Tag Futebol

In recent years, Leeds United have seen a whole host of exciting, raw gems from the Thorp Arch academy structure explode into life in the senior set-up.

While he has gone on to have an up-and-down career since exiting the Whites, Kalvin Phillips’ name has to be mentioned when looking back at academy starlets coming good at Elland Road, with the Leeds-born midfielder going on to collect 14 goals and 13 assists in the first-team picture at his boyhood side. Safe to say, Marcelo Bielsa turned him into an elite talent.

Archie Gray is also another glaring example of the conveyor belt approach in West Yorkshire working wonders.

Daniel Farke and Co only had the adaptable teenager in the first team ranks for one season before he was poached by a Premier League outfit.

Gray's insane rise at Leeds

Despite having such a long-standing reputation for giving up-and-coming youngsters first-team minutes when ready, no homegrown starlets were present on Farke’s bench for the recent trip to Fulham.

Gray was also nowhere to be found in the Tottenham Hotspur lineup, either, against West Ham United later that Saturday, with a major concern now that the 19-year-old could be Phillips 2.0; another expensive failure in the Premier League when leaving the comforts of West Yorkshire behind.

With hindsight now firmly on side, Gray might well have been better placed to stay put at Leeds for the foreseeable, instead of sealing a £30m move to North London.

Still, those at Leeds no doubt loved every minute of the teenage sensation’s career in the first-team mix at Leeds, even if promotion failed to be secured, with the England U21 regular turning quickly into a starter week in, week out for Farke.

Indeed, Gray left having tallied up 52 appearances in the first-team ranks from just one season, with the 6-foot-2 wonderkid’s ability to line up as a central midfielder or as a full-back, making him a dependable figure, even at such a young age.

Losing the versatility of Gray, therefore, would have hurt Leeds as much as both Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter vacating the building did, with the teenager even being lauded as “elite” from his very early days in West Yorkshire by the iconic Bielsa.

Still, losing Gray for that aforementioned £30m won’t hurt too much anymore as Leeds now find themselves in the same division as their ex-academy product.

Yet, they wouldn’t say no to having a fresh version of the 19-year-old, with another academy sensation now aiming to make the grade required to break into the senior ranks very soon.

The next version of Archie Gray at Leeds

Amazingly, while their former number 22 is no longer around, there is still a lingering Gray family connection at Elland Road.

Indeed, Harry Gray – who is the brother of the £30m star – is now being tipped to reach some incredible heights in West Yorkshire, having already netted four goals in Premier League 2 action this season.

Staggeringly, this isn’t the only narrative that “runs in the family” – as analyst Ben Mattinson has quipped – with Charlie Cresswell’s sibling in Alfie Cresswell making similar waves in the U21 set-up, with a route up to the first-team not looking like the most daring next step for the 18-year-old already.

With two goals next to his name in Premier League 2 action, many looking in might well anticipate that Cresswell is a player who regularly lines up in the forward areas.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when assessing the various positions he can slot into, the argument that he could be the next Gray-style talent undoubtedly strengthens.

Looking at the table above, Cresswell has routinely switched between playing in the middle of the park and as a right-back for the U18s and U21s.

Coincidentally, those are the two main positions Gray used to fill under Farke’s tutelage, with Gray even taking on a centre-back role at Spurs on occasion, like the 18-year-old’s main preference.

Therefore, the hope will be that Cresswell can go on to be a similarly standout success story like the Spurs number 14, as the next generation at Leeds aim to make significant strides to be remembered like Phillips and others before them.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1

By
Dan Emery

Sep 15, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras está no mercado em busca de contratações para o meio-campo e parece ter um novo alvo no mercado: Aníbal Moreno, volante do Racing-ARG. Acontece que, segundo fontes do clube argentino, a proposta foi recusada no mesmo momento em que chegou. A informação foi publicada inicialmente pelo jornalista César Luis Merlo e confirmada pelo Lance!.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Na oferta palmeirense, os valores apresentados foram de 6 milhões de dólares (R$ 28,7 milhões). No entanto, as condições do negócio não foram reveladas à reportagem. Nos bastidores, o Verdão não confirma a proposta, nem a recusa, porém não nega o interesse e admite que está monitorando nomes no mercado sul-americano.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O volante de 24 anos já foi cogitado no futebol europeu nesta janela, mas o Racing-ARG recusou uma proposta um pouco maior do que a Alviverde. Dessa forma, o clube argentino também recusou as cifras oferecidas pelo Palmeiras. Além disso, não intenção de negociar o jogador antes da disputa das oitavas de final da Libertadores, na qual enfrenta o Atlético Nacional-COL

