With Nico Williams set to reject Arsenal in favour of Barcelona, the Gunners have reportedly set their sights on an unexpected move to sign a Chelsea star this summer.

Arsenal set to miss out on Nico Williams to Barcelona

There was a time when Williams looked like a serious option for Arsenal both last summer and this time around. In the end, however, the temptation of a potential Barcelona move proved too strong for the winger to turn down.

Now, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Catalan giants have agreed personal terms with the Spanish international and are now working on an agreement with Athletic Bilbao.

It’s a frustrating blow for Arsenal whose attacking limitations saw them miss out on the Premier League title once again – this time at the hands of Liverpool. And as the Reds continue to strengthen themselves, those at The Emirates must ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side are not left behind this summer.

It’s a big task for new sporting director Andrea Berta, but signing an alternative for Williams should now be seen as one of the top priorities at Arsenal in the coming months.

On that front, names such as Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have already threatened to steal the headlines and there’s no doubt that his arrival would make the required statement.

Whether Arsenal are willing to spend big to secure the Brazilian’s signature is another question, however. Instead, as per recent reports, the Gunners could turn towards a London rival in an unexpected move.

Arsenal intensify interest in Chelsea's Madueke

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now intensifying their interest in Noni Madueke as an alternative to Williams. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is reportedly open to offers for the winger as the Blues welcome even more fresh faces and that has seemingly left the door open for the Gunners to make their move in the coming months.

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What’s more, although Chelsea initially valued their winger at as much as €65m (£56m), it is now reportedly believed that they could accept offers worth just €50m (£43m). Given that Madueke is still just 23 years old, that deal could quickly turn into a summer bargain.

Premier League stats 24/24 (via FBref)	Madueke	Saka	Martinelli
Minutes	2,033	1,729	2,290
Goals	7	6	8
Assists	3	10	4
Successful Take-ons P90	1.99	2.14	1.3

Although he lacked consistency at times, Madueke’s numbers from last season represent a player full of potential with his ability to take players on particularly standing out compared to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

England boss Thomas Tuchel recently described the Chelsea star as “dangerous” in the post-season international break and that’s the type of praise that should catch Arsenal’s eye.

If those in North London sign Madueke from a rival club for a cut-price and then get the best out of him, then it would quickly look like an act of genius from Berta.

This will be Sri Lanka’s first bilateral tour of Ireland, inclusive of two T20Is and three ODIs starting from August 11

Madushka Balasuriya01-Aug-2024Fresh off their Asia Cup triumph, the Sri Lankan women’s side will be heading to Ireland for two T20Is and three ODIs from August 11-20, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced. The team will depart for Ireland on August 6.This will be Sri Lanka’s first bilateral tour of Ireland, while it will be Ireland’s third bilateral assignment this year – their first at home, having played both Zimbabwe and Thailand in Zimbabwe and the UAE respectively.Ireland are yet to lose a bilateral game this year, but this will be a far sterner test with Sri Lanka having won 18 of the 23 white-ball matches they’ve played in 2024. Sri Lanka also hold an unblemished record against Ireland, having won each of the three ODIs and three T20Is they’ve faced each other in.This however will be the first time these two sides will be meeting since the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier, where Sri Lanka registered a comprehensive victory. They were also due to face each other during the 2021 ODI World Cup Qualifier, but that game was cancelled after the entire tournament was called off as a result of significant travel restrictions imposed on the region due to the Covid-19 pandemic.The tour will begin with the first of two T20Is on August 11 in Dublin. Following the conclusion of the second T20I on August 13, also in Dublin, the action will move to Belfast for the ODIs. The three-match ODI series, which will be part of 2022-2025 ICC Women’s Championship cycle, will begin on August 16..

