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.”

Tottenham have reportedly transfer listed Yves Bissouma following a second laughing gas scandal in just over a year, with the club now determined to move on from a player they once believed would anchor their midfield in the long term. The 29-year-old is out of contract next summer, and now faces an increasingly uncertain future after slipping further out of favour under head coach Thomas Frank.

• Nitrous oxide: Bissouma's double offence Spurs cannot ignore

  Bissouma has not played a single competitive minute since Frank’s arrival, and Monday’s revelation that Spurs are investigating new footage appearing to show him inhaling nitrous oxide has pushed the situation into full-blown crisis mode. This is not Bissouma’s first brush with controversy involving nitrous oxide. In early 2023, then-manager Ange Postecoglou suspended him for one game after he appeared in similar footage, prompting a public apology from the player, who conceded at the time that he had shown "a severe lack of judgement". 

  He said: "I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgment. I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

  Possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use was criminalised across the UK in 2023 and might trigger a two-year prison sentence, meaning this second alleged offence carries more serious ramifications.

  "It's an internal matter we are dealing with at the moment, and when we have dealt with that, then I will comment on it," Frank said recently.

  With Bissouma already on thin ice, report that patience has run out. Previous coach Postecoglou had initially identified Bissouma as a potential leader within his dressing room, yet even his first day under the Australian was marred by the midfielder arriving late, which he attributed to a flat tyre and heavy traffic. Spurs stuck by him then. But now, with two off-field scandals and a club-level suspension behind him, the north London side has opted to cut ties.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tottenham to make decision on contract

  Tottenham fear that allowing Bissouma’s contract to run down completely would result in losing a £25 million ($33m) signing for nothing. They are prepared to activate a clause extending his deal by another 12 months should they fail to secure a transfer in January, but club officials privately concede they must sell this winter to avoid further off-field turbulence and financial loss. The midfielder underwent ankle surgery in October, but Spurs believe there is still a market for him, albeit far below the fee they paid Brighton in 2022.

• Interest builds across Europe as Premier League suitors wait

  Clubs in France are already on alert. Nice and Marseille are said to be monitoring developments closely, while Turkish giants Fenerbahce, who backed out of a move in August due to concerns about his fitness, may revive negotiations. Bissouma was recently photographed training in a gym wearing a Fenerbahce shirt, further fuelling speculation that a move to Istanbul is the most likely scenario.

  Back in England, Everton and West Ham previously explored deals, though the latter’s interest is now unclear following the departure of Graham Potter, Bissouma’s former manager at Brighton. A transfer abroad appears increasingly probable, especially as Bissouma is set to join up with Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations in January. If Mali’s progress beyond the group stage, Bissouma may not be available until deep into the month, which is another unwanted complication for any club attempting a swift deal.

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  What comes next for Bissouma?

  Bissouma’s fall from an admired midfield general to a disciplinary headache has been stark. He has made 100 appearances for Spurs and was instrumental in last season’s Europa League triumph in Bilbao, where Tottenham defeated Manchester United. But off-field turbulence has overshadowed his football. In November, it emerged that Bissouma had been the victim of a major fraud, losing £800,000 from a Coutts bank account. Spurs are expected to issue disciplinary sanctions in the coming days.

The 2025 MLS Cup delivered record-breaking viewership on Dec. 6, drawing a combined 4.6 million viewers across platforms and setting new benchmarks for fan engagement. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF capped the night by winning their first MLS Cup title with a 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium.

Getty Images SportMLS Cup draws youngest and most engaged audience

Across all platforms, the 2025 MLS Cup reached 4.6 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched events in league history. Apple TV data showed the youngest MLS Cup audience ever, with roughly 70 percent of viewers under the age of 45, while average watch time stretched to around 70 minutes per viewer. 

That engagement extended well beyond the screen. Social media activity surged to a record 798 million impressions, representing a dramatic year-over-year increase and highlighting how MLS Cup has become a digital-first event for a younger, global audience.

