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It must be said: Liverpool are perhaps enjoying a better summer transfer window than they ever did under Jurgen Klopp.

FSG’s incisiveness gives us all the material we need to surmise their Anfield ambitions over the coming years. Though afflicted by the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid on a free transfer, Jeremie Frimpong has joined from Bayer Leverkusen in a £29.5m deal to jockey with Conor Bradley for the right-back berth.

And with Milos Kerkez on the cusp of replacing Andy Robertson, 31, who is being targeted by Atletico Madrid as he enters the last year of his contract, Arne Slot’s new-look defensive flanks could be solidified for many exciting years to come.

The Premier League champions should also see Florian Wirtz follow Frimpong from Leverkusen to sign for the Reds in what could rise to a British-record £116m fee (£100m will be paid upfront and a further £16m is possible through add-ons).

The elite playmaker allegedly rejected interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to join Liverpool, with his medical set for this week.

Liverpool have turned a corner, all right, now acting like the behemoth they are. However, such signings are fantastic, but Liverpool’s priority perhaps remains at number nine, with a new centre-forward needed to ease Mohamed Salah’s talismanic burden.

Why Liverpool need a new striker

Three years ago (almost to the day), Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica in an initial £64m deal. It could have reached a club-record £85m fee, but that never happened, largely because of the Uruguayan’s stop-start performances.

Now, he’s going to be sold, with suitors in the Saudi Pro League and mounting interest in Serie A, Napoli and AC Milan both keen on completing a deal.

He needs to go, and Salah needs help. The Egyptian has just turned 33 and the balance of output must be spread across Slot’s frontline next year, lest he be overwhelmed by responsibility once again.

Looking at the forwards’ respective hauls across the 2024/25 season, it’s interesting that Nunez and Diogo Jota, the two recognised central strikers, languished near the bottom, better only than the rarely-played Federico Chiesa.

Liverpool Forwards in 2024/25 (Prem)

Player

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

Mohamed Salah

38 (38)

29

18

Luis Diaz

36 (28)

13

7

Cody Gakpo

35 (23)

10

5

Diogo Jota

26 (14)

6

4

Darwin Nunez

30 (8)

5

3

Federico Chiesa

6 (1)

0

0

Data via Sofascore

The expectation is that Nunez will be sold, but he will be sold as a Premier League champion, having also registered four goal involvements en route to lifting the Carabao Cup in 2023/24 too.

Salah needs a new dance partner, and there so happens to be one on FSG’s radar.

Liverpool remain in race for new striker

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool remain in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike alongside Chelsea, though Manchester United are ramping up their efforts for the striker, with club-to-club talks having begun last week.

This shows that Liverpool will need to accelerate their own interest, but likely, they will struggle to do so until Nunez has been offloaded. Crucially, this will need to happen soon, although Plettenberg’s earlier report on the matter claims the French forward is aware of Anfield’s plan.

However, with Frankfurt obstinately holding onto their €100m (£85m) valuation, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool or indeed anyone will pay up, with Chelsea already sounding out alternatives.

This is followed by transfer insider Graeme Bailey’s claim that the Merseyside outfit can be considered frontrunners after holding talks, and that the player’s entourage have informed interested parties that he might actually be available for a cheaper figure than Frankfurt want.

Why Liverpool should sign Ekitike

Ekitike is only 22, but he’s already proved himself capable of approaching world-class level, with analyst Ben Mattinson even declaring him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March.

This has been ratified by the data: not only did Ekitike finish the campaign with 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, but he also wrapped it up ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 19% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

He’s come a long way already, only scoring four times and making 33 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain before being loaned out and then sold, having signed the Reims prospect for €35m (£30m) in July 2022.

Perhaps the Eagles want too much, but that’s up to sporting director Richard Hughes to engineer a more agreeable package for one of the most talented frontmen out there.

His elegance and underlying data suggest he could not only help Salah maintain his high level of performance but also become Slot’s very own version of the Premier League all-timer.

In 2017, when Liverpool purchased Salah from Roma in a deal worth £34m, few expected him to become a superstar under Jurgen Klopp, having previously failed to make it work with Chelsea, scoring twice over 19 games before being offloaded to Italy.

Now, he’s a legend, having scored 245 goals and provided 113 assists across 401 trophy-filled fixtures as a Liverpool sensation.