Leicestershire seamer tested positive for trace amount of banned substance via contaminated supplement

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2024

Chris Wright has not featured for Leicestershire this season•Getty Images

Chris Wright, the veteran Leicestershire seamer, has confirmed that he has been serving a nine-month suspension for an anti-doping violation after testing positive for a trace amount of a banned substance.Wright has not featured for Leicestershire all season, despite signing a new contract with the club last year after pulling out of a move to Sussex. It had been reported that his absence was due to a failed drugs test and the 38-year-old has now released a statement through the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) admitting that he “returned the adverse result” in October.While it was accepted by the Cricket Regulator and the National Anti-Doping Agency that he had not intentionally taken the substance, Ostarine, which is not performance-enhancing and came from a contaminated food supplement, Wright was unable to avoid a ban. The PCA said it would be lobbying the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to review its stance on trace amounts of banned substances ingested via contamination.Wright has now returned to training and will be available to play for his county from July 19, due to the backdated nature of his suspension.Related

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“I was shocked to find out that I had tested positive for trace amounts of a banned substance on a single occasion back in October 2023,” Wright said. “I had been using a fruit supplement at the time, purchased from a well-known manufacturer, which had no sports performance-enhancing capability. I disclosed this fully on my doping control form before I provided a sample, as required, that returned the adverse result.”I was extremely fortunate that with the help of scientific experts, I was able to identify that the supplement was contaminated with Ostarine, a synthetic substance that ought not be in any food product in the UK, and the Cricket Regulator accepted this. There has been no explanation from the supplement manufacturer as to how that came to be and, as the independent panel’s decision in my case shows, I did not intend to take such substance, nor could I have even known the supplement was contaminated with it.”The panel found that I bore no significant fault and I am pleased this matter has been resolved so that I can resume playing soon, after what has been an extremely difficult and trying time for me and my family. I am back in training and looking forward to my full return.”I would like to thank the PCA for their support during the period of my suspension as this matter was resolved. Their help, support and guidance has been invaluable. I would also like to thank Leicestershire CCC, in particular Claude Henderson and Alfonso Thomas, for their support during this difficult period. They have been extremely patient and supportive during the whole process and have been keen to get me back playing as soon as possible. Lastly, I want to thank my family. Their love and positivity has helped me immensely during what has also been a really challenging time for them. I will always be grateful.”Ian Thomas, PCA managing director of member services, said the players’ union was concerned at the lack of a threshold for cases “when it is clear there is no intent or scientific evidence to show athletes have genuinely taken banned substances” and would work with the World Players’ Association to argue for a change in WADA’s rules.”We are pleased Chris is now back in training and able to continue his career from July 19,” Thomas said. “Sadly, Chris has been victim of a contamination case. It acts as a reminder to all our members of the danger of supplement usage. This could have prematurely ended Chris’ professional playing career.”The stress on Chris and his family’s lives has been extreme since he was suspended in October 2023 and the PCA has worked closely with him and his legal team, in particular Craig Harris, to achieve the best possible outcome and ultimately, save his career.”The PCA is extremely concerned at the lack of thresholds of banned substances, such as Ostarine in this case, providing a positive test, when it is clear there is no intent or scientific evidence to show athletes have genuinely taken banned substances. We are extremely concerned that these substances remain a risk when contaminating supplement or food produce.”The PCA is working with the World Players’ Association in lobbying WADA for a full review on this.”WADA play a vital role in ensuring a clean sport with zero tolerance to performance-enhancing drug usage. However, it is not fair or reasonable to place innocent athletes on suspensions and lengthy bans, when a trace amount of a substance confirms athletes are victims of contamination.”

Nottingham Forest were one of the standout sides of the Premier League last season. The East Midlands club, under the tutelage of Nuno Espirito Santo, qualified for the UEFA Conference League after they finished seventh in the top flight. For much of the campaign, they were in the race for a Champions League spot.

Unsurprisingly, with all that success, there has been plenty of interest in some of their key players. Anthony Elanga is one man who has been linked with a move away, with reports suggesting a £50m bid from Newcastle United would be enough for the deal to go through.

If that move does happen, Forest will need a replacement and have been linked with a player who is, in many ways, a hybrid between Elanga and right-back Ola Aina.

Nottingham Forest’s latest transfer target

It would certainly be a huge blow if Elanga was to depart the City Ground. The relationship he has formed with Aina down that right-hand side has been formidable. The East Midlands side must get his potential replacement right.

Well, perhaps the man they could bring into the club is AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers. According to a report from TEAMtalk, the club ‘have held talks’ with the Serie A giants over a potential move for the Belgian this summer.