AdvertisementImagnImpact on and off the pitch

Inter Miami CF capped the night by lifting their first MLS Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in front of a sellout crowd of 21,550 at Chase Stadium. The occasion resonated far beyond South Florida, as more than 20,000 supporters gathered at BC Place in Vancouver for the largest away viewing party in MLS Cup history, underscoring the scale of fan investment on both sides.

GettyMulti-platform reach across North America and beyond

Viewership was spread across a wide distribution network, with more than 3.6 million fans watching via Apple TV, MLS Season Pass, TSN, RDS, FOX, Fox Deportes, TNT, HBO Max in Mexico and additional partners. In the United States, preliminary Nielsen panel data showed just under one million viewers for the full match window on FOX and Fox Deportes, with further measurement updates expected.

Internationally, fans from more than 100 countries tuned in, reinforcing MLS Cup’s expanding global footprint.

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GettyWhat's next?

Inter Miami will start their title defense on Feb. 21, when they travel to face Son Heung-Min's LAFC. 

The first phase of MLB All-Star voting concluded last week, and two finalists at each position (six outfielders) advanced to phase two, where fans are voting to determine the starting lineup for both the American League and National League.

There will undoubtedly be some close races in the second phase of All-Star voting, with some position battles expected to go down to the wire. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have already cemented their status as All-Star starters, having garnered the most votes in their respective leagues.

With voting set to close Wednesday, let’s take a look at some of the toughest decisions facing voters.

American LeagueFirst Base – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Paul Goldschmidt

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O São Paulo rapidamente se manifestou sobre as acusações de John Textor. Sem apresentar provas, o sócio majoritário da SAF do Botafogo afirmou que a derrota tricolor por 5 a 0 para o Palmeiras, em outubro do ano passado, foi manipulada.

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O empresário explicou que chegou à conclusão através de análises de “grandes especialistas e inteligência artificial”. Repudiando a afirmação, o Tricolor classificou o caso como “infundadas acusações” e acionou seu departamento jurídico para cuidar da situação.

➡️ Textor cita jogos do Palmeiras em que houve suposta manipulação e acusa jogadores

– O São Paulo Futebol Clube tomou conhecimento e repudia veementemente as graves e infundadas acusações de participação de atletas do elenco tricolor em manipulação de resultado feitas pelo dono da SAF Botafogo. Tal afirmação sem nenhum vestígio de prova ataca a idoneidade de jogadores do elenco profissional masculino e a lisura da instituição São Paulo FC em seus 94 anos de história.
O clube já acionou seu departamento jurídico, que estudará e tomará as medidas cabíveis na esfera legal – afirma o comunicado do São Paulo, sobre Textor.

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O empresário vem acusando de que o Palmeiras teria sido o clube brasileiro mais beneficiado por um esquema de manipulação de resultados nos últimos anos. Entre as partidas do Verdão, Textor também cita um confronto com o Fortaleza, em 2022.

O QUE TEXTOR DIZ

– A vitória de 5 a 0 do Palmeiras, que foi o começo de aparentemente uma retomada impossível (e agora histórica) sobre uma equipe do Botafogo que tinha um recorde de pontos do primeiro turno do Brasileirão, após 14 vitórias em 17 jogos, foi manipulada.

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O jogo entre Palmeiras e São Paulo em outubro de 2023 foi, de acordo com especialistas e inteligência artificial, manipulada por ao menos cinco jogadores do São Paulo. Um total de sete jogadores mostraram desvios anormais em situações cruciais de gols, apesar de que apenas cinco foram julgados de terem ultrapassado limites que deixam claro e convincente a manipulação. É preciso deixar claro que a prova não estabelece motivos, e também não sugere que nenhum clube foi responsável pela manipulação além dos jogadores identificados.

