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Arsenal have submitted a £52 million bid to sign a Real Madrid star and have even offered him a ‘leading role’ in the side, according to a new report.

Arteta vows to consider January signings for Arsenal

While sporting director Andrea Berta splashed around £270 million on eight major signings for the Gunners last summer, Mikel Arteta has still strongly suggested that they could be active this month.

The Spaniard, after coping with a lot of injuries again this term, has consistently found himself short of options in key areas and has therefore refused to rule out business mid-season.

Surprise claims from the last week have revealed that Berta and co may well raid the Bernabeu for fresh talent, no matter how unattainable they seem right now.

CaughtOffside reported before the New Year that Arsenal still hold an interest in Real playmaker Arda Güler, who they view as an “Odegarrd-style” signing on a potential loan-to-buy deal.

However, given the Turkey international has now established himself as a mainstay player under Xabi Alonso, it is highly unlikely Florentino Perez would green-light such a move.

A far more likely Real player to be available this month is Rodrygo, following numerous reports that the Brazil international could depart Madrid in search of more game time.

The 24-year-old, who Arsenal held talks over signing last May, was starting to play more regularly before the Christmas La Liga break – racking up a brace against Sevilla and a goal against Alaves just before their holiday.

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However, he’s still been in and out of the side far more likely than he’d have hoped, with media sources claiming that Rodrygo is desperate to leave Madrid and Arsenal are ‘most likely’ to sign him.

Now, a fresh update has provided some more key information on the Gunners’ interest.

Arsenal submit £52 million bid to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal have emerged as serious contenders to land Rodrygo after matching a £52 million offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal for his signature.

Arteta’s side apparently view him as the missing piece in their team, offering him a ‘leading role’ and the opportunity to spearhead their attack.

Madrid have apparently received identical proposals worth approximately £52m from both suitors, forcing Perez to seriously consider selling a player who has slipped down the pecking order.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insight Get expert context on big transfer stories by subscribing to our newsletter—detailed analysis of bids, player roles, club strategy, contract context and market comparisons, plus broader football insights that sharpen your view of the game.

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Arteta has identified the versatile attacker as someone capable of operating across both flanks while providing a genuine goal threat, with Rodrygo guaranteed playing time and the chance to remain competing at European football’s highest level.

Al-Hilal’s proposal includes substantially superior wages alongside their transfer fee, creating a serious financial temptation for Rodrygo’s representatives.

The final decision will largely depend on Rodrygo’s personal preference, according to this report, but he isn’t expected to make a call on this until the summer window, so a January transfer is seen as unlikely at this stage.

The £280,000-per-week winger bagged 14 goals and 11 assists for Real last term, with Jude Bellingham notably calling him their most ‘gifted’ and ‘underrated’ player.

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	Adam Gilchrist: “It’s one of those days when we feel we nicked everything and they played and missed everything yesterday” © Getty Images

Australia’s worsening position has come as such a shock that the team is not even sure what will be an acceptable target. India hold a 170-run lead after two days and the vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was trying to avoid thinking of the potentially huge numbers that the home batsmen could face in the second innings.Gilchrist admitted his team, which fell for 212, had been “dominated” and they were now fighting to “claw their way into the game”. Australian players are usually happy to reveal estimates of their aims, but Gilchrist was unable to do that even though he retained confidence in the pitch.”I’ve got no idea what will be achievable there,” he said. “It’s not a wicket that falls apart or turns into a heap that is impossible to score on. It will hold together well and it will then come down to mental pressure and mental demons.”The top order fell to a combination of excellent swing bowling and poor shot selection, dropping to 5 for 61 before a 102-run stand from Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds. However, when Symonds went for 66 and Gilchrist followed for 55 the difficulties became severe.”We didn’t play well,” he said. “We started the day well then handed it back to them. They bowled well, swung the ball, it’s one of those days when we feel we nicked everything and they played and missed everything yesterday. They’ve done well and dominated.”Australia’s bowlers wrapped up India for 330 in the first session, taking the final four wickets for two runs, and Gilchrist wants more high quality on day three. “There’s a long way to go and we’re not thinking ahead to what may or may not happen,” he said. “We’ve got some wickets to take. If we can replicate that first hour [on day three] that we had today, we’re giving ourselves a chance. We’ve just got to try to stay in the match.” It’s not something the Australians have had to deal with very often since the 2005 Ashes.