This is a longstanding interest; Forest have reportedly been ‘in contact with the Belgian international’s entourage for over a year’. The two teams are apart in valuation at the moment, with Milan demanding £21m, just over £4m more than what Forest want to pay.

However, the fact that they’ve been interested in the winger for so long might suggest a deal can be completed.

Why Saelemaekers would be a good signing

The versatile Belgian star spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Milan’s Serie A rivals Roma. Whilst he struggled with an ankle injury at the beginning of the season, he enjoyed a strong second half to his spell in the Italian capital.

Saelemaekers played 31 games for Roma last season, grabbing an impressive 13 goals and assists in that time. Of those goal involvements, seven goals and three assists came in just 22 Serie A appearances.

One of the standout features about Saelemaekers’ game last season was, without doubt, his versatility. The 25-year-old played on both flanks and as a number 10, seeing success in all of those positions.

This is where the Elanga and Aina hybrid idea comes in. Not only is Saelemaekers able to play as a right-winger, thus replacing Elanga directly, but he can also slot in as a right-back.

As per Transfermarkt, he has played that role 14 times in his career, as well as featuring at right wing-back.

Replacing Elanga next season, if he leaves, will not be easy. The Sweden international was a standout player in Garibaldi Red last term, with six goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League games, mainly operating on the right-hand side. However, Saelemaekers certainly has the ability to do so.

The similarities between the duo are clear to see. Both are right-footed wingers operating on the right and had a hand in a healthy number of goals.

In fact, both of them averaged 0.61 goal involvements per 90 minutes, as per FBref, with Saelemaekers playing more progressive passes than Elanga each game, with 3.48 to 2.27.

Goals and assists

0.61

0.61

Key passes

1.59

1.8

Progressive passes

3.48

2.27

Shot-creating actions

3.9

3.67

Ball recoveries

4.82

3.2

Saelemaekers can certainly be an apt Elanga replacement, and will be hoping he can form a deadly partnership with Aina, just as the Swede has done. They have played 57 times together, even combining for a goal away to West Ham United in 2022/23, in what ended as a 3-2 loss.

He could also provide cover, or even competition as a flying full-back, for a player Jamie Carragher said “could play for a team who expects to be in the Champions League every season”.

There is no doubt that Saelemaekers could be a fantastic member of the squad at the City Ground. He is a player with reams of “quality” as football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, and with the abilities he possesses, can surely be considered a hybrid of Elanga and Aina, two of Forest’s most important players.

Better than Jesus: Nottingham Forest still targeting "unbelievable" PL star

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كشفت تقارير صحفية عن تفاصيل ما حدث بين النجم الأرجنتيني ليونيل ميسي، وتوماس رينكون لاعب فنزويلا، بين شوطي المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين قبل أيام.

وخاض ميسي مباراة مع الأرجنتين ضد فنزويلا على ملعب مونومنتال، في آخر مباراة رسمية له مع منتخب بلاده على أرضه. 

وسجل ميسي هدفين من أصل ثلاثة أهداف لفريقه ضد فنزويلا في الفوز (3-0)، وشهدت المباراة التحامًا مع توماس رينكون على أرض الملعب.

وبحسب ما أوضحت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، عندما توجه الفريقان إلى غرفة الملابس بين الشوطين، ذهب ميسي ليسأل رينكون عن سبب شجارهما.

اقرأ أيضًا | جواش: أتمنى أن يلعب ميسي في كأس العالم حتى لو كان مُحنطًا

وبمجرد ظهور رينكون، انتقده ميسي على تصرفه ودفعه دفعة خفيفة، وتدخل اللاعبون والجهاز الفني الأرجنتيني والفنزويلي للفصل بينهما، وتدخل سالومون روندون بينهما وقام بتهدئة ميسي.

كانت مباراة الأرجنتين وفنزويلا ضمن تصفيات أمريكا الجنوبية المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، واحتفل الجمهور بميسي وتفاعل معه والتقط اللاعب الصور مع عائلته.

وصرّح ميسي عقب المباراة أنه ربما لا يشارك مع الأرجنتين في منافسات كأس العالم 2026 إذا شعر أنه ليس بكامل لياقته.

