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Arsenal have suddenly sprung to life in the last few days.

For much of the last few weeks, fans were beginning to worry that Mikel Arteta’s side were being left behind by their Premier League rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City, who have been incredibly busy in the transfer window thus far.

However, seemingly out of nowhere, the North Londoners appear to have wrapped up deals for Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, and now it looks like they are making progress on a deal to sign Christian Mosquera.

On top of that, the Gunners are now being linked with Crystal Palace’s incredible Eberechi Eze, although there is another international touted for a move to the Emirates this summer, someone who’d be a better signing than the Englishman.

Arsenal target international talent

Considering Arsenal scored 17 goals fewer than eventual Premier League champions Liverpool this season, it’s no surprise that most of their rumoured targets this summer are attacking players, with a real focus on left-wingers, such as Nico Williams and Eze.

Transfer Focus

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

The former looked like he could be the answer to the Gunners’ problems in that area of the pitch, but as things stand today, he looks more likely to move to Barcelona than England.

Eze, on the other hand, does feel like a realistic target, as he’s proven himself in the Premier League for years now and has a release clause worth around £68m in his contract, which would make signing him relatively straightforward.

Yet, if Arteta and Co really want to take the team to the next level this summer and bring in someone who’d represent a real signal of intent, they might be better off signing Rodrygo.

The good news is that they might have the same idea, as, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Real Madrid superstar.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the Gunners are now preparing to make an offer of around €80m for the Brazilian international, which translates to around £68m.

Interestingly, the club want to stagger the payments into three installments, with the first being around €50m and the next two being €15m each, which is something they might not be able to do with the Palace star due to his release clause.

It would still be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s ability, experience and stature in the game, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Eze.

Why Rodrygo would be a better signing than Eze

Okay, the first thing to say is that both players are incredibly talented footballers and would, therefore, make excellent additions to Arsenal’s squad.

After all, their raw output from this season isn’t all that far apart, as the Palace star scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games, totalling 3303 minutes, while the Real monster produced the same goal involvements in 3448 minutes across 53 games.

However, the first real argument for the latter being the superior player emerges when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.51

0.52

Progressive Passes

5.05

3.37

Progressive Passes Received

11.8

5.31

Progressive Carries

5.28

2.40

Shots

2.52

3.48

Goals per Shot

0.11

0.07

Shots on Target

0.93

0.94

Goals Per Shot on Target

0.30

0.26

Expected Assists

0.20

0.16

Key Passes

2.29

2.01

Passes into the Final Third

3.08

1.70

Shot-Creating Actions

4.95

4.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.35

Tackles Won

0.65

0.76

Blocks

0.84

0.94

Interceptions

0.51

0.38

Clearances

0.42

0.35

Carries into the Final Third

4.07

1.67

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.34

0.76

Aerial Duels Won

0.33

0.24

For example, even though the former QPR star comes out on top in some metrics, like shots and shots on target per 90, he does far worse in the vast majority of relevant statistics.

In fact, not only does the former Santos gem do better in most attacking areas, like progressive and key passes, but also in some of the defensive metrics as well, like interceptions and clearances, highlighting his willingness to do the dirty work and help out his team.

Finally, in addition to being vastly superior in a statistical sense, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, is two years younger and has significantly more experience at the highest level.

For example, he has won two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and a host of other trophies, so he knows exactly what it takes to play at the very top of the game, which is something the Eagles ace just doesn’t have in his locker.

​​​​

Ultimately, both players would be excellent signings for Arsenal, but due to his incredible experience, age and superior statistics, Arsenal should be looking to sign Rodrygo over Eze this summer.

Better than Sesko & Gyokeres: Arsenal have "looked at" signing £82m star

The incredible goalscorer would be an unreal addition to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 27, 2025

The window might not be officially open yet, but silly season is in full swing, and Arsenal look set for a busy one.

Earlier today, it was revealed that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is just a medical away from officially joining the Gunners, and it feels like he won’t be the last international to join from La Liga.

For example, for well over a year now, Mikel Arteta’s side have been heavily linked with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and then, over the last month or so, links to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have appeared everywhere.

And now, another exciting attacker, someone who has been compared to both aforementioned wingers, has been touted for a move to the Emirates this summer.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth going over some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Antoine Semenyo and Rafael Leao.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be attainable for a fee of around £70m, and while that’s a lot of money, he is a Premier League-proven star who has amassed an impressive enough tally of 20 goal involvements in 42 games for Bournemouth this year.

