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He'd be better than Rodrygo: Arsenal "are looking" at signing £100m winger

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

You can almost physically feel the shift in mood and anticipation at Arsenal. With deals wrapped for Noni Madueke and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres (who has not formally completed his move), the frontline is reshaping before our eyes.

The pursuit of Sweden sensation Gyokeres felt to have gone on for an interminably long time. And it did. So lengthy was the saga that Gyokeres, with his express focus on transferring to the Emirates Stadium in spite of rival interest, was nearly hijacked on two occasions over the past week. He turned a blind eye to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United both times.

Madueke’s arrival evoked less fanfare, but he’s a talented player and a fitting profile, one who will provide support for Bukayo Saka on the right flank.

Kepa Arrizabalaga saved three penalties in an exhibition shootout after the Gunners kicked off their pre-season tour with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan. Fellow new recruits Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard got their first tastes of action too.

The next phase in Mikel Arteta’s ambitious plan is coming together, but the Londoners may yet add more to their ranks as they look to end five years without silverware.

What's next for Arsenal

With a deal for Gyokeres done and dusted, Arteta finally has the free-scoring centre-forward he has sought over the past several years.

But more is needed. Cristian Mosquera’s transfer from Valencia to north London remains incomplete, albeit all but wrapped up. There are not expected to be any eleventh-hour issues regarding either of the club’s outstanding bids.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick

With Chelsea closing on a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, Arsenal may soon accelerate their interest in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that talks are ongoing between Arteta’s side and the player’s camp.

And then there are the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to contend with. Either could be playing elsewhere a few months from now.

Arsenal's GabrielMartinellireacts

Should that be the case, the Gunners will need a new left winger. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has emerged as a top target in recent weeks, though he would cost around £87m and is coming off the back of a disappointing campaign, going 17 matches for Los Blancos without a goal.

However, Rodrygo is not the only talented wide winger on Arteta’s list.

Arsenal looking at deal for Premier League winger

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal “are looking” to complete a deal for Anthony Gordon this summer, with reporter Charles Watts confirming that technical director Andrea Berta is still keen on signing a left-sided forward before the summer’s out.

Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle

Gordon, 24, has emerged as one of the Premier League’s leading wingers over the past few years, and Newcastle United know it. Thus, he has been priced at a rather lofty £100m, though Arsenal would surely seek a reduced fee.

An out-and-out winger with impressive athleticism, the England international is also being pursued by Liverpool, who may accelerate their interest if the £70m-rated Luis Diaz is sold to Bayern Munich.

Why Arsenal should sign Anthony Gordon

Off the bat, Gordon has a wealth of experience in the Premier League – and that matters. Many are the talented players who have entered England’s top flight with much hype only to struggle against the current.

Anthony Gordon

Rodrygo, of course, isn’t a nobody, and he hasn’t won two Champions League titles and risen to a position as one of Europe’s leading forwards to be told that he doesn’t have what it takes to impress in a robust and fluent Arsenal side.

But Arteta needs to choose wisely if he is to bridge that canyon and cross past Liverpool, all the while keeping Manchester City and a growing force in Chelsea at bay. And others.

Describing himself as a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, Gordon has what it takes to elevate Arsenal’s frontline higher, with his balance and pace and tenacity all exactly what is needed to serve Gyokeres at number nine and contrast with Saka out on the right.

For a range of reasons, Gordon didn’t reach his finest level last season. However, the previous term was one of great individual merit for the Three Lions star, who was awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Year award after clinching 28 goal contributions across the season.

Looking at that high level against Rodrygo’s in La Liga, we begin to see why Arsenal are considering a move for the Magpies man in spite of Rodrygo’s ostensible availability.

Stat Comparison – Anthony Gordon vs Rodrygo

Stats (* per game)

Gordon (23/24)

Rodrygo (24/25)

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

30 (22)

Goals

11

6

Assists

10

5

Shots (on target)*

2.3 (0.9)

1.8 (0.7)

Big chances missed

9

1

Pass completion

82%

91%

Big chances created

16

5

Key passes*

1.6

1.6

Dribbles*

1.5

1.6

Ball recoveries*

3.6

2.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.1

Duels won*

5.3

3.8

Stats via Sofascore

Rodrygo, no doubt, is an elite forward, crisper than Gordon in possession and more clinical in the final third. However, they are both creatively on par, and the Newcastle star’s work rate and combativeness are underlined by his duel and ball recovery metrics.

From this, we can see why he ranks so highly on Arsenal’s analytical findings. Let’s hypothesise for a moment: if Gordon plyed his trade at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Rodrygo at St. James’ Park, can we honestly surmise that the data would remain in the same frame?

