Category Uncategorized

Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of a Premier League star imminently, with the player now undergoing his medicals ahead of his proposed move to N5.

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

The Gunners boss is getting involved.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 4, 2025

Andrea Berta’s appointment is starting to pay dividends, as Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome a host of new signings to the Emirates Stadium.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

Arsenal have already acquired Kepa Arrizabalaga, who officially became Berta’s first signing in a £5 million move from Chelsea earlier this week, with the Gunners also finally sealing a deal for Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

The Premier League title hopefuls are actively trying to sign an attacker too. Arsenal are reported to be in “advanced” talks with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze over terms (L’Equipe), but this won’t have an impact on their efforts for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, as it is believed both players could join them in separate deals (Fabrizio Romano).

All of this comes amid Berta’s pursuit of a new striker as well – likely to be one of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – with the director having worked extensively on deals for both men simultaneously before deciding which move would be best for the club (BBC).

However, one man who looks certain to land before the likes of Eze, Madueke, Sesko or Gyokeres is Brentford captain Christian Norgaard.

Arsenal recently agreed a deal which could reach £15 million for Norgaard, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the necessary paperwork has been exchanged ahead of his switch.

The 31-year-old Bees figurehead is an adept and Premier League-proven player, with reliable journalist Ben Jacobs sharing when supporters can expect him to be announced as a new Arsenal player.

Arsenal expected to complete Christian Norgaard signing next week

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jacobs reports that Norgaard is undergoing medical tests at Arsenal, and has completed the first half of his physical assessments. The Denmark international is expected to fully complete his move next week, so it won’t be long until supporters can officially welcome him.

“It’s Eze plus a left winger, and then you have a number nine as well,” said Jacobs on the club’s transfer plans.

“Add in Norgaard, who has done the first part of his medical, and is expected to complete his move next week.

“On top of that factor in the €60m or so outlay for Martin Zubimendi and Arsenal are getting going. Mosquera is another one they’re very optimistic on.”

Arsenal’s signing of Norgaard has been praised by critics, like former Tottenham director Frank Arnesen, who recently told Danish news outlet Tipsbladest that he’s the full package.

“Christian is a fantastic guy,” said Arnsen.

“I have nothing but good things to say about him. You meet players many times in your life, but I always hoped this one would have a fantastic career. He has got that. He has become captain of Brentford and has done incredible.

“Mikel Arteta was fantastic as a player, I think, and as a coach he has done absolutely superbly, both as an assistant at Manchester City and afterwards at Arsenal with the way he plays football.

“He doesn’t just take a player in without knowing exactly what he’s going to use him for. Maybe he won’t play 50 games, you don’t know, maybe it’ll only be 30, but it’s about the whole package. He gets the whole package with Christian.”

Manchester United have spent big on strikers over the years, as the club looks to bolster their ranks and consolidate their place as England’s most successful club.

However, their investment over recent seasons has massively hindered their progress in the Premier League, leading to their bottom-half finish in 2024/25.

Rasmus Hojlund has been the Red Devils’ main talisman since Ruben Amorim’s appointment, but he’s massively struggled to provide the goods – netting just four league goals throughout this season.

As a result, he’s been touted with a move to join Inter Milan this summer, less than two years after his £72m switch from Atalanta, ultimately failing to live up to expectations as seen by his measly goal tally.

With the summer window reopening later this week, it presents the manager with the perfect opportunity to strengthen his squad and help them mount a charge up the table next campaign.

United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Given the lack of goals scored by Hojlund throughout 2024/25, it’s no surprise to see the hierarchy targeting added reinforcements in the final third this summer.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Gonçalo Ramos and Liam Delap have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, but no deals have been completed – with the latter rejecting Amorim’s side in favour of a move to Chelsea.

However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer, with United taking a huge step towards winning the race for his signature this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that Jason Wilcox and Co are preparing an offer for the Swedish international, after Arsenal entered the race for the 27-year-old, who’s scored 54 times this season.

It also states that the Portuguese outfit are demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£67m) to part ways with their star man, but doesn’t say how much they’re set to offer for his services.

Why Gyokeres could be United’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland is a talisman who has taken the Premier League by storm in recent seasons, helping rivals Manchester City claim the treble back in the 2022/23 season.

The Norwegian forward has just completed his third year in the North West, scoring a total of 85 goals in his 97 league appearances – finishing as the Golden Boot winner in two of the last three campaigns.

Such form in England has made him one of, if not, the most deadly attacking options in Europe, with every side wishing they could rely upon a finisher as lethal as the 24-year-old.