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A tentativa palmeirense pode ter como origem a dificuldade do clube em contratar Wendel, do Zenit-RUS. Na terça-feira (18), representantes do Verdão e do atleta se reuniram para buscar uma forma de fazer a negociação dar certo, mas os valores envolvidos estão fora da realidade, o que afasta a possibilidade de o volante entrar para o elenco de Abel Ferreira. No entanto, não houve uma desistência oficial.

+ Cadê os reforços? Saiba os motivos da postura ‘lenta’ do Palmeiras no mercado de contratações

Aníbal Moreno tem seus direitos econômicos divididos entre dois clubes. O Racing-ARG tem 80%, enquanto o Newell’s Old Boys tem 20%. O argentino é, de fato, um volante com características de camisa 5, como procura o Palmeiras desde a saída de Danilo para o Nottingham Forest-ING. O meio-campista tem contrato até dezembro de 2025.

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MatériaMais Notícias

A chegada de Bruno Lage ao Botafogo foi repleta de expectativa. Apresentado no fim da manhã desta quarta-feira (12), o treinador adentrou o gramado do Nilton Santos ao lado do acionista da SAF, John Textor, e vestiu a camisa 7 do Glorioso.

Na sala de imprensa, Textor contou o que foi crucial para trazer Lage para o Alvinegro.

– Não é segredo para ninguém que gosto do estilo europeu, português, atacando em progressão, no futuro quero que esse seja o estilo do Botafogo. Essa não é uma situação usual. Temos de substituir alguém muito bom, de maneira muito mágica, para manter o Botafogo no momento onde está. Tive uma decisão de tomar antes de trazer um treinador interino. Mais do que de se tornar uma busca por Libertadores, se tornou uma competição de caça ao título. – e emendou:

– Estava na dúvida sobre escolher um treinador ou deixar para esperar o momento certo, mas entendi que isso traria dificuldades. O Botafogo deixa de buscar vaga na Libertadores e quer conquistar o título. As metas não mudaram, esse ano segue sendo a Libertadores. A temporada é muito longa, ninguém vai chegar e ganhar tudo, é complicado. Mas quis trazer alguém para fazer ajustes rápidos e manter o time onde está – completou.

Lage foi veemente ao fazer sua primeira declaração como treinador alvinegro.

– As minhas primeiras palavras são dirigidas ao torcedor do Botafogo, porque tem sido uma manifestação fantástica nos últimos dias e também desde que chegamos no aeroporto. Faremos de tudo, eu e minha comissão técnica, para continuar essa temporada fantástica. Já comandei um glorioso em Portugal e, hoje, estou comandando um glorioso no Brasil. Estou feliz por ser o escolhido para levar essa tarefa até o fim – disse o treinador – disse.

O técnico também falou qual é seu plano inicial para o Botafogo.

– Esse vai ser o nosso trabalho ao longo dos meses. Essas coisas acontecem quando as equipes não estão em bom momento e precisamos mudar em termos de motivação. Aqui, nós temos feito uma análise muito cuidadosa da equipe e de como conseguir os resultados. O objetivo é fazer uma transição muito pacífica – garantiu.

Aos seus olhos, o momento é deixar o elenco do Glorioso confiante para a sequência da temporada.

– No futebol, nem quando se ganha está tudo bem e nem quando se perde está tudo mal. A equipe tem feito, em termos de resultados, uma temporada fantástica. Queremos continuar nesse caminho e deixar os jogadores confortáveis – disse.

Lage detalhou como foi sua convivência com Luís Castro, antigo comandante do Alvinegro.

– Conversamos um pouco. Ele me disse que há um grupo fantástico de jogadores, um estafe do clube também fantástico. Temos um passado muito parecido. Enquanto o Luís era coordenador do Porto eu era treinador da base do Benfica. Nos cruzamos várias vezes. Quando assumiu a equipe B do Porto e a equipe A, eu fiz o mesmo percurso – destacou.

Lage adotou cautela ao falar em relação à possibilidade de título.

