All posts by h716a5.icu

Dhawan suggested that the England allrounder had pulled a muscle in his first training session

Matt Roller14-Apr-20234:13

Punjab set to face their old boys in Lucknow

Big picture: Lucknow’s KingsKL Rahul captaining. Andy Flower in the coaching staff. Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran in the middle order. K Gowtham and Ravi Bishnoi bowling spin. There are several similarities between Punjab Kings’ class of 2020 and Lucknow Super Giants’ 2023 vintage, but one clear difference so far: results.While Kings finished that season in sixth, Super Giants are among the early pace-setters this year. They have already established themselves as a team who are hard to beat at home, winning both games at the Ekana Stadium, and their last-gasp win at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday night means they are joint-top of the nascent league table with three wins from four.Several of those former Kings players will be particularly keen to perform against their old franchise on Saturday night, but none more so than Pooran. The West Indies left-hander had a miserable final year for Kings in 2021, making 85 runs at 7.72 across the season, and was released ahead of the mega auction.Since then, Pooran has averaged 40.63 and struck at 161.95 in the IPL, bringing his Sunrisers Hyderabad form from 2022 into the early stages of this season. Super Giants invested heavily in him, spending INR 16 crore to buy him in December’s auction; the early signs are that he is worth the money.Form guide (most recent match first)Lucknow Super Giants: WWLWPunjab Kings: LLWWTeam news: Livingstone still a doubt?Kyle Mayers’ early success at the top of the order has seen Quinton de Kock carrying drinks since his arrival in India, but Super Giants may look to make a change after Mayers’ back-to-back failures against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore.Liam Livingstone arrived in India late after knee and ankle injuries, and Shikhar Dhawan suggested on Thursday night that he had pulled a muscle in his first training session. “He’s just got off a flight,” Brad Haddin, Kings’ assistant coach, said.”We’re just monitoring him for the next couple of days to see where he’s at. He’s just come back from a long-term injury.” He appears unlikely to feature on Saturday, but could come into contention to play against RCB next week.There is also a chance Kings will consider rotating their seamers, playing their second game in 48 hours. If so, Kagiso Rabada – who was expensive against Gujarat Titans – might make way for Nathan Ellis again.Meanwhile, Super Giants have replaced medium-pace bowler Mayank Yadav with Arpit Guleria in a like-for-like change, with an injury ruling Mayank out of the tournament.*Super Giants’ musclemen Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis hit 127 runs in 49 balls between them in Bengaluru•BCCIToss and Impact Player strategyLucknow Super Giants
Super Giants have used Ayush Badoni as their Impact Player when bowling first this season, and could bring him in for Amit Mishra like they did in their one-wicket win over Royal Challengers. If they bat first, Mishra – or another bowler – could replace Badoni.Possible bat-first XI: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Jaydev Unadkat, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh KhanPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Krunal Pandya, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Amit Mishra/Krishnappa Gowtham, 8 Jaydev Unadkat, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Avesh KhanPunjab Kings
Rahul Chahar came into Kings’ team halfway through their defeat to Titans on Thursday, and will likely replace either Prabhsimran Singh or Bhanuka Rajapaksa during the innings break if they bat first again. If they bowl, they will probably pick an extra bowler and then sub a batter in.Possible bat-first XI: 1 Prabhsimran Singh, 2 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 3 Matthew Short, 4 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Sam Curran, 7 M Shahrukh Khan, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Rishi Dhawan, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Arshdeep SinghPossible bowl-first XI: 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 2 Matthew Short, 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Prabhsimran Singh, 4 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 5 Sam Curran, 6 M Shahrukh Khan, 7 Harpreet Brar, 8 Rishi Dhawan, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 Arshdeep SinghStats that matter Shikhar Dhawan has dominated Jaydev Unadkat when they have faced one another in the IPL, scoring 70 runs off 44 balls against him for once out. Super Giants’ innings of 193 for 6 in their first home game this season was the first time in 16 T20s held in Lucknow that a team had posted a score in excess of 190. This will only be the second meeting between these teams, following Super Giants’ 20-run victory last season.Pitch and conditionsKeep a close eye on the colour of the soil used at the Ekana Stadium. Lucknow played their first home game against Delhi Capitals on a red-soil pitch which played relatively true; in their second, against Sunrisers, they played on a black-soil pitch which offered sharp turn from the outset. The venue is quickly becoming a fortress for them, with two home wins from two so far.Quotes”Watching the game last [Thursday] night, it came down to the last two balls, even on the Mohali wicket which is a really good wicket. We must respect their bowling line-up: they have international experience and quality spinners.”
“Whenever a team plays 56 dot balls, they end up losing the game so we have to rectify that. And of course, losing early wickets puts the batting side on the back foot and we have to work on that.”
*The line was added after confirmation through an IPL media release

Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce are plotting a move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios, with Erik ten Hag facing another key exit.

Fenerbahce preparing €20m bid for PalaciosMourinho wants Argentine as midfield reinforcementTen Hag facing uphill battle to stabilise squadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to GOAL sources, Fenerbahce are preparing a €20 million (£17m/$22m) offer for Leverkusen’s Palacios. The Turkish giants, led by new sporting director Devin Ozek, are willing to structure the deal as a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy. The Argentine has been identified as a priority target for Mourinho’s midfield rebuild ahead of their Champions League playoff against Benfica next week.

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Die Werkself have already suffered a mass exodus this summer, losing Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, Granit Xhaka to Sunderland, Odilon Kossounou to Atalanta, Lukas Hradecky to Monaco, and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich. With Ten Hag just beginning his reign, losing Palacios would deepen the rebuilding challenge. The 26-year-old played a key role in Leverkusen’s remarkable 2024 Bundesliga triumph, going unbeaten throughout the entire campaign. Given their depleted squad, the German club may prefer reinforcements over further departures.

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Palacios joined Leverkusen from River Plate in January 2020 for €22m (£18m/$24m). In 108 Bundesliga appearances, he has scored 11 goals and provided 14 assists. Though not always a guaranteed starter, he has been a consistent squad contributor. Fenerbahce want him integrated quickly to boost their European push.

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Fenerbahce aim to seal a deal before their Champions League play-off first leg against Benfica. Leverkusen face Sonnenhof in the DFB-Pokal before opening the Bundesliga season against Hoffenheim on August 23.

There’s been a bit of upheaval in the directorial department at Newcastle United over the past year, but Ross Wilson has forged a neat working relationship with Eddie Howe, and the pair are looking to make improvements at St. James’ Park.

Last year, Howe and his squad defied many odds to lift the Carabao Cup and restore a place in the Champions League. It all came together, and while the sale of talisman Alexander Isak this summer threatened to knock things out of kilter, United have made progress in recent weeks, with new heroes emerging.

Bruno Guimaraes remains the Magpies’ all-inspiring leader, but Malick Thiaw has risen to the occasion since arriving in the Premier League this year, becoming a different kind of driving force for the Tynesiders.

Howe's new leaders at Newcastle

Isak was never a vocal talisman in Howe’s Newcastle squad, but, before the summer transfer window, he led by example on the field, scoring 27 goals across all competitions last season and notching in the Carabao Cup final.

However, Newcastle banked a record fee for his signature, and Guimaraes has only raised his game this term, both from a technical and leadership standpoint.

Though a new forward focal point has yet to properly establish himself, Thiaw has taken to life in the Premier League seamlessly, and Bruno has actually remarked that the imperious German defender is “the future of this club”.

It says something of his character and technical quality that he has arrived from AC Milan for around £35m and swiftly stepped higher than Sven Botman. As per Sofascore, Thiaw, 24, has won 74% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, completing 88% of his passes and yet to make an error.

He’s some player, and Bruno is too, but United may actually have a younger member of their squad who is shooting through the form rankings in the English game, starting to prove he could be the pick of the bunch.