However, the situation could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils hierarchy rejecting an opportunity to sign the star during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the helm.

Gyokeres’ goalscoring record has undoubtedly caught the eye, but his underlying stats are just as impressive, outperforming Haaland in numerous key areas – becoming United’s own version of the Norwegian should he move to Old Trafford.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have outscored Haaland, but he’s also registered a higher shot-on-target rate – demonstrating his accuracy within attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons that he’s attempted, whilst registering more carries into the final third, having the ability to create changes for himself rather than relying on his teammates.

How Gyokeres compares to Haaland in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Gyokeres	Haaland
Games played	33	31
Goals & assists	46	25
Shot on target accuracy	53%	52%
Shots on target per 90	2.2	1.8
Take-on success	46%	38%
Carries into final third	1.3	0.4
Aerials won	54%	53%
Stats via FBref

Gyokeres’ dominance doesn’t end there, winning more of the aerials he’s entered, subsequently handing Amorim the focal point he’s lacked since taking the reins back in November.

Whilst £67m may seem like a hefty fee for a player who’s never played in the Premier League before, it’s a risk worth taking given his recent goalscoring exploits.

Should he get close to the levels produced by the City star over recent years, it would be one hell of an addition, proving to be a bargain despite the huge fee they would have to fork out for his signature.

Amorim's own Carrick: Wilcox preparing Man Utd move for £20m "monster"

Manchester United appear to be making a move for a player who could emulate Michael Carrick’s achievements.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 11, 2025

Newcastle United have now identified “sensational” £50m+ midfielder as a major summer transfer target by Eddie Howe, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new midfielder

The players responsible for ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy drought have etched themselves into folklore forever, but with a Champions League campaign potentially on the horizon, Howe will feel a need to improve his squad in the summer transfer window.

The manager is relatively well-stocked in central midfield, but with doubts over the futures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, at least one new addition may be needed, and Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera has recently emerged as a target.

Herrera has often featured in a defensive role throughout his career, but there are signs the Magpies could look at bringing in a midfielder with more of an attacking mindset, having now joined the race for Manchester City’s James McAtee.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025

Should Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League, it may also be wise to bring in an attacking midfielder with experience in the elite competition, and they have now set their sights on a player who has performed very well in Europe this season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are now keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, with Howe clearly a big fan of the Englishman, having personally identified him as a major summer target.

Elliott has found it difficult to break into the Liverpool starting XI this season, which means a summer exit could be on the cards, but he will not come cheap, with Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly planning an offer worth in excess of £50m.

"Sensational" Elliott could ignite career at St. James' Park

The midfielder has impressed for Liverpool in the past, having been lauded as “sensational” by football writer Leanne Prescott, but he has only played a sporadic role in the Reds’ title triumph this season, making 15 Premier League appearances.

Given that the London-born maestro is now 22-years-old and yet to receive an England cap, it could well be time to leave the Reds for the good of his career, and he has proven he has what it takes to perform at the top level with his performances in the Champions League.

The former Fulham man scored three goals in five Champions League outings, most notably bagging a late winner in the first leg of his side’s round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

While game time has been hard to come by, the Liverpool ace has certainly made the most of his limited opportunities, ranking incredibly highly across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared with his positional peers in the ‘big five’ European leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.46 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.46 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.17 (99th percentile)

Elliott is showing signs he could go on to be a top player, but he needs regular game time to make that a reality, so a move to Newcastle could make perfect sense this summer.

Liverpool need to make some signings in the transfer market this summer. Luckily, Arne Slot’s side are on the cusp of winning the Premier League after nominal investment in recent windows, and FSG are ready to reward them.

Now that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s deals have been extended – well ahead of the summer transfer window – sporting director Richard Hughes can focus his attention on drafting plans and convincing agents that Anfield is the place for their first-class client.

Ah, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new contract may sit unsigned, but if you read between the lines, it sadly becomes quite clear that the boyhood Red will close this chapter of his career and sign for Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

However, Liverpool are indeed ready to strengthen across the park, which will ease the pain sure to come when Trent goes. One such signing has been identified as one of the prized players on the south coast.

Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of success in plucking from England’s southerly beaches over the years, with Van Dijk joined by Sadio Mane in joining from Southampton, charging an illustrious era under Jurgen Klopp’s wing.

Now, FSG’s attention has been turned toward Bournemouth.

Liverpoool pushing to sign PL star

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are working on a deal for Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium this summer.