– Um título é sempre importante para qualquer treinador, mas não temos tempo para pensar nisso. O que me dá mais prazer são as recepções, a forma de celebrar títulos, de se celebrar no estádio. O que me dá satisfação é dar alegria às pessoas. Esse é o meu foco. Trabalhar com jogadores, tirar o melhor deles e dar tudo pelo torcedor que vai apoiar o time – declarou.

Mais cedo, Bruno Lage desembarcou no Rio de Janeiro e foi recepcionado por um grupo de torcedores do Glorioso no Galeão.

Now that the Alexander Isak debacle is over, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe can get to work and make headway throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

While PIF’s intent was always to keep the Sweden international on the books this summer, Newcastle, having won last year’s Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League with a fifth-place Premier League finish, his obstinacy in forcing his way out of St. James’ Park made it a tricky situation to circumvent.

Luckily, the Magpies have pulled through with some shrewd dealings over the past couple of months, and Howe will feel that he has a squad fit to challenge, having replaced Isak and Callum Wilson with two new strikers.

Newcastle's centre-forward changes

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions last season, including 23 in the Premier League, putting him behind only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Replacing him was never going to be an easy task, but Howe must be content with the £50m addition of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, with the 28-year-old having posted 19 strikes across the 2024/25 campaign.

Wissa doesn’t have the depth of technical quality or range of weapons as Isak, but he should provide a consistent outlet in the final third.

And with Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade having also signed in a club-record £69m deal last month, Newcastle have the potential to refashion their frontline into something special.

Newcastle have signed one of the most exciting young forwards in world football, but the jury is very much out as to whether he will hit the ground running in the Premier League – not least after netting just 17 goals in 2024/25, only 12 of which came in the Bundesliga.

With Isak now gone, Howe may well rue the sale of another free-scoring Premier League forward a few years ago.

Newcastle must regret selling the original Wissa

Newcastle signed Chris Wood from Burnley in a £25m deal in January 2022, part of a shake-up after PIF swooped in and changed the Toon’s trajectory.

Where Are They Now

Like Wissa, the one-time Leeds United man was a relative short-term solution, having moved to St James’ at the age of 30.

Like Wissa too, Wood had more than proven his Premier League credentials prior to making the switch, arriving in the North East after reaching double figures for league goals in each of his four full top-flight campaigns at Turf Moor.

In all, the 6 foot 3 striker netted 49 goals in 144 games for the Clarets in the top tier, a remarkably similar record to Wissa’s own return of 45 goals in 137 league games back in west London.

Unfortunately, Wood subsequently looked “a bit lost” during his time at the club, as pundit Tam McManus remarked at the time, only scoring five goals across his 39 appearances.

However, Wood has bounced back and then some with the Tricky Trees, sensational last season as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side qualified for Europe.

His 20-goal return surpassed both Wissa and Woltemade’s respective hauls, and given the consistency of his output in the Premier League, Howe may well regret having issued his sale so prematurely.

25/26 (NFFC)

3

2 (0)

24/25 (NFFC)

36

20 (3)

23/24 (NFFC)

31

14 (1)

22/23 (NFFC)

7

1 (0)

21/22 (NUFC)

18

2 (0)

20/21 (NUFC

17

2 (0)

The towering talisman resurrected his career at the City Ground, but it goes to show that the quality was always there, and that he might have gone from strength to strength on Tyneside had he been given more time.

But the decision to sign Isak ended his chances of becoming a superstar in black and white.

Wood might be 33 now, but he’s showing little sign of slowing down, having bagged himself a brace on the opening day of the season as Forest beat Brentford 3-1.

Had he found his footing on Tyneside, the New Zealand native might have eased the drama of the past few months and then some, providing Howe’s side with a clinical outlet over these past few weeks, which have yielded little in terms of success in the final third.

As painful as Isak: Howe must regret selling "phenomenal" Newcastle talent

This former Newcastle star could have been a superstar in Eddie Howe’s system.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 2, 2025

It’s not been a year to remember for West Ham United supporters, and there are few signs of encouragement so far this summer.

The Hammers finished 14th in the Premier League last season, sacking Julen Lopetegui in January, having picked up 1.15 points-per-game under the Spaniard, before this actually dropped to 1.11 points-per-game following Graham Potter’s appointment.

As they look to improve ahead of next season, star attacker Mohammed Kudus has been sold to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while full-backs Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf have arrived.