Newcastle made a better signing than Bruno & Thiaw

When Newcastle signed Lewis Hall from Chelsea for £28m (after a season-long loan move throughout the 2023/24 campaign), they knew they had struck a bargain for a young full-back with a wealth of potential.

However, injuries have damaged the 21-year-old’s chances of establishing fluency since that move became permanent, and so it’s interesting to see him playing so well in recent weeks, finally building toward the elite player he could, should, become.

Described as “the best player on the field” by reporter Andy Sixsmith after his monstrous display against Tottenham, Hall has overcome his injury problems and is now reminding the Premier League that he is one of the best in the business. Indeed, with more performances like these, it won’t just be those of a Toon persuasion advocating for him to be on the Three Lions plane across the pond next summer.

Minutes played

90′

Touches

75

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

Accurate passes

36/43 (84%)

Chances created

0

Dribbles

2/2

Recoveries

6

Tackles won

4/4

Interceptions

2

Clearances

4

Duels won

8/15

As per FBref, Hall actually ranks among the top 7% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 5% for through balls and tackles won per 90.

This is a frighteningly rounded player, his formative career as a centre-midfielder fostering a dynamic skillset that is charging his journey to the top. If the England international can keep fitness levels on his side, then he will only get better and better on Tyneside, potentially even becoming Howe’s main man.

In this, he might become one of the best signings of the PIF era. Already, it is clear that his name belongs in such a conversation, but Hall needs consistency now. Who knows, maybe he could climb up to loftier ground than the likes of Bruno and Thiaw stand on.

There’s also the matter of him arriving from Chelsea after being awarded the Cobham side’s Academy Player of the Year award. Pinched from a direct rival, Hall is developing into a player who will rival the likes of Marc Cucurella for the left-back crown down the line.

With so much room still for growth, there’s every chance that Hall could be Howe’s main man in the not-too-distant future.

Bigger waste of money than Wissa & Elanga: Howe must drop Newcastle dud

Eddie Howe must now axe this big Newcastle United waste of money ahead of the tense Tyne-Wear Derby.

ByKelan Sarson 2 days ago

Recent ups and downs in form have turned him into a different kind of player

Karthik Krishnaswamy16-Jul-20231:16

Dasgupta on Kohli: Very good innings on a difficult pitch

Virat Kohli has played every kind of cover drive you could think of. The front-foot cover drive, the back-foot cover drive, the step-out-and-step-away inside-out cover drive. The cover drive to the left of the cover fielder, the cover drive to his right. The straight-bat, punchy cover drive, the bottom-handed topspin cover drive with twirly flourish. The middled cover drive, the edged cover drive.It took until his 110th Test match, however, for Kohli to play a cover drive followed by a punch-the-air celebration when he hadn’t brought up 50, 100 or multiples thereof.Kohli celebrating a milestone, however. He had just hit the first boundary of his innings, off the 81st ball he had faced.It was that kind of innings. The pitch for the first West Indies-India Test in Dominica was a slow turner with a bit of bounce for the spinners, ingredients that limited batters’ ability to drive the ball unless it was pitched right up, or use the bowlers’ pace to score their runs.And so it was that Kohli took 81 balls to hit his first boundary, another 43 to hit his second, and another 36 to hit his third, by which time he had already passed 50.It was far from Kohli’s most fluent innings, and there were slices of luck along the way – two dropped chances on 40 and 72, and a missed run-out chance on 45 – but he was doing what he needed to do. India were looking to bat once and bat big after bowling West Indies out for 150 on the first day, and he was helping them do just that. He was happy to bat time, grind out his runs, and pump his fists whenever a boundary happened to come along.Related