Plettenberg implies that talks have already taken place, with the Reds making a “strong push”, while “projects and figures have all been presented”.

Recent reports have circulated purporting Chelsea to be in the lead for the Spain international, but this has since been quashed by top sources such as Fabrizio Romano – with the transfer guru corroborating claims regarding talks being held.

The race is on, but Liverpool are pulling out all the stops and are working toward moving to the front, having indeed presented their package.

Transfer Focus

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

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Contrastingly to the Chelsea-led rumours, talkSPORT claim Huijsen favours a move to Liverpool over that of Stamford Bridge.

Why Liverpool want Dean Huijsen

Huijsen is very much the talk of the town right now.

The Dutch-born central defender is only 20 years old, plying his way through his first campaign on English shores, yet he’s thriving, arresting most high-class outfits across the continent and being hailed as a “world-class” player in the making by one analyst.

He’s the real deal, all right, with a ball-playing game that bespeaks his potential as a superstar for a team at the top of the pyramid, ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for progressive passes and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

It’s remarkable to think he hasn’t played all that much football yet is performing to such a high level, truly a talent capable of forging a lightning-in-a-bottle type of career.

Premier League 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Illya Zabarnyi

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Zabarnyi

Matches (starts)

27 (22)

31 (30)

Goals

2

0

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

7

7

Touches*

60.5

58.1

Key passes*

0.5

0.4

Pass completion

85%

82%

Ball recoveries*

3.4

4.5

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

2.6

Clearances*

5.9

4.8

Duels (won)*

3.9

4.0

Stats via Sofascore

Alongside another young defender, the 22-year-old Illya Zabarnyi, Huijsen has shone that little bit brighter for Andoni Iraola, with a sharper attacking approach, crisper in possession while influencing forward moves too, and proving to be a bit more robust in his defensive duties.

We touched earlier on the fact that Huijsen could arrive as Slot’s own version of Van Dijk, but we also paid note to Mane, and in a curious way Huijsen may prove to be Liverpool’s next version of the Senegal legend.

Mane left Southampton and signed for Liverpool in 2016 for a £34m fee, having notched 35 goal contributions across just two seasons for Saints.

But he transcended expectations at Liverpool, going from strength to strength and then stronger still as he formed a part of one of the Premier League’s all-time attacking trios, praised as a “machine” by Klopp for his output and athleticism.

Huijsen can replicate the veteran, having already made a name for himself in England’s top flight on the south coast, earning acclaim and attracting attention from a host of Europe’s top outfits.

Moreover, Southampton qualified for the Europa League in 2015/16, right before Mane earned himself a one-way ticket to Anfield.

Bournemouth, of course, are eighth in the Premier League right now. They could grace the European scene next season. However, they won’t have Huijsen in their brood – hopefully, FSG will have pulled no punches in getting a deal done.

Related He's better than Huijsen: Liverpool want "one of the best CBs in the PL"

Liverpool could be about to forget a move for Dean Huijsen with a deal for another Premier League star.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 24, 2025

His tendency to play most lengths from spinners off the back foot has brought him high control percentages but it can also get him into trouble

