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West Ham United are now confident they can get a deal for an “explosive” midfielder over the line, having identified him as a key target, according to a report.

West Ham closing in on El Hadji Malick Diouf

With long-serving left-back Aaron Cresswell departing upon the expiration of his contract, one of Graham Potter’s main tasks this summer will be to bring in a new left-back, and the deal for Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf is now edging closer to completion.

Should the medical go smoothly, the Slavia Prague defender is set to become the Hammers’ first signing of the summer, but he is unlikely to be the last, given that Mohammed Kudus’ departure has left a major gap in the squad.

With Tottenham Hotspur shelling out £55m on Kudus, the Irons should have ample funds to bring in a new attacking midfielder, and they are now eyeing an ambitious move for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who could be available for around £40m this summer.

That is according to a report from The Guardian, which states West Ham are optimistic and believe that a deal will be possible, although there could be competition for the Englishman’s signature from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

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Posts 1 ByDominic Lund Jul 13, 2025

The 22-year-old has been identified as a key target for the Hammers, as Potter is looking to freshen up his squad with younger players this summer, having been forced to work with the oldest squad in the Premier League last season.

"Explosive" Elliott could be coup for West Ham

Back in June, the Liverpool ace made it clear he may have to think about leaving the Reds this summer, given that he has never really managed to solidify his place as a regular starter.

As such, a move to the London Stadium could make perfect sense, and the maestro’s performances at international level showcase what he could be capable of if Potter were to give him a consistent run in the starting XI.

The London-born midfielder scored five goals for England U21s en-route to their U21 European Championships triumph back in June, maintaining a fantastic record in front of goal over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.66 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.33 (86th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.80 (98th percentile)

As such, Elliott, who has been lauded as “explosive” by Arne Slot, could be a fantastic addition to the West Ham squad, and it is promising news that they believe he may be tempted by a move to the London Stadium.

Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures for the 2025/26 season have now officially been released, as Blues fans everywhere begin to feverishly jot down where and when their beloved team will play all across the 38-game marathon.

Amazingly, Enzo Maresca’s men won’t have to leave the comforts of London behind for their first four top-flight clashes, with Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Fulham, and Brentford all coming in quick succession in August and September, before fierce ties with Manchester United and Liverpool then appear on the stacked calendar.

Before the Premier League excitedly kicks back into gear, however, Chelsea still have a Club World Cup tournament to compete in, alongside the hectic transfer window being in full swing.

The chaotic window is already throwing up lots of tasty transfer rumours involving Maresca’s men, with another high-profile name now being linked to enhance their attacking options even more.

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025 Chelsea known admirers of 22-year-old PL ace

This has been a busy summer so far for the Blues and it’s showing no signs of slowing down amid rumours linking the likes of Jamie Gittens and Hugo Ekitike to the Bridge.

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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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Now, as per a report from the Daily Mail Online, Chelsea are reportedly said to be keen admirers of Aston Villa superstar Morgan Rogers this summer.

The report does clarify that Unai Emery’s men aren’t entertaining the prospect of selling their standout performer, but with PSR issues lingering in the air, Villa could well need to sell up, with Rogers arguably their most valuable asset.

After all, it had been previously noted that Rogers could be available for an eye-watering fee around a £100m figure, with Arsenal also keen on the former Middlesbrough midfielder, according to the Mail.

It remains to be seen whether Maresca’s side or Mikel Arteta’s outfit would be willing to fork out such a high amount, but if Chelsea were ultimately successful in this ongoing race for the in-demand 22-year-old, they could well land a perfect partner for a growing Liam Delap to bounce off of.

How Rogers could make Delap even better

Delap is already up and running wearing his new Chelsea blue as opposed to his Ipswich Town colours, with his assist helping the Blues pick up a comfortable 2-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup.

Still, the new £30m striker will be excused for feeling slightly nervous about Premier League action kicking off at Stamford Bridge, having only ever tasted top-flight football on the books of Kieran McKenna’s relegation-threatened minnows.

He will feel less apprehensive about the task ahead of improving his overall game, knowing Rogers has been in the same anxious boat and come out the other side stronger, with the 6-foot-2 attacker having to get up to speed with the Premier League mid-way through the 2023/24 season.

Rogers is definitely at home with the pressures of the top-flight now after firing home an encouraging three goals from 13 games during his debut campaign and then recording a stunning 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season. That led to Jamie Carragher calling the in-demand 22-year-old “unstoppable” during this standout patch of form.

