All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal are “ready to pay” the price needed to sign a Premier League star who manager Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta both want at the Emirates, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.

Arsenal face PSG in all-important Champions League semi-final

With no games to worry about this weekend, Arsenal are currently anticipating their most important game of the season so far – a blockbuster Champions League semi-final first leg clash against Ligue 1 champions PSG.

Arsenal demand major Thomas Partey concession in talks over new deal

The Ghanaian has arguably enjoyed his best campaign at Arsenal.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 25, 2025

Arsenal blew away Real Madrid in the last round, knocking Carlo Ancelotti’s 15-time European champions out in the quarter-finals via a 5-1 aggregate scoreline, and they’ll take plenty of encouragement from what was a truly dominant display over two legs against one of the continent’s most feared sides.

Luis Enrique’s side pose an equally tough test, if not more so, having enjoyed an excellent Champions League campaign to date whilst remaining unbeaten in Ligue 1.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

PSG are the media’s favourites to win this year’s Champions League, but you can never discount an Arsenal side absolutely brimming with quality.

Arsenal's transfer plans for this summer

Away from the pitch, Berta and co are already planning for next season by identifying the club’s preferred summer signings. According to some reports, Arsenal want to reinforce the goalkeeping department, full-back area and in midfield, whilst also potentially signing a new left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport).

A new centre-back to rotate with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba isn’t out of the question either, with Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen reliably believed to be a top target for the Gunners.

Arsenal have held talks with Huijsen’s representatives ahead of the summer window, according to multiple media sources, after his excellent debut season in the Premier League where he’s seriously impressed under Andoni Iraola.

The 20-year-old, who actually scored against north London rivals Tottenham earlier this season, will be allowed to leave for £50 million – the value of his release clause.

Arsenal "ready to pay" release clause for Dean Huijsen

Now, as per Ornstein in a Q&A for The Athletic, Arsenal are “ready to pay” Huijsen’s release clause after negotiating with his camp recently. It is also believed that Arteta and Berta are both huge fans of the ex-Serie A centre-back, but they still face stiff competition from rivals.

“It is strong and they remain in contention,” said Ornstein on Arsenal’s interest in Huijsen.

“They are among the clubs (with Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham) who have met his representatives, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta keen to sign the Spain international. Whether or not Arsenal win the race is unclear because it’s still open and I’m not aware of a front-runner between them, Chelsea and Liverpool to date. Real Madrid has always carried huge appeal to Huijsen, we hear, but so far they haven’t moved on this situation, and I’m sure he is philosophical about that. Previously, I think Kiwior exiting Arsenal was highly possible… that might be less certain following his recent rise to prominence.

“Either way, Huijsen would play a lot of football at Arsenal, and they can now show him many examples of how, under Arteta, players have developed extremely well and become top-level talents. Now, this doesn’t mean he will opt for them; there are pros and cons to each of the suitors, all of whom are ready to pay the release clause. Huijsen and Bournemouth want it sorted sooner rather than later. Let’s see what he decides.”

The Spain international was handed his first senior caps in a very competitive national team as well this season, highlighting just how well he’s performed, and Huijsen now looks set to be one of this summer’s most in-demand defenders.

Everton might have lost against Manchester City at the weekend, but they gave it a good go and continue to look levels above the disjointed mess that prompted Sean Dyche to step down in January after The Friedkin Group assumed ownership.

David Moyes will be delighted with the job he’s done since returning to the helm in January, nearly 12 years after leaving his Goodison Park dynasty to take on the job at Manchester United.

The fans are certainly happy, buoyed by the Scotsman’s impact as he prepares to lead the Toffees into a new chapter at Bramley Moore.

Time was when Everton were devoid of hope, but that’s no longer the case. TFG are set to hand Moyes funding to strengthen the squad this summer, but more than a few stars are set to leave to make room.

Long-serving striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is among them.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Everton future

Calvert-Lewin might have been at Everton for an age, signing from Sheffield United in a £1.5m deal way back in 2016. But all things end, and Moyes is prepared to let him leave in the coming months as he puts his own stamp on his team.

The 28-year-old is indeed out of a deal this summer and Everton have been linked with a range of strikers as they prepare to cut ties.

Beto’s emergent shooting success has tempered the England international’s struggles, but it’s not good for Calvert-Lewin on a personal level, for Moyes is hardly going to be impressed by his three-goal return in 2024/25, having missed a whopping 13 big chances, as per Sofascore.

With 57 Premier League goals to his name, Calvert-Lewin has more than played his part. But injuries, consequent inconsistencies and his high earnings have confirmed that the decision to part ways would be the right one this summer.

He’s not the only one.

Everton veteran has reached the end

Everton are set to replace a range of first-team players in the transfer market this summer, with as many as 15 out of contract.

Seamus Coleman joins Calvert-Lewin on that list, and like the centre-forward he must be allowed to leave as Everton step into a new era.

The most experienced man in the Toffees squad, Everton signed a teenage Coleman from Sligo Rovers in his homeland for a jaw-dropping £60,000 figure, one of the biggest bargains in Everton’s modern history.

Now 36, he’s gone on to make a shedload of appearances, but only four have come this season, with Coleman last featuring on Boxing Day.

Given that he’s yet to even feature during Moyes’ second term, sitting as an unused substitute across five of Everton’s past six top-flight fixtures, it seems nailed on that the two parties will finally part when his £55k-per-week contract expires this summer.

1.

Seamus Coleman

426

2.

Jordan Pickford

314

3.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

269

4.

Michael Keane

227

5.

Idrissa Gueye

206

Coleman has played his part over a decade and a half of service, and he’s not doing too badly in the all-time rankings either, sixth in the all-time charts. There’s no doubt that Coleman’s a ‘club legend,’ even if it’s a moniker he refutes.

Hailed as a “warrior” by former manager Frank Lampard, Coleman is indeed a stalwart at Everton, but it feels fitting in a way that he should close the door on his storied Merseyside journey as Goodison Park prepares to lock the turnstiles for the final time.

