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West Brom are “finalising” a move for a “tremendous” international defender in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim regarding their upcoming business.

Mason eyeing "positive future" at West Brom

Ryan Mason took charge at The Hawthorns earlier this summer, with the former Tottenham midfielder tasked with guiding the Baggies back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

The 34-year-old has certainly spoken well about what he hopes to see West Brom achieve under him, focusing on a “positive future” with plenty of success.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been appointed Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion. This is a huge club with a fantastic infrastructure and an incredible fan base and I am excited about what we can achieve together. Having spoken at length to the board and those at the club I am convinced that Albion is the perfect place for me to be and I can’t wait to get started. I will bring with me a huge amount of enthusiasm, dedication and ambition and look forward to a positive future together at such a fantastic club.”

Mason will know that new signings are required in order to aid their Championship promotion push in 2025/26 and have already brought in centre-back Nat Phillips and centre-forward Aune Heggeb. Now, they are closing in on a new international defender.

West Brom "finalising" move for centre-back

According to journalist Ben Jacobs on X, West Brom are now “finalising” a move for CF Montreal and USA centre-back George Campbell.

“George Campbell is finalising a move from Montreal to West Bromwich Albion. American centre-back left out of Montreal’s draw with Orlando yesterday ahead of formalising the transfer.”

Campbell could be an impressive signing by West Brom, even though some supporters may have reservations because he has never played in Europe before, only representing Montreal, Atalanta United and Atlanta United 2 in his club career.

Granted, that is a fair concern to have, but the 24-year-old is now a one-cap USA international who will hope to feature prominently at his home World Cup next summer, and Gonzalo Pineda has heaped praise on his abilities as a player.

"I can see a center back with tremendous potential. He’s a center back that is physically gifted. His aggression when he presses between the lines was fantastic today, so I was pleased with his performance before he scored the goal. He did a couple tackles on the ground, and we gained a couple important balls in transition that helped us to continue the attacking. I am very happy with his performance."smallRelatedWest Brom plot move to sign "fantastic" free agent Mason thinks will be keyHe played in the Champions League last season.Hopefully, Campbell takes to the English game seamlessly, assuming he does join West Brom, coming straight in as an influential starter who can inspire the Baggies back into the Premier League.

Mitchell Santner will captain a global event for the first time with the side playing a tri-series in Pakistan as a warm-up

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2025Fast bowlers Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke have been included in New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy alongside allrounder Nathan Smith.Sears, who was a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup last year, recently played his first game since April having returned in the Super Smash following injury and is in line for his ODI debut having played one Test and 17 T20Is. O’Rourke has impressed across formats early in his international career and has been especially eye-catching in Tests.Smith, meanwhile, will bring lower-order power with the bat and bustling seam bowling.Head coach Gary Stead said Sears had been in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy plans all along, with his pace through the air seen as a clinching factor on pitches in Pakistan.Related

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“We’ve been a little conservative in Ben’s return to play, but we always had an eye that we thought he would be part of this Champions Trophy squad,” Stead said. “He’s one of those guys, when you look at places like Pakistan, that pure speed is something that you’re looking for, and he certainly has that. A young tearaway is always nice to see, and very excited to have him in the squad.”Stead was confident Sears would hold up fine, match-fitness-wise, after his return from injury.”Ben’s been bowling a lot over the winter still,” he said. “He’s been in and around our Test squads before he had that injury, so we’re very confident that he will be where he needs to be.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

With Sears, O’Rourke and Smith included, there was no place in the main squad for Jacob Duffy, who is coming off a breakthrough season in international white-ball cricket.”It’s a tough decision,” Stead said. “Jacob Duffy has been probably the one that people would say is hard done by. He’s been very very good in what he’s played for us. I think the way to look at it, though, is that if some of these guys, perhaps like a Lockie Ferguson, were available, Jacob Duffy may not have got the opportunity, so for us it’s a real positive story that although Jake’s missed [out], it’s still positive that we’re growing that depth long-term for our team.”