This summer is shaping up to be a truly seismic one for Arsenal.

The pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side to finally get over the line in the Premier League next season will be immense, but it looks like the board are doing their bit to back them in the market.

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi are now officially through the door, while Andrea Berta and Co appear to be in talks with England internationals Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

That’s not all, though, as reports suggest the club is making rapid progress to sign an international game-changer who could help make Madueke entirely unplayable.

Arsenal target free-scoring game-changer

Arsenal ended last season’s Premier League campaign with 17 fewer goals to their name than champions Liverpool, so bringing in a new striker this summer was always going to be a priority.

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

Expand Collapse

Over the last few weeks, the club have been linked with a plethora of talented number nines, such as Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko.

For some time, it looked like the latter was going to be the one to make the move to North London, but that changed late last week as it became evident that RB Leipzig were asking for too much money.

Interestingly, instead of caving to their demands, Berta and Co quickly pivoted to another target, someone who could help make Madueke unplayable: Viktor Gyokeres.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed that Arsenal are in constant talks with Sporting CP, and that the Swede himself is pushing for the move, asking his camp for updates “every hour.”

Moreover, the Italian journalist has reaffirmed reports that personal terms have been agreed, while a recent report from GIVEMESPORT has claimed that the Gunners are set to agree a deal in excess of £65m for the goalscorer.

It is undoubtedly a lot of money to spend on one player, but over the last two years, Gyokeres has shown he could be a difference-maker for a top side, and he’d help make Madueke unplayable as well.

Why Gyokeres would make Madueke unplayable

It might sound simplistic, but one of the reasons Gyokeres would be such a good teammate for Madueke is the fact that he’s a striker who spends as much time as possible in and around the penalty area.

This is important because the Chelsea ace’s biggest strength, at least at the moment, is his ball-carrying and ability to get the ball into dangerous areas.

Therefore, he needs his striker to constantly be in goal-scoring areas, rather than dropping back into midfield or out wide, as Kai Havertz does.

However, it should come as no surprise that the most significant reason the Swede could help Madueke reach another level entirely is his raw output.

For example, in 52 appearances last season, totalling 4248 minutes, the free-scoring “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net on 54 occasions and provided 13 assists for good measure.

In other words, the former Coventry City star averaged 1.28 goal involvements every game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Just think about how many goals and assists the Blues ace would rack up playing next to a striker capable of such world-class output.

Moreover, the Englishman already showed last year that, in relatively restricted minutes, he could be a useful outlet out wide.

In the 2449 minutes of action he played prior to the World Cup, the former PSV Eindhoven ace scored 11 goals and provided five assists.

Madueke’s 24/25 (pre CWC)

Appearances

41

Minutes

2449′

Goals

11

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvements

153.06′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 153.06 minutes despite not having a prolific number nine to play alongside.

Ultimately, Madueke looks like he’d be a valuable addition to Arsenal’s squad this summer, but by adding Gyokeres as well, Arteta could help take the Englishman to another level entirely.

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Manchester United desperately needed to hit the rebuild button this summer after a catastrophic 2024/25 season.

Indeed, the stale Red Devils slumped to a horrendous 15th place in the Premier League come the end of the 38-game slog, on top of also failing to secure a last-minute spot in Europe by coming up short in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Therefore, this summer does feel as if it’s make-or-break territory for Ruben Amorim in the constantly pressurised Red Devils hot-seat, with the Portuguese manager aiming to not sink under all the strain by landing some top talents to help his underperforming team push on next season.

Man Utd in talks to land £51m midfielder

Matheus Cunha has already joined the building, with Bryan Mbeumo looking likely to be the next high-profile capture.

Cunha’s capture certainly caught the eye, but Mbeumo would no doubt be the biggest statement here, considering he scored 20 goals last season for Brentford.

Yet, as far as rumours go, another excellent addition might soon be entering the developing United camp in the midfield areas.

Indeed, according to reports in Italy, United and Atalanta are currently locked in negotiations over the Red Devils landing Ederson from the Serie A titans.

It’s stated that Amorim and Co. were interested in the energetic Brazilian last summer when offering up a fee around £42m, but Atalanta were looking for an offer nearer to the £51m region to consider parting ways.

