Newcastle United’s qualification for the Champions League next season will give Eddie Howe hope that he can lure some high-profile players to Stamford Bridge.

One player they are showing interest in is Jadon Sancho. The Manchester United winger looks set to depart Old Trafford this summer.

The Englishman could cost the club around £25m, and he would certainly bolster their wide options, given his return of five goals and eight assists for Chelsea this season.

It would be a massive statement of intent if Howe could secure a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund starlet. While adding wingers will help the club next season, perhaps it is other positions that require strengthening first.

Newcastle enter the race to sign Barcelona star

One position that Howe must improve is his goalkeeping department. The club conceded 47 Premier League goals last term, the worst defensive record out of any side in the top five.

Thus, bringing in a top-class goalkeeper ahead of another Champions League campaign makes perfect sense.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona’s keeper Marc-André ter Stegen could be set to leave the club following the arrival of Joan Garcia.

PSG, AC Milan, Manchester City, and Juventus have all expressed interest in the German international, but Newcastle are also entering the race.

Beating these clubs to the signature of Ter Stegen would be a major coup for Howe; that much is certain. Indeed, he would be an even better signing than Sancho.

Why Newcastle must sign Marc-André ter Stegen

Signing Sancho could prove to be a massive gamble. For Man United, the winger scored just 12 goals across 83 matches for the club. His loan spell at Chelsea didn’t exactly see him sparkle either.

His 41 matches for the Blues saw only five goals netted, and it was no surprise that they declined to sign him permanently. Given the fact that Newcastle can call upon players such as Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, and Jacob Murphy on the wing, do they need to splash out to sign Sancho? Especially with the risks involved with his lacklustre form.

In this instance, making a move for Ter Stegen would be seen as the smarter approach. That’s for sure.

Last season, Nick Pope kept just eight clean sheets from 35 appearances, while Martin Dubravka kept five clean sheets across ten domestic matches for the Magpies.

If Howe is serious about progressing far in the Champions League next season, making a move to bring Ter Stegen to England would be a very shrewd move indeed.

Metric

Pope

Dubravka

Clean sheets

8

5

Saves per game

3.1

2.9

Touches per game

34.8

38

Goals conceded

35

12

Goals conceded per game

1.3

1.2

Pass success rate

65%

76%

He played just nine games last season for Barcelona, keeping a solitary clean sheet. The German has been with the La Liga giants since the summer of 2014, playing over 400 competitive matches in the process.

A total of 175 clean sheets have been kept throughout that period. While he may not have featured much this term, in La Liga during 2023/24, he was excellent.

Across his 28 matches, Ter Stegen made 2.7 saves per game – a success rate of 74% – while he was also successful with 100% of his runs out per game.

He was comfortable on the ball, as evidenced by his average of 40 touches per game, while a 94% pass accuracy in his own half suggests the German moves the ball on effectively.

The player was lauded as “ice cool” by popular X page Goalkeeper.com for the way he snuffed out an opponent’s attack in the Champions League in September 2023.

Given the fact that he has a contract until 2028 with the Catalan giants, a move would cost the club, although it hasn’t been determined just how much Hansi Flick will demand for his player.

Sancho would be a fine signing, no doubt, but bringing Ter Stegen to the north-east would certainly turn heads.

Newcastle accelerate pursuit of £60m striker who now wants move to Tyneside

Eddie Howe could bring a clinical forward to Tyneside.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 13, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da dobrowin： Ser rebaixado de divisão é um dos piores cenários possíveis para um clube de futebol. Neste processo, as equipes enfrentam uma considerável queda no faturamento anual e perdem prestígio, seja com sua torcida ou com o público geral.

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da esport bet： + Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

+ Tem promoção exclusiva de boas-vindas pra você! Aposte a partir de R$10 e receba até R$200 de bônus na Lance! Betting

Um dos maiores orgulhos de torcedores espalhados ao redor do mundo é o fato de poderem se vangloriar das seguidas temporadas consecutivas na elite de seus respectivos campeonato nacionais.