Ferguson, Williamson and Conway face T20 league logjam

The same squad will take part in the ODI tri-series in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy, which will also feature South Africa. Duffy has been named on standby for that series, if Ferguson is not available for those games due to the ILT20. There will also be a tight turnaround for Kane Williamson and Devon Conway who are at the SA20.The final of the SA20 will be played on February 8, with the ILT20 decider the following day. New Zealand will play Pakistan on February 8 in their first game of the tri-series followed by South Africa on February 10. They then have a warm-up match against Afghanistan on February 16.Lockie Ferguson could miss a chunk of the Pakistan tri-series if he features in the ILT20 playoffs•AFP/Getty Images

Stead said New Zealand were looking to have Ferguson, Williamson and Conway play at least two matches – including the warm-up – to ready themselves for the Champions Trophy. “Those three guys, they’re world-class players for us. So Kane, Devon and Lockie will join our squad – they could be there at the very start of the tri-series, [or] it might be a couple of days later.”Mitchell Santner will lead New Zealand for the first time in a global event and will be able to lean on the experience of the likes of Williamson and Tom Latham.Mark Chapman and Will Young have earned spots while spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell has also been included.New Zealand will play the tournament opener against Pakistan in Karachi. Their second match is against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi before they travel to Dubai to face India.”We like to stick to the same team once we’ve picked it but it will probably be very conditions-dependent,” Santner said. “Karachi could play a lot different to Rawalpindi, and again in Dubai. With the short nature of the tournament, if you’re happy with your XI, you want them to be out there and perform for all three games. But we’re open to changes depending on conditions. You need to play your best team on what’s in front of you, and conditions will probably dictate it.”

New Zealand squad for Champions Trophy and Pakistan tri-series

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Laura Wolvaardt, Smitri Mandhana, and Katie Mack all play important innings to set up a good total

AAP19-Nov-2024

Adelaide Strikers put a severe dent in the WBBL finals hopes of the Perth Scorchers with a 30-run victory as Megan Schutt put on a masterclass.Strikers posted 169 for 6, with Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, and Katie Mack the chief contributors at Karen Rolton Oval. Scorchers slumped to 17 for 4 as Schutt ran through the top order, leaving their finals chances hanging precariously.With two games left, Scorchers remain in fifth spot with eight points and they trail fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes by a sizeable run rate difference.Strikers, champions of the past two tournaments, climbed from bottom of the ladder to seventh – they have six points but just one match remaining.Strikers were sent into bat openers Mandhana and Mack made an instant impact, taking 40 from the initial four overs. They reached 81 in the 10th over when Mandhana was caught at mid-off from the bowling of Sophie Devine, ending a knock featuring five fours and a six.Just eight balls later, Mack advanced down the pitch but was beaten by a perfectly flighted delivery from legspinner Alana King and was stumped.Wolvaardt soon took centre stage with her rapid-fire innings featuring three fours and three sixes – two from consecutive balls from Chloe Ainsworth.The South African was caught on the cover boundary with three balls remaining and King finished with another stumping on the last ball, giving her figures of 3 for 29.Scorchers’ run chase began terribly with Maddy Darke bowled by Schutt second ball. And in the third over, Schutt struck with consecutive deliveries, dismissing Dayalan Hemalatha and bowling Amy Edgar for a golden duck with a top-shelf inswinger, to boast figures of 3 for 6.Schutt was denied a hat-trick by Scorchers stalwart Beth Mooney, who fell in the next over for 6 as the Scorchers crashed to 17 for 4 from 3.3 overs. Skipper Devine and new signing Brooke Halliday rallied but the task was beyond them.

With Andrea Berta now Arsenal’s transfer chief, replacing Edu a few months ago, there is a different feel to the club’s transfer strategy this summer.