Salah is chiefly a deadly marksman, but he’s also something of an underrated playmaker. Of course, all know of his impressive creativity, but perhaps not so much his highest-station calibre in that regard, among conversations with some all-timers in the ball-playing department.

But it’s not just the way these two will play together (although that’s a tantalising thought), but indeed Ekitike could prove to be Liverpool’s next version of the Egyptian King, albeit in a different attacking position.

As we have discussed, Ekitike is enjoying new prolific heights but this stands atop the wide foundations of an expansive skill set, with all the facets no doubt gleaned by Liverpool’s renowned data-driven team.

The same was true for Salah, who enjoyed his time in Italy, earning praise for his goalscoring, but was far more even in that earlier iteration.

Mohamed Salah – Serie A Stats (15/16 & 16/17)

Stats (* per game)

15/16

16/17

Matches (starts)

34 (32)

31 (29)

Goals

14

15

Assists

6

11

Shots (on target)*

2.1 (0.9)

2.6 (1.1)

Big chances missed

8

16

Pass completion

83%

80%

Big chances created

8

13

Key passes*

1.9

2.4

Dribbles*

1.6

1.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

1.2

Duels won*

3.7

3.1

Data via Sofascore

As you can see, he was consistent in his playmaking, dribbling and crispness in retaining possession, also chipping in with a lively amount of defensive work, also winning a fair amount of duels on a game-by-game basis.

And you could even draw upon the right winger’s 16 big chances missed on that final campaign in Rome, scoring 15 times. Ekitike actually mirrored that in the German top division last season, 15 goals, 16 big chances squandered.

His constant drive forward, electric and connective with those around him, project the style of a complete forward, something Liverpool typically like at number nine and, of course, a style which Salah has used to wreak havoc on the Premier League for so many years.

Liverpool saw something that others didn’t and welcomed Salah as he was getting going. Now they are basking in the glory of it, have been for many years.

By following this well-beaten internal path, they might just hit the jackpot once again, landing an “incredible” new attacking asset, as Ekitike has been called by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.

Salah’s is a story of merciless predation on hapless Premier League and European defences. His greatness is carved into the division and Liverpool’s most fundamental history; have a conversation about the best of the best, and he shall be named.

Ekitike’s got a long way to go, but he too has weathered the storm of a tough start to life at one of the continent’s superpowers, and having taken a so-called step down to find his feet, is now ready to move to the Premier League and become one of the best of the best.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has a few intriguing players on his extensive shortlist of targets for the north Londoners, and one of them is now believed to be a marquee Premier League star.

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New names are being linked regularly, with £86 million Juventus star Kenan Yildiz among the wingers attracting interest from Arsenal, according to reports in Turkey.

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

While there’s no outright plan to sell Gabriel Martinelli, a recent piece from The Athletic suggested that Berta and Mikel Arteta would entertain substantial offers, with the Brazilian valued at around £50 million.

Given Arsenal already have an abundance of proven wide-players, including the emergence of highly-rated starlet Ethan Nwaneri, ex-Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre is convinced the club’s interest in signing another winger could indicate a dressing room shake-up.

“I’d be wary of bringing in too many wingers like Nico Williams through the door,” Silvestre told Esports Insider.

“You need to give Ethan Nwaneri some game time; they have Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli already.

“I don’t see why they’d want to bring another winger unless one of those players wants to leave or if the club are planning to break the bank on a world-class wide player. It would surprise me if the club spent heavily on a striker and a winger in the same window.”

Given the high-profile names eyed by Berta, it is very reasonable to assume that Arsenal could indeed splash the cash on a world-class winger.

Andrea Berta identifies Morgan Rogers as a top Arsenal target

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, writing in a piece for the broadcast giant, claims Aston Villa sensation Morgan Rogers is on the club’s agenda – alongside the heavily-linked Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) and Athletic Bilbao’s Williams.

The Englishman is fresh off the back of an excellent campaign under Unai Emery, racking up 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions after becoming a very important player for Villa.

Rogers finished 2024/2025 as Villa’s second-best performer in the Premier League by average match rating per 90, according to WhoScored, all while completing more successful take-ons than all of his teammates.

His rise to the top has even prompted NSWE to slap a £100 million valuation on the 22-year-old’s head to deter suitors, but according to Sky’s Thomas, Berta has identified Rogers as one of his top Arsenal targets for the wide area regardless.