Rogers’ PL numbers (24/25) vs Delap’s (24/25)

Stat

Rogers

Delap

Games played

37

37

Goals scored

8

12

Assists

10

3

Big chances created

16

3

Big chances missed

11

10

Stats by Sofascore

Delap will pray he undergoes a similar transformation to Rogers, with the poacher clearly capable of being a reliable fox-in-the-box presence for a relegation-threatened outfit when collecting 12 league strikes for Ipswich.

But, with a sublime teammate such as the Villa number 27 by his side – who created a bumper 16 big chances last campaign – he could soon soar to even loftier heights.

Alongside being a potentially phenomenal comrade to the ex-Manchester City attacker, Rogers could also slot into the Chelsea XI down the left wing if needed, away from the Blues’ ongoing pursuit of Gittens.

If Chelsea wants to kick on this forthcoming season and be genuine title challengers, adding in faces such as Rogers could be the next impressive move, with a top-flight foe in Villa severely weakened in the process.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Liverpool’s attack has been sensational throughout 2024/25, playing a huge role in Arne Slot’s success in claiming the Premier League title during his first season at the helm.

The Reds managed to notch a total of 86 goals in their 38 appearances – the most of any side in the division – with Mohamed Salah leading the way with 29 goals.

However, despite their success, there could be a change in the attacking department ahead of next season, with the club needing fresh impetus to maintain their performance levels.

The likes of Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz could all leave Anfield this window, raising some key funds in Slot’s ambitions of landing new signings.

With the transfer window now open, numerous players have already been touted with a switch to Merseyside this summer, which could see the hierarchy massively back the manager during the off-season.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer

Since claiming the title, Liverpool have been extremely busy in the market, as seen with right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who’s already joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen.

He could be joined by the likes of Milos Kerkez, Marc Guehi and Alexander Isak, who have all also been strongly touted with a summer switch to Merseyside.

However, another name has been thrown into the mix in the form of Victor Osimhen, with the striker firmly on their radar, according to TBR’s latest update.

Their report claims that discussions have been held over a move for the Nigerian striker, who scored 37 goals in 41 appearances on loan at Galatasaray from Serie A outfit Napoli.

It also states that the Reds’ hierarchy are targeting a new striker this summer, with a big name expected, which could see the 26-year-old move to Anfield – but they would have to meet the £60m price tag on his head.

Why Osimhen would be a better signing than Wirtz

Florian Wirtz is a player who has been the subject of huge interest from Liverpool in recent weeks, with a move progressing in the right direction ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The German, who registered 30 combined goals and assists this season, could cost the Reds a pretty penny, after already having a club-record bid of £110m rejected by Bayer Leverkusen.

It would be a huge investment from the hierarchy, showcasing how much the board have faith in the manager to make the changes he desires after his first season at the helm.

If he can carry his tally of contributions over from the Bundesliga, it would be an addition that could massively bolster their ambitions of becoming back-to-back champions in the Premier League.

However, they could be about to make a better addition than the midfielder this summer in the form of Osimhen, who would solve arguably what’s been Slot’s biggest issue.

When comparing the Nigerian’s stats with those of current strikers Jota and Nunez, he’s massively outperformed the pair, handing the side that focal point they’ve been desperately lacking.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has massively outscored the duo, whilst registering a higher shot-on-target rate – offering the manager the clinical central option he’s been devoid of as of late.

Games played

30

26

30

Goals & assists

31

9

7

Shot on target accuracy

42%

25%

38%

Shots on target per game

2.2

1

1

Aerials won

3.5

1.6

1.5

Aerial success rate

60%

40%

37%

Fouls won

1.9

1.1

1.1

He’s also managed to win more of the aerial duels he’s entered this campaign, with such a talent aiding the likes of Salah in the attacking areas, which could see him improve his own tallies in the final third.

Whilst a deal for Wirtz is undoubtedly an exciting one, it’s an extra to what’s already an impressive midfield department, offering key depth alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

However, Osimhen would undoubtedly be signed as the number one striker, looking to fill the void in a position that has arguably been a disappointing one over the last 12 months – as seen by the records of Jota and Nunez.

If the club are to have any chance of securing another league title next campaign, the signing of the Nigerian international is vital, with his skillset massively improving the goalscoring options at Slot’s disposal.

He's Coutinho 2.0: Liverpool hold talks to sign "Ballon d'Or level talent"

Florian Wirtz isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool have their eye on.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025

Often when it comes to Leeds United and promotion races, the Whites let their nerves get the better of them.