No futebol brasileiro, apenas quatro clubes que já disputaram o Brasileirão e estão atualmente na primeira divisão nunca foram rebaixados: Cuiabá, Flamengo, Santos e São Paulo.

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+ 5 fatos que colocam o Santos perto de um inédito rebaixamento

O Dourado, equipe do Mato Grosso do Sul, conseguiu seu acesso à elite do futebol nacional em 2021. Apesar de não ter a mesma longevidade do trio na Série A, a equipe entra no seleto grupo de times que nunca caíram.

No futebol mundial, gigantes como Atlético de Madrid (Espanha), Bayern de Munique (Alemanha), Manchester City (Inglaterra), Milan (Itália) e River Plate (Argentina) enfrentaram em, ao menos uma ocasião, as consequências do rebaixamento.

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CONFIRA OS PRINCIPAIS CLUBES QUE NUNCA FORAM REBAIXADOS

Attention is already turning to the new 2025/26 Premier League season, with promoted sides Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland looking to buck the recent trend and avoid relegation at the first time of asking.

Liverpool, under Arne Slot, will be the defending champions, whereas Pep Guardiola is leading a Manchester City rebuild. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta will finally be hoping that this is their year, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to improve on their terrible domestic campaigns last time around.

Grok, the AI tool on X, relayed by Birmingham World, has already predicted the 2025/26 Premier League table, looking at how many points each team will collect, including their goal difference.

AI 2025/26 Premier League table in pictures:

The next 10 Ballon d'Or winners predicted by AI

Who could win the Ballon d’Or across the next ten years?

By
Matt Dawson

May 31, 2025

20

20th: Sunderland

(30 points, -30 GD)

Starting the countdown at the bottom of the table, AI thinks Championship playoff winners Sunderland will finish in 20th place.

They believe Regis Le Bris’ side will accumulate 30 points, though, 18 more than Southampton, who were 20th in 24/25.

19

19th: Burnley

(34 points, -25 GD)

Another newly promoted side, Burnley are believed to be the next side to go down. Scott Parker worked wonders at Turf Moor in his first campaign, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games and ending on 100 points.

However, potentially losing some of those defensive stars, including goalkeeper James Trafford, could see the Clarets struggle.

18

18th: Wolves

(38 points, -20 GD)

Wolves have been flirting with the bottom three in the 23/24 and 24/25 seasons, and AI thinks 25/26 is the year they are going down.

After losing Matheus Cunha to Man Utd, the Old Gold will need to replace their top scorer and could struggle under Vitor Pereira.

17

17th: Crystal Palace

(40 points, -15 GD)

Just avoiding the drop are the 24/25 FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. AI claims that the fixture congestion from Europe could see them struggle in the Premier League.

Another problem for the Eagles is player sales, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta all being linked with moves away from Selhurst Park.

16

16th: Leeds United

(42 points, -12 GD)

AI feels that Leeds United, the Championship title winners, could buck the trend and avoid relegation by finishing on 42 points.

If they do, the Whites, who won the second tier title in stoppage time on the final day, will be the first side since the 2022/23 season to get promoted and remain in the Premier League.

15

15th: Brentford

(46 points, -8 GD)

Despite a top 10 finish in 24/25, Brentford are next on the list, with AI believing Bryan Mbeumo’s potential departure could result in a drop-off for Thomas Frank’s side.

Mbeumo scored 20 of the Bees’ 66 goals last season but could be on his way to Man Utd, which may see them slide down the table.

14

14th: Bournemouth

(48 points, -5 GD)

Another side who finished in the top 10 last season, Bournemouth, could also be in line to lose some of their star players.

Already selling Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez and Antoine Semenyo are also in demand, with AI feeling that any sales will negatively impact the Cherries.