Arsenal’s transfer activity this summer bespeaks improvements up top, and Gordon would be the cherry on the cake. Moreover, he would find that he could lift himself to the next level under Arteta’s wing, part of an ever-improving side that is so hungry for that final piece of the puzzle.

More exciting than Gyokeres: Romano reveals Arsenal's new "top target"

The sensational game-changer would be an incredible signing for Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 24, 2025

Chelsea are now "close" to signing a talent who's as big as Estevao

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

It’s no secret that Chelsea have spent a lot of money on a lot of seriously talented players over the last few years.

However, arguably one of the most exciting signings the club have made in recent years was when they spent £29m on then-17-year-old Estevao Willian, who is finally set to join up with Enzo Maresca’s squad ahead of next season.

The teenage Brazilian, nicknamed Messinho, is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football and, with 42 goal involvements in 83 senior club games already, it’s easy to see why analyst Ben Mattinson describes him as a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

So, Chelsea fans should be delighted with reports linking the club to another incredible gem who could be as big a talent as Estevao.

Chelsea target brilliant wonderkid

It would be fair to say that this summer has been a largely positive one for Chelsea so far, as, on top of their exploits on the pitch, the club have conducted some brilliant business off of it.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, they made a tidy profit on Noni Madueke and managed to finally offload Kepa Arrizabalaga, with both making the increasingly common move from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates.

Then, in terms of incomings, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are all surely going to improve Maresca’s attack, and it looks like they are closing in on RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons as well.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro

However, the Blues don’t appear to be done there, as it also looks like they will be getting their hands on an even younger prospect, someone who could be as big a talent as Estevao.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed Chelsea’s intense interest in Jorrel Hato.

The Italian journalist goes a step further, revealing that a deal to sign the Ajax ace is “now very close” as negotiations between the two clubs are at the “final stages.”

A price is not mentioned in Romano’s report, but stories from earlier this month claimed that a fee of around £40m would be enough to get this deal over the line.

While that might seem like a lot of money, it might end up being fair value if Hato can fulfil the potential so many believe him to have, similarly to Estevao.

Why Hato is as big a talent as Estevao

So, the first thing to point out is that, with Estevao primarily playing as a right-winger and being tasked with scoring and creating goals, he is almost always going to receive more attention and more plaudits than someone who plays in defence, like Hato.

However, that does not mean the Dutchman does not possess the same level of talent as the Brazilian, nor the potential to be a genuinely great player one day – you only need to look at his record to see that.

Since making his debut back in February 2023, at just 16 years old, the “exceptional athlete,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has become an integral part of Ajax’s first team.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

The Rotterdam-born monster has already amassed a staggering 111 appearances for the Dutch giants, of which 102 have been starts, and even though he primarily played at left-back, he has also been able to amass a reasonable tally in which he’s scored four goals and provided nine assists.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you that the 19-year-old wonderkid was something genuinely special, then perhaps the fact he’s already captained the Amsterdam outfit on multiple occasions will.

Finally, he’s not just seen as the next big thing by his club.

For example, the “immense” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also already won six senior caps for the Netherlands, in which he’s provided one assist, since making his debut in November 2023, at just 17 years old.

Ultimately, Estevao will always generate more excitement as he’s someone who could be a massive source of goals and assists in the future.

Still, from everything we’ve seen over the last few years and what those in the know are saying, there is every chance Hato could be as immense a talent, and therefore, someone Chelsea fans should be very excited about.

Even better than Hato: Chelsea preparing bid to sign "aggressive" £51m star

As Chelsea close in on the signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax for around £35m, they’re also preparing an offer for an even better “aggressive” defender.

