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Pre-season preparations get underway on Monday, although the transfer train has ground to a halt as far as Manchester United are concerned, with Matheus Cunha still the only senior addition this summer – excluding £7m teenager, Diego Leon.

A key crux of the issue appears to be the club’s inability to shift the ‘deadwood’, with manager Ruben Amorim reportedly frustrated at the failure to sell United’s exiled stars, namely Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Marcus Rashford.

That quartet, alongside Tyrell Malacia, have been granted permission to enjoy an extended break, rather than link up with the rest of the squad, with all parties still hopeful of sealing an exit ahead of next season.

Bridges appear to have been burned with almost all of those high-profile figures, none more so than Rashford, with the Englishman still seemingly dreaming of sealing a summer switch to Barcelona.

Should those raft of forwards – including the 27-year-old academy graduate – all be shipped off, it would only further heighten the need for replacements. With that in mind, a potential opening has presented itself to director of football, Jason Wilcox.

The latest on Man Utd's search for a striker

A new name emerged this week amid United’s centre-forward search, with reports indicating that contact has been made regarding a possible move for Aston Villa talisman, Ollie Watkins.

Reportedly available for £60m, the 29-year-old would prove a ready-made solution for the Red Devils, having hit double figures for goals in each of his five Premier League seasons at Villa Park.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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As reported by The Mirror, however, the England international isn’t the only option on Wilcox’s striker shortlist, with the club also considering a move for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.

According to the report, United have been offered the chance to sign the 27-year-old for a knock-down price of £35m, with the former RB Leipzig man deemed to be surplus to requirements, amid the signings of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro at Stamford Bridge.

As the piece also notes, the prospect of a swap deal involving the aforementioned Garnacho had been floated, although the Blues are more likely to consider a straight sale instead as they seek to balance the books.

Why Nkunku could be another Rashford for Amorim

If United were targeting the Nkunku of two years ago, there would be undoubted excitement at Old Trafford, with the Frenchman having joined the west Londoners after registering 126 goal involvements in just 172 games at Leipzig.

The man who once hit 35 goals in all competitions in 2021/22 hasn’t been seen in English football, however, with the one-time Paris Saint-Germain man having been unable to recover from an injury-hit start to life at the Bridge.

Struck down with a knee issue during pre-season in the summer of 2023, Nkunku has since gone on to start just 11 Premier League games across the last two campaigns combined, scoring just six top-flight goals in total in that time.

A particular issue has been his inability to nail down a consistent role for himself under Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca, having operated off the left, as a number ten or as a central striker to date – all with little success.

That question mark over whether he is best out wide or centrally is one that has also plagued Rashford, with the United outcast recently stating that he is finding it “more natural” to play as a number nine, despite Amorim’s prior claim that such a role “is not the best one for him”.

Rashford’s last five Man Utd seasons (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

*Not including record at Villa

Stats via Transfermarkt

Rashford is currently out in the cold under the Portuguese coach, having not featured for the Old Trafford side since sitting out the Manchester Derby back in December, with his 30-goal heroics in 2022/23 now looking like a distant memory.

Amorim, and those at United, are seemingly in need of a fresh start without the £300k-per-week man onboard, with there likely to be concern that Nkunku could provide a similarly expensive problem, considering his own £195k-per-week salary.

Interestingly too, Rashford and Nkunku were noted as statistically similar players in the Premier League in 2024/25, as per FBref, with that likeness perhaps a key reason why such a move should be avoided.

Yes, the Nkunku of 2023 would be a worthy Watkins alternative, but the same could very much be said of the Rashford of 2023, in contrast to the one of the present. For both men, it looks like their best days could already be behind them.

Related Worth more than Gyokeres: Man Utd face Elanga 2.0 as terms agreed for exit

Manchester United look set to offload a player who has failed to impress at Old Trafford.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Jul 4, 2025

Liverpool won hearts and minds with their Premier League title victory and could now be on the verge of ratifying one of the summer’s most exciting deals.

Liverpool make an instant impact in the summer window

The dust has started to settle on Liverpool claiming a second top-flight title of the modern era. Still, there have already been significant developments at Anfield in the early part of the summer window.

Jeremie Frimpong arrived to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold on Merseyside, and that only appears to be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential movement in both directions.

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has confirmed that Liverpool have £250 million to spend if they so wish without any threat of FFP involvement, which has paved the way for some exciting deals to occur over the next few months.