13

13th: West Ham

(50 points, -2 GD)

One side that AI feels will slightly improve from 24/25 is West Ham, who finished 14th in the previous campaign on 43 points.

Graham Potter is preparing for his first full season in charge at the London Stadium and will be looking to make his mark in the transfer window.

12

12th: Everton

(52 points, 0 GD)

Another team AI think will finish one place higher than 24/25 is Everton. David Moyes came in and steadied the ship for the Toffees and will be leading them at their new stadium in 25/26.

It is added that keeping hold of star defender Jarrad Branthwaite and adding depth to the side is key, though.

11

11th: Manchester United

(54 points, +2 GD)

Things couldn’t have gone much worse for Man Utd in 24/25, so AI does have them finishing higher but still in the bottom half with 54 points.

‘Integrating new signings and addressing defensive frailties’ under Ruben Amorim in a 3-4-3 system could still see the Red Devils struggle, ending 12 points and four places better off.

Brazilian sensation Wesley became the 46th Brazilian player to join Roma. The full-back explained his tough beginnings and what it took to reach Europe.

• Wesley completes switch to Roma
• Former Flamengo star explained his journey
• Admitted he nearly quit the sport during initial days

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wesley's rise to the top of football is anything but ordinary. The 21-year-old right-back, who didn’t even kick a ball until he was 17, has gone from nearly quitting the sport to sealing a €30 million (£26m/$35m) move to Serie A giants Roma. His journey, however, took a dramatic turn after being noticed by Flamengo, where he quickly proved he belonged on the big stage. Roma's latest signing sheds light on his tough beginnings, stating that his initial days were filled with self-doubt.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wesley has signed a five-year deal with the Giallorossi and will wear the No.43 jersey. The young defender stated in his first interview with the club that he hopes to emulate national icon Cafu, who played for Roma in the same position. Despite his preference to play in a four-man defence, the former Flamengo sensation can comfortably slot in a right-wing back role, providing tactical flexibility to new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. With his €30m move, he becomes the most expensive non-EU signing in club history.

• WHAT WESLEY SAID

  Speaking in his first interview as a Roma player, Wesley said: "I kicked my first real footy in 2017, when I started trying seriously in the youth teams. During that period, I started going on trials and failed four or five times, at Figueirense and Tubarão. I finally passed the trial with Figueirense, but the club wasn't in good financial shape. So I was informed that if I found a better option, I should notify the club, and they would let me go.

  "As soon as I started playing for Tubarão, Covid hit. At that moment, I thought about stopping playing and starting working. It seemed like a sign of destiny: I wasn't supposed to play football. So I started working with my mom and sister in a restaurant where my mom was a chef. I worked there as a parking attendant and by then I had little faith in football. I had just started and everything had gone wrong because of Covid.

  "[My sister] kept sending me messages on Instagram. They were motivational texts; she wanted to push me to get back into football. So at the end of 2020, I decided to return to playing after a year off, during which I hadn't trained at all. Tubarão contacted me asking if I would be willing to play five games with them. I accepted, since I wasn't doing anything. But I wasn't playing much.

  “I recorded a video and my agent sent it to all his friends. From that moment on, they started contacting me for trials, then Flamengo called, again in 2021, and that changed everything.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WESLEY?

  The Brazilian international will be hoping to make his unofficial debut for the Serie A giants in their upcoming friendly, scheduled for July 31 against French fourth-tier side Cannes.

da brwin： When it comes to the greatest Chelsea players of the last 15 years or so, it’s impossible to look past Eden Hazard.

da betway： The Belgian wizard joined the Blues in the summer of 2012 and, over the next seasons, made 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals, providing 88 assists, and winning a host of trophies, including two Premier Leagues.

The international superstar was more than just output, though; he was an entertainer, someone who could make something of anything, and a legend of the league.

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to another superstar who could become their new Hazard.

Chelsea target their new Eden Hazard

The transfer window reopens in just over a month, and as a result, Chelsea are being linked with some seriously exciting players.