ByBen Gray Jul 29, 2025

Grace Ballinger, Tara Norris crush Thunder hopes

by csb10.top Uncategorized

A career-best 6 for 35 by Fi Morris for Lancashire Thunder was countered by a List A best for The Blaze of 4 for 23 by Grace Ballinger as the visitors ran out winners by 24 runs at Sale to keep their hopes alive in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Defeat for Thunder ends their hopes of making the knockout stages of the competition.In a low-scoring contest, The Blaze – having started well – were pegged back to 197 all out at the hands of Morris once the spinner was introduced into the Thunder attack in the 30th over.By contrast Ballinger did significant early damage by taking the first four Thunder wickets but the rest of The Blaze attack combined to bowl Thunder out for 173 in the 46th over despite a hard hitting unbeaten 53 by Tara Norris to clinch a vital victory.The Blaze made a good start after being put in to bat with Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk laying a good foundation of 66 runs off 87 balls. But both openers fell in quick succession. Sarah Bryce was caught at mid-off for 34 trying to hit Darcey Carter, making her Thunder debut, over the top with Kirk bowled for 29 by Hannah Jones’ second delivery.And The Blaze were pegged back further when Marie Kelly edged behind for 7 off the first ball of Phoebe Graham’s second spell to leave the visitors 101 for 3 in the 24th over.Kathryn Bryce and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast rallied with a 34-run alliance off 45 balls before the introduction of Morris transformed the innings as wickets tumbled.The Thunder off-spinner struck with a 17-ball sequence of 3 for 6 that began with her fourth delivery that Kathryn Bryce cut to Norris at gully for 31.Having made an attractive 29 off 34 balls, Prendergast fell lbw sweeping at Morris, as did Lucy Higham for 4.Hannah Jones returned to take her competition-leading 22nd wicket when Kirstie Gordon drove to Eve Jones at extra cover for 4 before Morris ran through the rest of The Blaze line-up in spectacular style bowling Ella Claridge for 6, having Grace Ballinger lbw for 6 and Cassidy McCarthy caught for 8 with The Blaze losing their last seven wickets for 62 runs.It was Ballinger who did the early damage with an impressive spell of left-arm swing that returned figures of 4 for 13 to destroy the Thunder top order, having Eve Jones caught at mid-off for 0, Alice Clarke caught at cover for 8 followed by Morris (10) and Dani Collins (0) bowled in the space of three deliveries.But having completed seven overs Ballinger limped off injured to be replaced by Prendergast who struck immediately with her sixth delivery which Seren Smale cut savagely but straight to Kirk at point for 13 with the Thunder innings in disarray at 41 for 5 after 15 overs.Ellie Threlkeld pulled a short ball from Prendergast to Higham at deep backward square for 10, Carter was bowled by McCarthy for 11 before Grace Johnson holed out to Kirk off Groves for 27 as Thunder continued to struggle.Ballinger returned in time to see Groves trap Graham lbw for 5 but a defiant last-wicket partnership of 50 – the highest of the Thunder innings – between Norris, who hit three sixes in a List A career-best 53 not out off 56 balls, and Hannah Jones, who finally fell to Kathryn Bryce for 17, held up The Blaze who eventually wrapped up victory with 26 balls to spare.

Bairstow to join Super Kings for SA20 2025; Royals retain Miller, Ngidi

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Marcus Stoinis back with Durban’s Super Giants, Paarl Royals have traded in Dayyaan Galiem from Joburg Super Kings for Tabraiz Shamsi

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2024Jonny Bairstow will feature for Joburg Super Kings in 2025. It will be his first time participating in the SA20. Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee and Donovan Ferreira are among the other players retained by the franchise. They have traded in Tabraiz Shamsi from Paarl Royals with Dayyaan Galiem going the other way.JSK’s overseas retentions include Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana and David Wiese. Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams and Imran Tahir will also return to the Super Kings after helping them reach the Qualifier in the previous edition.Reeza Hendricks and Sam Cook are the notable absentees from last season. There will be additions to the 13-member squad, which du Plessis will continue to captain, at the auction.Related

SA20: Gurbaz to reunite with Trott at Pretoria Capitals

SA20 in 2025 will run from January 9 to February 8

Sunrisers Eastern Cape sign Bedingham, Crawley and van der Merwe for upcoming SA20 season

Joburg Super Kings squad
Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Jonny Bairstow, Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese, Leus du Plooy, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran TahirStoinis back with Durban’s Super GiantsLast season’s runners-up, Durban’s Super Giants, had announced earlier that they have Kane Williamson and Chris Woakes on board this time. They will also have firepower in the form of Marcus Stoinis, who was the team’s wildcard pick last time around. They’ve also retained a strong local core in Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock and (their captain) Keshav Maharaj.Also back on their books are Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmad, local players Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith and Bryce Parsons.Durban’s Super Giants squad
Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan), Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton De Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Bryce Parsons, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Prenelan SubrayenPaarl Royals retain Miller, Ngidi, PhehlukwayoCaptain David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo are among a list of ten South African players retained by Paarl Royals for the new season of the SA20 in 2025. Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, rookie signings from the 2024 edition, have also been retained by the Royals ahead of the auction.Dane Vilas, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe and Ferisco Adams have been let go to make space in the squad that currently has 11 players, including being seam-bowling allrounder Galiem.David Miller led Royals to the Eliminator in 2024•SA20Royals made the Qualifiers in the last SA20 edition but suffered five straight losses including a nine-wicket thumping in the Eliminator against Super Kings. The new season begins on January 9.”We are delighted to go into the upcoming auction with a very formidable core of capped and uncapped South African players,” Kumar Sangakkara – Royals’ Director of Cricket – said in a press release. “After the disappointment of last season where we faltered towards the latter stages of the tournament, it was important to re-look at the squad and make certain changes.”Paarl Royals squad
David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Andile Phehlukwayo, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dayyaan Galiem (Traded in)MI Cape Town hold on to Rabada, BrevisThere were not too many surprises in MI Cape Town’s announcements. They held on to Kagiso Rabada and Dewald Brevis via pre-signings, and also retained Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber and Connor Esterhuizen.They let go of Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Grant Roelofsen and Neelan van Heerden, statement from the franchise saying: “MI Cape Town would like to thank [these] players for their support and contribution over the last 2 seasons and wish them the very best.”Sunrisers Eastern Cape bring in CrawleySunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending SA20 champions, have signed South Africa batter David Bedingham, England opener Zak Crawley, fast bowler Craig Overton, and Netherlands allrounder Roelof van der Merwe for the upcoming season. More on their squad here.