“Liverpool are in an excellent financial position. They didn’t spend very much in the 24-25 season, and they have the benefits of Champions League football next season. If they spent £250m, that would not be a problem.”

Liverpool transfer targets in pictures

Arne Slot made minimal changes last summer, but he has now identified Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon as a top target at Anfield, even if he will cost around £80 million to lure from the North East.

Why the summer transfer window will close for six days and re-open again

Premier League clubs have recently voted for the transfer window to open early this summer – here’s how it will work and why it’s happening.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Mar 27, 2025

Finding themselves in the perfect position to kick on, Liverpool will be aware that their rivals are also tooling up with some intriguing signings, setting the scene for a brilliant Premier League title fight next term.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the Reds are on the verge of completing a landmark deal ahead of the new campaign coming into focus.

Romano: Liverpool agree deal to sign Florian Wirtz

Taking to social media platform X, Romano revealed that Liverpool have now agreed a deal in principle to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and he will now head to England for his medical.

With personal terms and other formalities already agreed, it is understood that the Germany international will join for a fee of around £127 million, inclusive of add-ons.

Compared to Lionel Messi by Gerhard Struber, Wirtz registered 16 goals and 15 assists across 46 appearances in all competitions last term, and Reds journalist Paul Gorst said he will be a “statement signing”.

Notably, he earns around £73,300 at Bayer Leverkusen, a figure that will be expected to increase exponentially once his switch to Anfield is officially confirmed.

Weeks of overwhelming speculation surrounding Wirtz have become the early story of the window. Nevertheless, he now appears set to link up with Slot in a deal that will reverberate around the world.

The representative of a “complete player” is actively pushing for his client to join Chelsea, according to reports, with a deal also being worked on behind-the-scenes.

Chelsea eye new defender for Enzo Maresca this summer

While their qualification for the Champions League is set to have a big impact on their summer plans, that hasn’t stopped BlueCo from laying the groundwork for potential transfers.

£60m star tempted to re-join Chelsea as BlueCo eye potential reunion

The ex-Blue is contemplating a return to Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini May 6, 2025

Chelsea are competing in the Club World Cup this summer as well, and will have the chance to sign new players before the tournament kicks off, thanks to a special edition window, which will be open from June 1st to June 10th.

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

The first window is therefore just weeks away from opening, and Chelsea are reliably believed to be eyeing a centre-back as one of the main priorities on their agenda.

They’ve already been linked with a host of new defenders, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley ace Maxine Esteve, but one name who keeps being mentioned is Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen.

The Spain international is set to be one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defensive targets this summer, amid reports of a £50 million release clause written into his contract following a very impressive debut campaign in the English top flight.

Ali Barat pushing Dean Huijsen to join Chelsea

Chelsea have held productive talks with Huijsen’s camp in recent weeks, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and the reporter now claims that his agent, Ali Barat, is determined for him to seal a west London move.

Phillips claims Barat is pushing for Huijsen to join Chelsea as he actively works on a deal, even if the player’s father, Don, would prefer it if he joined Liverpool.

“Agent Ali Barat is working on the deal and is pushing Huijsen towards Chelsea,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“The player’s father has so far been keen for him to join Liverpool. The player has always said that he won’t make a decision until the season ends, but Chelsea continue to work on it, as do Liverpool.”

The 20-year-old has been outstanding this term, and is now an undroppable member of Andoni Iraola’s starting eleven, prompting members of the media to call Huijsen a perfect modern-day defender.

“He is so cool, so composed, so chill, as he said,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

“He just makes the game look so easy and so effortless. For a 20-year-old to be playing at this level and doing what he is, that’s why he’s coveted by pretty much everyone in Europe.

“If you’re creating a footballer, the modern-day centre-back, you’ve got a bit of the influence from the Netherlands, the influence from Spain, where they come out with the ball and all the great defenders they’ve had.

“And then you’ve got that Italian mark on it as well so the journey, the mixture that he’s got, is pretty perfect, and now he’s found himself in the Premier League. The elements are good, everything is right for him. You have to get all the right ingredients to be a top player.

“He’s a complete player, this young man.”

Ruben Amorim may have had one transfer window to get his feet under the window but despite the arrival of Patrick Dorgu, Manchester United have not made much headway.

Amorim has failed to win 20 of his 33 matches in the Old Trafford hotseat and the constant chopping and changing was there for all to see when Dorgu didn’t even start on Sunday.

Instead, young Harry Amass made his Premier League bow and in the words of Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst, he ‘did not look remotely out of his depth.’