Secret to Kohli's longevity? 'A lot of hard work and sacrifices,' says Dravid

Two Ashwin wickets, and what they say about his craft

A broad grin accompanied these boundary celebrations, suggesting both that he was enjoying his struggle and aware of how mortal it was making him look. Great batters don’t score runs only when every ball is pinging off the sweet spot; they often place greater value on the times they had to fight their own lack of fluency but scored runs nonetheless. They love waging heroic battles against the greatest bowlers on difficult pitches, and they also love days when they are themselves their stiffest opponents.The most remarkable thing about Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 not-out in Sydney wasn’t so much that he shelved his cover drive but the fact that he shelved it on one of the flattest pitches he ever batted on, against a middling Australia attack. It takes a lot for one of the greatest batters of all time to acknowledge that he wasn’t playing one of his bread-and-butter shots well enough to use it even in those circumstances.Virat Kohli took 81 balls to score his first boundary in the first Test against West Indies•AFP via Getty ImagesOver recent months and years, some of Kohli’s longest Test innings have featured this sort of self-denial: for instance the 79 in Cape Town, which featured one of the highest leave percentages of any Test innings in recent times, and the 186 in Ahmedabad, where he went 122 balls before hitting his first boundary of day four. He’s been happy to pare his game down to its most prosaic components when required to, almost revelling in the setting aside of his ego.But sometimes it’s felt different from the kind of situation-specific curtailing of shots that Tendulkar would perform every now and then. With Kohli over recent seasons, it feels like something may have changed in his game, perhaps even irrevocably.Until the end of 2019, Kohli scored his Test runs at a strike rate of 57.81. Since the start of 2020, he’s gone at 44.43.This, of course, is partly an effect of his diminished returns in this period – he has only averaged 30.75 in the pandemic and post-pandemic eras – and partly an effect of the quality of attacks he’s faced and the bowling-friendly nature of the pitches he’s batted on. Kohli has been far from alone among India’s batters in seeing his average and strike rate drop significantly since the turn of the decade.The difference with Kohli, however, is that when he had scored runs against quality attacks in testing conditions in the pre-pandemic period, he had often done so at a significant clip. Take three celebrated innings from 2018: the 153 in Centurion came at a strike rate of 70.50, his 149 in Birmingham at 66.22, and his 97 in Nottingham at 63.81.It isn’t easy to say why Kohli has slowed down to the extent he has, post-2020. The fundamentals of his game don’t seem to have changed to any great extent, but his limitations may be hampering him now in a way they didn’t in his prime. These limitations have always been evident. He’s a superb puller, for instance, but he’s never had much of a back-foot repertoire on the off side; against spin he only rarely sweeps or hits over the top or uses his feet to get down the pitch. In Dominica, for instance, he didn’t sweep or use his feet even though he faced a lot of bowling from West Indies’ part-time spinners.It could be that his eye isn’t quite what it used to be, and he isn’t hitting his go-to shots in quite the ruthless way he used to. Or it could be that bowlers are denying him his go-to shots more successfully now than they used to.Whatever the reasons may be, Kohli hasn’t changed his game or added new shots to his repertoire. And by not changing his game, Kohli has paradoxically turned into a different kind of player. He scores his runs slower now, and perhaps with less certainty than before, though he seems to be over the worst of his lean run – he averages 48.44 this year, compared to 26.20 in the 2020-22 period. What hasn’t changed, as Dominica showed, is how much he relishes a scrap – even if his fiercest opponent happens to be himself.

Fast bowler commits to three-year county deal that could free him up for franchise stints