There is little denying that, if Arsenal were to formalise their interest in Rogers, they’d be looking to bring down his mammoth reported price tag. However, the former Middlesbrough man could certainly be worth that effort.

“I think he’s going to be a player,” said pundit Tony Cascarino.

“He really looks, there’s something about, he reminds me a little bit of Jamal Musiala. He’s that guy that picks up the ball, and he’ll just make runs, and he’ll create problems for others. He’s got a lot about him.”

West Ham United are now closely monitoring an “intelligent” £84m striker, who is also in the sights of Premier League rivals Arsenal and Aston Villa, according to a report.

Hammers set sights on new striker

Niclas Fullkrug may have won over some West Ham fans with his extremely honest reflection on the team’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Southampton last month, which left manager Graham Potter not best pleased.

However, the German has hardly set the world alight himself during his first season at the London Stadium, netting just three Premier League goals, and with the striker now 32-years-old, it could be a shrewd move to bring in a replacement this summer.

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is one potential option, with the Hammers currently preparing a substantial offer for the versatile Japanese forward, while Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also remain of interest.

Delap could be an ambitious target, given the level of interest in the Englishman, and the same applies to Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, with a report from Spain now revealing that West Ham are now racing their Premier League rivals for the Brazilian’s signature.

Arsenal and Aston Villa are also keen on Jesus, who the Hammers have been closely monitoring, with the Gunners thought to be seriously considering a move, which could pose a major problem for Potter’s side.

The 24-year-old is also protected by a €100m (£84m) release clause, although the Brazilian club should be willing to sanction his departure for a lower price.

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Posts ByBen Gray May 18, 2025 "Intelligent" Jesus impressing for Botafogo

Brazilian pundit Walter Casagrande has been impressed by some of the Brazil international’s performances since returning to his home country after a spell with Dubai-based side Shabab Al-Alhi, lauding him as “very intelligent” in September last year.

The forward played an important role in Botafogo’s 2024 league title triumph, picking up five goals and three assists and receiving some very high praise for his displays.

Jesus could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, and at 24-years-old he is at the right age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, but the serious interest from Arsenal could be a major issue for West Ham.

An “unbelievable” Premier League player is now ready to leave his club this summer, amid interest from Nottingham Forest, according to a report.

Forest set to bolster attacking options

Forest will be in a good position to attract some top players this summer, should they manage to qualify for the Champions League, and Nuno appears to be particularly keen on strengthening his squad in attacking areas.

With signing a new striker on the agenda, the Tricky Trees have recently emerged as potential suitors for AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson, having shortlisted the Brazilian, alongside Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who could be available for £50m.

Not only does Nuno want to bring in a new striker, but the manager is also interested in signing a new winger, with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish of interest, while teammate James McAtee has been named as a target in attacking midfield.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington Apr 28, 2025

There is a feeling the midfielder could be available for £25m this summer, with Forest keen, and there has now been a new update on the City ace’s future, which suggests he may not remain at the Etihad Stadium for much longer.

According to a report from Football Insider, McAtee is now ready to approve a move away from Man City this summer, amid interest from Nottingham Forest, given that he has struggled to force his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans.

The 22-year-old has only featured sporadically this season, meaning he is eager to reignite his career, and a move to the City Ground could be on the cards, although there is also interest from the likes of West Ham United and Fulham.

By June, the Salford-born midfielder will have just one year remaining on his contract, with City keen to agree a contract extension to ensure they receive a fee that reflects his value.

"Unbelievable" McAtee needs regular game time

The former Sheffield United loanee caught the eye in the early stages of his career, picking up nine goals and three assists for the Blades during their promotion-winning 2022-23 campaign, but he has struggled to make a breakthrough at Man City.

At 22-years-old, the attacking midfielder needs to be receiving regular game time, so it is little wonder he is thinking about moving on for the good of his career, and there are plenty of indications he could make an impact at Forest.

Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap was left particularly impressed with the England U21 international after bagging a brace in his side’s 2-1 victory against Ukraine U21s earlier this season.

Delap believes McAtee can achieve great things in the game, but that will only be possible if he receives regular game time, and a move to Forest could be an attractive proposition, should they manage to qualify for the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur have shelved new contract talks with a star player in their squad, and he’s now seriously pursuing an exit from the north London club this summer, which could be seen as a concern for chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou facing potential Tottenham sack

As things stand, real uncertainty surrounds the long-term future of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, following a disappointing second full campaign in charge.