Jake O’Brien is now the star man at right-back, and maybe Moyes will target a more conventional wide defender to compete with him this summer.

Whatever happens, it’s time for Coleman to bow out.

Everton must axe "struggling" star who's Moyes' new James Beattie

This Everton player has fizzled out at Goodison Park.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 18, 2025

Manchester United might be rotting in the lower levels of the Premier League tower, but there’s a hopeful feeling that Ruben Amorim is brewing something worthwhile at the Theatre of Dreams.

The business end of the domestic season might be one big dead rubber, but the Red Devils are still in with a shout for redemption in the Europa League, preparing for the two-legged quarter-final tie against Lyon.

Winning the second-rate continental title would hand United a golden ticket into next season’s Champions League, an incredible thought given the overall narrative of Man United’s season.

But winning is in this club’s DNA, and if INEOS manage to complete a positive transfer window, there’s every chance that Amorim could turn a much-needed corner and start to build something special.

Though United’s goalscoring woes have led online discourse to centre chiefly around the need for a new centre-forward, that’s hardly the only position requiring surgery right now.

Where Man Utd need to strengthen this summer

Rasmus Hojlund has fallen by the wayside this season, having scored just three times in the Premier League across 26 appearances. Though he’s often devoid of service, the young Dane is hardly imposing himself on defenders, serving dutifully as the focal frontman.

Joshua Zirkzee, at least, offers a bit more across the park, but then he’s also lacking the clinical touch in front of goal that the Manchester side so desperately need to reach the next level and bring some attacking fluency back to the team.

However, Old Trafford needs furnishing across any number of further areas. Some of the rot will depart at the end of the term: Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans – earning a combined £335k per week – are all approaching the end of their contracts.

Depth will thus be needed, with Amorim himself confirming that “big players” are needed. Patrick Dorgu, a tactically suitable wing-back, has already been welcomed, but another wide defender should be targeted and indeed an athletic midfielder too.

However, with Antony and Marcus Rashford out on loan and neither expected to play a part in Amorim’s future plans, a wide forward is also needed, and INEOS are lining up the perfect man, one of Europe’s very best.

Man Utd pushing for UCL superstar

TEAMtalk have reported that Man United have received a major boost in their bid to sign Barcelona’s Raphinha following the Brazilian’s bust-up with head coach Hansi Flick at the weekend.

Transfer Focus

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

While Raphinha has been one of the best attacking players in Europe this season, such an altercation will only fan the flames of his potential departure, especially when considering La Blaugrana’s interminable financial problems.

Understood to be worth in the ballpark of €80m (roughly £67m), the 28-year-old is obviously in the upper financial bracket but has showcased through the 2024/25 campaign that Amorim would receive bang for his buck.

With United deemed to be ‘pushing’ for his signature, the former Leeds United man could be the marquee summer signing that is needed.

Why Raphinha would be perfect for Amorim

Barcelona signed Raphinha from Leeds for £55m in 2022, the winger rejecting interest from Arsenal and Chelsea to move to Spain.

He’s ebbed and flowed a bit over his three terms in La Liga, but Raphinha has found his footing and then some in Flick’s setup, having incredibly scored 27 goals and laid on 20 more assists across 47 matches in all competitions this term.

While his catalogue of goals takes the cake, Raphinha is one of Europe’s most creative players, making 23 big chances in the Spanish top flight alone. On top of that, he’s won 55% of his duels, as per Sofascore, which is no small feat for an attacking player.

The potent force behind Barcelona’s Champions League charge, Raphinha is being regarded as a genuine Ballon d’Or contender after such an impressive haul.

In fact, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley has even pronounced him to be “Europe’s best player” this season, such is the sheer heights of his influence over a resurgent Barcelona side.

His new-found deadliness in front of goal has actually led data-driven site FBref to record Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as one of his most comparable players.

He’s been United’s bane for some time, but the Egyptian’s talents would go down a treat in Amorim’s system, who could sign a younger and more athletic version in Raphinha.

Goals

0.71

0.70

Assists

0.32

0.47

Touches

56.29

45.23

Touches (att pen)

5.31

8.93

Shots taken

3.61

3.338

Shot-creating actions

5.41

4.30

Progressive passes

4.27

4.02

Progressive carries

3.03

3.85

Successful take-ons

1.52

1.34

Comparing the respective players’ performances over the past year, you begin to see the value that Raphinha would add to Amorim’s squad, adding a Salah-like attacking certainty to the mix.

Raphinha is a silky and fleet-footed winger, but he’s traded in some of that unrelenting intensity for a more refined and purposeful goalscoring presence.

Liverpool are going to win the Premier League title and so much of their success is down to Salah’s remarkable consistency in and around the final third. Across 45 matches in all competitions, the 32-year-old has scored 32 goals and supplied 22 assists for his teammates.

With Amorim’s preference for overlapping, energetic wing-backs, you start to see the vision. Raphinha is hardly lazy, but his tactical approach, working so well at Camp Nou, could remain intact or maybe even rise to the next level, becoming United’s attacking superstar and being afforded even more room to showcase his prolificness.

Given that he’s already thrived in the Premier League before, with Leeds, Raphinha might just be the tonic to United’s troubles. Dan James once remarked that the £201k-per-week talent is a “magician” of a winger, but since he’s been away, there’s been a discernible shift to something more mechanical, economical, effective – call it what you will.

The important bit is that Raphinha has hit a new level and is reaching some rather concrete Ballon d’Or-related conversations. He could emulate Liverpool’s Salah and lead the Theatre of Dreams back to glory.

Not just Bruno: Amorim's "key" Man Utd star just showed he’s undroppable

Man Utd played out a 0-0 draw against Man City

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

In what would be quite the move, Manchester United are now reportedly aiming to hijack Real Madrid’s attempts to sign their top target this summer in a deal worth around £42m.