”We know exactly what the problems are, but just aren’t prepared to make the sacrifices … Until then, World Cup triumph or World Cup failure, Lara or no Lara, this is how it’s going to be for a long, long time…in cricket and in life’ © Getty Images

Drop everybody, pick anybody. Fire everybody, hire anybody.It just seems so depressingly repetitive, this latest in the seemingly interminable series of cycles that have continued to define West Indies cricket, especially in the last 12 years. Every significant victory is heralded as the start of the turnaround. Every defeat, or succession of them as in this case, triggers all sorts of weeping and wailing, lamentations of a deepening crisis, emotion-laden accusations and a staggering assortment of recommendations for a guaranteed quick-fix.Even in the dry season, we keep spinning top in mud, for nothing in any of this is new. The only thing that has changed is the context. Now it just happens to be the World Cup in our own backyards, but the present scenes and reactions could be easily back-dated to any of the previous World Cup disappointments or numerous Test series whitewashes endured in the past decade. The wave of great expectations that swept the region after the defeat of Pakistan in the opening match 22 days ago (it already seems even longer than that) was generated by the same restless ocean that produced a record Test run-chase against Australia in Antigua, a dramatic Champions Trophy triumph in England and a throttling of South Africa on the way to the final of the same tournament less than six months ago in India.Still, we react in such extremes to both triumph and failure as if it had never happened before. Like the new electronic scoreboards at so many of the grounds around the region, including, sadly, the Queen’s Park Oval, we are only aware of what is happening right now. There is little in the way of appreciation of the bigger picture. There is no awareness, to say nothing of analysis, of what has gone before to shape a more realistic expectation of what is yet to come, even allowing for the game’s inherent unpredictability.And speaking of those legendary glorious uncertainties, who is ready to completely rule out yet another schizophrenic transformation, beginning next Tuesday in Grenada against South Africa? If it should come to pass that the team now being condemned at every turn lifts the trophy on April 28, does it automatically mean that all is well again? Yes, we are an emotional people and, yes, West Indies cricket means a lot to many of us, but surely, surely, by now, enough of us should realise that winning and losing are not ends in themselves but symptomatic of deep-rooted realities of life in the former British colonies of the Caribbean.If this all sounds too bookish and academic, it is only because we are not prepared, willing or able to take the time for careful assessment of any situation, sporting or otherwise. Our generation has surrendered its intellect to the demands of what we have allowed to become a society of instant gratification. Nothing that takes time is worth doing well, even if it is moulding a disciplined, educated young person who may become a great sporting hero or heroine, but, more importantly, is conditioned and inculcated in the values of being a responsible adult, a good parent and a productive citizen.

Maybe the understanding of how Chris Gayle can be an agitated, combative, ultra-aggressive “Player of the Tournament” at the last Champions Trophy, and the equivalent of the walking dead in the last couple of matches is the same as for the successful executive who beats his wife every so often or the weekly-paid worker who drinks and gambles away his earnings by Monday morning

All of this is too boring in a culture that, 200 years after the end of the slave trade, is willingly shackled to the principle of looking after number one, at whatever cost, from the very highest to the very lowest levels.What does any of this have to do with getting our tails well and truly cut by Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in less than a week? Social scientists and historians- the real ones, not the fly-by-night, popularity-seeking variety- are much better placed to make a proper analysis, but it would not be surprising to learn that the value systems that define the wildly inconsistent cricketer, insincere politician, scheming businessman and hoggish maxi-taxi driver are one and the same.Maybe the understanding of how Chris Gayle can be an agitated, combative, ultra-aggressive “Player of the Tournament” at the last Champions Trophy, and the equivalent of the walking dead in the last couple of matches is the same as for the successful executive who beats his wife every so often or the weekly-paid worker who drinks and gambles away his earnings by Monday morning.In many more ways than we are prepared to believe, cricket, probably more than any other sport because of its length and complexity, is a fairly reliable reflection of life in our part of the world. Until we are prepared to step back and assess issues selflessly and impartially, we will always be standing in our shoes and wondering how it came to this. Until we learn to resist the overpowering temptation to react instantaneously, superficially and with only selfish, insular motives in mind, we will always be mourning for a succession of lost generations, individuals blessed with abundant God-given talent but cut loose from the solid moorings of respect, discipline and integrity.We do not need Naipaul’s sneering, condescending arrogance or the patronising tone of some of these visiting cricket journalists and broadcasters to educate us as to our own problems and challenges. We know exactly what they are, but just aren’t prepared to make the sacrifices or the meaningful commitment to remedy them.Until then, World Cup triumph or World Cup failure, Lara or no Lara, this is how it’s going to be for a long, long time…in cricket and in life.

