Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is desperately in need of new signings to bolster the team's chances of winning the Premier League title. The Gunners are reportedly considering bidding £70m for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who has been a long-time target and could potentially bring much-needed firepower to the squad. Meanwhile, Real Madrid also have their eyes on Arsenal's William Saliba for a summer transfer, as they look to revamp their aging defense, potentially making it a double Premier League swoop with interest in Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold as well. Arteta's message to the owners is clear - if Arsenal want to compete with their title rivals, reinforcements are necessary before it's too late.
Arsenal's Transfer Rumor Mill: Sesko, Saliba, and Arteta's Plea for Reinforcements
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is on the hunt for reinforcements, recognizing that his team needs to bolster its squad if it wants to challenge for the Premier League title. The Gunners have been linked with a number of high-profile signings, including RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Real Madrid's target William Saliba.
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko is a 19-year-old Slovenian striker who has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe. He has scored 13 goals in 31 appearances for Leipzig this season, and has also impressed for the Slovenian national team. Arsenal has been tracking Sesko for some time, and reports suggest that they are preparing a £70m bid for the youngster.
William Saliba
Saliba is a 21-year-old French defender who joined Arsenal in 2019 for a fee of £27m. He spent the last two seasons on loan at Marseille, where he established himself as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Saliba this summer, and are considering making a bid in the region of £50m.
Arteta's Message
Arteta has made it clear to the Arsenal hierarchy that he needs new signings if the team wants to compete for the Premier League title. The Gunners have made a promising start to the season, but they have been inconsistent at times, and their squad lacks depth in key areas. Arteta is hoping that the club will back him in the transfer market so that he can build a team capable of challenging for the highest honors.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why does Arsenal need reinforcements?
Arsenal's squad lacks depth in key areas, and they need to strengthen their team if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.
2. Who is Benjamin Sesko?
Sesko is a 19-year-old Slovenian striker who has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.
3. Why is Real Madrid interested in William Saliba?
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Saliba because they are looking to revamp their aging defense.
4. What is Arteta's message to the owners?
Arteta has made it clear to the Arsenal hierarchy that he needs new signings if the team wants to compete for the Premier League title.
5. What are the chances of Arsenal signing Sesko and Saliba?
It is difficult to say at this stage, but Arsenal are reportedly confident of signing both players.
With stand-in captain Steve Smith and opener Usman Khawaja leading the charge, Australia piled on the runs in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Khawaja scored his maiden Test double-century and Smith continued to add to his tally after joining the 10,000 runs club. The two broke multiple records, including the highest partnership by an Australian pair in Sri Lanka and the second-highest partnership in Test cricket history for Australia. Now, with a strong lead and debutant Josh Inglis adding to the total, Australia looks poised to declare and put Sri Lanka on the back foot.
On Thursday, it was announced that Stefan Bajcetic, a former Liverpool defender, has joined Las Palmas instead of Porto for the remainder of the season. Despite initial plans for him to stay at RB Salzburg until after the Club World Cup, the player was eager for a change. This news comes on a day where two other former Liverpool captains have also made headlines.
Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
In an exciting Elite Group D match in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to bowl first against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The match saw a strong performance from Delhi's bowlers, with Railways losing five batters in the first 40 minutes of play. However, Railways' Upendra Yadav's impressive 95 helped his team reach a respectable total of 241. Notably, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli also made an appearance for Delhi, marking his first Ranji Trophy match since 2012.
Australian batter Josh Inglis made a sensational debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 102 runs off just 93 balls on the second day of the match in Galle. Inglis' milestone made him the second-fastest century scorer on Test debut in cricket history, following Shikhar Dhawan's record of 85 balls in 2013. The 29-year-old's impressive performance added to an intriguing trend in Australian cricket, as the last three batters from the country to score a century on debut were all from Western Australia.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc celebrated his birthday in style by reaching a milestone of 700 international wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test match against Sri Lanka, becoming the sixth-fastest player to do so. Starc's remarkable achievement further solidifies his place in the annals of fast bowling history and puts him alongside other cricketing legends.
In an impressive batting performance, Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut for Australia, becoming the third centurion of the innings after Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Inglis reached the milestone in just 90 balls, the second fastest by a debutant, before eventually falling for 102 runs. His partnership with Khawaja, who achieved his maiden Test double century, helped Australia reach 600 runs before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. Despite the strong batting display, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya stood out with his career-high 60 overs bowled in an innings.
After surpassing former India wicket-keeper Naman Ojha's record, 38-year-old Sheldon Jackson becomes the top six-hitter in Ranji Trophy history. In his 100th Ranji Trophy appearance, Jackson hit his milestone six against Assam, securing his place as one of only six batters to have smashed over 100-plus Ranji Trophy sixes. With over 6600 runs in the Ranji Trophy, Jackson ranks third among Saurashtra batters, behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Sitanshu Kotak. He was also instrumental in Saurashtra's two title wins, including a match-winning century in the semifinal.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli's return to first-class cricket after eight years drew over 15,000 fans to Delhi's Kotla stadium, with the crowd growing by the minute. Fans packed the Gautam Gambhir stand and broke barricades in order to watch Kohli in action, with some even coming from out of town just to see him play. Despite some chaotic moments at the gates, the excitement and energy of the crowd was palpable as Delhi took on Railways in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.