So, there is a bright future at United if those players can be nurtured well. Amorim has some cracking young players at his disposal, notably Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven. Frenchman Leny Yoro forms part of that too.

Who will join in the summer? United fans will hope this Premier League star does.

Man United's hunt for new attackers

When Joshua Zirkzee went off injured on Sunday in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, you could see the pain not just in his eye but his manager’s eyes too. This was not what they needed.

Zirkzee, although not a rampant scorer, has begun to find his feet in Manchester but Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles continue. He has scored just once at club level since December.

That explains links to Wolves star Matheus Cunha with reports in recent weeks suggesting that United would like to bring the forward in over the summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, according to reports in Spain, he’s not the only Premier League star on the club’s radar ahead of the next transfer window.

This report notes that United have gone as far as to submit a huge bid to sign Aston Villa’s talisman, Morgan Rogers.

Now capped by England, the attacker is the subject of a £70m offer from INEOS, but sadly for those of a Red Devils persuasion, Villa boss Unai Emery deems him to be ‘untouchable’ this summer.

Their interest in the player is deemed ‘serious’ but it’s unclear whether Emery and Co will be willing to negotiate.

How Morgan Rogers could be the new Wayne Rooney

Once of Manchester City’s youth academy, Rogers has been around the houses in his bid to become a top-flight star.

The 22-year-old was at West Brom before City picked him and then he found a home at Middlesbrough, scoring seven goals and supplying nine assists in 33 outings.

Villa saw enough in that brief stint on Teeside to bring him to the Midlands in a deal worth just an initial £8m. That’s proven to be a bargain.

2020/21

28

6

2

2021/22

17

1

0

2022/23

22

1

1

2023/24

49

10

10

2024/25

46

14

12

Rogers is now an England international and deservedly so after a smashing campaign, not just domestically but in Europe too.

He has scored a Champions League hat-trick and bagged against PSG, taking his tally of goals for the season to 14 in 46 games. The forward has also posted 12 assists.

Capable of playing off the flanks, as a central striker and most notably in the no.10 role, his form has drawn comparisons to Wayne Rooney.

Wazza had a different footballing education. Thrown into Premier League life as a teenager, it was at United where he became a global phenomenon. A centre-forward by trade, Rooney ended up playing behind the striker, as Rogers is doing now.

After catching the eye against Latvia in the last international break, it was Glenn Hoddle who made the comparison.

Boasting similar builds at a young age – a stockier frame – it helps to propel defenders away. That said, it’s not just their upper body strength that is comparable.

Rogers possesses that low centre of gravity and ability to brush off his opponents with pace and close-knit control, just as a young Rooney was so famously doing for England and United all those years ago.

With that quality in mind, it’s arguably not much of a surprise to see him rank among the division’s finest when it comes to dribbling and successfully taking on a player.

While the Villa star is yet to find the same level of ability in front of goal as Rooney had at the same age, still just 22, there is plenty of room for him to become a more lethal attacking player.

Worse than Bayindir: 4/10 Man Utd flop should be nowhere near Amorim's XI

Manchester United were battered by Newcastle United on Sunday evening.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

Abhishek didn’t have a great start to the day and Gill had not been in great touch in the tournament, but both redeemed themselves, and how

Shashank Kishore22-Sep-20252:08

Chopra: Abhishek-Gill completely decimated the Pakistan attack

Abhishek Sharma’s evening started poorly. Three balls into India’s Super Four match against Pakistan at the 2025 Asia Cup, he put down a chance at deep third to reprieve Sahibzada Farhan. And when a shot at redemption came in the eighth over, he tipped the ball over the long-on boundary, giving Farhan another life. The result: a 34-ball half-century that set the platform for Pakistan.Having spent the rest of the innings patrolling various pockets in the outfield where he took an excellent catch to send back Saim Ayub, Abhishek’s real opportunity to redeem himself didn’t come until the start of India’s 172-run chase. Exactly a week ago, Abhishek had charged at Shaheen Shah Afridi, walloping ten off the first two balls to kickstart India’s chase.This time, Mohammad Haris was quick to play some mind games, standing up to the stumps to prevent Abhishek from charging again. Except, Afridi was having none of it. With Haris back to his usual spot, Afridi dished out a snarky bouncer. With a fine leg in place, the idea seemed legit, until Abhishek got inside the line and hooked him for six.Related

• Things Pakistan say, things Pakistan do, and the gap between them

• Agha on Fakhar dismissal: 'It did look like it bounced ahead of the keeper'