Dwayne Bravo’s availability for the remaining matches is uncertain © Getty Images

West Indies’ chances of squaring the ODI series against New Zealand received a knock on Tuesday following confirmation that the allrounder Dwayne Bravo would miss the second ODI with a side strain.Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies captain, was unwilling to predict whether Bravo would be fit for the remaining matches after being injured in the Twenty20 tour opener last week.”He’s definitely not going to make it tomorrow,” Chanderpaul told reporters. “We will wait and see how things will progress. I really couldn’t tell you how bad it is.”In an attempt to turn around their record of 14 losses from their last 16 completed games, the team has turned to a sports psychologist. David Scott, an Irishman, who has worked with professional ice-hockey teams, has had a positive impact on the West Indies camp.”He’s been doing a lot of one-on-one sessions with the players, giving them advice,” Chanderpaul said. “He’s been trying hard. He’s been doing a lot of work and we’ve gone a long way. We’re very close. We won the Champions Trophy with the same team. If we get it right we can win games.”New Zealand are more relaxed after their 81-run win in the opening match on Saturday and may continue experimenting with their line-up and batting order. John Bracewell, the coach, is hoping to develop a wider squad leading up to next year’s World Cup. Fleming suggested the chopping and changing did not necessarily make his job any easier but he understood the reasons for it.”My concern is with the team I’m given and winning games. While we’re winning it’s fine. It’s not necessarily comfortable, but it’s also about growing the side and players,” he told reporters.Fleming said a win in Queenstown, New Zealand’s South Island lakeside tourist hub, could put West Indies on the back foot for the rest of the five-match series.He said, “We’re really aware when you’re touring and you’re under the hammer that it becomes a pretty tough place. Another win now and we move to Christchurch with a chance to win the series, which is what we’re after.”

Danish Kaneria was easily the star of the day for Pakistan. On a day whenthe wicket had eased out and conditions were excellent for batting, hetirelessly sent down over after over with nagging accuracy and variation,never allowing any Indian batsman to dominate him. He bowled 34 overs in theday, and yet seldom gave away easy run-scoring opportunities.

Of the 282 deliveries he has bowled in the innings so far, 217 have been ona good length ­ that¹s nearly 77%. Especially impressive was the way hebowled to the left-handers ­ Gautam Gambhir hit a few early on, but SouravGanguly, usually so dominant against spin, could only manage nine runs in 28deliveries against him. Kaneria also troubled the Indians far more than therest ­ the not-in-control percentage against him was 25, which means onceevery four balls the Indian batsmen were beaten, rapped on the pads, oredged their strokes. Against the rest of the bowlers, that figure was lessthan 15%.India’s crawl
The momentum of the Indian innings fell, once again, with the departure ofVirender Sehwag. As long as he was around, runs came at more than four anover; when he left, it dropped to just a shade more than two.Sehwag wasinvolved in three century partnerships, but in two of those stands, hispartners scored at almost as good a rate as he did ­ Gautam Gambhir scoredat a strike rate of 89 to Sehwag¹s 103 in the first-wicket stand of 113,while Sachin Tendulkar¹s strike rate of 63.95 was nearly as much as Sehwag¹s66.29 in their 118-run partnership. However, once Sehwag left, Tendulkar¹sstrike rate almost halved to 33.62, and, not surprisingly, the runs almostcompletely dried up for India.