Diego Simeone's private message to Cristian Romero in Tottenham exit talks

The Argentine is being heavily linked with a summer exit.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Debilitating injuries haven’t helped the Australian, but 14th in the Premier League after 15 defeats in the top flight alone makes for very grim reading from the perspective of a ‘big six’ club.

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

Postecoglou is now relying on an impressive Europa League run to convince Tottenham not to change managers, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, and Spurs are already expressing a serious interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, among other high-profile alternatives like Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Fulham’s Marco Silva.

These next few weeks will be key in determining Postecoglou’s position at N17, and even if the 59-year-old does manage to make history in Europe and keep his job, the former Celtic boss is facing a very real prospect of losing key players this summer.

One of them, according to various reports in the last few days, could be star defender Cristian Romero.

The Argentine is wanted by Atlético Madrid, with South American media claiming that Diego Simeone has personally reached out to him (Uriel Lugt). Their arch rivals Real Madrid have also internally discussed a move for Romero, so it appears the 26-year-old has plenty of temptation away from N17.

Losing Romero would be a blow for Postecoglou and Levy, considering his status as a senior leader in the squad, and it now appears that the defender has fully made up his mind on quitting Spurs.

Cristian Romero "pushing" to leave Tottenham with contract talks cancelled

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Romero is “pushing” to leave Tottenham, and Levy has postponed talks over a new deal for the £165,000-per-week ace as a result.

The player has apparently made it clear to his circle that he’s ready to pursue a new challenge, and he’s set his sights on a move to La Liga specifically. Simeone really wants him at Atletico, as he views Romero as one of world football’s best centre-backs, but Levy won’t let him go cheaply.

The former Atalanta star’s price tag is set at around £60 million, and this could prove to be the main obstacle in place of an Atlético deal for the player. It is also worth noting that Romero is determined to leave regardless of whether Spurs win the Europa League and qualify for next season’s Champions League, so his eagerness to go may even force through a move.

One thing is certain – Tottenham would need to bring an adept replacement for the stalwart who’s been praised for his overall performances since joining in 2021.

“In Romero they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better,” said former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson to Football Insider three years ago.

“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player.

“If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”

Blast’s joint-leading wicket-taker hasn’t given up hope of adding to solitary England cap

Alan Gardner13-Sep-2024This time last year, David Payne had a difficult decision to make. A persistent ankle niggle had dogged him through 2023, requiring two rounds of surgery. When Luke Wright, the England men’s selector, phoned ahead of the Ireland ODIs that preceded last year’s 50-over World Cup, Payne had to admit he wasn’t fit enough. “That was one of those really difficult ones, to have to turn down that call.”But the big decision revolved around whether or not to move on to a white-ball contract with Gloucestershire. The demands of playing first-class cricket, in which he remains a proven performer, had contributed to Payne’s problems with injury. With a goal of playing for England again at the front of his thinking, he chose to sign a three-year extension and put red-ball cricket to one side (although he has not yet retired from the format).The result, as Payne prepares to spearhead Gloucestershire’s tilt at T20 Finals Day, has been “pretty much the perfect summer so far”. Payne has enjoyed the most-prolific T20 season of his career and is currently the Blast’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 29, having moved level with Danny Briggs after taking a four-wicket haul against Birmingham Bears in last week’s quarter-final.”It probably brought a few more nerves to the first group game [of the season], thinking I’m almost like a one-format player for Gloucestershire now, because of the Hundred – so what if I don’t perform in this one format?” Payne tells ESPNcricinfo. “What good am I to the county? But now, the plus sides, and the reasons I’d done it, were mainly for my body and prolonging the career in that sense. I’d had some trouble with my ankle and actually that was the big difference, that I went into that first group game really fresh. I hadn’t played six or seven four-day games. My body was always already really sore, or had a niggle or something, and I was actually completely fresh for the probably the first time ever. And it just felt like it made a huge difference physically and mentally, and allowed me to perform at my best.”Related