On the other hand, Leao could cost as much as £145m thanks to the release clause in his current contract, but he too has enjoyed a brilliant personal campaign this season, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 games for AC Milan.

However, while both players would be exciting additions to the team, another name has now entered the fray: Takefusa Kubo.

According to a recent report from Spanish newspaper AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Real Sociedad star.

In fact, the report claims that the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool have already made contact with the Japanese international, who has a release clause worth €60m – £50m – in his current contract.

While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should persevere with it, especially as Kubo has won comparisons to both Williams and Rodrygo.

How Kubo compares to Williams & Rodrygo

Before we get into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Kubo this summer, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Williams and Rodrygo, as, after all, they are some of the most exciting wingers around at the moment.

Well, in this instance, it all stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in La Liga and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.

In this instance, it concluded that the Spaniard is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Japanese star this season, while the Brazilian comes in eighth.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.31

0.35

0.32

Progressive Carries

5.04

5.32

5.28

Expected Assists

0.14

0.19

0.20

Goals per Shot

0.12

0.09

0.11

Clearances

0.49

0.41

0.42

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.16

2.61

2.34

Aerial Duels Win %

36.7%

39.3%

30.4%

We can better understand how this conclusion has been reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, clearances, progressive carries, goals per shot and more, all per 90.

On top of his similarities to the two sensational wingers and his tally of seven goals and four assists this season, another argument for why the Gunners should sign the “dangerous” international, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is his individual underlying numbers.

For example, FBref places him in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goal-creating actions from take-ons and passes blocked, the top 5% for shot-creating actions stemming from a defensive action, the top 7% for successful take-ons, the top 8% for fouls drawn and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while he might not be at the top of many transfer wishlists, Kubo would be an exceptional addition to Arsenal’s right-sided attacking options and someone who could get even better as the team continues to progress.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

After a very memorable trophy presentation day, Celtic’s summer plans are in full swing.

Saturday’s clash was essentially a dead-rubber for the Parkhead side, with the title having already been secured weeks ago, but those in attendance will never forget James Forrest’s 94th minute equaliser, a sweet strike that means the one club man has now scored in 16 successive seasons for Celtic; it was celebrated like the winner in a Champions League final.

Brendan Rodgers’ side will conclude the campaign with Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final, firm favourites to beat Aberdeen at Hampden, having already smashed the Dons on three occasions this season, 6-0 in November, 5-1 in February and then 5-1 again last mid-week up at Pittodrie.

Now, are the four-in-a-row Scottish Premiership champions about to get even stronger, as they seek to sign one of Europe’s most highly-rated young strikers?

Celtic's continued striker search

According to a report from the Daily Record, Celtic are still very much interested in signing long-term target Mathias Kvistgaarden, after the 23-year-old confirmed he is set to leave Brøndby this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to the media in his homeland, the player noted: “I think I’m ready. I’ve made my mark at Brondby and in the Superliga, so I’m ready to take the next step.”

Back in January, Football Insider claimed that the Celts had an official bid rejected for Kvistgaarden, who is reportedly valued at £13.5m, with a report in Denmark noting that Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt have also ‘intensified’ their interest.

Could Kvistgaarden be Celtic's new Larsson?

Kvistgaarden took his tally to 23 goals for the season against Midtjylland on Monday night, making him the second-highest goalscorer in the Danish Superligaen this season, with just one round of fixtures to go.

So, could we see him in a Celtic jersey come next season?

Well, Kyōgo Furuhashi departed Celtic in January, joining Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £10m in January and no direct replacement was signed.

Adam Idah, who joined permanently from Norwich last summer, did step up, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, while player of the season Daizen Maeda was often deployed down the middle too, netting 33 times in total and picking up all the individual awards.

Nevertheless, a Kyōgo replacement is needed given that, according to Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman, the Japanese star is Celtic’s best striker since Henrik Larsson, so let’s assess that assertion.

Kyōgo

165

85

8

126

Édouard

179

87

7

140

Dembélé

94

51

7

121

Griffiths

261

123

3

118

Hooper

138

82

5

136

McDonald

121

59

4

159

Hartson

198

105

6

143

Sutton

196

84

6

198

Larsson

292

224

15

113

The table underlines Kyōgo’s impressive statistics, even when compared to some of the greatest Celtic strikers of the modern era, most notably the king of kings himself, Larsson.