Now, they could make this move a reality as talks continue, with it also being rumoured earlier in the hectic transfer window that Liverpool were intrigued by the possibility of landing the 25-year-old to bolster their own midfield department.

The Premier League strugglers aren’t blessed with depth in the middle of the park either, with both Christian Eriksen and Casemiro 33 years of age, meaning a new, fresh addition centrally would definitely boost Amorim’s side, away from just the high-profile addition of Cunha.

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Nobody would have anticipated the sharp rise McTominay would undergo when swapping his boyhood club for Antonio Conte’s Napoli last summer.

Indeed, just a season into his stay in Naples, the 61-time Scotland international steered Conte’s men to a triumphant Serie A title success.

He scored a sublime 12 goals and posted six assists in league action. Amazingly, he had only amassed seven more goals than this stunning amount when regularly plying his trade in the Premier League, even from a far greater tally of 178 clashes.

Ederson didn’t quite have a similarly impactful season for The Black and Blues, but he has shown over three seasons now in Bergamo a hunger to be involved in all phases of play, just like McTominay.

From 139 games and counting in the heart of the Atalanta midfield, the £51m “machine” – as he’s been labelled in the past by journalist Carlo Garganese – has collected 13 goals and four assists, with his relentless desire to get stuck in for his team’s cause also baring clear similarities to the ex-United academy product.

Ederson’s Serie A numbers (24/25)
Stat (* = per game)	Ederson
Games played	37
Goals scored	4
Assists	1
Touches*	65.9
Accurate passes*	45.5 (87%)
Key passes*	1.1
Big chances created	6
Ball recoveries*	5.0
Total duels won*	4.9
Stats by Sofascore

Glancing at the table above, Ederson actually beats McTominay when it comes to accurate passes per league clash in Serie A at 45.5 per clash compared to the Scotsman’s lesser 22.7, before you even begin to consider the Brazilian’s aggressiveness means he trumps McTominay’s ball recovery numbers too at five per match, next to his counterpart’s lower 4.2

Further heralded as “strong” by football journalist Tim Vickery in what he can offer in the midfield spots, this feels like it could be a golden capture on United’s end as they hunt down a similar star to McTominay.

United will have to hit the ground running next season to silence their loud naysayers, and with Ederson’s potential arrival onto the scene, Amorim’s options continue to look stronger and stronger all across the pitch.

Man Utd now negotiating "complex" big-money transfer to sell £200k-p/w star

He wants to leave.

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Tom Cunningham

Jun 28, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze high on their list of attacking targets this summer, but Thomas Frank’s side have been told to consider one Chelsea star as a viable alternative to the England international.

Spurs’ serious interest in Eze isn’t exactly unfounded, with the former Arsenal academy man fresh off the back of another impressive campaign at Selhurst Park.

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He spearheaded Oliver Glasner’s men to their first ever major trophy at the back end of 2024/2025, scoring the FA Cup final-winning goal which clinched an historic 1-0 victory over Premier League heavyweights Man City at Wembley, and Palace are poised to enter Europe next season as a result of his heroics.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

In total, Eze racked up an outstanding 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, and the attacker’s form surely cannot be ignored by the footballing elite for much longer.

His £100,000-per-week pay packet at Palace is affordable, and could well be attractive to chairman Daniel Levy, who won’t be too keen on breaking Tottenham’s carefully organised wage structure, which allows them to be among the top-flight’s lowest-spending ‘big six’ clubs in terms of salary.

The ex-QPR star’s contract also includes a £68 million release clause, with reports suggesting that Tottenham are prepared to meet this asking price for Eze as the 26-year-old himself also eyes a move to north London.

However, Tottenham face fresh competition from arch rivals Arsenal for Eze’s signature (talkSPORT), so they might not have it all their own way.

In the event a deal cannot be done for him, Levy will need alternatives, and Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku could be one of them.

The £195,000-per-week Frenchman does command a hefty wage, but his stellar form at RB Leipzig and versatility makes him an attractive possibility. Nkunku can also play almost anywhere across the attacking line, including Eze’s positions as a CAM and on the left.

Commanding a price tag of around £59 million, the 27-year-old still managed 14 goals in all competitions last term despite hardly starting, which shows just how impactful the player can be.