O relatório match-fix nível II que prova, após conclusão do match-fix nível III, manipulação da partida em Palmeiras x São Paulo foi enviado ao STJD no fim de 2023, mas o STJD teve uma decisão clara de não investigar mais a fundo. Nomes dos acusados são, e sempre deverão ser, redigidos e não mostrados a uma justiça desportiva. Tamanhas provas devem ser apresentadas apenas para procuradores constitucionais e investigadores governamentais. Eu não tenho intenção de prejudicar os acusados antes de eles conseguirem se proteger.

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Futebol NacionalJhon TextorSão Paulo

Dylan Cease became the first big free agent to sign this offseason, agreeing with the Blue Jays on a seven-year, $210 million contract Wednesday. The deal makes the former Padre one of the highest-paid pitchers in the sport as he now earns a salary of $30 million per year.

Though Cease has had his share of inconsistencies, starting pitchers are the most valuable position in the sport and there are only so many with his talent level available. As such, he was able to cash in with a huge deal. After Cease, there are a number of pitchers that also could sign big deals in the coming years, including teammate Michael King, Ranger Suarez and most notably, two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

Now that Cease has agreed to sign with the Blue Jays, here’s a look at MLB’s highest-paid pitchers.

Who is the highest-paid pitcher in MLB?

The highest-paid pitcher is Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who earns a massive $70 million a year. Ohtani is of course also a designated hitter and four-time MVP, which is why his contract is so much bigger than any other pitcher.

Between pitchers who do not also hit, Phillies’ Zack Wheeler is the highest-paid starter on an annual basis.

Top 10 highest-paid pitchers in MLB

Here are the top-10 highest-paid pitchers in MLB ranked by annual salary.

Pitcher

Team

Annual Salary

Total Contract Value

Shohei Ohtani*

Dodgers

$70 million

$700 million

Zack Wheeler

Phillies

$42 million

$126 million

Jacob deGrom

Rangers

$37 million

$185 million

Blake Snell

Dodgers

$36.4 million

$182 million

Gerrit Cole

Yankees

$36 million

$324 million

Corbin Burnes

Diamondbacks

$35 million

$210 million

Dylan Cease

Blue Jays

$30 million

$210 million

Garrett Crochet

Red Sox

$28.333 million

$170 million

Tyler Glasnow

Dodgers

$27.312 million

$136.562 million

Max Fried

Yankees

$27.25 million

$218 million

Cease’s contract with the Blue Jays makes him the seventh-highest paid pitcher annually and tied for the fifth-highest based on total value. Since free agency began last year in 2024, Cease, Snell, Burnes, Crochet and Fried have all signed massive deals that have made them some of the league’s highest-paid pitchers.

Cease is notably the only player on the above list that has not made an All-Star Game. Though he has loads of talent, he has been inconsistent, going 8–12 with a 4.55 ERA in 2025.

How pitcher salaries have changed over time

Salaries for baseball players and pitchers have exponentially grown over time, and especially since the 1970s. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the highest-paid players were making low six figures. In 1979, Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan became MLB’s first player to earn at least $1 million in a season when he signed with the Astros on a four-year, $4.5 million deal.

By the late 1990s, pitchers like Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux were commanding upwards of $10 million per year. That number rose to over $20 million a decade later for Johan Santana, and even surpassed $30 million in the 2010s for pitchers like Zach Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. MLB’s top pitchers are primarily making between $30-$40 million per year still.

How pitcher salaries compare to other positions

Top starting pitchers are among the highest-paid players in baseball. Wheeler is MLB’s third-highest paid player on an annual basis, behind only Ohtani and Juan Soto, who makes an average of $51 million per season as part of his 15-year pact with the Mets. Of the 10 highest-paid players in MLB, five are pitchers––not including Ohtani.

Despite not being in the lineup every day, typically only playing once every five to six games, quality starting pitching is hard to come by, and thus top of the line starters are rewarded handsomely. Starters typically appear in a little more than 30 games per season, barring injury, whereas players like Soto, Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Mike Trout, all of whom command huge contracts and rightfully so, are expected to play almost every game.