But how do the Japanese forward’s statistics compare to those of Kvistgaarden?

Appearances

102

101

Minutes

6,323

10,741

Goals

43

85

Mins per goal

164

126

Assists

17

19

Shots on target %

48.8%

45.5%

Shots per 90

3.14

3.34

Shots on target per 90

1.53

1.52

Big chances missed

32

69

Note: Kvistgaarden’s statistics are 2022/23-present.

As the table outlines, Kvistgaarden’s numbers do compare favourably, having taken his game to another level this season, underlined by his very impressive figure of a goal every 107 minutes.

Chris Beaumont of Total Football Analysis describes him as a ‘quick and agile striker’, with Scout António Mango asserting that he is “absolutely sensational”.

Meantime, Farzam Abolhosseini of Tipsbladet labels him “magical”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes that the 23-year-old is “only getting better”.

Thus, it is clear that the young Dane would be an astonishingly excellent signing for Celtic, if they’re able to get the deal over the line of course, boasting the potential to be the Hoops’ best centre-forward since a certain fellow-Scandinavian striker.

Celtic can replace Jota by signing "one of the standout players in La Liga"

With Jota sidelined for the next nine months due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, could Brendan Rodgers sign La Liga’s standout winger?

ByBen Gray May 16, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers could reportedly choose to axe some big names at Parkhead at the end of this season, following some recent criticism of his squad.

Rodgers criticises Celtic squad

The Hoops may have thumped Kilmarnock 5-1 at home in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon, but that’s not to say that Rodgers is entirely happy about what he is seeing from his players currently.

The 52-year-old was hugely unimpressed with Celtic’s performance in the 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone last week, making his feeling clear after the game: “Bitterly disappointing. It’s a huge credit to St Johnstone and congratulations to them. For us, poor start to the game, but not the first time and this is something for me that we will look at, certainly in the summer.”

Rodgers clearly hated what he saw in that game, and while some may look at the league table and feel it was an overreaction, with title glory still inevitable this season, it highlights the standards that the Irishman sets.

It could be argued that his strong words after the defeat played a big part in Celtic’s aforementioned thumping of Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday, with his players knowing that a response was required. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the manager’s approach this summer.

Rodgers could axe big Celtic names

According to Football Insider, Rodgers “won’t hesitate to swing the axe” and get rid of some high-profile Celtic players in the summer transfer window.

The individuals in question are said to have had a “sharp decline in form” recently and the Hoops boss could decide that enough is enough once the current campaign reaches its conclusion. Greg Taylor is used as an example in the report, with the left-back linked with an exit earlier this month.

This is undoubtedly a ruthless stance from Rodgers, but arguably one that needs to be taken, given some of the complacency that has been on show of late.

Prior to the win over Kilmarnock, the Hoops had lost three of their previous six Scottish Premiership matches, including a 3-2 defeat at home to Rangers, doing their best efforts to let their rivals back into the title race.

Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Kühn to unleash Celtic's "on fire" star

Ahead of Celtic’s Premiership clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday, Brendan Rodgers must drop Nicolas Kühn and start his “on fire” winger instead.

1 Apr 12, 2025

While wholesale changes aren’t needed at Celtic this summer, freshening up the squad has to be a priority for Rodgers, as he brings in new faces and gets rid of those he believes have reached the end of their time at Parkhead.

Greg Taylor

2025

Jeffrey Schlupp (loan)

2025

James McCarthy

2025

Kasper Schmeichel

2026

James Forrest

2026

Johnny Kenny

2026

Scott Bain

2026

Taylor is out of contract at the end of the season, as is James McCarthy, while a decision needs to be made about whether Jeffrey Schupp’s loan move will become permanent or not.