Now though, with another one of the Hammers’ most high-profile players potentially on his way out, should they replace him with an “exquisite” talent?

West Ham target Lucas Paquetá's replacement

On Friday, it was reported by Martyn Ziegler and Matt Lawton of the Times that Lucas Paquetá is ‘set to be cleared’ of spot-fixing.

As documented by Mario Cortegana and Roshane Thomas of the Athletic, the Brazilian was alleged to have intentionally collected yellow cards in four Premier League matches, thereby ‘affecting or profiting from the betting market’, which, if found guilty, would have seen him handed a lifetime ban by the FA, but this will now not come to pass.

These allegations scuppered Paquetá’s proposed move to Manchester City two years ago, but it is now forecast that the Brazilian will push for a transfer this summer, reportedly valued at around £80m by West Ham.

Should he depart, the Hammers would need to sign a replacement, hence why journalist Ben Jacobs is reporting that they are interested in signing Fábio Vieira from Arsenal, adding the Irons are ‘planning to add multiple midfielders’ to their squad.

Transfer Focus

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

Vieira was not included in the Gunners’ squad that is currently in Hong Kong, but that’s due to his exploits at the Club World Cup, starting all three of Porto’s fixtures in the United States last month, providing an assist during their bonkers 4-4 draw with Al Ahly.

So, could he become the latest player to go directly from Arsenal to West Ham, following in the footsteps of Jack Wilshere, Manuel Almunia, Jérémie Aliadière, Marouane Chamakh, Carl Jenkinson, John Hartson, Freddie Ljungberg, Lucas Pérez, Davor Šuker, Nigel Winterburn, Ian Wright, and many others? We could go on!

What Fábio Vieira would bring to West Ham

Vieira joined Arsenal from Porto three summers ago for a reported fee of £34m, and has shown glimpses of why they paid that money, but has never produced on a consistent basis.

The table below illustrates Vieira’s statistics for the Gunners, as well as what he produced last season, having been loaned back to Porto.

As the table notes, Vieira never managed to establish himself as a first-choice figure in the Arsenal team, starting just three times during his most recent campaign with the club, his only goal an 88th-minute penalty during a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United.

Despite this, his talent is obvious, with presenter Adam Keys impressed by his “incredibly clean ball-striking” ability, labelling him “exquisite”, while Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis outlines how he is at his best as a ‘creative attacking midfielder’ who likes to ‘occupy the right half-space’.

Well, similarly, Karim Shahine of Total Football analysis notes that Paquetá thrives as a ‘right-sided half-space’ number ten, praising his ‘creativity’ and ‘tactical flexibility’.

Based on that, it would appear as though Vieira would be the ideal replacement for his fellow left footer, so let’s take a look at how the duo compared last season.

As the table outlines, in 300 fewer minutes, Vieira’s statistics were, almost across the board, more impressive than Paquetá’s, notably when it came to chances created, shooting and dribbling.

Of course, the caveat is that he was doing so at a lower level, with the Primeira Liga ranked by Global Football Rankings as the seventh-strongest league in the world.

Nevertheless, Vieira is certainly available this summer, no longer in Mikel Arteta’s plans, so the Gunners may well sanction another loan deal, making his signing a low-risk, high-upside move for West Ham.

West Ham now making final checks on £15m "star" GK who's open to the move

The Hammers are lining up a move for a new goalkeeper.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 29, 2025

Everton are now reportedly closing in on a double deal to welcome two teenage talents to their academy.

Everton continuing summer business after Thierno Barry

Having already kicked off their summer business by welcoming Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Everton are reportedly set to continue their pursuit of incomings by signing Bournemouth’s Mark Travers. The shot-stopper looks set to arrive to provide Jordan Pickford with some much-needed backup following the departures of Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia.

The goalkeeper’s arrival will hand Everton their third signing of the summer after Moyes was left delighted by the signing of Barry last week to follow up the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz on a permanent deal earlier in the window.

The Everton boss told reporters: “We are delighted to have brought Thierno to the Club. We see lots of potential and we are hoping for good things from him.

“We will give him plenty of time to settle in and we are looking forward to getting started working with him as soon as possible. I’m hoping to make more additions in the coming weeks.”

