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Five-wicket haul condemns Sussex to heavy defeat in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network12-May-2024

Glamorgan secured a nine-wicket victory over Sussex in the Vitality County Championship with Andy Gorvin starring on his way to career-best figures of five for 40.Glamorgan were dismissed for 411 in the opening overs of day three to lead Sussex by 133 runs on first innings.A flurry of wickets at the start of the Sussex innings put them a long way behind in this contest and they never really recovered from that position as Glamorgan bowled them out for 188. Gorvin’s five wickets were supported by three for 34 from Mir Hamza and two for 21 from Mason Crane.Glamorgan needed 7.5 overs to reach their victory target to claim 23 points from this game with Sussex managing four bonus points.The morning started with Glamorgan’s innings coming to an end thanks to a direct-hit run-out from Tom Haines with no runs added to the overnight total. From there it had a very familiar feel to the second morning of this match as the new ball wrought chaos with five wickets falling for 32 runs, three of those on the same score.Hamza claimed the first three wickets with balls that moved more than enough to have the Sussex top-order searching for answers. Tom Clark and Tom Alsop were trapped lbw and the Pakistan international induced an edge to third slip from Haines.At 32 for three the Sussex team were looking to the experienced pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and John Simpson to put together a rescue effort similar to what Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson managed on the second day for Glamorgan. That didn’t transpire, Gorvin dismissed them both in his first over, with late movement once again the issue for the Sussex batters.There was a sizeable partnership that took Sussex back into the lead, with James Coles and Fynn Hudson-Prentice putting on a stand worth 118 which was impressive in its counterattacking nature. Hudson-Prentice took just 47 balls to reach his half century and the Sussex run rate was over four for most of the day.Hudson-Prentice fell when he chipped a ball from Gorvin to mid-wicket for 70. When Gorvin trapped Danny Lamb lbw he moved on to career-best figures as Sussex were reduced to 164 for seven, just 31 runs in front of Glamorgan.Gorvin completed his maiden five wicket haul when he dismissed Jack Carson lbw for one but not long afterwards the players left the field for nearly two hours as a result of heavy rain.When play did resume there were 29 overs left in the day with Sussex 53 runs in front with two second innings wickets intact. It did not take long after the resumption for Glamorgan to wrap up the Sussex innings. Ari Karvelas was caught behind off Mason Crane and Jayden Seales launched the ball straight in the air off the next delivery and he was caught in the covers.This set Glamorgan a target of 56 to claim their first County Championship win since May 2023. Billy Root scored 36 of the runs that Glamorgan needed as they secured victory inside three days.

‘Build pressure and try and get wickets that way,’ says the New Zealand left-arm spinner of his plan against England in the World Cup final