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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Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, for example, has been touted for a £79m move to Stamford Bridge, as has Nottingham Forest’s defensive powerhouse Murillo.

Yet, while both would improve the Blues’ squad and potentially the starting lineup, neither can be described as the next Hazard, unlike Vinícius Júnior.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are one of a few teams keen on signing the Real Madrid winger.

In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, the West Londoners are leading the race for the Brazilian’s signature, while Manchester United trail behind.

However, on top of the competition, the Blues will have to stump up a fee of up to £100m to secure the superstar’s signature.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Vini Jr’s immense ability, it’s one Chelsea should be all over, especially as he could be another Hazard.

Why Vini Jr would be another Hazard for Chelsea

Now, while Vini Jr obviously isn’t a carbon copy of Hazard, there are undeniable similarities between the two.

For example, in addition to sharing a position with him, the Brazilian is also a winger most would describe as an entertainer; he is not merely efficient.

In other words, the 25-year-old is more than happy to take on an opposition defender, is capable of scoring a myriad of goals and isn’t afraid of pulling off a trick or two, even if he sometimes gets heat for doing so.

While this is all obvious from simply watching the former Flamengo gem play, it’s also borne out in his underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

Simply put, the São Gonçalo-born star is someone who wants to carry the ball into dangerous areas and is one of the very best at doing so.

With all that said, while Vini Jr has the entertainment side of Hazard to his own game, he’s also as, if not more, dangerous when it comes to backing that up with output.

Vini Jr’s Madird record

Appearances

340

Starts

267

Minutes

24,291′

Goals

111

Assists

92

Points per Game

2.15

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 340 appearances, for Los Blancos, totalling 24291 minutes, he has scored 111 goals and provided 92 assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.67 games, or every 119.66 minutes, which is even more impressive when you consider his slow start in Madrid.

With numbers like those, and the fact he’s one of the few players in the world guaranteed to get fans on their feet, it’s hard to disagree with Ronaldo’s assertion that he is “the best player in the world.”

Therefore, while it will cost an arm and a leg, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Vini Jr, especially as he could be their next Hazard.

Related Chelsea: Enzo Maresca provides major Cole Palmer update ahead of Arsenal

The Blues are set for a mouth-watering Premier League clash this weekend.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Arsenal have a busy summer transfer window ahead of them as the Gunners and Mikel Arteta look to win the Premier League after three successive second-place finishes.

New sporting director Andrea Berta is the man tasked with leading Arsenal’s transfer business, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi set to be the first through the door at the Emirates.

Signing from Real Sociedad in a transfer worth over £50m, Zubimendi should be followed by some attacking additions ahead of Arsenal’s 2025/26 opener at Old Trafford against Man Utd.

Man Utd vs Arsenal

August 17

Arsenal vs Leeds

August 23

Liverpool vs Arsenal

August 30

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest

September 13

Arsenal vs Man City

September 20

AI have actually predicted Arsenal’s 25/26 line-up in a 4-3-3 formation, and if they are correct, the Gunners will have an exciting transfer window.

Berta spends £250m: AI predicts who Arsenal will sign in summer transfer window

It could be an eventful few months at the Emirates.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 14, 2025 AI predicts Arsenal’s 2025/26 starting line-up 1 GK: David Raya

There may not be much change in defence at the Emirates, with Arsenal having the best defensive record in the Premier League over the past two seasons.

Games

96

Clean sheets

39

Goals conceded

81

David Raya has been a regular during that time and has been backed to keep his spot in the side despite Kepa Arrizabalaga’s likely arrival.

2 RB: Jurrien Timber

Getting the nod at right-back is Jurrien Timber after the Dutchman played all across the backline in 24/25, making 48 appearances in all competitions.

They say Timber’s ‘versatility and recovery from injury make him a strong candidate to start at right-back’ as his ‘attacking flair fits Arteta’s system’.