Amorim expresses Man Utd frustration

Even Ruben Amorim wouldn’t have been aware of just how difficult a job he had on his hands when he arrived a number of months ago, but the reality has since hit him in the most ruthless fashion. The former Sporting boss arrived with all the hope in the world that a young, ambitious manager would finally have what it takes to turn things around at Old Trafford.

Man Utd now open to selling star to fund move for "world-class" £62m striker

The Red Devils could cash in on a first-team player, following a very disappointing performance against Nottingham Forest.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 3, 2025

Now in April, however, the squad that Erik ten Hag left behind has failed to adapt to his 3-4-2-1 system and it’s clearer than ever that Manchester United simply cannot afford to get things wrong this summer. Without back-to-back Premier League wins all season, the Red Devils had their latest moment to forget against Nottingham Forest – losing 1-0 courtesy of Anthony Elanga.

Amorim expressed his frustration over the result as his side took one step forward and two steps back once again. He told reporters: “It’s more [of] the same since this season began. So I think if you look at the game we are improving the way we play football.

“We are creating more chances, we are dominating more games. But in the end, when you don’t win, you feel that and that is a good thing. So we know that this season is going to be like that, the momentum. So we continue to go to the next [game].”

Go again is exactly what United must do too, with the Manchester derby awaiting in a run of crucial games towards the end of the campaign.

Manchester United vs Manchester City

06/04/2025

Premier League

Lyon vs Manchester United

10/04/2025

Europa League

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

13/04/2025

Premier League

Manchester United vs Lyon

17/04/2025

Europa League

Manchester United vs Wolves

20/04/2025

Premier League

With key clashes in the Europa League – arguably United’s last chance to qualify for European football – Amorim will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the Forest result and kick on once more at Old Trafford.

Man Utd target Hincapie hijack

One way to ensure that results such as the one against Nottingham Forest becomes less of a habit is to welcome some much-needed defensive reinforcements. And if reports are anything to go by, INEOS are well aware of that.

According to TeamTalk, Manchester United are now aiming to hijack Real Madrid’s move to sign Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, who value their central defender at €50m (£42m) this summer.

Described as “athletic”, “physical” and “quick” by analyst Ben Mattinson, 23-year-old Hincapie could go from a Leverkusen invincible to Manchester United saviour this summer. Having already reportedly made contact over a move, the Red Devils’ plot to seal an ambitious hijack on Madrid seems on.

The former New Zealand opener talks about his international career, the new first-class season, coaching Samoa, and his career as an accountant

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu22-Nov-2025Jeet Raval has had a fascinating journey from India to New Zealand: from being Parthiv Patel’s opening partner for Vidyanagar School in Ahmedabad to playing alongside Kane Williamson for New Zealand and Northern Districts, and being part of the squad that had won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021. Raval, who turned 37 in September, talks about buying into the New Zealand culture, the strength of their domestic system, and closing in on 10,000 first-class runs. In the Plunket Shield, only three players – Michael Papps (11,463), Mathew Sinclair (8842), and Peter Fulton (8719) – have scored more runs than Raval’s 8216 in New Zealand’s first-class competition.You’ve had an unusual journey. As you step into your 17th Plunket Shield season, can you talk to us about that?
It’s been a very satisfying journey. Obviously rewarding in terms of how long I’ve been able to play cricket professionally and some of the successes, especially team successes, I’ve had along the way. But the journey started on the back of my parents making the sacrifice to leave India, leave the family, leave their careers behind for myself and my sister to have an opportunity to do something in our life. Just a huge thank-you will never be enough.New Zealand had a very different lifestyle, different culture, the environment, the playing style. But the people I’ve met along the way and who have helped me to succeed and also when the times have been tough, they have been in my corner, helping me get through this. It’s been an incredible journey, one that I’ve cherished. Even though it might be the 17th season, it still feels like my first season. I still get the same butterflies, same excitement, when the new season is starting.You may not have envisioned this path for you while growing up and now you’re on the verge of scoring 10,000 first-class runs. How special is that?
I actually used to bowl medium pace back in the day (laughs). And when I played age-group cricket for Gujarat, I batted No. 9 or 10. But when I moved to New Zealand, I started opening the batting and took batting seriously. And I had some real good help from Kit Pereira, who was my mentor, and also Barrington Rowland, a former Karnataka player. They moulded me into the person and the cricketer I am today.Related

NZ to celebrate WTC victory with week-long, nationwide tour (2021)

The contrasting fortunes of Mitchell Starc and Jeet Raval (2019)

Jeet Raval: 'I started to tense up, thinking way too much. I froze' (2020)