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Payne mapped out the “best-case scenario” for his summer as “having a good Blast and a good Hundred, then hopefully that leading to getting back in England squads.” Although the last of those has yet to happen, he is confident that he has put himself in the best position, at 33, to add to his sole ODI appearance against Netherlands in 2022.Notwithstanding England’s apparent transition to a new generation, one factor that may keep Payne on the radar is his effectiveness in the powerplay – an area which has been a weakness with the T20I side for some time. In this year’s Blast, Payne has taken 20 of his 29 wickets while fielding restrictions were on; the next-highest is Ollie Robinson of Sussex (Gloucestershire’s semi-final opponents) with 14, followed by Olly Stone and Timm van der Gugten on 11.While this has long been part of Payne’s skillset – since 2020 in the Blast, he leads the way with 45 powerplay wickets at 16.88 – he said that an increasingly attacking mindset from batters meant bowling teams placed greater importance on striking with the new ball. As a case in point, he highlighted the quarter-final win over Birmingham defending a low total, in which Gloucestershire’s captain, Jack Taylor, kept Payne on for a third over at the top and was rewarded with the key wicket of Moeen Ali.Then came the victory away to North Group winners, Birmingham, which should ensure that no one takes them lightly when they return to Edgbaston. “We’re always labelled the underdogs, whatever happens, and I think that plays well for us, because it always feels like we enjoy proving people wrong and proving that we’re better than people think we are.”While the closest Gloucestershire have come to lifting the T20 trophy is a runners-up finish in 2007, Payne was part of the team that beat Surrey – who will play Saturday’s other semi-final against defending champions, Somerset – in the 2015 Royal London Cup final at Lord’s, and believes they can upset the odds again.”It generally feels like no one really gives us a chance. It feels like going into Saturday, if they’re saying, who’s going to be your tip for winning it, more often than not no one’s really going to mention us. And that tends to play in our favour. I think it makes us feel like we can just go out there and play with freedom. We’ve got nothing to lose. If no one’s expecting us to win, then all we can do is cause an upset. It feels like that’s what happened in 2015 and hopefully that’ll be the same on Saturday.”

In another closely fought contest, New Zealand were unable to replicate last year’s stunning chase

Danyal Rasool01-Nov-2022What happened at Lord’s in 2019 will likely never be supplanted as the most iconic contest between these two sides. But while that might be easy to compartmentalise as the unrepeatable freak event it was, last year’s T20 World Cup semi-final between England and New Zealand felt far more replicable. This may not have been a semi-final, but for all practical purposes, it was a knockout for England, and, for large parts, New Zealand seemed to be clocking that what worked in Abu Dhabi worked pretty well in Brisbane, too.It was a game of fluctuating quality, some sensational power hitting countered by canny spin bowling, stunning displays of athleticism neutralised by simple dropped chances. There was the cat-and-mouse game around match-ups and data, as each team jostled to gain the slenderest of statistical edges, unsurprising for two modern teams with little disparity in ability to distinguish them. There was enough tactical nous to keep contemporary T20 afficionados interested, enough emotional jeopardy for casual viewers and nervous partisans alike. It was, to stoop to cliché, a fantastic advert for the T20 game.England were arguably the better side in Abu Dhabi, and deservedly got their reward in this game – even if one win out of two might be the least reward they could expect. Even winning the toss felt like a key moment for an England side that have won eight of 10 completed games defending scores this year, and just three of 12 looking to chase.Related

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As it happened – England vs New Zealand in Brisbane