3 CB: William Saliba

William Saliba has been a rock at the back for the Gunners in recent years, which has resulted in rumours of a move to Real Madrid.

Described as ‘a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence’, Saliba still has two years left on his Emirates deal and looks set to play a key role once more.

4 CB: Gabriel

No shocks at centre-back from AI, with Gabriel expected to partner Saliba at the back after signing a new four-year deal this summer.

The Brazilian’s new deal reflects his status under Arteta, and his ‘aggressive defending and leadership underline his importance’.

5 LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly

Still just 18 years of age, Myles Lewis-Skelly is already an Arsenal regular at left-back and is also on course to agree a new Gunners contract.

AI have the Englishman ahead of Riccardo Calafiori and think he’ll start ahead of the Italian in 25/26.

6 CM: Martin Zubimendi

After spending more than £50m on new signing Martin Zubimendi, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that AI believe he’ll be straight in Arteta’s starting XI.

Games

236

Goals

10

Assists

9

Yellow cards

47

They say the Spaniard ‘will anchor the midfield, allowing others to push forward’.

7 CM: Declan Rice

With Zubimendi in the No. 6 role, Declan Rice has been backed to ‘thrive as a No. 8’ at the Emirates, occupying a box-to-box role with the new signing in a deeper position.

AI states that Rice’s ‘leadership, stamina, and goal-scoring ability from midfield make him a guaranteed starter’ under Arteta, and it’s hard to argue against that.

8 CM: Martin Odegaard (c)

Completing the midfield is captain Martin Odegaard, who is actually approaching 200 appearances in a Gunners shirt.

Games

30

Goals

3

Assists

8

AI says that despite a dip in form which saw Odegaard score just three Premier League goals in 30 appearances last season, the Norway star’s ‘chance creation and work rate ensure his spot in the side’.

9 RW: Bukayo Saka

Arsenal missed Bukayo Saka’s goals and assists last season, with the winger out for large parts of the season through injury.

Now back fit, though, Saka’s ‘role on the right is undisputed’ and Ethan Nwaneri is named as a promising backup to Arsenal’s No. 7.

10 CF: Benjamin Sesko

A new striker is at the top of Arsenal’s to-do list before September 1, and one attacker who has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates is Benjamin Sesko.

AI says the towering centre-forward will be in the starting line up next season at a cost of £70m. Sesko will ‘offer the physicality and clinical edge Arteta seeks, edging out Viktor Gyokeres as the primary target’.

The range of viable investors in the Hundred teams is “way broader and bigger” than anticipated ahead of Friday’s first-round deadline for bids. That is according to the ECB’s senior leadership team, who defended the Hundred’s projected valuations of overseas broadcast rights on Wednesday by insisting: “We are confident in our product”.The ECB sent investment prospectuses to around 100 interested parties last month, who were set a deadline of October 18 to register their initial interest in buying a stake in one of the eight Hundred teams. The teams are currently owned by the ECB but will become franchises run as joint-ventures with host counties (or the MCC) once the sale process is complete.The Hundred’s overseas broadcast rights are currently valued at around £2 million per year. Financial projections in the prospectuses distributed by Deloitte and the Raine Group – who are running the sales process – involve a jump to £33 million by 2030, with a year-on-year growth rate of 42%.One prospective investor, who has since withdrawn from the sales process, told ESPNcricinfo that those figures “make no sense” and had not been fully explained. “It seems like they first thought of a valuation then made up the numbers to justify it – things like the sudden and exponential growth in broadcast revenue from India and North America,” they said.Richard Gould and Richard Thompson, the ECB’s chief executive and chair respectively, are in Multan this week during England’s second Test against Pakistan, ahead of the first-round deadline. They said the board has fielded interest from a “full gamut” of potential investors and defended the projected increase in revenue from Indian broadcast rights.Related

• Lancashire want IPL link for Manchester Originals

• Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny 'a feasible option' for Welsh Fire investment