Karthik Krishnaswamy10-Oct-20251:35

Aakash Chopra: Sai Sudharsan would be ‘kicking himself’ for missing a hundred

It would come as no surprise to anyone that Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, who ended the recent tour of England with averages of 75.40 and 53.20, also had the best control percentages of all of India’s batters on the trip.Guess which India batter had the next-best control percentage? You’ve seen the headline of this piece, so no prizes for guessing, but would you, otherwise, have imagined it might have been B Sai Sudharsan, who scored all of 140 runs across six innings, at an average of 23.33? That too on a tour that brought so many other India batters so many runs?Depending on your philosophical leanings, you might conclude either that this fact shows us how unreliable averages are, or how unreliable control percentages are.If you followed that tour closely enough, you would have watched Sai Sudharsan play innings after innings of promising beginnings and puzzling endings. You would have watched him defend and leave good-length balls in the business area around the top of off stump with great assurance, playing close to his body at most times, and almost always having time for late adjustments. You would have watched him get out to the most unthreatening deliveries, with half-volleys angling down leg proving particularly hazardous.At the end of it all, you might have wondered what to make of it all.Selectors and coaches often place great emphasis on the eye test. Sai Sudharsan had clearly passed this when India called him up to their Test squad. He averaged less than 40 in first-class cricket, and the last frontline batter to make a Test debut for India without having passed that benchmark was another Tamil Nadu left-hander, WV Raman, all the way back in 1988. And Raman’s first-class average was partly a function of his having begun his career as a left-arm spinner who batted down the order.At the end of that England tour, the enigma of Sai Sudharsan confronted the world all over again: eye test passed, average of 23.33.He had, of course, only played three Tests, so you couldn’t read too much into that average. But then came Ahmedabad last week, and a score of 7 when the rest of India’s top six made 36, 100, 50, 125 and 104*. One of those scores came from a promising wicketkeeper-batter who was playing because India’s regular keeper-batter was injured; many viewers began having visions of both playing together, one of them as a specialist batter.And how would India possibly accommodate both in their XI? Well, there’s this guy at No. 3 with an average of 21.00 after four Test matches…It was against this backdrop that Sai Sudharsan batted against West Indies in Delhi. On the one hand: day one on a flat Indian pitch, a modest attack, and so much to gain. On the other: refer to last week’s scorecard for evidence of how little all those ingredients can still amount to.As Sai Sudharsan settled into his innings, he showed no sign of being in any way conscious of this backdrop. He had faced a certain degree of criticism in Ahmedabad for his tendency of playing most lengths from spinners off the back foot, and had been out doing so, lbw while looking to pull Roston Chase off a ball that didn’t seem short enough to merit that response. He continued, here in Delhi, to play most lengths off the back foot against West Indies’ spin trio, but showed he had ways of forcing them for runs without adopting the horizontal bat.By the time he had scored 26, he had hit four back-foot fours off the spinners with a straight or straight-ish bat, three of them down the ground. Two of them were contenders for shot of the day: both times, he rocked back to Jomel Warrican’s left-arm spin and punched him against the turn into the narrow gap between mid-off and short extra-cover.Both times, the ball was only marginally short of a good length, and turning into his stumps and theoretically cramping Sai Sudharsan for room. But he manufactured just enough room by using the full depth of his crease and opening up his hip, with his front leg skipping nimbly to the leg side, and manufactured a remarkable amount of power through his strong, whippy wrists.Sai Sudharsan showed complete faith in this back-foot-dominant game against spin right through a second-wicket stand of 193 with Yashasvi Jaiswal, whether while playing attacking shots or while defending good-length balls attacking his stumps.Every now and again, this technique contributed to moments that jolted viewers out of the reverie that big first-day partnerships on flat Indian pitches can induce. One ball would turn a little more, or skid through a little quicker, or keep ever so slightly low, and yank Sai Sudharsan out of his bubble of self-possession. On 52, he jammed his bat down just in time to save himself from what looked like a certain lbw against one such ball from Khary Pierre.B Sai Sudharsan is back-foot oriented against spin•AFP/Getty ImagesBut this was still a batter in full control. Almost literally. Until he was dropped on 58 – he closed his bat face too early against the medium-pace of Justin Greaves and popped a leading edge towards Warrican at short midwicket – off the 107th ball he faced, Sai Sudharsan hadn’t played a single false shot all innings.And his eventual dismissal on 87 came off the only false shot he played in 