However, with only one game remaining of the current Championship season, the West Yorkshire outfit are already Premier League bound away from any worries seeping in.

Daniel Farke’s side looked every bit ready for the challenge ahead when brushing aside playoff-chasing Bristol City effortlessly in a huge 4-0 win on Monday night.

There was a carnival-like atmosphere in the air at Elland Road throughout, with no hangovers in sight from the home side’s perspective after sealing promotion.

Leeds' best performers vs Bristol City

Leeds might have been anticipating a trickier tie in truth, considering Liam Manning’s Robins aren’t mathematically safe inside the top six positions.

But, from the get-go, the clash felt like a walk in the park for the hosts, with Ao Tanaka’s calm and collected finish from a floating Manor Solomon ball opening the scoring in the 21st minute.

Solomon – away from assisting Tanaka to break the deadlock – really stood out himself during the one-sided contest, with the electric Tottenham Hotspur loanee amassing two successful dribbles and four shots of his own to try and catch out the sheepish visitors from Bristol even more.

Both Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani would shine too as the other goal scorers on the night, with Ramazani only needing nine minutes of action to bag a brace, whilst both Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu would accumulate a ridiculous 291 accurate passes between them in the heart of the Leeds defence.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Of course, alongside the aforementioned Welsh pairing, there was also the influential figure of Junior Firpo pulling the strings once more from defence, with his assist for Ramazani’s first of the clash taking his assist haul to the season up to a mighty ten.

Regardless of his standout showings this season, according to reports, it looks unlikely that the ex-Barcelona man will be kept around for the forthcoming challenge of the Premier League.

However, there is another face in Farke’s starting XI who may succumb to the same fate as the left-back over the summer.

7/10 Leeds star needs an upgrade

Tough conversations will have to take place at Leeds this coming off-season involving who is cut out for the intense jump up to the top-flight, with Farke’s neck already allegedly on the line in this regard.

Brenden Aaronson will also be worrying slightly about his long-term future in West Yorkshire, considering the American has previously floundered at the elite level.

Indeed, last time he was plunged into the choppy waters of the Premier League, Aaronson would only manage to pick up one goal and three assists from 36 outings, culminating in the Whites falling back into the reaches of the Championship.

Now, the ex-Red Salzburg attacker will have a point to prove. But, based on his somewhat wasteful approach against the leaky Robins and his topsy-turvy form this season, he might not be Farke’s preferred choice of number 10 in the far tougher division.

Minutes played

86

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

50

Accurate passes

28/33 (85%)

Key passes

2

Shots

3

Big chances missed

1

It must be said, this was not Aaronson’s worst night of the campaign, far from it. The £45k-per-week attacking midfielder did manage to link up nicely with Solomon and Co at points as another vibrant option up top, but another goal or assist to add to his season collection of 11 from 45-second tier clashes annoyingly evaded him.

Whilst the likes of Solomon and Tanaka wouldn’t look out of place in the top-flight, Aaronson could well find he’s pushed back into the deep-end once more, with Yorkshire Post journalist Tom Coates even labelling his night as “frustrating” despite his 7/10 rating. It was a night of mixed reviews for the American, which rather sums up his time at Leeds, with the Athletic’s Larry Henry suggesting it was a “really positive display”.

Evidently, an upgrade will be required in the Premier League and it might well be that the likes of Firpo, Farke and Aaronson have all just enjoyed their last nights under the Elland Road lights.

Before any more talk centres on whether the inconsistent 24-year-old could be let go of, Leeds still have the chance to clinch the Championship title on the final day of the season, with Plymouth the location for the Whites’ potential triumph.

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Leeds United are back in action in the Championship once again as they prepare to take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in the early kick-off this afternoon.

The Whites are looking to bounce back from successive 2-2 draws against Swansea and Queens Park Rangers either side of the international break.

Daniel Farke has already confirmed that there will be one change to his starting line-up for this clash with the Hatters, as Illan Meslier will be dropped to the bench in favour of Karl Darlow.

Why Daniel Farke is right to drop Illan Meslier

The German head coach looks to be making the sensible decision to take the French stopper out of the firing line, after he fumbled a cross for Swansea’s first goal last weekend.

Meslier has now made three errors that have directly led to goals for the opposition in the Championship this season, with the other two coming in away games against Sunderland and Hull.