Plunket Shield's 100th season to start on November 18

I’ve had to figure out a different style of cricket. Opening in New Zealand is a big challenge. You come across green surfaces more often than not. So you have to build your technique around defence, being able to strongly leave the ball outside the off stump, and set up the game for your middle order to score runs. That’s how I moulded my game over the years, and even though the game has advanced quite a lot since those early days, I still pride myself on the game I built for myself and the job I’ve been able to do for my various teams.[Numbers] is not what I’ve been driven by. For me, the driving factors have been wanting to contribute to the team, wanting to come through those challenges, and really, just contribute to the team’s success over the years and finding a way in different conditions against different bowlers and finding satisfaction from there. To get to that landmark [10,000 first-class runs] would be very special and one that I will definitely celebrate. But for now, the focus is on setting up games for Northern Districts, and hopefully we can go on to defend our title as well.Having been educated in a Gujarati-medium school, how did you adapt to New Zealand when you moved there as a teenager?
It was a shock to the system when I first arrived here. I remember my first two weeks of going to the school and everybody’s talking in English, [which] I learned very briefly in India but never spoke. We spoke Gujarati mainly at home and I studied in a Gujarati-medium school. I would remember going back home to my mum, crying and saying: “I don’t understand what people are saying to me.” I almost felt lost at the time and I wanted to go back to India, which was my comfort zone.I was actually doing well in terms of cricket there. I was playing for the Gujarat Under-16 team and I had my friends there. I remember telling my parents that I really want to go back. It was August [2004] when we arrived in New Zealand. My parents said: Why don’t we wait till December end of the year, give it two or three months. Who knows what can happen? And then suddenly the New Zealand cricket season started in September-October and I started performing well for the school team, where I had Ajaz Patel as part of the first XI, and I got along really well with Ajaz.Also, the cricket club I was associated with, Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club, had the likes of Ajaz and Martin Guptill there. My mentor, Kit Pereira, was also part of the same club. They made me feel at home and took me under their wing. I can’t name each one of them [in the club] but they made me feel like I was one of their sons. They would pick me up and drop me home, though I was new to their system. All of a sudden, within three-four months, I felt like I started belonging to their environment, even though the language was still a barrier.Last season Raval was the top run-scorer for title winners Northern Districts, with 672 runs at 48 from eight Plunket Shield Games•Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesOver the years, cricket was a common theme and a factor which allowed me to embrace the New Zealand culture and immerse myself into it slowly. And over the years, things got easier and I was able to adapt to the New Zealand way of doing things.You then became the product of the domestic system and went on to play for New Zealand. How do New Zealand keep churning out quality international players despite having a limited talent pool?
I’m incredibly proud of the way New Zealand Cricket turned itself around from about 2014-2015, when Brendon McCullum took over captaincy [in 2013]. And also, the leadership at New Zealand’s high-performance level was great in terms of preparing players to be the best in the world. Brendon brought his way of doing things and Kane [Williamson] carried on.I think the strength of our domestic competition is very, very high. It may not be regarded as high around the world, but I think it’s one of the best competitions. It tests players mentally, physically for a number of years. When these guys like [Jacob] Duffy and Daryl Mitchell, come out to the international stage, they are actually ready to perform, like you see. We don’t have the depth of population to pick out the best talented players, so what they do is they pick a number of players – for example 20 or 30 players – and work hard with them and invest in them, and eventually these players come out really strongly. We’re hard-working in a humble Kiwi way that gets the job done. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the system.You spoke of your friendship with Ajaz. You both were part of the WTC-winning squad in 2021 and went on the mace tour together in Auckland. What are your memories of that?
Jazzy has been there for me since day one, and we’re still brothers. We played club cricket and school cricket together and then for Auckland and at the [Central] Stags. It’s great to see him succeed at the Test level too, turning from a little medium-pacer to a left-arm spinner winning games. It’s incredible doing this journey with Jazzy.Tell us about your 24 Tests with New Zealand from 2016 to 2020?
It was one of the most successful times in our Test history when I was part of the team, and we had a great team and we had a lot of success along the way as well. I really enjoyed contributing to the team. Early in my career I hadn’t got a hundred, but I was still getting the starts and helping the team build that foundation.Raval’s last Test for New Zealand was at the SCG in 2020. He remembers the Test for the lack of expectations and for feeling the joy return to his game•Jason McCawley/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesI remember there being a lot of external pressure to score a hundred, but internally Kane, Ross [Taylor] and the other senior players never made it feel like I hadn’t scored a hundred. They always made me feel like I was contributing, which was huge, and made me feel quite at ease. In the latter part of my career I sort of had my form fall away in a series against England and a big series in Australia – a place we hadn’t toured for years. I think I had a couple of games where I didn’t quite perform where I was required to perform. And then, unfortunately, they [team management] decided to go another way.That obviously hurt at the time. But I know the guys that came in – like Devon Conway and Will Young and the likes – went on to perform at a very high level straightaway. So I was disappointed, but also happy that somebody else did the job that the team needed at the time. Even since then – look, I haven’t lost the dream of playing again for New Zealand yet. New Zealand is such a small country, so you never say never! I feel like if there’s ever an opportunity where the team is in need, through injuries or lack of performances, and if I’m performing really well, I may have an outside chance to go and play one or two games. I still have that hope.I’m incredibly proud of the way I was able to contribute to the team’s success. Yes, I felt like I could have done it a bit longer, but I’m not sweating over it. I’ve made peace with that.How did you overcome that difficult Australia tour and find joy in your cricket once again?
When you’re going through a slump, there are so many thoughts going through your head where you’re analysing your technique, your decision-making, and your mind is clouded with so many things. So when you go out there to perform, you freeze and you can’t think clearly. I can reflect back and I feel like I was that frozen man who wasn’t able to let go of myself in the first Test, in Perth.And I was dropped for the Melbourne Test. Unfortunately Kane and Henry Nicholls, who got ill in the last Sydney Test match [missed the Test]. I got an opportunity to bat at No. 3. I knew that this was my one-off opportunity because I’d been dropped and those guys would come back in the team. I went out there absolutely wanting to bat like how I batted in the backyard in Ahmedabad with my cousins. With no fear, just for the love of the game, and trusting my skills. That sort of released weight off my shoulders.I think in the first innings, I scored 30 [31], but I feel those were some of the best runs I ever scored. And I vividly remember because it was so much fun and with the lack of expectations, it was just pure joy of wanting to play cricket.Neil Wagner, Raval, Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville and Tim Southee (from left) on tour with the World Test Championship mace in Auckland, 2021•Getty ImagesI tell the younger guys, it’s a very fine line of wanting to do well but trying too hard and letting go of your emotions. If you can detach your emotions from the game a little bit, it helps you stay level-headed and not get too caught up in wanting to do well, which I got caught up in. So I let go of expectations and the fear of failure in Sydney and I’ve carried on for the last few years.Did your life outside of cricket – as an accountant – help you stay level-headed?
Absolutely. Having that career outside of cricket gives you that break to take your mind off it, and you’re not thinking about cricket all the time. And also, you’re not putting all eggs in one basket and you have something else to fall back on.Family is a very important part of life. I have two young children now and they’ve given me a fresh perspective on life when I come home to them. They don’t know whether I have scored a duck or a hundred and just want me to be their father and be around them.You also seemed to derive enjoyment from your bowling in the last Plunket Shield season, when you took 14 wickets, including your first five-for.
I have always enjoyed bowling and helping out at the nets. Last season was one where we went in with four-five seamers for the majority of the games. If we needed someone to have a breather, I would bowl a few overs and I managed to grab a few wickets (laughs). But this season, we have Tim Pringle [fit]. He’s a fantastic left-arm spinner and has a big future ahead. I’m happy to take a back seat now with the ball.You’ve batted against a number of New Zealand bowlers over the years. Who was the toughest to face?
Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and when I was playing for Auckland, I got to face the likes of Tim [Southee], Trent [Boult] and Matt Henry and Neil Wagner. All these bowlers are lethal in New Zealand conditions. They can bowl at pace and also swing the ball both ways. I’ve enjoyed my encounters against all those quality bowlers.Raval’s only Test hundred came against Bangladesh, in Hamilton in 2019•Getty ImagesYou forayed into coaching during the New Zealand winter, being an assistant to Tarun Nethula, and working with Ross Taylor at Samoa. What was that experience like?
It was my first proper coaching experience and I absolutely loved that. I enjoyed being surrounded by people who were proud to represent Samoa. We had a mix of experience – like Ross Taylor, one of the greats of world cricket, Sean Solia, who has played for Auckland, and rising stars like Solomon Nash [son of former New Zealand seamer Dion Nash]. It was a chance for me to be involved with a team that was driven by their culture and heritage. They were all proud to play for Samoa.It was never hard to get them up for a game. For us, it was a challenge of how do we help them succeed in foreign conditions, which was Oman [for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers]. They had never experienced slow and low conditions before and I really enjoyed helping the group succeed in those conditions. We were able to advance through to our group and move into the Super Sixes, which was a big achievement for Samoa. And I think if I’m correct, we also beat PNG for the first time in 25 years, which is a step in the right direction for Samoa cricket.I’m sure more people of Samoan heritage will take some inspiration from this tournament. Hopefully we can push for higher honours and I can keep giving back to Samoan cricket.Did coaching Samoa change your perspective?
Yeah, two things that stood out for me. Firstly, providing the structure and the quality of training to players where they feel like they’re getting some value out of each training. And the second part that I really enjoyed was talking to players differently. Each player requires different kinds of communication. Figuring out how each player likes to be communicated with and helping them feel confident about their own game so they can go out there and perform. I feel as a coach, if you can make your players feel confident in their own ability, they are more likely to go out there and succeed.You’re also on the board of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and part of a system where even domestic players are opting for flexible contracts. How are New Zealand dealing with this changing landscape?
I guess it’s [about] finding the balance of giving players the opportunity to play those franchise competitions and making sure they are committed to playing for New Zealand and domestically here in New Zealand. It’s a balance where our boards are willing to work with the players on a case-by-case basis.It’s a great arrangement from the board to have an open mind to have those discussions with players wanting to play [franchise cricket]. I don’t think we have found a perfect balance but we have found a good balance so far. We are on the right track to allowing players to go and play but also maintain the integrity of playing for New Zealand, which is the pinnacle for most of our cricketers in New Zealand.