It’s no surprise that the Toffees have turned towards Travers as well as the talented forward, either. Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s decision to leave the club as a free agent, Moyes desperately needed a fresh goalscorer and Barry will provide exactly that.

It’s not just current gems that the veteran manager is thinking about, however, with reports now suggesting that Everton are closing in on signing two future stars this summer.

Everton closing in on Dodds and Gokah swoop

As reported by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, Everton are now closing in on deals to sign John Dodds and Reuben Gokah from Hearts and Charlton Athletic respectively. The double swoop follows Friedkin’s decision to add significant investment into improving their academy and adding former Manchester United chief Nick Cox to their ranks as a result.

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Jul 15, 2025

While Dodds and Gokah won’t steal the same headlines as Barry or Travers, they may prove to be just as important in years to come. Both defenders, the teenage duo will feature for Everton’s academy before potentially breaking into Moyes’ first-team when the time is right for all parties.

Given the path that Jarrad Branthwaite has taken since arriving in Merseyside as a youngster, there should be no concern over whether there will be an opportunity for Dodds and Gokah to thrive if they impress enough at youth level.

With the teenage duo and Travers, Everton will be taking their list of incomings up to five for the summer in what has so far been a productive transfer window.

انتهت مباراة بيراميدز وزد، التي أقيمت ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2025-2026 منذ قليل بفوز السماوي بهدف نظيف.

وحقق بيراميدز، الفوز على زد بهدف نظيف سجله مصطفى زيكو، في إطار منافسات الأسبوع السابع من مسابقة الدوري المصري.

وواصل بيراميدز، انتصاراته في مسابقة الدوري حيث سبق وأن حقق الفوز على الأهلي بهدفين نظيفين.

طالع.. فيديو | مصطفى زيكو يسجل هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام زد

ويلتقي السماوي، في مباراته المقبلة مع الأهلي السعودي ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس القارات إنتر كونتينتتال بصفته ممثلًا لقارة إفريقيا بعد الفوز بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وتأهل بيراميدز لملاقاة الأهلي، بعد الفوز على أوكلاند سيتي، بثلاثية نظيفة في الدور التمهيدي من نفس البطولة. موعد مباراة بيراميدز القادمة

وتقام المباراة بين بيراميدز والأهلي السعودي يوم الثلاثاء 29 سبتمبر الجاري، في جدة في تمام التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

The WBBL faces a potential squeeze on overseas player availability with the tenth season of the tournament starting just seven days after the T20 World Cup finishes in Bangladesh, but the reduced length of the competition will see a higher proportion of games in the evenings at primetime with greater use of technology.Nominations are currently open for the overseas draft which is expected to take place in early September – some clubs have already taken advantage of the new option to sign a player on a multi-year deal before the draft – and CA remains confident it will have a strong hand of overseas names, but the increasingly busy schedule may yet see some top stars consider their options.England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, who made a late entry into last season’s competition with Perth Scorchers, told the BBC she won’t be making herself available this year.The WBBL has been trimmed to a 40-game regular season with three finals in a bid to manage the workload of the game’s leading players, but this season it has faced schedule pressure at both ends. Australia and India start a three-match ODI series four days after the final on December 1 while England face South Africa from November 24 which overlaps with the finals although Marizanne Kapp and Nadine de Klerk have committed to full seasons with Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat.”Clubs are working really hard in the market at the moment with players and agents,” Alistair Dobson, the head of the BBL, told ESPNcricinfo as the WBBL fixture list was unveiled. “Obviously the calendar for players in the women’s game is really busy at that time of the year, particularly this year.”We are excited about the players who have signed and think over the next month or two we’ll get a sense from players as to how they are preparing for the World Cup and their appetite to come quickly to Australia, whether that’s at the start of our competition, or perhaps a couple of games in which is certainly possible as well. We know the competition is still one of, if not the, most appealing for players around the world and we are expecting big names to be there again.”