• ECB plans huge wage hikes, increase in overseas player limit in the Hundred

• Lalit Modi pours scorn on 'overambitious' Hundred in leaked financial projections

• Equity sale in the Hundred could be delayed beyond 2025 – Vikram Banerjee

“We are not making an assumption that India’s men’s players will be released, because that has not been what has happened,” Gould said. “We are confident in our product, in terms of the window we occupy and the players we’ve got available. There are loads of T20 and short-format franchise competitions out there at the moment, and I don’t think they are all going to last, in truth.”Gould said that “about 100 or so” interested parties had requested access to the ECB’s “data room”, including “a lot of Indian interest” with the majority of owners of IPL and WPL franchises understood to be involved in the process. He said there has also been interest “from America, from other sports and investment houses”.He said: “We’re getting towards the end of stage one this week… at the moment, they can express an interest in all eight clubs. We’ll have a better indication over the next week or two. Thereafter, we’ll spend a month or so going through those. At the end of that process, they will be able to go and meet the county clubs and see where their relationships work best.”During that period they can have an interest in up to four teams. When we get to the crunch time, which is the next phase, they can only put their name in for two teams, and they can only win one. Clearly, we want to maximise the value, because the value the ECB holds is on behalf of the game.”Gould said there were “a few tyre-kickers” among the parties to initially register their interest, but Thompson insisted that the ECB had outstripped expectations overall. “Raine originally said they thought there’d be three to four bidders per team,” he said. “The investment base is way broader and bigger than they expected.”Vikram Banerjee, the ECB’s director of business operations, said last month that the sale process could be delayed beyond next year if the right bids do not come in. Thompson suggested that the 2025 season could be a “hybrid” model, with some teams still owned by ECB and others by private investors.”What we don’t want is to just feel bounced into selling all of them and thinking, ‘We could have got a lot more if we’d held back because that particular team wasn’t ready to go,'” he said. “The worst thing we could do would be to undersell the game and look back thinking, ‘We let some of these franchises go at prices that weren’t full market value.'”

Quick didn’t give up hope of a recall but had “stopped thinking about it” after years out of the side

Matt Roller24-Oct-2021Tymal Mills announced himself as a fast bowler on the rise in 2016 when he rearranged Chris Gayle’s stumps with a 150kph yorker in a T20 Blast match at Hove. Five years later, his dismissal of the same man confirmed his return to the big stage after a long struggle with injuries.Mills earned an England recall thanks to a series of standout performances in the Blast and the Hundred this summer, and was picked for his first T20 international since 2017 on Saturday night in Dubai. Entrusted with the sixth over, he dismissed Gayle with the final ball of the Powerplay, rushing him with an 140kph short ball and inducing a spliced pull which saw Dawid Malan take a superbly-judged catch backpedalling from the edge of the ring at midwicket.It was a moment of symmetry for Mills, and reward for his dedication to getting himself in good enough physical condition to play a major role in this tournament. He has suffered badly with injuries since his breakthrough five years ago, spending three months in a back brace last winter following a stress fracture, but was fit enough to play 19 games between the Blast and the Hundred this summer and bowled with good pace on his return.”A lot of hard work has gone in to get myself into a position to put my hat in the ring,” Mills told Sky Sports. “I had a really good summer back home and to get out here, back among the lads, really enjoy training and get selected for the first game, I was really pleased. I didn’t give up hope [of an England recall] but I probably stopped thinking about it, to be honest.”He [Gayle] is one of the biggest names around. Their batting line-up is fierce, isn’t it, Polly [Kieron Pollard] and [Andre] Russell coming in at No. 7 and 8. We knew that we had to stay on it. I want to play every game. I don’t want to be sitting out. I’ve been backing up training sessions back home in the summer and since I’ve been out here I’ve been recovering well. The schedule isn’t too brutal in this competition, so I’m good to go.”