The left-footed dud has also conceded 2.73 more goals than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the xG of the shots against him this term, which shows that he has underperformed as a shot-stopper whilst also being error-prone.

This is why Farke is right to drop him from the side to give Darlow, who has not made a single appearance in the league this season, a chance to shine between the sticks.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, Meslier is not the only player who should be taken out of the team, as the former Norwich City head coach must also ruthlessly ditch Dan James.

Why Dan James should be dropped

The Wales international should be removed from the XI as well as the French flop after his disappointing performance against his former club last weekend.

James started on the right side of the attack at Elland Road for the 2-2 draw with the Swans and was not directly involved in either of the two goals that Leeds scored, as Wilfried Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson got on the scoresheet.

Minutes

85

Touches

34

Pass accuracy

50% (8/16)

Shots

4

Goals

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester United man endured a torrid time against Swansea, completing just 50% of his passes and failing to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch.

The £50k-per-week star has now gone four matches without a goal or an assist, and seven games without a goal, in the Championship, which is why Farke must ruthlessly take him out of the XI for this clash with Luton, given the other options he has at his disposal.

Gnonto scored one minute after coming on for James and the Italy U21 international, who has racked up six goals and five assists in the league, should be brought into the starting line-up this afternoon.

The Italian dynamo’s late goal against Swansea was more than the Welshman has contributed in his last four league outings, and Farke must, now, provide Gnonto with an opportunity to showcase his quality from the start.

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Therefore, Meslier is not the only player who should be dropped against the Hatters, and was not the only player who flopped against Swansea last time out.

The dates and the fixtures, the players to watch and the players you can’t watch, draft details and everything else you need to know

Andrew McGlashan06-Nov-2025

When does it take place?

The competition begins with a triple-header on November 9, later than it traditionally does because of the ODI World Cup, with the final on December 13, the day before the BBL begins.

What is the tournament structure?

Last season, the tournament was reduced to 40 games plus finals to bring it in line with the BBL and fit it within a burgeoning women’s cricket calendar. Each club will play ten games during the regular season.The three-game finals format used since 2021 remains in place, with the top four teams from the regular season to qualify. The team that finishes top after the regular season will host the final. The third- and fourth-placed teams will meet in the Knockout on December 9 with the winner to travel and face the team that finished second on the ladder two days later in the Challenger for a place in the final.

Who are the defending champions

Melbourne Renegades won the title for the first time last season when they overcame Brisbane Heat in a rain-affected final at the MCG. However, they have suffered a major blow ahead of their defence, with West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews, who was Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament, ruled out having undergone shoulder surgery.Melbourne Renegades will miss the services of last season’s superstar Hayley Matthews•Getty Images

How the overseas draft played out

Adelaide Strikers: Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt (pre-sign), Tammy Beaumont
Brisbane Heat: Jemimah Rodrigues, Chinelle Henry, Nadine de Klerk (pre-sign)
Hobart Hurricanes: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (pre-sign), Linsey Smith
Melbourne Renegades: Deandra Dottin, Alice Capsey
Melbourne Stars: Amy Jones, Marizanne Kapp (pre-sign), Dani Gibson
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (pre-sign), Paige Schofield, Chloe Tryon (withdrawn)
Sydney Sixers: Sophia Dunkley, Amelia Kerr (pre-sign), Mady Villiers
Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight, Chamari Athapaththu (pre-sign), Shabnim Ismail

Are there any availability problems or schedule clashes?

Not too many. The tournament itself has been squeezed by the World Cup but, currently, the only conflicting international series is South Africa’s against Ireland. That has seen Perth Scorchers replace Chloe Tryon, who has made herself available to face Ireland, with England’s Freya Kemp.

The squads

Adelaide Strikers
Jemma Barsby, Tammy Beaumont, Darcie Brown, Sophie Ecclestone, Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura WolvaardtBrisbane Heat
Lily Bassingthwaighte, Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Nadine de Klerk, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mikayla WrigleyHobart Hurricanes
Kathryn Bryce, Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Isa Malgioglio, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt-HodgeMelbourne Renegades
Charis Bekker, Alice Capsey, Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth, Sara Kennedy, Sophie Molineux, Davina Perrin, Naomi Stalenberg, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Issy WongMelbourne Stars
Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Dani Gibson, Maisy Gibson, Ella Hayward, Amy Jones, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Ines McKeon, Sasha Moloney, Indigo Noble, Georgia Prestwidge, Sophie Reid, Annabel SutherlandPerth Scorchers
Chloe Ainsworth, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Freya Kemp, Alana King, Katie Mack, Shay Manolini, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Paige Scholfield, Ruby StrangeSydney Sixers
Caoimhe Bray, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophia Dunkley, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Elsa Hunter, Amelia Kerr, Lauren Kua, Emma Manix-Geeves, Ellyse Perry, Courtney Sippel, Mady VilliersSydney Thunder
Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Bates, Ella Briscoe, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Lucy Finn, Hasrat Gill, Laura Harris, Shabnim Ismail, Heather Knight, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia WilsonThe MCG could host the final if one of the two Melbourne teams qualify•Getty Images