'He timed it beautifully and got his match-up' – Williamson and Powell laud Rutherford

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 68 off 39 balls on a two-paced Trinidad pitch proved the difference between West Indies and New Zealand at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. This was the assessment of both captains Rovman Powell and Kane Williamson after West Indies successfully defended 149 to progress to the Super Eight.Rutherford came into bat when West Indies were 22 for 4 inside the powerplay. It was only the second time that he was facing a ball in the powerplay, in 15 T20Is. He responded with a career-best effort that not only repaired the collapse but also put West Indies in a position of strength.”We told the guys that somebody has to play a blinder,” Powell said after the match. “It wasn’t going to be an easy wicket because of the inclement weather. We always believe that individual brilliance in T20 cricket is needed some time and Sherfane’s innings was a fantastic knock. It gave us confidence and at the halfway mark, we believed [we could win].”After working his way to 31 off 27 balls, Rutherford took Daryl Mitchell for a trio of sixes in the 19th over, which cost New Zealand 19 runs. Then, in the final over, he aced his match-up against left-arm fingerspinner Mitchell Santner, dispatching him for two fours and six.Related

  • Sherfane Rutherford relishes his bigger role at Gujarat Titans: 'Want to be a batter, not just a finisher'

  • Can PNG spoil Boult's T20 World Cup farewell plan?

  • New Zealand's decade of excellence unravels in a hurry

  • Rutherford and bowlers take West Indies to Super Eight; New Zealand's campaign in trouble

“The margins in the match are fine and in conditions like that, two or three balls where the match-up suits, that can be the difference, Williamson said at his post-match press conference. We saw a fantastic knock from Rutherford and he certainly timed it beautifully and got his match-up. I think at the end of the day, that was the difference.”Rutherford was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders side that had won IPL 2024, but he didn’t get a game in India. Despite the lack of game time in the IPL, West Indies’ team management picked him ahead of Shimron Hetmyer, who was a more regular presence for Rajasthan Royals. Rutherford hit the ground running with an unbeaten 47 off 18 balls in the warm-up game, albeit against an undermanned Australia side, in Port-of-Spain. He repaid the faith with a more impactful knock against an experienced New Zealand attack that saw the reunion of Tim Southee with Trent Boult. According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, which are designed to bring out the true value of individual performances in T20 cricket, Rutherford’s 68 was worth nearly 100.

“I was in the IPL for two months, so you know I was preparing [there] even though I wasn’t playing,” Rutherford said. “I did a lot of work and planning. Keeping it simple and backing myself – that was the key.”I was just telling myself to take it deep. Me and [Daren] Sammy had a talk and he said: ‘try and take it deep’. The deeper I went, I started feeling momentum and I thought I could always make up in the end.”

Williamson: Not the end of an era for NZ’s golden generation

It was that kind of day for Kane Williamson and New Zealand again•ICC/Getty Images

Having started the tournament with back-to-back defeats, New Zealand are already in danger of an early exit. Mathematically, they still have a chance to qualify for the Super Eight, but they will need several things to go in their favour. While Williamson bemoaned New Zealand’s inability to adapt quickly to the Caribbean conditions, he played down suggestions that it is the end of an era for New Zealand’s golden generation.”They’re still guys that will be here for some time,” Williamson said. “I think if we just look at the two matches to start off… no doubt disappointing. You come to a world event, you want to start well and to be honest, we need to be better in these conditions specifically. We know that it’s going to be a real scrap and it’s not going to be easy. But if you win some small moments, match-ups go your way and that can be a defining element to your whole tournament, really, and it hasn’t happened for us, which is frustrating.”After a rust-ridden opening outing against Afghanistan at the Providence, New Zealand brought back Southee, James Neesham and Rachin Ravindra, and did make early inroads. But bowling out all of his frontline quicks and Neesham in 18 overs meant Williamson had to turn to the part-time medium pace of Mitchell and the left-arm spin of Santner at the very end.Williamson said that frontloading his fast bowlers was a gamble worth taking, considering the bowler-friendly conditions, which offered variable bounce throughout the evening.”We knew that we needed to get Rutherford out and I think the batting depth of the West Indies side really shone through and it was beneficial for them certainly today on that surface,” Williamson said. “You know it’s going to be scrappy and you know that three balls here or three balls there can really put the score above par and that’s what they were able to do. So, for us to try and take that wicket and try to have the opportunity to restrict them to the 120 region, I think was worth doing and that didn’t quite pay off.”I think whatever overs that we did bowl were going to be targetted and that’s the margins you deal with in T20 cricket nowadays with teams that’re batting deeper and you’re always playing that game of cat and mouse.”