Pakistan’s new T20 captain is fully focused on the World Cup less than six months away

Danyal Rasool11-Jan-2024A day after arriving in New Zealand, Shaheen Afridi’s T20 side were greeted with a Powhiri – a Maori welcoming ceremony – at a marae, a traditional meeting ground. It was the first time a visiting team had been invited alongside the New Zealand cricket team onto a marae as part of a traditional welcome. The pictures that went out painted a picture of mutual respect and familiarity for two teams that, by the time this series is over, will have played each other 27 times in the last 15 months.And the newly anointed Pakistan T20I captain extended that spirit of respecting and honouring his own predecessor – as well as his vice-captain – to the pre-match press conference, saying Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were “the best opening pair” for Pakistan. At the same time, though, he suggested that did not mean his side weren’t open to changes, and suggested Pakistan were still working out their best combination ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup.”Babar and Rizwan remain the best opening pair for Pakistan,” Shaheen said. “We have 17 matches ahead of the World Cup to look at our combination. We’ll make tweaks to see which player is best suited to which position. When we go to England we’ll know what the best position is. There will be changes perhaps but by the time the team goes to England, we hope to know exactly what our best playing XI is and where they’re playing.”Related

• T20 World Cup agenda dominates clash of the titans

• Arafat named Pakistan's high-performance coach for New Zealand T20Is

• Hafeez defends Pakistan's decision to rest Afridi for third Test

• Mohammad Rizwan named Pakistan T20I vice-captain

Babar and Rizwan’s pairing in T20s has been a point of keenest debate for followers of Pakistan cricket, with the main question surrounding whether the enormity of runs they score up top can compensate for a strike rate not quite as explosive as modern T20 cricket demands. That debate has been lent further fuel by the emergence of two firebrand hitters in Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris who can take their place. While Haris is not part of this series, Ayub is expected to feature heavily, potentially lining up with Rizwan as opener.Shaheen insisted Babar dropping down the order did not mean Pakistan valued him any less, dismissing the idea he was struggling with the bat. “I don’t think Babar’s form is bad. He’s the best, and he’s scored so many runs I don’t even know anymore. A few innings make no difference. As a player and a captain, he’s performed well for Pakistan. He’s always our best player.”The other notable point of interest for Shaheen concerns his own workload, with the T20 captain saying he had missed the third Test against Australia earlier this month because the medical team deemed the chances of an injury too significant to play him in a game that was inconsequential to the series.With Australia having taken a 2-0 lead, Shaheen had bowled 99.2 overs across that period, far more than any other bowler from either side. Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez said Shaheen’s body was sore, and could not be risked, though the decision did come in for heavy criticism from several former Pakistan legends, most notably Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.Shaheen Afridi bowled nearly 100 overs in the first two Tests against Australia•Icon Sportswire/Getty Images”I played Tests after a few months and played two Tests,” Shaheen said. “Test cricket is not easy – I bowled 100 [99.2] overs. My body was sore and there was a chance of injury, so I think the team management and medical panel decided I should take a rest – they didn’t want to see me injured again.”Test cricket is my first priority. Everyone loves Test cricket. When I start[ed] my cricket journey, I played T20Is and ODI. My older brother [Riaz Afridi] who played one Test for Pakistan said, ‘when you play Test cricket, you’re a proper cricketer’. My first goal is always to prioritise Test cricket. That’s the first priority for every cricketer. When you play the shorter format, it’s easier on your body.”I’m fit now. I bowled too much in the two Tests and the fatigue was immense. If we had the opportunity to win the series, I believe I would have played, because I love Test cricket and it is my priority.”But the need to nurse Shaheen back to a higher level of fitness – his pace continues to hover in the early 130s kph since he returned from his previous injury (knee) – also means he is unlikely to play each of the five T20Is Pakistan play in New Zealand. “I do not want to miss any game, but what the body requirements is [are] means there might be challenges. I want to play every game for my country.”The more immediate challenge, though, concerns the dimensions at Eden Park in Auckland, where the sides play the first T20I against New Zealand. The ground is a multi-purpose venue, its other most notable function being playing host to the All Blacks, New Zealand’s rugby side. The shape of the ground means the straight boundaries are famously short; the shortest distance from batter to rope can be as little as 45m. It is something Shaheen, a bowler who likes to pitch it up and look for swing, is keenly aware of, and hinted at a change of tactic.”The straight boundary is very small, to be honest, not easy [to defend]. For me, I like to bowl full so it’s tough. The square boundary is bigger so we’ll adjust our team plan to that. But it’s not easy for fast bowlers; we’ll see what fast bowlers in the past have done so we’ll do our best.”For me this is an exciting challenge and a proud moment. It’s not easy, a new challenge. We have a good track record against New Zealand but they’re an excellent T20 side.”Earlier in the day, Kane Williamson and Afridi unveiled the series trophy at Albert Park, the spot where the flower guardians encircle the central fountain – the place for the photoshoot. Williamson sat down for his press conference before Afridi, with New Zealand making sure he wrapped up to not keep Afridi waiting for too long. The familiarity with which the two greeted one another is indicative of the frequency with which their paths cross, but the traditional welcome Pakistan received reminded Afridi of a time when he was in New Zealand during his Under-19 days.”That [the welcome] was a really good experience,” Afridi said, his face lighting up at the memory. “We had a similar welcome at the 2018 World Cup when we came here. I wasn’t in the team then, but as a touring group we really liked it. It was an awesome experience this time, too, we enjoyed it. Thank you to New Zealand Cricket and to all of New Zealand.”Afridi isn’t just in the team now, but very much the main character. And while that brings with it burdens and claustrophobic expectations in Pakistan, kicking it off with a powhiri at Orakei marae is a friendlier reception than he will get some days.