Any new regulations we need to know?

CA has strengthened in-game over-rate penalties. As per previous seasons a countdown timer will be in place for each innings. Once time expires, teams are required to bring an additional player inside the fielding restriction circle immediately. The timer will immediately reset (5 minutes for BBL, 5:45mins for WBBL) after hitting zero and if time expires again before the conclusion of the innings, full powerplay conditions will exist for the remaining deliveries.

Are the major stadiums being used?

Largely, no. The Stadium Series, which took matches to the MCG, SCG and the Gabba, has been shelved for this season although Adelaide Oval will still host one Strikers’ match as part of a double-header day on November 28. Cricket Australia said it was down to scheduling and they could return in the future.”Due to scheduling reasons and needing to optimise those games in those big stadiums, we haven’t found the right slot for them this year,” head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson said. “That’s not to say we won’t be back there in the future, because [playing] the world’s best cricket league in the world’s best stadiums is still a part of our thinking going forward, but not for this season.”There remains a chance the MCG could host the final if either Melbourne team qualifies because it is scheduled to be a night game and Junction Oval won’t have its new lights installed in time.

Players to watch

Tess Flintoff, who has made a crosstown move from Melbourne Stars to Renegades, is one of the emerging allrounders in Australian cricket. She was awarded a central contract earlier this year, perhaps somewhat surprisingly given her numbers. “Certainly looking at her performances, you’d go, why?,” national selector Shawn Flegler said at the time. “She hasn’t really banged the door down with wickets or anything, but there’s something about her that’s probably a little bit different.” After last season’s returns of three wickets in nine games and a batting average of 9.83, this is a season to show why she is so highly regarded.Laura Wolvaardt comes into the WBBL after topping the run chart at the ODI World Cup•ICC/Getty ImagesLaura Wolvaardt comes into the competition on the back of a magnificent World Cup for South Africa where she produced one of the all-time great innings in the semi-final before another century in the final that wasn’t quite enough. After consecutive 400-run seasons in Strikers’ back-to-back titles, last summer was more of a struggle for Wolvaardt with 193 runs in nine innings. Her challenge this season could be refocusing after a few weeks of incredible personal success, but ultimately another World Cup final heartbreak.Sianna Ginger, a 20-year-old allrounder, only has six WBBL games to her name but is quickly emerging as a player to keep an eye on. She earned Australia A selection over the winter where she was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the T20s against India A, and struck a century in the four-day game against India A.Davina Perrin is one of the breakout stars of English cricket, having carved a magnificent 101 off 43 balls for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred Eliminator final. The 19-year-old is already being talked about for national honours as England coach Charlotte Edwards looks to the future after the semi-final exit in the World Cup. Perrin was a late signing by Renegades and will be tasked with, partly at least, filling the huge shoes of Matthews.Laura Harris has made the move from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder after signing during the WBBL’s first trade window, which was introduced last season. One of the hardest strikers of a cricket ball, Harris has made her name as a power surge specialist. Her overall T20 strike rate of 173.92 is far and away the best in the world for anyone with at least 1000 runs.

“Nerves were there to see today, the way they batted” – James Anderson

Vithushan Ehantharajah04-Feb-2024As Rehan Ahmed played the most rogue final set since Bradford Cox banged out for an hour to hit back at a heckler, you were reminded that nothing is beyond this England team.A target of 399 may still well be, of course. A healthy 67 have been knocked off already, eight of them in the last three balls of day three as Rehan scuffed Axar Patel through midwicket, then beyond first slip. If Brendon McCullum’s chat 24 hours earlier was anything to go by, India are at least 201 light.”We got sat down by the coach last night and he said if India get 600 ahead we’re going to try and chase it down,” said James Anderson at stumps. “That is exactly what we’re going to do.”It is a wild kind of optimism. The kind that usually comes in the dead of night, right before you get a hankering for some Cheetos. But it was exactly what kept England going throughout their 74 overs in the field today.Related