Gabba joins stadium series

The tournament’s stadium series has been expanded and brought forward as Cricket Australia looks to replicate the crowd growth experienced in the WPL and the Hundred.A standalone match will be played at the Gabba for the first time – the WBBL was last played there in 2019 as part of a double-header with the BBL – while there will again be two games at the MCG and SCG. Adelaide Oval will also stage its third game of the season having hosted an opening-day double-header on October 27, which includes defending champions Adelaide Strikers launching the tournament with a rematch of last year’s final against Brisbane Heat.Ellyse Perry starred at the SCG last season•Getty Images

The WBBL returned to major stadiums last season and the final at Adelaide Oval saw 12,379 attend although crowd growth still lags behind what has been achieved in England and India.The stadium series fixtures will include a Sydney derby between Sixers and Thunder on November 10 and a Melbourne head-to-head between Stars and Renegades on November 15.”The introduction of the stadium series to the WBBL last year was a great success,” Dobson said. “Think it showed when we put the best cricket league in the world for women in the best cricket stadiums in the world we get a great product. The crowds loved it, the players loved it and our broadcasters loved it.”We took a lot from that, we’ve added a big game at the Gabba; Brisbane Heat at the Gabba is iconic. We’ve brought them a week or so earlier than last year which means the games are even more likely to be live and the way we promote those games will be a big focus for us.”The final three days of the regular season will overlap with the Australia-India Test in Perth, including a game at the WACA immediately after the second day’s play at nearby Optus Stadium. CA sees this as an opportunity to cross-promote and feed off the audience of the Test.The reduced length of the competition also means significantly fewer games in the tougher-to-sell weekday afternoon timeslot.

Third umpire at every game

The inconsistent availability of TV umpires was in the spotlight last season with several incorrect decisions that were visible to viewers but not able to be checked on the field. With the reduction in matches there will be an enhancement in the broadcast facilities with a third umpire in operation at every game for line calls such as run-outs and stumpings. ESPNcricinfo understands that there will also be an increase in matches with the DRS available although it won’t cover every fixture.

Full WBBL 2024-25 fixture list

October 27: Adelaide Strikersvs Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval (1.10pm)
October 27: Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval (4.40pm)
October 27: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars, WACA (5.30pm)
October 28: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder, Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
October 29: Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers, North Sydney Oval (6.10pm)
October 30: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades, Allan Border Field (6.10pm)
October 31: Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes, North Sydney Oval (7.15pm)
November 1: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder, North Sydney Oval (3.45pm)
November 1: Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars, North Sydney Oval (7.15pm)
November 2: Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes, CitiPower Centre (11.30am)
November 2: Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, CitiPower Centre (3.00pm)
November 3: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, CitiPower Centre (10.10am)
November 3: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers, CitiPower Centre (1.40pm)
November 5: Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat, WACA (5.10pm)
November 6: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers. Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
November 7: Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat, WACA (2.05pm)
November 7: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades. WACA (5.35pm)
November 8: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers, CitiPower Centre (11.00am)
November 9: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars, CitiPower Centre (3.00pm)
November 9: Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers, Gabba (6.15pm)
November 10: Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers, SCG (10.10am)
November 10: Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder, SCG (1.40pm)
November 11: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades, Karen Rolton Oval (5.40pm)
November 12: Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers, Drummoyne Oval (6.10pm)
November 13: Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers, Blundstone Arena (6.10pm)
November 14: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, North Sydney Oval (3.30pm)
November 15: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder, MCG (3.45pm)
November 15: Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, MCG (7.15pm)
November 16: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval (3.00pm)
November 17: Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat, Drummoyne Oval (1.55pm)
November 17: Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers, Drummoyne Oval (5.25pm)
November 19: Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers, Karen Rolton Oval (5.40pm)
November 20: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars, Drummoyne Oval (6.10pm)
November 21: Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, Blundstone Arena (3.45pm)
November 21: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
November 22: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars, Allan Border Field (7.10pm)
November 23: Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder, CitiPower Centre (10.00am)
November 23: Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes, WACA (5.30pm)
November 24: Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers, CitiPower Centre (10.00am)
November 24: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Allan Border Field (7.05pm)
November 27: The Knockout
November 29: The Challenger
December 1: The Final (Reserve day December 2)

Jonathan Trott first kicked a bag in the dressing room. He then signaled to Afghanistan to slow the game down when rain was around. Rashid Khan had his hands on his head at various moments in the chase. Mohammad Nabi had a constant smile on his face. Dwayne Bravo wasn’t able to watch it.But the one moment that encapsulated the emotionally-charged night in Kingstown was Naveen-ul-Haq taking off after taking the final Bangladesh wicket. That sealed Afghanistan’s maiden spot in the semi-final of any men’s senior World Cup.In a match that had a start-stop nature owing to multiple rain interventions, Afghanistan – led by four-fors from Naveen and Rashid – edged out Bangladesh by a mere eight runs, and in the process, also knocked Australia out of the T20 World Cup 2024.Related