The new book Ground Rules

As hard as it was to break that hold they had over us – and we didn’t do it completely until 1995 – it was an easier process than would be the task of anyone trying to diminish the tradition and status in world cricket that both the Melbourne and Sydney Cricket Grounds possess.Great history, great traditions, great places to play cricket. The SCG and the MCG are very different grounds, but in this they are as one. Occasionally in recent years, just for a moment – because they have been part of my life for so long and part of cricket for so much longer – I might have taken them for granted. We never should.Ground Rules, which also includes chapters by Sourav Ganguly, Andy Flower, Kumar Sangakkara and Christopher Martin-Jenkins, is published by Dakini Books. To order a copy click here.SPECIAL OFFER There is also a limited number of leatherbound copies available, signed by Steve Waugh. Click here for details.

India have suffered a serious setback as three prominentmembers of the team have been ruled out of the first one-dayeragainst New Zealand through injury. When they take the field atAuckland on Boxing Day, India will be without the services ofbatting star Sachin Tendulkar (sprained ankle), offie HarbhajanSingh (bowling hand) and all-rounder Sanjay Bangar (knee).Tendulkar complained of pain in his ankle after sending down afew overs in the nets and and team medical staff confirmed themaster batsman would definitely miss the Auckland match. It isreported that he picked up the injury when he slipped and fellwhile bowling.”Tendulkar had to undergo ice-treatment. He has not regainedfull fitness and will sit out of the first game,” said a team official.Bangar meanwhile picked up a knee injury during catchingpractice and Harbhajan has suffered a minor problem with along-standing problem with his bowling hand.Indian team physio Andrew Leipus is most concerned aboutTendulkar, and is worried that bringing him back for the secondone-dayer could cause further damage to the ankle.”It’s quite swollen at the moment but he is able to walk around.It is a positive sign. At the moment he has just got his foot up inthe bed,” said Leipus.”It’s compressed, it’s being iced every two hours and that’s allwe can do for the next couple of days.””I will be trying to get him fit before the second game, nothing iscertain at the moment. He sprained the lateral ligament of hisankle,” added Leipus.”If necessary, we will rest him in the second game as well.”Leipus described Bangar’s knee problem as “mild” but one thatstill required the all-rounder to rest.”He went over backwards and dropped the catch and his kneesort of went underneath him,” explained Leipus.”He sprained a ligament in his left knee at that time – it’s only amild injury but he needs to rest.”Meanwhile, the team management were playing down theconcern over Harbhajan’s hand, manager NR Choudharydescribing it as just “some problem” with a “long-standing” injury.The injuries to the trio will test India’s bench strength. The teamfor the first one-day international will be selected from thefollowing:India: (from) Sourav Ganguly (captain), Ajit Agarkar, RahulDravid, Mohammad Kaif, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman,Ashish Nehra, Parthiv Patel, Rakesh Patel, Virender Sehwag,Javagal Srinath, Yuvraj Singh.