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2024Saqib Mahmood insists he “still has an ambition” to play Test cricket for England, despite committing to a white-ball deal with Lancashire for the next three years.Mahmood, 27, made two Test appearances in the Caribbean in March 2022, claiming six wickets at 22.83, but has been beset by injury in recent seasons, including consecutive stress fractures of the back in 2022 and 2023.He has not played a first-class match for Lancashire since a wicketless display against Durham in May, but returned to the England set-up in last month’s T20I series against Australia, having confirmed he was back to his best with a matchwinning haul of 3 for 17 for Oval Invincibles against Southern Brave in the Men’s Hundred final in August.Mahmood played nine Vitality Blast matches for Lancashire this summer, taking 12 wickets in their progression to the quarter-finals, and will continue his international comeback next week after being named for England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean.While his three-year deal includes “options” to appear in the County Championship, schedule and fitness permitting, and thereby stake a claim for an England Test recall, Lancashire’s priority is to manage Mahmood’s availability around their full Blast schedule, with the likelihood that he will be in demand for franchise competitions that overlap with the English season.”In the ever-changing landscape of cricket, this contract allows greater control over Saqib’s availability during the Vitality Blast blocks in the summer,” Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, said. “This is something we will work closely with Saqib on, particularly around his franchise commitments, which may include the PSL in the early part of next season.”Following a tough few years for Saqib, with two stress fractures of the back, it was great to see him back on the park this summer performing for us in the Vitality Blast before earning a well-deserved England recall.”Mahmood, who is a product of Lancashire’s academy, joined the club in 2012, aged 15, before making his senior debut in 2015 and being awarded his county cap in 2021.”I am delighted to commit my future to Lancashire in the Vitality Blast for at least the next three seasons,” he said.”2022 and 2023 were both difficult years for me injury-wise, but it was brilliant to get through this summer fully fit. I’d like to thank the medical team at Lancashire for their hard work throughout this period and having their continued support was a key factor in signing this new contract.Related

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Saqib Mahmood turns his eyes to the light after two years of injury hell

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“While this is a white-ball contract, I still have an ambition to play red-ball cricket for England again and for Lancashire in the County Championship, which is still the biggest test of skill and fitness outside of Test match cricket, and there are options within this contract for that to happen.”While Mahmood’s deal does not preclude him from forming part of the “stable” of fast bowlers that Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, has said he wants to be able to call upon ahead of next year’s Ashes tour, it represents a potential retreat from availability, with his previous injury issues meaning that a future on the T20 franchise circuit might be a prudent option for his longevity, not to mention a lucrative one.Speaking in Multan earlier this week, Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, acknowledged that the encroachment of such tournaments on the English season was a challenge to the county game that will require a coherent response going forward. He cited concerns raised by Daniel Gidney, Lancashire’s CEO, that county contracts risked becoming “diluted” unless the board took a more robust approach to the issuing of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas tournaments.”We are certainly hearing from our clubs and our members that we need to control things a little bit,” Gould said.”Last year there were 74 English players, men, that played in franchise tournaments around the world. The next best was Pakistan with 45. It’s great that we’ve got them out there playing but we have to protect what we’ve got.”I do think there will be added protections that come in. We’re having discussions, I saw that Lancashire made some comments a couple of weeks ago. We have to be proud of what we’ve got and protect it.”

Australia thought they could not be faulted for preparation, but it seemed to make no difference to the outcome

Alex Malcolm11-Feb-20233:17

Chopra: ‘Australia just couldn’t play against spin’

What now for Australia? They came here with a plan. A plan to pick horses-for-courses at the cost of the in-form Travis Head. A plan to be proactive with the bat and stick to their individual methods. A plan to bowl dry and control the tempo of the game and attack with two spinners and reverse swing.In the end, nothing went to plan. As Mike Tyson famously said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Australia got punched in the mouth not once, not twice but three times with India throwing a 1-2-3 combination from Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin to knock Australia down and score the first points in this heavyweight Border-Gavaskar fight.It leaves Australia staggered and wondering what to do next. Australia have had a habit of making fast starts on tours to India. They won the opening Test in 2001, 2004, and 2017 and went close in 2010. But in Nagpur in 2023 they have been annihilated in two days and two sessions.Related

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Matt Kuhnemann called up as Australia face selection headaches