• Abhishek smashes 74 off 39 as India ease past Pakistan

• Abhishek: Didn't like Pakistan 'coming at us without any reason'

• Suryakumar: India vs Pakistan isn't a rivalry anymore

It was to be the start of a batting exhibition that helped Abhishek forget the nightmarish opening act. When he was finally out for a 39-ball 74, Abhishek had to drag himself off, visibly distraught at missing a century that was there for the taking. In between the drops and his dismissal, Pakistan’s vaunted pace attack was sent on a leather hunt.It didn’t matter if he was hustled off the previous delivery – like when Mohammad Nawaz put down a miscued pull at midwicket in the third over – or got streaky runs off thick outside edges. The intent to make a statement in the powerplay trumped everything.At the first sign of spin in the fourth over, he muscled Abrar Ahmed over deep square. And when Haris Rauf went hard length, he charged at him by opening up the off side. With Abhishek, beneath the intent is often a strong belief that this high-risk, high-reward approach will help deliver impact.”It’s just the way he is,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match press conference. “Abhishek is very selfless when it comes to his batting style. In the powerplay, he goes hard, but even after that he knows what’s required. He analyses situations, he’s learning every game. Most importantly, he never misses practice. Even if he doesn’t want to bat, he’ll be at the ground, doing something. If you keep working that hard, god always has plans for you.”1:56

Chopra: Pakistan spinners were underwhelming

On the eve of the match, that “something” was as significant as his powerplay salvo. He was helping his best friend, Shubman Gill, find his groove at an optional training session. Against UAE and Pakistan, Gill had been dismissed looking to attack. Two nights ago against Oman, he was cleaned up by a ripper of an inswinger.And so, even though they’d had a late night thanks to the drive back from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, Gill was back in the nets to work on a few aspects later in the evening with Abhishek and Varun Chakravarthy for company, while the rest of the squad enjoyed an off day.When Gill struggled for timing, Abhishek was beside him – at times offering inputs, sometimes even bowling certain deliveries in the absence of other net bowlers, to have Gill attempt certain shots until he got the .On Sunday, Gill had that almost immediately as he picked up two fours off Saim Ayub’s first over. But it wasn’t until he lofted Afridi over mid-off with nonchalance that he truly got going. Soon enough, there was a bit of bite. There were words exchanged, and tension was palpable.Gill wasn’t going to lie low. He responded by unleashing a shot that could be his trademark – the short-arm jab for four off Rauf. Hard length, high pace – no problem. As Rauf turned back to see Abhishek punch the bat and yelp “shot”, Rauf waved his hands away at him angrily.And then as Gill and Abhishek met mid-pitch, there was a fierce staredown with Rauf, followed by an exchange of words that needed the umpires to intervene. By then, India were flying, and the game was tilting.

“Abhishek is very selfless when it comes to his batting style. In the powerplay, he goes hard, but even after that he knows what’s required”Suryakumar Yadav

Gill kept threading gaps behind point both off pace and spin, hitting fearlessly through the line over extra cover, and even added range to his repertoire with a reverse sweep off Ayub, a stroke Suryakumar particularly relished.”With Shubman, everyone knows what kind of player he is,” Suryakumar said. “The only thing I’ll say is he knows how to score runs. Today he backed his shots, took fewer risks, trusted his strokes. And that reverse sweep – I was really happy. He’s been working on it a lot.”For a brief spell, the Gill-Abhishek madness that helped India pummel 69 in the powerplay made it seem like Pakistan were 15 short, like Salman Agha had assessed later. Afridi had been taken for 24 off his two wicketless overs, while Abrar and Ayub, despite their mystery spin, were equally flat.Abhishek reached his fifty off just 24 balls, and amid the war of words, he celebrated his landmark by blowing a kiss to the crowd – seemingly towards his family, while Suryakumar punched the air in the dugout. The best friends were now proving to be a menace to their opponents.”It’s really important to be very good friends off the field,” Suryakumar explained of their camaraderie. “When you open together, that bond matters. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything in the middle. Just a look is enough – to take a cheeky single, to complement each other if one’s flying or if one’s struggling. That friendship comes into the picture when they bat together.