125 balls against spin.Inevitably, it was a good-length ball that Sai Sudharsan looked to defend off the back foot, except this ball from Warrican turned prodigiously and skidded onto his back pad before he could bring his bat down fully. Like the rest of his innings had done, like his dismissal in Ahmedabad had done, it fuelled debate over his method.Ball-by-ball data from Test matches in India since 2022 tells us that, on average, batters only negotiate around 14% of balls that spinners land in the 4-5m length band (the fuller side of the spinners’ good length) off the back foot. Sai Sudharsan, in this series, has gone back to just under 38% of balls pitching in that band.Is that… good or bad?Well, first of all, our reactions to technique tend to be informed by what we’re used to seeing. We’re used to watching batters defend balls off the front foot when spinners land on the fuller side of a good length. Any other response looks unusual, and to many viewers, suspect. And if you believe this, that belief is only strengthened when that unusual method contributes to a dismissal.Sai Sudharsan was out playing back to a ball most batters would have gone forward to. But he had employed the same technique until that point while achieving a 100% control rate over 124 balls against spin.B Sai Sudharsan seemingly misjudged the length and fell lbw to Roston Chase in Ahmedabad•Associated PressWhat do we conclude, then? We might want to listen to India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who provided a superbly nuanced take in his press conference at the end of the day’s play.”See, Sai, obviously, coming from Tamil Nadu, they play a lot on turning wickets. He’s pretty good against spin,” Kotak said. “I think his back-foot game, and some shots he plays on the back foot, not many players play, because a lot of balls which he negotiates on the back foot, most of the players would negotiate it on the front foot.”The only thing we talk about is, some of the very full balls also, sometimes he plays on the back foot, so we’re trying to cut [down] on that. He very much knows that, and he tries. And obviously the line [matters]; if the line is outside off stump, the same length he could easily go [onto the] front foot and play, then impact [on the pad] would be outside off stump.”So all that we discuss. But his overall game against spin is a lot more on the back foot than front foot. And with his bat-swing, the way he bats, the amount of power he generates on the back foot is also amazing. Some of the shots through mid-off, extra-cover, through midwicket and all, that is his strength.”To boil that down: Sai Sudharsan is unusually back-foot oriented against spin, and he plays shots off the back foot – like the two mentioned above against Warrican – that not too many others can play. This method can, however, get him in trouble against certain lines and lengths, and judicious use of front-foot play can help him round out his game.Kotak’s observation about going on the front foot when the ball pitches outside off stump, to take lbw out of the equation, illuminates one advantage of front-foot play: it can keep the percentages in batters’ favour even when they aren’t in control. Defending off the back foot, however, tends to be more binary: you are usually either able to adjust to vagaries of turn, pace and bounce and defend with the middle of your bat, or the ball behaves so unusually that you are left without any protection against dismissal.Kotak spoke about Sai’s mental strength too, and the self-belief that allowed him to bat the way he did on Friday, seemingly impervious to all the noise swirling around him.India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak rates B Sai Sudharsan highly•PTI “Sai, we all know how talented he is. [We don’t always just] look at the [batter’s] score; [we] look at the batsman, how he’s batting, how he’s pacing his innings, what kind of shots he plays,” Kotak said. “Sometimes, one or two innings, anybody can fail. But he batted brilliantly today.”He is someone who is mentally very tough, you’ll never see him change his style of playing. He always plays on the merit [of the ball]. So the same way he batted today. [You might have thought] he might be thinking, [what happens] if I get out early again? But if you see his innings, [did] you ever feel from ball one that he’s thinking that? Obviously not. So that’s why we know [what a] quality [player] he is.”Sai Sudharsan’s innings reflected all the strengths Kotak enumerated, but also the security he feels in a team that believes fully in his ability, ignoring his first-class record, his early Test numbers, and the knee-jerk reactions of the outside world to success and failure. It was the innings of a hugely talented player but also the innings of the system that produced him and nurtures him.It felt sobering that this innings came against the West Indies team of 2025. Is Sai Sudharsan, in raw-material terms, a better batter than Tagenarine Chanderpaul or Alick Athanaze? Who can say. Do they have the infrastructure, technical expertise and support system that gets the most out of Sai Sudharsan’s talent? Most definitely not, and for no fault of theirs. If you think cricket is at its healthiest if it offers its young talent the best possible opportunities to flourish, you can’t be happy with the way it currently works.

