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Looking to rebuild an ageing midfield, Manchester City have now reportedly made contact to sign a Serie A star with sporting director Hugo Viana hoping to secure his signature this summer.

Man City set to kick-start summer rebuild

The Premier League already received a glimpse of what Manchester City’s rebuild may look like in the January transfer window when the Citizens welcomed the likes of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov. Now, six months on, the Manchester club could seriously step things up. With a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast.

Names such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz have both been mentioned, with a move for the former looking particularly likely to take place when the summer arrives. Following an excellent season at Nottingham Forest, the midfield star has earned the attraction of those at The Etihad, who are primed to make their move in the coming months.

If there were any doubts that Manchester City needed a rebuild, then their recent 0-0 draw against relegated Southampton should have acted as a timely reminder. The Saints were on course to match Derby County’s record low points tally in the Premier League before the most unexpected point saw them avoid embarrassment.

After a frustrating afternoon, City boss Pep Guardiola went against Ruben Dias’ criticism of Southampton’s defensive approach, telling reporters: “They can do whatever they want.

Big Nunes upgrade: Man City considering move for "outstanding" £40m star

Manchester City are in the market to sign a new right-back this summer, to replace Matheus Nunes, with an “outstanding” PL star “under consideration”.

By
Ben Gray

May 13, 2025

“For many years here, we faced teams in different approaches, and they decided they have to play. It’s on us to break them. In those terms, many times teams have played five in the back or six and the striker has gone on our holding midfielder and there’s no space, it’s difficult.

“You have to break it, and we had the chances. When you review the chances for nothing, we could not score and it happened. Now we prepare the [FA Cup] final and now it is next time and Fulham.”

Man City open talks to sign Reijnders

Away from their frustration on the pitch, meanwhile, the Citizens have pushed on with their summer rebuild. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester City have now made contact to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and whilst there is yet to be a formal offer, talks have begun and Viana is hoping to get a deal done this summer.

It would certainly be a statement opening for the new sporting director to sign such a talent, especially if Manchester City then go on and rebuild their midfield even further with the likes of Gibbs-White and Wirtz. In three swift moves, Guardiola’s side could be back to their dominant best.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Tijjani Reijnders	Ilkay Gundogan	Kevin de Bruyne
Minutes	2,948	2,050	1,628
Goals	10	0	4
Assists	4	5	7
Ball Recoveries	110	105	63

Once dubbed an “immense” signing for AC Milan by U23 scout Antonio Mango, all signs are pointing towards Reijnders becoming equally impressive if he decides to join Manchester City this summer. In a summer of change at The Etihad, the Dutchman could be the start of a much-needed midfield rebuild.

Leeds United picked up an invaluable three points on Tuesday night away from home after a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough. It was never going to be an easy outing for Daniel Farke’s side, with Boro pushing for a playoff spot themselves.

The visitors scored the first, and only, goal of the game in just the second minute. Winger Daniel James was the goalscorer, darting into the box to get on the end of a low cross from loanee Manor Solomon.

It wasn’t the cleanest of finishes from the Welshman, but it was effective and somehow ended up in the back of the net.

Despite the scoreline, it should have been 3-0 to Leeds, although through no fault of their own. They had two goals wrongly ruled out for offside, with Ao Tanaka’s first-half strike getting chalked off and Patrick Bamford suffering the same fate in the second period.

Both players were onside, and both goals should have stood.

Regardless, the Whites held on for a crucial three points, which has swung momentum back their way in the race for automatic promotion. With Sheffield United losing at home to Milwall and Burnley drawing away to Derby County, Leeds are now top of the table again on goal difference.

There were some standout Leeds players in the important win over Boro on Tuesday,

Leeds' best players vs. Middlesborough

On a huge night for Leeds, it needed their most important players to stand up for the count. Well, one of those, Ethan Ampadu, did just that. The Whites’ skipper was excellent at the heart of their defence, continually progressing play forwards throughout the game.

In fact, Isaac Johnson, Leeds reporter for Leeds Live, was very complimentary of the Welshman at full time. He gave Ampadu a 9/10 for his efforts, describing his performance against Boro as a “proper captain’s showing”.

Ampadu was not the only Leeds player who stood out. At the other end of the pitch, it was an eye-catching display from attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who looked in much better form than he has shown in recent weeks.