Nagraj Gollapudi at Lord's13-Jul-2019Mitchell Santner will be up against it at the World Cup final, where New Zealand will face the might of England; all England, really, as the stands at Lord’s are going to be rooting for Eoin Morgan’s men. And when it comes to Santner, England have hurt him in the past, and got away with it too.The left-arm spinner’s overall average against England’s top-six batsmen is 61, and his economy rate is 6. All of England’s batsmen have strong numbers against left-arm spin in the last four years, since the 2015 World Cup, and Lord’s can be unkind to spinners, especially finger spinners.But there are few players that can absorb pressure better than Santner. Two examples from the recent past. The first: on a sweltering April evening in Jaipur, on a day when even the coolest mind in cricket, MS Dhoni, lost his temper, Santner sealed victory for Chennai Super Kings with a last-ball six.ALSO READ: The serenity and resilience of being New ZealandThe second, last Wednesday, when Santner choked the Indian middle-order in a spectacular first spell. Making use of a two-paced pitch that was taking spin, Santner built pressure with his dot balls. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya had slowly started rebuilding the innings after a series of early setbacks. His first over to Pandya was a maiden. In his second, he kept Pant rooted to his crease on the first four balls. Next delivery, Pant walked out, and slogged into the hands of deep midwicket. Pandya, too, would pay the price for impatience soon. Santner’s first spell read 6-2-7-2. It was match-wining spell that not just suffocated India, but also broke their confidence and momentum. Matt Henry won the match award, but Santner got a “world-class” badge from his captain Kane Williamson and head coach Gary Stead.Now, Santner has to do it all over again. Against the most feared batting line-up, one that, seemingly, never ends. Santner’s quota is key, and New Zealand would want to bowl all of it, as that will take some of the pressure off Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme, whose medium-slow deliveries England might have identified as the weakest link.Of the 141 overs bowled at Lord’s this tournament, spinners have managed just 13 wickets, while bowling just two maidens. But Santner will gather confidence from the fact that the economy rate for spinners at Lord’s has been a good 4.97. It is closer to his own World Cup 2019 economy of 4.87 – his corresponding career number is 4.89 – which is only behind the Afghanistan pair of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi for spinners in the tournament (minimum 40 overs).Mitchell Santner has an economy rate of 4.87 at the World Cup•Getty ImagesSantner is not a big tweaker of the ball. His strength is in his smart lengths. He judges the pitch, and the best pace for each surface, as he did against India, and varies his lengths accordingly. He has a good arm ball, and if he can float it at different speeds, he might make the English batsman think twice.”Over here, there is a not a lot of spin, especially for a finger spinner, so my role through the middle is to build pressure and try and get wickets that way,” Santner told ESPNcricinfo on Friday.But, as mentioned before, the English batsmen like Santner. His most expensive figures at the World Cup came against them during the group phase, when he finished with 1 for 65, having bowled the first over of the match in which he conceded five runs.He knows England might target him, but spots an opportunity there. “It can go one or two ways. That means you are always in the game rather them trying to block it out,” he said. “It is a going to be a tough test. The role of spinner is bring your length back, bowl in to the wicket, rather than overpitch. Spinners get hurt when they overpitched, especially to Jason Roy, who can hit it 30 rows back. On smallish grounds, you have got to be real, real tough with your length.”It is not just Roy. Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Morgan, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler all play spin well, and run well. When not trying to smash it, they would look to manoeuvre the ball into the gaps and rotate strike and build pressure.It’s a bit like T20 cricket, and Santner admitted that he would make use of the experience of bowling in the IPL recently, where the pressure is constant across the 24 deliveries. “If you can build pressure, build dots in those shorter formats… the way England play it is a bit like that,” he agreed. “So if you get a couple of dots and you are thinking, ‘Hey, what’s he gonna do? Is he going to charge? What’s my best to ball to get hit for one even, rather than going for a six or a four.'”It is this understanding of not just his own game but the game itself, how to be smart in different match situations, that Stead feels makes Santner stand out. “He is a special bowler for us,” Stead said on Friday. “He has got really good control of line and length. His ability in T20 cricket helps him in 50-overs cricket as well: being able to defend himself when people come after him.”On Sunday, at Lord’s, Santner and his team-mates will get live their schoolboy dream of playing the World Cup final. Santner is not nervous. He knows his role well – honest defence; keep it tight, build pressure.

Visitors make most of batting day after poignant tribute to Josh Baker

ECB Reporters Network10-May-2024

A Gareth Roderick century left Worcestershire in a commanding position after day one of their Vitality County Championship with Kent at Canterbury.The visitors were 308 for 5 at stumps, with Roderick hitting 117 from 281 balls, after the former Kent 2nd XI player Kashif Ali had given them a platform with 72. Adam Hose was unbeaten on 50 at stumps, reaching his half-century with a single off Nathan Gilchrist in the final over of the day.Matt Parkinson took 2 for 79, but it was largely a torpid day in the field for Kent, who struggled to make anything happen on a benign pitch until Joey Evison claimed late two wickets to end the day with figures of 2 for 39.The day began in sombre fashion, with an emotive minute’s applause for Worcestershire’s Josh Baker, who died last week at the age of just 20. Both teams wore black armbands and the flags flew at half mast over the Frank Woolley Stand.A crowd of over 1000 made the most of the first genuinely warm day of the season at the Spitfire Ground and to no one’s surprise the visitors chose to bat after winning the toss.Players took part a minute’s applause in memory of Josh Baker•Getty Images

Kent’s new overseas signing Beyers Swanepoel generated some early swing, but the hosts’ only victim during the morning session was Jake Libby, who had looked lively on his way to 19 until he was lbw to a Wes Agar delivery so plumb he turned and walked off before the umpire even had time to raise his finger.It was 94 for 1 at lunch and although Kent weren’t bowling badly, Roderick and Kashif looked largely untroubled. They put on 136 for the second wicket, until the latter began to look jittery against Parkinson, eventually nicking him to keeper Harry Finch.Brett D’Oliveira got a start, but having almost nicked Parkinson to Daniel Bell-Drummond at the start of the 61st over he went a couple of deliveries later, snared by the Kent captain at first slip for 18.It was 210 for 3 at tea, but if the D’Oliveira wicket had briefly revived Kent’s hopes, they faded during the evening as Hose joined Roderick for a partnership of 102 that seriously dented home morale.Roderick drove Agar through cow corner to reach 100 but Evison belatedly gave a dwindling number of home supporters something to smile about when he sent his off stump cart-wheeling, before getting the night-watcher Joe Leach lbw for 1 at the end of the penultimate over.