نجح الدولي النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي في تسجيل الهدف الأول لصالح فريقه أمام كريستال بالاس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره كريستال بالاس، الآن، في إطار منافسات الجولة الـ16 من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كريستال بالاس آملًا في أن يقلص الفارق بينه وبين آرسنال الذي رفع رصيده من النقاط إلى 36 نقطة بعد الفوز على ولفرهامبتون.

وفي الدقيقة 40، تلقى هالاند كرة عرضية متقنة من ماتيوس نونيز من الجهة اليُمنى وضعها برأسية قوية على يسار حارس كريستال بالاس.

⚽️🔥 هالاند يفتتح التسجيل لمانشستر سيتي برأسية مميّزة.#الدوري_الإنجليزي_الممتاز#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/rxE9AvE98i — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 14, 2025

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers doesn't hold back against her WNBA opponents on the court—and she doesn't seem to hold back against her own girlfriend either.

UConn guard Azzi Fudd shared a rare detail about her mostly private relationship with Bueckers during Thursday's debut episode of her podcast, . Fudd was discussing her first pitch at a Washington Nationals game in July, which at the time elicited a decent review from Bueckers: "8/10," Bueckers wrote, rating the pitch on social media.

But, the Wings star revealed her true feelings about Fudd's pitch afterward.

"Actually I'm happy about [the 8/10 rating]," Fudd said. "Because I think someone showed her the real video, and she was really disappointed that it hit the ground and she was like, 'You know what? At least you're pretty.'"

Bueckers confirmed her relationship to Fudd during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis last month, though it's not clear exactly how long the two have been dating.

Fudd, who's entering her final season with the Huskies, has since become a regular mainstay at Wings games cheering on the Rookie of the Year frontrunner. Bueckers has put up 20 or more points in her last four games for the Wings, but Dallas has gone 1-3 in that span and currently sit second to last in the league with a 8-22 record.

Aston Villa were steadily getting back to their best across October.

Indeed, five straight wins had been collected by Unai Emery’s men, with three of those victories falling in October, before a trip to Dutch outfit Go Ahead Eagles fell on the calendar in the Europa League.

Yet, even with Evann Guessand netting after just four minutes had been played, the Eredivisie hosts would collect a surprise 2-1 win come full-time, as Emery and Co. cursed their luck away from Villa Park.

On another night, Villa might well have at least collected a share of the points. Unfortunately, though, Emiliano Buendia noticeably underperformed throughout, with a second-half missed penalty from the ex-Norwich City midfielder only further confirming that it was the hosts’ lucky day.

Buendia's poor showing against Go Ahead Eagles

Before his Europa League hiccup, Buendia had very much shown Emery why he was deserving of more consistent first-team minutes.

It was widely reported this summer that Buendia was on the brink of a move away from the West Midlands, with his future at the club still remaining uncertain if Villa need to cash in on an asset here and there to satisfy PSR troubles.

Despite all this distracting chatter, Buendia had managed to let his football do the talking as of late, with a standout haul of three goals and an assist from 11 appearances.

However, his poor day at the office in the Netherlands does have the potential to trouble his concrete starting position.

The out-of-sorts number ten would spurn another big chance away from missing that vital spot-kick, with Buendia also uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball at his feet, with possession surrendered a worrying 17 times.

Off the back of this individual showing, leaving a sour taste in Emery’s mouth, the Spaniard could look to alternate options in the number ten spot when Premier League action returns, with Morgan Rogers an easy fix here.

He might not be afforded a spot down the left wing, either, with Guessand scoring from this spot on the pitch against Melvin Boel’s hosts, as the ex-OGC Nice forward was in the right place, at the right time, to poke home a rebound.

Emery will want all of his attackers to be as instinctive as the Ivorian when Manchester City come to town next, with this other notable Villa first-teamer fearful of his starting spot subsequently, after another quiet game passed him by mid-week.