The United States international also received a strong post-match rating from Johnson, who gave Aaronson an 8/10 for his performance at the Riverside Stadium. The journalist said he made some “very neat touches” and that he “took on his man efficiently”.

So, it was certainly a good night at the office for the likes of Ampadu and Aaronson, who helped their side secure a vital three points. However, there were a couple of players who struggled.

Chalkboard

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

The Leeds midfielders who struggled

Despite the victory, there were times when Leeds lacked control in the middle of the park. Their pivot, made up of Tanaka and Ilia Gruev, did struggle to impart control on the game. The pair received 5/10 ratings at the end of the game from Leeds Live.

Indeed, their stats on Sofascore from the clash at the Riverside reflect those ratings. For example, Tanaka had 51 touches of the ball but lost possession seven times, and Gruev had 70 touches and lost the ball six times.

Tanaka and Gruev key stats vs. Boro
Stat	Tanaka	Gruev
Touches	51	70
Passes completed	33/39	57/61
Duels won	5/9	3/4
Number of times ball lost	7	6
Tackles and interceptions	3	3
Stats from Sofascore

Leeds have struggled for fluency at times this season, and it doesn’t feel like on-pitch relationships have fully developed. There have been occasions where Aaronson and Joel Piroe, for example, have struggled to get the best out of each other. Indeed, the latter has now gone seven games without finding the net.

Well, while Tanaka has been one of the signings of the seasons, his partnership with Gruev doesn’t feel like the best for Farke in the back end of the season.

The pair, who earn £40k per week between them, have only played 14 times together, for a total of 644 minutes. They have only played a full 90 minutes as a pairing on three occasions, in which they are unbeaten, but if you contrast those numbers with Joe Rothwell, for instance, it’s safe to say that pairing is more effective.

They have played 31 times as a midfield combination and only lost on two occasions in which they have started alongside each other.

With the race for automatic promotion set to go down to the wire for Leeds this term, perhaps Farke will not want to take the risk of playing Gruev alongside Tanaka again, given they seem to lack synergy.

It is crunch time for the Yorkshire outfit. Perhaps starting a pivot who have not played much with each other is a risk that is too big to take at this stage of the season. There is no doubting Tanaka and Gruev as individual players, but as a pairing, Leeds have better options.

26 touches, 10 passes: Farke must drop Leeds dud after 2/10 display

Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough last night.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 9, 2025

As new sporting director Hugo Viana looks to make his mark, Manchester City are now reportedly battling Chelsea to sign a 6 foot 8 goalkeeper who could replace Ederson this summer.

Man City racing to sign Ederson replacement

It’s set to be a summer of change at Manchester City as the Citizens look to make their way back to the top of English football following a disastrous campaign. As things stand, Pep Guardiola’s side remain on course to take the new Champions League place in fifth, but Erling Haaland’s injury is more than likely to throw a spanner in the works for the remainder of the season.

Following yet more injury news, those at the Etihad will simply be desperate to see their campaign come to an end before turning their attention towards a much-needed overhaul.

It’s then that Ederson could be replaced, with just over a year left on his current deal and reports suggesting that he could be among those shown the door this summer. If that is to be the case, then Viana could instantly welcome a fresh option between the sticks.

Man City now willing to grant Pep request to go for £190k-p/w Arsenal star

This would be among the moves of the summer…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 1, 2025

According to Calciomercato, Manchester City are now battling to sign Vanja Milinkovic-Savic ahead of Chelsea this summer. The Torino man reportedly has a release clause worth just €20m (£17m) and a fan in City sporting director Viana, who could welcome the first signing of a new era by securing the 28-year-old’s signature.

Standing at a staggering 6’8, Milinkovic-Savic could replace Ederson and hand City one of the most imposing goalkeepers in the Premier League.

"Unbeatable" Milinkovic-Savic is better shot-stopper than Ederson

Whilst there may be some that are concerned over Milinkovic-Savic’s age, the Serbian international is at the peak of his powers at 28 years old and could yet follow the familiar role of goalkeepers maintaining their place at the top well into their 30s. If he does do exactly that then City would be wise to secure their deal as soon as this summer.

Clean Sheets

9

5

Save Percentage

77.5%

69.6%

Saves

104

47

Pass Completion

66.9%

87%

A level above Ederson in the shot-stopping department, Milinkovic-Savic certainly has the foundations to become a No.1 around Europe’s top sides, albeit whilst needing to work on his ball-playing ability.