“He [Gill] knows how to score runs. Today he backed his shots, took fewer risks, trusted his strokes. And that reverse sweep – I was really happy. He’s been working on it a lot”Suryakumar Yadav on Shubman Gill

“It’s like a fire and ice combination. They complement each other really well. And that’s what I want to see. If someone is batting brilliantly, the other can take the backseat and rotate the strike. It was required today to have a very good start. And they did [provide that].”There was also some history woven into the fire. Back in 2018 at the Under-19 World Cup semi-final, Afridi and his mates had needled Gill with the line: “our bowling isn’t Bangladesh.” Gill answered with a hundred and celebrated animatedly, hurling words towards the Pakistan team as he hit a last-ball six to bring up three figures. That day, Abhishek added the kicker: “Our batting isn’t Pakistan either.”Seven years later, in Dubai, flashes of that aggression and fire they exhibited as teenagers were in full view again. By the time Gill fell, India were cruising at 105 for 1 in ten overs. Abhishek batted on for a bit more to impart more agony.By the end, the dropped catches that had threatened to define Abhishek’s evening seemed distant. Instead, two friends who grew up pushing each other to be their best versions, and live their India dream together, delivered in a statement win.Their “fire and ice” was more than just a glimpse of an opening act that is here to stay.

Salt and Brook conjure miracle win but doubts about selection and approach persist

Cameron Ponsonby16-Dec-2023Failure is an orphan, but success belongs to Phil Salt and Harry Brook, as an innings of a lifetime from Salt, and a Tarantino level cameo from Brook, gave England a dramatic and much-needed victory.England needed this. Yes, the idea is that they’re a new team here to learn as much as win. But lose five out of six for your local five-a-side team and you might be giving the WhatsApp call for next week a miss, let alone if you’re an international athlete with a career and a dream on the line.Publicly, the message was that morale was still high and that a group of great mates were sticking together. But privately, it was that a group of great mates were sticking together, but feeling the heat.Related

Salt 109*, Brook late cameo fire England to dramatic chase of 223

Stats – England's death-overs heist in a six-hitting fest

“It is a big boost and it shows our words have weight behind them,” Salt said in the moments after his maiden T20 hundred had helped get England over the line. “There is no sports team in the world that is happy with losing games. It is tough out here. We’ve been under the gun a little bit but they are a hell of a side, the West Indies, they have some players and the way they hit the ball is incredible. With the series in the balance today to come out and play the way we did I am over the moon.”With England needing 29 off nine balls, the match was as good as finished, with Salt’s final act lumping a six over long-off before taking a single out to deep midwicket. The equation was 22 off 7, with the reins handed over to Brook, who at the time was on 6 off 1.Brook took a single of the final ball of the penultimate over to leave 21 needed off the last for victory. A figure that has only been achieved once before in the history of T20I cricket. “We can talk about what I did,” Salt said. “But what Brooky did was probably more important.”Five balls later and England had won, as Brook hit two balls over the rope and one out of the stadium. As the last ball of the match sailed over deep third for six, Brook held his arms aloft in victory and Salt came charging towards him leaping not once, but twice. An initial outburst of emotion that simply wasn’t enough to capture the joy of the moment. Two lads, out in the middle, winning a cricket match for England.”There is no more special feeling than walking off a ground in an England shirt, winning the game,” Salt said. “Jos said that in the dressing room after the last game and we were looking for someone to put their hands up and do that in this series. I am pleased it’s me, but I am more pleased with the win.”This can, and should, be celebrated as a sporting achievement in isolation. A jaw-dropping display of batting that should be allowed to wash over lovers of the game without getting into the weeds of what’s next or what’s come before it.Salt drives through the covers during the powerplay•Associated PressBut that England’s turnaround relied on two batting miracles, one on the Damascus scale of things in Salt’s innings, the other of hitting a run of green lights in a row in Brook’s, is the perfect summary of where this team is. A group with incredible individual talent that has been underperforming.It would be harsh to look for the negatives in victory, but just as teams can dismiss defeats as a failure of result not process, so too can victories be criticised as a failure of process not result.Regardless of how it finished, this fixture saw a third change in balance for England, let alone XI, in as many matches.In match one, the barrage of Bridgetown prompted England to swap Ben Duckett out for the extra bowling option in Moeen Ali. And when that didn’t work, England abandoned their batting deep blueprint in favour of bringing in Gus Atkinson and Reece Topley for Rehan Ahmed and Chris Woakes. Batting heavy, then bowling heavy, and then a preference for seam over spin.England started this tour with Sam Curran at No. 8 and Atkinson at 11 in the ODIs. In the last 48 hours, Curran has batted No. 4 and Atkinson has been listed at 8.”I feel like the make-up of the side we have put out in each match has been spot on,” Salt said in response. “There are always going to be different make-ups for different surfaces, no two wickets are the same so it is up to the coaches.”Nevertheless, England have prided themselves for years on the mantra of giving players one too many chances rather than one too few. A policy that prompted Salt earlier this tour to say that at one point he felt he “could do anything and still not get in the team”.The new era has preached that same patience, so would Duckett not feel in his rights to feel bemused that he was removed after one match? Does Atkinson, having been brought in and conceded 33 runs in two overs, fear for his spot on Tuesday? And what of Curran? Who opened the bowling in the first game, bowled first change in the second and fourth change here.Everyone knows that you can’t read too much into a single T20 result because we are told as much by the players and coaches who know the game better than the rest of us. But if this tour is as much a learning exercise for the World Cup as it is a pursuit of victory in isolation, then what A Levels are we leaving with if England are changing every game?Far from a team bereft of ideas, England, even in victory, appear to be a team with too many. With the move to spin-heavy Trinidad set to require even more. Trust the process, not the result, is what we’re always told. Unfortunately for England, it isn’t quite clear what that is.