The Blue Jays are one win away from their first trip to the American League championship series since 2016.

After hammering the Yankees 10–1 in Game 1 of the AL division series on Saturday, the Blue Jays were back at it on Sunday, racing to a 12–0 lead before holding on for a 13–7 win. Toronto’s bats were a big part of the story in Game 2, but rookie righty Trey Yesavage stole headlines with an incredible performance on the mound.

The Yankees failed to show up in either game north of the border and now find themselves with their backs against the wall, trailing 2–0 in the best-of-five series. Here’s a look at three takeaways from Toronto's big win on Sunday.

The Blue Jays Aren’t Intimidated

Toronto came out firing in Game 1, and that continued in Game 2. A 10–1 victory on Saturday led to a 13-run outburst that included a 12–0 lead by the fifth inning. The Blue Jays are not scared of what the Yankees have thrown at them, even with Bo Bichette sidelined.

After scoring eight runs on New York’s bullpen in Game 1, Toronto lit up Yankees ace Max Fried, scoring seven runs on eight hits in three-plus innings. Perhaps most importantly, the Blue Jays’ big bats came to play. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a monster grand slam to drive in four. Daulton Varsho had two bombs, George Springer also went deep and Alejandro Kirk drove in a run after hitting two home runs in Game 1.

The Blue Jays had one of MLB’s best offenses all season. Even with Bichette watching from the dugout, Toronto hasn’t missed a beat.

Trey Yesavage Earned His Spot

A lot was made about Toronto’s decision to give top prospect Trey Yesavage the start in a critical spot on Sunday. It turned out to be a phenomenal call. The rookie righty showed he’s the team’s top prospect for a reason.

In 5 1/3 electric, shutout innings, Yesavage held the Yankees without a hit, walked one and struck out 11, which was a Blue Jays postseason record. He sat in the mid-90s and garnered a ridiculous 18 whiffs, 11 of which came on his devastating splitter. He was excellent all afternoon and fed off the raucous crowd at Rogers Centre.

The 22-year-old is Toronto’s No. 1 prospect, and MLB Pipeline ranks him at No. 26 overall. The 20th pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Yesavage rose quickly through the minor league ranks this season, earning a call-up in mid-September after 25 outings.

Yesavage went 1–0 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in three big league starts before the playoffs. He struck out 16 and walked seven in 14 innings. It was a gamble to give him a start in such a big spot, but he stepped into the spotlight and owned the moment.

Toronto’s starting rotation ranked 23rd in baseball with just 8.5 fWAR, and it was 24th in FIP (4.46), so there was plenty of room to add another piece. Yesavage is an elite talent that elevates the rotation when he’s locked in. He’s earned that rotation spot after Sunday’s immaculate performance.