While their abilities were not in question, it is understood that their decision to practically make themselves unavailable for India has not sat well with the selectors

Sidharth Monga28-Feb-20249:47

Sambit Bal: Iyer-Kishan omission a ‘huge statement from the BCCI’

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan have not been considered for BCCI’s annual retainers because they practically made themselves unavailable to play for India.Kishan took a break from cricket for personal reasons during the South Africa tour, and returned to action only earlier this week in the DY Patil T20 tournament. Iyer was cleared fit by the NCA before the selection for the second half of the ongoing Test series, but didn’t appear either for India or for Mumbai in the week that followed.The BCCI release announcing the contracts ended with an uncharacteristic piece of information: “The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.”Two weeks ago, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had written a letter to the centrally contracted players to not prioritise the IPL over domestic cricket and national duties. The letter had warned them of “severe implications”.Related

There are central contracts, and then there are offers you can't refuse

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Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan lose BCCI central contracts

Rohit: 'We will give opportunity only to players who have that hunger to play Tests'

Even Rohit Sharma, the India captain, said in his press conference after the Ranchi Test on Sunday that players who show the “hunger” for Test cricket will be given preference going forward. He said he realised Test cricket is a tough format, which needs players who will show the required hunger.When Kishan was not selected for the Tests against England, India coach Rahul Dravid said that he hadn’t yet made himself available, and that he would have to play some kind of domestic cricket to be eligible for a comeback. ESPNcricinfo understands the team management had got in touch with him during the on-going Test series against England, but Kishan said he was not ready yet. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel debuted and won the Player-of-the-Match award in his second Test.Iyer’s absence seems to be a disagreement with the fitness assessment done by the NCA. ESPNcricinfo has learnt that after the second Test, Iyer expressed discomfort in his back when playing long innings, but the medical staff cleared him of any injury. When Iyer was left out for the third and fourth Tests, the BCCI didn’t offer any reason. When he didn’t turn up for Mumbai in the next week’s Ranji Trophy match, Mumbai Cricket Association sources said he had back spasms.Shreyas Iyer had expressed discomfort in his back after the second Test against England•AFP/Getty ImagesESPNcricinfo has learnt that the selectors, who make the recommendations for contracts, were not pleased that Kishan used this time away from the game to train with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, and that Iyer was at Kolkata Knight Riders’ pre-season camp when missing the match for Mumbai. Iyer has since made himself available for Mumbai’s semi-final match in the Ranji Trophy.”The selectors don’t doubt their ability,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. “But if the NCA is saying you are fit and you are not making yourself available for the Test series, how can the BCCI offer you a contract?”After the IPL, if they happen to get selected and fulfil the criteria of the number of matches required for a pro-rata contract, they will be awarded a contract.”The ability of Iyer and Kishan is not in any doubt. In fact, India waited till the last possible moment before the ODI World Cup to give Iyer every chance to get back to full fitness. Kishan is an ODI double-centurion, who was India’s Test wicketkeeper in Rishabh Pant’s absence until KL Rahul was also selected as a wicketkeeper for the South Africa tour. Even if Kishan had reasons to believe Rahul might have been preferred in the Tests in South Africa, in which case he decided to tend to his personal matters, his refusal to play for Jharkhand but getting ready for the IPL has not sat well with the selectors.This was perhaps the “severe implications” that Shah warned the players of in the letter, in which he also wrote that players prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket was unprecedented. Now the BCCI seems to have made a tangible statement to address the conflict.

“I was conflicted in my own mind. I knew they were expecting the slower ball, but I didn’t know when to bowl it”

Matt Roller17-Jul-2022It is hard to comprehend the contrasting emotions that Hampshire’s players experienced at 9.48pm on Saturday night in Birmingham. Nathan Ellis yorked Richard Gleeson and charged towards the Hollies stand, roaring “COME ON!” as he peeled away in celebration. His team-mates sprinted over and engulfed him, and the Edgbaston events staff set off the fireworks to mark Hampshire’s record-levelling third T20 title.And then, umpire Graham Lloyd held his arm out and called them back from the deep-point boundary: Paul Baldwin, the TV umpire, had spotted that Ellis had over-stepped. James Fuller sank to his knees. Chris Wood flung the stump he had pulled out as a commemorative souvenir back towards the pitch. “My heart sank,” Ellis said. “All I could think about was the fact that we’d just carried on like that, and I’d carried on celebrating for the last 30 seconds. And now we were in trouble of losing the game.”Related