Described as “unbeatable” by Opta Paolo after saving his fourth penalty of the season in February, the 28-year-old will be one to watch this summer if he decides to leave Torino.

With Chelsea also reportedly interested, Manchester City will hope to get one over on their Premier League rivals by swooping in and landing their own goalkeeping upgrade, replacing Ederson by doing so.

England happy to take lessons of hard toil after largely fruitless day at Trent Bridge

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Jul-2024It was always likely to come from the Fox Road Stand, where Trent Bridge tends to accommodate its more raucous patrons. These are where the beer snakes are conceived, and it was from this environment that a familiar tune emanated. At around 4.25pm on Friday, we had our first rendition of “Oh Jimmy Jimmy” in a post-Anderson world.West Indies were 243 for 3, and building. Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge were marching along confidently having brought up the team’s first 150-plus stand in over a year. The creep towards parity was turning into a jaunt. And the toil for the hosts, in 30-degree heat, with a Dukes not playing ball, was very real. In many ways, it was the perfect preparation for an Ashes tour.Were these the melodic afternoon cries of discontent from the (well-sauced) public? Probably not, given how quickly they shifted to “Well, I’ve never seen a pirate down a pint”.At the time, the man himself – Jimmy, not the pirate – was perched on the balcony of the Executive Members Suite. A bowling-mentor-over-the-shoulder view of Ben Stokes running in from the end now bearing Stuart Broad’s name. Fifteen minutes later, Stokes dismissed Athanaze to finally break the fourth-wicket partnership.England would go on to get another, as Woakes dismissed Hodge for a rich maiden century. But with just five batters seen off on day two of this second Test, it ranked as England’s third-least productive day’s play at Trent Bridge, set alongside the third-most runs they’ve conceded in a day anywhere, since 2011.Related

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The two spectres watching from on high had their Trent Bridge averages of 19.23 (Anderson) and 25.06 (Broad) flashing above their halos. Broad even quipped off-mic that their absence was clear upon finding out the opening five overs had showcased the least amount of new-ball swing in a decade. Nasser Hussain sold Broad down the river by relaying the remark to Sky Cricket viewers, but it was instructive to hear the half of the duo who went willingly speak so bluntly.As England showed by tripping over themselves on day one and still making it to 416, this was a good batting deck. Combined with conditions and a West Indies batting card keen to make amends after a dismal showing at Lord’s, maybe it was no surprise that the growing pains of moving beyond Anderson and Broad would be evident on the first day without either to call upon.And yet, on a day when the rest of the new world was struck down, with flights grounded and computers frazzling (including, briefly, Sky Sports’ feed), England were able to move on. At times uncertainly, but often with clear plans and never without enthusiasm.Chris Woakes was unable to find a helpful amount of swing with the new ball. So Gus Atkinson, opening the bowling for the fourth time in a competitive first-class match, lent on the cross-seamers that helped him pocket 12 in the first Test to find an edge.With West Indies openers set, the introduction of Mark Wood as first-change ramped up the intensity. An opening four-over spell in which overs three and two now rank as the first and second fastest delivered by an Englishman at home sent shockwaves throughout the away dressing-room.Mark Wood beat the bat regularly but went wicketless•AFP/Getty ImagesEach delivery followed a familiar routine: spectators shuffling to the edge of their seats, eyes bulging as the ball rocketed through before gasping at the speeds displayed on the big screens. Not one was under 90mph, with the fastest at 97.1mph even drawing hoots and hollers from those on the field.Had Joe Root held onto a chance at slip, not only would England have dismissed Hodge for 105 less than he eventually scored. West Indies would have been 140 for 4, and Wood would have had more to show for four gut-busting spells than just cramp in his left hamstring that forced him off the field after one ball of his 15th over. All in all, he elicited 19 plays and misses.Shoaib Bashir was gifted his first two home Test wickets, though could have had a more aesthetic dismissal in there – Kirk McKenzie, LBW for nought – had England decided to review. A 17-over spell at the Radcliffe Road End gave those unfamiliar with the off-spinner’s work an indication of why England left India so impressed with his endurance and pluck.The short-ball ploy, something of a staple of the McCullum era, was a success, even if there was only a solitary wicket to show for it with Atkinson’s removal of a settled Kraigg Brathwaite. The shelled edge from Hodge was the result of the right-hander hanging on the back foot. Athanaze, similarly, was pinned on the badge of his helmet trying to avoid Wood rather than take him on.Even Woakes, down on pace and still searching for his usual nip off the surface, returned at the dregs and was able to summon some troubling movement to beat both edges of Jason Holder’s bat. A third ball-change erred in the 35-year-old’s favour, this one finally offering some lateral movement, before it was discarded for a brand-new one for the final over of the day.As play wound down, the crowd were very much on side, conducted by Root at first slip with slow claps and encouraging waves to raise the volume. Holder and Joshua Da Silva were able to water down the merriment with an unbeaten 46 between them through to close. But England walked off satisfied – not so much for enduring the toil but glad they endured it.”I think you’ve got to go through different experiences, different periods of play,” assistant coach Paul Collingwood mused at stumps. “We didn’t expect to blow them away again, we knew they’d fight back.”You’ve got to go through periods where you’ve got to come up with different plans, trying to take 20 wickets to win the game. The experience will be really good for Gus, for Bash. There’s plenty of talent around, having these experiences will hold everyone in good stead for years to come.”Leading by just 65, with four wickets still to get, England still have plenty to do in this Test. What learnings from today will only count for something if they can build on it over the coming days.