“I didn’t give up hope [of an England recall] but I probably stopped thinking about it, to be honest.”Tymal Mills

“You can see once the pace cranks up people do strange things,” Chris Silverwood, England’s coach, said. “Pace does that to people, and to have someone with that ability, and from a left-arm angle as well, in the squad is a real asset to us. He’s a great asset to have in our bowling attack.”It was a year ago that Eoin Morgan was asked by Mills over dinner whether his name came up in selection meetings – coincidentally in Dubai, where they were filming for the ‘Ultimate Kricket Challenge’. Morgan said that it did, and gave enough encouragement for Mills to hatch a route back into the side for himself.”I’m delighted for Big T,” Morgan said. “He’s had an incredibly unfortunate journey throughout his career right from the start up until now. He’s as good as I’ve seen him – both fit and bowling fit – and his fielding has also drastically improved which is a huge contribution. I’m absolutely delighted that not only was he back on the field for us but also contributing in the manner that we’ve seen in the past in a Sussex shirt.”England’s use of Mills and his method were both notable. In what could be a theme throughout the tournament, Mills and England’s other seamers, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, aimed to hit ‘hard’ or ‘heavy’ lengths rather than looking for early swing and exploited West Indies’ relative weakness against back-of-a-length bowling. Mills was also used as an enforcer through the middle of the innings, removing Nicholas Pooran with a rare full, pace-on ball which he edged behind – though he expects to be saved until the death for most of the World Cup.Tymal Mills’ pace and left-arm angle are both attractive assets•Getty Images”If this game had gone traditionally – to the full 20 – my overs would have been left to the death,” he said. “It was a luxury of taking wickets and Morgs then used me earlier, otherwise, I would have been saved until the death. Our next game is in Abu Dhabi and we play in Sharjah as well so we’re going to have to be adaptable, but smashing away, back of a length is going to be key.”You don’t want to be too full and you don’t want to be too floaty. We played against New Zealand a couple of days ago and we spoke about: ‘if you’re going to miss [your length], miss shorter’ on these wickets. As long as you’re banging it in with some conviction, you want to be missing on the shorter side, we think.”England were without Mark Wood, the one bowler in their squad quicker than Mills, on Saturday night due to a niggle to his left ankle which he picked up in the warm-up win against New Zealand. He has had an injection but is expected to be fit for Wednesday’s game against Bangladesh, with Silverwood admitting that the attack’s success created a selection headache.”It’s nothing drastic, nothing that we’re overly worried about, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him soon,” Silverwood said. “[Mills and Wood playing together] is an exciting prospect, isn’t it? You’ve got two people who can hit that sort of pace at a regular interval, but again it will come down to what we feel will best suit the conditions that we’re playing under, and where the best match-ups lie for the team we’re playing against.”

This will be the only international match – men’s or women’s – played in South Africa this summer to not have DRS