Lyon's apprentice Murphy tops his master in the rough of Nagpur

Jadeja, Rohit, Ashwin lead India to resounding innings win

Stats – Australia hit record low, Ashwin at par with Kumble

For all the pre-match worry about a made-to-order pitch that would rag square from specifically curated rough patches outside the left-hander’s off stump, Australia’s batters were beaten on the good part of the pitch. The same pitch where Rohit compiled a sublime 120. The same pitch where India’s No.9 Axar Patel made his highest Test score of 84. The same pitch where India’s No.10 Mohammed Shami made 37. Australia’s only score higher in the Test match was Marnus Labuschagne’s 49 in the first innings.”I think everyone came with pretty clear plans,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said in the aftermath. “I think the challenge is under the furnace to be brave enough to be proactive at the time. They will be the conversations over the next couple of days. We faced some pretty tough bowlers at times.”Each player had prepared their own individual method. But the plans simply didn’t work. For all the preparation against spin, Usman Khawaja and David Warner both fell to pace against the new ball in the first innings.In the second, Khawaja edged a very full delivery trying to drive Ashwin out of the rough while Warner went completely into his shell. He defended for his life for 41 balls and it yielded just 10 runs. His crease-bound defence meant he was a sitting duck to Ashwin. He was dropped at slip by Virat Kohli off the outside edge by one that gripped, before being beaten on the inside edge by one that skidded and pinned lbw. He now has just three half-centuries in 18 innings in India, averaging 22.16, and had the look of a defeated man as he trudged off.2:53

Can Warner overcome the Ashwin challenge?

Labuschagne was beaten trying to play forward and trying to play back. His 49 in the first innings was Australia’s best innings of the match. He played some glorious shots, including driving Ashwin inside-out through cover against the turn and clipping Jadeja wide of mid-on against the turn. But after looking near flawless in two hours of batting he was lured out to drive Jadeja and was beaten by flight and spin to be stumped. It wasn’t dissimilar to his dismissal to Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya in Galle in Australia’s innings defeat last year. Having been burnt using his feet in the first innings, he was trapped on the back foot in the second to Jadeja and pinned lbw to a fuller length.Steve Smith looked outstanding in both innings. He played some sublime lofted drives off the left-arm spinners. But having worked so diligently not to be beaten on the inside edge by left-arm orthodox in India in 2017 to great reward, he was beaten on the inside by Jadeja in both innings. He was bowled twice through the gate by balls that skidded on. He was only reprieved in the second thanks to a no-ball.Matt Renshaw was preferred over Head as the better horse for the course against spin, yet he was pinned on the crease lbw in both innings trying to defend for 0 and 2. He did not unfurl any of the sweeps, reverse sweeps, or powerful drives he possesses.Peter Handscomb defended as well as any Australian in the first innings and looked impressive for his 31. But he too was pinned twice lbw while trying to defend from the crease.Alex Carey’s plan to sweep and reverse sweep everything was clear for all to see and he was prepared to do it from ball one. He found the boundary with a reverse sweep first ball in the first innings and a conventional sweep in the second. His proactivity caused India’s bowlers to rethink their fields in both innings and he looked as free-flowing as any Australia batter in the game. But he lived by the sword and died by the sword, out attempting premeditated reverse sweeps from the line of stumps in both innings.Alex Carey’s positive knock in the first innings was ended when he dragged on a reverse sweep•Getty ImagesAustralia’s bowlers contributed 18 runs across two innings of the Test match, while India’s last four batters compiled 130 between them in one innings.Cummins believes that both Smith and Carey’s proactivity was still the way to go despite their limited success in the Test match.”You saw Smithy and Alex Carey at times put the pressure back on the bowlers,” Cummins said. “I think it takes a bit of bravery, it’s easier said than done. If you’re just facing ball after ball and the bowler’s pretty good, you’re going to get one with your name on it. Again, that will be the conversation this week. If we get the same conditions, the same bowlers, what are we going to do differently? I think at times probably being more proactive.”Do Australia’s batters now stick or twist? Do the selectors stick or twist? All the advice coming to India was for Australia’s batters to find a method and stick to it. But as Cummins notes, that is easy to say and harder to do. How do you stick to a plan when you’ve been punched in the mouth?