What exactly was said, we’ll never know but Kohli didn’t awaken a beast – he’s been up for a while

Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Jul-20225:48

#PoliteEnquiries: Is Kohli allowed to sledge Bairstow?

The easiest excuse – indeed the best for Search Engine Optimisation purposes – is to blame Virat Kohli.Jonny Bairstow was just 13 from 61 deliveries, with only a single four to his name. He’d survived an lbw appeal from Jasprit Bumrah, and had just about made it through a stern examination from Mohammed Shami, who beat both edges of Bairstow’s bat five times up to that point. England’s hero of the summer so far was in desperate need of rescuing.And then Kohli decided to engage Bairstow. What exactly was said, we’ll never know. But there he was, personifying India’s bolshiness at the time, with the Dukes ball doing just as much baiting of the opposing batters as the former captain. Bairstow boomed a drive at the next delivery, missing completely. Kohli bellowed with laughter. Then Bairstow struck 93 off his next 79 deliveries and moved onto his 11th Test hundred.Kohli, however, did not awaken a beast. “There was literally nothing to it,” said Bairstow with a smile in his press conference at stumps.Besides, the beast has been up for a while. And no longer is it fuelled by antagonism. New Zealand didn’t say a word to Bairstow and look what happened to them.Related

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Test century No. 5 of 2022 means Bairstow is well on course to beat the English record of six in a calendar year, with an innings to come here, three Tests against South Africa before the summer is over, then a couple of Tests in Pakistan in December. Joe Root equalled that record only last year, and no one in their right minds would have thought it would be under threat so soon. We’ve only just got into July.Weird as it feels to say when someone blitzes the last 87 runs of their 100 from 58 balls, but this was pretty regulation by Bairstow’s new standards. Shami and Bumrah were tonked down the ground, and by the time Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj came on, the Jonny Eyes were in. Both were taken for six deep into the leg side in among the fours flicked off the pads and slapped straight or driven square. The boundary that took him over the line, a punch to the cover-point boundary, was more of timing than malice, and still beat the fielder to the sponge.You’d think after three hundreds in the last 20 days, in which time he has scored 8.96% of all his Test runs, we’d have a better answer than “clarity” when asked to explain this absurd hot streak. But that’s exactly it.”I’ve never been a great technician, have I?” he joked. “That’s why you lot have torn me to shreds a few times: going leg side of it, going off side of it, bowled through the gate. Nah, genuinely, I’ve not really thought of technique and stuff like that to be honest with you. I’ve just stripped everything back and trying to focus on watching the ball. There’s my honest answer.”The result is a man batting in a way that is uniquely him. If Root is the poster boy of conforming, perfecting the side on, straight lines of this world, then Bairstow is the radical who is thriving by being himself. No longer is he hamstrung by the need to make all the necessary shapes to fit in. He’s simply trusting his eyes and hands, in turn making believers of countless doubters who had made their minds up on him after, in their defence, averaging 21 in 18 Tests between the start of 2019 and the end of 2021, while he was still trying to do an impression of a Test cricketer.Jonny Bairstow scored his fifth Test century of 2022•Getty ImagesWe should also note, it hasn’t just been brute thrashing, regardless of what a breakdown of his 485 runs so far this summer suggest. The strike rate is 110, and 67% of his runs have come in boundaries (75 in total, 12 of them sixes), with one every 5.9 deliveries. But only four of those have been what you might term “loose”, meaning even at his most aggressive, the likelihood of him going for a big shot and nailing it exactly where he wants is 94.7%. Of the 44 batters who have hit 50 or more to the fence in an English summer, no one has exhibited more control.The other conclusion to take from all of this is that “Bazball” is nothing without Bairstow. In fact, had he not batted as he did at Trent Bridge, blitzing 136 from 92 to see England most of the way to a chase of 299 from 50 overs, “Bazball” might not even be a thing. The broader concept of getting players to express themselves and play for enjoyment