It’s Getting Late Early for the Yankees

The Yankees entered the 2025 season looking to finish what they started in 2024 when they fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. They got past the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round after losing Game 1 and winning the next two, but now find themselves on the brink again.

In two games against Toronto, New York has been outscored 23–8. At one point, it was 22–1 before the Yankees got two runs in the sixth inning on Sunday, then followed that with five more in the seventh. That only came against the back of the Blue Jays’ bullpen after the Yanks dug themselves an insurmountable deficit.

New York’s staff has allowed 23 runs in 16 innings so far in this series, which works out to a brutal ERA of 12.94. Part of that has been Toronto’s relentless offense, but it’s also the Yankees’ pitchers not executing. The franchise didn’t give Fried $218 million to watch him allow seven runs in three-plus innings during a key playoff game. The lefty delivered 6 1/3 shutout innings in Game 1 of the wild-card series but now has a 9.64 ERA in his last five playoff starts dating back to 2022.

Now the series heads to Yankee Stadium, where Carlos Rodón will face Shane Bieber on Tuesday night. The 32-year-old lefty allowed three runs in six innings against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the wild-card series, so he’s already pitched in an elimination game this postseason.

Rodon will need to be at his best because the Yankees already find themselves on the verge of a very long vacation.

The shy left-arm spinner who never wants to stop bowling in the nets has risen swiftly to become an important player for Delhi Capitals and India

Shashank Kishore08-Jul-2025Lisa Keightley, the former Australia batter and current assistant coach of Delhi Capitals, perhaps best captures N Shree Charani’s relentless drive in a viral Instagram reel from WPL 2025.Charani asks “Lisa ma’am” to let her bowl one more ball at the nets. Then, Keightley says: “You watch. She’ll come back, and she’ll go, Lisa, one more, one more ball. Does it for about 20 minutes.”Related

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This reel has regained traction in recent weeks, since Charani’s impressive T20I debut against England late June, when she picked up 4 for 12 – the best figures by an Indian debutant. In the two matches that followed, she has picked up four more wickets.At 20, Charani has already proven her ability to bowl across different phases of the game, a skill she’s honed over the past few years under the guidance of Andhra head coach Srinivas Reddy. The turning point came in 2022, when she was left out of India’s Under-19 World Cup squad, a snub that lit the fire within.Ananya Upendran, the former Hyderabad Women captain and now a lead scout at DC, remembers being captivated watching a teenaged Charani bowl during the T20 Challenger Trophy in October 2022, a few months prior to the inaugural Under-19 World Cup.N Shree Charani picked up four wickets on her T20I debut•Andy Kearns/Getty Images”To me, she was the most impressive bowler in that tournament,” Upendran tells ESPNcricinfo. “She had a smooth, high-arm action, great control, and was one of the quicker spinners on display. The pitches in Goa were quite slow, but because she bowled faster through the air, batters couldn’t just sit back and play her.”They were forced to come forward. That gave her a real edge. I was actually quite surprised she didn’t make the U-19 World Cup squad. What stood out to me was her natural control and understanding of length, even if she was still figuring out how to vary her pace. Physically, she was tall and strong, which helped her generate that pace through the air.”Charani’s spin attributes took shape in gully cricket, where she’d bowl left-arm fast. To succeed in tennis ball-cricket, you need to be quick through the air. She carried forward this quality when she gravitated towards spin bowling.”Even early on, her biggest strength was control, but equally impressive was her temperament,” Upendran explains. “And she’s brought that same level-headedness into the WPL as well. What really struck me was that she wasn’t at all overawed by the occasion. She was quietly confident in her skills, just going about her job.”In March this year, soon after making her WPL debut for Delhi Capitals, Charani had felt the India dream was just a “long-term goal.” Yet, a month later, she received her ODI cap from Sneh Rana in Sri Lanka. And two months on, Charani had earned her maiden T20I cap.”Charani is a quick learner,” says India Women bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi.Charani struck key blows on debut to Delhi Capitals’ delight during the WPL•BCCICharani prides herself on being fearless. Much of her early confidence has come from strong leadership around her. At matches or training during the WPL, she leaned on the calm assurance of Meg Lanning, whom she says “spoon-feeds” her exactly what’s needed.Charani’s use of the word “spoon-feeds” to describe Lanning’s guidance is almost childlike in its honesty. It’s not a word that comes from rehearsed soundbites. It’s clear she’s still getting used to the big stage.The support has extended beyond the field, too; Keightley has had a big influence. “In the pre-season camp in Pune, I was bowling at one pace, doing what I know,” Charani said on the DC podcast. “Lisa ma’am told me what I can do if someone’s going hard on me. She used to guide me for each and every ball. Her inputs were very helpful.”There’s a quiet resilience to Charani typical of youngsters coming up the ranks from nondescript centres. All she’s had growing up was sound backing from the family, and her own steely resolve of wanting to prove she was no less talented than kids around her.”From childhood, I played with my uncle, brother, dad and sister,” she said. “Whenever our friends near the colony played, I used to join. I played many sports – kho kho, badminton, athletics – but cricket was a constant.”In 2018-19, Charani’s [maternal uncle], who had grown up playing cricket in Hyderabad, persuaded her parents to send her for cricket trials. There, she caught the eyes of the age-group coaches. Reddy, in particular, was amazed at her athleticism – a byproduct of Charani being a promising track-and-field athlete – and fielding.”Batting and bowling came secondary; when someone fields like that, it stands out in age-group cricket especially,” Reddy says. “The speed across the outfield, her cutting of angles – it was very impressive. If I have to be brutally honest, it was her fielding, not bowling, that stood out initially. But over the past few years, she has really developed her game.”Today it’s impossible to take the ball away from her,” Reddy says, reiterating Keightley’s observation. “She’ll be the first to start bowling and the last to stop. And even after the nets are over, she’ll keep doing some spot bowling.”When Charani received her WPL cap from Jess Jonassen, she wasn’t nervous, but clear-headed and focused. “I always think about bowling to my strengths,” she said, recalling that debut game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “That day, I stuck to that.”Shree Charani has shown a quiet resilience during her journey to the top•Getty ImagesHer first wicket was of Ellyse Perry. “I didn’t plan on getting her out,” she said sheepishly. “If I do small mistakes, she’ll pick it and hit me. So I just stuck to what Meg [Lanning] followed.”The WPL call came on the back of a strong showing at the Under-23 level, during the 2023-24 season, where Charani took a four-wicket haul and back-to-back five-for. The matches had a number of scouts in attendance, among them those from Mumbai Indians and DC. It was no surprise DC and Mi tussled to sign her; she was eventually signed for INR 55 lakh.”Charani was very quiet when she first came into the setup, and I think a big part of that was the language barrier – she wasn’t very comfortable or fluent in English at the time,” Upendran says. “But even then, you could see how eager she was to learn. At every training session, she would make an effort to talk to the senior bowlers, even if it was just a few words.”That’s one of the great things about the Capitals environment – you’ve got people like Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland and Meg Lanning, who are always willing to help younger players. Even if the younger ones are hesitant to approach them, the seniors often take the initiative themselves. That kind of culture really helped Charani.”The bond she developed with Keightley – Lisa ma’am – was particularly special. Initially, their conversations were minimal – Keightley would ask questions and Charani would just nod or respond in monosyllables. By the end of the season, they were inseparable.”She’s naturally shy, so the language barrier made it harder for her to open up. But once she felt accepted and the team recognised how talented she was, her confidence really blossomed,” Upendran says. “The group helped too – players like Jemimah [Rodrigues], [V Sneha] Deepthi, Radha [Yadav] and Shikha [Pandey] were all incredibly welcoming, and that made a big difference.