49ers now preparing £15m+ bid to sign "playmaker" who Farke wants at Leeds

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Leeds United are preparing for their return to the Premier League and are now readying a bid to sign an exciting top-flight star this summer, per a report.

Leeds United looking to build ahead of Premier League return

Now the dust has settled on a dramatic season that culminated in the Championship title at Elland Road, Daniel Farke and the 49ers Enterprises will now turn their attention towards potential incomings ahead of the new campaign.

Setting his expectations, the German coach believes survival in the Premier League is a realistic target for the Whites despite the regular occurrence of newly-promoted sides struggling to adapt a level up the pyramid.

He stated: “That’s definitely the plan (survival). I don’t want to come across as arrogant and tell everyone it’s easy. All the recently promoted sides are really good, big names, spending lots of money but not able to stay in the league. But one thing is for sure, we will try.”

Money will need to be spent by the 49ers to ensure Leeds can extend their stay in the Premier League, and there is no shortage of targets in Yorkshire now the off-season is in full swing.

Mjallby goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist has entered Farke’s eyeline, though he is likely to be a backup solution as opposed to a direct replacement for Illan Meslier between the sticks.

Leeds now want to sign £20m Championship star who outperformed Gus Hamer

The Whites are looking to raid one of their 2024/25 Championship rivals this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund May 28, 2025

Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz could add some flair in the engine room for Leeds, but there is every chance they also move for some proven Premier League operators to ensure there is experience in the camp before they kick off the new campaign.

Tapping into that school of thought, the Whites are now lining up a swoop for an exciting addition at Elland Road that would please supporters.

Leeds United prepare £16.8m offer for Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Leeds are preparing a £16.8 million offer to sign Aston Villa “playmaker” Emiliano Buendia ahead of the summer window.

Farke previously worked with the Argentina international at Norwich City, and it is believed that he will be allowed to leave Villa Park this summer with the blessing of Unai Emery, and the Leeds boss is keen on a reunion at Elland Road.

Enduring a tough time with injuries, Buendia spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, registering two goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.

The 28-year-old may be in need of a revival, but there is every chance Leeds could give him the platform to shine following a difficult period in maintaining consistent availability. Buendia moving to Yorkshire appears to be an agreeable move for all parties and may be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Farke must drop Aaronson to unleash "explosive" rarely-seen Leeds gem

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to host play-off hopefuls Bristol City at Elland Road in the penultimate game of the campaign.

The Whites secured their promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, after their 6-0 win over Stoke City, but still have to battle it out with Burnley to win the title.

Daniel Farke’s side need to win this evening to go back to the top of the division, and the German head coach could make a change to his starting XI by dropping Brenden Aaronson from the side.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international was selected in the number ten position for the handsome win over Stoke last week, but was the only member of the attack who ended the game without a goal contribution.

Wilfried Gnonto scored a goal, Manor Solomon provided two assists, and Joel Piroe, of course, scored a staggering four goals, whilst Aaronson did not deliver a goal or an assist.

The American midfielder did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates and missed the only ‘big chance’ that came his way, as he failed to get in on the action against the Potters.

Chalkboard

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

Aaronson has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in his last 14 appearances in the Championship for Leeds, which is why it could now be time, after promotion has been secured, for Farke to ruthlessly ditch him from the side.

The rarely-seen Leeds star who should replace Brenden Aaronson

The former Norwich City head coach should unleash the rarely-seen Largie Ramazani in his place, either as the number ten or out wide, with Gnonto moved into a central position.

It has been a difficult season for the Belgian dynamo since his permanent move from Almeria last summer. He has only started seven of his 27 appearances in the second tier and has been an unused substitute in four of the last five matches.

Ramazani, who was described as an “explosive” forward by journalist Joe Donnohue, has shown flashes of quality in the second tier this season, as shown in the clip above against Norwich City earlier this term.

Appearances (starts)

27 (7)

xG

3.86

Goals

4

Big chances created

1

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has been directly involved in six goals in the Championship, despite only starting seven times to date, which shows that the potential is there for him to make a big impact in the final third.

This is why Farke must consider bringing the rarely-seen whiz into the starting XI against the Robins this evening, because he could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch that they have not had with Aaronson in the team over the past 14 matches based on his return of goals and assists against his lack of game time.