There was nothing fortunate about what followed, though. Opening has been a problem for England this year, but Jos Buttler and Alex Hales had the composure to play themselves into the contest, even as New Zealand cleverly bowled out the bulk of their slower bowlers before England’s vaunted spin-slaying left-handers had found their way to the middle.Mitchell Santner was bowled out by the 11th over, and Ish Sodhi three overs later, the pair having kept Hales and Buttler relatively leashed; their combined figures saw England manage 48 in eight overs. But the fast bowlers until then had gone for 62 off six, and it was Buttler’s assault on Lockie Ferguson that ended up having the more telling impact.The England captain came into the game with a strike rate of 160 against Ferguson, and the eight balls he faced off his first two overs only saw that go north. Ferguson was smashed for 21 runs – a sitter shelled by Daryl Mitchell notwithstanding – prompting Williamson to hold back his final two overs for the 18th and 20th.That wasn’t terrible in itself – Ferguson isn’t the worst death bowler – but it meant bowling Boult out by the 17th. But Boult is statistically New Zealand’s best death bowler since 2021, with an economy rate of 6.70 in the last four overs. On this occasion, he ended up with 0 for 40 in four; identical to his figures in that Abu Dhabi semi-final this threatened to replicate for so long. But it was just the seventh time in the last 24 T20Is he has gone wicketless. England had denied New Zealand’s best bowler wickets, as well as overs at the death. Boult has historically been more expensive against England than any other side, but they were more than making up for their caution against spin with belligerence against pace.Mitchell Santner picked up 1 for 25•Getty ImagesPerhaps, on certain days, there’s nothing you can do about Buttler in top form (other than hold on to catches, of course), but England showed they could deploy spin to useful effect just as well. While New Zealand had held Santner back until the fourth over in the hopes of extracting an early wicket via Boult’s prodigious swing, Moeen Ali was spinning it away from Devon Conway as early as the first over. When the first wicket fell and Kane Williamson walked out, Adil Rashid was called up. It was the first time since November 2021 that both Moeen and Rashid have bowled with fielding restrictions in place, but it made sense: Williamson had scored six boundaries in 157 T20 balls against spin this year.The death by match-ups only intensified, though. Finn Allen, New Zealand’s likeliest outlet for a Buttler-style blitz, was pitted against Sam Curran in the fourth over. The opener has fallen to that type of bowling once every 11 balls; it took just four balls on the night for the tactic to pay off.New Zealand had played their part in turning this contest into a cerebral battle of wits, but finding themselves outflanked, appeared to retreat into the comfort zone of what they knew. Where England had front-loaded with bat and ball at every opportunity, New Zealand treated that Abu Dhabi contest almost as their psychological happy place, and chose to backload heavily again. As Williamson tickled and tapped his way through an innings that at no point seemed to endanger England, the burden on Glenn Phillips, and the lower order to come, continued to accrue.Williamson had lasted just 11 balls in the 2021 semi-final, scoring 5, but here he hung around for a run-a-ball 40. In a lower-scoring game, or with his side ahead of the game, it might have been the anchoring knock New Zealand were after, but the asking rate was nine at the start, and 12 when he was dismissed. It’s the sort of innings that looks like poor batting at first, but in a chase, seemed even more indefensible.England, however, dealt with what had happened in a manic final three overs in Abu Dhabi like the aberration that it was rather than the template New Zealand seemed to treat it as. England are simply too good, too clever, and too disciplined to allow 60-odd runs at the death every time. And in a format where percentage play factors into just about all decision-making, New Zealand – in choosing to follow precedent – paid the price for going for the lowest-percentage option of all.

The India captain is finding life a bit tough with the bat at the moment and had a lengthy net session in Melbourne