Pakistan won the second Test match of the two-test series at Old Trafford by a convincing margin of 108 runs and levelled the series 1-1. Earlier, England won the Lord’s Test by an innings and 9 runs inside three days. The victory at Old Trafford kept Pakistan’s record intact of not having lost a series in England since 1982. In fact, they had won all the test series played between 1982 till the 2001 rubber. England’s resurgence in international cricket, after a poor run for past several years, is being hailed. Their consistent creditable performance, as shown in the last five series, can be attributed to a methodical display of discipline and professionalism. Indeed, the English team is performing well with renewed vigour and determination and expected to do well in the forthcoming Ashes series.Here is a brief review of current 2-test series:Lord’s Test
Pakistan packed their squad with all three quick bowlers. The demon fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled the quickest delivery of recent times at 97.7 mph against Australia in the NatWest Series match, was also included despite fitness problems. Waqar Younis won the toss and put England into bat. The decision did not succeed as English batsmen prevailed over the Pakistan bowling to score 391. Graham Thorpe scored 80 and Nasser Hussain contributed 64. He was injured by a sharp rising delivery from Shoaib Akhtar. With Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq failing to deliver, Pakistan followed on after being dismissed for 203. Only Younis Khan played a resolute knock of 58. Darren Gough claimed 5 for 61 and Andrew Caddick 4 for 52, with 15 wickets falling on the third day. Pakistan performed worse in the second innings, being dismissed cheaply for 181. Abdur Razzaq (55) was the lone resistance against a lethal England attack of Gough, Caddick, and Cork. The Man-of-the-Match Andrew Caddick claimed 4 for 54 whereas Gough and Cork took 3 for 40 and 3 for 41, respectively.Old Trafford Test
England looked well set for another victory chasing a target of 370 when they were 85 for none at the close of play on the fourth day. They moved on to 201 for 2 by tea on the final day. It was only after tea that the match turned around completely. First Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq bowled hostile spells and then Saqlain Mushtaq completely exploited the situation, as 8 wickets tumbled with the addition of only 60 runs. In the end England lost fairly and squarely by 108 runs. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and posted an imposing 403, mainly built around a magnificent 114 by Inzamam-ul-Haq. Rashid Latif and Younis Khan also came good with 71 and 65. Gough, Caddick and Hoggard claimed three wickets each. In reply, England was going great guns when Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan combined for the third wicket partnership producing a record 267 runs. A smart throw on his follow through by veteran Wasim Akram ended Thrope’s innings at 138, with Vaughan (120) also following soon. Pakistan came back strongly and forced England to concede a 46-run crucial first innings lead. Pakistan started disastrously in the second innings. Saeed Anwar was the notable failure. Inzamam, Younis and Youhana joined hands to first restore and then consolidate an innings, which looked in trouble at 63 for 3. The innings took a more formidable shape when Rashid Latif (21) and Wasim Akram (36) scored quick runs to give visitors a total of 323. Once again Gough, Caddick and Hoggard shared three wickets each. Inzamam was declared the Man-of-the-Match and also the Player-of-the-Series for Pakistan. Graham Thorpe was the Player-of-the-Series for the home side.

Everton journalist Patrick Boyland has shed light on the absences of Nathan Patterson, Andre Gomes and Seamus Coleman against West Ham United on Sunday. 

The lowdown

Lampard selected Jonjoe Kenny at right-back against the Hammers, with two of his other options in Patterson and Coleman unavailable.

The Scottish youngster has yet to feature in the Premier League following his £11.5m move from Rangers in January, while the Irish veteran had started the last seven matches prior to the international break. Meanwhile, the Portuguese midfielder has made five appearances since Lampard took over in the winter.

Everton’s 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium kept them just three points above the relegation zone ahead of a potentially crucial clash with 19th-placed Burnley on Wednesday night.

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The latest

Boyland provided a succinct update on the Everton trio in The Athletic’s matchday discussion forum on Sunday.

He informed readers: “Been told Nathan Patterson and Gomes are injured. Coleman sick”.

The verdict

The trip to Turf Moor could well define Everton’s season, but Lampard may be dealing with as many 10 absentees unless Coleman recovers in time.

Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph, Tom Davies and Andros Townsend have already been ruled out, while Michael Keane joined Allan on the suspended list after his red card on Sunday. Furthermore, Donny van de Beek has to be considered a doubt too after pulling out of the line-up in east London following an injury in the warm-up.

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Lampard may feel that fortune is conspiring against his team, and he can only hope that the crisis eases ahead of the all-important final month of the campaign.

In other news, Lee McLean tore into one Everton player following the defeat to West Ham

Andrew Flintoff will join up with the England Lions squad in India on February 10 as he continues his rehabilitation following September’s operation on his troublesome ankle. He will, however, play no part in the Duleep Trophy competition that got underway this week.Flintoff was due to fly out to Mumbai in mid-February for a pre-season batting clinic with a Lancashire CCC academy squad, but he will now first travel to Baroda to meet up with the England Lions where he’ll have the opportunity to work with the ECB’s coaching and support staff.Commenting on the news, David Parsons, the ECB Performance Director and head coach of the squad said: “We’re delighted that Andrew Flintoff is in a position to join up with the England Lions.”His rehabilitation programme is going very well and he’s been working extremely hard over the past few months to get back to full fitness. This trip will provide him with an excellent opportunity to receive support from the ECB’s coaching and science and medicine support staff.”