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India arrived with a lead of 171, with all their second-innings wickets in hand. When Ravichandran Ashwin worked a single to the fielder at deep midwicket in the 71st over of the day, India moved to 388 in front. One more than the highest successful chase in this country, achieved by a host team with a fair few hall-of-famers against Kevin Pietersen’s England.Yet, by the time India’s innings ended on 255 and the target was confirmed, the emotion from England was not relief, or joy that their toil was over. Simply satisfaction.It was as they walked off, with 14 overs to bat before close, that Rehan turned to Ben Stokes and asked if he could bat at No. 3. He would probably have been asked to do it anyway, but the enthusiasm was as welcome as ever. After an opening stand had been broken on 50 with the wicket of Ben Duckett, out strode all 19 years of the Original Nighthawk.It would be wrong to look ahead in anticipation of what’s to come and neglect the graft that brought us to this point. Especially as defeat may dull what the bowlers achieved, in both innings.Today, England managed to prise out all 10 Indian wickets for just 227 runs, despite their most experienced spin option, Joe Root, sending down just two overs. He spent the majority of the innings off the field after damaging his right little finger in the eighth over of the day.By then, Anderson had got the show on the road, using the early morning humidity to stitch together a spell of 2 for 6 from four overs. Rohit Sharma’s off stump was taken for a ride, then a wobble seam delivery decked across Yashasvi Jaiswal to leave India 30 for 2.Then came a succession of reprieves for Shubman Gill, all of varying degrees. He was given out lbw to Tom Hartley, which he overturned with a sliver of an inside edge, before earning the benefit of the doubt of umpire’s call on projected impact with the stumps when hit in front by Anderson. Those let-offs – both with just four to his name – were followed by a healthy edge off Hartley, which flew between wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and Root at a wide first slip.As Gill went on to a third Test century, it was not unreasonable to wonder if England would wilt. And even though they were buoyed by Stokes’ sensational catch to remove Shreyas Iyer after a botched heave down the ground Tom Hartley, closely followed by a low inside edge from Rajat Patidar off Rehan, neatly taken low by Foakes, the game was steadily moving out of England’s reach.Gill and Axar’s stand for the fifth wicket lifted the lead beyond 350 and into the realms of “surely not England, not even you.” And yet somehow, they dug deep again.James Anderson goes up in appeal•Getty ImagesIt was specifically the inexperienced spin trio that instigated the necessary cascade of the six remaining wickets, for just 44 runs. Shoaib Bashir set it off, forcing Gill to pop up a catch off inside-edge and pad up to Foakes. India began second-guessing themselves as England’s penchant for the chase came forward from the back of their minds. It allowed Hartley and Rehan back into the match. Not since Children of the Corn have youngsters preyed on such fear in experienced heads.Only three of this India side played in 2022 when England munched a target of 378 inside 76.4 overs to win a one-off Test at Edgbaston. Evidently, the rest know the score. “England are never out of the game,” said Gill, one of the three, who rightly pointed out these conditions are very different. But the stands that followed his departure stood still, notably 26 off 71 between Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah, two batters far more at ease playing their shots, giving an indication that even India were thinking the unthinkable.”I think the nerves were there to see today, the way they batted,” Anderson observed. “I think they didn’t know how many was enough. They were quite cautious, even when they had a big lead.”None of this happens by accident of course. England’s 8 out of 10 successful fourth-innings victories have created waves, and the familiar thread through most of them has been their scrapping in these third innings. To see the new crop carrying on this short-lived legacy was a testament to their all-in approach and the encouragement bestowed upon them.Seconds before Rehan had shunted Ollie Pope from first-drop, he had pocketed Ashwin – the young leggie’s third – in his 42nd over, having never bowled more than 39 in 13 previous first-class matches. Hartley is now only the third English men’s spinner since the First World War to take four or more wickets in an innings in each of their first two Tests. Bashir’s match figures of 4 for 196 from 53 overs – the second most he’s bowled – represents an impressive body of work from a 20-year-old off-spinner just three days into the gig.Despite needing the highest score in the match to win this second Test, and bearing in mind no visiting team has ever reached 300 in a fourth innings here, there remains a bemusing optimism. With 332 still on the table, regardless of how this plays out, it is one that has been earned.