Annesha Ghosh in Melbourne27-Feb-2020″I want you to get a feel of enjoyment rather than think of runs…”As Harmanpreet Kaur made her way into the nets for a second round of hits at a windswept Junctional Oval on Tuesday, India head coach WV Raman tried to put things into perspective for the captain of India. On the eve of their face-off against New Zealand at the ongoing T20 World Cup, it appeared as though it was not so much the leader of his side Raman was trying to reach; veiled in a veneer of instructions, his words registered as encouragement for a talisman of the Indian batting line-up eager to break out of the funk.The reminder to enjoy, to play with freedom of mind came from Raman after the first round of shots yielded mixed results for Kaur. Paired up with Jemimah Rodrigues against a pool of bowlers that included wrsitspinner Poonam Yadav, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, pacer Arundhati Reddy and a local Under-14 male medium-pacer, a visible discomfort against Gayakwad had Raman float words of encouragement from the adjacent nets, standing almost parallel to Kaur.The next four balls elicited greater purpose. Reddy and the U-14 quick were drilled straight down the pitch and towards cover respectively before a typically flighted delivery from Yadav was met with a similar fate as Kaur sashayed down the track to unfurl an exquisite cover drive. Gayakwad followed in from round the wicket only for Kaur to go down on one knee to tonk it towards deep-square leg.” [Who said it’s not possible to go after a left-arm spinner?”] Raman chimed in, walking towards the nets left of Kaur where Smriti Mandhana, yet to fully recover from a cold, had been taking throwdowns, coughing intermittently.”She’s been looking good in the nets. It’s just about that one knock,” Mandhana would tell reporters ahead of the session, confirming she had recuperated from the viral fever that had ruled her out in the game against Bangladesh on Monday. “I’m sure she’ll go out there and bat and get that big one for us. It’s really not a worry because the way she has been batting in the nets, and I hope she gets one [big knock] for us, and gets it tomorrow.”The rest of the session brought Kaur varied luck. Yadav’s wristpin – much slower through the air than Gayakwad’s left-arm spin – and the mixed pace from the two quicks brought out some of the best of Kaur’s belligerence. The lofted drives – over mid-on, mid-off and midwicket – in particular and even those struck along the ground had an air of authority that Kaur herself seemed to be searching for against the only left-armer in the mix. Save for one length ball she lofted over the bowler’s head, Gayakwad’s dominance would elicit mild grunts every time Kaur stepped out but was beaten by an arm ball, failed to connect a sweep, or found an under-edge that scurried towards fine-leg.Harmanpreet Kaur lofts over the off side•Getty Images” [It’s all about getting the balance right],” Raman would remind Kaur as the fourth round came to a close with another straight drive off Reddy. It’s advice that may have, in part, got to do with the two times Australia left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen dismissed her at this venue last month during the tri-series, the latter in the final which India lost by 11 runs.New Zealand do not have a left-armer in their squad, so Raman’s suggestion could also be down to the seeming hurriedness that underpinned Kaur’s two cheap dismissals in the World Cup so far: stumped in the seventh over and caught at backward point in the 11th against Australia and Bangladesh respectively.In their first two matches India put on totals in excess of 130 – and ended up on the winning side – despite single-digit contributions from Kaur. It speaks for the welcome sense of security that has buoyed Kaur in a line-up she’s no longer the undisputed face of explosiveness. “Nowadays Smriti [Mandhana] and Shafali [Verma], not just me,” she would tell the T20 World Cup’s social media channels when asked who the ‘biggest six hitter’ in the team was.A win over New Zealand could catapult India into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup for a second straight time. There’s precedence in the previous two world tournaments how even a semblance of form from Kaur can translate into a match-defining fifty or hundred and catch New Zealand off guard.Since her blockbuster 103 against the same opponents in the 2018 T20 World Cup opener, though, Kaur hasn’t struck a half-century in the 27 limited-overs international innings, 21 of those in the shortest format. The want of consistent runs may have played a part in Diana Edulji, the former India captain who gave Kaur several opportunities early in her career, floating the suggestion ahead of the tournament that “maybe Harman should give up captaincy and play her natural game. Something seems to be troubling her…”As the fight for the knockouts berth enters its defining leg, greater coherence among India’s batters will be called for; applause for every right move will ring far and wide, every wrong step debated by fans and critics alike. So, while the buzz around the fearless teen brigade continues to gather force, Kaur’s focus needs to be to dull the noise in her head and do exactly what her coach asks of the premier match-winner in his side: “get a feel of enjoyment rather than think of runs…”

Just nine days remain until the 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta, and the American League and National League rosters are tentatively set.

On Sunday, MLB unveiled the game’s reserves and pitchers after having previously revealed each league’s starting lineup. The rosters include old and new faces alike, ranging from 11-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers to debutants such as Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman.

However, as large and inclusive as baseball’s All-Star rosters are, they can’t please everyone. With that in mind, here’s a look at three snubs from each league—who could also serve as potential candidates for selection in the event of injury replacement.

American LeagueJ.P. Crawford, shortstop, Seattle Mariners

At the age of 30, Crawford is enjoying yet another high-level season two years after a 5.2-WAR campaign that got him down-ballot MVP votes. He’s slashing .285/.386/.380; each of those first two numbers are career bests while his 129 wRC+ is nearly on par with his 136 wRC+ from 2023. The 2020 Gold Glove winner remains a capable fielder, ranking third among AL shortstops in total zone runs. Four All-Stars may be a lot for a current wild-card team, but Crawford is worth a look.

Joe Ryan, pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Injuries have been unkind to Ryan since his 2021 debut, but as career 162-game averages of 14 wins, a 3.72 ERA and 214 strikeouts suggest, considerable talent is there. This year, he’s finally had a chance to prove it. Ryan is 8–4 with a 2.76 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 104⅓ innings, and he leads a fringe playoff contender in bWAR (Byron Buxton was elected by the players and is serving as Minnesota’s lone representative). He feels like an easy injury-replacement candidate.