and entertainment might still be there, but the scale of belief, the sense of altruism and the fearlessness would not. All of which has come almost exclusively from Bairstow.On Sunday, we perhaps got our clearest indication he can only do so much to carry the team, and that his clear thinking isn’t quite catching on. Root’s tame demise for 31 on the evening of day two, edging behind when trying to cut Siraj when the ball was too close, was compounded by captain Ben Stokes slapping Thakur to Bumrah at mid off. Having been dropped twice, including the ball before by the Indian skipper, Stokes offered an immediate chance to make amends. England were eventually 284 all out and trail India by 257 going into day four, with seven second-innings wickets still to be taken.For all the excitement of Stokes’ charges down the wicket and Root’s reverse lap sweeps, their method carries a freneticism that Bairstow’s does not. They are both more than capable of pumping up the run rate and moving games along, as they’ve shown in previous eras, without needing to take the kind of risks they are. No need to chug – just sip the Kool-Aid.”Whatever they set, they set, and we’ll go about it whatever,” announced Bairstow, reading straight from the pamphlet. “We’ll be going about it in the same manner and we’re looking to take the game forward. Why not?”We know he will. The question is – who else is going to join him?

The allrounder overcame injuries and mental-health issues to end up with a T20 World Cup winner’s medal

Annesha Ghosh20-Mar-2020Soon after touching down at Melbourne airport a fortnight ago, Australia allrounder Sophie Molineux told reporters she hoped to make the most of pop star Katy Perry’s presence at the MCG for the T20 World Cup final. “Hopefully, I am dancing with her at the end,” she said a day after taking the key wicket of South Africa opener Lizelle Lee in Australia’s thrilling semi-final win at the SCG.Twenty-two-year-old Molineux got what she wished for, leading her team-mates down a runway at the MCG and dancing with Perry after Australia beat India in the final and won their fifth T20 World Cup.

That’s how you celebrate a win. pic.twitter.com/vEUsUTINZ1

— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) March 8, 2020

But it was almost a miracle that her World Cup campaign ended on so bright a note, given the trajectory of her career over the past 12 months.In March last year, Molineux, a left-arm spin-bowling allrounder underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder she suffered while training with her state side, Victoria. She made her way back into the Australian team over the next six months, with a superlative Test debut in the Ashes in England, but then missed the tour of the Caribbean and the home series against Sri Lanka as she entered an extended period of recovery.Having overcome the injury-related setbacks, she decided to take a break in the middle of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) last November to focus on her mental health, which made the prospect of her inclusion in the World Cup squad far from likely. Molineux admitted she is fortunate things took a turn for the better.”It’s been a pretty funny few months. I think I am really lucky because the World Cup was definitely not on my mind back then,” she told ESPNcricinfo. “There’s never going to be a perfect time to take a break, especially when you’re in professional sport. There’s always going to be some cricket coming up. I was playing Big Bash at that time, but I knew I had to do it. I knew there was a World Cup coming up, but whether I would be there, I wasn’t really sure. So I wasn’t going to spend time worrying about that because it was far too out of my control.”But looking back, to have been able to play the World Cup and then win it is pretty cool. [That] Sunday night was special. To be able to run out in front of 90,000 people, to do that with ten of your best team-mates, lift the World Cup… it has all been pretty special and still feels quite surreal.”But that’s what sport is all about, isn’t it? The highs and the lows… And winning the World Cup at the MCG was certainly a high.”Her decision to step away from the game came around the same time as a raft of withdrawals from the men’s senior and A sides. The Victorian trio of Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Will Pucovski took breaks from their cricketing commitments to deal with mental-health challenges, and the summer before, Molineux’s Australia team-mate Nicole Bolton had stepped away from cricket due to her own mental-health issues.