Emery must axe Villa star who is "off it"

The former Arsenal boss isn’t blessed with plentiful options in the centre-forward department anymore, with super sub Jhon Duran now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League, after once being seen as an ideal second-in-command figure.

This has ramped up the pressure on Ollie Watkins’ shoulders, arguably, with his forgettable season so far displaying a striker in clear decline, with talkSPORT’s Troy Deeney even calling out the England international as being way “off it” back in September, when his goal output had already begun to disastrously dry up.

Games played

12

Minutes played

822

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Since this scathing assessment from the former Watford centre-forward, Watkins has only gone on to pick up an unsatisfactory one strike for the Villans from 12 matches, with Emery clearly losing patience with his usual reliable starter when benching him last time out in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.

Villa didn’t look lost without their 88-goal man leading the line, either, with ex-Borussia Dortmund man Donyell Malen filling in as the main marksman somewhat competently, as the likes of the aforementioned Rogers and Buendia stole the show with goals from the midfield areas.

Watkins didn’t exactly bang the door down to reclaim his top-flight starting spot with his shoddy showing against Go Ahead Eagles, with what should have been a confidence-boosting night only sapping the 29-year-old’s belief even more, as three shots failed to find the back of the net from his minimal 17 touches of the ball.

Guessand might even be the face that Emery chooses to start up top against Pep Guardiola’s challengers, if he wants to experiment away from a goalless Malen, with eight goals actually collected by the versatile Ivorian from this position for Nice, as Watkins fears another spot warming the bench is going to come his way later today.

£868m release clause: Aston Villa now willing to bid for "world-class" star

The Villans are prepared to make an offer for a new forward, who is now looking to leave his club.

ByDominic Lund Oct 24, 2025

Aston Villa are now looking to sign a £26m midfielder, with Unai Emery personally an admirer, believing he would be a perfect fit in his system.

Villa looking to sign new midfielder amid Rogers rumours

Morgan Rogers didn’t exactly make a flying start to the season for Villa, but the attacking midfielder has turned things around in recent weeks, scoring against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, while also catching the eye at international level.

Indeed, the 23-year-old scored in England’s 3-0 victory over Wales last week, which led to high praise from Roy Keane, who compared him to one of the Three Lions’ greatest-ever players.

Aston Villa approach made for record-breaking forward with his coaches contacted too

The Villans are keen to strike to land another offensive option.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Oct 18, 2025

The former Manchester United man said: “He has strength and that physique. He has awareness. He is a nightmare for a midfielder or defender. We can talk all day about getting close [to him], but when you give him an opportunity he will take it.

“He’s enjoying it and I said this before. Sometimes he reminds me of Gazza in his prime. He is strong and powerful. He holds people off.”

As such, it is concerning that there continues to be speculation surrounding the England international’s future, with it recently being revealed that Chelsea are leading the race for his signature, with the Blues now ahead of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Perhaps with that in mind, Aston Villa have now joined the race for a new midfielder, namely Getafe star Luis Milla, as Emery believes the 31-year-old would be a perfect fit in his midfield.

Milla has established himself as a key player for Getafe, and the Spanish club are hesitant to sanction a departure, although they have set a relatively affordable asking price of €30m (£26m).

The Madrid-born maestro may have a decision to make, however, with Atletico Madrid also in the race for his signature, but a move to Villa Park is considered an equally attractive proposition.

Assist king Milla could excel at Villa Park

Much like Rogers, the Spaniard is a very creative player, having chipped in with five assists in La Liga already this season, while also placing in the 95th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

As such, the Getafe midfielder could flourish at Villa Park, and the fact Emery is personally keen is a good sign, given the way in which the manager has transformed the club over the past few years.

That said, there are some doubts over the potential signing, with the former Granada man now 31-years-old, meaning there is unlikely to be much re-sell value.

If Aston Villa can get a deal done on the cheap, Milla could still be a savvy signing, but the main priority should be to keep hold of Rogers.