Tottenham told to sign Eberechi Eze alternative in Christopher Nkunku

Former Spurs midfielder Steffen Freund, speaking to Hochgepokart, has certainly endorsed a potential move.

Freund believes that Tottenham’s potential signing of Nkunku could help to unlock Mathys Tel too, with the pundit urging Levy and co to consider a deal.

“Tottenham need another attacking option. I’d look at Christopher Nkunku if I were them – he can make the difference,” said Freund.

“He can play in behind the striker and up front, he’s already at Chelsea. He did an outstanding job at RP Leipzig; he’s currently underperforming but there’s a great player in there. Mathys Tel is a good signing, he can play up front, and, on the wing, he’d link up well with Nkunku.”

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Tottenham made an enquiry for Nkunku recently, so there has been concrete interest from N17 as well.

This could be one to keep an eye on, as competition is likely to heat up for Eze’s signature after his stellar season at Palace.

Heather Knight said that Dani Gibson personifies the “bravery” and “clarity” that England want in their T20I side ahead of October’s World Cup. Gibson’s nine-ball innings of 22 contained five boundaries, all off international bowlers, and changed the course of the Hundred final at Lord’s to help London Spirit win their maiden title – men’s or women’s.Gibson walked out at No. 5 after Knight had been castled by Shabnim Ismail’s 74mph in-ducker, which left Spirit 56 for 3 off 56 balls, with a requirement of 60 to win off the last 44. She inside-edged her first ball for a single, then hit her next five for boundaries to take the requirement down to a run a ball and change the complexion of the game.”I forget how young she is,” Knight said of Gibson, who turned 23 earlier this year. “We saw the game she played at Lord’s, a reverse-sweep to go and win the game against Australia last year, and that’s the sort of mindset that we want in that England side: the willingness to take risks, take the game on and express what your talent, and Dani epitomises that.”She’s a player that can impact a game in all three facets… she hasn’t gone as well as she would’ve liked with the ball in the last couple of games, but [to have] the character to go, ‘I’m going to go and win this game for us’ was unbelievable. She’s a great ball-striker. She’s got real clarity about how she wants to play and that’s exactly what we want for her. I’m delighted for her.”Gibson, who has batted exclusively at No. 5 after opening the batting last season, had only faced two balls in Spirit’s previous four games heading into the final, following a series of dominant top-order performances.”I was thinking yesterday that our middle order hasn’t faced many balls or had much time in the middle recently,” Knight said. “We talked a lot about trying not to have nervous chasers and really trying to break the back of it. Today’s innings was a real stand-out for her to go in and be that brave, and take the game on. It took the pressure off the rest of the batters.”After steering Ismail past short third, Gibson pulled the third ball she faced through midwicket for four. “It was really important for me to get off to a good start,” she said. “I’ve never actually played the pull shot very well, so I was buzzing with myself. I was disappointed with how I bowled [0 for 16 from 10 balls] and felt like I’d let the team down.”Knight was the second-highest run-scorer in the women’s Hundred this year, and Gibson said she felt the need to take on some responsibility after her captain’s dismissal: “Heather has batted so well for us throughout the comp: it was time for other people to step up… I didn’t want to think about things too much. That’s when I’m at my best: I just wanted to play simple cricket and see where it took me.”Related

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Gibson fell with 27 required off the final 29 balls, and Deepti Sharma took Spirit over the line with two balls to spare, swiping a six over long-on. “Deepti has been unbelievable with bat and ball, her clarity and calmness,” Knight said. “Bar today, her intent has been awesome, the willingness to take the game on.”England will head to Abu Dhabi next month ahead of October’s T20 World Cup, and Knight believes that her players will do so with confidence after dominant performances in the Hundred. “I’m really pleased,” she said. “It’s great to see the rest of the girls contributing and I’m very excited to meet up again in a couple of weeks.”Nat [Sciver-Brunt] has been unbelievable. She’s barely got out and the way she’s played has been awesome. It’s really pleasing going into a World Cup. I haven’t probably had the best few Hundreds, so I was really desperate to do well this year. I was really pleased to contribute… I felt quite fresh and really wanted to show what form I’m in.”There is uncertainty over whether the tournament will be staged in Bangladesh as planned due to security concerns amid anti-government uprisings, and Knight is hopeful that a decision will be reached in the next week. “It’s out of our hands, and the focus has been on this competition [the Hundred],” she said.”Hopefully, there will be a decision soon with planning and things like that, and getting things in place – obviously squads [are] being picked. It shouldn’t impact it too much, but it’d be nice to know where it is and get our hands around that and what the conditions are going to be like.”It depends where it is, really. If it’s in the UAE, conditions in October are pretty similar to Bangladesh in terms of pace of wickets and bounce… we won’t have a huge amount of experience there, but obviously we’ve got a training camp in Abu Dhabi. We’ll have to wait and see: hopefully, we’ll find out next week.”