In fact, it’s quite a clever one really. Berta isn’t putting all of his eggs in one basket. Instead, he’s advancing a number of deals before concluding which would be the best one to proceed with.

If you believe reports, then the Gunners have held negotiations over deals for both RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres.

The latest on that is the Swede is now ‘dreaming’ of a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Alas, signing a striker isn’t Arsenal’s only priority over the transfer window. They also need a winger.

Arsenal's pursuit of a new winger this summer

This is a busy old time for Berta and if he can remodel Arsenal’s attack successfully, he will become a quick fan favourite in north London.

On the agenda on the flanks is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with Arsenal having reportedly held talks to bring the Brazilian to the Emirates.

If a move cannot be done there, they may well turn their attention to Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams again. The Spaniard, who scored in the Euro 2024 final last summer, caught the eye of the Gunners during that tournament but despite the winger’s release clause, did not look at doing a deal.

A year on, they could revisit their interest. That’s according to reports in Spain who claim that while Williams is hoping to stay in Iberia, where Barcelona are very much interested, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are also looking at the 22-year-old.

Williams ‘likes’ the idea of moving to Barca but Bayern and the Gunners are now ‘willing to meet’ his bargain £53m release clause. They are also willing to lodge a high salary offer in a bid to tempt him away from the clutches of the Camp Nou.

Why Williams could be Arsenal's answer to Florian Wirtz

In the opening ten days of the summer transfer window before it shut again due to the Club World Cup, it was all very much about Florian Wirtz.

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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 27, 2025

Liverpool have pulled no punches in their bid to capitalise on a title-winning season and they have done so by breaking a British transfer record.

Wirtz will arrive from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £116.5m. In the words of former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world,” but that doesn’t mean he can’t shine in other areas.

The German is predominantly a no.10, cut from the same cloth as a Mesut Ozil or Kevin De Bruyne, but he’s also very much capable of featuring from the flanks.

Aged just 22, coincidentally the same age as Williams, the Spaniard could be the Wirtz-like signing that Arsenal really need to kick on themselves.

If there was one area of weakness at Anfield this season, it was the no.10 role. Dominik Szoboszlai is certainly no mug, but his goalscoring ability has been questioned, notably finding the net just six times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25. Well, Arne Slot has already solved that problem; Wirtz bagged ten Bundesliga goals and beat the goalkeeper on 16 occasions in all competitions.

So, Arsenal now need to address their own weakness, and it’s on Williams’ left-hand side.

Bukayo Saka is always going to guarantee you output on the right and whatever you say about Mikel Arteta’s lack of a striker, Kai Havertz was on for a 20-goal season before his injury and Mikel Merino scored six in 12 outings as a centre-forward.

It’s the left flank where the biggest imbalance in quality has arguably been seen. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored eight goals apiece in the league this season.

Their biggest issue is consistency and to be fair, you may well argue that with Williams, too. The Spain international bagged 11 in all competitions with only five coming in LaLiga. Judging by that, you may well question where the upgrade is coming from.

The numbers below suggest Williams would certainly be a significant upgrade in some areas. He’s a better and more regular dribbler, while the sheer number of shot-creating actions suggests he could be an enormous threat in the Premier League.

Goals

0.23

0.28

0.31

Assists

0.23

0.25

0.16

Key passes

1.80

1.45

1.57

Progressive passes

3.11

3.57

2.05

Shot-creating actions

5.05

3.29

2.91

Goal-creating actions

0.59

0.28

0.28

Attempted take-ons

8.42

3.04

4.29

Successful take-ons

3.06

1.34

1.30

Progressive carries

5.32

2.83

4.88

Additionally, as he was described by Bilbao’s official channels, Williams is “one of the best wingers in the world”. He famously showcased that for Spain at Euro 2024, thriving in a much better team. He registered two goals and one assist in his six European Championship matches, while during the recent Nations League campaign, the young winger scored two goals in four games, also registering a solitary assist.