Farke is brewing a Piroe upgrade in Leeds teen with "masses of potential"

Leeds United could have a top star for the future in this highly rated youngster.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

Ramazani could, then, use these last two matches of the season to prove to Farke and the club that he has what it takes to be a part of their Premier League campaign next season.

WPL 2024 FAQs – Ins and outs, and everything else you wanted to know

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

What’s different, what’s the same? Where and when will the matches be played? What’s new about this season?

Ashish Pant20-Feb-2024Will it all be played in Mumbai again?
Unlike last year, when the tournament was held in its entirely across Mumbai, WPL 2024 will be played in Bengaluru and New Delhi. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the first 11 games, while the second-half of the season, including the eliminator and the final, will be held at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla.Is the format any different from last year’s?
No, the same number of games (22) will be played this year too. Each of the five teams plays the other four twice. The table-toppers directly qualify for the final, while the second and third-placed teams square off in the eliminator.After the Mumbai vs Delhi game, Royal Challengers Bangalore will open their campaign the following day against UP Warriorz, with Gujarat Giants, the fifth team, facing Mumbai on day three.Here’s a detailed look at the fixtures.What are the timings?
All the matches will start at 7.30pm IST and, unlike last year, there are no double-headers this time.Let’s go back to the auction: how did that go? Were there any major buys?
The biggest surprise in this year’s auction was the uncapped duo of Kashvee Gautam and Vrinda Dinesh pocketing bids of INR 2 crore (Giants) and INR 1.3 crore (Warriorz) respectively. Gautam, however, has been sidelined by injury and won’t feature in the competition.Amandeep Kaur is the only left-arm wristspinner in the WPL•Mumbai IndiansAustralia allrounder Annabel Sutherland, who was released by Giants ahead of the auction, was the most expensive overseas pick (Capitals) at INR 2 crore, while Shabnim Ismail, released by Warriorz, was picked up at INR 1.2 crore by Mumbai. Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield attracted a handsome bid of INR 1 crore from Giants. This will be 20-year-old Litchfield’s maiden WPL appearance.Related

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Kate Cross, who was working as a broadcaster last year, has gone to RCB, and Danni Wyatt (Warriorz) will also be a part of WPL 2024 after being unsold at the auction the last time. Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce (Giants) is the lone Associate player in the tournament.Did any major player miss out? Any withdrawals?
Chamari Athapaththu seemed set to miss out for a second straight season, but was picked up by Warriorz as a replacement for England’s Lauren Bell, who opted out to prepare for England’s tour of New Zealand (starting March 19). RCB’s Heather Knight too will miss the season for the same reason; she has been replaced by South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk.Among the notable exclusions are Australia bowling-allrounder Kim Garth, who was released by Giants after last season, and former West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin. On the Indian front, there were no bids for Devika Vaidya, who was picked up for INR 1.6 crore in the inaugural season by Warriorz.Australia fast bowler Lauren Cheatle (Giants) too has withdrawn from this year’s WPL after undergoing a medical procedure for skin cancer on her neck. New Zealand veteran Lea Tahuhu has replaced her.And, along with Gautam, spin-bowling allrounder Kanika Ahuja has had to opt out with an injury. Gautam has been replaced by uncapped allrounder Sayali Satghare, while Ahuja has been replaced by Shradda Pokharkar at RCB.Gouher Sultana and Harmanpreet Kaur are the only Indians in WPL 2024 to have made their international debuts before 2010•Gouher SultanaAre the captains and coaches for the teams the same as last season?
While the five captains: Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai), Meg Lanning (Capitals), Smriti Mandhana (RCB), Alyssa Healy (Warriorz ) and Beth Mooney (Giants) remain unchanged, there have been some movements on the coaching front.Most notably, Giants parted ways with Rachael Haynes after just one season, bringing former Australia batter Michael Klinger on board as the head coach. Luke Williams, who won the WBBL with Adelaide Strikers, takes over from Ben Sawyer as RCB’s head coach.Which country – apart from India – has the maximum representation?
Australia has the biggest representation with 13 players, including three captains. Capitals lead the way with four Australians in their squad, while Giants, Warriorz and RCB all have three each. Mumbai are the only team to not have a single Australian player in their set-up. England have six players taking part in the tournament, while South Africa have five.Who were the breakout stars of WPL 2023?
Mumbai’s left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque and RCB allrounder Shreyanka Patil have gone on to play for India. They are considered to be products of the WPL to an extent.Recognising the need to reward performers, the BCCI has ensured that players who were capped between the two seasons automatically received an upgraded WPL contract. Signed at base price (INR 10 lakh) at the inaugural auction, both Ishaque and Patil will be paid INR 30 lakh this season following their India debuts.