Ivan Toney says Bruno Fernandes "obviously hasn't seen" the Saudi Pro League, with the Manchester United captain snubbing a lucrative transfer offer.

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• Portuguese playmaker wants to stay in Europe
• Toney has defended standard in the Middle East
• Backing Mbeumo to be a success at Old Trafford

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Al-Hilal were reportedly prepared to pay Portuguese playmaker Fernandes £700,000-a-week if he completed a move to the Middle East, with a £100 million ($135m) fee going to United if they agreed to part with their talismanic skipper.

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  Fernandes has, however, stated he wants to continue playing in Europe. He said when explaining his decision to turn down a stunning contract proposal: "I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it."

• WHAT IVAN TONEY SAID

  Toney made his own move from the Premier League to Saudi Arabia when leaving Brentford for Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024 and has told of Fernandes passing up the chance to join him in a division that can be unfairly written off: "That's his decision. He maybe thinks it's different to me.

  "He obviously hasn't seen the league. The standard is high. I always say this, people always judge it on not seeing it, you know? And you have to see it first hand to have your own opinion. If people went there and went to some games, they'd soon realise. I know it's a good standard. You would never knock it once you've been there. It is tough."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  As he prepares to remain at Old Trafford, Fernandes may soon be joined by Toney’s former Brentford team-mate Bryan Mbeumo. The England striker said of another big-money deal that United are reportedly lining up: "He scores goals, he knows where to put the ball for other players. He's got a similar penalty technique [to me]. He is a top, top player and he deserves to play for top, top clubs."

MatériaMais Notícias

da cassino online： A luta doFluminenseem encontrar atalhos para desbancar o Volta Redonda passa por encontrar variações no meio de campo. Após a atuação abaixo da média na derrota por 2 a 1, no último domingo (12), o técnico Fernando Diniz procura outra forma de surpreender o adversário no Maracanã e se credenciar na decisão do Carioca.

Ao entrarem em campo no Raulino de Oliveira, os meias Lima e Gabriel Pirani tornaram o Tricolor das Laranjeiras mais impetuoso. Em vez da postura engessada e bem marcada pelo Voltaço, a equipe aumentou sua criação e levou perigo em jogadas pelos lados e em bolas alçadas.

+ Veja os próximos jogos do Campeonato Carioca

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da aposte e ganhe： Com boa pontaria, Lima foi o responsável por cobrar o escanteio que culminou no gol de Nino. O camisa 45 mostra-se um jogador combativo e que arrisca finalizações, cruzamentos e que dá nova dinâmica ao meio.

Pirani havia se mostrado decisivo na vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Flamengo, que deu aos tricolores a Taça Guanabara. Abnegado, o meia sinalizou que tem capacidade de aliar velocidade à qualidade na troca de passes, fator crucial para que os comandados de Fernando Diniz consigam lutar até o fim pela vaga na decisão do Campeonato Carioca.

Cientes de que travarão uma disputa acirrada, Lima e Gabriel Pirani tentam surgir nesta reta final como uma “cartada” de Fernando Diniz para surpreender o Volta Redonda.

“This is how pitches need to be,” he said of Pallekele where Sri Lanka notched up consecutive 300-plus totals

Madushka Balasuriya12-Feb-2024Two matches down and two matches the team batting first has scored over 300. This isn’t common in Sri Lanka, and for it to happen in consecutive games is even rarer – in fact, there have been only 10 instances across 358 ODIs in Sri Lanka, prior to this series, where two consecutive games have seen a score of 300 or more.In terms of games where 350 or more runs have been scored by the team batting first, Sri Lanka’s 381 in the first ODI was the first such score since 2018 – in total there have been just nine such scores on Lankan soil, and only four of those belong to Sri Lanka.By contrast, last year’s World Cup alone saw 13 totals of 350-plus – there were 24 such totals in every other World Cup combined. Suffice to say, this is clear indicator in which direction the game is heading, at least in terms of what batters are increasingly capable of.Related

• Binura Fernando comes in for injured Dushmantha Chameera for Afghanistan T20Is

• Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka's first double-centurion? Who'd have thought?