ESPNcricinfo’s player-by-player guide to the less familiar names in England’s Test squad

Matt Roller08-Feb-2022

Alex Lees

County: Durham
Age: 28
Role: Left-handed opening batter
First-class career: 127 matches, 7078 runs at 34.86, 17×100
County Championship 2021: 11 matches, 625 runs at 39.06, 1x100Lees made his first-class debut at 17 and set Yorkshire tongues wagging when he hit a Championship double-hundred aged 20. He was part of their title-winning sides in 2014 and 2015 and went on Lions tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa, as well as gaining the limited-overs captaincy.The runs dried up as he reached his mid-20s, and he moved to Durham midway through the 2018 season, initially on loan ahead of a permanent transfer. He has scored five first-class hundreds since joining them and despite the Riverside’s bowler-friendly reputation, his Durham average is significantly higher at home (46.33) than away (27.41).He captained England Lions in Australia this winter, but made only 2 and 1 in the unofficial Test, becoming the first of many England batters to struggle against Scott Boland. With few top-order options in the squad, he is likely to open alongside Zak Crawley in the Caribbean.What they said: “Alex has the ability and mindset to play Test cricket. He is a very strong character. He is a much-improved player over the past couple of years. He is a mature batsman, knows his game and wouldn’t let anybody down.”

Matthew Fisher

County: Yorkshire
Age: 24
Role: Tall right-arm seamer
First-class career: 21 matches, 63 wickets at 27.52, 2x5wi
County Championship 2021: 5 matches, 20 wickets at 19.65, 1x5wiFisher playing for England Lions in 2018•Getty ImagesLong earmarked as a future England player, Fisher made his first-class debut as a 17-year-old – like Lees, who was part of that Yorkshire team – but has played only 21 times since due to a series of injuries which have stalled his development as a fast bowler. He had made a List A debut two years previously, skipping a French oral GCSE exam to play against Leicestershire at Scarborough.Whenever Fisher has been fit enough to string a number of games together, he has looked the part: since the start of the shortened 2020 season, he has taken 32 first-class wickets at 20.53. He took the new ball for England Lions against Australia A alongside Saqib Mahmood in December, taking 2 for 84. Unusually, he is largely deaf in his left ear.What they said: “I definitely think that if Fish has a good, consistent couple of years that we will lose him [to England]. He’s that good that he will end up going up a level.”

Saqib Mahmood

County: Lancashire
Age: 24
Role: Right-arm fast bowler
First-class career: 25 matches, 70 wickets at 27.92, 1x5wi
County Championship 2021: 8 matches, 28 wickets at 23.89, 1x5wiSaqib Mahmood has impressed in ODIs for England•Getty ImagesMahmood has already played 19 limited-overs internationals and been named in countless squads but remains uncapped at Test level, narrowly missing out on a debut against India at Headingley last summer when England opted for Craig Overton instead.He has limited red-ball experience and has leaked runs on occasion but ]can be devastating when things click, as he showed when he took 5 for 47 – his only first-class five-for – during the Roses match at Old Trafford last summer, finding prodigious reverse-swing on the final day.Mahmood can touch speeds of 90mph/145kph but it is his low-arm, slingshot action and skiddy trajectory which marks him out as different to the rest of England’s fast-medium attack. He played an unofficial Test against West Indies on the Lions tour there in 2018, taking 3 for 67, but struggled during the recent T20I series in Barbados.What they said: “I think he would have offered something different [in the Ashes]. He bowls a fuller length, has a go-to yorker and can bowl a good bouncer and you only have to look at my record in Australia to see how that can work.”