Firdose Moonda14-Dec-2024

There will be no DRS for the one-off Test between South Africa and England in Bloemfontein, the first women’s Test in South Africa in 22 years. The match will be the only one out of the 21 internationals played by both men and women in South Africa this home summer without DRS.This was the first season where DRS – a technology that costs millions of dollars – was used for women’s bilateral internationals in South Africa. CSA said it has opted to prioritise DRS in white-ball women’s internationals for now.”The inclusion of the DRS for the ongoing inbound tour against England was agreed upon at the planning stage of the tour, noting that it will be the first time it was used for women’s bilateral tours in South Africa in recent history,” Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s director of national teams and high performance, said in response to a query about the absence of DRS for the Test.”The white-ball formats were prioritised with regards to DRS for this tour as it directly impacted the Proteas Women’s rankings in T20I cricket and the Women’s Championship as well as the overall CSA strategy for the senior women’s national team.”While the development of the red-ball format is important, it is worth noting that resources are currently being directed at the white-ball formats due to the significance of ODI and T20I cricket in the current women’s international cricket landscape.”South Africa had already qualified for the ODI World Cup before the series against England but aimed to finish as high on the Women’s Championship points table. In the ICC rankings, they are currently ranked fourth in ODIs and fifth in T20Is. There was one instance during the ongoing England tour when DRS malfunctioned. In the third over of South Africa’s chase in the first ODI in Kimberley, Tazmin Brits was pinged on the pad by Lauren Bell and was given out lbw. She wanted to review the decision but could not because the technology was down.ESPNcricinfo understands that, in a home summer where India men’s T20I series was the only profit-making visit, the expense of using the technology was deemed too much for this match. This, despite CSA announcing a profit of US$45.6 million from the last financial year and benefiting from two successive years of India visits.The Test match will be produced on a budget with only seven manned cameras (some matches are broadcast with as many as 30) and two run-out cameras on one side of the field (as opposed to the usual four, two on each side). That means that if there is a fielder in the way of a run-out decision on one side, the TV umpire may not be able to make a decision.The two on-field umpires for the match – Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag – will be officiating a Test for the first time.DRS has become the norm in international cricket but there are still matches played without it. At this year’s men’s ODI World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, DRS was only in place from the Super Six stage. There was no DRS at this year’s women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in the UAE, or in the recently completed Ireland Women’s tour of Bangladesh.

Arsenal are displaying serious ambition this summer and show absolutely no sign of easing up any time soon, with sporting director Andrea Berta having worked extensively on a potential marquee signing.

Arsenal trying to convince £55m ace to join, Arteta is speaking to him

The Gunners boss is getting involved.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 4, 2025

Much has been made of the club’s pursuit of new attacking options, after they recently agreed deals for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Premier League stalwart Christian Norgaard.

Arsenal confirmed Kepa’s signing earlier this week and Zubimendi is expected to follow him imminently, with Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources sharing that Norgaard will also join Mikel Arteta’s side very soon.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

Berta is in ongoing talks for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as well, and the versatile 21-year-old could well replace Takehiro Tomiyasu, who’s now officially terminated his Arsenal contract.

However, critics are eager to see the Gunners strengthen further forward as well.

Arsenal hold a serious interest in signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace as Berta seeks two new wingers, with Chelsea’s Noni Madueke also on their radar in a separate move to the England international (Fabrizio Romano).

Interestingly, Madueke isn’t their top target for the right-hand side.

That man is instead Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who is believed to be a “dream” signing for Arsenal.

Reports suggest that Arsenal could move to sign Rodrygo with Eze, if they’re given encouragement that the Brazil international will be up for leaving the Bernabeu (GiveMeSport), and journalist Graeme Bailey has shared quite a promising update on this situation.

Arsenal prepared to pay £75m for Rodrygo amid "constant" Berta contact

As per the reporter, speaking to TBR Football, Berta has personally been in “constant contact” with Rodrygo’s camp after identifying the 24-year-old as a key target.

TBR state that a deal for him would cost around £70-75 million, and this is deemed an “acceptable” price by Arsenal, who are seemingly prepared to pay those figures.

Berta has also been made aware of Rodrygo’s plan to inform Real of his desire to leave, which he’ll confirm to Xabi Alonso’s side once they return from their Club World Cup campaign.

“I am told Andrea Berta made Rodrygo one of his top targets months ago, he recognised very early the situation that was emerging around him,” said Bailey.

“Rodrygo’s team have engaged with him throughout. This isn’t a blind chase by Berta and Arsenal, they have done a lot of work on him. He is not their only target, but the chances of landing him have been increasing every month since Berta first had contact.”

Rodrygo would be a statement signing for Berta after his excellent 2024/2025 campaign. The “superstar” has netted 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, including his numbers at the CWC, and he’s apparently keen to play on the left-hand side as opposed to on the right at Madrid (ESPN).

Given Leandro Trossard has entered the final year of his deal, not to mention Gabriel Martinelli’s uncertain long-term future, this is a move that could seriously suit all parties.