• Asalanka, Hasaranga flatten Afghanistan to seal series for Sri Lanka

And now, finally, Sri Lanka seems to be catching up – or at least that’s the hope, after the first two high-scoring surfaces offered up at Pallekele.”After we came back from the World Cup, the first thing we spoke about was the pitches,” said Charith Asalanka, whose 74-ball 97* had played a large part in their 155-run win in the second ODI.”We were generally used to pitches where scoring more than 300 was a challenge. But if we take the pitches we’ve played on [in] this series so far, those concerns seem to have been addressed to a large extent.”And indeed they have. While the surfaces in Colombo for last month’s series against Zimbabwe were still of the slower variety, the home crowds in Pallekele have been witness to rare high-scoring affairs. And after Afghanistan’s stirring chase in the first ODI – where they fell short by 42 runs, but still managed to record their highest ever ODI total – they might have been in line for another on Sunday night but were denied by a collapse of epic proportions in which they went from 128 for 1 to 153 all out.That was down to a disciplined effort by the Sri Lankan bowlers, who stuck to their plans of keeping things tight, letting the required rate rise, and then picking up wickets when Afghanistan were forced to accelerate. And Asalanka is acutely aware that bowling more on such pitches is a boon not just for their batters, but for the bowlers as well.”Even today, they [Afghanistan] were in a good place in terms of their batting but as they were trying to accelerate I think we bowled well to get them out. But this is how pitches need to be, because when we go to play international tournament[s] we’re generally going to get wickets where you need to score more than 300.”So to be able to do that we need to have practised in our home conditions. If we do more of that then it’s going to be easier for us to compete in ICC tournaments. More than that I think even our bowlers are starting to learn how to bowl on good batting wickets.”

da winzada777： Arsenal’s Premier League tussle with rivals Chelsea certainly isn’t one that will live long in the memory, with Mikel Merino’s inventive, first-half header proving the difference in what was a tetchy affair at the Emirates.

da jogodeouro： That rather lifeless meeting pitted two injury-hit teams against each other, although it was arguably only the Gunners who looked intent on securing victory, with the visitors rather resigned to their fate.

The Blues were without Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, among others, although the hosts were without the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, as Merino maintained his role as a makeshift centre-forward.

To the Spaniard’s credit, he has taken to that role in respectable fashion of late having also scored against PSV Eindhoven, alongside his brace against Leicester City, with Enzo Maresca perhaps in need of his own novel solution in the absence of Jackson.

Mikel Arteta must then be delighted to have seen his experiment pay off, although fielding the former Real Sociedad man in that attacking berth will likely be a short-term venture. A new centre-forward is a must this summer…

The latest on Arsenal's search for a striker

Not since the summer of 2022 have the Gunners forked out for a new number nine, albeit with even Gabriel Jesus not exactly an orthodox striker, having largely featured on the flanks during his time at Manchester City.

Arsenal’s top PL scorer by season (since 2015)

Season

Player

PL goals

2024/25*

Kai Havertz

9

2023/24

Bukayo Saka

16

2022/23

Martin Odegaard & Gabriel Martinelli

15

2021/22

Bukayo Saka

11

2020/21

Alexandre Lacazette

13

2019/20

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

22

2018/19

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

22

2017/18

Alexandre Lacazette

14

2016/17

Alexis Sanchez

24

2015/16

Olivier Giroud

16

Stats via Transfermarkt

Havertz, meanwhile, was initially signed to replace Granitz Xhaka in a left-sided number eight berth, and while he has scored 29 goals since for the north London side, that desire for a more prolific attacking figurehead has not abated.

Indeed, as reported by Football Insider, Arsenal are believed to be interested in signing Inter sensation, Marcus Thuram, this summer, having moved ahead of title rivals Liverpool in pursuit of the Frenchman.

Transfer Focus

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As per the report, the in-demand striker is believed to have a £71m release clause in his current contract which can be activated at the end of the season, albeit with the Serie A leaders currently trying to negotiate a new deal with the 27-year-old.

The Gunners would have to rival Chelsea and Liverpool for his signature, with the Reds seemingly viewing Thuram as a perfect replacement for Darwin Nunez, who could leave Anfield if a suitable offer arrives – according to the piece.