A look at the highlights from the first 10 days of BBL 2021-22

Tristan Lavalette16-Dec-2021Despite being nomads, Scorchers look hard to beat
Perth Scorchers remain the only unbeaten team in the competition after winning their first three matches. Impressively, Scorchers have overcome upheaval thanks to Western Australia’s strict border controls amid the Covid-19 pandemic.Related

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• Covid-19: Scorchers vs Hurricanes game moved to Tasmania

• Mitchell Marsh ton extends Perth Scorchers' undefeated run

Their season-opener against Brisbane Heat will be their only match at Optus Stadium with Scorchers now locked out of Western Australia due to a tightening of the state’s hard border.But being nomads might not even matter greatly because Scorchers are absolutely loaded. With Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis returning against Hurricanes, Scorchers’ batting is brimming with firepower – a far cry from concerns over whether they could replace departed imports Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone. Cameron Bancroft, who had a century opening stand with Colin Munro against Adelaide Strikers, had to be squeezed out of the line-up against Hurricanes.Their pace bowling is so potent – even without Jhye Richardson – that Matt Kelly, who starred against Heat, and quick Lance Morris are on the sidelines. Recruit Peter Hatzoglou has combined with Ashton Agar in a formidable spin tandem to round out Scorchers’ attack.Being on the road for the rest of the BBL will surely test them, but Scorchers can take heed in last season’s runners-up finish, where they only played four matches in Perth. Early days, but Scorchers are title favourites.Philippe sends a message to selectors
Josh Philippe played 10 T20Is this year but missed out on Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. As Australia’s ageing top order regenerates, he is making a compelling case as he eyes next year’s home T20 World Cup.The powerful Sixers opener continued where he left off last season when he claimed Player-of-the-Tournament honours. Philippe is the leading scorer in the BBL so far with 259 runs at 86 and a strike rate of 157. He has scored three half-centuries, including an unbeaten 99 when he masterfully led Sixers’ calm chase against Stars at the MCG.Philippe’s batting is marked by composure and he’s in total command of his game. While he’s making it look effortlessly, Philippe keeps the scoreboard ticking over with constant boundaries. Right now, it would be a surprise if Philippe isn’t in Australia’s line-up at the next T20 World Cup.Zahir Khan is the joint leading wicket-taker of the season so far, with seven scalps•Getty ImagesZahir Khan, the standout spinner
Spinners have made a big impact so far. Adam Zampa bowled probably the best over in the competition when he defied Sydney Thunder in the last over of the match at the MCG, while Thunder youngster Tanveer Sangha is turning heads with his eye-catching performances. And Rashid Khan keeps doing Rashid Khan things.But the pick of them has been Melbourne Renegades recruit Zahir Khan, who is the joint leading wicket-taker with seven scalps in three games at an average of 12 and economy rate of just 7. The left-arm wrist spinner has been on the money and impressed with his variations, making him hard to get hold of.Zahir, who crossed over from crosstown rival Stars, has quickly become the talisman in Renegades attack and given them hope of a playoff run after finishing with the wooden spoon last season. And he’s making a statement back home after missing out on Afghanistan’s squad for the T20 World Cup.Stars remain a mystery
New season, same old Melbourne Stars. The high-profile franchise has long boasted – pardon the pun – stars but remain without a title.
After missing out on the playoffs last season, Stars again entered a new campaign much-hyped, but are currently 2-2 and have been totally inconsistent. They’ve experienced two bad defeats against the Sixers, but sandwiched between them are a pair of solid wins against the Thunder.They have had an unsettled line-up but should be more stable on resumption, and boast an array of match-winners aided by the late addition of Andre Russell. The pressure will be on them to find consistency.Late overseas signings inject pizzaz
It’s no secret that the BBL this season is short of major international drawcards. Amid the pandemic and competing with rival tournaments, there has been a drain of star power exacerbated in the early stages by a slew of English players being unavailable due to England Lions commitments.But the late signings of Russell and England’s Tymal Mills, who starred at the T20 World Cup in UAE, have provided some much-needed pizazz for a tournament that felt like it was going through the motions a little with so much else going on. Mills, who bowls devastating yorkers, is certainly one to watch out for after career-best BBL figures on his Scorchers debut against former team Hurricanes.Low crowds, but TV ratings remain strong
The BBL started on December 5, which is probably two weeks earlier than its optimal launch date, and the season seemed to creep up on a public consumed with continual Ashes drama.It means the BBL has been in the backdrop and, undeniably, matches have looked rather jarring with empty grandstands and sparse crowds. The highest crowd so far this season is 16,108 for Scorchers’ lone match at Optus Stadium while just 11,037 attended the Stars-Sixers blockbuster at the MCG.There are a number of potential reasons for the apparent apathy, including hesitancy amid the pandemic while it’s tough to reel in families when the school term is still on. And it doesn’t help when matches occasionally blow past three and a half hours to only finish past 10.30 pm.However, television ratings remain strong and maybe that’s all that matters. Still, Cricket Australia will be hoping for an uptick in crowd numbers when the season resumes in time for the school holidays.