This is a player whose output could soar to new heights in a team like Arsenal. He’s already an “electric” talent in the words of content creator, Statman Dave, and given Arteta’s track record of improving young talent, Williams would surely thrive at Arsenal.

Like Wirtz at Anfield, the young Spaniard could solve one of the Gunners’ biggest problems in attack.

Transfer Focus

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

كشف سالم محمد سالم وكيل صلاح مصدق لاعب فريق الكرة بـ نادي الزمالك، حقيقة التقدم بشكوى ضد القلعة البيضاء بسبب المستحقات المالية المتأخرة لـ موكله.

وقال سالم محمد سالم في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة أون سبورت: “من المستحيل أن يتقدم بشكوى ضد الزمالك، من سابع المستحيلات، من يوم ما جاء ولا أحد يسمع صوته سواء شارك أو لا، الأزمة المالية التي يُعاني منها الزمالك تحدث في كل مكان في العالم”.

وأوضح: “هناك تفاهم بيننا وبين النادي، لم يُفكر صلاح مصدق ولا نحن في تقديم شكوى، ما يسري على باقي اللاعبين يسري عليه، هو رجل ملتزم ويعرف ظروف النادي ويُقدرها”.

وبسؤاله هل تم دفع مستحقات نادي نهضة الزمامرة؟، أجاب: “كان الاتفاق في يناير الماضي على دفع قسطين، تم دفع قسط، والقسط الثاني كان يستحق الدفع في شهر يونيو الماضي، ولكن من خلال علاقتنا برئيس نادي نهضة الزمامرة، حدث تفاهم قبل بداية الموسم إن القسط الثاني يُقسم على قسطين، وحدث تأخير في القسط الأول الذي كان يستحق في شهر أغسطس، وحدث تواصل مع رئيس النادي المغربي وتفهم أزمة الزمالك”.

وبسؤاله هل طلب نهضة الزمامرة عودة اللاعب مرة أخرى؟، أردف: “لا اللاعب كان لديه عرض من الوداد قبل كأس العالم للأندية الماضي، ولكن تم الاستقرار على بقائه في الزمالك”.

طالع.. خاص | تحرك عاجل من الزمالك لحل أزمة بنتايج وبيزيرا

وواصل: “أنا لم أتدخل في علاقة صلاح مصدق بـ فيريرا، صلاح لاعب كبير تربية أوروبا، ويعرف ما له وما عليه، سبق ولعب رقم 6 ولعب ظهير أيمن ومدافع، وقت ما يحتاجه الفريق يلعب، وهو من الشخصيات المؤدبة والملتزم بتدريباته”.

وأشار: “محمود بنتايج لاعب مؤدب ومحترم، ووكيله هو الذي أرسل إنذارا لنادي الزمالك، لكن بنتايج سيأتي بعائلته ويستقر في مصر، هو لاعب محترف وملتزم، وسيشارك مع منتخب المغربي للمحليين في كأس العرب”.

وأتم: “المغاربة كأندية ولاعبين قريبين منا، وعندهم نفس القصة، عندهم أزمات مالية ولذلك يقدرون ظروف الزمالك، وبالرغم من أنني لست وكيلًا لـ بنتايج ولكني استأذنت منه أن أقول إنه سيستقر بعائلته في مصر”.

لا ينفصل الجدل عن المدرب البرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو، كما هو الحال منذ بداية مسيرته التدريبية في البرتغال، ولم يتغير شيئاً منذ عودته لبنفيكا.

وقد اتضح ذلك في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقده جوزيه مورينيو قبل لقاء بورتو وبنفيكا مساء اليوم في الجولة الثامنة من الدوري البرتغالي لكرة القدم.

ويحتل بورتو صدارة ترتيب الدوري البرتغالي برصيد 21 نقطة خلال 7 مباريات، بينما يحتل بنفيكا المركز الثالث برصيد 17 نقطة.

ونشرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” أنه لم يكن الأمر هذه المرة مع منافس بل مع صحفي، حيث انزعج جوزيه مورينيو من سؤال حول راتبه الذي يتقاضاه مع بنفيكا بعد توليه مسؤولية الفريق.

اقرأ أيضاً.. بالدي: عانينا من خطئين تحكيميين أمام إشبيلية.. ولن نبحث عن أعذار

وقال الصحفي لمورينيو: “لم تأتي بسعر رخيص للنادي، لديك سيرة ذاتية تحسد عليها”، ليرد المدرب البرتغالي: “لماذا تجبر نفسك على ربط المباريات براتبي؟ كم راتبك، هل تريد أن تقول ذلك أم لا؟ حسناً، لن تقوله، إذن لا تتحدث عن الراتب”.

وأضاف: “تستمر في قول إنني إذا كنت غاليًا جدًا فأنا بخيل جدًا، وكم الراتب الذي أحصل عليه أو لا أحصل عليه”.

وفي تلك اللحظة أراد الصحفي تبرير سؤاله قائلًا: “لم أقل ذلك لأقلل من احترامك”، فرد مورينيو: “لا، أنت لا تقلل من احترامي لكن يبدو أنك فضولي للغاية لكي تريد معرفة كم أتقاضى من راتبي”.

da esport bet： Already focused on the summer transfer window, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly leading their charge to sign a Serie A midfielder in the coming months.

Emery focused on Tottenham game

da dobrowin： Whilst the Villans continue to build their summer plan around the action on the pitch, Unai Emery’s focus has not changed. Champions League qualification is still a possibility for his side, who have Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play as they wait for a potential slip up from those above them in the Premier League.

Emery will be well aware of just what’s at stake in the next couple weeks and reiterated the need for focus ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham game, telling reporters: “I am wishing to play. I don’t want holidays because we’re in a very good moment after a long season, but now we’re very, very motivated.

“Very excited to play at Villa Park tomorrow, for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. It’s not in our hands but we can have some options to play Champions League again. And focusing on Tottenham because I know the most difficult way we can have is our own way, playing against Tottenham tomorrow and how we can beat them.”

Related Aston Villa register formal interest in signing "dominant" contract rebel

Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

Aston Villa won’t need reminding what Champions League football can offer, either. They experienced moments that those at Villa Park will forever savour this season, with victory over Bayern Munich a particular standout. Now, however, they’ll be desperate to ensure that their place among Europe’s elite is not just a one off blip and, instead, a consistent feature of the competition.

Meanwhile, away from the action, Monchi is already thinking about the targets that could arrive with or without Champions League qualification.

Monchi leading Payero charge

According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now leading Aston Villa’s charge to sign Martin Payero from Udinese this summer. The sporting director is reportedly a huge admirer of the midfielder, which could yet see the Villans push on and secure his signature in the coming months. In terms of depth, there’s no doubt that the Argentine has plenty to offer.

League stats 24/25 per 90 (via FBref)

Martin Payero

Youri Tielemans

Minutes

1,381

2,997

Progressive Passes

3.33

7.03

Progressive Carries

2.16

1.17

Ball Recoveries

4.90

4.35

When assessing the numbers, it’s clear that Payero wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality in possession as Tielemans, but he would be able to complete the legwork that the Belgian arguably struggles with. And that could create quite the midfield combination for Emery.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the midfielder enjoys a foray into English football, either, having previously been at Middlesbrough. It was there that he earned the praise of former manager Neil Warnock.

The former manager told reporters when he unveiled the midfielder in 2021: “Martin will be a great addition to the squad. I think he will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

He showcased his ability to manipulate the field with his scoop but couldn’t quite get the chase against SA over the line

Matt Roller22-Jun-20241:44

Is powerplay bowling a worry for England?