Suved Parkar shows shades of Ajinkya Rahane in serene debut hundred

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Armaan Jaffer and Sarfaraz Khan joined in the fun as Mumbai ended day one in a commanding position

Himanshu Agrawal06-Jun-2022You don’t have to watch Suved Parkar for long to be reminded of Ajinkya Rahane.There is the elbow guard, of course, but also the chin nudging the raised left shoulder while watching the bowler run in. And on Monday, the resemblance perhaps seemed even greater because it was Rahane’s birthday. But beyond the mannerisms, there’s the shared characteristic – the understated calm. Debut first-class century in the bag, Parkar took off his helmet off and raised his bat to the dressing room, no big show. Otherwise, too, he radiated equanimity.Parkar had arrived at the crease when Mumbai were 64 for 2, with both openers surrendering good starts. His first ask was to see out the eight balls that remained until lunch. He got a single. Easily done.For company, Parkar had the young – and also inexperienced – Armaan Jaffer. Initially, they focused on steadying the ship. So Uttarakhand captain Jay Bista, no stranger to being around Mumbai batters who can grind the opposition to the ground, to direct Akash Madhwal to shift to a short-ball strategy; 20 overs into the innings, he stationed a leg gully, a backward short-leg, a fine leg and a deep square-leg, while getting Madhwal to operate from around the wicket to both right-hand batters.Madhwal banged it in short. Jaffer and Parkar were being cramped for room, but they managed to keep the ball down each time Madhwal got one to climb at them. There was no apparent discomfort, and in the 23rd over, Jaffer pulled Madhwal to the deep square-leg boundary. That put an end to the short-ball barrage plan.Spin was introduced for the first time after 24 overs, and when left-armer Swapnil Singh dropped one short from around the wicket, Jaffer pulled him for six, with the ball threatening to land on a car parked beyond the boundary.Century-makers Darfaraz Khan and Suved Parkar have a mid-pitch conference•ESPNcricinfo LtdThis was a partnership built on the foundation of blocks and leaves, but every now and then came a shot of aggression. If Jaffer creamed a cover drive and punch-flicked a back-of-a-length ball wide of mid-on, Parkar opened his bat face deftly to pick up a boundary behind square.Both rode their luck on the way. On 35, a drive away from the body from Jaffer, found the outside edge only for the ball to evade first slip’s reach. There was no one at second slip. In the next over – the 36th of Mumbai’s innings – Swapnil tumbled to his left and dropped a catch off his own bowling when Parkar was on 18. With only six first-class matches for Jaffer before this one and none for Parkar, this was just the fortune they needed to be brave.At the start of the 43rd over, when their stand was worth 75 in 164 balls, Jaffer and Parkar shifted gears. The next three overs, bowled by Dikshanshu Negi and Mayank Mishra, brought 31 runs, as Jaffer pulled, lofted and drove, while Parkar twice went over the bowler’s head and cleared the straight boundary.Jaffer crossed fifty in the process; he had earlier smashed 125 in Mumbai’s innings win against Odisha in the group stage. Another quiet phase followed, after which Jaffer ended up edging Deepak Dhapola to second slip for 60. That ended a partnership of 112 in 37.2 overs.It was just the cue for another to begin.Sarfaraz Khan arrived at the crease and clattered three boundaries in his first seven balls. Not influenced, Parkar continued to tick the scoreboard over, playing his own game at his own tempo.After that frenetic start, Sarfaraz quietened down as Uttarakhand’s discipline improved over the next dozen or so overs. But for how long can you really keep Sarfaraz quiet? From 24 off 50 balls, he raced to his half-century, scoring 26 off the next 23 balls.At the other end, having busied himself with the task of accumulating singles and ensuring Mumbai didn’t lose their way, Parkar faced Madhwal when on 94. Madhwal pitched short and wide of off, and Parkar rose on his toes and punched to beat deep backward point to his left to move to 98. Three balls later, Madhwal went full and on the stumps, and Parkar clipped it wide of mid-on; or, more precisely, drove it wide of mid-on, with the full face of the bat meeting the ball right under his nose. Another little flash of Rahane, in the way the ball sped off his bat despite there being little to no follow-through.Sarfaraz Khan has scored 620 runs this season, at an average of 155.00, and he shows no signs of stopping•PTI Mid-on gave up the chase, and just beyond the boundary, Mumbai’s players rose to their feet. Off came Parkar’s helmet, and up went his bat.Four overs later, Parkar walked off the field, unbeaten on 104 off 218 balls. With him was Sarfaraz, batting on 69 off 104. The two of them and Jaffer had put Mumbai in a commanding position at 304 for 3.Jaffer is often remembered as his uncle Wasim’s nephew; but as he did as a 13-year-old back in 2010, he could yet smash records with the sort of skill and temperament he displayed against Uttarakhand.Sarfaraz, another schools-cricket prodigy back in the day, came into this game with scores of 275, 63, 48 and 165 in his four previous Ranji Trophy innings. By the end of the day’s play, he had 620 runs for the season – at an average of 155.00 – and was only four runs away from displacing Chetan Bist on top of the season’s run charts.By scoring a century on first-class debut for Mumbai, Parkar emulated a feat Rahane had achieved 14 years ago. Rahane apart, Parkar joined a list featuring Sachin Tendulkar, his captain Prithvi Shaw, and his coach Amol Muzumdar, among others.If he felt he’d done something special, he didn’t show it. “There is nothing different, you just have to show patience,” was how he summed it up.Parkar is only 21, while Jaffer is 23 and Sarfaraz 24. Who knows what the future holds?