It’s only a month away now until Premier League action finally returns to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland fans have been waiting for this moment to arrive all summer, and with the amount of whirlwind business that has taken place off the pitch this off-season, with high-profile additions galore, it must be hard for the Black Cats faithful not to feel excited at the moment, yet impatient in equal measure.

The latest jaw-dropping arrival was Simon Adingra from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Premier League-ready attacker joining up with Regis Le Bris’ camp for £18m.

More cash will surely be splashed between now and the opening match of the campaign versus West Ham United, as Le Bris and Co. begin to hunt down some new defensive bodies to strengthen even more.

Sunderland firming up interest in £24m star

In particular, the Black Cats will be looking to add some reinforcements in the heart of defence based on recurring rumours.

Transfer Focus

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

The likes of Duje Caleta-Car, Joe Gomez, and Charlie Cresswell have all been tipped to join the Stadium of Light ranks this summer in this department, with reports even going as far as to suggest that Cresswell could be purchased for around the £18m mark.

However, there is a fresh target has now emerged in this area of the pitch in the form of Bologna titan Jhon Lucumi, with Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio suggesting that the newly promoted side is showing an interest in the imposing Colombian.

That has been followed up by a report from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with the respected insider revealing that the Black Cats are ready to make an official bid, having been in contact over the last 24 hours or so.

With a reported release clause coming into play at around the £24m region, it will be intriguing to see what Sunderland are willing to fork out to snap up the 6-foot-2 defender shortly, with Lucumi arguably an even bigger talent than the up-and-coming Cresswell.

Why Lucumi is an even bigger talent than Cresswell

Whilst the former Leeds United man is the talk of the town at the moment after a breakout Toulouse campaign and an imperious Euros tournament, he is still a relatively inexperienced figure in the grand scheme of things.

Indeed, when adding up the 22-year-old’s career appearances to date, 39 of his 101 overall clashes have come about in the U21 ranks at Elland Road, with just one meaningful senior season under his belt in a top division in Ligue 1, which came about just last campaign.

Games played

32

31

Goals scored

0

3

Assists

1

1

Touches*

73.2

63.3

Accurate passes*

57.9 (92%)

41.2 (83%)

Ball recoveries*

5.5

3.3

Total duels won*

3.9

4.9

Clean sheets

10

9

On the flip side, the Bologna number 26 has been a mainstay in Serie A for some time now – with a high 94 Italian top-flight contests next to his name – and as can be seen glancing at the table above, his powers haven’t waned whatsoever as a dominant and assured presence in the backline of Vincenzo Italiano’s side.

If anything, he actually managed to trump Cresswell in many different areas of their respective defensive games last season, with Lucumi having been noted for his “ice-cold composure” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Indeed, he averaged more accurate passes per league clash than the Preston-born centre-back, on top of tirelessly registering more ball recoveries as an energetic body at the back.

Further hailed as being “ridiculously impressive” by Mattinson, it does feel as if Lucumi would be better placed to go in and make an impact on the Sunderland side immediately than Cresswell, considering he also excelled in the Champions League last campaign when battling against the likes of Aston Villa with 4.6 total duels won on average in Europe’s elite competition.

Cresswell will undoubtedly find himself back in the English game at some stage, having been rashly discarded by Leeds.

But, in the here and now, Sunderland should attempt to push the boat out more to land the Colombian, as more and more cash is thrown around to help boost the Black Cats’ survival chances.

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