• Semi-finals: India vs England, Afghanistan vs South Africa

• Gulbadin Naib's apparent cramp comes under scrutiny

Both teams, along with Australia, were in contention for one semi-final spot from Group 1 of Super Eight, and the rain only added to the drama. For the best part of the last hour, a cat-and-mouse game ensued. There were moments when Bangladesh edged Afghanistan out on the DLS par score, only for the latter to come back to snatch back the advantage by picking up wickets.Litton Das, with a best of 36 before Monday in the tournament, stayed through it all, but couldn’t take Bangladesh over the line. Rashid and Co. danced their hearts out after knocking two teams with a single blow, and the celebrations are only likely to go on for longer.

The drama after the second rain interval

Bangladesh had to chase their original target of 116 down in 12.1 overs to pip both Australia and Afghanistan to the semi-final. Their chase was delayed by half an hour, thanks to a 20-minute downpour. A shorter game, therefore, was disadvantageous to Bangladesh.After the second rain break, though, Bangladesh sent out mixed signals. Litton attacked Naveen but Soumya Sarkar fell in a bid to do so against Rashid. Towhid Hridoy’s risks against Mohammad Nabi, which included a dropped catch, came off but he, too, holed out off Rashid. But with Litton hitting Rashid for successive fours – first over mid-off and then just past slip – Bangladesh looked on track to hunt the target down to qualify.But soon, Mahmudullah’s indecisiveness and Rishad Hossain’s adventurousness meant they slipped to 80 for 7 after 11 overs. Which is when the rainy clouds returned to continuously hover around the stadium, and constantly brought the DLS par scores into picture for the rest of the night.In the face of increasing pressure, Litton seemingly kept his calm. He has had a forgettable 2024 in T20Is, striking at under 100 and his place in the Bangladesh set-up under scanner. But he started off with intent and kept up their hopes of signing off from the T20 World Cup with a win. But it was not meant to be.

Naveen’s new-ball burst bursts Bangladesh

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan’s weapon with the new ball, trapped Tanzid Hasan lbw with his third ball, making it his 16th wicket, which drew him equal with Wanindu Hasaranga for most wickets in a men’s T20 World Cup.Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq got three early wickets between them•ICC/Getty Images

Naveen’s first over was expensive, with Litton hitting him for a four and a six. Then Najmul Hossain Shanto heaved one over midwicket in his second over. But with a deep midwicket in place, Naveen once again bowled a length ball angling into Shanto, who picked out the fielder there. Naveen then got the next ball to straighten just enough to catch Shakib Al Hasan’s leading edge for a return catch and Bangladesh were 23 for 3.

Afghanistan steady but slow

One of the methods that has worked for Afghanistan, and their openers, in this World Cup is a non-enterprising start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran stayed true to form, taking very few chances inside the powerplay as well as in the first ten overs. They finished the powerplay on 27 for 0 and at the ten-over mark were 58 for 0.It was Gurbaz and Ibrahim’s fourth fifty partnership, the most by any pair in a T20 World Cup. In the first ten overs, there were only 15 attempts of attacking shots, that too on a surface that was slowing down and was going to see dew later on.

Rishad leads Bangladesh squeeze

When Rishad was brought on in the ninth over, the wind was blowing diagonally from right to left, in the direction of his natural spin. He immediately beat Ibrahim’s outside edge, and in his second over used the bounce on offer to get the same batter’s leading edge caught at long-off.Gurbaz then took the attack to Rishad in his third over. He first slapped one over cover point to end a phase of 38 legal balls without a four, and then used the sweep for another four through backward-square-leg region. However, Rishad had the last laugh when he had Gurbaz holing out to deep cover in his last over. A couple of balls later, he also had Gulbadin Naib miscue a slice towards cover point. Naib could have gotten away if not for Sarkar, who sprinted in from the deep and dived forward almost near the 30-metre circle. And just like that, Afghanistan had ceded early advantage to slip from 59 for 0 to 89 for 4.