“There’s never going to be a perfect time to take a break, especially when you’re into professional sport; there’s always going to be some cricket coming up. I was playing Big Bash at that time, but I knew I had to do it”Molineux on her break due to mental-health issues

That Molineux found it relatively smooth to ease back into the national side, she said, was down to Cricket Australia’s support and an ecosystem that encourages players to monitor and, as recent evidence testifies, open up about their mental-health concerns. Australian players, besides discussing their state of mind with coaches, medical staff and team psychologists, have the option of reporting problems or spiralling feelings using the wellness apps used to track their physical and mental well-being.”It’s sort of funny that I took the break when I did,” Molineux said. “You take such breaks focusing on the needs of the immediate present without thinking much about the future. You try and stay in the present and work through each day, each week. And it’s important you have the right people around you in such times.”The support I got at the time from Motty [head coach Matthew Mott] and Meg [Lanning, the captain], and everyone from Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria, my team-mates, my family… after such highs in your career, when you look back, you tend to realise and appreciate even more what having someone’s back at such moments can do. [Through] that period I realised how lucky I was to have that support around me, and really, Cricket Australia and our support staff have been amazing.”Just before this year’s World Cup, though, Molineux found herself pegged back once again. She sustained a thigh injury during the last stretch of the home tri-series involving England and India in early February, and while she was named in the World Cup squad, she hurt her other thigh too in the meantime and was sidelined till the last league game of the world tournament.”She had two corked thighs for this World Cup,” Mott told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of the team’s celebrations in Federation Square in Melbourne the morning after Australia thumped India in the final. “There is a bit of dispute on how she actually got the second one. I think she actually landed on the square again. It is a bit of a mystery [even now].”Credit to our medical team, though. Honestly, I thought she was pretty much done for the tournament. The scan I saw looked horrific – there was a lot of blood around her leg, and we just thought there was absolutely no chance of getting her back out there, but they kept the faith, kept her around…”That Molineux slotted straight back into the XI upon recovering just in time for the knockouts was down in part to a tournament-ending hamstring injury to Australia’s premier allrounder, Ellyse Perry, ahead of the semi-finals. The wicket of Lee in her first over in the semi-final would mark the beginning of Molineux’s first home World Cup. Two nights later she would get opener Smriti Mandhana with her first delivery in the final.”As soon as she took that first wicket in the final, I think everyone just went, ‘You beauty!'” Mott said. “You don’t like taking injured players into big matches, but I definitely think that was a big part of it, trying to get her up for that game. Obviously you lose Ellyse Perry, but you add another world-class allrounder in there.Mott said the team management wasn’t confident they would be able to get Molineux up for the semi-final, and that even if they did, it might have been just that one game they would “get out of her” given the protracted recovery. “But we needed it,” Mott conceded.It wasn’t until 9.30 on the morning of the final that Molineux would be declared fit. To see her dealing India a telling blow, winning the World Cup and capping off a roller-coaster ride of a season dancing to the other Perry’s chartbusters on stage was incredible to him.”It was touch and go right to the 11th hour,” Mott said. “When you see her dancing that night you find that hard to believe!”

Bavuma and Esterhuizen also struck half-centuries in what was the sixth-highest successful chase in India

