Ohtani, racing at near full speed, met him in the outfield. The two Japanese stars, the richest player and richest pitcher in history, playing under contracts worth $1.025 billion dollars, embraced like brothers on the grass in what was now the cool of the approaching midnight.
“Yama, he has like four or five championships already and counting, including Japan,” Rojas said. “He knows how to do it and what to do to get it done. So. I feel like he knows that a week from now we're going to be home and we're going to be resting. And he actually was ready to go and Doc was ready to put him in the game. And, I mean, I'm glad that Klein finished that inning and we’re here celebrating.”
Freddie Freeman hit a home run in the 18th inning to win Game 3 for the Dodgers. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Rojas spoke at a locker near to the one of Ohtani, who left only his vapor trail. Ohtani somehow had to recover in time from playing 18 innings to pitch 17 hours later. Said one Dodgers source, “People talk about elbow injuries to pitchers. With Shohei, what you worry most about is the wear and tear from what he is doing. People don’t appreciate the physical strain. Pitching alone is hard enough—the strain of it, the recovery it demands. And while he’s doing that, he’s playing every day. It’s the coast-to-coast travel. It’s the game after game. It’s everything. It’s constant.”
Babe Ruth found two-way duty so demanding he dropped it after two partial seasons of it. This is Ohtani’s sixth season doing it. He is doing so with extraordinary power more so than finesse and guile. Nobody has hit more balls 100 mph or more (220, including three more in Game 3). Only three starters have thrown more pitches 100 mph or more (46). If he takes his usual DH leadoff spot in Game 4, he will become the first pitcher to bat higher than sixth in the World Series, where the Babe hit in 1918.
Ohtani has had his elbow surgically repaired twice. There is an enormous physical toll he pays to pursue his love and to honor the gifts that make him the best player who ever lived. Enjoy every day of this wonder, especially the stupefying resolve of these back-to-back World Series games.