Matt Parkinson

County: Lancashire
Age: 25
Role: Old-fashioned legspinner
First-class career: 32 matches, 102 wickets at 23.35, 4x5wi
County Championship 2021: 11 matches, 36 wickets at 20.55, 1x5wiMatt Parkinson had his best first-class season in 2021•Getty ImagesParkinson has played five ODIs and four T20Is in his nascent England career but, like his Lancashire team-mate Mahmood, is yet to make a Test debut. An old-school legspinner who often finds sharp turn and plenty of drift, Parkinson had his best first-class season in 2021 but was overlooked for the Ashes, with Dom Bess preferred as England’s back-up spinner.As he did in 2020-21, Parkinson has spent much of this winter in bubbles, either for the Lions or at the PSL, but has not played a competitive game since the end of the English summer. Spinners have been relatively ineffective in recent Tests in the Caribbean and it would be a surprise for England to pick two after a similar move backfired on the 2019 tour.What they said: “If you are doing well, no one will question anything about your pace. If it starts to go wrong, that’s when people start to question it, but he has stayed true to himself and that is what I really like. I have been pretty impressed watching him and I’m looking forward to seeing his career develop.”

Ben Foakes

County: Surrey

Age: 28
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
Test career: 8 matches, 410 runs at 31.53, 1×100
First-class career: 123 matches, 6214 runs at 38.35, 11×100
County Championship 2021: 8 matches, 350 runs at 43.75, 1x100Foakes is highly-rated behind the stumps•BCCIFoakes has played eight Tests in a stop-start career and is the only capped player recalled after missing out on Ashes selection. His glovework is superb – Alec Stewart famously labelled him the best wicketkeeper in the world five years ago – but his Test average has dipped since his debut hundred at Galle in 2018, with signs of vulnerability to the short ball emerging on England’s last Caribbean tour.Injury robbed him of a chance to pitch a case for Ashes selection last year – he suffered a freak hamstring tear after slipping in The Oval’s dressing room, days after being named in the squad for the New Zealand series – but he did make a second-innings half-century for the Lions against Australia A. England’s decision to drop Jos Buttler – and to leave Sam Billings out of the squad after a tidy performance on debut – should give him a clear run at the gloves for the foreseeable future.What they said: “Standing up, the most naturally gifted wicketkeeper in the world… so natural that he doesn’t have to over-complicate his game with technical issues, which allows him to be lightning quick up to the stumps.”

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. wasn't included in New York's starting lineup for their playoff opener against the Red Sox Tuesday. He entered late in the game as a defensive substitute for Amed Rosario who started at second base.

The Yankees fell to the Red Sox 3–1 as they were unable to convert with bases loaded and no outs in the ninth. After the game, Chisholm was asked about manager Aaron Boone's decision to leave him out of the starting lineup, but he didn't seem too interested in discussing the matter.

"I mean I guess, yeah," Chisholm said with his back to the camera in the locker room on whether he was surprised with Boone's decision. "It's a little conversation. Not much, but yeah, just move forward after it."

Chisholm said that Boone relayed the decision to him in a text message Monday night. "I mean, got to do whatever we got to do to win, right? So, that's how I look at it," he said.

Before the game, Boone mentioned the decision was a matchup call to play the right-handed-hitting Rosario against the Red Sox' lefty ace Garrett Crochet, according to NJ.com. Righthander Brayan Bello is Boston's planned starter for Wednesday's Game 2, so Chisholm will presumably be back in the starting group.

He had one at-bat Tuesday night, hitting a flyout out in the ninth inning as the Yankees' comeback attempt fell short. Chisholm received his second All-Star appearance this year as he slashed .242/.332/.481 with 31 home runs, 80 RBIs and 31 stolen bases over the regular season. He slashed .248/.322/.411 with six homers and 19 RBIs against lefties this year.