Shashank Kishore09-Nov-2025Connor Esterhuizen showcased his impressive game against spin in a bludgeoning 52 not out that helped South Africa A beat fading light to chase down 417 five wickets in hand against India A at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. This was the highest fourth-innings chase in a first-class game in India since 2016, and the sixth-highest ever in the country.Esterhuizen’s innings comprised eight fours and a six, as he helped South Africa A convert a tricky chase in the final hour into a cruise. His unbroken sixth-wicket partnership with Tiaan van Vuuren was worth 65 off just 52 balls.While Esterhuizen delivered the knockout blow to India A, the chase was set up by Lesego Senokwane and Jordan Hermann. The openers put on 156, much of it during the course of a wicketless morning session where they took the attack to Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.Even Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t spared, but it also helped South Africa A that he was far from his best on a surface that didn’t aid spin as much as he would have hoped for. With the surface showing no signs of breaking down, Kuldeep hardly found turn and was easily picked off as Senokwane and Hermann didn’t allow him to settle. When he went full, he was imperiously driven. When he bowled shorter, the turn was so slow that it gave batters enough time to play him comfortably off the back foot.Hermann did the early running when he hammered an off-colour Akash Deep for four boundaries – an off-drive, two cover drives, and a square drive behind point. He soon got to his half-century, off 73 deliveries. India A’s frustration stemmed from the edges not carrying. The lateral movement that was there on the first two days and a bit also went missing.Jordan Hermann scored 91•PTI Senokwane soon followed suit, albeit sedately, getting to his half-century off 113 deliveries. Having played cautiously against the fast bowlers, he was severe on left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, whom he welcomed with a superb slog sweep. Hermann was equally punishing, using the paddle sweep as Dubey struggled to vary his pace – he was guilty of bowling too quickly.Hermann had a slice of luck on 66 when a rip-roaring bouncer that rushed him for pace lobbed off the glove only to land behind Rishabh Pant as he ran backwards. But even half-chances like those were far and few in between.Prasidh provided the breakthrough when Hermann smashed a full toss back towards the bowler. Fortunately for India A, it got stuck in Prasidh’s hand and Hermann had to walk back for 91. The wicket briefly fired India A’s seamers, Siraj, in particular, as he delivered a telling spell in the afternoon, beating Senokwane a handful of times and then exchanging some words with him.All that seemed to have affected Senokwane as he was lulled into a sweep that he missed and was lbw to Dubey on 77. This brought Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma to the crease – the only two batters from this squad to feature in the Test squad – and they added 107 for the third wicket to bring the target in the double digits.Having bagged a first-ball duck in the first innings, Bavuma was more sedate and copybook in his approach; Hamza was a bit more enterprising and looked to take the bowlers on from the get-go to make a push for the target.In between, India A had a scare when Siraj hurt himself trying to stop the ball at mid-off and immediately rushed off the field for treatment. Pant too didn’t keep for two sessions with Jurel taking over the gloves. It was established much later that the decision to take Pant off the field was keeping in mind the workload he has had over the past two games – with both bat and gloves.Hamza fell when he got an inside edge onto the stumps off Prasidh, and Bavuma fell soon after. India A had an opening with the visitors needing 89 when Marques Ackerman was bounced out by Siraj, only for replays to confirm the bowler had overstepped. Ackerman was eventually caught behind for 24 to bring Esterhuizen to the crease. The mood of the game changed considerably thereafter as he took the attack to Kuldeep and Dubey to seal victory in fading light.

Three squad members released for day-night match in Canberra, but first XI head direct to Brisbane

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Nov-20252:13

Stokes defends attacking approach after batting collapse

Just three of England’s men’s Ashes squad will join the Lions to play in the Prime Minster’s XI fixture in Canberra, with only Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue dropping in for the two-day match which begins on Saturday.The trio were unused for the first Test in Perth, with Bethell and Potts playing for the Lions against a Cricket Australia XI, which ran parallel to the Ashes opener. Both matches started on Friday, but the match at Lilac Hill ended up running twice as long. However, it concluded on Monday with an identical result; a dominant eight-wicket win by the home team, led by a glitzy century from Josh Inglis, opening the batting in the Travis Head role.That England are not sending their ‘starters’ to Canberra will draw scorn, with many pundits already critical of their anticipated absence even before Monday’s confirmation.Related

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As well as offering them more cricket after the opening Test lasted just two days, the day-night fixture would have given them invaluable experience ahead of the the pink-ball Test match at the Gabba, which begins on December 4. England do not have a great day-night record, losing five out of seven, including two on the previous Ashes tour. Australia, meanwhile, have won 13 out of 14 under lights.”It’s amateurish if they don’t go and play now,” Michael Vaughan, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain, said. “What harm is playing two days of cricket with a pink ball under lights?”It’s not being old-school to suggest that a pink ball is different to a red ball. Playing under the lights is different. Australia have won pretty much every pink-ball game in Australia: they’ve lost once. I’m not too old-school to suggest that they should play in that game… I’d like to know why they wouldn’t.”Both Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum espoused the value of keeping the squad together after Saturday’s chastening conclusion to the first Test, both to isolate them from the outside noise and maintain spirits. That they are sticking to their guns is no surprise.The main squad will travel from Perth to Brisbane on Wednesday, and will begin training at the Gabba this weekend. The Lions, along with Bethell, Potts and Tongue, head to Canberra on Tuesday.