Harry Brook’s first T20 World Cup half-century was not enough to get England over the line against South Africa. But it could yet prove the difference between them qualifying for the semi-finals or being eliminated: by ensuring their margin of defeat was only seven runs, it meant England are well placed to qualify if their group is decided on net run rate.Brook had to bide his time on a pitch that was slower than England anticipated, scoring 18 runs off his first 20 balls. But once he changed up a gear, he showcased his full potential as a middle-order T20 batter, manipulating the field at will and showing just how well he reads the game.Related

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With South Africa’s quicks bowling short of a good length, Aiden Markram gambled by keeping fine leg up. It is an unusual field to Brook given his proclivity to play the scoop, and in four balls across the end of the 15th and the start of the 16th over, he demonstrated why.First, he jumped across his stumps and flicked Kagiso Rabada’s offcutter past short fine leg. He worked the final ball of the over into the leg side to retain the strike, and Markram felt that the scoop was on with Anrich Nortje bowling. It meant Markram himself came up into the ring at mid-off.Brook sensed his moment and gave Nortje the charge, flat-batting him over Markram’s head after skipping down the pitch. He stayed leg-side for the follow-up, which he belted through extra cover — past Markram’s dive — for four more. The scoop was the key that unlocked the rest of the field.Harry Brook kept the England innings going even as they lost wickets at regular intervals•AFP/Getty Images

That is “absolutely” why Brook plays it, and why he considers it to be such a valuable weapon. “It only takes one or two to get away,” he said after England’s defeat. “I feel like it should be an easy boundary. I obviously missed a couple, but you only need to get a little bit of bat on it if it’s full.”It ended up being his downfall: with 14 to win off the final over, Brook lofted Nortje over mid-off only for Markram to take a superb catch after running back. “When the score [required] is double the amount of balls, it’s about time you need to try and put the foot down at that point,” he said. “We tried to push the accelerator. We did it well for a while, but couldn’t see the game home, unfortunately.”The equation for England heading into the final round of Super Eight games is relatively simple: any win against USA should be enough for them to get through, while a big win will guarantee their progress. “We’ve played quite a lot in Barbados over the last six months… hopefully we can go out there and give them a good battering,” Brook said.England have had a strange tournament, with wins against Oman, Namibia and West Indies, defeats to Australia and South Africa and a no-result against Scotland, but their path is laid out in front of them: three consecutive wins and they will become the first team to defend the men’s T20 World Cup.”We’re defending champs and hopefully we can go out there and win it again,” Brook said. “We’ve just got to keep on nailing it and obviously we’ve got another must-win few games now. We did that in the last World Cup. We did it in the last group stage. So who’s to say we can’t do it again?”

Hardik Pandya’s return to the Wankhede Stadium as Mumbai Indians captain was far from a fairy tale, as the five-time champions lost their third game in a row, this time with 27 balls to spare. Rajasthan Royals – led by superb performances from Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal and Riyan Parag – gave them a thorough hammering to move to No. 1 on the points table with a hat-trick of victories.Boult left Mumbai gasping within minutes of the start of the match when he dismissed Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir and Dewald Brevis for first-ball ducks in his first eight balls. His 3 for 22 was only matched by the 3 for 11 taken by Chahal, who controlled the middle overs to ensure Mumbai did not stage a batting comeback.Chasing 126 for victory, Parag dragged Royals out of some early trouble and shepherded the chase. He finished the game with six, six, and four to stay unbeaten on 54 to take the No. 1 spot on the orange cap leaderboard – tied on runs with Virat Kohli but ahead of strike rate.

Boult sets up the demolition job

Rohit had all the support from the crowd, who chanted his name even as they booed Hardik, but his time with the bat lasted only one ball when Boult got one to swing away from him and get him to edge it behind. Next ball, Boult swung it the other way, getting a full ball to nip into Dhir.With two wickets gone inside the game’s first six balls, Mumbai brought in impact sub Brevis in the second over itself, but he too fell prey to the ball angling across, edging it to Nandre Burger at short third.Trent Boult picked up three wickets in his first eight balls – par for the course•Associated Press

With three wickets in his first eight deliveries of the game, Boult gave Royals an advantage that they never let go.