Juventus have lined up midfielder Matt O’Riley as they appear to have lost hope of signing either Sandro Tonali and Morten Hjumland.

O'Riley and Bissouma alternativesBissouma rules out MolinaBrighton ready to accept loan with obligationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Juventus have turned to Brighton’s O’Riley and Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma as alternatives after moves for Tonali and Hjumland fell through. Brighton, who signed O’Riley from Celtic in 2024 for €30 million (£25m/$35m), are open to a loan deal with an obligation to buy.

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Juventus aim to strengthen their midfield around Italian star Manuel Locatelli. Their top target was Sporting CP’s Hjulmand, but after losing Viktor Gyokeres, the Portuguese side are refused to sell their captain unless his €80m (£68m/$92m) release clause is met. Juventus then shifted focus to Italy and Newcastle midfielder Tonali, proposing a player swap deal involving striker Dusan Vlahovic, which Newcastle rejected.

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If Juventus move for Bissouma, it would rule out signing Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina, as both are non-EU players and only one slot remains after the arrival of Canadian striker Jonathan David.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR O'RILEY AND JUVENTUS ?

Juventus will hope to secure O’Riley as the transfer market heats up and the new season approaches. Juve will take on Parma in their first Serie A match on August 24.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is attempting to have his say on the club’s summer recruitment plans, and the Italian has his eyes on one player in particular to reinforce a key area of the squad.

Chelsea ready to offer six-year deal to £45m player, talks "now advancing"

The west Londoners could make their next signing soon.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025

Maresca’s side want to strengthen a number of areas before their manager’s second full season in charge at Stamford Bridge. Over the last week, Chelsea have been holding talks with Borussia Dortmund officials over Jamie Gittens, and it is believed by some that a deal could soon be done.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Alongside Gittens, Chelsea are reported to still be in the market for another centre-back, which perhaps indicates that at least one of Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah, Renato Veiga or Tosin Adarabioyo could be sold.

Even after their £30 million deal for Liam Delap, there are many suggestions that Chelsea could look to sign a second new striker as well, following widely reported talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal for Hugo Ekitiké.

As well as this, Chelsea could still bring in another goalkeeper. As per journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are looking to sell both Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez this summer, with a move for AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan not completely off the table despite failing to reach an agreement before the Club World Cup.

Barcelona keeper Marc-André ter Stegen has been linked in the past week too, so their hunt for a shot-stopper could still be one to keep an eye on.

Enzo Maresca asks Chelsea to sign Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa

According to journalist Christian Martin, speaking to DSports, £150,000-per-week Aston Villa number one Emiliano Martínez is now said to have major admirers at Chelsea, including Maresca.

Maresca is “asking” Chelsea to make a move for Martinez, and goalkeeping coach Willy Caballero has also given his seal of approval to the potential transfer.

“They want him as their starting goalkeeper,” said Martin.

“Enzo Maresca is asking for him, Willy Caballero, who is part of the coaching staff and trains the goalkeepers, has already given his approval. For now, Chelsea is a very reliable and precise option.”

The Argentine World Cup winner boasts both top-level quality and proven experience on the biggest stages. After becoming a leader at Villa, there is every reason to believe the 32-year-old could be tempted by the prospect of Champions League football next season and becoming Chelsea’s new number one.

Unai Emery’s side are also under pressure from PSR to sell big-name players before the start of the next football financial year, which begins on July 1, so a deal could well be had here.

Eddie Howe says Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle United isn't "irretrievable" but admits the club are looking at replacements.