While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done.

“As for her training habits, she absolutely loves to bowl. You could ask her, ‘Are you done?’ and she’d always say, ‘One more ball.’ Over time, with Lisa’s help, she also learned how to manage her workload better, understanding when to stop, how much was enough to feel ready. But she always wanted to end a session with a good delivery, because that’s the feeling she wanted to carry forward.”Charani’s rise comes at a crucial juncture, with two World Cups to be played in a span of 12 months. While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done. And the cricket world is beginning to take note.

Crystal Palace are now in ‘direct talks’ about signing a Bayern Munich star ahead of the looming January transfer window, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace prepare for Man United after excellent start to the season

Palace welcome Man United to Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon with Oliver Glasner’s side sitting just outside the top four, while the Red Devils languish nearer mid-table following Monday’s shocking home defeat to ten-man Everton.

Glasner’s impressive Palace project continues gathering momentum despite recent bumps.

Positioned just three points behind second-placed Chelsea, the South London club have managed 20 points from their opening 12 Premier League games — their strongest start to a top flight campaign since 1991-92 — all while conceding just nine goals.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Glasner’s long-term future, not to mention Marc Guehi’s, and the fact they lost star playmaker Eberechi Eze in the summer, Palace’s start comes as a shock to everyone.

They’ve also coped extremely well with the added Conference League fixtures, and responded in excellent fashion after being denied what many perceived as their rightful place in the Europa League.

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Following the departures of Eze and another quality forward, Michael Olise, in the last two years — Palace have relied on new stars like in-form striker Jean Philippe-Mateta to deliver the goods instead.

Palace’s unprecedented 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which was eventually ended by Everton in October, is also testament to the fine job Glasner has done with limited resources.

Palace 0-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)

Arsenal 2-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (FA Cup)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Tottenham 0-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Man City (FA Cup)

Palace 4-2 Wolves (Premier League)

Liverpool 1-1 Palace (Premier League)

Crystal Palace (3) 2-2 (2) Liverpool (Community Shield)

Chelsea 0-0 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad (Conference League)

Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace (Conference League)

Aston Villa 0-3 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)

Palace (4) 1-1 (2) Millwall (Carabao Cup)

West Ham 1-2 Palace (Premier League)

Palace 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Palace (Conference League)

However, if Palace are to convince the Austrian to remain at Selhust Park, chairman Steve Parish will need to showcase ambition.

According to reports, Palace could be active in the January transfer window, and it is believed that Bayern right-back Sacha Boey is a player of real interest.

Crystal Palace hold talks over signing Bayern Munich's Sacha Boey

The former Galatasaray star, who was once a rumoured target for Arsenal, hasn’t found life easy since swapping Turkey for Bavaria in 2024.

Boey has been in and out of Vincent Kompany’s starting elevens, and a January transfer for the 25-year-old is now growing increasingly possible.

That is according to Bayern Insider, who also report that Glasner is in ‘direct talks’ with sporting director Christoph Freund about a potential move for Boey.

Palace are also said to have made a ‘concrete offer’ for the Frenchman, who’s potentially looking to battle his way into Didier Deschamps plans for the 2026 World Cup next year amid stiff competition.

Even though the Bundesliga champions signed him for around £26 million, Bayern are now prepared to sell for half the price at around £13 million — opening the door for Palace to strike a bargain move.

Links to Boey will intensify reports that in-form Eagles right-back Daniel Munoz could leave in the near future, with Chelsea among those considering a swoop for the Colombian who’s arguably been one of Glasner’s top players this season.