Scintillating Chahal

After Boult’s searing opening spell, Burger got in on the action. Playing as a replacement for the injured Sandeep Sharma, Burger came around the wicket to pick off Ishan Kishan with a length ball that angled away and took his edge.With Mumbai Indians 20 for 4 in three-and-a-half overs, Tilak Varma and Hardik looked to build a recovery, almost succeeding with a 56-run fifth-wicket stand, but Chahal dismissed both batters to snuff out any chance of a comeback.After hitting six boundaries early in his innings, Hardik fell on 34 when he holed out at mid-on trying to hit Chahal. Tilak was sent packing on 32 soon after when Chahal’s googly was edged to R Ashwin at short third.Chahal finished his spell with the wicket of Gerald Coetzee late in the innings. In all, 16 of Chahal’s 24 deliveries were dots, and his four-over spell ended with an economy of only 2.75.A late wicket for Avesh Khan and a second for Burger ensured Mumbai finished on 125 for 9, a score too low on a surface that is traditionally batting-friendly.

Madhwal comes good on season debut

Only wickets could save Mumbai after that batting effort, and they played their trump card early when Jasprit Bumrah shared the new ball, with Kwena Maphaka, for the first time this season.But even though Bumrah bowled three of the six powerplay overs, the Royals batters did not give a wicket away to him. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to Maphaka in the first over itself, while the other three wickets went to Akash Madhwal, playing his first game of IPL 2024.Madhwal struck with the second ball of his spell when he got Sanju Samson to chop on to his stumps, and added a second when Jos Buttler pulled him to fine leg. He added a third later, in the 13th over, when Ashwin sent a leading edge off a short delivery to point. Madhwal was the standout bowler for Mumbai Indians with 3 for 20.Riyan Parag scored another half-century, and claimed the orange cap•BCCI

Parag’s form continues

Parag walked in ranked No. 5 on the orange cap list and finished the day with the cap on his head. With no real scoreboard pressure on this occasion, No. 4 Parag played risk-free cricket early on, but tore into Coetzee with four fours and two sixes.It all started with back-to-back boundaries off Coetzee in the eighth over, followed by another lofted four over the covers in the 11th. He then smoked Bumrah through mid-off in the 14th over before depositing Piyush Chawla over long-on in the 15th.Parag then put the finishing touches on the result by hammering Coetzee for 16 runs off the first three balls of the 16th over. The first ball went for a clubbed six over the covers, and he reached his fifty next ball with a slog over midwicket. The winning runs came over wicketkeeper Kishan’s head and sent Royals and Mumbai Indians to opposite ends of the points table.

Milos Kerkez is reportedly set to complete his medical ahead of a Bournemouth to Liverpool transfer.

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Kerkez long-term Liverpool targetsBournemouth ace set for medicalDate for transfer move revealedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Athletic, Bournemouth left-back Kerkez is flying into the United Kingdom from Belgrade, Serbia, on Monday (June 23) to complete a medical, before sealing the transfer on Tuesday (June 24).

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 21-year-old is nearing a £40 million ($54m) switch to Liverpool, with the Hungarian international expected to secure a five-year deal. If he signs, this will be the Reds' fourth deal of the summer after the statement recruits of Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, along with Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akademia.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kerkez joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar for around £15.5m ($20m) in July 2023 and went on to make 67 appearances in all competitions. This season, the defender helped the Cherries finish ninth and scored six goals and added two assists.

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If Kerkez completes this Liverpool transfer, he is likely to compete with left-back Andrew Robertson and Konstantinos Tsimikas in Arne Slot's starting XI next season as the Reds try to retain their Premier League title.