The Rashid intervention

Rashid walked in at 93 for 5 with just 14 balls left. He faced ten of those, attempted attacking shots on nine of those, and finished on 19 not out. He struck three sixes, two of those in the last over bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He used good use of the willow generally, except on one occasion when he flung it towards his partner, Karim Janat. It was the last over of the innings and Rashid wanted a second run to retain strike but Janat refused it. Still, he helped Afghanistan score 22 in the last 14 balls that helped them to a total they could fight with, just as the heavens in Kingstown opened up.Afghanistan faced 66 dot balls in their innings, which was the third-most by a team with five or fewer wickets lost in men’s T20I where ball-by-ball records are available with ESPNcricinfo. But it did not come back to haunt Afghanistan, who kept a clean slate of successfully defending totals in St Vincent.

In recent days reports have emerged that clubs around Europe have already been left stunned by the swift and aggressive approach Arsenal are taking to the transfer window under Andrea Berta.

For those who support the club, this should be music to their ears. The January window was a slow and laboured affair, one that ultimately ended without a single incoming. Rewind to last summer and while faces like David Raya, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori all arrived, a centre forward continued to elude them.

So, what does this summer have in store? Berta needs a striker. Mikel Arteta needs a striker. Arsenal need a striker. Not signing one would be disastrous.

Arsenal's striker shortlist this summer

Pick one of the top strikers in European football and it’s likely the Gunners will have been linked with them.

The dream signing, obviously, is Alexander Isak but if Newcastle secure Champions League football, the Swede feels even more untouchable than he already is.

So, alternatives will be required and in long-term target Benjamin Sesko, they may find their man. Reports from David Ornstein last week indicated that they have ‘done a lot of work’ on potentially signing the Slovenian.

But, Berta’s pick would appear to be another Swede in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, a man possessed in front of goal over the last two seasons.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports over the last week or so have suggested that Arsenal are locked in talks to sign the forward from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP, but fresh news now indicates a deal is moving closer to completion.

One reporter in France claims that ‘Gyokeres and Arsenal have reached full agreement’ over personal terms and that the ‘Sporting striker wants to join Arsenal’ this summer.

Exciting news indeed. So, what could he offer besides goals?

How Viktor Gyokeres compares to Alexander Isak

In the words of data analyst Spencer Mossman, Gyokeres is certainly “the best finisher in the world” at the moment.

It’s hard to dispute that claim, especially considering the remarkable form the 26-year-old has been in since trading Coventry City of England’s second-tier for the Portuguese top-flight.

In that final campaign with Coventry, the hulking centre-forward found the net on 22 occasions and once departing, he has truly exploded, scoring 43 goals in 50 outings last term and registering a jaw-dropping 53 goals in 51 outings throughout 2024/25.

It is hardly a surprise to see that he is leading the race for the European Golden Boot. He’s streets ahead of Isak for goal involvements, which rather says it all.

The Toon forward has been seriously impressive in his own right but boasts a meagre haul of 27 goals in all competitions in comparison. Impressive, of course, but this is a man who may also cost in the region of £150m. In Gyokeres, Arsenal would be getting more bang for their buck, so to speak.

Arsenal need a goalscorer, however, and there is an argument to suggest that they could be getting a more complete package here.

Shots

4.07

3.11

Passes completed

16.2

16.7

Pass success %

71%

74%

Key passes

1.96

1.39

Progressive passes

2.18

2.84

Shot-creating actions

4.90

3.07

Successful take-ons

1.92

1.42

Progressive carries

4.20

2.77

Aerial duels won

1.15

0.88

One thing that’s necessary to state is that Isak is playing in a better league, but even so, some of the numbers Gyokeres is registering in Iberia are simply off the charts.

While he’s scoring more than one goal per game, he’s proving to be more creative than Isak – although only just – he carries the ball more regularly and he’s more likely to win you an aerial duel. That final statistic could be key considering what Arteta has asked of the likes of Kai Havertz and Merino as his central strikers.

That said, data analyst Ben Mattinson has shared what he describes as a few “red flags”.

A heavy first touch and his inability to turn on a dime could well be turn-offs, particularly considering the explosiveness of Isak, but first and foremost, Arsenal need goals.

Gyokeres has provided that in abundance over the last few years and if his fellow Swede turns out to be off the table, he could well be Arsenal’s very own Isak anyway; a proven goalscorer set to take the Premier League by storm.

Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star worth millions more than Gyokeres

The experienced international will have a significant role to play for Arsenal next season.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 18, 2025