West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo faces a fresh concern about star winger Jarrod Bowen, with the Englishman poised to play a key role in the Hammers’ fight against relegation.

The 2025/26 campaign has plunged Bowen into the most challenging period of his West Ham career. While the 28-year-old continues delivering on an individual level, his club finds themselves in a perilous battle at the wrong end of the Premier League table that threatens to define his future.

The Hammers captain has been West Ham’s top goalscorer for four consecutive Premier League seasons, netting 47 times in that period, cementing his status as the club’s talisman since his arrival from Hull City in January 2020.

Bowen is surely a shoo-in for Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup selection, having only missed out on two England squad inclusions since 2023, but the questions lie around his long-term future with West Ham currently in a dogfight.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bowen will get real encouragement by the fact West Ham have just won back-to-back home games for the first time since last year, and the Irons are a club he absolutely adores. He put pen to paper on a long-term seven-year deal back in 2023, keeping him at the club until 2030, but those were very different times back then.

After his winner against Fiorentina in the Conference League final that year, which gifted West Ham their first major trophy since the 1980s, optimism around the London Stadium was high.

However, amid fan protests against the ownership and their steep decline in the last two years, speculation surrounding Bowen’s future is rife.

Liverpool are exploring a deal to sign Bowen ahead of 2026, with West Ham reportedly willing to consider selling their captain if they receive an ‘irresistible’ offer. The connection to Anfield isn’t new, but the circumstances have changed dramatically. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp previously described Bowen as his favourite player outside his own squad, and Bowen actually shares an agent with Reds defender Andy Robertson.

Arne Slot’s side could be keen on the 28-year-old as an heir to Mohamed Salah, but he’s also been linked with the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle.

West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern

That is according to CaughtOffside, who also report the star forward’s stance on leaving West Ham in 2026.

As per their information, it isn’t good news, with Bowen looking to leave West Ham next summer and potentially compete for a Champions League club to test his own ambitions.

With 130 goal contributions in 250 appearances since joining from Hull, Bowen’s contribution at West Ham absolutely dwarfs his teammates.

The fan favourite’s departure would leave a gaping void that West Ham’s current squad lacks the quality to fill. Beyond stats, Bowen embodies leadership, consistency and the ‘West Ham way’ during very turbulent times – qualities desperately needed as the club battles a drop to the Championship.

Selling a homegrown hero who married into East London royalty and delivered European glory would also come as a major disappointment to the fanbase.

Replacing Bowen’s goals, assists, work rate and leadership would require multiple signings, and perhaps even more than that.

The task would be David Sullivan’s biggest one yet, and amid all-time high unrest over his leadership, the chairman needs to tread carefully.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Al Sadd, do Qatar, entrou com uma ação na Fifa contra o técnico Abel Ferreira, do Palmeiras, alegando que o treinador português descumpriu um pré-contrato com a equipe qatari. A informação foi divulgada pela TNT e confirmada pelo Lance!.

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Procurado pela reportagem, o Verdão está disse estar ciente do caso e vem tomando todas as medidas jurídicas cabíveis para auxiliar Abel no processo.

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O Al Sadd diz ter iniciado negociações com Abel Ferreira em outubro de 2023, e no mês seguinte teria assinado um documento equivalente a um pré-contrato no qual o português assumiria o clube em 27 de dezembro de 2023.

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O clube do Qatar busca na Fifa uma compensação de 5 milhões de euros (quase R$ 28 milhões, pela cotação atual). Além disso, caso a Fifa entenda que Abel descumpriu o pré-contrato com o Al Sadd, a corte pode aplicar sanções ao Palmeiras por induzir o treinador a esse descumprimento.

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O processo entre o Al Sadd e Abel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, está em fase inicial e poderá ser recorrida por qualquer uma das partes, ao CAS (Corte Arbitral do Esporte).

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