Isak wants to leave Newcastle for LiverpoolHowe doesn't rule out striker stayBut admits they're looking at replacementsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Newcastle were rocked by the news that star striker Isak expressed his desire to leave the club and join Premier League champions Liverpool instead. Despite the 25-year-old refusing to play for the Magpies again, manager Howe has suggested there is a way back for the Swede. However, after Callum Wilson's summer exit and the ongoing Isak situation, the former Bournemouth boss says the Toon "need a bit more" in attack.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT HOWE SAID

He told : "The word ‘irretrievable’ isn’t really in my dictionary. Communication is going to be the key and at some stage we might be able to change things. At the moment we are in a position where that’s not possible, but I like to think that we will be able to reassess as we go. That he will always recognise that this is a very special team and a very special club. It’s been a tough period because a lot of the media attention has been negative, which is difficult on the players. The narrative spreads. We are trying to challenge that and to say to the squad, ‘We are OK.’ Yes, we are currently minus one massive player, but we don’t yet know how that situation will change. Everyone here is fully committed and that is great."

On new signings, he added: "We have a bit of time. The issue we have is that we didn’t just lose Alex [Isak] but also Callum Wilson from last season so we are definitely looking to buy. We have a really good recruitment team, but as you know we are missing a few key appointments [the absence of a chief executive and director of football] so it’s been a challenge. Our recruitment at the club has so far been really strong. But we need a bit more."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Howe appearing to offer Isak an olive branch, the former Real Sociedad man has reportedly gone on strike in a bid to sign for Liverpool. Many Newcastle fans are appalled at his actions, as is Arsenal legend Ian Wright, but whether or not his agitation tactics secure that Anfield switch is up in the air. Incidentally, Newcastle are targeting Brentford's Yoane Wissa but also want another forward for the new season.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if Isak, who still has three years left on his contract at St James' Park, will stay at Newcastle when the transfer window closes in just over two weeks or if Liverpool will submit a huge offer to prise him away from the north east outfit.

The final whistle blows on Vitesse's 133-year legacy as a civil court upholds the KNVB's decision to permanently revoke their professional licence.

Vitesse’s professional licence revokedRuling marks culmination of years of mismanagementDecision leaves club's future and Arnhem community in jeopardyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In a final and devastating blow, Dutch football club Vitesse has permanently lost its professional licence. The Arnhem-based club had taken its last-ditch appeal to a civil court in Utrecht, arguing that a new ownership structure and financial guarantees should overturn the Royal Dutch Football Association's (KNVB) decision. However, the court ruled in favour of the KNVB, stating it had acted reasonably and within its rights. This ruling confirms a decision that has been building for months and effectively ends Vitesse's existence as a professional football entity.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Vitesse’s downfall was not a sudden event but the result of a long-standing pattern of financial and regulatory failures. For years, the club systematically "evaded" and "undermined" the KNVB's licensing system, repeatedly failing to provide complete and accurate documentation. The KNVB's independent licensing committee described this as a "multi-year pattern of deception, evasion, and undermining." This culminated in historic penalties, including a staggering 18-point deduction in one season and a further 39-point penalty in the next, which led to relegation and a bottom-place finish in the second division. These were the harshest sanctions ever imposed in Dutch professional football, reflecting the severe and persistent nature of the club’s violations.

DID YOU KNOW?

The roots of Vitesse's problems are deeply tied to a history of opaque ownership and questionable financial ties. For years, the club was secretly funded by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich through a complex network of offshore entities, a detail that was long denied and only uncovered through investigations. This shadowy financial backing, amounting to over €117m (£102m/$137m), created a major breach of transparency and licensing rules.

Subsequent ownership attempts only added to the turmoil. A potential takeover by American investor Coley Parry was rejected by the KNVB and his refusal to relinquish shareholding further complicated matters. Despite the late emergence of a local consortium, the "Sterkhouders," who presented a plan to save the club, the KNVB ruled their efforts came too late and were not sufficiently developed or transparent to save the club from the consequences of its past actions.

IMAGOWHAT NEXT FOR VITESSE?

With its professional licence revoked, the future of Vitesse is grim and uncertain. The club, which was founded in 1892, is now faced with the likely prospect of folding entirely or attempting to continue as an amateur team, a tragic end to its 133-year professional heritage. The impact of this decision extends far beyond the pitch. City officials and fans in Arnhem have expressed deep devastation, mourning the loss of a club that was a key part of the city's identity and social fabric.