Whether Arteta and co can win that fight remains to be seen, although if the former Borussia Monchengladbach marksman does end up at the Emirates, he could represent the centre-forward solution that the club have been craving.

Arsenal could land the next Thierry Henry

Dipping into the Italian market has been a fruitful venture in the past for the Gunners, having notably plucked Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp from AC Milan and Inter, respectively, prior to the golden Arsene Wenger era.

That interest in recruiting from Serie A was also on show with the signing of the club’s all-time top scorer, Thierry Henry, with the legendary World Cup winner arriving from Juventus in 1999. The rest, as they say, is history.

While replicating the talents of arguably the Premier League’s greatest-ever player, as crowned by fans previously, is almost an impossible task, Thuram has shown qualities that parallel his compatriot.

The likeness between the pair was notably highlighted by Wenger, with the iconic Gunners boss stating in the past that one player who “reminds” him of Henry is Thuram, amid the striker’s fine form at Gladbach.

After scoring 44 goals in 134 games during his time with the Bundesliga side, the Parma-born forward has been a revelation since his free transfer switch to Milan in 2023, scoring 31 goals in 84 games for his current side, while registering 12 assists.

A player capable of operating through the middle or off the left, much like Henry, Thuram has scored 16 times in 38 games this season for Simone Inzaghi’s side, showcasing just why talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “an absolute beast” of a striker in the past.

With Thuram also interestingly noted as a statistically similar player to another leading Arsenal target, Alexander Isak, in relation to centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, all the signs point to a summer move proving a successful one for the Gunners.

Having waited so long to get a new number nine in the door, there could be worse decisions than settling on Henry 2.0 – as long as Liverpool don’t get there first, that is.

Related Saved by Merino: Arteta must axe 5/10 Arsenal flop after Chelsea display

Not everyone in red and white starred for Arsenal against Chelsea.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Mar 16, 2025

The Atletico Madrid star invited the NBA legend to attend the club's upcoming CWC matches at the Rose Bowl

Griezmann hopes to connect with basketball idolAtleti face PSG, Seattle Sounders, and Botafogo in groupGriezmann's NBA fandom includes social media interactionsGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Antoine Griezmann has reached out to NBA superstar LeBron James with an invitation to attend Atlético Madrid's FIFA Club World Cup matches in the United States this summer. The French international, a well-known basketball enthusiast, expressed hope that James might attend one of Atlético's three group stage matches at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

“Well, maybe,” Griezmann said in an interview with Sports Illustrated about the Club World Cup. “We’re playing two games in Los Angeles, at the Rose Bowl. He might come; he’s certainly invited, and we’d like to welcome him to one of our training sessions. Why not?”

AdvertisementWHAT ANTOINE GRIEZMANN SAID

Griezmann spoke about his love for American sports but asserted that he’ll in Los Angeles to play in the CWC and his focus is solely on that, and helping Atletico Madrid do their best.

“Yes, I’ve been to Los Angeles once or twice. As you know, I’m a big fan of the NBA and the NFL, I’m new to baseball. So, for me, it’s going to be cool to be able to play there," he said. "That said, I’m not going there as a tourist, I really want to play, to win, and to do well. It’s about enjoying the occasion, and hopefully we can have a great tournament. And yes, to be honest, playing there is going to be nice.”

The 2018 World Cup winner further talked about the Club World Cup and admitted that he’s honored by the fact that Atletico Madrid was picked to play in the first iteration of the tournament.

“What excites me most about this FIFA Club World Cup is that it’ll be the first. So it’s an honor for me and the club to be a part of it. Ultimately, we’re looking forward to going to the United States and playing our first match, which will be against PSG,” he added.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup represents a major expansion of the tournament, with 32 clubs from around the world competing across the United States. Atlético Madrid's schedule presents a unique challenge, facing teams from three different confederations: Paris Saint-Germain (UEFA) on June 15 at the Rose Bowl, Seattle Sounders (CONCACAF) at Lumen Field on June 19, and Botafogo (CONMEBOL) back at the Rose Bowl on June 23.

AFPWHAT’S NEXT?

Atlético Madrid will continue their preparations for the Club World Cup while completing their domestic season. The face Girona away from home in their final game of the regular season on May 24.

Leeds United supporters will be hoping that the club can secure a return to the Premier League over the next couple of months with just 14 Championship games remaining in 2024/25.

The Whites are currently in their second season at this level after missing out on promotion last time around in the cruellest way possible – the play-off final.