India also register their highest ever powerplay score in the format

Sampath Bandarupalli05-Nov-202182 for 2 – India’s total in the first six overs against Scotland, their highest powerplay total in men’s T20I cricket. Their previous highest total in the powerplay was 78 for 2 against South Africa in 2018 in Johannesburg. It is also the fifth-highest powerplay total for any team at Men’s T20 World Cups.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of India vs Scotland is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

3.5 – Overs needed for India to bring up their fifty, which is the fastest team fifty for India in men’s T20Is. India’s previous quickest team fifty was in 4.1 overs on three occasions – against New Zealand in 2007, against Australia in 2016 and against West Indies in 2019.81 – Balls remaining in the chase when India reached the target, the first instance of India winning a T20I with ten or more overs to spare. Their previous biggest victory in balls to spare was by 59 balls against UAE in the 2016 Asia Cup. India’s win is also the third-biggest by balls for any team at Men’s T20 World Cups.ESPNcricinfo Ltd18 – Balls needed for KL Rahul to get to fifty, the second-fastest for India in men’s T20Is. The fastest is in 12 balls by Yuvraj Singh against England in 2007. Rahul’s fifty is also the joint-third fastest in Men’s T20 World Cups behind Yuvraj’s 12-ball effort and Stephan Myburgh’s 17-ball fifty against Ireland in 2014. Glenn Maxwell also scored fifty off 18 balls against Pakistan in 2014.2 – The number of fifties completed for India inside the powerplay in men’s T20Is, including Rahul’s knock here. Rohit Sharma also scored exactly 50 runs in the first six overs against New Zealand in 2020 in Hamilton. Rahul is also only the second player to complete a fifty inside a powerplay at Men’s T20 World Cups, after Myburgh’s effort against Ireland.ESPNcricinfo Ltd64 – Wickets for Jasprit Bumrah in T20Is, the most by a bowler for India in this format. With the two wickets Bumrah picked up against Scotland, he became India’s leading wicket-taker in men’s T20Is, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal’s tally of 63.Related

India spin the wheel but still need fortune to keep semi-final hopes alive

Jadeja, Shami shine as India blow Scotland away for huge NRR boost

3 for 15 – Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling figures in this match are his best in T20Is. Only once before has Jadeja taken three or more wickets in a T20I – against West Indies in 2014. Jadeja was the Player of the Match for his bowling against Scotland, his second such award in T20Is. His first was back in 2012 against Australia in Melbourne.

We have a loaded card on Thursday with the stars set to show out on the Fourth of July. 

There are plenty of favorable hitting conditions across Major League Baseball, and I’m banking on some of the premier sluggers to cash in for us, including Juan Soto, Austin Riley and Christian Yelich. 

Find out why these are my three preferred targets on the 15 game card below!

Best MLB Home Run Prop Bets for Thursday, July 4th Juan Soto (+285)Austin Riley (+560)Christian Yelich (+500)

Juan Soto

Soto is as dangerous as any hitter in the big leagues (besides his teammate Aaron Judge). 

I’ll opt to bet Soto to go deep on Thursday, who bolsters a .561 slugging percentage against righty hitters and a devastating hard-hit percentage of 57%, which ranks in the 99th percentile in the big leagues. 

Facing Frankie Montas, who has seen his fastball diminish as he gets shelled by hard contact, but particularly by lefty hitters. Montas has allowed six homers to left handed hitters in his 15 starts, far more than the two he has allowed to righties.  