James Vince's calm amid the chaos secures Hampshire their night of glory

Ellis keeps his cool – twice – to seal one-run thriller for Hampshire

The equation had shifted into Lancashire’s favour. With two runs awarded for a no-ball in English domestic cricket, they needed only two runs off the last ball to lift the trophy by virtue of a higher powerplay score. After James Vince, Hampshire’s captain, delivered a team talk, Ellis stood at the top of his mark and tried desperately to clear his mind enough to make a decision as to what he should bowl.”I hadn’t bowled a slower ball to him [Gleeson],” he explained. “My thought process was: ‘what’s the best way to try and get a play-and-miss?’ That was it. Once I’d made that decision, it was just try and execute.” His back-of-a-length, back-of-the-hand slower ball flew past Gleeson’s outside edge, bounced over the top of the stumps and through to wicketkeeper Ben McDermott on the half-volley.Despite Lancashire’s protestations, Hampshire celebrated for a second time. Ellis finished wicketless but his spell, conceding 23 runs from his four overs, must rank among the best none-fors in T20 history. Even before closing out the win (at the second attempt) he had conceded only nine runs across the 15th and 17th overs as Lancashire froze in their chase; all told, he bowled 10 dot balls and conceded a single boundary, which came during the powerplay.Ellis’ strategy at the death was a microcosm of the planning behind modern T20 cricket, and illustrated the unique challenges of the Blast’s Finals Day. After winning their own semi-final at the start of the day, Lancashire had watched Hampshire beat Somerset immediately before the final; Ellis realised that they would have seen how many slower balls he had bowled during his spell of 3 for 30.Ellis – “My role in T20 cricket has never been as a wicket-taker”•Getty Images”It was a little bit of cat-and-mouse,” he said. “I was conflicted in my own mind. I’d bowled three on-pace attempted yorkers and I knew they were expecting the slower ball, but I didn’t know when to bowl it. I was fully aware that I’d bowled a lot of slower balls in the semi-final earlier in the day, and aware that they [Lancashire] were probably watching.”Ellis is shorter than most fast bowlers and has a whippy action, bowling at good pace from tight to the stumps. His back-of-the-hand slower ball, honed playing Sydney club cricket for St George, is difficult to pick since the seam stays upright throughout and he has been a revelation for Hampshire, conceding just 6.87 runs per over across the season.He was only their fifth-highest wicket-taker, with 15, but his death-over economy rate (6.61) was the best in the competition by a distance. “My role I’ve played in T20 cricket has never been as a wicket-taker,” he said. “It’s not something I even think about or look at: it’s probably more damage control or defend. Those moments to me are way bigger than wicket tallies or anything like that. If we get the win, I couldn’t care less.””The way he regrouped and then his confidence to go to that slower ball in that situation… he’s executed so well at the death so a lot of credit has to go to Nelly,” James Vince, Hampshire’s captain, said. “All the other guys were there spectating on the off-chance it came to them but for him to re-group and have the ball in hand and be as calm as that was outstanding. He’s played a bit for Australia, but I’m sure he’ll play a lot more.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAlong with McDermott, his Hobart Hurricanes team-mate, Ellis was signed on the back of his BBL form which Vince has experienced as an opponent, playing for Sydney Sixers. “We’ve got a good relationship with George Bailey, the Australian selector, from when he played at Hampshire,” Vince said. “Although there was [Australia] A cricket and other squads going on, we had good confidence that we’d have him for the whole competition. That makes a big difference.”Ellis was a travelling reserve when Australia won the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year and will now come into consideration as a squad option for their title defence in October – particularly if he can secure a replacement deal in the Hundred and continues to impress in that competition.But those thoughts can wait. Finals are not about the future, but the unfiltered emotion of the present. And as Ellis, still in his full kit and wearing a Hampshire bucket hat, sat in the dressing room with his team-mates deep into the small hours on Sunday morning, he was left to reflect on the surreality of a final that he won twice

Utilityman and platoon hitter Amed Rosario has reached a one-year, $2.5 million deal to return to the Yankees, according to a report from YES Network’s Jack Curry.

New York acquired Rosario from the Nationals as a rental at last season’s trade deadline for pitcher Clayton Beeter and outfield prospect Browm Martinez. Now, the 30-year-old veteran returns to the Bronx for at least one more season to provide depth in the Yankees lineup, primarily against left-handed pitching.

Rosario appeared in 16 games for the Yankees last season, with nine appearances at third base, one at second and five in the outfield. He slashed .276/.309/.436 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 62 games between the Yankees and Nationals this past season. He had a .819 OPS in 122 plate appearances against lefties compared to just .614 in 69 plate appearances against righthanders.

He was a solid free-agent target for teams looking for depth, but the Yankees capitalized by retaining him on a short-term deal to support starting third baseman Ryan McMahon, another trade-deadline acquisition last year. McMahon doesn’t hit as well against lefties, which likely has him and Rosario sharing time at third base for New York next season, although Rosario won’t be confined to the hot corner.

Rosario appeared in four postseason games for the Yankees last season as New York was eliminated by the Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.

Barcelona legend Gerard Pique has singled out Marcus Rashford as the biggest surprise in La Liga so far this season following his move from Manchester United, though the former defender admitted that Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is currently operating "on another level" compared to the rest of the competition. The Frenchman has made a blistering start to the campaign in Spain, averaging a goal a game for Xabi Alonso's team.

• Mbappe and Rashford in fine form this season

  The current La Liga campaign has been defined by a fascinating battle between established superstars and fresh faces looking to make their mark. While Kylian Mbappe is now firmly entrenched as the face of Madrid following his move in 2024, the arrival of Rashford in Catalonia this summer has added a new dynamic to the title race.

  The England international joined Hansi Flick's side on a season-long loan from Manchester United in July, looking to revitalise a career that had stalled at Old Trafford. His impact has been immediate, with his pace and direct running providing Barcelona with a different dimension in attack as well as six goals – two in La Liga and four in the Champions League. It is a transformation that has caught the eye of Pique, who knows exactly what it takes to succeed in Catalonia.