The visitors are 0-1 down and will want to show their versatility playing in early-seaon, seam-friendly Australian conditions

Karthik Krishnaswamy01-Nov-2025Big picture: India will want to show their versatilityRelax, India. Your most relentless tormentor has left the building. Josh Hazlewood, perhaps the most influential player on either side during the ODI series and the first two T20Is, has turned his attention to preparing for the Ashes.Australia are 1-0 up with three games to go, but they suddenly don’t look like the same bowling team anymore.They will, however, welcome back Glenn Maxwell, who joins the T20I squad after recovering from the fractured wrist that has kept him out of action since mid-September. His return brings a new dimension to Australia’s line-up, particularly with the bat, and particularly against India’s spinners.It’s hard to say how much learning either of these teams can take from this series with the T20 World Cup in February-March in mind. That tournament will be played in India and Sri Lanka; conditions will be entirely different to those we’ve seen in the early part of this Australian summer, with levels of seam movement and bounce that are seldom to be found anywhere in the world in white-ball cricket.For all that, though, India want to be an all-weather T20 team; on the evidence of the second T20I on Friday, there are still gaps to plug, with bat as well as ball. There were times at the MCG where they looked, both on paper and in the field, like an XI assembled with Asian conditions in mind.Over the next three matches, India will want to show they have the versatility to win consistently even in these conditions — no matter how similar or dissimilar they may be to what they get at the World Cup.Form guideAustralia WWWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India LWWWWSanju Samson has been trying to adapt to an unfamiliar role, batting down the order•Associated PressIn the spotlight: Maxwell and SamsonThe last time he played for Australia, Glenn Maxwell won them a T20I against South Africa in a manner only he and a handful of others can, from 122 for 6 in a chase of 173. That, though, was his first half-century in 11 T20I innings. That’s what you get from a player of Maxwell’s high-wire game. His T20 numbers against India’s wristspinners show a similar boom-or-bust tendency: a strike rate of 165.30 against Kuldeep Yadav, but also five dismissals in 49 balls, and a strike rate of 151.51 against Varun Chakravarthy while being dismissed five times in 33 balls. Whatever happens in this contest, you can be sure it will entertain. Maxwell will have a role to play with the ball too, possibly even with the new ball against Abhishek Sharma, even if teams are quickly finding out that a number of left-hand batters, Abhishek among them, are getting increasingly adept at taking offspin apart.Sanju Samson has been trying to adapt to an unfamiliar role at No. 5 or 6 in India’s T20I line-up ever since Shubman Gill’s return squeezed him out of the opening slot. He got the opportunity at the MCG to bat in the more familiar environs of No. 3, but his innings was shortlived, undone by a Nathan Ellis in-ducker that exploited his tendency to hang back and get stuck on the crease even against fullish lengths. If India have continued to back him ahead of Jitesh Sharma, it’s partly because of his strong record against pace. Samson has certainly got the attacking game when he’s in; he will, however, have to bat on pitches where sometimes he’ll have to survive one or two overs before he gets to unleash.Team news: Will India bring in pace-bowling support?Who replaces Hazlewood in Australia’s attack? Sean Abbott, who will himself leave the squad after the third T20I, seems the likeliest candidate, although Australia could potentially throw a surprise at India by handing the West Australian tearaway Mahli Beardman (who has, along with Maxwell, joined the squad) an international debut. Maxwell, who has recovered from his wrist fracture, will likely replace either Mitchell Owen or Matthew Short in the middle order.Australia (probable): 1 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 2 Travis Head, 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Tim David, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Owen/Matthew Short, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Sean Abbott/Mahli Beardman, 11 Matt Kuhnemann.Mahli Beardman was an Under-19 World Cup winner in 2024•Gallo ImagesIndia tend not to make too many changes to their T20I XI when series are still alive, but they might be having discussions around the balance of their team after how Friday’s game went. Do they view Shivam Dube as a viable bowling option in these conditions, and if not, could a specialist finisher in Rinku Singh, a batter with more pace-hitting pedigree, serve them better? And are two frontline seamers enough on these early-season Australian pitches, with or without Dube chipping in with a few overs?India (probable): 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Sanju Samson (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Shivam Dube/Rinku Singh, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.Pitch and conditions: Early season, lower totalsHobart can produce high-scoring games as well as low-scoring games, as its last two T20Is suggest. In February 2024, Australia beat West Indies in a match where both teams passed 200. Then, in November, Australia bowled Pakistan out for 117 and romped to victory in 11.2 overs.The timing of those matches may have had something to do with how they panned out. Four T20Is played in Hobart in January and February have produced an average first-innings total of 190, while nine completed T20Is in October and November have produced an average first-innings total of 148. Could these lower totals be down to early-summer juice in the pitches? Or do they just reflect the quality of the teams that batted in those games? Or is it all just randomness? And will it have any bearing on Sunday?A mostly clear day is expected, with evening temperatures cooling from the mid 20s to the low 20s.Stats and trivia: Samson, Tilak, Abhishek and David near 1000 T20I runs Sanju Samson needs five runs to become the 12th India batter with 1000 T20I runs. Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, who have played 31 and 25 T20I innings to Samson’s 43, need 38 and 64 runs to get there respectively. Tim David is 50 runs away from the same landmark Glenn Maxwell is one wicket away from 50 in T20Is, and Marcus Stoinis is three wickets away (). Jasprit Bumrah is two wickets away from 100 in T20Is. Arshdeep Singh (101) is the only India bowler to have got to that mark so far. India have a positive win-loss record against all T20I oppositions. Against Australia so far, they’ve won 20 and lost 12. India have never played a T20I in Hobart.

Clayton Kershaw has seen just about everything one possibly could on an MLB pitcher's mound throughout his 18 years in the show. But he may have experienced a career first during his outing on Thursday against the Rockies.

Midway through the third inning, Kershaw had a batter pinned with an 0-2 count when he went for the payoff pitch. While winding up to throw, however, something malfunctioned, and Kershaw ended up stuttering before spiking the ball into the ground not even halfway to the plate.

Kershaw typically has a pretty slow pitching motion, but he seemed to take a bit of extra time to get the ball out in this instance. Whatever hitch occurred was an awkward one, as he delivered maybe the worst pitch of his entire career.

The pitch was officially tracked as a 58 mph curveball, which of course, bounced on the grass in between the mound and the batters box. Ball one.

Kershaw ended up getting the strikeout on Ryan Ritter, though it certainly didn't look how he'd imagined it in his head. The 37-year-old improved to 8-2 on the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts, three earned runs and one walk on the road in Colorado.