Austin Riley 

Riley has had an injury riddled 2024 season, but he is still an elite slugger, posting a 90th percentile hard-hit percentage and an xSLG of .500. However, he has a slugging percentage of just .434, so some positive regression is likely coming. 

How about on Thursday? 

The Braves will face Giants starter Logan Webb, who is in the second percentile in hard-hit percentage, pitching far worse than his 3.13 ERA would indicate (he has a 4.14 xERA). Riley’s number has drifted out due to Webb’s ability to induce groundball contact, but I can’t pass up this number. 

Christian Yelich

Yelich has returned to his status as one of the premier hitters in baseball, posting a .333 batting average. While not known for his power, Yelich is in a good spot to go deep on Thursday at Coors Field. 

The hitter friendly ballpark always opens up opportunities for hitters to crack a homer, and Yelich is in as good of a spot as anyone, but has seen his price drift out given his low output this season (nine total home runs). 

Yelich thrives against righty pitchers, though, hitting six of his nine against that type of pitcher and slugging .541 this season. 

Cal Quantril has middling numbers against left handed hitters this season and lacks the ability to sit batters down, 21st in strikeout rate. 

I’ll bank on the talent of Yelich to show out and cash in at this big number for him to go yard. 

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, headlined by a goals from two strikers and an assist from a player fighting for a role next summer

Following Friday’s World Cup draw, attention has already shifted toward next summer. That’s only natural. Fans of the U.S. Men’s National Team – and every other team in the field – suddenly know the path. Hope, anxiety, excitement… all of it feels a little more real now.

That’s the long view, though.

In the short term, there was still plenty happening at the club level this weekend. Big games, big stakes, and several American players who made their mark. The fight for places – like the tournament itself – now feels just that little bit closer.

There were goals, assists, and plenty of storylines on display this weekend, as some of the USMNT's key stars played vital roles for their respective clubs. Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent both scored, providing their own statements in a crowded striker race. Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, came off the bench to provide an assist in a huge match as Leeds completed a miracle comeback against Liverpool.

They weren't the only standouts this weekend, though. The World Cup clock is ticking, with the draw being the latest big moment on the road to 2026. To close 2025, though, several Americans clearly have a point to prove.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from this weekend's Americans Abroad.

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  Pepi makes most of second consecutive start

  Pepi was back in PSV's starting XI and, wouldn't you know it, he was back on the scoresheet, too.

  Pepi continued his recent run of form with yet another goal, netting in PSV's 2-0 win over Heerenveen. With that goal, he has five goals in just 511 Eredivisie minutes, and you can tack on two goals in the Champions League to that total, too. Pepi remains one of the most efficient goal scorers in the Netherlands and, ]now back in the XI, PSV are benefitting from the efficiency.

  That increase in minutes wasn't guaranteed, though.

  For a while, Pepi wasn't in the XI. PSV wanted to ease him in to start the season and were then reluctant to break up a good thing with Guus Til up top. The USMNT striker had to bide his time, and he did so effectively by coming off the bench and scoring anyway. Now back in the lineup, Pepi’s task is simple: stay there. And the best way to do that is to do what he’s always done at PSV – change games with goals.

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  Sargent snaps scoring drought

  Sargent is finally back on the scoresheet.

  The American striker netted his first goal since August and, although it came in a 3-2 defeat to Watford, it did feel like a turning point for the Norwich City star. He's done well over the last few weeks, providing three assists in the six games prior to Saturday's goal, but, for months, that goal had been eluding him. Following a tough September international break, Sargent had been unable to respond, which is at least partly why he wasn't back with the USMNT in October or November.

  Maybe, then, this can be a springboard. There's no doubt that the 2022 World Cup veteran has fallen down the USMNT's striker depth chart, and the only way to climb back up it is to score goals. He hadn't done that in 14 appearances prior to Saturday's breakout, which will make this one feel extra special.

  Sargent has proven time and time again that he's a player who can score in bunches, particularly at this Championship level. Maybe this weekend's finish can be the start of a new bunch, then, one that gives Mauricio Pochettino something to think about up top.

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  Aaronson makes his mark in incredible Leeds comeback

  When Aaronson came into the game, Leeds were down 2-0 against Liverpool. By the time the final whistle blew, they'd pulled it back to 3-3, with Aaronson playing a major part in helping his side get there.