Framber Valdez, pitcher, Houston Astros

Speaking of highly consistent pitchers missing out, Valdez probably should’ve made his third All-Star Game as he cobbles together a possible career year. He’s 10–4 with a 2.90 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 115 innings—numbers in the neighborhood of those in his three consecutive top-10 Cy Young finishes from 2022 to ‘24. On top of that, his 139 ERA+ is a career high over a full season. The commissioner's office chose the Kansas City Royals’ Kris Bubic (7–6, 2.36 ERA, 107 K in 103 IP) and the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (8–4, 2.77 ERA, 104 K in 107 1/3 IP) over Ryan and Valdez to fill out the AL pitching staff.

National LeagueCristopher Sánchez, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

This one makes little sense. Sánchez has been outstanding for the Phillies, building on an excellent 2024 campaign. Through 17 starts, he’s 7–2 with a 2.68 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts against 28 walks in 100 ⅔ innings. The lefty is currently third in the NL in bWAR among pitchers (3.8), and is sixth in fWAR (2.7). He certainly deserved a spot over Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who was selected by the commissioner’s office. 

CJ Abrams, shortstop, Washington Nationals

I know it would have been hard to put three Nationals on the team, but Abrams deserved to be there alongside MacKenzie Gore and James Wood. It’s worth noting that all three arrived from the Padres in the Juan Soto deal. Safe to say that deal is working out for Washington. Abrams is currently slashing .285/.356/.482 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. His .838 OPS is tops among shortstops in the NL, and he’s tied with Trea Turner for the NL lead in bWAR at the position (3.2). His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but Abrams earned what should have been his second All-Star nod. 

Juan Soto, outfielder, New York Mets

The guy who signed the biggest contract in sports history this offseason didn’t make the All-Star team. Soto isn’t having his best season as he adjusts to life in Queens, but he’s still certainly All-Star worthy. His league’s outfield is stacked, but Soto is sixth in the NL with 3.8 bWAR, seventh in OPS (.904), seventh in home runs (21), third in runs scored (65), and leads all of MLB in walks (72). He was probably bounced by Kyle Stowers getting a nod because the Miami Marlins needed a representative—more evidence that MLB needs to get rid of that silly rule. Then again, the players could have elected Soto over Corbin Carroll or Fernando Tatis Jr., and the fans could’ve voted for him more than Ronald Acuña Jr., yet neither did.

ترددت عدة تقارير صحفية أن ليفربول بدأ يخطط للتعاقد مع بديل للنجم المصري محمد صلاح، وقد ارتبط بالتعاقد مع أحد اللاعبين المتألقين في الدوري الانجليزي.

وربطت التقارير بين ليفربول وأنطوان سيمينيو لاعب بورنموث صاحب الـ25 عاماً الذي يملك شرط جزائي بقيمة 65 مليون جنيه إسترليني، والذي يعد سارياً حتى تاريخ محدد في سوق الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير.

ويعتقد أوتو أدو مدرب غانا بأن أنطوان سيمينيو أصبح مستعداً لخطوة جديدة في مسيرته وأن انتقاله من بورنموث سيكون طبيعياً.

وكان اللاعب الغاني الدولي قد نال إعجاب عدة أندية مثل مانشستر يونايتد وتوتنهام هوتسبير الصيف الماضي، وقد أثار الإعجاب هذا الموسم حيث سجل ستة أهداف وصنع ثلاث تمريرات حاسمة خلال 13 مباراة بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

أقرأ أيضاً.. إيزاك: لا أحتاج لأحد لتقييم مستواي مع ليفربول.. ونركز على تحقيق الانتصارات

وذكر مدرب غانا بعد قرعة كأس العالم في تصريحات لصحيفة “ذا أتلتيك” عن مستقبل اللاعب الذي يمتد عقده حتى عام 2030 مع بورنموث: “لقد قدم أداء رائعًا مع بورنموث ولكن مع كل الاحترام الذي يكنه لناديه وما يقدمه فمن الطبيعي أن يتخذ الخطوة القادمة”.

وأضاف عن مستقبل سيمينيو الذي ارتبط بالانضمام إلى ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي وتوتنهام: “سواء انتقل في الشتاء أو الصيف فهي مسألة فارقة ولكنه لن يحدث فرقاً بالنسبة لنا، أتطلع ليظهر المزيد مما في وسعه للعالم”.

وكانت قرعة كأس العالم قد أسفرت عن وقوع منتخب غانا في المجموعة الثانية عشر إلى جانب منتخبات إنجلترا وكرواتيا وبنما.