Saurashtra's focus on 'one goal' brings Ranji Trophy home

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Three key seniors were sick in the lead-up to the final, but where others would have panicked, Saurashtra planned

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot13-Mar-2020Exactly a week ago, the Saurashtra camp was hit by a slew of illnesses. Two days prior to the Ranji Trophy final, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, the left-arm spinner, Arpit Vasavada, a batting mainstay and Cheteshwar Pujara, their No. 1 batsman, were all sick. Jadeja and Vasavada were running temperatures while Pujara had a throat infection and bouts of dizziness.Three big players not participating in their training session two days ahead of a big game may have given a jolt to most teams. Saurashtra had back-ups and prepared them to be match-ready, even though they hoped the sick trio would be match-fit. And so, two days prior to the game, the reserves underwent a longer than usual hit out at the nets under Jaydev Unadkat’s supervision. The team channelled whatever mild panic they might have felt in a productive way.After victory was achieved on the fifth day of a dreary final that was decided on the basis of a first-innings lead, Pujara revealed how he had to battle against his own body to be ready for an occasion he simply didn’t want to miss.He eventually came out to bat at No. 6 in the first innings, but retired hurt after spending just 30 minutes at the crease. It was only on the second day, after a night’s rest and some medicines, that a “half-okay” Pujara returned to the crease. He then defied the bowling to play “probably one of my slowest knocks (laughs)”. He faced 267 deliveries for his 64, putting on 142 with Vasavada to set the tone for a sizeable first-innings score.ALSO READ: Stats – Saurashtra’s maiden Ranji Trophy title, Bengal lose another final”I had a blackout like feeling when I went in to bat,” Pujara said, with the Ranji Trophy beside him. “It was tough on my body. I was down with fever, throat infection so it wasn’t easy. It was frustrating when I couldn’t come out to bat at my usual No. 4 position for Saurashtra because I knew runs on the board was key and we had won a crucial toss.”On this wicket I thought if I can walk in early, I can start dominating later. The first day is the best time to bat, but I’m happy that I could play my part [later]. I wanted to respect the conditions. On day two when I walked in, it was not easy. I felt a blackout [again], so it was tough. But you have to be motivated and lead from the front and set a good example. We had to set a platform for the bowlers, and that partnership with Arpit (who made a 287-ball 106) gave us a lot of confidence. Once we had 350-plus, we knew with our remarkable bowling attack, we were in a good position.

“If someone takes 67 wickets in a season, I don’t [think] a performance can get bigger than that. There has to be lot of importance to Ranji Trophy performance to get picked for the Indian team and I will be surprised if he is not picked in the Indian team.”Pujara on Unadkat’s Ranji season

“It was a tough pitch,” Pujara continued. “The ball wasn’t coming on nicely, it was slow, so yes I didn’t want to bother about conditions. I needed to put my head down and play a crucial knock, ultimately we needed a good total for the bowlers.”With the ball, the onus was on Unadkat to strike. He came into the match with 65 wickets, needing just four more to break Ashutosh Aman’s record for most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season. As such, no other fast bowler has taken these many wickets in a season. Unadkat came in to a tense final day with no wickets to his name. Bengal needed 72 runs and Saurashtra four wickets, and Unadkat rose to the occasion when his team needed him the most.”It was very draining emotionally and physically to be out there for couple of days and fighting for the coveted trophy. The guys put in everything that they had,” Unadkat said. “Though the energy levels were down a little at times, I think the way we won the semi-finals gave us self-belief. It gave us a marker that there one twist was left in the game and we will have to work hard for it. That hope and belief helped us sail through.”Unadkat finished the tournament with 67 wickets, and Pujara, his best friend, couldn’t have been happier. “If someone takes 67 wickets in a season, I don’t [think] a performance can get bigger than that,” Pujara said. “There has to be lot of importance to Ranji Trophy performance to get picked for the Indian team. Jaydev was modest that he would not be thinking about the Indian call but I will be surprised if he is not picked in the Indian team.”The guys believed in each other and all of us were contributing towards one goal.”

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