  Not named to the starting XI, Aaronson came off the bench to assist a goal from Anton Stach, aiding Leeds' comeback to make it 2-2. The Reds scored shortly after, but Leeds fired back again in the game's final moments to stun the defending champions.

  Aaronson's impact came amid a mixed reception from the Elland Road crowd, but when push comes to shove, the American continues to show up for Leeds. The assist is his second of the year, and he's added a goal this season, too. Aaronson, of course, also continues to do the dirty work required for a Leeds team looking to stay in the Premier League.

  Aaronson's big task this season was proving he was a Premier League-level player. The results of that are still to be determined. Moments like Saturday's help, though, as he showed he can make a difference off the bench against one of the game's top teams.

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  Reyna back in the XI

  It's been a while since we've seen Gio Reyna start back-to-back games. It's been even longer since he's done it on short rest. Reyna is building, though, which is why he was back in the XI for Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.

  Just three days after playing 68 minutes against St. Pauli, Reyna was in the Gladbach XI again on Friday in a 1-0 win over Mainz. Reyna put in a strong shift, playing 69 minutes as an attacking midfielder, creating one chance, a cross, and providing three passes into the final third. Additionally, he won five of his eight duels and had two tackles, showing some of the defensive tenacity required from him even as a midfielder higher up the pitch.

  Was it a life-changing performance? No, but it didn't have to be. Reyna is getting closer and closer to being a regular player. After so long on the sidelines and the substitutes bench, that's a win.

Arne Slot says there is "no issue to resolve" with Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward returned to the fold in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Brighton. The Egypt star was left out of Tuesday’s Champions League win over Inter Milan after an explosive interview in which he accused the club of "throwing me under the bus" and saying his relationship with the Reds boss had broken down.

• Salah records an assist on eagerly-awaited Liverpool return

  Emerging from the substitutes bench on the 26th-minute mark following an injury to Joe Gomez, Salah made his first appearance since his incendiary remarks about Liverpool and manager Slot in the aftermath of the 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United.

  The 33-year-old came close to making an immediate impact against Brighton as he teed up Alexis Mac Allister, only for the chance to break down as the Argentina midfielder opted to pass rather than shoot.

  However, former Chelsea and Roma winger Salah eventually recorded an assist when his second-half corner was headed home by Hugo Ekitike, who also put Liverpool in front after latching onto Gomez’s knockdown inside the opening minute at Anfield.

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  Egypt star launched emotional tirade following Leeds draw

  Watching on as an unused substitute as Liverpool twice threw away the lead to draw with Leeds last Saturday, Salah subsequently conducted an emotionally-charged interview in which he was heavily critical of both the club and Slot.

  "I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame," Salah told a handful of journalists after the game. "I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager (Slot), and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship.

  "I don't know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame."

  Salah was then absent as Liverpool earned a 1-0 victory over Italian giants Inter in the Champions League in midweek, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a decisive penalty in the 88th minute.

• Slot attempts to build bridges following Salah's Brighton display

  However, following Salah’s impressive display against Brighton, Slot has since set the record straight on his relationship with the Liverpool talisman.

  When asked whether there was still a problem between himself and Salah, the Dutchman said: "For me, there's no issue to resolve. For me, he's now the same as any other player. You talk to your players if you are happy or unhappy with things. But there's nothing to talk about after what happened against Leeds after the game."

  And in a separate interview with , Slot said: "I think he (Salah) was a threat. The first ball he touched, he almost made an assist for Mac Allister. He was constantly involved in the fact that we had Mo. Pleasing to see but not a surprise. 

  "It was an easy decision to put him in the squad. I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us. We needed him and he assisted to the 2-0 which is nice for us. We have been so many times this season on the wrong side of the set-piece battle. He goes to the AFCON and that means for us another player down. This is what we knew before the season started. Hopefully one or two players can come back from injury."

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  Saudi-linked Salah set to join up with Egypt squad for AFCON

  While Slot has attempted to build bridges following Salah’s remarks, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s No. 11 will remain at the club beyond the January transfer window, which opens in just 18 days' time.

  The ex-Fiorentina and Basel ace, who is a target for a host of clubs in the Saudi Pro League, will now head to Egypt’s camp ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begins on Sunday, 21 December in Morocco.

  Meanwhile, Liverpool return to league action when they travel to Tottenham next Saturday. Slot’s men will then entertain winless Wolves on Saturday, 27 December, in what will be their final home fixture of 2025. They will then play host to Leeds on New Year’s Day.