  Speaking in an interview with , the former Barcelona captain was asked to identify the players who have impressed him most this term. Pique wasted no time in highlighting the English forward's seamless adaptation to Spanish football.

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  Barcelona legend hails English forward

  Asked who has surprised him most this season, Pique picked the 28-year-old Englishman, saying: "Rashford. I think he had a very good start, now let's see how he continues. He scored two goals in the match against Newcastle, he has contributed and helped a lot since the beginning."

  However, despite his allegiance to the Blaugrana, Pique could not ignore the elephant in the room. When discussing the absolute elite performers in the league, he conceded that Real Madrid's number nine sits alone at the top of the mountain. After all, the Frenchman won the league's top scorer prize on his debut season and has followed that up with a whopping 16 goals in as many La Liga games this term, despite Madrid struggling for consistency and falling behind Barcelona in the top-flight. He has also netted an incredible nine in just five Champions League matches.

  "Also Mbappe, he is on another level and not just in goals, but also in how he looks," Pique admitted. "I think he is sharper than ever."

  The former defender also tipped his cap to rivals Atletico Madrid, noting the contributions of their Argentine contingent. "Looking at other teams, in Atletico you have Giuliano Simeone, who is doing very well, Julian [Alvarez], who is a differential player," he added. "I think in La Liga there has not been any big surprise and that everything is being quite expected."

• Rashford's Spanish renaissance

  Pique’s comments validate what has been a rejuvenating few months for Rashford. There were significant doubts over whether the 28-year-old could adapt to the technical demands of La Liga, but he has answered his critics emphatically. Pique highlighted his pivotal Champions League performance earlier against Newcastle, in which he scored twice to seal a 2-1 win. He has also provided six assists in the domestic competition and a further one in Europe.

  For a player who looked lost at United under Ruben Amorim, Rashford has found a new lease of life under Flick. His versatility across the front line has been crucial for Barcelona, allowing them to rotate Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski without a drop in quality.

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  Mbappe the benchmark

  While Rashford has been a pleasant surprise, Mbappe has been an inevitability. Now fully settled in his second season in Madrid, the Frenchman has evolved into the complete leader of the Los Blancos attack.

  Pique’s observation that he looks "sharper than ever" is a frightening prospect for defences across Europe. Having already lifted the Champions League in his debut season, Mbappe appears determined to chase down individual records this term. His dominance is such that even the staunchest Barcelona icons are forced to acknowledge his supremacy.

  For Rashford, the challenge is now consistency. As Pique noted, "let's see how he continues." With reports suggesting Barcelona have a purchase option in the region of €30 million for next summer, the Englishman is effectively playing for his long-term future. A strong second half of the season could seal a permanent exit from Old Trafford.

  Meanwhile, Mbappe and Real Madrid face a defining week with a Champions League clash against Manchester City. With the team suffering from a defensive injury crisis, the onus will once again be on their French superstar to provide the "differential" quality Pique so admires.

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game came to an exhilirating end as the tie game came down to a swing-off between three hitters each from the National League and American League. Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber led the NL to the win, as he hit home runs on all three of his swings during the swing-off to earn the victory.

The ending was thrilling and a great way to cap off the game, but the primary complaint was that the swing-off did not feature all of the biggest stars of the All-Star Game. Since many of the starters of the game play a few innings and then leave the ballpark midgame to get home, the top stars were not available for the swing-off, which turned out to be an unexpected success for the game.

The participants for a potential swing-off are also submitted in the days prior to the All-Star Game, so managers Aaron Boone and Dave Roberts did not plan for players like Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani to get involved in the event of the swing-off.

MLB insider Jeff Passan called out the absence of these stars for the swing-off after the game on X.

Passan posted, "What is: Brent Rooker, Jonathan Aranda, Randy Arozarena vs. Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Stowers. What could have been: Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber."

Athletics All-Star Brent Rooker, who hit two home runs in the swing-off, replied to Passan on X, tweeting, "Am I not good enough for you Jeff."

Rooker soon clarified he was merely joking. He commented, "(Guys I like Jeff I’m not actually mad I would pick Aaron, Cal and Vladdy over me too)."

Passan also got in on the joke, commenting on Rooker's reply, "Own that loser."

Though the swing-off might have been more exciting had players like Judge, Ohtani, and Cal Raleigh been available to compete, the All-Star Game still featured an ending that reinvigorated excitement for the Midsummer Classic, even with Rooker leading the charge for the AL.