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O Palmeiras enfrenta o São Paulo neste domingo (3), no Estádio do Morumbis, em jogo válido pela 11ª rodada do Paulistão 2024.

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Se a casa tricolor gerou muitas derrotas para o Palmeiras neste Século XXI, nos últimos anos Abel Ferreira conseguiu reverter a lógica e somar importantes pontos no Morumbi.

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Para um clube que ficou mais de 15 anos sem vencer o rival no Morumbis entre 2002 e 2018, já são três vitórias nas últimas duas temporadas. Uma pela primeira fase do Paulistão (2022) e duas pelo Brasileirão (2022 e 2023).

Com casa cheia, o São Paulo sempre dificulta a vida do time de Abel Ferreira, que agora busca a revanche do vice da Supercopa, um mês atrás, em Belo Horizonte.

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Mesmo já classificado em primeiro de seu grupo, o Palmeiras sabe o peso do clássico e deve ir com o time completo para tentar atrapalhar o rival que ainda não garantiu a sua vaga na fase final do Estadual.

O provável Palmeiras para encarar o São Paulo é: Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Murilo, Luan e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Rios, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Endrick e Flaco López.

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A bola rola para São Paulo x Palmeiras neste domingo (3), a partir das 20h (horário de Brasília), e o jogo terá transmissão da TNT/ HBO Max.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has now reportedly been handed a huge boost after some contract news out of the Emirates Stadium.

Ever since Andrea Berta’s arrival in north London, the sporting director has rushed to secure the long-term futures of Arteta’s most important players.

Several extensions have already been announced, and crucial talks remain ongoing with star performers like Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes both committed with long-term extensions running until 2030 earlier this year, with the pair also said to have promised eachother they’ll remain at the Emirates to compete for major silverware.

These deals were considered vital after Real Madrid showed serious interest in Saliba especially, and tying down both of world football’s centre-backs represents a major coup for Arsenal as Berta signals their serious ambition.

Rising academy stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly also penned new five-year contracts in the summer, rewarding their breakthrough into the first team and showcasing Arsenal’s continued commitment to youth development.

Both teenagers have impressed when given opportunities and are viewed by Arsenal as integral parts of the club’s future plans, even if some reports suggest that Lewis-Skelly could leave North London in January after falling behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order.

Goalkeeper David Raya and winger Leandro Trossard received significant pay rises before the 2025-26 season too, even if neither player actually extended the length of their deals — which comes as quite interesting.

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Trossard’s situation was particularly unusual, with the Belgian agreeing to a salary adjustment that increased his wages without adding any further years to his contract, which still expires in 2027.

That being said, the most crucial new deal talks centre around Saka.

Arsenal are said to have made excellent progress in talks with the England international, with both parties aligned and convinced about continuing together. The 24-year-old, whose current terms runs until 2027, is expected to become Arsenal’s highest-paid player in history with wages exceeding £300,000 per week.

Now, according to TEAMtalk, an agreement has been reached in negotiations.

Arsenal agree new Bukayo Saka deal after "breakthrough"

Indeed, the outlet reports that Arsenal have achieved a ‘breakthrough’ in contract talks with Saka, and an official announcement is expected to be made in ‘due course’ over his new deal.

After months of discussions between the two parties, Saka is now apparently poised to sign on the dotted line, coming one month after the Hale End superstar publicly declared his wish to remain at N5.

Saka has evolved into one of the world’s elite wingers and his importance to the Gunners cannot be overstated.

The attacker already has over 277 first-team appearances under his belt at Arsenal, scoring 76 goals across all competitions, and he reached a significant milestone by making his 200th Premier League appearance for the club against West Ham in October.

His output has been extraordinary ever since making his senior debut against Vorskla Poltava all the way back in 2018. The Three Lions superstar has netted 56 goals and provided 51 assists in the top flight alone, giving him an incredible 107 goal involvements in the competition, and he’s barely midway through his 20s.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Raheem Sterling and Ryan Giggs had more combined Premier League goals and assists than Saka at the age of 23, making for more insane numbers that put him on course to challenge some of the all-time Premier League records.

Arteta will be thrilled that Saka’s hamstring woes are now behind him, and we could still be yet to see the very best of what Arsenal’s electrifying gem has to offer.