However, Daniel Farke has done a superb job of leading the club to the summit of the table in recent weeks, with their 14-game unbeaten run in the league undoubtedly aiding their cause.

If they were to secure a return to England’s top flight, the German would have to do what many teams have failed to do over the last couple of seasons and avoid an immediate return back down the ladder.

Should they secure promotion, the hierarchy would have to provide the manager with the resources to be a success once more, learning from their previous mistakes of signing players not at the level required.

Leeds United’s transfers in 2022/23

Leeds’ last season in the Premier League was a challenge from the get-go, losing Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively – with the pair two of their star players at Elland Road the season.

Subsequent funds were spent across the team to provide depth in all areas, with full-back Rasmus Kristensen joining the club from RB Salzburg.

The Dane made 26 appearances during his only season as a first-team member in Yorkshire to date, leaving on multiple loan spells after relegation at the end of the season.

He was just one of nine senior additions during the course of the aforementioned campaign, but he and his teammates were unable to prevent the club from dropping back into the Championship at the end of the season.

One of the signings joined in January, offering a last-ditch attempt to turn around the dismal form, but was subsequently unable to – thriving away from Elland Road in the last couple of seasons.

The Leeds player who’s similar to a £92m talent

Weston McKennie arrived at Leeds on loan from Juventus in January 2023, looking to add the needed quality to the midfield department to fight off any lingering relegation threats.

The American would make 20 appearances but was unable to prevent the inevitable, leaving the Whites at the end of the season and moving back to Serie A, forcing himself back into the first-team picture in Turin.

The 26-year-old has now featured 64 times in the last two campaigns for the Italian giants, registering 18 combined goals and assists, with his latest strike coming in the Champions League against PSV last night.

As a result of his displays, McKennie has since been ranked as a similar player to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard – highlighting how much he’s developed away from Yorkshire after his temporary stint with the Whites.

The Norwegian, who’s valued at £92m by Transfermarkt, has been a key member of Mikel Arteta’s side in recent times but has been unable to produce better stats than the former loanee who’s bettered the midfielder in various key areas.

Games played

18

16

Goals & assists

5

5

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

30%

Pass accuracy

85%

83%

Tackles won

1.3

1.1

Blocks made

0.8

0.3

Take-ons completed

55%

47%

Aerials won

1

0.4

The Juve star has registered the same amount of goal contributions in the league, whilst posting a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, outperforming the former Real Madrid star who’s more of an attacking option.

McKennie has also completed more of his attempted passes and won more tackles per 90, showcasing his excellent box-to-box playstyle, finally starting to fulfil his potential after his spell at Leeds.

It’s bonkers to see such a quick progression after his short spell in Yorkshire, with the American undoubtedly one of the leading talents within Juventus’ current squad under Thiago Motta.

Outperforming Odegaard is no mean feat given his own form in recent times, with it being great to see a former Whites player thrive after a difficult period in his professional career following relegation in 2022/23.

Saved by James & Solomon: Farke must axe Leeds dud who lost possession 15x

Leeds United took a huge leap towards Championship promotion with a huge 4-0 win last night.

5 ByEthan Lamb Feb 12, 2025

Harry Kane has been urged to move to MLS instead of securing a Premier League return should the striker leave Bayern Munich.

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• Kane thriving in Germany with Bayern
• Linked with Premier League return
• Striker told MLS is the place to be

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kane has been in remarkable goalscoring form since joining Bayern from Tottenham in 2023, scoring 36 goals in just 43 games this season alone. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old continues to be linked with a move back to the Premier League.

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  However, the Bayern star has been told that the English top-flight may not be the best place for him as German football correspondent Sab Stafford-Bloor feels MLS would be a better destination for the well-known NFL fan.

• WHAT WAS SAID

  "This is just my feeling, but I think MLS is an interesting future direction for Kane just because of his fondness for American culture, but also American sports culture, which is pretty well-known," Stafford-Bloor told the podcast. "I think that's one to look out for. If you're Harry Kane and you've suffered quite a lot of physical punishment over the years — everybody knows about his ankles and the amount of injuries he's suffered — is the Premier League the right place for you as you approach your mid-thirties? I would say no if you want to have the longest career possible."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

  The former Spurs star has over two years left on his contract at the German giants and with the Bundesliga title almost secured, he will be looking to add more trophies to his collection with Vincent Kompany's team next season.