Nick Browne, Essex’s former opening batter, has taken his first step into a post-playing career by joining the club’s women’s set-up as assistant coach and batting lead.Browne, 34, announced his retirement at the end of the 2025 County Championship season, having amassed nearly 10,000 runs across all formats, including 22 centuries and a best of 255 against Derbyshire in 2016.His appointment follows that of Stephen Parry, the former left-arm spinner, who was last week announced as Essex Women’s new head coach, following the departure of Andy Tennant earlier this year. Cath Dalton, the club’s former academy coach, has also been named as seam-bowling lead to complete the squad’s overhaul, after a disappointing maiden season as a Tier 1 women’s team last year.Browne said: “I am really enthusiastic at this new challenge and chapter. I spent some time with Essex Women during the summer and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so to be offered the role full-time is really exciting.”Following my retirement at the end of the season, I was determined to get into coaching and share some of the knowledge I have gained over the years.”To be given this role by the club is extremely fortunate and I want to thank everyone involved in trusting me as I embark on the next stage of my career.”The group we have here is very talented and I hope that I can help deliver success for the Essex Women in the short and long term.”Chris Silverwood, Essex’s director of cricket, said: “Nick was the perfect fit to take on the role as Essex Women’s assistant coach and batting lead and we are really happy that he has agreed terms to his new role at the club.”Throughout his playing career Nick displayed a tremendous amount of professionalism and dedication to his game and Essex Cricket. His professionalism, calm leadership, and deep understanding of the game makes him a more than ideal mentor for our Women’s team.”Nick will offer the ability to develop players both technically and mentally and I have every confidence that his influence, alongside Stephen Parry, will elevate our group of Essex Women cricketers and inspire them to reach new heights.”

كشف إبراهيم حسن مدير منتخب مصر الأول عن موعد إرسال قائمة الفراعنة المشاركة ببطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، موضحًا موعد استبدال اللاعبين المصابين.

ومن المقرر أن ينطلق معسكر منتخب مصر الأول، يوم 3 ديسمبر، على أن يتخلل المعسكر مباراة ودية أمام منتخب نيجيريا، يوم 14 من الشهر ذاته.

طالع | قائمة منتخب مصر استعدادًا لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025 .. موقف إمام عاشور

وعلم بطولات، أن منتخب مصر يحق له السفر بـ28 لاعبا في كأس أمم إفريقيا على أن يختار 23 لاعبا قبل كل مباراة في قائمته.

وتقرر سفر منتخب مصر بالـ28 لاعبا، أي السفر سيكون بالقائمة المختارة بالكامل.

وقال إبراهيم حسن في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات”: “القائمة النهائية لـ منتخب مصر تتكون من 28 لاعبا، وسيتم إرسالها للكاف يوم 11 ديسمبر”.

وأتم: “لن يتم السماح باستبدال أي لاعب من الـ28 بعد يوم 11 ديسمبر حتى لو هناك إصابة”.

و⁠يبدأ منتخب مصر مبارياته ببطولة أمم إفريقيا يوم 22 ديسمبر بمواجهة زيمبابوي ثم جنوب إفريقيا يوم 26 وأنجولا يوم 29 ديسمبر في دور المجموعات.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em baixa com a torcida do Palmeiras após falhar contra o Corinthians, Weverton tem total apoio de Abel Ferreira. Porém, o treinador português fez um pedido ao goleiro nos últimos jogos.

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Abel percebeu que os adversários tem explorado com frequência a bola aérea defensiva do Verdão. Assim, o comandante português quer que Weverton dê um passo adiante nas jogadas aéreas e “jogue com as mãos dentro da área”.

– O culpado sou eu. Porque eu estou a lhe dizer para sair em todas e, se errar, a responsabilidade é minha. Quando nós tentamos evoluir a nossa forma de jogar, quando nós tentamos inovar, quando nós tentamos ser melhores, há sempre um processo de aprendizagem. Ele hoje fez exatamente o que lhe pedi. Umas saiu, acertou e outras saiu, errou. Mas é isso que eu quero que ele faça – disse o técnico após a vitória sobre a Portuguesa.

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O treinador do Palmeiras também reconheceu que Weverton está em evolução neste aspecto.

– Tem que ser um goleiro que utilize toda a altura e envergadura que tem. O único jogador que pode jogar com a mão dentro da área é o goleiro, e nós temos que ter essa vantagem. Eu estou a desafiá-lo a arriscar e sair. Agora é um processo em que ele vai ser não só um bom goleiro como já era, mas vai ter um upgrade. Mais um elemento que nos pode nos ajudar no jogo aéreo – completou.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Apesar das críticas da torcida, Weverton tem apoio do elenco, comissão técnica e diretoria. O goleiro será o titular no Choque-Rei de domingo (3), contra o São Paulo, no Morumbi, pela penúltima rodada da fase de grupos do Paulistão.

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